#yes I did start this somewhere in december and forgot about it

[innytoes]

Slow dancing in the kitchen instead of doing the dishes after a holiday party for Rulie please?

Sunset Curve had a Reputation for being those kind of rowdy, break-hotel-rooms rock stars of yore. Reggie figured it mostly had to do with vibes, the way they dressed, and the fact that Bobby never turned on the lights to go to the bathroom at night and then tripped over stuff and Reggie was just clumsy. (They always apologised and told the hotel to bill them for stuff they broke.)

There were always stories in the tabloids about the wild parties they threw at their house, but they were never true. Mostly because their security was very good and they always invited and/or bribed the neighbours with Willie's signature cupcakes.

So no paparazzi knew that besides the loud music, their parties were usually the opposite of a wild sex-drugs-rock-and-roll party. Not just because Luke and Bobby didn't really do sex, or that Reggie didn't like drugs (or even certain triggering alcohols) in the house. It was just way more fun to throw a ‘lame’ themed party and go all out than it was to throw a ‘normal’ party.

There had been the giant paint-covered twister party. That time they'd rented a bounce-house obstacle court and several other inflatable monstrosities. They'd had to stop hosting Scrabble nights, because Alex was way too cutthroat and they were starting to lose friends over it (who knew the guys from Demon Breath were such sore losers?).

For their New Year’s party that year, they'd decided to go all out. A giant Settlers of Catan board game night, with themed snacks, mocktails, and an Emcee slash referee (Willie's Uncle Caleb, who could make anything sound dramatic).

They'd invited all their favourite industry friends. Dirty Candi was there (Carrie was the second reason they'd had to stop Scrabble night), and some of Willie's Skater buddies. The Puppet History people, after Reggie got to be on their pandemic season (the tiny cup proudly displayed next to their Grammy on the mantle). And of course, Double Trouble.

The media had tried to make his and Julie’s relationship a big deal, but they were just... too boring, Reggie guessed. Too in love, not enough drama, the best they could come up with was every six months or so there’d be speculating if Julie was maybe pregnant. They had totally trolled the media for weeks leading up to them adopting a puppy together, hinting at a new addition to the family, talking about godfathers in public (obviously Alex and Bobby, the only two people who could be trusted not to feed an entire Happy Meal to a dog).

The game night was over the top as always, with an hour break to count down and watch the fireworks. It ended in a showdown between Alex, Carrie, Ryan Bergara, and Tony Hawk. Carrie of course trounced everyone, and Caleb handed her the ridiculous trophy they’d had made for the occasion.

After everyone had been sent home, Caleb had been graciously thanked and paid (with Willie’s signature cupcakes, topped with some extra sparkly sprinkles), and most of the band had wandered off to their rooms, Reggie wandered around the living room, absentmindedly straightening up.

He always had trouble going to bed right after a party. He needed the quiet to come back to himself, to unwind, before he went to sleep, otherwise his dreams would be chaotic and exhausting. So he made sure all the Catan games were complete, pushed in chairs, snacked on leftovers as he either put them away or trashed them, and collected dishes.

He was just starting on the pile of dishes when two arms wrapped around his waist, a forehead pressing into his shoulder. “Come to bed,” Julie whined. He turned in her arms, smiling to see she’d already changed into her pajamas: an oversized Sunset Curve tour shirt and a pair of Reggie’s plaid boxers.

“In a minute,” he soothed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Her nose crinkled a little as she smiled, and he almost relented right then and there. 

“You’re not seriously going to do all the dishes, right?” Julie asked, sliding her hands over his back, to his front, and snaking her arms around his neck. “You’re literally paying the cleaning service double to come tomorrow morning.”

“I just need to clear my head a little,” Reggie said, wrapping his arms around her waist. He started rocking her, swaying with her. Julie smiled a sleepy smile at him and started to hum. This was much better than doing the dishes, he had to admit.

They swayed through two songs together, Julie laying her cheek on Reggie’s shoulder as he buried his nose in her hair. He could feel her getting heavier in his arms, and when he pulled back a little, she moved with him. “Alright, moonbeam, let’s go to bed,” he said, crouching a bit to pick her up. She gave a little giggly whoop, and wrapped her arms tighter around his neck as he walked them to their bedroom.

He laid her down gently on the bed, quickly changing into his own pajamas, giving Ellie a kiss on her fuzzy little head, and crawling into bed with her. She immediately slung an arm and a leg over him, and he smiled. Julie was like the world’s cutest, warmest weighted blanket. But it worked. His brain was calm, his body wasn’t buzzing with nervous energy anymore. He fell asleep in Julie’s arms and dreamed of dancing on the moon.

[boa-h]

【Geto Suguru】 I Used to Love Him

I haven’t had a dream about my past for a long time.

In my dream, the sky was as blue as always, and everyone was happy. I dreamed about my high school years with my best friends and lover. We were walking back to our dormitories after school while joking around, I think it was an afternoon during our first year. I remember walking past the track field, and Satoru challenged Suguru to a race, Shoko and I watched from afar. I forgot who won, but summer was hot, Gojo Satoru was sticky when he came to hug us, Shoko and I shoved him away.

In my dream, I saw the day Geto Suguru asked me out. It was winter where days were shorter. I walked out of the dessert shop I used to go to, and I bumped into him. He said he wanted to take me somewhere, so I went with him. We ended up on the seashore, the wind was blowing extra hard, both of our noses and cheeks were red due to the cold. I could barely hear him.

“I like you! Please go out with me!” He says.

It was a very simple sentence, there was no mention of the past nor promises of the future, but I’m sure I still said yes. Because when his chapped lips touched mine, I felt happiness.

The summer of 2006 was a mess, and so was the summer of 2007. Curses crawled on earth like maggots and the only reason I didn’t kill myself was because I was still too in love with Geto Suguru. He said he would take me to Paris after graduation, we would go to the Eiffel Tower, we would go café hopping, and then we would kiss on the streets of Montmartre. But he couldn’t make it to graduation. He didn’t take me with him.

Geto Suguru met every one of his past friends and acquaintances after his defection, including Shoko and Satoru and even Nanami.

But he never once came to see me.

In my dream, everyone was happy. We went on picnics during sakura season, we went to the beach during summer, we went pumpkin carving on Halloween and we had sleepovers during Christmas.

In my dream, Geto Suguru quit being a Jujutsu Sorcerer along with me after we graduated from Jujutsu Tech, and he took me to Paris like he promised, and we went boating in Bois de Boulogne and we kissed under the sunset.

I opened my eyes. I haven’t had a dream about my past for a long time.

I checked my phone, it was 04:28 AM, December 24th, 2017. It was a little chilly in my room, I must’ve forgotten to turn on the heater. I sat up from my bed and yawned, then I found my window opened. The sun has yet started to rise, my eyes met the purple gaze I haven’t seen in years, and I stared at him.

I imagined a lot of ways of our reunion, I thought I might see him on the streets, or at the beach, or inside a village that he just finished rampaging in. I thought that I might cry, or go hug him, or shout at him and demand an explanation. But I didn’t.

Geto Suguru sat on my windowsill, he didn’t have any cursed spirits with him, nor did he plan on summoning any. He just stared at me like how I stared at him.

I didn’t cry.

I didn’t go hug him.

I didn’t shout and demand an explanation.

I just looked at him. His hair got longer than the last time I saw him, his eye bags became more noticeable, his eyes contained some emotions that I couldn’t read anymore.

I tried to figure out what he might be feeling right now. Is he sad? Or happy? Did he regret killing all those people? Or maybe did he regret not bringing me along with him on his journey?

“Yo! Long time no see.” My thoughts were cut off by his energetic greeting.

Ah. Right. It’s all alright.

Everything is fine.

Because I still love him.

And that was the last time I ever saw Geto Suguru.

[xxlady-lunaxx]

Remember | {AkaYuki}

Theme: Angst

Note: Takes place a year after he turned into a demon Akaza spoilers<33 I think I started this in, like, july 2023 ;-; and yet I finished in december bc i forgot abt it wow

Akaza paused. It was darker over here. Hopefully there weren't any demon slayers hiding around this place; he did not feel like fighting today. Right now. Because today was significant to him. It was exactly a year after.. after something. Something that was big in his life. What was it? He racked his brain for answers, but found none. Perhaps if he sat somewhere calm he would remember. As he walked away from the darker spot, and found a illuminated place in the forest, he heard the sound of rushing water coming from his right. He realized there was a waterfall there and decided to settle there for now. 

It was indeed peaceful, for the night was clear so you could see the stars, and the sound of the water was beautiful as well. It should clear his mind perfectly and he could think. Remember. 

Except.. it didn't help. It helped his body relax slightly but his mind was still a mess. He kept having flashes of his bloody hands, of red, a lot of red. But.. it shouldn't have impacted him so much, should it? He was used to killing. He'd already killed so many in the year he'd been a demon. Why was it so scary? 

He sighed heavily and ran his hand through the water. He looked up at the sky, examining the stars. It was beautiful. He remembered vaguely standing with somebody in the light of the moon, telling them something. Comfort, perhaps? What was it? 

Then, with a sudden jolt, he remembered a name. An important name. Koyuki. Who was this 'Koyuki'? The name was so... familiar... So... so meaningful. Who were they? She... she was a girl he'd lived with? One close to him... A family member? A friend? A... no... his fiancé... They had been engaged, right? About to marry... Who was this other person? He... he looks familiar as well... Keizo... And then all at once. His memories flooded his brain, as if the waterfall was pouring into his head.

Akaza blinked furiously, fighting the urge to cry. Shit, shit, shit, he must not cry here. He couldn't, even if there wasn't anyone around. What was with him? What about this was so...

He looked up suddenly, gasping for a reason he didn't know. He breathed in in sharp intakes, placing a hand on his chest and pressing furiously. 

Breathe. Breathe you fucking idiot.

He looked down at his hand, moving it away from his chest to lay palm-up on his lap. This hand... had done so many things. And someone had held it... held it lovingly despite all the bad things he'd done with it. Who was it?

Koyuki.

The name rung desperately in his head, as if trying to tell him something. Koyuki... a girl who had been set to marry him. Who had loved him enough to marry him. Who was she?

Akaza's sigh echoed around him and he placed his head in his hands, cradling it. His head hurt too much from thinking, from trying to remember something so far away. 

Think.

Exactly a year ago, Akaza had... turned into a demon? Yes. And that same day, either before or after, something important had happened. With... a girl. The girl. Koyuki. And... the other person. Keizo. Who were they to him? A... fiancé and a father. Okay. That was good.

What else?

Where were they?

Akaza sat in silence for a long moment, letting the rushing sound of the waterfall fill his mind. He closed his eyes, his breath slightly muted by his hands over his face.

He lifted his head after a minute, sudden realization striking him. They were dead. 

His body sagged. Of course they were. Perhaps they were bad? And... had brought Akaza to the point of becoming a demon?

No. No that sounded all wrong. It was wrong.

They were... good. And something happened to them that had brought him to become a demon.

Yes, yes, that was right.

But what was it?

What had made them... die? 

Akaza blinked. Right, they died.

And he had hated that, supposedly. Become a demon to... avenge them?

No, that also sounded wrong. 

Then... what? 

He turned around, his eyes watching the water crash down against the rocks. He slipped his feet into the freezing water, shuddering for a minute before he got used to it.

He smiled to himself, resting his hands on the rocks as he stared into the small pool that the forest had created. 

Koyuki.

He looked around, confused. Had someone spoken? No, that was his head again. 

Remember, Hakuji.

Hakuji? Who the hell was that?

Akaza closed his hands into fists. Who were these people? Why did they matter to him?

I love you, Hakuji.

What? 

I promise to protect you forever, Koyuki. I promise.

Liar. You can't protect anyone forever. 

But... but why?

I love you.

Who? Who do you love? Why?

You.

Him? Akaza? How? How could he be loved? How could anyone love him after everything he'd done? After he'd brought blood into the Soryu Martial Arts style? The one Keizo had taught him. 

Wait.

Keizo had taught him.

So that's who he was. 

Akaza stood, slipping out of the water and back onto the ground. 

He started pacing around, thinking things through.

There had been a girl whom had loved him, a man who had taught him to fight, their deaths, the turn of the demon, and... one more. There was one more piece of information he was forgetting. The cause of their deaths.

The blood.

His mind flashed back to the past and he stopped dead in his tracks. Poison. There had been poison involved and Akaza... No, Hakuji, had killed the poisoners. And then... and then Muzan came and... 

Akaza sat back down. 

Fuck. Fuck he couldn't stop them this time.

Tears poured down his cheeks and he desperately tried—and failed—to stop them, but his mind was caught on Koyuki's face, her face smiling up at him and saying she loved him. And how he'd said then, how he'd promised to keep her protected forever.

And yet she'd died.

This very day, one year ago.

She had died.

So you remember...

Yes, yes he remembered. He remembered every fucked up thing he'd done.

I love you, Hakuji.

But why?

You've helped me so much.

He did. He had helped. When he was human. When he wasn't a fucking monster.

Thank you.

For?

Akaza felt frustrated and he turned abruptly and smashed some of the rocks surrounding the waterfall, keeping the water in.

It spilled out onto the forest floor and Akaza felt his emotions pour out of him likewise, feeling numb inside but somehow feeling everything at once. 

Why. Why?! He didn't want to remember! He didn't want to know!

The memories started fading and the water began to spill out less and less, drawing out to a small trickle of water that would soon stop into nothing. 

Akaza blinked.

Why had he been mad?

He looked down at his clothes, soaked through from the water of the waterfall.

Whatever, he decided. He didn't need to know. He didn't want to remember.

{Word count: 1171}

this... was more depressing than I'd intended it to be!! it was originally supposed to end in fluff!

well that idea's out of the way <33

[chaotic-orphan]

Dec. 6th, Prompt: Cosy

Okay so I just saw the-modern-typewriters prompt calendar for December and I saw today’s prompt and ran with it sooo~ enjoy this snippet of hero getting very relaxed, and cosy😌 not stressed at all- it’s fiiiinnneee

@the-modern-typewriter @the-modern-typewriter-aesthetic

Enjoy!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hero’s heart stopped when their sister walked into the room, villain on her arm looking entirely out of place in a Christmas jumper and a Santa hat.

“Oh, hero’s sister (sister), he is gorgeous. My, villain she told us you were good looking but not model worthy.”

“Nan, stop-“ sister said blushing bashful. But hero wasn’t tuned into the conversation. No right now, Hero was raging holy war silently against villain who smirked triumphantly at them.

This had crossed a line neither of them dared to before. Villain couldn’t be here. Villain couldn’t be here! Not now. Not today. Hero had intel they were going to be out of town for a few days, but they didn’t think it would be hero’s town!

“Hero?” Hero snapped back into their body when their sisters voice piqued through the mental marathon. Hero looked down at sister and swallowed before asking “hmm?”

“I said what do you think of them? Usually you have comment after comment on people I bring home,” she said, elbowing hero playfully.

Oh, hero had comments alright. Most of them being Run, and take everyone with you and I’ll try not destroy the house while I kill your new conquest.

How? How did villain know hero had family, hero had been so careful. They hid everything.

Villain walked over to them then, face full of mirth as they stuck out their hand for hero.

“I don’t think we’ve met, I’m villain.”

“I’m pretty sure I know you from somewhere,” hero said, not reaching their hand out to shake.

Villain had the gall to look taken aback, they glanced at sister then back at hero straightening up. “Umm, I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes you do.”

“Hero! Stop it, you’re being rude,” sister said, grabbing villains arm and walking into the dining room. Hero stood there frozen in place.

Villain’s here. Taking account of everyone hero loves. Learning their names. Their faces. He had to warn everyone at the hero tower. There was a mole, a dirty rat who sold them out and when hero got their hands on them-

Hero took the stairs two by two going into their old bedroom and going straight to their desk drawer. Pulling it open, hero paled.

A little sticky note with a smiley face was left where their comms was supposed to be. Hero cursed, slamming the drawer shut and grabbing their jacket instead. Time for plan B.

Just as hero got to the door, their gran called from inside. “Hero, it is Christmas Day. Where do you think you’re going?”

How did the old bat even know they were going out? They hadn’t laid a finger on the door yet.

“It’s just- uh, I forgot something at work-“

“Whatever it is can wait!” Hero wanted to slam their head against the wall, but instead took their coat off. Leaving their family with one of the most dangerous villains in the city probably wasn’t the best idea anyways.

Hero went to hand up their coat when they got an idea and started rifling through the coats looking for villains. It would be some extravagant, stupid long, evil-looking coat-

“What are you doing?” The sound of villains voice stopped hero in their tracks. Hero turned, glaring at villain.

“No what are you doing? This is my house.”

“I’m aware.”

“And my sister? Villain I knew you were sick but leave my family out of this.”

“Sorry, I think there’s something wrong with my hearing,” villain said putting a hand behind their ear, palm facing hero, “I’m not hearing any begging.”

Hero grabbed villain by the collar of their stupid Christmas jumper and slammed them against the wall. Villain didn’t look phased by the act, eyes shining with amusement.

“Temper, hero. I thought we talked about this,” villain smiled.

“Listen you smug piece of s-“

“HERO!” Sisters voice rang through the house, but more importantly the hall. Which she was currently storming down towards them.

“Sister, listen- you don’t understand-“

“Oh, no I understand plenty,” she snarled stepping between hero and villain. Hero let go of villain and stepped back unconsciously in fear of her wrath.

“Who do you think you are to put your hands on anyone? Let alone a guest?!” She yelled, and hero shrunk back from the sheer volume. Even villains eyes were wide behind sister who stood protectively in front of him. “How dare you. What if I did that when Love interest was over? Hmm? You want to see me throwing her against a wall?”

“I-“ was all hero got out before catching villains eye. Villain tilted their head, that devilish smirk on their lips as they mouthed ‘Temper’ over sisters shoulder.

“Exactly. Jesus, I just wanted a nice Christmas and to introduce you to villain. Why do you have to ruin it?”

Hero sagged, their shoulders dropping from defensive and said softly, “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve been rude. I’ll just go-“

“No.”

It wasn’t sisters voice that said that. It was villain’s. A little too quickly if you asked hero, who fixed villain with a suspicious glance. Both siblings looked around to villain who acted sheepish. Jesus, the villain should have been an actor with how good he was at playing innocent.

“I mean... I’m sorry that we got off on a wrong foot, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave. It’s still Christmas and there’s dinner cooked and everyone’s waiting-“ villain looked to sister then.

“Sister I haven’t been completely honest with you. I do know hero, we work at opposing firms in the city. I only remembered when he said I looked familiar. We kind of had a heated couple of run ins-“ hero snorted at that. Yeah, hero had the scars to prove how heated they could be.

Sister narrowed her eyes in the same suspicious way Hero did it was nearly scary how alike they looked. “You work in Law firm evil, and-“ sister turned her head to hero and realisation seemed to dawn on her face. “You work in hero’s law firm! Of course. That makes sense why you were so weird. Okay, villain’s right let’s go make the best of today.”

Villain smiled over sisters head at hero. “Yes, let’s.”

Before hero could pass villain, villain pressed something into Hero’s hand and walked away. Hero looked down to see their comm link and immediately put it in, turning their back to the dining room.

“Tower? Tower is that you?”

“Hello hero.”

Hero’s blood ran cold immediately.Their heart seeming to have frozen over and sending only stuttered beats of blood around their body.

“I see villains done their job perfectly.”

“Wha- what do you want?”

“I want you to go enjoy a nice Christmas meal, relax. Take a break! You deserve it hero! You save the city everyday, and I want you to have this nice cosy family dinner. In celebration and gratitude.”

and not leave your house til dawn.”

“What?” Hero asked, utterly baffled at supervillain’s request.

“See, this reaction just shows how little time you get of holidays. Superhero really works you to the bone huh? All the more reason to stay home today, hero. Really, just enjoy the people you love.”

“What are you up to? What are you planning?”

“Hero, hero, hero. Curiosity killed the cat,” supervillain sing-songed.

“Good thing I’m not a cat, but I am curious, supervillain. Where are you?”

“It doesn’t matter hero, you can’t get to me anyways.”

“What?”

“I mean, if you step outside your house before dawn breaks tomorrow villain has strict orders to kill everyone in that house. If you try to sneak out in the middle of the night, like a sneaky little mouse, I have snipers marking the exits. Go on snipers say hello.”

Hero looked down to see a red laser pointed at their feet and rising to go to their chest. They looked out the window but didn’t see anyone. Fuck!

“Why are you doing this?” Hero asked, their voice coming out scared, but they didn’t care. Supervillain had hero on lockdown for 24 hours there’s no telling what they could do to the city by then.

“I just need you out of the way for a couple hours. Remember no one is allowed to leave the house, hero. Merry Christmas.”

“Wait- wait, supervillain! Wait! You bastard! Answer me. What are you doing? What are you up to?”

“Hero?” Grandad called. Hero turned, hands shaking eyes wide as they stared at their grandfather standing in the arch in the hallway, their mouth going dry.

“Hero?” Grandfather asked again, walking towards hero worry colouring their features. “Are you okay?”

Hero stared at grandfather, completely numb. Supervillain was going to do something today. Something big. Something both villain and supervillain wanted hero away from. So they couldn’t help. Couldn’t- couldn’t interfere.

“Is it love interest? Is she coming? Hero talk to me.”

“Love interest?” Hero asked, just as there was a knock on the door. Hero’s heart hammered so hard against their ribs they thought they would break.

Grandfather reached out and opened the door, glancing back at the frozen hero with concern.

“Hero!” Love interest beamed, walking in and kissing Hero on the cheek before bringing them in for a hug.

“L- love interest? You can’t be here. You can’t be here,” hero mumbled.

“Hero?” Love interest asked, and looked to grandfather who shrugged.

“They’ve been like this all day. See if you can cheer ‘em up, yea? And try get them in for some dinner or grandmother is going to throw a fit,” grandfather added, slipping into the dining room.

Love interest had her hand on hero’s arm, going to their neck and cupping hero’s cheek turning them to look at her. Her big brown eyes stubborn and concerned.

“Hero, what is it?” She demanded.

“Villain- villain’s here. Villain’s here because supervillain is doing something big today and they want me out of the way… and Villain’s here and there’s snipers and if I try to warn anyone villain will kill everyone-“

“Hero, hero! Sssh, it’s okay. It’s okay. This isn’t your fault.”

“I should have known. I should have met sisters partner before today. She invited me over and everything but I said no, and I should have known.”

“Who’s to say villain wouldn’t have ambushed you that day either? Whatever happens is not on you, okay? Just worry about your sister, we’ll talk to her and try and turn her off villain, but right now you need to get inside and have dinner. Okay?”

“If villain sees you-“

“Don’t worry. I know the best hero in the business,” she said with a smile so confident it snapped hero back from the edge of the cliff their mind was bout to plummet off.

“Love interest?”

“Yeah?”

Just as love interest turned hero leaned in and kissed her. Love interest melted into the kiss with a smile, then pulled away.

“Merry Christmas,” hero smiled.

“Merry Christmas, hero.”

Meanwhile. . .

“We’re ready for you, boss,” sycophantic villain’s voice came through the comms and supervillain smiled. They stood up, buttoned their suit jacket and followed sycophantic villain through to the hero tower holding cells. Currently holding the top hero’s in the city. Supervillain smirked when he stopped outside superhero’s cell. He made sure superhero was put in a cell alone. Their nemesis had a habit of inspiring even the most miserable in dire times. No. Superhero had to be alone. To not just break their teams spirit, but superhero’s as well.

Superhero slammed their hand on the power dampening glass separating the pair.

“What did you do with hero, supervillain? Where are they?!”

“Don’t worry about them, darling. Let’s worry about you. You look so cosy in there, white really suits you.”

“When I get out of here-“

“If. You built these cells yourself, superhero. You never miss a trick. Don’t worry. Hero’s nice and cosy too. Having a lovely little chat with villain over a turkey.”

“Hero will come. They’ll find us,” superhero said and supervillain laughed.

“Oh don’t worry, I’m counting on it.”

[casspurrjoybell-26]

May to December - Chapter 17 - Part 1

*Warning Adult Content*

I Love You

Kyle and Chaska didn't leave the living room until the early hours of the morning.

They cleaned up after themselves and joined Otis in bed before the toddler could wake up. 

 The next day had an atmosphere about it, almost suffocating with tension.

Chaska made breakfast while Kyle gave his toddler a shower.

The two adults listened to the boy babble as Chaska fed him pancakes from his plate.

Everything was the same,but something had also changed.

The emotional evening between the two men lingered and Kyle felt his face grow warm anytime he made eye contact with Chaska.    

They had opened up to each other so much and navigating and shifting their dynamics with all the new information they had on each other was going to take time.      

They cleaned up after themselves after breakfast and they left Chaska's apartment to start their day.  

The day went by with no trouble and so did the next and the day after that.

Two weeks passed with the two adults coming to terms with each other and a few things changed.      

Kyle was enjoying the changes.

For one thing, Chaska held his hand in public now.

It had really hurt him when he realized it wasn't something a Chaska was willing to do in public before but now, going shopping together and having the taller man casually reach out for his hand or squeeze his shoulders in affection made his heart race and his face feel warm.  

It was also nice picking up both Otis and Chaska from the daycare.

Somewhere along the line, it had become their routine.

Kyle would come in a bit later when all the other kids were gone and he would then help Chaska close for the day before the trio left for either Chaska's apartment or the older man's mother's place.      

Today was one of those school days, only that Kyle and Chaska had planned to spend some time together, so they dropped Otis off before heading out by themselves.     

The car ride was silent for the most part.

Kyle tried to end the awkward silence by turning on the stereo.

A song from a C.D. Chaska has put in the other day rang through.

The drag queen's voice was deep but they sang in a feminine coded way that was intrigued, Kyle.     

"You asked me if I wanted to go and see a drag show with you," Kyle said, remembering Chaska's proposal from all those weeks ago.

"What happened? You never followed up on that," he added when Chaska said nothing in response.

Kyle watched the tan-skinned man shrug from the side of his eyes.     

"I guess I just forgot," Chaska muttered, looking away from the window to stare at Kyle.

The blonde man's hands tightened on the steering wheel when his eyes caught Chaska's.     

"Do you still want to go sometime?" Chaska asked.

Kyle nodded.

"Yes. I would like to."  

"Alright," Chaska said with a smile that Kyle mirrored. 

The glass of the car's windows were rolled down due to the heat.

Summer had come in at full swing but although schools were out of session and more teens and elementary school kids were out and about, the day-care was still up and running.

In fact, Chaska had more work on his hands now since his colleague had started taking in kindergarten kids for summer school.     

"You look tired," Kyle said, looking away from the man as he took a turn. 

Chaska shrugged.

"I guess."

They were on their way to stream that was further out of town, the farming edge.

It served as a water source for large scale farmers but it was also a neat spot for people who wanted to just take a walk and talk.     

"Work?" Kyle asked and Chaska hummed in confirmation.

The passing scenery around them was already mostly open land filled with cattle or horses. 

"It'll get better, I'm sure," Kyle said, and Chaska let out a little laugh.   

"How's work going, on your end?" the younger man asked and Kyle narrowed his eyes at the road as he thought about it.

He had been getting steady work repairing farm machinery but it had taken a bit of learning from him to get used to it.

Back in the city, he worked with people's personal cars and back in the city people didn't let their vehicles get so out of shape that it was more like resurrecting the dead than performing a recommended check-up or fixing something that had gone wrong. 

"It's eventful..." Kyle settled on saying, making Chaska laugh.

He felt his chest tighten at the sound of the man's voice because of Chaska's partial deafness the man couldn't really gauge when he was being too loud and often spoke at a volume that he could hear himself.

It made his laugher ring with such clarity that made Kyle's heart skip a bit.     

The blonde man nibbled on his bottom lip as the outline of the stream came into view.

He slowed down, beginning to look for a place to park his car.

He found a nice clearing that didn't have wet mud or short grass.

When he turned off the engine Chaska got out of the car and he followed suit.   

 The two walked under the glazing sun, squinting as they approached the stream hand in hand and in dragged footsteps.     

"It's a bit bright outside today," Chaska muttered as a wind from the stream blew past them.

"But the air happens to be cool, so we'll survive," he said, squeezing Kyle's hand as the two looked out into the brown water that reflected the sun's harsh rays.     

Kyle remembered coming to fish with his father here.

They would use fishing strings with bait tied at the end since they couldn't afford fancy poles.

A smile touched his face at the memory before he turned to look at Chaska who had a blank look on his face.

The man was a lot younger than him, so Kyle had no memories of him from the time when he lived in Newfront as a teenager.

He wondered what sort of things Chaska did, what sort of friends he had and what sort of boys he loved.

Sure, he had a bit of an idea after Chaska poured his heart out to him.

He was frustrated with himself and felt a bit selfish regarding that urge to know more. 

"Kyle?"   

The blonde blinked when Chaska called his name.

"Is everything alright?" the dark-haired man asked as the summer wind blew his longish hair about.

Kyle couldn't help but feel that Chaska looked immaculate under the orange light the sun drowned the riverside with.

His full lips were pursed and his thick brows framed his deep-set eyes that were staring intently at Kyle.

The sheen of sweat on his forehead even looked beautiful.

Kyle nodded, rubbing the back of his neck before looking out into the brown waters.     

"I was just thinking..." he trailed, turning to look at Chaska again.

They were both wearing black jeans, simple cotton top,sand muddy sneakers that should have been cleaned weeks ago.

The summers here were dry and dusty.

The occasional rain would mean deep mud,and murky puddles one couldn't avoid.

Everyone gave up on cleaning their cars and shoes.

Fashion hadn't always been a big deal to Kyle but once upon a time, he used to try.

As of now?

He just threw on the nearest thing.

[life-is-hard-2002]

1/1/23

I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions. We all know change doesn’t start just because the next year of our life has. However, I would like this year to be different. Very different. I would like to keep some of the forced independence I learned in 2022. Moving across the country thinking you’ll be with your best friend of nearly a decade only to have what was one of the most monumental friendships you’ve had end less than a month after you arrived. Not a good time. Neither was the black mold, critter infested duplex I moved into. Oh and becoming so mentally ill I couldn’t maintain a single friendship. Aaaaannnnddd of course having my boundaries violated by the first man I ever loved and spiraling even more. Ending 2021 with COVID in the psych ward after an attempt did not set me up for a successful 2022. My logic is that a year of damn near total isolation to protect my peace will? It has to be better than where I was 365 days ago. It’s a mindset that keeps me going.

Here are my 13 hopes, wants, goals and wishes for 2023. In no particular order: happiness, reducing clutter, order and organization, commitment, meaningful relationships, financial abundance, vulnerability- exposing myself to the possibility of pain and rejection, healthier eating, academic success, consistent sleep schedule, stability- structure and routine, a healthy hobby, and working out. I know what you’re thinking, very basic and vague. What you don’t see is the terrible resolutions I have had in years past. My wish to leave an abusive relationship, my goals to finally be able to eat a normal portion size, my want to stop feeling like I needed to self harm, my hope to feel like I don’t need to change to be loved. For the first time, I’m in a place where my goals really can be as simple as working on going to bed on time and having more nutritionally balance meals.

My list is also vague because I’m trying to trust that the universe will deliver what I desire. Now, this doesn’t mean I don’t put in the work. I’ve picked a piece of paper with each of my wants on it everyday since Christmas, each day correlates with a month and for the 13th one I spend the entire year ensuring it happens. I read about it somewhere then forgot how to actually do it, but I remember that you burn them each day. Here’s the order of what I have pulled so far: January- reducing clutter, February- meaningful relationships, March- healthy hobby, April- working out, May- consistent sleep schedule, June- happiness, July- order and organization, August- financial abundance, September- academic success. That only leaves October, November, and December. I’m not looking forward to the vulnerability or commitment ones… And yes, I realize how stupidly open ended they are all, especially ‘happiness’. You try writing out 13 things you want in the next year that don’t directly involve others, it’s harder then it seems. There’s also more specifics to each one. 

[malk1ns]

december twenty-six: rosy cheeks

Every year, Sidney rounds up everyone who’s stayed in town for the Christmas pause and heads out to a few of the retirement and assisted living communities around Pittsburgh to help shovel out snow on the walkways.

It’s not something the team is officially involved in; there are no cameras, no features on Twitter or Instagram to document the time spent, and Sidney likes it that way. He appreciates having some of their charitable endeavors highlighted, because it draws more attention and can lead to more donations and money from the community at large, but there’s a part of him that feels a little like it sounds like he’s begging for attention and praise for being a decent person.

By the amount of guys who willingly come along with him, it’s not an uncommon feeling.

They usually divide up into teams, with each group heading to a different facility. Sidney considered manipulating the lists to put Geno with his group, but they’ve always had one of the captains act as unofficial team leader, and it would be selfish to change that just because Sidney thinks Geno’s very cute when he’s all bundled up and pushing a shovel around.

Everyone parks at the practice rink to gather up shovels and pet-safe ice melt before they pile into vans Sid’s rented and scatter off to their assignments. Sometimes they all head to a bar after as a team, but this year the snow had been bad enough that most of the guys are eager to head straight home, and soon it’s only Sidney, Geno, and Kris left, putting away the equipment and chatting about their plans for the rest of their time off.

“No,” Kris says firmly, tossing his last shovel to the back of the equipment shed. Sidney sighs and follows it to hang it up properly. “If you do not come for dinner this break, Catherine will be very unhappy. She will come to practice and yell at you again. You both will come to my house tomorrow. Bring wine.”

“Bossy,” Geno mutters from where he’s sitting cross-legged on the floor of the shed, carefully combining half-empty containers of ice melt into one. “Yes, fine, we’re come.”

Sidney swears as one of the shovels he’d thought was leaning securely against the wall tilts over and knocks another three down with it. “Yeah, okay,” he relents. “If you’re sure it’s not too much work.”

“Good,” Kris says severely. “I will see you tomorrow. Don’t be late, Geno.”

“Hey, what the fuck—where are you going!” Sidney calls, but it’s too late—Kris is already gone, and by the time Sidney gets to the door of the shed, he’s practically sprinting to his car.

Behind him, Geno laughs. “He’s never help clean,” he says fondly, screwing the cap on the now-full container of ice melt and getting to his feet with a groan as his knees crack. “Come on, let’s do shovels and then we go home. It’s too fucking cold out today.”

“I guess it’s pretty windy out, yeah,” Sidney allows, following Geno back. “This shouldn’t take long, I just need to get them hung up on these hooks.”

“Too short, no wonder they’re all fall,” Geno says, grabbing the shovel from Sidney’s hands and easily hooking it into place.

“Fuck off,” Sidney says cheerfully, watching as Geno methodically moves down the row of leaning shovels. The shed is still bitterly cold even though it’s protected from the wind, and Geno’s cheeks and nose are pink. With his hair curling out from under the edges of his beanie, he looks like he did at their first Winter Classic, the fun one, before he’d started encasing himself in every layer available for outdoor games. “You should have worn a scarf or something.”

“Forgot,” Geno grunts, carefully rotating the last shovel and finally getting it to catch. “There, done. Maybe next year I’m go somewhere with beach for break. You come with—we’re leave Kris to do all cleaning and planning for this.”

He’s making a joke, of course, but Sidney thinks about it—a long weekend somewhere warm, Geno in those little swim trunks that give him tan lines way up his thighs. “That sounds nice,” he says, and Geno swivels to look at him, eyebrows shooting up.

“You’re never want to go to beach,” he says accusingly, crossing his arms. “You always say, oh no, it’s so nice in snow and cold, must have all seasons, I’m never go for break.”

Sidney shrugs. “It might be fun,” he says. “I mean, you have that condo in Miami, and I’ve never seen it—it might be nice to get away and stay there for a little.”

“You’re be serious?” Geno says hesitantly. “Next year I invite, you’re really come?”

“Yeah,” Sidney says. His face feels warm under the weight of Geno’s skeptical attention—their cheeks must be equally red by now. “Yeah, why not? The snow will always be here when we get back. My parents can go visit Taylor instead or something.”

Geno purses his lips. “Maybe my second bedroom isn’t done,” he says, a hint of challenge in his voice. “Like, I’m redoing over summer but it’s not finished by next Christmas.”

“Maybe we won’t need a second bedroom,” Sidney says, winking and slipping out of the shed before Geno can reply.

a series of ficlets based on the prompts in this post—with a few added and modified to suit my purposes :)

december one: A lends mittens to B even though they are way too big but B is blissfully happy and doesn’t plan on giving them back

Sid’s insistence on being the most Canadian Canadian to ever live is gonna kill him one day, Zhenya thinks, watching idly from the bus as Sid subtly flexes his bare fingers after pocketing his sharpie, shifting back and forth on his feet and gamely making conversation with the fans who’d found where their bus was parked at the arena and asked for autographs.

They’d hit the jackpot—everyone was in a good mood after the win, so Jason had the group of three stand near the bus door, and as the team filed in they all paused to sign something, endure a little small talk, and maybe take a picture or two. Even Zhenya had ducked down and done his best to smile naturally for a selfie, trying not to grimace even though his knee was aching at having to crouch so low to get in the frame.

Sid, though. Sid had been last in line as always, darting outside with his curls still wet against his jacket collar, and of course he’d been stuck with the brunt of the fan adoration—and he didn’t have on gloves.

Finally, Sully leans out of the bus door with a smile Zhenya knows is as fake as Sid’s jawline, saying something Zhenya can’t quite make out; whatever it is, the fans disperse, and Sid finally gets on the bus, scowling at the sarcastic round of applause Zhenya leads.

“Fuck you all, sorry for being nice,” he snaps, which is weak even for Sid.

He makes his way unsteadily down the bus aisle, holding onto the seat backs as the bus rumbles into motion; a particularly strong jolt as they go over a speed bump almost sends him toppling into Zhenya’s lap.

Zhenya steadies him, but instead of leveraging him back into the aisle, tugs him down further, scooting over to the window and pushing Sid down into the aisle seat.

“Hey,” Sid protests, but it’s perfunctory, and as soon as Zhenya pulls his hands back Sid relaxes into the seat, curling up a little into himself.

Zhenya opens his mouth, a chirp about how Sid being too bottom-heavy to be so clumsy at the tip of his tongue, but he stops, eyeing Sid’s trembling hands with disapproval.

“Sid,” he scolds, hooking his foot around the strap of his bag and tugging it out from under the seat in front of him, “where gloves? Hair all wet, no hat, no gloves—you gonna freeze. Not smart.” He bends down, splaying his knees out and knocking into Sid’s, pawing through his bag until he finds his own gloves. “Here, put. Stupid, Sid.” He shakes the gloves in front of Sid’s face.

Sid wrinkles his nose and snatches them away from Zhenya, dropping one in his lap and examining the other. “I was fine, G, stop fussing, you’re turning into your mom. It’s warm in here anyway.”

“Put,” Zhenya insists, staring down his nose at Sid until Sid slips the glove on with an aggrieved sigh, tugging it as far down his wrist as he can.

He wiggles his fingers at Zhenya, then jabs his hand into the seat back in front of him. The material collapses until his fingertips hit the seat. “Jesus, your hands are big,” Sid observes.

Zhenya’s glad the bus is warm and he’s still got his coat on—an easy way to explain the sudden rush of heat to his face. Because that’s—Sid doesn’t mean it that way, Zhenya knows that, but when he says it like that, with his voice all low and raspy from yelling during the game, looking at Zhenya from the corner of his eyes, it sounds like a come-on. Zhenya’s heard less blatant lines in the gay bars he sneaks away to sometimes.

Sid’s still looking at him. His cheeks are still pink and chapped from the chill outside, and his hair is curling as it dries. Zhenya swallows, forces himself to poke his tongue through his teeth. “No, is normal, you’re just smallest,” he says, jostling Sid with a sharp elbow.

Sid rocks away, then back into Zhenya’s side. “You can think that,” he says casually, working his bare hand into the other glove. “Thanks, G. I’ll give them back to you later.”

“Okay,” Zhenya says, looking out the window and trying to ignore Sid’s thigh pressed along his like a brand. Sid isn’t cold at all.

[thesunshineriptide]

Hello! Saw you were looking for twst requests so how about how a first date with the nrc freshmen go? (Or the vice house wardens if you prefer) I actually love both groups so much ;w;

I did all the first years and two vice house wardens because I love the vice house wardens very much I am a simp

For the Very First Time

Characters: Ace, Deuce, Jack, Jade, Jamil, Epel, Sebek

Tw// sickness, Jade typical behavior, fish, food

Ace

* You and Ace probably begin dating in early October

* Probably asks you out really casually when you’re just hanging out

* Not the type to ask you with a grand gesture, but he comes off a little shy

* For your first date, he’s taking you to the cinema

* It’s October, which means there’s lots of horror movies out

* He’s the type to make you pay for yourself, but he isn’t taking you somewhere fancy so it doesn’t cost you much

* You guys decide to go see a horror movie because he’s doing the macho thing where he’s like “I’ll protect you”

* He’s fine for the first half hour but he starts freaking out

* Laugh at him for being a dumbass please

* Both of you sneak out while someone’s getting murdered on screen and slide your way into Minions: Rise of Gru

* This is the best choice ever because you both have no idea what’s going on and end up just cuddling in the back of the theater.

* Ace probably throws popcorn at you

* After the movie he’ll take you for a walk

* Unfortunately it starts raining and you two get caught in it

* He takes off his jacket and holds it over your head as you run into a cafe for shelter

* He buys you a cookie as an apology

* Next day he has a cold and whines to you about it while he asks you for another date (and a get better kiss)

* Overall: 6.5/10 it was kinda a shitshow but he’s cute and trying his best

Deuce

* Deuce probably asks you out mid April

* He takes a long time to confront his emotions and psych himself up

* He totally asks you out and gives you flowers (red roses, with one blue one, all from Heartslabyul’s gardens and painted by himself)

* He’d probably ask you out privately as well, and stumble over every few words nervously

* Your first date is at his dorm actually

* He’s been working really hard on two things:

* Making the perfect spaghetti and meatballs

* And learning to make cookies

* Goes out of his way to get permission from Riddle and Trey to do this because he doesn’t want to piss them off

* His spaghetti is pretty good, actually

* Once you’re done eating and chatting, he invites you to make some chocolate chip cookies with him

* How could you say no to a face like that?

* You two have a great time making a mess

* Freaks out when you eat a little bit of cookie dough because he thinks you’re gonna die

* You two drink hot chocolate while the cookies are baking and he does them fancy.

* Whipped cream, marshmallows, cinnamon, and animal shaped crackers are on top

* The cookies come out a little overdone but it’s okay because they were made with love

* Walks you home

* If you forgot your jacket, he gives you his because he’s a good boy

* The next day you guys hold hands on the way to class

* Overall: 8/10 he’s so pure and sweet but very nervous and you saw him reading over some notes he wrote on his palm to make sure he was doing things right

Jack

* He’s the type of guy to fall in love with you slowly

* He asks you out in early December

* Maybe he’s soft, but seeing fairy lights go up and the smell of warmth makes him wanna cuddle up

* He asks you out at lunchtime

* Pays for and brings you your lunch when he asks you, avoiding eye contact the whole time

* Tail wags when you say yes

* First date is to a holiday fair

* There’s a little ice skating rink, it’s flurrying out, and you can smell roasting nuts and cider down the block

* Takes you earlier in the day on a weekend, which means it’s a little packed, but he never loses you

* He’s paying for the date, anything you want you get

* Probably shares a soft pretzel with you

* If you ask him to ice skate he pretends he isn’t excited

* Will guide you around the rink, holding onto you carefully the whole time

* Buys you hot apple cider or hot cocoa

* Every time your face seems to get a little red he reaches over and readjusts your scarf or jacket

* “You have to keep warm, I don’t want you getting sick.”

* If any of the crafts/clothes/ornaments in the stalls interests you, he will get it for you without a peep

* Takes you home in the late afternoon and doesn’t leave until he’s sure you don’t have hypothermia

* Overall 7/10 he’s a gentleman but he’s also a tsundere

Jade

* Jade would probably take years to warm up to you

* Definitely after you’ve both graduated college is when he’s ask you out

* Probably in may-ish?

* It’s beginning to warm, things are springing back to life

* He knows exactly how to charm someone

* Brings you a token of his affections (a necklace with a Jade pendant)

* Invites you to take a walk with him before he asks you out

* On your first date he takes you to an art museum

* He pays for your date, his pride would be wounded if you didn’t let him

* Looked up a map to get a layout of the museum first and checked the flow of traffic through it over the course of two weeks so he could pick the time when there’s least amount of people there, and figured out where to start

* Walks with you slowly, occasionally commenting on an art piece he knows about

* Mostly just chats with you about anything that comes to mind

* You will probably hold up 78% of the conversation so just be prepared

* He doesn’t think about conversational stuff because he’s not uncomfortable with silence. He just likes being around you

* But Jade is Jade so you probably already know that

* After you’re done with the museum he’ll take you for a walk to a pier where you can admire the beach

* If you drag him into the sand he spends most of the time watching you or collecting shells

* Walks you home when you seem tired. WILL have you wear his jacket even if you’re not cold

* Once you’re at home he gifts you the seashells he collected (with you in mind) and kisses your hand as he bids you farewell

* Grab him by the collar and give him a kiss. He’ll be so flustered you might actually get a real smile out of him

* The next day he walks you to your classes, alternating between carrying your books and intertwining your pinkie fingers

* Overall: 7.3/10 points off for accidentally making it awkward but points back for being swoon worthy

Jamil

* Jamil will crush on you for months before asking you out

* Also, he doesn’t ask you out

* No, Kalim intervenes because Jamil is grumpier than usual by ambushing you both with a date.

* It happens on Valentine’s Day, aka the day where sad bitches are saddest

* Kalim begs Jamil for some help with a mystery date he has for his valentine and asks him for his advice and help planning

* Basically, Jamil does the whole thing while Kalim is rubbing his hands together with an evil smile in the background

* It turns out he asked you the same thing, but instead he tasked you with retrieving flowers and a gift for ‘his’ sweetheart

* Cue confused noises when you and Jamil cross paths and Kalim just goes “happy Valentine’s Day!!” And dips

* So, uh, surprise, you and Jamil are on a date now

* It’s awkward for a few minutes before you start laughing at Kalim’s antics, prompting Jamil to laugh too

* “I mean, I was planning on asking you today, but I thought you’d be too busy wrangling Kalim.”

* Jamil’s face heats up and he pushes down a smile, “I was planning on asking you, but then I was busy wrangling Kalim.”

* You two talk over some of Jamil’s cooking, chatting happily about anything and everything and your misadventures in fulfilling Kalim’s requests

* Jamil is softer that night, because apparently Kalim went off to bother Azul since he’s bitchless and responsible, which means he’s in nirvana

* He doesn’t walk you home but he does go pick up Kalim from daycare, and you aren’t far away, so he might as well pop in for a minute…

* You two end up making out on your couch for the rest of the night

* Morning after he’s gone, but he made you breakfast and left it in the fridge with a note asking you out on a second date

* Overall: ???/10 your first date wasn’t planned but it was fun once you got over that

Epel

* Epel doesn’t have the balls to ask you out, okay?

* You’re asking him out

* You just sort of slide up to him while he’s carving apple birds in the cafeteria and ask him if he wants to go apple picking with you

* Immediately says yes, is not aware it’s a date

* Once you two nail out the details of when you’re going, he finally catches up to the fact it might be a date

* This is confirmed when you shoot him a text the day before asking if he’s still cool with the date

* He’s squealing, kicking his feet in the air, screaming into his pillow

* Vil ends up telling him to shut up it’s literally 10:30 at night

* He almost gets too excited about the date that he doesn’t sleep

* He does get a few hours of shuteye once he nails down every detail

* He picks out the best outfit, best shoes, checks his bank account and oh dear lord that’s so empty flies are coming out of it, he even takes a shower on his own

* He has butterflies in his stomach when you come to the dorm to pick him up

* He’s dressed like a cowboy and a lumberjack at the same time please don’t comment on it

* When you arrive at the apple orchard he’s bouncing around like a kid in fuckin Disney world

* Infodumps about apples

* Also comments on the quality of apples and talks about his family’s farm

* He needs help reaching the apples please help him he’s too short

* Has 0 chill but he’s really cute

* Will pick apples specifically so he can make you some apple pie later

* You’re paying for the date, right? He never asks, but never offers to pay either so you can just assume

* Apple boy is excited because it’s his three favorite things at once: you, being covered in dirt, and apples

* He doesn’t bother pretending to be prissy here because he knows you won’t hold it against him, you asked him out you know he’s a gremlin

* Takes home way too many apples with a bright grin on his face and on the way back he tells out funny stories about his childhood

* Falls asleep on your shoulder after a while

* You end up having to carry him inside because he is snoring like a trucker and refuses to wake up

* Next day he shows up at your place carrying a homemade apple pie

* Overall: 4.6/10 he’s having the time of his life which is fun but he’s an acquired taste. His pie is tasty though

Sebek

* He begrudgingly asks you out in March because Lilia told him he needs a life outside of Malleus

* He actually does like you, but maybe not enough to warrant a date just yet, those feelings are still blooming, yknow?

* His idea of a date is taking you to an aquarium and telling you about all of the animals, regardless of if you’re interested

* It’s kind of nice to have someone playing tour guide

* The date has a pretty platonic feel to it aside from the fact that you are forcibly holding Sebek’s hand as you walk around

* “It’s so I don’t get lost!” “I WILL NOT LOSE YOU, HUMAN, THERE ARE FIVE OTHER PEOPLE PRESENT”

* The only time he quiets down is when you reach the underwater exhibit, where he pauses for a moment to just stare at the water

* He begins to quietly tell you some of his more secret thoughts, and is surprised when you lean in to hug his arm and lean your head on his shoulder

* “I think you’re doing amazing, Sebek.”

* He’s softer when you walk through the rest of the aquarium, and even buys you a crocodile plush that you name Sebek Jr.

* He refuses to refer to the plush as his son, but he does blush and get very flustered

* He pays for your lunch, but he also orders for you so there’s that

* “It’s what Lilia-sama recommends!” (It tastes like ass, but it’s free)

* Walks you and Sebek Jr home, bows when you’re about to go inside

* Gets very flustered when you peck his cheek

* Decides that it wasn’t that bad and perhaps he might invite you for another date some other time, but he’s really just not ready for that yet

* The next day you two are closer but not really in a romantic sense yet. You’re both young and Sebek needs a lot more time to really come out of his crocodile cave

* He will absolutely get flustered if he ever sees you and Sebek Jr around again though

* Overall: 5/10 it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t knock your socks off amazing either. You know a bunch of fish facts now though and he paid so

[rozcdust]

She’s so mean

Pairing: Kokonoi Hajime x f!reader

Genre: Crack, SMAU, a lil bit of fluff

Word count: 2.2k

Warnings: Canon divergent, profanity, ooc, slight age gap (both charaters are adults), the reader is tired and a bitch

pt. 1 | previous | pt. 18 | next

You were 0.004 miliseconds away from dropkicking Chifuyu across the living room.

He was hopping around you, adjusting your collar and cuffs, just being done telling you off for wearing a leather jacket in the middle of December, reminding you a bit too much of your mother.

“You look beautiful, you’re amazing, I’m so happy for you, God, they grow up so fast, my child is going on a fucking date.”

You raised an eyebrow as he brushed away a stray hair that was on your shoulder.

“I’m literally a grown woman.”

“You’re a child.”

“I’m 22.”

“A baby.”

“I have a job.”

“An infant.”

Maybe smacking him would be worth it.

Kazutora was just as bad, if not worse, but in the opposite direction.

“Do you have something to change into when you go into work?”

“Yes, left it with Ayumi.”

“Did you pack your wallet?”

“Yes, and I have cash.”

“Your phone is fully charged?”

“97%”

“Hand it over until he arrives, 3% is a lot… Here, you almost forgot your lighter-“

Your brother was sprawled over the couch, Pochi purring on his stomach, and he was clearly amused as he watched his boyfriends fuss over his little sister, your scowling face in contrast to their excited ones only making his grin wider.

He was happy for you too, you refused to even try to date after your last relationship, and he understood why, but he wanted you to at least give it another shot.

He also knew you wouldn’t even hesitate to actually hit him if he even tried to act like Fuyu and Tora, so he stayed hands off.

“If he seems like a creep, if vibes are off, call us immediat-” Kazutora started, Chifuyu cutting him off mid sentence.

“We’ll come to get you, don’t even hesitate-“

“Pull his teeth out while you wait on us.” Baji added from the couch.

“Thought you told me to not be a bitch.”

“Incorrect, you’re always a bitch, I told you to not rip out his heart. I didn’t say anything about his teeth.”

“How the fuck did you bag not one, but two boyfriends with that worldview?”

“I’m hot~” He cackled as you fake gagged, flipping him off.

You grabbed your phone off the counter Tora set it on to check a notification.

“He’s here.”

Chifuyu and Tora latched onto you like leeches, Keisuke getting off the couch, much to Pochi’s displeasure, to ruffle your hair and kiss the top of your head.

You wrestled out of their grip to grab your purse.

“Have fun!”

“Be smart!”

“Use condoms!”

“Fuck you Baji.”

“Oh, we using surnames now? Fuck you too Baji!”

You smirked, flipping him off as you slammed the door behind you.

“Do you think she’ll be fine?” Chifuyu asked, setting Pochi on his lap as he sat down.

Kazutora gently pecked his cheek.

“She’ll be okay. She’s grown a lot since Zankoku.”

“I’m still worried.”

Baji sat behind Chifuyu, pulling him closer as his fingers intertwined with Kazutora’s.

“She knows how to take care of herself Fuyu,” he placed a small kiss on Chifuyu’s neck, “She’ll never get like she was two years ago ever again.”

Kokonoi stood in front of the passenger seat doors as waited for you to come down, desperately trying to seem like the nerves weren’t eating him alive.

When you exited the apartment building, walking up to the car as you politely nodded as you slipped in, letting him close the door.

He took several deep breaths as he got to his side, pulling his seatbelt on before starting the car.

“Where to, pretty boy?” He saw you lean on the car door, looking out the window.

“There’s this sushi bar not too far from here, and it has good vibes, that okay with you? We can go somewhere else if you’d prefer, I probably should ha-“

He was interrupted by a scoff followed by a laugh.

“Sushi bar is just fine, baby.”

His brain short circuited as he almost back reared the car in front of him, causing you to laugh some more.

You’ll be the death of him.

As you two sat down and marked down your orders on the menu, you leaned back in your chair, watching him rack his brain for conversation topics in amusement.

You could help him. You had a few questions you wanted an answer to, but watching him desperately trying to not be awkward was too fun to pass upon.

He took a sip of his drink, and your ears perked up as he cleared his throat.

“Are you working tonight?”

Kokonoi felt stupid for asking a question he already knew the answer to, but he had to start somewhere.

“Yep. My shift starts at 10.”

“I see. You seem to work a lot, I always see you running around somewhere.”

You shrugged, fingertip following the rim of your glass.

“Yep, gotta put myself through college so kinda have to. I used to work at the restaurant and the gas station, but since Mr. Haitani employed me, I only work there.”

“What are you studying?”

“Nursing.”

Kokonoi let out a whistle.

“You manage to study nursing while working this much? You’ll work yourself to death.”

You rolled your eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh.

“You sound like my brothers.”

Oh. That explained the three men he was earlier.

He was glad to know he was being accepted into the family.

“You have brothers?”

“Well, technically one, but his boyfriends are basically my brothers-in-law already.”

“Boyfriends?”

In that moment, he knew, he fucked up.

“You homophobic?” You crossed your arms, lips tightening in a line.

Kokonoi was sure that your glare could have killed him.

“No, no, God, no, I mean, Rin and Sanzu are my friends and they’re together, right? I was just confused by the plural-“

Kokonoi wasn’t sure if the smile you cracked was supposed to put him at ease or unnerve him.

“First of all,” You leaned towards him, a cheshire grin across your face, “Can’t believe you’re using ‘I have gay friends as an excuse’.”

Kokonoi settled his hand on his lap in an attempt to hide his shaky fingers.

“Second, Sanzu and Rindou are together?”

Kokonoi tilted his head, confused.

“Yes? They’ve been together for a while.”

“Huh. Didn’t notice.”

“They thirst over pretty people together, so that kinda makes it harder to notice. But yea, no, they’re absolutely disguising. The number of times I walked in on them crawling all over each other at work-“

“You work with them?”

Kokonoi almost choked on air.

He thought he was safe from replying when the food got brought out, but your raised eyebrow and expectant look told him otherwise.

“Uh, yea,” He nervously scratched his neck, “We’re coworkers.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you that.”

Fear bloomed in Kokonoi’s body. He didn’t like the way your tone suddenly turned cold.

He scrambled through his brain, looking for a good enough excuse, cursing himself for not having prepared one beforehand.

“I work as a financial manager in a big shot organisation.” He managed to get out, and the fact it wasn’t too far from the truth made him feel a bit better about lying straight to your face.

You nodded, dipping a piece of sushi into soy sauce.

“Sounds nice.”

Kokonoi wordlessly nodded.

“Oh, y/n?”

“Mhm?”

“I wanted to ask, how old are you?”

“22. You?”

“Ah, 27.”

You shrugged.

“Cool, you’re the same age as my brother.”

“What’s your brother’s name? Tell me a bit about him.”

You shook your head, a teasing smile on your face.

“Nuh-uh pretty boy, you asked enough questions. Tell me about yourself now. Do you have any siblings?”

“Nope, I’m an only child.”

“Spoiled brat.” You huffed, making Kokonoi laugh.

You found you enjoyed the pleasant chatter with him a bit too much for comfort.

Kokonoi probably should have expected some arguing over the bill, but he didn’t expect you to hold it down with the same tenacity and gaze of a bristling cat.

Which is how the two of you found yourself here, you holding the bill out of his reach, not even letting him see it, as he held your purse so you wouldn’t be able to get your wallet.

“Come on, let me pay-“

“Fuck you.”

“I asked out, I should pay, come on-“

“No. Give me my purse back.”

“Absolutely fucking not.”

The staring contest was killing him.

“Let me pay, and you can pay on the next that?”

Your eyes coldly scanned him head to toe.

“What makes you think there will be a second date, pretty boy?”

He wasn’t sure what was it about your attitude, but your harsh words combined with the pet name made his heart flutter.

“Okay, let’s rock paper scissors it?”

You stared at his outreached hand suspiciously, your gaze returning to his eyes as you held your first out as well, counting to three.

You wanted to flip the fucking table when you lost, staring at your hand which held scissors as if it personally betrayed you.

“Next date,” You hissed as you handed him the bill, his smug face causing you to experience homicidal tendencies, “I’m paying.”

He smirked as he laid down the money.

“Anything for you, baby.”

You still had an hour before your shift, so you dragged him to get something to drink, not even letting him in the shop with you in case he decided to be clever and pay again.

He smiled and thanked you as you handed him his drink.

The fact he only apparently knew how to smile like that one meme of a smug cat surrounded by knives kept ticking you off.

“Let’s have a walk. There is a nice spot right around the corner.”

His heart almost stopped when you intertwined the fingers of your free hand with his, pulling him along.

He was grateful for the darkness, street lights barely illuminating the back alley close to the park you pulled him into, he knew you would mock him for blushing.

He looked up to the sky, worried. It looked like it could rain any moment, and you had work later. He couldn’t imagine that bartending in a club soaked would be pleasant on any account.

He slammed into you as you suddenly stopped in front of the park, forcing him out of his thoughts as he spilled his coffee a little, almost falling down.

Luckily, you had fast reflexes, grabbing him by the waist before he could fall over, and you just had to grin like an asshole at his flustered face.

“Careful~” You giggled, letting go of him as he regained his balance.

“Hold my orange juice.”

He obliged, watching with a raised eyebrow as you climbed the fence, sitting on top before grabbing both of your drinks, jumping off and landing on the other side with a soft thud.

“Whatcha waiting for?”

He looked the fence up and down.

It wasn’t too tall, but it had to be at least 8 feet, and he wasn’t really sure about this, slightly fearing whatever you were planning.

“Well? Scared, rich boy? Or are you just too old? Afraid you’ll break a hip?”

With a huff, he climbed up, jumping down next to you.

Grinning, you handed him his coffee back, making your way to your destination as he trailed behind you until you came to a clearing.

“Here we are.” You grinned, pulling out a cigarette as you sat down on the gravel, far away from the lake.

Kokonoi stared in awe at the lake’s surface reflecting the night sky, clouds and pollution hiding the moon itself, but letting just enough of the moonlight shine.

“Want a drag? You’re shaking. Nicotine crisis hitting you?” You grinned at him as he sat down next to you.

He wanted to say that he’s shivering because it’s fucking cold and windy, that he’s shivering because his jacket isn’t that warm, that’s he’s shivering because you’re beautiful and he didn’t know what to do now.

So all he did is nod.

Your fingers brushed against his lips as you put the cigarette in his mouth.

“How’d you find this place?”

“Used to come here all the time when I needed somewhere to smoke and be in silence.”

Kokonoi nodded, passing you back the cigarette.

He blinked when he felt something wet hit his cheek, and looking at the lake surface, he cursed.

“It’s raining.”

You raised an eyebrow at him like he was an idiot.

“So?”

“You have work later, and my car is a kilometre away. You don’t wanna work shivering and miserable, come on.”

You rolled your eyes, pulling him back down next to you as it started raining harder.

“Come on pretty boy, it’s nice here. Still got half an hour, and I have spare clothes at work.”

He hesitated, but seeing your face, he realised it was not a request, but an invitation, so he obliged.

The two of you stayed in silence as you both got soaked to the bone.

“It’s freezing.”

“You’re being a pussy, Koko.”

“I’m not, I’m being objective.”

“Barely.”

He sighed as he laid down on the gravel, letting the rain wash over his face, almost defiantly ruining all the hard work he put into his makeup.

Makeup.

You wore makeup too… And you’re working later…

He bolted up, eyes wide as he stared at your confused face.

“Your makeup! It will smudge, do you have an extra makeup bag in the club? Maybe just even a wipe?”

He was confused when you started laughing.

“Is that what you worry about? My makeup?”

“I mean, it’s raining and you have actual shit to do-“

“You know what else is rain good for?”

He wasn’t sure he liked the smugness in your tone as your grin widened.

“Rain is excellent for cringe love scenes.” Brushing your thumb over his jaw, you grinned at his flustered face, gaze wandering between his lips and eyes.

You leaned down towards him until you were just a few centimeters away, looking up at him, asking for permission.

He closed the gap between you two, turning into putty under your touch.

You tasted like citrus and cigarettes.

Taglist (open):

@1818cigarettes @babu-haitani @dilf-city @wakasa-wifey @lagrimasdeglitter @kisekihany @missarabellla @bajifairyy @cryszus @r-xochitl @hana-patata @bontenacious @crybabylisa @spookydraken @rorobaijifuyu @yukihime-mikeys-girl @toobsessedsstuff @sammcaav222 @emilywaters @agoddess-inashell @levistiddies @t04dxm @qualitygiantshoepsychic @chilledraft @bontensbabygirl @brokencoinlocker @somniari-94 @yujibhabie @inumaki-s-onigiri @wakasagurl @sup-zfam @nqctre @chronic-claire-universe @rozewayne2005 @bxnten @graythecoffeebean @hanmascult @sanzuswh0re @yuushs @little-crow @halcyondaisy @st4rryhae @gvancagamer @passionateuchiha @haikyuu-simps-assemble @hecatve @notsodeadgirlwalking @royal-shinigami @marrymemanjiro @frogtits1

a/n: ik i said no chapter today but i was wrong 🤧🤡

[the-wales-5]

"Mad about you"

~~ December 2020 ~~

Catherine entered her husband's office and asked:

"William, could you record me, please?"

"Sure, what's the occasion"

"Message for someone's team" she replied

"I have seen for whom. You left a piece of paper on your desk yesterday. It is for the 1851 Trust, right?"

"Are you annoyed?"

~~~ July 2015 ~~~

The Duke and Duchess Of Cambridge arrived at Portsmouth to watch "Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR)" taking part in the "America's Cup" race organised by Benedict Ainslie and so to meet with him.

Catherine was excited since morning. She was a fan of water sports for years.

"Why are you putting on so much makeup? " her husband asked as he entered the room where Catherine was standing in front of the mirror

"Am I? It's a normal amount of makeup for today's occasion, I think"

"Is it for him? For Mr. Ainslie?"

Do you mean Ben Ainsile?"

"Ben? You've met him 2 times and you are referring to him as 'Ben'? You really think it's normal?"

/

The races have been cancelled because of strong winds. But Catherine was still spending good time by taking part in virtual races and also enjoying herself in the company of Mr. Ainslie. Unknowingly leaving her husband in jealousy again.

Later, they were presenting trophies. The Duchess went to give one to Benedict. They were also sharing a 'loving' look. William was pretending to be alright. In fact, he felt like was about to explode from furiousness.

Catherine was looking with 'heart eyes' at someone else. Was it because she felt unappreciated by him after the birth of Charlotte just three months ago? Or maybe he was assuming too much and it was just a look and smile?

They were silent on the way home from Portsmouth. Kate was thinking if Charlotte was alright without the ability to see mum for a few hours. William, on the other hand, was wondering how to start a conversation with his wife about what he had seen.

"Catherine" he spoke up finally.

She was too focused on thinking about Charlotte and could not hear him.

William cleared his throat and repeated: "Catherine, are you here or somewhere else?"

She finally looked at him.

"I’ve said your name two times. What were you thinking about?"

"Charlotte. I was thinking about her. She's left at home today, you forgot about it?"

"No.. Never mind."

Catherine looked through the window and wondered, "Is he still annoyed because of my makeup? " .

For the rest of the way home neither of them said a word.

**

"Kate, can we talk now?" William asked as soon as they entered their house. "You were visibly enjoying yourself with Mr. Ainslie today. Oh, sorry, correction; with 'Ben'

"Are you assuming something?" Catherine rolled her eyes "You are still angry towards me because of makeup, that silly little thing like eyeliner? Are we again at the university or did the teenage phase catch you?"

"Excuse me, what? 'Teenage phase' ?

"It did, right?"

"No. I was just asking…"

"Yes, you were asking unnecessary questions.."

Right after saying that, Charlotte's mother quickly went to her room.

After eating dinner and putting George and Charlotte to sleep, Kate was sitting on the couch and checking the email box. William sat down next to her. He wanted to apologise but right in that moment he noticed that she was reading a new message, from Benedict Ainsile and his team. Catherine was smiling at the screen. William could not hide his jealousy anymore.

"Why is he writing an email to you?"

"It's not a private email for me but an official one. Look, you are included here too" she said as pointing at the "HRH The Duke Of Cambridge" written at the end of the email and smiled a little.

"Yes but the biggest " thank you" is directed to you"

Catherine was now getting frustrated. "Yes" she replied confidently "To your information, it is rather obvious because I've met the "BAR" team a few times and I have seen the official trophy of America's Cup last year too"

"So that is the reason why Mr. Ainslie writes emails to you? Maybe soon he will be sending you text messages as well?"

Catherine scoffed and replied then: "Do you know that you are sounding like a mad person now, William? And do you know that it happens for absolutely no reason?"

He looked at her with jealousy and mocked her last words "no reason". He made sure that their children wouldn't hear him, then approached Catherine and hissed as saying louder: "You were looking at him in a sweet, flirting way. Your eyes literally turned into hearts".

"What do you mean?"

"STOP BEHAVING AS IF YOU HAVE HAD NOT ENJOYED THE WAY HE WAS LOOKING AT YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE!. While I was standing there like an idiot, trying to keep a poker face to not encourage the media to create stupidest headlines.. SEE? THAT'S WHY I AM GETTING JEALOUS AND THAT'S ALSO WHY I'M SOUNDING LIKE A MAD PERSON! "

Catherine was shocked, she had no idea about her husband's feelings and how a 'simple' look would make him feel irritated. She went closer to him and gently touched his arm.

"Look at me, William.." she said quietly

"What do you want?"

"Listen to me.. I had no idea it would make you feel like that. I was just trying to be polite.. Well, maybe too polite.. But--.. But it doesn't change a thing between us. It doesn't change the fact that you're the most important person for me and the most handsome man I have ever put my eyes on and.. And I love you"

William looked into her green eyes, yet pretended to feel hurt by her actions for a few seconds.

"If you love me, can you prove it somehow?"

"How?"

"Look at me in the same way you did with that man and--.."

Catherine was not listening to him anymore, just pressed her lips on his. After the kiss, William caressed her lips and said: "Well, I think I believe you.. Although, it may take a few kisses like this one to make me feel fully convinced about your feelings, my wife"

Catherine giggled quietly and replied: "I think I might accept this challenge.."

William and Catherine were reconciled after that night but less than a year later, he had another reason to feel jealous.

~~ May 2016 ~~

The Duchess of Cambridge got an invitation from "1851 Trust" to take part in the race in Portsmouth, as the team was preparing for the upcoming America's Cup.

On 20th May 2016, the situation about 'too much makeup' was repeated but this time in a more joking way. William also remarked on the fact that his wife was wearing a skirt instead of trousers.

"It is just for the beginning of engagement, I will wear trousers later for the race"

"Don't let him flirt with you"

Catherine shook her head and smiled.

William smirked, kissed her and whispered:

"Remember that you're mine.."

"I know. I'll be back in less than 2 hours. "Don't be jealous, please" Kate chuckled, and yet before leaving, she kissed her husband on the cheek.

Her engagement was full of fun for her. Firstly, she was looking at a new machine for virtual races. Later she went to change clothes and was soon wearing a special suit. She still had to wear a helmet and had difficulty fastening it. Obviously, Benedict Ainsile was there to help her, and soon, she could start following the race.

Little did she know that William would be busy trying to follow her engagement as much as possible through the Internet. He trusted her but he couldn't say the same thing about Mr. Ainslie.

//

"I'm back!" Catherine said as she entered home with a smile on her face. She couldn't notice either her husband or children in the living room, so she went to the kitchen. William was standing near the kitchen table and pouring water into the glass when he noticed her and forced himself to smile, saying:

"Oh, you already came back"

"Yes. Have you managed to take care of our kids?"

"Yes I have. And what about you? Was your engagement good?"

"Yeah.. I think I'll go to Charlotte's room. Is she sleeping now?"

"Yes, she is but can you take a look at something else first?"

"What do you mean?"

William drank full glass of water to calm down himself and replied: "A few photos"

"Oh, did you take pictures of Lottie when I was away?"

The Duke went to the living room where had left his laptop and opened the website with his wife's recent engagement coverage.

Catherine followed him, and soon she had seen photos that were showing Benedict Ainsile helping her in putting on a helmet.

William looked at her and his eyes seemed like they were full of question marks while Catherine had no idea what to say. William broke the silence.

"Tell me what happened there"

"Nothing. It was just help"

"Why did you agree?"

"To what? I could not fasten it properly myself so he helped me, that's it."

"Really?"

"Yes. You seriously thought I would flirt with him again?"

"You had it in mind, if you would not have then you wouldn't let him help you. There were other people 'available' to help you, why couldn't you ask them? "

William's voice was now loud and he couldn't hide it. Catherine decided to not be calm anymore, she had enough of this argument that was nonsense in her opinion. She replied louder:

"Ben offered me his help! Was I supposed to say that he can't help me because of my husband?"

"Yes!"

Catherine was looking directly at her husband, nearly hissing the same way as he did the last time they had an argument about Mr. Ainslie.

"DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT YOU HAVE ME WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER AND I'LL DO EVERYTHING THE WAY YOU WANT ME TO?! "

She sat on a chair in front of William's laptop and breathed deeply.

"Am I controlling you?"

"Are you not? Do you really think that I am that stupid, William? Do you seriously think I am not jealous of you sometimes? I am and it happens more often than you think. It's always been like that. I've always been jealous, during university time for obvious reasons, then after our breakups happened and I still am jealous."

Her husband was about to say something when she spoke up again:

"In comparison to you, I am not trying to control you like a mad woman"

"Kate.."

She was not listening to him, she was hurt and furious. She stood up and continued: "And you clearly remember how I erased the word "obey" from my marriage vows. I am not someone that you can control. How could you follow my engagement? I get that you do not like Benedict but, oh gosh, this is hilarious. You were aware of the fact that I will have an engagement with Ainslie today and we even were joking about it before I had left home. What changes now? What's the reason for your anger? One photo taken out of context?"

"Out of context? You are maybe not guilty here BUT HE SEEMED TO ENJOY IT WITHOUT HAVING TO SEE ME THERE! and maybe that's why you couldn't refuse his help? Maybe you had a need to flirt? "

"WILLIAM!

"WHAT? I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT HOW HE WAS STARING AT YOU THAT DAY IN PORTSMOUTH AND NOW I SEE HE IS HELPING YOU. THIS IS SICK."

"You know what's sick? The fact that you're still assuming the same thing that you did after that day in Portsmouth. Your behaviour has not changed. And--.. "

Catherine's voice was now suddenly breaking. She could not stop it even though she wanted to. She knew she had to leave the room as soon as possible because it was going towards the point where she would burst into tears in front of William and admit she's heartbroken. "I have to stay strong" she thought and said after clearing her throat: "And I feel like you have changed and you're not trusting me anymore. I know I am probably not giving you enough of my time as it used to be yet before Charlotte was born, but everything changed when we decided to have kids. Everything. Our daily routine, the way I see myself physically and mentally. One thing has not changed for me, but, as I am noticing since more than a year, for you, it has changed, apparently. Good to know.." She sniffed and left the room, nearly running just to hide her tears from her husband, but it was not successful. He could feel her emotions. He could feel how sad and disappointed she was in him.

"DAMN IT! " William cursed and closed his laptop harshly.

***

Catherine stayed in another room the whole night crying. Her husband was not sleeping either. He felt guilty. He realised that he made a mistake when he's been accusing his wife of something and unknowingly ignoring and hurting her for nearly a year now.

It was 2:35 AM when The Duke decided to try to talk with Kate again. As expected, the doors were closed so he just sat down and leaned his body on them.

"Catherine.. I know you are not sleeping. My control of your engagement or actions was wrong, I can admit it. I'm sorry for everything I've said and for shouting at you."

He sighed deeply and continued even without knowing if Catherine listened to him or not.

"I hate Benedict Ainslie and perhaps I am getting too obsessed but I love you. I am mad about you. I can’t imagine losing you, that's why I am acting so oddly. That is why I'm so possessive. I just love you, Catherine".

The Duchess was looking through the window at the raindrops flowing down after it stopped raining an hour before. She was trying not to listen to William's voice, but it was difficult. Not only because she loved hearing that voice, and it was bringing her comfort, but because his recent words were making her heart skip beats. He really meant every word he had said, and it melted her heart to pieces despite sadness. Although, she was still not ready to open the door and to look at him.

2 hours passed and William wanted to give up right at that moment..

"Babykins.. Try to understand me and if you cannot then please just say it. I'll let you sleep peacefully. Be ready to hear similar words and declarations in the morning but for now I'd give up and go to the other room finally. Just say something."

Catherine was now feeling sorry for him. She stood up and opened the door. Her husband was still sitting in front of the door in the same position as before. He stood up quickly and looked into his wife's eyes. She avoided it and asked as trying not to smile:

"You really were waiting here for 3 hours?"

"You heard everything, right?"

She nodded. William lifted her chin upright and she whispered:

"I am so sorry too.."

"Hsshh.. It's not your fault. I was acting terribly"

"No, not you.." she whispered again and sighed

"Kate, no.. You are not guilty here, you did nothing wrong"

Catherine was now trying to act seriously, saying: "Benedict Ainslie. He's guilty of everything. It's his fault that we were fighting.."

She giggled and then her husband touched her cheek and caressed it with his thumb.

"That's true" he whispered "But still I want to apologise to you"

"You do not have to.. You've already said it all when I was 'sleeping' "

They both chuckled and right then William cupped Catherine's face into his hands.

"I will join you at the next America's Cup in July and he will not be able to flirt with MY wife anymore" .

Catherine wanted to kiss him but she stopped, saying with a smirk on her face: "No"

"What?"

"You will not join me there if you won't fulfil my requirements. Well, maybe two of requirements"

"Shall I kiss you? Two times?" William giggled

"That's not the case. You'll promise me to never accuse me of ridiculous things"

"I promise"

"Well, one requirement is fulfilled. Now the second one. Kiss me."

William smirked and said cheekily: "No. You have to fulfil my requirement now"

She raised her eyebrows. William giggled and said: "You have to tell me about all the moments you were jealous of me, babykins. During university days, after breakup and nowadays"

"My requirement was easier.." she sighed

William pressed his lips on hers, lifted her up on his arms and while she was giggling quietly, he said as still smirking: "I'll kiss you now but you will have to tell me about your jealousy phases tomorrow."

**

The next morning. They were both exhausted after getting only a few hours of sleep but still brave enough to wake up at 8 AM to take care of George and Charlotte.

Catherine was sipping on her tea and slowly eating toast when her husband said:

"Your turn now"

"What?"

"Your stories about jealousy, I'm waiting"

Catherine groaned and sighed "Do I really have to talk about it?"

"No excuses accepted." William looked into her eyes and smiled evil.

"The first time I felt something was.. Oh my god, that's embarrassing!" She said as feeling quite annoyed by the fact she had to reveal it

"Tell me"

"It was yet before we went on a first date, before the first "I love you" but already after that situation with the 'kiss' after the fashion show, you know.."

"So you were falling in love or, at least, you were impressed by my attempt to kiss you. Weren't you?

"No? No, I was not! " she replied as she tried not to blush

"Alright, next story?.."

"2007. We broke up, and I was seeing photos of you partying with your friends and some girls. And that’s it, I think"

"Is it really? Yesterday you said you feel jealous nowadays too"

"Yeah, that’s true, but I think you can read my mind now, and so you know exactly what I’m going through when you are looking at other women. I know I’m not looking perfect sometimes so.."

"Excuse me? "

"I’ve said the truth" Kate sighed

William gently grabbed her hand and said: "Catherine. You know that I love you no matter what you think to yourself sometimes, right? And that you’re perfect for me every day. Even now, when you are without makeup with dark circles under your eyes for not getting enough sleep. Maybe this way, you look even better than with makeup.."

"Stop joking"

"I am often joking but not now"

She just smiled shyly and her husband kissed her on the cheek, then said:

"Well, I think I fulfilled your requirement too"

"You have, indeed"

They smiled at each other and William added: "Get ready to see my possessive side during the America’s Cup this summer"

"You wouldn’t have to show it"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I do not want to have another argument about that guy"

"That guy? You were calling him “Ben” not so long ago"

William tried not to chuckle when Catherine said as she smiled: "I’ve changed my mind" .

***

~ 24th July 2016, America's Cup, Portsmouth ~

At the beginning, The Duke and Duchess Of Cambridge met with the children from Catherine’s patronage “1851 Trust”, people hosting the Cup, then it was time for the start of the race that was about to happen this year despite foggy weather.

William helped Catherine to go onto the yacht deck. Soon they were watching the races. At one point they thought cameras were not pointed at them because they were shielded by the part of the yacht.

"You have not meet Mr. Ainslie yet" William said amusingly

"I will when there'll be time for giving trophies and medals"

"I hope his team will lose. I really don’t want you to meet him today. You belong to me"

"it would be stupid if I wouldn’t meet him or rather his team"

"You told me that I wouldn’t have to be possessive today"

"You do not--.."

Catherine’s husband looked at her and the second later he kissed her yet before she finished her sentence

Their faces were only inches apart when she said: "Someone will see us here. What are you even doing right now? Another way to show your possessiveness?"

"Who will see? All these people are interested in watching the race and you’re the one that shouldn’t be" .

Now he started kissing her neck. Catherine tried to control herself and stop her husband, so she squeezed his waist.

"William.. I meant the cameras.. They'll take a photo"

"Even if they will see us it will not be a clear photo or video. They only see that we’re standing close to each other, nothing else. Don't think about it now"

"Why are you doing this? Is it your new way of jealousy?

"I don't know but at least I have control on who you are smiling at or looking at when I am kissing you."

He kissed her once again on the lips and then just looked towards the cameras that were, correctly to his wife's assumption, directed at them. He just smirked and thought "You couldn't see anything clear" .

At the same time Kate's cheeks were nearly red. She was blushing and her thoughts were a pure mess, shock mixed with sort of excitement.

After the races finished, The Duke of Cambridge was not happy because Ben Ainslie Racing" had won the race, and so his wife was supposed to give him a medal. Yet before that, they both met members of both teams and congratulated them for good work. Catherine also had a short conversation with William's 'rival,' but she was acting more professionally than ever.

"You won't do it" William said teasingly as they were standing on the stage, shortly before Kate was about to give medal to Mr. Ainslie. She looked at him astonishingly with a question mark in her eyes.

When it was announced that "BAR" won the race, William went towards Benedict with a medal.

Catherine was looking at her husband lovingly as realising he was actually the funniest and the most handsome man.

~~ 2016 - 2020 ~~

Neither Catherine and especially William had any meetings with Benedict Ainslie. No more attendance at America's Cup. Back in 2019 William decided that if Catherine misses watching races they can organise their own annual races called "King's Cup Regatta" where they'd raise funds for their charities. The main reason for him was the inability for "Ben" to meet with them again though.

The only time when there was a connection between these two was in 2020 when Catherine had a telephone call with Ainslie. William was trying not to be jealous, but he couldn't help himself.

"Only a phone call, okay? The camera will be turned off"

~~ December 2020 ~~

"Are you annoyed? "

The Duchess asked quietly after her husband told her about finding a piece of paper with a reminder to record a video message for "1851" and so Benedict Ainslie.

"I am not and I am actually happy that you've asked me to record this video."

William smirked and then added as looking deeply into his wife's eyes:

"But I have a little requirement.."

"A requirement?" she smirked

"You'd have to mention our races"

"What?"

"New Zealand, 2014. Do you remember?"

"Oh yes, I do. Okay, I agree. Can we--.."

William held her hand and said:

"Wait.. You can't smile too much because then he'll think it is for him"

Catherine tried not to laugh as she said:

"William, please.. If he ever felt something towards me then I am sure he surely realised that I am only yours.."

"It is better to be careful anyway" William said and wanted to kiss his wife

"You can kiss me after the video is ready."

The Duke of Cambridge sighed, went to take the camera from his office and followed his wife towards the garden.

~ The End ~ ♡

As she felt William's eyes on her, Catherine was not thinking about what she had to say in her video but about how lucky she was to have someone who could be jealous, possessive sometimes too but mostly someone who loved her more than anyone else ever could.

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers VANDEAD CARNIVAL ;; Present from Mukami [PART 1]

ー The scene starts in Yui’s bedroom

Yui: Today’s Christmas Eve, huh...?

( When I was still living with Father, we were always extremely busy during this time of year with preparations for the Christmas Mass. )

( We would decorate the church for the Mass...or make tons of sweets to hand out to the children as gifts... )

( Somehow that feels like part of a distant past now... )

Haah...

ー Kou enters the room

Kou: Heya~! M-neko-chan~!

Yui: ...Kou-kun?

Kou: No need to act so surprised, right? What’s wrong? You seem kind of down?

Yui: Um, could you please knock on the door before entering? I’d really appreciate it...

Kou: Eh~~? Why bother going through the extra trouble?

Besides, I live here, remember? My house, my rules, no?

Yui: H-Hm...That might be the case, but...

( I have a feeling he won’t understand... )

So, why are you here? Is there anything you need from me...?

Kou: Hm~~? I only came to hang out because I was bored~

Yui: I see. Are you off from work today?

Kou: Exactly! Today’s my first free day in a long time!

Anyway, more importantly, M-neko-chan. You were talking about how it’s Christmas Eve today earlier...Right?

Yui: Yeah...I had a bit of an ‘oh, right!’ moment.

Kou: ‘Oh, right’...? You’re talking as if you only just noticed.

Yui: Yeah...But I really did recall only now. It totally slipped my mind...

Kou: To think you’d forget about such an important event! Is everything okay, M-neko-chan?

Yui: I mean, you guys don’t celebrate Christmas, do you?

Kou: Hmー Well, we’re Vampires after all. We obviously don’t feel like celebrating it, nor are we interested.

Yui: ...Figured as much. There aren’t any Christmas decorations inside the house either...

Besides, I haven’t gone out much as of late either...

Kou: Now that you mention it, you’ve just been going back and forth between here and school without making any additional stops, huh?

If you were to head out, you’d discover that the whole city is in a Christmas mood. 

There really is no way to look past it, whether you like it or not...

Yui: Yeah, but I haven’t gotten a chance to go look...So I completely forgot...

Kou: Hmー...

Ah, say, M-neko-chan? How have you spent your Christmas Eve in the past?

Yui: Eh...?

Kou: I mean, I don’t know how normal families celebrate the holidays.

Yui: Hm...Right. My personal experience might be a little different from the standard though.

Kou: Heeh? In what way?

Yui: You know that my Father works as a Priest, right?

Kou: Ahー I feel like I heard that somewhere before.

Yui: We hold a Mass at church on Christmas day, so we have to prepare for that the night before.

Kou: Prepare? Like the Christmas lights they put up in town?

Yui: Yeah. Ours weren’t quite as elaborate, of course.

On the day of the Mass, the visitors light a candle, take a seat and pray...

Then afterwards we read passages from the Bible.

At the very end, someone will play the orgle and everyone sings together.

It creates such a lovely medley of singing voices...I loved that part.

Kou: Hmm, I see...But is that actually fun?

Yui: Yeah, it is. It is an important day to me after all.

( It’s a day full of memories of the time I spent with Father as well, after all... )

Kou: Hmー So that’s how it is. I mean, I don’t really understand but...Oh, I know!

The other day, this one person at work told me that Christmas Eve is a special day you should spend with your lover. (1)

Have you ever spent Christmas Eve with a special someone before?

Yui: No...I was always helping out for the Mass at Church after all...

Kou: I see...

ー Ruki enters the room

Ruki: The two of you are making a ruckus. At least close the door when you’re talking.

Yui: Ah, Ruki-kun...Yuma-kun and Azusa-kun as well. What’s the matter?

Yuma: We just happened to run into each other in the hallway. Ya guys were talkin’ hella loud.

Yui: S-Sorry...

Azusa: Eve and Kou...The two of you seemed to be having a fun chat.

Kou: Really? It wasn’t anything special though.

Ruki: Anyway, Kou, come with me. Livestock, you stay in your room.

Yui: S-Sure...

Kou: Eh~~...? Oh well, whatever. I got to learn something new at least.

See you later, M-neko-chan~!

ー The four of them leave

Yui: They left...

( Somehow it suddenly got quiet. )

( ...Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded talking for a little longer... )

ー The scene shifts to the living room

Kou: ...Say, say, Ruki-kun. Why don’t the four of us throw a Christmas party?

Ruki: Haah...I was wondering what you would bring up all of a sudden.

Kou: I mean, M-neko-chan seemed kind of sad, you see~

She was raised at a Church, right?

So it seems like Christmas and such brings back a lot of memories for her.

Yuma: So that’s what the two of ya were talkin’ ‘bout earlier, huh?

Azusa: ...Say, what is...Christmas?

Kou: Ah, are you interested, Azusa-kun?

Christmas itself is on the 25th of December and the day before that is called ‘Christmas Eve’.

It’s the day on which they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ~

Azusa: Heeh, then...Today is the 24th so it’s...Christmas Eve...right?

Kou: Exactlyー! So I was thinking we could hold a little celebration?

Ruki: Azusa, did you not celebrate Christmas back when you were still human?

Azusa: ...We did not have that kind of celebration...

Ruki: How about you, Yuma?

Yuma: Hmー... Now that ya mention it, I do feel as if the city was a lil’ more lively ‘round this time of year...I think...?

I might have celebrated it back when I was a child, but I forgot.

Kou: I’m pretty sure my answer should be obvious but...Ah, you must have celebrated it, right, Ruki-kun?

Ruki: Well, yes.

Kou: Makes sense. You are a rich boy after all~

Azusa: Say, Ruki? How exactly do you celebrate it...?

Ruki: You decorate the inside of the house, say your prayers to God and enjoy a meal with the whole family.

There’s special foods and snacks which are only enjoyed on that particular day of year...

Also, you would exchange presents...I suppose that about sums it up.

Azusa: ...Exchanging presents...I honestly don’t care about the exchanging part. I’d much rather just be on the receiving end of all the punches...

Kou: Ahaha...Putting your wishes aside for a second...

Don’t you want to try and hold a Christmas party?

We’ve never really done something like that with the whole family, right? Come on, why not?

Ruki: Family, huh...?

Yuma: That bein’ said, Vampires celebratin’ the birth of Christ is kinda fucked up, no?

Kou: Should we not? Do you think he’ll be upset with us?

Ruki: ...Well, while I doubt he will be thrilled about it, that man has connections to the Church of his own, so he might understand in a sense.

I doubt he will condemn us if we hold a small celebration at home.

Kou: Right~? In that case, let’s get this party rolling~!

Ruki: Yuma, Azusa. What do you two think?

Yuma: ...Ahー...

Azusa: ...

Yuma: Oi, Kou. The Sow’s havin’ a rough time, right?

Kou: Yeah, she is.

Azusa: I...personally don’t care much about the party itself but...I don’t want...Eve to be sad...

Yuma: Nnー Well, it’s not really for her sake, but I don’t see any harm in doin’ this sorta stuff for once?

Ruki: ...

Kou: Fufu~ In that case, we just need permission from Ruki-kun...~!

Ruki: Haah...You’ll all be helping out, including during the clean-up, understood?

Yuma: Oh! Which means...

Ruki: Exactly...I suppose it will make for a nice change of pace.

We haven’t really spent much time together as a family up until now after all.

Furthermore, pleasing Livestock is part of our duty as her masters.

Kou: Hooray~~!!

In that case, we need to get started with all of the preparations!

Azusa: ...

Ruki: Oi, Azusa. Where are you going?

Azusa: I figured I’d go...tell Eve that we’ve decided to hold a party...

Kou: Eh!? You’re going to tell her?

Yuma: Aah? Should we not?

Kou: Hmー Don’t you think this is a perfect chance to make it a surprise?

Yuma: Surprise...? The fuck’s that?

Ruki: It means to catch them by surprise. In other words, you keep it a secret until the very second they arrive at the party...

Kou: I’m sure she’ll be ten times happier than if she already knew about the party beforehand!

I’m an idol, remember?

So I’ve had people throw a surprise birthday party for me before. 

I felt so happy back then!

Yuma: Hm. Is that how it works? Well, fine by me.

Ruki: Azusa, you’ve heard us. You don’t need to go inform her.

Azusa: Mmh. Understood...

Kou: Hmー Holding a Christmas party is fine and all but...

Yuma: The problem’s how to prepare for it. We need to decorate the place, but I have no fuckin’ clue which decorations to pick.

Azusa: I wonder what kind of...dishes we should serve...?

Kou: Let’s leave that part to Ruki-kun.

Ruki: Right. Just leave the cooking up to me. Which leaves...

ー The scene shifts to Yui’s bedroom

Yui: ( Hm...It’s a little chilly in here... )

( I’m pretty sure quite some time has passed since the others left as well. I wonder what they’re up to...? )

( Right. I suppose I’ll check up on them while I go grab myself a hot beverage. )

ー The scene shifts to the hallway

Yui: ...

Kou: Let’s leave that part to Ruki-kun.

Ruki: Right. Just leave the cooking up to me. Which leaves...

Yui: ( Ah...Kou-kun and Ruki-kun’s voices... )

( I wonder what they’re talking about...? )

Excuse meーー

ー The scene shifts to the living room

Ruki: ...Oh...

Kou: Eh? M-neko-chan!?

Yuma: ...Ya sure have the worst timin’, huh...?

Yui: Eh!? I’m sorry. Should I not have come in...?

Azusa: No, it’s fine...We were just talking about throwing you a surprise Christmas party

Yui: Eh...?

Kou: Waiーー!! Azusa-kun! What are you saying!?

Azusa: I mean...It’s not like we can still cover it up at this point. If we try and hide it...We’ll only end up making her uncomfortable. ...Right?

Ruki: Yes, Azusa, you are absolutely right. We could have always sent her back to her room, but I’m sure she would have been worried about us secretly scheming something behind her back.

If we upset her, we’re basically rendering our intentions null.

Yuma: Haah, I mean, that’s true but...We could have at least tried to keep it a secret...

Kou: Haah...Guess there’s no point now...

ーー And with that being said, we shall now commence with the preparations of the Mukami family’s very own Christmas party~!

Yui: Eh...!? We’re holding a Christmas party together!?

Yuma: That’s what we said earlier, remember? Are yer ears still workin’?

Yui: No, they are but...I’m just shocked...

I’m just wondering if it’s okay for you all to celebrate Christmas even though you’re Vampires?

Ruki: You don’t need to worry about that.

Kou: Exactly! Don’t fret over the small details~!

Are you not happy? You get to celebrate with us!

Yui: Of course I am...! I’m just surprised, that’s all.

Kou: I don’t think there’s any time to be surprised though? We have to hurry up and  prepare or Christmas will be here before we know it!

Yui: Ah, right!

Kou: Okayー! Let’s get started with these preparations right away!

Azusa: Eve...We’ve never held a proper party before...Can you tell us what we should do...?

Kou: First off, it’d be a great help if you could give us some pointers on how to decorate the house.

Yui: Well, we have to make actual decorations first...

Ruki: I assume it would be much quicker to just head to the store rather than explaining it here first.

Yuma: Good point. I doubt I’ll understand from some explanation alone.

Azusa: ...Yeah...

Ruki: There you have it. We are heading out at once.

Yui: Sure!

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to the department store

Yui: ( I never thought I’d one day go shopping with all of the guys like this... )

( That alone counts as a Christmas miracle. )

Yuma: Whatcha been grinnin’ ‘bout this whole time?

Yui: Ah, right. I’m just so happy we’re all able to go shopping like this...

Yuma: Heh, you’re gonna find yerself lost ‘gain if ya keep yer head in the clouds like that. Wouldn’t be the first time after all.

Yui: I...I’ll be careful.

Kou: Fufufu, so you’re aware of it at least.

Yui: Y-Yeah...

( It’s not that I actually walk away by myself though... )

Ruki: The food’s next on the list, huh? Oi, is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?

Azusa: ...I’d like something doused in plenty of red chili powder...

Ruki: ...Azusa, let’s try and stick to Christmas food this time.

Azusa: ...Fine...

But what exactly is ‘Christmas food��...?

Ruki: Hm...

Yuma: ...We don’t know if our personal preferences fit the holiday spirit after all.

So shouldn’t we just leave that choice up to the Sow?

Kou: Exactly. That’s why we called her over, so the two of you should talk it over and make a quick decision.

Ruki: ...I suppose it cannot be helped. That seems like the most time-efficient solution. 

Livestock, what did your family eat for Christmas?

Yui: Let’s see...I suppose Turkey or Roast Beef are both staples on any Christmas dinner table!

Ruki: You’re only naming meat...

Yui: Of course, we eat salad as well? Mixing in vegetables cut into cute shapes and such...

Yuma: The fuck does that mean? All veggies are the same, right?

Yui: You can use cutters to shape them like hearts or stars. I guess you’ll get an idea if we go to the deli counter...?

Yuma: Ready-made dishes?

Yui: Ah, I didn’t mean we have to buy anything, but I figured we could gather some inspiration.

Yuma: Geez, I thought ya were gonna take the easy way out. It’s a party after all.

So we’re obviously gonna make everythin’ at home from scratch, right?

Yui: Yeah! Of course.

Ruki: I suppose it’ll give us an idea of what we can make. Well then, let’s go buy the ingredients first.

*TIMESKIP*

Yui: I’m glad we got our hands on some delicious-looking meat!

Ruki: Yes. I’m looking forward to preparing it.

Yui: ( I managed to buy everything I need for the cake as well, so I’ll try my best at making it! )

( I hope they’ll like it... )

Kou: Say, let’s go pick out a tree next! The biggest one they have!

Yuma: Geez, are ya a lil’ kid or somethin’?

Yui: Fufu, you’re interested in decorating it, right?

Kou: I mean, it’s all sparkly and pretty, right? Just like me, no?

Azusa: Let’s buy lots of star-shaped decorations...

Kou: Come on, Azusa-kun. Don’t ignore me.

Azusa: Eh...? Ah, yeah...Sorry...

Yui: Do you like stars, Azusa-kun?

Azusa: Yeah...They’ve got these sharp and pointy ends...So I’m sure they’d hurt a lot...

Yui: S-So that’s why...

Ruki: Azusa, you better not think of tainting those stars with your blood.

Kou: Exactly! Today’s Christmas after all, a day you are meant to enjoy with your family!

Well then~ Which one to buy?

ー Kou runs off

Ruki: Oi, Kou. Don’t run off by yourself. 

I won’t allow for any extra purchases. We’ll only buy the necessities.

Kou: Eeeeeh~? Whaaat~? You cheapskate!

Ruki: I don’t mind being a cheapskate. This is important money we’ve received from that man.

I can’t be wasteful with it.

Kou: Well, I get where you’re coming from but...

Yui: ( Everyone seems to be having fun. )

( Like this, it almost seems like we’ve become an actual family... )

*TIMESKIP*

Yui: Phew, we bought more than I anticipated.

Yuma: That’s ‘cause Kou kept on wantin’ to buy all this shit, right?

Kou: Eeh~? You’re blaming me? Fufu, I won’t deny it. However, we didn’t buy anything we didn’t need, right?

Yuma: I mean, we didn’t, I guess...

Ruki: Let’s go over everything one more time. Is this pretty much everything we need for the tree and decorations...?

Yui: Yeah! We’re all set!

Yuma: We’ve got the vegetables I grew at home as well, so this should do.

Kou: Aah~ We’re actually celebrating Christmas. I can’t wait!

Ruki: Kou, you’re being way too excited. Mind your manners.

Kou: Oh come on, let me be! I never got to experience this as a child after all!

Yuma: Well then, we’re gonna be busy once we get home~!

Yui: Speaking of which...Where did Azusa-kun...? Ah, there he is!

( I wonder why he’s just standing there? )

Azusa: Say, Ruki...

Ruki: ...? What’s the matter?

Azusa: I want this knife...

Yui: K-Knife...?

( Why is he holding a knife...? )

Kou: Hold up, Azusa-kun, where did you get that?

Azusa: ...Why not? I want this to give me pain... 

Yui: A-Azusa-kun! What are you saying...!?

Ruki: Azusa, go return it to the store.

Azusa: Please? ...The shape of this blade is so pretty, and it looks very sharp as well...

Ruki: No means no. Azusa, you have to put it back where you found it.

Azusa: No way....But I want it so badly...I can’t give up on it...

Yui: Azusa-kun...

Azusa: ...Come on, I want it, no matter what...

Kou: Azusa-kun! You don’t need a knife on a fun day like this!

Azusa: No...This is special...

Yui: ( What to do? Azusa-kun’s not giving in at all. )

Yuma: Oi, at this rate we’ll never make it back home.

Azusa: Then...Can we buy it?

Yuma: Just listen to Ruki for today. Ya can buy that crap whenever, right?

Azusa: ...

Yuma: God, listen up...

Ruki: Azusa.

Yui: ( O-Oh no...Ruki-kun started getting angry as well. )

U-Um, Azusa-kun...

Yuma: Ya stay out of this.

Yui: B-But...

Yuma: Geez, guess it can’t be helped. I’ll go bring it back with him.

Ruki: My bad, Yuma.

Yuma: Yeah. ...Come on, Azusa, let’s go.

Azusa: ...No.

*Rustle*

Yui: Ah! Yuma-kun! If you grab him by his collar like that, you’ll hurt him....

Azusa: Ah...It hurts...I can barely breathe...Haah...Amazing...Uu...

Yui: ( A-Azusa-kun is...happy? )

Ruki: Azusa, don’t cause Yuma too much trouble, okay?

Azusa: Yeah...

Yuma: Che! Ya say that but you’re already bein’ a pain in the ass! Come on, walk by yerself already!

Azusa: Nn, but...It’s suffocating...

Yuma: That’ll fix itself if ya just use yer own damn legs, no?

Azusa: It’d rather stay like this a little longer.

Yui: ( He’ll be okay, right? Yuma-kun’s with him after all... )

ー Yuma walks away with Azusa

Ruki: Let’s go. We’ll head back first and get everything ready.

ー Ruki starts walking away

Yui: Eh? Don’t we need to wait for them?

Kou: Yuma-kun may be with him, but knowing Azusa-kun...

Yui: ...?

Kou: Azusa-kun has a hard time letting go of things once they pique his interest.

Yui: I see...

( It might take a while until they get back... )

I hope it won’t turn into a fight.

Kou: Hmー I guess that’ll depend on Azusa-kun’s behavior?

Ruki: What are you two doing? Let’s go.

Kou: Roger~!

Yui: ( Yuma-kun’s actually quite good at looking after others, so we can leave this up to him, right...? )

*TIMESKIP*

 ー The scene shifts to the living room

Kou: Phew~ These were so heavyー

Ruki: Good grief, I’m exhausted...

Yui: ( We’ve got quite a lot of bags... )

Ruki: Well then, we’ve got no time to lose. Let’s start preparing.

If we procrastinate for too long, we’ll only waste time.

I’m heading towards the kitchen to get started on the food.

Kou: Gotcha~!

Guess I’ll get started with the decorations then.

Ruki: We’re counting on you.

Kou: Roger!

Yui: Ruki-kun, I’ll help out as well!

Ruki: Yeah, that would be great.

Kou: I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ll make for us!

Yui: Mmh! I’ll try my best to make something delicious, okay?

*THUD*

Yuma: Honestly, I went through fuckin’ hell and back!

I’m never cleanin’ up Azusa’s mess again!

Yui: S-Sounds like they’re back. He seems really upset though. I wonder what happened...?

Ruki: I assume Azusa threw one of his stubborn tantrums. Oi, Livestock.

Yui: Y-Yes!

Ruki: Go pass on this message to them. Please tell them they should get started with their own tasks.

Yui: Yeah, sure. I’ll go tell them.

ー The scene shifts to the hallway

Yui: Welcome back, you two.

Azusa: If I don’t get that knife, I’ll...I’ll...

Yuma: Aah, let it go already! What’s so damn nice ‘bout that knife anyway!?

Azusa: ...

Yui: ( Seems like they don’t even realize I’m here. )

( That being said, if I leave them be, they’ll run late with their preparations. )

Um, you guys! Welcome back!

Azusa: ...Wah...You startled me.

Yuma: Aah? The fuck, Sow? You’ve been standin’ there this whole time? 

Yui: Yeah...Um, Ruki-kun has already started preparing everything, so he’d like the two of you to help out as well. 

Azusa: But, the knifeーー

Yuma: Ya really don’t know when to give up, huh? We’re done talkin’ ‘bout that!

Azusa: ...You blockhead.

Yuma: Speak for yerself!!

Yui: ( O-Oh no... )

( I can’t leave things like this. I have to stop them somehow... )

U-Um!!

Azusa-kun, Kou-kun has started on the decorations, so can I rely on you to help him with that?

Azusa: ...

Yui: Both me and Yuma-kun understand very well just how badly you want that knife...

But we have to get on with the Christmas preparations now, so I’d really appreciate it if you could help out...

Azusa: ...What about you?

Yui: Eh?

Azusa: What will you do?

Yui: I’m going to make the Christmas cake.

Azusa: ...Okay. I want to try your cake, so I’ll forget about the knife...For a while, at least...

Yuma: ‘For a while’, my ass! Forget ‘bout that thing forever!

Yui: Shh, calm down, Yuma-kun.

Azusa: I’ll go help Kou then.

Yui: Yeah, good luck.

ー Azusa walks away

Yuma: Heh. You’re really startin’ to get the hang of how to handle that guy, huh?

Yui: Y-You think so...?

Yuma: Well, whatever. Anyway, Ruki’s already in the kitchen, ya said?

Yui: Yeah, I think he’s getting everything ready to start cooking.

Yuma: I’ll go get some veggies from the garden then.

Yui: Ah, Yuma-kun! Could you maybe let me have some fruit to use for the cake?

Yuma: Roger. I’ll make sure to grab a few, so ya get yer ass over to the kitchen ‘kay?

Yui: Yeah, thanks!

ー Yuma walks away as well

Yui: Well then...

( I’ll try my best to bake the best cake ever as well! )

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

Translation notes

(1) While the holidays are often associated with family in the West, Christmas and especially Christmas Eve are strongly linked to couples in Japan. 

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[petri808]

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Inukag AU

There was a genuine smile on Kagome’s face as she sat on her bed quietly while her family and friends did what they could to try and jog her memory. It was about 3 months since the accident and today the bed was littered with photo albums, old letters, newspapers from her college days that Sango had saved, or her mother pulled from her old bedroom, really anything they could think of to provide visuals. She didn’t want them to feel bad for her predicament, so thought it best to go along with it. They probably knew— she didn’t recognize any of it but bless them for playing along as she nodded or chuckled at appropriate times or patiently waited as she stared at certain items longer than she should have. Because Kagome really wanted to remember.

But in reality, all the words and images were viewed through a strangers lens. Yes, she recognized certain people, but not everyone or the situation in the photos. For Kagome, her last recollections end shortly after graduating college. She knew Sango since they’d been friends, but barely remembered Miroku. To her Miroku was still the boyfriend of less than a year, not a husband and certainly not a father to the couples 1 year old twin girls. Sango was her best friend, so to not remember the wedding or the birth of the twins who based on the photos were precious to her... hurt. There she was in those pictures holding one newborn in each arm, beaming at becoming an aunty, and no recollection of it.

“Tomorrow is the weekend, so we can video chat with Sota,” Mrs. Higurashi reminded her daughter. “I’ve been keeping him updated by text.”

“Where is he again?” Kagome asked.

“In Hawaii, at the University of Hilo.”

“Oh... right,” Kagome chuckled. “I forgot.”

“That’s okay, dear. Sota is in his senior year now and will be coming home in December after graduation.”

“I hope I’m well enough to fly there for the graduation.”

“I think you will be,” her mother smiled softly. “There’s always hope.”

Yeah... hope. It was the only thing keeping Kagome from breaking down. Each night as she drifted to sleep, she’d remind herself of the temporary nature of her condition. Truth or not, it was worth clinging to. Earlier her mother told her of how she’d flown to Hawaii to help Sota settle into his dorm. As the big sister, she was so proud of him, but again Kagome had no recollection of this event and only Hawaiian vacation pictures to prove its truth. Still, she was happy that her brother had grown up so much. The sense of pride she must have felt at the time was renewed in the new knowledge.

She didn’t remember a lot, but there were moments that brought tears to her eyes for more than one reason. Take the other day when Sango and Miroku brought the twins for a visit. The children remembered their Aunty Kagome and quickly reached out with their small hands to her. It brought out tears from the happy emotions such adorable faces could provoke in anyone, yet also tears of frustration for not knowing them at all. Clearly, they loved her, and she wanted to love them too. Bless them, showing concern for her tears, reaching out to Kagome’s face as if to soothe the adult. So, realizing her effect, she quickly smiled and told them she was just happy to see them.

“It’s still a little weird,” Kagome confided to Sango one day, “because my only memory of Miroku is of an annoying guy following you around while still checking out other girls.”

Sango laughed, “he still an annoying guy at times, but it’s true, he has settled down since those days.”

“What was it that finally changed your mind about Miroku?”

“Oh, um actually we’d had a fight... a really big fight over his behavior and I put my foot down. It was me or them because I wasn’t gonna put up with it anymore. I guess the proverbial slap to his face woke him up.”

Kagome chuckled. “It does appear to have worked. But it was obvious how much he loved you despite the stupid things he did.”

Sango nodded. “True. If I didn’t think so too, I would have just walked away and not looked back. Sometimes guys literally need a harsh wake up a call to realize what they’re about to lose.”

That made Kagome think about the supposed fight with Inuyasha on the night of her accident, because it resembled the predicament Sango went through. She frowned. “Why are guys like that?”

Sango shrugged. “If we ever found an answer to that question, we’d be rich.”

Kagome snorted a laugh. “Agreed. We could make money writing self-help books.”

The girls shared a laugh before moving on to other subjects, but as the day grew late, Kagome suddenly sank down on the bed. There was a question she’d been wanting to ask, and though Inuyasha would be the better one to ask, he was still a strangers in her eyes. At least with Sango, she knew she could trust her friend to tell her the truth.

“Before you go, Sango, I have something to ask about.”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Could you tell me how I met Inuyasha? Tell me what you know about our relationship?”

Sango’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Hasn’t Inu told you anything?”

Kagome looked down. “He has told me things, but I— I still don’t know if I should trust him. I mean... I know my mom loves him and that tells me a lot, but it doesn’t change the fact he’s just a stranger at this point for me— it’s,” she shrugged, “awkward.”

“Oh... Guess I never thought of it that way.” Sango reached out and took her Kagome’s hand. “I’d be happy to answer your questions. It’s okay that it’s awkward, that’s understandable so don’t push yourself to accept things just to accept them, but even I would agree with your mom, he’s probably told you the truth.”

“You think so?”

Sango squeezed her friends hand and chuckled. “Yeah. I didn’t like him at first, but the guy really grew on me. Try it, test me,” she coaxed Kagome. “Ask me about something he told you and let’s see if my answers are the same.”

Kagome smiled and sat back for a moment in thought. “What’s something questionable...” she tapped her chin. “The first date he took me on was to a ramen restaurant. Which is not very romantic if you’re trying to woo someone. So, it sounds true and preposterous at the same time. He said he was so nervous that he accidentally spilled a drink on me. I wondered if he told me that just to be funny and endearing, but it never actually happened.”

“Oh,” Sango burst out laughing, “it definitely did happen! You’d told him to pick somewhere he loved to go and Inu’s favorite meal is ramen, so that’s what he picked. And the drink. It was a pink cocktail that stained your dress. You were so annoyed!” She giggled again. “But it was obvious how nervous he was, and I remember how you told me it was cute to see him get all flustered.”

“Oh, wow,” Kagome laughed too. “I guess I have to believe it now. Tell me more.”

“Hmm,” Sango pondered. “He was so nervous to even ask you out, Miroku had to ask you for him.”

“What?!” Kagome gasped and snorted a laugh. “And I’d still said yes?!”

“Yeah, because by then you liked him too. It took... if I remember correctly a year of interactions just for him to gain that much courage.” At that point Sango’s voice quieted. “I don’t know if he’s told you this part yet but, Inu was a broken person when you’d first met.”

“No, he hasn’t.” Kagome leaned forward with interest. “What do you mean?”

“At the time he’d already been broken up with Kikyo for 4 or 5 years I think, but he hadn’t fully moved on yet. I can’t say he still loved her. I think it was more just loneliness. His mother died when he was young as well. So, I think the combination of losing the two most important women in his life left him depressed.”

“Wow...”

“I knew him as Miroku’s brooding coworker, how my husband tolerated that I have no idea, but they were close friends. When we’d introduced you to him, things slowly began to change. You almost made it a mission to help him get out of it.” Sango chuckled lightly. “You know how you are, always trying to help people. At first, Inu resisted, but you didn’t let up and slowly but surely broke through his defenses. He became a puppy dog around you, totally head over heels in love.” She smiled. “It was fun and so cute for us to watch it all happen.”

“I wish I remembered any of this,” Kagome sighed.

“You will. You’ve never been a quitter, so I truly believe you will get your memory back.”

“Thanks, Sango. All of your guys help really means a lot to me.”

Sango reached out and hugged her friend. “I know you’d do the same for me.” She sat back in her chair. “It’s tough now, and I know you described Inuyasha as a stranger, but treat it as if you’re dating a new guy with all those heart racing, excitements that come with it. I see how you look at him.” She teased. “You must at least thinks he’s cute?”

Kagomes cheeks flushed pink. “Is it that obvious?”

“Oh, yeah,” Sango giggled and squeezed her friends hand. “If all you do is focus on this situation, you won’t start to live again. They’re releasing you to go home in a couple weeks, so have a little fun with him. Create some new memories.”

“Maybe you’re right... maybe I will try to think about it that way.” Kagome tips her head slightly. “It is kinda fun to feel those giddy girly emotions when I see him.”

Speaking of. The girls hear a knock at the door and turn to see Inuyasha walking in with a bouquet of flowers and a bag of take-out food. “Hey gorgeous and Sango.”

It set off another rush of heat to Kagome’s face. “Hi,” she squeaked out.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Sango stood up with a wink. “See you tomorrow.” She hugged her best friend and left the room.

Inuyasha took the seat beside Kagome and handed her the flowers. “How are you feeling today?”

“Mmm, it was good chatting with Sango.” She held the flowers up to her nose to smell them while keeping her eyes on him. “Thank you for the flowers, they’re beautiful.”

“Beautiful women deserve beautiful flowers,” he smiled back and held up a bag. “Hope you’re hungry. I brought dinner since hospital food must be getting boring by now.”

“Aww, that’s thoughtful of you, cause yes,” Kagome sighed, “it is.”

Inuyasha chuckled, then pulled out the containers of food. He handed Kagome a plate. “It’s salmon nitsuke.”

“Oh, yes!” Kagome almost moaned in delight as she opened the container and surveyed the food. “And it smells so delicious!” But before Inuyasha opened his container. “Wait! Let me guess what you got.”

“Okay?” Inuyasha chuckled.

“Ramen.”

Inuyasha’s eyes widened. “How?!”

Kagome giggled. “Sango told me it was your favorite.”

To her guessing was funny, but she didn’t expect the pained expression that instantly fell over Inuyasha’s face. It didn’t take her long to realize. “Oh my, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to make you think I got my memory back!”

“I-It’s okay, really,” he tried to reassure her. Yes, it hurt, but, “it’s nice to see you smiling and happy.”

“Are you sure? I’m really sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

“Kagome, it’s really okay.” He smiled with eyes clouded over. “You’ve been... stand-offish till now, so it makes me feel a lot better that you’re comfortable enough to joke with me again.”

“Yeah... about that... I’ve been talking with Sango and she’s been encouraging me to give you a chance. I do want... to take her advice, but...” her voice softened, “could I be honest with you?”

“Of course.”

“For me, this is all like meeting a new guy and, you know, the whole crush, dating steps, and such whereas for you, it’s different and must be frustrating.”

“If I’m being honest, yeah,” Inuyasha scratched his head, “it is, but I don’t know, also a bit exciting too, like a challenge, but a fun one if that makes any sense. I get to date you all over again— I-I mean if you’ll let me.”

“They’re releasing me soon, so I think...” Kagome’s cheeks flushed. “I’d love to go out on a date with you Inuyasha.”

“Whoo Hoo!” He pumped his fists in the air. “I feel like a teenager again,” Inuyasha laughed.

At that, Kagome giggled, her mood significantly lightened, and a weight lifted. It was the first step towards a sense of normalcy. Forget the fact she couldn’t remember a chunk of her past and live in the now where a handsome hanyo sat waiting.

[alreadyblondenow]

Second Star to the Right | Na Jaemin (TEASER)

✦ Jaemin x reader ✦ Fluff, Smut, Smut, Smut, Angst, Fairy AU ✦ 1/5 for HOLIDAY SERIES: Once Upon A December

Summary: Jaemin is a mere tooth fairy who’s just doing his job collecting teeth became you’re one and only true friend. You have strict parents so you crave for adventure and so Jaemin offered you one and brought you to Neverland. As you two grew old together, you became closer and soon fall in love with each other. Seasons change and so does your feelings towards Jaemin. Will a tooth fairy and a human will have a happy ending?

Warnings: Heavy cheating, swearing, skinny dipping, unprotected sex, loss of virginity, fingering, oral sex, nipple play, betrayal

A/N: PURE FICTION. Inspired by the fairytale Peter Pan, but not following the main plot. Just the idea of never growing up, fairies and pixie dust. It’s a cute story of saying good bye to your innocence, childhood, and accepting that you’re growing. Nothing heavy don’t worry. if tumblr deletes this in the tags again, i’ll delete this again wahaha

Date: Dec 10

19 years old

Every day with Jaemin is nothing but adventure and new things, but ever since you two started seeing each other and acknowledging your feelings, days have been always sweeter than yesterday. Holding hands while flying, cuddling in your bed before you go to sleep, a lot of stolen and surprise kisses. These things are all new to you and Jaemin, but just like normal teenagers you just let love do its job and enjoy the wonderful feeling of being in love.

It was hot in Neverland today but Jaemin told you he had found another secret place that can make you stop sweating and he’s so proud of it. He brought you to a cave somewhere deep inside the forest but inside that cave, is an underground lake that has cool and very clear water.

“How did you find this? It’s beautiful” you exclaim as you look around the place.

“I just did and it’s my way of making you smile“ he never fails to amaze you. “come on, let’s swim” he was quick to remove his clothes like it was a normal thing for him, he completely forgot that your relationship is not yet on the stage where you’re confident with seeing each other’s naked body.

“Uhm-Jaem,” you tried to avoid looking at his nice body and butt, biting your lip as he stretches his muscles confidently while his back faces you. He had grown confidently lately and not to mention so handsome and manly.

“What? Don’t be shy. But if you’re not comfortable, you can swim wearing your underwear. I don’t mind” he says, not facing you yet. It’s not fair you thought, he trusts you to see his whole being and so should you. You gulped and told him not to turn around until you’re fully naked and upon hearing that, Jaemin became suddenly nervous and blushing but you can’t see it.

“Are you naked now?” he asks, scratching the back of his head as he waits for you to give him permission to see you.

“Y-yeah” you answered. You told yourself that whatever happens, you will not look at his cock but as he turns slowly, you don’t know why your eyes can’t stop looking at it. You felt your cheeks warm and suddenly you became shy and you wanted to cover yourself. But he saw right through you, smiled, and hold your hand before jumping into the water together.

The cool water feels great against your skin as you and Jaemin enjoy the hot afternoon and turn it into a nice new experience for the two of you. Swimming deep into the water, racing against each other, picking up shells, the fun made you both forget that you’re naked and helped you with you’re shyness.

“So did you have fun?”  

You were laying on the grass with closed eyes, as you enjoy the warm sunlight peeking from above the cave and at the same time drying your skin before you wear your clothes again. Jaemin is beside you with his shoulder propped and is unbelievably close to you, secretly admiring your naked body and how beautiful you are under the warm sunlight.

“I did. Thank you” you turned your head to face and opened your eyes, “Jaem, what did you feel when you saw me naked for the first time earlier?” you reach for his face and cup it with one hand.

“Shy, at the same time excited because we get to do this but most importantly, I felt lust and my mind was so quick to think about dirty things I want to do- I’m sorry” he was quick to apologize and kissed your hand lovingly.

“No, it’s fine. I felt it too”

Jaemin was taken aback and felt the lust again but this time even stronger that he felt his cock hardens and poke the side of your thigh. “So” he was shy to ask you something but somehow the lust he’s been feeling is giving him the push, “can I try something? If that's okay with you? Baby?”

You only nod, but the way his voice deepens when he asked you made you nervous and excited. Just like Jaemin, you felt the lust he talked about. He came closer, closer, and closer, and until he reaches your exposed shoulder and planted a soft kiss there. But it didn’t end there. He kissed you on the same spot again, but this time he kissed you all the way down until his lips reached your boob and his hot breath is making your nipples sensitive.

His tongue made contact on your nipples first, then you felt his lips, and the next thing you know he’s sucking your right boob. It feels so good that you roll your head back and close your eyes again while letting out soft moans. Soon your hand rests at the back of Jaemin’s head, combing your fingers on his soft locks, and tugging whenever he playfully bites your nipple to make you giggle.

And right then and there your innocence was stained and it was the start of a different exploration and curiosity with Jaemin.

“How?” You were still surprised about what he just did but you love it and at the same time curious.

“Me and the other fairies peek whenever Mark and his girlfriend do it in the woods. Then we’ll tease him after”

“Pervert” you tease him.

“Want to do more?” he offers. You see the lust in his eyes as you look at him. You nod, of course, you want more.

He attacked you with hungry kisses and kneeled in between your legs without hesitation, putting his fingers to work and started touching you on your pussy. Once again you were taken aback by his confident move but instead of getting shy you accepted it and spread your legs wider so he can gain more access to your pussy. Jaemin noticed that his fingers were gliding smoothly on your slit because you were wet and he caused it, he also knew that you’re loving what he’s doing because your moans sound great, you’re rolling your hips, and you’re parting your lips. Which makes him want to dive into lust even more.

“Do you want to do it?” he whispers beside your ear while his fingers still drawing slow circles and gliding up and down your wet slit.

“Sex?” You asked back.

“Yeah” Jaemin started kissing your neck while he waits for your answer.

“If you promise you won’t hurt me”

He’s not stupid. He knew you weren’t talking about the sex. He knew you were talking about what you deserve. Jaemin stopped what he’s doing and kissed your lips sincerely, “I promise. I will never hurt you” he says and kissed you again deeply. It was a sweet promise, you thought and, hearing it made you fall in love with him even more.

Before he proceeds to the sex, he grabs your hand, kissed your knuckles, and made you touch his perfect body slowly, all the way down until you reach his cock. You touched it confidently without leaving his eyes, and you witnessed your boyfriend breathe heavily as you help him pump his cock.

“That’s going inside of you, baby. Ready?”

“Yes”

You feel him line his cock on your very wet entrance, kept his eyes on you as he pushes inside you oh so slowly. You were both virgins and neither of you knew if you’re doing it correctly, but it feels so fucking good that you’re heavily breathing as Jaemin continues to push in. Even tho he wanted to just force his way inside you, he can't because he knew you’re feeling the stretch because you’re so tight. You hiss but you smile, and when he asks you if you’re okay you told him that, “it hurts but I don’t want you to stop”

He chuckled low and said, “okay. But if I do this-“ he rolled his hips without a warning and it made you both moan a little too loud. “You felt that?” he asked, completely mind blown with what a single thrust can do to the both of you.

“Do it again”

And so he did. Again and again and again, until you’re scratching his back and he’s groaning beside your ear deliciously. Telling you how good it feels, praising you with every second that he can, pushing in deeply as he can because you request it.

“I can’t cum that’s dangerous,” he says and he sounded like he’s in pain.

“Shit- right, okay”

Without hesitation and before he loses his mind and makes you pregnant, he pulled out and lay beside you. Stopping himself with all the strength he has left. It was very frustrating for both of you not having the full experience.

“I'm sorry,” he says, heavily breathing beside you still handsome and very inviting.

“You did nothing wrong baby, what are talking about“

“For not making you cum, beautiful. I’ll get your clothes”

You watch him stand up from the warm ground with a hard cock and blushing cheeks. You didn’t cum but still, you felt so weak, and the sting from your pussy is still there. Nonetheless, Jaemin looked so handsome while fucking you, not to mention he sounds sexy. “Here” he helped you get up and handed you your clothes.

Just like that, you made another unforgettable memory with Jaemin that you wouldn’t trade for anything. He sprinkled some pixie dust on your head and flew you back to your room safe and sound.

“I meant what I said earlier. Don’t forget it okay? Just trust me like how you trust my pixie dust to carry you home. I love you” he kissed you on your forehead, smiled so handsomely “see you tomorrow” and left another great promise of seeing each other again.

[eddiesfaerie]

Long Sleeves (part 2)

Summary: Pushed to its absolute limits; a retelling of the past 4 months of you and Charlie’s complicated relationship (13.5k words, i dont know what to say other than im so sorry)

Warnings: NSFW, f!reader, major angst, annoying fluff, mentions of divorce, affairs, age gap (between Charlie and reader, previously implied), nudes, phone sex, PIV sex, daddy kink, some size kink, pain kink(?), rough (and angry and sad) sex, dom and sub themes, spanking, fingering, oral sex (m receiving), i also mention christmas a lot at the beginning which isn't really a warning but i know not everyone celebrates it!

Part 1

A/N: for those of you who are not a fan of d*ddy kink but who may still want to read this; i only use it between the time stamps of Christmas Eve to March, following the March timestamp there will be no mention or use of that word! just thought i’d mention cause the ending is cathartic!

LATE DECEMBER - APARTMENT

With Henry and Nicole staying in LA until after the holidays, Charlie would be alone with you until he left again.

And he didn’t leave your apartment once in the meantime.

Making up for lost time, is what you could call it.

The hours, days, spent in between sheets, on countertops, on couches, in the shower. Like he was trying to mark your apartment with his scent, make sure you never forgot him when he would leave again for LA in a few days.

You would remember him everywhere.

The way your knees bruised on the tile floor of your shower. The welts on your ass from his harsh hand. The bite marks on your shoulders, the bruises littering your neck, stomach, anywhere he could reach.

You would remember him everywhere.

The thousands of ‘good girls’ he praised you with and the thousand and one ‘fucking sluts’ he punished you with. Charlie was coming to know your insides and outs better than you could at this point, it was a certain level of familiarity you were happy with him reaching. He was becoming more and more comfortable around you.

You could tell not just because of the frequent sex, the hard fucking, but because of how he was opening up to you about the divorce. About what was really going on down in LA, what was happening with Henry, what had been happening (or more so, not happening) with Nicole for nearly the past year. 

He told you about how she ignored him, refused to have sex with him, even touch him. How he had found solace in a one time affair with their stage director, how he just missed feeling needed, feeling wanted by the only person who was supposed to fulfill that innate human desire.

He told you everything he could think of, every little detail. He was tired of hiding, holding it in.

He realized he would have to tell you when he would get a random call from his lawyer or from Nicole herself, when he would talk to Henry. When he yelled through the phone or hung up crying, slamming his device against the wall, nearly breaking it.

He knew he would have to explain it to you, he owed it to you.

You deserved to know, especially now that he was involving you in this to some degree. He didn’t want to, didn’t want to involve you but he needed you more than he needed anyone else right now. More than he was ready to admit perhaps, just how much he truly needed you.

And that’s why going back to LA would be the hardest thing he’s done all week.

He stood at the door, dressed, suitcase packed, heart lurching, thumping low in his chest with dread, resent, fear, and some feeling he couldn’t fucking name.

Lo-

“I wish you could come.” He says instead, the saddest smile you’ve seen adorning his perfect lips. You smile back, just as sadly. You know there was absolutely no reason for you to go to LA with him, to spend Christmas with Nicole and Henry and whatever extended family would be there as well. It would never happen, never work. At least, not right now. Not like this.

The divorce proceedings were on break till after the holidays, both in and against Charlie’s favour. It meant not giving Henry two Christmases, one last normal one. But it also meant pretending, indulging in that… façade that him and Nicole have been keeping up for too fucking long now.

The deed would be done sometime in February, maybe March, Charlie couldn’t remember. He tried not to think about it too much. Think about losing everything-

“I know. But you’ll enjoy yourself. Henry will be happy.” You remind him, letting him hold you so, so tightly. His vice grip, digging into you, trying to anchor himself to you.

“I can’t believe I’m leaving you alone during fucking Christmas.” You laugh.

“I’m going home to see my parents, I won’t be alone, Charlie.” He nods his head, hearing the words you’re saying but he still can’t stop the guilt from creeping up on him. He doesn’t want you to think he’s abandoning you. He won’t abandon you, like everyone’s abandoned him. He just hoped you wouldn’t abandon him either.

Charlie presses his forehead against yours, his hands gripping your waist and pressing your body against his. Your arms wrap around his neck.

“I’ll call you this time, I promise. Every night… I’ll call.”

“Okay.” You giggle, believing him.

His hand sneaks its way up your jaw, gripping your cheeks gently but angling your face for you to meet his dark, dark eyes. You know that look, so familiar now. You feel the pressure start to rise inside you, heat pooling in the very pit of your stomach.

“You’ll be good for me?” You nod immediately, fervently.

“Yes, Charlie.”

“If I ask you to send me pictures, what’ll you do?”

“S-send you pictures.” Breathless, your voice sounds so breathless. Your eyelids threatening to close but you keep them on him, always.

“That’s my good girl.” He growls, tilting your face all the way to his lips, a kiss, a seal of approval. You moan against his lips, letting your eyelids flutter shut, imagining yourself in all those new lingerie sets he’s bought you over the last week.

Your early Christmas presents, he had told you.

“The… the taxis waiting out front.” You say against his lips, not wanting him to leave just yet, but also not wanting him to leave you high and dry before getting on a plane set for across the country for at least another week, probably longer. Charlie ignores you, shoving his tongue down your throat, his grip on your jaw moving down to your neck, squeezing ever so slightly, fingers ghosting over bruised skin, enough to make you fall further into his chest, gripping his perfectly ironed shirt, ruining it.

He pulls away all too soon, no doubt doing this to you on purpose. It was 7am and you were already whimpering into his parted lips.

“I-I’ll miss you.” You admit, heart crashing into your ribs. 

You hadn’t meant to say it but he was making your brain foggy, your thoughts were jumbled together and you just let it slip past your lips. Charlie stares at you, red lips swollen like petals, cheeks matching, hair perfectly in place with your help nothing but fifteen minutes earlier. It feels like a lifetime has passed before he says anything back to you. The taxi honks outside on the curb.

“I’ll… I’ll miss you more.”

CHRISTMAS EVE - UPSTATE NEW YORK

It was relieving to be away from the city, surrounded by more wilderness, more foliage, more trees, more animals. A literal breath of fresh air that wasn’t tainted by sewage and the ever present scent of smoke coming from somewhere or someone.

You loved coming up here. Escaping. You hadn’t been back home since last Christmas. You moved away when you were quite young, the relationship you had with your parents was complicated, clashing personalities, it was difficult to understand each other when you were younger but there was clarity that came with age. They finally respected you, and you finally respected them as well, understanding them better.

You think spending so much time with Charlie and Henry gave you an insight into parenthood that you had never been privy too beforehand. You were thankful for that, not only did you appreciate your parents more, but now parenthood had many more benefits that you had never considered before. Magical, rewarding, fulfilling.

Charlie kind of made you feel that way too.

It was still awkward at times with your parents, that was unavoidable. No siblings around meant all eyes were on you. They were asking for too many details, prying too deep and you just never felt comfortable indulging in yourself this much. But you always came prepared, it was the holidays after all, things always got weird.

After Christmas Eve dinner, your parents invited you out on a walk with them around their little town. They did this every night apparently, just walking together, talking. It was cute, endearing. You declined their offer, however. Thankfully you weren’t sixteen anymore, and your parents didn’t press you any further to come along with them like they used to.

They’d be back in thirty minutes.

That gave you thirty minutes to call Charlie. Just as he instructed.

Earlier this evening, as your parents were beginning to prepare dinner, Charlie’s family was just finishing lunch out in California. A perfect time for a perfect distraction, or intrusion. 

You had packed a few sets of the new lingerie Charlie had bought you, not knowing what he would want to see on you or how often you should switch it up. You nearly brought all of them but didn’t want to take up too much space in your luggage and be suspicious.

You put one on that you thought Charlie was particularly fond of, a skimpy little number that revealed more skin than hid, it’s colour complimenting your skin like it was made for you, made to hug your figure in all the right places. You forgot that Charlie had such a visual mind sometimes, he knew exactly what you would look good in.

Nervous and a bit shaky, you tucked yourself away into your childhood bedroom to take your pictures for Charlie. You felt like a teenager again.

Charlie was not pleased with the timing of your pictures, seeing as he was surrounded by family and innocently looked at his phone only to get a glimpse of your beautiful fucking body, all the blood going from his head straight to his cock. He nearly fainted. His cheeks lit up like Nicole’s Christmas tree and he stumbled from his chair. Thankfully, everyone seemed to be more occupied with paying attention to Henry than to notice him sprint to the bathroom to scold you over text.

That was hours ago. Charlie had told you to call him exactly at 11pm eastern time. That was only 8pm where he was but he said it worked out perfectly so you didn’t argue. You just waited patiently on your bed, number dialed on your phone and ready to call, all the clock head to do was strike eleven.

Finally, the clocks ding around the house, your thumb flies across your screen and you hold the phone up to your ear, worrying the flesh of your lip between your teeth. It rings once, twice, three times before you can hear his breath on the other end. It already sounds heavy.

“H-hi Charlie.”

“What are you wearing.” His voice is strained, maybe he’s already holding himself in his hand.

“Merry Christmas Eve.” You twist your fingers together nervously. Charlie grunts on the other end, a frustrated sound.

“I f-fucking told you, no pleasantries. I-it’ll only make us miss each other more-” You stayed quiet. You knew he was right, but you already missed him so much and hearing his voice was making it worse. You felt your lip tremble, you missed his arms, his warmth, his-

“Are you fucking pouting right now?” His voice was firm, sturdy, and annoyed.

“No, Charlie.” A lie.

“Good, now tell me what you’re wearing.”

“I’m wearing your favourite, the one from earlier. I’m barely covered.”

“Oh I know baby, your tits looked so fhuuuucking good in those pictures you sent me.” The fluctuation in his voice was rising and falling randomly, you could picture his hand wrapped tightly around his angry cock, the head flushed red, precum dribbling out the top, just begging to be licked. He tasted so good…

“A-are you touching yourself?”

“No, you didn’t tell me to.”

“G-good girl, you’re so fucking good to me, you know that?” You pictured his chest, the way he flushes right in the center, between his pecs. The way the red splotches climb up, up, up his neck and onto his cheeks and up to the peaks of his ears. You thought about the heavy rise and fall of his chest as well, how fucking wide he is, how much bigger than you he is. You audibly moaned.

“Tell me what you’re thinking about?”

“Y-you.”

“Be specific- fuck.”

“Um, your- your cock. How big it is, how big you are. How it feels when you stretch me out, when you go so deep I feel you in my stomach-”

“Keep going baby, I’m… I’m so f-UHcking close.”

“I think about the first time, a-a lot. How it felt the first time you split me open- fuck Charlie you’re so big I never think you’re going to fit but I always take it, I-”

“Yeah, yeah you always take me like the good little girl you are, such a good fucking slut for me, taking my cock in that tight fucking pussy.” He sneers, you can tell he’s talking from behind clenched teeth and you moan again, loudly. Your brain short circuits, what comes out next, comes from the deepest part of you.

“Oh Daddy,-”

“What did you just call me?”

Fuck.

You hadn’t really meant to say it, you were just so caught up in the moment, the feeling, the sound of him that you completely lost your inhibitions and let it slip out. You expected him to just end the call now.

“Charlie I’m so sorry-” He cuts you off with a firm call of your name.

“I asked you a question. What… did you call me?” Your stomach flips and your insides threaten to spill past your lips and onto your floor.

“Daddy.” You say so quietly you’re not sure he even heard you.

“I didn’t catch that.”

“Daddy.” Frustration laces your voice as you project the word throughout the entire upper floor of the house. He definitely hears it that time. You think you hear Charlie moan on the other end but you don’t want to be too hopeful.

“You wanna call me Daddy? Hmm? You want me to be your fucking Daddy, is that it?”

“N-no…” You’re not sure what he’s getting at, but you feel like he’s just going to torment you.

“Don’t fucking lie to me you little slut.” His breathing picks up again, his voice booming, heavy breaths between every few words. You can hear the slick of his hand as it moves quickly over his length.

“Yes! Yes I- I want you to…”

“Say it.”

“I want you to be my Daddy.” Charlie moans loudly again, his hand somehow moving faster. You can tell he’s close. You can’t believe he likes this. You love it.

“Yeah, I’ll be your fucking Daddy. You better fucking call me that non stop when I get back to you, my sweet little girl.” You moan this time, squeezing your thighs together, feeling your arousal trail slightly down onto your thigh. You were so distracted you hadn’t realized you’d completely soaked through your underwear.

“I will, Daddy.”

“Fuck, I’m-”

Confidence surged you. You still couldn’t believe he liked this but you finally gave in, feeding his desires. When you spoke, your voice was filled with something wicked, sickeningly sweet and most of all, evil.

“Are you going to cum for me, Daddy? Make a mess for me?”

You felt like you hadn’t even finished your sentence before a loud moan punched through your phone and into your ear. You moaned as well just from his release, feeling it in your mind and in your chest, squeezing your thighs again for any sort of friction. Charlie continued to moan through his release, you pictured his silky cum painting his taut abdomen and his beautiful chest. You imagined it blending in with his moles and freckles, you pictured yourself rubbing your hands through it, massaging it into his skin before licking it all up. 

He wouldn’t even have to ask, you would just do it.

“Y-you’re fucking perfect… you fucking angel.” He’s so breathless, completely spent and wasted from your voice alone. You felt so hot. You needed to relieve yourself but you didn’t know if you should ask for permission or not. Before you could even debate it, Charlie spoke again.

“Go to bed, wouldn’t want Santa catching you up like this.” You laughed softly at his comment. Static on the other end. He said your name as if to check if you were still there.

“Yeah?”

“Merry Christmas.”

The line went dead.

JANUARY - BROOKLYN

You had sent Charlie pictures nearly every night after that. And you two called each other every other night as well.

He asked it of you and you couldn’t say no to your Charlie. It was a bit tricky while you were still staying with your parents, he would simply text you and you would have to scurry off to your room or the bathroom and snap as many flattering pictures of yourself as you could. You tried to make it seem less suspicious by drinking tons of water and just blaming it on your bladder.

But the new year had finally come, and you were now back home in your apartment. Charlie would be returning tonight and you were counting down the hours until you saw his taxi pull up on the curb side. You distracted yourself until then.

At around 7pm, you got an unexpected call from Charlie.

“Hi.” You felt like your smile was audible through the phone.

“Hey,” Charlie chuckled darkly, his voice always sounding deeper and richer through the receiver. “I just got in. I was wondering if you’d like to join us for dinner tonight?”

Us? He didn’t mean….

“It’s just me and Henry, Nicole’s uh, staying in LA until further notice. If you’re busy or if you can’t that’s-”

“I would love to,” The fact that Charlie would ask you to spend dinner with him and Henry warmed your heart beyond comprehension. Your weeks of loneliness suddenly dissolving into the background and becoming nothing more than a distant memory, a distant feeling. “but is Henry okay with it?”

“Of course he’s okay with it. He’s actually been talking about you quite a bit. I think he might have missed you more than I did,” Charlie choked a bit on his last words, “not that I didn’t miss you, I just meant that he, you know, Henry was-”

“It’s okay, Charlie I understood what you meant.” You giggle, finding his slight awkwardness endearing. How was it that you both were having incredible phone sex for the past two weeks and now you both sounded like teenagers calling their crush?

“So, you’ll come?”

“Yeah, I’ll come.” Charlie groans at your suggestive tone.

“Don’t start now.” His voice stern, unwavering. You laugh again, more mischievous this time. You test the waters, not stepping in enough to drown... just yet.

“I’ll be over in ten minutes, is that okay, Daddy?” You hear rustling on the other end of the phone and then Charlie cursing a low ‘fuck!’. You think you hear Henry’s voice too, followed by more of Charlie’s now muffled voice.

“Ten minutes is fine.”

//

Henry had bombarded you at the door, he wrapped his tiny arms around your legs and hugged himself tightly to you. It took everything in you not to cry, you knelt down so you could hug him back.

“I missed you.” He dug his cheek into your shoulder. This kid was the sweetest, he would melt your heart every time.

“I missed you too, Henry. How was LA? How was Christmas? Tell me everything!”

Henry grabbed your hand and dragged you into the living room where all his new toys were laid out, ready for him to play with. As he was pulling you there, Charlie emerged from around the doorway like an angel himself. Your eyes met and you felt as if you were moving in slow motion, and not being dragged at top speed by his child.

“Hi.” You greet, almost shyly. Unsure of how to act around him with Henry present.

“Hi.” Charlie repeats, grabbing your free hand for the briefest moment, giving it a tight squeeze until it's pulled out of his grasp by Henry.

You’re not sure how long you spent playing on the floor with Henry, him retelling you the events of the last two or three weeks while Charlie sat on the couch, glancing at the two of you every now and then. You tried not to think about the position you were in, kneeling on the floor, carpet digging into your knees, Charlie sitting tall above you on the couch, looking down at you from between his parted knees. It looked like such a natural position for him, almost like he was too comfortable like this, too familiar with it. You wanted to-

The doorbell rang, making both you and Henry jump from the sharp noise.

“Henry would you like to go pay the pizza guy?” Charlie asked, already pulling his wallet from the pocket in his pants.

“Yes!” Henry shouted, jumping up from the carpet, whisking the crisp bills from his dad’s hands and running to the door to answer it. Charlie figured he had a minute or less before Henry came back.

He lifted himself from the couch, taking your jaw into his hand and bringing you to stand with him. He crashed his lips into yours, violently shoving his tongue down your throat and you had to bite back the moan that threatened to spill through your lips and into his awaiting mouth. His hands had a deadly grip on your waist and on your jaw, you only wished he would ease up because you didn’t want Henry to wonder why you both looked so flustered.

“I can’t wait until tonight.” He said against your lips, his hand on your jaw moving to trail down your throat.

“W-what’s tonight?”

“I got it!” Henry came rushing back into the living room but not before Charlie pushed himself away from you and let go of your throat and waist. It looked like nothing had happened.

“Let’s go set it up in the dining room.” Henry stomped his foot in retaliation, whining slightly.

“Nooo, Dad, can we please watch a movie with pizza?”

“Henry, we have a guest-”

“Please!”

“What movie do you want to watch?” You asked, budding in, trying to stop a tantrum in its tracks. Henry’s eyes lit up and he glanced between you and his dad.

“Have you ever seen ‘Frozen’?” You actually had, but he didn’t need to know that. You gasped.

“I haven’t!” You glanced over at Charlie. His eyes were dark but an innocent smirk pulled at his lips.

He was thinking about how this just meant it would take longer before he could finally fuck you again, a two hour movie cockblock. It had been over two weeks since he had felt your body against his, nothing to satiate him but the sound of your voice and some mediocre photos. Charlie thinks he should show you how to take some really good ones sometime soon. Not that yours didn’t most definitely do the trick, he just thinks he likes the idea of directing you, positioning you...

But Charlie was also thinking about how he found it very sweet, very heartwarming to watch you bond with Henry. He loved watching you have such a good time with him and treat him like a person, not just a child. And he could tell that Henry really liked spending time with you too. Not just from how much he talked about you when you weren’t around, but the smile that lit up his face when you came over or when he went over to your place.

It was getting harder and harder to get Henry to smile like that.

You all sat down on the couch, little wooden fold up tables in front of your seat to hold your plate of pizza slices. Henry sitting between you and Charlie, of course.

Henry sang along passionately to almost every song, sometimes with bites of pizza in his mouth and Charlie would scold him for it, afraid he would choke but Henry ignored his dad’s requests, just continuing to belt out along with the characters on screen.

As the movie progressed and neared the end, you could feel Charlie getting more and more sleepy on his side of the couch. He would rearrange his sitting position every now and then and his eyes would close for minutes at a time. He looked so soft with his arms folded across his chest, his eyelashes fluttering against the tops of his cheeks, his lips coming to rest in the softest little pout. You nudge Henry gently and he turns to look up at you.

“Looks like your dad’s asleep.” You giggle, pointing to Charlie. Henry immediately jumps on him, startling Charlie awake.

“Dad I can’t believe you fell asleep again!” Henry pouts, grabbing Charlie’s face between his hands and shaking him from side to side. Charlie grabs his son’s little hands to stop his efforts, sitting himself up straighter on the couch and hugging Henry to his chest.

“Mmm’wasn’t sleeping.” Henry rolled his eyes.

“Why don’t you go get your daddy a blanket so he can get comfy for the rest of the movie.” You wink at Henry, sending him searching upstairs for the perfect blanket for his dad.

Charlie groans and drops his head on the back of the couch, his hand draping across is as well, coming to rest on the very tip of your shoulder. He wraps his fingers along your muscles, squeezing the flesh into his palm, tightly.

“I heard that.”

“Heard what?” Daddy.

His head lifts from the couch to glare at you, his stare deadly, shooting right to the deepest parts of you. Why were you teasing him like this?

“Dad is the dinosaur one okay?” Henry calls from up the stairs, slowly making his way down and back to the couch.

“It’s perfect, Henry. Thank you.” Charlie takes the blanket from Henry and kisses the top of his forehead before he settles back on the couch, cuddling up next to his dad.

You unpause the movie, admiring the two of them every now and then, watching Henry becoming more and more sleepy as the film nears its end. As the credits roll, Charlie removes the blanket from around himself and moves it to wrap around Henry.

“I’m going to go tuck him in.” Charlie whispers to you. You nod sweetly at the two of them. Charlie carries Henry in his arms towards the stairs before Henry grumbles, calling out your name to you back on the couch.

“Will you come too?”

You look to Charlie for guidance, you don’t want to overstep any boundaries. You’ve never been in the upstairs part of their apartment, you’ve never seen the rest of their place, Henry’s room, Charlie’s room, their bathroom. You’d never seen any of it and it all felt incredibly intimate and incredibly wrong in some way. You didn’t want to accidentally see something you shouldn’t. But Charlie just smiles back at you and nods his head gently.

“Of course, Henry.” You follow them up the stairs, smiling at Henry who smiles that shiny little kid smile at you before laying his head back down on Charlie’s shoulder, resting his eyes again.

Henry’s bedroom is exactly like you imagined it would be. Colourful blue walls, vibrant comic book patterned bed sheets, toys absolutely everywhere yet Charlie avoids them like their place on the floor has meaning, like he’s ingrained it into his mind from stepping on them too many times, muscle memory. You stay in the doorway, leaning on the door frame watching them, not wanting to intrude.

Charlie carefully lowers Henry onto his bed, tucking him in the covers and kissing his forehead. He says sweet words to his son, lulling him further to sleep and Henry smiles dopily back at him, whispering a quiet ‘love you, dad.’

Charlie turns around to face you, he flicks his head in the direction of the stairway mouthing the word ‘go’ to you, you nod and head down the stairs, waiting for him in the living room. You decide to settle yourself at the foot of the couch, sitting on your knees, feeling the burn of the carpet again and waiting for your Charlie.

He descends the stairs slowly, achingly slowly. Making you wait for it, making you feel the weight in his steps, his foot pressing into the wood, applying his weight until he shifts down another step before finally, finally, making his way to you.

You look up at him from your place on the floor, you try not to let your mouth hang open as you gaze up at him, this beautiful man. Sometimes, when you look at him, you wonder if whatever god or gods were out there made him like this on purpose. Sent him here looking the way he does to taunt you, to test you. Test your strength, your will to defy him when you know there is no humanly way possible to deny this man of what he wants. And what he wants is you. Why would you say no? How could you?

After observing you on the floor below him, Charlie seats himself down on the couch like before, knees spread, looking down at you. You scoot closer to him, hoping he doesn’t tell you to stop. His hand comes to rest on his knee before he pats it.

“Lay your head down on me.” His voice rumbles in his chest. You think you feel it through the floorboards, through your knees, up your spine and in the pit of your stomach. You listen and scoot closer, resting your head on his bony knee, nuzzling it with your cheek and looking up at him through thick lashes. You continue looking at him as you press a tender kiss as well, just for fun.

The lights are dim in the living room, the time ticking closer to midnight, Henry asleep upstairs. You both had to be quiet, you both knew this. Charlie’s hand comes to brush against your cheekbone, he trails his index finger all along the valleys of your face and then moving into your hair, gripping the back of it into a fist before relaxing again, bringing his hand back to hold your cheek.

“I’ve missed this.” He says so quietly. You nod, biting your lip.

“Me too.” You say, eagerness beginning to fill your voice. You adjust your position, coming to lean further into him, closer to his crotch where you can tell he needs you. Charlie hums contentedly.

“Mhmmm. Tell me what exactly you missed. Who you missed.” You let your hand glide over his knee, over his muscular thigh and towards his crotch, feather light touches along the fabric of his pants. You could feel how hard he was, it seemed painful.

“You. I missed your cock too... Daddy.”

There it was. He found what he was looking for. His hand found its way into a fist again in your hair, tugging it tightly, his head falling back against the couch as you pressed your lips over his covered cock, straining in his pants.

“You can do better than that,” he groaned, voice almost as strained as his cock yet still so forceful, “show Daddy how much you really missed him.”

You whimper at his tone, your voices both so hushed, rasped and desperate, spurring each other on much quicker than usual. Your hands, shaky with desire, reached up for his belt, grasping the cold metal into your hands and unbuckling it as quickly as you could. Only when you got to his zipper, did Charlie stop you with a light tap to your cheek.

“Teeth.” He scolded. You nodded.

You brought the zipper in between your teeth, biting down on the tiny piece of metal and slowly dragging it down over the hill his cock was creating in his pants. The heat radiating from his body was palpable, you could feel it coming onto your face the lower you dragged the zipper and the more he was revealed to you. You could also smell him, that smell that was undeniably Charlie; musky, earthy, a hit of fabric detergent and just the natural smell of his skin, like almonds in the summer. It made you dizzy, drunk off of him already.

You hadn’t even gotten him in your mouth yet.

You nuzzled your face into his clothed crotch, feeling his hard member pressing into your cheek, you could feel it pulsing, you could feel him wanting, waiting for the moment your mouth would take his length as far back as you could. You whimpered at the thought.

“You like it? You like my cock?”

“Yeah, I love it.”

“Then show me with that pretty fucking mouth of yours.” He sneered, pulling harder on your hair. You hummed and smiled, you felt giddy, maybe you really were drunk. You nuzzled your face into his crotch one more time before bringing both of your hands up to his waist, letting your fingertips dance around his beautiful skin that lay revealed to you above the waistband, you lean up, up, up pressing the softest, delicatest kisses to his skin.

Charlie groaned, pressing on the back of your head, pushing your face further into his tummy. You left more and more kisses before you gave him a tentative bite, not letting your teeth sink in too much before you lave your tongue over the abused flesh.

“Fuck that feels- fucking good.” Charlie moaned, looking down at the new mark that would only darken itself by tomorrow as more blood rushes to the affected area. It was placed beautifully next to his hip bone. You think it looked pretty. So did he.

You finally let your fingertips dip into his waistband but not before latching your teeth onto the stretchy fabric as well, aiding your fingers in removing them. You dragged it down, down, down his skin, just until his cock sprang free and laid heavy on his lower stomach. Charlie hissed, his hips bucking slightly from the sudden freedom.

He has the prettiest cock you think you’d ever seen. You never get used to seeing it, taking it in your mouth or your cunt. The stretch is always so painfully good, you’ve come to crave it. And going without it for the past however many weeks has made you near delirious for it. You stick your tongue out and run it all along the underside right to the very tip, where a shiny, pearly bead of precum has just begun to spill over. You hum as you lick it up, eyes nearly rolling back into your head.

“Don’t be a fucking tease.” Charlie grits from behind clenched teeth. You look up at him innocently, you notice that he’s clenching and unclenching his jaw like clockwork, his eyes look glassy and his cheeks are a few shades darker. He already looks so disheveled, so perfect like this.

“I can’t help it… it’s so pretty.”

“You think Daddy has a pretty cock?” You nod your head, humming, which you can’t seem to stop doing tonight, he just has you feeling so content, so safe. You don't think you could be like this with anyone else. You trace your fingers along his length, watching it bob from the slightest of touches, even Charlie tries to bite back his groans.

“Can-can I kiss it?”

“Please.” You lower your head towards his length, pressing your lips so softly onto his red angry head, giving little kitten licks in between kisses which has Charlie gripping your hair like a vice, afraid you’ll float away. You like the way his stomach flexes in response to your touch, like his body is bracing himself for the tidal wave of pleasure that’s bound to hit at any moment.

You finally take the spongy pink head into your mouth, swirling your tongue around it before letting a few inches fall past your lips as well. Charlie’s tummy flexes even more, the v shaped muscle becoming more and more prominent and you moan onto his cock. His free hand that had been clenched into a fist comes to hold one side of your head and the other comes to meet it. He holds your head in his hands and forces you to take more of him, but not all of it just yet. You start bobbing your head up and down on his length, his hands helping you find his ideal speed.

“Fuck yes, oh my god, j-just like that-” Charlie moans your name, his fingernails digging into your scalp making you moan on his cock again, only making him dig deeper, pressing your head further down his length, forcing you to take him until he hits the back of your throat.

“Gonna let Daddy f-fuck that pretty little whore mouth of yours?” You let your jaw go slack more than it already has and do your best to nod with his cock half way down your throat, tears already beginning to brim in the corner of your eyes. Charlie starts lifting his hips off the couch slightly, all the while moving your head further up and down his cock, forcing it down your throat as far as it’ll go without you making obscenely loud gagging noises.

His son was asleep right upstairs, after all.

You let your eyes roll back into your head, letting Charlie take control and just fuck his cock into your mouth like you know he needs to, like he knows you need it too. It’s been too fucking long. Too fucking long since he’s had you like this. At his disposal, his little plaything to do whatever he pleases with. And you fucking love it.

The cool, sharp metal of his unzipped zipper digs into your jaw and occasionally your neck, biting into your skin and scratching your skin when Charlie lifts his hips up particularly high but you don’t care. In fact, you welcome the pain, embracing it as a mark of Charlie’s rough loving. You hope it draws blood.

“Fuck, your mouth i-is so fucking perfect, so warm... I don’t-” He doesn’t finish his sentence, his eyes screw shut and you can feel his cock growing impossibly harder. He looks down at you, his face twisted in absolute pleasure as he loses himself in your tight little mouth. He pulls you off his cock with all of his strength. A trail of saliva connecting your spit swollen lips to the head of his cock. You start pumping him quickly with your fist.

“No-no wait I don’t…”

“I want it Charlie, please,” Charlie throws his head back, moaning your name, “cum in my mouth... please.”

You nearly whine that last part. Charlie grabs your hair and tugs it, shaking your head a bit.

“I want to fuck you, I don’t wanna cum yet- FUCK!” You hadn’t stopped your hand movements, your fist moving faster over his cock while he fights his release.

“You can fuck me tomorrow.” You say quickly before attaching your lips around the head of his cock, sucking on it until you feel his thighs, abdomen, hands, mind and soul tense up before he bites back his guttural moans, letting them rumble through his chest like thunder passing, before spilling himself onto your tongue. You moan as it lands, letting it slide down your throat as you taste him, taste all of him until he’s completely drained.

You look up at him through heavy lashes, coated thick in tears that have streamed down your cheeks. Chest heaving, abdomen pulled taught, cheeks incredibly flushed, lips swollen, eyes heavy and tired. Completely spent. He looked so beautiful, your Charlie. So beautiful like this.

“S-show me.” His hand reaches for your jaw, pinching your cheeks to force your jaw and mouth open. You stick your tongue to show him. All gone, you swallowed all of his cum, for him.

“Good girl.” He whispered, patting your cheek affectionately. You smiled sweetly at him, coming up with your hands resting your weight on his thighs, pressing your swollen lips to his. As you extend your knees to stand, you feel the ache in the joints, the bruises already present, no doubt. You loved the pain. Your lips glide effortlessly across each other, so tired, so worn out but always wanting.

“Stay, please.” He says against your lips. You shake your head, no. It was a simple answer. A simple predicament.

“Henry.” 

You pull back to look into Charlie’s eyes, he pulls you into his lap and he winces as you apply just a bit too much weight onto the base of his cock. You look into his eyes, already so sad at the idea of you leaving. But Henry would ask too many questions in the morning.

Why is the nice lady from next door still here, Dad?

Did she stay the night, Dad?

Did she sleep in your bed, Dad?

You and Mom’s bed, Dad?

“I know, I know.” Charlie says, defeated. He presses you into his chest, hugging you to him tightly, tighter than you were expecting. It was a hopeful thought. He understood why it couldn’t happen, couldn’t work. Maybe he just wanted you to entertain the idea for a minute with him. Maybe it would happen one day.

“I really did miss you.” He whispers into your hair, cradling the back of your head with his large, warm hand, pressing you further into the nook of his neck.

“I did too. I really missed you too, Charlie.”

MARCH - BROOKLYN

Charlie was currently back from his third visit to Los Angeles, hunting burroughs for the perfect new home for himself and for Henry. Maybe for you as well, but Charlie didn’t like to dwell on that for too long, he couldn’t allow himself such hopeful thoughts, he would only be let down. 

Would you really want to move in with him? Was that moving too quickly? Would you think he was insane? Crazy? Obsessed? The truth was, he is all of those things; insane, crazy, obsessed with you. He couldn’t help it, no. Not when it came to you.

He would always be desperate for your affection, your attention.

Things were escalating with the divroce. Nicole and Charlie had turned bitter, viscous, backstabbing, conniving. Both fighting for a child who has no intention of hurting anyone, certainly not his mother or father.

Henry had no idea what weight his actions or words held, no idea what it meant when someone came over to observe him and his dad, or him and his mom. When they sent someone out to New York to watch him there, sometimes you would be over too. They asked you so many questions, he didn’t understand why. Why were strangers suddenly so involved in every little thing his parents did? Were they in trouble? Were they bad people? Was he a bad kid? Did they hate him?

Henry pouts as you hold his hand, walking up the driveway to the new apartment Charlie was almost one hundred percent decided on renting. It was in more of a family oriented neighbourhood, still close to his school. Somehow, it had a decent sized backyard (which you had never heard of in New York, even Brooklyn), three bedrooms, an office, a beautiful kitchen, it was basically perfect in Charlie’s eyes.

The first time he visited it back in February, he sent you dozens of pictures and little videos when he had gone alone. He quickly booked another appointment for you to go and look at him with it so he could get your opinion. He made it very clear how important your opinion was to him on this matter, he was always asking you questions about the apartment, even bringing it up randomly. He would scroll through the pictures he had taken, scrutinizing every detail and ask you about it.

Do you think the backyard is big enough?

What if I end up getting Henry a dog? Would there be enough space for that?

Do you really like the kitchen? Be honest.

What about the office room? Do I really need that? Is that too much?

What about the guest bedroom?

You wonder if he was so invested in your opinion because he trusted you, or because he wanted you to move in with them. Neither of you had ever spoken about it before, never had that conversation. And even if you did, Henry would always have the final say. If he didn’t want you living with them, well, that was that. You couldn’t argue with Henry, not when his childhood and upbringing was in question. Especially after this divorce. Charlie would do anything for him. Even if it meant risking you.

//

Charlie ended up getting the house he had been eyeing for nearly a month.

Him and Henry would restart here, no painful memories embedded in the walls, in the flooring, in the holes in the walls, the slammed door frames, the windows that threatened to shatter from all the screaming and crying. None of that was here, it would never be here. None of that would happen again.

Charlie hadn’t asked you to move in.

And you hadn’t necessarily been waiting on him asking either.

You were already coming over pretty frequently. And not just on account of Charlie, Henry still loved seeing you and hanging out with you. You still babysat him when things at the theatre ran late. 

When Nicole moved to LA, Charlie was thrown full force into his work. Forced to recast, rework, and rewrite so many things that she had just left hanging. You watched Henry those nights, stayed until Charlie got home and then took the subway back to your place, next to their now vacant apartment.

You were so lonely those nights you couldn’t sleepover at Charlie’s. You missed his warmth. You hadn’t realized just how much comfort you got knowing he was just next door, just beyond a thick wall. You could have touched it and felt his presence radiating through. But now, nothing. It was cold, dark, empty, meaningless.

And because Charlie had been so overworked for the past few months, the stress was starting to get to him. The constant obstacles and backtracking in the theatre production. The random calls from Nicole, his lawyer, the random flights down to LA, the weeks Henry spent away from him, the nights he lost himself in you, using you as an outlet. You let him, you liked it when he took it out on you, you liked how rough he would get, all that pent up anger being pounded out into your hot cunt. You loved it. Loved when he got mad, frustrated. You were always there for him. You would always be there for him, you hoped he knew that.

But what you didn’t love, was when he started neglecting you.

He would go days sometimes without calling you, so much as even texting you. You would get no word from him for a couple of days and sometimes you would just randomly piece together that he was in LA and he just forgot to tell you. You tried to not let it upset you, you couldn’t imagine what he was going through, the stress of the divorce, the potential of losing Henry, his whole life hanging by a thread. It really wasn’t his fault that he just forgot to mention it to you.

Sometimes he would lash out at you, a small comment or action rubbing him the wrong way and he would erupt, say something he didn’t mean or just walk out on you. Times when things go heated, you tried your best to keep you composure for his sake. He didn’t need you being upset at him too on top of everything else, so you kept it in, for Charlie.

Sometimes he would lash out before you two went out with his theatre friends. He would smile and hug everyone, but kept somewhat of a distance from you. Barely speaking to you, barely including you in the conversation unless someone else asked you a question or directly addressed you. What did you look like to them? Friends? Friends with benefits? Did you look like his whore? The babysitter that he was secretly fucking?

You kind of were.

You drank a lot that night. He fucked you when you got back to his new place. He fell asleep quickly after. You pulled on your long sleeve shirt and nice dress pants that you had been wearing that night after laying next to his warm, sleeping body for thirty minutes, debating, thinking, worrying, dying inside.

You stood up and walked to the door, you looked back to find him watching you. You nervously tugged at your sleeves, staring back at him until he turned around, pushing his face into the pillow, as if silently willing you to leave. You left. You called a taxi and left. You didn’t sleep that night.

//

You think it was because he told you he was going to Los Angeles again.

Maybe he mentioned Nicole? His lawyer? Something about Henry? The theatre? 

You couldn’t remember what started all of this yelling, smashing. You were over at the new place, helping Charlie organize some things for Henry before he came back with him the next time he went out to LA again, which was in a few days.

Charlie was pissed and this time, you weren’t sure how much longer you could hold your calm resolve for him.

“Charlie if you just need some space from me tell me, it won’t hurt my feelings, I understand.” You decide to try and change the subject, maybe just cutting to the chase. Offering him what you think he wants, alone time. Time away from you, from everything. There’s no way he doesn’t need a break.

You hated how quickly you would give everything up for him. You would do anything for him, anything he asked.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” He asked, eyes squinting in confusion. You sigh, running a hand down your face, your patience was running thin and you didn’t want to accidentally set him off.

“Everytime you see me you manage to get frustrated or mad about something. I just don’t want to give you more problems than you already have. I know you’ve been really stressed.”

“Elaborate, please.” His voice was clipped as he put his hands on his hips, stopping what he was doing and turning to you, seemingly giving you more attention than he had in weeks. You huff, not sure how to explain this to him.

“Charlie I-”

“No, what the fuck are you trying to say? That if I fucking ended things you would just leave? No questions asked?” His voice boomed, echoing off the newly painted walls, shaking the frames of yours and Henry’s dinosaur paintings from all those months ago. 

He takes a step closer to you, you take one back, then another just for good measure. Your back hits the wall and you take a deep breath, gathering your thoughts as best as you can with him staring at you with those eyes. Those fucking eyes. They still managed to twinkle even when he was angry.

“I- I would… for Henry. You put Henry first, I put Henry first. If he wanted me gone-”

“He doesn’t fucking want you gone, you know that.” Charlie scoffed, walking closer to you, his face red in frustration, maybe anger. He says your name, it's never sounded so sad.

“Why are you lying to me?” He’s a step away from you now, chest heaving with laboured breaths. He’s trying to compose himself, you can tell. Trying to stay calm but his patience was wearing thin.

“I’m not, I w-wouldn’t lie to you, Charlie.”

“You would leave me?” You nod your head, lip trembling, tears burning, stinging in your eyes, your breathing becoming heavy too. Was this it?

“If that’s what you wanted, if you want me to leave I would.”

“Why? Why would you do something so fucking stupid?” His lip is also trembling, you feel like he’s about to spit in your face, yell at you for being such an idiotic little girl. The thought alone had you squeezing your thighs together, this was so fucked. You shouldn’t like this, shouldn’t like when he got frustrated, you resented the fact that you did.

You couldn’t think straight, the words leaving your mouth didn’t feel your own, like you were speaking some other language, possessed by a foreign being.

“Be-because…” Bile rising in your throat, you felt like you couldn’t breathe.

“Fucking why? Tell me why!” He was yelling, his face in yours and his voice breaking.

“Because I… because I love-”

And then Charlie was kissing you.

Charlie was kissing you.

His tongue swiped into your mouth like he was trying to strangle you with it. His hands came to your cheeks and pressed your body flush against his and the wall, sandwiched between the two. He was hard, you could feel his cock pressing into your stomach as he rolled his hips into you, you moaned into his mouth, tears spilling down your cheeks. He didn’t wipe them away.

“Don’t say it… don’t- fucking say it.” He said against your lips, voice so hush, so quiet and scared.

“Why? Why are you afraid of me?”

“I’m not fucking afraid of you.” He says, confused, angry, lips rough on your own. He keeps trying to kiss you, you don’t want to push him away but you try, you push on his tough chest, his heart beating wildly in its cage.

“Yes you are. You keep pushing me away.” You cry, hiccupping on a ragged sob that leaves your chest, as you ironically try to push him away from you. Charlie tries to kiss you through it, trying to suffocate you.

“I’m not.” He fights.

“You are.”

“I’m not-” You push, harder this time. He stumbles back, lips already swollen, his eyes are wet, glossy too. Like yours.

“You are!” You yell, voice breaking, choking on your tears. “Don’t act like you haven’t been treating me differently for the past month.”

When Charlie says nothing, you continue.

“You don’t call me, you don’t text me, I only come over to babysit Henry when he’s here and when he’s in LA you just fuck me and then get mad about something and leave. When we go out you don’t look at me, you don’t touch me-” Your voice falters, you’re not sure you can go on with the way the sobs wrack through your chest and into the rest of your body. You feel weak, like you might collapse into the ground. You wish you would, you wish the floor would just swallow you up and you could disappear.

Charlie sees red. His fists shake, clenched into fists at his side after you’ve pushed him away. His palms burn to touch you. He knows he shouldn’t, he knows he should listen to what you’re saying, let you talk, remind him how much he’s been hurting you. He knows what he’s doing, he’s not stupid.

He wasn’t trying to push you away, he definitely wasn’t doing it on purpose. But he was sabotaging himself, sabotaging everything because he felt he didn’t deserve you. He was a bad father, a selfish person for wanting to take Henry away from his mother, for wanting Henry to himself, a bad person for hating Nicole, a woman he once loved.

Love.

It was all because of love wasn’t it? Charlie wants to laugh at the thought. Wants to laugh and scream and yell and hit something at the thought of stupid fucking love. Was he really becoming that nihilistic already?

Would he come to hate you like how he hates Nicole? Would you come to hate him the way he hates himself? The way Henry probably hates him? The way his parents hated him-

His knees hit a hard surface, blistering, blinding pain shooting up his legs. He’s collapsed onto the floor before he’s even aware of it. Unaware of the sobs that push and pull at his lungs, forcing his chest to heave in the oxygen before choking it back out along with spit and tears. 

He’s crying. You’re crying. Fuck, how did it come to this. This was all too familiar. He feels numb.

How could he love you when love was the scariest thing? When love was the most frightening emotion he had ever experienced. Everything that’s happened to him for the past two fucking years was because of love. Love would ruin everything. It always did. But he couldn’t…. he couldn’t lose-

“Y-you… you can’t- leave me.” He chokes, hands planted shakily on the floor, holding his upper body up, his arms weak.

You… you’ve never seen Charlie like this. And honestly? It scares you. Sure, you’ve heard him yell, scream, cry at Nicole, his lawyer over the phone. But this was different. This was visceral, burning desire, regret, shame, embarrassment… this was everything coming crashing down around him at once.

Fuck.

This is what you’ve been trying to avoid over the past month. That’s why you’ve tiptoed around him, letting him get angry, letting him yell, letting him ignore you, use you, fuck you and ask for nothing in return. You were avoiding this.

But maybe you had just prolonged the explosion? Let enough gas build up before it eventually burst into flames.

Eventually…

You had definitely made this worse, by ignoring it you’ve let it fester, let it rise and rise and rise, just pushing down the lid for your own sake. Maybe it was both of your own faults? You don’t know, you don’t care. This was bound to happen at some point. And it just so happened to be today. All you really care about is Charlie.

You kneel down on the floor in front of him, resting your palm on the floor like he has, letting your pinky finger graze against his. The slightest of touch as to not scare him off. He flinches, his head still hung low, eyes screwed shut.

You place your hand on top of his, feeling his burning skin, testing the waters. He doesn’t pull back so you continue your efforts. You intertwine your fingers with his, slowly, slowly lifting his hand up off the ground and closer to you. He still doesn’t look up. You keep moving his hand until it’s on your chest, covering your left breast. Only then does he look up, searching your eyes.

He feels it then. That same thing he felt the first time… the first time he had you. Your beating heart, pumping wildly in your chest just like his was. Did you know? Did you know what you did to him? Did you know how much he needed you, how much he thinks of you? Did you know that he… that he-

“I won’t.” You say, cutting him off mid thought. His hand clutches onto you through the fabric of your shirt, trying to reach through you and grab your heart into his hands. He wants to pull it from you, keep it for himself and lock it away, make sure you never fucking leave him. He was so selfish.

“I won’t leave you Charlie.” You say again when he says nothing, just watching his hand twist into the fabric of your shirt, tugging it strangely until he’s rid you of it. He places his hand back on your chest, feeling your heart better now through the barrier of only your flesh.

“I…. I’m sorry.” “You said you wouldn’t lie to me?” It feels like the first thing he’s said in hours, his voice rough around the edges, gooey in the middle. His post-yelling voice, you knew it too well.

“I wouldn’t.”

“Then why… why would you even say that? That you would leave me?”

“Because if that’s what you wanted, what you needed… I would do it. I would do anything you wanted, anything for you, Charlie.”

“Why?” He couldn’t understand. There was no fathamobale reason as to why he would deserve such devotion. Especially from you. 

You’re quiet, unsure of how to answer him. This was the same back and forth you both had before he exploded, when you almost told him you… that you lo-

“I-I don’t know how to answer… you told me not to say it.” You whimper, tears spilling from your eyes again. His hand comes to hold your cheek, thumb swiping away the tear. You nuzzle into his hand, kissing his palm. You stay there for a moment, resting your face in his palm, feeling his warmth radiating from his hands, letting a silence wash over the two of you. It was sort of peaceful. A chaotic peace.

“Charlie, I-”

“Don’t... don’t say it.” You cry some more, tears spilling. His hand moves to your throat, squeezing gently, you find it oddly comforting.

“But I want to, I want to say it, please.” You grab the wrist of the hand holding your throat, squeezing his flesh, asking.

“No.”

“Charlie-”

“I said no.” He grabs your jaw, shaking you from side to side a little. You whimper, eyes screwing shut, pushing more tears past the precipice. He pulls you into his lap, you’re putty in his hands, letting him move you however he needs to move you. He holds you in his arms, your legs wrap around his waist and his legs bring him to stand up somehow, his strength always shocking you.

“You can’t say it... you can’t leave.” He continues, you sniffle, hiding your face in his neck, grabbing onto his hair as he carries you somewhere through the apartment, up some stairs…

“I’m sorry, Charlie, I’m- sorry.” You hiccup and cry into his neck, wetting the skin. You press your lips over the newly wet skin, feeling his heartbeat flutter underneath, teeth grazing the thin flesh.

Suddenly he’s lowering you down, down, down until you come in contact with a soft surface, his mattress. Charlie crawls on top of you, you let him rest between your thighs, keeping your legs up high on his waist.

“Don’t ever fucking leave me.” You shake your head from side to side in agreement with him, worrying your bottom lip between your teeth. His hand trails down the length of your body roughly, burning your flesh in its unforgiving path. You’re left only in your jeans since he removed your shirt when you were still downstairs.

“I won’t, I-I didn’t mean-” You can barely form a proper sentence, choking on your own tears and sadness that wrack through your mind and body. Charlie’s hand in already palming your sex through the thick denim you wear, you whimper, trying to squeeze your thighs together but his body blocks them.

“Stop talking.” He barely gets out the words before he’s pressing his lips to yours again, letting his lips glide against your wobbly and swollen ones. You breathe each other in, letting your tongues dance across one anothers as you gasp and cry into his mouth. It’s all teeth and all tongue, it’s messy, clumsy, desperate, burning. You don’t care, he doesn’t either when your teeth clack against each other, nibbling on lips, biting sometimes.

Charlie flips you over underneath him so that you face the sheets, sliding down your body and roughly tugging down your jeans along with your underwear in one swift motion. You gasp as your wet cunt comes in contact with the cool air of the darkening day. Charlie stands on his knees behind you, pulling your ass up higher, higher, higher until he’s satisfied. His cheeks are warm, his ears pink at the peaks. Before either of you even have time to think, his hand comes down harshly onto your right ass cheek, you cry out, gripping the sheets by your head.

“Ch-Charlie!” You gasp, earning you another smack to your other cheek. You push your head down into the covers, trying to muffle your cries and moans as he keeps going.

His smacks you again, and again, and again and again until you’re a sobbing mess in the sheets. Words, languages lost to you in your muddled brain. A pool of spit near your mouth soaked into the white fabric, only a wet spot remaining to show for evidence of your euphoria. You can feel the imprint of his hand on your ass, you know it's burning red, you know the skin is raised and puffy. You fucking love it.

Charlie’s chest is heaving, breaths labored as he takes it all out on you like he knows you need it, knows you love it. He does too; love it and need it. The way your ass gets so much brighter, how big the imprint he’s left on you is. How fucking perfect you are for him... He’s pulling off his shirt before he knows it, shedding his pants too until he’s in nothing but his underwear. You’ve stayed exactly where you are, not daring to move a muscle since he hasn’t instructed you otherwise.

“So now you listen.” Charlie mutters to himself, it's barely audible to you since the blood is coursing so loudly through your veins, through your ears. You’re buzzing.

Charlie pushes you back down on the mattress so you lay completely flat. He pulls your jeans and underwear down the rest of your legs until you lay there bare before him. He inhales sharply at the sight of you. He could see the way you glisten for him, he could feel it on his hand when he had spanked you, your arousal having begun to trail down the tops of your thighs, he moaned at the sight.

His hand comes flying down, this time spanking you roughly on your pussy causing you to lurch forward into the sheets, crying out his name pathetically again. He leans over you, keeping his hand clutched tightly around your cunt, feeling your juices seep between his fingers, you moan and try to press back into his hand but he just slaps it again, your eyes screwing shut. He’s nearly got his entire weight on top of you, his hot breath fanning across your cheek as he comes close to your face.

“You’re so fucking wet for me… you want it that badly?” You nod your head vigorously.

“Yes! Yes, Charlie I want you, I-I need you so badly, please.”

“Hmmm, what do you need?”

“Anything, y-your fingers…”

“Where”

“... in me, in me please.” You’re completely desperate, your crying and sobbing from earlier making you especially weak to his ways, his voice, his body. God, he could do anything to you, and you would let him, you would beg him, you would thank him.

Slowly, Charlie sinks one thick finger into your soaking cunt. Your eyes roll into the back of your head as he pumps it slowly, in and out, in and out of you. You try and push your hips back to meet the small thrust of his finger but he keeps you pinned down.

Charlie could feel you clenching around his single digit and he groaned next to your ear, nibbling on the soft lobe as he continued his ministrations. You whined, withered underneath the weight of his body, his hot chest pressing into your back, pressing you into the mattress. 

“Charlie, please I-”

“What? You need more? You need more from me?”

“Please.” Charlie draws his index finger out of you before joining it with his middle one, probing your entrance teasingly, swirling his fingers around it but never going in.

“Fuck-”

“Do you think you deserve it?” He didn’t deserve it, didn’t deserve you, your pussy, none of it. He was only projecting his worthlessness onto you. He didn’t mean it, he couldn’t.

“N-no.” You say, tears welling in your eyes from a multitude of things. Overstimulation being one of them. You tried to get your hips to stop pressing into his hand but it was so hard when the temptation was right there.

“No… you don’t.” He kisses the tears that slip from your eye, pressing a finger to your mouth and you gladly take it in, laving your tongue around his salty, rough skin. His two fingers at your entrance finally push in deeper, causing you to cry out around his finger that was in your mouth, drool slipping past your lips.

Then he starts pumping, quickly, and you can’t stop the way your hips push into his hand, trying to meet him halfway through his thrusts, needing more so badly. You moan around his fingers, he echoes your moans back into your ear. You can feel his cock filling out, getting harder and harder against the back of your legs where it still lays confined in his underwear.

All too quickly he pulls his fingers from you and spanks your pussy again, you choke on a cry around the finger that’s still in your mouth. You’re already wrecked, and he’s nowhere near done with you.

“You only get to cum on my cock, understand?” You nod your head with vigour, eyes trying to meet his from where he’s positioned, behind you yet over top of you. You can feel him moving around, pulling his fingers from your mouth and his underwear off as best as he can without moving too far away from you.

“I understand, Charlie.” You cry, the tears unrelenting at this point, beyond your control.

Fuck, what weas he doing? Why was he doing this now?

What other way did he really have though, to show you what you mean to him? Definitely not words, no. No matter how much he writes for the theatre, words could never come close to describing what he feels for you, what he needs from you, wants from you, what he wants to give to you, tell you, provide you. None of it, no language would do.

Nothing would come closer to his body on you, in you, moving in tandem with you, hearts so close together that he loses sense of himself and just feels you wrapped so tightly around him in every sense. That’s the only way he could show you, the only way he could tell you.

He grabs his cock in his hand, pumping himself slowly and rests his head on your shoulder, groaning into your skin at the sensation. “Beg.” He spits, his lips moving against your flesh. He rubs the head of his cock against your slick folds and you yelp, pressing your hips back but he anticipated it, drawing his hips back, away from you.

“Charlie, please I-I need you so badly, I’ve never wanted… anything else but you, I just- please, I need you so bad, I-I, l...love-”

“I told you not to fucking say it.” He grits from behind clenched teeth, slapping your ass harshly and you let a sob leave your lips. The burn was so good.

“I-I’m sorry, I can’t help it-” You whine, fists bunching up the sheets with a grip so deadly your skin is turning white. He lets his head drop to your shoulder again, his own eyes screwing shut, trying to will his own tears away as he continues to run his cock along your pleading entrance, collecting whatever arousal has seeped out of you.

“Fuuuck, perfect little pussy... so desperate for my cock, isn’t it?” He mutters, almost to himself as he watches the way his cock moves between your glistening folds. Unashamed, you keep crying, moaning at the feeling of his big cock so close to where you need him most, nodding your head.

“Please, Charlie I need you inside m- fuck, just put it in, please-”

Your breath hitches in your throat as you feel him press in with the tip, letting the spongy head break through your folds and slightly dip into your entrance. Your fists clench and unclench against the sheets. With a sharp ‘fuck’ Charlie presses the rest of his long, thick cock into you, both of you moaning and breathing in one another.

He lets his cock sit in you, coming to interlock his fingers with yours, pinning your hands above your head, elongating both of your bodies but mostly yours, from how much longer his body is. Only then does he start snapping his hips into yours, letting his thrusts punch out your moans and cries from your chest.

At this angle, he’s hitting places inside of you so deep you never thought you could fathom, filling you up to the brim, you swear you can feel him in your stomach, punching your guts into your throat with every violent thrust.

You moan his name without relent, it’s the only thing you could possibly ever know. Charliecharliecharliecharliecharlie to infinity. You never wanted to know anything else, no other thought suddenly as interesting as him. He was the only thing that mattered. The way his cock filled you was dizzying, mind-numbing, and bone-shattering.

“You always need me so badly, you could never leave me, never leave this cock. Desperate little slut.” Charlie groans, head resting on your back as his powerful thrusts push you up the bed. He latches a hand around one of your hips, trying to keep you pinned down.

“You would never fucking leave me, you’d never fucking do it.” He continues, maybe to himself. You can feel him nuzzling his face into the skin on your shoulder, kissing and biting the skin, leaving a mark in his wake like he always does.

“I won’t, Charlie- I won’t, I promise.” You hiccup, his thrusts unrelenting in their assault. You could feel your release building, that bright white feeling rising inside of you. The only sounds in the room were your breathy moans, Charlie’s growls and the loud slap of skin on skin, his hips colliding with your ass every time.

“Dont ever say that s-shit again- dont ever fucking leave me. Don’t - ever. Fucking. Leave.” He growled, biting your shoulder and punctuating his words with harsher thrusts, fucking into you.

“I’m s-sorry Charlie-” You’re cut off by a sensation on your back. Hot, wet, slippery. Charlie sniffles. 

He’s crying, burning holes into your flesh as they land on your back. Your own eyes well up all over again. The pleasure of his cock deep, deep, deep inside you and the emotions flowing through both of you was overwhelming, overstimulating, your mind was going blank, you felt like you would black out.

You hear it then, his quiet cries, the way his chest shakes as he finally lets it go, lets it out. And then he’s suddenly pulling out of you, grabbing one of your ankles and one side of your hip, flipping you over quickly, hiking your legs back up around his waist and continuing his punishing, relentless pace. You moan embarrassingly loudly as you watch the way his stomach flexes into you, the way his chest tightens and constricts, the flush that spreads from in between his marvelous pecs to his cheeks, his dark wet eyes, the red that fills them, the way his eyelashes clump together, making them look longer, darker, the dark halo of hair that frames his face. Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

It was beyond you at this point, you couldn’t stop what was already put into motion.

“Oh, Charlie…” You cry, chest arching into his, your nails scraping his biceps. He moans at the pain, dropping his forehead to yours. You’ve never heard him moan like this, never seen him cry like this, never seen him so lost and completely gone in you.

Even if it was a mistake.

Even if you would regret it tomorrow.

Or five minutes from now.

Or immediately afterwards.

It was the truth, your truth. His truth. It was the only thing you could ever possibly know.

“I love you.” You cry, burning tears streaming down your cheeks. Charlie’s eyes meet yours, lost, delirious, shocked.

“You… y-you can’t.” He doesn’t tell you to stop this time. Doesn’t tell you to shut up, doesn’t tell you how dumb and pathetic it is to love him. You love him.

“I do, Charlie I-I do. Fuck, I love you so fucking much.” You whine, nails biting the skin on his back. His hips never stop, he’s fucking common sense and all things rational out of your mind. All you know is him. All you ever want to know is him, Charlie.

His chin wobbles, moans escape past his lips as he refuses to stop fucking you, his cock so fucking hard it hurts him, almost more than this. Almost more than the chant that has started to leave your lips, the floodgates have been opened and you can’t stop your confession now.

“I love you, I love you- shit, Charlie I love you, I love you so much, I love your fucking cock, fuck!” You couldn't stop, you felt like you could never stop at this point. You never wanted to stop saying it, never wanted to stop telling him. You loved him, you loved him, you loved him.

“You’re… you’re not real… you’re- fuck, too fucking good for m-me.” Charlie gasps, his hips speeding up, his cock growing harder somehow. You feel him pulse inside of you. Your eyes roll into the back of your head, mouth hanging agape, no sound being emitted from you. Charlie moves his lips down to your exposed throat, kissing and sucking on the delicate skin before wrapping a firm hand around it, not squeezing too tight.

“Yours.” You manage to choke out, gripping onto his wrist that's at your throat with all the strength you had with your body gone pleasure weak. Charlie moans your name, it makes you cry more.

“I’m yours, Charlie.” You manage to say more clearly, using all your willpower to look him in the eyes. His eyes are blown black, the dark circles underneath them so, so pigmented. You could feel the crescendo building, he was about to break. His lips were glossy, spit slicked and roughly bitten.

“You’re mine.” He confirms, more to himself than to you. He just… he felt like he could never be sure enough. Like he would never believe that you were his. That you were in love with him.

You nod your head, hands interlocking behind his head, gripping tightly into his hair.

“I’m yours, yours.” You keen, hips rolling into his as you both neared your release. His hand around your throat keeps you pinned in place as his fucks you into the mattress, moaning, groaning, crying your name. The slight added pressure makes you see stars, your pussy flutters around his cock and your back arches, pressing your chest into his but Charlie keeps you exactly where you are, your body convulsing as you cum, cum, cum around his cock, screaming his name.

“M’gonna cum, gonna f-fucking cum s-so deep inside, fill you up-”

“Please, Charlie.” You whine, dumb from the high that he continues to fuck you through, tears stained on the skin of your cheeks. You tug on his hair roughly, meeting his thrusts with a roll of your hips and that sends Charlie over the edge.

“Fhuuuck-” He lifts his head slightly, to look at you better as he splits you open one final time, his cock stilling in the deepest parts of you before he cums so fucking deep inside your pussy with the most guttural moan.

He fucks his cum back in to you until it’s seeping back out onto his cock. He groans so loudly you feel it in your bones. His hands wrap around your upper body, holding you tightly as he spins to lay on the mattress, holding your body to his chest, his cock still nestled deep inside of you.

Charlie gives you a small thrust, pushing and mixing his cum with yours one final time. You gasp and cling to him, your nails digging slightly into his muscular pec at the sensation, the delicious burn. You feel so incredibly full, so full of your Charlie. You love him.

“I lo-”

“I love you.”

Your heart must have stopped beating, your lungs, forgotten their functionality, your brain short circuited, your limbs incapacitated.

You looked up at him with those big, shiny wet eyes. You looked like a fawn, lost on the side of the road who just found someone who could help them. Someone kind, someone gentle, honest, safe, warm. Someone worth loving. He was worth loving. Charlie was worth loving.

But you already knew that.

He said it again, so low in the dark room, the dark night, eclipsed with spilled feelings and sweat, tears too. So many fucking tears. His voice so low it almost didn’t register, the deep vibrato rumbling your insides and warming you up all over again. 

He said it with you curled up on his chest, he said it again when you moved up his body to press your face into the crook of his neck, pressing your lips to his bruised skin, he said it as tears spilled from your eyes. He would say it as you fell asleep on him in the deadly hours of the night and again in the morning when you woke. He would remind you constantly, he couldn’t stop, couldn’t hold it in. Not anymore.

He would tell you he loves you a million and one times from then on, until you didn’t want to hear it from him anymore. 

tag list! @morby @shesakillerkween @gamingaquarius​ 

[stealingpotatoes]

I am OBSESSED with your Desmond lives AU!! I want Shaun and Rebecca to be able to give Desmond all the hugs, I want Desmond to be able to choose to be an Assassin, to be able to help save the world again. Also, I am very curious about how you would resurrect Desmond, because I’ve had similar thoughts on such an AU, but I currently stick it near the end of Valhalla with the stuff that happens there. If you ever feel like expanding on it, I'd be super excited to see more!!!

first of all, AH THANK YOU!!! Yes those are ALL points that are very important to the Des Lives AU! Second of all, thank you so much for this ask in general!!! I was hoping someone would send an ask like this so I’d get an excuse to talk abt the AU more lmao XD!! I made this AU back in March last year, so there’s no Valhalla stuff in it, and it’s set right after/ during the Odyssey DLCs. 

The long story short for my Desmond Rez (rezmond, if you will) is “shroud of eden, abstergo, and some Isu bullshit”. The long story long, however, is uh- you know what? I’m going to use this opportunity to explain the vague story I worked out last year -- but dw, I WILL get to the full ressurection explanation I thought through. However... I’m gonna have to tell the story in smaller parts because I’m lazy and can’t be bothered to write the whole thing out right now. So rez comes later and not in this post. 

also uh-- before we start: I’m going to apologise for like… everything about the way I wrote this. It’s sort-of half fic, half that-way-your-friends-colloquially-tell-stories-that-you-can’t-keep-up-with. Mainly the latter. If you can make sense of this babbling, well done.

 Anyways, without further ado, welcome to:

POTES TRIES TO EXPLAIN HER DESMOND (SORTA) LIVES AU: PART ONE

On the 21st of December 2012, Desmond Miles dies. 

It’s not for nothing -- his sacrifice saves the entire world from a solar flare -- but he is dead. big ripz. The Assassins, his family, do not manage to recover his body. Abstergo gets it first. The Assassins hold a funeral as best they can. They mourn (all in their own ways), they keep fighting (for his memory), and they try to move on (they can’t). 

On the 21st of December 2012, Desmond Miles died -- so when he shows up in a city in October 2018, almost 6 years later, it’s a bit of a shock for everyone. What’s even more of a shock is the fact he’s glowing like an Isu and has some abilities he DEFINITELY didn’t have when he died.

So Desmond wakes up in the middle of some city in he doesn’t know where (yeah ok i just never really worked out where the secret lab would be), with 1. no idea of how he got there and 2. no idea why his arms are glowing like that. He doesn’t get much time to think about it because then there’re a load of Abstergo goons with guns surrounding him. Des may have no idea what’s happening, but he knows one thing: when u see an Abstergo, it’s on sight. So he’s fighting them -- which is admittedly not fun or easy when you’re in the middle of a road and only have your fists as weapons. It’s not going well and then someone definitely manages to shoot Desmond which is very bad -- but then Des feels some very weird (but not unfamiliar) feeling and when he looks up from the bullet wound, every one of the Abstergos are on the floor???? He doesn’t think to check if they’re dead, just legs it out of there lmao. 

//

Elsewhere, in an Assassin safehouse in an undisclosed location (can you tell I just didn’t think about the geography of anything), Mr Shaun Hastings is chilling on a balcony after a mission well done. Good for him. Then Rebecca Crane (queen ilu) yells “Shaun?” from inside. 

“Rebecca?” 

“Come inside. Now.”

Shaun immediately does so because he assumes it’s important or they’re under threat. “What happened? Have we been compromised?”

Rebecca doesn’t answer. 

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Shaun says, mostly joking and with a little smirk -- though Becs looks spooked. 

“Desmond’s alive.”

Shaun’s not smirking anymore. “What?”

“Desmond’s... he’s alive.”

“What are you talking about? Are you high?” he’s totally about to look at her eyes to see if they’re all dilated and druggy. 

“No Shaun, I mean it!” Becs harshly shoves her tablet into his hands. 

Shaun doesn’t really know what he’s expecting to see when he looks down at the screen. What he’s not really expecting to see is Desmond Miles, who’s been dead for six years, fighting a load of Abstergo people -- while lined in Isu markings (also he’s not wearing a shirt forgot got to mention). ??? But wtf??!?! Desmond’s dead. That’s...

“It’s security camera footage from [the city]... About two hours ago.” Rebecca then swipes through more footage with shaky hands and explains that Des very violently burst out of an Abstergo facility in the city with glowing eyes and light leaking out of him (almost like an Apple of Eden). Then the glowing eyes and shining lights shuts off abruptly and Des is standing in the middle of the road looking very confused at his precursor-ass arms and chest. But Shaun is barely listening to what she’s saying and barely even looking at the screen. 

“Where did you get this?” Shaun asks with a hollow voice, not looking up. 

“The Initiates.” (bc who else)

Shaun looks at it again, then at Rebecca, and he’s mildly aware of the fact he’s slightly tearing up; “That’s fake. That can’t be him. He’s dead, Becs. We both saw the…” They both saw the autopsy footage the ac4 researcher got from Abstergo -- or at least, tried to watch it; they shut it off as soon as Shaun ran to the bathroom to throw up and Rebecca quickly joined him. They spent the rest of that night crying and drinking way too much. 

“He died.” Shaun concludes firmly. 

And so Becs is all like “yeah but what if he didn’t?? We need to find him. We need to investigate this.” There’s a determination in her eyes and Shaun knows he’s not going to be able to convince her to drop this -- not that he would. Desmond might be alive, and there is no way they’re going to leave him again. 

They’re both standing there in pure shock and confusion, not saying anything. 

Rebecca’s comm device lights up and starts buzzing, snapping them out of their general ????-ness. Becs goes to her desk to grab it, glances at the caller id and then shows it to Shaun. It’s William Miles. 

The two of them share a Look. They know what he’s calling about -- what else would it be? There’s a stilted moment of neither of them doing anything before Rebecca finally accepts the call. “William?” 

“How quickly can you and Shaun get to [city]?” William sounds shaken -- probably the same way Rebecca and Shaun are -- which is a very weird way to hear the Mentor of the Brotherhood sound. He’s seen the footage, hasn’t he? 

“In a few hours,” Rebecca replies. 

“Good. You need to get there as soon as possible.” 

Everyone’s silent for a few moments. 

“Is this about Desmond?” Rebecca asks. Dumb question. 

There’s a pause. “You’ll be briefed on the ground.” And then he hangs up before Shaun or Rebecca can yell at him.

This is all moving very fast. Shaun and Rebecca share another look. Guess they’re going to [city].  ???

// 

Fast forward several hours and Rebecca and Shaun are in The City [might just have to make the city london bc it’s the one city i actually know well -- however for plot reasons we’ll see later, a swiss city might be better… moving on!]. They get to an assassin base and meet up with Galina Voronina and 2 local assassins. Idk if you’ve read the comics, but to sum things up quickly, Galina and her team were investigating and then ended Project Phoenix -- so Galina now really wants to find out if the whole Desmond thing has anything to do with that. 

Galina also wants to help Shaun and Rebecca get their friend back. They’re her friends, but equally she just lost one of her teammates to Abstergo (while ending Phoenix like 2 months ago, in the comics) and is uh- idk how to say it but she wants to help Shaun & Becs who have a chance to get their lost teammate back.

What follows is cool gang-gang trying to track down any trace of Desmond. You’d think it wouldn’t be hard to find a person who literally glows, but Desmond’s had centuries of Assassin training and knows how to hide lol.. which is making the Assassins’ job harder lol. 

What’s making it even harder is the Assassins know they have to be quick because they know Abstergo is gonna be looking for Desmond too -- and they have way more resources and stuff. That being said, they’re also currently dealing with the fact one of their building and a decent amount of their guards just got absolutely mullered by weird-glowing-desmond. 

The third issue with their entire thing is that they have no idea what they’re going to find when they find Desmond -- or if he even is Desmond. Is he going to be the man they knew but with weird powers? an Abstergo isu-clone? evil? they don’t know, and so they know they’ve got to be wary with him. 

The Assassin gang spend some time (a couple of days at the very most) trying to track Desmond down. Rebecca is using all the tech she can get her hacker mitts on to find a trace of him and equally throw Abstergo off Des’ trail. 

Soon enough, they get a solid lead -- don’t ask for the specifics, i don’t know them. But they get a lead, and it winds them up in an abandoned apartment building or also abandoned building site or something (a building in the city where there aren’t any people, basically). 

Galina scans the place with Eagle Vision and she’s like “There is something very strange about this place.” (someone?) But she doesn’t see a person-shape anywhere. The 5 of them are hopeful but somewhat on edge. 

They go about searching for any sign of Desmond. Galina’s pretty sure her Eagle Vision is just… Messing Up A Lot lol. Like something’s trying to heck with it. So she’s not quite sure it’s working correctly when a load of red figures appear somewhere below them. 

She becomes a lot more sure when the red figures come into sight and START SHOOTING AT THEM! IT’S ABSTERGO!! CRAP! they found them!!

The assassins get down and a really cool fight scene w them vs the Abstergos in the building/ building site starts playing out. Woo Shaun and Rebecca electro-hidden-blade moments!! The fight splits the squad up and Shaun and Rebecca are away from Galina & the others -- but they dispatch the Abstergo guards near them.

They’re about to radio in that they’re all okay/ check if Galina & co are also good when they hear a slightly-too-loud footstep. They whip around to see an Abstergo guard aiming right at them, too far for either of them to get him before he shoots them. crap crap crap.

They would have been shot -- if someone hadn’t come up behind the Abstergo guard and snapped his neck (ouch). 

The Abstergo drops to the ground, revealing the person who saved them and… Shaun and Rebecca stare in shock. 

They’re both looking at Desmond Miles. 

Desmond Miles, who is very much alive (and wearing a hoodie that is 100% stolen). And… with a load of glowing yellow lines on his face. But it’s Desmond -- it’s Desmond for sure. Holy shit.  

Desmond doesn’t seem so shocked, only relieved to see them. Then his expression turns into serious confusion; 

“What the fuck is happening?”

///

ok sorry leaving it there for now! hope you enjoyed what is here will continue soon

[xonepeacelovex]

my cinderella prince

Pairing: Mark Tuan x Reader

Genre: Angst and Fluff | Friends to Lovers AU

Summary: You’ve been waiting for a text message but you got different message this time.

Warning: Alcohol consumption. Also not proofread. 

A/N: This is the result of binge reading all of Mark Tuan’s fan fictions. This is also my first GOT7 fanfiction. I know I did an incorrect quotes before for GOT7. :) Anyway, this is lowkey based on real life and I wrote this for closure because I had enough of the waiting game. I’m letting people go so new ones can come in in my life. Feel free to send me a message or ask. Thank you for reading!

10... 9... 8...

Everyone around you is shouting the countdown and already popping the bottle of champagne. Different colors and shapes of fireworks light up the night sky, making everyone more excited and at awe. 

7... 6... 5... 

Four seconds before the clock strikes 12, and the beginning of the new year. You look at your phone and scroll the notifications. You are met with notifications from Instagram from the pictures you are tagged in and a few last minute greetings from your family and friends. Deciding to answer the greetings later you press the power button of your phone. Getting the open bottle of red wine and pouring yourself a drink. Finally smiling, relieved that the year is ending. Quietly joining the countdown. 

3... 2... 1...

People clinking their glasses and you simply raises yours, smiling warmly to everyone. You sip from your glass and started greeting everyone a happy new year. Though New Year’s Eve is something you always celebrated, you sometimes still get overwhelm with how noisy it can be. 

After drinking everything on your glass, you put it down on the table and started your little quest of finding a quiet place in this party. You followed a couple heading upstairs, head shaking at how the holidays spread love and happiness in the air and somehow forgot someone like you. You found an open empty balcony, a perfect place to clearly see the fireworks.

You felt your phone vibrates on your pocket, instinctively getting it. You open your phone, a smile on your face, kinda expecting a message from a particular person, only for your smile to turn into frown when it is another notification from Instagram. 

Disappointment should be the last emotion you should feel tonight. Yet somehow, you cannot stop yourself from feeling it, mostly for the fact that he didn’t missed a single greeting for the last 10 years. Sighing deeply, trying to shake off the sadness bubbling in your chest. 

Looking up, the fireworks are still decorating the sky. In some way, being alone makes you feel less lonely. Downstairs everyone has someone to put their arms around and kiss when the clock strikes 12. Here, in a balcony, watching the night sky alone, actually makes you feel good. Promising yourself that this year you will celebrate your birthday and new year on a beach, somewhere where it is okay to be alone and not look at with pity because you don’t have someone beside you. 

Perhaps its the alcohol taking over your system, the one responsible for your thoughts. Who told you its a good thing to pre game before coming to a New Year’s Eve party, where you’ll surely drink just before your limit? Slowly breathing in the polluted air of the city, hoping it will help you sober up a little.

You left the balcony in search for a bottle of water, you cannot let yourself get too drunk. When you found a glass of clear liquid, you drank it immediately without much thinking it will be an alcohol in which it is. You take a sharp breath, feeling the burn in your throat. Feeling light headed you immediately went back to your own little space for a fresh air. 

And possibly it is really the alcohol taking over your system when you saw a familiar face in the balcony. Mark Tuan. 

You stumbled forward, not believing that the man you waited a text message from for a whole night is in front of you. Steadying yourself, you take a careful steps this time, towards Mark. Where you think you looked like shit, he is casually leaning against the balcony rail, looking handsome and cool. You think, he didn’t remember you at all at how he just stare at you or maybe its because he knows you and cannot believe that you are drunk already. 

Ten years is a long time to change. And high school for you is the worst era of your life so it should not be a surprised that you will be different from what he knew back then and the same goes for him. 

After a long time, you finally reached the balcony, grabbing the rail for support. You can see clearly now his face and from the way he smiles at you, you know he knows you. You returned his smile with a grin, “Tuan,” greeting him like before. “Y/L/N,” he replied, smiling widely this time. 

You forced yourself to look at the fireworks and stop the urge to keep staring at Mark, breathing in the air to sober you up. With the faint noise of people chattering in the background, he said to you softly, “Happy New Year.”  Blissfully, or in reality half yelling, you greeted him back “Happy New Year!”, looking at him in the eyes.

It is silly to be disappointed at him for not greeting you on your birthday when you are barely friends even back in high school. Besides he just message you every December 31 and after that like a silent agreement between you two, no one will dare to start a conversation for a whole year unless its December 31 again. 

Once in a while, Mark crosses your mind and in some way you always felt a connection between you two. You maybe treat each other as a friend or less than that but you always knew the relationship is special because what kind of friends only texted each other once in a year. 

It is funny to back read your conversation, it is only every December 31. The thought that you never greeted him in his birthday made you feel guilty. In addition to that guilt, you felt disappointed at him because he didn’t greet you yesterday when you never greeted him. Losing the smile on your face, you simply look up again at the sky. 

It is not a baseless assumption but an educated intuition, you like to word it like that, that maybe Mark really did have feelings for you. You are not a kind of person to believe in rumors especially if it is not from him directly. But all of your friends before always teases you to Mark. Whenever that happened, he just say sorry to you and you’ll dismiss it like a joke because of how embarrassed he looks like. Not wanting to be awkward with each other because of the teasing. So even though everyone says Mark likes you, you go ahead and found yourself a boyfriend. The teasing stopped and Mark also stayed away from you. That’s why him greeting you after high school surprised you because he knows and he apparently still treats you as a friend.

Definitely, you still like to avoid awkwardness so when the silence filled the room, you decided you should already go home. Even though 10 years is a long time to gather enough stories to entertain each other. Letting go of the balcony rail, leaning against it instead. Mark also lets go of the rail, this time turning his body to you. 

You chuckle at how awkward you both are, no one is expecting to see each other. “I’ll get going,” you said to him, standing up straight now. You don't want to seem drunk to Mark so you tried your best to walk straightly not until he stop you by grabbing your arm. Pulling you towards him, making you dizzy, stumbling upon him. “Wait,” he said while balancing you in his arms, “I have something to say,” that made you even more dizzy. 

Putting your hands against his chest for support, you tried to stand up alone. When you did, you remove your hands from his body, “Go ahead,” you replied to him.

“Happy birthday,” the greeting you are waiting for. Heart beating wildly against you chest, you smile at him, genuinely happy that he didn’t forget, “Thank you.”  

After this night, you’ll never see him again. You are sure. No need for your heart to beat fast for him, because like before, there will be no words spoken and the hearts will still remain clueless. And you can’t play this game anymore, not when you feel emotions you didn’t felt before for him like disappointment and guilt. Because he’s just a friend who always remember your birthday, nothing more, nothing less. You will not ask for more from the universe, you started walking away. You are maybe, once again, taking Mark for granted. Actually you’ll never know because he never said anything, leaving you in the middle.

What Mark did when he saw you leaving again after giving him that breathtaking smile was to pull you back... again. You found yourself in his arms, clinging to him. You are taken aback with Mark’s actions. You looked at him, confused, “Do you anything else to say?”, tired of this push and pull between you and Mark.

“Yes, and I hope I am not too late,” he said nervously, still holding your arms. You chuckle at him, “Mark, you already greeted me a happy birthday,” tilting your head to look at his eyes which is avoiding yours. “You also greeted me already a happy new year,” you reminded him. 

“No, it’s not about that,” this time he took a deep breath. “It took me years to finally have the courage and maybe a glass of wine to tell you this,” he stopped,  holding your hands in his, “I like you since high school,” he confessed and that left you speechless. “I want to talk to you everyday but I don’t have an excuse except when its your birthday,” Mark continued. “It’s okay if you don-,” that’s when you decided to cut him off with a kiss that surprised him initially but he returned with the same eagerness. 

“Finally, I’ve been waiting for this,” smiling, you whispered against his lips. Mark also smiles, biting his lower lip when he heard you say those words. Now you know why Mark just messages you once in a year. 

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