#yes i mean kys with my whole chest

[sneeplerbeepler]

if you supported johnny depp just kys. like deadass you're too dumb to be allowed to function in society lol

[lottins-only]

I love you, it's ruining my life | Epilogue

pairing: Kylian x black!fem!Reader

word count: 1.5k

A/N: here's an epilogue i couldn't help working on :)

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five

VI. Epilogue

It’s their third date they’ve gone on, in a Michelin star restaurant that Kylian had picked. They sat next to each other at a corner table, as close as possible without her ending up on his lap. They’d finished eating the amazing food, and were conversing about random things, him leaning back on his chair lazily as his thumb rubbed circles on her thigh.

The low lighting was making his doe eyes twinkle even more, and Y/N couldn’t help but shift her eyes back and forth from them to his pouty lips, which she really wanted on her at that moment. Her mind wandered as he spoke, thinking about what they’d hopefully get up to after they left the restaurant.

“I’ll get you the new ones before the Euros” He was saying.

“Hmm?” She refocused on him.

He took a sip of his drink, a small smile hiding behind the rim of his wine glass. “The new France jerseys”

“Why?”

He shrugged, seemingly nonchalant. “Because, that’s what girlfriends do, I guess. Wear their partner’s jerseys at games”

There was a vulnerability in the way he uttered his words, she could see right through him.

She smirked. “Am I your girlfriend then?”

“Yes” He met her eyes, nervousness evidently hiding behind his confident manner. “I mean, if you want to be. Because I want you to be. Very much”

She playfully pretended to be mulling it over, putting a finger to her chin and letting out a little “hmm”. Poor Kylian watched on while fidgeting in his seat.

“Yeah, I can live with that” She said finally.

He burst out laughing. “How generous of you”

She winked at him. “You know you love me”

The words slipped out before she could stop herself, and the moment hung between them. They hadn’t said the L word before. She'd known she loved him for years of course, had repeated the phrase countless times in her head. It was basically the thing she was most sure about in the world. But she didn't know how he felt.

Kylian’s expression, however, immediately softened.

“I do” He said with a low voice filled with so much intensity it made her chest tighten. He cleared his throat. “I love you”

He moved closer, their faces mere inches away from each other.

She reached up to cup his face, her thumb brushing lightly over his cheek. “I love you,too” She said quietly.

“Glad we’re on the same page, then” He said, before giving her a soft, lingering kiss. When they broke away, he had an infectious smile on his face.

They were sitting on his couch one evening, a couple days before he left for the Euros. Y/N was reading a book while Kylian unpacked PR boxes. A comfortable silence had fallen over them, each occupied with their own thing.

He let out a whistle as he held up a shiny new pair of boots that Nike had sent him. “Check these out, babe”

Y/N briefly shifted her eyes away from her book to glance at the boots. She smiled at Kylian before turning her eyes back to the engrossing novel she was reading. “They look nice, Ky. Congrats.”

She wasn’t really interested in this kind of stuff, because football as a whole didn’t interest her except for the times Kylian was on the pitch. Nonetheless, she liked seeing him excited.

“No, Look closer” He nudged her.

She looked up again, peering at the boots. “Uh… I like the blue?”

He still had an expectant look on his face. She gave him a pout. “They’re great, Ky. I don’t know–”

“Just look” He handed her one boot, a shy smile on his face.

She sighed, examining the boot. “ Again, I don’t know— Oh”

Her words caught in her throat. She could feel the flush rising up her neck and her cheeks.

“Do you like?” He asked softly.

She could only nod, hands tracing over the engravings on the boot.

There was the usual KEWFJ, which were the initials of him and his family members’ first names, and then there was the names of his niece and nephew. She spotted a new addition, however, directly below that: Her initial enclosed in a heart.

She stared, her heart melting.

“Because you’re my girl” He said tenderly, as if reading the question in her head. “And you’re very special to me”

She sprung on his lap, showering his neck and face with soft kisses. Her voice was thick with emotion as she muttered,“I love you”

He grinned mischievously, kissing her back softly. "Now you have to get a tramp stamp of my name"

He let out a loud yelp as she smacked his arm. "Kylian!" She scolded.

"I’m just kidding," he whispered with a soft smile, pressing his forehead to hers. "I already know you're mine."

They were at a restaurant again, this time in Madrid, after arguably the biggest day of Kylian’s career so far. His much awaited presentation had taken up the whole day. The whole thing was surreal, to say the least. The stadium was filled to the brim, full of thousands who’d been waiting for him, who’d loved him and wanted him for years. And now he was finally theirs. She supposed she could relate to the feeling.

The weight of the moment couldn’t have felt more clear when he stepped up on the stage to the cheer of the crowd, wearing the all white kit he’d coveted for so long, the smile on his face looking permanent. She couldn’t help but think about the skinny 13 year old who made it his business to tell anyone who’d listen that he’d one day find himself in this very stadium as a player. She’d felt tears prick her eyes whenever the image flashed before her eyes.

Now it was late evening, Kylian’s entourage occupying a long table at one of Madrid’s fanciest restaurants. Y/N was seated next to the man of the hour, their hands intertwined under the table. She sat silently, her eyes adoringly following Kylian as he talked and laughed.

He was relaxed, his suit jacket removed and his dress shirt slightly unbuttoned. It was like a huge weight was removed from his shoulders, the anxiety and tension that had followed him throughout the last couple of months having completely disappeared.

A lull in conversation and he turned and looked at her. “What’s on your mind?”

She smiled. “Nothing. I’m just really happy for you”

He brought their intertwined hands to his lips, kissing the back of her hand. “You’ve seen me through pretty much everything, today was as much as yours as it was mine”

Her stomach melted as she leaned and brushed her lips against his. She’d intended it to just be a peck, but he kissed her back firmly, passionately. She reluctantly broke away after a few moments, aware that they were in public and had company.

“Let’s go home” He whispered, voice intimate and slow.

Before she got the chance to reply, he turned and murmured an excuse to Tchaga, who was sitting next to him. The rest of the table paid them no mind as they stood, engrossed in their own bubbles of conversation.

They slinked away silently, Kylian leading the way with his hand clutching hers loosely.

Outside, he wrapped his arms around her as they waited for their car.

“You know, I think I’ve learned a lot about myself lately” He murmured against her hair.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah” He said. “Like, for example, I’ve always found couples who do excessive PDA really annoying. But now, with you”— he paused to kiss her forehead, as if to demonstrate his point—“it’s like I can’t help myself”

She giggled. “Yeah, I gathered that back there when you were perfectly fine with making out in front of your family.”

He shrugged in amusement. “Trust me, my younger self would’ve been disgusted at the thought. But I guess it’s different when you’re in love”

“I guess it is different” She mused. “What else have you discovered?”

The car pulled up just then, and they got inside, settling into the backseat comfortably.

“I learned that I really like having you around, like when you sleep over” he said, mischievous smile on his face clueing her in on what he was going to say next. “Maybe we can make that a permanent thing”

She pinched his chin playfully. “Nice try. I think we can hold off on that for a bit, actually”

“ But you’re always at my place. We’re headed there right now!” He protested.

“Yes, but you’ve just moved here, Ky. I think you need to settle in at the club and in the city first. See what it’s like to live alone in a different country for the first time” She explained gently. “Plus, I’ve just renewed the lease for my apartment, so..”

He nodded, understanding. “So, maybe when your lease is about to end, we can talk about it?”

“Yeah, we can talk about it” She confirmed.

He seemed content enough with that compromise.

“Just trying to lock you down quick” He joked. “Before you change your mind about all of this”

“Not gonna happen. You’re stuck with me now” She muttered, interlacing her fingers with his and nestling even closer to him.

It was true. Y/N knew this was it. There was no going back. She loved him with every part of her, and nothing—not his fame or the uncertainty, could ever change that. They were in this together, and she knew, without a doubt, she’d follow him to the ends of the earth.

tags: @kyliansonlygf @ynkfreeastheocean @scottishthistle @user6373738 @lucysantos6-blog @tuliptopiasstuff @kennasutopia @cinderellawithashoe @akiracim @kymb-10 @germanapples @ariesmai @edgyficuselastica

[drvirgus]

Protecting (my heart)

Idol! Minji X bodyguard! Reader

Description: getting a new job as NewJeans bodyguard isn't really something Y/n thought would happen to her. What exactly happens when she suddenly felt attracted to one of the NewJeans members? Can Y/n stay professional or are her feelings for Minji too much to handle?

Warnings: stalking; harassment; kys jokes; suggestive language; death threats; mention of abuse; mention of murder;

Chapter: I like you (half-written)

Masterlist

———————————————————————————

With a nervous smile on my face, I simply stared at the closed door. I took several deep breaths while faint music and the voices of the idols softly emanated through the door. With one final breath, I opened the door and entered the room.

Almost immediately, all heads turned towards me, and only one of them chuckled into her glass before taking a sip. My mouth formed into a small smile as I bowed slightly, although it wasn't necessary.

My eyes fell upon Minji, while Danielle and Hyein continued to sing casually. I could see the younger woman tilting her head to the side, clearly trying to avoid eye contact with me.

Clearing my throat, I approached Minji and simply stood before her. The younger woman had one leg crossed over the other, and her hand was clutching her glass. Annoyed and with narrowed eyes, she looked up at me, which only made me more nervous.

"Um, so... I," I mumbled softly, which Minji probably didn't understand, as Hyein started happily screaming into the microphone. Minji furrowed her brow as she just stared at me. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Um, so," I began to say more clearly. My face turned even redder as I almost started to shout, "I like you," I shouted, but right at that moment, Hyein stopped screaming, as she probably wanted to say something to Danielle.

My eyes widened as I noticed everyone in the room now staring at me. They all must have heard it. Nervously, I bit my lip and immediately looked down at the floor. I heard Minji start to laugh, and I also saw the younger woman standing up. Automatically, she was taller than me, but my gaze didn't leave the floor.

I watched as Minji moved her hand into my field of view, offering it to me. With wide eyes, I looked up at her, and without a second thought, I took her hand in mine.

"Come on. Keep singing," Haerin said casually as she leaned back. Hanni hesitated for a moment, but Danielle was the first to start singing again.

Minji now pulled me out of the room with her. She found a corner away from the windows and then stopped. The younger woman took a deep breath and then turned to face me. "Do you mean it?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

Nervously, I laughed and immediately looked everywhere except at her. My teeth caught my lower lip as I felt it start to tremble. My heart was pounding in my chest, making it hard to breathe.

"I don't know. Yes, I like you, but I'm still your bodyguard, and this right now is forbidden. Plus, I'm afraid to love again, especially an idol, since I've already loved one before, and you know how that turned out. I just don't know how to handle my feelings right now because I like you. Fuck, I even really like you, but somehow, I'm also afraid of what could happen, and I still have to focus on my job, and God-"

My breath caught as I felt Minji cupping my cheeks in her hands and simply looking at me with a gentle smile. My eyes widened as I just looked at the taller woman.

Minji giggled a little as she leaned closer to my face. "I like you," the younger woman whispered as she pressed our lips together. My eyes widened even more as I finally felt those soft lips that I had only ever seen in photos on mine.

My hands gently rested on the taller woman's hips as I pulled her closer to me. My whole body relaxed, and my mind finally stopped racing.

Slowly but surely, we now parted from each other and just stared into each other's eyes. My mouth still open. I still couldn't believe what was happening. Did she really just say she likes me too?

Nervously, I started to laugh a little and made sure to put some distance between us so I could finally think clearly again. "I'm still your bodyguard, though," I said a bit more seriously, which made Minji smile and nod.

"But now you're also my girlfriend," the taller woman replied, making me blush even more. My shocked face blushed even more, so I looked away in embarrassment and quickly turned around. "We-we should go back," I murmured softly, which only made Minji laugh.

———————————————————————————

[subhumanselflover]

can i request something nsfw for my kiske x fem (or gn) reader?

it can be general nsfw headcanons or maybe a scenario of ky and reader getting alone time together for the first time in a while and are really soft and vanilla with each other 😌

if you don’t feel like getting back to this, it’s okay!

note: anon i shall give you .. a teensy bit of both! also i’m a teensy bit rusty on smut, i haven’t written any in a while, but i thought i’d write a tiny scenario to get back into practice, though not terribly detailed for now. hope you enjoy! :3

Ky Kiske NSFW Headcanons

• Ky is NOT a selfish lover by any means. He’s the type of man that wants to give you the world, and that extends to his care in the bedroom.

• He’s very gentle and loving, I imagine he’d give you gentle kisses at every possible moment. Face, neck, chest, arms, stomach, legs— he’s kissing it all.

• I can’t imagine he’s terribly assertive as a lover, I think he’s most likely to ask what you want.

• Praise. I just know he’s very vocal, and consistently telling you how good you’re doing.

• Asks about everything. He wants the whole situation to be perfect for you, and he’d feel terrible if he did anything that made you uncomfortable.

• Overall, very vanilla man. He will try new things if you ask, but he will get rather flustered at a good handful of things.

• AFTERCARE! He is so gentle and loving with you before, during, and after sex. If I can be so real, Ky is canonly Catholic— and I just know he takes those verses about loving and caring for your wife SERIOUSLY. He’s massaging anything that might be sore, running a bath for the both of you, and making you tea (or just getting you water, if that’s what you prefer).

— a mini scenario for you as well! ky x fem!reader —

This must have been the first time in months that you had gotten an intimate moment alone with Ky, as he had been busy with his kingly duties far too often. And to be fair, you’d been rather busy with your duties as his queen as well. But here you both were now, with a free handful of hours alone in the bedroom. Though usually a well-restrained man, he could not keep his soft lips off of yours.

He had you sitting on the end of the bed, his hands had been wrapped around your waist and slowly moved down to your thighs, rubbing them gently. As you began to let out a soft noise of approval into the kiss, he moved his hands to carefully undress you.

Once undressed, he wanted to feel everything, every inch of your skin. He ran his hands over you gently, laying you down and kissing everything he could. “You’re so beautiful, my love,” he says softly, caressing your skin with warm, slightly rough hands, the hands of a man who was not always this gentle. You close your eyes, and suddenly the heat of Ky’s breath is between your legs, letting out a soft huff before lapping his tongue gently at the wetness that was already accumulating.

Ky held onto your thighs, caressing them as he licked at your clit. As you gently ran a hand through his hair, he hummed softly between your legs. You pushed him back a little, and he looked up at you, licking the excess off his lips. “Yes, my angel?” He asks, looking up at you with his eyes practically shining with desire, and pure love for you.

“I’m ready, Ky, please, I’ve waited so long..” You beg, having waited enough. He doesn’t hesitate to undress himself with haste, and you help him as you can. As you move your hand down to touch him, you realize he’s hard and leaking just from eating you out. He looks up at you with a soft smile, before getting on top of you to give you what you wanted.

As you take him, he groans softly in your ear, softly mumbling “you take me so well, so good for me..” He rubs at your clit as he thrusts into you. With all the built up excitement on both ends, neither of you last long. “I’m close, my love, where do you want me?” He asks, panting. You huff out softly that you’d rather he not finish inside this time, and so, he pulled out and released onto your thighs, whimpering softly as he came.

Lying at your side, he takes a moment to just be with you, caressing your cheek. “You’re so beautiful..” he mumbles, holding you in his arms. “I’ve missed you,” he’s practically wrapping himself around you, when he notices that you’re still a mess. He was often very attentive, but it had been so long since you’d done anything like this that he had merely forgotten. “Oh dear, I’m sorry,” he made quick work of scooping you into his arms, to take you to the bathroom to clean up. He’d wipe off your thighs with a warm washcloth before running a bath for the both of you. For now, you giggled into his arms, and assured him that everything was alright.

[jikookiekosmos]

Classified & Confidential || kth (Part 1)

➥Pairing: detective!taehyung/reader

➥Summary: It’s been years since your close friend passed away, case going cold due to lack of evidence. You never once believed the story the police gave you, since they classified it under an ‘unfortunate accident.’ Now that there are telltale signs of something similar at play regarding someone else you hold dear, you decide to take things into your own hands. You hire world renowned private detective, Kim Taehyung. And he goes above and beyond everything you expected.

➥Genre: strangers to lovers (kinda slow burn), detective au, mystery, angst, eventual smut, fluff

➥Rating: 18+

➥Words: ~7.1k

➥Content Warnings: detective/mystery au, (tw: mentions of death, brief mention of suicide in relation to a criminal case, implied foul play, stalking behavior, non-graphic detailing of a crime scene), slight forensic talk, mentions of nervousness and anxiety, some cursing, mentions of cops/police, unhelpful law enforcement (like they’re kinda terrible with the whole solving this case thing), feelings of unease and tension, we get bestie hoseok, tae is kinda extra but for good reason, no suggestiveness/smut in this chapter but it’s still 18+ due to it involving some of the aforementioned warnings

A/N: This will be a multi-part series that explores some darker themes, and each part will have appropriate content warnings listed; please read at your own risk. This part touches on backstory and introduces the characters, things will start getting a little more intense in the following chapters. I don’t have any kind of specific update schedule but ideally I’d like to get updates out every few weeks at the latest! I hope you look forward to this, and if you wanna be added to a taglist, please let me know~

Thank you @dntaewithluv​​​​ for your constant motivation and support (and for always beta-reading for me, even when we scream at each other about our ideas); hopefully I do Tae justice for you! I love you lots ❤️

taglist: @inlovewiththemoonn @mwitsmejk​ @bangtanhome

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

5 Years Ago

The night sky was dark, blanketed by stars as it emitted a peaceful aura. There was no way to bask in the calmness of the night, however, with all the hustle and bustle that surrounded you outside of the apartment complex.

Crime scene tape marked off the area, and many onlookers had gathered to try and get a glimpse of what happened. You were one yourself, but you weren’t there out of sheer curiosity.

Your breathing was ragged, staggered, as you tried to hold yourself together and observed the scene in front of you unfold.

Police wouldn’t let you beyond the tape, despite knowing the person currently covered by the white tarp.

Minutes prior, one of the cops had been politely trying to hold you back as you thrashed around, mind muddled by the vision of your best friend’s face before the tarp concealed it.

“I’m sorry, we can’t let anyone unauthorized come past this tape, please stay where you are.”

“You don’t understand, that’s my best friend, please let me through, please-”

You couldn’t control the volume of your screams, prompting a few of the other bystanders to try and calm you down seeing as you were very clearly distraught.

An unknown amount of time passed before the thickest part of the crowd decided they’d had enough excitement for one night, retiring to their own homes. You stayed planted in your spot, prepared to not move until you got more of an explanation for what was going on.

You’d resigned yourself to the fact that if someone wanted you to leave, they’d have to do it by force, but you eventually complied after two cops convinced you to come down to the station and issue a statement, given your relation to the victim.

They didn’t grill you hard, which was something you appreciated at the time, since you were really in no state to handle a grueling interrogation. You knew you could be marked down as a potential suspect, but everything from their investigation pointed to them believing it had either been an accident or a possible suicide attempt, the latter of which would almost entirely exclude your involvement.

Over the next few weeks, you cooperated with the investigation and helped them with whatever leads you could provide; you were determined that foul play was involved, because you knew your best friend better than anyone, and the story the cops were feeding you wasn’t adding up.

The theory as you knew it was this: she jumped from her apartment window, which was up a significant amount of stories, more than enough to kill a person. A potential suicide note was found at the scene on the nightstand by her bed, typed on a sheet of paper, so handwriting analysis wasn’t an option. The apartment was undisturbed aside from the window having been open.

It almost seemed like a cut-and-dried case, aside from one other small factor: unknown DNA from a hair follicle was found in the apartment alongside the victim’s own.

This didn’t surprise you…at first. You knew Ky had been perusing multiple dating apps and would often invite people over to her place after successful dates. But as far as you also knew, Ky hadn’t recently been on any dates, so there wasn’t a clear reason for that DNA to show up.

Ky had told you in the weeks leading up to her death that she was afraid someone had been following her around, and it unsettled her so much so that she deleted all the dating apps on her phone until she felt safe again.

Sadly, that day never came, and this fact alone caused the nagging suspicion of foul play to burrow itself even deeper into your subconscious.

Since the DNA was unknown, tracing it would be no easy task, but that didn’t stop you. Anything you could do to shed light on what had actually occurred, you were going to do it, plain and simple.

Which is why when the police decided to close the file on the case and label it as an ‘unfortunate accident,’ you were floored.

You begged them to keep focusing on leads when there really weren’t any, offering to aid in any way you could because there was no way that there wasn’t something missing.

Their response?

“Go home, Y/N, there’s nothing else you can do.”

You left the station that day only after you had caused somewhat of a scene, arguing back and forth with one of the lead detectives until you were ‘carefully escorted’ outside. Enraged, you banged your hand against the glass of the door before you slid down the wall beside it, hugging your knees as you tried to compose yourself.

You weren’t sitting that way for long before you felt a gentle tug on your sleeve. You looked up reluctantly and were met with one of the softest pairs of eyes you’d ever seen.

The stranger offered you a kind smile, one that made your heart ache in the aftermath of everything you’d endured the last several weeks. You’d been tackling this situation all on your own, with barely any help from mutual friends or Ky’s family since she’d been estranged from them.

But now, this man stooped down in front of you and smiling at you like everything would be alright…

It almost made you want to believe it.

“Hi, I uh, couldn’t help but overhear about your situation,” he finally spoke up, sounding somewhat bashful. He had bright red hair that peeked out under a cap he wore, and he was sporting a rainbow colored sweater.

A tinge of embarrassment fluttered through you. “Oh. Sorry you had to witness that.”

So this random stranger heard you telling off the police by yelling at them in broad daylight. Way to make a first impression.

To your surprise, he simply shook his head, smile widening. “No, don’t be sorry! I was, uh – happy to be able to listen.”

You quirked an eyebrow. “Ok…may I ask why?”

“Well,” there was that bashful tone again, hand flying to the back of his neck as he looked to the side, “I’d been coming up here for a while, hoping to hear something regarding this case specifically. Usually when I stop by, there isn’t much going on and it’s not like I can just walk in and ask for classified information-”

He stopped speaking immediately once you held up your hand. You didn’t want to be rude, but you were thoroughly confused.

“Is there a reason why you’re eavesdropping for information about this case?”

He nodded eagerly. “Sure is! See, I’m working as a crime reporter, and-”

You scoffed as you pushed yourself to a standing position. “Unbelievable.”

Without sparing another glance to the gentleman, you shouldered past him, earlier hopeful mood soured by the fact that he was just another person looking for a scoop about Ky’s demise.

He was quick to follow, almost jumping down the steps to catch up to you.

“Hey, wait! Please.”

The way he begged pulled at your heartstrings because of how genuine he sounded, and for reasons beyond you, you turned around to face him and decided to hear him out.

You crossed your arms as he sighed with relief.

“Thank you. Ok, to start with, I’m a crime reporter, but I’m not trying to report on this case as everyone knows it.”

Another eyebrow raise from you. “What do you mean?”

The man smiled shyly, brushing away the red hair in his eyes. “I want to bring the injustice of the system to the public’s attention.”

That got your attention. “You do?”

“Yes. And I think your story could help with that.”

“My story?”

He nodded again, this time more eager than the last. “You’re pretty adamant that what happened to your friend was no accident, am I correct?”

Any mention of Ky caused the dull pain in your chest to come back, but at least this time, she wasn’t being mentioned in a gruesome or negative light.

“Yeah, I really don’t think it was an accident. But no one believes me.” You looked down at your shoes, scuffling one against the pavement.

You only looked up again when you felt the stranger’s hand on your shoulder.

“I believe you.”

All of the breath was knocked out of you.

“You…you believe me?”

The smile he gave you this time was bright and sincere as he dropped his hand by his side. “I do. I’ve been following everything posted online or in the newspaper about this case, and some of it just really does not seem plausible. And then after hearing you today, it made so much sense as to why.”

It still bothered you a bit that you were loud enough in the station to be heard outside, but that worry was now being overshadowed by the possibility of having someone else who could stand by you on your conviction.

“It…really means a lot to me that you would even consider my side of things. Truthfully, I think the police only tolerated me this long due to protocol.” You wrapped your arms around yourself.

The red-haired man grimaced at your remark. “Yeah, no kidding. For as long as I’ve been in this line of work, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them take things as seriously as they should.”

“How long have you been doing this?”

“About a year. But trust me, I’ve seen a lot during that time.” His determined expression might have made you giggle under other circumstances because it clashed so much with the rest of his soft demeanor.

“I don’t doubt it.” You walked over to the nearby bench seated a few feet away and the stranger followed hesitantly, only sitting beside you when you didn’t give him any indication his presence was unwanted.

The both of you turned toward each other slightly before you spoke up again.

“So, how can I help you with what you’re wanting to do?”

He seemed pleased that you were on board, eyes shining. “For starters, do you think I could interview you? I’d have to ask some sensitive questions, but I feel like I could have a better understanding of the case that way…only if you’re comfortable, though.”

You swallowed as you thought it over. Your participation in the numerous interrogations during the investigation had now proved to lead nowhere, but maybe this time the outcome would be different.

“Sure, I don’t mind. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, to the best of my ability.”

The stranger beamed, looking happy enough to nearly jump out of the bench, despite the current subject matter. “Great!”

His cheerful nature was a little infectious, you had to admit, because you already started to feel a little lighter in his presence. A hand appeared in your line of vision.

“My name is Hoseok, by the way. We haven’t been properly introduced yet so that would be the next best step, I think.”

You did giggle this time at his action. “Nice to meet you, Hoseok. I’m Y/N.” You took his hand into your own to give it a small but firm shake.

“It’s my pleasure, Y/N. Now,” he regarded you with that same soft look he had in his eyes when you first saw him at the station, “what do you say we discuss some logistics over lunch? My treat, of course, since you’re agreeing to help me.”

For the first time in ages, the smile that graced your face was wholeheartedly genuine. “Sounds good.”

Thus, the beginning of a beautiful, long-lasting friendship bloomed that day outside of the one place you’d begun to loathe more than anything else. Over the next few years, Hoseok stood by your side in more ways than you could count, and he was now someone you considered to be one of the best friends you’d ever had.

One of the only best friends you’d ever had.

What you never expected was to be seated with Hoseok at the same diner that started your initial conversation about Ky’s case 5 years later, discussing something much too similar for your liking.

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Present Day

You sipped from your coffee mug, enjoying the warm beverage as you waited at the diner. The weather had been less than ideal, with rain pouring all day long and displaying little signs of stopping.

But Hoseok had been adamant about the two of you meeting up after your voicemail you left the previous night.

As you were thinking about your close friend, you heard the bell above the diner door ring, signaling his arrival. He spotted you across the room and quickly rushed over to your table, leaving rain droplets in his wake.

Hoseok shrugged out of his soaked jacket and tossed in into the booth seat beside him as he shook his head to – hopefully – rid himself of the water trying to slide down his face.

“Hey,” he finally breathed out once he was settled. His usual wild red hair was darker now thanks to the rain, stern expression plastered onto his face.

“Hey.” You responded meekly, attempting to give him a weak smile. Your stomach was churning with unease at the conversation you were about to have.

Hoseok took a deep breath before he folded his hands together and rested his elbows on the table. The coffee you’d ordered for him had been pushed to the side, momentarily forgotten.

He lowered his voice. “Are you sure the pattern of behavior is the same?”

You nodded slowly, going over all the details again in your mind. “I’m positive. The only difference is Yuri waited longer to tell me that she thinks she’s being followed than Ky did.”

Ky. Not a day went by where you didn’t think about her, seeing her smiling face when you would close your eyes at night and try to drift off to sleep.

Slumber came much easier these days than it did those first few months, but every now and then the same nightmare would plague you about the night you saw her on the sidewalk.

You shook your head to shrug the thoughts away. Now wasn’t the time.

“Shit,” Hoseok finally responded. “That doesn’t seem like good news for us.”

“My thoughts exactly. Who knows how long this has been going on. And she’s been receiving the same kind of ‘gifts’ Ky would get, too. Random text messages, voicemails from unknown numbers…she tries to brush it off, but I know this scares Yuri.”

“She doesn’t recognize who’s speaking in the voicemails?”

You shook your head solemnly. “No, they’re using some sort of voice modifier.”

Hoseok cursed again, this time under his breath. “Well, what do you want to do?”

You gulped. Truthfully, you didn’t know the answer yourself. On the one hand, everything currently happening to your friend mimicked what happened to Ky, almost exactly. But on the other hand, Yuri made it known time and time again that she thought you were too paranoid for your own good sometimes.

So, you were at a loss.

Yuri and you were close, in a sense. You’d been friends for the last 4 years, working at the same company after graduating from college and even getting transferred to a new one in the same division so as to not be separated. Outside of Hoseok, you considered her your dearest friend.

But at the same time, you knew that Yuri had those she held very dear in her own life that were there before you, and you’d never try to overstep.

Still…the events surrounding Yuri were too specific to be coincidental in your opinion, and if the hunch you had right now was correct, you needed to do something.

You wouldn’t – you couldn’t – let another person die. Not if there was some way for you to prevent it.

Something you didn’t do with Ky, and that would haunt you for the rest of your life-

Hoseok pulled you out of your thoughts by calling your name, frowning deeply once your gaze focused on him again.

“I…I don’t know. I feel like if I push too hard on this, I’ll also push Yuri away, and I don’t want that.” You worried at your bottom lip, your most infamous nervous habit.

“Be that as it may, this doesn’t seem like something you should ignore either. What’s worse: pushing her away but potentially saving her life, or not saying anything and she ends up in danger?”

A heavy sigh wracked through your body.

Your silence was enough for Hoseok to continue with his own line of thinking. “Well, we could consider going to the police-”

“Absolutely not,” you answered fiercely, with more emotion than you’d displayed the entire conversation, “not after how they handled everything with Ky and how they treated you.”

You and Hoseok had made a name for yourself throughout the town as ‘Public Enemies 1 and 2’ with the local police department. You, due to your persistent insistence that they were wrong in their deduction about Ky, and Hoseok because of the article he published that shamed their name.

The article was the first – and last – one that he published under the company that had hired him to be a reporter, seeing as the police department had enough sway to get him fired afterwards. He wasn’t able to find another reporting job anywhere within the town or those surrounding it.

There also weren’t any remaining records of the article anywhere online or in paper publication, but as a ‘fuck you’ to the department, Hoseok had a copy of it printed and hanging up on his wall for anyone and everyone to see. You had always admired how he handled the situation with grace even though it made your blood boil every time you thought about it.

Even so, some good had come from the whole ordeal. After failing to find another reporter job, Hoseok had made a somewhat notable career as a crime novel author, popular among locals because of how he came to be a novelist, and eventually rising to fame due to his own amazing writing skills.

He enjoyed his career and had a happy life, but that didn’t mean you had to forgive and forget the shitty events that happened to get him to that point.

Hoseok nodded in understanding. “Ok, so no police. Does that mean we try to tackle this whole thing by ourselves?”

“Neither of us have any legit experience with this kind of stuff, so that’s out of the question, too.”

Hoseok tapped his chin as he pondered another idea. The way his eyes lit up as it came to him made your lips curve upward.

“What if we go to someone who isn’t involved with the police but does have experience with that?”

“…not sure I’m following you.”

Hoseok huffed in an endearing way. “Have you ever heard of a private detective?”

The word ‘detective’ made you wince, considering your last encounter with one evolved into a screaming match…but it was also how you met Hoseok, so there’s a silver lining for everything.

“I’m not familiar with a private detective, but I’m open to listening to your idea.”

He grinned. “Perfect. Ok, so in my research for my latest novel, I actually ended up looking into some real-life private detectives.”

“And what did you find?” Your own curiosity was definitely piqued now, as it always was when Hoseok would talk about something so passionately.

“There’s one who’s basically world renowned, like he’s really fucking good. And his office isn’t too far from here, it’s basically in the next town over.”

You took another sip from your coffee, swirling the now lukewarm liquid around in your mouth as you contemplated.

“What else do you know about him?”

Hoseok’s shoulders slumped slightly at that. “Not much. The only information I have on him is his name and how you can contact him. From what I’ve read, he seems to be pretty selective with clients.”

“No idea what he looks like?”

Hoseok shook his head. “None. There weren’t pictures or anything like that, I’m not even sure how old he is.”

You hummed as you pictured this mystery man in your head, automatically defaulting to envisioning an older man, maybe in his 50s with already graying hair. A wise old soul who had seen so much in his long years of investigation work.

“Not like all that really matters, I guess. Do you think I should reach out to him?”

Hoseok nodded around his coffee cup before he tilted his head back to take a large sip. “That’s our best shot right now. And if it doesn’t work out, at least you tried.”

Such a simple statement but it made your stomach twist at the memory of Ky and how you weren’t able to save her because you didn’t know how. “Right.”

Hoseok pulled his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through what looked like Google search results. When he found what he was looking for, he texted you the information.

“Kim Taehyung?” You said the name aloud, making sure you got the correct info.

“Yup, that’s him. If you do decide to contact him, let me know how it goes, ok? I’m already worried as is about you delving into something like this again.”

You patted his hand. “I know, Hobi. Don’t worry. I’ll be careful, and I’ll keep you updated as much as possible.”

He smiled brighter than the sunshine. “That’s all I can ask for, bub.”

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You paced around your apartment, staring at the text that Hoseok had sent you earlier. The rest of your time with him at the diner had been calm and helped to quell your nerves, but now that you were alone again, you were riddled with anxiety.

You had typed in this Kim Taehyung’s number into your phone, ready to call him and just get it over with. The worst he could do is decline your ask for help, but you wouldn’t know unless you tried.

After a few more minutes of useless pacing, you finally hit ‘send’ and raised the receiver to your ear.

You were met with an answering machine almost immediately, wondering if maybe you typed it in wrong until you heard ‘you have reached the number for Kim Taehyung.’ The name had been uttered by a human voice, one that was deep and took you off guard.

You had barely enough time to ponder over the voice before you heard the tell-tale ‘beep’ signaling for you to start your message.

“Oh! Um, hello, Mr. Kim. This is Y/N- well my name is Y/N. I was referred to you by a friend of mine who said you may can help me with a situation I’m having. There’s…some suspicious behavior involving someone dear to me and I’m afraid they could be in danger, but I’m not sure who to turn to. I-If you’d like to give me a call back, you can reach me at this number…”

You finished your voicemail with your contact information before thanking him and wishing him a goodnight. Once you pulled away your phone, you checked the time.

10:36 PM. No wonder you got his answering machine.

The anxiety that had settled down while you were leaving your message started to come back, so to combat that you made the decision to go ahead and get ready for bed. There wasn’t anything else you could do right now, anyway.

You texted Yuri just to wish her a goodnight, and when you received a response almost immediately, you breathed out a sigh of relief. At least she was alright and that was one less thing to worry about for now.

You didn’t dream that night – which was a blessing in its own right – as you thought about the deep timbre of the voice from the answering machine. You’d only heard it briefly, but it left enough of an impact, that was for sure.

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You awoke around 8 AM, your typical time no matter what day it was. It was the weekend, so you could get more sleep if you wanted, but a quick check of your phone had you sitting upright at a record speed.

[Unknown] 6:28 AM: I got your voicemail. If you want to discuss your case, meet me at this address.

Your heart thumped faster as you re-read the words over again. The following message had an address attached, and when you opened it, you noticed how it was for the neighboring town.

With all of the context clues, and taking into account everything Hoseok told you yesterday, you figured that it was Mr. Kim who had texted you. Obviously it would be from an unknown number, and he wouldn’t give out any explicit personal details to lead back to him; that’s just how he did things, as Hobi had mentioned.

And if he contacted you back, that meant he was interested in helping you!

Well…he was interested in hearing you out, at least. Still, you wouldn’t pass up on this opportunity. You quickly crafted a response before you started to make yourself presentable.

[y/n] 8:03 AM: Thank you! When should I meet you?

You had just finished brushing your teeth when you heard your phone chime again.

[Unknown] 8:06 AM: Whenever is best for you. I’ll be here all day and don’t have any other clients lined up.

You clutched your phone to your chest. This was really happening.

Once you were done getting ready to head out, it was just past 9 AM. You called Hobi to let him know what you were doing, and his excitement was tangible even through the phone. He urged you to keep him posted about all the details, which you assured him that of course you would.

The drive to the address you’d been given didn’t take too long, maybe around 20 minutes or so. What surprised you when you arrived, though, was the outward appearance of the building.

It looked abandoned, for lack of a better term, and you checked the text message 3 more times to make sure this is where you were supposed to be.

[y/n] 9:28 AM: I’m here…but I’m not sure if this is the correct place?

There was an eerie feeling settling in your stomach as you waited for a response. Maybe this had been some sort of trick? Had someone set you up?

The sound of a deadbolt clicking grabbed your attention, and the door a few feet in front of you opened up to display an older woman. At first, she seemed a bit disgruntled at having an unexpected guest, but before you could apologize for intruding, her gruff expression was replaced with a warm smile.

“I take it you’re Y/N?”

You gulped and nodded, placing your phone back into your jacket pocket.

“Follow me.”

She turned on her heel to walk back into the building, not bothering to wait and see if you would obey. You quickly scurried after her, only stopping once you were a foot or so behind.

You walked through about 3 or 4 different hallways, trying to remember the directions you’d taken but failing miserably. There wasn’t much to this building…you saw what appeared to be a few offices here and there but otherwise, not much else.

“Here we are,” the woman croaked, gesturing with her arm to a much nicer looking door that had gold lettering on the window.

The etchings were bold, and it was very evident where you were as you read the words:

KIM TAEHYUNG

Private Detective

The older woman rapped on the door 3 times with her knuckles before she walked off. You were standing there, dumbfounded, until you heard a voice softly telling you to come inside.

The doorknob clicked easily under your hand, and as you entered the room, you were in awe of how different everything looked.

The office was tidy and, dare you say, extravagant compared to what surrounded it outside of this room. There were two brown leather couches that had a decent sized coffee table seated in between them; further into the office, you saw the same type of leather chairs, one in front of and one behind a large wooden desk. You also spotted a few plants that looked to be well taken care of, one sitting in a windowsill and the other on a small table next to some black filing cabinets.

Whoever had designed this room clearly had a knack for matching furniture together, because it all meshed well and you appreciated the sleek look to everything.

Your eyes ended their scan as you looked over to the far wall, almost letting out a gasp when you noticed the figure across the room whose back was turned to you.

When you softly shut the door, the other person in the room turned around. It took you a second to start thinking properly again, because he was not at all how you pictured he would be.

For starters, he looked much younger than you thought originally, closer to your own age, which you thought was admirable considering his high status as a detective. He had brown hair parted down the middle that was slightly wavy, with bangs covering his forehead. He had very handsome facial features as well, some of the most handsome you’d ever seen, if you were being honest with yourself.

He was wearing dark jeans and a shirt with black and white print that was hidden underneath a black leather jacket. Everything about this man seemed to scream fashionable and it was throwing you for a loop. You weren’t trying to stereotype him based on your own experience with detectives in the past, but he was just…so not what you expected him to be.

You were wondering again if this might be a prank, until he finally spoke up and acknowledged your presence.

“Y/N, is it?”

You nodded dumbly, scrambling to walk across the office as he motioned to the chair in front of his desk. He sat down in his own once you were close enough, and you shrugged out of your jacket before following suit.

There was a moment of silence between the two of you, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, you felt small under his scrutinizing gaze. He was leaning on one elbow, chin resting in his palm as he stared at you with intensity.

He spoke suddenly, almost making you flinch with surprise.

“So, you mentioned a friend of yours might be in danger?”

You nodded, not sure what to say or if you should say anything.

“Does this friend know you’ve come to a private detective about their situation?”

You opened your mouth, closed it, and opened it again. “Well…no.”

The man nodded, more to himself than you, it looked like. “Alright. That’s not an issue, just have to cover all the basics first.”

“What do the basics entail?”

He seemed amused by your interest as you took the initiative to ask questions now.

His fingertips drummed along the desk, a rhythmic sound that you found to be oddly soothing.

“It entails me finding out as much about your case as I’m willing to before I decide whether or not it’s something I can assist you with.”

He started twirling a pen with his unoccupied fingers, clearly waiting for you to speak first again before he continued.

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything you feel is pertinent to tell me.”

You sighed. “Well, to start with, I think my friend is being followed by someone-”

“Proof?”

You frowned. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Do you have proof? Does this friend have pictures or a video of them being followed, or is it just a feeling?”

“To my knowledge…no. It’s more that they sense it than have actually seen it.”

“And you want me to find out if this is happening or not?”

“Um…yes?”

It was his turn to sigh this time. “You don’t sound very confident in your answer, Y/N.”

His tone rubbed you the wrong way. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What it means,” he broke off to look away from the pen to your face again, “is that I need to know what it is you want from me before I can agree to help you.”

You were catching onto his game now. He wanted you to very specifically lay it all out for him, instead of leaving him to figure it out by grasping at straws.

“Well, Mr. Kim-”

“Taehyung.”

“Sorry?”

“Taehyung. You can call me that, if you want. I’m not super big on formalities for myself.”

You chewed the inside of your cheek. Why was his presence so overwhelming?

“With all due respect, Mr. Kim, I’ve never done this before. All I know is something isn’t right, and I don’t trust the police to offer assistance in the way I need.”

You swore you saw something flash in his eyes.

“Why don’t you trust the police?”

You crossed your arms and leaned more into the chair. “The last time I worked with them, it didn’t end well.”

“You’ve worked on the force?” He almost sounded impressed.

“No, sorry, poor choice of wording. I tried to help them with a case before.”

“Ah,” his eyes narrowed as he busied himself with the pen again. “Were you a suspect, or?”

“I was close to the victim,” you said softly, almost a whisper.

For a moment, his expression softened. “I’m so sorry.”

You shrugged, inhaling a shaky breath as you looked at your lap. “It’s fine. Just…there’s your answer. I don’t want to work with them again, so I came to you.”

“If I’m able to take your case, I’ll make sure you don’t regret that decision.”

His tone had you picking your eyes back up. You noticed a fire within his own, one that made you feel like he meant every single word he’d just said to you.

“Thank you.”

He carded a hand through his hair, the action drawing your attention to the silver watch that adorned his wrist.

“Can I ask…could you tell me about the case you were involved with?”

A slow nod from you. “If it’ll help, I can do that.”

He motioned for you to continue. As you started telling him the details, you noticed as his eyes widened. At one point, he politely interrupted you.

“Sorry, just – I remember that case. You were involved with that?”

“Yes.” You were twisting your hands together in your lap. “Ky was my best friend.”

“And the police just let the case go cold, without considering all traces of evidence?”

“I begged them not to, but there wasn’t much I could do. They made that known several times,” you trailed off. You thought you heard some semblance of a growl coming from the detective.

“I always knew something was weird about that…every report they published made no sense, and none of the pieces of evidence seemed to corroborate their theories.” His hushed tone suggested he may have been talking more to himself, but you didn’t question it.

“There were signs of suspicious behavior leading up to her death that they never considered, and any time I tried to bring it up, I was shut down immediately.”

“Are these ‘signs’ something you’re noticing now, with your other friend?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Taehyung hummed. “I see. You want to inspect this before it gets out of hand, so you came to me because the police are a lost cause.”

You nodded feebly, voice softer than ever when you spoke again. “I don’t want to see another person die.”

“You won’t.”

His answer startled you, even if it was as quiet as your own. Your eyes met briefly before he started looking anywhere but your face.

Another hush befell the room, and this one seemed more awkward than the last, considering Taehyung cleared his throat before he rifled through one of his desk drawers.

“Before you tell me anything else, I need you to look over something first.”

“Sure, whatever I need to do, I’ll do it.”

A crooked smile tugged at Taehyung’s lips. “You know, you’re a lot more obedient than most of my other clients.”

You…weren’t sure how to take that.

“I am?”

“Yeah. Most of the time they come in with demands and don’t like to listen when I push back on something. It’s part of the reason why I’ve gotten choosier about who I decide to do business with these last few years. But you,” he fished out a piece of paper from the drawer, “are proving much easier to work with. I appreciate that.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

He chuckled, the sound low. “You’re also way more polite than most people I encounter.”

You smiled at him for the first time. “I’m grateful you’re taking the time to hear me out.”

His eyes lingered on yours for just a second before shifting down.

“First and foremost,” Taehyung slid a piece of paper across the wooden desk that separated the two of you, “if we agree to do business, you’ll need to sign this contract. It lists my stipulations and services I can provide.”

You picked up the paper, not quite sure what to expect.

“Take your time to read over all of it carefully, just so everything is clear on both our ends.” He leaned back in his chair, the sound of squeaking leather breaking your concentration for a moment.

You scanned through every line, all of the contract terms seeming straight-forward and easy to agree to-

-but the last line caught your attention.

“Could you explain this last part, please?”

Taehyung leaned over to look at which line you were pointing to before he let out a soft chuckle. “Ah, that. My #1 most important rule. Never get involved with clients’ personal lives.”

“But don’t you have to sometimes?”

“For work, yes. But this is more referring to what happens outside of that. Things can get…messy.”

“You talk like that’s happened before.”

Taehyung smirked but offered nothing more to that specific conversation.

“So, are we in business?”

You didn’t have to ponder long before you signed the contract with a flourish. When you passed it back across the desk, Taehyung smiled.

“Perfect,” he stood up to shake your hand, “I’ll be in touch with you shortly, once I’ve reviewed your case.”

You returned the shake. “Thank you, Mr. Kim.”

He squeezed your hand once before letting it go.

“The pleasure is all mine.”

You waited to see if there was anything else he might need from you, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. He leaned down and sifted through his drawer once more, this time pulling out a Manila file folder.

“I use these to get the typical information needed for me to start my research. It just asks for client’s name and contact info, as well as a summary about what you’re wanting from me and other names of those involved. In this instance, it would be your friend. You can give me as little or as much info as you think I need.”

He handed the folder to you, and upon opening it up, you saw everything he had just mentioned to you on a sheet of paper stapled to the inside.

“I’d prefer you fill it out now so you can leave it with me, but of course I can’t force you to do anything.”

His tone suggested he was teasing, but you were quick to sit on one of the couches and begin filling out the paper. It didn’t take you very long, and when you were done, you noticed he was sitting on the opposite couch, elbows resting on his knees with his hands folded.

“Finished?”

You nodded as you slid the file across the coffee table, his pen placed on top. He accepted both and smiled at you.

“Alright, if that’s all you want to discuss, you’re free to go. As I mentioned before, I’ll be in touch with you after I’ve looked over everything and have some sort of plan on how to proceed. And of course, all of this information is strictly classified. You read that in the contract, but I always reiterate it anyway, due to some problems I’ve had in the past.”

“Of course.” You agreed with no hesitation. Honestly, you couldn’t fathom just how much he’s had to endure in his line of work, how many times he’s probably had to change locations and phone numbers.

Hell, Kim Taehyung may not even be his real name, and you’d never know.

“Any questions for me?”

You mumbled some form of ‘no’ as you shook your head. Taehyung walked over to the door to open it for you, and you certainly weren’t expecting the same woman from before to be out in the hallway, but there she was.

“Ms. Choi will show you out since this place is a bit of a maze,” his tone was light, a sheer contrast to the mood that had settled over the two of you from when you stepped into his office. “Don’t forget: I’ll contact you.”

“Yes, sir.” You couldn’t help the authoritative term as it slipped past your lips, and you walked through the door before you could see the look on his face. You thought you might have heard some sort of laugh from Ms. Choi as she escorted you back to the front, but your imagination liked to play tricks on you sometimes.

Besides, Taehyung said he wasn’t one for formalities, so it didn’t really matter that much, did it? He had to be older than you anyway…right?

You spent the entire walk through the building trying to justify in your head what had just happened, and Ms. Choi gave you a soft smile as she held the door open for you to leave.

When you settled back in your car, you gripped the steering wheel and took a deep breath, leaning your head back as you shut your eyes.

You still couldn’t quite believe that the last 30 minutes or so had happened. Taehyung had proven to be quite different than what you anticipated, but he was truthfully better than you could have hoped.

He seemed driven and motivated about his line of work, and the way he reassured you when you had your doubts-

-it made you feel…safe. Like this was a step in the right direction after all.

As you called Hobi to fill him in on everything during your drive home, you started to believe that maybe, just maybe, things would turn out alright.

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

➥Part 2

➥Series Masterlist

➥All Works Masterlist

[hotpinkrathian]

All Over You

(Kyalin)

Lin tossed her can into the bin with holding the smirk on her face.

"Go Beifong!" Korra chanted, chugging the rest of hers. Mako stared at Lin in horror at her hidden talent, she nudged him with her arm.

"Loosen up, kid. You'll miss out on the fun."

"Did I just hear Lin talk about having fun?" Kya interceded, introducing herself into the conversation.

"Kya!" Asami grinned. "How have you been?" The waterbender shrugged, pulling aside the fabric of her shirt to reveal a scar on her stomach.

"Been well, look, Lin, I got one to match." Lin eyed her abdomen, the dark wound definitely something.

"I'm flattered." Lin replied.  Kya winked at her, brushing past Lin as she made her way to the campfire.

"Wow, I didn't know you and Kya were such good friends chief," Korra said with a raised eyebrow.

"Huh? Well, Kya and I go way back. She's was almost my sister in law after all."

"Oooh, damn." Bolin added. Korra nodded, casting a glance to Asami which Lin ignored, instead returning to the warmth of the fire Mako and the Avatar were supposed to be maintaining. Lin frowned at the dying flames, a result of the kids distracted nature, and tossed a couple logs on.

"Look at you, Lin, drinking contests with the kids, stoking the fire, I'd say this is a new side of the Beifongs." Lin scoffed at Kya's commentary.

"You wish." Kys raised an eyebrow.

"I do?" Lin looked to her feeling her cheeks light up in a blush. Kya chuckled, relaxing back in her chair.

"Say, Lin, how many drinks have you had?"

"4, why?"

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me in a game of beer pong."

"Against who?"  Kya surveyed the area.

"Take your pick." She said. Lin looked at the possible candidates, she could pick Su, certainly, but her sister was practically sleeping on Baatar. Su had always been one to tire easily after more than three. Korra's relentless cheering brought Lin's gaze back to her, and she snickered.

"The Avatar and Asami seem good enough." Kya nodded.

"Alright. Hey Korra!" Kya shouted, "up for a game?" Korra looked to Asami before nodding.

"You're going down, old woman."

"Oh You'll see who's old!" Kya shouted back as she removed herself from her seat. Kya offered Lin her hand, which she took, and they made their way over to Asami and her nearly wasted girlfriend. Bolin set up the table, taking meticulous measurements to ensure it was "fair."

"Flipping the coin!" Bolin shouted. Lin crossed her arms, unable to hide her smile at the goings on of the kids, and her friends.

"Tails!" Kya shouted excitably."

"Aanndddd.. Tails it is, Team.... uh, Beifong and Kya? Anyway, you guys are first." Kya put her hand in the air, and Lin stared at it.

"What are you doing?"

" a high five Lin."

"Oh." Lin' s palm met Kya's, and to her suprise, Kya entertained their fingers.

"For good luck," she explained and Lin shrugged, completely unaware of the waterbenders flirting.  Kya tossed the first ball, getting it in the second back cup, and Korra nearly cried. Asami bit back though, getting two in a row.  Lin took a step back, calculating the angles and force him her head before throwing a perfect shot into the center cup.

"Yes, Lin!" Kya cheered, planting a brief kiss on Lin's cheek. Lin blushed looking to the other woman, who had quickly engaged the avatar in exchanging profanities and gestures.

"Look out, Avatar," Kya warned, "I've been playing this since before you were born."

"And I've been playing this for multiple lifetimes."

"And it still won't be enough. Throw again, Lin." Kya said, smirking at Korra's loose tongue. Lin did as she was told, tossing her second ball into the middle left cup. Asami attempted to blow it out, but her intoxicated efforts were outlasted by her light-headedness.

"Lin!" Kya beamed, "you are unstoppable." Lin shrugged.

"Its not that hard."  Korra pouted at the other end, so Lin sacrificed her next ball, just to humor the avatar. Korra threw her ball, bouncing it in the center and it swirled around the edge of the cup. Kya jumped in, leaning down to blow it out. Lin tried to ignore Kya's rear pressed against her abdomen in this uncanny position, taking a step back, and looking around to make sure no one noticed the hint of color on her cheeks.

"Damn it!" Korra yelled when the ball fell out of the cup. Kya brushed her hands together, proud of her handiwork.

"Haha, I told you." Kya teased and Korra frowned.

"Just finish it," Korra pouted, "This is a stupid game anyway." Kya laughed, picking up the balls, and rearing her arm in preparation.

"If you say so." It didn't take long for Kya to expertly land her balls in the cups, finishing the game just as quickly as it had started.

"Face me in fifty years, Korra, we'll re match." Korra stuck her tongue out and Asami laughed, shaking hands with Kya. Lin stepped forward, standing behind Kya, who turned and looked at her thoughtfully.

"What?" Lin asked, picking up one of the cups from the table, taking a drink.

"You play a mean game, Beifong," Kya said. Lin shuddered at the use of her last name.. the way Kya had said it made it sound so... intoxicating.

"Well, I've been practicing." Lin joked and Kya placed a hand on Lin's chest.

"I need to get a sweater, and change out of these shoes, my leg is killing me. Would you mind escorting a poor, old soul like me upstairs?" Lin scoffed.

"If you start calling yourself old, that means I have to, too, so please, be less modest." Kya smiled at Lin's words, running her tongue over her lips.

"Well then, do you mind escorting me upstairs?" Lin raised her eyebrows, suddenly aware of her insinuation. She looked at everyone, Korra was snoring loudly on the grass, Asami attempting to drag her inside. Suyin was curled comfortable in her chair, staring blankly into the flames. Tenzin and Pema had turned in an hour ago and Bumi.. well he must have been entertaining the boys. Lin brought her gaze from the field back to Kya, looking her up and down, and deciding, that she did indeed want to go upstairs with her.

"Lead the way." She said, and Kya pulled her toward the temple.

Lin grinned as Kya pulled her up the stairs, evidently her foot was no longer a problem. She hadnt felt like this in a while, like a horny teenager at some house party, taking advantage of the hospitality. Kya giggled the whole way up, both of them nearly falling as the effects of the alcohol sank in. Kya dragged her into a room, pushing the door shut behind them.

"Well?" Kya asked, looking at Lin.

"I don't remember this beginning with a conversation." Lin remarked. Kya shook her head, holding back a smile. The water bender placed her hands on either of Lin's shoulders, leaning in for a kiss. It was gentle, first, and  Lin ran her tongue over her lips, the taste of Kya's chapstick lingering. Kya watched as Lin figured it out, shed never done this before, not with a girl.... but here she was, trying it out. Perhaps it was the alcohol taking control, but Lin gripped Kya's face with her hands, starting a more aggressive kiss. Kya's hands found their way to Lin's hips, gripping at the steel armor.

"Lin," she paused to breathe, "what am I supposed to do about this?" Lin took a step back, extending her arms, sending the armor to the side of the room. Kya raised an eyebrow, savoring the look of Lin Beifon out of armor.

"Hot," she remarked and Lin blushed again.  Lin was caught off guard, when Kya stepped forward, reaching up her jaw, instead of meeting Lin's mouth, her lips landed on Lin's collarbone. Lin moaned at the sensation, wondering why she's never done this before, with Kya. It wasn't like she hadn't thought about... Kya was beautiful, she is beautiful, she just never took it into consideration. It felt like the waterbender was out of bounds, yet, here she was.

"Lin," Kya whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I'm going to need you to stop thinking, and kiss me back."

"Right, sorry." Lin put her hand on Kya's waist, pulling the waterbender in by her hips. Kya released a surprised moan as Lin made out with her. Lin could taste Kya's lips, her tongue, as the waterbender leaned into her. The slow, gentle kiss forgotten, Lin and Kya fought with their faces, each kiss more desperate and sloppy then the last. She felt Kya's hands slipping under her shirt, and Lin did the same. Kya whimpered and Lin pulled back.

"Are you okay?" Lin asked. Kya blushed, lifting up her top. Lin looked at the scar on her stomach, it was bigger than her own, but not as prominent. She placed her fingers on it and looked up to Kya.

"You're hands are cold,' Kya chuckled. "Thats all." Lin scoffed,

"I know what you mean, it seems the only thing that never truly warms up is my face." Kya tilted her head, reaching her fingers out, brushing them over the twin marks.

"Let me see if I can change that." She smirked. Lin shook her head, placing her hand on Kya's chest, pushing her backward onto the bed. Kya laughed, and Lin felt herself lean into the curve of Kya's neck, kissing her warm caramel skin. Kya's hands found themselves on Lin's back, pulling on her tank top. Lin lifted her arms, allowing it to be taken off. She felt Kya's thigh pressing into hers from underneath, and she adjusted her position to close any remaining space. Kya smiled as Lin ran her fingertips over her stomach, wound and all, and Lin's head spun with sound of her laughter. Kya spun them over,

landing Lin on her back, and Kya on her knees, in straddle above her waist.

"You sure?" Kya asked. Lin nodded, lifting her head for Kya's access. Kya smirked,

"Not there, Lin" she paused. Lin looked at her questioningly, until she saw Kya slowly beging to slide down pants. She looked at the waterbender, who flaunted her breasts as she softly slid off Lin's bottoms.

"I should warn you," Kya said, "Tenzin is in the room above us, so try to keep quiet." Lin felt a flutter in her stomach as Kya began to lace kisses down her abdomen maintaining her eye contact. Kya's hands hand reached her bare thighs tracing themselves around Lin's legs.  It wasn't until she felt Kya place a hand there, that she realized how good it felt. Kya seemed to notice too, because she grinned.

"Glad to see your enjoying yourself," she said and Lin rolled her eyes. Her hand pushed against the top of Kya's head as the waterbender fought against Lin's closing thighs. It wasn't long before Lin orgasmed, releasing a final heavy breath before Kya crawled up next to her, propping herself up on one arm.  Lin looked to her, still panting.

"Kya I..."

"Say no more, Beifong, I made your face warm up, that's enough." Lin scoffed. Kya collapsed back onto the bed, releasing a breath of her own. Lin thought she could get up, but her body refused, perhaps it was the start of her hangover sinking in, or the effects of something else, but when fatigue sunk in, she fell asleep.

Lin awoke with a terrible headache. She rolled over and groaned, slowly propping herself up. She blinked through the grogginess, taking in her surroundings. Sunlight beamed through the window, the room entirely lit by natural light.  It was quiet, except for the sound of the shower from the adjacent bathroom. She leaned over, taking the pills on the nightstand and the glass of water. She flopped back on the pillow, blocking light with her forearm when the water stopped. She looked to the bathroom, the door opening as Kya walked out, wrapped in a towel. The waterbender paused, holding her towel a little higher.

"Good morning." She said.

"Morning." Lin forced herself to sit up, swinging her legs over the bed. Kya blushed, looking away as Lin realized she had no clothes on.

"Sorry," she mumbled, pulling the sheet to her chest.

"It's alright." Kya smiled. "I just forgot my..." she plucked a bra off the floor, hanging it off her hand.

"Right.. um.." Lin nodded and Kya backed back into the bathroom. When the door closed again, Lin sighed. She hooked up with Kya. Her ex's sister. And interestingly, it was really good. She picked her clothes off the floor, reminiscing about last night.

Kya's breath was hot in her ear, Lin moaned as her hips were grinded against.  The waterbender's hands working on breasts. Her teeth nipping at Lin's collarbone-

Stop. Stop that. She told herself as she pulled on her pants. She bended her armor back on, fixing her sleeves before  stepping out of the bedroom. She looked both ways, making sure no one would see her on her walk shame. She crept down the stairs, listening for any sounds that would indicate someone in the kitchen. She used seismic sense to make sure it was clear before rushing to the door. She opened it briskly, to find herself standing face to face with the Avatar. Korrs looked rough herself, her eyes were red with fatigue, and she winced at every small sound.

"Korra?" She asked. Korra yawned before answering.

"Hey chief," she groaned, pushing past Lin.

"Did you sleep outside?"

"Yup." Lin watched her retreat to the sofa, plopping down on it. Lin looked to the city, then back to Korra and sighed. See walked back to Korra who had her hands over her face. She brought herself to the kitchen, getting another one of the ceramic cups and filling it with water, finding the aspirin to pair it with. She brought it back to Korra, who muttered something unintelligible before taking the medicine.

"Did you stay on the island?" Korra asked, rolling over to face Lin.

"Yeah, I figured it was safer than walking back home." Korra scoffed.

"Kya had nothing to with that though." Lin raised an eyebrow.

"No. Why?"

"Beifong, she was all over you last night." Lin bit her lip, she knew that. "I mean honestly, the cheek kiss?" Lin grunted.

"Kya's always been affectionate." Korra rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say, chief." Korra's mouth stretched into another yawn before her eyes closed and she fell asleep. Lin pursed her lips, brushing aside a strand of Korra's hair. She left the cup, alongside a wastebasket next to her before heading back to the door. She took one last glance at the sleeping Avatar before stepping out into the sun. Her mind strayed to Kya, steeping out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. She considered turning back, talking to Kya before leaving, but when she heard the shout of Meelo, letting her know he was awake, she was off.

"Shhh." Kya whispered as Lin stepped into the temple. This routine of theres had remained a secret for weeks, and they weren't about to get busted now. Kya pulled Lin by the arm, and Lin bit back her smile. They had gotten more graceful on the stairs, their footsteps soft and the only detectable sound the creak of the wood. They closed the door behind them, Lin pushing Kya against it at the first chance. 

"Shhh." Lin mocked and Kya shook her head. Lin ran her hands down the waterbenders waist, their lips clashing in a sloppy frenzy. In the last few weeks, Lin had gotten used to their dramatic hookups, she didn't expect three days after the party for Kya to call her house, asking to meet up at the dock. They talked, for a while, Lin admitted to herself that she was indeed a two-way street type of girl. And Kya understood that, so now, things were good.

"Lin!" Kya panted as Lin's hands moved up her thighs. The door rattled slightly, but they ignored it. Kya had one leg resting on Lin's shoulder as the metalbender prepared the finale.

"Hey! Beifong!" Someone said from the other end of the door. Lin and Kya stopped, staring at each other.

Who is it? Lin asked with her eyes.

Beats me. Kya shrugged. They readied themselves, making each other look presentable when Kya opened the door just a crack.

"Korra!" She said happily. "What are you doing here so late?"

"I need the chief."

"Lin? She's not here." Korra rolled her eyes, pushing past the elder waterbender, crossing her arms with a smirk when she saw Lin halfway out the window.

"Nice try, Beifong. I'm onto you." Lin crawled back inside with a sigh.

"How did you know I was here?"

"You werent at your place, so here was my next guess."

"Lin and I were just exchanging-"

"Oh I know what you were 'exchanging'" Korra said, making air quotations. "Thats how I knew which room it was, I just had to wait for you to call out her name." The two older woman blushed, and Korra slapped Lin on the back.

"We need you, chief. There's been a fight at one of the temporary housing units. And honestly, we aren't entirely sure how to solve this one." Korra grinned, a stupid, "haha I caught you" grin that Lin looked at with distate.

"I'll give you a few minutes," The avatar agreed as she left the room, "but please, do finish quickly, Mako might have a stroke if he sits there with those two brutes any longer." Korra left, closing the door behind her and Lin smacked a palm to her face, stifling a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Kya asked, grinning.

"We've been caught," Lin said, "like teenagers." Kya came up to her, placing her hands on her hips.

"At least it wasn't Tenzin." They're laughter was shortlived when the door opened, again.

"What wasn't me?" Tenzin asked, his eyes still have closed from sleep.

"Nothing." Lin replied, patting his shoukder as she left. He looked to Kya for answers, but she just shrugged, crawling back into bed.

"A topic for tomorrow, brother." She said, before turning off her lamp and calling it a night.

[unambiguouslybi]

I (AMAB) consider myself to be bigender/genderfluid, and have been thinking a lot lately about what that identity means to me, especially because I want to start HRT. It's like, I'm fine using male pronouns and my given name, along with female pronouns and a more androgynous name, but I also want to have the body of a woman. Sure, sometimes I'd like to present as a guy and sometimes a girl, but I know I'd feel a lot more comfortable with all the changes estrogen would cause. Despite this, I'm pretty sure that if I was AFAB as I often wish I was, I would just be in the opposite but ironically the same situation. Wanting to take testerone, wishing I had a man's body.

My two genders are sometimes at odds with one another and sometimes in perfect harmony, like I'm an old tv with two channels that sometimes bleed together. Somedays I worry that I'm just a trans woman who's too scared and sentimental to let go of the male identity that she's been using all her life. Other days I worry that I'm just a cis man who happens to like crossdressing a lot.

It's all very confusing, and tbh I'm still kinda new to all this, but does anyone else ever feel like that?

before i even fully finished this i said to myself "mood. I used to feel like this."

what really resonated with me was: "Somedays I worry that I'm just a trans woman who's too scared and sentimental to let go of the male identity that she's been using all her life. Other days I worry that I'm just a cis man who happens to like crossdressing a lot." because this is exactly how i felt when i was 16 and had just started exploring my gender identity. i distinctly remember wondering if i was a trans man who was afraid to fully transition, mostly due to family pressure but also due to the big change it would be or if i just simply wanted to dress and act like a boy while still being a girl.

now, 5 years later i've spent 2 years on testosterone and i'm still working on transitioning but i feel so much happier now. the thing for me was, i wasn't exactly miserable with being a girl until i no longer wasn't. it might be the same thing for you. for me my biggest problem with being a girl was the monthly disaster that would make me immensely dysphoric and the chest lumps that i didn't consent to having. the chest lumps are still there, i still look a bit more feminine than id like but at least the monthly madness has stopped and though the changes aren't huge i already feel so at peace in my body. i have never felt more comfortable in my body in my whole life.

i wanna encourage you to fully think this out, since it seems your following the exact path that i'm on. make sure its what you want, start slow, start small and progress as you get comfortable. you'll realize along the way that yes, you are indeed trans, or maybe you'll arrive at a different answer.

no matter what though, be sure that it's what you want, no one else and make sure that you prioritize your own happiness and comfort above all else. best of luck, and i'm excited for your journey.

-Mod Ky

[indimlights]

✨Merry christmas Cille✨

To: @birthdaysentiment 💛

-> From: @indimlights (Rodrigo)

Hi Cille! I guess it's up to me to kick off this "little" surprise but I don't even know where to start...

I remember really well the first time I saw a post of yours, I was still lurking back then and the moment I read it I felt so many things, things I don't know how to describe and that I never thought words could make me feel and I knew, I just knew that I had to see more. Fast-forward a couple of hours I knew your blog by heart, I had looked at so many of your posts and every single one was as amazing as the first one, as touching as the first one and as deep as the first one.

The meaning you put on words still gets to me every single day, you have such a way into them and don't even get me started on your music analysis. The moment I read the first one I was mind-blown! The things you catch, the connections you make between the music and the scene, the way you describe the scenes, it makes me go back, relive the moment and feel everything I felt the first time I watched it and all this just by... reading your words! If that doesn't tell me how amazing you are with them I don't know what will.

From that day I always wished I could talk to you, get to know the person behind the words, behind the masterpieces, behind the blog because you seemed like such a sweet person and now... After some time, I got that chance and I'm so happy I got it. You are everything I thought you would be and 1000x more, you are sweet, caring, smart, loving, wise, joyful and so supportive to me and to everyone in this community! You always spread love and that's so important and so nice of you to do, the way you write essays in the tags for everyone's posts just shows that! It's such a simple thing but means so much.

And I'm not even mentioning how talented you are with non-written posts because those are on another level aswell, I mean you always surprise me with your ideas and creativity and just knowing that whenever I come here I will have some sort of attack waiting for me just keeps me going and I love everything you do so much.

I'll never be able to thank you enough for being so welcoming when I barely knew anyone and for making me feel so much more comfortable here! Getting to know you better and to share this experience with someone like you has been a blessing and I wouldn't change any second of it, thank you for everything you have done and for always being so sweet to me. I don't understand what I did to deserve all that but that just shows again how wonderful you are.

I'm wishing you a merry christmas! Surrounded by everyone you love and that makes you happy because you deserve that and so much more, please never change, never stop being like this, a special and wonderful person. I hope you enjoy this surprise :) Have a wonderful day Cille 💛

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-> From: @remy3010 (Remy)

Hihi Cille❤ I love your blog so much especially music analysis! I just fall in love with your music analysis since your first posts.

For me whose mother tongue is not English, it takes a while to read but I'd love to. Because these articles deserve more people to see (including me)！

I have read every article of yours, the content touches me all the time. (Sometimes I have a lot of words want to tell you, But I don’t know how to speak in English..sorry🥺so I give❤ and reblog)

Anyway, thank you for writing beautiful words and sharing with us! I hope you can keep this passion forever, and everything go well. May you have wonderful days my friend ❤

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-> From: @franboos (Francine)

hi bb cille,

wanted to tell u that i love u blog and the time u put into analyzing stuff is shhshdhdhdhd. queen shit. u seen so genuine to talk to idk, i get those nice, non judgmental, relaxed and cool vibes from u. lmao. pls stay on tumblr for as long as u can cuz i love ur posts. u notice such little things in clips from wtfock, like u have a very detailed eye miss hehe. i really want to get to know u more cuz i really think we could vibe v well together, and that’s on perioood 😌. i hope u have a great great day while reading this queen. never stop what you’re doing cuz ur great at it. i love you !!

many kusjes and knuffels*,

fran

(*knuffels means hugs but also stuffed animal in dutch, did u know that? otherwise now u do, nice isn’t it)

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-> From: @dagcutie (Pauline)

hey hey cille!!

I must admit i’m very much a fan of you and your blog

first of all, your posts? chefs kiss!! i mean your music analysis are amazing and so on point, your photo edits are always perfect and the colorings are so beautiful, your long text posts 'drabble/headcanon style' are so cute and always makes me so soft and emotional...

your love for black and white? that’s a big yes!! anyways everything you do is perfect!!

also can we take a moment to appreciate your person? i think we can and we must do it..

you’re always so supportive and kind, all the nice tags you let under peoples creations are so sweet!! I also could cry about how cute you are always leaving lovely messages to people inbox or coming randomly to them to say something nice.. you’re the most beautiful soul and a blessing for this fandom!! please never stop being you!! ily a lot, sending you all my love and i wish you an amazing day<3

knus og kys til dig💛✨

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-> From: @allee-sander (Tanya)

Cille, you are an amazing person. you are so kind and loving. every time i see you on my dash, my face lights up. you are a literal angel. you are loved and appreciated, never forget that.

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-> From: @tsjernobyl (Emma)

Cille, you are a genuinely kind and loving soul who's just on this site to talk about the things you love and spread a little joy and everyone can tell that the moment they go onto your blog. i've seen you be nothing but lovely to everyone you interact with and it's a real honor to be mutuals with you and interact from time to time. You are always one of the sweetest and most supportive people here, and i hope you feel that love flowing back to you at all times because you always have my warmest wishes and love!!!!!

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-> From: @dreamaur (Ann)

How does it feel to be so cool and sweet and supportive??? I love you and your mind and how you see so many details and capture them so well with words,,,queen keep going with your top tier analysis and text posts that make me emotional everything single time

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-> From: @annonymannonym (Alice)

Where do I even begin ummm ... well words may not be enough to describe such angelic human being that Cille is but today is about her *about you Cille* !♡! Honestly I’m so so happy and honoured and so grateful to have meet and know you and come along your blog and your amazing posts and edits , let’s s not forget about the masterpiece that your analysis is cuz I live for every single one of them ! Always so on point and touchy and so so emotionally, they give you a whole new perspective and point of view and helps you connect with the person that goes throught those feelings , helping you understand so much deeper the feelings and the emotions he experience in that right moment( so thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking your time and writing these it really shows how much passion and love you put on making these! they absolute helped me to understand and feel much more the meaning behind all these little moments you captured so so well and wonderful ! ) You’re always such a blessing here so lovely friendly so goodhearted and sooo on ... < insert here all the good compliments in the world > cuz they all applies to you ! Know that you’re so special and such a light a sunshine wherever you are and go , you always spread so much positivity and good energy and love and compassion and you support every single people your way comes along with and you shown so much respect and love and understanding ! Always with a wise and thoughtful mind and with the right words at you using them with so much care and mining fullness ! And your blog i love love love it the b&w aesthetic and your love for it owns my heart !! I adore your posts so much ( or ramblings or thoughts as you may call them but know they are so so much more than that its a way of yours to express yourself and open up and pour every feeling you experience and many people found themselves and feel with you , I find myself in them and resonate with them every time ! ahh and your tags that you write in every post are sooo sweet and cute i could read them all day long just coming on your blog and read them makes my day so much better ) they are such a good way to brighten your day and they put a smile on my face whenever i see you on my dash truly a blessing to have you here! Never forget how unique and special human being you are and every one who has you in their lives are very blessed to have you ! Never change being this beautiful inside and out but most importantly inside ! literally a tresure your soul is and must be protected at all cost so take very good care of it ! Don’t forget to always do what makes you happy and gives joy and peace and just you know that good feeling you have in your chest and heart whenever you do something you love and like with passion and joy. I could say so much more but maybe I’ll repeat myself cuz there are never enough compliments to say about how wonderful person you are! you deserve every single one of them ! I really meant every word i said from the bottom of my heart and know that i really apreciate and love all you do and I’ll be here to support you anytime! You deserve the absolute world and more!! love you Cille! ♡ Okey bye✿

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-> From: @robbesdriesen (Bianca)

Cille ~ such a lovely presence to see on my dash always!! Your support towards everyone in the fandom is more than appreciated and so is your love that you continuously aim to spread <3

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-> From: @happilyinsane (Dharaa)

Hey Cille 💕

Just wanted to say that I think you are really sweet and lovely. I see you everywhere on the tumblr. Wanna thank you for keeping this fandom alive during the drought and keep us entertained. I see your tags on people's posts and I always feel like you are so kind and sweet to spend your time appreciating people's work. Doesn't matter if its a photo or an edit or whatever. You are so nice to pay attention to everyone individually. You are such a good friend/mutual, always appreciating and sliding into their asks and just making their day a lil bit better. You definitely bring so many smiles on our faces. I am sure everyone is very thankful to have you in this fandom, I know I am.

I know we haven't interacted that much but thank you for sliding into my asks and giving me an opportunity to interact with you. You are the sweetest, baby. And I hope you like this whole thing that Rodrigo is doing, because you definitely deserve it. Keep lighting up our dashes with your posts, pls. Ilysm 💕

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-> From: @alwaysaneverland (Sarah)

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-> From: @theflowerisblue (Lola)

Cille! You’re such a present part of the tag! You’re always interacting and posting and I love reading what you have to say. Your music analysis are so interesting and I also think you’re really funny! I love your black and white aesthetic and most of all I love how supportive and positive you’re towards everyone!

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-> From: @fvae (Fae)

hi cille!! I'm really glad to have met you through this fandom and I hope you like the surprise!! I loved to read your song analysis because they're always on point and well thought of👌 💯  and your edits!! *chef's kiss*

sending you lots of love and hugs 💕💖💫

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-> From: @embeddedinmybrain (Tasfia)

Hi Cille! You are just a ray of sunshine!! And you are the sweetest and kindest person here. I loved following through with your wtfock music analysis posts bc everything you felt is exactly what I felt. They made me really emotional!! And of course I (and Sarah and Fae) appreciate your tags for moyo season so much. We wait for them and we read them to each other and we just love seeing your reactions to it. Your edits are incredibly amazing too and I love the colouring in them. You are just an amazing sweetheart and I’m so glad to know you 🥺🥺🥺💕💕💕

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-> From: @veerledejaegers (Soph)

Cille, you are very friendly and sweet, always insightful and seem like an incredibly lovely person that i hope i can get to know better ❤️(also love the black and white aesthetic)

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-> From: @sanderxrobbee (Semri)

Cilleeeeeeeeeeee loml!!!! Merry Christmas to you! I genuinely wish you all the best and I hope you get to spend all the holidays in the best way possible! You’re such a blessing to this fandom because you’re talented in every single way, whether it’s your writing or your godly Photoshop skills, oh and let’s not forget your dedication because you’re there all the time to brighten our days and make us smile. I haven’t known you for long, but I truly love and appreciate all you do and I’m grateful that you always take the time to compliment everything and everyone. You have no idea how much it makes me smile when you say my gifs are good because I’ve yet to learn a lot, but you are seriously one of the biggest reasons I haven’t given up the second something got too complicated. Where am I going with this? No idea. Anyway, I adore the fuck out of you and I’m happy to take part in this “project” because you really deserve all the love in the world. Once again, happy holidays!

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-> From: @hopelessromanticvirgo (Elene)

Talking about you Cille is making me always so emotional but I will try my best not to burst out from love and emotions. You’re one of the sweetest person here and I will never get tired of saying that.

We haven’t talked that much directly but I don’t need that to know you’re one of the greatest person here, I just know that for sure. I’m also sure about it because I can see the way you treat people? Even speaking about your tags? Like you take the time out of your day to make sure everybody gets love and everybody gets attention. You make all of us smile and I adore your tags on my stories. You can’t even imagine how many times I have reread your posts about it, like I crave it, I’m in love with it, it makes me feel so happy and so loved and I’m certain that everybody else feels the same way too. You always know how to make everybody’s day better and how to make them feel special.

And please, don’t even get me started on your posts! Your song analysis. Like I know I’ve told you this thousands of times before but I don’t care, I’m saying it again! The way you pictured and described all those songs and scenes!!! Like wow! I’d always reread your posts about that one specific scene after rewatching the season countless of times. (And you also did so many scenes!! I’m in awe and I’m emo from just thinking about it)

Watching clips were different but reading them with lyrics were a whole other thing. I just felt so connected with the whole story and scenes when I’d ready your posts. And connect scenes with the music and it was the best thing ever. Sometimes I still go back and reread some of my favorite posts of yours. I never get tired of it.

And you’re so kind and so sweet that I could write essays about it! Such a blessing to this world! I just love you a lot okay? Everybody needs somebody like you, somebody who shines from kindness and love and people around you must be so lucky who get to meet you everyday and talk to you!

Thank you so much for everything you do, for being you and for making my day better and making me smile every time you reblog my posts or every time I just see your username on my dashboard! It’s such a small gesture but means so much!

Thank you for existing, babe! I hope you’re gonna have a wonderful day! And I’m sending you the biggest hug and my positive vibes! I hope a smile never leaves your face! And I only wish the best things up onto you! I love you! ❤️❤️❤️

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-> From: @itubainaretro (Esther)

Cille, my queen!!! Hi, sweetheart! Just dropping by to say that I hope you’re having a good day, despite the situation that the world is in, and that you’re feeling happy, loved, cherished and warm today, because you’re you and you deserve to feel all the best feelings in the world! I wish you all the happiness in the world and that all your wishes come true too, because you sure deserve it! Thank you for being this amazing, inspiring, talented and sweet person that you are and that I’ve come to know a little bit in the past few months! I know we don’t exactly talk that much, but I want you to know that I love seeing you, your beautiful edits and your extremely heart warming “moments that live in my head rent free” posts on my dash daily! They all really make my days! Thank you for sharing your posts with us and making this fandom (and the world, honestly) a better place! You’re amazing and I’m really glad I pressed the follow button the day I did when I started following you! I hope this little message makes you smile today, babe! Best wishes and lots and lots of love,

Esther (itubainaretro) ♥️

PS: don’t forget to hydrate yourself, wear a mask and stay safe haha xxxx.

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-> From: @driesendotkom (Marie)

Dear cille,

the reason i‘m writing this is to simply say thank you. thank you for being such a stable part of the fandom. every time i go into the tag i know i will see you there and it makes me smile every time. i can’t tell you how many hours i spent reading every one of your song analysis. even now a year after season 3 ended i find myself going back to them now and then to reminisce and relive those moments all over again.

i also want to say thank you for being such a kind and welcoming person. you care so much about the people you are close to. you are so easy to talk to and you make the people around you feel comfortable instantly. you brought a little bit of hygge into my life and one more time i want to say thank you 💛

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-> From: @driesenrobbe (Becca)

my dear, sweet, cille! you never fail to make me smile and im beyond happy that we became mutuals! im sure i’ve already said this a million times before but you really do have the biggest heart and i couldn’t thank you enough for all the love and support you constantly share to everybody in the wtfock fandom. plus the talent you possess... girllllll i love seeing your edits and reading your posts (honestly your mind is just wowowowow, it’s on a whole other level of incredible and i hope you know just how wonderful you are). also the way you always write entire essays in the tags of other posts... like you really do take the time to make everyone feel so welcomed and loved, and I’m sending you an infinite amount of love and appreciation in return! you really are the sweetest, most caring person who deserves all the happiness in the world, an actual ray of sunshine! i hope you know how loved and cherished you are, and that good vibes are always being sent your way. Many hugs and kusjes, ilysm!!!! <3

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-> From: @mijnlief (Eline)

Dear Cille,

This year has been a weird one, but I do know that it has also been one of the best because of meeting you. In such a short time we became so close, and I am so grateful to have met you during these weird times. We are so alike in many ways and I love that so much. Our Skype conversations are my favorite and the essays you send me about my writing and just about me being me always make me feel happy and loved. You are the kindest and most generous person ever. I hope you know how special you are. I am so proud of you for everything you have achieved this year and for choosing yourself in situations where it got hard to make a choice in the first place. I know I tell you that everyday, but it doesn’t hurt to say it again right here. I hope this post makes you smile, because you deserve that so much for just being who you are. You bring happiness to all of my days and I can’t wait to hug you one day soon when everything in the world calms down again. I love you lots! 🧡 Eline

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-> From: @onzeziggy (Laurien)

My sweetest Cille, where do I even begin? I suggest we should just begin from the very beginning and I’m sorry in advance if this is going to be a long, sappy text! But now that I have the chance (shout out to Rodrigo) for saying everything I want, I’m not able to tell you how long this will take.

So Cille, I still remember very clearly the first time I saw your account appearing on my dash. It was a music analysis from one of the songs from season 3. I was so amazed by it, because I could imagine how much time it takes to make it and observe every little detail in a single clip. I immediately fell in love with the concept of it and one week later, when you posted another one, my mouth dropped to the floor. Another music analysis? From the same person? Who is she and how do I become her friend? After that second post, I immediately started following you and became your little fangirl. I don’t lie when I say I was waiting every week for a new update of your incredible music analysis nor when I say I loved every single one of them (and still do). I know I already said this a million times, but your words of telling what was going on in every clip, about the emotions present in them, and how the music blended all of it together… No one, and I mean no one could have done it any better! I will forever be grateful for those posts and I want to thank you once again for wanting to share them and your talent with us!

After the music analysis adventure, your picture edits catched my eye. I love them so so much and I also took some creation of it for making some myself. Still, I was this little fangirl, knowing your name is Cille, but also wanting to know so much more about the person behind one of my favorite blogs. And now, during this hiatus, I can say I’ve got to know you and I couldn’t be any happier about it! Starting with little comments in each other’s tags, having little chats in the comment sections to screaming about a possible drawing of Robbe from Sander on their one year anniversary. And look at us now, reblogging almost every post and writing essays in each other’s tags hahah! Honestly, it keeps me alive during these times and I’m so glad I can do this together with you! I live for your attacks! Aaaah now that I’m talking about an attack, the fact that you have a dimples post ready is making me so excited and I think about it every day! We both know what’s important in love and life and that’s Robbe’s dimples! But this right here shows once again what an amazing sweet person you are! No one on here has ever done anything like this for me before, so I can’t thank you enough for this and all the other things you did and still do for me! And the privilege I have to be able to call you my friend warms my heart <33

I’m going to end this with a little quote Robbe wrote in one of his Instagram posts. When I read it again a couple of days ago, I immediately thought of you and what we’ve been through together the last few weeks :’)) Once again, thank you so much for everything you do for me and for everyone here in this fandom and being the amazing person you are! You deserve the whole world for it!

“Sometimes it’s like we just met yesterday, but other days it seems like I already know you my whole life, I love you Cille!” <33

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I hope you enjoyed this💛 If you didn't know this community loved you yet (and I don't think that was possible), now you definetly do.

Extra: I'd like to thank once again everyone that took part it this surprise, you are all the sweetest for taking some time to write this and to help me with it! Thank you so so much✨

[is0gild]

Ice Cream and Fire Oven Pizza - Bonus Chapter 3

Pairing: Elsa x Lea/Axel || Side Pairing: Riku x OC

Summary: Modern AU. She's an introvert ball of nerves who works at Ice Palace, a mall food court ice cream shop. He's the outgoing, sassy goofball who works at the Pizza Planet across the way. Hilarity, snark, and fluffy romcom hijinks ensue.

Word Count: 7,838

FIRST CHAPTER || PREVIOUS CHAPTER || NEXT CHAPTER

Credit for super friggin’ cute and super friggin’ amazing cover art goes to the super friggin’ talented ky-jane here on tumblr!

"Are you sure we're allowed to do this?"

Lea tossed me a grin over his shoulder, giving my hand a small, reassuring squeeze as he pushed through the door and led me inside. "Course! Trust me, I've done it dozens of times. It's called auditing a class," he whispered.

"Oh," I breathed softly, taking a second to glance around the theater we'd just stepped into, which was slightly bigger and nicer than the Sunset Hill Auditorium. Class was already in session it seemed, with the teacher (who luckily hadn't appeared to notice us sneaking in) up on the stage and currently mid-lecture to the smattering of students dotted across the audience seating. I felt Lea tugging my hand again and I followed him as we ducked into the back row, gingerly slipping by in front of a couple people occupying the end chairs.

I'd of course heard of auditing a class, but had never actually done it before, so I didn't really know what it entailed. Still, I at least had a guess at an idea of how it was supposed to work. "...so you contacted the professor and got his okay for us to be here then?"

"Nah," he chose a pair of empty seats towards the middle, plopping down into one. "Don't need to, ya just show up."

My lips pursed to one side as I lowered myself into the one next to him. "...now that doesn't sound right," I muttered as my fingers absently fidgeted with the zipper on the sleeve of his leather jacket that I was wearing.

With a snerk, he settled his elbow on the armrest between us and propped his chin on his knuckles as he eyed me. "Look, did you or did you not say how much ya'd like it if you could get a sneak peak at Twilight U's Intro to Acting course before deciding if you were gonna enroll?"

"Well yes I did, but-"

"Then don't look a gift audit in the mouth, dollface," his fingers tweaked my nose. Still, I frowned uncertainly. With a chuckle, he slung an arm around my shoulders, hugging me into his side and smoothing a hand up and down my arm as he pressed a kiss to my temple. "Relax, we're fine. Just remember, this guy? Right here?" he jabbed a thumb into his collarbone. "Done it hundreds o' times, so I know my shit."

I squinted up at him, whispering, "...you said dozens of times a second ago."

"Nu-uh, maybe it's 'bout time ya had your ears checked. Ah, for the hearing to already be going in one so young such as yourself. Such a tragedy," he sighed, still keeping his voice low as he clasped a hand to his chest, fingers splayed. "My heart, it weeps for you, lil one."

"Whatever," I gave a quiet scoff, rolling my eyes.

Right then and there, I should've stopped talking and paid attention to the lecture.

And I tried. Believe me, I really did try. I needed to be listening to whatever it was the professor was saying. That was the whole point of being here after all, wasn't it?

And yet-

" ...pretty sure you needed to ask the professor first," I mumbled out of the corner of my mouth.

"Shh," Lea held a finger up to his smirking lips, his eyes glued to the lecturer as he slouched down into his seat now. "Some of us are trying to learn here."

I narrowed my gaze over at him. "...what are you doing?"

He turned his head towards me, giving me a flat look. "Didja not hear what I just said? Wow, maybe we really do gotta look into getting you a hearing aid, grannie."

My hand lightly shoved his shoulder. "No, I mean it looks like you're slouching."

"Seems your vision's still twenty-twenty. Sweet, least ya got that going for ya."

My eyelids drooped, "It would almost seem as if you don't want to be seen. One might even go so far as to say you look like you're trying to hide."

"An astute observation," was all he said with a noncommittal little shrug.

Leaning away from him slightly, I crossed my arms. "If it's okay for us to be here, why oh why then, pray tell, would you be worried about being spotted?"

Slumping down even deeper into his chair, he gave a lazy, dismissive wave of his hand, "We don't want to draw attention to ourselves and interrupt the class. It's a matter of course auditing etiquette, El. I'd know," he grinned and winked at me, "done it thousands of times."

"And the number keeps growing," I shook my head with a derisive snort. "What, are you auditing all these classes even as we speak?"

"Why yes, yes I am. Wait for it…" he held up a finger and paused for a couple beats. Then, "Bam. Just audited another one."

I facepalmed, "You're ridiculous."

"Bam, bam. Two more down. Lookit me go, I'm a course auditing wiz!"

"I'm rethinking taking this class," I grumbled under my breath.

Lea jolted, sitting up straighter, "Wha-? Aw c'mon, we were gonna take it together though!"

I shot him a rueful grin. "That's why I'm rethinking it. You're too distracting."

Smiling, he ducked down next to my ear and whispered, "You mispronounced the word delightful. Don't worry, babe, it happens to the best of us."

I was this close to smacking his arm when a throat cleared loudly in front of us. We both stiffened and froze before slowly turning our gazes towards the source.

A tall, lanky man eccentrically dressed in purples and yellows who hadn't been there a second ago was now in the row before us, knees perched on his seat cushion with him backwards in the chair so he could face us. Elbows propped on the backrest, his shoulder-length black hair framed his smirking face as he rested his goateed chin in his palms and simply watched the two of us.

And it was just suddenly coming to my attention that all eyes in the theater were on us now and the whole place had fallen eerily quiet.

Maybe because the professor was no longer talking on stage.

Maybe because he was the man now directly in front of us with a bright grin and predatory gleam in his eye.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," he batted his eyelashes at us, his toothy smile stretching even bigger. "How rude of me to interrupt you while you're talking. Please, do go on!"

"We're done!" Lea chirped back, mirroring the man's expression. "Don't mind us back here, we're just auditing the course."

"Ah! Auditing the course, I see, I see! Well that explains it!" he perked up with a chuckle. "Just if you could then, my dear boy, answer me one simple lil question… who am I?"

I sensed a trap.

One that I might be able to sneak my way out of, given the lecturer's full attention seemed to be on Lea at the moment.

I discreetly moved over one chair.

"Pop quizzing me already, eh Teach? Pft," Lea waved a dismissive hand. "That one's a no brainer. You're the professor!"

"No, no," he hummed a small laugh and waggled his index finger. "Who am I?"

"Oh, I see." Lea squinted at him with a frown, "...well, that's a rather deep and complex question. Did we wander into a Psych class by mistake?"

We? What is this "we" business? Oh-ho no, you're on your own, bucko.

I quietly slipped over into the next seat.

A tiny, amused huff escaped the man's nose. "No, silly boy. My name. What is it?"

One corner of his lips quirking, Lea gave a small shrug, "Well if even you don't know, I'm not sure how you expect me to help ya with that one."

He shook his head and tsked several times. But then his face immediately lit back up once more as he placed a hand over his breast and slowly enunciated, "Clopin Trouillefou."

Lea's eyes widened. "Shit, you having a stroke there, buddy?"

"...it's my name."

To Lea's credit, while "Clopin" deceptively reads like it only has two syllables, the professor had said it in a way that somehow stretched it out to four and-

...and why am I wasting valuable seat moving time by explaining this right now?

I made up for it by pulling the rather slick maneuver (if I do say so myself) of shifting over two chairs.

"Something you'd know if you'd audited correctly and contacted me first," Professor Trouillefou tacked on in a lightly chiding singsong.

Ha! I knew it!

My chair scooching became a tad smug as I crept over to the next.

"Ya know what, I actually did? Was just testing ya." Lea shot him a double thumbs up, "Well done, my dude. A-plus!"

He laughed, "Nice try, my dear boy, but I'm pretty sure I'd remember you if we'd spoken previously."

Lea heaved a dramatic sigh, "Woulda thought so too and to be perfectly honest, Clarabelle, I-"

"Clopin," he corrected dryly.

"Right. To be perfectly honest, Clip-Clop, I'm a lil hurt that ya didn't. But ya know what?" he flashed a huge blinding smile. "I'mma let ya slide on this one, bygones and whatnot. Just don't let it happen again!"

One more seat over and I was as far as I could go. I was now sitting next to the pair of students at the end of the row that we'd passed on the way in. Aka my new pals. That redheaded nutjob over there? The one who seemed to be taking perverse pleasure in pushing the professor's buttons and was probably nano seconds away from getting kicked out? Yeah, no, zero clue who that was. Never seen him before in my life, and I certainly hadn't shown up with him. No, I'd come here with my two friends here, Chet and um… Karen.

...yeah, they looked like they could be a Chet and a Karen, so that's what I'm going with.

"You're too kind," the professor deadpanned before his lips took on a wicked upward curve. "Well then, since I'm clearly mistaken here and you obviously did in fact contact me, I've no doubt in my mind that you've also paid to audit my course?"

Both eyebrows shot up Lea's forehead. "Crap, we hafta pay?! What the hell then is even the point of auditing?!"

His sinister grin twitched wider and he said in a sickeningly sweet tone, "Get. Out. Now." He then pointed a finger directly at me, "You too."

I stiffened.

Fudge.

"What? No, I-" my voice broke in a squeak. Clearing my throat and plastering on my sincerest teacher's pet smile, I tried again, "No, I don't know him. He just sat next to me and started bothering me."

"Traitor," Lea hissed at me.

I ignored him, still addressing the professor. "I'm actually here with my friends," I leaned slightly towards said friends. "Isn't that right, Chet?"

Ah, Chet... my ol' chum, my ol' buddy, mi amigo, my-

"Er… my name's not Chet."

...you're dead to me, Chet.

"Alright, let's go, you two," Professor Trouillefou put one hand on the backrest of his chair and vaulted himself over it into our row. He then yanked Lea up out of his seat and started dragging him by the scruff of his shirt towards the aisle. As they passed where I was sitting, he pulled me up to my feet as well and kept going, towing me by the wrist.

Lea staggered along, trying to dig in his heels, "Aw, c'mon, man! Throw me out if ya gotta, but can't you give her a pass at least? She's totally innocent!"

"Which is the worst crime of all!" the lecturer shot back gleefully, not breaking stride.

We were almost to the doors leading back outside. Heart thudding and desperate not to be forcibly removed from the class, I blurted out, "We're planning to take the course next semester!"

At that, the professor slowed, glancing back at me with one eyebrow cocked. "Pardon?"

...wow, that actually worked?!

Swallowing hard, I gave a small, hesitant nod. "We only… we stopped by today just for a quick peek. We, um… wanted to know what we would be getting ourselves into, if… if that's okay? That is, uh… p-please?"

He didn't answer at first, his gaze just darting back and forth between Lea and me several times, eyes calculating. Then he beamed so big and so abruptly, it startled a small jump out of me. "Well, why didn't you just say so?!" Before I even knew what was happening, he'd shifted his hold on the both of us to instead grab Lea's hand in one of his and my hand in the other before he happily skipped - yes, friggin' skipped - off towards the front of the theater with us stumbling behind him. "Come one, come all, class!" he gave a boisterous trill. "Up on the stage for warm-ups, everyone!"

Oh dear, what had I just gotten myself into?

Maybe just getting kicked out would have been the better call.

As he led us onto the stage, my feet tripping over the steps the whole way, I stammered out, "Th-thank you, I really ah… appreciate this opportunity, b-but I was thinking we could maybe more just, hrm… observe?"

The teacher gave a booming scoff as he pulled us to a stop, the rest of the students in the theater filing up the stairs as well to join us. "Don't be silly, you don't observe an acting class!" He paused before declaring with dramatic emphasis, "You act an acting class!"

Oh.

Well then… my mistake.

"Gather 'round, boys and girls, we've got ourselves some fresh meat to play with today!" Professor Trouillefou cackled as he finally released Lea and me with a small shove towards the center of the ring of students grouped up with us now. Producing (from where, I know not) what looked to be some sort of theater prop in the form of a long scepter with round jingle bells dangling from the top end, he tapped it to his shoulder pensively as he asked, "Now, what lil drama exercise should we use to break in our sweet, young, starry-eyed would-be thespians here with, hm?"

One undergrad's hand shot up as she called out, "Topsy Turvy?"

"Court of Miracles?" came another suggestion from somewhere else in the small crowd.

"Hush, let's not throw them in the deep end right out the gate! There's no need to upstage each other for the toughest game, we wouldn't want it to be curtains for the newbies so soon! Heh… lil theater humor for you there," the professor chuckled with a wink. "No, I was thinking we could warm up with something a lil easier, something like… ah, yes! How 'bout a rousing game of Stroking the Animal?"

Lea snerked beside me, crossing his arms, "Dirty. Didn't realize we were in that kind of class."

That earned him a bonk to the skull from the jingly scepter.

Flashing his pearly whites, the teacher went on as if he hadn't been interrupted, "Stroking the Animal is an excellent lil game for drama beginners! Each of you are going to pair up and choose some sort of beastie - secretly, mind you, don't tell your partner! Then you'll each take turns acting out holding your critter, petting it, caring for it - not saying a word, just purely miming - until your partner correctly guesses what it's supposed to be."

"So… it's kind of like charades?" I asked slowly.

With a triumphant point of the jingly scepter in my direction, he proclaimed, "Precisely, my dear, precisely! Now everyone, take a minute to decide on an animal while you find your partners! Hop to it, chop chop!"

"Dibs on my acting buddy!" Lea snagged my hand and raised it high, showing he'd staked claim.

As the rest of the students began pairing off around us, I scrunched up my nose and muttered, "I'm terrible at charades."

"What?!" his brow furrowed. "But charades is just kinda, sorta acting, isn't it? And you love acting!"

"Yes, acting. Musicals, plays, scripts," I emphasized, my hands twisting at my braid momentarily before restlessly shifting back to fiddling with the sleeve zipper once more. "You know, lines and directions I can memorize and follow. Charades is more like improv's distant cousin twice removed. I hate improv… whenever I'm put on the spot like that, I just sort of freeze up and draw a complete blank. So yeah, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of charades. It's a game that just makes me feel silly and-"

"Time's up!" A ringing filled the air, coming from the dreaded jingly scepter. I was really beginning to hate that noisy little stick. Once Professor Trouillefou had everyone's attention back on him, he called out, "Begin!"

Crud, I hadn't even picked an animal yet!

Alright, brain, go time! Think, think, think! Conjure me up a creature! Go on, spit out the first thing you can think of! Just give me something! Anything!

Naked mole-rat!

...okay, maybe not that one.

We're looking for something nice, simple and obvious here, something that'll only take seconds to guess, something like a… a cat! Yes! Perfect!

Hey, don't judge me! It's not like I was trying to earn points for creativity here, I just wanted to get this ridiculous game over and done with quickly!

The other students had already begun. Not wanting to fall behind, I hastily struck up a finger to Lea to indicate I was ready. Then I looked away with a frown, my hands hovering in uncertainty for a few seconds. Okay, a cat… how do I show that I have a cat? Grimacing, I awkwardly scooped one arm in front of me like I was cradling something close to my belly and used my other hand to start petting the air where its imaginary head would be.

Eh, good enough, right?

Lea's face brightened, "Oh, a puppy!"

Alright, close! Come on, you got this. Not a dog, but a…

He squinted. "...bunny?"

...sorry, not the answer we were looking for here. Would the contestant care to venture another guess? Third times a charm, after all! Surely he'll get it this-

"Porcupine!"

Wait, what?

"Snake!"

For the love of… in what possible universe could the make-believe thing in my arms ever be a friggin' snake?!

"Turtle? Penguin! Oo-oo, this has to be it… hyena! No? Armadillo? Puffin! Skunk! Capybara!"

Okay, now the jerk was just doing this on purpose to mess with me.

"Naked mole-rat!"

Are you kidding me?! Shoot, I should have gone with my first instinct!

Narrowing my eyes at him, I made a growling little huff in my throat and started petting at the pretend feline's head more aggressively.

As if that would actually help.

Did I mention how completely bad at charades I was?

"El, ya gotta give me something to work with here," Lea groaned, rubbing at the nape of his neck. "I mean c'mon, you're just petting air there, that doesn't tell me any-" he cut himself off, blinking a couple times. Then he snapped his fingers with a victorious smile, "Ah-ha! Got it!"

My whole body froze.

Wait, did he really?

"Air elemental! No, no, air spirit!"

Gah, that's not even a real animal, you dork!

I scowled at him, my hands moving to strangle the air in his direction as I pictured his throat between my fingers.

He looked horrified. "Don't do that to the poor creature! That's animal abuse!"

I give up! I puffed out a loud sigh, tossing my hands in defeat.

"Well now ya just dropped the critter." He gave a soft tsk. "Worst. Pet owner. Ever. Well… I mean, unless of course it's a cat, then that's fine cuz it'd just land on its-"

"Ah!" My heart leapt in delight. "Yes! That's it!" I laughed, barreling into his chest and hugging him around the waist.

He grunted softly from the impact, then quirked an eyebrow down at me. "Are you serious? Ya couldn't get me to guess cat? Well shit, babe, you really do suck at this game! If we ever play charades in the future, Anna will be the one who gets stuck with your undeniably cute but useless butt on her team."

Face pinching, I poked him where he was ticklish just below the rib cage.

"Hey, no fair!" he squirmed, jumping away from me. Then clearing his throat, he straightened up with a dignified sniff and grinned, "Alright, my turn now!"

...oh yeah. He gets a turn too.

I completely forgot that part.

Well fudge, I should have simply let him go first and saved myself the mini panic attack.

Lea closed his eyes and bowed his head, his hands rising and falling with a deep inhale and slow exhale. He was clearly and quite visibly honing, as if preparing to act out some great Shakespearean monologue. Finally, he snapped into action. He flourished his arms to one side, as if proudly presenting something standing next to him. Then his hand moved to start stroking empty space somewhere at about his eye-level.

Okay... so the mystery animal was tall.

I tipped my head to one side. "...a horse? A camel?"

He raised his hand up higher so it was above his head, still petting away.

Even bigger, huh?

"Ostrich?" I wrinkled my nose. "Moose? Giraffe?"

Lea went up onto his tippy-toes, his arm stretched as far as he could reach and fingers now… possibly giving under-chin scritches? Maybe?

Jeez, just how huge was this thing?

I shook my head with a tiny, unsure, "...whale?"

He lowered back down onto his heels, resuming the stroking at a height not quite as far up there, but still above his head.

Alright, so… what was smaller than a whale, but bigger than a giraffe?

"...a really, really big giraffe?"

Elsa, Queen of Thinking Outside The Box.

His eyelids drooped. But seemingly undeterred, he set about moving over to where I'd roughly guess would be the side of this ginormous creature. He mimed climbing up it and slinging his leg over its back.

Big and rideable, huh?

"Ah! A… A… An elephant!" I stammered to get out past my sudden excitement.

Lea was still going, bending forward to give his mount a couple pats on the shoulder (I guess?) before pointing up. Then he stretched his arms out wide to either side of him like he was… soaring?

"A flying elephant!"

Wait, no, that'd just be silly.

We were looking for a real animal here. A large animal that could apparently fly. It had to be some kind of bird, right? But… pretty sure there weren't any elephant-sized birds out there in the world… were there?

Note to self: google "elephant-sized bird" later.

Tuning back into reality, I realized Lea had moved onto showing me something else now. It seemed he'd dismounted and returned to petting the thing's… head, maybe? But then he elicited a tiny, pained tch and retracted his finger like he'd been burned. But no, that couldn't be right… no animals in actual existence burned people, so what could it… oh! It must have just bitten him… yes, that'd make more sense!

Now he was looking at the ground and rubbing his hands together before turning his palms forward, holding them there for a few seconds. Then he balled both hands, stacking one on top of the other and lifting the top one up in a long, straight line. With one hand still fisted, he then cupped the other upward and arced it over until it was upside down a few feet over his fist. Finally, he stretched his fist out in front of him while using his other hand to occasionally poke and pinch at the air above said fist.

I stared blankly at him. "...yeah, no, you've lost me."

The jingly scepter rang out loudly as the professor shook it high above his head, announcing, "Game over, boys and girls!"

Lea snorted and sighed, "Clearly I was roasting marshmallows there."

"...clearly." Not. "But why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Well what else am I gonna do with the fire that my good, big dragon boi here breathed for me?" he asked, once again gesturing to the vacant spot next to him.

"A dragon?" I huffed, marching over to him to glare down (or rather up I suppose) my nose at him. "You were supposed to pick a real animal."

He grinned and folded his arms beneath his chest. "Teach never said it hadta be real."

I blinked, then glanced towards Professor Trouillefou, who shrugged and echoed, "Never said it had to be real."

"Told ya!" Lea razzed his tongue at me.

In retaliation, my hand shot out to tickle him again, but he caught it. "Ha! Too slow!" he crowed, smirking as he shifted his hold to lace our fingers together.

So instead I just tickled him with my other hand.

He spasmed, hissing swear words under in breath before scrambling to get out of my reach. I crossed my arms and - in peak maturity, mind you - razzed my tongue back at him before looking away with a small harrumph.

The professor clapped his hands together, "Alright, well done, class! Gold star for everyone!" From his pocket, he pulled out a small, glittery star sticker that he slapped to the forehead of the nearest student. Pointing a finger to it, he tacked on, "That's the only one I have, so you'll all have to share! In any case, now that we've had a chance to flex and loosen our acting muscles a bit, onto a slightly more challenging game…"

Wonderful! Now I could put this horrible improv portion of the class behind me. I wondered what would be next… monologues or scene work or script readings or-

"Alphabet Improv!"

...or more improv.

Swell.

You know what? Maybe acting class just simply wasn't for me. Since, you know, it seemed to be nothing but improv, a thing that I was terrible at.

...to be fair, one might argue that acting class would be the way to help me get better at it.

On the other hand, one might also argue to hell with acting class!

Not going to lie, I felt that the latter argument made a very compelling and well thought out rebuttal.

"We'll be doing this in groups of four," Professor Trouillefou went on, a wicked grin slowly stretching across his face. "And just for funsies, I'll be the one picking the groups. Now, who will start us off…"

Not me, not me, oh dear god, not me!

He pointed that cursed jingly stick directly at - you guessed it - me. I paled, my heart plummeting into my stomach as he decreed, "Congratulations, my dear, you are our first lucky winner!"

...fudge.

Gulping, I stuttered out in a tiny voice, "No, b-but I… I can't-"

"Oh, but you can and you will! Next up, your partners will be… hmm…" he pursed his lips to one side as he scrutinized everyone else.

Lea's hand shot up high over his head as he bounced on the balls of his feet.

"Kuzco!" the lecturer jabbed his scepter towards the opposite end of the line of students from us.

A guy with long black hair jumped forward with a cocky laugh, "Boom, baby!"

Right. Guess that'd make him Kuzco.

The teacher slowly swung the jingly scepter past the students one by one, preparing to select his next victi- erm, participant. Lea kept jumping in front of it like an eager puppy, saying, "Oo! Oo! Me!"

Jerking the prop to Lea's immediate left, it landed on a short girl in a white sundress trimmed in black lace, her red hair tied back into a pair of pigtails that fell past her waist. "Strelitzia!" he cried, seemingly taking great joy in rolling the R as he did so.

She merely smiled sweetly at her name being called and stepped forward.

"And last but not least…" Professor Trouillefou squinted as he gave his students another once over. Lea bounced up in front of him yet again, both index fingers pointing up at his own face as he favored the teacher with a big, ear-to-ear smile. Rolling his eyes with a small huff, the teacher grumbled, "Fine. You, I guess."

Oh, thank goodness!

Don't get me wrong, this game was still going to absolutely murder me.

But with Lea's help, maybe it'd be just a tad less murdery.

As my boyfriend moved to stand beside me, taking my hand with a squeeze and a grin, the professor made a sweeping gesture with his prop, "Everyone else step aside and give our stars center stage! Now, Alphabet Improv is quite simple really. I'll give you four a scene prompt and a letter. Then one of you will begin with a line that starts with that letter. The next person will continue the scene by saying something that starts with the next letter of the alphabet. You will each take turns working your way through the alphabet until you're back around to the first letter, then work your way backwards through the alphabet."

I think he had more to say, but his words began to fade to the point where I couldn't hear them anymore. No, all I could hear now was the hammering in my ribcage and hiss of my rapid, shallow breathing through my nostrils. My mouth was dry and my hands were clammy. Yup. No doubt about it. This was anxiety. And not the good kind like I usually felt before a show. This was just plain bad. All bad. Nothing but bad, bad, bad. So bad that-

"Nervous?"

I gave a start as that soft voice broke through my thoughts, my head whipping towards it to discover the girl from earlier - Strelitzia, I believe - now standing next to me. She tilted her head to one side, grinning warmly at me.

A scoff from Kuzco had me jolting in surprise yet again. "Psh, like she has reason to be! Not with me in the group! Just simply bask in the awesomeness and perfection that is me and be at ease!" he smirked, puffing out his chest and stretching his arms out wide, curling and uncurling his fingers a couple times. "Go on, bask. You know you want to."

Lea snerked. "Check out the ego on this guy."

Heh… look who's talking.

"Just ignore him, that's what the rest of us do," Strelitzia giggled softly before turning her kind eyes on me once more. "And don't worry, I was nervous too when I first started taking this class. I still am, actually… but I've gotten better. Some day, I hope to be as good as my brother!"

Lea blinked. "Brother? Wait a minute…" he squinted down at her, rubbing a curled finger over his chin. Then he snapped his fingers. "You're Bubble Yum's baby sis!"

Her eyes widened at that, then she laughed, "Oh dear, don't let Marluxia hear you calling him that."

"Too late," Lea shrugged.

"But yes, he's my big brother. He's majoring in Theater Arts here, while I'm just taking this class because I want to be a little more like him. He's so confident and brave…" she trailed off shyly into a thoughtful pause. Then her face brightened, "I just wish I had a little more courage so I can make him proud of me! I think this class has helped me a lot with that, and it could help you too."

I think this girl was about to give me diabetes from sweetness overload here. It was almost enough to lure me into a false sense of security. Almost. But then-

Jingle-jangle!

Ugh, those damn little bells were going to be the death of me! Immediately, my pulse spiked and I inhaled sharply.

"Now that you've all had a lil time to get acquainted, let's move this along, shall we?" Professor Trouillefou beamed from where he'd taken a seat at the edge of the stage to watch us. The rest of the class had done the same, giving the four of us plenty of room to work with. Oh gosh, so many eyes on me, about to witness my epic failure at improv. Was it getting harder to breathe in here? "The letter you'll be beginning with: Q!"

I started desperately tugging at Lea's hand and he glanced down at me. "I can't do this," I told him in a whisper, the loudest I could muster through my constricting throat. "I can't… I just can't!"

"The scene," the lecturer went on, "...Kuzco here has just been transformed into a talking llama!"

Lea stepped in front of me, taking both my hands in his and drawing light circles along their backs with his thumbs. The sensation sent a soothing warmth up my arms and into my chest where it clashed with the icy panic pumping out of my heart. Ducking down to my eye-level, he said, "It'll be okay, El. I'll be right here with ya the whole time. You got this, trust me! Don't think, just say the first thing that pops outta your head. Simple as that!"

"But-"

"Annnnnnd action!" Professor Trouillefou roared.

Kuzco wasted no time, turning to the three of us. "Quick question guys…" he held his hands up and waved them back and forth in front of him with a chipper, "Why do I suddenly have hooves?" That earned him a few tiny chuckles from the students watching.

Fighting a smile herself, Strelitzia gasped, "Randy! You're a llama!"

"Sweet! New pet!" Lea went over to start patting Kuzco on the head. "Think I'm gonna name him Cheez Whiz." A few more snorts from onlookers.

Then there was dead silence.

...that was my cue, wasn't it? Crud, what comes after S again?! How do you alphabet?! I couldn't remember! So instead I just stood there, stock-still and rooted to the spot, hyperventilating and my eyes round as I stared out into our small audience.

...do...something…

What was it Lea had just told me? Don't think, er...

Don't think, just… uh…

…

Well I'll say this much for me - I had the 'don't think' part down pat. I was totally not thinking like a pro! Nothing was going on in my brain right now. Nope, not a goddamn single thing. Not even so much as a tumbleweed rolling through the barren wasteland that was my thoughts at this very second.

"This has ruined my face! My beautiful, beautiful face!" Kuzco suddenly burst out, covering for me.

Ah! T! That's what comes after S!

Dang it, I knew that!

Strelitzia hesitated for only a split second before coming up with, "Um... your face was never really all that beautiful to begin with…" There were a couple snickers from our audience at that.

"Veronica!" Lea suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders, forcing me to look at him instead of the people watching us. "Tell us, what should we do?!" His thumbs were stroking up and down my arms as he gave me a single, encouraging nod.

I tucked in my bottom lip, listening to a couple pounding beats of my heart before giving him a tiny, almost imperceptible shake of my head.

Still nothing going on up in the ol' noggin except for crickets and paralyzing, soul-crushing fear. Sorry, bud.

Then I realized his lips were silently moving… was he mouthing something to me? Looked suspiciously like… W...?

Oh! Right! The next letter!

Now I just needed to think of a word that started with W! Simple, right?

"W…" I began shakily sounding it out, hoping the rest of some word would just magically follow. "W…" Mm-hm, yup. "W…" Got nothing here. "W…" Absolute zilch.

Apparently that was deemed acceptable. "Xavier, can't you see she's petrified cuz I'm an ugly, stinky llama?!" Kuzco wailed as he fell to his knees.

"You have a point there!" Strelitzia chimed in, struggling to keep a straight face now at his overdramatic antics.

Lea smacked himself in the forehead, "Zounds, can't believe I forgot about her crippling llama-phobia!" …llama-phobia? At that, a tiny snerk managed to break through the all but suffocating anxiety and escape through my nose. Then he was grabbing my face with both hands, "But it's okay, you'll get through this! ...you'll get through this." The last part was repeated more softly as he gave me a small reassuring smile.

Something in his touch, his voice, his steady gaze… actually had me calming down a bit. With a tiny gulp, I closed my eyes, breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly, letting some of the tension go with it. Alright, after Z came… ha! Yes! So easy, even my useless, panic-scattered brain could do it!

"A…" I began weakly, but then hesitated.

Don't think, just say the first thing that pops outta your head.

"Alpacas!" suddenly exploded from my lips as my eyes snapped open again. Lea's head rocked back slightly at my little outburst, a bemused grin tugging at his lips. Gaze shifting, I scrambled to expand on it. "Don't, um… don't forget I'm... d-deathly afraid of those too..."

Kuzco was quick on the draw, snarling, "Both of you shut up and help me fix this already!"

"Can it!" Strelitzia snapped, planting her fists on her hips and narrowing her eyes on him. "We're not taking orders from you!"

Lea stamped a foot down and raised his fist at him, "Damn right, you demon llama!"

That statement had me hiding a smile behind my fingers. And with that, a little bit more of the anxiety was banished. I could do this… especially now that I'd regained the power of the alphabet! Especially with Lea's hand finding mine once again, sending more warm tingles straight to my heart.

Don't think, just say the first thing that...

"Everyone, let's…" Okay, good strong start. Now, where are we taking this? "...exorcise?" Sure, let's go with that. "...the, uh... the demon llama?"

Success!

"Fiends!" Kuzco yelled, pointing an accusing finger at us. "Traitors! Evil criminal masterminds! This was your plot all along, wasn't it?!"

Turning to look up at Lea, Strelitzia told him, "Go on, say the words that'll expel the evil spirit!"

Not missing a beat, Lea joined Strelitzia's hand with mine before taking my other back in his once again. Then he led us into a skipping daisy-chain that circled Kuzco a couple times, all the while happily chanting, "Hocus pocus! Shazam! Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! Nutella! Benedict Cumberbatch!"

This was all just so... utterly… ridiculous.

I spluttered, then erupted into full blown laughter.

Oh gosh, how did Lea always do it? How did he always know how to get a laugh out of me, no matter what? How did he always manage to calm me down and help me feel safe?

As he slowed our skipping to a stop, his eyes crinkled down at me as he prompted, "That oughta do it! Whatcha think?"

Ah. Right. I was supposed to be doing something… or saying something… something to do with the letter I. But I couldn't quite remember what. I was too distracted by his gaze on me, causing all sorts of warm fuzzies to flutter throughout my chest and an extremely silly smile to pull at my mouth. Alright, letter I… letter I… my lips parted...

Don't think, just…

"I love you."

The words had barely left my mouth when my whole body locked up and I swear my heart skipped two full beats as Lea's wide-eyed stare landed on me.

Crud.

That… had not been part of the game.

I knew it.

He knew it.

Everyone in the whole goddamn theater seemed to know it too.

That is, if the awkward, deafening hush now permeating the air as no one said or did anything was an indicator. Several eyes just slowly shifted back and forth between Lea and me, probably curious to see what either of us would do next.

Lea was the first to recover, snagging my hand in his. "Excuse us for a quick sec," he struck up a finger to the others, flashing a polite smile. Then he walked off backstage, gently tugging me along behind him. My knees had gone numb, causing me to stumble a couple times as I followed. I frowned at his back, feeling my insides shrivel with dread.

...oh gosh, he was about to break up with me, wasn't he?

Neither of us had ever said… said… gah, the L-word to each other before! And I'd been okay with that! I'd been just fine! I didn't even know whether I was in L-word with him or not!

Or rather… I hadn't known...

...but I guess I did now?

Apparently?

Not that that mattered any more! Not now that my stupid mouth had gone and screwed everything up! Lea wasn't the L-word type! He was the one-night stand type. This thing he'd been doing with me this whole time had been a one-off. A fluke. A wonderful fluke. An amazing fluke. A fluke that I had just totally and completely ruined.

It seemed he'd found a spot he deemed quiet and private enough, for we abruptly came to a stop. As he turned to face me now, I swallowed hard. This was it. He was about to tell me it was all over. My vision blurred slightly and I squeezed my eyes shut against it.

Maybe if I couldn't see him, he couldn't break up with me. Ha! Take that!

...okay, that sounded a bit desperate, even for-

My thoughts were silenced as I suddenly felt his arms wrapping around my waist, hugging me tightly up against him. Then there was the familiar scent of cinnamon before I felt his warm lips on mine, causing my eyes to fly open and my hands to unconsciously grip at the front of his shirt.

Wha-

...oh. Wait, no I get it. He was trying to let me down easy. This was a goodbye kiss. One final kiss for the road. The kiss of relationship death.

Yup. This sealed it. He was definitely breaking up with me.

All too soon, his lips were pulling away from mine, although he didn't release his hold on me. I couldn't look him in the eye. I was too scared. So I just stared hard at his collarbone instead and waited for him to say it. It's over between us. Just go on and get it over with already. Put me out of my misery. It won't be hard. Just four little words. Just-

"I love you too."

I blinked.

Okay… not the four words I'd been expecting...

I slowly dragged my gaze up to meet his, giving him a blank look. "...this has to be the most confusing breakup ever."

I felt his body tense against mine as both his eyebrows shot up his forehead. "Break up?" he repeated incredulously. Then a laugh burst out of him and he shook his head, "How did you even-? No, El, this isn't a break up! I mean, I certainly hope not anyway."

"Oh." Well that was a relief! But then my brow furrowed. "Wait…"

...back up… had he really just said he-

My heart flip-flopped and face glowed red hot.

"...you…" Dear lord, it was so hard to even say it. The struggle was real. "...love me?"

"Mm-hm!" he hummed, squeezing me closer and nuzzling his nose into my neck. "Known for a while too."

His breath tickled against my skin and I squirmed, my arms inadvertently wrapping around his neck now. "You did? Why didn't you say anything?" The question came out almost somewhat indignant.

Raising his head so he could once more look me in the eye, Lea gave a sheepish chuckle. "Didn't wanna spook ya or make you feel pressured into saying it back if you weren't ready."

"Well that's…" I paused, my mouth clicking shut as I looked down to mull it over for a second. Then my gaze shyly lifted once more and I mumbled, "...a fair point. And actually kind of thoughtful… thank you…"

His expression softened and he pressed his forehead to mine. "...say it again."

This time, my heart skipped three full beats. He wanted me to say… that again?! What, once hadn't been enough? I didn't even know if I could say it again. I didn't even know how I'd said it in the first place! "I…" Oh gosh, how did couples tell each other this all the time? There had to be some trick to it. What was the magic secret? "I… I'm not like you, Lea. I'm not sappy and mushy and… and I know how to do corny stuff like giving romantic speeches about lantern festivals or walking into lampposts or-"

"I don't want a speech. I just want to hear you say it again...please..." he coaxed in a low murmur against my ear, turning my legs to jelly.

Well when he put it that way…

As our eyes locked once more, my pulse raced and I opened my mouth. Then immediately shut it. Nope. Alright, take two. Again, my lips parted. And again, they snapped shut. Gah, this was impossible! Was almost surprised I couldn't smell smoke at this point, considering how badly my cheeks were burning. Finally, I turned my head to one side, gripping at the collar of his leather jacket and pulling it up to hide my face in it as I at last muffled out a quick, "I love you."

He bit back a grin, tugging the collar back down so he could hook a finger under my chin and tilt my gaze up towards his again. "One more time? Couldn't quite hear you."

I wrinkled my nose at him. I couldn't do it. Not with the way those beautiful green eyes of his were watching me with such intensity.

So I did the only thing I could think of.

I clamped my hand over them, blinding him and blurting out before I could stop myself, "I love you!"

He stiffened. Then snerked, letting my hand stay put over his eyes as a huge, dopey grin spread across his face, "Love you too. And eagerly awaiting the day when I can look at you while you say that."

Despite feeling flustered, one corner of my lips lifted. "...yeah, well... you might be waiting a while there."

Now he removed my hand from his face, weaving our fingers together and pressing a kiss to my palm before clasping it to his chest just over his heart as he smiled down at me.

"Take all the time ya need. I know it'll be worth the wait."

...maybe acting class wasn't so bad after all.

I mean, if only one session had helped me get this far...

...just imagine what I might be able to accomplish after completing the entire course!

Author's Note: Relationship milestone, woooo! Achievement unlocked! xD Not sure if ya'll even realized that these 2 dorks had yet to say those three lil words each other :P Like Lea said, he's known for a while - the goob might've even fancied himself in love back while they were fake dating - maybe it was still just really strong infatuation back then, but eh... does it really matter? xD As for Elsa, she's been in love for a while now too, she just didn't KNOW that's what it was until her mouth did what it does best, took the reins and blurted out her feelings for her XD On another note, yay for Elsa exploring theater further and pursuing acting classes! Hehe, these bonus chapters are quickly turning into an excuse to squeeze as many cameos in as I can. The professor was originally supposed to be a smaller, faceless part but then I came to the conclusion that I should have more fun with it and tried to figure out who would be good fit for a drama teacher - I think I made the right call with Clopin xD In case anyone didn't recognize him even with all the lil hints I dropped, he's the jester guy from "Hunchback of Notre Dame" which I wouldn't blame you if you read the name and went "uh…who?" - the guy only says his name once in the whole movie and it does legit sound like it has 4 syllables when he says it! My whole life (right up until I looked it up for this chapter) I've thought his name was something like "Cleopelle" haha oops xD And I'm glad I found a place to squeeze in Strelitzia at long last! Not to mention Kuzco - fun fact, he was originally gonna be Selphie, but this was before I came up with the scene prompt for the Alphabet Improv bit. I was looking up acting class prompt suggestions on the internet before I was like "screw it, I should just pick the plot of a Disney movie or something", started scrolling through the long list of Disney movies until I landed on "Emperor's New Groove", stared at it blankly for few seconds, then DING! Off went the lightbulb, Selphie was yeeted out of the scene, and Kuzco bounced in to take her place x'D Also, yes, both Stroking the Animal and Alphabet Improv are real drama class exercises - I know this from WAY more time than I care to admit spent on the internet trying to figure out what I wanted to happen this chapter xD Stroking the Animal is also sometimes called Ironing the Animal, but (1) I don't even understand that title and (2) Lea couldn't have made his dumb innuendo if I'd called it that xD

Thanks for reading, I super duper appreciate it! And an extra BIG thank you to those of you who’ve liked, reblogged, and followed so far, seeing those lil notifications always brings the biggest, goofiest smile to my face!

Be back for next week's bonus chapter, which is a for funsies one-shot! Your hint this time for what's to come will be *drum roll*... blindfold ;D Ooooo, the intrigue is real! Stay tuned!

FIRST CHAPTER || PREVIOUS CHAPTER || NEXT CHAPTER

[c-atm]

Proudful Anniversary

"Hmm?"  Connie droned in concentration, looking at the assortment of choices in front of her, laid across her bed, arms crossed and head slightly hanging to the left."What would get him really, really rev him up?" 

She picked up a small black mesh teddy with a lacy ribbon before sighing and putting it back down. Her eyes caught an Icy blue babydoll with pink tanga panty.  "Hmm..No."

Maybe the green and blue corset, No. She turned, and her eyes broadened at the red ribbon bra and panty set. "Oh... That was a good time...The body painting, touching...So fun, but...This is a holiday special." She placed it down, fondly looking at it... 

It was one of her favorites...

"Dizzy? Jacko, maybe?" she'd put both costumes into consideration…"Doesn't feel right without him being Ky or Sol...or a camera." 

Connie groaned. He has been gone for a whole month and was coming back tonight...Hell, he might be on his way now, and she couldn't decide on what sexy thing she could put on go tease and please the love of this and every other one of her lives. 

"I know Mister won't care. I could be coming out of work at R&D...Wearing work from R&D, and he'd still see me as desirable... It's only right that I live up to it." She sighed as she fell back on their bed before turning to the closet...

Her eyes widened as she saw it. "That's it.."

It was sexy on her; it made her feel good when she wore it; it drove him batty with loving lust, and..it meant something to them both—one of their most precious remembrances. She smiled as said memory hit her and made her heart and pelvis warm. With a giddy smile, she bounced and from the bed to get the outfit.

Steven walked in a few hours later, finished making his rounds around LHW. Smile on his face as he saw the candlelit arrangement with strawberries on the living room table. 

"What is all this about?" He pondered, popping a strawberry into his mouth.  As he was about to pick another when warm palms blinded him, and another feminine warmth pressed his back.

"Guess who?"

Steven smirked as he heard the teasing sing-song voice of Connie. "Well, either a luscious lioness, a mischievous minx, or my naughty, playful Heartberry. It's a 20-20-60 chance that it is Heartberry, though."

"Congrats," She kissed the back of his head gently and snuggled into his broad back. "Welcome home, Mister."

"It's good to be home," He responded with a smirk. "So what's all this bout, Heart?" He pointed towards the setup. "And what are you hiding by the by…" He reached to remove her hands from obstructing his view.

"Wait!" Connie ordered as she removed her hands before holding him by the chest. "Don't turn around, not yet. I want it to be a surprise for you, Bisky."

"Oh. What's the occasion, Nini?" He popped another berry into his mouth.

She giggled. "Don't you know the date, or has all that traveling made you lost to time?"  She kissed his trapezoid tenderly, getting a bit of a shiver from him. 

"October 21st?"

"It's midnight," she kissed his spine, getting another shiver and sigh. "You were out all day, giving everyone your attention."

"So? it's October 22nd." 

She laughed into his back when the date left his mouth, feeling the shock and excitement run through her Mister. 

"The anniversary of our war game." His voice was full of fondness and admiration as he held her hands in his, kissing the palms. 

"Also, the anniversary of our time at Empire City." She added, holding him by the waist. "Been a year since then. We've done so much."

"True, we certainly have...We've gotten more intimate with each other." 

Connie gave him a bit of a nip on his tail bone due to his pervy tone, making him yelp " That's true," she chuckled. "Gave you a great birthday."

"Yeah, you certainly did. Kept me on my toes, running all over, playing your mad game. Like some birthday Riddler, or Joker."

"I prefer birthday dungeon master." She teased, "Besides, you got some cool gifts, and you loved it all. I got video proof." She retorted with a sigh, "Plus, you gave me one first. Cosplays, photoshoots, parades, chases through the city, meeting Wanda and Alex... "her grip tightened as her voice got a little more sensual, and her lips came close to his ear " The time in our hotel room... The night in our hotel room ."

"Which one?"

"Both."

The two laughed in quiet devotion.

"Well,you did ask me to sink it in."  His voice smug and relaxed, getting a slightly tighter grip from her.

"I did, and you certainly delivered...Cocky."

"And you love it."

She sighed, "Stars know I do…" She admitted, 

"Provocative Minx." He teased, getting a laugh from the researcher.

"I prefer Lubricious Lioness, thank you. Also, you are not innocent in that issue, hippy ." 

Steven scoffed. "Not my fault you have a majestic...Everything."

She smirked, "But you prefer my hips and my ' heart,' more than anything."

"Your fault, since that damn dance in your old room."  He argued weakly.

"Oh, you mean the one where you asked to live in between a wall and my butt...My 'heart.' She jest, "Who would have guessed you'd get your wish months after?"

"I figure the answer is you...You did give me keys, after all." 

"Best. Decision. Ever." She joyfully laughed. "I always get breakfast, lunch, and or dinner, just in case I miss any one of them." She hummed before going silent.

"Connie-?"

 "You take way too good care of me, Mister." Connie gave him another kiss. "I'm so thankful for you."

 "You don't have to thank me for that." Steven declared.

She shook her head. "You don't know just how much it means, the things you do for me. Definitely, this year. All the time, you were there for me. Rather it's with a meal, to talk to me, being that person I could lean on and vent to, keeping me from getting to wrap-up in work or reprimand me when I needed it." Connie laughed, sniffing a bit. "For the big things too like my birthday..and actually giving me Valentine's day I want to remember...For unknowingly accepting my invitation and moving in with me."

"Hey, where's all this coming from, now?" Steven asked, a bit concerned by the slight dampness of his back. 

"Nothing...No wait, it is something." She wiped her eyes. " It's a lot of things, but it easily boils down to one thing...I love you...You're my best friend, the best thing that ever happened to me. I appreciate you for everything you've done for me, with me- " 

"To you." He added with a slightly lecherous lingo.

She chuckled, "Yes. To me as well, my mischievous Mister. Though I always thank you for that." 

"You give as good as you get, Naughty Heartberry." He smirked. "I wanna see you...Know it supposed to be a gift, but I want to look you in those midnight eyes of yours."

"Mmm…Why do you have I be so..Charming " She released him and stepped back from her chuckling partner, with a blush as he turned around. It grew more when she saw his facial expressions. 

"Oh...Wow." Stevens' mouth went dry, and his toes curled at the visage in front of him as his heart rammed itself into his chest repeatedly, and his gem burned with craving and desire, the same as the last time.

The last time, when the outfit hung off her curves loosely, stopping right at the highest part of her thigh and made her look sinfully, innocently teasing. 

This time with her body a year fuller, a bit taller with lean muscle, with more pronounced curves, arches, and angles, that allowed her to fill out the outfit to the point it stopped right at her hip, giving a perk of what was under; she was honest to God temptress out of a fantasy, and just like last time.

It was effortless. 

"Happy Anniversary, Mister." She smiled innocently as she scratched the back of her head with sleeves a bit too long. "I know, it's a bit of a cop-out but.." she went low in tone. "It was what I was wearing in Empire City a year ago. When we started to get truly, physically intimate...and I ~mmmmm~hmmm~hmmm~ ! "  

She was interrupted by Steven sealing her mouth with his own. The feel of his right hand upon her cheek, of his bottom lip, finding its way between her own as he sucked on her upper lip, and his tongue as it gently massages her top teeth and gums. She couldn't help but swoon and melt for him, just like always.

'chu !' They broke the kiss, leaving her in a slightly, giggly love-drunk gaze.  

"Oh, wow, hehe." Connie grinned as she shifted in place. "All that for putting on your black turtleneck and green boy-shorts set." She teased, only to yelp in surprise when he lifted her over his shoulder and guided her to the couch. "My Mister's manhandling me," She laughed as he sat on the couch and straddled her upon his lap, facing him, his hands on her hips, hers own folded upon his nape.

"What's that look on your face, Hubby." She teased, resting her forehead on his, looking at his eyes. The impassioned gaze they held. 

 "Thank you."

"Hmm." She gave him a sly grin, "For what? The outfit? Eep! -Chu !- " That got her hip a pinch and her lips a peck, both she welcomed warmly.

"A bit " He grinned as squeezed her bottom, watching her chest hiked as Connie took a deep breath.

"A bit, huh?." She whispered in a husky tone, biting her lips.

"Well, more than a bit. -Chu- , but real talk. All playfulness aside -Chu- , Thank you." He caressed her cheek. "Thank you for all the fun memories. My birthday, the performance in new year's...For letting me pamper you on Valentine's morning....and your birthday." He gave her a fox grin, "Eh-hehe, for February 15th…"

"Yeah...Think I ended up enjoying that more than you, Bisky -Chu!- It was fun being your canvas...Letting you have your way and all." She poked his nose, getting a grin.

"I don't know. Complimenting you for two hours straight. Making you a blushing mess, that was a highlight of my year." He teased, getting a slap on his chest. 

"I think you just like making me a jumble of nerves."

"Turning my lioness to a cub. It's a joy to be embraced..." He laughed before stroking her ear with his thumb."Not to say, I don't like being your toy as well." Hearing her hum and lean into his machinations with a loving smile made his heart soar. "Thank you for that too."

"I love it when you call me 'Lioness' or 'Cub." She mewled, "Guess that makes you a cat-toy, though." 

"You certainly had the tail and ears to prove it at one point." He grinned. "Thank you for letting me treat you like this... "His grin dropped to a small smile " For letting me love you like this and for loving me. For all the affection you showed me. For all the times you dropped or worked remotely to spend time for me. All the silly games that remind me of our childhood. All the time, you helped me with my ambassador duties, helping me with my speeches and all..…. All the times you were there when everything felt too much; ...For giving me a home. Not just having a place to come to but somewhere warm and joyous- For..this." He waved his hand, "For doing things like this. it's really… Amazing."

He kissed her short and sweet. "You're amazing. Damn, you're so...Heart-swelling... Not only do you make me love you, but I'm proud." 

"P-Proud?" Connie stammered, turning her face away in a basement.

"Yeah! Why wouldn't I be?" He started, "I get to come home to my best friend. My wonderful, ingenious, strong, captivating lioness of a best friend."  He added, holding her chin up to face him. "Heartberry, being partners with you, is one of the greatest pride in my life." He declared, kissing Connies' forehead before she pulled the turtleneck up to cover her face and showing more of her green set.

"Connie, you ok?" 

She didn't respond to his teasing tone, verbally, but nodded on as she rested her head on his chest, humming as she rubbed her back." Punk." She said, muffled. "You know what saying that you're proud does to me." She lectured gently.

"Admittedly," He lightly pulled the turtleneck down to see her face, marooned with a pouty smirk."Small part it feeds that well-deserved ego of yours." He chuckled.

"I don't have an Eg- mmmhh~hmm!"

* CHU !*

Steven smirked, looking at her shocked but satisfied face."I know...All you do..all you have done and will do, never clouded your mind. Only serving to humble you more, and push you to your next goal." He nuzzled against the bridge of her nose. "It's one of the reasons why I'm proud to say that you chose me to share this thing we have with me," he grinned as he stole another kiss, " also, it gives me a whole bunch of reasons to brag about you." 

"You- you don't really do that, right?"  She blushed.

"Oh, you know, I do. You can ask Spinel and Yellow about how I talk you up to other delegates.

"Steven." She moaned in embarrassment as she snuggled closer. "Why?"

"Because you deserve to be known and acknowledged." He answered.

"But I am. The diamonds, The gems, Little Homeworld, R&D. They see me...More than that. ..You see me." She glanced at him. "You have for years...The very first person who saw 'me' ..." Connie laid her forehead upon Steven's, her married cheeks becoming more heated. "I want you to be proud of what you see… Just like I am when I see you." She confessed.

Steven's face took a shade of bubblegum before a smile split his face. "There's not a moment I'm not proud of you, little try-hard." He grinned before gaining a kiss from his Heartberry...

"Maybe, but your *-chu-* adoration is worth *-chu-* the effort.". she kissed him one last time before hopping off his lap to stand. " Speaking of efforts, let me show you the fruit of mines." She held out her hand to grasp, beaming when Steven took it.

"You seem eager," Steven commented with a playful husk as he followed a bouncing and strutting Connie up their stairs. "Making it kind of hard to concentrate, though." He added as his eyes got more than a bit of thigh, hip, and green cloth with each step.

"Oh, you're concentrating on exactly where I want you to." She smirked, putting a bit more twist in her hips to give him bit lips.

" Mm~mm ! Teasing Minx."

She did. "Like when you call me that too."

When they got to the top of the stairs, she led him past their bedroom and towards the recently installed 'room.' It's don't was reminiscent of the crystal gems temple door, sans gemstones.  In their place was a hard-light handprint reader. Pressing her hand inside caused the door to glow a bluish light before sliding open.

Within was a room that could only be described as 'Connie Maheswaran.' Inside was an endless hall of a traditional-looking south-Asian palace with perpetual sunlight gleaming through its windows; full bookshelves as far as the eye can see furnished the castle with it's red, gold, and yellow walls adorned with swords and violins.

"I always liked your room; it's like a fantasy ballroom library mixed," Steven said as he looked around. "Better than my pink clouds."

"I like how imaginative your room is," Connie answered. "But this isn't what I came to show you." She looked up taken a deep breath.

"Room: Oct 22!"

Steven watched as the room changed from a palace to a familiar setting. A very sentimental one. The king-size bed, the white walls with a flat-screen embedded in the northern border, the dresser and mirror on the east wall and the door to the bathroom on the west wall, and the ceiling mirror looking back above the bed.

"Is...Is this our hotel room from Empire City?" Steven asked as he sat in the bed. "This feels like the same bed." 

"Do you like it?" She smirked gently. " I know, we could have just gone tomorrow, no problem...But, I wanted to bring the memory to you. Since you just returned from traveling." Her smirk relaxed to smile, a shy one. " So...Did I impress you?"

Steven could only nod. "Did she impress me? She asks." He joked. A wickedly caring grin on his face, " Yes. Of course, you did; how couldn't I be impressed by this, by you…What's this about, Heartberry?

"It's simple." She walked up to Steven, straddling his lap, "My gift to you is the recreation of that night, that first time we gave each other our everything; it took a while... Been working on this reality since you left."

"A whole month?" He inquired with his eyes wide open as she nodded. "You took a whole month to recreate our first time?" He chuckled as he looked at her, drinking her image in. The way his turtle neck fit her, the way the light of the moon gave her a near ethereal glow, the carnal and passionate aura that radiated from her, just like last year.

Just more. 

"I'm your little ' Try-hard .' Remember?" She pushed him down onto his back, looking down at him with a loving and libidinous smile as she felt him palming her seat. "So, of course, I'm gonna try hard to give you the best anniversary ever.." She admitted as she bit under his chin, caressing his temple as she did. "To show you how thankful I am for this year."

Steven sighed at the feel of her manipulations, squirming under her a bit. "Now, well, I'd be remiss... Hhmmm~mmmm .. " He paused as to bask at the sound of her melodious giggle as nipped along his ear. " If I didn't meet you, half-way."

"Oh, you're definitely past 'half-way .' Not really hiding your ' pride' now are you, Mister." She teased as she pressed herself a bit more on him holding him close.

"Not trying to." He gave her a devilish smirk before turning over suddenly, positioning her under him, and him between her knees. He looked at her bit lip smile, her raven hair backdrop, the turtleneck that rode up to half her torso—his palms on her boy-short covered hips.

"You're quite proud , indeed." Connie arched her left brow.

"Of you." He started, tracing her lip with his thumb, dipping down to kiss her tenderly, "and I'm -chu- gonna show -chu- you, exactly -chu- how proud. -CHU !- It'll take the whole night, though."

"Show me." Connie implored, "You can start by doing that classic and beloved song and dance..and sink them in ."  she laughed before moaning as the telling 'shing ' of his teeth transforming, and the feeling of his fangs squeezing down her collarbone as his hands affectionately traversed her torso. She held him close by the back for his head and shoulder blades as she gave him more of her neck to please. Her knees, clutching his side. 

He took a moment to look at her as she did him. They exchanged no words, just a glance and a peck of their lips that soon developed the heartful nips, upon places other than their lips. Each field with the feeling of being missed and missing 'this' as they began their night of loving, carnal, and prideful anniversary bliss.

[fandomsfeelsandfanfics]

The Arrangement, Part II/// Draco Malfoy x Reader

SUMMARY: You run into Draco at one of his favourite nightclubs. He decides to take you home. But after spending the night with him, you get into an argument. 

WORD COUNT: 1,732

WARNING(S): partying, drinking, hangovers, it’s a lil suggestive, angst

SERIES MASTERLIST | PLAYLIST

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    You worked your way through the crowd, pushing through bodies while mumbling quick ‘sorry’s here and there. You moved your eyes around the room, trying to find Draco. In a crowd of what must’ve been hundreds of people, it was hard to focus on one face. But Narcissa had promised that he’d be here. She’d told you that this was his favorite club in the city. 

   You sighed and your shoulders slumped forward slightly. Your eyes sweeped the room again but instead of finding Draco, you spotted the bar. Maybe you could get a drink before you saw him. That would certainly make you less nervous.

   You sat on one of the barstools and leaned forward, looking at the selection. You ordered a shot of their best firewhiskey, using the money Narcissa had given you. You smiled as the bartender leaned up to get it from the top shelf. Usually you’d only consider ordering liquor from the top shelf if you were in the mood to spend or if you were just really drunk already. 

   “Thank you,” you said as you took the drink in your hand. You quickly downed it. Placing the cup back down on the counter, you winced as the alcohol hit the back of your throat. You closed your eyes, leaning forward. 

   “One firewhiskey.” You opened your eyes, turning to the source of the voice. “Can I buy you a drink?” You saw Draco sitting there, smirking at you. You smiled. “I didn’t quite expect to see you here. These types of places were never really your scene.” 

   You looked away from him for a moment. “They still aren’t but occasionally I get the urge to go out for a drink, maybe dance a little.” He stared at you for a moment in disbelief. He nodded and began to laugh. “What,” you asked.

   He shrugged, stopped laughing and smiled instead. “Sorry, that’s just so funny coming from you.” 

   “You think I don’t know how to party?” He raised his eyebrow. “Guess I’ll have to show you then.” You hopped up from the barstool, walking toward the crowd. 

   Once you reached the edge of it, you turned back. He was leaning back in his barstool facing you. You pointed your finger at him and beckoned him forward. He finished the rest of his drink in one gulp and stood up. As soon as he took a step towards you, you disappeared further into the crowd. 

   You looked over your shoulder a few times to make sure he was still following you as you weaved between people. As you got closer to the center of the crowd, it seemed that people were even closer together and you had to move slower. Finally, you felt arms wrap around you.

   “Gotcha.” He whispered in your ear. He spun you around and you giggled. You struggled against his grip but he wrapped his arms tighter around your waist. “Nope.” You put your hands on his chest and looked up at him with a smile. 

   “I guess you caught me.” 

   “I guess I did.” He leaned down closer to your ear so that you could hear him better. “Now what was that earlier about you telling me that you were going to show me that you knew how to party.” 

-

When your feet got tired from dancing. Draco asked if you wanted to come back to his place. Against your best judgement you smiled and said, “Yes.”

   Draco was still holding your hand as he used his other hand to dig through his pocket for his keys. “Shit.” The keys fell out of his pocket and onto the ground and he had to let go of your hand as he leaned down to get it. He quickly shoved it in the keyhole and pushed the door open. 

   He stumbled forward, pulling you with him. He closed the door and then his lips were pressed against yours. If you hadn’t already known he was drunk, you would’ve been able to taste it on him as he kissed you sloppily. He’d spent all night drinking between dances and you didn’t even bother to try and keep up with him. 

   He was stumbling everywhere as he pulled you through the messy flat. He kicked the bedroom door open and tightened his grip on your hips. His hands roamed your waist feeling around with curiousity and need. His fingers clumsily fiddled with the bottom of your shirt and suddenly, you were very aware of how drunk he was. 

   Then you thought of Narcissa and remembered what this whole situation was about. Really awful timing, you thought.

You pulled away and Draco looked at you. “What’s wrong?” He came in for another kiss but you pushed him away slightly.  

   “I...I shouldn’t.” 

   “What? Why?” He looked confused and his hands moved back down to your waist.

   “I don’t do things like this. I don’t want to just sleep with you. I can’t.” He frowned. “And besides, you’re absolutely wasted.” 

   He rolled his eyes, walked over to his bed and flopped down onto it, face first. You walked over and sat down next to him. When he turned his head to look at you, he had this little grumpy look on his face –– like a child –– which almost made you laugh. Your fingers reached out to brushed a strand of hair out of his eyes. “You’re so drunk.” 

   “I am not,” he huffed. You laughed. 

   “Fine, whatever, goodnight,” you replied. You were going to get up when his arm wrapped around your hips, pulling you closer to him. 

   “No. Stay.” 

   “Draco.” He stuck out his bottom lip. “Draco, stop.” 

   He groaned loudly. “Please.” Something about it was compelled you to stay with him. You didn’t know whether it was the look on his face or the feelings you were experiencing at seeing him so vulnerable but either way, you felt like you couldn’t leave him.

   You sighed. “Fine.” You laid down next to him and he pulled you closer.

   As he drifted off to sleep, he had a gentle smile on his face.

-

   You heard Draco’s footsteps approaching the kitchen and looked over your shoulder at him. His hair was a mess, all matted together on one side. His fingers came up to gently rub his temple. You picked up the plate from the table and handed it to him. He stared down at it with a confused look. 

   He looked back up at you with his eyebrows lowered. “What is this?”

   “Breakfast.” You both stared at the plate thinking about how it wasn’t much of a breakfast. Just two eggs and a piece of bread. “Well, I did my best but you don’t have much food here.” 

   He walked over to the table, setting the plate on it. “That’s because I don’t like cooking and I’m rarely ever here. I’m barely ever in town and when I am, all I ever do here is sleep.” 

   You sat down across from him as he continued to stare down at the plate. He picked up the piece of toast and took a bite out of it. “They say a good breakfast can help with hangovers,” you inserted. He took another bite and looked up at you. 

   There were dark bags under his eyes that made you wonder when the last time he got a good night of sleep was. “Why are you here?” 

   You paused. There was a coldness in his voice that you almost didn’t recognize. "Last night you asked me to stay.” He narrowed his eyes at you. 

   “I say the oddest things when I’m drunk, don’t I?” You crossed your arm, suddenly feeling stupid for staying. “So what do you want then?” 

   Your eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?” 

   “People always want something from me. It’s usually either sex or money and since you didn’t try to get in bed with me, then it must be money, right? That’s why you’re being so nice.” He got up, leaving before you could even think of a response. 

   He returned just as fast with his wallet. “What do you prefer? I’ve got wizard and muggle money, I’ve also got money from a couple different countries if you feel like taking a trip.” He looked up from his wallet when you didn’t reply.

   You still didn’t know what to say to him. “I...I don’t want your money. Why would I want your money?” You stood up and walked over to him. 

   “Oh come on, just tell me how much.” He was pulling out money and you grabbed his hand. 

   “Draco, stop. I didn’t stay last night for money. Don’t be ridiculous.” It was true regardless of your agreement with Narcissa. Even though Narcissa was paying you, you didn’t have to stay. You could’ve left. You should have.

   “Then why did you stay!” 

   “Maybe because we’re friends and-” He opened his mouth like he was going to say something but quickly closed it. He pushed past you and ran down the hallway. You followed him and finally caught up once he was already emptying his stomach into the toilet. 

   When he was done, he leaned up and wiped his lips. He walked past you, back into the kitchen wordlessly. He poured whiskey into a mug and took a sip of it. Finally, he looked back over at you. “You should go.” You stared at him angrily for a moment, wondering whether or not you should continue to argue. 

   You decided against it and walked towards the door. You paused as you reached for the handle. “Last night you were the one who wanted me to stay. You wanted me here. You. I stayed for you.” You looked over your shoulder at him. “I just wanted to be there for you but I see that was a mistake.”

   His face softened and he sat down his cup. “(Y/N), wait.” You unlock the door  and twisted the handle. You pulled your wand out of your pocket and although he followed you, you had already apparated by the time he reached the door. He sighed. He rested his head on the doorframe and stared at the spot where you had just been standing. 

   He stood there for a few minutes more, regretting almost everything he’d said that morning. Finally, he sighed and retreated back into his flat in search of the whiskey.

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[colbybrocksmolder]

Tumblr – Colby Brock x Reader

Tumblr is…a mixed bag. You’d made some of your closest internet friends on this poorly run website, but you’d also received more than your share of crazy fangirl hate. What’s crazy though, is how easy it is to make friends in the Sam and Colby fandom on Tumblr. 99% of everyone you’ve met is super nice and the group kind of shuts down the haters pretty quickly.

This last round of drama kind of wore everyone down. It all started with a hate anon that your friend DaddyDobrock received. “If Sam and Colby saw half of what you guys wrote on here they wouldn’t want you as fans 🙄.” She handled it well. She laughed and told the anon to lighten up and fuck off. You guys were pretty used to petty hate anons and rarely answer them, but boy was this asshole persistent.

Absolute-randomness-forever replied to a similar message with “If you don’t like what we post, don’t follow us?” Again, not really feeding into any drama.

Sp00kybrock got one trying to get her opinion on the whole thing. “Don’t you think most of the Sam and Colby tumblr fandom is toxic? Like, I bet Colby would cringe so hard if he went on this site. 🙄” She defended her friends, laughing it off. “My friends and I aren’t toxic. We post memes and joke around, but we support the boys 100%.”

Jakeywebber commented on a few of the new posts. “Does this person even watch the boys? They obviously don’t know that their sense of humor is exactly like ours.”

The anons continued to come in, a few other people getting them but not replying. They always ended with 🙄. The problem with one toxic anon is that they attract others that want to feed into the drama, and soon the hate is taken too far.

Someone got an anon telling them to kill themselves. Eye rolling emoji included. The blog posted the anon with no comment other than “deleting now” and went offline. To say that the rest of you were up in arms is an understatement. Lightenupbrock, that-one-brock-boy, badassbrock, the-sun-is-dark, colbyjacksmack, rewindfridaynight, xplr-lurker, brockboytrashz…you all jumped in and defended your friend. You sent them messages making sure they were okay, trying to convince them not to delete.

*Twitter notification* Colby Brock Tweeted : “FYI we see more than you think we see. Don’t pretend to be our fan and then treat other fans like shit. Especially anonymously. 🙄”

Daddydobrock posted “Anyone else see this?” with a screenshot of the tweet.

A few of the others reblogged it, adding comments. By the end of the thread, your group of friends was convinced that Colby either had a tumblr or occasionally lurked on it.

*tumblr messages*

Xplr-lurker : Hey, have you heard from the girl that got the kys anon?

You and Xplr-lurker had been tumblr friends for about 6 months. They messaged you after they saw how you interacted with the other blogs. You were always helpful, kind, encouraging…You had a reputation for being a sweetheart and Xplr-lurker had messaged you thanking you for it. You two became friends pretty quickly, asking how each other’s days went and such. Neither of you ever really posted your personal info on your blogs, but you knew a bit about each other. You both lived in Cali, you were about the same age, and you loved sending each other super emo tumblr posts when you were bored. Usually hella late at night. He knew you were a girl and you knew he was a guy. Other personal details kind of trickled through in your everyday interactions.

Y/n : Yeah. She doesn’t want to be online for a while, but she isn’t going to delete her blog. I gave her my phone number just in case she needed to talk.

Xplr-lurker : I figured you would 😊 I’m glad she’s okay.

Y/n : Me too.

Y/n : Hey, did you see Colby’s tweet? I think he saw all of this go down. I mean, maybe I’m just assuming too much, but he ended a tweet about anon hate with that stupid eye roll emoji just like the anon does.

Xplr-lurker : I mean, he said he checks his dms all the time. Maybe someone sent it to him?

Y/n : Maybe.

Y/n : Honestly, I’m just as mad for him and Sam as I am for the girl. How shitty is it that they have to watch the people who call themselves fans treat other fans like garbage? And they can’t do a thing about it.

Xplr-lurker : That sounds like it would suck.

Y/n : Right?

You had written a whole big post about how hypocritical it was for this toxic anon to accuse everyone else of being bad for the fandom when they were so willing to go out of their way to harm other fans. You reminded them about the videos Sam and Colby used to post about being confident and helping others. Their entire YouTube career started with them making videos wanting to help people. Just like every other post, you signed it with two black heart emojis. 🖤🖤

You had continued talking to xplr-lurker as you wrote the post. Venting a little bit about how frustrated you were.

*Twitter notification* Colby Brock Tweeted : “Don’t worry, we know there are amazing fans out there, too. 🖤🖤”

Y/n : Dude. I think I’m paranoid, now.

Xplr-lurker : What do you mean?

Y/n : Nothing. I’m exhausted. I just need sleep, lol. You do too, nerd. You said you needed to be up by 9 and it’s already 4am.

Xplr-lurker : Holy shit, my friend is going to kill me if I’m falling asleep tomorrow, haha.

Y/n : Haha, good luck! I’ll talk to you later.

Xplr-lurker : Thanks. Sweet dreams.

See, it’s pretty common for social media influencers to have secret accounts. It gives them a way to like posts and follow fans without starting drama. After collabing with CrankThatFrank, Colby was convinced to make a tumblr. He picked Xplr-lurker so that it made sense for him to interact with his own fans. He mostly just reblogged cool edits and funny traphouse memes. He’d comment on funny posts and throw his two cents in on theories and gossip. For the most part, it was kind of fun. People on tumblr were brutally honest but fucking hilarious. He never planned on talking about tumblr or letting anyone he interacted with on tumblr know that he was behind the username…but then he found your blog. He’d contemplated telling you for a few weeks now. The two of you talked almost every night and he felt bad. He felt like he was lying to you.

He’d first messaged you just to say a quick thanks for being so positive in the fandom, but the more he talked to you the more he kept wanting to talk to you.

The 🙄 anon stopped sending people messages after Colby’s tweet. Your friends on tumblr were able to go back to posting ridiculous screenshots and cool photo edits over the next week or so. You’d reblogged a gif of Colby about to lose his shorts on a waterslide with the caption “I feel like Elton has been trying to get Colby naked in vlogs since the start of TFIL”.

Xplr-lurker : *sent waterslide post*

Xplr-lurker : This is a fat fact. Lol.

Y/n : Right? Hahahahaha

Xplr-lurker : I think he does it for views.

Y/n : Probably. It’s the same reason Colby gets shirtless in his own videos. He knows people will click the thumbnail, haha.

Colby sat on his balcony laughing. You were absolutely right.

Xplr-lurker : Is that why you clicked?

Y/n : Haha, nah. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a beautiful human being. You’d have to be blind not to see that. But I found Colby through TFIL.  

Xplr-lurker : What made you keep watching him then?

Colby felt bad for baiting you out, but his curiosity got the better of him. As far as you knew, he was just another fan. This is when he’d get your most honest answer.

Y/n : A lot. First, he’s a huge goofball. Watching him and his friends do dumb shit to make each other laugh is the best.

Y/n : And everything him and Sam have done together? Those two dudes are fearless. They just remind me that I’m the only one holding myself back, you know? One day I’ll actually get out of my own way and make something of myself.

Y/n : He also seems super genuine. He never seems afraid to speak his mind or call something like it is. It actually bums me out watching some of his “friends”, If you know what I mean. I know that not everything they put out there is 100% accurate to how they actually are in real life, but I hate that slimy feeling I get knowing that a lot of them use Sam and Colby and don’t actually give a shit.

Y/n : I know I sound like a massive fangirl at this point, haha. I think I just needed to get that off my chest.

Colby sat there trying to figure out how to respond. He had a huge grin on his face seeing you spill your guts like you did.

Xplr-lurker : Haha, don’t worry about it. You just sound like you care. That’s not a bad thing.

Over the next few weeks, you guys continued to talk like normal, but it got a little more personal. He wanted to be able to call you a friend, but he was still afraid to tell you who he actually was. You two talked more about your passions and the things you struggle with. You’d always sent each other music to check out, but he’d confessed that he’d been dabbling in trying to write lyrics. He needed to find a way to talk to you as COLBY and not xplr-lurker.

*Twitter notification* Colby Brock Tweeted : “You feel so close but in reality I’m sitting here on my balcony alone.”

One of your tumblr friends had screenshot the tweet, adding the caption “This is how it feels to have better friends on the internet than in real life.”

You reblogged it and tagged xplr-lurker. You added “I wouldn’t trade our late-night talks for the world.”

Xplr-lurker : *sent tagged post*

Xplr-lurker : Yeah?

Y/n : Duh. You know that.

Xplr-lurker : Same.

Colby sat there, his fingers hovering over the keyboard on his phone.

*Twitter notification* Colby Brock Tweeted : “1 like = 1 ‘don’t be a pussy’ whispered in my ear.”

Xplr-lurker : Not to sound like a creepy internet person, but have you ever met any of your internet friends in real life?

Y/n : Haha, I don’t think you’re creepy. And yes! I’ve met a few of them. Why?

Xplr-lurker : I know we live in the same city and I’ve always wondered if you’d want to get coffee or something.

Y/n : That would mean that you’d get to see how awkward and clumsy I am in real life. I don’t know if I’m willing to put you through that, hahaha.

Colby laughed. That response was better than the “fuck off, creeper” he expected.

Xplr-lurker : Oh, shut up. You’d be the one dealing with me being awkward.

Y/n : Suuuuuuure. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.

Y/n : I’m actually walking home from my favorite coffee shop right now, haha. It’s called 101. They’re open until 3 am and they have the best food.

Xplr-lurker : WHY ARE YOU WALKING ALONE SO LATE AT NIGHT?!

It was well past 2am and the thought of you walking the streets of LA by yourself kind of had Colby on edge.

Y/n : I live like 5 minutes away. Don’t worry.

Colby pulled up 101 Coffee Shop on his phone. It was less than a 10 minute drive from his apartment. *We actually live pretty close* he thought, switching back to the tumblr app.

Xplr-lurker : Tell me when you make it home safe. LA is scary at night.

Xplr-lurker : Also, that coffee shop is not far from me. If you ever want to meet up there, I’m down.

Y/n : I just walked in my front door. Stop worrying, mom.

Y/n : And I’ll be headed back there tomorrow around midnight. My roommate’s boyfriend is obnoxious and he comes over every night around then. I usually hang out at the coffee shop and work on stuff on my laptop for a few hours.

Xplr-lurker : I’m glad you’re safe. I’ll definitely try to make it there tomorrow.

Y/n : I’ll be the one with the messy bun, laptop, and baggy Y&R hoodie, lol.

Xplr-lurker : If I don’t chicken out, I’ll wear an XPLR hoodie.

Y/n : Well I need to go to sleep. If I don’t see you tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll still talk to you on here.

Xplr-lurker : For sure! Have a good night!

Y/n : You too. 🖤🖤

“Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.” Colby said, sighing. This was it. He was either going to walk into that coffee shop and blow his cover or he was going to chicken out like a little bitch.

The whole next day he had a hard time paying attention to anything or anyone. He was too busy trying to figure out the best way to tell you who he was.

“Colby!” Sam laughed, waving his hand in front of his friend’s face.

“What? Sorry.” Colby said, shaking his head and turning towards Sam.

“You okay?” Sam asked. Colby just stared at him for a minute. “I’m going to take that as a no?”

“I’m not, not okay.” Colby answered, sounding cryptic.

“Okaaaayyy.” Sam said slowly. “Care to explain?”

“I’m just nervous to meet up with someone later.” Colby tried to sound casual. “It’s nothing big. I’m just anxious, I guess.”

“Who?” Sam asked.

“A girl I met online.” Colby said, waiting for Sam to tease him.

Sam furrowed his brows. “Like on a dating app?”

“No.” Colby shook his head. “She’s a fan.”

Sam made a confused face. “Not to make it sound like I think you’re stupid, but are you being catfished again?” He laughed.

Colby couldn’t help but crack a smile, hiding his face behind his hands. “No, actually. I don’t even know what this girl looks like.”

“What?!” Sam asked, confused.

“That’s not the weirdest part.” Colby said, peeking through his fingers at his best friend. “She doesn’t know I’m me.”

“Is this for a video or something?” Sam asked, not understanding at all what was going on.

“Nope. I made an account to interact with fans and we just kind of clicked.” Colby tried explaining. “We’ve been friends for like 6 months, but we only ever talk through our usernames. The more I say this out loud the crazier it sounds.” Colby laughed.

“Sooooo, you’ve never seen a picture of her?” Sam asked.

“Nope. Not for sure. I THINK I found her personal blog, but I could be wrong.” Colby answered. “I only know her name because it’s in her profile, but she’s never asked me mine.”

“Is she going to be mad?” Sam asked, trying to wrap his head around the whole thing.

“That’s kind of why I’m so nervous.” Colby said, biting his lip. “She told me where she’s going to be tomorrow night and I don’t know if I should just show up or if I should rip the band-aid off and tell her who I am in our dms before we’re supposed to meet up.”

Sam had a blank stare on his face. “I honestly have no idea how to help you.”

“Don’t feel bad. I don’t know how to help myself.” Colby laughed.

“Tell me how it goes?” Sam asked.

“Of course.” Colby nodded, zoning out again.

At around 11:30pm you’d walked to the coffee shop. You ordered a drink and your late dinner and sat down in the corner booth. You worked on some things you were currently writing and gone through and caught up with your emails. At about 1am, you’d convinced yourself your tumblr friend had chickened out.

Right around 12:30am, Colby was stood in front of the coffee shop he was supposed to meet you at. There were only a few people currently in the shop, so it was pretty easy to figure out which one was you. He’d taken a deep breath and walked through the door, darting to the counter when he started to panic. With his back to you, he ordered a coffee. *I don’t even like coffee* he thought to himself. He kept peeking at you from the pick-up counter while he waited for his order. You had headphones in your ears, mouthing the lyrics to whatever song you were listening to. When the barista called out his name, he grabbed his coffee and left the shop.

Xplr-lurker : I’m stuck.

Xplr-lurker : You’re normally the person I go to for advice, but I feel like it’s unfair to put this one on you.

Xplr-lurker : You’re beautiful, btw.

You looked up from your computer, searching for your friend.

Y/n : Thank you? Are you here?

Xplr-lurker : I was. I chickened out. I kind of panicked.

Y/n : Aww, I promise you have no reason to panic. So why are you stuck? I’m always here to listen and give advice when I think I can help. You know that.

Colby sighed, sitting in his car.

Xplr-lurker : I guess it’s better just to come out with it.

Xplr-lurker : My name is Colby.

You waited a few seconds for further explanation.

Y/n : Okay? I don’t get it.

Xplr-lurker : Like, I am Colby Brock. I made this account to interact with fans.

Y/n : Please tell me you’re just fucking with me as a friend and not a delusional fanboy that’s trying to actually convince me he’s someone he’s not.

*Great* you thought to yourself. Not only did you have to walk home at night by yourself in LA, now you had to keep an eye out for a crazy person who wanted you to believe they were Colby. You thought this person was your friend and now you were afraid to leave the coffee shop.

Xplr-lurker : Neither? I know I fucked up by not telling you sooner.

Y/n : Well, since whoever is on the other end of this message knows I’m here alone, I’m going to call my roommate to pick me up. You know, you were really cool. You were my favorite person to talk to. This really sucks. You didn’t have to be anyone but yourself.  

When Colby tried to reply to your message, the chat said that he had been blocked. “Oh, fuck.” He said, jumping back out of his car. When he got to the door of the coffee shop, he could see that you were packing up your stuff.

“Y/n!” he called from the door, walking towards your booth.

Your eyes flew towards the boy walking in your direction, your hands frozen holding your laptop.

Colby slowly slid into the other side of the booth you were sitting in, putting his phone down with the tumblr app open. “I’m so sorry.”

“What the fuck?” you whispered, still not moving.

“You have every right to be mad at me and I swear I never meant to freak you out. I didn’t really think it through when I told you who I was. Is your roommate coming?” He asked, talking so fast you could barely process what he was saying.

You sat your laptop down and grabbed his phone. “My roommate wouldn’t come pick me up even if I did call her.” You said, looking at the tumblr app on Colby’s phone. You were the only person he had messaged.

“You were going to walk?” Colby asked, grabbing his phone when you handed it back to him.

“I was going to order an Uber.” You laughed. “This is crazy. You’re crazy.”

“Are you mad?” Colby’s face was apprehensive, waiting for you to tell him to fuck off.

“A little.” You nodded, laughing. “You asked me questions about yourself! I fangirled to you about you!” You remembered, covering your now blushing cheeks with your hands, hiding your face.

He laughed. “I feel the need to say this in person…You’re beautiful.” He watched as you peeked over your fingers. “And I’m the one that should be embarrassed about that, not you.”

“Why did you ask me to meet if you didn’t want me to know who you were?” You asked, remembering that this whole thing was his idea.

He laughed, reaching to grab one of your hands. “I’ve been trying to nut up and tell you who I am for over a month.”

“Why me? You didn’t even know what I looked like?” You were still trying to take in the fact that Colby Brock was sitting here in your favorite coffee shop holding your hand.

“I didn’t really care what you looked like. You’ve been a great friend to me since we first started talking and I was just some random person you met online…That has nothing to do with how someone looks.” He explained, blushing before continuing. “The fact that you’re also adorable is just an added bonus.”

You laughed, pulling your hand out of his so you could re-do your messy bun that was currently falling. “This is crazy. I want to re-read everything I’ve ever sent to you to make sure I didn’t make a complete fool out of myself.”

“Y/n.” Colby laughed. “You didn’t. I promise. There’s not a single thing you’ve told me that I don’t like.”

You stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out what the hell you were supposed to do now. “I have one question.” You said, leaning your elbows on the table.

“Ask away.” He answered, leaning forward the same way you were.

“What’s the REAL reason Elton always tries to get you naked in his vlogs?” You smirked, hearing Colby bust a gut laughing.

“Honestly, I’ve questioned it myself. The only answer that keeps me sane is clickbait.” He shook his head. “So, we’re good?” he asked.

“I mean, I don’t know WHAT we are, but I hope it isn’t bad.” You laughed.

“Well, we’ve been friends for over 6 months. I’d like to still claim that even though you know now that I’ve been a dumbass this entire time.” He smiled.

“I think I can deal with that.” You smiled back at him.

“Should I push my luck and ask you if I can buy you another coffee?” He asked, a shy look on his face. “I think coffee is disgusting, but I hear coffee shops make for great first dates.”

“You went from being afraid to show your face to asking me on a date.” You laughed.

“Well?” Colby said, waiting for your answer.

You nodded, your cheeks turning pink. “I’d love another coffee.”

I can remove any of the tumblrs I’ve used if you’re uncomfortable being mentioned. @daddydobrock @absolute-randomness-forever @sp00kybrock @jakeywebber @lightenupbrock @that-one-brock-boy @badassbrock @the-sun-is-dark @colbyjacksmack @rewindfridaynight @brockboytrashz 

[janeofcakes]

KYFC...:  Chapter 12

Hey, y’all! I hope you all had a great week, even in the state of suspense in which I left you. Haha. But seriously, I hope all of you are well and as good as you can be. The story continues. Now we can all see if our intrepid duo is interrupted or if Cakey Jane, evil though she is, surprises you with very exciting and much anticipated intimacy. Only one way to find out! (Also, on a purely ridiculous note, I just noticed when I was typing in the chapter title that the abbreviation is KFC with an extra letter. Lol. Now I feel the need to come up with other words to replace the real ones, like Keep Your Fried Chicken or KY for Comfort. Bwahaha! That’s a good one, if I do say so myself. Sorry. Sometimes I really am still 15 years old. Like when I chuckle every time I hear the movie title “Pacific Rim”. Heehee. I really am very mature, but I do have that Deadpool side too.)

----

I’ve been really tryin’, baby. Tryin’ to hold back the feeling for so long and if you feel like I feel, baby. Then c’mon, oh, c’mon. Let’s get it on.                                                         -- Marvin Gaye, Let’s Get It On

Their lips move together, even as their mouths remain closed. Sherlock feels dizzy. He has never felt so good or whole in his life. He finds John’s arms with his hands and holds on gently. John squeezes his shoulders and parts his lips just a crack. Sherlock immediately feels the humidity from his breath and lets out one of his own in a rush, like a moan with no sound. John kisses him with fervor. There are sighs into mouths, and across faces and lips. Though the kiss remains chaste, breathing grows heavier and faster. Motivated by blind desire, Sherlock tightens his grip on John’s arms and takes John’s bottom lip in between his own. He sucks lightly, eliciting a loud moan from John, and he nearly comes in his pants right then and there. Sherlock breaks away quickly, desperate to regain control. He drops his head back against the wall and takes in a shallow breath. John does much the same, leaning his head forward and resting his forehead on Sherlock’s chin. Sherlock swallows hard and then sucks in a harsh breath when he feels John’s gentle, incredibly warm lips on his throat. John is smiling against his skin. He brushes his lips over Sherlock’s Adam’s apple and then straightens his own neck, pulling away from the taller man. Sherlock lifts his head from the wall and looks down at John, into his eyes blown wide with want.

“Christ, Sherlock,” his voice is a hoarse whisper. Both men still breathe heavily, sharing the very air between them. Sherlock finally loosens his grip of John’s arms, releasing one completely to run a hand through his curls. He puffs out a breath and tries to relax. His heart still beats fast.

“Oh, god,” Sherlock exhales, his hand still in his hair. “Oh, shit.”

John’s mouth turns up at the corners and he starts to chuckle. Sherlock furrows his brow and lowers his hand back down, ghosting its way down John’s arm to his hip where it comes to rest.

“Problem?” he asks indignantly. John looks up at him with the most beautiful smile and bites his bottom lip. Sherlock’s stomach flips so significantly that his knees feel weak.

“Sorry, it’s just… I’ve not heard you curse before. I mean, unless you’re angry. It just seems so out of place,” John tells him bashfully. Sherlock smiles his response and they both stand there like grinning idiots. 

“John,” Sherlock says the name reverently. It’s like a prayer, a promise. The man in his arms is the most amazing man he has ever met. Sherlock looks into those blue eyes and is ready to scrap everything - his theories on sentiment and avoiding it all together - everything to see those eyes forever. 

“John, I…” Sherlock bites his lip hard to keep himself from saying it. He cannot say it now. It’s too soon. It’s too much. John will either run or call him a fool.

“Sherlock?”

Maybe he is a fool. Falling so hard and so fast after his disastrous marriage. He has already thrown it all to the wind for John Watson. Sherlock cannot begin to fathom why he still tries to deny it. He is only lying to himself. God, how he wishes Molly was here to give counsel.

“Sherlock?” John’s voice is still breathy, but no longer a whisper. “Are you all right? Is this not okay? We can stop, if you want.”

Sherlock’s eyes go wide and John must know he does not want to stop by the sheer look of horror on his face, but that is not why Sherlock panics. John cannot know his true feelings. John cannot have the chance to reason through this because his brilliant mind will figure it out in a split-second and god only knows what would happen then. Frankly, Sherlock is surprised he hasn’t figured it out already. Or maybe he has. Maybe he is now. 

Shit. Shit. 

Desperately seeking a distraction, Sherlock lurches forward and crashes their lips together. John gets out a curse before Sherlock’s mouth is over his. They pick up where they left off easily as Sherlock grabs John around the waist and twists their bodies to the side, pushing the doctor up against the wall now. John grunts in surprise, but wraps his arms around the coach nonetheless.

After several minutes, the tip of John’s tongue, which has been tracing Sherlock’s lower lip as John gently sucked, dips tentatively into Sherlock’s mouth and then shoots back out again. Sherlock’s mind officially derails and launches itself off a bridge at high speed. John wants to go further and is seeking permission and it is so sweet Sherlock’s heart may burst. As his brain comes back online, his only thought is a resolute ‘God, yes please!’

His hands creep up John’s back as he deftly slides his tongue into John’s mouth, only enough to touch the tip of John’s tongue. Sherlock takes a few seconds to taste him, just a taste. It is all tea and milk and those delectable little cookies John eats and calls biscuits, even though they look nothing like biscuits. And now, all of this with a hint of wine. 

Sherlock pulls back to look at John and receives a grumble in response. He lets out a quiet laugh that could never be helped after the noise John made and meets his eyes. The doctor looks completely debauched and disheveled and gloriously perfect. His eyes are even darker than before, his mouth open and breathless, lips kiss swollen and beautiful. Sherlock smiles affectionately, but gives him a pointed look at the same time. Their faces are still very close together and John makes no secret of the shiver that runs through his body when Sherlock’s gentle breath drifts over his lips.

“You don’t really want to go, do you,” Sherlock breathes hotly. It is not a question, but John answers anyway.

“No,” he shakes his head.

His voice and expression are so decisive that neither leaves room for doubt. They stare at one another for a split-second and then crush their lips and bodies together, so close that no air, not a crack of light can get in between. And then it is all lips and tongues and teeth, nipping and sucking and stroking. It is hot and messy and absolutely fantastic. Sherlock’s hands clench at the back of John’s shirt, his fists are full of fabric and he pulls the shirt from where it is tucked in John’s trousers without even realizing it. John’s hands are in his hair, tangling in the strands. He slides his mouth along Sherlock’s jawline, mouthing at the skin all the way and then smearing kisses down his neck to the pulse point there. 

“Oh, god,” Sherlock moans when John begins to suck. His head falls back and his mind goes blank. All is John and the two of them and what they are doing, what they could be doing. It snaps his head up and pulls at John’s shirt hard enough to rip. “John. John!”

The doctor stops immediately and looks at Sherlock in worried question. Their bodies are still pressed together tightly, but John releases his curls and drops his hands to Sherlock’s biceps.

“Sherlock?” he asks breathlessly, his voice rife with concern. “Are you okay? Is this...okay?”

“John,” Sherlock begins in a serious tone, but his lips are soon quirking upward and John cannot help but mirror it, “would you mind accompanying me to the bedroom?”

“Not at all,” John answers with a short, relieved laugh.

***

Sherlock drops flat on his back onto the bed. His dressing gown lies on the living room floor, just outside the bedroom door. His pajama shirt came off six paces away from the bed and now he is watching as John drops his own shirt and tee on the floor at the foot of the bed. The doctor climbs on and crawls up Sherlock’s body on all fours. Sherlock licks his lips and watches hungrily as John’s face evens up with his. As he looks into John’s eyes, he takes a moment to wrap his head around the situation. When they embarked on this trip, everything was perfectly normal. Well, as normal as having your best friend live with you can be. His best friend? Can someone you are head over heels in love with be your best friend? 

Sherlock rests his hands on the warm skin of John’s sides, his pinkies just touching the waistband of his jeans. He drinks in the sight of this man above him and shivers under the wisp of John’s breath across his lips. John dips down for a gentle kiss. Sherlock keeps his eyes closed when John’s lips kiss the corners of his mouth, his nose, his cheekbones and jawline. When they find Sherlock’s ear, he has lowered himself enough to lie full on Sherlock’s body. They are chest to chest, shoulders to waist of bare skin pressed together and Sherlock gasps loudly, giddy with pleasure. John is not just warm, he is hot. Unbelievably hot in every sense of the word and, my god, where did he learn to do that with his tongue?

“Oh, god, don’t stop. Don’t stop!” Sherlock whines irritably when John pulls away to look at him. “If you ask if this is okay, I cannot be responsible for my actions,” he tells him with an even gaze of impatience.

“All right, all right,” John chuckles his acquiescence. He spreads his legs to drop one on either side of Sherlock’s and straddles his hips. Pushing himself up to sitting, he looks down at the man beneath him. His hands rest on the plains of Sherlock’s chest. The warm, soft palms lying comfortably on his pectorals, the calm desire in John’s eyes - it is like they have done this a hundred times before. Gone are any nerves Sherlock may have had about their first time or of not knowing what John likes. Truthfully, he had not even allowed himself to consider any of these things until the moment John said he did not want to go back to his own room.

He looks up at John with hooded eyes and as he smiles back. God, he is beautiful. His California tan has faded a bit, but his skin is still sunkissed. Sherlock has no idea why John is concerned about his physique. The lines of muscle visible under his skin are well defined and make him want to explore every dip and angle with his mouth. Sherlock’s gaze roves over John’s torso and ends on his peaked nipples. He instantly wants to touch them. So he does.

As he reaches up to press his palms firmly over hardened nipples while John slides his down to rest just above Sherlock’s hips. He begins to stroke and tease and John inhales deeply, tipping his head back and rocking slowly. Within seconds, it is driving Sherlock mad. He sits up suddenly, wrapping his long arms around John and hooking his arms under John’s. With his fingers splayed on John’s back, Sherlock licks a stripe over one nipple and John shudders in his arms. Sherlock smiles against John’s chest and takes the pebbled skin into his mouth, sucking and nibbling, relishing every gasp and whimper. 

He moves to the other pectoral and John is rocking again, a bit faster this time. John’s hands are in his hair, his fingertips feel like fire on Sherlock’s scalp. He leans into the touch, caught up in every sensation. With a wicked smirk, he takes John’s nipple in between his teeth and bites just enough to sting.

“Jesus Christ!” John’s jolts up and he stares down at Sherlock, hands on his shoulders. The buck of his hips hits so hard and fast, the friction has the coach nearly coming in his pants. The thread holding him back suddenly snaps. He scrabbles at John’s button and zipper then spreads the jeans apart at his waist, revealing the prominent erection in John’s underpants and the damp spot at its tip. For god sake, it is more than any man can take.

“Off,” he commands. “Now.”

John scrambles off of Sherlock and both men tear off their trousers. John pauses to look at Sherlock, his jeans around his knees as he toes out of his shoes and struggles to keep his balance.

“Pants too?” he asks hesitantly.

“Yes!” Sherlock insists impatiently. “Pants! Pants!”

Both men continue to strip so furiously that it is only when they are back together on the bed that Sherlock realizes John has removed not just his pants, but every article of clothing. Sherlock’s mouth drops open. He is now face to face with John and his much larger than expected penis.

“Holy fuck!” he exclaims and John immediately loses it. He laughs and laughs, and Sherlock joins him rather than feigning indignance. As it dies down to soft giggles, John strokes his jawline and smiles warmly.

“You said pants too,” his mouth quirks in the most adorable way and he looks like a teen who knows he has been naughty, and likes it.

“Yes, pants,” Sherlock corrects. “Not underpants.”

“Underpa…” John throws his head back in laughter, looking back to Sherlock once he recovers a bit. “That’s right. You don’t call them pants here.”

A little burst of laughter pops out of Sherlock’s mouth.

“No. No, we don’t,” he looks at John’s face, memorizing every detail, squeezing his waist where he holds him. “I love watching you laugh.”

John smiles. 

“Me too.”

He leans forward and kisses Sherlock softly. Sherlock kisses back. They continue for several minutes as the kisses become more and more heated. John’s hands are on Sherlock’s waist, holding him in counterpoint to his hard rocking and thrusting hips. Sherlock scratches his nails down John’s back and grabs his plush ass, pulling his body against his own even harder.

“Oh, god!” John moans loudly, his body jolting uncontrollably. “Oh, fuck, yes!”

Sherlock can feel himself teetering on the edge and all he can think is more, more, more. As though he can read his mind, John thrusts harder and faster. Sherlock matches him for every one, digging his fingers into John’s ass cheeks hard enough to bruise.

“Yes, yes, yes,” Sherlock pants, his voice taking on a harsher and more throaty edge with each repetition. He can barely hold himself together, the pleasure tearing through every inch of his body until. “OH GOD! OH GOD! OHGODOHGODOHGODOHGOD!”

He spurts into his underpants in waves and John onto his belly. It is hot and wet on Sherlock’s skin and he memorizes it all - every sensation and muttered curse as he and John ride it out and come down again.

“Jawwwwwwn,” Sherlock murmurs, wrapping his arms around John’s back and nuzzling his collar bone. He mouths and licks it affectionately. “God, John, I lo…”

“Christ, Sherlock,” he says in a rush, squirming under the man’s touch, “that was amazing.”

Sherlock’s eyes snap open and he pulls away from John, straightening abruptly. He looks at John with panicked eyes. What the fuck was he about to say? What the hell was he thinking? It would have been the single biggest mistake of his life. He can’t say that after one night together. It is a sure fire way to guarantee post-coital awkwardness. His brow wrinkles as he considers that perhaps this will be a one night stand for John. His face flinches with the pain of it.

“Sherlock,” John studies him with concern, his brow furrowing, “are you all right?”

No, he knows more about John than that. John Watson is not a man who has one night stands. 

“I’m fine,” Sherlock smiles. He kisses John’s lips softly when his worried look remains. He rests his forehead against John’s and inhales deeply. His nostrils fill with John’s scent, comingled with sex and sweat. It is positively intoxicating. Sherlock feels lightheaded, but he uses John’s touch to ground himself.

“I can put my pants back on, if you like,” John suggests. “Maybe this was too much.”

Sherlock jerks back to meet his eyes. His brow knitted, donning an appalled expression.

“Absolutely not,” he announces disdainfully. John smiles immediately, squinting his eyes closed for a few seconds in silent laughter.

“You do know which kind of pants I mean, yeah?” he jokes.

“Of course I do!” Sherlock replies indignantly and then adds with a cheeky grin. “Now.”

John cannot resist a chuckle.

“Well, as long as that’s clear,” he looks at Sherlock fondly and brushes a curl off his forehead. They stay this way for a few long minutes, but not nearly long enough. Forever would not be long enough. They do not speak, but watch one another, periodically stroking with thumbs and fingertips. Sherlock feels warm and safer than he ever has in his life. He could stay here in John’s arms until the end of his days and never get bored. He lets out a long, slow sigh. John echoes it, but then glances between them.

“We’d best get cleaned up, yeah?”

Sherlock wants to say no. He wants to clutch John to his body possessively and keep him by his side as long as he can, but instead he loosens his grip and lets John rise. He kisses Sherlock’s knuckles before letting go. Sherlock watches John’s gorgeous bare ass as he walks to the bathroom. John looks back at him and smiles before closing the door.

Sherlock sighs and flops back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. John was right. That was absolutely amazing. Mind-blowing. Sherlock has never experienced anything like it. He has never felt this way about anyone in his life. Like a puzzle piece he could not find and now it is right in front of him, teasing him by slipping into place every so often. He sighs again, a wide grin spreading over his face. 

The bathroom door opens and John steps out, his body clean. Sherlock sits up and smiles as John walks to the bed. He leans into John’s touch when he cups his cheek.

“The bathroom’s yours,” he tells him. 

Sherlock nods and rises to his feet. His hand skims down John’s arm and their fingers lace together. As he studies John’s shining face, a spark of doubt needles at his mind. His head tilts a fraction and he searches John’s eyes for the answer. John smiles and squeezes his fingers as if he knows Sherlock’s every thought.

“I’ll be right here when you come out,” he assures him.

Sherlock smiles again and nods. Their fingers slip away and separate as he goes to the bathroom. Once inside, he relieves himself and cleans up. He removes his ruined underpants and tosses them in the corner. Leaning over the sink, he turns on the water and splashes it on his face. Sherlock places a hand on either side of the sink and stares at his own face in the mirror. He looks different. His eyes seem brighter and his features lighter. He looks happy. He looks like he’s in love. Shit. He’ll give himself away like this. John will know the minute he sees him. Maybe he knows already, but then why hasn’t he said anything? Or simply run for the hills? Shit.

Sherlock towels off and goes for the door, but stops with his hand on the knob. He looks to the corner and then down his own body. All of his clothes are outside in the room with John. He looks to the towels and wraps one around his waist. Best to air on the side of modesty. To his surprise, John is standing in the bedroom fully clothed when Sherlock steps out of the bathroom.

“What are you doing?” he asks in shock, his stomach dropping to the floor.

“I’m going back to my room,” he says plainly. “We have a bout tomorrow.”

“What?” Sherlock repeats and it is not until John turns toward the bedroom door that Sherlock snaps out of the trance and walks to him in three long strides. He catches John’s hand with his own and holds him steady.

“Sherlock..”

“Stay, John,” he blurts, not bothering to keep the desperation from his voice. “Please.”

“But, Sherlock..”

“I don’t want you to go, if that’s what you think,” he says in a rush. “I don’t want that.”

“No?” John asks hopefully, biting his lip.

“No,” Sherlock confirms softly. 

John rests his hands on Sherlock’s slim waist and faces him fully. 

“Ok.”

***

Sherlock opens his heavy eyelids at what the clock on the bedside table claims is 7:30. He only squints a moment because the room is fairly dim, having no windows and lit by only a lamp on the same table. His sleep fogged mind tries to determine what woke him when it dawns on him that someone is in the bed with him. Warm arms enclose his waist, one hand resting on his belly. Sherlock turns to look over his shoulder to see John Watson snuggled up against his back, his warmth radiating into Sherlock’s body. Sherlock gazes at his sleeping face fondly, his lips parted and the beginnings of a quiet snore every few breaths. He looks so innocent and young and...absolutely adorable.

Sherlock presses a hand to his chest gently and smiles. He wants to stay just like this and watch John sleep, brush the hair from his forehead and kiss him awake. He wants to spend the whole day in bed with this man, the man who holds his heart. However, a few loud bangs on the door to his suite tell him that there are other matters that need seeing to. 

He looks at John one last time and slips out of his arms. He quickly grabs underpants from a drawer and pulls them on, along with pajama bottoms. The shirt matching his pajamas is on his shoulders once he heads out into the living room, doing up the buttons and closing the bedroom door behind. He does not suppose John will want everyone to know he spent the night with Sherlock. Not that any of the ladies or staff would give a damn, but he and John should really discuss the relationship before making it public knowledge. Sherlock stops a few feet from the suite door, frozen in the act of pulling on his dressing gown. Is this a relationship now? Does John even want that? If not, will they go back to being friends? Can Sherlock do that? Does he want that? God, no. Sherlock wants it all, everything John will give him. He wants to be John’s boyfriend. As ridiculous as the word is, Sherlock would shout it from the rooftops and tell every damn reporter in Detroit that he loves John Watson. So why doesn’t he tell the man himself?

Another series of loud banging has Sherlock tying his dressing gown and finishing his path to the door.

“They’re both gone,” he can hear Harry HardOn’s muffled, but still loud voice.  “What the fuck is going on?”

“He has to be in there. Knock again. Here, let me.”

Sherlock opens the door just as Clara Hell on Wheels raises her fist to pound on its surface. Her eyes widen upon coming face to face with the coach and she lowers her hand with a timid smile.

“Good morning, Coach,” she greets with a smirk. “Sleep well?”

“Until a group of noisy juveniles started beating down my door,” he quips. “What’s going on?”

He looks out into the hall and sees Sally Trixie Belt’em, Anthea Witch Hazel, Janine Ginger Smacks and Bloody Mary are with them. Harry pushes into his line of vision and declares loudly. 

“We can’t find Ph.D. Either he sleeps like a fucking rock or he’s not in his room.”

“Is one of you in need of medical attention?” he raises a brow, already knowing the answer.

“No,” Harry answers simply with no intention of offering more.

“We’ve been going to breakfast together on aways,” Clara explains, rolling her eyes at Harry. “It just sorta happened our first time out and we kind of made a thing of it.”

“Hmm,” Sherlock hums. “Perhaps he went for an early swim with The Woman.”

“Not with what she wears in a pool,” Sally snorts.

“I’m sure John wouldn’t mind. He is a doctor, after all.”

“Did you even check the gym or anything?” Mary asks Harry, who shakes her head. “Well, Jesus, HardOn. He could be anywhere, but you panic and run straight to Coach?”

“I wasn’t panicking,” Harry defends. “I just thought he might know where to find him.”

She turns to Sherlock abruptly.

“Did he tell you if he was going anywhere this morning?”

“He’s probably down there already, hiding the chocolate frosteds before you can take them all,” Anthea says quietly, looking up from her phone with a grin.

“She has a point there,” Janine adds with a playful look and a laugh in her tone. “Y’do fight over them.”

“Come on,” Mary jerks her head in the direction of the elevator. “Let’s go. I want a blueberry muffin and our very delicious doctor might beat me to it.”

“Okay, but we have to find him if he’s not there,” Harry tells her.

“Jesus, HardOn! Why are you so hot on finding him?” Mary demands, getting up into her personal space.

“I’ll tell you why,” she pushes in, nose to nose with the taller woman. “We haven’t lost a single away since Ph.D. started eating breakfast with us. We. Can’t. Break. The Streak.”

“All right, all right,” Sherlock pushes them apart. “Just cool it. Go look for John in the pool and gym. I’ll get dressed and join the search.”

Everyone seems satisfied with the plan and the ladies head for the elevator. Harry and Mary continue glaring at each other all the way. Sherlock rolls his eyes as they all disappear and turns back into the suite. He closes the door behind and makes a stop in the kitchenette to start coffee before entering the bedroom. He stops cold just inside to savor the scene.

John has rolled onto the side of the bed Sherlock had been on. The blankets still cover his legs and waist, but his torso is out in the open air. His arms are wrapped around Sherlock’s pillow, his face snuggled down into the cotton pillowcase. He looks peaceful with a small smile on his lips. It is nothing less than adorable and Sherlock’s heart melts. He parts his lips to suck in a gulp of air, feeling as though it has been knocked from his lungs. Sherlock never wants to be without this man again. He wants to wake with him every morning and fall asleep in his arms each night.

Sherlock shrugs out of his dressing gown and tosses it onto the bed. He crawls up behind John, spooning against his back and pulling him into his arms. He presses a kiss to John’s ear and whispers quietly because he has to say this. He has to let it out before his heart explodes right out of his chest.

“I love you, John.”

Sherlock smiles at first, feeling calm and completely happy. A warmth fills his body, relaxing every muscle. Then he freezes as John begins to stir. Oh, shit. Did he wake John after all? Did he hear what Sherlock said? Sherlock remains frozen as John turns in his arms and pecks his lips that are parted in horror. John snuggles against him, looking very comfortable indeed. He inhales deeply and opens his eyes as he exhales. Eyes focusing on Sherlock, his smile grows wider as the sleep clears from his gaze.

“Hi,” he says almost shyly. Sherlock cups his warm cheek with one hand and studies his face. John looks happy and...embarrassed. Sherlock’s blood runs cold. What if this was a mistake? What if John grows to regret this? 

“Stop,” John tells him, suddenly very serious and firm. “Stop what you’re doing. I can hear you worrying.”

John reaches down and pulls Sherlock’s hands to their chests. He rubs his thumbs over Sherlock’s knuckles and looks at him earnestly.

“Whatever you’re thinking, stop. This will never be a mistake to me,” John pauses. “It was wonderful. Perfect.”

Sherlock finds himself blushing and grinning from ear to ear like a fool. He kisses John’s thumbs, warmth starting at his lips and running through his body all the way to his fingers and toes. He loves this. Everything. All of it.

“I couldn’t agree more,” he says, pressing his mouth to John’s softly and moving his lips just so. John obliges and, in a moment, they are smiling at one another contentedly. “Much as I would like to stay this way all day, we need to get up. The ladies are looking for you.”

“What?” John is startled right out of the mood and into doctor mode. “Why? Is one of them hurt?”

“No. Everything’s fine,” Sherlock assures him. “Harry says they have to eat with you to maintain our winning streak.”

“Really?” John laughs. “I didn’t realize she was so superstitious. That explains why she’s been so keen on waking me up for it though.”

“Indeed,” Sherlock says, though he had not noticed she was doing it. Has he really become so distracted as to not notice the simplest of things? “Next she will try to make everyone sit in the same arrangement.”

“No,” John looks at him in disbelief. “You’re having me on.”

“I am… I’m what?” Sherlock laughs and places a hand on John’s shoulder. “Is that another Britishism or pure John Watson?”

“Shut up,” John says with a smile. Sherlock laughs again and begins tracing patterns on John’s shoulder with his thumb. Soon his other hand is on the opposite shoulder, tracing the mirror image of the other hand’s work.

“Are there any other odd phrases I should be aware of?” Sherlock asks with a playful glint in his eye. John watches him with an amused expression on his face.

“Well, there’s pavement instead of sidewalk,” he plays along, puckering his lips and looking toward the ceiling in mock consideration. “Bobbie in place of police, lift rather than elevator.”

“Oh, I’ve heard you use that one,” Sherlock says in an excited tone.

“I’m sure you have,” John does his best to look stern, but still cannot stop a grin when Sherlock starts nodding with an exaggerated look of agreement on his face.

“Stop it, you tosser,” John snorts and lightly shoves Sherlock away. This only serves as impetus for Sherlock to fold his arm around the doctor and pull him closer.

“Oh, tosser. I haven’t heard that one yet. You have to explain what that means,” he nips at John’s jaw. John squirms, but cannot free himself from the other man’s grasp. Not that he is really trying.

“You have a brilliant mind. Surely you can figure it out,” John grins, wrapping his own arms around Sherlock and hugging him close. He kisses at a cheekbone and growls. It is a deep rumble that lights a fire in Sherlock’s belly. He flexes his fingers on John’s bare back and gently digs his fingertips into the skin before laying them flat. He wants John Watson. More than he has wanted anyone or anything in his life.

“I’m going to snog you within an inch of your life,” John says in a low, menacing voice that is more of a promise than a threat. But what does it mean?

Sherlock is just parting his lips to ask when John swoops in. He pushes Sherlock onto his back and lies astride him, kissing his lips hard. Then it is like a dam breaking, the water rushing through and flooding all in its path. There is kissing, nipping, mouthing, licking, biting, exploring and enjoying. Sherlock works his way along John’s jawline and down his neck. He groans in response, clutching at the back of Sherlock’s neck and arching his own spine. John is delicious. His skin is so soft with only a trace of rough stubble for not having shaved yet. The taste of his skin and salt of his sweat is pure delight.

The truth of his desire to spend his life with John consumes his mind and he pushes it away fitfully. He cannot think about it now. He can’t think about anything now and deposits it in a filing cabinet in John’s wing for further study. Another door opens in a rush and unwelcome memories of his life with Victor flood his mind with the many reasons he gave up sentiment. Leaving the filing cabinet, he desperately turns to the door and tries to push Victor back. When he succeeds at last, his back is against the door and he slides down to sit in front of it with his arms folded over his knees and his face buried in them.

“Sherlock?”

Hearing his own name and the concern in John’s voice, Sherlock opens his eyes and pulls away from John to look at him. His blue eyes are full of worry once again. Sherlock must have shut down. He strokes his hands up and down John’s biceps in a comforting motion, wishing to ward away the look on his face.

“Sherlock, what’s wrong?”

He runs his hands up and down once more and shakes his head. He cannot talk about this now. He has to work through it on his own in the mind palace before it will make any sense to anyone. And he needs an outside observer who knows his feelings and mind. Sherlock needs to talk to Molly Hooper.

“I’m fine. I just…” he looks away, his mind struggling to find some sort of diversion. He has found it in a moment and his lips quirk up. “What was it you said? Snogging? What the hell is that?”

John is hesitant at first, unwilling to let Sherlock change the subject without explaining himself. It is a battle he loses and soon the two men are laughing in each other’s arms.

“Snogging, right,” John is saying. “It’s what we did last night. The kissing and touching.”

“The touching?” Sherlock asks in a dangerous tone. John shifts in his arms with a groan.

“Your voice should be illegal. You can do things with it that no man should be capable of.”

“You did say the touching,” he says in that voice again and feels John shiver.

“Not that touching,” the doctor answers in a husky tone, trying to collect himself. “The kissing and...like we did just now.”

“Oh, making out. Why didn’t you just say so?”

John stares for a moment with a grin frozen on his face. He hoots a laugh and throws his head back.

“Making out!”

Sherlock watches him laugh, knowing he deserves it. Still, he tries to look annoyed, but it is no use. John looks absolutely glorious when he laughs, especially this kind. A deep belly laugh that shakes his whole body.

“Oh my god. That is the most ridiculous…” he dissolved into laughter again. Sherlock puts his hands on his hips, even from his position on the bed and looks up at John. He raises a brow and gives John a look he usually reserves for Harry HardOn’s shenanigans.

“Come now, John,” he begins and John starts to quell his laughter behind a mischievous smirk. “You lived in California for how long and with hockey players, no less. How have you not picked up on the term ‘making out’?”

“Never had the opportunity to learn, I suppose.”

“What were you some sort of monk?” Sherlock quips. John sobers in a split second. He fixes the man with angry eyes that nearly disguise the hurt and Sherlock immediately regrets his careless words.

“I told you I wasn’t interested in a relationship,” he says defensively. 

His voice is tinged with pain and, for once, Sherlock can read John as easily as words on paper. More and more reveals itself as he looks at the doctor and Sherlock cannot stop himself. Being able to actually deduce John is overwhelming and so tempting. Energy rushes through his veins as he takes everything in and he can see it. There is something there. Something John is not telling him, that he does not want him to know and Sherlock has never been able to back away from anything so deliberately hidden from him. So he makes the fateful choice to chase the mystery and push John toward a confession.

“Because something happened,” he begins. “Something in London.”

“Stop it, Sherlock.”

The clues are coming in readily like apples falling from a tree, tempting Sherlock with their juicy details. He cannot resist the puzzle that is falling into place as he watches John’s expression change in ways no one else would see. His own grey eyes sparkle as he deduces more and more.

“A woman.”

“Stop.”

“She hurt you.”

“Sherlock.”

“A baby?”

“STOP IT!” John shouts into the quiet room, bringing all things to a halt. 

Sherlock looks at him in shock and then his face falls as realization kicks in. John couldn’t hide it because of the pain at its memory. It overwhelmed him as much as the ability to deduce did Sherlock and he took advantage of that, knowing that he should not. He is a complete and utter asshole.

John is off of his body and the bed in a flash. Sherlock sits up and looks at him with pleading eyes. He opens his mouth to speak, to apologize, but no words come. John gazes at Sherlock for a moment, pain and profound hurt in his eyes. Sherlock’s heart breaks in two and bleeds in his chest, causing an ache he cannot bear.

“I thought you didn’t deduce the team,” John says quietly, anger filling every crack in his voice.

“John, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Sherlock swivels his body so he can face John again. His legs hang over the side of the bed, his feet on the floor. One of his big toes just grazes John’s and the man steps back as if burned. The pain in Sherlock’s chest strengthens and he feels like he cannot breathe.

“Stop,” John snaps. “Just shut up.”

John shifts his weight and crosses his arms over his chest. He still looks furious, but also hesitant and regretful. Sherlock tilts his head in confusion, having no idea what to expect as John looks away and shakes his head. He puffs out an angry breath and looks back to Sherlock.

“You...you’ve told me so much and shared your life with me, and I…” he inhales deeply as if centering himself and looks at Sherlock with a meaningful gaze. “It’s not fair for me to…”

“You don’t have to explain anything,” Sherlock rushes to say, wishing he could reach out and touch John, just touch him and make this all go away, but John is too far away and has no interest in closing the gap.

“I told you I’ve not been close to marriage. I’ve never even considered it. I’ve never been in love like that,” John interrupts. His voice is still angry, but also sad now. This is part of his life he would prefer to forget. God, Sherlock is a stupid, stupid man.

“She didn’t… She wanted more of a commitment than I could give,” John drops his hands to his sides in defeat. “So she lied. She said she was pregnant.”

Sherlock is an ass.

“John, don’t,” he raises a hand to him, palm out in the universal signal for stop.

“Why not?” John is angry now, only angry. The hurt is but a memory and his hands are clenched at his sides. His face twists in a sneer. “It’s what you want to know, isn’t it? What you deduced?”

“No.”

“I still wouldn’t marry her.”

“John.”

“It wouldn’t have been fair to her or the baby, but she said I was just being selfish.”

“I’m sorry.”

Miraculously, John is silenced by those two words. He looks at Sherlock with hard eyes, his hands still clenching. And then all of the fury drains from his body. Right down his legs and out through his feet. It pools around him like blood on the floor.

John blinks his eyes and seems to sag. He is vulnerable and full of regret. Sherlock presses his lips together in a tight line and scolds himself silently. John had wanted to tell him this in his own time, when he was comfortable with Sherlock knowing and that time is not now, not today. Sherlock curses himself for being so careless and infantile, never once considering John’s feelings and only thinking of the mystery.

“Me too,” John mutters.

A moment passes in silence and then another until John finally sighs and begins collecting his clothing. A pang of fear bursts in Sherlock’s chest. He has ruined it. He loves John with all his heart and he has ruined it in the span of one night. He had everything and it has slipped right through his fingers like water in a sieve. 

“John,” he croaks quietly, trying to find his voice. The doctor does not stop even to look at him.

“Best get to my room for a clean up and changes of clothes before Harry tears down the hotel looking for me,” he feigns levity.

With that, he closes himself up in the bathroom. Sherlock is gutted. He does not know what to do or say. He has no idea how to fix this or if it even can be, but he must try. He has to. John is his life, wholly and completely, for better or worse, and doesn’t even know it.

Sherlock rises, pulls on his dressing gown and leaves the room. He is in the kitchenette pouring coffee on auto-pilot, his mind spinning. What can he say to John? What should he say and what can he do? Taking a sip of the scalding liquid and trying desperately to think, a favorite song comes out of the shadows of his mind palace as if to taunt him.

I’ve grown accustomed to his face. He almost makes the day begin. I’ve grown accustomed to the tune he whistles night and noon. His smiles, his frowns, his ups, his downs are second nature to me now. Like breathing out and breathing in. I was serenely independent and content before we met. Surely I could always be that way again, and yet… I’ve grown accustomed to his look, accustomed to his voice, accustomed to his face. 

John interrupts the tune when he comes bustling into the room and stops suddenly. He watches Sherlock for a moment with wide eyes as though he has been caught trying to escape.

“Coffee?” Sherlock offers and nearly face palms at the idiocy of it.

“Uh, thanks, no,” John darts across the room to the door. “Best be off to breakfast.”

And he is gone.

Sherlock can only stare at the closed door, the last trace of hope fading away.

-----

KYFC can stand for something else?? How about Oh My Fucking God, Jane?!?! WTF are you doing?? Yes, I reward your patience with adorable togetherness, cute joking and hot sex only to crush your hopes. Why can’t Sherlock leave well enough alone? Curiosity kills the cat and this man wants to know everything he can about John Watson. Poor man stumbled right into it and now there’s no turning back. So what’s gonna happen now, Jane? How will you fix this? You’d better fix this! You’ll have to tune in next week to see if chapter 13 turns out to be unlucky or lucky 13. In the meantime, stay safe, everyone. I love you all. Jane 

@zentris @221b-carefulwhatyouwishfor @tooolforthissh--stuff @shana-movershaker @melmey-fanfics @louise175dk @technicallywiseoncns @underestimatemethatwillbefun @jhamishw @weirdlittlegoofball @superwholockpotterincamelot @superwholocklmt @ladidragonuniverse @kittenmadnessandtea @srebrnafh @welcometomyharddrive @annecumberbatch @kingdomofbrokenhearts @philliphooper @whodwantmeasaflatmate @gloriascott93 @vvaticancameoss @cow-mow @echosilverwolf @spazzz32 @absentmindedstuff @swissmissing @shuukichan @maeliandmyself @wtgilsa @thetranslucentwallaby @red-pen-revolution @britishaccentfan @dischorde @plasticstrawsmuggler @youknowyougrow @francj96

[ashes-and-ashes]

*Tanky = the real ship of my whole friend group feat my two friend Tan and Ky.

~

“Bullshit. There is no possible way that you don’t think that they are cute.”

Sirius doesn’t even bother to look at Remus’ phone, out on the table in front of them. “Jesus Christ Re. Get your creepy fanfics out of here.”

“They’re not my fanfics,” Remus says petulantly. “I can’t write as good as this. There’s this guy on Tumblr - you’ll like his username, it’s @siriusly-over-it and his writing is amazing. Incredible. Like, listen: Tan’s eyes were like the sun, all golden light and fire, so bright that Ky was burning - “

“Oh sweet Jesus,” Sirius mutters. “Now he’s reading me gay porn.”

“They haven’t done anything yet,” Remus tells him. “But the author just recently changed the rating on the fic from an M to an E, so hopefully that means I’ll at least get some smut.”

Sirius stares at him, a wounded expression on his face. “You prefer a gay porno fanfic over me?”

Remus shakes his head. He snatches his phone up from the table; Sirius had refused to even glance at the screen. With a sigh he thumbs through his Tumblr account, past all the familiar fanarts and all the incorrect quotes. He pauses on one image - it’s a drawing, the colours dark and beautful, the twisted bodies somehow conveying sorrow and joy both at the same time. “See? How can you not ship Tanky after this?”

“I do ship Tanky,” Sirius says. “I just don’t ship them enough to write a 70k essay on them boning.”

“Not all stories are of them boning.”

“The vast majority of them are.”

“As if you wouldn’t like to read an explicit 70k, enemies-to-lovers, hate sex - “

“And nope.” Sirius stands up; he cards his fingers through his hair, tugging at the dark strands. “This is where I vanish, before my boyfriend gets a boner talking about fictional characters.”

Remus rolls his eyes. Sirius’ lips quirk up in a small smile; he wraps his hand in the neck of Remus’ hoodie, yanking him across the table to kiss him hard. Remus relaxes, lets Sirius run his hands over his waist, finishing off the kiss with a sharp nip at his lower lip.

“Ow. That hurts.”

Sirius winks. “Maybe you can search that up next. ‘Tanky, lip biting, slow burn - ‘“

“Oh you’ve totally searched that up before.”

Sirius just laughs, shrugging his backpack on one shoulder. “Maybe. Maybe I’m a secret fanfic writer by night.”

Remus flips him off. “Seriously- “

“Yes?”

“Fuck you. It’s pretty incredible - there’s this entire community on there, and you can either write or just lurk around like I do!”

Sirius leans his head on Remus’ shoulder. He smiles, breath warming Remus’ skin. “You and your creepy cult.”

Remus shoves him and laughs.

~

The light wakes him up.

He’s always been a light sleeper, ever since Grayback came. He can still remember it; the creaking of the door, the soft footfalls padding across he carpet. Grayback’s face, the utter hunger that had crossed his face as he whispered, “Look what we have here.”

Remus shudders, pulling the blanket tighter around him. 5 foster houses later and he still couldn’t get Grayback out of his head, erase the feeling of fingers and knives and choking. The scars never faded either, another mark that Grayback had left.

He’s not quite sure what it is - the light is down, barely enough to be noticeable. Remus turns in his bed, searching the dark room for the light.

His gaze falls on Sirius; he was obviously on his phone under the covers, the thick blanket not enough to hide the greenish glow emitting from the screen. His back was facing Remus, hair spread out against the pillow; Remus could see his chest rising and falling in time with his breaths.

God he loved Sirius, more then he had loved anything in his life. He still remembers the exact moment; lying on the ground, blood gushing from his nose, Sirius’s face pale and white above him. There were two boys who were taunting him, calling him all sorts of names. It shouldn’t have bothered Remus but it did, bothered him enough that he snapped, all fists and snaps and a red haze.

Afterwards he lay on the ground, his nose gushing blood, Sirius’ hand so tight on his.

“Why?” Sirius whispered - his hands were shaking. “Why did you - “

Remus looked at him and it clicked, that word he had been searching for and forgotten, that tiny voice in the back of his head. Because I love you.

Remus takes a deep breath now, lets it go in a steady steam. He turns around in bed, pulling the blankets with him, tries to stop the trembling.

He never used to be afraid of the dark. It was only After, when every shadow looked like Him, when just the mere feeling of sheets against his legs made him want to throw up. There was always a light in his room; a candle, a lamp, the bathroom switch flicked on and the door half-closed. Always something, that prevented the room from turning into pure darkness, too similar being knocked unconscious.

Remus shakes his head quickly. He can’t - not right now, can’t deal with all the memories swirling around in his subconscious. The walls were starting to close around him, and he could breathe -

With a soft curse, Remus shrugs the covers back and sits up. The stone is cold against his feet - he swears again, before crossing the room to Sirius’ bed. He taps him lightly, with one finger. “Sirius?”

There’s a muffled “Fuck!” and Sirius pokes his head out. His cheeks are flushed, eyes bright, and Remus was about to sit on the bed when -

“Are you watching porn?” Remus asks.

Sirius flushes - even in the dim light Remus can see the red rise in his cheeks. “No!”

“Your cheeks are flushed. You look like you’ve just been - “

“No,” Sirius says. “Filters. Remember that, Re? It means perhaps reconsidering what stupid thing you were going to say, and then not saying it.”

“Bullshit,” Remus says; he can still see the glowing surface of the phone screen. “You were totally up to something. Let me see.”

“No!”

Remus makes a wild lunge for it; Sirius immediately rolls back, protecting the phone with his body. They go back and forth for a bit, all elbows and knees and even teeth - Sirius bites Remus viciously on the shoulder.

“Shit!” Remus swears.

“Shut up. That’s barely a love bite.”

“It’s brusing!”

“Hopefully it’ll go purple.”

Remus glowers at him, then launches himself forward. He manages to grab Sirius’ phone, fastening his fingers through the popsocket. The phone had long since turned off but Remus doesn’t bother - he enters in Sirius’ password. “Okay, here I - “

“Oh god, Sirius says; he bucks wildly but Remus refuses to let him go. “Don’t - don’t look - “

Remus stares at the open Tumblr page. “Oh. Whoops.”

Sirius drops his hands in his head. “Fuck. Fuckfuckfuckfuck - “

Remus shakes his head - he’s too entrenched in the fic. He pauses at a sentence. “Jesus Christ, Sirius, this is beautiful. Listen; Love is like a fire. Even as it burns it needs more, more and more wood until finally you run out. And once that happens, you’re screwed. Better take your chances and jump.” He looks at Sirius, his grin so wide he thinks his cheeks might have exploded. “Dude, this is amazing, what’s your blog - “

“Wait!”

Remus pulls the top notification down, stares at the most of names that had helped them all in the past. “What the fuck?

“Look, I can - “

“No.” Remus practically drops the phone, his eyes wide and clear. “You’re kidding.”

“I - “

“You’re @siriusly-over-it?”

[kidlightnings]

dinner, no movie

mob au, ky/eli, ky/asra, 4656 words, r-18 (oral, handjobs)

"Now, I've always fancied myself more of a box wine kinda girl."

Ky tried and failed to dispel the grin. "I'm sorry, but the only things I have come in glass. Maybe I can compromise with a handle."

Eli chewed cool fish on warm rice. He made a little snorting laugh. "I'll take your shittiest vintage."

eli belongs to @vesuviannights, ky is my own disaster son

Ky was breathless, dark-eyed as Asra settled himself down on the plush sheets, comforter. His lips were kiss-swollen and clothes significantly undone. Still more intact than Asra’s.

“Ahh- Asra?”

Asra guided him down to sit across one thigh. His hand aligned Ky’s to stroke against his mostly-hard cock.

“Mm?” he asked, nuzzled into Ky’s throat.

“Who’s the guy? The one locked up?”

Asra chuckled into him. “What a question to ask, right now…”

Ky made a little needy noise.

“A pawn,” Asra said.

He made a little huff, let his thumb slide through slickness and trail it back down. “Did he… do something?”

“Not directly, no, treasure, why are you so curious?”

Asra’s voice carried with it a dangerous lilt that Ky knew meant that some questions shouldn’t be pressed. Ky took the adjacent path as Asra’s hands slid up his back.

“Well- does he have to be locked up-?”

Asra laughed, kissed his lips. “Oh, you’re such a sweetheart, aren’t you? What would keep him here, otherwise?”

“Ahh- w- what if I watched him?”

Asra met his eyes, his own almost luminescent with whispers that constantly ran through his head. “Oh, love, would you? Would you stop him, if he tried to run? Would you fight him?”

Ky swallowed, looked to the side. “For- for you, I would.”

Another quick, flirting kiss landed on his lips.

“Oh, you would, wouldn’t you? And you’d be torn up about it later, wouldn’t you?”

“He just looks so miserable, and if he didn’t do anything-”

Asra’s gaze, fond, and indulgent, cut him off. “If you were anyone else, treasure, I’d think you were going to try to free him while I wasn’t looking. But,” he paused, sliding his hand across Ky’s chest, and resting it there. “You’re far too loyal for that, aren’t you? You’re just soft, here.”

Ky could feel pulse traveling into palm as he breathed.

"I'll take personal responsibility, he's not going to run away, we just- we’re not-"

Asra lay back, guided his head down. "Ask me in a few minutes, treasure, I want your mouth doing something else."

Ky kissed at the tip of his dick, dropped to lick from base to tip in a little prelude to taking Asra fully down. His lips worked there while tongue undulated higher up against the smooth head.

Asra's hand tightened in a bright and shining ocean of hair. Lips pumped up and down in smooth motions, tongue stroking him from the inside. Asra couldn’t manage the sounds coming from his lips, soft moans, and a shuddering gasp as Ky’s nose pushed into the skin of his belly, lips tickled by fine white hairs.

"Yes- Ky, yes, fine- fine, you- you can take him to dinner- d-do w-whatever you want with him!"

Ky made a pleased little noise, but was far from one to leave what he started unfinished.

Later, he wiped his mouth, exiting, and headed to his own room to put himself back in order. Hair pinned neatly and lips once again coated in smooth, even color, Ky made his way into the very interior of the mansion. Tarek passed him in the hall.

"Heard you have some visiting privileges," he chuckled, and despite a total lack of untowards intentions, Ky felt himself blushing.

"Just dinner," he said, fast.

"No movie?"

"Ha- aha- no- not like that-"

Tarek patted his shoulder. "Oh, I know." He laughed it, continued on.

Ky reached a door with a one-way window, clear on his side, and keyed in the pin. He knew it, and had for long before he'd been told. It was in his job description, practically.

He swung the door in a smooth motion, where ashy hair did little to hide a sullen scowl. Eyes met his and held contact that had Ky doubting himself. He'd been sure when just looking in, but the anger, the darkness locked on him, could easily, was easily, getting under his skin.

"'m- ah, I'm Ky," he said, walked forward and extended his hand.

His guest didn't take it. Didn't speak. Ky let his hand drop.

"Well, I'm here to get you dinner and get you out a while, ok? Don't- ahh, please don't run off on me."

"So, the arm candy is here to entertain me?"

Ky's lips pulled into a grimace that he forced into a smile in a small turn.

"Do I have to have a taste?"

Ky shook his head. "You don't have to do anything. Well, except just tell me what you like to eat."

He chuckled darkly. "Is this where I say pizza and sushi like we're nervously planning our first date?"

Ky exhaled into a laugh. "Feel like getting some air while you think about it?"

He stood with a weary sound. "If that's what has to happen."

Ky reentered the code and led him out. He followed at a short distance, reluctant, but compliant.

Again in the hall, he and Vega exchanged a curious look that faded into a smile on her side, mirrored on his after she was gone.

"Eli," he finally said as they walked.

Ky turned and again put out his hand, and with any other expression except the broad and uncomplicated smile, it'd have appeared a caricature of the gesture. Eli shrugged, resigned, and gave him a firm shake, brief, before dropping his hand again.

“Now that we’ve been introduced,” Ky teased. “Is there anything you’d like to do? Ah- aside from leave?”

Eli sighed. “Surprise me.”

Ky slid his phone from his pocket and swiped seemingly idly for a moment, then a small smile settled on his face. "Dinner will be here in...half an hour, maybe forty five," Ky then said. "Feel like coming outside? It's a nice courtyard, the weather is nice."

Eli shrugged. "If it'll placate you."

Ky frowned slightly. He realized the rejection had no business feeling near so personal, given their positions, and yet, it did. 

"Come on," he said, forcing some brightness into his voice.

Eli followed, and Ky lead them through the remaining hallway and to the courtyard, surrounded by opulent living and play space. Birdsong lilted its way through the air, and sweetness mellowed around them from flowers in full bloom.

"It's a hobby," Ky commented, gesturing to the abject lushness around them.

"Arm candy… courtesan? I suppose the Alnazars prefer them to pretend to be cultured?"

Ky leveled him a sharp look.

"Ah! So he isn't just a doll!"

"No. I'm not. And I can't set you free, but, I can keep you with me so that you're not with anyone else."

"It's a threat?" Eli asked.

"An offer. But I guess it could go either way…" Ky said, his gaze contemplative. "I mean, I wasn't going to encourage anyone to be a dick to you. But… I can see that already happened."

Eli touched at the marks from his abduction. His voice was resigned when he spoke again. "I guess it has."

"I… I don't know why you were brought here, but, I'm not an animal. Asra said you haven't done anything wrong, so, it feels wrong, ok, to just lock you in a room. That's all. That's it."

Eli shook his head, hair swaying in the light breeze that ruffled the leaves around them, shook a fresh dusting of pollen free, by the aroma.

"It is… Nice to see the sun," he finally said.

"Shall I let you be a while?"

"It's better than a room with no windows," he admitted.

"I'll come get you when dinner's here?"

"You don't have to leave. I just don't have anything to talk to the pet of the boss who is holding me hostage about."

"Ahh- I guess I deserve it, don't I?"

"You are here. And working for him."

Ky sighed. "It's true. We've never done anything like this…"

"That you know of."

He raised his hands, apologetic.

"Ah- yes… That I know of. What about you?"

"You haven't unlocked that content yet," Eli chuckled, dryly.

Ky mirrored the sound. "I suppose I haven't. Maybe after I've fed you and picked a few more right answers."

Eli looked at the ground, as though hiding the smile that tugged at his lips.

They were silent, then, and Ky finally moved to a little table tucked away and took from it shears, started to prune, as though having forgotten Eli was there. It seemed, to Ky's perception, to suit him just fine, and he caught glimpses as Eli took in the surroundings.

He felt a buzz in his pocket and checked the phone.

"Ah… shall I get it and come back, or would you rather eat inside? We have a whole dining room we never use."

"And leave me here? Alone?"

Ky smiled. "You'd be hard pressed to unlock any of these, and, the glass… well. I don't like the idea of anyone falling through it on a bender. You'd be here when I got back."

"You're a surprise," Eli said, wryly.

"I do what I can."

"I'll come with. I'll enjoy the Alnazar's decadence while I have entertainment for the evening."

Ky held the subtly framed french door for him.

Fetching the delivery from the front hall was quick. They walked back along another hall, paneled, until it opened in a diagonal to a plush rug under a polished tabletop, frivolously long and framed in enough chairs for many times their current number in the upper echelons.

"I can see why you don't eat in the general conference room," Eli quipped.

Ky stepped through but didn't stop at the table, and passed into a further room, more scullery than dining room. A small table, easily for cooks or wait staff to use as needed, set near the far wall.

"Better?" Ky asked, smile mischievous.

Eli chuckled. "If I say yes, will you settle down and stop trying to show me your throat?"

"Oh, absolutely not."

Ky was pink in the cheeks as he set the plastic bags down and started to pull styrofoam containers, flimsy utensils, and thin napkins out. A few paper-sleeved wooden chopsticks came out with the utensils. Ky set them like silverware. Styrofoam plates were arranged like China, and Ky caught the sliver of amused smile.

"You know if you'd wanted me on my knees, you didn't need to go through all this, you could have just put a gun to my head."

Ky shrugged, unsure if he should joke, or counter more severely.

"That's usually my job," he settled on.

"The knees, or the gun?"

"Yes," Ky answered. "Ah- that's a lie. I try to avoid the last one."

"But not the first."

Pink turned to red. Ky didn't answer, instead started opening containers - some the traditional square, and others, the slimmer, half-wide.

"Sure, but where's the pizza?" Eli asked, stifling any other reaction.

Ky gestured to a chair. "That's for tomorrow," he laughed. "Thirsty?"

Eli answered as Ky pulled down glasses from a small cupboard.

"For something stronger than you're getting."

"Later! You haven't had water all day, have you?"

"I had a cup."

Ky looked at his watch, then at Eli, and set a full glass in front of him.

"Later. We'll look at the wine cellar."

Eli downed it, and Ky took, refilled it.

"Now, I've always fancied myself more of a box wine kinda girl."

Ky tried and failed to dispel the grin. "I'm sorry, but the only things I have come in glass. Maybe I can compromise with a handle."

Eli chewed cool fish on warm rice. He made a little snorting laugh. "I'll take your shittiest vintage."

"I'll make it a double. How is it?"

Eli seemed to consider before answering. Ky felt nerves rise in his belly, for what reason, he couldn't justify beyond an irrational need to please everyone, including, he supposed, a prisoner. "What's the place, right next door? It's fresh."

Ky laughed, forcibly dispelling the tightness in his chest. "It's- ah- it's not, is the weird part. I- ahah- I don't know how they do it."

"You're sure your boss doesn't just have a private sushi chef locked in some other room?"

"At least then there'd be a reason, right?"

Eli laughed. "Don't trick me into laughing about being held up here."

Ky smiled. "It's- ah- it's better than not, isn't it?"

He smiled and shook his head. "You're an odd one."

"Ah… I've heard that."

"I'd be surprised if you hadn't," Eli said, dryly.

Ky quieted.

"I don't imagine the ice cream survived as well," Eli said, once all that was left was traces of sauce and grains of rice in the bottom of otherwise empty styrofoam. One box remained, and he unlatched the tab to let it open.

"It's still a shape," Ky noted, looked up sheepishly.

"Now, what do I have to tell you to have it?" Eli asked.

"That you want it," Ky laughed. "I swear, it's not an interrogation. If it is, ah, I'm- ahaha, I'm the worst at it. I haven't gotten anything out of you aside from a presumed favorite food. Which, you're a very good and hungry liar if so."

Eli snorted.

Ky eased the container across the table. "If you want it?"

Eli had the softened mochi in hand and bit into it. It dripped, and Ky averted his gaze from the green dribble down his chin.

"You want that wine?"

Eli slipped the other half into his mouth, and Ky bustled empty containers into nesting in each other to drop into rubbish.

"If you're offering no strings attached, then, I think I will."

Ky nodded, gave him a sly smile. "Let's see what we're drinking."

"What would piss Asra off the most?"

Ky laughed. "None of what you'd pick."

"I just might."

His laugh turned unsettled, forced back into a light tone. His brows knit, though.

"Oh, don't look at me like that," Eli teased, "I would not, I'd hate it, and you've been such a sport about it all. You've let me be an ass to you. It's charming."

Ky let his shoulders drop and gave a sheepish smile. "Let's pick something out," he said, and held out his hand.

Eli brushed it down, but not brusquely.

"You'll have to liquor a girl up more to get mushy like that."

Ky raised a brow. "Mushy? Oh, you have no idea," he said.

"Somehow, I have an idea."

Ky looked away, started the walk back out through the imposing dining room. "Ahh, I suppose," he laughed.

The hall opened as they passed across the foyer and then took a left, into a glass-walled room that Ky held open the door to.

"So… if there's nothing here, there's more, through-"

Eli had one in hand. "This one," he said.

Ky regarded it, suppressed a giggle. The label read Chocolate Shop.

"Novelty."

Eli nodded. "Glasses, or…?"

Ky continued for another moment.

"I'll pass a bottle. Come up, no need to stay inside?"

"Up?" Eli asked, swiping a corkscrew from a ledge.

"Roof, if you wanted to get some sky? Not much you can see from the courtyard, with all the trees and all."

"Night sky…" Eli murmured.

Ky gave him a small nod.

"Sure," he said after a moment.

His eyes held a look that Ky couldn't place. It was distant, if nothing else. He didn't double back, instead proceeded through the room and out the other side to a spiraling staircase. Ky inclined his head, and Eli followed. Only one set of footsteps were audible, and Ky felt himself watched.

"Quiet," he commented.

"My job. The real one."

"Hmm…"

Ky laughed. "That knowledge won't help you." His tone had a dark subtlety.

"Fair," Eli replied.

Ky reached a landing and used a prod to push up a hatch. He pushed a ladder into the opening where cool air flooded down.

"Jacket?" Ky asked.

Eli gestured to his long sleeves.

"Suit yourself."

And yet, Ky had another folded over his arm as he gestured Eli to go first.

"Clever," Eli commented, and shimmied up.

"I'm not taking the chance of your making off with a ten dollar bottle of wine, of course."

"Are you... offering to catch me?"

Ky could hear the smirk in his voice.

"M-maybe- maybe so."

Ky followed once Eli was up, slipped a wedge under the hatch. He heard a soft gasp.

"You- ahh- you like it? It's...it is a pretty nice view."

His eyes swept out over the city, but as they fell to Eli, Ky saw him looking straight up. He looked up almost in a daze.

Ky moved to stand close enough to reach out and take the bottle. His hand hovered but hesitated until Eli looked down all on his own and uncorked it himself. He tipped it into his mouth. He swallowed, deeply, a grimace on his tongue.

Ky smiled.

"How is it?"

"Exactly what I expected," he said, held it out to Ky.

Ky took it and steeled himself, tipped a sip of the dark liquid into his mouth. It was bitter, deep, and cocoa swirled around his taste buds. The sweetness was almost too much. He swallowed in a heavy motion. It had a burn that he was loathe to repeat, but, the aftertaste dripped through his mouth in a more gentle wash.

"What did you expect?" Ky asked, voice thick.

"Too much of everything," Eli chuckled.

A small collection of folding chairs was scattered around the rooftop, various canvas camp chairs. Ky gestured, and Eli took him by the shoulder and settled him into one instead. Ky exhaled, smiled, and let himself be guided.

"If you needed me to sit first before you, you could have asked," he said, voice surprised, but with a slight edge of appreciation.

Eli settled in front of him, and held out his hand. Ky passed the bottle back. Eli felt it in his hand. "Oh, you are not matching me, come now, fair's fair."

Ky laughed, took it back and took another deep draught.

Eli finally took it back, sat more fully down onto the hardwood decking laid across the roof, facing Ky. The night air nipped at them both, Ky though only through where jacket didn't cover. He held out the other jacket. Eli rolled his eyes.

"Can't decide if you want to fuck me, or mother me."

Ky let out a little chastised laugh.

"Well, the second...ahh- it doesn't work so well with the first, now does it?"

"No, it doesn't," he said, and set the bottle down.

"But, I- ahh, I did already say, I'm not trying to take advantage."

"Oh, now you didn't say that specifically, that's a new one. Getting me fed, drunk, and up here with the stars?"

Ky laughed, nervous. "Besides, it usually works the other way."

Eli looked him up and down, comfortably sunk into the chair, and a faint pink in his cheeks, open posture. Ky looked from the stars back down to him.

"It does, doesn't it?" Eli chuckled, "you look the sort."

Ky's brows knit. "I- ahh- aha. Well. I- I can't argue with it." He held his hand out. He didn't receive the bottle in it, instead the firm warmth of Eli's hand. He felt a chill run down his arm. Impulse had him clasping it, tugging.

"Unless, you...wanted?" Ky asked, voice shaky, and eyes soft.

Eli let himself be pulled, and Ky felt lips settle on his, his other hand on his knee. He made a soft sound into Eli's mouth.

"Hmm… it tastes better on you," he said, pulled back and took another drink.

Now, Ky felt the bottle pushed into his hand, and mirrored the same motion, wine spilling down his throat. Far be it from him to say he was tipsy, but he did feel a warmth in his cheeks, whether from the alcohol or from the man leaned between his legs and pulling him into another kiss, he didn't know.

"H-hang on," he said, breaking it, "you're- ahh- this really isn't just because you think you- ahh, you don't owe me, you know?"

"I don't owe anyone for that wine, in fact, I think you owe me for it," Eli said against his mouth.

Ky smiled into his lips. "Ok, but, the everything else? I wasn't just trying to-"

Eli had his face in his hands.

"Like I think an Alnazar needs to bribe a poor unsuspecting hostage into sex?" he quipped. "You're darling. Let me enjoy it."

Ky smiled now again fondly. "I'll enjoy it, I only could hope you-"

"Shush," Eli said, "you talk so much, you little nervous nellie."

And then he shushed him with his lips.

Ky kissed back, but his eyes crinkled as he used the closeness to drape the coat over Eli's back. He nearly chuckled. Ky was sure he heard the insufferable against his mouth. Still, coat settled in place, he drew one hand to cup Eli's cheek, the other to slide a button open, then another.

Eli's hand stopped him. "Where do you think you're going with that?"

"Ah- we already talked about me.. On my knees…? I could finish off this dinner date-"

"Who says I'm the dessert?"

Ky blushed. "You're not- oh…" Ky mumbled as hands worked down his chest, settled on his hips. He swallowed hard. "Oh- E-Eli- you don't have to-"

"I know that," he said, fingers toying at his belt buckle.

Ky sighed at the pressure against where he realized suddenly how hard he was.

"Parts of you don't seem to though."

Ky wiggled his fingers. "Th- that's hardly your problem-"

"I want it to be my problem, now, will you let me thank you for making this a little less miserable?"

Ky groaned as he was palmed. "Y-ye- oh, yes-"

Eli leaned forward as Ky sagged back, finally taking the given permission to unfasten his belt and get his fly open.

Ky blushed, eyes looking down, then back up to Eli. "It- ahh- it's cold," he said, sheepish.

“It’s about to be very warm,” Eli said, dropping his head, and Ky had to cover his mouth with his hand. 

Hot breath, then a hotter mouth took him in, and Ky sighed into his palm. 

"Ohh-" he groaned, intending to say more, but completely unable as Eli slid his lips down down his cock.

Their eyes met, and Ky smiled, weak from how slack his jaw was. There was a hitch in his breath as Eli nosed into his belly, lips circling the base before drawing back up.

"Ohh- n-not t-too cold-" he murmured, watching Eli.

The ease with which he took him down gave Ky a little thrill, not because he had any delusions about his size, but there was an enthusiasm to his movements that he was sure had his voice carrying as he cried out. Ky cupped his cheek, eyes nearly shut.

"Fuck- oh… Fuck, Eli, your...ahh…your mouth-"

His cheeks pulled in. Ky yelped, felt his hips jump. "F-fuck-!"

He added how long he was going to last to things he had no delusions over. Ky breathed, tried to put it off, but he knew he was buying himself an inconsequential amount of time. He was already fast, and to have the rare treat of his cock in someone's mouth? He didn't stand a chance.

"N-not g-gonna-" he started, and Eli pulled back until just the head was between his lips. He worked his tongue in tiny motions. Ky's breath hissed at the cold against where he was wet with saliva, and felt what had been an imminent need wane back down to a hot ache.

"Oh- oh…fuck," he murmured. "Oh, fuck, that's- ahh- that's good."

Eli broke the hold for long enough to quip, "I was hoping to savor dessert."

Ky managed a laugh, voice tight with restrained pleasure. "I'm- ahh, I'm not complaining- Wha- ohh- what a- ah- terrible host I’d be if I-” Ky faltered, as Eli dropped his head again, had him again enveloped by hot lips and tongue, “rushed you.”

In the evening stillness Ky felt his voice unnaturally loud even beyond how he normally was, covered his mouth with his hand. Eli's eyes met his and his brows knit. Ky gave him a sheepishly pleasured smile.

"We- ahh- we're up high, sound��.ahh…. Sound carries-"

He couldn't finish as Eli sucked harder, lips ringed around the base again and working in tight little motions. Eli had Ky's hand in his, guided it to his head. Ky's fingers clenched in his hair reflexively.

"Ahh- d-don't worry- won't fuck… Fuck your face-"

Eli hummed around his dick, and Ky gasped, groaned softly into his hand.

"Ohh-" he moaned, and Eli licked up him, laved his tongue against the head. Ky couldn't tell if what beaded there and Eli licked up was remnants of his saliva or precum, or both. He kissed against the head, and Ky had to stop himself from urging Eli's head down again. Even so, he seemed to respond to the tension in his fingers. He did take him back down. Ky whimpered into his hand. He moved like a tight cunt in slick movements until Ky choked it out, the beginnings of admission that he couldn't last longer. His voice was muffled, eyes barely open.

"E-Eli- c-com- coming-" he gasped.

He hadn't expected to be hilt-deep in Eli's throat when he came. Ky moaned into his palm, breathless, feeling overcome with the sensation. Eli let him finish before licking, lapping up his length. Ky trembled, shuddered.

"Fuck, Eli," he cried.

It was almost too much to have that hot, wet tongue on one side and the night's chill on the other. Ky whimpered, soft exhales as he seemed to try to come back to himself, held at bay by stimulation keeping him in the hazy drift.

"I- ahh- fuck… Fuck, Eli… You're so good-"

Eli leaned his head into Ky's thigh, frowned. Ky stroked through ashy hair, touch gentle as anything he ever did.

"Should….ahh.. should we go back inside? Or...would you like payback out here?"

"Payback…" Eli asked, smile amused. "Any worse way to phrase that?"

"Retribution?" Ky returned, cheeky.

Eli shook his head. "Ok, that is worse." He was quiet a long moment. "You're not paying me back."

Ky raised a brow.

"No? Ahh- that… That was... extremely good, though. I can't just-"

"Oh, hush. You're going to put me back in the room, don't make it worse."

Ky made a little huff.

"I wasn't, actually, I was going to...well… still am going, if you'll have it, just keep you with me."

"Hostage boyfriend, huh?"

Ky looked down, disappointed. "It… ah. It is, isn't it?"

"Oh, don't be sour about it. You did your best. It's a shit time. You made it less shit. It's still shit. You're still a gem."

Ky looked up at the stars. He exhaled, and moved to tuck himself back in. 

Eli's hands covered his own. "Let me," he said, eased him back together, zipped and buttoned him back up.

Ky sighed, sat back. "For what it's worth, I am sorry."

"Still, not letting me go, are you? Oh, I'll be good, I'll even say I beat you senseless, really gave it to you. I'll give you the bruises and everything."

Ky chuckled. "Why not just do that, for real?"

Eli didn't move his head from laying in his lap. "Comfortable."

"Ah." Ky chuckled. He was back to stroking through Eli's hair. He let out a low little hum. "Here, lie back," Ky said, guided him to turn.

Eli heaved up enough to do so, lay so he could stare straight up, and the stroking continued, little light scratches now and then to add variety, texture. He watched the lines smooth in Eli's face, watched him relax, and said nothing.

Eli didn't go back to the room that night, but then, neither did Ky.

[broken-clover]

AU-gust Day 9- Royalty

This one kind of stumped me, so I tried to do something a little more out of the box. Obviously there’s already royalty in canon GG, so I tried to to with it as well as do some different worldbuilding.

First and foremost, this is for @samarline, since I know they like Leo/Izuna (dunno how that rarepair got any fans, but as long as someone is enjoying it)

Izuna was doomed. He was absolutely, positively doomed.

Durable as a yokai was, he wasn’t foolish enough to never consider the concept of his own death. Especially given his status. The head of the yokai prince would no doubt be a priceless treasure for the armies of humanity or Gearkind. If political strife truly was where he was to meet his end, then he would have fought tooth and claw to die with dignity, and to allow as many of his people to escape as possible.

There was no dignity in the death that he stared down now. A simple run around the woodlands in his full fox-skin had drawn the attention of a pair of equally-simple hunters. The head of the yokai prince was a grand treasure, but the pale, silken pelt of a fox was worth a pretty penny on its own. Shrapnel to the leg had crippled an otherwise-effortless escape attempt, and the blood he had lost trying to outrun them sapped away his ability to perform spells, or to shed his skin back into a humanoid form.

Izuna had skittered into some nearby underbrush, leaving flecks of his own blood on the leaves as he did his best to huddle under it. Dying as a fox meant his people would never know what became of him, and they would be left without their leader, or any sort of direction. He was going to be slaughtered like common game. He could only hope that his meat would drive his murderers ill as a final act of spite from beyond the grave.

The trees shook. Izuna cowered in fear.

But instead of the hunters, he was surprised by the sight of a large man in a fancy orange coat pushing aside the leaves.

“Is someone there?” He asked, voice low and booming, but undeniably kindly. “I heard shouting, is someone hurt?”

++++++

The book of history was deeply stained in blood. No living person, except perhaps the eldest and most ancient of the yokai, could remember the times when the three races were in conflict with each other. Nor was anyone truly sure of what the conflict was for anymore, but all they knew was that it needed to be done in order to protect their people. At least, that was what they said.

In the beginning, man, gear, and yokai lived in quiet harmony, building their kingdoms and sharing what they had that the others lacked. Each race only cared for their own kind now, and interspecies trade was banned even if it were possible in the first place.

That’s how the world seemed to be for eons, but time was never static, and things always shifted. The human nation’s First King, Ky, had accidentally but fortuitously created a peace between humanity and Gears after falling in love with and wedding the daughter of Queen Justice, Princess Dizzy. Their alliance was tenuous, but the constant back-and-forth attacks had begun to quell, and the people began to have hope. Hope for peace, for calm, for kinship to replace the violence that had been constantly shaping their lives.

Ky and Dizzy seemed happy enough together, at least. Leo hadn’t much entertained the thought of marriage. His work as the human nation’s Second King kept him busy enough. He hadn’t even thought to pick up a hobby until it had been more-or-less foisted on him.

He looked down from his paperwork to watch the creature snoozing away in his lap, motionless aside from the rise and fall of its chest and the occasional twitches of its tail.

He’d named the creature ‘Rubinrot,’ for its beautiful, piercing red eyes. Leo had never met such a peculiar animal in his life. He knew what a fox looked like, obviously, but he’d never seen one with a perfectly white coat. That strange color was paired with a bizarre brilliance that he swore was too advanced for an animal, but it was endearing. He’d only taken the creature in in the first place because of its crippled leg, but he found Rubinrot’s presence relaxing.

As soon as he tried to move the animal so he could stand up, he roused, and was clearly displeased with the concept of being abandoned. Leo stepped away from his desk, only to be interrupted by a displeased bark as Rubinrot limped after him.

“I’m only going to get food. I’ll bring some back for you, too.” He tried to assure him, but it didn’t work. When barking didn’t work, the fox began snapping at his trailing coat and tugging on it.

“Rubinrot! Nein!” Leo attempted to pull the material free without crippling him further. “I’ll only be gone for a minute! What do you want from me?”

His answer came in the form of him swatting at his legs until Leo reluctantly picked him up. “Really? I could have sworn you were a fox, not a cat.” Maybe he had been wrong. Rubinrot was remarkably tranquil and easygoing for a fox, anyway.

Still, he didn’t feel like arguing with an animal. Rubinrot seemed perfectly happy with his new position cradled in Leo’s arms, even if it left the man with only one arm as he dug through the kitchen for food. He could see the way the staff looked at him. It was odd enough that a king would be searching for his own food, but carrying a fox around like a pampered puppy was a whole new level of strange.

Though he didn’t admit it, Leo was a little relieved at the concept of Rubinrot being healed and released soon. He could only imagine the image he gave off, distracted from his important political duties by a single animal. He still deeply cared for his fox and his people, and wanted to do his best to serve both.

“What should we make today?” Leo asked aloud. “Leftover meat, fruit…” He pushed something aside. “I’m not sure how the fried tofu got in here-”

The fox immediately perked up, barking in what he could only assume was excitement. “Tofu? Really? Is that healthy for foxes?” Still, he obliged, pulling the container down, opening it, and letting his companion get to work demolishing it.

“I guess you have a craving for beans.” Leo stroked the animal’s back as he ate.

“Erm, Leo?”

He jerked to attention, mentally groaning as he recognized the voice of the only man that could always make him feel uneasy. “Hello, Ky.”

The First King wore his usual pleasant smile, just real enough to be convincing. But Leo could see the way his eyes darted towards the fox on the counter, messily eating their leftovers.

“It seems you’re...having a lunch break, yes?” Ky asked.

Leo skipped straight to the point. “I’ll only be a few more minutes, then I’ll get back to work. I just wanted to make sure he was fed.”

“Of course, Leo. Of course.” Ky’s smile was forced, almost uncomfortable. “I just can’t help but worry a little bit about your new...preoccupation? Nothing wrong with a hobby, of course-”

“I don’t know why you’re making this your business, Ky.” Leo grumbled. “Shouldn’t you be more worried about your wife instead of what I’m up to?”

Ky flinched. As much as Leo wanted to be proud of that, he also knew Ky didn’t like having his weak points hit. “Dizzy is not plotting anything behind my back.”

“You know I didn’t mean it like that-”

“With all due respect, Leo,” He rubbed at his temples, still doing his best to be cordial. “I don’t want to be cross with you. I really don’t. But we are still in a tenuous political situation, and everyone needs to stay on top of their work. If you don’t start spending less time with that fox, I am going to have to ask you to release it. We can’t afford any distractions. I hope you understand.

Without another word, Ky turned and left.

++++++

With all the work he had during the day, lying in bed was one of the few times Leo was able to have a moment to sit and think. He would have rather spent it fantasizing about something nice, but his thoughts always came back to work, and to Ky.

Leo knew of the weight that rested on him. He wouldn’t have taken such a lofty position if he hadn’t understood how serious it was. But he didn’t understand why one simple distraction was causing so much fuss. His Rubinrot had only ruined a few documents, but wasn’t a problem when it came to anything else, not really. Actually, Leo liked to think he was working harder than ever when he had something less serious to help him relax.

Rubinrot was curled up beside him in bed. It seemed to be his favorite place to sleep, and Leo refused to shoo him away. He could only imagine how swiftly the fox would be torn apart as an easy meal by wild animals with his leg still injured. Would Ky push him into it anyway?

He knew there was a war going on. It was impossible to ignore it. The yokai forces in particular had grown restless recently, but the Gear Alliance was being redrafted, and prospects were high. There may have been peace between two nations for the first time in people’s lives. Yet Ky seemed more on edge than ever.

“Hmmph. Maybe that’s just what marriage does to people…” He mused, petting the fox’s back. “I don’t suppose you would know anything about that?”

The animal huffed. Leo knew he couldn’t talk back, but he still did it.

“You respect me, don’t you?” The fox butted against his hand. “I know I’m not as brilliant as Ky, but I’m still good for something, aren’t I?” It was difficult being Second King and second banana to a tactical genius that everyone seemed to adore. His marriage had done well for his public image as well, despite fears of how the people would respond to their beloved king marrying a gear, especially the daughter of a rival kingdom.

“Pfft. Maybe I just need to get married, then?” He smirked at Rubinrot. “Yeah, right.”

Leo rolled over to switch off the bedside lamp and curl up in bed. “Gute nacht, Rubinrot.”

+++++++

Izuna’s tail frisked back and forth across the silky sheets. He would need to find some when he went back home.

Ah, yes, home. He could only imagine how his people were managing without him for the past few weeks. He had gotten some information from the humans, but yokai were always the most skilled at subterfuge and trickery, so whatever the humans knew, so much more was going on under their noses. That was how the war had been. Gears and humans could throw mortar at each other’s walls all day long, but neither of them even knew where the yokai kingdom was, and were left to chase after whatever forces they could find.

Of course, that was also the reason for the state they were in. Yokai could never ‘win’ a war. They could run armies to exhaustion and strike them as easy, weakened targets of smaller groups, but in the sorts of battles that humans and gears fought, their forces would have been mowed to nothing in weeks. The yokai had only survived by being secretive. They never lost any land, but never gained any, either.

But they scraped by through ingenuity, and right now, Izuna was being an ingenious little fox.

Well, maybe that was only half-true. For all his distrust towards humankind, he had somehow managed to spend the last few weeks utterly spoiled by one. He was pretty sure his rescuer didn’t know what he truly was, but either way, it hadn’t stopped him from showering Izuna in pats, food, and cuddles while his injuries healed. It was hard not to find merit in that. Though he wondered if those loving arms would turn hostile as soon as he changed forms.

But...that was where the ingenuity lay. He had known of the union between the human king and the gear princess, and how the political climate had slowly-but-surely begun to shift. Izuna knew that if humans and gears began working together and combined their powers, then it was far more likely they would be able to pull the yokai out of their well-hidden foxholes and gradually massacre them. Peace for them meant disaster for him and his people, but what were they fighting for in the first place? And what if there was another option available?

If the gear and human kingdoms merged into one, and they became at peace, what would happen if all three nations fused?

Some part of Izuna knew the concept was almost selfish. Because he wasn’t doing this just for the politics. He had spent so much time with this fascinating human, this ‘Leo,’ how could he not form some kind of bond with him? He had learned so much about the man through their one-sided conversations, he could hardly understand why the two of them were at war with each other. The human king was a lonely man, always pushed aside as the runner-up, feeling as though he could never measure up to his fellow royals and heads of state. But he had taken his time to meticulously care for an injured animal, that for all he knew, would simply run away and never feel an iota of thanks for his kindness. Yokai and humans may have been different, but they knew how to repay debts of kindness. And nursing the yokai prince back from the brink of death was a deep, deep debt.

Izuna wasn’t sure if he had enough stored magic to turn all the way back into a human form, but he prayed that it would be good enough.

++++++

Leo had been awoken by a peculiar noise in the middle of the night. He tiredly fumbled to attempt to find a way to lie back down and nod off again, but as he tried to roll over, he noticed an ominous glow.

“What the…?” He grumbled, rubbing at his eyes. Had he left a lamp on? The color seemed too harsh to be a lamp, though...

“Leooooooooo… An unfamiliar voice whispered.

He snapped to attention. “H-hello?” He stammered. “Who said that!? Show yourself!”

“As you wish, your majesty…”

Izuna let a stream of fox-fire illuminate him in the darkness. He had only been able to manage a partial transformation, but it looked real enough for what he needed it for.

“What on earth?” The king’s eyes widened. “Those ears, you’re a- !”

Izuna fanned out a half dozen tails from his back, each tipped with a will-o-wisp. “I’m a man who’s come to offer you a deal, Leo Whitefang.”

“H-how do you know my name?!” He demanded, shuffling towards the side of the bed. “And why would I make a deal with a yokai!?”

“I hope I’ll be able to answer both of those to your liking.” The yokai slowly smiled. “Tell me, do you like my eyes? Aren’t they beautiful?”

“Eyes? What kind of trickery…” Leo trailed off, his own eyes slowly widening as he realized. He turned to his other side, and realized his bed was empty.

“This world is full of actions and consequences.” Izuna continued, internally wincing at how ridiculous he sounded. Jeez, maybe he should have prepared a script. “You took in a yokai in his hour of need. Now, our kind owes reparations to you.”

“Reparations…?” The man still seemed awestruck enough that what he’d thought was his pet was now standing over him and covered in arcane flames.

“Yes. You have shown your human kindness to our people. So we are willing to pay it back in turn."

“S-so what are these…” Leo took a nervous swallow, “Reparations?”

He placed a hand on his chest. “I am Izuna, reigning prince of the yokai kingdom. You have cared for me in my darkest days. You have saved my life. Your hands have tended to me with the care and compassion of a lover.”

Leo’s confused fright slowly gave way to a bright red blush. “Erm, lover?”

“So I wish to pay it back to you.” Izuna knelt down, taking the man’s hand. “If you would have me, may the gods smile down on our union, and bless our people with peace and harmony for a thousand years.”

“I...I’m afraid I don’t follow…”

The kitsune looked him right in the eyes. “I want you to marry me.”

++++++

To many, the concept of a ceasefire was wishful thinking, idealism that clashed heavily with how the world truly was. Nobody seemed to have ever expected it would actually happen.

Following the merging of the human and gear kingdoms, for the first time in recorded history, the location of the yokai kingdom was revealed to the world. Its sudden openness was not a coincidence or stroke of luck. Instead, it intended to follow the path its former enemies had taken, and merge together into one nation.

Tales were spun on how the human’s Second King had selflessly rescued the yokai prince, and how they had fallen in love during his recovery. Nobody was entirely sure what details were true and what weren’t, but the important thing was that the war had been called into a ceasefire, and that the two men were to be married under the elaborate roofs of the yokai palace.

It was a momentous occasion, of course, it only seemed natural. Humans and gears entered the kingdom for the first time to witness their union, to offer well-wishes or simply to just admire the sights. The more cynical would remark that the merge of kingdoms was most likely a mere tactical motion, but the expressions shared between the two monarchs held a genuine, sincere love.

“Ah, the people love us, don’t they?”

“It’s nice to see them so happy.” Leo reclined in their wedding carriage, watching the crowds vanish behind them. “I never thought I would live to see the yokai kingdom, let alone be wed in it.”

“It’s your kingdom now, too.” Izuna was sprawled across the other seat, shedding his sandals and rolling down the top of his wedding kimono. Leo found it unbelievably amusing. Underneath the stoic front he put on in public, Izuna was...well, remarkably easygoing, comedic, and cuddly. So very, very cuddly.

“So they’re taking us back to your place?” The kitsune wiggled across to lie in his lap, humming with glee as Leo began scratching him behind the ears.

“Sort of. There’s a hotel we’re going to stay in for a few days until the press dies down. I’d say we could both use a bit of rest after all this.”

“Of course, love, of course.” Izuna rolled over to wink at his new husband. “And hopefully we can consummate our new union a few times, in the process.”

"Izuna!!"