#yes it was a young book but shush

[wings-of-flying]

read a book in 2 hours. feeling good

[daylite-writes]

“A healers Blunt Teeth” (Pt 2) ft. Capitano x Healer!Reader

(Pt 1 here)

He did take you back to Snezhnaya with him, leaving you alone in a manor. The discomfort you feel at not having received a single letter since he departed was surely not from you loving him or anything. Surely.

cws: very mild yandere, mild cultural insensitivity (on behalf of staff), and misunderstandings.

1.6k words

~~~

You didn’t expect the… luxury.

You suppose you should have.

He was a harbinger after all. When he stepped foot in Snezhnaya—you under his arm, of course—you didn’t get the best first impression. Cold, snowy forests of pine with the ridges of icy mountains lining the horizon. But the deeper you ventured into his home, the more his influence became apparent.

Entire villages greeted the expedition with deep bows and offerings of food and housing. You slept in beds made for the cold, among rabbit fur and goose down.

He never batted an eye, but that wasn’t unusual. Be it dry dirt or luxurious bedspreads, Capitano was content.

You expected him to continue onwards with you, towards the Tsaritsa’s palace, the expedition's final destination you’d heard mentioned a thousand times in his meetings.

Evidently, you were wrong about that part, being as you were lounging in the bay window Capitano’s manor, alone except for a staff of loyalists.

As your… Partner? ‘Boyfriend’ maybe—no, that was far too juvenile. Not master either, he hated that term, and it no longer adequately described the complex relations between you two.

Being Capitano’s someone-of-significance had him deciding to dump you into a remote manor somewhere in Snezhnaya, leaving with a quick kiss and a promise to return home after his meeting with the Tsaritsa.

He dragged you all the way to Snezhnaya, and didn’t even let you go with him to the palace.

Angrily—and yes, it was anger. Not loneliness or longing or any other emotion the young maids would describe it as, accented by dreamy sighs as they theorized about you and his’ beautiful courtship—you tore the page of sheet music from the book propped in front of you.

Music was too hard and it made your fingers hurt.

You’d spent the better parts of two weeks in the manor, and it was boring. You were out of your depths, the maids knowing more about noble and elite life than you ever imagined anyone could know.

One of the maids said it herself not long after your arrival. “You’re nothing like what I imagined Capitano’s fiancé would be. Of course, none of us really know his preferences. But if not a warrior, I’d thought you may have been a noblewoman, knowledgeable about music or literature, or perhaps cooking. I once served a noblewoman who made very exquisite cuisine.”

“We’re not engaged.” You’d said, a bit breathless as she tightened the corset.

The other maids who’d been fluttering about shushed her a bit too aggressively for you to consider it noble.

You’d ignored them, until one of the shier ones spoke up. “If I may ask, my lady… how did you two meet?”

“I was a healer in Natlan working for a group of bandits. He won me by right of combat, and eventually we began… well.” You waved your hand, summing up the obvious physical and emotional relations with proper censorship but no denial. “I’m not quite sure what to call the two of us.”

The maids were stunned, and you remembered that such things as that weren’t normal in other nations. You opened your mouth, hoping to amend their opinions of you, but one of them spoke first—

“Oh so he saved you! How romantic!”

The session devolved into a series of awws. They giggled and tousled your hair as they fixed it up, rambling aloud about the romantic scenario.

It took everything in you to not take it personally. To remember that these were the daughters of affluent families who could not afford to marry off another daughters, but could land them a cushy spot working under a harbinger in a non-combatant role. Who probably spent their youths reading fairy tales instead of fighting or healing the way you had.

You rolled your eyes, letting the girls have their fun. These young women were your only friends in this new place after all. There was little point to complain.

~~~

It was clear Capitano would be coming home soon.

There was a certain buzz among the staff. Tasks that were once laxly carried out only when there was time for it were now being performed rigorously and thoroughly. Floors once mopped were now being scrubbed by servants on their hands and knees. Libraries lightly dusted once or twice a week were practically being done by the hour.

There was a buzz among your hand maids as well. They became very, very particular about your appearance. Every day your hair was to be done up in what you can only assume are traditional northern styles. The soft comfortable outfits you’d taken preference to gently batted aside and replaced with expensive tailored dresses, with beaded bodices and tulle that reached partway down your legs.

Refusing such things also made your hand maids very nervous. A lot of ‘are you sure’-s and ‘but my lady!’-s.

From this, you quickly figured out that he’d be back any day now.

So, when you spotted a horse drawn carriage trotting up the path to your manor from a window, you knew what expectations they had.

Greet him at the door, preferably warmly, probably with a kiss, and then follow him around like a lost puppy.

You rolled your eyes before going back to failing to play the violin.

“Um, miss?” One of your handmaids said softly. “Your… Lord Harbinger Capitano seems to be arriving.”

“Mm.” The violin screeched at you as you clumsily played it.

“I… alright. Miss.”

It wasn’t that you hated Capitano. Or that you didn’t want to see him. You were a bird in a golden cage, yes, but Capitano never bothered to close the door, and you never bothered flying out. It was just—

He didn’t even write to you.

The violin made quite an annoying sound as you pressed a bit too hard on the bow, its wavering screech the perfect sound to accompany the grind of your teeth.

Sure, he was undoubtedly busy, but that didn’t erase the embarrassment you’d experience every time you had to ask if any mail for you—any letters from him—came through, only to be told not so much as a word had come from his lord. Didn’t erase the feeling of being some discarded housewife while your lover galivants around the country without you—

The violin had picked up a sharp, angry tune as you played the song through all your little mistakes, not stopping even as you played incorrect notes or lost your place, you could hardly hear it through the rant in your head.

“I see you’ve picked up the violin.” Him.

Immediately, your song stopped. You hadn’t realized he’d entered, hadn’t realized you missed his voice.

“L-Lord Harbinger!” You maid squeaked, bowing. Capitano must have made some motion to her, as she left the room quickly after.

He stayed silent for a moment, and you stayed turned towards the window. “… why are you upset with me?”

“I’m not.”

“Why are you upset with me.” He repeated again, and you suddenly noticed how much closer he was to you. You didn’t hear the footsteps as he loomed over your shoulder.

“I…”

“Has the accommodations been insufficient? Was the staff unpleasant? I’ll have them dead in an instant if they were who upset you against me.” His hand, gloved, tilted your head back by the chin so you had to look up at him. Into the dark maw of his uniform.

“No Captain…”

“Then why? Why have you refused me the right to be greeted home by my woman? The right to see you as I’ve longed to? There must be something wrong, considering you haven't so much as responded to a single letter-”

“You wrote me?” You said all too quickly when you heard the words come from the man over you. Distantly, you chastised yourself for the almost desperate way you asked it. Like a woman starved for water.

He stilled, putting together the pieces easily. “Ah, so that’s what it is. Yes, I wrote to you many times, my healer.”

“I didn’t receive any.”

The hand that was lifting your face up shifted to the side, idly messing with a lock of your hair before cradling the crux of where your jaw met your neck. “I am realizing that now.”

“I thought you didn’t want to talk to me.”

“I did, greatly.”

You paused a moment, the small sparks of spite that once had you melted away partially, leaving you feeling a bit silly. “I…”

“Don’t apologize. This is someone else’s fault, I’ll deal with them later.” He said, moving around you to your front, and kneeling down before you.

The hand cradling your pulse slipped to the back of your neck, lightly pulling you into him. You kissed him through the gaping maw of his mask. It was rough, as though it was the single thing he’d been wanting for weeks. His hand tightened, pulling your hair by the roots to expose your neck. You gasped when you felt his lips on your jaw, traveling down to your throat.

It was a while before he pulled back, satisfied at the aggravated red skin his attention left. Most likely so that the staff could see it and know.

You stared at him, chest rising and falling quickly, but not scared. He seemed happy, or perhaps, at peace, as he stared back.

A polite, quiet knock on the door finally brought his gaze away from you. He spoke, loud and clear, “Yes?”

“Dinner is set for you the Lord and his Lady.”

He rose, standing to his full height before extending a hand to you. “You’ll be joining me I hope?”

“… yes, my lord.” You took it.

~~~~~

The og is pretty far back and i am grappling with the fact i probably should make a masterlist (i dont wannaaa) but i hope ya'll enjoy this <3

[moosesarecute]

December 23rd

December Masterlist

Masterlist

Azriel had moved you to his bedroom in the House of Wind after you had fallen asleep. You remembered being picked up and shushed back to sleep, but you don’t remember being brought to his room.

He slept soundly beside him. He snored a little. Azriel only snored when he felt exhausted, so you decided to let him sleep for as long as he needed.

You got his shadows to help you out of his arms so that he didn’t wake up, before you moved into the kitchen.

It was cookie time.

With the help of the shadows you first mixed sugar and brown sugar, before you added flour, vanilla and eggs. In the end you mixed in chopped hazelnuts and dark chocolate.

You scooped out over 50 small cookies and baked them in the oven. In the meanwhile, you started on the presents.

Rhys had given you one of Feyre’s favorite dresses. It had three small holes. It didn’t take you long to saw all of them. It looked good as new.

You remembered the dress the second you saw it. Rhys’ mother had used you as a model to make it.

After that, you moved on to an apron. It was Elain’s and you decided to embroider flowers on it. Just like the flowers of you made on the dresses of the dolls Nick and his elves made.

That’s what you were doing when Nesta walked in.

“You’ve been busy,” she said. “Can I try one?”

You picked up one of the cookies that had cooled down and gave it to her. She took a bite and smiled.

“These are so good! You know, the boys tried to make these. They weren’t half as good as yours.”

You could imagine Azriel and Cassian baking together and the mess they would make. The thought made you happy.

“What’s the deal with the cookies? I’ve heard you’re very set on making these all of December.”

You smiles again as memories of your mother filled your mind.

“I grew up in Windhaven too. We weren’t very well off. I was lucky enough to be able to eat dinner with Rhys and his mother most days, but I remember going to bed hungry often. However, in the month of December my mother had been saving for many months to make sure be had money for sugar, eggs, nuts and chocolate. We would make cookies on the 1st of December. The recipe made about 20 cookies, but we made them so small that he had at least 42. Then, we would eat one each every day until Winter Solstice. And if we had more than 42, my father would get the rest.”

It was your fondest memory from your mother. That was one of the many reasons to why you loved Winter Solstice.

“You really loved your mother, didn’t you?”

“Yes, she was the best. She always supported me.”

“She died when you were young, didn’t she? Do you mind me asking what happened?”

“Unlike most fae, my mother didn’t have the best health. She was sick from a very young age. She got worse and worse from the time I turned sixteen. She passed as I turned 19. She got a very short life for fae standards, as she was only 64 as she died. But she got to meet Azriel and that means a lot.”

You and Nesta ended up speaking for quite a while. You spoke about everything: mates, food, books and training.

“Ooo, it smells sooo good,” Cassian’s strong voice boomed through the kitchen as he walked in.

He stumped towards the cookies, but you slapped his hand away before he managed to touch one.

“Cauldron, Cass. You have to wash your hands first!”

He turned to you and you expected to see his annoyed face, but he only smiled at you. He threw himself on you with a hug.

“Oh, I’ve missed you,” he said.

You gave him a cookie and he and Nesta went out to train.

You had finished presents for Feyre and Elain and moved on to Amren and Nesta. You were going to make two different things, but the way to make them were similar. You needed to knit a rectangle and fold it into a book cover for Nesta and a jewelry holder for Amren.

You picked a thicker yarn so that the knitting would be quicker. Then you would sew a piece of fabric on the inside of both of them.

You had just begun when you were covered in shadows. You almost expected Azriel to arrive soon after, but the humming feeling in your chest told you he was still sleeping. The shadows had been following you the entire morning, but right now they were actually holding your entire body.

So you decided to put the shadows to work.

“So you push that needle into this hoop, then you twist the yarn around and flip up the hoop over the yarn twisted around the needle,” you said as you showed the shadows how to knit.

You sat together and knitted and it was surprisingly fun. They would pull your hair once a while because they had lost a stitch or done something else wrong, but they did a great job.

Azriel woke up and was ready to pull you tighter towards him.

But you weren’t there.

Panic immediately filled his chest. Had he been dreaming? Why weren’t you there? He looked at the time. It was eleven. He must have been sick or hurt.

“Kitchen,” his shadows told him.

Azriel threw on a shirt and ran to the kitchen. Relief filled his body as he saw you. He wrapped his arms around your waist and took in your scent.

“I didn’t mean to worry you,” you told him.

You must have felt his emotions through the bond.

“It’s okay, just, please wake me next time,” he said and kissed your head.

That’s when he noticed his shadows. His shadows were feared creatures. They often killed or tortured with him. And people ran away in fear from just a sight of them.

But now, they were knitting.

“You taught them to knit?”

“Of course!”

Azriel couldn’t help all the emotions that filled his heart. It was ridiculous, but very cute at the same time.

“You’re cute,” he told you with a new kiss.

The two of you had moved into the living room. Azriel sat and read some reports, while you sewed with your legs in his lap. It was fire in the fireplace and hot chocolate stood on the table.

It was so calm and peaceful.

You were working on sewing the jewelry holder for Amren, when you pricked your finger with the needle.

“Ouch,” you said softly and put your thumb into your mouth. The metallic taste of blood hit your tongue.

You had pricked yourself with needles extremely many times. It became something you almost didn’t notice happened. So you started sewing again.

However, you were filled with a bunch of anxiety. As you looked up at Azriel he looked extremely worried.

He reached for your hand and brushed carefully over your thumb.

“You’re bleeding,” he said. His eyebrows were furrowed.

“Az,” you said. “I’m okay. It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

You moved away your sewing and held Azriel into your chest. His shaky breath told you he was crying. You realized that your blood definitely had triggered something.

“Shhh,” you kissed his head. “I’m here, my shadow. I’m not going anywhere. I’m safe. It was just a small needle. I’m safe in your protection.”

He calmed down more and more the more you spoke. He looked up at you with eyes that were just a little puffier than before. You kissed his forehead and held him a little longer.

Eventually, he started reading again and you moved over to Cassian’s present. You repaired some of his leathers. You finished both his pants and shirt and made sure they were sturdy enough to last him a long time.

For Mor, you begun making a fabric purse with a smaller compartment for makeup, a place holder for a drink and a bigger compartment for anything. The bad was almost finished when you started. You had started it before you got kidnapped. Picking it up again felt bittersweet. Let just say that both you and Azriel crying once again when you brought it out.

“It’s getting quite late, dear,” Azriel said as he held his hand out. He pulled you out of the couch and made the way to the bedroom.

His shadows were swirling lazily around you, but not in a sleepy manner. You moved your hand over to his back and drew a line down his entire back. His wing twitched just a little.

You knew very well what you were doing.

As you closed the door to the bedroom, you kissed him passionately. You moved to kiss down to his neck and ear. He let out a soft sigh. You locked eyes with his gentle hazel eyes and suddenly all you could think of was him.

Taglist: @prettylittlewrites @hailqueenconquer @onebadassunicorn @mich0731 @tele86 @mellowmusings @anarchiii @anainkandpaper @donnadiddadog @atomictyphoonkitten @annablack @graciepies @salvatoresister1 @nastylicious @plants-w0rld @stqrgirlies-blog @scoliobean @kbear8863

Dividers by: @issysh3ll

[percyjavksongf]

-𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤! 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 𝟐’𝟗𝟎𝟎

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

'𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭...𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐢𝐫...𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’

-𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐨𝐧

“Anne had come home dancing in the purple twilight across the snowy places. Afar-”

you noticed a small, curious hand shoot up in the corner of your eye and you had to hold back a laugh, shifting your gaze to the young girl sitting attentively in front of you, she was the last one to go home every evening but even as the hour grew late she was as alert as ever.

“yes, Aneria?”

“what does twilight mean?” she spoke in a whisper, already having been shushed twice this evening by the librarian.

“its when the sun has nearly set but there’s still some light coming through, like when the sky turns shades of purple and pink. Do you understand what I mean?”

Aneria nods in a serious way, she was by far your favourite out of all the children you read to in the library, although you know you shouldn’t have favourites she was the most intrigued by the stories you were instructed to read to the kids, who usually were in your care until their parents finished work. Todays read was Anne of Green Gables much to your delight, the story was a favourite of yours since you were Aneria’s age.

“now where were we, uh, yes. Afar in the southwest was the great shimmering, pearl-like sparkle of an evening star-”

“Gilbert Blythe is so dreamy, don’t you think?” you nod your head approvingly at Aneria’s statement, having grown accustomed to her frequent interruptions, she never meant any harm with them. “my mom said to me that she’s seen you walking around with a boy, is that true? She said he’s Sally’s son and I hope so, he’s definitely just as dreamy as Gilbert”

you struggle to compress a laugh at Aneria’s boldness, not surprised at the least that gossip has spread about you and Percy’s evening strolls around the borough, you just didn’t expect to hear about it in this situation.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about missy” you reply with a teasing grin, causing Aneria to whine in annoyance, “come on, I never got to know the truth in gossip”

“that’s usually because there’s not much truth in it, now will we continue reading?”

Aneria sat once again to attention, glad she had forgotten quickly about the topic of yourself and Percy.

“in the sky that was a pale golden and ethereal rose of gleaming white spaces and dark glens of spruce. The tinkle of sleigh bells among the snowy hills-”

a sharp voice echoed through the library making you cringe, “Aneria! Time to go home”

Aneria huffed and rose to her feet quickly, “coming mom!” she swung her bag over her shoulder before turning to you “can we finish the story on Monday?” you smiled and nodded warmly, waving goodbye as you turned to grab your own bags.

“so what happens next?” you gasp sharply and spin on your heels, sending Percy a sour look when he laughs at your shocked expression, “what are you doing in here?” you questioned with fake displeasure, which Percy knew well at this point. “I’m here to find out what happens next, duh” with that he plops himself down by your feet and stares up at you expectingly, you sigh but can’t help the smile that creeps onto your face when you flick back through the pages to finish the sentence.

“The tinkle of sleigh bells among the snowy hills came like elfin chimes through the frosty air, but their music was not sweeter then the song in Anne’s heart and on her lips” you look up from your book and catch Percy’s gaze, you watch each other for a couple of seconds until he blinks and quickly turns away, clearing his throat before shuffling to his feet, “well your book’s right about one thing, its frosty as fuck out there.” you’re quick to shush Percy with a giggle as you hear the librarian huff in annoyance. The two of you are quick to leave the library and step out into the icy street, a shiver runs up your spin and before you can say a word Percy is offering his jacket to you, “come on just take it, seriously I don’t need it” you take the heavy material into your arms gratefully, it slips on easily and you practically melt into it, the smell of Percy cologne lingers on the fabric and you can’t say you hate it.

The streets of Manhattan were dressed accordingly with the season, you adored how the city, as crazy as it was, always felt like something out of a movie this time of year, and if you hadn’t been in a trance watching the lights glimmer around you, then you would’ve felt the weight of Percy’s stare on the side of your face. You had grown accustomed to your shared walk home, Percy was working part time at the skate shop down the road from the library which delighted you both, with the busyness of school it was hard to find time to hang out. At first it was more of a ‘hey if I see you I’ll walk over and talk’ but now it was guaranteed that you’d find Percy waiting outside the Library leaning against the wall like a cliche from an 80’s movie, but instead of starting with a smooth pick up line he’d ask if you had known that sea horses are monogamous (you did not). Apart from the ocean facts yous two would talk about everything, home life, what you were learning about in college, Percy would never fail to mention his long distance friends Annabeth and Grover, he spoke about them so much it felt like they were your friends too.

“so what’s Gilbert like?” the question had you raising a brow at Percy, who faked innocence with a brow raise in return. A breath of warm air travels past your lips and you shift your gaze ahead at the flashing ‘tis the season!’ sign hanging off the Bodega Percy and you visit frequently.

“you heard Aneria talking, didn’t you?” you could practically feel the shit eating grin make its way onto Percy chill flushed face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but, if I did overhear how absolutely dreamy this guy is and you totally agree and think him and I are just alike-”

“I never said you two were the same Jackson, don’t put words into my mouth”

“I know you definitely think it though, even if you won’t admit it”

You can’t help the laugh that escapes you at that, you could go back and forth with Percy for hours and never grow bored. You have a feeling you cant get yourself out of this conversation though.

“any fish facts for me today?” you blink up at him, hoping it’s a good enough subject change

“you can’t deter me by fluttering your lashes, but we will go back to the fish facts after you tell me about my amazing twin” Percy bumps your shoulder and you nearly go flying on the icy footpath, his annoyingly gorgeous laugh encouraging you to shove him away from you and across the ice, unfortunately for you, Percy seems to hold himself just fine on it, dam him.

“well for one, Gilbert would never do that to Anne”

“oh, so you see us as Anne and Gilbert? How romantic”

“shut up”

a gloved hand reaches out to you and you stare at it suspiciously, though you do notice how he was wearing the gloves you brought him last winter, he complained for weeks about how cold his hands were and that you just had to hold them to keep him warm. The gloves were well received but you found he reached for you still.

“I don’t bite” he teases and you grab onto the hand, even after doing it so many times it still made your heart flutter.

“come here”

you let Percy pull you into him as you continue your walk, removing his hand from yours and you sigh at the loss of warmth, causing him to chuckle “don’t worry baby I’m not going too far” with that an arm wraps around your shoulder and pulls you close, in that moment your grateful for the cold, it’s a good excuse for your burning face. You feel yourself melt under his touch and allow your body to move closer into his, because it’s cold obviously, no other reason.

“so do you think Gilbert is more handsome than me?”

“I think he’s less annoying than you”

“you love me, don’t lie”

you do.

“did you listen to anything else Aneria said, or did you hear a complement about yourself and your brain tuned out”

“I heard that we’re the local gossip, you and I. My mom would be delighted if that were true”

your heart tugs painfully a little at that. it isn’t true, you have to remind yourself, but it feels nice to fall into a dream that it is.

You hum quietly in response and notice you’re only a few blocks away from yours and Percy’s shared apartment complex, Percy, as if sensing your disappointment, turns both your bodies away and continues down another street. Confused ,you send him a look that he returns with a smile “it’s a Friday night, we don’t have to go home now. Besides I though you wanted to go check out that Christmas market at union square?”

you stare up at Percy for a bit and just look, his redding nose and cheeks that complement his tan skin so well, his eyes, god, his eyes. They were always a source of amazement for you, you’ve never seen eyes like Percy’s, you always got lost in them, swearing that they changed into different shades of green and blue.

“I’m definitely more handsome than Gilbert” Percy’s face breaks out in a grin as you pull him towards the nearest subway station.

It was busy of course, like any Friday night in the city would be, Percy had managed to snag a seat for you two quickly and you raced to get yourself sat down before anyone else could come after it. Usually the cramped space made you uncomfortable but you never really minded with Percy, he didn’t seem to either with how he pressed his side against you.

An unspoken agreement to be as close of possible to each other was the norm for you too, you threw your legs over to hang in between his and wrap your arms around his arm closest to you, finally resting your head on his shoulder. You could stay like this forever, you think. Riding a cramped subway that had a familiar mixture of carolling and shouting, shuffling and bumping, crying and laughter. It’s like you couldn’t even hear the ruckus when you were tucked up with Percy, his head resting on top of yours, his strong hands resting on your legs, fingers tapping an familiar tune on your thigh.

You adored it.

“you know I don’t think this is going to help us mush out those rumours” you mumble into his jacket, still pressed firmly against you. Percy turn his head and presses his lips to your hair, “yeah I know”

you hum back softly in acknowledgment, the rush of having Percy so close to you was gorgeous. But after today, what then? You don’t mind the gossip and what if’s of strangers but the feeling of what if with Percy was becoming too much to bear, you didn’t want what if anymore. Percy, now having lifted his head to check out how far away you were from union square, gave you the opportunity to shift your head to look up at him. Sensing your gaze, Percy looks back down at you and admires how pretty your eyes looks gazing up at him through your lashes, the though makes him catch his breath and look away for a second, but you two were magnetic, drawn to each other and it wasn’t long until he was watching you again. His free hand came up to press against your cheek, reddened from happiness. “you’re so warm” Percy whispered, mostly to himself. You were always so warm, he used to joke that you were his portable hot water bottle. You lean slightly to press the fat of your cheek into his hand, just for a second, before moving back to against his shoulder.

“fuck” Percy says to himself again, you shoot him a confused glance and he squeezes your knee in return

“whats wrong? Do you need me to move-”

“no, no, stay there you’re good, you’re so good” the breathiness in his voice combined with his dark eyes freezes you. This felt different, this was all so new to you.

“I just really wish we weren’t on this subway right now, I don’t think Gilbert would kiss Anne on a subway train”

you don’t fight the laughter that echos out of you, of course he’d be worried about something like that

“Percy, I think Gilbert would do that. Besides I don’t care about what Gilbert would do, I don’t like Gilbert”

“well I hope not cus’ I’d be heartbroken”

“oh really”

“truly”

the train pulls to a halt and Percy rushes to get yous off, your laughter accompanies his movements as you both run up the stairs into the cool night, glancing at each other every few seconds. The streets were alive and bustling, you gripped Percy’s hand tightly as he pulled you away from the crowd to the side of a Bodega, squeezing your hand every few seconds as if to make sure you didn’t disappear.

his hands shook gently in yours and you squeezed them tight, you both stared at each other for what felt like a lifetime, you could feel the nerves creeping up on you now.

“Percy..”

“I know”

the loss of his hands in yours was quickly fixed by his hand cupping your face, the wool was comforting against your skin for a moment before it was gone, replaced by Percy’s now ungloved hand.

“i’m sorry this isn’t as pretty as Hester Grey’s old garden” Percy whispers, his thumb running over your cheek

“you have read Anne of green gables” you spoke back accusingly

“my mom read them to me as a kid”

Percy pulled you closer until you stood chest to chest, you tilted your head up and brushed his nose slightly “hey Percy?”

“mh?” you felt hypnotised under his gaze, his eyes almost seem to have darked. You’ve never been so close before.

“please kiss me”

“as you wish” is mumbled against your lips, you can feel his nose pressing against your cheek as he’s kissing you, his mouth so warm and firm against yours. Your arms snake around his shoulders as his hands slide down your back and settle on your waist, gripping tightly. You know that the word will spread by tomorrow morning about the Jackson boy getting handsy outside the Bodega and it makes you smile against Percy, he only pulls back for a second to catch his breath, hands never leaving you once

“do you want to go to the markets?” you take a second to admire how messy Percy looks, face flushed and hair ruffed up from your hands. You must look the same from how Percy’s staring right back at you. You shake your head yes and press back against him “eager girl, you need me that much, huh?” you smack his arm hard.

“says the one who practically dragged me out of the subway to do this”

he presses a quick kiss to your lips to shut you up.

“we’ll check out these markets and then walk home, hows that sound?”

“walk? Why would we walk” yous turn hand in hand back towards the colourful crowd of people, everything seems so much brighter now.

“because then I get to have you to myself for longer” he says like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

The next morning you woke to a knock at the door, Percy having dropped you home only hours before. You practically dragged your feet to the door and swung it open, the chill of the wooden floors making you want to get this interaction done and over with quickly. To your surprise no one stood on the other side, you looked down to see a plate full of blue chocolate chip cookies wrapped in cling film with a note on top, taking them inside quickly you pressed your back against the door and read the messy writing.

Meet me at the Bodega in 15 minutes, breakfast on me.

You can’t help but laugh at it, it’s definitely no Gilbert Blythe, but its Percy Jackson, which is so much better.

a/n: hellooooooo i have returned minions. don't really like this fic tbh but i am so ready for Christmas and needed to get something out, and I've fallen back into my pjo phase so expect more of this <3 i also have a Jake Sully fic in the works for my avatar ppl

[dearestaussiechannie]

☆ I have a secret to tell you ☆— Han Jisung

word count: 2.3k

paring: Jisung x afab!reader

genre: fluff

warnings: afab!reader, best friends to lovers, college!AU, Roommate!Minho, some cursing(Fuck), pet names (sweet girl), bestfriend!Jisung, comfort, if I left anything out tell me, kinda proof-read

Jisung and you are honestly quite inseparable. No matter what one of you was doing, the other was there to “support” the other, if that's what you'd call it. The two of you were always up to something, whether it was helping him with his papers or simply reminding him to eat, you were right there.

With that being said, today was no different. You were currently in his apartment, reading over the essay on his laptop while he was making some food when you were interrupted by his roommate Minho opening the front door. He looks at you, used to you being there, basically their third roommate at this point, before looking around.

“Where's Jisung?” Minho asks, dropping his bag by the couch before pulling out his own laptop and working on his own papers. You hum and point into the kitchen where your friend had disappeared to about 10 minutes ago, eyes never leaving the screen. This paper was due at midnight and it's currently six o’clock.

“Ji! Are you aware of how many typos you have in this fucking paper?” you yell towards his direction, just to hear him laughing, coming out of hiding with two bowls of ramyun. “That's why I'm having you look over it Ms. literature major.” he says while putting the food on the coffee table in front of you, greeting Minho finally.

“You know that's not what my major is about. And it's definitely not for being your auto correct.” you spat at him before fixing the last of the mistakes that you've found, sitting on the couch with an ungodly hump in your back while working, only for Minho to sigh and take Jisungs laptop from you. Minho, the anatomy major, hates when he sees how terrible both Jisungs and your posture is, to the point that when you're not here, he'll lecture Jisung on how to properly sit and keep his back straight.

You look up at him as he's giving the laptop back to Jisung, shaking his head when he sees the other male pouting. “Do your own work after you eat, I'm sure she's got something that she's supposed to be doing as well, that isn't your homework.” Minho says to him before handing the food that Jisung had brought you now that it's cooled. Minho looks over to you now, putting his hand in the middle of your back, tapping it softly, “sit up straight, you're too young for back problems.”

You do as he says, eating your food as you watch Jisung, unsure if he is looking over the things that you've changed in his paper but once he sighs with a smile, you know that he's happy that you're helping. Your face suddenly feels warm as you look down while continuing to eat your food. Was Minho right? Yes. But have you been putting off this project since last week even though it's due in a week? Also yes.

The look you give him seals your fate before he starts going through your bag, finding the book and syllabus for your paper. The look on his face is udder shock before looking at Jisung, who's too engulfed in his paper to notice the two of you. “Y/n..” is all he can say before you're cutting him off, shushing him and standing up to walk into a different room. Minho follows you when he realizes you want to talk to him in private.

Once out of earshot from Jisung, you run your hands through your hair, looking up at Minho. “Listen, I know what you're thinking, but I've still got a week on that project. His paper is due tonight. I'm just trying to help him.” You say, rubbing your temples, the dull feeling of a headache creeping up on you. “Y/n I get that but you need to do yours as well. If you keep doing this for him, he won't realize that you're struggling." Minho says and you know he's correct.

The conversation continues but in the living room, “Chan never said majoring in music theory would be so-” Jisung starts but suddenly realizes that you guys are gone. He quickly stands when he can still hear your voice in the apartment, walking towards it, wanting to make sure you're okay. He gets closer to the door, your voice becoming clear making his eyes widen when he hears you say “yeah because I'm totally gonna walk up to him one day and say ‘Han Jisung, I'm madly in love with you and want to spend the rest of my life with you’ Minho.” 

“Why not?” He thinks to himself, but before he can let his thought wander any further, suddenly it sounds like you're walking towards the door that he's currently leaning against to listen to you talk. Panicked, he runs to the bathroom right beside the room that the two of you are in and slams it shut wanting you to think that he'd just made it back there and has heard nothing.

It's about ten o’clock now, Minho had put a movie on for himself to watch, Jisung had submitted his paper and you're currently reading through the book your professor had given you for this report. Your legs are curled under you, Jisung using what he could of them as a pillow and you're using his back as a table to take your notes when suddenly his arms wrap around the small of your waist, signaling that he's fallen asleep.

This is quite normal for the two of you but after finally vocalizing your feelings for the boy in your lap to the one across the room, you can't fight the blush that floods across your cheeks. Putting your book down, you slowly run your fingers through his currently bleached hair with dark brown roots, humming softly when you can feel him relaxing more against you.

You let him stay like this a little longer before slowly patting his shoulder. “Ji, you need to go get in your bed.” you say even though your words fall onto deaf ears. You shake him a little more when you hear Minho from across the room. “Call him that name you only use when you're sleepy. That sets a fire under him anytime you say it.” Minho says, voice just barely above a whisper, fighting a laugh when your cheeks turn red.

Minho points his finger to his mouth, tongue out and fake gags before switching his attention back to the movie. You look back down at Jisung, taking a deep breath before you whisper to him, “Sungie? Are you asleep?” This time, he's up and tense against your legs, realizing his arms are wrapped around you making him sit up quick enough that he almost falls off the couch.

His cheeks are fiery red when he rubs the back of his head, feeling your hand fall onto his bicep, he looks up at you quickly with a small smile. “Sungie, I think that it's time to go to bed.. Do you have any classes tomorrow?” you ask him only for him to shake his head, trying to wipe the sleepiness from his eyes.

“Are you staying over or do you have morning classes?” Jisung asks, not realizing the time until he looks down at his phone. It's 2am. His eyes suddenly show panic as he gets up quickly to let you get up. “Oh my god! It's so late! How come you didn't wake me up to walk you home so that you can get sleep?” His voice is full of panic, making the other man in the room cringe, doing another fake gag even though neither of you can see it.

“Easy Ji, I don't have any classes in the morning. Plus if I did, how could I wake sleeping beauty in my lap?” You say to him trying your best not to giggle, not knowing what's come over you, making you flirt with him so obviously like that but it gives you confidence. He looks over you quickly, before sitting down beside you again, leaning his head onto your shoulder, closing his eyes with a hum.

“So.. sleep over.. I can't remember the last time we cuddled.” He says to you, you'd both been so busy that you couldn't do the one thing that the two of you love to do the most, just cuddle. It never led to more, even if sometimes the both of you wished it had (unbeknownst to the other). You simply nod your head before pouting slightly. “I didn't bring anything to sleep in though..”

His eyes light up when the new option hits him. “You can.. Um.. you can sleep in one of my shirts if you want. Use my boxers as shorts since I know you hate basketball shorts..” He says as his face is bright red and staring at you. You stand up and nod before going to his room, changing into one of his black shirts and just a random grey pair of his boxers. Once you've stepped out to get him from the living room, you've met Minho in the hallway, looking at you laughing softly. 

“Keep the noise to a minimum, yeah? I’ve got lunch with some friends tomorrow and I reeaaallllly don't wanna tell them I’m tired because I had to listen to my roommate fuck his best friend all night.” The words fall from his lips so sadistically it causes you to become a bundle of nerves. 

Had Jisung said something like this to Minho? Does he normally do that type of thing? You push the thoughts away remembering that the only girl you'd seen Jisung with in the past couple of months was yourself. Pushing past Minho, you walk into the living room, finding Jisung on his phone waiting. “Sungie? Ready to go to bed?” you ask him.

His eyes meet the skin of your thighs first before looking up at the shirt that you'd picked out. Normally, he wears that shirt to the gym with Changbin and Chan but he'll now have to find a new one since you look much better than he does in it. The sleeves had been cut off, making it a muscle tee, the collar stretched from how often he pulls on it.

Finally his eyes meet yours but before he can blink, yours are glued to the floor while your hands play with the hem of the shirt you have on. Quickly he stands up, walking over and taps your chin to make you look up at him. “You look.. Really pretty in my clothes, sweet girl.'' After this he takes you back to his room.

Silence fills the room as you lay down in the bed while he gets undressed, putting on just some shorts before crawling into the bed next to you. He turns to face you as you do the same, smiling up at him as you feel the butterflies filling your stomach, heart racing when his hand comes to you and slips some of the hair out of your face and behind your ear. This has happened in your friendship so many times why does it feel so different this time?

You close your eyes just wanting to take in his warmth and the smell of him filling your nose, instinctively making you move closer to him. This causes him to get nervous about what he was going to say to you. Since he heard you talking to Minho, he's been thinking about what you said and it made him realize that he felt the same way that you did. 

“I have a secret to tell you Y/n..” is all he can manage to say in a low whisper as he pulls you closer to him. You lay your head against his pillow, putting your hand on his shoulder. “And you can't tell anyone, okay?” His eyes fixed on your face when you simply nod, jestering a lock over your lips and throwing away the key. It makes him laugh before taking a deep breath. He looks at you to find the confidence in what he needs to say, pulling you closer to him. “I think I've fallen in love with you..” He says voice just barely above a whisper but it runs through you like a scream. 

The man that you'd just said you were in love with hours ago is now telling you that he's in love with you? You quickly sit up looking over at him before climbing out of the bed with a pained look. “You listened to my conversation with Minho.. Don't pull this joke.. It's not funny, Jisung.” you say, hands desperately clinging to the hem of your shirt.

“But I'm not joking, I promise. Hearing you say it made me realize what this feeling I couldn't address was. Y/n, I'm in love with you and I really mean it.” He stands as soon as you do, walking over and taking your hands into his to help calm his own nerves and hopefully yours as well. You both stare at each other in the silence before you wrap your arms around his shoulders and hug him as tight as you can.

“I love you too, Sungie. I have for a while but I came to realize it when a month ago Minho said that you might find your someone soon if I didn't make a move..”

“As if I'd ever choose anyone over you, love.” he says, pulling the both of you back into the bed. You curl up into him, making him hum as he plays with your hair. “Never leave my side, yeah? I love you.”

You hear a bang on the wall making you both quickly look over before you can hear a familiar voice. “Y/n, I swear to god if you guys get any louder, I’m gonna lie to everyone tomorrow and tell them what I said to you earlier!”

You giggle when Jisung gives you a confused look, shaking your head before kissing his cheek. “Don't worry about that okay? I'll tell you about it tomorrow. For now, let's get some sleep before he outs us.” You say as you lay your head back down on his chest and fall asleep.

©️ dearestaussiechannie, all rights reserved.

Taglist: (to be added, comment or message me♡)

[blakeswritingimagines]

Unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him

Summary: It was normal for most to have their string of fate be tied to their soulmate but what do you do when it's to the Prince of Dragonstone?

A/N: This is female pronouns but if you want male let me know because I tried to make this gender-free and it didn't flow like I wanted it to, also did I name this from something after Twilight? Yes.

Word Count: 2.8k

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon/Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

Jacaerys spent his early days in the warm embrace of his mother Rhaenyra, playing with his siblings and spending time with his father Laenor to learn the skills of how to rule and fight. He was taught what it meant to be Targaryen by his mother and he was taught to be loyal to those he loves and those who love him. He is a dragonlord and that is his heritage; He feels It is his destiny to rule the Iron Throne even as he tries his best to push back the thought of ever actually getting to meet you his soulmate in this life.

Jacaerys woke up earlier than usual and said a prayer at sunrise, getting ready for his busy day ahead of him, he then went to train with the sword for a short time even challenging his brother Lucerys once more, after a few hours he cleaned up before joining his family in the dining hall to eat. He joined in with the light conversation about how his day was going so far and what else he had planned which was just more lessons with the court teachers and some more sparring for a little bit, hearing that in a few days, a royal family would be coming to Dragonstone to show support towards Rhaenyra.

Continuing on with his daily plans over the next few days as he and his family awaited the latest arrival of your family so details could be worked out about the new relationship taking place, after a couple of more days passed by which felt like a blink of an eye which lead Jacaerys to stand outside standing beside his brothers and his mother on the other side of him. The Prince had been told that the family would be visiting it was expected that the proper courtesy for their arrival is done. He dressed himself in a fine doublet, a shirt, pants, and a cloak. His eyes were soft looking as he waited by the docks for your family to disembark from their ship. In his hand, he carried a gift. A book. It was titled 'The History of Valyria' and he thought it a worthy offering something to help understand more about Dragonstone and who your family was siding with.

He greeted every noble that approached him personally, making sure that everyone felt comfortable and welcome at Dragonstone. He was curious about the red string around the hand of one young person in particular. He had heard stories about such things and had not believed them until recently after learning about his mother and stepfather. Jacaerys felt a strange pull in his pinkie. It was like a voice was begging to be heard. He followed it and ended up face-to-face with his soulmate. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He was so overwhelmed, he couldn’t even speak a word. Jacaerys just stood there, mouth open and staring for what felt like an eternity.

He offered his hand for you to take, knowing that there was a bond there that he could not ignore; there was a magic that seemed undeniable. He was curious to know who this young person was, your name, and the name of your House. You were again shushed by your older brother, especially after noticing the prince had walked up to you both, giving him a slight curtsy as you took his hand gently in your own using the hand that didn't have the string but simply held that one behind your back hiding it as you didn't think much about the tightening feeling around your finger again but smiled softly at the dark-eyed prince "Thank you for having me and my family my prince".

When you both held each other's hands, the red string around his own hand began to burn intensely as he felt it tighten around his finger. It was an undeniable feeling, one that neither of you could ignore. A strong, undeniable magic was at work here; he knew that this was not mere coincidence. There was something more at work here; perhaps the gods themselves? "It was a privilege and an honor to host you and your family, my lady. Your name?" He inquired. You bit down on your lower lip feeling the red string tighten around your finger which you had learned years ago from others meant you were very close to your soulmate but still didn't think it was the prince, keeping a sweet smile on your face as your hand stayed in his rough one not even having the thought that enough time had passed and it could be considered improper while than speaking up to answer him "I'm Y/n and this is my older brother Samuel it's a pleasure to meet you and know more about Dragonstone".

You continued to hold onto each other's hands for a long while as if you both were waiting for something. It was clear to Jacaerys in that very moment that there was something special about you, Y/n, which was his destiny. When he looked deeply into your eyes for the first time, his heart began to race and his pulse quickened. He knew he was experiencing something magical, something supernatural and beyond his understanding. He knew that this red string was a symbol that you were destined for each other; this was not a mere coincidence. This was magic. This was beyond your understanding of the natural world. This was love. He leaned in closer to you, noticing the red string around your finger. This felt like a sign from the gods; it was not natural, not ordinary, that you would share the same strange red string around one another, both sensing its tightening. It was not possible unless the gods wished it to be so. He smiled. "It is a pleasure as well, my lady. Do you enjoy your stay on Dragonstone so far?"

You finally looked away from his dark-colored eyes letting your eyes take in the beauty before you that was Dragonstone, nodding your head at his words smiling lightly that you could be here and experience such a new beauty then looked back to him as you spoke softly with a honey-smooth tone "It's very lovely my prince I'm happy to be here and see it for myself it's nothing like my home".

He raised his right hand and gently placed it on your cheek. It was an instinct born from a deep connection that he was sensing. The red string had led you to one another, and he could not help a natural inclination to touch her, to feel her warmth, to feel her beauty. The red string was a sign of destiny. He smiled at her, and he felt his heart beating faster. "Yes, you are truly fortunate. The island has a rich history and is the seat of our family and has been ever since our first king Aegon the Conqueror built his castle here. I am honored to live in such a grand and glorious place." He spoke while extending his arm offering you to take his hand to walk with him. "Shall I show you around?" He asked as if he couldn't wait to be alone with you especially to ask about the string around your own finger.

He smiles fondly and gives your hand a kiss, his expression soft and endearing. "I would be delighted to show you around. Dragonstone is large, there is much to see and I am sure you'd love it." He started to lead you down one of the numerous stone walkways which lead from the palace to various parts of the island. He would walk with you for hours, sharing all kinds of interesting anecdotes about Dragonstone and its rich history. At every opportunity, he would gently squeeze your hand, and in time his feelings toward you would begin to bloom.

Even as a few days passed by Jacaerys and you had become inseparable even with him meant to another woman who seemed kind and perfect for him, you were meant to leave in a few days but had been enjoying your time in Dragonstone and learning everything you could about it, walking alone along the shoreline taking in the quiet sound of the waves crashing as you stopped in your tracks and closed your eyes with a small smile on your face taking in the peace and tranquility of the moment that you couldn't be met with anywhere else in her life. Having met Jacaerys betrothed Baela and even congratulated them both on the engagement choosing to ignore your feelings and the fact you were in fact tied to the dark-haired male as his soulmate but kept your mouth shut and didn't speak a word about it to anyone since you didn't want to make a fuss or cause any problems for your newest friend who was already meant for someone else.

He could not stop thinking about you. He wondered why he couldn't get you out of his head, why were you so much on his mind. He was in a difficult position; he was supposed to marry Baela, and he did have feelings for Baela, but not the same kind of feelings that he had with you. He had never met a female so beautiful and he was having difficulty dealing with these conflicting emotions. This was a confusing situation, and he was unsure how best to move forward. It had been a few days since he had met you. Your encounter had stayed in his mind since then never having this effect on him before when he met almost anyone else; he could not help but think of you and wonder whether such a sudden and intense connection with someone he had just met was even possible. He couldn't help but think about how it felt when he had held your hand; there was an undeniable and magnetic connection between the two of you, something that was beyond normal or reasonable - but for some reason, it made perfect sense to him. He couldn't help but wonder whether you still thought of him as much as he thought of you.

You knew you were meant to be the perfect lady and have all the best manners which for the most part you had, but right at this moment before you had to be around people again and charm everyone as the great youngest in your family you willingly sat down in the sand throwing caution to the wind and didn't care if sand or water dirtied or ruined your dress as you simply crossed your arms and rested them against your knees as you stared out into the setting sun sky still listening to the calming sound of the waves even with a rumble from a dragon every once in a while you gently started toying with the red string on your finger wondering what your life would've been like if you both had met sooner. Jace had been sitting in his room, thinking of you and your soft eyes and gentle voice. He could not help but think of you and wonder what you were doing which caused problems during his duties. He glanced out of the window only to do a double take, and he saw you on the beach far away. His heart raced. A feeling of destiny came over him, and he felt the urge to go and see you. He got up and started to walk to you, and all his senses seemed to be leading him to you. He wanted to see you again, and he couldn't help but wonder if you felt the same way.

Feeling like you couldn't help but wonder what life would've been like knowing all it was going to do was hurt your feelings since you figured he was already engaged and you wouldn't be the one standing beside him, feeling disgruntled only to finally tear your eyes off the red string around your fingers choosing to willingly ignore the harsh tugging and stinging that just proved Jacaerys was around you as you stared out into the calming sea curious as to how life would play out for you now or who you would be with instead of your soulmate. The dark-haired prince approached you and sat down beside you. He leaned back, looking out over the waves with you. He turned to you watching you play with the red string around your fingers. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful you were in the sunlight. You were breathtaking, and there was a gentleness and calmness to your personality that made him like you all the more. He reached over and gently took your hand in his. "Can we talk?."

Exhaling as the longing hit harder than before once he took your hand in his own again before counting to four, slowly opening your eyes as you turned toward him slightly and smiled the best that you could then raised a brow as you tilted your head curiously as to what he could possibly need from you "Whatever about my prince?", Chossing to just keep things as normal as possible even if your eyes glanced down as saw the red string on you both but bit down on your lower lip not speaking a word about it. He gently placed his other hand under your chin and raised your face up so that he could look into your eyes. He felt you had the most beautiful soulful eyes that he had ever seen. They were like two pools of sunshine that made his heart beat faster. "Y/n. I think… I think we are meant to be together." He spoke softly, not wanting to startle you or say something that might cause you to run away. You were perfect, and he wanted to be with you. "You are my soulmate…"

You couldn't help but lean into his tender hold against your face as you looked into his dark brown eyes wondering if you would ever feel the same bliss by looking into anyone else's eyes, feeling your heart pound wildly in your chest at his words not saying anything back knowing your family wouldn't be pleased if you spoke and ruined anything for him or his family if you chose yourself over the good of the realm. Gently shaking your head as you slowly pulled away closing your eyes knowing the words he said were true but didn't know what to say other than letting him down which only caused you to clear your throat as you muttered "No, I don't believe so you are with Lady Baela she's your soulmate…not I."

He sat there stunned. Perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps it was all a lie. Perhaps the red string was just a trick. But he knew the truth; he had felt it. You were his soulmate. He would not give up that easily. "Y/n…You are my soulmate. I can feel it just like I feel like your the breath in my lungs. I don't know how I know it, but I do. You can deny it all you want, but I know that it is true." He spoke softly, hoping you would come to see the truth as he saw it. You slowly looked over at him taking in every little thing about him even as silence took over conversation, feeling as if you were falling in love with him before you gave him a gentle smile as you shook your head knowing no matter how much it hurt you couldn't have him unless something deetrimental happened in your lives "Even so…It won't happen you must know that don't you?". Looking back out to the crashing waves as you played with the red string once more and spoke quietly "You know I used to dream about this moment, meeting my other half and falling in love being happy together….Not once did I ever believe it could hurt this much to meet you."

He was stunned by your words. You were supposed to be his destiny. You were supposed to be his soulmate. He could not give up that easily. If your fates were intertwined, something would happen that would bring you together. "I know I must marry Baela, there is no denying that. But I cannot deny that I have met my soulmate in you. You and I share something unique and special that has brought us together for a reason that neither of us can understand. Don't deny it. Please don't ignore the truth." How could he live knowing that he had met his soulmate and was unable to marry you? How could he live knowing that you wouldn't by his side? There was no world he could live in where you were not by his side. "Y/n, please. You cannot deny this feeling." He spoke softly to you. "You know it is true. If things were different, we would not be feeling this way." Why did your lives have to be this way? Why did fate want to separate you?

"We must find a way…"

[rita-repulsa-ke]

Death and the Scarlet Witch

"She tried to wreck my life, destroy my family, literally murder me after she thought she'd stolen my power," Wanda says, using her fingers to count off all of Agatha's crimes. "She also tormented me with my past and lied to me. A lot."

That does, Rio has to admit, sound like the woman she loves. Especially the lying part. She can't keep a smile off her face.

This probably makes slightly more sense if you've read Scarlet. Rio goes to visit the Scarlet Witch, during the time Wanda is hanging out in that cabin at the end of Wandavision studying the Darkhold.

This one has warnings for lots of mentions of death, small-d, and also Rio is not always very nice. She is, however, very romantic over Agatha.

Death is everywhere. She is on a Road that doesn’t exist and, in that same second, she is next to the hospital bed of a young man, both of them ignoring the flurry of activity around them as nurses and doctors try valiantly to save a life that has already passed into her hands.

“I wasn’t ready,” he says.

“Most people aren’t,” Death replies. “How was what you had?”

He thinks about it, then gives her a tentative smile. “It was pretty good?"

She offers him her hand. “Sometimes, that’s the best you get.”

In the same blink of an eye, she sits on wet pavement next to woman staring at a mess of twisted metal.

“I wasn’t ready,” the stranger says.

Rio keeps her sigh internal. “Most people—“

An elderly woman in a nursing home. A child swimming where they shouldn’t have been. A man killed in a fight gone wrong.

Death is everywhere she needs to be.

And simultaneously, she is at a cabin in a beautiful, remote wilderness, a cabin that radiates an achingly familiar dark power.

She pushes open the door, startles a woman making herself a cup of tea, and has to hastily deflect the bolt of red energy flung toward her.

It isn't a very good deflection and in her head, she can hear Agatha murmuring, you’re so sloppy. You have so much power, but your technique—

Yes, Ags, I know. Shush now.

“Hi,” Death says. “I’m Rio.”

The woman stares at her, then gives a short, mirthless laugh. “I know who you are,” she says. “You have followed me all my life.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Rio says.

She can’t help but notice that Wanda is beautiful.

Not like that. No one is beautiful like Agatha, frustrating, gorgeous monster that she is. No, Wanda Maximoff is beautiful like an apocalypse. She is the end of any number of worlds, the potential for a sea of corpses the likes of which even Rio has never seen.

It does amuse Rio to imagine how jealous Agatha would be, though, were she here. She always hates when Rio is looking at anyone but her.

Rio never is, of course. Not really.

“What do you want?” Wanda asks, snapping her back to this moment alongside a million others. “Is it—is it my time?”

She sounds so hopeful.

"No," Rio admits. "I wanted to talk."

She isn't sure what she wants, not really. Revenge, maybe, but why should she? Agatha doesn't deserve her fury, would scorn her protection.

Rio wants to protect her anyway.

Still, there are rules. She can't simply take Wanda. And she's made enough exceptions for Agatha already.

Wanda's laugh turns softer and simultaneously more hollow. "To talk. Death wants to talk to me. Why not? I feel at this point we should be good friends, you and I." She sits in a chair that wasn't there a moment ago, and Rio is coming to the interesting realization that Wanda is not entirely well.

Agatha had told her once that the Darkhold broke weak minds. She'd told her that while throwing bolts of dark magic at Rio and crowing over her success in having mastered the Book of the Damned, of course, but the point still stands.

"Lots of people die," Rio says. "You aren't special."

"Aren't I? Aren't I special? The Scarlet Witch," she says the words with too much emphasis, drags her voice over the sounds. "There's a whole chapter on me in the Darkhold, did you know? If that is not special, I don't know what is." She laughs again and there has never been a more humorless sound.

"Riiiight," Rio says. She's starting to think she doesn't need to enact revenge, she can sit back and let the universe take its course.

Feels a little passive, though.

"What more can you take from me?" Wanda asks. "What more can I lose?"

Yeah, I'm trying to figure that out too, she thinks. "I'm not here to take," she lies. If Agatha can do it, so can she.

"…Do you understand grief? Can you?" Wanda asks without prelude, and now Rio isn't sure this broken woman, sitting in a chair that doesn't exist, is talking to her at all.

She's also starting to notice a very interesting similarity between that chair and a certain Road she's currently walking, a Road she always knew wasn't real.

"I do understand grief,” she says, no lies this time. There is something she grieves more deeply than she'd ever thought possible.

Wanda is still talking, still mostly to herself. "I had a husband. I had children. I had everything I ever wanted."

"The ones you made with magic?" It had taken her some time to find Agatha—she isn't sure how long, she's never been good with time—to find the strange little town and the stranger situation her beloved had gotten herself into this time. But find and save her she did, unsticking her from that miserable curse.

Not that Agatha had appreciated Rio sweeping in to save her. She never does.

Still, she remembers Agatha screaming herself awake, sobbing in Rio’s arms, and she does hope there is something more she can take from the Scarlet Witch.

Wanda nods in listless agreement, that family, the fake magic ones.

How fake is suddenly a very interesting question.

"Hey, I want to ask you something," Rio says.

Wanda only nods again, staring vacantly into the past with the expression of a woman who has not fully lived in the present for some time.

"When you broke the spell, you also broke a woman's mind and left her in that place, imagining she was someone else. Someone even more annoying. Why'd you do it, Wanda?"

Now Wanda's attention snaps to her, rivulets of scarlet magic racing up her neck and down her arms, and oh, she is dangerous, all that power with so little control. Rio can picture Agatha's sneer.

"Agatha," Wanda hisses the name. "Is that who you're here to ask me about? Death has come all this way to ask me about Agatha Harkness?"

"That's the one," Rio agrees.

"She tried to wreck my life, destroy my family, literally murder me after she thought she'd stolen my power," Wanda says, using her fingers to count off all of Agatha's crimes. "She also tormented me with my past and lied to me. A lot."

That does, Rio has to admit, sound like the woman she loves. Especially the lying part. She can't keep a smile off her face. "Still. Aren't you supposed to be the good guy?"

"Not that good, I guess," Wanda says, and now even more of her attention is focused on this conversation. Though much like Rio, some part of her always lives elsewhere.

Motorcycle accident. Liver failure. A bad heart. Death deals with all of them without taking her eyes off the Scarlet Witch.

"Agatha did also break you out of your weird sitcom project," Rio points out. "Made you realize that what you were doing was hurting people. Did you know, I wonder? What you were doing to them? Did you know and try to ignore it, in order to keep everything you wanted?"

Wanda comes to her feet, surges like a wave, staggers like a corpse. Her teeth bare with fury, her eyes leak pain. "Of course I didn't! Are you just here to torment me?! Do you think that I don't have nightmares about what I did to those people? Do you know what I lost to make it right?"

Wow, she's dramatic.

"She only did it because she wanted my power. I was in her head. That woman has never done a single kind thing for anyone in her life, not without getting something in return," Wanda continues and Rio can't hold back her laughter, high-pitched, shrill giggles that contain a note of unfettered delight.

"You've got that right," she agrees, and ugh, she wants Agatha, Agatha smiling, Agatha laughing, Agatha complaining about things not happening fast enough, Agatha kissing her—

Agatha whirling her around with a crown of flowers in her hair, her expression that of someone being tortured on the rack. Agatha, laughing too loudly, cheeks flushed with cheap beer, toasting to them both. Agatha, explaining some ritual in intricate detail while she inscribes runes, talking to Rio mostly to keep herself on track.

Agatha, in their bed, lit by the fireplace behind her, head on her hand, looking at Rio like she hasn't in centuries. "I've missed you," she admits, with a sly smile. "I've been thinking. You and I always made a great team. What do you say we get the band back together?"

This isn't right. This isn't how it happened.

"Can you forgive me?" Rio asks anyway, hating how desperate she sounds.

Somewhere a man falls from the top of a building, several stories too high for survival to be a possibility and lives anyway.

"Of course I can," Agatha says. "I love you."

Hah, as if. Even during their best times, Agatha never would have said it so easily. But her hand is on Rio's cheek, and she's so warm, she feels so real. It would be so easy to lean forward and kiss her.

There’s something important she's forgetting.

An ICU has a quiet night, no deaths even among their most critical patients.

"Rio, kiss me," Agatha prompts, and the smile on her lips is so close to being right, a taunting, teasing, tormenting expression. "My love, come to bed."

This is what she wants, isn't it? This is what she's always wanted, Agatha, gentled a little, sweeter, softer, but still the woman she loves.

No, she thinks, this isn’t what I want. I want the real thing. I want the jagged edges, I want the cruelty and the manipulation and the way she screws up her face before she says anything even slightly romantic. I want the way she makes big, sweeping gestures to prove her own power, the way she kisses me like she owns me, the way she sings silly, made up songs to herself when she thinks no one is listening and how she can never sit still, not even for a minute—

I want my Agatha.

A girl falls from her bike, in front of a car and—

Death roars back into the world.

Now it’s Rio’s turn to stagger, as reality reasserts itself. "...You got into my head," she says, and she's still so shocked that she's not even angry about it, only impressed. "Congratulations, no one has ever done that before, not even Ags."

No wonder Agatha went after Wanda. Enough power to, however briefly, divert Death. And suddenly, she's very glad that Agatha, who at least claims to hate her, did not succeed in gaining that power, no matter how much Rio loves her.

"You love her," Wanda murmurs. "You really—kind of creepily—love her."

Rio throws her head back and laughs, a shrill, sharp sound, the squeal of tires on the road, the scream of witnesses. "I do," she admits. "I really, really do."

"I could see you, for a moment. The whole of you," Wanda continues. "All the places you are. All those people. So many, all the time. I don’t know how you stand it." She sags suddenly, leans her weight against the much more real counter. "…Can I ask you something?"

"Go for it."

"When I die, will I see them again? My boys and Vis?"

"Yes," Death says, with absolute certainty. "You'll see them again."

Wanda sinks to the floor, pulls her knees to her chest and shakes with relief, tears rolling silently down her cheeks. "That's all. That's all I needed to know."

"Not yet, though. It isn't your time. You still have things to do," Rio says. "Because you know what, Wanda?"

Wanda only stares up at her, face slick with tears.

"You're right. Death will follow you all your life. In fact, I think we'll be seeing each other again very soon," Rio says, letting her mask drop, and she can see her own skinless reflection in Wanda's widening eyes. "You and me? We are going to have so much fun."

Then, as Wanda starts to form a question, Death is gone. After all, how could she take Wanda now? There is still so much the Scarlet Witch can give her, so many bodies.

Besides, it would be breaking the rules.

But it turns out that there is something of Wanda's she can take. Something waiting for her on a Road that doesn't exist, something she's overlooked, something Agatha, manipulative as always, has been hiding in plain sight.

Rio will make certain that Wanda sees her boys again.

She leaves the cabin, but remains everywhere else.

Somewhere a girl sobs on her shoulder and Death pats her back with practiced movements, perfected over millennia. In that same blink of an eye, she holds an old woman's hand, kisses an old man's cheek, listens patiently to a priest perform his own last rites and guides a protection witch beyond the veil.

Then she steps back onto the Road, hands behind her head, whistling to herself. She's going to go find Agatha. She's already annoyed by all that has been kept from her, and she has no doubt it will be a fight, one where her beloved will probably say something manipulative, cruel or both.

Still, even knowing all of that, she can’t wait to see the real thing.

Want to read something sad? Try Nicky

Want to read something fluffy? Try Flirting

Want to read more Rio thinking about Agatha? Try the thief

[atinylittlepain]

Dancing in the Dark

no outbreak!joel miller x fem!reader

Hungry Hearts masterlist

The summer of '86, a season of love, record-breaking heat, and evening softball games in one Austin neighborhood. What happens when seventeen years later, that lost love comes back around?

warnings | 18+ cursing, smut, young joel is a goddamn menace, angst, references to bad home life, gin making random things canon

wordcount | 9.8K

a/n | welcome back to Hungry Hearts, y'all. i have to thank @northernbluess for beta-reading this bad boy. love you, cousin. as always, I'd love to hear what you think of the chapter!

.......................................

“Hey, Cher, you ready to go?”

“Does it look like I’m ready to go?”

“You look ready to me.”

“Joel, I’m not wearing a shirt.”

“It’s hot out, Cherry. I’m just thinking about your well-being here.”

“How considerate of you. Just give me a minute, and be quiet before my parents hear you.” 

“Bossy, bossy.” She leaves him at her window, shuffling back over to her closet to finish getting dressed. Joel, however, doesn’t stay put for long, swinging one leg, then the other over the sill and into her room before promptly banging his forehead on the opened pane of her window, a low curse leaving his mouth before she can shush him. 

“Very smooth.”

“Yeah, well, you know me. Now c’mere.” He hooks a finger into the belt loop of her jean shorts, a little tug that she resists, and then a bigger, more impatient tug that she can’t help but shuffle into. He’s actually wearing pants tonight, tight, tight blue jeans with a t-shirt that’s had the sleeves and sides cut out, a perfect space for her palms to splay along the bare sides of his ribs when he draws her in for a kiss by the hinge of her jaw. 

“If you start now, we’re never gonna make it to the fair.” He hums at that, his eyes still intently focused on her lips.

“Hmm, would that be such a bad thing?” 

“Uh, yes, I want to see the fireworks.” She’s not sure if he really heard that, his mind seeming to go a bit one-track as he looks at her bra, his fingers brushing over the top of the cups, catching on the lace there.

“This is new.”

“No, I just haven’t worn it around you before.” 

“Well, shit, Cher, you been holding out on me?” 

“Joel.”

“Alright, alright, hands off, I’ll let you get dressed.” As she pulls a tank top over her head, she realizes that he’s never been in her room before. Not even when they were kids. She steals a glance at him as she’s tying her sneakers, and he seems to be stealing glances of his own, subtly leaning over the small desk across from her bed, his eyes trailing over the stack of books sitting there, the photos she had pinned to the wall from her last year of college. He doesn’t say anything though, a quiet collecting, so she doesn’t say anything about it either, simply clearing her throat to grab his attention when she’s ready to go.

“Try not to knock your head into the window on the way out this time.” He doesn’t, though he grumbles through the close contortion he has to manage to pop back outside, panting a little when he holds his hand out for her through the window. It’s not like they had an actual conversation about the necessity of sneaking around with each other. It was an unspoken understanding. Her parents like Joel enough, she grew up with him after all, but she’s certain they would both have aneurysms if they found out what they’ve been getting up to. And anyways, it’s just for the summer, nothing serious, a bit of fun, and Joel seems just as content with that as she is. 

“Tell me about your classes.”

“I’m pretty sure I’d bore you if I did.” 

“We’ve got a half-hour drive, Cher, try me.” The sun is just starting to set, turning the inside of his truck a hazy orange as they drive down the highway away from the suburbs and toward the Austin city limits.

“Okay, in most of them we read books, then we talk about the books, then we write papers about the books.”

“That’s it?”

“I told you it’s boring.” 

“You’re taking writing classes too though, right?” 

“Yeah, I actually won an award for a short story I did in one of them.” She feels a bit stupid sharing that with him, a bit stupid for even wanting to in the first place. But he smiles, big and bright, his eyebrows lifting up with a quick glance over to her.

“No shit, Cher, that’s awesome. I’m not surprised though.” 

“Thanks, yeah, you wanna know what my mom said when I showed her the photo of me receiving the award?” 

“What’d she say?”

“She asked if I had really been wearing my hair like that at school.” For a moment, he’s silent, and her stomach twists up, worried that she shouldn’t have shared that because, obviously, why the hell would he want to hear her bitch about her mom? 

“That’s fucking bullshit, she seriously said that?”

“Yeah.”

“Your mom was always kind of a square.”

“I’m inclined to agree.” 

“You remember when I got gum stuck to your skirt in Sunday school?”

“Oh my god, she was so mad.” 

“She’s got that vein, right down the middle of her forehead, you know?”

“Oh yeah, I’m very familiar with that vein.”

“I swear, Cherry, I thought it was gonna burst she was yelling at me so good.”

“I remember watching that from the car. Your little mouth was just hanging open, I didn’t know if you were gonna bolt or barf.”

“I was scared shitless. She yell at you when y’all got home then?” 

“No, I got the silent treatment and no dinner for a week.”

“Shit, Cher, really?” Suddenly, the laugh buoying his words is gone, a little quieter, a little more tempered. And she realizes, oh, one of those things that isn’t normal. Oh, one of those things that doesn’t happen in other families. Since starting college, she’s gotten good at recognizing these moments, when the laughs die out right after something she said. Oh, your parents? Well, get a load of my parents. No, not funny. Not funny at all. A whole lot of not funny going on in her household. 

“Yeah, I guess that’s why I stopped sitting next to you in Sunday school.” Said with a weak laugh to make it okay, though Joel’s smile has still faltered into something closer to a grimace, his eyes staying still and squinted down the stretch of the highway. 

“Can I read the story sometime?” 

“Oh, um, yeah, okay, if you want.” He keeps his eyes on the road, but his hand that isn’t hanging over the steering wheel slips down to rest on the center console, palm face up, a wordless invitation that she finds herself taking with her own hand. A small comfort to press her palm into his.

“Of course I do, Cher.”

…

It’s the same thing every year. The same rides that always have a few screws loose, the same smell of food sizzling in oil that his doctor would definitely not want him eating, the same throngs of sunburned people shuffling from booth to booth down the drag of streets that have been closed off for the fair. For a while, he didn’t go, but since Sarah got old enough to be interested in all the fourth of July festivities, they’ve made the drive into Austin every year for it, though as of late, the night usually entails her meeting up with her friends and yes, dadding, him into leaving her alone until the fireworks are over. But he isn’t all alone this year, Tommy tagging along at the last minute when whatever his plans were, Joel shudders to think of what they were, fell through. So no, not pathetic at all, just two grown men wandering through the crowd and waiting until they can go home. 

“I saw we got a new appointment on the books for next week. Someone on Cascade Street?”

“Uh-huh.”

“New client?”

“Yep, yeah, they just moved in.”

“Why are you being weird about it?” Tommy stops in his tracks, scrunching his face up at Joel who would really like this topic of conversation to get dropped. 

“I’m not, Tommy, why are you so concerned about this new client?” 

“What are they getting done?” 

“New porch.” 

“Who’s taking the job?” 

“I am.”

“You?” 

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” Tommy shrugs, scoffing when Joel starts walking again without him, quick to catch up and step into stride with him.

“Seems like a pretty rinky-dink job for you to take on, especially when we’re in the middle of that new build on Cypress.”

“I thought you said you have Cypress under control?” He’s being a touch too snappy about it, he knows it, and judging by the weird look Tommy is giving him, his hands up as if in surrender, he knows it too. 

“I do, I’m just surprised that you aren’t letting one of the other guys take that job on, is all. What, is it a pretty lady or something?” Before Joel can figure out how to answer that question, Tommy’s eyes are widening and slipping right over his shoulder, and then–

“Holy shit, holy shit.”

“What?” 

“See for yourself, brother.” Tommy shuffles him around by his shoulders, Joel’s protests dying in his throat when he sees her. Mercifully, she hasn’t seen them yet, standing in line at a frozen lemonade stand with her phone at her ear, having what looks to be a heated conversation. He doesn’t see Ellie with her, though, and figures to himself that she’s gotten the same treatment he has from Sarah. And suddenly, frozen lemonade seems like a very good idea because his throat has gotten quite dry looking at her. Those same jean shorts he saw her in the last time, and a sliver of skin between the waistband and the hem of her t-shirt. Her very tight t-shirt that rides up a little more when she raises her hand to push those sunglasses of hers back into her hair. And, well, he’s not trying to be a perv, but it doesn’t take much more than a glance to tell that she isn’t wearing a bra beneath her very, very tight t-shirt. 

“Cherry!” 

“Tommy, what the fuck?” Too late, her head has already whipped around, her phone still pressed to her ear, though the scowl that had been on her face melts into a small smile, her eyes widening in recognition. Meanwhile, Joel is considering how hard he would have to punch his brother to rattle his pea-sized brain into some sense. Cherry seems to finish her phone call with a quick flurry, already walking over to them as she hangs up.

“Tommy Miller, look at you!” Tommy pulls her into a tight hug, a small oof leaving her as he hoists her up until only her toes are on the ground before setting her back down with a slap to her arm. Joel decidedly does not give her such a greeting. 

“Cher, of all the people I don’t think I’d ever expect to see you around here, goddamn!”

“Wait, Joel didn’t tell you I moved back?” They both turn their attention to Joel, who only manages to open and close his mouth a few times before Tommy lets out a scoff. 

“You knew that she was back and you didn’t tell me?” 

“Uh, well–”

“I thought for sure he would have told you. He’s coming out to look at my porch next week. Very impressive by the way, Tom, Miller’s Construction.” At that, something smug slides down Tommy’s face as he looks over at Joel.

“Oh, is he now? Say, Cher, you didn’t happen to move in on Cascade Street, did you?”

“Yeah, that’s right, so Joel did tell you then?” Joel contorts his face in the best expression of please no, Tommy, I will kill you if you do that he can muster over Cherry’s shoulder, but Tommy just grins at him, and then at Cherry. 

“No, nope, I just saw in our books that there was an appointment on Cascade next week with a very important person. Just putting two and two together for myself since it looks like no one tells me anything around here.” With that, Tommy claps Joel on the shoulder, who still hasn’t managed to get a word in edgewise between the two of them. Cherry has a smile on her face like she knows exactly what’s going on.

“Well, anyways, it’s so good to see you, Cher. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

“It’s good to see you too, Tommy. I’m really glad to see you looking so well.” 

“I try, now if you two kids will excuse me, I have a date with something deep fried and covered in sugar.” Tommy is off in a flash, leaving Joel to flounder beneath Cherry’s simpering gaze. 

“You didn’t tell Tommy that I was back?”

“I didn’t think it was mine to tell.” She nods, squinting at him through the bleary haze of the sunset.

“So this hasn’t changed much at all.”

“No, I reckon these are the same rides we went on as kids.”

“Don’t remind me, I’m already worried that Ellie’s off getting kidnapped right now. I don’t need tetanus and loss of limb added to the list.”

“So you got dumped too then?” They make their way back over to the line in front of the frozen lemonade stand, a bit longer than it was before, but he’s happy to wait with her. 

“Afraid so, apparently when you turn fourteen you no longer want to be seen in public with your mom.”

“That applies to dads too.” They both share a tired smile and a small shrug, and once again he can’t believe he’s standing here with her, talking about parenthood of all things. 

“Ellie’s on a date, but don’t tell her I told you that.” Said with a slanted smile and a bump of her shoulder into his.

“Oh yeah?” 

“Mmhmm, she’s been harboring quite the crush on her team’s center outfielder.” The gears in his mind spin for a moment, and then it clicks. 

“Oh, oh, huh.” 

“Nice save, Joel.” 

“No, I mean, that’s great, Cher. Good for her for, uh, knowing herself.” He palms the back of his neck, trying to cool the quick heat creeping there as she laughs at him. It’s a heat he hasn’t felt in a long time, though she was always quick to draw it out of him, always quick to catch him.

“Yeah, it is. I do worry though. Austin is definitely not New York.”

“That it ain’t, though I don’t think she’s gonna have to worry with you for her mom. You always did know how to give people the what for.” 

“You’re damn right about that.” That’s a smile he’d like to remember, a grin really, her eyes crinkling up at him, a little wry and a little fierce. That heat just keeps creeping. 

When they get to the front of the line, she starts to argue with him when he tries to pay for her drink, though he manages to sneak it by her when she gets distracted by another phone call buzzing through her back pocket. She checks the caller ID, sighs, and immediately shoves the phone back into her pocket, letting out another sigh when she sees that he’s already paid for her lemonade. 

“For the record, I’m getting the next one.” 

“Sure, Cher.” His mind gets a little stuck on next one, though he manages to follow her over to a bench and sit down with her, when once again, her phone starts ringing. She doesn’t check it, simply takes a long swig through the straw of her drink as it continues to buzz and ring.

“Not gonna take that call?” 

“Nope, do you want some of this?” Maybe it’s childish, but the thought of drinking from the same straw as her makes his brain start to fry, so he shakes his head no and grips the edge of the bench a little tighter. 

“Is that who you were on the phone with earlier?”

“Oh, you saw that, huh?” It makes him feel sheepish, admitting that he had, nodding to her question. Her shoulders slacken with a long sigh, another pull from her lemonade before she continues speaking. 

“It’s my agent, poking around for my next draft.”

“So you weren’t kidding about the big leagues? Got an agent and everything.”

“I wish I didn’t have one, honestly. But I kinda have to when I’m dealing with all these big publishers.” She pinches the bridge of her nose as she says it, her eyes dropping shut, and he finally sees that she is actually very tired. A little drawn, heavy circles under her eyes, a little thin, sharp around the edges in a way he doesn’t remember. How he missed it before he isn’t sure, but now that he sees it, something slight and sharp slips between his ribs and curls around his heart. 

“You’re working on another book then?” How quickly she hides away that weariness, looking at him with her cheek tilted over her shoulder and a bright smile.

“I’m trying to. You probably don’t care to hear about this–”

“I do, Cher, always wanted to hear about your stories.” It comes out before he can think much about it, and her expression does a strange thing. A quick fall, a scrunch of her brows, and then a slight frown before she shakes her head as if to clear the whole thing away. 

“Have you really not read a single one of my books, Joel?” 

“Uh, I–”

“No, don’t answer that. Wasn’t a fair question, sorry. Anyways, there’s nothing much to tell about this one because I am completely stuck with it.” 

“Stuck?” 

“I’m about this close to scrapping the whole thing. I don’t know, I guess part of me thought the move would shake something loose, but I still got nothing.” It’s not like he could offer her any advice on it, and it’s not like she’s looking for it either, another sigh around her straw and a shrug of her shoulders, always quick to make nothing out of something. 

“You eaten anything for dinner yet?”

“Does this thirty-two ounce frozen lemonade count?” He’s already getting up and holding out his hand for her, and while it seems like the simplest movement, his mind instantly questions if it’s too much, though he fights against that with a foolish hope. 

“C’mon, Cher, I think I can do you one better than a frozen lemonade.” No big deal, she takes his hand. No big deal, he tells himself. No big deal when she lets go either, because that’s normal too. That’s friendly. And friendly is good. 

“If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking, then it is definitely going to be better than this frozen lemonade.” 

…

“You got a little, right there–” Before she can wipe away whatever he’s referring to with a napkin, Joel has already licked his thumb and swiped it along the corner of her mouth, promptly sucking what she assumes is barbecue sauce off the pad of his finger. 

“That was so gross.”

“What? I’m saving paper.”

“Lovely.”

“Always, Cherry baby.” The sun had set a while ago, the streets lit up in a syrupy wash of neon from all the rides and games lining the several blocks. They ran the whole circuit of the booths, her constantly pulling Joel away to keep him from spending any more money on trying to win her something, and inevitably failing at whatever rigged game he stepped up to. She can already see his eyes dragging over the remaining booths as they finish their meal at one of the picnic tables set up next to all the food vendors, planning his attack, no doubt.

“You know I really don’t care about getting a stuffed animal, right?” 

“It’s the principle of the thing, Cher.”

“Those games are literally designed for people to lose at them. Seriously, I don’t want you to waste any more money on it.” She quickly realizes that was the exact wrong thing to say, Joel’s eyes flashing back to her, hard and steeled, on the defense. 

“You don’t gotta worry about what I do with my money, okay?” His words come out rushed and loud, with a quick shake of his head, enough to startle her back from where her thigh had been pressed close to his, something that immediately washes the edge out of his expression, his eyebrows slackening and his lips parting.

“Okay, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it, Joel.” Her mouth feels dry, a cool prickle in her scalp, regret swirling up her meal in her stomach. He gets enough of that from everyone else, the money, the job, the what is the plan. He doesn’t need it from her too. 

“No, I’m sorry, it’s just– forget it, I shouldn’t have gone after you like that.” She’s not quite ready to look at him, keeping her eyes focused on the red and white checkered napkin that she’s twisting in her hands. But of course, Joel doesn’t abide by that for long, ducking his head and leaning over to place a smacking kiss on the corner of her mouth before angling back again to get one planted square on her lips. 

“You– taste– like– smoked– brisket–” Each of his words is punctuated with another peck until she can no longer stave off the smile threatening at the corners of her lips, shoving him back with a palm pressed in the middle of his chest. 

“Oh shit, Miller, is that you?” Her stomach turns over, because she’s pretty sure she knows whose voice that is, and she wishes that she didn’t. She isn’t sure what the next best move is, though Joel seems to make the decision for her, slinging his arm over her shoulder to tuck her into his side just as Mikey Donahue comes sauntering over to where they’re sitting. 

“Hey, Mike, you out with the guys tonight?” Joel offers his hand out for a hard shake, apparently still chummy with Mikey after the little scene at his party. Though she supposes water flows under the bridge a little faster for boys anyways. 

“Nah, decided to finally bite the bullet and take Maureen out, she ducked into the bathrooms but she should be wandering over soon.” Though the answer is directed at Joel, Mikey’s eyes stay steady on her, a smile that she doesn’t like the curl of crooking his mouth. 

“Y’all are quite the couple. Does your daddy know you’re out with this menace, big city?” It’s so small, so subtle, but she can still feel it, the way Joel’s hand curls closely and tenses around her forearm from where his arm had been draped around her.

“Ha, ha, Mikey, that’s very funny. I’m a big girl though, don’t really need my daddy or you to be concerned with my business.” Joel snorts over her shoulder, and she has to resist the urge to elbow him for it. 

“Whatever you say, big city. Oh, here comes Maureen. Do y’all mind if we join you?” She’s quick to cut Joel off before he can answer, squeezing his thigh hard to shut him up as she offers Mikey a tight-lipped smile. 

“Actually, we were just heading off to get a few rides in before the fireworks, but y’all have fun.” Not another word, though she’s pretty sure she hears Mikey let out a laugh as she pulls Joel up and along behind her before Maureen can even get anywhere near them. 

“Cher, you know I don’t like rides.” Said very lowly, a bit bashful, she thinks, his head ducking down to speak the words right into her ear. Yeah, she knows, and has known since they were nine and Tommy and her forced him onto the Gravitron, which ended with Joel in tears and a puddle of what had been his dinner next to the trash can that he missed by only a hair. 

“I know, I just needed an excuse to get away from those two. But, really, Joel? Not even the ferris wheel?” He stops walking for a moment, his eyes scanning over the arc of the ride as if to give it his full consideration. Finally, he looks at her again, his lips pressed in a thin line.

“How bad do you wanna go on it?” 

“I think it could be nice, but not if you’re going to be all weird about it.” She swears she sees his chest puff a little, and with that, he takes her hand with all the conviction of a man going off to war. 

“I’m not going to be weird about it, let’s go.” Famous last words. He’s the picture of ease all while they’re standing in line, but the instant they cram into one of the cars, his whole body tenses up, his knuckles going white where they’re gripping onto the side railing. She doesn’t say anything at first, just puts her hand on his bouncing knee when the ride cranks into motion. Though when they crest the top of the ride and it stops again, Joel’s poorly contained panic becomes impossible to ignore.

“Oh, what the fuck–”

“It’s okay, they’re just letting more people on.” She doesn’t think that he hears her, too busy craning his neck over the side of the car before skittering back into place when the lean of his body makes the whole thing rock. 

“This is so fucked–”

“Joel.”

“Why do people enjoy this? That’s–”

“Joel.” 

“What?” He finally looks at her, eyes a bit frantic and jaw slack. She can’t help but reach out and brush his hair back from his face. 

“Is it– are you afraid of heights?” Calling it what it is seems to calm him, his shoulders finally coming down from his ears and his eyes softening. She lets her hand dip down to curl behind his neck, her fingers scratching lightly into the back of his hair.

“Maybe, but I’d say that’s a pretty rational fear, Cher.” 

“Yeah, it is, and you’re also totally safe right now.” Her words are undermined just a bit when the ride screeches back into motion just as she finishes saying them, Joel’s eyes going wide again as he whips his head around to look over the edge of the car. Right, drastic measures then. 

“Hey.” First, she shrugs her thigh over top of his to stop the anxious bounce in his knee, already drawing his attention back onto her. Then, she leans in a little closer so she can keep her eyes steady with his, her hand firm along the side of his neck to hold him in place. 

“Just look right here and it’ll be over before you know it.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“Well, I’m not the one freaking out on a ferris wheel right now.”

“Hey.” She shouldn’t, like giving a child what they want just because they’re having a tantrum. But she does, pressing one kiss, then another to his lips, small, swift little pecks that he eventually starts to lean into, his hand that had been gripping onto the railing coming up to settle along the line of her jaw when she swipes her tongue across his bottom lip. They’ve gotten a little better at this, at making compromises with each other, giving and taking almost equally, opening up for each other. And, not that his ego needs to hear it, but she really likes kissing him. 

His panic seems to be all forgotten as he licks into her mouth, his nose brushing along the side of hers. Always a little greedy though, crowding her into the side of the car and making a soft sound skitter up her throat when his teeth graze along her lip. 

“Uh, excuse me?” It startles them both, Joel very slowly pulling away from her and turning his head to look at the ride attendant, the very unamused looking ride attendant. 

“Y’all can get off now, thanks.” 

…

“Goddamn.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“They don’t have barbecue up north?” 

“Not like this they don’t, Jesus.” He tries not to smile too big at the satisfied hum that leaves her throat as she takes another bite. And he’s also trying hard not to watch her too closely, because, no, it’s probably not normal to just stare at someone while they’re eating brisket and potato salad. 

“Do I have something on my face?” Busted, and, well, actually, he motions to the side of his own mouth, words getting caught in his throat. She gets the hint though, grabbing a napkin and dabbing at the same spot on her face.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize how hungry I actually was. I probably look a little crazy right now.” 

“Are you eating proper while you’re working?” Sheepish, the flicker of her eyes from beneath her lashes is enough of an answer to his question. Some things never change, he supposes. 

“I may get a little distracted.”

“Uh-huh.” A quick, quiet smile shared, a knowing. He likes knowing. 

“Mom?” No, he is still not used to that, both of them whipping their heads around where they’re sitting at a picnic bench to see her daughter with a very furrowed look on her face. 

“Hey, babe, everything okay?” Ellie is looking at Joel. Sizing him up is more like it, her lips pursed and her arms crossed, her hip cocked to the side, just like he knows her mom does when she’s not pleased with something. 

“Uh, yeah, we were just gonna– wait, are you eating meat?” He glances back to Cherry, who now has the guiltiest little smile on her face, her eyebrows pulled together in a quiet cringe as she tries to inconspicuously swallow another bite of food.

“I am, Els, I’m sorry. I gotta be honest, I don’t think I’m gonna keep up the vegetarian thing all the time, but you know I’ll support you if you still want to.” Ellie gives her an eye roll that looks like it’s going to get stuck in the back of her head, a little huff and a few shuffled steps in place like she can’t believe this.

“Okay, well, fine, I guess. I was gonna ask if you had found something to eat that didn’t have dead animal in it, but obviously you’re not gonna be much help with that so I’ll see you later.” With that, Ellie turns heel back into the crowd, Joel still unsure exactly what he just watched.

“They have fried pickles, babe, those should be fine! Be safe, please!” Ellie only acknowledges her shout with a glance spared over her shoulder, Cherry immediately deflating when her daughter gets swallowed up by the crowd, bringing her thumb and forefinger to pinch the bridge of her nose again.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe that just happened.” Said with a dejected little laugh that only grows when she takes another bite of brisket, his chest loosening up when she shakes her head and offers him a smile.

“So vegetarian, huh?” Cherry shrugs.

“New York.” 

“Sarah had a phase with it too. Only lasted three days before Tommy took her to KFC and she swayed.” 

“Ellie is a little more, uh, zealous about it. It’s going on two years now since she watched some documentary and came into my room in complete tears over, and mind you that a twelve-year-old said this, the horrors of animal agriculture.” 

“Well shit.” 

“Right?” 

“You’re telling me you’ve been vegetarian for two years?”

“Don’t laugh, Joel.” It only makes him laugh harder, Cherry shoving him in the arm as she tries to scrunch her mouth out of a smile. But beneath that laugh, there’s something else, something warm and a little giddy. He’s noticed it every time she has said his name. 

“No wonder you were so hungry, Cher, damn.”

“This may surprise you, but meat isn’t the only food group. And I’ll have you know I make some damn good tofu enchiladas.” 

“Well that’s just sacreligious.”

“Oh please.” Back and forth, slipping into that easy volley without either of them noticing that their faces have started inching closer and closer, though when they do there’s a quick flush of heat that has them both clearing their throats and widening that space again. 

“I’ve been meaning to ask, where did Will end up?” 

“Oregon, he’s a really great photographer these days.” 

“Y’all keep in touch?”

“A little, yeah. I think for a while, we were both just happy to have gotten out, you know? It made us keep our distance from each other. But he came and visited last year, got to meet Ellie for the first time.” 

“That’s great, Cher.”

“Yeah, it is. He’s turning thirty-three this year, if you can believe it.” 

“Jesus.”

“I know, how’d that happen, huh?” Joel just shakes his head, a memory already floating up to the surface. Will was a freshman when they were seniors, tall but slight for his age, quieter, kept more to himself, though Joel made a point of saying hi to him in the hallways, clapping him on the back in the lunch line. There was a day, maybe a week after winter break, and Joel was loitering in the halls during a class he didn’t have any patience for when he saw Will at his locker. All smiles, all loud and brash greetings that all faded when he saw the shiner mottling under Will’s right eye. He remembers being ready to go on the warpath for the kid, asking him over and over, who did this, man, just tell me, who did this? He figured, one of the guys from the football team, someone he could set straight, and that he of course would set straight for Cherry’s little brother. But Will just kept saying nobody, it’s nobody, Joel, please don’t. It was probably two months later when he finally figured out who nobody was, a slow realization, something clicking into place. 

But he knows better than to share that memory with her, the same way he knows better than to ask her if she has kept in touch with her parents. He already knows the answer to that question. 

“Joel?”

“Hmm?”

“Where’d you go?” Her head tilted at him, a suggestion of a smile. 

“Sorry, just thinking.”

“That’s dangerous.”

“And that’s mean.” Back to the present, sitting next to her on a picnic bench, he has to shake his head of it. A strange feeling, how carefully they’re stepping around the past, sharing pieces in scraps, in unsure palms, always quick to make it light, make a joke of it. He’s not sure how long he can keep dancing like this. 

“Are you sticking around for the fireworks?”

“I was informed by Sarah to meet her at the car after the fireworks, so yeah, I guess I am.” 

“Oh, how funny, I was given the same instructions by my own little tyrant.” 

“Imagine that.” 

“You wouldn’t want to watch them with me, would you?” 

“I’d love to, Cher.”

…

“You do realize you’re driving us in the opposite direction of where the fireworks are being set off, right?” 

“Do you trust me or not?”

“Do you want me to answer that honestly or not?” 

“You know I could kick you out of my car if I wanted to.” 

“Oh yeah? I’d like to see you try.” 

“Cherry, just– quiet for a minute–”

“Don’t tell me to be quiet, Joel!”

“I’m trying to concentrate, goddamnit! You’re gonna make me miss the turn.”

“What turn? We’re literally on the highway and there isn’t another exit for–” Her thought gets lost behind a gasp when Joel mutters a quiet shit under his breath and suddenly veers completely off the road and into what she thinks is a corn field, though she’s a little too busy shouting whatthefuckwhatthefuckwhatthefuck over and over again as the car bounces and bumps over uneven ground. And seemingly just as suddenly, he stops the car altogether, putting it in park and killing the engine in what, yes, is the middle of a cornfield, the stalks unusually high and proud for this early in the season. It’s already dark out, deep blue and bruising shadows, she can only barely see his face in what light the lamp post about fifty yards away offers.

“What the fuck?”

“You already asked that about a thousand times, Cher.” 

“Yeah, and you haven’t answered, so again, what the fuck?” He’s still not answering, shouldering into his door to get it open against the close crush of the tightly planted corn stalks, letting out a satisfied grunt when it finally gives way.

“Joel–”

“Cherry, just shut up and give me your hand.” 

“If you ever tell me to shut up again I’m going to make sure you regret it.” 

“Noted, now come here.” Albeit reluctantly, she takes his hand from where he’s now leaning out of the driver’s side door, managing an awkward shimmy over the center console and into the driver’s seat as Joel swings his body out along the side of the car, one leg hitching into the truck bed. The soft silk of corn stalks brushes against her legs and arms as she follows after him, holding on tight to his hand to hoist herself up and into the truck bed alongside him, a quick tumble over each other, all tangled up. Though not for long, Joel already getting to work shaking out what she sees is a stack of moving blankets in the back of the truck bed. She takes a moment to look around, a thick line of trees surrounding the field on the side opposite to the road, so late that she doesn’t think a single car has passed by since they’ve driven out here. And, she hates to admit it, a perfect view down the stretch of the highway of the stadium where they’re setting off the fireworks from. 

“You good?” His question startles her out of her slow scan of the surroundings, finally looking back at him to see that he’s spread the blankets out in the bed of the truck, his back resting against the cab and his legs stretched out in front of him. 

“Y-yeah.” It comes out small and shaky, and while she thinks she knows why, she tamps that down tight as she crawls over to sit beside him. Even though it’s oppressively hot, she still tucks down into his side when he lets his arm fall over her shoulders. Perfect spot and perfect timing too, but she doesn’t watch the sky when she hears that familiar whistle and pop of rockets, choosing instead to see the light burst and shatter over his face, the slow fall of it in his eyes. And there’s no tamping it down now, that feeling starting to fizz and lift in her chest, and as she continues to watch each succession of color and sound wash over Joel’s parted lips and wide eyes, she knows that she is absolutely, irreparably, fucked. 

“You’re not even watching.” 

“Yes I am.” He’s not watching anymore either, looking at her down the length of his nose, all shadow between the quick fractures of light. Their chins bump first before they get it right, seeking each other out by feel. His hands finding her hips, squeezing and coaxing her into his lap, though he pulls away when the next resonant crack of fireworks splits the sky and her whole body tenses. 

“You don’t like the sound?” 

“It’s not my favorite thing.” No, she doesn’t like that sound. That sound that reminds her of the whole lot of not funny going on in her household, but she’s already leaning in to forget all that with her mouth pressed to his. Though Joel holds her back, firm palm, big palm, steady and curled at the nape of her neck. 

“Is it okay though? You’re okay?” It doesn’t help her case when another stream of fireworks sets off just as he asks it, her body jolting in his hold again, but she tries to pass it off with a breathy laugh. 

“It’s fine, Joel. I’m fine. Just come here, please.” He relents, his hand slipping down along her spine to press her closer as she opens his mouth with hers, a shared sigh and the quiet scrape of teeth, her palm splayed over his chest feeling the thrum of his moan when she licks into his mouth. He’s being careful, she can tell, and she doesn’t think it’s only because they can just barely see each other in the dim light and the punctuated bursts of brightness from the fireworks, his hands splaying wide along the span of her back, holding her so close that every time her muscles tense and jump at the sounds it just sends her closer into his arms. He’s steady, perfectly, his thumbs stroking back and forth along her spine, constant and lulling until she knows that the fireworks are still going on, the pinpricks of light in the periphery, but she can no longer hear them over the rushing in her ears and the way she’s trying to collect every breath of his with her own. 

And she just wants more, however she can get it, his stomach tensing up when her fingers slip beneath the hem of his shirt, only pulling away enough that he can help her tug it over his head. Always so warm beneath her hands, she keeps one palm in the center of his chest, finding that pulse, that beat that always seems so strong to her, as Joel’s hands begin to wander. Ever predictable, the first stop of his circuit is her ass, both palms splayed and squeezing, making a weak noise fizzle out in her throat as he rocks her forward into the hardness in his jeans. From there, his palms slip down to the meat of her thighs, another squeeze, his fingers flickering under the hem of her shorts. Their kiss breaks with a quiet click, lips shined and swollen with it as she leans back to peel her tank top off, though before she can unclasp her bra, Joel grabs both her wrists, his eyes wide and pleading.

“What’s wrong?” The fireworks have stopped, so she must squint in the shadows to see the way his eyes are drooping down, the dip and bob of his throat as he swallows.

“Nothing, I just– s’pretty.” He lets go of her wrists, his fingers coming up to ghost over the tops of her breasts, that slight spill of flesh over the top of her bra, a small sigh that she can see leave his chest as he watches her own inhale and exhale. 

“Do you want me to leave it on, baby?” She’s never called him that before, though judging by the broken groan that crackles in his chest, he liked it, a new warmth curling deep in her stomach at the sound. 

“Please, Cher.” She can’t help the grin that slips across her face, circling one of his wrists with her palm to draw it up to her lips, pressing a kiss to the pad of each finger before guiding his hand down to the waistband of her shorts. Quick to flicker through the button and zipper, it’s all slow moves as he surges forward and she leans back until she’s laying out in the bed of the truck with Joel between her legs and nothing on but that bra he seems to like so much. It doesn’t surprise her that he wastes no time in ducking his head down to mouth over the fabric of her bra, her spine arching up into the wet heat with a sigh. Though he’s gone just as fast, drifting further down over the fluttering rise and fall of her stomach, his lips catching below her navel before he settles between her legs with her thighs resting over his shoulders. 

He learned fast what she likes, with her hand in his hair and her words so quick to correct or to praise, he learned very fast. So she doesn’t have to say a thing now, a silent cry crackling in her jaw when he drags his tongue through the heat of her cunt. She can already feel a perfect bead of arousal dripping from between her thighs down the cleft of her ass as his mouth rests over her clit and he sucks, sharp, quick, before dipping back down and doing it again. He’s gotten more confident, more brazen about it, a little rough in the way his fingers dig into the swell of her thighs, demanding everything, open and willing and waiting for whatever he will give her. And she gives it to him, fingers threaded through his hair to tug when his teeth graze too tender, her spine strung tight and taut as her cunt clenches around nothing. The sound is obscene, a salacious secret amidst the hum of crickets and the close quiet of the night, the little hums he can’t seem to stop rising in his throat as he eats at her, the slick slip of it, and the gentle, but still there, rock of the truck from how he’s grinding his hips down, seeking out more just the same as her. 

His one palm slips under the curve of her ass, tilting her hips up toward his mouth as he continues to lick and suck at her cunt, all that pleasure starting to hurt, starting to snap and snarl as she tugs a little harder at his hair. 

“I– more– something more, please.” He lifts his gaze from its hazy drop, the whites of his eyes still hooded and shining up to her as he rests his cheek against the soft inside of her thigh, the little pants of his breath washing over her cunt and making her hips twitch. 

“You want more?” She would smack him for looking so smug if she didn’t need it so bad, settling instead for another tug in his hair that makes him puff out a laugh. He doesn’t wait for any more of an answer, happy to oblige with two of his fingers dragging down through her swollen cunt before dipping inside, heat shooting up her spine when he curls them just so, that small stretch, that ache, that want. He presses a kiss to the inside of her thigh before his teeth sink into the flesh, his fingers already finding a steady rhythm that’s making her buck up into his hand. 

“Yes– just like that– I want– I want–”

“You want it?’

“Uh-huh.”

“You need it?” 

“So bad, Joel, please.”

“I know, Cherry, look at you, huh? So perfect like this.” He continues to coo at her in that low hum when it finally catches up with her, that pleasure pulling taut fraying all at once, her whole body curling in tight and tense and then releasing with a languid moan. My girl, my fucking girl, so good, my good fucking girl. She hears it somewhere in the back of her mind, tucking it away behind the wall of sound and sense still coursing through her as her hips jolt in his grasp, so sensitive that tears start to pearl along her lashes. She thinks her heart might actually stop when he finally pulls his fingers away and up to his mouth, sucking each one with a hum and an absurd pop before he crawls up her body to give her a taste. 

Her hands are already tugging at his jeans, only a bit surprised when she manages to ruck them down and finds that he isn’t wearing underwear. 

“You are such a freak.” He laughs, leaving a harsh nip to the hinge of her jaw.

“I don’t see why you’re complaining, it’s easy access, Cher.” She only manages to get his jeans down over the curve of his ass, but it’s enough so she can slip her palms down and dig her fingernails into the flesh in retaliation, Joel groaning and dropping his forehead down to her sternum. 

“Be nice.”

“You be nice.”

“You’re the one that called me a freak.” 

“And it stands.”

“If I’m a freak then you’re a–”

“Careful, baby.” 

“You’re a menace.” He hisses out the word as he spreads her open on his cock in one slow drag, the both of them sighing as he stills inside her. For a moment the only sound is their ragged breaths. Slow movements, his hand curling around the back of her knee to draw it up against his hip, another small rock that makes her preen with how full she feels. Her mouth stays stamped at his hairline, words murmured there as she curls her arm around his shoulder blades. 

“I’m a menace?” 

“Uh-huh, you d-drive me insane.” His words come out breathless as he finally pulls his hips back, a little more force in his next thrust that makes a whine tear through her chest. He’s so deep, grinding his hips into hers even deeper and all she can do is take it, her heel digging into his low back as he does it again and again and again. 

“Well you drive me in-insane too– oh.” The words slip out in stilted stutters, tears dripping cool and sticky down her flushed cheeks as he finds a different movement, one that’s harder and meaner, rucking her up the bed of the truck with every shunt of his hips against hers, his chest pressed tight against hers, sweat beading and dripping between her breasts.

“Oh yeah?”

“Uh-huh.” Pitchy and high in her throat, she can’t help it when he slips a hand between the humid stick of their bodies to drag his fingers against her clit. 

“Good.” It isn’t long before they’re both unraveling around each other, his forehead pressed hard into hers, the weight of him heaving and draped over her, stifling and sweaty and perfect. Her whole body shakes with the panting laugh he lets out, finally resting his chin between her breasts to look up at her. 

“My little menace.” She can’t help but laugh too, his cheeks splitting into a grin at the sound. 

“My big freak.”

“Hey.”

…

“Oh my god.”

“What, what is it?”

“I think that’s Ellie and her date.” 

“Where?”

“Don’t be so obvious about it, two rows down, across the aisle.” Her hand is on his shoulder, her finger pointed right next to his face to guide his gaze toward where she’s looking. Sure enough, it’s Ellie, sitting very close to another girl on the bleachers, oblivious to the crush of the crowd around them, smiling and laughing to each other as they wait for the fireworks to start. He never liked watching from inside the stadium, thinking that all the bright lights sort of defeated the purpose, but now he’s grateful for them so he can get a better look to confirm that yes, that is definitely Ellie who is now putting her arm around her date, getting even cozier. 

“Oh my god.” He finally looks away to see Cherry hanging on his shoulder, perfectly mortified at the sight in front of her.

“You got a regular Casanova on your hands, Cher.” 

“I feel like I’m going to cry, or maybe scream, or maybe throw up.” He’s watching her watching them, her brow crumpled and her jaw completely slack, pure shock. He’d laugh, but he’s pretty sure he’d be in a far worse state if he saw Sarah in a similar position. 

“Hey, it’s okay, they’re just–”

“Oh my fucking god, look!” His eyes dart back just in time to see what he’s pretty sure is the end of a kiss, the young pair shyly pulling away from each other with small smiles.

“Oh, Jesus Christ.”

“Do you think that was her first kiss?” It’s such an absurd question. He’s only just met the kid, after all. But when he looks back at Cherry and sees the pleading tilt of her eyes, how could he not try his best?

“Well, I don’t know, Cher, do you?” Maybe his best wasn’t very good.

“I don’t know. Oh fuck, I shouldn’t have seen that. I should not have seen that. She’s too young for that, right? I should go get her, yeah, that’s what I should do.” She’s already starting to get up out of her seat, and all Joel can think to do is grab her hand to keep her where she is.

“Woah, woah, hey, I think they’re fine, Cher. Look, they’re just talking now.” She squeezes his hand, still looking at Ellie with a deep frown on her face, but she does sit back down. She’s still holding onto his hand while she worries her bottom lip between her teeth.

“You think so?”

“Tell me this, how old were you when you had your first kiss?” Suddenly, the worry in her face slackens, something a bit more bashful slipping into place. She’s still holding onto his hand.

“Well, I was thirteen.” 

“There you go, it’s normal then.” She’s still holding onto his hand.

“How old were you when you had yours?” She’s still holding onto his hand.

“I don’t know, probably thirteen like you.” She’s still holding onto his hand.

“You mean you don’t remember?” She’s still holding onto his hand.

“Not really.” 

“How can you not remember your first kiss?” She finally lets go of his hand, only so that she can talk with her own, a bit of flailing and exasperation at him before her hands settle in her lap. He rests his on his knee, a hard squeeze to stop any lingering want.

“I just don’t. It was a long time ago, and it obviously wasn’t very important.” 

“Do you at least remember who it was with?” He does, but she’s not going to like the answer, and suddenly the toes of his boots are very interesting as he scratches the back of his neck. 

“Uh, Maureen.” He says it as he drags his hand down his jaw, the name getting muffled beneath his palm. Cherry’s face scrunches up.

“Come again?” He really doesn’t want to say it again, but he knows she’s not going to give this up now, her chin tilted down and her eyes narrowed at him.

“Maureen? Maureen Henderson, yep.” As if a yep might make it better, but her brows have already done that thing, that familiar thing where they shoot up her forehead, then scrunch down again, then slacken.

“Huh, so Maureen wasn’t very memorable then?”

“Nope, not at all.” She purses her lips and nods, her eyes squinting out across the stadium for a moment. But before whatever is simmering below the surface can bubble over, the first booming firework goes off, and her whole body recoils. 

“Oh, motherfucker.” It happens again, another fizzle and crack, and as the crowd oohs and ahhs, she digs her fingernails into her thighs and grits her jaw. 

“That never got any better, huh?”

“Afraid not.” He wants to reach out for her, to curl his arm around her shoulders and pull her tight into his side, to absorb the shock that keeps resounding through her body. He knows how to, after all. 

“Is– is there something I can do, Cher?” Her eyes are a little unfocused, even when he ducks his head down to try to get her attention.

“You’d think that by now I’d have figured out that every loud sound isn’t–” Almost like a hiccup when the next rocket goes off. The only thing that’s different is that now, each time, first her eyes dart over to where Ellie is sitting, checking, making sure. He feels his heart ripping apart watching her. 

“Hey.” It comes out quieter than he meant it to, but her eyes still turn onto him when he puts his hand on her knee.

“You wanna go wait at your car?” She nods, and that’s enough for him to go into action, not thinking twice about taking her hand again and shepherding them both down one of the aisles further away from where Ellie is sitting. Back and forth, back and forth, his thumb stays steady and smoothing along her hand the whole way out of the stadium and into the massive parking lot.

“My car or yours, Cher?” 

“I don’t– I don’t– Ellie– uh, I–” She’s still holding tight to his hand, her eyes darting around the lot, clearly working herself into a state, the continued onslaught of fireworks not helping at all. 

“That’s alright. Cher? It’s alright, okay? Let’s sit in my car and I’ll drive you to yours when this is over.” He thinks she says okay, but he’s already focused on pulling her along to his car. And when they get in, him in the driver’s seat and her in the passenger’s, he realizes that, no, he’s not going to crack the windows, trying to keep as much of the sound out as possible. So he lets the car idle and cranks the AC up as high as it will go, and it’s probably going to burn up his tank of gas, but he doesn’t care, because it seems to muffle the noise of the fireworks just enough for her to start coming back down. He’s still holding her hand over the center console.

“Oh fuck, I’m sorry, Joel.” She takes her hand out of his, pressing her palm to her chest, letting out a long breath through her nose. 

“Don’t, Cherry. It’s okay.” She keeps her eyes closed and her palm against her chest, long inhales and exhales, and he realizes that she’s doing a breathing exercise. He only knows it because the shrinks at the VA started Tommy in on it when he kept having panic attacks after coming home. And something like anger settles in his stomach, slithering up and seeping out between his ribs, sickening and slick. Anger that no, this hasn’t gotten any better. Anger that no, this probably won’t get better. And no, no one deserves it, but he selfishly thinks to himself that she especially doesn’t deserve it. 

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Cher.” Her eyes finally slip open, head tilting onto her shoulder to look at him. Mercy, it’s passing. Mercy, he could help her through its passing. 

“So, Maureen Henderson, huh?” 

“Oh, you’re still on that?” Small smile, he’ll take it.

“You could have done better, that’s all.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Mmhmm.” 

“Well since you remember it so well, who was your first?” 

“You’re not gonna like my answer.” 

“Try me.” 

“It was Mikey Donahue.”

“No.” She was right, he didn’t like that answer, not one bit.

“Yeah, I think his friends dared him to do it, honestly.” 

“That little shit.” 

“Uh-huh.”

“You could have done better.” That gets a full smile from her, her nose scrunching up at the same time something takes off in his chest. 

“I guess we both could have.”

“Yeah, Cher, I guess so.”

...................................................

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[luvyeni]

THE HIGH LORD OF DAY COURT; LEE FELIX

PAIRINGS. highfae!felix x human!reader

WC. 6.2k

WARNINGS. reader is a dumbass, oral (m&f receiving, unprotected sex, little bit of boob play, fingering

SYNOPSIS. when you accidentally cross the line between the human realm and the faerie realm, you are attacked by a scary creature, but you are saved and nursed back to health by felix of day court. when it's time for you to leave, he can't help the pain in his heart.

TAGLIST. @kosmoreads @hipsdofangirl @imhyvnjin @lovemepie67 @chvnnie @hgema @candiecans @my-name-is-namename @yourhwngness @midsoulz @jessyrdn @cutielittlepie @intomysoul-555 @cxentrxcks @yurippiefelix @missrobyn81 @stayinthemirohwoo @3retcha @lifeissteph @skzfelixlove @reiheis @chereshnyya @levantea @why-am-i-sad @blankdyean @kunstistliebchen @userbangchan @fairywriter-oracle @elmi-chan @compersian @mal-lunar-28 @n4tiii @ddazed-lhs @felixcharmerera @ch4nniebang @hyunibinnie @fairyyeo @reddesert-healourblues @fxckedupbitch @icouldntcareless22 @pessimist-sky @jeonnyread

DISCLAIMER! THIS IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE BOOK SERIES BUT IT WILL HAVE REFERENCES TO THE BOOK.

You awoke the next morning before anyone , hoping this would work, i mean your grandmother wasn't a unreasonable women , she wouldn't mind if you took one day off , but you still felt bad leaving her and your sister all alone with all these chores , so you decided to get up early to do them , before asking

you and your little sister lived with your grandmother all your lives , helping her run the shop that kept you guys stay fed throughout the seasons. you grandmother was a elderly women, so you took on most of the work , your routine mostly consisted of work , chores and that's pretty much it , not really having much time for your friends , but your friends begged you to take the day off with them , and join them in the fields for a picnic , and you didn't want to let them down , so here you are , scrubbing the floors early in the morning , cooking breakfast for your family.

"what's all this , have you been cleaning?" your grandmother sat down at the small table. "yes , and i cooked breakfast." you wipe your hands on your dress , before serving the food.

"i told you i would do the chores today , you stress yourself out too much." she nagged , you sat down. "i don't want you to stress." you served her your food. "yeah well , you're young , you need to live your life , have some fun with your friends , meet a nice boy , doesn't that seem nice?" you thought about telling her , but she got to it before you did. "go on the picnic with your friends.

"how did you know?" you said. "yeji's grandmother came into the bakery for cupcakes , and she asked me about it , much to my surprise i had no clue about the picnic." your ears were red. "m'sorry , i didn't want to burden you , i know you have to run the shop , and there was so many chores." your grandmother waved you off. "m'dear , you've worked too hard all these years , letting your sister walk around here doing nothing , you're a young women now , you should be out and about , let her do it now , it's about time she stepped up.

your sister sat down, disbelief written on her face. "why do i have to suffer?" she whined. "because you've lived on this earth for 18 years and have done nothing , time to put you to work." you laughed at your grandmother. "what's so funny." she turned to you with a sour face. "nothing , i can just imagine you with flour all in your hair." she gasped , her hair was her favorite thing in the world.

"grandmother." the older woman shushed the girl. "oh hush , it's not that bad." she turned to you. "now, you go have fun with your friends , we'll hold down the fort here until you return." you squealed with joy, jumping up to hug her. "thank you so much, i can't, im gonna go get dressed." you ran back to your room , jumping with joy.

"she won't come." soobin said for the 5th, yeji rolled her eyes. "her grandma told my grandma she would , give her some time." she said. "how many times has sh- hey!" you ran over to your friends. "wow you actually showes up this time." you rolled your eyes. "i love you too soobs." he mocked you , making you laugh. "you ready?" yeji held the basket in her hand.

"of course , lets go!"

as you guys made your way to the fields, you noticed that you guys were getting closer and closer to the forbidden forest. "uh ,, yeji? don't you think this is close enough." you pointed to the forest that was now in site. "oh c'mon ＿ , there hasn't been a faerie or any kind of creature sighting around here in almost a month , you would know that if you came out more." you tsk , sitting down. "i guess you're right , im just not used to it i guess." you said. "yeah me and yeji come out here all the time , you're fine." soobin have you more reassurance. "okay." you smiled , helping set out the food.

as the picnic went on , you couldn't help but keep looking over at the forest, you heard your friends , but you couldn't help but feel a little unsettled by it. "are you seriously that scared." yeji laughed. "no , why would i be scared?" you scoffed. "oh really?" soobins eyebrow quirked up. "really." you said.

"then let's go." you and yeji turned to each other , "where?" soobin pointed , "let's go inside the forest , and i mean all the way in." he said. "all right , your on." yeji put the extra food away , standing up. "i..i don't know." you said.

"scared?" you sighed , standing up. "fine , let's go." you just wanted to prove to them that you weren't scared , even if you were a tad bit. all three of you made your way to the forest , stopping right outside of it. "you ready?" yeji said , you nodded and the three of you stepped into the forest.

"see it's not that bad." soobin said. "should we go in further?" you shook your head , "no we- come on." yeji grabbed your hand , pulling you along. "alright guys , i think that's enough." you said realizing the light that was coming from the outside of the forest was becoming dimmer and dimmer, "let's stop." you said. "yeah , we've gone a bit far , let's head back out to the fields." soobin said , and you turned around to leave.

you guys were almost out , you could see the light becoming brighter and brighter again. "see ＿? there was noth- you mortals really are dumb like the tales say." a deep voice made all three of you freeze. "didn't your parents ever tell you not to come in here." you could hear the scales slide across the ground. "all the dangerous creatures that could be lurking in the shadows." your grandmother would tell you all about this creature , that they enjoy torturing and eating humans. "it's not safe you know." the voice teased.

a naga , a dark faerie with human like body , with serpentine like features. "run!" you all screamed beelining it out of the forest , the hideous creature knew he could easily catch you guys , he just enjoyed watching you scramble out in fear , it would make tearing you limb from limb much more rewarding.

the light was right there , safety was right there , you could almost taste it , the three of you ran for your lives , yeji making it out first , soobin second. you were within a toes reach , but before you could reach the outside , you felt the scales of the creatures tail tightening around your ankle , sending falling to the ground with a scream. "gotcha!" you heard your friends scream, as he dragged you further into the forest , the light descending.

"oh little human , i don't think they're coming back in here ; unless they want to meet the same fate you are." the creature continued to drag your screaming figure deep into the forest , the light no where insight anymore , just darkness.

"please let me go." you struggled as you finally came to a stop , but it just held you don't like nothing with one hand. "why would i do that , you crossed the line , you entered the forest, whose fault is that?" before you could even scream again , you felt the pain of its long black talon , piercing your skin ; you let out a ear piercing scream as you feel the naga rip through your flesh.

you could feel the blood pouring out of your body , your body becoming cold , and still — and then suddenly , you don't feel the claws anymore , then a bright light , before everything went dark.

—

"all that , an entire courting pary , just for his mate to be his bestfriend." felix scoffed in disbelief. "jisung is really a character." he laughed. "yeah , well as long as he's happy." mrs.yoon sat in front of him. "well now we wait for a wedding inv..." his words trailed off , upon hearing a scream. "is someone being attack?" he said , listening for it again , "i think someone is being attacked." he said.

"sir , we really should go then , there has been a surge of naga- it could be a faerie of day court , i will not have someone of our court be viciously attacked like that , so stop the carriage now." he commanded , it came to a stop. "get to safety now , the castle isn't that far away." he said. "i can winnow there , you guys don't need to be here." he sent them off , taking off , following the screams.

he came up on the naga , he couldn't see who he was attacking , but it didn't look like he have a second to lose , jumping in front of whoever it was , his body bright as the sun , before the naga let out a shrill , before disappearing.

"okay , shit." he turned around , the body was covered in so much blood , he couldn't even tell who it was , but he wasn't gonna sit there and guess, picking up the body , it was still breathing , but limp in his arms. "you're still breathing, i just have to get you back to the castle." he said , quickly winnowing to his destination.

once back at the castle , he wasted no time. "keep them alive , just until i can get jisung here." he quickly went to make the call , as everyone rushed to save the stranger , currently bleeding out on their dinning table.

jisung didn't waste much time either , quickly coming to the his friends aid to help out. "they aren't healing fast enough." he said. "what do you mean." felix said. "faeries are able to heal within seconds, this isn't a faerie." felix stepped back , getting a good look at you- you didn't have the pointed ears , no wings so you weren't from any other courts— you were a human. "humans won't fully heal with this magic , i can only do so much."

"then do what you can." felix said.

jisung was able to get you to a point where you'd survive , but you'd have to heal on your own , his staff , covering your wounds. "mrs.yoon , prepare a room for her , be careful of her wounds." he said , turning to jisung , who was in despite need of a explanation. "how the hell did you find her?" he said.

"she was screaming." felix said. "i'm surprised she managed to stay alive , that naga did a real number on her, not many faeries survive naga attacks , humans never do." jisung said. "thanks you man , i know you have a lot on your plate , i appreciate it." jisung patted his friends back. "not everyday you find out your mate is your bestfriend , and save a humans life, i count this as the most intresting day of my life."

"jisung you became high lord today." "oh yeah." "thank jisung again , but please go back to dawn court."

felix waited a while , hoping you would get up , then he could talk to you , but curiosity got the best of him , and he found himself at door of the room they put you in. "my lord , it's pretty late , shouldn't you be in bed?" mrs.yoon said. "just wanted to see if she was okay." he said , hovering over your sleeping body. "she's sleeping for now , they'll keep an eye during the night , in case anything changes , and a nurse will be in to change the badages." he nodded. "thank you , you may go for the night." mrs.yoon bowed , exiting the room leaving just you both.

he scanned your unconscious body , the way your eyelashes fluttered , light snores exited your parted lips , you were pretty. "hmm , now why were you even in forest in the first place?" he talked mostly to himself , but you had pained whined , making him step back a bit , but you had stayed asleep.

he pulled up a seat next to your bed , he was only gonna stay here for a few , just to make sure were okay , but before he knew it , he was dozing off , and sleep was taking over his body.

"m..my lord?" his eyes slowly opened to mrs.yoon and a nurse standing over him , his bones a little stiff from sleeping in the chair , making him groan. "my lord , have you been in here all night?" the nurse asked , he groaned , sitting up to stretch.

"i guess so , it was only thing supposed to be a moment." he said. "the nurse is here to change her bandages." before he could say something , you let out a gasp , then a scream.

—

"oh little human." your body was being dragged throughout the forest. "you crossed the line." the naga was ripping through your body , "please!" you screamed. "no one can hear you little human , your friends aren't coming for you." the creature hissed in your ear , then a light.

your eyes shot open with a gasp , making a eye contact with a woman... a faerie — you let out a scream. "whoa , calm down." a male faerie came into your view , you tried to move , to sit up , but your a pain shot all throughout your body , you let out another scream , this time in pain. "p..please , don't hurt me." you cried , tears falling down your face.

"please." "wait calm down , we aren't gonna hurt you , we saved you." he said , your eyes scanned his face in fear. "she can risk hurting herself if she keeps it up." the nurse said. "don't move , let them change your bandage , please don't move." he spoke with such softness. "o..okay." he smiled , turning to the nurse. "go a head , i'll wait outside." you watched him exit the room.

"we won't hurt you mrs. we promise." the nurse held the supplies in her hand , coming close to you. "we promise." you allowed her to change the bandages , your body ached , so she made sure to be gentle when cleaning them. "see there's nothing to be scared of." the other faerie woman stood next to the nurse.

felix waited outside the door , the nurse and mrs.yoon finally exiting the room. "she's all patched up , it's best if she doesn't move though." he nodded. "she's a little scared , so tread lightly when going in there, i will have them bring her some breakfast." mrs.yoon said.

"thank you mrs.yoon."

felix knocked on the door , opening the door slowly , letting his presence be known. "it's just me." he walked in , you were now sitting up against the headboar , your eyes scanning him as he slowly made his way over to you , sitting in the same seat from before. "i'm not going to hurt you , i promise." he said.

"now do you want to tell me your name?"

you stared at him before speaking. "＿." he nodded , "well ＿ , im felix." he held his hands out for you to shake , but you flinched back , he smiled still. "can you tell me why you were in the forest , did you come alone?" you face fell. "my friends and i were having a picnic , and then we decided to go in just for fun , but then as we were leaving the naga caught us , they managed to get out though , oh i hope they're all right." you explained.

"it's some dangerous creatures in that forest , it's barely safe for faeries , let alone a human , you're lucky i was driving by." he said. "did you really save me." he nodded. "brought you back here myself, my friend jisung healed you the best way he could , you're a human so it's different." he said. "when can i go home?" you said.

"i don't think it's best for you to leave right now , you should heal first." you shook your head no. "i can't , i have to help my grandmother , she'll have to do all the work alone." you said. "i don't think you'll be even able to work in this condition , do you think you'll be any use to your grandmother in this condition?" you sighed.

"listen , just stay , you'll get the best care here , once you've fully healed , you may leave , i will take you back myself." he said. "i won't hurt you , i promise." you saw the look in his eyes , they were soft , and trusting. "okay." you said, he nodded. "okay."

he stayed with you , both of you sitting in silence , you stared at the wall , thinking of your grandmother , how would she manage the bakery? were soobin and yeji okay? you felt the tears in your eyes filling your eyes again , falling down your face.

felix noticed you crying , sitting up in his seat "hey." he softly reached for your hand , taking it into his soft hand. "hey , you're okay , alright?" he wiped the tears from your cheek out of reflex , his eyes widening , realizing how close he was. "im- breakfast." the servant came in. "im not hungry." you said. "try and eat something , okay?" felix stood up , you grabbed his wrist. "w..where are you going?" you didn't know him well , but you also didn't want to be left alone.

"i'll be back , i'll go get dressed for the day , and i will return." he reassured. "promise?" he smiled, "i promise." you let him go. "eat." he said , walking out to the room.

felix fulfilled his promise , getting dress , and returning back to your room as quick as he could. "my lord , you're back." mrs.yoon stood at the bed next to you. "yes , i am , is everything alright." he said. "i was just coming to check on mrs. ＿ , have you eaten breakfast?" he nodded. "i stopped by to greet the kitchen staff this morning , i grabbed it then." the older women nodded. "well i'll leave you too it." she said leaving the room.

"you're the high lord?" he nodded , sitting down. "you're pretty young." you said. "my parents wanted to retire young , so i stepped up , became high lord at only 17." he explained. "wow , that was brave of you." "what about you , what do your parents do." you shrugged , frowning. "i don't know them , they abounded me and my sister with my grandmother when i was really young , i don't remember them." you said. "i've helped my grandmother raise my sister and keep her bakery open ever since." he nodded.

"now i understand why you must want to go back so much." you silently agreed. "well , as soon as you get better , i will take you back." you smiled , it brought a warm feel to his heart.

"thank you." he stayed with you all day , getting to know you , you guys talked all day , before he or you noticed , the sun was starting to set , and a nurse had come in. "it's about time you lie down and get some rest , you've been sitting up all day." she said , felix looked outside , back to you. "wow , we really did talk all day." he said , you laughed. "i guess we did."

he stood up , "well , i guess i'll let you get some rest , i'll be back in the morning." he said. "you will?" you and the nurse both said. "is that a problem?" his eyesbrow raised. "no." you said. "good , i'll see you in the morning." you smiled. "see you in the morning." he left out the room.

"let's get you ready for bed."

he came to your room the next day and stayed with you the whole day , and then he next and then for the rest of the week — everyday with a different activity for you to do while you were bed ridden.

"aren't you busy? high lords should be busy." you said as he helped you lay down one night. "don't worry about that , worry about getting better , i have people that can take care of things out there , while i help take care of you." that made your heart flutter.

"thank you felix , for everything." he pulled the blanket over your body , fixing the extra pillows. "it's time for bed." he said , turning on the light beside of the nightstand. "maybe soon , we can get you a wheelchair or something , and i can show you around the palace and day court." you stared up at him. "really?" your eyes shined , it made him smile. "sure." he said , and you yawned. "now get some rest." you nodded , closing your eyes.

he watched for a few more minutes , just to make sure you were sleep for sure, before he slowly crept out of the room , turning the main light off , closing the door.

"how is she?" mrs.yoon asked. "she's alright , i told her maybe we can get her a wheelchair or something , so she won't have to sit in bed all day." mrs.yoon nodded. "i will tell them , this is good , she will soon be able to return home with her family." he frowned , he'd been having such a good week with you , he'd forgotten all about that.

"felix." mrs.yoon saw the look in his eyes , the sadness. "she has to return home , she has a family that misses her dearly." he nodded , "of course she does, i know." he sighed , "good night mrs.yoon." he made his way to his room , closing the door , sitting down on his bed , running his hands through his hair.

he knew you'd have to back eventually , but it really made him said , he really enjoyed your company, maybe a little too much.

by the next week you were feeling better than before , you could move a little more , sit up by yourself , even though felix would still help you , but you didn't mind it though , at all.

"good morning." felix open the door to your room , this time rolling a wheelchair in. "what is this?" you said. "i told you , i'd get it for you no?" he said. "does that mean we can take a ride around day court today?" he smiled , nodding. "are you excited?" he asked , sitting in the same seat right next to your bed. "of course , i can't wait to get out this bed." you exclaimed

"great , eat your breakfast , and then will get you all ready." he said , you smiled taking a bite of the custard filled bread. "so messy." he took his thumb , running it along your lip , collecting the cream from it , your body heated up , you looked away flustered , he did that all the time , and it never failed to get the same reaction everytime.

"you okay?" you quickly nodded. "perfect, i don't want anything to ruin this day for you." he said. "eat up."

after your breakfast , a nurse came in to change badages. "you know , i think this is the last week you'll probably have to wear these." she said. "really?" you were excited , they were annoying. "yup, that means you're one step closer to going home , i bet you you're excited." you frowned , you are happy to be getting better , you missed your grandmother , but you were really enjoying spending time with felix. "everything okay?" she asked. "i'm fine." you said.

she helped you into the wheelchair , felix entered the room shortly after , "you ready?" you nodded. "are you sure , you look a little sad." you shook your head. "im fine , im just really excited to get out of this room finally." he hummed , grabbing the back of the chair "well then let's going."

he showed all around the beautiful castle , showing you different paintings and other pretty things. you even got to see how he interacted with the staff , he was so nice to everyone , he treated everyone like family , made sure to put their well being first , it made you smile , he was like a dream.

he then showed you the outside , you hummed when the sun hit your face for the first time in a while , "it feels nice." he smiled , you looked so pretty, the way the sun hit your face. "you look so pretty like that , like a pretty picture." he said , moving a piece of hair from your face, your heart skipped a bit.

"t..thank you." his eyes flickered to your lip , then back to your eyes. "i really want to kiss you." he said , your eyes widened. "you do?" he nodded. "was i too forward?" you shook your head. "i want to kiss you too." he grabbed your face softly, caressing your cheek , bending down , his lips ghosting over yours , before he closes the gap , his lips were soft against yours. he pulled away , looking into your eyes. "did you like it?" you nodded , "i did."

you guys spent the rest of the day outside , watching the sunset together , before making your way back inside the castle. "i had a good day felix." you said , he helped you into the bed. "i did too." he smiled , his smile turns to a frown , he knew it was selfish, he did but he didn't want to see you go back home. "what's wrong?" you grabbed his hand. "you're getting so much better , that means i'll have to say goodbye to you soon." he whispered , it was your turn to frown. "i know , the nurse told me after this week i'll be able to take the badages off." you sighed. before he could say something a nurse came in.

"bed time , let's get those bandages changed." he looked at you with sad eyes , but with a smile. "i'll see you in the morning." he whispered. "good night." you watched him leave , you really wanted him to stay , you desperately did.

felix lied awake that night thinking of you , not being to contain himself , he got up , making his way into your room. you were sleeping as he made his way to the seat , about to sit down , when you started to whimper in your sleep , your brows furrowed. "yah." he tapped your sleeping body.

"please , let me go." you said , tears coming down your face , you were having a nightmare. "please." your breathing started to pick up , before you shot up , gasping for air with a sob. felix quickly shot into action , grabbing your shaking body , hugging you. "hey i'm right here , okay, i won't let it hurt you again , i promise." he stroked your hair.

your sobs slowly came to a stop , and you started to drift off back to sleep , still holding onto him. he moved to lay you back down , but you stopped him. "please stay, please." he shushed you back to sleep , laying down next to your body , careful not to hurt you. "i won't leave you, i promise." he held you in his arms , kissing the top of your head.

"i promise."

from that night on , you and felix didn't hide your growing feelings for each other , anybody in castle could see that the faerie fell for the human he saved , but they also knew that you were getting better , the previous week you had gotten the bandages taken of and you were now walking around , that means it was time for you to return home to your family.

"one more week." felix begged. "my lord , it's been 3 weeks , her family has probably already lost hope, and you still have duties as high lord." hwas ready to get on his knees and beg. "please one more week, just let me spend one more week with her." mrs.yoon saw the desperation in the boys eyes ,sighing. "fine , one more week , then she has to go back." he sighed. "thank you." he ran back to your room , where you were waiting.

"what did she say?" he hugged you tightly , your body no longer ached , so he was free to do so. "one more week , you can stay one more week." you smiled grabbing his face. "it isn't enough." he frowned. "then let's make it enough." you caressed his face. "let's not think about it , let's just be together for one more week." his forehead was pressed against yours. "okay?" you said.

"okay."

you two spent the next week glued to the hip , doing everything you wanted to do. the days seem like they were flying by. soon you were at the night before your departure, he held you close in his arms.

"i don't want you to go." he whispered into your hair. "i know , but i have to." you played with his fingers. "i know , i just want to freeze time." he said , you heard a sniffle , and you looked up, tears were coming from his eyes. "p..please don't cry." you said , tears forming in your eyes.

he pressed his lips against yours , it wasn't like all the other ones , this felt like a goodbye , he pulled away , allowing you to breath for a second before kissing you again , this time more passionately. "felix." you said into the kiss. "please." he shushed you , hovering over your body. "please just let me have you, please." he kissed your jaw. "please for one more night." he kissed down your neck. "will you? will you let me have you." he nuzzled his nose into your neck , you sighed. "yes , please." your voice was airy , as he kissed down your neck.

he sat you up , slowly undoing the zipper to the night gown he bought for you. "so pretty." he left little kisses on your shoulder , letting the straps fall down. "f..felix." you moaned , he was so gentle, finally letting the top of the dress fall to your waist , your boobs on display , the cold hitting your nipples.

he grabbed one of them , squeezing it in his hand. "does that feel good?" his voice deep in your ear , sending a shiver down your spine. "y..yes." he pinched your nipple, you mewled out. "f..felix, please i need you." he kissed your shoulder once more , before laying your body down , treating you like a delicate piece of glass.

"i got you." he kissed your boobs , wrapping his lips around the nipples , before kissing down your stomach , you squirmed , he grabbed your hips, halting your movements. "don't worry my love , it's all about you , no need to rush." he pulled the rest of the night gown down , tossing it , leaving you in your underwear. "can i?" you nodded. "god please." he smiled , pulling your panties down.

he was right up close where you needed him to be. "such a pretty pussy." he kissed in between your thighs , "may i taste you?" he kissed your clit , making you jolt. "p..please , please." you begged, he gave your clit a few more licks , before licking a stripe up your aching heat.

"fuck, felix!" you moaned , he took that a sign to dive right in , messily making out with your pussy, you grabbed his hair , tugging at his roots. "f..felix , i need more." his hand came up to slowly rub figure 8s around your clit , as he came up. "fuck , you taste so good." he teased your finger up and down your folds. "i want to taste that forever." he slowly slid his finger in. "fuck you're clenching around my finger" he groaned , his cock straining against his pants. "im gonna add another one ,okay?" he slowly pushed in another finger.

"you're so tight." he kissed your clit once more , bring his mouth around it , you felt the pressure build up in your core as he fingered you. "f..felix- felix im gonna cum." you whined. "are you? you're gonna cum for me? be a good girl and cum for me." he hit that one spot , kitty licking your clit , and the knot in your stomach snapped. "i'm cumming!" you screamed, he sped up his movements, bringing you over the edge. "there we go , cum on my fingers." he helped you ride out your high, removing his hands once you started to twitch in overstimulation, grabbing at his wrist , stopping him.

"im done princess, im done." he sat on his knees, his hard cock pressed against your heat. "f..felix , i want you inside me, please." you begged. "i don't want to overwhelm you , you're pussy is still twitching." you moaned , grinding against him. "fuck , baby." he groaned. "please , i want it inside, please, i want to feel you for one night." you begged.

"okay baby , you can have me." he stood up, taking his pants off , his cock hitting his stomach as he made his way back in between your legs. "i'm gonna be gentle , i promise , gonna fuck you real slow." he grabbed the base of his cock , groaning as he placed it your wet entrance. "want...you...to..feel." he slowly slid into you. "all of me." you moaned , his cock dragging along your walls.

he finally pushed all the way into you , his body connecting with you. "fuck you're so wet." he pulled out, slowly fucking into you again. "f..felix, m'so full." you said as he slowly fucked himself in and out of your hole, your eyes rolling to the back of your head as he rolled your clit around with his fingers.

"p..please speed up." you mewled. "you want it faster?" you nodded. "please." he caged your head in between his arms, forehead pressed against yours as he sped up his movements. "you -fuck- you feel me love , your pussy is clenching so much around me , i might not last." he groaned , using one of his hands to support, the other going where your bodies connected, rubbing your clit. "s..shit , felix im cumming." he kissed your lips, swallowing up your moans as you came around his cock.

his emotions where on a 10 , he could feel himself getting upset again, tears wielding in his eyes as he fucked you well past your orgasm, now chasing his own. "fuck, i..i love you, i love you much." his hips snapping against yours. "p..please say you love me back please." you nodded.

"i..i love you too."

that's all he needed for the knot in his stomach to snap, and he came inside you, his thrust slowing down as he came deep inside you. "f..fuck." his cock softened inside you. he lowered his head into your neck , you felt the tears wet your neck. "felix?" you ran your fingers through his hair.

"please stay with me." he cried. "f..felix , you know i can't." you bit your lip , as he cried into your neck. "let's just stay like this okay?" you let him cry , you cried too until the sun was starting to rise , and you both were to tired to cry anymore , and you eventually fell asleep.

you guys didn't sleep for long though because you had to get cleaned up before it was time for you to go , eating breakfast one last time before mrs.yoon told you both it was time to go.

"it was a pleasure to meet you mrs.＿." you smiled. "you too mrs.yoon." felix held your hand tightly. "i'll be back shortly." he said , mrs.yoon nodded. "come right back , you have much work to be caught up on." he nodded , turning to you , his eyes full of sadness. "you ready?" you frowned. "yes." he wanted to ride in a carriage , just to be with you longer , but then he decided to just rip the bandage off and winnow you both there.

"hold on." you closed your eyes, holding onto him , tightly. "open your eyes love." he whispered into your ear. you opened your eyes , standing outside of your cottage. "no one is home right now." you said. "i know." he said. "y..you could come in." he smiled. "if i go in , i don't think i'll ever leave." he kissed your forehead. "please go in , i don't want you to see me like this." his voice cracked. "i love you." he smiled.

"i love you too." you opened the door to your house , he watched you turn back waving, before you closed the door , the tears falling down his face , as he made his way back to his empty castle.

your grandmother and sister eventually returned back to the cottage where you waited ,dinner ready and the cottage clean , you shed tears with your grandmother as she held you in her arms like she did when you were a kid , she had looked like she aged so much , it must've been so stressful for her. you quickly returned to your daily routine , even meeting up with yeji and soobin , who both cried with you , begging you to forgive for even making you go in there, of course you forgave them.

you never stopped thinking of felix , you thought of him everyday , for the next month, you were never truly happy , and your grandmother could see that , sitting you down one day. "everything okay." she said. "im fine." you said. "m'dear , i raised you since you were in diapers , you're practically my child , i can tell when something is wrong." you sighed , you needed to let this out.

you told her everything , tears streaming down your face as you told her everything from the naga attack to meeting felix.

"do you love him?" you nodded. "i do." she smiled.

"m'dear, i can never began to understand what you went through in that horrible forest , but it seems like you found happiness with this felix faerie , and what kind of grandmother would i be if i denied you that happiness." you grabbed your hand. "i'll be fine knowing you found happiness in your life." she said , hugging you.

"i don't think i can go back through that forest." you frowned. "well if he loves you, then he'll come to you." she said , just as there was a knock on your door. "go answer that , i'll set the table for dinner." you wiped your tears , getting up to answer the door.

"mrs.yoon?" the elder woman stood in the doorway of your house. "may i come in?" you stepped to the side, letting her in. "what's wrong , how did you even find me?" you said. "i've been searching for you since the day you left." she sat down. "what's wrong?" you gave her a glass of water. "it's felix." she said.

"is he okay?" you said. "no not really , he hardly comes out his room , he gives orders and that's it; he's barely eating , it's starting to effect everyone." she said. "i know it's too much to ask , but he needs you , i've never seen him like this before" she said. "please reconsider coming back." she said.

you looked to your grandmother. "this is your decision m'dear , i will support you regardless." you nodded. "i would like to come back." the older woman smiled. "thank you so much , i will wait here , and allow you to get all your affairs in order, we must return to the castle soon before they ask for me." you nodded.

it wasn't easy explaining everything to your friends , or saying goodbye to your grandmother and sister , and it was tearful , but eventually it was time for you to leave. "please take care of grandmother, don't let her do too much." you told your sister. "yah, i got this, go live your life." she said. "look at you all grown up."

"yeah whatever , don't forget to write." she wiped the tears from her face. "you ready?" mrs.yoon said.

"yes im ready."

—

felix felt like a shell of a person , the last month had been nothing sort of painful for him , he missed you dearly , your scent had long disappeared from the bed where you once laid , but felix could bring himself to stop laying there every single night , thinking of you , much like he was doing at that moment , when the door open , closing.

"mrs.yoon , i told you im not hungry, i'll eat later." he heard the light footsteps , getting closer to the bed, then a dip in the bed- then, arms wrap around him , he closed his eyes taking in the familiar scent. "i guess i've lost it officially." he said to himself.

"have you?" his eyes shot opened , turning to face you. "＿?" he grabbed your face to make sure you were real , before pulling you into bone crushing hug. "oh my, you're real!" he said , you laughed.

"how did you get here , you didn't go through the forest did you?" he had so many questions , but right now he didn't even want to ask , he just wanted to hold you. "mrs.yoon came and brought me back." you play with the nape of his hair. "i've missed you."

he kissed you , much like that night. "i've missed you too." he whispered. "i've missed you so much." he kissed you again , and again , each one more passionate than the last. "f..felix , slow down , shouldn't we get you something to eat first , i heard you haven't been eating." you breathed.

"i can eat later , please just let me be with you." he said , staring deeply into your eyes. "o..okay, let me.. take care..of you first then." you said through the kisses. "please." you said , grabbing his face. "o..okay." he sat up against the headboard , you made your way in between his legs , squeezing his thighs , he groaned.

"please don't tease me , i don't think i could take it." you nodded , unbuckling his pants , he lifted his legs up just enough for you to be able to pull his pants and underwear down , his cock standing against his stomach , precum leaking from the tip. "please do something." he hissed as the air hit it.

you grabbed the base , stroking it up and down , gathering spit , letting the it fall straight on his cock. "fuck , put it in your mouth please." he groaned , you brought the tip of his cock to your mouth , sucking on it , before taking him fully into your mouth , "s..shit , your mouth feels so good." he moaned.

you looked up at felix through your lashes. his hands created a makeshift ponytail , guiding your mouth up and down on his cock. "that's it baby -shit- suck my cock" he let out a different types of moans and groans , along with some curse words.

you two created a rhythm, bobbing your head, every vein running along your tongue , he bucked up into your mouth, making you gag a bit. "s..shit , im gonna cum , baby if you don't want to cum in your mouth , please get off of me." he said trying to hold on , instead of getting off , you took him further down your throat , your nose touching his pubic bone.

"fu..fuck!" his cum shot to the back of your throat, filling up your mouth , his legs twitch , as you slowly took his cock out your mouth , swallowing his cum. "fuck , i love you so much." he pulled you into his lap. "i want you to ride me , can you do that baby, can you ride my cock?" he bucked up into your clothed heat. "please." you moaned.

he pulled your panties to the side , you took his cock , slowly guiding it inside of you. "fuck." you sighed as he stretched you out, taking all of him. "baby , please move." he whined , you began move your hips , slowly bouncing on his cock. "you feel so warm , i missed this cunt." he squeezed your boobs through your top.

"y..you're mine , okay? -shit- im never gonna let you go again." you whimpered , "f..felix please." he nodded , wrapping his arms around your waist. "i got you pretty." he planted his feet. "let me take over." he began to fuck up into you.

"shit!" you squealed at the sudden rough pace from the boy. "you're clenching around me , gonna cum?" you nodded. "y..es, please let me cum." he kissed you. "you can cum whenever you want princess." you shook in his lap as you came. "fuck , creaming my cock, im gonna cum love." his was tucked between his teeth as he chased his high.

"shit , p..princess , tell me you love me." he groaned. "i..i love you." much like last time , that was all he needed before he was filling you up with his seed. "fuck, i love you too." he kissed you. "i love you so much."

you went to climb off off him , but he held you. "fe- let's just stay like this, just for a bit." you nodded. "okay, but then we seriously have to get you up and get you some food , alright?" you played with the nape of his hair, placing gently kisses all over his face.

"i have eternity to eat, right now i just want to be with you."

©️LUVYENI

[theheathenousfish]

How do we feel about dad andreil?

At 3am On February 29 Neil and Andrew got a call from the adoption agency saying a little baby was just born and in need of a home.

At the hospital, a few hours later, Neil is holding the baby with the softest look Andrew had ever seen on his face. “Drew. Look at him.” Neil whispers. Andrew tries valiantly to keep his eyes dry and fails miserably. He looks up at the social worker “ has he been given a name?” He asks. “No. His mother was unable to give him one.” The social worker told them. “May we ask what happened to her?” Neil questioned. “ all I can say is it was a mental health emergency that ended in her death. You two get that honour. Do you have a name in mind?” The social worker states. “Cadence vaughn” Neil and Andrew say at the same time.

(Fast forward 3 years)

Neil and Cade are shopping for clothes for preschool. “Daddy!” Cade screams and Neil jumps “yes, fox?” “Look! Bros!” “Sorry? Say that again” “bros. It’s pink. Can I have it?” Cade points towards a hair bow display. “ which one do you want fox?” Neil asks. “sparkle pink!” Cade says. At the checkout line the cashier looks at the bow and at Cade “you’re buying a bow? Where’s your daughter?” The cashier gives Neil a dirty look. “ yes I’m buying a bow, this little one picked it out” Neil replies calmly, avoiding showing is irritation. “Do you think papa will like it daddy?” Cade inquires. “I think Drew will love it, fox.” Neil smiles down at the little ball of chaos.

“Papa! Papa! Papa! Father!” Cade runs into the house. “ father? You make me sound old, kid.” Andrew says with a smile. “But you are papa. Look! I have a brow!” “That’s a very pretty bow, buddy. Would you like me to put it in your hair?” Andrew asks “yes! I wanna be pretty!” Cade gushes

(Fast forward until Cade is 10)

“Dad, paps, can we talk?” Andrew and Neil put their books down turning their attention toward their kid “ is there something wrong?”neil questions. “I want to go by Sophia.” “ So Sophia, is there anything else that you want to tell us?” Andrew asks “I’m a girl. I go by she/ her and I want to start puberty blockers.” She says trying not to cry. “Oh, sweetheart, come here. You can cry. Did you think we would get mad?” Neil asks pulling Sophia into his arms. “ Sophia, we love you. Nothing can ever change that.” Andrew reassures his daughter “fox, do you want us to make an appointment to discuss puberty blockers?” Neil asks her. “Yes please. Also can we go shopping?” Sophia asks her parents. They spend $5,000 the next day.

(Fast forward until Sophia is 16)

“Salutations, father! I have information. Get dad.” Sophia yells through the house after she comes home from a weekend trip with her friends. “Hello, paps. How was your day? It was good thanks. Yours?” Andrew teases. Sophia rolls her eyes “paps, I need to talk to you and dad. Soon preferably” “fox? How was your weekend?” Neil walks into the lounge. “ sit. I have news. Ok, so, as you know I have been going out with Asher.” She starts “ yes ,chaos, we are aware” Andrew responds “shush I’m talking. He asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes. Thoughts?” Neil smiles “ are you happy?” She nods “then I’m fine. You’re a responsible young woman. We trust you” “also, can I stay at his house tonight?” She asks. “Yes you may.” Andrew says. The thanks them and rushes to the door “don’t you dare get him pregnant!” Neil yells after her. “Dad!”

(Fast forward to Sophia’s wedding)

Andrew is helping his daughter get ready for her wedding day. As he does her hair he pulls out the pink sparkly bow she got when she was 3 “ I brought this for you, kid. You don’t have to wear it” Andrew says and holds it out. “Paps! I thought I lost this! Can you put it in my hair?” Neil walks in just as Andrew secures the bow. “Oh my god sweetheart you look gorgeous.” Neil tells her “ oh, don’t cry, chaos. Shh you’re going to ruin your makeup.” Andrew says and pulls her into a hug

Andrew watches Neil walk his daughter down the aisle and to the alter. Neil comes and sits down beside Andrew “I’m so proud of her” Andrew confesses to his husband “she knows, babe”

I needed supportive dads. Have them.

[scarheaded-ferret]

Tea and Some Sympathy (oneshot)

Harry had woken up feeling heavy and warm. It was darker now outside from when they’d fallen asleep, and his head ached from having napped for too long. He peered down to the fan of hair on his shoulder, and traced Draco’s eyelashes gently with a finger. His peaceful expression was a far cry from how he’d look a few hours earlier, face blotted red and a now-healed bruise painted along his right eyebrow.

The arm on top of his chest stirred, and Harry shushed it back down with a few gentle pats. He eased out of Draco’s hold as gentle as he could, fluffing up the blankets around his ears despite the heating charms simmering in the room.

Sirius gave him a look when he entered the kitchen, eyeing his rumpled shirt and crooked glasses. The sounds of guitar and a lilting voice drifted softly out of a record player balanced precariously on a mountain of books on the counter. Sirius set his newspaper down and leaned back on the counter, and a steaming mug floated over to Harry to sit on the table.

“Sleep well?”

“Yeah,” Harry said, slowly adding milk and sugar to the cup of tea. “Are you—?”

“I’m not angry, if that’s what you’re asking, Harry.” And then he added “Upset, maybe. But not angry.”

Harry huffed in relief, blowing the steam off the top of his mug. “He’s gotten nicer this year, to Hermione and Ron too..” he trailed off, not quite certain how to put into words the long conversations and fleeting glances he’d had with Draco Malfoy throughout the first term of fifth year. “Something happened, that changed him, I’m not sure what though.”

"I can't say that I don't understand him, I was a right little swot before your dad beat the sense into me."

"Really?" Harry gaped, highly unfamiliar with the vision of his godfather being a swot.

"Yup, thought muggles were monstrous creatures with large teeth that would eat me if I got too close."

"That's absurd!" Harry laughed into his tea.

"And then your dad told me the truth and your mum socked me in the nose second year for asking her if muggles still ate their young." Harry laughed harder, proud of his mum and delightfully surprised at how much the situation resembled the punch Hermione gave Malfoy in third year.

"She really did that?" The soft padding of socked feet sounded behind Harry, and he turned his head to face Draco's sweater clad chest.

"Sure, sure, didn't let it go for the next five years either." Sirius wordlessly handed Draco a mug as well, who accepted it with a small nod as he sat beside Harry. "Sleep well, lad?"

"Very well, thank you." Draco muttered. Harry was proud of him, that was probably the second time in their odd friendship that he'd heard the Slytherin thank someone for something. Draco paused, brows furrowing as he stared at the record player. "Is that-- T.Rex?" He asked. Sirius barked a laugh.

"You have good taste, kid."

"How do you know muggle music?" Harry pondered. Draco shrugged wordlessly, hands still in his lap.

"I found a record under my bed in September, it was um--" He looked at Sirius cautiously, "it was this album called Eclectic Warrior."

"That's Electric Warrior, love, not eclectic." Sirius corrected. Draco elbowed Harry harshly when he snorted, an embarrassed flush dotting high on his cheeks. "A great album, though! Marvelous that you found one in good condition. I used to have a copy, of course I lost it during school and never saw it again, one of my first heartbreaks!" Harry glanced over at Draco and rolled his eyes knowingly at Sirius' dramatics. Under the table their hands linked gently.

It wouldn't take terribly long for Draco to realize what the initials R.A.B scribbled on the back of his album stood for. The album Regulus had sniped from Sirius in 1975 now shoved among the few prized possessions in Draco's hastily packed suitcase.

end

{yes the title is inspired by the classic "Tea and No Sympathy" by who_la_hoop on ao3}

[axcel-lucci]

Full moon

Wereleopard! Trafalgar Law x fem!reader

A/n: I'm kinda busy ATM, but even if October is done, it doesn't mean I can't write sm- also, probably last part lol

My masterlist

<== last part

It's been a few weeks since the full moon, Law was fully able to relax around (y/n) to let her see his wereleopard form. Even cuddles up to her on the bed when she's cold.

(He also demands being scratched behind the ear)

It kinda surprised his closest friends because he SWORE he would never tell you but when they visited, Law was just casually cuddling against (y/n) in his full wereleopard form as she brushed his soft fur.

"You should've told me you were this warm, hehe." (Y/n) giggled making Law groan.

"Mmm..." law grumbled before glaring at his friends, "what do you want?"

"Law. Don't be mean to your friends" she laughed softly and kisses his forehead before standing up, "please make yourselves at home, I'll make you some tea."

He huffed and crossed his arms, ascowl on his face as he watched (y/n) leave the kitchen.

"Law." Bepo called, "the pack by the south... They just had children."

"What the fuck do you want ME to do?!" Law yelled in clear disdain to the south's pack.

(Law is, and currently, the leader of the northern pack)

"Don't you understand?" Shachi muttered, "most packs need an heir they can count on...!"

"So?? I'm literally just 26."

"Look... I mean having an heir isn't exactly important, but think about it. An heir is just as important as the leader itself in a pack, only the northern pack has no heir!" Penguin reasoned, "you already got married, which is a good thing, the only thing we now need is an heir"

"I still don't see what's wrong with not having an heir." Law rolled his eyes before shushing his friends when (y/n) had entered the room

"Here is your tea..." She muttered while placing the tray of hot steaming tea pot and some tea cups on the coffee table along with some biscuits she knows his friends love

"Thank you... (Y/n)" he smiled softly as he kinda turned back to his human form and kissed her, "though... Can you give us some space for a bit? We need to talk about something important"

"Oh it's alright, I was planning to do some gardening anyways. My roses are the biggest this year..." She smiled, "just call me if you need me, alright?"

"Thanks..."

She soon walked out of the room to do her gardening.

"Now, is the heir really necessary?? I don't think it is..." Law huffed

"It isn't but... It puts the pack at ease that if something were to happen, whic we hope not, were to happen to you... There's already an heir ready to... You know... Take your role." Penguin explains further

"Especially now that the eastern pack is growing more and more aggressive..." Bepo muttered

"What? Aggressive?? That leader has always been calm" Law muttered

"Hmm..." Shachi thinks to himself for a while, "I did hear from somewhere that the Pack's leader dumped him right after he proposed... Maybe that sent him into a spiral?"

"It would happen... But... For now, get a feel of the eastern pack. I'm sure he'll calm down eventually... What about the western? They've been awfully quiet, especially since their leader is... How do I say this..." Law hummed to himself

"... Rowdy?" Shachi raised a brow, "don't worry... That leader is just busy training his young one. The young one turns 6 this year."

"Is that so...?"

"And the kid is like... Really cute!" Bepo cooed.

Law groaned, "is that all you want to tell me?"

"Oh? Well..." Penguin grinned, "there's a news somewhere that, Sora, warrior of the sea, is getting another book."

"Wait... Really?" Law said with wide eyes

"Hell yeah! I'm so excited! This book apparently focuses on Sora as a person not as a warrior" Shachi cheered whole munching on some cookies.

(Yes, these four gossip a lot over tea and biscuits)

After their visit, Law helped (y/n) wash the dishes.

"I love what you did with the roses, honey" Law smiled as he looked out into the backyard, now decorated with different coloured roses.

"Awww thanks sweetie! So, what did you and the boys talked about? I bet it's Sora again. Huh?" She laughed softly.

"Oh you bet" Law grinned and started to tell her what was said in the gossip.

She listened intently with small laughs and giggles here and there, responding with some questions about this and that, just... Listening to him until they finish cleaning up.

"... Yeah. And I remember, Sora was inspired by the creator's sister, who's name is also Sora and like..." Law hummed, "the creator said that his sister has always been brave growing up. Isn't that amazing??"

Law followed (y/n) up the stairs to their bedroom

"Oh? That's quite cute actually..." She smiled before sitting him down on the bed with a serious look, "Law... I need to tell you something... I don't know what your reaction would be but..." She muttered, "wait here."

She went to their bathroom that was connected to their bedroom.

Law just sat there, wondering what she wanted to say. She then came out with something behind her back, looking rather excited.

"What's that?" He said while trying to peak.

She giggled at his attempts before calming him down and showing him a positive pregnancy test.

"I'm pregnant..." She shyly said.

Law was in shock, more because he thought he was playing it safe, "oh wait... The full moon..." He thought

He just grabbed her waist and pulled her close gently before pressing a kiss on her abdomen and placing his head against her, "fuck... I don't know how to express how happy I am..." He groaned

She laughed and ruffled his hair, "it's alright... At least now I know you liked the news"

"Liked... Liked?? I LOVED it!" He smiled before hugging her tightly.

She just laughed even louder until he stood up and kissed her.

"Alright, you LOVED it." She smiled at him and he smiled back.

"I love you..." He muttered before kissing her forehead

"I love you too..."

But the he remembered something, "wait... What if... My child has the same curse as me...?"

"Law..." She cupped his face

"I..."

Law wasn't always a wereleopard, Law used to be a happy little boy in his small village until a couple of ruffians, that he now realized was a really mean pack, terrorised his village and unfortunately killed his parents but cursed him and his sister, sadly, his sister didn't survive the curse...

Law didn't even notice himself crying until soothing hands were wiping away his tears and a smooth voice coaxing him to calm down.

"Come now..." (Y/n) smiled as she pulled Law unto the bed.

He immediately buried his face in her chest and his arms around her waist tightly, silently curing against her at the sudden pull from memory train.

"Ahh... It's okay... It's okay, I'm here..." She soothes him while running her fingers through his inky black strands.

"Thank you..." He finally muttered once he had calmed down, "I don't know what I would be without you" he smiled up at her Smas she smiled down at him.

She only chuckled softly and kisses his forehead, "let's arrange this tomorrow? Good thing you're off from work for a week."

He nods with a smile.

5 months later, Law finds himself craving for something.

Though he knew (y/n) was pregnant, and a bump was already showing, he can't help himself at full moon.

While she helps him all the time, her hand wasn't simply enough.

Especially now that a bump is showing and it is said in her ultrasound that she might have twins or triplets, it'll be harder for her to reach him.

"(Y/n)..." He muttered, his body as hot as a furnace and trembling at any motion, his tail stood on end, his fur wa slightly sticky with sweat, his pupils were blown wide with arousal.

"Hm? Oh dear..." She gasped when she rubbed his cheeks, making him pur, "you're in heat... Again? I thought it only happens in the full moon?"

"It... It does but... It's not enough... I'm sorry, but I want to feel you. Touch you... Taste you with my mouth... Please... Is there anyway...?" Law practically begs her with such pleading eyes.

She hummed softly, "u-uhm... I don't know if it's alright but... You know... I have two holes..." She shyly suggested with a deep blush, "ah-! Forget it! It's embarrassing...!"

"Wait... No, it's alright. I like that idea...!" Law grinned mischievously before slowly approaching her

"Ah-ah." She smiled at him making him pause, "wipe the table and help me clean the house first, just some vacuuming and mopping will do."

"I should've known..." He mumbled

"Hehe."

...

"Is it alright if I clean up first...?" She asked with a small smile as he nodded

"It's alright."

She kissed his forehead softly before going to the bathroom.

Law pulled out the necessary "tools" he'd need which is simply just lube.

He waited patiently (and excitedly) on the bed until she was finished.

She came out of the bathroom in only her underwear, highlighting her belly bump slightly.

"I hope this is alright as well...?" She asked as soon as Law got up and kissed her deeply.

"It's sexy..." He muttered before snapping off her bra and throwing it away, "they're growing nicely for the baby."

He smirked slightly before playing with her tits.

"Law..." She laughed before gasping when he carried her to the bed and gently placing her down.

He then crawled to be on top of her, his hand drawing soft circles on her belly.

Law was currently in his wereleopard form, it made (y/n) wonder... Since his physique changed, would there be a chance that his thing grew a little? The thought had her squirming

"Thinking unholy thoughts, aren't we?" He smirked making her blush deeply.

"J-just do it already... I'm waiting." She pouted

"So am I..."

He soon removed her panties and throwing them somewhere before lifting one of her legs to his shoulders and coating his free hand with lube.

"This might feel weird..." He warned before rubbing the outside of her back hole making her whine.

"Law..." She moaned softly before gasping in pleasure when he slipped a finger inside, he started thrusting his finger inside slowly until he changed his pace, adding another and another until he stretched her out so well and coated her, inside and out, with lube.

"There... I hope it doesn't hurt" he smiled before coating himself with some lube as well and pumping it, coating his dick with some shiny lube.

(Y/n) can't help but stare and "observe". His member sure is bigger and has more veins than his usual one, she's not complaining though.

"Here goes..."

She whined slightly when he pressed his tip against her hole before slowly but surely pushed in with slightly ease.

It stung for a moment until pleasure kicked in, he was stretching her other hole up deliciously until he was all the way inside with a groan.

"So tight... Warm..." He growled almost animalistic while he waited for her to adjust.

By now, he had both her knees up to his shoulders, his hands on her hips, grinding her against him softly.

"L-law...! Please..!" She gasped before unconsciously clenching against him with a moan.

He groaned before lacing his fingers against hers and pinned them on the bed, his other free hand then gripped her waist before starting to thrust into her.

At first, his pace was kept to a medium, eliciting small moans and gasps from her until he could feel his animal side break and turn her to her hands and knees before thrusting deep inside.

She howled moans as he kept slamming himself in and out of her sorry little ass like the animal that was controlling him. He leaned over and hugged her real tight, a hand on her belly as he continued to thrust inside her

"L-law...! Ah- so... S-so good!" She moaned loudly.

Her moans were enough to fuel him more into a rougher state, thrusting in and out of her mercilessly. Like an animal in deep heat.

She kept moaning loudly that she feared her neighbors would hear, but that thought was thrown out the window once he hit a special spot inside her making her newly and drool with pleasure, "l-law...! Right there!" She moaned some more before he started abusing the spot.

"Law...! I-i cant-" she gasped when she feels herself start to tighten up into a warm recoil before releasing intensely with a moan.

He growled loudly and fastening his pace, roughing it up more, until he felt her squeeze the life out of his dick. He growled lowly into her ear and thrusted deeply inside her to spray her insides with his sticky cum.

Thrusting a few more, to make sure she drinks every single bit of him, he pulled out slowly and helped her get settled on the bed.

Law could still see his own cum leak out of her slowly as she panted heavily

"Much better..." He muttered before cuddling against (y/n) with his soft fur being her pillow

"That... Wasn't so bad..." She panted softly and hugging him

"I didn't hurt you, did I?"

She shook her head before going to sleep.

[skullverse]

➼ from the start ⋆ ★

vernon chwe x female reader---

young love was never easy, and you had your own sour tasting of it. when your childhood best friend, vernon, falls deeply in love with someone else, you wonder if you’d ever get a chance again. to be fair, you’ve been there: from the start.

tags: friends to lovers, fluff, angst (kinda)

word count: 1.7k

first ever post woah. this is a short work based on laufey's 'from the start' but with a happy ending bc i'm a hopeless romantic. enjoy (or don’t idc)

i stirred my watered down iced latte, head in my hand, listening to vernon talk. i had grown tired of listening to him harp on about some ‘soulmate’ he met at the library a few weeks ago. “she’s so perfect!” “blah blah blah,” was all i could hear. i’ve known vernon for as long as i can remember. seeing him this knee deep in love was something new to me. though, the thing that was harder to accept is the fact that he never noticed the little things anymore. how i get quiet when there’s no one else around, how every small act he does makes my cheeks flush pink. when he looks at me with his stupid brown eyes, his gaze reminds me of how he doesn’t feel the same. 

“y/n? y/n~ hello? earth to y/n..” vernon said, waving his hand in my face. i snapped my gaze up, looking at him.

“huh? yeah, she’s cool, or that sucks,” i mumbled, i had no clue what he just said. vernon sighed and wiped his hands on his pants, defeated.

“you’re not listening,” he said sadly.

“well how could i listen? what do you want me to tell you ‘she sounds so dreamy, you’re lucky!’?” i replied. how could i just sit here, listening to the guy i like most talking about another girl? “i just got a little bored of listening.”

“well, could you at least try helping me talk to her?” he asked. i squinted at him. “please y/n,” he pleaded.

“okay, fine,” i said, “but what’s in it for me?”

“er, whatever you want?”

------

i walked into the library hallway, around the same time vernon had gone and met the girl. he gave me a brief description outside. before heading in, we stood around like creeps waiting to see if vernon’s mystery girl walked in. i was talking about my horrible psychology project when vernon suddenly shushed me and hit my arm repeatedly.

“shhh, look! that’s her!” he said in a whisper-yell. i had to admit, she was very pretty. it drove me a bit insane.

“alright, i’ll see what i can do,” i said. no turning back now.

i walked into the huge library, books lining every corner. the big skylight brought in rays of sunlight in every inch of the room. i looked around, trying to spot vernon’s soulmate. after wandering a bit, i saw her in the far corner looking at the rentable cds. 

“can’t believe i’m doing this,” i grumbled, before walking into the music section. i snuck a peek at her, trying to think of something to start my creepy conversation. i noticed she was wearing a pretty lace top, a perfect contender. 

“hi!” i said in a hushed tone, “oh my god i love your top, where’d you get it?” i asked.

her short black hair moved so gracefully as she turned to look at me. she gave me a warm smile before answering.

“aw thanks! i think it’s from a website called cider,” she told me. she was holding a cd: a soundtrack to one of my favorite games.

“is that the persona 5 soundtrack? i love that game!” i said, trying to get more of a conversation. 

“it is! you know that game? it’s one of my favorites,” she said shyly. i excitedly nodded yes. maybe she wasn’t that bad of a person. we stood there talking about our shared love for the game, and found out we actually had a lot in common.

“what’s your name? i think you’re cool!” she asked.

“i’m y/n, you?” i replied.

“i’m scarlett, y’know could i get your number? i’d love to get to know you more!” she asked me.

“score.” i thought to myself. who knew it’d be this easy?

“yeah of course! would you wanna walk to my class together? i left my bag there, maybe we could grab a coffee?” i suggested.

“i’d love that!”

we chatted on our way out of the library. i suddenly remembered that i left vernon waiting for me outside before i entered. i wondered, was he still there?

my questions were answered as i spotted a very impatient vernon standing against the wall. i told my new friend if she could give me a moment.

“wow, woah.” was all vernon said seeing me manage to befriend his crush. “any information?” he whispered.

“better. her number,” i whispered. “now see ya vernon!” i called behind me while waving.

“sorry,” i told scarlett, she seemed like she was in awe.

“woah, who was he?” she asked shyly.

“oh, just my friend vernon, why?” i asked. i took one look at her expression and instantly knew the answer. “oh my god you think he’s cute.”

“well! just a little..” she defended herself, “okay, maybe..”

i smiled and laughed in a form of excitement. vernon would faint if he heard about this. “i’ll set you guys up!”

—two weeks later; y/n’s house.

i had gotten home about an hour ago, planning to work on my project. but all i could think about was how vernon and scarlett liked each other. my head spun as i laid in bed, my blanket covering me entirely. i looked out my window, staring into the blue. what was i to do? two weeks had passed since i set scarlett and vernon up, and they were perfect. they instantly clicked like missing puzzle pieces. the guy i’ve fallen in love with now had the perfect chance of getting a girlfriend. whilst i had to play matchmaker. 

i hadn’t even realized it, but i was crying. tears stung my eyes, my makeup running. it was terrifying. love was truly driving me insane. 

as if my mind was read, my phone chimed, a text. i sighed, grabbing it and turning it over. my eyes took a second to adjust to the bright screen, but i soon saw the two unread texts. it was vernon. ‘hey where r u? thought we agreed to meet up at my place at 5.’ the latest one read: ‘im coming over’. i quickly got up, struggling to keep my balance. i got a look of myself in the mirror, seeing my ruined makeup. i cursed under my breath, taking some makeup remover to wipe up the mess. my eyes were a bit red and puffy, but i doubted that vernon would notice. 

i heard three short knocks at my door. my heart was practically beating out of my chest due to my nerves. the last person i wanted to see was vernon. i slowly made my way over to the door, looking into the peephole. sure enough, there stood vernon, with his hands in his pockets. his fluffy brown hair was messed up. i took a deep breath and opened the door.

“hey,” i said quietly, not daring to look into his eyes.

“yo what happened? you could’ve just called off the plans-hey. y/n, look at me,” he said, suddenly grabbing my chin, forcing me to look at him.

his hand fell to his side when he saw my face. red, puffy, horrified.

“are you okay?” he asked cautiously. he made his way in, closing the door behind him.

“i’m fine, what’re you talking about?” 

“no you’re not, you’ve clearly been crying. i can tell because-”

i quickly cut him off, “okay, so what? why do you suddenly care? shouldn’t you be hanging out with scarlett and making her your girlfriend?” i spat out.

“what? can i not worry about my friend?” he said, hurt. 

“vernon, that’s the problem. you haven’t been worrying about your friend,” the word ‘friend’ hurt to say, knowing that it was all he saw me as. “it’s just..you’ve been so focused on scarlett. ever since that day at the cafe, i just saw you change. hell, she was all you talked about until you found out that i set you two up! it’s like you forgot about my entire existence and replaced me. it hurts vernon, it hurts a lot.” i muttered. 

vernon was about to say something, but i managed to cut him off, “it hurts seeing you fall in love with someone knowing that i’ve had the biggest crush on you from the start,” i blurted. i gasped and covered my mouth, instantly regretting my last words. i could feel tears welling up in my eyes again.

as i started to cry, vernon grabbed my arms and held me close to him. though i couldn’t see his face, i knew he’d have a shocked expression. we stood, hugging, embracing each other’s warmth. i sobbed, unable to stop the tears from flowing. i felt his chin at the top of my head, resting.

“i just wish you had told me sooner y/n,” vernon finally spoke up, breaking our hug.

“am i too late?” i replied, looking down. 

“nope, i’d say you’re right on time,” he said, smiling. “i had to get this off my chest sooner or later, i’ve felt the exact same. you just beat me to it. the only reason why i ‘liked’ scarlett was because i thought you wouldn’t see me as more than a friend,” he rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward smile.

i couldn’t help but let out a laugh, i couldn’t believe it. i wiped my tears with my sleeve, looking up at him. “did your forcing work?” i asked.

“i can’t just get rid of my feelings for you that easily. hell, just thinking of you, i knew i’ve loved you from the beginning,” he shyly admitted. 

“i think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said,” i said laughing. 

he sat me down on my couch, wiping the remaining tears off of my face. i felt my face burn up, realizing how close we were. his fingers grazed my cheek, slowly trailing down to my lips. he paused, hesitating. 

“can i beat you to it this time?” he asked, breaking the silence.

i laughed, “go right ahead.”

he smiled fondly, leaning in and closing the small gap between us. he kissed me slowly, holding my chin up slightly. my hands interlaced with his soft hair, deepening the kiss. we eventually broke apart, for the sake of our lungs. i looked up at him, smiling like a loon. he held my hands, peppering kisses on my fingers. 

“i’ve loved you y/n. from the start.”

----end.

skullverse 01.

[raml-s-headcanons]

Spideypool "The phone number" 1/1 (or 1/2 idk yet)

Ever since Spider-Man gave Deadpool his number "for emergency calls only, okay?" three days passed.

Wade was SO patient. So so so! Patient, therefore someone should reward him. And Wade decided to be this man, because who'll else?

Everyone who knows Wade for at least one or two days could quickly note, that he has a little nice feral crush over Spider-Man. Everyone except maybe for Spider-Man himself. Of course Wade determined to make "texting Spider-Man immediately" his reward.

That's not actually that emergency, but to be honest Wade didn't say Spidey "okay" back then. So that doesn't count, right? And ALSO he has a little crafty plan.

Wade took his phone and copied the number from the phone book. That was the step number one. Now he's gonna check every possible messenger in the world and find the one where Spidey sign in. That way it wouldn't be a call. Or even a strict boring SMS. Completely another way of communication, even completely un-forbidden for unserious texting!

Well, turns out Spider-Man doesn't like popular apps that's for sure. And Wade on his twelfth try? Maybe he wasn't exaggerating about every possible messenger before. Or Spidey is that creep who avoids everything except SMSs. Or he just have two numbers.

Anyway Wade's a bit down but still downloads every other app on the list in the market. He's almost asleep when he sees a little funny profile picture in the results. Could it be THE Spider-Man? Is it real or Wade's already sleeping or daydreaming?

{nightdreaming?}

[That would be just sleeping.]

"Oh shit. Guys, what should I text him?"

[Should you text him at all? We're not at risk.]

{I can set up us some risking!!!}

"No, thank you. I'll just go the usual way"

{I pity you}

[Don't. I assume he likes the result by the amount of times he does this.]

"Hey!! This is your friendly neighborhood Deadpool Wade Wilson! Don't ask me how i found this app." Send message. "How and why the fuck he chose this messenger? It's a piece of shit. Every button works only if you press it in the corner what."

[Don't ask us big guy, i still don't convinced it's not our wet dream.]

{I can make this our wet dream!!!}

[Please no.]

"A-and he already is.... Why you even can somehow by your will making us horny?"

{Im natural ladies}

"Not the kinks, fucker!"

[Don't start with the "babygirls", we're waiting a message from Spidey.]

"Oh shit. Right."

Wade's trying not to think about tightening feeling in their belly and looking at the phone.

"OH SHIT. Spidey actually responded!"

"Wade?........." 02:14

"How THE FUCK you found this app?" 02:14

"........." 02:16

"It isn't an emergency right?" 02:17

"Is 'i just wanted to hear your voice' counts as an emergency?" Send message.

[Jesus, he didn't think even a second.]

"And i asked you not to ask about the app 👉👈" Send message.

"Also this's just so shitty why are you here?" Send message.

"I needed to copy emojis from the other app just to put it here" Send message.

"Umm, guys is he ignoring us?"

{yes!}

[It's only been two minutes.]

"That's exactly what I'm saying! He's a young man! Young people writes as fast as shit"

{Guys shush!! Hes texTING!!}

"🖕" 02:24

[That's fair.]

"That's not..."

Wade waits sometime, not exactly sure what should he answers to that. It's not quite double-meaning message. Only if he's of course not trying to offer sexual activity.

[He's not.]

"He's not..." {Lads, you do you but ima going to jerk off real quick and go to sleep. Are you with me?}

[Sure.]

"Eeeh, fuck it. Let's go"

"Nighty, Spidey <3" Send message.

{Aww, look at this pathetic little girl}

Wade puts his hand down his pants.

[delicatetaleprincess]

Whats in your mind

"Now everyone settle down" the teacher call out to everyone making the classroom go silent

"As you all know we have been getting some new estudents transfer after the neighbour school burn down so today we are getting a new friend add to our school and classroom"

As the teacher said that many started to murmur between each other

It was normal

The school explocion was in everyone's mind being a resent event without an certain explanaition

Police had mention being cuase by a gas like by a damage that exploted after a studen smoked inside the school

Some belive It, the school had a horrible reputation in its maintenance after all It was known to be more of a correctional than an actual school

Where problematic or resources people would go to

Others think that It was goberment hit or that It was tamper

The stories on and on

"Now everyone you are old enough for this, be sensitive and welcome your new friend with welcome arms" the teacher said shushing everyone "Milo you can come in"

As the teacher said that a young man came in, he wore all black with a hat that make It difficult to see his face until he face the classroom

"Good morning everyone my name is Milo, I hope we can get along"

On the contrary to his way of dressing that seem like a funeral

His personality was a whole 180°, a friendly smile plaster in his face with a playful stare

The new guy quickly catch some girls attention they smiled and whisper with each other giggling

"It is nice to have you here Milo, why dont you take a sit beside Hope?"

The teacher pointed at the middle row sits an empty sit in the table where a young male sit stearing intensly at the front class

"Thanks miss Clare"

Milo smiled and walk to his table as some started at him with the back of their eyes

"Nice to meet you, I hope we can get along" Milo said with a smile as he plop his backpack under the table

But no answer came back

The young male keep looking at the front class, his stare somewhere else

"Oh dont worry about him, his head is always somewhere else"

A young female turn around and snap her fingers in the male's face

The male blink twice and then look at her with annoyance

"What?" he said eyebros frown

"Milo is talking to you dont be rude, thats why you dont have friends" she said annoy by his lack of attention

"I do have friends" Hope murmur between his teeth

He turn to his side and stared at Milo up and down

"Oh Im sorry, nice to meet you Im Hope" he stretch his hand to Milo who hold It in a strong and confident squizz

"Oh dont worry, Im sorry for interrupting your train of thoughts" Milo chuckle

"You shouldn't worry, Hope doesn't really think" the female chim in to the conversation

Hope give them an annoy expression before biting on the pen they had on hand

"Grace stop bothering Hope and pay attention here the class is about to start" the teacher call from the front "dont make me change you of sit again"

The female chuckle at Milo and roll her eyes annoy as she went back to her sit

Milo stare as Hope put the pincel down, it was worn beyong savation by marks It from the point to the metal point where the eraser should be

He watch from the back of his eye as he then pull other pencil out, this one had fewer chewing marks on it and finally started writing what the teacher written in the board which Milo took as his cue to start writing

It was half an hour of hearing and copying what the teacher dictated from her books until the bell ring

Everyone quickly left except for Milo, Grace, Hope and the teacher

"Did you need me for something teacher?" Hope ask walking to the desk along with the other three

"Yes Hope, since Milo is your desk buddy I think It would be a great idea If you show him around the school" the teacher said with smile

"But teacher!" Grace quickly intervine "I think I would be a better option to help Milo, I can even introducen him to the class with more efficiency, you know Hope is very lonely, he'll just drag Milo around"

"Well thats true, but we should let Milo choose to not overwhealm him" said the teacher

Milo analize in silent everyone's faces, Grace had an excited and confident smile that almost seem like smirk directed to Hope

He hide the best he could the grimace that wanted to show in his face, her face, her manerism...it was all too similar to him

He then look at Hope who look tired of everything and annoy, he look at Milo but quickly look away when both made eye contact

Clearly unconfortable of the whole situation and wanting out

The teacher only smiled a kindly at him oblivious or maybe way too use to Grace and actitude

"Too bad for you Hope" Milo thought before smiling

"I want Hope to give me the tour Miss. Clare, I think it would be easier for me and i wont get so overwhealm by people"

Milo look on the corner of his eye how Hope tried to keep his cool but his eyes twich slightly while Grace pouted with her eyes cross looking away

"I know most already know about my past and I wouldn't want to be center of attention for that matter" ended Milo with a pitiful smile

"Oh don't worry Milo, If you need help you can always come to me, ill defuse any conflict" she say with a warm smile "now go get some lunch, I'll give you two some extra time since Hope will be walking you around"

"Thanks miss. Clare" Milo chirp

"Whatever" Grace roll her eyes before leaving

[gulnarsultan]

I imagined something cute, Modern Reader used to tell the fairy tales to the twins, when they were young, not using a book. She told them fairy tales from her world and did that so well, that Cersei and Jaime wanted to hear only her fairy tales.

Yandere platonic Tywin walking around the castle to spend some time with Modern Reader and Joanna, only for him to notice Joanna standing in the doorway and smiling at the view, when Tywin asks what is going on there, Joanna shushing him and saying to listen, and he does.

Modern Reader: “And just like that the prince and the princess married each other and they lived together happily ever after. The end. Now it’s time for you to go to a bed.”

Yandere Jaime whines: “Nooo, we want another one.”

Yandere Cersei excitedly agrees with him: “Yes, yes! We want another one!”

Modern Reader: “Another one? But this is a third fairy tale.”

Yandere Cersei and Jaime give puppy eyes: “Please”🥺🥺

Modern Reader sighs in defeat because she can’t say no to them: “Alright, another one”

Yandere Cersei and Jaime: “Yay!”

So Modern Reader tells another fairy tale, meanwhile Tywin and Joanna listening to her fairy tales, because they never heard about them.

Bonus: When Modern Reader arrives at Kings Landing, she tells the fairy tales to little Viserys 3, who also enjoys them the same goes for Yandere Aerys 2 and Rhaella.

And Tyrion also listened these fairy tales from his beloved older sister.

(This is so cute)

It's a very sweet scenario. Everyone admires the reader's stories. Most likely, books will be written from stories told by the reader. Even Tywin loves the reader's stories.