#yesterday he turned to me while we were the only ones at the homework table and he said 'what are you reading?'

[solelifauna]

Definitely NOT Invincible (Yandere Invincible & Reader)

Pt.3

When depression hits hard.

Later that day, you and your friends gathered at the usual spot behind the school—an old, forgotten storage shed that had become your makeshift meeting place. It was secluded enough to keep your conversations private, and right now, privacy was exactly what you needed.

You all sat in a circle, the air heavy with unspoken tension. The reunion earlier had been emotional, a moment of pure relief in the chaos, but now reality was crashing down on all of you. The weight of the situation pressed on your shoulders as you faced your friends, each of them looking as shaken as you felt.

“How the hell are we going to do this?” Hallie muttered, running her hands through her hair in frustration. “We have to stop the world from being taken over, fight off Demogorgons, and—” she gestured wildly, “go to school like nothing’s wrong? My mom’s already noticed I’m acting different. I’ve barely been back a day, and she’s asking questions.”

You winced. Hallie had always been the one who had a close relationship with her family, and hiding things from them wouldn’t be easy. If her mom was already suspicious, it was only a matter of time before she started digging deeper. “What did you tell her?” you asked quietly, dreading the answer.

“I told her I wasn’t sleeping well, which, I mean, isn’t a lie.” Hallie sighed. “But it’s more than that, you know? She can tell something’s off. I can’t just pretend everything’s fine. I’m… different. We all are.”

Connor, who had been sitting silently up until now, finally spoke up, his voice shaky. “My family knows something’s wrong too,” he said, staring down at his hands. “I had a full-blown panic attack yesterday when I heard explosions on the TV. It was just a show my brothers were watching, but… I freaked out. My parents had to spend half an hour calming me down and coaxing me out from under the table.”

His face was pale as he recalled the moment, and you could see his hands trembling slightly. The trauma of being in an active warzone, of watching the world fall apart, had left scars that none of you could hide. It wasn’t just the physical scars from fighting; it was the emotional ones, the kind that didn’t heal easily.

You all exchanged grim looks. None of you had really considered just how hard it would be to hide what you’d been through. Surviving in an apocalyptic world, facing death at the hands of the people who were supposed to protect you, and then actually dying—it was too much. Too much to carry, and now you were back, thrust into your old lives, expected to pretend like none of it had happened.

“I guess we didn’t think about the trauma,” Weston murmured, breaking the silence. “It’s not like we didn’t deal with it before… I mean, fighting Demogorgons wasn’t exactly easy on any of us, mentally or physically.”

He was right. In your previous life, the constant battles with Demogorgons had already left you scarred. You’d all had nightmares, sleepless nights, and moments of pure terror even back then. But now? Now there was another level of horror you had to contend with. The memory of your skull being crushed by your own father, the feel of death creeping in—it wasn’t something you could just shake off.

“And now we have even more to deal with,” You said grimly. “It’s not just the Demogorgons. We have to stop Omni-Man and Invincible from taking over the world. How the hell are we supposed to do that while we’re still dealing with all of this?”

You didn’t have an answer. No one did.

“It’s not fair,” Weston muttered, and all eyes turned to him. “Why does everything always fall on us to solve? We’re just kids! Freshmen in high school, for crying out loud! We should be–I don’t know, playing, going to parties, worrying about homework and who’s crushing on who.” He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “Instead, we’re stuck trying to save the world, fighting monsters, and keeping it together so our families don’t figure out we’ve been dead. It’s not fair.”

His words hung in the air, the truth of them sinking into everyone’s minds. It wasn’t fair. Not in the slightest. You were all supposed to be worried about grades and fitting in, not about war, apocalypse, and death.

You sighed, nodding in agreement. “You’re right. It’s not fair. None of this is. But we don’t have a choice.”

“We never really did, did we?” Hallie said quietly. “Even before this—before all the time travel and Viltrumite stuff—fighting Demogorgons wasn’t exactly a normal kid thing.”

You sighed. He had a point. None of you had ever really been kids, not for a long time. While everyone else your age had been worried about tests and dances, you were out there fighting for your life, battling creatures that no one else even knew existed. The things you had seen, the things you had done—no child should have had to face that. You hadn’t felt like a kid in years.

“Feels like we never got to just be kids,” Connor murmured, his voice strained. “We’re always the ones stuck with the impossible. Every time, it’s on us to fix everything.”

You bit your lip, the anger inside you simmering. It was like the universe had decided to heap every impossible task on your shoulders, expecting you to carry the weight of the world while everyone else went on living their normal lives, oblivious. And now, even with the chance to live again, to be back in time, it still wasn’t really your life, was it? Not with everything you knew.

You were forced to be soldiers in a war that hadn’t even started yet, while everyone else was blissfully unaware of the destruction to come.

“I’m just tired,” you admitted, your voice softening, the exhaustion you felt finally bubbling to the surface. “We should’ve gotten to feel normal, at least for a little while.”

The group fell silent, the truth of your words settling in. No one argued with you because they all felt it too. The unfairness of it all was suffocating. None of you had been kids in a long time, even though, by all rights, you should’ve been. Life had robbed you of that, forcing you into roles you never should have had to take on.

“But,” you said, swallowing the lump in your throat, “it doesn’t matter how tired we are. We don’t have the luxury of being kids anymore, do we?”

Hallie looked down at her feet, her lips pressed into a thin line. “We haven’t been kids for a while.”

You nodded, looking around at your friends—your teammates, your family. “And I guess we’re never going to be. So we have to handle this the way we always do.”

“We fight,” Weston said quietly, but with conviction.

“Yeah,” Connor agreed, though there was a distant, haunted look in his eyes. “We fight.”

It wasn’t fair. It never had been. But deep down, you knew you didn’t have a choice. You’d survived worse before, and now you had a second chance. As much as you wished things could be different, the reality was clear. The world needed saving, and once again, it was up to you to do it.

The conversation eventually shifted from emotions to logistics. You all knew what needed to be done, but the how of it was trickier. “We need to tip off the Guardians,” you said, glancing at your friends, who nodded grimly in agreement. “The sooner they know what’s coming, the better.”

Hallie bit her lip, thinking it over. “But it can’t come back to us,” she said, her voice firm. “If the government finds out it was us, we’re screwed. They’ll lock us down, probably treat us like we’re a threat or something.”

Weston nodded, his brow furrowed. “Yeah, and if Omni-Man and Invincible find out…” He didn’t need to finish that sentence. You all knew what would happen. If your father and brother found out you were behind the warning, they’d kill you without hesitation. You couldn’t afford to be sloppy about this.

“So we’re agreed then,” Connor said quietly. “No one can know it’s us. We have to figure out a way to warn the Guardians without leaving a trace. But… how?”

You all sat in silence for a moment, the question hanging in the air like a dark cloud. It wasn’t just about warning the Guardians—it was about doing it in a way that kept all of you safe. There were so many risks, so many things that could go wrong. You’d have to plan carefully, every detail accounted for.

“We’ll figure it out,” you said, though you didn’t sound nearly as confident as you wanted to. “We just… need more time. We can’t afford to mess this up.”

Hallie sighed. “Yeah. But we can’t wait too long, either. The Guardians don’t have much time. We don’t have much time.”

Connor let out a shaky breath. “We’ll come up with something. We always do.”

The conversation continued for a little while longer, but there were no concrete solutions yet. The weight of everything was heavy, and the longer you talked, the more overwhelming it felt. Finally, you all came to an agreement—you’d figure out the details later. Right now, it was getting late, and school was looming over you like a grim reminder of the double life you had to live.

You hated it. The thought of going back to school, pretending everything was fine, acting normal when nothing was normal anymore. But for now, that’s what you had to do.

With another emotional goodbye, none of you really ready to leave each other, you finally parted ways. It was always hard to say goodbye these days, even though you knew you’d see each other the next day. Still, after everything you’d been through, every goodbye felt a little too final.

As you made your way home, the cool night air helped clear your mind a bit. But as you approached your house, you glanced at the time on your phone and cursed under your breath. It was late—too late for you to just walk through the front door without raising suspicion. You’d have to sneak back in, the way you’d done so many times before.

Luckily, your bedroom window was right next to a large tree, its thick branches stretching out toward the house. You’d used it countless times to sneak out during the night—mostly for Demogorgon hunts, other emergencies, or just moments when you needed to breathe. No one had ever noticed you were gone before, and you hoped tonight would be the same.

You scaled the tree easily, slipping through your window with practiced quietness. Your room was dark and empty, just as you’d left it. You landed on your feet with a soft thud, shutting the window behind you and breathing out a sigh of relief. Another successful sneak-in.

As you peeled off your jacket and kicked off your shoes, your mind buzzed with everything that had been said tonight. The Guardians. The warning. Your double life. You were exhausted, but sleep didn’t feel like an option. Your thoughts raced too fast, the weight of everything too heavy to ignore.

But you’d have to manage. You had school in the morning, and you had to act like nothing was wrong. Like you weren’t living on borrowed time in a world that had no idea what was coming.

You stared at the ceiling, the darkness of your room feeling more suffocating than comforting.

We’ll figure it out, you reminded yourself.

But you couldn’t help wondering if there’d be enough time for that.

Sleep didn’t come easy. Your mind was racing with everything you had discussed with your friends—plans, risks, the weight of the world. You tossed and turned for hours, until at some point, exhaustion finally claimed you around 1 AM. But it wasn’t peaceful. Your sleep was fitful, plagued by nightmares that wrapped around your mind like chains.

Suddenly, you jerked awake, a small scream ripping through your throat. You bolted upright, cold sweat drenching your skin, your heart pounding in your chest as if it were trying to escape. For a moment, you couldn’t remember where you were—your mind still trapped in the vivid images of your dreams. It took a few seconds to realize you were in your bedroom, safe in the quiet of the night.

You took a few deep breaths, clutching your chest in a futile attempt to calm your racing heart. Your hands shook slightly as you ran them through your hair, trying to shake off the lingering terror of the nightmare. It had been so real, like you were reliving every moment of your death, your father’s hand crushing your skull all over again.

Carefully, you swung your legs over the side of the bed, your feet touching the cold floor as you nudged the door ajar. You peeked through the crack, listening for any signs of movement in the house. The hallway was dark and still, and after a few moments, you sighed in relief. It seemed like your scream hadn’t woken anyone up. The last thing you needed was to explain why you were screaming in the middle of the night.

You checked the time on your phone. 3:17 AM.

With a frustrated groan, you realized there was no way you were getting any more sleep tonight. You felt too wired, too shaken, the adrenaline still rushing through your veins from the nightmare. Instead of lying back down and risking another round of restless tossing, you decided to head downstairs.

The kitchen was your destination, and you had every intention of making yourself a cup of tea or coffee—anything to calm your nerves. But once you made it to the dining room, something inside you crumbled. You found yourself sitting down at the table instead, your head falling into your hands, elbows resting on the worn wood surface.

You zoned out, your mind going blank as you stared ahead, your hands cradling your head like you were trying to hold yourself together. You felt small. Pathetic, even. You couldn’t even bring yourself to make coffee, let alone deal with the impossible task that lay ahead of you. Everything felt too heavy, too overwhelming. For all the strength you had shown fighting Demogorgons and surviving the apocalypse, right now, in this quiet house, you felt more fragile than ever.

Unbeknownst to you, someone was watching.

From the shadows of the staircase, Mark stood silently, his eyes locked onto your hunched figure as you sat there, lost in your own world. He didn’t make a sound, didn’t move. He just watched.

From where he stood, you looked so small, almost frail. It was crazy to him that the two of you were even related, considering how different you were. You, with your fragile human body, your easily bruised emotions. He, on the other hand, had grown stronger, more powerful. The gap between the two of you had widened so much over the years that, in his eyes, you weren’t even in the same league anymore.

But that’s what Mark had always obsessively loved about you. His precious little sister. You were human, weak, and that meant you relied on him and Dad to protect you. To him, that was your role—to be the one he could shelter and protect. The one who couldn’t do it on her own.

At school, he had made it very clear to everyone: you were off-limits. No one dared lay a hand on you, not with Mark’s reputation looming over them. If anyone even thought about hurting you, they’d meet his fist—and death—before they had the chance to follow through. That was the silent promise he had made. Nobody was allowed to hurt you.

Except him and Dad.

As he stood there watching you, a strange mix of emotions twisted inside him. He couldn’t help but feel a strange satisfaction knowing you were dependent on him, that your weakness kept you under his protection. But at the same time, something about the way you looked tonight—hunched over in that chair, lost in your thoughts—stirred an odd feeling in him.

He wouldn’t admit it to himself, but something was off about you lately. He’d noticed it. The nervous energy, the odd silences, the way you seemed to be… slipping away from him somehow. But it didn’t matter. Whatever was going on, he’d keep a close eye on you. You were his sister, his responsibility.

And no one could take that from him.

Morning arrived far sooner than you would have liked. The first rays of sunlight filtered through the window, cutting through the quiet of the house and landing directly on your face. You groaned, blinking against the harsh light, realizing you hadn’t moved from the dining table. Your body ached from sitting hunched over in the chair for hours, your mind still foggy with the weight of your sleepless night.

Today was going to suck. A lot.

You rubbed your eyes, feeling the heaviness beneath them, the exhaustion settling into your bones. You could practically feel the bags under your eyes, the dull ache of tiredness seeping into your skin. You didn’t even need to look in a mirror to know you probably looked like a mess. Red-rimmed eyes, pale skin, and the exhaustion you could never quite hide.

Just get through the day, you told yourself, trying to muster some kind of resolve.

You slowly pushed yourself up from the chair, every muscle in your body protesting. The kitchen felt too quiet now, the soft sounds of the house waking up adding to the strange stillness of your thoughts. 

Gods, you need a warm shower. Or maybe a baseball bat to the head.

With a tired groan, you shuffled toward the stairs, deciding a shower might at least help clear the fog in your mind. You hoped the hot water would be enough to wash away the exhaustion clinging to your body. Maybe it could ease the tightness in your chest.

You stripped off your clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over your shoulders, washing away the cold sweat from last night’s nightmares. The warmth soothed your muscles, but it did little to ease the knot in your stomach. The events of last night, the conversation with your friends, the weight of everything still hung over you like a storm cloud.

There was no escape from it.

You sighed, leaning your head against the cool tile. The shower wasn’t helping as much as you had hoped. You were still exhausted, both physically and mentally. The knowledge that you had to face school today, pretend everything was normal while juggling this monumental responsibility, was almost too much to bear.

But you don’t have a choice.

You had to go on like you always did. Put on a brave face, go through the motions, act like everything was fine, and then meet with your friends later to figure out how to save the world. Again.

The water began to cool, and with another groan, you reluctantly stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel and drying yourself off. You stared at yourself in the mirror, wincing at your reflection. Red-rimmed eyes, pale skin, and exhaustion etched into every line of your face.

You look like a wreck, you thought, shaking your head. But there was no time to dwell on it. You had to get through the day, no matter what.

You sluggishly dried yourself off, the warm water doing little to shake the exhaustion clinging to you. Once you were dry, you threw on some clothes, not really caring much about what you wore today—just whatever was clean and comfortable. You glanced at the clock on your dresser. 7:00 AM.

School wouldn’t start until 8:20, so you had some time. Normally, you’d still be asleep, trying to squeeze in the last few minutes of rest before rushing to get ready. But after last night, sleep wasn’t really an option.

For the next thirty minutes, you just sat on your bed, scrolling through your phone absentmindedly. You weren’t really looking for anything specific, just trying to remember who you used to be. Pictures of you and your friends popped up—Hallie, Connor, Weston. The four of you, smiling at the camera, carefree, before everything went to hell. Then there were other photos—random shots of acquaintances from school, parties you barely remembered attending, school dances where you smiled like the biggest worry in your life was whether your shoes matched your dress.

How different things had been. How different you had been.

The sound of movement from down the hall snapped you out of your thoughts. You heard Mark getting ready in his room, the familiar sounds of him moving around as he prepared for the day. Right. He drove you to school most mornings, and today would be no different.

You used to be excited about these car rides. Before, it was one of the few times you could really spend with Mark. He was a senior, always busy with schoolwork, football, or hanging out with his friends, so the drive to school was a guaranteed window of time where you could talk, laugh, and catch up.

But now? Now you dreaded it. The idea of sitting in a car with Mark, pretending everything was fine, made your stomach churn.

With a sigh, you got up from your bed, scrambling around to find your school bag. You mentally checked off the things you’d need for the day—binders, notebooks, pens—but your mind was elsewhere. Without thinking, you checked the small hidden compartment of your bag, making sure it was still packed.

A small knife. A bottle of hairspray. A lighter.

For the Demogorgons. Their biggest weakness was heat, especially fire, so you and your friends always carried around something to ignite them with. It had become second nature by now—packing your school bag with both homework and weapons. Sure, if the school ever found out you were carrying that stuff, you’d be expelled without question. But you were usually one of the good kids, known for being respectful and doing your work. That bought you a bit of leeway.

Did you occasionally miss class, ducking out to handle Demogorgons or chase down whatever creature was lurking nearby? Yes. And when you got caught? Detention. You smirked a little at the memory of you, Connor, Hallie, and Weston all sitting in detention together, exchanging looks across the room, barely holding in your laughter after a particularly difficult hunt. You had spent more than a few afternoons in those detention rooms, trying to explain your absences in ways that wouldn’t raise suspicion.

Grumbling at the thought, you slung your bag over your shoulder and headed downstairs. You grabbed a protein bar from the pantry as you slipped your shoes on, trying to push the nerves out of your stomach as you mentally prepared for the car ride with Mark.

You could hear him coming down the stairs behind you, and for a second, you froze, bracing yourself for the interaction. It felt like every moment with him now was tinged with tension, with the unspoken knowledge of what was to come.

“You ready to go?” Mark’s voice was casual, as if everything was normal.

“Yeah,” you replied, forcing a smile as you glanced over your shoulder at him.

He smiled back, though there was something in his eyes, something you couldn’t quite place. Maybe it was the weight of everything you knew, or maybe it was just your paranoia creeping in, but for a brief second, you felt like he was watching you a little too closely.

You pushed the thought away and grabbed your jacket, trying to act like everything was fine. You think you’d gotten pretty good at lying and pretending everything was okay, i mean, you did successfully hide the fact that you hunt Demogorgons in your past life.

So, it should be no different this time around, right?

Taglist: @plsfckmedxddy, @marsmabe, @leiiasurez, @shycreatorreview, @naina326, @neverano, @couldeatthatgirlforlunch,

[nvrswrld]

hi there! can you please write akito with a reader that has a crush & its suuuuuuper obvious about it, so he can't help but tease reader and get them super flustered? thank you!

Rabbit Hole — Akito Shinonome

"Gonna be a smitten mitten till the day you die?"

— in which An gets you to confess to Akito.

akito shinonome x fem!reader

tags: fluff, characters might be a little ooc, probably shit lmao i wrote this at one in the morning, cut me some slack

note: i literally squealed when i read this request i love akito sm

You've been in school for nine years, yet you still struggle with paying attention in class. It wasn't just the teachers who had poor teaching tactics, which didn't help you activate your brain for the remainder of the day, but it was also the lack of sleep you got each night. You spent more time scrolling on social media than you did working on your homework. It was the poor attention span that troubled you. It was your fault, though. You knew you should've been responsible enough to better yourself in these situations. You were getting to that age, anyway. Soon, you would be independent and no longer under the wing of safety connected to your parents.

But until then, you would continue to feed off your friends.

It helped you get things done faster, so it couldn't have been that bad. You weren't entirely dependent on them, but only just a little. Both An and Mizuki were in the same class as you, so that gave you even more of a reason to slack off whenever they attended. They didn't really mind, either. It just gave you three another reason to hang out after school, therefore it was more of a blessing than a curse. Sitting in the corner booth of Weekend Garage, sipping on piping hot coffee, chowing down on sweet treats, and praying to whatever god up there that one of them had the answers to the homework. It was the highlight of your year.

This afternoon was the same as any other. You rested your chin against the table, tapping the end of your pen against your workbook and staring off into space while An yapped Mizuki's ear off about whatever the hell they were talking about. Another part of your guys' "study session" was that it always took at least thirty minutes for you all to actually get to work. It was a lengthy process, but you still somehow managed to get work done.

After yawning and raising your head from the table to lean back comfortably against the booth seat, An switched her attention from Mizuki to you. She smirked pridefully and played with a strand of her hair. "Y'know, y/n, me and Akito did some talking during practice yesterday, and—"

"What did you do?" You asked in horror, slowly sinking down the seat. An shook her head, a sign that your fear was unnecessary. "I didn't say anything, okay?" She took a large gulp of her coffee before continuing her explanation. "We just played a little game of 'what if'."

"By 'we played' do you mean you forced him to answer your questions while he tried to get work done?" Mizuki interjected, to which An rolled her eyes playfully. "Yes, but that's not the point. The point is..."

She paused, leaving you in suspense. Her mouth stayed open for a bit, before shutting—but there was still a smirk on her face. You raised an eyebrow. "The point is?"

She shrugged. "Actually, I'll let you find out on your own."

You couldn't help but get butterflies from that sentence alone. Whether they were good or bad was unknown, but it made you feel nervous, nonetheless. "C'mon An," you begged, "don't be evil..."

You turned to Mizuki, desperation written on your face. "Do you know anything?"

"No," she answered, "nothing for sure. But can I offer my two cents?" You nodded eagerly and waited for her to speak again. "He never snaps at you, but he sure does tease the hell out of you. Odd, don't you think?"

"Right?" An agreed. "He even snaps at Toya sometimes, and that's his best friend."

"What if I just get Ena to put you on?" Mizuki questioned, to which you immediately declined her offer. You chuckled humorlessly and played with the hem of your shirt. "Absolutely not! She would totally make fun of me until the end of time. Maybe even criticize my taste in guys, if she's feeling extra mean..."

Mizuki scoffed and mocked you. "As if she can't already tell you're crushing on him."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that you can't act normal around him for the life of you," the bluenette answered for her. "He doesn't even have to be in the room. We could just be talking about him and you'll start giggling like a little girl."

"No, I don't! I didn't even giggle today!"

"Yeah, because you were too busy trying to not have a panic attack over whether I told Akito about your feelings for him or not," she countered, to which Mizuki agreed.

"Yeah, it's, like, painfully obvious how bad you have it for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he already knew. Maybe that's why he teases you so much."

If that was the case, you wouldn't know what to do. If he already knew, then why wouldn't he just tell you instead of making you wait so long for a fifty-fifty answer? The thought made you want to throw up. Not that it was bad, but it was nerve-wracking. It would be nice if he did know, but what if he didn't feel the same? What then? You placed your hand on your stomach and pouted subconsciously. "All this stress is making my stomach hurt."

"And all this pussying out is making my head hurt," Mizuki joked. Meanwhile, An was scrolling on her phone, barely paying attention to the conversation now. "C'mon, y/n! I'm sure if you tell him, he'll be nice about it."

"No, he won't," you whined. "Guys are never nice about this stuff. The last time I confessed to a guy, he told the entire class and they all made fun of me for a month."

"That was in primary school, y/n..."

"So what? It still happened!"

"Y'know what?" An spoke up as she tidied up her area, putting her books and pens back into her schoolbag. "What if we help you practice a confession?" You raised an eyebrow and asked what she meant. "Mizuki will cover your eyes, and I'll pretend to be Akito. Then, you work your magic and confess!"

"Why does Mizuki have to cover my eyes—?"

"Because it'll help you focus on envisioning his presence." It didn't take a genius to know that she completely pulled that claim out of her ass, but you chose to just let her get away with it. "C'mon, y/n! It's getting sad watching you drool over him without knowing if he feels the same or not."

You let out a defeated sigh and threw your head back. "Okay, okay. We can practice, or whatever."

Little did you know that agreeing to her idea would be the best and worst decision you've ever made.

As to why you were doing this outside was a mystery. Maybe it was to avoid getting weird looks from people inside the cafe, but it was equally as bad—and probably worse—to do outside the building. You stood in front of An, awkwardly rubbing at your arm to distract yourself from the pure embarrassment you felt every time someone walked past you three. Mizuki and An, however... You really needed their confidence, because they did not seem to give a shit about gaining people's attention.

"Alright," An said cheerfully, "close your eyes and just imagine that I'm Akito. Mizuki, you cover her eyes so she can't see for sure." Mizuki did as she was told, lightly cupping her hands over your eyes. With that, An cleared her throat and spoke up a second time. "Are you imagining him?"

"Uh," you muttered nervously, "sure, I guess." It took a while for her to speak up again, but you assumed that she had gotten distracted by her phone again. "Now say what you have to say. Don't think about it; just let it flow out."

"...An, this is stupid."

"Trust me! It'll help!"

You sighed and took your time to think. Let the words flow out, you thought. It couldn't be that hard. It was like you were talking to yourself. All you had to do was just forget about An and Mizuki, and you were good. You imagined a world where everything was perfect. A world where it was just you and Akito, for the time being. A world where no one could make fun of you for expressing yourself. A world where everything went your way. You clenched your hands into fists and swallowed hard, preparing to vocalize your thoughts and feelings.

"...since you're totally Akito," you began sarcastically, still finding the whole concept to be ridiculous, "I guess now's the time to finally tell you about how much I'm soooo in love with you, and how annoying it's been to have to deal with these feelings, knowing damn well that I was way too scared to actually tell you about them without my friends forcing me to. And I guess I have to talk about how irritating it is to have to deal with your teasing without knowing if it's platonic or not. And I guess I have to talk about how this is probably a huge waste of time because I know that I'll just pussy out when I actually want to try to confess to you."

You could hear Mizuki sigh behind you. "You're not taking it seriously, y/n!"

"What's the point? It's not like I'm gonna tell him anything anytime soon, so what's the—"

During your mini-rant, you pulled Mizuki's hands away from your eyes and opened them. Instead of An standing in front of you, she was beside Akito, who was now where she stood before. You felt your entire body freeze up at the sight of him. Not only that, but your heart fell all the way down to your ass. He was smirking at you, seemingly finding the situation to be amusing.

"—That's the point," Mizuki finished for you. Not that you were even listening. You were too busy trying to not start hyperventilating. "Why are you here?" You timidly questioned. He was supposed to be at work, so why the hell was he here now?

"I'm on my break and An told me to come here," he answered smugly, not once breaking eye contact other than to blink. "What was that about you being soooo in love with me?" Your jaw clenched and your head became light. Is this what dying felt like? Because, honestly, you were hoping that your next breath was your last.

"It was just a joke," you blurted out and internally cursed at how stupid that lie was. Akito sneered and let out an 'uh-huh'. You weren't getting out of this easily, so you might as well just give up. "Akito," you muttered, "don't do this to me."

"I already knew before this," he admitted nonchalantly. "I just wanted to see how long it would take for you to tell me."

"It would've taken longer if An didn't set me up..." Maybe your crush on him was obvious, as much as you didn't want to believe it. "Can you just, like, tell me what you think so I can rest easily tonight?" He nodded and laughed a bit with that same annoying grin on his face. "I think you're cute, or whatever."

An let out an excited squeal before you could even process what he said. "And I think that you should come clean about this beforehand so we could actually…y'know."

"I don't know," you replied, to which Mizuki quickly spoke up with a grin of her own. "He wants you!" Akito sent her a glare but didn't deny it.

"You're making this a lot less enjoyable for me," he advised the girls. "But I guess that's one way to put it." It felt like the entire world was crumbling beneath your feet but in a good way. You couldn't help but play with your fingers as a nervous tic, but despite your anxiety, you were smiling. Wide. Before you knew it, you walked up to him and pulled him into a tight hug. Akito was caught off guard, but only for a bit. He eventually wrapped his arms around you as well and applied a sweet kiss on the top of your head. It was like a dream.

"Thanks, An…" you mumbled against his chest. You totally owed her after this.

written by @nvrswrld

[nvrsaidiwasinurcloset]

Hated - Ethan Landry - Part 2

Ethan Landry x Fem!Reader

This contains SMUT. - Minors DNI

Part 1

Summary: Ethan's hated you for a while, but a little bit of time alone and a heated argument leads to something more.

A/N: Send in requests, I need the inspiration <3

As you sat down in the living room with Ethan, Chad looked back and forth between the two of you. He was suspicious, because you wanted to kill each other yesterday.

“Uh, I um,” Ethan mumbled, so you cut him off, “He was helping me get back into my school account. I locked myself out of it earlier.”

“Oh, cool. Well, the rest of the guys are coming over soon,” Chad said, as Ethan’s leg started to bounce. He wanted to have some alone time with you, and that can’t happen if the rest of the friend group comes over.

“When will they be here?” You asked, relaxing on the couch.

“In like, an hour. I’m going to leave in a few to get pizza, you guys want to come with?” Chad asked, as Ethan was struggling to sit still.

“I think I’m going to hang out here. It’s my turn to pick the movie tonight, and I need to pick the perfect one so Mindy doesn’t give me shit,” you said, exchanging a quick glance with Ethan.

“I have a ton of homework I need to work on,” Ethan said, as Chad headed to the door.

“Okay, I’ll be back soon. Don’t kill each other.”

The second Chad was out the door, Ethan was on you. You finally had to push him back, “Let’s go to your room.”

Your clothes were shed yet again, as Ethan hovered over you. “You want me to eat you out again?” he asked, a small smile playing on his lips. His determination to please you was so attractive.

“Shouldn’t you let me take care of you?” You asked, placing kisses along his jawline.

“As much as I’d love that, I won’t last long. I don’t want to disappoint you,” he said, moaning as you lightly bit his neck.

“Ethan, it’s okay if you don’t last long. Please don’t think you’re disappointing me, because this doesn’t have to be a one-time thing,” you said, trying to assure him that this experience was more about him than you.

“We can do this again?” he asked, his anxiety starting to fade.

“Of course we can,” you whispered, kissing him on the tip of his nose.

He walked over to his bedside table, rummaging for the unopened box of condoms that he kept just in case. After grabbing one and putting it on, he came back over to you, resuming his place on top of you. He nudged around at your entrance, his nerves getting the best of him.

“Hey, when you put it in, go slow,” he nodded, before slowly inching his way into you. He kept watching your face, looking for any signs of discomfort. He really wanted to take care of you, and it was mind-blowing. Most guys only care about their own satisfaction when it comes to sex.

Once he was fully inside you, you nodded for him to keep going.

“Fuck, you’re so tight.” he said, as he continued to rock his hips into yours. It didn’t take long before you were close. He was filling you up perfectly, hitting all the right spots.

You reached your hand down to rub circles on your clit, and he felt like he could cum at the sight alone. You felt yourself tightening around him, and his eyes started to roll back.

“Fuck fuck fuck, I’m cumming,” you moaned, gripping his biceps as your body started to shake.

Ethan couldn’t form words as he filled the condom, the fucked-out expression on his face telling you everything you needed to know.

“Can we really do that again?” he asked as his breathing returned to normal.

“Only if you don’t start hating me again,” the small laugh that left your mouth was his new second favorite sound, the first being the way you moan.

“I don’t think I could ever hate you,” he said, as you both stood up to get dressed.

[the-guilty-writer]

Work The Case

Request from @doctorsteeb: This may be too sensitive a topic but just an idea— Hotch!daughter taking out a school shooter?

Aaron Hotchner x daughter!reader

Summary: A normal Tuesday takes a turn when you come face to face with your father's work.

A/N: Not going to lie I wasn't going to write this because I felt like the idea was too sensitive but then I remembered that I'm the queen of writing too sensitive things in real life so I may as well do that here too (within limits of course. I still have ethics). So here it is!

CW: school shooting, fatal gun shot, talks of foyet, talks of dead mothers, talks of car crashes, talks of drunk driving, talks of divorce, Jackson Pollok slander

---

The morning started out like any other Tuesday: you got up and ready for the day before having breakfast with your dad and brother- oatmeal and orange juice- then your dad drove you and Jack to school. Jack always got dropped off first at the elementary school, and you at the high school. The ride between the two was short, but it was always long enough for a small, private conversation between you and your father.

“You okay?” he asked you. 

Ugh. Profilers.

“I’m…” You thought about saying ‘fine,’ but you knew he wouldn’t take that as an answer. You sighed. “The teacher let the class vote on what chapter we would cover in class next, so we started on abnormal criminal psychology yesterday.”

“Oh.” You’d never heard your dad sound so uncertain.

“It’s an extra chapter. Since it’s not listed in the curriculum we aren’t being tested on the material. The teacher told me I could spend that period in the library if it was… too much,” you finished.

You dad pulled in front of the school, leaning over to kiss you on the forehead goodbye. “Whatever you need, sweetheart.”

“Thanks,” you told him. 

“Try to have a good day,” he said before you shut the car door.

You nodded. “I’ll try.”

---

You took your teacher’s offer and went to the library instead of their classroom. The space was large, but mostly empty of people- there was just the librarian behind her desk and a few students scattered amongst the tables. You took a seat and pulled out your homework, trying not to think about what they were learning back in the classroom. You’d honestly overheard enough phone calls that whatever they were learning about you already knew. There was a buzz in your pocket, which automatically made you freeze. You kept your phone on do not disturb through the school day. The only reason your phone would buzz would be if your dad was texting you… and if your dad was texting you it was an emergency.

You pulled your phone out and you were right- it was a text from your dad. Three words: Work the case.

Shit. That was code for you and Jack to hide- to hide somewhere that you wouldn’t be found unless you wanted to be. You looked around the library, but the area was like an open plain. You shoved your work in your backpack and hurried towards the doors-

BOOM!

A gunshot.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

People began to scream. Through the glass windows of the library you could see students running, but it wasn’t because they were late to class. The lockdown alarm sounded and you scrambled under one of the tables, hoping it would be enough cover.

There was a stillness and a silence for a minute and you hoped that it was over, but gunshots rang out again- this time they were louder than they had been before. Someone was getting closer.

Your heart was pounding in your chest, making it feel as though your entire body was thumping to its too-fast rhythm. You wanted to cry, but you didn’t shed any tears. You wondered if this was what it had been like for Jack when Foyet had killed your mother and then tried to kill your father. As part of WISTEC, you had been sent away to a private boarding school with an alias while Jack and your mom were sent elsewhere. In the end, sending you away had saved your life, but now you were wondering if you were going to die soon anyway.

That was, until the library doors burst open. From your view under the table you could only see old shoes and baggy jeans but you heard the shots that were fired into the air.

“Get up! All of you!” It was a male voice.

You, along with the six other students in the library that had all dropped to the floor, looked around at one another- who would make the decision to stand up or stay down? Who would make that call?

More shots were fired. “I said get up!”

You thought about your dad- what would he do? And so you were the one to make the call, the first student to crawl out slowly from under the table and rise, your hands held up to show that you were no threat. The rest of the students followed your lead. This was your team now- if one of them died, it was on you.

You looked at the shooter and you knew who he was- Timmy Rogers. He’d been in some of your classes in middle school and high school. He had always been quiet- the kind of kid who did well in class but never answered any questions. The person who put their share into a group project and didn’t complain about having to pick up the slack if someone else bailed. He was nice enough of a person that you wouldn’t have expected him to be holding a firearm in the middle of your school, but then again most unsubs could keep themselves hidden for years- that much you knew.

“Line up against the wall. Now!” he shouted.

You walked calmly to the wall while some of the other students scampered. One girl was crying. Another boy’s fists were twisted with fear. The librarian was on her knees, pleading with Timmy. “You’re a good boy. You always have been. Your mother-”

“Don’t talk about my mother! Don’t talk about me! You don’t know me!”

“Yes I do,” the librarian was crying. “I do know you and your mom wouldn’t have wanted-”

Timmy pulled the trigger and she was gone. He marched over and grabbed the girl who was crying, dragging her out in front for the rest of you to see. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry!” She fell to her knees. “Please, I’m sorry-”

You thought quickly about everything you knew about Timmy. He wasn’t an athlete by any means but he joined the wrestling team anyway, he liked art and his project last year was based on his parent’s divorce, his father was a marine, and his mom…

Oh. His mom had died in a car crash last week. She was hit by a drunk driver.

“You never cared about me!” he yelled. “Nobody cares about me. Nobody cared about her-”

“I did.” You didn’t know where the words came from- they were solid and bold and half a lie, but they made Timmy let go of the girl.

“And who are you?” He pointed the gun in your direction. You wanted to scream, but you didn’t.

“I’m (Y/N) Hotchner. W-we had art class together last year.” You hoped your stumble wasn’t too obvious.

“Yeah, and why does that matter? Why should I let you live? Why should I let any of you live?” He waved the gun around in the air, making some of the students shriek, but somehow you stayed calm even though you wanted to explode. 

“Y-your mom died in a car crash last week. But it wasn’t her fault. It was the other person who was driving drunk and it wasn’t fair that they got to live and she had to die,” you said.

“Why do you care?” He spat.

You reached deep down… really deep. “My mom died too. She was murdered by a serial killer. She deserved so much better, just like your mom did.”

Timmy paused, the gun in his hand was shaking but still pointed at you. From your view, you could see that through the glass there were officers moving into the school. No. Not just officers- they were wearing FBI vests. Help was almost there, you just had to stall.

“My parents got divorced too,” you said. “Your final project last year really spoke to me- your dad was away all the time and your mom got tired of it, even though they still loved each other.” That was a total lie- the guy was about as talented as Pollok, but you had to find something. “My parents were the same way.”

Now Timmy was crying. You could see behind him that agents were moving towards the library, but you were too focused on stalling Timmy that you weren’t focused on their faces.

“And I was at a boarding school when she died so I was alone- all alone, just like you, Timmy. My mom died and nobody was there to comfort me. My dad wasn’t with me, just like your dad isn’t here right now.”

He was so distracted by your words that he didn’t even notice that the library doors had opened behind him allowing Agent Morgan, Dr. Reid, and your dad to come in unnoticed.

“He- he didn’t even come for her funeral-” Timmy’s hand was getting weaker. He was crying harder. “I-I can’t reach him-”

“I know. I couldn’t reach my dad either since I was still in WISTEC. They couldn’t tell me anything about him until I got home. It’s not fair. I know it’s not fair. I care that it’s not fair.”

Timmy dropped the gun, crumbling to the ground in a fit of tears. Agent Morgan tackled him, pulling his hands behind his back while Dr. Reid disabled the firearm. Your dad ran straight to you, gripping you in a bone crushing hug and you sobbed into his chest.

He pulled you in tighter, stroking a hand down your hair. “It’s over, sweetheart,” he whispered. “I’ve got you. It’s over.”

“I worked the case, dad,” you managed to get out between your sobs. “I worked the case.”

[olivexii]

⁀➷ ┄─ ˑ One shot . ☆ ──ㅤ The Goldfinch

The Goldfinch + reader insert

One shot

Masterlist

Warnings: Alcohol, abuse, smoking

┌── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┐

After Theo’s arrival, Xandra and Larry’s attention was drawn away from me. They realised they could get more money from him than they could from taking me in.

“I’m glad you’re here kiddo.” Larry said to the boy as I rolled my eyes at him. Theo was just smiling, happy to have his father back.

“I’m going out.” I said, packing away my homework into my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.

“Where to?” Theo turned around.

“Boris’. Feel free to come later.” I winked at him, putting my shoes on and heading to the door as he nodded in agreement.

“Don’t be back too late! Me and Xandra are going out tonight.” I was stopped by the man, “And take Popper with you, damn dog is bad luck and needs to go out.”

“Will do!” I call back, going to pick up Popper and walk out of the room.

“You and your mom… You two were so close.” Their conversation faded out as I left the house.

Today was hot. Hotter than usual, I had to cover Popchyk’s eyes with one of my hands as he kept whimpering and trying to shield himself in my torso.

Boris’ house wasn’t that far away, only a few streets down, so we weren’t in the heat for very long before I was knocking on the door.

After impatiently waiting for a few minutes I decided to go in, he was taking too long to answer.

“Boris?” I called, taking off my converse and putting Popchyk down. He immediately ran upstairs to go lay on Boris’ bed.

I made my way into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. His dad wasn’t going to be home for a while, so I could relax.

“Didn’t hear you come in.” I turned around and leant on the counter at the sound of the thick accent and smiled.

Boris stood in the doorframe, dressed in all black clothing and layers.

“I’m stealthy.”

“Of course you are.” He smirked as he made his way towards me, “You want beer?”

“I’m good with water for now.” I shook my head.

“Suit yourself.” He reached into the fridge and took out a brown beer bottle, looking around for the opener.

“Theo’ll be here later, he’s just talking to his dad.” I grabbed the bottle opener from behind me and handed it to him.

“Amazing. In the mean time...” Boris smiled, clanking the top of his beer bottle against the glass of water in my hand before taking a sip.

“In the mean time, I have homework I need to do.” I laughed, taking off my blue rucksack and resting it on the kitchen table.

“Come on, homework?”

“Yes, Boris. I have homework to do, and so do you, remember?”

“Ah yes, I remember. Popchyk ate it.” He exclaimed, attempting to sound sad as he took another swig from the bottle.

“No, Popchyk didn’t. He’s upstairs sleeping on your mattress.”

“Vicious creature, chewed it up good.” Boris said sarcastically, I only laughed in response and sat down at the kitchen table, setting out my papers in front of me.

“Okay shush now, I need to concentrate.”

“Sure” He said with a hint of disappointment as he sat down next to me, one hand leaning on the table the other playing with the bottom of my striped shirt, occasionally pulling away to drink from his bottle.

About 10 minutes passed with Boris trying not to speak, he sighed every few seconds to let me know he was bored but I just ignored him and laughed internally.

Luckily, we could hear Theo opening the front door, and the sound of Popchyk running down the stairs to greet him.

“Potter! In the kitchen.” Boris called, not standing up from his chair, just watching me struggle to try and finish my homework.

“Jeez, you still doing that?” Theo asked as he entered the room, Popchyk in his arms happily.

“Yes. I forgot to do it yesterday.” I replied, not looking up from the paper.

“Sucks for you. Wanna watch a film?” He asks, Boris immediately standing up and walking to towards him.

“Yes. Is so boring watching her struggle with work.” The dark haired boy said.

“Fuck you.” I replied, running my hand through my hair, not looking back at the two boys.

“Manners!” Theo laughed, putting Popchyk down and walking towards the dvd’s.

They took about 15 minutes trying to decide on a film, arguing between The Bone Collector and The Talented Mr.Ripley.

“Matt Damon is boring, Theo. Am not watching another one of his movies, we fell asleep!” Boris exclaimed.

“You loved Good Will Hunting!”

“Please just decide on a film, I can’t deal with you two shouting anymore.” I told them, finally finishing my work and packing everything into my bag.

Eventually they decided on Godzilla, all three of us walking upstairs to play it on the dvd player.

“Ha! Size does matter.” Boris pointed out on the cover of the dvd to me and Theo. We just rolled our eyes in response and sat down on the mattress as he turned on the tv.

“Move over.” The tall boy grunted, nudging me so that he can fit on the right side of the bed and put his beer bottle of the floor.

“Comfy?” He turned to me and Theo as the movie began to play.

“Shut up.”

“Shh it’s starting.” Me and the other boy complained, occasionally sipping on our beer as we focused on the movie.

At some point I fell asleep. Somewhere between Boris and Theo pulling out a few cigarettes and Theo getting up to use the bathroom.

“Blow the smoke away from her you idiot.” I heard Theo whisper.

“She is fine with it.” The dark haired boy laughed.

“Human decency man, human decency.”

I was woken up some time later by the two scrambling to get up. My head fell from Boris’ shoulder as he jumped, making me fall to the side and wake up.

“My dad, he’ll kill the dog. Hurry.” Boris panicked as he put his cigarette out and helped me stand up.

“Popper, come here.” Theo quickly picked up the small dog as we made our way out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

Boris’ dad had come home early, mumbling to himself in russian and pacing back and forth.

“Go through the back.” Boris whispered to me and Theo as we made our way down the stairs and through the house, his dad now shouting at Boris who had walked up to him.

We quietly closed the patio door behind us and made our way around the side of the house.

The shouting got louder and we stopped outside of a window to see Boris on the floor, his dad holding a cane to him.

I watched for a few seconds, frozen in shock and sympathy until Theo pulled at the bottom of my shirt, tears welling in his eyes and indicating we should go before he spots us.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

The next day Boris came into school with a black eye. He didn’t talk much to us, just slumped over his tray in the cafeteria with his arms folded on the table.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” I asked him worriedly. He didn’t reply, only looking back to me with a deadpan face.

After he looked back down at his food tray I turned to Theo, he had the same worried expression as I did.

└── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┘

A/N: not sure whether to turn this into a mini series or not. but chapter 5 of knee socks will by out in the next few days 🤞

[lei-lei-writez]

Chapter 2: Kashton

Kashton laid in his bed, struggling to wake up, his exhaustion taking over. That’s when his alarm went off again, after hitting snooze for the millionth time.

“Damn it…” He sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes. It was still quite early so he had plenty of time to get ready for school. He stumbled down the hallway to the bathroom, turning on the shower and getting in.

Kashton’s life wasn’t the most eventful, he didn’t have much to think about. He thought about what would be going on today, homework was due, he’d might hang out with his friends, maybe even hit the gym, all that kind of stuff. The warm water from the shower really helped soothe his muscles after his workout from yesterday.

As he stepped out of the shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist and headed to his room. He threw on a tank top and a pair of sweatpants for his outfit, nothing too crazy. He went to the kitchen where he made a smoothie for his breakfast and headed back up to his room.

Surprisingly the flavour combo for the smoothie he made today wasn’t that bad, he’d saw a recipe online and decided to try it. As he drank his smoothie he checked his phone, looking through his social media.

He checked his Snapchat, continuing his Snapstreaks and checking stories. “Amy and her boyfriend…Damian got food, shocker. Layton and Xavier…” He paused as he saw Layton’s story, she was with Xavier.

Kashton hated Xavier. He didn’t like how they were dating, Kashton had many bad feelings about him.

“Damn it…Layton, I wish you’d just leave him…”

He frustratedly put his phone in his pocket and picked up his backpack, putting his smoothie cup in the sink and heading out the door.

Kashton didn’t live very far from his school, it was only about a 5 minute walk, as he’d walk some other kids would wave to him or say hello to him, nothing too special.

Once he’d make it to school, he’d go to his class and prepare for the lesson. He’d try to pay attention in his classes, waiting for the lunch bell to ring. Once it did, he headed off to look for Layton.

As he walked down the hall he bumped shoulders with someone and out of all people, it was Xavier.

“Hey! Watch it, Kash!” Xavier also hated Kashton too, but they never showed it in front of Layton. “It’s not a big deal, calm the hell down!” Kashton said in a defensive tone. He gave Xavier another quick shove before continuing to find Layton.

Finally after a bit of searching, he found her, she waved and he waved back, giving her a smile. Sure, he felt like a third grader with all these feelings he had for Layton but they were just how he genuinely felt.

He then suddenly felt himself being shoved out of the way by Xavier, of course. Every time he saw Xavier he just wanted to rip him to shreds, not just because he had Layton but because he was just a terrible person yet Layton couldn’t ever see that. Because Xavier would hide it around her.

Kashton could hear the conversation that Xavier was having with Layton. He could hear all the nonsense spewing out of his mouth while he had to listen. Layton would occasionally say something herself and would even laugh, why couldn’t he be the one to make her laugh?

“Alright bae, I’ve gotta go, I promised I’d eat with my friends today.” Layton understandingly nodded “Alright, love you.” “Love you too.” Xavier gave her a peck on the cheek and headed off, smirking cockily at Kashton while doing so.

“So…you wanna eat lunch with me, Kashton?”

He immediately accepted “Yeah, of course.”

She began walking off to a spot in the cafeteria, Kashton following behind. Once they found a table, they began to eat the shitty food that was served.

“So, Layton? How is volleyball going?”

Layton stopped picking at her food “Oh it’s going great. My team is in division 3 which basically means we are definitely one of the better teams.”

Kashton nodded “Yeah, I still remember how badly I did in gym class during volleyball…”

Layton smiled “Hey, you weren’t that bad, I mean, everyone starts somewhere. I can teach you after school if you’d want to get more into it.”

Kashton smiled and he felt his face getting slightly warm, he always liked hanging out with Layton after school. “Yeah that’d be nice! And when hockey season comes around, I could show you how to skate.” Layton chuckled “You and your hockey stuff, I swear you’re obsessed.” Kashton shrugged “I guess you could say that.”

She smiled and looked down at her plate of whatever kind of mush she had been served, her face saddening. Kashton caught on to this immediately “Hey? What’s wrong?” Layton looked up at him “Oh, nothing. Just tired, I guess.” Kashton saw it in her facial expression that there was more to just ‘being tired’ but he didn’t want to question her any more. Eventually the bell rang and it was time to get back to classes.

During one of his classes which he was totally paying attention to, he decided to text Layton about hanging out after school. She knew she was also most likely not paying attention so he’d might as well take the chance before Xavier would try asking.

Kashton: “Hey Layton? I think we should totally hang out after school.”

Layton: “Alrighty then, I’m fine with that.”

Kashton: “K, meet me at that tree with the bench underneath.”

Layton: “Okee, I’ll bring my volleyball too.”

Kashton: “Sounds good, ttyl.”

Layton: “k byeee.”

Kashton set his phone down with a sigh, finally there was at least something to look forward to.

“Someone’s happy?”

Kashton jumped slightly and looked to the side.

“Dammit, Maxwell! Stop doing that shit!”

Maxwell, Kashton’s best friend leaned back in his chair. “You’re talking to Layton, I assume?” “Yes I am, so what?”

Max chuckled “Someone’s obsessed.”

Kashton rolled his eyes “No, I’m just tryna get closer to her.” Max sighed “Listen, the closest you’re getting to her is being her best friend, she’s with Xavier y’know?” Kashton sighed and nodded, he was right and there wasn’t really any denying it.

Max smirked “The way you look at her is hilarious though. I know I’m your head you’re thinking ‘Damn! I’ve gotta be with her! I wanna fuc—“ Kashton punched him in the arm. “Do NOT continue that sentence, man!” Max rubbed his arm while laughing “Oh come on! I just know you think of that!” Kashton’s face was becoming hot again “Just shut it.”

Max raised his hands in mock defence. “Fine.”

Kashton put his phone in his bag and sighed “Well, now I wait till the end of the day.” Max sighed “Good luck with that, with your level of patience, I can tell it’ll be difficult for you.”

After what felt like an eternity, the dismissal bell had rung and Kashton sprinted out of the school, dashing to the spot where him and Layton would meet. Once he was there, he caught his breath and began waiting for Layton. Kashton eagerly kept looking around, wondering when she’d been there and soon enough, he saw her approaching. He took note of her appearance, despite already seeing her today. The way her hair blew gently in the wind, her dark brown eyes looking up at him, her hips swaying as she walked, she even had her volleyball in hand just like she promised.

As soon as made it over to Kashton, he smiled widely at her, finally he could hang out with her. “Hey Layton.”

“Hey Kashton, I brought the volleyball. So where are we heading?”

“Um…how about my house?” Kashton asked.

“Sure! Let’s go then!”

As they began making their way to Kashton’s place, he tried to reach out to hold Layton’s hand but he realized he shouldn’t so he kept it at his side.

[sm-writes-chaos]

sigh..it's new idea time. A story about disaster gays with a lot of second hand embarrassment which I've honestly been dying to write to get out of my comfort zone.

It's a start and only has a little bit down

--

Me and my crush are both gay! …In the wrong direction.  I thought I had a crush on him but it turns out he was just a shield for me to hide behind whenever my real crush Tiffany walked past. It was the same for him whenever David was around. The real problem? Tiffany and David were together.  And they made it clear they were serious, kissing in the halls and rubbing each other’s backs. I almost throw up every time. But me and my best-friend-not-crush Jeremy can’t let go of our feelings, so we’ve devised a plan. Get them to break up and fall in love with us, easy! Only, if I’d known that the most embarrassing year of my life would end up being this year, I would’ve just dated Jeremy.

I threw my backpack down and sat on the lunch table with a huff. I crossed my arms on the table and laid my head down. 

“Tiffany?” Jeremy said in an all too knowing voice.

I muttered out a sound of confirmation. I lifted my head and threw my arms in the air.

“How is she so perfect?! Today I left yesterday’s homework at home and- and you know what she did? She’d made a copy, Jeremy. She makes copies of all the homework in case she loses them!” I looked at him with wild eyes. He nodded and smiled with a little laugh.

“Can she get any more perfect? It might be annoying if not for your crush on her.”

“Hey are you saying if I wasn’t in love with her you’d dislike her?” I raised my eyebrow but I was clearly joking.

“Well, yeah. If you like her then she must be a good person.”

I smirked in victory. I looked down at the table and only saw one lunch tray. 

“Did you not get one for me? I said I was going to be late from band.”

“Oh no this is yours.” He slid it over to me. The only thing looking slightly appetizing being the apple.

I picked up a spoon from the tray and stared at him suspiciously.

“You’re not hungry?”

“No no..I’m fine.”

I picked up the apple and shoved it into his chest.

“Take it.”

“Uh thanks.” He wheezed and took a hesitant bite. I tried to swallow down the lumpy potatoes and focus back on what I was saying earlier.

I twirled my spoon in the air while chewing thoughtfully. 

“So Jeremy,” I said with a taunting voice, he smiled knowing what I was going to say.

“How’s it going with David?” I raised my eyebrows.

He looked around the room rapidly, glancing at David sitting at a table far from ours.

“He’s good.” Jeremy stared for a second longer before meeting my eyes again.

I groaned a little, “I mean how’s it going with both of you. Like together.”

He frowned a little, “I tried to sit next to him when we went to Gerald’s pizza shop after the game, but his friends did before I could.”

“Oh Jeremy, Jeremy.” I shook my head disappointed. “You’ve got to stop hesitating! I know you just stood there while the chance was wide open!”

“I know, but I was still all sweaty from the game and stuff.”

“So was he dumbass!”

Jeremy frowned at me, he knew he was just making excuses. 

“You’re no person to talk to me about hesitating. Yesterday you had to talk to Tiffany about the project but you just stared at your paper for ten minutes.”

I slapped my forehead remembering. 

“And she tapped my shoulder with her perfect nails and told me which part of the project to do. Though I kinda wasn’t paying attention because I was staring at her hair..”

“Willow!” He scolded, this was new information to him. 

I tried to laugh it off and stuffed my mouth with more lumpy potatoes.

Jeremy put the apple down halfway eaten. 

“If we keep going on like this we’re never going to get happily ever after.” His little sister had been watching more Disney movies recently and since then he’d been comparing our disaster crushes to fairy tales.

“Happily ever afters are for straight rich princesses. We were doomed from the start. The first to be killed in a horror movie.”

Jeremy thought for a moment. 

“We just need a plan.”

“Like what?” I scoffed. 

“Operation Get Our Crushes To Fall in Love With Us.” He stated it as a genius plan like he had it all sorted out already.

I perked a little and paused, “it’s gonna need a shorter name.” I smiled, I was always up for a good plan. 

RING!

Jeremy and I scrambled up and rapidly said some final words to each other. 

“After school-“

“The bleachers-“

“Operation Get-“

“Okay we seriously need to shorten it.”

“Fine, bye!”

“See ya later!”

We said our goodbye and rushed to our next classes. They were on the opposite ends of the school so we couldn’t converse in the halls, but my mind was already racing with ideas.

I hadn’t thought of it before, but looking at it from this angle my sophomore year might not suck after all. I may even avoid the sophomore slump all together! I nearly skipped and hummed my way to my next class, even though it was with Mrs. Dodderson. A frustrating teacher who made us memorize so many dates it felt more like math than history class. She always paired me up with Jessie, somehow hoping that the more we were near each other the sooner we’d get along. But that just gave her more opportunities to torment me. We could have a whole lesson in class on our history. 

Last year she threw a party, and while I was miraculously invited, I didn’t know she’d literally be throwing a party cake all over my shirt. It was totally on purpose too. I saw her friend sticking their fingers in her mouth. 

And the year before that she played my audition tapes over the P.A system, I was known as ‘Voice Crack Victoria’ for months. Some people still think my name is Victoria. Last month though, she went too far. She switched my history test out for one written in crayon! It was a total disgrace and brought my grade down to a C. My parents and Mrs. Dodderson said I was making a mockery of the school, and I had to take the test again. History class was more like ‘Glare at Jessie' class, and my grade is based on if I glare hard enough that she doesn’t bother me for the whole class period. The longer she leaves me alone the better my score, and notes for class. Without her bothering me I could be passing that class with flying colors, instead I barely scrape by with a B. Not an acceptable grade in my book. 

I reached the door that, while it was identical to the rest, seemed more intimidating and unfriendly. I tried to open the door as casually as possible and walk in while not being too aware of my body movements. Holding my breath I managed to sit in my chair while looking semi normal and not making eye contact with anyone. 

I thought I heard a scoff behind me but forced myself to continue looking straight ahead. I got my notebook out and laid it on my desk, awaiting the lesson to start.

“Look who’s so excited for class! Like a little note taking puppy.”

Jessie. Her voice crawled up my back and into my ear, planting her judgments in my brain and sticking like glue.

Her friends laughed a little and said something I thankfully couldn’t hear. Though it was almost worse than knowing.

--

aand that's all folks, back to a 'will I won't I write the rest' situation

[saiilorstars]

Ch. 6: The Oswell

Fandom: Harry Potter (hogwarts year 1-7) Pairing: Draco x OFC

taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​ @anotherunreadblog​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​​ @foxesandmagic​​​​

Story Masterlist // Romina’s Masterlist

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know!

November arrived and passed midway and the only thing that had changed was that Hermione was now good friends with Harry and Ron. Romina was glad for it. However, she herself was still struggling to speak with Harry. Hermione had helped her countless times but with no results.

"Yesterday, I heard a Ravenclaw whispering about you," Hermione whispered to Romina while scribbling the last bit of her potions homework.

The students were all doing their homework in the Great Hall and since it was free, there were no special seating arrangements by House. Romina and Hermione sat just opposite from Harry and Ron.

"I told her it wasn't true," Hermione said obviously. "But it didn't stop her from continuing with her friends."

Romina groaned. "Why does everyone find me so damn interesting?" She looked away from her homework just for a second, but probably the most interesting second of that morning yet. Seamus Finnigan was trying to do his Transfiguration homework a couple feet from them.

"Eye of rabbit, harp string hum. Turn this water, into rum," he eagerly looked into the cup but saw no such thing. "Eye of rabbit, harp string hum…"

Romina bit her lip as she desperately tried not to laugh. "Um, is he for real trying to change that glass of water into rum?"

Hermione barely gave the spectacle a moment of care. "He's trying. I heard yesterday he made some sort of weak tea—"

BAM!

Both girls, as did the rest of the table, jumped in their spots when Seamus' cup literally exploded and left Seamus with a soot-covered face again. Everyone burst into laughter, including Hermione who was trying to hide it behind her book.

The laughter stopped, however, when Snape appeared. He stopped by the table after picking up a student's parchment, paying no attention to Seamus of course. "Good luck today, Potter." Harry looked up but by now had learned better than to snap back. "Then again, now that you've proven yourself against a troll, a little game of Quidditch should be easy work for you...even if it is against Slytherin." With that, he headed out of the Great Hall.

Harry watched after him with narrowed eyes. "See that limping he's doing?" he said to his friends. "I'm guessing Snape let the troll in as a diversion so he could try and get past that 3 headed dog. But, he got himself bitten and so that's why he's limping."

Romina stared in disbelief. Did he just conjure up that story in ten seconds? He had to be losing it now. She was sure of it. "That's my head of House I'll remind you."

"Rom, just listen," Harry requested in order to finish his theory. "The day I was at Gringotts, Hagrid took something out of one of the vaults. He said it was Hogwarts' business, very secret. I'm betting that's what's being guarded by the three-headed dog."

"And you're also saying that Snape wants it," Romina could simply not believe him at the moment. "Harry Potter, you've got some nerve! Throwing accusations like that! I'm not going to listen to any of this!" And so she started gathering her things, getting up. "I'd say good luck at your game but I'm just that upset with you!"

Harry wasn't even bothered, more annoyed that she wasn't taking him seriously.

Romina marched off with her head held high.

~ 0 ~

"I've no idea what this is but I'm super excited!" Arden exclaimed as she, Romina, and Pansy found their seats in one of the middle rows of the stands.

"How do you not know what Quidditch is?" Pansy couldn't get over the fact Arden had no idea what the most famous wizard sport was. "Were you raised by wolves?"

Arden rolled her eyes. "I was raised by fine parents, thank you very much. Muggles don't do Quidditch. We do basketball, football, volleyball—"

"What's all that?" Pansy crinkled her nose.

"Were you raised by wolves or what?" Arden mimicked Pansy's high-pitched voice. Pansy huffed and looked away.

"Settle down please," Daphne Greengrass warned them from the bleacher above them. "It's just a game, nothing important."

"Oh, don't let the boys hear that," Romina looked back at her, smirking, "I swear I heard them go back and forth for 10 minutes on the best way to fly a broom. It's like c'mon boys, at the end of the day, they're just brooms."

Daphne chuckled. "Oh, you've missed a lot from those guys. We run in the same social circle. Draco and Blaise take their Quidditch very seriously. It gets on all of our nerves, especially Theodore."

"Nott?" Romina raised an eyebrow.

Daphne nodded. "Yeah, he's not all that into Quidditch but since his family basically clumps him with Draco and Blaise, he doesn't have much of a choice but to listen to them. They claim to be experts."

"Huh, so I bet that's why Draco was fuming that Harry got a spot on the team," Arden nodded to herself. "Couldn't stand that somebody else got that place."

"That, and because he absolutely detests Harry," Romina muttered distractedly. She was trying to find Harry in the midst of all the tall Gryffindors.

"Well, it is a bit unfair," Daphne said, "Why should Harry be given a special spot on the team if he's just a first year like the rest of us?"

"Because he's that good," Romina shrugged, not thinking so much about it until Daphne made a good point.

"And how do they know that there isn't another first year who's just as good as Harry if they don't give us the opportunity to try out?"

"She got us there," Arden commended Daphne for her argument and perspective.

"I think they're about to start," Pansy watched Madame Hooch approach the two opposing teams.

Romina had finally found Harry stuck between the Weasley twins. When Madame Hooch blew her whistle, the fifteen team members flew high in the air.

Lee Jordan was set to do the commentary, and my what a way of introduction he had. "And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor - what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too—"

"JORDAN!" McGonagall immediately cut him off. She was supervising him...apparently.

"Sorry, Professor," Lee apologized and continued commenting.

Not a minute later had Gryffindor made a score thanks to Angelina Johnson. While Gryffindors cheered for their win, Slytherins threw them all dirty looks. It didn't help when Gryffindor proceeded to score twice afterwards.

"We are getting crushed," Romina crinkled her nose.

The team seemed to agree and decided to retaliate however they could.

"Slytherin in possession," Lee's voice carried over the sky. "Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds toward the - wait a moment - was that the Snitch?"

The entire crowd, as did Harry, all looked up and about for the small golden ball. When Harry saw it, he zoomed off, but just behind him was the Slytherin seeker, Terrence Higgs. They were side by side in no time, and everyone - including the rest of the players - were staring after them. It appeared Harry would've snatched the golden-winged Snitch if it wasn't for the Slytherin team captain, Marcus Flint, blocked Harry and caused his broom to spiral off course. Harry had to hold onto his broom until he could get back in control.

The Gryffindor collectively shouted 'Foul' to which the Slytherins overpowered with cheering. However, Madam Hooch had taken Flint aside to probably scold the hell out of him. Gryffindors were allowed a free shot.

"So, after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating—"

"Jordan!" McGonagall once again cut Lee off despite his words having actual truth in them.

"I mean, after that open and revolting foul—"

"Jordan, I'm warning you!"

"All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinner, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue to play, Gryffindor still in possession."

The game went back and forth, causing mixtures of groans and cheers to escape from the crowd. Suddenly, Harry's broom lurched forwards despite not being hit by the bludgers.

Romina squinted her eyes in hopes of getting a better look at Harry. She wished she had brought binoculars like some of the other students had. If only she'd known.

"What is he doing?" Arden was staring at Harry with confusion and a bit of terror.

Pansy couldn't care less. "Higgs can find the Snitch now!"

Romina rolled her eyes. Of course Pansy wouldn't care what was going on with Harry and his broom. She doubted anyone but her and Arden would care.

"Slytherin in possession!" Lee had to go on commentating like he had also not paid attention to Harry's odd movements, "Flint with the Quaffle - passes Spinnet - passes Bell—hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose—only joking, Professor—Slytherins score."

The entire course of Slytherins erupted into cheers. Romina did the same but she couldn't help feel worried over Harry. For some reason, he kept flying up and up. It wasn't until his broom began nearly thrashing against him did everyone finally notice him. Then, the broom jerked and poor Harry nearly let go. Only one hand maintained him in the air. At one point, Fred and George tried retrieving him but the broom seemed to have a mind of its own and flew higher than the twins. They then attempted to do the opposite and flew lower in case Harry actually fell and they could catch him.

Romina stared at Harry, terrified, he might actually fall and not be caught by the Weasley twins. But suddenly, just like that, Harry regained control and clambered back on his broom. He then sped down, like he had a mission hitting the ground. Romina crinkled her nose in disgust when she thought she saw Harry eating a bug. When he crashed on the ground, his teammates surrounded him to help him but in the end the crowd heard Harry shouting 'I've got the Snitch!'

As soon as he waved the golden snitch, the crowd - but Slytherins - shouted their cheers. Gryffindors won by one hundred and seventy points...to sixty.

~0~

After much debate, Snape had been concluded to be the prime culprit of bewitching Harry's broom in the Quidditch game. All this was being transferred to Romina through Hermione, after the two girls were dismissed from their History of Magic class.

"That makes no sense!" Romina shook her head. She was beginning to tire of voicing her disagreement when it came to Snape. "Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?"

"I don't know but I saw him mumbling the curse, I swear," Hermione promised, and Romina hated to acknowledge that Hermione wasn't one to make things up like that. "And we're sure Hagrid knows more than he's letting on too. You know the three-headed creature guarding the trapdoor?"

"Allegedly."

"It's Hagrid's! He named it Fluffy!"

Romina cracked a smile. "That sounds like something Hagrid would do."

"Well, of course. He bought him from someone last year and now he's let Dumbledore use him to guard whatever is down the trapdoor."

"This all sounds far-fetched," Romina stopped just by the staircase leading to the Great Hall. "I just can't believe that a professor would want to go against Dumbledore."

Hermione groaned and threw her head back. "Because he's your head of House. I know—"

"It's not that!" Romina frowned at her. "Can't you just accept that it was ridiculous?"

Hermione seemed to take that as a challenge, and no one had yet to win against her. "We know there's something Snape wants and we know that something is being hidden. Does the name Nicholas Flamel ring a bell?"

Romina's eyebrows knitted together. "No."

"Hagrid accidentally told us he and Dumbledore were hiding something. So we know that there is something."

"Hagrid said that?" Romina dreaded with guilt to think she was beginning to sound truly wrong.

"Mhm. He did. Now do you believe us?" Hermione awaited with an aura of triumph radiating off her.

Romina sighed. "I believe that there is something being guarded...but I refuse to believe professor Snape is trying to steal it."

Hermione did not falter. She gave a sharp look in Romina's direction. "Okay. It's a start. But now we have to start looking into this Nicolas Flamel dude. Would you help?"

"With that of course," Romina nodded her head.

"Romina! Romina!" they suddenly heard Arden crying out. Romina and Hermione looked to their left to see Arden running towards them from across. She seemed out of breath and with blotchy red skin. "They're all saying it's your fault!"

"What?" Romina barely registered Arden's words considering they were stuck between pants.

Arden stopped at the base of the staircase, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. This, however, did not stop her from talking. "They're saying—" she panted, "Everyone! They're saying that it's your f-fault!"

"My fault? About what?"

"The broomstick!" Arden waved wildly. "Harry's broomstick! They're saying - it was you! You bewitched it!"

Romina nearly fell over from the surprise of such words. "What!? Why would anyone say that!?" Hermione immediately put her hands up when Romina threw an accusing look her way.

Pansy appeared out of nowhere but looked the exact opposite of Arden. She was ecstatic. "I didn't know you could actually do that kind of magic, Oswell! Look at you! You'll be a brilliant witch!"

Romina ignored Pansy when she started noticing other students giving her strange looks while they walked past her. Some of them were mumbling things and Romina swore she'd heard 'her parents' in some of those whispers. Had they begun to finally talk about her to the point of having the entire school know about her?

"Oh…" Romina didn't know what to do, but thankfully Hermione was there to help her.

"We should go to class, c'mon," Hermione pulled on Romina's arm. "Quirrell won't like us being there late."

"But what do they mean about your parents?" Arden asked while Hermione pulled Romina down the staircase. "Rom?"

"Stop pestering her!" Hermione finally snapped and shushed Arden up. With her head raised, she dragged Romina with her.

Arden scowled and watched after the two. "Granger knows what's going on." Her eyes widened and she quickly turned to Pansy. "Do you know what it is?" The way Pansy's lips stretched into a smirk, indicating she knew a thing or two. Arden put her hands on her hips. "Spill, Parkinson."

~0~

When Romina and Hermione entered their DADA class, Romina felt truly horrible when everyone's chatter ceased and she became the center of everyone's attention. Romina thanked the Gods Harry wasn't there yet.

"What do you want?" Hermione snapped at them and had every single student quickly turn in their seats to face the board. "That's what I thought."

Romina swallowed hard and followed Hermione down the class to their seats. As soon as they sat down, Romina heard a familiar, snarky voice enter the room. There was a sudden fury inside her, with a twinge of betrayal, and pushed herself up.

"What are you doing?" Hermione whispered.

Romina ignored her and walked towards the desks in the back. "I can't believe you would tell everyone about me."

Draco looked away from his goons with a complete, justified, scowl. "Excuse you?"

"You knew about me before everyone started talking. Now all of a sudden everyone claims I bewitched Harry's broom during his Quidditch game?"

"People knew you the moment McGonagall read your name to be sorted," Draco snapped. "It was only a matter of time till people started making up lies about you."

Romina was about to sourly retort when the last of Draco's words caught her attention. "Lies? You...you don't think I bewitched Harry's broom?"

The loud scoff Draco gave was more than enough an answer. "You? Bewitch Potter's broom?"

Romina mouthed an 'okay' as she looked away, flushed. "Alright then. My bad."

"Yes, your bad," Draco meant to make her feel guilty for her free-throw accusation. "When I do things, I like to have my work credited."

Romina mocked-glared his way. "Thanks."

"Listen, I told you this would happen. Now it's only a matter of time till Potter gets a wisp of it and then…poof! There goes your little friendship."

Romina's mock glare turned into an actual glare when she realized there was a hint of satisfaction in Draco. "You're enjoying this."

"Kind of, yeah," Draco shrugged. "See, because when Potter finds out, he'll be upset and then he'll break all ties with you and prove I was right."

"Harry wouldn't do that," Romina pushed herself up.

"Ah, and now I get to prove that's wrong too," Draco smirked. "Anything else you want to say? Argue for?"

Romina growled and stalked back to her seat. Hermione was quietly reading her classbook, and didn't need to look up to see how upset Romina was. "How you thought talking to Malfoy would make this any better, I have no clue. I hope you learned your lesson."

"I thought it was him, alright," Romina planted an elbow on her desk and rested her cheek over her palm.

"Plausible," Hermione turned the page of her book.

"But false."

Hermione finally looked at Romina, a bit of sympathy in her eyes. "You're going to have to tell Harry about this. Now, probably."

Romina let her head drop.

~0~

By the end of the school day Romina had heard everything she could have possibly done to bewitch Harry's broom. Some innocent ones accused her of trying to sabotage Gryffindor's chance of winning while others went more extreme by saying it was the dark arts instinct to kill the lone Potter like Voldemort had wanted. Romina honestly didn't think things would get that bad...but she also suspected it wouldn't stop there. People she already knew were beginning to look the other way when she would walk by, or worse - they would turn and hurry away from her like she had another curse waiting to go.

It came as no surprise when Daphne Greengrass came to warn Romina there was a group of students waiting to 'speak' with her outside in the courtyard. What Daphne failed to mention - probably due to her own fear - was that Harry was one of the students there.

"You don't have to…" Hermione caught Romina by the arm when they saw the group across.

"You're the one that said I needed to talk to Harry," Romina put on her bravest, calmest voice. In truth, she considered running in the other direction.

"Yes but not like this," Hermione said with a sharpened look in the direction of the accusers. "They probably already formed their own speculations, no doubt all wrong."

Romina sucked in a breath and, with her head held up high, she walked down the small steps and approached the group. "H-Harry what's...happening?" Her eyes flickered from one angry face to the next.

"You know what it is," spoke up one blonde Hufflepuff girl. "It's only right Harry knew too."

Romina momentarily glared. Harry seemed unsure and, frankly, a bit awkward being flanked by so many people. "R-Romina, I...I heard some...things...about you…" he couldn't quite get his words out in one go. "They...they're all saying…"

"That it was me who bewitched your broom, I know," Romina couldn't help send more glares to the students around him. "Thanks for getting my version by the way. Really sticking to the fair justice system around here."

"Are you joking?" A tall, brunette Ravenclaw boy scoffed. "What sort of justice can be done for the daughter of the worst death eaters?"

Harry couldn't quite understand it but he knew there was something Romina was refusing to tell him and it hurt him that it had to come from others, strangers, instead. "Death Eaters?" he waited expectantly for Romina to elaborate.

Romina faltered for a second but there were no more chances to run and defer the inevitable. "Death Eaters are what they called you-know-who's followers."

Harry's eyes widened. "A-and your parents...they were…"

"Are," corrected the same Ravenclaw boy. "They're sitting in Azkaban as we speak, paying for their crimes - one of which had to do with your parents, Harry."

Harry's head whipped in the boy's direction. "What?" His passive expression disappeared at that moment and suddenly his face joined the accusations of the other's students. "What's he mean by that, Rom?"

Romina pursed her lips together and bit her tongue to keep her tears well tucked inside. "I-I…"

"Just tell him already!" went a Gryffindor ginger.

"Stop acting so innocent!" went another.

"Alright!" Romina exclaimed, her breath suddenly shaky. "Harry I'm so sorry, but...my parents...they helped to...to find where...your parents lived."

There was a flash of shock across Harry's face, but it was all soon replaced by utter fury. "It was your parents who found them?"

"I-I'm not sure how it happened! My aunt and uncle have never been so specific! I just know that they managed to find out the place where your parents were hiding out and…"

"They told him...didn't they?" Harry gritted his teeth.

Romina bit her lip and nodded her head. "I'm so sorry."

"How could you have not told me!? We've been friends since we were seven!"

"I didn't know any of that when I met you!"

"But when you did...you couldn't even tell me? Tell me that your parents...helped kill mine…"

Hermione couldn't stand watching this go on. She ran towards them, begging for some calmness. Arden soon showed up but remained by the steps, dreadfully looking ahead. The students were beginning to lash against Romina and not even Hermione could stop them.

"You've got the Dark Arts in you already!"

"You're the worst!"

"How could she even be allowed to come here!?"

"What's going on?" Pansy stepped up beside Arden, curiously looking ahead.

"Oswell's getting creamed out there," Draco had also arrived after hearing talks of a confrontation happening.

Angel soon joined them and was horrified by the sight. "What for?"

"They know about her parents," Arden answered gravely.

"I told her this would happen," Draco gave a casual shrug of his shoulders.

Angel's head snapped in his direction. "What do you mean? Do you know what's going on over there?"

Draco shrugged. "It's not rocket science. Didn't you parents ever tell you about the Dark Lord and his followers?"

Arden instantly glared at him. "I can't believe you're happy about this! She's one of us!"

Draco looked her over with a scoff. "One of us," he pointed at himself, Angel then Pansy, "Yeah. You? Not so much."

"Knock it off!" Angel snapped at him.

Arden rolled her eyes. She knew very well that he and Pansy, along with a good part of the Slytherin house, disapproved of anyone from muggleborn descent but she could honestly care less. "Fine, whatever. But we have to go help her. There's four of us!"

"Are you mad? That's not my problem!" Pansy shook her head and ran off.

"Three of us," Arden scowled.

"Two of you," Draco corrected. "I told Oswell she would figure out who her real circle was. She didn't listen."

Arden huffed as he too walked away. "You're all awful people!"

"C'mon Arden," Angel said, determinant walking towards the scene.

"If you could all just listen!" Hermione's voice carried over soon after.

"Granger, you're smart, you can't defend the daughter of Death Eaters!" went the Gryffindor girl beside Harry.

"It is to my knowledge that there are plenty of Death Eaters' children currently enrolled in this school," Hermione began matter-of-factly. "And that's just what they are. They're their children. They're innocent. Romina has done nothing wrong and she certainly didn't bewitch Harry's broom and he knows it."

"That's not what I'm upset about," Harry snapped, glaring daggers at Romina.

"I couldn't figure a way to tell you, Harry!" Romina continued trying to argue. "How do I tell my best friend that my parents helped kill your parents? There's just no way."

"Those are all excuses," Harry waved his arms.

"Maybe she didn't want to tell him," spoke someone in the crowd. "Keep it her secret!"

"Shut up!" Romina was close to breaking.

"What is going on out here?" McGonagall arrived to break them all up. Her dark eyes were sweeping over the group suspiciously. "A student informed me there was some sort of fight going on…?" But she was overly surprised to find Harry and Romina being the ones in the stand off. "Potter, Oswell, is there anything either of you want to say?"

"She's said it all, professor," Harry would not take his dagger-glare off Romina, not even to look at McGonagall.

Romina shook her head and turned the other way, not giving anyone else the chance to say something more to her, and ran off.

"Romina!" Hermione called after her but didn't chase after her since she saw Angel and Arden going after her anyways. She figured Romina would be headed to their House common room.

~ 0 ~

Dinner had come and gone and anyone who knew Romina didn't find it surprising that the raven-haired girl failed to show up.

"I should go get her," Arden said after the tenth time she looked to the Great Hall's entrance just in case Romina had decided to come out for dinner. They had failed to reach Romina before she entered her dorm. After that, there was no getting her to come out, much less talk with anyone.

"I'll come with," Angel made himself ready as well.

"She's not coming, let it go," Draco said, completely unbothered as he took a drink from his goblet.

Arden rolled her eyes. "Of course you don't care. Must be a pureblood thing."

"Easy there, King. Don't ever forget your place," Draco shot her a look of clear dislike.

"Malfoy, quit it," Angel warned him. "Romina's our friend and we need to make sure she's okay."

Draco rolled his eyes. Angel was tiring sometimes but after knowing him for years, Draco learned to tolerate him and overlook his flaws...for the most part. "What I meant was that she's not coming because everyone is still giving her the looks. You really think she's going to step out after what happened today?"

"I had hoped," Arden glanced once more at the entrance.

"She cares too much what people think—she gets overwhelmed with it, actually."

"How would you know that?"

"Because I have eyes and I used them when she was in the courtyard. That's why I sent McGonagall there. Another minute and Oswell would have cracked in front of everybody. Slytherin's — and more importantly Purebloods — don't crack." Draco's face, and tone, had sharpened with his last words, needing to make it absolutely clear that those were traits that must always be upheld. Romina was a smart girl, she would learn that rule fast and join the rest of them.

However, his intentions had flown over Arden's head because in his attempt to make himself clear, he had inadvertently let something else slip. "You were the one who called professor McGonagall?"

For a split moment, Draco had faltered and then he completely pushed past it, construing a quick answer to dismiss Arden. "I had to otherwise Oswell would have made a complete fool of herself. She's an Oswell — part of the pureblood circle — and we have to take care of each other. You, wouldn't understand that."

Arden snorted, rolling her eyes at Draco. "Whatever. I just heard that you do care and I'll take it." And so Arden snagged a couple of biscuits from the table and got up. "I won't tell Romina so don't worry. Your secret's safe with us."

Thinking she'd find Romina most likely in their room, Arden was surprised and a bit confused when she saw Romina sitting on the ground, right against one of the couches, doing homework.

"Is that potions you're doing?" Arden leaned over the couch armrest. "For next week? You're doing homework in advance!?"

Romina shrugged and very monotonously replied with, "I'm not going to sit here and cry while everyone else out there is pointing and gossiping about me. I'm not giving them the satisfaction."

"I like that mindset," Arden pointed and took a seat on the couch just beside Romina. "But skipping dinners? You know no one at our table would ever gossip about you...least not in the way the others are."

"Of course they wouldn't," Romina rolled her eyes. "I must be their frickin hero or something."

"Well, between you and me, Daphne's been giving these little fearful looks…" Arden trailed off when she saw Romina stop writing, of course being upset to be hearing that one of their friends was doubting, "...but that's totally off the record. On another note, Pansy is probably your biggest fangirl right now."

"Surprisingly that doesn't make me feel better…" Romina continued writing.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Arden sighed and lowered the biscuits in her hand. "Take some. You should eat something."

Romina considered it for a second before shooting Arden a grateful look. She'd been hungry but hadn't dared come out after the spectacle earlier in the day. She just wasn't ready to face everyone yet.

"Rom, I feel I should tell you that I know about your parents now," Arden said quietly, and missed Romina flinch while she looked down at her lap. "I-I sort of had Pansy tell me everything she knew."

Romina sighed. "I can only imagine it."

"Did your parents really do what...what you said they did...to Harry's parents?"

Romina nodded and swallowed what she'd bit off the biscuit. "Uncle Lyonel and Aunt Sage never told me exactly how they did it, but...I just know that they were able to get the whereabouts of Harry's parents through a double-spy. Those people - the people who are biologically related to me—they are bad people, Arden."

"They're your parents…"

"They are not!" Romina snapped suddenly and of course Arden was hushed for the next seconds. The biscuit in Romina's hand was abandoned for a minute as she explained, in a much nicer way, what she meant. "Elora and Caplan Oswell may have given me life...but they are never going to be my parents. I swear that on my life."

Arden had never seen Romina so fierce in all the time that they'd known each other. Then again, the last time Arden checked, neither of them were witches and Romina's parents had always been just 'dead'. Never in her life did she imagine Romina's parents had been sitting in the most guarded prison of the Wizarding community.

[beantothemax]

Marianne's routine had very little variation. Eat breakfast, attend classes, tend to the horses, pray, do homework, sleep and repeat.

Some days there were no classes, those she spent reading about the history of Garreg Mach or how to care for horses. And on days they had missions, she set all else aside to ensure the safety of her peers. They were terrified of death, and as the only faith magic user, she was the only thing keeping them from it.

Her peers loved her for tending to their wounds, but their thanks and praises hardly reached the monastery. They had always finished thanking her by the time they had gone home. But she didn't mind. She had a rigid schedule to stick to.

She didn't hear the approaching footsteps as she brushed Dorte's silky mane.

"Marianne!"

She nearly jumped out of her flesh, startling Dorte as well.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to scare you," Lorenz said.

"Oh, it's you. What is it?" she mumbled.

She stared down at the ground as she fidgeted with the brush she still held. Lorenz was one of the few people who didn't mind if she wouldn't look him in the eyes. He detested eye contact just as much as she did.

"I wanted to thank you for your work in the battle yesterday. It's amazing how you struck down the death knight and made sure we all got out in one piece!" he smiled... she thought.

It was hard to tell when she couldn't see his face, though the tone of his voice did sound happy.

"Right. You're welcome."

Marianne turned away from him and brushed Dorte's coat once again, though she didn't hear him leave.

"I wanted to thank you properly. Do you want to have tea?" he asked.

Hesitantly, she accepted. Lorenz was a lovely friend and she enjoyed his company but all that? For doing what was expected of her? It seemed... Unnecessary. He had already thanked her.

Still, she arrived at the agreed upon time. She had washed her hands and switched into a clean dress as uniform was filthy from spending all day in the stables.

"I'm glad you could make it," Lorenz beamed.

"I didn't have much else going on," she muttered.

"Well it's good I wasn't interrupting any plans."

Marianne took a seat opposite of Lorenz. He poured her a cup. It was... Cinnamon, a new favorite. She had mentioned that some weeks prior.

"You remembered my favorite tea," she said.

"Of course, I care about you," he smiled.

An odd silence fell over the table. The only people that ever told Marianne they cared about her had been her parents and adoptive father. Supposedly, it was normal amongst friends too, but she spoke so little to others that she was doubtful.

"...Leonie and Ignatz invited me to bake with them earlier. I know they're not perfect, but I made honey cakes for you," he said.

He handed her a small tin box. Inside were three small cakes. The edges were uneven, the chocolate covering was thicker in certain parts and hardly existent in others, but they smelled like a nicer time in her life.

"You always got so excited about sneaking honey cakes out of the kitchen when we were kids, so I wrote to that baker, miss Suzie, and asked for her recipe," he continued, "she was very happy to provide it and she says hello."

Marianne scarcely heard a word of what he said. Her gaze was fixed on the cakes, her hands tightly clenched around the box. For a moment, her vision was blurred. She blinked before realizing it was tears and they trickled down her cheeks.

The cakes smelled exactly like the ones miss Suzie made. Marianne only smelled that wonderful smell when she visited house Gloucester with her parents. They spent long hours talking to count Gloucester while her and Lorenz played pretend.

She ran and laughed till her sides ached and she could hardly keep her eyes open. Even back then, she was a quiet kid, but Lorenz made her smile like nothing else could. He came up with the wildest ideas for playing pretend and was more than happy to take the blame when they broke a vase or tore a curtain.

But the most fun they had together was stealing treats from the kitchen. Marianne would badger the cooks and maids with endless questions about their work while Lorenz crawled under tables and got dust all over his clothes. The staff always noticed but they pretended not to. After all, they were just little kids who wanted to have fun. There was no harm in that.

As Marianne recalled those memories, a flood of tears rushed down her face. She wiped her eyes endlessly as she cried and cried.

"Oh dear, what's the matter?" Lorenz asked.

He rushed to her side and held her tight as she cried.

She never liked being so emotional in front of others, especially not strangers. Lorenz carefully took her hand and he led her back to her room where it was silent and she could be alone.

He left but returned some minutes later with the tea and cakes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think they'd make you sad," he said.

"It's fine, they look nice," she answered.

He offered her one, and with an unsteady hand, she took it. It tasted exactly like the ones they stole as kids.

"Thank you for making them," she muttered.

He only nodded, too caught up in seeing his dear friend's smile to think of anything to say.

PIE I NEED YOUR SUPPLY OF REACTION IMAGES FOR WHEN YOU’RE EXPERIENCING THE EMOTIONS (TM) BECAUSE. AAAAWAWAWAWAAAA,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, GSGZHSH….

TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^^^^!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!

ALL THR. JUST. EVERYTHING ABOUT MARIANNE AND LORENZ’S FRIENDSHIP……. THE PART ABOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD…… THEY CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER SO MUCH ADN. AND. . I LOVE THIS A LOT

[keywestlou]

COW KEY MARINA

COW KEY MARINA - https://keywestlou.com/cow-key-marina/Steve Thompson wrote about Cow Key Marina. I never heard of Cow Key Marina.  I've only been in Key West 30 years. Impossible to know everything. So I did a little homework this week preparatory to writing today's blog. Not easy. I found only one person other than Steve and Cindy who ever heard of the place. We begin with Steve's writing. Note it speaks of the 1970's. The Cow Key Marina was like nothing I had seen. It had chickens and a pump leaking gasoline. We always stopped there for fuel when on Phil's boat. If you saw the bar, you'd think it was a joke. The plywood floors looked like waves at sea. And low ceilings with no windows concerned me. It was so unusual, it's where a movie was made. It brought celebrities to town called, "92 In The Shade." Peter Fonda, Warren Oats, Burgess Meredith, Guy di la Valdene, and Jim Harrison were on a roll. Partied with Margot Kidder and Elizabeth Ashley like there was no tomorrow. It was Tom McGuane's first movie and actually a flop. If they had filmed themselves at night while partying, it would have gone to the top. So the Cow Key Marina remained the same for years.  Old Roy at the bar sold us one dollar beers. It's all fixed up now like every tourist store. We all miss Roy and we don't go there anymore. I began my quest this past week on the internet. Sure enough, a Cow Key Marina was to be found. Limited information, information nevertheless. Spoke with Steve how to find the place. Actually located on Stock Island. Took a while. The Marina is located at the far end of Fifth Avenue. Address 5001. Steve described a shitbox. What I found was beautiful. A small clean active marina. Tiki hut sales shack. Showers and dressing rooms. And a restaurant. Two guys working the quiet marina. The restaurant/bar closed. It was obvious the restaurant/bar was not of yesteryear. Not the one described by Steve. This one was newly remodeled/rebuilt. Lovely deck. View magnificent. Reminded me of a dressed up Hogfish or Geiger Key. Smaller, however. The thought occurred Hogfish and Geiger Key were smaller 30 years ago. Bobby Mongelli expanded each over the years. Especially by adding tables in every nook and cranny. Parking sufficient. More than either Hogfish or Geiger Key. Then there is the road available to be utilized as with those two restaurants. One of the tiki hut workers was 30ish. Chatted with me. Told me the restaurant would be open in a month. Other persons I talked to as part of my inquiry said they were told the same thing 6 months ago. The fellow was not too bright. Never heard of Peter Fonda. Or his father Henry for that matter. Just kept repeating the place would be open in a month. Steve told me his 1970 days found chickens and rabbits galore running around. None visible on my visit. He described the place as a dump. No more. His experience began with the Chart Room. Everything begins with the Chart Room. Shooting was over at 4 in the afternoon. Stars and crew ran to the Chart Room. Tom Cochran bartending. Steve and his friends quickly became friends with the likes of Perter Fonda, etc. Partied at the Chart Room and Cow Key Marina with them. Steve telephoned yesterday morning to advise he had found the movie. 92 In The Shade had been released in 1975. I watched it. Steve said the crummiest movie he has ever seen. I agree. Without a doubt, the absolute worst. Mentioned it to Jean Thornton last night. Turns out she watched it years ago. Totally agreed. Watch it, however. An experience. The bar in the film doesn't look bad. I refer specifically to the bar and stools themselves. Nothing else. The movie was a box office failure. Someone described the movie as a "weird deadpan portrait of outsiders and oddballs living in Key West." An apt description. Roy the for real bartender at the Marina is actually in the movie. He plays himself. A restauranteur I am not. However it appears to my inexperienced eye that the Cow Key Marina restaurant/bar is a gold mine waiting to be discovered. It needs Bobby Mongelli or someone like him to reopen the place. Enjoyed a lovely meal and company Friday night. The evening began as planned with Jean and Joe Thornton at the Chart Room. We were joined by Laura. A friend of Jean's. Laura lived in Key West years ago. Rented a house for the month of December and is revisiting. A most interesting woman. A Virginian. A Washington lobbyist. We dined at the outside deck at the Pier House. The cold wind beating on us. Stone crabs the main course. Outstanding! I rarely get out these days. Enjoyed the evening and company tremendously. Syracuse played Notre Dame in basketball at Notre Dame at noon yesterday. What a game! Syracuse was back! Its record a poor 3-4 going into the game. Notre Dame 6-1. Syracuse won by a point 62-61. It was that kind of a game. Close throughout. Could have gone either way. Glad it went Orange! Joe Girard returned to form. He played very very poorly the past 3 games. Jesse Edwards was a center to be envied. It's Christmas time in the City! Key West brightly lite for the holiday. I am a Christmas softie at heart. Love it! Enjoy your Sunday!        

[britneyshakespeare]

i like realizing that the older kids at work like me too. the young ones are very open when they want attention, even the shy ones in their own ways. theyre like “do you wanna go on the swings? will you play this game w me?” 

fourth and fifth graders have started to get the sense that theyre bigger now and they dont wanna be seen as little kids, they wanna be seen as cool. theyll just kinda start talking to u about whatever thing they think is cool and will make them seem cool for telling you about.

[kryptonitejelly]

Something is up with Jack Hotchner | Aaron Hotchner x You ft. Jack Hotchner Criminal Minds - Aaron Hotchner x You Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x You ft. Jack Hotchner Genre: Slight angst, fluff Warning: Mentions of fear of abandonment by a parent. Length: Drabble

Where Jack worries you would love a future sibling more than him.

A/N: mom!reader ft. Jack Hotchner really gets to me. He is precious…

Set sometime after this drabble.

***

Something was up with Jack Hotchner and it didn’t take a profiler to figure it out. Tapping the edge of your laptop from your perch on the kitchen island, wedding invites strewn across the countertop, you observed the 13 year old sitting across from you as his hands busied himself folding the flat embossed paper into halves.

It had started yesterday evening, when you had roped the kid in to help with the wedding invites. You had started the post-dinner activity with banter, which you expected to continue while you both tried to finish up the invites today, but it hadn’t. In fact, it was starkly different, with the younger Hotchner boy being quiet since you had gotten back from work. You had walked into the house with a “I’m home”, only to find him sitting at the island, brooding as he scribbled in the answers to his homework for the day.

You had kissed him on the top of his head in your usual fashion, asked him about school, swimming, the usual, only to be met with short, quiet answers. A contrast from his usual self.

Grabbing your phone from the counter, you unlocked it and begin typing.

Something is up with Jack.

AH: Jack? Is everything alright, are you both okay?

You could almost sense the panic in the text, an occupational hazard of your soon to be husband.

We are safe. Everything is fine. But something is up with Jack, he is…quiet.

AH: Tired perhaps? He has both soccer and swim competitions coming up.

Maybe…

AH: Am on the jet, be back in 2 hours.

Clicking your phone shut, you slid it back onto the countertop. Time for a change of tactic.

“We can continue these tomorrow when your dad gets back. How about popcorn and television?” It was the weekend tomorrow, you figured it wouldn’t hurt.

You watched the younger Hotchner’s brow furrow slightly, contemplation flashing across his eyes as if to say no, but he bit it back before shrugging.

“Ok.”

“You choose the show, I’ll grab the popcorn.”

***

Jack had chosen an episode of Modern Family, something you had both seen before, but didn’t mind watching again. The bowl of popcorn wedged on the sofa between you both.

Chuckling at the scene unfolding on the television, you glanced towards the boy on your left. Normally, he would have chuckled alongside you, you both appreciating the humour in this particular scene, but today you were met with a stony silence. His gaze downcast, as he fiddled with the edge of his sweater.

Sighing, you reached for the remote to press pause. Grabbing the bowl of popcorn, which you moved to place on the coffee table in front of you, you turned your body towards the young Hotchner.

“Jackers”, a nickname you had from him since he was nine, “whats wrong.” It was time to grab the bull by its horns, something you learnt worked best when dealing with Hotchners.

“Nothing.”

You watched as he continued to pick at the edge of his sweater.

“We both know that isn’t true.”

Silence

“Come on Jack” softly, you reached out to place a hand over his fidgeting ones. “You know you can tell me anything.”

Silence for a beat.

“What if you and Dad have a kid of your own. You won’t love me anymore.” The words came tumbling out of his mouth in a rush, mushed together as if he was fearful to say it out loud. “My friend Marley at school, her Mom got remarried and had a baby with her new husband, now Marley doesn’t see her Mom anymore, she stays with her Dad and never her Mom anymore.” His voice chokes up slightly as he continues. “And… and, I don’t have a Mom anymore, other than you. Theres Aunt Jess, I guess I could live with her, but… but….”

“Oh Jack” you interrupt, as you watch tears threaten to spill out from the corner of his eyes. Your voice both sad and shocked as you reach out to gather him into your embrace. You squeeze, tight, arms around his shoulders as you feel him shake, his face turning into your shoulder.

“Jack… baby…. Why would you think that. Thats not true.” Stroking his hair you cursed Marley’s Mom internally. “I love you Jackers. I might not have given birth to you, but you are my first baby. No one is going to stop loving you. No one is going to stop seeing you. You’ll always be my, our baby boy.”

Your heart drops to the pit of your stomach as you squeeze him, even tighter than before, kissing the top of his head. It pained you that he would even think this way. He wasn’t biologically your child, but you had been sold from the moment those light brown eyes met yours, from the moment he invited you out to brunch with him and his dad, from the first time he hugged you, from the first time he fell asleep on your shoulder during movie night at home, from the first time he referred to you as Mom.

“I’ll be your Mom always, for as long as you want me to.” You feel a dampness at your sweater, and arms curl around your body as the teenage, forgetting he is is 13 in that moment curls himself against you into a ball at your words.

***

Aaron Hotchner enters the house, disarming the security system at lightning speed as soon as he is in the door. The house is silent, and recalling your earlier text, he frowns. Dropping his briefcase and go bag on the floor beside the staircase, he walks silently into the living room, only to find Jack sleeping, head in your lap, blanket over his body, and you stroking his hair gently.

Walking towards the sofa, he slips in beside you, carefully.

“Hey” a whisper as he kisses your cheek in greeting. “Everything ok?”

“Hi” you respond, your free hand slipping into his.

He looks at the marks of tear stains that have dried on Jack’s cheeks and waits for your update, which you relay to him, in hushed tones. When you are done, a deep frown is etched into his face.

“What kind of mother does that to her kid.” He wrinkles his nose, displeasure of Marley’s Mom evident on his face.

You lift your shoulders in a shrug, clearly agreeing with him, but hey, people like that existed. You both sit in silence, your hand in his, Jack’s head in your lap, the only sound his steady breathing.

“Should we wake him up and get him to bed?” You ask, quietly, hand brushing across the young Hotchner’s cheek.

“I’ll carry him”. Aaron strokes the back of your hand which is in his, as he looks down at your other hand, now brushing a lock of hair away from his son’s cheek.

***

It takes some effort, but not too much from your husband to be, to lift Jack, who thankfully, unlike his father, is the world’s deepest sleeper in his arms. A year or so more for Jack’s growth spurt to really hit its stride and you knew this being easy would be a thing of the past. Sure Aaron was tall, but if that was anything to go by, Jack would also be. Creeping up the stairs with a feline grace that served him well in the field, you both tucked the young Hotchner into bed.

Shutting his door with a click, you sighed, as you turned to face Aaron, your shoulder sagging with the weight of the words that tumbled from the young Hotchner’s mouth earlier. It still pained you that he had worried about this. You rationalised it was normal, given the Marley circumstance, but you hated it. Hated that he would ever think you would leave him, because you would never leave either of them.

You feel a pair of strong hands pull you close, and you bury your face into Aaron’s shoulder, breathing him in, breathing the comfort he offered in. You knew this troubled him too, and you both would have to find a way to show Jack even more that you loved him, and that he was irreplaceable.

“Thank you” he murmurs, his lips against the top of your head. “Thank you for being there for him, for loving him, for being his Mom.”

“Thank you for being family” you whisper into his shoulder.

[ellssbellss]

Lavender Roses ~ (Kyoya Ootori x Reader)

pairing- Kyoya Ootori x Reader

In which a rational head hides a generous heart, but you have always known how to see past his walls and help him bloom into the gorgeous rose he is.

Enjoy a slow burn between an honor student and our beloved glasses character!

tw!: there is a descriptive panic attack. reader's discretion is advised.

-> word count: 5.5k

-> summary: You noted the way your heart rate picked up once again, but for an entirely different reason than earlier. Something had changed. 

see masterlist! : masterlist

Starting Today, You are a Host! pt. 3

Your first day of the rest of your hosting career, and you were underwhelmed. Kyoya had mentioned that the spring season for sports was barely beginning, so a lot of the customers, especially your audience, were stuck in sports practices for most of the club hours. You had some appointments nearing closing time, but it wasn’t nearly as much as you had yesterday. You utilized your first hour, completing the homework that you had not been able to finish in class, but by the second, your boredom took over. You stared into your tea cup, watching the liquid swirl into the center as you willed time to move faster. There was a series of squeals from the ladies at the table next to you, and you rolled your eyes as the Hitachiian twins embraced each other. 

“What are they so excited about? I just don't get it.” Haruhi asked as she stopped near your table, uplifting your mood immediately. You two had gotten closer, considering you and Kyoya were the only ones to know her true gender so far, and you three had placed bets on which host would be able to realize it first. You had said Mori, considering how observant he was, and you knew although he didn’t talk much, he always surprised you with how much he already knew. Haruhi placed her money on the twins, considering that from the moment she walked into the door, they were always in her space. From that distance, it was only a matter of time before either one or both of them got an idea. Kyoya had surprisingly chosen an underdog, Honey. He explained that while Honey seems to only have an interest in materialistic things, nothing seems to stop him from making a new friend. He also mentioned that he and Mori got along so well for a reason, as they could both be observant, but Honey just had a more social side then Mori did. 

However, you all agreed on one thing. Tamaki would be dead last. 

You shrugged, inviting her to sit for a moment since she had been running around for the Host Club all day. You knew what that felt like. “They make each other seem so romantic and innocent, but we both know how irritating they can be.” You sent the twins a glare from your table, in which they stuck their tongues out at you in response. You cracked a small smile and returned to the conversation, “How is everything going?”

“Eh, I mean, I can’t really complain, since I’m basically being forced to be here. Talking with you makes me feel less miserable.” She stated extremely straight-faced, which made you laugh. 

“I’m glad that I can be your saving grace.” You joked, causing Haruhi to roll her eyes and kick you under the table. Another giggle escaped your lips, and you felt your bond with Haruhi grow a little bit stronger. 

“Excuse me, ladies, I’d hate to interrupt, but I need Haruhi to make more instant coffee before our guests begin to notice it’s gone.” Kyoya lowers his voice as he comes up to the table you were sitting at, making sure the guests didn’t hear him refer to Haruhi as a ‘lady’. 

Haruhi stands to leave with a nod, and you stand with her. “I can help! I don’t really have much to do right now.”

“Actually, (Y/n), I was wondering if you had seen Honey-senpai? He didn’t tell me he was going to be late today, and neither did Mori-senpai.” Kyoya said, flipping through his black book, surely trying to find a note he might’ve written about Honey-senpai’s absence.

Haruhi turns around, “Honey-senpai isn’t here?”

You scan the music room, and the door opens. “Speak of the devil.” You point and Kyoya follows your finger, and sees Honey walk in, holding Usa-chan lazily as his side, the other hand rubbing his eye. He was clearly tired. 

You lean over towards Haruhi. “Honey-senpai isn’t much of a morning person.” 

Honey spots you three and walks over to Kyoya, “Sorry, we're running late. I was waiting for Takashi to finish his Kendo meeting and I fell asleep. And I'm still not completely awake.” 

Haruhi leans over to you and whispers in your ear. “Is that boy really a third year student?” 

You chuckle and nod, “Honey-senpai may seem young and childish, but he's a prodigy.”

Kyoya spoke up, “And then Mori-senpai's allure is his strong and silent disposition.”

“Haru-chan!” Honey runs up to Haruhi, grabbing her hand to get her attention, “Hey, Haru-chan, do you wanna go have some cake with me?”

Haruhi smiles but shakes her head, making Honey frown slightly, “Thanks, but I don't really like cake.”

Honey quickly shakes it off with another idea, “Then how would you like to hold my bunny, Usa-chan?”

“I'm not into bunnies.” 

You can see Haruhi’s grimace when you lean over to tease her, “Are you saying you don't like Usa-chan, Haruhi?” She looks over to you with a knowing glare. Honey makes a deeper frown, but Haruhi is quick to cheer him up. She leans down and takes Usa-chan from Honey, her facial features in full view for Honey. To your dismay, his eyes widen, and you can almost see a light bulb go off above him. Honey figured it out first, and you just lost the bet. 

“I guess he is kinda cute, huh?” Haruhi quirks a small smile, and Honey brightens up even more.

“Take good care of him, okay?” And with that, Honey skips off, eager to eat the cake that has been awaiting him. 

Kyoya looks over to you, clearly on his high horse as a smug smile graces his face. You groan, mumbling choice words as you fish out your wallet and pull out three thousand yen. While you hesitantly place the money into Kyoya’s open palm, Haruhi does it robotically, seemingly distracted with something else. 

“Honey-senpai’s act really works with the girls here?”

After filing the money into his jacket pocket, Kyoya leafs through his black book, coming to a page near the beginning. He nods.

“You'll notice that our club utilizes each man's unique characteristics to cater to the desires of our guests, and Tamaki is number one around here.”

“He is the king.” You say, as you look over to read the page Kyoya is on, “His request rate is seventy percent.”

“What? Tamaki? What's this world coming to?” You giggle as Haruhi sweat-drops, her disbelief of reality clearly on her face.

Kyoya turns back to a more recent page, and quirks an eyebrow at her. “And in order for you to pay off your eight million yen debt with us, you will act as the Ouran Host Club's dog until you graduate.” You elbow him in the side, and he corrects himself with his host smile, “I'm sorry, I meant our errand boy.” He looks down again, clicking his pen, “By the way, do you have a passport?”

Haruhi grasps Usa-chan a little tighter,“Save me from him, (Y/n).” 

You shake your head, “His family employs a private police force of over one hundred officers. No chance.” 

Tamaki walks over to your group, coming up from behind Haruhi and speaks into her ear, “You're going to have to work hard to pay off that debt, my little nerd.” 

Haruhi shrinks back, and you cringe at the sight. “Please don't do that again,” she pleads.

“You need a makeover, or no girl's going to look twice at you.” Tamaki says, folding his arms across his chest.

“I don’t think Haruhi is really trying to get girls to look at him.” You say, reasoning with Tamaki, “Since Haruhi is working as an errand boy, most of the guests won’t even notice him, since he’s considered ‘the help’.” You put air quotes around your statement, a clear distaste in your mouth as to how your society treats people. 

“Are you kidding me? That's the most important thing!” Tamaki grabs your wrist and pulls you toward him, “He has to learn how to be a gentleman and please the ladies.” He wraps his arm around your waist and dips you, bringing his other hand to cup your cheek, “Like me.” He flourishes his charm. 

You deadpan. “Tamaki. What did we talk about?” 

Tamaki’s smooth facade is overtaken by his dramatics almost immediately, “But mon ami! I was demonstrating something for our little piglet! He needs to know how to please a woman!” Kyoya helps you struggle out of his grasp and dust yourself off, using his outstretched hand to help you regain your balance.

“So leave me out of it! That flirty stuff gives me the heeby-jeebys.” You shiver, and scold him. “Your punishment is no weekend movie night tomorrow. I’m gonna study instead.”

His face contorts into a depressive state as he finds comfort in his mushroom corner, his eyes watering. You roll your eyes, pinch your nose and sigh.

“Fine, we can have movie night, but I choose the movie!” You announce, still trying to make it seem like he didn’t just guilt trip you into a lesser punishment. The prince jumps up and goes to hug you, spinning you around. 

Kyoya released an annoyed sigh at the two, turning back to Haruhi. “It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to focus on your appearance. If not to help the club, but to take the focus off of (Y/n) for a few days.” He gestures to the scene of you loosely swinging around in Tamaki’s grip, giving him all of your dead weight.  

Haruhi shrugs, “I just don't think it's all that important. Why should I care about appearances and labels anyway? I mean, all that really matters is what's on the inside, right? Sometimes, I really don't understand why you even have a host club like this.”

Tamaki freezes his movements, and carries you back over to the group. “It's a cruel reality, isn't it? It's not often that God creates a perfect person like moi! Beautiful both inside and out.”

“Tch.” You scoff, as you are set back on your feet. Your mind is still reeling with dizziness as you try to steady yourself, but you trip over your own feet. Kyoya catches you mid-fall, an arm shooting out to pull you to his chest. You give him a grateful smile as you release a breath of tension, and you are straightened out. A cold feeling blows over you at the absence of his chest against yours. 

Tamaki is, somehow, still talking. “I understand how you feel since not everyone is as blessed as I am, but you must console yourself, otherwise how would you go on living? And think about this, Haruhi. Why do you think they put works of art in museums? Because beauty should be shared with the world. And those born beautiful should promote other beautiful things.”

You stare in disbelief as Tamaki’s mouth moves a mile a minute, “There's a word to describe people like him.”

Haruhi joins your side, “What is it?”

You can hear Tamaki’s rambling that’s diverted into how to hold a tea cup, the twins walking past you two with a sympathetic look on their faces. “Oh man, I wish I could remember that word.”

“Maybe, a pain in the neck?”

You shake your head, “No. There's something that fits him perfectly.” You look up and snap your fingers, a winning look in your (e/c) eyes. 

Tamaki notices this, a prideful smile forming on his lips, “Oh, did I strike a chord?”

“Obnoxious.” Tamaki immediately grays, his eyes twitching. You look over to him, a sad smile on your face. “Awe, I’m sorry, Tamaki.” You put your hand on his back to comfort him and you hear a whimpering ‘mon amiiii’.

Haruhi brought her hand to her chin, a thoughtful look on her face. “He may be a pain in the neck, but his lesson did strike a small chord with me.”

Tamaki lightened up immediately, “Really? It did? Let me teach you more!” He presents his charm in full swing. 

You look over at Kyoya, “Well, he got over that quick.”

The twins walk over to Haruhi to save her from Tamaki’s teachings, “Boss.” They say together.

Tamaki flips his hair, “Call me king.” Kyoya rolls his eyes. 

Kaoru steps forward, “You can teach him all the basics of hosting…”

Hikaru walks in front of Haruhi, reaching into her personal space, “...but he's not going to get very far with the ladies if he doesn't look the part, you know. He's not exactly host club material,” Hikaru grabs her glasses off her face, much to Haruhi’s protest, “but maybe if we took off his glasses, it'll help.”

His eyes widen, and Kaoru joins him. You rise behind them, your curiosity getting the best of you. Her picture in her profile was the only time you had ever seen her without her glasses, and it did not do her justice. You were pushed out of the way by a surprised Tamaki, but you didn’t care. Something needed to be done. 

Tamaki snaps his fingers, all the hosts standing at attention. “Hikaru, Kaoru.”

“Got it!” Another lazy salute, and they were off, dragging Haruhi with her. 

Tamaki began to give off orders. “Kyoya, my hair stylist.” Kyoya was already on the phone. “Mori-senpai, go to the eye doctor and get him some contact lenses.” Mori took off running. 

“(Y/n)! A uniform!” 

“Yes sir!” You race to the costume closet in the music room, trying to find a small enough spare for Haruhi. You come back with a uniform in hand to see Honey pouting with Usa-chan at his table, a decent portion of cake in front of both of them. Before you can ask, the twins bust back into the room, and you race to give them the clothes.

They take it from you and turn around, forcing it into Haruhi’s arms as they race her into a changing room. “Here. Change into this uniform.”

Haruhi looks at the fabrics, bewildered. “What? But why?”

You give her the final push into the dressing room, “Don't ask questions!”

Hikaru and Kaoru begin chanting, “Change! Change! Change!”

You turn to them, “He will, but you two have to get out!”

The twins exchange a glance, “Huh?” You grab them by their collars and drag them out. You look behind you as their eyes suddenly widen into realization, two more light bulbs seemingly coming to life in your mind. You crossed your fingers, pleading Mori would figure it out before Tamaki, just to dodge complete embarrassment. 

Kyoya makes his way back to your side as the host club waits for Haruhi to finish changing. 

You look up at him and then around to see that the guests have gone, even yours. “Where did the students go?”

“I told them that we were closing early. They are used to the little tangents that we tend to go off on, so it wasn’t much of a surprise to them. Still, I offered them pre-reservations to our party next week.”

“How did the boys take it?”

“They were disappointed to not see you, but now you are doubled up on Monday, so make sure to bring your A-game.”

You hum, nodding. “I’m beginning to regret this bet.” You say as you watch the twins snicker on the side lines, then turn your glance to Mori, who is leaning up against one of the pillars in the room, watching Honey play with Usa-chan. 

“May I remind you that it was your idea?” Kyoya replies, readjusting his glasses with a smirk.

You sigh, closing your eyes, “That just makes it worse.” A sharp breath of air escapes Kyoya, and you know that’s probably the closest thing to a laugh you will get out of him.

You hear a voice from behind the curtain, making you raise your head. “Um, senpai?”

Tamaki impatiently whines from his place in front of the curtain, “Aren't you done changing yet?”  You had all gathered in front of the changing room, waiting for her to come out. You looked around and were once again reminded of the club’s lack of boundaries.

The curtain swishes to the side, and Haruhi stands dressed in a boys uniform. You gasp and clasp your hands together over your mouth. She looked beautiful.

“You sure it's really okay for me to keep this uniform?” Haruhi asked with a tilt of her head. 

Tamaki exploded in blushes and tears, “Cute! You're as pretty as a girl! Adorable!” The hosts exclaimed their praises as well. 

“Haru-chan, you look so cute!”

“If we had known that's how you really look…” 

“...we would have helped you out sooner.”

Kyoya hummed, “Who knows, maybe he'll draw in some customers.”

Tamaki looked at Kyoya and smiled, “You know, that's just what I was thinking! Our errand boy is moving up the ranks.” Tamaki pointed at Haruhi, “Starting today, you are an official member of the host club. I will personally train you to be a first-rate host.” He turned on his charm, a confident, dreamy gleam in his eye. 

“If you can get one hundred customers to request your service, we will completely forget about your eight million yen debt!”

Haruhi looked at herself in a mirror in the dressing room. “A host?”

“A host?!” The hosts turned to you as you stared at them in disbelief. Your mouth twitched into a frown, looking at all the hosts’ faces, wondering just how oblivious they can be. “Haruhi has been here for only a week and somehow he’s been made a host?” You gestured to Kyoya and Tamaki, sputtering as you recollect all the times you came to them, asking for that same position, only to be immediately shot down. “Do you know how long I had to beg for just the slightest chance to get promoted? I only got this position because Haruhi broke that vase, and it was either hosting or quitting all together.” You didn’t yell, not raising your voice a time as you called them out. In fact, you got quieter, realizing how emotional you were getting over something so trivial as a host club. 

It still hurt. How you worked your ass off to earn their trust, respect and friendship, without ever needing to be asked. Over the year that the club had been made, you had helped create sales pitches, suggested new menu items, planned parties, and scheduled vacations on top of doing the shopping, serving and cleaning. You wanted to do those things because the host club had become a family to you, considering the one you have at home can barely find time for you. 

You absolutely loved the host club, and you knew they loved you too. So why did you feel so small right now?

“(Y/n), do you not want Haruhi to become a host?” Kyoya asked, looking at you with his eyebrows stitched together. 

You looked at Haruhi frantically, seeing her worried face, “No! No, that’s not what I’m saying at all…I just, I- um.” You took a breath, casting your head down to try and hide the small frustrated tears in your eyes as you struggled to identify your feelings. 

“Haruhi would be an amazing host.” You started, looking back up to your friends, eyes glistening slightly. “I just…I’m jealous of his opportunity, I guess.” You shrugged slightly, cooling down from your outburst slowly. Realizing you were still in the middle of the music room made reality rush to the forefront of your mind, and you blushed. You were still sad, but maybe you could’ve handled it better? You didn’t know. You walked past them to grab your bag, apologizing to them for being dramatic.

“Congratulations, Haruhi.” You told her as you walked past the group once more, and exited the club. You tried to muster a smile for her, but there were too many emotions going through your mind, it was hard to do anything but keep your mouth in a straight line. You didn’t notice the host club watching you leave.

:::

You walked to one of your favorite spots in Ouran Academy. It was a gazebo in the middle of a rose maze. Thorny vines would crawl up the pillars holding the roof above you, and you always ran your fingers over the chipped stone, realizing that the imperfections made it even more beautiful. You found comfort in its notion that there was no sweetness without difficulty.

It was the only place that you could think clearly. When your first boyfriend broke up with you, you cried there. When your parents left to go back to (C/n) without you for a business trip, you sat on the bench and stared at a lone rose, wondering if that rose had chosen to be planted farther away from everyone else, or if it that was simply it’s fate. 

When you were asked by Kyoya to join the host club, you nearly skipped to the safety of the stone roof, too excited to go home. He had noticed your knack for planning and organizing, which was something you picked up as your parents traveled constantly and didn’t have time to take you into consideration, leaving you the responsibility of raising yourself. Once you were old enough, you had let go of the maid and butler assigned to you by your parents because you felt like they could be doing more with their time, rather than waiting on you hand and foot.  

And not only had you grown close to Kyoya and his blonde friend Tamaki, now you were gonna be surrounded by people who wanted you there? Doing something you were good at?  You had opted to lay on the soil right outside of the gazebo, your feet slightly propped up on the stone entryway and your arms perpendicular to your body, looking up at the sky. It was the first time you had felt wanted. 

But now as you walked, embarrassment and frustration crashed through you. Keeping your head down, you watched the tiles on the floor blur as your vision was slightly obstructed by the small droplets that had formed. You felt unseen. As if nothing that you had done over this past year had mattered to them. Your emotions were coming in through waves, rational thought floating further out to sea. You knew you were spiraling, so you tried to take deep breaths, using the five senses in an attempt to ground yourself. You felt unappreciated for your efforts, but you regretted your outburst because now how were they ever going to let you back in the club? You gaslighted yourself into thinking that it really wasn’t that big of a deal and that acting so dramatically was a big mistake. 

You began to walk faster. How were you not even out of the building yet?

The oxygen around you felt limited, and your heart sharply protested to the lack of air. Control, control. Where did I lose control? How did I let myself lose control like that?

You stopped in the hallway, turning to lookout the large windows of your school. Having gone through this alone a million times, you knew what could happen if you didn’t rangle your thoughts back in check. You couldn’t afford that in a public place. 

(E/c) eyes found a cherry tree that was barely budding, the green studs peeking out through the brown of the branches. It breathed with the gust of wind that path, motioning for you to go with the flow. The corners of your lips twitched, the lilt of the tree grounding you. 

You sat on the window sill and rested your back against the window, reassured with that calming presence. You took deeper breaths, inhaling when the tree swayed to the right, and exhaling when it swayed to the left. 

Flashes of the hosts’ faces crossed your mind and you screwed your eyes shut. You knew that you were just trying to convey your feelings, and Kyoya had always said that you should feel comfortable with identifying your feelings for your friends so that they could help you in the nest way they could. But it still didn’t stop your feelings from affecting them, and that was the part you hated the most. You scanned their faces from when you scolded them, their eyes full of worry and slight hurt. If you just kept your feelings to yourself, no one would know, and no one would feel guilty. 

It’s healthy, it’s healthy. They can help you now, they can make you feel better.

But, why didn’t it feel like it?

You heard a click clack of heels echo through the hall, and the sound was getting closer. You opened your eyes to see red hair fluttering with each step. It was so familiar that you cursed your luck, already knowing who was approaching. You rolled your eyes from your sitting position, hoping she would walk right past you. 

“(Y/n)-san? Are you…alright”

If luck is a lady, she’s kind of a bitch. 

You turned to her, a host’s smile on your face, hoping it wasn’t obvious you had just settled down from a minor panic attack. 

“Miss Ayanokoji. I hope the club today was to your liking? I apologize for the early closure, you know how Tamaki can get.”

She smiled, and it resembled one of Kyoya’s, forced and fake. “Yes, it was quite nice. Although I haven’t gotten to spend much time with Tamaki as of late ever since your dog joined the group.”

You swallowed as Ayanokoji-san insulted Haruhi. You had always known she was akin to a brainwashing leech, slithering onto an idea, and sinking her teeth to control what was ‘rightfully hers’. Control, (Y/n), take back control. In the back of your mind, you find yourself beginning to act like a certain Ootori. 

“Tamaki has many clients, so he is used to diverting his attention, madame. He strives to hold himself to high standards and be loyal to all of his guests and friends. Haruhi is the new addition to our family, and our prince is just making sure he is comfortable.”

“Please”, the ginger princess scoffs, her eyes narrowing, “Tamaki would never hold so much admiration for someone so below him.” 

You tilt your head, “Really? Then how do you explain the adoration he gives to you?” Passive aggression seeps through your words, slapping her across the face.

Her eyes widened, “You have some nerve speaking to me that way.”

“You’re of similar nerve to insult a great friend of mine.” You stop looking at her and look back at the cherry tree. Its waving has stopped, as if it’s frozen in the tension between the two of you.

“You know what? I don’t understand why Tamaki gives you any light of day either!” Her tone becomes more pompous and grand, as if her inflection can justify her words, “You’re an honor student, too. From (C/n), no less! What makes you think that you deserve to go to this school? What makes you think anybody actually wants you here? You are just another speck of dirt on the host club, but they are just too nice to dust you off their shoulder.” She smirks as your hands start to shake slightly, your feelings from your panic attack fresh on the surface. 

You sigh, “I-”

“(Y/n) is a crucial part to how our club operates. She is a part of our family, as is Haruhi. Please do not talk about them in such a manner, lest you would like to risk your banishment from the host club.” 

Kyoya walks out from the right of you, the darkness in the hallway hiding him from sight. A purple aura embraces him as he walks towards Ayanokoji. His book is tucked under his arm, and his glasses are hiding his expression, but you can assume it’s as threatening as his entire presence seems at the moment. 

“As one of our frequent customers, and as the daughter of one of the largest monopolies in Japan, I’ll give you one more chance to act as a lady should. I’ll see you Monday, Miss Ayanokoji.” Kyoya lifts his head and meets her gaze.

“Kyoya-san!” Her lips twist into a practiced, innocent smile, “It’s not what it looks like, we were just-”

“I said, I will see you on Monday.” And with that he holds out his hand, lifting you up from your seat and leading you down the hallway, your backs fading away from the angry heiress. 

:::

There was a long silence as you led Kyoya to the gazebo. He knew that was where you liked to go to sort things out, so it made sense to him when you stepped into the maze only to look back at him, silently asking him to follow. 

You two sat next to each other, each waiting for the other to start a conversation, the tension hanging heavy on your shoulders. You decided to apologize first, not wanting the tension to go on even long-

“I’m sorry, (Y/n).”

You snapped your head to face him, your eyebrows knitting together. You’ve never heard Kyoya genuinely apologize for anything, not without something to gain. You were also certain that it was supposed to be the other way around, but when you opened your mouth to protest, Kyoya gently held up a finger to his lips, faintly shushing you. 

“I didn’t know that you felt so underappreciated.” He started again, leaning back onto the heels of his palms, watching the sunset in motion. “I knew I was pushing you to try harder, but I didn’t see the emotional toll it was taking on you. I only wanted you to grow as the host’s club manager. I was trying to help you towards the great potential that I know awaits you. But, once you reached that point, I only set new standards to push you towards.” He ran a hand through his hair, tilting his face slightly to where you couldn’t see his expression. 

“I enjoyed having you as my partner with the business side of things, and I didn’t want you to leave. I wanted someone I could trust by my side, someone like you.” He sighs, turning to face you. “When Haruhi broke the vase, I was backed into a corner. She needed a way to pay the debt, and you so badly wanted a way up and out. I didn’t make you a host until I absolutely had to because what was I to do without my partner?”

You looked at him, and you truly saw him. You truly saw his vulnerability, in his eyes and in his words. You saw your best friend that you had come to depend on and who you never knew for sure if you were annoying him or not. 

And you saw his want for your presence. As the sunset, he showed you your importance to him. The rose petals twirled slightly in the breeze, and you saw him as someone you might be able to… your breath hitched in your throat. 

“Thank you, Kyoya.” Your lips curved up into a smile. “I have an idea that could benefit both of us. A business deal of sorts.” You tease.

“And what might that be?” Kyoya smirked.

“What if I did all of it?” Kyoya quirked a hesitant eyebrow at you. “You said it yourself, most of my audience would only book me during the later hours, so during the other half I could help you with the finances? I enjoy my time with you too, Kyoya, you’re important to me.” You grinned and tilted your head. At your small confession, Kyoya’s eyes widened slightly. He then turned his head and smirked while pushing his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. 

“If you believe you can keep up with those responsibilities without exhausting yourself, we have a deal. I trust you to know your limits.” He got up from the bench, sensing that the problem had been resolved. But you weren’t finished yet. 

“And Kyoya?” The ravenet turned back around. “I’m sorry too. To everyone.” 

He shook his head, “(Y/n)-”

“If you’re allowed to own up to your mistakes, so am I. I know that expressing emotions is healthy, but my feelings bubbled up and I didn’t think rationally before kinda just dropping all of it on you guys and then leaving.” You stood up from the bench, clutching your bag to your chest, “I need to trust my friends and not let my emotions get the better of me.”

Kyoya’s mouth sank into a comfortable smirk. “Yes, (Y/n), please do have a little more faith in us.” 

After you two had parted ways, saying your usual goodbyes and stepping into adjacent cars, you reflected on the way the orange sunlight had reflected in Kyoya’s eyes under your gazebo. You noted the way your heart rate picked up once again, but for an entirely different reason than earlier. Something had changed. 

prev | next

[crowhyun]

THE DAUGHTER WHOS SOUL YOU SOLD

trickster demon!Kai x reader

Genre(s): smut, fluff, angst, a teeny bit of crack

Warnings: mentions of hell, marriage, fire, consummation, lingerie, both Kai and reader and virgins, they’re kinda awkward but cute, dry humping, penetrative sex, creampie, Kai is rough

Words: 8.5k

You tried to stifle your laughter, covering your mouth with your sweater paws as you watched Kai stalk his way up to your professor. He stood directly in front of him, knowing that he was only able to be seen by you, waving his hands in his face.

     You didn't want to be called out by your professor, but it was getting harder and harder to hold on your laugh, especially since the classroom was rather silent. You watched as Kai pushed one of the professor's pens off of the table, the pen rolling a few feet away from him. He stopped talking and went to pick up the pen. With his back turned, Kai threw some other stuff off his his desk.

     Your professor furrowed his brows, looking at the fallen papers with obvious anger written on his face. You bit your lip, shutting your eyes tight to try not to laugh.

     "Alright, give it up." Your professor said. "I don't know how you're playing this trick here, but someone speak up. Who is it?"

     The students looked around at each other, confused.

     "They just fell off the desk, that's all." A boy sitting a few rows in front of you said.

     "I literally teach physics, there is no way objects just fly feet away at a stand still." He replied, shaking his head. All while he was interrogating the class, Kai was right behind him, his hand going up to the professor's hair. You wondered what he was doing until you saw the professor's hair like gradually go back. You widened your eyes as you noticed he was wearing a wig, and Kai was revealing a bald head to the class.

     You subtly shook your head at him, telling him to quit it before the professor would become embarrassed.

     "Never in my 20 years of teaching have I taught a rowdy and unhinged class like you lot." The professor said. "All I want to do is teach the wonders of physics, and you guys have played silly little pranks on me since the semester started."

      You watched as Kai slowly but surely continued to drag his wig down, and you heard quiet snickers from the class.

      "Uh, prof, your hair...?" Someone pointed out, interrupting your professor from his rant. At that moment, the wig completely fell off, plopping down to the floor. Your professor was quick to cover his head, and you were sure this was his breaking point.

     "That's it, everybody, get out!" You yelled. "Class is over for today, no one e-mail me for the rest of the week."

     Everyone hesitantly got out of their seats, mumbling and chuckling about what had happened.

     "...not even our fault..." One said.

     "At least we're out of class early." Another one said.

     You gathered your things as you made your way out of the door, feeling a bit sorry for your professor.

     Once you were out in the courtyard, Kai appeared right next to you, walking alongside you.

     "That was funny, wasn't it?" He asked with a proud smile.

     "A little bit, but you embarrassed the poor man." You said, looking up at your blonde friend.

     "He'll be fine." He shrugged. "At least you got out of class early. We can eat ramen and watch the drama we started yesterday, right?"

     "Uh, you mean I can eat ramen." You said, watching as a group of friends looked at you weirdly. You were used to this, though. The way people would look at you as you talked to yourself. It's just what you became known for. You didn't need friends anyway when you had Kai.

     "You know what I mean, silly girl." Kai chuckled.

     "Even if I wanted to, though, I can't." You said. "I have homework to do."

     "You've been doing homework almost everyday of your life, let's take a break." He said, stretching his arms out as you approached your car.

     "Hm. I'll think about it." You said, getting in the drivers seat. Kai was already in the passenger seat, ready to always go wherever you go and always be where you wanted him to be. Someone who wasn't imaginary couldn't do that.

"Okay, then I hope you think too hard so you'll get burnt out." He said with a sweet voice.

"This guy is weird..." You mumbled to yourself, starting your car and making your way to your house.

———————————

"(Y/N), we're going out for the night, watch the house for us." Your mom said, slipping on her jacket.

"Where are you going?" You asked, a frown pulling at your face.

"Your dad rented a table at that restaurant I told you about." She said. "Y'know, the five star one?" You could tell she was excited as she checked her makeup in the mirror by the door.

"Ah..." You nodded. "Well, have fun." You said.

"You won't be completely alone, right?" She asked. "You have...Kai." Even through all of the years of you having an imaginary friend, she still seemed awkward to bring it up. Your dad still refuses to believe that your friend is just imaginary, and he insists that you go to a doctor, to your dismay. Your mom, on the other hand, was at least trying to come to terms with the fact that Kai was with you at all times.

"Yeah, you have Kai." Kai said to you, giving you a wink. You rolled your eyes turning your attention back to your mom.

"Ah, he's coming." She said, heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. "We'll be back in a few hours. Bye, sweetie."

Your dad gave you a wave goodbye as he followed her out of the door. You watched them get in the car and drive away, leaving the driveway with only one car. You turned your head in confusion once you heard Kai sigh.

"You wish that was you, huh?" He asked. "Going out on a date with your boyfriend. Oh wait, you don't have one. That sucks."

You sucked your teeth, walking around him on your way to your room. "Go away."

He appeared at the top of the stairs before you even got there. "I don't want to. And besides, you'd be scared to be home alone. How cute."

You ignored him, making your way to your room and plopping yourself down on your bed. "You know what? I think I am going to give myself a break from homework."

"Yes!" Kai cheered. "Get the ramen, let's watch My Name."

"I actually want to have a self care night." You said. "I've been feeling ugly lately."

"You're not even ugly though." He said, squinting his eyes to look at your face. "Okay, maybe just a little bit."

Your jaw dropped and you reached for a pillow to throw at him, but he quickly dodged it with a laugh.

"Die!" You said, getting up and going to the bathroom. You shut and locked the door behind you as a means to keep him out. Yet when you saw him in the reflection of the mirror, you remembered that locked doors didn't stop him. You groaned at him and he held his hands up in surrender.

"What, are you going to actually use the bathroom or something?" He asked. "I've seen you pee before, anyways!"

"Kai, don't say that, that's embarrassing!" You yelled at him.

"I've seen other things, too." He said, and you raised the brow. "My little mouse clicker." He giggled, furiously rubbing your tummy.

"Huh? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" You asked in genuine confusion.

"Nothing." He said. "Go on with your self care. You go, girl!"

———————————————

Your parents had come back home hours ago, and it was almost the AM times, yet you still weren't asleep. You had stuffed yourself with multiple bowls of ramen and gave into watching the drama with Kai. Now you were alone and in your dark room, trying to sleep.

Since it was hard for you, you figured Kai could help out.

"Kai?" You called out quietly to the air.

"Yes?" He appeared right beside you on the bed, facing you so that you were face to face.

"If you're imaginary...how come I can touch you?" You asked him. He didn't answer for a few seconds.

"I don't know." He said. "You ask that question all the time."

"Yeah, but just in case you get an answer one day, you should tell me." You said. Kai chuckled, his hand coming over to rest on your cheek. "See...you can touch me, but your hands are so cold."

"And your cheeks are so warm." He said. You flicked his hand off of you, feeling slightly embarrassed that he had caught that. "What?" He chuckled.

"Nothing." You said, thinking of ways to change the topic. "I can't sleep."

"Mm." He hummed. "Would you like for me to sing you a song?"

"Yeah..." You said. And with that, he started to sing softly. It was a lullaby that you have never heard anywhere else. It was something that seemed to be his own creation, and he had sung it to you since you were a kid. He had an amazing voice, one that made you feel warm every time you sang. You were on the verge of falling asleep when the song stopped, but you wanted to ask a question. "Are you a ghost?"

"Go to sleep, (Y/N)."

"Okay."

———————————————

      You opened your eyes, finding yourself in a completely different place than when you fell asleep.

      The place you were in was dark, yet you stood in front of a red carpeted isle lined with lit torches. On each side of the isle, there were...things. Things that scared you. They all stared at you, skin red and scaly, hooves for feet, and horns adorning their heads.

      We're these...demons?

      Then you felt the sensation of your body moving on its own. That's when you noticed the black and red dress you had on, the style being victorian. You had a bouquet of dead roses in your hands, and a black veil covering your face. Your feet moved forward and your eyes were wide, trying to decipher what was going on. You looked forward to see a man in all black at the end of the aisle. Was this a wedding? It had to be some weird type of wedding. How did you come to a wedding? And were you the bride?

      You wanted to stop moving and at least try to make sense of what was going on, but you had no control of your body. The only thing that seemed to be misplaced was your brain.

      Soon enough, you met up with the man at the end of the isle. Once you got a good look at his face, you noticed that you knew him. He was Kai.

      You looked at the person beside you, seeing that they were completely covered in all black, and you were unable to see their face. They then started to speak in a language that you've never heard of before. It didn't sound similar to any other language.

      You looked back at Kai, noticing that he shared some of the same features as the audience. Horns on his head, deep black eyes, a sinister aura.

      This had to be a dream. You were in some wicked wedding with your imaginary friend, surrounded by demonic beings. This was definitely a dream.

      You suddenly opened your mouth, and you spoke in this unknown language. After a short sentence, your mouth shut once more. A few seconds later, Kai said that same sentence.

      The whole time, you were just thinking...what the hell? Kai reached to raise your veil, folding it over your head to reveal your face. You noticed how he was getting closer and closer to you, and you suddenly felt as if your body was unlocked, and you dropped to the ground before he could get closer.

      You gulped, and you were sure you looked like you were almost frightened to death. This was a weird dream, how could you not be? You got up from the ground, and just like you wanted to do, you ran off to wherever you could go.

      "(Y/N)! (Y/N)!" You heard Kai call after you, but you continued to run as fast as you can with the heels that adorned your feet.

      "Wake up, (Y/N)." You said to yourself as you ran. "Wake up, (Y/N)! Wake up!"

——————————

      You woke up with a flinch, being greeted by the bright sunlight. You squinted your eyes, looking around to see that you were in your room. Kai was nowhere to be found, which was weird, seeing that he was usually the first thing you saw every morning.

      "What a weird dream..." You muttered to yourself, getting up to start the day. You were feeling a bit more groggy than usual, your feet dragging across the floor.

      When you were going to brush your teeth, your toothbrush somehow slipped out of your hand, dropping onto the floor.

      "Ah- ew, oh my gosh." You groaned, picking it up and running it under the water. You didn't mean to be dramatic or anything, but you were sure the day was getting off to a bad start.

      After brushing your teeth, you quickly got ready for your class, slipping on your glasses and grabbing your bag. On the way downstairs, you tripped a bit, but you said yourself with your grip on the railing. The one thing that couldn't be saved was your glasses, as they fell off your head and you accidentally stepped on them, cracking the lense.

      "Dammit..." You muttered to yourself, checking out the damage. You sighed, knowing that you'd have to get them repaired if you wanted to use them. You guessed that squinting at the board during class wouldn't be too bad.

      And...

      You were late to class.

      You stumbled into your class room, probably looking like you had just run a mile. You couldn't possibly miss the lecture for today, it was important. On your way to class, there was something wrong with your radio, and it kept switching stations randomly. When you weren't paying attention and trying to change it back, you had missed a green light.

      And you ended up sitting at a red light for twenty minutes straight, causing you to be late for class. You didn't know what was up with your luck, lately, but today was horrible so far. You thought that maybe it was because Kai hadn't shown up, yet. Kai was with you everyday, and the day that he doesn't show up, everything goes wrong.

      You struggled to take notes during class, your mind drifting over to Kai and your dream from last night. Kai was rarely in your dreams, but the one times he shows, it's you getting married to him. You felt a slight pinch of regret, wishing that you had let him kiss you in your dream. But at the same time, it felt so weird. He was imaginary. It's insanely weird to have a crush on your imaginary friend. Your parents already think you need help as it is.

      You just wished that Kai was real. He'd be perfect for you. The perfect boy. It's sad how that's only possible in your imagination.

————————————

       After a long day of classes, you found yourself back home and in your room. Surprisingly, you were alone. You called out to Kai a few times, wondering why he hasn't immediately shown up like he usually did.

      "Maybe...maybe I am too stressed." You spoke to yourself. He was apart of your imagination, right? So, it would make sense that you couldn't bring him up when you were too stressed.

      You heard a knock on your door and your mom peeked in.

      "Hun, your dad isn't going to be back for a while." She said. "He's getting good business for the week, so he'll be super busy. If this works out for him, we'll have a celebration this weekend." She did a pumping motion with her hand while she smiled big. "Ah, also, could you go grocery shopping for me, tomorrow? I don't have time to do it, but I have a list."

      "Sure." You answered, knowing that you were rather busy tomorrow, but you didn't want to make her angry.

      "Great, thanks." She said. "I'll leave the list on your dresser." She placed a sheet of paper on your dresser, then she left the room.

      You sighed, remembering how badly you wanted to move out. Grocery shopping for the family every now and again wasn't bad, but sometimes, your parents treated you as if you were a sort of maid. They went out and had fun without you a lot, they found slick ways to talk down on Kai and how you were too old to have an imaginary friend, and much more. They say they're not ones for drama, but it seems to just be something they enjoy.

      The only way you could even cope with it was by talking to Kai. He's been their your whole life, and even though he was quite bothersome sometimes, he was your bestest friend in the world.

      "Kai?" You called out, waiting a few seconds even though you were sure than he wasn't going to show up. You were a little down about it, but you decided some relaxation was going to fix that. So, for the rest of the night, you watched "My Name", hoping that Kai would show up right in the middle of it.

      But he didn't.

——————————

      A week later, you found yourself walking into your home to the smell of dinner. It was a rare occurance, but you assumed that your dad's business for the week had gone well. You made your way to the kitchen where your parents were playing music and chatting happily while cooking.

      "Oh, hey, (Y/N)." You mom said once she saw you. "It's about time you came home."

      "Today, we're celebrating 20 years of excellence!" Your dad said, holding up a glass of wine. "And yet another successful week at Kim Tech."

      "Cheers to that!" Your mom added on.

      "That's great." You smiled. "What are you guys cooking?"

      "We're cooking some steak, as our main course, with some mashed potatoes, corn, and a strawberry cake for dessert." Your mom said. "And your dad is inviting some of his coworkers in a bit."

      "Ah..." You nodded, leaning on the counter as you watched them cook. You felt a little sour. They celebrated a good week for them, yet you only had stress from one of the worst weeks you've ever had in a while. Accident after accident kept happening, and it was like your luck just wasn't caring about you. You had broken down multiple times this week, and yet you had no choice but to celebrate. Of course you were grateful, though, the whole reason you were able to go to college is because of the money that Kim Tech brought in. It was a blessing. It would've just been more of a blessing if Kai was there.

      While your parents were distracted by telling stories of when the company started, you noticed that the grease in the pan was smoking a bit. You weren't sure, but you thought it may have been too hot. You were about to tell them, but you noticed the glass of wine right next to the stove and how it was slowly but surely moving. You squinted your eyes to make sure you weren't seeing things, but you weren't crazy. The glass was moving closer and closer to the hot grease and before you could react, it tilted over the pan, breaking as the wine fell into the grease. The pan suddenly bursted into flames, pieces of glass dropping onto the floor.

      Your parents yelled out in surprise, trying to back up from the flames, but your dad was a bit too late, his sleeve catching on fire. In a panic, he accidentally stepped on a sharp piece of glass, and he yelped in pain.

     "O-Oh my gosh, (Y/N) call the fire department!" You mom yelled at you as she tried to help your dad. Your mouth was agape and panic set into your veins as you tried to get it together. You ran to your bag, fetching out your phone as you quickly dialed the fire department, the reflection of your dad engulfed in flames in your frightened eyes.

————————————

      "...first degree burns on most parts of the exposed body, yet there are some second and third degree burns..."

      "...needs to go in for immediate medical care..."

      "Will he be alright?"

      "He'll be fine..."

      "He's just in a lot of pain right now..."

      The red lights blinked on and off, shining on your house, the black soot even showing outside of the windows. What was just a grease fire turned into something worse, half of your downstairs home burnt into ashes. You looked at the house, tears filling your eyes. You wouldn't say you were necessarily sad, but you got the feeling that it was your fault. Maybe you've been passing around your bad luck, or maybe it's just been following you wherever you went. This time, your house and your poor father were the victims of it.

After making sure your father was alright, he was driven to the hospital to be taken care of. You guys had to live in one of the vacation homes not far from where you lived until the renovation was complete. Much to your dismay, this house was further away from your school, and you knew it would be costly to go back and forth. You could just not go to class for a bit, given the circumstances, but you knew that it would hurt your grade, and you were not willing to let that happen.

————————————

Pulling up to the vacation home, which was nestled right by the beach, you felt that living here for the time being was wrong. It was a vacation home for goodness sakes, a home where you could go to relax and have fun. Nothing was going to be fun here while your dad was in the hospital. You couldn't even bring all of your essentials due to you not being allowed to go back into your house.

Your mother insisted that you go get settled into the vacation home while she decided to stay overnight at the hospital with your father. You didn't even have a chance to visit.

You sighed, getting out of your car and unlocking the front door to the house. It was dark, as it was still night time, so you turned the light on, looking around.

Your family hadn't used the vacation home in years, everything being left in the same place as it was the last time you came here. It wasn't a huge home, as there were two small rooms attached to one big room which had the kitchen, the living area, and the dining area. There was a balcony that was in view of the large beach behind the house which reflected the moonlight beautifully. You forgot how beautiful it was here. You just wished that you weren't alone.

You made your way to the room that you always occupied. There was a queen sized bed and a dresser, as well as two large windows that faces the beach. You guessed that maybe you did need to be here, so you could finally relax. But right now, your body only craved one thing. And that was to cry.

Now that you were all alone, you really had no other choice but to finally let it all out. You sat on the bedC your back to the head board as you sobbed, your head falling forward on your bent knees. You couldn't believe this week could get any worse, and it felt so relieving to be able to just cry. You weren't sure if crying would help, but in this moment, it just made you feel good.

With your eyes shut tight and tears streaming down your face, you didn't notice the presence of a certain someone until you felt a gentle touch on your back.

You slowly lifted your head, making eye contact with Kai as he tried to comfort you.

"Kai..." You mumbled. "Where have you been?"

"U-uh, imaginary friend world." He smiled.

"Not funny."

"Sorry..." He looked down. "Are...you okay?"

"No." You shook your head. "This whole week has been a disaster. It just had to end with my dad being in the hospital."

      He didn't say anything for a few seconds, then he spoke. "I-I'm sorry..."

      "What do you have to be sorry for?" You sniffled. "It's just my bad luck. I guess it passed it onto my parents."

      "No, that's not it." He said quietly.

      "Then what is it?" You looked at him. "Why is it that the minute you're gone, everything goes awry? I must've just been too stressed and then...I don't know."

      "Don't blame yourself for this, (Y/N)..."

      "Then who else is there to blame?" You asked, getting frustrated. "For almost everything bad, there's at least one person to blame. Who's else fault is it? My mom's? My dad's? My dad had one of the best weeks of his career, while I had the worst. And all of a sudden, when I'm in the picture, the house catches on fire."

      "(Y/N)." He said, and you heard a weird undertone in his voice. Almost like he was...ashamed? "Please don't get too angry at me, but...the bad things that happened this week...that was my fault."

      "Huh? What do you mean?" You asked. "You weren't even here..."

      "It's going to be hard to explain, and I don't know if you'd be able to handle it, but yes." He said. "Everything that's happened was my fault."

      "...including the fire?"

      "Y-yes...including the fire." He looked at you with wary eyes. You gently but surely pushed his hand off of you, your face going stone cold.

      "Explain."

      "It's not easy to explain, y-you're going to see me differently-"

      "Aren't you a figment of my imagination?" You furrowed your brows and frowned. "What other way could I see you?"

      "That's the thing, I'm not a figment of your imagination." He said. "I never was, and I never will be."

      "...what?"

      "It's possible for me to be seen by only you, but it's also possible for me to be seen by anyone else and not seen at all." He said.

      "Then...what are you?" You asked.

      He gulped before answering, a shifty look in his eyes. "I'm a d-demon."

      "You're lying." You said. "T-that can't be true. It must be a trick."

      "Well, that's kind of my specialty. I'm a trickster demon. It's the truth." He looked down. You looked at him, trying to see if he could be lying. Weirdly enough, he seemed genuine.

      "So, is that why you tricked me into believing you were just a figment of my imagination?" You asked, a hint of venom in your voice.

      "(Y/N), it's not like that." He said. "Stop making it seem as if I'm your enemy."

      "Friends don't make other friends days worse, Kai. Friends don't light other friends' houses on fire, Kai." You said. "Those are things that enemies do."

      "I admit, I was wrong for doing those things." He said. "I never meant for it to go that far. I was just...I was angry."

      "Angry at who? Me? What could I have possibly done?"

      "You don't understand, (Y/N)."

      "Then help me understand." You said. "If not, then...then you can just go back to hell."

      He looked at you in silence, a frown pulling at his face that made you feel a bit guilty for speaking without thinking. Yet, you didn't take it back, as you were still angry at him.

      "We're engaged to be wed." He said, and you snapped your head up, almost mishearing him. "We have been since you were born. You see how big your dad's company is? He...he sold your soul in order to get that big. In order to seal the deal, you must be turned into a halfling before you die."

"A halfling?"

"Half demon, half human." He said. "Lucifer's servant. The only way to do that is to be wed to a demon...in hell."

"So...that dream..."

He nodded his head. "That's the only way I could marry you without you coming out to be too corrupted."

You couldn't say anything, remembering how you ran away from him in what you thought was a lucid dream. You could also feel the fuming rage that you had for your father. He sold his own newborn baby's soul to the devil for some stupid company. For money. Maybe he deserved to burn. It was only a hint of what was going to happen to him when he would eventually get to hell.

"(Y/N)?" He rested his hand on your knee, but you brushed it away.

"What if I don't marry you? Then what will happen?" You asked him.

"Lucifer...he'll devour the souls of the rest of your family." Kai said. "And doom all of you to burn in hell for eternity...including me."

You felt a deep sense of doom inside of you. The anger you had for Kai wasn't strong enough to cover how important he was to you, and for him so suffer just because of your father, you couldn't have that happen.

"What did you mean earlier? When you said something about me coming out too corrupted?" You asked.

"When you go to hell as a human, it...it changes you. I'm not sure how to explain this well, but you won't come out the same." He said. "Yet, of you to go hell in your dreams, you will remain unchanged. A wedding in hell is worse. In order to go back home, you have to be ungulfed into flames...something more painful than you've ever experienced in your life."

"Why would I go back home?" You asked.

"You don't have to." He said. "It's a choice. Just like marrying me is. But, not coming back up here just means that you die at an early age. There's a possibility to just get married and then come back with your life unchanged, apart from the fact that you'd be a halfling."

"What would I be if I don't come back home?" You asked.

"Then you'd just be a demon. Like me." He said, then he frowned. "Do you...do you not want to be here?"

"No..." You said. Kai didn't answer, but there was no explanation needed. He's been with you your whole life and he's seen sides of you that you haven't shown anyone else. You weren't even as close with your parents as you were with Kai. So, he knew your troubles and he knew your stressors. He knew that you'd be much better off not being in this world, as horrible as it sounded. "I'll get married to you. And I'm sorry from running away from you in that dream. I just didn't know what was going on."

"That's my fault." He said, hesitantly placing his hand on your knee, afraid that you'll push him off, yet you didn't. "I should've told you earlier. And I shouldn't have made your week bad...I'm a terrible person."

"No. You're just a demon." You said with a quiet chuckle.

"Ah...it appears that I am." He said with a laugh.

"Will the wedding happen tonight?" You asked.

"It'll happen whenever you're ready." He said. "But I must warn you...when you come with me, you'll die up here. And once you die, you can't come back. Yet if you go in your dreams, you won't die."

"I'll go with you." You said quickly. He nodded.

"Oh, and, please don't freak out, but..." He trailed off, scratching the back of his neck.

"What now?" You asked, starting to get worried again.

"Well, it's...in order to uh, complete the marriage..." He gulped. "It's required to have a consummation...after the wedding."

"...a what?!"

—————————————————

It took a few days for you to be mentally ready for the wedding. You maybe have not been the fondest of your parents, but you had to find a way to say goodbye, or to at least leave your mark.

Meeting your mom after you went out to relax by the beach, you were surprised by your reaction.

"Hey, (Y/N), oh-" She looked over to beside you. "Who's this?"

You furrowed your brows and looked to the side, seeing the one and only Kai. You knew he was there the whole time, but you don't think he's ever showed himself to your parents.

"Oh, uh...this is Kai. My...friend." You said to her.

"Friends don't get married." He mumbled under his breath, but you judged him with your elbow.

"Kai...?" She raised a brow. You then noticed that you told her the name of your imaginary friend, who was essentially the same person, but she didn't know that.

"Yeah, Kai short for Kaipo." Kai lied, saving your ass. "It's an Hawaiian name."

"You're from Hawaii?" Your mom said, taking off her glasses in awe, and Kai nodded. "Ah, how wonderful."

"Uhm, we have homework to do." You said to her. "So, we're just going to go to my room."

"Oh, alright then." Your mom said. "Study hard."

"We will." You said. "...bye."

"Bye?" Your mom raised an eyebrow and chuckled at your awkward and misplaced goodbye. You then tugged Kai with you to your room, shutting the door behind you.

"That was awkward." Kai chuckled.

"What was I supposed to say?" You asked. "It's all I could do..."

"Did you meet up with your dad?" He asked and you nodded.

"I left him a note." You said, not wanting to elaborate.

"Oh, alright..." He said. "So does that mean...you want to get married tonight?"

     "Y-yeah." You said, a nervous feeling in the pit of your stomach. You knew what you had to do in order to get there, and so did Kai. He reached in his back pocket for the orange bottle of pills, hesitatingly giving them to you.

     "I'll meet you there then." He said.

     "Can't you stay with me?" You asks him.

     "No. I can't...I can't watch you die." He shook his head. "That's too much."

     "Ah..." You nodded. "Then I'll see you there...I'll be okay, right?"

     "You'll be fine." He smiled. "When you wake up, you'll be just fine."

—————————————

      Opening your eyes, you were greeted with a familiar setting. You were in the same place as you were when you were in your dream. You were at the beginning of the wedding isle in your black and red dress, the dead bouquet of roses in your hand.

      This time, though, you were happy to be here. You were still anxious and unsure, but you now understood the importance of the wedding, and you were willing to partake in it. You wouldn't have done it if it wasn't Kai. Now, it wasn't weird to have a romantic liking towards him. That was a relief.

      The demons on both sides of the isle watched you, their eyes big and black, with no soul or emotion behind them. At the end of the isle was your soon to be husband, which turned out to be a demon this whole time. Was that good or bad? You wouldn't know.

     You began your walk down the isle, this time, you weren't forced to do it against your will. You didn't want to run, and you didn't want to cower away. You wanted to pull through, and that's exactly what you were going to do.

     Just like in your dream, you faced Kai at the end, and the demon beside the both of you spoke in the language that you still couldn't understand. It didn't matter, though, as you knew by the end of all this, you'd understand everything.

     Kai lifted your veil over your head, revealing your face to him. This was it. This was the part where he would kiss you. He looked at you as if he was asking if you were alright. You weren't sure how you picked that up in his pitch black eyes, but you shave him a small smile to which he returned before leaning in. You shut your eyes right before you felt his soft lips against yours, and then, quicker than you wanted, he parted from the kiss.

     All the fleeting thoughts of kissing Kai finally came true, and it was much better than you expected. It was short and sweet, yet he left you wanting more.

     Yet both you and him knew that soon, there would be more. That sole thought left you zoning in and out throughout the wedding, just imagining what the hell was going to go down.

——————————————

     You were in a room alone, stripped out of your dress and left in a revealing yet classy lingerie set. The room only consisted of a king sized bed and a vanity, where you sat to check your appearance.

     You felt a little weird about it, yes. You've known Kai your whole life, you shouldn't feel self conscious, but at the same time...you've never done anything remotely close to what you were about to do. Kai was just imaginary, but now, you were about to give yourself to him.

     You watched the door, feeling nervous. He was going to enter at any time now, and being alone in such a different place scared you.

     You then heard the door creak open, and Kai slowly revealed himself to you. The two of you met eyes and you gulped, suddenly feeling exposed. You could tell that Kai was at least somewhat enamored by the way you looked, and he didn't do the best job of hiding it.

     "H-hey." He said.

     "Hi." You replied.

     "You look really...really nice." He said, walking closer to you. Sitting down, you noticed how he towered over you, and you stood up to not feel too small, but his gaze still did so. You nearly curled in on yourself, becoming even more exposed.

     "Thank you." You said, looking up at him.

     "Hey, let's not make this awkward." He chuckled. "Let's not think about it too much."

     "How can I not?" You asked, looking down.

     "Oh...does that mean...you've been thinking about it this whole time?" He asked with courage. You were too shy to answer, but he already knew just by the bashful look on your face. "Because I have, too."

     You gulped, looking into his black eyes, seeing no reflection in them.

     "Are you scared of me?" He asked.

     You shook your head.

     "You don't have to lie." He chuckled. "It's okay to be scared. You've never seen me like this. But I'll take care of you. I'll be gentle...if that's what you want." He looked down at your lingerie clad body, his pants becoming tighter. He was needy for you, but he didn't want to make it obvious. But the way you stood in front of him like he's never seen before...it was doing things to him. "C-Can I touch you?" He asked.

     "Y-yes." You nodded, watching as his large hands hesitantly settled on your exposed waist, stiff as ever.

     "You can touch me other places, too." You said, and he almost choked, his eyes going round. "I-I didn't mean anything too explicit...not yet, at least." You chuckled, relaxing a bit more to see that he was just as nervous as you.

     "So...I can touch down...here?" He slowly slid his hands down past your hips, and he gently cupped your ass. You felt your arousal start to grow as you nodded. "Can I kiss you too?"

     "You can do anything you want to me." You said.

     "Don't say that...I might lose it." He nervously laughed.

     "Well...isn't that what we're here for?" You stepped closer to him, close enough that your bodies were pressed together.

     "Y-yeah..." He stuttered, lowering down to slot his lips in between yours. You stood on your tip-toes to reach the kiss, your hands on his shoulders to support you. The kiss started out slowly, something that you could get used to so far. Just like he said before, he was gentle, his hands caressing your skin.

     After a bit, he slotted his tongue into your mouth, and you were surprised to feel that he had a forked tongue. You were fascinated, to say the least, twirling your tongue around his. Yet, just when it started to get heated, you felt the burn of your claves. You were on your toes for too long, and you went down on your flat feet, breaking the kiss. Kai chuckled at you, knowing what had happened.

     "Should we move to the bed?" He asked and you nodded. With his hands on your waist, he guided you backwards from the vanity to the bed, leaning you back so that you were laid down. From this point of view, he could see everything, now, and so could you. His bulge was large against his pants, and that's when you noticed that he was far too clothed for your liking.

     "Can you t-take your clothes off?" You asked him. He looked down at himself, almost as if he was surprised he even still had clothes on. He reached to take off his all black suit, which was a sight that you enjoyed seeing. Soon enough, he was bare before you, all except for his boxers.

     You knew this before, but without his clothes, Kai seemed even more broad than he already was, especially when he hovered over you. If someone was to look from a birds eye view, you'd be completely covered by him. You felt so small, and it heightened your arousal even more.

     Kai attached his lips to yours once more, his tongue immediately meeting yours. At the same time as kissing you, he spread your legs wide enough so that he could fit in between them, and you felt his bulge come right into contact with your clothed pussy. You moaned into the kiss and Kai parted from you, making you feel a bit embarrassed.

     "That was really pretty." Kai said. After hearing it once, he wanted to hear it again, prompting him to experimentally push his hips forward, grinding against your clit. You gasped at the pleasurable feeling, your pussy clenching around nothing. "Does that feel good?"

     You nodded, too scared that your voice would sound too fucked out already. Kai felt his chest swell up with pride as he took a gentle grab of your hips, grinding into you once more. If just grinding into you made you feel this way, he simply couldn't imagine what you'd be like when you'd be stuffed with his cock.

     He leaned over you, keeping a steady pace as he grinded into you. He wanted to savor your lingerie a bit more, but the urge to see your completely naked took over. And he released that urge in a bit of an aggressive way.

     You gasped once he ripped your lacy bra off of you, and he looked at the tattered fabric in his hand as if he was surprised as well.

     "S-sorry..." He trailed off as he caught sight of your breasts, free and exposed just for him. He forgot about your bra, tossing it to the side as he slid his hands up to your breasts to cup them. "You're so pretty." He mumbled, watching as he folding your breasts.

     You were still a bit distracted by the rolling of his hips into yours, but once your felt his mouth suckle around your nipple, you were snapped back into focus. The added sensation made everything more pleasurable, and he closed his eyes, his tongue swirling around your hard bud. You tangled your hands into his blonde hair, your mouth falling agape as your orgasm suddenly hit you by surprise. Your moans got louder against your will, and your eyes rolled to the back of your head.

     Kai locked his lips, watching as you calmed down from your high wanting more.

     "Fuck, you are so gorgeous." He said, scooting you back on the bed so he could fully hover over you.

     "Kai, I want you." You breathed out, already fucked out. "I want you inside me.”

     "You sure it won't be too much for you?" He asked, an innocent look on his face, yet you knew him too well, knowing he was teasing you. "You came so easily just now, baby." With the added pet name, he tried to make his words soft, but there was the hard undertone underneath that, making you gush in your useless underwear.

     "Please, Kai." You whined, dragging your hand down to his boxers. He chuckled, pulling down his boxers and releasing a long, girthy cock. You knew he had to have something lengthy down there, seeing how big he was, but it was still a surprise to you.

     He went to remove your panties, your wetness sticking to it as he pulled it down. His mouth was watering, seeing just how wet you were. He made a mental note that he was going to eat you out next time. As if in a trance, you noticed him staring at your pussy with hungry eyes, and you felt shy once again.

     "K-Kai, please." You whined.

     "Sorry," He breathed out, hovering over you once more, his tip aligning with your entrance. "Are you ready?"

     You nodded. With that, he started to slowly push his cock into you, and you felt delicious yet painful stretch. It wasn't too painful to where you needed to stop, so you felt him keep going until he had his whole cock stuffed inside of you. He sighed in pleasure at your walls wrapped around him.

      He started to thrust inside of you, slowly but deeply. He bit his lip in concentration while you held onto his shoulders, savoring the feel of his cock inside of you. He picked up the pace, going steady, but not too fast to where you were overwhelmed.

      "Fuck, Kai, your cock feels so good." You moaned out.

      "Yeah?"

      You nodded. "Please go faster."

      "How fast?" He asked. "I don't want to hurt you."

      "You won't hurt me." You said, moaning as he continued to go at a steady pace, and you bit your lip. "I like it fast. You can do that for me, right?"

      You smiled at Kai's surprised face, his thrusts slowing down. He quickly recollected himself, positioning himself to where he'd be able to pleasure you properly.

      "Yeah, I can do that". He said. He started to thrust faster into you, his thrusts gradually becoming faster and harder.

      As your moans got louder, he went harder, you spurring him on, and it got to the point where he was pounding you into the mattress.

     You cursed, holding onto him as you noticed that every thrust pushed you up the bed. He grabbed onto your hips tightly with his large hands, holding you down as he pistoned into you.

     This was exactly what you wanted. For him to lose control. Your wetness was evident, the noise combining with the slaps of skin on skin as well and your moans. He muttered profanities into your ear, using more of his strength to fuck into you to where it was almost painful, but the pleasure always out ruled the pain.

     You were borderline screaming at this point, not knowing that Kai was capable of making you feel this way.

     "Fuck, I'm gonna cum." He whined into your ear, his thrusts becoming sloppy. You felt his cock throbbing, even with how fast he was pounding inside of you.

      "Cum inside me, please, I want it." You moaned, wrapping your legs around his waist. He nodded against your neck groaning as you felt his cock uncontrollably twitch inside of you.

     Then, you felt ropes of his cum pour into you, paired with his high pitched whine. He thrusted into you, milking himself until his cum was spilling out of you in a mess.

     After he finished cumming inside of you, he pulled out, watching his cum drip out of you. He licked his lips, not forgetting about you. You yelped in surprised once he dipped down, taking your swollen clit in between his slip.

     You moaned loudly, your hands going to tug of his hair as he fiercely sucked your clit, quickly bringing you to your second orgasm. You heaved out moans as you shut your eyes, grinding against Kai's face to ride out your high.

     After you had calmed down, you felt a bit embarrassed at how desperate you were, but Kai didn't seem to care as he kissed you again, a mix of yours and his cum on your mouth. It was filthy, yes, but after what had just happened, that was nothing.

     After the heated act that just took place, Kai rested his head on yours, a lazy smile on his face that you matched.

     "So...it's done now?" You asked him. "You're my husband?"

     "Yeah...and you're my wife." He chuckled. "Now, all you have to do is meet with Lucifer. Then, we'll...we'll be able to be together here."

     "Lucifer..." You muttered under your breath.

     "Are you scared?" He asked. "Don't be. I'll be beside you the whole time, okay?"

     "Okay..." You smiled, and he kissed you again.

     "I can't believe we just did the devil's tango." He giggled, going back to the Kai you've always known.

     "It seems like you want to do it again, huh?" You smirked, feeling his hardness against your thigh. He looked down, laughing as he didn't notice before.

     "It appears so."

——————————————

     Your dad woke up from his slumber, his arms wrapped in bandages from the burns. He had once more day until he was able to be discharged, and he was excited to be reunified with you and your mom.

     Looking at the table beside his hospital bed, he noticed a folded piece of paper that wasn't there before. He furrowed his brows in confusion, grabbing the piece of paper and un-folding it, revealing a letter.

     Dear Father,

I hope you're having a great time with your company booming and all. You know you have to, especially when you know you're doomed to burn in hell. When you get discharged, I'll be dead, but you knew it was going to happen one day, right?

That's all I have to say to you. I hope you love with the guilt that your daughter's dead because of you.

    Love, The Daughter Who's Soul you Sold

[letarasstuff]

Doesn't she love me anymore?

(A/N): This was requested by an anon, I hope you like it as much as I do!

Summary: Spencer's daughter starts to question why her mother left the small family early on

Warnings: Mentions/undertones of bullying, an absent parent and descreptions of the concequences for the child, So. Much. Angsty. Feelings.

Wordcount: 2.5k

✨Masterlist✨ _________________________________

“Daddy?” Spencer turns around from the frying pan to look at his daughter. Against common belief, he is quite the cook. But this only started when he became a father, after he realized a child won’t be able to live off of a diet consisting of coffee and anxiety, just like he did at the time. “Yes, Sweetheart?”

She looks down to the piece of paper on the kitchen counter in front of her. “Why did Mommy leave us?”

The spatula falls to the ground. It’s a question the father did not expect on a Tuesday morning before school. “It’s because of me, isn’t it? She saw me the first time and didn’t want me anymore. It’s my fault Mommy left us, left you, just like Linda said.” Tears begin to stream down her face.

“No no no”, her father is quick to turn off the heat and walks around the island to hug his daughter. “None of this is your fault. I don’t know what this Linda said, but it is not true. Your mother had her own reasons to stay out of our lives, but it has nothing to do with you.”

This doesn’t calm her down. “What are her reasons? Why did she leave us? Why did leave me?” Frantically she tries to keep her sobs down in order to speak. Spencer never has seen her this upset.

“Sweetheart, are you sure you are in the right state to talk about it now? Why don’t we calm down and get something for breakfast on our way to school and talk about it after I pick you up this afternoon?” He suggests, hoping the thought of a cup of hot chocolate from their favorite bakery would help her.

(Y/N) looks up at him with bloodshot and glassy eyes. Snot runs down from her nose. Spencer is quick to get her a tissue and make her blow into it, cringing internally about all those germs. “Do you promise to tell me more after school?” Big eyes look up at him and the father hurts. It hurts him, because there are so many things in her future that will break her and all that because of her mother. He can’t shield her from all of it, as much as he wants to he isn’t able. Because there always will be people, people like this Linda, who will make the girl conscious of her absent mother.

“I promise”, he tells her and holds his little finger out for her. (Y/N) smiles while linking hers with his, knowing her father will keep this promise just like any other of his. “Good, and now pack up we got a bakery to visit!” Quickly the girl grabs the piece of paper in front of her only to shove it into her backpack.

A little later she sits at her desk and looks at her teacher expectantly, just like her fellow classmates. “Ok children, today we won’t work further on our addition and subtraction worksheets-” The teacher’s sentence is cut short by the eruption of cheerful shouts. Just (Y/N) looks at the multiplication sheet in front of her.

The teacher is quick to quiet the class again. “Instead we will continue our work on the mother’s card you started doing yesterday. Linda was so kind to tell me that you don’t have the chance to finish them at home, because your moms are there. That is why you do it here and your worksheets at home.”

With a frown on her face (Y/N) pulls out the blank piece of paper that made her feel bad ever since her teacher handed it out to her yesterday. While everybody around her chatters happily with other classmates, she just stares at the paper. It is a reminder of something she doesn’t have, something she lacks and will never get: A real mother. A hug from her mother. Not even the motherly reassurance one gets after a nightmare. Nothing.

“Hey orphan. Ya realizing your mom doesn’t love you and that’s why she left you?” Linda, someone (Y/N) later learns to call a Mean Girl, struts up to the younger one’s desk. A sigh leaves her lips before answering. “You do know for an orphan I need to have neither a mommy nor a daddy. And I do for a fact have a dad, a loving one actually.”

A more light than hard slap on the back of her head makes the girl’s body jolt. “I don’t care, but I know that your mom hates you enough just after looking at you to know she doesn’t want anything to do with you.” After that Linda goes back to her table, leaving (Y/N) feeling more miserable than before.

Some starring on the paper later her teacher passes her table. “Is there something you want to talk about, Sweetheart? You seem very sad.” That is an obvious fact. Finally the girl is able to lift her gaze. “Miss Ramirez, I don’t know what to do.” This is probably the first time ever she said this sentence in school.

“Mother’s day is in a few days, Sweetie, and this is why we all make these cards. It’s a thank you to your mom and a way to show her how much you love her. You love your mom, don’t you?” The shake of her head shocks the teacher. Immediately an alarming signal rings through her head, because this is a red flag. “Why? Did she do something?”

“Miss Ramirez, I don’t have a mommy. She- she left Daddy and me.” Tears fill (Y/N)’s eyes. Her teacher is quick to hug and sush her. “Oh Sweetie, this is not a bad thing. I’m sure your mom loves you very much, even if she is not there with you. Do you wanna go out for a bit to calm down?” Meanwhile she connects the obvious signs of a single dad in her mind. Missed parent teacher conferences, unnecessary hovering over the child and the tendency to be categorized as a helicopter parent. Yes, Dr. Reid ticks all of those boxes.

It’s the second time of the day that an adult asked (Y/N) to calm down, and frankly it doesn’t really help with the situation at hand. “Can I do my homework outside? It’s too loud in here”, she asks between sniffles. Both of them know that the class’ volume is not the real reason for the request. “Of course, Sweetheart. If you need something, just come in and ask me. Alright?” (Y/N) nods and gets her multiplication sheet and a pencil before leaving the classroom.

At the end of the school day, Spencer is there to pick up his daughter. For days like these, where are no cases, Hotch gave him a free pass on (Y/N)’s very first day at school to leave the office earlier to be able to pick her up himself. As a father and someone who works the same high demanding job as him, he knows that little things like these are often the most important. And even if there were a case today, Spencer would have stayed back. He promised his daughter the truth and this is what he is going to tell her.

“Hey Dr. Reid. Do you have a moment?” Her teacher greets him at the classroom door. Concerned about his child’s wellbeing he nods and follows her back out of the room. “I gave the children the assignment of creating a card for their mothers, because mother’s day is rolling around. Today (Y/N) told me her mother left you, is that right?” This is the moment Spencer connects the dots. This is the kick off that made her question her mother’s motives about leaving all of the sudden.

The young doctor clears his throat. “Uhm yes, that is right. Actually, I’m going to talk to her about it right after school on her demand.” Miss Ramirez nods with an understanding nod. “Thank you for your honesty, Dr. Reid. I also want to warn you, in two days we will hold a celebration in honor of mother’s day with the kids’ mothers. You are invited as a father, because this is a special situation. But I also give (Y/N) a free pass for this event. It can be very traumatic for her.”

The dad thanks her, but his thoughts are somewhere else. He is mad. He is mad for his daughter, because she will always be the one with a “special situation”. The odd one, because yeah, it isn’t uncommon for fathers to leave (which isn’t anything less sad and traumatic), but an absent mother hits differently.

But Spencer is also hurt. Hurt, because for her young age, there is already the word “traumatic” thrown around. No, it isn’t enough that her dad works a job with the risk of him not coming home from a case again, or being the target of an enemy. No, she also has to go through the experience of missing a parent, never knowing how her life would be if it wasn’t for someone like her mother.

Even with Spencer trying to fill that role, there will be a time where (Y/N) will ask herself all of the “what ifs”. He can’t stop it from happening, and that is his biggest pain right there. Because he can’t shield her from her own thoughts. At the age of six she already is a bright, brilliant and talented mind. Now in a few years or maybe just months, she will start to think about her mother being the root of her pain, bad experiences and hurt. Her thoughts will lead to a downward spiral of how a person can do something like her mother, who acted like that with the knowledge of which consequences will follow. And Spencer can’t stop this from happening.

“Daddy!” A small thud comes from (Y/N) colliding with his leg. Just by the way she squeezes it he knows that she hasn’t had a good day at school. “Hey Baby. Do you want to go to the office for a bit? I think your Auntie Penelope told me something about a new science set she got for you. Or do you want to go straight home?” Spencer asks after lifting her into his arms. Immediately she hides her face into the crook of his neck. “Home”, she murmurs. Home it is then.

“Aaaaaand here comes the little missy’s hot chocolate!” The father says in a funny voice while carefully putting the cup into his daughter’s hands. She sits covered in a blanket on the sofa, looking expectantly at her father.

Spencer sighs at the lack of reaction. “Are you sure you want to hear it?” (Y/N) nods adamantly. “Ok, but I got to go a bit back for this story

“It was about eight years ago, I worked on a case with your Aunties and Uncles back then. I was the one who had to get the last round of coffee for the night at a small 24/7 diner. As I walked in I thought I died, because I was sure an angel stood right in front of me. Well not-” “Is that Mommy?!” (Y/N) cuts him off excitedly. Spencer smiles slightly. “You need to listen to the story!” The girl shifts in her seat. “Right, sorry.”

As I was saying: well in front, because she sat at the bar waiting for her order. I nervously ordered the coffees and had to begin three times, because I kept messing up, mesmerized by her sole atmosphere. As the waiter went to put the coffee pot on, the woman turned towards me and introduced herself. After that she asked me what I was doing late at night in a small town like that and we somehow forgot everything around us by just talking. After that we stayed in touch. Six months later we became a couple, she moved to DC in order for me to still be able to do my job here.

“Two years later your Mom got pregnant with you, and it was quite a surprise to us. But we felt ready at that time and so she moved in with me and we had you. The first few months were great, we couldn’t be happier. BUt then you continuously became ill. At first just a cold, then the pocks and so on. I think it was the third night in a row where you held us up all night. I took a year off from work to care for you with your Mom. I carried you through our apartment the whole night, giving you a bottle, singing, reading, doing anything.

“Then I saw her standing in the doorway. Even though there was baby vomit on her sweatpants and I had never seen her eye bags being this dark, she was the most beautiful woman to me. I approached her with a smile, but her frown only deepened. I thought it was because she worried about you and your health. Instead she told me she can’t do it. She can’t be a mother, that she wasn’t cut for this job.” Her exact words still resonate in Spencer’s ears to this day. He knows exactly what she said, word for word, and they never stopped to sting any less.

“So Mommy left us because I was too much trouble?” (Y/N)’s voice sounds even sadder than before. “No, it never was because of you. She knew exactly what it meant to have a child. Your mother knew what kind of work it takes and what the future brought. You have absolutely nothing to do with it. Some people are just not made to be parents and it’s better when they realize it themselves and leave the situation.”

(Y/N) nods, her mind running wild. All of that makes plenty of sense but at the same time not. “Sweetheart, that doesn’t change the fact that I love you and I will never leave you. You are my everything and I’m so happy to be a dad to such a wonderful little girl like you. I want you to remember that your Mom may not be here with us, but she still loves you. And I’m here for you, for anything you need, want or don’t want. Do you understand me?”

She nods again and curls up into her father’s lap. “Can we watch something?” She asks after a bit of silence, where both of them indulged their own thoughts. Quickly the TV turned on and some kids movie plays. The rest of the day the small family spends all the time cuddled on the couch, because at the moment they need to feel the other there with them.

The next two days Spencer calls (Y/N) in sick at school and himself at work, because together they fly to Vegas. Just because her own mother wasn’t ready for the job, doesn’t mean they can’t appreciate the work her grandmother did as a mother. That and you never know how much time you have left with the people who are dear to you.

Taglist:

All works:

@dindjarinsspouse @big-galaxy-chaos @jswessie187 @kneelforloki

Criminal Minds:

@averyhotchner @mggsprettygirl @herecomesthewriterwitch @ash19871962 @ellyhotchner

Spencer Reid x child!reader:

@ilovetaquitosmmmm

[imagine-a-life-like-this]

Definitely Not Dating (H.HJ)

Warnings : none i can think of?

Word Count : 1622

Synopsis : all their friends tease them about dating due to how close they were, but they were just friends. or were they?

“Your boyfriend’s here.” My roommate and best friend, Felix, teased after answering the door. Hyunjin was close behind him, chuckling at the joke all our friends made about us.

           “Still not dating.” I countered as I stood up from the couch, grabbing my purse. “Where to today?” My words were now directed at Hyunjin who was standing in the doorway, his hands shoved in his pockets.

           “I figured we’d go see that play you’re always talking about. There’s a showing downtown tonight.” My eyes lit up when he said that. “I already bought the tickets.” He added with a chuckle.

           “Have I ever told you I love you, Hwang Hyunjin?” I asked with a smile, linking my arm with his as we made our way outside and to his car.

           “Only everyday.” He countered with a smirk.

           “Never mind, I hate you. Ugly.” I unlinked our arms as he opened the door for me, as he always would. As I got in and buckled my seatbelt, I could see Felix in the window, watching us with a teasing grin on his face. I knew exactly what he was thinking, so I flipped him off just as Hyunjin got into the driver’s seat. He looked forward just in time to see Felix return the gesture while sticking his tongue out.

           “You two have an odd friendship.” He chuckled as he did up his seatbelt. My phone automatically connected to his car as he usually let me play whatever I wanted to listen to. Our friends would always mention how cute that fact was. Maybe if you had better taste in music, he’d let you play your playlists. I’d always retort, hoping the growing feelings weren’t as obvious as our friends insisted they were.

           The next day, I sat at a table in the library with a couple of friends, working on the homework given out that day. My phone, that sat on the table, seemed to vibrate with a text message every few seconds. “Should probably see what they want. It’s probably your boyfriend.” Jeongin teased, nudging me with his shoulder. I rolled my eyes, once again saying that Hyunjin and I weren’t dating.

           “It’s probably Felix asking me to pick up something on my way home. Hyunjin said he was going to the dance studio today.” Hyunjin always threw himself into his dances, barely looking at his phone unless it was to pick a song or pause the music. There was absolutely no way he would be texting me right now. But when I picked it up, I was shocked to see it was him.

 We should get dinner tonight.

That restaurant you like has an opening tonight. I’ll make the reservations.

We could go stargazing after.

Why aren’t you answering me?

Oh right, you’re studying with Jeongin and Seungmin. Tell them I said hi!

Let me know when you’re done, I’ll pick you up : )

           I couldn’t help but smile at the messages, my stomach doing flips as I thought about how this would be a cute date, if it was a date. Dinner and stargazing. “So, what does Felix want?” The teasing tone coming from Seungmin’s lips told me he knew it wasn’t Felix.

           “Hyunjin says hi.” I answered, watching as their faces contorted into teasing grins.

           “And?” Jeongin prodded, nudging me with his shoulder again.

           “And that he’s making reservations at a restaurant before taking me stargazing.” I mumbled under my breath, hoping they wouldn’t hear me. They did.

           Hyunjin stayed true to his word and was outside the library doors when Jeongin, Seungmin, and I exited. His long blond hair tied up in that half pony he always did, his bangs falling across his face. I never was one for long, dyed hair before, preferring men with shorter, dark hair. But Hyunjin pulled off the long blond look so well it was hard not to be drawn to him. “Have fun on your date!” Jeongin teased as the two of them took off in the opposite direction of Hyunjin and I.

           “Do you think our friends will ever believe we’re just friends?” Hyunjin joked as he slid his hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. I giggled to myself, knowing that if I was an outsider looking in, I would think exactly the way they do. But this is how our friendship has been since high school. We’ve always been touchy with each other, cuddling and holding hands.

           “Once we’re married to other people.” I joked, trying not to let the hurt I felt at the very thought of him falling in love with someone else evident in my voice.

           We sat across from each other at my favourite restaurant, browsing the menu in silence. Soft chatter from the other patrons, and the soft classical music they played filling the comfortable silence between us. If I’m honest, I’ve only been here one other time. My previous birthday, Hyunjin brought me here. It was the first time we’d been somewhere so fancy, and we were quite underdressed, not knowing the dress code for the restaurant. We laughed about how badly we stuck out among the other patrons, but neither one of us cared. That memory alone made it my favourite place.

           Hyunjin held my hand from across the table as we ate, catching each other up on our day as if we hadn’t seen each other in ages, even though I saw him yesterday. We rarely went a day without seeing each other, almost as if we had a need to be by each other’s side whenever possible.

           We laid beside each other on the blanket Hyunjin brought, staring up at the night sky sparkling with stars. Soft music played from his phone that was laying in between us. He quietly sung along to the songs, and my heart swelled with joy. I absolutely loved listening to him sing, even though he hates singing in front of people. I’m sure I’m the only person that’s ever heard him, and honestly that should be a crime. His voice was my favourite in the entire world, but maybe I’m biased because I love him.

           “We’re friends, right?” I asked, silencing his singing, and bringing his attention from the stars to me. I turned my head to face him, our eyes meeting.

           “Of course.” He replied almost immediately.

           “But are we just friends?” The question hung in the air longer than the first one, but neither one of us moved, our eyes still locked. The weight of his hand in mind suddenly clearer than it’s ever been before.

           “What do you mean?” It was as if the words he meant to say were caught in his throat. I could hear it in the way his voice cracked when he answered.

           “Our friends always tease us about dating.” I pointed out.

           “That’s what friends do.” He smiled, his thumb now running over my knuckles. My skin burned from his touch, but I loved the feeling.

           “We’re always holding hands and cuddling.”

           “We’re touchy people.” He shrugged. I didn’t bring up the many times he told our other friends that he didn’t like skin ship. He wasn’t much of a hugger unless it was me. But I didn’t bring that up.

           “What about all the fancy dinners? The plays? Movies? Stargazing?” I gestured to what we were doing right now with my free hand, refusing to pull my hand away from his, loving the feeling of his hand in mine. I always have.

           “I like spoiling you.” Silence fell upon us again as I tried to think of what else to say. So many more things to point out, but I’m sure he had an explanation for it all. The drawers of my stuff at his place, and the drawer of his stuff at my place. The loving captions on pictures we posted of each other. The heart-shaped necklace he gave me one day, our initials engraved on the back of it. He’d have an explanation for it all, that I’m sure of. But there’s one thing he couldn’t explain away.

           “I’m in love with you.” The words rolled off my tongue before I could stop them, as if they were meant to be said in that moment. He could explain all the cute moments and thoughtful gifts, saying it’s just the way our friendship is. That’s just how close we were. But the love I have for him isn’t platonic.

��          My confession hung in the air like a neon sign, and the confidence I once had began to fade. But before I could take it back, his lips were on mine. The same lips I’ve been dreaming about kissing for years, were now pressed against mine in the sweetest kiss I’ve ever experienced. It was a kiss filled with love and passion. A kiss that couldn’t be explained in a platonic way. “We aren’t just friends.” He whispered after pulling away. “I don’t think we ever were.”

           He kissed me again when dropping me off at home that night, whispering a quick I love you before I walked into the house I shared with Felix. “How was your date?” Felix teased when he saw I was home.

           “Perfect.” I smiled, watching as his eyes widened at the fact I didn’t bant with him.

           “You’re not denying that this was a date?” He questioned, fully emerging from the kitchen, where he was most likely baking brownies.

           “Why would I?” I kicked my shoes off and placed my purse on the coffee table before sitting on the couch, still on cloud nine.

           “Because you always do? You and Hyunjin are just friends.” I smiled and shook my head.

           “Hyunjin and I are definitely dating.”