#Automatic Meter Reading

[kamlingenterprises]

Streamlining Efficiency: Lighting Control and Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) Solutions

Experience seamless utility management with Kamling Enterprises' Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) solutions. Our advanced technology enables remote collection of meter data, eliminating the need for manual readings and streamlining utility monitoring processes. With Kamling Enterprises' AMR solutions, businesses can gain real-time insights into their energy consumption, optimize resource usage, and reduce operational costs. Trust us to revolutionize your utility management practices and unlock greater efficiency and savings for your organization.

[spiremt]

Revolutionizing Utility Management with Advanced SpireCapture™ Automatic Meter Reading System

The field of utility management has seen significant advancements in recent years, thanks to innovative technologies designed to streamline the collection and analysis of consumption data. One such groundbreaking solution is the Advanced SpireCapture™ Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system. AMI extends Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) technology by providing two-way meter communications. In addition to…

[rosemariiaa]

~Snowed In, Wished Out~

˖˙ ᰋ ── pairing: Paige x Azzi

˖˙ ᰋ ── rosie’s note: hii, “little” xmas fic this is actually long asf sorry i got carried away. i really liked writing this one, it’s a little different but soo cute tehee. happy reading lovelies 💌

˖˙ ᰋ ── themes: fluff, language, sexual innuendo, alternate universe

enjoy!!!

I slam the trunk of my Jeep shut, the bags packed and ready for our weekend getaway. I glance over, watching Azzi come down the stairs in her Christmas plaid pajamas, that damn unicorn neck pillow hanging from her neck, and her pink bookbag slung over one shoulder. Her curls are wild, messy, but somehow she still looks so damn beautiful it’s impossible not to stare.

I shake my head, trying to pull myself together before she catches me looking. “You were taking forever. Are we gonna go or what?” I call out to her, tossing the last bag in the trunk and slamming it shut.

Azzi smirks and shrugs as she walks toward the car, that pillow bouncing with each step. “You’re lucky I even let you drive me to the cabin,” she teases, dropping her bag into the backseat and sliding in.

I can’t help but laugh as I move to the driver’s side. “Yeah, sure. You’re just lucky I’m not making you carry all the bags after all the complaints you’ve been giving me.”

Azzi kicks her feet up onto the dash once she’s settled in, grinning. “Psh, you’re lucky I’m even going with you. It was your idea.”

I raise an eyebrow as I slide into the driver’s seat. “Mhm, sure. That’s what they all say.”

Azzi turns to me, a smirk pulling at her lips. “Oh, all your little girlfriends? You say that to them too?” she teases, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

I roll my eyes, trying to keep my composure. “Mcht, you’re impossible.”

She just laughs, leaning back in her seat, clearly enjoying getting under my skin.

The moment I start the car, there’s this weird, heavy silence between us. We’re both trying to act like everything’s normal, but I can feel the tension thickening the air, the kind we only ever get when it’s just the two of us. I glance over at Azzi, and she catches me, of course, with that teasing grin of hers. I roll my eyes, trying to keep my focus on the road, but my gaze keeps drifting back to her.

“You’re staring mighty hard, huh?” Azzi’s voice is light, but I can hear the mischief in it. She turns her head, her eyes glinting at me. “Can’t blame you though. I do look pretty cute today.”

I bite back a laugh, shaking my head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re trying to get me to wreck this car.”

Azzi shrugs, leaning back in the seat and playing with the neck pillow like it’s the most interesting thing in the world. “What can I say? I’m irresistible.”

“Yeah, you wish,” I mutter, though the smile on my lips betrays me.

I keep my eyes on the road this time, but even with my focus there, I can feel her eyes still on me. I can feel the tension creeping up between us, that familiar pull. We’ve been dancing around it for so long, I swear sometimes I wonder if one of us will finally make a move. But not yet. Not today.

Two hours Later…..

I pull into the gas station, the engine cutting off as I park beside the pump. Azzi’s practically passed out in the passenger seat, head against the window, looking way too adorable for someone who’s been complaining for the last hour.

“Stay awake, ma,” I mumble under my breath, shaking my head as I get out of the car to pump the gas.

Azzi stirs, yawning, and stretches her arms above her head. “I am up and fine,” she mumbles, sounding like she’s anything but that. She pushes open the door, stepping out of the car, her plaid pajama bottoms dragging a little as she stretches.

“I’m gonna grab a snack, you want anything?” she asks, her voice still groggy.

I don’t even look up, focused on the gas meter. “Gum and blue Gatorade please,” I respond automatically, watching the numbers climb.

Azzi nods and starts walking toward the store but stops, turning back to me. “You got your wallet?”

I pause, staring at her, confused. “You’re seriously asking me that now?” I mumble, but she’s already waiting with her hand out. I roll my eyes, then pat the pocket of my sweatpants, pulling out my wallet. I toss it at her, trying not to smile at the way she looks at me with those big doey brown eyes.

“Thanks,” she says before heading toward the store, and I just stand there for a second, watching her walk off.

Once the gas is done, I lean against the car, checking my phone. A few minutes later, Azzi walks back out, arms full. One hand’s holding a bag of chips and candy, the other’s clutching my wallet. She walks up to me, handing it over without saying anything.

I look down at the wallet, then back at her. “How much was all that?”

Azzi shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “I don’t know, someone else paid.”

I blink, confused. “Someone else paid?”

“Yeah, some guy. He offered,” she says, popping a piece of gum into her mouth, like it’s nothing.

I’m still standing there, trying to make sense of it. “He just walked up and offered?” I repeat, jaw tightening.

Azzi looks back at me, completely casual. “Yep.” She shrugs again, grinning like she won something. “You don’t mind, right?”

I open my mouth to say something, but the words won’t come. I just stare at her, and she climbs back into the passenger seat, tossing another piece of gum at me before pulling out her phone.

I shake my head, climbing in after her, trying to ignore the slight irritation crawling up my neck.

We pull out of the gas station and back onto the road, Azzi sitting there with that smug, satisfied look like she didn’t just have some random ass dude paying for her snacks. She’s scrolling through her phone, one leg tucked up under her, completely unbothered.

I grip the wheel a little tighter, glancing her way. “You gon tell me what that guy said to you, or what?”

Azzi doesn’t even look up. “Not much. Just said I was cute and asked if he could pay for my stuff.”

My jaw tightens. “That’s all?”

“What else would he say, Paige?” she asks, finally glancing over with that sly smile that always makes me feel like I’m two steps behind her.

I scoff, keeping my tone light. “Dunno, ma. Maybe he asked for your number, too?”

Azzi laughs softly, her voice teasing. “You jealous or something?”

“Jealous?” I snort, shaking my head. “Nah. Just curious how you keep getting dudes to buy you snacks without trying.”

She tilts her head, studying me like she’s figuring out whether or not I’m being serious. “It’s called charm, Paige. Maybe you should try it sometime.”

“Charm, huh? That what you call it?”

“Yup.” She pops the “p” and goes back to her phone like we’re done here.

I shake my head, smirking despite myself. “You’re somethin’ else, Az.”

She hums, clearly pleased with herself, and we settle into a comfortable silence. The soft hum of the Christmas playlist she put on earlier fills the car, and the glow from her phone lights up her face. Every now and then, I catch her staring out the window, her expression soft and peaceful.

About twenty minutes later, Azzi perks up again. “Hey, can we stop for coffee?”

I glance at her. “Didn’t you just load up on snacks?”

“Yeah, but coffee is different,” she says, grinning at me like it’s obvious. “I’m trying to stay awake so you’re not suffering alone.”

I roll my eyes but take the next exit anyway.

We pull into a drive-thru, and Azzi’s already leaning forward, her eyes glued to the menu. Her curls are starting to fall out of that messy bun, framing her face in a way that’s making it harder to concentrate on driving. She’s chewing on her plump bottom lip, muttering something about whipped cream, and I don’t even care what she’s saying because, damn, her side profile is something else.

“Okay, they’ve got peppermint mochas,” she says, practically bouncing in her seat. “You’re getting one, too.”

I snort. “Black coffee’s all I need, ma.”

“Black coffee’s all you deserve,” she mutters, a smirk tugging at her lips.

I shoot her a look. “Watch it.”

She giggles, leaning further toward me, her elbow brushing mine. “You’re no fun, Paige. Live a little.”

By the time we get to the speaker, I’m more focused on her than the order. I clear my throat. “Yeah, lemme get a peppermint mocha, extra whip, and a black coffee.”

Azzi’s already rolling her eyes as she sits back. “You better not mess up my whip. That’s the best part.”

“Relax,” I mutter, pulling forward. “It’s not that serious.”

When we get to the window, a woman with a bright smile takes my card. “Hi there! How’s your night going?”

“Good,” I reply, handing her the card.

“Bet it just got better,” she says, flashing a grin that lingers a little too long.

I glance at Azzi just in time to see her jaw clench. She’s staring straight ahead, but the slight narrowing of her eyes gives her away.

The woman hands back my card, her fingers brushing mine. “Have a great night,” she says.

“Thanks,” I reply, barely holding back a smirk as I drive off.

Azzi doesn’t say anything, but the tension is thick. I glance over. “What’s wrong, ma? Thought you liked charm.”

Her head snaps toward me, her eyes narrowing. “It’s only charming when it’s not wasted on drive-thru ladies.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Jealous?”

“Of her? Please,” she scoffs, but the way she crosses her arms and stares out the window tells me otherwise.

About an hour later, the city fades into snow-covered trees, and the roads get narrower. Azzi’s chatting now, telling me some story about Caroline and Yanna making fun of her unicorn halloween costume, and I can’t help but glance at her every now and then, the way her hands move when she talks, the way her laugh fills the car.

By the time we pull up to the cabin, it’s almost dark, and the windows are glowing with warm light. Snow blankets the ground, and the pine trees around us look like something out of a postcard.

Azzi unbuckles her seatbelt, pressing her nose to the window. “It’s so pretty,” she says softly.

“Yeah,” I agree, though I’m not looking at the cabin.

She catches me staring and smirks. “You’re gonna help me with my bags, right? Or is all that charm you’re always talking about just for show?”

I shake my head, laughing under my breath. “Get out the car, before I leave you here.”

Azzi’s laugh echoes as she hops out, and I follow, the cold air biting at my skin. This is gonna be an interesting weekend.

I park the Jeep in front of the cabin, snow crunching under the tires as the headlights illuminate the cozy log structure. The warm glow of lights from inside makes it look like a postcard come to life.

As soon as the engine cuts off, Azzi practically leaps out of the car. She runs ahead, sticking her tongue out to catch snowflakes, her curls bouncing as she spins in the cold air. She looks like a little kid, so carefree, and I can’t help but smile as I watch her.

“Azzi, grab a bag while you’re at it!” I call, shaking my head as I get out and head to the trunk.

“Nope! That’s your job,” she shouts back, laughing. Her voice carries over the crunch of snow beneath my boots.

I pop the trunk, pulling out her pink bookbag and one of the larger duffels. Glancing up, I see Azzi wandering toward the treeline, her hands shoved into her pockets, face tilted up to the sky.

I pause, leaning against the open trunk. The thought creeps in before I can stop it: Let this be the perfect Christmas. Let this be the year she’s mine. The perfect gift. Azzi, just… Azzi.

She turns back toward me, her cheeks flushed from the cold, her smile wide and unbothered. “You’re taking forever, Paige!”

I roll my eyes, grabbing the rest of the bags. “I’m carrying all your stuff, remember?”

Once I catch up to her, she’s already on the porch, brushing snow off her shoulders. The front door creaks open as we step inside, warmth enveloping us instantly. The cabin is quieter than I expected. No creaky floorboards, no howling wind, just a deep, peaceful silence broken only by the occasional crackle of the fireplace. It’s barely 7 p.m., but the exhaustion from the drive and the cold has settled into both of us.

Azzi stretches her arms above her head, her shirt riding up slightly. “So… nap first, hot tub later?” she suggests, glancing at me with a lazy smile.

I nod, suppressing a yawn. “Sounds like a plan.”

We grab our bags and head into the bedroom. There’s just one bed, but it’s not a surprise—this isn’t our first time sharing one. Still, it feels different now, and I can’t quite put my finger on why.

I pull out a white tank top and a pair of shorts, while Azzi digs around for her pink boxers and a Georgetown T-shirt. She holds it up, grinning. “You’re not gonna clown me for this, are you?”

“Not tonight, I’ll wait,” I say with a smirk, pulling on my tank top.

She rolls her eyes, tossing her clothes onto the bed. “You’re so generous.”

Once we’re changed, Azzi flops onto the bed first, wrapping herself in the soft blanket. I turn off the lights, leaving the warm glow of the fireplace to light the room.

Sliding in beside her, I make sure to keep some space between us. The bed isn’t small, but the air feels heavy, charged with something unspoken.

Azzi shifts, turning to face me. “Hey, Paige?”

“Yeah?”

She hesitates, biting her bottom lip. “Can we cuddle? I’m cold.”

Her voice is soft, almost shy, and it takes me a second to answer. I don’t say anything, though—words feel unnecessary. Instead, I scoot closer, sliding my arm around her waist and pulling her against me. She fits so perfectly, it’s almost too much to handle.

Azzi sighs contentedly, snuggling deeper into my hold. Her back is pressed against my chest, and her curls tickle my nose. The scent of her shampoo—something floral and sweet—fills my senses.

I stare at the ceiling, my arm draped over her. The warmth of her body against mine is distracting, her steady breathing calming yet unsettling all at once. My mind drifts back to the wish I made earlier, standing in the cold by the car.

Let this be the perfect Christmas. Let her be mine.

The thought loops in my head, over and over, until it’s all I can think about. I don’t know if wishes come true, but in this moment, with Azzi in my arms, I can’t help but hope.

Her breathing slows, and I realize she’s already fallen asleep. I press my cheek against her curls, closing my eyes.

The last thought that drifts through my mind before sleep takes me is simple but powerful. Please let this be the start of something real.

Next Morning: Alternate Universe

The morning light filters through the cabin’s curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room. Paige stirs, still half-asleep, her arm instinctively reaching out for warmth—only to find the space beside her empty.

She opens her eyes groggily, blinking a few times to adjust to the light. That’s when she notices Azzi sitting cross-legged on the bed, already dressed in her pink boxers and Georgetown T-shirt. Her hair is a wild mess of curls, and there’s an easy smile playing on her lips.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” Azzi says softly, her voice warm and teasing.

Before Paige can fully process what’s happening, Azzi leans down and presses a kiss to her lips. It’s gentle but lingering, her hand brushing against Paige’s cheek as she pulls away.

Paige freezes, her eyes wide as saucers. “Uh—what was that for?”

Azzi’s brows furrow, and she lets out a laugh, sitting back on her heels. “What do you mean? I can’t kiss my girlfriend anymore?”

Paige’s heart stops. “Girlfriend?” she repeats, her voice barely above a whisper.

Azzi’s head tilts, her expression shifting from amused to slightly concerned. “Yeah? Girlfriend. You okay?” She leans forward, placing the back of her hand against Paige’s forehead like she’s checking for a fever. “Maybe you need to go back to bed. You’re sounding kinda crazy right now.”

Paige just stares at her, stunned into silence. Girlfriend?

Azzi shakes her head with a soft laugh and leans down to give her another quick peck, the scent of her shampoo and the warmth of her lips grounding Paige in a way that makes her head spin. “C’mon, get up. I’m starving, and you’re in charge of the eggs.”

She hops off the bed, her curls bouncing as she makes her way to the door. “Don’t make me come back in here and drag you out,” she warns with a grin before disappearing into the hallway.

Paige is left alone in the bed, her heart racing and her mind scrambling to catch up. She sits up slowly, glancing around the room like she’s expecting someone to jump out and yell, “Gotcha!” But the cabin is quiet, save for the faint sound of Azzi humming in the kitchen.

That’s when it hits her.

The wish.

Her wish.

Her breath catches in her throat as she remembers standing by the car, the cold air biting at her skin, and wishing with every fiber of her being that Azzi would be hers. And now… she is.

Paige runs a hand through her hair, her mind spinning. This can’t be real. Can it?

Paige sits on the edge of the bed, her hands gripping the sheets as her thoughts spiral. How is this happening? She glances around the room, her eyes catching the soft glow of the string lights Azzi insisted they bring, the small pile of their overnight bags near the door. Everything feels normal. Familiar. Except it’s not.

Her heart pounds in her chest as she replays the last few moments in her head. Girlfriend? The word echoes like a bell, loud and disorienting. She presses her fingers to her lips, where Azzi’s kiss still lingers.

She shakes her head, trying to make sense of the impossible. Last night, she’d been lying in this exact spot, holding Azzi close, thinking about the wish she made. A wish so desperate and earnest she could almost feel it in her bones. And now, it’s like the universe heard her plea and rewrote reality itself.

It feels weird—so weird it sends a chill up her spine. Like the world has tilted on its axis, and she’s suddenly stepped into an alternate universe. One where Azzi wakes her up with kisses and casually calls her girlfriend.

Not that she’s complaining. God, no. If anything, it’s exactly what she’s always wanted. Azzi is everything Paige has ever dreamed of, and now she’s hers? But it doesn’t make sense. There was no confession, no awkward “what are we?” conversation. No slow build-up. Just this—them—like it’s always been this way.

Her fingers drum nervously against her thigh as she takes a deep breath, trying to ground herself. But no matter how much she tries to rationalize it, her heart whispers the same thing over and over: The wish came true.

The thought sends a fresh wave of disbelief crashing over her. How could something so impossible just… happen? She glances at the door Azzi walked through moments ago, her voice still faintly humming from the kitchen.

Paige swallows hard. This isn’t just a dream. It feels too real for that. Too vivid. And yet, the strangeness of it all lingers, like an itch she can’t quite reach.

Am I in another universe? she wonders, her pulse quickening at the thought. It’s a crazy idea, but so is Azzi being her girlfriend out of nowhere. And what if this universe is temporary? What if it fades, or she wakes up, or worse, Azzi realizes something’s off?

Her stomach twists at the possibility. But then she remembers the way Azzi kissed her, like it was second nature. The way she smiled and teased her, like nothing in the world could be more normal.

A small, nervous smile tugs at Paige’s lips despite the chaos in her mind. Okay, fine. Maybe I’m in another universe. But if this is what it’s like? I’m not complaining.

She stands up, shaking off her unease, and heads toward the kitchen. Whatever this is, she’s not wasting it.

Paige stands at the edge of the kitchen, her breath catching at the sight of Azzi. The younger girl was at the stove, humming softly, her pink robe tied loosely around her frame as she flipped pancakes with a casual grace that made Paige’s chest tighten.

This was everything she’d ever wanted. Azzi. Here. With me.

She shook herself out of her thoughts and stepped forward, slipping her arms around Azzi’s waist from behind. Azzi froze for a moment before relaxing into the touch, tilting her head back slightly as Paige leaned down to kiss her hungrily.

Azzi chuckled softly against her lips, turning her head just enough to meet Paige’s kiss fully. Her hands moved to cup Paige’s face, holding her there for a moment before pulling back with a breathless laugh. “What’s gotten into you?”

Paige smirked, her eyes trailing over Azzi’s flushed cheeks. “Just taking advantage of my girlfriend privileges,” she teased, brushing her lips against Azzi’s jaw.

Azzi arched a brow, her laugh warm and melodic. “Oh, so you’re okay now? I was starting to think I needed to call a doctor earlier.”

“I’m fine,” Paige murmured, pressing a quick kiss to Azzi’s cheek before stepping back. “Better than fine, actually.”

Azzi gave her a knowing look but didn’t press further. Instead, she handed Paige the bowl of scrambled eggs she’d been working on. “Good. Then you can start on the eggs while I finish these pancakes.”

Paige took the bowl, grinning. “Yes, ma’am.”

The two of them moved around the kitchen in sync, a rhythm Paige hadn’t realized she’d been craving. It felt so natural, so easy. She set the table while Azzi finished plating the food, her heart hammering in her chest the entire time.

When they finally sat down, Paige tried to focus on her plate, but it was impossible. Azzi was sitting beside her, her curls falling loosely around her face, her smile soft as she buttered a piece of toast. She looked so effortlessly beautiful, so… hers.

Paige’s fork hovered over her plate, forgotten. Her eyes traced every detail of Azzi’s profile, from the curve of her nose to the way her lips pressed together in concentration as she carefully poured syrup over her pancakes.

“Are you gonna eat, or are you just gonna keep staring at me?” Azzi asked suddenly, not looking up from her plate.

Paige blinked, startled. “Huh?”

Azzi turned to her, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “You’ve been staring at me this whole time. Not that I mind, but your food’s getting cold.”

Paige’s cheeks burned. “I wasn’t staring,” she muttered, stabbing at her eggs.

Azzi laughed softly, reaching over to nudge Paige’s shoulder. “Sure you weren’t.”

Paige glanced at her, her heart pounding. For a moment, she thought about saying something—about telling Azzi how surreal this all felt, how she’d spent years dreaming of moments like this. But she kept the words buried deep. If she said them out loud, everything could shatter.

What if Azzi didn’t believe her? Or worse, what if she did—and looked at Paige like she was some kind of madwoman? What if it ruined everything they had in this universe, this perfect little bubble where Azzi was hers?

Paige couldn’t risk it. Couldn’t risk losing Azzi, not when she finally had her.

Paige swallowed her thoughts, focusing on the fork in her hand instead of the beautiful girl sitting beside her. She’d made it this far without messing things up, and she wasn’t about to start now. They finished eating in comfortable silence, Azzi stealing bites from Paige’s plate as she cleaned up.

When Azzi pushed her chair back and stretched, her shirt riding up just slightly, Paige quickly looked away. But Azzi caught her, grinning mischievously. “Hot tub time?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Paige raised an eyebrow. “We just ate, ma. Shouldn’t we wait?”

Azzi pouted, her lips forming that little curve that always made Paige weak. “It’s fineee,” she pleaded, clasping her hands in front of her like she was begging. “Pretty please?”

Paige opened her mouth to argue, but Azzi wasn’t done yet. She leaned closer, her big brown eyes locking onto Paige’s with that soft, pleading look. “Pretty, pretty please?” Her voice was sweet, almost teasing, but the proximity made Paige’s face heat up.

“Y-you can’t just—” Paige stammered, her words cutting off when Azzi smiled and tilted her head. Paige sighed, already feeling her resolve slipping away. She gave a small nod. “Fine, fine. Hot tub it is.”

Azzi clapped, grinning as she grabbed Paige’s arm and pulled her toward the bedroom.

Inside, Paige went straight to her dresser, slipping into a blue bikini top and matching swim trunks. She turned around just in time to see Azzi standing in front of the open closet, looking adorably conflicted.

“I don’t know which one to wear,” Azzi said, holding up two bikinis. One was black, simple and sleek. The other was purple with tiny gold accents. She looked over her shoulder at Paige. “What do you think?”

Paige didn’t hesitate. “The purple one. Definitely.”

Azzi raised a brow. “You sure?”

Mhm.” Paige shrugged, smirking. “It’s my favorite on you.”

Azzi laughed softly, shaking her head as she turned away to change. “You’re so biased.”

“Maybe,” Paige teased, sitting on the edge of the bed. She tried to keep her eyes on anything but Azzi, but when the younger girl slipped into the purple bikini and turned around, Paige’s jaw almost dropped.

“Okay, what do you think?” Azzi asked, doing a playful twirl.

Paige leaned back, letting out a low whistle. “Gorgeous,” she said, her voice thick with sincerity.

Azzi blushed, waving her hand dismissively. “Stop it.”

“I mean it,” Paige pressed, her gaze lingering a second too long on Azzi’s toned stomach, the way the bikini hugged her curves just right, and how the purple made her skin glow.

Azzi smirked, noticing the way Paige’s eyes roamed. “Ready to go, or are you just gonna keep staring?”

Paige rolled her eyes, standing quickly to mask her embarrassment. “Let’s go, ma.”

They made their way outside to the hot tub, the cold air biting at their skin as steam rose from the water. Azzi slipped in first with a content sigh, sinking into the warmth. Paige followed, sitting across from her, the heat instantly soothing her muscles.

For a while, it was quiet. Peaceful. Paige leaned her head back, taking in the snow-covered trees around them and the faint hum of the jets. But then her gaze shifted back to Azzi.

Azzi had her eyes closed, her head tilted back as she let out a soft sigh of contentment. Her dark hair was damp, some strands sticking to her collarbone. Paige’s eyes roamed over her face, the curve of her jaw, her neck, and—she bit her lip, dragging her eyes away before they lingered too long.

It was like Azzi could feel Paige’s gaze because she opened her eyes and smirked. “What?”

Paige blinked, shaking her head quickly. “Nothing. You just look good,” she said, her voice quieter than usual.

Azzi’s smirk grew. “Oh?”

Paige nodded, swallowing hard. “Mhm.”

Azzi leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. “Well, are you just gonna sit there, or are you gonna do something about it?”

Paige’s lips twitched into a smile before she laughed, the tension between them thick but playful. Without another word, she shifted through the water toward Azzi, her hands finding the brunette’s thighs and pulling her closer in one smooth motion.

Azzi gasped softly, her legs instinctively wrapping around Paige’s waist. Her arms looped around Paige’s shoulders, her fingers tangling in her wet hair. “Hm you’re very bold today,” she teased, her voice breathless.

“Just taking advantage of what’s mine,” Paige murmured, her voice low, her lips brushing against Azzi’s.

Azzi’s teasing smirk melted as Paige kissed her, slow and deliberate. Azzi cupped Paige’s face, deepening the kiss, her lips soft and warm against Paige’s own.

Paige’s hands slid to Azzi’s ass, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. The kiss grew hungrier, Paige’s tongue slipping past Azzi’s lips, earning a soft whimper from the brunette.

When Paige moved her lips to Azzi’s jawline, then down to her neck, Azzi’s breathing grew heavier, her hands tightening on Paige’s shoulders. “Paige,” she whispered, her voice shaky.

Hearing Azzi say her name like that sent a spark through Paige, her lips lingering on Azzi’s neck for a moment longer before pulling back slightly, her forehead resting against Azzi’s.

“You’re unreal,” Paige murmured, her voice barely audible over the bubbling water.

Azzi shivered, her grip on Paige tightening. Paige’s lips found a sensitive spot on her neck, and she pressed a lingering kiss there before teasing it with her teeth. Azzi’s soft moan filled the air, her body arching into Paige’s.

The heat between them was overwhelming, hotter than the water around them, consuming them both. Paige could feel Azzi’s heartbeat against her, rapid and unsteady, mirroring her own. It wasn’t just the physical closeness—it was the way Azzi melted against her, the way her name sounded when Azzi said it like that.

Azzi pulled back just slightly, her lips brushing against Paige’s ear as she whispered, “You’re not playing fair.”

Paige chuckled lowly, her hands still holding Azzi steady. “Who said I was playing?”

—————

“Well,” Paige murmured to herself, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she stared at the ceiling. “You know what happened after that.”

Her cheeks flushed at the memory of the hot tub—Azzi’s touch, her soft beautiful sounds, the way she clung to Paige like she never wanted to let go. Paige didn’t think she’d ever felt so… whole.

Now, hours later, they were getting ready for bed. The day had been perfect: warm cuddles, soft kisses, laughter as they roasted marshmallows, and shared stories. Azzi had taken dozens of Polaroids, her eyes bright with mischief as she captured silly faces and the occasional kiss. Paige had watched her with a soft smile, cherishing every second.

Paige picked up a Polaroid from the nightstand, tracing its edges with her thumb. Azzi was smiling in it, holding up a s’more like a trophy. Paige’s gaze in the photo wasn’t on the camera but on Azzi.

“I love her,” she whispered, the words soft but heavy. “God, I love her.”

Yet beneath her happiness, doubt lingered. This life, as perfect as it seemed, didn’t feel entirely real.

The sound of the shower running brought her back to the moment. Paige closed her eyes, trying to shake the uneasy thought. Then, she heard it—a voice.

Her eyes snapped open, heart racing. “Hello?” she called out, her voice shaky. No reply. But then it came again, soft and insistent.

“Go to the balcony.”

Paige hesitated but stood, her steps cautious as she slid the door open and stepped into the cold. “Hello?” she called again. “Is anyone there?”

“Hello, Paige,” the voice said, clear and calm.

Paige frowned. “Hi? Who’s there?”

The voice didn’t answer her question. Instead, it asked, “Are you happy here, Paige? Happy that your wish came true?”

A smile tugged at her lips despite the unease. “Yes. Very happy. Thank you. But… can you come out now? You’re kinda freaking me out.”

The voice chuckled softly. “This wish can last as long as you want. Your life here, with Azzi as yours—your girlfriend. But remember, this is not truly real. It’s just a wish.”

Paige’s smile faltered. “What do you mean?”

“You have a choice,” the voice continued. “You can wake up tomorrow in the real world, with Azzi as your best friend. Or you can wake up here, with Azzi as yours.”

Paige’s chest tightened. “Whatever I think tonight… will happen?”

“Yes.”

The voice fell silent, leaving Paige alone with her thoughts. She swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. “Thank you,” she finally whispered, though she wasn’t sure it was heard.

“Paige?” Azzi’s voice called from inside, breaking the silence. “What are you doing out there? It’s freezing!”

Paige turned to see Azzi standing in the doorway, her damp hair curling against her shoulders, wrapped in her pink robe.

“Just… enjoying the view,” Paige said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

Azzi tilted her head but let it go. “Come to bed. It’s warm.”

Paige nodded, slipping back inside. As she slid under the covers, Azzi curled into her, her warmth grounding Paige even as her mind raced. The voice’s words echoed in her head, leaving her torn between two impossible choices.

—————

Paige stirred awake, soft Christmas morning light filtering through the curtains. Azzi was still curled against her, dark curls splayed across the pillow, her hand resting lightly on Paige’s arm. For a moment, Paige just lay there, her heart swelling. She’d made her choice last night, and she didn’t regret it.

Glancing at the clock—10 a.m.—she slipped out of bed carefully, trying not to wake Azzi. She tiptoed downstairs to the closet by the front door, pulling out the gifts she’d hidden for Azzi over the past few weeks. Stacking them neatly under the tree, she spotted the boxes labeled “For Paige, from Princess.” Shaking her head with a smile, she added those too, knowing Azzi had probably forgotten.

Satisfied, she admired the setup for a moment, the glow of Christmas lights reflecting off shiny wrapping paper. The joy of the moment filled her, but she knew she had something important to do today.

Upstairs, Azzi was awake, scrolling through Paige’s iPad. Sitting in bed in her oversized Georgetown sweatshirt, her dimples deepened as she focused. Paige leaned against the doorframe, smiling at the sight.

“Good morning,” Paige said, moving to sit beside her.

Azzi looked up, her smile warm. “Good morning.”

Paige smirked. “Just need to make sure I’m in the right world this time.”

Azzi blinked, confused. Before she could ask what Paige meant, the blonde leaned over and licked her cheek.

“Paige!” Azzi yelped, swatting her arm. “What is wrong with you?”

Grinning, Paige muttered, “Yep. Right world.” Then, louder, “Maybe I am crazy, but you like it.”

Azzi rolled her eyes, laughing. “Merry Christmas, Paigey.”

“Merry Christmas, princess,” Paige said, grabbing Azzi’s hand and pulling her out of bed. “Come on. Time to open gifts.”

Azzi’s eyes lit up as she spotted the stack under the tree. “You set these all up?”

“Of course,” Paige replied, pulling her to the couch before Azzi could rush to grab anything. “But wait—I have something to say first.”

Azzi tilted her head, curiosity flashing in her eyes. “Okay…”

Paige exhaled, her heart pounding. “I love you, Azzi. Not just as my best friend but… more. So much more.”

Azzi’s eyes widened slightly, her smile softening.

“I’ve felt this way for years—since you came to UConn, maybe even before. But I was scared to say anything, afraid of ruining what we had. Last night, I made a wish, Azzi. I wished for a chance with you, and… here we are.”

Azzi stayed quiet, her gaze steady as Paige spoke.

“I prayed for this to come true because I couldn’t hold it in anymore. You genuinely mean everything to me, and I—”

Before Paige could finish, Azzi cupped her face, pulling her into a kiss. Paige’s eyes widened but quickly closed as she melted into it, her hands finding Azzi’s waist.

When Azzi pulled away, she rested her forehead against Paige’s. “I love you too, P. More than you could imagine.”

Paige blinked, her heart racing. “Wait… you do?”

Azzi laughed softly. “I’ve felt the same way for years. I was going to tell you on this trip, but you beat me to it.”

Paige chuckled, her forehead still against Azzi’s. “You were tired of waiting, huh?”

Azzi grinned. “So tired. But I’m glad it’s out now.”

“Well then,” Paige said, sitting back slightly, taking Azzi’s hands. “Azzi Fudd, will you pretty please be my girlfriend?”

Azzi rolled her eyes but laughed. “Of course, Paigey.”

They kissed again, slower this time, full of promise. When they pulled apart, Paige reached behind the couch, pulling out a velvet box.

“And now,” she said, opening it to reveal a delicate silver heart necklace, “your first official girlfriend gift.”

Azzi gasped, touching the pendant as Paige fastened it around her neck. “Paige… it’s beautiful.”

“Glad you like it,” Paige said, smiling. “If not, I’d have to return it and die of embarrassment.”

Azzi shoved her lightly, laughing. “Shut up. I love it. And I love you.”

She kissed Paige again, whispering, “I love you” between kisses.

Paige laughed softly. “You’re a good kisser.”

Azzi roles her eyes and grinned, her dimples on full display. “I know. Now can I open my other gifts?”

Paige gestured to the tree. “Go for it, princess.”

Azzi scrambled to the pile, tearing into wrapping paper with contagious excitement. Paige watched her, her heart full.

This wasn’t just a wish anymore. It was their reality. And Paige couldn’t wait to keep building it with Azzi by her side.

paigebueckers

liked by kamoreaarnold and others

paigebueckers Merry Christmas everyone. From MY MY MY princess and I.

kamoreaarnold

mom and dad WOAH

caroline.ducharme

finally

nika.muhl

we all knew already 🥱

—————

˖˙ ᰋ ── taglist:

@thaatdigitaldiary @ohbueckers @juspeaks @sierrale8ne @pattyshome @pattyshome @authentic-girl03 @pazzilover101 @imaginespazzi @makethemhoesmad @kmoneymartini @melpthatsme @d3arapril @lupinqs @ashortyluvsports @absolutelydreadful

[triciawritesstuff]

Pairing: Jun tae x reader

Genre/content: romance, slow burn, idiots in love

Every day, at the same time, you saw him. Like clockwork, you'd both stay until the sun went down and a cloak of darkness fell over Seoul. It was an unspoken agreement that you both never spoke to each other, only lingering glances across the many rows of books that separated you both. You were here to study, not fraternise with boys. No matter how cute they were.

Today is different. You can both definitely hear the barrage of torrential downpour pitter pattering against the windows. you look up from your textbook, look at the door and then look at the boy.

You can hear the faint scratching of his pen on paper and occasionally he reaches for his phone and let's out a small laugh after reading something. You wonder if he's here everyday by choice, unlike you who feels more comfortable being around books and silence than people.

Your gaze lingers too long and he catches you from across the room. He smiles softly and raises his right arm, as if to signal a sort of wave. You can definitely tell that his movements are restricted due to the large brown fluffy sherpa jacket he's wearing. You think for a minute how it would feel against your fingertips. You are still staring. You raise your hand quickly in return and wave awkwardly, the heat traveling up your neck and pooling in your cheeks. you wonder if he can see what you're thinking. His brown eyes seem to stare deep into your soul like he's figuring you all out.

You quickly look away and focus on packing away your pencil case and books before you can embarrass yourself any further. Your black sneakers sqeak against the floor as you swiftly make it to the glass automatic doors leading out into the storm. "Hey! Wait! Do you have an umbrella?" The boy blurts out, suddenly standing up, hastily shoving his work into his bag, clearly not interested in if it will get damaged or not.

You turn around. "Sorry?" You question, just incase you'd misheard him. Your hands clasp together in front of you, anxiously playing with your fingers.

"I said do you have an umbrella? You can't really be thinking of leaving now." He gasps out as he quickly jogs after you and now stops just about a meter away.

"Uhhh..no I don't" You feel foolish at the concept that it didn't cross your mind to bring one. "I'll be fine though, it's just a bit of rain!" You joke, trying to lighten the mood but it definitely falls flat. You take that as your que to turn back round and head out the door. You hear the sound of something crashing to the floor behind you and a zipper being undone.

Before you can even turn, the soft brown jacket is being lifted over your head. Concealing both of you from the assault of the rain. Your eyes meet again, but this time only a few inches remain between you. compared to the several yards from the last encounter you wonder how close you'll be the next time you meet. "Do you live down this way? I've seen you walking that way. N-not that I've been watching you. I mean. " He stammers out awkwardly.

"Yeah, I do. Are you sure you're okay with your jacket getting wet?" You question softly. The proximity of you both has your mind racing, you swear it's intoxicating. The soft brown fabric comforts you slightly from the crack of thunder that echoes across the buildings. You flinch, crashing into him slightly.

"Yeah totally! It will dry anyway! Let's go." He exclaims optimistically. His right arm leaves feathering light touches across your shoulder as he holds the jacket above both your heads. You head down the street at a sort of half running pace, both of you trying to avoid puddles, giggling if any water happens to accidentally get on his school trousers from your lack of coordination.

Before you know it, you're outside your house. "Thank you, I'll see you around?" You question desperately, not ready for thjs encounter to be your last.

"Yeah of course!" He exlaims, adjusting the bridge of his glasses so that he can see you clearly, even with all the splattering of rain on them. His hair all sticking up in whichever direction due to the friction from his jacket.

You turn wistfully. "It's jun tae. Seo jun tae." You hear from behind you quietly.

"See you around, Jun tae!" You say with purpose, trying not to be drowned out by the vicious rain which seems to have mellowed now that you've gotten home. "And thanks again." You smile widely, lifting your right arm in a gesture of goodbye. He replicates the action before you turn around quickly and run into your house excitedly at the prospect of making a new friend.

Might make a part 2 idk

I haven't even done dialogue since, like English in high school, I had to Google the rules, lmao.

As always, please be nice. This is my first sort of long form content. I'm open to any feedback. Thank you:3

Also, It's not proofread, and I'll definitely edit it.

[sonnyaavce]

CHAPTER # 0

"Is it still following us?" whispered Wally over to Artemis as they amble deeper into the dark and ominous facility.

"Yeah, it's still behind us trying to be sneaky" snorted playfully Artemis as she glanced behind her to see the small mirage of a kid following them, said kid was actually just floating slightly off the floor and walls, peering at them with curiosity and caution. But to Artemis, she knew that usually spirits weren't as scared towards people like it was; she had met Secret before and hadn’t been scared at all towards them, but she feels this one is different... he’s way different from Secret...

'Do you think he's a stuck spirit like Secret?' she pondered into the telepathy link to the rest to the team; Zatanna who was near the front nodded, not looking back at them 'he does feels different from Secret tho, but he feels more like an astral projection to me'

'What does that word mean, the astral projection thing?' Megan inquired curiously at the same time she looked over Robin who was near front, checking some blueprints into his hologram wristband not looking where he was walking but still leading the group without tripping on anything, 'Isn't it the same for all ghosts?'  

Zatanna shook her head as she walks closer to the martian 'not all ghosts are form the same way; some are form after resentments, some form after experiencing strong emotions' she lectures them as she automatically lights up a spell to brighten the hallway a bit better ‘astral are humans with the ability to move his soul out of his body at will’

‘That means there’s still an unknown child’s body lying around here?’ Kaldur said bitterly as he lighted his marks unknowingly, infuriated at the prospect of an innocent still trapped in here ‘Megan can you pinpoint his location or maybe connect to his body indirectly?’  

‘I can give a try-’ A sudden screeching sound cut out the mind link abruptly, making the team stagger in place, Connor grunted annoyed as he grabbed his head in pain  ‘who caused this interference just now?!’ 

"not that way" whispered the small sprite, who was now in the front of the group, his voice sounded as if was glitched “follow” fading sigly in front of them, the team looked at each other before nodding and following the astral as it reappeared a couple of meters down one of the hallways down a flight of stairs “down there”

“Is your body still down there?” Kaldur said softly to the mirage, the child nodded “Robin what do you read, is something down there?” 

“there are some empty rooms already the league checked-” “is down there” interrupted the child “hidden… find the room”

-TBC-

masterpost

[thollandneedy]

Don't you know- Peter Parker

A/n: Nah 'cause that fucking happened to me last week and i HAD TO write about it (Ofc with very different context and description). Btw, i listened to "Don't you know" by James Young while writing it, in case someone likes to listen to music while reading

Warnings: Swearing and smut

Summary: Peter and Y/n get stuck on traffic, but that doesn't mean that it have to be boring...

Don’t forget to share, like, comment and leave your ideas here

Bellah’s Masterlist 🪻

"Shut up" Y/n exclaims, smiling at her boyfriend.

"I told you May, would get me one," Peter comments, crossing his arms and looking sideways at the girl next to him, who seems to be enchanted by the small black car the boy had gotten for his eighteenth birthday.

"It's so cute! I love it." The girl laughs, walking a few steps forward and leaning her weight on the open window, so that she can see the details of the car her boyfriend had won.

"Say goodbye to meters and borrowed cars. Now I'm a new man." Peter walked to the front door, opened it and sat down in the driver's seat. His body slouches forward, reaching out and pulling the door open so that his girlfriend can get into the car too. "And I'm going to take my dear lady for a ride in this little beauty here" The brunette put both hands on the steering wheel.

May had always been a hard-working woman, and supporting her nephew when the boy's parents died had become a kind of livelihood so that she could have the energy to work. Due to financial difficulties, Peter didn't have anything above his aunt's budget, but after a promotion, she had finally managed to scrape together enough to give her nephew a car. Stark had also helped with some of the finances and to make the car more powerful than it already was, so it was a gift from both of them to the hero.

Y/n put on her seatbelt, pulling one of its sides until she could feel the pressure against her body. The girl slipped one of her free hands over Peter's hand, which was on the automatic gearshift, allowing him to give it to her after shifting into gear and continuing his journey. Late evening in New York was slowly falling, as the orange light from the buildings reflected off the crowded streets during rush hour. A few bars and restaurants were starting to open, and Peter had his plan to take his girlfriend out for a bite to eat and then park their conversations in an empty parking lot so that they could also get some alone time. The girl took off her two shoes, crossed her legs covered by jeans, and opened Spotify on her transparent cell phone with a Polaroid photo of the two of them.

"Can I put on a song?" The girl asks.

"Sure, love." Peter updates the car's multimedia while his girlfriend searches for something to listen to. 

"So, tell me. Who chose the car? Did you know you'd win?" The girl rests her hands on her lap.

"May had commented that one day she would give me everything I asked for, but it was never something I cared much about. She got a promotion at the hospital, and consequently her salary increased. Ever since I turned 16, she was raking it in." Peter comments without taking his eyes off the street.

"So you're going to be my private driver?" Y/n asked jokingly, causing the brunette to check his eyes in response.

"As far as I know, you have a driver's license." The hero laughs.

"Why would I drive if now you can take me wherever I want? I thought that was the definition of a passanger princess." The girl put her hand to her chest in an attempt to express surprise.

"Oh yes! Of course." Peter laughs.

(...)

"I'm literally going to explode," Peter says, opening the restaurant door so that his girlfriend can get out first. 

"Tell me about it." The girl says, putting her hand on her stomach and then looking at the time on her cell phone. "Fuck, we've got to get going. My parents will kill me if I'm late on a weekday."

"I thought they'd take it easy on you after eighteen." Peter takes the car key out of his pocket.

"They trust me, but still, we live in New York and they're worried." The girl shrugged, unable to contradict her parents.

"I'll take care of you, kitten. You're safe from the dangers of the night when you walk with me." Peter says proudly, causing a low chuckle from his girlfriend who was walking with her arms crossed.

"Of course! Let's pull you out of the superhero closet and tell my parents that I'm dating a guy who could have an accident at any moment in a fight with evil, technological villains." Y/n opens the car door, then sits down again.

"I think it's a great idea. We can let them know that you'll be moving in with me when I pass MIT, and we'll live in a house in the country with two kids and a dog." Peter comments, closing the car door and continuing his journey.

The white lights of the streets, together with the moon, gave the teenagers an unreal feeling. That feeling that the world isn't real, and their existence is just another speck in the middle of several grains of sand on a beach called the universe. The car drove slowly, on purpose, as Peter didn't want his girlfriend to leave. A slow song was playing on Y/n's Bluetooth, which responded to the music by diverting its eyes from the multimedia system implanted in the center of the car's dashboard. 

Peter laughed out loud when he read the name of the playlist the song was part of

"Really? Sexy guilty pleasure? That's the name of your sex playlist?" Peter makes fun of his girlfriend, who stares at him while holding in her laughter.

"In my defense, I started it when I was 16 and I haven't changed it because I find the name comical." The girl smiles as she says it, remembering when she had started exploring the literary universe of hot scenes in books that seemed innocent.

"Your sex life is comical, Y/n." Peter laughs, but then realizes what he's just said, and also jokes about himself without realizing it.

Y/n laughs out loud

"You're terrible at insults." The girl nods, looking at the passing streets like a drawing blurred by the speed of the car.

"Why haven't I ever heard that playlist?" The brunette lowered his eyes again to the name of the playlist playing in his car.

"I use it from time to time to read, or even when I... well... you know." Peter feels the blush rising to his cheeks.

His sex life with Y/n was almost restricted, and could even be considered for those over 14 if they were to classify it. Peter and Y/n hadn't had sex yet, let alone talked about it openly since their time together was considerably short. Even when they were friends, the subject of sex had never come up, unless they were in a circle of older friends and both were drunk. But even in this state, it seemed like a great sin to talk about sex. 

"Really?" Peter swallows dryly, stopping at a red light and running both hands down his dark-wash jeans.  "And what's that like?"

Y/n sucks in a breath when she hears her boyfriend's question. Their eyes meet, then dart away again in an attempt to make the conversation as awkward as possible. Y/n never had a problem talking about sex, but when it came to Peter, even his presence made her nervous.

"When I..." The girl tries to finish the sentence, really being precise in asking if he was asking about what she does in the long hours alone at night while Peter is asleep.

The boy can hear his girlfriend's heartbeat increasing and her throat swallowing. 

"That's it." He cuts her off.

The light turns green, and the blaring horn of a car cuts through the tension created between the two. Peter turns his eyes to the busy streets, while Y/n searches for confidence in herself. 

She looks at him out of the corner of her eye.

Gray shirt clinging to her toned muscles

Tight pants drawing her ass in perfectly

Puffed-out chest

Perfectly wavy hair

Her legs cross over each other, shrinking her body.

“Holy fuck” Peter thinks when he saw his girlfriend crossing her legs 

"It's nice. I like listening to music and closing my eyes, because I seem to get lost in time and sensation." The girl says, still silently watching hers boyfriend's reaction. "I like being without anything on my body. Just the cold sheets because of the air conditioning I turn on, so I don't sweat so much."

Peter pressed the steering wheel against his hands

"And what do you think about?" The boy asks as if his words were sailing over brittle ice.

Y/n takes a deep breath, turning half her torso towards her boyfriend.

What was she thinking?

Perhaps the times her parents went out on business, and the couple found themselves on the sofa taking off only their blouses. Or when she first felt Peter hard while she was on his lap kissing him

When he came out of the shower with just a towel tied around his waist, and his hair dripping with cold water. 

When he used his index finger to touch her chin, and pull her into a kiss

Those same fingers that could touch you so deeply that your legs would collapse without the strength to stand up, and he would pick you up to use you once again as whatever he wanted you to be. Only he could make you feel so wet that you didn't want his touch so close for fear of losing the track.

"You"

Peter feels his cock against the factory of his underpants.

"Tell me about what." His voice comes out sultry, as if for a few seconds, he had put his shame aside. "I want to hear you, love," the brunette asked, taking one of his hands off the gearshift and slowly reaching for Y/n's hand, which was resting on his thigh with the cell phone.

Peter had never acted or spoken like that, but he couldn't deny to himself that he wanted more. He always wanted more, not even if he had to imagine tasting his girlfriend's sweetness. His cock was throbbing against his pants, and he could feel it twitching inside them, while his breathing made a point of being nervous. Feeling Y/n on his fingers, wrinkling them with the groove of his cum, or even thinking about the sensation of his walls meeting his cock, made him lose his shame in seconds. 

When he thought about it, it was something extremely out of touch with reality, but everything he wanted to do, fortunately the initiative had to come from him. Hearing from his own girlfriend that she masturbated thinking about what he was doing was like raising the hackles of a king

The car seemed to get smaller and smaller, and not even the wind in the air could stop them both wanting to take off their clothes. The leather seat seemed to cling to their sweaty skins, searching for something to hold them inside the car. For Y/n, she couldn't describe whether the situation was good or bad, as her sexual experiences had not been very positive during her teenage years.

"I think of your touch. That time we kissed, and I could feel you brushing past my thigh and slowly trying to find my clit." The girl adjusted her posture in the chair, letting her legs relax as well as her posture.

Peter, for his part, could feel everything she was feeling. His powers allowed him to see that she was getting more and more comfortable in the seat because her hard-on was increasing with every double entendre word that was directed at her, and it was a very interesting game to play in the car during a post-work commute in New York. The cars moved slowly, and even if the clock asked them to go faster, they didn't want to. 

"Did you like it?" One of Peter's fingers slid down, tracing a straight line between the upper part of Y/n's thigh.

"Uh-huh." The girl commented, seeing that her hand had now lost the warmth of his touch, so that her body could feel it. 

"Me too." Peter comments, allowing his whole hand to touch Y/n's thigh, squeezing it briefly as a silent sign of confirmation that everything was okay. Then, his middle finger traced a line down the middle of her legs, causing a low moan to escape Y/n's mouth, who, still embarrassed, allowed her legs to spread further apart. The hero's cock was begging to be touched, but this wasn't the first time he'd thought of doing it. His plan had always been to let things happen naturally, but he was also smart enough to know that now with a car, he had more freedom.

"Peter." Y/n's hand finds his fist. "And if anyone sees. There are traffic cameras that can...

"The windows are tinted." Parker comments, looking directly at his girlfriend's breasts which were becoming more and more exposed against her clingy blouse. " Are you okay?"

"Please." Y/n begs in a sly request, drawing a naughty smile from the brunette. 

His index finger fingered his girlfriend's wet spot against the factory of her pants, putting pressure on the girl who relaxed her body against the seat. With one hand on the steering wheel and the other between his girlfriend's legs, Peter grunts to himself.

"Fuck, Y/n. You... you have no idea how much I've wanted to touch you for months." Peter confesses, biting his lip as he feels the girl roll against his fingers and lay her head back on the bench. 

"You have?" The girl gasps.

"We've never been able to spend much time alone, and I've always refused to do anything because... fuck... I can't want to fuck you," Parker confesses, trying to balance the car, his hard-on and his girlfriend at the same time.

Y/n feels her feet fall from the stereotypical virgin pedestal she has built for herself. Peter had never been a saint, and as hard as it was to believe because of his cute face and lack of girl-talking skills, he was still a male teenager who had desires and wishes repressed by shame. 

"Peter." Y/n groans lowly, gripping the hero's wrist tightly as he manages to find her weak spot.

A satisfied smile came from his lips as he began to make circular movements, causing the girl to moan a little louder. Y/n lowered her eyes to the pants that suddenly seemed to be tighter than usual on hers boyfriend. His decency as a person had gone, and all she could think about was tasting him and making him feel so good that he spoke his name out loud without caring if anyone heard.

"Yes. Speak my name, Y/n." The brunette asked, continuing his movements, but increasing the speed.

The friction was intense, and it would have been easy for her to finish right where she started, but her sense of justice and pity tried to speak louder.

"I wanted to touch you." Y/n exposed, staring shamelessly at the bulge in Peter's pants. 

"You talk so innocently as if you didn't want me to be fucking you with my fingers on this very bench." Peter lets out a sarcastic laugh, denying it to himself, and casting a longing glance at him.

Y/n's walls contract as he speaks, as if his body had a will of its own and felt empty when he had nothing to satisfy his carnal desires. 

"I can hear your heart racing, darling." Peter takes his hand off the wheel for a moment, squeezing his hard cock as a form of relief.

Removing the hand that was between his girlfriend's legs, he adjusts the rearview mirror and looks both ways down the avenue. 

"Why did you stop?" The girl straightens her posture in concern.

"I need you now."

"What?" Y/n swallows dryly.

"I want to have sex with you now. Do you?" Parker asks angrily.

Without thinking, Y/n replies:

"I want to" 

"Okay." The boy shifts into gear so that he can change lanes and find another road that leads further away. In a moment of anxiety, the car dies. "Fuck!" Peter curses, drawing a nervous smile from his girlfriend.

"Let's get out of here, Parker. I'm dying to get a taste of you."

[minnielvrr]

Why can't we stop Seungmin?

Lees: Seungmin, Chan Lers: Minho, Hyunjin Word Count: 1.3k

A/N: what i wish Chan would choose for his challenge in the SKZCODE ep😉

Tags: @itzsana-kiddingmenow, @lajanaa, @bbybumblelee, @hearted-anon, @lunalattae,

@jungwon-is-the-one, @reginald-stay09, @dusk-mp3, @lezleeferguson-120, @sophi-tickl-blog

Chan had a lot of talents to pick from against the younger, and faced with the sheer number of choices, he had to admit, he didn’t know which to pick.

Should he go for one where he could easily defeat the naughty puppy? Or for one that was more entertaining, one STAYs would enjoy quite a bit?

Maybe then he could make Seungmin say he’s half 50 this year for his penalty.

As he sat there pondering, Felix, who’d already picked his, walked over. “Whatcha pick Channie hyung?” he asked, peering over Chan’s shoulder at his empty sketchbook. “Need some ideas?”

“Got too many actually. Dunno which one I should pick.” Chan replied, tapping his lip with one finger as he considered.

“Want some help?” Felix sat down next to him, hands automatically moving to massage the leader’s shoulders. Chan’s body visibly relaxed as the younger expertly worked out the kinks.

“How about… tickles? Maybe exclusively on one spot? But like with a twist. A sound level meter.” Felix suggested, a smug smirk on his face.

Chan laughed at that, half shy and half impressed. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks as he thought about how that would play out.

He could maybe pick a spot that was deadly for Seungmin but tolerable for him. It would certainly be highly entertaining for all involved, he was sure. “You think I could handle that?” He asked meekly.

“Should we test it out hyung?” Felix teased, hands slipping down to Chan’s waist and giving it an experimental squeeze. It had the leader squealing and hopping away.

“Nohoho, that won’t be necessary.” And so, it was decided.

“Time for the final battle! Seungmin vs. Chan.” Felix’s voice rang through the room, his excitement obvious.

[Final match/ Endurance battle]

“Whoever can handle having their stomach tickled for 3 minutes wins. Oh and you can’t go over 70 decibels or you lose.” Felix read the rules out loud for them.

Cheers erupted across the stage, everyone laughing happily as both Chan and Seungmin blushed.

The younger looked about ready to protest but seeing how everyone else was on board with this, he deflated. He had to beat them at their game. That was the rule.

Two chairs were set up and Felix and Jeongin took charge of the sound level meters.

“I’ll keep my hands behind by myself.” Chan said, promptly doing just that, leaving Seungmin no choice but to let Changbin restrain him. Oh boy.

Hyunjin and Minho volunteered to be the lers, cracking their knuckles and flexing their fingers.

And since Seungmin was left to his own devices (literally), he got Minho as his ler. Seungmin’s eyes widened when the Minho lifted his t-shirt, lips parting to protest but the timer rang.

He sealed his lips in a hurry, a small whine escaping nonetheless, the sound racking up to a heart stopping 68 dB before going back down.

He struggled, eyes squeezed shut and hands clenching and unclenching as he tried to stay quiet as a mouse.

From the corner of his eye, he could see Chan struggling way less with Hyunjin, who only occasionally attempted a team kill. Y’know just to keep him guessing.

While Hyunjin's hands swirled lightly over Chan's abs and sides, Minho— ever the tickle monster, had one finger buried in Seungmin's belly button while his free hand alternated between squeezing Seungmin's sides and vibrating into his belly.

Seungmin’s eyes almost bugged out of their sockets, face pink and the color only bled down his neck the longer Minho continued.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck! There’s no way he could take this treatment for very long. He usually barely survived a minute being tickled on his worst spots.

And the poor pup, robbed of his ability to speak, frantically mouthed “please's” and “I can't, I really can't-s.” Felix was certainly right about the entertainment factor.

"What's that? We can't hear you Seungmin-ah. You've gotta speak up if you want something." Han taunted, unable to actually do anything cause of the rules but having found a loophole as expected.

“Mmhmpmh! Plehehease!” Seungmin whisper giggled, pressing himself against the back of the chair, trying to escape. It was ultimately pointless.

“65dB Seungminie. Are you giving up that easily?” Minho taunted, smiling in amusement when the younger shook his head helplessly.

Minho wiggled his fingers in Seungmin's face, pretending like he was gonna reach for random spots while Felix whispered innocent little remarks about how ticklish Seungmin was and how much he seemed to be enjoying this.

After all, they hadn't heard a single complaint since it started!

It was only when they hit the 2 minute mark that the younger seems to start running out of steam.

His knee bounced soundlessly, heel never quite touching the floor. He was trying to keep quiet.

But all that changed when Minho lifted his shirt, moving closer until his lips touched Seungmin's belly.

The younger shook his head pleadingly, begging his not to. Minho winked at him, then took a deep breath in before blowing the loudest raspberry he could manage.

Seungmin literally stopped breathing for a moment, every muscle in his body tensed until they weren't. Then he threw his head back, laughter silent for a mere second.

Loud, boisterous laughed rang through the room and he flung his body to the side, trying his hardest to dislodge Minho’s stupidly ticklish lips from his torso. But of course Minho wouldn’t let him get away that easy. The older grabbed his waist and effortlessly turned him back around, leaning in to plant another torturous raspberry near his navel.

“No no noahahAHAHAHAHA! PLEHEASE IHI LOHOST! I LOHOHOST!! AHAHAHAHAH! PLEHEASE, HYUHUNG STAHAHAP!!”

Minho let up after one last raspberry right on his navel. It was the loudest one yet, making Seungmin arch his back only to crash back down.

The moment Changbin let go of Seungmin’s arms, they snapped forward, pushing the other off him.

“Okay, let him go hyung-ah, you’ll kill him.” Han giggled as he dragged Minho away from the poor pup.

Seungmin slumped in his chair, heaving for breath as he tried to rub the tingly sensations right off his skin.

“For the penalty….” Seungmin watched on helplessly as the devil on Chan’s shoulder (Minho) whispered in the leader’s ear, sealing his fate.

Whatever he said earned an amused laugh from Chan. Uh oh. That didn’t bode well for him.

Chan leaned in and whispered his penalty in his ear, grinning when Seungmin shrieked out a protest.

“What?! C’mon hyung! Even for you, this is just cruel.” He whined, looking pleadingly at Minho as if he hoped the older would take it back.

Minho just smiled coolly and gestured towards the cameras as if to say, ‘Go on, I’m not changing my mind’.

Seungmin turned to the front, genuine humiliation written all over his face. Chan announced his penalty out loud, making it just minutely more bearable— a small mercy.

“A confession in aegyo.” He winked cheekily at the cameras, nudging the reluctant puppy forward. Seungmin threw a baleful look at them before turning to the cameras and sighing exaggeratedly.

Then, gathering every last shred of dignity he had left, he prepared to dash it into smithereens.

“Hey STAY please touch me, I feel so sensitive and ticklish!” He squeaked in a high pitched voice. While pointing to his worst spot.

And then, of course, Chan demonstrates. It garnered the loudest laughter yet from the members, even some of the staff giggling at the poor lee’s predicament.

Seungmin couldn’t help the dark blush coating his cheeks by the end of that ordeal, covering his face and running to Puppy.M for comfort.

“They’re so cruel to me.” He complained as the mascot patted him on the back sympathetically, pointing at Minho in a ‘I’m watching you’ gesture.

The sight was downright adorable.

[fraktsify]

maki マキ ࿐ more than coworkers

coworker!宏田力 x f!reader 2522 : read only coworkers first for the plot, pretty boy! maki, coworkers to lovers, maki been plotting on that, why maki & reader on that type timing.., eunchae appearance & yuma mention, flirty maki, classic hoodie trope, maki drives a black sports car, slight mention of size difference (buff maki save me), maki calls the reader "my pretty girl", maki low on the freak meter

IT HAD BEEN A FEW DAYS after Maki’s date-night announcement, and to be fair, you were stuck in a dilemma. Stuck between wanting to be friends or something more. You weren’t completely sure if he had a girlfriend, as he never mentioned other girls around you, but you knew you weren’t going to wreck a home. 

The next day at work was normal, just like every other. Clocking in, saying hi to your coworkers, checking the schedule to see what you're going to be on; it was all routine. Coming into work was just pure routine, nothing seemed to change.

 ⠀⠀ “When did you come into work? I didn’t see you…” A voice behind you spoke as you put on your apron, tightening it in the back with a bow. 

You turned around to face the voice. Of course it was Maki, yet something about him was different. His faded silver hair had gone back to black, and it looked good. The young man felt you staring at the top of his head, a small tint of pink rising to his cheeks. 

⠀⠀ “When did you–”

⠀⠀ “Last night, actually. I wanted to go for a new look, you know?” Maki paused before giving you a boyish grin, “Why? You like it?” 

You hummed as yes, before grabbing the headset on the charging station. “It looks good, and it suits you.” You were going to speak more until your manager, Euijoo, called out your name. Giving Maki a quick smile, you dismissed yourself. 

Euijoo gave you a quick heads up about the dishes needed to be washed in the back, to which you grimaced at. It was one thing washing dishes at home, but at work? Yeah, no. Nevertheless, you nodded at his words and excused yourself to the back, not before handing him the headset.

MAYBE IT HAD BEEN HOURS, but you were starting to miss your coworkers up in the front. No one really thought to mention the bonds you would form with people you would never expect. As you were left with your thoughts, you heard someone coming to the back, presumably to throw trash away. The person did a quick peek as to who was washing dishes, and to your surprise, it was your pretty boy. 

A quick “Bro?” came out from your lips as you tilted your head in response to his presence there. An automatic smile rose to your face as he came closer to you. 

⠀⠀ “I was wondering where you went, turns out they sent you back here.” Maki looked over at the coffee equipment you were washing and came back to you. “Wanna show me how you wash dishes?”

His question was harmless to say the least, yet you knew there was something lurking behind each sentence he said. You scoffed, looking to your side, before looking back at the pretty boy next to you. “Don’t you already know how to do dishes? Why should I show you?”

⠀⠀ “What if I wanna see how you do it? Come on, just tell me the steps.” Maki gave you a mock pleading look, leaning in closer to study your facial expressions; the sudden proximity catching you off guard.

Sighing, you pointed to where the things went and their functions. Maki kept his smile as he kept his gaze on you, unwavering. You felt a small wave of embarrassment go through you and you pointed to the front. 

⠀⠀ “Go. Go back to the front, you’re gonna get in trouble.”

⠀⠀ “Aww, you suddenly care about me, Y/N?”

⠀⠀ “No, I care about not getting another write up.”

Maki laughed as he reached the entrance to the front, “Sure, whatever makes you feel better.”

Some time passed and you heard laughter coming from the front to the back entrance. Your coworker friend, Eunchae, and the pretty boy were bringing the dirty towels to replace them. Eunchae waved at you and giggled a bit at your misery (washing dishes). You muttered some words that sounded like “Don’t make fun of me..” yet your heightened sense was focused on the boy standing far from the two of you. 

⠀⠀ “Hey Y/N,” Maki spoke as he leaned over to dump out the dirty, soiled water from the towels, “I’ll be here for a while.. which means I’ll be seeing how you do dishes.” A hint of tease coating his words.

Looking over at Maki and at Eunchae, you pleaded with Eunchae to not leave you alone with that “weirdo.” All Maki could do was laugh, and spoke a sentence which left you wondering…

⠀⠀ “If Eunchae leaves right now, you’re not gonna be safe alone with me..”

To say that didn’t make you pause in your movements is an understatement. You didn’t even know you were lost in thought until Eunchae spoke.

⠀⠀ “Ah, Y/N,” Eunchae looked at you for a second before looking at the clean towels in the washer, “Do you know if these are– Whoa…I'm like so much taller standing here.” 

You looked over to see Eunchae standing on the platform holding the washer and other equipment you couldn’t be bothered to look at. You smiled at her antics, and Maki spoke behind you. “You look about the same height, Eunchae.”

Easy for him to say, what a man standing at six feet. 

Eunchae glared at him and motioned him to come over to where she was at, “Oh really? I bet I’m taller than you standing on this platform.” 

Maki laughed in response, and made his way towards the platform, to which you didn’t even notice. The lack of space to get there is.. a pretty tight fit with a dish rack right behind you and the sink in front of you. You didn’t even feel it when Maki squeezed himself between you and the rack, your sight locked in on Eunchae. The action made you freeze for a moment, your heartbeat going crazy.

It wasn’t like a regular squeeze-by either, his body faced your back. He could’ve faced the other way, yet he didn’t. Laughter rang throughout the area and soon enough, you found yourself alone again. You didn’t mind it though, as it allowed you to collect your thoughts regarding that man. Finishing up the last dishes, you grabbed the container filled with the cleaned equipment and made your way towards the front. The smell of brewed coffee filled your nostrils as you focused your eyesight to the warm hues of the coffee shop. 

Leaning over to properly put away the dishes, you heard a small whistle tune. You didn’t have to look to see who it was, yet you did either way. You made eye contact with Maki as he looked at you while waiting for the iced drink to mix. He flashed you a wink before smiling and laughing at your reaction, leaving you stunned. Looking away before your cheeks warmed up, you focused your attention back on the container of dishes. Just two more minutes left on your shift.

COMING BACK HOME from that shift was the best feeling. You didn’t have to worry about any more confusing advances from the pretty boy. Your phone buzzed, a notification from Instagram coming through. It was a message from Maki, speaking of the devil.

[your user] rikimaus_: hey, r u busy rn?

Opening the message, you were met with your chat log with him. Pausing for a moment, your fingers quickly typed out a response. 

you: no. i just got home, why?

rikimaus_: wanna go out? i need company

The heat rose to your cheeks as you reread the message.

you: sure, what’s the occasion?

rikimaus_: just hanging out

rikimaus_: send me the address, i’ll pick u up

you: okay, sounds good. here [address]

seen just now

It’s like you flew out of your bed as soon as you typed out your address. Opening your closet, you looked for an outfit that wasn’t completely out there but one that allowed you to be comfortable as well. Pairing baggy jeans along with a tube top, you quickly combed your hair, allowing it to take on its natural state. It was cases like these that you were grateful you did your makeup for work. Your phone buzzed on the bed, once then twice.

[your user] rikimaus_: i’m outside

[your user] rikimaus_: hurry, ur neighbors are looking at me weird

Grabbing your phone, you made your way to the door, not before saying goodnight to your parents. Opening the door, you were met with Maki’s black sports car parked right outside. Slightly sprinting to the car, you opened the passenger door and sat in the seat, right after closing the door.

The car’s aroma hit your nostrils like the planes hit the Twin Towers, and the Pentagon. Maki’s car smelt like him, and it was clouding your judgement. 

⠀⠀ “Didn’t think you would actually come. I was thinking you were sleeping or something.”

⠀⠀ “Not really, I don’t fall asleep until twelve or so.”

Maki hummed in agreement before getting the car out of park. The engine revved throughout the neighborhood as he left your house. Some song by The Weeknd was playing and it set the mood throughout the car. As Maki drove through the streets, you couldn’t help but gaze over at him. His laid back demeanor changed as he drove, his eyes sharp at the cars driving by. 

You cleared your throat, “So, why did you want to go out?”

⠀⠀ “Needed a change of scenery, and besides, I wanted to hang out more with you.” Maki gave you a quick glance, eyes softening just seeing you.

⠀⠀ “Valid take. I don’t think I’ve gone out with someone like this on a whim.”

⠀⠀ “Well, there’s a first for everything.”

A comfortable silence filled the car as the only thing interrupting it was Maki’s mumbling of the lyrics. Maki pulled into a drive through of some business you didn’t even bother remembering the name of. As Maki began to order, you took in more of his car. His interior was definitely nice and to think he bought it with barista money… hoo boy. 

⠀⠀ “Y/N, which flavor of ice cream do you want?”

His question interrupted your train of thought, “I’ll just get rocky road.” Maki nodded and said it to the speaker. The employee read back the order and Maki muttered a quick “Thank you” before driving up to the window.

⠀⠀ “Since when were we going to get ice cream?”

⠀⠀ “I was craving it, and besides it’s the perfect time to get ice cream.”

⠀⠀ “Maki, it’s 63 degrees outs–”

You were cut off by the employee asking for the type of payment, to which Maki gave the employee his card. After a while the employee handed him back his card along with the ice creams. Maki handed you the rocky road, hands making contact for a second. The pretty boy drove off and found parking outside of the business establishment, putting the car in park before focusing his attention on the ice cream.

Within the first taste of your ice cream, you shivered a bit. It was too good, yet so cold. Maki, as attentive as ever, reached in the backseat and pulled out a hoodie. Placing it on your lap, he focused back on the ice cream. You paused and looked at the material in front of you then back at Maki. 

⠀⠀ “Your hoodie–”

⠀⠀ “You looked cold, plus I don’t want the ice cream to melt with the heating.”

Sighing, you knew you couldn’t debate Maki when he was set on something. The ice cream cup found its spot in the cup holders of the car as you put on the hoodie, the smell of his cologne hitting you once again. While you knew Maki was pretty buff for his age, you didn’t think his hoodie would’ve been this comfortable and big to say the least. Fixing your hair, you looked over at Maki, who stared at you.

⠀⠀ “Is there something wrong..?”

Maki shook his head. “No, nothing at all. You just look nice in my hoodie.” Feeling the heat go up to your cheeks, you smiled. 

⠀⠀ “Thanks? I appreciate it, truly. I didn’t know I was going to get this cold.”

⠀⠀ “Well, isn’t that why you have me?”

The question felt intimate, personal, like he wanted something more out of it and maybe he did. Like you, he placed his cup in the holder and leaned in, closing the distance between you two. Your breath hitched in a moment, your body frozen from the proximity. If you really focused on what was going on, you could see his eyes scan your face– from your eyes to your lips–or how his breath hit your face. 

⠀⠀ “Maki, what are you doing?” A whisper came out of you, afraid of what was coming next.

⠀⠀ “Testing to see if I can hold out,” Maki paused for a quick second before following up, “Can I? Will you let me?”

You knew what he was referring to, yet you nodded at his words. 

IT WAS LIKE EARTH stopped as soon as his lips touched yours. He pulled away after pecking your lips, staring into your dazed eyes. As you smiled, he smiled back at you and went for another kiss again. Your lips matched a rhythm with his, your hands finding his face. It felt perfect, it felt like a dream come true. As you two pulled away from each other, a small string of spit went down your face. Quickly cleaning it up, Maki laughed at your flushed state and fixed your lipstick. 

⠀⠀ “My pretty girl, so messy.” Maki muttered as he cradled your face, his eyes showing love and a hint of lust behind them. 

⠀⠀ “Yours? Wait, what about that date you had? I thought you were going to see that gir–” The male shut you up by giving you another kiss. 

⠀⠀ “It was just a lie. I wanted to see your reaction and to my surprise, you reacted like how I wanted to. Though I didn’t expect that Luma fellow or whatever–”

⠀⠀ “Yuma–”

⠀⠀ “Right, that guy. I didn’t expect him to budge in and ruin my mood.”

⠀⠀ “He’s a nice guy. Super sweet too, he was telling me about his new collectab–”

It was like Maki formed a new habit then and there: kissing you to make you shut up. Smiling into the kiss, you felt Maki bring you closer to him; the ice cream now longer forgotten. You didn’t mind this new bond at all. Maybe Maki was yours to begin with, even with that fake date he planned to make you jealous. As you two pulled away for a breather, Maki’s red cheeks matched with yours. 

Too many girls think he’s pretty, that just goes with his charm. Your eyes linger on Maki too much, his linger on you even more. Either way, would you be lying if you didn’t like it? 

You like him anyway, so why hide it?

written by monica (fraktsify) —  &.  NOTES   ›   would i be lying if i said i wrote this in three hours.... i love this story and i wish my ending ends like this too. thank u to those who wished for a part two, i hope u enjoy.

[orellazalonia]

Grocery Store Disaster

Summary: Steve and Bucky made the mistake of taking you to the grocery store. Chaos ensues, but you consider it a success. (Steve Rogers x mermaid!reader x Bucky Barnes)

Word Count: 600+

A/N: I was out all day so have some quick mermaid reader (in human form) shenanigans. Happy reading!

Main Masterlist

You were given one rule.

Just one.

“Don’t make a scene,” Steve said, adjusting his baseball cap like it could hide the fact he was 6'2" of American Hero. “We're just getting groceries.”

“I am perfectly capable of surface diplomacy,” You replied, smug in your new sneakers and jean jacket, both slightly mismatched and both stolen from Steve’s closet. “This is a civilian mission.”

Bucky grunted. “Last time you said that, you tried to duel a parking meter.”

“It insulted me,” You snapped.

“It was beeping.”

Regardless, they still brought you. Which was their first mistake.

You entered the grocery store like it was foreign territory. Eyes wide, movements cautious, and mouth slightly open as you stared at the glowing overhead lights. Your head tilted at the automatic doors.

“It opened for me,” You whispered in awe. “It knows I’m royalty.”

“No, it knows you’re standing there,” Bucky muttered, steering you by the shoulders. “Try not to talk to the lobsters this time.”

“No promises,” You replied.

Things went downhill in Produce.

You found a pomegranate and examined it like it held the secrets of the universe.

“This fruit looks like something I’d be cursed by,” You whispered to yourself, turning it slowly in your hands. “Or it’s an egg. A cursed egg.”

Steve turned back just in time to stop you from biting into it like an apple.

“No. We wash things now,” He said, gently prying it out of your hands.

You blinked. “This is exhausting.”

Their next mistake was leaving you alone. Bucky left you alone for three minutes. Three.

You wandered off, humming an old sea tune to yourself, and when he found you again, you were standing at the fish counter with a fistful of seashells.

“I would like to trade,” You told the man behind the counter, who looked both alarmed and unsure if this was a TikTok prank.

“For… the salmon?”

“For their freedom.”

The man blinked. “Ma’am, they’re… already dead.”

You looked genuinely offended. “You monsters.”

That’s when Bucky grabbed your arm and hauled you back toward the cart like a mom at the end of her patience.

“No freeing the dead fish,” He muttered under his breath.

“I was honoring them with sacred currency!”

“Those are beach souvenirs. One of them has glitter.”

Meanwhile, Steve had split off and was trying to shop like a normal human being, bless his heart. He returned ten minutes later with eggs, bread, and a look of wary hope.

“How’s it going?” He asked.

“She tried to buy fish with sea shells and accused a watermelon of dark magic,” Bucky deadpanned.

Steve sighed. “So, normal?”

And then came the cereal aisle.

You shouldn’t have trusted Bucky with the cart. You really shouldn’t have.

He went in with the intent to get “something simple.” He came out with six boxes of different cereals and a bottle of chocolate syrup.

You raised an eyebrow. “A balanced diet?”

“It’s fine,” He said, pushing the cart defiantly. “Cap said ‘grab breakfast stuff.’ This is technically breakfast.”

“Steve is going to judge you.”

“I fear no man. Least of all the breakfast police.”

By the time you made it to checkout, Steve looked exhausted, Bucky looked smug, and you were trying to convince a toddler in the next line over that you could control seagulls with your mind.

You dropped one last shell on the counter.

The cashier looked at it. “Uh… what’s this?”

“Tribute,” You said solemnly. “For your patience.”

Steve groaned and handed over his credit card.

On the way out, as the automatic doors opened once more for you, you raised your arms dramatically.

“It acknowledges my sovereignty!”

Steve muttered, “Why did we bring her?”

“Well, she’s growing on me,” Bucky said. “Like a barnacle.”

You beamed. “Thank you.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

You didn't care.

[judesprincess]

Can you write a Jude one where it includes angst to fluff then to smut loool where reader feels insecure of her chest as she has big 🍒 and Jude comforts her and reassures her and then it ends with smut please x

your request is my command, my dear. i ask you to please be patient because this is my first smut and I clearly don't have a knack for it yet; I also don't know if the request is the way you want it (let me know if you like it or not). remember that English is not my native language so there will definitely be grammatical and spelling mistakes, please ignore. happy reading, kisses 💋

warnings: insecurity (self-deprecation), dirty talk, unprotected sex – p in v (please, be safe), creampie

word count: 2878

Having big breasts may be a dream for many girls, but it definitely wasn't yours. You frowned as you looked at yourself in the mirror, wearing only your underwear, your breasts were free and exposed to the judging eyes. You hated them. You simply hated how flashy and heavy they were. You hated how they weren't as perky as you wanted them to be, and most of all, how vulgar you looked with any basic cleavage. In short, everything about them bothered you.

Of course, you were too insecure to talk to anyone about it, so you just kept that insecurity to yourself. Even so, you did your best to make sure no one saw your breasts; especially Jude. You knew it wasn't fair to him, since he'd always been the type of boyfriend who complimented you and put you up all the time, but you just couldn't help it. Since the beginning of your relationship, it was the same thing; you almost never let him touch or fully see your breasts. Suck them? Well, that was practically out of the question, there were rare times when you lost control and ended up letting Jude put his mouth on your nipples.

Jude, being the attentive and understanding boyfriend that he was, never brought up the subject or pressured you into doing anything that you weren't comfortable with. Besides, you were sure that he had no idea about your insecurity and had simply concluded that you didn't enjoy having your breasts fondled or sucked. You couldn't have been more wrong.

Jude had always been an observant boy and, of course, this only became even more pronounced after he became a man. Besides, the fact that it was you made him even more attentive and detailed. So, he was extremely quick to notice that you felt uncomfortable with your breasts, never wanting them to be seen or touched by him. You didn't hide it very well when you asked to have sex in dim light or when you asked him not to take off your shirt or, especially, when you quickly removed his hands from your breasts. Jude never pressured you about it. He wanted it to come from you to have that conversation. But it never came. He would be lying if he said he wasn't crazy to explore your tits the way he wanted, but he knew he had to be patient.

Your look of contempt grew stronger as you continued to stare at yourself in the large mirror. Your mind was buzzing with self-degrading thoughts. You wondered what Jude thought of them and you could swear he found them as ugly as you. That made everything worse.

You were so wrapped up in that negative and heavy fog that you didn't even hear Jude's footsteps getting closer and closer to the room. Not even the noise of the doorknob made you snap out of your daze, which was unusual for you, never being careless enough for someone to see you like that. So exposed.

You don't even know very well how or when you felt Jude's presence in the room, but you know very well what the feeling of realization was. Panic invaded every part of you when you saw, through the mirror, the tall and static figure a few meters away from you.  Your arms automatically moved to cover your breasts while the rest of your body moved to look for a towel or anything to hide that part you hated so much from your boyfriend's gaze.

— Honey... — Your ears barely registered the gentle tone as you continued to run from one side to the other, trying to find something useful to cover yourself. You could already feel the tears pricking at the corners of your eyes, threatening to leak abundantly. — Y/N, please stop this. — Jude watched the scene with sadness. Seeing you desperate to hide your body from his eyes hurt him and he knew that this could not continue any longer. You needed to talk about this right now.

— J-Jude, get out of here. — You hated yourself the moment your voice came out broken and weak. The atmosphere became more and more tense. You turned your back as soon as you saw Jude approaching you. — Jude...

— Honey, don't push me away, please. — His voice was pleading and gentle.  His strong arms wrapped around her waist as he leaned down to place comforting kisses on her shoulder. — We need to talk about this, love.

— About what? — Your voice was shaky and you didn’t know if it was because of the kisses or the realization that Jude now knows you’re insecure. Your heart beats fast, making your breath pant.

— You know what, my love. — Now Jude’s tone, even if still gentle, is firm. You stay quiet, not even considering starting the conversation. — Since when do you feel insecure about your breasts, Y/N? — You definitely didn’t see it coming – which was naive, since you knew very well how straightforward and honest your boyfriend was about everything – and your breathing hitched.

The silence in the room was dense and awkward. Jude could feel how tense you were, but he definitely wasn’t giving up on this conversation. Not after the desperate way you reacted when you noticed him in the room, minutes ago.  He gave you time as he caressed your waist — avoiding getting too close to your breasts, which were still covered by the small towel — and lovingly kissed your shoulder and neck.

— I don’t know. — You whispered, after what seemed like hours of silence. Jude continued with the caresses, letting you feel free to say whatever you wanted. He knew that if he pressed you too much, you would panic and start crying. — I, — You stopped talking, trying to control the amount of words that threatened to come out of your mouth; the task became increasingly difficult with Jude touching you like that, transmitting so much trust and security to you. Now his large hands caressed your arms tenderly. — I just started to notice how different they were. Big and flashy. The girls around me had delicate breasts while mine are too big and look exaggerated with practically everything I wear. I don’t like the shape of them. — You said everything quickly, but Jude didn’t let a single word escape, while vehemently disagreeing with you in silence. — I feel dirty. — You whispered as if it were a secret. Because it was, in fact. You never said it out loud. Silence returned to the room as you waited for Jude to agree with you about everything you had said.

When nothing came, you gathered your courage and turned your head to look at him and were startled by what you saw. His face was tinged with indignation, but not only that. He looked offended, as if you had insulted him. You had never seen that expression on his face in your entire relationship and it made you desperate, making you try to get out of his grip. He didn't let you, pulling you even closer to his body.

— I just can't believe you said that, Y/N. — His tone was firm and as offended as his expression. You shivered. He was quick to turn you around, making you face each other. You couldn't look at him, feeling too embarrassed to do so. — Do you have any idea how much it hurts me to see you talking about yourself like that?

Your mouth opened and closed several times, unable to answer the question. He had definitely taken it personally and you didn't know how to deal with it. You watched quietly as he ran his hands through his hair and sighed heavily, as if trying to reorganize his thoughts.

— Baby. — His tone returned to its previous gentleness. — I'm so sorry you feel that way. I don't even know how to react to this because honestly, your insecurity isn't even plausible. — His hand grabbed your chin, making you stare into his piercing gaze. — I really intended to sit down and talk to you, — he pulled you closer, grabbing you by the waist again; this time firmly. You felt your skin crawl at the way he grabbed you. — But hearing you talk such nonsense about those beautiful breasts shows me that maybe I need to be a little more incisive. — You choked on the words, your body shivering as he pulled you in front of the mirror. Then you understood what he wanted.  — Take off the towel and show me those tits.

— W-What? — You couldn't even think about Jude's authoritative tone. Suddenly the atmosphere in the room was heavy in a different way. A way that made your cheeks heat up and your legs go weak.

— Be a good girl and show me those beautiful tits, darling. — Jude's hoarse voice and predatory expression reflected in the mirror left no room for argument. As if to reinforce the request — no, that was an order — a strong and loud slap was left on your ass, making you scream, both from the surprise of the act and from the strong pain that settled in the affected area.

Being the good girl and with trembling hands, you let the towel fall, revealing your large breasts. Your immediate reaction was to close your eyes so as not to look at them. It didn't last long.

— Open your eyes, love. — You obeyed, as if it were automatic. — You know what I think, Y/N?  — Jude’s gaze couldn’t be described as anything other than predatory and hungry. Your insides twisted at the thought of him devouring you.

— Hm?

— I think you should get a good spanking for referring to them so disrespectfully. — The sound of another loud slap filled the room. This time, you bit your lip as your ass burned. — You must be blind not to see how beautiful and sensual those breasts are, darling.

— Jude… — You moaned as his large hands grabbed your breasts, twisting your nipples between his fingers. Your entire body was hot and you could feel your pussy completely soaked.

— You have no idea the things I want to do to them, love. — You didn’t even know how sensitive your nipples were, the intense sensation surprised you. — You have no idea how much I think about sucking and fucking them.  — He whispered hoarsely in your ear as he pressed his erection into your back. You gasped when you felt his big bulge so hard against you. — Watch what your pretty tits do to me, love. — He moans deliciously as he rubs himself with more pressure on you. — And I haven't even put them in my mouth yet. — That was too much for you, but you needed so much more.

— Please… — You begged as you rubbed yourself against him back, whimpering as you felt your pussy throb. — Jude, please…

— What do you want, hottie? —

— Suck my tits, Jude. — You begged as if you depended on it to live and you didn't even have time to think about anything else when, with record speed, Jude threw you on the bed and got on top of you.

When you felt Jude's hot, wet tongue circling your sensitive nipple, it was inevitable to wonder how you survived without it for so long. He sucked you hungrily, while he caressed your other breast deliciously. Jude had turned you into a mess of moans and lamentations.

— I'll fuck them with my cock next time... — You whimpered when he pulled away, feeling how sensitive your nipples were now. The idea of ​​having Jude's cock in your tits made you even hotter; but right now, all you needed was his cock inside you, stretching you beyond your limit. — But right now I need to fuck this beautiful little pussy, love.  — He was quick to remove your soaked panties, leaving you completely naked and exposed to his hungry gaze.

You felt your mouth water as he took off his own clothes, revealing more and more of his strong, muscular body.

— Take off your underwear now, babe. Please. — He laughed at your impatience as he got rid of the last piece, revealing his big, thick cock. The tip was wet with pre-cum. Your hole was so empty without him inside you.

— I’m going to get you ready. — He ran his fingers through your soaked folds, but you didn’t want that.

— No. Just stick that cock in me, Jude. — You demanded as you spread your legs wider for him. As much as you loved having his long fingers inside you, you didn’t know if you could survive this long without him inside you.

— What a needy little slut I have here, huh? — You moaned in agreement and tightened your grip on his strong arms as you felt him rub the blunt tip of his cock against your pussy. — So wet for me... Do you want my cock that much, princess?

— Jude, please... fuck me. — You knew you looked like a slut desperate for cock like that, but you didn't even care, since that's exactly what you were at the moment. That man had a power over your body that no one else ever had.

— Fuck. You're so tight, baby. — He groaned as he slowly thrust himself inside you.

You closed your eyes and bit your lip, feeling the familiar pain as he thrust himself all the way inside your pussy. No matter how many times you had been fucked by him, you would never get used to his size or his thickness, always struggling to take him. But you would be lying if you said you didn't love the feeling of being completely stretched and filled with his cock.

— You're doing so good, baby. Taking that cock so good. — He groaned as he left kisses all over your face. You gripped him even tighter when you felt him pull out and enter you deeply.

— Baby... — You moaned loudly as his thrusts got faster, Jude setting a delicious pace. You felt completely full, your walls clenching tightly to keep him inside forever. You cried out when he hit your G-spot, making your eyes roll back to the back of your head.

— Oh my God, baby, baby, right there! — You moved your hips, trying to keep up with his movements. The room was filled with the dirty sounds of your skin colliding, making you even more excited. Jude moaned hoarsely in your ear and his grip on your waist got tighter and tighter. You bit your lip as you imagined the purple bruises that would be left the next day. You rolled your eyes when you felt his cock kiss your cervix. — Baby, you feel so big...

— Yeah? Can you feel me here, baby? — He growled as he pressed his large palm against your belly. You threw your head back, gripping the sheets as you felt your pussy tighten even more around his cock. You knew you were close, and by the way Jude’s thrusts became even deeper and harder, he was too. — Come on, baby, cum on my cock like a good girl. — He thrust hard, abusing your sensitive spot without mercy. You cried out as you came, your body shaking all over.

Jude’s cock swelled inside you as he watched the scene, still thrusting his hips in and out of you, chasing his own climax now.

— Baby, I want to cum inside you. — He whispered breathlessly as his thrusts became even sloppier.

— It’s yours, baby, do it. — The words came out incoherently, you already feeling overstimulated from the penetration. Two more thrusts and Jude was cumming in large quantities inside you, his thick, hot liquid filling you to the point of leaking out. You moaned softly as you felt your pussy give its final contractions.  — Baby... — Now it felt too much to have him inside you, leaving you overwhelmed. Jude was quick to get the message, slowly and carefully pulling out of you.

— You were so good to me, baby. — You smiled tiredly, feeling your pussy empty and aching as his cum leaked out. Still, you couldn't help but smile, feeling completely satisfied. — Are you okay, baby? Did I hurt you?

— It was perfect, Jude. It feels so good. — He smiled smugly as he stared at your pussy. You blushed at how naughty he looked.

— Look at this pretty little pussy, all fucked and filled with my cum. — You moaned as he ran his thumb over your sensitive pussy, spreading his liquid all over your pussy.

— Jude! — You screamed embarrassed.

— Let's get you cleaned up, love. Besides, I hope you never hide these pretty tits from me again, understand? — He leaned in, leaving a loving kiss on your lips. You were quick to nod, feeling completely comfortable being naked in front of him.

— Jude, I love you. — You looked at him shyly. — Thank you for always making me feel wanted and loved.

— Honey, you are the most beautiful woman in the world and I will always be here to remind you of that. — His words filled your heart, making your eyes water with tears of joy. — I love you more than anything, Y/N. — You felt every insecurity and silly fear leave your body because you knew he would always be there for you, no matter what.

well, i hope you liked it! I'm open to requests, I just ask that you be patient with the delay. kisses 💋

[bluejutdae]

How boyfriend Stray Kids says I love you without saying I love you | Minho x you

Chan | Minho | Changbin | Hyunjin | Jisung | Felix | Seungmin | Jeongin

genre: romance

warning:

a/n: I will eventually do it for all the members.

Enforces the sidewalk rule

Doesn't matter if it's 2 meters or a long walk, he automatically takes the road side when you're walking, ready to shield you from anything that could hurt you. If you want to have some fun and tease him, trying to take his place and walk on the road side, he stops in his tracks and stares at you, saying nothing until you take your rightful (according to him) side, more protected and secure.

Cooks for you

We all know cooking is Minho's love language. But oftentimes it's not a big meal, that's reserved for special occasions. He likes to make ramen the way you like it, adding an egg so he's sure you're eating well. He always expects you to eat first, watching you take the first bite, a small smile on his lips because he knows he's taking care of you.

Stares and slowly blinks at you

Minho's a cat. No doubt in that. That's why you can find him sitting on the couch staring at you instead of the movie on the screen, silent and still. He just watches you and after a good amount of seconds you're looking back, he slowly blinks a couple of times. You're not sure if he does it consciously or not, but since you read it's how cats say they love you, it's one of your favorite quirks of Minho.

Lets you pick toys for Soonie, Doongie and Dori

SoonDoongDori are his babies and he loves them a lot. He likes watching you taking care of them or playing with them. And what he likes even more is letting you choose toys for them. Hand in hand, you walk the aisle of the cat toys in the shop, weighting pros and cons of everything that catches your eye and he puts in the basket everything you choose. Letting you choose for his babies is a sign of love and trust.

[leeb57555]

Smart Water Meter Market Analysis by Trends, Size, Share, Growth Opportunities, and Emerging Technologies

Traditionally, water meters are challenging to read and not accurate. People are not very comfortable with a meter reader entering their property for getting a reading. Modern smart meters offer a variety of benefits for customers. Smart meters are part of the IoT, and they transmit data through wireless networks and the internet directly to the provider. This blog will help you understand the fact that, it is always better to switch to a smart water meter.

Better Accuracy than Traditional Meters

Smart water meters have more accuracy than their traditional counterparts. This decreases water loss and helps guarantees that customers are paying for the water used, no more or less. This can bring about significant savings for the municipality, without producing higher bills for any customer. Most glitches in accuracy are small, but when they expand across consumers, this can bring about significant loss.

Browse detailed report - Smart Water Meter Market Analysis and Demand Forecast Report

Analyzing the Data Better

With the analysis of the data from smart meters, it is possible to keep a track of water usage accurately. This can be used for informing about the efforts of conservation and also to demonstrate how water infra is being used. If one is aware of how much water is used at a time, it can be useful for the planning for the future.

Remote Shutting Off for Non-Payment

If a water meter has to be shut off for non-payment remotely, this can be done with the help of smart water meters. There is no need for a person to do this dangerous task, when they need to shut the meter off. It can also be remotely turned on, letting faster restoration of service.

With a lot of benefits associated with smart water meters, the demand for the same will rise considerably in the future, and the total demand will reach USD 15.63 billion by 2030.

[pumpkinbxtch]

𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗰𝘃𝘀! ᯓᡣ𐭩

— leo valdez x f!reader

radiostar is playing… cvs by winnetka bowling league!

warnings: none a/n: based on a song that is one of my all-time favorites. This is because our Leo won the poll!

𝐋eo's hair fluttered in the wind as he urged Festus with kicks to go faster, all because he was running late, like really freaking late. The brunette bit his lip as he saw the time on the clock at the back of his bronze dragon's head, and sensing his owner's urgency, Festus let out a huff mixed with a metallic whine.

— She's gonna kill me — he exclaimed, and the mechanical beast growled, steering in an unexpected direction. Apparently, Festus wanted to stop, which Leo thought was the worst timing. — Buddy, not now!

Ignoring him, they ended up right in front of a CVS. What would the parking lot folks think? With any luck, they’d assume Leo had just hopped out of a monster truck, as the dragon's height was the only thing that might make sense to normal mortals.

— What? Is your paw hurting, man? This isn't even for you!

But that wasn't Festus's aim. Now, the dragon felt like the only intelligent being around, though there was no way to tell Leo, no time. He nudged him towards the automatic doors, hoping the son of Hephaestus would be smart enough to figure it out like he always did with Festus’s unspoken needs.

— But... — Leo started to turn around, and the dragon growled, puffing out a bit of hot smoke that made Leo close his eyes in resignation. All he got from that was something like, "Get going, man, hurry up!" So not knowing exactly what for, he went in anyway.

And, oh, god bless CVS.

Right at the entrance was a display with last-minute items. Leo grabbed a heart-shaped box of chocolates and some flowers and the boy ended up clutching them tightly to his chest as Festus managed the speed.

— Thanks, bro – ah! Slow down a bit, I want to get there alive!

Once again, the dragon ignored him, but at least Leo wasn't even later. He hopped off half a block away and walked with the gifts still pressed to his chest. His heart raced even more when he saw you sitting under a tree, reading with headphones on, noticing how you furrowed your brow from a distance.

— Oh, holy Hephaestus — Leo muttered a few meters from you, hiding the chocolates and flowers behind his back, trying to pull off a casual smile.

It wasn’t until his Converse shoes peeked out from under your book that you looked up. He was a mess, his hair all over the place, and you could tell he had taken the fast route, with leaves and trash stuck in his curly hair.

— Hey, babe — he said with a wide smile, trying to keep it casual. You shook your head with puffed cheeks, and he slumped his shoulders, knowing you were mad. But his despair didn't last long as he remembered his ace up his sleeve (or Festus’s paw).

Your boyfriend revealed the gifts and knelt to offer them as if they were the world’s greatest treasures. He had never done something like this, and it seemed fitting since you had just talked about something similar in front of the bronze dragon with a friend of yours. Of course, Festus had been in luggage mode at the time, so no one suspected anything.

— From me, to you, my sweet angel — Leo said with a radiant smile, his cheeks starting to blush. You smiled, took off your headphones, and accepted the gifts, smelled the roses and looked at the box of chocolates. Your boyfriend thought he was in the clear when you gave him a small kiss on the lips. But then, while stroking his hair and giving him another one on the cheek, you whispered in his ear.

— Tell Festus thanks, love. I forgive him. But not you.

[mitigatedchaos]

One snowy night (you find it snowing even in Florida), a wizard approaches you and shows you some of his fantastical wizard powers. He then offers you $10 million to become a Christmas character for 10 years.

Your lawyer, who was drinking Christmas beverages at your house, reads through the contract. He says that the contract seems reasonable, with no obvious loopholes. Once the contract is over, you will return to your original self at the same biological age you were when it started. You may pick a gender variant you like, but the form will obey the same general style (e.g. you may not pick "that guy, but as a handsome Hollywood actor").

Additional Information...

You will receive a flying sled. The sled has a comfortable magical bubble around it which ensures that the air is reasonably still and pressurized. It can fly up to the speed and altitude of a 747, and carry up to 2 tons.

You will be immune to arctic temperatures, although you will still need oxygen, food, and water.

Every year, in the 48 hours before and after Christmas, you may use Christmas time magic to enable you to visit every occupied dwelling, and every child, in the entire world. (Christmas time magic is complicated, and may adjust if people start celebrating Christmas at a different time of year.)

If you have chosen Santa Claus...

The portal to your Christmas village domain is located at the North Pole. Your realm is a stereotypical Christmas village, with all the alpine trappings, located in a mountain valley. Local temperatures are always just below freezing. A full course of holiday food and drink is automatically generated every day, and firewood is replenished automatically.

You possess a magical gift bag from which you may withdraw one toy desired by a child within a 250ft range, per child (up to 18), per year. The item must be generally accepted as a toy (so no guns, tanks, bombs, gold bars, plutonium, etc), although for older children it may be acceptable to generate a gaming PC. The item may be worth no more than $6,000 (anchored at the start of your term as Santa) - if the item would be worth over $6,000, such as a luxury SUV for a teenager, it arrives damaged or aged, until it is only worth $6,000. You may create toys produced by no existing manufacturer, assuming the technology exists for something similar, and are required to do no engineering work. The True Spirit of Christmas prohibits you from deliberately creating dangerous toys. You may not create new video games, movies, or books, although you may copy any of these created throughout human history, even if you don't have access to it. (This excludes classified information, development plans for bombs, corporate records, etc.)

You may create a lump of coal (or charcoal) at will. You may produce one cubic meter of coal, charcoal, firewood, or lumber per minute. It appears gradually in an empty space in front of you and gently floats to the ground, making it difficult to injure someone.

Once per year per individual, you may sense whether an individual is naughty or nice. This is a form of Christmas Magic, and you have little insight into how it classifies people (your lawyer thinks it may be Confucian, but the contract is vague). Whether you give people gifts or coal anyway is up to you.

You may recruit Christmas elves for the remaining duration of your term as Santa Claus. While inside the Christmas village, a contracted elf will become the 4-foot-tall Christmas elf version of themselves, and become healthy, strong, unaging, and immune to disease. They must work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (religious observances exempt), or they will be automatically ejected from the Christmas village. Christmas elves may use Christmas magic to create toys not desired by any specific child. This takes them 1 minute per $30 of toy value. Your Christmas village automatically supports, with room and board, a population of up to 50,000 elves. It also sports truly massive warehouses for holding toys prior to distribution. You may access any toy stored in this way using your magical gift bag. All Christmas elf contracts expire at the end of your term. Any elves still in your village, as well as their belongings, will be deposited in temporary dwellings in a safe location somewhere in the State of New York. They will continue to have pointed ears afterwards.

You may not give gift cards or cash (Wizard Law prohibits counterfeiting currency). However, you may give digital assets (such as lootboxes or Steam games). You may choose to automatically compensate companies in an account with your realm, from which they may withdraw some amount of toys created by your elves. The associated website is part of the Christmas village's domain, and requires little to no oversight on your part. The toys arrive in cardboard boxes 7-10 business days after they are requested.

You may legally eat any cookies and milk you find, at any time. These count as complete nutrition for you. No matter how much you attempt to diet, you will find that you cannot lose your holly jolly weight.

You may create ordinary Christmas decorations, such as garlands, at will. The decorations created in this way are generally made out of wood, paint, pine, twine, and so on.

When using Christmas time magic to visit the children of the world, you may enter buildings using a form of magical projection. This allows you to leave gifts, eat cookies, and so on, but you aren't able to steal items and bring them back with you from inside locked or closed buildings.

If you have chosen the Grinch...

Your domain is a very large cave located in the largest mountain on your continent. It is reasonably well-lit, ventilated, and habitable. There is an unlimited supply of awful, smelly food and water. Somehow, this food seems strangely appetizing, but other people will recoil at the scent.

You possess a magical theft bag that helps you to steal Christmas. Items so stolen are transported to parts of your cave, where they are heaped into large piles. You may steal Christmas-themed items such as Christmas gifts, food, and Christmas decorations and even Christmas trees. These items become legally yours - you may even melt down golden Christmas ornaments and sell the gold for scrap. (Overtly religious items such as nativity scenes are generally protected by the True Spirit of Christmas, unless they are against the True Spirit of Christmas in some way.) Your cave has many rooms, and you may choose to divert food items to a frozen room for later, if you like.

You may also steal other winter-holiday-themed items, including gifts for New Year's Eve, gifts intended for other winter holidays, and so on. If you attempt to steal a non-holiday item, it is possible that you may be arrested by the authorities. Only holiday items can go in your magical theft bag.

Your may return Christmas. Using your magical theft bag, you may place items back where you originally found them, or back with the original owners. However, you may also choose to redistribute Christmas and give items to different people, or put them in different places. Even when using Christmas time magic, you may not e.g. place Christmas trees in front of a flying aircraft, as this is against the True Spirit of Christmas.

Unlike Santa Claus, when using Christmas time magic, you may also enter stores, warehouses, and vehicles, to steal Christmas from Amazon. You may even take down the "Merry Christmas" signs at Target.

Your holiday sense allows you to sense the range, direction, and location of nearby Holiday items to steal.

You may steal holiday music. Not pirate, but steal. If you are walking through the grocery store and hear a rendition of "All I want for Christmas is you," you may rip the song to your device of choice, and the file containing it on the originating server will be deleted.

You may create contraptions. These machines are always composed of junk and tend to have a Rube Goldberg element to them. They are not particularly durable. If the contraption is doing something unusual, it is powered by Christmas theft magic. You can only focus enough to create a contraption with magical effects if you are trying to do so in order to steal or return Christmas (or other winter holidays). (The effects of magical contraptions are limited, but generally do allow you to steal Christmas more effectively or efficiently. The more powerful a magical contraption is, the more comedic it must be.) Other contraptions are limited to what can be accomplished via ordinary technology.

You have one loyal dog. Though surprisingly resourceful for a dog, unlike the Christmas elves, he can't create any Christmas gifts at all.

In either case, you may visit people and generally travel and talk to people outside of Christmas.

[ratatouillewastakendammit]

Embers and Ebony

Chapter 1

Pairing: Dabi x Reader

Summary: pro hero!reader having to go undercover and snuggle up to Dabi in order to infiltrate the league, the first chapter for this blurp and commission for @purgatoryvisitor 🩵

Warnings: slight descriptions of violence/injury; I also took a lot of creative liberty with OC's and stuff so that's fun; language; lots of exposition

Word Count: 3.6k

The Hero Public Safety Commission's office had always freaked you out. 

It was a building that continually radiated a strong chill, even in the Summer. Titanium guarded each side of the skyscraper, making it look more like a prison than an actual agency. Automatic doors opened proudly once you scaled the concrete stairs. However, their compliance seemed less like a welcome, but rather a goading dare to enter for anyone who didn’t belong there. 

Come on in, their creaking hinges whispered. Find out what happens. 

The inside was no different. 

A high temperature did nothing to quell the coldness brimming through the metal walls and marble tile. They echoed underneath the heels of your boots and bounced off the hallway corners. White lights, far too blinding to be practical, illuminated the surface, leaving nowhere for you to hide. In fact, the floor seemed to have been recently polished, its pristine shine reflecting your image to the plethora of security cameras hiding between every few meters. 

The newly scrubbed surface seemed to be the job of Kaho, a pop of color within this world of silver. Even the dark navy cleaning uniform she wore did nothing to dull her radiant hues, which seemed to glow so much brighter in an arctic desert like this. As she waved in your direction, a gaggle of brightly painted bracelets jingled against her wrist. 

You lowered your hood and offered her a mouthed ‘sorry’ for walking over her newly mopped tile while walking by, to which the elderly woman waved off with a jolly grin. 

Her cheerfulness quelled the gargling pile of nerves in your stomach a little. Still, the quiet, bubbling heat continued to gnaw at your abdomen. It didn’t matter how many times you opened the doors to the penthouse office. 

You would always cross them uneasily.

Rin Tsunahito was a stern looking man with black hair slowly speckling into silver. At first glance, some may have theorized that age had hardened him. However, he had always been this way, as long as you had known him at least, harsh lines and angles carved from duty only accentuated by time. Even as a teenager, he had seemed light years away from you, despite the actual difference being somewhere around thirty five years. 

Another thirty five and he would probably still be here, sitting atop his leather throne and piercing his subjects with those bright green eyes. He was much like the building in that way; cold, but unmoving, a pillar of responsibility surrounded by a world of chaos.

The man seemed to be an extension of the room he inhabited as well. He embodied the precision in which each stack of paper on his desk had been perfectly aligned, the way his name plaque had been strictly positioned to be in the exact middle of it. The suit he wore had not even a speck of lint or hair, as stainless as the shining windows that allowed the dark gray of a rainy afternoon to illuminate the room. 

That emerald glare seemed to dull just slightly when you walked in, serious expression softening just the tiniest bit for less than a moment. It was just barely noticeable, but you had trained your vision to catch it, to crave the way those wrinkled brows would smooth over before folding back. “You’re here. Good.”

Waiting, you allowed the silence to fill the space between you for a moment before making sure that he wasn’t going to continue. Talking over your superior was a devastating mistake that you had learned to avoid. “I read that you needed to see me?”

He nodded. “I have a new mission for you.”

Two of his fingers, the middle and pointer had been slashed off, supposedly years ago while dealing with a particularly violent interrogation, if you chose to believe any of the stories the HPSC staff would tell. They had been replaced with metal prosthetics. One worker in particular had spread the story that if Rin took them off, and you got close enough to look, you might see the barely noticeable indentation of teeth left behind on the lacerated flesh. 

The steel glinted in the overhead light as the digits grazed over a stack of folders, carefully deciding on the correct one before picking it up. With his other, less titanium endowed hand, he beckoned you forward.

Taking the invitation, you slowly began to ascend the short set of steps leading up to his desk. During your first week here, you had always thought that the room was far too big for a single person, regardless of whether or not that individual happened to be the Commission's director of hero services and coordination. But you shortly began to realize just how much space his personality took up. It seemed to permeate the air whenever you opened the door, filling your lungs with a sparking mixture of excitement and nerves. 

That feeling only grew stronger as you carefully accepted the file from him, twisting the clasp and opening it up just as you had many times before. 

And just as those times before, the giant word ‘Nyx’ had been printed out in bold Times New Roman font, your legal name typed much smaller to the right of it. Below, a black and white image of you was displayed next to a plethora of additional information like your age, status, and, undeniably most important, your quirk. 

Usually, the rest of the content was filled with information, either on a group or the specific members that would be subject to your infiltration. This instance was no different, although it still had you pausing as you soaked in the data. 

The images before you were ones that you had seen scattered across wanted posters and news stations alike in the past few weeks. The first paper sported an extremely blurry photograph, like it had been captured by someone either very nervous or in a hurry. Still, it was easy to see the pale blue locks and milky skin. 

The next didn’t even have a face at all, but rather an inky cloud of swirling violet along with a golden pair of eyes. Unfortunately, whatever printer this had been created from didn’t do the character justice, those pupil-less flames a muted excuse for the usual glow that you had seen on the television.

You looked up at your boss. “The League of Villains?” He just stared back at you, waiting for a sign of displeasure or hesitancy. Instead, you offered him a look of determination. “How would you like me to get in?”

Generally, you would be tasked with the specifics.

Be creative, he might say. Just try to help us keep any casualties to a minimum.

This time seemed to be different. “Use the Cremation Villain.”

Clearly, the shock must have broken through your dutiful, indifferent expression based on the short frown Rin shot back at you. You voiced your surprise regardless. “What? You’re talking about-”

“Dabi, yes. I’m sure you heard of him.” Those steel fingers ruffled through the stack of papers you were holding, drawing out the one with your specific target's information. “We’ve received intel that he has been regularly attending a certain bar on the outside of the city. As of now, he’s our best shot at getting into the League.”

Your eyes flit over the parchment, taking in the information. His criminal moniker had been bolded just like yours, but ‘legal name unknown’ had been branded beneath. 

‘Unknown’ seemed to be a common theme concerning his data.

At least, until it got to the ‘wanted for’ section. 

Phrases such as serial murder, arson, and torture were easy standouts. 

“Fifty percent of the villains in this city are homicidal maniacs. The other half are self-righteous psychopaths who believe they can heal society by taking out heroes,” Rin continued as you read. “Your target is a bit of both. Use that.”

Nodding absentmindedly, you began to flick through the papers once more, this time settling on a teenage blonde with fangs and a bright grin. 

“You’re about the same age. I’m positive you won’t have an issue using that as well.” 

That definitely made you look up. “And you’re talking about…”

The stream of questions seemed to be gnawing at his patience, emerald eyes narrowing in a way that made your stomach curl. “Seduce him. This wouldn’t be the first time.”

It hadn’t been. 

But those times had been easy. 

Simple.

A bunch of lower grade criminals who couldn’t beat you on their best day. Maybe a drug dealer or quirk smuggler. At worst, it had been a member of the Italian mafia that had sent you on a flight across Europe. 

This was different. 

This was a murderer; a prominent member of one of the most infamous groups in Japan, one that had been known specifically for killing people like you. 

Being an underground hero meant that you had specialized in undercover missions more than a few times. Over the years, you had become bodyguards, celebrity guests, and lackeys. Each mask fit your face perfectly, seeing as it had been kept a secret for your entire career. 

And anyone who had been given the pleasure of linking it to your real identity was secure behind bars. 

“Do we have a problem?”

The comment pulled you back from your thoughts, back to that stern, glaring face that tugged an immediate response from you. “No, sir.”

“Good. I’ll have more information sent over by tomorrow night.” Gaze falling over your form, Rin took a moment before giving you a small nod. “Dismissed.”

That tiny dip, his own discrete way of saying ‘I believe in you,’ followed you out of the office, a beacon of light blinking amidst the murky pool of unease. 

Still, that luminance continued to dim as you left the HPSC office, its muted glow slowing flickering out and leaving no distraction from the situation you had found yourself in.

⭒∘☽☾∘⭒

The first time you had met Dabi was around three months ago. 

Well, ‘met’ was technically a strong word, but you couldn’t exactly come up with another term to describe the interactions.

As an underground hero, most of your time had been spent taking care of the dirty jobs the more popular pros couldn’t be bothered with. It wasn’t anything that you minded; working within the shadows had been something written within the strands of your DNA. Your role was something more akin to a legally endorsed vigilante, seeing that fifty percent of the police force didn’t even know who you really were. You didn’t receive any public applause or acknowledgement, but you personally didn’t care one way or another.

But it was always a nice change when you were blessed with a different opportunity. 

That day had been one of them.

Apparently, you had been one of the only heroes within a mile of the attack. To be honest, you hadn’t actually been on the clock, but you had been trained to keep a pack of all your essentials whenever you were away from the commissioner's office. It had taken seconds to pull the suit from your bag and slip it on, the ebony fabric light and tailored to be donned quickly whenever the time came.

With the slightest bit of grief, you left behind your street clothes and container of takeout you had specifically decided to brave the public streets for before sprinting toward the chaos. Thankfully, there was still enough light left in the day to have darkness pooling in the corners of the isolated alley. You jumped into one of the shadows, allowing your form to coagulate with the murky gloom and sweep you in the direction of incomprehensible yelling.

Smoke assaulted your senses when you pulled back out of the shade, creeping in through the mesh of your mask to tingle your throat. The sound of screaming came next, piercing through the air and cacophony of madness around you. 

Civilians were running in all directions from what appeared to be the center of the havoc, one of the newer hero agencies that had grown popular due to their more recently hired tree-manipulating pro. Now, the shining windows covering the building had been blasted apart, their shards of glass littering the sidewalk. They crackled and popped under the feet of office workers and the general public alike as they fled the scene. 

As they passed, you silently stole three of the shadows they left behind, drawing them upward from the concrete until they began to forge dark figures.

Their inky forms stared at you with eyeless faces, attentive and ready for whatever command you would issue. Without having to speak, you sent them off toward the crumbling structure to make sure there wasn’t anyone left trapped inside. Each was just slightly different from the next, the contrasting features stemming from something as simple as an outline of a baseball cap or baggie sweater their original owner might have been wearing. Regardless, they worked perfectly in tandem, accepting you as their similarly clad leader.

Your wardrobe was fairly small, so it didn’t really have much competition, but your hero suit was probably your favorite piece of clothing, an opinion that would probably withstand time, even if you someday found yourself with an extensive closet. The material was surprisingly breathable, even with the short hood and mask that ran over your face. With the way it completely enclosed your body, it even made it difficult to distinguish between you and your shadow soldiers on a dark night. The outfit covered every inch of your flesh like a second skin, barely noticeable yet protective against anything from flames to acid.

That statement was meant quite literally, seeing as once while on a mission to catch a group lacing pain reliever pills in order to destroy a pharmaceutical company by killing its patients, one of the offenders had tried to overcome you by tipping a vat of cyanide in your direction. 

Obviously, it hadn’t worked, yet you were grateful to the commission designers regardless.

But unfortunately, just as some bullet proof vests were not similarly immune to the slashes of a knife, your costume had been designed with the idea that you, a professional, would be quick enough to avoid most sharp force objects. 

Today, you hadn’t been.

It was an explosion that had gotten you, or more specifically the giant chunk of cement it had seen barreling your way. The concrete had been blasted apart, sending pieces spiraling toward a haggle of young children screaming in tearful terror. 

Arms outstretched, your reach elongated towards them as you drew from any shadows that the evening sunset had painted across the city-scape. The darkness curled around the rock like vines and then you pulled, yanking it away from the group and back into the ground with a thump. 

A small sigh of relief stole your attention just long enough for you to barely notice another wayward lump of blasted sidewalk careening your way. 

If you had been any slower, it might have decapitated you completely. It just barely missed you, the jagged edge slightly grazing across your face and leaving a small, scarlet scratch in its wake.

Thankfully, the wound wouldn’t scar, especially with some aloe and time spent in the medical wing. However, the actual scrape wasn’t what worried you, but rather the small strip of fabric of your mask that had been torn away in the process. It left a diagonal opening on part of your face exposed, specifically the upper part of your nose and right eye. 

There was barely enough time to worry about that, however, and you turned your attention to a flipped over minivan caught beneath a fallen lamp post. 

With a giant yank, the wispy fingers of your quirk were able to tug the light away from the car, allowing you to pry open the dented doors and help the elderly couple out. The silver haired man grabbed his husband once they were on solid ground and dragged him away with a rapid thank you shouted in your direction, the latter clutching his partner's arm with hands clasped in fervent prayer.

You moved on to a fallen teenager whose leg seemed to be twisted in an unholy angle. With a flick of your finger, two shadows tore away from the ankles of a duo sprinting past. Both soldiers glided to either side of the boy, wrapping a wispy arm under his shoulders before carefully lifting him and whisking him away.

Whenever you were chosen to participate in a more publicly visible fight, the message that came along with it was always clear: don’t make a scene. 

Press was a nasty, probing beast, sinking its claws to any new heroic face with a flashy power it could find. From the distance, you could begin to hear the clicking call of their camera shutters, a noise that you had been explicitly ordered to avoid at all costs.

Thankfully, more pros had begun to arrive, giving you leeway to make a quiet exit as soon as possible. 

Your value was founded in the concept of secrecy, something the commission was desperate to preserve. Getting civilians to safety then hightailing it out was your one and only task. 

However, it was almost impossible to look away when you saw the League arrive. 

It had only been a few weeks since they had made their debut in the media, but it hadn’t taken long for their story to spread like a disease. It infected the public’s sense of peace, keeping families indoors after nightfall and hero agencies in constant disarray from the impending threat they posed. 

The one with periwinkle curls was easy to recognize, especially with the plethora of pale, amputated hands covering every foot of his sickly body. Some of the others were just minor league criminals you'd seen as well, probably picked up by the group with the promise of more power. 

But there was one that you couldn’t place. He must have been new. The dark purple scars lining the flesh of his hands, neck, and face would have been hard to forget. The rest of skin was covered by a white shirt and long black coat, but you were almost sure that the marks would continue to trail throughout the entirety of his form. 

That's when he lifted a hand towards what you noticed to be the older couple from earlier. 

The silver haired man seemed to have tripped, his partner continuing to mutter prayers as he attempted to hoist him up. It seemed to be no avail and a bright blue fire crackled to life in the cradle of their assailants touch. 

It was almost instinctive, the way you raised an arm of your own, grasping at any remaining sparks of power you had left. The shadows shot up from the corners of the streets and out through your fingers, creating an ocean of pure black that washed over them. Your waves were strong enough to push them out of the way, but amply gentle in order to keep their aging bones from being crushed under the sweeping tide. 

Sapphires flames rushed by the pair, just barely missing the newly singed soles of their shoes. 

The villain seemed surprised for a moment, palm curling in distaste as his gaze traveled towards the direction of his victims' salvation. 

Over to you. 

There was another flash of azure that had you freezing, but it didn’t seem to be stemming from his hand. No, was coming from his eyes, a pair of glowing cerulean irises that pierced right through you.

That icy glare froze the blood in your veins, a horrendous juxtaposition to the stream of flooding heat he had just released. Suddenly, the small rip in your mask made you feel all too exposed as that glare trailed over your form. 

Shit

Shit Shit Shit Shit

Rin’s voice laced over your own. 

Get out of there

The villain had trapped your gaze in his just long enough for Kamui Woods, the shiny new hero at this agency, to curl the couple into the tender confines of his branches and whisk them away to safety. You just barely caught them in a tearful embrace as the timbers encapsulated their shaking form. 

The scarred man seemed to have noticed as well, glancing back for a moment, a motion that had you jumping back into the shadows and swimming away to solitude. Screams and explosions began to melt away from your ears as you traversed back toward the alleyway, the knowledge that more heroes were arriving to take care of the situation stifling the needful ache to go back and help stinging in your chest.

Your body had begun to shake when you pulled away from the gloom. The scene had left a distasteful mix of unease and exhaust that rumbled in your stomach throughout the entire journey home.

It wasn’t until you actually arrived back to your room that you were able to take a real breath, knowing that there was no way that the chaos of today would have followed you back. Still, you couldn’t seem to shake the feeling tickling your skin. 

And those eyes. 

Those blue, glowing irises burned into the back of your eyelids, clutching onto your consciousness as you slowly allowed the sweet relief of sleep to encapsulate you, hoping that by tomorrow, you might forget their simmering glow and the way he looked at that couple before attempting to set them ablaze. 

Pure indifference. 

It was at the moment that you realized just how grateful you were to be working out of the spotlight, away from any fight that would include the League. 

You never wanted to see him again.