#I could just repost them but I like going through the tags and reading what people have said🥹

[joelssimp]

STILL | CHAPTER 22

CW: Anxiety, uncomfortable situations.

6.2K words

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22 - City of Angels

New Year’s came and went without noise.

Well, not the party noise I’m talking about. Pedro’s family had sent me endless videos from Santiago, all of them dancing, laughing, shouting over the music in the background. They were having too much fun, and finally enjoying some slow family time. He deserves it so much. I saw him working so damn hard for almost half a year.

The real silence was the kind that pressed against my chest, a weight I couldn’t lift up, making me hold my breath. The photo hadn’t surfaced.

Not in blogs. Not on Twitter. Not on fan accounts. Not even in one of those blurry celebrity gossip reels that guessed every man Pedro ever looked at as his date for the moment. 

Nothing.

I let myself believe that it didn’t happen. That no one took the picture of us and Pedro was just being paranoid. Or maybe they have gotten to it in time, that Sue or Franklin or whoever waved a check in the air and made it disappear. That Pedro's life stayed clean of it, and mine… my life could stay a little more anonymous. Mine could still be mine for a while longer.

I let myself exhale.

Shouldn’t have.

Because a couple of weeks later — just when I’d packed my main camera body and plugged the caps for two of my favorite lenses for my trip to Los Angeles — Bella sent me a screenshot.

It wasn’t even a big page. Some low-tier pop culture gossip account, the kind that normally focused on “sightings” and dating rumors with more Photoshop than substance. But the picture was real. Too real.

Pedro’s arms wrapped around my waist. My face tilted up toward his, our foreheads nearly touching. It wasn’t scandalous. It wasn’t even the kiss we shared in a private corner. But it looked like love. And it looked undeniable.

The caption underneath tried to be clever, but I didn’t even read it. My ears started ringing before I finished the first sentence.

I sat down on the floor, next to my open suitcase.

Kate came out of the kitchen, chewing on a piece of toast. “What’s wrong?”

I showed her the phone.

She squinted. “Okay, it’s not the worst picture. You look great. He looks stupidly in love. So?”

I gave her a look. “I’m supposed to go to LA in three days. For photography. For my work. Not to be the mystery girlfriend.”

She blinked. Then slowly sat down beside me. “Okay… yeah. I see it now.”

“I don’t want the narrative to change,” I muttered. “I worked hard for this. Really hard. I’ve spent years behind cameras. On cold sets. I’ve taken pictures with frostbite on my fingers. I don’t want it to be about him.”

She was quiet for a moment. “You don’t think he’d want that either, right?”

I paused. Had to look at her.

Because no, I didn’t think Pedro would want that. He’d fought too hard to keep me out of the spotlight for exactly this reason. He wanted me to be protected, sure. But he also wanted me to have the space to own the things that were mine. And this was mine, this recognition for my work, the one I busted my ass doing. All mine.

Still, it didn’t matter what he wanted. It mattered how fast things spun.

By the time I landed in LAX, two more gossip accounts had reposted it. One of them captioned it like a clue in a mystery thriller: The real reason Pedro’s been glowing lately?

No tag. No name. Just that photo. They didn’t know who I was, but I guess it's a matter of time for them to find out.

It didn’t matter that I had interviews lined up to talk about my work. About capturing intimacy through a lens. About what it meant to be behind the camera, not in front of it. No, that picture had already put me somewhere I never wanted to be.

By the time the Uber pulled up outside the hostel, I felt like I was stepping into someone else’s storyline. And all I had was my bag and a hollowed-out version of my name trying not to get rewritten.

The hostel was small, clean, with pops of blue everywhere — the hallway, the reception, bathroom and the shared bedrooms with too many bunk beds. I could smell the faint scent of coconut-scented cleaning spray lingering in the shared bathroom. It was two streets up from the Santa Monica Pier, just far enough to keep the noise distant, close enough that I could hear the waves if I leaned out the window at night.

My schedule was packed. Only three short days, one of them being this half arsed day of arriving and heading to an interview. But I made time for the sand. Just an hour, just a selfish little hour before everything began.

I left my gear locked up in the footlocker, pulled a sweatshirt over my head, and walked down to the beach. My toes sank into the sand with that satisfying, slightly cold give. The ocean was loud in the best way: steady, ancient, impossible to ignore. I wandered until the pier arched in silhouette against the sky, and I stopped near the edge of the water, watching as it pulled back and rushed forward like an organism taking deep breaths.

That was the best fucking sunset I’ve seen in my entire life too.

Not in that postcard way, not just pink and orange. Those gorgeous colors were built in layers. Deep gold against cotton blue. Flecks of lavender just above the horizon. It didn’t look real at all. 

Canada always gave me something to remember, but the east had nothing on the west side of this part of the world. Los Angeles’ sunset lasted at least a full hour. The sun dipping down behind the clouds, low enough that it kissed the ocean with such reverence.

That was a magical moment.

But then my phone buzzed against my thigh, cutting through the silence that part of the beach had to offer.

I hesitated, then slid my finger over the screen. “Hey.”

A soft inhale. “You’re by the water, aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” I said. “How’d you know?”

“You sound like it,” he murmured. “Like you’re breathing deep again.”

I pressed my heel into the sand, eyes on the tide. “You saw it.”

“Of course I saw it.”

“You okay?”

He laughed “That’s my line.”

I smiled despite everything else. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not,” he said. “You’re holding the weight of the world on your shoulders again. You only do that when you think something’s about to fall apart.”

“It’s just… I want to be known for my work. Not for who I’m dating.”

“You are,” he said quickly. “You will be. The people who matter, they’ll see that. You’re by far the best at what you do.”

I swallowed hard. “We should’ve been more careful.”

“No, they should mind their own fucking business,” he snapped, then sighed, gentler now. “I’m here, you know. Just across town, in costume and holding a green kid most of the day. I hate not seeing you.”

“I hate not seeing you too.”

A long pause.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said. “Promise.”

The tide touched my toes, the cold bringing me back to this uneasy feeling, and I pulled back instinctively. The sky was getting darker now, the sun just a thin streak of fire clinging to the edge of the world.

I turned away from the water.

“I have to go get ready,” I said softly. “First interview’s tonight. Indie studio. Somewhere by the edge of Hollywood.”

“I’ll be watching,” he said. “Not like a creep. Just... someone who’s very proud.”

That pulled a real laugh from me. “Okay.”

“Knock them dead, Cariño.”

I hung up, heart heavier and lighter all at once.

The sand stuck to my feet as I walked back toward the street. The weight of my gear waited for me up in the hostel room. My made up name, my work, was going to be spoken into microphones soon. Maybe for the right reasons. Maybe not.

It should be funny how I didn’t believe what everyone around set said about the traffic in LA. But now I was late and this was exactly as terrible as everyone promised it would be.

The rideshare driver muttered curses in both English and Tagalog as we inched forward, brakes screeching, horns singing like a tired choir. I sat in the backseat, gripping the strap of my purse so tightly my knuckles turned white. My sweatshirt stuck to the back of my neck. My palms were slick with sweat. It was supposed to be cold here. January meant winter… But apparently not in California.

I kept checking the time. Five minutes late. Then two more. Then we caught a green light and I paid the driver and bolted out the car door as soon as we pulled up to the studio lot — a squat, boxy building nestled behind an ugly stretch of parking lot. A woman with a clipboard and an earpiece was waiting at the entrance. She barely looked up as I skidded to a stop in front of her, panting.

“You made it,” she said, as if I hadn’t just raced across half of Los Angeles in mental agony. “We’re ready for you.”

I nodded, wiped my hands on my jeans, and followed her down a narrow hallway that smelled like coffee, old carpet, and anxiety.

Inside the little studio, the lights were already up. Too bright. There was one armchair for me, a faux-leather number that stuck to the backs of my thighs when I sat down. The interviewer was a man in his forties, thick glasses, and expensive sneakers. He was waiting behind a desk, sipping from a branded metal water bottle.

“Hey,” he said casually. “Thanks for coming. You nervous?”

“A little,” I admitted, forcing a polite smile.

“Don’t be. Easy stuff.”

He smiled back, but it didn’t reach his eyes. There was something calculating behind them. I should’ve known.

The countdown started. Lights came up brighter. A red dot blinked on the camera. The intro of their show rolled up, and then someone signed up for us to start.

“Today,” he began, “we’re joined by Still, a rising name in the world of unit still photography. I know you’ve seen her work without even realizing it, with iconic frames, raw emotion, depth that pulls you in…”

I smiled. Okay, not bad.

“But let’s be honest, folks. You’re not just here for the work today. The internet’s been buzzing since this photo dropped earlier this week—”

And then it was on screen.

Me and Pedro. His hand against my cheek. My hand at the back of his neck. The kind of touch you couldn’t mistake for anything else. Love, written all over our faces. Private, but somehow made its way into the world.

I felt my stomach drop straight through the chair.

The interviewer chuckled like we were sharing a joke. “So, I have to ask—what’s it like being the most talked about ‘mystery woman’ in Hollywood right now?”

I blinked. Breathed in. Out. Counted to five before I answered.

“I’d prefer if we talked about my work,” I said, careful. As professional as I could be in that circumstance.

“Of course,” he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “But your work is tied to him, isn’t it? I mean, you met on set. There’s overlap. Surely that’s worth talking about.”

My smile stretched tight. “My work stands on its own.”

He nodded, but the questions kept circling. Like sharks.

What was Pedro like on set? Was it love at first sight? How long had we been hiding it? Was it hard to work together while being involved? Were we serious?

I kept answering as best I could, redirecting when I could, pretending I didn’t feel every word tightening something inside me. My throat was dry, my spine so stiff, and my jaw ached from how tight it was.

My photos weren’t brought up once. Not the work I’d done in the past, before covid, the same one that brought me this nomination. Not the importance to have a unit still photographer on set, which was the question I rehearsed the most. Not the print series that got picked up by that independent arts magazine back in early 2019. Not the landscapes I’d captured with my own goddamn sweat in negative temps.

Not one single frame.

I sat there and answered questions about someone I loved, who wasn’t even in the room. Answered questions about a relationship that I wasn’t alone in, so it felt unfair for me to answer them alone… all while the thing I came to talk about was slowly erased behind the buzz.

The red light finally blinked off.

And I stood up in a single heartbeat, so ready to be out of that place.

The interviewer stood too. “Hey,” he said. “Just, off the record… I’m sorry.”

I turned, still clutching the strap of my purse like a lifeline in the middle of the rise of my anger.

He shrugged. “That kind of attention… it only comes around this field once in a lifetime. I had to take advantage of it for the sake of the show.”

I stared at him.

Then I turned and walked out without a single word. Vision blurring with some red in it. I was furious. But the crying didn’t come with it, not in the hallway, not on the uber ride back. Not even on the elevator up to the hostel room. 

But my stomach still hadn’t unclenched.

And my work still felt like it had disappeared under the blinding lights of an almost kiss under the international departure sign.

Interview number two wasn’t much better.

They dressed it up differently — fluffed it with compliments, framed it like they admired me — but the questions still hovered just the same. Relationship-adjacent. A carefully constructed loop around the same subject dressed up in softer words.

Interview number three? Somehow worse. Like they weren’t even trying to hide it anymore. The host opened with “So what’s it like to kiss a man all the internet is in love with?” and I think something in me detached.

I smiled. I answered. I did the thing.

Then I walked out of the building into the Californian sun, turned my phone to Do Not Disturb, and headed to the boardwalk not far from my hostel.

The city was buzzing all around, even in winter there was a warm sun and Venice was loud, messy, and full of contradictions. Graffiti walls and palm trees, tourists in hats and skaters with headphones bigger than their shirts. The kind of place where anonymity returned in a strange way. No one cared who I was. I was not the girl Pedro Pascal almost got caught kissing. Here I wasn’t the one dating the “internet’s sweetheart”. No, here everyone was too caught up in their own rhythm to care about my stupid titles.

I walked, just to move. Just to get out of my head.

My purse hung from my shoulder, and I reached into it, fingers closing around that analogue camera body I had stolen from Pedro’s place, filled with the expired film my ex-professor gave to me. “Just for you” he said back then. Take the photo just for you, not for press, not for production.

Just for me, again.

The sun hit everything in gold, and I shot without even thinking. 

A kid on a skateboard mid-air. 

A woman dancing alone in front of a boombox in one of those weed-friendly stores. 

A group of teens spray-painting a wall so fast they moved like they were late to something. Sand catching wind like it was alive.

I kept walking until the boardwalk thinned out and the noise settled behind me.

My mind wandered off to the next interview I had scheduled. Somewhere around the Santa Monica airport area, just a podcast this time. But I didn’t want to do it all over again. The questions were becoming too invasive, too much for me. My anxiety was poking through the roof.

The walk helped a little, it brought my heart-rate down. But all the other signs were there, and getting harder to ignore.

Pedro had called a few times in that meantime. The Do Not Disturb sign held most of the notifications that didn’t go through, and almost all of them were his name.

I stared at it for a few seconds before returning one of the calls.

“Hi.”

“Hi, Cariño.”

Just hearing his voice made something in my chest loosen. But it didn’t undo the awful morning and part of the afternoon. I leaned against the wood of one of the lifeguard towers, watching waves curl into shore.

“I saw the first interview,” he said softly.

“Yeah?” I asked. I knew what was coming. My voice didn’t hide much.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so fucking sorry.”

I closed my eyes, swallowing hard. “It’s not your fault.”

“It is. In a way. They didn’t care until they knew about us. Until that fucking picture.”

He sounded wrecked. Like he’d been carrying it all day. I didn’t want that. Not from him.

“I’m fine,” I said. But it came out as a bad lie. I didn’t know how to lie to him.

He didn’t answer for a second. Then, “No, you’re not. And it kills me.”

There were too many people coming and going around me, too many smells — weed, sunscreen, hot dogs, tacos — and too many voices blurring into one long, loud thing. But I still heard his. So worried about me, clear and steady. It made my heart ache a little.

“You’re worth it,” I told him.

I meant it. I meant it.

But I wasn’t sure I sounded convincing. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him, or just myself.

“I wish I could be with you,” he confessed, voice small, almost like a secret.

I looked out at the Pacific. The way the sun hit it made the water look like melted glass.

“Me too.”

He paused. “What’s next?”

“One more. Podcast. Then I sleep.” My tone went bland. I’m sure he could hear the anxiety cursing through my words. “The award result comes out tomorrow morning, online.”

“Text me after your interview. No matter how late.”

“I will.”

“Okay.” He said slowly. Holding something back.

I hung up, slipped the camera back into my purse, and turned toward the street to call me another uber ride.

The address wasn’t far. just a little studio tucked behind a strip mall with an organic juice bar and a tattoo shop that had “Walk-ins welcome” scrawled across the glass.

The driver dropped me off, and I stood in front of the door. A neon ON AIR sign flickered inside.

Last one. Then it’s done.

I reached for the handle.

It all felt like a creative and safe space. Colorful walls and charmingly written phrases all over it. Posters of past guests lined too clumsy. Handwritten notes taped to a corkboard behind the mic table. It didn’t feel like the last three interviews. No harsh lights. No overly rehearsed smiles.

Just a small team. Three mics. Coffee mugs that didn’t match.

A woman, maybe in her early forties, big smile, lived-in voice, greeted me with a hug like we’d already met in past lives. I think her name was Carla. Or Carly. My brain was too fried to hold onto details like that, but I instantly liked her.

We did a quick mic check. She offered me tea. The intro music played, just a simple acoustic guitar riff reverberating over some worn speakers. The red light blinked on.

It was showtime, again. And somehow, everything shifted.

My introduction was short and all about my work.

“So,” she said, leaning forward with a grin, “your color palette is distinct. You shoot like someone who hears music through their eyes. How did that develop?”

I blinked. My fingers curled lightly around the mic.

That was the first question.

Not about who I was dating. Not about Pedro. Not about stolen moments or rumors or the tabloid headline I knew was still circulating like a ghost ready to hunt me for the next few months.

She talked about my work.

I exhaled, slow and surprised, and smiled.

We talked about everything — the first disposable camera I ever held when I was ten, how my brother used to hate being my test subject, the exact moment I knew I wanted to shoot film sets. I told her about Calgary’s freezing winds and the way I’d learned to shoot quickly in extreme weather, how I studied behind-the-scenes books like they were scriptures for my own Sunday church of photographers. I even talked about how I’d rather shoot a story in shadows than stage a fake moment in perfect light.

She asked about Still photography in film. What people misunderstand about it. We laughed. Talked about why the quiet frames matter.

I felt safe there. Not entirely, because I knew it all could change in a single second.

Halfway through, there was a small little moment where I thought she might pivot.

“So,” she said, “you’ve had…a big year. You’ve been traveling a lot. Working with some very big names.”

I stiffened and braced myself.

But then she smiled again, a friendly, calm and kind smile. “Is it hard to stay grounded in the middle of that? Or does the camera keep you centered?”

Just like that, she’d left him out of it.

And I could breathe again.

We wrapped after about an hour and a half. She hugged me again. Told me she loved the way I spoke about storytelling like it was something alive.

“Want to grab something to eat?” she asked.

So we did. Just the two of us. A small, warm restaurant with mismatched cutlery and handwritten menus. I ordered something I couldn’t pronounce and didn’t care. We talked more. About women in creative fields, about burnout, about how film still mattered in a world that moved too fast.

I needed that late-afternoon/early-evening. I needed that space to talk about what matters the most to me throughout my entire life.

For the first time since landing in L.A., I felt like myself again.

When I finally walked back to the hostel, I was full. Tired in that good “I made it through war” way.

Santa Monica streets were strangely quiet, the night air soft and salt-heavy. I stepped into the common room, waved at a girl folding a map by the couch, and climbed the stairs to my shared-room.

I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment. The smile wouldn’t leave my face.

There was so much still spinning around. The headlines. Pedro. The noise coming into our little bubble and breaking our quiet and private relationship.

But tonight, I’d done something real.

And it felt like mine.

The loading little circle spins again on my screen. Nothing yet.

Her award result was supposed to come at nine in the morning. I took my break for it. Someone was about to come through and call my name again to resume shooting for the morning. But I needed to see the result.

I needed to see her name popping with the highest praises. Just because she deserves it. She’s a genius… She's my freaking genius.

The notification came in. The little tab with Unit Still Photographer of the Year: Rising Talent Category Announced.

I clicked it with a half-beat of hope and a full beat of dread.

And then I saw it.

She won.

Just like that — her nickname in bold, above a cropped photo she probably hates, under a paragraph that barely scratches the surface of what she actually does. Still. This anonymous persona she created to hide the personal stuff. I stared at the screen longer than necessary. The makeup artist who was working on retouches had to nudge me.

“You good, Pascal?” she asked, holding a sponge in midair.

“Yeah,” I said, voice rough with emotions. “Better than good.”

I texted her first. A short, You did it. I’m so fucking proud of you. Then followed it with a series of emojis I’d never normally use, but it felt right for that special moment.

Then I made a call.

Private lunch. Back garden of this tiny place tucked in the hills, barely marked, half the tables covered in plants and shade. No press, no fans, no headlines… Just good food and no cameras.

I invited Sarah and Oscar too. This rare pocket of time where we were all in the same city for a couple of days. They were asking me out since before I landed, and this felt right. I was going to introduce her to them, because they’re real, good friends, and the kind of people I wanted in her corner. Sarah had been dying to meet her anyway. Oscar said yes before I finished explaining.

They weren’t here to fangirl. They were here to meet the person responsible for my smiles for almost half a year.

When it came time for lunch I was beaming like a kid on a sugar high.

She was on time, always on time. Walked up the gravel path, wide sunglasses, hair pulled up like she couldn’t be bothered, camera slung over one shoulder like always. The kind of look who said ‘tourist, but too cool to show’. And she still looked like she didn’t believe it — like the award was a prank someone would take back any second.

But she smiled when she saw me.

And that smile was enough to knock the air out of my chest.

She folded into my arms like we hadn’t seen each other in years, not just days. Buried her face in my neck, and I felt her shoulders shake. She was not crying, just something bigger than joy. Something that felt like relief.

“I thought I’d blow every interview so bad they’d take the nomination back,” she mumbled.

I kissed the top of her head. “You could’ve said nothing and still won.”

She pulled back, gave me a look. “You’re biased.”

“Completely.”

We laughed. That easy kind of laugh we only found when no one else was around. I pulled her to the most private area of the restaurant, and there I was able to throw my arm behind her chair, kiss her cheek, and say how much I missed her.

Sarah and Oscar showed up a little after that. Sarah had a small gift for her, just a bracelet with a camera pendant. Oscar brought a tiny box with a ribbon, saying it was from Elvira, who’d followed her work for some months now, and somehow being watched by this brilliant filmmaker and producer was the one thing that stuck to her.

I was so damn lucky to be able to watch the girl that filled my days with so much love interact with two of the friends that knew me through it all. I watched her hold her own. Not shrink under the fact that they were two Hollywood stars, not only my two best friends. She had them wrapped in minutes, telling some story about freezing her fingers off during a snow shoot in Calgary, miming how she had to use her elbow to adjust the settings on her camera because she couldn’t feel her hands.

She had them by the end of the bread basket. And she fitted so perfectly beside me, with her knee touching mine, her body leaning against mine when she laughed too hard from one of Oscars’ jokes.

Sarah leaned in closer across the table, chin resting on one palm, soaking up every detail of the story she was telling — something about the dead of winter in Newfoundland and Labrador, a sunrise shoot where she’d lost feeling in both hands and had to adjust her camera with her elbows.

“You elbowed the shutter?” Sarah asked, eyes wide and a grin of someone being entertained. “I’ve met actors who won’t walk on wet pavement. You’re out here jabbing your gear like a hockey brawler just to get the shot?”

“She exaggerates,” I said about Sarah to her, whispering as a shared secret, but both of my friends were watching with a smile.

Oscar shook his head, sipping his drink. “No, no. Let her finish. I want to hear how you used your forehead to change ISO.”

I laughed, and she turned her eyes toward me, already rolling them, but with affection behind it.

“We were on this frozen lake,” she went on, gesturing with her hands. “It was so early the sky wasn’t even properly blue yet. The actor was late, the light was perfect, and I wasn’t gonna let it go to waste.”

“Of course not,” Oscar nodded.

“I had hand warmers. But I gave them to the actress, because she looked like she was about to cry.”

Sarah reached across the table and put a hand over hers. “You’re insane. I love you.”

She snorted. “It’s kind of in the job description. Insane, stubborn, perpetually underdressed.”

Oscar pointed a fork at her. “No. That’s the job description for actors too.”

“You’d be surprised how much crossover there is,” she teased.

The waiter brought more water. I refilled her glass, just so I had an excuse to touch her hand again.

I didn’t know if I’d ever get used to the way she made everything around her feel…honest. Like the conversations had more room to breathe when she was there. Sarah noticed it too — I caught her watching her when she thought no one else was looking. Not in a weird way. More like admiration. Like she could see everything I saw.

“So how did you even start?” Oscar asked, pushing aside his empty plate. “Photography, I mean.”

She leaned back, chewing the inside of her cheek for a second. “It was always there, I like to think. But I think what really triggered the start was my 9th birthday. My dad gave me my first analogue camera. It wasn’t much, but he said it should do the trick to get me into something other than cartoons and tv shows.” She shrugged, not ashamed of sharing the personal side of her “ It was something he found on a garage sale, being a father of two, and doing by himself, most of our things came from second hand. So no one knew if it still worked.”

“And it did?” Sarah asked.

“Sort of. It jammed every third photo. But I got obsessed with light. I’d go out at sunset just to figure out how it changed skin tones, shadows. I didn’t even know what aperture meant until I was almost thirteen.”

Oscar smiled. “That’s the best way to learn.”

“I think I just liked that it let me be invisible. I didn’t want people looking at me. I wanted to be the one looking at them.”

I reached for her hand again under the table, and she didn’t pull away. Just intertwined her fingers with mine.

Sarah leaned back in her seat, wine glass turning slow in her fingers. “You know, Pedro told us you were brilliant. But I didn’t expect this.”

She laughed nervously. “This?”

“This,” Sarah said, gesturing at her whole body. “Smart, hilarious, stubborn, elbow-photographer. All of it. You’re kind of remarkable.”

Oscar nodded in agreement. “And way cooler than he made you sound.”

“Wow,” I said, grinning. “I see how it is.”

“She is cooler than you,” Sarah said, sipping her wine. “No offense.”

“None taken,” I said. “I already knew that.”

Her fingers tightened around mine under the table.

I could see the way she was holding it all inside — the anxiety from the past few days, the weight of the interviews, the way the press had twisted everything she worked so hard for. But here with them? She was okay. At least for now.

They talked shop for a while, a full conversation about cameras, light, the difference between digital and film. She opened up about her favorite lenses, the ones she couldn’t afford yet, how she used expired film on purpose sometimes because the unpredictability made things feel more alive.

Oscar was fascinated. Sarah already planning a photoshoot with her.

“She’s gonna blow up,” Sarah said when she went to the bathroom later. “Mark my words.”

“I know,” I said.

Oscar clinked his glass with mine. “You picked a good one.”

“She picked me,” I said. “I’m just trying not to fuck it up.”

“You’re happy” Sarah pointed at my face, and my smile doubled its size “Haven’t seen that in a while.”

“She’s good to me” I had to put my glass down, and my eyes found theirs “And I don’t know about her, but I think this is it for me. No other life I can imagine, there will be no after-her.”

Their eyes screamed understatement. They both already found their happy-after-ever, and this was mine. No bullshit in between. She was it.

She came back and slid into her seat like she belonged there. And when we said our goodbyes — Sarah hugging her so tightly it looked like she might cry, Oscar promising to send her his wife’s favorite photography books — I saw something change in her posture.

Lighter.

And I knew better than to push the moment. Just let it be. Let her hold onto that breath of fresh air for as long as she could before the world could push itself into her mind again.

We lingered by the side of the restaurant, away from prying eyes and private enough so no lenses could catch us. It was that in-between hour when the city hadn’t decided whether it wanted to be gold or grey for the rest of the afternoon. There was no one around but a couple walking their dog across the street, and some barista taking out trash from the place next door.

She had her coat folded over one arm, bag slung over the other. Her fingers brushed mine. I caught her hand before she could tuck it away out of habit.

“You sure you don’t want me to take you back?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

She gave a tiny shake of her head, smiling a little. “Let’s not risk another lens aimed our way.”

“I hate that we even have to think like that,” I muttered.

“I don’t,” she said. “It’s not ideal, but it’s part of the deal, right?”

I looked at her. The curve of her lips, soft from wine, eyes a little tired from the past few days but still sharp, always sharper than her lenses could ever be. “You know… you don’t have to brush it off.”

“I’m not brushing it off,” she said, voice low, but not defensive. “I just don’t want to give it more oxygen than it already has. I’m not gonna post anything, or talk to anyone about us. I don’t want to make it a thing.”

“And what if people keep making it one anyway?” I asked.

She looked at me, and shrugged, “Then let them.”

It knocked the air out of me for a second. It was not dismissive, not even close to it. It was… conviction and strength all wrapped up in a kind of love I didn’t know I was worthy of. She’d been dragged through headlines, shoved into the narrative of someone else’s life without asking for it, and somehow she was still standing. And even better, she was standing next to me.

Still choosing us and refusing to let go of any of it.

“I don’t care what they say,” I told her. “I’m serious. I’ve been through this game long enough to know the noise dies down. Eventually. And the ones who care about it long enough, they don’t matter.”

She softened at that. Leaned in just a little.

“I just want you to feel safe,” I added.

“I do,” she said quietly. “With you, I do.”

It was quiet for a second, the kind of quiet that makes the street feel like it belongs just to you.

I brought her hand to my lips, kissed her knuckles one by one. “I’ve got two more weeks here. Mando’s still on night shoots and too much sand.”

She nodded. “I go back to Calgary later today. Gotta prep my gear, figure out flight and stuff.”

I smiled. “I’ll come up in February. We’ll be back on set for the show.”

A small breath escaped her. Something like relief.

“You’re stuck with me now,” I said, teasing.

“Good,” she said. And then, quieter: “I want that.”

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I wanted to kiss her right there. My lips were tingling, but I didn’t. Not here. But I could feel it building, waiting for the next time we had four walls and a closed door and enough time to just be us.

“Call me when you land?” I asked.

“Always,” she said as a promise.

And she pulled away, slow but certain, coat folded over her arm still. She looked back once, halfway down the block, and I was still standing there, like an idiot with my heart in my hands.

But I didn’t mind.

Because I had her, and it felt right. Right enough to fight for it with everything I have.

If you'd like me to add your username to the taglist, let me know ;) Taglist: @kellyxo1 ; @joelmillerpascal ; @sarahhxx03 ; @sara-alonso ; @needz1nk

[itsmistyeyedbi]

Okay, tumblr is pissing me off so in a few hours, I'm gonna go ahead and post all my fics on a03 (including the one I just finished writing).

And then I might go back and change the layout of the fics I've already posted on here, because I'm nitpicky and don't like how it looks anymore💀

[tbaluver]

When They're The MC Pt.2- The Love And DeepSpace Men

pairings in order: xavier x reader, zayne x reader, rafayel x reader, sylus x reader, caleb x reader summary: when you're the love interest and he's the mc genre/tags: fluff fluff + silly + slightly suggestive a/n: hihi lovelies ! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ i planned on making a part 2 for this a while bc a lot of new content happened last time i made the first one! this time caleb is in this one! the first one will be linked down below if you didn't get a chance to read it hehe ♡(˃͈ ˂͈ ) enjoy reading ! (∩˃o˂∩)♡ any likes and reblogs are always appreciated! enjoy!

⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆

Xavier:

Xavier is actually the lightest spender out of any of them. He occasionally spends a couple money on the Aurum Pass and sometimes buys the Promise whenever your cards are on there. He’ll buy a few packs here and there if he’s close to hitting pity

He would be curled up in his bed, clutching his plushie, pretending it’s you as he finishes the last chapter of your myth. He wishes the plushie he was holding was you, hoping in some way to comfort you in his head and him. He would find your story to be so beautifully written yet SO devastating. Xavier might not sleep for a couple hours after reading your lore, he’ll end up staring at his ceiling as he thinks about it again and again

Knows all about Stellactrum and how to build your character. He would know what stats your protocores need and is almost finished with you DeepSpace Trials

Wishes there was a sleeping quality time feature with you. He’s the type to tuck in his phone as your character and him go to sleep together

Places all your characters plushies on the shelf and the ones that you earned from the claw machine for your desk

The type to not wake you up whenever you’re asleep on the cafe couch. He would only talk to you when you’re up because he thinks you need your rest

Zayne:

He has a good amount of diamonds but is not afraid to splurge for you and your outfits

Lets you wear whatever outfit you want and lightly chuckles when you pull the most silliest combo ever. Sometimes when he’s playing at night he’ll change your outfit to pajamas. He’ll even take the accessories off so your character doesn’t get uncomfortable sleeping on the couch

Lore expert. Knows every single detail of your lore. He knows so much that he would notice the smallest detail in your clothing in your myth and how it connects to the story. He would love the details they put in your character

He didn’t think he could ever desire a character more deeply than he did after reading and watching your myths. You can’t tell from his face, well maybe from the way his brows furrowed and the slight frown on his lips after finishing it all, that he was going through it internally. His character and yours were doomed in each timeline and yet they both try again and again. Every detail of your story captivates him but after all that he needs to take a step away from the game and go for a walk.

He would have an organized desk with most of your things for your character rather than for his own indulgence. Places things on your desk that you might need like a tablet, or a computer, mug, a mirror, a lamp, etc, as if you were going to use the desk in game

Has literally no one to talk to about this game or your lore so he just simply likes and repost/ reblogs to posts he simply agrees on

Rafayel:

Flabbergasted. He joined this game for LOVE not DEPRESSION. Why is his mc killing you on the most important day ever? He’s literally talking to himself and swearing how he would NEVER do that to your character. He would stay in the bathtub curled up in a ball as he pouts for hours because of how sad he got from your lore. He'll let you play just a few rounds on the claw machine after reading your story.

He's wasting no time and he's poking and waking you up the moment he logs in the game

I’m sorry but he’s not letting you pick any outfits by yourself anymore after you chose the worst combo ever. He’ll give you another chance only for you to do it AGAIN. Therefore you lost all your chances to pick anything for yourself again

He would go all out on designing your desk. It would take him ages to decide where to place certain things but he wants to make sure it looked aesthetically pleasing for you

The type to glitch the poses of you and him together whether they were cute or very lewd. He knows how to work the lighting and the perfect angles for you and his character, making him have the most aesthetically pleasing photos out of anyone in the game

He doesn’t like how there’s 5 characters on the banners now and it’s not because he hates the other love interests but because it feels like the more characters there are, the more he’s losing his chances on bringing you home on a 50/50

Will scold you in the cafe when you don’t come home early or at all

Has the Aurum pass and the Heartfelt Vow Promise, only if the base for his title looks pretty. Also would just have a pretty profile in general

Y/N defender for life. People often misunderstand your character SO much from the main storyline saying how you abandoned him and you’re a meanie for selling him out. He’s not afraid to correct people and give them the right information.

Sylus:

Most definitely got your myth pair to R3 for the outfits because you looked absolutely badass in your ripped clothing. He does not need to worry about any upcoming banners from how much he already spent in this game. It doesn't even hurt his bank account

Never in his life did he think he would find such a character or your story to be so captivating and beautifully written, leaving him to feel so empty when he reached the end of your myth. However he did scoff when he saw the kiss scene in your myth fade out. As the myth reached its conclusion, he let out a deep sigh, staring at the screen until his reflection appeared on his phone, reflecting everything that just happened.

The type to immediately switch his nickname once he heard there was finally an update. He wanted to hear what you sounded like calling him sweetie, honey, baby, etc. It was just simply adorable that he caught himself smiling at his screen

He would get bored of the game so fast when he finishes the daily activities and finishes playing kitty cards and claw machines with you. He thinks there’s not much to do other than events and he already finished all your content and grinded whatever material he needs for you so there was nothing else to do.

Sometimes he’ll come back just to poke you and hear your voice and sometimes he’ll mess around in the glint photobooth to imagine more things with you.

Has a LOT of pictures of you and him together. Spends a lot of time in the glint photo booth especially after they updated it with new poses and the gazes. A couple photos found in his gallery are his characters in between your legs on the cafe couch

Takes a while decorating your office and hangs up his favorite pictures of you and him all over the hangs or the walls.

Would flex his R3 five star memories of you on his profile. They would all be maxed out

The type to actually use the mic feature whenever the game lets him use it to sing happy birthday or any other song depending on the event or any other card

Caleb:

Caleb had the game in the beginning to try it out and loved your character in the beginning only for them to yk...BOOM

But your character looked suspiciously a little too good for them to be an ‘npc’ so he was one of the strongest soldiers out there that waited weeks and months for you to be a confirmed love interest. He literally fought for his life in this fandom and he won at the end when you finally got released

Finally he has more content of you than just those four scenes

Day 1 Y/N Wanter and now Day 1 Y/N Haver

Was so into you being protective and possessive over him in the storyline. He could feel his cock twitch in his pants after you said that. He folded when you wanted to keep him there where you only wanted him for yourself. If only there was an ending for that option. 

Anyways, reading more into your lore and myths, he continued to feel bad for you. The way you had to go through so many things made his heart ache for you, if only your character could see the puppy eyes he had the entire time. One of the things he loved about his relationship with his mc’s relationship with yours was how they felt like a perfect match. He adored the storyline and how it conveyed and captured the nature of their bond, their love, the fear, and everything else. It only made him yearn for your character more.

It was already the first day of your release and he already almost has all your outfits. He didn't really spend money on this game before until you released. He just didn’t have enough chocolates to get the rest of them

He loves the 4 star cards with his mc and you but he gets jealous whenever he sees them together. Yes that is the mc but that’s not him. He wishes it was him instead

Most definitely jerks off to you working out and strokes to the smallest sounds you make. That small little gasp and whimper you make when he teases you in the cafe? Or just ANY sounds you make in general? Oh his cock is twitching in his pants. Sometimes he’d just cream his pants immediately

He'd actually take your suggestions and actually go out and try what you suggest to eat. Sometimes he'll just even cook it himself

He'd also use the workout feature to actually work out so he'd already have your workout outfit once 30 days passed

The type to get shy and flustered whenever he looks up and catches you making eye contact with him whenever he uses the work/ study feature

Bonus (ALL ): They all HATE the Wanderers that LOCK their health during a battle and the ones that do an animation before you can attack them.

ʚɞ cr. for the divider @/ cafekitsune

ʚɞ first part if you havent read it! it's only all four of them tho bc caleb wasn't out yet! ( xavier, zayne, rafayel, sylus ) When They're The Mc

ʚɞ my other works if you want to check it out! Love And DeepSpace Masterlist Pg. 2

[stxrrkissed]

── ۶ৎ POSSESSIVE .ᐟ

꣑ꦌ rodrick heffley x fem!reader ৴ LENGTH 615

DESCRIPTION you get mad after seeing all the girls flirting with rodrick after a show.

CONTENT jealousy ꣑ mention of arguing ꣑ p in v ꣑ some dirty talk ꣑ spanking ꣑ creampie ꣑ aftercare mentioned.

THOUGHTS another addition posted from my kinktober event that i didn't get to finish. i definitely need to write more for roddy (esp fluff), probably my fave to write at the moment.

𝒾. mlist 𝒾𝒾. previous fic 𝒾𝒾𝒾. prompts 𝒾𝓋. based on this ask

SOFT MOANS LEAVES YOUR TREMBLING LIPS AS Rodrick’s hips meets the swell of your ass, with his hand holding your right arm as he fucks you into the mattress beneath. It’s a perfect view, you have the perfect arch while your ass is on display as he drills in and out of your sopping cunt. Ever so often landing a hard smack on your ass, loving how much your pussy tightens around his cock in reaction. 

A flood of pressure flows through your body as his thrusts become stronger. Making you forget about the argument you had with him earlier. Whenever you and him have an argument, it always ends with the two of you going at it like bunny rabbits. 

Maybe it's the adrenaline of the argument that gets you turned on to the point, you want to undress him, maybe it’s whenever he raises his voice, asserting his dominance that gets you to clench your thighs together, causing friction to your aching core.

You didn’t know what it was, but who were you to stop it? 

You had just come from one of Rodrick’s gigs, you always sat in the front row so you could have a good view of your handsome man on the stage.

The show was good, you had fun until you walked backstage, catching a glimpse of some girls flirting with Rodrick, one even daring to have your hand on his arm, while he signed one of the other girls' breasts. You were used to girls flirting with Rodrick even when you were standing right next to him. 

It’s not like Rodrick would entertain any of these girls' actions and actually cheat on you but it’s the principle of not wanting to see the one you love with other girls especially if one has her hand touching him. 

Rodrick could tell something was wrong with you as you were silent the whole car ride home, not entertaining any of the conversations he brought up. You knew how much he was excited about the show as you were excited for him too, big gigs like that could get him places but the mere images of those girls just keep coming to the front of your mind. Those girls weren't the only one you were mad at, you were mad at him. 

You get that his fans mean a lot to him but he shouldn’t have been allowing them to get that close to him. The more you think about it, the more anger builds up inside of you. Once walking into the door of your shared apartment, Rodrick on your tail asking you what’s wrong and just like that, you broke and let out all the anger you’re holding in. 

That’s how you got in this position, regretting some of the words you said but enjoying the pleasure he was continuously giving to you. “Ahhh, Roddy… I’m going to cum…”

“Yeah that’s right, come all over my cock,” he demands, sending another strike to your ass. “You should know that you’re the only one I want. You know this cock belongs to you and no one can take it from you.” His reassurance is the key for the coil in your stomach to snap as your body spasms around him, your cum painting on his lower torso as some drips down your legs.

“There you go,” he coos as he continues to rut in and out of you until he flushes against your ass, emptying his load deep inside of you, his groans filling your ears as your body fully gives out slumping to the bed and he lets out a low chuckle.

“Rest baby while I clean you up.”

COMMENTS (if you want to be tagged in doawk fics, click here) @cherriespopsicle, @rain-likes-purple, @lover-of-books-and-tea, @coconut-pearl.

thank you for reading! © stxrrkissed 2025. all rights reserved — do not claim, copy, repost or translate.

[zkg2318]

Corporate Life pt 3

genre/tags ✶ MDNI office!au, sunghoon x afab!reader x heeseung, smut, cursing, not proofread, polyamory (surprise)

synopsis ✶ working in corporate was supposed to be boring, not a guessing game of whether your two coworkers were eye fucking you or not.

smut warnings ✶ unprotected penetrative sex (no!), spitting, thigh riding, oral male!receiving, msm (frottage, oral, kissing), double penetration, overstimulation, use of pet names, squirting, ass slapping, threesome

corporate life taglist/ppl that wanted pt3: @17ericas, @hyuukas, @jakeslvt, @heesimp, @hooniedips, @yuniesluv, @yvnempire, @anoranorastar

permanent taglist: @kittys00, @ikaw-at-ikaw

read part 1 here | read part 2 here

A/N sorry for reposting, i think tumblr may have messed up the tags

Waking up was always a challenge for Heeseung, preferring to sleep in rather than wake up at 5:45 a.m. for work. He was, inherently, not a morning person based on the way he fought with Sunghoon every morning before going to work, begging for just five more minutes. Luckily, it was the start of a long weekend, which meant Heeseung could sleep in till nine if he wanted, ten if he was feeling lucky. But Sunghoon was an early riser and often dragged him out of bed by 8:30 a.m., something about enjoying the morning rays together. On a rare occasion like today though, the two men were together in bed with their limbs entangled beneath the comforter. “Heeseung,” Sunghoon mutters, pressing his face into Heeseung’s naked chest.

“What is it, baby?” he hums, threading his long fingers through his boyfriend’s black hair.

“We have to clock in some overtime this weekend.”

Upon hearing the words ‘overtime,’ Heeseung pops upright immediately, a sour expression appearing on his face at the mere mention of work slipping from Sunghoon’s mouth. “What are you talking about?”

“Well, we’ve been a bit distracted at work. You know, with a certain someone.” He mutters, nuzzling into Heeseung’s lap now.

That much was true- they were distracted. Heeseung and Sunghoon weren’t exactly non-monogamous; but the idea of adding another person into their relationship never really crossed their minds, until you showed up. The second you joined their team at work a few months ago, there was a mutual attraction between the boys that neither of them could ignore.

At first, it was casual. They agreed to approach you with the sole intention of having a no-strings attached sexual relationship with you. It wasn’t supposed to go beyond that- just fuck and work. After the second hookup, Sunghoon and Heeseung revealed to you that they were dating and let you know that they wanted to keep things with you purely physical- even if they secretly wanted something more, but neither of them would admit it in fear of ruining things. That was fine with you- the stress of your job was already building up and you needed a quick fix.

But as the months went by, the lines between casual and something more began to blur. Your impulsive, adrenaline induced hookups were beginning to feel more than that. You found yourselves sharing inside jokes and personal secrets over post-sex meals- conversations you wouldn’t be sharing with fuck buddies. But despite that growing connection, none of you pushed for anything more. Whether it was in fear of complicating things or just wanting to keep emotions out of it, the status quo remained.

Your friendship between Sunghoon and Heeseung remained completely separate from your sexual relationship while your budding romance stayed buried under six feet of dirt.

“I didn’t think we were that behind, what’s a little fucking got to do with our work?” Heeseung jokes, stroking Sunghoon’s cheek while ignoring the aching alarm bells ringing in his head.

“We’re behind on our financial report, Namjoon sent an email saying we have to get it in to him on Monday evening.” Heeseung groans at the idea of working over the long weekend, but Sunghoon continues, “And Y/n was cc’d on the email.”

A mix of amusement and stress stirs onto Heeseung’s face, and he tugs on the back of Sunghoon’s shirt, signalling for him to sit up. “I guess we’ll have to invite her over, work on that report all together.” Sunghoon’s lips curl into a smirk as he places a lazy kiss on Heeseung’s mouth.

Letting out a soft chuckle, Heeseung roughly pulls Sunghoon onto him, falling back into bed. With a tug, Sunghoon’s briefs are pulled down and he’s settled onto Heeseung’s lap. “Use me, I’m all yours.” He mutters, peppering kisses across Sunghoon’s neck.

Grinding down into Heeseung’s lap, Sunghoon lowers his head to attach his lips to Heeseung’s neck, sucking around his pulse point. When his tongue flicks over the sensitive skin just below his ear, Heeseung lets out a loud groan and bucks up into Sunghoon, his growing erection rubbing into his boyfriend. “Fuck, you know I’m sensitive there,” he purrs into his ear, licking against the lobe.

“Hyung, I need you,” Sunghoon whispers, swiveling his hips in Heeseung’s lap.

With his hands gripping Sunghoon’s thighs, Heeseung draws a steady breath in through his teeth, “Tell me how you want me,”

“In my mouth.”

Without wasting any time, Heeseung flips them over and presses Sunghoon into the plushness of their mattress. With a few quick pecks to the lips, Heeseung strips out of his sweats, leaving him bare and half-hard in front of Sunghoon. “Bet you wish Y/n was here to keep your fucking mouth busy while I suck you off, hm?” he says, lowering himself to the bulge that was presenting itself so perfectly to Heeseung. His hand ghosts over the imprint of Sunghoon’s cock, the heat of his arousal radiating against his palm.

Sunghoon stifles a moan before squirming beneath Heeseung, “Don’t say stuff like that-”

“Not so confident now that Y/n isn’t here to play dumb under you, Hoonie?” Heeseung teases his boyfriend as he toys with his cock, but there’s no heat behind his words. Laughing quietly, he presses open mouthed kisses against his briefs, earning a breathy moan from Sunghoon.

“S-shut up,” he gasps, grinding up into his face.

Heeseung only smiles against Sunghoon’s cock which was straining beneath him, letting his tongue flick out against the fabric, “It was your idea to approach her in the first place, I’m just fulfilling your fantasies since she isn’t here right now.”

“Stop bringing her up,” he whines, pulling his briefs down himself until his cock springs free, “She’s not dating us, so just keep her out of his.” His words are desperate now as he pushes Heeseung’s face against his pelvis, keeping it to himself as he totally imagines you rubbing against him.

Heeseung knows Sunghoon better than he would ever admit, and he can tell from how he acts around you just how much his boyfriend likes you- far more than Sunghoon would ever let on. And it’d be a lie to say Heeseung didn’t feel the same, so he leans into the teasing knowing Sunghoon was secretly thriving on the idea of you being here with them again. “Cut the act, I know you want Y/n here sitting on your face so you can eat her out, maybe shut you up for a bit.”

Finally, he takes him into his mouth, first dragging his tongue up the shaft and feeling the length of Sunghoon’s vein reach the tip. While his mouth moves up and down Sunghoon’s cock in a rhythmic motion, Heeseung lets his hand travel underneath Sunghoon’s shirt, finding his nipples. A moan escapes from Sunghoon’s lips once Heeseung starts to rub his nipples with the back of his fingers, “Heeseung-” he whines, cock twitching upwards in his boyfriend's mouth.

While Heeseung plays with Sunghoon’s cock in his mouth, he rubs himself into the bed, slowly grinding into it as he imagines it’s your ass underneath him. He shamelessly pictures you moaning below him, begging him to just stick it in and stop teasing you. Memories of your slicked up folds flash across his mind and he groans around Sunghoon’s cock, a chain reaction that sends Sunghoon into a fit of moans himself. Heeseung goes ahead and starts to flick Sunghoon’s nipples, looking up at his boyfriend as he swirls his tongue around the shaft.

Under the control of Heeseung, Sunghoon fights the urge to fuck up into his throat, but heeseung the all-observing boyfriend seems to notice his turmoil, “Fuck my throat baby, give it to me.”

Sunghoon doesn’t need to be told twice, bumping his hips into Heeseung’s face quickly and relishing in the way the tip of his cock rubs the back of Heeseung’s tight throat. The sudden change in pace has Heeseung gagging, forcing him to focus more on keeping his throat open and his breath steady than decorating his boyfriend’s cock with his tongue.

With Sunghoon’s cock filling his mouth, Heeseung’s mind wanders to the thought of you crying out while he thrusts into your quivering heat, clenching his dick like a vice while Sunghoon’s gaze fixed on every thrust. Heeseung had always known Sunghoon had a thing for watching; it was part of the reason why he had been given the green light to fuck you first. But you didn’t need to know that.

“Mmph, fuck-” Sunghoon cries, holding Heeseung’s wrists as they play at his nipples, the added stimulation bringing him closer and closer to the edge. “Relax your throat, Seungie- fuck, that’s it.”

When Sunghoon’s pace begins to fall off, Heeseung moves his hands back down to rest on his pelvis, pushing him down into the bed so he can control them now. He continues his assault on his boyfriend’s dick, going at it for a minute more before pulling off, moving to use his hands instead of his mouth now to finish him off. Sunghoon grips at the bedsheets like a vice, clutching them like his life depends on it as he thrusts into Heeseung’s hand, the saliva from his mouth acting as the perfect amount of lube.

Heeseung adjusts his position so that he can hold both his and Sunghoon’s cock together, spitting into his hand to share the lube-like saliva between the both of them. “Fuck, imagine Y/n was sitting here, bouncing up and down our cocks at the same time. Stretching her out so fucking good, hm?” Heeseung pants, finding himself close to the edge as he pumps their shafts quickly.

“I’m cumming, fuck!”

Heeseung tightens his grip slightly, right as the slit on Sunghoon’s dick opens to release streams of cum. The first few are strong, reaching as far as his blissed out face. The following spurts of arousal are less strong, some hitting his chest and the rest hitting his stomach, eventually slowing down to a slow dribble leaking out of his tip.

Heeseung follows just a second after, his own stream of cum leaking out at a less intense volume, shooting straight up. The two of them pant in tandem together, catching their breaths as their cum falls down the divots of their bodies and onto their sheets.

“Thank God it’s laundry day.” Sunghoon says finally, moving around Heeseung.

Heeseung gets off to help Sunghoon, throwing their pillows off and ripping the top corners of the bedsheet off while Sunghoon does the bottom. The two men work together in a comfortable silence, a rhythm they’ve fine tuned after years of being together. “When should we contact Y/n?” Heeseung asks, breaking the silence.

Sunghoon tenses, but it’s barely noticeable as Heeseung takes the hamper from his hands. “Maybe tomorrow?” he says, letting Heeseung take the laundry, “We can meet her at the cafe near our place.”

Heeseung shakes his head, hiking the hamper up on his hip, “I think it’s best we invite her here. The documents are kind of sensitive, best we don’t bring them to a place we could lose them.” Sunghoon doesn’t get the chance to offer a second opinion, watching his boyfriend's back disappear around the corner.

Sunghoon stays rooted in his spot, standing in the middle of the bedroom of their shared apartment they moved into at the beginning of the year. A part of him was torn, wondering if they were taking things too far by bringing you into their sex life when you weren’t even there. It was one thing to keep this friends with benefits facade up at work, but to think about you outside of that relationship, outside of work without your knowledge- had they crossed an invisible line?

⠈⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁

For the rest of the day, Sunghoon mopes around the apartment, his usual warm self dulled by the weight of his guilty conscience. Heeseung had tried to pull him out of it, making silly animal origami out of the freshly laundered towels, or sneaking kisses in while they were cooking, but Sunghoon’s responses remained colorless. “Is everything alright?” Heeseung finally asks, settling onto the couch as they prepare to watch a movie, a night time ritual they have on the weekend.

Sunghoon hesitates, “Do you think we should call things off with Y/n?”

Heeseung sets aside the popcorn that was sitting in his lap, the large blue bowl clashing with the muted decor they had chosen together at Ikea. “What makes you think that?” His hand rises to cradle Sunghoon’s cheeks, his thumb gently rubbing at the soft plushness.

“We’re in love with her,” he says, like dropping a bomb, “Right?”

Heeseung’s thumb stops moving, and he thinks his heart skips a beat. Sunghoon wasn’t wrong, but he truly thought that they were just going to remain blissfully unaware of that fact, for the sake of their job- and their relationship. “I- Sunghoon, I don’t-”

“It’s ok, I think I’m in love with her too,” Sunghoon clarifies, capturing Heeseung’s hand with his, “I don’t think we respected our own boundaries with Y/n. We let ourselves get too close, and now we’re breaking the easiest rule of the game.” He sighs, running his free hand through his hair as he thinks, “I think it’s best we call this off. Y/n didn’t sign up for two men pining after her, and if we keep this going, we’ll just ruin what we have.”

Heeseung leans forward to press a kiss to Sunghoon’s cheek, “Ok,” he pauses for a moment before continuing, “I’m fine with that. But I do want to ask- are you telling me you wanted to date her? Like, add her to this relationship?”

“I don’t know, and honestly we’ve never really discussed this. I trust you with my life, Heeseung. But it’s clear the both of us felt something for Y/n, which is why I felt comfortable enough to let my feelings for her grow. I think in an ideal world, where we got to know Y/n instead of hooking up with her through work, I would’ve liked to discuss polyamory with you.”

Heeseung’s lips crack into a smile, “God, I love you.” he says, pulling Sunghoon in for a hug, “You always know what to say, I just hope Y/n understands what we mean.”

⠈⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁

Like the boys had agreed, they invite you over to their apartment the following evening to work on the financial report. They insisted things would be casual- just some takeout and a table full of documents is what Heeseung had said to you over the phone. You were hesitant though, the idea of dinner at their place felt strangely intimate, sharing a meal with a couple in their own home felt like an intrusion you weren’t ready to risk.

You find yourself pacing in front of their building, clutching at the end of your jacket for a moment longer than necessary. You debate whether or not to text them, to tell them that something urgent had come up- but your body was moving faster than your mind, pressing the buzzer before you could follow through. It’s Heeseung that responds, his cheerful voice crackling through the speaker as he recites the code for the door.

32 floors is how long you have until you face them, and you spend the entire time fidgeting with the hem of your blouse, the tension mounting with each passing second. Elevators were such an awkward place for you now, considering your history with them; only amplifying your anxiety as memories of being pressed up against Sunghoon resurface. By the time you’re knocking on their door, you’re about to turn on your heel, second-guessing everything you’ve done until the door clicks open.

Sunghoon is the one that opens the door, an easy smile on his face that has you temporarily relaxing your shoulders, “Hey, glad you made it,” he says, stepping to the side to let you in.

You notice the way he’s dressed immediately- an oversized t-shirt displaying a band you don’t recognize and wide-legged sweats, a far cry from the usual sharp suits he sported at the office. You look down at your own outfit, a short fleece jacket zipped over your pink blouse and a pair of wide-legged slacks, nothing special but formal enough to pass in. Still, standing before Sunghoon while inside of his humble apartment, you suddenly felt overdressed.

Slipping in to enter, the first thing you notice is the scent- the faintest hint of lavender laundry detergent that discreetly smelt like Sunghoon whenever he pressed up against you too much in the office. Their apartment was also surprisingly neat; its muted tones accented by pops of their personality- colorful figurines on their shelves, a keyboard in the corner, some figure skates near the closet, etc…

Sunghoon points at a pair of house slippers for you to slip into, holding his arm out for you to hold onto as you kick your shoes off. “Thanks,” you say quietly, stepping into the slippers and following after him. He briefly gives you a tour of their place, showing you the dining room, then the kitchen, where the bathroom is, and then ultimately the living room.

The coffee table centered in front of their two couches was already set up, half of it full of takeout boxes and plastic bags and the other half neatly organized with folders and stacks of paper. Heeseung is already sitting, his legs tucked under the table while leaning against the base of the couch. When he sees you and Sunghoon enter, he brings a hand up to wave at you before patting the space beside him. “I hope Chinese is okay, Sunghoon forgot to hit the order earlier so this was the only place that would deliver in time before you got here.”

“Chinese is perfect, thanks,” you reply with a soft laugh, placing your bag down beside you as you sit next to him.

With Sunghoon sitting across from you, dinner passes quickly. Small talk is shared between the three of you over some noodles and several side dishes you can’t remember the names of. The conversation feels uncomfortably familiar- office gossip and discussion of your weekend plans being a routine banter you shared with them in the break room, and disconcertingly immediately after hooking up as well, like it was second nature.

It unsettles you how natural it feels, the camaraderie that forms so easily between you three. All the laughter and shared touches pulling you in deeper before you even realize. It almost felt wrong to feel this comfortable with them, sitting in their apartment and intruding on their personal lives all while knowing their bodies inside out. This intimacy you shared with them feels so wrong but so right, but it was an imposition on their personal relationship and was a clear violation of their friends with benefits boundaries.

This- this was why you didn’t want to come here, because you didn’t want to blur these lines any further.

“Did you want anymore?” Heeseung’s voice pulls you from your thoughts, his hand gesturing over your plate.

“No, I’m okay, thank you.” You push your plate away as a signal to show him you’re full. “What was the name of this place?”

“Bao’s Kitchen.” Heeseung says as Sunghoon begins to clear the table. “Did you like it?” You nod, piling the trash near you in one stack before handing it to Sunghoon.

“Alright,” he says, pulling out his laptop and placing it in front of him, “Namjoon said he wanted the financial report in by Monday. But I spoke to Jin on the phone earlier today and there are a few leftover tickets we need to finish for Monday’s meeting. Our annual conference is coming up soon, so we should get a head start on preparing our speaker notes for that, too.”

Nodding along with his words, you shove the unease down your throat and pull out your own laptop, mimicking Heeseung’s motions as you pull up your workspace. When Sunghoon returns, he distributes portions of the documents and the three of you settle into a comfortable rhythm, bouncing ideas off of each other and sharing progress reports every few minutes.

In the quietness of your work, you can’t help but notice the shuffling limbs under the table. With a slight glance downwards, you see Sunghoon and Heeseungs legs rubbing against one another, a motion of affection shared between just the two of them and you can’t help but feel a little empty on the inside. A hollow ache gnaws on the inside of your chest. Was it jealousy? Longing for someone else to have all to yourself? You couldn’t tell, but you knew that seeing them together made your heart flutter in a way you weren’t sure you wanted to define.

Shaking your head, you scold yourself internally for fantasizing about a dynamic that wasn’t yours to claim. There were rules- simple rules that were so simple a child could follow them: don’t get attached. And here you were, breaking every single one of them like they didn’t even matter.

By the time you’re about to finish the end of your report, you’re thinking of saying something, maybe telling them that it was time for you to go home. You were suffocating under the ruse of pretending everything was fine when everything was in fact, not fine. You couldn't keep pretending not to notice the subtle glances Sunghoon and Heeseung shot each other, or the gentle praises Heeseung gave his boyfriend when he completed parts of his work. Before you can even begin to pack your things though, Sunghoon breaks the silence.

“We need to talk,” he says, seriousness laced in his voice as he shuts his laptop.

A lump forms in your throat and you begin to hope they can’t hear your heart thump outside of your chest as you struggle to maintain your composure, “Ok, what’s up?”

Sunghoon and Heeseung exchange a glance before he speaks again, his gaze lingering over yours, “Heeseung and I have been talking… about the arrangement,” he gestures between you and the two of them, now avoiding your gaze before continuing. “We think it might be best if we stop seeing each other like this.”

The words are like a punch to the gut and you almost find yourself out of breath, instinctually bracing against the coffee table, “What?” is all you manage to say.

Heeseung leans forward, resting his arms on the table, “We just think it’s getting too complicated. We’re falling behind in work, and we don’t want you to get hurt- or us.

You let out a scoff before you realize it, “Complicated?” you argue, “It’s just sex, right? That’s what we agreed on.”

Sunghoon looks down, his expression pained with guilt, “It’s not just sex anymore, not for us.”

“We don’t want to hurt you,” Heeseung continues, which Sunghoon cannot.

Your mind reels with confusion as you listen to them, panic surging through you as you begin to pack your belongings. “You’re not, so let’s just keep things like it is,” you place your laptop into your bag, fumbling around with the zipper, “I don’t see any issues, I like things how they are.”

“Y/n,” Heeseung reaches out to you, brushing a hand against your shoulder. His touch stills you temporarily, but it only works for a second before it adds to your resolve to start ignoring everything that comes out of their mouths after that. “Y/n, we’re in love with you.”

You’re not listening, too busy still fumbling with the damn zipper on your bag to hear him clearly. This wasn’t the plan. This wasn’t in the fucking rule book of fucking with your coworkers. Finally, with enough force, the zipper on your bag closes and you stand up, “If we just follow the rules, our arrangement should be fine. I’ll finish the rest of my part tonight-”

Sunghoon and Heeseung stand up with you as well, the latter reaching for your shoulder to ground you, “You aren’t listening, Y/n. We broke the fucking rules, we fell.”

The finality of his words eventually crashes over you, clicking in your head what he means, “So what do we do, then?” you whisper, braving an inch and letting your gaze match his.

“W-what?” Sunghoon steps around the table to stand behind you.

“I- never mind.” you stammer, stepping back only to walk into Sunghoon when you do. He catches you by your arms, holding you in the middle of the living room now. “I’ll send you guys an email once I finish my report-”

“Y/n, you need to talk to us.” Sunghoon says sternly, turning you around to face him.

You chew on the inside of your cheek, the truth clawing its way out, “I broke the rules too, so now what?” your voice is hardly above a whisper, and if Sunghoon weren’t standing so close to you, he probably wouldn’t have even heard you.

Sunghoon’s grip on your arm goes firmer as he takes in your words, processing the weight of them while glancing over at Heeseung, “You- you broke the rules too?”

Avoiding his gaze, you nod, feeling tears well up in your eyes. “I didn’t mean to,” you start, your voice trembling with shame, “I couldn’t help it, being around the two of you. I didn’t want to hope for anything out of something that already has enough love, and that scared me.” Your throat runs dry at your confession, but you swallow anyways, an award attempt at distracting yourself from the tension ruminating around you.

Heeseung lets out a sharp breath and moves to step around you so that he stands beside Sunghoon, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because that’s the rules?” you say, blinking away your tears, “I’m just an extra, an afterthought to your guys’ relationship. Isn’t that why you approached me? For sex?”

Sunghoon bites his lip, your words crashing over him like a tsunami. It killed him because you were so right, but you were also terribly wrong, “We thought we were protecting our own dynamic by not talking about these feelings we had for you, but we were wrong. You’re not an afterthought, Y/n. We want you in our lives, but we approached the situation all wrong. We got greedy and told you it was all about sex when it was more than that, and for that we’re sorry.”

“I think that knowing you share the same feelings for us now changes things though,” Heeseung adds, reaching to hold your hand in his.

“What do you mean? Like, I’d date you guys? But- you’re already together? I don’t understand, it’s-”

Heeseung squeezes your shoulder with his freehand, pulling you out of your rambles, “It doesn’t have to make sense, Y/n. All that matters is that we’re all happy, and if that means including you in this relationship, then we’ll do that- if you’re open to that.”

“If you want this- us.” Sunghoon says, gesturing between him and Heeseung.

You let out a shaky sigh, a breath of tension you didn’t know you were holding, “I just want things to work out,” you say.

“So we’ll figure it out.” Sunghoon reaches for your face, a gesture so intimate you almost cry. “No rules or arrangements, just the three of us- together.” His dark eyes bore into your own for what feels like an eternity, and for the first time since you’ve started your job, you feel like you belong somewhere. His hands are warm against your cheek as he uses his thumb to rub against the skin softly.

“God, someone kiss me already,” Heeseung interrupts, rolling his eyes.

Sunghoon only laughs, moving his hand from your cheek to the back of your neck so he can guide you over to Heeseung. When you're close enough, Sunghoon gently pushes your face into his until you’re kissing, but this time it felt different. It was gentler, more intimate than all the other kisses you shared with Heeseung during work hours in the stairwell and conference rooms. For the first time since you started this sexual relationship, you take the time to feel him out, acknowledging the way his heart-shaped lips meld against yours perfectly.

Heeseung opens his mouth after a few seconds, swiping his tongue across your bottom lip to ask for permission to enter. You gladly accept, meeting his tongue with your own. As the kiss between you deepens through the connection of your tongues, Sunghoon begins to gently caress your hair while trailing warm kisses down your neck. The heat of his breath in your neck has you moaning into Heeseung’s mouth, resulting in a smile dancing on the latter’s face as he presses another kiss on you.

Overtaken with love and desire, you let one hand go to wrap around Heeseung’s neck as if he can’t get any closer to you while the other hand threads into Sunghoon’s hear, tugging at it when he nips at your neck. Sunghoon starts to unbutton your blouse, assisting you in shrugging it off completely, followed by your lacey black bra that they don’t even spare a second glance at. The younger boy is quick to attach his mouth to your tits, loudly sucking on them. “You like when Sunghoon sucks on your tits, baby?” Heeseung asks, breaking away from the kiss.

You nod desperately, moving your hand from his neck down to his sweats. He doesn’t break eye contact when you start to palm him through the thin fabric, feeling him grow under your touch. It’s not until your fingers wrap around his length completely that he closes his eyes and throws his head back, a guttural groan following right after.

When he’s decided he’s had enough of your teasing, Heeseung moves backwards until he’s sitting on the couch, reaching out to pull you right onto his lap. “Grind on me, let me see you use me,” he pants, replacing Sunghoon’s mouth with his hands, grabbing firmly at the mounds.

As you begin your ministrations against his erection, Sunghoon comes to stand behind you, rubbing his bare hard on against your back. He doesn’t say anything, just rubs against you as he watches you and Heeseung rut on each other. Eventually, he leans down to help guide your hips over Heeseung, establishing a rhythmic pattern which has Heeseung fighting back a moan with every forward stroke.

When his hands depart from your hips, you look up to see why but Sunghoon quickly captures your neck, tilting your chin back even further and motioning for you to open your mouth. Following his instructions to a tee, you not only open your mouth but stick out your tongue, watching as he pushes a wad of spit from his pink lips and let the string of saliva drip down onto your tongue, “Good girl, can you swallow?”

You swallow obediently, licking your lips for extra measure, “Fuck, more…”

While you’re distracted with Sunghoon, Heeseung takes his top off and throws it somewhere across the living room. Sunghoon notices, “Take his pants off,” Sunghoon whispers, leaning down to lick into your mouth before tearing away from you.

Nodding absentmindedly, you get off of Heeseung enough to pull his sweats down along with his underwear, revealing an angry red cock dripping with precum. “He needs someone to take care of him, jerk him off a little. Can you do that for us, baby?” Sunghoon asks, moving to flick his fingers against your nipples.

Before you can respond, Heeseung interrupts, “Strip first.”

A furious red flashes across your face and you quickly kick off your slacks along with your panties, leaving you just as bare as Heeseung is. When you go to sit back on top of him, Heeseung curses, “You’re getting me wet, slut.” He says, pointing at the glistening patch on this thigh, right where you sat on him.

“I-I’m sorry,” you whisper, looking down in embarrassment.

“Make it up to me by letting me fuck up into your fist.” He moves your hand for you, placing it around his member. After a quick adjustment, he starts to thrust upwards and you watch in awe as the top half of his dick goes in and out of your first, “I can feel you getting wetter. Are you getting off to this? Watching me fuck into your first, imagining it’s your pussy?” he gasps, losing his rhythm slightly, “So fucking tight, all for us, right?”

You nod just as Sunghoon moves to sit next to Heeseung, completely bare as well with his pretty pink cock resting against his abdomen. “You can touch yourself, baby.” Heeseung says to Sunghoon, sticking his tongue out for Sunghoon to suck on. His hand immediately flies down to his member, stroking it quickly as his lips wrap around Heeseung’s tongue, lewd noises emitting from their connected mouths.

Watching them share themselves with each other so willingly as you ride Heeseung’s thigh has you letting out a gush of arousal, drenching Heeseung’s thigh in even more slick, “Y/n likes that Hoonie. Likes watching us kiss, seeing you stroke yourself.”

With Heeseung talking like that and Sunghoon stroking himself in front of you, you lose yourself. Your hips stutter to a stop as you press down on his thigh, your orgasm ripping through you as you cum all over his leg, “Baby… couldn’t even wait till she was riding on of us before cumming,” Heeseung mocks, staring at your pussy. “Lay down for me, Sunghoon.”

Following his instructions, Sunghoon moves to lay down on the couch and Heeseung pulls you to sit on top of him, “Go ahead, put it in.” He gestures towards his dick, and you nervously obey him, blindly reaching behind you until you feel Sunghoon’s shaft. It takes a bit of time, but eventually, you feel Sunghoon’s shaft pressing against your entrance and the two of you moan at the same time when his tip penetrates you, “That’s it, pretty. Doing so well.”

You take your time sinking down, which is apparently too slow for Heeseung because he’s moving towards you, tapping your shoulders. “You’re taking your sweet time, aren’t you?”

“He’s big,” you whine, wincing as you go down another inch.

“I know, baby,” he laughs, smirking at Sunghoon who blushes a furious red, “What’re you gonna do when there’s two of us inside of you?”

Shock grapples you and you let yourself completely sink down on Sunghoon by accident, the burn from the stretch bringing tears to your eyes, “Fuck!” you cry out, slamming your hands down on his chest as an anchor right as Sunghoon brings his hands to your hips to keep you still.

Heeseung backs off when he sees the pain on your face, pity and arousal gracing his features while he watches you take Sunghoon’s cock. He moves to sit down on the couch, lifting Sunghoon’s head just enough so he can slip under it and lay him on his lap, “You look so good, Y/n. Taking Sunghoon’s cock like a good girl.” He looks down at Sunghoon, “You gonna fuck her yet?”

You roll your eyes once the stretching of his member finally becomes bearable, lifting off of him halfways before plopping back down. Eventually, you find yourself going faster and faster until your ass is slapping against his hips with every bounce. You move your hands from his chest, one going to your tit while the other going to your clit, “Fuck, you’re so damn tight.” Sunghoon curses, moving his hands to your ass as he takes over the pace. He fucks into you at a savage intensity, reeling when his balls slap against your cunt with each thrust.

You feel the drag of his cock so well in this position, rubbing against your walls as if they’re molding to the shape of him. As time drags on, you feel yourself getting closer and closer to a second orgasm, clenching sporadically around his length which earns a rough groan from Sunghoon, “I’m gonna cum if you keep doing that, baby.” He whines, speeding up his pace.

You don’t listen to him, instead letting yourself go completely when you see Heeseung lick his fingers and then stick them inside Sunghoon’s mouth. When Sunghoon starts to swirl his tongue around Heeseung’s digits and suck on them pathetically, a massive wave of pleasure washes over you and you swivel your hips around Sunghoon, riding out your high.

Sunghoon is quick to follow, your pussy squeezing him in a way that’s milking him of everything he’s got. “Good boy, fucking her full of your cum.” Heeseung says, stroking Sunghoon’s hair as his dick twitches inside of you, your walls painted with his cum.

When you finally let yourself relax around his softening member, Heeseung moves to stand beside you, gently pushing you forward until your chest is pressed against Sunghoon’s. With a few pumps of his cock, he lines himself up with your entrance, “Heeseung!” you gasp, feeling his tip push into your entrance while Sunghoon is still inside.

“It’ll be much easier for me to slip in now that your pussy is drenched in Sunghoon’s cum,” he says, finally breaching your entrance with one final push. The rest of him slides in easily, just like he said, and both you and Sunghoon let out a moan of overstimulation as he stretches you out in ways you’ve never been stretched.

It’s barely bearable, likely because Sunghoon is soft now, but that temporary feeling doesn’t last long. “Hyung-” Sunghoon gasps, hands running up and down your back frantically, “It’s too much!” Whether he intended to or not, he quickly hardens up again, stretching you out even more. The feeling of his boyfriend’s cock rubbing against his own was just too much for him to handle, quickly arousing him.

The burning sensation returns at ten fold and you cry out, feeling like you’re being ripped in half as Heeseung very slowly moves around, “Mmph, Sunghoon-” you cry, tucking your face into his neck as he begins to desperately hump upwards.

“I’m sorry-” he says, gripping your sides tightly, “Fuck, I can’t help it. It feels really good, baby.”

Whichever ‘baby’ he’s referring to, you don’t care because Heeseung doesn’t waste a second more before he starts moving. He has the decency to stay slow, patiently moving back and forth to let you adapt to the sheer size of two cocks stretching you out; but you don’t feel any pleasure at all, just the feeling of being ripped to pieces. “It-it hurts!” you whimper, but your body moves on its own, barely grinding against the two men as they move in tandem together.

A sharp slap to the ass has you reeling in both pleasure and pain, temporarily distracting you from the penetration, “If it hurts so much, you wouldn’t be rutting against Sunghoon and I like a dog in heat,” Heeseung hisses, picking up his pace as he starts slamming his hips into you.

Coincidentally, the burning starts to go away gradually once he starts moving into you faster, eventually becoming pleasurable all together. You can’t control the sheer volume of your moans as their cocks move against each other while inside of you rubbing your walls and coating them with precum. They’re hands squeeze at your body in desperation with every clench of your pussy, the fit already tight enough. Your lower abdomen boils with a pleasure you’ve never felt, blossoming with more and more arousal with every thrust.

You can’t feel your legs and sobs wrack your body in the best way possible as they continue to fuck into you like a toy, Sunghoon supporting your entire upper body weight while Heeseung holds onto your hips while drilling into you. Heeseung’s got more leverage from behind, snapping his hips in and out of you like a beast. You’ve lost how many times you’ve orgasmed at this point, your entire body shaking as the boys fight for their own highs while using your pussy as their vice.

“Touch yourself, baby,” Heeseung says suddenly, “I need to feel your pussy clenching around me when I cum,”

“I- I can’t, it’s too much. So…tired.”

“You can do it baby, you’ve got one more left in you,” Sunghoon coos into your ear, dragging his fingers up your back all while thrusting his hips into you from below.

With slow movements, you lift yourself off of Sunghoon just enough to reach your arm between the two of you, going for your clit. When your finger starts rubbing circles around the sensitive bud, you immediately begin to shake as the extra stimulation has you nearing the edge rather quickly, “Mmph, I think I’m gonna cum again!” you sob, the coil in your stomach having snapped completely as the boys continue to drill their cocks into you.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum.” Heeseung pants, “Gonna fill your pussy up with so much cum,” his hips stutter to a stop as he fills you up with his load, Sunghoon quickly following in suit. You’re too fucked out to notice the end of their chase towards arousal, continuing to rub at your clit absentmindedly as they work through their highs. With a slight of hand, you feel a rush of liquid spurt out of you as a tsunami of pleasure rips through you.

The velocity of your arousal forces both of their cocks out, liquid spraying everywhere as you continue to rub yourself through it, moaning and screaming through every after shock of pleasure. Sunghoon and Heeseung hold you up together as you go limp, weeping quietly and barely processing Heeseung’s soothing words, “So good, baby. You did so good for us, Y/n.”

“We’re so proud of you, we’ll take care of you now. Just rest, Y/n.”

You think it was Sunghoon’s voice you heard last before passing out, the smallest smile on your tear stricken face.

[spread-the-influence]

OH COOL ! A MASTERPOST !

a horror-comedy fan comic based on The Amazing Digital Circus where ragatha's the host of a parasitical virus and it becomes everyone's problem ! neat-o beans !

* this is also a VERY buttonblossom / pomni x ragatha-centric AU so if you don't enjoy that ship i don't recommend engaging with this sorry

[DISCLAIMER!] while this comic is mostly lighthearted in tone , this comic and au will contain topics that could disturb sensitive readers ! this includes ; graphic violence , depictions and discussions of emotional abuse , depictions of mental health issues , self-harm implications and imagery , obsession , and discussions of suicide . any more specifics will be tagged in the pages , but these are the ones that encompass the Entire comic basically !

( also i hope it's a given that i'm not romanticizing the toxic yuri in this au , )

if any of these topics make you uncomfortable , it's alright to click away or block the #tadc influence au tag .

!! if you want to support this comic , try sharing and talking about it in other platforms OR throw some money at my ko-fi page ! it'll be radical either way !!

LINKS

>> READ THE BEGINNING !

or , if you prefer ...

* TABLE OF CONTENTS ( returning reader or just someone who's not up for scrolling through the tags ? here's the table of contents ! contains links to the comic pages all in one place , any extras , and possible relevant posts in the >>info; tag ! )

* FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ! ( questions that i have constantly been asked ! )

* AU POST ! ( for those who have read the comic and are curious about the au — and people that want to spoil the first half of the comic for themselves . i don't judge ! )

** OFFICE LORE POST ( not a necessary read , but would be cool to read if you're interested in the backstory for ... some reason ! )

* INFO CARDS ! ( info cards for the characters , just for funsies ! will contain blank templates for any ocs (: )

TAGS

[ highlighted are those of relevance + may be interesting ! ]

>>COMIC; - the comic ( be warned things will be out of order )

>>INFO; - specific asks about the au answered !

>>ASK; - old roleplay posts if you want to see em

>>MISC; - answered asks / non-comic stuff

WARNING: ESSAY - mod rambles

>>DOODLES; - doodles from yours truly

>>PRE-FLUENCE; - stuff before the horrors

>>POST-FLUENCE; - stuff after the horrors

>>ANIMATIONS; - ... animations

>>OFFICE LORE; - pre-circus

>>REBLOGS; - ... reblogs !

>>EXTRAS; - some extras or ' ambiguously canon ' comics !

GUIDELINES & BOUNDARIES

READ THE FAQ , PLEASE ! there are some questions that are , well , frequently asked ! so please read the faq and only send an ask if the question's not there

this is NOT an ask blog ! i will sometimes play along with ask blog-esque asks , but that's only just once in a while — so just please only ask me , the mod , for anything about the au !

you can call me mod bee . i go by she/her in this account

keep it impersonal please ! i would prefer if the asks are related to the au , my art , or tadc . i'm fine with being asked about my interests or what i think of something but otherwise , i appreciate if you do not ask about my life or what timezone i'm in .

my art is free to use ! feel free to use it as an icon , in an edit — anything really as long as you don't sell it or it's not used to spread hateful messages ! my only condition really is to credit me

reposts are fine ! just please make it clear that you did NOT create the art and LINK the account . i gave the free rein to repost the art , all i'm asking is to please respect these conditions !

please do not dm me . i do not like dms . any form of communication is only through the ask box .

this is not a tadc art requests blog so please don't send me any , i am Not going to draw your ship or draw ragatha as that animal . any requests should be about the au itself , or if you want me to draw a particular character .

i am uncomfortable with nsfw asks so please don't send them . i am fine with suggestive humor , though

remember to spread the influence.

[gremlin-girly]

The Cacti Confidant

Bob Reynolds x gn!reader

Not beta'd. I do not give permission for my work to be reposted, copied, translated or put through an AI machine.

Tags: Fluff, mutual pining, descriptions/thoughts/feelings of depression and anxiety, confession (of sorts)

Summary: Bob takes an interest in your hobby and you gift him a cactus; which quickly becomes his confidant of all things pertaining to you.

Word count: 1.9k (this was supposed to be a drabble!!)

Dividers by: @/sweetmelodygraphics

Pots and Petals Masterlist | Bob Reynolds Masterlist | Main Masterlist

Exploring the roof in the light of day could sometimes be a bit... much. However, for one Bob Reynolds, the skyline that one of the tallest buildings that NYC had to offer was a spectacular sight and high up enough that the humdrum of cars and people was muted so that he could think clearly or read without being disturbed.

What he hadn't expected though, was seeing traipsing past some of the fire escapes to a bright corner one day. Discarding his book he'd followed you, curious to see what you were doing, and was surprised to find you nestled in front of a six by ten planter filled with white pebbles.

"What are you doing?" He asked, feeling guilty when you jumped with a start.

"Hey Bob," You look up at him with a smile that screams you'd been caught red handed. "I didn't know you came up here."

"To read." He nods, looking at the planter. There's a variety of small green plants sticking out of the pebbles; some are small and spiky, others big with softly rounded, thick petals. Or what he thought were petals. They looked more like sponges. "What are they?"

"My babies." You sigh. "I brought them up here so they'd have more sun. I come out to check on them a few times a week."

Bob smiles and takes a seat next to you on his knees, elbows resting against the planter. "Could you... tell me more about them?"

"Really?"

"Please?" Bob fixes you with a sweet look you can't say no to and, with a smile and a roll of your eyes, you concede.

"Oh, alright. Twist my arm why don't ya?"

It quickly becomes routine. Bob and you arrange times to meet at the rooftop planter and chat about the plants; plants you'd like, plants you've had - Bob even pitches in with watering and feeding when you're on missions. If he was entirely honest with himself, he hadn't truly been interested in your plants at first. Just you.

You'd been so sweet to him ever since joining the team and so thoughtful. Although you never tip toed around subject matters, you were conscientious enough to give him a reassuring look, hand squeeze, or even offer him his favourite snack on a particularly hard day. You never pressed - never made fun. You were just... there.

And Bob felt like he was out of his depth every time he looked at you.

Before heading out on a mission one day, you and Bob met on the rooftop as per usual, but this time you said you had a surprise for him.

"Ta-da!" You beam, producing a tiny cactus in a small ceramic pot from behind your back and holding it out to him. "Tiny Cactus!"

Bob takes the pot in his hands and a nervous grin erupts across his face. "Is this for me?"

"Of course!" You say. "I know we were talking about them the other day and when I saw it I just thought..."

You trail and shake your head, but Bob catches the way your eyes dart and your cheeks grow warm like his and his heart does some gymnastics.

"Anyway. I know I'm going away tomorrow but you can send me updates or something..." you shrug and Bob nods furiously.

"Yeah, I can do that."

So alone.

Always alone.

Not good enough.

Bob frowns. Not again.

They don't really like you. They're not your friends.

He sighs and turns onto his side in the darkness of his room. He should really put a light on. Open a window. Do something other than-

Y/N pities you. You know that, right? You're pathetic. Why would they even want to be with you?

Bob opens his eyes. They take a moment to adjust to the dark shapes of the room but eventually the mess comes into view, and he sighs into his pillow. His body feels heavy and lethargic, the all consuming voice of the Void clouding his brain. It would be one of those days.

His eyes flicker again, drawn to a greyish oval shape he doesn't quite recognise for a moment, before realising it's the cactus you gave him. Surprising himself (and the Void), he smiles, chest warming at the memory.

Hadn't you said something before you left about what it needed? Sun? Bob looks to his blinds. How long had he kept them closed? If he killed a cactus - a cactus you got for him no less - he didn't think he could forgive himself.

He slowly climbs out of bed and pulls the blinds up slightly. The light hurts his eyes and he squints but he follows the stream of light to the small pot where the cactus sits in all it's green, spiky glory.

Wasn't he supposed to send you updates or something? Maybe. But his cactus hasn't changed a shade. Yeah. You didn't need an update over nothing.

He nods to himself before wrapping himself back up in his blankets and attempts to go back to sleep.

The day after you return, Bob is waiting for you on the roof, picking through the white pebbles.

"Hey you." You greet, smiling as always. "You were supposed to give me updates on your cactus."

It's not accusatory, only playful, but Bob feels guilty nonetheless. He doesn't want to admit he was in a spiral while you were gone, just in case you were worried he didn't take care of his spiky friend.

"It's not..." He looks at his hands, rolling one of the tiny pebble between his fingers anxiously. "It's not growing. So, there wasn't much to update. I... I think I'm doing something wrong."

You sit next to him on the stones, thoughtful. Bob peeks up at you between his dark locks and suppresses a smile of secret joy; you looked so angelic like that, kindness radiating from you being through one thoughful look.

"Have you tried talking to it? Or playing music?" You suggest, smiling at him. "I know it sounds silly but it's been proven to help plants grow."

"I'll give it a try..." Bob says skeptically, giving you a signature nervous smile.

The first thing Bob does when he gets back to his room is test out your advice.

"I saw them again today." Bob tells the cactus, lying on his bed sprawled out. "They looked....nice."

He can't quite bring himself to say how he really feels but his stomach churns out butterflies regardless and, while it feels stupid to think, he believes the plant knows how he really feels.

"They're so... they're so..." he swallows thickly, feeling a blush creep up his neck. He was so flustered from just talking about you.

To a cactus.

"You know what they're like." He settles on finally, releasing a long sigh and staring at his white cieling.

After a few more weeks, Bob's worry that he could kill the cactus has almost completely diminished and now he has a small routine. No matter his day, he makes an effort to speak to his cactus. But no matter the starting subject, whether it begins with how awful he feels that day or not, it always ends with you.

"They... they're so helpful. And kind. An- and cute." Bob covers his face with his hands and groans. "Urgh. What am I going to do?"

The cactus remains silent, sitting as it always had in it's small pot. However in the next few days spent talking to the plant; talking through his anxities, his fears, his self loathing and most importantly, his feelings towards you, Bob missed the small bud that had began to protutrude from the top of the cactus until one morning when he saw it had bloomed into a tiny pink flower.

He had never ran so fast in all of his life to find you, cradling his cactus securely in his arms, even if it meant being jabbed with hundreds of tiny pinpricks.

Bob called out your name through the compound skidding around a corner to find you speaking with Ava. The two of you stopped to look over at him and he held the cactus high, beaming with delight.

"It has a flower hat!" He exclaims and you squeal with excitement.

"Congrats Bob!" You wave your hand to signal him closer and he toddles over to show you and Ava the prettiest pink flower that sits on top of the cactus.

"Aw, that's sweet." Ava comments sipping her coffee.

You look up and meet Bob's dark eyes with a knowing smile. "You've been talking to it?"

"Y-yeah." He smiles back. "Just like you said."

"What about?" You press curiously. "I haven't even managed to get flowers on mine yet!"

A red flush starts to creep along Bob's neck as he swallows thickly, eyes darting back to the cactus in his hands. "Oh, well, um, everything and anything."

You hum, with that wonderfully thoughtful expression again and Bob feels his heart slam against his ribs. "I'll have to try that then."

Ava slurps her coffee loudly, drawing the attention of you both.

"Soooo...." She says eyes flickering between you both over her coffee mug. "When did this become a thing?"

You and Bob both turn red and babble at the same time.

"We aren't-"

"We're not-"

You both look at eachother and your faces become more heated and you have to immediately avert your gazes; yourself opting to glare at Ava, who's smirking.

"Oh you are." She fixes her smirk to Bob. "Do you know they talk to the plants about you?"

"Hey!" You protest before your face melts into confusion. "How do you know that?"

"I'm in the vents," Ava says in spooky tone, wiggling the fingers on her free hand before sighing. "I practice ohasing around the tower - and it's not like you're whispering to those succulents."

"Ah." You nod, shifting on your feet. "That's... yeah, fair enough."

Bob's head is still reeling from the realisation that your speak to your plants about him. What do you say to them? Do you say the same things he does? Or do you complain? Or-

"Hey," your gentle voice cuts through the darkness and Bob looks to you anxiously. "I only tell them all the things I like about you."

"Really?" Bob's voice isn't quite disbelieving, moreso in shock.

"Really." You confirm with a nod and another smile. "Plants like to hear positive things. Clearly, you've been saying some nice things about me too if you've managed to get a flower."

Bob chuckles shyly. "I... yeah. I guess I have been."

"I suppose I should try a little harder then." You tease gently, giving his arm a nudge.

"Ugh, spare me." Ava huffs, waving at hand. "If you two weren't adorable together I'd gag. I'm gonna go find Walker and annoy him."

She leaves without a goodbye, phasing out with her coffee cup in hand. A distant scream from Walker across the tower means Ava probably apparated in front of him to terrify him.

"So." Bob clears his throat.

"So." You repeat back to him and then raise an eyebrow.

Bob's lips twitch into a smile, pushing away any intrusive thoughts courtesy of the Void. "Picnic on the roof?"

"Sounds like a date." You say brightly, laughing with with nervous excitement as Bob's face lights up entirely, with no darkness to be found on his features.

End

Taglist - add yourself here

@looking1016 @jeremyrennermakesmesmile @almostglitterybear @blackhawkfanatic @peaches1958 @purplefluffycows

[dollishmehrayan]

# BATBOYS WITH A CLASSIC LITERATURE LOVER ── .✦ ( batboys with a s/o who loves/majors in literature )

a/n: this is requested by my amazing @kvfkas 🫶💕, I Lowkey for some reason also love literature too but like it’s hard for me to open a new book because I’m like so busy almost everyday but anywayss && I still can’t get over that one of my record players BROKE. So I can’t play my vinyls until I buy a new one which I ordered yesterday. Tags: (batboys x classic literature lover)

© dollishmehrayan — ( all rights reserved to me. These works cannot be reposted, translated, or modified. Thank you for understanding dollies! )

DICK GRAYSON ── .✦

Dick thinks it’s adorable how much you love classic literature. He often finds you curled up with a book that looks like it’s been through several lifetimes, the pages dog-eared and filled with your meticulous annotations.

He loves watching you get animated when you talk about your favorite books, even if he sometimes gets lost when you start referencing ancient Greek tragedies or 19th-century poetry.

“Wait, so you’re saying Achilles was in love with Patroclus? Why didn’t they just say that in school?”

If you major in classics, Dick would try to support you by attending your lectures or even helping you prep for exams. He’d quiz you on authors and historical contexts, even if he can barely pronounce some of the names.

Romantic Moments: On your birthday, he surprises you with a first edition copy of your favorite book, complete with a handwritten note tucked inside the front cover. “I don’t understand half of what’s in this book, but I know it makes you happy, so that’s all that matters.”

He’d ask you to read to him sometimes, enjoying the sound of your voice as much as the words themselves. "You make these stories sound even better, you know that?"

JASON TODD ── .✦

Jason is completely enamored with how passionate you are about classic literature. He gets it; books saved his life, too.

He finds your annotations fascinating and sometimes steals your books to read through them, not just for the story, but to get a glimpse into how your mind works.

“You think Heathcliff is a terrible person, but you still love him? Explain that one to me.” He’d genuinely love hearing your reasoning, even if it ends in a spirited debate.

If you’re majoring in classics, Jason would definitely tease you about it: “So, what, you’re gonna be the next Indiana Jones but with books?” But deep down, he’s incredibly proud of you. (He has dreams of being a literature professor)

Romantic Moments: One day, he surprises you with a day trip to a small, dusty bookstore he found, knowing it’s exactly your kind of place. “Take your time. I’ve got all day,” he says, leaning against a shelf as you lose yourself in the aisles.

He’d also write little notes on scraps of paper and leave them in your books when you’re not looking: “You’re way cooler than Jane Eyre.” “That’s a lie jason.”

TIM DRAKE ── .✦

Tim would be absolutely in awe of your love for classic literature. He’s a voracious reader himself, so he’d immediately start asking for recommendations.

He’s amazed by how thoughtful and detailed your annotations are. He’ll flip through one of your books and go, “You should publish these. People would pay good money for your insights.”

If you’re majoring in classics, Tim would make it his mission to help you however he can. Need to translate something from Latin or Greek? He’s on it. Got a big paper due? He’ll proofread it for you.

Romantic Moments: On a particularly stressful day, he sets up a cozy reading nook for you, complete with your favorite snacks and a stack of books he thought you’d like. “Figured you could use some time to unwind.”

He’d get into the habit of reading the same books as you so he can discuss them with you. “Okay, but why does everyone hate Tess of the d’Urbervilles? I think she deserved better.”

DAMIAN WAYNE ── .✦

Damian would find your love of classic literature incredibly admirable. He appreciates intellectual pursuits and sees your passion as a sign of your depth and intelligence.

He’d be the one to challenge your opinions on certain characters or themes, sparking debates that sometimes last for hours.

“I fail to see why Mr. Darcy is considered romantic. He was insufferable for most of the novel.” But he secretly loves how animated you get defending your point.

(I’m gonna age him up for this one NO NSFW THOUGH HE’S STILL A MINOR BUT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF MAJORS) If you’re majoring in classics, Damian would take great pride in your academic achievements. He’d even start reading some of the books you mention, just so he can keep up with you.

Romantic Moments: He’d commission a custom leather-bound edition of your favorite book, embossed with your initials on the cover. “For someone as remarkable as you, only the finest will suffice.”

He’d also secretly annotate one of the books you’ve been wanting him to read and leave it for you to find. His notes are sharp, insightful, and, of course, slightly snarky.

BRUCE WAYNE ── .✦

Bruce has always been a lover of knowledge, so he’d find your love for classic literature incredibly endearing.

He’d be genuinely impressed by your annotations and sometimes ask to borrow your books just to see your thoughts on them.

“You’ve given me a new perspective on The Great Gatsby,” he’d say after flipping through your copy.

If you’re majoring in classics, Bruce would offer to fund any research or study trips you need. “A visit to Greece would certainly enhance your studies. Consider it an investment.”

Romantic Moments: He’d host a quiet evening in the Wayne library, just for the two of you. The fireplace crackles softly as you sit side by side, reading and sharing passages that resonate with you.

He’d also make a habit of surprising you with rare editions of your favorite books, each one more breathtaking than the last.

[littlefreya]

Pictures of You

Summary: While Sy is deployed, his new girlfriend sends him nudes, and now he must take care of 'business' himself while fantasizing about the things he would do to her.

Pairing: Captain Syverson x himself x OFC

Word count: 1,200

Warnings: 18+ (Minors DNI), pure smut, graphic depiction of sex (male x female), male masturbation, bodily fluids, accidental creampie, dirty language, punishment, Freya using "peach". Being caught in the act. A bit of fluff. Not beta'd.

*No permission is given for reposting my work, translating, copying it, or parts of it and claiming it as your own*

A/N: It's been a while since I posted. I am working on a series (plural), but I got inspired by a lovely anon today. I'm not sure if I'm tagging anyone since my tag list is probably outdated and I'm not sure who still wants on. So, if you enjoyed, reblog, or comment, let me know. I'd appreciate it. 🖤

Pictures of You

At last, night unfurled, and the camp became quiet. 

The glorified Captain retired to his quarters, exhausted from a day of training recruits and tedious paperwork. This deployment would be long, and though he loved being The Captain - Logan Syverson was beginning to miss home.

It was all because of her. Sy shouldn't have caught feelings, long-distance relationships were never his thing, but damn, she was something else; a woman way above his league, pretty, hot as hell and way too smart to be with a military grunt like him.

Needless to say, fucking her made him feel like a god. 

Stripping down to his boxer, Sy slumped into his bed with a huff and reached for the private cell phone stuffed in his drawer. 

Twenty unanswered messages appeared on the screen—three of them from her.

Joy painted his face at the sight of her name. Ignoring everything else, he went directly to read her messages.

“Missing my big Sy”, the first message read. 

The other - “something to make you think of me.”  

The last message was simply an attachment. Curious, Sy tapped it open.

‘Fucking hell.’

The unmistakable pang of desire instantly surged through his groin. 

There she was, his sweet woman, naked and spread open like a present unwrapped, especially for him. She was sitting on her bed, one breast gripped by her palm with her nipple peeking through dark-painted nails while her other hand toyed with the sweet peach between her thighs. 

“Fuck,” Sy muttered. Already rock-hard. Absentmindedly, his hand massaged the hefty bulge through the fabric of his boxers, eliciting a deep groan from under his breath. 

‘What are you doing to me, babygirl?” 

It wasn’t just her naked body and the way her finger teased her own slit, but the look she gave him, the familiar neediness in her gaze, the way she bit her lip. 

Damn, if she was here right now… He’d fucking punish her for teasing him so bad! He’d pin her to the wall with his hand around her throat and show her what happens to naughty girls who like playing such wicked games. 

Now he had three fucking months to go, and all he could think of was how bad he wanted to be inside her tight little cunt.

‘Well, guess I’ll have to take care of this myself…’

Springing his cock free from his boxers, he ran his rough fingers up and down the length of his imposing shaft - slow at first, as Sy enjoyed taking his time, just as he would with her. His thumb rolled across the crown of his cock, gently grazing the tip while he imagined flipping her against the pitted wall in this room. Make her take it from behind so he could look at that perfect rounded ass of hers and watch his cock slipping in and out of her body. 

Still holding the photo open, he focused on her succulent cunt before spitting onto his open palm and griping himself once again. Tighter this time, he squeezed onto his girth and began to fuck his own hand. 

Pants and groans sputtered from his mouth, his chest heaving as he gradually picked up the pace. In his fantasy, he parted her ass cheeks and teased her dripping little hole until she begged him to fuck him. Then he forced himself all the way in, making her cry out. 

The sounds of her moans echoed in his memory, so helpless and desperate at the same time - he was nearly too much for her; that narrow cavern of hers could barely take his leviathan cock, but still, she took every pounding, becoming wetter around his shaft as her body not only yielded to accommodate him but lured him deeper inside. 

“I want inside you, babygirl…” Sy mumbled out loud, his hand now moving in ecstatic fervour. Sweat dripped down the contracting muscles of his abs. Soon, he felt himself swell even larger, and his sack strained with the desperate need for release. 

He tightened his grip, now choking his shaft and thinking of how it felt when she came around him. How she contracted all around his cock and shattered like glass smashing on the floor.

“Don’t come inside….” She’d warned him. She wasn’t on the pill. But this time, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from filling her full of his cum, and maybe… he wouldn’t want to… 

It was his fantasy, after all. 

“FUCK!!!” 

With the image spilling inside her, he allowed himself to be swept by the fierce waves of pleasure, his entire body buzzing with bliss as hot, thick ribbons of ecstasy spilt over his fingers. He might have shouted too loudly, but it’s not like he ever gave a fuck. 

It took Sy a few good minutes to climb down to earth, and then he chuckled hoarsely as he noticed the mess he had left on his hand. Shaking his head, he reached for a towel and wiped himself clean before returning to gaze at her photo. 

“What am I gonna do with you, doll?”

Well, there was an idea. He could repay the favour by sending her a photo of himself. Usually, he was against this type of stuff, but what she did was particularly risky for a woman, and if she was bold enough to treat him, he could do the same. Besides, they had three months until they could meet again. He better make sure she remembered who she belonged to.  

He stroked himself lightly. Still semi-hard, he wondered whether he could work himself to another erection this soon when a knock sounded at the door.

“Mother of f…. One moment !!!” 

Sy yelled. Irritated, he briefly tucked his shaft back in his boxers and jumped out of bed. The room smelled rancid, but Sy couldn’t bring himself to care. He couldn’t even bring himself to put on a shirt as he rushed to the door.

“What?” He grunted before getting to see who was on the other side.

‘Well, fuck me sideways.’

It was a woman because why the hell not? Private Hicks, to be precise. The young thing’s eyes flared with surprise and then snapped to the floor to avoid staring at her sweaty, half-naked superior, but not before catching a glance of his hairy, tattooed chest and the semi-erected bulge in his groin.

The strong scent of sweat and sex hit her nostrils like a smack in the face. It took everything not to curl her face. There was no need to put two and two together to realise what she had just intruded. 

“Sir.” Hicks saluted in badly hidden embarrassment. 

Sy let out a deep sigh. Clearly, she knew what he was doing before she arrived. She probably heard him come all over himself right before knocking. Frankly, he wasn’t ashamed. 

“Get on with it, Private.”

“Sir,” she repeated, her voice a slight tremble. “ I’m sorry to bother you… but the Major asked me to get you.” 

Sy scratched the back of his head and groaned deeply. “Tell him I’ll be there in 10.” 

Without any other comment, he shut the door, leaving Hicks to wander back to the Major’s office, all shaken and quaking. 

As she walked away, she couldn’t help but bite her lips. All across her body, she felt those little electric streams of excitement, and her breath suddenly became shallow. She shouldn’t have thought of her superior like this, on what he did behind that closed door just a moment before she arrived, but Captain Syverson was too hot to handle and, needless to say, too loud. 

Well, she’d have to take care of herself later…

[belli5]

Your Fool .ᐟ ೀMC⁷¹

╰ Synopsis When Macklin introduces you to his best friend Will, you grow close without meaning to, but feelings get complicated, and one night at a party, Mack lets you know how he feels.

tags/contains Macklin Celebrini x reader. Will Smith x platonic!reader. Angst, fluff if you squint, jealous!Will, jealous!Mack, use of y/n, miscommunication, jealousy, endgame with Macklin, established relationship, love triangle lowkey, happy ending(barely), lmk what else.

➺ from Sera, to you📨. I lowkey didn’t want to make a happy ending, but I knew if I didn’t people would ask for part two and I already have too much requests to do 😭 + I rushed the ending😭

masterlist ᥫ᭡ please reblog this fic if you enjoyed it! Please do NOT rewrite/repost my work anywhere else without permission!

You weren’t totally sure why Mack had invited you to Sharks practice. It was early, it was cold and the only thing you really knew was that you didn’t wanna get up so early for it

But you’d said yes anyway, because when he said he wanna introduce you to someone, how could you say no?

There was something about Mack that made you feel comfortable even when you weren’t in your comfort zone. And when he’d shot you a text last night that simply read, “Wanna come watch practice tomorrow morning? I wanna introduce you to someone,” your curiosity had won out.

The rink was quiet when you walked in beside him, just the sound of skates carving the ice and pucks smacking off boards echoing through the arena. You zipped your jacket up higher and glanced around, wide eyed.

“They’re still wrapping up drills,” Mack said as he guided you toward the glass. “Won’t be long.”

You nodded, watching as the team coasted in circles, a few of them passing the puck back and forth with the kind of effortless rhythm that came from years of knowing how to play.

One player caught your eye, not because he was doing anything particularly flashy, but because the moment Mack tapped on the glass, he looked up immediately and smiled.

“That’s him,” Mack said, following your gaze. “Will.”

You recognized the name, Mack talked about Will often, Will was Macklin’s bestfriend, you sure knew that. You’d always imagined someone loud and a little cocky.

But when Will skated over and pulled his helmet off, he looked friendly. Not overconfident, just open, his cheeks were red from the cold, hair damp and sticking to his forehead.

He stepped off the ice and grinned. “Hey.”

“Hi! I’m Y/n.”

Will held out a gloved hand and then realized, mid-move, how impractical that was. He laughed softly and tugged it off, offering his bare hand instead. “Sorry.”

You shook it, smiling. “Nice to meet you.”

“Mack’s mentioned you,” he said, glancing sideways at his friend. “A lot.”

Mack gave him a look, stepping back a bit to go into the locker room to change, leaving you two alone.

It started small, you didn’t even notice it at first, the way you asked, casually, “Is Will coming too?” whenever Mack mentioned a team hangout or grabbing food after practice.

You’d ask it without even looking up, just a passing thought between scrolling your phone or tying your sneakers or sipping the drink he’d just handed you, but Macklin noticed it.

At first, he brushed it off. Will was his best friend, they were always together, it made sense that you’d want him around, especially if you were trying to get more comfortable in Mack’s world.

Will was easy to talk to, warm in a quiet way, the kind of guy who remembered your favorite candy after you mentioned it once, or asked how your classes were going and actually waited for the real answer. He made people feel like they were being listened to.

And Mack liked that about him, it was part of why they’d become so close in the first place.

And, it didn’t take long for things to start feeling different. The shift was subtle, slow, like the temperature of a room changing over time until suddenly you realize you’re sweating.

There were little things: the way you’d light up when Will walked into the room. How your voice always softened when you said his name. You brought coffee one morning before practice, just something you thought would be a sweet surprise and somehow there was a third cup in the tray.

“You mentioned you liked oat milk, right?” you’d asked casually, handing it off to Will without even thinking. You smiled at him, the way you smiled at everyone bright and generous and kind.

And Will… Will looked at you like he didn’t know what to do with that smile and Mack saw it.

He saw the way Will’s cheeks went pink, it was not just from the cold. The way his eyes lingered on you even after you turned away, how he kept glancing over during warmups like he was waiting for you to look back.

Will didn’t flirt exactly, that wasn’t him. But there was something else in the way he was around you, something patient and quiet, like he was biding his time. As if he didn’t want to cross a line, but he wasn’t entirely sure where that line was anymore.

And the worst part? You didn’t even notice..

You just kept being your usual self: warm, open, unaware. You were the kind of person who leaned your head on someone’s shoulder mid laugh without thinking twice. Who offered compliments easily and meant every single one.

You were just trying to fit in, to feel closer to the people in Macklin’s life, you weren’t trying to make anyone fall for you.

But Macklin knew Will, and he could see it, not just in the way Will looked at you, but in the way he looked away when Mack was near, in the way Will hesitated before hugging you goodbye, like he didn’t know if he was allowed to want more.

It made something uncomfortable twist in Macklin’s chest.

He didn’t want to be that guy: possessive or dramatic or jealous over nothing. He trusted you, he liked that you got along with his friends. But the more time you spent around Will, the more Mack started to feel like an outsider in his own dynamic.

There were moments where he caught Will watching you from across the room, not staring, just watching. Like you were the calm in the middle of the chaos and Mack couldn’t blame him for that, not really.

Because he knew what it felt like to want to be close to you. He’d felt that way the first night he met you, and every day since.

But Will wasn’t blind either. He saw the way you looked at Macklin: the ease in your body language around him, the inside jokes you didn’t have to explain, the way you always seemed to lean a little closer when it was Mack talking like he had a gravity you couldn’t help but orbit.

But that was something Macklin couldn’t notice, he only noticed when you did it to Will..

And it made something twist in Will’s chest, it wasn’t anger exactly, not even longing it was just envy.

He didn’t know what he was jealous of, not really. It wasn’t like you were his.

You were clearly Mack’s person in all the ways that mattered and Will respected that, he wasn’t going to cross any lines. Mack was his best friend, and you were the girl he brought around like you belonged there, like he already knew how this story was going to end.

Still, it was getting harder to ignore the little things: the way your hand had lingered on Will’s arm earlier, light and fleeting but it felt real.

The way you laughed at his jokes like you actually cared, the way he found himself watching you when he wasn’t supposed to.

Will didn’t flirt, he wasn’t stupid but he couldn’t help wanting a little more time with you. A little more you, even if all it earned him was another one of your smiles.

The kind he knew deep down wasn’t meant for him. But God, he wanted it to be, just once.

The party had started to mellow out a little, the music still played, but the dance floor was thinner now, people scattered between the kitchen, the backyard, and any couch that was still clean enough to sit on.

You’d found a spot in the corner of the living room with Will, same as always, the two of you tucked into a half sunken couch, your legs folded beneath you, heads tilted toward each other in conversation.

You were talking about nothing and everything: music, childhood memories, dumb things the guys had done during practice.

It was easy with Will, it always was, you liked how he listened, how he added just the right amount of teasing without ever making you feel small.

It had become a quiet habit, finding each other at these things, making the chaos feel a little less overwhelming.

At one point, you laughed at something he said and leaned your arm across the back of the couch, closer without even realizing it. Will smiled softly, not saying anything but not moving away, either.

That was when Macklin appeared. He stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, eyes flicking from you to Will. “Hey,” he said. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

You blinked, caught slightly off guard. “Uh, sure.”

Will sat back a little as you stood up, his eyes briefly meeting Macklin’s, nothing was said, but something unspoken passed between them. You gave Will a quick look: a small smile that said I’ll be back, before following Mack upstairs.

The silence between you stretched, heavy and strange, and when he finally sat on the edge of the bed, you stood in front of him with your arms crossed loosely over your chest.

“What’s going on?”

Mack ran a hand through his hair.

“I don’t want to be that guy,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to tell you who you can be close to, or make things awkward between you and Will, but it’s been messing with my head.”

You frowned. “Mack—”

“I know you don’t mean anything by it,” he rushed, “but I see how he looks at you and I see how you look at him sometimes, even if you don’t realize it. And I just.. I guess I’ve been scared.”

Your heart sank. “Scared of what?” you asked softly.

He looked up then, eyes a little glassy. “Of losing you,” he admitted. “To someone who’s easier to talk to or to someone who’s always around when I’m not.”

Your chest tightened, you sat beside him, sliding your hand into his. “Mack, I’m close with Will because he’s your best friend. I never meant for it to feel like something else.”

“I know,” he said, voice small. “But it still does.” You leaned your head against his shoulder, quiet for a moment.

“I’m here because I want to be with you,” you said, finally. “Not anyone else, okay?”

Mack just nodded a little, like he was trying to believe it, trying to let the words settle into all the cracked spaces self doubt had crept into.

You watched him for a second, then moved closer.

He didn’t resist when you shifted, gently swinging a leg over to straddle his lap, his arms slid around your waist instinctively, like it was muscle memory. Like this was the only thing grounding him in the moment.

You rested your hands on his cheeks, thumbs brushing softly over the faint pink in his skin but he still wouldn’t quite meet your eyes.

So you leaned in and kissed him.

It wasn’t urgent, it was just soft, slow, like a promise sealed in quiet. His grip on your waist tightened just slightly, and when you pulled back, you stayed close enough.

“You’re not losing me, Mack,” you whispered. “I’m right here.”

He exhaled, like he’d been holding his breath for weeks. “I know I just overthink things,” he said, voice rough around the edges. “Especially when it comes to you.. i care so much, it makes everything feel like it’s on the edge of falling apart.”

“It’s not,” you said firmly. “We’re okay. We just have to talk before it builds up like this.”

Mack nodded, his eyes finally meeting yours again.“Okay,” he whispered.

[hxxsxxng]

Do You Believe in Fate? s.jy

「pairing」 : childhoodbestfriend!jake x afab!reader

「synopsis」 : read the preview here

「word count」 : 15.3k

「genre」 : A lot of angst, smut, somewhat fluff, college au

「warnings」 : MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!!!! cursing, lot of nicknames, mentions of alcohol, consumption of alcohol, hangover, poor mental state, kissing, cuddling, alcoholism, toxic friends (not jake), teasing, crying, begging, distress, groping (consentual), unprotected sex, pulling out, loss of virginity, lowkey size kink, oral (m and f recieving), titty sucking, sharing a bath tub, mentions of hospitalizations, implications of potential death, depression. this is a repost

「authors note」 : i want to thank everyone for motivating me to finish this story and writing this was truly an experience that will effect me as a writer moving forward. i am tagging all of my mutuals so hopefully i could get some feed back! i love every last one of you

「taglist」 : @jakeflvrz - @simhinata - @eternality - @goldenretrieverjakezgirlbaby - @jakesangel - @yjwsgf - @diorsyun-deactivated20241118 - @en-ner-jay - @yeonzzzn - @hoonieesm - @hoonheepretty - @jaysupremacy - @cherry-park - @heeslomll - @alvojake - @taeghi - @dollyyuen - @sumzysworld - @wonsbaer - @simpjay - @sjylouvre - @starboimoon - @blurryriki - @yzzyhee - @sincerelyrki - @hoonven - @heeseungsbm

It was the summer before me and Jake’s junior year of university. We have been working all summer and it’s another other day at the office. Putting in check information for the bank was a lot more boring than I expected . Wake up, go to work, come home, sleep, repeat. There was no time to do anything else. We were always told that if we went to college, we would have a good job. That proved to be wrong. 

Both Jake and I are going through college together, though he landed a way better paying job than I did. When it comes to bills, he ends up having to pay more than me, but he swears up and down that it is not a big deal.

I set down my mug. I hear my phone ring. It’s Jake. “Hello?” he should be at work. “Hey Pumpkin, I got out early today, were there any groceries that we needed?”

“Oh, no I can’t think of anything.”  “Okay, Stay safe, I will see you later.”

Jake never really got time off of work but when he did, I usually tried to stay out of his hair and let him relax. I just continued to run reports, pretty much twiddling my thumbs until the clock struck 5 and I would make my way out of this hell hole.

Traffic was terrible as usual. A usually 7 minute drive turned into an hour. Days like this I just want to get home and throw all my stuff on the ground and lock myself away in my room. Maybe watch some TV. Or listen to some music while my computer is hooked up to it. Anything that distracts from knowing I have to go back to the job I hate the next day. My thoughts are interrupted by a honk coming from behind me. The light turns green. Thank God. But as soon as I pull away from the curb, a car pulls out in front of me. Damn those stupid drivers. I don’t even know how many times this month I’ve had to pull over so they could let someone pass. It isn’t worth getting into a fight with them about. I try to ignore them.

I made it back to our house just in time for the sun to still be out. I made way into the house and Jake was in the kitchen. It was an unusual sight. His after work routine typically consists of cracking open a cold one and playing his computer. “Hey princess” he greeted me.

I stand at the front door, taking off my shoes and hanging my keys on the rack. “What has you in a good mood all of a sudden” I ask suspiciously.

“Well since I got off work early, I figured i’d come home and suprise you with dinner since you just been eating so much take out recently” he replied nonchalantly. The thought makes me sick. “You didn’t need to do that Jake.” “Oh yes, I did. You haven’t been cooking for yourself for a couple months now. I wanted to show you how much your best friend cares about you” he says.

Reguardless of what I say, the food is made and there is no taking it back. I guess I can’t really argue with him over it.

“And besides, I know you have missed your mom cooking pasta for us when we would go to her house in Australia, I figured I should make some do you instead” he adds.

I slowly approach the table. He is still finishing up plating everything. He looks up at me and smiles. “It smells good” I say flatly. He takes off the oven mitts and wipes his hands on it. He sets my plate down in front of me and he pulls out the chair to my right and takes a seat.

“So how was your day Jake?” I asked awkwardly. He starts digging in and responds, “Not too bad. What about yours?”

“Same shit different day. Boss is always yelling at me and the company keeps treating me like garbage even though I am the only one who actually gives a fuck.” I complained, eating a piece of garlic toast. It tasted good, surprisingly good, considering the amount of spices he used.

“Well I am glad it’s Friday so you can take some time to unwind over the weekend” he attempts to comfort me but at this point i’m too tired.

“I guess.” I poke at my food a little bit. Why does Jake’s job seem so perfect? he easily makes twice as what I make and I rarely hear him complain about working either.

“You don’t have to eat if you don’t want to, I am not going to force you.” I guess Jake noticed me being hesitant about eating the rest of my meal.

“It’s not that I don’t want to eat it’s just that I’m really stressed and I don’t want to keep you here listening to me complain about the same things over and over again”

“Look at me” he said. I slowly lift my head for my eyes to meet with his. “I promise I will never get tired of listening to you” he reassured.

There he goes again, sending those butterflies flapping in my stomach. I don’t understand why he is so gentle and compassionate. It gives me goosebumps. I decide I might as well stop procrastinating and start enjoying the evening. “Thank you” I say, giving him a small smile. His face immediately lit up. It’s kind of cute. The rest of dinner went rather smoothly. Jake kept the conversation going, mostly talking about my day and what his was about, and then we would drift off into silence. He looked so relaxed and calm that I felt completely at ease. Even if I knew I should feel bad for keeping him up with my whining, I couldn’t bring myself to.

I stand up from the table and wash my plate. “I don’t know if anyone told you today, but you look gorgeous as always” he sneaks up behind me. “You don’t look too bad your self Jakey” I returned. My face was already a dark hue of red.

I decided maybe tonight I won’t rot away in my room. It’s a Friday night, I’ll have a little bit of fun. Still inside the house though. It is probably too cold outside anyway. I realize I am still in my work clothes. I return to my room to take them off and throw on my most comfortable pair of shorts and a talk top and take my Nintendo Switch to the living room.

Jake was already waiting there for me. He had a bottle of wine and 2 empty glasses. He looked up when I entered and smiled. I gave a shy smile and sat down next to him. He pulled me closer to him, pressing himself against me. Our legs intertwined under the couch. For a moment I forgot about the work situation and the world. In that moment it just felt nice to sit close to someone who cared for me unconditionally.

“What were you wanting to play?” he breaks the silence. “I was thinking we could play some Mario Kart” I suggested.

“Yeah we can, but you already know I’m gonna kick your ass”. He loves teasing me. I punched his shoulder and chuckled.

~~~~~~~~~~

He is in my bed. I just woke up and he is in my bed. I don’t know how to react. Maybe I drank a little too much? I really don’t remember anything after playing a few rounds of Mario Kart. He looks so peaceful. His dark brown hair all tangled up on the pillow. The way his biceps look in his black tank top. He doesn’t snore, but the way he breathes when he sleeps is very cute. There is a slight hint of stubble on his chin, almost like he hasn’t shaved in awhile. His lips are slightly parted. His face shows such contentment and relaxation. He looks so damn beautiful. I have to admit he is pretty attractive and I think he knows it. And I can’t help but wonder about what would happen if I leaned forward and kissed him. His soft lips pressed up against mine. I think it would be okay. Probably wouldn’t hurt. Scratch that, it would probably hurt a lot.

I woke up surprisingly early for a Saturday morning. Usually I am in bed until noon, but it’s only 9:30. Opposite of me, Jake likes to start his weekends bright and early, so it is a bit strange that he isn’t awake by now. I won’t bother him. It’s probably better this way. I roll over onto my side facing away from him. I close my eyes trying to fall back asleep. But it seems to be impossible. My mind is too preoccupied and Jake’s body is far too close to mine for my liking. I groan quietly. It doesn’t help at all.

I crawl out of bed, doing my best not to wake Jake up. As soon as I step out of the room, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. It’s my mom. I guess I hadn’t returned and of her texts last night. She asks if I have slept okay and if I’ve eaten breakfast. When she sees I haven’t. She sends me a picture of the last time I was at her house eating spaghetti. “Just eat something sweetheart and take care of yourself” she reminds me gently. I sigh deeply before replying. “Mhmm thanks mom” I set my phone down on the kitchen counter and rummage through the fridge, hoping to find something appetizing for breakfast. As I search, I can't stop thinking about waking up next to Jake this morning. We've been best friends for so long, but recently I've started seeing him in a new light. The way his eyes crinkle when he smiles, how considerate he is, it stirs up the feelings I've been trying to suppress. I shake my head slightly and settle on making some eggs and toast.

As I cook, memories of last night come flooding back. The wine, the laughter, the gentle way he pulled me close on the couch as we played games. My heart flutters just thinking about how natural and right it felt being cuddled up next to him. But I can't read too much into it. Jake is my oldest friend, he probably sees the intimacy as purely platonic. The sizzle of the eggs brings me back to reality. I quickly plate the food and grab a mug of coffee before heading to the living room. I'll just relax and enjoy this lazy Saturday morning.

I'm about halfway through my breakfast when I hear Jake's footsteps shuffling down the hallway. He emerges, hair sticking up adorably, letting out a big yawn. "Mornin' sunshine," he says with a sleepy grin. I feel my cheeks warm at the nickname. "Morning. I made some extra if you want it," I reply, nodding toward the kitchen. "You're the best." Jake passes over to dish up a plate, giving me a perfect view of his lean back muscles stretching against his thin t-shirt. I quickly avert my eyes as he returns to the couch. As he sits next to me, our arms brush and I feel that spark of electricity again.

Jake doesn't seem to notice, just digs into his eggs happily. We eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before he speaks up again.

"That was a fun night last night, wasn't it?" His eyes meet mine with a warm smile. "We'll have to do it again soon." I return the smile, hoping he can't see the longing behind it. "Yeah, it was really nice." Nice to just relax and be ourselves without any expectations or pressures. Nice to feel...that close to him.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

~~~~~~~~~~

Jake has a friend named Jay. When Jake isn’t at work or at the house, he is most likely hanging out with Jay. Jay is a go with the flow kind of guy and was kind of a womanizer. There’s nothing wrong with it, but I try not to hang out with Jake when Jay is there for that reason.

Jake and Jay always go out for drinks on Saturday nights. I can’t remember the last time he was home on a Saturday night and I didn’t have to take care of him the next morning. He routinely stays at Jay’s house that night then gets an Uber back here the next morning.

Jake and Jay's Saturday night routine carried on like clockwork most weekends. Around 9 PM, Jay would pick Jake up and they'd head to their usual bar downtown. The two friends would drink heavily, telling outrageous stories and shamelessly checking out any attractive women who passed by.

For Jake, it was just a guys' night out away from work stress. But for Jay, it was a chance to flirt and see if he could add another notch to his bedpost. Jake didn't partake in that behavior himself, but he also didn't reproach Jay for it. He figured it was just Jay's way.

Come last call, the two would be pretty sloshed. Instead of dealing with an Uber that late, Jake would just crash at Jay's place. He'd wake up hungover the next morning and request a ride from a car service back home.

When he arrived home disheveled, I'd already have water and painkillers ready for him. I hated having to nurse him after these nights, but it was better than having Jay's leering presence around me. His constant objectification of women made me deeply uncomfortable. So I put up with Jake's hangovers to avoid that part of their friendship dynamic.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Jake opens the front door. I can hear him complaining about his headache already. He sets his keys down and immediately lays down in the couch.

"Hey babygirl, where is the aspirin? Do we have any aspirin left?" he asks groggily. A small chuckle escapes my lips before I turn around to look at him, smiling slightly. “I already got it out for you, and here is a glass of water”. His eyes are closed as I place the pills in his hand and he smiles once they make contact. “Thank you so much for taking care of me princess.” he praises as he shot the tablets into his mouth.

I giggle. This man is ridiculous. A loud yawn escapes his lips and I smile. As much as I hate seeing him like this, I am content with letting him have his fun every once in a while. His shirt is buttoned incorrectly, showing off his muscular chest. I look back at his face. His eyes were opened and he noticed me staring.

“What’s wrong Princess?” he slurs. “Do I look stupid or something?” “No Jake, you look great” I reply truthfully. “You just looked a little tired is all.”

Jake rolls over on the couch and turns onto his side. “I know you’re going to tell me I should rest more, but it’s so hard to sleep when you’re not in the same room.”

“Really? You usually fall asleep within seconds. Why is that?” He shrugs. “Don’t know babe. Just don’t like being alone.” I frown. That’s true enough. Jake never really liked being by himself. Ever since we were in diapers, he had always been surrounded by people. His parents, coworkers…me.

I decide to ask something rather personal instead. Maybe that will distract us for a while. “How’s your mom doing lately? Do you miss her?” Jake doesn’t respond right away. He starts fidgeting under my gaze. His hands begin picking at a loose thread on the couch cushion.

“Yeah, yeah. I miss her. I wish she wouldn’t be working so much now. She used to work less back when we were high school, you know? I still get worried sometimes” he answers with a slight edge in his voice. “It’s okay Jake. You know she likes working for your dad. It helps pay for everything” I remind him softly. He nods slowly. After a few moments, he finally breaks the silence.

“Why do you ask?” I guess he was caught off guard by the question. “I know it’s been a while since you’ve seen them, Australia isn’t in walking distance, ya know.” I try to cheer him up.

He sighs and looks down at the couch. “I guess I just wish I was able to spend more time with her like I did when I was younger. It doesn’t matter though.” He shakes his head dismissively. “She’ll come visit whenever she can. I’m just glad we both decided to live somewhere else for college. I would definitely have missed our family trips.”

“Oh…” I bite my lip unsure what to say to comfort him. He’s always taken his mother very seriously. Even when he was young he often complained that she worked too hard and stressed herself out, which only made him madder. In all fairness, she did work extremely hard—even harder than he ever could. And now that she has found some semblance of stability, he worries that he won’t be able to provide for her the lifestyle he wanted for her.

I reach out and pat Jake's arm reassuringly. "I know how much you miss your mom. But she's doing what she needs to in order to help take care of the bills and your dad. You know she'd be here if she could."

Jake nods slowly. "Yeah, you're right. I just wish there was more I could do from here, instead of feeling so helpless being so far away. I know my dad would want me there as well" He runs a hand through his tousled hair. "At least I have you around. Don't know what I'd do. You kinda of bring a feeling of home to me. I hope that made sense.”

I feel my cheeks flush a little at his words. "Well, you know I'll always be here for you," I reply, trying to keep my tone light.

“Thank you sweet heart.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Our parents went to University together. That’s how they met. My mom met Jake’s mom in a sociology class, and they have been best friends ever since. Being college bestfriend basically guarantees that your kid will have someone to grow up with, and they took advantage of that. He has litterally been there for every life event my mom felt was important enough to let him in on.

Though we didn’t become friends by choice, we were latched onto eachother ever since we were introduced. I remember I would ball my eyes out when even Jake got sick because it meant I couldn’t hang out with him after school or have play dates on the weekends. As we grew up, the situations weren’t as innocent. I would confide in him when I was upset, and he would hold me in his arms after my nightmares. I even found comfort in him after my numerous hearts breaks in highschool. Though none of my relationships were ever that serious, I was still unmistakably heartbroken.

Jake was never really a ladies man in highschool, or in general. He studied more on acedemics, which I guess was a good idea considering where he is now. Although I’d never said anything about it, his dating career was pretty dead for several years. In my opinion, it seemed unfair to Jake to not go on dates after highschool. While I understood why he wasn’t interested, it seemed a waste not to try. After all, I’m sure he could get any chick he wanted if he tried, I mean look at him. He had grown from a cute kid playing video games to one who had a perfect body and gorgeous features to match. So yeah, I loved that he was a boy and my friend. But there was no way I could give myself completely to such a man, especially with our history.

Jake is a lot different when I’m around, a lot more caring and loving. I’m reminded of all those times when I would find Jake crying when we came back from vacation during our sophomore year, or how he would suddenly appear at my room door at 5am looking for reassurance or help. At the time, I thought it was because he needed someone to talk to about the things troubling his mind, but now that I think about it , it’s kind of obvious he’s lonely. His dad has been in and out of the hospital recently. I don’t really want to push Jake into going into detail about his condition because it might make him emotional, but I just know that it is another thing that is weighing on him.

When I first started seeing him more and more recently, I thought maybe he wanted us to become closer friends. I mean, he was always talking about how much he adores spending time with me, and how grateful he is to me for saving him and bringing him back to life. I think the situation with his parents are weighing down on him more than I realize.

~~~~~~~~~~

The rhythmic tapping of rain against the window pane fills the hushed stillness of my bedroom. I lie awake, Jake's sleeping form curled up beside me, his head pillowed on my chest. His eyebrows are furrowed even in slumber, mouth turned down in a soft frown - the worry lines etched across his features never seem to fully fade these days. Gently, I brush some stray locks of hair off his forehead, my thumb tracing over the crease between his brows. Jake's been carrying the entire weight of his family's struggle on those broad shoulders.

A quiet sigh escapes his lips and he burrows deeper into my side, one arm slinging possessively over my waist. We've been a tangle of limbs like this more nights than not recently. After the latest bout of bad news about his dad, Jake sought me out like a man wandering through the desert in desperate need of water. I remember the rawness in his voice as he begged to stay in his room, to be held and comforted, the same way I always have. Whatever Jake needs from me, he'll never be turned away.

Trailing my fingers through Jake's hair, I allow myself to drink in every detail of him in this rare moment of peace. The slight upturn of his perfectly sloped nose. The way his plump lips are parted just enough to allow shallow puffs of breath to ghost across my skin. He really is beautiful in the most masculine, rugged way. Not that I'd ever say that out loud - it would be mortifying if Jake caught me ogling him like some lovesick fool. Then again, I've been a lovesick fool for the better part of a decade when it comes to him.

Lost in the flow of my thoughts, I don't even register the soft snuffling noises at first. It's only when Jake's eyelashes start fluttering that I glance down to find him blinking up at me groggily. Without a word, he shifts until his head is cradled in the crook of my neck, placing a slow, scorching kiss to the exposed skin of the side of my neck.

The world seems to screech to a halt. That...was definitely intentional. Purposefully intimate. There's no way it was an accident or a brief moment of sleep-hazy confusion. Not with the way Jake's pupils are blown wide, his lips parting to reveal the tip of his tongue darting out to wet them instinctively.

Just as quickly as the spark ignited, Jake seems to deflate, burying his face into the juncture of my neck and shoulder with a muffled whimper. His hands are fisting in the fabric of my sleep shirt, clutching me with a white-knuckled grip like I'm his lifeline back to the surface. Like if he doesn't hold on, he might drown. "Hey hey hey…" I gently stroke the length of his spine calming him. "You're okay now, everything is alright, relax..." Jake's breathing gradually slows. Gradually, he begins to relax, his fingers slackening their death grip in my shirt.

A few moments pass in silence before he lifts his head and looks directly at me. His eyes are slightly bloodshot, probably from all the crying. They’re red and glassy, a stark contrast to his usually flawless complexion. "Sorry," he murmurs. I shrug slightly. "Don't apologize." After a few sniffles, I feel his breathing become more consistent and his face is dry. He starts to do that cute breathing that I talked about. After I realized that he has met some sort of peace and fell asleep, I fell asleep soon after.

~~~~~~~~~~

The morning light filters in through the cracks of my blinds, shining over Jake's sleeping body in a soft glow. My eyes trace the line of his jawbone, the gentle rise and fall of his bare chest as he breathes. He looks so tranquil like this.

Jake smells so fucking good. If I could lay on his chest and take it his scent all day, I really would. Not to mention his face is extremely handsome. He has the face that other guys wish they had. It’s very obvious he takes care of himself.

I can't stop replaying that moment from last night over and over in my mind. The heat of Jake's lips pressing against the skin of my neck. Part of me was desperate to surge forward then and seal my mouth over Jake's, to finally give in to the magnetic pull that's been drawing me to him.

But I didn't. I couldn't. Because I'm also terrified of what exploring these feelings could mean for our relationship.

Losing him isn't an option I can fathom. And he seemed to make the same choice in that moment by turning away, burying his face against my neck with a whimper that could have been either anguished or relieved.

We're cowards, the two of us. Content to dance around the fire instead of being set ablaze

Part of me wonders if Jake was hoping for something in return. Maybe a kiss? Maybe he did it to show it trust and comfort for me. He knows what he is doing. The moment his lips touched my neck, my whole body shivered. I wanted more but I contained myself.

My body still hums with the memory of his kiss, nerves tingling with equal parts of dread. I want to reach out and trail my fingertips over the golden skin of his forearm, to breathe him in and see if he tastes how I've imagined on my tongue.

How many more moments like last night can I survive before the truth comes out? I don't have the answers. All I know is that I'm still undeniably his - body, mind and heart.

It has been too many nights where I imagine his lips against mine. The way he chills my spine when whispers in my ear makes me crave hearing his voice. I wonder what he would be like in a relationship with me, he treats me like a princess already, I don’t know how much better it could get.

My mind drifts to memories of him holding me tight when I was upset, his muscular arms engulfing me in a warm embrace. The feeling of safety and contentment that would wash over me in those moments. If I could experience that every night by his side, it might just be pure bliss.

I fantasize about waking up intertwined with Jake, our legs tangled together as we trade kisses and touches unhurried by the outside world. Combing my fingers through his bed hair while he peppers light kisses along my jawline.

Maybe there could be slowmake-out sessions on the couch, all heated caresses and desperate roaming hands before things inevitably progress further. I would lavish every sculpted line of Jake's body with devoted attention. I imagine he would be an attentive, generous lover, just as giving in the bedroom as he is in every other aspect of his life.

I also can’t get over the mental hurdle that maybe it is kind of gross that I see my bestfriend this way. I could easily mistake all of the kind things he does and how he treats me as something more than what he intends it to be, and that would make me uneasy. I have never done anything sexual with him and anything that would imply sexual attraction, yet I am still here wondering what it is like to have sex with him.

~~~~~~~~~~

I really need to get my feelings sorted out soon because they are just going to keep building up until they eventually burst, and I really don’t want Jake to witness that.The week went the same again. and again. and again. Wake up, go to work, do nothing after. But recently, Jake got a promotion at his job, which was grounds for celebration.

The local diner is busy with the lunch crowd, the air thick with aromas of burgers sizzling on the griddle and fresh baked pie. Jake and I slip into our usual corner booth, the cracked vinyl cushions molding to our forms like old friends. This place has been our go to spot since we started university here. We've shared so many moments in this very booth over the years. Happy celebrations or acing a big exam.

Which is why the thick tension clouding the air between us right now feels so alien. Instead of our usual easy camaraderie, I can barely look at Jake without my pulse kicking up. The memory of his firm chest brushing mine, those plush lips just a table length away, has my skin flushing hot. I squeeze my thighs together secretly, desperate for any kind of friction to alleviate the slow burn of arousal low in my belly.

Just being this close to Jake is enough to have that want unfolding all over again. Filling my head with flashes of how it could feel to finally give in - his weight blanketing me, our bodies moving together in a sinuous rhythm as his mouth trails searing kisses along my neck. "Hey." Jake's low rumble jolts me out of the vivid fantasy.

"You're zoning out, sweetheart. Everything okay?" My cheeks flame darker, that suddenly seems too intimate. I duck my head, but not before catching the unmistakable smirk curling at the corners of Jake's lips. That insufferable, cocky smirk he knows drives me crazy. I want to kiss it off his stupidly perfect face. Or maybe bite at the sharp line of his jaw, put that arrogant look to better use while I'm straddling his lap and--

"Fine," I mumble, hooking a loose strand of hair behind my ear to avoid meeting Jake's eyes. The small movement causes our elbows to brush together on the tabletop. His skin is so soft. Jake's brow furrows, like he doesn't miss the way I've gone tense and flustered all over again. Before I can blink, his hand is covering mine. Those long fingers tenderly stroking along my knuckles, smoothing over my suddenly clammy skin.

Slowly, purposefully, Jake tugs my hand closer until my palm is cupping his scruffy jaw. I suck in a sharp, shaky breath at the contact, at being able to feel the rasp of his five o'clock shadow against my sensitive skin. Jake holds me there for a moment, those meltingly warm eyes boring into mine like he's trying to read my mind.

Then, in the most tempting act of torture imaginable, Jake presses his lips to my wrist in the barest brush of mouth against pulse point. I swear I could die right then and there. He slowly pulls away, looking up to meet my eyes once again. Our gaze meets, intense and lustful, filled with a hunger that only he knows how to create. This feels so wrong, so dangerous. The fact he's staring down at my lips, licking his subconsciously causes a slight hitch in my breathing. A tiny part of me wants to lean forward and press my lips to his. But I stop the impulse with the thought of what we did last night, and the consequences of getting caught again.

Instead, I let out a sigh and break eye contact before pulling my hand away and placing my elbow on the table. I rub my thumb across my wrist absentmindedly while avoiding Jake's gaze, the words I want to say stuck somewhere inside my throat like rocks. There isn't anything I can do. What I have with Jake is different now. I'm scared shitless to tell him how I truly feel.

"What's wrong? Are you alright?" Jake asks, worry laced into his tone. He places a hand on my thigh, making me jump slightly. “It’s nothing, really” I lied. The server comes over to the table to take our order. “What could I get started for you to drink” he says.

-

Our meal goes by normally, Jake pretending that he had done nothing earlier. Afterward, we head home, the silence thickening the further into town we get. There’s nothing for me to say, no reason to prolong this conversation I’m dreading anymore. He must sense my sudden change of mood. He drops his arm from around my shoulders and lets his hand fall limply back onto his knee.

We walk silently in the direction of our house. Neither of us speaking. It’s almost as if we’re both waiting for the other to make the first move. I have an overwhelming urge to turn to him and kiss him.

~~~~~~~~~~

I can’t stop thinking about Jake. He is the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about when I go to bed. Over the past few weeks, I feel like he has become a lot more touchy, which don’t really mind. He smiles for a little longer when we eat together. We have slept in each others room a lot more often than before. I may just be over analyzing it.

Jake is going out with Jay again. As usual, I don’t plan on him coming home tonight, and I will wake up to a hungover Jake. Jay isn’t really the friend to take care of you when you feel ill, so that responsibility is left on me.

I hate to admit, but when Jake isn’t home for a night, I fight the urge to sleep in his bed. I have been sleeping in his bed with him so often that it leaves me in withdrawal when we aren’t in the same bed.

Just being in his room, his scent diffused in the air, it makes me miss him so much more. Even without thinking about the fact that it is his room, the bed is so much more comfortable than mine, which is all the better reason to sleep there.

I walk in, already in my shorts and t-shirt, and wonder around. He has the picture of us that his mom took when we were first leaving for Korea framed on his nightstand.

I pick it up and examine it closely. It is the one photo where we didn’t appear stiff. I remember the day clearly; I was standing with him, grinning broadly. I never expected to smile so much when I was young, but my memories of our trip leave a bright happy feeling inside my stomach.

I set the photo back down and I lift the blanket from the corner of the bed. I slide into the bed, laying on his side like I usually do when he isn’t here. I instantly melt into the sheets. I scroll on my phone whilst fighting my eyelids to stay awake, but eventually I fall asleep prematurely.

Jake usually keeps his room pretty cool, which calls for cuddling closely under the blankets. In the middle of my sleep, I am shot awake when my cold limbs are instantly warmed by an unexpected sensation. Why was Jake home?

Jake continues to get comfortable under the blanket, not even batting an eye at the fact that I was just sleeping in his bed. I pull him closer by his waist to fulfill the rest of the warmth that my body craves.

“Why are you shivering sweetheart, you could have turned on the heater.” he worries.

“I wanted the temperature to be tolerable when you got back in the morning” such a stupid explanation. “Speaking of, why are you here right now? what happened to Jay’s?” I questioned, completely forgetting how we got into this situation in the first place.

“Jay was feeling ill so we called it a night pretty early, I only got three shots down.”

Jake runs a lazy finger over my hip bone and leans in to nuzzle the crook of my neck. Shit. He’ll notice the way I react to his touches and I won’t be able to explain myself. Fuck.

“I thought I would come to my room and catch up on sleep but look what we have here instead” he says with that stupid smirk on his face.

“Oh- oh I’m sorry.” I slowly pull away from him to make way back to my room. “No babe, please don’t go, I want you to stay” he begs while keeping our fingers latched to keep our extended arms together. He then latched his hand around my wrist to slowly pull me back down to his level on the bed. It’s all happening too fast. He uses the same hand to comb his fingers through the strands at the bottom of my hair on the back of my head, and keeps his hand there entangled. He uses his hand to guide my head into a sensual kiss. He gently pressed his lips against mine. So plump, so dreamy. I reciprocated the kiss instantly, matching his pace and moving our lips in sync so perfectly. The way our lips intertwined so naturally gave me actual chills.

After giving me what I have dreamt about for years, he pulls away, leaving a string of saliva to connect our lips. He looks into my eyes, his pupils as voids. “Please stay” he whispers again. I nod dumbly, my brain still short circuiting as Jake bites is bottom lip. He’s so fucking beautiful, my eyes are practically burning holes into his lips.

His fingers gently run over my cheekbone, lingering on my jawline, tracing along my nose. “How did I ever deserve someone as beautiful as you?” he murmurs. His voice is full of admiration and love and affection. He trails his fingers along my jaw, pausing to lightly graze my collar bone, making goosebumps erupt across my skin. The heat radiating off Jake’s body is practically burning me alive.

Without thinking about it for a second longer, I close the gap between our lips again. We moved in sync, in harmony. It feels like my lips were only made to kiss his. He rests his free hand on the side of my face and uses it as grip to deepen the kiss. Kissing him I had a sense of saftey. The longer our lips were together, the more open I was to his attempts at adding tongue into the mixture. It was a sloppy wet mess, but is all I have ever wanted.

I slide my hand between out warm bodies and feel across his obvious bulge in his boxers. He instantly let out a groan when I took his imprint into my palm. I stroked it gently as we continued with intertwined tongues. His grunts and breathlessness was insanely arousing.

It was clear that we were both extremely sleepy. After a few more minutes of kissing, we eventually pulled away, with no words spoken.

I try my best to hold in my moans as the warmness travels up my body like lava. He stops tracing my collarbone to trail his hands up the side of my body, stopping to stroke a line of soft kisses along the side of my neck.

My hands grasp tightly at the material covering Jake’s shoulder blades and I use that leverage to get back under the blankets with him. We both face eachother, with our legs crossing randomly over one another. He once again rests his head in the crook of my neck, leaving a kiss like he did once before. Only this time, I know his true intention.

~~~~~~~~~

The fall semester is starting back up again. Junior year, both is our schedules are jammed packed with upper division classes. Having to balance so many classes and still having to work to keep up with the bills for the house, Jake and I hardly see each other. Even though I love spending every single day with him, I feel like I’m living with a ghost whenever I see his empty seat. When I wake up every morning to find him gone, my heart starts to ache. It hurts knowing that we might not spend as much time together. I know that the sooner that this semester ends, the easier everything will be.

The end of the semester wasn’t going to be soon though, it’s barely September. I’ve decided to try and set a study date with Jake and make sure nothing was overlapping the times. We eventually agreed apon Thursday night after he got off of his afternoon job. Maybe around 8 o’clock. I was getting a head start on my Statistics work before he showed up because I knew it would take me a while. He eventually showed up close to 8:30.

I had my headphone covering my ears, shoulders slumped over my desk, and he comes up behind me and take my shoulders in his hands and sensually massages. “Ah thank youuuu~~~ my muscles are tight” I jumped at the unexpected pressure. He drives his thumbs a little bit deeper into my blades and slides his straight arms down my stomach for a hug. “I missed you” he griped with puppy dog eyes, resting his head on my shoulder. I take off my headphone and hold both of his forearms and pull him deeper into this awkwardly positioned hug.

After a few seconds he pulls away and grabs out his bag with his laptop, and runs to his room to grab his chair to pull up next to mine. I was still seated, watching, unable to take my eyes off him. He settles himself and puts the laptop on his knees in front of him. He opens his notebook, and turns the page to the worksheet for this month. My fingers naturally find their way to his back and scratch gently while he looks over his work. They made their way up his clothed back and into his hair and I ran them through this tangled hair. He let out a sigh of fufillment and he allows himself self to close his eyes to fully take in the relaxing feeling. He breaths in deeply and slowly, taking in my coconut scent.

“Fuck it” he says under his breath.

He turns in my directed and crashed his lips into mine with no hesitation. He wraps his arms around my neck, deepening the kiss. I was startled at the quick change in plans but my lips soon melted into his and I was under his control. My tongue dances along his bottom lip, asking for entrance as he obliges and gives access. He lifts me from my chair and pulls me over to straddle his thighs.

He guides his lips to mine again, running his hands down my back as he pushes me lower into his lap. I wrap my legs slightly around his waist for some sense of support. The sensual make out and lap straddling goes on and on, until he breaks away slightly to speak, “You can move if you want sweetheart”.

He reconnects our lips and I find myself needing any sort of friction to ease the pressure building between my legs. Subconsciously grinding my core over his thigh slowly. I bite down on his lower lip causing him to suck on my tongue immediately as a response. God, he tastes so good, like the cocoa butter lip balm I got him for his birthday.

I continue grinding over his thighs picking up the aggressiveness, as he continues to run his hands through my hair. “Feeling desperate, darling?” he teases, smirking as he tries to pull me back into a kiss. “Shut up” I harden my fist and hit the front of his shoulder. He always finds a way to tease me. He chuckles as we connect our lips once again.

He slides both of his hands under my thighs stands up from his chair, and I wrap my legs around his body as he carries me to the bed. He slowly lays me down on my back with my legs still wrapped around his waist. He doesn’t break the kiss but as soon as he sets me down, I can feel his erection bulging through his pants rubbing against me sweet spot. We stop kissing momentarily as he looks at me, with lust filled eyes. He lets one of his hands rest on my chest, while the other traces along the side of my neck to my chin, tilting my head upward and pressing his forehead against mine. “Look at how gorgeous you are right now,” he says with pure adoration. “I can’t help myself when I’m with you.” A sudden surge of desire hits me and my hands grip his hips tighter as he starts to trail kisses on my jawline. I can feel an undeniable wetness spreading in my panties. I am becoming desperate.

I placed my hands at the bottom of his shirt and began lifting it up, but he finished the job and lifted it over his head and threw it to the side. I have seen Jake shirtless a million times over but this time is different. It feels more intimate than the last ones I have seen. I felt my throat tighten as my eyes were drawn to his chest which looked absolutely flawless. “So beautiful” I whisper and I trace my fingers over his abs and chest. His body looks perfectly carved and sculpted by a god. “It’s all for you, baby” he cooed.

I reach my arms around his back and gently dig my nails into his skin as he continues to kiss me. He grabs the bottom of my shirt and pulls it over my head, revealing my breasts. I wasn’t wearing a bra since I had been home all afternoon, and I definitely wasn’t expecting this. As soon as he sees them, he takes one of them in his hand. He holds my right breast in his palm and gently rubs it between his thumb and index finger.

His gaze remains focused on my chest as his mouth begins to travel down, taking his time to enjoy each and every piece of my body. He stops to give me another kiss before placing his lips on my nipple. He sucks on my nipple whilst his teeth nipped at my flesh, causing me to moan lowly. I grabbed his hair pulling him closer to me. I grind my pelvis onto his dick, eliciting a groan and he removes his mouth, making a ‘pop’ sound, to look at his next target intensely. He took my other breast into his mouth, swirling his tongue around my nipple and softly sucking, making me arch my back and having a moan escape my lips. Jake trails his hands down my waist while keeping his mouth latched to me.

His fingers went into the top of my sweatpants and I stopped him. “I have never done this before” I admitted. “Do you want me to stop?” he questions. How could I ever want him to stop? He is the only person I have ever imagined losing my virginity to. That aside I simply answer “No, Jakey, I trust you”

He continues to pull me pants down and off my legs and throws it to the side like he did with the other articles of clothing. He licks up my neck and comes to my ear. “I have never done this either, we can learn together” he whispered. Hearing this made my noticibly more wet, the way he whispers into my ear raises every single hair on my body. The thought of us having our first times with each other made this whole so much more meaningful and made me a lot less hesitant.

The only thing I have left on are my black panties and Jake looks like he is a man with a mission. I grab his bulge through his jeans and gently massage. He becomes a groaning mess as I palm his desperate tip. He is barely even able to keep his lips a decent distance apart for me to kiss him. “Fuuuck your hand feels so good” I take my other hand to start unbuckling his jeans, which he seems to have no problem with.

I pulled the belt off and unbuttoned his jeans and pulls them down, to where he took them all the way off. All he has left is his boxers. I can clearly see the imprint of he large cock through the thin fabric. I furrowed my eyebrows. “Does it look too big?, we can stop now if we need to” he questioned, seeing the fear on my face. I gulped and said “No, I can take it.”

I continued stroking through his boxers and he moved my panties to the side and rubbed gently on my folds. I gasped at the feeling. The better it started to feel, the less and less I was able to focus on Jake and more on myself. He had me wrapped around his finger. No amount of masturbating could compare to the way he is making me feel within these few minutes.

He slid his fingers down my clit and inserted one. He pumped it in and out until I felt that I was ready for more. Then 2. It hurt a little more but I slowly got used to it. He leaned his head down while his fingers still stuffed me and started leaving kisses on my clit. For having so little experience, he worked his finger and tongue like a professional. The way his tongue danced across my sensitive bud made my body shutter, and I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

“I love the sounds of your whimpers” he moaned against my clit teasing me. I couldn’t even respond. My breathing quickened, and the more his fingers fucked me, the more I could tell how wet I was getting. I whimpered again and I gripped his hair signaling how good he was making me feel. “It tastes just as sweet as I imagined” he praised. He has imagined this before? What else has he imagined?

His fingers slowed down and he slipped two inside of me simultaneously. My hips bucked up and I let out a small gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders. He continued working his fingers inside of me. He was eating like a man who hadn’t seen a meal in a week.

“I want to taste you now.” I protest, pulling his face up for a kiss. His eyes look like he is drunk as his tongue swirled with mine and he gave me a slow deep kiss. He sucked on my bottom lip, then bit me, and finally opened his mouth and licked my tongue with his. He pulls away and allows me to pull his boxers past his hips and onto the ground. His dick sprung out. God, it was a lot thicker than I imagined.

I take the base of it and put my lips against the tip, swirling my tongue around. His muscular hand combs through the top of my hair and gently grips it as I begin to take more of his length in my mouth. I could feel it sliding smoothly in and out of my throat. His grip on my hair tightens and he guides me to take more in moderation. “God yes baby, that’s it” he encouraged. I looked up at him, the room filled with breathy moans and he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. I felt the waves of his voice vibrating through my lips as he spoke, causing goosebumps to erupt across my entire body. I could feel my juices flowing through my pussy and down my belly.

I continue sucking him until he is almost completely buried inside my mouth. He leans down placing his lips beside my ear. “I don’t think I can hold out much longer” he whispers, making me smile.

He slowly pulls himself out of my mouth and lifts me back onto the bed. I use my arms to cover my chest, I am a little nervous. He leans down and kisses me on the forehead. “Don’t hide yourself, you look perfect darling” he said proceeding to take my tongue in his mouth. God this man loves using his tongue. I have never felt this type of intimacy before, and to think I am covering that ground with my bestfriend, was not how I thought it was going to go to say the least.

He brushes his tip in between my folds, spreading my wetness around. “Are you sure you want to keep going? We can stop here, just say the words and I will stop” “Please keep going” I am practically begging. He seems to enjoy my obvious desperation. He guide the tip in slowly, trying not to overwhelm me. He goes in a little deeper. I wince in pain. “Ah baby go a little slower” I pleaded. I didn’t want him to stop but it was definitely starting to hurt. He held the same spot for a few more seconds, then slowly pushed more in. I have gotten used to the stinging, as it slowly turns to pleasure.

“Shit princess, you’re so fucking tight” Jake praises. He was getting lost in his own world since he has never felt a warm pussy wrapped aroung his dick before, especially not one like mine. I felt his tip hit the enterance of my cervix. He bottomed out. He didn’t move. He didn’t even want to move, he was just enjoying the moment of his cock being buried deep inside his bestfriend. “You ok babe?” he asked, concerned by the lack of movement from me. “Yeah, just give me a second” I replied, attempting to get myself under control.

I began to relax, letting the warmth envelop my entire body. I signal that his is able to move. He slowly pulls his cock out of my cunt, and immediately pushes it back in. He rests both of his arms next to my face and comes down to kiss me. I can see the faint beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “You do not know how long I have been wanting to do this” He whispered into my ear. Once again, Jakes words send a tingle down my spine. He instantly latched himself onto my neck, sucking harshly while still keeping a slow pace down below. I grip his brown head of hair as he leaves purple marks on my skin, bruising my neck. He pulls out and goes back in, this time at a consistent rate.

Our torsos are in complete contact and he sets both of his hands under my back. I wrap my legs around his waist to allow him deeper access, which he so desperately needed. His lips were locked with mine. Our tongues were dancing along with each other as well as our chests. Every time he would suck on my lower lip, I moan against his lips.

“This is what I have been dreaming about” He says breaking away and kissing my nose. He finds me comfortable with his picking up the pace, and he did with no hesitation. He nuzzles into my neck with his hair partially resting on my face. There was no pain left to feel and my whole body was washed over with pleasure. His length fit so perfectly into my warm cunt, like we were make to only fuck eachother.

Jake head still right next to mine, I turn my head and whisper “Jakey, it feels so gooood~~~~” with inconsistency in my breathing. Jake’s ears were pleasured as if he were listening to his favorite song. He slowed down the pace, only to drive his dick deeper into my swollen cunt with each thrust. “Oh my god it’s feels so fucking good, you taking my cock like this.” he whines in my ear. He pulls away from my neck and just watching himself fuck into my pussy.

There was so much sweat on his face it was so fucking hot. It was dripping off his chin and onto my shoulder and neck. His hair was starting to get wet. He took both of my legs over his shoulders, making sure to maintain eye contact. Each stroke was deeper and deeper. Faster and faster. He was getting desperate. I don’t know how much more my inexperienced pussy can handle. He takes his thumb and gently rubs my clit. Ugh, I have never felt this sort of sensation before, being fucked at the same time.

My moans became more uncontrollable and my legs started to close in. “Fuckkkkk Jakey I am about to cum” I am on the verge of tears, overstimulated with pleasure. The pressure on my clit mixed with the repeated abuse of my cervix was enough to drive me over the edge. “Mmmmm yes doll, cum on my cock” he says lowly. My walls tighten around him and my hips are shaking. My heart is beating at 1000bpm, not a coherent thought left in my fucked-dumb mind. He practically has to pry my legs apart to maintain access to my slit. He holds my hips in place as he gives me a few more strokes. His became less and less powerful.

Once he felt his orgasm coming, he quickly pulled out of me, letting out a loud groan, and shot his strings of white cum all over my tummy and chest. The room was filled with loud pants and the scent of sex. “You are all I have ever wanted” I reach up to tuck his hair behind his ear, not minding the fact that his face was soaked. We rest our foreheads together and rub our noses across each other as we both try to catch our breath.

After a second of recovery, He runs to the bathroom and grabs a rag to clean me up. I could barely move my body, my entire entity was more than sore. It hurt to move, all I could do is lay there. Jake returns with a cold washcloth, and starts wiping off my stomach. “Do you need help getting cleaned up babe?” he asks, sitting down beside me, his arm around my naked torso. “Could we take a bath together?” I suggested.

A bath together after the fact is far more intimate, and could give us some time to talk things over. “Of course” and smiles. “I can go get it set up right now, darling, you just rest for a few minutes” He gives me a kiss on the nose and forehead before heading to run the faucet.

~~~~~~~~~~

I don’t know how I could let this happen. I lay on my bed rerunning all of the events writhing the last hour in my head. I really don’t know why we both allowed it to go that far. I admit, I loved every second of it, but now that it’s over, we have to deal with the effects.

Jake comes back from running the faucet. He looks tired. Maybe a bath is something we both need. “Come here sweetheart” he brings a towel and sets it on the counter.

The bathroom mirror was completely fogged over. “Are you trying to make soup out of us?” I said jokingly. “I know you like taking your showers hot, so I thought maybe it would be the same for baths” he chuckled.

I dip my toes into the half full tub. Jake was right, the temperature was just how I liked it. I held onto his shoulder as I submerge my other foot. The water lapped over the rim of the bath tub.

I keep hold onto his hand so he can guide himself into the tub, taking a lot more balance and tolerance for him to try to get used to the boiling water. “God damn, you like it hot hot” he teases though I can see him furrowing his eyebrows at the heat.

“Oh don’t be such a baby” I tease him right back. He pouts playfully. I love seeing that kind of reaction from him. “I don’t mind” he mumbles in embarrassment, trying to hide the smile on his face.

Once his feet were able to get used to the water, we both slowly sat the rest of our bodies into the tub. Jakes hair is a mess, it’s going in all different directions. I reach out to tuck some of it behind his ears for him, and then cup his face in my palm. I stroke his cheek with my thumb. He tilts his head, there he goes with those irresistible puppy dog eyes again.

“What’s wrong baby?” he asks. I remain in eye contact with him. “Were you being serious? When you said you have dreamt about… that…?”

He’s silent. So much blood rushing to his face his cheeks are like strawberries. He scratched the back of his head. “I mean yeah… why wouldn’t I” he hesitated.

“I mean look at you, you are insanely attractive and we live together and have known each other forever. Of course my mind is going to wonder. It has wondered many more times than I would like to admit.” he explained himself.

Unintentionally, our bodies kept inching towards each other in that bath. I am some how a mere 6 inches away from his face. “Why haven’t you ever told me how you felt?”

“Because I was scared on how it would change our friendship”…. he had the exact same fear as I did. He was also afraid of losing one of his best friends. “If I tell you how I feel, you might think it’s weird or something” he whispers into my ear. “No I will understand, we have known each other our whole lives. How would it be weird?” I say softly.

He hesitates once again, and I can hear his heart start to pound. He closes the gap between us and rests his forehead on mine. “There is so much you don’t know” He breathes, still looking deep into my eyes. His words caused a flicker of anxiety inside of me. “There is so much I want to know about you, darling” I reassure.

“Well for starters I never thought this thing between us would become anything more than just friends” he confesses. It is hard for him to admit such things, but he has to show me that I matter more than he thinks. “It scares me, and I’m sorry that I let it go too far. I guess it’s because I’ve been waiting so long, and everything has changed so fast” he explained, he still had this worried look on his face like I were going to shut everything down. Everything had changed so fast.

“You have to stop worrying so much about me. You can trust me, okay? I’ll never judge or hate you or think any differently of you. All I want is for us to enjoy our first time together and enjoy each other. I have never seen anyone as beautiful as you are to me”. I caress his face with my hands.

A small smile graces his features while he gazes back into my eyes. I lean forward and capture him in a long passionate kiss. Our lips moving in sync, tasting each others taste as if it was our first time doing it. We pull away and stare at each other. He places both of his palms on either side of my face, leaning in even closer. I place my lips in line with his.

My fingers run through his soaked hair, though I don’t know if it use from sweat or from water. “Jakey, if I am going to be honest, I have been feeling the same way. On nights where we don’t sleep in the same bed, I find myself getting less sleep and craving your warmth. I don’t regret anything that’s happened between us tonight. Admittedly, I have been wanting to do that with you for so long” I started ranting.

“When you were making love to me I felt like I was floating away and it felt so good I just wanted to stay here forever, like nothing else mattered. There wasn’t anything I wanted more than to stay in this moment forever with you, but we both know that isn’t possible.” he continues, his voice cracking.

“Making love?” I chuckle. Such an interesting word choice. “Be quiet” he pushes back. “I’m just joking, but I agree”

He was clearly getting tired, letting out a yawn and fighting the force of his eyelids trying to close. “We should get to bed” I suggest. We soak the last few moments of the now comfortably hot water and get out of the tub. “You better not get water all over the floor, Jake” HE ALWAYS DOES THAT.

He grabs a towel for me and and one for himself and he wraps mine around my whole body width and pulls me for a hug. “I am glad we took a bath together sweetheart, try to get some rest” he whispers, and leaves an innocent kiss on my forehead.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next few weeks consisted of school, work, and sleeping in the same bed with Jake pretty much every single night. We would exchange passionate kisses and I would bathe him when he was too tired from work or hanging out with Jay. And he would do the same for me. We never went as far to have sex again. We weren’t scared but we felt like we should wait.

We are on our way back to Australia for fall break. Jake will finally get to see his parents and I will get to see mine. We get to have a whole week without having to worry about responsibilities. Which I know both of us desperately need. We touch down in Australia around maybe 3pm on the first Saturday of the break. We only brought carry on luggage for convenience and time.

“Have everything?” He questioned me as we were getting out of our seats. “I think so” I smile, so excited to see my parents. We arranged for Jake’s mom to pick us up from the airport. She had a large SUV able to fit all of our stuff comfortably. Once we passed through all of the security and customs, Jake calls her to see where she is parked. On speaker I hear her say “9 rows down from the south enterance” she explains. “Thanks mom, see you in a sec” Jake says about to hang up the phone. “Thank you Mrs Sim” I make sure she hears before he presses the red button.

We hurry to get out of the packed airport so meet up with his mom. The weather was cold and misty and it was hard to see. When we finally arrived outside the south enterance, we could hardly believe what we saw. Layla comes up running at full sprint in me and Jake’s direction. She jumped up onto bother of us, layering our faces and arms with slobbery licks and he tail wagging so hard it may as well had fallen off.

Once Layla was all calmed down we put our luggage into the trunk. We swing up the door and the vehicle seems oddly empty. “Where is dad?” Jake questioned his mom. “He is getting worse…. he wasn’t able to make it today, I had to take him back to the hospital last night” she explained. I could already see the heart break in his eyes. “Oh” We packed everything up and his mom offered for me to sit in the front seat. Honestly, I wanted to sit in the back seat and comfort Jake, so I made up the excuse that Layla should sit in the front.

The mood in the car ride home was off. I don’t know if it was from the weather or his fathers health but Jake was not as energetic as he was before. I know he doesn’t deserve everything happening to his dad so I will just try to support him through it.

~~~~~~~~~~

I never really gave it much thought, but the more I put the pieces together, I think maybe the reason Jake is so insistent on getting black out drunk with Jay on the weekends may have to do with his father.

Jake has never in his life had a healthy coping mechanism. I remember a lot through out grade school, he would feel guilty or take blame for things that were not his fault, just to mediate the situation. When he did this, he did not react to the discipline very well, but it seems like he would much rather face conveniences than to start an argument over the original problem.

Jake let a lot of people take advantage of him, and it is still something that we have to work on, but knowing the situation with his dad, I know he has a lot more things to worry about now that usual.

Many of the people excluding his parents are alcoholics, any family event we went to together, the main thing being passed around was a bottle. When we were younger, things made him build resentment towards them but the older we got, the more willing he was to try alcohol, only adding more and more each time until he is where he is at now.

Jay isn’t the type of friend to stop this behavior either. I will never understand why Jake is such good friends with him cause he never seems to have the best intentions or good interest in mind. I can’t be the one to tell him that they should stop being friends cause at the end of the day, Jake’s relationship with alcohol won’t be healed in a split second.

~~~~~~~~~~

Nothing really eventful happened over the span of the after noon, the rain put everything to a halt. I slept in the guest bed in Jake’s house for the first night but was unable to fall asleep for the majority of the night. Jake’s mom rushed into the room around 1:30 am.

“Hey are you awake? We have to go the hospital, it’s my husband. Please wake up Jake while I grab the keys” She said with an extremely shaken voice full of urgency. I shoot out of the bed and put my shorts back on and practically run down the hallway to Jake’s room. It is locked. I bang on the door frantically. “Jake! Jake get up now we have to go” I echo through the door. Quickly after he swings open his door with his shirt in his hand, in the middle of putting it on.

The SUV was already started when we got out the front door and we ran to get into the car and soon as we sat down she reversed and tried to explain. “He slipped into a coma. They said they are trying everything to get him to wake up but they have no idea why it happened because he was in decent shape before” she says with tears forming in her eyes.

I reach up to the front seat to scratch her shoulder to try and calm her. I don’t think there is anything someone can do in this situation to calm someone in this much distress down but I tried. She is going dangerously fast down the highway. I know that she has been working hard to keep them afloat and thing we’re starting to get better. After that I couldn’t stand to listen anymore and closed my eyes hoping that by some miracle she wouldn’t end up killing us.

After what seemed like hours we reached the hospital and were quickly taken to another private room where we could talk with him alone. Of course his dad wasn’t going to be able to say anything. But Jake still wanted him to listen. He took his fathers hand a caressed his palm with his fingers while he said what he needed to say. Once he was done, I gave Jake a hug as his red face were completely covered in tears.

“He will be okay, I promise” I reassured him. We walked out of the room to discover his mom sitting next to the window, face completely void of emotion. He hasn’t spoken a word since we have gotten here.

“You know…. he was really excited for you both to come back. He was practically counting down the days” she admitted, wiping a tear from here eye. “I was so excited with him” she added. Her words shatter my heart. How is she not screaming in anger right now. Angry at the world for doing this to her innocent husband. That was something I admired about her. She was always able to contain her emotions well, almost too well.

Seeing both her and Jake in this state was absolutely terrible. I knew it would only take a miracle to fix this given his dads condition. “It’ll all be okay, Jake, don’t cry” I assure him. “It won’t, how am I supposed to deal with this? How am I supposed to go back to school without seeing him, talking to him… it hurts” “There is still a chance that he will make it Jake, don’t give up on it. I know he wants you to wait for him”

He couldn’t say anything, all he could do was bury his face into my shoulder and sob. He tried to form words, but they were only choked noises which caused him to cry even harder. “Shh its okay, I am here” I assure him. Me, Jake and his mom spent the night in the hospital. His mom slept in the room with his dad and me and Jake slept in a guest waiting room. Well, I was the only one who was able to get some sleep. Jake was up all night worrying about his father. I could hear him crying as I were trying to fall asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

A few weeks had passed and his fathers condition remained the same, and to be honest, Jake and his mom seemed like they kind of accepted that this was the way that things were going to be.

We were back at the house, his mom would just go to work and lock herself in her room until she had to go to work again and Jake and I were preparing to go back to Korea for the Winter semester.

Mrs Sim did not want to see us leave, and she made it very clear. We were her last hope with everything going on with her husband. I really wish me and Jake could stay back to support her but we have jobs and bills that we have to get back to, and life can’t just pause for us. We promised we would let her know how we are feeling, how much we missed each other and everything else that went along with saying goodbye.

We leave in 3 days, and we made it our mission to hang out with his mom as much as we could before we left. She hasn’t taken a break either… no time to her self she just has to keep working to pay for the house and the piling medical bills.

Those last few days, we took Mrs. Sim out for lunch at her favorite Thai restaurant. She seemed to genuinely smile for the first time in weeks as we joked and reminisced about times when all 4 of us were together. One night, we rented some classic movies she loved and made her favorite snacks. We cuddled up on the couch, enjoying the familiar feeling of just being together as a family again, if only briefly.

Jake and I helped around the house as much as we could - running errands, doing yard work, and cooking meals to give his mom a little respite. We made sure to soak in every moment because we didn't know when we'd all be together like that again.

~~~~~~~~~~

When it came time for our early morning departure back to Korea, Mrs. Sim took us both in for a tight hug, her eyes brimming with tears. "Take care of each other," she whispered hoarsely.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Jake grabs our suitcases out of the trunk and his mom pulls me to the side.

“Please promise to take care of him for me. You have always been a safe place for him, I can only imagine how he has been feeling” she begged. I held bother of her hands in the palms of mine. “I promise, Mrs Sim, I will do everything in my power to take care of him, don’t worry. You have other things to worry about” I reassure her pulling her into a hug.

Layla climbs through the back of the car from the front seat and jumps out of the trunk to say good bye, jumping all over me and Jake just like when we first arrived. “Yes you’re such a good girl” he scruffs up her ears while giving her a kiss on the forehead. I gave Layla some belly rubs before his mom guided her back into the car.

“Please text me when you board, and call me when you land, I need to know that the two of you are safe.” said his mom. “Of course” we pulled her into one last hug. “I love you guys” she sobbed “I love you too” we said in unison as we walked towards to enterance, leaving his mom in the parking lot.

~~~~~~~~~~

The ride back home was hard for Jake. 10 hours of restlessness. The only time I saw Jake act kind of okay was at our layover in Manila. I tried to leave him be for most of the trip.

-

We landed at the airport in Seoul and made our way back through customs and immigration, I swear the process of getting out of the airport is more stressful than planing a trip itself. We load our things into my car, missing the excitement that Layla brought to the car ride.

Before we got into the car, Jake comes behind me and turns me around into a hug. “I am really worried about her… my parents have been together for so long I can’t imagine how she would react with out him” he cried into my arms. “Your mom is a strong woman, I know it. She has you and I know she will be able to get through it.” I rub his back and lay my head into the crook of his neck.

I walk him over to his door and open it, letting him get into is and rest, we still had a 45 minute drive back to our place. I just let him ‘rest’ his eyes the whole way and I sat in silence trying not to wake him. The ride was bumpy, or maybe I was more aware of my surroundings not given that Jake wasn’t talking my ear off the whole time. I don’t mean it as a bad thing but he does a great job at keeping me company in the car. But that element was absent this time.

We were outside of our house quicker than expected. Jake was still fast asleep, he looked up he most peaceful than I have seen him these past few weeks I really did not want to wake him up. “Jakey we’re here” I whisper and gently grip his shoulder. He groans. He untucks his arms from under his shirt and rubs his eyes, trying to adjust to the light.

We make way up to the door, he didn’t bother grabbing anything out of the car but I was completely okay with grabbing everything if it meant he would get some rest. As soon as we stepped in the door, he took off his shoes and hurried to his bedroom, he didn’t ever bother changing his clothes before plopping onto his bed in pure exhaustion.

I found myself following him to the bed and sitting on the edge and grazing his back with my fingernails. My hands made way up to his hair and I combed his strands with my fingers. He turns over to lay on his back and I sit and admire his beautiful face while his eyes are closed. So peaceful. I couldn’t fight the urge to lean down and give his a soft peck before heading back to the car.

He didn’t seem to mind, his lips were soft as they instantly melted into mine for a few seconds. He didn’t seem supprised or shocked at all. He made it feel natural. “Thank you” he said, barely audible. I leaned in for another kiss, a smile building on my face as our lips met. No verbal response was needed, my smile against his spoke for itself.

~~~~~~~~~~

We had gotten back into our normal work and school schedule following the break. I still was not seeing Jake as much as I would like and it seems like I was getting less and less information by the day on his dad, which worried me. I tried to call Mrs Sim every single day to check in and get updates, as well as update her on mine and Jake’s life. She treated me like a friend. Like a daughter. I am very thankful to be accepted by her in that way.

Jake was clearly getting more stressed with work and school and I couldn’t figure out a way to ease the stress for him, all I could do was hope that it wouldn’t end up being too much.

Mrs Sim told me briefly once while we were on a phone call that me and her call way more often that her and Jake do. Jake has always been a texter and his Mom simply had to deal with not hearing her baby boys voice as often as she would like, which is why it was weird when me and Jake were laying in my bed around 11pm and his phone starts ringing.

Both of us were on the verge of falling asleep and the light from his phone screen made the situation more uncomfortable. At first Jake just reached over and turned off the ringer.

“Hey did you even see who it was? What if it was important” I question his instinct to end the call. “Fine let me look” he groans.

He reached over and grabs his phone and looks at the screen ‘Mom’ is what it read. “Answer it!” I urged him. Jake was hesitant. I think he thought that this was going to be the call, which he has been preparing to avoid at all costs.

Instead of letting the line go to voicemail, I snatch the phone out of his hand and answer if myself. “Hello Mrs Sim, is everything alright?”

“I am so glad to hear your voice. Is Jake around? It is important. Put it on speaker” she said.

“You’re on speaker” I informed her.

“Jake, your father is home, I picked him up about an hour ago. The doctor said that septic shock caused him to go into the coma, and they were able to treat the infection and keep him steady with some blood and IV fluids. He woke up yesterday and has shown no signs of complication ever since. I will take him back in a few days for testing and a check up. They saved him Jake… They saved him.” His mother explained ecstatically, crying tears of happiness.

Jake’s face immediately lit up, with what I could see from the light of the phone screen. He instantly started crying.

“Baby I wish you were here right now. he misses you so much” he claimed.

Jake couldn’t even speak through his tears and his hitched breathing. “I love you so much mom, tell dad I love him and I will see him soon”

He sets the phone down and buries his face into my chest, letting out full on sobs. the toll that this situation has taken on his body physically and mentally was very obvious and I know he has been wanting good news.

~~~~~~~~~~

Weeks had passed and we came back to Australia for the Winter break. Jake was more excited than ever. When he saw his dad get out of the car at the airport, I had never see Jake run so fast in my life. Their hug seemed like it was out of a movie and he had been latched to his dad everyday since being back at his house.

His parents kind of picked up on me and Jake’s relationship, and didn’t question why I was wanting to sleep in Jake’s room and not the guest room any more.

We were laying there facing each other, admiring each others beauty in the dim moon light shining through the blinds.

“Tell me Jake, do you believe in fate?” I questioned lowly.

He looks somewhat startled. “Y’know, I have never really thought about that. After everything that has happened this year, I think I would say that I do” he confirmed, stroking my cheek with his thumb.

“Yeah I think I do too”

[arieslost]

sky full of stars | ln4

summary: dj!lando always plays your song when you’re at the club.

word count: 3,615

warnings: drinking

masterlist — join my tag list here!

© arieslost 2024. DO NOT REPOST WITHOUT PERMISSION.

2021

You did not want to be in this club. You would need another pair of hands and feet to count off all the places you’d rather be, the very first one being asleep in your bed.

But here you were, not only in the club, but within a throng of people at varying levels of fucked up, jumping around and dancing to the song pounding through the speakers. Your comforts were twofold: the first was knowing that you could handle the two shots in your system, and the second was that your best friend was the designated driver tonight, so there was no way in hell she was going to leave without you.

Frankly, you’d been ready to leave an hour ago. In fact, you’d started saying the words, “I want to go home” when you caught a glimpse of the DJ in charge of tonight’s music. Granted, it was hard to really look at him considering the fact that the lights were low and you were on the other end of the club, but you’d seen just enough to know that he was attractive and any thought of leaving had gone right out the window. Not to mention the fact that he hadn’t said anything when he started his set, so you didn’t even know what his voice sounded like.

You needed a closer look.

So here you were, surprisingly enjoying yourself on the dance floor while you tried to check him out without being overly conspicuous. You were only able to make out a head of curly hair and the large hand that lifted a shot glass to his lips when your phone started ringing, the buzz in your pocket the only indication thanks to the blaring music. You squinted at the screen, thinking it might be your friend trying to find you, but the caller ID read “Potential Spam,” so your phone went right back into your pocket. You were on a mission.

When you looked up, you made direct eye contact with the man of the hour– the DJ you found nothing short of infatuating. You were rather close to his setup, maybe ten people away, but you could feel his gaze on you as he picked up a microphone.

“This next song is dedicated to the gorgeous woman I’m looking at right now,” he announced to the whole room, sending a wink in your direction before getting to work on fading the current song into the new one– “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay.

You felt goosebumps rising on your arms as the first few notes filled the room, suddenly glad that you were here and not at home, asleep. The lights moved in tandem to the beat of the song, and you finally got a proper look at his face. It’s then that you knew you were screwed, because if he wasn’t the most attractive man you’d ever seen in your life, you’d be lying.

You barely had any time to pull yourself together before he was motioning for one of his friends to take over for him and stepping down from the booth into the crowd, making a beeline right for where you stood in the middle of it all.

“You’re awfully bold,” you said when he was close enough to hear you, a bit taken aback by how quickly he’d closed the distance between the two of you. “What makes you think I like this song?”

He didn’t answer at first, instead choosing to slowly run his hand down your arm until his fingers tangled with yours. “You have goosebumps, and I’d be shocked if you didn’t like it. When I played it last time, you came up to me and tried to take the mic so you could sing it to everyone.”

That’s another reason why you never made a habit out of going to the club. Somehow, it always got to the point where you lost your mind a little bit and somehow managed to find new ways to make an idiot out of yourself. But tonight was different– you were managing your alcohol intake, and the hot DJ was calling you out on something you’d been too drunk to remember the next morning.

Your friends hadn’t though; in fact, they’d been gracious enough to provide video proof of them dragging you away from the DJ booth. You’d never felt such shame as you did watching that back.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” he said, his free hand tilting your chin up so he could look right at you as he spoke. “It’s how I noticed you in the first place. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of you since.”

At least one good thing came out of my foolishness, you thought to yourself as he took your other hand and put both of your arms around his neck. It made sense, anyway– you definitely would’ve remembered seeing him before had you been sober.

“I’m not a very good dancer,” you warned him as he began to sway to the music, taking you along with him as his hands went down to your hips.

“Neither am I,” he confided, lips close to your ear.

The chorus began, the song’s beat drop making the lights change from red to blue, and you decided that you would let this happen, even if it turned into another embarrassing memory. At least you would remember this time, and you’d never forget swaying back and forth with the handsome DJ as the rest of the crowd danced around you both.

2022

You were in the club again, and you couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Spending so much time with your favorite DJ, Lando Norris, will do that to you. After that first dance, he bought you a couple drinks and didn’t go back to the DJ booth for the rest of the night due to you dragging him right back out into the crowd and dancing with him until your feet hurt too much to stand. Eventually, your best friend had found you and told you it was time to go, and in your tipsy state you’d kept your arms firmly around Lando, said something about “holding him hostage,” and vehemently refused to go anywhere. It wasn’t until he gave you his number that you allowed your best friend to take you home.

He texted you right away when he woke up that morning, and the day after the two of you went on your first date. He surprised you by taking you to a rather high-end restaurant; you’d pegged him for a more low-key guy when it came to dates, despite the fact that he’d dedicated a song to you in front of a club full of people, and you were proved correct when you were on the phone with him later that night.

“I don’t even like going out that much,” he confessed, rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. “I just thought you deserved something special for a first date so I didn’t look like a loser.”

“You could have just told me that,” you giggled. “The dress code for our next date can be sweats.”

You still remembered the way his eyes lit up when you said “our next date.” That next date, a movie marathon at your apartment, had turned into countless dates, and you never went back to that restaurant.

Now, you were in the club where the two of you first met to celebrate your one year anniversary. Lando was wearing a white button up, and had just unbuttoned the top two buttons to reveal more of his tan skin and the gold chain around his neck. You’d given him a look, and he’d complained that “it’s just so hot in here,” but the both of you knew he was just doing it to rile you up.

It was working.

Your hands gravitated to the newly exposed skin, palms running up along his shoulders and fingers dipping beneath his collar to gently scratch at his back. You could spend all night running your hands over his skin, and he’d be happy to let you do it. He leaned closer to you, nearly stepping on your toes as his arms looped around your waist.

“You really weren’t lying last year when you said you were a bad dancer.” You laughed at the affronted look on his face.

“I think I’ve gotten better, thank you very much.” He said, and promptly stepped directly on your foot. “Shit, baby, I’m sorry!”

You only laughed harder, pulling him into a kiss. You could feel the vibrations of his own laughter against your lips.

“Wait right here,” he instructed, breaking the kiss. “I’ve got something for you.”

He kissed your cheek and disappeared into the crowd.

The song playing began fading out, which caught your attention because it was in the middle of the chorus. You didn’t need Lando’s DJ knowledge to know that it was a strange decision to fade a song out long before it was over.

“Attention, everyone. We had a special request tonight from a familiar face,” the DJ announced before passing the microphone to none other than your boyfriend.

“This next song goes out to my beautiful girlfriend,” Lando said, pointing directly at you and causing your face to get hot when half the room looked in the direction of his finger. “Happy one year, baby. I love you.”

Your jaw dropped as the familiar opening notes of “A Sky Full of Stars” started playing. Not just because of the song, but because of those three special words. I love you. You’d only said it to each other a handful of times, and Lando had just said it to you in front of hundreds of people.

You met him in the middle of the floor, too impatient to wait until he got back to you.

“I love you, I love you so much!” You yelled over the music, kissing him again.

“One year is just the beginning, yeah?” He asked, and you nodded enthusiastically, cheeks hurting from smiling so wide.

2023

You were wrapped up in Lando’s arms as you stood before his setup. In the past year, he had been promoted to be the main talent for the club and had three sets every weekend. He had insisted that the only gift he wanted from you for your two year anniversary was that you help him DJ his next set, and you’d obviously agreed. You got him a necklace anyway, but kept your promise so long as he promised to help you gain at least some skills beforehand so the audience wouldn’t kick you out for being shit. After a week or so, you felt confident enough with the buffer of the knowledge you’d picked up over the past two years to be where you were now– fading one song into another almost seamlessly.

Lando would take his hands off of you for only seconds at a time to adjust something here or there and make the music flow as smoothly as possible. Otherwise, he was all over you for the whole club to see, and you were kind of obsessed with it. He was hardly paying attention to anything else; only moving on autopilot to fiddle with the knobs or whatever it was he was doing to make you look like an adequate DJ.

“Did I do okay?” You asked towards the end of the set, looking over your shoulder at your boyfriend who hadn’t stopped smiling at you since you left the apartment and arrived at the club early to set up.

“Are you kidding? I think I might be out of a job after tonight,” he said, threading his fingers into your hair to pull you into a long kiss. “At least I would be, if I didn’t have this party trick under my sleeve.”

Slightly dazed from the passion of his kiss, you let him lean around you and queue up a song that wasn’t originally in the mix for that evening’s set.

At this point, you should have expected it, and maybe you did a little bit, but that didn’t stop the tears from pricking your eyes and the goosebumps rising on your arms when “A Sky Full of Stars” began, sending the crowd into a chorus of cheers.

“It works every time,” he said cheekily, reaching up to wipe away the tears that had escaped.

“You are unbelievable.” It was meant to be said in jest, but you were just so filled with love and adoration for him that it sounded like a compliment.

“Dance to our song with me,” he said, spinning you and tugging you forward so you bumped right into his chest.

“Here?” You looked behind you, at the set up, at the hundreds of people, and he took your chin in his hand and turned your face back to him.

“Here. Now. I want them all to see how much I love you.” He said it so sweetly that, in that moment, you were willing to give him just about whatever he wanted.

He started singing the song to you, “‘Cause in a sky, ‘cause in a sky full of stars, I think I saw you,” and it felt like you were the only two people in the room when the beat dropped and you kissed him with everything you had, letting him sway you back and forth and spin you around one too many times just to see his smile and hear his giddy laugh.

2024

You’re surprised when Lando tells you that he’s made different plans for your three year anniversary. The club has become a second home of some sorts; you’re there more often than not to watch his sets, and you’ve always gone there for your anniversaries. Not just the years, but the six month, year and a half, and two and a half year anniversaries as well. Thus, the sudden deviation from tradition raises a few alarm bells in your head. If anything, you’d expect a change for your four years next year since 4 is your boyfriend’s lucky number.

You don’t have time to dwell on it that much. You have to be out the door in ten minutes, and you still have to finish applying your lipstick, not to mention strap yourself into the sparkling silver heels Lando had gotten you for Christmas.

“Almost ready, baby?” He asks, peeking into the bathroom and watching as you add one last swipe of lipstick.

“Yup! Just need my—” you’re cut off when he holds up the heels. “—shoes. Thanks, Lan.”

“Here, sit. I’ll put them on for you.” He gestures to the edge of the tub.

You take him up on his offer happily, and your heart jumps up into your throat when he stares right into your eyes and slowly gets down on one knee before you.

You’d overheard him talking about possibly proposing to you with your parents over the holiday break, and you hadn’t been stealthy about it at all, so he knows that you heard. Since then, he’s made a game out of getting on one knee in front of you every now and then. He already did it once this morning when he woke you up only to tell you that he made you breakfast. You know he’s joking, but now that you’re celebrating a significant milestone in your relationship you can’t help but have a slight inkling that his joking around is less of a joke and more of a hint.

So when he holds your gaze long enough to make you start thinking that it might actually happen before going about putting your shoes on, you’re not at all fazed and ruffle his hair.

“Hey! Easy, I spent a lot of time making my hair look good for you.” He yelps, jumping up to look in the mirror and patting it down meticulously.

“I like it when it’s messy,” you reply, giving him a look that you know drives him crazy.

“You can’t say that and look at me that way when we’re trying to leave the house, babe.” He whines.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You make sure the straps on your heels are tight enough before you stand up, pleased that your retaliation to his down-on-one-knee joke worked better than you thought it would. “Come on, I don’t want to be late!”

He wastes no time in getting his payback for your antics when you arrive at the restaurant he took you to for your very first date. He opens the car door for you, and takes your hand to help you step out. The moment you’re on the sidewalk and the door is closed behind you, he gets down on one knee again, making a point to look at you the entire time. Your heart jumps again. Certainly he wouldn’t do it on the sidewalk? Or maybe he would, to add to the element of surprise?

He doesn’t. He simply ties his shoelace, the picture of innocence all the while.

“Shall we?” He says as he straightens up, offering his arm with a smile.

You retain your own picture of innocence, wrapping your hand around his bicep. “We shall.”

Seeing that he had booked the private dining room has more alarm bells going off in your head, not to mention the fact that you thought you’d never see the inside of this restaurant again. Regardless, you were actually kind of happy to be somewhere quieter to celebrate your anniversary, as much as you’ve fallen in love with being at the club.

Lando clears his throat loudly towards the end of your meal as the waiter pours two glasses of champagne. “Three years,” he begins, sounding somewhat awestruck.

You nod in agreement. “Three years. Sick of me yet?”

“I don’t think that’s possible.” He passes you a glass, and you clink them together before you each take a sip. “Actually, I’d really love to just spend my entire life with you.”

Now he’s not even trying to hide it, so you laugh a little bit. “That’s sweet, Lan.”

“I’m serious,” he pouts, and you try to contain yourself, painting a serious expression on your face and nodding as you press your lips together. “Fine, I admit it. I went a little too far with the joke.”

“Which time? Are we talking about just today or the past few weeks?” You ask pointedly, taking another sip of your champagne.

“Okay, a lot too far.” He huffs, getting out of his chair and pushing it in before walking to your side of the table. “I want to make up for it right now though, if that’s alright with you.”

“Oh my God. You’re actually serious?” You ask, feeling your insides beginning to shake a little with giddiness as he gets down on one knee before you for the fourth time today.

“I have never been more serious about anything in my life.” He reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a small box.

It looks a bit different than ring boxes normally look, and the moment he opens it you understand why. The notes of “A Sky Full of Stars” emit from within the box where the ring sits, the dazzling diamond sparkling when it catches the light.

“Fuck’s sake, Lando, I wouldn’t have spent so much time on my makeup if I knew you were gonna do this,” you sniffle, putting a hand over your mouth.

“I’ll keep it short because I don’t want to cry too much and ruin it,” he promises, taking your free hand in his own, the other holding the box out to you. “I’ve never been happier to be borderline assaulted by a drunk girl in the middle of a set, because if that never happened I don’t know if we would’ve met.”

You start laughing hysterically, tears most definitely ruining your makeup, and he laughs through his own tears.

“I just love you so much, every little thing about you. It would take me eternity to tell you how much I love you, and that wouldn’t even be enough time with you. So, that’s why I want to ask you to be with me beyond eternity and do me the honor of being my wife.” He says your name like he’s saying it for the first time, taking his time to savor the way it rolls off his tongue. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” you nod. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Hand shaking, he slips the ring onto your finger. The moment it’s in place, he puts his other knee down and pulls you into the tightest hug as the song continues playing from the box.

“I love you,” you whisper in his ear, feeling his shoulders shake slightly as he cries. “But did you have to give me a heart attack so many times today?”

He laughs, pulling away and grabbing a napkin to gently wipe your eyes. “Four’s my lucky number, I had to do it three other times today to make sure I got it right.”

The song comes to an end, and you pick up the box, observing the intricate design and the engraving on the outside– You get lighter the more it gets dark. I’m going to give you my heart. Forever.

“You know this has to be the song we dance to for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Norris, right?” You say to him, leaning in and kissing the tears off of his cheeks.

“Way ahead of you, baby. I already started making our playlist; it’s the first song on there.”

note: the fact that i’m posting this after lando confirmed he “retired” from dj-ing… call this my long-winded eulogy. special thanks to coldplay for making a song that inspired a whole story!

requests are OPEN, and my inbox is always open for comments, criticism, and conversation! feel free to pop in!

reblogs are always appreciated <33

beautiful dividers by @/saradika !

tags (i’m sorry if i couldn’t tag you!): @venusacrossthestars @67-angelofthelordme-67 @emails-i-can-send @nelly187 @cixrosie @fangirl-dot-com @sainzluvrr @imheretoread @mellowarcadefun @yourbane @monsieurbacteria6 @thef1diary @clara760-blog @baby-moxley @positiveaspirations @xfuckoffx @hannahbrown2002 @cataalinababeyy @inejghafawifesblog @formulasportworld @meandjoemama @maddie-bell @mrsmaybank13 @hadids-world @havaneselover08 @aacherrylips @itsmoonia @universallyhoundbonkfestival @rery30 @paigeworlds @wassgood @itscrzy @ctrlyomomma @inlovewithdeadboys @multifandomfan1 @bwormie @megsmclaren @barackostea @enchantemirrorball @tiredallthetimex @cosmoscoffeee @mlilyb16 @ophcelia @idktbhhsworld @l-inas @kath8278 @formulaangel55 @y-nusername @sla123455ffh @dinodumbass @diaa-20 @alexmarie29 @lisoba13 @ftdtlovecore @clowngirlsstuff @jurelij @romanxffs @sadisticfries @loyalpuffofthehuffle @cherrue @itsprashimusic @danielmarie @dampcelery0294 @shasasthings @bringbacktim @lou-larcher5 @yunakynn @hanbinnneee

[weirdsht]

Stereotypical . Pretermit - LoTCF & Venion Stan! Reader

a/n: please read the tags in detail and proceed carefully. If you are going through something please contact your local emergency hotline or talk to someone about it. I do not condone any of the toxic/harmful behaviours shown in this fic, but rather I'd like for this to serve as a message of how suicide affects everyone involved. Also holy fckin hairball this is 18 pages with 5400+ words

tags: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND BE WARNED! semi-detailed aftermath of suicide attempt, gore?, amnesia, inspired by freud's concept of repression still hate the guy tho, hints of depression, insomnia, hints of eating disorders if you squint, hurt/comfort, angst only lasts for a bit tho dw, isekai, yandere everyone if you squint really hard, everyone is trying to deny that they like reader (platonically), Taylor is the best brother

Pls don't repost my work anywhere without my permission

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@areaderspov said:

Hello hello!

I just read your fanfic of Venion!Reader aND I LOVE IT SO MUCH😭 I ACTUALLY TEARED UP ANYWAYS—

Did you ever thought of making and alternative version? —or angst sorta? Like, imagine if reader just gives up on life BUT WITH A PLOT TWIST.

THey could either go back to their world or suddenly be brought to Cale's world again BUT they just like, had a feeling of what happened, but nothing cleared, they mostly confused on what's going on but are trying to be… Chill, in a way. Like everything was only a nightmare and they had no recollection of it.

Maybe they could even sorta recognize Taylor? Like the feeling of their hyung but not really knowing why the connection.

Imagine that Raon is the first to recognize them, and they are in a way very happy since they looked so content, so different.

They don't have the "shackles" anymore so, I'm not sure how everyone else might play it.

Hope you like this idea though!<3

“Hey, wake up. Class ended already.”

You feel someone shake you awake as you groggily open your eyes. Looking around the lecture hall, you see that there really is no one else in the room aside from you and your friend.

“Where should we eat? I think I'm craving something sweet…”

Slinging your bag over your shoulders, you ask your friend for food recommendations. Your friend hummed as you guys walked out of the lecture hall onto the busy hallways of your university.

“There are no classes after this, so we can check out that new cafe outside the campus. Are you craving something specifically?”

You hummed as the two of you exited the building successfully. The two of you walk towards the gate to get away from the busy campus and be on your merry way towards the cafe.

“I weirdly want to eat apple pies…”

“Apple pies? You've never even had one before. Why are you craving something you've never eaten?”

Your friend stopped walking for a second to look at you weirdly before leading you to where the cafe is.

“I mean, you can crave something you've never had. But hmm, it is a bit weird because I feel like I've eaten it plenty before.”

After a few minutes of more banter and walking, you finally reached the newly opened cafe. The interior was minimalist, taking into account aesthetic pictures for social media. Their colour scheme was beige and black, and there were some plants and paintings on the wall.

The cafe seating looks like an open area. No booths can be found, but the seats are still comfortable-looking couches. 

Your friend asks you what else you want aside from pie as you eye which seat would be the best for the two of you. You tell your friend your order before making a beeline for the couch seat in the corner of the cafe beside the windows.

As you sit on the couch, you can feel your body physically relaxing. Weeks of sleepless nights and early mornings are absorbed by the comfortable plush of the seat. Thankfully, those days are about to end as today marks the start of your summer break.

Few more minutes passed by before your friend finally arrived with both of your orders. After finally settling, the two of you continued your light talk while eating your well-deserved sweet treats.

* * *

Summer break was absolutely the best. No deadlines to think about, no group mates to accommodate, no professors to chase for requirements. It's just you, your bed, and your phone.

Six weeks into the vacation and you're still bedrotting. You even go as far as to refuse whatever plans your friends present to you. Well, you didn't mean to spend the entire vacation just lounging around the house; actually, you initially just planned to spend a week and a half catching up on sleep before going out with friends. However, for some reason, your body felt incredibly heavy, and your mind was exhausted. Leading to you spending a month and a half at home to sleep.

Life of a slacker is nice. You actually enjoyed doing nothing. It’s just that there seems to be one problem… you feel more tired after sleeping.

It wasn’t always like this. In fact, you’re usually a good sleeper. Everything just started after that one time you fell asleep during class before the start of summer break. After that time, it was like no amount of sleep could quench the tiredness you felt.

Was it because of that weirdly realistic dream you had that day?

But you could barely even remember it, so it couldn’t be.

‘Well, it was just a dream, so it feels silly to give it this much meaning.’

You thought to yourself as you finally got up to prepare your first meal of the day. It’s already 5 pm, and you are just now starting your day. Well, you live alone anyway, so no one’s going to scold you. Plus, you’re still eating, so you’re still living a healthy life.

With that justification in mind, you finished eating the small portion of food you prepared for yourself before going back to bed.

Days passed until there was only one week left until the start of the new semester. Not once did you go out, even your enrollment was done online, and you figured you could just update your ID on the first day of classes.

Even after all that rest, you still felt tired. Your mental state was also a mess for no reason. Sometimes you would even start crying out of the blue.

Like right now, for example.

You were merely scrolling on your phone when suddenly tears started dripping from your eyes. Unsure of the cause yet still continuing to cry, your heart clenches at the random picture of a dragon plushie presented on your phone.

You would tear up just like this at random times of the day.

‘I have to get myself together. Classes are starting soon, and this year is very critical.’

With that conviction, you fell asleep with a heavy mind and an even heavier heart.

* * *

“CALL A HEALER HURRY”

“EVERYONE ON STANDBY, CANCEL ALL APPOINTMENTS AND DON’T LET VISITORS INSIDE”

Frantic shouts and hurried footsteps filled Raon’s ears as soon as he teleported in the Stan territory. The young dragon just wanted to checked on Venion Stan but such a chaotic scene welcomed him instead.

The curious — and worried — toddler followed the voice while remaining invisible. He could recognise the man shouting to be Taylor Stan. Just what happened to make such a usually composed man sound so frantic?

Raon’s question was answered as he peeked inside Venion’s room, the source of the chaos. From outside, he could see how healers and Cage are desperately trying to heal the young noble. Raon could also see Venion’s bloody wrist.

Copious amounts of blood dripped from the blonde’s wrist onto the bedsheets. There was too much that his bed was stained red; something the maids and butlers are trying to clean, but to no avail.

Taylor Stan can be seen besides the unconscious man. Desperately trying to put pressure on Venion’s wounds to stop bleeding. His own shaking hands gripping onto his brother’s wrist while he tries to stop the tears from escaping his blurry eyes.

Unable to take the sight in anymore, Raon teleports back to where Cale is. His paws shaking as he cries on the redhead’s chest while explaining what he saw.

It wasn’t until the next day he heard a word from the Stan Marquisate.

“I… I’m not sure how to explain what happened, Young Master Cale.” 

Taylor Stan said on the other side of the communication device. Cale’s gaze hardened at the sight of the Marquiss; he looks so gaunt, as if he hasn’t slept in a week. Clearly, something has happened to Venion Stan.

“Take your time.”

Cale said while holding onto Raon’s invisible yet shaking paw from his lap.

“Yesterday morning… when I visited my dongsaeng’s room to start our day, there was a strong stench of blood. So I opened the door and…”

Taylor Stan sighed deeply, his voice shaking but he pushed through it as he has to break the news.

“Blood was everywhere, Venion’s wrist was bleeding, he wounded himself too deeply. At first, I didn’t know how he even managed—no, I didn’t have the time to think about anything else, I frantically called Cage and the other healers to try and save him.”

Even Cale had to take a sharp breath. No wonder Raon looked so traumatised. The scene yesterday was too unsightly for anyone to witness, let alone for a child to see it first-hand.

“We managed to stabilise his condition, we also found out that he did it by breaking the drinking glass on his bedside… but that’s not where it ends.”

Cale and Raon stiffen at the news, only knowing about the news of Venion’s critical condition.

“Did he try again…?”

“No, young master, he hasn’t even woken up yet. We made him wore a magic bracelet that would keep track of his consciousness.”

Then what was the problem? Isn’t everything fine now unless Venion Stan’s health somehow becomes critical again?

Seeing the confused look on Cale’s face, Taylor further explained the situation.

“We are confused too, because later in the afternoon, my dongsaeng disappeared. But the bracelet showed no signs of being removed, nor did it alert us that he woke up.”

Distress became more evident in Taylor’s face as he explained. The news also further shocked the human and dragon combo. Just how and why did Venion disappear?

“Human, we have to look for him! He's unconscious and alone!”

“Wait.”

Cale spoke, making the two look at him.

“First, is there any possibility that he found a way to bypass the bracelet?”

Taylor thought about it for a second before speaking.

“It’s pretty strong as Cage made it and is monitoring it personally, so…”

“Ah…”

“Yes…”

Silence befalls all of them. This seems to be a very tricky case, no one knows where to even start.

“My men are discreetly looking for him, but there’s no progress yet.”

“...I’ll also keep an eye out.”

“Thank you so much, Young Master Cale.”

As soon as the call disconnected, Cale couldn’t help but slouch and sigh deeply.

“Haaaa”

Just what could’ve happened to Venion Stan?

Is this related to the plot he was talking about? Is the universe, or maybe even the gods, making Vention pay for deviating from the novel?

Cale doesn’t pity him.

Cale can’t pity him. His a grown man who doesn’t need Cale’s concerns.

No matter how child-like he seems to Cale—even if the redhead won’t admit it—Cale won't pity Venion Stan.

‘But if I don’t do anything and something happens to Venion, Raon might destroy a country…’

Just the mere thought of the toddler going on a rampage was enough to send a chill down Cale’s spine. He really needs to find Venion before that happens.

As if sensing Cale Henituse’s distress, Ron knocks on his door, stating that he bought lemon tea.

“Ron, scatter your people. Tell them to look for Venion Stan discreetly.”

The attendant looked like he had a lot of questions, but dared not voice them after seeing the distressed look on his young master's face.

“I'll inform them, young master.”

Cale has his people stationed all over this world and the next, surely they'll be able to find Venion on time.

…Right?

* * *

Surprisingly, that usual heaviness in your body was gone when you woke up this time. You could even say that you felt oddly refreshed. It's a feeling you haven't experienced during the summer break. 

You actually felt so light and refreshed that you didn't notice how you weren't in your apartment at first. But soon enough, you noticed that the bed you are in seems softer than usual. The mattress doesn't feel like something a broke uni student can afford.

“Wha- where..?”

The realisation of not being in the comfort of your home broke your dream-like trance. You looked around for clues to determine where you might be.

‘Did I get kidnapped? I’m not worth the ransom money though… Plus, if I was kidnapped, then the kidnapper is certainly richer than me.’

So why would you get kidnapped? But at the same time, there's no other explanation you could think of to justify the sudden change in setting.

‘I haven't drunk alcohol in 2 months, so I was certainly NOT drunk last night.’

After looking around for a while, you found a fancy vanity table against the wall. You got up from the cosy bed to try and inspect it. The colour was gold and certainly looked expensive.

For a moment, the possibility of being kidnapped by a rich mafia boss who's obsessed with you crossed your mind. Because all the items in the room look too high-class.

‘No, I'm too antisocial to even try and catch something like…’

“What the actual fuck???”

You couldn't help but trail off your thoughts and curse out loud as you look at your reflection in the mirror. At first, you just wanted to inspect the drawers of the vanity, hoping to find some clue as to where you were. But instead, you saw how you totally don't look like yourself.

Smooshing and pinching your facial features, you could see the mirror in front of you do the same, confirming that you are indeed looking at yourself.

“Isn't this Venion Stan from the novel I read a few months ago?”

You asked yourself as you observed the mirror reflecting you, pinching and pulling your own cheeks. Your brand-new pale white face with blonde hair staring back at you 

As you further observe your new body in the mirror you couldn't help but notice some differences from the Venion Stan you knew. First was that he was skinnier than how he was drawn in the manhwa. He already had a lanky build from what you read, but he's even skinnier than that. 

The second thing you noticed was how long his hair was. In the manhwa, you recall Venion having above-the-shoulder blonde hair. However, the reflection staring back at you has hair that reaches past the armpits.

‘His pretty… too bad his trash.’

Having had enough of pulling your reddened cheeks, you decided to explore your new vicinity, surprisingly adapting well to the fact that you transmigrated.

The house was small but certainly luxurious. It was just enough for one noble to reside in. You got the idea that it must be some kind of vacation house, the more you see the interior.

While walking towards the front door, you suddenly had a realisation. Venion might look different because it's been a while since the part of him being captured by Taylor Stan.

Then is this house not a vacation house, but something used to house-arrest Venion instead?

“Even if this is prison for that guy, this is practically a mansion for someone like me. I have no reason to complain.”

You don't have to get involved in the plot, and you get to have this fancy house to yourself? It can't get any better than this. Sure, it might be small for noble standards, but for an ordinary, modern person like you? This place was better than anything on the housing market.

Finally, you reached the front door. As you push the doors open, lush, green grass greeted you. Nature said hello with a gush of wind that refreshed you from all the thinking you’ve been doing.

As you step out, it looks like this house was built in the middle of the forest. The perfect place for people who like peace and quiet.

It’s perfect.

This is actually really perfect.

You’re sure Cale and his group can handle bringing world peace to this world. It also looks like Venion’s part in the story is done. There’s absolutely nothing left for you to do other than sit back and enjoy this simple life given to you.

‘If they come to visit, I’ll just pretend to be insane, that should be easy enough.’

Is what you thought to yourself.

“Did you know how worried I was?! Why didn’t you even try to go home?!”

…Wasn’t Venion Stan on house arrest? So why is Taylor Stan on your front door frantically looking for you like you’re a naughty child that ran away from home? You thought they just didn’t care about you anymore, that’s why they didn’t visit for months. But it turns out that you were actually missing? 

Just what is going on?

To know what happened, we must first travel back to the time when you first woke up in that house.

Cage was actually in the Super Rock Villa at the time of the incident. She had a momentary break and decided to visit and see how Cale was doing as well as give updates about the search in person. The excommunicated priestess had seen how worried the young master was about you and thought it would be better to update him in person.

Well, it was actually Raon who was worried, but Cage digressed.

The moment the two are speaking to each other, the bracelet Cage was wearing suddenly emitted a faint, yellow light, surprising both of them.

“Is that..?”

Cale asked, to which Cage softly nodded.

“Yes, I have to go back and inform everyone of what happened.”

“Please do that, I’ll also inform Ron and the others.”

With that, their conversation was cut short as both went their separate ways to alert their respective people.

“Human! I think I know where he is. I need to go to him and check if he's there!”

Raon dashed over to Cale as soon as the redhead entered the room. The toddler is restless, already preparing a magic circle to go to you at any given moment now. 

“Slow down and explain.”

Cale got hold of his child, who was flying in circles, as he was starting to get dizzy from watching. Raon complied and stayed put before starting to explain.

“The kind grandma who wears her hair in a bun! I remember Venion talking to her about building a rest house before. He might be there, and that grandma is the only one who knows the location!”

That grandma in question is actually spending a sound retirement with her family. Venion’s older brother, Taylor Stan, gave her money and house last year as Venion’s birthday gift since the younger man wouldn’t accept any other gift Taylor had.

Wasting no time, Cale informed Ron of what happened before they set off to that grandma’s house in order to know if Venion really had a secret rest house.

“Oh dear,  is that so..? He has a house in a forest near Ten Finger Mountains that I still sometimes go to to maintain. I haven’t gone there this month to clean. Usually, I would not give the address even to Master Taylor, but I’ll give it to you since Venion says he trusts you and this is an emergency.”

Cale Henituse’s face soured for a moment. First of all, when did Venion say that? And second, he thought this grandma was retired? Why is she still working for Venion when she should be spending it with her grandchildren?

“Don’t look at this old woman like that.”

The grandmother laughed as she handed him a piece of paper containing the coordinates of the house.

“The young master told me countless times not to go there anymore. But like you, I’ve also grown fond of that child, he’s also like one of my grandchildren. Plus, the nature there is good for this old body of mine.”

Cale’s face soured even more at her words. He is NOT fond of Venion Stan in any way, shape, or form.

‘I have no reason to be emotionally attached to such a guy. I’m just doing this to prevent Raon from throwing a tantrum.’

Cale and his group thanked the old lady before going back to the underground villa to plan their next move.

* * * 

“He’s there… human, his actually there!”

Raon shouted in Cale’s mind as they saw your silhouette from a distance. It was just the two with Ron visiting the rest house, where you are currently residing. The three of them teleported a few feet away from the house in order to prepare for whatever might be waiting for them.

Well, they just didn’t expect to see you have such a serene look on your face.

Your face looks peaceful, free of worries even. A look Raon has never seen on your face. It’s also something Cale had never read back when he was reading TBoaH.

“Something’s wrong, human! But I think it’s a good kind of wrong?”

Raon questioned, to which Cale nodded along. Something is definitely amiss. The Venion Stan Cale knows wouldn’t be able to get over the trauma you’ve been through like some amnesiac…

…

Wait…

Could it be..?

“Ron.”

“Yes, young master?”

“Approach Venion and pretend that you’re a lost old man wandering the woods.”

“Of course, young master.”

Raon and Cale watched from a listening distance as Ron approached you, whose tending to the flowers in the mini garden in front of the house. Your hair was tied in a half-bun, exposing your forehead. There’s also dirt on the cuffs of your sleeves as proof that you were taking care of the flowers before the assassin interrupted.

“Excuse me, young sir, could you perhaps tell me where we are? I was travelling with my young master, and we got lost with no means to go back to our inn.”

Cale could see a look of recognition pass your eyes as Ron smiled benignly at you.

‘Was I wrong..?’

The redhead had a moment of doubt, perhaps you actually found a way to get over your trauma? But if you did, then why would you run away? Assuming that you ran away at least. 

“Uh… uhm… actually I…”

You stuttered, internally panicking for a variety of reasons.

Why is Cale’s servant, who's actually an assassin in disguise?

Is Cale also here?

Are they actually lost?

Are they here to get more revenge?

How are you going to tell them that you actually don’t know anything, let alone where you are?

“Are you perhaps hesitant to talk to me because I’m a stranger? I’m sorry for that. My name is Ron Molan, and I serve the Henituse household. To be specific, I am currently serving Young Master Cale Henituse.”

Ron made an excuse for you to which you graciously accepted.

“Ah yes, that’s part of it… But it’s also because I don’t know where we are… You see, I don’t really remember anything? I just woke up here one day with no recollection whatsoever. I’m sorry that I can’t be of help in getting out of here, but my house has some spare bedrooms that I can lend to your party as you try and figure out how to get out of here.”

You decided to tell Ron the truth as you figured they are not here to get more revenge, at least.

‘This is their scamming approach, so I should be fine. I don’t have any powers or knowledge that would help Cale save the world anyway.’

With that conviction, you truthfully explained the situation to the assassin as you don’t have much of a choice anyway.

“Is that so, then we’ll take you up on your kind offer. I shall go fetch my young master”

Just as Ron was about to turn around, Raon spoke in his head.

“Lemonade Gramps! The weak human said it’s okay to tell Venion that the great and mighty me is here!”

“Oh, and please do keep this a secret, but we have a great and mighty dragon with us.”

Ron smiled benignly once more before turning around to where Cale and Raon were. Leaving you confused by the bombshell information you just received.

‘...Did I assess the situation wrong? They don’t disclose that information just to anyone, right?’

* * *

“I’ll entrust my brother to you then, young master. Please take care, and I’ll try to go there as soon as I can.”

Taylor’s words went in Raon’s one ear and out the other. It has been a few hours since they entered your house, and Raon has been in a dazed ever since. The toddler just can’t believe his seeing you act so lively… smile so freely.  

Raon had only seen such things in his dreams.

It’s a shame that you can’t remember anything, but on the other hand, he was also glad you had no recollection of what happened. Raon doesn’t think he would get the chance to see you so content if you still have your memories intact.

The black dragon was so out of it the whole day. Sure, he still performed his tasks well, but everyone could tell how he was constantly in a daze. Looking at everything as if it were his first time seeing the world once more. 

He also seemed to cling more to you, cuddling you up every chance he gets, instead of sticking close to Cale as he normally would. The toddler’s actions confused you, made you wonder what happened in the past that made Raon act so close with the person who was his supposed torturer.

Of course, you weren’t aware, but this is just Raon giving you all the affection he had been holding out on before. The you before Raon could see looked so fragile that he was even scared of touching you the wrong way. Fearing that one wrong touch would make you disappear forever.

And after seeing your pale skin and bloody arm as healers worked hard to revive you a few months ago?

Yeah, Raon is definitely not letting go of you anytime soon.

Honestly, it’s not just Raon acting like this. You can’t tell as they hide it better, but Cale and Ron also seem to be on guard. Not the type of guard that is on edge, but rather protective.

It’s especially apparent when you try cooking dinner. The moment you tried to pull out a knife, Ron was by your side, insisting that it’s a servant's job to do such things. That was the worst case, though, for most of the time, the two opted to observe you, making sure that you would not revert to your old mental state.

Finally, after a few more exchanged words, the call between Cale and Taylor ended, and Raon could lift the soundproof barrier he had placed to prevent you from hearing their conversation. They plan on slowly breaking the news to you tomorrow to give you time to prepare for Taylor’s arrival. They also plan to make Cage go first, acting as if she will be the one to inform Taylor of your existence after “miraculously finding a way to contact Cale”.

Raon trusts his weak human’s plan. Cale had never conjured up a plan that didn’t work. Sure, the toddler hates it when their plans end up making their human cough up blood or pass out, but never once had their plans failed badly before.

With that peace of mind, Raon was about to fall asleep when he suddenly heard a small whimper.

It seems to be coming from your room.

“Human, Venion is crying…”

At once, Cale and Raon went to your room. However, your bedroom door was already open once they arrived.

Ron, fast as ever, was already tending to you.

“It seems to be a nightmare, young master.”

The servant said as he wiped the tears from your eyes. Ron held no affection for you in particular. There’s no reason for him to have one. Although you did remind him of his son when they first ran away to the Henituse territory.

But that’s a different matter.

“Or perhaps memories.”

Cale spoke as he and Raon walked closer to your bed. As they did, they could hear your soft whimpers of “Don’t” and “I’m tired”. Raon couldn’t help but tear up a little as he looked at your state.

“Human, does this mean his going to remember? Maybe showing up was a mistake… what if we made him remember those bad memories?”

Raon cried as he lay down beside you, using his paws to wipe the continuous tears flowing down your cheeks. 

“I’m not sure. Let’s observe how he does tomorrow.”

Cale answered honestly, a bit at a loss on how he should proceed.

But it’s not like they can do much if you really do remember.

Thankfully, you continued to act happy and lively the next morning.

“Did you sleep well?”

Cale casually asked you as Ron served breakfast.

“I did, I’ve always slept well since being here! Maybe it’s the nature surrounding us, but I’ve never felt this relaxed before. Hmm, though I think I had a dream? I never seem to remember my dreams these days, though.”

‘He subconsciously remembers… we need to be careful not to make him fully remember just yet.’

Cale thought to himself as he chose his next words carefully.

“So we managed to contact someone last night.”

“Really?”

You beamed at him, genuinely happy that you’ll soon find out where you are.

“Mhm, it’s a priestess named Cage. She’s coming here tomorrow to get us.”

Cale and Raon gauged your reaction; you seem to be doing well, so the redhead continued speaking.

“You actually know her. She’s a friend of your brother.”

“Oh you mean Taylor Stan? The one you told me about?”

The redhead hummed affirmatively as he continued to eat his breakfast. From the kitchen, he could see Ron staying alert as well, ready for anything that could possibly happen in case you remembered something.

“There’s a chance she already told your brother about you, so there’s a chance he’ll follow here after her.”

If you’re being honest, the thought of meeting Taylor Stan scares you. He was lenient to Venion in the novel, but he may still harbour some ill will becuase of all the things the original Venion Stan did.

But for some reason, you don’t think that will happen.

On the contrary, the mere thought of him brings you a sense of comfort. Like a long-lost hyung you haven’t seen for a long time.

Weird… but maybe the original Venion Stan had some lingering brotherly feelings for Taylor?

‘What kind of loving brother incapacitates their hyung though?’

* * *

And that now brings us back to the current situation.

“Did you know how worried I was?! Why didn’t you even try to go home?!”

Taylor Stan couldn’t help but hug you tightly the moment you opened the door. You think a lone tear or two landed on your shoulder, but you’re unsure.

“I didn’t want to risk getting lost…”

You tried to reason helplessly as everyone else inside the house went out to the front porch to greet the marquis. All of you talked for a few minutes before going back to your respective homes. Of course, Taylor promised you that you could go back to this house anytime you want.

Life with Taylor is comfortable, cushy even. You’re supposed to be a convicted criminal, but he spoils you so much.

“Yeah, you’re actually serving your sentence right now. Your punishment is house arrest, and since you ran away from home, your sentence has been extended.”

Taylor smiled at you, and you could only look confused at his logic.

Well, it’s not like you can contest the marquis’ words. Plus, everything works out well for you.

* * *

“...Can I call you hyung?”

You suddenly spoke as the two of you were eating dinner. It’s been a month since you returned home, and you’ve been meaning to ask for a week now.

You’re not sure if you have the right to do so, but he really just gives off a comfortable feeling. Unsure why, but his been your safe person ever since you came to this world despite him not being your favourite character when you were reading the novel.

Meanwhile, Taylor is having a hard time keeping a straight face. He feels so giddy, so excited that you asked to call him hyung, as he had to tell you before. If he as being completely honest, he was glad you lost your memories. Sure, you may have a hard time sometimes, but it's miles better than your state months before.

It’s a fact that everyone around you could agree on that you had no clue about.

“Of course you could, you’re my dongsaeng after all.”

A wide smile etched your face at the approval.

“Okay, hyung!”

But then it fell as you remembered something.

“Honestly, I feel bad I can’t remember anything. I seem to have a good relationship with everyone, and I can’t remember a thing…”

“You don’t have to be. You remember what we told you about you suddenly disappearing because of some unknown force when you were sick, right? All of us are just glad you made it back safely.”

Taylor stopped eating for a moment in order to talk to you seriously. He does not want to see you spiralling into any kind of underserve guilt once more.

Your previous wrecked mental state really took a toll on everyone. 

But that’s now water under the bridge.

Right now, the only thing that matters is the fact that you are happy and smiling.

Taylor Stan couldn’t ask for anything more.

[always-just-red]

HIIIIII congrats on 200 followers!! Can I have a Zayne smut fic pleasee?? Like the reader sees him wearing scrubs for the first time and she finds him hot or (reverse) him seeing the reader in uniform for the first time? Thank you!!

Sorry it's taken me so long to get around to this! '200 followers' is like a punch in the face reminding me how long this has been in the queue haha, but thank you so much! ❤ I don't write smut I'm afraid but this is a quick lil build-up to a cliff-hanger, so if any of the talented smut writers out there wanna write a part 2? Go for it! And tag me so I can read it link it here for everyone to enjoy!! Smut writers, I summon you!!! ✨🔥✨🔥✨✨

Professionalism

Zayne x Reader ❄

Summary: You love a man in uniform! Or... well, scrubs or whatever.

Genre: Suggestive (not smut sorryyy)

Warnings/Additional tags: still PG i guess since it cuts off before anything happens? gn!reader, established relationship, inappropriate workplace behaviour (shame on you Dr Zayne!!)

| Word count: 1.7k | Masterlist | Opt-in to my taglist here!

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Love and Deepspace. All work is my own, so please don't repost or plagiarise!

You’re not quite sure when this game started, but you’re going to win.

It was unassuming at first— harmless, even innocent little acts that slipped into something else altogether, as they so often do. Almost like falling in love: it snuck up on you. Coincidences— a chance meeting in the park, an accidental brush of two hands— become suddenly calculated. You take the reins from fate; you walk in the park where he takes his lunch, and he takes his lunch in the park where you walk. How fortunate it is, that you’re always running into one another.

Yes, this has been like falling in love. And neither one of you is naïve.

It’s dark outside the hospital. The stars are contesting the scattered, infinite lights of Linkon and you watch them through a window, finding meanings and shapes. They’ve a warmer glow than the cold, white, clinical lights in here.

“Could I get you something while you wait?” Yvonne asks, peeking over the top of the reception desk. She sounds anxious, and you can make a pretty good guess as to why.

“I’m fine. Thank you, though, really,” you smile cheerfully back.

She humours you with one in return. “I’m sure Dr Zayne will be along shortly,” she titters nervously, trying to fill the quiet. “He was with his last patient of the round when I spoke to him. It shouldn’t have been too much trouble, he must be— ah! Dr Greyson!”

The man was just passing through, face buried in a clipboard, but he stops at Yvonne’s greeting.

You lift a hand. “Hey, Greyson.”

“Hey!” He squints at something he’s read. “What a coincidence! I was just saying to Zayne it’s been a while since you paid us a—” he looks up and loses his train of thought. 

“Visit?” you finish.

“Umm… yes,” he chuckles, with the kind of reluctance that tells you he can’t decide if he’s falling victim to some prank. It’s the same anxiousness you’ve inflicted on poor Yvonne. He tests the waters with a: “Rough day at work?”

You beam at him. You’re sat with your usually pristine uniform marred by swathes of half-dried blood, too dark to be human. Not one bit of it is yours. By some miracle, you managed to perfectly dodge every swipe of that Wanderer’s claws today. Rolled out the way of every flying piece of rubble. “You should see the other guy,” you say, then double back, “well, the other thing.”

Greyson gives a stiff grin, still sceptical, but you’ve almost won him over. Nonchalantly, you reach for one of two brown paper bags at your side, then hold it out to him. “Here, for you!”

He tucks his clipboard under his arm, then comes over and takes it. There’s a soft crinkle as he unfurls the top. Sneaks a glance inside. His face lights up. “Thank you,” he enthuses, his hand diving in to retrieve a large chocolate-chip cookie— one of many. “Yvonne, would you like—”

She holds up her own paper bag. Greyson chuckles again, tucking into the treat. Like Zayne, he’s prone to working through his breaks, and you know he’s so often starving. Midway through a bite, he looks up at you, frowning. “Is this a bribe?” he mumbles, cheeks so full you almost can’t make out the question.

You smile at him pleasantly.

He chews slowly— connecting the dots. “No questions asked?” he guesses with a raised eyebrow.

“No questions asked,” you nod.

It’s a fair trade. The cardiac surgeon thinks it over, his eyes narrowed at you behind his glasses. He takes another suspenseful bite of the cookie. Chews. Swallows. Then there’s the broadest grin you’ve seen yet. “Works for me! I don’t want to know.”

With a nod to Yvonne, he carries on down the corridor, shooting you a knowing wink as he passes. You adore that man. Hell, half the hospital staff feel like family. You’d lay down your life for them, but you also delight in having them wrapped around your finger, albeit, with the help of a cookie or two.

You’re so busy watching Greyson leave that you don’t notice his absence has already been filled. Not at first, anyway, but then you feel it: hazel eyes on you.

You turn to meet them. Zayne stands, one hand curled around a small stack of paperwork, the other retrieving his glasses from his face. He tucks them into his breast pocket. “What a pleasant surprise,” he says, and the enthusiasm has been carved out of his words and replaced with suspicion.

“Hey, doctor,” you tease, lifting the last of your care packages from the coffee table. “Thought I’d join you for your break before I head home. Do you mind?”

His gaze flits over you, and it isn’t the honourable inspection he’d claim it to be if you dared call him out on it. He’s trying not to look again. “Of course not.”

This would usually earn you a sheepish smile, or a kiss on the cheek, but you’re angling for something else today. Victory. Look at him: he knows.

Like you said, neither one of you is naïve.

…

All right— knife to your throat?— you have an inkling as to how this started.

It was a more honest version of this: you’d stopped by the hospital, a few months ago, to boost the morale of a certain doctor and his hard-working team with some coffee from down the road. The machine in the staff room was broken, and by multiple accounts: made shitty coffee, anyway. So you often found yourself, hot drinks in hand, trying to catch Zayne on one of his few breaks.

(You miss that old coffee machine. They’ve replaced it, now.)

One morning, you were a little too late. Zayne had been called on to assist with a surgery, and you almost clashed in the corridor— you hadn’t recognised him at first. He was out of his usual attire: dressed head to toe in his medical scrubs. Despite the rush he was in, he made time to flash you a gentle smile. Said you could wait in his office; he wouldn’t be long.

You never did give a coherent answer. There was something about seeing him like that— so professional, so in his element. Off to save someone’s life, probably. Gods, he was amazing, and he just looked so, so good. 

Zayne knew from the start, of course; he’s so perceptive when it comes to you.

You used to feel guilty— positively sinful— until you caught that look in his eye, one day after work. You’d gotten to his place, kicked your boots off while he watched from the couch, enamoured, but you hadn’t noticed. You’d been complaining about a Wanderer. You were a mess: your hair, your uniform.

You remember looking up, and there it was. A flicker of something dark in his gaze.

He was quick to disguise it. Always quick to disguise it, because he’s a gentleman.

It’s been an unspoken war of attrition since then, and you’re both determined to outlast the other. You pick and choose your battles; there are times Xavier tries to drag you to the Association’s medics for surface scrapes and bruises, but you turn him down: you have a doctor at home, thank you very much.

Zayne tends to every wound with tight lips and steady hands. You’d feel bad, but…

He sometimes turns up to your dates still wearing his lab coat. (He left his regular coat at home again, and it’s cold outside, isn’t it? A lab coat is better than nothing.)

Last week, he really pushed his luck. He was demonstrating a new experimental technique in the operating theatre, and Greyson insisted you come along to watch. It was so innovative, he said. Zayne was working something of a miracle, he said.

So here you are, fighting back.

“Well?” Zayne asks. He’s sitting back in his chair while you ‘straighten’ his tie.

You’re perched on his desk, not listening. “Hmm?”

He catches your hand gently, using it to pull you closer, so you’re forced to meet his eyes. His tone is low. “What did I just say?”

You glance down again. Chuckle: “Something about responsibility?” 

A finger lifts your chin, tilting your gaze back up. “It’s inappropriate,” Zayne says.

“What’s inappropriate?”

“You know what you’re doing.”

“No,” you mutter, and the finger on your chin can’t keep you from staring at his lips. You speak a whisper of enticement: “Tell me what I’m doing.”

Will he do it— say it— after all this time? Put it to words so that it might finally be acted upon? Break, you will him, looking into his eyes, because the last stunt he pulled pushed you over the edge, and you can’t hold on much longer. It’s starting to hurt.

All in. You are going to fall, so you’ve got nothing to lose by trying to bring him down with you.

“It’s just a uniform, Zayne,” you smile innocently. “But if it bothers you that much… I could always take it off.”

Your doctor stares at you, his expression refusing to melt. Then he lets out a sigh. In the beat of a heart he’s up out of his chair, striding away from his desk, away from you.

“Zayne?”

Now he’s not listening. He’s by the door, taking his lab coat down from a hook and threading his arms through the sleeves. He fixes the cuffs, straightens it, but that’s where the motions of habit end. His fingers don’t make it to the buttons, and of course you notice; you’re not naïve.

Zayne turns to you, and there’s no disguising that look in his eyes and its common counterpart: a rare, inevitable smile. Complete surrender. He locks the door with a click.

Ha.

You were always going to win, weren’t you?

[stxrrkissed]

── ۶ৎ I’LL ALWAYS SUPPORT YOU .ᐟ

꣑ꦌ rafe cameron x fem!black!reader ৴ LENGTH 447 DESCRIPTION rafe shows up for your recital. CONTENT just fluff. THOUGHTS had this request n finally finished it. 𝒾. mlist 𝒾𝒾. previous fic 𝒾𝒾𝒾. prompts 𝒾𝓋. based on this ask

“HMM, WHATS THIS FOR?”

Rafe asks, looking up from his phone, taking the piece of paper from your hand gently, noticing how excited you’re about it. “Tickets for my ballet recital coming up,” you answer, with a smile tugging the corners of your lips.

“You don’t have to go if you’re busy, I understand,” you add on, trying to hide any disappointment on your face when you say it.

“I’ll be there!” He finally responds, receiving a big hug from you, squealing fills his ears and Rafe knows he couldn’t miss this moment as he never wants to disappoint you.

Nerves take over your body as you watch the door thoroughly, Rafe not in sight. The recital is about to start, him not being here yet is filling butterflies in your stomach making you feel sick.

It’s not like you could stall because the show must go on and you need to be in a clear mind in order to focus. You tear your attention away from the door and get in position, straightening your stance, looking ahead of you.

You exhale a breath before starting your sequence, moving gracefully through each step, you feel proud of yourself since you practiced everyday for this day to come. Looking out in the audience, seeing people enjoying it makes you happy.

A familiar blue eyes catches your eyes mid turn, when you look out in the audience again, there he is with a grin on his face, eliciting one to grow on your face. You feel a warm sensation overtake your body, all the thoughts in your mind completely gone.

Once you’re finished, the crowd erupts into cheers, making you feel happiness as you catch your breath, holding your stance, eyes landing on him who’s clapping the hardest out of them all. Rafe blows a kiss to you briefly before you exit the stage.

You praise the other girls that were on stage with you, hugging them and congratulating them before getting your things and making your way towards him. “You came!” You exclaim as you run into his arms, his hands wrapping around your waist.

“Of course I did, I would never miss something like this.” Rafe responds, kissing your forehead. “I was only late because I wanted to give you this.”

Rafe hands you a bouquet of flowers; your eyes lighten at the sight of them, taking them in your hands and smelling them. “They’re beautiful, Raf. Thank you so much.” You comment, tears of joy filling your eyes but you blink them away. “No need to thank me, you worked so hard for this moment and I’m proud of you.”

“Trust I’m always here to support you.”

COMMENTS (if you want to be tagged in obx fics, click here) @cherriespopsicle, @anamiad00msday, @ren-ni, @marvelgeeka, @rafessweetgirl.

thank you for reading! © stxrrkissed 2025. all rights reserved — do not claim, copy, repost or translate.

[uceyliyahh]

MIDNIGHT SIN

summary: her father sold her off, he didn’t care about her anymore he just wanted the money. Sold her off to bloodsucking vampires that can just kill her within seconds due to how sweet she smelt. Jimmy warned her to stay away, to mind her business while living with them giving her the cold shoulder, but she couldn’t help herself but not to stay away.

warnings contain: explicit sexual content, bloodplay, possessive, supernatural themes. (Reader discretion is advised), dark romance, sold off.

If you’re not into biting, obsession, and being absolutely devoured by a cold-hearted vampire…then you should go ahead n skip this.

word count: 9.8k

SO MDNI

Jimmy Uso x Soleia

AWFUL GRAMMAR IM GETTING BETTER I SWEAR LOL.

comments, likes, repost are appreciated I would love the constructive feedback in what area I need to approve in. 🤍

ALSO! I don’t not want nobody stealing my fanfics or take it as theirs that will be an issue fasho so keep it cute respectfully.

I only own my OC along with the make up scenarios

again mdni you have been warned.

TAGS ⬇️ lmk if you wanna be tag 🏷️ @pinkwithhearts @420days @jstarr86 @empressdede @angiedawn02 @biancasreign @prettyfilmz @fafomama @levissslutt

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jonathanfatu just followed soleiaaa_

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soleiaaa_: who do it better? 😘

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soleiaaa_: @ jaidaparker_wwe you already know 😚

uceyjucey: i see you lil mama got someone hooked on you 🙃

soleiaaa_: @ uceyjucey maybeee, maybe not 🤷🏽‍♀️

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read all comments.

Kentucky, Louisiana - 9:30AM

The sun streamed through Soleia's curtains while she slept soundly in her bed. Jimmy had already left to share the bed with Trinity, ensuring she wouldn't become suspicious of his absence. As Soleia's phone alarm blared, she slowly began to open her eyes, the sound echoing in the background.

She successfully snatched her phone from the small dresser beside her, silencing the alarm before setting it back down. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she finally focused on the ceiling, reflecting on the events of the previous night with Jimmy.

She brushed her lips, recalling the way he pressed his tender lips against hers, his tongue swirling around her clit as he devoured her like a man starved. Yet, she understood the importance of keeping her distance, for he was with Trinity, and now that she was back living with them, she had to uphold her boundaries as well.

As she peeled the blankets away from her body, a growl from her stomach reminded her of her hunger. She made her way towards the door, heading into the hallway and down the stairs. But before she could leave, she caught the faint sounds of moans drifting from Jimmy's room, leading her to assume that he and Trin were having an intimate morning together.

Soleia was about to stroll by the bedroom shared by him and Trinity when she caught the sound of him moaning her name and pleading for her. Although she didn't intend to be intrusive, her curiosity overwhelmed her, prompting her to gently crack the door open. With her eyes wide, she witnessed his back pressed against the headboard, his hand gripping his cock and stroking it rapidly.

His nine-inch cock loomed large in her thoughts; she was acutely aware that it wouldn’t fit her, even if they ventured down that path—it simply wasn’t in the cards anytime soon. She could hear him murmuring about the things he desired to do to her and how he wanted her to cry out his name when he was inside her.

“Fuck mama. Fuck.” 

All she could hear from him was the sound of her thighs rubbing together as she watched his thumb glide over his messy, sticky mushroom tip; it was as if he sensed her presence, observing him.

As she was lost in thought, a sudden throat clearing from behind startled her, causing her to whip around and find Jey standing there, a smirk playing on his lips.

“J-Jesus, what is up with yall doing that shit.” Soleia whispered.

“My fault little mama, just seeing whatchu was looking at in there.” Jey replied.

She rolled her eyes at him knowing that he knew what she was doing spying on Jimmy jerking off but she had to play it off. “I just had to make sure that this dick head was awake that’s all, but I’m finna head downstairs to make me something to eat. Is that okay?”

He nodded in response as she flashed him a smile while making her way down the stairs towards the kitchen. Jey began to connect mentally with his twin before also descending the stairs.

“She was watching you by the way twin.”

Soleia was occupied preparing a meal on the stove; she was whipping up some bibimbap, her beloved Korean breakfast dish that her mother used to make for her during her childhood. This was the only dish she could manage to cook while living with her father, as he couldn’t cook a single thing for her.

As she engaged in her task, she became aware of a presence descending the stairs, the alluring scent wafting towards her from afar, intoxicating her senses. She had been completely oblivious to him until she felt his hand lightly graze her waist, sending a jolt of electricity racing down her spine.

She and he locked eyes as he leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping from the bottle of water he had retrieved from the refrigerator, observing her as she prepared something to eat.

And wow, he looked stunning without a shirt, showcasing his tribal tattoos, his hair tousled, and his abs on full display—it certainly had an effect on her as she returned to concentrating on preparing her breakfast dish.

Jimmy observed her as she rubbed her thighs together, attempting to ease the ache of her throbbing pussy. Being there with her only complicated matters, especially since her mind was once again shielded from his attempts to penetrate her thoughts.

At that moment, he set his water bottle down on the counter and approached her—he slipped behind her, scanning the area to ensure Trinity was nowhere in sight. Then, he gently brushed Soleia's hair aside from her neck and pressed a soft, wet kiss against it. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he inhaled her fragrance, which made her jump at his unexpected caress.

She attempted to act as if he were invisible until he playfully nibbled her ear and then leaned in to whisper something.

“You aching fo’ me ain’t you?” Jimmy whispered softly.

He planted soft, wet kisses along her neck, moving towards her jawline, making her gasp as she felt the warmth of his touch, despite her usual instinct to keep her distance from him.

“I-I, don’t know w-what. You m-mean.” Soleia replied as she was stumbling with her words.

He skillfully took hold of her chin, turning her face towards him while he stood confidently behind her. Their eyes locked, and his half-hooded gaze captivated her, causing her to melt under his touch as she stared into her deep chocolate brown eyes.

“You do, don’t play dumb with me. Tell me to fix it and I will.” His voice was low and raspy when he spoke to her.

She was determined not to let him in too easily, aware that his girlfriend was likely hiding nearby, observing them from a distance, so she needed to act innocent around him.

“What about your girlfriend? I don’t need her upset..” 

He chuckled at her before smiling, “don’t worry about her..lemme touch you sweetheart.” She felt his hand around her throat turning her on even more.

His voice was so soothing and addicting as he placed more wet kisses on her neck before landing on her lips making out passionately in the kitchen—he pressed his stiff member up against hers before caressing her breasts causing her to moan softly.

Her scent was like his addiction that he couldn’t let slip away from him especially not for someone like Aaron to just take whenever he felt like it, he was the type to just stalk and kill his prey unlike Soleia he didn’t do that with not just yet at least.

Jimmy had slipped his hand inside of her shorts moving her panties to the side while rubbing the folds as she struggled to kiss him back causing him to have a smirk appear on his lips.

“Remember what you told me last night baby?” Jimmy murmured between kisses.

She shook her head, pretending as if she had forgotten how he had consumed her in this kitchen last night, her legs wide open for him.

“I’ll remind you..” His fingers danced around her clit rapidly, prompting her to tighten her thighs.

They had separated from the kiss, locking their gazes as he kept teasing her clit, causing her to nibble on her lower lip while he looked down at her pure expression.

He kisses her lips, “tell daddy what you told him last night babydoll.”

She tried to speak, but no words escaped her lips, overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through her. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and all she could manage was a soft moan for him to hear. “Tell me doll.”

“This is your pussy daddy, all yours.”

“Mhm, it’s all mine ain’t it baby?”

“Y-yes, daddy.” She found it impossible to concentrate on cooking any longer, having turned off the stove while resting her head against his chest, surrendering to his every whim.

He softly pressed his lips against her cheek, all the while his hands moved quickly over her folds, causing her to arch her back in delight as he covered her with kisses.

“Lemme know when Trin comes down here.” He mind-linked with his twin brother while continuing to pleasure Soleia in the kitchen—Jimmy didn’t have any shame in his game since nobody wasn’t around except his brother of course who was in the living room minding his business.

“A’ight.” That’s all he had heard from his twin while maintaining his focus on Soleia who felt like she was on cloud nine right now being near him like this.

“Spread yo’ legs wider fo’ me mama, tryna make you squirt.” Jimmy murmured as she complied, parting her legs while he placed two fingers inside of her and began pumping them in and out of her wet cunt causing her to moan his name. “J-Jimmy…”

She felt a sting come across her thighs causing her to whine at the pain sensing that he slapped her left thigh with his available hand.

“Say my name right Doll, or I won’t let you cum.” His dominance and possessive nature made her feel ten time more wet than before as she arched her back to give him more leverage to finger fuck her.

He was completely entranced by her, thoroughly enchanted by her very being. As he embraced her form closely, their desire flared up, his fingers deftly curling within her, transporting her into a blissful realm where all she could do was gasp in pleasure, her lips opening in pure rapture.

“Ouuu daddy, it’s feels so good.” Soleia moaned. “Too good.” She pressed on, even as his fingers roamed her from behind, her grip alternating between tightening and loosening around them, all the while she breathed his name in ecstasy.

She concentrated on him, her alluring, deep-set eyes fixed on his, before glancing down at his lips. With a gentle pull, she brought his face nearer, pressing her lips to his as they exchanged a passionate kiss in the kitchen.

In their secluded world, unaware of the external scrutiny, it was entirely focused on them—As she tightened her grip on his fingers, yearning for liberation, her hands tugged at his shoulders. He felt her approaching the brink of bliss, while his fingers expertly navigated her g-spot, driving her toward the height of pleasure.

Their tongues danced together with fervor as his fingers delved into her depths—He expertly navigated her, finding her most sensitive spot, causing her back to arch in pure ecstasy.

“Imma claim you as mine soon ma.” He murmured softly.

“Y-you don’t want me…” she murmured back.

She was convinced that he genuinely didn’t desire her, given the way he had been ignoring her and failing to utter a single word. She couldn’t grasp what had shifted so abruptly. Was it because she had kissed someone else who wasn’t him?

Or was there something deeper he desired but couldn't attain because of his relationship with Trinity? His lips grazed her neck, delivering gentle, lingering kisses while he watched her surrender to his touch. He felt her longing, the way she was utterly soaked for him, and how she clenched around his fingers.

“O-oh, F-fuck.” 

“Mhm, keep clenching on my fingers mama. I can feel her.” As his fingers danced and flowed within her pulsating depths, she felt herself lost in a realm of ecstasy, breathlessly uttering his name in passionate devotion, proclaiming her love as his and his alone.

With her eyes shut tight, Soleia tilted her head back in ecstasy, surrendering to the waves of pleasure as his fingers skillfully teased her g-spot, plunging her into a euphoric trance.

She sensed herself slipping away beneath his caress as she grasped his neck tightly and tilted her head back against his chest.

He relished the way she surrendered to him as his fingers dug into her, consistently striking that spot she cherished, leaving her weak at the knees.

“Cum fo’ me babydoll, cum.” Jimmy whispered darkly.

“M’gonna cum daddy, can I cum p-please…” Soleia whimpers softly looking up at him with her innocent eyes that excited him, while he gazed down at her with his alluring ones.

He was tearing her apart, watching her fall apart and her legs shake because of him; he was the reason for her downfall right then.

“Make a mess all over my fingers, doll, wanna feel that shit.” He was talking her through it. 

She sensed her stomach twisting into fragments as she felt herself splitting into two distinct halves, her thoughts enveloped in ecstasy until she could no longer endure it.

She surrendered completely as she reached her climax, feeling it crash over her like a tidal wave. Gripping him tightly, she shut her eyes, experiencing the moment fully. She noticed something warm trickling down her thighs, realizing she had squirted all over his hand while he gently thrust his fingers in and out of her slickness.

“Yeahh there she goes mama, look at you making a mess.” 

She held onto him tightly as he softly slid his fingers in and out, keeping a consistent tempo before ultimately pulling them away.

As he withdrew his fingers from her, he savored her essence, letting out a deep sigh as her sweetness lingered on his tongue. He then reached for a paper towel to wipe his hands and clean her up.

Once he had cleaned her up, he wrapped his arms around her waist, showering her shoulder and neck with tender, wet kisses, aiming to calm her racing nerves after that overwhelming orgasm just moments before.

Soleia ignited the stove to complete her breakfast as he lingered behind her, preoccupied with his own thoughts. He was unable to decipher her mind, which greatly irritated him, especially since she had shut him out from her feelings, leaving him in the dark about her current emotions.

Then he begins to ask, “You good?”

She turned to him, her innocent eyes sparkling, as she nodded her head and kept cooking her breakfast. Jey understood her feelings in that moment; she trusted him with her innermost thoughts, viewing him as the big brother she had always wished for.

As he delved into her thoughts, a wave of sadness washed over him; she felt like nothing more than a plaything for Jimmy, someone to be toyed with in the absence of his girlfriend. She couldn't comprehend why he treated her this way, especially after he had explicitly warned her to keep her distance, all while grappling with the painful reality of how her father could betray her trust like this.

She refused to be just a toy for Jimmy while he was with his girlfriend. It felt morally wrong to think that his girlfriend would only push her into a dark place, which is precisely why she chose to leave the way she did.

“Give her some space twin.” Jey was warning his twin brother as Jimmy looked at him with confusion.

“What’s wrong? Is Trin coming?” He had seen his twin brother shake his head. “Lil mama just needs some space right now.”

Jimmy gazed at Soleia, who appeared to be wrapping up her Korean dish with a calm demeanor. However, beneath that facade, she was hurting and felt deeply betrayed. She carefully added her cooked egg and a selection of fresh vegetables into the bowl that already contained the noodles, before finally putting the pot into the dishwasher for cleaning.

She picked up a pair of chopsticks, resting them lightly on her lips as she brushed past Jimmy to fetch herself a drink before heading upstairs; she was in no mood to be disturbed or to be around anyone right now.

Jimmy was confused by her behavior giving a quick glance over at Jey trying to figure out what happened.

“It’s not my place to tell you, just give her some space and worry about Trin coming down the steps.” 

“Did I do something?”

He could hear his brother sighing, “it’s not what you did it’s how you’re making her feel right now and it’s not a good feeling.”

Soleia ascended the stairs to her room, intending to enjoy her breakfast alone. She had noticed Trinity sauntering down the steps, a smirk playing on her lips, fully aware that she was about to stir feelings of jealousy in Soleia by being with Jimmy instead of her.

However, what she was unaware of was that Jimmy had already been involved with Soleia in secret, which made her indifferent to whatever actions or words were about to unfold. With a dismissive roll of her eyes, she made her way upstairs to her bedroom.

—

Soleia took a break for lunch, enjoying the meal she had prepared before heading to work. She craved some fresh air to help clear her mind. Deep down, she felt that Jimmy didn’t truly care for her and was merely using her for his own sexual gratification, all while deceiving Trinity.

Last night, she had the option to refuse going back home with them and instead stay with Jaida, but her inebriated condition led her to make foolish choices, like performing oral sex on Jimmy in the backseat of his brother's car—what was going through her mind?

However, she couldn't shake the thought of him devouring her like it was his final feast. This morning, when he brought her to the brink of ecstasy, it left a significant impact on her, yet she didn't perceive it as a positive experience. Instead, it diminished her sense of self, allowing him to take such liberties with her.

She cut off her father's number and felt indifferent to his attempts to find her—her heart ached with feelings of betrayal. While she was having her lunch, a familiar presence approached, and she had no desire to turn around, choosing instead to act as if that person didn't exist until his voice broke through her pretense.

“Hey beautiful lady.” Aaron said softly.

She swiftly turned her head to catch a glimpse of Aaron, the guy she had shared a passionate kiss with at the club the previous night, standing beside her, his charming smile bright and his sharp fangs on display.

“Oh, Hey. Wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Soleia replied as she had seen him sitting across from her.

“I was coming to pick up some prescriptions from the pharmacy and I didn’t see you there so I assume you were on break or something.” 

“Sorry about that, I just needed some fresh air, that's all to clear my head.” He nodded understanding her completely.

Not only had Aaron been following her since last night, but he had also been monitoring her location, fully aware that she is currently staying with the Fatu family.

“You know you deserve better Leia.” He said.

She looked at him with a confused expression on her face. She didn’t understand what he meant by that.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“I’m saying, you didn’t deserve to be sold off and be treated like some sort of property.” He did have a point about that she was so pissed and upset feeling like she wasn’t good enough.

“You deserve to be treated better than that, I can help you with that. Knowing that Jimmy doesn’t know what to do with a pretty woman like yourself.”

Before she could say anything he got closer to her face as she was captured by his beautiful features and eyes almost as if he was hypnotizing her with them.

“I can treat you so much better than those Fatu's Leia. My family would love you.”

“Soleia get away from him now.” That’s all she heard in her mind, almost scaring her to hear a familiar voice trying to contact her.

However, she was entranced by Aaron's looks and failed to pay attention, which was precisely his charm with women like her. He had a knack for enchanting them with his striking features and charming words, only to ensnare them before ultimately betraying them.

“Come with me Leia, I’ll take good care of you princess.” Aaron whispered softly.

“Yeah?” Soleia replied.

“Yeah, baby I gotchu.” Before his plan could take effect, he suddenly felt someone tugging at the hem of his hoodie, pulling him down and forcing him to look up at the individual.

He noticed that it was Jimmy facing him, his expression serious, while Jey held Soleia in his arms, who had lost consciousness.

“What the fuck did I say about staying away from her? She don’t need you.” Jimmy said sternly.

Aaron wore a sly grin, "and you believe she relies on you? When you’re merely exploiting the poor girl for your own gratification." That hit a sensitive spot within him, realizing that it wasn’t accurate; he wasn’t taking advantage of her, was he? Was that genuinely how she felt right now?

She felt like he was using her just to be away from Trinity.

At that moment, Jimmy threw a punch at Aaron's face, making him stagger backward and fall to the ground, where he instinctively reached for his nose, noticing blood seeping down from his upper lip.

“This is my last warning stay the fuck away from her, I’m not allowing you to kill her. Not on my fucking watch.”

“But look how you’re treating her Jon? Is she just your plaything or someone you develop feelings for but can’t have her because you're with Trinity?” 

Emotions? Was he starting to have feelings for Soleia? Jimmy glanced back at Jey, who was cradling Soleia in his arms, her unconscious state a result of Aaron's attempts to entice her. This sight sent his thoughts spiraling, recalling everything his brother had shared about her, making him want to throw caution to the wind and simply be with her.

However, he came to understand that she was a person, and if their situation were to become public, it would ignite a series of events. He sensed that this had already begun, especially with Aaron following her around, attempting to win her over. She didn’t deserve any of this; it only made him rake his fingers through his hair in exasperation.

Aaron found joy in watching Jimmy become a whirlwind of confusion when he struggled to manage his emotions, particularly towards a human girl like Soleia. He understood that Jimmy was unable to break free from Trinity, no matter how hard he might attempt, as she had a firm grip on him, and he was bound to her like a stray puppy tethered to a leash.

“What’s wrong Jon? Having trouble trying to choose between Trin or Soleia?” Aaron provoked as Jimmy gave him a stern expression on his face.

“Fuck you, I’m not letting you take her away from me. Just like how you did when I was with Trinity.” Jimmy spat.

“Tsk tsk tsk, maybe if you did your job right Trinity wouldn’t have been with me now would she?”

What he despised the most was having his emotions tortured by this woman; it truly messed him up knowing that if he became too close to anyone, Aaron would simply snatch them away and leave him shattered mentally.

He cast a glance at Soleia while deliberately turning his gaze towards Jey, who could perceive the anguish and grief reflected in his brother's eyes, aware of the history that haunted him.

“Take Soleia Home Josh, I need a fucking moment.” That’s what he told his brother through mind-linking with him as he walked off somewhere to cool off leaving Jey with Aaron.

Jey gave Aaron a stern look on his face, “you’re a fucking asshole, digging his past up with Trin all because of what? She was with you leaving my brother when all he did was love her?” He scoffed at him while sighing deeply.

“We aren’t letting you do that again, not this time around Aaron so I would advise you to keep it pushing G.” With that Jey had opened up the passenger door to his hellcat placing Soleia inside while buckling her seatbelt before shutting the door next to her.

He cast a final glance at Aaron before slipping into his car, fastening his seatbelt and igniting the engine. With a smooth motion, he pulled out of the parking lot and made his way home. Soleia didn’t have to be at work with Aaron handling her case at this moment.

He gazed at Soleia, lying unconscious, and his heart shattered into fragments, realizing she was undeserving of such a fate—the true culprit was her father. If only he hadn't sold her away, she might have been living a normal life now, free from all this turmoil.

Particularly since his brother is so closely tied to her yet fails to recognize it due to Trinity, he felt the urgent need to eliminate Trinity from the equation to find his own happiness.

How long was his brother going to keep this up?

Jey was aware that his brother had developed feelings for Soleia; he realized that the instant Jimmy laid eyes on her, he would inevitably fall for her. The moment he saw her up close, it stirred something deep within him.

He knew that it was something there, but he’s trying to run away from it why?

Why was he running from something that he could have and want? Was it because of the consequences that come with it or because of Trinity's bitterness if she finds out about what Jimmy and Soleia have been doing behind her back.

Jey didn’t know but he knew his brother, he knew him too well. He knew that Jimmy was going to make a choice choosing between Trinity and Soleia.

He knew that for sure.

—

⚠️trigger warning self-harming with a lighter.

Soleia had maintained her distance from everyone, not wanting to impose on them as her thoughts drifted into a shadowy realm she wished to avoid. Is this truly the fate her life has led to? Being mistreated and then sold to strangers, all because her father was in need of money.

In the end, Jimmy was merely exploiting her for his own gain, benefits that Trinity was incapable of offering. Trinity only perceives control; she manipulates him as if he were a damn dog on a leash, one that can never be released.

She let out a bitter chuckle, her eyes welling up with tears as she gently closed them, allowing the tears to fall. With a deep sigh and a nod of her head, she reflected on the thought that if only she were with her mother at this moment, perhaps none of this would have occurred. She imagined a happier life, but her father had taken her away from that possibility.

And she doesn’t have anybody.

At that moment, she reached under her pillow and pulled out a small lighter, the very one she had taken from her workplace before the situation escalated between her and Aaron.

As she turned the wheel, a flame erupted from the lighter's top, prompting a deep sigh from her. Since the age of nineteen, she had managed to avoid harming herself while living with her father, who was perpetually lost in his drinking and gambling, leaving no room for a father-daughter bond.

She attended every therapy session with the hope that she was improving, and for a time, she truly felt that way—until everything changed. Her father no longer loved her and treated her like a mere commodity, selling her off as if she were nothing more than a piece of meat.

She experienced a profound sense of isolation, with no one to confide in about her true emotions—Soleia wiped her tears as she wept, wishing for the pain to dissipate and for her to feel whole once more. No one is aware of the fact that she has been using a lighter to inflict pain on herself. Soleia has always kept this secret to herself.

Nobody didn’t care.

She loosened the strings of her sweatpants, wriggling out of them before rising from the bed. As she moved toward the door, she knelt down and flicked the lighter, watching the flame emerge. She positioned it between her thighs, feeling the searing heat on her left thigh, which made her hiss in pain.

Soleia felt tears welling up in her eyes, and as she blinked, they cascaded down her cheeks while she continued to inflict pain on herself with the lighter. The only thing sustaining her was the act of self-harm.

“Fucking hate it here….why would he do that to me? Just why?” Soleia said to herself.

She proceeded to wipe her nose while feeling like her skin was peeling off due to the fire hitting her skin. She wanted all of the pain and hurt gone, this was her only solution—she couldn’t trust nobody with information on how she felt.

“I wish I didn’t come back here, I wish I was with Jaida.” She said softly. 

At that moment, Jimmy invaded her thoughts, kissing her lips with a tenderness that felt unique, showering her with gentle affection. He seemed to consume her in a way that no one else ever had. Yet, a nagging question lingered in her mind: why did he act this way with her in private, but transform into someone else entirely when he was with Trinity?

And she didn’t like that, not one bit.

And it seemed like Jey knew too.

“He’s so fucking perfect…why is he acting like this with me like I did something wrong?” 

All she could think about was his beautiful face, his pretty smile. And his pretty lips.

He was fucking perfect.

At that moment, the sound of knocking on the door startled her, making her flinch. She quickly ceased the painful act of burning her skin with the lighter, hurriedly wiping away her tears as she rose from her kneeling position, tucking the lighter beneath her pillow.

She slipped into her sweatpants again and climbed back into bed, casually scrolling through her phone as if nothing had occurred. She noticed Jey entering with a smile, and she mirrored his expression with a gesture.

“Hey little mama, you doing okay?” Jey asked.

“Yeah, I’m good. What’s up?” Soleia said 

“The fam was having a barbecue tonight and we were inviting a bunch of our people here, we was hoping that you would be down there in attendance?” 

Barbecue? Soleia didn’t know that they had such a big family and she felt nervous because she didn’t even know them but she had to agree with it so nobody wouldn’t get upset.

And now she would have to deal with Jimmy and his bitter ass girlfriend during the barbecue. It'll cause her to burn herself again if his girlfriend starts some shit with her.

“I mean sure, I hope nothing happens.” She said.

“I promise nothing won’t happen to you, we give them a heads up.” He replied as she nodded her head.

Jey had smiled at her, “good, see you outside when everyone is here.” With that he had shut her door as he walked down the hallway heading downstairs. He hadn't seen Jimmy since that incident with Aaron. Hopefully he will come home.

As he made his way down the stairs to assist Zilla in preparing the tables outside, he noticed Trinity chatting on the phone with someone. Although he couldn't see who she was speaking to, her beaming smile hinted that something exciting was happening.

He and Zilla were both placing the tables out in the grass unfolding the metal rods that were closed—as he began mind-linking with his cousin.

“I think Trin is cheating on Jimmy again.” That’s when Zilla had looked up at his cousin with a shock expression on his face.

“What? Why you say that?”

“Because she was on the phone with someone all smiley and shit, you know how she gets whenever she does something like that.”

When Jimmy and Trinity were a couple before their split, she was secretly unfaithful to him with Aaron, all while Jimmy was blissfully unaware and showering her with affection, looking foolish.

When he discovered the truth, devastation washed over him; the realization that she had betrayed him, despite all he had done for her, pierced his heart deeply. Once Jimmy uncovered Aaron's address, it was the end for him, but Jey had to intervene, as Jimmy was on the verge of taking that man's life in mere seconds.

That’s why Jey wants Jimmy to be with Soleia because she’s different and knows how to love him correctly but Jimmy was to blind to see that.

“You think she’s talking to Aaron again?”

“Yeah, I feel like she is. I’m tryna put him on with little mama in there.”

“Soleia?”

Jey nodded in agreement as they arranged all the chairs around the tables. After that, he went back inside the house to fetch more items for the Outback barbecue. While he was busy, he noticed Trinity sitting on the sofa, smiling and texting on her phone.

As he caught a clearer glimpse of who she was messaging, he noticed that she was once again texting Aaron, despite having told Jimmy a year or two back that she was severing all connections with him. Now, she is once more shattering Jimmy's heart.

He let out a deep sigh as he focused on his own tasks, all the while assisting Zilla with everything else. This evening promised to be lengthy—hoping that Jimmy would arrive sober and not under the influence.

—

Everyone gathered outside, chatting and enjoying drinks while music filled the air and a fire crackled nearby. Meanwhile, Soleia found refuge in the kitchen, keeping her distance from the crowd to avoid being in anyone's way as she took a sip from her water bottle.

Everyone gathered outside, chatting and enjoying drinks while music filled the air and a fire crackled nearby. Meanwhile, Soleia found refuge in the kitchen, keeping her distance from the crowd to avoid being in anyone's way as she took a sip from her water bottle.

At that moment, she noticed Zilla approaching her, a red cup in his hand, as he stood beside her, sipping from his drink.

Zilla begins to say, “you don’t have to block out your thoughts you know?” He said as Soleia looked up at him.

“I have to block my thoughts, I don’t trust nobody here Z.” Soleia replied as she took another sip of her water.

“But you can trust us, especially Jey and I. And your best friend Jaida, we are here for you.” 

It seemed as though he was aware of her self-harming, even without mentioning it, as she simply nodded quietly, observing everyone around her.

She hadn't laid eyes on Jimmy since the event unfolded at her workplace involving Aaron. She wished for his well-being, despite the fact that she didn't genuinely care for him—or at least, that's what she believed.

“You know that Trin is cheating on my cousin?” Soleia almost choked on her water when Zilla had blurted that out so suddenly as she looked at him with wide eyes.

She coughed, “W-what? She’s doing what?”

“She’s cheating on him with that guy you kissed at the club last night.”

Soleia had always believed that Trinity was fiercely loyal to Jimmy, as she seemed to want no one else near him. Her possessive behavior had made it clear, so the sudden news caught Soleia completely off guard.

“How you know?” She asked.

“Jey had seen her text messages between Aaron and her when we was putting things outside.” He replied.

Soleia couldn't shake the feeling of sympathy for Jimmy, sensing a tender spirit hidden beneath his icy demeanor. He truly deserved better treatment. Yet, ultimately, it wasn't her concern what was happening between him and Trin; she simply wished to keep her distance.

“Oh? I know he’ll be upset about it. She seems like the controlling type.”

“Yeah, she’s very controlling, especially towards him. When she’s doing him wrong behind his back yet again.”

Soleia got to know Jimmy a bit more through his cousin since Jimmy and her don’t speak to each other whenever they’re around each other. “My cousin he loves hard, like very hard, he’ll go insane over someone he loves Leia.”

“I can sense he’s a very lovable guy behind all of that nonsense he’s doing.”

“Yeah, even when he’s around you alone. Me and Jey know he caught something with you.”

She was taken aback to learn that Jimmy might have developed feelings for her, yet he remains in denial about it all due to his love for Trinity—unbeknownst to him, Trinity was betraying him right under his nose.

Soleia laughed softly, shaking her head, "No way, he’s not interested. Trinity is the one for him, and he wouldn’t want to get involved with a human like me; it would only create chaos."

She understood that the risks would be significant if they were to become involved; it would likely lead to trouble. Therefore, she makes an effort to keep her distance from him. However, Jimmy always manages to circumvent that and be with her whenever Trinity is not present.

Before they had the chance to speak, they suddenly heard a ruckus coming from the back, leaving Soleia and Zilla exchanging puzzled glances.

“Z, come get Jimmy he’s fucking drunk and yelling at Trinity.” That was Zilla’s cue as he ran out back within a blink of an eye seeing what was happening as Soleia followed him behind.

She witnessed Jimmy in a drunken stupor, toppling objects and shouting at Trinity for supposedly fooling around behind his back, ultimately humiliating her in front of his friends.

“Y-you’re cheating o-on me, again a-aren’t you?” Jimmy hiccuped.

“W-what? No baby I wouldn’t do that to you.” Trinity said as she caressed his cheek.

Jimmy had slapped her hand away from his face while glaring down at her. “B-bullshit! I’m so tired..so tired of you manipulating me! Just tell me the truth.”

She remained there, arms crossed over her chest, while everyone around observed the entire scene unfold before their eyes.

“Baby I told y—“

“Don’t fucking lie to me Trin! I know you’re keeping contact with that bitch!”

At this moment, things were deteriorating as Jimmy was overwhelmed with pain and anger; it was crucial for someone to intervene before the situation escalated further. Soleia was on the verge of returning indoors when she sensed someone attempting to reach out to her mentally.

“Leia, don’t go he needs you.” She could hear Jey’s voice speaking to her as she looked back at him.

She shook her head, silently forming the word 'no' with her lips. This wasn’t an issue she wanted to tackle just to listen to Trinity’s complaints about it. Soleia noticed Jey's eyes begging her not to abandon him and go after Jimmy, but she didn’t want anyone to perceive her as the antagonist.

“Leia, please I can hear his thoughts. He really needs you.” She sighed deeply, running her fingers through her hair while gazing at Zilla, signaling him to bring Jimmy closer so she wouldn't have to endure the stares of the crowd.

Zilla had looped Jimmy’s arm around her neck, guiding him in her direction as she sensed the gazes and glances directed at her—she rolled her eyes at the sight of Jimmy’s inebriated condition.

“You got him?” 

“Yeah, I got him yall go and continue to enjoy yourselves while I deal with him.”

“A’ight Leia.” With that, she led Jimmy into the house, making her way upstairs to her bedroom, which was nearest to his and Trinity's room. As she ascended the stairs, she could catch the scent of beer lingering on his lips.

After they entered her bedroom, she gently set Jimmy down on the bed and closed the door behind her—she noticed him with his head lowered, as if he wished to hide from her gaze, but she was fully aware of his state.

She approached him, kneeling down and gently cupping his chin to bring his gaze to hers. She noticed his eyes were red and glistening, as if he had been crying—Soleia tenderly wiped the tears from his face while he looked at her.

“Hey I know it’s not my place to say this but, you don’t deserve none of that whatever the fuck she got going on. You deserve better Jimmy.” Soleia said.

“A handsome and beautiful man like yourself don’t need to be crying over someone like her, whose just going to keep using you and using you until you kill yourself.”

Jimmy paid close attention to her as he was entranced by her beauty, glancing at her lips before returning his gaze to her eyes.

She softly stroked his cheek, showing him that he was valued and significant, before withdrawing her hand as she stood up to go change her clothes. But then he pulled her back, guiding her to sit on his lap right in front of him.

“J-Jimmy…what is it?…” Soleia asked.

“I need you mama, keep me sane please.” Jimmy begged his eyes were low and red.

Her gaze softened at his condition as she nodded, remaining in his lap. She felt his head resting on her chest while her fingers began to massage his curls, eliciting a groan of pleasure from him.

She never liked being the kind of person who would abandon someone in the miserable condition that Jimmy found himself in. Despite the way he treated her poorly, she still had the compassion to support him, even if he rejected her help.

He gazed up at her with his swollen red eyes as she gently wiped the last of his tears from his face, tenderly stroking his cheek with her thumb.

For a brief moment, they became lost in each other's gaze, her biting her lower lip, entranced by the depth of his brown eyes, mirroring his own fascination—there was something about him that she found impossible to escape so easily.

It was almost like he wanted her to be there and stay there, never leave.

They gazed at one another's lips before returning their focus to each other's eyes, inching closer and closer until their noses met, their lips softly grazing against one another.

Yearning Desperately  Begging 

The moment her lips met his in a tender press, they began to kiss each other with fervor. The kiss was soft and unhurried as she encircled his neck with her arms, while her legs embraced his torso.

Their tongues danced together in a passionate struggle for dominance, while Soleia felt his icy hands exploring her warm body—slipping beneath her shirt and pulling her closer to him.

They collapsed onto the bed in unison, with Jimmy holding her down as their lips remained locked—she was pulling at his shirt, urging him to remove it, and he complied by tossing his shirt aside while positioning himself between her legs.

Soleia was exploring his icy skin and tribal tattoos, his hardened member pressing against her as she maintained her grip with her legs wrapped around him.

“Fuck, you make it hard sweetheart. Make it hard for me to hate you and keep you away from me.” He muttered between kisses.

“I-I’m s-sorry…” she muttered back. “I-I know….you don’t w-want me.”

She sensed his hand encircling her throat as he drew back from the kiss, looking deep into her eyes, searching for something—while his icy hand slipped beneath her shorts and into her panties, starting to caress her slick folds, making her roll her eyes back in ecstasy.

“I want you…I want you all the time. But I can’t have you the way I want to.”

“T-then what are we doing…fuck…”

“I don’t know…but I need you mama. I really do.”

Jimmy kissed her neck softly while his fingers circled her clit, making her arch her back in ecstasy as she pulled at his curls, moaning his name.

He sensed his fangs emerging, a primal urge to sink them into her neck, yet he paused, reluctant to inflict pain. Instead, he continued to draw from her neck, marking her as his own without breaking the skin.

He unfastened her shorts and gradually pulled them down as she squirmed out of them, granting him greater access to her—shifting her panties aside as he inserted two fingers inside her, but just before he could go further, he encountered something hard, almost like a scar, causing him to halt his actions.

Jimmy drew back from her neck, his gaze falling to the spot where his fingers grazed her injury—the mark left by a lighter when she burned herself, and his eyes softened at the painful sight.

“What is this?”

“I-it’s nothing, don’t pretend that you care.” 

“You hurting yourself?” She didn’t look at him as he grabbed her face to make her look at him.

She was at a loss for words, struggling to articulate to him the ways she had been managing her depression, as they gazed deeply into each other's eyes.

“Tell me.” Jimmy demanded.

“No, I’m not.” Soleia said softly.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I don’t need to explain myself to you.” With that, she shoved him away as she rose from the bed, walking away and turning her back to him.

She felt no desire to clarify to him that he was the LAST person who should discuss why she was inflicting pain upon herself for any reason, until she heard him rise from the bed—now standing right in front of her.

“Don’t fucking walk away from me, tell me the truth why are you doing this?”

“It doesn’t matter why, just get out Jimmy.” She attempted to walk away from him, but he succeeded in wrapping his hand around her throat, pinning her against the wall, leaving her feeling terrified.

“No, I’m not fucking leaving until you tell me the reason behind this.” She tried fighting him off of her only for his grip on her neck to be tighter.

Jimmy was significantly stronger than she was, as she kept trying to fend him off—pushing and shoving with every ounce of her strength. Yet, it proved insufficient as she paused, gazing into his brown eyes.

She sensed her emotions fading as tears welled up in her eyes, prompting her to avert her gaze, unwilling for him to witness her vulnerability—could she really trust him with this secret? She doubted it, didn't she? He had no desire for her.

That’s what she believed.

Her lips started to tremble as she pressed her teeth into her lower lip, tears streaming down her cheeks. The sight of her weeping caused his gaze to soften, prompting him to withdraw his hand from her throat. She sniffled softly before moving past him.

She never wanted this to occur in her life; she never wished for her father to sell her off to some damn strangers she had never met—She never asked for any of this.

Now she finds herself entangled with a man who neither wishes to be with his girlfriend nor knows how to break free from her, leading him to simply use her, or so she thinks.

Soleia remained in place, arms crossed, allowing her warm tears to cascade down her cheeks time and again. She heard his footsteps drawing near, and soon felt his icy arms wrap around her waist, with his chin nestled between her shoulders.

She didn’t want to look at him as her eyes kept straight ahead while wiping her tears away until she heard his voice.

“Lemme kiss it.” Jimmy said softly.

“What’s kissing it going to do Jimmy?” Soleia asked.

She could feel his gentle touches rubbing against her skin that made her shiver.

“It’ll calm your nerves and emotions mama.” He said as he placed a wet kiss on her neck.

She wasn’t sure if he was being serious as she looked down at his hooded eyes pleading at her like a puppy, “lemme do it sweetheart.”

She let out a gentle sigh while nodding her head, feeling him lift her effortlessly as if she weighed nothing at all, before pinning her down on the bed, their eyes locked in a gaze unlike any other.

She lay on her back, her hands exploring the contours of his muscular arms, admiring the tribal tattoos that celebrated his heritage—he pressed his lips against hers, and she reciprocated a few times before he nestled between her thighs.

As he parted her legs, he noticed the injury on the right side of her thigh, which caused his heart to ache at the realization that she was inflicting pain upon herself.

“How long have you been doing this?” He asked.

“It’s been like…a year… since then.” She replied.

“You shouldn’t be doing this doll.” He kissed her wound that was on her thigh causing her to flinch at his sudden touch.

Her fingers glided through his curls while he tenderly kissed her wound, and her mind raced at the sight of him positioned between her legs like this.

“It’s my only coping mechanism Jimmy.” 

He pressed his lips against her injury, placing another kiss on her wet panties, which were drenched because of him. He could sense her body writhing, like a mouse attempting to escape.

“Y-you said you was kissing the w-wound.” Jimmy pressed his lips against her moist panties again, stealing a glance upward at her as she gazed down at him.

“I can give her a kiss too right?” As he shifted her panties aside, the sight of her sticky, creamy essence oozing in delicate strands ignited his desire, compelling him to kiss her moist folds.

She squirmed beneath him, her thighs held firmly as he playfully teased her, starting to French kiss her pussy, which made her arch her back in delight—clutching his curls even tighter.

His heated tongue danced around her clit as if he craved her, having longed to do this since he had left her workplace earlier to cool off—he needed her more than he realized so quickly.

His tongue danced within her vacant space while he lavished attention on her clit, sending her to cloud nine. She looked down at him, catching his gaze as he indulged in her pleasure.

“Ouuu Jimmyy.” Soleia moaned.

“Hmm, taste so good, mama. I needed this shit.” Jimmy groaned in the air.

“Y-you needed t-this?”

She sensed his beard becoming damp with her essence as she reclined on the bed, arching her hips up and down in rhythm with the movements of his tongue.

He let out a loud groan, “yes I needed this, I need you babydoll.”

She was uncertain about trusting him, as it seemed he was merely saying this due to Trinity's actions happening without his knowledge. Strangely enough, he could sense her feelings.

“Don’t doubt me, it’s true. I need you.” Her eyes went wide when she heard his rich honey like voice in her mind as she felt him slipping two fingers inside of her causing her to gasp.

“Keep me sane mama, please. Before I lose my mind.” He was imploring her, his fingers moving in and out of her slickness, making her cry out his name with fervor and pride.

She felt as if she were floating on cloud nine at this moment, with his fingers and tongue expertly teasing her, as if he had something to demonstrate—that he truly cared for her and desired her, yet was overwhelmed with frustration at not being able to possess her in the way he longed for.

She felt her toes curl with the sensation, realizing that this man was an expert at this made her see stars.

“Fuckk, Jimmy.” She felt him slap her thigh while she stared into her eyes giving her a warning.

“Say my name right.”

He was aware that she had a particular fondness for calling him 'daddy'; it excited him every time she uttered it in her gentle voice. He thrust his fingers deeply inside her, repeatedly stimulating her g-spot until she could no longer endure the pleasure.

His tongue twisted and caressed her now sensitive bud, making her arch her back and squirm as she attempted to push his face away with her small hands, which resulted in a slap to her right thigh.

“Move, yo’ fucking hand mama.”

“J-jim.” She corrected herself, “D-daddy it’s too much.”

“Too much? I haven’t shown you too much yet little girl.” 

He teasingly traced her contours, momentarily withdrawing before plunging back in, eagerly exploring her unexplored realms with his tongue, which yearned for his touch.

He expertly curled them, moving in a consistent rhythm that wrapped her in a euphoric haze, as though she were staring at a sky brimming with stars.

She pursed her lips, arching her neck back against the pillow. “jimmyyy.”

He slapped her thigh again causing her to whine.

He grinned against her skin, his fingers skillfully playing with her g-spot, coaxing her to surrender to the surges of ecstasy from his touch. He was fueling her cravings, his warm body enveloping her throbbing core.

“say my name correctly or you won’t cum.” Jimmy let out a low growl, sending waves of sensation coursing through her body that resonated deeply within her.

“Tell me you love me, I wanna hear it. I need to hear it.”  Damn, she was so exposed that she couldn't push him out of her mind, fully aware of her genuine emotions for him, even though he warned her to keep her distance. She found it impossible not to think of him whenever he was absent from her side.

She’s living with them.

“Don’t lie to me either.”

Damn that was her only way out of this.

However, she did care for him, feeling sympathy for the way his girlfriend was treating him and the things she was doing behind his back—it was simply unfair.

She felt uncomfortable when he shed tears. This was the first occasion she had seen him show vulnerability in her presence, as all Soleia had observed was the icy facade he maintained beneath it all.

She sensed that tight coil nestled deep within her stomach, her legs quivering for liberation as she started to tap on his shoulders.

“You finna cum? Huh?”

Soleia bit the bottom of her lips while nodding her head quickly but knowing that she wasn’t going to cum yet without his permission. “Yess, m’finna cum daddy, m’gonna cum.”

“Yeah? You finna cum babydoll? Tell daddy you love him and I’ll let you cum.” 

Her voice was just a soft whisper as he explored further with his fingers, his tongue dancing fervently while she clutched his biceps firmly, her impeccably manicured nails nearly piercing his skin.

“I love you Jimmy, I love you.” She whimpered.

“Say it louder f’me mama, say it.” He demanded his voice was deep and raspy.

And that’s when she snapped into two like a twig from a tree branch, “I love you Jimmy! Fuckkk!” 

She sensed her essence trickling down, moistening his salt and pepper beard and fingers as he eagerly slurped it up like a refreshing beverage—she could feel her juices cascading down her thighs while her legs trembled.

Jimmy pulled his lips and fingers away from her, then started kissing her thighs to calm her quivering legs, gently placing a tender kiss on her pussy lips, which made her jolt at the sensation.

His fingers intertwined with hers as she made no effort to distance herself—only drawing him nearer while he showered her with kisses all over her body, moving towards her neck and her tender lips.

He paused for a moment, pulling back slightly to admire her features while keeping her legs wrapped around his waist.

“Don’t burn yourself ever again you hear me?” 

“J-jim.”

“I said do you hear me?” Soleia nodded her head submitting to him completely.

A hush fell over the room for a brief moment as Jimmy and Soleia settled into the bed together. He deftly kicked off his shoes and peeled away his torn jeans, now clad only in his boxers. Soleia, positioned a little distance from him, observed as he made himself at ease beside her.

He observed her apparent distance, as if she were afraid of him. This made him chuckle softly, curling his finger to beckon her closer.

“C’mere.” Jimmy spoke softly.

She moved nearer to him, resting her head on his chest as he draped the blankets over them—he had pressed a kiss to her forehead, a tender gesture of appreciation for her care. Soleia's eyes struggled against the pull of sleep, trying to remain open as she looked up at Jimmy with her drowsy gaze.

He flashed her a smile, causing her heart to race wildly as she sensed his hand gently cradling her chin to maintain their gaze. He placed a tender kiss on her lips before drawing back.

“Thank you for taking care of me.” He said.

She gave him a warm smile, “of course someone had to.”

He pressed his lips against hers once more, and it quickly turned into something more intimate. For the remainder of the night, they lost themselves in each other, savoring their solitude away from the rest of the world.

Midnight Sin

a/n: hiii I’m back once again, ngl I’ve been playing my sims lately and just needed a break from everything and that’s like my comfort game lol 😭

but I hope yall enjoy this chapter lmk in the comments below ⬇️ 

STAY UCEY.

chapter four

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