#Stair Protector

[glamorizethechaos]

Bruises Pt 2 | Jack Abbot x Reader

Summary: When you find yourself in an abusive relationship, you never thought your attending Jack Abbot would become your protector and saving grace.

TW: domestic violence, addiction, alcohol, age gap relationship (reader is in late 20s & Jack is 49), fluff, thoughts of su!cide, mentions of not eating, vomiting, gun violence, violence against women, Jack beats ass, angst, eventual smut. Not beta read. Likely typos. Lmk if there is anything else!

Word Count: 4.5k

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Omg TYSM for all the love on Part 1. I love you all.

& thank you to @lavenderdaisychain for helping me brainstorm a bit !!

"Wait, what?" you asked, following Jack down the stairs, struggling to keep up. For a guy with a prosthetic foot, he sure was fast. You protested all the way down the elevator; as you gathered your things, on the walk to the parking garage, but you still found yourself in the front seat of his truck. Your mind said one thing, yet your body said another. It was like he was a magnet, and no matter hard you tried, you could not fight the gravitational pull.

"You like Pearl Jam?" he asked, playing with the radio as the cars engine warmed up.

"Uh, yeah, they're okay."

"Well then who do you like?"

"Oh I dont know, lots of stuff..."

"Such as?"

"Pearl Jam is fine, Jack." You slumped back into the seat, your heart beating out of your chest at the situation you found yourself in. You weren’t entirely sure you’d make it to his house without vomiting.

Jack turned the music up a little bit, trying to cut the tension between you two.

“I just want to scream hello” he sang to himself as “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” played quietly over the hum of the cars engine. You were a bit shocked, he actually had a nice voice. Smooth, soft and quiet. As the two of you drove, the lively crowded city streets of downtown Pittsburgh soon faded into the affluent suburbs of Upper St. Clair.

He pulled into the long driveway, and turned the engine off with a click. He watch as you studied his home, looking at the brick exterior and the perfectly landscaped lawn. You didn’t exactly know what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t something as charming at this. It looked homey and welcoming. You were so preoccupied, you didn’t even notice Jack hop out and walk around to the passenger side. He opened the door and offered you a hand.

Each step closer to the front door you felt more and more nauseous. Before stepping inside the mud room you swallowed the impending vomiting rising in your stomach. He sat down on the bench sat by the front door and removed his prosthetic. He groaned a bit as he massaged his sore stump before grabbing his crutches and making his way to the kitchen.

“When’s the last time you iced your eye?” He asked, pulling out a frozen bag of peas. He flipped on the TV to watch the reruns of the Pirates game. It was strange to see Jack in his natural habitat, moving around his home with ease.

“Uh not since yesterday morning.” Your phone buzzed with a call from Charlie, and you tried to silence it before Jack could notice.

“That Charlie?” He asked, his face almost turning a shade of crimson as the anger bubbled in his chest.

“No uh- just a scam call.” He knew you were lying again as he handed you the peas. You couldn’t get anything past him. Jack nodded and disappeared down his hallway only to come back with some sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"I can run you a shower and you can change into this. Unfortunately, my nightgown days are long behind me, so I hope you dont mind settling for these." he showed you the bathroom and set them on the sink.

"Nightgown? Im 28, not 82." you chuckled. "These are fine... thank you, Jack."

He stood there in the door frame staring at you, those damn hazel eyes always staring at you, into you. It wasn't until you raised your brow at him that he snapped out of his daze and excused himself. As you waited for the water to heat up you took the time to water the dying plant on the windowsill. He could crack a chest, crike a man under gunfire, and do a REBOA with his eyes shut, but couldn't keep a plant alive?

Before you knew it, you were snooping in his medicine cabinet. It was just typical first aid supplies- gauze pads, Neosporin, Advil, but what caught your eye was the bottle of oxy. You assumed it was for his injury and the pain that still lingered. However, the dust that collected on the lid made it safe to assume its been mostly untouched. Nevertheless, it didnt stop you from popping the lid off and pouring a few into your hand. The temptation was there. Just take them. Swallow them. You'll fall asleep and hopefully never wake up. Painless. But Jack- he would be the one to break down the door and find your lifeless body. You physically tried to shake the image from your mind as you quickly put the bottle back where you found it.

Climbing into the hot shower, the water stung your fresh wounds. You had been afraid to look at your back, you just knew it was bad. You weren't exactly sure what he beat you with, a cord of some sort. Each lash feeling like hot coals on your back. The way your scrub top rubbed against the raw flesh made your breath shake and words falter. You could wash away the dirt and grime of the day, but you could not wash away the feeling of Charlie's hands on your body.

As you hopped out you wrapped the towel loosely around your chest, not wanting to further irritate your back any further. Shutting your eyes you braced yourself for the mirror. Opening, your breath caught in your throat as you choked back a sob. One lesion in particular was red, hot, and weeping; sure sign of an infection, and you needed antibiotics before cellulitis set in. You raided his medicine cabinet one more time, looking high and low for something so you didnt have to ask Jack to write you a fucking prescription. You found some amoxicillin which didnt you much good since:

A. It was expired.

B. You were allergic.

When you exited the bathroom wearing Jacks baggy sweats, you found him camped out in the living room, his arm draped over the back of the couch.

"Hey," he said softly "Feeling any better? Figured you could take the bedroom and go get some sleep."

"I'm not letting you sleep on the couch. That cant be comfortable."

"I spent 3 tours sleeping in the middle of the desert. I think I'll manage." he furrowed his brow and sat up, flipping off the TV. "What's wrong?"

How the fuck did he know you so well? Was your poker face really that bad? Or could he just read your mind.

"Can you write me a script for antibiotics?"

"For what?"

"Just a little something on my back. Might be infected."

"Let me take a look" he said, patting the couch next to him, motioning you to sit down.

"It's in a really awkward spot, I'm just not sure I'm comfortable..."

Jacks face fell, his jaw clenching even tighter.

"How bad is it?" he asked, almost demanding an answer from you. You bit your lip, looking up at the ceiling to stop the tears that were rising in your eyes. He grabbed your hand, pulling you down next to him on the couch, his thumb brushing over your knuckles.

"Umm," your voice began to shake, "It's not great. But I'm sure its not as bad as it looks. I mean- Charlie always says I'm a bit dramatic when it comes to my own health. Probably all the stuff we see at work, ya know?"

Jack cupped the side of your neck, his thumb moving back and forth across your cheek. The feeling nearly took your breath away, and you werent entirely sure you didnt let out a small gasp at his touch.

"If you want me to write a script, I need to see what I am treating. Can I please look at what is bothering you?" Jack was practically pleading. If he had not been studying your face, he'd have missed your subtle nod.

He began to talk you through it, his hands finding the bottom of your shirt- well, his shirt, gently pulling it away from your skin. He began to raise the shirt higher and higher as he exposed your back, covered in zig-zagged cuts that almost resembled a Pollock painting. When he reached the particular spot on your back- the spot you were worried about- his hands froze. He clenched his jaw so tightly that he thought his teeth would shatter.

“It doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as it looks…” you try and break the tension.

“This looks like the start of cellulitis. I think I have some amoxicillin in the medicine cabinet. I’ll be right back…” he stood up but you stopped him before he could get too far.

“I’m allergic… plus it’s expired. I already looked…” his frowned slightly at your admission. “I was hoping I’d find something so I wouldn’t have to show you. I’m sorry.” Jack shook his head assuring you it was okay, that he understood.

“What did he hit you with?” He asked, pulling up your shirt once more to see the damage. His fingers brushing delicately against your skin. You shrugged your shoulders, because again, you didn’t know what he used. What he used to lash you with, over and over and over again, like you were some animal. You can still hear the sound of it making contact with your skin, your eyes shut, begging, pleading, praying for it to stop.

Jack knelt in front of you, steadying himself by placing his hand firmly on your knee.

“I’m gonna run back to the hospital and get you some IV antibiotics and some lidocaine injections for your back. You rest…in the bedroom not the couch. And I’ll be back in an hour.”

“Jack you’re exhausted, I can go pick something up if you call it in.” He shook his head, putting his prosthetic back on. He pointed down the hallway to his bedroom before once again speaking, “rest. I mean it. You need to rest.”

After he left you made your way down the hallway. A few photos were on the wall. Childhood photos, one with his family after what you can only assume was basic training, and some artwork Robby’s daughter made for him. It was a portrait of Jack in his Army uniform, holding an American flag. She made note to draw an arrow pointing to the shortened leg and write in all caps “YOUR FAKE LEG.” You audibly chuckled at not only the drawing, but the fact he decided to frame it and hang it up.

Walking into his room felt you were traveling into some unknown territory. Somewhere you know you shouldn’t be. It felt taboo. Forbidden. Your stomach flipped as you sat at the edge of the bed, trying to figure out which side was his. Eventually you crawled under the covers, the pillows smelled like him- minus the hospital. Warm, cozy, and inviting. Your eyelids began to grow heavy as his scent lulled you to sleep.

Hours later you woke up in a cold sweat, your heart racing. Something was attached to your arm, and it took a few moments and the flick of the bedside lamp to realize it was an IV.

He started the IV when you were asleep? How didn’t you wake up?

You checked the IV bags and found an empty bag of antibiotics and an empty bag of saline. Poor Jack stayed up to change the IV bags for you. You checked the clock and it was 6:15. There were 35 missed calls and over 100 texts from Charlie.

"Where the fuck are you?"

"Called the hospital. They said you left."

"When you get home you are in for it."

"Stop being a fucking bitch and answer your phone."

"Come on baby, I miss you. Come home please?"

"You fucking cunt."

Walking down the hallway you found him asleep on the couch, hugging a pillow to his chest. You smiled at how peaceful he looked, but still somehow seemed to be on guard. He sat up quickly causing you to jump backwards.

“Shit,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Likewise…you gave me IV fluids?”

“Your lips were chapped, you’re dehydrated.”

“You’re a good stick, I didn’t even wake up.”

“Either that or you sleep like a brick.”

"Take the compliment, Jack."

Your phone buzzed again, another call from Charlie, and then a pound on the door. Did you ever turn off your location? Fuck. Jack stood quickly, ushering you back into the bedroom.

"Lock the door." he demanded before opening his gun safe, and pulling out his handgun. Your eyes widened as you crouched down beside his bed, away from the view of the door and windows. You tried to slow your breathing, but it felt as if all air has escaped your lungs. Your legs were shaking, your hands were tingling, and with each gasp of breath, your vision got more and more blurry. You saw stars. When Jack knocked on the door, you barely heard it.

"It was a pizza delivery man, wrong house, for the Hamiltons next door. You can open up." when you didnt answer, he knocked again but this time a little harder. "You okay?" He tried the handle once more before pressing his ear against the door. He heard your quiet sobs, and gasps as you struggled to catch your breath.

Your head began to fall forward as the darkness crept in. There were two loud bangs and suddenly you felt hands on you, scooping you up and laying you on the bed. You couldn't see, your eyes still glazed over with darkness.

"NO! NO! NO!" You began to scream, kick, hit, and scratch.

"No, no, its Jack. Take a deep breath for me. Slow your breathing for me, baby." he tried his best to restrain your trashing body. His words were fuzzy as the adrenaline and cortisol coursed through every inch of your body. A cold compress on your forehead made your entire body jolt. As Jack gently wiped away the perspiration it began to slowly bring to back down to earth.

"J-j-j-" your teeth chattered and eyes fluttered as he slowly shushed you.

"You're okay, I got you. You gotta slow your breathing for me." he placed his hand firmly on your stomach, his other still gently wiping the beads of sweat from your forehead and chest with the cold rag. "You gotta breathe with your diaphragm. Feel my hand? Make my hand go up and down, okay?"

He tried to ground you as you let out a slow, long, shaky breath. His hand rising and falling on your stomach.

"That's it, good girl." he whispered. "It's almost over."

You dont know how long it took you to come out of your panic attack, but suddenly you felt like you got hit by a bus. Jack standing over you as your body dripped with sweat, teeth still chattering.

"I'm- I'm s-" you tried to apologize as the room spun. Your eyes shut as Jack began to rub his hand across your hair.

"Shhh, shhh...its okay. Catch your breath." he whispered as he wiped away a tear that had fallen down your cheek. You let out a soft moan at his soft touch, causing his stomach to do a flip.

He came back with a glass of water and his backpack, pulling out a prescription bottle from the front pocket.

"I'm gonna give you something to relax. I take this when I...it'll help." Jack cleared his throat and pulled out a Klonopin. Helping you sit up, he held the glass to your lips.

He took out his pulse ox and put it on your finger, showing you that your oxygen saturation was 99%, assuring you that you were getting enough oxygen as you waited for your breathing to normalize. He took your blood pressure and checked your heart rate.

"BP is a bit low, 90/60. Your heart is compensating for that so your a little tachy at 125. But I got you, you're safe."

It took about 15 minutes for the Klonopin to lower your heart rate enough to feel like you could breathe again. You were exhausted, sore, and a sweaty mess. The door was broken off the hinges, splinters of wood strewn about the floor. When the reality of what happened began to sink in, you were mortified. He broke down the door. You head fell forward and he began to massage your shoulders that were still incredibly tense.

"I'm so sorry, Jack." the words came out muffled as your head was buried in your hands.

"Dont apologize..."

"But your door! I'll pay for a new one. I promise."

"Screw the door. I'm just glad you're okay. You scared me for a second."

Scared? Jack Abbot didnt get scared. This was the man who has been elbow deep in someone’s chest cavity performing internal chest compressions. The many who has done a thoracotomy under gunfire. The man who has quite literally lost his leg to an IED.

“I just thought that…”

“That it was him… I know. Look at me.” Jack took your face in his hands. “I’m not gonna let anything happen to you, understand? He’s not gonna hurt you anymore.”

As the medicine began to kick in, your body started to grow heavy against the pillow, eyelids fluttering.

“Lay with me until I fall asleep?” You asked in a sleepy delirium. Jack hesitated but crawled into bed next to you. He tested the waters to see how close he could get, inching closer and closer when you said, almost incoherently “I feel safe with you, Jack.” It was almost an invitation.

“I like keeping you safe.” He whispered into your neck, wrapping his arm around your midsection. He didn’t want to let you go, and as you drifted into a deep sleep, you melted deeper and deeper into him.

As morning broke, the suns rays shone through the cracks in his blackout curtains. He tightened his grasp around you as your stirred beneath him, his arm still tethering you to him. You felt puffs of air on the back of your neck, and you smiled to yourself at the sensation. The broken bedroom door snapped you back to reality; the reality of the night prior; the reality you were in Jacks arms and not your fiancés. You only remember bits pieces of the panic attack that consumed you, clouding your mind and judgement. Your body jolted which shook Jack awake.

“Hey, hey, hey, you okay?” He sat up quickly, his curly hair sticking in every which direction. God he looked absolutely perfect.

“We slept together?”

“I wouldn’t say it like that. You had a rough night and you asked me to lay with you. I must have fallen asleep.” This was unlike Jack. He didn’t sleep. Especially at night. He thrived in the darkness, sought comfort in it. Not to mention is circadian rhythm was totally fucked from working the night shift.

Jack got up and made some eggs, which you pushed around the plate with your fork.

"What you dont like my cooking?" he chuckled as he watched you frown at your plate.

"No, I dont have much of an appetite, probably from the antibiotics." In reality, you dont remember the last time you had a full meal. You had lost a considerable about of weight and Jack noticed, hell, everyone in the Pitt noticed. It wasn't something that was intentional, but you couldn't seem to stomach anything without a mouth watering gag. But you didnt want to seem rude, so you held your breath and took a bite. It wasn't until you swallowed that things turned sour. Your skin was soon cast with a green hue and you sprinted to the bathroom. Jack followed to find you with your head in the toilet, your stomach revolting against you from only one solitary bite. He held your hair back and you gagged and heaved, and then placed a cool rag on the back of your neck.

"I know I'm no Gordon Ramsay, but I didnt think my cooking was that bad." he joked as you wiped your mouth and slumped against the wall. Despite the circumstance, a chuckle managed to escape your lips.

Suddenly Jacks face fell and he quickly stood, using the bathroom sink to steady himself.

"Jack?" you called out to him, "Jack what wr-"

"Shhh" he whispered, signaling with his index finger to his lips.

"Shots fired, shots fired, Pittfest. Multiple victims."

His police scanner blared as police, fire, and EMS were dispatched to the scene.

"I gotta go. They'll all be going to The Pitt." he quickly threw on a scrub top that was probably still dirty from the night before.

"I'm going with you." you grabbed your things.

"No, you've got broken ribs, a broken face, and an infection. You're staying here."

"Jack." you repeated "I'm going with you. I'll triage, but I'm coming with you."

"Triage, thats it. Not traumas. Got it?" he grabbed his go-bag and the both of you sped out the door. The sirens blared as you inched closer to PTMC, the traffic and chaos already ensuing outside. Jack ran towards the ER like he was back in the army running towards gunfire. You set up your post in the ambulance bay with Shen and Ellis. People came by ambulance, police car, work vans, its was nothing you had ever seen before. Body after body, they just kept coming. Suddenly your heard a voice, and your blood ran cold.

"Hey!" it was Charlie, his face darkening as he saw you. "It's Jeff! He's been hit. You gotta save him." You leapt into the back of the pickup and felt for a pulse. When you didnt feel a thing, you screamed for a gurney and immediately started administering chest compressions. You could hear Jack's voice in the back of your mind with each thrust,

"Triage, thats it. Not traumas. Got it?"

You felt your own ribs cracking with each compression, the air nearly escaping from your lungs as you pushed through the pain. The cuts on your back that begun to close were now opening again. Jack was too busy with his hand in someones intestines that he didnt see you wheeled into Trauma 3, Charlie following. After 45 minutes, multiple rounds of epi, and 2 bags of O neg, you knew he had no chance. The bullet went straight through his heart, it was unsurvivable.

"Time of death.. 13:4-"

"Where the fuck have you been?" Charlie hissed.

"Charlie...I-I-"

"What the fuck are you doing? Why'd you stop? Go save him! Save Jeff!"

"I did all that I could, I'm so-"

"You fucking killed him!"

"Charlie, the injuries were too severe. There was nothing else I could do. The bullet hit his heart." he was taking slow steps towards you, until you finally hit the wall with a humpf. Before you knew it, his hands were around your throat. You tried to scream but nothing came out, no words, no screams, just silence. You frantically searched for the code blue button on the wall, kicking, pawing and scratching at him. He was trying to kill you, and he was succeeding. Your legs began to buckle beneath you as your airways were desperate for oxygen, your vision blurring as you saw stars. You clawed at his face, tried to pry his hands away from your neck, but thats when you felt the first crack. Your head slamming against the wall over and over before you were hit with an unknown force.

As you fell to the ground, gasping for air you heard Robby scream.

"STOP IT JACK!"

Dana rushed to your side as you started to become more coherent, the reality of what just happened sinking in.

"I'm fine, Dana. They need you out there." Your voice was hoarse, you could feel the warm blood soaking the back of your head. Your nose began to run.

But with each passing second you begin to deteriorate.

"No, you need me in here. I'm not going anywhere." she started to assess you, but the sound of Jacks fists hitting Charlies face were deafening, both of your heads were turned in his direction.

"YOU SON OF A" a punch landed across his face "FUCKING" and another "BITCH" and another. You held your breath as blood splattered across the cold tile floor.

"ENOUGH JACK, HE'S OUT! HE'S OUT! YOU'RE GONNA KILL HIM!" Robby tried being the voice of reason and finally got a firm grip on him, yanking him backwards. Not before Jack got in one last kick, his titanium prosthetic shattering Charlies jaw.

"You touch her again," Jacks spit, he panted as his chest heaved with each ragged breath, "You touch her again and I'll finish the fucking job." He looked down at his bloody hands, his knuckles already beginning to swell.

Robby knelt down to check for a pulse on Charlie, not entire sure that Jack didnt kill the man. He cant say he would have lost sleep over it if he did. As he pressed against his carotid, he felt the mans jaw shift, it had been completely eviscerate. His pulse was faint but it was there.

"J-j-" you tried to call out to him, your head laying in Dana's lap. You looked so small and helpless lying there on the floor. Your pupils were fixed and dilated and you kept wiping your nose.

What kept coming out of your nose? You asked yourself.

"She is leaking cerebrospinal fluid, Jack..." Dana looked up in worry. "She has a probable basal skull fracture. We need CT immediately."

"CT is backed up for hours." Robby muttered "They'll want t-"

"Like fuck it is." Jack hissed, and without hesitation, he scooped you up. No gurney, no wheelchair, just holding you in his arms.

Dana and Robby called out to him but he began to almost run to radiology, holding you tight against his chest. You felt his uneven gait become more and more uneven as he walked faster and faster.

The bruising on your face already began to show up under your eyes. You groaned as the artificial lights blinded your eyes. You tried to hold your head up but the weight was too heavy.

“Stay awake for me, baby. Let me see those pretty eyes, okay?”

“It hurts” you cried out. Everything hurt. Your eyes fluttered open.

“There she is. There’s my pretty girl” Jack smiled.

When he reached radiology, and he called for Maxine, everything went black.

Tag list //

@michasia24 @emma8895eb @nosebeers @runawaybaby3 @antisocialfiore @xxxkat3xxx @livingavilaloca @lavenderdaisychain

[pink7princess]

a stupid study sesh?

losery nerd!abby learns from a spoiled femcheerleader!reader a different lesson.

┊͙ ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ content: reader is blinded by angry disgust (confused horniness) :3 to realize she has a fat crush on this losery nerd, abigail anderson. after a few flirty exchanges/teasing by reader during a study sesh, it leads to sneaky sex..fingering (r!receiving,) top-ish!abby + almost getting caught!!? cute bittersweet ending :3

┊͙ ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ author's note: the characters are over 18 dw :P,,,smart girls are so underrated...intelligence is so sexy??! i love nerdy abby sm, anyways i made dis shit super long…sorry man…but enjoy!!

abby arrived at your house. it was an April evening, meaning—it was finally warming up. you chill on your bed, window open with the cool breeze as the sun sets, every pink object in your cute room glimmering. you scroll on pinterest, petting your pet cat. she purrs, loving your familiar aroma. life is good, you’re freshly showered, cute pj set on and hair blow dried all cute. you sigh, throwing your phone beside you, deciding you want a snack. you hop off your silky bed and make your way down the hall to the stairs. as you reach the bottom, the doorbell rings. damn it. she actually came. your mom signed you up in the tutoring club at school because of your flunking grades caused by cheerleading. backpack full with textbooks slung over her broad shoulder—braid all tidy and flannel snug and well buttoned up. your mom sets down whatever she's cooking and scurries from the kitchen to the door. she creaks open the door, "hello—?" abby inhales sharply, adjusting her posture, standing tall with a friendly smile. her glasses awkwardly sit half way down her nose and with a little push of her thick fingers, she adjusts them, "I'm here to help—uhm.." abby looks in, catching your frozen frame suddenly turning, hair bouncing and socks sliding, attempting to sneak back up the stairs.

"Oh! You must be Abigail! Come inside!" your mom grins widely, waving a hand sweetly forward. abby steps inside, her huge stature and boots creaking the wooden floor, "Missy! Get back here!" your mom laughs, glancing over at you with a playful glare. defeated, you walk down dejectedly with a groan.

a scowl forms on your face as you walk up to abby. her physique is insane. an absolute tank. you avoid her eyes because for some reason…she pisses you off. your mom speaks, "Snacks are in that pantry, water is near—“ she continues talking expressively, the classic overexaggerated hand movements a mother would use as she's simply giving abby the run of the house. abby seems only to be half-listening as you catch her gaze flicker to your pajamas. fuck, your cheeks flush. your lacey tank top with the cursive writing of "bossy" hugs your figure in an alluring way. it's accompanied with your cute cleavage showing... you nod, turning to your mom, attempting to agree with whatever the hell she was saying. your own eyes gawk at abby's arms and thighs. shit—you realize abby's eyes linger to your bottom half, your pretty short shorts and plump thighs. you nervously push your hair behind your ear, glancing at your mom.

you could tell abby's taking in your body from how she inhales roughly, trying to snap out of it. abby accidentally catches a whiff of your intoxicating perfume and hair heat protector... shit, this was a bad idea.

"I'll leave you girls to it!" your mom rests a hand on abby's shoulder, making her jerk to reality, "and—Welcome Abigail. Hope you can help this silly dork study well for her math test tomorrow!" your mother chuckles adorably as she walks back to the kitchen, pace quick to check what was in the oven. both you and abby watch as she leaves, the air is so thick, making it hard to think.

you turn to abby, eyebrows furrowing. you grow angry for how she makes you feel. your cheeks burn. her—this fucking quiet loser who reads during class 24/7, hangs out with other gym rats & lame nerds, eats alone at lunch with her nose buried in her sketchbook and watches your cheer practices with her stem homework on her lap, is standing in your house right now.

wait—you wince at your own words realizing how...bad you feel for her. ugh-what? you hardly speak to her. abby has only ever exchanged more than a billion glances with you for like ever. but, the way she looks at you can tell a whole story. her gorgeous blue eyes, fierce eyebrows and soft lips. she seems so mysterious. honestly, someone that pretty shouldn't seem so alone all the time. what? yuck-! she's just a pathetic nerd! you’re a popular cheerleader. you blink with an irate swallow. abby stares down at you, her voice gently rude, "studying for a math test isn't that fucking bad," she sighs disappointedly, shaking her head, "wipe that dumb frown off your face, come on." abby rolls her eyes, pushing past you, her strong arm brushing against your chest as leads herself up the stairs.

your mouth gapes in confusion with how she somehow brushes you off. you. a super hot cheerleader in the flesh! you, baffled, follow pursuit, your socked feet padding on the stairs. abby is already walking down the hall, entering you room. "hey-!" you whine, catching up, suddenly embarrassed about her seeing everything in your room.

she steps inside.

the pink walls covered with white & pink posters of your interests, stuffed animals cover your bed, makeup scattered all over your vanity—beside it, a huge mirror decorated with pictures of yourself and friends.

your cat yawns, suddenly noticing abby, meowing at her tiredly. she squeaks over, hopping off the bed, greeting abby with face rub on her calf. abby looks so out of place. but—somehow...she looks really good in here. the contrast makes your heartbeat flutter. you kinda… like it. what—ew!? her? out of everyone…? well… abby looks over her shoulder at you, her voice making your cheeks heat up, "she's so cute. what a pretty cat."

you fluster, your mind racing at the stupid innuendo and the way she simply looks. abby’s strong nose is so attractive. fuck, you never really noticed, or—never took the time to look at her since the fact she won half the academic awards in the school always made you fume. you hated how smart she was. you didn’t even really understand why that was. but—that random dirty thought confused you, making your thighs rub together. why the fuck did i distort a simple sentence? you shake your head with a giggle, "t-thanks."

abby steps towards your vanity, setting her bag down on the frilly seat, her strong hand gripping the bag handle tightly, "you mind if I put this here?" your breath catches in your throat as you nod anxiously, "yeah-sure, that's okay." you sigh, feeling overwhelmed with the ache in your stomach. you close your eyes, walking over to your bed.

"grab your textbook and notebook, okay?" she softly asks, her demeanor seemingly calm. turning her back to you, she rummages through her bag, discreetly glancing at you one last time—eyes taking you in, shyly. you roll your eyes at her words. you're alone and she wants to do math? fuck no. wait, what?

you hop on the edge, laying back, rubbing your eyes as you try to assess your noisy brain.

this nerdy hunk is in your room right now.

you sit up abruptly, eyes wide at your own words. this nerdy...WHAT? you blink at your thoughts, staring down at your short painted nails now on your lap. abby's rummaging through her backpack for a pencil and eraser. hmm. i mean...she doesn't actually seem that losery. she seems to take care of herself. you glance up at her, her physique clearly being taken care of. abby’s back is turned to you. shoulders beefy and neck strong. god, you rest your eyes shut, thinking. shit...her back is kinda...hot. fuck.

she works out, you know that—you've seen her exercise. sometimes, in the early mornings when you go to the gym, you catch her there all the time and maybe you go extra early on certain days just to see her, her sweaty face and neck, body always in a compress shirt, a drastic comparison to her flannels and casual t-shirts.

damn. you bite your lip, reminiscing. man, has she always been this hot? hmm.

"hey." abby's standing in front of you, her voice making you jump and eyes shoot open. she looks down at you with an agitated glare, "come on." her head nods to your desk, your notebooks and textbooks sitting all messily. your breathing relaxes as you smell her pine cologne. god, she's actually so...handsome.

you raise an eyebrow at her. “abby.”

your voice hitches, realizing you’ve never really ever spoken to her. or even said her nickname everyone calls her. it feels weird.

“what?” she sighs, handing you a pencil. “can we work?” her head cocks to the side, annoyed, resting her weight on one hip.

you got all her attention. talking to her for the first time. well damn. you decide to...play around a bit. because fucking hell, this hunk is in your room.

and she's hot.

you don’t like her because she is hot for a nerd.

shit, you wanna know what she tastes like.

you shake your head no.

abby's eyes squint with confusion, a look of disgust crosses her face, "what do you mean, no?" abby's voice is stern.

you smile mischievously, tilting your head, changing the subject, “what do you do for fun?" you lay back on your elbows, sighing, feeling more confident because you know how timid she is. you know your tits rest teasingly because from her angle—they must look so good.

"what-?" she chokes with a chuckle. you bite your lip with a sing-song voice, "answer me."

"i'm not here to discuss silly hobbies." abby groans, looking away, rubbing her neck, nervously, “i volunteered to help you study.”

your grin grows, need growing. slowly, you lift your foot, resting it on her thigh teasingly.

"how much can you bench?" you laugh sensually, staring up at her through batted eyelashes. abby's face softens as she raises an eyebrow at the caress, glancing between you and your leg.

“a lot, right?" you ask under your breath, huskily with cheeky grin. abby's gentle eyes glow glassy with curiosity.

"y-yeah," abby stutters as her eyes bore across your body, her frame uneasy. she rubs her shoulder, embarrassed. a girl has never talked to her this long.

abby doesn’t talk to girls that much.

because...there’s only one girl on her fucking mind.

your scent. your face. your smile. ugh. she can get a fucking toothache thinking about how sweet your laughter is.

abby's watches your silly cheer practices for a reason.

she’s alone in a room with you, trying to be this chill calm person…but—she’s freaking out in her head wildly at your outfit.

fuck, she volunteered for a reason.

unbeknownst to you, abby’s been in love with you for years.

her hearts aches every time she sees you with that gang of popular kids, wishing, she was amongst them.

when she reads, she’s always stealing glances at you, daydreaming about you and her being the main love interests in her romance books.

when she hangs out with her stupid gymrat friends, all she talks about is you. her friends always give advice on how to talk to you! although, abby ignores half of it because she's scared of even looking at you...

when she sketches during lunch, she’s illustrating nature that reminds her of you. writing poems about you. drawing your features.

when she sits at the stands during your practice, she loves hearing your giggle as she completes her insane calculus equations, admiring your charming playfulness as you play around with your friends.

there are days where she wishes she could talk to you.

abby hates how different you are. how you hang out with those shitty jocks and those snakey motherfuckers in cheer.

she sits alone at lunch and fucking daydreams about you walking over.

abby loves working out for a reason. it calms her nerves because, shit—it’s better than crying for hours about how she’s incapable of simply approaching you.

abby knows how sweet your soul is. she knows beneath that mean exterior, when you're with the right people, you shine. she watches you from afar, constantly feeling like a creep. she’s a little ashamed.

worst of all—she hates every stupid boy that speaks to you.

like during valentine’s day, abby was so tempted to buy you flowers, leaving them on your desk with a handwritten letter confessing her love.

but…when rumor spread you already had a valentine, she felt empty.

abby wants you. wants to hold you by the waist. wants to hold hands as you walk to class.

…so naturally, when she heard this opportunity of helping you for the end of the year, she took it!

abby’s got a chance of getting to introduce herself before the year finishes and before college starts...she only reasoned you could bond over the summer.

fuck, her heart swooned imagining being in a room with you.

alone.

abby’s face contorts into anxious interest because—you're enchanting. god, laying beneath her like this...in this piece of clothing? her mouth goes fucking dry. she licks her lips swiftly, eyes scanning your angelic features. she attempts to play it cool as if her fucking underwear, boy shorts, aren’t getting moist. shit, this is her wet dream.

of course abby fantasizes about fucking you.

she becomes so bright red imagining it—eating you out in the locker room…fingering you in the bathroom...and her favorite—strapping you in her bedroom late at night.

even if she gets a glance from you during class when she’s ovulating…

her shy nature is quite drastic from her thoughts.

she’s pretty fucking kinky.

loving the idea of public sex to bondage.

she always brushes it off because they’re all fucking fantasies anyway...

abby’s head spins realizing how you know nothing about her but she knows everything about you.

she feels pervy. almost gross how you don’t know what’s going on in her head.

abby gulps heavily, shoulders visibly tensing, thinking about how good you’d taste. her freckled cheeks turn a bright red, attempting to shake off the sudden thoughts.

"you're strong, right?" you mock, your tone sultry. still propped on your elbows, you throw your hair over your shoulder, allowing your cleavage to now be completely visible.

abby nods obediently. you beam widely, eyes fluttering close, devilish smile spreading across your face, "are you a virgin, abigail?" her eyes widen, gaze peering intensely into yours.

"why do you wanna know?" she quietly questions, eyes almost desperate.

"oh...well." you start, rolling your eyes, "from the amount of times you’ve come to watch my cheer practice, I wonder if you've fucked anyone on the team." you chuckle, nonchalantly lean up to sit, pulling up your tank top, bouncing your tits for a second—clearly on purpose.

her gaze bashfully avoids yours, self-conscious, realizing how bad that sounds. she fidgets with a notebook in her hand, mindlessly bending pages, “none of those girls are interested in me.” abby claims pathetically, eyes wandering your walls, “and, i’ve-i’ve never…had sex.” she shamefully admits, ogling at her shoes, then—back at you.

fuck, the way she said she’s never had sex—almost sounds like she’s telling you she wants you as an option.

damn it. you feel your panties dampen from the tension.

“why haven’t you?” you scrunch your nose, kindly taking abby’s hand and guiding her to sit beside you on the bed almost like a lost puppy—she obeys, her huge frame jostling the bed.

shit, abby’s brain is short-circuiting because well—you’ve never been this fucking close. abby is mesmerized by your silky skin and the way your pretty lips move. she’s so pathetically drawn to you.

“i-…” abby begins with a deep breath—however, you suddenly cut her off, leaning in, admiring her gorgeous features, simply inches away,

“you’re so hot, abby. no girl ever wanted to fuck a cute nerd like you?”

abby’s dead silent, mouth gaped, eyes big, miserably tainted by arousal. this entire time she’s been trying to fight it.

…but the way she can smell your breath unlocks a need so vicious inside in her.

your eyes linger to her lips, gaze dropping to take in all of her body. finally—you realize why you hate her.

“ever wanted to get fucked by a cheerleader?” you whisper, a cocky grin on your face, “because i sure as hell wanna get fucked by a nerd like you.” you move forward, hand on her thigh, lips ghosting over hers.

abby holds back a whimper, nodding desperately.

your eyes glaze with lust as you move in, lips gripping hers.

abby practically melts into the kiss, pretty lashes batting shut. fucking hell, she wants to scream and jump around—but all she does is moan gently with a growing grin, savoring your candy-flavored lipgloss.

her hand wraps in your hair, tangling with the softness she’s always wanted to become familiar with. you groan against her plump lips as you feel how roughly her mouth moves against yours.

abby seems so passionate, it's so insanely hot, like—you know you’re getting wetter. abby’s tongue pushes past your lips, exploring your warmth. you moan softly into the kiss, fueling her motives further. her hand holds your waist, gripping your sweet flesh, allowing herself to move on top of you. you fall back gently, lips still grasped like your lives depend on it. you hear abby kick her shoes off, moving further on the bed. she’s above you, caging your body in, you did not know you’d love this as much as you currently are.

you whimper pathetically into her mouth, realizing—maybe hating her all this time was fucking idiotic.

abby, herself, groans into your mouth as she begins frantically unbuttoning her flannel—but first…she takes off her glasses. fuckkkk, nothing has ever turned you on as that just did. she places them on your nightstand as she continues kissing you so harshly, making you feel like you’re suffocating. but fuck—you love how eager she seems. maybe this is perfect. maybe she's perfect. you pant, gently helping abby pull her flannel down her shoulders. your hands move up the white shirt that was beneath her flannel, probing her warm waist.

you were so ridiculous, shit, you could’ve had all this a while ago.

abby grips your head roughly, pulling your hair tightly, cocking your face harshly against hers. the pain makes you wince with a loud moan, smiling against her lips. your soft hands push up abby’s shirt.

she takes the hint and completely pulls it over her head, lips unhooking for a second. as she throws her shirt on the ground, within that second—you miss her. you've never felt like this with anyone. is this what real lust feels like? you lean up towards her, bravely wanting to take the lead and fuck—her warm arms engulf you, pulling you on top of her, making your cheeks glow with excitement. abby’s wearing a pretty white sports bra, the brilliance against her skin makes you desperately want to see what she looks like without it.

however—abby’s hands probe up your shirt. you nervously pull back, “i’m-i’m not wearing a bra.” you flush bright pink, confused why you said that, so what!?!?

you understand suddenly. you're nervous. oh. no one's ever made you this nervous. catching her gaze in the hallway always did.

abby smiles wickedly, “here.” she pulls over her sports bra and it feels like time stops.

shit.

you bite your bottom lip hard, almost drawing blood as you see abby’s small tits fall. you moan softly, eyebrows furrowing at the sudden meal laid in front of you.

you pull your own shirt over your head, blush faltering—becoming more confident from how kind she is. fuck, your tits bounce so perfectly. abby’s eyes become almost become predatory and you swear you saw her pupils dilate. you move up to kiss her again, tits grazing each others, making you quietly bite back a whine,

“good-…” fuck. abby stops herself before she finishes that fucking phrase.

she’s imagined this so many times, it almost slipped out. her heartbeat races harder as she turns shamefully scarlet, anxious eyes searching yours.

you raise an eyebrow, tilting your head with surprise, allured by what she was about to say. your gaze grows teasing—realizing what was to leave her lips.

fuck, you wanna hear her say it. this quiet nerd. shy hunk of a woman. your eyes glow with desire as you whisper sensually, “say it.” you softly bite her bottom lip teasingly, nodding with approval as you begin to kiss down her neck.

“good girl.” she groans roughly, eyes fluttering shut as you suck harshly on her neck.

you begin giving her a hickey she’s always deserved. you suck the skin meanly, making abby whimper. fuck—her hands grip your ass, pulling you closer. the movement of her hands on your thin shorts makes you baffled from how wet you became. she’s exactly your type. you dated jocks. no connection, though. but shit—her, she’s perfect. you smile eagerly against abby’s neck, pulling back.

your eyes, full of need once you see how fucking sexy she looks with a hickey, not a hickey—your hickey.

“fuck, abby, you look so good.” you whimper against her mouth, kissing her once more, craving her sweet spit. suddenly, abby’s strong hands slip down your shorts and panties sharply, the cool air hitting your ass, making you moan into her mouth. her bold move only got you wetter.

one of abby’s big hands moves down your waist, going past your bare ass—her fingers, middle and ring, slip against your sloppy hole.

“mmmmm, can i?” she whispers huskily in your ear, kissing your neck. you nod with a huge smile, pretty eyes closed, ready to savor the feeling. abby’s fingers plunge in so fucking easily from how damn soaked you were. “shit.” she hisses out, feeling how you tight you were.

you bury your face into her bare shoulder, panting with soft groans. your mom is still downstairs. abby's pace is slow but rough. her fingertips graze your g-spot, continuously slamming too well into you. “you feel so good,” she whispers, kissing your bare shoulder.

you lean up, placing your hands on her shoulders. your tits bounce gently as you ride her fingers. she increases the speed at your sexy sounds. you reach forward, gripping your headboard. her fingers stretch you out so fucking good. abby’s pink lips grip one of your puffy hard tits, making you breathily groan harshly, "shit—abby..."

abby grins with a confused expression, she mumbles, “can't believe i'm doing this,” as she sloppily sucks your other tit with a concentration you adore. fuck. your eyes roll back with a whimper, the two sensations driving you crazy.

her fingers pick up speed, suddenly pounding into you, making you gasp sharply.

"f-fuck..." you whine, grinding down on her fingers. one of your hands cheekily make way to her cargo jeans. abby chuckles darkly,

"you wanna?"

you nod desperately, leaning down to swap spit passionately, hands gripping the buttons of abby’s pants, making her kiss you rougher. however, shit—unbeknownst to the two of you, your mom’s coming up the stairs.

a sharp knock silences the room, a cheerful voice outside, “Girls!—“ you both freeze. eyes dead wide. your gaze flickers around, fuck—your panties and shorts are hung to your ankle, you and abby’s shirts on the floor. shit. "It's getting late!—Abigail, you should give me your mom's number so we can arrange playdates!" your mom stupidly chuckles, loving how she still treats you like you're eight.

you shake your head with a nervous gulp. fuck, this is terrible. abby's face is in horror, flickering from your chest, to the door and back up at you, fingers still gently pumping inside you. shit—you bite back a moan, “a-alright! be there in a second!" she stutters, "l-lemme gather my things!" her eyes move back to you, soft and full with displeasure. her eyebrows furrow with regret. your moms footsteps fade away down the stairs.

things were cut short. man.

but hey, you have a new reason to be pissed at her!

"you couldn't have come earlier, abs?” you ask with a pout, giving her a new nickname—something very fitting rolling off your tongue. you kiss her lips, sweetly savoring her taste. your hands grope her nipples teasingly, playing with them with a grumble.

"s-sorry…” she sighs against your lips, genuinely feeling bad. her fingers slip out slowly.

she looks just as disappointed as you.

you whine pathetically, missing her fingers already. fuck. you mumble against her cheekbone, hugging her. “damn it, abbyyyy.” abby kisses your cheek, her voice soothing, “i know, i know…” she comforts, cuddling you back, your bare chests touching each other as they’re meant to be.

she pecks your nose, gripping your hips, moving you off her. you’re practically tossed to the side! you really weren’t, you’re just fucking dramatic..

you roll over with a bratty sigh and slump on the edge of the bed. abby leans down to grab her shirt off the floor, handing yours sweetly in the progress. your pretty eyes bore up at abby’s bare upper torso as she swiftly pulls her white undershirt over her head, her tits disappearing. you pout dumbly once more, tugging your tanktop back on and pulling your shorts up. abby grabs her glasses from your nightstand, pushing them back up her pretty nose.

you scan the room, eyes falling on her sports bra on the bed.

“abs, you forgot to put this on.” you grab it, chuckling preciously. abby tilts her head with query as she walks over to pack her bag, smile growing as she watches you hold her bra, never imagining this situation happening ever.

you bite your lip with a mischievous smile as you think of something silly, “can i keep it till next time?” a pink blush sprinkles your adorable eager smile.

abby can’t say no.

“yeah. t-that’d be..” she nods, buttoning her flannel with an embarrassed grin. you shake your head with a giggle, “but that means i should give you one of mine!”

you scurry to your drawer, the top littered with today’s clothing. you select it, prancing back up to her, handing abby your flowery lacey push-up bra.

her eyes glimmer with lust, holding your bra in her hand. abby’s head spins—still wondering if this is a dream. she tucks it in her bag with a bright red blush, looking almost grateful.

abby leans down, slipping her combat boots on. you admire her, yourself, feeling grateful for taking this chance with her. you never should’ve disliked her.

you grab her hand, speaking gently, really showing you’re not as intimating as abby truly thought,

“i can walk you to the door, abby.”

abby’s arm jokingly nudges your shoulder, “alright, pretty.”

~~~ ⚢ ~~~

you lead abby down the hall with your hands interlocked.

once your mom comes into view, you let go, not because your mom’s homophobic—more like, you wouldn’t want her to know her daughter’s not studying and you know...then have her request a tutor who’d actually teach her…yuck!

“abs will be going now.” you giggle with a suspicious glint, reaching the bottom of the stairs. you reminisce what you both did earlier, fixing your hair nicely as if nothing ever happened. your hand brushes up against abby’s as she nods to your mom, walking to the door, “thanks for having me.”

abby glances at you, almost longingly—which makes your chest ache.

you inhale, attempting to feel okay. you’ll see her tomorrow. your mom scrambles to the door, unlocking it hastily with a kind smile, “Alright, goodnight, Abigail. Hope you have a safe drive home!” your mom’s demeanor is friendly as always. she waves you over to say goodbye to your guest, you know, the one you didn’t want to come over?

you stumble up to abby who’s now standing in the doorway, her stature—incredibly hot and her face, so cute!

“thanks.” you glow pink, biting back a huge grin, cherishing this view till you see it tomorrow at school.

“you’re welcome.” abby teases right back, scanning your figure—making your heart swoon.

your eyes watch each other for a second longer than expected, somehow painting how you miss each other already.

abby turns, her pretty braid swaying as she walks down the pathway. the cool night air seemingly bids her farewell as well. your soft gaze locks onto her as she makes her way to her truck. you know your attraction is showing on your face and—gladly, your mom isn’t noticing or she’d most definitely make fun of you.

abby waves to you, her big hand in the air as she opens her car door accompanied with her huge smile—making your heart feel full.

you wave back playfully, your own pretty smile, wide.

you and your mom walk back inside, shutting the door.

the warm house makes you realize you might have a big ol’ crush. well, you’ve had a big ol’ crush, your silly ass just didn’t notice.

“So, what was it like having a little tutor?” your mom chuckles, walking back to the kitchen to grab a handful of peanuts she was snacking on.

“oh, it was…it was cool.” you sigh longingly, missing her. you adjust your shirt, trying to think of positive thoughts. your spirits are higher than before…since…realizing that stupid angry hole in your heart is gone. it just needed to be filled with lesbianism from a sexy nerd.

“It had to be more than just cool, sweetie.”

“alright, alright, mom. it was fun-!”

you roll your eyes jokingly, going back up the stairs,

“it was just a stupid study sesh.”

~~~ ⚢ ~~~

wait damn i lowkey loved writing this……shall i make a part two??!!!! probs right? cuz like nerdy abby has my heart !!?!?

edit: ANDDD here’s the second part of this story! = part two!!

[nekonaps0]

Not sure if you would want to write this or not but first years turned into animals? Platonic if possible. Please and thank you. I understand if you don’t want to write this. I understand it’s weird.

Who’s the good boy?

✦characters: first years

✦gn!reader

✦(So chaotic so weird! Love it! Don’t worry sweetheart that’s a safe space to be weird ✨)

Ace Trappola

You found him lounging on your bed, sprawled on his back with one paw over his face like some dramatic prince.

“Ace?”


“Meoww.”


“...Of course you’re a cat.”

He was an orange tabby, smug and lazy… but his eyes gave him away. That mischievous glint, the twitch of his tail whenever you scolded him. It was so him.

Ace kept knocking things off your desk. Pencils? Gone. Teacup? Smashed. Your dignity? Barely hanging on.

But whenever you left the room, he'd follow you, brushing against your legs, purring like a motorboat. You even caught him curling up on your pillow when you weren’t looking.

“You're lucky you’re cute,” you muttered one night, wrapping a blanket around his small frame.


“Meoww.” (Translation: Duh.)

The morning he turned back, he was still curled up on your bed, now fully human and using your pillow.

“...Did you miss me, or what?” he grinning.


“You licked my cheek to wake me up... and your breath smelled like tuna…”


“No proof!”

Deuce Spade

You were halfway to class when a blue eyed puppy barreled into your legs and nearly knocked you over. It whined and pawed at your shoes until you picked it up and realized from the awkward, sheepish look that it was definitely Deuce.

He tried to act like a tough guard dog at first, barking at anyone who got too close to you. But his little tail wagged every time you praised him, and when you gave him belly rubs? He rolled over immediately and made little happy snorts.

You even caught him trying to “guard” your dorm by sitting on your windowsill and growling at all the squirrels.

“You're supposed to be a delinquent, not a lapdog,” you teased as he licked your cheek.

When he finally turned back, he sat there on the floor with wide eyes and pink cheeks.

“Thanks for taking care of me. I-It wasn’t weird, right? I wasn’t... uh... weird stuff too much, was I?”

You just laughed and handed him a dog biscuit.

“Old habits die hard.”

Jack Howl

You weren’t too surprised when Jack became a majestic white furred wolf. Tall, proud, and very, very awkward and he clearly can’t turn back.

He refused to step foot in your dorm at first, choosing to sit guard outside like a silent protector. But when the cold night rolled in and you coaxed him inside with warmth and quiet words, he slowly curled up on the rug near your bed.

You fed him meat, brushed his thick fur (which he tolerated with dignity), and even made him a makeshift collar with his name on it and when you put that on him… you get a pretty annoyed glare.

Jack followed you everywhere, always just behind you, always watching. And when you stumbled on the stairs one day, he immediately caught you with his body.

“Even as a wolf, you’re still the most dependable guy I know,” you chuckled.

When he transformed back, kneeling beside your bed with hair tousled and eyes wide, he murmured

“...Thanks for trusting me. And sorry for chewing on your bed leg…”

“YOU CHEWED WHAT?!”

Epel Felmier

He was so fluffy. And so mad.

“Epel...? You’re a bunny?”


“Squeak!” (Translation: This is humiliatin’.)

Tiny puffball of white fur, with lavender eyes full of rage. You made the mistake of cooing at him, and he thumped his back foot in protest. But you could tell—he appreciated the soft bedding, the constant attention, and the carrot sticks (even if he pretended to refuse them).

You caught him staring longingly at your TV remote and realized he was trying to leap up to watch some movie. You lifted him to the couch and sat with him through the whole thing.

“You’re kinda cute like this, you know.”


“Squeak-squeak!” (Translation: Ah swear I will bite you.)

When he turned back, you found a flushed, grumpy Epel clutching the carrot plush you bought him.

“If you tell Vil I sat in yer lap, I’ll deny it till I die.”


“Don’t worry. I have pictures.”


“Y/N!!.”

Sebek Zigvolt

You’d barely opened the door when a high pitched bark exploded in your face. A tiny green furred pup stood there yapping at you with ferocious energy, tail wagging like mad. You blinked.

“Sebek?”

He barked again clearly offended and kept jumping in place, trying to assert dominance despite being the size of your shoe.

You tried to pick him up, and he squirmed. But when you scolded him and told him to behave, he whimpered and sat down obediently.

You wrapped him in a towel, gave him water, and listened to his little yaps whenever anyone came near you. He somehow managed to lecture other animals while being a third their size.

You caught him standing guard on your desk at night, making little huffing sounds as if he were guarding royalty.

“You’re really trying to protect me… even now,” you whispered, brushing a hand through his fur.

When the magic faded, he transformed back mid-bark—and froze, blushing hard.

“H-Human! I demand you erase the memory of me sitting in your lap and everything at once!”

You just smirked. “Not a chance, Sebek. But don’t worry—you were adorable.”

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

[romanteacism]

Sworn to You mood board Knight Aemond x Princess Reader

Your knight, Aemond, who was always by your side, no matter how much you tried to bribe him, he will not fall for it. He was always trailing you, refusing you to be out of sight, not because of duty but because he simply needed to be around you.

You knight, Aemond, who will always savor your scent whenever you are near him. Who would always find an excuse to touch your skin, may it be him offering his hand as you walked down the stairs or him wrapping his arms around your frame whenever the measliest of threats arose, disguising his passion as protection.

Your knight, Aemond, who would always stare down and intimidate any suitor of yours. Trailing closely behind as you tried to get to know them, always quick to go in between and meddle when he felt you were warming up with any lord or prince. Unable to stomach seeing you grow agreeable with your courtships.

Your knight, Aemond, who was always there the second you called for him. It does not matter if he has barely rested or eaten; the moment you send for him, he will be rushing down the castle halls, tending to your needs, no matter how insignificant or even frivolous they are. 

Your knight, Aemond, who would always listen intently to your babbling. Nodding along as you tell him your encounters for the day though he already knew because he was always by your side. Occasionally indulging you with his silver-tongued quips as he would sometimes be the one to share with you the latest gossip in court. 

Your knight, Aemond, who had been growing quite obvious with his affection for you. Sending you small tokens and flowers. He would often utilize the lie that the gifts were sent by an unnamed lord when, in reality, they all came from him. 

Your knight Aemond, who knew fully well that yearning for you would make no difference because whatever love you two would have for each other would be a love that would be denied and could not be, for how could a knight ever deserve a princess? 

Your knight, Aemond, who would settle to just being your sworn protector just as long as he had you near. Because as dreadful it was to see you be bound to another, nothing would compare to not having you near him; at those moments when he stood by your side, he indulged himself with a fantasy and pretended that you were his. 

Masterlist: The Hunt ; Night Off ; Neglectful Jealousy ; Devious Forgiveness ; Innocent Touch ; Awkward After ; Please ; Missing ; Pretense ; Leave ; Lonely ; Fallen ; Run ; Gloomy ; Questions ; Particular Risk ; New ; Love ; Someday ; North ; Scarlet Heart ; Space ; How Did it End?

[suhosieun]

i don't think we're ready to talk about the reality of suho's life after waking up

i know we’re all overjoyed to have suho back, but i don’t think we’ve talked enough about the trauma and maladjustment he’s going to face post-coma. like—this boy hasn’t used his body in two years. his legs are going to feel foreign. his balance, stamina, even the act of walking up stairs, it’s all going to overwhelm him. he’ll get frustrated trying to open a jar, drop something, and just break down. and what’s worse is the emotional weight that comes with it.

everyone around him has moved forward. sieun has new friends. they’re seniors now, talking about college, about leaving. and suho? he’s stuck two grades behind. that would mess with him. he’d feel left behind, lost. he’ll get jealous of the bond sieun shares with the others, even if he doesn’t want to be. he’ll cling to sieun like a lifeline, terrified when he’s not around, throwing a tantrum after finding an acceptance letter for sieun from a foreign university.

he'd flinch at loud noises & get triggered when fights break out. he'll snap at his grandma for fussing over him, then immediately crumble with guilt, because it used to be him taking care of her, not the other way around. he used to be strong, cheerful, the protector, and now he feels like a burden. and worst of all, he hates himself for it. hates that sieun, who once relied on him, now has to see him like this—a shell of who he used to be.

and sieun? he’d be shattered. watching his guardian angel struggle, the person who once pulled him out of the darkness now drowning in his own. but he’d stay. he’d hold suho through the breakdowns, reassure him through the jealousy, quietly adjust to the mood swings, and never make him feel like too much, even when it is. because sieun loves him too much.

[invincibledc]

OMG I NEED MORE JACK QUINN IM GNAWING AT MY CAGES AHHH ONESHOTS, STORY, KIDNAPPED TROPE ANYTHING AHHHG

۶ৎ𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐧’ 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫

────୨ৎ────

𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐍 (𝐎𝐂) 𝐗 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐁𝐑𝐎!𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑

ᯓ★ Synopsis: it’s sweet when he cares for you, and then it’s sour when he wants to be funny.

ᯓ★ Genre: fluff oneshot

ᯓ★ Info: this OC is an OC I’m written for my own amusement. He’s the son of Harley Quinn and joker. Full name, Jacklyn Oswald Quinn. I got bored. Reader is the twin brother of Damian, but Damian is the older twin of course. Im only a writer so you can imagine who he looks more like but all I can is he is handsome canonically in my head and anything. Boy’s crazy but handsome.

ᯓ★ Word count: 826

It was a dark and stormy night, and you were dressed in matching slick pajamas while Jack wore grey sweatpants and a white shirt. You were at his condo, a refuge for him away from his father, The Joker. Or just from the world itself.

He sat entranced by the TV, oblivious to your approach with a bowl of popcorn. His blonde hair was damp, clinging to his forehead, and his blue eyes were lost in thought.

“Jack?” you called, breaking through his distraction. A smile instantly appeared on his face as you took a seat beside him, placing the popcorn on your lap. “Yeah, puddin'?” he responded in his raspy voice. But you shot him a look, one that immediately wiped the grin off his face.

“You’re not fine,” you stated firmly. “Just because you're the Joker's son doesn’t mean you have to be like him.” Your tone was soft yet resolute, and he leaned into your fingers as you brushed through his hair.

“Of course, baby…” he replied, his eyes softening with sincerity. You could see the love in his gaze as he pulled you onto his lap, wrapping his arms around your waist.

Your thighs pressed firmly together as you locked eyes with Jack, exuding confidence. He leaned in and gave you a quick peck on the lips.

“Alright, what movie are we watching this time?” he asked, diverting his attention to the bowl of buttery popcorn.

“I’ve picked The Exorcist. It’s the perfect choice for a dark and stormy night,” you declared confidently, wearing an assertive smile. Jack couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You’re so cute, baby.” As you got off his lap, he started playing the movie you selected. You settled next to him with the popcorn bowl in your lap. The movie began, and Jack rested his head on yours, his hand securely on your waist as he took a generous handful of popcorn and stuffed it into his mouth.

When it gets to the part of Regan spider walking down the stairs with blood in her mouth, you can't help but cringe. In fear, of course, it was so scary, a spider walking down the stairs, blood dripping from her mouth.

Jack noticed this, inside he was smirking, realizing this was such a good boyfriend moment. On the outside, he frowns, pushing your head into his neck.

There you smelt his woody scent, you also felt his breathing pattern. “It's okay baby, I'm here,” he says softly, his natural hoarse voice soothing you.

Throughout the movie, you were relaxed against the blonde-haired male, as he was your protector from the scares of the movie. Finally, it was midnight, Jack yawned, stretching his arms whilst looking at you.

“You good, babe?” he asked, noticing your calm demeanor, even though he knew your feelings about horror movies despite being the one to choose them.

“I’m completely fine,” you replied confidently. Jack raised an eyebrow and stood up from the couch, prompting you to look at him directly.

With his hair finally dry, he added, “If you say so, I’ll be in bed waiting for you. Just wash the bowl, alright, love?” His tone was soft yet firm. Nodding, you stood up and walked to the kitchen, hearing his footsteps as he headed upstairs.

You prepared to wash the bowl, filling it with soup and warm water while scrubbing away the remnants of butter. You hummed a soft tune, deliberately ignoring the rain tapping against the window of the condo.

The room was dimly lit by the moonlight, creating a surprisingly relaxing atmosphere despite everything else. Once you finished with the bowl and dried your hands, you made your way to the stairs.

As you approached the bedroom, you halted, noticing the door was ajar. Jack wasn’t fond of closed doors—or even slightly open ones. You raised an eyebrow and approached the door cautiously, calling out his name with a mix of concern and curiosity.

“Jack?” you said softly, pushing the door open. The bed was untouched, and your heart raced as you scanned the room, anxiety creeping in.

“Jack?!” you exclaimed, ready to turn and run when suddenly, Jack popped up.

“Boo!” he exclaimed, catching you completely off guard.

You didn't even scream, you punched him in his face on instinct, even flipping him onto his back. Your killer instinct ended before you could kick his head in, he yells for mercy with a slightly scared but amused face.

“Babe! It's me! Calm down puddin'.” he says. You scoffed and got off him. “Jack. That wasn't funny.” Jack couldn't help but laugh, standing up and dusting himself off.

“Sorry sorry, but you lied about being fine. You can't even handle scary movies,” he says, going to hug you, but you swiftly move from him.

“Nah uh. Nope, you’re sleeping on the couch,” you said firmly and laid in the bed, ignoring the kicked puppy face from Jack who whined.

“Noooo cmonnn…”

“Nope.”

[neocrias]

kind gestures svt would make to their s/o without them realizing

warnings: descriptions; headcanons; gn (mostly) reader self insert;

pairings: svt x gn reader

gender/aus: super fluff

Scoups

Protecting you from getting hurt.

He's a protector… period. We all know that already. He's the leader of seventeen, the leader of carats, this man is used to taking control of the situation and it's almost instinctive for him. Cheol simply doesn't notice the way he puts his hand on the edge of the table so you don't hit your head when you get up. He doesn't notice the protective hand on your back, urging you into the first seats. He notices even less the way he wakes up in the middle of the night because he knows you're moving around in a strange and potentially dangerous position for your back. It's just natural.

Jeonghan

Brushing or drying your hair.

On those occasions when you've had a bad day, your head is throbbbing and all you want is to be looked after by your boyfriend, you can bet that Jeonghan will do it. He'll follow your hair care routine step by step to the letter. Jeonghan has such a light hand that you fall asleep whenever he's gently brushing your hair. When your entire post-bath routine is complete, he'll arrange your sleeping body on the bed, he'll lie down next to you and you'll sleep together until the next day.

Joshua

Stands behind you when you're wearing skirts or shorts to avoid any accidents.

If you need to climb stairs, he'll be right behind you. If you need to pick something up, he'll hold the end of your skirt between his fingers so that it doesn't ride up. If you drop something on the floor (and Shua can't get down faster than you), he'll take a few steps to the side to cover you. It doesn't matter if you're wearing protective shorts or not, Joshua doesn't want you to become the object of evil looks or comments.

Jun

Does never admit that he hates your musical taste.

You will turn on the speakers before cleaning the house or just for vibing around and Jun already know what's coming. He absolutely hates the loud songs you listen to, but he'll never actually say it. If he's really invested into pampering you, he'll even nod and say “wow, that one's good, babe”. He doesn't like the songs, but he loves seeing you dance to them happily. Eventually becomes attached to the music because it reminds him of you.

Hoshi

Put on or take off your shoes.

He will do this without hesitation. The minute you leave the house, Hoshi will take the shoes from your hands, kneel down in front of you and help you put them on. If it's a pair of sneakers, he'll make an extra effort to tie the laces. If they're heels (especially with straps) Hoshi will make a point of dragging his nails along the back of your calf, just because he thinks it's funny to see your leg fail. He's a prankster.

Wonwoo

Google the things you mention.

If Wonwoo doesn't know about something you like or something you've mentioned, he'll research it later. He wants to be a part of every part of your life and uses these little details to reaffirm his love for you. So if there's a new skincare routine that you're dying to try, Wonwoo will research everything about it so that he can accompany you when you buy it, or help you when you apply it, or nod when you explain the function and order of every. single. product. You were talking to him about some "primer" and "foundation" stuff that he's not aware of? He'll google what it is as soon as you finish.

Woozi

Solves your problems so you don't have to worry.

Woozi might do bureaucratic things for you. You know those grown-up things that nobody wants to do? Like, you need to call the bank? He's already got the phone in his hand. Do you need to make a doctor's appointment? He'll do it for you. Filing your taxes or making the grocery list? Don't worry about it.

Dokyeom

Carrying you.

Dok is a strong boy, like he has big arms. And he likes it when you look impressed by that, it's a surprise every time you remember that your adorable puppy boyfie is actually a HUGE man. So every time you're coming back from an event, or somewhere you've had to wear heels, Dok will lift you up bridal style and carry you to the car, then to the door of the house, or to the bedroom…

Mingyu

Cares about your food (what a surprise).

If you order something with strawberries, he'll order it too just to give you his strawberry, because even though he likes strawberries, you like strawberries more, so he doesn't mind going the rest of his life without eating strawberries. If you're eating while walking in the street and Mingyu sees that you're struggling to eat while holding a can of soda, he'll hold it out to you and keep offering it to you until you've finished eating. Mingyu just wants to see you well fed, because he's happy to see the little weeds you make when you eat something you really like.

Minghao

Discreet PDA when you're tired.

Minghao will discreetly intertwine his pinky in yours if he notices that you're starting to feel overwhelmed in a crowded environment, he'll be your main object of comfort. In fact, he'll do this even if you only really like physical touch, despite not being the biggest fan of pda. It's the perfect blend of affectionate and discreet.

Seungkwan

Takes high care of your health.

He is always the first one to ask you how your doctor appointment went out. He buys you vitamins and cooks you proper meals. Boo is just always reminding you of drinking water and stretching when you've been sitting in the same position for a while. He just can't stand the thought of you in pain or ill. He WILL come up with the "your body is a temple" talk, you can't escape it.

Vernon

Gives up some of his habits for you without you realizing it.

He's said to be mostly a disorganized person, but as soon as you start living together, he'll subtly change a few habits to make you comfortable - especially if he knows you like things tidy. So don't be surprised if he starts folding both of your clothes and making your bed in the morning for the next few weeks. He'll do these tiny little things. He probably wouldn't turn into Mr. Cleanest overnight, but he would do these little tasks for you.

Dino

Carrying your bags and opening doors.

Dino never lets you carry anything, or open doors or anything that requires using your hands. You don't have to because, after all, he's there to do all that. It doesn't matter if it's light, if it's heavy, if it's just your cell phone… he'll carry it for you. No argument there. And yes, I'm totally influenced by that video of his. If Dino sees you with anything in your hand, he'll rush to take it from you. If you need to call the elevator, he'll rush to do it before you even think about it.

[aspenmissing]

ᴀʀᴄᴀɴᴇ: ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴄʏ

ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ | ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ | ᴊᴀʏᴠɪᴋ | ᴠᴀɴᴅᴇʀ | ꜱɪʟᴄᴏ | ᴊɪɴx || ꜰʟᴜꜰꜰ/ᴀɴɢꜱᴛ-ɪꜱʜ

6419 ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ || ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: ɪɴꜰᴇʀᴛɪʟɪᴛʏ (ᴊᴀʏᴠɪᴋ'ꜱ ᴘᴀʀᴛ). ꜱᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴛ (ᴠᴀɴᴅᴇʀ'ꜱ ᴘᴀʀᴛ)

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴅᴇᴀ ᴏꜰ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ʜᴀꜱ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ꜰᴜʟʟ ꜱᴛᴏᴘ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɪᴅᴇᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ.

ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ | ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ | ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ | ᴠᴀɴᴅᴇʀ | ꜱɪʟᴄᴏ | ᴘᴏᴡᴅᴇʀ/ᴊɪɴx

JAYCE

It had been a week or two since Y/N first realized she was pregnant. The realization had come as a shock, and though she'd kept it a secret, she had no idea how to tell Jayce. He had been busy with his work, his duties at the academy, and everything in Piltover that required his attention. She had just been trying to find the right moment, but it was harder than she'd anticipated. The news was life-changing, and she didn't want to burden him, even though she knew deep down that he would support her no matter what.

That morning, Y/N had run errands while Jayce stayed at home, catching up on his own work. As always, he had a few things to tidy up around the house — a rare moment where he was actually in their shared space, instead of off in his lab or at the academy. While sorting through some boxes under the bed that hadn't been touched in ages, Jayce kicked one of them over in an attempt to make space. It was one of those old cardboard boxes that Y/N had shoved there on a particularly busy day, not realizing what it contained.

Curious, Jayce pulled the box out from under the bed, his brow furrowing in confusion as he cracked it open. Inside, amidst old papers and forgotten mementos, were the unmistakable signs of something he hadn't expected — a pregnancy test, along with a paper that confirmed the news. Jayce's breath hitched as he stared at the test, eyes scanning the familiar words that he hadn't yet fully processed. The letter was clear, a confirmation that Y/N was indeed pregnant.

His heart raced, and for a long moment, he was paralyzed by the enormity of the situation. How long had she known? Why hadn't she told him? He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for not noticing, for not being more aware of what was happening. He had always considered himself a protector, a supporter, but now he felt as though he was falling short.

As he sat there holding the pregnancy test in his hand, he heard the sound of the door opening downstairs. Y/N’s voice floated up the stairs, and Jayce quickly placed the test back in the box, not wanting to overwhelm her.

Y/N walked in, her usual warm smile fading a little when she saw the tense look on his face. “Jayce?” she asked, her tone uncertain as she approached the bedroom door.

He was sitting on the bed, the box still resting beside him. “Y/N,” he began, his voice soft but full of emotion. “We need to talk.”

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat. She had no idea what was going on, but she could feel the weight in his words. She closed the door behind her, stepping into the room, her eyes glancing at the box on the bed. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice a little shakier than usual.

Jayce took a deep breath, looking up at her. The look in his eyes was a mixture of love, concern, and something else — something unspoken. He gestured to the box. “I found this... while I was cleaning.”

Y/N’s face turned pale as her gaze followed his hand to the box, and she instinctively felt her stomach churn. She knew what was coming. She hadn't expected him to find out like this.

She swallowed hard, gathering the courage to speak. “Jayce, I... I wanted to tell you,” she began, stepping closer, “but I wasn’t sure how. I didn’t know if it was the right time, and—”

“Y/N…” Jayce interrupted softly, his voice trembling slightly. He stood up and took a step toward her, gently placing his hands on her arms. “You’re pregnant.”

Y/N’s lips trembled as she nodded, feeling a lump rise in her throat. “Yes,” she whispered, her eyes filled with both fear and hope. “I found out a couple of weeks ago. But I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Jayce stared at her for a moment, the reality of it all sinking in. Then, without warning, he pulled her into a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around her like a protective shield, and he kissed the top of her head gently. “I’m sorry I didn’t know sooner. I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “But you don’t have to worry, Y/N. We’re in this together.”

Y/N blinked back tears, her arms wrapping around him in return. She had been so afraid that he wouldn’t be happy, that he wouldn’t understand. But his response was more than she had hoped for.

“I’ve just been... so scared,” she admitted, her voice muffled against his chest. “I didn’t want to burden you. You’ve already got so much going on with everything in Piltover. And I didn’t know if I was ready for this... for a baby.”

Jayce pulled back slightly to look at her, his hands gently cupping her face. His eyes were filled with nothing but reassurance and love. “We’ll figure it out, Y/N. Together. There’s no perfect time for this, but I know one thing — I want to be here for you, and for our baby. And we’ll make this work.”

Y/N couldn’t help but let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. Her heart was lighter now, the weight of her fears melting away in the warmth of his embrace.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Jayce smiled down at her, his hands still gently holding her face. “You never have to thank me for this, Y/N. We’re in this together — all three of us.”

And in that moment, as the two of them stood together, embracing the new chapter in their lives, Jayce knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them as a family.

VIKTOR

It had been a few months since Viktor and Y/N had that heart-to-heart conversation. It was one of those difficult talks, where emotions were laid bare, raw, and vulnerable. Viktor, ever the stoic, had admitted his deepest fears—his illness, the mutations, and the possibility of passing it on to any future children. Y/N had been hurt at first, but understanding. She supported him fully, respecting his concerns, even though a small part of her longed for the family they could have had together. She never pushed him, knowing how deeply his fears ran.

But Viktor could see how much it pained her. He noticed the quiet longing in her eyes, the way she would sometimes linger on children in the streets of Piltover when they passed by. It tore at him, but he couldn’t shake the dread of what his illness could mean for their future. It was one of those battles inside him that he couldn't win, no matter how hard he tried.

Today, however, Viktor decided to take a short walk. It wasn’t about escaping the conversation—it was more to clear his head. The streets of Piltover were bustling with the usual activity, the gleaming buildings towering above him as the cool air filled his lungs. He walked with a slight limp, the click of his cane echoing in the otherwise busy street, but it was nothing Viktor wasn’t used to. The cane was a constant companion, the reminder of both his strength and his vulnerability.

As he passed a park, he spotted a young boy struggling to tie his shoe laces. The child was hunched over, a prosthetic limb attached to his left leg. The boy’s hands were shaking slightly as he fumbled with the laces, frustration evident on his face. Viktor slowed his pace, watching from a distance. He expected someone to approach the boy, maybe offer some help. But no one did. The people walking past just ignored the boy, too focused on their own lives to stop and lend a hand.

Viktor hesitated, his heart tightening at the sight. He knew all too well what it felt like to be overlooked, to be seen as different or fragile. But there was something in the way the boy carried himself—something in his attitude—that caught Viktor off guard. The boy was struggling, yes, but he wasn’t defeated. His face was determined as he attempted again to tie his laces, gritting his teeth but never backing down. Viktor waited, thinking that maybe the boy’s perseverance would inspire someone else to step forward. But when no one did, Viktor sighed and made his way over.

“Need some help?” Viktor asked softly, his voice gentle, yet there was a certain steadiness in it.

The boy looked up at him, startled but not fearful. His eyes scanned Viktor’s cane before meeting his face. “I got it,” the boy replied confidently, his lips curling into a small grin. “I just need to focus. It’s not so hard, you know?”

Viktor tilted his head, surprised by the boy’s confidence. “No one should have to do everything alone,” Viktor said, taking a step closer. “Sometimes, we all need a little help.”

The boy paused, then nodded, his hands still trembling a little as he finished tying his shoes. “Yeah,” he said, his eyes meeting Viktor’s again. “But it’s not about letting it stop you, right? It’s a hurdle. A hard one, but not impossible.”

Viktor’s heart fluttered at the boy’s words. There was something about the way he viewed his disability—not as a burden, but simply another challenge to overcome—that struck Viktor deep. It was a perspective Viktor hadn’t considered in a long time. For so long, Viktor had feared passing on his illness, his disability, to a child of his own. He had worried that they would see it as something to be pitied, something to be feared. But this boy—this child—had a strength that Viktor hadn’t realized children could have.

“I think you’re right,” Viktor said quietly. “A hurdle is just something to jump over.” He smiled gently at the boy, feeling a shift inside him, a sense of peace that he hadn’t expected.

The boy beamed up at him, clearly proud of his accomplishment. “Exactly! You just have to keep trying, even if it takes a few tries.”

Viktor chuckled softly, his mind racing. For the first time in months, the dread he had carried about his own illness, and what it might mean for a child, started to fade. He realized that with Y/N’s love, with his own understanding and strength, their child could grow up just like this boy—confident, determined, and ready to face whatever life threw their way.

The realization struck him like a wave, and Viktor suddenly felt lighter than he had in a long time. Maybe having a child wasn’t about protecting them from every hardship; maybe it was about teaching them how to face those challenges with grace and strength.

He turned, making his way back home, the cane tapping steadily against the cobblestones as he thought about the future. His steps felt more purposeful now.

When Viktor arrived home, Y/N was sitting on the couch, flipping through a book. She looked up at him with a smile, her warmth filling the room. “Hey, you’re back early,” she said, setting the book down and patting the space next to her on the couch.

Viktor stood still for a moment, staring at the floor, his hand resting on his cane. “Y/N,” he began, his voice steady but softer than usual. “I’ve been thinking a lot about our conversation from before. About… the future.”

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, the same knot of worry tightening in her chest. “Viktor, you don’t have to—”

Viktor cut her off, holding up a hand. “I’m ready to try, lásko. I’m ready to start a family with you.” (Love)

Y/N blinked, her breath catching in her throat. Her mind spun, processing his words. She wasn’t sure if she’d heard him correctly. “You… you mean it?” Her voice was trembling, full of disbelief and hope.

Viktor’s gaze softened, and he took a slow step toward her. “I’ve seen something today. A boy with the same struggles as me, but he didn’t see it as a burden. He saw it as just another hurdle to overcome. And I realized… our child won’t see it as a curse. With our love, they’ll know how to overcome whatever life gives them. I believe in us."

Tears welled in Y/N’s eyes as she stood up quickly, her breath hitching in her throat. She rushed toward him, wrapping her arms tightly around his chest. “Oh, Viktor,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Viktor gently placed his cane aside, his arms wrapping around her in return, holding her close. He could feel the weight of the moment, the weight of their decision, and for the first time in a long while, Viktor felt something he hadn’t expected: hope.

Together, they would face the future—one step at a time, just like the boy had shown him.

JAYVIK

The topic of motherhood had always been a sensitive one for Y/N. She had come to terms with her infertility a long time ago, but that didn’t make it any easier to talk about. She hadn’t discussed it much with Jayce or Viktor; it was a topic that hung between them, unspoken, but understood. It wasn’t that she didn’t want children—it was more that she had accepted that being a mother wasn’t in her future. And though she had come to terms with it privately, it didn’t mean the idea of motherhood didn’t tug at her heart from time to time.

Jayce and Viktor knew about her infertility. They had been with her through the difficult conversations, through the quiet moments when she wrestled with her feelings. Both of them had been understanding, supportive, and kind, but Y/N couldn’t help but feel the emptiness at times, especially when the idea of raising a child came up. She had always dreamt of motherhood, of nurturing a little one, but the reality was different. Still, she cherished the love and connection she had with Jayce and Viktor, and that was enough—for now.

One crisp afternoon in Piltover, Y/N found herself walking through the busy streets of the Upper City, a faint breeze carrying the scent of fresh bread and the hum of city life. The grandeur of Piltover was on full display—high towers, merchants selling their wares, and children playing in the streets—but amidst it all, something caught her eye.

Two children, a boy around twelve and a girl of about seven, were weaving through the crowd with startling agility. The younger girl, bubbly and chatty, kept the attention of an unsuspecting shopper while the older boy, quick as a flash, swiped a few coins from the merchant’s stall. Y/N watched, intrigued, as the boy casually stashed the pilfered goods in his coat and slipped away, with the little girl trailing behind him, never once looking guilty.

Y/N’s lips quirked into a smile, admiring their street-smart energy. They moved with the kind of confidence that could only come from years of surviving the rougher edges of the world. It was clear they were looking out for each other, and despite what they were doing, there was something endearing about their partnership. The older boy’s protective nature over the younger girl, his quick thinking, and her carefree chatter—they made quite the team.

She decided to follow them from a distance, curious to see where they were headed. After a few turns and alleyways, they eventually reached a small abandoned building, a makeshift hideout. Y/N hesitated, watching them settle in, clearly alone—no parents, no guardians, just the two of them.

The boy caught her gaze as she stood at a distance. He narrowed his eyes, clearly cautious but not immediately hostile.

“What do you want?” he asked, his voice gruff, but his stance more defensive than angry.

Y/N took a few steps closer, raising her hands in a peaceful gesture. “I just wanted to see how you two were doing. I noticed your, uh, skills in the marketplace.”

The girl, who had been picking at something in her hand, looked up with wide eyes and shyly glanced at Y/N. She fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve before speaking in a soft, hesitant voice. “We’re just trying to get by,” she murmured, clearly a little nervous about the encounter, but still unbothered by their situation.

The boy shot her a quick glance, before looking back at Y/N. “We don’t need any help. We’re fine.”

Y/N smiled softly, kneeling to their level. “I’m not here to force anything. I’m just offering food."

The two children exchanged a glance, and after a few moments of hesitation, the boy finally nodded. “Food’s always good.”

Without another word, Y/N reached into her bag and pulled out a couple of loaves of bread, some fruit, and a few slices of cheese. The children devoured the food quickly, barely speaking between bites. It was clear they were used to going without, and Y/N couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

Over the next few weeks, Y/N found herself coming back to the children regularly. She would bring them food, warm clothes, and the occasional book. Gradually, their wariness of her faded, though they never fully let their guard down. They had learned to survive on their own, and trust wasn’t something they gave easily. But over time, Y/N became more than just a stranger—she became a quiet presence in their lives, offering what little comfort she could.

Y/N knew Piltover was a city of opportunity, but it wasn’t always kind to the ones who didn’t have a place to fit in. The children reminded her of that—young, alone, and scraping by on whatever they could get.

One day, after a particularly long day in the markets, Y/N found herself thinking more about the two kids. There had to be a way to help them—Piltover had more to offer, and they deserved better than a life of pickpocketing and hiding out in abandoned buildings.

The next time she came to visit, she made a decision. She would take them back to her home, introduce them to Jayce and Viktor, and see if they could help these kids build something better for themselves.

When Y/N walked into the study later that afternoon, she was followed by the two children, who were a little more apprehensive than usual but still carrying themselves with a quiet sense of pride.

“Jayce, Viktor,” Y/N called out as she stepped inside, smiling warmly at the two men. “I’d like you to meet Mia,” she said, gesturing to the younger girl, “and Luka,” she nodded at the older boy. “They’ve been on their own for a while. I’ve been bringing them food and making sure they’re alright, but I think Piltover might be the place for them.”

Jayce and Viktor looked up from their work, both of them pausing as they sized up the two children. Viktor raised an eyebrow, his analytical gaze taking in the situation, while Jayce’s face softened with concern.

“They’ve been through a lot,” Jayce commented, his voice gentle.

Y/N nodded. “They’ve got a lot of potential. They just need a little guidance. I think, with some help, they could really thrive here.”

Viktor stood from his chair, walking toward the children. He regarded them for a moment before speaking. “You’ve been through more than most adults would care to face. But if you’re willing to learn, Piltover has room for you.”

Luka, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up. “And if we don’t want to?” he asked, his voice filled with defiance but not hostility.

Y/N crouched down to meet his eyes. “You’ll always have a choice. But I’m offering you a chance to build something better. Not for me, but for yourselves.”

Jayce offered his hand to Luka, who looked at it for a long moment before taking it, Mia following suit, though she was still a bit shy. Their hands were small, but their grip was firm, as if they were already beginning to understand the power of what they were being offered.

As Y/N stood back up, a sense of fulfillment washed over her. She had always wondered what motherhood might feel like, but now she understood—family wasn’t just about blood. It was about love, care, and making space for those who needed it most.

In that moment, with Jayce and Viktor by her side, she felt like they were building something together—something more than just a future for them, but for these children, too. And for the first time in a long while, she believed that family, in all its forms, was within reach.

VANDER

The past few months had been an emotional rollercoaster for Y/N and Vander. It was a topic that weighed heavily on both of them—one they had discussed openly and at length. The decision had been made to try for a child, but time and again, they found themselves coming up empty. The disappointment stung harder with each failed attempt, and each time, it seemed to take more from Y/N than she was willing to admit.

Vander, ever the strong and steady presence in their home, tried to offer comfort, his hand on her back or holding hers tightly in quiet moments, but even his unwavering support couldn't quell the sadness that began to weigh heavily on her heart. With each passing try, Y/N found herself retreating further into herself. She hated feeling this way, especially when there were so many children who needed love and care, but the dream of having their own kept lingering.

Vi and Claggor, of course, understood more than Y/N often gave them credit for. They had seen the way she had been quietly grieving, though she tried to hide it. It was clear that Y/N and Vander had wanted this, and though the children were young and maybe couldn’t fully comprehend the specifics, they could sense the tension.

Mylo, ever the oblivious one, simply couldn’t understand why Y/N seemed so upset. “Why’s she so sad, Vander?” Mylo asked one day, genuinely perplexed.

Vander paused for a moment, his heart aching as he looked down at his son. He knew Mylo wasn’t trying to be insensitive—he was just a child. "Sometimes, Mylo," he began softly, kneeling down to meet his son's eyes, "people want something that they can’t have, and it makes them sad."

"But she’s not sad because of us, is she?" Mylo asked, brows furrowed, still trying to wrap his head around it.

Vander smiled gently, his expression a mix of warmth and sadness. “No, son. Never because of you."

Meanwhile, Powder, ever the innocent and curious soul, had started to pick up on the shift in Y/N’s mood. She noticed how her mother figure’s smiles seemed more forced lately, how she spent more time staring out the window, looking distant. One afternoon, as Vander was sitting by the fire, Powder shuffled over to him, her small brow furrowed in concern.

“Vander,” she began, her voice small and unsure, “why is mama so sad all the time?”

Vander’s heart twisted at the question. He had been doing his best to shield the children from the weight of the situation, but Powder’s innocence had a way of cutting straight to the heart of things. He looked down at her, trying to find the right words.

“Well, Powder,” Vander started, his voice soft and steady, “sometimes people feel sad because they’re hoping for something, and it doesn’t happen the way they want it to.”

Powder tilted her head, trying to understand. “Is it because of us?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry. “Did we do something wrong?”

Vander quickly shook his head, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. “No, sweetheart. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just that sometimes, things take time. And sometimes, people just need a little while to feel better.”

Powder nodded slowly, not fully understanding but still trusting Vander’s words. She looked up at him, her big eyes filled with concern for the woman she loved so much. “Will she be okay?” she asked quietly.

Vander smiled gently, his heart aching for her innocence. “She’ll be okay, Powder. We’ll make sure of it.”

Powder stood there for a moment, her gaze lingering on the doorway where Y/N had been standing earlier. Then, as if an idea suddenly struck her, she reached up and hugged Vander tightly, her tiny arms wrapping around him with all the love she could give.

Vander held her close, feeling the weight of his own heart as he promised silently that he would do everything in his power to make sure Y/N found happiness again.

And then, the fifth time came.

Y/N had reached a place of quiet acceptance. After their last attempt, she and Vander had finally come to terms with what life had given them. They still had each other, and their love for the children they already cared for was enough to fill their hearts. They had made the choice to focus their love on the kids they had—Vi, Claggor, Mylo, and Powder—and make sure they had everything they needed. It was a quiet but powerful decision, one that gave them peace.

But life, as it often did, surprised them.

It was early one morning when Y/N felt the familiar nausea creeping up her throat. She dismissed it at first, thinking it was just another random bout of illness, but as the morning went on, it became harder to ignore. She ran to the bathroom, her heart pounding in her chest, and the moment she stood over the sink, she knew.

After taking the test, she sat on the edge of the tub, staring at the results in shock. It wasn’t just a glimmer of hope—it was real. The small blue line on the stick confirmed it. She was pregnant.

Her hands trembled as she stood up, the test still in her hand. She didn’t know how long she stood there, the weight of it sinking in, but eventually, she walked slowly to where Vander was, a mixture of disbelief and joy written all over her face.

"Vander," she called softly, her voice catching in her throat.

He turned from the window where he’d been looking out, the soft morning light playing across his face. He saw the look on her face and immediately felt a wave of concern rush through him. “Love? What is it?”

She didn’t say anything at first. Instead, she handed him the test, her eyes wide and hopeful.

Vander looked at it, his hands steady as he examined it, then slowly looked up at Y/N. His expression softened, a mixture of shock and something deeper in his gaze. “Are you... are you sure?”

Y/N smiled, a tear slipping down her cheek as she nodded. "Yes. I’m sure."

And in that moment, everything changed.

Vander crossed the room, his arms enveloping her in a tight embrace. “I’m so happy,” he whispered, his voice full of emotion. “We’re going to be parents again. I didn’t think it was ever going to happen...”

Y/N hugged him back, her chest tight with the overwhelming sense of joy and relief. “Neither did I,” she admitted, her voice thick with emotion. “But we’re going to be okay.”

Later that day, when the children came running into the room to greet their parents, they immediately sensed the change in the air. Vi looked at Y/N with a knowing expression, her arms open wide for a hug, while Claggor stood beside her, looking up curiously at Vander. Powder beamed, as if she somehow already knew what had happened.

“Are you okay, Y/N?” Vi asked, her voice gentle. She could see the shift in her mother’s demeanour. Y/N just nodded, tears brimming in her eyes as she smiled.

“I’m more than okay, Vi,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We’re going to have a baby."

Claggor’s eyes widened, and Mylo jumped up and down, excitedly. “A baby! That’s awesome!”

Vander looked down at Powder, who was staring up at him with wide eyes. She grinned, her excitement uncontainable. “Does this mean I’m going to have a little brother or sister?” she asked.

Y/N laughed softly, wiping away a tear. “Yes, Powder. You are.”

As Vander and Y/N exchanged a soft smile, surrounded by their children, a new chapter began for their family. One filled with hope, love, and the promise of a future that was theirs to shape. It wasn’t just the start of their journey into parenthood—it was the beginning of something even bigger. Something they had built together, with the love and strength of their family.

SILCO / JINX

The dimly lit office felt unusually still as you walked in, your footsteps echoing softly against the cold stone floor. The weight of the pregnancy test in your hand felt heavier with every step you took toward Silco’s desk. You placed it down gently in front of him, your fingers lingering on the edge as if unsure how to break the silence that stretched between you.

Silco was sitting in his usual spot, his gaze fixed on the papers before him. His sharp eyes flickered up at the sound of the test being placed on the desk, and for a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. He didn’t need to ask what it was. His expression shifted, unreadable, as he slowly reached forward and picked it up, his fingers brushing against the plastic.

You stood still, your stomach tied in knots, watching him closely. Silco’s gaze was locked on the test, his lips pressed together as he processed the moment, his usual calm and control slipping into something else—a flicker of uncertainty that he quickly masked.

"Pregnant?" His voice was steady, though there was a sharpness beneath it, a controlled tension that spoke to the gravity of the situation.

You nodded, swallowing hard as you spoke, your voice quiet but firm. "Yes."

The silence stretched again, heavy, filled with the weight of his thoughts. He placed the test back on the desk, his eyes not leaving it as if trying to make sense of the new reality that had just been dropped before him.

"I wasn’t expecting this," he finally said, his voice still calm, though there was an undercurrent of something deeper. "This changes everything."

You could feel your pulse quicken as you shifted, unsure of what to say next. "I didn’t expect it either," you admitted softly, your gaze dropping to the floor. "I don’t know what to do, Silco. Can we even give them a life here in Zaun? Can I even give them a life with everything we’ve built?"

For a long moment, Silco remained silent, his eyes moving from the test to you. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest, his posture thoughtful yet still unreadable.

"You know how I feel about children," he said, his tone quieter than usual. "They’re a vulnerability, a weakness. I never planned for this."

You hesitated, the uncertainty of your own feelings reflected in your voice. "I used to think I didn’t want children either," you confessed, your fingers nervously tracing the edge of the desk. "I thought it wasn’t in me. But... I think maybe it’s different now."

Silco studied you in silence, his gaze unwavering. His features softened slightly as he absorbed your words. "If this is something you want, if you think it’s right, then I won’t stand in your way. We’ll figure it out." He sighed deeply, his voice steady, though there was something almost compassionate in it that you rarely heard. "But we both know the risks. How easily everything could change."

You nodded, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on your chest. "I know. I just don’t know what it would look like... how it would change things between us."

His expression softened further, and he leaned forward, his eyes meeting yours with an understanding that made your heart skip a beat. "We don’t have to figure it all out now. Whatever you decide, I’m with you. We’ll face it together."

The words lingered in the air, and for the first time in a long while, you felt a sense of certainty. The future, though uncertain, didn’t seem as daunting with him by your side.

The air between you and Silco was thick with unspoken words when a shuffle from the hallway broke the moment. A muffled voice, familiar and filled with unease, echoed through the room. Your heart sank as you realized Jinx had been listening outside. She knew something was off, and she was about to confront you both.

The door creaked open, and Jinx stepped inside, her usual manic energy subdued by the confusion in her eyes. Her gaze immediately flickered to the desk, where the pregnancy test lay, its presence now casting a heavy shadow over the room. The colour drained from her face as she processed what she was seeing, and her eyes flickered between you and Silco, realization quickly settling in.

"Y-You're pregnant?" she repeated, her voice small, barely above a whisper. Her gaze flickered to the test on the desk, and then back to you, her face contorting in an expression that was a mix of confusion, fear, and something deeper—hurt.

You opened your mouth to say something, but the words stuck in your throat. You knew what this meant for Jinx. She was no stranger to being pushed aside, forgotten, and replaced. Her unpredictable nature often led to misunderstandings, but the one thing you both shared was a bond, a strange and unspoken connection. The idea that she might think this would mean the end of that bond broke something inside you.

Jinx took a step back, her hands trembling as they fidgeted with the edges of her shirt. Her voice wavered, the insecurity leaking through her usual bravado. "I—I don’t... I don’t know what this means," she stammered, her eyes flickering between you and Silco, her words faltering. "You won’t need me anymore, right? I mean, you... You’ll have the baby now. You’ll have your family, and... I won’t matter anymore."

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she quickly blinked them away, a brittle smile forcing its way onto her lips. "It’s fine," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I’ll just... I'll just go. It’s okay. I’ll stay out of the way. You don’t have to worry about me anymore."

A cold knot of guilt formed in your chest, and you moved toward her, reaching out to steady her. "Jinx, no. You’ll never be in the way. This—this has nothing to do with you being pushed aside." Your voice cracked slightly, but you fought to steady it. "I don’t want you to think you’re being replaced. You're not."

Jinx shook her head, her lips curling into a bitter smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "It’s always been that way, though, hasn’t it? People come, people go. You and Silco... you’ll have everything you need now. You don’t need someone like me. I’ll just mess things up." Her voice was barely above a whisper, as though she was trying to convince herself of the lie she was telling.

Silco, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of concern and patience, leaned forward, his voice cutting through the heavy air. "Jinx," he said, his tone more measured than before, yet carrying an undeniable firmness. "You think we would let you slip away so easily? You think you can just vanish because of something like this?"

Jinx didn’t meet his gaze, her eyes fixed on the ground as if she were afraid to hear what he was about to say.

Silco’s voice softened slightly, though still strong, like a quiet force. "You’re part of this—our lives. You’re not going anywhere, Jinx. You’re not a burden, and you’re certainly not going to be forgotten."

You stepped closer, placing a hand gently on Jinx’s shoulder, trying to convey the steadiness you wanted her to feel. "I don’t know what the future holds," you continued, your voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "But I do know that you’re a part of it. I don’t want to lose you. Neither of us does."

Jinx’s breathing hitched, and for a moment, it seemed like she might finally let the wall she’d built up come crumbling down. She glanced up at you, her wide eyes searching yours, as if she were waiting for a sign that this wasn’t a dream, that this wasn’t just some cruel joke.

"You’re sure?" Jinx asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her vulnerability laid bare. "You’re sure you don’t want to... forget about me?" She swallowed hard, her usual bravado replaced by the uncertainty that had been lurking beneath all along.

You nodded firmly, your hand tightening on her shoulder. "I’m sure, Jinx. You’re not a mistake. You’re not a burden. You’re family."

The words seemed to hang in the air for a moment, and Jinx stood there, her body tense as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. Then, slowly, her face softened, and the rawness in her eyes faded just a little. She looked at Silco, and then back at you, as though trying to reconcile the fractured pieces of herself that she had kept hidden away for so long.

After a moment, she cast a glance at the pregnancy test again, her voice still uncertain but with a touch of curiosity. "I don’t really know about this kid thing," she muttered, her words soft but full of confusion. "But... I can teach them stuff, right? Like... how to make cool things blow up?"

You laughed softly, the tension beginning to ease as Jinx’s mischievous spark returned. "Of course, Jinx," you said, offering her a reassuring smile. "You’ll be the best big sibling ever."

"Just... don't make the kid your partner in crime right away, alright?" Silco says, his tone unexpectedly gentle.

Jinx’s eyes lit up, her mischievous grin returning in full force. "Oh, no promises, Silco."

And in that moment, the storm seemed to pass. The air between you all lightened, and though the future was uncertain, you knew that you would face it together. As a family. No matter what.

[saltywritings]

Unsworn Protector ( Gwayne Hightower x Targaryen Niece! Reader )

Summary: The reader is sent to Old Town with Daeron, however, is left in an uncomfortable situation when her uncle finds her with a pillow.

Warnings: explicit smut under the cut minors do not interact, incest, age gap, reader has a pillow princess moment, oral (female receiving), penetration, Gwayne is giving sub vibes.

Word count: 3,728

The journey to Old Town was arduous and slow, a monotonous trek that seemed designed to drain one's spirit. Few things could be more disheartening than being sent to Old Town, a place that felt like exile. Your mother, the queen, insisted that sending you and your younger brother Daeron there was for the best, claiming it would build character—whatever that meant. Yet, you couldn't shake the feeling that she simply preferred not to deal with you. Sending you and Daeron away made it easier for her to focus on Aegon. Despite her intentions, you were frustrated by being uprooted from your home, all in the name of this so-called character building.

When the carriage finally arrived in Old Town, your eyes took in the sights as you traveled swiftly through the city. Having spent your entire life in King's Landing, Old Town seemed exceptionally small. You noticed the tall walls surrounding the castle, some sections near the gate clad in ivy.

"Finally, we're here," Daeron exclaimed as he rushed to the carriage door, eager to free himself from its confines.

With a mix of frustration and disgust, you pushed at your brother’s back as he deliberately blocked the carriage door, trapping you inside. "Daeron!" you shouted, your hands shoving at the coarse fabric of his shirt. "Let me out, you fool!" You struggled against him as he laughed, his mirth only heightening your irritation.

Suddenly, another voice cut through the commotion. "Come now, my prince. Let your sister out," it urged. Reluctantly, Daeron relented and stepped down the few stairs, finally freeing you from the confined space of the carriage.

As you finally freed yourself from the carriage, you realized the voice belonged to your uncle, Gwayne Hightower. Though many years had passed since you last saw him, you recognized him instantly. Stepping forward, your feet now firmly planted on the ground, you shot a sharp glare at Daeron, resisting the urge to shove him, before turning back to your uncle.

"Thank you, Uncle," you said with a small nod.

Daeron, looking bewildered, finally noticed Gwayne. "Oh—Uncle Gwayne. I didn’t recognize you," he replied, prompting you to narrow your eyes.

"I’m not surprised," you said. "You were but a babe the last time he visited."

"Indeed you were," Gwayne said with a warm smile. "I'm surprised you recognize me, Princess. You've grown as much as your brother."

He stepped forward, extending his hand toward you. You raised yours to meet his, and he took it gently, bringing it to his lips with a delicate kiss that conveyed a soft, caring warmth. Your eyes fluttered slightly as you looked at him, appreciating the affectionate gesture.

"You've grown so much," he remarked, turning his attention to Daeron.

"I'm certain I haven't grown that much," you insisted with a modest smile.

Daeron glanced at you, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and snorted. "Oh, trust me, you’ve grown—just not in height, sister," he mocked. Unable to restrain yourself, you gave him a small shove in response.

Your uncle watched the exchange, a faint smile playing on his lips, and shook his head with a soft chuckle at your sibling rivalry.

Gwayne shook his head with a gentle sigh, his gaze shifting to Daeron. "Now, nephew, I understand why your mother insisted on sending you here. One day, you'll realize the value of your sister's presence. Treat her with the respect she deserves," he urged, his tone firm yet compassionate. You cast a sidelong glance at your brother, a small smile playing on your lips now that your uncle had come to your defense.

Daeron responded with an eye roll, his demeanor defiant. Gwayne cleared his throat, his expression turning more serious. "I'll have your cousin show you to your room, Daeron," he declared, nodding towards him. "As for you, Princess," Gwayne continued, extending his arm toward you. "I will personally escort you to your chambers." You took his arm promptly, grateful for his support and guidance in this unfamiliar place.

Gwayne escorted you up the stairs and down a hallway to your assigned room. As the door swung open, you couldn't shake the feeling of entering a stranger's room. Though the space was well-appointed and fair, it lacked the personal touch of home. Sensing your unease, Gwayne spoke up as the two of you entered.

"This will be your chambers. My quarters are just next door," he explained, his voice reassuring. "Consider me your protector, close at hand." His words were accompanied by a small, comforting smile.

In that moment, you realized Gwayne's striking presence: his piercing blue eyes, chiseled jawline, and eloquent speech. His demeanor offered a sense of security that eased your nerves, prompting you to return his smile warmly.

"You are to be your sworn protector then?" you questioned, eyebrows knitting together as you stood somewhat puzzled. Gwayne couldn't help but chuckle softly as he shook his head.

"No, sweet niece. There's no need for that here," he reassured you gently, "but I promise to watch over you." His words carried a comforting assurance.

You nodded in understanding, your hand still linked with his arm. "Did my mother explain why she sent me here?" you asked, recalling her vague answers and insistence that leaving the Red Keep was in your best interest. Gwayne sensed your unease and took your hands in his with tender care.

"Niece," he spoke softly, "Your mother didn't want to send you away, but you're soon to be married—or at least betrothed. She thought it would be easier for you not to be uprooted from your home like many maidens are." His explanation caused you to look away, a mixture of emotions stirring within you.

"I don't want to be betrothed to a stranger," you confessed to your uncle, your hands still held in his. "The thought of belonging to a man I don't know, who doesn't know me—it frightens me."

Gwayne's expression softened at your confession. He released one of your hands and gently cupped your chin, guiding your gaze to meet his. His blue eyes held a depth of understanding as he listened intently to your words.

"Your feelings are valid, my dear. Many women share your apprehensions—I know your mother did," Gwayne said soothingly, hoping to bring you comfort. "Besides, not every lady finds herself betrothed to a stranger. Try not to let fear cloud your judgment until you've had the chance to know your intended," he urged gently, sensing he had eased your nerves.

"I'll leave you to rest now," Gwayne added, seeing your nod of approval. With that, he quietly exited your chambers.

As night descended upon Old Town, you tossed and turned in your sleep, consumed by an unrelenting yearning. The unfamiliar blankets and sheets, devoid of your scent, offered no comfort. Frustrated, you reached for a plush pillow, sitting up and clutching it tightly between your thighs. Slowly, you would rock your hips back and forth, pushing down your core with some friction to alleviate this frustration that burned between your thighs. Your eyes fluttered closed, your night gown slipping from your shoulder as your hips desperately humped the pillow beneath you. You thought of your uncle, you knew you shouldn't, and yet- you could not help but to think of how kissed your hand, the blue of his eyes, how he smelled of sage.

On the other side of the door, Gwayne awoke to a plaintive sound that he initially mistook for a cry. Even through the stone walls, the soft echo of his niece's distress reached him. With concern driving him, Gwayne rose from his bed, the urgency of his duty as her uncle compelling him. He slipped into a pair of pants and quietly left his room.

It was his responsibility to care for and protect her in this unfamiliar place, in the absence of their family. Moving with cautious steps, Gwayne approached her door. Normally, he would have knocked, but in his haste and concern, he bypassed this customary courtesy. He gently pushed the door open, making as little noise as possible.

What Gwayne had come face to face with made him freeze, his entire body tensing up as he looked to the figure of you, the princess, feverously humping a pillow. Your shoulder exposed and hard nipples showing through the sheer of the night gown. Your eyes were still closed as your hips rocked against the pillow. Eyebrows pushed together as soft cries left your lips. Gwayne was more than aware that he should not be there, that he should not be witnessing this, and yet he could not tear his eyes away.

Then you said it, "Gwayne." His name left your lips like a melody and it took one hush of his name to make him impossibly hard. To the point in stung and bulged from his trousers. It was then your eyes fluttered open, and in a few blinks they widened realizing that your uncle stood in the doorway. In a panic your hands grasped the pillow and brought it up to cover yourself.

"Oh, Gods. Princess, I'm -I'm sorry -" Gwayne barely managed to gush an apology as he had went fleeing the room, closing the door behind him as he went rushing back to his room. In the midst of his embarrassment he had been sweating, his heart racing as he stayed in the confides of his room.

He was still hard. Gwayne tried not to think about you. He tried not to think about how you cried as you humped your pillow or how sweetly you spoke his name but he could not.

Gwayne would wrestle with himself for nearly an hour, but at the agony of his own groin he could not contain himself. Gwayne would still be standing as he pulled his pants down, freeing his length as he took it in one hand.

This was wrong, this was so wrong.

And still, he began to pump himself to the thought of you pleasing yourself with a pillow.

I shouldn't be doing this.

He wondered how it would feel to be between your soft thighs, to have you be humping him.

He was almost there.

To have you scream his name instead of whisper it.

Gwayne would soon spill his seed onto the ground as his hand feverishly pumped himself to the thought of you. Gwayne would attempt to find sleep that night but had been unable to do so.

When the next day dawned, you anticipated a conversation with your uncle about the events of the previous night. However, it soon became apparent that Gwayne was actively avoiding you. He didn't join you for breakfast or supper, and your cousin took it upon themselves to entertain you with a tour of Old Town, while another cousin kept you occupied with needlepoint throughout the day. Despite your efforts, the entire day passed without a glimpse of him.

Returning to your chambers in the evening, a growing discomfort settled within you. You couldn't shake the feeling that Gwayne's absence was deliberate. Did he feel embarrassed for having found you in distress? Was he ashamed of you? These thoughts churned in your mind as you lay on your bed, staring up at the canopy for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, unable to endure the uncertainty any longer, you threw off the blankets and stormed out of your chambers. Determined, you strode purposefully to his door, bypassing the courtesy of knocking—after all, he hadn't extended the same courtesy to you last night. You entered his chambers with your face flushed with agitation.

Inside, Gwayne was not asleep. He sat up in bed, bare-chested with the blankets draped over his hips, revealing that he wore nothing underneath either.

"Princess, what are you doing?" Gwayne asked abruptly, his gaze flickering to the sheerness of your nightgown, which left little to the imagination. It was evident that your attire was not quite appropriate for a princess, but after what Gwayne had witnessed the previous night, your choice of clothing was the least of your concerns.

"You walked in on me last night and now you avoid me all day?" you questioned boldly, lifting your chin as you approached his bedside. Gwayne's hands tightened on the blanket, his discomfort palpable as you drew nearer.

"You should go," he insisted, attempting to avert his eyes from you.

"Why?" You questioned sharply as he approached. "Are you ashamed of me now?"

Gwayne shook his head, you had not yet noticed, and he had hoped you hadn't as he looked away.

"It's not that." he insisted quietly.

Your eyes looked down the look of anger seeming to melt from your face as your eyes noticed the bulge beneath the blankets. He was hard, trying to hide it, but failing to do so.

"Please leave." He was begging with all restraint he had. Gwayne could not even look you in the eye as he kept the blankets around him.

You stood there for a moment unsure how to approach but desire beginning to burn between your legs as you looked to him.

"Do you desire me, uncle?" You questioned moving closer to him as a hand gently touched his thigh grabbing a handful of the sheets he was using to cover himself.

"It is wrong- I should not." He said, answering your question without actually answering your question. It was enough for you, his grip tightening to hold the sheets in place as you carefully slid one leg up on the bed, allowing it to rest on one side of him. Gwayne showed restraint, but only little.

"Who says?" you questioned, eyes staring into his as he finally had enough gull to look at you.

"The Gods." he declared. "Common law-" he tried to say with some reason, the one thread of restraint still holding on within him.

"Fuck the Gods," You declared as your hand gave a gentle pull at the sheets. "Fuck Common Law-" He continued to hold on as you pulled. "And fuck me." you said nearly pleading.

Gwayne held the blankets for a moment longer as his eyes looked to you. "You are a maiden, are you not?" He questioned unsure in this moment based on your behavior.

"I am." you declared honestly as you looked to him.

"I can not deflower my own niece." He said allowing a moment of pride to shield him.

"I do not want my first time to be with some lord that I am married off to as a bargaining chip." You insisted nearly pleading. "I desire you, uncle and you desire me." You declared, his grip on the sheet loosening.

Gwayne battled with himself for a moment, but only for a moment, for his strong hands would reach for your face, pulling you gently to meet his lips. Your body pulled onto him as your lips met his. Gwayne kissed your lips with the hunger of a starved man, his hands moved to your night gown and pulled it up, parting his lips to discard it from your body leaving you exposed to him.

He wasted little time in pushing you down onto the mattress, allowing himself to rest above you. In the moon light he took in your bare figure, soon peppering kisses between the valley of your breast and down your body to your cunt. His lips would kiss down to your bud before he grabbed onto your hips. Pulling your thighs to rest on his shoulders as his face pushed into your cunt in a way a pillow never could. It was by this that you were already squirming, back arching at his touch.

Gwayne would not hesitate to allow his tongue to lay flat against your flushed sensitive bud, your hips pushing down slightly as he tried to keep you in place with his grip. Gwayne would lick slowly, tasting your virgin cunt as if it was a delicacy, something he was determine to savor.

Soft moans left your lips as his tongue continued to work against your dripping cunt. Gwayne was carefully when he inserted a finger inside of you. He did not dare to put more than one for with just one finger he could feel how incredibly tight you were. a realization that caused his cock to ache.

Gwayne would slowly pump his finger in and out of you as you moaned loudly, your hands becoming entangled in his long locks, and your thighs pushing shut against him. Gwayne wanted to question you, to ask how you were so sensitive, why you tasted so sweet- but he could not bring himself to remove his tongue if the king himself demanded it.

There would be a hot coil inside of you that would form, growing tighter, as your wet cunt clenched around his finger, and within a moment the coil snapped. A warm orgasm flushing over you as your thighs squeezed his head without mercy, soft tears fell from your eyes as you came down from your high. You were panting as your thighs loosened, Gwayne would pull his finger from you before sticking it in his mouth to suck in clean of your sweet juices.

The two of you locked eyes as you stared at one another for a moment. His hard cock pushed against the inside of your thigh as he debated if he should go through with this.

"We shouldn't." Gwayne gave a small fight once more for the sake of his honor and your own.

"Who would know?" You offered a simple excuse, hoping he would not declare the gods again.

"Who would know . . ." he repeated before he nodded. "You're right. Who would know." Gwayne reasoned as he grabbed his cock as he had carefully begun to move it against the wet folds of your cunt.

"You could drink moon tea after." he suggested again as you nodded in response.

"You're sure?" he asked again his blue eyes looking to you with tender concern but also the last bit of restraint he had in him.

"I am." You said as you pushed yourself down on him slightly causing him to groan.

Gwayne could wait no longer and therefore he lined himself up at your entrance and gently he begun to penetrate you, sliding into your wet cunt slowly.

Your back arched at the feeling of him filling you, he stilled, with only part of himself in you.

"More." You whined out in a demand as you waited for him to fill you completely.

"Patient, princess. Please- I do not wish to be spent so soon." Gwayne insisted, he had slowly begun to push into you. Your legs would soon tighten around his waist, forcing him to put the rest of himself in. A moan came from the both of you as he would soon begin to move slowly.

"Gods, you're so tight." He groaned as he slowly thrusted in and out of you at a slow rate, doing his best not to spill himself inside of you this early.

Gwayne would allow his thumb to return to your swollen bulb, rubbing it softly as he continued to fuck you at a slow and passionate rate. Despite the slow thrust he pushed deep into your warm velvet walls each time, enjoying the feeling of you squeezing his entire length.

Gwayne would continue at this slow rate as you cried out, soon lewd sounds of your wetness would fill the room mixed with your moans.

"I want to be on top." You pleaded, his hips stilled with hesitation. "Please." you begged.

Gwayne hesitated, but even he could not resist. He pulled out of you slowly before allowing his body to fall onto the bed. You wasted no time climbing on top of him and taking his length in your hand. Carefully you lowered your hips onto him.

"Fuck." Gwayne would groan at the sight of you above him. The vision of a Targaryen princess nude above him, as your hips begun to feverishly bounce on his cock. It took everything in him to not spill himself in you at this very moment.

"Princess, please." He pleaded his hands grabbing on your waist to try and slow you down but it was no use, you used him. Moving your hips quickly as you looked to him.

"Hold on, uncle. I'm almost there." You would insisted in a moan as you continued, the feeling of him throbbing inside of you as you fucked yourself on him was enough to let out a cry of pleasure.

"Please get off . . . "He begged, "I shouldn't . . . not inside of you." He insisted more as he tried to steady your hips, though as you moved he relented.

Gwayne could not hold himself back any longer, his fingers dug into your flesh as he came deep inside you. You continued as he filled you with his warm seed. Allowing yourself to fuck every last drop inside of you, peeking your own orgasm that caused Gwayne to grit his teeth. You would roll your hips over him, riding out your high before falling helplessly on the bed next to him. His seed spilling onto your plush thighs.

Gwayne panted as he had looked over to you with soft affection. "I'll have the maester make you moon tea in the morning." he insisted as you looked over to him with a small smile.

"Perhaps if you seed me with your child mother would be forced to marry me to you." You offered looking to him next to you in the bed.

"Or she would have my head." he offered back.

When morning came you were nearly limping as you joined Daeron at the breakfast table, he seemed somewhat restless as he picked at the eggs on his plate.

"There you are." He declared looking to you with dark shadows surrounding his eyes.

"You look like shit." You declared to him with no one else around, he looked to you with somewhat of a resenting look.

"Yeah, well if you're going to fuck our uncle again could you at least keep it down." Daeron declared.

You froze at his comment, you were going to muster up some kind of denial but Daeron spoke again.

"My chambers are on the other side of Uncle Gwaynes." He informed you.

[shaunasrabbit]

Late Night Visit | QZ!Joel x F!Reader

Explicit. Minors DNI. Part IV.

Summary: You and Joel go to Bill and Frank's.

Tags: No use of y/n, canon-divergence (Bill and Frank are alive because I'm not killing my gays during pride month), reader is afab and uses she/her pronouns (also wears a dress for like 2 seconds), some physical descriptions (has a bush because #bushnation and is curvy if you squint), age gap (reader is in her late 20s, Joel is in his 50s), alcohol consumption, bratty reader and mean!Joel, dom!Joel, verbal degradation, like one tiny little sexy smack, choking, spit, dirty talk, pussy pronouns, use of good girl and other pet names, oral (f!receiving), spit, light biting, finger sucking, unprotected piv, the pullout method (don't try this at home), f!masturbation, uhhhhh sexy use of duct tape lol and subsequent breath play, cum eating. If I missed any tags, please let me know!

Word count: ~9.7K

Read on AO3

A/N: I was having a fuck ton of fun writing this chapter and I didn't realize how long it was getting so I'm sorry or you're welcome idk. It felt necessary to dive into the reader's backstory a little as so many things were brought up for her at Bill and Frank's. I hope you enjoy getting to know her a little more. I definitely did. Also, a massive thank you to everyone who has been keeping up with the series and reblogging/commenting. I appreciate you so much. Lightly proofread this myself, so my apologies for any typos. All on me. As always, likes/reblogs/comments and feedback are welcome. Thank you for reading! Divider by @/saradika-graphics

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After sleeping on the cold, hard forest floor for a night, you’re thrilled when Joel says there’s an old Girl Scout camp to crash at.

The two of you have been trekking to an unknown location for a day or so and you’re ready to just get to wherever you’re going. Joel’s being reticent about sharing details of the run you’re on which is out of character. He’s generally open about the logistics of a job, but you’re not pushing it, too desperate for the work after being blacklisted by Wade. Plus, you get to escape the crowded, stressful QZ for more than a day or two. Any amount of time away is a real treat.

The sun is tucking itself behind the horizon by the time you get to the camp. Tiny, wooden cabins create a perfect circle around a firepit, filled with ash and a few charred animal bones. A pang of nostalgia hits you like a punch to the gut.

“You know, I used to be a Girl Scout,” you whisper as you do a perimeter check alongside Joel. Talking helps you not think about the chance of seeing infected. You passed through a small town a few hours ago and had a run in with two clickers, but both of you came out entirely unscathed. 

Joel hums before exhaling sharply through his nose. “Must not have been a real good one,” he retorts before putting his pistol back in its holster. “I’ve seen you tryna tie a knot.”

You roll your eyes, trudging up the steps to a cabin. With a soft grunt, he follows you up the short flight of stairs and you can hear his knees crack. It’s a miracle he can fuck you as hard as he does considering his age. Joel unlocks the door with a key that he fishes out of the inner pocket of his tan leather jacket. This must be a regular route for him and that calms any wariness you had about the job.

“Yeah, no. I kind of sucked,” you admit as you follow him inside. The corner of Joel’s mouth twitches and you wonder if it’s a hint of a smile. “I quit when I was like…eight, maybe? Nine? Worst Brownie in my troop. I barely had any badges.” 

“Doesn’t surprise me.” 

When he turns his back, you give him the middle finger and another eye roll. 

There’s a part of you that’s still pissed about what happened last week with Wade. Still embarrassed that Joel acted like your protector, like you couldn’t handle yourself, but there’s a bigger part of you that’s so turned on by the idea of Joel wanting to fight someone on your behalf, like he was telling Wade not to fuck with what’s his. You know you’re not his, not even sure you’d ever want to be, but each night for the last week, you’d play with your clit while thinking of Joel coming into your apartment with bloody fists and fucking you, smearing it all over you. Marking you. Your cheeks get hot just thinking about it.

Joel locks the door and shoves a rusty chair under the handle although it’d be useless considering the two massive windows in the cabin. At least the glass is intact so you’d hear someone, or something, coming. You scan the room. Two sets of dusty bunk beds, a wooden chest, a couch with torn upholstering, a dresser with peeling paint, a narrow nightstand adorned with two candles with crispy wicks. Joel lights the candles before heading to the dresser, pushing it to the side with great force and grit teeth. He reaches down and lifts the loose floorboard, pulling out a hunting rifle with a scope and a box of ammo. You watch as he loads the magazine, his face lit by the warm candlelight. 

“We’ll—”

“—sleep in shifts. I’ll take watch, you take watch. Yeah, yeah. I know,” you finish for him, irritated that he bothers explaining shit you already know.

Shooting you a dirty look, eyes narrowed and brows furrowed, Joel sits on the couch and spreads his legs wide. You think about crawling onto his lap, but restrain yourself, taking a seat next to him instead. 

“Was gonna say we’ll leave when the sun rises. We’re makin’ real good time. Less obstacles than I thought,” Joel says, eyes flickering over to you as you pull your legs up and tuck them under you. 

“Where are we headed anyway?”

“Bill and Frank’s.”

“That was really helpful. Great explanation, Joel,” you deadpan, giving him an exasperated look. You realize suddenly how tired you are. “Who are Bill and Frank, and where are we meeting them?”

Joel is visibly annoyed, sitting next to you with his jaw clenched and his arms crossed. 

“People I trade with. Meeting ‘em at their place in Lincoln.”

“Lincoln,” you mutter to yourself as you get up and head towards your pack, pulling out a map. Tracing your finger from Boston to Lincoln, you purse your lips. It’s only about fifteen miles from the QZ. “This is like…a six hour hike. Why were we walking for a whole day?”

“Now, why the fuck d’ya think we’ve been taking the long way?” he spits.

“Raiders, infected, rubble, people like us.” Your face is hot, embarrassment settling in your throat. 

Joel hums in response, giving a small nod as you walk back over to the couch, collapsing on it with a sigh. It can never just be easy. Nothing can. How nice would it be to be able to hop in a car? The drive would be what, forty minutes with traffic? Maybe less? You would be able to listen to music, stop for lunch at a diner, put your hand on Joel’s thigh while he drove. But you can’t do any of that. Not in times like this. Not when Joel is just a man you work with, a man you sometimes fuck. Nothing else.

“Get some shut eye,” he grumbles, standing up. Your eyes drift to the way his shoulders slump and his heavy eyelids. “I’ll take first watch.”

You shake your head and stand up, too. Joel spent the whole day guiding you with strict vigilance. Always alert, always on. You’re the same whenever traversing out of the QZ, but you feel like it weighs on Joel heavier for some reason. 

“No, it’s fine. You rest. I can watch,” you say. “I got it.” 

For a moment, you think he’ll protest, your eyes searching his face, but he doesn’t. He just nods and blows out the candles before lying down on one of the bottom bunks. Boots still on, pistol still strapped in its holster. Closing his eyes, he lets out a heavy sigh, giving in to his exhaustion.

“Get me up in four hours.” It's a demand, not a suggestion. 

“Mhm.”

Four hours go by quickly, but you can’t bring yourself to wake him up despite the lethargy that threatens you. 

To your surprise, Joel is fast asleep. You realize that you haven’t ever seen him sleep, generally back before the sunrises while working. The one time you spent the night together, he let you rest. Your chest tightens at the memory of the weight of Joel’s arm draped on you while you slept. 

Joel mumbles in his sleep. If it were anyone else, you’d probably find it annoying, but seeing this gruff, hardened man babble complete nonsense and twitch with his eyes closed is endearing. You wonder if he’s like this in his apartment in the QZ or if his nightly glass of whiskey knocks him out hard. 

While he rests, you keep a firm grip on the rifle, periodically scanning the outside through the windows, being sure to walk quietly across the weathered floorboards. They’re creaky, but you do your best not to wake Joel.

At some point, your mind wanders to the last time you fucked Joel. Maybe you’re bored, but you can’t stop thinking about Joel counting, only letting you come when he got to three. You think about being on your knees for him, the weight of his cock smacking your tongue before he came down your throat. Pressing your thighs together, you feel slick gather in your panties. 

You look over and see Joel’s body limp with sleep, and figure he won’t wake up for a while. Okay, you have time. Just go in the closet and get yourself off before he wakes up. Considering how turned on you are, it won’t be that hard, right?

Fuck it. 

Exercising extra caution, you get up, setting the rifle down on the couch. Your pistol is in your ankle holster, so you’re still armed. Slowly, you open the door to the closet, eyes closing tight and your lips curling inward when the hinges squeak. You slip in and carefully shut the door. With urgency, you unbutton your pants and shove them down along with your underwear, leaning against the wall.

Your middle finger slides down your slit and fuck, you are soaked. Holding back a whimper, you begin to rub your clit quickly, trying to make it fast. Shutting your eyes, you picture Joel’s hand instead, how it would feel for his calloused fingers to be playing with you instead.

He’d whisper things in your ear. He’d tell you it’s pathetic how wet you are for him, tell you to be a good girl, tell you that you look pretty while moaning for him. Right now, you do feel pathetic, getting yourself off while Joel is asleep in the next room. For some reason, that just gets you closer to your release. 

What if you went out there and woke him up by straddling his lap? You want to kiss down his sharp jawline, grind on his bulge, and ask him to fuck you. 

What you want the most, though, is for Joel to kiss you. It’s only happened twice during the same drunken night. Joel was wasted and so were you, practically falling into each other on the way to your apartment. It seemed like an accident when his lips met yours the first time. He hurriedly kissed you again like he was trying to figure out if it had actually happened. 

As he was leaving, once the two of you were dressed, you went to kiss him goodbye. He turned his head, your lips awkwardly meeting his cheek. You brushed it off even though you were humiliated. What else could you do, though? You acted like nothing happened. Joel did the same. 

Now, here you are, thinking of kissing Joel hungrily while riding him, watching his eyes shut as he groans and spills into you. It sends you falling over the edge. Your pussy spasms and you clamp your hand over your mouth as you come, trying to stifle your cries. You rest your head against the wall, panting with your eyes closed. If Joel had been the one giving you that orgasm, your legs would be trembling, but your own hand can’t compare. 

You pull up your pants, buttoning your jeans, and slip out of the closet. Returning to the couch, you sit down and move the rifle onto your lap. Joel groans in his sleep and you continue to fantasize about hearing him groan in your ear as his cock plunges in and out of you.

Before you know it, the sun begins to rise. Joel jolts awake, his hand instinctively going to his pistol. When he realizes all is well and that you’re wide awake, sitting on the couch, the tension dissipates from his body. 

“Good morning, sleepy head,” you tease, a playful smile on your lips. 

“Jesus.” Joel rubs his eyes. His voice is gravelly, heavy with sleep. “Why didn’t ya wake me up?” 

“You were out like a light. Didn’t want to wake Sleeping Beauty,” you reply. Your eyes shift down to the obvious bulge in his jeans. Raising an eyebrow, you smile and nod towards his pelvis. “Good dream?”

Joel glares at you and then rubs his eyes with his palms like he’s trying to get knead the night away. You find yourself a little enchanted by him like this, tousled hair, hard cock, prominent lines between his brows from his face being pulled tight all night. You want to drop to your knees in front of him and beg for him to fuck your mouth. 

“Jesus, it’s the ass crack of dawn. ‘Nough of that,” he scolds. “Y’should’ve gotten me up. What if you had fallen asleep and gotten us killed?” 

“Well, I didn’t fall asleep and I didn’t get us killed,” you answer simply, shrugging your shoulders.

“Now I gotta deal with you being tired and grumpy all day,” Joel grumbles and stands up, his joints cracking. He walks over and rips the rifle from your hand while you shoot him an amused look. He mutters, “Piss me the fuck off.”

“I think you’re projecting, Joel. You’re always the grumpy one,” you say, brushing off his last comment. Joel’s snide remarks don’t hurt your feelings anymore, not when you know how he praises you when he fucks you.

Good girl. Did so good. Look so good like that.

Darlin’. Baby. Sweetheart. Sugar.

Your thighs clench just thinking about Joel’s gruff voice in your ear.

“Just shut up and lay down. Thirty minutes and then we gotta get movin’,” he says, slinging the rifle over his shoulder before moving towards the door to take the chair out from under the handle. “Gonna do a perimeter check. Thirty minutes.”

You roll your eyes but do as he says, taking off your jacket and lying on your stomach where Joel had been sleeping. It’s still warm from his body heat. You bunch up your jacket and use it as a makeshift pillow. Sleep takes you gently away. 

“C’mon. Up.” Joel jostles you awake, earning a groan from you. Your eyes are narrow when you glance up at him. He’s much more awake now, pack already on and rifle slung over his shoulder. “Let’s go. You’ve already wasted our time.”

Rolling your eyes, you get up and stretch, shrugging your lightweight denim jacket on. Snagging your pack, you follow Joel out the door. Spring has arrived and the early mornings still have a bite to them, but when you step outside, the sun is higher than it should be if Joel had only let you sleep for thirty minutes. You let the warmth of its rays wash over you, smiling to yourself. Thirty minutes, my ass, you think before slowly jogging to catch up to Joel who has already started walking.

It takes you about two hours to get to your destination. The hike was fairly smooth, only stumbling upon a few stray infected. Nothing that you and Joel couldn’t handle. The two of you were quiet. Joel was annoyed with you, you could tell, and you were exhausted. It wasn’t too out of the ordinary.

You approach a small town, surrounded by a fence with barbed wire and a sign that reads DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE. Joel tells you to stay put as he walks toward the box with a keypad, typing in a code. As the fence opens, a burly man with maybe one of the biggest automatics you’ve ever seen comes barreling out of a gorgeous, white colonial style home with gray shutters and a large American flag above the porch. The man has shoulder length hair, a scruffy beard, and wide shoulders. He sports a scowl and his gun is pointed directly at you. For some reason, you don’t feel fear, just tension. Joel’s with you. You’re fine.

“S’me,” Joel calls out, waving a disarming hand in the air. 

The man lowers his weapon and you trail behind Joel, shutting the gate of the fence behind you. It clicks locked. You’re taken aback by the sight in front of you, mouth slightly ajar. Shops, although empty, with fresh paint, potted flowers, meticulously cut grass. It’s almost like stepping into the old world. If you closed your eyes, you’re sure you would hear children playing, inane chatter, life before it all went to shit. 

“Hey,” Joel barks, snapping his fingers at you. You didn’t realize you were in a trance. “Keep walkin’.” 

The man meets you by the picket fence in front of the house with his frown and weapon, giving Joel a nod and a handshake. You’re not listening to whatever they’re talking about, standing behind Joel with your eyes still roaming your surroundings, in total awe of whatever the hell this is. 

“Bill, this is—”

You cut Joel off and give Bill your name along with something that resembles a half smile. Bill nods. A man of many words, apparently. The three of you walk inside and the smell of apple pie lingers in the air, making your stomach quietly grumble. You realize you haven’t eaten yet today and apple pie, something you haven’t had in twenty years, smells divine.

“We freeze the apples,” a different man says as if he could read your mind. Frank, you presume, has walked in from the kitchen. His hands are on his hips, smiling, and his beard is well trimmed, a stark contrast from Bill. He steps towards you and takes your hand, “I’m Frank.”

You introduce yourself and smile, putting your other hand over Frank’s. Warmth radiates off of him and he reminds you of someone, but you can’t quite place who. You drop hands and Frank greets Joel, pulling him into a hug. You’ve never seen Joel hug someone before. You’re almost envious, wondering what it would be like to have Joel hold you outside of fucking you. 

“Well, come on in. I’ll give you a tour,” Frank says, putting a hand on the small of your back to guide you into the living room.

It feels like a home. A real home with decor and tchotchkes, paintings and collages, records and a piano. You’re not sure you said anything besides holy shit and wow the entire time Frank was showing you around. Back in the dining room, Joel and Bill are sitting at the table, both looking incredibly stern, but there’s no tension, no malice. It’s just serious. It’s business. They’re checking things off of a list on a notepad and drinking whiskey—neat and on the rocks. Just how Joel likes it. 

Putting your hands on your knees, you bend down to look at the various spirits on the brass bar cart. You can feel Joel’s eyes on your ass.

“Fuck, this place is incredible,” you gush. “You guys looking for a third?” 

“You know, you’re not quite our type,” Frank chuckles softly, leaning against the archway. 

You smirk at him and straighten your back. “Yeah, I figured.”

Joel’s looking at you from the table, pen idle in his hand. When you glance at him, you think you’re going to melt into those brown eyes of his. They look softer here, illuminated by the warm sun filtering in through the sheer curtains. What would it be like to sit across from Joel at a table like this and drink coffee in the morning? What would it be like to sleep beside him in the master bedroom with its canopy bed and venetian carpet? Is Joel wondering the same thing right now as he stares at you? You make yourself sick with these thoughts. 

You almost forget Bill and Frank are there until Frank breaks the silence. “I’m going to take you to the boutique down the road, then you two can shower and freshen up before dinner. Does that sound okay?”

Nodding, you follow him out the door. The town is quaint and somehow so well-kept. You walk in silence, taking it all in, while listening as Frank explains how he and Bill met and how they fixed up the town. It’s a love story. An apocalyptic one, but still one nonetheless. Until now, you didn’t think those existed anymore.

Frank opens the door to the boutique and your eyes widen at the sight. Racks and racks of women’s clothes, a wall of accessories, a case of jewelry, boxes of shoes, and makeup.

“Holy shit,” you say under your breath for the hundredth time today. 

“Take whatever you need, whatever you want. It’s free,” Frank offers with a wink, walking up behind you with his hand on his hips.

You turn to look at him, brows raised incredulously. 

“Are you serious?” you ask. He nods. “I don’t even…thank you.” 

Frank doesn’t say anything, just smiling as you start to look through the racks. The clothes are dusty and some of them have tiny holes from moths, sure, but they’re in good shape. Much better condition than anything you have back in the QZ. Plus, they’re actually cute. You were never old enough to go shopping at boutiques like this, your teenagehood soiled by the outbreak before you even got the chance. 

“So,” you start, rubbing a silk dress between your fingers, “how did you guys meet Joel anyway?”

“Well, I started talking to Tess on the radio,” he says and you stop moving altogether. Tess. “Bill hated that, as I’m sure you can guess. When we actually met Tess, along came Joel. You know how that is, wherever Tess is, there Joel is.”

Tess. You met Tess when you met Joel a few years ago. It had been a year or so after you started smuggling that you started working with their crew. Joel’s a damn good smuggler and you practically needed recommendations before he let you in on jobs. You were younger then, in your mid-twenties, and had to prove yourself to be an asset and you did. Tess recognized this, giving you credit where credit was due, but she was never particularly nice to you. Neither was Joel. Eventually, you started going on regular runs with Tess, Joel, Adam, and every now and then, a few others.

Adam was a few years older than you, but still much younger than Joel and Tess. The two of you stuck together if you ever needed to split up in pairs. So yeah, you get it. Wherever Tess went, Joel went. You could tell he was always particularly protective of her, but they had known each other for years. They trusted each other; it made sense. You never thought too much about it. 

About six months ago, Tess stopped coming around. Joel’s moods were worse than usual after that, but you didn’t say anything to him about it. You wouldn’t dream of it. Frankly, it was none of your business, but you were curious. When you brought up Tess’ absence to Adam, he said that there were logistical and financial disagreements among some of the group members. You didn’t believe it, but you let it go. As long as you were getting paid, what the hell did it matter?

Something sour bubbles in your belly at the thought of Tess and Joel. You ignore it, trying to focus on the clothes in front of you with their bright colors, patterns, and soft fabric. 

“I’m a little surprised Tess isn’t here with you two,” Frank says and you look up to meet his gaze, giving him a small shrug. He smiles and nods, dropping it altogether.

You pick out a few things to try on. Jeans, tank tops, t-shirts, a few blouses, new boots, even a dress and a pair of heels. You also snagged some new underwear and a lacy bra. In the dressing room with the emerald green, velvet curtain pulled shut, you strip. Trying on each of the pieces one by one, you admire the way they hug your waist and accentuate the curve of your hips and ass. When you get to the dress, your breath hitches. You haven’t worn a dress in years. The low, square neckline makes it hard not to stare at your own breasts. The black dress is short, landing above your mid-thigh and you notice how nice your plush curves look. You smile to yourself, thinking about how amazing it would be to have somewhere to actually wear this.

When you come out, Frank’s holding you a bag and you dump your findings in it. Before you leave, you stop and look at the makeup, grabbing mascara and blush. 

“Do you think I’m going to get an infection from how expired this shit is?” you ask.

“It’s possible. I guess you have to decide if it’s worth the risk.”

When you get back to the house, you can smell whatever Bill is cooking. Some sort of meat. Maybe duck? You aren’t entirely sure, but it’s divine and you’re reminded again of how hungry you are. Frank tells you that you can shower as Bill makes dinner, pulling a fluffy bath towel from the linen closet and showing you to the guest bedroom that you’ll be staying in.

“Unless you and Joel are sharing a room?” Frank asks, uncertainty clear in his voice. 

“Definitely not. Unless you want him to kill himself,” you reply with a short laugh and shake your head. The words tumble out of your mouth when you say, “Thanks for the clothes and the shower and for having me here.”

Frank just smiles, resting a hand on your shoulder and giving you a smile that says you’re welcome. 

You head into the bedroom, noting all of the decorations and the matching furniture set. Tears well up in your eyes as you look at the clean sheets, thinking about how you can’t wait to fall into the fluffy pillows tonight. 

In the shower, you cry and you cry hard. It’s just overwhelming, being in a place that feels incredibly normal and reminiscent of a time that’s so far away, so far gone now. You let yourself drown in the emotion as the shower pelts you with hot water. 

When you get out and wipe the condensation off of the mirror, you examine yourself, grateful that your eyes aren’t puffy. You attempt to dry your hair with your towel and put on a coat of mascara. That small touch makes all the difference and you realize that you haven’t felt this pretty in a long time. Sure, you know you’re desirable. You would fuck you, but this feels foreign. It feels luxurious. 

You get dressed and pull on a new pair of jeans that hug your ass perfectly, pairing them with a tight, black long sleeve. It has three buttons by your breasts that you leave undone to accentuate your cleavage. You tie it all together with new boots and a dainty necklace. Stepping back, you take in your reflection. Again, you’d fuck you. 

Stepping into the hallway, you see Joel leave his bedroom at the same time. Your pussy pulses and your chest tightens when you see him. His beard is trimmed and wet curls are falling on his forehead. The clean flannel he’s wearing hugs his biceps and you want to sink your teeth into them. He looks less rugged, more domestic in a way that makes your heart hurt a little.

Joel’s eyes travel down your body, lingering on your breasts for a moment and finally, he meets your gaze. Both of you stand there, just staring at each other before he clears his throat.

“Y’look, uh…clean,” he says, voice low, and he runs his tongue over his teeth. 

“Yeah, you too. For once,” you tease although your tone is flat.

He motions towards the stairs. “We should—”

“Yeah.”

The two of you head downstairs and see Frank carrying dishes to the dining room table. It’s set with frilly placemats, wine glasses, and two long candles dripping red wax onto glass holders. Your eyes are wide when you see the food laid out in front of you. It’s duck, as you suspected, with mashed potatoes, gravy, and asparagus. Plus, an unopened bottle of Beaujolais. 

“Ready?” Bill asks, uncorking the bottle and pouring everyone a glass. 

You nod and approach the table, but before you can pull out your chair, Joel does it for you. Raising an eyebrow and glancing at him, you take a seat.

“Such a gentleman, Joel. On good behavior today?” you whisper so only he can hear. 

“Will you shut it?” he hisses back, passing you a glass. 

“There we go,” you say back, smiling more to yourself than to him. “That’s more like it.” 

The four of you settle and Frank picks up his glass, raising it to initiate a toast. You’ve never even toasted to anything before and though you’re almost thirty, you feel like a child sitting at the adult table during Christmas dinner. 

“To new friends,” Frank begins, nodding towards you before looking at Joel, “and old friends.” 

Your face gets hot as the four of you clink your glasses together and mumble cheers. The first taste of wine you have is more of a gulp than a sip and if it weren’t incredibly rude, you would’ve finished the whole glass in one go. It’s better than any alcohol you’ve consumed in the QZ and while you could smuggle better shit in, you have other priorities like the medication for Susan. After tasting this though, you think you’ll ask Frank if there’s something you could trade for a bottle. Maybe two.

Frank, Bill, and Joel chat about supplies while you sort of listen, focusing mainly on the delectable food in front of you. Again, this meal is better than anything you’ve had in the QZ and truthfully, maybe even better than anything you’ve had in your whole life. You have to consciously pace yourself so you don’t scarf it all down in under five minutes.

At some point, Joel kicks your shin from under the table, grabbing your attention. When you give him a look that says what the actual fuck, he nods over towards Frank. You realize then, totally fucking embarrassed, that he asked you a question and you didn’t even register it.

“I asked where you’re from?” Frank smiles, patient and warm. When your eyes dart over to Joel, he’s biting back a smile while chewing and looking down at his food.

Asshole. 

“Sorry,” you mumble. You take a sip of wine, your glass nearly empty. “I’m from Portland. Maine, not Oregon.”

As you speak, Joel’s eyes flicker to you and he stops chewing to listen to you. It’s the first time you’ve ever shared any personal information with Joel and even now, he didn’t ask, you’re just answering someone else’s question. Something about Joel knowing anything about you makes you uneasy. You figure it’s because all you’ve learned about him has been through other people.

“Beautiful place to grow up,” Frank says, pouring more wine into your glass. You smile to say thank you, but it doesn’t reach your eyes. “Did you spend a lot of time on the water?”

“Yeah, my dad was a fisherman.”

Bill nods in your direction. With his mouth full he says, “Great skill to have in times like these.”

It comes in flashes. The feeling of cold sunscreen on your back, the gentle sloshing of the boat that rocked you to sleep like a baby, lobster shells cracking like ribs. You think about your dad with his toothy grin. The scent of fish that lingers. You start to feel sick.

Maybe it shows on your face, the way you’re solemnly reminiscing, because Joel’s boot meets your leg and strokes it lightly, like he’s patting you on the back. When you glance over at him, he’s looking down at his plate. It was probably just an accident, you tell yourself.

You take another sip of wine like it’ll wash away your thoughts. It pools in your stomach, that deep warm feeling you’ve come to appreciate during times of discomfort. 

“You think that until you eat so much fish that you’re pretty sure you’re going to get mercury poisoning,” you attempt to joke, but you know your tone isn’t convincing. It comes out more sad than anything.

“Guess there are worse ways to die,” Joel mumbles. 

You laugh. You don’t mean to, but it just comes out. Frank joins you while Bill and Joel are silent, staring at each other like you and Frank have lost it altogether. When the laughter dies down, Frank changes the subject like he knows you’d rather not talk about yourself anymore. You mentally thank him for it.

Three bottles of wine later, dinner ends and you feel fatigue overtake you. After helping Frank with the dishes, you excuse yourself and head upstairs to the room you’re staying in. You strip off your clothes, only clad in your new matching bra and panties, before collapsing in the bed. You tell yourself that you can take your makeup off tomorrow. 

Snuggling into the sheets, you take a deep breath. You hadn’t expected the day to exhaust you quite like this. Working as a smuggler usually meant life or death situations and risk. Here, you feel safe, but you feel like you’ve expended more energy than ever before. The entire experience of being in a place like this, a place so resonant of a life you could’ve had, has weakened you. Each step you took in this sanctuary weighed a hundred pounds. Your limbs feel heavy and you’re thankful for a few hours of uninterrupted rest.

The wine from dinner hit you so hard that you don’t hear him come in. It isn’t until the bed sinks in next to you that you realize you’re not alone. Waking from your slumber, you instinctively turn to reach for the pistol in your pack that you’ve strategically placed next to your bed. Even if this is the safest you’ve felt in years, you’re still on edge. Force of habit. A firm hand grabs your wrist to stop you.

“Stop,” he demands. Joel loosens his grip on you and says, softer now, “Just me.”

As you register his presence as safe, your heartbeat slows. Your arm drops and you sigh deeply. 

“Fuck you—you scared the fuck out of me, Joel,” you hiss, closing your eyes. “What do you want?”

When the blanket is pulled from your upper body, your eyes open again, the same startled look from before. Joel’s hands land on your breasts, thumbs tracing the lines of the lacy fabric of your bra, eventually making their way down your sides. He digs his fingers into the plush of your hips. Your breath hitches, knowing damn well that you’re already getting wet. 

“Pretty,” he whispers, hooking his thumbs in the waistband of your panties, hiking them up further. “You wear these just for me?”

“No.” You roll your eyes and let your head loll to the side. “I wore them for Frank.” 

Joel grabs your chin and forces you to look up at him. It’s dark, so damn dark, but you can see a sliver of his face lit up by the moonlight that’s creeping in through the sheer curtains. His eyes carry that lustful darkness that you know so well. Joel wants something from you and he’s going to get it. You want to give it to him. Whatever he wants, it’s his and you don’t need to say it aloud. Joel knows.

“What do you want?” you ask, voice quiet and unintentionally sultry.

“You playin’ dumb tonight? I think ya know what I want.”

“Then take it,” you reply, pulling your bottom lip between your teeth. The look in Joel’s eyes makes your clit throb in anticipation.

“Wasn’t askin’ permission, sweetheart. I know you’ll gimme what I want,” Joel rasps, leaning down to kiss and nip at your pulse point.

He’s right and you almost hate it. Joel’s a smug bastard, always has been. He knows that whatever fight you put up, it’s all show. He knows you like the verbal sparring, the way he grabs you, the way he fucks you harder when you piss him off; you think he likes it, too, since he keeps coming back for more. Maybe it’s as much for him as it is for you.

You let out something between a dry laugh and a groan. “You’re such a fucking asshole.”

“Y’real mouthy tonight.”

“Maybe something big in my mouth would shut me up.”

“I got other plans for you,” he mumbles, pulling your earlobe into his mouth and biting lightly. 

You inhale sharply. “Hope they’re good considering you woke me up.”

“That how you talk to someone who’s about to fuck you good?” Joel’s breath is hot against your neck. 

Your pussy throbs at the thought of having Joel deep inside of you. Eyelids fluttering closed, you think you mumble something like please or sorry or both. If you weren’t so aroused, you’d probably be mad at yourself for essentially giving in already. You orgasmed less than twenty four hours ago. What happened to your self control? If you’re being honest, you’ve never had it when it comes to Joel.

One of Joel’s hands leaves your hips to paw at your breast, flicking your nipple with his thumb and feeling it pebble under his touch. You bite back a moan, but your breathing is shallow and gives you away. Joel hums against you before sucking on the tender skin where your neck meets your shoulder. The thought crosses your mind that he’s being forceful enough to leave marks and that there’s a chance Bill and Frank will notice tomorrow, but your mind quickly moves on from the topic when Joel tugs at your nipple. You let out a small squeak at the sensation. 

“Think I didn’t notice the way these tits were hangin’ out a dinner?” he asks, breathless, although it’s not really a question. Joel pulls away to admire your chest and yanks your bra down, letting your breasts hang over the fabric. “And in front of strangers, too. Shameless little whore, huh?” 

“You don’t have anything to worry about. You heard Frank, I’m not their type,” you deadpan.

“I didn’t say anything about bein’ worried. Wouldn’t be anyway,” Joel says, sliding one hand down to your clothed pussy and cupping you. “Y’know who this pussy belongs to.”

You can’t help but think, yours, yours, yours. All yours Joel. 

Squirming under his touch, you rut your hips into his hand to chase any hint of pleasure. Your brows are furrowed as you look up at him. He smirks, satisfied with himself, and rubs a torturously light circle on the soaked center of your panties with two of his fingers.

“Feel how wet she is for me, baby?” 

Baby. You almost whine at the pet name. Joel calls you pet names all the time, but tonight it’s hitting you differently. You’ve been emotional, maybe that’s it. 

Nodding, you sit up on your elbows and grind into his hand. It’s not enough and Joel knows it, but he doesn’t give you more than this. For now. It’s easy to tell he’s enjoying watching you like this, all desperate and needy for him. You still won’t give in and moan, so you just breathe heavily and chew on your lip as you take in the dull pleasure of his thick palm on your hot core. 

“Play with yourself,” he instructs, removing his hand from you and standing up.

Your previously heavy lidded eyes are now wild as you stare at him and you make no move to touch yourself. He just stands there, looking at you with a raised eyebrow. 

“C’mon, play with yourself,” he demands, voice low and laced with annoyance. “Y’look real dumb just starin’ at me like that. Haven’t even fucked you stupid yet.”

Cheeks heating up and pussy throbbing, you go to slide your hand under your ruined panties when Joel tuts at you.

“Over ‘em.”

“Joel, are you fucking serious?” you whine, almost sounding like a bratty child.

“Do I look like I’m playin’ games with you?”

You roll your eyes, but acquiesce and begin to play with your clit over your panties. It’s painful how muted the pleasure is. All you want is Joel’s fingers or his tongue or his cock. Really anything besides this. Looking up at Joel, you hope you can give him puppy dog eyes to convince him to fuck you, but you’re distracted by the way he’s palming his cock through his jeans. The hardened length is prominent even in the dark of the bedroom. 

“Is this what you did the other night while I was sleepin’?” Joel asks as he undoes his belt. 

Your lips part, your eyes widen, and your chest gets hot. Embarrassment spreads over you like wildfire. “I-I,” you stammer, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Joel laughs quietly and takes his t-shirt off, revealing the salt and pepper chest hair that covers scars across his chest. Your eyes are glued to his abdomen, taking all of him in. He shucks off the sweatpants he borrowed for the night, stepping toward the bed.

“I-I-I,” he mocks you cruelly. His teasing goes right to your pussy, making you clench around nothing. “Please, darlin’. I heard you tryna muffle those pretty sounds a’yours.”

A small moan slips from your lips as you frantically rub yourself through your underwear. Your fingers are getting wet through the barrier of the fabric that’s thoroughly soaked by your juices. 

“What were you thinkin’ about?” he asks, pulling the covers back and slipping in beside you. Heat radiates off of him and you feel yourself getting sweaty from arousal, embarrassment, and him.

You don’t respond aloud, but you tug at the waistband of his boxers, wanting nothing more than to see his cock. Joel shakes his head. 

“Use your words. Y’love to run that mouth, so let’s hear it.”

“You, Joel,” you admit, whimpering. “Your tongue, your cock.”

He hums, pleased by your answer. Joel leans in and kisses below your ear before whispering, “S’what I thought.”

Joel slides his boxers down and kicks them off, his hardened length finally there for you to see. Your lips part as you stare while he strokes himself once and then twice, exposing the red, swollen head of his cock. You pick up the pace of your fingers as if it’ll relieve any ache at all. 

“Alright, sweetheart.” He slides down the bed, positioning himself between your legs and pulling your damp panties off. “Since you need it so bad.”

When Joel places a sloppy kiss to your clit, you finally let yourself moan earnestly. 

“Love hearin’ those pretty noises,” he mumbles against your cunt between licks.

Relief floods through you as Joel begins to flick your clit with his tongue. Light and fast. Just how you like it. Each movement is precisely what you want. Joel just knows your body at this point. You tangle a hand in his hair to push him closer, to encourage him.

The sounds he’s making as he eats your cunt are utterly obscene and you try not to contribute to the noise by biting your index finger, well aware that you’re in someone else’s house. Two people that were very kind to you and are letting you stay in their home. The least you can do is not moan and wake them up. 

Joel makes it hard for you to keep quiet when he slips two fingers in your cunt and curls them upwards, hitting the spot inside of you that makes your toes curl. A strangled sound claws its way out of you as you try to hold back your cries of pleasure. When a moan that’s a little too loud slips out, Joel digs his fingers into the soft flesh of your inner thighs and you get the message. Shut. Up.

You look down at Joel. His graying curls are a mess from you pulling on them, his pupils are blown lecherously, and he’s rutting his hips into the bed. The sight of him hurdles you toward your orgasm. Joel can feel you start to clench around his fingers. Knowing that you’re close, the hand that’s not inside of you shoots up and he shoves two fingers into your open mouth. You suck on his fingers as they move in tandem with the ones inside of you, hitting the back of your throat a few times, making you gag. 

All the sensations at once are overwhelming when your release hits you. Thighs trembling and closing in around Joel’s head, you moan around Joel’s fingers and tears well up in your eyes, ultimately slipping down your temples and into your hairline.

Joel pulls his fingers from your mouth and your pussy at the same time before lightly smacking the inside of your thigh, conscientious of the volume of the impact. His tongue is still circling your clit and you can’t take it anymore, wriggling away from his touch. Finally, Joel relents, looking up at you with slick, swollen lips. He looks absolutely fucked. His thumb rubs a soothing circle atop of the hair on your mound, sticky and wet from your arousal and Joel’s spit.

You’re panting when he hovers over you, looking down at the sheen of sweat covering you from your orgasm. His cock rests on the soft part of your lower belly.

“C’mere, taste yourself,” he husks.

This is it, you think. He’s finally going to slip his tongue in your mouth and kiss you. You’ve been itching for it since the first time you kissed him and you feel excitement flutter in your stomach. Looking up at him expectantly, you hold your breath, but you’re surprised when Joel’s thumb meets your bottom lip and pries your mouth open. You stick your tongue out without even thinking about it, and Joel spits directly into your mouth. His warm salvia pools on your tongue and you close your mouth, swallowing the taste of both of you. 

You can’t help but feel disappointed yet you try to remind yourself that Joel just made you come on his tongue and fuck, it was good. The aftershocks are still reverberating in your core. 

“Good girl,” he praises, voice flat and gravelly. “S’that what you wanted?”

Inhaling shakily, you nod. Joel’s forearm rests by the side of your head, your chests pressed together, while he drags his cock through your slick. Every time the head brushes against your clit, you shudder, still so sensitive from your orgasm. 

“What else did you say you were thinkin’ about?” he asks, still teasing your slit with his cock.

“Your—”

Joel sinks in without warning and his hand flies to your mouth in an attempt to quiet you before you wake Bill and Frank. It works, mostly. Despite your orgasm and his fingers, his cock still stretches you out. It amazes you that no matter how many times you take him, you still feel him work you open. 

Once Joel bottoms out in you and stills, you finish your sentence through exasperated breaths. “Cock. Your cock.”

He groans at this as he begins to thrust into you, shallow yet fast strokes, his cock nearly pulling fully out each time. He’s fucking teasing you. Your moans are hiccupy little noises, not entirely satisfied with the fucking you’re getting. You know if you tell him this, he’ll stop entirely. Just to fuck with you. You also know how to get him going. Just start talking. 

“I know you’ve brought other girls here. Is this what you do, Joel? Bring girls you like here?” His brow furrows at your question, still not fucking you quite how you’d like. You’re surprised that your words are coming out so smoothly. “Wine them and dine them, then make them come?” 

Joel laughs darkly at this and picks up the pace, earning a quiet moan from you. You feel satisfied with yourself, knowing that you’re getting to him. Part of you wonders if he would’ve reacted differently if you mentioned Tess by name. 

“Who said I like you?” 

“I-I think—fuck,” you exhale as he starts to fuck you harder, kissing your cervix with the head of his cock. You close your eyes, telling yourself to pull it together long enough to finish your sentence. “You like me. Enough to be in my bed when you’ve got your own.”

Shaking his head, he buries himself deep inside of you and ceases any movement. You almost whine out of frustration, but you hold back. Joel uses his free hand, the one that’s not supporting him, to wrap tightly around your throat. You choke out a moan and clench around him. 

“I like you when you shut the fuck up,” he says through grit teeth. 

You smile and try to laugh, but it sounds more like a cough than anything. Joel loosens his grip ever so slightly as he starts moving his hips again, fast and deep. Just what you wanted. 

“R-Really? Thought you liked hearing my pretty little noises?” you manage to get out with his clutch lighter than before.

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Joel groans, shaking his head. He stops moving and this time, you actually do whine. “Can’t keep that fuckin’ mouth shut.”

Joel releases your throat and leans over, still buried inside of you, to reach for your pack. 

“What’re you—”

He pulls out a roll of duct tape you keep in the front pocket just in case the soles of your boots start to go. Your eyes widen and you swallow hard to try to get rid of the lump in your throat. Anxiety or excitement? You can’t tell.

“Fleshlights don’t talk,” he mutters before ripping a piece of tape off with his teeth, “and that’s all y’are to me.”

Before you get the chance to even think about something to say, Joel slaps the duct tape across your mouth. It’s primal—the way your breathing becomes heavy and frantic through your nose and your chest heaves, like prey being caught by a predator. At the same time, your cunt tightens around him and you feel arousal leak from you. You think that there has to be something wrong with you. This shouldn’t turn you on this much, right?

Joel doesn’t resume fucking you yet, still and sheathed all the way inside of you. His dark, blown out eyes search your face.

“Breathe, breathe,” he orders, but his voice is almost soft now, stripped of the edge it carried before. A hand comes up to cup your jaw and his thumb brushes the tape. “Breathe for me, baby.”

You close your eyes and focus on your breath and the gentle caress of Joel’s rough hands. Eventually, your breathing becomes normal again, consistent. When you open your eyes, Joel’s looking at you and you think you see a flash of concern cross his face.

“Y’okay?” he asks, waiting for your go ahead.

Nodding a little too excitedly with wide eyes, you lift your hips up and your hands fly to his lower back, trying to press him even close to you. Joel’s hand drops from your face and he wears a smug smile as he throws your legs over his shoulders, now impossibly deep inside of you. You moan, muffled pathetically by the tape.

“Good, ‘cause I gotta keep my word and fuck you real nice.”

Joel grabs a good handful of your thighs, digging his fingers into you, and starts pistoning in and out of your cunt. Your hands fist the sheets, trying to ground yourself as he fucks into you brutally, hitting that sweet, spongey spot deep inside of you. If the duct tape weren’t there to stifle your cries, you’re sure you’d wake up Bill and Frank. 

“Much better,” he grunts. “Now I can focus on how fuckin’ nice and tight this cunt is.”

You whimper at his filthy words. Joel has such a mouth on him and you never, ever want him to shut up. Every time he talks to you in bed, you make sure to pay attention, commit it to memory so you can replay it over and over again when you touch yourself.

The tempo he’s set is merciless, his cock slamming into you relentlessly. Your cunt spasms around him and you close your eyes tightly, already feeling that familiar pressure building in your lower belly. Joel notices and he smiles. It’s crooked, smug and exposes his canines. He shifts his angle slightly and rolls his hips into you, groaning quietly. The change earns a wanton moan from you and you arch your back, trying to feel him as deep as possible.

“So damn needy,” he growls. “You were really thinkin’ about this all day, huh?

Joel spreads your legs into a wide V and begins to fuck you slower. You whine, brows pulled tightly as you feel your impending orgasm slip away. His eyes are trained on where his body meets yours, watching his cock, completely coated in your juices, slide in and out of your puffy lips. 

“Fuck, sugar.” He exhales. “Look at that. She takes me so well.” 

You nod, but you don’t look because you can’t pull your eyes away from Joel. He’s covered in a sheen of sweat, broad chest glowing in the moonlight, and you wish you could lean forward and lick the perspiration off of the protruding vein on his neck. Joel’s fucking beautiful. 

With your legs spread wide, you feel exposed, but you’re not self conscious. The way Joel’s looking at you, like he could devour you whole, is electric. 

He’s still staring at your pussy, enamored, when he gathers his spit in his mouth and lets it fall from his lips, landing directly on your clit. You moan at the sensation, tilting your head back. One of his hands drops to your sensitive bud and he begins smearing the wetness around. The way he rubs your clit with intention is fucking divine and when he starts to fuck you again, you feel that white hot pleasure return.

Joel’s breathing is ragged and you can tell he’s trying not to make too much noise. At this point, you’re not sure if it matters. The bed is faintly creaking, the sound of skin slapping is unmistakable, and although your moans and cries are dampened, you can still hear them. 

“Squeezin’ me tight,” he says with a sigh. “Gonna give me another, sugar? C’mon, gimme one more.”

The circling on your clit doesn’t stop for even one second and his hips rocking into you don’t falter—your eyes roll back as you come. Your cunt throbs around Joel’s cock and he groans in response, fucking you erratically through it. The high-pitched cries that pour out of you are softened, but not entirely squashed by the tape. As you come down from your high, Joel pulls out of you abruptly.

Fisting his cock, he mutters your name, sandwiched by expletives that you can’t quite distinguish as your ears are ringing from the aftershocks of your orgasm. You manage to sit up on your elbows to look at Joel and the swollen head of his cock, glistening from your cum. With a final groan, he spills his warm, sticky spend on your lower belly and the hair on your mound. 

Joel’s panting as he rolls over next to you, hands coming up to rest on his forehead as he shuts his eyes. You sit there and let him catch his breath, just watching the way his chest rises and falls. Once his breathing decelerates, he opens his eyes and looks over at you—lying there with your mouth taped, covered in his cum. 

Turning on his side to face you, he lets out a short, dry laugh that could easily be mistaken as a scoff. In one quick motion, Joel rips the duct tape off.

“Ow—fuck,” you curse under your breath. Your hand comes up to rub the soft yet irritated skin in an attempt to soothe the sting. “That fucking hurt.” 

“You’ll live.”

You roll your eyes and go to get up so that you can clean Joel’s mess off of you, but he stops you with a firm grip on your forearm. Annoyed and exhausted, you don’t bother fighting it, letting your head drop back onto the pillow. 

Joel’s middle and index finger swipe a long stripe down from your belly to your clit, gathering his cum on his fingers. 

“Open,” he instructs. 

Without a second thought, your lips part and you let your jaw hang open. Joel sticks his fingers in your mouth and you close around them, eyes fluttering shut as you moan and take in the heady, salty taste of his cum.

“Suck.” You do.

“Swallow.” You do.

Fingers popping out of your mouth lewdly, you feel your cheeks get hot with arousal and a hint of embarrassment. Joel knows how much you liked that and you’re sure he’ll hold it over your head at some point. 

“That’s my good girl,” he practically coos. You feel sheepish from the praise, forcing yourself to look away. 

Joel reaches over and grabs the shirt he discarded earlier from the floor. Tenderly, or as tenderly as Joel seems to be capable of, he wipes the remainder of his spend off of you. His gaze meets yours and the moment feels charged. Your mouth is slightly agape and you notice his eyes flit to your lips. If there were ever a time for the two of you to kiss, it’s now. A few moments pass, and it doesn’t come.

“Such a gentleman,” you mumble, breaking the silence. “Guess you are on good behavior.”

Whatever trance Joel was caught in is broken and he snaps his eyes away from you. He runs a hand through his sweaty curls. 

“Oh, fuck off,” he grumbles.

You smile and roll your eyes, adjusting your bra so it’s back in its proper place, covering your nipples that are still hard. For the first time all day, your mind is blank, too exhausted to think. So you let yourself melt into the bedsheets, pulling the blanket up to cover your mostly bare body. Joel doesn’t move. Joel doesn’t say anything.

The only thing you two can hear as you lie on your backs is the sound of each other’s breathing. At some point, you drift off to sleep.

When you wake in the morning to the birds chirping, Joel is gone. You swear you felt him place a gentle kiss on your temple before leaving a few hours ago, but you might have been dreaming.

[militarywifesvt]

hi! I love your works! So i had this sudden cute thought of like neighbors Reader and S.Coups and like Cheol loves taking care of reader because she is this cute sunshine that could easily get hurt(?) mentally and physically idk haha and one day he decides to confess to reader and was too scared to see reader’s reaction (and reader started off with a reply that seemed like a rejection or something), so he ran off and reader had to prepare something/take care of him too and finally tell him that reader likes him just as much..i hope that makes sense haha

Cheol can be idol cheol here to hehe

Love next door ( P1 )

Pairing : idolneighbour!cheol x neighbour!reader

Trope : neighbours to lovers / sunshine X sunshine protector

Summary : how could he not find you cute when all you do is pout and cause trouble ? Of course , he'll always be the one to rescue you . Part two

Genre : fluff

Warnings : mentions of (minor) injuries , blood , minor accidents etc. ( not in this part tho )

I'm so sorry but this will be a two or three part series . It was originally a one shot but I figured it was too long so I divided it , enjoy !

Your life was never the fancy kind . Living in a small , affordable apartment in one of the quieter corners of Seoul wasn’t the dream , but it was manageable . Cozy . Close enough to the metro . And most importantly , tolerant of small fires. Literal ones . Your kitchen was a battlefield . Your plants were screaming for help . But at least rent was decent , the view was cute , and nobody expected you to have it all together .

Usually , people don't move into this building regularly . It was technically empty , apart from you and an elderly woman downstairs , aunt younghee . She has developed a twitch from how many times you dropped something random at 2 a.m . The unit next door had been vacant for months . It felt kinda lonely being the only one living on the second floor , but you didn't mind it that much .

One morning , during your daily dose of gossip with aunt younghee , she winked and said

“ Guess what? There’s a new tenant moving into this floor . They said it was a celebrity . Wonder if they’ll shake things up around here! "

Of course you didn't believe her . No way someone in their right mind would move into such an apartment , let alone a celebrity . So you didn't think much of it .

A couple of days later , while you were getting back from your part-time job , walking up the stairs to see huge boxes in front of the apartment next door , unit 4B.

So someone actually moved in ?

Ignoring the fact that unit 4B is not the best option for a celebrity , you were happy to know that you're not alone anymore . So , determined to leave a good first impression and to make a new friend , you baked a fresh batch of cookies , decorated them with bright icing and little smiley faces to deliver them to your new neighbour as a welcome gift .

The next morning , you grabbed the little gift and walked across the hallway with a wide hopeful grin . You knocked on the door twice . When he opened the door and saw you smiling so brightly , like pure sunshine , it caught him off guard . To him , There was something effortlessly pretty about you , not flawless, but genuine and full of life . A strange warmth bloomed in his chest , soft and unexpected . But , the idiot you are , you didn't notice that . Instead , you bounced on your feet while introducing yourself

" Hi , unit 4B ! I suppose your name is choi seungcheol , right ? I'm y/n , I live right next door ! Consider this as your welcome gift . Enjoy ! "

You walked a few steps away , then turned around to whisper with a cheeky smile

" Oh yeah , and by the way , the neighbours think you're a celebrity "

You disappeared from his sight , and he just stood there with the box in his hands , reading the note " welcome to our not-so-nice building ! " Then closing the door before whispering " cute " under his breath .

[sassatoru]

Damian x older batsis. Just something fluffy about batsis being the older sister of the batfam, mainly focusing on Damian tho- she dotes on him and is kinda like his mother figure in a way. And when he gets into arguments with Bruce, she's the one he runs away to, to crash on her couch. She's also incredibly tech savy and inventive, so she often asks Damian to test her gagetry prototype's since everyone else is scared of them (they sometimes malfunction). She's more like Alfred's apprentice than Bruce’s. She prefers working "behind the screens." Also, her and Damian most definitely took the batmobile and batwing out on joy rides without permission🤭

“That’s bullshit, dad.” You scoffed, leaning back against the cold stony wall in the cave. Bruce sighed, pinching his nose between his index and thumb. He was used to this, he had been getting this lecture since he adopted Dick when you were 12. You’d always been motherly to your little brothers — a term Jason often huffed about, reminding you that he’s no longer a fifteen year old boy.

You became all of their protectors but it was different with Damian, something deeper, more connected. Dick assumed that it was because you and Damian were blood related but Alfred knew better.

“You can’t treat the kid like shit and expect him to be okay,” you added.

Right now Damian was in your car, an overnight bag packed for his stay at your house. Bruce wanted to smile at the fact that you drove all the way from Blüdhaven to get Damian and yell at him.

“You’re right,” Bruce says, making you pause and point a finger at him comically opening and closing your mouth as you think. Stunned into silence that he hadn’t tried arguing with you, Jason snickered in the background before Cass knocked him to the ground beating him again.

“He should spend the weekend with you, no suit, no cape. Just as a normal boy,” Bruce stands up, “I can’t give him that, his mother can’t, that’s why he comes to you.”

You merely nodded in response as Bruce patted your shoulder before turning back to his computer, you walked past Alfred who looked equally as stunned as you before chuckling and handing you a tub of freshly baked cookies.

“Thanks,” you mumbled, still somewhat shocked as you make your way up the stairs to the exit of the cave. You’re back outside the manor and sitting in the drivers seat of your car — your bike at home because you knew you’d be bringing damian to your place.

“okay, all set?” you ask, looking at the small boy in your front passenger seat. a bunch of his art supplies stuffed into you back seat and alfred the cat perched on top of it all, you snort amused by the sight, exiting the driveway when he nods.

the drive to your place is quiet, damian dozing off from time to time. “can i live with you?” he asks out of nowhere, green eyes focused on your reaction, you stop at the red light, sighing softly.

“i’m sorry dames, but we’ve talked about this.” you mutter, shooting him an apologetic look, “i’ll talk to bruce about it again.” you offer, he nods.

“i’d like that,” he mutters, arms crossed. you smile, “where would you go to school?” you ask, entertaining the idea. “we’ve got quite a few good ones in bludhaven.”

“which did you go to?” he asks.

“i went to a gotham school, but i did uni in bludhaven. somehow gotham and bludhaven have two of the best universities. no idea why that happened when they’re both shit holes.”

“agreed.”

the rest of the drive is quiet, your brother falling asleep for the rest of it. you chuckle as you park outside your flat, you and dick lived in the same building. it was a lot more convenient, and it eased his worry for you. you being a lawyer, with your little side hobby of building impressive gadgets.

dick was usually the first person to get ahold of the tech you made, and damian would be next in line. you’re careful as to not stir damian, though you know he’s probably already half awake as you lift him out of the car, carrying him into the elevator after you toss his duffel bag over your shoulder. alfred the cat following after the two of you.

he likes this, he thinks. being coddled like child — he is a child, you’re always quick to remind him. you lay him down on the spare bed in your extra room where your other siblings crash. he kicks his shoes off sleepily as you set the bag down in the corner of the room, alfred the cat jumping up onto the bed to sleep on top of damian.

you smile at the sight as you close his bedroom door.

your little brother deserves to be a kid, you’ll make sure his life isn’t spent like yours.

© e-nonsense. do no copy/steal/translate. do it and I’ll bite your toes off

[captainjonnitkessler]

I chair my union's Women's Committee, and every once in a great while someone will make a half-joking comment about how "imagine if I suggested we have a Men's Committee though", and it's so frustrating because I would fucking love for us to have a Men's Committee!

Construction workers have sky-high rates of suicide, addiction, and overdoses, and I pin a large part of that on a culture that encourages machismo and masculine posturing. I think a lot of construction workers have lowkey trauma about the dangerous conditions they work in, but the culture insists that anyone who cares about safety isn't a real man. People accept that this job will break your body down and cause medical issues down the line, but if you take steps to protect your body - like using team lifts instead of insisting you'll carry 100 pounds of pipe up three flights of stairs by yourself - you're a wimp. Hazing the new guys often crosses into outright abuse, very often focused on ridiculing the masculinity of the victim, but if you stand up for yourself you're a pussy who can't handle a few jokes. Men in the trades are often invested in feeling like they are the provider and protector of their families, but this can make them feel like their self-worth is tied up entirely in what they can provide and not who they are as a person. Guys who have hobbies that aren't masculine enough are mocked relentlessly, because Real Men only like drinking and hunting.

Our Women's Committee focuses on issues that impact women the most, but the membership and the help we offer is open to anyone in the union regardless of gender. I would love to see a Men's Committee that works under the same idea, addressing these issues! But on the one hand, yes, I do think our business manager might reject the idea as appearing sexist or pointless. And on the other hand, I don't think the men who make those comments to me would actually be interested in a Men's Committee if we did have one, they just wanted to take jabs at me because they feel like I'm getting special treatment just for being a woman (never mind that this committee is essentially a part-time unpaid job for me).

The one guy that actually DID care about reaching out to and helping young men eventually left the union to focus on running a city-wide initiative instead, because he wasn't getting any support from his union brothers. It's fucking hard to help people who won't meet you halfway.

[stillmonsterz]

you know i'm down

pairing: jay x reader

genre: smut

summary: it's march 2020 and you're stuck in the house with your stepfather during lockdown. can the two of you keep it together?

warnings: stepcest, unprotected sex, swearing, dubcon, panty-sniffing, virus mention, COVID implication (?),

word count: 3.8k

--

“Yeah. Yeah, I know, things are getting crazy, but try to keep your head up, yeah? You’ll be safe,” Jay said into his phone, his forehead creasing as he spoke. His newly wedded wife had taken a trip to visit her mother shortly after their marriage, but now the government was advising that she stay where she was. The news was scaring her, and it scared Jay, too, but he couldn’t let her know that. He was her steadfast protector, her bastion, and so he reassured her that everything would be okay.

“And you’ll take care of her too, yes?” she asked firmly, referring to her daughter.

“Of course, honey. I’ll take care of her like she’s mine,” Jay said, rubbing his forehead. “I promise.”

“You’re so good with her,” his wife said. “You know, she really likes you, right?”

“I really like her, too,” Jay said softly, and it was the truth. His wife and her daughter had moved in with him three short months ago, and neither of them had caused trouble. On the contrary: Jay wished that he could see more of her daughter so they could be closer. He wanted to be a good stepfather, but she was always holed up inside of her room.

They exchanged goodbyes, I love yous, and promises to stay safe, and then Jay was alone on the couch with his own thoughts. If he sat there for too long, stewing in fear, he would lose his mind. Jay turned the television on and checked the news. They were strongly advising people to stay put for at least two weeks, and Jay made a mental note to coordinate with his employees about this in a few hours. No point riling people up and forcing them to worry about work so early in the day.

Jay was sitting on the couch with lips set in a line when you had tentatively crept down the stairs, worry etched on your features. He turned the television off and assessed you carefully. You were so similar to your mother in stature and facial features, but Jay doubted that his wife would ever don the dolphin shorts and hoodie combination you were so fond of wearing. Of course, you made it look cute. You shuffled over to him, wringing your hands. 

“Mom really can’t come back?” you asked, hovering near the other end of the couch.

Jay nodded, setting his phone on the side table. “Yeah, they really want to curb the spread of the virus,” he said, smoothing his hands down his legs. “She’ll be okay, though. There’s a lot of food at her mom’s house, and she won’t be alone. It’ll only be two weeks.”

Your lower lip trembled, and you looked away from Jay as you tried to calm yourself down. You rubbed your hands along your arms, and Jay could see that you had goosebumps. “You don’t think she got it, do you?” you asked in a wavering voice. 

“Oh, sweetheart,” Jay said quietly. “Look at me.” When you refused, obstinately staring at the ground, his voice became firm. “Look at me.”

You lifted your head, and he spread his arms and gestured for you to come to him. He wrapped you in his embrace, rubbing your back. You leaned on him, kneeling in between his legs as you hugged him tightly. “There’s no way that she caught it,” Jay said soothingly. “She’s been with her family the entire time. She hardly went off their property.”

“I’m just so worried. I’ve never lived through anything like this before,” you said falteringly, pulling away so you could look at his face. Jay knew you were looking at him to check for chinks in his armor, a sign of doubt. He pulled his features into a convincing mask of resoluteness and confidence. 

“It’ll all be okay,” he said, running his thumb along your cheek. “Look on the bright side, you won’t have to commute to school for two weeks.”

You chuckled, looking down as you smiled. “You’re right, Jay.” Jay liked that you didn’t try to call him Dad or Daddy. When he had first met you after a few months of dating your mom, he had been pleased to find that you weren’t the archetypal bratty stepdaughter. Instead, you were sweet and intelligent, and you hardly asked him for a thing. Jay stroked your hair comfortingly and kissed your forehead. 

“You wanna watch a movie together? Would you like that?” You nodded your assent, and Jay reached around for the remote and went on Netflix. He put something lighthearted on for you, and shortly after the movie started you rested your head on his chest. Belatedly, Jay realized that it might be somewhat inappropriate to hold you like this, with you curled up in his arms, kneeling between his legs. But you were so worried, and you needed a guiding figure there, so what else could he do?

Jay continued to rub your back as you watched the movie together. At some point, though, Jay’s attention permanently moved from the film onto you, and he studied your features closely. His wife was a very pretty woman, and started to realize that her daughter was a very pretty girl. 

Maybe this lockdown wouldn't be so bad, if he could get closer to you.

–

The next day, Jay took stock of everything in the kitchen. Thankfully, they tended to bulk-buy, so he didn’t think that they would have to go shopping for two weeks. Yesterday, you hadn’t eaten dinner, blaming your nerves for curbing your appetite. He decided to surprise you with a pancake breakfast. He smiled as he imagined you eating pancakes. You’d look so adorable with full cheeks…

As he started to gather the ingredients, he heard footsteps padding on the tiled floor. 

“What are you doing?” you asked quietly. Jay turned to face you, and his breath caught. You were rubbing your eyes, looking around the kitchen, and you were so cute. Jay swallowed thickly and returned his attention to the array of supplies in front of him. 

“Just making breakfast,” he mumbled. “Pancakes.” 

“Can I help?” He heard you come closer, and he could smell your body wash. It was fruity and playful; something from Victoria’s Secret or Lush, a store like that. It went so well with your natural fragrance, Jay had to resist the urge to sniff the air.

“Nah, it’s fine,” Jay replied, kneeling down to find where the pans were stashed. It was his house, but his wife had reorganized the kitchen to her liking, so he had trouble finding things. 

“I want to help,” you said, and Jay looked up at you. A mistake. How could he refuse those earnest eyes of yours?

“Yeah, sure,” he said, hoping he came off as nonchalant. He gave you some instructions, well-aware that his voice was somewhat strained. Jay watched you bustle around the kitchen, shamelessly checking you out. Guilt nipped at him, but he reasoned that it was just looking. There was nothing wrong with looking. And when you wore little shorts like that, you were asking to be looked at, really. 

Jay snapped himself out of it and returned his attention to cooking. He flipped the pancakes without using a spatula, and you clapped. “I wish I could do that,” you said. 

“Here, I’ll show you.” Jay wrapped your hand around the end of the pan and covered it with his own. “You have to utilize a certain flick of the wrist, but put pressure on your index finger, your middle finger, and your thumb…” When you successfully flipped a pancake with his help, you giggled, and he felt warm. Like a proud father, he thought. Just like a proud father.

As you two ate breakfast together, he could see your happiness returning. You must have been so worried about your mother, and he was glad to see you shoveling pancakes in your mouth and laughing about some video your friend had sent you. 

“You’ve got syrup all over your mouth,” Jay said, smiling. Before you could wipe it yourself, Jay wet his thumb and wiped it off, relishing in the opportunity to touch your lips. “I bet you were such a messy kid,” he murmured.

“I was,” you said with a self-deprecating laugh. “My mom was always running after me with Wet Wipes.” 

Jay chuckled at the thought, retracting his thumb. “I’m sure she didn’t mind. You were probably a cute kid, too.”

You groaned. “I was so cute. I have no clue what happened.”

You got pretty, Jay thought. 

“You think I’m pretty?” you asked, a smile playing on your lips, and Jay realized that he had carelessly complimented you. 

Jay cleared his throat. “Of course you are,” he said, desperately trying to center himself. “You look just like your mother.”

You nodded, still looking pleased with the compliment, and Jay could feel his heart racing out of his shirt. You were going to be the death of him.

–

The next day, after dinner, (another collaboration between the two of you), you had announced that you would do the laundry. Jay shook his head and handed his plate to you. “You do the dishes,” he said, smiling slyly. “I’ll take care of the laundry.”

You begrudgingly took the plate and stacked it on top of yours. “I hate doing the dishes.”

Jay laughed and ruffled your hair as he walked past you. “Doing things you hate builds character,” he called behind his shoulder. 

As soon as he got upstairs, he made a mad dash to your bedroom to retrieve your laundry basket. He didn’t have a lot of time. Jay opened your door and bent down to examine the white hamper. Pawing through your clothes, he shakingly retrieved a pair of your panties. It was painfully conservative. Weren’t girls your age supposed to be wanton little sluts? He held it up, examining it closely. Common sense told him to put it back, morality told him to put it in the hamper, and his own conscience was screaming at him to just drop the fucking panties. But something stronger compelled him to hold the panties to his nose and sniff them deeply. Your scent was intoxicating, and he sighed. Jay took a few more deep sniffs before he dropped the panties back into the hamper and walked down to the laundry room. 

It was lockdown, he concluded as he set the basket down. Lockdown was driving him crazy, turning him into a libidinous beast. Never mind that it had only been three days - three days was enough. Three days of being forced to watch as your stepdaughter pranced around in shorts that just barely hid her tight little ass, of having to smell her, of knowing that there was pussy that he couldn’t get to…that would drive a monk to drink. As long as he didn’t act on it, Jay reasoned, he’d be fine. 

-

Over the next week, you and Jay had fallen into a routine. You ate breakfast together, then you dispersed to your separate rooms- you had to do online school, and Jay had to navigate running a business over Zoom. You would eat lunch together, discussing the virus, your problems, or just comfortably sitting in silence. 

Then you squirrel away back to your room. When that happened, Jay would generally do two things in an interchangeable order. He would either retire to his office and read a business management book or go over his emails, or he would rub his dick raw in his ensuite bathroom to the thought of stepdaughter pussy. Pornography wasn’t necessary; he could just close his eyes and imagine you in those stupid shorts, imagine you taking them off and crawling towards him, imagine his hands groping your forbidden body.

 After that, he would cook dinner for the two of you, and you would watch a movie together. You liked to rest your head on his shoulder, saying that that’s how you and your mother would watch movies. So Jay would wrap his arm around you, his other hand clenching the armrest of the couch so tightly his knuckles turned white as he tried to fight off his basest urges. After that, you would go to your room, and Jay would go to his room and edge himself for half an hour. 

Then, he would text your mother and tell her that he loved her.

–

A week after the lockdown had been announced, Jay checked his appearance in the mirror in the living room and frowned. He had a meeting in an hour, but he noticed that he was developing a unibrow. Normally, his wife would help him pluck the hairs.

You walked downstairs and noticed Jay scowling at himself. “What’s wrong?” you asked, standing next to him. By now, just your scent went straight to his cock, making it stir, and Jay sighed.

“Your mom’s not around, so now I’m turning into a caveman,” he said, pointing at his eyebrows. 

Your face brightened. “I can pluck them for you!”

Jay’s face fell, but he quickly put on a mask of indifference. “Oh, you don’t have to, I can figure it out,” he said, waving his hand.

You reached out and grabbed his hand. “Please, Jay? It’ll be so fun. It’ll be therapeutic. Please?”

You were the devil, he decided, the devil cloaked in the vestments of a college student. “Fine,” he relented, and you cheered.

Jay wearily stood next to the mirror as you sprinted up the stairs to get your tweezers. You bounced back down shortly, opening and closing the tweezers with the steeliness of a surgeon. 

“Sit down,” you ordered, pointing at the couch in the living room. Jay obeyed, sitting down on the far end of the couch. You straddled his waist.

“What are you doing?” Jay asked, his voice somewhat panicked.

“I have to get close to you,” you replied. Jay realized that his reaction was unwarranted and he was doing a shit job of acting like he didn’t want to fuck you, so he nodded. 

As you plucked his eyebrow hairs, Jay rested his hand on her waist to stabilize you. He stared at you as you worked; you were so lovely when you focused. Jay decided not to fight it, just for now. He languidly rubbed a circle around your waist as you plucked his eyebrows, and his other hand rested on your knee. If Jay tried, he could almost forget who you were. He could just pretend like there was no relation, that you were a stranger, that it wasn’t wrong to feel like this.

“Done!” You put the tweezers on the side table and examined his brows by tilting his head this way and that. Jay continued looking at you. He leaned back so that he was resting fully on the armrest, and your chest pressed against his due to the slight shift in position.

Jay’s voice was low and rough. “How does it look?” His hand still caressed your waist over your hoodie, and he noted that you made no move to get up.

“Very nice,” you replied, both hands still on his face. “You look very handsome now.”

Jay smiled slightly, looking you up and down. “Yeah?”

You looked in his eyes and nodded. “Yeah.”

Jay wasn’t sure who had leaned in first, but he did know that he was the one who deepened the kiss. You tasted incredible, and you weren’t a bad kisser, either. Your lips were soft and you took your time; your hands still cupped his cheeks. Jay’s hand slipped from your waist and worked its way up your hoodie, resting on your stomach. His other hand crawled up your leg, and he was endlessly grateful that you wore those dolphin shorts all the time. 

You were the one who probed your tongue at the entrance of his mouth, and you were the one who ran it along his teeth. He stroked his tongue along yours, tilting his head even further. Your hands slipped from his cheeks to rest on his shoulders.

Strangely enough, as he made out with his stepdaughter, Jay felt no qualms. All he could focus on was how good it felt, on how warm your little mouth was, on the way your body tensed as he ran his hands over you. Jay brought his hand higher, from your stomach to your ribs, until it was resting just below your breasts. He waited for you to pull away, to tell him to stop, but when you didn’t, he continued. Jay’s hand cupped your breast, and he briefly broke the kiss.

“You didn’t wear a bra?” he asked in an accusatory tone, kneading your breast. 

You shook your head.

“You wicked little minx.”

You shrugged, placing your hands behind his neck. “I normally don’t wear bras around the house. I mean, it’s just you and me in here.”

“No,” Jay whispered. “It’s not ‘just’ me.” Jay leaned in to kiss you with renewed fervor. His other hand slipped up into your shorts, fondling your upper thigh. Gently, Jay began to push you down onto the couch, until he was resting his full body weight on top of you. His hand groped at your chest, and he used both of his hands to pull your hoodie off. Finally, finally, he would get to see your body without a massive piece of fabric hiding it.

Jay moaned as soon as he saw your naked torso. He momentarily stopped kissing you to suck your tits. Both of his hands ran up and down your thighs, and he relished in your little gasps and whimpers. Jay took his mouth off of your breast and looked up at you. “You like that?”

You nodded, your face contorted in pleasure. “I like it, Jay.”

You had all but given him the green light to do whatever he wanted to your body, and almost without his knowing he began grinding his hips against yours. After leaving sloppy kisses all over your breasts, Jay kissed you again, sucking your tongue over and over again. 

He continued to rut against your clothed pussy, the friction assuaging the painful stiffness he felt in his cock. Jay knew he was pathetic. He knew how degenerate, how desperate, how sick he was. Only a freak would dry hump their stepdaughter on the couch. He didn’t even last an entire week. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to fully care, let alone to stop. Jay ground his crotch into yours, pressing you deeper into the couch, and he groaned in your mouth. 

His hands were all over you now, stroking your back, your chest, your stomach, your thighs, and he was dimly aware of your own hands snaking up his shirt. 

Jay broke the kiss again, sweat dripping down his nose. “You can’t tell anyone,” Jay said frantically as he began to unbuckle his belt. “Got that? Not your friends, not your classmates, not your mom. Do you understand me?”

You nodded, but that wasn’t enough. “Do you understand me, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” you said hoarsely, your lips already swollen. “I won’t tell anyone.”

Jay tossed his belt to the side and tugged his jeans down. “Our little secret, right?”

You shimmied out of your shorts. “Our little secret.”

Jay slid your panties down your legs and parted your legs, pushing one up the couch and leaving the other to hang off of the side. He glanced at you as he worked his cock a few times. “Are you a virgin?”

You shook your head. 

“Good.”

“Why?”

“I’d never fuck a virgin the way I’m about to fuck you,” Jay said. Your eyes widened in apprehension, and Jay smiled.

He pushed himself inside of you roughly. As soon as he felt your pussy tighten around his cock, its warmth enveloping him, he swore. “Oh, fuck.” Jay kept your legs pushed open as he inches himself into you. At first, he shallowly thrusts into you with about half of his length. You’re already shuddering like a whore, whining and shaking, but you aren’t wet enough for his liking. Jay reached his hand down and stroked at the area above your vagina lips, eventually finding your clitoris. He rubbed it, just enough to get you nice and sopping wet. It didn’t take long, either; you must have been as pent-up as he had been, judging by the way you were gasping. Even just a few inches had you stuttering out some words that would make your mother blush.

He pulled out of you slightly, swirling his hips, before slamming his cock into you again. You moaned, a sound so gorgeous that he had to continue. Jay pounded your pussy mercilessly, his hands keeping your legs split open. His balls slapped against your thighs almost painfully as he kept up his pace. 

“Should have done this at the start,” Jay huffed. “Should have been inside you the second lockdown started.”

You opened your eyes. “Why didn’t you?”

Good question. Why hadn’t he just fucked you like this when you had come running to him for comfort? Why had he bothered waiting? For propriety? For politeness? None of that mattered. The only thing that mattered now was the feeling of your pussy gripping his cock. 

Jay smiled slightly as he imagined how your mother would react to this: her daughter splayed out on the couch, her tits bouncing up and down, her hand covering her mouth so her moans won’t echo all over the house, and her stepfather in between her legs, fucking her ruthlessly. The scary thing was, Jay didn’t think he could stop even if your mother had walked in. Your pussy felt too good, too tight, too warm, too inviting. 

You were so wet that Jay could hear it, his cock making obscene noises as it ravaged your hole. Jay pulled out of you, breathing heavily. He dragged you from the couch and laid you flat on the rug. 

“On all fours,” he said raggedly. “Now.”

You were weak, but you obeyed his instructions, displaying your red, aggravated pussy for him. Jay mounted you and fucked you like a dog, chasing his orgasm. His hands groped around your chest and he grabbed your tits while he pounded you. He leaned his head back and let out a primal moan.

Soon, your arms gave out and you collapsed onto the floor. Jay didn’t pull out of you, couldn’t pull out of you. He braced his arms on either side of you and slammed into you, pressing his entire body weight onto you. 

He felt his orgasm approaching, and he sped up, grunting and groaning. Jay felt like he would die if he didn’t cum, and he fucked into you mindlessly. When his orgasm hit, he let out a strangled scream. He could feel the pleasure from his cock all the way to his fingertips; his hairline tingled as he emptied himself out in your pussy. 

Jay didn’t know what he would do next. He didn’t know how you would act around each other. But he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he had to do this again and again with you.

[grayandthyme]

mwah hello lovely! Just had a sneaky ask so basically when I'm washing my face or like doing my hair or like sewing, I take my rings off so it doesn't get caught or anything and I was like totally thinking like imagine jackson!tommy being absolutely miserable and grumpy and yous fall out but then like go to sleep on an argument and he wakes up to you getting ready without your wedding ring on and this man is stressing on another level like he is grovelling and apologising, like completely fluff, and your style of writing would so slay this!!

(could I request to be 💐 - also love ur work so much ur my fav right now!!)

authors note: ohhhh i LOVE this idea. i do the same thing too tbh.. and then i always forget to put all my jewelry on in the morning. excuse the horrible horrible writers block. if this was bad, then i am so so sorry, my flower.

warnings: lil bit of angst. couple disagreement. tommy is emo. happy ending. fluffy ending. implied intercourse near the end.

Winter was never kind.

Not in the last two years, anyway. The cold always came early, sharp and cruel. It gnawed at the town, and at Tommy—tightening its grip with each passing day.

Illness had started to spread, food stores had thinned, and every home begged for more insulation than they had to give.

And through it all, he carried the burden—Jackson’s protector, whether he asked for it or not.

You hated how powerless you felt.

Ideas buzzed endlessly in your head, half-baked plans and desperate wishes—none of them enough.

Sleep had become a stranger. Guilt made sure of that.

The front door creaked open, slow, as if even the hinges understood the weight of the man walking through the entry. Tommy's boots hit the floor with a dull thud. You could hear him exhale as he hung up his coat—bone-tired and quiet.

Upstairs, you sat still, listening.

You could hear it on him. The heaviness. The wear in every breath.

It twisted something weary in your chest.

And still—what could you do?

All you had was your love. Your presence.

Silent prayers that no one else would fall ill.

That no more names would be added to the list of the lost.

That he wouldn’t lose himself beneath it all.

“Tommy?”

Your voice was soft, coaxing, as your hands pulled your hair into its usual protective twist for bed. “I’m upstairs.”

You heard the stairs groan beneath his weight. Slow steps. Heavy. You pictured his hand dragging along the banister like he was holding himself upright with it.

He was.

When he appeared in the doorway, your heart ached at the sight of him. His face was blank, jaw tight, eyes darker than usual—not from lack of sleep, but from everything else.

He didn’t smile. Didn’t say anything right away.

You tried to keep your voice light. “Did you eat anything?”

“No.”

Just that. A clipped syllable, tossed carelessly into the air between you.

You sat up straighter. “You should’ve grabbed somethin’. I left soup on the stove.”

He shrugged off the comment like it was a coat he didn’t feel like wearing. “Didn’t feel like it.”

"Oh—"

"I can grab you a bowl," You blinked. "Tommy—"

"Can we not?" he muttered, already tugging off his shirt, turning his back to you. His shoulders were hunched, tense like a coiled wire.

Your stomach tightened. “Not what?”

“This." He gestured vaguely. "The questions. The fussin’."

"...I just want five goddamn minutes without someone needing somethin’ from me.”

Five goddamn minutes without your suffocating love.

Isn't that it? Isn't that what he really meant?

You stared at him, stunned by the bite in his voice. “I’m not someone from town, Tommy. I’m not asking you to fix a generator or build a fence—"

"… I’m asking if you’re okay…"

"… If you’ve eaten.”

He turned to face you, exasperation flaring behind his eyes. “And what do you want me to say, huh? That I’m not okay? That everything’s goin’ to shit and I can’t stop it? You think sayin’ it out loud makes it better?”

He just isn't himself these days.

Not the man you married.

Not the man you fell in love with.

“No,” you said, voice rising in spite of yourself. “But shutting me out doesn’t make it better either.”

He ran a hand through his hair, jaw twisting like he wanted to say something worse.

But, he bit it back.

“I’m tired,” he said finally, like that explained everything.

Like that excused all of it.

Silence settled between you, cold and thick. He sat on the edge of the bed, back to you again. You didn’t reach for him. Neither of you spoke.

And after a while, you leaned your head back against the headboard, hands still tangled in your half-finished updo. The sound of wind whistled faintly through the old windows.

It was cold in the house, but colder between the two of you.

Weeks since you had last been intimate.

Days since the last time you had eaten dinner together.

Minutes since the last time you had looked at each other.

Seconds since the last time you thought of each other.

Maybe this was the breaking point.

Not the kind that comes with shouting or slammed doors—but the quiet, bitter kind. The kind that settles in the chest and whispers you’ve had enough.

Maybe tonight you were done pretending that his silence didn't scrape at your insides.

That every sigh, every shift in the sheets, wasn’t treated like a personal offense.

You stood up slowly, breath steady but hands a little tight around the pillow.

“I’m sleeping on the couch,” you said, voice low, final—not angry, just… finished. You grabbed your water bottle off the nightstand, the metal clinking against your ring.

Behind you, Tommy shifted, but didn’t speak. Not right away. You were halfway to the door when his voice cut through the dark.

“What, now you’re punishin' me?”

You turned, the weight in your chest heavy. “No, Tommy. I’m giving us space. You don’t want me near you right now, and I’m not gonna beg for scraps of patience you don’t have.”

His expression darkened. “You think this is about you?” He gave a humorless chuckle and ran a hand down his face. “Christ. I can’t even be tired without it turnin’ into a fight.”

“You’re not just tired,” you said, trying to keep your voice calm, level.

“You’re angry."

"And mean."

"… And I get that things are hard right now, but I’m not the enemy.”

He didn’t answer.

Just looked away, jaw tense, like the words were too much.

Like you were too much.

And maybe you were.

For tonight, at least.

So you turned.

Left the room with your pillow clutched tight to your chest, like it might hold the pieces of you still trying to stay soft. The floor was cold beneath your feet, but it was nothing compared to the chill in that bedroom.

Out here, at least, the air didn’t feel so heavy. You could breathe without the sharp edges.

Downstairs, you settled onto the couch. The cushions were stiff, unfamiliar. You pulled the blanket up over your legs and stared at the dark ceiling for a long while.

It had been nearly two years since you last slept alone.

When you got married, Tommy had made a quiet vow—not just in words, but in practice.

He stopped working nights, made a point to come home, to come to bed.

No matter how hard the day had been, no matter how tired or withdrawn he felt. He always made it back to you.

And those nights mattered—whether they passed in conversation, on-and-on, or in silence, with a book in your lap or his head on your chest.

He was there.

Always.

Every night ended with him. And most mornings began with his warmth still lingering beside you.

Until now, that is.

Now the absence was sharp, jarring in its unfamiliarity. You lay back, blinking at the ceiling. Pretty unsure if sleep would come at all.

Morning arrived without mercy.

Early light filtered through the curtains, indifferent to your unrest. It felt like you’d slept maybe two hours—scattered, shallow fragments of rest between the tossing and the waking.

Every groan of the old house, every twack of wind or branch against the windows pulled you back to the surface. Sleep had never been this fragile—not when you had his arms around you.

You'd almost forgotten how much quieter your mind was when he held you.

Was the world always this loud?

Even so, even bone-tired, you rose. Slowly, peeling yourself from the couch. Your body ached from the angles of the cushions, the way they never gave quite enough support. The living room was still, untouched by anyone else. Just you. Just cold.

You stood. Stretched out the tightness in your muscles, rolled your shoulders back, and breathed.

Then—against the weight in your limbs—you moved.

Back up the stairs. Not out of hope, exactly, but out of duty. Out of love that still lived, and lingered somewhere in the mess. You didn’t know what you’d say. You didn’t know what would be waiting on the other side of that bedroom door.

But he shouldn’t be alone. Not like this.

And when you finally opened the door—against all odds, against every hope he’d still be there—he wasn’t.

The bed was made. Curtains drawn open, exactly the way you did every morning. But the room was empty. He was already gone.

And just like that, the sinking feeling returned. That familiar, dreadful kind—the one that creeps in when you realize something is beginning to unravel. When the ground shifts beneath you, and nothing feels solid anymore.

The kind of fear that whispers, this is when everything starts to go really, really wrong.

Your chest tightened. That helpless, aching question echoing in your mind,

How are you supposed to carry his burden, when you’re starting to feel like one yourself?

It was that sensation you get when you trip over a sidewalk crack—just for a second, your whole body in freefall. That stutter in your breath, the instant rush of adrenaline as your brain prepares for pain. Just pain. Pain all over.

That’s what this feels like.

That’s what this room feels like.

Still. Clean. And utterly abandoned.

There wasn’t much you could do.

Just exhale.

Breathe in.

Gather yourself for the day ahead.

And send up a silent prayer—to whatever god might still be listening—that they wouldn’t take him from you. Not yet. Not like this. You weren’t finished. Your story wasn’t done.

So you stepped into the bathroom, steadying yourself against the sink. The light was soft, cold against your skin. You moved through the motions because they were the only things you could control.

You slipped off your ring. Then your bracelet. Set them gently on the counter like they might shatter if handled carelessly.

And then you began your morning.

Because what else was there to do but keep going?

You washed your face with the clove and ivory soap a farmer down the street had made just for you. It had come in a basket filled with sweetgrass and other homemade scents—gifts from your wedding day.

Now, these simple things were part of your daily ritual, grounding you in a world that felt anything but steady. And you routinely asked for these products.

Usually—most mornings, you’d pause in front of the mirror and smile softly, your hands would reach up and dab the soap onto Tommy’s face—gentle, playful, tracing through his mustache with quiet laughter.

He always let you.

Every single time.

That small act, so ordinary, had become a language of its own—one that spoke of tenderness beneath the weight of everything else. And, you hadn't done that today.

After your morning ritual, you stepped out into the gray light of Jackson’s small town market.

The heart of the community when everything else felt fragile.

The chill in the air bit at your cheeks, but you barely noticed.

There was work to be done. People to help.

You spent the morning helping vendors unload crates, set up tables, and arrange produce with practiced care. Each small task felt heavy—not just from the cold, but from the weight of knowing Tommy carried the town on his back.

And today, you were determined to carry some of it for him.

Even if you weren't on speaking terms.

A few familiar faces caught your eye—Mrs. Harper, already at her flower stall, smiled softly as you helped her lift a box of fresh daisies.

“Thanks, dear. You always make things easier.”

You smiled back, brushing a stray hair from your face. “We do what we can.”

At the bread stand, Mr. Lawson handed you a warm loaf with a grateful nod. “Tommy’s lucky to have you.”

Was he?

Was he really lucky? Or had the weight pressing down on him blurred the lines between what he noticed and what he feared to see?

By midday, your hands were raw, fingers cracked from cold and work, your feet aching from hours on unforgiving ground.

But you pushed forward anyway.

An older woman had asked you to fetch a crate from the back, and you’d agreed without hesitation. You trudged through the snow, the cold biting through your gloves as you pulled them tighter, careful not to drop the crate.

Then—The sudden crunch of boots behind you made you turn sharply.

Tommy.

Steadfast. Solid.

Before you could say anything, his hands caught your wrist, firm but gentle.

“Are you okay?” His voice was softer than it had been in weeks—less command, more question, more a fragile confession caught in his throat.

“Tommy—” You exhaled, startled by the sudden contact, your eyes locking onto his as if trying to read the worry etched deep beneath his steady gaze.

“I’m fine.” Your words came quick, but unsure. “What’s—what’s wrong?”

He hesitated, swallowing hard. His eyes flicked down to your left hand, the absence of the wedding band that you didn't know about glaring like a missing piece of a puzzle he wasn’t ready to face.

“You’re not wearing your ring,” he said quietly, his voice taut—tight with a panic that trembled just beneath the surface.

What?

You shook your head firmly, a silent no. Slowly, deliberately, you slipped your glove off, heart sinking as your fingers searched for the familiar weight.

It wasn’t there.

You must have left it in the bathroom after your morning routine—forgotten in the rush of thoughts and the quiet chaos inside your mind.

“Shit—” you breathed out, the word sharp and tangled with regret. “No, no… I forgot. I must’ve been thinking too hard… and just left without putting it back on.”

He shifted uneasily, a flicker of doubt shadowing his eyes—like maybe he wasn’t sure if he believed you.

“Hey,” you murmured, lifting your bare, gloveless hand slowly to his jaw. Your fingers traced the line gently, sliding back until your thumb rested softly against his cheekbone.

“I’m still your wife.”

“That doesn’t change,” you said quietly but fiercely, “... just because I slept on the couch last night. It doesn’t change because you carry a weight that feels like the whole damn world.”

Your voice held steady beneath the tremor of everything left unsaid—a tether meant to hold him close, even when everything else felt like it might unravel.

He exhaled slowly, a small, reluctant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth—though it hadn’t yet reached the shadows in his eyes.

His hand slipped into the pocket of his worn jeans and pulled out the ring. A simple silver band, rough and weathered, crowned with the largest gem he’d been able to find in this fractured world—still bold, still fierce. About the size of a pea, catching the light like a stubborn spark.

“Oh no,” you teased, a soft laugh escaping as your fingers reached for the ring. “You’re gonna have to get down on one knee if you want to give this back to me.”

He hummed thoughtfully, eyes narrowing with a spark of mischief.

“Well, if I did it once…” His grin twisted into something fond and teasing. “I reckon I can do it again.”

You rolled your eyes, chuckling low. “Good… ‘Cause it’s only payback.”

“Payback?” he echoed, sliding the ring onto your finger with a touch both gentle and reverent.

You smirked, nudging him lightly. “Payback for being just like your brother. A grumpy ass.”

He snorted, shaking his head. “Hey, I’m not that bad.”

“Oh, come on.” Your grin deepened, teasing but warm. “You’re a hell of a lot worse. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Tommy’s smile softened, the rough edges melting away as he closed the distance between you, pulling you in just a little tighter.

“Yeah, well… lucky for you, I’m stubborn as hell.”

You exhaled, slow and steady, your fingers weaving through the roughness of his hairline, tracing the familiar lines until you drew him closer still. His hands found your waist, steady and sure, anchoring you both.

“As stubborn as a bull,” you murmured, pressing gentle, scattered kisses to the planes of his face—each one a small claim, a quiet promise of holding.

Tommy’s lips curved into a crooked grin, the kind that made your heart skip—a flash of the man you knew beneath all the weight and worry.

“You know,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “if I’m a stubborn bull, you’re definitely the matador.” He gave you a playful shove, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Always finding ways to make me follow your lead.”

You laughed, nudging him back. “Someone’s gotta keep your ass in line.”

He winked, that familiar cocky edge sliding back into his voice as his fingers tangled in your hair with a possessive ease.

“Yeah? Well, don’t get used to it. I’m a wild one.”

You smiled softly, your breath warm against his skin as he pulled you closer, the weight between you easing, if only for a moment, a fleeting second. “And that’s exactly why I’m sticking around.”

With a reluctant grin, you pulled away just enough to break the spell.

“Come on, get back to work. I’ll see you at home.”

You pressed a few lingering kisses along his jawline, savoring the quiet closeness before stepping back and reaching down for the crate, the cold biting at your fingertips but your heart a little lighter.

Home was a refuge—warmer than the biting cold outside.

Wrapped in the steady glow of the fireplace you’d left smoldering, just enough to chase the chill but not so much to waste fuel.

By the time Tommy came home, the house hummed with quiet comfort. You were already curled up in bed, half-lost between sleep and wakefulness, fingers loosely clutching the worn book resting in your lap—its pages blurred by your drifting thoughts.

Exhausted. You were exhausted.

The door creaked softly behind you, and then his presence filled the room before you even saw him.

He moved quietly, shrugging off his coat and slipping out of his boots without a sound. He slid beneath the covers beside you, his arms folding around your waist—steady, warm—a silent promise that no matter how heavy the world pressed down, you were still his.

Here. Now. Safe.

“Miss me?” he murmured into the hollow behind your ear, his voice low, softened by something tender and raw.

You settled into the curve of his neck, breathing out the day’s weight.

“Always.”

But then, with a playful grimace, you pushed at his arms.

“But—your hands… they’re so fucking cold.”

Tommy grinned against your skin, voice teasing as he tightened his hold just enough to spark a little fire between the chill.

“Cold hands, warm heart. You get the full package, don'tcha?”

You rolled your eyes, a soft laugh escaping you. “Seriously, you’re freezing.”

He chuckled low, the sound vibrating through your skin like a familiar pulse. “Yeah? Then warm me up.” His fingers slipped beneath the hem of your shirt, cool at first but purposeful, settling on the curve of your hips before sliding slowly upward.

A sharp gasp caught in your throat, breath hitching as you barely managed to say his name. “To—”

But he silenced you, his mouth claimed yours—urgent and fierce, but tender all at the same time. Then his hands traced the path of your stomach with deliberate patience, pausing just beneath your fluttering ribs.

His lips moved against yours with a slow, steady heat, tracing promises. His hands, cold and sure, slid from your ribs to your sides, grounding you, pulling you closer until there was no space left between your bodies.

You melted into him, breath mingling, heart beating in time with his. The cold from earlier faded away, replaced by the fire he always managed to kindle.

That burning pool in your belly.

When he finally pulled back just enough to look at you, his eyes were soft, searching, and a little vulnerable. “You alright?”

You nodded, voice barely a whisper. “Better than I’ve been in days.”

A slow, tender smile curved his lips as he brushed a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “Me too.”

You tilted your head, letting out a soft yawn into the quiet space beside him. His smile deepened, fingers leaving your hair, gently gripping your cheeks between his pointer finger, and thumb.

Tilting until you meet his stare.

“Fallin' asleep on me?”

“The couch wasn’t exactly welcoming,” you murmured, pursing your lips in mock protest beneath his touch. A soft squish.

“Too bad,” he breathed, his head dipping down to rest against the hollow of your neck. “There’s a whole lot I’ve been wanting to do to you tonight.”

[imsogonesposts]

A Little Help

|| ao3 || an: finnick lives!! also, happy almost new year!! ||

summary: You help Finnick recover after the injuries he sustained from his near death experience with the mutts. (wc: 1,152)

Finnick wasn’t used to this. He wasn’t used to being taken care of and fussed over, at least not to this extent. You had always cared for him, fussed over him over minor things such as a cold or headache, but he wasn’t used to this. To you having to feed him, help him walk, help him stand. And while he usually loves having your hands on him, at this moment, he hated it. Hated that you had to see him like this and protect him and care for him like this. He was supposed to be the caregiver, the protector, though that’s how he ended up in this situation in the first place, he supposes. By risking his life fighting the mutts, ensuring everyone was safe before he even bothered to worry about himself. Ensuring you were safe. Though, in the end, he’d do it all again in a heartbeat. No questions asked, as long as everyone was safe. As long as youwere safe. 

“Sweetheart, I really don’t need help,” he muttered as you helped him down the stairs from your shared bedroom, into the kitchen. Truthfully, he did need your help, but he was far too proud to ever admit something like that. Even to you. 

“Well, sometimes I like to dote on you,” you reply as he rolls his eyes with a smile. It was true, even before the accident you’d continuously dote on him, as he’d do to you. But now, you were taking it to another level. And while he usually wouldn’t mind, he loves it when you dote on him, he can’t help but feel a little useless and helpless. Helpless because you have to do everything for him. 

“And sometimes you take it to the extreme,” he teases, “pretty soon you’re gonna start carrying me around the house.”

“Your legs aren’t that bad,” you respond, sitting him down on the couch and kissing his cheek before walking off to the kitchen to make some breakfast for the both of you. 

“Why do you insist on helping me so much?” Finnick later asks over breakfast as you raise an eyebrow at him. 

“Because I love you,” he had expected that answer. “And I know you’d do the same for me, no matter what.” That was true, when you had sprained your ankle after returning from your Hunger Games, Finnick had fussed over you as well, helping you walk off the train and to the hospital, carrying all of your boxes to your new home in the Victor’s Village, even spent the night your first time back when the nightmares became too much for you. And the two of you weren’t even dating yet. 

“Yeah, but it must get annoying having to take care of me so much-” he quietly replies.

“I don’t mind,” you truthfully retort. 

“You shouldn’t have to baby me,” he complains.

“I’m not babying you, I’m taking care of my boyfriend.”

“You shouldn’t have to.”

“Why is it so hard for you to let other people take care of you?” It was true. Finnick always struggled to let people care for him, even if it was you. In the end, he would always let you, he knew you meant well, but usually not without some resistance first.

“Because I don’t want you to see me like this!” He said, raising his voice as he dropped his fork and knife onto the table, breakfast already forgotten. “I hate that you have to see me like this,” he said, dropping his voice, putting his head in his hands. ”I’m sorry for yelling, but…I hate that you have to see me so weak. So…useless.”

“Finnick, I don’t think you’re weak,” you reply, getting up and slowly removing his head from his hands. “I think you’re one of the bravest, strongest, people I know,” you say, kneeling in front of him and taking both of his hands in yours, lightly squeezing them. 

“If I was so strong, I wouldn’t look like this,” he replied, waving a hand over his body as if to emphasize the wounds and bandages littered across his body before putting it back into yours. “If I was so strong, you wouldn’t feel like you have to take care of me.”

“I always like to take care of you, you know that.”

“You’ve never had to do it to this extent,” he bitterly replies as you release one of his hands to lightly cup his face, turning it so his meets yours. 

“Look at me,” you quietly request as he reluctantly obliges. His sad sea-green eyes meeting your warm and inviting ones. “I don’t mind taking care of you, and I don’t think you’re weak.” He opens his mouth to protest, but quickly closes it when you give him a pointed glare. In different circumstances, it would almost be funny. 

“A weak person wouldn’t do what you did. They’d have gone and hide instead of putting everyone before themself. A weak person wouldn’t have been the last one to go up that ladder or have fought off that many mutts. You know who does those kind of things? A strong and brave person. A caring person does those things. Finnick, just cause you’re a little bruised up doesn’t meant mean you’re weak or anything. I really mean it when I say you’re the bravest person I know, and not just cause you’re my husband.” 

For what felt like the first time in an awfully long time, you could see the hint of a smile on Finnick’s face.  A real one. You didn’t realize how much you missed that warm and genuine smile until it graced his face again. “Well, I’m a little more than bruised up,” he jokes with a sigh. “Thank you,” he all but whispers as he raises your interlocked hands to his mouth, pressing a kiss against each of your knuckles. 

“You don’t have to thank me for anything,” you reply earnestly as he shakes his head. 

“I know I probably haven’t been the easiest person to deal with, not just because of my…condition, but more so my attitude.” He looks up at you with a smile that still made you just a little weak in the knees all these years later. “Thank you for not giving up on me, I guess. And still being willing to take care of me.”

“It’d take a lot more than all this to get rid of me, you know,” you tell him as he lets out a small laugh. “Besides, you’re my favorite patient.”

“As far as I was concerned, I thought I was your only patient,” he teases as you roll your eyes with a smile. “But tell me, why am I your favorite?”

You just kiss him in response as Finnick realizes he doesn't mind being your favorite patient, so long as you kiss him like that again.