#a month in advance. i ended up just going to the beach alone because i was so upset and angry and i didnt want to waste my free time | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

yourlocalsmutwriter · 4 months ago

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Beach vacation? More like I stole your bitch vacation- Dieter Bravo x reader × Joel Miller

cw: mmf threesome, double penetration, anal fingering, anal sex, mention of sex toys, fingering, piv, safe sex that later becomes unsafe sex, creampie, jealous! dieter, crying during sex, overstimulation, not full on cum eating but at least a little cum tasting, 1 ppcu guy + 1 gratis

Written for the #MagicNumberChallenge by @mothandpidgeon , @schnarfer, and @whocaresstillthelouvre

Dieter Bravo hated Christmas. It wasn't like a Grinch thing, nor did he think it was pretentious. Yes, long queues in stores weren't his thing (call him old fashioned for not buying his gifts online, and he's going back to get a refund). He also wasn't a fan of Christmas movies (why would they just leave the kid home alone, truly there was no distant relative with a car or a neighbor that could get him for a few days?). Truth was, he was just cold. He'd spend so many Christmases in California. Los Angeles lacked snow, so usually his posh film friends went to the Alps. So, more free time for him. Dieter could go to his favorite restaurants without a reservation. He could just do lines on his balcony while scrolling Raya. There was that one incident with the escort in the Santa outfit, though his pr team did a great spin. Dieter got them a raise on new years. But after that cursed movie, he had packed and left the city of angels.

His first New York winter almost did him in. But of course, faith brought him you. A pretty roommate. A nice, respectful girl that kept to herself. Occasionally had a friend over, but never had a guy sleep over. Dieter would've guessed you were gay or ace, but he didn't miss how you ogled him sometimes. Especially when he would parade around in the apartment in just his bathrobe, which was more often than not. You guessed he was just one of those people who didn't get cold. Until you got your October electricity bill. He had ranked up an insane amount of money. And you had to confront him because the landlord confronted you. That's how you found yourself yelling at Dieter, finger jabbed at his chest. His room was a sauna, and he had the audacity to leave the window open. "It keeps the place from smelling like pot," he whispers, letting you on his big secret. Unfortunately, you don't care. Even when he shows you his bank account, with so many zeros, he could afford to heat up the entire floor. It was a matter of principle. You dragged him to your room and showed him the zeros on the meter. Your screaming match was over when you tucked him in bed, under your heavy, warm comforter. He pulled you close to him, claiming that he read about this hugging the tension away method for a role. Somehow, you manage to end up naked with him, sweaty and panting under the covers. Dieter basically made camp in your bed for the winter. Sucking his dick daily wasn't on your bingo card, but it sure was a nice distraction from the bleak weather outside. He actually took you out on a date in March, and the rest was history.

Dieter did not particularly want to spend this Christmas with your parents. I mean, he was probably closer in age to them than to you (math wasn't his strong suit). So, months in advance, he buys tickets to a tropical paradise, opting for you two to spend a very sunny Christmas. He presents them to you in October, a year on the day when you first kissed. You tease him relentlessly for keeping track, still half-convinced that Dieter was with you for the sex. He could bring out something needy and almost pathetic in you. He loved Friday nights, because he'd spend hours between your legs, making you cum over and over again. Sometimes he'd get high or only get you high and just slowly hump you for hours, both of you so relaxed and at peace. You'd come so hard against him then, he swears you were made in a lab, especially tailored to his tastes. Hell, he even called you his soulmate the first time he finished inside of you. Watching you fuck his cum in deeper made him want to put a ring on your finger. You two were casual, yet serious, friends with benefits but also a secret third thing. So that's why Dieter thought you loved surprises.

You did, you really did. But you were terrified of flying. The whole process. Going to the airport. All the people, the long lines at TSA. Being somewhere, then in a few hours, landing somewhere else. And no matter how many times you flew, it was the same. You, like the mature well-adjusted adult you are, ignore this. Maybe this time it would be different. Maybe your boyfriend's dickmatization included anxiety. But as soon as you wake up in the morning of the flight, it's all going tits up. When you tell Dieter everything, in between the gagging on nothing on the toilet, he brings you a pack of edibles. He shakes it, the gummies hitting the plastic like they're dog treats. You have to remind him that you don't have his celebrity status and you'd definitely get in trouble. He rummages through his bathroom drawers and comes out with a thing that's just 3 natural herbs with a calming effect. Totally over the counter and definitely not his style.

"After everything that happened on set for Cliff Beasts 6, they thought I had lost it. Put me in rehab and all. I was getting drug tested at every audition. These kept me afloat. Take 2 for serious cases and 3 for emergencies." He says in response to your unasked questions.

You take 2 immediately, chasing them down with water. The whole journey there, you're stuck to Dieter's side like a koala. He's taking care of you, and it's almost okay. You're still anxious, and it doesn't let up until you're in the air. Then you're both taking advantage of the complimentary wine on the plane. You're grabbing a second one, and it dawns on you that you forgot to ask Dieter if the meds were okay to be mixed with alcohol. But he's fast asleep next to you, the script for his next project strewn on his lap. You stuff the confidential words in your in-flight magazines and lay your head on his shoulder. You're out like a light, sleeping like never before. You're a groggy zombie through passport control and already napping again in the taxi to the hotel. There you're more rested and start unpacking as Dieter already heads to the pool, towels in hand. You plant a big kiss on his lips and let him enjoy himself.

He's better at intimidating people, at remembering to put on sunscreen, at picking out the perfect chaiselounge. Dieter Bravo was made for relaxation. You can bet he's already drinking out of a coconut at a pool bar by the time you're down. Folding his speedos and hanging your clothes wasn't that time-consuming. It was your swimsuit that was the problem. You hadn't bothered to own a cute one before, and that meant that you had been on the hunt for two pieces in the middle of winter. With holiday shipping delays, and all you had to just go to a cheap, trusty store and pick a suspiciously cheap set. The white pieces with an overall cherry print looked great on you, but there was no guarantee that they wouldn't soon become see-through.

So you spent a good 10 minutes looking at yourself in the mirror, poking and proding at the fabric, stretching it, anything. It wasn't ideal, but it would have to do, you guessed. Finally, you decided to fuck it. You'd tell Dieter about your woes and he'd wait for you to exit the pool with a towel. You had no qualms about being wrapped in the huge Star Wars one someone gave him at a meet and greet. You swore your boyfriend had a doppelganger out there somewhere. You begged him to contact the guy playing Din Djarin for a remake of Parent Trap. D even had his ears pierced, it was perfect. To his effort, he called his agent and tried, but to no avail. Turns out that actor was a former stunt double of his and absolutely refused to work in the same vicinity. Your boyfriend took that in stride. Not before teasing the shit out of you, though.

"Oh, I bet you'd love that, wouldn't you, sweetheart? Visiting me on set, seeing two of me. You'd try to make a pass at him too, get him to join us, I know. Be a sly little minx, get a menagé with me and him. Wouldn't that be a brainfuck, huh?"

Dieter is a sweet talker but a persistent yapper nonetheless. That's why he knew just how far he could go with the threesome talk. How to coax you to ask for what you need.

"Come on, say it. What do you think about my idea? Cat got your tongue? I hope not, because I quite like it when you use it to do that thing with the." You cut him off with a

"It's hot, okay. My holes being filled by you, well two of you, it's a dream. To have you like that. Need you now, though. Please, enough of daydreaming."

You didn't need more freaky tales about how he'd fuck his clone. You needed him. Of course, Dieter wasn't gonna keep you waiting.

He trails two fingers towards the fabric of your underwear, pulling the panties to the side. You can hear him mumbling about how "you're soaked enough just from his words" as he curls the pointer and middle finger inside of you. The familiar, yet ghastly sounding squelch sound was a testament to this, you guessed. Luckily, you could get your way with him too, using a couple of simple words.

"Please, give me your dick, please, I wanna come on it," is all it takes. Simple, easy. Has him reaching for sweatpants strings and pulling them down, along with his boxer shorts. He slides his member between your thighs as he rummages through the bedside drawer, looking for condoms. Time stills as you watch him tear open the package frantically and put it on with precision, still giving you a show. How he fucks you in missionary, pillow under your hips. How he spits into his palm, uses the slick that's down your thighs to coat his finger. How he keeps apologizing that you don't have lube and reassuring you he will stop if you tell him. How your lips form a perfect O when his finger moves past your cheeks, and inside of your ass. How he tells you that sharing you would probably be like this and you squeeze against him twice. How you both cum embarrassingly fast, all of it a little too much for you.

You remember this little anecdote and pull on the bikini that's already wedged itself in your ass. Sunscreen in one hand and big emperor sunglasses perched on top of your head, you scan the perimeter for Dieter. You spot him, but something looks a bit wrong. You're not sure what it is, a Mandela effect of some sort.

Maybe it's his hair, looking a bit more salt and peppery? You trail through his body, but you spot the long red beach shorts he's wearing. When did Dieter pack that? You wondered why, too, because you already shoved 3 different colored speedos in the hotel wardrobe. When in Rome, he seemed to say with those, even though you were pretty far from Rome. You're staring at his crotch for a good minute until you snap out. The lack of tattoos is a dead giveaway. The thick book that says something about plowing and bones is what cements it. D's very smart, he's got an Oscar for God's sake. But he simply doesn't have the attention span for a slow paced read like this . That was not your boyfriend. But they looked identical. They could be twins. You knew it wasn't a "parent trap" situation because Dieter's parents were married. But this was getting very "three identical strangers" for you.

You were busy gawking at the stranger to notice Dieter sliding himself next to you.

"What's caught your attention? Wait, what the fuck is that. Is that a mirror or something. Jesus, it moved. Oh my God, that's a man. How many fucking doppelgangers do I have?" He says.

"Should we talk to him? I mean, he's obviously staying in the same hotel. Stars aligning and all that."

Dieter raises a brow. He had plans for this vacation. They included you, him, lounging by the pool, maybe a couple of museum and insane amounts of sex. After all, somebody else was changing the sheets. A buddy would be a bit awkward. D planned to ravish you at dinner and not fork asparagus as he makes small talk. Or God forbid, make conversation with a crazed fan. But on the other hand, he was also curious like you. So he decided to bite the bullet. He intertwined his fingers with yours and took the short walk to the pool chair. Chest glistening with water, a strip of sunscreen on his Aqualine nose, almost like he came from the set of Gladiator 2.

Joel Miller lived under a rock. So he had never seen a Dieter Bravo thing. Maybe that one episode of Buffy that aired eons ago. But he had a daughter to raise, not much time to be a cinephile. Especially boring, uppity stuff like the plays or historical epics D was involved in. Ironically, Joel had seen Cliff Beasts 1-5 and was still waiting for 6, which they were "in post production limbo" for years, according to the fan forums. So he didn't recognize the celebrity. He was nonetheless intrigued because the man towards him looked more alike than even Tommy. And not to mention the breathtaking woman next to him.

Joel practically jumped when Dieter faced him. They were a spitting image of eachother, bar a few of the tattoos. The other man also looked leaner, while Joel had a more defined physique. Perks of the job, he thought. The job that was currently probably falling apart without him. But sue him for getting a holiday for once in his life. Sarah was too old (her words, not his) to spend Christmas with her dad. Rather do that with some friends from college. And he managed to charm the lady at the tourist agency to give him a discount, last minute trip and all. Now Mr. Miller was grateful to be alone. Because there was nothing that he wanted more than to sink his cock inside of you as Dieter watched from the cuck chair. And almost like an angel, the man says to him "Would you like to have sex with us? For science.". Joel snickers at you lightly smacking your boyfriend's arm and apologizing. Then come introductions. The three of you take to eachother. Of course, him and Dieter compare lives, fully invested in this Sliding Doors scenario. You rub sunscreen on both of them as they talk, only humming or asking additional questions. It's like you're supervising 2 bulls and you're a matador. Dieter reads out recent news in increasingly weirder voices he learned at school. Joel gives you crossword clues, correcting your spelling of cordyceps. The three of you pass around a ball in the pool, much to the chagrin of other guests. Joel Miller has never been wined and dined. But he comes pretty close to it when you're buying him mocktail after mocktail and charging them to the room. All he has to do for a beer is ask nicely. You're grabbing the bottle too fast and pressing your lips to the foam, slurping obscenely. Then you twist like a vine, between the two men. The bar chairs are uncomfortable, so you have to sit in their lap? Sure. Joel notices how Dieter subtly gropes you, grabbing handfuls of your ass and tits. Not to be undone, he makes sure to press you down against himself. It's a cat and mouse game now, and D intends to start it off properly. By asking you to go upstairs and get ready for a shower as he tags along behind you with Mr. Miller.

You've barely swiped your key card when they catch up to you. Dieter pins you to the door,lips on yours, while Joel clumsily tries to kiss your neck.

"How do you want it, pretty face? Wanna take it in your mouth, show us that you suck cock like a pro?" Dieter asks as you're already moaning for more. You shake your head no, envisioning something a little different.

"Greedy. Then what? Tell Joel first, tell him what you want from him." Your boyfriend prompts you.

"Fuck my ass, Joel. As D's inside of my pussy. I wanna feel you both. At the same time. I've never done that, always wanted to."

He basically reboots for a second and then goes for your bikini bottoms. He looks at Dieter for confirmation, who just nods and tosses a bottle of lube in his direction. Joel would stop and think if this is a good idea if his cock hadn't been painfully hard in his swimming trunks for some time now. So, instead of ruminating, he uncapped the lube and spreads it on his fingers. You're surprisingly still, like a doe in headlights. He can hear you breathe in and out as he teases your hole. Better get on with it if you wanted to take him, he reasons. So he slides a finger past your ass cheeks. He asks Dieter to palm your tits, rub your clit, anything to get you more loosened up. It works. Bucking your hips against your boyfriend distracts you. You're still shaking a bit, so he asks

"You two have never, I mean, she's never?" Taken it up the ass remains silent, as if it's too vulgar. As if Joel wasn't two knuckles deep inside of that hole as he questioned you.

"Not totally. I've taken fingers, plugs. Dieter likes to keep me on edge, that fucker. But never a cock." You say nonchalantly, as if you're asking him what he's doing tomorrow.

"It's just so impersonal. Yeah, I'm an ass man, but it's not the same. Especially with this one soaking me like a broken sprinkler. No lube can come close to this." Dieter cuts in as he curls his fingers just right and slides them inside of you.

You whine for more, but Dieter doesn't rellent. No, he's played this song and dance before. The orgy scenes from game of thrones? Those weren't scripted. So he knows exactly how to make two people tick at the same time. He thrusts his fingers, once, twice and pulls them out. Shushes your disappointment with a kiss. Slides his digits past Joel's lips. Loves how his doppelganger socks hungrily, acting like your pussy juice is ambrosia. Dieter counts to 5 and pulls them away, almost chipping Mr. Miller's tooth. It's a game, all of it. And he intends to win.

You sense the dick measuring contest from a mile away. But you're prepared. Dieter is thicker, but shorter. You blab on how full he makes you, how he stretches you out, how you're not sure if it will fit. Joel, longer, but not as thick. You try for the old "he's so pretty", oh it'll ruin me, I have never had it so deep in me before. Of course, your boyfriend does the honours. They both move against you, heads ready and throbbing. Dieter grumbles about picking up the wrong condoms, forgetting about his latex allergy. Thankfully Joel somehow gets one out of the pages of his book. As soon as you tease his about his choice, he smacks your ass.

"I could walk away right now, fuck my fist in the shower tonight and then tease you and your little boyfriend for the reminder of your stay. Or you could be a good little doll and respect your elders. Still wanna make fun of me?" He asks, rubbing his cock against your ass, against the spot where his fingers are still stretching you open.

"No, sir." You say. Dieter watches it all, and the tension is too much for him. He thrust his all too big for you cock into your pussy in one motion. Little tears form at the corners of your eyes. His movement pushes you into the mattress, into Joel. Who grips your hips and moves forward, as D moves back. You're sandwiched between them, and it almost is too much.

It certainly isn't the most comfortable. Then Dieter says it, that while it feels fucking amazing, he knows a better way. He slides off you and lays back, cock pointed straight in the air like a flag in a golf hole.

"Giddy up, cowgirl." He says in that voice, the one he's gonna be using for agent Whiskey in Kingsmen. The one that drives you wild. You crawl over to him with Joel still inside of you. It's almost funny, you're like two animals rutting desperately together. Dieter spreads his legs a little, watches you struggle to straddle him.

"Fucking horndog, you better behave if you want me to make you cum. I know you're a sensitive little bitch that loves every touch, but I doubt you'll finish just from anal. Show old Dieter a good time." He says as you take your time. Joel pauses, letting you sink on your boyfriend's cock. He knows that if you cum, your whole body will be reacting, including the sweet ass he was currently fucking. You reach out to help Dieter put it in, and apologize as your sharp hotel bracelet almost scratches him. The blonde receptionist with the thick Slavic accent had something against you, you could swear it. It's all forgotten as Dieter lifts his hips slowly and lets gravity do its job. You sink on his cock and all three of you try to move. It's a sweaty, wet mess. You're not sure who you're begging for more, who's praising you, who's telling you you're a filthy slut. The tears come naturally, and you don't even feel them fall. Until Joel reaches out to dry them, pad of thumb rough and calloused against your face.

"Look at her, crying already. We've barely started, doll." He says. Of course, the universe disagrees. And by the universe, of course here we mean Dieter Bravo's insufferable jealousy. Maybe it's the speed with which he fucks into you. Maybe it's the fact that he still has his rings on the hand he uses to rub brutal circles on your clit. But you can hear the elastic of the condom shift. You lift and low and behold, it's split, a slit right against it.

"We don't need it, do we pretty thing? I'm your boyfriend after all. I'm the one you come home to, I'm the one you fuck every night. I need you to say it, though. Tell me you want me to fill you up with my cum. Go on." He begs, as you rub against his tip. You reply with a "Need you, need to soak your cock." and as soon as you feel all of him, you do.

Coming on Dieter's cock as he starts to build a rhythm and Joel is about to finish too is a religious experience. The stranger chokes out a "You did good, doll" and two pumps later he's done. But of course, like a true southern gentleman, he goes on. He tosses the used condom in the trash can (with surprising accuracy) and he's back on the bed. His fingers are on your clit, despite you saying it's too much.

"She can take it." Dieter parrots, and you echo the same, even though it's half- moaned and fully a lie. Joel matches his rhythm to D's instructions, and low and behold, you're coming. Dieter is right there with you, but what pushes him over is the other man's hand slowly moving to your cunt. Joel fucks the cum inside of you, pushing it back in. Once he's satisfied, he lets you lick one finger and offers the other to Dieter. The actor begrudgingly agrees, ready for the "Tom from Succession" special. After all, what's a good beach vacation without a sweet treat?

#dieter bravo x reader #dieter bravo x you #dieter bravo x female reader #ppcu fanfiction #joel miller x you #joel miller imagine #joel miller x reader #joel miller smut #joel miller fanfiction #dieter bravo smut #MagicNumberChallenge

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takemealivelh · 6 months ago

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spread them open|| l.h.

fratboy!luke

i've been delaying this because it's not that i don't like it, it's more like i think i could've done more with it. i'm posting this and then i'm disappearing for a bit.

Luke and his classmate (self-insert) find themselves in her room late at night after new year's party.

2.3k words

MDNI: fingerfucking, unprotected sex, choking, spanking, dirty talk, you get it lmfao

FEEDBACK IS ENCOURAGED AND APPRECIATED

you meet luke at one of your friends' gigs. he plays songs with the band he formed during his freshman year in college. he's a junior and you're a senior now. he's in the advanced music theory class, so you share the same class.

at the new year's eve party, your dorm is packed with musicians and friends who attended the show a few hours ago at your college's theater. you catch luke smiling at you with a drink in his hand.

you've been friends for a while. you think he's sweet and emotionally intelligent. he seems older, and more experienced. and he's absolutely gorgeous. "hey," you smile back. it's all it takes for you to end the rest of the night flirting.

"you wanna listen to this demo?" luke asks you when you're outside, taking some fresh air, and alone. "but you can't laugh. it's the first one i ever made." luke's cheeks flush and you think he's adorable. he plays a song about anxiety and fear. and you think that him being this vulnerable with you must mean something. you also show him some of your first productions. he likes them.

midnight strikes and you hug each other. there's quite a bit of flirty tension but neither of you acts on it. then, when it's suddenly four am, it doesn't take long. not after the rest of the party dies down. you two are sat down near the end-of-the-hall window and you say "it's cold." "maybe your room is warmer," he smiles.

when you get there, he asks you if he can play your keyboard. the one between your bed and your desk. you say sure and lay down, feet up on the comforter even though you hate you're wearing these shoes, they're probably gonna stain the whole thing. "i like it," you smile as he plays one last chord and runs a hand through his bleached curls.

"it was shit," luke answers, chuckling awkwardly, leaning back on your desk chair.

"you're too hard on yourself, man."

"maybe," he shrugs. and you both stay silent, staring at each other. you feel the tension building up. you've had a crush on him for months now, ever since you had a dream where you both were dating. went to the beach and everything. luke scratches the back of his ear as if he's coming up with the courage to… do something. you can't really tell what's going on through his head.

"i'm so tired, i can't even take my shoes off," you grin, looking down at your feet. something to alleviate the tight knot in your stomach. he stands up and walks over to you. he doesn't say anything as he undoes the shoelaces and takes your shoes off, dropping them on the floor. "thanks," you smile. feeling him this close is making your head go dizzy. you're not even that drunk. he doesn't seem drunk either.

"can i lay down with you?"

you nod your head.

in no time, luke's beside you. you feel the weight of his body on the mattress and the warmth of his clothes against yours. you both stay silent for another couple of minutes. you don't dare to look up at him, not even when he starts playing with your hair. you feel safe with him, but also horny as fuck. you haven't gotten laid in about a year and the drought has been driving you insane. "hey, i've been meaning to ask you something," he says.

"what is it?"

"can i steal a kiss from you?"

you look up at him, his soft yet playful smile. those baby blue eyes. you don't answer the question, you just close the gap between both your mouths.

making out with luke feels like a fever dream. his texture and flavor, god it's so good. your hand finds the nape of his neck as he cups your face, making you shift your weight and end up on top of him. there aren't too many words. the only sounds in the room are sighs and heavy breaths. they echo around. you pull his hair and a low moan erupts from his lips, making you smile into the passionate kiss. "i wanna fuck you," he finally says, pulling away and looking into your eyes.

you want to burst. you want to cum right now. the way he looks with his tousled hair and that devilish smirk on his lips. "cool." your voice is soft but desperate as you kiss him again. he smiles.

the messy makeout session goes on for, three minutes? an hour? time doesn't feel rational right now. it doesn't exist. it's just this moment, and luke's tongue licking your lower lip, begging for entry. his boner, growing hard. his eyes, growing darker. "i've wanted this since the last show."

"really?" there's both confusion and joy in your voice.

"yeah," his tongue runs down your chin to your throat. licking your salty skin, he seems to be having fun. your college classmate's hands find the hem of your shirt, quickly removing it from your body. you let yourself melt into his movements. "you wore this fucking dress…" his grin against your neck makes your skin bristle. you remember that dress. the blue skin-tight dress you put on for that night. it accentuated your curves and "it made your ass…" he slaps it, "you're a gorgeous view, you know that, right?"

you blush. no man has ever admired your body as much as luke. the way he touches it, both caressing it and being rough with it. pretty sure he's already left a mark on your left asscheek, you bite your lower lip. "mm-hmm." it's a soft affirmative sound. sometimes fake-it-till-you-make-it works.

he chuckles and grips your waist, kisses your lips, and swiftly moves you to pin you down to the bed. hovering over you, he trails down his hand to find you absolutely soaking wet under your panties. you moan a little louder this time. "god, you're tight," he says as a finger slips in and out of your pussy. your walls already throbbing for him. for something bigger. so pathetic. "you gonna let me ruin this body, yes?"

your heart pounds harder in your chest. your breathing becomes irregular. luke looks so ready to ravish you, to absolutely destroy you. it's all you want. "mm-hmm."

"good girl." you both take off your pants, fast, like animals. that's when you see it for the first time. it's big and thick and absolutely beautiful. erect and leaking precum. he catches you staring at his dick and chuckles again, "i know."

you would've never thought luke to be so confident in bed. he's sweet and a bit anxious, so the passionate movements and dirty talk startle you a little. but also, life has been hard lately. you might as well submit to this fucking fratboy, the one that popped into your head every once in a while when masturbating.

"spread them open," he orders as he parts your thighs with a hand adorned with rings. he grips the flesh of your left one so fucking hard that you know the indents will be there till morning. you have no time to catch your breath as his fingers skillfully slide up and down your folds. you cannot stay still for the love of god. your mind's about to shut down and you can't resist it. his fucking smirk as he sees you lose control makes him throb harder. "let go, gorgeous. i got you." his words are sincere and it only takes a second before he penetrates you with three fingers.

"fuuck," you moan out when you feel them inside. your walls already longing for something bigger, yet enjoying how his fingers spread you open even more.

"that's it. let it aaall out."

your moans become strained as he keeps fingerfucking you. you don't know where to focus your attention. his heaven-sent fingers, his fallen-angel lips on your tits -licking sinfully every nipple till they become erect- or the sounds he makes. so animalistic yet so beautiful. your hands fly to his hair and you tug his blond curls, which makes him groan.

"yeah, baby," he hums. pulling his fingers out, luke holds them in front of you, his sweaty forehead and his lustful eyes waiting for you to lick them clean. "taste yourself," he orders, once again. and you do. right now you'd do anything for this man.

he rubs his sticky thumb against your lower lip and you put it in your mouth. his smirk grows wider as he looks at the mess you're making. so filthy. so sinful. your mind doesn't work anymore. and nothing matters. nothing can make you worry right now, not even luke lining himself up -no condom- with your entrance and slowly but surely sliding into your swollen pussy. your lips suck his fingers dry with a moan when you feel his size. his mischievous eyes make you go insane.

"you like that." it's not even a question. of course you love being treated like a fucking ragdoll by him. he can have his way with you. he can absolutely destroy your body and you'll thank him in the morning. he's your master and you'll do unquestionably everything and anything he says. his hand pins you down to the bed by your throat. you can barely breathe but all you can do is smile and roll your eyes to the back of your head. "god baby you make me sooo hard." luke hisses as he begins pulling out, then pushing in at an excruciatingly slow pace. he knows he has you in the palm of his hand.

"more," you beg in a choked whisper.

"more?" he chuckles. "you want more of my cock inside you?" his breath near your ear makes you so fucking soaked that you know you'll have to wash your sheets in the morning. and that's when the thought stops. it comes to a halt when he pulls out and then pushes right back into you with the impetus of a madman. he starts fucking you so hard that all you can hear is the skin slapping on skin. his hips bruising yours, his hand choking you harder. "you want it hard and rough and you want all of me inside you. don't you, girl?"

god, you love it when he calls you that. as a consequence of him hitting a deeper spot, your legs fly open only to then wrap around his waist. his moans grow louder and your whining is so pathetic that the kisses on your mouth feel like sins.

"come on," luke pulls out and it makes you shiver. "come on, on your stomach. ass up," he orders.

and you do what he says. it takes no time for you to turn around and shake your pretty ass on his face. it makes him want to devour you. "fuck, you're gorgeous," his smirk is noticeable in the tone of his voice and you cry out when he penetrates you with four fingers and slaps your asscheek as if it's the most natural thing in the world. "come on," he hisses before pulling your hair with his sticky hand. lining up behind you, luke pushes his fat cock inside your swollen pussy and he yanks your hair. "wanna hear you beg for it."

"please, please," you start to implore, "please, luke. ruin me, make me cum." his laughter echoes in your ears as he slaps your ass again and pushes your head down on the mattress, making it hard for you to breathe. you can even imagine his face right now. red, flushed, sweaty. teeth biting down on his lower lip as he fucks you deep, hard and fast. you can't open your eyes and the pleasure you experience is so fucking overwhelming that you feel your orgasm bubble up in your lower stomach. your walls clench around him and he groans out. it's pure bliss.

"louder, girl." his thrusts are so forceful you can picture the bruises there'll be tomorrow. so you comply and start whining louder even though the sounds are muffled by his hand pressing your head against the bed. "fuck, fuck, fuck," he keeps repeating, holding you down, spanking your ass and fucking you so deep that your brain shuts off. your brain malfunctions and that's the moment you squirt all over his cock, which makes him shoot his cum into you. it's such a stream that fills you up and his guttural moans don't stop while he fucks you through both your orgasms.

his movements become sloppy as he yanks you by your hair one more time, turning your face around and looking for your eyes. his hips stop moving the moment he sees your drool drip down your chin. and he smiles. that devastating trademark smile he has. you are speechless before the fallen angel that's got you wrapped around his finger.

luke chuckles and lets go of you. he pulls out with a hiss and lets himself fall on your bed, on his back, his whole pelvis sticky from all the fluids exchanged. "fuck, that was good. you feel so good," he whispers, turning his face to look at you, absolutely destroyed, lying on your chest. "come on, here." his arm pulls you closer and he lets his eyelids rest as he kisses the top of your head. "you're such a fucking good girl."

"thanks," you can't help but blush, closing your eyes and wrapping an arm around his naked torso. you don't mind all the mess you two have made. you don't mind anything because that orgasm was out of this world. your pussy's relaxed, your mind isn't spinning and all you want is to stay there, against his chest, having him kissing the top of your head over and over.

"happy new year," he grins.

"happy new year."

#luke hemmings #luke hemmings fic #luke hemmings smut #5sos smut #imma miss you guys

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vitaminseetarot · 1 year ago

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Hey there 🦋

I've finallyfinally finally reached the end of all the requests for July's game. I'm extremely thankful for your patience in waiting for my response. I had some fun in planning this game out and doing your readings. With that said, however, I just so happened to pick one of the most energetically crazy times to actually start the game, yikes.

The week of doing the game readings was… insane. Not just because of what's happening news-wise, but because too many close call disasters in a very short span of time in my personal sphere. The Mars-Uranus conjunction was no joke! It did a number on me and as a result I had to take some time off to just breathe. My original plan was to have everyone answered within the week, but the wheels on the momentum bus came screeching to a complete halt around the full moon, where I was forced to stop and spend time away from the computer to attend to external matters. From there, I was able to post just a few answers at a time until now. It took me longer than anticipated to finish everyone's readings and I sincerely apologize for all the hang ups.

My goal was to start paid reading immediately after; with Mercury Retrograde coming right up, and with needing to still recover from the past couple weeks, I've decided it may be a better idea to put it off for one more month. My reason for doing this, and why I didn't start earlier this year, is because when I do open up paid services, I want you to get your readings as soon as possible and not have to wait well over a week. Which means I have to be in the right mental health space and life set-up to meet that requirement.

(And as an extra note, I'm only on tumblr and not on other social media platforms, and this is my only account. Please don't get scammed by solicitors pretending to be me!)

I'll be posting a Mercury Rx themed PAC in August because the idea is still sitting fresh in my mind, but I will likely post my menu later after this period transits through. This Elements Game, as fun as it was, ended up exhausting my psychic reserves in a way that the March aura game somehow didn't, and I need to use up the rest of the summer sun to recuperate and regroup. I don't know if I will have another game planned for this year, but if I consider it, I'll keep you updated in advance.

This hasn't been the first time my blog has had to slow to a near halt. I made this account several months before anything could even get posted which was frustrating at first but eventually worked itself out. So far, I've had a great time making these PACs and Game readings for you, but I'm re-realizing that passion alone can't assuage one's health needs. It can't replace food, and sleep, and walks outside, and time for stillness and reflection. And pushing too hard to get everything done actually results in things slowing down too much.

I really hope y'all take care of yourselves this summer. Enjoy what downtime you can get on the weekends, and in your days before the next school semester starts. Don't let the panic of the news completely tune out all the good things this season can offer. Go out and get ice cream with friends. Spend time at the beach. Play a fun new game. And most importantly… Drink your water!! It's very cliche to say but it's literally the biggest message I have for everyone this season, above all. (Dehydration issues are not a joke, ppl, it's scary! 😭)

Drink… and breathe.

Peace ✌🍊

#vitaminsee #vitaminseetarot #vitaminseetarotgame #tarot blog #tarot game #tarot reading #tarot community #tarotblr #tarot #tarot poll #free tarot

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bestworstcase · 2 years ago

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So what sort of stuff do you think Salem has been doing over the millennia (Or millions of years as you've stated on this blog, though I think that the god of Darkness showed up a few years later and either just brought a bunch of people back to life or created some from scratch and that it's been more on the thousands of years scale)? Seems like she could have been rampaging around with an army and letting the grimm naturally find the relics. Maybe she had some vacation years enjoyed the beach.

tangent but the reason i figure millions is this passage in ‘the two brothers:’

With that, the God of Darkness brought forth earthquakes and volcanoes that tore his brother’s continent apart into smaller lands, boiled the oceans, rained fire and ash, and wiped out all the living things.

…which is an unambiguous description of a supercontinent being broken apart via plate tectonics, mixed together with a description of what is clearly the moonfall. this is the creation myth of a religion that has to have been around for at least a couple thousand years and could only have been founded by ozma; so the apocalyptic narrative presumably draws from what salem told him about the end of the world as she witnessed it.

boiling seas, raining fire, and a mass extinction are all accurate to what the immediate aftermath of the moonfall bombardment would have entailed—it follows that the accurate descriptions of plate tectonics are also there because salem lived through the separation of a single contiguous landmass into the present-day continents (and drew a correct conclusion about volcanic and seismic activity being correlated to the movement of the land). using the earth’s geological history as an approximate ruler this would make her somewhere in the neighborhood of two hundred million years old.

regardless, i figure she spent the vast majority of the period between the massacre and ozma’s return just sort of… drifting around in an aimless haze. the way jinn describes her approach to the pool of grimm seems pretty telling: “until fate lead her back to the land of darkness” very much makes it sound like salem had no idea where she was until she saw the dark lake.

(of course, if it had been millions of years, the surrounding lands would have changed quite radically and there wouldn’t be any recognizable landmarks left even if she was paying attention to where she was going; but also, there’s nothing for her to go to anywhere in the world, so why would she care where she ended up?)

after her transformation, but before ozma found her, she… well she inspired stories of a terrifying sorceress deep in the wilderness, but in practice she lived alone in a hovel in the woods at the end of a very nice stone footpath, so she seems to have actually been living within walking distance of the nearest settlement and in regular enough contact with them for somebody to be maintaining that path, and given the state of her house “somebody” probably wasn’t salem. which means it was someone in town, which means that building a nice stone footpath to the witch’s house and keeping it in good condition was considered a worthwhile investment by her neighbors, which says “village witch” pretty plainly. she may have been cranky and antisocial, but she was helpful enough that people paved a road to get to her.

and then after the murderdivorce, well. ozma spooks at every grimm but ozpin is, in V2-3, almost hilariously unprepared for salem to actually deliver an attack, despite seeing the warning signs months in advance—because he expects her to operate in total secrecy, something she very much does not do.

to me, this suggests that ozma has spent quite a long time attributing ordinary conflicts and normal grimm behaviors to salem while salem… ignored him, or at most kept tabs on him from afar and intervened whenever it looked like he might be thinking about ushering in the day of judgment; i think she’s probably spent most of that time painfully aware of the blade hanging over her neck and trying to figure out how to avoid being the sole survivor of the second apocalypse and whatever innovative new methods of torture the gods have cooked up for her in the thousands or millions of years they’ve been nursing their grudge against her.

preventing ozma from fulfilling his mandate by disrupting whatever coalitions he’s able to scrape together is only a temporary stopgap; she has no guarantee that he won’t eventually get tired and apathetic enough to bring the relics together and be done with it.

capturing one or more of the relics would galvanize him to offensive war against her and she would need to devote a great deal of time, effort, and resources to defending it instead of focusing on the larger problem of defeating the gods—and it would probably result in a never-ending cycle of face-to-face confrontations with ozma himself, whom she doesn’t want to be present in her life at all. (“why do you keep coming back?”)

so the best course of action is to hammer out a viable plan for dealing with the gods, or find a way to destroy the relics, or perhaps ideally both, and THEN make her move—kill ozma, flatten his alliance, seize all four relics, and then get rid of the relics or the gods or both, before he has the chance to return and protract the conflict. i think this is probably why her campaign has moved so fast (she’s hit three of the four academies in less than two years!) and why she exploded when she learned that ozma had reincarnated so quickly; she was counting on him being gone until it was over.

as for why she’s moving now, i increasingly don’t think it’s because she has all her dominoes lined up and ready to go; i figure she looked at what ozma did to end the great war and realized she was running out of time.

he used the sword of destruction to lay waste to his enemies and made every leader on that battlefield bend the knee, then used his political and martial power to forge a unified global order. “you said we needed to bring humanity together; in order to do that, we have to spread our word, and destroy those who would deny it.” when salem gave him that advice he recoiled, but she was… not wrong, in the strategic sense; you cannot unite the entire world behind one banner, one creed, except by genocidal tyranny, that is the logical endpoint of ozma’s ideology and salem lays it out for him very plainly.

and he’s spent thousands of years unwilling to countenance it. but the great war pushed him to a breaking point. he didn’t go all the way—he set up a global democracy instead of ruling the world as its emperor—but he took a lurching step in that direction, and it paid off for him. the global coalition lasted for eighty years before the cracks really began to show. this is the closest he has ever been to success, and even if salem were to knock it down or let it run its course until it collapsed under its own weight, he’s going to remember that the sword worked, and he has gotten so, so good at rationalizing each little baby step down the road to tyranny. how long will it take for him to get desperate enough to take the next? how many more of his lifetimes can she trust his fear and diminishing moral scruples to keep him shying away from his inevitable endgame?

and i think that is what salem had gnawing in the back of her mind when she met summer rose and saw an opportunity.

#i have zero doubt that salem believes #1. ozma WILL summon his god eventually #and 2. the world WILL be condemned #and 3. she WILL be left alive and subjected to further punishment #because like why would she think otherwise. lmao

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chaoticgeminate · 3 years ago

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Kinktober 2022 - Day Five

Pairing: Javi Gutierrez x f!Reader

Rating: Explicit (If that was not entirely clear)

Series Summary: You’re a fanfiction writer turned novelist, which was great since it was the path you wanted your writing to take you down in life. What you never thought would happen was meeting the Javier Gutierrez, who you actively write smutty fanfiction about from his film with Nic Cage, and you especially didn’t expect him to have a crush on you.

Fast forward several months of dating, with a good chunk of your relationship being distance due to his constant traveling and having to go home to Mallorca, when he surprises you with a prompt list and a vacation planned around exploring it.

You haven’t even worked up the nerve to tell him about what you write and post to Tumblr about him as a character yet.

Notes: Going to be using prompts from @ the-purity-pen for my meta as hell indulgence! There are feelings in this (I have no idea how they got there) and I may end up removing some possible chapters here and there depending on how I’m feeling, I apologize in advance if that happens because my brain is super mean sometimes.

Possible Warnings: Lots of smut, talks about having kids, cum as lube, PiV

Breeding Kink (1.9k)

“Javi-!”

“That’s it, Solecita, you always take me so well.”

Every part of you was alight with sensation as Javi thrust into your wet heat over and over, he always felt so much bigger like this when he was draped over your back, and it was starting to become a challenge to even keep your knees under you as he panted so harshly in your ear. One of his hands had a hold on yours, fingers woven between your own and palm encasing the entire back of your hand, and his other arm was under your body to hold your thighs in place so you didn’t end up being pushed up the bed.

Orgasm number ‘I wasn’t counting’ made your body lock up and clamp down hard, Javi’s surprised moan and his pace picking up only heightening the feeling, the sound of the wet squelch of your release and the slapslapslap of his hips meeting yours all deafened by the white noise as you blinked away the stars in your eyes. Javi moaned your name as he reached his own orgasm, hips humping shallowly against you, and he stayed there draped over you as he began to kiss and suck at the skin he could reach with his mouth.

Both of you spent that morning on the beach, just relaxing and talking about everything and nothing, even if Javi had tried to sneak out of bed to make you breakfast first. All day he had spoiled you with time in the sauna, after getting a private masseuse brought over today and the day before, so you’d been lax and limber when your boyfriend’s eyes had darkened with want and he’d guided you back up to the bedroom just after an early dinner when you were alone again.

Now you were laying under him, breathing in the smell of sex and his bodywash and shampoo that was becoming ingrained in the fabric of the blankets, and you could feel his heart beating in his chest like a war drum against your back. Javi pulled himself away and then lifted your hips higher before he dragged his fingers against the come starting to drip out of you, pushing it back into you and making you whimper, you could feel the way he was just looking at where you were still dripping with him.

“Javi, s’not enough.”

His hand, which was resting just on the back of your thigh, gripped your skin tighter at your soft whine and you couldn’t stop the way you moaned when he straightened up behind you and pulled your hips back so that they were higher in the air.

“Not enough? You don’t feel full of me yet, Solecita?”

“Need more, wanna- s’gotta take.”

His loud intake of breath at the throaty remark made you look at him from the corner of your eyes, head resting sideways on the blankets, and Javi’s face was focused on yours with an intense expression you had never seen on him before. Feeling his shaft drag against you, hard again and eager to go, made you press your hips back and arch a little more.

“You want me to fill your pretty little pussy so full that you have my baby?” He was teasing you by dragging his cock through your slit, making you whimper as you nodded, and when he didn’t immediately do anything about it you realized he wanted a verbal answer.

“Yes Javi- I want you to make sure there’s no way it doesn’t take.”

It wouldn’t since you had gone for birth control for yourself, or if it did then the chance was less than a percent, but the idea that there was even a chance that it could happen made you throb between your legs. The fantasy was enough for both of you right now.

“You’re going to look so good, Solecita, your beautiful breasts full of milk and your body swollen with my child.” His voice was so low and husky as he slid his cock home, filling you in a single stroke, the glide smooth because of your combined release. Javi pressed one hand to the middle of your shoulders while the other held onto your hip, the arch of your back making him hit so deep within you, and Javi could only groan before he was pulling out most of the way and then driving himself into you again.

His pace wasn’t fast or frantic, it was slow and deep and you realized as he pressed your chest and shoulders down more that this was his version of breath play. It wasn’t easy to breathe with the way he was holding you down but it wasn’t the same as his hands on your neck, your head began to spin with this knowledge that he’d gone behind your back to research other methods of breath play to incorporate.

All to try and make sure that you got to try out new things.

All to take care of your needs and wants.

Fuck, you loved him so much.

Your chest tightened and your grip on the blankets was shaky at best, thighs sliding open further to welcome him deeper, and Javi’s groan from behind you made you shudder before you were dragging one hand under and behind you to feel where the two of you were joined and how wet it was.

“Going to keep you full of me, perhaps I should buy a plug to make sure none of my come leaks out of you?”

The idea made you whine unintelligibly into the air, shudders wracking you at the idea of a breeding plug being used, and the need to come slammed into you like a freight train.

When your fingers brushed your clit, which was sensitive and slick already, you knew your muscles tightened but Javi’s hand cupped yours and he pressed your fingers against it with a wheezy moan that you knew was one of the sounds he made when he was close. That sound shot right to your core and the combined feeling of him grinding himself into you just right, along with a harsh circle of your clit, had you trembling and wailing his name into the sheets as you rocked back against him to ride out the high.

Were you drooling? Probably. You couldn’t tell anymore.

Javi’s body jerked and he was pulling you back against him for one, two, and a third thrust of his hips before he was panting against your back without pulling out of your body. You stayed like that until you were shaking too badly to support yourself, but your boyfriend made you wait with your ass up as he grabbed what he needed to clean you before sliding a plush pillow under your hips when you did spin around to lay on your back.

He laid beside you, hand resting against your lower abdomen, and you could see it in his eyes that this was definitely something he liked. Whether it was the thrill of the risk or the actual goal to fuck you pregnant was still to be discussed, but his eyes were starting to droop and there would always be plenty of time to talk about it later.

Javi woke you from your little nap by kissing you gently on the cheek and whispering about how peaceful and beautiful you looked, bedside tray set up, and you didn’t bother putting anything on when you went to use the restroom and clean yourself up a little. You knew he had every intention of taking you again, and again, but for now you wanted to feel a little less wet.

After washing your hands and returning to the bed Javi pressed a button that made the hidden monitor rise up from the cabinet just a few inches away from the foot of the bed, you settled against his side as you both had gazpacho and sandwiches as a late night meal while he scrolled through your favorite streaming service and settled on a show.

“Is that something you want, Solecita?” The very random question made you look up at Javi, his brow furrowed in thought.

“What?”

“Children.”

Talk about a delicate conversation.

“Right now? No. Could I change my mind later? Yes. I won’t even bother with the ‘stable income’ part of the conversation since we know that’s pointless here but I know I’m not ready for all the body changes that come with pregnancy and after. Or how tired both of us would be, even if you hired a nanny to help out.” Javi’s lips lifted into a soft smile and he leaned down to kiss you lightly.

“Thank you, for even considering it.”

“Of course I would, Javi, I can tell you like the idea. I’m not- I’m not against making a family with you, just not right now.”

His cheeks colored but he didn’t deny it, it was definitely a big life change to think about but you had plenty of time, and only after your refresher meal had been finished and cleared away did Javi propose a game of billiards in the lounge. He made you a drink, simply wearing some boxers, and you’d only thrown on a tee shirt of his since there was nobody else here.

You could tell what he was doing when he moved to stand behind you any time you bent over to line up a shot, making you roll your eyes and spread your legs just a little bit, and you made about three shots into the second game before he was up behind you and dragging his fingers through your folds again.

“I feel like a caveman, Solecita, seeing you bare like this without my seed filling this pretty little pussy. Knowing you want a future here, with me, that you’d even think about having a family with me -it makes me want to do anything to keep you here.” You abandoned your attempt to shoot, the pool stick knocking the balls around as you bent further over the table, and Javi moaned at the wetness that coated his fingers when he dipped them inside you.

It was stupid and while you didn’t want to be some homemaker, fifties housewife… you knew you at least wanted to be his wife.

“Not going anywhere, ‘m happy Javi, you take good care of me and encourage me. You let me make choices without pressuring me, and you listen. I want you, so ‘m not going anywhere.” Reaching back with one hand, holding the hand on your hip gently, you felt the tremors in your boyfriend’s body before he was splitting you open with his cock again and kissing the side of your face and mouth.

Javi was whispering praises and gratitude into your ear and against your temple, the felt of the pool table rubbing against your skin with each thrust, and you knew you were drooling on it but you didn’t care. Javi didn’t either, clearly, and his forehead settled between your shoulders as he called you his good girl and thanked you for choosing him.

He knew exactly what he was doing calling you that.

You had to have come in record time.

You were panting hard after another two orgasms, starting to really feel the strain on your calves from going up on tip toe for a better angle, and you abandoned the billiard table for the bedroom as your eyelids began to droop from being full and now sated. Javi curled close behind you and you could feel his hand against your lower abdomen again.

Right over where your womb was.

He deserved a family and while it was most assuredly a later thought… you could see yourself being happy giving him one.

All Fics Taglist: @hardc0rehaylz @wordsnwhiskey @pagannightwitch @radiowallet @musings-of-a-rose @amneris21 @trickstersp8 @practicalghost @rominaszh @alwaysdjarin @alexxavicry

Just Pedro Taglist: @maievdenoir @beecastle @littlemisspascal @writeforfandoms @AynsleyWalker @lovesbiggerthanpride @mswarriorbabe80

Alt Taglist: @imtryingmybeskar @fan-of-encouragement @grogusmum @sizzlingcloudmentality @deadhumourist @prostitute-robot-from-the-future

Kinktober Only: @nicolethered @katareyoudrilling

#kinktober 2022 #javi g x f!reader #javi gutierrez x f!reader #cw smut #cw breeding kink #cw piv #chaoticwrites

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yuichi-ro · 4 years ago

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haikkai tickles this very specific spot in my brain that just wants to tease and corrupt him yet act all innocent.

shy guys are so fucking cute ugh. just imagine being his sister’s friend and making advances on him but he always runs as soon as he can because he is too anxious and cannot be in your proximity for more than 2 seconds.

gives me the kind of vibes of a guy who saves himself for marriage and will cum when you call him hubby;;; delicious really

-🌌

idk if it's the corruption kink, the size kink, the useless tall man kink I have, a combination of the three? but Hakkai makes me a lil feral and I cannot lie. But hear me out, same old shy hesitant Hakkai, that is an utter perv for his older sister's friend but can't work up the courage to ever ask you out. Even though being a literal model. Hakkai is stuck jerking off to any photo of you he can get his hands on cw: fem!Reader, masturbation, maybe a little manipulation, perv!Hakkai, consensual photos ⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯

sweet little Hakkai who in all honesty doesn't seem so little anymore when you see him as the center fold in magazines. He looks like an untouchable doll done up in fashionable clothing, air brushed skin and the most flattering jawline you've ever seen on a human. But deep down he's still just your best friends little brother.

the same little brother who would hide away on beach trips that you went with. Or sneak around when you slept over with Yuzuha because he was too embarrassed to make eye contact with you.

the same little Hakkai that you knew jerked off to any picture of yours he could get his hands on.

even as adults he's still fumbling and shy around you. Just to turn right around and accidentally like your photo from seven months ago and then quickly unlike it. Evident in what he might be doing behind that screen when you see the redacted notification was for something of yours that perhaps showed a little more cleavage than normal.

group and family snapchats that you and Yuzuha share with Mitsuya, the girls and Hakkai. Normally it's whatever weird garbage gets dumped into the group chat among you all. Until you segment off and make a private one that only Hakkai can see.

he doesn't notice it's private at first. Too foolish and trusting and horny to question why you're snapping a lot more selfies than normal to send to the group chat. He's not complaining though he's been scrambling for his phone every time the notification goes off. Viewing it within seconds of you sending it. Just like you expected

clueless Hakkai unaware by the time the selfies turn a little more than just that. Dips in shirts that are not appropriate to send to anyone. Full body snaps of clothes that hardly cover you. Midriff showing in every single one. Hakkai is in heaven and doesn't even realize you're pulling the strings.

a successful model who could theoretically have a pool of women to choose from. And he's at home or in the confines of his car or even at the restrooms at work, fisting his cock with eyes glued to your pictures. Jerking himself off to the sight of your body like a damn teenager and not an almost thirty year old man. The same body he's been so hard up on since before he can remember. But the snaps don't last forever. And the one time Hakkai realizes he's not going to finish before the picture ends. He doesn't even think twice about stealing a screencap. Very noticeably telling you he's fallen right into your lap

that point on the images are only lewder. Your tits out, panties gone or pulled up against your pussy lips. Snaps of your bare ass from inappropriate angles. Full on nudes of you in the bath or "getting ready" for work. Hakkai is in hog heaven and doesn't even think about what he's fallen into.

and entire folder of just your nudes alone. They're everything to him. Even the wallpaper on his phone. You consume his mind and play him with ease with only a simple picture snapped of your hand over your tits. Hakkai is all but fallen on his knees for anything you send him and no one else in the family knows.

the dirty little secret is between you two and you two alone. So that's why when you send a snap that isn't a picture. Hakkai feels his heart racing. Because he knows what it's going to be when he opens it. And its what he's wanted this entire time too. So the second he flips the notification bar down and sees it he can't help but feel his heart race and cock twitch

"Now it's your turn <3"

Hakkai can't even deny it. Or act like none of this happen. His literal phone wallpaper is a self done pin up of you that you sent months ago. He can't deny or act like any of this ever happened. Or play it off like he's not interested bc the second he realized you wanted him. His cock is hard and leaking against his leg.

You've trained him so well to respond to you. So of course you'll be saving every thing he sends you from that moment on. That is, until you can taste it in person of course <3 ⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯

#i um....i didn't mean to go off....#that uh...that was supposed to be a thirst not a mini novel...#oh no....i think i like hakkai...#🌌.♡#sub tokyorev #sub tokyo rev #sub tokyo revengers #tokyorev smut #tokyo rev smut #tokyo revengers smut #tokyorev hakkai #sub hakkai #hakkai shiba smut #hakkai shiba #hakkai shiba x reader

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brimmingwithautism · 2 years ago

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AEW DYNAMITE 7/12/23

Thank you Jasffy, you insane bastard, for already giffing their entrance.

Wanted to put my thoughts on the night in writing, but in short: MJF and Adam Cole are the funniest duo in the company right now, Nick Wayne and Swerve Strickland stuck gold for a third time together, and Kenny Omega gets back together with his boyfriend

- Great showing from Komander, especially in the beginning of the match

- First Match: Komander V Jericho. 3 stars

- Had a good spot upside down on the turnbuckle which transitioned into a hurricanrana

- great sell from Komander for Jericho forearm

- I am being sports entertained

- insane double power bomb from Jericho - he’s making ambitious spots but he makes em well

- lot of energy in second half of match- very good back and forth between the two. Komander is a well of energy throughout the entire thing

- the catch into the walls of Jericho was a great finish, and I loved that he did entire match alone. great showing from him

- HIGHLIGHT OF THE MATCH: Komander's rope walk into shooting star press pin - in a better world you would have won off that king

Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy VS Daniel Garcia & Sammy Guevara. 4 1/2 stars

- Tension between Garcia and Guevara in the intros is setting up a fun storyline there for the eventual JAS implosion

- fantastic fake out arm drag from 🍊 in the beginning, nice energy to start

- get spun darby. Second time in like a month he's been absolutely rotated

- handshake!! between Darby and Sammy. darby saw Jack Perry turned heel and immediately started turning Sammy into the biggest ol babyface

- looooooong vertical suplex with Sammy and darby fucking christ. men invent complex rituals to touch the skin of other men, etc

- get walled darby

- 🍊 and Garcia are so good together, same with darby and Sammy. all around strong chemistry between the four men.

- excellent stun dog to stunner to ddt - incredible and fluid sequence from 🍊 to darby and back to 🍊

- Beach break? more like back break. let my man take a rest week because 🍊 is falling apart

- I know Garcia and Sammy have to advance for their eventual big break from the JAS, but I still hate the match ended in outside interference. At lease Swerve is a fun heel.

- TWO HANDSHAKES between Sammy and Darby. the baby has been faced

HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Darby audibly going “SHIT!” right before Swerve jumps in to kick his face off

MJF & Adam Cole VS Bill Bill & Brian Cage. 3 and 1/4 stars

- their combined entrance is sill the best thing in aew right now

- MATCHING SHIRTS

- it's a wrestling match, Michael, how many push-ups can there be? Seven?

- max has some good theatrics but not a lot of good spots so far. feels so much more performance based than the other matches tonight

- Adam Cole always has THE BEST anger face tho

- LET MJF BITE MORE OPPONENTS! HE DESERVES IT!

- nice three part joke setup for the full body slam on big bill. Again, the three part joke set-up makes the match feel like a skit

- love Cole using mjf tactics as their partnership goes on

- cute chemistry in the promo too. can't wait to see the whole thing explode

- HIGHLIGHT OF THE MATCH: Brian Cage picking up MJF and Adam Cole at the same time to do a backwards toss. Insane machinery

RUBY SOHO VS SKYE BLUE. 3 stars

- my kingdom for a good women's wrestling match on dynamite

- nice series of kicks from Skye to start things out - her legs are i n s a n e

- Good idea to kick Ruby’s crew for this one - Skye is already such an underdog going into it that the Outcasts would just get rid of any potential tension

- Ruby is cute when she's sadistic and I should be allowed to say it. I’m not super behind her in-ring style but she really does know how to tear someone apart

- Impressed at skye's showing, and I’m glad they let her do a big second win comeback even with two “shattered” knees

- still not long enough. Tony Khan your days are numbered

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MATCH: Ruby’s pin on Skye was hot and I should be allowed to say it.

Nick Wayne VS Swerve Strickland. 4 1/2 stars

- good flinch moment to start the match. I had my doubts Nick would be able to put up any presence with Swerve in the ring (I have a bias) but doing a fake-out punch on Swerve in the corner was a great opening moment

- you can tell these guys have wrestled with each other before - just the way they so fluidly transition between pinning and striking shows they know how the other moves. God bless the Seattle wrestling community

- great striking/miss combo between the two. poetry in motion

- insane fisherman suplex from nick considering he’s even skinnier than Hook

- picturesque hurricanrana between nick and swerve off the apron

- Nick's mama VS prince Nana book it Tony

- nice hang off the apron to neckbreaker from swerve

- Darby comes out to support him at the entrance ramp but I need him all the way down ringside. You gotta be this kid’s Sting, Darby. Making you the mentor in a new relationship would be such a good storyline for him

- amazing counter from swerve for the next hurricanrana that Nick tried - excellent way to show that this kid is good but he’s inexperienced in a real match, and can get caught out doing the same thing

- this match fucks severely. even got the crowd to shout this is awesome

- Nick lost, but it’s one of the greatest introduction matches for a wrestler I’ve seen. I know why they signed the kid and I honestly agree. AEW likes younger talent (Hook, Julia Hart) and so far the company seems to be good at nurturing them and letting them grow. High hopes from this showing.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MATCH: - REVERSE HURRICANRANA TO Wayne's world cutter from Nick on the turnbuckle. fantastic coordination between the two of them

Overall I thought the wrestling in this match was pretty good, but then immediately overshadowed by the GOLDEN ELITE. IBUSHI COMING BACK BABY. Excited for that and in disbelief he finally showed up to hang out with Kenny and it wasn’t even PPV. Mein Gott.

What were your thoughts on the episode? Who do you think will win the Owen Hart cup or the blind tag team tournament? (hint, it probably won’t be Daniel Garcia)

#aew #aew dynamite #aewdynnamite #aew wrestling #mjf #adam cole #darby allin #orange cassidy #swerve strickland #fuck it i dont want to tag all of them #wrestling thots

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cheri-translates · 4 years ago

Text

[CN] Gavin’s Wind and Waves Date

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 风浪之约, which has not been released in EN! 🍒

[ This date was released on 3 June 2021 ]

An early summer breeze causes the papers on the desk to flutter. After doing a stretch, I pick up my phone, realising that it’s already late at night, past 11pm.

Tapping open my messages out of habit, I see that the newest message is a reply from Gavin in the afternoon -

Gavin: Let me know when you’re done with work.

Staring at the chat, I release a long sigh.

Recent overtime work has left me slightly overwhelmed. Because of this, I had no choice but to reject several dates with Gavin.

Thinking about this, I type a response hastily.

MC: I’m getting ready to knock off. Did you have a busy day?

After pressing the “send” button, I stuff my phone into my pocket quickly, turn off the laptop, and carry my bag.

Before I leave, I turn off the single remaining light in the company.

My phone remains silent even after I step into the elevator. Looks like Gavin’s already asleep.

Half-leaning against the wall of the elevator, I massage my slightly sore shoulders.

Fortunately, the remaining work has entered the final phase smoothly. Once this is over, I’ll make up for all the missed dates.

With a “ding”, the elevator doors open slowly. When I lift my head, I see a familiar figure. He’s also the person I’ve been wanting to see most during this period of time...

MC: Gavin?!

I walk towards him in disbelief. He reaches out, pulling me into his arms.

A familiar scent encases me tightly. I subconsciously relax, leaning on him wilfully.

MC: Gavin, why did you come?

Gavin: I missed you.

These words float into my ears slowly, then descend heavily into my heart.

Faced with Gavin’s absolutely unconcealed longing, I laugh contentedly, hugging him tightly and forcefully.

Gavin: Do you still have to work overtime after this?

I lift my head from his chest region, shaking my head with a smile.

MC: There are still a few things to settle, but they aren't as urgent. If things go smoothly, I’ll be able to fulfil the dates I owe you either tomorrow or the day after. Let me properly “make up” for them.

Once I finish speaking, Gavin’s brows arch gently.

Gavin: How do you plan to make up for it?

MC: Ooh... I’ve been flaking on you several times. So when the time comes, I’ll satisfy you no matter what you want!

Suddenly, a soft chuckle is at my ear.

Before I can react, Gavin has already interlaced our fingers tightly, bending his knees slightly as he lifts up the travelling bag on the ground.

Gavin: Let’s go then.

When I see the travelling bag that I didn't notice earlier, I’m both shocked and confused.

MC: Hang on. Where are we going?

He turns his head over, lifting his sculpted chin.

Gavin: Didn’t you say you’d satisfy me no matter what I want to do? In that case, the rest of the time will belong to me.

MC: But I was referring to after the program is done...

Gavin: I don’t want to wait a moment more.

Gavin doesn’t wait for me to finish, tightening his grip on my hand and pulling me over. My body tilts along with the inertia, drawing me closer to him.

My silhouette fills that pair of amber eyes, turning all the more clear and bright.

In this moment, I forget about the fatigue from work, and my entire heart is filled only with the person before me.

Originally thinking Gavin was simply taking me on a stroll, I didn’t expect that we’d be sitting in a train which is about to set off.

Scanning my surroundings, it seems that it’s currently the off-season for travelling. Gavin and I are the only two in the soft sleeper compartment.

Seeing the luggage Gavin brought, something occurs to me. I stare at him, stumped for words.

Gavin: What’s wrong?

He seems to sense my gaze, turning his head and meeting my line of sight.

MC: Gavin, you planned this way beforehand! The train tickets and luggage were prepared really comprehensively!

Gavin: Traveling requires adequate preparation, doesn’t it?

Gavin seems to deliberately avoid my unspoken implication.

MC: But this surprise attack of yours makes me feel completely unprepared...

Gavin: Isn’t such a “surprise attack” good? You've done it a few times before. Now, it’s my turn.

Wind whistles outside the window, pulling the hidden thoughts in his words to my mind.

I subconsciously recall how I deceived Gavin into coming to the airport and heading to Los Angeles on his birthday.

MC: O-of course it’s good. I like it very much. But that’s not how you were supposed to use the spare key to my house...!

I lower my eyes, grumbling softly.

Gavin: How was I supposed to use it then?

His expression of “earnestly seeking knowledge” seems to be teasing at something gently, and the temperature of my cheeks rises instantly.

I pick up the travelling bag and place it on my lap, face flushed as I change the subject.

MC: ...let me take a look at what you prepared.

I unzip the bag and gently rummage through the objects inside, unable to bear messing up the luggage he had worked hard to pack.

After looking through it for a while, I realise that Gavin was especially conscientious in his preparation.

The clothes I often wear have been stacked into a pile, and the snacks I enjoy eating have been placed in a separate corner.

I can’t help but imagine Gavin shuttling back and forth alone at home -

Him being at a loss as he stands in front of the packed closet. Him being confused as he faces dozens of makeup bottles and skincare products.

His shuttling figure seems to morph into a sense of security filling my heart continuously. The corners of my mouth lift upwards uninhibitedly.

When I touch a hard, square-shaped object, I take it out in curiosity.

My notebook laptop is currently lying in my hand. I lift my head stiffly, blinking at Gavin slowly.

Even before I can speak, he explains.

Gavin: With it, you can handle unexpected situations that crop up at work.

I nod silently, flipping open the notebook laptop subconsciously.

MC: That’s fine. I’ll settle some work then. Do you want to rest for a while?

Right after saying this, Gavin takes the laptop away, placing it into the travelling bag.

Gavin: You’ve been working non-stop. It’s time to take a break.

MC: Don’t worry, I won’t take long~

While saying this, I reach for the laptop. In the end, he shields the travelling bag behind him.

Gavin: I didn’t bring the laptop just to let it replace me. It can only be used when faced with unexpected situations.

Gavin’s dead serious expression gives me the impulse to tease him.

MC: If you don’t give it to me, I’ll have to snatch it!

Just as I stand up, the train suddenly jolts, and the floor beneath my feet rocks sharply.

I instinctively lift my arms to maintain my balance. Unexpectedly, Gavin grabs my hands, and my body leans backwards from the inertia -

By the time I regain my senses, I lift my head from atop his chest, blinking in a dazed manner.

He stares at me, a teasing smile on his lips.

Gavin: How do you plan to snatch it?

MC: I... I’ll snatch it by force, of course.

Right after saying this, he imprisons me tightly with both arms, as though wanting to put an end to my idea of snatching it by force.

Gavin: What about now? How are you going to snatch it?

Not knowing what to do, I can only blush while struggling in a perfunctory manner.

MC: I...

Gavin: If you don’t plan to give up, I won’t let go.

MC: Fine, I promise. Unless it’s really necessary, I won’t work!

A soft laugh burrows into my ear. He releases his grip slightly, but keeps me in his arms gently.

In the next second, the train finally leaves the tunnel, and starlight from outside the window enters my vision.

MC: Gavin, there are so many stars outside!

Following my words, he looks out of the window.

The starlight and night scene outside the window seem to soften Gavin’s sculpted features. He suddenly chuckles.

Gavin: I actually wanted to take you to see the stars in the planetarium a while back. In the end... you had to work overtime. The weather was great last week, and it was very suitable for taking a stroll in the park. But there was an accident at the filming site, and you were called away at short notice.

Softly, Gavin talks about the countless dates we missed because of work over the past half month.

MC: Gavin...

Feeling a little guilty, I have no idea what to say.

Gavin turns his head to look at me directly, his eyes brimming with a smile.

Gavin: And then, I suddenly understood. If I were to keep waiting without an end, I wouldn’t know how long I’d have to wait. So I should simply take you away at an appropriate time. Just like the many times before.

After disembarking from the train, we sit in the rental car Gavin arranged for in advance, and we begin our long car ride.

When the car makes a turn, what enters my vision is a large patch of blue.

The faraway waves roll onto the fair and clear beach in layers, reflecting sunlight and emitting dazzling rays of light.

Pleasantly surprised, I turn my head, meeting Gavin’s eyes.

MC: Why did you think of bringing me to the seaside?

Gavin: You’ve been staying in the office during this period of time. So I’m taking you to a more open place.

Gavin: But there are many places I want to take you to. This is only one of them.

His voice is akin to a wave, rushing into my heart and creating ripples of tingly sweetness.

Very soon, the car halts at the seaside. Gavin leaves some instructions with the driver, and the latter sends our luggage to the hotel first.

Gavin and I walk along the beach leisurely. When a sailboat leaning against the harbour appears before us, he finally stops.

Gavin: We’re here.

MC: Are we going out to sea?

Gavin: Mm. I’m taking you on a “stroll” on the sea.

It seems he has already rented the boat in advance. After exchanging a few words with the person managing the sailboat, he supports me onto it.

The sailboat isn’t large in size, and I’m able to see it completely with a sweeping glance. The areas we can sit in are the two sides of the boat and a narrow deck.

The sailboat sways along with the waves, and I hold onto the railing as I sit down carefully.

Gavin: Sit tight.

With light-hearted steps, he walks to the end of the boat and starts the motor, both hands holding the steering wheel as the boat gradually leaves the harbour.

After that, he grips the rope tightly to raise the main sail, sunlight pouring onto his frame, outlining his edges.

When the main sail is raised up high, he shuts off the motor, and the boat is propelled forward with the help of the wind.

Seeing this series of practised movements, I exclaim in admiration.

MC: Gavin, if you were to participate in a sailing competition, would this be considered "cheating”? After all, you need to know the direction of the wind at all times to sail properly.

Gavin ponders on my question seriously for a second before giving me an answer.

Gavin: Yes. But even if I don’t use the ability of wind, I’m still more sensitive to wind than ordinary people.

He says such “enviable” words with ease while continuing to work on the rope in his hands.

All of a sudden, a gust of strong wind comes from the right. The left side of the boat tilts downwards fiercely, almost sticking to the surface of the water.

MC: Will the boat overturn?!

I grab onto the railing firmly, looking at Gavin with slight worry.

Gavin: Of course not.

Gavin continues operating the steering wheel, a fearless expression on his face.

Gavin: Although I can make the wind stop, that would reduce the fun of sailing in the first place. Trust me. I won’t let you fall off.

A proud smile appears on Gavin’s face. The corners of his shirt are blown up wildly by the wind as he stands steadily on the boat.

After that, he stretches out his hand towards me. Immediately understanding his intention, I grip his hand without any hesitance.

He pulls me behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

Gavin: Don’t let go. Hold tight.

Just as another fierce gale arrives, he tugs on the rope, causing the sail to change directions deftly.

Very quickly, our sailboat is akin to a drifting racing car, continuously changing directions in his hand, and accelerating in movement.

We allow ourselves to get swept along with the wind and waves, continuing to move headwind.

Without realising it, my initially anxious emotions have turned more and more excited.

MC: Gavin, let’s go!

He doesn’t speak, but the boat beneath his feet speeds up, as though using his actions to respond to me.

Gradually, the whistling at my ears disappears, and the waves grow peaceful.

Small ocean sprays lap the boat gently, as though telling us that our “surfing” experience has come to a temporary end.

I hurriedly pull on Gavin as we sit on the deck, and I massage his palms gently.

MC: Tired?

Gavin: Nope. What about you?

MC: I’m doing okay, just that my legs are a little wobbly from being nervous.

While saying this, I lean on Gavin’s shoulder, relaxing completely.

All of a sudden, a force pushes me gently on the shoulder. My body slides down slowly, and I find myself lying on Gavin’s lap.

Startled, I look at Gavin above me. With a pad of his finger, he pushes away strands of hair from my face.

Gavin: Lie down and rest for a while. I’ll make the wind a little quieter.

When I open my eyes again, what I can see is the azure sky and Gavin, who is resting with his eyes closed.

I can’t bear to disrupt such a beautiful image, so I simply purse my lips into a smile in secret.

Suddenly, Gavin’s eyelashes quiver, and he opens his eyes to look at me.

Gavin: What are you smiling at?

I realise that he might have noticed my peeping since early on, but simply allowed me to observe without making a sound.

With this thought in mind, the temperature of my cheeks involuntarily grow hot.

MC: I... I was smiling because the sun is really warm, and my fatigue seems to be swept away completely!

The deck reflects a dazzling light from the sun. Struck with an idea, I shift away from Gavin’s lap, then pat the deck.

MC: You must be really tired from sitting for such a long time. Let’s lie down and bask in the sun together!

I tug on Gavin gently, getting him to lie down beside me.

Perhaps due to the narrowness of the deck, we’re pressed together tightly.

Gavin: Is it a little cramped?

I shake my head quickly, afraid that he’d sit up to make space.

MC: It isn’t cramped at all. It’s just nice!

Gavin might have guessed my intentions. He stirs slightly, lying down sideways and facing me.

Gavin: Lying down like this will be a little better.

I heave a secret sigh of relief. Mimicking Gavin’s actions, I face him while lying down too.

MC: Even though it’s no longer cramped like this, we can’t see the sky in this position.

Gavin chuckles, embracing me gently.

Gavin: I just want to look at you. Other things aren’t as important.

All of a sudden, a shadow hangs above our heads, and sunlight gradually vanishes.

Puzzled, I turn my head towards the sky, only to realise that a thick cloud has completely covered the sun.

MC: The wonderful big sun has been blocked.

Despite the complaints from my mouth, my smile doesn’t leave.

Being with Gavin like this makes nothing worth regretting no matter what it is.

Gavin: In that case, I’ll make it leave temporarily.

Gavin straightens up, and a gentle gust of wind brushes my face.

The sailboat sways, as though sensing this force in the air. The waves sweep up, lapping the sides of the boat gently.

Even that cloud in the sky seems to float forward slowly with Gavin’s wind.

Gradually, rays of fine sunlight pass through the remaining tail of the cloud.

Sunlight pours over Gavin, leaving a pale shadow, making his facial features even clearer.

He lifts his chin, letting the wind sweep his hair into a nice-looking mess.

When the cloud has completely let the sun go, Gavin shoots me a smile.

Gavin: We can continue basking in the sun now.

After saying this, he lays back down on the deck, pulling me into his arms.

He closes his eyes, and all that’s left is the soft sound of his breathing. I can’t help but lift my chin, sticking to his ear carefully.

MC: You’ve worked hard over the past two days to prepare so many things. Is there anything I can do for you?

He opens his amber eyes slowly, the corners of his lips turning upwards in indistinct arcs.

Gavin: You don’t have to do anything. Just lay with me for a while.

With this, he tightens his grip, caging me in his arms.

I don’t insist further, laying by Gavin’s side obediently.

Seeing Gavin before me, I suddenly feel that this moment is so beautiful that it doesn’t seem real.

Last night, I was working overtime in the office. Today, I’m lying atop a boundless stretch of ocean.

Most importantly, the person I’ve been missing most is within reach.

I hug him fondly, tightening my grip.

MC: Gavin, thank you for bringing me here. Even though I still have some relatively unimportant matters waiting for me to handle, I think I really needed a break. Working overtime without an end can make one’s mind turn increasingly stale. If you hadn’t pulled me out from the endless loop, I might have been working inefficiently for a very long time.

Gavin listens as I reveal my thoughts bit by bit. His expression seems to become even more relaxed.

Gavin: Got it. When such a situation happens again, I’ll drag you away like this.

A breeze lifts up my hair quietly, as though agreeing with Gavin.

Even though I can’t hide the smile on my lips, I deliberately pinch his palm.

MC: Even so, you have to tell me in advance next time!

A teasing glint flashes across Gavin’s eyes, and he closes them.

Gavin: We’ll talk about it again when the time comes. I don’t want you to sink into that condition again.

He speaks indolently, but a resolute tone is in his words.

MC: Got it. I’ll take note of my working hours, and will definitely not overexert myself!

Gavin doesn't respond, but the smile on his lips is a clear indication.

Suddenly, a strong wind charges over fiercely, causing the main sail to rustle.

MC: Gavin, the wind seems to be getting stronger again! Will anything happen if our boat remains still like this?

Gavin closes his eyes without a care, holding me tightly.

Gavin: Nothing will happen. Let me hug you for a little longer. We’ll set off later.

His voice gradually dissipates along with the waves, leaving behind a breeze that leaves one reluctant to part with.

🚤 Call and Moments: here

🚤 Support the cafe by dropping by the tip jar!

#mlqc #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc gavin #added a full body sprite whenever the background changed so that we can enjoy the view #I'm referring to the view of his chest

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inlovewiththefictionalcharacters · 4 years ago

Text

SURPRISE

Request: Have you ever seen Defending Jacob if so I would like to request for a sugar daddy Andy Barber x reader please and thankyou ☺️

Pairing: (Sugar daddy) Andy Barber x Reader

Warning(s): Language; Smut (kinda); 18+; Angst; Spanking (sorry bout that); Not proofread; Mean Andy Barber (kinda); Reader is of age (18+).

To the Anon who sent me this: I hope you like this one. I’m so sorry it took a lot of time to write this, but I was preoccupied with some other stuff. I hope this meets your expectations. I can only hope that you will like it.

A/N: I don’t know what monstrosity I wrote. I apologize in advance... I never wrote anything with sugar baby - sugar daddy settings and I didn’t find many fics on it either. I hope you guys will like it.

*****

She never thought that she’ll end up doing this in her life. Becoming a sugar baby to someone. She didn’t want to do it. She didn’t like decision, but she don’t even have any other options left. With having no support from her parents, just because she chose to take an entirely different career path from what her parents wanted her to, her parents practically disowned her, kicking her to the curb.

That left her juggling two part time jobs along with college that left her so exhausted that sometimes, all she wanted was to never get out of her bed. Her paychecks barely met her rent and other expenses, apart from the tuition fees. But here she was, being a sugar baby to this man - Andy Barber.

She met Andy Barber in the most unconventional way when compared to how many other sugar babies met their sugar daddies. The first time she met him was when she was working on her shift at the diner and he happened to be at the place then. She ended up serving him for that night. The first time, Andy was polite and smiled at her whenever their gazes met. He was all alone by himself.

The second time she met him, was once again during her shift at the diner and coincidentally happened to serve him, yet once again. He was alone again and the diner didn’t have many customers that night. Andy started conversing with her, asking her how her day was and other random stuff that none of the customers she served to did.

The third time she met him was once again at the same diner which was practically empty that night, apart from the the cute teenage couple that was all googly eyes at each other. Instead of her, her coworker walked towards him to take his order and serve him, but then returned back to the counter with a confused expression, making Y/N look at her with a frown.

“He asked for you, today. You can cover him. I’ll take care of the teenage lovebirds” Tara said.

With a smile, Y/N walked towards Andy to take his order.

That night, Andy asked her to join him. She stilled hearing that. That’s very unusual and she didn’t know what to do. A quick glance at Tara who also happens to be near enough to hear what Andy asked received her a nod from Tara.

Nervously, she looked at Andy and said “Let me just place your order. I’ll join you after that.”

Andy smiled in response. After spending some time with her, Andy paid for the both of them, much to her disdain and walked out of the diner after thanking her for giving him company. But what surprised her the most that day was finding Andy outside the diner when she completed her shift. He was just standing there, waiting for her and she blinked at him, flabbergasted and slightly taken aback to see him there. With a gentle smile, he approached her and convinced her to let her take him somewhere else.

They ended up in a quaint little ice cream parlor with a scoop each of their favorite ice-creams and yet again, he managed to pay the bill before she could. The place was empty, given the late hour and they still took their seats far away to not be heard or disturbed by anyone who could pop in.

That’s when Andy broke the news to her, him propositioning to be her sugar daddy. Y/N was shocked to hear this. She didn’t know what to expect when he took her there, but she definitely wasn’t expecting that.

“Look, I just want you to give me company, that’s pretty much it. I don’t expect anything else from you. It sucks going home to no one, living alone for these many years. I just want you to be with me whenever I want to” he told her.

He told her that he wanted to spoil her, shower her with gifts. He told her that she wouldn’t have to worry about paying rents or making ends meet and he’ll be the one to worry her, also popping out that she’s going to live with him rather than that shitty hole of an apartment she lived in. He told her that she wouldn’t have to juggle those part time jobs anymore and can invest that time on her career and him.

The career aspect of his speech must have been what made her think about the deal. If not for that, she would have probably said a flat out no. But still, she asked him some time to think about it to which she agreed. But that didn’t stop him from meeting her everyday, giving her a glimpse of how her life could be if she agreed to be his sugar baby, adding his charm to everything he did.

That must have been it and within a week, she agreed to the deal and by the end of the month, Andy had her settled in his house. It felt odd, still did to find most of her favorite things handed out to her, without even asking for it. All she had to do was just be with him whenever he’s home and let him take care of her. That included going shopping, buying gifts and taking her out to places in and out of the city, impromptu included. But the best part was hanging out with each other that slowly turned into cuddle sessions. Both of them loved those.

It was during one of those moments when she first kissed him. It was a spur of the moment kiss. Both of them were cuddling, looking at a cheesy romantic movie that she put on. They were talking about a scene in the movie and turned their heads to look at each other while talking. She didn’t even know when they stopped talking and gazed into each others’ eyes, glancing at each others’ lips too. Without even thinking, she pressed her lips against his.

Andy was still for a moment. When she realized what she did, she was quick to break apart from him, apologizing profusely, but got cut off by him when he dragged her back to him and kissed the hell out of her. One thing lead to another and the both of them ended up rolling in the sheets on the bed.

She didn’t notice when things got complicated on her part, but when she did, it was too late. She caught feelings for Andy and didn’t even know when she fell in love with him. She loved everything about him, inside and out. That’s when her fear started too. She feared about the time she had to part ways with him. She wasn’t a fool. Arrangements like these almost never lasts long. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to mend her broken heart and live with it.

That’s when she started holding herself back, going reserved and formal making Andy frown every time she did it. When he asked her about it, she just brushed him off, saying it was just the stress due to college. But that continued even after the exams, days after the summer break has started. That’s when Andy thought that it was about time they go somewhere out and took her to the Caribbean. A getaway from all their worries where all they have to do is enjoy the sun and themselves.

It didn’t escape Andy’s scrupulous observation - the way she was behaving, like she was holding back, scared of something. He knew something was bugging her and he made a resolve to fix that before they leave, back to Newton.

Andy was sitting in the balcony of the room they were in, enjoying the gorgeous sunset that it offered along with the glorious view of the beach when Y/N awkwardly walked out, to the balcony.

“Hey, you” Andy greeted, looking at her and was met with a shy and awkward smile and a small hey was told to him.

She was about to sit on the chair beside him when he grabbed her hand, saying “Sit with me,” and pulling her into his lap.

She was stiff for a moment but eventually leaned into him, the both of them enjoying the sunset while he kept caressing her hair, her back and her arm. He smiled when she nuzzled into him, but it quickly turned into a frown when she suddenly stilled.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking down at her.

“N-Nothing” she replied and quickly stood up.

“Where are you going?” he asked, sitting straight when he saw her leaving.

“Inside” she replied and walked back into the room.

Cussing under his breath, he stood up and followed her.

“Look, if something’s bothering you, you can tell me” he told her.

“Nothing’s bothering me, Andy” she told, letting her hands run through the non-existent creases on her sundress.

Andy narrowed his eyes at her.

“Seriously, Y/N?!” “Now you’re lying to me?” “Is it something that I did?” “Tell me what’s bothering you!” he kept asking and telling her but she didn’t say anything, dodging all of his questions.

“I said nothing’s bothering me, Andy!” she exclaimed.

“Bullshit!” he called out her bluff.

She just huffed rolling her eyes and he narrowed his, looking at her.

“I need some air” she muttered and turned around to leave, but he was quick to walk towards her with huge steps and grabbed her arm.

“Oh, no. You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s bothering you so much” Andy said.

“Seriously, Andy! Let go!” she exclaimed, tugging her arm from his grip, but he tightened his hold on her and walked towards the bed.

He sat on the edge of the bed and within the blink of the eye, she was across his knee. He raised the skirt of her dress, bunching it up by her torso and pulled her panties down her legs, puddling them on the floor.

“Andy! What are you doing?!” she gasped.

He just caressed her naked butt, squeezing it every now and then while she kept wiggling, trying to get out of his hold, but his grip was tight on her.

“Y/N” he said, his voice calm, reminding her of the calmness that comes before a storm.

“Now, tell me what’s bothering you” Andy told her.

“Nothing!” she exclaimed, lying through her teeth, still wiggling.

Andy’s eyes hardened and he grabbed her arms by the wrists and held them at her back, obstructing her movements.

“Fine then. If you don’t tell me, I’ll get it out of you, myself” he said coldly and his hand left her butt but her breath was quickly knocked out of her lungs when his hand met her butt-cheek with a sharp slap.

That was the first time he ever did that to her. The cheek burned while her lips parted in shock and her entire body stilled for a second. Andy caressed the other cheek and slapped it too, with more force than the first spank and a low whimper got caught in her throat. He kept delivering the spanks to each cheek alternatively. She didn’t know how many times he did that. She didn’t bother to count. Her mind was too much in shock to even register that.

After some time, Andy stopped spanking her, seeing the tears that pooled in her eyes. He hated doing this, hurting her but he didn’t like it one bit when she withdrew herself from him. He knew that he had to fix whatever that is bothering her. He can’t bear it when she’s troubled.

He softly caressed her but cheeks and asked “Are you going to tell me what’s been bothering you, now, sweetheart?”

Y/N scowled, with tears in her eyes and replied a resonating “No!”

Andy chuckled hearing that.

“Well, at least it’s a no this time and not a nothing” he said and her eyes widened hearing it.

“That’s progress” he added and hummed letting his fingers go down to her folds.

“Someone’s been enjoying this” he said, his fingers playing with her with folds while she squirmed.

His fingers soon found her clit and kept rubbing tight circles on it, making a coil form in her stomach and just before it was about to snap, he stopped, making her whimper.

“Are you going to tell me now?” he asked her slowly.

She just turned her head away is response.

It wasn’t long before he started playing with her folds again, dipping his finger into the wet hole, thrusting into it. He edged her four times like that, stopping right before she could climax and asking her if she’s gonna tell him and she’d just whimper or groan in response, shaking her head. The fifth time he edged her and stopped right before the orgasm hit her, she kicked her legs, crying, her lady parts sensitive, her body flushed.

“I don’t like being mean to you, sweetheart. Please tell me what’s bothering you” he told her softly, leaning down and kissing the back of her head.

And she told him, bearing her heart out to him. She told him that she loved him and was scared that in the end she’d end up with a broken heart and was trying to protect herself from it, that she knew that these type of arrangements - what they had usually don’t last and was scared that she’d end up trying to mend her heart back while sobbing. He eventually let her hands go, but made her sit in his lap while she cried into his shoulder, all the while he kept caressing her back, her hair while kissing the side of her head. He waited till her cries stopped to break the news to her.

“You had me worried there, baby. And I thought it was something that I did” he said, making her sit straight in his lap and look at him with a frown etched on her face.

“You’re not calling off the arrangement?” she asked him, looking dumbfound.

Andy laughed in response and cupped her face, saying “And let you go? Never! I fucking love you and I’m never going to let you go. You’re stick with me sweetheart, and got me wrapped around your finger,” and kissed her passionately, pouring all his love and feelings for her.

#Defending Jacob #andy barber x reader #andy barber #sugar daddy andy barber #sugar daddy! andy barber #sugar daddy!andy barber #smut #mean andy barber

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uwuwriting · 5 years ago

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Todoroki, Shinsou and Iida protecting you

Request: Hello can I request todo, shinsou and iida protecting their girlfriend from cat callers or something like that? Basically her being in a really uncomfortable situation and even though she is a fearless hero in the field because of past trauma she freezes up in these situations? Thank you - anonymous

This post might trigger some people since they might have experienced something similar both in the cat calling and past trauma department. I’ve never really written anything so serious and triggering before so this might suck. I’m sorry in advance. So TW beware. Love yaa.💖💖💖

rules

warnings: trauma, PTSD, semi non-con but not explicit, cat-calling, harassment, ends in fluff

Todoroki Shouto

-Shouto is really protective of you.

-Not an overbearing type of protective, he just wants you to be safe and sound.

-Also he knew about your abusive past.

-When he shared his family background you shared your own trauma and history with physical abuse.

-It hurt him to hear you saying that someone you trusted, someone who used to be in his place, betrayed you like that.

-If he could find your ex and beat him to a plump because of how he scarred you, he would.

-But you reassured him that you were alright now, that he showed you what being loved felt like even though he himself didn’t really know how to love and that your past is what pushed you to be a hero.

-Your relationship lasted even after high school and now, one year into the adult world, you two lived together.

-It had been a tough day for your boyfriend at work, having to fight three major villain attacks and a mountain of paper work to tackle.

-Fighting along side you was the highlight of his day.

-He was the first to arrive at your apartment and had gotten to preparing dinner for you when his phone rang.

-You smiled back at him from the screen as he accepted the call.

- “Hey, love. I making so-”

- “Sho someone is following me.”

-He heard the panic in your voice and immediately turned off the stove walking to the door to put on his shoes.

- “Y/N where are you?”

-You gave him your location and he was out the door in no time.

-He kept you on the phone, talking to you, trying to restrain your panic.

- “H-he was outside of the pharmacy near the a-agency.”

-You never stuttered, oh god he was going to kill the man.

- “I walked past him and he grabbed my arm a-and pushed me on the w-wall. Shouto he tried to t-touch me.”

-He was running now, his rage making his quirk go crazy as flames rose from his left shoulder.

- “Baby I’m almost there, go into the convenience store on the corner and wait in there.”

-Your weak okay from the other line pushed him further.

-He knew how certain acts reminded you of your ex, even after all these years.

-They would send you into a small panic and even though you were one of the top upcoming heroes , you were still human at the end of the day your own past haunting you.

-He was always there to chase those fears and memories away, never letting them get to close to you.

-And now that’s exactly what he has set out to do; chase away the man who tried to hurt you.

-Rounding the corner he was met with a sight he wished to never ever witness again.

-It seems that you hadn’t made it into the store when he hang up and he slapped himself for not keeping you on the call for longer.

-He heard your sobs as the man had you pinned to the wall his hand trying to unzip your jeans.

-Shouto was fuming.

-Without a second thought he grabbed the man by his jacket and shoved him to the ground, grabbing your elbows to steady you before pushing you gently behind him as the man stood up.

- “Want a taste of her too boy?”

- “Get the fuck away from her!”

-Shouto kept one of his arms behind him pressing you onto his back as the other activated his quirk frost forming from his elbow to his palm.

-He could feel your trembling as you clutched onto his shirt, on of your hands grasping his own squeezing it.

-The man backed away at the sight of Shouto’s ice raising his hands in the air admitting defeat.

-Shouto however had other plans.

-Freezing the man on the spot he growled as he fished his phone out of his pocket and called the police reporting what the man had done and his location.

- “If I ever see you again anywhere near her I’m not going to be this kind got it?”

-And with that you two left as the police sirens sounded in the distance.

-Back in your apartment, Shouto helped you get undressed and then ran you a bath, wiping away the man’s touch and leaving small kisses were his hands used to be.

-He helped you get dressed in one of his hoodies and a loose pair of sweatpants before setting you down on the couch and ordering your favorite food.

-He heard your small sniffles and sat down beside you, bringing you on his lap and letting you cry it out, rocking you back and forth as he kisses your hair.

-You calm down after some time but Shouto won’t let you leave his embrace.

- “I won’t let anyone else hurt you ever again. I don’t care where I am you will always call me when something happens. I love you.”

-For the next month or so Shouto was at your beck and call, never leaving your side and even going as far to take some days off to spend as much time with you as possible.

-He kept his promise as he kept you safe for the rest of your lives.

Shinsou Hitoshi

-Hitoshi was there for you when he found out about how one of you family members had hurt you.

-He was there when you would wake up with nightmares while sleeping in his dorm.

-Or when you had panic attacks after someone came at you in a way that seemed all too familiar.

-He was there every step of the way.

-Hitoshi was really amazed at how you zoned in on your work and those thoughts never held you back.

-PTSD was hard to battle and even harder to deal with in a work place such as yours.

-After high school your panic attacks fell in numbers, leaving you to rest peacefully at night.

-Shinsou was sure he had chased your demons away, that you felt completely safe with him and that he would never see your trembles of fear ever again.

-But he was wrong.

-You two were out on a date, walking along the beach on a sunny day enjoying each others company.

-Shinsou went to buy you two ice cream leaving you to wait for him on a bench.

-You were minding your business, checking up with your agency to make sure everything is alright; after all it’s not everyday that your main two heroes are out of commission for the day.

- “Damn girl where’d ya get all that ass!”

-It came from a group of man behind you who were staring at you like a piece of meat.

-You tried to ignore them switching to your messages ready to text Hitoshi.

- “Those shorts look so tight on you sweetheart.”

- “I bet it’s not the only thing that’s tight about her.”

-You had frozen up at the nickname.

-It brought back everything you and Shinsou had managed to scare off, pushing them down your throat making your insides twist in disgust.

-He isn’t here it’s just some awful cat callers, Y/N calm down.

-You tried to calm yourself down using your common sense, separating the two situations and pointing out the differences, a technique Shinsou had taught you while you were still in high school.

-You were so lost in thought you hadn’t noticed the three men hovering over you, one of them reaching down to grasp your thigh.

-That’s when you started to tremble.

- “Aw look at her, she’s so excited..”

- “Let’s go have some fun pretty girl.”

- “We’ll make you feel so good you won’t be able to walk home.”

-You shoved the man’s hand away and went to get up only for an arm to snake around your waist pulling you back down on the bench.

- “Now now sweetheart don’t be naughty.”

-You wanted Hitoshi.

-You wanted your Hitoshi so bad right now.

-And as if you had summoned him, purple hair could be seen above the men’s heads.

-Shoving them off of you one more time you pushed through hitting Shinsou’s chest as he wrapped an arm around you.

-He pushed you behind his back before scanning the three men, leveling them with a glare so sharp it could slice right through them.

- “You better leave my girl alone before I get really angry.”

-The men scrambled to their feet before running off, terrified from Hitoshi’s structure.

- “Kitten! Kitten are you alright? Did they hurt you? Please kitty talk to me.”

-Tears ran down your cheeks and Shisnou just pulled you gently into his chest before telling you that he was taking you home.

-This man will do everything in the house after that.

-He undresses you and helps into the shower to clear their touch from your skin, then he dresses you in one of his large hoodies and lays you on the couch.

-He can see you are still trembling so he comes back and takes you into his arms before going back to doing whatever he had in mind.

-Now this is a scene to behold.

-Two of Japan’s strongest heroes are walking around their house cosplaying a panda and its bamboo stick.

-He orders take out and then lays on the couch, still having you on his lap drowning your sobs in his chest as he says over and over again how sorry he is for leaving you alone and how much he loves you.

-He knows you haven’t had an episode in what felt like ages.

-It really shook him seeing you so helpless and terrified again.

-He swore he would never see that petrified glint in your eyes.

-That was his new mission.

-And he was willing to do anything to accomplish it.

Iida Tenya

-Iida is well aware about how your ex had forced you to do certain things with him.

-He also knew how you believed that what had happened had been your fault.

-He had reassured you that nothing was your fault,that your ex was to blame and to never see yourself other than the victim in this situation.

-It hurt him to see you suffer so much.

-He had provided you with a shoulder to cry on and soon enough you two were together.

-When during your last year of high school, his comfort and words didn’t really cut it he encouraged you to see a therapist.

-And that helped you a lot.

-It untangled the parts Iida couldn’t reach on his own and coupled with his support you managed to pull yourself fully out of the whole that your ex had dug.

-Now Iida knew that somethings still triggered you.

-He knew what he should and shouldn’t do while you two are being intimate and what he should watch out for.

-So when you two are taking the train to visit Deku in his agency for his birthday and he feels you squeezed his hand a little too hard he knew something was up.

-You had buried you face in his shoulder, something he wouldn’t allow if you had asked, squeezing his hand as your breathing became uneven.

-Iida looked around expecting to see your ex somewhere thinking that he was the reason for your small attack.

-But he found no one he knew in the crowd.

-Then his eyes fell back down to you and from the corner of his eye he caught movement under your dress.

-Following the source of the movement with his eyes he was met with the lustful eyes of a grown ass man, his hand under your skirt groping and squeezing you.

-He saw his hand trying to separate your thighs and that’s when he fully snapped.

-Grabbing the man’s hand he shoved it in his chest before placing himself between you and him.

- “How dare you touch her like that? You should be ashamed of yourself!!”

-The whole train was looking at the man at this point and Iida could see how the vein on his forehead popped.

- “Being an adult, you should know better.”

-Others chimed in insulting and shaming the man while others asked you if you were alright.

-At the next stop the person got off a chain of angry comments following him out.

- “Y/N honey are you alright?”

-You buried your face in his chest and he let you stay there for the rest of the ride.

-He placed on hand on your back rubbing soft circles over your sweater and talking to you not allowing your thoughts/memories to creep further into your mind.

-He kept your hand in his for as long as you were away from your apartment.

-You would squeeze his hand every now and then, grounding yourself.

-Once at home late that evening he pampered you.

-He ran you a bubble bath and cooked your favorite food.

-He made a small pillow fort on your couch while you were in the bath and he waited for you to finish.

-The rest of your day and night was spent in your boyfriend’s arms never letting you go once.

-He provided his warmth and comfort.

-Just like when you were in high school.

TAG TEAM AY:

@iwaqchan @the-arcana-fan-fic @angelwritings @axerrri @reinyrei

#todoroki shouto #todoroki x reader #todoroki shoto x reader #mha todoroki #shouto x reader #todoroki x you #todoroki x y/n #shinsou fluff #my hero academia shinsou #shinsou x y/n #shinsou x you #shinsou x reader #iida tenya x reader #my hero academia iida #iida x reader #iida tenya #bnha iida #iida x you

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kopikokun · 5 years ago

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Beach Day Blues༄ l.dh

↳ Out on a day trip to the beach with your boyfriend and his friends, you’re anticipating a fun time filled with sunny memories and sand filled swimsuits. What you’re not expecting is the cold shoulder from your usually happy-go-lucky boyfriend, but you’re going to get to the root of this issue, even if it’ll kill you.

pairing: lee donghyuck x reader ft. yuta, mark & jaehyun

content: fluff, beach day, reverse comfort fic, jealousy fic, very mildly suggestive ending

word count: 2053 words

Request 36: Haechan + “I need a hug.” (42) + “You’re cute when you’re angry.” (47) + “You own my heart.” (59) + Jealousy

← BACK TO NAVI.

— 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝.

Perhaps you’re being delusional. Perhaps you’re just dehydrated or, maybe, you rationalise, the scalding rays of the evening Sun have burned not only your skin but your brain cells too (if there were any to begin with). Maybe all of this is just in your head and you’re overthinking it.

“Hey,” someone hisses, “is it just me or is Donghyuck giving you the cold shoulder?”

At the question, or rather observation, your head swivels an almost sharp 90 degrees to stare Yuta straight in the eyes. “So, it wasn’t just me thinking that!”

Yuta chuckles. “Yeah, he definitely seems off…” He peers at Donghyuck discreetly from beneath his sunglasses before turning back towards you. “Did you guys get into a fight or something?”

“A fight? No way!” You pause, suddenly doubting yourself. “At least, I don’t think so…”

Though you’re confident in your verdict of innocence regarding a fight, Yuta’s question prompts you to briefly run through the events of the day. To preface things, you, your boyfriend, Donghyuck, and a few of your friends—namely, Yuta, Jaehyun and Mark—had decided around half a month ago to clear up one day in advance for a ‘beach day’ this week. The idea had sprung after someone had brought up how nice and sunny the weather had been lately, and everyone just unanimously came to the conclusion that sunny weather equals beach day.

You had begun packing for this trip a few days ahead to the surprise of everyone including yourself, which is a testament to your overwhelming excitement, because you rarely--if ever--pack that early for just a single day trip. But who can blame you? This would be your first official trip with Donghyuck. No, you should rephrase that. This would be your first official trip with Donghyuck as your boyfriend. You’ve been on plenty of trips before when you two were just ‘friends’, but now--and maybe this is the romanticist in you which you’ve successfully kept stored away up until recently speaking--it just feels different. You’re sure someone out there can relate, because you’ve never been one to obsess over something as feeble as a label, yet this trip has had your stomach in knots for ages.

The packing process had gone smoothly--neither you nor Donghyuck had forgotten anything--and so had the car ride over. As far as you can recall, your day at the beach so far has gone without a hitch too. You’d had a little picnic, dipped in the oddly warm sea, played some beach volleyball (badly) and gotten some icecream afterward. No fights, no issues, no nothing.

Maybe, you think, he found out I was involved in that little switch up with the sea water. You don’t entertain the idea for too long though immediately casting it away, because you know Donghyuck would never be the type to get so upset over a prank.

So, why the attitude?

You gaze at Donghyuck’s back, hoping that this mystery might just unravel itself if you stare long enough.

“Huh…” Yuta’s voice tears you from your zealous staring competition with Donghyuck’s shoulders. “Then I wonder what’s up…”

You sigh. You know you should confront him and have a mature conversation about what’s bothering him, but that’s so much easier said than done. Maybe this is God’s way of punishing you for ridiculing all those scenes in cheesy teen flicks where the couple would experience a major fall-out because of poor communication. During said scenes, you’d be pulling your hair out, internally screaming at the couple to just freaking talk already, yet now that you’ve been presented this obstacle for you to overcome yourself, you’re erring on the side of caution.

Come on, you reason, I’ve been friends with Donghyuck for over half-a-decade and we’ve gotten into our fair share of arguments during those five years. What’s so different about now?

Yeah, you’re right. You find yourself agreeing with your own thoughts, physically nodding along like you’re speaking to someone. Yuta raises a concerned eyebrow at you. Nothing’s different compared to then. You’re doing it again. He’s just my boyfriend, and that’s just a label. Stop. Obsessing. Over. Labels.

Admittedly, it’s a bit embarrassing having to psyche yourself up to do this, but that’s not what’s important right now. What’s important is that little pep-talk, no matter how laughable it sounded, has gotten you to stand and saunter to Donghyuck with utmost confidence. In hindsight, you should’ve said something to Yuta beforehand instead of just springing from your seat and marching away. The thought hadn’t crossed your mind though, as it was obviously preoccupied with something arguably much more important than giving him the luxury of context.

You decide not to be too transparent about your feelings at first as you take a seat beside Donghyuck on the sand, leaning your head on his shoulder, hoping that all of this was really just your imagination getting the best of you. You silently plead that he’ll perhaps treat you like he normally would, giving you a little peck on the cheek or at least wrapping his arm around your waist. Unfortunately, your hopes are smothered just as quickly as they arise because Donghyuck doesn’t even bat an eye at you, continuing to chat with Jaehyun and flat-out ignoring your presence. Still optimistic for a reaction, you leave a chaste kiss to his bare shoulder, just to let him know that “Hey, I’m here!”, but to no avail. Infuriatingly, he doesn’t even flinch. All he does is drone on to Jaehyun about something you couldn’t care less about.

You huff. Audibly. A last ditch effort in vying for Donghyuck’s attention. It goes just as well as your previous attempts. You cross your arms, glaring at the side of Donghyuck’s stubborn little head, hoping to bore a deep hole through his brain. Maybe then he’ll finally take notice of you. Sensing the undeniable tensity in the air, Jaehyun clears his throat awkwardly, offering Donghyuck some lame excuse about needing to take a piss, before shuffling away. Well, at least someone knows how to take a hint.

With Jaehyun’s departure, you’re left alone with Donghyuck. Usually, he’d be leaping to drown you in affection the second you two had privacy--or even if you two didn’t, to be frank--but all he does now is fiddle with the strings of his swimming shorts absentmindedly.

“What’s wrong, Hyuck?” you finally ask, desperate to break this frustratingly suffocating silence. “Is something wrong?”

Finally, after what seems like centuries, Donghyuck acknowledges your existence, though the look he gives you is not a pleasant one. In fact, it’s one of agitation. His tongue prods at his inner cheek before he says, tone bitter, “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”

Evidently taken aback, you crease your eyebrows at him. “I… Did I do something wrong, babe?”

“Oh, come on,” he scoffs, scornful amusement overtaking his normally amiable features. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know. You can just come out and say it.”

“Say what, Hyuck?”

“How much more you’re into Mark than into me,” Donghyuck says like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

You can’t help but laugh, simply bewildered as to how on Earth he came to this conclusion. “I’m into who now?”

“Mark,” Donghyuck rolls his eyes, “don’t have to pretend like you’re surprised.”

“I’m not into--” you sigh, a smile of disbelief tugging at your lips. “Okay, tell me why you think I’m into Mark.”

“I don’t think. I know,” Donghyuck argues and you scoff, “but it’s obvious. And I have proof. Take when we were playing volleyball for instance. The whole time, you kept eyeing Mark up and laughing at his jokes. All of them. Even the weird ones that nobody gets.”

You snort. “Baby… I wasn’t ‘eyeing Mark up’, I was watching him just in case he missed the ball. And about the joke thing, to his credit, some of them were actually pretty funny! But, as for the the rest--and don’t tell Mark I said this--I felt kinda bad nobody else laughed at them, so I just laughed along with him. Trust me, I’ve been in his shoes before and it sucks. Not all of us are born as naturally as funny as you, Hyuck.” You’re a little remorseful that you’re essentially dissing Mark, but you’re sure he’d understand. Your relationship’s on the line here.

Donghyuck harrumphs, but you can tell by the slight quirk of his lip that he’s a little tickled by you poking fun at Mark and he’s totally been swayed by your compliment.

“Okay, fine that explains that, but how about when we went swimming just now? Why did you and Mark keep exchanging funny looks?”

“That?” You giggle. “You know how your drink was mysteriously replaced by seawater?”

“Yeah,” he trails off, his suspicion growing by the second.

“Who do you think that was?”

Donghyuck groans. “Wait, that was you? Seriously? That was mean, babe.”

“Aww, I know, Hyuck. I’m sorry,” you coo. Your hand inches its way closer to his as you attempt to intertwine your fingers together.

Donghyuck rejects your endeavour of fondness. “Nu-uh, no way. I’m not done with you yet.”

“Oh my God, Hyuck, there’s more?” you complain, though there’s a tint of amusement in your voice.

“Yes, there’s more, and you won’t be able to worm your way out of this one either,” he says smugly, as if it’d be a good thing if you in fact, couldn’t worm your way out of his next accusation. “How about when we went to get ice cream and you kept sliding up next to him?”

You pout. “I just wanted to try the watermelon popsicle he got.”

Donghyuck blinks at you, his once irritated expression dissolving. He seems dumbfounded as you hold his gaze, your mirthful smile never faltering. He turns away from you. “Oh, well… then whatever. I guess you aren’t into Mark.”

“Hyuck,” you say, hand crawling up his arm, “were you jealous?”

“Well, yeah, obviously,” he deadpans, still refusing to meet your gaze.

You giggle. “You’re cute when you’re angry.”

His cold facade is immediately abandoned at your teasing intonation, and just like that, your cheery Hyuck is back. “Baby,” he whines, readjusting himself so he’s facing you head-on, “don’t tease me. I couldn’t help but be jealous, you know?”

“And why is that?”

Donghyuck purses his lips. “Why? What do you mean why?” He gestures up and down, eyes sweeping over you. “Look how pretty you are! What am I supposed to do when you look this good all the time? It’s unfair, really, that you’re this pretty.”

A blistering heat, one that is much hotter than the Sun, gathers in your cheeks. “Oh really now, Hyuck?”

“Yes, really,” he says, genuity seeping into his every word. “Literally, everyday I’m surprised you’re even real.” You grin bashfully and Donghyuck pounds his fist to his chest dramatically like he’s been shot. “See! You’re only smiling and I’m already having heart palpitations at just twenty years old.”

“Okay, okay, Hyuck. You can stop hyping me up now,” you chuckle. You’re beyond glad that your boyfriend has returned to his spirited self, but you know you should address what just happened seriously, just in case. “But hey, I’m sorry that I made you feel that way. Looking back, it definitely could’ve been misinterpreted as flirting and I would never want you to have any reason to feel insecure about our relationship because you own my heart, Hyuck.”

“Aw, babe, you can be really cheesy when you want to be,” says Donghyuck, pinching your cheeks. He plays what you said off casually, but you know that deep down, it resonates with him, and he honestly appreciates your sincerity. “Come here, I need a hug.”

“Right now? There are people around, Hyuck.”

“But you look so good right now. I can’t resist.”

“I don’t know, Hyuck…” You smile demurely.

“Alright, then what about,” Donghyuck reaches to tuck your hair behind your ear, whispering, “we ditch the beach day and go cuddle in the car? My skin’s burning, anyway.”

You grin. “They’re gonna notice that we went missing, you know?”

“So?” Donghyuck challenges, leaning in to place a short but telling kiss on the juncture which connects your ear and your jaw. “Even better. I want them to know.”

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be-ready-when-i-say-go · 5 years ago

Text

Christmas at the Hoods

You escape your family by going home with Calum to Australia for the holiday. And the escape is necessary, but at the end of it, you’re reminded that sometimes family is chosen rather than given.

Reader Insert. Fluff a little bit of angst. You just a perfect amount of tear your heart out but then put it back like nothing ever happened.

CW: Death of a parent, strained family relationships.

Enjoy my masterlist.

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__________________________________________

You stare down at the text from your mother. Are u coming home for Christmas? The truth is--no, you don’t want to come home. Home is too stiff, reminds you just how much you don’t fit. And maybe it’s just you, you thinking that you won’t ever live up to their expectations of what your life should be like, and maybe it’s not fair to them. But given all that, you still don’t want to subject yourself to that awful feeling, the squirming in your spot wondering how long is appropriate for you to stay before you dip the family pretend bonding.

You don’t want to go home. But you don’t have an excuse not to go. You sigh and place your phone face down on the counter. Ice clinks around in the glass that Calum sets down in front of you. Over the speakers faintly, you hear the twang and kick of guitar as Carla Thomas sings her conversation with an imagined other. At Christmas time, Calum gave you control over the speakers whenever you come over. He liked the Christmas music you had saved and even if he didn’t always get full on decorations the music helped the holiday feel a bit more real for the time you were over at least.

“What’s wrong?” he asks. “That had to be the heaviest sigh I’ve ever heard.”

“My mom,” you reply, unlocking your phone and showing him the text. “I can’t exactly say, ‘No, I don’t have any plans. But I don’t feel like pretending to care so I won’t be coming home.’ Wouldn’t go over nicely.”

Calum stares down at the text. The exchange previous to this was a Happy Thanksgiving text that you replied to and prior to that it seems like the conversation was just your mother updating you about the changes she was making to the home office. To which you only replied with ‘Pretty!’ but nothing more. He always suspected you and your family weren’t that close. You talked pretty highly of your dad, but he passed away a couple years ago. And you and your mother just didn’t click. Any sort of sustained interaction always seemed to go south. He just hadn’t had a clue just how sort you kept your conversations with your mother.

He had plans to go home to Australia. His sister was flying in too, the first time he wouldn’t have to split his Christmas vacation time between London and Sydney. Calum knew for sure that Luke was going home to Australia too. He wasn’t sure about Michael, though if previous years proved to be any sort of pattern, Michael would be spending Christmas with his partner’s family. Ashton seemed to be tentatively planning spending New Years in Australia at the very least. Sure you had other friends but given the holiday, he suspected that they might be traveling home or spending time with their families.

“Come with me to Australia,” he offers.

“You leave in a week, tops? The cost of that ticket on it’s own is going to be fucking awful.” You take your phone as it’s handed back over, but you only focus in on him. There was no way he was serious about an offer like that. There was no way he was getting a roundtrip ticket for you under three grand. Tickets for that kind of travel months in advance were easily a grand or more. So there was no way Calum could guarantee a ticket for you round trip in a week for a reasonable price.

“I always told you I was going to take you home with me one of these days,” he counters. “Show you those Sydney streets I grew up on.”

You laugh at the way he bobs with his fists in front of his face like a boxer in the middle of the ring. “Yeah, when we could both plan it out and I could at least pay for my own airfare. I can’t Cal. I appreciate it and you. But that’s too soon and I can’t have you dropping money like that on me such short notice.” You take the glass from the counter and spin around in the barstool before traveling to the couch.

Calum drops his arms and follows behind. He’s not worried about money. That’s nothing. “I can’t leave you alone for the holidays. I know going home would just be rough right now. I’d-I’d come with you if you wanted.”

“Oh my god, Calum, no. Go home. You haven’t seen your mom and dad in ages. I’ll be okay.”

“If I cancel I can still get a voucher for another time,” he offers and settles onto the ottoman in front of you.

“Go home. See your parents. Give them a hug. Fucking hell, I’m not worth canceling a trip over. I’ll suffer through this Christmas like I have every other Christmas.”

With a tap to your knee, Calum shakes his head. “My friend absolutely cannot spend Christmas miserable. I won’t have it.”

You shake your head. It’s not like you haven’t had to spend every other CHristmas miserable--what’s one more to the list? Calum looks to the coffee table and spies his phone. He stretches out for it. This would be embarrassing to admit. He wasn’t going to do it like this. In all actuality, he had meant to ask you last week. But you had to out of town for a conference. He hadn’t realized the conference was this late in the year but it was one that you had been trying to get into for years, so when you landed the opportunity, Calum knew you’d take it in a heartbeat.

You take hold of the phone as it’s handed to you. “What’s this?” You ask but Calum remains silent and you glance down to the phone to see it opened to an app. “Why am I staring at trip information?”

“It’s because I bought two round trip tickets,” he returns.

“What do you mean you bought two tickets?”

“One of those is for you. If you want to go.”

You drop his phone into your lap and push to the edge of the seat. “When the hell did you buy these tickets?”

“A couple months ago. I knew the holidays were always a little rough for you.” He shrugs. “At least you won’t have to lie to your mum now.”

“Calum you are the most insane person I’ve ever met and I’ve lived with myself for a while now. When the fuck were you going to tell me?”

“I had plans to last week. But I remembered you were going out of town for that conference and I wanted you to focus on that since you had to present and be on a panel too.”

“How fucking early do I need to wake up?” you asks.

“I-I figured you come over the day before, sleep over and then I’d drive us to the airport.”

“It’s summer in Australia right now, correct?” He nods at your question. “Beaches?”

“If you wanna go, sure.”

“Do I get to say that I’m being kidnapped for Christmas?”

“If you really want to phrase it like that.”

“I’m in,” you agree and Calum smiles, wrapping his arms around you as you fall into him in a hug. “Thanks, Cal.”

“Of course,” he returns softly. He’d do anything for you, or just about anything if he’s honest. You matter to him and even if he does have to kidnap you for the holidays, he’s happy to do it if it means you won’t be miserable.

A couple hours go by and you head home, now having to start packing for the holiday trip with Calum. As you sit on the floor in front of your suitcase, you pick up your phone. You aim to go the weather app and see what it’s like in Sydney right now. But the text notification from your mom still lingers on the messages app. You tap on it and reply. No, Mom, sorry. Going to visit Australia for Christmas.

Who’s in Australia?

Calum’s family is there.

Who’s Calum? Is that the boy you talk about in the band?

“Fuck,” you mutter, realizing there were two ways this could go. You hadn’t ever really talked about your friends with your mother. Your dad knew and he filled her in a little bit, but even still you didn’t tell him a lot before he died. Mostly because you were afraid. What would happen if you told him everything and you needed help and he died? He’d be the only one to know and then he’d be gone. You’d have no one. So you told him half of everything. You told him about the band and some of your friends and you told him that you were doing okay. But you didn’t tell him that you were finally starting to figure what what you were meant to be doing on this earth. You didn’t tell him that you were dating around. Your dad only knew half the truth and now you realized all he could tell was half your truth to your mother. He could only convey what he knew and your mother didn’t always listen too well. She always got into her head what she wanted to hear and that’s the version she went with.

You can almost imagine your mother now, sitting on her couch tapping at the screen of her phone with one finger and looking up to the kitchen where your dad would usually be--and here, she would call out to your dad to ask Do you know about this Calum fella? They ever talk to you about ‘im? And your dad would reply in some sorts clipped and in half truths, Yeah, they’re friends or something. He’s got a good head on his shoulders from what I could tell. Because that what your dad would always say about any of your friends, that they always had a good head on their shoulders because he trusted you.

Your dad told you once that he said they always had a good head on their shoulders because you had a good head on yours and you’d never be friends with anyone that didn’t match morals like yours. He knew you’d never get mixed up in something that you couldn’t see yourself out of because he had raised you, because he had to trust you now; his fears couldn’t stand in the way of you living your life.

If you could tell your dad the whole truth, you would. You would tell him the first year after his diagnosis you lost yourself. You’d tell him that Calum had found you more than once on the edge of something dark and secured you to his chest for nights on end. He’d take you the studio with you just so you wouldn’t be alone. You’d tell your dad about the times you cooked all his favorites just so your house smelt of him. You’d tell him that even though you and your mother fought and you felt like you were always at arm’s length with some family, you always loved him. You’d tell him everything in full detail so that when he died, he would die knowing fully.

Yeah, you start typing to reply to your mother’s question, he’s the guy in the band.

Enjoy. But you should see family during this season too. Remember the ones that have been with you through thick and thin.

You don’t respond to the text. More than half of your mom’s side didn’t show up to the funeral. They never liked your dad all too much and you were slowly uncovering why. But no matter the reasons, it hurt. It hurt to walk with your mother down the aisle of that church to the funeral procession and seeing a halfway empty church because her side hadn’t supported the marriage. Your father was dead and the least they could do was show up to a fucking funeral. There’s no thick or thin in that, just them.

Another text buzzes through your phone. It’s from your aunt, on your dad’s side. We’re loving the pj’s! Nana’s rocking the new slippers and everything. Take care and rest. Wanna come by for New Years? We may be old but we can still keep up!

You laugh at the photo of your grandmother, sleeping as she sits on the couch, bundling up in the robe you also ordered for her. The new slippers are almost falling off her feet. That’s keeping up if I’ve ever seen it, you return. I might come by a little after New Years but I’ll bring the wine--you just bring the chips and dip. Going out of town for a little bit.

No worries! We’ll see you then. Chips and dip are stocked. Don’t you worry. Enjoy!

There’s a twinge--you almost want to stay just for them. But nothing feels the same anymore if you’re honest. When you hang out with your dad’s side of the family, there’s a hole. His seat is way too empty, even if you sit in. There’s no one to joke around. Your grandmother has no one to pass on her list of chores too besides finding people in town to help her with. And it’s not the same. They don’t laugh when she hands it over. They don’t joke that they only had a son just so he could do all the house repairs, or lawnmower repairs.

It has to be hard for them too. It’s all around just not a great time. But then in your peripherals you see your halfway packed suitcase, the swimsuits you’ve rolled up and tucked into one of the mesh pouches. Was this running? Or was this healing? Was going all the way to Australia just an escape? Maybe it was all three, but it was running into an escape but on the other side, there was some healing in it too. You continue packing, pulling out some loungewear and figuring how many pairs of jeans to include on this trip too.

You feel silly in your sneakers and leggings as more people filter into the terminal area from TSA in bulky coats. But Calum’s dressed roughly the same next to you, only in a t-shirt and sweatpants. Your phone shakes in your hands. Let me know when you land, your mother requests in the text.

Will do.

“Do your parents know I’m coming?” you asks, suddenly remembering that you will be in their place for three weeks.

“They know,” Calum returns, slouching down in the chair. “Trust me. Mum keeps asking me if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions. And everytime I answer, she asks if I have checked in with you recently about it. And I have a feeling if you suddenly sprouted some new allergy, I would know by now.”

“That’s how moms are,” you laugh.

“Don’t be surprised if you find your favorite snacks just chilling in the kitchen.”

The thought of Joy going out of her way to find out via Calum about your favorite snacks and to only have them just in her cabinets or pantry makes you laugh but deeper than that you feel touched, chest warming just a little at the thought that she’d do something above and beyond. You slouch down to match Calum and rest your head onto his shoulder. “Is your childhood bedroom still embarrassing?”

A soft exhale of laughter pushes through Calum’s chest. “No, not too embarrassing anymore. Some of the posters are still up and mum’s changed the bedding for sure. A few of my things are tucked into the closet. But Mum’s said she’s been going through things in the house slowly so maybe she’s put more things on display just to set me up.”

You nod. “I imagine there are going to be lots of sports posters.”

“Ding, ding, ding,” Calum chimes, resting his cheek on your head. “I was supposed to be the sports kid. I mean, I was the sports kid for a really long time.”

“Then you found out you had those pipes,” you laugh, tapping on his chest.

“Yeah, then I realized music was a thing. Mali used to blast R&B and I mean blast it. But she’s always had great taste in music so it was never like the songs were bad. They were just loud. Sometimes I’d stay with Michael for as long as I could. Not that I didn’t want to be home, I just wanted to save my ears for a little bit before Mali and Dad would take over.”

“Your dad sings?”

“He’ll tell you only a little bit. But yeah, he sings.”

“So it’s a family trait!” you laugh. “A long line of singers.”

“Mum would disagree with you.”

You glance down and look at the initials inked into his skin. You brush your thumb over Joy’s. You had only heard about her. Once you saw her. Calum was calling home when you dropped by unplanned. It was quick, you waved at her from his computer but mostly you hang around in the kitchen, petting Duke as he wrapped up the call. From the way he talks about her, you know he’s close to his family. You know being away from home is hard sometimes for him. You’ve talked to Mali more, caught Calum a few times FaceTiming her too, or meeting her when she visited LA for his birthday. You know about his Dad too. Haven’t met him yet, but you’ve seen him when you watched the ARIA’s one year and he dad popped up in the crowd while the band performed. You screencapped the moment and send it as a reaction photo to Calum whenever he shares good news. You’re sure he must be sick of it, but he never says anything about your habit.

“There’s a little shop not too far from the house. I used spend hours to looking at all the trinkets. I think you’d like it,” he admits quietly.

“Yeah, I’d be down for that.”

“But first, there will be food,” he laughs just as the speakers overhead crackle to life and the voice faintly reminds everyone of the boarding procedure. You can Calum both stand, slinging backpacks onto your shoulders as you want for them to call group one to board. “Lots of food.”

“I’m ready,” you return.

Sleep on the plane isn’t all that restful, but you take it in stride though you manage to make progress in your book. Halfway through the flight, Calum holds out one of his earbuds to you. “You’ll like it,” he urges and you take the bud placing it into your ear.

Somewhere between the songs that Calum plays and the movie you’re not fully paying attention to, sleep claims you once again. And you let it hold you well past the light layer of sleep you had the first time. Sleep lays claim to you, holding you deeply into its grasps. You only find yourself waking up when the lights on the plane lift just a little and it breaks through your lashes and Calum shakes you awake. The two of you climb from your seats, backpacks on shoulders and wind through the airport to baggage. Thanks to the cat and dog luggage tags you bought, spotting your and Calum’s luggage is easy. Calum easy snatched the cartoon dog but you didn’t put up a fight. You let him have it, especially since it looked slightly reminiscent of Duke.

As you gather your luggage, you hear a voice from behind you. Calum turns to the sound of it immediately, his hand leaving the handle of his suitcase. You grab it for him and watch him, hearing his laughter escape him, as he runs up to his mother. “Mum,” he laughs, “hey!”

The hug looks bone crushing, only the hug a mom can give that even if it shouldn’t be tight is tight because there’s nothing like the squeeze. “Oh, my boy,” she grins. It lights up her whole face and you stand, just behind them, a couple feet off, both suitcases in front of you.

Joy spots you and the grin grows brighter. She releases Calum and shuffles up to you, arms still opened wide. “Hi! Look at you,” she greets. You immediately step out from the luggage. She’s warm and taller than you imagined as you hug her. She gives you a squeeze and your eyes water just a little. There’s something to the embrace that makes your chest tight and you find yourself clinging a little tighter to her too as she runs on about how late it is, and how hungry and tired you both must be. She keeps you close, an arm around your shoulders, hand splayed across your back. Joy pinches Calum’s cheek and wraps her other arm around his waist.

“C’mon, c’mon,” she urges. “David’s with the car. But I just couldn’t wait to see you both. Oh, it’s so good.”

Even as you exiting the plane it shocked you just how bright in the day it was still. But when you look down at your phone you realize you’re almost a whole day ahead, now standing in the middle of the afternoon, as if you somehow only flew a few hours instead of half the day. Calum’s dad is not parked too far from the entrance. As the three of you approach, he runs up some of the way with a large smile. “Aye!” he laughs, hands clapping Calum on the back. “Look at you!” “I swear I haven’t gotten any taller, Dad.”

“Coulda fooled me,” David returns. “Now,” he laughs, pointing to you. “I heard you got dragged along. Did ya put up a fight?”

“Less of a drag, more a kidnapping,” you return but step into the embrace with a laugh.

“Next time, next time, you’ll go a couple rounds with him, right?”

You nod. “Yeah, next time.” You don’t know if it’s going to be a next time but the idea sounds nice. Calum and David load up the suitcase into the trunk before all four of you slip into the car--you and Calum in the back.

“Hope they haven’t scared you off,” Calum whispers to you. You shake your head, mouth opening to say more but then David pipes up from the front seat. You almost don’t catch what he says, but Joy and Calum respond, so you stay quiet with a bit of a nod and watch the lights fade behind you as you travel down the streets. You make sure to text your mother that you arrived safely.

Calum’s room isn’t so bad, like he figured. Though you do almost wish there were a few more embarrassing posters on the wall. No sooner than the two of you can slip bags off and get out of shoes, a knock sounds from the door. It’s Joy, peeking her head inside. “Calum knows this, but you’re free to whatever’s in the house to munch on. I think there’s a few beer already cold too. But,” she waves her hand a little as if dismissing the thought. “either way, whatever’s there, you’re welcome to take.”

“Thank you, Ms. Hood.”

“Joy, call me Joy.”

“Thank you, Joy.” She nods and then slips back out of the room.

“They’ll be like that for another couple of days, but don’t mind them.” Calum shows you were the linen’s closet is and where the bathroom is too. “If you wanna shower first, I’ll whip up some snacks.”

“Oh, that’s some hard work putting together some snacks.”

He glares at you, throwing a towel at your head. You manage to duck it though it does land on your shoulder. You laugh as he flips you off and then heads to the kitchen. You head back to the room and grab a different set of clothes. It takes a moment to get the water right but you keep the shower as short as you can and slip into the clean clothes.

You return to the kitchen and find Calum with a plate of various chips, fruit snacks, and a small section of meat and cheeses out. He cracks open a beer just as you pad into the kitchen. “Want one?” he asks, but you decline the offer.

“It’s cozy,” you say softly looking around the living room and kitchen of the house. Even Calum’s room teleports you. You’re not sure where just yet, and even though it’s obviously a whole different continent there’s something about the house, about seeing Calum’s family so visibly happy to have him back home and the genuine smiles that feels like a warm blanket straight from the dryer. It envelopes you.

Calum shrugs a little. To him, it’s just familiar and a tad foreign. Like he can’t remember if the paintings are the same ones from his last visit but the pictures of him and Mali have never changed. The family vacation photos still line the walls too--unwavering it seems even against all of his mum’s decorating attempts. “Once Mali comes into town, it’ll feel complete,” he states. You wonder how any of this could feel incomplete, but don’t voice that curiosity.

Calum runs up to shower next and in the middle of your munching, Joy returns to the kitchen too. “I’m surprised you’re still standing upright.”

“Oh I could fall over at any point. Keep an eye out.”

Leaning into the counter she nods. “Time zones are killer. I’d say try to make it through as much of today as you can and then zoink out later on. Might be easier to adjust to the time that way.”

“I’m hoping,” you say.

“Calum told me you went to a conference last week. How’d that go?”

“It went well. Slight tech issues with my presentation but we managed to pull through unscatched after that.” You talk a little bit more about it, but are aware that you feel like you're rambling. When you ask her a few questions, she’s more than willing to answer them but she keeps them short and instead asks you more questions too.

“As the best friend, I feel like I need embarrassing material. Do you have photos of baby Calum?” you ask after a bit.

“Of course I do. He asked for some for a video once and I scanned over the most neutral ones. But if you want embarrassing photos, I got ‘em,” she laughs, wiping the salt off her fingers from a chip and waving for you to follow her.

Calum returns the sound of laughter and you cooing about something, he thinks you might’ve mentioned chubby cheeks and he knows without a doubt it’s him. “If you are going to embarass me I’d like to be in the room,” he states, seeing the photo album open on your lap. He steps to the arm of the couch you’re near and watches you flip through a few pages. You pause at a couple and pull your phone out to snap a few pictures of the picture. He doesn’t miss the several messages still lingering on your notification screen from your mother.

It’s over dinner that Joy suggest putting the tree up over the weekend, since Mali will be in town at that point too. No one objects to this plan and the latter half the week you and Calum spend mostly trying to adjust to the time change, though Calum seems to be having an easier go of it than you. Mali is licked up from the airport and you linger behind knowing that there’s not quite enough space for all three of you in the seat. It’s a little strange to be lingering around in Calum’s old room at his mum’s house but it’s not to bad. You take in all the sports posters, notice some medals and trophies still hanging around to otherwise bare shelves. Among them are some photos too--mostly of Calum and the guys. A few of some people you’ve never seen before and you assume they’re friends from soccer, or other sports along the way.

The sound of laughter echoes around you. Though you do hold onto one photo of Calum. He’s in a jersey, arms thrown over the shoulders of two other boys. They smile wide and big at the camera. The grassy fields hold blurry people and you like to imagine in that blur there are parents hugging kids, or kids running to their parents. There are coaches, people shouting in those blurs. The sounds of feet on stair should break you out of your trance staring down at the photo and you hear more laughter too. But you continue to stare down at younger Calum.

Calum tries to catch onto Mali’s wrist. “Do not! God,” he huffs when she slips through his hold. She laughs, backpack still on and barrels past her old room to Calum’s. You’re standing halfway turned to the door, but still clearly engrossed in something.

“Hey,” Mali huffs out, slipping just inside the cracked door. “Have you found the good blackmailing photos yet?”

You jump just a little but lift your gaze and find Calum’s sister beaming brightly at you. “Hi,” you return with a laugh. “I found a few. Your mum broke out the photo album.”

“Good,” she returns. “Sorry for kicking you out of the arrival party. It’s not normally five of us.”

“No, no, it’s cool. I couldn’t necessarily swing a vote on voting Calum out, so, I just took that blow.”

She gives a light tuft of laughter and hisses just a little. “Yeah that’d be a little hard to swing. But I’ll teach ya a few pointers for next time.”

“I’d appreciate that,” you return and Mali excuses herself to drop off her bag. Everyone seems hooked on the concept of a next time. It falls easily from their lips and while you’ve enjoyed the time here thus far, next time isn’t on your mind. Honestly, you’re not sure what’s on your mind besides not thinking about the text messages you need to respond too. Most of them seem to be about making sure you’ve adjusted to the time difference, if you’ve seen anything exciting. And you want to tell her--but you know you’d most likely tell her half truths too. Possibly even quarter ones. So you’ve opted to tell her nothing really. It seems trivial to explain to her that you’ve gone out a couple times--to the beach and the shop that Calum mentioned earlier. Most of the time though, you spend with Calum going down his memory lane. You rode past the school’s he attended, saw all the spots he used to hang out. Those don’t feel like the spots your mother is looking for.

When the Christmas tree is unearthed and Joy brings out the decorations you don’t think about those text messages again. You instead help feed the garland around the tree to Calum who’s standing at the back of the tree and he passes it along to his mon and she passes it to Mali and Mali passes it back to you. And that’s the way it goes for the lights too. Once those are put up, you look over the bulbs that Joy has. Behind you Calum and Mali are already working to put the hooks through the box Joy approved. You’re trying to help her find the last box in that set.

“Short end, Calum. Short end is what you hook through the top of the bulb.”

“Which end is short then?” you hear him return.

“That end,” she laughs. “I’ll put the hooks. You put them on the tree. Don’t put the same colors close together. Space them out.”

“I can decorate a tree,” Calum states.

“Sometimes I wonder.”

You find the last box of bulbs in the matching set, under a layer of icicle like ornaments. “Found ‘em,” you tell Joy and she beams, stopping her work on the box she was digging in.

“Ah! I’m not sure how they got separated.”

“Someone packed them wrong,” Mali returns, focused in on hooks still. “Most likely,” she counters. You step over to her and help prep more ornaments. A few look homemade with popsicle stick and felt. You pause looking at them on the table.

“Made ‘em in primary,” Calum answers, picking up the ornaments you’ve already hooked. “I thought Mum would give up on bringing them out.”

“But I never have and never will,” she counters picking them up and proudly displaying them on the front of the tree.

Calum makes a show to wave his hands. “That.”

“You made them and I cannot not display them,” Joy laughs and takes the bulb you’ve prepped.

“I think it should be the star,” you tease.

“Do not give Mum any ideas,” Calum groans. “She needs zero ideas.”

“My dad would put mine near the star. I used to hate it too,” you offer.

“Because he was proud of them! See, it’s a parent thing,” Joy laughs, taking another ornament.

You don’t respond, giving a shrug. Maybe it’s a parent thing. And maybe it’s just a love thing, you think. Maybe putting your atrocious ornaments near the top was a way your dad was saying you were always near the top, he was always thinking of you first. When you blink the silver hooks blur for a moment and it hits you that you might be crying. So you blink again and the tears don’t completely clear.

Arms are around your shoulder and you think it’s Calum but as you turn into the embrace, you notice it’s Joy. “Hey, it’s okay,” she offers. She’s quick to scoot you over to the other end of the living room and hands you a tissue. “Do you want to keep on decorating? You can take a breather.”

“No, no, I’m okay.”

“As long as you’re sure.” Her hand runs a soothing line up and down your back. You can only nod. It takes another moment and a deep inhale before you find a resolve. Joy takes your spot hooking the ornaments and you hang one up on the branch. You’re not even sure if Calum and Mali noticed your quick time out, but they don’t seem to be visibly concerned. You finish the tree half an hour later--many ornaments had to rearranged after realizing the back hadn’t gotten nearly enough love. You snap a photo and you don’t think too much about sending it to your aunt and your grandmother, but you hover over your mom’s contact.

Would she think you’re betraying? Would she find some way to say that you could’ve been home decorating the tree too and that she could’ve used the help since Dad wasn’t around anymore? You don’t hit send. Instead you lock your phone, place it face down and ask Joy if she needs or wants any help cooking dinner. She waves you in happily, explaining the dish she’s preparing to you as you wash your hands. This is easy. This feels complete, listening to the sounds of the TV in the background. Knocks at the door don’t make your heart startle and you almost know, without looking, that it’s David. And he no doubts has an armful of things--food, drinks, and god knows what else.

“Do-do you mind me asking about your mom?” Joy brings up as you tend over your hot pan.

“I,” and all words have fallen from your brain. “I don’t know,” you answer. It sounds so stupid but it’s the truth. The whole truth. “I don’t know how I feel. I-I wouldn’t be upset, but there may or may not be a reason I’m hiding on the other side of the world.”

It’s a small laugh, but a laugh nonetheless that Joy gives. “You know, fair. It’s okay if you don’t know. Instead, we’ll knead dough,” she offers, “or whatever else we need to do.”

“I’ll take kneading dough.”

There’s a nod and a smile, an understanding that kneading dough is the best alternative. The sleeves to your hoodie start to slip down again and just before you can clear your hands from the flour to pull it up, two hands come from the side. Calum, you deduce. “Thanks.”

“No problem. Did Mum put you to work or did you volunteer?”

“Volunteered,” you answer and go back to kneading the dough. The fridge door opens and then closes a few seconds later.

“You’re a guest. You don’t have to you know?”

“I know. Just need to do something.”

“Besides not answering your mom’s texts.”

“Besides not answering my mom’s texts,” you agree. Calum reaches across the counter and grabs your phone. You gave him the passcode ages ago and shockingly he remembered it. “Gonna delete the embarrassing photos?” you tease. You already emailed yourself copies just in case you tried too.

“Nah, no need. You’d just find a way to get them again.” You watch him for just a moment open up the app and the picture of the tree is still loaded in. “Why didn’t you send this?”

“Because I didn’t want her bitchin’ to me about how I could’ve been doing that with my real family. I would rather decorate a tree with you and your family anyway. Just as real as anything else,” you huff out, pushing in a little harder into the dough.

Calum pauses for a moment, glancing over to you. He’s not even sure his ears actually heard what you are saying. “What?” he asks in an exhale.

“I’d rather spend legit any holiday with you.”

He stops you, a hand on your wrist. “Did-did you just admit that you’d spend any holiday with me and my family?”

“Do you want bread or not?” you ask and he releases your wrist. “But yes, I did admit it.” You look up from the dough, knowing you’ve worked well enough for you to be done. The Christmas tree twinkles from the corner and it’s nice to see a family together--there’s no arguments, no need to feel like you’re at arm’s length. The TV plays and it’s idealistic. It’s what you want, not the screaming that occurs on most holidays, no one too drunk off their ass, no one being kicked out.

“I like it here,” you admit softly. Christmas is about five days out and you still need to wrap Calum’s present. It’s currently hiding in your suitcase and you want to get something nice for his parents for hosting you, and you’re not entirely sure what to get Mali but you want to do something nice for her too. Calum doesn’t miss the way you stare, the longing in your gaze as you’re still knuckle deep in dough. “I could send the photos to Dad. He’d probably just send a thumbs up. But, still it would’ve been better.”

“Then send it to him.”

“Mom disconnected the line. I have no clue who has the number now.”

“Send it anyway. Whoever it is, probably wouldn’t mind.”

You shake your head and look down at the dough. It’s done and you place it back into the bowl. The idea is asinine to you. No stranger would be okay with getting a random text about a Christmas tree you decorated and whatever sob story you’d type out. Best not to bother a stranger. Even as Calum tries to urge you one last time, you don’t give in. You move about the kitchen as if you’ve always worked in and wash your hands. It doesn’t take you long before you settle onto the couch next to Mali.

I know this might be strange, Calum starts drafting. But my best friend lost their dad about two years ago and this is his old number (this is their number and they still has the number saved). I took them to see my family for Christmas since they and their mom and that side are in a rough spot. I say that like it hasn’t been years of a rough spot but they helped us decorate the tree. I don’t know who’s going to see this, if it’ll go through or not, but I’m hoping for a miracle, I guess, for kindness in the universe and kindness in a stranger. They just needs something good, so we hope you enjoy our Christmas tree. They told my mum about how their dad would put the homemade ornaments near the star. Needless to say my mum agreed with the idea. If you see this, and get the picture, I hope you have safe and happy holidays.

Calum doesn’t even think twice about hitting send on the message. He finishes pouring himself a glass of water and pour another one for you too. By the time he grabs a snack too your phone buzzes again. There’s a response from the number that once belonged to your dad.

Tree looks awesome, kid, reads the first message. And then another one follows it. Homemade decorations near the top are the only way to go. Hope your friend gets through the holidays safely, but with people like you in their life, we think they will. Happy Holidays and enjoy our tree too. A picture comes attached with it.

Calum leaves the response up. It works out perfectly that the first response sits directly under the picture Calum sent. The first part of the second text is still visible but he doesn’t worry about that. He taps on your shoulder. “The world’s not so bad after all,” he states.

It takes you a moment to realize who the message is under. And you know it’s not actually your dad. You know that line went cold months ago.Your dad didn’t call you kid too much else he was trying to annoy you. But it’s something about seeing a message from that number that makes your chest ache. For a split moment in time, he’s real again. A sob racks through your chest and you're quick to cover your mouth, aware that other people are around. “I should’ve told him so much more,” you gasp and another sob breaks the sentence up just a little at the end. But all you can do is stare at the response with blurry vision.

Calum wraps you into his arms, pulling you into his chest. “Hey, you can still tell him. Maybe not by texting this number but you can still tell him,” he whispers. And though you tremble against him, he manages to get you to the shelter of the stairs. You settle oddly on top of him, your legs draping over his and your cowered into his chest mostly. But you don’t object to the arrangement.

Joy places a box of tissues down next to you both and settles on the step just below Calum. Her hand is warm on your knee. “I thought you were kneading dough.”

You chuckle just a little but tremors still rock you. “Dough didn’t have a lot of resistance.”

She nods, tsking just a little. “Ah, next time I’ll have you knead two loaves.” Once she’s sure you’ve cried it all out, she leaves you be, though most of her comfort was soft reassurance and knee pats. But it’s just what you need.

Calum guides you upstairs and unearths his journal from his bag. Or at least a journal you think you’ve seen him writing in before. “I was going to give this to you on Christmas. But it sounds like you could use it now. Whatever you wanted to tell your dad, write it down. Pretend like your writing letters to him. I know know it might sound silly, but it helps me.”

The journal is leather, embossed on the front are your initials. It almost looks too expensive to even write in it, but when Calum hands you a pen you think you might explode again if you don’t get it off your chest. So you settle onto the edge of his bed, which is barely just enough space for two of you to sleep on during the night and tell your dad all the full truths. Everything you felt like he couldn’t take the grave, you spill onto the page.

Dad, It’s Christmas. Or it’s nearly Christmas. I’m in Australia with Calum and I’ve already had one emotional breakdown. So we need to reset the count on that one. It’s hard without you. Joy put Calum and Mali’s old homemade decorations near the star of the tree and all I wanted was to be six again and be up on your shoulders and have you force me to put my decorations up high on the tree for everyone to see. I used to hate it. When you did that. But now I miss it.

I miss a lot of things, I guess now. I miss being honest with you. I wasn’t very honest while you were dying. I was afraid that I told everything I’d be weak. That if I told you everything you’d take all the words with you when you died and I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone else since it would’ve been one of the last things I told you. It all sounds silly now to write it down, but that’s what I thought.

Here’s the other half I never told you.

Calum lingers, sitting on the floor and finding one of his old guitars sitting on the floor tucked into a corner. He slides over, and places it into his lap before strumming mindlessly over it. The scratch of the pen is hardly audible as he strums but he can envision what it sounds like, see how fast you’re scribbling words down onto the page.

Later in the week, as you have Mali and Calum helping you find a gift to give their parents, you stop at one of the small shops in the mall. Mali’s wandered off to the far corner but Calum’s close next to you, glancing around the walls for something that looks remotely interesting and appropriate. The housewares all look too dated and Calum’s not even sure what his parents do and don’t have to even suggest something like this. But Mali thought it might be a good place to stop so the three of you stopped to look.

“Thanks,” you say to Calum, running a finger over a serving spoon. “For the journal. It helped a lot.”

“You’re welcome,” he beams at you. His attention is still filtering around the store. “I have no clue what to even suggest in a place like this for my parents. They’re not super into stuff like this.”

“You sure a Kiss The Cook apron wouldn’t do the trick?” you joke holding up the red and white apron.

“Hmm, afraid not,” he laughs. The two of you still wonder about the store and you find a couple cookbooks that seem interesting. One’s for cocktails and Calum says it’s a definite--his dad would enjoy flipping through it. Neither he or Mali had gotten one for him before, so it won’t be a duplicate.

“Your mom has a lot of photos you guys. You think she’d be into something like this?” you ask, pointing out to a few picture frames. They’re all collages, just arranged differently. Calum seems to be vaguely interested though Mali worries about the fact that she tends to keep them in a particular way.

“Could make one with the photos you’ve taken over this trip, she loves stuff like that and I’m sure she wishes she could get more photos of us now since we’re gone. We spend a day taking some photos in front of our old stomping grounds and I know she’d love it,” Calum offers looking over to Mali.

She shrugs. “That could work. Sure we can’t say it was from all of us?” she jokes.

“I wouldn’t mind, especially since you two would be doing some leg work in it,” you state.

“If we’re going to do it,” Mali counters. “Let’s go with this one.” She points to a wooden slab with rows of twine wrapped around and clasps that are wooden too where stock photos are currently pinned but it’s clear that you can add your own photos.

“This really blows my flowers out of the water,” Calum mutters, holding onto the paid for box of the wooden frame.

“You also got her the embroidered pillow,” you counter. The pillow has the coordinates of Sydney, LA, and London on it--for each of the cities they’re in respectively.

“True,” he nods. “But still,”

“If you don’t want--” you start but he cuts you off.

“Hey, no, I want to do this. Shush,” he laughs. “We gotta make another stop though. I’ve seen ads for those portable printers and can print photos and I don’t see either one of you with those old school polaroid cameras.”

“I’ll have you know,” Mali teases. But she interrupts her own joke as a ponderous hum falls from her. She rattles off a couple stores that could have it.

“Let’s give it a shot,” Calum returns. The first store is a bust but the second one has it. They grab one of the last ones off the shelf and scurry to the lines. They’re long and it’s no avoiding it two days from Christmas. The rest of the day, Mali navigates, pulling over into random parking lots and telling stories about their childhood.

You snap as many photos as you can. Some are more planned than others but it’s okay. You play with angles, flipping your phone upside to get some cool shots and you’re honestly impressed with the quality of just a cellphone camera. By the time it starts to get dusk, you’re half convinced your phone will alert you that you’re almost out of space. It’s not too hard to sneak the bags up to the bedrooms. You take up distracting Joy just a little as Calum and Mali book it up the steps.

“Oh, this reminds me,” Joy says standing right as Mali clears the first step. “If you need any sort of wrapping supplies they’re in here,” she directs you down the hall and you watch Calum and Mali clear into one of the bedrooms, you think it’s Mali’s before diverting your attention back to the wrapping paper.

“Thanks,” you nod at her. “I’ll be down in a few if you want help with dinner?”

“An extra pair of hands never hurt,” she counters with a grin and it’s become a tradition, or a thing at the very least that you help her with dinner and she’s given up on trying to shoo you out of the kitchen.

You take the stairs slowly, but you can feel the buzzing in your pocket. No doubt Calum bugging you relentlessly that you’re needed upstairs. You find them in Mali’s room situated on the floor as she removes the pictures from the frame and Calum seems to messing with the printer. “Thank you for joining us,” he teases. Music starts up and the door closes.

You settle on the floor next to him. “My job was to distract so that’s what I did. What do I need to do?”

“Pairs with BlueTooth, so I just gotta get this thing on.”

“Let me know when it’s up,” you return and then pull up the photos you took on your phone. Mali helps pick out which photos have to go onto the frame. It’s only a minute or two later that Calum tells you to make sure your phone has the BlueTooth turned on.

“You cannot use that,” he laughs, as the first photo prints out. “I look so dumb in that take.”

Mali laughs. “Oh, c’mon it’s a pretty shot.”

“Yeah of you,” he returns.

You swipe to the next photo and there are no photo blunders for either one of them so you print that one down. Some are in front of buildings that you’re not even sure could mean anything. A couple are of Calum’s old practice field for soccer--the same one from the photo you were looking at when Mali first arrived. There are a few of Mali in front of the place she sang to a large audience for the first time. There’s a picture of the Christmas tree as well--Mali and Calum are in the photo adding decorations to it. There’s one of you, in the middle of Calum and Mali, arms wrapped around each other. You’re laughing because even standing you nearly stumble just trying to shift your weight a little, but the picture is perfect as the sun just starts to step a little behind you.

With the last photo printed, you look over the arrangement and give your approval. “Did you remember to grab our wrapping paper?”

“Shit,” Calum sighs. “I’ll run to the car and grab it.” You nod and head back downstairs just in time to help Joy.

It’s late before another opening arrives for you three to place the gift under the tree and during this time you also add Calum’s and Mali’s gift to the bunch. You managed to snag some cool t’s with Calum’s help for her. She eyed them in your shopping adventure and carted them around the store before ultimately deciding to put them back. Calum stayed behind to grab them off the rack while you went with her to the next store.

Over mugs of hot chocolate--though the Australian heat doesn’t warrant it-- you, Mali and Calum sit on the floor in front of the tree. “It’s been nice to outnumber him,” Mali laughs.

“I’m already outnumbered with you and Mum,” he retorts.

“Yeah, but it’s Mum. She counts but like not really. Now you’re outnumbered by someone in our age range.”

Calum shakes his head. “If you say so. I’m glad Mum and Dad weren’t too weird about it.”

You know he hasn’t brought anyone home in a long time. And part of it is probably just time, but another part is deliberate but you don’t know why. “I’m sure they were starting to think I wasn’t real,” you joke.

“Haha,” Calum gently shoves your legs. “You’re a fucking comedian.” You snicker and take another sip from your mug. The night almost doesn’t feel like it’s slipping away as Mali and Calum take turns on the guitar. You climbed up onto the sofa at some point during the night, asbentedmindly playing in Calum’s hair. But somewhere in it the strumming, sleeps pulls you under, you felt your eyes blinking close but weren’t able to recall when the final blink took you full under.

You find yourself startled awake to the sounds coming from the kitchen. Mali’s asleep on the couch, facing the opposite away of you. Calum’s reclined against the sofa between the both of you but still sitting on the floor. There’s a faint light coming from behind you and you squint against it to see the kitchen light’s on. You settle back against the arm of the couch and let yourself fall into sleep a second time.

When you wake the second time, it’s to gentle shakes and you’re not even sure you had fallen asleep again. Until you find yourself stretching again and blinking back the light of the living room. Calum’s slumped to the floor. “No, five more minutes.”

Joy chuckles. “It’s your presents you’ve gotten open.”

“Hmm, maybe I’m awake enough for presents.” Presents are slow to be handed out, mostly to the three of you still trying to wake up. But Mali gets the first tear into the wrapping paper and beams over at you spying the two shirts.

Joy loves the pillow from Calum and the jacket from Mali. Calum gets a few things, most of them necessities but the socks are cool enough to put on immediately. Mali’s content with the clothes she’s received and the necklace. Calum thought about wrapping your journal as a joke but he hands you a tiny stocking stuffed with some candies, a cool pen, and some knicks knacks he found during some of the shopping adventures. David’s tickled as he flips through the cocktail recipes.

“What is this?” Joy laughs pulling on the wooden and twine picture frame ad she’s handed it.

“For you,” you answer. “A collective effort between the three of us.”

“But originally their idea,” Calum tacks on.

Joy looks at the three of you, unsure of what trick might be pulled. She unveils the first corner and pauses. “Seriously, what is this?”

“Just keep going Mum,” Mali counters.

Joy continues tearing at the wrapping paper and she gasps for a moment noticing the photos hanging from the pins. “No way,” she laughs, lifting it up to take a closer look at the photos. “No way,” she whispers.

“The pictures can be switched out, so you can frame some, or just rotate it based on the season,” you explain.

The tears collecting in Joy’s eyes don’t get past you but they do hurt just a little. In a good way. You hadn’t seen a teary eyed smile like Joy’s in such a long time you almost forgot how good it felt, but how much it hurt too.

“You did all this for me?” she asks.

“I had help,” you return. “But I wanted to do something or give you something nice for hosting me the past two weeks and agreeing to take on an extra mouth to feed. It’s a thank you.”

She gives you another one of those hugs that squeeze more than they should, more than thought possibly. You squeeze in return and though you feel a couple tears slip down your cheek, you aren’t so afraid of the emotion. It’s something like loved, maybe it’s understood. Quite possibly it’s just the feeling of being embraced without judgement or restriction. You’re not really sure, but you do know you like it.

“Thank you,” Joy whispers while still hugging you. She makes space for the frame almost immediately though it takes a little rearranging of the living room but she finds the space. You’re sucking on a piece of candy, looking down at your phone. You know your mother is still living in Christmas Eve and the only message she’s gotten from you are about you being safe and okay.

I would send this as an actual letter, but I worry from Australia to home would take too much time. So I guess this works as next best. I can only hope you understand.

The easy things: Australia’s been fun. Haven’t run into a spider as big as my head just yet but there’s still plenty of time. Calum’s family has been amazing. I helped with Christmas decorations. Joy and I are cooking buddies. If I never had to leave, I probably wouldn’t.

And on and on you go about the tails of this particular vacation before getting to the hard stuff, how it’s hard sometimes to be home because home feels empty and too far away and how it’s hard sometimes to feel like you fit in the puzzle of it all. You tell her how hurt you are seeing how her side paid the death of your father dust. How nothing’s felt right once and you don’t know what caused it. You don’t know how it started but all you do know is that when dad was around, when you and him had those quiet moments it was closest to right you had every experience until now--sitting in your friend’s childhood home in a whole different country, more than half the day ahead of your own family and watching someone else’s world that you know you’re not really apart of but somehow you fit even as a stranger.

There’s that nagging voice in the back of your head that tells you this could all go to shit. Your mother could read all this and blow her top. But at least she would blow her top knowing the truth and the whole truth at that--that you love your family for being your family but recognizing the detriment happening.

I need you to know Mom. Because Dad didn’t. Or maybe he did, but I know I wasn’t the one that told him. So I am telling you. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to like any of this and I’m not asking you or telling you you have to. But you have to know the truth and I have to tell you.

Before I go, there’s a present for you. Hidden in the top box of Dad’s stuff in your closet. It’s only tiny pieces of me and him, of us, but I hope you enjoy it. I hope it provides comfort.

While you’re not the most crafty, you know your way around a sewing machine. You didn't keep nearly as many t-shirts from family vacations as you would’ve liked to, hanks to a couple moves. But you kept enough and you snagged a few of your dad’s t-shirts and some of his old flannels too. All together it made a decent sized blanket--it could’ve been larger but there were a few failed starts before you got the true hang of it.

You’re not sure the whole message will send correctly and you think maybe it should’ve been an email, but that feels even less personal. So you watch the message lift up, hover for just a moment before it settles down and just beneath it, Delivered, pops up. Immediately, you place your phone face down. A watched pot never boiled and a watched text is never actually read.

“Calum!” Mali laughs. Just behind you they go barreling past, through the living room and he tries to make an escape up the steps but she manages to lunge fast enough to take hold of the back of his t-shirt. “Drop the cookies and no one has to get hurt.”

“Never!” he cries in return. His attempts are half hearted and you can only giggle watching them. That in turn earns you target as a potential accomplice and he calls out to you to get you to take the cookies and make an escape.

You walk over, take the packet of cookies. They’re decorated for Christmas and you decide take one off the top is fair pay for whatever mess you’re stepping into. After your take the first bite of your cookie, you hand the packet over to Mali who happily release Calum to snag a couple. “Traitor,” Calum returns, but takes another cookie too.

“I got my pay,” you laugh, polishing off the one cookie in your hand.

David enters then, taking another cookie too. “I got mine too,” he laughs before disappearing again back down the hallway. There are a few things around the house he needed to repair and Calum had been helping him though you suspect more than helping, Calum was sneaking cookies and trying to hide them from Mali. You offered to help too, but David insisted that you actually take a rest at least once during this time away.

You manage to catch the buzz over all the laughter. You don’t think your mother could’ve responded that fast. It’s not possible. But you slip away from the group and grab your phone from the couch cushions. Your heart hammers against your ribs, you can feel the vein in your neck throbbing.

Thank you for the blanket. It’s quite lovely. Glad you’re enjoying Australia. I don’t know if I can say sorry and have it mean much. But in turn, thank you for telling me the truth. Somehow you expected this to be much more emotional, much more earth shattering. But tides don’t change in the blink of an eye and cities don’t build themselves in a day.

“We should have a board game night,” Mali suggests from behind you. “Dunno know. Not much will be open up for long.”

“I’ll kick your ass in Scrabble,” Calum returns, “Anytime.”

And just behind is all you’ve ever really wanted. But just in front of you is all you’ve ever had, your mother and the distance. Maybe it’s not a matter of what you deserve or what is actually yours by blood. Maybe it’s just time to admit that family is also chosen. And you did all you could with your mother. You told her the truth.

A tear splashes onto your screen and you wipe at your eyes quickly. When had those formed? They didn’t even sting that time or maybe they did and you just hadn’t felt it. You’re not sure. Her message doesn’t warrant a response. Though you do imagine for a moment, her curled up on the couch, your blanket across her lap as she snacks on pistachios and the fireplace blazes next to her. The TV is playing Polar Express, her favorite Christmas film. And if the scene is sad, your mother is sad. And if the scene is happy, your mother is happy. And you like it better that she is tethered to the film’s emotions rather than anything going on outside of it.

“You down for a board game night? If not, we can find something else.” Calum’s voice is close and you can feel just how close is he off to the side of you.

“I’m down for a board game night,” you nod. Your voice quivers just a little. Crying is exhausting and you’d wish you had nothing left, but there is always the dregs left. Just enough to make your cheeks wet.

“You good? What’s up?”

“Told my mom,” you answer truthfully.

He figures it didn’t go super well given your silence. “We can watch movies in my room then.”

“She didn’t threaten to blow up the country so I think we’re good,” you continue on. “But she loves her Christmas present. So I’ll take it as a win.”

“It’s the small victories.”

You nod, looking at the photos hanging right next to the Christmas tree. “Like kicking your ass in Scrabble,” you laugh. “I’m on Mali’s team.”

“Fighting words, those are fighting words. I brought you out here and you already turned over my cookie stash. Now you’re going against me in Scrabble! Really?”

“I’ve chosen you over and over,” you admit quietly. You’ve chosen him as a friend, and confidante and you appreciate him for being there. But you don’t say all that, instead you counter with, “But I think sometimes I should kick your ass in a game of Scrabble or too.”

“You’re lucky I love you,” he returns with a laugh.

“I am,” you state simply. “I am lucky.”

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