#and read again and again and be excited for it
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Let’s Talk About TWST Leaks…
The next update for TWST, Book 7.5 for TWST JP, will contain animated overblot scenes made by Cloverworks. TWST JP has released an important statement about the cutscenes…

They ask that NO ONE LEAK THE CONTENT before AUGUST 1 JST! As this content is very spoiler heavy. If you decide to post, while I and TWST highly encourage you do not post, just be warned that you will get bombarded with messages and harassment from the JP side. I understand that people want to see this content but I ask that people legit follow what TWST JP has asked of us and NOT share the clips!
If you see this content online BEFORE August 1st JST, please be civil and ask them to take the content down!
I understand people want to see it as they may not have access to TWST JP but they need to understand that posting this content before the date they give all clear is insensitive. You are contributing to the problem by basically saying the creators don’t matter, their voices don’t matter. Their rules don’t matter. That ideology needs to cease and people should understand that they are not always entitled to post whatever they want whenever they want, especially when it is laid out specifically in the game’s news on the app and website.
Do NOT contribute to the problem, if you do they may NEVER give this content again and you could ruin the experience for EVERYONE. It’s tempting, I get it, I understand fully, I will record them myself and schedule the video to release later on, specially on August 1st JP to share with you all.
Remember, posting this content before they say we may can prevent other impressive and exciting content from being released later on in the future, do not be a part of this problem, actually listen and don’t post this content anywhere. I
Read about it here:

- Windblume
PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, AND REBLOG!!
#windblume rambles#twisted wonderland#twst#twst spoilers#twst jp spoilers#riddle rosehearts#leona kingscholar#azul ashengrotto#jamil viper#vil schoenheit#idia shroud#malleus draconia#twst anime#twisted wonderland anime#anime news#disney twst
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"The Demon Hunters spill the tea on the girl who captivated the Saja Boys."
🎤Wherein the HUNTR/X are interviewed and asked what they think about the Manager of Saja Boys
🎤Author is also thinking of creating a new scenario and is asking your thoughts about it.(read at the end)
🎤Proofread? What’s that…
(Rumi's Interview)
• Interviewer: "Rumi, as the leader of HUNTR/X, what are your initial thoughts on Y/N, the Saja Boys' manager?"
• Rumi: (Smiling slightly) "At first glance, she seems…unassuming. The kind of person you'd easily overlook. But there's a quiet strength about her, a resilience that’s captivating. She handles those chaotic boys with such grace. It's almost…magical."
• Interviewer: "Magical? Do you think there's more to her than meets the eye?"
• Rumi: (Pauses, thoughtful) "Maybe. There's a certain…aura around her. Something that's hard to define, but undeniably present. The Saja Boys are clearly drawn to it. And honestly? I understand why."
(Mira's Interview)
• Interviewer: "Mira, known for your sharp observations, what's your take on Y/N?"
• Mira: (Leaning forward, intrigued) "She's fascinating. She's incredibly composed under pressure, always one step ahead. She knows how to handle those demons…I mean, the Saja Boys. She's got a subtle way of controlling the situation without ever raising her voice. It's impressive."
• Interviewer: "Impressive, or something more?"
• Mira: (A sly smile) "Maybe a little bit of both. She’s definitely got something special. And the way those boys look at her…it speaks volumes."
(Zoey's Interview)
• Interviewer: "Zoey, you're known for your cheerful personality. What's your impression of Y/N?"
• Zoey: (Eyes sparkling) "She's so pretty! And so kind! She always has a smile for everyone, even when things are hectic. She’s like a calming presence amidst the chaos. The Saja Boys are lucky to have her."
• Interviewer: "Do you think there’s a romantic connection between Y/N and the Saja Boys?"
• Zoey: (Giggles) "Maybe? I think they all secretly adore her. It's really sweet to watch."
🎬
After the interviews, the HUNTR/X members were leaving the studio when they coincidentally bumped into Y/N near the elevator. The air crackled with a palpable tension – a mix of curiosity and a shared awareness of the unspoken connection between Y/N and the Saja Boys. Zoey, ever the cheerful one, was the first to speak, her voice brimming with a mixture of awe and excitement.
"Wow! You're Y/N, right? We're HUNTR/X!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with genuine admiration.
Y/N, ever composed, smiled warmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you all," she replied, her voice calm and reassuring. "I've heard a lot about your work."
Mira, ever observant, stepped forward, her gaze intense yet respectful. "We've noticed…the Saja Boys seem rather…attached to you," she remarked, her tone a subtle blend of curiosity and playful teasing.
Y/N chuckled, a soft, melodic sound that seemed to disarm even Mira's sharp wit. "They're a handful," she admitted, a hint of amusement in her voice. "But they have good hearts."
Rumi, the leader, stepped forward, her gaze steady and thoughtful. "We've seen how you handle them," she said, her voice respectful. "It's... impressive. There's a strength about you that's hard to miss."
Y/N's smile widened slightly. "Thank you," she replied, her eyes meeting Rumi's with a hint of understanding. "It takes a village, as they say. And sometimes, even a village needs a little…magic." She paused, her eyes twinkling. "Perhaps we'll cross paths again soon."
With a shared nod of mutual respect, the HUNTR/X members and Y/N parted ways, leaving behind an unspoken sense of intrigue and a shared understanding.
P.S Author is thinking of writing a story wherein Y/N is a demon herself but the plot twist is she is a daughter of a friend of Gwi-Ma and kind of become the favorite of Gwi-Ma, which makes her older than the rest, she’s also a kpop-idol(solo) so after the Saja Boys plan to take over the “world” she kind of helped them gained fans and helped them get used to being in the human world and then…I don’t know what I’m talking about LMAO
#imagines#jinu kpop demon hunters#kpop demon hunters x reader#kpop demon hunters#kpop#kpdh#jinu kpdh#rumi kpdh#zoey kpdh#mira kpdh#romance kpdh#kpdh x reader#abby kpdh#rumi#rumi kpop demon hunters#abby saja#romance saja#mystery saja#abs saja#saja boys x reader#saja boys#gwi ma
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NEW LUX COMIC UPDATE, and it's an exciting one! Ohhh baby! (yet again and always thanks to @lizzybeanbutt for so much advice <3)
Read from where we left off here.
Read this comic from the start here!
#Lux Imperator#mr ring a ding#doctor who#doctor who lux#15th doctor#mod art#doodle comics#won't be an update for a while I am being Relatived. pray for me.
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ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕘𝕖 // Baby Saja
// DATE // 23rd of June 2025 -> 26th of June 2025 // WORDS // 16.7k+ // SUMMARY // Reader is a member of Huntr/x, Rumi's twin sister to be precise. Y/n doesn't want to hide who she is anymore. Wanting to prove to Rumi that Mira and Zoey will trust them, she shares what she is knowing Rumi will back her up. Only they don't trust her and Rumi sends her to her death or so she thought, now it's time for revenge.
- Everything below this until the gif can be considered as spoilers. Be surprised and skip straight to the story or read the rest in this section at your own risk. MDNI! PS. This whole story is a spoiler for the movie if you have not seen it yet! -
// PAIRING // Baby Saja x femHuntrix!reader, Rumi x Jinu, Zoey x Mystery, Romance x Mira x Abby // WARNING // angst, fluff, (soul)mates, explicit smut, again, minor do not interact with this post, dom!baby/sub!reader, p in v, unprotected sx(wrap it before you tap it please), fingering, oral fem receiving, praise kink, biting, mating, possessive behavior, (I think it is) slight humiliation kink
“Rumi?” I start as I pull on the costume for the Golden promo with her. Did she release Golden maybe a bit early. Most definitely but I will always support her decisions.
“Yeah?”
“I want to tell them,” my voice is quiet, a little afraid of what her reaction will be.
“Y/n, Celine told us to wait,” she almost hisses, fear clear on her face.
“I know, I know,” pulling on the tight white shorts. “But they know us, they know were not like the other demons. Hell, all the other ones are ugly,” Rumi chuckles at that, shaking her head.
“That’s true, but I still think we shouldn’t tell them.”
“Okay, what if only I tell them about me. You don’t have to get involved. I’ll prove to you that they’ll accept us and then you can tell them too!” I tell her with full confidence. No doubt in my mind.
“Okay, I’ll back you up,” I squeal as I pull her into a tight hug.
“Couch! Couch! Couch! Couch!” I hear Mira and Zoey chant as they shuffle their way to the couch arms filled with snacks. Dropping the snacks on the white fluffy couch. Dropping right next to snacks.
“Oh, yeah. That’s the stuff,” Zoey sighs.
“So relaxing,” Mira murmurs sinking into the couch.
“Hey. Have a good break?” Rumi asks appearing behind the two.
“Huh?” Mira looks at her bewilders. “What? No. We literally just sat down!” chuckling I walk around the couch and take a seat on the coffee table.
“Why are you two in your new costumes?” Zoey asks as both sit up, eyes shifting between the two of us.
“Rumi, you didn’t,” both Mira and Zoey turn to Rumi, knowing if it would be either of us it would be Rumi. “Did you announce the new single?” Rumi's only response is a wide grin.
“The promo starts tomorrow- Tonight?”
“Tonight?” Mira and Zoey say in surprise. “Rumi, no! No!” the two start to whine playfully with a sense of true disappointment lacing their voices.
“No!” I hand Zoey her costume while Rumi hands Mira hers.
“But before we leave,” I begin, as the two of them begrudgingly start pulling on the costumes. Their eyes going to me as they keep getting dressed. Not bothered at all about changing in front of us. “I have something to share,” my voice goes from excited to nervous. My eyes flickering between all three. “It’s hard for me, but I don’t think I can hide it for much longer,” I stare down at my shaking hands. Zoey takes one of my hands, squeezing in reassurance.
“We will always be here for you,” she says, a gentle smile gracing her face.
“Well, I-” shaking off the jacket from my costume. The patterns slowly coming into view, drawing gasps from Mira and Zoey. Who pulls away her hand. Both of them drawing their weapons making me jump back standing up at the other end of the coffee table. My heart beating faster than it already did.
“You’re a demon,” Mira’s voice is angry as she spits the words out like she’s disgusted by the sight of me.
“I thought you would-” my voice is shaky and quiet as I stare in disbelief. “Rumi…” my eyes lock on my sisters, a desperate call for help. Zoey and Mira turn to Rumi with a hint of betrayal in their eyes.
“Did you know?” Zoey asks Rumi threateningly. A tone Zoey has never used against us before.
“No,” Rumi’s voice is cold. Detached. But her eyes burn. Drawing her own weapon, pointing the long end of the blade at me as she jumps over the couch. “I can’t believe you would betray us like this,” it’s like she’s saying it to herself for betraying her sister like this. With no other options, she steps up onto the coffee table - like it’s a stage. Like this moment has been building since the day we were born. Driving the blade through my chest. Tears in both our eyes as I shudder. The pain from the tear in my chest making me scream silently and then I implode, collapsing inward in a burst of magenta smoke - silent and final.
I didn’t die like I expected. Instead I found myself leaning on my knees, crying into my arms in front of Gwi ma. The flame entity laughing at my despair.
“Y/n, Y/n, Y/n,” he tsk’ed like he was disappointed to see me. “Guess you should have kept it hidden,” he laughs again deep and evil. “Now you’re my demon!” his voice booms across the crowd of demons who start laughing with their king. The events of tonight start playing over and over in my head loud, feeling like it gets louder and louder. I had no control over it. I couldn't stop them, couldn't dampen them. My hands cover my ears but it doesn't change anything.
I don’t really notice until I open my eyes again. The laughter has died down after I had been moved by Gwi ma, is my guess, to just beyond the crowd of demons.
I tried walking away but kept being dragged back. Making me sigh and stay at the edge of where I was apparently allowed to be. I could barely see any of the other demons through the smoke and deemed myself alone enough. If this was all the space I was allowed to have now, I would take it. Sinking to the lava rock ground. I pull my knees up to my chest. Wrapping my arms around them.
The ground wasn't comfortable. Far from it. But sitting was better than to stay standing. The moment I thought everything settled the voices came back louder than ever before, making me bury my face in my arms.
“Did you know?” “No.” “Okay, I’ll back you up” “I can’t believe you would lie to us like this.”
The voices sounded like screaming, ringing in my ears. Tears running down my face again filled with the pain of betrayal. The feeling of her sword driving into my chest solidified the feeling of betrayal. If there was someone I thought I could trust it would be Rumi.
I don't know how long he tortured me for like this. Making it go silent, giving me a false sense of control before returning it in full. But it feels like an eternity.
Little did I know I was being observed by a group of 400 year old demons who looked awfully human compared to the others. Nor did I notice when one of them approached me. First the male just sat beside me, keeping a bit of a distance. Almost like he didn’t want to startle me.
It was like his calm aura surrounded me, softening the voices that were screaming at me. Blinking away my tears in confusion. Looking right, then left. Finding him sat there. Leaning back on his hands, left knee up, his right leg stretched out.
I couldn't stop my brows from furrowing. Shuffling a little further away from the male. Demons are bad. They can’t be trusted. I tell myself, my gaze falling onto my own patterns. Right, I am one. The patterns hadn’t spread this far before I was sent here. Now I looked like a full demon, even if I knew I was only half a demon. My hands turning into fists realizing I would be stuck here forever.
I didn't acknowledge him. Turning away from him. But it felt like he was too far away. Shaking my head I tried to ignore it. Though it didn't take long for me to break the silence we sat in.
“Why are you here?” I dare to ask. Hating myself for going against everything I believed in.
He doesn't say anything making me sigh. Turning back to him my body relaxes, just a bit as the distance becomes smaller. Loosening the stiffness in my legs. Not understanding why I’m suddenly feeling relaxed, I continue. “Here to mock me? 1 huntress down 3 to go.”
“No.”
It’s short. Stopping me from continuing. I look at him, eyes wide. Taking in his pale purple skin, bright golden eyes, blue hair, traditional black Korean attire. He didn’t look at me. Instead staring off into the distance, not that there was much to see. The area mostly covered in smoke.
“I’m here in case you need someone who understands-”
“Understand? You’re a demon, you feel no emotions! How could you possibly understand?”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he stays calm even after my accusation, like he was expecting me to react this way. “We feel double that what humans feel. We feel extremely. It might shock you, but Gwi Ma keeps us pushed to the edge, so far into madness that we seem numb. But we do feel...” his voice is gentle as he speaks, shifting his gaze away from the smoke, to me. His golden eyes drawing me in.
“What do you feel now?” I ask cautiously curious. Shifting to sit on my side, leaning on my hands - closer to him.
“Sadness,” he confesses. I sense no lies in his eyes. “Seeing my m- you like this, it hurts.”
“You’re what?” he closes his eyes, grunting in annoyance at himself for miss speaking. He doesn't answer, instead he disappears. Immediately Gwi ma's power returns in full force. Falling to my side, my hands cradle my face. Eyes shut tight. My screams are silent at the pain the events cause me.
It feels like I'm in pain for days. My throat hoarse from my crying. I open my eyes suddenly. An unexpected calm falling over me again. He's stood over me this time. I can't read his expression.
I'm not sure what to say, or if I should even say something. Last time he disappeared on me. My eyes follow him as he returns to sit in the same spot as he did before.
"I guess it's in our best interest if I just tell you," he sighs, not facing me just yet. I find the strength in my arms to push myself in a sitting position. Subconsciously dragging myself closer to him. “Give me your hand,” I hesitate a little. Not sure if I should trust him even though he had revealed something I never knew about demons. Something I don’t think a demon would easily confess to, either. His gaze meets mine as I shuffle closer. Carefully placing my hand left hand in his right hand.
A slow ripple spills out from our connected palms. Like black stardust unfurling beneath our skin, soft and shivering. Leaving goosebumps in its wake. Light and shadow dancing like twin spirals up our arms. Disappearing into our chests where our hearts sit. Creating a magnetic pull. A sudden blast surged outward like an orb tearing through the smoke around us. My head seamed to clear only one word occupying my mind.
“Baby.”
“That’s me,” a gentle smile played on his lips. “And you, Y/n, are my mate.”
“Mate?” I repeat it, stunned, like saying it out loud might make it make sense. For years I was told demons didn’t have feelings, that they were all bad, that all should be killed. And now I was mated to one?
But I had to be honest. I didn't mind. He made me feel calm. I don't think I've ever felt this calm. Always on edge. Scared to reveal my secret. Regretting that I shared my secret. I was pretty much powered by anxiety.
“Yes, I understand it’s hard to believe-”
“Oh, no, I believe it’s just… unexpected?” he chuckles soft and gentle making a blush decorate my cheeks. I started to make sense the longer I looked at him. Really took him in. He was my complete opposite, perfect to soothe my racing thoughts.
“Cute,” he says squeezing my hand which he still held.
“Also, I thought all demons were supposed to be ugly,” the bluntness of the comment gets him to full on laugh, the sound low, warming up my chest. I crawl closer without thinking, like the space between us suddenly became unbearable. Now that I know we’re mates, distance feels wrong.
“We are sad to have to share this news on the day of our new singles release,” Rumi tells the host. “But Y/n has left Huntrix.”
“Oh no, what happened?” the host asks with concern, genuine curiosity behind her words.
“We don’t know, it was unexpected,” Mira says, there is sadness in her normally stoic voice.
“She decided she didn’t want to do this anymore,” Zoey adds to the lie.
“We couldn’t convince her to stay.”
“She is your sister, I suppose you’re still in contact with her at least?” the host asks making Rumi’s hard hammer in her chest, the face of her sister silently screaming as she killed her.
“Ah, no,” Rumi keeps it short.
“Golden is the last song Y/n will be featured on from now on,” Zoey quickly takes the attention away from Rumi.
“We will be going on hiatus for a little while to get used to the loss of our member.”
"So, do you..." I start, eyes up at the sky. Baby and I laid on the ground, I used his stomach as a pillow. Forced to even, he would not let me rest my head on the lava rock surface.
"Do I what?" he asks while we watch souls dance above us. None of them flying in the direction of Gwi ma, thankfully.
"Do you get to go up there?" my voice soft, afraid of the answer. He pauses, stilling. Turning my head I look at him. He has his head propped up by his arms. I can just see his golden eyes. Watching them shift ... anxiously?
"No," he finally says. "I'm glad for it," he adds softly. Turning on my side, I can tell he doesn't want to share just yet. So I reassure him in the only way I can think of. Sitting up, I place a gentle peck on his dark lips. Smiling at the way his eyes widen just slightly at my action.
That's not the last peck we share. Far from it. I can't stop stealing them. He doesn't give me them nearly as often, but I know that every time he does, it's sincere.
He lingers, holding on to me like I could slip from his fingers any moment. Whenever we meet his friends there's always this possessive arm around my waist. Not that I mind.
I still remember the first time he introduced us. "Y/n," Baby starts, his arm not leaving my waist. Sending pointed looks at the four demons before me. "These are Jinu, Mystery, Abby and Romance," gesturing from a black haired, smirk wearing one, to a grey haired, not looking at me - I think. To a taller pink haired one who wore a smug look, to the last one. Another pink haired one, this time long flowing locks.
This hand had dared to step forward. Taking my hand swiftly pecking my knuckles before he got smacked in the face by Baby. Who pulled me behind him. Growling possessively.
Laughter bursting within the group and I wouldn't lie. I couldn't stop myself from giggling either.
That moment was pretty much the start of my friendship with the group. There was obviously not a lot to do. But when they showed me they could pretty much create things out of thin air. I asked them if they ever thought of creating game pieces.
Which they hadn't, like how.
In the end they had created game pieces for games out of their time, but I wanted to play something newer. Like UNO. When I asked if they knew what it was, Baby sent an image in my head of something. Confusing me to the point I looked at him like he had just sent me a unsolicited dick pic.
"How did you do that?" I ask after recovering from the random image.
"We're mates," is his simple answer. I arch my brow like, 'okay, so now I'm supposed to understand how that works'. He chuckles at my expression, pecking my cheek. "I just think of what I want to show you, and I sent it to you."
"Oh, okay, I wanna try," instantly thinking of the UNO game. Looking at him wide eyed like that will do it. "Do you see it?" he shakes his head. Thinking... louder? "Am I doing it?" my voice stressed, eyes closed.
"Uhm, no, but you do look constipated," I gasp, opening my eyes at his words in offence. Smacking his chest playfully as the others laugh their asses off. With that I gave up on the whole image sending for a while.
- Spice below, skip to next image divider if you do not want to read it -
While we spend most of our time all together, I did steal Baby from them a lot. Wanting to spend time with him one on one. Get to know him more and more.
He wasn't much of a talker, so it was tough at times. It seemed enough time had past as I could go further than before. Allowing for us to have a private space between a few rocks.
Never the comfortable place of course. Pressing my lips against him hungrily. Sat on the ground, his back against a rock, a tight grip on my hips where I sat in his lap. Keeping me from moving them against him.
"Why are you holding back?" I ask breathless when I pull away. I stare at him, eyes shifting from one to the other. Anxiety rolling over me like a realization. "Do you not-"
"Of course not," his voice gentle as he cups my cheeks, staring loving into my soul. "I just don't want to loose control," I nod, not entirely believing him, my gaze falling from his. "Hey, listen to me," he caresses my cheeks so gentle, getting me to look back up. "If you think you need to pleasure me to make sure I love you," my eyes widen at the fact he can read me so well. "You don't," he waits till I nod. "But," he smirks. "If it's pleasure you want, I'll be happy to give it to you," my cheeks darken at his words. Warmth spreading to more places than one.
To the point I can't stop myself from nodding eagerly. Anxiety, completely forgotten.
"Okay, darling," he pecks my lips. "Turn around," I follow his command like a life line. Leaning my back against him, his arms circling my waist. "Knees up, either side of mine."
Again, like an obedient pet, I do as he asks. Shaking with anticipation. His left hand, caresses the bare skin of waist. Owning just my Golden costume in this realm. Other hand smoothly slipping under the waist band of my shorts. Gasping when his fingers find my heat.
"So wet already," his voice is a sin, whispering in my ear. I can feel his smug gaze on the side of my head. I enjoy it. Just two of his finger play with the slick that gather on my outer lips.
"Please," I'm not even sure I said anything with how soft I spoke. But he heard, loud and clear. Chuckling evilly.
"What do you want, darling?" he teases, sliding his finger tip over my slit, but not parting them. I bite my bottom lip, cheeks red with embarrassment. I felt so filthy having to say it out loud, but I knew I had to. If I didn't he would just tease me for all of eternity. He lays a gentle peck on my neck as if to encourage me, putting light pressure where my lips cover my clit with his fingers.
A moan like gasp and I finally utter. "Touch me."
"Hmm, not precise enough," just those words have me whining in desperation. "But, I'll let you have it this time."
Before I can exhale in relief he parts my lips. Slipping a single finger straight in. Thumb landing on my clit, a shaky moan escaping me instead. Instinctively my legs start to close around his hand.
"Hold them open for me," with shaky hands I hold my thighs open. Breathing heavily at the slow pace his fingers are using. A second had joined inside me, but it wasn't enough.
"F-faster," I beg, head rolling onto his shoulder. A dark chuckle and a third finger gets added. Along with a faster pace. I'm gasping like I can't get enough of this feeling. I'm surprised that his sharp claw like nails don't seem to scratch me, but I'm not complaining.
Moaning at the way his fingers curl inside me, stretch me open. Thumb rubbing smooth circles on my clit. My ears pick up his own grunting. Are my feelings causing him to enjoy it just as much as I am?
The hand that held a grip on my waist, moves up. Slipping under my top. Fingers finding my pebbled buds, squeezing, first testing the waters. The action causing me to subconsciously squeeze around the finger inside me.
"So sensitive, aren't you?" I'm not even sure what exactly I'm nodding to, but I do it anyways. Reaching the edge quicker with every squeeze, every thrust of his fingers. "Go on darling," he whispers in my ear, pointy tongue flicking against my jaw teasingly. "Cum for me."
I do, shuddering franticly as my orgasm rolls over me. Taking over my entire body as he keeps the movements up until my hips move in shocks against the touch. Suddenly overstimulated, breathing heavily.
"Good girl."
Curiosity strikes Abby one random day, while we're playing games again.
"By the way, how did you get here?" it's so out of the blue. Everyone's eyes shooting at him. Baby and Jinu glaring at him like a warning. "What? I'm curious."
Baby tells me I should not feel forced to tell them, his glare not leaving Abby. I place my hand on his thigh, reassuring him that its okay.
After explaining it is when the revenge plan start brewing to life. I don't think I've ever liked feeling this evil until now.
There once was a mighty demon king Stop me if you’ve heard this one before He was in total control He feasted on souls The world trembled when he roared But then some Hunters sang some songs Now all he does is starve Can’t get at the souls, and his flame grows cold Just a whisper in the dark And will he let the fire go out? Is this the end of him now? Dying king with a crumbling crown? Will he let the fire go out?
“I let you keep that voice, Jinu,” Gwi ma says as Jinu approached him with his song. “And you dare to mock me with it?” I stayed near Baby as we slowly followed Jinu closer to Gwi ma.
“I’m not here to mock you. I’m here to help you,” Jinu tells Gwi ma. “It’s time for a new strategy,” the six of us fly up the long staircase. Them in their traditional attire, me still in my Golden promo costume. Safe for the jacket. “We fight the Hunters where they least expect it. Go after the very thing that powers the Honmoon. The fans.”
“A demon boy band?” Gwi ma questions. Bursting out laughing, the crowd following awkwardly. “What makes you think that could work?” Transforming just enough to make them look more human.
“I can help,” I speak up, appearing from behind Baby. “I am from that world, I know how it works. I can be their manager. I won’t be seen. I can make sure they become big.”
“You?” Gwi ma chuckles evilly. “What makes you think I’ll trust you.”
“They betrayed me,” I tell him. “I might not be doing it for you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t pull through if it gives them what they deserve for stabbing me, quite literally.”
“Hmm, alright," he says. "But, that can't just be it, what is it the rest of you expect out of this?" he hums, impatiently waiting for an answer.
"Our memories from before this life, erased," Jinu speaks for them.
“Okay! I have planned for your first performance to be just around the corner from here,” I tell the five as we walk down the alley. Romance, Abby and Mystery walk in front, Jinu following behind them. While I walk with Baby, his arm wrapped possessively around my waist, not that I minded. I wore one of Baby’s sweaters, and a cap to hopefully hide my appearance enough. “You guys know the song, I’ll make sure to make it go viral. Flyers have been handed out and people have already started gathering,” I had my phone out while Baby guides me safely. Making my twirl suddenly before holding me in front of him.
“uh… watch yourself,” I hear Jinu speak to someone. Baby’s hold on me leaving me unable to check to who. But as we walk away I recognize who.
“Watch my… Watch yourself!” Rumi. Looking up at Baby he turns me to face him and places a gentle peck on my lips. As if saying ‘I got you’. Returning at his side we continue walking to our destination. “Oh, Jinu! After the performance don’t forget to announce that you’ll be at everyone’s favorite variety show.”
“Yes, I’ll remember,” I peck Baby on the cheek and let them do their thing. Staying close and keeping my eye out for Rumi, Mira or Zoey. I film their performance. Posting it on social media, creating edits, shorts, posting a prerecorded video of a dance practice I had them do. Watching as the numbers went up and up. The Saja Boys getting more popular by the minute.
Looking at the crowd I could see how much they were enjoying the Saja Boys. The moment they started it had drawn even more people to come check them out.
I couldn’t stop myself from clapping with the crowd when they were done with their performance. Giving Jinu a pointed look as I pulled up the slide for on the screen behind them that showed the variety show they would be at tonight. Jinu first wiped his shoulder clean of nonexistent dust while staring at Rumi who stood scarily close to me.
I thought I had paid enough attention. I catch Baby’s eyes who with just a flick of his eyes moved me away where our eyes connect again. A sigh of relief leaving my body while he sends a wink which has the crowd around me going wild some more. That’s my man, I think I hear a chuckle in my head as I return my gaze to his where he smirks his lips forming one word. Mine.
“That’s it for now. See you tonight on everyone’s favorite variety show,” selecting the slide on my phone it appears behind them as Jinu speaks. “Saja Boys love you!” posing for just a second longer before disappearing with the magenta smoke. A second later, a hand slips into mine before I’m ingulfed in that same magenta smoke. The smoke dissipating around us when we appear in the apartment I got the band.
“You guys did so good!” I clap with excitement, pulling my phone out as I sit down with Baby like a magnetic pull to always be close to him. Baby wraps an arm around my shoulder pulling me closer to him.
“Of course,” Abby smirks. “We’re charming,” as if to prove his point he flexes his arms making me roll my eyes.
“Barely,” I tease, sticking my tongue out at him. “The fans like you because 1, the song is catchy, you’re welcome by the way. 2, you’re hot, we’ll figure out if you’re charming on that variety show. And 3, you guys dance really well,” Abby sticks his tongue out right back at me. Quick learner, I chuckle. “Anyways, we have a bit of time before the variety show-” I don’t even get to finish before four of them literally poof out of existence. “Wha-”
“Don’t worry, they’ll be back,” Baby speaks up besides me. Shifting my gaze to him, his now nearly unnatural blue eyes half lidded. Taking my phone from me, I try to protest, but he just tsks, like I’m a child testing limits. “No phone for you,” he says, voice stern making me shiver. “You have to be able to get out of sight from the Huntrix. Without me.”
“But you can do it,” I pout and he sighs, getting up from the couch, pulling me with him. Then he smirks, just a little. That smug, knowing tilt of his mouth that makes me want to punch him and kiss him at the same time.
“You get a kiss for every step further you are able to make,” he knows that will make me comply. He’s not shy about kissing me, but it’s not nearly as often as I wish it was. So if this is how I can get it, I’ll take it.
“Okay, okay,” I nod vigorously. “How do we start,” I had told him that I obviously knew how to fight, but I didn’t know how to teleport like they can. Not like I could learn that from Celine. All she ever did was told us to hide our patterns. No one could know what we were.
“It’s a lot about visualizing where you want to go,” his voice calm as he starts to explain. Giving me examples by teleporting around the room as he does. “Now you try, don’t start off difficult. From where you stand, try to go in front of the coffee table.”
“And if I do it,” a little smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “I get a kiss, right?”
“Yes,” he chuckles deeply. “If you can do it, you get a kiss,” he nods. “More if you behave and make it to me,” excitement fills up my body in more ways than one, the smirk on his lips not helping in stopping the heat from forming between my legs. Nodding I focus on the rug under the coffee table. Visualizing the edge where I want to go. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. Hoping that I did it when I open my eyes again.
Nothing.
I was still stood in the same place. “Ugh,” I shake my head. “Okay, one more,” Closing my eyes again. I visualize once more. Maybe it needs to be more detailed. Edge of the rug. The rug is red, the border fluffy, the rectangle table white marble. That is where I want to go. Opening my eyes once more. Nothing. “I can’t do it, if I can’t even get 30cm further how am I meant to get to yo-u,” in the blink of an eye I’m in front of him. Eyes wide in confusion and surprise. A smirk plays on his lips as he leans down and pecks my lips.
Recovering from my initial shock, I shake my head before crossing my arms.
“Nah ah, you said I would get more if I could make it to you.”
“That’s true,” his voice deeper than before. His strong hands reach my hips. Placing a nearly bruising grip on them, my knees weakening. Reaching for him, I wrap my arms around him and pull him closer. Our lips connect, gentler than I expected. But I turn the kiss hungry within seconds. Tracing my tongue over his lips asking for entrance, which he gives only to quickly over power it. Showing me who’s boss, not that anyone would ever question that. He pulls away making me whine. I don’t let go and neither does he. “I will let you have this, cause you have no idea how much I need you, but we will continue practicing after this,” the whine turns into a moan at his confession. He trails kissing down my jaw to my neck, making me bend over backwards.
- Spice below, skip to next image divider if you do not want to read it -
His hands slide up, under his sweater over my bare stomach. Lifting the sweater as he goes, leaving goosebumps in his wake. Pulling back long enough to throw the sweater away before lifting me up. A squeak leaving my lips, returning my hold around his neck tighter as he moves us to the bedroom. I kiss and bite his neck as well as I can with his outfit still on. Trying to get his sweater off him is a struggle. I only manage it because he tosses me onto the bed and I yank it off mid fall.
He at least helps me by taking off his blouse himself, crawling over me right after. Our lips connecting in a heated kiss. My hands roam his toned chest, nails scraping his skin with need. His right hand cupping my face while the other held him up right. His sharp teeth tugging at my bottom lip, pulling away with a grin.
“So needy,” his voice deep, eyes flashing golden. A needy whimper leaves my lips. Watching him back up, just enough to unzip my shorts. Tapping my ass to make me lift off the bed, I quickly do as he asks. Sliding it sensually slow down my thighs, his own nails trailing after the fabric. Every inch they drag lower sends another jolt up my spine.
I want him so desperately at this point I want to drag him back up to me. I don’t even care that he’s still half dressed. I just need him, right now!
Shorts finally gone, abandoned on the floor. He holds my ankles, pecking both. With a strong grip his hands slide back up, followed by more pecks. Turning into bites, along with creating hickeys on my thighs. Marking me his. I loved it.
The moment his head is within my reach I try to pull him back up, but he denies me. An impatient whine leaving my lips though it quickly turns into a gasp when he surprises me by blowing air on my damp panties. Swiftly sliding the fabric to the side, the cold air of the room momentarily startling me. Though my lips are quickly engulfed with his. Legs almost instantly turning to jelly.
Pushing one thigh up, he spreads my legs, giving him more room to explore. My breathing turning into desperate gasps. Sucking on my clit like it’s a life line, plunging his tongue so far inside me it seems impossible. Leaning up on my weak trembling arms, I look at his head between my legs. His eyes open shortly too look me in the eyes. His eyes golden, his patterns showing. He’s half shifted. It all made sense now. He had shown me before that his tongue was longer when in demon form, teasing me with it. This was just half of what it could be and this was already sending me to heaven.
I couldn’t hold myself up anymore, falling back down with a heavenly moan. I could feel that he was enjoying this just as much as I was, being this close allowing me to feel his emotions just like he did mine. My hands find his hair, gripping tight on the strands. Drawing a groan from him, the vibrations of his voice only getting me closer to my release.
“So close,” my voice soft, laced with desperation. But I shouldn’t have said anything. The second the words leave my lips, his leave my heat. A wet smirk curls on his lips, glistening and smug.
“Didn’t think I was gonna let you cum that easy, now did you?” he arches a brow, the wicked look in his eyes making my body ache even more. He licks his lips, groaning at the taste of me. In an instantly his completely naked before me, his patterns beautifully on display. My denied orgasm forgotten, I find the strength to get up. On my knees in front of him, my lips just able to reach his strong collar bones.
I start there, biting hard. I can tell he enjoys it, his eyes stay on me watching me as I claim his body just like he did mine. Smirking my way down, leaving hickeys and indents of my teeth. Marks that say mine in every shade of red. Following one line of his patterns, all the way down the length of his chest. Though he doesn’t allow me to reach my destination.
With a rough push, I’m on my back once more. Somehow, while falling back he was able to remove both my bra and my panties. Demon magic, I'm sure. My legs pulled up into the air, a single hand holding them together against his shoulder.
“Think you’re ready for me?” It’s like his voice got even deeper, like he was growling while talking. That same smug smirk curves his lips as he teases me, pressing the tip between my thighs. My eyes widen the further he pushes, realizing just how big he actually was.
While I’m terrified, I don't control my head as it nods repeatedly with need.
Leaning down he folds me in half, the stretch in my muscles an ache I crave. My legs pushed up, pressed tight on either side of my head. “Use your words, darling,” he whispers, face to face now. His breath brushes my lips, voice thick with command and something darker. The tone betraying just how close he is to loosing it all.
“Please, please, please,” the words are breathless. The pressure on my chest makes it hard to breathe, but not enough to stop the begging. “Fuck me,” it’s rough, more like a demand. Desperate to get him inside me. Now!
He lets out a low, wicked chuckle. “Good girl,” instantly thrusting all the way in. The stretch punches a high-pitched gasp out of me, more squeak than moan, and I clamp down around him without meaning to. My body’s trying to slow him down, fighting the pace I just begged for. All air leaves my lungs when he bottoms out. It feels so good I could cry.
“Sooo… gooooood…” the words slur right out of me, brain to far gone to care what I say anymore. A hitched gasp slips past my parted lips as I feel him pull back. Not all the way, but enough to start making me feel empty. His lips join mine in a surprisingly gentle kiss. His kiss is slow, loving, completely at odds with the way he’s wrecking me. Caressing me with love as he slowly starts to thrust back in. Keeping the pace slow but deep while I gasp into kiss. Barely able to kiss him back.
To the point I just give up, wrapping my arms around his neck. Pulling him impossibly closer. The ache in my legs starting to make them tremble, but I don’t care. I need him, crave him. The angle of our position getting me closer to edge with every thrust. My entire body shivering from the intensity.
“You’re doing so good,” his voice cuts through the haze, sudden enough to startle me. Though I relax almost instantly. “Just a little longer,” his right hand caressing my trembling leg, seemingly soothing the ache. Reaching between us in the impossibly small space between us. Pinching my clit between two fingers making me spasm and squeeze around his thick length. “Cum for me,” it’s like a command that breaks the dam. Squeezing his shoulders once before my arms go lacks at the feeling of ecstasy.
Both his arms secure around me as he thrusts a few more times. He moves my head to the side, just enough to give him space. With a low groan, which is quickly muffled by my skin, he cums inside me. A gentle peck where my neck meets my shoulder. Then a scream leaves my lungs when his teeth tear my skin.
The same black stardust seems to ripple over us, starting from where he just bit me. Suddenly I’m overwhelmed. I freeze up. A gentle lick over the wound, then a peck before his eyes come into view.
“Now,” he whispers. “You’re completely mine,” and I feel it. I feel him, not just physically. Our souls completely connected.
Slowly the shock fades, as does the pain. He starts to pull away, but I don’t want him to. Letting him leave just enough space for me to lower my legs before I pull him right back.
Connecting our lips, exploding with emotions. So much raw emotion of both him and me.
We had just finished showering, but he had been done getting dressed quicker. Pecking my lips as he left the room. A lingering feeling of adoration from him warming my chest.
“Wow, you look thoroughly fucked,” Mystery points out the obvious when I enter the living room again after what had just transpired in the bedroom. I hadn’t tried to hide the marks Baby had left on me, but they were relatively hidden. But I guess not as hidden as they had seemed when I looked in the mirror.
An instant flare of anger washes over me. But it’s not mine.
“Watch it,” Baby hisses at his friend. I just stick my tongue out at Mystery and plop myself down on Baby’s lap, who instantly wraps a possessive arm around my waist. I peck his cheek before turning my attention to the rest of the boys.
“Okay, but, we should actually get going,” I say while I look at the time on my phone, now that I have it again. “We don’t wanna be la-”
Before I can finish, magenta smoke slowly reveals we arrived at the studio.
“Ah! Saja Boys!” we get greeted, the second we get spotted. In panic I touch my head, glad to find the cap there. My eyes meet Baby’s, he’s already staring, handing me tinted glasses. Which I quickly put on.
They get called on stage not long after our arrival. The studio filled to the brim with press and new fans. I stay on the side, out of sight of the crowd. Instead focusing on my phone where I check their social media and their growing popularity.
Unbeknownst to me, three pairs of familiar eyes had spotted me. Unsure and stunned all the same. I should not be there and yet I was.
“It’s a dead heat between my handsome co-host and Baby Saja,” my attention drawn to the stage, at the mention of Baby. Surprised he’s so casually drinking hot sauce like it’s water. “Can our host catch up?”
“So spicy! So spicy!” the co-host utters, giving up.
“He can’t! Baby Saja is the winner!” the crowd cheers.
“Goo goo, ga ga,” Baby mocks, unable to stop me from giggling at the idiocy of it. Shaking my head.
“Hard to say goodbye when we’re having fun.”
“So hard. So hard,” to my shock I watch Jinu take the mic from the host. I’m about to scold him from the sideline when he speaks.
“Then why say goodbye when we have extra special guests coming up?”
“What is he doing?” I mutter. Little did I know that Rumi muttered those exact same words.
“Please welcome Huntrix!” stunned I follow the spotlights as it highlights the - now - trio. Shit.
“We just wanted to stop by and congratulate our hoobaes on their debut and-,” Rumi waves awkwardly, obviously caught off guard.
“And of course, Play Games with Us! Bring out the slides!” Jinu cuts her off. The other four grabbing the slide from my side of the stage.
“This is not a good idea,” I hiss at them. Baby just winks as a feeling of reassurance waves over me.
“Slide! Slide! Slide!” the crowd chants, I watch anxiously.
“Oh no. We couldn’t possibly,” Rumi tries to back out, to no avail of the crowd. Their chants changing to ‘In the balls!’. Which seems, you know, just a little in appropriate, but oh well… “Sure,” voice a little higher now. “For the fans.”
Though its immediately met with more regret. Their leather pants stopping them for a smooth slide. An ear-piercing sound echoing through the studio. Just like Baby I cover my ears, dampening the double effect of what this sound does to us.
Finally they land. “And Huntrix is in the balls!” I notice their eyes flash gold, smirks plastered on their faces before they mask it.
“Well, this was fun,” Rumi says awkwardly as the three of them exit the ball pit. Standing in line across from the boys.
With a hand on his chest. “It was truly an honor to share the stage with you,” Jinu says, the five of them bowing respectfully to the trio. I cover my mouth with my hand to muffle my chuckle at their faces.
“Oh no. The honor is ours,” they bow. They’ll do anything to keep the fans on their side it seems.
“No, it was ours.”
“It’s ours.”
“Ours.”
“Ours.”
“Ours.”
“Ours.”
They all bow deeper and deeper. The boys quite literally folded in half in the end. Baby smirking through his legs at me, making me shake my head at them for the nth time.
Before the curtain is even fully closed, Baby grabs my by the waist, throwing me over his shoulder as they run out. Abby giving Romance a piggy back, just to rub it in the girls faces. Flicking my gaze to them, I see their anger growing.
“Where are we going?” I ask, not really able to do much, stuck in the tight grasp of Baby. Trying to peak around his head I see the bath house sign. “Why are we going to a bath house?”
I get an answer quick enough when I hear their collective voices. “Mens?”
“Wow. Did you really follow us in here?” Jinu says with fake surprise.
“I knew they would. That one’s always looking at me,” Abby says matter-of-factly.
“No we’re not,” Mira and Zoey say, obviously staring at Abby. Rumi ignores the comments completely. Her eyes finding mine where I’m stood next to Baby. A possessive and protective hand on my waist. He glares at them like they had personally hurt him.
I guess unintentionally they had, but without what they did. We wouldn’t have met.
“Y/n?” soft, filled with disbelief. Rumi’s words seem to shake Mira and Zoey out of their staring trance as they too turn to me.
“Told you,” Mira starts. “She’s just as bad as the rest of them,” Baby makes a threatening move, growling slightly. It’s enough to make them take a step back.
“I wasn’t,” I state calmly. Placing a hand on Baby’s shoulder to calm him and to tell him to trust me this time. “Not until you betrayed me that is,” I continue, sending a glare their way. “Especially you, Rumi. What a sister you are,” I shake my head with disappointment.
“So, now you’ve sent a demon boy band after us?” Zoey asks, surprised and offended at the same time. “To what? Steal our fans?”
“Yes,” the six of us state clearly, a smirk pulling at my lips. “When I came back to this plane, it was fun to see how many you had already lost. And all that because I “left”,” their eyes widen at my words. “Now we’re here for the rest of them.”
“You think we’re just going to let you steal our fans?” Rumi’s voice laced with anger. “You’re gonna have to fight us for them.”
“Yeah. Keep your hands off our Honmoon,” Zoey adds.
Jinu chuckles. “We’re not here to fight,” tears in the Honmoon appear in the baths. “They are,” demons rise from the tears.
“Water demons.”
“Oh great. My favorite.”
“Get rid of the Hunters,” Jinu says to the water demon closest to him. I can’t stop the spike of fear puncturing my heart as my eyes shift from him to the people I once called family. “Then you can eat all the souls you want,” Baby squeezes my waist, but it doesn’t sooth the pain in my chest.
With that said, the water demons start fighting. Romance, Mystery and Abby swiftly making their way to another exit. Baby starts pulling me, but I hesitate. While he’s obviously upset at what they had done to me. He understands what I’m going through at this very moment.
“Have fun,” Jinu smirks evilly, nearly slipping on a small pool of water on the tiles. Turning around he starting running towards the exit. I finally find my willpower back and start moving. Holding onto Baby’s hand tight. Letting him drag me through the door. Running through the sauna as Rumi follows us quickly. She manages to cut Jinu off from the group.
“He can handle himself,” Baby reassures me and finally we go up in smoke and appear in our apartment. Out of breath, I let myself fall on the couch. Soon joined by him. He picks me up bridal style. Sits down himself before placing me in his lap. Leaning me so my head is resting on his shoulder.
“I can’t- I-”
“Shh, it’s okay,” his voice is soft. Warmth blooms in my chest and again I’m reassured. He’s not mad at me. He knows I was meant to be one of the good guys. “You don’t have to talk.”
We stay like that, unbothered by the other three. Until Jinu returns, face laced with realization and confusion but before he can say anything. All six of us get pulled back into the demon plane by Gwi ma.
A single soul flies overhead, straight into Gwi ma’s flame.
“My Little Soda Pop,” Gwi ma… sings? “It’s catchy. Surprisingly, your plan is working,” he says to us as we get up off the ground. Standing before him.
“I know, and that soul is just a starter,” Jinu says, his expression changing to please Gwi ma. “So let me get back to work, and you’ll be feasting in no time.”
“Two of the Hunters bear my mark, one of which I now have control over,” if Gwi ma had eyes they would be on me now with how intense the air around me got. “The other I do not.”
“This is good,” Jinu says, taking the attention off me. “This means she has shame. I’ll find out what it is and we can use it to destroy her and the Hunters for good.”
“I’ve taught you well, Jinu,” with that Gwi ma lets us return to our apartment on the human plane.
“Okay, issue,” Jinu says, sitting on one of the arm chairs in the room. Leaning forward, elbows on his knees. Covering his face with his left hand.
“What is it?” Romance asks, confused. Finding himself a seat on the couch. Abby returning from the kitchen with a bottle of water. Sitting in the other arm chair. Mystery finding his spot between Romance and Baby. I stood by the large open windows which had a view of the city sky line. From here I could see the Huntrix tower, the logo lit up in the dark of the night, in the far distance. Leaning against the glass as I subconsciously rubbed the patterns on my arms.
“Is it because of the look on your face when you first came back?” Baby asks, though I know his eyes don’t leave my frame. Watching over me protectively but letting me keep the space I need right now.
“Yes,” Jinu sighs, taking his hand away from his face. “Rumi appears to be my mate,” my eyes focus on his reflection in the window. Silence engulfs the room, almost like time stands still. I don’t think anyone knows what to say with this new information. “But that doesn’t change anything,” he chuckles awkwardly.
It’s very divided. Baby and I sure as hell can’t say shit about it. Me, technically, being a huntress and us being mates. Having just completed said mating bond.
“We’re going to stick to the plan,” Jinu ends up deciding. “We have to,” the words are whispered. My brows furrow in confusion. He can’t just be talking about the revenge. Baby fills my head with images of what Gwi ma could do to us if we fail.
It’s early morning, I think I got maybe an hour of sleep before I woke up from my running thoughts. Baby was a deep sleeper, if he hadn’t been, I was sure he would have jumped awake at the same time I did. Sneaking out of his hold. I grab my phone from its charger.
3:36 am
Sighing I get up. Pulling Baby’s sweater over my head. The hem falling just mid my thighs. My sweater now, really. Exiting the room I head for the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water. Swiftly taking a sip.
“Ah,” I sigh, walking to the living room, I just sat down on the couch when Jinu suddenly appears in front of me. Making me jump, Jinu reacting the same at seeing me awake.
“What are you doing awake?” he whisper hisses at me.
“I could ask you the same thing,” I hiss right back. He sighs and takes the same seat as before. I relax back in my seat, pulling my legs on the couch beside me.
“Fine,” he sighs. Tiger comes up from the floor. First letting himself be pet by Jinu before circling the coffee table. Jumping on the couch next to me, resting his head on my thigh. Placing my hand on his big head, I start petting him. Purrs slowly rumbling from his chest. “I went to meet Rumi,” anxiety spikes my chest, my eyes meeting his instantly. “I know, I know,” he puts his hands up. “I just, I had to tell her.”
While my heart is still running like a marathon, I sigh. “I get it. Once you realize it’s hard to keep it from them. Baby showed me what it felt like for him when he found out,” I explain in understanding. Jinu sighs in relief at my words.
“Thank you,” it wasn’t often Jinu got sincere, so I knew this was real. Just by the tone in his voice. “She did not react well,” he adds. “I shouldn’t be surprised of course, but I had hope with the way you reacted to Baby.”
“You have to understand that the situations are different. I had just been banished by my own family. She’s still in hiding,” I try to reason with him. “If Mira and Zoey knew, she would be with Gwi ma just like me.”
“What exactly happened that day?” the question is cautious. Testing the waters carefully. "I know you told us in part, but..."
“I wanted to tell Mira and Zoey about my patterns,” I state, my voice void of emotion. “I didn’t want to hide anymore. Rumi didn’t want to. Which I understood, but she said she would back me up,” I glance at him before focusing my attention on Tiger as I continue. “They reacted by drawing their weapons on me,” I pause for a moment. Throat swelling up with emotion. Unable to stop the betrayal from taking over me. “Rumi was the one to send me to Gwi ma,” I croak out, my hand trembling as I continue to pet Tiger as a distraction. Taking a deep shuddering breath. Baby appeared behind me suddenly. His calm aura settling over me. Looking back, up at him, his gaze is focused on Jinu. Glaring at him.
“What are you doing?” he asks accusingly. His hands settle on my shoulders. Comforting me.
“It’s okay. I’m okay now,” I smile gently at him, squeezing one of his hands. “It’s not his fault really,” he doesn’t seem to fully believe me. Tiger had looked up, almost offended that I had stop petting him. Though this did give Baby the opportunity to sit down himself and hold me close.
“What happened then?”
“I may have asked what happened that day,” Jinu explains.
“And this became a topic, because?”
“He apparently met with Rumi,” I tell him. “Telling her about them being mates, and it did not go as he hoped,” Baby nods, waiting for more information.
“I also may have offered to let Rumi talk to Y/n,” Jinu confesses, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.
“WHAT!?” Baby and I say at the same time. Baby out of worry, me out of anxiety.
“Yeah, well,” Jinu sighs, struggling to find the right words. “I thought, since you’re sisters. And you being mated to Baby. You could maybe, I don’t know. Convince her it’s okay..?”
“You want my mate,” Baby’s voice is stern, threatening even. “ who got sent to Gwi ma by yours. To talk to Rumi?”
“I know, I know.”
“No, I don’t think you understand,” Baby’s eyes turn golden. “Her anxiety just woke me up, I am de deepest sleeper you know this. I will not allow Rumi to meet with Y/n.”
The conversation ends there. The next few weeks a filled with award shows where either the Saja boys winning or Huntrix. All the while I see the secret longing looks Jinu sends Rumi, and Rumi tries to hide the new pull that the mating bond created.
It’s conflicting with everything.
I want Jinu to be happy, and I hate that I want Rumi to be happy too. Becoming Baby’s mate has made me so happy. While I still hear Gwi ma’s voice it’s not nearly as loud as it was before we completed the mating. It doesn’t rule over me. I wish that for Jinu. I know his past haunts him, more than he dares to show.
And while it obviously hurts to be betrayed by my sister, I still cared for her. Can I still go through with this?
“Let’s bring ‘em in,” Bobby’s voice announces as the doors to the signing open. Hiding in the crowd, I watch as the guys waddle in. “Hey, single file, no pushing.”
“And who should I make this out to?” Rumi asks, grabbing the stack of her posters, closer to herself.
“ 'To our biggest fans' ,” Jinu says, all of them casually revealing themselves. No longer hidden by the sleeping bags.
“It’s the Saja boys!” while everyone is focused on the boys, the frustration of the girls doesn’t go unnoticed by me.
“It is an honor!” Bobby regards them politely. “Table, now!”
“Joint signing!” while the room splits into two sides. I teleport behind the Huntrix banner, having practiced a lot since that first try.
“We lose half the fans?” I can just hear Rumi’s murmured words. “The Saja Boys will sit with us!”
“What? Rumi?” Mira and Zoey react quietly. “What are you doing?”
“Huh? Same table?” the crowd joins together again as the table gets moved next to theirs.
“We need every fan,” Rumi tells the other two.
“Hm. We keep meeting like this,” Romance says, sitting down next to Mira. Draping an arm over her chair. Leaning his head on his other hand. Staring at Mira while she glares back at him. Abby taking a seat on Mira's left, smirk tugging at his lips.
“I am not sitting with no Saja boy-” Zoey cuts herself off when Mystery sits down next to her, giggling like a high school girl with a crush. “What’s up?”
“I didn’t think you liked sharing,” Jinu whispers to Rumi when he sits down beside her.
“I love sharing.”
“Oh, so you shared your secret with your friends?”
“If only I could smash your demon face in right now,” Mira hisses quietly. Her eyes shifting from Romance to Abby as she signs her poster. “Thanks for coming!” she puts up a sweet face as she hands over the signed poster.
“Should I tell them?” Jinu asks.
“No, I can’t tell them,” Rumi reminds him.
“Are you whispering?” a fan suddenly cut their conversation. The two of them stuttering as they frantically sign the Rumi poster and hand it to the fan. “Your secret’s safe with me,” she says pointing at her shirt which has a drawing of the two of them along with their ship name; Rujinu. They chuckle awkwardly. “Oh, so cute!”
“Thanks for coming!” Zoey speaks with a sweet smile on her lips, while Mystery sits next to her. Arms crossed, pretty much staring down the Huntrix fan in front of them like he had seen them kick a puppy. Softly growling. “No! Bad Saja Boy!” Zoey scolds him which surprisingly stops his growling.
“I’ll sign first,” Mira fights with Abby and Romance over who will sign the cast of a fan. Dragging his foot from left to right on the table like he isn’t struggling to keep his stability on his crutches.
"If Y/n were still with Huntrix," I catch the whisper of a fan. An image of said fan being sent to me by Baby. The fan standing directly in front of him. "I would ship you," he doesn't reply. Simply smirks and sends the fan a wink making them squeal.
“I’m not gonna talk to someone who’s helping Gwi ma,” Rumi whispers, trying to focus on the signing.
“What if that’s not the plan anymore.”
“Like I would believe you, you have my sister helping you.”
“And who’s fault is that,” he whispers in her ear making her kick his foot under the table.
“I had no choice!” She whisper yells at him. “They didn’t accept her. If I revealed what I am we would never stand a chance at defeating Gwi ma. I’m supposed to hate all demons, like I hate Gwi ma.”
“If hate could defeat Gwi ma, we would have done it a long time ago,” Jinu tells her calmly, truthfully. “Trust me.”
“Excuse me, mr. Jinu,” the voice of a little girl cuts their moment. “I made this for you,” both turn to the girl. Jinu surprised, not expecting this in the slightest.
“Uh, for me?” she holds out the drawing to him. He takes the paper like its a porcelain plate. Fragile, breakable. The two stare at the drawing for a little while.
“Maybe listen to those voices instead of the ones in your head,” Rumi says referring to the time they met up, she’s trying to be rude about it, but it sounds more sincere than I think she meant to.
It had been a couple of days since Tiger had been at the apartment. He finally appeared again when it was just me, Baby and Jinu in the living room. The other three had been disappearing into their rooms more often than not.
Tiger sat in front of Jinu, waiting for his attention. I was stretched out over the couch, using Baby’s thighs as a pillow while he read above me. Fingers running through my hair soothingly.
“Oh, my-” Jinu’s sudden excitement has my eyes shoot open in surprise. Baby sighed but closed the book nonetheless. How he did it, I don’t know, but he would just remember the page number he left on. Not caring about a bookmark. Who does that?
“What is it?” I ask, sleepily.
“It’s from Rumi, she’s agreed to meet you,” the anxiety spike returns, just that has Baby reach for my hand. Squeezing it gently.
“I thought, I had been very clear, last time we spoke about this,” Baby glares at him. Sitting up slowly, I take the card from Jinu.
Fine, I’ll take that talk with Y/n. But not for you! She’ll know where to meet me. - Rumi
Stubborn as ever, I shake my head. “You think she’s feeling the pull?” I ask Baby. He sighs, not liking the way my anxiety melted away for warmth of the potential happiness that could come out of this.
“Yes, she probably is,” he answers me, voice gentle, unlike how he spoke to Jinu. “I’m surprised she held out this long. “
“Is that were Tiger was?” I ask Jinu, who nods.
“I’ll do it,” I announce after a moment of me just staring at her neat hand writing.
“I’m coming with you,” Baby immediately says, but I shake me head.
“No, she won’t trust you,” it’s true and he knows it. “I can protect myself. I can get away from her, thanks to you,” I peck his cheek. Lingering to reassure him that I’ll be okay.
“Alright.”
I arrive first. Kneeling in front of our moms grave.
“Hi mom,” my voice soft. “I know it’s been a while since my last visit. I’m sorry,” I apologize. A crunch of a branch tells me Rumi has arrived. Placing a kiss on the tips of my fingers, I press them against her headstone before standing up. Turning to Rumi.
“I didn’t think you would actually show,” she says, a sullen expression on her face. Hands stuffed in her sweaters pockets.
“When Jinu first told me of his offer to you, I wouldn’t have come, no,” I tell her honestly. Moving at a wide radius away from our moms grave. Giving Rumi the opportunity to talk to mom like I just had.
She does just that, I give her space to do so. This is the first time we talk to her separately. We always went to her grave together every now and again.
“Is this… mates thing… a lie?” she hesitates, when she’s done talking to mom. Getting up, keeping the same radius I had. Ten paces apart we take our seat on separate grass patches.
“It is not,” I shake my head, pulling the zipper down of my turtle neck top. Show her my mating mark that has now healed completely. Leaving holographic scars in the shape of his teeth. “Jinu did not lie to you about that, and I think you believed him. Even before you wanted to.”
She nods, seemingly ashamed that she did, but unable to deny the pull she now feels to him. “Did Jinu lie when he said he wasn’t going to help Gwi ma anymore?”
“Yes and no,” she looks confused at my answer.
“What does that mean?” she frowns.
“I think, that after finding out you were his mate, he stopped wanting to help Gwi ma.”
“But?”
“But because of what you did to me-” anxiety spikes as the memories play again. Warmth spreads within seconds, allowing me to take a deep breath and continue. Thank you Baby. “And the memories that haunt, not only Jinu, but the others too. They became my friends, I know it may seem like they do all this for Gwi ma. But they don’t. They will continue if it means they can get rid of their memories. Probably until its too late.”
“I guess… I guess I can’t blame them for that…” she sighs, gaze falling to the grass in front of her, like she can’t bear to meet mine. “For what it’s worth… I am so-rry,” her voice cracks. Her mask faltering as tears roll freely off her cheeks. “… I’m so- so sor-ry…” her shoulders shake. “I- I panicked! I never-” she sniffles. “I never wanted to hurt- you.”
“It hurt… so much,” I croak out, unable to keep from crying myself. Being this close yet so far from my sister. It was agony. “Not just the betrayal…” a quick intake of breath which does little to stop my emotions from going haywire. “It was like I was- like I was being burned… in, I don’t know, hell fire,” I struggle to find the words. Trying to paint a picture she would - hopefully - never feel. "Gwi ma, tortured me... with it... making it play- over and over," I pause. "Louder, every time," my voice just above a whisper. It hangs in the air for an uncertain amount of time.
“Can I please- hug you?” her voice is so soft, I barely catch her words. Looking up in surprise. Wondering if I even heard her right. My eyes find hers already staring at me. Switching between either one in desperation. I barely finish my nod and she on her feet.
We crush together in the middle. Arms wrapped tightly around each other. Tears ruining each others clothes, not that we cared about that in the moment, or ever.
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,” her voice is shaky as she whispers the words, over an over. Hiding her face in my shoulder. I feel us sink to the gravel, never letting go.
I don't know how long we stay there, just crying while we hold onto each other desperately.
“I missed you so much,” she whispers when we finally stopped crying. Pulling away enough to look at me up close. A shaky smile forms on my lips as I nod in agreement.
“I missed you too, even though I felt betrayed,” I sigh, using one hand to wipe away left over tears. “Mira and Zoey too.”
“I know they miss you too,” it surprises me. Her voice is so full of raw emotion I know she’s not lying. “We regret it so much, me the most,” she points at her own chest. “I lost my voice, I couldn’t sing anymore. I didn’t think I deserved to either way.”
We are hunters, voices strong
I start, which she quickly catches on to. Joining me.
Slaying demons with our song Fix the world and make it right When darkness finally meets the light
Our foreheads meet in the middle. It held a lot more meaning now. We weren’t singing about slaying literally demons. It was about our thoughts. How we can speak our truth to each other now. Where her darkness meets my light and we can still fix all this. “That is the first time I’ve sang since the performance before… you know.”
“Meeting Jinu, my voice returned. I had someone who I could talk about my patterns with again,” Rumi confesses. “Someone I could be completely me with, but it was different.”
“It is,” I nod, separating our connection. “Because he is your mate. I had the same with Baby. Even if I didn’t want to believe demons could be nice at first,” I shake my head, getting a smile from her. “Also, would you believe it! Not all demons are ugly like we thought,” this gets her to laugh uncontrollably, happy tears playing on the rims of her eyes. She pulls me impossible closer, letting out a shuddering sigh of relief.
“Hey, can demons only have demon mates?” I ask, still confused by Romance, Mystery’s and Abby’s recent behavior changes.
“Uhm, no,” Mystery answers my question surprisingly. His expression unreadable. “Could be a human too,” the way he drags out ‘too’, only confirms my suspicions.
“Am I correct in assuming you three have found your mates in my human band members?” it’s hard to hide the smirk that starts tugging at my lips. Abby is the first to react, his gaze flicking to me in an instant. Got you. “I knew it!” I fist pump the air in excitement.
“Why does our misery excite you exactly?” Romance asks, sinking lower into the couch.
“Well,” I draw out the word as I get off of Baby’s lap. Much to his dismay. “Because it changes everything!”
“What are you talking about?” Abby asks, confusion written on all over their faces. Except, Baby, which surprises me only a little. Maybe my feelings about this have bled into him more than I thought.
“Don’t you see,” I start, pacing in front of them. “All of you have mates on this plane. Hunters to be precise,” I explain it like it’s obvious. “If we destroy them, you’ll never be with them!” this seems to make all of them pause.
“They hate demons, remember,” Romance’s voice is edged with a depression I had never seen on the man.
“That doesn’t mean they can’t change!” my voice is almost desperate. Trying to get them to see what I see. “If- if,” my thoughts go too fast for my mouth to keep up. A hand takes mine, Baby. I breathe. “If we can convince Rumi that we will help them seal the Honmoon-”
“What!?” that comes from all three of them at once.
“Listen to me!” I snap, gripping Baby’s hand tighter. “If we help them seal the Honmoon, while we are on this plane. It will keep us here!” slowly their gaze shift from disbelief to something I can’t place. Something like… hope. Or maybe fear of even the thought of hope. “Gwi ma won’t have control over us.”
“How are you so sure?” Mystery asks, his voice soft. Unrecognizable from his normal confident self.
“Because Rumi and I were already born when the Honmoon was last sealed,” I tell them. “We stayed here, lead normal human lives. Even if we had to hide our patterns.”
“Alright, I’ll trust you on this,” Abby says sitting up straight. This gets the other two to agree soon after.
“How do we make it happen?”
“Jinu, you need to talk to Rumi. Tell her our plan,” I turn to Jinu. “She’ll do whatever she can to ensure Mira and Zoey will not harm us. I’m sure of it, but we will have to keep pretending to do this for Gwi ma,” the plan was simple really. It would all end tomorrow at the International Idol Awards.
“Two bands, one award,” the intro starts playing on the tv in the Saja Boys’ dressing room. “Every snowflake is special. But one snowflake is probably the best. Who will be the top the the mountain?”
“Is this guy for real?” Abby asks in disbelief. I smack his arm playfully.
“Hey, this is a respected award show,” I tell him. “We are five-year reigning champions, I’ll have you know,” Baby chuckles at my defense, squeezing my side.
“Fans from around the universe will decide!” The stage comes into view. The stadium filled to the brim with fans. “Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for. Here are the five-year reigning champs of the International Idol Awards, Huntrix!”
“Okay, it’s time,” I tell them. “Fake the fight,” immediately they start arguing about stupid things like stolen shoes. Men, am I right? But it sounds believable, especially through he nearly sound proof door.
“Versus the heart-stealing newcomers, the Saja Boys! Who will win?” “Please welcome to the stage, the Saja Boys!”
“The Saja Boys, are having a fight,” I tell a staff member as I open the door just a peep. “They will not be performing tonight,” Their eyes seem to widen. Rushing away. Most likely to tell other staff and Bobby of the earlier performance of the Huntrix.
Closing the door behind me, I give them a thumbs up. “Now we just let it play out.”
Everything quiets down in the room. Watching in anticipation, hoping it would work.
“Uh, okay, there’s been a slight change in schedule,” the host announces.
Baby is sat on the arm rest of the leather couch in the room. I sit right on the edge between his legs, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist. Possessive, protective. Afraid of loosing me, just as I am to loose him if this goes bad.
Romance, Abby and Mystery actually sit on the three seater leather couch. Jinu, nervously sat on the other arm rest. Tension was high.
“Here to preform their hot new single, Golden, it’s Huntrix!”
“What?” my voice is laced with confusion. The door to the dressing room slams open. Startling everyone in the room.
“Y/n, quick.”
“When you told me to wear my golden costume, you could have told me this was the reason for it,” I tell Rumi while she throws a headworn microphone at me.
I lock eyes with Baby, portraying that I didn’t know.
“You go this,” he winks confidently. “I’ll be right here when you return,” I smash our lips together in a desperate kiss. Pouring all my fear into it along with anxious hope. “Go, darling,” his voice soft as he wipes a tear I didn’t know escaped off my cheek.
Breaking away, I watch as Rumi pulls away from a similar kiss with Jinu. A blush covering her cheeks. With that we run out the room.
“Do Zoey and Mira know I’m here to perform?” I ask on the way.
“Uhm, kind of?” Rumi admits, grimacing.
“Rumi!”
“I told them to trust me, alright!” we reach the girls just in time. It luckily doesn’t give the two the chance to ask any questions as we get lifted up to the stage.
I start my part, the crowd cheering in surprise.
I was a ghost, I was alone. Eo du wojin, ap gil sok e Given the throne I didn’t know How to believe I was the queen that I’m meant to be!
Thankfully, it all goes smoothly as we continue the song. Leaving the stage when its time for Rumi’s solo. I anxiously keep my distance from Zoey and Mira. Though I’m not too worried with so many people around.
“She’s killing it out there!” Zoey nearly screams overjoyed to see my sister sing well once more. Mira on the other hand doesn’t seem to be sure whether she should be glaring at me or feel grateful that I’m actually still alive. In the end she shakes her head.
“Let’s go finish this,” but commotion backstage draws our attention. We watch Bobby being dragged away by to people, their eyes flashing gold before disappearing around the corner. “Bobby?” Zoey turns to glare at me instantaneously.
“This isn’t us, I swear,” I hold up my hands trying to prove my innocence. “I didn’t do this!”
“Stay away from us,” Mira hisses at me as I go to follow them to help Bobby. My breath quickens as I watch them run away. The staff yelling after them that they’re on in 20 seconds.
“What is happening?” I mutter, dashing in the other direction. I crash straight into the dressing room. All five of them are still sat there, watching Rumi perform.
Baby is at my side in seconds. “What’s going on?”
“Who took Bobby!?” my voice is more confused than accusatory, but its there. Their brows furrow. “I thought we agreed.”
“We did,” Mystery stands up confused. “What do you mean, who took Bobby?”
Realization dawns on me, my eyes darting to the screen. “Rumi…” I breath, watching as the music changes from Golden to an entirely different song. One I didn’t know. Mira and Zoey join her back onstage… but something is off about them. “I have to get to Rumi!”
Emotion crowds my chest as I teleport in bursts, racing closer and closer to the stage. But I’m too late.
The fakes have already exposed her patterns.
“No!” Rumi’s voice pierces the air. Lights break in her wake. Her patterns start glowing purple. Unable to hide them anymore. She’s trembling. Frantic, scared, exposed.
Out of the corner of my eye I see the real Zoey and Mira return on the other side of the stage. Stopping in their tracks at the sight of Rumi. And slowly they step back. Back… away from her.
Rumi gains enough control of herself and runs off stage. I quickly run after her, but I’m not fast enough to stop her from running into Mira and Zoey. Witnessing their conversation from the stairs.
“How are you here?” I hear Rumi’s shaky voice. “You were just on stage. That wasn’t you?” She trembling like crazy. “Oh, thank goodness,” she takes a step closer to them. But they just take a steps back. “No. No!” her gaze falls to her hands, the patterns on full display. Not hidden like she expected them to be.
“You knew, didn’t you?” Zoey’s voice is surprisingly soft as she questions Rumi. “You knew about Y/n because you are one too.”
Her breath hitches. “Yes, but-” she stutters. “I didn’t have a- have choice.”
“You lied to us,” Mira’s voice is sharp. “This whole time?”
“No, I-” she shakes her head vividly. “We had a plan.”
“We?”
“Sealing the Honmoon,” I finally speak up. Revealing myself to them. Joining Rumi. Mira and Zoey take another step back, drawing their weapons on us, but not yet pointing them at us.
“You told us to trust you,” Zoey's voice is colder than I have ever heard it.
“And it back fired, on not just us, but on you too,” if looks could kill, Mira’s gaze would have sent us straight to hell.
“No,” I tell them, shaking my head. “This wasn’t us,” I say referring to me and the Saja Boys. “We wanted you guys to seal the Honmoon tonight.”
“It was supposed to save us,” Rumi adds, taking my hand with her shaky one. “We were supposed to become normal… and be together again.”
“How could we be together if we can’t tell your lies from your truths, Rumi?”
“I knew it, I knew it was too good to be true,” Mira’s voice is filled with disappointment.
“Mira, no! Didn’t you see?” Rumi tries once more as a desperate attempt. “See the gold? We’re so close!” instead they only back up further as she tries to get closer to them. “No, don’t leave! We can still…”
“Fix this!” my voice combines with hers makes the Honmoon ring magenta. Loosing us whatever trust that would have been left from the two. Mira pointing her woldo at us.
“Zoey, please,” my voice trembles. Tears in my eyes. It doesn’t change anything. She too readies her kunai’s. Before they can try to use them on us. I squeeze Rumi’s hand and teleport her with me.
I wasn’t entirely sure where I took us. But it became clear as our eyes followed how the Honmoon was breaking apart. Our gaze landing on the Shinmok. Celine stood there, back to us. But she knew we were there. Turning around with her nat suddenly, as if to catch us off guard.
“Rumi? Y/n?”
“I thought we could fix it,” Rumi says. Staring blankly at the ground. Voice going static.
“They know of both of us now,” my voice seems to do the same as we near Celine.
“There is no denying it now.”
“There is no fixing it.”
“This is what we are,” The slow tearing of the Honmoon had both of us looking mostly demon, mirrored glowing patterns, one gold eye each.
“Y/n, how?” they had to have told Celine the truth of what happened that night. She wouldn’t have been as surprised to see me if they hadn’t. They thought I had been dead. “I tried to protect you,” Celine continues, stepping cautiously closer to us. “When we lost your mother, I swore to protect you both. But I never thought that you would be children like this,” her voice trembles as she reaches out to us but can’t seem to touch us. Doesn’t dare to touch us. “Everything I was taught told me you two were wrong, but I made a promise. So I did my best to accept you and help you-”
“Accept us?” Rumi asks, meeting Celine’s tear filled gaze. “You told us to cover up, to hide.”
“Yes, until we can fix everything-”
“And look where that got us,” I scoff. “If we had been honest… from the start,” I choke on my own emotions. “We wouldn’t look like this now.”
“The Honmoon would have been golden already.”
“We can still fix this,” Celine mumbles she steps away from us.
“Don’t you get it!”
“This is what we are!” Rumi and I speak sentence after sentence like we had rehearsed this. But we hadn’t, we just knew exactly what we were trying to get across to her.
“Look at us,” we state when she will no longer dare to look us in the eyes. To truly see what she caused. “Why can’t you look at us?! Why couldn’t you love us?!”
“I do!”
“Every part of us!” our combined cry for acceptance creates another magenta ripple to run over the Honmoon around us. Spreading wider than before.
“This is why we have to hide it,” Celine sounds desperate and out of breath. Looking around frantically at the Honmoon. “Our faults and fears must never been seen. It’s the only way to protect the Honmoon.”
Silence.
“If this is the Honmoon we’re supposed to protect, we’re glad to see it destroyed,” with that we leave her there.
Our agreement is silent as we meet at moms grave once more. “We’re going to have to create a new Honmoon,” I tell her. The both of us pacing the ground.
“Yes, we do.”
“I have a plan, one sec,” I leave her for approximately five seconds before returning with the Saja Boys. Jinu immediately takes Rumi in a protective hold.
“Do you know, how hard it was for me to not follow you,” Baby whispers in my ear as he stands behind me. Wrapping an arm around my waist.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize, turning sideways to peck his cheek. “Thank you for trusting me,” he responds to my words with a bite to my mating mark making me shiver deliciously. “Not now," I scold him.
“Anyways, plan,” Romance asks.
“Right, have you guys spoke to Gwi ma yet?”
“Yes,” Abby answers. “He believes we are still on his side. He just thought it took too long. Sorry for that Rumi,” he apologizes awkwardly to my sister.
“We genuinely didn’t know this would happen,” Jinu adds, squeezing the girl who accepts the apology.
“That’s good, did he miss me there?” I ask.
“I don’t think he could care less,” Baby says, seemingly relieved knowing I’m pretty much not a target for Gwi ma. “But Gwi ma has everyone in a trance. They are all going to Namsan Tower.”
“Okay, we can work with that,” Rumi says, running her brain for ideas.
“Including, Zoey and Mira,” Mystery adds, worry lacing his voice.
“Okay, that makes it a bit harder,” I admit.
“Gwi-ma wants us to do a show there, to keep the people tranced,” Jinu goes to explain Gwi ma’s plan. “That way they will willingly walk into his fire.”
“Do it,” I tell them, seriously. All six of them stare at me like I grew three heads. “We can put a stop to it,” I point my finger between me and Rumi. “Trust me.”
It doesn’t take the boys a lot of convincing, they nod. Jinu leaves a linger kiss on Rumi’s lips. “Take care of yourself,” he tells her sincerely. She nods in silent promise.
“If anything goes wrong, I will protect you,” Baby says to me. “Even if it kills me,” I want to tell him no, but he connects our lips and disappears before I can melt into it.
Rumi and I meet eyes, scared but ready.
Oh!
Rumi’s voice rings loud and clear through Namsan Tower. Cutting the boys off. People clear the way for a view of Rumi. Stood there, broken but true.
We are hunters. Voices strong. Slaying demons with our song. Fix the world and make it right. When darkness finally meets the light.
“You come here like this?” no one is walking towards the flames anymore, just like I suspected. “You think you can fix the world? You can’t even fix yourself,” Gwi ma plays with her shame and insecurities.
“I can’t,” she admits, sullenly.
“And now everyone finally sees you for what you really are.”
“They do.”
“And the Honmoon is gone.”
“It is,” Gwi ma thinks he’s won. “So we can make a new one,” her gaze grows serious.
Nothing but the truth now. Nothing but the proof of what I am.
She walks as she sings, closer. Transforming unknowingly, but I see it. Patterns glowing like iridescent glass, shifting though colors with every note she sings.
The worst of what I came from Patterns I’m ashamed of Things that even I don’t understand I tried to fix it I tried to fight it My head was twisted My heart divided My lies all collided I don’t know why I didn’t Trust you to be on my side
That’s when I join, appearing right next to her.
I broke into a million pieces, and I can't go back But now I'm seeing all the beauty in the broken glass The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like
My eyes find Zoey, who is emerging from the crowd, soul glowing bright. Rumi finding Mira just the same.
Why did I cover up the colors stuck inside my head?
Zoey joins with her own truth.
I should've let the jagged edges meet the light instead
Mira, putting her trust in us more than she ever could.
Show me what's underneath, I'll find your harmony The song we couldn't write, this is what it sounds like
“Stop this song!” Gwi ma demands. Three tears open at the center of the stage. Demons crawling out fast. But we don’t stop.
We're shattering the silence, we're rising defiant Shouting in the quiet, you're not alone
We draw our weapons. Rumi, her sword, Mira her woldo, Zoey her Kunai’s. And me, I draw my dual daggers.
We listened to the demons, we let them get between us But none of us are out here on our own
We fight through the demons with ease, continuing our song. Souls lighting in the crowd as our voices harmonize and grow strong.
So, we were cowards, so, we were liars So, we're not heroes, we're still survivors The dreamers, the fighters, no lying, I'm tired But dive in the fire and I'll be right here by your side
Meeting in the center, we hug, creating a brand new Honmoon.
“I promise you, I am on your side,” I tell them.
“We know,” Zoey breathes with relief.
“Trust me, when I tell you that the Saja boys are on our side,” they hesitate for a moment when our eyes connect. But with a nod from Rumi, they nod too.
We broke into a million pieces, and we can't go back But now we're seeing all the beauty in the broken glass The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like Why did we cover up the colors stuck inside our head? Get up and let the jagged edges meet the light instead Show me what's underneath, I'll find your harmony Fearless and undefined, this is what it sounds like
More demons spawn, crawling their way to us. The Saja boys flying up into the air. Rumi pushes forward while, Zoey, Mira and I take care of the crawling demons coming at us.
Though, Gwi ma, quickly calls them back. Abby and Romance swooping down, pretending to attack Mira. A spike of fear runs through me at the sight. Afraid she’ll attack them anyway, but she pretends right back.
Mystery lands before Zoey, staring her down menacingly. Baby, grabbing a hold of me from behind. I know he’s trying to protect me and fight away a smile that’s threatening to break on my face.
“You’re voices cannot ... defeat ... me!” Gwi ma yells, sending a blast directly at Rumi. She reacts quick enough, using her sword as a shield.
“No!” I scream out. Jinu and I seem to have the same plan.
He is there first, taking the brute force of the blast.
But I teleport behind him. Pushing him at Rumi, they both gasp. Turning to me.
“Y/n!” my eyes shift to Baby. He tries but fails to get to me. Teleporting in spurts before collapsing on the ground. Feeling exactly what I feel.
It’s not just physical. It’s like my body and soul are being torn apart from the inside out. It's that hell fire all over again, but triple the pain.
“Y/n, no,” Rumi’s voice is filled with fear. Jinu’s eyes shift from mine to Baby where he lays on the stage floor.
“I’m sorry,” I whimper. “for wanting revenge.”
“No,” she shakes her head vividly. Not agreeing with what I said. “I deserved it!” she nearly yells at me.
“It’s okay,” I struggle to smile. The pressure of the blast almost becoming to much. My heart pounds in my ears, louder and louder. Deafening me as my eyes slowly blur to a close.
But I don’t wither away like I expect. I can feel my body fighting the blast. A war raging beneath my skin. I don’t need to see it to know what’s happening.
The iridescent patterns, spread. Like veins of molten light weaving across my skin. Swallowing my entire body, covering every inch of me in the iridescent glow.
Growing brighter like a blinding radiant light, gasps ring in my head as my body blinds everyone present. Drowning the tower in an otherworldly glow.
This is what does it. All souls seem to come to life. I can’t see it, but I can feel it. From where I’m floating. The crowd sings the song. Letting Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their souls to defend themself against Gwi ma.
We broke into a million pieces, and we can't go back But now I'm seeing all the beauty in the broken glass The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like Why did we cover up the colors stuck inside our head? Get up and let the jagged edges meet the light instead Show me what's underneath, I'll find your harmony Fearless and undefined, this is what it sounds like
My eyes finally seem to open as I float with them. High, higher. My voice returns and I’m able to join them in over powering Gwi ma. Our voices sealing the new Honmoon.
My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like Fearless and undefined, this is what it sounds like Truth after all this time, our voices all combined When darkness meets the light, this is what it sounds like
“Shit, Y/n,” Mira curses when the four land back on stage. But Y/n doesn’t stay standing. If it weren’t for Mira’s quick reaction time to keep her up.
Rumi is quick to help her keep, Y/n up. Worry running through her body. It’s Zoey who checks for a pulse.
“She’s alive,” she announces quietly. Their eyes find the Saja boys, still there, back in human form. Mystery and Abby carrying a, in a similar state, Baby.
A groan escapes me lips, turning around. Or trying to anyway, to face away from the light shining onto my face. The sharpness of it, not helping my headache in the slightest.
I finally manage to turn around in the tangles of my covers, taking in a deep breath. Snuggling my face into the pillow in front of me. Why is it so hard tho? I go to punch it, so it's soft but my hand finds a chest instead.
"Ow," it's not a sound of actually pain, but my eyes shoot open anyways. I instantly regret it when I'm hit with a sharp spike from the headache. Squeezing my eyes shut, arms wrap around me tighter. Pulling me closer to the person. Opening my eyes again, slower this time.
I look up, finding Baby already lazily staring back at me. A gentle smile on his lips. "Hello, darling," his voice deep from sleep.
"Hi..." I melt back into him. Snuggling my face back into his chest. Wrapping my right arm around him, grabbing hold of him tightly. The room stays silent for a while, apart from our soft breathing.
"Wait," I mumble, my eyes opening once me. "I'm alive...?"
"I guess we are," Baby agrees. A flash of him not being able to make it to me in time has chills running down my spine.
"But..." I'm so confused. "But how?" I don't remember anything of what happened after I closed my eyes when the blast got too much. "How long have we been asleep for?"
"I don't know, but it could have been longer had you not punched me," he smirks teasingly, making me pout. He kisses it away, his hands finding my waist, tickling me.
Laughter filling the room, headache gone with the wind.
"What is going on!?" the door to the room gets thrown open. Smashing against the wall. Startling us, our gazes turning to said door.
There we find, Rumi, Jinu, Zoey & Mira, Mystery, Romance and Abby close behind them.
"You're awake!" Zoey scream, rushing over to what I now realize is old my bed at the Huntrix apartment. Pulling me from Baby, she hugs me tight, Rumi and Mira not far behind. Engulfed in a hug of the people I love the most. Well, besides Baby of course.
"You guys," my voice muffled by Rumi's hoodie. "I need to actually breathe," I chuckle when they actually give me some room. "What happened?"
"Later, first food," Mira says, pulling out of bed. Had they put my pajamas on me? I wonder as I stare down at my llama pants. The men in the room just chuckle, including Baby. He to gets out of bed, wearing his own set of pajamas. Not once I had ever seen before though. They matched mine too, only his were black and white, while mine were white and black.
Before I can ask anymore questioned we're being ushed out the room. Straight to the living room where I'm made to sit down. In an instant I'm being handed my flavor ramyeon. I don't question why they had it ready already. Baby taking a seat next to me, being handed a cup of my flavor ramyeon.
They all gather around us, just staring at up with grateful smiles which kinda creeps me out. But I let it slide for a second when I notice Zoey sitting close to Mystery. My eyes shooting to Mira, happy to find her as she takes a seat between Abby and Romance.
"... Okay, now tell us what happened," I demand as we eat slowly. Wanting them to stop gawking at us.
It's a story told like a disoriented bird. It goes left, right, up down, never straight. But it's nice to hear them talking. I sink against Baby.
Listen to them explain how they all thought we were dead, pointing at both Baby and me. Relieved when they found a pulse on both of us. "Going to a hospital wasn't gonna do anything," Zoey rambles, shaking her hand dismissively. "So we brought you here."
"And we waited," Mira adds.
"And waited," Rumi adds, grinning.
"And totally did not prepare two ramyeon for you everyday in anticipation or anything," Zoey continues. Making my eyes widen. Turning my head I look at our kitchen. Stacks upon stacks of opened, hopefully empty, ramyeon cups stood on the counter.
"Oh don't worry, thats only like, idk 50 cups," Jinu shrugs.
"What!? We were OUT for 25 days!?"
"Uhm..." Rumi, Mira and Zoey both count on their fingers. "No, 26 days," they say casually, pointing at the cups we were currently holding.
"Wha-" I look at Baby whose eyes are just as wide as mine.
"We knew you two would be fine," Romance says, shrugging his shoulders. "The fact that you two sealed your mating bond protected you."
"You can feel each others pain, yes," Jinu continues. "But you also take. So while yes, you took the full blast of it. Baby over here, took half if away from you."
"That saved you from it being a lethal blow," Mystery finishes. "It just took a while to recover," he smiles sweetly.
"Okay, wow," is all I can think to say. Leaning forward to put the now empty Ramyeon on the coffee table, taking Baby's before he can protest. "But I'm still confused, did we ... win?"
"Yes," Mira chuckles. "You actually sung with is, do you not remember that?"
"No, I don't remember anything that happened after I closed my eyes. and thought I would die," Baby sat cross legged. So I swiftly placed my self between his legs. Instantly his arms wrap around my shoulders. Pecking the top of my head, lingering.
"It was so cool!" Zoey goes off. "You turned like fully iridescent! It was blinding! But that is what let us defeat Gwi ma."
"Okay, one more question," I state. "Is everything good, are we good? Did you guys tell them...?" instantly Zoey blushes and Mira turns surprisingly red. A rare sight.
"Yes, we are mated," Mystery smiles lovingly at Zoey, who turns to him. Pecking his lips sweetly.
"Us, too," Abby smirks. "We managed to tie this beauty down," he says squeezing Mira's waist who sends him a playful glare. Romance chuckling and pecking her cheek.
The end!
#kpop demon hunters#saja boys#baby saja x reader#Rumi x Jinu#Rujinu#Zoey x Mystery#Romance x Mira x Abby#plot with smut#minors do not interact#english is not my first language#I poured my heart and soul into this#please don't crush it#femhuntrix reader#huntrix reader#huntrix reader x baby saja
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PARENT! BLLK WITH A PREGNANT! READER
Yoichi Isagi
Literally Googles “how to be a good dad” the minute you say “I’m pregnant.”
Becomes a doting husband overnight. Massages your feet, makes you snacks, reminds you to hydrate.
Starts journaling every week of the pregnancy, writing notes to “future baby.”
Buys a little Blue Lock onesie and cries when he holds it.
At night, he’ll talk to your belly: “Hey buddy… it’s Dad. I scored a goal today, but hearing your mom laugh was better.”
Overthinks everything: is the crib safe? Is the baby cold? Should we take baby CPR??
Once baby kicks, he fully sobs. Not even ashamed.
Rin Itoshi
Visibly overwhelmed. He panics quietly—but tries to act cool about it.
“We’re… ready for this. Right?” (He says that to himself every day.)
Doesn't know how to comfort you at first, but gets better. Will rub your back when you're sore, even if he’s bad at expressing affection.
Gets unreasonably annoyed at strangers who stare at your belly. “Don’t look at her.”
Picks out a tiny jersey with his number and puts it on your nightstand like it’s nothing. It’s everything.
Reads parenting books late at night when you’re asleep and highlights stuff he doesn’t understand.
Stares at ultrasound pictures like they’re a riddle he’s desperate to solve. He wants to be good at this.
Bachira Meguru
SO excited. Like bouncing-off-walls excited.
Rubs your belly and says, “Hellooooo little monster~”
Wants to paint the nursery himself. “What if it’s like a whole galaxy theme with dancing wolves??”
Tells everyone—even strangers at the store—“I’m gonna be a dad!”
Randomly puts headphones on your belly and plays the baby his music mixes.
Over-prepares: buys 17 onesies, 6 pacifiers, 4 different types of swaddles.
Once he feels a kick, he yells: “That’s my kid!! They’ve got skills!”
Hyoma Chigiri
Protective like crazy. If you sneeze, he’s already Googling symptoms.
Rubs lotion on your stomach to prevent stretch marks—so gentle about it.
Holds your hand constantly, especially when you’re uncomfortable or emotional.
Won’t let you carry anything. Grocery bags? No. Purse? Nope. “I’ve got it.”
Gets teary when he sees the first ultrasound. He’s quiet about it, but his grip tightens around your hand.
Starts running slower during training to be “more careful.” (He says it’s strategy. It’s not.)
Practices braiding your hair in case the baby is a girl and wants pretty hairstyles like Mom.
Nagi Seishiro
First reaction: “Huh… guess we’re leveling up.”
Doesn’t seem hyped… until he starts resting his head on your stomach every day.
Sleeps with his hand on your bump, automatically. If you move it, he grumbles.
Buys a baby monitor and sets it up six months early.
“This kid better be chill,” he mutters. Then falls asleep next to a mountain of baby socks.
Tries to play mobile games with your belly: “If you kick twice, we’ll go left.” He swears the baby “cheats.”
Dead serious about naming the kid something weird like “Cloud” or “Puzzle.” You veto that.
Reo Mikage
Husband of the Year. Millionaire? More like Millionaire Daddy-in-Training™
Buys every fancy pregnancy pillow, stroller, and crib on Earth. “You deserve the best. And so does our baby.”
Attends all the doctor appointments. Asks 50 questions per visit.
Brags about you constantly. “She’s carrying our future. She’s glowing. Isn’t she perfect?”
Spends hours designing the nursery color scheme. “No primary colors. They’ll have taste.”
Cries when he hears the heartbeat. Cries again when he feels a kick. He’s a puddle.
Tells the baby bedtime stories before they’re even born—his voice all soft and rich like velvet.
Ryusei Shidou
“HELL YEAH, I’M GONNA BE A DAD.”
Way too hyped. Will yell it from rooftops if you let him.
Touches your belly constantly. “Yo, did they just kick?! That was a penalty-level punt!”
Wants to name the baby something wild like “Destruction” or “Turbo.” You threaten him.
Brings you weird snacks like pickles and hot sauce. “Pregnant people eat this, right?”
Gets mad at people who bump into you. “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING, SHE’S CARRYING A FREAKIN’ LEGEND.”
Surprisingly sweet at night. Lays his head on your stomach and says, “Hey... I’m gonna try not to mess this up.”
Sae Itoshi
At first? “...I don’t know if I’ll be good at this.”
He’s terrified of becoming like his own parents. But he wants to try.
Quietly starts rearranging the apartment. Buys a bassinet without telling you.
Puts his hand on your belly when he thinks you’re asleep.
“I don’t say it a lot, but... I’m happy. Really happy.”
Refuses to let you lift a finger. “I’ll cook. You rest.”
Doesn't smile often, but when you show him the sonogram photo? It’s the softest he’s ever looked.
#x reader#female reader#blue lock x you#bllk x you#bllk isagi#isagi x you#isagi yoichi#bllk rin#rin x reader#rin itoshi#bllk bachira#bachira x reader#bachira meguru#bllk chigiri#chigiri x reader#chigiri hyoma#bllk nagi#nagi x reader#nagi seishiro#bllk reo#reo x reader#reo mikage#bllk shidou#shidou x reader#shidou ryusei#bllk sae#sae x reader#sae itoshi
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simon's finally got that date with the barista
if you havent, can i interest you in reading the first six: simon , gaz , johnny , price , the aftermath , the confrontation
(18+ you being angry at simon gets him the tiniest bit excited)
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶ ୨♡୧ ︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶
After cleaning up the coffee beans you’d spilled on the floor in anger, you finally felt calm enough to try to talk things out with the four men.
Unfortunately, while you’d been crashing out in the back room they had leaving behind just a test message:
“This is Simon. Talk later.”
Despite your previous anger you couldn’t help but smile, its really cute that he somehow texts exactly how he speaks.
…
The men spent the better part of a week debating (honestly arguing) over how to even bring up the idea of… sharing you.
Though.. the longer they talked about it, the worse it sounded. Not because they didn’t want you. God, they did. So badly.
But, well, asking the same woman they’d all but cornered in her place of work and interrogated like you’d been married for 20 years with 3 children if she’d be open to dating all of them?
“Feels a bit... predatory, yeah?” Price had said at one point, frowning as he paced with uncharacteristic nervousness.
“We already ganged up on her once,” Gaz muttered. “Now we’re coming back to say ‘erm actually we’d like to take turns, thanks’? Bit dodgy.”
“We could ease her into it!” Johnny proposed, “One date each. Give her time to realize we’re all *cough* mostly me *cough* amazing.”
“So your plan is emotional whiplash in four acts??”
Simon, of course, offered nothing besides something about how if you laughed them out of that café, not a single word would leave his lips for weeks on end. Still, none of them backed down.
They just had to figure out how to say “Would you consider going out with all of us?” without sounding like a cult.
Easy. Right?
They came to the conclusion that Johnny was right, they needed to take you out. Try to woo you! Hopefully, that would make up for their ambush as well.
But who would go first?
Johnny concluded that because he was the only one who had actually asked you out on a date, he should be first!
But, no no, Price should go first! He was the most mature! You need a sexy, mature, older man to lead you into this.
Gaz didn’t care, he was convinced you’d fall for him the fastest no matter where he stood in line.
And Simon— wait where the hell is Simon?
Simon wasted no time slipping out of the room. He had somewhere to be.
And, like clockwork, Simon showed up at noon on Tuesday. He didn’t say much, just leaned against the counter like always, watching you work in silence. But this time, you were silent too.
Not the calm, flirty kind that matched his silent he was used to. No. You were giving him the silent treatment.
And he definitely deserved it. And he kind of liked it.
Your narrowed eyes. The dramatic scoff when he handed you a full $50 bill for a tip instead of his usual $10. The way you didn’t even try to mask your irritation with your usual sweet smile.
It wasn’t your customer service charm… it was all you, properly pissed off.
And strangely? That made him feel closer to you. At least this meant he still mattered enough to you to be met with something real.
And there was something about that slight look of disgust in your eyes that had heat pooling low in his stomach and him forced to drop a hand to his crotch in hopes no one could see his growing… problem.
“Can I…” he started quietly, just as you slid the cup across the counter.
Unfortunately for him, you turned right back around. He cleared his throat, his eyes locked on your back. “Y/N..?”
You didn’t stop what you were doing., offering a dry little ‘hm?”
He swallowed hard. “Can I… can I take you out?”
There was a pause. Then, slowly, you glared at him over your shoulder. “Pardon?”
He blinked. Panic hit (and there was that warm feeling in his groin again). Then, like it was rehearsed, he reached behind his back and held something out.
A wildflower. Well, a weed. Obviously tugged from the sidewalk out front, roots still dirty. But somehow, in his trembling hands, it looked about as pretty as the large bouquets Johnny kept offering you.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
His voice was tight, and you noticed now how his fingers were shaking. Like he was expecting you to laugh in his face. “I… we can do whatever you’d like. If you’ll give me a chance.”
The weed was already wilting in his hand but he kept it cradled in his palm like it was worth his weight in gold.
His head stayed bowed, jaw clenched, and the other hand curled into a fist behind his back, nails digging into his palm to keep from shaking.
After what felt like an eternity he saw your hand reaching out and carefully taking the small flower from his palm. “When are you free?”
His head shot up, eyes wide as they locked with yours. “I–I’ll have to check! I can text you. Just… I will text you.”
He continued to ramble, promising again and again that you'd hear from him as he stumbled backwards toward the door, his now-cold coffee clutched in hand.
He’d done it. He asked you out. He’s going on a date. With you.
Outside, he let out a breathless laugh and gave himself a small, victorious pat on the back, his thumb brushing over his name on the cup. His small personal treasure. A symbol of this joyous moment.
But then he paused.
Squinted.
“She spelled my name wrong..”
You may have an attitude problem.
…
Simon was a pretty blunt texter, you’d learned. He also started every single text message by stating it was him.
‘This is Simon. Would you like to go for dinner?’
‘This is Simon. I’ll send a list of restaurants. Pick what interests you.’
‘This is Simon. Don’t look at any prices. Leave your wallet at home.’
‘This is Simon. Eight sound good?’
‘This is Simon. Leaving out now. Excited to see you. Leave your wallet at home.’
‘This is Simon. At the entrance.’
You watched him for a couple seconds from your car, partially to feel out the situation and partially because you drove over in flip flops and needed to switch to heels.
Simon looked.. Nervous. A side of him you’d seen a lot of in the past few weeks but now it was at an all time high. It was like he didn’t know where to put his hands.
He tugged at his collar, checked his watch, ran his fingers through his slicked back blonde locks over and over.
He seemed to perk up like a dog as he saw you approach, his jaw slack and his hands now suddenly folded in front of him. “Y/N.. you look—you look…you are—”
“Hi..” You interrupt as you come to a stop in front of him, “Were you out here long?”
“No! He said, quickly offering you a hand. “Been here for two minutes at the most..”
He opened the door for you, his hand on the small of your back. “You’ll like it here..”
Once seated, Simon stared at the menu blankly, sneaking glances at you every few seconds.
“You good?” you asked, raising your eyes from your own menu.
“Yeah.” He nodded, setting the menu down. “Just… tryin’ to figure out how to talk to you. I really like you. We all do.”
“We..?” You repeat, non committedly as you run your finger over the menu.
“Yknow.. Johnny, Gaz–suppose you call him Kyle, and uhh Price–John..” He stutters out. “We all really like you.”
You didn’t look up right away. Instead, you let the silence stretch just long enough for Simon to start shifting in his seat. His fingers tapped nervously against the edge of the table, like he was bracing for you to stand and walk out. He always seems prepared for the worst around you.
Finally, you looked up from menu. “You all talk about this together?”
He nodded slowly. “Not at first, per our.. ambush. But… yeah. Eventually. It wasn’t exactly avoidable.”
You let out a quiet breath, straightening in your chair. “So what is this, then? A group interview?”
He snorted, caught off guard, and the tension in his shoulders eased. “More like… an application process.”
“And you’re the first brave soul to show up?”
“Might not be the brave one. Might just be the most desperate.”
You raised an eyebrow. “That supposed to impress me?”
“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “But I was hoping this would.”
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out something small, setting it gently in front of you on the table.
A little wildflower. This one wasn’t wilted. Still clumsy, still a little dirt clinging to the roots, but fresher. Something he clearly went out and searched for.
You stared at it for a moment before your lips stretched out into a grin so wide your cheeks started to hurt. “Oh.. you are ridiculous.”
He smiled. “Yeah. But you haven’t told me no.”
You reached out, taking the flower. “…What night are the others taking me out?”
Simon grinned. “I’ll let ‘em know you asked.”
#cod x reader#simon riley cod#call of duty modern warfare#ghost cod#soap cod#soap x reader#task force 141#tf 141 headcanons#tf 141 x reader#tf 141 x you#poly 141#kyle gaz garrick#tf 141#141 x reader#gaz cod#ghost x soap#gaz call of duty#simon ghost riley#john soap mactavish#john soap x reader#captian john price#captain john price#john price
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Joel Dealing with Preggo Wife: And Then There Were Four...
notes: I had a request a long time ago asking about the fam going to a water park. This took me so long because Its actually quite a big chapter! strong recommend reading! This takes place when Sarah is around 4 but Ellie is not quite born yet. Some Tommy and Maria development here as well!
Warnings: pregnancy announcement, some post pregnant body insecurity, unprotected sex, silght breeding kink, pool sex, mentions of unplanned pregnancies, not proofread
18+ ONLY
- - - -
There’s never been such a hot, sunny, cloudless, beautiful summer day.
At least, according to Sarah. Who conveniently saw a TV commercial about the local water park, SplashTown, and now is raving about when you’ll be taking her. Calling up the weather forecast each day like the local advertisement “the PERFECT day for a water park!” She exclaims like a salesperson.
Honestly? It was a good call by your almost 4-year-old. It’s been a long time since your family took a day trip to do something fun. She’s starting to get the age that she’s going to remember these things, so making family fun is now a top priority for you.
Joel agreed, though he wasn’t all that excited about spending an entire day with sun burn and bleached chorine and back bruises on those hot ass plastic slides.
So here you are, all piled in the truck with Joel at the helm, and you in the passenger seat rubbing his thigh; your giddy little girl in the back pointing towards the approaching parking lot signs. and—
“Wow I haven't been to a water park in decades!” Tommy shouts from the other back seat. “Joel, remember we used to go by ourselves when I was like 14?”
Joel just sighs loudly, ignoring his jumpy overgrown brother reverting to his child like stasis.
"Remind me again why we had to bring Tommy?” He asks you grumpily.
"The tickets were cheaper if we bought it as a set of 4 rather than 3 individual.”
Your husband shakes his head with tight lips. “Yet another reason 4 is the perfect number for a family,” he says, recalling that day on the beach where he revealed his not so subtle opinion on just how many children the two of you would ideally have.
You raise your brows amused.
Tommy shouts from the back, “What are doin’ for dinner, by the way?”
Joel rolls his eyes. He’s focused on the road head while wiggling four of his chunky fingers in your face, mouthing ‘F-O-U-R’ in an I-told-you-so kind of way. You ruffle his soft curls affectionately.
Your stomach churned uneasily since you woke up at 8 this morning. It’s been a minute since you were out and about in public wearing nothing but a bathing suit. Going to the beach with a 8 month pregnant body is one thing. Going to a water park with a post pregnancy one is another. One you were never really worried about until this very day.
You take a deep breath.
You know that, no matter where you are or what shape you take, Joel’s always gonna look at you like Mr Owl with the tootsie pop — and you’re the tootsie pop— so the worry on that note settles a bit inside.
There’s other things, very recent things, to be anxious about for sure.
Once parked, walked (and skipped) towards the front entrance, tickets scanned at the gate, the four of you make your way to the cabana’s to get situated.
“Show me your backs, people,” you announce to your little huddle. Sarah, all decked out in her brand new pink and sparkle bathing suit complete with mesh tutu skirt, shuffles over first as you squirt a generous slob of sunscreen onto your palm and begin slathering it all over her body. Rubbing a little too aggressively, she squints and scrunches her face, but she doesn’t protest. You cake her face until her skin is a shade lighter than before.
“You’re gonna give her reverse cancer with all that,” Joel chuckles. You brush him off and smudge the excess on her little cheeks, squishing her cheeks as takes the abuse.
Now she’s whiter than cocaine on Christmas morning.
You smile.
“You next, big boy.”
Joel grumbles but sits between your legs and you begin rubbing it all over his face.
While you don’t notice, he can’t help but grin at how you tilt your head and stick your tongue out like an artist working to preserve her masterpiece—protecting her family from the wretched sun.
“Back please!”
Joel yanks his top one handedly over his head, revealing his pasty skin.
You hum and bite your lip. Yeah, Joel’s let the role of ‘Dad’ take over his every demeanor. Body included. and FUck, if that soft tummy and broad shouldered man isn’t a sight for sore eyes…
It gets enough middle aged woman’s heads turning, so you quickly frown, slap his skin up and then usher his shirt back on. That sexy ass shit is for your eyes only.
“Thomas!” You scream, making Joel and Sarah curl inward.
The younger brother holds his hands up and back away. “I’m workin’ on my tan so uh—no I’m good.”
“You’re white as f—heck,” you correct yourself while sideways glancing at Sarah. “You’re gonna burn.”
“He’s too cool to be fearful of sunburn, babe,” Joel says, hoping you’ll forfeit the losing battle.
You all find a nice empty area with a few lawn chairs to set up base outside the tidal pool.
And of course, the child who only passed her toddler swimming lessons a few months ago is dying to get in the giant tub of crashing waves and cascading people.
“Please!pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease,” she whines, swinging on your arm and shouting it into the air.
You grumble. While you would much prefer she be in a body of water that is no deeper than a foot and is the width of a bathtub, you lessen your worry as seeing the waves aren’t on and there aren’t many people in there. “Can you at least wear your floaties?” You suggest, wagging the two arm holding balloons suggestively.
“Nah, we don’t need those, right bubba?” Joel rubs her hair. “I got her, babe. I’ll carry her the whole time.”
“Nooo!” Sarah protests, but Joel’s already kissing your forehead reassuringly (winning some Daddy points along the way) and scooping her into his arms.
“Stay in the shallow!”
Joel waves you off dismissively as they skip into the chlorine filled open sea.
Once gone, you notice Tommy checking his phone anxiously every few seconds but closing it disappointingly. A few women along the way eye him excitedly, but he just keeps to his phone the entire time.
“You doing okay?”
He shakes his head out of his trance. “Yeah. Just … haven’t heard from Maria today.”
Oh—shit.
The last you heard, the two of them had a pretty nasty fight and Tommy had been crashing at your place for the last couple weeks. He had supposedly gone back to have a talk with her yesterday. He didn’t come back till morning, and didn’t really update you nor Joel on the situation. If anything, he looked perplexed, pale, and shaken. You feared maybe that was the final straw in their on and off relationship. Unfortunately, you are completely left in the dark as to what really happened.
You rub his shoulder calmly. “It’s going to be okay.”
Tommy takes a deep breath, channeling as much zen into his chest as possible before exhaling and nodding. “Yeah. Yeah. It’s… its actually—“
Squishing steps in her pool sandals while holding Daddy’s hand with a death grip, a completely drenched and shocked Sarah is walks back towards you. Her expression is just blank, dripping with water like she was baptized 12 times in a row and forgot whether she breathed air or water for a living.
“Sarah? Sarah honey are you okay?” You get to your knees and try to comfort her with warm hands along her arms. She just nods quickly, feinting something of a half smile, half frown all at once. She looks more confused than anything else.
Joel, who’s suspiciously quiet and equally drenched, is shaking. Though not from cold, but from sheer effort of trying to hide his laughs. “She got damn near waterboarded.” His face is so red, wheezing in a high pitched, barely audible tone while recalling the image.
He had taken her way deeper than “shallow”, and made Sarah promise not to tell mommy. The two snickered, and Joel hoisted her on his shoulders and waded into the deeper end, where the water came up to his mid section. The waves came on, and Joel was honestly expecting to be able to jump with him and give her a little ride. She was super excited, smiling giddily while Joel held both her hands in his next to his ears. The first wave came up to Joel’s cheek, and he quickly squirted it out with a smile. She laughed with excitement, ready for the second one—
Instead, the second wave completely kicked his ass and knocked both them off his feet, falling backwards before regaining ground. All he saw were a pair of flimsy pink sandals attached to a little pair of feet wipe past his vision before being dunked underwater. He stood quickly, shook off the water from his head and eyes. Only to realize he was a whole 3-year-old lighter.
“Oh shit, oh fuck, oh fuck,” he frantically looks around, already imagining the horror you’re going to have at the fact he just drowned his babygirl before—
He catches a glimpse of her tutu flailing under water with a foot within grasp as she waved her arms to get back up to the surface on her own. He snatched that ankle, yanks her in the air, and sets her upright.
“Baby, are you okay?”
Sarah nods, blowing water out of nose. She seemed totally fine, really, just a little confused as to which way was up. Joel protectively wraps her body with his, blocks the next wave from knocking her out of his sight with his feet firmly planted and prepared this time.
“Shallow,” she says plainly, pointing back towards the shore, and Joel has nothing more to add but complete agreement. He grabs her arms securely and wades back, never once letting he go.
Now though, the thought of it is a lot funnier than when it was happening.
“Almost lost her for a sec. Did you know those waves were like 10 feet high?"
"That's so not funny,” you scowl, although you could imagine you two little idiots getting wiped out by a controlled wave like a human sized super soaker, before retiring in defeat.
“Sarah, how about we stick to the toddler pool, okay?”
She gives two enthusiastic thumbs up in extra agreement.
“Hey wait, I ain’t a toddler. what about me?” Tommy interjects.
Joel tuts. “You’re actin’ like one.”
“Slides? Anyone?” The younger brother points behind him towards the water slide heaven.
Or as you view it, the bloodied noses, brush burn, cold shock lagoon.
“Can we do floaty one? Please mommy pleasepleaseplease—“ Sarah tugs at your arm incessantly.
You grumble, but even Tommy is doing his best puppy eyed beg at you.
-
“Why are all these stairs—ugh—made of wood? Falling apart, termite ridden, not up to Miller Contracting Code—“
“They’re just fine, sweetie,” Joel reassures you. Although he too side eyes the state of the construction and wonders if this will be the first and last Miller family trip together.
The two of you finally catch up to the rest of the line, bending backwards to stretch your backs and sucking air.
You glance up at the perky fit ass that’s connected to Tommy above you, who’s just vibrating with excitement. He literally jogged up these stairs, two at a time, not even huffing, and he carried both sets of floats. This particular slide can do a two seater rider.
“I wanna slide with Mommy!” Sarah shouts.
The four of you then look at the remaining buddies who need to reverse cowgirl floaty.
“I aint little spoonin’ you,” Joel says after they size each other up.
The worker who is helping you and Sarah get saddled up in the slide chimes in on Joel and Tommy conversation. “Smaller rider in the front.”
“That’s you,” they both say to each other in unison.
“I’m taller—“
“I’m older—“
“I’m not bottoming for you—“
“Why would you say it like that?”
“Get in the front, pops!”
“You first, kid, since ya got all that youthful energy—“
“JUST GET IN THE BOAT,” you shout over them, causing everyone to go quiet and look your way.
The light flashes green and you and Sarah are pushed off into the dark tunnel with an echoing “Wooooo!!!!”
Tommy sticks his tongue out and gets in the front, Joel in the rear, the two of them fighting over foot placement and elbows squishing balls before the worker just kicks them down and hopes for the best.
You and Sarah gracefully emerge, skidding across the water gently before coming to a stop to disembark.
Your back is certainly killing you but you fake only smiles for your excited kid who thought that was a roller coaster.
A second later, Joel and Tommy’s floaty comes barreling down the slide next to yours—with no bodies in it—
OH sorry, one body, Tommy, coming down on his belly face first and—oh there’s Joel a moment later shooting out feet first and slamming into his brother as the two are catapulted way further into the pool than should be possible with the minimal flow of water coming.
Both disoriented Millers jump up from the water, shaking their heads vigorously. Tommy spits water from his mouth, just as Joel grasps his head and dunks him back under.
“I’m riding with your wife next time,” Tommy growls, rubbing his shoulder with a wince.
Joel spits a stream of water on his face. “Over my dead body.”
“Your husband sucker kicked me in the back!”
“Oh yeah, not before he bit my damn ankles!”
“Maybe don’t shove your feet in my face?”
You sigh heavily. You’re kinda glad you didn’t have boys.
“Me n you next, right?” Tommy says your way, ignoring Joel’s death glare.
“No,” Joel interrupts once again to Tommy’s annoyance. “Because then Sarah would have to ride with me, and she doesn’t wanna, she wants to ride for her momma. Honestly babe, you’d be doin’ a dissatisfaction to your own daughter who’s only wish is to stick with her favorite person in the whole world,” he gleams as if he’d just presented the winning argument for a Nobel Peace award.
You shrug. “Okay, then you can ride with Tommy again.”
Joel’s eyes go wide. “Ya know sometimes kids need to learn hard lessons about not getting what they want and this is a perfect opportunity for Sarah. Sorry kid, you’re with uncle Tommy.”
After the second slide down, you and Joel’s backs are absolutely whipped.
The two of you don’t even need to communicate the envy you have of Tommy’s youthful body, springing back into action when he gestures towards another torture device:
“Let’s do the big one.”
“No. Hell no. I’m not a teen anymore. Body won’t survive it.”
“Yeah Tommy, you go ahead. That’s…Joel nor I would be able to get up from that.”
The younger Miller scoffs. “A slide? Seriously? You guys really are getting old.”
You and Joel look at one another. “Baby are we…getting old?” You ask incredulously.
Neither one of you are upset about it. Instead, you grin warmly at one another.
Getting old with the love of my life sounds like the best thing in the world.
-
You make your way to the much safer, happier, safer, splashy, safer kiddie pool that is much safer for kids your daughter’s age.
As Sarah wades in the water up to her belly, Joel and Tommy huddle under the jellyfish water canopy of shade, sighing contently under the cool flow of water splashing their heads.
“I’m gonna go use the bathroom,” you announce, and Joel waves you off.
He never realized how fucking exhausting just walking and getting wet was. (He wonders if that’s what your life is like)
“DADDY!” Sarah shouts, jumping in the water for the giant bucket overhead that she’s too short to reach.
Joel slaps his knees and gets to his feet, entertaining her as she gets absolutely pommeled by a few gallons of water.
They splash around together, him hoisting her in the air by her arms then dipping in again with smiles and laughter. It’s all fun, until he gets the odd itch there’s something off with you genuinely not being here.
A seemingly single, girl dad all wet and shirtless, playing with his kid in the kiddie pool, the ONLY dad playing in the kiddie pool amongst all mothers… He looks up and sees every single woman in here eying him like a piece of meat, and he knows he's in deep shark territory.
Frantically looking around, he picks Sarah up like a football and waddles helplessly through the crowd of predators, desperately needing his wife back.
As if sensing his trouble, he sighs relief when he sees you pumping your arms, steam billowing from your nose like a ranging bull and wading in like splitting the Red Sea, dead set on his rescue. His one and only great white shark here snap them all away with your snarls, growls, and hinged jaw.
Joel immediately wraps his arm around you and never leaves your touch.
Eventually you all sit in the sand pit while Sarah sits between the three adults, making castles.
Joel clears his throat. “So how’s Maria doin’? Ain’t heard much lately.”
Your eyes go wide as you slap Joel’s shoulder.
“Ow—what!”
“They’re” you lower your voice, though sheepish Tommy can hear perfectly well. “They’re taking a break.”
“Oh—oh! Oh I’m—okay no that’s … good. Some times some space—“
“Actually,” Tommy says, but the way he brushes his elbow makes you snap back at Joel.
“Stop it! You’re making this worse—“
“Nobody tells me anything!” Your husband whispers.
“Yeah and this is why!”
“Maria and me—“ Tommy starts again.
Joel winces when you bring your hand down on his bicep again. “Stop slapping me! You’re gonna give me slap AND sun burn!”
“Joel, seriously!”
“Woman, I swear!—“
“We’re pregnant.”
You both go silent, minus the clank of your sunglasses siding off and falling on poor Sarah’s noggin.
The younger Miller brother is radiating more anxiety than the sun UV rays right now.
Joel quietly raises his hand up for a calm high five. You bare your teeth and quickly slap it down.
Tommy rubs his shoulder tensely. “I’m just…I don’t know. Nervous.”
“Are you two…?”
“We’re …together. I think it was a cold shock but it—kinda put shit into perspective, ya know? I think even she admitted breaking things off was probably because of the pregnancy—before she even knew it. Was off hormonally but didn’t realize why until the test.”
“What did you two even fight about?”
“Tommy chuckles, suddenly realizing how stupid their argument was. “She got mad cause I left the toothpaste cap open on the sink.”
“Oh man, even I could have told you she was pregnant. Better get out now. They don’t get any better,” Joel teases sarcastically, bumping your shoulder in jest.
You smile warm bright and with an underlying venomous sting that even he can’t detect. “Hey Joel sweetie? Can I see your tongue?”
“Mmhm why?” He says, already sticking the whole thing out on display, wide and ready and trusting as always.
You toss a fistful of sand in his mouth. Joel doubles back and chokes, taking a moment to hack up the grains sticking to everything. As he coughs and spits and sputters, you rub Tommy’s shoulder.
“It’s gonna be okay. How are you feeling about it?”
He shrugs with a nervous laugh. “I don’t know what comes next. You guys did it after you were married. Feel like I’m all out of step now,” he laughs nervously.
“Honey, it really doesn’t make a difference. Joel and I…we didn’t—“ you look down at Sarah who’s busy making bridges for her smudged up castle, before covering her ears with both palms slapped together like a head sandwich. “We didn’t plan her either. It just happened to be after we were married.”
Joel returns to the conversation with a hoarse choke. “Earned that one,” he croaks. After clearing his throat a bit, he finally slaps Tommy’s back. “Congrats, man. It’s really…it’s really the best thing…” he glances back over at you and Sarah, glowing in more ways than just the hot sun. He almost forgets time hasn’t stopped, that he’s not just oogling at his wife and baby like the greatest sight in the world (minus the fact he’s still got grains of sand under his tongue). He shakes his mind from your hypnotic glory before reassuring Tommy that everything is one day at a time.
Tommy agrees. “I just needed a minute to process it. I think—I’m actually—well… I’m excited…?”
You chuckle. “Is that a question?”
“I mean… I don’t know. I never gave it a thought. Never thought family life was for me. Maria is all for me, but I didn’t… I never really thought about having a family with her till …uh.”
“Till you saw how freaking awesome we are,” you boast proudly with your hands on your hips. Sarah has no idea what’s going on, but one look at you, your head held high with a dignified glint in your eye and sun radiating off you like the queen you are, and the little one mimics your posture to the tee like a mini me.
Tommy giggles and shakes his head. “Yeah. Something like that.”
You kiss Sarah’s head with a big smooch before she goes back to making holes in the sand.
“So you’re happy.”
He smiles. It’s soft, sincere, and so easy to overlook unless you knew what a genuine human being Tommy Miller can be once you strip back the ego and playful charisma. “I’m happy. But still … anxious.”
You can’t contain your inner excitement, shaking and then launching into a Tommy with the biggest, tightest hug you can muster as you swing him side to side. “Listen its gonna be rough sometimes but its gonna be magical, and I know you two are going to do great. You’re gonna be such a great dad Tommy, I know it.”
He’s relieved to hear it from someone for the first line. As if it was the one thing he needed to know.
“I love you, and I say this respectfully, but you better get your ass back over to her as soon as we get home.” You put your hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah yeah I know.”
Your smile wains for a moment, quiet yet almost threatening. He can feel the tightening of your finger tips digging into his muscles.
Tommy picks up on your thoughts real quick.
“You can’t get all angry at Maria just cuz she didn’t tell you first.”
“I guess I’m just CHOPPED LIVER to her, her BEST FRIEND and she doesn’t even—!” you start stammering, getting louder and more agitated before Joel puts his hand on your head like an off button. “I need to calm down.” You pinch your fingers to your thumbs and take a deep breath, channeling inner zen. It suddenly dawns on you, the convenient timing of this all. “Oh my god, I can’t wait!”
“For what?” Joel asks curiously.
“Um—to be an aunty! Sarah with a cousin!” You quickly reply. “Uncle Joel!”
Shit.
Joel gives you a confused look. It definitely wasn’t what you were gonna say. He knows that.
“Are you—?”
“Hot dogs!” Sarah shouts, pointing towards the cart that is sizzling up some fresh wieners and whose scent is wafting into your baby’s bloodhound-like nose. Thank goodness for it, as Joel and Tommy are seemingly distracted now with their equally hungry bellies.
Joel stands and dusts off his creaky knees from the sand. “You want one, babe?” He offers a hand out to help.
You rub your belly with a frown. “I’m good, I’m just gonna sit here for a bit. You go get her two.”
He winks at you before rushing off to Sarah, who’s already dragging Tommy to the cart about to con him in getting her some ice cream too.
-
By the End of day, everyone has warm skin, dried hair, droopy eyes. Sarah and Tommy and passed out on each other in the back. Tommy’s skin is tender to the touch, already starting to flake since he didn't want sun screen.
Joel drives silently. He looks at you, who's slowly succumbing to sleep on the passenger as you stare out the window peacefully.
At home, you rinse Sarah’s hair in bath and she's barely able to sit up. You pat her dry before she collapses in bed.
Joel asks Tommy to watch after Sarah. The younger Miller nods, crashing on the couch with the fan on high.
“Psst!” Joel taps your shoulder. You were about to get undressed yourself when he nodded his head to follow.
“What?” You ask curiously, closing the front door behind you as he sneaks you off to the community pool that’s closed after 6. Joel had maintenance keys to do any service stuff for the neighborhood, which included access 24 hours.
“Are you breaking into the pool?” You scoff.
“Me? No. I got clearance to work here. You? Yeah. Sneaky bad girl—“
The gate clicks open and Joel ropes you inside quickly.
You giggle as he latches the gate shut, his arm still around your waist. “What are we doing here, Miller?”
“What? It’s adult swim hour.” He draws you in close, his body pressed against yours. “Don’t ya wanna go skinny dipping’ with me?”
“I’m gonna keep my suit on this time.” You strip off your shirt and soaked shorts, and Joel does the same, making sure to watch you fully before he blinds himself with his own shirt.
You slip into the pool, sighing. It’s calm and quiet, cool to your sun-warmed skin. You were looking forward to just floating and unwinding until—
Joel rushes to you, wading in the water. You let out a shriek as he grabs your ass under water and wraps your legs around him. Cupping your face and kissing you, he backs you up against the wall.
“I wanted to do this all day,” he rasps, sucking your neck with passionate kisses. “You look so fuckin’ amazing.”
Despite the arousal, the needy whimpers you let out as he ruts his hard on against the seam of your crotch, you gulp. Your mind had been distracted all day, but now seemed like a good a time as ever.
"I had that appointment,” you tell him softly.
He continues to pepper you with hot kisses, taking your bathing suit strap down your shoulders. Mmm? Which one?" He bites into your shoulder blade teasingly.
"Ya know. With Spoon being protective around me..."
"Yeah, she loves ya,” he hums. He pulls your body flush against his, feeling the hard and soft outline of his torso and chest.
“…And… all the Pepsi, I’ve been drinking.”
He chuckles softly. "That ain't a medical emergency baby.” He continues to kiss down your neck. “Besides, ya only get like that when you're...."
He stops kissing, pulling away with realization in his eyes. H parts his lips, as if he’s let out a breath but hasn’t sucked another in. Looking to you, really, genuinely, as if it’s the first time today he’s actually put all his attention to you. Consciously knowing he should have known the whole damn time.
And you confirm it all with casual smile:
“I’m pregnant.”
There’s a frog that croaks from the grass next to you. The water filter plugging every so often in the distance.
"You’re....pregnant,” he repeats.
"Um yeah. What do you … think about that?”
He tries to find the correct words. Its like a bunch of lines of code are rambling through his brain, visibly on his face, but he can't help the first honest thought that tumbles out his mouth: “My dick is hard.”
You both combust into laughter.
He rubs his forehead on your collar embarrassingly. “I’m sorry shit that’s… that was my first thought. Oh my god, are you serious? Like really???"
You nod biting your lip.
"Holy shit, oh my god thats--! Wait are you… are you okay, are you excited? I mean, shit, I know we talked about it, kinda, but—but you don't have to be, we don’t have to--"
You can’t hide the gleeful smile bursting through your teeth. “I’m excited.”
He hugs and kisses you. “Me too!” He lets out a breath before gyrating his hips deeper against you, grinding the excitement directly against your cunt. “M’sorry, I cant help it. Fuck oh my god."
“Me too—Joel—please—I want to—“
He slips himself out of his trousers while rubbing your clit through your bottoms. "I knew you were glowing today. Thought it was just me. Fuck. Gonna make me a Daddy again. Wife's got such a fertile pussy. Shit. When do ya think it was?"
"That night--in the car. We went onna date"
"Shit really did breed ya on some back road. Fuck—“ he squeezes his eyes tight. “M’ not gonna last.”
“Should we be—doing this? In the pool? Thought no bodily fluids…”
“Its fine—I’ll clean it—“ he hastily rubs himself against your entrance
You chuckle. “The whole pool? That’s too much. We can get out and—“
“No—baby fuck I gotta have you now. Can’t wait another—“he slips his tip inside, and the two of you groan, frozen and clinging to one another. “ahhhhhh—second.”
You wrap your arms around his broach shoulders tightly, your noses rubbing against one another. You both huff, mouths gaping. You begin to ride him slowly.
“That’s my girl—that’s my momma,” he groans. One meaty hand is planted firmly under your ass, assisting your bounces, the other flat against the pool edge, holding you up so you don’t bruise your back. His biceps flex deliciously in the water.
You feel dizzy and alive all at once. Panting against one another, neither of you can contain your excited smirks. The thrill of your pregnancy, of doing it in a pool, of being sneaky and yet being the age you are now…it felt surreal.
Or maybe that was just the pregnancy hormones all over again…
It’s as if he read your mind. “Holy fuck I can’t wait—I can’t wait—“ he mumbles again and again. He’s thinking about your body, your belly, breasts, milk, 2am cravings and baby shoes and a new crib he can make, strollers and car seats and you and his whole family in his arms—
“I love you so much,” you keen. He fills you just right. He always had. A damn professional at making you sing every time.
“I love you.” He thrusts a little more incessantly, as best he can through the water. Your bodies ripple waves outwards from your motions, disturbing the pool’s serenity.
“We’re gonna have a baby,” you jeer.
“F-fuck—say it again—“ he growls.
“Gonna—gonna be a mommy—make you a Daddy again—!“
“More—Fuck—gimme more—“
neither of you have more to give at the moment. Seizing up, fingers clawing into one another’s skin, you both gasp, stilling with his cock rammed deep into you until you could feel his balls twitch against your bottom. He lets out an animalistic grunt with the first squirt of his cream into you, and your walls soon follow with perfect flutters that has him stuttering.
“I’m —so in love—“ he gasps, teeth grinding as he ruts his seed deep into you. He can barely see straight.
“Me—me too,” you moan. You feel like you’re on fire despite the cool water surrounding you. Everything hot and tense and heavenly as you ride out that high.
It takes a moment for you two to relax, still wrapped in each other’s embrace. It feels like home.
As he’s huffing into your shoulder, he starts laughing. Big and hearty and full of love. “You know what this means?”
You shake your head.
“I can finally kick Tommy out of family gatherings!”
You roll your eyes, unable to hide your own smirk.
“FOUR!” He shouts. “I’M GONNA HAVE ANOTHER BABY! That Makes FOUR OF US! Fantastic F—!”
You slap your palm over his lips. “Have you forgotten we’re not supposed to be here??”
He shrugs, kissing your hand instead.
You get yourselves as decent as possible before sneaking back out and over to your house. What was a very exhausting day just reinvigorated both your spirits for the rest of the night.
Tommy is still drooling into the couch when you tip toe back inside with shushed giggles.
“Oh my god—“ you gasp. Your earlier thought dawning on you.
Joel cups your belly, holding you close. “What is it?”
You smash his cheeks with both hands. “Maria and I are both going to have babies—together!”
Joel’s face frowns despite your obvious excitement. He glances at Tommy—the poor bastard having no idea what storm is about to hit.
You stomp your feet happily, smiling like a clown. But it quickly fades, and suddenly you’re breathing heavily, eyes shining with tears that begin to spill.
“What—what’s wrong baby?”
“I— I don’t—“ you hiccup and sniffle, unable to hide your emotional turmoil. “I want—I want—“
He’s desperately wiping your sudden tears with his thumbs, terrified of what’s going on right now.
“I WANT A MILKSHAAAAAKKKEEEE!” You bawl, finally tilting your head back and crying loudly into the air.
Tommy stirs awake, confused. “What’s wrong? What the hell did you do?”
Joel stares off at him. Jesus. it’s absolutely insane how quickly it all was happening again.
Sarah walks into the living room, awakened by your raucous crying. She rubs her eyeballs. “W-what’s wrong with—mommy?” She asks, concern dripping from her voice.
“Nothing baby, mommy is just—“
But the sounds of your loud, child-like sobs triggers Sarah’s worry, making her eyes water and tears spilling too.
Now both of you were crying.
Tommy covers his ears, looking between the two of you. “What is happening!”
The older, very older, Miller just puts his hands on his hips. He’s certain by the end of this pregnancy, he’ll lose full hearing in his left ear.
“We’ve got a rough year ahead of us, brother.”
Tommy tilts his head. “We?”
- - - -
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#joel dealing with preggo wife#joel miller fan fiction#joel miller x reader#last of us fanfiction#joel miller fanfiction#joel miller x you#pedro pascal smut#joel miller fic#the last of us fanfiction#joel miller smut#joel miller fan fic#tlou smut#tlou fic#tlou fanfiction#last of us fic#the last of us smut#the last of us fluff#the last of us fic#tlou fluff#joel miller fluff
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thunderbolts reaction to reader getting a cat?
Getting a Cat ~ Thunderbolts* plus Joaquín Torres
synopsis: How they react to you getting a cat
tw: fem!reader, established relationship for everyone, cat's name is Elsie, it gets suggestive with Joaquín (breeding kink goes crazy with him), barely edited.
I've never done something like this but I have it separated by character. I know I said I wasn't writing for John Walker yet, so I guess take this as me trying my hand before I dive head first into him. I also added Joaquín as a bonus because I love him!!
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Bucky Barnes:
Bucky had Alpine so his first thought was to make sure the two got along. As soon as he realized they did, your little baby was just as spoiled as Alpine. You laughed constantly as Bucky got baited into giving both the cats more treats, even if they were just fed.
"I swear, they don't care about us," Bucky grumbled one night when he saw he was being blocked from cuddling into you by both cats, again.
"Awe, you poor baby," you joked, reaching out to stroke his cheek. The actions stirred the cats before both jumped down to curl up by the window. "See now you can come cuddle," you opened your arms and Bucky made himself at home. His head falling on your chest as he wrapped his arms around your middle, you were his grounding presence. The only one he never felt he had to be completely strong around, he could be just him.
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Yelena Belova:
Yelena would be so excited and automatically try and make Elsie and Fanny friends. You watched as she tried her hardest only for Elsie to run every time Fanny got too close.
"Just give it time, love," you cooed at Yelena's crestfallen face. "The shelter said Elsie's skittish," you reminded her and she nodded.
"I just want them to love each other," she told you and you smiled at her.
"And they will, just not yet," you said as went back to reading your book.
The second you saw Elsie and Fanny were curled up and napping together, you took a picture and sent it to Yelena with the caption "See, I told you."
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Bob Reynolds:
Bob would be terrified at hurting your cat, he would be scared that he would forget his strength and accidentally pet her too hard.
"Here, give me your hand," you told him, holding your dominate one out. Bob placed his hand in yours gently and you moved it over to your cat curled up next to you. With gentle movements, you guided Bob's hand over the cat a few times before letting go.
You watched with a small smile as Bob kept petting her, occasionally scratching her head. "She's soft," Bob mumbled and you hummed.
"Yeah, she is. And see, you aren't hurting her. Trust me, cats will make it known if they dislike something," you told him, relaxing back against the bed as your attention turned back to the TV.
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Ava Starr:
Ava would act all uninterested in Elsie but you caught her holding Elsie tenderly one time after a harder mission. You said nothing but you did sit next to her and pet Elsie. Offering silent comfort and to let Ava know you were ready to talk when she was.
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Alexi Shostakov:
He would be all loud and happy about you bringing in a cat. Constantly taking any affection that Elsie gave him as a sign that he was her favorite. You would roll your eyes and let him have it, after all, there was no way you would argue about it. Elsie did seem to like Alexi the most.
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John Walker:
John is a dog person and is completely uninterested in Elsie. But then he turns into one of those 'dads with the pet they didn't want' and Elsie is spoiled. Any joke you made about it was met with a huff but it only made you laugh harder.
"You love her, admit it!" You called from your spot on the couch.
"I do not, I just tolerate her more than normal cats," John huffed.
"You're literally cutting up a salmon filet for her!"
"She needs the fatty acids and proteins."
"Yeah, ok, you health freak," you pretend to not notice his offended look.
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Joaquín Torres:
Joaquín is a dog person but loves you more, so the second you get excited over bringing Elsie home, he's already changing his pet preference. Your shared house is full of top tier cat toys, perches, and beds. Only for Elsie to like sleeping on either of you and messes with your hair ties.
"This is why I like dogs, at least they play with the things you buy them," Joaquín grumbled but planted a small kiss to Elsie's head anyway.
"She just loves us more than what we give her, the perfect kid," you joked without looking up from your book.
"Perfect kid, huh?" You missed the insinuation in his tone so you hummed. "Let's go make one," Joaquín said, pulling your book out of your hands before marking the page and pulling you into his chest.
"Joaquín Torres!" You laughed but let him pull you into the bedroom anyway.
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Masterlist | Requests If you want to be added to the tag list, follow the directions on my masterlist
#joaquin torres#joaquin torres x reader#joaquin torres x you#danny ramirez#danny ramirez x reader#bucky barnes x reader#bucky barnes#yelena belova#yelena belova x reader#ava starr#ava starr x reader#john walker#john walker x reader#bob thunderbolts#bob reynolds#bob reynolds x reader#lewis pullman x reader#lewis pullman#alexi shostakov#alexi shostakov x reader#bob thunderbolts x reader#thunderbolts x reader
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Everything I've ever dreamed of | Beth Mead x Reader
5k celebration prompt: “Our life together is everything I’ve ever dreamed of.”
Woso masterlist | Words: 1.8k
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“Good morning Sunshine.” Beth says as she kisses the back of your shoulder and cuddles further into you. You let out a content hum and take her hand to wrap around you. “Morning baby.” Your voice still a little groggy from just waking up.
Beth continues pressing kisses onto your shoulder. You turn around with an amused smile, “What has gotten you all excited?” Your girlfriend’s smile grew, “Well, since we’ve got the weekend off, I’ve planned a little date for us. Surprise!”
You were immediately excited about what she had planned and wouldn’t stop asking her what you were going to do, but the answer kept being “It’s a surprise.” Each time she didn’t tell you, you jokingly rolled your eyes at her. In reality, it didn’t matter what she had planned, you were just happy to be spending time with her.
After she made you breakfast, yes made you, you weren’t allowed to help, you went to get ready together. “What am I supposed to wear to this mystery date?” You ask while browning your closet. “Just something comfy, I’m gonna go for jeans and a shirt.” She picks out her outfit, and you decide to match her with a pair of jeans and a shirt as well. “Gotcha, comfy not fancy.” Beth smiled, “Do with that what you will, Sunshine.”
Before you know it, you’re sitting in the passenger seat with Myle in the back, and Beth driving you out of the driveway. You figured the first part of the drive would be familiar, so you didn’t think much of it, but when she turned into Steph’s street, you started to get a little sceptical. “Our date is at Steph’s?”
Beth sends you a look, “I love Steph dearly, but we are not having our date at her place, who do you think I am?.” She says with a chuckle. “We’re just here to pick up Calvin, he’s joining us today.”
Beth parks the car, and as soon as she is about to get out of the car you jump out and say, “I’ll get him!” You rush up the stairs of her apartment building and head up to her floor. Once Steph opens the door, you step in right away. “If Calvin is coming, you must know where we are going.”
“Well, hello to you too, my dear friend.” Steph says from the doorway, still with the handle of the open door in her hand. You quickly walk back to where she is standing, in the hopes that being extra nice to her would make her tell you. “Hi Steffy, you’re a great friend, and I love you soooo much.” You say as you hug her.
She chuckles at your change of behaviour. “You’re right, I know exactly what she has planned, but I am under strict orders to not tell you anything about it.” She laughs when you let out a frustrated groan, “She’s really not telling you anything, is she?” With a shake of your head, you say, “Nope.” and lean down to pet Calvin. “Did they tell you, bud? Yeah, I’m sure they did. Lucky you, they won’t tell me a thing.”
You give Steph another hug, after she puts on Calvin’s leash and hands him over to you. “Have fun today!” You smile and thank her.
When you get to the car, you open the door to the backseat so Calvin can join Myle. After you close the door you share a look with Beth, “You told her not to tell me anything?” Beth’s smile grows, “Steph knows that a surprise is meant to stay a surprise, unlike someone else.” She teases.
Beth started driving again, and at first you still recognised the roads, but quickly you started to leave the city, and you lost track of all the turns you took. So, finally you gave up trying to figure out where you were going, and started to just enjoy the music.
The both of you were singing along to your playlist on full volume, when you realised that Beth took a turn into an offroad, signalling that you had to be close to your destination. “Are we here?” Beth looked over and saw the excitement on your face grow the closer that you got.
“Tulleys,” You read off the sign, “that name sounds familiar.” After a short moment it comes to you, “Don’t they do a pumpkin farm in the fall?” Beth nods, “They do.”
“But it’s spring, there are no pumpkins in spring.” You say with a frown. “We’re not going to an empty pumpkin patch, I promise. Do you trust me?” Beth asks as she gives your hand, that laid on her leg, a soft squeeze. “Yes, I got into your car without knowing where we were going. I think it’s safe to say that I do.” Beth jokingly rolled her eyes at your comment, and turned the next corner.
Your face lit up as you saw how Tulleys was decorated, bright colours were all around you. The entrance to the lot had a big banner topping it ‘Welcome to Tulleys Tulip Fest’. “Oh Beth, this looks so cool!”
You started your date off on the tulip fields, brightly coloured tulips filled rows and rows of land. The vibrant colours alone made you absolutely love the place. On top of that there were musicians walking around, giving you live background music.
Beth took you to one of the little restaurants for lunch, where you excitedly told her all about how much you had been enjoying your date so far. She had really outdone herself with this one.
Together you explored the whole fest, the Tulip Trail, Spring Awakening, Tulipa Lake, the Whispering Windmill, Spring Dreams, and the Secret Garden. Grabbing all the yummy goods along the way, gelato, poffertjes, donuts, tries, and coffee.
To finish the day, you were now waiting in line to go on the Observation Wheel. Both the dogs at the little doggy waiting area. You were super excited to see the whole place, so excited that you hadn’t even noticed that Beth’s mind was somewhere else.
She was fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, the nerves finally settling in after today. She had moved the ring from her bag into her pocket a few minutes ago while you weren’t looking, and suddenly it all got even more real.
You had often talked about the topic of marriage in your three years of dating, and especially the past few months. Beth had tested the waters by striking up a conversation on the topic again. She felt ready to take the next step, but she wanted to make sure that you were as well.
It was crazy how she still got so nervous about asking you to marry her, while she knew you were ready and knew that you wanted to get married to her. The moment you turned your head back to Beth, she hid her nerves behind a smile. “Ready to go on?” She asked after kissing your cheek. “So, ready. I am so excited to see this place from above!”
The view was absolutely stunning, you could see the countless rows of tulips, all the ponds, and the little building scattered throughout the location. “Beth, this is absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for taking me here. It’s perfect here.”
When you were almost at the top when Beth fully turned to you and placed her hand on your leg to get your attention. You tore your eyes away from the view and focussed on your girlfriend, who seemed really serious all of a sudden. “Beth?”
“I’m good, there is just something I want to say.” You placed your hand on hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Beth smiled brightly when you locked eyes again. “I love you. Our life together is everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I would give a whole speech if I had enough time, but we’re only at the top for a little bit, so I will leave it short for now and tell you all the ways you are the love of my life later.” She paused for a moment and took her hand away from your leg.
She reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out a ring box, only then you realised what was happening. Tears immediately spring into your eyes, and your mouth opens in shock. “Y/n, will you marry me?”
“Yes! Yes! I will marry you!” You say as you fall into her arms. Tears of joy are streaming down your face as you pull away and kiss her. Beth takes the ring out of the small box, and puts it on your finger.
The moment you have the ring on your finger, the wheel starts moving again. “Wait, we need a picture at the top!” Beth smiles, she knows you so well. “Don’t worry, I slipped them a note with my plan and asked if we could go a second round.” You smile even wider, if that was even possible, “Gosh, you really are perfect. This date has been incredible, and you just made it a million times more special.”
After getting some tulip plants, flowers and memorabilia, you headed back home. You were super happy and so was Beth. The playlist you chose for the way back was full of love songs, and you were blasting it through the car while singing along at the top of your lungs.
When you got back to Steph’s place, you quickly asked if you were allowed to tell Steph about your engagement. “Yes, you can. I’m pretty sure she will immediately look for a ring though, since I told her my plan. I just didn’t text her your answer yet to keep her waiting.” She says chuckling at the last part. “Come on, let’s take the dogs up.”
“Both?” You ask, thinking Myle would come back with you. “Yeah, Steph is dog sitting so we can have the evening to ourselves.”
You head up to Steph’s apartment with both dogs, and purposely hide your hands in your pocket. Sure enough Steph opened the door immediately searching for your hand without being too obvious about it in case her best friend didn’t ask you.
“Looking for this?” You ask as you pull your hand out of your pocket and show off the ring. “Oh my god, it looks so good on you! Ah, congratulations! My best friend’s getting married, this is so amazing! Tell me everything!”
Beth kissed your cheek before taking care of the dogs, so you could start telling Steph about the date and engagement. When they were all taken care of she joined you and cuddled up on the couch next to you.
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#pockets 5k celebration#beth mead#beth mead x reader#beth mead imagine#arsenal wfc x reader#arsenal wfc imagine#arsenal women x reader#awfc x reader#awfc imagine#awfc#arsenal women#arsenal wfc#engwnt#engwnt x reader#lionesses x reader#lionesses imagine#england lionesses#woso x reader#woso fanfics#woso imagine#woso
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VEE!!
I re-read the prologue and I fell in love with this au again, and then I read this and I am officially hooked!
I have such a soft spot for reader already. She deserves to be happy and with someone who loves and cherishes her. I am so excited to see how this plays out!
And can I please be added to this fic's taglist? Thank you! <3
the knight's favor - knight!mattheo riddle (pt. 1)
summary: “I’m not sure why everyone is up in arms about this, it’s perfectly acceptable for a lady to offer her favor for her chosen competitor.”
word count: 2k
a/n: yes knight!mattheo is now a series. yes, i am completely obsessed with it. i hope you come to love these two as much as i do!
»-♡→ prologue
You squirmed in the stifling heat of the spectator’s box.
The prince was suffocatingly close to you, pawing at you in the cloying heat in a way that made your skin crawl just as much from his touch, his proximity, as from the way the fabric of your dress stuck to your skin.
He grasped your hand tightly, uncomfortably, as he smiled and waved to patrons, members of the court and the knights that rode by for the joust, a practiced smile plastered to his face despite the crude comments and criticisms he muttered under his breath.
You had been watching the festivities for hours at this point, but despite your own manufactured smile, your eyes never left the group of knights as you scanned and searched them with increasing persistence for Mattheo.
Each round that had passed had left you feeling more and more anxious; whether it was the heat of the day or the rowdiness of the crowd, the competition had become bloody and brutal, with one of the last knights being dragged unconscious from the ring, his arm twisting grotesquely in a way that had you averting your eyes as the prince stood and cheered. He had called for the joust, demanding that all enlisted knights participate or suffer punishment, ‘a celebration of our pending marriage’ he’d said, though you had no idea how any of this honored you.
Finally your eye caught the glint of black armor, obsidian against the late afternoon sun and you sat a little straighter in your seat, craning ever so slightly to see him better as his horse rode around the arena to deafening cheers, clearly already a crowd favorite.
You rarely saw Mattheo in his full gear anymore and your pulse quickened in appreciation for the way the leather and metal hugged his large frame, the way he rode effortlessly with his helmet tucked under one arm, a cocky smirk on his face as he drank in the attention and affection from the crowd.
He slowed as he approached the grandstand that held members of the court and your stomach roiled as nearly every maiden launched themselves out of their seats and waved their favors eagerly at him, shouting his name. His smile was beguiling as he nodded and waved to each of them and ran a hand through his dark brown curls, which garnered another wave of high-pitched screams.
Your knuckles were white as they squeezed the arms of the ornate chair beneath you and your leg jostled anxiously beneath the folds of your dress. And like he could sense your discomfort, always so attuned to your every emotion his eyes drifted over the crowd to your box and found yours. He smiled softly and never broke your gaze as he turned and rode slowly in your direction to the great dissatisfaction of the many women who shouted after him.
He stopped in front of the box, and looked quickly to the prince, inclining his head.
“Your majesties” he said respectfully.
You stood, dropping the prince’s hand carelessly as you walked towards him and began to untie an emerald ribbon, the same color as his shield, from the lace of your dress, near your collarbone.
Not a person in the arena noticed but you that Mattheo’s eyes widened as they followed the path of your fingers, that the flush on his cheeks had nothing to do with the heat of the day.
“Your highness—” he tried to say, to stop you, as if he had any right to tell you what to do or what not to do, but then you were leaning forward precariously over the balustrade and he had no choice but to lean into you too, to remain perfectly still even as he was clouded with your perfume, as your hair tumbled over your shoulders brushing his armor, the ends tickling his cheek, as your chest fell perfectly level with his eyes in a way that had him averting his gaze, though not nearly quick enough. And then your fingers brushed his neck, his collar as you affixed your ribbon there, taking your time as you looped and threaded it into his armor.
His eye caught yours and you held his gaze for two heartbeats longer than you should of before you spoke, softly, closely, to be heard over the crowd.
“I place my trust in your valor and skill. Take this token of my favor, may this small gift bring you luck and guide your hand.”
The words were spoken and yet you didn't move, stilling in front of the court, the gods, the prince and everyone close enough to kiss him...
...And fuck if he wasn’t thinking about it, the way your eyes held his like they could say more to him than you ever could: I’m worried about you, be careful, and something else that ran deeper, in the way your own cheeks were flushed, in the way your chest was rising and falling, in the way he swore your eyes flitted to his lips before you smiled, your real smile, not the one he watched you wear every day in court, but the one he told himself was reserved just for him. And then you leaned back, letting him go.
The crowd cheered as Mattheo took off at speed, pulling his helmet on. You were faintly aware of an undercurrent of whispers and as you turned to face the prince you saw a sneer on his face that betrayed exactly what he was thinking for the first time that day.
You sat next to him and he grabbed your hand, intentionally crushing your fingers with his grasp and holding tighter when you tried to pull away.
His plastered smile was back but he growled at you under his breath.
“Was. That. Really. Necessary?” squeezing your hand tighter with each word.
Your blood chilled with concern. The prince was demanding, he was a dick, he was petulant and he pushed things too far but you'd never seen him properly angry, at least, not at you.
What had come over you? What were you thinking?
You swallowed.
“It’s common practice for the lady of the house to offer a favor to the strongest competitor. And he’s our strongest, no?”
A pause. But you could see the curl of his lip. He wouldn’t admit it, even if you both knew it was true.
“If you were a knight, if you were competing, my favor would go only to you" you lied.
He didn’t even look at you.
That didn’t help.
Much to your satisfaction Mattheo crushed his competitor, and for the first time that day you were the one out of your seat cheering alongside everyone else as he tore his helmet off and roared in celebration, pumped full of adrenaline as he tossed it and took a victory lap around the arena.
Your heart soared to see him competing, fighting, doing what he was born to be so good at, and you felt guilty for only a moment that he had been resigned to tedious days following you around the castle.
The crowd continued to clap and cheer and a smaller section had broken into song but as you looked back at the prince you realized he was the only person in the entire arena who was still seated. Silent. Staring at Mattheo.
It wasn’t until much later, after the banquet and several rounds of celebratory drinks that Mattheo was able to find a way to be alone with you, a skill he was as practiced at as he was with his sword, as he swiftly convinced your guard that he would walk you back to your chambers, even though he was technically off duty.
Though off duty at this point was only a matter of pay, as he doubted he could ever share a space with you and not be keenly aware of your every movement.
Even though he’d thoroughly enjoyed the night and the simmering adrenaline from being back in the arena, he was aware that the prince was in a mood, which wasn't altogether unusual, but it seemed to be directed at you in a way he didn't like.
And he didn't like the way you averted your eyes from all conversation, the way you pushed your food around your plate, and didn't eat anything, not even your favorite dessert.
And when he noted that the more the prince drank, the handsier he got with you to the point you were nearly squirming out of your seat he thanked the gods that you excused yourself, which saved him the effort of shearing the prince's head from his body.
You were walking quickly, marching really but when Mattheo fell into step beside you your feet slowed and he was sure he saw your body relax, the tension lowering your shoulders as a slow smile spread across your face despite the fact that you didn’t turn to look at him.
You continued in amiable silence, appreciating the stolen moment alone, and he waited until you were nearly at your room and out of earshot before saying anything.
“You shouldn’t have done that" he murmured.
“Whatever are you talking about?” you replied, smirking.
“Today, your favor.”
You huffed and rolled your eyes even as your posture tightened.
“I’m not sure why everyone is up in arms about it, it’s perfectly acceptable for a lady to offer her favor for her chosen competitor.”
He shook his head, as he carded his hand through his hair.
You weren’t wrong, but he’d heard the whispers, had seen the way people looked at him tonight, had seen the way the prince looked at him tonight. It had become abundantly clear that he’d gotten too comfortable, complacent with what it meant to be close to you.
Then again… maybe he was reading too far into it all? To think that what you had done was anything more than acknowledge that he was a strong competitor? In fact... had he been too forward just now in telling you what he thought? His head spun and it ached and he realized he was more drunk than he'd thought, and he was grateful to be at your door as he leaned against the doorframe for reprieve as you moved to open it.
But your hand paused on the iron handle, and you glanced up at him, and for the second time that day every inch of his body was at attention in your proximity as you looked at him with that same damn look in your eye and his heart melted as his lips smirked at you.
“For what it’s worth, Sir Riddle—” you said, addressing him teasingly as you let go of the handle and reached to gather the silhouette of your dress. You pulled it up and his eyes darted there and he swiftly forgot how to breath as you revealed your ankle, your calf, your knee and then your thigh and he swayed a little bit and was about to tell you that you should stop before he caught sight of an emerald ribbon knotted in a bow around your thigh, the same color as the one you’d tied to his armor that now sat in his pocket, the same color as the crest he wore on his shield, only this one sat against your skin, your perfect soft skin, your leg, your thigh, your inner thigh...
“—I always carry you with me" you whispered, and he pulled his eyes from beneath your dress to meet yours, "so it seemed only fair that you carry a bit of me with you.”
He could feel his body shaking with temptation, with fear, with the realization that what had transpired between you had gone far beyond playful banter, stolen glances, and a wish he’d held in his heart but never thought could come true.
And despite years of careful restraint, his hands betrayed him as he reached for you, moving to cup your face, to pull you towards him, his rough callouses brushing against your cheeks as your own hands came to cover his and you leaned into him, easily, without hesitation.
Your eyes fixed on his lips, and you were right there, a breath away, your eyes begging, pleading for him to kiss you...
"Dolcezza" he whispered, sliding into his native language as he grappled with a way to properly express himself.
...And then laughter reverberated down the hall that broke both of you out of the moment as you jumped and stepped back, slipping out of his grasp looking at him reluctantly as your hand covered your mouth, tracing your lips, before you shook your head.
“G-goodnight, Mattheo” you said quickly, darting into your room and gently closing the door behind you.
He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face as slumped to the floor and let his head fall against your door where he sat the rest of the night.
»-♡→ part two - coming soon!
taglist: @kenjikishimotoswifey @mattiesgf @sleepiibunniiii @darlingshecried @girllblogging777 @foivetimesacharm @clar2aa @broadwaybaby123 @slytherinscreamqueen @loverliner @smut-anarchy @locknco @wybieivy @itznotsophia @cipheress-to-k-pop @aur0ral1ghts @voidofsunlight @diorandcigaddict
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common misconceptions with loa, manifestation, and shifting 𐙚
coming from someone who has shifted 3x and has mastered manifestation
disclaimer: this is my perception of manifestation, shifting, and law of assumption. you do not have to agree with my views. whatever your belief is is valid, but this is what has worked for me time and time again and i simply wish to share. lmk what questions u have! i've been manifesting my entire life (knowingly for 6 years) but i've only been into shifting for a matter of months. thanks @hrrtshape <33 i owe her for my current mindset towards shifting ! also my first tumblr post omg.
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loa/manifestation:
- “ within manifestation, you have to try hard to receive your results “
you don’t even have to “try.” law of assumption is simply assuming what you want has already manifested. you have your desire already, so why would you be trying? if you want to manifest something, simply understand the fact that you already have your desire and it’s done. unless you BELIEVE you have to, there’s no need to affirm, listen to subs, visualize. no need to wait, anticipate or expect because you are in a reality where you have your desire. at the end of the day, what YOU believe is correct.
i listen to subliminals for fun (i believe they give me results, but i am not reliant on them to manifest) I visualize for fun, i affirm for fun. what REALLY brings my manifestations to me is knowing i already have it and letting go.
- “ my desires aren’t showing up in the 3d. i’m doing everything right, why am i not receiving them? “
i’ve heard this issue from quite a few people and all i can say is. read that again? view everything you speak as truth. i have been quite wary of any thought or word that i speak recently. by saying you don’t see any results, you are affirming you do not see any results.
example: “you want a new phone. it’s been a few days, and I’ve been expectantly waiting for signs, listening to subliminals, affirming for hours; but still no new phone. you feel demotivated. maybe manifestation isn’t real. you don’t see any results, so you might as well stop trying. it’s taking too long”
well… you kind of just affirmed that. you DIDDD manifest that if that is your view of manifestation. if you expect the new phone will take a long time, it will. it may seem difficult to some people to overcome the 3d, to ignore it and KNOW your manifestation is done. but if you practice this, simply being content in the fact you know you already have everything you want, you will slip into this practice habitually. don’t give into your doubts. your doubts have no power until you grant them authority.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
shifting:
- “ i’m going to try to shift tonight / i can’t wait to shift tonight. ”
i love the excitement for you honey but u are viewing shifting as a destination whether that’s intentional or not. remember your body is not physically traveling, you are shifting your awareness to a universe where you already exist. if you already exist there, then isn’t it already done? if you shift in the same way as me (assumption) try to embody the fact that you are already present there?
i will say though there’s no right or wrong way to shift. what works for you works for you. it comes down to what you believe in.
- “ what method should i do to shift? ”
you don’t have to do any! don’t feel pressured to attempt a method because it worked for others. try different ones around if you want, if that’s helpful for you! they can be fun, comforting, or routinized which might help others, but they are NOT obligatory in shifting. if you don't like the method for any reason, don't!
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
requested questions:
"how to really settle into the mindset of "3d is a reflection of the 4d" and "the 3d can lag" and how to grow more comfortable with that?"
work on your self-concept and reprogramming your mindset. this might sound complicated but I promise it isn't! with "3d is a reflection of the 4d," it tells us that thoughts, beliefs, emotions, assumptions, imagination, and self-concept will affect what we see in our physical world. so how would you adjust to that mindset? you change how you think. practice gratitude to the universe, positivity, and overall just believing in your own power. HYPE YOURSELF UP. u can literally do anything and you have no limits. FELL PROUD OF THAT. in my personal belief, I believe that whatever you think and say is true and vibrates throughout the universe, so being careful to always speak positively and practicing self love and gratitude are very important! i have a self concept subliminal playlist I listen as well if that helps.
now the 3d lag part.... im gonna be so honest idgaf ab that imo. ive always found myself scrolling past posts about that because.. the 3d isn't lagging? you already have ur desire, why would you be tell yourself you don't? that's js how i view it :)) again, if that is your belief, just practice working on how you think! everything you think and say is a manifestation (ect. my stomach hurts, I'm going to go eat) now, how to grow more comfortable with this mindset? practice! believe in yourself STRONGLY. nothing can stop you. there's no limits, no boundaries, no exaggerations. nothing is impossible and you have everything you could possibly want in your grasp. "what's ignoring the 3d and how to do it?" ignoring the 3d is not reacting to your physical reality when it contradicts your manifestation. i did go more into detail about why we do it above but here's how:
you know your manifestation is already yours. why worry about it any longer. let go of it as you are content that it is already factually yours. if you have a new phone, you aren't going to be constantly checking "did my new phone finally manifest? well you already have it! view all of your manifestations from the lens. it's already done and nothing can change that! again, working on self concept, self love, gratitude can help you to to fall into that mindset "how does your subconscious interpret each thought + how it works with manifestation and shifting" your subconscious does not argue. it does not analyze. it does not fight you. it's very willing and pliable. whatever you feed your subconscious it will accept! when you affirm or assume something, your subconscious does not filter that into "true or not true" it just accepts it! this is why working on self concept / reprogramming is not only important but extremely effective. your conscious mind / ego is the judging, critical part. and u don't listen to that ho. ur ego us like ur overprotective friend who's trying to stop u from being embarrassed. when u are manifesting, ur ego might tell u its not possible. it's okay to doubt yourself, you are human. BUT. are u going to give into those doubts? NO. never let those untrue doubts control YOU. basically. whatever u feed ur subconscious will be accepted as fact and then reflect into ur physical reality. that's it! "how do you use loa as a beginner in shifting? how do you assume? what keywords do you use when shifting?" it's quite simple! you assume by accepting whatever you want is true! you aren't hoping that your desire will manifest, but KNOWING it did. in shifting, this is simply knowing you are in your dr, that you are a master shifter, that shifting is fun and simple. affirmations and visualizations are good and completely valid, but letting go has been extremely helpful for me. knowing what you want is already yours and simply letting go. you don't obsessively check if it worked. it's done already! be happy and proud that you've achieved this!
when I shift, I affirm myself a bit for fun and go to sleep KNOWING I am already aware in my dr. thats literally it no visualization or robotic affs or some crazy sleeping position. just embodying the truth. "how do you know you've found the right subliminal?"
there is no right subliminal! as long as u are listening to a trusted sub maker (look in the comments for good reviews and making sure there's no bad affs layered in there) sub are effective! it depends on if you believe in these subs! i have never failed a manifestation in my life and a lot of those in the past were from sub makers, various different creators! I do have preferences for some submakers but at the end of the day it doesn't matter which u listen to! what you desire is already yours! if you feel off about listening to a sub, turn it off and maybe research the creator online. ok THANKS FOR READING love u guys! happy shifting and manifesting! remember how amazing, powerful, and valuable you are. ⋆ ִֶָ ๋𓂃🎐 ⋆ with love, liz.
#manifesation#manifesting#subliminals#law of assumption#shifting#shifting antis dni#shifting community#shifting blog#desired reality#loa#reality shifter#odairloverr
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Heartbreak
a/n: ahhhhhh my first fic here!!! i'm a teensy bit nervous but mostly excited!! this was written for my bestie @heartsforjh but i hope everyone enjoys it!! also just a psa: if you enjoy feel free to drop a follow! my inbox is always open so feel free to come chat whenever!! MWAH ❤️
Summary: Being best friends with Dick Grayson was easy, and falling in love with him was even easier. Everything gets a lot more complicated, though, when you realize you have a disease that can only form through unrequited love.
Pairing(s): Dick Grayson x fem!Queen!reader, Wally West x fem!Queen!reader if you really squint
Word Count: 3.6k
Content/Warnings: Hanahaki AU, unrequited love, angst, not really any comfort, Dick isn't present the entire way through (mostly by mentions until the end), not proofread, reader is described at Oliver Queen’s daughter but it only says it once (i think) so it’s easy to ignore (otherwise could be read as gn!reader), I think that's all but if I missed something let me know!!

You really shouldn’t have been surprised. Of course, only you could love someone so strongly, despite the feelings not being returned, that you would contract a disease so rare that some people still think it to be folklore.
You met Dick Grayson when the both of you were nine, right after Bruce adopted him and he officially became Bruce’s ward. The billionaire had wanted the young boy to have a few friends his age, hoping it would help him adjust. So, he got Barry Allen to bring over his nephew, Wally West, and Oliver Queen to bring over his daughter, you. The rest was history after that; you were three peas in a pod, rarely ever seen without the other two.
You suppose it was inevitable for you to fall for one of the two boys as you all grew older, and of course, it had to be Dick. How couldn’t it be, though? He was effortlessly beautiful, and he knew all the best ways to make you laugh. He brightened up the room every time he walked in, having the radiance and the gravitational pull of the sun. Wally was wonderful in every way, no matter how talkative he can be, but Dick Grayson is just way too easy to love.
Unfortunately for you, you would spend the majority of your teen years loving him from a distance, while he spent the majority of his going from relationship to relationship. You had been forced to watch from the sidelines as he went from one girl to the next, and of course, you couldn’t even hate a single one of them because heaven forbid he dated outside of your extensive friend group. From Zatanna to Barbara to Kori, you stood aside and watched the boy you love fall in love with others over and over and over again. Eventually, you had sort of made peace with it; that is, until last week when you coughed up a flower petal.
You were nothing short of confused as you stared at the pink petal resting in your palm. Honestly, you weren’t even sure what type of flower the petal was from at first. It took days of research to find out that it belonged to a primrose. Shortly after, the internet informed you that primroses (specifically pink ones) are often a representation of unrequited love, and that’s when it clicked for you.
You were quite the reader; your father highly encouraged gaining as much knowledge as possible. You read about the disease before, but you, like most of the world, believed it to be a made-up story, something to ease the minds of people whose love isn’t returned. You figured it was a sort of legend, thought up to more or less say, “Yeah, sure, they don’t love you back, but hey, at least you don’t have flowers growing from your lungs because of it!” Except, you do. You do have flowers growing in your lungs, taking up all the space where the air you breathe in should be.
Since you had read up on the disease years ago, you were more than aware of the two options you have treatment-wise. You could get surgery before the plant grows too large, but you’d lose all memory of the person you love. That means you wouldn’t remember a single minute of the time you’ve spent with Dick, none of the laughs, none of the tears, none of the slow patrol nights spent on rooftops, knowing one of you shouldn’t have left your city to go hang out with the other. Besides, what does that mean for Wally? Half of your memories with him overlap with half your memories of Dick. Would there just be bits of your friendship that you would never be able to recall?
As unnerving as all of that is, and as much as you don’t want to lose your memories, you know the only other option is letting the plant continue to grow until it completely takes over. Yeah, you could either completely forget the person you love the most (and quite possibly parts of other relationships you have), or you could die because a primrose plant took over your lungs.
Of course, there technically is a cure, but you’re not getting your hopes up any time soon. If the one you love gives you a confession, a real one, one that they mean, the plant will die, and you’ll go back to life as normal. However, you’ve silently loved Dick Grayson for ten years now. You’ve watched as he’s loved every girl your age except for you for ten years now. If he wanted you, he would’ve made his move by now.
You know what your options are, but more importantly, you know that no one under any circumstances can know of your condition.
Wally found out. You swore you could make it through one movie night, but halfway through the first movie, the coughing started, and but the time it stopped, you’d coughed up two entire flowers’ worth of petals. Wally was freaked out at first, to say the least.
“Oh, my god. Are you alright? You could’ve told me you were sick. We could’ve just reschedu- Are those flower petals? Where did flower petals come from?” His voice halts to a stop when he sees the drained look on your face as you stare up at him. “Are- Are they from you?” His brows are high on his forehead, and you can’t help the guilt that crawls up your spine from making him worry.
“Wally, please don’t worry-” He’s quick to cut you off.
“Don’t worry? You’re coughing up flower petals! Why would I not worry about that? You know what? I’m calling Dick. You’ll listen to him.”
“No!” His head snaps toward your direction, “You can’t tell Dick! Please don’t tell Dick, Wally.” Tears are brimming in your eyes now, and it breaks Wally’s heart a bit.
“Okay. Okay, I won’t tell him, but you’ve gotta tell me what’s going on, alright? We’re best friends, so whatever this is, I’m gonna help you through it. That’s what I’m here for.”
You hesitate, but you know deep down that you need the help and, more importantly, the reassurance. “Alright, I’ll tell you everything, but I’m being serious, Wallace, this stays between us. No one else can know.” You level him with a glare, letting him know how serious you are.
“You have my word.”
“I, um, I have this really rare disease. It’s called Hanahaki. Basically, when you really love someone and they don’t love you back, flowers will begin to grow in your lungs, until eventually, they take over.”
“So, what do we do? Is there a cure? Or- or some kind of treatment?” He shifts closer to you, and you see the worry deep in his eyes again.
“The only real cure is if the person I love feels the same way and confesses to me, but I know he doesn’t. So, that’s off the table,” you sigh.
“So, what’s left. You just deal with this forever?”
“Not exactly…” You trail off a bit. “I could have surgery done to remove the plants from my lungs, but in doing so, I would lose all memories of the person I’m in love with.”
“I’m assuming you don’t want to do that, then?”
“No. Not particularly.”
“Where does that leave us- you?”
You stare at Wally for a long moment, knowing that the next thing that comes out of your mouth just might break him. You don’t want to hurt your friend, but you know that he deserves to know. “The flowers will eventually take over my lungs, and I’ll… I’ll die, Wally.”
“What?” He stands from the couch, his voice rising once more. “So, that’s it then? I just have to sit around and watch my best friend die! You can’t do that to me, to any of us! You have to get the surgery. There’s no way this person is that significant. I’ll help you recover. I’ll-”
“It’s Dick.”
His head whips in your direction once more, the worry and stress on his face giving way to something more solemn, more serious, so not Wally. “What?” He practically whispers the word, more shocked than you thought he would be. Apparently, you had hidden this crush pretty well.
“I’m in love with Dick. That’s why I don’t wanna forget. I can’t- I can’t forget him, Wally. I can’t.” You’re breaking down now, and your best friend is quick to gather you into his arms, reclaiming his seat on the couch.
“That’s why you didn’t want him to know. I’m sorry, so so sorry.”
You both know there isn’t much more to be said after that. So, that’s how your movie night ended, with a movie paused halfway through and you curled up in Wally’s arms, crying until you couldn’t anymore. And if Wally shed a few tears of his own after he was sure you were asleep, he’d never tell a soul.
It had been a couple of months since that night, and your condition was worsening. The petals you’d been coughing up were now covered in blood when they surfaced. You knew you were running out of time, but you didn’t want to admit it.
You had gotten good at dodging Dick’s offers to hang out, and it had gotten easier when he got back together with Kori. There was a small part of you that was hurt, the part that had the tiniest sliver of hope that maybe he did love you back and that all of this would go away soon. Needless to say, that part of you had been squished like a bug. The rest of you, though? The rest of you couldn’t even pretend to be surprised. The rest of you wanted to hate him for not returning your feelings, wanted to blame him for the condition you’re in, but you couldn’t. You know better than anyone that you can’t help how you feel. You can’t help that you love him with every fibre of your being, the same way that he can’t help that he’ll only ever see you as a friend.
The most difficult part of all of this, though, has been avoiding Dick’s family and your own family. They weren’t buying your excuses any longer, and honestly, you were running out of them anyway. You missed them all dearly, so you decided you would just have to tough it up and power through it for the day. Bruce invited you, your dad, and Roy over to the manor for dinner, and you were much more excited than you like to admit. Dick was tied up in Bludhaven, so you didn’t have to worry about him. It was all going so well; you should’ve known that something would go wrong.
“So, Ollie, how is Queen Industries doing?” Ah, yes, you’ve reached the point of the evening where your father and Bruce talk business because they really can’t help themselves. It would’ve been fine, albeit boring, if you and Tim hadn’t started snickering. It choked you up a bit, the air catching in your throat to make it tingle, and then the coughing started. You tried to run to the nearest bathroom, hoping you could hide it, but it was no use.
This was easily the worst coughing fit you’d ever had, and although it started as the usual bloody petals, it only multiplied from there. You were only able to stop coughing and catch your breath when an entire pink primrose landed on the table in front of you. You slowly look up, taking a weary look at the faces around you through teary eyes. You’re met with nothing but concern and fear, and it makes you feel even worse. You want to say something, to try to make things better, but the room starts spinning. You’re only able to get out one word before you collapse into your father’s arms, “Wally.”
When you wake up, you find Wally on one side of the hospital bed you're on and Roy on the other. You look around to gather your bearings and see your father leaning into Dinah’s arms, most likely for comfort. You can clearly see the concern on everyone’s faces, and that same guilt kicks back up. Sure, it’s not your fault that you’re in this condition, not really, but you should’ve told them, warned them. You know that now.
As you look back at Wally, Roy notices that you’re awake, “Hey, how ya feelin’?” His voice is soft, uncertain.
“Uh, not great, right now.” You wince as the two men help you sit up.
“Yeah, that was pretty scary for us. I can’t imagine how you must’ve felt,” Wally chimes in. It’s that your father realizes you’ve woken up and makes his way to the foot of your bed with Dinah close by.
“I wish you had told me,” he says, solemnly.
“Dad-”
“No, it’s alright. I know you had your reasons. Bruce looked into your diagnosis and briefed us all. Please, please, tell me you’re getting that surgery.” There are tears in his eyes, and for once, Oliver Queen is struggling to keep it together.
“I, um, no, I hadn’t planned on it.” You turn your head to your left, unable to look your father in the eye.
“Sweetheart-”
“I don’t want to- I can’t forget him, Dad.”
“Honey, I know this person is obviously very important to you, and I understand. I know how it feels to love someone, but think about everyone else in your life. You have so many other people who love you, and it would really hurt them to lose you.”
The two of you stare at one another for a short while. Your father’s eyes were pleading, silently begging you to consider his side. You were consumed with thoughts, caught in the middle. Finally, you make your decision.
“Alright. I’ll have the surgery, but only on one condition.”
“Whatever you want, sweetheart, I’ll make it happen.”
“I have to talk to Dick. Face to face.”
“Are you sure?” Roy questions from beside you.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll go call him now,” Wally says, although he seems a bit unsure.
The next half hour is filled with the others taking turns checking up on you and trying to lift your spirits. At some point during that time, Bruce called Dr. Leslie Thompkins to come perform your surgery, assuming the conversation with Dick goes well.
It’s nice, really, to have all of them here with you. You’ve missed them the past couple of months, and now more than ever, you regret avoiding them.
Soon enough, the man of the hour walks in, and of course, Kori strolls in behind him. You feel horrible for being so disappointed that she’s here; after all, she probably wanted to check on you as well. You just wish Dick would’ve come by himself.
Everyone, thankfully, is more than aware that this conversation should be private, and they all leave the two of you alone without having to be asked. The worry is evident on Dick’s face as he nears your bed, and suddenly, you’re not sure if you can hurt him like this. Honestly, no matter which option you go with, it’ll do some damage to your best friend, but which one would be easier for him to recover from?
“Wally said you’re sick? That you collapsed at dinner? What’s going on?” His brows scrunch together, and he reaches his right arm out to lay a hand on your shoulder.
“I, um, I have Hanahaki, Dick. It’s a really rare disease that can only form out of unrequited love.” You play with your fingers in your lap, refusing to look at your best friend.
“So- So you’re in love with someone, and they don’t love you back? Who is stupid enough not to love someone as amazing as you?” He seems utterly shocked, and the irony of his words isn’t lost on you. In fact, it hits you so hard that your throat starts to tingle, and before you know it, you’ve coughed up another whole primrose. You catch a glimpse of Dick’s stunned expression, and you realize just how little he knows.
“I have primroses growing in my lungs. Eventually, they’ll take over, unless he magically begins to love me back.”
“Wha- So, you know he doesn’t? Like for sure. There’s zero chance that this guy returns your feelings.”
“I mean, I haven’t outright asked him, but it’s obvious. He’s never seen me in a romantic light, and he never will.”
“So, what are your options?”
“Well, there’s only one other option, surgery. Dr. Thompkins is actually here to perform it now, but I just wanted to ask your opinion.”
“I’m assuming there’s some kind of downside, then.”
“Yeah. I, uh. I wouldn’t remember him at all.”
“Look, I know this guy is really important to you, and the thought of not remembering him probably really hurts you. But, no matter who this guy is, the rest of us need you here.”
“So, you really think I should go through with the surgery, no matter who the guy is?”
“No matter who it is.” He seems so sure, so confident that this is the right move that you almost want to tell him. You almost do. You lay your right hand over his own, ready to lay out your feelings, to see if that changes his mind, but as soon as you open your mouth, your mind is rushed with memories of every time you had watched him love someone else. You relive every time he called you a “good friend” after you consoled him after a rough breakup. You recall every time he excitedly told you which one of your friends he was dating. It makes you sick to your stomach, and you have to hold back another coughing fit.
“I’ll go through with the surgery then,” you settle for. You give him a tight-lipped smile. You know this would hurt him, but you couldn’t bear to continue to live through the torture of loving him while knowing he’d never truly see you.
Just moments later, your friends and family were ushered away as Dr. Thompkins began to sedate you before the surgery.
“We’ll be right here when you wake up,” Dick smiles warmly at you, attempting to bring you comfort.
You wake a few hours later with a headache, a scratchy throat, and the odd urge to breathe as deeply as you can. You hear people shuffling all around you, checking your vitals, making sure everything has gone well; someone even hands you a glass of water. You take a few sips while your eyes adjust, the blurriness slowly dissipating. When your eyesight is back to normal, you take a slow look around, smiling at the fact that so many people came to be sure you’re alright.
However, as you glance around, there’s one face that you don’t quite recognize. You don’t question it for the moment. You recognize the woman under his arm as your friend Kori, so you reason that she must have brought her boyfriend along.
You’re quite shocked, however, when he steps forward with a bright smile on his face.
“See! I told you everything would be fine and dandy!”
You furrow your brows, and your head tilts to the side a bit. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
You watch as his face falls, and you notice your best friend, Wally, walking up behind the strange man. The man’s mouth opens like he’s about to say something, but Wally grabs his shoulders, gently tugging him into another room. You shoot your father a curious look, and you receive one that says he’ll fill you in later.
“She was messing with me, right, Wally?” Dick is pacing in front of one of his best friends, hands running through his hair, mind going a thousand miles a minute.
“It was you, Dick.” Wally doesn’t know what else to say. He knows you might be a little mad at him later, but Dick deserves an explanation.
“What?” He turns toward the redhead, breathless.
“She was in love with you. She had been for, like, ten years, since we were teenagers.” Wally watches his friend completely deflate, a man who once brightened up every room he entered, now overcome with the shadow of grief, mourning a friendship that you couldn’t even recall.
“So, she doesn’t remember me at all? We’ve been friends since we were nine, and now there’s just nothing?”
“It looks that way, yeah. I’m so sorry, man.”
“Wait. You knew?”
“Well, I-”
“Why didn’t you tell me? We could’ve done something!”
“Don’t act like you’ve been in love with her this whole time! If you were, she wouldn’t have gotten that stupid disease in the first place!”
“I could have tried! I could have- I could have-” Dick cuts himself off mid-sentence, falling to his knees on the floor, tears now streaming down his face.
Wally is quick to join him, tears quickly welling up in his eyes as well. “I wanted to tell you, man. You have to believe me, but she made me promise not to. And, god, just be glad you didn’t have to see how bad she got. It tore me apart to watch her cough up those petals. I’ve never seen her so worn down.”
“I did that to her…”
“No. C’mon, don’t think like that. Neither of you could help how you felt about one another. I know the situation sucks, but it’s all over now. You guys can start over, let her get to know you again.”
“Yeah… Yeah, I guess so.” As Dick sat there, mourning a friendship that never existed to you, he felt a twisting pain begin to grow in his chest, clawing at his insides, ready to take him down to his lowest level, and he couldn’t help but think about just how much it felt like heartbreak.
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taste — sabrina carpenter ᭝ ᨳଓ ՟
warnings: no plot wlw smut, oral (sab receiving), sweet gf fluff, reader could be read as nb (gf!sabrina x gf!reader) 18+
wc: 1k
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it was late. sabrina was flat on her back, laying in a messy puddle of her blonde hair splayed out beneath her. her thighs shook against either side of your head, muffling the melody of sweet moans and curses escaping her parted lips.
“oh, mmm… fuck!”
her perfectly manicured hands gripped the sheets, her knuckles turning white at how hard she was holding herself back, wanting to savour the feeling of your tongue lapping firmly at her swollen clit for the first time in days.
“missed you,” you moaned against her. “so much.”
sabrina whined in response, nodding. “i know. i can tell,” she quipped, breathlessly, a smile gracing her flushed face. “eating me like you’ve been starved, angel.”
you smirked against her—typical. even with her legs wrapped around your head and her pussy in your face, she still had the nerve to tease you.
you nipped at her puffy clit, gently, and pulled back, watching her mewl and buck her hips, chasing your mouth. her hazy eyes met your gaze, flickering between your irises in earnest.
“what?” she smiled, beaming with excitement and challenge.
“you know what,” you scoffed, licking your lips covered in her. your mouth found her inner thigh as you held eye contact with the smirking blonde, kissing over the small marks you’d left earlier that had stained her skin.
“oh, shut up. c’mon, finish the job,” sab whined, exasperated, watching you between her legs with a smirk still fixed to her face.
your eyes peered over her cunt, moving down from her face to her chest, observing the way it rose and fell with every breath. she smirked at the way your eyes lingered on her perked nipples.
she hummed, still watching you, and raised a hand, rolling her left nipple between her fingers. a small gasp escaped her, and an even bigger grin grew on her face. “c’mon… please?” she stuck out her bottom lip in a teasing pout.
she was too pretty for her own good. and too damn good at getting what she wanted.
you huffed, conceding as you found her folds with your tongue again. “pain,” you murmured, latching your lips around her clit once more.
the cocky expression fell from brina’s face as a wanton moan ripped its way out of her throat. there she was.
you could feel her pussy clenching around nothing against your chin, begging for attention. it was so needy that it was almost sweet. your hand left her outer thigh and snuck under your chin, circling her opening—teasingly.
sabrina moaned. “oh, please.”
you circled her entrance once more before sliding in your middle and ring fingers, gently curling them up into her. she fluttered around them, squeezing in appreciation at the welcomed intrusion.
her moans got louder as you sucked on her pretty pink clit and rubbed at that sweet spot inside her. you could feel her slick drenching your hand and the lower half of your face. she tasted like nothing you’d ever known—she was intoxicating, and she had you completely hooked without even trying.
her free hand gripped at your hair, trying to pull you further into her pussy. you grinned almost triumphantly when she began bucking her hips up into your face. what a sweet little thing.
“oh, my– please! i can’t– i’m so close.”
her whines were so heavenly; you could feel that familiar warmth beginning to pool in your lower stomach at the angelic sounds leaving her mouth.
your lips stayed suctioned around her bud—your tongue lapping at it, devouring her taste, and swallowing down the pretty noises made just for you.
your head was getting fuzzy, despite that old tiktok trend that circled your brain as you mindlessly licked at her cunt. maybe it was stupid, but you began spelling out her name with your tongue, wanting to see if she’d cum to her own name. you were way too deeply infatuated with the whimpering blonde in front of you to even try to stop yourself.
s… a loud mewl.
a… another.
b… her hips bucked.
r… a curse.
i… and another buck.
n… a pretty moan.
a… a loud gasp and a tight clench around your fingers.
“so close,” she cried out, her voice winded and strained. her grip in your hair became tighter, bunching it up in her palm, and you moaned against her, keeping steady the pace of your tongue and fingers inside her, trying to help her find her bliss.
she found it quickly, releasing another loud cry of pleasure. her walls clamped around your fingers in a flurry of tight motions, and her hips jerked in desperation, fighting with the overwhelming force of her orgasm.
you watched her rosy face contort in ecstasy, her eyes flashing black momentarily as she rode her high, still twitching against your mouth and around your fingers.
she was so wet—soaking your hand with her sweet essence. she smelled delicious, and she tasted even better. you kept up your practiced licks over her bud, collecting her taste on your tongue. you could hear her moans slowly revert back into breathless pants, followed by her cunt gently unclenching from around your pruned fingers.
her eyes met yours, and she smiled, biting her bottom lip. “mmm, fuck… felt so good.”
you kissed her pebbled clit one last time before pulling your face back, returning her smile. “oh, yeah? you don’t say.”
sabrina laughed, the sound sweet and still a little winded. “oh, shut up. c’mere…”
she tilted her head—inviting, sweet, needy.
“coming…” you murmured, gently slipping your fingers out from inside her sensitive walls. she gasped softly, still watching you.
you crawled up her body, carefully resting yourself against her bare chest. you grinned down at her face below yours. her light eyes sparkled, glimmering with love and satisfaction.
she met your lips with hers, smiling into the kiss before letting your tongues meet with fervour. sab moaned, greedily, at the taste of herself on your tongue, and her hands found your sides, pulling you down against her more.
the kiss was heated but quick. she pulled back, blinking away the haze in her eyes, and smirked, her rosy cheeks making her glittery eyes narrow teasingly. “did you spell my name down there, or was i imagining that?”
you laughed, feeling your cheeks heat up. caught. red-handed.
fig yaps: slayyy my first wlw fic !!!! was listening to slumber party by ashnikko and went hmmm !! lmk your thoughts <3
reblogs and feedback are appreciated !!
⟡ taglist: @cryingdew @thesevnthseal @angelically-yours @pieandflannel @faiiryfall @honeyyxxbee
(don’t really have a sabrina taglist yet so tagging ppl who seemed interested on my sab post from a little while back <3)
@mahi-wayy @femcelfidelio @starzify @vmiina @titsout4jackles @beausling @diner-girl @tinas111 @tidalmuse @ccainesideboob @cup1dz
click here to be added to my taglist <3
#༢ུ࿓ fig writes.ᐟ#sabrina carpenter#sabrina carpenter smut#sabrina carpenter fluff#sabrina carpenter imagine#sabrina carpenter drabble#sabrina carpenter x you#sabrina carpenter x reader#sabrina carpenter x fem!reader#sabrina carpenter x female reader#sabrina carpenter gf#sabrina carpenter wlw
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Something I wrote last night…
Yoongi x Female Reader
Warnings: Mentions of anxiety and mental health struggles, depression
Word Count: 2,345
🍉🍊🍉🍊🍉🍊🍉🍊🍉🍊🍉🍊🍉🍊🍉🍊🍉
Some days Yoongi gets like this. It has been happening since his teenage years. He doesn’t know how or why. From the moment he gets up and out of bed to the moment he finally lays down in that same spot at the end of the night he feels it. Anxiety, worry, guilt, and a little bit of sadness. He over thinks everything. Wonders if he’s doing too much and too little all at the same time. There is a dark cloud that follows over him the entire day causing him hardships that only he sees.
He accidentally cut off a car on his way to work. He didn’t mean to. A split second of poor judgement. There was no accident. No harm. The other person probably forgot about it seconds later, but not Yoongi. He thought about it all day, worried that the other person, a complete stranger, was still angry with him over it.
When he texted Jimin asking if he wanted to meet up for lunch he replied with a simple ‘sure what time?’ Jimin always included emojis in his texts. Always. It was annoyingly cute. Yoongi spent the rest of the morning spiraling and wondering what he did to upset his friend. In reality Jimin was running late to an appointment and just wanted to make sure he responded before he forgot because he always gets excited when Yoongi invites him out to lunch.
During these dark times his words always fail him the most. He tried working on songs that he has had in progress for months, but he got nowhere. He tried to start a new one only to spend two hours staring at a blank computer screen resulting in him just beating himself up even more. On the worst of days he’ll stop by Namjoon’s studio and hand him a piece of paper with the code to enter his own studio written on it. He’ll tell Namjoon to take whatever equipment he wants out of it and sell the rest because it’s of no use to him any more. Namjoon will smile and nod and wait for Yoongi to exit the room before tearing up the piece of paper and tossing it in the trash next to him. He doesn’t even read the numbers out of respect for his friend. He knows Yoongi will be right back there tomorrow morning ready to give it another try.
On the way back home after a long day is when Yoongi will have a realization that will cause the biggest struggle of them all.
He doesn’t deserve you. He doesn’t deserve to call you his wife or the love of his life.
He’s not good enough, not smart enough, not handsome enough. He’s not affectionate. He struggles greatly in these times of darkness and brings you down with him.
He’s not very romantic. Most of your dates consist of takeout and movies on the couch. He asked you to marry him on a Sunday morning while the two of you drank your coffee at the kitchen table. He didn’t even have a ring yet but you still said yes. You must have just felt pity for him.
He works hard for you. A nice house, nice cars, designer clothes, fancy vacations. He knows you could get all of that by yourself, but he wants to provide it for you. It makes him feel good, needed even. He’ll cook you an amazing dinner including dessert and will even wash every single dish afterwards, but will struggle to tell you how beautiful you look that same night.
He doesn’t know how to tell you how much he loves you. He’s tried. He can feel it in his chest so deeply it hurts, but for seem reason his brain struggles to let him say it to your face. Like his own security blanket, a way to protect his heart from getting broken once again.
So every night he waits until you’re asleep all snuggled and safe in his arms and then he’ll whisper it into your ear.
But what if that isn’t enough?
What if you want more than he can provide? What if you’re unhappy? What if you regret ever marrying him? What if you want a divorce? What if you’ve already found someone else? No one else will ever love you like he does, but someone else will be able to say they do.
Because at the end of the day he’s nothing special…he’s just Yoongi.
By the time he pulls into the parking garage he has tears spilling down his cheeks and his breathing is ragged. He parks in his assigned spot which is thankfully towards the back corner of the garage and lays the leather seat of his car back to try and calm down. He sets a timer and then uses his breathing techniques that he learned years ago to hopefully prevent his body from going into full panic mode.
After fifteen minutes the timer goes off and he starts to gather his things and heads up to your apartment.
His head is pounding and his chest aches. He knows he is moments away from crying again, but he enters your home anyways.
He knows you won’t judge him. You won’t question what’s wrong until he’s ready to talk and that only makes him feel even less worthy of having you in his life.
When Yoongi gets to the kitchen he sees an assortment of fruits and veggies spread out on the counter. It seemed like you had a good time at the local farmers market with your friend. He immediately eyes a very large basket of tangerines. A small smiles forms on his face for the first time that day.
Then he notices the watermelon sitting off to the side. It’s one of your favorites, but you have made it very clear how much you hate cutting them. The effort, the mess, the danger…he shudders at the memory of having to bandage your poor little pinkie finger after the knife slipped while you were trying to slice through the watermelon rind. Yoongi tells you all the time to just buy the precut ones from the grocery store but you refuse to spend the extra money and you also don’t want to use more plastic than necessary which he admires.
Yoongi moves around the kitchen with ease grabbing the cutting board and one of the bigger chefs knives. Silently he gets to working cutting through the watermelon making sure to get the pieces just to the size you like. He’s so focused on the task before him that he doesn’t hear you come into the kitchen and is startled when your arms wrap around his waist.
“When did you get home?”, you mumble into his back, “You should’ve came and got me.” The vibrations tickle slightly.
“Just a little bit ago.”, he smiles yet again, “I wanted to get this watermelon cut for you.”
You squeezed him a little tighter as a silent thank you. Yoongi feels his heart thud.
“Did you see the tangerines? They probably thought I was crazy buying so many of them, but I know they’re your favorite and these ones looked so ripe and juicy.”, you excitedly exclaimed already reaching for one to peel for him.
As Yoongi continues to cut away at the melon you sit on top of the counter and feed him pieces of the tangerine while he listens about your day.
Your favorite cafe has a limited time pineapple drink for the summer months, but you had already had your heart set on the hibiscus lemonade so you’ll have to try it another day. Yoongi makes a mental note to take you there for lunch tomorrow.
He finds himself genuinely laughing for the first time that day when you tell him about the bee that viciously chased after your friend causing her to run into a wall spilling her latte all over herself.
He gives you a questioning look when you tell him about the cute baby goats you saw at the farmers market. The two of you have had this conversation many times before because you refuse to accept that goats are not good pets for an apartment.
You grab a piece of the watermelon and pretend like you’re going to feed it to him just like you did with the tangerines only to pop it in your mouth at the last second instead.
“Oh we’re going to play that game huh?”, he questions playfully. Your giggles that follow sound better than any melody he’s ever written.
Then you grab another piece of the melon and this time you actually feed it to him. It’s juicy and sweet and it’s perfect just like you.
“Thank you for cutting up the watermelon. You know how much I loathe doing that.”, you say before placing a kiss on his cheek.
Yoongi grabs a piece of the melon and feeds it to you, “Any time jagiya.”, he whispers as he watches you happily enjoy the fruits of his labor.
“I’ll clean all this up. Go take a bath and get changed into something comfy.”, you say as you hop off of the counter, “I thought we could order some food tonight and start watching that new drama everyone’s talking about. Or…should I say I’ll watch the new drama while you watch the first ten minutes and then snore through the rest.”, you laugh.
Yoongi fakes offense, but deep down knows you’re 100% right so he ends up laughing with you before walking off to the bedroom.
On the bed you’ve already laid out his favorite sweats and tshirt. A new pair of fluffy lavender infused socks that you got for him at the farmers market today are next to them. In the bathroom you’ve already got his skin care put out on the counter and his favorite eucalyptus bubble bath is placed on the tub along with a brand new vanilla scented candle sitting next to it.
There’s also a new bottle of some fancy goat milk lotion you probably got at the farmers market today. A note taped to it reads, If we had our own pet goat I wouldn’t have to spend so much money on fancy lotions made by other people…Just saying.
The note makes him laugh and shake his head at the same time. He starts to get undressed until he’s hit with a wave of emotions so strong it makes him nauseated. He decides that he can’t take it any more so he goes to find you.
You’re still in the kitchen and when he calls your name you look at him with wide eyes and cheeks full of watermelon. He bites lip to keep from laughing.
He grabs your hand and pulls you back to the bathroom with him. The water is running. He adds a touch of the bubble bath and lights the candle.
Then he helps you out of your clothes before removing his own and gently guides you into the bath with him.
He takes a seat behind you ignoring the coldness of the porcelain on his back because he’s too focused on you sitting in front of him with your back firmly pressed against his chest.
Once the tub is filled up the two of you sit there in comfortable silence while he lovingly runs his fingers across your belly and thighs until you’re nearly asleep.
“Yoongi?”, you finally speak after a while. “Hmmm.”, he hums back.
“I love you.”
His heart races. Suddenly the room feels unbearably hot and is spinning. If it wasn’t for you being perched up against him he would’ve already left.
All of those bad thoughts from earlier return. Is he good enough to receive those words? What if you don’t mean that? You’re only saying it because that’s what a wife does. You deserve better than what he can provide?
His downward spiral is broken up by you continuing, “You don’t have to say it back. I know it’s not easy for you. And you tell me you love me every day in your own little ways. I just wanted to make sure I told you that today.”
Your words repeat in his head like a mantra and he relaxes back against the tub with you against him.
Maybe you are right. He may not be able to tell you in words how much he loves you and how much you mean to him, but he tries to show you in everything that he does.
Slowly as the night goes on the dark cloud that has been hanging above his head starts to dissipate.
When the bath is over the two of you fill yourselves on pizza and ice cream.
You show him pictures of goats that are up for adoption. He rolls his eyes and laughs but internally he’s panicking because he can feel his resolve breaking and he doesn’t know how many more times hes going to be able to tell you no on the goat thing, especially when you’ve been learning techniques to make puppy dog eyes from Jungkook. Yoongi just knows he’ll end up being a goat dad by the end of the year.
He manages to stay awake for a whole episode and a half of the new drama proving you wrong. It was a major struggle though.
When he does wake up you’re silently asleep on his shoulder. As comfy as it is he knows that if you both sleep on the couch you’ll be sore tomorrow so he gathers you in his arms and brings you to the bed. Moments later he’s right there next to you.
You snuggle into his side like you always do.
Yoongi takes a moment to admire your sleeping form. No matter how hard he tries he can’t believe this is his reality.
He didn’t know a love like this was possible. Maybe that is why he struggles so hard to comprehend it.
And even though he knows that he isn’t perfect and he has his dark days, he knows that it’s okay to feel like that because while he might be just Yoongi…he is your Yoongi and you are his and that’s all he will ever need in this world.
#bts#yoongi x reader#yoongi fanfic#bts x reader#bts fanfic#min yoongi#yoongi fic#yoongi x y/n#yoongi angst#bts yoongi#yoongi fluff#yoongi
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Thank you for your perspective! And yeah, that's one of the things I'm not sure anyone's mentioned yet -- tags are for personal organization as well as for discoverability.
Something I've been confronted by again and again over the years, in fandom and out, is that people will use a system they're presented with in the way that's easiest and least annoying for them.
You can explain how a system should be used until you're blue in the face, but unless they themselves find the system easier and more intuitive to use in the way you want, you're never going to get them to stick with it:
People are people, first and foremost.
Everyone here reading this has a life, worries, things they want to do off of tumblr. They don't want to think about what tags to include or not when they're just trying to share what they made, and go about their day. Talk with friends, have dinner. Trying to get people to remember a specific rule about not using a tag when it makes intuitive sense to them that they should? When they just want to move on with their day, because tags are the least exciting part of posting things on Tumblr Dot Com?
I don't think we can expect people to take that time, especially when the people still doing it don't see any downside.
The reason I'm suggesting adding -- that's right, adding this tag, not replacing the old tag, is because it's intuitive, and it's simple. It works with human nature instead of against it.
The people who benefit most from it are also the people who will need to go to the effort -- typing dponly into the tags after danny phantom -- and in return, we'll get a space with no crossovers.
I can't argue anyone out of being angry. After years of this argument, I think most of us are. But I think this will give everyone breathing room.
This would be used in addition to the danny phantom tag, turning it into a true umbrella tag for everything related to Danny Phantom, while having a few major sub-tags for people to find exactly what they want.
---
After some more discussion with members of the fandom in the notes of my poll asking about a community and elsewhere, it seems like the better option for everyone might actually be a new tag, so I'm making a new poll here!
Some answers to questions I think people might have are below the readmore:
Q: Why are all of these only one word?
A: For the same reason the dpxdc tag is only one word! Tumblr's tagging implementation is Not Good. Tags with spaces don't play well with it, and especially don't play well with blocked tags. If someone wants to block non-crossover Danny Phantom content, we want to make it as painless as possible for them.
Q: What issues were raised around communities?
A: A few! To name some of them:
Limited interactions with posts: Communities only let you react with emoji and leave comments on posts reblogged into them. Not great, if we want to have long reblog chains riffing on one another
Original Posters aren't notified if someone else reblogs their post into a community, even if it's public. So if someone reblogged your post into the community for you, you wouldn't know about it -- or know to look for people interacting with it.
Communities have mods, and therefore would need trustworthy, engaged mods to make it work. Over a short time frame, we could probably manage it! But over a longer one, a community for an entire fandom would probably have moderator drama. That could lead to fracturing, or people leaving specifically because they don't like the mods, etc. A tag is a lot less active maintenance.
A few people also expressed a general dislike for the feature, even if they were willing to move to one. This seems like a much smaller change that will let those people stay away from a feature they don't like, while interacting with the content they do.
Q: What about less-common crossovers? Won't those get excluded from this tag?
A: They will. I'm asking about this poll first because I figured getting the community to make a decision about the other crossovers would be easier if we'd already decided on the non-crossovers.
The current idea is to move those to their own tag as well, so they can get dedicated attention from the crossover enthusiasts who love them. One of the people I talked to about this runs the niche-dp-crossovers blog, so it's on the radar. If you have concerns or suggestions about that, the notes on this post is as good a place as any to suggest them!
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Stranded with the Lion
Summary: A trophy wife and her billionaire husband are left shipwrecked after a storm. What begins in resentment slowly transforms into survival, vulnerability, and unexpected love.
Pairing: Lionel Shahbandar × Fem! Reader
Warnings: Hunger, shipwreck.
Author's Notes: I’ve been working on this for days, and today I finally felt satisfied enough to post it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Also read on Ao3
You hugged your legs to your chest, chin resting on your knees, trying to keep your breathing quiet—trying not to sob out loud. The deck creaked beneath you with each gentle sway of the boat, but there was no comfort in the rhythm anymore. It had been a week.
Seven days since the storm hit.
Seven days since Lionel’s grand idea of a “simple coastal escape” turned into a salt-stained nightmare.
You remembered the first few hours—posing for pictures near the cliffs, wind catching your hair just right, Lionel lounging like some smug Mediterranean king at the helm, champagne in hand. You had been excited. Laughing. God, you were even wearing heels. And then, as if the universe had grown tired of your vanity, the sky turned black and the water rose up to swallow everything.
Now here you were: sunburned, sore, scared, with the sail torn to ribbons, the radio fried, the food nearly gone—and you couldn’t even fucking swim.
You wiped your face with the back of your hand and glanced over your shoulder. Lionel stood at the rear of the boat, shirtless now, sleeves of his button-up tied around his waist. He was crouched awkwardly with a makeshift fishing rod in his hands, the line dangling uselessly over the edge. His pale back glistened with sweat, his white hair plastered against his forehead in a way that made him look older—less like a lion, more like a tired, hungry man trying not to die at sea.
Your quiet sob must have reached him, because he exhaled sharply, the sound carrying over the stillness.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” he muttered, not turning around. “If I had a fish for every time you’ve cried this week, I’d have a fucking buffet.”
You stiffened, glaring at his back. “Go to hell, Lionel.”
“Bit late for that,” he called without missing a beat, voice dry and baritone-deep. “We’re already here. Sea’s just blue fire instead of red.”
You stood abruptly, the movement rocking the boat just enough to make your stomach twist. “I hate you,” you spat, voice hoarse from days without rest. “I swear to God, if I survive this, I’m leaving you the minute we hit land.”
He finally turned to face you. Hazel eyes shadowed under furrowed brows, nose hooked with disdain, mouth curled into that maddening smirk you used to find sexy in magazine spreads. “Darling,” he said, resting the rod across his knee, “if we survive this, I’ll personally pay for your divorce lawyer, the moving truck, and a bottle of Veuve to celebrate your freedom.”
Your eyes stung again. You turned and stomped down into the tiny cabin, slamming the trapdoor behind you. The heat inside was suffocating—no breeze, just stale salt air and the overwhelming scent of sweat and mildew. You collapsed onto the small bench in the corner, arms folded tight around yourself, staring at the wall.
You didn’t love Lionel.
You never had.
You married him for the lifestyle, the press, the yacht. You married him for the closet in Milan and the apartment in Dubai. For the way people stared when you walked into a room on his arm. And Lionel—he hadn’t cared. He married you for your legs. For the way your voice dropped when you said his name in bed. For the thrill of buying a trophy wife young enough to be his daughter and flexible enough to sit on his lap through board meetings.
Now? None of that mattered.
You were hungry. You were scared. You were stuck in a 32-foot coffin with a man who thought tuna came from a can and that GPS was a suggestion. And every time you looked at him, you wanted to scream.
But you didn’t.
You just sat there, arms wrapped around yourself, tears drying sticky on your face, wondering if this was how you’d die. Stranded with the lion. Hungry. Salty. And still wearing that ridiculous gold bracelet he gave you for your anniversary.
Up on the deck, you heard Lionel curse.
Then the rod snapped.
Then, louder: “Fucking brilliant.”
You closed your eyes and tried not to cry again.
Lionel came down a few minutes later, sweat-slick and flushed, carrying the broken remains of the makeshift fishing rod in both hands like the carcass of something he'd accidentally killed. His face was tight with frustration, jaw clenched, the curve of his mouth drawn into a thin, angry line. He didn’t say anything at first—just set the splintered rod down on the bench with a loud clatter and stared at it like it had betrayed him.
You watched him from your corner, silent.
He ran a hand through his damp white hair and bent over the pieces, as if willing them to become whole again. You didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Not until you couldn’t take the tense silence anymore.
“How’d you manage to break the only thing keeping us fed?” you asked softly, more weary than cruel.
Lionel didn’t look up. “I was trying to make it reach deeper. I thought I saw something moving further out. Pulled too hard. Snapped.”
You arched a brow. “Isn’t that your specialty? Overreaching and breaking things?”
That earned a quick glare—sharp, tired. Then he sat down, elbows on his knees, and dropped his head into his hands.
“I was trying to help,” he muttered, voice muffled but still carrying that unmistakable baritone weight. “There’s barely any food left, and I thought maybe… maybe I could catch something. Maybe for once in this gods-forsaken mess I could do something useful.”
You blinked.
It wasn’t the words that got you—it was the way he said them. Like someone ashamed. Like someone who knew he had failed.
“I don’t want to leave you hungry,” he added, quieter now.
That silenced you. Not because it was romantic. It wasn’t. But it was honest.
You studied him—this man who had once chartered private jets to pick up pastries in Paris, who had once lectured you about fabric textures while you tried not to fall asleep, who used to wear linen suits so crisp they looked like they could cut glass—and now he was hunched, shirtless, sunburned, and clutching a snapped stick like it was the only thing anchoring him to purpose.
Without thinking, you slid across the bench and put your arms around him.
He stiffened.
Then, slowly—almost reluctantly—his hands rose to rest on your back. One of them splayed wide, the other trembling slightly, like he hadn’t touched someone for comfort in years and wasn’t sure if he was allowed.
“We’ll figure it out,” you murmured into his shoulder. “Okay? We’ll work together this time.”
This time.
It didn’t fix the radio. It didn’t bring back the fish. But it changed something.
The days passed slowly, painfully, like the sea itself was testing your resolve.You rationed the remaining food, counting crackers like they were diamonds. Lionel tried to fish without a rod—using scraps of cloth and half-bent wire, sometimes even his bare hands. You worked on the sail, clumsy with knots but stubborn enough to keep trying. He pulled apart the broken radio, muttering to himself while you searched the boat for anything conductive.
When the nights got cold, you curled together without protest. You’d once paid extra to avoid economy class because you couldn’t stand “being touched by strangers,” and now you were curled into Lionel’s chest, his arms like a shield around you, his chest rising steady and warm against your back.
You talked.
Not polite society talk, not curated stories meant to impress. Real talk.
It was nearing dusk again, the sky bleeding soft streaks of pink across the sea like bruises on fading skin. You were lying across Lionel’s chest, his body warm and solid beneath you as the gentle creak of the boat filled the silence. His fingers traced lazy circles on your back, more out of habit than intimacy. Your head rose and fell with the rhythm of his breath, and for once… things didn’t feel quite as hopeless.
You’d just finished telling him a story about a miserable internship you once did for a fashion magazine—how they made you steam linen suits in five-inch heels and screamed if your eyeliner smudged.
“…And the lunch breaks were just dry lettuce with half an avocado,” you finished with a theatrical shudder. “Like, ‘oh, this is what the rich eat? Despair salad?’”
Lionel snorted, voice rumbling deep beneath your ear. “Despair salad sounds like something I’d buy for a model and never touch.”
You smiled against his skin. Then, for some reason, the words just slipped out: “I hate olives.”
Lionel blinked. “You hate olives?”
“Despise them,” you groaned, burying your face in the hollow of his shoulder. “They taste like spoiled wine and regret.”
He barked a laugh, eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’re joking.”
“Nope.”
“You ate one. In your martini. The night we met.”
You groaned louder, hiding your face entirely in his chest now. “I know.”
Lionel laughed even harder, full-bodied now, baritone echoing against the wooden hull. “You actually ate it. Swallowed it. Didn’t even flinch.”
“I practiced,” you confessed, muffled. “In the mirror. Twice.”
“Oh, that’s rich,” he grinned. “Was that part of the seduction strategy? Impress the old billionaire with your tolerance for bitter fruit?”
You poked his side, heat flooding your cheeks. “I thought it looked sexy.”
“It did,” Lionel admitted, still chuckling. “I just assumed you had terrible taste. Turns out, you were just… determined.”
You groaned again. “Ugh. I thought you’d be into it. You know, the sultry, ‘I’ll have what he’s having’ type of thing. And I wanted to seem… adult.”
He shifted slightly beneath you, one hand coming up to toy with a strand of your hair. “You already were adult. That dress alone could’ve shut down parliament. I’m fairly sure three waiters dropped their trays.”
You peeked up at him through your lashes. “And you?”
“I nearly dropped my jaw,” he said, completely unashamed. “Though it might’ve been the heels. Or the legs. Or the total lack of a bra.”
You laughed softly, letting your head fall back to his chest. Silence stretched, warm and comfortable.
Then it was your turn. “Tell me something embarrassing about you.”
Lionel exhaled dramatically. “Where do I start?”
“Anywhere.”
He hummed. “Alright. I… had a nanny until I was seventeen.”
You blinked. “What?”
“She was Swiss. Her name was Marguerite. She made me porridge and slapped my wrist every time I tried to put sugar in it.”
You sat up, incredulous. “Seventeen?!”
“I wasn’t in diapers, darling. By then she was more of a… house warden. But yes. I was very—” he sniffed, mock dignified, “—very precious to my mother.”
You tried not to laugh. Failed. “What the hell?”
“She was overprotective. Insufferably so. I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere alone until university.”
“Was that your first time unsupervised?”
He smirked. “I made up for lost time.”
You raised a brow. “Is that when the womanizing began?”
“I call it ‘intensive charm deployment.’” His grin was mischievous now. “But yes. And my cousin Sinclair never let me forget the Marguerite years.”
You tilted your head. “Sinclair? You’ve mentioned him before.”
“We were raised almost like brothers,” Lionel said, stretching his arm behind his head. “He’s the sweet one. Always the talker. Always ready to hug someone or offer a biscuit. Bit naïve at times. But loyal.”
“Do you think…” you hesitated, eyes on the fading horizon, “he’s looking for you now?”
Lionel didn’t even blink. “Yes. Absolutely.”
You looked at him, surprised by the certainty in his voice.
“I know him,” he added. “He’s probably got every helicopter between here and Gibraltar on standby. He doesn’t give up. Especially not on family.”
You swallowed, heart twisting at the conviction in his tone.
Lionel turned his head slightly to study you. “What about you?” he asked quietly. “Anyone out there searching?”
You hesitated. Then, quietly: “No. Of course not.”
He frowned. “Surely—”
“My mom died when I was twenty,” you interrupted. “Cancer. Fast. Brutal. My dad left when I was little. Walked out on her. On me.”
Lionel stayed quiet, gaze fixed.
“The last time I heard from him,” you continued, voice dull, “was the day after we got married. He called. Not to congratulate me. He wanted money. Said he ‘always knew I’d marry rich.’ Said I owed him.”
Lionel’s jaw clenched.
“I hung up on him,” you whispered. “Haven’t spoken since.”
Silence fell.
Then, finally, he spoke.
“…Was that why you were so awful the day after the wedding?” he asked, his voice careful. Baritone low. Rougher than usual. “I thought you regretted it. Marrying me. Like the money had been worth it, but I hadn’t.”
You blinked. Lifted your head slowly to look at him.
His hazel eyes met yours, tired but open. “You were cold,” he continued, “snapping at everyone, barely speaking to me. I remember thinking: ‘She got what she wanted, and now she’s done playing nice.’” He huffed softly, not unkindly. “It made me… a little angry.”
You stared at him, brows drawing in. “Is that why you spent the rest of the week sulking around Monaco, dragging me to meetings, canceling the rest of the honeymoon?”
Lionel didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
You saw it in his face. You sat up just enough to really see him. Your chest hurt—tight, full of too many things you didn’t have words for yet. All this time you’d thought he was bored with you. Disappointed. Regretting the marriage already. But now, sitting here in the wreckage of everything, it was suddenly so clear.
There had been so many goddamn misunderstandings.
You’d been grieving your mother, your sense of identity—desperate to prove that marrying him hadn’t made you weak or shallow. And Lionel… Lionel had assumed the worst, because he’d always expected to be used. He thought you’d gotten what you wanted and discarded him like a receipt.
You thought he didn’t care.
He thought you didn’t.
And in the silence that had followed, your marriage had folded in on itself like a paper crown—shiny, fragile, hollow.
You looked at him now—the lines at the corners of his eyes, the stubborn set of his jaw, the way he watched you like he wasn’t sure if he’d made things better or worse.
You lay back down, placing your cheek against his chest again. Slid one hand over his heart.
“We were idiots,” you whispered.
Lionel let out a soft breath—maybe a laugh, maybe not.
“I thought you didn’t care,” you continued, voice muffled slightly by his skin. “You threw money at me like it was your only language. And I—God, Lionel, I acted like a brat. Bought everything I could. Let you spoil me. Let you fuck me like you owned me, and I thought… maybe that was all we were ever going to be.”
His arm tightened around your waist.
You didn’t look up. You didn’t need to anymore.
“I think we both hid behind it,” you said softly. “You gave me your credit card, and I gave you my body. Neither of us asked for more.”
Lionel didn’t speak for a long time. His thumb just stroked the bare skin at your hip, slow, steady.
Then you said it.
“I’m going to die out here.”
Lionel flinched beneath you, but you kept going.
“I know it. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow—but I can feel it. And I need you to know something.”
He stilled completely.
You pressed your face tighter against his chest, your voice barely a whisper. “The only thing I regret now is not letting myself fall in love with you.”
Silence.
Then, slowly, his arms came around you fully. Tight. Anchoring.
His voice, when it finally came, was raw—scraped down to the bone. “You always had my fucking heart, you insufferable woman,” Lionel whispered, his lips in your hair. “Even when you were stealing my champagne and hogging the duvet.”
You smiled. And for the first time in a long, long while—
You didn’t feel alone.
Two days later, just before dawn, Lionel’s voice sliced through your dream like the edge of a wine glass.
“Darling,” he murmured, and you felt a finger trace a warm line down your spine. “Get up.”
You groaned into the folds of his chest, where your face had apparently ended up sometime during the night. “No,” you muttered. “Dead. I’ve died. Tell Sinclair.”
Lionel chuckled, low and rough, still heavy with sleep. “If you’ve died, you’re a very affectionate corpse. Now come on.”
You groaned louder, curling further into the blanket that barely smelled like anything anymore. Just sun and sea and Lionel’s skin. “Why?”
“Because,” he said, sitting up with a rustle of old sheets and stiff limbs, “there’s something I want you to see.”
“Let me guess. Another storm cloud shaped like your profile?”
“No,” he said patiently. “Though I’m flattered you think the heavens themselves resemble me. But no. It’s something better. Come.”
You peeked one eye open and glared at him.
He was shirtless again, of course. Skin slightly peeling at the shoulders from sun exposure, his white hair wild from the pillow, salt-dried and sticking up like a mad professor. His cheeks were leaner now—sharpened by hunger—but his hazel eyes still sparkled with something annoyingly smug.
“Lionel,” you groaned. “I’m tired. I have enough energy to blink and insult you, and barely in that order.”
“I’ll carry you if I must,” he offered.
You blinked slowly. “You can’t even carry the fishing rod without breaking it.”
He grinned. “Touché.”
Despite yourself, you sat up. Bones creaked. Muscles protested. You were lightheaded and sore and so goddamn tired you could cry. But something in Lionel’s face—some stubborn brightness—pulled at you like a thread you didn’t want to break.
You wrapped the thin sheet around your shoulders and followed him up the ladder.
The morning air hit you like a kiss: cool, fresh, kissed with salt. The sky was the color of diluted ink, the first pale gold of dawn beginning to bleed across the water like soft fire. Lionel moved ahead of you, bare feet soundless on the damp deck, his silhouette dark against the horizon.
Then—
“Look,” he said softly, pointing.
You squinted, and your breath caught.
Dolphins.
At least five of them, maybe more—breaking the surface in smooth arcs, their backs gleaming like wet onyx in the morning light. One leapt, twisting mid-air, landing with a soft splash that sent ripples shimmering toward the boat. Another swam parallel to the hull, close enough that you could see the shape of its eyes, the grace of its body cutting through the sea.
You stood in stunned silence, the sheet slipping down your arms.
Lionel glanced back at you, his grin quiet now, gentler. “They came about an hour ago. I watched them circle once. Thought they were gone. But then…”
He shrugged. “They came back.”
You stepped forward, barefoot, heart thudding. The sight was surreal. Gentle. Almost sacred.
“They’re beautiful,” you whispered.
Lionel nodded. “They are.”
You turned your face toward him—and saw something you hadn’t expected.
He wasn’t looking at the dolphins anymore.
He was looking at you.
“You should see your face,” he murmured.
You blinked. “What?”
“That look,” he said, his voice soft, baritone still rough with sleep. “Peace. You look… peaceful.”
You opened your mouth, but no words came. The dolphins dove again, sleek backs disappearing beneath the surface, only to rise seconds later on the other side.
You looked back at them, your throat tight. For a long time, neither of you spoke. You just stood there together, shoulder to shoulder, watching something wild and free remind you that the world was still out there. That there was more than just hunger and storms and salt and cracked wood.
Lionel reached for your hand.
You let him take it.
His palm was calloused now, rough from rope and days of makeshift labor, but his grip was steady. Warm. Real.
After a long silence, he leaned in and murmured, “Told you it was better than a cloud shaped like me.”
You laughed, quiet and real.
“You’re still smug,” you said.
“I’m still me,” he replied.
And then, after a pause:
“But I think I’m also yours. If you want me.”
You didn’t answer right away. You just squeezed his hand. The dolphins leapt again.
And for the first time in weeks, you didn’t feel stranded.
You felt saved.
Of course, the peace didn’t last.
Not with the sea. Not with you.
That night, the clouds rolled in without warning—again—and the calm that had settled like silk across the deck was ripped away by the roar of thunder and the bite of a wind that felt like it wanted to skin you alive.
You both knew the signs now. The sharp shift in the air, the way the gulls vanished, the low, metallic scent that slid into your mouth like the taste of blood. Lionel was at the helm before the first drop of rain hit, baritone already snapping commands over the wind.
“Get below, now!”
You were barefoot, wrapped in that old sheet still damp from your shoulders at dawn, and you didn’t move.
Lionel’s eyes darted to you. “I said get in the cabin!”
“I’m not leaving you!”
He snarled—yes, actually snarled—like a lion cornered in the dark. “You can’t swim! I’m not going to let you fall overboard just so you can feel useful!”
“I’m not feeling useful!” you snapped, gripping the hatch rope with both hands. “I am useful! And I’m not hiding in that coffin while you get thrown around up here like a fucking ragdoll!”
Lightning cracked across the sky.
“God damn it, woman, for once in your life, stop being so bloody stubborn!”
But you didn’t. You were already moving, trying to secure the canvas with fraying rope, your palms raw from the salt and wind, your heart thundering with more than just fear—it was defiance. Desperation. Something deeper than survival.
The storm hit full-force.
Waves crashed like fists against the hull. Rain pelted the deck in sheets, and wind howled through the broken sail with a voice like a thousand ghosts. Lionel was soaked, white hair plastered to his forehead, lips drawn into a snarl of concentration as he gripped the wheel with both hands, bracing his whole body against the current.
And then it happened.
The wave didn’t rise—it rose.
It came from the side like a goddamn wall. You didn’t even see it until it was too late. Lionel turned just in time to see you thrown backward, rope still in your hands, your feet skidding out from under you on the slick deck.
“No—!”
You hit the railing, and then you were gone.
Over.
Into the dark.
Lionel screamed.
“NO! NO—FUCK—BABY!”
He abandoned the helm, boat veering hard to port as the wheel spun free. He lunged to the edge, gripping the slick railing, scanning the inky black water as it surged around the hull.
“Where are you—?! GODDAMN IT—! NO!”
Lightning flashed—no sign of you.
He was shaking, trembling, braced against the rain like a madman, baritone voice hoarse as he shouted your name into the wind, over and over.
“Come back—come the fuck back! I didn’t mean it—anything I said, all of it, take it—take the ring, the bank account, the car, fuck it—fuck it all! You hear me?!”
He slammed a fist against the deck, slipping, frantic.
“I’ll sell the house in Provence!” he screamed, wild now. “That stupid fucking villa! I’ll burn the paintings! Just come back—!”
The next flash of lightning revealed your fingers—clutching the edge of the railing. Then your soaked head appeared, eyes wide, wild, and furious as your elbow hooked the edge of the boat.
“There’s no fucking way,” you screamed over the wind, “that you’re giving up that house!”
Lionel froze, mid-crawl toward the life ring. You hauled yourself over the side with a groan, drenched and shaking, hair in your eyes, salt water dripping from your mouth as you collapsed onto the deck, coughing violently.
Lionel was there in an instant, slipping on the wet wood as he scrambled toward you.
“You—fucking—insane—woman,” he gasped, grabbing your arms. “What the hell were you—?!”
“You—idiot!” you wheezed, jabbing your finger into his chest. “That house has a wine cellar, you selfish bastard!”
He gaped at you.
You both looked ridiculous—soaked, trembling, screaming over the rain like you were in a Shakespearean disaster.
And then he laughed.
It wasn’t elegant. It was ugly. Choked. Wild.
You stared at him, blinking, still heaving seawater out of your lungs.
“I just—” he coughed, dragging you into his arms, wet and shaking. “I just promised to burn my inheritance for you.”
You laughed, hoarse and exhausted. “And I nearly drowned for a fucking wine cellar.”
You both sat there, wrapped around each other, clinging like castaways—because that’s what you were. Bruised and battered. Idiots.
But alive.
He kissed you then. Salt and desperation and trembling fingers in your hair. And when he pulled back, his baritone rough and ragged, all he said was:
“Next time, you’re going below.”
You raised a brow. “You sure? I seem to be quite buoyant.”
He groaned, cradling your face like it would shatter. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
The sun was merciless that morning—bleached white and sharp as bone. The water had gone still again, deceptively calm, as if the sea itself was holding its breath. You sat on the deck, legs stretched out, Lionel’s head resting heavily in your lap, your fingers carding gently through the damp white strands clinging to his scalp. He was burning. His skin was flushed with heat, his breaths shallow and uneven, eyes fluttering open only to squint painfully against the light.
You were scared.
Not that lingering, exhausted fear you’d lived with since the storm. This was worse. Immediate. Closer. Lionel was slipping. The cheeky bastard who used to monologue about the curvature of Roman statues while sipping champagne now barely had the strength to curse. He’d spent the night mumbling nonsense—half dreams, half memories—mostly about contracts, missing cufflinks, and Marguerite telling him not to eat figs before dinner.
“Lionel,” you murmured, brushing the sweat from his temple. “Stay with me.”
He blinked slowly, mouth dry, tongue sluggish against cracked lips. “Mmm. Thought I told you not to wear white to a funeral…”
You almost laughed. Almost.
Instead, you whispered, “This isn’t a funeral.”
He smiled weakly. “Then why… does it feel like one?”
You bit your lip, adjusting his head in your lap as gently as you could. His skin was radiating heat—too much. You’d done what you could. Made a little shade with what was left of the canvas, kept a wet cloth pressed to his forehead, whispered stories into his ear even when he didn’t answer.
But it wasn’t enough.
And then—you heard it.
A low hum, distant at first, barely registering. Then louder.
Rotor blades.
You stiffened, eyes snapping to the sky. There—far off, cutting across the sky like a black insect against the pale blue—a helicopter.
Your heart stuttered. “Lionel,” you breathed. “Lionel, there’s—there’s a helicopter—”
He groaned softly, eyes still closed. “Tell them to bring Scotch.”
You moved. Quickly. Carefully. You shifted his head from your lap, lowering it onto a bundle of what used to be your jacket. He grunted in protest, weakly reaching for your hand.
“Don’t…” he rasped. “Don’t go.”
“I’m not going far,” you whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I promise.”
But he didn’t hear you. You scrambled down into the cabin, heart pounding like a war drum. Where—where was the flare gun? You’d seen it. Days ago. Somewhere near the emergency radio, back when you still had the energy to hope.
You tore open drawers. Ripped through bags. Shoved aside tangled wires, cracked plastic, anything that wasn’t red and metal and life-saving.
The sound of the helicopter grew louder.
Outside, Lionel was trying to sit up.
“Darling…” he muttered, voice hoarse, “there’s a… noise. Sounds like... tax season.”
You found it.
Jammed behind a cracked tackle box and a rusted pair of scissors. The flare gun.
Loaded.
You bolted up the ladder, bare feet slamming against the scorched deck. The helicopter was almost overhead now, circling. You screamed—waved both arms—held the gun high and fired.
A sharp hiss.
A streak of red against the blue sky. The flare exploded in a bright, desperate arc.
You waved again, jumping, screaming until your throat burned. “Here! Down here! Please—God, please—here!”
You didn’t stop waving until the helicopter dipped lower, until the downdraft of the blades buffeted your body and sent Lionel’s hair whipping across his cheeks like sea-threaded silk.
He blinked blearily up at the sky, shielding his eyes with a trembling hand. Lionel heard it faintly at first—just a sharp cry muffled by the whipping blades of the helicopter. Then louder. Clearer. A voice that didn’t belong to the rescue crew. A voice that pierced through the roar of the engine and the groaning of the sea.
“LEO!”
He froze.
No one had called him that in years.
“LEO, YOU STUBBORN, GLORIOUS BASTARD! I CAME TO SAVE YOU!”
His head jerked toward the sound, sunburned brows furrowed in disbelief. Then, slowly—like a man emerging from a fever dream—Lionel stood, swaying slightly, one hand gripping the scorched railing of the boat.
He knew that voice.
“Oh my God,” he muttered, blinking hard against the sting of wind and salt. “Sinclair?”
Your hand was already on his back, steadying him as he leaned forward—and then you both saw him.
The helicopter was descending, blades cutting the air in violent arcs, and clinging to the open door with a windbreaker half-flapping off his shoulder, a headset crooked over his ear and a ridiculous grin stretched across his face, was a man who looked… exactly like Lionel.
Well, almost.
His hair was a faded blond, not white, windswept and unruly like it had once been tamed and forgotten how. He had the same nose, the same cheekbones, the same hazel eyes—though Sinclair’s eyes seemed almost green in the harsh morning light, wide with excitement and tear-pricked relief.
His mouth moved constantly—words spilling out, mostly drowned by the rotor, but his joy was unmistakable. He waved like a man greeting old friends at a school reunion, already trying to unclip his harness midair.
“Oh my God,” you breathed, staring at him in stunned awe. “That’s Sinclair?”
Lionel didn’t answer right away. He was leaning forward like his knees might give out, blinking hard, his throat bobbing.
You’d never seen him look like that.
Not stunned. Not undone.
Not like this.
“He came,” Lionel murmured. “He actually—”
He didn’t finish. Instead, he cupped both hands around his mouth and shouted into the wind, baritone rasping with hoarse glee:
“DID YOU BRING WHISKEY?”
There was a beat of laughter from above.
Then Sinclair reached into his vest—of course he had a vest—and triumphantly produced a small silver flask. He held it aloft like a torch, grinning like he’d just cracked the code to eternal life.
“I NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT IT!” he bellowed.
And Lionel… nearly cried.
He laughed instead, a strangled sound—half sob, half bark of joy—and slumped back against you, his sun-scorched head resting on your shoulder, his chest shaking with the weight of a week’s worth of despair finally cracking.
“God, I love that idiot,” he muttered, voice thick. “Bloody sunshine-wrapped nightmare.”
You wrapped your arms around his waist, steadying him as he sagged with emotion, your own eyes burning.
Sinclair was being helped down onto the deck now, feet hitting the wood with a surprising amount of grace for a man waving a flask and talking at full speed.
He reached Lionel in three long strides and immediately grabbed his face in both hands like he might never see it again.
“Jesus, Leo—look at you,” he said, blinking rapidly. “You look like one of those salted cods we used to trade for ice cream in Saint-Tropez.”
Lionel choked on a laugh, grabbing Sinclair’s wrists. “You’ve looked better yourself. What is this shirt? Are those birds?”
“They’re cranes,” Sinclair sniffed. “Symbol of longevity.”
“Of course they are,” Lionel groaned, pulling him into a one-armed hug. “God, you ridiculous, brilliant bastard.”
You stepped back slightly to give them space—and watched, stunned, as the man who once refused to share a couch cushion with you clung to his cousin like he hadn’t touched another human in years.
Sinclair stepped back after a beat, eyes glinting with mischief. “You know,” he said, flicking imaginary dust from Lionel’s shoulder, “I think I’ve finally done it.”
“Done what?”
“Become the most handsome in the family.”
Lionel rolled his eyes, still smiling. “I’ve nearly died, and you’re already measuring your jawline.”
Sinclair turned to you suddenly, as if remembering you were real. “And you must be the woman who somehow convinced this marble statue of a man to marry her.”
You blinked. “You know about me?”
“Of course I do. He wouldn’t shut up about you—sent me messages for weeks. 'She has a laugh like thunder.' 'She wears heels like weapons.' 'She smells like death and jasmine.' It was very poetic, if slightly concerning.”
Lionel groaned. “I did not say that.”
“You did,” Sinclair grinned, then leaned in, dropping his voice conspiratorially. “He even practiced your name when he thought no one was listening.”
You smiled despite yourself, heart thudding.
Lionel groaned again. “Can we throw him back in the sea?”
Sinclair clapped him on the shoulder, hard. “Not until you drink this,” he said, unscrewing the flask and shoving it into Lionel’s hand. “Rescue protocol. One gulp for health. Two for morale.”
Lionel took it, downed a swallow, and sighed so deep it rattled through his chest.
You stepped forward again, lacing your fingers through his.
And Sinclair—chatty, sun-kissed Sinclair—gave you both one long look. The kind that said he was smarter than he let on. The kind that saw past salt and sweat and broken sails. He smiled, softer now.
“You’ll be alright,” he said.
You didn’t know if he meant the ride, or the future, or the two of you together. But as the rescue crew began lowering supplies and preparing the stretcher for Lionel, as Sinclair pulled out a paperback from his pocket and started explaining, unprompted, how dolphins often guided lost ships to shore in Greek myths, as Lionel pressed your hand to his chest and whispered “home,” like it was a promise—
You believed it.
You were saved.
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