#except for ocs that's next Wednesday :)

[crunchybeards]

waiter waiterrrr more bug yaoi pleaseee

COWARD! GET OFF OF ANON AND REVEAL YOUR BUG YAOI LOVING SINFUL SELF BEFORE THE COURT.

...You're lucky that I was planning on making stickers for these two anyway.

[chilling-seavey]

Lessons in Lust and Other Illicit Desires (gr63) —ELEVEN

↳ A/N A little chapter in a different format to mix it up a little. This one's something to read 🤭 I hope you enjoy hehe

↳ Series Summary: Sensible, wise, and a hopeless dreamer, Rosaline was used to men not giving her a second glance. She soon discovered it was merely those mundane college boys who were nothing more than simply intimidated by her intellect. What she needed was a man — someone who could impart knowledge beyond the Classics and guide her in discovering her own confidence as a woman. The thrill of sneaking around with the ever-so-charmingly handsome Professor Russell was certainly a bonus.

↳ Pairings: OxfordProfessor!George Russell x Innocent!Student!OC, Max Verstappen x Charles Leclerc (background)

↳ Chapter Word Count: 4.0k

↳ Chapter Warnings: 18+, nsfw, mega secondhand embarrassment (Sadie had to take a break when beta reading—), nudes, sexting.

Rosaline was sure she was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It had been well over two weeks since she had gone down on Professor Russell under his desk and, thus, two weeks since she had so much as touched him. They had sworn to cease any and all interactions on campus outside of the normal professor/student relationship guidelines, meaning absolutely nothing had happened since that Wednesday in his office. Perhaps she should contemplate checking herself into an institution with how much her mind had been preoccupied and itching for more of those forbidden desires.

It didn’t help in the slightest as she found herself at her usual spot at her desk one school night, eyes honed in on her laptop screen, and yet immensely distracted by the rhythmic thud thud thud coming from the adjacent dorm room. Through the wall, the faintest of muted moans could be heard alongside it, almost too entirely dramaticized for what Rosaline figured was realistically accurate. Even still, she found herself zoning out to the rhythmic noises, fantasizing about if it really did feel that good. 

Her eyes flicked to her noise-canceling headphones resting on her desk, her trusty companion on those nights her neighbour brought home yet another conquest. Except, unlike those previous frustration-stemmed nights, her fingers didn’t reach for them. It all felt a little wrong; sitting there just listening. Yet, it wasn’t like her neighbour had any courtesy about trying to be quiet anyway. It wasn’t Rosaline’s fault she had ears and the room next door. 

The growing stirring in her stomach and the way her fingers tightened into her palms were drawing her towards the realization that her annoyance was now replaced with an undeniable feeling of jealousy. How dare her roommate get to bring home whatever guy she was into and do whatever she pleased without the need or concern to be secretive? Rosaline slouched back in her chair with her arms crossing over her chest, and she looked up towards the ceiling and let out a huff.

Despite her friends not being aware of the details as to who she had been involved with, they were very aware of what had been going down. In the two weeks since she and George had last shared a moment, she had talked her friends’ ears off plenty about it and how much she missed it; the thrill, the passion, the way it made her body and mind feel. She told them a little white lie that he was busy with his lectures and work and there hadn’t been time to meet up. They bought it well enough. 

Never before had she been desperate for a man’s attention. In fact, for her whole life up to that point, she always made fun of such girls. Now she was no better. Maybe she just understood them on a deeper level, realizing that there was perhaps something instinctual in that desire, that craving to be the one who was wanted. Max’s solution to this situation—albeit unwarranted at the time—suddenly lingered in the forefront of Rosaline’s mind as she sat there at her desk with that burning need to do something. 

“Send him nudes. Guys love that shit. That’ll definitely make him talk to you.”

Like they were the angel and devil on her shoulder, Charles’ voice echoed just as strongly, 

“Not full nudes; that does not send him a good message. Don’t encourage her with that, Max.”

“Alright, tasteful nudes then.”

Rosaline glanced down at what she was wearing; an Oxford crewneck and an unflattering pair of what anyone else would describe as granny panties. Not her best work but, in reality, when had she ever needed anything more than that? She had never had any reason to impress anyone beneath her clothes. 

Even still, her attention drifted across her dorm room to the dresser in the corner, the top drawer hiding away her underwear. It wouldn’t hurt to look…just to take inventory of her selection. 

Her one lacy thong stared up at her from her hands above the open drawer of modest briefs. In a rich maroon that coincidentally matched the colour of the Oxford logo embroidered on her grey crewneck, they seemed to be her best and only option. With her neighbour still going at it through their adjoining wall, Rosaline changed into the new pair of panties. 

She felt utterly ridiculous as she positioned her full length mirror at the side of her bed. How did one even do this? How does one even know what poses to do? Ever the researcher, Rosaline sat on her bed and googled it. 

And ever the perfectionist, she was still trying to take the perfect picture well until her neighbour’s room went quiet. 

Embarrassingly long later, Rosaline was back at her desk, one leg tucked up underneath her and the email draft written and waiting on her laptop screen. Of course, she didn’t have George’s number so his email would have to do. Classy. Emailed, tasteful nudes.

She scrolled back down to her four image attachments for a final review. With a careful eye, she analyzed the placement of the hem of her Oxford sweater that showed off just enough of the maroon lace beneath, critiqued how the poses she took from the internet did wonders for the curves of her body in the reflection of her mirror, how her body was bathed in the warmth of her fairy lights above her bed. For a moment, she could hardly even recognize herself. 

Was it tasteful? Sure, she thought. It didn’t show much of anything; simply a peek to keep him wondering. With a breath, she pressed ‘send’ and then slammed her laptop shut.

To: george.russell@english.ox.ac.uk From: rosaline.kent@pembroke.ox.ac.uk Subject: Extra Credit Submission — Confidential [image.jpg] [image2.jpg] [image3.jpg] [image4.jpg]

The regret came by the next morning, as if sleeping on it suddenly knocked her brain back into thinking sensibly. It didn’t help that she woke up to no reply from George, leaving her risky email sitting in her “sent” folder. What was she thinking?! She should have known that it was a bad idea; and she looked corny and ridiculous in the photos when she looked back at them with a pit of dread in her stomach that morning. 

What was done was done and she tried to tell herself there was no point in stressing about it now as she navigated the campus with her headphones on, walking to the beats of her favourite playlist. Easier said than done. It was hard to focus on her music when her mind was in a tizzy trying to convince her that she should throw in the towel and drop out before he had a chance to laugh in her face. The google-inspired poses she pulled in her mirror the night before were haunting her. 

At least she didn’t have to face George for the rest of the week; his class and their 1-1 had passed earlier in the week already. She could hide herself away in shame in peace. Maybe by next week, when she’d have to face him again, he’ll just act like it never happened, like he never received it, and things could go back to their normal tension. 

As she walked briskly along the cloisters of New College towards the building where her Thursday morning class resided, Rosaline passed by faces and bodies in a blur. And yet, as she turned the last corner, the blur of the strangers around her fell away to the clarity of Professor Russell’s lean figure at the far end of the passageway. He was leaning against the old stone walls of the buildings, laptop bag slung over his shoulder and creasing the fabric of his light trench coat he wore that cool spring morning. His downcast gaze was focused on his phone in one hand, a travel cup of coffee in his other, his eyebrows furrowed slightly in concentration as he scrolled through his phone. The sight of him there had Rosaline halting in her tracks—causing a few disgruntled students around her to bump into her—and she hurriedly took a second to figure out another route to her classroom so she wouldn’t have to risk passing him by. But in her nervous scanning, her eyes ended up locking on his. 

George pushed off the wall and pocketed his phone, his expression chillingly neutral as he stared at her. Rosaline didn’t even bother looking back as she immediately turned on her heel and started out across the courtyard to make a clean getaway, playing it off like she didn’t see him at all. She kept her head down, heart racing, entirely unprepared for any sort of conversation with him and certainly not wanting to start now. 

“Rosaline!” 

She kept walking despite his call, feeling him trailing after her brisk walk across the grassy courtyard to the opposite side of the cloisters. At not even nine in the morning, the courtyard was almost entirely empty, meaning her beeline across it was entirely unprotected from the possibility of hiding between the usual cliques of students that lounged on the grass. It also meant that the students commuting through the cloisters were privy to the sight of the professor calling after his student in a slightly awkward half walk, half jog. 

When Rosaline reached the opposite side of the courtyard, George had caught up to her. She couldn’t play coy any longer without it looking suspicious to the passing students. 

“Miss Kent.” George repeated a little firmer as she relented and slowed. 

Rosaline took a breath and then turned to face him, hiking her bag higher on her shoulder. She offered a pulled tight smile. 

“Oh, Professor Russell, I didn’t see you.” she played it off in a slight breathless voice from her panicked speed-walk. 

George’s expression was doubtful but he didn’t press her on her lie, all too aware of the students and other faculty bustling past. Instead, he continued, “Yes, well, I’m glad I caught you. I had a matter I wished to speak with you about.” 

Before she could reply, he was gently grasping her arm and leading her into one of the alcoves along the perimeter of the cloisters, where, back in centuries past, horse and carriages would enter into the College grounds. Away from the crowds of students and faculty, they had a moment of rare solitude, a quiet away from the bustling crowds to stand in the open top vestibule of the abandoned gates.

Rosaline’s heart was racing as they fell to a stop and he released her arm so she could turn to face him. His expression was as stone as the walls that framed them and she suddenly felt very claustrophobic. 

George’s voice was firm and low, standing close to her so as to not be overheard, “What were you thinking, Rosaline?”

Rosaline could hardly get her wits about her enough to formulate a response, stammering stupidly for a second, staring at the seriousness behind his eyes. 

“You cannot send me those things…” George spoke strongly, his voice not raised but still with a demand to be heard. He took a breath. “...to my faculty email, are you out of your mind?”

In a nervous panic at how serious he sounded, Rosaline nodded, squeaking out a, “Yes, sir.”

“Do you want us to get caught?” continued George, “Do you want me to be fired?”

“No, sir.” Rosaline answered quickly. 

“I know you’re smarter than this.” he reprimanded. 

“Sorry, sir.” Rosaline replied formally, her head bowed slightly in shame. She was sure this was it; she had blown it and he was going to call off their little arrangement and she would have to live with this embarrassment for the rest of her life. 

In the brief pause in their tense, almost one-sided conversation, George glanced behind him for a moment, back towards the busy quad, before turning back to her. He grabbed her notebook from her hand and pulled his ballpoint pen out of his breast pocket at the same time, before flipping open the back page to scribble something down, telling her firmly, “No more emails. You send them here.”

When he thrust her notebook back at her, she could see the eleven digit phone number scribbled hurriedly at the top of the page. George tucked his pen back into his pocket. 

“I don’t want another email from you unless it’s genuinely class related.” he warned her firmly. 

“Absolutely.” Rosaline nodded, closing her notebook and clutching it to her chest. Her heart was racing so hard from the sudden switch up, feeling the blood rushing in her ears. 

“Okay,” George nodded right back.

There was a pause between them as if neither knew quite what to say. For a moment, Rosaline might have thought that he was going to lean in to touch her; a hug, a kiss, something. But, instead, he took a step back, hiking his bag higher up his shoulder. 

“I will see you next week in class.”

Rosaline cleared her throat, shifting her weight, “Yes, sir.”

And then he was gone, disappearing back into the commuting crowds of the quad, leaving her in the gated alcove just processing what had happened. 

To add onto Rosaline’s seemingly never-ending list of uncharted territory, she had also never been faced with the challenge of receiving someone’s phone number and having to text them first. Especially not under such strange circumstances wherein which said someone was her professor who she was involved with and who was borderline upset with her. 

The keyboard on her phone never looked so terrifying. 

Her screen was filled with the blank message thread, his phone number typed at the top and ready to receive her text. Her text that she couldn’t figure out how to write. Despite the unhelpful ideas her friends (read: Max) always offered, she couldn’t quite turn to them here; they didn’t know all the intricacies that made this so difficult. This was going to be a one woman show. 

Rosaline took a breath and pretended she was one of her fictitious characters. What would she make them say in this situation?

-Hey it’s Rosaline

Simple and effective. Nothing too suggestive, nothing too crazy.

She added a smiley face at the end. 

Hit send. 

And then threw her phone across her bed. 

Rosaline busied herself with a few nighttime rituals as she closed her curtains and laid out her clothes for the next day and got ready for bed. She kept reminding herself that he wasn’t mad that she had sent the pictures…simply mad over where she had sent them. Even still, the lack of response in that area still left her feeling utterly ridiculous. Her self-consciousness was an evil thing, causing her self-doubt to make her stomach turn.

When she finally mustered the courage to check her phone, there were two replies from George’s number.

G: Hey! I’m really glad you reached out

G: For a second I was worried I scared you off today; I might have come off a little strong there

Rosaline exhaled so deeply that she slumped onto the edge of her bed, shoulders relaxing and heart slowing to a less concerning speed. For a second, she couldn’t help but analyze his texting style; of course it was grammatically correct down to the semi-colon. She hurried to type a response.

-Well I can’t blame you for that. I felt like an absolute idiot the moment I pressed send on that email. Can’t imagine how you felt receiving it. I’m really sorry

His response was quick, like he had been anticipating this conversation since he had passed over his number that morning. 

G: You’re not an idiot

G: And I can’t be that mad when you sent such lovely attachments

-Lovely is a stretch lol

G: I don’t think so

G: I thought they were very lovely

-Really?

G: Really. In fact, I was just admiring them again when you texted me

-You liked them that much, huh? To admire them several times already?

G: Most definitely

G: How could I not? You’re an absolutely gorgeous woman

-Thank you…

-You’re not bad yourself x

G: May I ask what your intentions were in sending these to me?

-I didn’t really have an intention. I just missed you, I guess

-Since we called off interactions on campus we haven’t really been talking outside of class time

G: You missed talking with me?

-And more than that

G: Yes?

-I missed kissing you

-Mostly

G: I missed kissing you too. Like mad.

-I also missed touching you

G: Touching me where?

-Everywhere

G: My little writer is so shy now, is she? Where are those gorgeous descriptive words I know you’re more than capable of?

-I’m not used to ‘writing’ live, forgive me lol

G: Alright alright I’ll ease up haha

Rosaline stared down at their few messages and how quickly it seemed to turn towards the direction of salacious. They had done plenty in the last few weeks that would warrant that and, of course, their gap of time since they had last properly touched was looming on both of them. Rosaline felt an unmissable spark in the depth of her stomach, a fire in her heart to jump at this opportunity. It was just George, after all. 

-I really do miss touching you everywhere. Exploring your body in your living room and finding all the ways you liked to be touched and making you cum. I lovee the way you sound when I do that. It’s been playing in my mind ever since. And the last time, in your office, when I went down on you and you sounded so gorgeous and I never wanted to stop. I hate that we got interrupted because I would have loved to have you cum in my mouth too.

She blinked at the large blue text bubble she had just sent, the thing taking up almost her entire screen. The joys of engaging her writer brain meant her common sense just shut off and her typing fingers did all the work. Was that too weird for texts? His typing bubble showed up in the bottom left corner. She was about to get her answer. 

G: Jesus, baby. That’s my girl

G: You were something else that day, you know that? I did NOT expect you to use your mouth like that

-Was I okay?

G: You were so good

-Really wish we could continue where we left off

G: We can, here

-It’s not the same though :( 

G: I know, darling

-But it is more fun to have someone replying than just writing it all myself lol

G: Haha, exactly

G: Let me help inspire those wonderful stories of yours

-If you insist, I certainly won’t object 

-Is it cringey to ask what you’re wearing right now

G: No, you need to understand the scene to direct the characters, of course

G: I’m in a pair of tennis shorts

-And?

G: And nothing. Just shorts.

-Oh

G: ;) What about you?

-That same Oxford sweatshirt from my pictures. It’s my sleep shirt haha

G: How cute. What else?

-Nothing as well. Absolutely nothing.

G: Nothing at all? Panties?

-Nope.

Rosaline bit her smiling lip at the sight of his typing bubble appearing and disappearing and reappearing a few times. She shifted on her bed to rest back against the headboard, phone in hand, knees pulled up with excitement brewing in her chest. 

G: Wish I could see you right now

-Wish I could see you in your tiny shorts

G: Yeah? Are you picturing it?

-Yeah. Can just imagine how beautiful you look…your chest and abs and thighs just out in the open

-Wanna kiss and lick and bite all over them

G: God, yes, I want that so badly.

G: I’m absolutely aching for that, darling

-Oh really?

G: I’m getting so, so hard over the thought of you, you have no idea

-You could send a picture back?

Rosaline wasn’t sure where that offer came from, as if the selfish lust had completely taken over her mind. But she didn’t even have a second to doubt herself before his reply came through.

G: [1 image]

She could recognize his living room anywhere, even in the downward angle of his front phone camera, angled towards his lap. His head wasn’t in frame, just his collarbones down to his lazily spread thighs, with the main focus being the grey tennis shorts he was wearing. They were loose fitting around his thighs but were incredibly strained across the front, the very obvious shape of his dick pressing against the fabric. He was so hard that it was nearly sticking straight out of them, tenting the fabric obnoxiously so. Rosaline’s cunt throbbed.

-Holy fuck

-That’s just not fair

-Oh that’s so not fair

G: Haha, oh, I know

G: This is all your fault too, you know?

G: Started from looking at those pretty pictures you sent and only got worse since you started saying such naughty things to me

-Were you touching yourself?

G: Yes. And even now…just a bit

-That’s so hot

-My God

-I want to be on your lap right now

G: Yeah?

G: Want to be on my lap so you can feel how hard my cock is?

G: If you’re not wearing panties I bet you could feel so much

-Yes please

-I’m actually soaked

-Like my sheets are damp lol

G: Fuck, darling

-Think your shorts would show the dark streaks where I drip all over you when I’m on your lap?

G: You are such a filthy girl, Christ almighty

G: Yes, they would

G: And I think I’d pull you down on them harder to really soak them through

-So I could feel every inch of you pressing right up against me

-Maybe I’d grind on it a little too

G: And I can hold your hips just under that jumper of yours and guide you along

-Show me how to do it right

G: Oh trust me, darling, you don’t need any help

G: I could just drape my arms over the back on my couch here and watch you go to town on my lap

-Take your shorts off

-And send me a picture?

G: Filthy girl. Where are your manners?

-Please, sir

G: [1 image]

G: Is this what you want?

Rosaline’s teeth sank into her bottom lip as the image filled her phone screen. It was the same angle as his previous image but now without the pesky barrier of his shorts, leaving him entirely naked on his living room couch. He was draped back like it was something entirely casual, like his hard cock wasn’t on full display to the camera, resting up against his pelvis and leaking against his defined v-line. 

Her thighs clenched together as her thumbs tapped a hazy response.

-Yeah

G: Yeah? You want to grind on my lap just like this?

-Yes pleaseee

-I want to feel every inch of you so warm and perfect against me

G: It’s all yours, darling

Rosaline felt absolutely beside herself with lust. She had grown all too familiar with that unquenchable thirst for touch throughout her life but now that she had the taste of the bait and it was now dangled in front of her with the inability to snatch it, it felt absolutely maddening. So much so that for a moment, she contemplated how long it would take to drop everything and bus to his house across the city. 

She accidentally zoned out staring at his picture, her thoughts muddled, because a few seconds later, another text came through,

G: Tell me your thoughts, don’t keep them in that pretty head of yours x

-Can you handle me unfiltered?

G: Try me

Slouched back comfortably on her dorm room bed, Rosaline arranged her thoughts for a moment, and, as she did, she reached over to her small bedside table and pulled out her favourite vibrator.

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[kaoriartss-blog]

Starburst

Chapter 20: "Class in Session"

Previous Chapter Masterlist Next Chapter

Pairing: Poly Skz OT8 x Reader idol

Genre: Romance, angst, female Oc

Warning: Use of Oc, romance, angst, swearing, Idol x Idol, 18+ progressive, use of swear words, use of translator.

Series: Starbursts

Summary: The story centers on Lia, a newly debuted solo idol struggling to find her place in the K-pop industry. Despite her talent, she feels like she's missing something, a special connection that helps her shine. The members of Stray Kids, who are at the height of their careers, are drawn to Lia's unique energy when she's invited to collaborate with them on a new album. As they work together, the connection between Lia and the boys intensifies. With pressure from the media and fan expectations, they must find a balance between their careers and personal lives.

Comment: First of all, I want to clarify that English is not my first language. I speak Spanish, but I didn't want to deprive you of this story. I'll be using a translator, so it's possible that some phrases might get lost or be incomprehensible. Second, I thank you in advance for taking the time to read. I'll also be uploading the chapters to Wattpad in Spanish and to Ao3 in English.

Updates on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. I also remind you that English is not my first language.

-------------------------

The Knowing Brothers set was prepared with more energy than ever. Cameras were rolling, and the staff couldn't hide their excitement at having the full Stray Kids group and Lia in the studio. The chairs in the classroom were packed, and the excitement was contagious.

Kang Ho-dong was the first to speak as soon as they entered:

"Woah! Today we have not one, not two, but nine idols in the room! Welcome, Stray Kids and Lia!"

"Annyeonghaseyo!" everyone greeted with a synchronized bow, although Han stumbled a little, prompting immediate laughter.

Lee Soo-geun looked at them mischievously.

"Lia-ssi, you're new here. What's it like living with these eight walking chaos?"

Lia laughed, locking eyes with Minho and Felix.

"It's like living on a 24-hour comedy show. They don't let me get bored."

Heechul chimed in with a raised eyebrow.

"And haven't you fallen in love with any of them?"

There was a pause. Everyone laughed nervously as Seungmin faked a cough, Hyunjin hid his face behind his notebook, and Changbin leaned back dramatically.

"Next question!" Chan joked, causing a burst of laughter.

---

First test of the day: "Who knows Lia best?"

The screen showed several questions prewritten by Lia, and the kids had to answer on whiteboards.

First question: My favorite Korean snack?

"Tteokbokki!" most wrote, except for Jeongin, who put honey butter chips.

"Correct!" Lia shouted, surprised. "Jeongin knew!"

"Because you steal them every time I eat them," he replied with a triumphant smile.

Second question: What's the hardest part of me to accept?

Everyone here became more serious.

Felix wrote: Your tendency to push yourself too hard.

Hyunjin: Your insecurity about fitting in.

Chan, without saying anything, wrote: Your voice... when it's the most beautiful thing you have.

Lia looked at them, visibly moved.

"They're all good... but Chan's touched my heart."

--

Random talent round.

"Now everyone will show off a hidden talent!" Heechul announced.

Minho showed how he could imitate a cat meowing while dancing.

Han beatboxed video game sounds.

Lia did some Taekwondo moves and demonstrated how high she can kick even in high heels, bringing everyone to their feet.

"That's going to break the internet!" Soo-geun exclaimed.

---

Final Moment: Secret Letters

Before the show ended, the hosts gave everyone a piece of paper.

"We want each of you to write a line for someone in the group... but don't say who it's for."

Lia, after some thought, wrote:

"Thank you for looking at me like I'm the only miracle in your day."

Changbin wrote:

"I hug you silently every time I see you hesitate."

Hyunjin:

"Your eyes shine brighter when you laugh. And I know because I watch them all the time."

The hosts read some of them aloud, leaving the audience and viewers with a mixture of laughter and sighs.

---

As the episode closed, the host summarized:

"We've never seen a group with such a strong connection. Not just musically, but humanly!"

Lia spoke up:

"I think that's why this album is called Connections. Because it's who we are. And what we want to share."

The van taking them home was unusually quiet. It wasn't an awkward silence, but one filled with thoughts, stifled laughter, and meaningful exchanges of glances.

Lia was leaning on Seungmin's shoulder, who looked at her out of the corner of his eye with a small smile. Across from them, Hyunjin absentmindedly played with Lia's fingers as their hands briefly met while passing her a bottle of water. Changbin, sitting next to her, watched her breathing become calmer and calmer as she closed her eyes.

"Are you okay?" he murmured in her ear, his voice hoarse from the tiredness and excitement of the day.

"Yeah... I'm just happy," Lia whispered, her fingers searching for his. They intertwined naturally.

---

Upon arriving home, some went straight to their bedrooms, but others stayed in the living room, unwilling to let the day end just yet.

Felix plopped down on the couch next to Lia.

"Did you notice how we were all on edge during the entire show?" he asked, lowering his voice.

"Yeah. It's not like it used to be..." she replied, looking him straight in the eyes.

He watched her for a few more seconds, and without saying anything, he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, then leaned in and placed a slow kiss on her forehead, leaving her skin prickling and her heart fluttering.

"I'm going to sleep before I do anything more daring," he joked softly and stood up with a mischievous smile.

---

In the kitchen, Jeongin was making himself some tea when Lia came in looking for water. As soon as they looked at each other, the atmosphere changed.

"Did you have fun today?" he asked, turning to her with his usual calm tone, but a more intense gaze.

"A lot. I felt... free."

He nodded, approaching with his steaming cup.

"What if this freedom... also means I can do this?" he asked, his voice barely audible, letting his hand rest gently on her waist.

Lia looked at him, her eyes searching for any doubt, but found only tenderness. She leaned toward him, and this time she was the one who kissed him. Soft, slow, and with a connection that burned without haste.

As they broke away, Jeongin rested his forehead against hers.

"I'll have sweet dreams tonight."

---

In the hallway, Lia went to get something from her room, but stopped when Chan came out of his own.

"Hey," he said, his voice deep. "Can't you sleep?"

"Not yet," she replied, moving closer.

Chan took her hand and silently led her to the small rehearsal room, the lights off, only the blue illumination of the hallway seeping through the door.

The background music came from her phone, something instrumental and soft.

Without words, they began to sway slowly to the melody, their bodies pressed together. Their hands explored each other confidently, unhurriedly. Chan's forehead rested on hers, their noses touching.

"You know?" he whispered. "I like it when we don't have to talk. Just... feel."

The kiss they shared was different. Deeper. As if sealing a silent commitment between the two.

---

Later, as Lia walked toward her room, a door opened.

Minho was there, wearing a light robe, staring at her silently. She stopped, her eyes connecting with his. Without needing words, he offered her his hand.

They just lay together in his bed, side by side, their bodies touching intimately but serenely. Minho silently stroked her hair.

"I just wanted to sleep with you... like this. Feeling you real."

Lia snuggled into his chest and let herself be carried away by that feeling of warmth, of belonging.

She settled onto the mattress, facing him, still dressed in her light pajamas. Minho, his robe open just enough to reveal her chest, watched her with a mixture of tenderness and restrained desire. They didn't need to speak; the silence that surrounded them spoke louder than any words.

Their fingers met between the sheets, gently intertwining. Minho slowly slid his hand up her arm, to her shoulder, caressing her as if her skin were fragile. His eyes remained fixed on hers, as if asking for permission with every gesture.

When he kissed her, it was with overwhelming sweetness. A warm, slow touch that deepened as their hearts raced. Lia responded fearlessly, opening her lips to receive him, feeling his breath mingle with hers. Their bodies moved closer instinctively, as if they were made to fit together.

Minho sat up slightly to caress her cheek with the back of his hand. His fingers trembled slightly, not from hesitation, but from suppressed emotion.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Yes," Lia said with a small smile, taking his hand and placing it on her waist. "I want this. I want to be with you, like this."

The air grew thicker, charged with a desire they could no longer hide, nor would they hide. Minho kissed her again, this time more intensely. His lips descended along her neck, leaving a trail of heat. His patient hands began to slide the strap of Lia's blouse down, caressing her exposed shoulder. She shivered, not from the cold, but from anticipation.

When their bodies were finally naked, there was no shame, only a sense of mutual surrender. Minho watched her for a few seconds, his breath ragged, admiring her with a mixture of wonder and reverence. Lia caressed his face, guiding him toward her.

"I can't believe Hyunjin was the first... I'm so jealous..." he murmured against her skin, leaving soft kisses along the path he traced with his lips. "But now, you're all mine."

He descended down her body with slow kisses, caressing her with his lips and hands. Lia arched her back under his attentions, her fingers clutching the sheets as he patiently explored every corner.

"You're beautiful," he murmured against her skin, unable to take his eyes off her. Lia felt embarrassed; Minho's gaze was quite intense, so she covered her eyes with her hands. "Don't hide, look at me."

"Minho~"

When she called his name in a sigh, he kissed her lips again, carefully settling between her legs.

His plan was to prepare her properly, but he felt he couldn't hold back any longer; just seeing her like that was already almost over the edge.

Their gaze met one last time as he took a small silver envelope from the nightstand and placed it inside her. And when Minho entered her, he did so Slowly, taking the time to feel her, to allow her to feel him. Lia exhaled deeply, clinging to his shoulders, their bodies merging in a gentle, almost meditative sway.

They moved with a rhythm that didn't obey urgent desire, but rather the silent love they had been building. Each moan was drowned in a kiss, each caress answered with another, as if writing a new language on each other's skin.

The climax came like a warm wave, enveloping them at the same time, their bodies trembling and their lips still joined. Minho hugged her tightly, breathing deeply against her neck, and Lia said nothing, just closed her eyes and allowed herself to be enveloped by his warmth.

They remained that way, still without separating, until their breathing calmed. Minho slowly stroked her back while she played with the strands of her hair.

"I didn't know it could feel like this..." he murmured, kissing her collarbone.

"Nor I..." Lia said, her voice still shaky but filled with peace.

And that night, they didn't sleep at all. They lay between whispers and silence, caressing each other under the sheets, as if time had stopped just for them.

[fanfictionsweetheart]

Old Friends, New Lovers

Chapter Five: Two First Dates

Pairing: Angel Reyes x OC x Johnny “Coco” Cruz

Summary: After moving back to Santo Padre after ten long years, all Salacia wants to do is find her old friends again. / Angel is used to being second choice, and when his old friend comes home he remembers what it’s like to be truly appreciated. / Coco’s not used to kindness, there was only one person who ever treated him that way, and she’s finally back. / Some things change…some things don’t. Life is crazy and predictable…until feelings get involved.

In this chapter: Angel and Coco take Salacia on what they would consider the perfect first dates for her.

Trigger/Content Warning(s): fluff, so much fluff, a touch of angst.

Word Count: 5576

A/N: umm…I have no excuse…I wanted this all one chapter…cross posted from, my ao3.

Tags: @staley83 @wheresmyscrunchie

Previous Part(s):

Masterlist

Angel and Coco decided to play a rather intense game of pool at the clubhouse that next Saturday day, Salacia had the day off and was hanging out. She was half watching them, half talking to EZ at the bar.

“I’m sorry if I put you in a weird spot that night.” She murmured, “I just wanted to know what was going on with them.”

“It’s alright. I knew something was up when they showed up here instead of hanging out with you like usual.” He said.

“I was worried that maybe they felt it was too soft to keep hanging out with their girl best friend all the time…” she half lied.

“Or that they realized you were hot for the two of them.” EZ teased.

“Ezekiel. Shut up.” She hissed.

“Come on, you have patched everyone in this club up at least once, and you don’t look at any of us the same way you look at either of them when they take their shirts off.” He chuckled, “Well except for the very obvious blush when you had to dig a bullet out of my thigh.”

“It’s kinda embarrassing kneeling in front of my best friend's younger brother who has his pants off in front of a group of men.” She said, making him snort at her word choice.

“Yeah, sounds like the start of a bad porno.” He admitted.

She snickered and looked over at the game. She rolled her eyes at how seriously they were taking it. Aside from it being silly since they would both end up taking her on a date over the next two weeks…she also felt her heart pound that they were taking it so seriously because they wanted to take her on a date. She never expected anything like this.

It made her feel ridiculous with how she was feeling as giddy as a teenager when she was a grown woman with a college degree, pretty much running a clinic as a nurse practitioner.

“What are they betting over this time, seems intense.” EZ asked.

“Which one gets to take me on a date next weekend.” She said offhand, but her cheeks were blazing red.

She looked back at EZ who was staring at her in shock. She just shrugged and smiled. It really wasn’t a big deal.

He leaned in and hissed, “They’re betting on who gets you? How are you okay with that?”

“Oh…no, no, it’s not like that.” She laughed softly, “Everything came out on Wednesday. They are both into me. I’m into both of them. But I can’t choose. They don’t wanna put me in a weird spot. So they each get to take me on one date. Just to see if it’s just thinking they’re hot or if there is something more with one or the other. And if I don’t feel it with either of them, hey we tried.”

“Oh…so if they both get to take you out…why the bet?” He asked before her raised brow made him think that over, “Right, right. If you pick one for a date over the over it would be messy.”

She giggled, “You’re supposed to be the smart one, EZ, keep up.” She teased, “Their natural competitiveness made them choose this for this bet.”

“Better than cards cause the other guys would wanna play too…and Rock Paper Scissors would be so juvenile.” EZ agreed.

“Yep. We have kinda laid out the ground rules. They do get to pick what we do, I made sure to say don’t go overboard…make it real. How they would actually take me out. And…I’m not fucking them. I mean I’m not above fucking on a first date…but with this situation…no.” She explained simply, sipping on her drink.

“Sounds like a good plan,” EZ said, “You know it could be simpler if you three just dated each other.”

He was joking but her cheeks heated up as she laughed and scoffed at the idea. If she were honest a tiny part of her had thought about that option, but she knew that it wasn’t really an option. Those two could not share a woman. They were the possessive and protective type. No way could they ever be in a polyamorous relationship.

—

When the game finally ended Angel had won the bet. He would be taking her out that next Saturday. Then Coco would the next. She was slightly nervous about how this would go.

Would it be awkward?

Probably.

But she had a feeling it would all be worth it in the end.

She looked at EZ and he chuckled, “You ready to be wined and dined by two different men?” He teased.

She shoved his arm and laughed, “Shut up.” She blushed darkly as the reality sunk in.

She really was about to go on a date with one of her first friends in Santo Padre that weekend. Her stomach erupted in butterflies as she looked over at the two guys who had gone back to a more casual game now. It was always crazy to her how they could be so insanely competitive with each other one moment and then laughing and joking with each other the next.

She may not understand, but she accepted it. They were her friends. And she loved them for all they were. Even the ways she didn’t fully get.

—

Salacia didn’t know where Angel was planning to take her, all he told her was to wear nice clothes that she could still ride in. Her stomach was in knots but she was still excited.

She’d dated in college and during her residency. She was even engaged for a time when she started working properly. He’d been a doctor. She left him when she caught him in bed with another woman and he’d been angry at her for interrupting. She didn’t need that bullshit in her life.

She hadn’t been on a date since.

A few months after that she moved back to Santo Padre.

Even with her experiences in the past she was nervous about going on a date with Angel. Her almost two decades of attraction had just built up. And she was finally getting that chance.

She had dressed in some nice black jeans and a deep green off the shoulder blouse. It had a fluttery neck and hemline. It almost matched the color of his bike. She wondered if he would notice.

She smiled softly as she fixed her ruby red lipstick in the mirror and spritzed on some of her favorite perfume.

She wondered where they were going. How this night would turn out. If there would be a real romantic spark with Angel. If he would want to kiss her at the end of the night. They had agreed to no sex…that didn’t mean she couldn’t kiss him. Would he want that? What would it feel like to kiss him like that?

She shook her head, telling herself to relax.

Before her mind could wander anymore Angel’s knock sounded on her door. She smiled as she answered.

Angel was on her front porch with a grin on his handsome face. His cologne filled her senses when she hugged him. He was so warm as he held her. His strong arms wrapping her in a safe and welcomed embrace. She leaned up and pecked his cheek.

“Hola carino, ready to go?” He asked.

“Yep.” She said with a smile, the look in his eyes as he set his hand on her lower back and led her to his bike.

“You look so fucking gorgeous, by the way.” He said, his eyes running up and down her body as he mounted his bike.

“Thanks Angel.” She giggled and slipped on behind him, putting on the second helmet he offered her, “So where are you taking me?”

“That’s still a surprise.” He said with a chuckle.

Salacia rolled her eyes and giggled wrapping her arms around his waist. Angel knew the perfect place to bring her. There was a restaurant in town that she had talked about enjoying for girls nights with a few of the nurses from the clinic. But she always wanted to go there on a date. Dinner and dancing.

He and Coco both knew that she loved to dance.

It was perfect.

When he pulled up in front of it she was pleasantly surprised to find out where they were going and what he had planned for their date

“Since when do you dance, Angel?” She joked.

“I’m a class act, baby.” He joked as they got off the bike.

He wasn’t wearing his kutte but the tattoos on his arms were still visible due to the sleeves of the dark red button up he was wearing being rolled up. He may be dressed for a date but he was still a Mayan through and through. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her inside.

She felt her heart battering the inside of her chest being by his side. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed being out on a date with a man as sexy as Angel. They were led to a table and he pulled her chair out for her.

“You really are a class act, huh, baby?” She giggled.

“I told you so, Mama.” He chuckled and sat in the chair to the left of her so he could sit right beside her, a hand on her jean clad thigh under the table as they ordered their drinks.

She knew what she wanted, it was what she got the last time she was there. Angel looked over the menu, his hand still on her thigh with a smile. They ordered their food. She took a sip of her wine with a smile.

She looked at him, taking the man at her side in. Deep golden skin and slightly sad but soulful brown eyes. Puppy dog eyes she’d always called them. His dark hair and well cared for beard complimented his facial structure. She’d always thought he would look good with facial hair, even when he was barely able to grow more than the kind of goatee style his brother was sporting lately.

But this fuller beard gave her bad ideas. Of what it could feel like between her thighs. She blushed and looked away, her mind having wandered to a place it shouldn’t right now.

This was a first date of course, but it was also a test run to see if there was more here than just friendship. She didn’t need to be thinking about climbing the 6’2” man at her side like a damn tree.

She leaned in and kissed his cheek softly. She could feel the warmth of a slight blush on his cheek when she did so. He was so handsome and sweet to her. She could feel warmth spread throughout her when he rubbed her thigh before lifting his hand and moving to grasp her hand on top of the table.

“I haven’t been on a date in a while.” She admitted after taking a sip of her drink.

“How long is a while?” He asked.

“A little over a year now.” She said honestly, “Maybe a year and a half.”

Angel was surprised, sure he hadn’t seen or heard of her dating anyone since she moved back, but that sounded like even before that. She was gorgeous and sweet and funny and her newfound confidence was enticing. Perhaps he was biased, but he didn’t get how anyone could not want to take her out. Have her as their woman.

“Guess luck is finally on my side since you’re breaking your dry spell with me.” He joked, that charming smile he had always had spread over his face.

She blushed at how sincere he was in his joke. And the way that sounded though made her wish he could help her end her other dry spell tonight. But she was going to stay within the boundaries they agreed to. And get off alone when she gets home.

Angel’s eyes were on her and her alone. She smiled sweetly at him. It was nice to have his attention on her. They chatted for a bit before their food came. She grinned, she ordered something light enough that she could still dance easily.

“I’m really glad I moved back.” She said after a moment, “I may not have been born here but this town is my home. Maybe it’s the people.”

Angel chuckled, “You pretty much fell out of the damn sky one day and suddenly I had a second best friend.” He joked.

“You were the one to initiate that, though.” She said sweetly, “I never would have been brave enough back then to approach you.”

Angel smiled softly. He knew how shy she was back then. But he also knew that she was the sweetest person he had ever met. Her and her sister kept their home open for him and Coco whenever they needed it. She always made time for them.

He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, “I’m still lucky you even trusted my delinquent ass.” He joked, cupping her cheek.

She leaned into his touch, “You may have been a delinquent, hell some would say you are still a degenerate,” She winked, “But you are still one of my best friends. I’m a lucky girl to even call you that.”

She turned her head and kissed his palm gently. He took a chance and leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. She smiled and kissed back. She couldn’t help but lose herself to the feeling of his kiss. It felt as good as she had imagined.

They broke away and finished their food before he stood up and held his hand out.

“Come on querida, I promised you dinner and dancing,” he said.

Still slightly surprised at the romantic date he had chosen, Salacia took his hand and smiled sweetly at him. He led her to the dance floor as the next song began to play. His hands met her hips as she began to sway to the beat. He wasn’t usually a dancer, but he wanted to make her smile, and thankfully he could follow a beat and had rhythm.

The way her hips moved as she danced with him, her body pressing close to her and leaned into him, her low cut top accentuating her breasts as she pressed their chests together, wanting to be as close to him as possible. Even if she chose not to date either him or Coco he felt like he had won just having her here with him. This date felt like a grand prize for some competition he didn’t know he was taking part in.

“You’re beautiful.” He murmured looking down into her silver eyes, “I don’t think I’ve told you that enough.”

She blushed, “You tell me all the time.” She giggled softly.

“And I mean it every time. Not just as your friend either.” He said.

“And you’re handsome.” She said moving her hands from his shoulders to cup his cheeks, leaning up to kiss him softly.

Angel kissed back. The sincerity that her words and this kiss held made his heart hammer in his chest. Their bodies still moved as they danced. She pulled back and set her hands back on his shoulders smiling. She couldn’t believe this night was real.

She was here with Angel. His hands were on her hips and his lips had been on hers. Their bodies moved together with the music as their hearts seemingly beat as one. His eyes were locked on hers. That smile was for her only. His flirtatious comments and compliments as well.

At the same time Angel felt the same. He was here with the girl he had been crazy about for years. The one that he had tried to fill the place of even though she had never truly been his.

This night was theirs. On this night she was his and he was hers. And that was all that mattered in the moment.

—

The date seemed to end far too soon and Angel was pulling up in front of Salacia’s modest home. He shut the bike off and got off first as usual, holding his hand out to help her off. He walked her to the door. He knew he had to just drop her off. End the date traditionally, a chaste kiss and a goodnight.

She grasped his hands and pecked his cheek, “Would you like to come in and hang out like usual?” She asked with a playful grin, “The date was perfect, I don’t want this night to end just yet.”

He smiled and nodded, “I would be a dumbass to say no. We can even watch that stupid cooking competition you like so much.” He joked.

“Now you like Worst Cooks just as much as me. Both you and Coco never turn me down when I put it on when we’re hanging out.” She joked.

He shook his head, still playfully trying to deny it but let her lead him inside nonetheless. She grabbed them both a beer from her fridge and plopped next to him on the couch. It hadn’t been that long since they hung out alone. But coming home from a date...the energy was different.

Angel seemed to feel it as well. Setting his hand on her thigh and giving it a squeeze as she curled up on the couch with him, her shoes falling off as she tucked her feet under her. She leaned into his body when he moved to wrap an arm around her. God this felt good.

This felt right.

Her heart was pounding.

The scent of cigarettes wasn’t too much. And and his cologne, deep and rich, he always did have good taste in that department.

Her head was swimming.

The TV show long forgotten as they sat there trying to figure out how to navigate this new step in their relationship. If it was indeed that step.

She realized after a moment that Angel wasn’t sure what to do either. He wanted to make a move...but he didn’t know what kind of move to make.

So she decided to choose for him. She sat up on her knees and leaned over cupping his cheeks, running her fingers through his neatly cared for beard. His soulful brown eyes seemed to shine with unspoken words. She felt her heart flutter.

“You grew up to look real good Angel.” She murmured, “Never thought I’d be into a full beard like this on a guy...but damn…” she leaned in and kissed him before he had the chance to respond.

Angel felt his whole world spark to life in a new way the second her lips touched his. He set his hands on her waist and pulled her into his lap. He kissed her back, letting out a soft groan at the feeling of her finally in his arms the way he has been dreaming of.

Her lips tasted better than he imagined. And his felt like heaven to her. She could hardly breathe. Hands moving to slide into his hair pulling him closer. She didn’t take charge of intimate moments often. And she was quickly letting him take the lead.

His hands moved from her waist to grasp her ass. She was filled out in the best of ways. A plump ass and large tits that looked amazing in her favored low cut tops. Angel wanted to know every inch of her with his hands and his mouth. But he was behaving, keeping his hands in nearly only appropriate places. No matter how hard that was.

Salacia pulled away from his mouth and looked into his eyes once more. She knew they couldn’t have sex tonight. They had both agreed on those boundaries. But it was hard. To deny exactly how worked up he had her so easily. She rolled her hips against his, feeling just how much he wanted her.

“Your bad, Ma.” Angel groaned, “Gonna make me break the fuckin rules if you don’t stop that.”

She giggled and leaned in to murmur against his lips, “What’s the matter Papi, no self control?” She didn’t know where that confidence came from but the wild look in his eyes was well worth it.

He swatted her ass with a grin. He had self control and he was about to have control of her right along with it. He pulled her into a rougher kiss. Moving one hand from her ass to slide up her top. Roughly playing with one of her breasts with his large hands. She whimpered and arched her back, physically begging for more.

They wouldn’t break the rules...they would just work around them. After all…kissing was okay...and groping hadn’t even been brought up.

—

With a soft kiss Salacia bid Angel goodnight as he left her home that night. They had obeyed the rules they had set for themselves. He barely got to second base with her. His hands were hot and they had been everywhere but down her pants. His mouth eagerly claiming hers every chance he got.

But he was leaving before they could fall into bed. It was hard for both of them to part ways that night. But they were doing what they agreed on. Salacia felt her heart still fluttering in her chest as she curled up under her sheets that night.

Tonight had felt good.

It had felt real.

There had been a spark.

—

The next Friday night was there before anyone expected it. It was Coco’s turn now. He knew what Angel had done and cursed him for taking the idea of going dancing. He didn’t want to look like he was copying Angel’s idea so he went with his backup plan.

It was still one he knew she would like.

He picked her up early in the evening. He had been in the more downtown area earlier that week and seen a poster that inspired him. It was a cheesy idea, but she liked that romantic shit. He told her to dress casually.

But even casual, knocked him flat. The light blue jeans that hugged her ass just right and the white crop top that was printed with cherries that gave a peek of a tattoo on her side. Her bright red lips in that smile he found himself craving to see was almost too much.

“Fuck, Mami, I don’t think I can take you anywhere looking this good, gonna have to fight some idiots off.” He joked.

Salacia laughed and slapped his chest playfully, “Idiot.” She teased.

“You love me.” He reminded her.

“Lucky I do.” She pecked his cheek and took the helmet he offered her, “So do I have to beg you to tell me where you’re taking me?”

“Won’t work, but you can beg me for other things, querida.” He flirted shamelessly.

Salacia just barked out a laugh and slid onto the bike behind him. He and Angel were always like this, but it was almost like they had increased their flirtation by ten since she agreed to this crazy idea of two first dates.

They were playing by the rules but just barely.

Texting day and night more than ever.

Compliments of both the chaste and sexual variety.

Lingering touches and pecks on the cheek or forehead.

Everything was heightened and it made her insides twist with both desire and fear. She wanted them. They all knew that. They wanted her. Again that was something they all knew. But she was afraid of so much.

Of losing one or the other.

Or both.

Of being unable to actually go back to normal after this if she didn’t want to date either of them.

Of just ruining everything because they couldn’t pretend any longer.

She didn’t want to have come home to lose everything she missed all over again.

And more permanently than before she was certain.

She gripped Coco around the waist tightly as they took off. She just wanted to enjoy their night. She was determined to.

They pulled up to the park beside the community center not long after. As a way to try and revitalize the town, the volunteers there had the idea to do a movie night in the park once a month. And when Coco saw the movie they were playing he knew that he had to take her, it was one of her favorites. He was glad that his date night had managed to coincide with this event.

Luck had decided to be on his side for once.

He had packed a blanket for them to sit on along with making sure he had cash for the food trucks. When he parked his bike he could practically feel the shock radiating off of the girl on the back of it. He held his hand out to help her off like usual. She took her helmet off and blushed at his crooked grin.

“Well now, who knew you were such a romantic, Coco, movie in the park? Doesn’t seem like your speed.” She teased.

“But, it’s yours mi corazon,” He said with a smile, “It’s one of your favorites too.”

“Oh?” She asked as he led her to an open spot to spread the blanket.

Kind of in the back away from the crowd where they wouldn’t be disturbed but could still see the screen.

“The Princess Bride.” He told her.

“Wow...you remember that?” She was stunned.

No guy had ever even tried to remember small things like that about her. But Coco said it like it was nothing to remember one of her old favorite movies.

“Si, of course Sal, the number of times you forced Angel and I to watch it with you when we were in high school.” He rolled his eyes as she giggled.

“Now come on, you enjoyed it just as much as I did.” She crossed her arms and poured.

Coco was bolder than Angel had been as he leaned in to kiss that pout away. It was quick but it definitely made her cheeks warm up to feel his lips brushing hers so sweetly. They set up their blanket and she settled onto it happily. He asked what she wanted to eat and after looking around st the trucks she stood back up to walk with him. There was a new truck at this event she thought looked good but she needed to actually see the menu. Coco left their helmets on the blanket to signify he was taken and they walked off.

His hand was on her lower back as they waited in line.

“Creep wanted me to thank you for helping him out last weekend.” Coco said, “Didn’t know you made house calls.”

“He tore the stitches on his side, no way could he ride his bike to my place.” She shrugged, “I’d do the same for any of you guys. Just doctor shit.”

“I know.” He joked, “Better be all it was.”

She turned and set her hands on his shoulders, “Why, you think it was more playing doctor than actual medical care?” She purred with a wicked grin.

“Don’t tease me, Mama.” He warned her, making her grin widen.

“Why not, it’s fun?” She giggled and pecked his lips.

“Always so much trouble.” He joked.

“And yet you wanted to take me on a date.” She reminded him.

They got their food and returned to their blanket to settle down for a night in the park with one of her favorite movies and one of her favorite people.

As the night wore on and the movie played their position shifted from side by side to him with his back to the tree behind them and her sitting with her back to Coco’s chest. His knees were up and boxing her in a bit but she didn’t mind. Resting her head to the side on one. It wasn’t the most comfortable pillow but she wanted to be sure he could see the screen.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back into him more now, her head leaned back to rest on his shoulder. This was more comfortable than she would ever say aloud.

The night was slightly chilly and Coco was like a space heater. It was nice. This date was really nice.

She was kinda sad to see the movie ending. Because that meant she would have to come untangled from Coco’s embrace. He chuckled and gave her a squeeze.

“Relax Mama, we can wait til more people clear out to leave.” He teased her and kissed the back of her neck.

“This date was amazing, thank you.” She said looking over her shoulder at him.

She nodded and settled back into his hold. She smiled, relishing in his warmth. She set her hands over his. She was so comfortable with him. Just like when she was with Angel this felt so easy.

Also just like the date with Angel she smiled and invited Coco inside to hang out for a bit when he dropped her off. His arm was around her shoulders as she leaned into his side. A smile graced her lips as a blush dusted her cheeks.

His embrace was just as warm and comforting. And he was also on his very best behavior. Normally he knew exactly what he was doing on dates. He wouldn’t be keeping his hands to himself.

Salacia took a deep breath, she had expected him to want to get closer. But she also knew he was trying to obey the boundaries that they had agreed to. She sat up making him look at her curious as to what she was planning. She smiled coyly and leaned in cupping his cheeks. His facial hair was more sparse than Angel’s but it was there.

“You’re always complimenting me lately…but you grew up to be pretty fine yourself, Johnny.” She said with a grin.

She leaned in and kissed him, a soft sigh of pleasure leaving her at the feeling of his lips. He kissed back, his hands moved to grasp her hips as she slid into his lap, straddling his hips. Their mouths moved together like they were meant to. A moan escaped from her, eyes slipping as she let herself truly enjoy this moment.

The feeling of her in his lap was perfect to Coco. He had been dreaming of this moment for years really. Even more so now that she was back in Santo Padre and his life. Her body was filled out and plush. Her breasts pressed against his firm chest made it hard for him to not let his hands wander.

She broke from the kiss to look into his intense brown eyes, her cheeks dark with a blush. Coco’s eyes were half lidded as he looked up at her. There was something so sexy about how casually Coco was leaned back on her couch, hands comfortably settled on her hips. A smirk she could get was a real panty dropper playing on his lips as he looked at her. His soft golden skin was slightly flushed as well.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous, Salacia…what are you doing in the lap of a man like me?” He chuckled and playfully pretended to push her off, “You shouldn’t be, I’m dangerous.”

She smirked and ran her hands down his chest, she could feel that he really enjoyed having her in his lap. She couldn’t help but grind down against him.

“Maybe I like the danger…same way you like trouble.” She teased and leaned, brushing her lips against his, “And for someone so dangerous…you seem to have plenty of self control…especially considering this?” She rolled her hips again.

“Watch it, baby,” he warned, swatting her ass before gripping it tightly in both his strong hands, “Want me to lose control…break the rules you set? And here I thought you were such a good girl.”

“I am,” She giggled, leaning in to graze his ear with her teeth “But I get so much better when I misbehave.”

He groaned and quickly reached up with one hand and dug it into her thick, red hair to pull her into a fiercer kiss than before. She moaned and kissed back. Teasing him was so worth it. She decided to push it a little further as she had with Angel, when his hand left her hair as their mouths kept moving together she caught his wrist to subtly guide it to her chest.

She needed to feel his hands all over her as far as they could take it for the night.

—

Salacia’s arms were wrapped loosely around Coco’s shoulder as they stood on her front porch, saying goodbye. His arms were around her waist as they smiled at each other, the embrace comfortable and perfect. So much more chaste than the embrace they had shared on her couch only moments before. They had to stop before they could go too far.

She leaned up and gently kissed his lips once more with a breathy murmur of ‘goodnight’ before he left. She was still smiling as she shut her door behind her, hearing Coco’s Harley drive off. Her heart was pounding.

Tonight had felt good.

It had felt real.

There had been a spark.

She was completely screwed now.

[empressdede]

Remember the time

This is my first time writing something and publicly publishing it. This is based off the Remember the time by Michael Jackson. Pleaseee show some love lol. I do want to say that the OC is a black character but anyone can read. I was inspired to write this because of @raya-hunter01 & @whatdoeseverybodywant Let me know what you guys think!

Pairing: Kiyah (OC) x Jimmy uso. (Theres not enough Jimmy Uso fics on here. I did it for my man.)

Warnings: cursing, smut, smoking, long read.

Bold italics are thoughts, italics are both dialogue during a smut scene and when anything is referenced. Red bold italics are the song lyrics

Word count: 9,581.

Summary: Jimmy comes back to New York after Money In The Bank and Remembers the time he had with Kiyah.

An uneasy feeling settled in Jimmy’s stomach ever since he found out that New York was the next arena after Money In The Bank. Being in the city was as the ghost of her was going to trailing over him. It’s been three months since he’s last seen her and he wasn’t healed but it was easier to be away from here. Being here reminded him of everything he used to love to do… with who he loved to do it with.

Do you remember, when we first met girl?

When Covid hit and the whole world was forced to stay quarantined at home, due to being in a really depressive state, Kiyah really isolated herself from everyone. She was in a funk that she desperately wanted to get rid of, and in late 2020 when her favorite cousin Bianca, called her to inform that she was going to be in Tampa, FL for work until further notice, Bianca invited Kiyah to stay with her and Tez. Kiyah packed her bags and caught the first available flight to Florida, leaving her life behind in New York. She attended all the smackdown shows with Bianca, watching how she was really dominating in the women division as a newbie.

Backstage if she wasn’t hanging out with Bianca, she was hanging out with Dawkins and Tez. The wrestlers were actually pretty funny to be around, the girls were nicer than she thought they would be - Well, except for a couple who didn’t really matter - and the guys were funny to be around. She would walk around the halls aimlessly when it became too much to be around and one day, she found herself bumping into Jimmy…. literally.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” Kiyah quickly apologized to the person, her eyes slitting up to fixate her gaze on the man she bumped into. His smile took her breath away, damn who was he?

“You good, it was my fault I wasn’t looking where I was going. You okay?” He asked.

Kiyah nodded her head, not trusting her voice at the moment. She knew she would embarrass herself if she stayed in this man’s presence any longer. Clearing her throat, she tries to excuse herself. “Well, I’ll be on my way.”

“Wait…. Are you a new hire? I’ve never seen you before?” Jimmy asked before she could walk away.

“No, I’m Bianca’s cousin. Just here to give my support while I can.” Kiyah replied and Jimmy nodded his head understanding.

“That’s lit. Well, I hope you’re feeling welcomed. I know being around a whole bunch of athletes can be intimidating.”

She let out a small huff of laughter. “Please. You guys eat more junk food than anyone I know. Wings and Pizza every other Wednesday… Really?” She asked teasingly which caused Jimmy to laugh.

“Aye, we work hard. Gotta enjoy ourselves somehow.”

“I bet.”

Jimmy flashed another smile to her, who was this girl? “I never caught your name?” He asked.

“I never gave it. Seeing as you bumped into me, I think it’s only right you introduce yourself first.” Kiyah suggested.

“Could’ve sworn we bumped into each other.”

Kiyah shrugged her shoulders playfully, a small smile eased its way into her face. “I never denied that but enlighten me anyways.”

Jimmy chuckled, raising his hand out to her, “My name is Jimmy, and you are?”

Kiyah reached her hand out to clasp their hands together and shook it. “Kiyah. Kiyah Blair.” She introduced.

Do you remember when we fell in love?

“How long is it going to take you to come over here?” Kiyah asked over the FaceTime call as she continued to clean her room, folding the laundry on her bed. Her best friend Jimmy glanced at the screen to watch her for a quick second before turning his attention back to the road.

“It won’t take me too long, I just gotta make a stop somewhere before I come. Make sure you leave that door unlocked for me; you know I don’t like to wait.” Jimmy instructed.

Kiyah smacked her teeth, dropping the shirt she was folding on the bed and turned to face the screen. “Boy, how you gone tell me what to do with my own shit? Imagine trynna run my house.”

“Imagine playing with my face like you not finna leave the door unlocked for me anyways, know who to play with Kiyah.” Jimmy retorted back to her, not even turning to look at the screen.

And maybe she shouldn’t have thought it but as she continued to stare at her who she considered her best friend drive, she focused on the featured on his face and bit her lip because why did he have to be so damn fine?

After realizing a couple seconds of seconds of silence filled the air, Kiyah smacked her teeth again. “Okay Jimmy whatever. Just hurry up, it’s your turn to cook and I’m hungry.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Lemme go make this quick stop and Imma be over there.” He stated before he quickly hung up the phone.

Kiyah let out a small huff and let herself scan the room before her eyes caught the mirror. Should I change? She thought about it but opted against it, he’d already seen her outfit over FaceTime, so there was no point. Deciding to distract herself from overthinking, she picked up the shirt she had dropped and started folding again to clear her bed. ____________________________________________

Jimmy walked into the house with his hands full of treats, dropping them on the table. Kiyah walked out the kitchen and her eyes immediately met his, locking eyes with him.

“You just gonna stand there or you gone tell me wassup?” He asked, raising his eyebrow at her with a small grin on his face. Kiyah rolled her eyes before walking to him and they took each other into a strong embrace, rocking back and forth.

“Does that mean you’re not mad at me anymore?” She asked teasingly

“You know I can’t stay mad at you Ma.”

Kiyah’s heart seized at his words, pulling back from the hug, the bags on the table catching her attention making a smile etch its way on her face.

“No way you went to India’s Grill halfway across town, aren’t you on a diet right now? Jey’s gonna have that ass if he finds out you cheating again.”

Jimmy let his head fall as a dramatic groan slipped through his lips. “Jey not gonna know shit if you don’t tell ‘em nothing.”

Jimmy walked passed her to make his way to her living room, walking around as if he paid the bills to her home. He sat down on her couch, placing his feet on her coffee table and one hand behind his head. “You gone snitch on me Ma? After everything we been through?”

Kiyah shook her head as if she was disagreeing but in reality, she was trying to get herself together. Here was Jimmy: in an all black hoodie, no shirt underneath, cuban link peeking through the part that was unzipped, black joggers and all white forces. Fuuucckk, who told him to look this good.

“Now you know I don’t be telling nobody yo damn business” she finally replied as she walked to the door to lock it. Jimmy took that time to roam over the outfit Kiyah seemed to have on.

Itty bitty tight ass spaghetti strap crop top with matching booty shorts to go with it.

“You was expecting someone else to come before me?” He asked, catching her gaze.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I know you ain’t wearing that for David lame ass.”

Kiyah rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time. Jimmy never liked anyone she called herself entertaining, always calling them lame, but she couldn’t be too mad… she kept that same energy with all his other bitches too.

“Please be so serious right now. I wore this for myself.” Kiyah stated, walking to the couch to take her seat next to him. Jimmy let his feet fall from the coffee table, opting to be in his most comfortable position, man spreading. He cut his eyes at her as he rubbed his beard.

“Hmm, for yourself huh?”

“Yes, for myself.”

Licking his lips, he slowly nodded his head in amusement. He pulls a blunt of his pocket and pats his other side for a lighter. “Can you light me up? I think I forgot my lighter in the car.”

Kiyah reached forward for the ashtray that was right next to him on the couch, grabbing the lighter that was settled there from the last time they smoked together. Jimmy raised his arms, wrapping it tight around her body and moved her so that her legs was over his lap making her straddle him.

From that action alone, she knew he was already high. She watched as he placed the blunt in-between his lips and looked up at her waiting for her to light him up. Kiyah squeezed her legs against his and felt her heart clench at the eye contact. She bit her lip, flickering the lighter and leaning back slightly to avoid the smoke to get in her face when she lit him up.

A small smirk formed on his face when he felt her squeeze him, but he said nothing, taking a hit of his blunt instead. “Whatchu nervous for?” He asked, voice low now, blowing the white cloud of smoke towards her teasingly.

“Jimmy…. please stop playing with me.”

“Who said I was playing?” He asked raising an eyebrow, waiting for her response and when she stayed silent, he just chuckled. “Closed mouths don’t get fed you know?”

Kiyah ignored him, taking the blunt from his mouth and placing it in hers; inhaling the strong substance for the courage that she was going to need for this conversation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jimmy let his hands start to caress her legs, rubbing them up and down. His brown orbs roaming over her outfit once again, his eyes catching her hardening nipple through her thin ass shirt. “Don’t wear this shit for nobody else, you hear me?”

“Jimmy-” She starts to protest but he cut her off.

“You hear me Kiyah? Don’t wear this shit for nobody else. I’m not playing with you.”

You could cut the tension with a knife, but she didn’t understand how they got here so fast. His hands trailed up, gripping on her ass to push her closer to him making her pussy press against his dick. Kiyah takes a small sharp breath in, one of her hands moving to rest on his shoulders as she locked eyes with him.

A small smirk took over her face now, “who said I was playing?” she replied, placing the blunt back in her mouth to take one last pull. When she leaned back to blow the smoke away from him, his right hand swiftly cupped her jaw, bringing her closer to him parting his lips to inhale the smoke she needed to exhale.

Kiyah’s felt her skin heat up as she shotgun her last hit to him. Her heart felt as if it were to beat out of her chest. Jimmy and her played the game of push and pull. They flirted with each other and got super touchy but that was all that ever happened. They’ve kissed once at a Christmas party, a year ago and they were both drunk off their asses. And even then, nothing compared to the feeling that tonight gave them.

“Jimmy.” Kiyah whispered and Jimmy let his gaze flicker from her lips to her eyes.

“Say it.” Jimmy demanded in a low tone. The octave of his voice dropped so low; Kiyah felt goosebumps form on her skin from just his voice alone. Say it. He said as if he knew what was going through her head.

“Say what?”

“Say it Kiyah…. We both grown. Just say it.”

A million things ran through her mind. Surely, he wasn’t saying what she thought he was saying. Because they’re just friends; always have been… right?

“Jimmy… I-“ she started but was stuck. She tried to push herself from him, she needed space. She couldn’t think being so close to him. Not with his hands on her, or his smell overwhelming her. But his hands held her in place.

“Jimmy, we’re friends-“ she was cut off.

“We ain’t no fuckin’ friends and we haven’t been just friends for a while now.”

“Jimmy that’s not funny” she whispered shaking her head. This has to be a joke, and I’m not laughing. “Whatever joke you’re playing at- “

“I like you Kiyah. No jokes, no pranks no tests. Sober or high it’s all the same. I like you.” Jimmy stated wrapping both arms around her body to lock her in an embrace, he shifted to get comfortable and that caused him to grind against her making a small whimper leave her mouth.

“Say it.” He whispered this time, but she refused. Instead, she leaned forward pushing their lips together to lock their lips in a kiss.

Do you remember, back in the fall. We’d be together all day long.

The phone buzzing consistently was the only thing Kiyah could hear from her sleep. She lets out an annoyed groan. who the hell is calling at this time? She raised from the bed to grab her phone, and answered it without looking at the caller I.D.

“What.” She answered.

“Damn Ma, that’s how you greet me after 3 days of phone tag?” Jimmy’s voice was heard through the phone. And even though it caused butterflies to erupt in her stomach, she was tired.

“Baby… I’m tired. I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately.” Kiyah admitted.

“That’s cause you swear you can’t sleep unless it's on top of me.” He jokingly replies and she lets out a small laugh.

“You’re so warm and cuddly, I feel safe enough with you to go to sleep.” She shyly confesses. “I can’t wait to see you next week.”

“Girl when you see me next week, ain’t finna be no sleeping.”

“Aht Aht, Lemme sleep baby. You know I be sleepy.”

“Well take yo sleepy ass to the door. I had Roman deliver something expensive and I just got the message that it’s outside.”

Kiyah smacked her teeth. “What I tell you about buying me expensive gifts? I just be wanting your love.”

“You my princess, you know I gotta spoil you. Now go open the door and tell Daddy you love him for the gift."

Kiyah slides off the bed to trudge towards the front door. Jimmy has gotten into the habit of buying Kiyah gifts once she starts feeling lonely because he’s unable to be there for work. Last month he had bought her tickets to see her favorite singer, Justin Bieber. She always told him the gifts were unnecessary, but he was stubborn, swore he just wanted to drown her in gifts just to see her smile.

Kiyah slowly opens the door, to be met with Jimmy and his contagious smile which caused her to yell and jump on him. Wrapping her arms around his neck and legs around his waist and she let the tears that she didn’t know were going to fall…fall. Jimmy caught her with one hand around her waist and walked into the house, kicking the door shut with his foot.

“I thought you were coming next week.” She asked tearfully, keeping her face in his neck and tightening her grip on him as if she couldn’t believe he was here.

“I know when you need me. Two nights ago you said you had a horrible night so I came running.”

Kiyah pulled her face back from his neck and placed multiple pecks on his lips. “Thank you, Papa.” She whispered and he chuckled, pecking her lips one more time.

“You know I got you.” He replied, setting down his bag on the floor and walked towards the bedroom. “Now let’s get you some sleep. I know before this you was tossing and turning.” He stated knowingly and Kiyah knew she wasn’t going to fall asleep just yet. Not when her heart was racing with him making his presence known.

“Are you hungry? I made some honey glazed chicken and rice earlier; I can get you some.” She offered, but Jimmy laid her on the mattress, kicking his shoes off and slid in right beside her.

“How bout we just relax. You know you tired, stop fighting yo sleep and lay down.” And it wasn’t a suggestion. He pulled his shirt over his head and threw it blindly behind him, grabbing kiyah and pull her on top of him and wrapped one arm around her and his other hand grasping her leg to move it up so it was over his waist. “When we wake up later, it’ll be just us and you can feed me all you want.”

Kiyah presses a kiss to his chest where his heart was located. “I love you.” She whispered before settling herself on him, cheek pressed against his chest as she closed her eyes to try to fall asleep.

“I love you too Mama.” He murmured softly, rubbing the hand that was behind her back to help her fall asleep.

___________________________________________

When Kiyah woke up, it was due to the slight heavy movement on top of her. Her body felt rejuvenated from the almost 10 hours of sleep she had seemed to have gotten. Lifting her hand to rub her eyes to wipe the sleep from her eyes before she slowly opened them, looking down to see that Jimmy flipped their positions, his head positioned on top of her breasts and his arm sprawled across her stomach.

She blinked a few more times to make sure she wasn’t tripping, but sure enough the events of last night flooded her mind and it reminded her that she wasn’t just imagining the scene that took place in front of her. Kiyah absentmindedly raised her hand to rub the arm that was laying across her stomach. Even though he was here just for the night, she can smell already smell his scent overpowering her space. Dark. Earthy. Cedar wood. The heat emanating from him brought comfort to her.

I could wake up like this for the rest of my life. She thought to herself. The light coming from the Windows showed that it wasn’t too early in the morning, if she had to guess it was around 10 in the morning. Shutting her eyes, she took in the moment of him being home. There were days when she would try to self-sabotage her blessings and push Jimmy as far away from her as she could, but he always fought for her. Always. For these past three years it’s been Jimmy and Kiyah, never just Jimmy and never Just Kiyah. It made her very appreciative of him being in her life. She’s never been loved the way Jimmy loved her, and it scared her because she loved just as hard as he did… maybe even more so.

While she continued to trail her hand against his skin, Kiyah was slowly falling back asleep in this solace of her bedroom. She felt Jimmy shift from her chest to nestle his face in her neck to get more comfortable and they both drifted back to sleep.

Another hour went by before a loud ringing blared throughout the room, jolting her awake. Jimmy let out a tired groan, tightening his grip around her.

“Jimmy.” She whispered. He shook his head refusing to wake up, just to answer the phone.

He lazily moved his arm from across her to grab his phone from his back pocket and handed it to her. “Put it on silent mode and go back to sleep.”

Kiyah softly chuckled, taking his phone and placing it on silent mode. “I’m up baby. I know you’re jet lagged so I’m going to let you sleep.” Jimmy let out another groan when Kiyah tried to slide out of the bed.

“C’mon baby. Just stay for a little bit.” He begged.

“I gotta pee. I’ll be back.” She comprises and he smack his lips letting her go.

————————————————————————

The soft tune of Nothing can come between us by Sade was heard throughout the kitchen and Kiyah bumped her head softly to the beat and sang as softly as she could while whisking the the eggs she was preparing.

“In the middle of the madness, when the time is running out and you’re left alone. All I want is you to know that… it’s strong still can’t pull us apart. Nothing can come, nothing can come, nothing can come between us.” Kiyah softly sang, moving her hips to the melody of the music.

The knock on her door was loud, making her head snap up to look towards the door. Jimmy quickly came from around the corner where her room was, heading towards it.

“Don’t move, Imma answer it.” He said unlocking and opening the door revealing Bianca. “Wassup B.” He greeted, stepping to the side to let her in.

Bianca was shocked to see Jimmy at her cousin’s house. She took notice that he had not only made himself comfortable enough to answer the door but that he was wearing the same same clothes he left the airport in. So, this was the business he had to take care of in New York? She thought to herself before flashing him a knowing smile. “Hey Jimmy – I see you’re here early.” She teased as she stepped in and walked pass him.

He just chuckled and shook his head, closing the door back and locking it. “Yeah I Had a couple things to take care of.”

Bianca watched Jimmy walk away, eyes following him until he disappeared into the room. With amusement shining in her eyes, her head snapped towards the kitchen and Kiyah was standing there smiling; looking all innocent when she was clearly guilty.

“Hey Bianca, I totally forgot we had plans today. How you doing?”

Bianca raised her eyebrow at her and a smiled etched its way on her face again. “Well good morning to you. It smells so good in this bitch. Anyways – are you gonna spill the tea or what? Cause it looks like Jimmy ‘he’s just my best friend’ Uso spent the night and now you up making him breakfast when we had plans to go to brunch.” She asked, taking a seat at the kitchen island.

Kiyah snorted and turned back around to pour the eggs in the nonstick skillet. “You’re so damn nosey.”

“I’m even nosier when I’m realizing he went to your room instead of the guest room.” Bianca replied.

Kiyah shrugged her shoulders as a response, scrambling the eggs in front of her. She thought about how these past four months has changed the dynamic between her and Jimmy after his confession in her living room. The transition from friend to lover was easier than she thought it would’ve been.

“Baby.” Jimmy called out, walking out the room with a hoodie and some shoes. “I’m finna be back real quick.” He said as he entered the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” Kiyah asked, turning her head to look up at him.

“I’m out of gars so I’m finna hit up the closest gas station. Imma call Jey back since he been blowing my shit up. I know you guys haven’t seen each other in a while so I want y’all to catch up.”

“But I’m making breakfast for you.” Kiyah acknowledges, sliding the skillet off the stove top.

Jimmy chuckles, pressing his chest against her back. He places his hands on her waist as he watches over her what she made. French toast on two sets of plates on one side of the stove and the freshly scrambled eggs being served next to it.

“Make B something to eat and I’ll be back so we can eat okay.” He suggests, turning her around to wrap his arms around her waist fully, hand gripping on her ass as he leans down to softly peck her lips twice.

“Alright. Hurry back, okay?” She asks, keeping her voice low, raising her hands to caress his arms. “I don’t want your food to be cold and nasty when you eat it.”

“I’ll be right back I promise.” Jimmy pecks her lip one last time before pulling himself away from her to walk out the kitchen. “See you later B.” He calls out as exits the house.

The entire time, Bianca had sat in her seat shocked to her core. She watched the interaction closely, taking notes left and right and her tea cup was damn near full at this point. She waited for the door to fully shut before scoffing in disbelief. “Bitch since when do y’all kiss now? Since when the hell did y’all start calling each other baby? What in the world have I missed?” She yelled dramatically, throwing her hands up in the air to emphasize her point.

“Giirrrrllllluuuuhhhhh” Kiyah dragged out, chuckling. “Back in October Jimmy admitted his feelings for me.” She finally confessed, the smile on her face widening as she remembered that night.

“OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR!? BITCH ITS MARCH.” Bianca screamed; eyes so wide it would’ve fell out of her socket if it could’ve.

Kiyah shrugged her shoulder “The titles changed but nothing’s really different, that’s why I never cared to say anything. We’re still the same.”

“Yeah, except now you are getting Jimmy schlong every other night.” Bianca exclaimed.

Kiyah rolled her eyes, “Girl please, I wish. But we have kept it private but not a secret ya know? That’s my man for real and I’m so in love with him, it’s kinda sick.”

“I think it’s cute. A couple years ago you were scared to even put your heart on the line and now look at you.” Bianca really felt her heart swell with joy as she watched her cousin obviously head over heels in love with Jimmy Uso. “I’m happy for you- the both of you, truly.”

Kiyah turned the stove off and walked around the kitchen island to pull her cousin into an embrace. “Thank you B. I really appreciate it.” She stated and she meant it. There are few people who actually knew what went down between her and her ex, what she experienced and what made her so closed off after it; Bianca being one of those few people. It meant a lot to see that she was also able to see the growth when it came to her love life.

“And I love you girl, I really do but once Jimmy get back from smoking, I’m finna feed my man and spend my entire day with him. So about brunch…. Imma have to take a rain check.” She smiled at Bianca’s laugh.

“Alright bitch, I can read the room.”

————————���——————————————

After Jimmy had returned from his trip, Kiyah had served breakfast. It brought a different kind of feeling watching him eat her food. In the furthest part of her mind, it made the moment more domestic, made her feel like one day -further down the line of course- that she could do this as his wife.

After breakfast, Jimmy insisted that he clean up the kitchen while she shower. What he really needed was the opportunity to distract her. Jimmy turned the volume up on Alexa, letting the sound of Neat by Q Money take over the silence in the house while he made his way to the coat closet where he had hid what he had returned to the house with.

Opening the coat closet, he pulls out a couple bags filled with what he wanted to do for the rest of day. Jimmy really wanted to treat Kiyah to a night out but he didn’t want to be out today, he just wanted to spend his day as lazily as he could where he found comfort the most. Closing the door, he took the bags and walked to the living room to get started on what he had planned; with Kiyah in the shower he knew he had a cool 45 minutes.

He unpacked everything that came in boxes: the air mattress, the LED tea light candles, the fairy lights, the fake rose petals and got to work with setting up the living room.

After setting up as fast as he could, he walked into her room, his eyes scanning the room looking for a suspiciously quiet Kiyah. “Babe.” He called out, walking towards the bathroom. He catches a glimpse of her doing her face routine, one of his old shirts engulfing her body. “Didn’t you say you never seen where this shirt went?” He asked teasingly as he walks up behind her.

“I have no idea what you talking about, this my shirt.” Kiyah replied, her lips twitched as she tried to fight the smile that wanted to imprint its way on her face.

Jimmy playfully rolled his eyes, “yeah whatever. You gone have to run me most of my shit sooner than later, unless you wanna send me back on the road with nothing to wear.”

Kiyah scoffed, keeping her eyes in the mirror when she looked at him. “Keep playing. If you wanna be outside I can be outside too. “

“You can be outside, Ian worried about shit. I can fight.” Jimmy stated, shrugging his shoulders.

“You say that now, but we all know if I’m in another nigga arms you gone be sick.” Kiyah countered back turning to face him with a small smirk, “You know you love you some me.”

Jimmy watched her with amusement in his eyes, watch her stick her tongue out at him as childishly as she could before turning back to finish applying the clay mask that was in her hands. “Girl please, you damn near passed out when you thought I was entertaining Sasha. I ain’t the only one.” He exposed, laughing when Kiyah’s jaw dropped.

He pulled off his shirt, turning to turn the shower on. “Wanna wash my hair after I’m done with my shower?”

“Can I give you a face mask if I do?” She asked with hopeful eyes when she fully turned around to face him again. Jimmy let out a small chuckle, nodding his head, agreeing with whatever made her heart content at the moment.

Kiyah didn’t want to show how much she missed being around him, but she was finding it difficult to stay away from him. And it wasn’t like he made it easier for her. Like when Jimmy started his shower, she opted to leave the bathroom to finish getting dressed but, Jimmy requested her to stay to keep him company. Sitting on the toilet waiting for her mask to dry while he showered and they both conversed brought back that feeling she was feeling earlier. Domestic.

In her mind she knew it was too early to be thinking these kinds of thoughts but, she’s had feelings for him for two years now, and she couldn’t really remember when she last felt like this. Doesn’t remember the last time anyone ever made her feel so secure.

After washing his hair and keeping his hair wrapped in a towel for it to dry, Kiyah prepared everything she needed to get started on his face. “Just sit still because if you laugh it’s gonna crack.” She warned, and Jimmy smacked his lips.

“This like yo third warning.”

“Because you play too much, I couldn’t even get you to cleanse your face without you playing with the water. Now sit.” She demanded, hands pressing against his shoulders to force him to sit on the toilet so she can apply the mask. He moved freely, letting her push him to sit.

Jimmy let himself relax, closing his eyes and let Kiyah go to work. He didn’t really care for the process of what came with what Kiyah swore was the best skin routine for both him and her. He just wanted to be close to her, the last time they seen each other was almost three weeks ago – almost a month – and he just wanted to be away from the white noise and relish in the quiet refuge that was her home.

Kiyah delicately stroked the brush filled with the clay over his skin as they both fell into a comfortable silence. Nobody else but you by Trey Songz softly playing in the background from the Alexa that was outside and Jimmy couldn’t help but find himself agreeing with the song that seemed to set the mood. He really didn’t want nothing but to be here, with her, didn’t want nobody else but Kiyah.

Jimmy pulled Kiyah closer to him, using his legs to part her legs so that both legs her on each side of his. His hand gripped her waist as he pulled her to take a on his lap. There we go, Jimmy thought once she was seated, fully wrapping his arms around her.

Kiyah continued to apply the mask, the smile she fought to keep off her face grew anyway. It was moments like this where she felt like the luckiest woman in the world. She found someone who was on her just as bad as she was on them. Before she met him, she never thought she would ever meet someone like her, someone who wanted to be around her, touch her, almost all the time. And maybe their time apart played a big role in their affection with each other but Kiyah wouldn’t trade this, wouldn’t trade him, for nothing.

Watching him fully relax under his touch made her heart swell with joy, smiling she leaned down to peck his lips which caused him to open his eyes and softly smile at her. “What you up to?” He playfully asked and she shrugged her shoulders.

“Nothing, I love you.”

“I love you too mama.” He replied without missing a beat, searching her eyes as she stared at him. He leaned up to steal another kiss from her.”How long all this gone take?”

Kiyah placed down everything in her hands on the sink beside her when she finished covering his face with the mask. “We wait 15 minutes for it to dry and then you’re done.”

Jimmy nodded his head, letting his hands start to rub against her legs. “Jey been complaining about how he never see me anymore.” He randomly stated and Kiyah chuckled.

“I don’t blame him, I bet he miss his twin. You guys hung out every time you were off.” Kiyah responded back, letting her hands rub against his chest. “You know you can go to ATL and spend the time with him down there. You know I don’t mind.”

Jimmy let out a small hum, but going to ATL to spend time with his brother wasn’t the problem. It was him wanting to take her with him so that everyone in his life could finally see who’s been taking all of his time. “Would you come with me?” He asked quietly.

“I would go anywhere with you.” She answered and she meant it. Jimmy could ask her to go anywhere and she would go, he was home to her.

Jimmy didn’t signify an answer to her response. He just let his hands trail up from her waist caressing her skin.

“Jimmy.” Her tone came off as her warning him not to start anything.

“Next weekend, He’s throwing a barbecue and our family will be there.” He said, ignoring her warning. “Will you come with me?” He asked.

Kiyah felt her heartbeat pick up. Will you come meet my family? That’s essentially what he is asking her. Yes, she’s already met his brother and yes, she already met Roman – when she spent her time at the Thunderdome arena and they wanted to get to know each other better it required her being around his family. This invite though… it really sounded like will you come meet my parents?

“You want me to meet your mom?” Kiyah asked in a whisper, leaning her body closer to him for a comfort she’s sure they both needed. “You want me to fix your plate in front of everybody to let ‘em know you my man?” She asked playfully.

It eased the nervousness out him, he chuckled and leaned forward to peck her lips. “I wanna show you off to the whole world. I know we ain’t tell nobody yet but I want to. Tell our families anyways.” He answered back to her, shrugging a little.

“I kissed you in front of Bianca on purpose. Wanna show all of ‘em I only want you to fix my plate.” He replied jokingly. His tone softened though as he spoke, his hands trailing up her shirt, rubbing up and down against her back. “I know you ain’t used to the family introductions and all that, but if we’re doing firsts – I wanna experience all of that with you.” He confessed.

Kiyah didn’t reply, she just watched him. Taking in the moment. Here they were, in each others arms, Jimmy’s hair wrapped up in a towel, Clay mask drying on his face while he confessed that he didn’t want to keep their romance a secret from the people who mattered most in their lives.

Could I be any more in love with him? “I’ll meet your parents papa, you can tell the whole world how we locked in, clocked in for the long run.” Despite telling Jimmy not to move his face as much, she couldn’t help but lean in to lock their lips together. Wrapping her arms around his neck as Jimmy deepen the kiss. Kiyah pulled away before they got too carried away.

“Hold on.” She whispered. She reached over on the counter to grab the rag she had placed on the counter. She dipped it in the bowl that had warm water in it now and moved to clean up what she started.

She cleaned his face as gently as she could, throwing the rag in the sink for now and unwrapping the towel from his head. Kiyah was killing two birds with one stone. She took pride in taking care of Jimmy, and this gave her the chance to do so but she was also trying to speed up the process of getting him in her room.

Jimmy let his hands move from her back to her stomach, trailing slowly towards her breasts before he gripped them; fingers tweaking at her nipples.

Kiyah let out a small moan, letting her head fall back from the pleasure. Jimmy leaned up started placing butterfly kisses upon her neck, locating her sweet spot immediately and closing his mouth to suck on it.

“Fucckk.” Kiyah moaned out, bucking her hips against his. Jimmy’s hands, continued to tweak and pull at her nipples before he let one hand slid down to rub against her covered clit.

“This what you was looking for right?” He asked huskily in her ear. Kiyah felt herself shiver at his tone.

Jimmy pressed his thumb against her clit, rubbing it through her panties, feeling it get soaked with her essence. His other hand left her breast to wrap around her neck. “Look at me, this what you wanted right?” He repeated.

Kiyah forced herself to lock eyes with Jimmy. “Yes” she breathed out as an answer.

Jimmy pulled her in by her neck to kiss her once again. Locking their lips in a passionate kiss, Kiyah bucked her hips against his hand to cause more friction.

He pushed her panties to the side to push two fingers inside of her, groaning into her mouth at how tight and wet she felt. Kiyah let out a gasp when she felt the sudden intrusion, throwing her head back again. Jimmy’s fingers thrusted in and out of her in a slow place causing her to rock her hips against his hands.

“Look at you.” Jimmy cooed as he picked up the pace of his fingers, curling it to touch her g-spot.

“Fuck Daddy, you finna make me cum.” She cried out, eyes rolled to the back of her head. She kept clenching herself around his fingers but he was relentless… he continued to pump his fingers in and out of her.

“Look at me.” He demanded and Kiyah couldn’t bring herself to it, moans slipping out her mouth uncontrollably as she felt a tightening feeling in her stomach.

Jimmy cupped her jaw, forcing her to lift her head and lock eyes. “I want the last thing you see before you cum is me.” He told her, he wanted to watch her love faces as she reached her climax.

“Jimmy please.” She pleaded.

She watched as his darkened eyes as he felt her clench against his fingers again. “Watch me make you cum.” He whispered, picking up the pace of his fingers. “That’s it baby, cum for daddy.”

Kiyah’s eyes rolled to the back of her head and her mouth dropped open as she let out a drawn moan, body shaking as she let herself go cumming all over his fingers. Whimpering as he slowed down to help her ride out her orgasm.

Once she was able to collect herself, he slowly pulled his fingers out of her, flashing her a smile. “You so sexy.”

She just searched his eyes, did this man really have the audacity to smile innocently at her like he didn’t just snatch her up?

He stared at her while he placed both fingers in his mouth, sucking her juices off his fingers. He pulled his fingers out of his mouth and leaned down to kiss her, sliding his tongue in her mouth so she could taste herself.

When he felt her try to deepen the kiss, Jimmy pulled back. “Come outside, I got something I wanna show you.”

It took some convincing to get Kiyah to move from the bathroom to go outside. Kiyah just wanted to jump his bones but he really wanted to show her what he originally had planned for the both of them for the day. And even though it took some convincing, his efforts were not in vain because once she say the living room set up she felt her eyes water.

“Jimmy” she breathed out, her breath hitching in her throat as she took everything in. Jimmy smiled at her reaction, he knew it wasn’t much but he was glad it made her happy. She wrapped her hands around his neck to hug him. She was grateful. “Let me show you how thankful I am daddy.” She whispered in his ear.

Do you remember, those special times? They’ll just go on and on in the back of my mind

Jimmy knew ever since he arrived to ATL that this was where he was going to be. Kiyah really showed out for him, and he wanted nothing more than to push her dress up and bury his face in her pussy. She’s been giving for these past couple of days, and last night on the way to ATL he fell asleep on the flight and woke up to his dick in her throat an hour into the flight and assured him that he didn’t have to do anything in return. I just wanna please you. She had stated in a sultry whisper.

She took him out on a date this morning, insisting that she gets to spoil him as much as he spoils her. They went to waffle House for breakfast, and then went to the aquarium right after. She’s been showing the fuck out in Jimmy… He was going to show her his gratitude, no matter where they were at. After he seen her interaction with his family, how his mother fell in love with her almost immediately and how she stayed in the kitchen to help prep the food, even if she didn’t know what was being made… yeah. He knew he was going to be here.

In between her legs with his arms locked around her thighs and his tongue buried inside of her. Kiyah kept her back in a deep arch, eyes rolled to the back of her head with her mouth gaped open but no sound came from her. He had her in a guest bathroom in his brothers house, and she really didn’t want to get caught.

“Fuck, Jimmy.” Kiyah hissed, making him groan against her and wiggle his tongue inside of her, sliding it out of her to swirl it around her pussy to lap up all of her juices. He licked all the way to her clit, sucking on while grazing his tongue against it.

“Daddy” She moaned out, looking down to watch him devour her, moving her hips to grind her pussy against his tongue. Jimmy flattened his tongue against her clit when he felt her moving her hips, letting her do some of the work. His eyes moving to stare at her and winked on their eyes locked.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum. Daddy you finna make me cum.” And at that warning, he closed his mouth around her clit again and sucked. He let out a moan, the vibrations sending a euphoric sensation throughout her body. Jimmy tightened his grip on her thighs to keep her in place. Kiyah let out a moan, letting her head fall back as her stomach tightened. “I’m cumming.” She announced as she spilled all into his mouth, panting heavily. Her lower body shook as her orgasm washed through her and Jimmy made sure to catch every drop.

He raised to his feet, hand wrapping around her neck as he drew her in to smash their lips together to lock their lips in a slow sloppy kiss.

“Damn Papa.” She whispered against his lips as she tried to catch her breath and he smirked.

“I’m not done with you yet.” He told her, pulling his pants down so that she could free himself. Kiyah watched Jimmy stroke himself, precum leaking from the tip and she felt herself clench around nothing.

“There’s an entire party going on outside.” Kiyah whispered as if trying to get him to stop but Jimmy wasn’t hearing none of that.

“I don’t give a fuck, I’m boutta fuck you up for real.” He replied pulling her off the sink counter to face the mirror. “And you gone watch me do it.” He whispered huskily in her ear.

Kiyah barely had time to grip onto the sink counter before Jimmy pushed himself into her, curses left both of their mouths as he pushed until their was nothing to push left. Both of them to moan out at the feeling.

“Eyes on the mirror the whole time ma.” He whispered in her ear, causing Kiyah to shiver.

Jimmy stayed still for a second, being raw inside of Kiyah made him want to ruin her life, and if the circumstances were different he totally would’ve.

He placed both hands on her hips and pulling out and thrusting back inside of her, pushing just as deep as he went the first time, every time he slid back in her. Kiyah’s head flew back as moans poured from her mouth.

Jimmy watching her through the mirror, seeing how wreck she looked before he even really got started and an evil smirk spread across his face. One hand moved to grip on her breast, pulling it out of the dress and his other hand found its way to her neck. “What I tell you princess?”

“I-“ Kiyah gasped out, her eyes rolling to the back of her head as he fucked her harder and harder. Her manicured hand moved up to grip onto the wrist of the hand that was wrapped around her neck. It was as if Jimmy was fucking her like he was angry.

“Yesss baby, just like that.” She moaned out.

Watching her love faces always did something to him, he swiftly moved to the left a little to hit her g spot causing Kiyah to let out a loud moan. Jimmy dropped the breast that he was holding and raised his hand to clap it against her mouth. “You know you’re supposed to be quiet, but here you are trynna let the whole world know how much you love this dick.”

His words caused Kiyah to clench around around him tightly, squeezing her eyes shut. Jimmy chuckled deeply. “C’mon Mama, let Daddy in so I can fuck you up.”

He continued to poke at her spot over and over again, making Kiyah moan loudly into his hands. He forced her head back up to face the mirror so she could watch. Tears ran down her face at the intense feeling of him fucking the shit out of her. “You look so pretty like this.” He cooed.

He sped up and only stopped a few couple strokes to really press himself against her spot. “Open ya mouth for me Mama.” He demanded.

Kiyah immediately let her mouth drop open, he stuck two fingers in her mouth. “Suck it.”

Kiyah closed her mouth back around his fingers, humming in pleasure when she mimicked her actions from earlier. She sucked his fingers, her tongue twirling against them and sucked hard. Jimmy felt his dick twitch inside of her, he would ruin her right here and be content with that.

“Keep yo eyes on the mirror, and if they move, I’m not gone let you cum.” He warned. Kiyah felt her body shiver, keeping her eyes on his through the mirror.

Jimmy pulled his fingers out of her mouth and placed them on her clit, rubbing them quickly as he started picking his thrust back up.

The motive to be discreet flew out the window, Kiyah moaning loudly, gripping the counter until her knuckled turned white. “You finna make me cum again.” She cried out.

Jimmy let go of her neck to grip on her braids to make sure her heads positioned the way he wanted it to be. He could feel her walls clench and unclench around him. “That’s a good girl, look at you take all of it.”

“Please don’t stop, I’m right there baby. Oh my fuck.” She cried as he fucked her harder. “Don’t stop daddy, please don’t stop, you’re gonna make me cum.” She begged, watching more tears fall her eyes.

Jimmy let out a grunt, “Daddy gone make that pretty pussy cum every single time.” He affirmed, rubbing her clit in circles. “Gimme that shit baby.” And Kiyah’s upper body stilled as her lower body shook, releasing herself all over him squirting a little.

“Yesssss” She hissed out and Jimmy had to pull out as quickly as he could, nutting on ass.

Wrapping his arms around her, Jimmy let himself drop his weight on her a little.

“Fuck.” He groaned out, pressing a kiss against the back of her neck. “You keep spoiling me like that Ma and I swear Imma keep you cummin’ like that every single time.” He promised.

And Girl, No matter what was said

“Kiyah I just didn’t wanna be rude to her. You know that with my status.” Jimmy argued

“And Jimmy, all that shit was cool when we were friends. But to do that shit in front of my face? Are you fucking serious? Then the bitch gone have the audacity to laugh at me like she did something.”

“Kiyah.” He started but she cut him off.

"No. You keep giving these bitches a reason to laugh at me like I’m some goofy bitch all cause you wanna be so damn friendly." Kiyah stressed

"Being friendly comes with the job Kiyah! Damn, every time I come in this bitch, you in my ear stressing me the fuck out don’t nobody wanna hear that. Can you at least appreciate that I even come in? I don’t gotta be here Kiyah.” He snapped and she nodded her head at him.

“You know what Jimmy? Since you don’t gotta be here, just stop showing up. Since I stress you out so fucking much, forget I even said anything. I’m sick of this shit, I’m done. You definitely don’t gotta worry about me no more.” Kiyah retorted back.

It was supposed to be a good night for the two, they were both leaving the arena when they bumped into a couple fans who just wanted some pictures. It was fine until it wasn’t. What he thought was being friendly was borderline flirting to these girls, they’d take whatever he’d give them and run a mile with. It was fine until he thought it was okay to let the fan touch for way longer than what was appropriate.

“You’re too damn insecure Kiyah when the fuck you gone wake up and realize that? That’s the reason why these other dudes treated you like trash, and you got so much damn baggage that nobody wants to deal with!” Jimmy snapped but the second he said it, he regretted it.

Kiyah froze, his words ringing in her head. Baggage. She had too much baggage.

“Kiyah I didn’t mean that.” He whispered but she sent a watery smile in his direction.

“You know what? Don’t worry about it, from now on you won’t have to worry about me or my baggage.”

And she turned around and left. Jimmy felt his heart break as she walked but his stubbornness is what kept her from chasing her. Unbeknownst to him, that would be the last time he seen her.

I will never forget what we had, my baby.

All the memories of his time in New York came back to him as he drove to the garden arena. He remembered when told him her feelings drunk off her ass after the Christmas party.

He remembers, her home made cooking every time he visited or any time she visited him. He remembers taking care of her when she caught covid.

She was a crying mess when her test came back positive. She did what she did best and isolate herself away from people. Pushing Jimmy away and booked her own hotel so that she wouldn’t pass it on to Bianca and Tez. And at first Jimmy thought she only isolated from him, but when Tez came and asked if he’d heard from Kiyah, he realized she was isolating herself from everyone.

He remembers asking Bianca if she knew what hotel Kiyah had checked into and he remembers bribing the concierge to tell him what her room number was. He remembers pushing himself through the hotel door when she tried to shut the door in his face.

“Jimmy I’m sick, I have covid.” She stressed, moving away from him as fast as she could.

“Kiyah” He whispered when he took in the scene in front of him. She was hurting and she didn’t want to tell anybody.

“You have to get out!”

“Kiyah, I haven’t heard from you in damn near three weeks. What’s going on?” He asked, concern laced in his voice

“I’m sick; that’s what’s going on. Now if you could please leave, I don’t want you to get sick.”

"No. Kiyah you need to stop pushing people away because you’re scared to show people the ugly side of you.”

He remembers Kiyah crying in his arms that night because she finally felt like someone cared for her.

He remembers the first time he told her ‘I love you’. She cried, and told him she was scared to say it back because every time she did, it was for nothing. And He never rushed her to say it back.

He remembers her confessing her love back to him not even a week later because she really couldn’t hold it in. She’s been feeling him for a long time and she refused to keep her feelings to herself any longer. Jimmy remembers everything, and boy did it hurt to.

Do you remember (I bet you remember)

An uneasy feeling settled in Jimmy’s stomach ever since he found out that New York was the next arena after Money In The Bank. Being in the city was as the ghost of her was going to trailing over him. It’s been three months since he’s last seen her and he wasn’t healed but it was easier to be away from here. Being here reminded him of everything he used to love to do… with who he loved to do it with.

Jimmy let out a sigh as he sat in the bloodline locker room. Even though they were split, They requested to still share the same locker room. It’s quiet, he’s not telling any jokes and he’s getting tired of the worried look’s being shared between his brothers.

“Uce, I’m fine. It’s just one night. It won’t kill me.” Jimmy huffed out and Jey shrugged.

“I wanna believe you Uce, but you been walking around like a sad puppy ever since we landed. Why don’t you just call her?” Jey suggested and Solo nodded, agreeing with his older brother.

“She told me I wouldn’t hear from her again and she meant that shit.” Jimmy sighed. “I can’t just pop up ya know? I wanna respect her and her space.”

Before Jey could reply, a knock was heard on the door. The silence after the knock is what had them confused. Solo moved to answer the door but Jimmy raised his hand to stop him. They didn’t know who that was. The knocking happened again.

“Who is it?” Jey called out and the voice that answered back made Jimmy’s blood run cold.

“It’s me.” Kiyah’s voice was heard through the door.

Jimmy stood up slowly and walked towards the door and he held his breath as he opened the door. “Kiyah.” He breathed out and she flashed a small smile towards him.

“Hi.”

[sentientcave]

Wildflowers and Honey

IT'S WIP WEDNESDAY BAYBEEE and you know what that means! It means I've ignored the projects I planned on working on and started working on a semi-historical omegaverse fic instead. Because I haven't written one before I obviously had to make it extra difficult on myself by making it a low-key Western. No blockers for scents or heats we are just out here rawdogging life.

We can blame this on @dragonnarrative-writes tbh, making me want to write omegaverse. But we're HERE now and we're having FUN with it. As per usual the "reader" is an OC.

You hum noncommittally, tugging your sleeves to make sure you’re as covered as possible. “Are you, um, enjoying living here so far?” you ask, hunting for conversation.

“We sure are,” John says. “It gets better all the time. You ladies want to come in for tea? Ain’t got nothing fancy, no one’s made a habit of callin’ on us yet. We’ll be better prepared next time.”

“We’d love to,” Sarah says cheerfully. “Let me just take Nosy to the pond for a drink.” She unhooks the horse quickly, and leads her away, leaving you standing beside the cart, the four alphas all studying you openly.

“Come on in, then.” John steps in beside you, and gently steers you toward the house, his hand pressed against your lower back. Up close, there’s a warm touch of whiskey in his scent. You clamp down on the instinct to lean in closer. You just have to be polite until Sarah’s satisfied that you’ve met your neighbours. They seem nice enough, but you can’t help but feel like a plump little rabbit surrounded by dogs.

The feeling only intensifies when you step inside. You would expect a building that houses four alphas would be overwhelming, maybe even unpleasant, but you’re hit but a combination of heady scents that make your knees weak. Sourdough bread and sweet fruit and spices, honeysuckle, citrus, that warm tobacco and whiskey that clings to John’s skin, faint traces of leather and wood smoke and spruce and sun-dried cotton. It smells homey.

It’s also surprisingly tidy inside, the floors swept clean, the counters and table scrubbed clean. Kyle pulls a chair out for you, and lifts it right off the ground when he slides it back in. “Sorry,” he says when you squeak, but there’s a laugh in his voice, and you suspect he’s not all that sorry. He’s the one that smells like spices, cloves and cardamom, and sweet peach. Something subtle and slightly bitter underneath, like toasted walnut. He makes a low rumbling sound of approval, like he’s just tasted your scent and thinks it’s just as nice.

Soap tosses the package onto the table and moves a chair closer, spinning it around so he can lean on the back of it, propping his chin on his folded arms. His blue eyes are sharper than John’s, a brighter, more intense blue. “So, Kitty—”

“I’d prefer Miss Haydon,” you say weakly.

“Not very neighbourly of you.” Simon sits across from you, his foot tapping yours. You slide your feet under your chair and out of the way. “Figure we ought to be friendly, eh?”

“Oh stoppit, ye wee big bastart, yer scarin’ the poor lass. Put yer eyes away.” Soap reaches over and tilts the brim of Simon’s hat down over his eyes, then looks at you with all the bearing of a large, silly dog that wants praise for doing a good job. “So, Kitty,” he continues, like he hadn’t been corrected before. “D’ye need any help around yer farm? We’re almos’ done our big work for the season, except the big drive down to Helena for market. Happy to help oot where we can.”

“Oh, I don’t think my daddy’s gonna want your help,” you say quickly. “It’s a very kind offer, but he won’t abide other alphas in his territory.”

Dividers by @/cafekitsune

[streetkid-named-desire]

wip wednesday

i discovered the magic of photoshop actions

here are some before and afters of the new hair colors along with the people whose OCs i stole for names

1 brown liquorice, aka @medtech-mara KBad Brown

2 blonde platinum aka @mirandaputsherbestbuttforward Vitoria Blonde

7 blonde golden, aka Elise Blonde or Golden Elise i haven't made up my mind yet @clockworkvenus

9 blue sapphire, aka panthera blue @medtech-mara the one that started it all!!!!!! someone had taken down the mod of the hair color mara uses and i went hmmmmm maybe i can do that. and it turned out so great and mara made an off hand comment like man all the other colors are so damn bright and i went hmmmmmmm and thus this mod was born

11 red apple aka vermilion (which is ALREADY a color but i tried to not use vincent/valerie) @wanderingaldecaldo

20 cyberpunk yellow aka @sweetmage risa yellow??? green???? undecided on this one too lmao

32 lilac ombre aka @baublekute rose lilac

and last edit i'm gonna post previews for

33 phoenix fire aka @totentnz viper orange, for some reason some instinct is making me wanna go with viper l'orange

this is not exhaustive because again i did all 35 vanilla hair colors

mod will be out FRIDAY or saturday depends on when i finish editing pics and getting the mod page put together and renaming the files

after this mod my next hair color mods are

Blue Hair with Pronouns: A monochromatic blue hair palette

It's Not Easy Being Green: A monochromatic green hair palette

Natural Hair Colors: Exactly what it says on the tin. I know someone has made this mod already but I want to do my own version because I wanna reference IRL photos of people and get them as close to looking natural as possible.

Hot Cool & Viscious: A salt and pepper/going grey color palette (also inspired by @medtech-mara), this one is going to be tricky for what I'm envisioning but I believe in myself.

There are going to be like 10 colors, I am absolutely not doing 35 again....except maybe the natural hair colors I can see myself really going crazy with that one.

[dragonnarrative-writes]

WIP Wednesday

I have so many ideas for this OC, but none are cooperating with me.

Meet Bricks!

Simon notices, immediately, when the American girl enters the bar. First of all, she’s loud. Announces her arrival with a blast of laughter that rings through the room, for all that she’s surrounded by a group of rowdy people. Secondly, she’s dark-skinned, voluptuous, and seems to want everyone to know it. She’s dressed for the clubs more than a side street bar. Two guys she’s arrived with are obviously vying for her attention, but she floats over to one of the active pool tables and immediately starts flirting for the next game. Simon’s not immune to a soft woman with miles of leg, so he can’t blame any of them for welcoming her and her posse.

“Damn,” Kyle mutters, giving her an appreciative once over from his seat.

“What?” Johnny asks, looking over his shoulder like a fucking muppet. “Oh, damn.”

Price arches an eyebrow at Simon. “That good?” When he gets a nod, he turns to look. “…Damn.”

She has to know that everyone at the bar is looking at her, but she doesn’t seem to care. Just talks and laughs, flirts with the men and women around her like breathing. Simon never loses awareness of her. She’s in his sight line. But eventually, he’s integrated her into his awareness of the space. She’s a bright spot, but not rowdy enough to cause issues.

And then she passes their table on the way to the bathroom with her friends. She meets Simon’s eyes, gives him a quick up and down look, then winks with a little smirk as she disappears from view.

“What about you, LT?” Johnny’s voice breaks in.

Simon replays the conversation in his mind for a moment. Recruit performance. Lance Corporal Bennett. “Don’t much care for him. ‘S cocky and mean.”

“Good scores,” Kyle points out.

“He talks shit about the others,” Simon counters. “Good scores don’t mean shit if no one wants to work with him. We’ll see how he does with coordinated drills.”

“Now, Bakshi,” Price says, “he’s got promise. Scores are decent, and I can’t find a single person to say anything bad about him. Except Bennett.”

Johnny snorts. “Except Bennet.”

Simon lets the conversation fade away again. The pool tables are getting a bit rowdy without the American and her girl friends to dilute the testosterone. A couple of the boys over there are from the base, and they keep throwing glances over to the 141s table, and a table of other officers across the room. They’re keeping things cool. For now.

Just as chests are starting to puff enough that even Johnny and Kyle are paying attention, the girls reappear and diffuse the tension. The American says something that knocks the wind out of one boy’s sails and laughs as she takes his pool stick. She buzzes a kiss against his cheek, then playfully shoves another guy to rack. Just like that, the energy settles.

Simon lets himself be coaxed back into the discussion, especially now that the topics have strayed away from work. He can’t turn the hyper-vigilance off, but he likes going to the bar with his team. Likes talking books and TV shows with Price and mocking Johnny’s taste. He likes listening to Kyle talk music. He’s entering an artist’s name into his notes app, which is why he doesn’t notice the American strutting over until she’s right between Johnny and Kyle.

“Hey guys,” she says with a grin, leaning onto the table. “I thought about asking if any of you have a light, but my friends are leaving to get laid and the pool boys are boring. Can I hang out here until they lose interest? I’ll buy you a round.”

Price snorts into his whiskey. “They stop buying you drinks, then?”

“All they want to buy is drinks,” she laments, fluttering her eyelashes and pouting. “I’ve had three, but they’re not getting any more interesting. I’d rather have some fries and sit and chat.”

“Pull up a chair, bonnie lass,” Johnny says, which predictably gets the girl cooing over his accent.

She introduces herself as Ericka, an American student working on her Masters. She talks with her whole body, and doesn’t seem to know how to have a conversation without flirting. She hates the gym. She likes riding horseback, and winks at Simon when she mentions it. She “kind of pegged you guys as military. It’s the muscles.” She prefers whiskey over scotch, and her friends were supposed to take her clubbing tonight.

“But Tracy’s boyfriend hates going dancing, and she’s got a spine of a jellyfish,” she says, rolling her eyes. She’s waving a fry for emphasis. “So of course, we ended up here after I dressed up-up. Trust me, I know this is not a casual night at the pub type dress. I didn’t get the change of plans until the uber dropped us off out front. But I guess it turned out alright. I have no idea what kind of music I’d have been subjected to. Devon has shit taste, so I probably dodged a bullet.”

Even with as much as she’s batting her lashes and sending him interested glances, Ericka doesn’t try to make Simon talk more. With the rest of the table, she’s an excellent conversationalist. As he scans the bar again, he listens to her pick up the music topic with Kyle, drawing Price into a light hearted disagreement. Turns to Johnny with a pout for a tiebreaker. Which somehow gets them all into discussion of the best rock and roll genres. She talks, she listens, she engages. It’s refreshing. Most of the Americans they have to deal with are pushy and self-important officers and mercenaries.

Simon’s not above admitting that it helps that she’s beautiful.

After a couple of hours, it’s nearing 1am. Right on schedule, Kyle yawns. “Sorry, sorry. Not a night owl like some.”

“’S late,” Price admits. “Should probably head out. You have a ride home, Ericka?”

“Yeah, I’ll call a car,” she says, easily. “Thanks for hanging out with me, I’ll have to come back some time.”

“If we’re in town, we’re here,” Johnny says, grinning.

Outside, Erikca’s car gets delayed a couple of times, so Simon sends the boys ahead home and stays to wait with her. Price claps him on the shoulder and Johnny gives him an exaggerated wink. Ericka rolls her eyes and shoos them away when their car arrives.

“So,” she says, when it’s just the two of them. “Was I too subtle before, or are you interested in coming back to my place?”

“Barely spoke to you all night,” Simon points out.

“Come over and you can tell me about your tattoos,” she purrs. Then she smirks. “Or not. Up to you. But I figured I’d shoot my shot.”

[Super sexy sex happens here. Probably.]

Monday morning, Ghost sips a fresh brewed travel mug of tea and listens idly to Soap’s chatter on the way to one of the smaller briefing rooms. He’s looking forward to seeing Laswell, who’s on their side of the pond for a change. It’s always good for him to lay eyes on allies and confirm for himself that they’re alive.

It’s a shock, then, when he and Soap open the door to be greeted by Kate in deep discussion with Ericka.

Soap, of course, is more than happy to say what they’re both thinking. “What the fuck?”

When Ericka looks up and sees them, she grins. “Hey there, boys.”

Price and Gaz, when they arrive, are similarly gobsmacked. Once everyone is settled Lazwell stands.

“From your faces, you’ve all met,” she says. “So I won’t beat around the bush. Say hello to your new infiltration asset. Meet Bricks.”

All of them are speechless as Ericka lays four gray USB sticks on the table. They’re all the ones Price had distributed Thursday, with instructions that the keep one on them at all times. Plus an extra one. If Simon had to guess, Gaz was the one to have a decoy on him.

“Bullshite,” Soap says, pulling an identical USB stick from his pocket. “I’ve had mine on me the whole time.”

“Decoy,” Ericka, Bricks, says. “Slide the port out, you’ll see a pink dot.”

Simon pulls his from his pocket, pushes the little slider. Faded, but present, there’s a pink spot of permanent marker. “Fuck.”

“She’s one of the best infiltration assets we have,” Kate goes on. “She’ll be joining you to get information from Jacó Barboza. We have reason to believe he’s the link between Moscow and Rio, which opens the door to Bogotá.”

[moncherriecoups]

"Like clouds kissed by the sun, some people leave behind a color you can’t name."

✧ moon junhui x f!oc

✧ kwon hoshi x f!oc

✧ summary: She came to Seoul to escape—what she found instead was him. Jun, unreadable and magnetic. Hoshi, warm but just out of reach. As feelings blur and moments slip by, Min Ah realizes not everything beautiful is meant to last. Some storms come softly. Some leave a mess behind.

✧ word count: 4.1k

✧ tags: emotional angst, fleeting connection, unresolved tension, office romance, love triangle, slow burn, banter, eventual smut

✧ warnings: one-night stand, heartbreak themes, drinking, suggestive scenes, alcohol use, suggestive content, emotional pining, sexual scenes

Chapter 7

Coex Mall – Party Supplies Section

Min Ah wasn’t exactly in the mood for a group outing. She hadn’t been in the mood for much of anything lately. Not since Wednesday.

But when Dokyeom had popped into his newly created group chat, consisted only her, Eunji, Dahyun: TIGER PARTY PREP MISSION!! MEET AT COEX 1PM, NO EXCUSES And then followed it with, HOSHI DOESN’T KNOW. IF THIS GETS LEAKED, I’M TAKING YOU ALL DOWN WITH ME She figured it was exactly the kind of mindless chaos she needed.

So she said yes. Yes to the plan. Yes to the distraction. Yes to pretending things were totally fine.

It was easier than sitting at home waiting for a text that wouldn’t come.

Inside the party store, the air was too cold, and everything was too bright. Min Ah rubbed her arms through her light jacket as she trailed behind Dokyeom, who was moving with the kind of hyper focus that could only come from sugar, caffeine, or unchecked emotional investment in surprise parties.

Probably all three.

“Okay,” Dokyeom said, stopping in front of an aisle full of themed decorations. “Hoshi said his favorite animal is a tiger, right?”

“Yeah,” Dahyun said, already flipping through a rack of novelty candles. “He also said he’s descended from a long line of warriors and once claimed he could win Produce 101 if he trained for a week.”

Eunji snorted. “He cried during Encanto. He’s hamster-coded. He just doesn’t know it.”

“I stand by the tiger thing,” Dokyeom insisted. “The passion. The power. The stripes.”

“He has no stripes,” Eunji deadpanned. “Unless you count those weird socks he wore last week.”

“Okay. Rude,” Dokyeom muttered. “But. Listen. I have an idea.”

Min Ah blinked, catching up to the group just as Dokyeom darted around the corner — and came back triumphantly holding something up.

Tiger onesies.

Full-body, fuzzy orange onesies, complete with ears, a tail, and mittens for paws.

“I need this,” he said, reverently. “We all show up like this tonight, and when he walks in—BOOM. Tiger Nation. Best surprise party ever.”

“No,” Eunji said flatly. “I’d rather get fired,” Dahyun added. Min Ah tried not to giggle.

Dokyeom gasped. “Cowards. You have no vision. Hoshi would love this!”

“He’d cry. And not the good kind,” Eunji replied, already tossing a pack of striped candles into the shopping basket.

“We’ll do themed supplies,” Min Ah said gently, trying to mediate before he actually tried to buy the onesies. “Tigers without the fur suit.”

Dokyeom sighed dramatically. “Fine. No onesies. But we are getting the paper hats. And the napkins. And that piñata.”

“There’s a piñata?” Dahyun asked.

“Technically it’s a dinosaur. But if you squint—”

“No,” Eunji said again.

They spent the next hour bouncing between the party store and a few cute stationery shops. By the time their basket was full — tiger-striped candles, orange-and-black hats, “Happy Birthday” balloons, mini poppers, and a little cake topper that said “BORN TO ROAR” — Min Ah was almost having fun.

Almost.

There were still quiet moments.

Little pauses in the middle of a group laugh where her smile faltered. Tiny gaps between jokes where she caught herself glancing at her phone, like her brain had learned to check it on autopilot.

Still no new messages. No missed calls. Nothing since Tuesday night, except the memory of his hand on her cheek, his voice murmuring birthday wishes between kisses. And one word, stuck like a splinter in the back of her mind:

Disappeared.

On the ride back, they were crammed into Dokyeom’s car, Dahyun in the front, Eunji in the back with Min Ah and a mountain of party supplies.

Dokyeom drove like someone had given him three Red Bulls and a playlist labeled "PARTY ALL NIGHT".

“We need to hide all of this until ten,” he said. “Eunji, use your evil powers to distract Hoshi if he shows up early.”

“I’m not evil. I’m efficient,” Eunji replied. “And I’m not wasting my best distraction techniques on Hoshi. Get Dahyun to flirt with him.”

Dahyun didn’t even blink. “I’d rather fight him in a parking lot.”

Min Ah snorted, leaning her head against the cool window.

The city blurred by in streaks of color and light. She exhaled slowly.

“This is helping,” she thought. “I feel better.”

And then, without even realizing it, her fingers curled around her phone again. Still nothing.

She looked back out at the road, swallowing the ache she didn’t want to name.

It’s just Jun. People don’t owe you anything. Right? Saturday, June 14 – 9:30 PM

Min Ah stood in front of her closet longer than she meant to.

There were plenty of things she could wear — simple, casual dresses, a couple fun skirts, that black jumpsuit Eunji said made her look like a “badass art director in Milan.” But everything she pulled out just looked... too much. Or not enough.

Not that she was dressing for anyone. Of course not. This wasn’t about Jun.

It was Hoshi’s surprise party. Everyone would be there. She just didn’t want to look tired. Or like she’d spent the last three days checking her phone every half hour and then pretending she hadn’t.

She picked a soft red dress in the end — something easy, flowy, with a low back and a subtle shimmer under certain lighting. She added a thin eyeliner wing, touched up her gloss. Nothing crazy.

Just enough to feel like she was glowing again.

By the time she arrived at the club, it was buzzing. The music pulsed low and steady from inside the building, like a heartbeat waiting to speed up.

Outside, a small crowd was already gathering — friends of friends, coworkers from other departments, some familiar faces from Artois. Dahyun waved her over from the entrance, holding a tiger-striped party hat and a mini party popper like they were VIP passes.

“Dokyeom’s been pacing like a game show host on sugar,” she said as Min Ah slipped into the velvet-roped line. “Prepare yourself.”

“I’m not emotionally ready for that sentence,” Min Ah replied, laughing despite herself.

Inside, the table was impossible to miss.

Dokyeom had truly gone overboard.

The largest table near the stage was covered in bright orange decorations — tiger-print everything, glowing LED candles, fake mini vines, and even a few helium balloons with Hoshi’s face taped over tiger cartoon bodies. The table had a direct view of the entrance and enough space to see nearly the entire club, including both bars and the main dance floor.

Min Ah blinked. “We look like we’re about to summon him from the wild.”

“He is the wild,” Dokyeom said, grinning as he adjusted the tiny “Born To Roar” banner above the champagne bucket. “God, I’m so good at my job.”

“You work in finance,” Dahyun said flatly.

“Exactly.”

People started trickling in. Artois employees from other divisions joined — marketing, finance, even some folks from HR. It was louder, rowdier than the last time Min Ah was here. She spotted a few familiar faces from the karaoke night, all tipsy and laughing. The table filled with chatter, drinks were passed, party hats tilted at odd angles.

It should’ve been easy to blend in.

To laugh with Eunji and Dahyun, to join Dokyeom in testing which cocktail had the most dangerous sugar content, to forget.

She was trying.

She danced a little, sipped her drink, let the lights blur out the corners of her thoughts. She wasn’t here to look around, wasn’t here to wonder about anyone. Tonight, she was simply existing. Trying to enjoy the chaos, to let herself not care for once.

So when she saw Dahyun’s face shift — just slightly — and Eunji’s gaze flick toward the entrance, Min Ah didn’t want to look.

Her heart dropped before her eyes even caught up.

But curiosity betrayed her.

She turned.

And there he was.

Jun. In the flesh. In the same black shirt she remembered him wearing on that surprise birthday dinner at his apartment, sleeves rolled just enough to show the veins in his forearms. Walking in like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t disappeared.

He was with the other Quantix guys — Mingyu leading the way, Joshua politely nodding at someone near the bar, Jeonghan looking like he might ghost the club the second no one was watching.

And Jun.

Looking completely, utterly fine.

Min Ah froze.

For a split second, their eyes met.

She didn’t even realize she was holding her breath until the moment snapped and she turned away — too fast, too sharp.

She looked back down at her drink, the condensation now slick against her palm.

“Don’t,” she told herself. “Just don’t.”

This wasn’t part of the plan. She had come to forget. To laugh. To breathe without that hollow sting under her ribs.

Not to see him again. Not like this.

Beside her, Eunji leaned in casually. “You okay?”

“Yep,” Min Ah replied too quickly. “Just the lighting’s giving me a headache.”

“Want to head to the bar?”

Min Ah shook her head. “I’m good here.”

Dokyeom was too busy giddily rearranging cupcakes into a number “15” to notice the tension.

Min Ah kept her eyes on the center of the table. On the cake. On the candle she would later pretend to light with steady hands.

This night was supposed to be hers. Not his.

But there he was.

And he’d seen her.

And now, no matter how many glittery party hats surrounded her — she couldn’t un-feel the twist in her chest.

Not now.

Not anymore.

—

11:55 PM, inside the club

Jun didn’t know what he was expecting when they pushed open the door to the club, but it sure as hell wasn’t this.

Tiger decorations. Literal tiger decorations.

From the ceiling to the glowing booth near the stage, the area looked like a jungle-themed birthday party hosted by someone with way too much creative energy and no self-restraint.

“Whoa,” Mingyu blinked. “Are we... in a kindergarten party?”

Jeonghan let out a laugh. “Honestly? Looks like it.”

Then Jun saw her.

Min Ah.

Not in the tiger hat, thankfully, but very much there—standing right near the massive cake table with the rest of the Artois crew, laughing hard at something Dokyeom just said. Her arms were folded loosely, her makeup soft but striking under the club lights. Her hair fell over her shoulders just like it had that night, and for a moment Jun forgot to breathe.

She didn’t see him.

Or maybe she did—and just didn’t show it.

A flash of orange bounced across the dance floor as Dokyeom ran by in a tiger-print sash, herding people like a stage manager with a vision. Dahyun was already passing out party poppers to a circle of unfamiliar faces. A bunch of them worked at Artois, Jun assumed. HR, Sales, Marketing. Too many names, too many people.

It was loud, hot, crowded.

But all Jun could hear was the sharp, unspoken silence still hanging between him and Min Ah.

Mingyu nudged him lightly. “She’s here.”

“I know.”

“You gonna talk to her?”

Jun hesitated. “Not yet.”

“Why not?”

Because I’ve been an idiot. Because I ghosted her after asking her to stay. Because I liked waking up next to her so much I panicked.

He just shrugged.

Wonwoo, standing nearby with a glass of something dark in his hand, didn’t say anything—but Jun caught the way he glanced at him, like he knew exactly what was going on without needing to hear a word.

Of course he did. Wonwoo always noticed everything.

Before the conversation could go deeper, Seungcheol stepped into the booth area, shaking rain off his shoulders and glancing around. “This the right table?”

“Hyung,” Joshua waved him over. “You missed the tiger parade.”

Seungcheol’s brows rose. “The what.”

“Exactly what it sounds like,” said Jeonghan, deadpan. “There were party hats involved. Maybe a live tiger. Still unclear.”

Seungcheol squinted toward the chaos. “Why does it look like a zoo exploded over there?”

Jun tried not to stare, but his eyes kept flicking back to the decorated corner. Min Ah was helping light sparklers on the cake now, her hands steady, her head tilted in concentration. She looked so at ease, surrounded by her team. So unfazed by his presence.

Or maybe just... done.

He didn’t know which one was worse.

Then the music dropped suddenly—cutting off the bass-heavy beat and switching to a slower instrumental track with a low, building rhythm. The lights dimmed, just a little. And Dokyeom, across the club, jumped onto a chair and waved his arms dramatically.

“SHOWTIME!!!” he announced.

The entire table ducked down behind the decorations.

Jun blinked. “Are they—hiding?”

Joshua laughed. “Oh god. It’s a surprise party.”

Sure enough, the front doors opened seconds later, and Hoshi walked in—confused, glancing around, clearly not expecting anything.

.... “SURPRISE!!”

Confetti. Sparkles. Poppers going off like fireworks.

Jun couldn’t hear his own thoughts over the chaos.

Someone yelled “Tiger King!!” and handed Hoshi a fuzzy hat with ears, which he immediately put on while pretending to cry. Laughter echoed through the room as a messy, off-key birthday song kicked in. People popped more confetti. Dokyeom looked like he was having a spiritual experience.

Jun stayed still.

It was like watching a life he wasn’t part of anymore.

Min Ah stepped forward to hand over the cake—tall, ridiculous, covered in orange frosting stripes and little plastic tiger faces. She was smiling.

Not just politely smiling—genuinely happy.

She said something that made Hoshi laugh and pull her into a sudden side hug. She yelped, pushed at him half-heartedly, and he just beamed harder, like he hadn’t noticed or didn’t care that frosting was now in her hair.

Jun’s hands clenched into fists in his jacket pockets.

“You okay?” Wonwoo asked quietly beside him.

Jun didn’t answer. Just kept staring.

She looked so comfortable here. So cared for. She’d found people—people who threw her into hugs and gave her tiger candles and made her laugh until her shoulders shook.

People who hadn’t kissed her like she meant everything and then vanished.

Jun looked down.

He hadn’t meant to disappear. He really hadn’t.

But something about the way she’d held his face that morning, the way she’d kissed him goodbye like she trusted him—like he could be someone worth staying for—it rattled something in him. Shook loose the quiet panic that lived under his skin, the voice that said: you don’t get things like this. People leave. They always do.

So he left first.

Now, watching her across the room, Jun didn’t feel protected.

He felt like a coward.

And worse—he wasn’t sure she’d let him explain anymore.

—

Just past midnight, in a quiet corner near the edge of the club

The club was still beating with bass, but Min Ah had drifted away from the center of it all.

Not to the smoking area. Not outside. Just somewhere dimmer—off to the side, past a small curtain near the coat check where the music muffled and the air thinned.

It wasn’t an escape.

She just needed a second.

One beat. One inhale that didn’t taste like cheap tequila and perfume and confetti dust.

She leaned against the wall, feeling the cool surface through the fabric of her blouse. Her phone buzzed lightly in her hand—just the team’s group chat. Dokyeom had sent a picture of Hoshi in the tiger hat, three emojis deep.

She smiled. A small one.

Then she sighed and locked the screen.

That’s when she felt it—the shift. That invisible tension in the air, the sudden weight of someone watching. Turning, slow and cautious, she already knew who it was before she saw him.

Standing not three feet away. One hand in his pocket. The other holding a glass he hadn’t touched.

She stared.

He stared back.

“You’re hard to find,” he said finally.

“I wasn’t hiding,” she replied, a little sharper than she meant to. But her chest was tightening and her throat felt tight and her heart—damn her heart—was beating in that stupid, hopeful way.

He walked closer, a step at a time, like she might disappear if he moved too fast.

“You ignored me tonight,” he said.

She let out a dry laugh. “Are you serious?”

Jun flinched at her tone.

“You ignored me all week, Jun,” she snapped, arms crossing. “And now I’m supposed to what—just forget that because you decided to talk to me again?”

He said nothing.

Her voice dropped lower, firmer. “Do you even know how much that sucked?”

Jun looked down. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Yeah?” She tilted her head. “Then what did you mean to do?”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Silence stretched long between them.

She hated how beautiful he looked even now—tired eyes, mussed hair, mouth parted like he was trying to figure out how to not make things worse. She hated the way he looked at her like he was sorry and scared and relieved all at once.

“I didn’t know what to say,” he finally said.

“You didn’t even try,” she whispered.

Jun’s jaw clenched. “I didn’t think I deserved to.”

Min Ah blinked.

That… hurt.

Because it wasn’t a brush-off. It wasn’t cruelty. It was that sad honesty again. The kind that made her wonder just how deeply this man was hurting—and why he thought disappearing was the only option.

“That’s not fair,” she said. “You don’t get to pull me in, make me think—feel—whatever that weekend was, and then vanish. If you didn’t want me, you should’ve just said so.”

“I did want you,” Jun said quickly. Too quickly.

Her breath caught.

“I do,” he added, quieter this time. “That’s the problem.”

He stepped closer, slow and unsure. Close enough now for her to smell his cologne—fresh and clean, like linen and something sharper underneath.

“I told myself I’d keep my distance,” he murmured. “I thought maybe it was just that weekend, just something that would pass, but then I saw you tonight and—” He stopped himself. Swallowed hard. “And I couldn’t stay away.”

Min Ah’s heart thumped hard against her ribs.

She wanted to stay mad. She wanted to keep that wall up, even if it was barely standing.

But the way he said it… it didn’t sound like a pickup line. It didn’t sound like some pathetic excuse.

It sounded like the truth, broken and messy and scared.

Min Ah looked up at him, quiet now.

“So what do you want from me?”

Jun looked like he’d been bracing for that question. His voice was hoarse.

“I want to start over,” he said. “I want you to look at me like you did that morning—before I messed it up.”

She hesitated.

Her hand loosened at her side. Her shoulders dropped a little.

It wasn’t forgiveness. Not yet.

But it was something.

Jun’s eyes flicked to her lips. Then her eyes. Then back again.

He leaned in, hesitated for half a second—until she didn’t pull away.

And then he kissed her.

It was nothing like the kiss in his apartment.

When they broke apart, their breaths were shallow. Their foreheads stayed close.

Jun whispered, almost nervously, “Come with me.”

Her brows pulled together, unsure.

He paused. Then corrected, voice gentler, rawer:

“I just… I don’t want this night to end like the others. I want to be near you. Even if it’s just for a little while.”

Min Ah stared at him for a long second.

Then, slowly, she reached for his hand.

She didn’t say anything.

But she didn’t let go either.

—

Hoshi wasn’t sure when the party started feeling too loud.

It was probably around the third toast Dokyeom made in his name—standing on the couch like it was a stage, one arm around Manager Kim, the other holding a mic he absolutely wasn’t supposed to have.

Or maybe it was when someone shoved a second slice of cake into his mouth mid-laugh, and the frosting nearly shot up his nose. Everyone was so loud. Everyone was so happy. And he was too—he really was.

At first.

Because it wasn’t every day people threw you a surprise birthday party with tiger hats and candles shaped like paws, in your favorite club, surrounded by people who loved you and knew you well enough to make everything feel personal. Thoughtful. Right.

But then it all started spinning.

The tiger cake was half-eaten. The music louder. The Artois team had dissolved into smaller chaos-clusters — Dahyun and Manager Kim trying to flirt-fight over the last bottle of grape soju, Eunji arguing with someone from HR over astrology signs, Dokyeom still standing somewhere shouting “Tiger era!” like it was a political campaign.

And Hoshi… was just standing there.

Smiling. Nodding. Laughing when he needed to.

He wasn't drunk. Not like last time. No more being carried out while slurring lyrics and clinging to Eunji's sleeve.

He’d told himself tonight would be clean. Classy, even.

But now the edges of the room were blurring. Not from alcohol — but from something else. Something twisting in his chest, tightening without a name.

He slipped out quietly. No one noticed.

Past the coat check, down the hallway where the music pulsed like a heartbeat but softened, blurred behind layers of velvet curtains and concrete walls.

The air was cooler here. Not quite fresh, but still. It helped.

He leaned back against the wall, let his shoulders drop.

Let the moment breathe.

His phone buzzed — group chat with the Artois dev team. Someone had just sent a photo of him with the cake, frosting on his nose. He chuckled, shook his head.

Then froze.

Voices.

Low. Tense.

Around the corner. Not yelling, but tight.

He almost didn’t check.

He almost turned around.

But something made him pause. Made him take one step—then another—until he could just barely see past the divider wall.

And there they were.

Min Ah.

And… Jun? That Quantix guy?

His stomach dropped, just a little.

Jun looked… tired. Not in the way people look after work, but in the way someone looks after regret.

Min Ah stood in front of him, arms crossed, shoulders rigid.

The air between them wasn’t casual. It crackled.

Jun said something—low, something soft. Hoshi couldn’t make out the words.

Min Ah’s mouth tightened. She answered. Firm. Tense. Not kind.

Hoshi knew that voice. He’d heard it in meetings, in late-night talks at the office when she was tired but still trying to be polite. It meant: I’m hurt, but I’m not giving you more than you gave me.

She looked away.

Jun stepped forward.

His hand reached out — barely brushed her elbow.

Hoshi’s breath caught.

No.

No, this wasn’t—

She didn’t move back.

She didn’t flinch.

Instead, her hand met his — hesitant at first, like she hated herself for it — but she held on.

Jun leaned in.

And kissed her.

Slow. Like gravity pulled him there.

Like he couldn’t help it.

Like they both forgot where they were.

It wasn’t lusty or messy.

It was… intimate.

Familiar.

Like it wasn’t their first kiss.

Like it wasn’t their last.

Hoshi didn’t realize his nails had dug into his palm.

He turned around quietly.

Didn’t say a word.

Didn’t let his footsteps echo.

Just walked away.

Because what else could he do?

He wasn’t owed anything.

They were adults. This wasn’t a high school drama. There was no reason to feel anything about two people kissing in a hallway.

Except…

He had hoped.

Just a little.

He’d hoped that maybe the thing he thought he felt wasn’t one-sided. That maybe she smiled a little softer when it was him talking. That maybe she laughed a little more freely around him.

And maybe he should’ve said something earlier.

But now?

Now it was just too late.

Back at the table, someone had put a party hat on Dahyun, who was very clearly trying to remove it while Dokyeom shouted “GROUP PHOTO!”

Hoshi slipped into the frame with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Eunji narrowed her eyes at him. “You good?”

“Great,” he said, too quickly. “Best birthday ever.”

Dahyun shoved the tiger ears headband back onto his head. “You look like you’re about to cry.”

“I always cry on my birthday,” he joked.

It was half-true.

And no one noticed the crack.

Except maybe Eunji.

But even she didn’t say anything.

—

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MY BABY KWON HOSHI, AND IM SO SORRY FOR MAKING THIS CHAPTER TOO LATE...... :( wishing you the happiest live ahead, and good luck with your military duty soon! I'm gonna miss you like, so, SO MUCH! pls just stay??? dont LEAVE?????:(( HORANGHAEEEE

[berryispunk]

WIP Wednesday

I’m deep in full-blown maniac creative chaos right now, but I wanted to share something that’s really close to my heart. I’ve started working on a prequel to Your Home’s Only a Town You’re a Guest in this time with teenage baby Frankie and, of course, reader (she didn’t have a name in the original, but now she does, so she’s officially an OC!).

Anyway, here’s a little excerpt. It’s painfully cute and wholesome… for now. But let’s be real we all know it won’t stay that way. Hearts will break.

Moodboard for the vibes ✨

Also a song kind of fitting for it:

[...] One skipped class turned into two, then into entire afternoons spent behind the school, tucked into that hidden space like it belonged to just the two of you. It wasn’t good for your grades, but neither of you really cared. Some things felt more important than attendance sheets and test scores.

You’d talk. About nothing, about everything.

About how the world sometimes felt like it was pressing too hard on your chest making it hard to breathe. 

How your parents yelled or didn’t talk at all.

How teachers didn’t notice when you stopped trying.

How it felt to wake up already tired, already worn down. Like the weight of the world settled on your shoulders before your feet even hit the floor. Everyone expected you to have it all figured out—to know what came next, what your future looked like. But the truth was, you didn’t know much about your future. Except one thing: you were going to leave Tidehaven.

Because staying in this place felt like a slow death sentence, one that would come long before its time. And even if it was out of nothing but spite—you weren’t going to let it win.

You talked about how some pain wasn’t new—it had just grown up with you.

And Frankie just listened. He wasn’t the best with words, but the way he paid attention made it feel like you weren’t just talking to empty space. His kind eyes never left you, and somehow that presence of his—calm, steady—made it easier to open up. Sometimes he’d say something simple, something true, and it would land exactly where it was needed. Other times, you’d both just sit in silence, sharing the weight of it all like it was some kind of secret language. You hadn’t planned on caring about this, about him. But soon enough, you realized that seeing him—that was the only thing you looked forward to on the days when it felt like rainstorm after rainstorm in your head, even though the sun blazed down on Tidehaven most of the time. [...]

no pressure tags: @capuccinodoll @hellishjoel @greenwitchfromthewoods @almostfoxglove

my masterlist

[maccreadysbaby]

OPERATION: ULTRAVIOLET

alex rider + oc insert

tw: violence, because it’s a maccreadysbaby fic

wanna read more? here’s the table of contents!

dont get between a boy and his housekeeper, that’s all I have to say

part three

❝ RANSOM ❞

WEDNESDAY — MAY 4, 2001 — 1:28AM

THE FIRST THING KAI FELT, WAS COLD. An overarching, deep cold that seemed to originate from deep inside of him, pooling like dread in various parts of his body.

He was sitting up, but not of his own accord. He could feel that his arms and legs were all strapped down, and his head was the only thing he could freely move, lulling to the side limply.

His limbs were still heavy and a little numb from whatever drug he’d been suffocated with. He let his sticky eyelids slide open, but he was greeted by darkness. Why couldn’t he see? What had happened to his eyes?

He lifted his head up, and the movement made him dizzy when nothing in his field of vision moved to accompany it. He tried to bring his arms up to his face; but he couldn’t thanks to the something that was binding his wrists — to the arms of a chair? He couldn’t move much more than his hands, up and down, and his head. Was he still at home?

No, he couldn’t be. Even if he couldn’t see, this didn’t feel like his home. The air was sticky and wet, with a humid moisture that was clinging to his skin and dampening his hair. There was a light hum in the background — the white noise of some machine that he definitely never heard in his penthouse.

But, if he was, indeed, somewhere else, how had they gotten him out of the building? He guessed that it would have been hard for the men to get him out of the highly populated and secure skyscraper… but they’d gotten in, so he had to assume they had a way to get out again. And where was Lionel? 

That sent a sudden surge of panic streaking through him. If they had left the penthouse, they most certainly wouldn’t have left Lionel behind. At least not alive. He hated to wish it, but he couldn’t help but hope the butler was strapped up next to him. Because then, he’d be alive.

“He’s awake,” 

Kai flinched at the man’s voice. It was one he hadn’t heard before; it sounded young, a smooth tenor with a faint Southern accent, like someone from Alabama or Louisiana.

Suddenly, Kai could see.

A bag had been ripped off of his head. 

It wasn’t bright, but there was light. He blinked against the dim illumination, his brown eyes flicking around the place he’d found himself in.

It looked like… a bedroom, or something. The walls had peeling yellow wallpaper with small, fading flowers, pale and worn by time. The ceiling was covered with tin tiles, and the floor was an old, nasty wood, rotted and splitting, maybe water damaged. There were no windows and no furniture in the room except the dining chair Kai’s wrists and ankles were zip-tied to, and only one door — a thick, metal looking one that didn’t fit the room at all. There was only a single naked light bulb dangling over his head. Lionel wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

There was a man standing in front of him. In all back, with a ski mask, but not the same one from the penthouse. Maybe it was the second one who had been there, who’d drugged him? He wasn’t looking at Kai, but setting something up right in front of the boy instead. Some kind of camcorder, it looked like, that he was attaching to a tripod.

Someone emerged from behind his chair.

It was the man from his penthouse. Kai could see blood from when he hit him with the gun running over his lips under the ski mask, staining the black material even darker.

“Is it rolling?”

It was the same rough voice from the penthouse, the same one who’d demanded Kai’s location out of Lionel. He hadn’t noticed before, but the teenager sort of recognized it — he couldn’t place from where.

“Yes,” The younger, smaller one responded, backing away from the camera and letting his hands drift away from the device.

Suddenly, the larger man turned on a dime, his fist coming in harsh contact with the side of Kai’s head with no warning at all. The teenager cried out when a too-harsh pain exploded there, and the force of the strike was so strong the chair nearly toppled over, wobbling from side to side a few times before it settled again.

Kai’s head was swimming. His ears were ringing, and dots danced in his vision, his left temple throbbing with a stabbing, searing pain. The man’s hand flashed in his line of sight — brass knuckles.

Kai had been kidnapped. Like, actually kidnapped. What was the procedure for this? What had Lionel always told him to do in times of crisis? 

Panicking wouldn’t help anything, he knew that much. These guys probably wanted him for ransom money, or information, or maybe vengeance. It was already obvious that they wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him — crying or begging or all the things his childish instincts wanted him to do wouldn’t make any difference. What he needed to do was think.

He didn’t have the time to think, though, before the brass knuckles switched hands and were slammed into the opposite side of his head. He couldn’t help the reflex tears that sprung to his eyes from the pain, and the chair rocked again, the floor cracking and making the chair tilt to the side under the weight of it crashing back down. He could feel blood leaking down the right side of his head a mere few seconds after the impact. 

His breaths were coming out shaky, though he tried his best to keep them steady, even. The man settled in front of him with cold, gray eyes. Cold gray eyes that Kai recognized.

“Hey there, Malachi,”

When he heard his name was when Kai realized who it was. The eyes, the accent, the build.

It was Sergeant Wilhelm, the man who trained him on base at Fort Bragg. The only other person in the whole world who knew Kai existed. How had he gotten in the penthouse? How had he known where he lived? How did he get him out of the building unseen?

Suddenly, Kai felt a slew of emotions. Anger, because he knew this man, betrayal, because it was the trainer he trusted… and despair. Because he knew that he stood absolutely no chance against him, if he decided Kai should die.

Kai didn’t dare speak.

The man licked his bloody lips, and Kai only had a half second to flinch before his fist (luckily the one without the knuckles this time,) slammed straight into the center of his face, just like when Kai had hit him with the gun. The teenager couldn’t help but cry out again when pain rippled out from his nose and made his eyes spill over with reflex tears. Blood started pouring out both sides of his nose so quickly he had no hope of choking it back.

“Don’t be afraid,” The Sergeant said, as though he wasn’t trying to literally beat Kai to a pulp. “I just have a little message for your daddy. If he comes through, no further harm will be done.”

The sergeant stepped over to his right, so Kai’s face was right in the camera, bloody and already bruised. The second man, the younger one, stayed on the other side of the device, probably to stop its recording when the sergeant said.

“Well, Joe, you see now what I’ve got my hands on,” The sergeant said. Kai didn’t look into the camera, he just angled his brown eyes down at the floor, trying to look blank. “All I want is for you to keep paying my bills. It’s simple, really.”

Keep paying his bills? Kai wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that. He assumed his father paid him for the secret training Kai received. And he did a good job training him — it wouldn’t make sense for his father to quit paying him unless he planned for Kai to stop training. Was he going to stop training?

Kai’s mind was slammed back into reality when something cold touched his right temple. He hadn’t seen the sergeant pull out the gun, but his whole body went rigid when the cool metal was pressed against his skin, pushing his head slightly to the side. “If you don’t, well… I think you get the gist.”

The barrel of the gun resting against his temple made Kai feel sick. The sergeant pulled back the hammer and clicked the safety off, pushing the gun into Kai’s skin so hard it kind of hurt. He tried to keep the fear off of his face, but he could feel himself shaking and he knew it would be visible on the camera. His eyes were still watering from the punch, too, so it looked like he was crying.

“You have six hours to respond. If you do, the boy will be returned peacefully to your home. If you don’t… the CIA is welcome to look for the body,” The sergeant said, his southern drawl suddenly sounding really, really dark. “We’ll see what you love more… your son, or your money.”

Suddenly, a gruff hand had him by the chin, and his head was lifted up so he stared directly into the camera. The barrel of the gun suddenly moved, cold against the bottom of his chin. “You got anything you wanna say to your daddy, Malachi?”

Kai did nothing but subtly shake his head. He wouldn’t have known what to say anyhow, but the gun made it even harder to think. He didn’t trust himself to open his mouth anyways. His hands were shaking and he grabbed the arms of the chair in a bid to hide it, so tight his knuckles turned white.

After a long silence, the younger man moved forward and cut off the camcorder. A small wave of relief washed over the teenager when the gun was removed, and the safety was clicked back on. But even if the gun was gone, the threat of death was still hanging thick in the air like smoke.

“I hate to be this way, Malachi,” The sergeant sighed, shoving the gun into the rear waistband of his black pants. “But I’m afraid there’s no alternative.”

Kai didn’t say a word. The man reached out and patted his cheek, and he jerked his head away like his touch was toxic.

The sergeant huffed in response, turning to the younger of the two men. “See to it that he gets the video as soon as possible. I have to go deal with the housekeeper. He locked himself up behind the bookcase at the penthouse,” He said.

Lionel was still at home, alive? Locked up at the penthouse — had he pressed the panic button? Locked himself in Kai’s room?

That was smart. There was a phone in Kai’s room. He would be safe and live long enough to get help. Maybe Kai’s stepfather already knew what happened. Maybe they were already on their way.  At least, that’s what he had to tell himself.

The sergeant looked at Kai with a twisted smile. “Let’s hope your stepfather pays up. Otherwise, next time you see me… will be your last.”

The young man collected the camcorder, and both of them left through the metal bedroom door, closing it behind them. The sound of locks turning from the other side came and went.

As soon as they left the room, Kai folded over on himself and exhaled heavily, taking deep, shaky, long breaths, trying to calm himself down. 

Lionel. He was going to deal with Lionel. He didn’t think he’d be able to get into his room, but what if he could? He’d already broken into the highly secure building, and then broken out again. What if he could get inside?

Kai had to physically fight away the panic that was clawing at his throat, threatening to make the air around him too thin to breathe. He had no idea where he was. Even if he did, he didn’t have the faintest clue about direction — how to get home or how long it would take the sergeant to get there. He could have five hours, or five minutes, before Lionel was possibly dead.

A string of curse words bounced around in his skull as he tried to wiggle his arms and legs around. The zip-ties were too tight for him to slide out of, and too strong to simply break by pulling against them. He looked around the room again, but there was nothing. Not that he’d be able to grab anything anyways.

Think. Think. He’d been taught how to get out of zip-ties, but not when they were attached to chairs. He could try and break the chair itself, but with his arms and legs attached like they were, he didn’t have a large enough range of motion to even think about doing anything. Best and worst case, he’d just fall over.

What could he do? What could he do?

He sat up slightly, fighting back a burn that threatened to surface in his eyes, glancing at his wrists. He didn’t have anything on him that could cut stuff. Even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to reach it.

One thing he’d been taught was adaptability. How to use objects on or around him to his advantage. But what good was that when he couldn’t move?

With no other clear option, he started writhing in the chair, slamming his weight side to side, forward and back so the legs kept lifting up and slamming down again with loud bangs. The floor crunched beneath him and the chair fell through, tilting sideways. 

When he jerked again, it didn’t go anywhere. 

Great.

He had to find a way. If there was the slightest chance Lionel could die, he had to stop it. He had to. 

Suddenly, the lock turned, and the younger man stepped in with a pistol clutched tightly in front of him.

His grey eyes flicked around the room anxiously, lingering on Kai, then sliding down to the broken floor and chair’s left legs poking through. “Stop slamming around.”

His hand with the gun was shaking, almost like he hated holding the thing. He spoke softly. He wasn’t confident — no, he was scared. He was inexperienced, and Kai could smell the fear of what would happen after this all over him.

He might be able to use that.

“Let me out of here,” He ordered with much more confidence and determination than the young man had. “Let me go. If you do, I can tell my father. I can make sure you don’t get-“

The man closed the door and locked it again.

With a grunt of frustration, Kai jerked and thrashed in the chair like a madman, hoping he might break it or acquire new strength to rip the zip-ties, to no avail. It was completely stuck, sideways and fallen into  the floor.

There had to be a way. There was always a way, that’s something Lionel had taught him. There was always a way in, or out, or to live, or to die, or to escape, or to win. There was always, always a way. His job was just to find it.

There was a way to break the zip ties, he just had to find it.

He scoured the room for any sign of help, but there was none. Nothing he could grab. Nothing he could use. He couldn’t even knock the chair over anymore.

Was it really just up to his father now?

Sometimes the way out isn’t obvious. That’d been something Wilhelm had taught him while pretending to kidnap him and hold him hostage. Sometimes, you can’t even see the solution. You just have to try.

Sometimes, he couldn’t even see the solution. Maybe it wasn’t around him. Maybe it wasn’t on him.

Maybe it was in him.

With no other options left in his mind, he leaned over, and started chewing on the zip-ties.

He wasn’t sure how long it took. He couldn’t even seem to comprehend time. By the time he broke through both zip-ties on his wrists, he could taste blood in his mouth, and he was pretty sure he’d need braces to fix the damage he’d done to his front teeth — they didn’t feel right anymore.

A sense of victory seemed to take hold of him when his arms were free.  He was able to stand — wobbly, because he was still attached to the chair that was falling through the floor — and pick it up. It took him a second to pull it free from the holes he’d made, but when he did, it made a loud crunch of rotted wood.

If the guy outside had heard it, there was no time. He jerked up on the chair and started shaking it frantically, slowly weaseling the chair legs out of the zip-ties until, finally, it came loose and the ties were left around his ankles like bracelets.

He was free. Suddenly, his mind spun and he threatened to faint. He was free. 

He sat the chair off to the side and shook his hands out by his sides. He couldn’t go out the door. There was no way he could bust the metal thing down, and even if he could, the younger of the two men was probably just outside. He’d get shot before he even got a chance to leave.

He looked around the room. There were no windows, and he couldn’t go busting through a wall without making any noise — besides, that would take forever, if he could even do it. He looked up at the ceiling. He may have been able to pull down the tile, but it would be loud, then he’d have to bust through the ceiling and somehow get himself up inside of it without just falling right back through the drywall.

Kai exhaled heavily, raking his hands through his hair, trying to think, to breathe, to make a plan. 

He glanced down at the crumbling floor that had caved beneath his chair. 

Yes. He wasn’t sure where exactly he was, but he knew Miami was a coastal city — and he’d learned via television that houses in coastal cities were often built high off the ground, or at least on stilts in case of floods. If he could somehow get through the floor, and through whatever was under the floor, he could crawl out from under the house and be home free.

With an exhale, he grabbed the chair and walked it back over to the hole the legs had made in the rotted wood. He tipped the whole chair up and balanced just one leg of it against the hardwood right beside the hole, and on a mental count of three, put all his weight on it.

The rotted hardwood creaked, groaned, and then cracked, the leg of the chair falling through and thudding against something else that also cracked.

He lifted the piece of furniture out, and did it again. Crack! And again, and again, over and over all around the hole until it was big enough that maybe, he could fit through. There seemed to be beamwork and electrical wires running through the floor, but it was all old and rotted out. There was a thin layer of what looked like particle board beneath it, covered in the chipped and rotted floor he’d been breaking out, and it had a few holes peppered in it from the chair leg hitting it.

Slowly, Kai put down the chair and, dusting his hands off, dropped his foot into the hole. The particle board cracked under his weight, then broke, and he lowered himself down and down until his foot hit something solid. He had to put his other leg in, too, to fully reach the bottom. He wiggled his socked toes around — mushy dirt.

Suddenly, the sound of the lock turning came. 

“Hey!”

Kai ducked down just as the man jumped at him, arms wide and poised to grab him. The teenager had no choice but to throw himself down, crashing straight through the particle board and slamming stomach-down in the dirt under the house. Dust and debris rained down on him, and he felt the man’s hand groping at the back of his t-shirt. 

“Stop! Get back up here!”

Kai rolled further under the house to wrench the man’s hand out of his shirt, and there was a crash as the man fell headfirst in the hole that wasn’t quite big enough for him.

There was probably only two feet of room down there, so Kai had to lay on his stomach and army crawl if he wanted to move. He couldn’t see a thing, and the sound of crickets and katydids started assaulting his ears, along with the scrambles and cracking of the man trying to force himself back into the house. It was all pitch black. Kai blinked, straining his eyes against the darkness, and —

A subtle glow, right in front of him. It was just bright enough to turn the posts holding up the beach house into silhouettes, and the more his eyes grew used to it, the more he realized he was out. That light was coming from something outside. 

He shimmied on his stomach in an army crawl, one hand in front of the next, toward the light. Thirty feet. Twenty. Ten. He heard the man’s feet slamming somewhere above him, inside the house.

His hands hit soft grass.

With an exhale of satisfaction, he rolled out from under the house and forced himself onto his feet, swaying slightly from slight disorientation. It was pitch black and humid, with the Miami stars twinkling overhead..

He was out.

The light he’d been seeing was the exterior lighting of another beach bungalow not so far away, yellow with a bright white door. It had a light post outside near the road — a quiet road, small, surrounded with trees — that’s what he’d been seeing. There were no more buildings that he could see, and he could’ve swore he could hear the ocean in the distance.

The house he’d been in was a fading blue bungalow with a terracotta roof. It was old, and trashed on the outside, looking abandoned far before Kai had ever been there.

He heard the door of the house slam open. It sounded close, but he couldn’t tell what direction it came from, or what direction the man was going to go. He looked over at the other beach house — the lights were on and there were cars outside. That was the only place around where he could find help. But if he ran there, the man with the gun would see him.

Kai turned on his heel and ran the opposite direction, around what he thought was the back of the house. Away from the light. Away from the civilization.

When he turned the corner, the man, and the gun, was right in his face.

“Hey!”

Kai whirled around to run, but not fast enough. The man grabbed him by the left arm and jerked him back. In a split second decision, Kai cried out loudly, grinding to a halt and clutching his left shoulder, twisting his face up in agony.

The young man took pause, obviously stunned that he had caused the boy so much pain. And when he was caught off-guard was when Kai struck.

He brought his hands suddenly forward. His left snapped around the barrel of the pistol while his right slammed against the man’s wrist, and he used all of his strength to force them away from each other. The gun came right out of the man’s hand and Kai spun it around, aiming the barrel at him instead.

The young man looked horrified.

“Let me go,” Kai ordered, holding the gun tightly in his hands, aiming it at the kidnapper’s heart. “Let me go. Now.”

The man, his grey eyes blown wide, brought his hands up next to his head. “Malachi-“

“Let me go!” He ordered, flicking the gun’s safety off. “Go back inside and stay there. Now!”

The man started to back away slowly. Kai followed him all the way around the house and back into the front door with the gun, before shutting the door and leaving, the weapon still clasped tight in his hand.

Kai half wondered what was going through the nextdoor homeowner’s mind when a fourteen year old boy, bruised, bloody, dirty, with zip-ties around his ankles and a gun in his hand, banged on their door, begging to use their phone. He’d dialed one of the two phone numbers he had committed perfectly to memory.

He was calling his father.

The CIA would be there soon, and they’d probably be at the penthouse before Kai could count to twenty.

Lionel was safe.

—

tag list!

@skylathescholarly @flyrobinflyy @mcskullmun

[ashisill]

Take me to your temple

Josh x male oc

Warnings: (childhood trauma, mention of sexual abuse (not in details), religious trauma, mention of abuse, mention of abusive relationship, oral sex, anal sex, unprotected sex, crying, and I believe that’s all)

: Hi guys I am so excited to share my new series with you. I hope you enjoy this new character as much as I do. Soon after this is released I already have the next one ready for you guys. Keep an eye out!

~

"I think I'm ready Josh".

He's holding his hand in mine talking to me softly. He's ready but am I?

We've lounged on the couch all afternoon. My head rested in his lap as he ran his fingers through my curls. Flipping through TV channels until something catches our interest. When the movie ends I sit up with a yawn and notice his eyes. Something's weighing on him I can always tell. "What's wrong Christian?"

He sighs hard and looks off into the distance.

"I've been thinking about it a lot"

"About what love?"

"You" he locks eyes with me.

I understand what he means although a part of me doesn't want to. Christians been sexually abused ever since he was fifteen. Just from his name, you can understand the family he came from. Church every Sunday and Wednesday and early morning Sunday school. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that life normally it would be a happy one. One full of peace and devoted faithfulness. Except when you throw an abused and confused teen in the mix it’s not so pretty. When his parents found out he was gay they sent him away to be ’clean’. Thankfully he was only there a week before he ran away and never went back home. He was able to live with a friend before getting back on his feet. He has worked his ass off to be where he is now. He’s got a damn good job and has climbed his way up to the top. He makes good money even though with my band he doesn’t really need to. However, he adores his job and is able to work online while on tour with me. He takes care of me and I take care of him.

I could never imagine the kind of abuse he went through in his younger years. It amazes me even more that he has overcome it so well. Some days are still hard on him and the dreams are even worse. Sometimes he wakes up in a panic and cold sweats. He’ll lay on his head on my chest and listen to my heartbeat. I’ll run my hands through his long hair and assure him he’s safe. He has no family anymore and confides in mine. My mother loves him to death and he gets along very well with my father. My brothers took him under their wing. Jake my twin is the reason I even found Christian in the first place.

I wound up crying in my brother’s arms one night. I told him everything about the situation I was in. Christian's not the only one who’s been mistreated. I found myself wound up with a dangerous man. I was scared and hurt. Physically and mentally. He used me for whatever he deemed necessary. He truly hurt me for the first time in my life in more ways than one. I had never known abuse before but this was nothing like I thought. I had convinced myself he loved me and if he hurt me it was my fault. I needed to be better, do more, and work harder, but in the end that’s complete bullshit. One night things got really bad but for some reason, Jake had shown up at my house. Jake said he had a bad feeling he couldn’t shake and just barged through the door. He helped me get away from that excuse of a man. At that point, I was living with Jake even though I did have my place. I was afraid. He understood and let me stay as long as I needed. It was then that he introduced me to Christian. It happened fast but we hit it off so well. When I found out Christian had been through something similar I was hesitant. How will we heal each other when we’re both broken? In a way, I pushed him away even though I knew I was falling in love with him. I never told him why but I think he knew somehow. He invited me over and we did nothing but talk of the past.

That night when things got personal I realized I was completely wrong. I told Christian what happened to me and he didn’t just listen he understood. That was the most relief I’ve felt since it happened. We told our stories until we cried together and a week later I moved in. Early sure but when you know you know.

There wasn’t a conversation where we stated to not have sex. We just both knew we weren’t ready or healed enough to attempt it. Now he’s bringing it up for the first time and I don’t know how to feel.

“Are you ready?”. He’s looking at me through his eyelashes. What do I do? He looks so beautiful but he’s asking to give himself to me. I don’t know what the truth is. Do I take his hand and lead him to the bedroom? Will I panic? I don’t have reason to panic yet it lingers in my mind. Christian is gentle with me and he’s kind. He holds me when I cry and softly rubs my cheekbone with his thumb. It’s never “Don’t cry” instead “Let it out baby I’m right here”. He whispers sweet words in my ear and his touch is always soft never rough. He cooks meals for me and makes sure I eat enough food every day. He drives me around because he knows traffic makes me anxious. He’s so sweet I forget how good I have it. Corny but he’s an angel. My angel. So why am I afraid? That’s when I realized it’s not fear I’m feeling.

"I'm nervous"

Nervous partly because it’s been so long since I've had sex. And mainly because what if I’m not everything he’s waited for? What happens when I get in there a just absolutely disappoint him? It terrifies me because what if I’m not enough? After all these years I’m sure he has some kind of vision in his head. As do I but I don’t want to fail him. All I want is to be perfect for this perfect man in front of me. What if I can’t be?

"You're not alone in that" he smiles at me and I think my heart melts. "Stay here"

He's gone In a flash leaving me alone to think. He knows me well enough to tell when I need a moment alone. I have no idea what he's run upstairs for but I can't focus on it. I start to ground myself. First thing, I know I'm safe with Christian but I can't shake these nerves. If something bad was to happen I know everything would stop. That’s what truly matters. Second thing I know he will take care of me no matter what ends up happening. I'm breathing deep and slow and before I know it my mind stops racing. When I open my eyes he's lingering in front of me.

"Sorry I didn't want to interrupt"

I smile up at him and I think he knows by my eyes. Because he grabs my hand leading me upstairs. We're walking slowly and his thumb rubs over the top of my hand. We reach the bedroom door and he turns to face me. His hands were gently placed on either side of my face. He kisses my forehead and then my lips.

"My sweet little love"

"Christian" I whispered.

"Remember the safe word we came up with?"

It was agreed upon over a conversation about how traffic lights work. Don’t ask me how. Our minds are something else. It’s red.

I nod at his words my eyes never leaving his.

"If you're not ready we can wait"

I give him an assured smile even though I'm still a little unsure. "I'm ready"

He slowly pushes the door open and tilts his head for me to walk inside. The lights are dim, candles are lit on our nightstand, and there's music playing softly. I rest on the end of the bed causing him to join me.

“This is very sweet Chris”

“I hope it makes you more comfortable”

I nod.

He’s rubbing his hands up and down my back. I take the lead and close the gap between our lips. His tongue brushes against mine causing my cheeks to redden. His hands start to wander my body. His mouth leaves mine to place kisses on my neck. I lean my head back and focus on the feeling of his lips on my skin. He starts to play with my waistband and my heart rate picks up. Taking a moment for me to settle in he just slides a finger underneath the band and moves side to side. He slowly slides my sweats down and I kick them off my ankles. Moving off the bed he positions himself between my legs. He’s kissing me through my boxers and around my thighs. My breath starts to hitch and he takes that as a sign to continue. His eyes meet mine as he slides my boxers down. Slowly he starts to stroke my cock gently. His stare burns into my soul as he tries to read me. Christian is more or less an open book or maybe I’ve just become accustomed to reading people easily. I know when he’s sad, mad, happy, or even if he’s hungry. I know it because his facial expressions change ever so slightly. If he's upset I can see it in the way his eyes rest, if he’s angry his brows will dip ever so slightly, and when he’s really happy his cheeks always glow a darling shade of pink. I however am not that easy. Although I try my best to communicate my needs sometimes they fall through. I know when his eyes squint that he’s focused on me. He’s flipping through every page trying to understand what flows through my mind. It’s little moments like this when I feel foolish for being so afraid. I give him a nod so he doesn’t have to figure me out. He picks up his pace and his tongue swirls around my tip. It causes me to jerk slightly at the feeling.

He takes me in his mouth still using his other hand. My brows furrowed as I looked down at him. I haven’t felt this feeling in so long it’s almost too much. As amazingly sexy as he looks I close my eyes throwing my head back. Changing his technique he holds my cock at the base and his other hand rubs my thighs. He’s taken me in completely and starts a sucking motion with his mouth. My eyes shoot open and I’m locked in on him. His eyes meet mine and his movements become sloppy. I’m biting my lip stifling the noises that are sure to leave me. I know I have a tendency to be loud and I don’t want to scare him. I’m getting close and I think he knows by the way my cock twitches against him. It isn’t long until I’ve finished against his tongue. He’s quick to shower me with praise.

His hand presses against my chest as he slowly pushes me back against the mattress. Our lips meet once more tongues intertwined. He’s stripped of his clothes and it’s not long before I am too. I’m shaking with nerves and I hope he doesn’t notice. He’s on top of me with a look of concern and lust shimmering in his eyes. “Talk to me. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay” I whispered back with a small smile.

He lays on his side and pulls me close. One hand holds my side to grip the other wonders below. Listening as he opens a bottle of tube I get lost in my thoughts. I’m thinking about everything and yet nothing at all. I can’t land on a thought but my mind is racing. I tell myself I’m okay although I already know that. He’s got me I’m safe and-.

"oh fuck"

"Am not hurting you am I?"

I shake my head and my once-racing thoughts are jumbled into nothingness. Carefully he slides in and back out again until he bottoms out. He's thrusting into me slowly but I'm already losing myself. His arms wrapped around me tight. Very tight. He finds his rhythm and I'm quick to bite down on my finger.

"Oh Josh," he says with a heavy breath.

He hears my muffled grunts and removes my bite-marked finger. "Don't do that"

"But-"

"No, give it to me. Be loud Josh. I want all of you and nothing less"

He's talking to me so sweetly I force tears away from my eyes. His hand wraps around my length and he starts to pump slowly. I’m doing better than I thought as I lose myself in him. It feels good almost too good.

“Chris” I don’t even know if I’ve spoken to words to an audible level. He doesn’t seem to hear it.

His pace picks up as does my breathing. His rhythm is relentless as he thrusts himself. The feeling of him is just about too much. My eyes start to water but I don’t necessarily want him to stop. I reach up gripping his arms that hold my chest tight.

“Baby” I whine.

He lessens his grip around me and comes to a slow. I think he panicked for a moment because I heard his breath hitch. “Josh are you-”

“I’m okay I think I just need a minute” I speak quietly.

“Is it a little overwhelming?”

I nod.

“It’s okay love bug just take a moment”

In a more gentle embrace, he holds me and slowly thrusts into me. Suddenly it felt better than it has since we started. When he pushes back he bottoms out completely. When I gasp at how deep he is I feel his lips curve into a smile on the back of my neck.

“You like it slow huh? Could have told me that”

“I- I didn’t know” I choke.

“Shh shh shh”

And with that, my body completely relaxes in his arms. I let myself lose control and allow my mind to go numb. I don’t stop the loud moan and the pornographic noises that leave my lips. It only fueled his fire as his own sounds filled the air. As if to create a harmonious song we sounded so beautiful together. If I could leave it on repeat I’d listen forever. I didn’t stop myself as I started to cry. Crying because oh god I love him and as I fight for consciousness that’s all I know.

“I love you!” I cry oh so loudly. “I love you so much. Please”

“Josh-“ he gasped “I love you too. You have no idea how much I-”

“Christian!”. Tears are streaming down my face now as I attempt to speak to him.

“I’m right here love” he whispered placing a kiss on my cheek. “Josh im gonna-“

He’s cut off by a moan that rips from my lungs so hard it almost hurts. My release paints the sheets below and he slows his pace around my length. He’s frantically bucking his hips and I feel his stomach quiver. Although he’s quieter than me he’s blessing my ears with whimpers.

I don’t know where I went or how long I was gone. But there’s no other way to put it than ‘gone’. When I came to we were tangled up in the sheets and his fingers were running through my curls. He had a book open and was whispering the words.

It’s a habit of ours to read to each other before bed. Although I think I missed a few chapters tonight. It was Christian who started it after saying how much he loved my voice. It started me just rambling to him but I’d always run out of things to say. He handed me a book of mine night and asked if I’d read it to him. Ever since then, we curl up together book in hand almost every night.

“Christian?”

“Hi love bug”

He smiles as I rise from his chest. “How are you feeling?”

“I-“ I pause finding the words but instead I melt down.

“Baby!”

He rushes to me and cradles my face in his hands. His lips curve down as I start to cry. “Josh talk to me. Please talk to me”.

“You make me feel so loved!” I cry.

“Oh, baby because I love you so damn much! I just love you, Josh. All of you. Shhh it’s okay baby boy”

His thumb wipes my cheeks “Christian” his name is all I know.

“My sweet boy”

“I love you”

“ I love you too”

~

Taglist: @hailthegodsong

[frodothefair]

What would you like to see more of poll results!

Well, voting's almost over, but it looks like the winner is headcanons, followed by character profiles, excerpts from longfics, and drabbles.

It was actually a bit of a surprise to see OC and canon-OC profiles come in second, as historically I haven't gotten much interest for that sort of thing except from those already enthusiastic about my fics. However, perhaps I presented the info in a less than organized way, without enough context. As such, once I'm done with the Sam and Éomer Q and A events in the next two months, I'll periodically post a profile or character sheet about a "minor" character or OC's I've developed in the course of my writing.

In addition, excerpts are easy - I can do WIP wednesday, and drabbles may come from a challenge like Tolkientober.

Finally, with headcanons, I'm going to need everyone's help. I do pretty well in coming up with headcanons when a plot calls for it, but then it ends up buried in the longfic. To come up with headcanons just because... well, that doesn't really happen as much, or if it happens, it happens in weird, amorphous way.

As such, I need people to send me promts, ideas, or questions about headcanons, and then I'm very capable of spinning a longish and more detailed post, often with pictures.

So I will always take requests about headcanons - whether about the Shire, or Rohan, or any of the characters I write (offhand, it's Frodo, Sam, Marigold, Rosie, Éomer, Lothíriel, the Dol Amorth gang, and any of my OC's). I will also periodically post reminders if I'm feeling in the mood to produce headcanons.

How does that sound?

[kaoriartss-blog]

Starburst

Chapter 13: "Lights, Camera... Chaos"

Previous Chapter Masterlist Next Chapter

Pairing: Poly Skz OT8 x Reader idol

Genre: Romance, angst, female Oc

Warning: Use of Oc, romance, angst, swearing, Idol x Idol, 18+ progressive, use of swear words, use of translator.

Series: Starbursts

Summary: The story centers on Lia, a newly debuted solo idol struggling to find her place in the K-pop industry. Despite her talent, she feels like she's missing something, a special connection that helps her shine. The members of Stray Kids, who are at the height of their careers, are drawn to Lia's unique energy when she's invited to collaborate with them on a new album. As they work together, the connection between Lia and the boys intensifies. With pressure from the media and fan expectations, they must find a balance between their careers and personal lives.

Comment: First of all, I want to clarify that English is not my first language. I speak Spanish, but I didn't want to deprive you of this story. I'll be using a translator, so it's possible that some phrases might get lost or be incomprehensible. Second, I thank you in advance for taking the time to read. I'll also be uploading the chapters to Wattpad in Spanish and to Ao3 in English.

Updates on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. I also remind you that English is not my first language.

The soft lights of the practice studio were barely on. The polished floor reflected the first rays of morning slipping through the small skylight in the hallway. Silence, except for the low hum of the air conditioner and the faint sound of bare footsteps.

Lia stood alone in the center of the room, dressed in dark joggers and a loose white t-shirt knotted at the side. Her hair, now platinum blonde, was tied up in a messy bun. She breathed rhythmically, marking the choreography counts in front of the mirror while the instrumental version of Connections played from her phone.

She spun, landed softly on her knees, extended her arm... and stopped. She gasped lightly. Frustrated, she stood up and paused the music.

"Count was off again," she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck.

"I didn’t notice. It looked great from the door."

Lia turned, startled. Leaning against the doorway in a light blue hoodie and baggy pants was Felix, holding a water bottle in hand and wearing that calm, radiant smile of his.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough to admire you," he said, stepping inside. "And to see you've been pushing yourself since early morning."

Lia let out a tired chuckle and dropped to the wooden floor, sitting down.

"Couldn't sleep. I want it to turn out right... you know, the video, the choreo, everything."

Felix sat beside her, crossing his legs. For a few seconds, they just shared the silence, breathing together, watching their reflections in the mirror.

"Can I say something without it sounding over the top?" he asked, still looking ahead.

"You always can."

"You’ve been... glowing lately. Not just because of the new look," he said, glancing at her profile. "It’s like you’ve found a part of yourself that was waiting to come out. And I’m really happy to see it."

Lia looked at him, feeling that familiar warmth in her chest.

"With you, I always feel a little braver."

Felix looked away with a shy smile, slightly blushing.

"Well... you make me feel at peace. Like I don’t have to do anything but be here."

A comfortable silence settled. Nothing urgent needed to be said. Just the quiet language of two people who understood each other.

Felix extended his hand, palm up. Lia hesitated for a second... then took it. Their fingers fit naturally.

"Thanks for being here," she said softly.

"I always will be, Lia. As long as you let me."

Before they could say anything more, rushed footsteps echoed from the hallway.

"Hyunjin, I told you it wasn’t at nine! It was at eight-thirty!"

"Then why didn’t anyone wake me?!"

They both let go of each other’s hands, laughing, and Felix stood up, offering his hand to help her up.

"Let’s get back to work before Han scolds us for being 'late' to a place we were already in," she joked.

Felix nodded, but just before they started again, he whispered:

"Hey… in the choreo during the second verse, there’s a moment when I’m supposed to place my hand on your waist, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"Can I confess I practiced that more times than necessary?"

Lia burst out laughing and gave him a gentle shove, just as the door opened and the rest of the group started to shuffle in, yawning, holding water bottles, and half-asleep laughter.

Practice was about to begin, but the energy already felt different. Through steps and glances, Connections was starting to take shape — not just as a song, but as what it truly was: a reflection of all the bonds that united them.

---

Group practice had ended a few minutes ago. Sweat beaded on their foreheads, their shirts clung to their bodies, and the room smelled of effort and music. Some had already gone upstairs to shower or drink something cold. The portable speaker was still on, playing Connections instrumental on repeat.

Lia remained seated on the floor in front of the mirror, head down, palms resting between her knees. She wasn’t physically exhausted, but something was nagging at her inside.

"That again?" Minho said, still with a towel around his neck, watching her from the corner.

"That what?" she asked, lifting her head.

"That look. The ‘I’m staying here until my feet bleed or I pass out’ one."

"It’s not that bad. It’s just... this part still isn’t coming out right," Lia said, pointing to a section of the choreography that involved a quick spin-to-fall transition.

Hyunjin, who was drinking water by the entrance, turned around when he heard her.

"Want us to help?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Aren’t you guys tired?"

"Of course, but we’re more worried about you hurting yourself," Minho replied, dropping the towel and stretching his arms with exaggerated resignation.

Lia smiled in relief. She appreciated those small gestures of support more than she could express.

"Alright. Let’s go from that part, yeah?"

Hyunjin stood to her left, Minho to her right — just like in the section of the choreo where they surrounded her.

"You need a bit more bounce before the turn," Minho said, showing her the step in slow motion. "It’s not strength, it’s momentum. Use your left leg to get lift."

"And in the fall, don’t just drop," Hyunjin added, stepping in to correct her posture. "Support yourself with your hand. Feel the rhythm before sliding."

They practiced three times. Then five. Then eight.

"That’s it! That was it!" Hyunjin said as he watched her finally glide fluidly with the beat.

Lia gasped and dropped to her knees, laughing with a hint of tears in her voice.

"Finally!"

Minho crouched beside her with an open water bottle.

"Told you — you just needed bounce and patience."

"And a couple of unpaid coaches?" she teased, taking a sip.

Hyunjin flopped down on the floor, legs stretched out.

"We’re not unpaid. We accept payment in ramen and ice cream. Preferably today."

"Deal," Lia replied, still catching her breath.

For a moment, the three of them lay on the wooden floor, staring at the white ceiling.

"You know?" Minho said in a softer tone. "I admire that you don’t give up. There’s something inspiring about seeing you like this — fighting yourself, not giving in."

Lia turned her face toward him, eyes a little more vulnerable.

"I’m scared of letting you down. You guys. Myself. This whole project."

Hyunjin leaned in, looking at her gently.

"You’re not going to fail, Lia. Not even if you tried. Because everything you do, you do with your heart. And it shows."

"And if you ever feel like you’re falling, we’ll be here. To catch you or fall with you," Minho added, his tone calm and sincere.

Lia closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply.

"Thank you. Both of you."

"Now get up, dramatic blondie. Let’s go get that ramen," Minho joked, standing and offering her his hand.

Lia took it and got up, followed by Hyunjin. Together they left the practice room, laughing, drenched in sweat… but content.

That night, they would sleep with sore bodies — but peaceful hearts.

---

The black van pulled up in front of the MBC building. It was just past 9:30 a.m. the next day, and although the sun barely peeked through the spring clouds, the air was charged with excitement. Stray Kids and Lia had been invited to Weekly Idol — one of their first official appearances as a unit since the collaborative project began.

"I can’t believe we’re going to be on the same show again. This time as a unit!" Changbin exclaimed as they climbed out of the van.

"I just hope they don’t play those embarrassing debut clips," Hyunjin groaned, rubbing his face.

"Too late. I saw the writers scrolling through our old TikToks," Han laughed.

Lia walked in the middle of the group, her platinum blonde hair perfectly styled, wearing a white corset-style blouse and a flared black skirt — with shorts underneath, just in case. Her makeup was light but flawless, and though she tried to stay calm, butterflies were flapping wildly in her stomach.

"Nervous?" Seungmin asked quietly as he walked beside her.

"A little. I’ve never been on Weekly Idol... with eight boys at once," she replied with a nervous smile.

"Just be yourself. Though if you start dancing weird like Han, we might get canceled," he joked, making her burst out laughing.

As they stepped onto the set, the hosts — Kwang Hee and Eunhyuk, guest MCs that week — greeted them with enthusiasm.

"Stray Kids and Lia, welcome! Today we have a very special episode!" Kwang Hee announced.

"We’ve seen previews of your project and we’re excited to talk about the title track Connections," added Eunhyuk. "But first… let’s do a round of introductions with a fun twist!"

Each member had to introduce themselves with a creative phrase. Some were funnier than others.

"I'm Lee Know, the hyung who looks serious but dances like fire," said Minho, winking, which drew screams from the staff.

"I'm Han, the encyclopedia of bad jokes… but with good rhythm," he added, beatboxing.

Lia was the last one.

"I'm Lia, and even though I'm the only girl, I’ve got eight bodyguards and a song that’s going to break hearts!" she said confidently, raising her arms. The set erupted in applause.

Segment 1: Project Trivia

The MCs tested them with questions about the collaboration.

"Who was the first to suggest the name Connections?" asked Eunhyuk.

"Bang Chan!" they all shouted almost in unison.

Chan raised his hands in victory.

"Correct! Although I think Felix was the first to understand what the song was really about," he joked.

"Because I'm sensitive!" said Felix, dramatically touching his chest.

Segment 2: Games and Chaos

Next came a round of games: random play dance, speed karaoke, and an aegyo battle. Lia won the aegyo round effortlessly, causing Changbin to hide behind Seungmin from the cuteness attack.

"I can’t watch!! I’m going to faint!" he shouted, laughing.

But the most chaotic moment came when they all tried to dance the Connections choreography… at double speed. Stumbles, screams, laughter, and falls. Lia ended up on the floor with Han and Felix, all laughing so hard they couldn’t get up.

"If that makes it into the teaser, we’re going to be a meme," said Hyunjin, half-defeated.

Segment 3: Heartfelt Words

Near the end, the MCs asked them to say one sentence that described what this project meant to them.

"Learning to connect with others is also a way of getting to know yourself," said Seungmin in a calm tone.

"We’re creating something bigger than a song. We’re creating memories," added Felix.

Lia was the last to speak.

"I never imagined this project would change the way I see things so much. I didn’t just make music with them… I made a family."

Her words made several staff members fall silent for a moment, and the atmosphere turned warm, almost nostalgic.

"Wow! That deserves a round of applause!" said Eunhyuk, clapping.

The program ended with a group selfie, promises to return when the album was released, and many grateful hugs.

Off-camera, as they walked toward the van, Chan approached Lia.

"You did really well today. You felt confident, didn’t you?"

"Yeah… I think I’m finally starting to enjoy all of this, without fear," she said, smiling sincerely.

"Then you’re exactly where you’re meant to be," he replied, giving her a pat on the back.

As they got into the van, the sun began to set and the sky turned pink.

And in the air, something felt more certain than ever: they were ready to show the world their connection.

[euphorajeon]

happy bangtan year!

Hi hi, long time no see!

First of all, I'm really sorry for not posting any writings since September of last year :( life was happening and I just couldn't find the time to write anything. I know I say this all the damn time but it really is the truth T_T

That aside, happy 2025 all! We will be welcoming back 5 of our boys this year, will have 6 members back by the time it's Festa, and Hobi is releasing new music and touring!!!!!!! I repeat, HOBI IS TOURING!!!!

Did your country/city get tour dates? If so, are you planning on going? I just hope I can secure tickets because I know it will be a bloodbath :')

Honestly the reason I made this post is because I wanted to do a writing recap for 2024 but as I listed them down, I realized I didn't even write 10 pieces last year ahaha... ha... but that's okay. I'll still list them down for fun. If you're not interested, you're free to scroll away~

warning: long post below the cut

euphorajeon 2024 writing recap

wednesday night(s)

as I said in the author's notes, I'd had the draft for this a few weeks after seven mv was released and just finished it a few months later. we were all hooked on wednesday!jk and i was no different, except i spent all those weeks screaming about it to my friends instead of writing about it, haha.. anyways. the first draft of this was going in a totally different way than the final version, then my friend was like "woah this took a weird, unexpected turn" so i scrapped it and practically rewrote like two-thirds to half of it. but i'm pretty satisfied with the result even if i still feel like eh about some things of the story. overall, i think i'd rate this an 8.

2. trippin' over, gettin' lost on you

this one was another old draft.. that did not get finished for forever.. i started having the idea of it because of the clips from memories 2020 or 2021 i think where jeongguk had mint hair and was wearing a black tanktop with his tattoos on full display yep yep but as i started writing it as usual life happened. and i honestly didn't think it was gonna be that long. i chuckle to myself every time i remember that i planned to post this on jeongguk's birthday in 2022. then it got pushed back for welcoming 2023. and then got pushed back for jeongguk's birthday in 2023. by the time 2023 was over, i was convinced that i would never finish this piece of writing and had just started making peace with it when i stumbled upon the draft again after i finished writing wednesday night(s). i don't really remember the writing process but i think i pulled an all-nighter to finish this ahaha and maybe that's the reason there are chunks that don't make sense or things that are too repetitive or even the characters not behaving like themselves or too caricature... it's kinda hard to give this an overall score. i'll let you guys decide :')

3. namjoon rpwp drabble

ouu i really like this simple drabble. i remember seeing this concept pic for the first time and thought to myself how cute he is with his bald? buzzcut? (pls correct me im honestly not familiar with haircuts terms in english aha) hair and his oversized tshirt just basking in the sunlight in some random driveway looking like your next door neighbor saying hi to you in the morning. i also like the term peculiar dandelion for some reason.. so. thank you namjoon for making rpwp and making this dandelion namjoon pic exist in our lives <3 i'll rate this a 9.5!

4. opposite of sun

this was part of my 1k followers celebration drabble, and above anything else, i like the title ahaha thank you my time lyrics.. thank you to the person who requested my time.. although i'd have to say i really have to stop writing this trope: jeongguk and oc are best friends, they've known each other since childhood, and jeongguk falls in love first. my friend said it mirrors the jeongguks in my other writings too much and might feel like just one character jumping around different universes instead of different characters. so, although overall i kinda like this writing, her words made sense and made me rethink my writing abilities (when do i not honestly). hmm.. i'd give this a 7.8 i think.

5. light of the morning

ouu whipped jeongguk is always so good, isn't it? still part of my 1k celebration, this continues with the couple from opposite of sun. i think this is slightly better than the previous part, but it's still classic euphorajeon-whipped-jeongguk, so i still feel eh about it, but i enjoyed writing it so it was okay i guess. the one thing that kept bugging me was how i portrayed the oc as a struggling college student with a part time job but she was able to book a spontaneous flight to new york, of all places.. where did she get the money did she somehow get hold of jeongguk's black card without his knowing or something T_T but! this is fiction, one written for fun, and it'd be nice for everyone if we just ignore that one crucial fact and just enjoy the way jeongguk was ready to melt into a puddle upon meeting the love of his life his best friend. rate: 8

6. never let go.

this mini part of the same couple from the last 2 writings just came about when never let go was released. it's just something i thought of quickly, i think i wrote it on the way to work... and partly inspired by the things my friends and i said (we joked how the lyrics are too romantic for it to be fan song, but we all know that's how jeongguk talks to us so we shouldn't have been surprised, really T_T) i'll probably rate this a 8.3 because i like it even if it's short ahaha.

7. namjoon soup-fork drabble

this drabble literally came about when i was holding a fork in my hand. and namjoon's words about soups and forks -- "If life is a soup then I'm a fork" -- has always stuck with me, so it was just written out like that. i don't know why it ended up like low-key flirting? instead of just light teasing? like i meant to write in the beginning? but hey, life doesn't always go as you planned, even if it's as small as a namjoon drabble. i'll rate this an 8.

8. twenty-seven.

i debated whether i should put this here because this is a birthday post and not a fiction, but figured it's still a writing, so i decided to include it. for the past few years, i'd been writing a handwritten letter for jeongguk's birthday, but since 2023 i honestly just ran out of words (they start to sound the same each year, so..) and decided to stop altogether. however, last year i was feeling like i could write something and then this piece was written. it's just literally my journey with jeongguk for the past 8-ish years.. which looking back, is a long time.. ahaha... i was crying by the time i finished writing this. rate: 10/10 would recommend (i'm kidding pls give this a rating if you'd like)

9. if it's a dream (i'll come around)

the last writing of 2024! so sorry i couldn't keep my promise of continuing this series in less than 4 months.. but honestly this one was also hard to finish because as usual, time!! won't let me!! (you really should blame my job for making me tired all the damn time.) this one is classic euphorajeon-whipped-jeongguk with some cliches sprinkled in because why not???? it's not like there's enough cliches in fiction!!! (kidding. i rolled my eyes when i wrote that part but had a mindset of fuck it we ball!! because i just really wanted to finish the piece HAHA) but like can you imagine whipped jeongguk just walking around new york with his best friend behind the camera like AAAAH i couldn't stop thinking of those "your camera roll if jeongguk was your boyfriend" edits because!!! bestfriend to boyfriend!jeongguk !!! WAAGHHHH (sorry.) rate: 8.5 probably because we all love cliches dont we?

i'll be honest i'm in the process of writing the next part but my brain is really fried these days that all i do is play games on weekends.. sad, sad life.

thanks for reading this long-ass post of me yapping away! if you want to talk with me (who knows..), im more active on twitter / X with the same username!!

(p.s. if anyone has good fic recommendations for me to refresh my brain pls share... preferably oneshots so i can read in one sitting without thinking about it at work... thank you... ^^)

ok bye bye now i'll probably be gone for another 4 months haha.. ha..

[mwolf0epsilon]

Wolffe Wagon Wednesday let's gooo - Wolffe and Dogma - not sure how they'd interact, maybe au where Dogma joined the pack instead?

Despite Everything It's Still You

Summary: They call him Dok. It's a diminutive for the etymology from which 'Dogma' was originally derived from. Despite his remaining reservations over his new posting, he's never been happier to hear that particular word cast his way. [Anon I think you got a little confused by the assignment, I was asking for people to pick one of my OC and a canon character so I could figure out interactions between them. But I will concede because I love Dogma as if he were my own blorbo, and because we could always use more Dogma content.]

---

In all honesty, Dogma doesn't expect to survive the looming shadows of Umbara. Correction, he doesn't expect to live in the aftermath of it. He had, after all, made sure to seal his own fate when he'd picked up that blaster and taken aim. Hells, he'd already been in binders. What was one more step towards the noose?

No, Dogma hadn't at all expected to live much longer, after Krell had been felled by his treacherous blood-soaked hands. The weight of his many regret and the crushing guilt making 8 cutting words echo fresh in his mind.

'I hope you can live with yourself Dogma.'

Words he'd ultimately had a response for in the end.

'I don't have to anymore.'

Except he did. Because, as extremely confusing as it may be to him (considering what he knew of the GAR and it's rather unforgiving policies), Dogma was very much still alive. Even though he didn't want to think he was supposed to...

His "transfer" to the 104th is a blur. Not because it was particularly quick or stealthy, but because he's more than a little sure he spent the entirety of it in a shell-shocked state. Dead to the world, staring at infinity, as his brain tried to process and compartmentalize the entirety of his world coming undone. The horrors he'd faced. The horrors he'd helped to unwittingly orchestrate.

One minute he's in the brig, the next he's standing in front of Commander Wolffe. In the older clone's right hand a datapad full of instructions that he would follow to a T, and the left one resting easily on Dogma's own shaking shoulder.

He'd been crying then. Disgracing himself further in front of his superior officer. The thought made him a little sick with shame to this very day. But maybe not as much as it used to...

The first days as a member of the 104th are also a blur. Not because he's back to disassociating, but because there's just a lot to take in. Many things he has to learn and acclimate to.

It goes like this:

He is CT-7023, otherwise referred to as Dokeî (pronounced like 'okie dokey smokey', according to a grinning Comet). He's a new transfer that came in with the last shipment of Shinies, to replace some unfortunate casualties the Wolfpack had recently suffered. He is the 104th's reserve medic in training, which means he will be assigned medbay work on-board of one of the fleet's venators rather than field work. He will never again see a battlefield or flinch in horror at the sound of a lightsaber, unless circumstances give the 104th no other choice but to throw him to the lion's den. He is everyone's little brother, the newest pup the join the pack, and he is loved. When they tell him all this, they mean it too.

They call him Dok. It's a diminutive for the etymology from which 'Dogma' was originally derived from. Despite his remaining reservations over his new posting, he's never been happier to hear that particular word cast his way...

It's not thrown at him the same way Dogma was. Like it tasted filthy in the mouths who spat it out, or as if it were a most profane curse. A slur of sorts. One he'd done his best to turn into something positive with the encouragement of his only batcher and their original squad. Something he had clearly failed at with his first battalion...

When they call him Dok or Dok'ika, it doesn't hurt the same way it did when the 501st addressed him. When he'd failed to understand something apparently basic, or made his presence undesirable due to the many quirks that made him apparently faulty. His too obtuse opinions that often ended with clashes of ideals. His need to share unwanted information that he'd simply found intriguing. His nitpicky tastes and precise manner in which he did things so that his brain could work right.

None of these bothered his new battalion in the way they did his old one. And it was still a shock to him that he could just be without being too little or too much.

When Bully and Jawbreaker (and oh, wasn't it a comfort to be reunited with them? To have someone that understood his odd behavior and what happened back there on that dark hellscape?) called him Dok, it made his heart flutter with delight. Like he was a cadet again and his ori'vode had gotten him some treats that they knew he'd be able to more easily stomach than the early meal gruel. The feeling of being back home, despite never having really had a home before.

And when commander Wolffe did it, he couldn't help but let himself ease into an actual smile even as he stood at parade rest. None of his 501st superior officers had ever looked at him before and really seen him in the way Wolffe did. They all quickly grew bored of his strict demeanor and sharp adherence to protocol. Sometimes rolled his eyes at him as if he couldn't see the disdain they had for his need for that familiar stability.

If anything, he seemed to understand.

The Wolfpack understood. They all did. And that's all he'd ever really wanted, really. And in being given that understanding, that equal footing, he's never felt so much like himself than he did now. Can finally look in the mirror and see who he was, currently is, and who he will soon be. For once the future really seems like a promise, rather than just a distant childish dream.

"Keep at it kid." his ori'vod smiles from ear to ear, both cybernetic and organic eye twinkling with pride. "We'll make a proper wolf of you yet."

And Dogma believes him.