#it feels so. nice? to finally put out something you had in your head and notes for YEARS

[froothytoothy]

Your Idol

Saja Boys x Idol! Reader │ part 2

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summary - the saja boys finally get to meet you, although they aren't too happy with the way you've been treated

warning - fem reader, light bullying, a lil spice, possessive behaviour, obsessive fan behaviour

w/c - 3,3K

a/n - wish I could like comments, the ones I got on my previous chapter had me BLUSHING I love u all sm! pls correct me if there are any mistakes, comments, reblogs and likes are much appreciated, hope you enjoy!

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Blurred sounds scattered across you as you began to wake up. Your eyes were still blurry, so you couldn't make out the figures surrounding you, but they sounded oddly familiar. 

"Guys, shut up. She's awake".

A warmer, much larger hand grabs yours, "Are you alright now, love? You were out for a while, we were all so worried".

The stranger sounded nice, but your vision still hadn’t cleared up enough to figure out who was talking to you, so all you could do was stare blankly at the person holding your hand. 

The room went silent for a while before being interrupted by another man from your left. "I know she's just confused, but I can't lie that face she's making is so adorable". You assumed he was talking about you and a warm blush coated your cheeks. 

"Romance, now is not the time!"

Romance? As in, from the Saja Boys? 

Your vision soon came back, and surrounding you, you could see all five members of the Saja Boys, each staring at you fondly. 

Abby was the one holding your hand. He was sitting on the infirmary bed with you and Jinu. 

Mystery and Romance were on your left.

And Baby was on your right. 

You couldn't help the gasp you let out once you saw them. 

"Am I dreaming?" you accidentally said aloud. 

Jinu lets out a chuckle, "No darling, we are very much real. I could pinch you if you don't believe me. Are you feeling better now?"

You beamed, eyes sparkling with happiness. It almost sounded too good to be true, but still, you went along with it. 

After being trapped in the studio, you assumed you were too late to meet them. and concluded that it was nearly impossible for a group as popular as the Saja Boys to join a company as small as yours. Talking with other idols, especially those of the opposite gender, at things like award shows wasn't forbidden, but it was strange, so today was probably your only opportunity to meet them, and you did.

Albeit in a very unconventional way.

"I'm feeling a lot better now, thank you so much. I'm so happy to meet you guys, I'm such a big fan. But, what are you doing here with me? Shouldn't you be touring the company?" you questioned, finding it odd how they weren't with Jina, but with you.

“You passed out in Abby’s arms, how could we just leave and pretend nothing happened?” Baby spoke up calmly, although his eyes glistened with hints of worry. Your heart warmed at their thoughtfulness. 

According to Hojin and the other staff members, you weren't an important member, so they often ended up forgetting about you. Whenever something happened to you, they told you to just suck it up.

But despite never meeting you, the Saja Boys already cared so much about you. So much that they would wait here in the infirmary with you. 

Suddenly, you were reminded that you had forgotten to introduce yourself.

“Sorry, I forgot to say, I’m (Y/N). I'm a member of Harmoness. It's an honour to meet you”. You bowed your head, mostly in gratitude. If it weren't for them you'd probably still be stuck in the dance studio.

“We know who you are, princess. We did our research before coming here”, Romance teases, getting closer to the bed and putting his arm around your shoulders. You shivered at the close proximity between you. He began to lean closer, slowly closing the distance. By now, your body had frozen in place, your eyes locked into his. His every move was under your impenetrable gaze. You could see his lips coming closer and closer to yours, till they quickly diverted towards your ear. 

You'd be lying if you said you weren't just a bit disappointed.

The feeling of his warm breath and strong grip had your mind in a frenzy. He was so close you could feel the heat radiate off him and smell the sweet, but musky scent of his cologne. 

“Although you should know, princess, most of our information was from one of us,” he began, turning his head to the side. You followed his gaze, being too curious to stay frozen. 

Your mouth hung slightly in shock once your eyes made contact with an awkward-looking Mystery. His feet were shuffling across the ground, and his head was drooped down, almost like he was guilty of something. 

Romance walked away from you, much to your dismay, and came back dragging Mystery, who seemed very unwilling. “Go on, man, you can do it. You've been waiting so long for this moment”.

Mystery refused, shaking his head firmly. Watching the scene unfold was the equivalent of watching someone grow an extra head. You were left utterly confused. Why would Mystery know anything about you? Them doing research before coming here made sense, but out of all the people they got their information from, why was it Mystery? 

Mystery was the cool, mysterious figure of the group, so watching him act like this, so embarrassed, it was honestly so adorable. Perhaps the mysterious, quiet persona he had was just a cover-up for his shy personality.

Romance shook his head in disappointment. “Mystery is a big fan of yours, (Y/N). He's a little too shy to admit it, though”. You blinked slowly, taking in the revolutionary, newfound information. For a moment, you thought you had heard him wrong.

Mystery, a fan?

Of you?

You were surprised that he even knew about you, but being a “big fan”, it just seemed impossible. 

A monotone-like voice perked up, “Ever since you debuted, I've been a fan”. Taking a closer look at Mystery, you could see a red hue crawling up his neck and ears. Just saying that much was too much for him, but he pushed through the embarrassment and continued, slowly coming closer to you. “Honestly, I didn't care about the others, I only liked you”.

Despite how unbelievable it was, it was the truth. Before being recruited by Jinu and becoming one of the Saja Boys, Mystery had been obsessed with you since your debut. His time in the Underworld became a lot more bearable once you entered his life. The image of your warm smile burned layers into his brain. He’d seen countless hours of footage of other humans, and despite his very stoic face, he could tell how fake their smiles were, but yours. Yours was carved by angels.

His need to consume human souls almost completely subsided once his hunger was directed towards you.

Although it was a very different type of hunger.

Mystery had become completely infatuated with you, so when Jinu proposed that he join the Saja Boys, he knew this was his way of finally getting to you. 

And now you were finally right in front of him, but all those hours of planning were in vain. He just couldn't find the right words to say. Couldn't figure out how to stand or move right. His heart wouldn't stop beating, and his head wouldn't stop replaying the images from his fantasies. It was all too much at once. He was glad Romance had stepped in to help. 

You sat there, blissfully unaware of the turmoil occurring within Mystery. The other members stared at the both of you in amusement, knowing just how deep Mystery's obsession with you was. When he talked, it was only ever about you. 

And once the members saw you passed out in Abby's arms, they could finally understand him. They could smell the purity radiating off you, and with that, a warm, longing feeling overcame them. They would often tease Mystery for his strange fixation with you, but now they were all just as crazy about you. 

An adorable, child-like giggle interrupted their thoughts. You thought it was silly how someone as talented as Mystery would be a fan of someone like you. He even said he didn't care about the other members, which you found even more amusing. 

Still, it made your heart flutter knowing you were special to him. You looked up at him and smiled even wider, almost laughing at the confused look on Mystery’s face. “Thank you for your support! I never would've thought I'd be saying that kinda thing to someone like you. I figured I was so irrelevant that no one would notice me, but it's crazy how you guys do”, you babble, oblivious to the changing emotions going through the boys.

‘Irrelevant’

The word sent ripples of disgust through them. 

Being the most level-headed of the group, Jinu asked the question that was on everyone’s minds. “Why would you be irrelevant?” 

Maybe it was because you’d just woken up, or the lack of food in your stomach, that you ended up speaking without thinking. “My manager likes to tell me that a lot because I'm the least popular member of Harmoness. But he thinks that that’s a good thing because my looks and vocals aren't very good”. 

Looking around the room, you realized you had chosen the wrong dialogue. You could see each of their faces, drenched in what looked like rage. You couldn't understand what about your sentence made them this angry, but still you apologized. 

“Sorry, I'm just rambling at this point. It's probably cause I'm so hungry, that's probably why I passed out. My manager has me on this really strict diet and I never had breakfast-”.

You quickly stopped yourself, realizing that this definitely wasn't helping the situation.

“I wasn't supposed to tell you that, please just forget everything you heard”. But looking around the room, you knew they wouldn't be able to. How could they, when someone as precious as you was forced to suffer, even just for a minute. It broke their hearts to think about. 

The sound of a door slamming open quickly drew your attention towards it, and you could see Baby running out of the room in a hurry. 

Did you do something to upset him? 

“He's just going to do something real quick, he'll be back,” Abby says, and you nod, still a bit confused. 

You felt a wave of awkwardness enter the room, so you quickly changed the subject. “So, how did you guys find the tour? Are you thinking of joining?” You were very curious to know, praying that they’d at least consider it. Because of their explosive popularity, you knew they'd be treated like gods if they were here.

Jinu spoke up, still looking frustrated. “It was alright, I mean people did keep sucking up to us. Although, Romance and Abby had no complaints about that”. You let out another giggle, yeah, that definitely sounded like them. 

The sweet sound that came out of you had put the boys in a temporary trance. To them, everything you did was adorable.

They didn't bother asking what you thought of the company, already knowing how mistreated you were. It was something Mystery had picked up on from looking at hours of behind-the-scenes footage of you. He’d picked up on your changing behaviour, quick weight loss, and awkward chemistry between your members. 

So after piecing together all the footage, he figured mistreatment was definitely plausible. But still, hearing it from you, seeing you try to hide it. It sickened, not just him, but all of them. 

It was also suspicious the way your ‘leader’, Jina, wasn't too pleased about the idea of helping you. She was confident someone would come find you, but from your screams, they could tell no one had come for hours. How could they just walk away from you? Plus, you seemed a little too attached to Abby’s chest, even refusing to let go once you reached the infirmary. 

Suddenly, the door burst open, revealing Baby holding several kinds of unhealthy-looking junk food. He plopped them down on your lap and looked away nonchalantly, “For you”.

You looked down at the pile, mouth watering at the sight of the buffet of calories. You couldn't remember the last time you had a burger, or even instant noodles. It was definitely too much for you to handle, but you appreciated his efforts. 

“Thank you so much”, you beamed. You were so grateful, not just to Baby, but to all of them. Never in your life had you felt so loved and cared for. 

As if possessed, you began digging into whatever random food you picked up from the pile. You scarfed down one burger for the next, and honestly, you didn't feel ashamed.  It would’ve been rude if you didn't eat the food Baby bought for you, that's the only reason you were eating it, you thought. 

Due to the speed of your consumption, you forgot to chew and ended up choking. You started coughing and looking around the room, in search of a drink. A hand touched your shoulder, and you look up to see Mystery, holding a bottle of water. 

Quickly, you took the drink and gulped it down. Once you were done you exhaled in relief, “You saved me”, you laughed, looking up at Mystery with gratitude. “I've not eaten this much in so long, I must've gotten a bit too excited”.

You turned to Baby, who was on his phone, and asked, “How much was all this? I'll pay you back”. He turned, looking bored, before returning to his phone. 

“The staff gave it to me for free”.

Honestly, you found that hard to believe, but maybe it was because of how famous Baby was. Perhaps they wanted to give a good impression of the company, so they didn’t want him paying. 

The others let out a small smirk, knowing what had really happened out there. He most likely sucked out the souls of some of the staff and took the food for himself. But he wouldn't tell you that. 

The sweet moment was eventually ruined by the sounds of agitated screaming coming from behind the door. “She ruined everything, Manager! I tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen”.

Everyone, including you, cringed at the sounds of complaint. You prepared for the whirlpool of trouble you were about to receive. 

The door burst open, revealing a pissed, middle-aged man. His gaze locked on you, his mouth wide open, ready to scream at you. That was until he saw the five boys surrounding you, each looking at the manager with a look that could kill. 

Hojin quickly put on a rehearsed smile and came up to ask how you were. You knew it was just an act, something to look better in front of the boys but you still went along with it; you’d done enough to damage his reputation already.

Behind him, you could see your fellow members, glaring at you from the door, but once their eyes made contact with the Saja Boys, they quickly switched up, putting on a perfect smile and even fixing up their hair. The boys responded with a snarl.

“So, boys, I take it you enjoyed the tour,” Hojin remarked, not wanting to focus on you any longer. To him, the Saja Boys were a prize, and he needed to win it. Harmoness had clearly run its course, so maybe he'd have better luck with the Saja boys, he thought. 

None of the boys wanted to answer, especially not to someone like him. All they wanted to do was go back to watching you. Watch you smile. Hear you giggle. And feel the warmth your heart gave out. But they couldn't, not when there were others around.

Jinu, being the leader, was forced to speak up. “It was good, definitely needs some improvements though”.

“Oh, any suggestions?” Hojin questioned, eager to please in any way he could. 

“The dance studio needs to be closer to other people,” he sneered coldly, still not over how you’d been trapped for so long. His heart ached with the thought of you being scared and alone in there.

Hojin laughed awkwardly, not knowing what to say in response. Jina spoke up, coming closer to Jinu, “I'm assuming you're planning on joining our company, I'd love to see you more,” she flirts, getting closer and closer to him. 

During the tour, she was so focused on the members that they barely got anywhere. She also had a nasty habit of showing off whenever she could. Being the most popular member of Harmoness really gave her an ego.

“We'll let you know at the Idol Awards,” Jinu said, backing away from Jina. 

Your head shot up and turned towards Jinu, “You're going to be at the Idol Awards too?” Jinu's eyes went back to yours and immediately softened, feeling you were much easier to be around than these other pesky humans. 

You could see Abby about to respond, but was cut off by Soo-ah. “Doesn't she know anything? They announced this weeks ago”. Each of the boys turned to glare at the maknae, but her attention was too focused on you for her to take notice. 

Abby ignored her and spoke, leaning closer to you. “We'll be at the Idol Awards performing our new song, will you be there for us, love?”

Hojin and the girls looked at each other in confusion. How could you have gotten so close to them already? Jina was especially jealous, wondering how the spotlight was taken by someone as insignificant as you. 

The nickname sent you blushing, and you nodded. “We're also going to perform a new song there, we've been working really hard on it!”

“We can't wait to hear it, darling, but unfortunately, we have to leave now,” Jinu says, and you couldn't help the frown forming on your lips. You felt like you had just met them and wanted to spend more time with them. This is the best moment you've had in years. 

“Don't look too sad, princess, we'll meet again soon,” Romance smirked, and you perked up slightly at the thought. You were glad they wanted to see you, just as much as you wanted to see them. 

“And don't even think about paying me back for the snacks, they're all yours,” Baby chimes, his face showing a ghost of a smirk on it. 

Mystery gave you a shy wave and left along with the others. You were going to miss them. The Idol Awards weren’t that far away, but you had no idea how you were going to recover once they were gone. The mark they left on you stained layers deep. 

Although it definitely motivated you to practice even harder, knowing they were going to be there watching.

Jinu was the last to leave, but not before asking Hojin and the girls to come outside with him, leaving you alone. Thank goodness, you did not want another lecture from anyone right now. 

You started putting the pile of food on the nightstand, but something had caught your eye. On one of the crisp packets, you saw a Post-it note. 

xx-xxxx-xxxx  call me don't text I want to hear your voice ❤ - Baby 

Out of all the things you expected the note to say, it wasn't that. Despite his adorable, nonchalant on-stage persona, Baby was anything but. In person, he often kept to himself, hardly speaking and allowing his looks to do the talking for him. But online, he was the complete opposite. With his appearance hidden, he could speak his mind freely. It’s why Baby is so attached to using his phone.

It had been the reason why he was acting so bored when he was with you. On the outside, it looked as though he hardly cared for you, but on the inside, his heart was blooming with emotions just for you.

You really had no idea just how much these boys loved you. In your mind, you assumed the boys just wanted to be your friend.

What you didn't realize was that the boys weren't interested in being just friends, but so much more. 

But you were going to find that out soon. 

Very soon. 

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a/n - thank you @jellyjellyghost for letting me know how to format korean phone numbers :D

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[irisluvsabby]

overstimulating sub!ellie with a vibrating wand

cw: use of vibrator, mommy kink, overstimulation, some aftercare ig

an: this may be too occ but i like my ellie submissive so..

ellie begged for this, she wanted it and how could you say no to her.

she currently had her hands tied to the headboard, you were holding her hips in place as you had the wand held against her sensitive clit on the lowest setting.

"please- fuck please mommy i need more.." ellie whined and begged as you kept teasing her without mercy.

you smiled looking into her teary eyes, she really was desperate. "you weren't really nice me to earlier yeah? teasing me in public like that? making everyone think you're in charge" you told her with a grin, slowly taking the wand away from her cunt. "no no please.." she whined like a puppy.

"aw come on els, don't you want to be a good girl for mommy?" you ask her, increasing the speed of the vibrator before putting it back on her clit. she gasped, hands trying to hold onto something as they were still tied above her head.

"i'm a good girl.. i am please-" she babbled on as you caressed her thighs as if to soothe her.

"i'm not sure about that.. why don't you apologize and beg me for me some more?" you said as you significantly increased the speed of the wand which made ellie's thighs shake as she was moaning like crazy, struggling to get words out.

"i'm so sorry- sorry mommy please i need-" she was cut off by her own body, the pleasure of all it being too intense for her.

"aww my baby can't even talk properly yeah? so fucked and it hasn't even been that long yet." you teased her as her eyes were rolling back in her skull, the sensations becoming too much for her to handle all at once.

"cum for me baby come on- cum for mommy" you finally give her your approval. hearing those words, ellie finally let go as her orgasm crashed into her.

she could've sworn she never came like this before. you could feel some of her slick on you hands and dripping down on the sheets.

but you didn't turn off the vibrator, even after her orgasm ended.

"ahhh! too much please please i can't-" ellie whined, shaking with small tears rolling down her face.

the sight of her, whining in overstimulation was dreamy for you. but you finally decided to end her suffering a few minutes later, quickly turning off the vibrator, and untying her wrists.

ellie's legs were still shaking and her eyes watery as you kissed her forehead, making sure she was okay.

she then snuggled into you and you guys stayed like that for a couple of minutes before rubbing her a bath to clean up.

[rosy-hollow]

You know the feeling when you’ve been working so hard that when you finally take a break, it feels wrong? 

That’s how you felt- right now- staring at the towering resort in front of you.  

You were more than grateful for the effort the school put in to accumulate the funding for a beach trip for the entire hero course- something the other courses envied you all for, and in all honesty, you would gladly give up your spot for any one of them. It was your third year, a stressful time given that you were about to become fully fledged heroes by the time you all graduated in a few weeks – something you found ironic since you and your classmates have already seen more action than the average pro hero.  

Though the circumstances were a little different for you, as you had joined the hero course later in the school year following Hitoshi Shinso, who joined Class 1-B. You were put in Class 1-A to keep the classes balances, allowing your dream to come true to become a pro alongside the others.  

Now, here you were, standing in front of one of the most luxurious beachside resorts in all of Japan.  

Dragging your suitcase and backpack, you gather in the lobby alongside your classmates, awaiting Aizawa Sensei’s instructions.  

The ravenette in question pulled out his phone and starts to read out the sleeping arrangements.  

“Ashido and Hagakure, Shinso and Tokoyami, Midoriya and Todoroki, Asui and Uraraka...” he drones on monotonously, and your brain subconsciously started to tune him out until a pair catches your ears.

"Bakugou and..."  you watch his flip a page, checking for the next name only for him to say...yours?!

Almost everyone whips their heads in your direction, and your face turns bright red.  

Bakugou?! 

Your mind races a million miles a minute. I’m sharing a room with Bakugou?! Shit- what if he hates me... You mentally groan to yourself.  

Bakugou himself wasn't the issue - the two of you were on relatively good terms given that the natures of your quirks made for good training partners; you two got along fine.

Maybe a little too well.

In the short time you'd gotten to know him, you might've gotten a little - for lack of a better word- crush?

You smack yourself mentally - you sound pathetic. Just get your act together, it's not that big of a deal.

You see Bakugou heft his bags, grabbing his room key from Aizawa, and you want to melt into the floor. How in the world were you supposed to inconspicuously keep your cool around the man you’ve been crushing on for months?! Especially since you were sharing a room?! 

Sighing, you decide you should probably get your key as well, shifting your bags around, and approaching Aizawa who had your key in his hand.  

You take it with appropriate thanks and marvel at the rest of the resort as you make your way to the elevator, ornate marbled floors the color of sea glass accented with gold. Two giant seashells the size of gargoyles stood at both sides of the elevator doors, and you step inside, soft classical music trickling through the space as you stare out the glass wall, observing the many people of the beach, and clear aquamarine waters that looked crystalline. It was ... beautiful. 

You hear a ding, marking your arrival to the 8th floor, where you and the rest of Class 1-A were sleeping.

The floors were carpeted, a nice burgundy with simple gold waves that ran throughout the length of the hallway, simple, but elegant.  

Trailing your eyes alongside the doors, you find the door you were looking for, Room 1076. 

You fumble with the key card, pressing against the small black sensor by the door handle, hearing the beep that signaled it was unlocked, and you open it, taking in your surroundings. 

There was a large painting of two seahorses, with their tails intertwined, hung in between the beds. The beds themselves were draped with such fancy comforters that looked like clouds, you almost didn’t want to sleep on them in fear of ruining it.  

“Oi, close yer mouth, yer gonna catch flies.” you hear a familiar voice behind you, whipping around to come face to face with a pair of vermillion eyes.  

“Oh Bakugou!” you laugh nervously “I didn’t see you there.” 

He rolls his eyes, grabbing your backpack from your shoulders forcefully and plops it onto the nearby chair, effectively flinging you backwards in the process. 

“Gah! Ah shit-” you yelp, falling backwards and losing your footing, only for strong arms to wrap around your waist and yanking you back just in time to narrow avoid breaking a very expensive looking vase.  

Looking up you see Bakugou’s eyes on you, an impassive look on his face. 

A few beats of silence pass before you burst out into laughter, Bakugou forced to shift your form in order to not have to fall over again from the ferocity of your heaving giggles.  

“Pfft- you should’ve seen your face” you giggle, finding it difficult to breathe as your muscles painfully stretched to accommodate how much you were smiling.  

You feel a hand rest on top of your hand, effectively silencing you as Bakugou clicks his teeth impatiently. 

“Tch- calm down dumbass, ya just got here and yer already trying ta destroy the place.” he grumbles, the tips of his ears turning red. “Aizawa said we can call up room service for free- let's order some dinner and watch a movie or some shit. I’m fuckin exhausted.”

You smile brightly, shoving down the butterflies that erupt in your stomach, and nod.  

“Sounds good! You order and I’ll find something to put on.” you beam, flopping down on the bed closest to you, deciding that it was going to get messed up anyways. “Just don’t get anything too spicy. I’m not a weakling obviously, but you’re probably going to manage burning off my taste buds one way or another.” 

Bakugou rolls his eyes again, flipping you off and receiving and indignant Hey! from you, walking over to the bedside table to dial room service on the provided phone.  

Flipping through the channels, you surf through various news programs and sports broadcasts, already missing your easily accessible streaming services back home. Finally, you find a cheesy rom com you were familiar with, thankfully the timing was perfect, seeing as the movie’s opening credits roll through. The quality was surprisingly good, you thought happily to yourself, but given that you were staying in such a high-end resort, you shouldn’t be surprised.  

You make yourself comfortable, mentally high fiving yourself for deciding to wear sweatpants and a t-shirt that morning, so you didn’t feel the need to change into your pajamas just yet.  

Bakugou hangs up on the phone with a gruff salutation, sitting on his own bed adjacent to yours and raises his eyebrows at your choice of movie.  

“This one? Really?” he asks, frowning slightly and you quirk up an eyebrow in return.  

“It was all I could find, plus I know you like this one. You have the book copy of it you nerd.” you smile teasingly.  

Bakugou’s ears turn red at the realization that you noticed his guilty pleasure of reading romance novels, chucking a pillow in your direction in retaliation.  

“So what? Movie’s shit.”he grumbles, turning to watch the male lead being introduced. “S’true for all of em. Books are way better.”

You sigh, disgruntled as the pillow hits you in the face and falls off your bed out of reach. You did really want to throw it back at him, but right now, you were just too lazy. 

“Stop being such a sourpuss.” you gripe, letting your arms dangle off the side of the bed as you lie on your stomach. “Obviously books are more accurate, but just try to enjoy a classic movie as if it were a standalone.” 

The blonde sighs, making himself comfortable on his bed without another word, vermillion eyes locking themselves on the screen, just as the female lead complains to her best friend that her crush won’t like her back. He knew it was a dumb movie, just by looking at the male lead’s interactions with her, it was clear he was in love with her. Were people always so dense when it came to a guy’s feelings? 

His eyes wander in your direction, watching you doze off , face half smushed against the edge of the bed. Sighing, he gets up, grumbling as he realizes his foot fell asleep, but works through the pain as he makes his way to your side, grabbing the remote and turning off the TV.  

He places the remote on the bedside table and lifts you gently, adjusting the pillows and rearranging the comforter to safely tuck you in. However you weren’t fully asleep, your eyes blinking blearily as you weakly protest.  

“No...not yet...” you mumble, frowning softly, and Bakugou resists the urge to smooth the cute crinkle between your furrowed eyebrows “Food’s going to waste...” 

The blonde chuckles quietly, eyes softening as he tucks a strand of of loose hair away from your face. “S’not a problem dummy, I didn’t order anything. Knew ya were gonna pull this shit. We'll eat a big breakfast tomorrow.”

You nod sleepily in agreement, as he turns away to get ready for bed himself, only to be stopped by the feeling on your hand loosely wrapped around his wrist. 

“Bakugou?” 

“Yeah?”

“I love you.” 

His cheeks are tinted red, clearly flustered, not that you noticed, too tired to pick up on really anything. 

“I...”

“I love you too dumbass.”

A/N: wrote this ages ago... i still love it to this day

[merbear25]

If i could have some fluff of Hongo, Beckman, and/or Shanks with a reader who baked a small cake for their birthday and told them to make a wish. And they go "i already have what id wish for, you." Especially since they had a rough day for their birthday (battles, injuries, they dropped something in the ocean with no chance to get it, etc). Please and thank you!

This was really cute! I hope you like it!!

CW: SFW, gn!reader, fluff, established relationship, drabble

All I want (Hongo, Beckman, Shanks)

Hongo

There wasn’t much that got to him. Being someone whose profession came with just as many downfalls as it did uplifting moments, he’d been able to come through it without so much as a small chip on his shoulder. That being said, he was still human.

Resting his head on his open palm, the weight of it nearly felt too heavy to prop up. He’d poured a shot for himself to help take the edge off, but now that it was in front of him the appeal was wearing off. Luke warm booze in a lazily rinsed glass—he tapped his finger near it. When footsteps approached him from behind, their failed attempt at sneaking up on him amused him.

“Have I got a friend to join me?” He wasn’t paying close enough attention to whose footsteps they were. Glancing behind him and seeing you brought on a sense of calmness that the alcohol could never mimic.

“These darn floorboards,” you cursed the creaky wood. Huffing a little at the surprise being spoiled you came over to sit next to him. “Well, I wanted it to be a surprise, but I guess that’s out the window.”

He cocked an eyebrow, and his eyes drifted to the bag you were holding. He must’ve been really drained not to have recognized your presence let alone that you were carrying something. Straightening his posture was his way of welcoming you to take the seat next to him. “You can’t blame the floorboards for your lack of stealth,” he poked fun.

You waved his comment away. “Pfft, you and I both know I’ve got plenty of skill.” Putting the bag on the table, you pulled down the plastic to reveal a small box.

“Whatcha got there?” There was still an amused tone to his voice.

“A cake of course!” The look he gave you took you by surprise. “For… your birthday?” At first you couldn’t figure out if he was acting this way on purpose, but the shade of red washing over his face proved the genuine embarrassment. “Did you forget?”

“I guess it… slipped my mind.” He tried to laugh it off, but his hand gripping his shorts gave away his true feelings. How could he have forgotten his own birthday? And even more, how could someone as sweet as you be the one to remind him?

You lit the candles and pushed the cake a little closer to him. “Then what a pleasant reminder. Go on and make a wish.” Your hums of adoration had his heart doing backflips.

“You’re sweet but I’ve already got everything I want right here.” He gently took your hand and gave it a squeeze. “Why not make a new wish together?” Leaning in, you blew gently on the flame together for a wish you shared.

Beckman

Coming out to the deck in a bit of a huff, he needed the fresh sea air to clear his head. Leaning up against the railing, he looked out to the sea that could carry a person anywhere. There was a strange sense of peace that came with that. As the breeze combed through his silver hair, his bad mood went with it. He flicked his cigarette ash and took a deep breath. The faint scent of salt from the water crashing against the ship was like nothing else.

“Could really make you forget about everything else,” he called out towards the sea, but his words were directed behind him.

You came closer, hiding the little surprise you had for him behind your back. “Can’t argue with that,” you hummed softly. “The view of the ocean at sunset is never short of breath-taking.”

He smirked to himself. “I wasn’t talking about the water, but sure, it’s nice too.” Taking another puff of his cigarette, he finally glanced over at you. The sun was hitting your back, illuminating your silhouette perfectly. You looked as radiant as ever. He didn’t bring up the fact you were hiding something from him and ruin the surprise you had in store.

Tucking your hair behind your ear, you nearly forgot why you’d gone looking for him. “Oh, I almost forgot!” You pulled the mystery box out from behind your back, holding it up by the neatly tied ribbons and bow.

“Aww, you didn’t have to get me anything.” His flirtatious teasing was making those butterflies in your stomach flutter like crazy.

“Oh, yes I did! Can’t have you going without some cake on your birthday.” Pulling the ribbons off the box and sliding the top off really built up his appetite. The swirls of frosting and the freshly baked sweet cake batter filled his nostrils and got his stomach growling.

“You really spoil me.” Despite the flirty tone, there was sincerity behind it. Appreciation for you never faltered, although he could admit you deserved more in return. Watching your expression light up when the candles flickered in the gentle breeze got him thinking what a wonderful birthday this turned out to be.

“Aren’t you going to make a wish?” Your face fell slightly when he hesitated.

Tapping his finger on the wooden railing, he feigned feeling torn. “I’m just trying to figure out what to wish for…I already have you, so there isn’t anything that can compare to that. Wait… I think something came to mind.” He winked at you before blowing out the candles, spending his wish on something bigger than himself.

Shanks

He flopped down on the couch, letting the cushions cave in under his sudden weight. What a birthday to remember, and not in the way he would’ve preferred. His muscles ached, even while being swallowed by the little comforts that could be taken out to sea.

Closing his eyes, he just needed a bit of a rest to recuperate. His eyelids were heavy and the faint throb of his spent muscles slowly crept him closer to a much needed sleep. Heavy and deep breaths, his mouth slightly hanging open from the pull of his dreams, the slight twitch of his calloused fingers: it was his body’s way of repaying him for what it’d put him through.

Sounds of clicking from the door opening gently drifted his consciousness back up to the surface. He turned his head and caught a glimpse of you going over to set something down through his disheveled bangs.

“How are you feeling?” You peeked around the corner, wondering if you should come back and let him rest for now. He looked completely wrecked, and yet he beamed at you just like all the other times.

“Better, actually.” There was a faint smile pulling on the corner of his mouth. “Though seeing you always makes me feel better.” His gaze laid on yours, and a sense of warmth spread in his chest when he was reminded of how well his flattery seemed to work on you.

“Well, do you feel well enough for cake?” You held up the cake, so he could see the homemade frosting smeared into pretty patterns.

His eyes lit up and a laugh passed his lips. “You didn’t have to go through all that trouble.” Sitting up when you came over with the candles already lit, he couldn’t deny loving the sight of joy dancing in your eyes. 

You set it down on the coffee table in front of him. The soft glow from the flickering flames on your complexion made the moment that much more memorable for him. “Make a wish,” your voice carried over to him and wrapped snugly around his heart.

“I already have you. What more could I want?” He blew the candles out, wishing for something he was sure would make you smile.

[slytherinshua]

⏾　INSOMNIAC　( 이찬영 )

genre fluff , non-idol au , anton x fem!reader   cw reader has insomnia , kissing , only half proofread   wc 787   request yes , (send in thoughts for drabbles!!)   note i have not written for riize in forever. will i write more for riize soon? prob not (i haven't watched any content of theirs since like 2023-24, i barely stan them anymore) however clearly i'm still capable of writing for anton ijbol (@haeerizm look at me writing for anton again KSJSK) me writing this at 3:30am is so apt   net @kstrucknet

Your insomnia had always been bad until you met Anton. Hours spent tossing and turning every night, trying to find the right position or perfectly cold side of the pillow to help sleep come faster. But it never worked. Room darkening curtains, white noise, asmr, sounds of the ocean— you had tried it all, but your university days were still spent sleep deprived every morning, and a nice new crippling dependency on coffee to go along with it. 

Anton first met you in your computer science class where you sat at the back of the room, head buried in your arms as you tried to ignore the stinging of your tired eyes. He tapped you on the shoulder when the professor came into the room to start the lecture, and offered to take notes for you since you “seemed a bit tired”. You didn’t pay much attention to him at first— too absorbed in how awful your day was going to appreciate his soft voice or perfectly sculpted face. 

It was only when he showed up the next day, this time with an extra coffee just for you and that same patient smile that you started to pay attention. You shared three classes with him, and each time, he would find his seat next to yours. Over the weeks, you started saving the spot for him. The more you talked with him, the more you learned. He shared the same major as you, and even had similar career goals. 

Conversation with Anton was easy, and even seeing him made you feel more awake, even if you were only running on two hours of sleep. You started to cherish the cups of coffee you would share during periods between classes, and instead of beelining it back to your dorm, and how he would tease you about how concerningly little sleep you could function on. Each day he gave you a new stupid sleep hack to try, and everyday you laughed at it and said you would update him if it worked that night. While most of them had been a bust, there were a few occasions you had reported back with an uncontainable amount of excitement at how much sleep you had gotten the previous night. Without fully realizing it, Anton was slowly curing your insomnia better than any medication ever had.

Falling in love with him happened naturally, almost without you putting too much thought into it. His gentle laugh and considerate smile were the highlights of your day, and when he first asked you out on a date, he barely had to wait half a second for you to say yes. 

Graduation came and went in the blink of an eye, and sooner than you knew it, you were juggling a new full-time job and apartment hunting with Anton, now your boyfriend of two years. You cringed at the prices of things, soon debating how much you cared about location or amenities when everything was so expensive. When you finally found a decent place not too far from your work building, you signed the lease as soon as you could. 

While your boyfriend had already managed to help your insomnia a tremendous amount in university, when you moved in together, he was even more effective. Something about curling up in his arms after a long, exhausting day and completely relaxing to the sound of his steady heartbeat and scent of his cologne had the drowsiness hitting you instantly. And that was even before he did his nightly routine. 

Once you were fully settled on his arms, head comfortably rested on your pillow and face a perfect distance from his, there was nothing stopping him from mapping out your features with his lips, pressing each gentle kiss to your skin like you were the most precious thing to him. Anton had always been so soft, so patient, and the way he kissed you before sleeping was like a ritual. 

First your lips, and then your cheek. He would whisper something sickenly sweet right in your ear, teasing you even while your eyes were closed. And once he had gotten you flustered enough, he would kiss your temple and then the top of your head, before descending once again to your lips. Each kiss was tender and loving, his plush lips slowly pressing against your skin. 

And maybe it was the intent of the action, or the way it felt like he was revering you with every touch, or how comforting the atmosphere was; but it always had you slipping away to your dreams within minutes. Sleep had always been unsettling for you, but when you were with Anton, at home in his arms, it became something precious.

riize taglist (bolded could not be tagged): @eternalgyu,, @kangtaehyunzzz,, @weird-bookworm,, @haecien,, @blossominghunnie,, @cosmicwintr,, @evalevaeva,, @lecheugo,, @wccycc,, @seunghancore,, @planetkiimchi,, @sobun1est,, @bananabubble,, @talkingsaxy,, @thesunsfullmoon,, @chenleszone,, @soheecore,, @nicholasluvbot,, @cupidslovearrows,, @hrtsvivis,, @50-husbands,, @yudaies,, @mjupis,, @nonononranghaee,, @loserlvrss,, @cupidslovearrows,, @shimochibun,, @i03jae,, @tmrwsuns,, @yujiswave

[screamingintotheneverendingvoid]

How To Say Goodbye

John Carter x reader (Sunny)

Summary: You promised to be by John’s side through the good and the bad; and losing his grandfather is one of the worst days.

Warnings: Death of a loved one, use of Sunny instead of y/n, few uses of the term girlfriend, John’s parents are dicks, a little sad obviously, but also I managed to make it sappy and sweet because I’m me and I want John Carter to have someone to love

A/N: I watched season 8 episode 1 and got inspired, so here is this. I’ve only seen John’s parents once so that characterization might be totally off base, but I tried. I wrote this at 2:30am in my sleep deprived state, so mistakes probably happened. I also took Abby out of some scenes and put reader in, so I’m sorry Abby, my girl, it had to be done. Also the first half of this wasn’t originally apart of it but then I decided I was going to write it, so if it feels a little disjointed, that’s probably why. Anyway, enjoy!

—

You had been awake for only about fifteen minutes, but you hadn’t moved an inch yet.

Why? For the fear of waking the man who had one arm over your waist as his head was nestled snuggly on your chest.

He truly was a vision, the most beautiful angel that heaven could produce and you were lucky enough to call him yours.

And while part of you did selfishly want to stay like this for the rest of the day, you were mostly just relieved he was sleeping soundly.

Ever since finding out about his grandfather a few days prior, he hadn’t been doing too well. Sure, he held it together in front of everyone, he was John, he was good at that. What everyone else didn’t see was when you two got back home and he broke down in tears as the fact that he had lost his grandfather really, finally hit him.

You held him tight and ran your fingers through his hair, comforting him with your actions when words failed.

He still didn’t sleep well that night or the next.

He had finally slept well last night, after you say curled up together as he told you funny stories from his childhood that involved his grandfather.

The bittersweet joy of it seemed to lift just the tiniest bit of weight off his shoulders.

But today was the funeral.

So, you couldn’t let him sleep in like you so desperately longed to.

You brought one hand to rest over his arm that was slung around your waist and the other to his hair, gently starting to rake your fingers through it.

He started to shift around, a small hum coming from him. “Just five more minutes…”

Laughter bubbled up from your chest at how truly boyish he sounded, and even looked as he turned his head towards you.

His brown eyes full of the sleep he still hadn’t quite caught up on.

“You know we have to get ready and be there early.” You whispered, as if it were quiet enough, maybe you wouldn’t break the stillness of the morning around you.

“I know, I know. I just want to avoid the inevitable.” He moved to nuzzle his face into the crook of your neck, maybe he could hide right here forever.

“I know you do, baby, but I’ll be there every step of the way.” You placed a soft kiss on the top of his head and felt his sweet smile against your skin.

“What would I do without you?” He mumbled against your neck.

“Well, your life would definitely be a lot less exciting.” That said quip earned a chuckle from him.

You snaked your hand down to his shoulder and let your nails rake over the skin there, “You go get a shower and start getting ready, I’ll make coffee and some breakfast, if you’re hungry?”

He hummed again, the sensation against your skin causing you to giggle, “Yeah, I think I could eat a little something. Pancakes kind of sound nice…” he trailed off, finally lifted his face from your neck and looking at you, flashing you a sweet, gentle smile.

“Pancakes I can do, but you will have to let go of me.”

He made an exaggerated groan and rolled himself over to his pillow, “And here I was hoping I could keep you to myself today.”

“There’s always tomorrow.” You leaned over to peck his lips before you got up from the bed, strolling towards the door.

“Oh, I’m counting on it.”

—

The sweet reprise of the morning quickly gave way into a melancholy afternoon. On top of the grief and pain you were feeling for John, the sirens in your head haven’t had a second to rest because on top of this being a funeral, it was a funeral that also served as the first meeting of John’s parents. 8 years of knowing each other and most of those spent dating, and you hadn’t met them.

They tended to stay busy, and John was less than enthusiastic at the thought of having to take you half way across the world just to meet them, so you just left it be. You knew their relationship was far from perfect, so you can’t say you were super excited at the prospect of meeting them.

When you got to the church for the service, it didn’t take you long to identify them. They stood in front of John’s grandmother, and they had a certain air about them.

Though it was a bumpy road at first, John’s Gamma and Grandpa had accepted you, they had even come to love you. They saw how much you loved John and how much he loved you. The way you two took care of each other even on the bad days.

You felt the fears of being thought of as a gold digger, or someone just in for the name, boil up in your throat. Thoughts that hadn’t made you nervous since you had met John’s grandparents.

John had his arm around your waist and you had yours around him as the two of you walked up to everyone else.

“Hey mom, dad.” John gave them both curt nods before letting go of you to embrace his Gamma.

You immediately felt his mom’s icy blue eyes sizing you up, his dad seemed more content to focus on John and Gamma.

“John.” His father said, giving his son a small pat to his back when John moved away from Gamma, and he now stood between the two of you.

“Mom, dad, this is my girlfriend, Sunny. Sunny this is my mom and dad.”

“Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Carter.”

You said it with a reluctant smile, but with all your confidence. You had this. You helped deliver babies and comforted people in their final moments for a living, this should be a walk in the park.

“You too.” “Mhm.” The husband and wife gave quick, less than enthusiastic replies, turning their attention back to John and his grandmother.

“Sunny is wonderful. Our John is lucky to have found them.” Gamma praised you, and you took that moment to step over to her and give her a hug of your own.

“Thank you, but I’m the lucky one. John’s the best man I’ve ever met.” You spoke as you pulled back from the hug, and Gamma gave you a kiss on the cheek.

You then stepped back to John’s side realizing his parents both watched you now.

John took your hand, and brought it up to his lips for a quick kiss.

“I think we’re both very lucky to have each other.”

“I’m sure. We need to get into place to greet people, are you guys ready?” His mother more or less blew John off. It truly took everything you not to show your true emotions on your face, but you just kept a small, simple smile on your face.

“Yes, Eleanor, I suppose we are. This day isn’t going to get any easier.” Gamma took the arm John had offered her and started to move towards the designated area.

You tapped on John’s shoulder, “Maybe I should stay back while you do this.”

Before John could answer you, Gamma did as she had clearly heard your words, “Nonsense, you’re family too and I think John and I will both feel better with you up here.”

Your heart melted at her words and you just offered her a faint smile, catching John’s eyes as he was looking at you. His sweet smile being a nice reassurance.

—

The service had been beautiful, as had been the graveside service. It was filled to the brim with people (and flowers). John’s grandfather had clearly touched many peoples lives, and that was beautiful thing to see.

You stayed by John, and his grandmothers, side the entire time. Thankfully so much was happening you hadn’t had the time to have another awkward conversation with his parents.

As the group of you started walking away, Gamma with John’s dad, and John and you with his mother, Gamma stopped and grabbed your arm before the two groups went their separate ways,

“Sunny, dear, would you ride with us? Your company would be good for my heart right now.”

“Of course. Are you fine with that, John?” You turned back towards your boyfriend and without words exchanged you could tell being alone with his mom wasn’t quite what he wanted but he could never deny his grandmother, especially on this day.

“Yeah, we’ll see you guys there. We should be right behind each other.” John spoke and walked over to you, pressing a firm kiss against the top of your head before he moved over and did the same to his grandma.

“Be careful, please.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, John, we’ll be back at the house quick.” His father finally spoke up, seeing a bit exasperated, but you all just chose to ignore that.

You finally all went your separate ways, you walked arm in arm with Gamma to the car, then her son helped her in the car before you both got in.

To say the ride was a bit awkward would be an understatement, but mostly you and Gamma just softly talked among yourselves. John’s dad didn’t seem to care much to add anything, though he would every now and then.

You weren’t sure if you hoped he was like this with everyone or if it was just you.

The car ride went by quickly and the three of you filed out of the car, Gamma took your arm in her own, “I want to go rest for a bit before more people get here. Can you walk me to my room?”

“Mom, are you sure you don’t want to be out here to greet the guest.” He stopped at the open front door, the butler who opened it just waiting patiently for them to decide what to do.

“No, Jack. Not at this moment, that’s why you’re here. People will be thrilled to be greeted by you.” You and her walked into the open door, and she gave his arm a soft pat as she walked by him.

Her son watched until the two of you were out of sight.

You let her lead the way to her room, because in all honesty you weren’t sure where it was. This place was enormous and even though you had been here on multiple occasions you weren’t sure you could ever fully have its passages down.

Once at the door, she pushed it open, and let go of your arm, walking over to the bed and sitting on it, a relieved sigh escaping her.

“The silence is nice. It’s very nice to have all these people but so very tiring.”

“Yeah, if anyone deserves a moment of rest today, it’s you.” You stayed close to the door, taking in the decadent and stunning room, you shouldn’t be surprised with how the rest of the house but it still did.

“You go on, dear. Find John. I’m fine, I’ll make an appearance in a little bit.” Gamma didn’t even lift up her head to say anything, too comfortable on her spot in the bed.

“Yes, ma’am. Let me know if I can do anything else.”

She waved you off and so you left, closing the door as gently as you could.

—

You walked back towards the main room, leaving John’s grandmother alone to have a moment of peace. Your eyes caught John and his mother walk in, and you moved right towards them.

John had turned his back, and it looked like his mother was adjusting his tie, maybe? Or his collar. You weren’t really sure.

You walked up to them, letting your hand rest on John’s back trying not to alarm him with your presence. He immediately turned his head, smiling when he saw it was you.

“Hey sweetheart, how was the ride okay?”

He leaned down to kiss your forehead.

It’s the first time you’ve seen John since the cemetery, having rode back with his grandmother at her request. You think it was mostly so she wouldn’t have to be in the car alone with her son.

You were starting to understand why, this was your first time meeting John’s parents. A wild statement considering you’d known each other for 8 years and had been dating for a good chunk of that time, but John had explained to you the strained nature of their relationship and if you were honest, your kind of glad you had avoided the meeting for so long.

John was your priority. He’s your partner. He’d be through so much and you’d be damned if someone said anything to him to make him feel less than. Even his parents, so you figured not meeting them until now was for the best.

You hadn’t even said a word yet and you could feel his mother’s eyes burrowing into you. You just ignored it and looked up at him, but while opening your mouth, you were interrupted by John’s father coming up.

“Did the driver get lost?”

“John had something more pressing.” His mother said, and you tried to keep your face neutral, this was Grandpa Carter’s funeral after all.

John wrapped his arm around your shoulder, pulling you into his side, as if he could read your mind.

“It was trouble with a patient.” John responded, and you looked at the ground with a satisfied smile. Yeah, that sounded just like your boyfriend.

“Decent turnout.” John said to turn the conversation away, as he looked around the room.

“It’ll do.” His dad said curtly.

“Where’s Gamma?” John asked when he didn’t see the person he was looking for.

You were about to speak again, because you had been the one to help her to the room.

“Lying down, said she was tired.” His dad interjected.

You looked between him and John, she said that just so you would leave her be for a moment.

You didn’t say that out loud though.

“Where are you staying?” You looked at John as he asked his father.

“The Drake.” Another short answer.

“The Ritz-Carlton was booked.” His mother tried to joke to lighten the mood, at least you think that was her attempt to do so, but you don’t think anything would lighten the mood at the moment.

“Did you think about staying here?” John asked his parents. His father just took a sip of his drink and his mother immediately looked away for a distraction, “Oh, there’s Peter Harkens. I should say hello.”

She walked away and you had to try with everything in you not to loudly sigh. John stepped up to his father’s side and you stepped a few steps back, letting them have a moment. You gave John an encouraging squeeze to his arm, and he flashed a quick thankful smile.

You just stood back and let them have their moment. Of course you could still hear everything they said.

“Who’s Peter Harkens?”

“Oh he’s handling the probate.”

With another curt answer, John looked back at you before looking back at his dad.

“I think Sunny and I are going to check on Gamma.”

“I did, she’s fine.”

John took the smallest step back, “Yeah, still…”

“John, do you want to help your grandmother?” You think that was the most that had come out of his father mouth. John stopped and looking up at his dad. “Be a good host, introduce yourself to Senator Herrero’s daughter. Arthur?”

You and John both watched his father walk off in disbelief. You want to believe he didn’t mean that in the way it felt intended.

You know your introduction had been short before the graveside service, John only telling his parents your name and that you are his partner, before everyone got pulled away because it had started.

John watched his father a moment longer before turning back to you and pulling you into his arms.

The strength that he held you with gave away some of his anger, as if he could just hug you hard enough and make it all better.

“I’m sorry about that.”

You rested your chin on his chest so you could look at him. His brown eyes swirled with anger, but mostly apologies, as if this was somehow his fault.

“You have no reason to be sorry. I’m here for you and your grandmother, so I pay no mind to what they say… or don’t say.” Honestly them ignoring you again would be better at this point you think.

You felt John relax a little bit, those brown eyes now sparkling with fondness. You’d never get tired of the way he looked at you.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to your nose, and then your forehead.

“I know you’re here for us. It makes all this-��� he gestures around, “- a lot easier to deal with. I never want to do any of this stuff without you ever again.”

His words made your heart sing. “You won’t. I’ll be by your side forever…. or until you get tired of me.” You teased, causing him to roll his eyes, but a smile never left his lips as he leaned down and pecked your lips, before going back and kissing you a moment longer. He wanted to linger there, but you were in a room full of people at a funeral, so not the time.

“How about we go get a drink?”

—

You and John walked around for a while, actively avoiding his parents, he showed you some of the pictures hanging around.

You had seen most of them before but it felt different with John by your side to tell you stories behind them.

He stopped and lingered on a picture of him and his brother for a while.

“I wish I could’ve met him.”

John’s smile felt like it held all the sadness in the world, “Me too. He would’ve loved you. He definitely would’ve relentlessly teased asking how I got such a hot girlfriend. Especially with how I was as a kid, let’s just say I’m glad we met when we did and not as kids.”

You bumped your shoulder against his playfully, “I was a little dork as a kid, so I think we probably would’ve been best friends as kids.”

You grabbed his hand and pulled him, “Come on, take me somewhere outside. I need some fresh air.”

“Okay, but let’s grab drinks first.”

So you did just that, grabbed two drinks and then weaved your way through the crowd. He walked you a little ways away from everyone to where a bench was sat beside the now broken bird bath.

You already knew what had happened to it and honestly you can’t believe someone hadn’t gotten rid of it yet.

Then again there was a lot happening so the bird bath was probably the least of anyone’s worries. You would volunteer to get a new one for his grandmother but maybe she was attached to that one now. You also couldn’t afford it with your salary, but that wasn't the point.

“You think your grandmother will replace it?” You sat by John’s side, taking a sip of your champagne as your eyes stayed on the bird bath.

He snorted in a bit of amusement, “That’s a great question. I mean.. grandpa liked it, and I guess the giant missing piece has a story to tell now. Not a fun one, but definitely a story.”

“Yeah I guess having to bring up what happened every time someone ask, isn’t the most fun story to tell.” You rested your head on his shoulder.

“How are you holding up, love?” You asked him quietly, as if you were still closer to the crowd. You heard him sigh, and he gently rested his head on top of yours.

“Okay, considering everything. I don’t know what I would if you hadn’t been here through all of this, and I mean that. Thank you.” You couldn’t see his face, but his voice contained the weight of his words, and the warmed their way into your heart. You reached down to grab his free hand in your own and intertwined them together.

“You’re welcome. Even though you don’t have to thank me. I love you, being there for you feels like breathing to me.”

Before he could say anything back, and doing what his parents seemed good at doing today, his mother walked over. You two had been so in your own bubble you hadn’t even noticed her walk up.

“John, have you seen Millicent?” John lifted his head off of yours and looked up at his mother.

“No, I haven’t.”

The silence stretched on for what seemed like forever but could have only been a few second. John finally stood up quickly, you followed suit.

“You remember Sunny, right, mom? You met for just a second before the service. Sunny, you remember my mother, Eleanor Carter.”

“Hello Mrs. Carter.”

“Hi.”

So her and her husband had curt responses in common, good to know.

“Things are winding down, she needs to make an appearance.” His mother didn’t give you a second thought, and looked right at her son as she spoke.

“I will go and look for her in a minute.”

“Please do.” Was all his mother said in response before giving what felt like a force smile as she walked off.

You sighed heavily when she was far enough away, and turned back to look at John. He looked just as exasperated as you did.

John plopped back down on the bench and you sat back down beside him patting his leg.

“I’m sorry about them. My parents… just don’t handle loss well.” He grabbed your hand that had patted his leg and started messing with your hand, playing with one of the rings you had on.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had to deal with this sort of thing.”

You watched him fondly as he spoke, he looked so innocent and almost child-like as he fiddled with the jewelry on your hand.

“I assume since Bobby?” You interjected softly and he nodded.

You ran a hand gently through his hair, trying not to mess it up while you comforted him. He looked up at you for a moment before turning his head around to look at the crowd, you followed his eyes to his mother.

“You go on and find Gamma. I’m going to sit out here in the sun a while longer, you can come find me when you’re done.”

You dragged your nails to his neck, seeing the goosebumps it raised, you ran your hand over them.

“Are you sure? You can come with me, she’s always happy to see you.” He turned his head back to you.

“I’m sure. I saw her earlier and I’ll see her again later. You go take a minute with her.”

He smiled at you, even though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He leaned over to give you a quick peck to the lips before standing up.

“I’ll be back in a bit, okay?”

“Okay.” You gave him a small nod as he walked off and you took another sip of your drink as you tried to take in the moment by yourself.

—

“So, how did you and John meet?”

The voice caused you to turn from your place on the bench, the last person you expected to see stand there was.

It was Eleanor Carter.

“At work.” You kept the answer simple because you know if not John, someone had to have told her before how you two met.

“I see. You’re a doctor too?”

You hoped your eye was twitching at her question, because it sure felt like it was. Again, you know she has to know the answer, this just feels like a test or an interrogation.

“No, I’m a nurse.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Are you the one with the clinic?”

“No, that was my friend Carol.”

“So you’re just doing nursing, no plans for anything else?”

You let out a small huff of air in disbelief. You truly felt for her for everything she’s been through, but it doesn’t give her the right to talk to you like that.

but, this was a funeral. So as much as you wanted to say something, anything, snippy you reframed.

You stood up, taking your now almost empty glass with you.

“Just nursing. No plans for anything else, I mean I have a doctor boyfriend, what else could I need?” It was sarcasm at its finest, and you didn’t wait for her answer as you started walking away.

“Speaking of which, I should go find him. It was nice talk to you.”

—

No matter where you looked you couldn’t find John, or his Gamma, anywhere. Finally you just gave up and went to his room in the house, letting yourself fall to the bed.

You buried your face in the comforter and let out a string of curse words.

So maybe you should’ve made a better effort with his mom, been a little nicer.

She was the one making it nearly impossible though.

You don’t know how long you laid there, at some point you kicked off your heels and let them clatter to the floor, but besides that you just laid there. Without realizing it, you drifted off to sleep. It wasn’t until someone was rubbing your leg that you stirred and realized you had done so.

Through your sleepy, blurry vision you lifted your head up.

“Hey, baby. You get tired of waiting?” The voice teased, moving their hand up to your thigh. Drawing small patterns in all the places the touched.

You smiled sleepily as John came into view.

“Mhm.” You mumbled.

“Do you want to go home?”

“Why don’t we stay here for the night? Your parents aren't staying, so we could stay and keep your Gamma company tomorrow.”

John’s face lit up, the corner of his eyes crinkling,

“I love you so much, do you know that?”

You adjusted yourself in the bed to be closer to him, and turned your back towards him.

“I do, but I’m not going to stop you from telling me as much as you like.” You glanced over your shoulder at him, the sweet look he was giving you turning you to putty.

“Will you unzip my dress, I know I feel asleep in it, but I do not want to sleep in for the night.”

“Your wish is my command.” He planted a sweet kiss on the back of your neck, causing a little shiver to go through your body. You heard the small, satisfied laugh he gave at the reaction. He slowly started pulling the zipper down, taking his time until he was done.

He started gently pulling it off of you, and you let him, moving your limbs when needed.

Once he was done, he laid another kiss on your shoulder. You then climbed your way to the top of the bed and pulled up the blanket, wiggling yourself underneath.

You watched as he stripped out of his clothing down to his boxers. You admired every part of his body, he was a work of art you would never get tired of seeing.

You lifted the blanket up beside you, inviting him to crawl in next to you, and so he did.

He promptly pulled you into his side as soon as he could. You happily snuggled yourself into him, letting your head rest on his chest so you could listen to the thump of his heart.

“I love you, John Carter.” You whispered as if telling him a secret. You didn’t look up at him, but you could heart the sweetness in his voice, “I love you too.”

[nqrancia]

I would like to request Caesar, Abbacchio, and Bucciarati for this scenario. Okay so s/o has been working on this project for a while, but they haven't seen what it was that they were making. It turns out that s/o was building a coffin this entire time. They made it comfy for the naps that they'll take in there teehee. Also i wanna know their response to s/o saying something like "i can build one for you if you'd like." after being questioned about the fact that they're making a coffin.

𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲, 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 : casear zeppeli, bruno bucciarati, leone abbacchio

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 : the secret project you’ve been working on has finally been seen by your lover, how will he react?

𝐚/𝐧 : this is so silly cause um… y’know :( please enjoy! :)

𝐂𝐀𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐑 𝐙.

As your boyfriend quietly cracked open the door, he was met with complete darkness. “Cara mia, Lisa Lisa said it was time for more training.” He softly called out, trying to be gentle so as to not shock you awake.

When there was no response, not even a groan, he carefully made his way across your room to reach your curtains. He slowly pushed them back as the light entered your room, and then he was able to see it. A coffin meant for a single person laid open in a corner within the room, and in it laid you. The light shined gently upon your features, he would’ve thought you were an angel by how beautiful you appeared while sleeping.

The coffin was, however, a concern to him. “What in the world is this?” He muttered as you lazily sat up.

“I can build one for you, if you’d like.” You mumbled as you attempted to rub the sleep from your eyes

He raised an eyebrow, “What are you trying to insinuate, amore?”

A small grin curled upon your face, “That you deserve a nice nap.”

“The sentiment is nice, but I would prefer it if it was in a proper bed.” He sighed as he knelt down beside you.

He ran a hand along the edge of the coffin, feeling the smooth texture of the wood you had chosen. For having made this yourself, the craftsmanship was impeccable. “This is exceptionally well made, how did you do it?” He questioned.

Before you could answer, he leant over to press a soft kiss to your cheek. “You should really tell me when you’re working on new projects, tesoro. I’d love to watch you work your magic.” He whispered against your skin.

Another way this scenario could go:

Casear : And when the smoke clears… Wait, what’s this?

[Name] : That’s my nap time coffin.

Caesar : Um, no, dolcezza. We won’t be needing that.

[Name] : Trust me, Caesar. Y’all gonna be really tired after this ambush, okay?

───

𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐎 𝐁.

Just as you were painting on the additional touches to the outside of your coffin, the soft creaking of the door was heard behind you. Then, your beloved's head popped through, “Dinner is ready, bella.” He gently called as he glanced around the room.

Finally, his eyes landed on you in the center of the space. Behind you was the very project you had dedicated all your free time to in the past few weeks; a comfortable coffin intended for one special purpose, the perfect nap. Though the bed that you and your husband shared was comfortable, you desired a piece of furniture that could out do it. Thus, your journey to create the coffin began.

Your husband stepped into the room as you put down your paint brush, approaching the situation with mild caution. “So this is what you’ve been working so hard on.” He spoke softly as he kneeled down to take in the intricacies of your creation.

A small smile curled on your face as you eagerly leaned close to him. “I can build one for you too, if you’d like.”

His eyes widened for a moment, then he chuckled. “Perhaps when my time comes, cara mia.”

Admittedly, he truly does not know how to react. However, he is glad that you have found a hobby to occupy yourself with if he can’t entertain you. He can only shower you with compliments on your handy work and praise you on how beautiful you made the coffin look:

“Still, the craftsmanship of your work is incredible. I’m a little jealous.”

“Hm, the material you used to pad this coffin is rather nice. What material is this?”

───

𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐀.

He only meant to pop in for a moment to ask a quick question, but then he caught sight of the coffin. As he inched closer to the object, he noticed that you had been laying inside it for quite some time now. An eyebrow raised with confusion as he stared you down in your sleepy state. “The hell?” He mumbled.

Your eyes immediately shot open, nearly giving the man a heart attack. With a quick arm, you grabbed his wrist and began pulling him down into the coffin with you. “Try laying down in it!” You insisted.

A sound of disturbance left the man as he scoffed. “Lay down in it? Are you trying to say you wanna take me to an early grave? Damn, didn’t know you had it in you.”

He shut up as soon as he hit the soft padding of the bed.

It took him a moment to get comfortable, the coffin itself was slightly too small to fit the both of you. A pair of arms had snaked around his waist to pull him closer to you, allowing him to become more comfortable and relaxed. You snuggled against him as he laid there taking in the absurdity of the whole situation.

“Holy shit.” He whispered, already fighting a mental battle with himself.

“I can build one for you too, if you’d like.” You whispered as you looked up from his chest.

He only offers you a stare, that clearly says: Hell yes I do!

@𝐧𝐪𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚 ݁₊˚⊹☆ - please do not translate or plagiarize my works.

[neveragent]

Small talk

Bob Reynolds x reader

Summary: For the both of you small talk never stops there.

"You never told me how you ended up with us," Bob said. I looked up from my book. The former widow next to me shifted uncomfortably. "I... should probably get something to drink." Without another word, she stood up and left the room. "Did I say something wrong?" "No... not really. It's just an uncomfortable topic. But I appreciate the question, tho." My gaze shifted to the skyline of New York. "I... am a former Avenger. That was my third family. More or less... Officially, I was a part of them. Unofficially... I was just a woman. Unimportant and without any special skills. I was only a part of them because Coulson insisted on it. Coulson was my superior at Shield. Shield had been my second family. And that... was a great time. That was the first time I felt like I was doing something good. Because... before that... I had been a sniper for the Navy SEAL. I was in Afghanistan. It wasn't always nice. Coulson got me out of there and I will be thankful forever. He was killed when the Avengers were forming. I don't know what I hate more the time at war or my time with the Avengers..." I felt his finger tracing over mine. "You aren't unimportant. I enjoy you being here." "Really?" He nodded. "Thanks. That means a lot."

I opened my book once again. The whole time I felt Bob's eyes on me but I didn't say anything. He was like a fawn. Easy to scare away. Yelena also came back with tea. "Oh, c'mon, as if the book is really that interesting." I didn't look away from the words. "You should try it too. It's relaxing." She fake gagged and now I finally lifted my eyes. "I think I do also have a Russian book?" "Really? You understand Russian?" "Yes. I learned it at Shield." I saw her eyes shining but probably she noticed my small smile since she put back on her hard mask. "Doesn't change that reading is still silly." "If you ever change your mind, feel free to take the book out of my room."

After some time she left the room, saying something about training but I heard my door opening some minutes after she had left. "She's a softy, isn't she?" Bob mumbled. "Oh, c'mon, she basically adopted you. Of course, she is a softy." He looked down at his book, clearly blushing. "You are very nice to me. All of you," he whispered. "That's what a family should do. And I think that's what we are now." I knew he had something on his mind. But he didn't dare to speak. "You okay, Bobby?" He nodded. "Okay, then I'll take a quick shower." I stood up and left the room. Maybe if I hadn't been this fast, I would've heard Bob mumbling. "Family... as if someone would want it..."

Later that evening, we sat at our dining table. Just me and Bob. Ava and John were on a mission, Yelena refused to eat as a family and Alexei was in some bar. Bucky... he had some meetings with the government. "Do you wanna talk about your past?" I asked Bob. "You already do know the whole story." "You sure?" He nodded. "Bobby, you are important to me. You know that, right?" He nodded again. "Then why don't you ever tell me about your nightmares?" His head shot up and I could see some fear in his eyes. "It- It's nothing." "Okay." "Can we just do some small talk?" "Yeah, of course. How was your day?" "You don't have to pretend that you like me. I am a horrible person and I also hate myself. Don't pretend you think any different. And you look really cute by the way," he said without even breathing once. I stopped breathing for a second and all I could do was blinking. His eyes grew big. "I am so sorry. I-" "How could I ever hate you, Bobby?! You are such a sweet man!" I nearly yelled. How could he think that I hate him? "Stop lying." "I don't lie." "I killed the whole city within minutes." "No, that wasn't you. You saved New York. That's what you did. The Void wasn't your fault." "Yes, it was. I was too weak to fight against it." "Bob, stop thinking like that. You saved me. You literally saved me."

"Shoot! You have to shoot!" The sweat was running down my forehead. My hands were trembling when I tried to shoot. I was lying on a building, watching my target fighting with another Navy SEAL. "C'mon, shoot!" My superior was yelling again and again. I knew that the terrorist would kill my colleague. But I was afraid. Afraid of missing. But also afraid of killing at all. I felt a hand on my shoulder. "You won't be able to change the past." Bob. The feeling of familiarity was crashing down on me. I lived that day already. It wasn't real. I won't shoot. No matter how hard I try. I didn't shoot that day and I won't shoot now. "Bob, what are you doing here?" "I don't know, honestly." I stood up from the dirty roof. Bob took my hand and we walked through the door that would lead to the stairs to get out of the building. But we weren't standing in front of stairs but in a hotel room.

"You killed Anderson. His blood is on your hands. You weren't able to follow a simple instruction," my superior yelled. A version of a younger me was standing behind us. Still shaking, tears running down her face. "You missed?" Bob whispered. "I didn't shoot at all. Shooting is easy in theory but hard in reality. To take someone's life... it isn't as easy as they try to tell you at the academy." I felt his fingers tracing over my hand. "I like that about you. You kept your emotions. You are innocent." "I am everything but innocent, Bob. By now, I have taken so many lives... I've lost count." "Because they made you a killer. Maybe Shield was your happiest time. But it was also the time that changed you the most." "Yes, maybe." I felt how he pulled my arm. We walked through the door of the balcony. But it wasn't the noise of the streets that greeted us but an attic. "What's this?" "That's one of my rooms. I am always hiding here when... the other one is in charge." "It's cozy in here." "Yeah, it is." I heard some yelling from downstairs. "It will stop soon," Bob said fast. I saw the pain in his eyes. My arms wrapped around his body without me thinking much about it. "You deserved better." "We both did," he mumbled. "Let's do some small talk. That's easier," he whispered. "Yeah, why not." Then I felt his lips on my hair. I pushed him away from me. But softly. "I- I'm so sorry, I-" I grabbed his collar and pressed my lips on his. "Why only doing it halfway?" He grinned. "Right..."

I still felt his lips on mine when I was thinking about it. But I didn't tell him about it. Bob still can't remember what happened in the void. And I don't wanna pressure him into stuff. I want him to fall in love with me again because he wants to and not because I tell him to. "What are you thinking about?" "Nothing. Let's just go back to the small talk."

[ladylooch]

His Best Win Yet - [Nico x Lexi]

Summary: After date five, Nico and Lexi finally take their relationship to the next level.

On a Wednesday night, Nico’s heart hammers in his chest as he watches Lexi fiddle with the keys to get into her apartment. Inside his ears, blood roars so loud that he isn’t hearing a word she is saying. All he can do is stare at her hands, wondering if she’s making the universal sign for “come inside and fuck me.” 

It’s been five dates. The four before tonight, Nico went home and ended each night fisting himself to thoughts of Lexi riding him. Five dates is a perfectly respectable number. Reasonable. They’re both consenting adults. Hell, most of the girls he has slept with before this, they didn’t even do one date together.

But none of those girls are Lexi. His perfume queen. None of them made him feel like it was his first time all over again: nervous, excited, desperate to get this right for her.

“Neeks?” Lexi snaps him out of his thoughts with a gentle hand wrapping around his wrist. Red explodes into his cheeks as he focuses on her amused green eyes. “I asked if you wanted to come in? Watch a movie?” She offers innocently. Or was it with insinuation? Fuck, why hadn’t he been listening to her before. He would know if he had heard her the first time. Probably. 

“Yeah, if you don’t mind? I know it’s late.” He turns his wrist over, seeing the 11:00pm time. Wow, time flies by with her. He could do 100 more hours of this night together and never once get bored. They had a fun date walking around their neighborhood, stopping in every place that looked interesting whether it was a shop, a bar, or a restaurant. They tried new foods they’ve never heard of and bought crystals even though neither of them understand what they are for. Lexi liked the colors and Nico liked whatever made her eyes light up like that.

“I don’t work tomorrow.” She reminds him.

“Sorry, you told me that.” He sighs, closing his eyes at sounding like such an ass. “I was listening. Just… not a few minutes ago.” 

“You better come in… so a medical professional can make sure you’re okay.” She jokes, putting her key in the lock and then pushing the door open. Nico peers in. He’s seen her place from the entry way, but hasn’t spent time inside with her before now. 

“Don’t check my pulse.” Nico smiles at her knowing smirk.

“Do you want something to drink? I have beer.” She offers as she tosses her keys onto a shelf by the door.

“Sure.” Nico nods, then shrugs his jacket off. He holds it in his hands as Lexi walks into the kitchen. She pops the fridge open, then pulls out two chilled bottles of Budweiser. “You can put that anywhere.” She motions to his jacket as she pops the two bottle caps off. Nico lays it neatly on the chair, out of the way from the couch he assumes they will share together.

“Nice place.” Nico says as he motions to her apartment.

It’s so homey and lived in, cluttered but not overly messy. It’s nothing like his place. He keeps things neatly tucked away and has minimal keepsakes here in Jersey. All his prized possessions are in his house in Switzerland. Here, he lives with the bare necessities and the stuff his apartment came with since he rents it fully furnished. Alternatively here, plants are stuffed into every square of Lexi’s window sills. Some are in full bloom, others are thorny looking cactuses and succulents. There are a few cuttings that look like the start of some longer, vine-like plants that stretch towards the window for sun access.

“Thanks. It’s the first time I’ve lived alone and I am struggling with getting a theme together. It’s a mosh-posh of all the things I’ve had in different stages of life and what I’ve picked up through traveling for work.” Lexi takes a long sip of her beer. “Definitely not as big as your place.”

“Is it a competition?” He asks, tilting his head with a smile.

“No, but if you’re claustrophobic, I understand.” Nico laughs. 

“My mom would love this. She always filled our place growing up with tons of plants. There were some years we lived in a place where she couldn’t have gardens, but she believed in no plant left behind. So Emma and I had plants fill up our rooms too.” 

“That doesn’t sound so bad.”

“It wasn’t.” Nico shrugs. “This reminds me of that. Like home.” 

“Well, I have plenty, so if you want to adopt one or five, I would be happy to contribute to making your place more of a home.” Nico nods, knowing he will take her up on that. Not only to have a greener, more lively space, but to have some of her amongst his things.

“You’ll come visit them?” He asks following a sip of beer.

“I’ll have to. Visitations are part of the adoption contract.”

“Contract??” Nico raises his eyebrows at her. “This sounds serious.”

“You don’t want to know what happens if you kill them, Hischier.”

“Understood. I’ll make arrangements for when I head home to Switzerland.” 

“I’m sure you and I could work out a care plan. Co-parent these plants together like civilized adults.” She saunters over to her blue couch, settling into the far corner of it.

Nico doesn’t think so. It’s a few months out, but he wants Lexi to come home with him for the off-season, whenever that begins. Sometimes, he feels like he is moving too fast with his feelings for her, but then another part of him senses she is who he’s been waiting all his life to know. Finding a balance between that feeling and the newness is what has him fumbling around her half the time. 

How can he love someone so completely in a few dates? When did he fall for her? Was it one moment or over the last several months of whatever this was before their first date? Is this even normal? Those answers are what Nico continues to search for each time he sees her.

“Planning on joining me?” Lexi asks, tapping the couch cushion beside her.

“In a minute. Wanna look around here.” Nico gestures to the massive gallery wall she has. It’s filled with pictures of people and various art prints. Each one has it’s own, colorful frame so every color is represented in some way. Nico sips his beer as he studies the pieces. There are cheeky prints like “Does the process know we are trusting it?” in bubble letters and “I am the cherry on top” with a disco ball looking cherry hanging down. But the pieces Nico is most curious of are the ones with Lexi in them.

There’s pictures with who he assumes are her parents. His eyebrows pull together, noticing there aren’t any of the three of them together; only Lexi with them as individuals, except for one picture of her as a kid. She’s sitting on the front porch between them, frilly socks folded over at her ankles with her feet stuffed into pink, jelly sandals. Her hair is pulled into a turquoise scrunchy, fluffing out in a whale spout with her elbows resting on her skinned knees, covered with two bright yellow bandaids. 

“You were a blend of both your parents as a kid.” Nico observes.

“Yeah. You know, rumor has it that’s the last picture of my parents together.”

“I thought they split up when you graduated school?” Lexi is clearly young in the picture on the wall.

“Yeah, should have been before.” She rolls her eyes, swallowing down her beer. “My dad moved out before everything was official. They just signed everything after graduation so my dad didn’t have to pay child support.”

“That’s fucked up.” Nico frowns back at her.

“They were.” She nods, looking resolved and detached from it. “My mom would rather have sawed her arm off than take a hand out from my dad.” 

Nico turns back to the wall, still frowning. He can’t imagine his parents not together. He looks back at hers in the picture, seeing genuine happiness there. It’s sad.

“I’m sorry.” Nico says, without looking at her. Lexi is quiet for a moment.

“It was a long time ago.” She finally says. 

“Yeah. But I’m still sorry for her.” He points to the picture of her high school graduation beside her college one, each with only one parent in it. 

“What do you want to watch?” Lexi asks, changing the subject. 

“Whatever you want to.”

“Nico ‘can never be decisive’ Hischier.”

“I’m decisive when it matters.” Nico insists, pointedly dragging his gaze to her. Lexi hides her smile by putting her beer bottle to her lips. He watches her lick a drop of beer off her top lip. His cock twitches curiously and Nico pulls his gaze back to the wall of pictures. 

There is a picture of Lexi with a group of girls on a snowy mountain somewhere that catches Nico’s attention next.

“She skis.”

“She does.” Lexi confirms, navigating to one of her apps on TV. “My dad taught me. We would do a week-long trip to Colorado or Montana growing up. It was fun.” 

“I’ll have to get you into the Alps.”

“Are you ever there during ski season?”

“Well during COVID…” Nico trails off. “But good point. Although if I sent you over there, my mom would take you.” 

“Your family seems so picture perfect.” Lexi says quietly. “Filled with love the way it should be.”

“Yeah, I don’t know where I would be without them. This can all be…” He gestures about his career and fame. “A lot. They keep me grounded. Focused too. It’s nice to go home and be Nico to them. Not NHL captain Nico.”

“I can see that.” Lexi murmurs.

Nico turns away from the gallery wall. He can inspect it more later, but right now he wants to be close to her. The magnetic pull of her vibrates through his veins as she watches him cross the room.

Like his family, Lexi brings out the man he wants to be all the time too. He doesn’t have to plaster on an act or a smile. He can be exactly who he wants to be and turn off the other parts of him he has to present to the public. After being drafted first overall, he wasn’t sure if he would find anyone that made him feel such a way. He’s had his fare share of run-ins with girls who want him to be his public persona only. But it’s an act Nico can’t keep up with all the time anymore. He needs the rest and recharge in his home life, so he needs a partner he feels comfortable with.

Most importantly, Lexi let’s Nico pick who he is going to be with her as though she likes all the versions of him he can come up with. He feels safe enough to be the one he truly wants to be in her presence. This colorful, normal, hard working, beautiful inside and out woman is his ticket to everything he has ever desired. He doesn’t need years more of nights like tonight to figure that out.

The movie Lexi selects is a new Netflix Rom-Com that has them both laughing. The entire movie, Lexi lays curled up into his side, warming Nico from the inside out. She kept turning to kiss his chest, or his neck, or his arm as they shift around the couch every few minutes to stay comfortable. His fingers trail along her right side, wherever they can reach. They dance up to her neck and all the way down to slightly above her knee. The urge to dip into other places tempts Nico, but he doesn’t dare, even as her fingers tease along his thigh in a way that has him hoping she can’t see the half erection popping up in his jeans.

Yeah, he wants to have sex with her, but she isn’t giving him clear enough signals for him to not feel like a creep. She seems very interested in this movie so whatever Netflix and chill Nico thought was coming for them has disappeared. Although to be fair, this movie is pretty good. He can’t stop laughing at the one-liners and pop culture references that he proudly understands.

When the credits begin to roll, Lexi chuckles, rubbing his thigh. Her fingers stroke along his inner thigh, close enough to touch him but discreet enough that Nico is still questioning if she is hinting at wanting more than this. She turns slightly inwards, pressing her breasts into his chest as she looks up at him with sweet but lusty green eyes.

“Hi.” She says. 

“Hi.” He repeats, rolling his bottom lip between his teeth. It slips back into place again, puffier than before, drawing Lexi’s attention. 

“I love your lips.” She sighs, bringing her hand up to cup his cheek.

Her thumb strums his bottom lip. Nico aches, deeply, to kiss her and give in to the urge to lay her back. Their lips connect, sending lighting bolts through his body. One of his hands cups her neck, needing the anchor to the Earth or he might float away. In response, Lexi presses her body into him more. The fingers of hers on his thigh brush the bulge of his zipper as she uses his leg for leverage to kiss him harder. Her other hand slides from his cheek into his hair, tangling in the brown locks. Nico’s hand on her lower back dips slightly lower, tips barely disappearing into the waistband of her jeans. Lexi reaches back, placing it further down on her ass so he has a handful of her. Nico pulls away questioning in his brown eyes.

He needs to be sure this is what she wants.

He can’t fuck this up.

“I just realized I haven’t shown you my bedroom yet…” She bites her lip. Nico stares at her, feeling time slow around them. Yes, his inner voice hisses, pride swelling in his chest.

“What’s in there?” He wonders cheekily, fingering a chunk of her hair that hangs between their faces.

“Nothing now. But maybe in five minutes it could be you and me with a lot less clothes.”

“I don’t… have anything…. on me….” He trails off, worried that maybe he is killing the mood. But he respects her too much to be unprepared and presumptuous. She bites her lip, eyebrows sliding together in disappointment. “I didn’t want to expect this.” He fills in, eyes going honest and a tad sheepish. He is still just a man.

“God that makes me want to fuck you more, Neeks.” Lexi groans, then looks towards the kitchen, away from his intense gaze. Her directness has Nico’s cock standing to it’s full height, ready to perform. “Do you upstairs?” Lexi asks as Nico nods eagerly. “Maybe you could show me your bedroom instead?” She re-asks, trailing finger tips down the center of his chest. Her eyes fall down to the zipper on his jeans. Her lips part open in a quiet gasp and when she looks back at Nico, saliva begins to soak his tongue. 

Nico grins, then holds his hand out for her to take.

Thank God he cleaned his place up before he left.

The entire journey to his unit, Nico hopes Lexi can’t tell how much he is shaking with need. It’s feral and consuming. His brain keeps chanting, running a mile a minute with everything he has imagined doing to her. Where should he start first? Eat her out? Ask her to suck him off? No he’ll come in two seconds. He should ask her. No, fuck, that’s not cool. He should just take charge and be direct. Kiss her, take his time undressing her, and go slow so he can remember everything about this. Do everything he can to ensure it won’t be a one time thing.

But when they get into his apartment and Lexi cups his cock through his jeans, there is no fucking way they are going slow. Nico isn’t going to last. His hips buck up into her hand as he holds onto each of her cheeks, walking her backwards to his couch. 

No, not the couch, not enough room.

He changes directions quickly, causing Lexi to tumble to the side at the swing in direction.

“Shit, I’m sorry. So sorry.” Nico breathes out, catching her around the waist. He pulls her ass into his lap and she twirls her hips so their steps falter. He groans now, eyes screwing shut. They could end it all right here in the hallway. She could roll her hips a few more times and he would explode in his pants. 

All thoughts move from how he is going to fuck her to making sure he actually does fuck her. He pulls out math problems, and recites the various, famous mountain peaks in Switzerland as he pushes her towards his room again. He runs through the power play set up they started implementing last game. He thinks about the most awful speeches coaches have given to him about his play. He visualizes a cold ice tub as Lexi squeezes him again.

“Nico, you’re big.” She gasps, eyes wild with anticipation.

God. Fuck. She is killing him with those gorgeous, needy eyes and the way she knows how to grab him, firm enough to spring pleasure across his skin, but not hard enough to be painful. He forces his eyes shut to focus on his breathing like this is an opening face off.

“I’m ready. Let’s get on the bed and go.” She begs him, unbuttoning his jeans as he gets her into his bedroom. She roughly shoves at his pants until they fall at his ankles. Nico hops out of them, pulling her shirt up and over her head immediately after. He needs to see her. Her brown hair fans out in gorgeous waves and he can’t wait to see how they look against his comforter when she’s beneath him. 

Nico wraps an arm around Lexi’s waist, gasping for air, trying to keep himself somewhat together as he kisses over her breasts. His other hand comes up, squeezing her right tit as she lets out a happy groan.

“I love that.” She confirms, scratching her pink nails along his biceps as she grips his shoulders. Nico folds the cup of her bra down, taking her nipple into his mouth. He swirls his tongue around the stiff peak. Lexi moans, loud and sexy, making the tip of Nico’s cock leak. His cheeks tingle at the taste of her, encouraging a slobbery mess to coat her spiked nipple. He releases her with a pop, a thin bubble of spit following him off her tip. His cock pulses again and Nico recognizes he is in big fucking trouble.

“I need you. Now.” Nico says, shifting his hands to her hips so he can push her onto his bed. Lexi eagerly crawls backwards up the bed to make room for Nico after he grabs a condom from his bedside table.

Nico’s hands shake mortifyingly hard as he fumbles with the wrapper. 

“Shit.” He mutters as the foil refuses to tear under his slippery pressure. Lexi watches with tender green eyes. “Sorry…” He mumbles when it doesn’t tear open again. He brings it up to his teeth and it finally gives way. He looks down at her, heart skipping a beat at how fucking sexy she is sprawled out beneath him in his bed. He has been yearning for this for months, honestly since before he even knew the person attached to the perfume that kept lingering in their apartment spaces. But knowing how incredible the girl attached to the scent is now, Nico can barely believe his luck. His chest squeezes and for a moment, breathing is out of the question.

“Can I put it on?” She asks curiously.

“No…” Nico winces regretfully. “I’m… a little too close for that.” He chuckles awkwardly as he rolls the latex down his shaft. His cock bobs with a pulse from that movement as if to prove his point. 

“That’s so hot.” Lexi giggles, reaching for his balls. She cups them in her hand, nails gently teasing the taut skin of his scrotum.

“Oh my- fuck.” Nico grabs her wrist. He carefully pulls her away from him, eyes screwed shut. Matterhorn, Rosa, Eiger, Jungfrau… “I’m serious.”

“I can see that.” Lexi giggles, beaming at him as if his struggle turns her on more.

She falls back to the bed, then drives her fingers over her soaked folds. Nico watches, savoring how good she looks playing with herself in front of him. Her other hand comes to the clasp at the front of her bra. She pops it open and Nico drools as her breasts fall out. They’re perfect- a handful with pretty mauve nipples that beg for more of his mouth. Nico leans down, kissing them, giving her the attention she deserves. He works her up, savoring her sweet praises and desperate whines. Her orgasm is building as her fingers work her clit in consistent, tight circles. Nico pushes her fingers out of the way, not removing his mouth from her nipple.

“You taste better than I imagined.” Nico fills her with a finger, shuddering at how wet she is for him. His cock oozes more into the condom and he knows it’s time. He could come just touching her without a hand on himself. 

Nico fists the base of his shaft as he pulls away from her breast with a final slurp of her skin. Lexi is blissed out and wild beneath him. He has never experiences her this out of control. He loves that she is this way from him. From how badly she needs this too. He rolls his cock over her wet folds, then lines himself up with her entrance. He eases himself into her an inch, then another, until she perfectly swallows all of him. They both exhale, deeply satisfied when he sits to the hilt. He pauses there, leaning over her to kiss her. Lexi kisses him back with a desperate ferocity. 

“You’re wild with my cock in you.” Nico murmurs. “That an okay word to say?” He asks her. Lexi nods enthusiastically. “Feel good?” She nods again just as eagerly.

“I’m ready. Fuck me, Neeks. Please.” She pleads. He doesn’t even have to ask for it. She readily gives it to him as easily as the moans that begin to descend from her lips as he delivers on her request. 

His imagination never had a chance of conjuring up how good Lexi feels surrounding him. Even through the condom, her wet heat washes over his cock, holding it in all the right ways that he needs. Nico’s head falls forward, chin on his chest in slight defeat as his eyes screw shut. He makes an attempt to last longer. But fuck that, he wants to drown in her, die in this ecstasy so he can be reborn as another man. As hers and only hers. He wants every part of him who didn’t know what this was like with her to die off so he can remember himself this way only.

“Oh my god.” Lexi groans. Her arms fall away from him, spreading out into his sheets to grip them in her fingers. The pink of her nails is a compliment to his navy sheets. They’ve never looked better than they do now, crushed and used, soaking up her warmth. “I love your cock, Neeks.” She groans. Her hips press backwards into the mattress, creating a different angle so he strokes her walls perfectly where she needs. “I’m going to come. Oh god, I’ve never come this fast.” She squeaks, eyes sliding shut as wild, breathy gasps fall from her puffy lips. “Please. Yes.”

Nico’s hands tremble as he holds her hips at that angle. He grips her harder to keep them steady, not willing to stop her pleasure because of his fumbling. He drives his thrusts hard and focused, watching every part of her orgasm wash over her body. It starts with her mouth quieting, but falling apart in a silent scream. Her cheeks flush in a pink that cascades down to her chest. Her nipples tighten further as goosebumps dance across the perfect mounds. Internally, her walls tighten then release a flurry of flutters that takes Nico under immediately. His hips buck awkwardly as he fills the condom. A string of Swiss German swear words hit the air between them. Lexi’s hands grip Nico’s wrists next to her head as she grinds herself into him, throughly damn satisfied by the end of their highs.

“Holy shit.” Nico mutters, eyes close, chest gasping.

“Yeah!” Lexi agrees enthusiastically. “Let’s go again!”

“Oh my god, baby, wait a sec.” He chuckles, blinking rapidly. He brings a hand up to his face, rubbing at his stubbled cheeks before he puts his brown eyes on her. He loves her just fucked look almost as much as her getting fucked look. 

“Oh sorry. Do you need to cuddle first?” Lexi immediately starts to giggle which has Nico laughing too. He leans down to kiss her smart mouth, smiling into their kiss when she quietly, gratefully, moans. His tongue teases her, urging their connection to continue for a few extra moments. “You make me feel so good. And I don’t mean only like this.”

“I like that.” Nico murmurs, kissing her lips for a final time, then sitting back up to slide out of her.

He gets off the bed, disposing of the condom in the trash before he grabs a cloth to clean himself up. He grabs a fresh one for Lexi too, putting it on the counter for her as she joins him in the bathroom to use it. Nico slides out of the room, then heads back to his bed. He looks at his discarded underwear, but decides against it, laying in bed naked. Lexi can drive what happens next. If she wants to get dressed, he will too. If she wants to stay naked, all the better.

Nico almost chokes on his tongue when she walks out of the bathroom. She looks relaxed and gorgeous, confidently strutting across his bedroom in a way he wants to see night after night. She climbs into bed next to him, opting to stay naked too. He opens his arm for her to wiggle into his side which she does, followed by a content sigh.

The silence that follows is light, comfortably quiet but filled with soft touches of the other. Nico strokes her hip with his fingers. Lexi combs her nails over his chest. Their breathing evens into sync with each other. When Lexi shivers from the cool night air, Nico pulls the covers up to enclose her shoulders. A sudden yawn stretches his lips apart, interrupting the quiet.

“I can leave if you want me to. So you can go to sleep?” Lexi’s shy whisper comes reaches his ears.

“The last thing I want is for you to leave.” Nico admits freely. “Stay.”

“Okay.” She responds softly, a tinge of relief in her voice.

The two fall into a comfortable quiet, continuing to rub at each other’s skin comfortingly for themselves and each other. 

“Nico, I’m really into you.” Lexi breaks the silence while drawing a heart on his chest. “This feels different than anything I’ve ever had. I like that.”

“I feel the exact same, Sweets.” Nico says, unwilling to fumble this girl by being anything but honest. “I hope you’re not seeing anyone else because I’m not. Don’t want to either.”

“I’m not.” Lexi murmurs. Nico can feel her cheek tighten in a big smile against his pec. “Just waiting for you to ask…” 

“Didn’t want to freak you out by moving too fast.” Nico confesses softly. Lexi presses up, looking into his face.

“Nothing with you would be too fast.” She shakes her head slowly as she says it. Her lips are pulled into a tender, vulnerable smile. 

“Then be mine?”

“Yes.” She says confidently, without a moment of hesitation between his question and her answer. 

Nico collects her back to his chest, his heart beating rapidly but happily in his chest. He has always been more of a relationship person, but it’s been a long time since he met anyone he wanted to commit to this way. Lexi has changed so much for him. 

As his girlfriend drifts to sleep in his arms, satisfied and comfortable, Nico finds contentment in believing he won’t have to navigate single life again.

He isn’t going to let her go. No matter what comes, they’ll face it together.

Because the girl in his arms is end game.

Undeniably his best win yet.

Read more Nico and Lexi here.

[abitohoney]

Lessons in BDSM

Chapter 2 of 4 - Bondage and Discipline

CH1 || CH2 || CH3 || CH4

AO3 link

Sevika x f!reader x Ran

Rating: Explicit, MDNI, NSFW

Tags:  Established Relationship, Humor, Possessive Behavior, Jealousy, Threesome, Smut, Porn with Feelings, BDSM, Dom/sub, Dom Sevika, Dom Ran, Sub Reader, Tension, Sexual Tension, just lots of tension, Safewords, Teasing, Bondage, Rope Bondage, Shibari, Impact Play, Consent, Begging, Praise Kink, mild degradation kink, Vaginal Fingering, Aftercare, Fluff, more tags will be added (to cover the entier series)

Word Count: 7.6k

Summary:  They say curiosity killed the cat. Well, you may not be a cat, but your curiosity might just lead to something far worse than death.

Or

Curious to see what fun tricks and toys Ran has up their sleeves, you manage to convince a very possessive Sevika to bring a very flirty Ran to the bedroom for a few lessons in BDSM. What could possibly go wrong?

You sat at your little round table across from Sevika, your knees bouncing in place as you stared at the clock. Any minute and Ran would be there.

“Sure you want to do this, Princess?” Sevika asked from around her cigarillo.

You met her eyes, startled by the question. “What? Yes. Why?”

Sevika leaned to the side to peer beneath the table at your bouncing feet and hands fidgeting in your lap.

Your gaze dropped to the same sight. Following an awkward laugh, you forced yourself to stop. “I’m just nervous. But are you sure you’re still okay with this?”

“It’s fine.”

It didn’t sound fine. Not with that biting tone. Not with the way Sevika’s brows furrowed. She was nervous too, though likely not for quite the same reasons.

A sudden knock at the door had you leaping from your chair with a startled squeak. Sevika shook her head, but you ignored her, instead scurrying to the door only to pause with your hand on the knob.

God, you were actually doing this. You were going to have a fucking threesome with Ran. Well, maybe it wasn’t quite a threesome. Can it be a threesome if one doesn’t touch the other two? It was going to be more of a lesson. Hands off. At least for Ran. Ran’s lessons in BDSM.

“You gonna open the door or do I need to do that for you?” Sevika asked impatiently from her seat behind you.

Still ignoring her, you took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. You opened the door wide to find Ran standing there, black painted lips curled into a devious little grin. They held a suspicious, large, black bag.

“Hi,” you said awkwardly.

“Hi,” Ran replied, brow arching.

“You gonna let them in?” Sevika gruffed.

You were just fucking standing in their way. With another awkward laugh, you finally stepped aside, allowing Ran to walk in and for you to close and lock the door. You turned back around slowly, dreading what you would witness between your best friend- now with benefits?- and your lover.

Just as you had feared.

Ran grinned at Sevika as they passed by her, waving their metal fingers in a way that you knew Sevika would take as a taunt. And in all honesty you were pretty sure that’s exactly what Ran was going for.

Sevika deadpanned, stormy gray eyes narrowing and following Ran until they were out of her periphery. She removed the cigarillo from her mouth, smashing it into her ashtray with a little too much force to just be accidental.

She was not happy.

Maybe this was a mistake.

Ran stopped in front of your dresser, lifted their large bag, and emptied the contents over the top. As they sorted the mountain of items, lining them up in nice little rows, you went to observe. Sevika immediately stood to follow, making sure to put herself between you and Ran.

God, she’s making herself very fucking obvious.

Both you and Sevika scanned over the assortment of items lining the top of your dresser. Much of it you could not identify, and with a quick glance at Sevika’s furrowed brows, you weren’t so sure she even knew despite her history of visiting the brothels before you two had become an item.

There were ropes, chains, phallus-shaped silicone toys, a ball with straps attached, a silicone bar with straps attached, plugs of every shape and size, odd fluffy things that looked like tails, paddles, riding crops, and the list went on and on.

Hope they aren’t planning to use ALL of those tonight.

Once finished sorting, Ran turned to you and Sevika. “Safeword?”

You exchanged glances with Sevika. “We- we don’t have one,” you admitted.

“Don’t need one,” Sevika grunted.

“Need one now or I leave,” Ran replied, their smirk fading into something more challenging as they met Sevika’s glare.

Oh shit.

“We really don’t need one, Ran. Sevika never does anything I don’t want and I could tell her to stop if she ever did.” You prayed you could placate Ran, because placating Sevika was going to be a hell of a lot harder considering she was already close to fuming.

“Nope,” Ran replied, arms crossed over their chest definitively. “Didn’t she read the book?”

“That was you?” Sevika bellowed.

Oh fuck.

So very very long ago, Ran had slipped a “BDSM Aftercare and Why it’s Important” book in Sevika’s room before you two had become official. Sevika had been so damn convinced you had done it.

Ran nodded with an impish grin.

You really needed to do something quick before this turned into a damn brawl. “Whiskey!” you yelled.

Both Ran and Sevika regarded you with raised brows.

“Whiskey. For the safeword,” you said quieter. You turned to Sevika. “Is that okay?”

“Fine.”

Ran nodded in approval.

Okay. Step one accomplished.

This was going to be a very long night.

“Strip,” Ran commanded.

Oh god. Already? Right now?

“A- All the way?” you stammered, eyes nervously shifting between friend and lover.

Sevika looked downright indignant- brows furrowed and lips pulled into a tight line, while Ran appeared to be enjoying this a bit too much- mouth curled into that damn playful smirk. As for the answer to your question, Ran merely nodded.

Fuuuuuuck.

Sevika was not saying anything, avoiding eye contact with you, so you took that as a very reluctant go-ahead. With a deep breath in and a long sigh out, you gathered up the courage to step closer to the foot of the bed and start stripping.

With your back to your audience, you started with the easiest items. Easiest being the least compromising. You slipped out of your boots and socks, tucking them beneath the bed and out of the way. Next came your shirt, which you pulled off over your head and quickly tossed aside.

Ran released an airy laugh behind you followed by a muttered, “Cute.”

Sevika, to your surprise, released her own little chuckle. “Right?”

Heat flooded your cheeks. You obviously hadn’t planned this out very well. You were wearing one of your very plain, old, gray, sports bras. It was perfectly fine for function, but maybe not the best choice for bedroom playtime.

On the bright side, Sevika at least seemed to loosen up a bit at it.

Maybe your underwear would help clear up that tension a little more.

Bent over, you slipped out of your pants, revealing equally functional panties. Same gray as the bra, and just as covering and plain.

More snickers from behind you spread that heat from your cheeks to your ears.

Note to self: your best friend and lover will get along only if it’s at your expense.

Lovely.

After another deep breath to ground yourself, you slowly pulled your bra off over your head, adding it to the growing pile of clothes. At least with your back to them, Ran couldn’t see the goods, but that wouldn’t be the case for long, and next, was your underwear. Bending over only as much as needed to prevent giving a show too early, you slipped your panties down to your ankles before kicking them off.

You weren’t sure if you were grateful or horrified by the lack of audible response behind you. Though you couldn’t see either of them, you could feel the heat of their gazes roaming down your naked backside. You wrapped your arms around yourself, not so much for warmth, but to comfort yourself.

After an uncomfortably long silence- long enough for you to feel tiny beads of sweat forming at your hairline- Ran finally spoke.

“Kneel on the edge of the bed.”

Obediently, you crawled onto your knees at the end of the bed, your back still to your audience. You nervously peered over your shoulder, first to Sevika, whose brows were tightly knitted and stormy eyes avoiding yours, then to Ran as they grabbed a metal bar from the selection of items. You turned away as Ran made their way to you.

“Tonight we’re starting with bondage and discipline,” they explained. They tapped the back of one of your legs before instructing you to “Spread.”

Great.

This was moving so much faster than you expected. Actually, you weren’t sure what exactly you expected. Just not this, so quickly.

You spread your knees apart several inches.

“Keep going, Princess.”

Ugh.

You scooted your knees further another few inches, then peered over your shoulder at Ran, hoping you’d satisfied this requirement.

Your hopes were lost though as Ran raised their brow not obscured by the dark fringe of hair sweeping across their face.

Fuck.

You faced forward again and spread your legs apart even more.

“Good.”

Thank god.

There was no way you were spreading any further lest you do the damn splits. Maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but you were wide fucking open.

The sound of something metal clicking and locking behind you caught your attention. Checking over your shoulder again, you found the metal bar Ran had extended considerably. And each end had small leather straps. Then it dawned on you what it was for.

You decided you’d like your thanks back.

Ran carefully wrapped and tightened the straps around each of your ankles, rendering you unable to close your legs.

You heard them step away to grab another item from their stash. The complete silence of your lover and near-silence of your friend did nothing to ease the anxiety that climbed higher and higher by the minute. Not having any clue what you were up against, nor what Sevika was currently thinking of this, was already nerve-wracking enough.

Why didn’t you drink before this?

Or at least smoke a couple of Sevika’s cigars? Anything to bolster your courage or at least drown out the nagging thoughts swimming in your head.

“Still remember that safeword?” Ran suddenly asked from behind you.

You let out an embarrassing squeak, too lost in your thoughts to realize they had stepped back up to you. Ran let out an airy laugh, and you didn’t need to turn around to know Sevika was shaking her head at your ridiculousness.

“Yes,” you replied softly, praying Ran couldn’t sense the way your cheeks warmed in embarrassment.

Then you caught sight of something in your periphery. Ran was unraveling a bundle of rope beside your legs on the bed. It looked incredibly soft, as if made of silk. Deep red in color, very close to the color of Sevika’s cloak, even wound with a tiny thread of gold like the accents on her cloak. You wondered if that had been intentional, for Sevika’s sake. Ran and Sevika weren’t exactly friends, just acquaintances or friendly coworkers only by association with you and Silco. But maybe this was a move to smooth things over with Sevika considering what Ran was doing to you tonight.

With either end of the rope in each hand, Ran began wrapping your body in an intricate pattern of loops and twists. They started at your neck, carefully wrapping around it twice before twisting either side together at your back.

Then, as they worked it further down your body, you felt the mattress shift and their chest press against your back while they reached around your torso. You stiffened, gasping softly at the feeling of their soft, warm body against yours. Their breath wafted over your shoulder, their head beside yours as they peered down at your breasts to watch their work.

They made one wrap of the soft rope above each breast, then one wrap beneath each breast, their metal and flesh fingers lightly grazing your skin with each pass. Your skin prickled in the wake of their subtle touch.

You chanced a glance at Ran’s face only to be met with mischievous dark eyes and an equally impish little smirk. It was clear they were more than enjoying your torment. Enjoying watching you squirm and attempt to hold back your natural responses. Your arousal.

“You’re doing good, princess,” they whispered.

You tried to cover the quiet whimper that escaped your lips with a forced cough, though you doubt your ruse fooled either of your company.

Ran moved their hands even lower to loop the rope around your waist. Their fingertips tickled across your stomach, making your abdominal muscles clench.

You could feel your body temperature rise with each subtle touch of Ran’s deft fingers. Each breath that danced across your naked skin. Each airy chuckle every time you flinched, gasped, or tensed. And all the while you were oblivious to how Sevika felt about this. She stood completely silent behind you and it damn near drove you nuts not knowing how she felt.

Then, much to your trepidation, Ran guided the two rope ends down your mound and along either side of your- now wet- folds as they pulled the rope through to your backside and between your ass cheeks.

You shifted nervously, only to cause the rope to rub along the perimeter of your cunt. A pathetic whine fell from your mouth unbidden. Your cheeks burned hot enough that you were certain Ran had to feel the heat radiating from them. Their soft chuckle did nothing to ease it either. You bit your bottom lip and swore to whatever deity was listening that if you somehow made it out of this alive you would throw yourself into the Undercity’s polluted rivers.

Finally, Ran finished the bondage by wrapping each of your wrists alongside your ass before securing the ends to the line of rope traveling down your spine. But you were nowhere near relieved. Not when Ran invited Sevika to enjoy the view.

The two of them stepped around opposite sides of the bed, admiring Ran’s handiwork. Your fearful gaze followed Sevika, watching her expression closely. Her knitted brows slowly relaxed as her eyes raked over the expanse of your bound, naked body. The corner of her straight-mouthed lips twitched. An almost smile.

The tiny beads of sweat at your hairline grew in size, slowly dripping down the sides of your face and neck. You hadn’t even exerted an ounce of energy, yet you were already burning from the inside out. Being under the scrutinizing gaze of your lover and friend was far more intense than anything you’d ever experienced. You felt completely vulnerable, at the mercy of their judging eyes. And the excruciating wait to know what Sevika was thinking made your stomach churn.

“Pretty,” Ran finally spoke, breaking the painful silence, “Very pretty.”

Your eyes shot to them for a moment, taking in the pleased curl of their dark lips and the twinkle in their eye. Your cheeks grew warmer and a pleasant ache spread from your core down through your thighs.

“Wouldn’t have made her mine if she wasn’t,” Sevika murmured.

Attention back on Sevika, you found her sporting a cocky lopsided grin, but she wasn’t looking at you. She was watching Ran. Challenging them.

And as you turned again to Ran, they showed no sign of fear. Just pure amusement. An impish smile and a small, airy chuckle.

Gods, were these two going to fuck you or tear each other apart? Or more like was Sevika going to tear Ran apart?

Unable to stand the ever-increasing tension between lover and friend, you focused your attention on the headboard as they made their way back to the foot of the bed.

“Bend over,” Ran instructed from not far behind you.

A quick glance down at the bed and you realized there was no nice way to do that. Without the use of your hands, you were doomed to bend over maybe halfway before losing your balance and face-planting rather gracelessly into the mattress. Maybe that would be a good thing? Give them something to laugh about together and ease some of that tension. Unfortunately, the part of you that wished not to be made a fool won over your decision.

“I- I can’t really do that without my hands,” you said quietly, “I’ll just fall over.”

There was a short, uncomfortable , silence that followed and despite your temptation to peer over your shoulder at either of your cohorts, you remained staring straight ahead.

You gasped as a hand- a soft, pale hand- slid across your side and abdomen, resting just beneath your breasts.

Oh fuck.

Ran is touching–

“I’ll help her,” Sevika snapped, and before you could turn towards her voice you felt Ran’s hand quickly slip away and Sevika’s slide into place from the other side.

Next thing you knew, her metal hand pushed against your back, forcing you forward and down. Much to your dismay, her hand below your chest did nothing to help you go down any more gracefully than you could have on your own. She pushed you so damn hard and fast you couldn’t even begin to bend at the waist, therefore face-planting just as you had hoped not to do.

You released a startled yelp, muffled by your face smashed into the bedding.

Ran snickered behind you.

“What the fuck, Sevika?” you hollered as you turned your head to lie on your cheek.

“You let her speak to you like that?” Ran asked.

You could see Ran at the foot of the bed on the side you were turned towards, their lopsided grin still in place as they regarded Sevika.

“No,” Sevika snarled, “She gets punished when she’s a brat.”

“Good. Here,” Ran replied, offering Sevika something they’d grabbed from their collection.

You couldn’t quite make out what it was, but something told you you’d find out soon enough.

“Why would I use this when I can just use my hand?” Sevika scoffed.

Without warning, Ran slipped an arm under your abdomen and hoisted your back end up high.

Your eyes went wide, your mouth following suit as you let out another startled gasp. But you were left with no time to recover as a sudden SMACK rang through the room.

Hundreds of pins and needles prickled across your right asscheek and it took a moment for your body to fully communicate to your brain what had just happened. You released a delayed yelp and blinked several times.

Ran had just hit your ass with a fucking paddle.

“That’s why,” Ran said behind you.

Silence.

More awful silence.

Then you felt the familiar touch of Sevika’s fingertips brushing across your ass. Right over the still stinging flesh. You squirmed and whimpered, an uncomfortable heat radiating from where you had been paddled.

“Sevika,” you whined.

“Alright. Hand it over,” Sevika sneered and pulled her hand away.

And that was your only warning.

SMACK!

“Fuck me!” you cried out, your body lurching forward from the impact of the paddle against your other asscheek.

Taunting chuckles echoed behind you, but you barely heard them over your brain screaming at the heat searing across your skin. Sevika had definitely put much more into it than Ran had.

You squeezed your eyes shut tight, trying to ward off the tears threatening to form.

Sevika’s fingertips found your skin again, ghosting across the heated flesh and leaving you with a conflicting sensation of pain and pleasure. Your body visibly shuddered and your core clenched around nothing.

“I think someone enjoyed that.” Ran’s tone oozed with mirth.

Your cheeks grew even hotter. They both could easily see your cunt and how you had just reacted to that.

Why did I agree to this?

“Doing alright, Princess?” Ran taunted from beside you.

You slowly opened your eyes to find Ran’s twinkling eyes peering down at you.

“Yes,” you bit out, still squirming as Sevika continued to admire your abused ass with calloused fingers.

“Still remember that safeword?”

“Y-Yes,” you stammered, flinching as Sevika touched a particularly sensitive spot.

Ran set something down on the bed beside your face. You lifted your head to inspect it.

The paddle.

And wouldn’t you fucking know it, a very clear reason as to why the paddle was so much better than Sevika’s hand. Several letters were cut out through the center of it.

‘Princess’.

Assholes.

One of Sevika’s fingernails scratched across your sore backside, causing you to grit your teeth in an attempt to bite back a cry of pain.

“Too fucking rough, Sevika!” you hollered over your shoulder.

Sevika’s hand halted. The smarmy expression wiped clear off her face, replaced with a scowl and the quirk of a single brow.

Shit.

“Gimme that back,” she growled to Ran, human hand extended.

Your knees anxiously shifted against the mattress.

To your surprise and relief, Ran did not hand the paddle back to Sevika. Rather they placed it back on the top of the dresser. Your relief was short-lived though as you spotted them grab another, smaller, paddle and hand it to Sevika. This time though, you could see what was cut into it. A heart.

Well, at least it was slightly less degrading.

Sevika’s stormy eyes locked on yours as she took the paddle. That damned irritatingly taunting and sexy smirk returned to her face. She held the paddle at the ready, challenging you to keep your narrowed gaze on her. And fuck if you weren’t going to at least try. If she wanted to call you a brat then you’d might as well be one.

At the raise of her brow, you stuck your tongue out like a naughty child, taunting her and sealing your fate.

SMACK!

Your eyes shut tight, this time the tears starting to prick at the corners despite your effort to hold them back. An embarrassing sound erupted from your throat. A half-choked sob, half-shuddered moan. Your toes curled and your core clenched. Heat bloomed across your right cheek, just below the original mark. You turned your head to bury your face in the covers and muffle the subsequent whimpers and shaky breaths.

It made no sense to you. Something so damn painful and humiliating shouldn’t feel so fucking good. But by god did it feel indescribably delightful. Especially when it was followed up with Sevika’s sinfully sweet fingers caressing the marks she left. And that low, appreciative hum that rumbled from her chest.

“Not a fast learner is she?” Ran teased.

“Not at all,” Sevika chuckled.

Your hands balled into fists where they were bound at your sides. You wanted to throw a snarky remark their way, but you weren’t quite ready to take another hit.

“Got something you want to say, Princess?” Sevika taunted, dragging her nails across your abused flesh.

“Fuck!” you cried into the mattress. You fought helplessly against your restraints as her touch left searing hot streaks across your ass, only tiny moments of relief as her nails drug across the letters, untouched by the paddle.

“I asked you a question.”

You heard the threat in Sevika’s statement, but your mind was too busy reeling over the maddening combination of pain and pleasure coursing through your body.

The torture of her nails stopped suddenly, but before you could realize why, the paddle came down again on your other cheek.

SMACK!

“Oh god fuck me!” you screamed into the bedding as your body lurched forward. Tears flowed freely from your shut eyes. More jeering chuckles sounded behind you. If you had been in your right mind, you’d have been happy they were at least seemingly getting along now. But you weren’t. You were floating high in the heavens somewhere. Or maybe sinking in the depths of hell. Wherever you were, your brain was not. All you had were the sensations crawling across your skin. The prickling of thousands of tiny needles, all at different intensities. The searing heat of the pads of Sevika’s fingers grazing irritated skin. The pleasant tingle that followed. And the warm, wet, slide of your arousal dripping down the insides of your thighs.

“Enjoying your discipline?” Ran called out.

You turned your head to the side, the wet, cool, puddle of tears on the sheet a welcome sensation against your burning cheek. A few shuddered breaths left your chest as you tried to gather your bearings. After a few blinks you tried to lift your head to peer at your audience from over your shoulder, only to collapse back against the mattress with a pathetic mewl when Sevika gave your ass a soft pat.

“No,” you lied. You weren’t even sure why you lied. You didn’t think it was shameful to enjoy the punishment. Sevika already knew how much you enjoyed being spanked. And you’d definitely blurted it out to Ran several times during your little breakfast meeting rituals. Maybe that was just it. You did like it. And you wanted them to punish you. Give you more for lying. They had to know you enjoyed it. If the shake in your voice or the desperate moans that snuck past your defenses weren’t obvious enough, your soaked thighs sure as hell were. And thanks to that damn spreader bar and your ass being so high in the air, they had a perfectly clear view of it all.

Taunting chuckles rang out from behind you and good god did that only make your core clench harder. Both of them had the meanest, huskiest, sexiest little fucking laughs.

Without warning, you feel two thick fingers slide up the inside of one thigh and through your weeping cunt. A wanton, loud, involuntary moan spills past your parted lips as pleasure coursed through your body.

You closed your eyes and pushed back, desperately chasing those delightful fingers. Gods you needed Sevika to fuck you. Unfortunately for you, she had other plans.

Sevika’s heavy footfalls drew closer before she stopped near your head.

You opened your eyes and peered up at her pleadingly, too weak and flustered to force any more defiant remarks or expressions.

She brought her arousal-soaked fingers to your mouth and you parted your lips, allowing her to slip them inside.

You slowly swirled your tongue around her thick digits, moaning softly as you tasted yourself.

Her sinister smile softened into the one she wears when she’s admiring you. Her thumb gently grazed your tear-stained cheek. It was a subtle- affectionate - move. One that you were certain she didn’t intend for Ran to see, but one you were undoubtedly grateful for.

“Looks like Princess was lying,” Ran jeered from behind you.

And then Sevika’s evil little crooked grin returned. “Mhm.” She slid her fingers out of your mouth, dragging them along your lower lip before wiping them off along the side of her pants.

SMACK!

Too busy watching Sevika, Ran’s words hadn’t entirely sunk in, and the hit of the paddle caught you off guard. You yelped, yet another hit to a spot still stinging from a previous hit. Tears blurred your vision, but not enough to miss the way Sevika’s gray eyes lit up at your reaction. But you were even less prepared for the feeling of slender fingertips teasing across your prickling skin. Despite your effort to bite back any form of response, a soft, whimpered, word fell past your defenses.

And you couldn’t have picked a worse word. Or rather, a name.

Ran.

You blinked several times, eyes wide as you looked up to Sevika for a reaction. It was like a switch had flipped. That amused smirk wiped clear from her face as she turned her attention to Ran to find them admiring your rear with more than just their eyes. Immediately her eyes narrowed and brows pinched.

Ran’s fingers ceased their gentle ministrations but remained on the reddened curve of your ass.

You swore the atmospheric pressure changed from the tension that filled the room. For longer than you could handle, the three of you remained stock still and quiet. Not being able to see Ran’s reaction only made matters worse. If they were sticking with that usual cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor, almost taunting Sevika, then you’d be certain this would not end well. But, if they finally realized they had pushed Sevika too far and looked even remotely remorseful, then maybe the situation would be salvageable.

Oh and yeah, then there was the problem that you were still very turned on and in desperate need of release.

“Sevika,” you whined ever so softly, unsure if you really wanted her to hear you.

Her steely gaze dropped to you and damn did it make that coil in your belly draw tighter.

“What did you say?” she ground through clenched teeth.

“Se-Sevika?” you replied meekly.

“Before that.”

Shit.

“Ran?” Your voice quivered, barely above a whisper.

“Thought so.”

Fuck.

Sevika stomped off towards Ran, grunting the command, “Give me that.”

You writhed against the mattress, attempting to fight the spreader bar and close your thighs to hide the fresh wave of arousal leaking down your thighs.

“Sevika!” you whined louder.

“Remember that safeword still, Princess?” Sevika sneered as she lined the paddle up with your rear and drew back.

“Yes,” you squeaked.

“You got three seconds.”

Oh god.

“Three”

Your thighs trembled.

“Two.”

Your toes curled.

“One.”

Your eyes shut tight.

SMACK!!!

With your face buried in the sheets, you howled when she struck you in the most tender spot on your poor asscheek. It was damn near excruciating the way your skin prickled and seared. And yet, as the deep, taunting chuckles of both Sevika and Ran echoed in your ringing ears, you couldn’t deny how that drove the ache between your legs even higher.

This time, when you felt the pads of Sevika’s fingers dance across your skin, it wasn’t nearly as soothing. It was fucking painful. You sucked in a deep breath through your clenched teeth. Your hands balled into tight fists, nails digging into the palms of your hands. Turning your head to the side again, you tried to speak, your voice hoarse from your cries. “Sevika, please.”

“Please what?” she sneered. Her fingers followed your ass even as you attempted to wriggle away.

“I- I need…” you trailed off, biting your lip when you felt Sevika replace her warm human fingers with the cool metal of her prosthetic.

You felt lightheaded. Dizzy. Overwhelmed with the sensations and emotions. Your skin somehow felt both awful and glorious at the same time, especially as Sevika ran the smooth, cool metal of her fingers so carefully across your burning flesh. Just as strange, you felt turned on not only by the praise from both Sevika and Ran, but even the bits of degradation- the discipline for your bad behavior. The humiliating position you were left in. The taunting laughter.

You just needed–

“Use your words, Princess. What do you need?” You could hear the wicked mirth in Sevika's tone. She was enjoying this just as much as you were. At least the punishment part.

You shifted from knee to knee. The coil in your belly was pulled so taut it wouldn't take much for it to break. But as you peered over your shoulder at Ran's grinning face, you weren't sure you could voice what you needed. Not in Ran's presence. It was hard enough with just Sevika.

“I need you, Sevika,” you whined, turning away from Ran’s gaze.

“You’ve already got me right here,” Sevika teased, her metal thumb sliding across your cheek and dangerously close to where you needed her touch.

With your forehead resting against the sweat and tear-soaked sheet, you closed your eyes and forced the words out in one quick breath. “I need you to make me cum. Please, Sevika.”

“Hmm. I dunno. You’ve been quite a brat tonight.” She stroked the side of her thumb even closer to your wet cunt.

“Sevika, please!” you begged, your cheeks burning with the knowledge that Ran stood beside you, another witness to your pathetic pleas.

“Not sure you deserve it.”

That smooth metal digit crept even closer still. Your thighs trembled, desperately fighting the urge to just push back against her hand.

“What do you think?”

Assuming that question was directed at Ran, you turned to them with pleading eyes.

Ran stepped closer to the side of the bed, near your tear-stained face. Dark eyes sparkled with amusement. Reaching out with their metal hand, they gently swept away an errant tear from your cheek.

“You’ve learned your lesson, haven’t you?”

You nodded against the mattress. “Yes!”

“You’re a good girl, aren’t you?”

You nodded again, core clenching at Ran calling you a good girl yet again.

Ran stood there for a moment as if contemplating. Just watched you writhe against the bed as Sevika continued to tease along the very edge of your needy hole.

“Please,” you whispered.

“I think Princess deserves release,” they finally said before heading back towards their stash.

“I don’t need any of your toys for this,” Sevika sneered.

Those cool, metal fingers slid up the side of your asscheek to grip the plush of your waist. Excitement coursed through your body like electricity. Finally. Finally, you were going to get your release. So much tension, wound so tight. You were certain it wouldn’t take much for it to snap.

Two, thick, warm fingers slid through your entrance. You keened, pushing back against Sevika’s fingers only for them to slip away.

“Oh baby, you’re soaked,” Sevika cooed, “Bet I can get three in that pretty pussy no problem.”

“Please!” you cried out. You ignored the resulting chuckles, too far gone now to care how desperate you looked to either of them.

Then you felt the tips of three fingers slowly slip between your folds. You buried your face into the mattress again, anticipating a slew of unhindered sounds to escape your body at any moment. She no more than sank them to the first knuckle and you were already mewling and whimpering.

You tried to push back, to take more quicker, only for her metal claws to sink into your waist and halt your movement.

“Patience, Princess,” she warned.

Her fingers reached the next set of knuckles, and good god did you already feel so fucking full. Your toes curled and hands balled into fists. You knew you couldn’t risk pushing back lest she might just stop right there, but the speed at which she worked inside you was downright maddening.

As she slowly closed that final distance, burying her fingers clear to the last knuckles, your eyes rolled back behind your closed lids. “Oh god fuck that’s so good,” you groaned deeply.

“Damn.” Ran’s shocked voice almost didn’t register, your head damn near empty of any cognitive function.

Sevika gave you little time to adjust before she started a steady rhythm, pulling out slowly before slamming her fingers back inside.

She used the leverage of her hand on your waist to pull you back each time she fucked into you, somehow managing to go faster and deeper each time. And with each thrust, your moans, mewls, and groans became more chaotic.

Your belly burned, that coil threatening to snap any moment.

“You’re close, aren’t you?”

You never quite heard Sevika’s words, head pounding with the rapid beat of your heart.

Your whole body tensed. Every muscle pulled taut. One more loud, squelching pump of her fingers and you were there.

Heaven.

White light flashed behind your closed eyes and your body trembled. All that teasing. All that torment. All that tension. It all left your body as the air left your lungs in a silent cry of bliss. Pleasure coursed through your body in blissful waves, your body rocking with each one.

Sevika continued to fuck you through the high, your release dripping down her wrist and onto the sheets below.

Your body heaved against the bed as you went limp. How could someone feel so utterly exhausted after just fucking lying still? The last few moments were a blur to you. Just the feeling of Sevika wiping her drenched fingers off on the side of your thigh and her metal fingers gently caressing your back.

“Should we get these off, Princess?” Ran asked as they gave the rope along your back a little tug.

“Yes. Please,” you huffed, letting your head roll to the side.

“Help her up?” Ran asked.

Sevika slipped her arms around your torso, hoisting you up until you were kneeling.

Your legs trembled, threatening to give out the moment she let go. “I- I can’t hold myself up,” you admitted sheepishly.

Both Ran and Sevika chuckled at your helplessness, but you really didn’t have the energy to give two shits.

Ran moved behind you and released your ankles from the spreader bar, allowing Sevika to lower into a seated position.

Sevika disappeared into the bathroom while Ran made short work of removing the rope, or at least it seemed that way. You were still rather out of it, fighting to stave off the sweet lull of sleep.

Sevika returned with a washcloth and a glass of water just as Ran finished removing the rope.

“So you did read the book,” Ran teased.

Sevika shot them a nasty glare but didn’t bother with a reply. Instead, she held the rim of the glass to your dry lips and helped you slowly drink. You must have been thirstier than you had realized, downing the entire contents in a matter of seconds.

After setting the empty cup down on the bedside table, Sevika helped you lie down on your stomach. As she wiped down your thighs with the washcloth, you peered over your shoulder, curious as to what Ran was up to.

Ran had just about finished packing up most of their bag, with the exception of a bottle of some sort of lotion that they then brought over to Sevika. “Soothes and reduces swelling and bruising,” they explained as they held it out for Sevika.

Sevika just glared down at it for a moment, ignoring the way Ran raised their dark brow.

“Thank you Ran,” you said softly, hoping to break whatever tension those two still had.

Sevika took the bottle from Ran, but not without an obvious roll of her eyes and shake of her head.

With their bag of toys in hand, Ran knelt down beside the bed and leaned in close to your ear. “You did great tonight. Looked real pretty.”

Your cheeks warmed at the compliment.

“Let me know if she’s not taking care of you,” Ran whispered, but you both knew damn well Sevika could hear. You nodded and smiled up at them as they rose to their feet again.

“Left you two a gift too,” Ran added, nodding towards the dresser.

You pushed up off the bed on your elbows, glancing over your shoulder to find the bundle of rope and two paddles lying on top. Your grin widened. “Thanks, Ran.”

Ran gave you a playful wink, then headed for the door. Before stepping out completely, they turned one last time and called out over their shoulder. “Let me know when you’re ready for the next lesson.”

As soon as the door clicked shut, you watched Sevika move to the head of the bed to sit on the edge. She wouldn’t look directly at you, and her face was unreadable. Just that damn resting bitch face of hers. “C’mere,” she grunted, her metal hand lightly patting one of her spread thighs.

You scooted up the bed until you could rest your head on its side comfortably in her lap.

“Gimme your hands.”

It was difficult not to smile, realizing what she was going to do, but you did as she said and draped your arms across her lap on either side of your head, bending them at the elbows so she could easily reach your wrists.

You let your eyes fall shut, reveling in her warmth and gentle touch as she silently worked the cooling lotion into your wrists. You were grateful Ran had come prepared. You had just about rubbed your wrists raw with how much you had writhed against your restraints.

A faint smell reached your nose when you took a deep breath to release a contented sigh. Musky and familiar. You lifted your head off Sevika’s lap to peer up at her with a smile.

“What?” she grunted, her eyes narrowed on you in suspicion.

“You obviously enjoyed that at least a little bit.” You couldn’t quite hide the amusement from your voice as you spoke. Not that you tried all that hard. She deserved some teasing too.

“What are you talking about?” Her hand paused on your wrist and she gave you her full attention.

“Well, I can smell how excited you got. You liked that, didn’t you?”

She deadpanned, but your taunting smile did not falter. She couldn’t deny it.

“You're asking me if I liked seeing my girl all tied up in pretty rope, at my mercy, getting the punishment she deserves, and clearly enjoying all of it?”

You simply smiled up at her. You knew she did.

With a roll of her eyes, Sevika returned her attention to your aftercare. She squeezed a generous amount of lotion into the palm of her hand and moved to work on your ass.

You released a long, deep groan the moment her hand started rubbing gentle circles across your abused flesh. God, her large hand, strong enough to kill a man with only a fraction of her strength, could be so gloriously soft and soothing when she wanted it to be. When she was with you. You let your head fall back down into her lap, this time wrapping your arm around her back so you could bury your face against her solid abs and nuzzle at that wonderful strip of exposed skin beneath her top.

Her abdomen flexed and you giggled softly at how ticklish she was. A playful little smack to your sore bum cut your laughter short, but you continued to smile against her skin.

Calming silence fell between the two of you again as she worked a generous amount of the soothing lotion into your skin. Just as you were about to fall asleep, you felt her shift beneath you and heard the tap of the bottle being placed on the nightstand.

“Done already?” you grumbled against her stomach.

“Mhm.”

“Can I just sleep here?”

“No.”

“Ass.”

Another, more firm, slap to your ass had you sitting up immediately. You attempted to shoot her a nasty glare, but the moment you saw her cute smirk, the one that exposed her adorable tooth gap, you couldn’t help but smile as well.

You carefully crawled onto her lap, wrapping your thighs around her waist and your arms around her neck. With your head lying on her shoulder, you whispered, “Thank you, Sevika. For tonight. It was fun trying something different.”

“Mhm.”

You could feel the reverberations of her hum from where her chest pressed against yours. You snuggled closer to her and took in a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her hair where it tickled your nose.

She wrapped her arms around your waist, the side of her metal thumb tracing circles along the skin of your hip.

You recalled those several moments of tension between Sevika and Ran, and released a heavy sigh. As much as you hated the thought, you should probably address that as well.

“I know you enjoyed parts of tonight’s… lessons, but you also seemed a bit uncomfortable with some of it. Ran broke your boundaries a few times, touching me despite your request that they not do that. But you also just seemed a bit upset in general.” You paused for a moment to press a soft kiss to the side of her neck and give her a chance to reply.

Silence,

Uncomfortable silence.

You sat up, worriedly searching Sevika’s face for any sign of hurt. She looked distant, her eyes staring off into nothing, brows furrowed in thought.

Gently taking both her cheeks in your hands, you directed her to meet your gaze.

“You know I’m happy with you, right? I’m satisfied with you. I don’t need anyone else. This was just to try out some fun toys.”

You leaned forward to place a kiss on her forehead. When you pulled back, her face had somewhat relaxed, and she finally met your eyes.

“Nobody can, or ever could or will, make me feel as good as you do,” you reassured her.

The corner of her mouth twitched. She was so damn close to smiling.

You leaned in again, this time to kiss the tip of her nose. Grinning at her now, you added, “And nobody can fuck me like you do.”

That did it.

Those beautiful dark lips curled into a cocky smirk. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t need to.

Leaning in one last time, you gave her a sweet kiss on those grinning lips before lying your head on her shoulder again.

She pulled you closer, her lips grazing the side of your temple, still curled high.

“But we don’t have to do that again, if you don’t want to,” you said between soft kisses to her neck.

“No. I want to see what else we can torment you with,” she replied with a soft chuckle.

You smiled against her skin.

As you lay there in her warm, strong arms, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her chest against yours, you could only begin to imagine what other fun things Ran had planned for the two of you.

next chapter >

[schemmentisimpasours]

Monsters In My Head- Chapter 10: Easier

Summary: A thunderstorm is raging outside and Melissa is rushing to save you from yourself

Warnings: N/A (I am almost positive)

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Song: Every time I feel okay // I pull myself back down again // Say I should be doing better // but if I talked to somebody // the way I always talked to me // there'd be no one left (other lyrics in italics below)

Dear Melissa,

My sister called me this morning and told me she was coming out to visit in a couple of weeks. She was so excited to finally be able to come out and see me in my new home turf. Something has come up every other time she has tried but she got the time off work, already booked the ticket, and found a sitter (and a backup sitter) for the dogs. You know what she was most excited for? To see you. To meet you. Because she has heard so much about you and is so happy I found someone who cares for me and loves me. I started to cry on the phone hearing how happy she was. She asked what was wrong and I told her everything that happened. Explained that it was all my fault and that I didn’t know if I was ever going to get you back. Not after I had treated you. 

I expected anger but she sighed. Full body sighed and told me I was doing it again. Beating myself up and minimizing my own feelings. She reminded me that it was okay to still be triggered by things. That maybe I didn’t respond in the best way that I responded the only way I knew how at the time. I put the ball in your court to fix what had been broken and you raised to the occasion. I think it made her even more excited to meet you in a way. Does that sound weird? She may love you more than she loves me already.

I tell you this because I needed to hear those words from her. That maybe I wasn’t all to blame. I am sure that you would have told me the same thing but I am still working on believing that maybe I did not create an insurmountable crack between us. It may take me time and I am so sorry Melissa. I am trying. I really am. I just don’t think I am very good at it. 

-~-

A couple of days had passed since your one year anniversary with Melissa. Lunches still happened in your room away from prying eyes except Barbara had come to join you now with Janine occasionally stopping in to check in on you. There was something nice about this smaller group. Not that you didn’t love Jacob and Gregory or mind when Ava burst in randomly to a conversation. But it felt like all your effort was being put to holding yourself together that you didn’t have the mental space to put on a mask for the rest of them. With Barbara and Melissa you could just be you in whatever capacity that was. Barbara always giving you a reassuring squeeze on your shoulder before she left as if that would help keep the glue from cracking. 

Melissa and you texted all throughout the day and as soon as you got home and decompressed from the night your phone was propped up with her on the other end. That was the extent of it though. She never came over, dates were not planned, it was like being together and still so separated. Some nights after you would fall asleep Melissa would stay up crying. Trying to figure out how to make it work.  Her heart ached for you but she tried to take it one day at a time. 

The redhead was leaving another AA meeting when a snap of lightning crossed the sky. The thunder that followed shook the ground and she swore as an onslaught of rain drenched her. She rain to the car her boots creating splashes as puddles automatically formed. Once inside the safety of the metal doors she pulled out her phone to call you. It went straight to voicemail and Melissa tried five more times before she finally gave up. Flinging her car into reverse she rushed to your condo. 

Letting out a sigh of relief that your car was still in the driveway she parked and ran up the steps to the front door. She went to use the key but stopped when she saw a balled up figure pressed into the chair in the far corner. 

She spoke quietly as to not frighten you, “Y/N, is that you?”

You raised your hand just above the blanket but you were shaking. Melissa walked over to you cautiously, “I am here baby. Can I touch you?”

You reached out your hand towards her and she took that as a yes. She climbed into the chair around your body pulling you towards her. Once she was settled you grabbed onto her shirt your fingers curling into a fist. She rubbed your back pulling the blanket closer around you. You sat in silence for a moment letting your girlfriend gently rock you. She didn’t push you to speak or unravel yourself just start there. A calming presence for every flinch that happened when thunder crackled across the sky. 

When there seemed to be no end in sight Melissa spoke gently, “My love, is there a reason we are sitting on the porch in the middle of a thunderstorm?”

“I wanted to show myself that I don’t have to be scared. That it was just a storm,” You croaked another crack of thunder causing you to jump, “But I was wrong. I am not ready. Then I was stuck out here cause my door has been automatically locking when I leave...I forgot and left my keys. My phone is in the house. I couldn’t call anyone so I just sat.”

“I have your key,” Melissa stated but you clutched onto her not wanting her to leave, “We are going to have to figure out how to get there though.”

She paused for a moment contemplating how to manuever to the front door without letting you go. Digging into her purse she pulled out her keys positioning them so yours was separated. Holding it out to you there was a determined look in her eye. 

“You are going to have to open it but I will carry you there,” She stated looping one arm on your back and one underneath your knees. 

Saying a silent prayers that her knees would hold she raised out of the chair. Pausing momentarily to make sure that she had her balance Melissa kissed your forehead gently. Crossing to the front porch you reached out of your cocoon to flip the locks. Stepping inside Melissa didn’t bother to turn on the lights just kicked the door shut and proceeded to your room. The sound was muffled back here but still loud enough that she could feel you shake against her. She went to place you on the bed but you clung to her. Unable to let go.

“Don’t leave,” You whimpered.

“Not going to but I need clothes. Otherwise we going to be sleeping in a puddle of rain water. Give me five minutes,” Melissa promised, “I will narrate everything I do so you know exactly where I am. “

You nodded and allowed your fingers to uncurl. Melissa moved away her voice trailing behind her. She went to the laundry room stripping away her wet clothes putting them in the washer and restarting the load that you had forgotten about. Moving back to the bedroom she dug in your closet looking for something to wear. Smiling she found her favorite things to put on - a blue ratty old t-shirt that had large holes along the collar with fading white script that said Teacher Off Duty- it stopped around the top of her thigh. She had worn this shirt almost every time that she had come to your house claiming it as her own. Once she had her hair up in a messy bun she completed her final step putting orchestra music to play across your TV allowing it to swallow the last of the thunderstorm outside. 

Making her way back to the bed she slid into bed on her side peeling back your cocoon. She smiled softly at you, “See my love I told you I wasn’t leaving.”

Your heart melted against the new nickname that had become common after Melissa’s love confession. You were still shaken letting the music calm your frayed nerves. The older woman reached over cupping your cheek gently before she placed a kiss on your forehead. 

“You don’t have to be healed right now baby. It is okay to still be scared. It doesn’t make me love you any less.”

Tears began to run down your face as you tried to explain the demons that raced in your own mind, “Life is cruel but not as cruel as me. It’s hard to keep my head up when I’m face-down facing demons that I’ve gotten to know but I can’t control it.  Now I’m bleeding out, but to proud to ask for help. I’ma a mess, but I hold it all together. There’s got to be some way to feel something other than this. Why the hell can’t it be easier to be easy on myself?”

The way that you opened yourself that way broke Melissa’s heart. To know that you were struggling with your own monsters trying your best to make it seem like everything was okay when all you wanted to do was fall apart. She knew the feeling all too well. It made her want to pick away the monsters from your head and rip them into shreds. To save the person she loved from the things she herself couldn’t see

“I wish you could see yourself from my eyes,” Melissa gently kissing away the tears on her cheeks before she spoke “You are so strong, and I know that you may not always see it but you are doing a great job. You are one of the smartest, funniest, most hard working people I know. You are going to be healed one day. Maybe not the same as you were before but better because you will have worked through all this trauma and come through the other side. I am so proud of you and if I need to be that reassuring voice in your head until that voices gets it shit together I will be. I love you and I believe in you.”

You didn’t think about it terrified that you would talk yourself out of it. You just leaned in and pressed a kiss to Melissa’s lips. Everyone said that kissing the person you loved was like fireworks, bright, loud, sparkling. But kissing Melissa felt like coming home after a long day curling up with a blanket and letting your body finally relax. The moment stretched on as Melissa held onto your cheek her fingers curling into strands of your hair. Finally she broke away leaning her forehead against yours.

“Thank you for coming to my rescue,” You said using it to replace the words that were still stuck at the bottom of your throat. 

“Of course my love,” Melissa whispered still catching her breath, “I will always be here to rescue you. Now come here so I can hold you. I miss holding you.”

You kissed her forehead before you positioned yourself to lay against her. Laying on her back you placed your ear to her chest letting the beating of her heart fill your head. Her arm wrapped around you her fingers curling into your hip. You laid your arm across her letting your fingers fall into the hole along to collar. Both of you released a breath that seemed to have been stuck between you and finally it felt like maybe you were finally home. 

~-~

Dear Y/N, 

I was able to hold you in my arms again. I truly do believe a piece of me was fixed tonight. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to sleep with your head on my chest. How your little snores fill the room and your arm always stays clutched around my shirt. I know remember how it got holes in it. You always cling to me when you are sleeping like I am going to slip away in the middle of the night. To reveal a secret that thought has never once crossed my mind. How could I ever leave someone like you? Who is everything I wanted and more. 

I once told you that it would take a miracle to ever be married again. It was before we started dating when I was seeing vending machine guy. (You could never remember his name but I am starting to think that was on purpose). Your smile faltered when I told you that and explained that marriage had always been complicated for you. You saw the reasoning behind it but also saw why people didn’t want to do it. I asked you what you thought was most important about a marriage and you said that it was two people who promised each other that every day they would wake up and learn how to love the partner they had that day. That partners and relationships change every single moment and to truly love someone for their whole life you had to learn to love that person again and again. Then barely above a whisper you said “I want someone to love me enough to choose me again and not leave when I am not me”. I didn’t realize what you meant by it at the time but it stuck with me. 

All this time later I understand and I want you to know that I choose you willingly and lovingly every day. There is not a moment that I will not wake up and choose to love you. To see you for exactly who you are. No matter what that looks like. You are my miracle. My happy ending. My partner in life. 

Fuck I want to marry you.

-

Taglist

@writerspirit // @casualfoxwitch // @panerasbox // @babytakeittothehead // @milfjuulpod // @yoyo-w // @cupldscntrl // @milfslvr // @liliapleasesteponme // @marvel210 // @derpyavocado // @morgana-larkin // @tsuki-brujita // @senatormellies // @janeyseymour

[gunthermunch]

[Transcript under the cut]

Maira: got one for you Lucas: mmhm…! Maira: say, are you always this cryptic? Or you’re just a little shy? Lucas: ah- I’m not really good at… anything social? And I haven’t made any new friends in a while. Sorry. Maira: nothing to be sorry about, big guy. Maira: i was lucky to find out about you! Lucas: aw… thanks! Lucas: EUGH! Maira: AHA! Yeah you’re not supposed to like it. It just taster okay-er over time. Lucas: my brother used to drink a lot of this when I was a kid- Can’t believe it actually tastes so bad Maira: you got one of those too? Lucas: two. I’m the youngest. I miss them a lot Maira: mmh, yeah. I couldn’t imagine being without my brother. Maira: I can imagine being sisterless tho, in fact I am. Our sister ran away with the last deli boy at sixteen Lucas: o-oh… your family seems… Maira: completely normal? Lucas: very. Maira: bet. What about yours? Lucas: mmh well when I was born we were four; my brothers, my mom and me. Never got to meet my dad Lucas: I think he went missing. Maybe got killed… or had another family. Lucas: I think the latter sounds more… real? Lucas: …I look like him. Maira: figured that out. Maira: well, my brother is my best friend. But don’t tell him that. Lucas: burp wait, you have a brother? Lucas: oh. Man. This thing is soooo. Aha!!! Maira: pff- shit you drank it all already? Lucas: -YOU HEAR THAT? Maira: uhh- Mamma Mia by ABBA starts Playing Lucas: THAT’S ONE OF MY FAVORITES EVER EVER EVER LET’S DANCE Maira: fine- BUT! You’ll let me take the lead. Lucas: all yours!!!! Lucas: oh no… Everything’s spinny…. Maira: yeah that usually happens when you drink enough to knock out a horse. Lucas: let me drive you hooome Maira: I might be stupid but not THAT stupid. I’m getting a cab. Lucas: what’s a crab gonna do?? Maira: and there’s no way I’m leaving you all alone like this.

?: what’s your deal. Lucas: wa……awa-? ?: WHAT’S your deal? Lucas: oh…no. How many pints did I have last night? ?: I don’t know? don’t care. But you’re on my couch and I hate that Lucas: This is Maira’s farm… you’re her brother!! ?: and you’re the potato sack guy Lucas: OH. I saw you at the market the other day, With the headphones? Imran: yeah, yeah. I’m Imran. Lucas: I’m Lucas Imran: congratulations. you’re welcome to get off the couch now Lucas: oh. Sorry. Lucas: I really need to get back to my house- Lucas: If you see Maira can you tell her I’m sorry. Because I’m very sure I threw up on her last night Imran: I’ll see her. She lives here. Lucas: a-a…h. Lucas: iiii will slide over here and never drink ever again I’m sorryGOODBYE Imran: …that’s the bathroom Lucas: I’M SOORRYYY-

[bluebeary-jay]

Crawlin' back to you

Joel Miller x f!sunshine!Reader

Summary: you ask Joel for help while preparing for your upcoming date with another man. (or so it seems)

Tags: grumpy x sunshine, idiots in love, sweet sweet fluff, age gap, a drop of angst, peepaw is insecure abt his age :(, Jackson era, Joel is kind of slow but it's okay we still love him (pookie doesn't realize how hot he is), me dancing around the smut like i'm a fucking circus acrobat

Word count: 4K

A/N: sooo very long time no see 🙈 ever since the start of 2025 i'm telling myself to get back into writing but it still felt like a chore lol. but i REALLY wanted to finish this fic before tlou s2 drops so here it is!!! i'm really proud of how it turned out and i hope to write more in the near future. love you all so so much and as always, happy reading!! 💕

dividers by @saradika 🩷

Joel Miller didn't have friends.

He had a couple of buddies before the outbreak with whom he used to watch the game sometimes, but nothing more than that. Tommy didn't count, of course, because he was his brother and therefore had to be nice to him. The only other person who could put up with him was Ellie, but the kid was… a kid. As for the other people in Jackson, they were wise to keep their distance from Joel, not wanting to hang around a shadow of a man such as him.

He didn't mind. He liked the peace and quiet, and it didn't bother him one bit that everyone seemed to give him a wide berth, whispering about the danger that he was.

Well, almost everyone avoided him. You, the exact person that should stay far away from a man like Joel Miller, gravitated to him with an almost effortless ease. Even amongst all the hopeful people that created Jackson, you were the purest, brightest ray of sunshine, always helpful and compassionate towards anyone who came your way. And even though Joel wasn't exactly welcoming to you in the beginning, you never gave up and persisted – and eventually, befriended him.

And ever since the first time you spoke to him, he didn't stand a chance. You were young and pretty, and so charming with your innocent optimism… Before Joel realized, he was fantasizing about you during the lonely evenings, dreaming of your voice late in the night, and looking for you in the crowd when he was out of the house.

He was way too old to feel this kind of way, and every now and then it felt like he was balancing on a tightrope between being stupid and borderline creepy. Such a sweet girl like you wouldn't look twice at an old man like him if she knew the things that sometimes ran through his mind when he was seeing other men flirting with you, seeking the same warm light that Joel grew addicted to.

That was the poison mixed with your sweetness – even though it was irrational, with you everything seemed easier than it was.

…even falling in love.

And fall Joel Miller did. It was an embarrassing, tainted experience, especially when he remembered how much older than you he was. But he couldn't help it, and once this burning want became clear to him, he didn't really want to fight it, either.

You were everything he should stay far away from – young, pretty and so bright with your smiles, your hope, your innocence. A sinner like Joel Miller had no place in your life, and yet he couldn't muster the courage to let you go. It was selfish of him, he knew, but spending time in your company was one of the few brightsides of his life… and he didn't have many of those, lately. He genuinely enjoyed being near you – a lot more than he probably should.

That's why, when he noticed you skipping his way with a bright smile splattered across your cheeks, he felt his heart instantly lighten. It was a hard day of work at the construction site and he was relieved to finally be heading home, but just the sight of you made the weariness disappear from within his bones.

“Joel! Hi!” Something must have stirred you quite strongly, for you were practically bouncing with excitement. The words were spilling out of your mouth before he even had a chance to say hello. “I need your help, right now. Please.”

“Slow down, darlin’,” he chuckled, letting you drag him by the arm to a wall of the nearest building and away from the crowd. “You alrigh’?”

“Yeah, yes, of course.” You waved to someone passing by, totally unfazed – or maybe just ignorant – that you were being seen with him in public. “I just need your help.”

“Well, what is it?” he repeated the question and finally, you turned to face him. Joel couldn't help but match the pretty smile on your face, but it quickly faded when you blurted out your next words.

“I like someone.”

That short, simple sentence wrecked Joel’s world by the foundations. For a couple of seconds he just stared at you with his mouth slightly agape while you fidgeted with your hands nervously, but still overjoyed.

“Wh– uhh, sorry?”

“I like someone,” you repeated excitedly, as if your words weren't piercing right through Joel's heart. “And I need your help.”

All of the sudden, the world lost all its colors, as if all the meaning was sucked out of the universe just by your words.

Why it was such a surprise to him, Joel didn't know. Of course you'd sooner or later get together with someone. He should have expected it. You were young, pretty and such a joy to be around, people were gravitating towards you instinctively. Like moths to a flame.

Just like him – yet he was always destined to only get burned.

“Joel?”

You leaned closer and Joel's eyes instinctively focused on your lower lip worried between your teeth.  You were obviously oblivious to his feelings, as well as the effect you had on him – otherwise he doubted you'd tempt him like that, unknowingly making his mind fixate on how perfect your lips would have felt under his touch.

But no, it wasn't his caresses you wanted. There was someone else, someone far more deserving of you, and you were asking Joel only for his help. And though it hurt him – it killed him to lose this small sliver of affection you had been giving him so far – he nodded supportingly.

“Wha… what do you need help with, sweet girl?” he asked softly, trying not to show how devastated he felt inside. Joel had no desire to hear about whoever was fortunate enough to gain your favor, but again, luck wasn't on his side.

“I made a plan to meet him,” you explained enthusiastically, grabbing his forearm. Joel looked at where your fingers touched his skin, barely listening to your words. “Tonight. And I need you to come with me.”

That woke him up from his reverie. Joel huffed and shook his head sharply, looking at you like you were out of your mind.

“No.” His tone was almost biting, but through his firm refusal, a trace of panic was slipping through. You pouted, squeezing his forearm lightly.

“Oh, come on, please? I just want to make sure everything’s perfect.”

“No,” Joel repeated, much weaker this time. “Hell no. Why would I–” Then, a dark thought bloomed in his mind and his face turned concerned. “You're worried he'd do somethin’ to you?”

“Oh, no, no!” It was your turn to shake your head, and you actually cracked a smile at Joel's worried tone. “No, he'd never hurt me.”

Your voice got softer; your smile turned serene. Joel wanted nothing more than to turn away when your eyes started to wander across his features, but again that proved to be too herculean of a task compared to the hold you had over him.

“He's kind,” you continued absentmindedly, and on the edge of consciousness Joel remembered your hand was still on his arm, tracing small lines with your thumb. “Respectful and thoughtful… A real gentleman.”

“A-and who’s he?” Joel found the courage to ask, breaking you out of your daydreams. You smiled happily again – that damned, sweet smile of yours – and removed your hand. He immediately started missing the feeling of your touch.

“You'll see.” You looked over your shoulder when someone shouted your name a street away, and waved from the distance. You gave Joel one last pleading look, clasping your hands together. “Come to the Tipsy Bison at 9. Please? You can just sit in the corner but I'll feel so much better and safer with you there.”

Once Joel looked into your beautiful, pleading eyes, he was a goner. He never could deny you anything either way.

Even when he would kill for a chance to go on a real date with you.

“Okay,” he finally caved in. “Alrigh’. I'll be there.”

The overjoyed smile you gave him was almost enough to soothe the hollow pain in his chest.

Almost.

Great. Fucking great.

Joel made another turn around the street, trying to build up the courage to approach Tipsy Bison. The flannel shirt he wore was itching uncomfortably, but he was already half an hour late and there was no time to go back home and change.

He regretted ever setting foot in Jackson. It was a nightmare situation for him, having to spend the evening in a room full of loud, drunk people and watch as you go about your date with another man. Joel thought a dozen times about making up some excuse as to why he can't chaperone your date after all. He even went as far as to beg Tommy to accompany him, just that he wouldn’t have to suffer alone, but his younger brother just gave him a pitying look, saying something about spending time with Maria tonight. Joel could always cancel, lie that he can’t make it after all… but then he remembered how hopeful and thankful you looked, and all his resolve was wavering again. He couldn't ever say no to you, even though he desperately wanted to.

He looked at his broken watch, sighing at the hour. He delayed the inevitable long enough, so with heavy steps he approached the bar at last. You asked him to go through the back door, for whatever reason, and he was too tired at the time to point out there’s nothing back there except for the kitchen and storage rooms. Whatever. You probably were already in the main hall, with your date, and either you were angry at Joel for being late, or not thinking about him at all. He wasn’t sure which one would be worse.

Once he stepped over the threshold, he carefully closed the door behind him. The racket from the bar was muffled here, but from the nearest room he could hear someone muttering. Joel swallowed heavily and cleared his throat to alert whoever was on the other side of the wall.

“Joel?” he heard your voice before you appeared in the doorway. At the sight of him your shoulders dropped and with confusion he noted that you didn’t look angry or disappointed – you seemed relieved. “Goddammit, finally you’re here. You took your sweet time, huh?”

Before he could answer, you walked forward and took his sleeve, half-dragging him behind you. Words of protest bubbled on his tongue, but they all died quickly when Joel saw the room you emerged from.

The storage shelves were decorated with fairy lights and in the middle of the room stood a small table with two chairs opposite each other. The only other source of light were a couple of candles on the table and around the room. There was food on the table – probably cold by now – and a bottle of wine. But most importantly – there was no one else in the room except for Joel and you.

While he was looking around like an absolute fool, searching for an explanation for this situation, you cautiously closed the door and walked around the man, coming to a stop by the set table with your hands clasped in front of you.

“...Well?” you asked after an uncomfortably long silence, letting out a nervous laugh. “What do you think?”

Joel blinked, not sure if you were talking to him.

“Where's the guy?”

You threw him a confused look, but truly, it was the only thing Joel could think of. He glanced around the room again, as if his mysterious competition was going to jump up from behind one of the shelves, but there was no trace of anyone else here.

“Your… your date,” he clarified after a moment and cleared his throat once more. A spark of understanding flashed in your eyes and you pressed your lips together. “It's late. Is he… He didn't set you up, did he?”

“That depends,” you finally answered softly, keeping your wary but hopeful eyes on him. “Are you finally gonna sit down?”

A cog clicked into its place in Joel's mind and he turned his head, not sure if he had heard you right. You smiled nervously and motioned to the table.

“The food’s probably cold by now, but I can heat it up. It’s your own fault, though, since I asked you to be here forty minutes ago–”

“I don’t…”

He didn’t understand. Nothing made sense, but he had to make sure, “So there’s no… there’s no date?”

You were clearly nervous, judging by the way you were fidgeting with your hands, but you sent him a shy smile nonetheless. “I mean, you’re here…”

Joel didn’t answer – frankly, he didn’t know what to say. So many conflicted emotions were swirling in his chest, blocking his throat from squeezing out even a sound. It created almost a physical pain between his ribs, especially when your eyes were still on him, so hopeful and patient.

After another pregnant pause, you let out a quiet breath and took a step forward, throwing him a lifeline since he clearly must’ve looked like an idiot. “There’s no one else coming, if that’s what you’re asking. I made all of this for you – for… us, maybe. I just…” You half-shrugged, and only now Joel realized how nice you looked, wearing a dress he never before saw you in, “didn’t know how to tell you.”

Joel swept his gaze over the room once more – the dinner, the lights, your pretty dress… and you. And it was all for him, apparently.

“Why?” he breathed, the weight of his age almost making him collapse to his knees. He desperately wanted to say something more profound than one word at the time, but his voice was failing him. Thankfully, you were always kind enough to fill in the silence.

“Why did I lie to you or why did I drag you here of all places?” You rounded the table, eyeing the decorations with a proud smile. “Well–”

“No, darlin’, why…” He shook his head. Everything felt too unreal, too sudden. And he felt so tired. “Why me?”

That made you pause and you turned to him with a surprised look, like what he just said was the last thing you expected to hear.

“What do you mean, why you?” you huffed incredulously, leaning forward against the back of the chair, and though you tried to look casual, the nervousness in the tension of your body was apparent. “You’re just… I mean, it must be pretty clear that I really like you… And I thought you might have felt the same. You know, with all the ‘darling’s’ and looking at me, and stuff…”

Was it a dream? You always looked like you were out of a dream, but something about this moment… the fairy lights, your shy demeanor, the words he never thought he’d hear from you… Joel didn't know if he was still alive or maybe that's what the afterlife looked like.

“...You could say something,” you half-joked with a trace of worry in your voice, obviously growing uncomfortable at his lack of reaction. “You know, Tommy only let me have this place ‘til midnight before they come by to restock the bar. We can at least eat and talk a little, right?”

“Did Tommy put you up to this?” Joel asked bitterly, unable to stop himself at the mention of his brother’s name. He recalled the look Tommy gave him earlier today, his excuses as to why he can’t come with him... What other explanation could there be for such a gorgeous, young woman to be interested in Joel of all people, if it wasn’t just a product of his kin’s poor humor? However, he instantly regretted asking you this when your soft smile disappeared altogether, and you wrapped your arms around yourself.

“You can just say if you don’t feel the same way,” you said dryly with an angry and hurt furrow on your brow. “No need to be a dick about it.”

You walked by him, apparently done with Joel’s accusations and grumpiness, but he quickly caught your arm before he could think better of it. You spun around, probably ready to tear into him, but he wouldn't hear a word either way – no while a vortex of doubts and questions raged in his mind. Joel didn’t know how or why you’d ever take interest in an old man like him, but he was now certain of two things.

One, you were telling the truth. For whatever reason, you really liked him – enough to plan and prepare a whole dinner date just for him.

And two, if Joel let you walk out now, he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

You must’ve noticed the change on his face when his eyes flickered to your lips because you froze, the words of hurt and disappointment drying out on your tongue. Joel swallowed and wet his lips, looking for any sign of hesitation or regret on your face, but there was nothing in your eyes but pure, fragile anticipation. He delicately put his hand on the side of your face, the rough pad of his thumb brushing your cheek slowly. Your eyelashes fluttered closed and you let out a shaky breath, and that was all it took for Joel to lean down and press his lips to yours.

The kiss started delicate, but almost immediately turned into a fervent, hungry thing, which you ardently reciprocated. Joel wanted to take his time, to test the waters and build up the anticipation until you were ready to beg for him, but he didn’t expect just how fucking good kissing you would feel – and how eager you were for his touch. The smell of you, the feel of your hands on his chest and arms… it was driving him crazy with want, and without thinking twice, he spun you around and pinned your back against the edge of the table, making you whimper into his mouth.

“Goddammit, baby…” The term of endearment slipped out before he realized it, but judging by your reaction you didn’t mind at all. Your breath hitched, making him smirk to himself as he started to realize just how much power he held over you. It certainly shouldn’t excite him as much as it did. “Are you absolutely sure that’s what you want?”

“Joel, if you don’t stop questioning me…” you started, and although your words were firm, your voice leaned into a deliciously needy pitch, the kind of which he yearned to hear for far too long. Joel groaned into your mouth, moving down to press hot kisses against the line of your jaw and down your neck, greedily drinking in the noises you were making.

“Tell me, darlin’,” he asked in a low voice, experimentally running his palm up your thigh under the pretty dress you wore. The effect was immediate, and you pressed your body closer to him, seeking his touch the moment it left your skin. “I need to know if you really mean all this.”

“For fuck’s sake, Joel–” You made a surprised noise as he hoisted you up and onto the table, but it turned into another needy whimper when he knocked your knees apart and slotted himself between them with ease. You glanced behind you, worried that you'll push the silverware off the table, and Joel took this moment to resume the onslaught on your neck, kissing and sucking every inch of skin he could reach. You choke back a moan as his touch made a shiver run up your spine. “Joel, please…”

“I need to hear it, sweetheart,” he murmured lowly against your skin, slowing down to tease you when he felt your heartbeat quicken up beneath his lips. “Need to make sure you know what you're gettin’ into.”

“I do, I promise,” you assured him fervently while your hands went to the back of his head, fingers tangling into his gray locks. “You have no idea how many times I thought about this. I wanted you for so long, Joel, please…”

“Wanted you, too, darlin’.” He put one of his hands on the small of your back, pulling your lower half closer to the edge of the table so you could feel what you were doing to him. “God, every time you smiled at me it was all I could think about… So kind and beautiful, never thought you'd look twice my way.”

You didn't bother to answer this time, instead angling his head up to kiss him deeply again. The doubt and fear were still present in Joel's mind, but he honestly couldn't focus on them with you in front of him. You were so warm under his palms, so pliant and eager, a literal putty in his steady hands. He could never imagine how incredible it felt to be wanted by someone so much, but at the same time he knew he had to take his time. As much as he wanted to keep going, to make you see stars and sing his name, it was more than just lust with you.

So when you reached for the buttons of his shirt, he gently grabbed your wrists and moved them away, finally regaining his self-control. You whined disapprovingly, but the crease between your brows quickly disappeared when Joel kissed your fingers softly, not taking his eyes off you.

“Shh, sweetheart, don’t rush,” he cood, earning a small disappointed pout. He had to close his eyes, lest he caved in. Fuck, the sight of you before him – your pupils blown wide, lips swollen from his ministrations, your heavy breath and the dress bunched around your hips… Joel was sure you’d let him do anything to you right now. And God, he couldn’t wait. “Let me do this properly, yeah? Have a nice date with you, then maybe take you home if you don’t change your mind…”

“We can skip the dinner,” you quietly offered, your breath still uneven and cheeks flushed. He huffed a laugh with fondness and leaned in to plant a soft kiss on your forehead, his own breathing also slightly erratic.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he murmured against your skin before taking your face in his hands. “Someone did say I’m a gentleman, no?”

You seemed to regret your previous choice of words, accentuating it with a disappointed whimper and a buck of your hips. Joel groaned and kissed you deeply again, almost able to taste all the impatience and desire on your tongue. Surprisingly, you didn’t fight him further and instead obediently slid off the table, wrapping your arms tightly around his neck to be as close to him as possible.

Joel was grateful for this moment of calm before even more excitement – and he didn’t mind spending it by watching you, standing so close and smiling up at him as brightly as the sun itself.

“You believe me now?” you asked teasingly, stifling your giggles when Joel rolled his eyes playfully. “Good. You will have to make it up to me, then.”

Worry crept back onto Joel’s face, but you were quick to calm him down with a tender kiss to his jaw, and then another one lower, on his pulse point. “You were late. If you got here on time, we could’ve been doing this at least half an hour longer.”

Joel chuckled and lifted your chin with his finger, before kissing you briefly one last time.

“Baby, let’s enjoy the dinner you prepared, first. After that, I swear I’ll make it up to you in however many ways you want.”

Judging by your smile, you didn’t seem to mind at all.

[lvl1l1]

LaDS LI’s when your child tells you to “Shut up”

pairings: Caleb, Rafayel, Zayne, Sylus, Xavier x F!Reader(separate)

genre: crack

a/n: dead trend i know 😔 has probably been done but it’s time to push my lads children name agenda!

Caleb

Caleb was sitting on the floor of the living room, playing with your six year old daughter, Elysia.

While you were plotting with your 12 year old son in his room.

Eden wasn’t old enough to be on social media, you however, were and you loved nothing more than to stress your husband out.

When you told your son, that you two would get into a faux argument and he was supposed to tell you to “shut up” at the climax of it, he was hesitant.

“But I don’t want to say that to you, mom…”

he had nervously said.

You ruffled his hair, smiling at your sweet boy,

“Aw, sweetheart don’t worry about it. It’s not like you’re saying it maliciously. It’ll be fine this once, just so we can see what your dad is gonna do, okay?”

Still unsure, your 12 year old slowly nodded.

He truly was a carbon copy of Caleb, especially when he looked up so bashfully at you.

“Alright, Eden, ready?”

Your son hummed, leaning into your touch before storming out the door, ready to start the scene.

“I told you, I’ll do it later, mom!”

He slammed the door shut, with you still in the room, the commotion catching Caleb’s attention.

You pushed open the door and followed the tween,

“And I’m telling you to do it now. Drop the attitude and get on with it.”

The boy groaned loudly and dramatically turned around, you made a mental note to treat him to something sweet later for his level of commitment.

You felt Caleb’s eyes on the two of you and it took you a lot to not start laughing.

“I don’t care, I’ll clean up whenever I feel like it, it’s my room!”

“Doesn’t matter! It looks like a bomb exploded in there-“

Caleb finally spoke up, noticing the rising tension,

“Hey, you two, how about-“

before he could finish what he was gonna say, your son perfectly cut in,

“Just shut up mom! Stop telling me what to do!”

Your eyes widened slightly, even though you told him to say it, it was still weird to hear you usually kind and quiet boy raise his voice like that.

You also noticed how Caleb suddenly went silent again, you looked over at your husband and were taken aback by his serious expression.

He immediately got up and you could tell, he was back in Colonel mode.

Your daughter looked at her brother, snickering.

“What makes you think you could talk to your mother like that?”

His voice was cold, missing the usually warmth it had while talking to his children.

He walked over to you two, you and your son frozen in place.

“I don’t remember raising you to be a brat with an attitude. You’ll speak to your mother with respect. Apologise.”

You decided that was enough and stepped between them, placing a hand on Caleb’s chest.

“It’s okay, honey. I told him to say that.”

Caleb looked back and forth between Eden and you, the boy shooting his father a nervous grin before rushing to sit beside his sister, who immediately went to hit him with her doll.

“You just love stressing me out, don’t you pips?”

He sighed, pulling you closer.

You laughed, wrapping your arms around him.

“Seriously, I was about to teach him a lesson.”

You heard your son nervously chuckle from the living room and you winked at him.

“As if my sweet boy would ever speak to me like that willingly.”

Caleb just shook his head and walked you over to your children.

“Even if she put you up to this, Eden. You should’ve insisted that you wouldn’t do it. As punishment, you and your sister will stay over at your uncle Gideon’s tonight.”

Eden and Elysia blinked up at him, almost looking like twins,

“…how’s that a punishment?”

Caleb smirked, pulling you down to sit next to the two,

“Oh, the punishment isn’t for you. I’ll have a nice, long talk with your mother tonight.”

He ignored the incredulous look you shot him and laughed at the confusion on your children’s faces.

Rafayel

Your 14 year old son was just as eccentric and animated as his father, so once you suggested doing that trend you’d seen on tiktok, he jumped.

You two stood just outside of the kitchen Rafayel was sitting in, sketching away on his block.

Dorian whispered quietly,

“Just remember that I love you, mom. I don’t mean anything I’m about to say!”

While you thought that was sweet, you still wondered what kind of act he was about to put on, needing that kind of disclaimer.

He cleared his throat and winked at you,

“Mom, why can’t you just let me be for once?! Seriously, I can’t do anything around here!”

He pushed open the kitchen door, walking in and opening the fridge with more force than necessary.

Rafayel instantly looked up, frowning.

You took a second to collect yourself and walked in after your son.

“Dorian, you’re way too young to be out that late. I don’t wanna hear it.”

Dorian looked up exasperatedly, giving his father a look as if to say, isn’t she crazy?

“You can’t be serious! Dad, tell her she’s overreacting.”

He crossed his arms, looking at his father expectantly.

Rafayel opened his mouth, getting ready to step in, when you followed up again,

“I’m right here, Dorian. You don’t need to involved your father. If you have something to say, say it to me.”

Rafayel blinked at you, not entirely sure if he should say something now.

His inner conflict quickly came to an end when his son interrupted his train of thought,

“Oh my gosh, shut up, mom! I wasn’t talking to you.”

Before you could say anything else, Rafayel loudly closed his art block, shooting his son the nastiest glance.

“Alright, you do not speak to my wife like that.”

Dorian, much like his father, never knowing when to give up, turned back to his father in shock,

“but dad-“

As soon as he saw his father’s expression he closed his mouth.

“Keep this up and I’ll throw you into the sea. You can play with some sharks and fend for yourself.”

At that, Dorian’s eyes widened, he quickly hid behind you, not wanting to face his father’s wrath.

You just smiled up at your husband, feeling giddy at how he was so quick to defend you.

“Before you turn our son into shark food, I put him up to this.”

Rafayel’s face immediately fell, putting his head into his hands.

“What’s wrong with you.”

You faked offence and put your hand over your heart,

“Whaaat, I wanted to find out if my big, strong husband would defend me from my mean son.”

“First of all, ew, second, hey!”

Your son exclaimed, still hiding behind you.

Rafayel looked at you two, trying to look mad but he couldn’t hide the fondness in his eyes.

“I can’t believe I have to put up with you two.”

You rolled your eyes at that,

“Honestly, we should sign Dorian up for acting. That was some impressive improv!”

Hands on your hips, you turned around, looking at your son.

He beamed up at that, as Rafayel scoffed from where he was seated.

“Oh, please, he’s far more talented at real art.”

“Dad, what’s your beef with actors?”

“They know what they did.”

Your son looked at you in confusion and you just shrugged.

Zayne

You were dying to see what your usually stoic husband was going to do, if you got into a fight with your daughters.

You roped your 17 and 15 year old in by showing them the videos you had seen.

They were just as curious as you and while your younger daughter, Willow, was a bit more uncertain, considering she was much more like your husband, avoiding conflict as much as possible, Dawn, was able to convince her.

You went over what they should say with them and once they were ready, you waited for the perfect opening.

Once Zayne had finished up his work for the day, finally coming out of his office, you called him over for dinner.

You texted your daughters to get ready, as your husband came and sat down at the kitchen table.

You placed the plate full of food infront of him, he murmured a quiet thank you, before you pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, mentally apologising for what was about to go down.

You called your daughters once,

“Dawn, Willow, dinner!”

No answer, just as you had told them.

You and Zayne shared a look and it took a lot in you to not start grinning.

You placed the girls plates on the table before trying again,

“Dawn! Willow! Don’t make me repeat myself!”

A beat of silence,

“Wait!”

“Gimme a minute!”

They yelled far louder than appropriate, just as you had instructed them.

Zayne’s brows furrowed and you crossed your arms over your chest in pretend anger.

“Girls, don’t make me come up th-“

and just as you had expected,

“Mom, shut up!

“Shut up!”

Came in unison.

Zayne dropped his arms by his sides, stunned.

You turned around, far too enthusiastic but Zayne was too caught up to notice.

You send him a look, as if to make sure he heard the same thing you just did.

He pushed his chair back and got up, and for the first time in a while you heard him raise his voice,

“You two come down here, right now.”

There was a trace of urgency in his voice but you could tell how mad he was.

His brows were furrowed and his arms crossed.

You could instantly hear the sound of footsteps rushing downstairs.

The girls came running into the kitchen, immediately halting in their movements as soon as they saw the look on their father’s face.

Dawn’s mouth made an ‘O’ shape but no sound came out and Willow looked at you, making a grimace.

You pressed your lips into a thin line, to not show how you were kind of enjoying your husband acting like this.

Before either of the girls could explain, he gave them a disappointed look.

You could feel the temperature in the room dropping, chills settling in.

“I can’t believe you two would ever even think of speaking to the woman who raised you like this.”

Stepping in to safe your girls from the lecture they were about to be served instead of dinner, you put your hands on Zayne’s shoulders, massaging him slightly,

“Zaynie, how mad would you be if I told you, I put them up to this?”

Zayne paused, slowly turning to face you.

You put on your best puppy eyes, trying to win him over. No such luck.

“You will be the death of me.”

He rubbed his temple and glanced back over at his daughters,

“I just hope you two know, that I felt levels of disappointment unreachable for others.”

Dawn let out a nervous chortle and Willow gave her a judging stare,

“Well, good thing we’d never actually speak to our lovely mommy like that!”

Zayne nodded, turning back to you.

“Don’t think you’re off the hook.”

He whispered dangerously to you, you blinked in surprise,

“Now, can I please have a normal family dinner with all of my girls? With no unnecessarily rude language?”

Your daughters giggled and smiled respectively, skipping to the table and sitting down.

Zayne wrapped an arm around your waist and lead you to the table.

You might be in danger.

Sylus

Sylus loved his twin sons, he couldn’t be prouder of them and he was also proud of the two of you for figuring out how to be good parents, even with your upbringings.

When the two boys were born, everyone expected Sylus to raise them strictly, preparing them for a life in the shadows, wanting them to follow in his footsteps, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

He raised them with gentleness and kindness, warmth and love, giving them everything they could ever ask for.

You had to step up and be the strict parent more often than not but you simply couldn’t mind, when you saw how Sylus looked at his sons with all the love in the world.

They’ve grown up to be empathetic and loving teenagers, incredibly emotionally intelligent for a pair of 15 year olds.

So, when you approached one of them with your silly idea, he immediately felt unsure.

“Mom, I don’t want to disrespect you, like, ever!”

Zeno had said with such sincerity, you almost felt bad for dragging him into this.

Keyword, almost.

“Zeno, it’ll be funny! I won’t take it personally, I know you’d never actually mean it.”

You tried to reassure him but he just wouldn’t budge.

You were thinking of ways to bribe him, when you suddenly got an idea,

While both of the twins looked exactly like their father, Zeno was more like Sylus, in the sense that he had the same exact soft spots his father had for you, in other words; Zeno was way more of a mama’s boy than Jaden, so you tried pulling on his heartstrings,

“Come onnnn, baby. Please? For your mom? It’ll be so much fun!”

You could see Zeno’s resolve falter and once he let out a defeated sigh, you knew you got him.

“Great, sweetheart, thank you so much!”

You could tell the idea was stressing him out, not because he was scared of what Sylus would do, but because he would never wanna speak to his mom like that!!! Even if it’s just for a joke!!!!

You cooed at him for being as cute as he was, before dragging him downstairs and giving him another round of encouragement.

“Alright, don’t break character and just say everything we went over, got it?”

Zeno nodded slowly, getting ready.

Zeno walked into the living room with quick steps, avoiding eye contact with Sylus and Jaden, who were sitting on the couch together.

“Come back here! I wasn’t done talking to you, Zeno.”

You called after him, not walking into the room just yet.

“Drop it already, mom! I’m done having this conversation.”

Jaden quirked a brow at his brother, staring at him judgingly, and Sylus silently observed what was unfolding before him.

“Zeno, if you won’t go, don’t ask to go out with your friends either. You can’t just do whatever you want.”

The 15 year old was mentally preparing himself, he turned towards you, ignoring his brother’s and father’s gazes.

“What the fuck does that have to do with anything, mom?!”

He slightly raised his voice and you stopped in your tracks, looking at him in shock, patting yourself on the back in your mind for your awesome acting.

“Dude,”

Jaden started, Sylus still watching with hooded eyes,

“Zeno, I’m not joking around with you. You have to deal with the consequences of your choices.”

You stopped Jaden and expectantly looked at Zeno,

“Can you just shut up. Holy shit.”

He mentally winced and turned around to storm out of the room, before he could take even a step black and red tendrils surrounded him, spinning him back around and keeping him in place.

His brother was looking at him like he had grown a second head and he blinked up at his father, who had gotten up.

Sylus walked towards you and wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into him.

“I have no idea who you’re talking to like this right now but I’m damn sure it can’t be my wife.”

Zeno was scrambling to come up with something to say, as his knees buckled and he fell, luckily he felt his father soften the fall with his evol.

Sylus tsk’d and looked at his son disapprovingly,

“I don’t remember raising you to have no manners, boy.”

before things could escalate further, you wrapped your arms around your husband.

“Let him off the hook, I coaxed him into playing along.”

Zeno felt his father’s evol immediately let off and he quickly got up, pressing his palms together,

“I’m sorry, mom! I shouldn’t have agreed regardless. Forgive me, father.”

You smiled at him and shook your head,

“You’re so cute! You have no idea how much convincing it took me to get him to agree.”

You finished, looking up at Sylus like this was no big deal.

A pillow hit Zeno hard and he looked at his brother, who was staring right back, unimpressed.

Sylus just smirked down at you,

“You’re being a bad influence, sweetie.”

You stuck your tongue out at him, as he placed his hand on your lower back, pushing you out of the room.

As you two left, Sylus turned around, looking at both of his sons,

“I hope this served as a valuable lesson to you both.”

With that, he walked out to follow you.

Jaden went to throw another pillow at his brother,

“You’re an idiot.”

Xavier

Unfortunately for you, all your children are relatively young, getting an 8 year old to tell his mom to shut up, might not be the best idea; but that wasn’t going to stop you!

You just had to see how Xavier, Mr. Expressionless himself, would react.

As you instructed Xavier to put your youngest daughter to bed, you scrambled to explain how this was gonna go down to your oldest child, Elio, one more time,

“And after I say that, you’ll tell me to shut up, okay? Only this once.”

Elio nodded, while his other sister, Cassiopeia, sitting next to him, shook her head,

“Mommy, that’s mean! I don’t want him to say that to you.”

You smiled at your sweet daughter and kissed her on the forehead,

“It’s okay, Cassie. This is an exception! We’re doing this to see how daddy’s gonna react.”

She hummed and glared at her brother, before hugging you tightly,

“Why don’t you go join Celeste? But don’t tell your father about this, okay baby?”

She nodded and jumped off her brother’s bed before skipping out of the room.

You checked in with Elio one last time, the boy looking serious, as he accepted this as a mission.

“I’ll do my best, captain mommy.”

You bit back a laugh, before nodding at him seriously.

He got off his bed and acted like he was sneaking into the kitchen, Xavier leaving his daughter’s room just in time to see him.

Before he could say anything, your voice came through,

“Elio, go brush your teeth and go to bed!”

At first the 8 year old didn’t answer, as you called out his name again, he loudly went,

“SHUT UP.”

You walked out of his room, immediately making eye contact with Xavier, who looked at you in utter surprise.

You saw his eye twitch slightly, his brows being barely drawn together and something, almost looking like a scowl, found its way to his lips.

He walked into the kitchen with heavy steps,

“Where did you learn to talk like that?”

You quickly followed behind, seeing your son stare at his father expressionless, not answering.

Xavier inhaled quietly, you were starting to feel bad for working him up like this, especially so close to bed time. The shock probably getting rid of his sleepiness.

“You don’t speak to the woman who birthed you like this.”

At that, Elio cocked his head to the side,

“huhh?”

And you quickly put an end to this before Xavier started explaining how babies are made out of spite.

“Great job, hunter Elio. Mission accomplished!”

At that, Elio’s eyes lit up and he nodded, happily,

“I’ll go brush teeth…”

With that, he ran off.

Xavier turned around and looked at you in betrayal,

“Why would you tell him to speak to you like that?”

He asked calmly, but the dark look in his eyes gave him away.

You embraced him, hugging his waist and leaning your head into his chest,

“Let’s just say curiosity got the best of me~”

The look Xavier gave you would’ve had anyone else shaking, you just giggled and intertwined your fingers with his,

“We should check up on all the kids!”

Xavier sighed quietly, following you,

“Don’t think I won’t get my revenge, once all the kids are asleep.”

[bruisedboys]

second nature — bob reynolds

bob tells you he’s never been kissed. you decide to change that. (post thunderbolts, spoiler free!)

bob reynolds x fem!reader, fluff, friends in love, kissing, thunderbolt!reader (or at least she is implied to live in avengers tower), 1.7k words

“You’re telling me you’ve never been kissed?”

Bob’s face is already hot, but now it burns like a furnace. You’re staring at him like he’s grown two heads.

“No,” Bob shakes his head, embarrassed under your gaze. He looks at his hands instead. “I mean… not properly.”

You must be able to tell he’s embarrassed about it, because you soften.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” you say gently. Bob didn't think you meant it like that, but it doesn’t make it any less embarrassing. You twist towards him. “I just meant … I don’t know, you’re cute. How come no one’s ever kissed you before?”

Bob goes a bit blind. He’s already nervous enough, having you in his room like this. You’re meant to be playing his new video game together, but you’d gotten talking about an old high school fling who used to play video games and was, incidentally, a terrible kisser. You’d asked Bob if he’d ever had a kiss so bad it made him want to brush his teeth five times over, and he’d blurted his secret before he’d even considered lying.

“I don’t know,” Bob mumbles. The tips of his ears burn. He wonders if he imagined you calling him cute. “Nobody’s ever liked me that much, I guess.”

There’s a beat of silence. Bob realises he’s made a pretty pathetic image of himself (as if he wasn’t enough of a loser already), and he goes to amend, but you beat him to it.

“I find that hard to believe,” you say. You put your controller down on the duvet by your hip and twist to face him. You’re sitting side by side on the end of his bed, legs dangling over the edge. It’s a big bed — it’s a big tower. Bob’s still not used to living in the Avengers old headquarters, and he doesn’t think he ever will be.

Bob swallows and finally looks up at you. You’ve got this look on your face that he can’t put a name to. The forgotten video game glowing on the TV reflects back, colouring your features different shades of blue and orange. You’re really pretty. He’s really nervous.

An awkward chuckle tumbles from his mouth, “Why’s that?” He asks.

You shrug one shoulder. “‘Cos you’re really nice. And funny. You’re handsome too, if that helps,” you say, grinning a bit now.

Bob just blinks at you, flummoxed. Is he dreaming? He doesn’t remember falling asleep.

“Are you making fun of me?” He asks eventually. He doesn’t think you ever would, but he can’t fathom that fact that maybe, you’re telling the truth.

You shake your head vehemently. “No. No, what? I’m serious, Bob, you’re a great guy,” you say earnestly. Then, like an afterthought, “I’d kiss you,” you add quietly.

Bob short circuits. He truly can’t figure out if he’s dreaming or not. Surely, he is. Surely you, the loveliest, prettiest girl he’s ever had the pleasure of knowing, doesn’t want to kiss him. He searches for something to say but all that comes out is,

“Oh.”

You grin, not teasing but getting close. “You don’t believe me?” You ask, raising an eyebrow.

Bob flounders, “I—no. I mean, yes? I… I don’t know.”

Smooth, he thinks sarcastically, then promptly shuts his mouth before he can say anything else stupid. Meanwhile, you’re leaning closer, your thigh pressing into his.

”I can prove it, if you like,” you say in a quiet voice.

Bob’s heart hammers. “Prove … what?”

It’s a stupid question, but you’ve never made him feel stupid and he doesn’t think you ever will. You just smile softly.

”Prove that I want to kiss you,” you say simply. “Can I?”

Bob doesn’t know how to respond to that. He’s not sure if he’s lightheaded from your proximity, your sweet perfume, your words, or a mix of all three. He finds himself nodding.

“Okay,” he says.

He watches in a sort of trance as your eyes flicker to his mouth and back up again.

“You sure?” You ask.

Bob’s never been more sure of anything in his life. He tries not to breathe too fast. “Yeah,” he nods.

You grin. Now Bob’s looking at your lips, the curve of your Cupid’s bow, your plump bottom lip. The tip of your tongue as it darts out to wet your top lip.

His heart thuds in his chest.

“Alright,” you say. “Shut your eyes, handsome.”

Bob slams his eyes shut and stays very still. He’s so nervous he can feel it in his bones, a warm sort of buzzing deep in his limbs. It’s unfamiliar and strange, but not uncomfortable. He feels you moving closer, and then feels your hand on his shoulder. Jolts of electricity go down his arm.

“You ready?” You ask in a whisper.

You’re so close now Bob can feel your breath on his lips when you speak. Meanwhile, he can’t speak, so he just tilts his chin up in response.

You take the hint. You press your lips to his and kiss him. Bob forgets how to think — your lips are warm, your kiss achingly soft. He doesn’t know what to do with himself but let himself be kissed, his heart pounding so hard now he’s sure you can hear it. You kiss him for longer than he’s expecting, your thumb pressing into the fleshy part of his shoulder. When you pull away, he wants more.

“How was that?” You whisper. You’re very, very close, so close Bob could count your eyelashes if he wanted to. The glow of the TV reflects warm orange in your eyes.

“Not a real kiss,” Bob murmurs. Your kissing has left him feeling braver than usual.

Your eyes glint and you grin, all Cheshire Cat-like. “I was just warming you up,” you say a little defensively. “You want to go again?”

Bob nods. His nose bumps yours. “Please.”

You kiss him again. You’re more sure this time, warmer, like you were waiting for him to ask for more. Your hand migrates to the very top of his back, your arm caging his shoulder as you push up into the kiss. Bob finds himself kissing back, though he doesn’t really know how, he’s just following your lead. Your thigh starts to squash his and he doesn’t care, ‘cos you taste like butter popcorn and something sweet, and you’re kissing him like you’ve wanted to do this about as long as he has.

You move closer, your kisses getting surer, and Bob’s hand starts to move of its own accord, an invisible thread tugging it towards your waist. His thumb skips over your sweater, and his hand aches with want, but he hesitates.

You break away from the kiss.

“You can touch me,” you murmur with a lopsided grin. “Go on.”

You reach down and take his hand in yours, pressing it to your waist. Bob swallows. You’re so warm, and his hand fits perfectly to the dip of your waist, his pinky finger sliding over the bump of your hip. If he’d known touching you would be like this, he’d have done it much earlier.

“S’that okay?” He asks you.

You nod. “Yeah. You can touch my face, too, if you want. Do you wanna try kissing me now?”

Bob does want to, very badly, but he’s afraid he’ll mess it up. “I don't know how,” he says honestly, past caring how pathetic he sounds.

You shrug. “That’s okay,” you say gently. Your hand returns to his shoulder and you push your palm up towards his neck. You lean close until your noses almost touch. “Just do what I did, okay? I’ll help you.”

You let your eyes fall shut. Bob, his heart rampant with nerves all over again, takes that as his sign and moves forward to slot his mouth with yours. It’s messy — his nose squashes into yours, and he’s not sure whether to part his lips or not. His decision gets made for him when your lips part very slightly under the pressure of his kiss.

“That’s good,” you murmur against his lips, nodding encouragingly. “Good job.”

You grab his neck and tug yourself closer. Your mouth is hot, your hand greedy at the nape of his neck. Bob remembers what you said before, and raises his free hand to very gently cup your jaw. You’re abnormally warm under his touch, and when he presses his palm to your neck, he can feel your pulse going almost as fast as his.

He pulls away from you an inch, suddenly concerned. “Are you okay?” He asks, frowning. “Your pulse is a riot.”

He must sound as clueless as he feels, because you give a breathless laugh.

“You’re making me nervous,” you say shyly.

Bob blinks. “Oh,” he says. He didn't know he had the capability to make you nervous.

You giggle breathlessly, lips all swollen and dark pink, and Bob decides he’s in love with you right then and there.

”Yeah, oh,” you echo, smiling like a fool. “Kiss me again, will you?”

Bob doesn’t need to be asked twice. His hand roves around to the small of your back and he kisses you again, and sure, it’s not perfect, but you make up for it by kissing him back so ardently that it’s a wonder Bob doesn’t pass out. Your hand pushes up into his hair, greedy as anything, and now he’s sure he’s gonna pass out. You tug at the strands of hair at the very nape of his neck and Bob makes a sound he can’t help. He whimpers.

He’s about to die of embarrassment when he feels you smile against his lips.

“Feels nice?” You ask, pulling back, but not before giving him a few short kisses.

”Sorry,” Bob says back. He’s almost certain he’s steaming at the ears right now.

You shake your head. “Nothing to be sorry for, handsome,” you kiss the side of his mouth, your fingers curling into his hair like it’s second nature. “You want me to keep going?”

Bob’s not sure he could handle it, but he nods anyway. If the others find him passed out or dead in his own bedroom in the morning, he’s blaming it on you.

-

thank you for reading! please consider reblogging if you enjoyed 🤍

[singmyaubade]

Good Luck Babe

poly!marauders x nerd!female!reader

summary: after being a wallflower throughout your first five years at hogwarts, you always thought that you could be invisible. but when you hear the marauders talking cruelly about you and proceeding to ask for your forgiveness after, well good luck babe.

warnings: eventual smut! 18+ heavy angst, cursing, reader wants to kill the marauders , swearing, unprotected sex, praise, oral (male receiving), jealousy

a/n: oh hey... this is kinda based on those cliche 2000's movies where the girl is ugly but not really and she has that glow up or whatever. this was written so quick and not proofread, don't kill me. i hope you enjoy and as always, i apologize if you hate this!

STARTING off your sixth year at Hogwarts being an entirely new person wasn't something that you had planned or expected.

On the inside, you felt exactly the same, the same girl who was bold and could ferociously win a fight when it came to her character.

The same girl who was witty and sarcastic, surprising half of the people around you when you made a joke once in a lifetime.

But on the outside, you didn't have an awkward mis-shaped bob and you no longer wore baggy jackets that didn't do a thing for your figure.

And you didn't hide your face anymore, trying your best to be invisible.

It wasn't that you were shy or that you felt like a loser but you thought social hierarchy was bullshit and the only thing you wanted to focus on was your studies.

You may have been a brave Gryffindor on the inside but on the outside, you had to play the part of a shy mouse as corny as that sounds.

Unfortunately for you, invisibility only tends to last for so long until one moment, you are a nobody and then all eyes are upon you.

And maybe, just maybe, if you hadn't heard the Marauders discussing you the previous year, you would have stayed the same.

You had passed by the boys dormitory to give Remus his textbooks back as you always did when you let you borrow when you heard them speaking of the very person behind the door,

"I still have yet to understand why Lily and the rest of them act like she's some charity case," James huffed, "I mean, she's not some sick patient, they only feel the need to pity her because of how she looks."

You always knew that James had a foul mouth but to be speaking about someone like this, it was cruel.

Remus hissed, "That's not nice Prongs,"

"I'm not even saying it to be a dick!" James groaned, "I just mean, I pity her more for the fact that they don't even invite her to anything outside of breakfast and dinner," He explained, causing Remus to go silent.

Sirius chuckled, shaking his head. "That's absolutely horrid."

James reclined on his bed, a smirk playing on his lips. "I’m just saying, if I were Y/N, I’d be mortified."

Your eyes widened as they began to water, they were speaking about you.

Remus leaned against the wall, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Maybe she just doesn’t want to hang out with Lily and the others."

"Moony, seriously," James shot back, sitting up. "Where is Y/N right now, and where are the other girls?" His eyebrow cocked, trying to make his point as Remus silenced.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Why don’t we investigate for ourselves?" He unfolded the Marauder's Map with a flourish. "Alright, we’ve got Lily, Dorcas, Mary, and Marlene all at Hogsmeade, but Y/N is..." His voice trailed off, eyes narrowing.

James leaned closer, annoyance creeping into his tone as he grabbed the map, "She's-" He stopped, the color fading from his face.

"Fucking spit it out!" Remus said next as he snatched the map finally and saw that the map had shown that you were right outside their door.

"Shit!" You heard Remus say as he started making his way to the door.

Hearing his footsteps approaching, you quickly moved away from the door, bolting for your room.

Once you made it back to your dorm, you had sinked the floor. You put your hand on your mouth, muffling yourself as you cried silently.

You honestly hated to even say it but you did consider Lily and the rest of them your friends. You had never really thought about how they didn't invite you to places.

And if you were being truthful, they had never asked you to have breakfast or dinner with them.

You had always just assumed that you could join but they never told you to leave or swooshed you off. Another part of you hated how stupid you were, trying to intrude on their private time.

You didn't want to let it get to you what a bunch of seventeen year old boys were saying but it did sting horribly.

But in a way, it also motivated you to be who you were on the inside. You already had the top marks in your entire year and your plan to work in the Ministry after Hogwarts had already been set.

And now your chance to be something at Hogwarts was right in front of you, an opportunity that you couldn't miss.

You had to do it for yourself.

The Marauders had no idea who you truly were or even cared to know. And although Remus was kind to you, you could always see that he never made any effort to be your friend.

Not that you expected him to but it only taught you that they truly thought you were some hopeless case.

And an assignment to make the Marauders bite their tongues was one that you couldn't bare to fail.

After hearing that, you decided to avoid the Marauders for the next month, especially with summer break approaching. To your surprise, you barely saw them outside of classes, never giving them a chance to reach out—even Remus.

And then that summer, everything changed. You let your hair grow past your shoulders, embracing your natural curls instead of straightening them. You started wearing clothes that were trendy and form-fitting, a huge contrast to your old style.

You discovered a newfound love for self-care, enjoying the process far more than you expected. Each day felt like a transformation, and by the end of summer, your mother couldn’t help but notice. “Finally listening to me about your style, huh?” she teased.

You only laughed as you embraced her,

If only she knew what had caused it in the first place.

As you said goodbye to your family, anticipation mingled with dread. You knew the train ride would be the least of your worries, but the welcome dinner and the ceremony ahead felt like they might just be hell reincarnate.

As you entered Hogwarts, you admired it as much as you did when you were a first year. The castle was something you considered a second home and everything about it was magical, there was no doubting that.

A crowd of students, including yourself, moved toward the Great Hall, and you settled into your usual seat at the Gryffindor table.

You spotted the Marauders and the usual group of girls approaching, and you couldn’t help but roll your eyes. They took their usual spots in front of you, with the girls on one side and the boys on the other. James sat beside you, and Lily was directly in front of him.

You never quite understood why they arranged themselves like that, but it hardly mattered in the moment.

They were busy in conversation before James had noticed someone next to him, his eyes widening. You couldn't quite read his face but it seemed like a mix of confusion and flustered.

You stared at him back but he still had yet to mutter a word. You cleared your throat, "Uh hello," You practically whispered.

He snapped back into reality, "Oh sorry, hi," He muttered back.

Silence took over you both as James couldn't find the words of what to say to you.

On one hand, he wanted to call you beautiful, to tell you that you were one of the prettiest girls he’d ever seen. On the other, he just wanted to stare at you for a few more minutes like a creep.

Lily noticed his gaze and leaned in, smirking. "Excuse my friend; we’re still trying to figure out if he has a brain."

"I thought we solved that decades ago," Marlene chimed in, stifling a laugh.

Lily turned to you with a curious smile. "I don’t believe I’ve seen you before. What’s your name?"

Are you actually fucking kidding me?

You scoffed, "I'm Y/N,"

The entire group looked at you in awe, even the ones who weren't chimed in on the conversation.

"Y/N L/N?" Sirius asked, mouth gaping.

"Yep, that one," You snorted.

They all looked like they had seen a ghost, "You look different," Marlene said as Mary shoved her.

"She means in a good way!" Mary added.

"Uh thanks," You said, awkwardly.

They all continued to stare at you like you were an exhibit in a museum, their eyes scanning you up and down.

"Do you all mind not staring at me?" you asked, trying to break the tension. They all looked away, feigning innocence as they muttered apologies.

"How have you been?" Lily asked, clearly trying to ease the awkwardness.

"Fine," you replied, your tone clipped.

You caught the pained expressions on the Marauders' faces, realizing they were the reason for your dismissive attitude.

"That's great," Lily said, forcing a smile.

You felt a wave of frustration at the awkwardness surrouding you and decided it was time to escape. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom," you announced, heading toward the exit before they could respond.

As you walked away, you could already here the mutters and whispers emerging from the table, the fascinating topic being you.

You paced as you heard footsteps trailing behind you, but you ignored them, letting your gaze wander around the castle.

"Y/N!" someone called out, startling you.

You turned to see Sirius, James, and Remus hurrying after you. You only let out a snort before continuing your same way.

A hand suddenly reached around your forearm as you turned to see Remus. You quickly snatched your hand away, finally stopping to look at the group of boys who you despised.

Crossing your arms, you shot them a hostile look. "What?"

"We just wanna—"

"We're so—"

"Listen, we just—"

They all spoke at once, but you scoffed and turned back toward the bathroom, starting to walk away.

You were hoping that they would realize you wanted nothing to do with them but instead, it only made them want to chase you more.

They quickened their pace, and you spun around sharply. "For fuck's sake, what do you want?" you snapped.

James took a breath, his expression earnest. "I'm sorry for what I said. I've been thinking about it since you left. I was an awful twat, and you didn't deserve a thing of what I said."

You let out a sarcastic laugh, "Are you serious?" You asked as your expression changed to furious, "You basically called me a loser and said that Lily and the rest of them were only hanging out with me out of pity,"

James hissed as your statement, feeling the razor in your voice.

"-And now you all want to act as if I should just forgive you since I don't look the same anymore," You got closer to James's face, "Fuck off."

You turned your heel again and this time, the boys didn't follow you.

You finally entered the bathroom and shut the door behind you. Staring at your reflection in the mirror, you struggled to read the expression on your face. You were furious at the Marauders, and the idea of forgiving them felt impossible.

Yet, there was a flicker of gratitude that you felt for the change you’d undergone. You’d gained a new confidence that felt good, but the sting of their cruel words still lingered in your mind.

And you knew that you couldn't let it get to you but knowing they thought that of you, even Remus. It still did things to you that you would never admit out loud.

Snapping out of your thoughts, you realized it was almost time to head to the dormitory.

The rest of the night had flown by, with first years being introduced to their new home for the next six years while everyone else relaxed in the common room. Despite curfews, fifth years and above knew they could hang out longer—the curfew was mostly for the first years anyway.

"Caput Draconis," you muttered, and the Fat Lady nodded, granting you entrance.

Stepping into the common room, your heart sank as you spotted the last group you wanted to see. They noticed you just as quickly, encouraging you to pick up your pace toward the dorm.

"Hey, Y/N!" Dorcas called out, making you wince as you turned to see her waving.

The Marauders looked down, shame etched on their faces, avoiding your gaze as if you were Medusa.

You approached them slowly, dread settling in your stomach as they eyed you like a science project.

"We were just about to play a fun little game," Dorcas said enticingly, while Marlene snorted beside her.

"I don’t know if Spin the Bottle is a great idea for the first night back," Marlene added, taking a sip of her beer.

"A little peck never hurt anyone," Lily chimed in, clapping her hands together.

Of all people, you’d never expect Lily Evans to approve such a thing. This was the same girl who nearly fainted when she heard about Marlene and Dorcas kissing the previous year.

"I don’t know if this is the game for me," you replied, eyeing the group warily.

"Of course it is!" Lily insisted, but you raised an eyebrow. "Oh my gosh! Not like that, I just mean it's a fun game for us all to play," she quickly added, looking flustered.

Part of you wanted to say no and retreat to your bed, but that was the old you, and you knew it wouldn’t help. This was a new year, and you were determined to embrace new experiences.

Besides, you’d never participated in any scandalous games for all of the years you've been at Hogwarts—it felt like a crime in itself.

So, after a moment’s hesitation, you said, "Okay, sure." The girls erupted in cheers, while the Marauders exchanged worried glances.

What if you had to kiss one of them? Would you refuse and create a scene? Would you want to strangle them for even suggesting it?

The possibilities raced through their mind, but there was no turning back as everyone began to form a circle.

As you sat in the circle, a shiver of nervousness enveloped you. You had never kissed anyone before and the whole thought made you nervous within itself.

Don't get it wrong, you've had chances but they never seemed right and you certainly weren't kissing Matthew Trunchbull underneath the bleachers of the Quidditch field.

So when you got offered a shot of firewhiskey to cool your nerves by Marlene, you took it happily as it burned down your throat.

You brushed off all the negative thoughts entering your mind,

What really is the worst thing that could happen?