#maybe he can experiment with fancy eyeliner or something too

[pushing500]

Sksksk hii, you know what we think Jut could use?

Monocle. Plus he's french. Or is that a british stereotype? 🧐

(Being silly about this one but he seems to rock just about anything so take that as you will!)

He would look fabulous with a monocle, but that got me thinking...

I spend too much time playing with this man like a dress-up doll and I do not regret it for a moment

[castlebyersafterdark]

Thinking about how Will loves to put on make up has got me in a chokehold.

Imagine Mike coming home early one day because he and Will have dinner reservations (or anything like that) and he walks in on Will putting on his eyeliner, face full of glittery make up, and my man is stunned.

Will wanted to surprise Mike by prettying himself up for their date but is upset because he can’t get it right and he needs everything to go perfectly

but Mike is now just focused on ruining Will’s make up (and the bed sheets).

They had to cancel their dinner plans 🤭

"We're going to be late again," said not annoyed or irritated as Mike lingered in the doorway, but matter of fact.

He peeked around the counter and glanced at the absent sway of Will's hips, butt poked out enticingly as Will leaned closer to the mirror. He bit his lip and smiled, then stepped back, giving him space. Fought back temptation.

Will hummed in acknowledgement from the bathroom and said no more. He was trying to concentrate. And not poke his eye again. He'd had to start over on the left eye twice. Artist's hands, typically steady, hadn't mastered the art of tracing soft, chalky pencil against slightly damp skin just yet. He didn't want to look like a clown - and a very sad one at that. Or maybe a raccoon. Either way. Not the look he was going for - that being, the mysterious artist type.

This was a brave step for him.

"What are you doing in there?"

"Can you go wait in the living room or something?" Will asked, not annoyed or irritated either, but nervous.

He wanted to get this right. He wanted to look pretty. It had been a hard enough decision to decide to try this for a night out. His previous little experiments had been subtle, private so far. But they were going out, to a nice dinner in a nice restaurant he felt safe being himself in. Taking a taxi. Alone in the dark backseat, together in some fancy booth. Him and Mike, being their very best selves after working so hard for a treat like this.

"If you want me, too. I can. I just-"

"Just, what? I want to surprise you."

Oh no. Wrong thing to have said to Mike Wheeler, who could never let a damn thing go.

(continued below...)

"A surprise?"

"Mike. Please. It's not that big of a deal," he lied and said no more after Mike's continued pleading inquiries.

Mike groaned and left the doorway. Didn't head to the living room, though, but sat on the edge of the bed. Too antsy, he scooted back, propped against the headboard, legs sprawled, arms like a wingspan across the pillows. He shifted and mustered up a sultry look, hoping that Will would walk out to find him there like an enticing gift soon enough.

He glanced at their bedside clock and saw they actually had a decent amount of time. Yes. They had time. He'd only wanted to play it safe, get out early, factor in unpredictable city traffic.

Mike contemplated unbuckling and getting his own surprise ready. Debated, and spread his legs, palmed at his slightly hard dick, beginning to take interest. They might have time for something quick. Maybe. Better not...

After only several minutes had passed, and barely that, he gave up. He couldn't take it.

"Hey, Will, sorry - oh. Oh, baby look at you."

Will, distracted after concentrating deeply on putting the finishing touches on his look, turned instantly at the sound of Mike's voice this time. Instinctual. Without thinking. He shrugged and gave a coy smile, masking his nerves. Hoped he didn't look stupid. Faked some confidence.

"I've seen me."

"You've seen you. Uh-huh. Have you really?" Mike stepped forward, sly smile in place. "Look at you."

Mike spun Will to face the mirror and hugged him from behind, kiss placed to the back of his head. He stepped back and shook his head. He wanted to devour him.

Will placed the cap back on the make-up and set it down on the counter. Mike traced a finger down the strong line of Will's jaw, contrast to the softness of his other features. He used a finger to tip Will's face up from where he'd cast his gaze to the floor. Needed to see him fully, needed Will to know how how effected he was.

"You are so beautiful, Will. I mean it. So gorgeous. Gosh, I love you."

Will squeaked at the quickness of the kiss that followed, with Mike swooping down to kiss the fresh color on his lips and squeeze him around the waist, drawn flush from thigh to chest. Mike pressed him against the counter, heard the sound of small plastic items clatter over and bounce into the sink and laughed at Will's whine.

"Mike, you're gonna ruin it," Will giggled, and swiped at the corner of his mouth where the light pink color had already smeared a little. It stuck on Mike's bottom lip, too, a slash of pink across his perpetually red mouth.

"Isn't that the point," Mike answered, voice deep and quiet, like low thunder reverberated across marble walls.

"For later. Haven't even gotten to wear it out the door, yet," Will protested but he already could tell his work was going to have to be reapplied before they left the apartment now, going by the look in Mike's eyes.

Will was transfixed to the spot, trapped. Heart rate rising. The foxes were circling the meadow. Little rabbit had nowhere to run.

Mike hummed and kissed his cheek, pulled back to stare at those pretty, dark rimmed eyes. Dark but soft. Carefully, artfully applied liner and mascara, just enough to enhance those bright, doe eyes. Made them look even bigger. Some sort of barely there powder made his skin shimmer and glow on the high points of his cheeks and the side of his face. Made him look otherworldly, delicate. And his mouth - fuck, his mouth. Pouty and pink, stained a perfect color and glossy on top. A vision. Subtle, but with effort that made him look effortless. Like he was supposed to look like that.

Skin soft as ever, hair combed and styled and falling just so, strands slipping between Mike's fingers as he carded a hand through. Flushed cheeks - natural, embarrassed slightly by the situation but excited by Mike's obvious appreciation. Smooth skin, freshly shaven, and the rest of his skin subtly applied with scents of vanilla and deep spice.

Mike was starving.

Dinner could wait.

Mike pressed him harder against the bathroom counter, moving from cheek to neck with kisses that avoided smudging Will's mouth further. Will moaned under the attention, head tilted to the side. Mike undid a few buttons, pushed the silky shirt over Will's shoulder as he mapped a path across his warm, bare skin, hot kisses to every little freckle and mole on his shoulder. He knew what he was doing. He knew every trick and button to push. Teeth to skin, mouth sucking hard at the hollow his Will's neck. A knee raised between Will's thighs, feeling his excitement grow, feeling how Will was just as instantly keyed up as him.

"What time is it?" Will gasped as Mike passed a thumb back and forth over his nipple, hissing through the jolt of pleasurable ache that shot down to his cock when Mike pinched and rolled the bud.

"I don't know. I don't care. We have time."

"Seemed impatient to get going before."

"Was I? Doesn't sound like me at all."

Will didn't answer and sprung into action. Fine. He wanted to play now.

He pushed off the counter and led Mike backwards from the bathroom to their bedroom, and shoved Mike down onto the bed. Mike's legs spread on muscle memory as Will shouldered his way in, already grappling at Mike's belt buckle.

Will's mouth was on Mike as soon as his pants and briefs were shoved partially down, out of the way only enough for Will to get at hot skin, mouth watering for it. Lips sealed over the leaking tips, savoring the taste like he was breaking a hunger strike. His talented tongue, his lips stretched and sliding down. Breath harsh through his nose. He was drooling around it, working his jaw to take Mike down further, now the impatient one.

He gagged on Mike's length, too eager, and received a soothing hand cradled his face to slow him down. Mike said as much out loud. Will didn't want that. He wanted to look pretty and he wanted to be used.

He pulled off and sat back on his heels, looking up at Mike. Make up mostly still intact, save for the smeared pink around the corners of his lips - some was left on the skin of Mike's dick. Will saw it, wanted to lick it off.

Soon enough.

Watery eyes. Wide. Pleading. Mouth open, tongue out. And Mike was the one who took action now.

It was a blur from there. Pants fell the rest of the way to the floor, clank of belt buckle. Big hands cradled the back of Will's skull. Cock slid between perfect, pink lips, heavy in Will's mouth. Will let his body go slack along with his jaw, hyper aware of his shoulders, his neck, releasing the tension and working his throat, fighting the urge to choke as Mike guided him, shallow thrust fucking his mouth and driving into a deep grind as Will swallowed him down.

So wet. An entire mess. Make-up ruined as the perfect, pretty color across Will's lips had mostly disappeared. Mixed with the saliva that dripped down his chin, spat from his mouth as Mike pulled off at at a painful sounding gag, only for Will to dive back in and suck him harder after several heaving gasps, hand flying over Mike's dick until he was ready.

Tears in the mix. Shimmer from Will's cheeks rubbed off on Mike' s hands and wrists, tiny specs of glitter embedded in Mike's pubes. Neither were going to notice that one. Didn't matter. Will gripped the back of Mike's thighs and swallowed and sucked and moaned until Mike pulled back, shallow thrusts until he spilled over Will's tongue and lips, painting him with a new color to replace the one he ruined.

Mike collapsed to the bed, bouncing on the mattress as his legs gave out. Will was pulled along with him, still gripped around his thighs. They laughed together and resettled. Will rested against Mike's bare thigh, draped across him, taking deep breaths after licking his lips as clean as possible at that point. Sticky mouth pressed to pale skin. Mike pet at his hair as he caught his own breath, as variations of "fuck, what the fuck, oh my god Will, what the fuck" were muttered above Will's head. He pressed nimble fingers along Will's jaw, soothing to the sure ache.

Will looked up at Mike and if he hadn't just come, Mike would have stiffened up full right then and there. Stirrings, though, a definite twitch as he took in the sight of Will. Debauched. Ruined. Like a fallen angel, landing directly into his lap. A big splotch of black makeup was smeared across Mike's leg along with a streak of come. Nothing compared to the state of Will.

Will's once so precise and demure eyeliner and lash application was smudged and streaked, bare patches in odd places as the rest followed sweat and tear tracks down flushed cheeks, mixed with the tiny bits of shimmer that remained on his face, overall shiny with spit and everything else.

"How do I look?"

Mike burst out a laugh at Will's quiet question, then hauled the man up into his lap, only to fall backwards onto the mattress together in a tangle of limbs and clothing. Mike kicked off his pants and reached down to start undressing Will, eager to repay and miss their dinner reservation entirely...

[solitaireships]

Makeup Help

So I think that Neuvillette wears makeup, and then I had the thought of him helping me do my makeup, specifically eyeliner bcs I have a weird thing about my eyes. Which now leads us to this fic lol

Rating: Gen

Genre: Fluff

Words: 1255 words

Divider by saradika

“Neuvi, could you help me out with my makeup?” Andromeda asks, looking over herself in the mirror. 

Neuvillette turns to look at her through the open doorway to his bedroom, part way through getting dressed for the day. Andromeda thinks that he looks handsome in just his shirt and pants, his hair not tied back with its usual ribbon yet, though she knows that he’d never be seen in public dressed down like this. It only makes him letting her see him like this all the sweeter of a view— it’s a sign of just how close they’ve gotten over the past month.

“What would you need me to help with? Your makeup always looks lovely,” he says.

“I’m good with lipstick and eyeshadow, but I can’t do eyeliner,” Andromeda says. “You’re good at that, though.”

Though Neuvillette is good at makeup in general. Andromeda knows that he prefers a subtle look, with a small bit of eyeshadow you can only notice if you’re close enough to him, but she also knows from some of his looks when the two have gone out on dates that he can do more than just that. His more dramatic looks might be reserved for special occasions, but they're nonetheless impressive.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you use eyeliner before,” Neuvillette notes as Andromeda steps out of the bathroom with an eyeliner pencil in hand.

“You haven’t because I’m not good at putting it on. My hand always gets too shaky,” she says. 

She doesn’t mention that the reason her hands get shaky is the pencil being so close to her eye terrifies her. She tried to teach herself how to properly do her eyeliner in the past, but every time she’d see someone else doing it she’d have to look away as the tip of the eyeliner got closer to the inner crease of the eye, flinching as if she were hit. The thought of anything even somewhat sharp being close to her eyes is a terrifying one, and she’s always too nervous about accidentally stabbing herself to be able to line anything up straight. 

Still, she wishes that she could put some eyeliner on. It’s always something she appreciates in other people’s makeup, and she wishes that she didn’t have to get so nervous that she can’t even make a straight line. And as much as it’s nerve wracking to think of anyone doing her eyeliner for her, she finds the thought of Neuvillette of all people doing it far more soothing.

“I don’t have much experience doing makeup for other people,” Neuvillette says.

Andromeda notes that’s not a no. “That’s okay. I’m sure it’d still come out better than anything that I could do.”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“I would. You haven’t seen my past attempts at eyeliner.”

Neuvillette looks at Andromeda as she closes the distance between them, sitting down on the edge of his bed. He looks her over, as if assessing whether or not he could do what she’s asking. Then he says, “Is there a particular style you’d like?”

“Nothing fancy. Maybe just some simple stuff with a little bit of a wing?” Andromeda says. 

“I can do that,” Neuvillette replies.

He takes the eyeliner pencil from her hand, kneeling down to be at eye level with her. When he looks at her, Andromeda gets the feeling that he’s mapping out her face. It’s simultaneously odd and flattering to think of how he seems like he’s trying to memorize every detail, first imagining what he’s planning to do before he draws the eyeliner on. Andromeda’s never been the type of person who likes much attention, but capturing the attention of the Iudex like this feels uniquely special. 

“May I?” Neuvillette prompts, nodding towards her lap. 

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure,” she says. 

Neuvillette carefully lowers himself to sit on Andromeda’s lap, as if he’s worried he’ll be too much to fit properly on her. But for as much as he’s taller and heavier than she is, she can’t help but think they fit perfectly together with how his knees bracket either side of her hips. Him doing her makeup already felt intimate, but their increased proximity now only heightens that. 

“Sorry if I flinch or anything,” Andromeda says. “I… I don’t like pointy things by my eyes.”

“Ah. Well, I can promise you that I will be as careful as possible,” Neuvillette assures. 

“Thank you.”

Neuvillette starts with her right eye, drawing from the outer corner of her eye upwards in the shape of a wing. He keeps the pressure of the eyeliner pencil just strong enough to draw it on, but still his touch is gentle. He doesn’t want to make her uncomfortable, and that’s something that she can’t help but adore him even more for. 

Neuvillette is careful as he draws along her lash line, though Andromeda still tenses as he gets close to the inner corner of her eye. She trusts him, and she knows that he’d never do anything to hurt her, but still it’s intimidating having the tip of the pencil so close to her eyes.

“You’re doing wonderfully, my love,” Neuvillette says as if picking up on her nervousness. Andromeda supposes it would be hard for him to miss with how close they are right now. “It’ll be just a moment longer.”

“Okay,” she says as he moves to draw the wing along her other eye.

Andromeda tries to focus just on Neuvillette instead of the feeling of the eyeliner pencil along the edge of her eyelid. It’s hard for her to make out the fine details of his face without her glasses, but she can still see the focused look on his face by the set of his jaw and the furrowing of his eyebrows. She focuses on his hand on her cheek, and his stomach brushing against her as he draws himself closer to her. 

Andromeda thinks that she’s lucky. She doesn’t think there’s anyone else that could say that they’re in a relationship with a dragon sovereign, and even beyond that she can’t imagine being with a more gentle and caring partner. 

It’s nice having someone that she knows she can completely trust. It’s hard for Andromeda to let her guard down, and even though she knows she’s not completely doing that now as Neuvillette does her eyeliner, she still has enough faith in him to even ask him for help like this. 

Neuvillette lifts the pencil from Andromeda’s eye, looking her over. “You look lovely, mon coeur.”

“Only thanks to your help,” Andromeda says, reaching up to stroke his hair with one hand. 

“You’re beautiful with or without makeup,” he states. He presses a quick kiss to her forehead as he gets up, bracing himself with one hand on her shoulder. “If you don’t like how it looks, though, just let me know. I can do it differently if you’d like me too.”

Andromeda gets up, taking the eyeliner pencil back from Neuvillette. “Okay. I’m sure it looks great, though.”

Her hand brushes against his as she makes her way back into the bathroom, taking a look at herself in the mirror. Neuvillette did well— it’s a subtle look, but still she likes the way the wings show off her eyes. She calls another thanks towards him as she takes her eyeshadow palette from the drawer. She has a little more work to do getting ready for the day, but she’s glad to have a little help with things from her boyfriend.

[ashdreams2023]

hi!!! i love your hc’s sm! i was wondering if you could write about loki dating an insanely girly girl reader!

like shes a big taylor swift fan, loves baby pink and flowers, teddy bears, movies like legally blond, her rooms super sweet and cosy, obsessed with makeup and designer brands like dior n chanel! just as girly as you can get!

Loki dating a girly girl

You two met when he was shopping with nat at the Gucci store

You looked so put together and screamed feminine energy, and when you met eyes he was simply enchanted

Your closet never fails to amuse him, so many pairs of shoes and bags 

The first time he entered your room he swore he smelled strawberries and vanilla

he bought you a teddy bear once because he saw them on your bed and he swore your eyes were sparkling like diamonds when you held it

He’s weak, just so weak, you’re so soft and cute, he can never say no to you

Takes you on shopping sprees and watches you run from one store to the other wearing heels and bags over bags hanging on your arms

A big fan of your makeup looks, watching you do your magic and talk is one of his favorite things ever

Secretly loves it when you show off your new outfits and might ask you for a spin

"That skirt looks nice on you dove, do a little spin for me"

It’s genuinely so cute when you two go on fancy dates, just you dressed in bubble pink dress and him all black head to toe with maybe a smoky eye or eyeliner if he’s feeling fancy

Sends you flowers with nice gift like a new pair of earrings or a limited addition bag if he cancels on you or gets busy to see you

Goodness car rides with you are an experience, blasting all your favorite Taylor swift songs and eventually making him memorize some of them too

You always have a nice coat of pink shimmy lipgloss on your lips on stay at home days and he can’t get enough of them

"Is that…cherry?" "Close it’s raspberry, now kiss me again"

Your soft giggles when he does something princely like to you, they always make his chest a little tighter

When you warp your arms around his and just look at his with those big puppy eyes when you see something you want

He’s pretty sure he needs to check for the color pink before buying anything for you

[magniloquent-raven]

soulmate au part 3!!!!

(read part 1 and part 2 here)

it takes three weeks for anything to happen.

they see each other at school, exchange glances in class, brush past each other in the hallways, fingers grazing as their shoulders bump, incidental touches that wouldn’t draw attention but still leave billy tingling and giddy and embarrassed at himself but…

he’s still getting used to having a soulmate. a real, tangible person he can reach out and touch.

and maybe he’d get used to it faster if he could touch him more, but life keeps conspiring against them. they can’t seem to get a second alone. when it isn’t steve’s kids are crawling all over him 24/7 it’s neil breathing down billy’s neck because he ran out on one fucking class.

well, and then had to lie to neil about why, which was probably what put neil on high alert, but still.

three goddamn weeks.

and neither of them have been patient about it. steve keeps writing billy notes. in the middle of class scrawling things like you have nice eyes and i wanna spend time with you and billy can fucking feel how smug steve gets about making him blush. it’s all he can do not to make a scene in front of half their peers. sometimes he’s not sure if he’d punch steve for being an asshole or kiss him for being sweet.

or both. he can do both.

but mostly he wants time, and somewhere to just...be. with steve.

and he gets that, three weeks after their conversation in the parking lot. steve’s parents will be out of town, and his kids have some stupid game night planned. max keeps asking to go but pretending she isn’t, badly feigning disinterest, and best of all, neil and susan are planning a weekend trip to visit susan’s bedridden aunt a few hours away.

billy is determined to take full advantage of those thirty-six hours. neither of them will acknowledge it directly, but he knows max will tell neil he was home all weekend if she has to. he has no reason to be nervous about being caught, or anything else. it’ll be fine.

it’ll be fine.

he tells himself that over and over but it doesn’t stop him from checking every corner of the house in case neil’s hiding behind a door somewhere before he can even think about getting ready to leave.

he checks again after he’s showered and dressed.

thankfully max is already gone, so she’s not there to see him pacing around like a neurotic rat in a maze.

it almost worse that he isn’t just anxious, he’s excited. and it’s making him twitchy.

there’s no plan. they aren’t going on a date or anything. he’s just...going to steve’s house. steve’s empty house. he’s going to be alone with his soulmate. the list of reasons why that scares him is endless.

and he’s not sure if he’s more terrified of the possibility that steve won’t ask about the makeup thing or the possibility that he will.

knocking on the harringtons’ front door is. an experience. it shouldn’t be. it’s just a fucking door. but billy’s palms are sweating and suddenly he has no idea what he’s even going to say, and he keeps glancing over his shoulder even though he doesn’t really know what he’s looking for, and it feels like he’s been standing on the porch for a fucking eternity but—

his worries don’t exactly melt away when steve opens the door but there is a warm flutter in his chest that’s...new. and distracting.

and steve smiles at him all sunshine and chocolate, and the second the door closes behind them he grabs billy’s hand, wide-eyed, questioning, watching billy’s reaction.

his palm is just as sweaty as billy’s and it’s gross, but also kind of comforting.

“hello to you too,” billy snickers, and steve visibly relaxes, lacing their fingers together properly.

“hi,” he breathes quietly, his gaze soft, but intense, focused. “waiting sucked, okay. i’ve been wanting to do that forever.” he shakes their joined hands for emphasis.

“...that all you were waiting to do?”

steve’s grin turns sly, and his gaze drops a little. “no.”

billy wants to kiss him. he wants to be kissed. he wants steve’s mouth on him, somewhere, anywhere, right now. it’s a nice mouth. he’s spent a lot of time looking at it, and thinking about it, about the way the steam from the showers turned his lips so, so red, wet and slick and both too close and too far away, wondering what he’d taste like—

but steve turns away, taking all the air in billy’s lungs with him. it’s so jarring a shift that billy actually sways a little before he gets ahold of himself and lets steve tug him by hand and lead him upstairs.

the wallpaper in steve’s room has to be some kind of hate crime, but billy doesn’t have time to dwell on it, because there’s a beige bag sitting conspicuously on top of steve’s neatly made bed. the clear plastic top is zipped shut, dusty with age and spilled powders, but billy can still make out tubes of lipstick and eyeliner pencils through the haze.

he stops in the doorway and stares at it, thoughts at a stand-still.

steve’s still clutching his hand, tighter now, and no longer pulling him along. “i—uh. the bag was my mom’s, i think. found it crumpled up under the sink, so, like. she probably doesn’t even remember it exists. and the stuff in it is...new.”

“...new,” billy echoes faintly.

“yeah. yeah, i—i bought it. had no idea what i was looking for though, so i hope i did alright.”

billy blinks at him.

“was—was that okay? i know maybe isn’t exactly a yes, but i kinda hoped it could be, y’know? it’s—it’s totally cool if it isn’t. if you’re—if you’re not up for it. or…” he trails off awkwardly and grimaces.

billy takes a breath. “i’m up for it,” he assures steve with more confidence than he feels.

and steve absolutely beams at him. “yeah?”

“yeah.”

turns out steve not knowing what he was looking for meant he bought...everything.

as billy pokes through the mess he tries not to feel too apprehensive. or at least tries not to let it show. too much. he chews his thumbnail, picking up an eyeliner pencil with the other hand. it’s good shit, all the products are, with fancy names for colours and designer labels. it’s all leagues better than the drugstore clearance shelf crap he lifted as a kid. which doesn’t make this any less nerve-wracking.

“it’s been a while since i did this, so. don’t expect it to be, fucking, art or anything.”

steve shuffles closer from his spot at the foot of the bed and touches billy’s knee. “the eyeliner earlier this year…?” he gestures vaguely at his own face, eyebrows raised.

“friend of mine did that,” billy mutters.

and then his whole goddamn life came crashing down around him because of it.

his anxiety spikes, and he drops the pencil back into the pile, shoving the bag away. “i can’t fucking do this,” he snaps, and he’s halfway standing already when steve reaches for him, alarmed.

“billy, wait—” the hand on his elbow is soft, gentle, but he still flinches away. steve withdraws, fingers curled, lips parted, shock and hurt at war on his face. “i’m sorry. i—shit, i’m sorry—”

“don’t.” billy shakes his head, pulling away further. his lungs hurt. there isn’t enough air in this room. “just—forget it. this was a mistake.”

he’s through the door and heading down the stairs before he can think about it, before steve can respond. he wouldn’t have heard him anyways, not over the echoes of his father’s voice that follow him no matter how fast he flees.

but he stops just short of leaving. stands on the ugly little mat by the front door and stares down at it, his forehead inches away from resting against the wooden doorjamb.

he doesn’t want to leave.

he doesn’t want to go anywhere but back upstairs.

and...he kind of hates it. he has no reason to want that. he barely fucking knows steve, and he certainly doesn’t owe him anything. not a look at his authentic self or even a fucking apology. nothing.

so why does he want to give him all of that and more.

why.

it’s fucking terrifying and ridiculous and confusing and…

“billy?” steve calls out tentatively, far enough away that billy doesn’t startle. he’s making his way down the stairs.

if he’s gonna run, it’s now or never.

now…

or…

he turns around, and leans back, his shoulder thudding heavily as he hits the wall. his eyes itch, and rubbing them doesn’t help.

“billy…” steve’s right in front of him now, hovering just shy of being close, worry etched into every line of his face. “i’m sorry. i shouldn’t have pushed, i’m sorry—”

“not your fault,” billy mumbles, muffled against his palm. “stop apologizing, harrington.”

steve sucks his bottom lip between his teeth. “i...uh.”

“you were gonna do it again weren’t you.”

“...no.”

billy snorts quietly, head falling against the cold wallpaper at his back. “fuck,” he exhales, hand dropping to his shoulder. “look, this is...threatening to be the best fucking thing that ever happened to me, and good things don’t just—it never lasts. it always blows up in my face, and you should know that before you get caught up in it too.”

there’s an awful, drawn-out pause while steve purses his lips and tilts his head and looks billy up and down, his gaze gentle despite the scrutiny.

“i want to touch you,” steve says quietly. he waits for billy’s hesitant nod before he wraps his arms around and tucks his face into the crook of billy’s neck. “i’ve been waiting for you my whole life, hargrove, you’re not scaring me off that easily.”

and...billy always wanted to believe in the romantic notions people wrote about in songs. soulmates being destined for each other. epic, unconditional love. he never had any reason to believe it was real, but he clung to it anyway. despite the part of him that was wary, afraid of putting too much stock in something that might break his heart later on.

so for steve to just outright say it like that…so matter of fact. the reality of the situation smacks him in the face a little.

he puts his hands on steve’s waist, slipping under his shirt to rest against soft bare skin. touching him feels...right. when he lets himself feel, lets himself be here, in the moment. the sweet scent of steve’s hair, the warmth of his breath, the soothing pressure of his fingertips smoothing the wrinkled fabric of billy’s shirt. it all adds up to a feelings that billy can only describe as home.

not home like the place, but home like the warmth of sunlight and sand between his toes, ocean spray on his lips. a feeling he’s always had to chase to capture, but somehow it’s...here. quiet and still, and nothing like he’s used to, but it’s here.

and his touch seems to put steve at ease as well, he practically melts into billy’s embrace, which does strange and addictive things to billy’s heart.

but he can’t just shut his fucking mouth and enjoy the moment.

“bet i could, though. scare you off. i might, some day.”

“billy,” steve sighs, and pulls back enough to look him in the eye. “trust me when i say, you’ll never even make the top ten scariest things i’ve seen.”

and he wants to scoff, or feel insulted, or push the issue, start a fight, but. there’s a hollow look in steve’s eye. it’s not the face of some sheltered rich boy who thinks he’s a big man, no, there’s truth there. billy believes him.

stopping the tide of questions is almost physically painful, but he knows there’s no going down that road today. he’s hiding enough of his own skeletons to be sure they aren’t ready for that yet.

he might just be ready for something else though.

“i wanna try again.”

steve blinks at him, confused for a beat, two, and. “oh!” his lips part around the exclamation, distracting billy for a moment. “the—the makeup? you don’t— you don’t have to.”

“i want to.” he hesitates, and then presses a brief kiss to the tip of steve’s nose, startling a smile out of him. billy grins back. “i want to.”

[xskyll]

@shoutingdeku

Midoriya & Shinsou & Jirou bandmates tddk AU

I probably won't write a full story but these were my ideas!

Midoriya and Shinsou met at the hero entrance exam, where they both failed. They both got hurt and Midoriya started talking while they were waiting their turn to see Recovery Girl, asking Shinsou about what he plans to do. Of course he's going to gen ed and plans on transferring to the hero course. Midoriya says he's going to try for support and is giving up on the hero course; he realized last year that he never stood a chance anyway. He really just took the exam so he wouldn't dwell on what ifs and maybes. He doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. Making support gear for heroes would be nice but he's not confident in his abilities. He veeery shyly admits that he sings and plays guitar and would love to start a band and make a career out of that but he's sure no one would want to be in a band with a quirkless loser. But using what he learns in support to make special effects for concerts and music videos would be really neat!

Shinsou knows how to play the drums and is a little curious. He knows he'll need support gear to be a hero so making a friend in the support course could be useful. He suggests they get together sometime and play something. He doesn't actually think he'll be friends with Midoriya—the plan is more to make a connection and use him to help himself—but Midoriya ends up being the best friend he's ever had. They become ride or die pretty fast.

After the first couple of weeks of school (so after USJ) there's an event for clubs to recruit members. Aizawa tells his class they can join but they have to be mindful. The hero course is rigorous, so committing to a club that requires a lot of time would be irresponsible. Jirou has no intentions of joining any clubs but the entire class checks out the event, just to snoop. Midoriya and Shinsou have a table but no one seems interested. They're freaking bc you need a minimum of four members to count as a club and get a club room and NO ONE is interested.

Jirou has no plans to join but is curious to hear them play. They aren't allowed to play at the event but they knew this beforehand so they shot a video of them playing. It's nothing fancy—Midoriya just hands her his phone—but Jirou hears them and is blown away. They're good and Midoriya's voice is amazing. Right now I wanna say the song they're playing is Favorite Liar from The Wrecks.

She doesn't commit but agrees to come see one practice. She probably won't join though. She'll bring her bass, bc they don't have a bassist, but she definitely isn't going to join.

One song together and she joins.

They need a fourth person though and the deadline is looming! Jirou ends up asking the rest of 1A if anyone can play an instrument or sing. Bakugou plays drums but he isn't about to do her any favors. But Yaoyorozu plays piano! Jirou begs her to join—she doesn't even have to come to practice. She can just be in the band in name and play a little keyboard at a few club events so the teachers don't realize she doesn't actually participate.

What Jirou doesn't know is Yaoyorozu has a crush on her. So yes she'll join and yes, she will come to practice, actually. Maybe. Probably. She's very nervous bc Jirou is talented and cool and pretty and maybe this was a bad idea after all, oh no.

She agrees to come see them practice and brings her bff Todoroki with her for emotional support. He agrees mostly bc being with the Yaoyorozu's daughter is always an acceptable excuse for not going home.

They go to a practice just to watch and Todoroki feels just a little awkward bc no one told him the lead singer of Jirou's band was the cutest guy Todoroki has or ever will see in his life. The band plays and Todoroki and Yaoyorozu are both in love. Yaoyorozu joins the band immediately. Todoroki doesn't but maybe he could come by just to hang out sometimes? Maybe he can just help out? He can lift heavy equipment. So can Shinsou and Yaoyorozu? Well, he can help with other stuff! Anything! Costumes! Makeup! Anything to support his bff Momo, who is definitely why he's here, not bc of the cute boy, no siree.

As the story progresses, Todoroki is having makeup and nail polish application sessions with Fuyumi. He's watching YouTube makeup tutorials. Midoriya doesn't need to know he spent an hour every day for two weeks practicing eyeliner wings. Whenever they get a chance to play for a crowd or they make a video Todoroki gets to do Midoriya's makeup and help him with his clothes (and also the rest of the band but who cares about them?). It's the most wonderful torture. How is he supposed to check how Midoriya's makeup looks without getting lost in his eyes?

Little does he know, Midoriya is having constant internal meltdowns because the hottest guy he's ever met is touching is face. Whenever he wears a choker or necklace Todoroki gets the clasp for him (he doesn't realize everyone else has to do their own clasps). His fingers touch the back of his neck and it takes every once of his willpower not to run away because it seems so intimate and if he isn't careful he'll start hoping bc Todoroki is so nice to him and sometimes it seems like he gives him special attention but that's probably just his imagination, but maybe...? No! Or...aaahhh, he can't handle it!

At some point Ashido wants to see what Jirou, Yaoyorozu, and Todoroki are up to so she stops by. She's super impressed but Midoriya is too stiff! She doesn't officially join but she starts stopping by when she can to teach Midoriya some dance moves and help him with his stage presence and sex appeal. In exchange Midoriya tutors her bc he's basically a genius and she's bad at pretty much all her non-hero classes, like Math and English. Kaminari starts getting curious about what Ashido is doing so he stops by one day and hoo boy is that drummer so super cool! He starts talking to Shinsou and sparks fly (Sparks? Kaminari?? Get it?? Lolol, wow, I am so funny!) Kaminari helps with lighting for videos and shows and also gets tutoring in return (and now Shinsou is also joining these study sessions because...reasons. Certainly not the cute blond guy. He just likes studying...)

Ashido and Kaminari's grades improve! Yay!

And that's all I got. I have no clue how anyone would actually get together, which is why I'll probably never write a proper fic.

As far as the band's genre, they're really all over the place because they want to experiment a lot. So you got some alt rock, grunge, pop, love ballads, power ballads...they definitely do at least one video that is a super upbeat love song with bright 80s clothing and one video where they're all dressed like punks.

So yeah! That's what I got! Midoriya's guitar is probably either red or the same bluish-green his hero costume would have been, in another life. I feel like for the first half his hair is cute and poofy and maybe halfway through the story he gets an undercut. Sometimes he pushes his bangs up with a clip or a band.

[miss-smutty]

Forbidden - Chapter 2

Summary- Jess couldn't stop thinking about the guy she'd met in the coffee shop, he was drop dead gorgeous, mature and everything she's always wanted but how would she find him again when she didn't even know his name?

Word count- 3.1K

Pairing- Prof!Chris Hemsworth x OC

Warnings- Swearing, slight smut talk

18+ only!

Disclaimer: This is an entire work of fiction/AU and has no affiliation to real life what so ever! This is a fictional story about fictional characters who happen to share names and faces with some real people.

Posted: 13th August 2021

Taglist:- @innerpaperexpertcloud @pandaxnienke @chickensarentcheap @jjpogueprincess @longlostinanotherworld @mostly-marvel-musings @darklydeliciousdesires @monet-belle

Chapter 1

The only thing was, he didn't know I was only twenty and I had no way of finding him again.

If fate did bring us back together, would he mind that I was still a student? That I couldn't even drink when we went on dates? 

Who am I kidding? Of course he would mind, he could get any woman he wanted, why would he want me?

"Morning, you feeling any better?" Ellie was awake before me as usual, she spent hours getting ready in the morning and was now sat at her desk finishing her make up.

"I suppose, can't beat myself up forever can I?" I was more the get up and go kind of girl, I could never understand why she'd take hours getting ready just to go to class but I suppose you never know who you're going to bump into.

"No you can not. Not when there's literally thousands of guys here to take your pick of." 

"Psh!" I finally pull myself out of bed after thinking about the thought of possibly bumping into my hunk again I changed my mind about making myself a little more presentable.

"What d'ya mean psh?" Ellie turns to look at you, her mascara wand in her hand and only one eye made up, she looked ridiculous. How could you take her seriously looking like that? 

"I mean I'm not interested in these childish boys anymore El, I want a man." 

"Fuck me, you spoke to the guy for two minutes and already you're acting like you've lost the love of your life." Wow, that hurt a little.

"I didn't say I was talking about him although it would be nice. I just meant I'm sick of playing all these childish games and never knowing where I stand. Don't you get sick of being the one who always falls deeper? Getting messed about and then being the one who's left hurt?" I joined her at the desk, putting on a little mascara and eyeliner. "I want a man who knows what he wants and treats me better. Don't you?"

"Well shit, when you put it like that I can't argue with you. It would be nice, hey I wonder if Mr Aussie has a brother?" She waggles her eyebrows at me, making me laugh. "I gotta go babe, what class you got?" 

"My first Comms class this morning." I did not sound excited at the prospect because I really wasn't. I'd put it off in freshman and sophomore years but thought I better get it over and done with before my senior year.

"Oh really? I didn't know you'd taken that class. I heard a load of seniors talking the other day and apparently the Professor is drop dead gorgeous. I was thinking about taking it up too just to see what all the fuss was about." 

"Well that should make the class a lot more interesting, maybe it isn't going to be as bad as I thought."

"See, every cloud and all that. See you tonight, fancy the bar?" She shouts over her shoulder as she walks towards the door.

"Sounds good, see you later."

I looked over my outfit I'd already chosen for the day, just some jeans and a plain t-shirt and realised it wouldn't do. Not when there's the prospect of a hot Professor to impress. My wardrobe desperately needed an update, especially now I was focused on finding myself a man and not one of these easily pleased college boys, that were happy with anything as long as I showed a bit of leg and tits. I settled with some tight black jeans with a black, lace-rimmed, cami body suit and a cute little cream, cropped blazer to finish it off. It made me feel confident when I checked myself out in the mirror and if I do say so myself I looked smoking hot. I checked the time on my phone, realising I was going to be late I quickly ran the curling tongs through the ends of my long blonde hair before grabbing my bag and rushing out of the door.

In the hopes of catching the eye of this new professor I'd completely forgotten about the hottie from the coffee shop, which was probably a good thing, it's not like I'm ever going to see him again. I kind of wished I would though, especially when I was looking and feeling this great but hey, on to bigger and better prospects.

I thought that being late would mean I'd be stuck with a lame choice of desk in class but luckily the back row was practically empty and I could hide in the corner of the lecture theatre. I laughed to myself when I realised that practically all the girls were occupying the front desks, obviously they'd heard the rumours too.

I pushed my hair behind my ears and fumbled in my bag for my pen and notepad, when I glanced to the door and caught the eyes of a student I hadn't seen before. I couldn't deny how attractive he was, with his bright blue eyes and floppy hair, oh and that smile. Wow! He smiled brightly at me as he made his way to the back of the class, his eyes glinting, shining like diamonds as he ignored the whispers from the girls at the front. The whole row of desks were free so when he chose the desk right next to me, my stomach fluttered.

I kept my eyes on my notepad, doodling on the front cover so as to avoid that eye contact with him again. I could see a cheeky glint in his eyes and I'd learnt from experience what that meant, trouble. I wasn't ready to get myself back into a situation like that again.

My eyes shot to the front as I heard the room erupt into wolf whistles, the girls at the front giggling and whispering to each other, I rolled my eyes at them, how embarrassing. 

Then I realised what all the fuss was about and my heart almost stopped beating, thudding against my chest at an alarming rate. How is this even possible? How the fuck could he be a professor? Surely he's not old enough. Oh fuck.

I sank lower in my chair, willing the ground to just swallow me up or maybe if I got low enough I would escape his notice. No such luck, his eyes scanned the class and when they fell on mine, his face lit up with anger? No not anger. A hunger. His eyes scanned my body, falling over my hair and down to my cleavage. I felt hot under his gaze, was I blushing? Sweating? Oh god, I've never wished for class to be over so much in my life.

My professor was the guy I'd been shamelessly flirting with in the coffee shop. I don't understand how this could be real, I know I wanted to bump into him again but this is such a cruel twist of fate. I'd never even suspected him to be a professor, he was so damn thick and muscly. The clothes he wore were so stylish and he looked way too young to be a professor. He must be so embarrassed that he'd been flirting with a student, I definitely was embarrassed that I'd been flirting with a professor.

I was so panicked, I didn't have a clue what to do in this situation. Squirming in my seat, trying to look anywhere but at the Professor but I could feel his eyes on me as he prepared for the class to start. People were still whispering amongst themselves and I risked a glance in his direction, that made me bite on to my lip to stop myself from screeching. His eyes were still on me, subtly glancing up from the pile of paper he'd just taken out of his bag, his eyebrows furrowed as he studied me. He certainly didn't look embarrassed infact he looked downright feral and the thought of it made my pussy clench, so much so I had to cross my legs under the table.

"I guess you're obsessed with this new Professor too, huh?" The guy next to me leant across his desk to whisper and fuck me if I wasn't imagining it but he was Australian too. Like have we just suddenly had a huge delivery of hot Australian guys arrive at the University? This was just downright unfair, how was I meant to cope?

"No, what makes you say that?" Why did I ask that question? Like it wasn't obvious how much I was sweating and squirming in my seat. Luckily he didn't have time to answer when my eyes were drawn back to the professor as he stood at the front of the class with his hands casually in his pockets and cleared his throat to get our attention.

If I wasn't mistaken, now he looked angry, the muscles in his neck more prominent as he glared between me and the guy next to me.

Was he angry that my attention had been taken away from him and was on another guy? Or because we were talking when we should've been paying attention?

"Now I've got your attention, we're going to use our first session to get to know each other a little better. You'll be doing quite a lot of speeches so it's best if you feel comfortable with one another. I'll start by introducing myself." That sexy accent makes me sweat even more, nevermind the fact that his eyes keep finding their way back to me. "So, I'm Professor Hemsworth and I'm originally from Melbourne in Australia." His eyes meet mine again, a knowing look in them.

"G'day mate." Some idiot from the back shouted, making everyone laugh and I couldn't help but join in a little. Professor Hemsworth smiled at the joke, his eyes creasing in the corners and his smile growing wider when he looked to me and saw me giggling.

"Yeah, very original. Alright, alight, settle down now." His voice is so commanding and authoritive, it's such a turn on. "So, I haven't been here for very long and I'm still getting used to how different things are here. The weather for one." He earned a couple of laughs from people. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him, he was so mesmerizing. The way his face animated as he spoke, his eyebrows raising and lips curling.

"I was going to ask you all to go easy on me but that's not going to happen is it?" He got a couple of head shakes and sympathetic looks from the girls. "No, I thought not. Well now it's my turn to torture you. I'll start alphabetically, stand up and tell everyone something about yourself." I swallowed back my fear, this is the reason I'd put off this class until now and as if it wasn't hard enough talking in front of a whole class I now had to do it in front of Professor Hemsworth too.

"Claire Abbott." Fuck. He'd started, at least my name would be one of the last ones.

"Hi I'm Claire." The tall blonde at the front stood up, twirling her hair around her finger and giggling like a child. I rolled my eyes at her and caught the Professor smirk in my direction. "I erm… I don't know what to say?" She looks up at the Professor questioningly.

"Just anything about yourself that we might find interesting, the first thing that comes to mind." He replied.

"Well I own four horses and I'm the cheer captain." I rolled my eyes again, scoffing quietly and Professor Hemsworth had to hold in a laugh as he looked in my direction.

"Talk about predictable." The guy next to me leaned over to whisper to me again.

"Totally." I laughed back at him and when I looked back at the Professor he was glaring straight at us again, his face set sternly.

"You two at the back, we'll wait for you shall we?" Professor Hemsworth said sternly, everyone turned around to look at us but I barely noticed, I was too focused on the way his stern voice made my cunt flutter when he called me out.

I didn't speak for the rest of the class, although I had the urge to, just to hear the way his voice sounded when he was angry. I couldn't concentrate on what the other students were saying, too focused on watching the way the Professor's face changed everytime he looked my way, which was pretty often, to my suprise.

"Jake Hudson." In my peripheral, I saw the guy next to me stand and when he did, Professor Hemsworth's eyes narrowed.

"Hi I'm Jake." He pushed his hands in to his pockets cooly, glancing at me as he did. "I'm also from Australia." He looked at the professor slyly, a smirk forming on his lips, laughing at the other students shouting G'day mate. "I was forced to move here but I'm glad I did because I've just met the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." The class burst into rounds of whistles and cheers as Jake sat down, smiling at me cockily. I could feel my cheeks blushing, I was flattered, he was absolutely gorgeous but hadn't I sworn of boys my own age?

Professor Hemsworth looked even more angry now as he loosened his tie a little, that black tie that draws my view down, like a arrow pointing straight to his cock. I tried to keep my eyes down on my desk, doodling in my notebook so I could avoid that hungry gaze, anxiously waiting for my turn. What the hell was I going to say?

"Jessica Watson." Shit. I stood slowly, trying to give myself more time to think, I couldn't stand everyone's eyes being on me especially the Professors and Jakes.

"Hey, I'm Jessica." I smiled nervously, tucking my hair behind my ear. "These last couple of days have been pretty eventful for me." I looked away from the chalk board so I could search Professor Hemsworth's face. "I'm living the life of a romance novels heroine and I'm excited to see what the next couple of days bring." I sat down keeping the gaze of the professor, I'd forgotten I was in a room full of people until I heard the ooh's and ahh's and my cheeks turned scarlet. The Professor's eyes glowed with heat as he watched me sit down before shaking his head and turning back to the class. Jake also caught my eye as I sat back at my desk, my cheeks still burning, he smiled at me, the kind of smile that crinkles your eyes. I felt kind of bad that he probably thought I was talking about him when in fact I was talking about our professor.

"I hope we all feel a bit more comfortable with each other now, some of you shared some pretty revealing things." He looked at me again. "Some of you, not so much." He raised his eyebrows at a group of guys. "I'll have a schedule for you all next time I see you, anybody that has any questions can see me after class, everyone else is free to leave." His eyes scanned me as he turned around to sit at his desk, I watched a couple of girls approach him predictably.

"Are you going to the party at our frat this weekend?" I had to reluctantly pull my eyes away from the Professor while Jake spoke, so he was a Alpha Kappa, not surprising really.

"Yeah, I think so. My roommate mentioned it."

"Oh good, I'll see you there then. Jessica." He smiled, standing from his seat.

"Jess." I corrected him. I hated being called Jessica, it was so formal.

"Well Jess, I'll see you around." He winked at me as he pulled his backpack on to his shoulder.

There were still a couple of girls taking up the Professor's attention and I wasn't sure yet whether I wanted to sneak past or wait to speak to him. I thought about it for a minute my fingertips drumming against my desk when the girls left and he was alone. As soon as the door closed, his gaze was on me and I could hear the silence in the room like a ringing in my ears. We stayed like that for a couple of seconds, staring at each other, no one saying a word until her cleared his throat. I blinked a couple of times, realising how stupid I must look before getting up from my seat and packing my things away.

"Did you need to talk Miss Watson?" I could hear amusement in his voice as he sat back on his desk casually, his arms folded across his chest.

"I erm…" I walked towards him, my legs feeling like jelly all of sudden and trying not to fall down the stairs. "I wanted to apologise, I had no idea you were a Professor." I said as I reached the bottom of the stairs, I didn't know what to do with myself but I was nervous about getting closer to him. He made the atmosphere feel tense, like if I was to reach out and touch him I would burn my fingers so I stood awkwardly at the bottom of the steps.

"There's no need to apologise Miss Watson, I also had no idea you were a student but I was hoping to bump into you again. Funny how things work out isn't it?" He cocked his eyebrow at me, still looking amused as he watched me squirm. When he said he'd been hoping to bump into me again it made me feel more confident, like I wasn't imagining the way he'd been looking at me for the last hour.

"I think fate can be rather cruel Professor Hemsworth." I smiled at him as I finally closed the distance between us, watching his eyes flare with hunger when I called him Professor.

"Oh really? Why is that Miss Watson?" His eyes narrowed, his Adams apple bobbing in his throat as I got close enough to touch him, I didn't though. I didn't dare break that boundary, not yet.

I smiled at him through my lashes, biting on to my lip. "I was hoping to bump into you again too, only now the thought of what could've happened will have to remain a fantasy." Wow! I was not expecting that, did I sound like a slut? Shit. I looked back up at him and caught him gulp, that hunger in his eyes shining, his pupils blown with lust, he loosened his tie even more and I caught a glimpse of his smooth chest and chickened out. The tension was way too much and I was about to do something I was going to regret, I could live with being a huge tease instead.

"I better get to my next class, we can't have anyone thinking I'm your favourite now can we?" I smiled to myself when I noticed the muscles in his jaw tense as he ground his teeth together. Turning to leave I looked back over my shoulder and his eyes were glued to my hips, watching them sway as I walked and I realised I had him exactly where I wanted him but was it worth the risk?

[sugarandspiceevol]

Right Here, Right Now [Shouta Aizawa Smut]

Title: Right Here, Right Now 

Genre: Fluff, Smut 

Words: 3,379 

Notes: It’s a little long sorry sksk. But if you wanna skip to the juicy bits, scroll down to the “Part Two” Line break. Enjoy! Also Going to be trying to do a Sinful Saturday series where I post Smut on Sundays. Right now it’s mainly Aizawa but will be other characters as im feeling it. Send a request if you want ! 

---------------------  Part One ------------------------

Out of everyone you knew, your husband, AIzawa Shouta, had the quietest footsteps you never heard. He developed the frightening skill, from his undercover hero work, years before he’d even become a teacher at U.A.

You took it as a sign of your strong relationship however that sometimes you could sense his presence, even if you couldn't hear him. You always enjoyed the surprised look on his face when you turned to see him whenever he was silently catwalking into a room.

And now was one of those times, there were no signs to say that he’d entered your shared bathroom, except that you knew he had.

You looked up from the countertop full of your makeup products to see him, looking at the slight mess you’d made of the sink area. Your mouth fell open when you saw the state that he was in.

“Shouta!” You exclaimed in genuine horror. “ What the fuck are you wearing?”

You hadn’t meant for the last part to come out. And even though Aizawa was fully aware of your tendency to have a sailor mouth, you still hadn’t meant to say it. But you were appalled at the solid black dress pants, horizontally striped dress shirt, and dark navy blue jacket that he was wearing. The more you looked at him the more you noticed that nothing he was wearing was matching.

His eyebrow twitched a bit, but he gave you an otherwise blank look. You sighed, closing the eyeliner bottle in your hand and placing it on the sink.

You had suspected, when you were younger and first began dating, that Aizawa lacked some fashion sense. He’d mostly stuck to black anytime he went outside so matching wasn't really a problem. It wasn’t until you begam spending the night with him, that you’d seen him put together outfits that made absolutely no sense. You’d always found it funny to see what he would toss on.

It had been decided, mostly by you, that for big events you’d pick out the clothes. And it had been years of this going smoothly. You suspected that since you dressed him so sharply, he’d gotten compliments, and that was why he continued to let you dress him up.

And before you’d gone into the bathroom to fix your makeup, you’d laid out his outfit for the night on the bed.

There was a teacher’s appreciation night at U.A and you were going as his plus one. This had been your 5th time going together, and each year was more fancy than the last.

Shouta was crossing his arms over his chest, still not having said a word.

“Babe.” You said carefully as to not burst out into laughter. “ What happened to what I put on the bed?”

He uncrossed his arms and scratched the back of his head looking slightly uncomfortable. Now you were confused. He never had any issues before with what you’d picked out. In fact, if you had forgotten to pick an outfit he’d gently remind you.  You thought back to what you’d put on the bed, a simple black suit was what you had gone with since you were wearing a black dress. There was no way he wouldn't have liked it.

“It’s…. Too small.” He said finally, embarrassment tinting his cheeks.

“To small?” You were confused. You’d bought it only 8 months ago. You did a quick glance over, he hadn’t put on any weight where you could see.

“In the arms.. And thighs.” He said, he looking like he wished he could sink into the floor.

“Oh.” You said blinking. “ OHH!” you said again louder when you finally understood. Honeslty you felt a little dumb. He’d gotten buffer. You could even see in what he was wearing now that the arms were a little too tight and you could almost see the outline of his muscles as if it was a fitted jacket.

This time you couldn’t help the laugh that came out, which only got louder as he gave you a glare.

“I-I’m sorry baby. I don't mean to laugh” You said in between laughs.

“Yeah you do.” He mused out but he didn't seem upset.

You came closer and squeezed on his upper arms, which barely had any room, left in them, and were so… solid.

You couldn't deny that he had gotten thicker over the year, you just hadn’t thought about it when you bought the suit.

“Hmm… Maybe I do.” You said cheekily smiling up at him. He gave you a small smile back in spite of himself.

“Okay.” You said stepping back a bit and looking him up and down. “ Take all of that off. I’m going to use my quirk.

At this he looked surprised, an eyebrow raised. “Are you sure? You always get a  headache when you use it too much.”

You shook your head.” This won't be so bad. I already have an idea of what I’m going to make.”

He gave you another skeptical look before he unbuttoned the jacket to start taking it off.

You bit your lip a little as he focused on unbuttoning the dress shirt and sliding it off his frame.

He’d definitely gotten bigger, you weren't sure if it was deliberate, but you did not mind in the least. His hair fell over his face as he bent over to pull his pants off and move the pile of clothes out of the way.

You paused for a minute to take in your husband and all his glory as he stood in only his boxers and socks.

“Do you not like it?” He said quietly, shattering your ungodly thoughts.

You blinked. “ Huh?” You asked looking up at his unreadable face.

“That I’m bigger. Do you not like it?” He asked again.

You felt like someone had smacked you. Your husband, THE Aizawa Shouta was feeling a  little insecure. Because he kept his cards so close to the chest, it hadn't even crossed your mind that he would ever experience that feeling. And the fact that he was being vulnerable, right now in front of you made your love for him multiply.

You opened your mouth before you could even think to maybe censor yourself.

“Honestly Shouta, you look so fucking hot, I’m actually debating about skipping the event and jumping your bones.”

You covered your mouth a bit in shock, that you’d actually said that. There was a moment of silence where you were now the one wishing to sink into the floor. Then he came forward till he was almost pressed against you, a smirk on his face. Any trace of unreadable insecurity gone. You were glad, although a little embarrassed.

He moved your hand from your face and tucked a finger underneath your chin tilting your head up. You didn't get a chance to think as he pressed his soft lips against yours in a slow intoxicating kiss that left you fiending for more. Almost as if he sensed your sudden want he pulled away smiling down at you.

“Maybe we should go to the event first. Then we can talk about what happens when we get back home.”

You pouted. “ Fine. But you’re such a tease.”

He chuckled at this and took a step back expectantly. You took a deep breath and put your hands around his lower neck focusing on activating your quirk.

You had the quirk of Matter ideation. When you focused hard enough, you could make your ideas into reality by manipulating the matter that you touch with your hands. You could even make living things if you concentrate hard enough. But the bigger or more complicated a thing was the more energy it took from you and you were often left with a piercing headache that functioned like a hangover that usually kicked in an hour or two after you created something.

You breathed out, moving your hands down his bare and exposed chest. Your eyes were closed as you imagined the final product moving your hands down from his neck all the way down to his toes.

You could feel the matter pushing and blending together and taking on different shapes and colors, and molding around his skin.

When you were finished you opened your eyes and your mouth fell open. It looked better than you expected.

It was a deep and dark green suit that you had created that fit him, wonderfully, perfectly even. You turned to reach into the bathroom cabinet pulling out a hair tie.

Standing on your tiptoes, your faces once again close, you pulled his soft and freshly washed hair back and pinned it up into a half bun. You could feel his eyes on you as you did this meeting his for a moment and smiling.

“There.” You said after a moment, taking a step back to look at him. You put your hand to your chin as if you were thinking and nodded.

“Yeah that's hot.”

Shouta ignored you, turning to face the mirror, but you could see the slight tint of pink on his cheeks.

You watched him look at himself in the large mirror and eyebrow raised.

“What do you think?”

“I like the color.” He said in the most monotone voice possible but you just about rocketed off into space. You leaned up on his shoulder and kissed his cheek before turning back to your makeup mess, trying to locate your eyeliner.

“We have like half an hour left to get ready, so I have to finish doing my makeup. It's a disaster right now.”

-----

Half an hour later, Shouta was sitting in the dining room, looking over student essays when he heard the bathroom door opening upstairs. He keeps grading until he hears the clack of your heels coming down the stairs. Dropping his pencil and standing up he makes his way into the living room where he is stopped in his tracks.

You were coming down the stairs holding the rail with one hand concentrating on walking with your high heel.

Feeling a bit uneasy, he moved close to the stairs and just as he predicted your right foot slipped sending you flying forward. With one easy movement he caught you in his arms, a smile gracing his face when you looked up at him appreciatively.

“You look beautiful.” He said setting you straight and tucking your hair behind your ear.

To make sure you matched, you created yourself a green dress that complimented his suit.

“Thank you.” You said smiling. You were buzzing and ready to go.

“Ready?” He asked taking a deep breath as if he was steeling himself. Social events were never his thing but he went cause he knew you enjoyed them, and to appease his various co-workers.

“Yep” You slid your hand in his and headed towards the door.

------------------ PART TWO ------------------

It was two hours into the party and suddenly you were wishing you had headed your husbands warning. You were at U.A with Aizawa for a teacher’s appreciation event, and after having used your quirk to make you and your husband clothes, you were experiencing the side effects of your quirk.

You gripped the stem of your wine glass a little harder as your head started to throb. You felt like your brain was going to split into two at any second. Your quirk was like a muscle, if you didnt use it for a while, you had to build it back up again. You couldn't remember the last time you’d used your quirk, so making your dress and your husband’s suit was too much for your body at the moment.

The music inside the school gym was blasting and everyone was huddled around talking loud to hear each other. Shouta had gotten pulled away to take teacher photos in the corner of the gym. You could see him now, deadpanning into the camera. It would have brought a smile to your face if you didn't feel like you were about to puke from the pain.

Without taking a glance around you took a large gulp of your wine, finishing it off in a not so classy way. You knew you would pay with another hangover later, but maybe the alcohol would temporarily help you out.

Ten minutes later, and quite a few drinks later, you were sitting with your head down on top of a table, wishing that you could turn back time and stop yourself from making the dress. You still would have looked nice in the dress you had already picked out.

You wanted to go find some of the teachers and chat and have a good time, but you felt like if you opened your mouth, it would be a cry. You weren't sure how long you had been sitting alone, when a hand was placed on your back. You jumped up, feeling your head sloshing a bit as the alcohol you’d ingested started to catch up with you.

It was Shouta, looking down at you concern over his face. He crouched down close to you so that he didn't have to shout so loud.

“What’s wrong?” He asked. You looked at him and realized he still had on fake prop glasses that someone had probably put on him. You smiled and pulled them off his face to plalce them on the table.

“You were right.” You pouted. “ My head is about to split open.” You said. Understanding hit his face, but he made no move to shame you, the concern still there. Damn you loved this man.

“But never fear!” You said and he raised an eyebrow.

“ I downed many a cup of alcohol. And I am already feeling better.” You said grabbing his face and laughing. Maybe you were already a little tipsy. You tended to get giggly when you drink.

He grabbed your hands  and brought them back to your lap amused. “ Your headache is just going to be worse later.”

You leaned forward more, a mischievous look clear as day on your face. “ Exactly, later.”

Before he could say anything else you connected your lips, returning the soft but intoxicating kiss he’d given you earlier. You considered it payback. When he pressed back to take over the kiss you pulled away a smirl playing on your lips.

“After the party… remember?” You said.

He cleared his throat returning back to normal public Aizawa within a moment.

“Right.”

You smiled wickedly.

“Right.” You said back. You stood up. “ Let’s go bug Toshi!!” You said in a sing song voice.

---

Aizawa was vaguely aware of the conversation that was happening around him. But his eyes were focused past the the group of teachers he was standing around and onto you. You were dancing with Toshinori chatting away happily. He knew you had a soft spot for the old man and you had rescued him from an awkward conversation asking Toshinonri to dance, leaving Aizawa open to being brought into various conversations that he did not care about.

You looked cute as you chatted with All Might, spinning under his arm as the music changed. His mind wandered onto the kiss you had given him shortly before. He knew you were definitely a little drunk, as you typically did not engage in PDA for his sake. It had caught him off guard, in only the way you could. You smelled heavenly and looked so beautiful with your hair pinned up and your dress.

He couldn't think of anything he’d like more at that moment than seeing your hair wild over the pillows, screaming out his name. It was like he could feel your hands ghosting up chest and digging into his back.

Snapping back into reality, he didn't have to look down to feel how tight his pants had become.

Shit.

“Excuse me.” He said in the middle of someone talking before dipping out of the conversation and cutting across the gym to the dance floor.

Toshinori saw you first, giving him a bright smile as he stopped dancing with you.

---

You looked up at Toshi pouting trying to figure out why you’d stopped . You were having a great time dancing with him. He was surprisingly good at leading, and he was telling you about his golden day stories.

You noticed he was looking at someone behind you so you turned, to see your husband standing there a strange look on his face. Your eyes traveled down and a smirk graced your face.

“Can I cut in?” He asked Toshi who nodded and let go of your hands at once.

“Of course.” he said, either not seeing his coworkers hard-on or doing a great job of pretending not to. “ I think i’m going to help myself to some more juice.” Leaning down he kissed you on the forehead quickly before heading away.  

No sooner was Shouta grabbing your hand and almost dragging you in the directions of the parking lot. You felt a wave of wanton lust flow over you as you reached the car.

You slipped into the car barely waiting until the door was closed before you climbed over the passenger seat and into Shouta’s lap.

He gave a surprised grunt as you kissed him deep, your tounges swirling together. You were fumbling with his belt when he grabbed your hands.

“Were in the parking lot Y/N” He said a bit breathily.

You tapped the dark window next to you. “They’re tinted, remember?”

You leaned forward your face and chest leaning over him close. “ You wanna wait?” You asked placing a hand over his clothed cock, gripping it softly.

When he didn’t answer you began to stroke it excruciatingly slow. “ Hm?”

You leaned over and left searing butterfly kisses up his neck, until you reached his ear where you said softly. “ Don’t you wanna fuck me Shouta?”

You were being a big brat. But you didn’t care your brain was clouded in want.

“Fuck Y/N.” He almost growled out gripping your face with both of his hand and bringing you in for another head swirling kiss. You felt his hands skirting up your dress till they found your lacy underwear.

You heard the tear of fabric before you even felt him ripping your underwear, and tossing them into the backseat. With your free hand you pulled his hard cock out of his pants. His hands moved to your waist with a vice like grip lining you up perfectly with him.

You broke your kiss to moan as he finally filled you up with one hard push.

--

Aizawa head was swirling with thoughts of you. If anything you looked more beautiful on top of him. Your carefully placed hair pins had slipped and your wild curly hair was falling past your shoulders. You were the only person in the world he’d be vulnerable with the only person he’d let touch him. And you felt so good, too good.

He didn't waste any time lifting you up again, chasing that feeling of being completely connected to you.

The way your face shifted into pleasure as he stroked again into you, made him want to cum in your right then in there, but he would pace himself.

--

After letting you get adjusted the pace he sent was relentless. His thick cock was pounding up into you and you couldn't even think for how good it felt. Neither of you were going to last long like this.

“Oh baby.” You cried out your hands flat on his chest and curling into fist pulling at his clothing. “ Oh baby don’t stop.”

You were on fire in pleasure, the sound of your moans and wetness slamming together filling the car. You head flew back, mouth agape as you began to cum around his throbbing manhood.

“Shouta!” You cried out tightening around him sending him over the edge and gushing into you.

You brought your head down to kiss him again as you both rode out your orgasim. Your thigh spasming softly under his touch.

“Mmm. I love you.” he said between kisses. And you smiled against his lips.

“I love you too Shouta.” You said.

[beautiful-and-terrible]

dazed ‘n‘ confused (part 3)

A/N: 3500 fuckin’ words y’all lmaooo i am so stupidly invested in this dumbass and his hot neighbor.

Ship: Rodrick Heffley x OFC

Warnings: underage drinking / drug usage, dubious consent (both parties inebriated), swearing, etc.

---

Nicole shouldn’t have worried so much about what to wear. When she showed up in Rodrick’s garage, his friends Ben and Chris were there, both dressed in ripped jeans and flannel shirts paired over band t-shirts. By comparison, Nicole’s black skater skirt and combat boots felt almost fancy.

“Hey, I’m Ben,” the dark-haired one holding a red electric guitar came up to her and gave her a fist bump. She almost laughed, not having fist-bumped anyone since she was 13. “Nicole,” she replied, smiling.

“I’m Chris!” the blonde called over, waving, before turning back to adjusting his microphone and checking the settings on their audio.

Rodrick seemed to appreciate her style, at least. He came through the garage door, carrying a four-pack of Monster energy and whistled, giving her a quick up-and-down glance, “Hey, groupie.”

Nicole punched his arm as he walked by. “I came here to listen to you play, so… play.”

“Your wish is my command,” Rodrick said with a dramatic bow.

Nicole found a relatively comfortable spot as far from the speakers as she could get - this wasn’t a concert, but loud speakers could still be painful after an extended period of time. The clack of Rodrick’s drumsticks alerted her, and before she knew it there was a blast of noise and a blur of limbs.

Honestly, he wasn’t bad, Nicole thought to herself after they had played a few songs. He could use a little more control, but what musician didn’t get caught up in their music? Glancing outside, Nicole saw that it was finally growing dark out. The sky had turned a soft purple, and she could see a few fireflies flashing in the cooling grass. She checked the time on her phone - 9:15.

“Hey, do you guys know Caitlin?” she asked the group. They turned to look at her.

“Caitlin Irving or Caitlin Peters?” Ben asked, taking an impressive gulp of Monster before burping loudly. The boys fell into fits of laughter. Nicole couldn’t help laughing, too.

“I don’t know her last name, she works at Starbucks, though.”

“Ohhhhhh, Caitlin! Yeah, we know her. Why?”

“She invited me to a party tonight, but I don’t really know anyone but her. Would you guys wanna be my plus-three?”

Ben and Chris high-fived each other, and Rodrick saluted her with his drumstick, whacking himself in the head in the process. Nicole hid a laugh behind her hand, not wanting to embarrass him. “For sure, Nikky. As long as there's drinks, we’ll be there,” Chris said. 

“C’mon, we can take my van,” Rodrick said, shoving his drumsticks in his back pocket and running inside to grab his keys. The other boys started down the driveway toward the white van, garishly painted with the band's name on the side in bold, black letters.

When Rodrick returned, Nicole gave him a smug look. “I thought it needed repairs?”

Rodrick stopped walking mid-stride, looking like a puppet caught on its strings. “Uh. Yeah. Well. My dad helped, when you were over at your house. Getting ready. It’s fine now. He’s the best mechanic I know.”

“Uh-huh. You sure you didn’t just… want to ride home with me from work?”

Rodrick scoffed. “You wish.” But as he rounded the front of the car to the drivers side, you caught the scarlet color of his cheeks against his tan skin. As if he could be any more endearing, he even offered Nicole shotgun. Chris grumbled the entire time, but begrudgingly gave you the seat he had worked so hard to acquire. 

“First stop - Capital. Ben has a fake, so we can BYOB,” Rodrick said, practically peeling out of the driveway. Nicole clutched the seat for dear life, heart stuck in her throat.

“Are you sure this thing is secure?” she squeaked, feeling the seat shaking a little in its bolts.

“No one has been ejected yet, Nikky,” Rodrick laughed.

“Go-go gadget get me the fuck out of here,” Nicole groaned, planting her feet on the floor to try and stop herself from flying forward as Rodrick squealed to a stop in front of a seedy looking liquor store.

Ben barely avoided taking the sliding door off its tracks when he opened the door. Chris lit a cigarette in the back, the acrid scent wafting to the front of the van. Nicole didn’t mind the smell much - honestly it reminded her of her Grandmother's house - but she hoped the smell didn’t linger on her clothes. That would be hard to explain to her mom. Speaking of, she sent off a quick text to her parents telling them that she’d be back late. Luckily, Nicole had always been the responsible type, so her parents trusted her to make good decisions and as a result, let her have free reign of her life (especially now that she was 18).

Ben returned after a few minutes, carrying a 24 pack of Natty Light and lighting his own cigarette.

“You have the address?” Rodrick asked, and you showed him Caitlins text.

“Yo, that's in Heather Hill’s neighborhood. Maybe we can tee-pee her house later,” Rodrick said, already zooming off again.

“Heather Hills?”

“Major bitch,” Chris called from the back of the van. Rodrick shrugged. “She’s not a bitch she’s just… not very nice.”

Nicole laughed, “You don’t have to defend the honor of all women by not calling her a bitch. If she’s a bitch, I believe you.”

Rodrick looked at you out of the corner of his eye, thinking briefly.

“Yeah, she’s a stone-cold bitch. She ran over my foot once. With her car.” 

Nicole grimaced in sympathy.

“Last year, we played at her Sweet Sixteen party, and Rodrick broke her ice sculpture bust. It was awesome,” Ben said.

“Oh, so you aren’t always perfect?” Nicole teased. Rodrick flipped her off.

Soon, they pulled up in front of Caitlin’s house. Nicole could already hear loud music from outside the house, and there were rainbow strobe lights flashing in the windows. Swallowing her nervousness, she followed Rodrick, Chris and Ben up the front walkway.

As they walked in the house, Nicole was hit by the fragrant, herbal smell of weed. From far away, the music had seemed loud, but coming in the house the music seemed to vibrate her ribcage - it was something with a repetitive bass, stuff Nicole didn’t normally listen to but she enjoyed it nonetheless. She followed Rodrick further into the house, trying to find the kitchen, weaving between people dancing and couples making out.

There were people surrounding an island in the center of the kitchen, decorated with colorful bottles of liquor and sodas to mix with. Nicole spotted Caitlin talking to a tall black guy, drinking out of a red solo cup. Nicole gave her a wave, and Caitlin excitedly came over to greet her.

“Hey! I’m so glad you made it.”

“Yeah, me too. I haven’t actually ever been to a high school party.”

Caitlin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Well, you’re gonna have one hell of a first high school party experience, girly. Let's get you a drink.”

Caitlin turned to the kitchen island and poured about four shots of rum and filled the rest with coke in a red solo cup. Nicole took a sip. She could barely tell it was spiked, so she took a few more chugs and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. 

“Do you wanna dance?” Caitlin asked, and Nicole nodded before following her back to the living room. Already, the rum was making her limbs feel looser and her brain fuzzy. She finished the rest of it in one go, enjoying the feeling of her nervousness and insecurities fading away. Nicole had never been unpopular, per say, but she tended to stay to herself and only had a few close friends at her old school, anyway. It was refreshing to feel included, and she couldn’t help feeling that this was the way her teenage years were supposed to be - loud and exciting and living moment to moment.

As they danced, Nicole swaying in place and occasionally spinning around, she couldn’t help but feeling a little awkward. Caitlin was actually a really good dancer - she knew how to move her body in all the right ways so they hit on beat with the music. Nicole envied her easy grace, but was quickly relieved when Caitlin accidentally bumped into someone, causing them to spill their drink. Nicole stifled a laugh, not at Caitlin’s expense, just at the irony of the timing. At least Nicole wasn’t the only clutz. 

They had been dancing for only a few minutes before Nicole felt a hand on her waist, making her jump slightly.

“Hey, the guys and I are gonna smoke some weed in the backyard. Do you wanna come?” Rodrick said. His voice was almost in her ear, close enough that she could hear him over the blaring music, his breath tickling her sensitive skin. 

She turned around to face him - in the dim light of the house, he looked much more appealing than usual - she hadn’t even noticed he had put eyeliner on, but it made the dark of his eyes look even more obsidian. Nicole nodded, giving a thumbs up, and pulled Caitlin along with her.

“I need you for moral support,” Nicole said, making Caitlin laugh.

“Have you ever smoked weed before?” Caitlin asked.

“Nope.”

Caitlin raised her eyebrows and pulled her closer as they walked to whisper in her ear.

“Okay, take a small hit the first time, don’t try to impress anyone. But breathe it fully into your lungs - I like to start by pulling it into my mouth first, and then inhaling fully. And if you cough, don’t worry, almost everyone does their first time.”

Nicole gave her a grateful look as they approached the circle of people sitting on lawn chairs in the backyard. Ben and Chris were already there, with two other girls Nicole didn’t know. However, there seemed to only be two more lawn chairs available to sit on.

Nicole was about to plop down on the grass before Caitlin grabbed her hand.

“You should sit on Rodrick’s lap,” she whispered, and Nicole almost choked on her drink.

“What?” 

“Dude, he’s totally into you - I don’t know what your sitch is, but I think he’s probably a little nervous about making the first move. Just do it, and if he asks, say ‘sorry, there weren’t enough seats and I don’t wanna get bug bites from the grass.”

Nicole stared at her, mouth agape. The alcohol in her brain was telling her it might not be the worst idea ever. And you know what? Fuck it. You’re only young once. Nicole made up her mind, and squeezing Caitlin’s hand, she walked over to where Rodrick was sitting before primly making herself comfortable on his thigh.

She felt him tense beneath her immediately, before his hand came up to her waist to steady her. Before he had the chance to say anything about it, the joint was passed to him, and he took an impressive hit, the cherry glowing red at the end for several seconds. Nicole watched him with interest, hoping she wouldn’t mess up too badly and embarrass herself. 

Rodrick looked up at her as he exhaled the smoke, holding the joint out to her. Not paying attention, and entranced by the eye contact they were holding, she reached out to take the joint without looking and promptly burned her hand on it.

“Fucker,” she hissed, shaking her hand to try and get rid of the pain. Rodrick just laughed.

“Do you want help?” Rodrick asked, before taking another hit of the joint. He reached up behind Nicole’s head, threading his fingers through her hair, before pulling her down close to his face, their lips inches apart. Nicole instinctively opened her mouth, half from surprise and half in anticipation of being kissed. But Rodrick simply blew a steady stream of smoke into her mouth, - their lips didn’t make contact. Belatedly, Nicole realized she was supposed to be inhaling, so she did quickly, trying to hold the smoke in her lungs for as long as possible. 

Somebody wolf-whistled in the group. Nicole was pretty sure it was Caitlin.

Eventually, she ended up coughing it out, Rodrick rubbing her back but still laughing.

“You’re a green at the green, huh?” Rodrick asked, and Nicole rolled her eyes.

“That obvious?”

“Yeah, but it’s cute. I’m glad you’re having your first high with me,” Rodrick said, smiling sweetly. Nicole’s stomach fluttered. Already, she could tell that this wasn’t alcohol she was feeling anymore - the buzz she had been feeling earlier was replaced by something much slower and velvety, like the world was moving through maple syrup.

“Dude,” Nicole said after a minute, realizing she had been staring at nothing. Rodrick looked at her. She looked at him. They both started cracking up laughing.

“What are we laughing at?” Nicole hiccuped through her laughter.

“No idea,” Rodrick said, wiping his eyes free of tears of mirth.

“Rodrick, pass the J,” Ben called out, breaking the two of them from their trance. Without thinking about it, Nicole leaned back onto Rodrick’s chest, enjoying the warmth of his body. It wasn’t a cold night, per say, but Nicole was only wearing a skirt and a t-shirt, and she had always had poor circulation. She shivered involuntarily.

“Do you want my flannel?” Rodrick asked, already taking it off. Nicole sat up, ruffling his hair playfully.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you just want to show off your arms,” Nicole said, slipping on the warm blue flannel and resting her hand on Rodrick’s exposed arm, once again in a cut-off tank top. Rodrick gave her a funny look.

“What do you mean?”

Nicole suddenly found herself tongue tied. “Uh. I mean. You just wear a lot of tank tops.”

Rodrick raised an eyebrow, but said nothing else. Nicole leaned back against him again, feeling simultaneously self-conscious and exhilarated. They had never touched for this long before. She wasn’t sure exactly what was happening between them, but she liked the direction it was going. Even though they hadn’t known each other long, Nicole felt more comfortable with Rodrick than she did anyone else - even though most of the time she had known him, he had been a nuisance to her. Well… maybe not a complete nuisance.

It was funny to think that only a few days ago, Rodrick was just an annoyance she dealt with at her job and admired from afar, and now she was sitting on his lap, wearing his flannel. She leaned her head back, looking at the stars. She hadn’t noticed that Caitlin had left, but suddenly she appeared over her line of vision, grinning.

“Do you want a beer?” she asked, holding a cold can over Nicole’s forehead. Nicole reached out to take it, sitting up before cracking it open. She wasn’t in the habit of enjoying beer for the flavor, so she’d rather get drunk off it quickly. It tasted like wet cardboard, but Nicole managed to chug it down.

“Damn, girl, where’d you learn to drink like that?” Chris asked, laughing as Nicole belched loudly. 

“Years of rigorous practice and intense concentration, young padawan,” Nicole replied.

“Do you wanna shotgun one with me?” Chris asked, half-joking, but Nicole was feeling overly confident from the buzz she was feeling and readily stepped up to the challenge.

“Whoever spits it out owes the other ten bucks.”

“Fuckin’ deal,” Chris grinned, Ben cheering him on as he threw a beer toward Nicole. She (surprisingly) caught it.

“Wait, gimme one,” Rodrick said, making grabby hands in Ben’s direction, who threw him a beer.

“On three, okay?” Ben counted. They all started to crack open their beers, Nicole with her house keys, Rodrick with his car keys, and Chris with his pen knife.

“One.. twoooooo…. Three!” Ben yelled, and they all tipped their heads back, drinking from the hole in the side of the can. Nicole’s eyes watered, but she was too competitive to back down now. Foam spilled out of the side of her mouth, but she kept drinking. She could hear people chanting her name as she finally threw the beer can down on the ground, raising her hands in victory. Both Rodrick and Chris were covered in beer foam, but Nicole somehow stayed relatively clean, minus the beer she wiped off her face.

“Ten motherfucking bucks, Chris,” Nicole slurred slightly, grinning at him as he pulled out a crumpled bill from his pocket and threw it at her. 

“Rodrick, how the fuck did you lose, dude? You were the one who taught me how to shotgun,” Ben said, causing Nicole to throw her head back in laughter, before letting out another massive burp that lasted for several seconds. The whole group dissolved into laughter. 

Eventually, the joint got finished, and people started to move back inside. However, Rodrick and Nicole stayed outside, talking about whatever came into their heads.

“Were you ever into Greek mythology as a kid?” Nicole asked, watching Rodrick’s eyes go comically large.

“Does Percy Jackson count?”

Nicole pretended to consider it deeply for a moment, before shaking her head. Rodrick pouted. 

“I only got into Greek mythology because of Percy Jackson. So, I think it still counts.

“Fine. But do you know shit about the constellations they’re associated with?”

Rodrick pointed at the sky, at a random cluster of stars.

“For sure - that's Dingus Humongus, he was a Greek hero with the fattest ass known to man.”

“Sounds like my kinda guy,” Nicole replied, sticking her tongue out as Rodrick squawked in indignation.

“Besides a fat ass, what do you look for in a guy? Not, like, that I care. Just. Wondering.”

“Very good English, Rodrick,” Nicole laughed, “I guess my type is… someone kind. And funny. Someone who tries to be cool and is actually a huge dork. And musical, that's always a plus,” she said, feeling very bold as she looked directly at him. It took Rodrick a moment, but eventually his mouth formed a small “oh” as he realized who she was talking about. His eyes flicked down to her lips. Then he frowned, “I am not a dork.”

Nicole rolled her eyes, “And I’m totally not waiting for you to kiss me right now.”

Nicole watched as the color slowly rose in Rodrick’s cheeks, turning them rosy pink, visible even in the shadow-drenched backyard. Nicole decided to pull yet another risky move, and adjusted herself on Rodrick’s lap so that she was facing him, her thighs on top of his arms around his neck. For such a seemingly confident boy, Rodrick seemed more nervous than she had ever seen him, even when he asked her to come to band practice earlier. Hell, he hadn’t even been that nervous to shotgun the joint into her mouth.

“Sorry, I just… I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. I don’t wanna be bad at it,” he confessed. Just as Nicole thought she couldn’t be any more endeared by this boy. She slid her hands into his hair, thick and soft. She leaned in and gently nosed at his jawline, placing small kisses against his warm skin. Right at his jugular, he smelled like cologne and nighttime and boy, the right mix of clean and sexy. Seemingly gaining his courage, he grabbed Nicole by the back of her head and brought her up to his lips.

It was soft, at first, merely a press of skin to skin, but the two gradually deepened the kiss, moving against each other like they were made for it. Nicole felt like her heart might beat out of her chest - or maybe she was just that high.

Feeling emboldened by Rodrick’s enthusiasm, she slipped her tongue between his lips, gently tangling their tongues together. He let out a low moan, and Nicole could’ve blacked out from how turned on she was by that simple sound. The warmth of his body against hers and the slickness of their mouths together caused a rush of liquid heat to form between Nicole’s legs. Goddamn, he was good at this. Nicole wasn’t sure how many girls Rodrick had kissed before this, but if he was a rookie at this she was damn impressed.

Rodrick’s hands, which had been resting on her waist, slowly moved down her ass and under her skirt, causing Nicole to gasp as he started to knead and grab at her cheeks - not hard, but enough to get her even more hot and bothered than she thought possible.

“Is this okay?” Rodrick asked, his voice low and rough. 

“Yeah, I’m good,” Nicole replied, running her fingers through his hair and scratching her nails down his neck. She felt him shiver beneath her, sending a heady rush of power to her stomach and lower. He pulled her closer to him by her ass, so that their crotches pressed together. Nicole was taken aback by the sensation of his bulge pressed against her, but didn’t pull back, instead grinding down on him.

“Are there still people out here?” Rodrick asked shakily. Nicole pulled back and looked over her shoulder - the backyard was empty, thank god.

“No, just us,” Nicole said, turning back and bringing her lips to his ear, biting and licking the sensitive flesh. Rodrick whimpered, grinding up to meet her, and Nicole almost lost it then and there.

The alcohol and weed in her system were slowing her reactions, but also kept her from thinking too much about what she was doing - all she could think about was how much she wanted this. Sober, this might’ve never happened - she was too nervous about what he would think if she ever made a move, constantly overthinking her every word and action. This dumb boy, who rode with her to work, who stayed to the end of her shift and bought her slushies, had wiggled his way into her every thought and every beat of her heart. She knew she was fucked.

She only wished it was literally.

Nicole opened her eyes briefly to catch Rodrick’s gaze, and out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed the red-and-blue flash of police lights. Rodrick caught sight of the lights at the same time.

“Oh, fuck.”

[crabbng]

did this on twitter for hana and bon! i’ll put all their answers under the cut, please enjoy <3

HANA:

1. what's their favorite beverage - alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic? hana likes nice, comforting warm drinks like hot chocolate and apple cider, he hasn't really had experience with alcoholic drinks 2. what's their favorite flavor? (spicy, sweet, sour, etc.) umami tbh, some nice hearty savory stew flavors 3. what's their favorite food? BEEF Clapping hands sign STEW Clapping hands sign he also like sweets, pastries and candies and whatnot 4. breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks - which do they look forward to the most? dinner cause he imagines it as a family meal, and also it's the heartiest meal 5. do they have a food or flavor they absolutely hate? bland things like.. boiled green beans.. like.. wet tasteless vegetables.. he is not a fan but who is tbh 6. can they tolerate spicy food? yeah! he likes some good heat in his meals 7. what is their favorite animal? DRAGONS! cause they're cool. also... because baby. 8. what do they wear to bed? boxers or nothing in his own home, in the castle tho he wears like. pj bottoms. 9. what position do they like to sleep in? curled up around a pillow or in a blanket, or flopped on his belly 10. are they a morning person or a night owl? he would like to be a morning person, but he tends to get excited about whatever he's working on and accidentally staying up late, which then makes him sleep in late.. 11. are they a heavy sleeper or do they wake up easily? HEAVY SLEEPER. the boy sleeps like a rock. 12. it's a rainy day, what will they do cooped up inside all day? hana has a WHOLE ROOM of stuff to work on. he tries to get old tech up and running again (with.. limited resources) or to get it to be useful in other ways. 13. do they have a favorite scent or smell? honestly... musty smell of city that was cut off and unused for a thousand years. 14. what do they smell like? do they wear perfume or cologne? a little bit sweaty, a little musty from hanging out in an abandoned city, a little like oil, wood shavings.. he smells like whatever he's been working on. he tries to just smell neutral around other people. 15. baths or showers? BATHS! BUBBLES! RELAX TIME!! taking time just to be hana. nice. 16. how good are they at cooking? it's not gourmet or anything but he can cook a tasty meal. he's worse at baking but he's practicing!! 17. what's their favorite time of year and why? winter!!! pretty snow.. relaxing quiet.. getting to go inside and get all warm and cozy.. nice. 18. do they have a favorite holiday? tbh i dont know what holidays there are in kos world... i oughta think of that.. but anything with people getting together and celebrating together is something he'd like to participate in someday 19. do they prefer buying or receiving gifts? buying!!!! hana loves giving gifts. tbh he doesn't receive a lot of gifts. maybe like.. a jar of jam one time and it made him cry. he kept the jar. 20. how tall are they, and how do they feel about their height? 4' even. he's fine with his height tbh, his insecurities come in when he thinks about what OTHER people think about his height. he definitely recognizes that he looks different than everyone he's been around. 21. can they play any instruments? not really.. he made a guitar once. was NOT good at it. 22. do they have a nice singing voice? NO! cant keep a tune to save his life, but he's the only one (besides baby) who's heard him sing so it really hasn't mattered 23. do they talk to themselves? YES! it could seem like he's talking to baby, but really... she can be asleep or somewhere else and he's just still talking to himself. who else does he have to talk to?! let him live. 24. do they enjoy music? what kind? tbh he probably enjoys "old timey" music he found in the ancient city so like.. synth pop LMAO 25. do they make friends easily? yes! surprisingly, from his popularity in the town. he had a bad first impression whoops. but he's just very charming and sweet and wants to be your friend. 26. surprise birthday party! how do they react? crying. happy crying. but a lot of crying. he won't stop. please stop crying hana. second surprise party would go over better, he'd just cry at the beginning and then have fun at the party. 27. what is their favorite flower, if they have one? hydrangea.. symbolize heartfelt emotions 28. how does your character feel about wearing jewelry? neutral? i like putting him in a lot of jewelry, but it's not something he'd do himself. besides like. his ear and nose piercings (and the other one lol) those are kind of special. he's had those since before he can remember 29. if they wear jewelry, what's their favorite piece? his teal earrings! he was gifted those (one of the like 2 gifts he's received lol) by someone very important to him 30. fashion forward or fashion disaster? fashion neutral? he's definitely not fashionable when he dresses himself (in the clothes he made himself lmao) but he's not like.. offensively disastrous 31. what kind of underwear does your character wear? boxer briefs? for comfort. that's hana's goal picking out his own clothes. comfort. 32. do they wear makeup? what kind? not regularly but he's not against it. he likes looking pretty. he likes eyeliners especially but will sit there and let u put whatever on his face. 33. do they paint their nails? HELL YEAH he paints his toenails since he works with his hands and it'd chip off. after bath nail painting time. paints baby's claws too. 34. are they quick to get haircuts or do they often let it grow out? after his introduction to the townspeople with his hair that had been grown out for years and NOT well taken care of.. he keeps up with haircuts now. he doesn't want to give people reasons to dislike him lmao 35. do they know how to whistle? through the front gap in his fangs yes 36. or how to braid hair? he knows how to braid his own hair for sure. he hasn't had other hair to practice on but he would know how to braid like.. leather cord or stuff for other crafts projects. so i think he'd be good at it. he'd learn like fancy patterns and such 37. are they scared if anything in nature - bugs, snakes, lightning, being on the water, etc.? lightning and storms definitely. he spent his formative years under a mountain, safe from all that, any sort of dangerous weather freaks him out. 38. have they ever thought they were about to die? not that he remembers. but there were times. 39. how do they react to getting sick? a big baby. snuggled up in a thousand blankets with chicken noodle soup and hot teas. 40. are they afraid of blood? not especially? he's been injured before and had to patch himself up. bad injuries tho... lots of blood..... he wouldn't do great with that. 41. how do they earn money? hana builds and repairs stuff for the town mostly in exchange for produce and such. he doesn't really.. have money. 42. are they satisfied with their occupation or long to do something else? he enjoys helping people, so in that way he's satisfied. he'd rather people were more interested in his side job of repairing old tech and making his own tech stuff but... that's not legal. 43. how creative are they? quite creative! he has a number of different crafting hobbies and is always looking for more. he's not great at like.. like if you gave him a paintbrush and were like 'paint' he would just paint whatever was in front of him. not some imagined thing. 44. do they know how to draw? how skilled are they? he's good at like.. accurately drawn schematics? technical drawings. i dont think he would be great at like. portraits tho. like. he could probably draw an accurate face but it'd like completely lifeless. 45. what do they carry around with them during the day (ie in their pockets, a bag, a purse...) 1) a baby 2) his tablet, that's what's with him all the time.. except rn in the story.. when he is without both.. :( 46. do they have a sweet tooth? OH YEAH. he doesn't get a lot of sweets where he is (he's working on learning how to bake them) so he really enjoys good sweets when he gets his hand on them 47. haute cuisine or cheap eats? hana likes good homemade food, i guess cheap eats would be the closer of the two 48. do they know how to swim? HONESTLY.. PROBABLY NOT.. boy has not been around water much 49. do they have any scars? how did they get them? nah! at this point he is more or less scar free. i'm sure he has a few tiny ones from like.. when baby was playing a bit too wildly or something and he got a nasty little scratch but nothing like... big. 50. what kind of handwriting do they have? neat, messy, cursive, MESSY. like a kid who was never really taught how to write. he usually writes on his tablet, which has been taught how to recognize his handwriting and converts it to readable text.

BON:

bon can be hard so on questions where it's not really applicable now (like.. favorite foods and the like), i'll just go with what WOULD have been the case. when he was younger. 1. what's their favorite beverage - alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic? flavored sparkling waters, he likes the bubbles. he likes high alcohol content drinks, so it does its job. 2. what's their favorite flavor? (spicy, sweet, sour, etc.) he likes fresh, citrus-y flavors, whatever category that slots into. 3. what's their favorite food? THE ALL POWERFUL ORANGE, a good orange is a treat for bon 4. breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks - which do they look forward to the most? snacks, cause he can generally eat them alone and not be judged 5. do they have a food or flavor they absolutely hate? puddings and yogurts and stuff like that, soft foods 6. can they tolerate spicy food? a fair amount, but he does have limits (he will not admit it) 7. what is their favorite animal? farm animals, especially working animals, they're nice and usually calm, bon likes that 8. what do they wear to bed? either whatever he's wearing at the time he knocks out or nothin 9. what position do they like to sleep in? huddled in a corner 10. are they a morning person or a night owl? BOTH! he's not a sleeper. if you find him sleeping its because he was probably up the past 3+ days and he just knocked out. 11. are they a heavy sleeper or do they wake up easily? if he's sleeping cause he hadn't slept the past week, he doesn't wake up easily, but if it's a purposeful rest he wakes up to a pin dropping. also re: bon sleeping, he technically can go without sleep indefinitely but he has to go into his lava form to kinda.. refresh his stats so to speak 12. it's a rainy day, what will they do cooped up inside all day? pre-incident: read! study! practice magic. post-incident: think about mortality and stare at a wall 13. do they have a favorite scent or smell? fresh air on a cool day. but he's also nostalgic about the stink smell of a tavern. 14. what do they smell like? do they wear perfume or cologne? ash and smoke. and on special days ;) burnt flesh ;) he doesn't wear perfume or cologne, he just smells weird all the time. 15. baths or showers? showers, a quick spray down and then he's out of the water as quick as possible. 16. how good are they at cooking? QUITE! bon can cook and he can cook good. he's stayed with a lot of families over the years and learned a lot of good tricks and recipes, plus what he learned from when he was growing up and would somewhat regularly cook for himself. 17. what's their favorite time of year and why? summer. he does well in the heat. also the days are longest. bon likes it when it's light out. 18. do they have a favorite holiday? bon doesn't like holidays! cause holidays come with traditions. and traditions come with expectations. and expectations come with punishments. 19. do they prefer buying or receiving gifts? giving, i guess? receiving gifts can come with a price. but it's nice to give a gift and know you expect nothing in return. 20. how tall are they, and how do they feel about their height? bonk is 5'9", he's fine with it 21. can they play any instruments? YES!!! he can play a variety, his favorites are harp and fiddle, though he also can play a mean flute, though that was mostly from his upbringing so he doesn't like it all too much 22. do they have a nice singing voice? YES!!!!! he has a most beautiful voice. he can rouse a room with a good folk song or bring a room to tears with a mournful ballad 23. do they talk to themselves? ahahaha yes. we have already seen this in comic. bon struggles with differentiating between reality and his.. imagination i guess. so. that can often lead to him just talking to himself. 24. do they enjoy music? what kind? yes! bon enjoys all sorts of music, but mostly songs you can sing along to. bar songs, shanties, ballads, he enjoys them all. he like songs that have an emotion to them if that makes sense. 25. do they make friends easily? NO. bon is both unfriendly and untrusting. however. if you are nice to him but once........... he Will die for you. and he will die for any child. loves childs. 26. surprise birthday party! how do they react? POORLY. either confused why people thought it would be a fun idea or angry that he was caught off guard. now... if you do it right..... have the surprise just be like.. a cake waiting at home or something.. a quiet night.. he will appreciate it. he Will die for you. 27. what is their favorite flower, if they have one? daffodil.. rebirth.. eternal life.. unrequited love.. perfect 28. how does your character feel about wearing jewelry? he's not a huge fan tbh. makes him feel like someone's shiny show piece. but he does like an earring or two or three 29. if they wear jewelry, what's their favorite piece? he doesn't wear jewelry regularly :( but he likes earrings! he likes little hoops that go on the top of his big ears 30. fashion forward or fashion disaster? more fashion forward than a disaster. he doesn't dress himself like.. super well.. cause his clothing tends to not last super long, but he knows how to look good 31. what kind of underwear does your character wear? NONE he's flying free 32. do they wear makeup? what kind? again, not any regularly, but will rock a good eyeliner if offered 33. do they paint their nails? no lmao good luck painting his lava nails, he'll melt ur brush, oh god and im sure the smell of burning nail polish is just awful 34. are they quick to get haircuts or do they often let it grow out? he cuts his hair pretty frequently (not well) he cuts like.. parts at a time. like 'hm this section looks a lil long' CHOP~ 35. do they know how to whistle? like a got damn bird 36. or how to braid hair? yes! he is good at this. 37. are they scared if anything in nature - bugs, snakes, lightning, being on the water, etc.? not really? he's had a lot of experience living outdoors so things that may have scared him at one point have been dealt with and most things it's like 'well i cant die so it really doesnt matter', cold and rain it's like 'well ill get real hecked up for a while but.. whatever' 38. have they ever thought they were about to die? YES! quite a few times, though not anymore lmao. one of the first times he ran away from home and nearly starved to death, the... incident, and when he was turned into a basbeo, just to name a few 39. how do they react to getting sick? pretending like he's not. pushing himself too hard until he cannot pretend anymore. nowadays tho.. he just turn into lava man and boom. all better. 40. are they afraid of blood? nah, he's seen plenty of it by this point to just not even register it. not even mostly his own! see this isn't a sad answer. 41. how do they earn money? HE DON'T! what use does a dog have for money u feel me 42. are they satisfied with their occupation or long to do something else? bon was basically a travelling bard at one point and oh boy he longs to go back to those days. his current occupation of 'guy who steals, kidnaps, murders and destroys on command' just isn't fulfilling for him. 43. how creative are they? i'd say pretty creative. he's not really doing anything with it right now, but he's a pretty imaginative guy. 44. do they know how to draw? how skilled are they? i think so! i figure that would be part of his lessons when he was younger. so he's probably.. too good at it. opposite of hana, where he's be good at portraiture and like.. pretty scenes. this also makes me think of little bon running around and putting lil devil horns on his mom's portraits 45. what do they carry around with them during the day (ie in their pockets, a bag, a purse...) doesn't really have.. a lot of things.. in the same vein tho, that jacket he wears, he's had for a while, and it's been through a lot now (i.e. the missing bottom) but. it's something he repairs and takes care of. it's special to him. for reasons. 46. do they have a sweet tooth? not especially, he doesn't like Sugar Sweet stuff, but he does like.. apples n stuff. he'll eat a peach croissant and enjoy it. everything in balance. 47. haute cuisine or cheap eats? cheap eats: more food for less 48. do they know how to swim? yes but he doesn't do it anymore cause he'll get too cold and seize up and lava man will just become a rock. he can use like.. hot tubs and very warm baths. he CAN enjoy those. 49. do they have any scars? how did they get them? well! bon had scars previous to his charred limbs (you'll see them soon) from being burned. because of.. reasons. i never know how depressing to get when talking about bon :( anyways, his charred limbs didn't happen immediately after becoming a basbeo. it basically happens when there's like.. a struggle for control between bon, his elemental, and who or whatever (maighstir, priomh, tera, his cuffs, etc.) is trying to control bon's transformation abilities. like either trying to use more power than he's being allowed, or to resist using it at all. they feel weird and crusty and leathery and warm! so the last one is kind of nice. it is unpleasant to hold his hand. 50. what kind of handwriting do they have? neat, messy, cursive, BOY CAN'T WRITE ANYMORE! he used to have really neat cursive handwriting like.. calligraphy style.

[daydreaming-jessi]

Day Five: Wedding This... took... WAY TOO LONG. UUUUUGH.

anyways, Lydia’s tux is based off the amazing works of @acicadat and @thespacehatter who both made FABULOUS tuxes for her to wear, and I am but a lowly goblin who wanted to follow in their footsteps :’3

Now onto the story!!!

“Oh my god this is the wo-orst.”

Lydia paused, her finger poised to knock on the door when the gravelly groan of Beetlejuice drifted out of the room. She reconsidered her options, before deciding it wasn’t worth the effort and firmly tapped twice on the door. “Better be decent, Beej, I’m coming in,” she called, turning the door knob and stepping into her pseudo brother’s room.

Beetlejuice was laid sprawled out on the bathroom counter, hair a whirling mess of colors. He was mostly dressed, his kippah was in place, and he was properly cleaned up. It seemed the only problem he was only dealing with was a bad case of wedding nerves.

Lydia smirked and closed the door behind her, moving to grab Beetlejuice’s jacket off the bed and flung it at his prone body. “Get up, loser. It’s almost time for you to get married,” she ordered.

Lydia wasn’t quite sure how they’d gotten to this point, holding a wedding ceremony for Beetlejuice and the Maitlands in their home. She knew Beetlejuice had a crush on the Maitlands. He told her all about it in return for her telling him about her crush. She knew that one day the ghosts finally all got together, after various nail painting sessions in which Beej bemoaned his feelings, and some rather obvious heavy flirtation from both parties. She knew that they had basically reached the gross domestic stage of dating, the trio basically sharing the attic and spending a ludicrous amount of time being gross and schmoopy together. But Lydia wasn’t sure when they all decided they wanted to all marry each other. She just knew that one random day Beetlejuice burst into Lydia’s room hollering about how she needed to be his escort for his wedding that was now on. She didn’t know how the proposals had happened, but of course, she was all in. And of course she’d be Beetlejuice’s escort, she’d be offended if she wasn’t.

Her parents were happily roped in to help plan out the wedding, and the three ghosts were a mess of love and nerves about the upcoming wedding date. It was probably odd from an outsiders perspective, why would a ghost couple marry a deadborn when they all were no longer alive and it didn’t matter anymore, and some people would look down on the polyamorous aspect of the relationship, because some people cared too much about matters that didn’t involve them, but to Lydia this whole thing made perfect sense. This was how their family was, and it made the three paranormal beings happy, and that’s all that mattered to Lydia.

Slowly Beetlejuice peeked out from his jacket mournfully, pulling Lydia from her thoughts. “What if they realize they don’t want to do it? What if I fuck up, or they hate me and they le-ave?” he whined.

Lydia sat down on the bed, shooting Beetlejuice a flat look. “Listen, bitch. Barb and Adam aren’t just going to randomly back out and just hate you. For some weird reason, they like you enough to marry you, Beej. If they didn’t back out when you tried to convince us to have Sandy as the officiant, they won’t back out now on the actual day of the wedding.” The sandworm seemed upset that she didn’t get the part, but she cheered up when they had her stand guard over the chuppah, in case any other beast wanted to try crashing the wedding. The honor of officiant surprisingly fell to one Miss Argentina, who somehow was certified as an officiant for any type of wedding out there. Apparently ghosts getting married to each other was a common occurrence in the Netherworld.

Beetlejuice looked away, but Lydia’s words seemed to be working as his hair bled into a lovely mix of magenta and green. “Maybe you have a point,” he admitted begrudgingly.

Lydia stood up and kicked his leg. “I’m always right, and you know it. Now c’mon, I got dolled up and everything to take you to marry my ghost parents. I’m not gonna let you make all my hard makeup work be for nothing,” she gestured to the thick eyeliner and pale white foundation, making her appear as a ghastly apparition similar to the bride and bridegrooms.

Beetlejuice slowly stood, putting his jacket on properly. He straightened his kippah and sucked in a quick breath. “Ok, ok. Ok! I can do this. I’m the ghost with the most! I got this!” He growled to his reflection, flexing his hands.

“Yeah, you married a fifteen year old once, two consenting adult ghosts should be a cakewalk in comparison,” Lydia agreed, smirking.

Beetlejuice spluttered at that, spinning around and jabbing a finger at the teen. “I already apologized like a billion times for that! You’re really gonna bring this up again now?”

Lydia grinned, and turned to the door, gliding away. “Creepy old guy, creepy old guy, my ghost parents are marrying their own creepy old guy!” She sang.

“I swear to whatever deity out there, I will have my vengeance on you, Scarecrow!” Beetlejuice raced after her, and Lydia sprinted out into the hall, cackling.

Delia was walking up the stairs, carrying a folded cloth in her arms when Lydia raced out, and the teen quickly hid behind her stepmother. “Fix his hair, get him prepared for Armageddon. Sure, the grooms both crawled out of a tomb, but hey, hey, it's a wedding!” Lydia sang as she peeped around Delia.

Beetlejuice appeared in his bedroom doorway looking ready to chase after, but froze upon seeing the white cloth in Delia’s arms. “Oh,” his eyes widened as he realized that she was holding a tallit.

“What are you two doing?” Delia giggled, looking back to Lydia who looked like the cat who caught the canary.

“I’m pumping Beej up for the upcoming ceremonies, like a good escort,” Lydia explained, batting her eyes innocently.

Delia hummed disbelievingly, but turned back to Beetlejuice who was looking uncertainly at the tallit in her arms. Delia smiled, and unfolded the white cloth. “I thought you would appreciate having this for today. Hasn’t been used in a while, but I’m sure my parents would be happy with me letting it be used again,” she explained, carefully setting the tallit around Beetlejuice’s shoulders. He carefully clutched the cloth, swallowing heavily.

“Thanks, D,” he murmured, blinking his eyes rapidly.

“Of course, sweetie. Now, let’s get our creepy old guy married!” Delia grinned, grabbing Beetlejuice’s arm while Lydia grabbed his other and the three started for the stairs.

“So dim the lights, pick up some rice, say something nice. It's their day to shine, they’re getting hitched to our creepy old guy!” the two sang in unison as they glided down the stairs, dragging a put upon Beetlejuice with them.

“Goddammit you guys, why??”

They continued to tease him as they went, and when they met with Charles outside of the room they were going to sign the ketubah, they roped him into their impromptu singing. “Have you guys heard of Marston? This is like that, but supernatural!” He said as he opened the door with a wink, discreetly squeezing Beetlejuice’s shoulder reassuringly as they entered the room.

Beetlejuice felt ready to strangle hug them all tight at the same time, but then he saw the Maitlands, and if his heart was beating, it would’ve stopped right then and there. Barbara was drop dead (Hah) gorgeous in her dress, and Adam cut the handsomest figure in his suit, both just looking so… beautiful. What really made Beetlejuice happy, though, was seeing they were just as nervous as he was. Adam kept readjusting his kippah, and Barbara kept straightening her veil, but when the other four stepped in, the two locked eyes with Beetlejuice, and the biggest grins graced their faces. Beetlejuice never felt more ready for this in his entire after life. It was showtime.

“O.M.G. Dressed to a "T". Fancy and formal, I found me a husband and wife. L'chaim to life. This is so absurdly normal! I was ignored, but now, I'm adored! 'Cause I was real, honest and apologized. Give it up for my ghost husband and bride!”

The three almost cried when they signed the ketubah, and they actually did cry when they said their vows at the ceremony. It was disgustingly sweet, even Beetlejuice was shockingly sincere in his vows, his eyes only for the ghost couple he was marrying, the three of them draped with the tallit Delia gave them.

When the vows were given, the glass broken by the three, and everyone finished cheering, the three were quick to take their yichud before the reception. When the door was closed and they were finally alone together, they hugged, for a long, quiet moment. It seemed as if time had froze, and the moment would stretch on forever.

That is, until Barbara gently began to sing, “We are marrying our creepy old guy.”

Beetlejuice froze, before breaking down into laughter, shoving Barbara and Adam away as they sang “Creepy old guy!” at him with wide grins.

“I don’t even know why I married you!” He howled, his kippah almost tumbling off as he rocked back with laughter.

“It’s too late to back out now,” Adam grinned, wrapping his arms around the demon and holding him up.

“You’re a part of Maitlands 3.0 now!” Barbara added, throwing her arms around the both of them. The three laughed, the wedding jitters now long gone.

“Yeah,” Beetlejuice couldn’t help but agree, smiling back dopily at the two. Eternity with them was going to be better than any experience he ever could’ve had being alive.

[rubymoon-snape]

Disclaimer: I don't own Voltron Defender of the Universe. I do own Ruby though. 

Summary: Keith, Ruby, Lance, Rachel, CJ, and Allura get de-aged to three-years-old.

Author Note: This is Keith/Ruby, Lance/Rachel, and Allura/CJ. Rachel belongs to QueenScene2, and CJ belongs to 80sGayTrashGoblin.

"De-Aged Hijinks"

It was a quiet night on Planet Arus. The castle's inhabitants weren't expecting six of their number to be affected by the previous day's experiment. However, morning's light showed yesterday's experiment had unusual consequences. 

%%%

Ruby could feel Keith's arms still around her. She was happy that he hadn't been called away to defend Arus. She adored waking up in his arms, but there was something a little off. She had fallen asleep wearing an old faded Garrison t-shirt of Keith's that wasn't too baggy, but now, it felt really baggy.

She hesitantly opened her eyes and was very confused, because there was a little boy who looked like Keith and was wearing his pale blue pajama top sleeping with his arms around her. She looked down at herself and saw she was a little girl again. She whimpered, inadvertantly waking Keith up. He rubbed one eye. "Ruby, what's wrong, darling?"

It was then that it registered to Keith that his girlfriend was much younger than when they went to sleep, but she still had her heart necklace and rose earrings on. He looked down and saw that he was a little boy again. They didn't get to say anything else, before they heard  crying from the next room over.

%%%

Rachel and Lance were already awake and had discovered what happened, but Rachel was determined to put her make-up on. Rachel, wearing Lance's shirt, stood on Lance's shoulders to see the mirror in order to put on her make-up. She couldn't do it well enough, because she didn't possess fine motor skills anymore, so she asked Lance, who is wearing his pajama top, for help.

"Help, Lancey?"

"Don't call me that, doll. Not when I can't do anything about it."

"Please."

"All right. Come down." She slid off his shoulders. "Now, hold still."

He tried to put on her eyeliner but ended up accidentally poking her in the eye with eyeliner pencil. Rachel bursted into tears, and Lance dropped the eyeliner pencil and kissed her on the lips to get her to stop crying, but it didn't work and made Lance cry because he hurt his girlfriend. Their crying was what attracted Keith and Ruby.

Ruby immediately went over to her best friend's side and held her, rocking her in order to soothe her. Keith followed his girlfriend's lead and went over to Lance's side.

"What happened, Lance?"

"I-I h-hurt, R-Rach," Lance sobbed.

"She seems okay aside from being three."

"All four of us are little kids, sweetheart," Ruby stated.

Rachel had heard Lance's sobbed confession and lifted her head. It was obvious what had happened. Her eye was still red and not just from crying, which did help with clearing the eyeliner out. "I'll be okay, Lancey."

"Rach?" Lance locked eyes with his girlfriend and held his arms open for a hug. Rachel flung herself into his arms, knocking them both over in the process. Keith and Ruby giggled, Keith putting his arms around his girlfriend.

"Voltron Force, report to the control room!"

Keith and Lance looked at each other, Keith nodding. The two de-aged pilots dashed out of the room, their girlfriends in tow. When they arrived in the control room, they were the last ones, Hunk and Pidge arriving before them.

"What's the matter, Coran?" Keith asked, momentarily forgetting he was currently three-years-old.

Coran, Nanny, Hunk, and Pidge all turned to face the de-aged quartet. "I originally called you here, because Allura is missing, but what happened to you four?"

"We don't know," Keith admitted. "We woke up like this."

"So, that's two mysteries to figure out. Where Allura is, and what happened to those four," Hunk stated.

"Hey! I'm not the youngest anymore!" Pidge pointed out.

"We need to do something! You two, find the princess!" Nanny pointed at Hunk and Pidge. "You two, find something better to wear!" She pointed at Keith and Lance. "And you two, get to work!" She pointed at Ruby and Rachel last.

"But we can't work like this!" Ruby insisted.

Nanny went to grab Ruby to put her over her knee, but Keith pushed Ruby behind him. "Don't touch her!"

Nanny paused for a moment but turned to Rachel. Lance didn't even give her a chance to yell at his girlfriend. "They can't work!"

Nanny ignored him, grabbing him by the ear to move him out of the way.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Lance yelped, cupping his ear after Nanny released him.

Hunk finally intervened. "Nanny, you honestly can't expect two three-year-olds to clean the castle and do laundry. They can't reach most of the places."

Nanny looked from Ruby, who was being held by Keith, to Rachel, who was kneeling by Lance and trying to help Lance feel better. She sighed. "I suppose, but then, they should help find the princess."

"Calm down, Nanny. I'm sure she's still in the castle," Coran said.

%%%

Meanwhile, CJ and Allura were on their way to CJ's lab, which was just the room next to Allura's room. They had woken up de-aged but had realized what happened. The experiment CJ conducted the previous day had blown up in her face. It had affected Allura, Ruby, Rachel, Lance, and Keith, because she called them there to witness her brilliance.

The reason they were headed /back/ towards CJ's lab was because they had stopped by the kitchens for snacks. No one had seen them since they used the vents, which was a little hard since they were wearing old dresses of Allura's (back when she was originally three-years-old). CJ didn't really like the dress but it was better  than the old t-shirt she had fallen asleep in. When they had gotten to the kitchen, the two found themselves with an armful of snacks each. CJ thought it was because the kitchen maids were delighted to give them sweets, but in truth, the maids couldn't deny the sweetie that was a tiny princess.

Since their arms were full of snacks, using the vents were out of the question, so they were walking down the corridor when they were spotted by the four other children.

"There they are!" Ruby exclaimed.

CJ and Allura looked up and saw Hunk, Pidge, Keith, Lance, Rachel, and Ruby heading their way. CJ looked at the two de-aged maids before she turned towards Allura. "Why did I have to wear a dress, when they get to wear oversized shirts?"

"We're only wearing these because we didn't have anything else," Rachel pointed out.

"I have more dresses you can borrow! Follow me!" Allura headed for her room.

Keith looked at the two currently eldest pilots. "Tell Coran and Nanny that we found Allura."

Hunk and Pidge nodded and made their way back to castle control. Keith, Lance, Ruby, and Rachel hurried after Allura and CJ. They entered Allura's room and were surprised to see it slightly messy. There were several, fancy, child sized dresses flung over the bed.

Ruby and Rachel rushed over to the selection, wanting to get dressed in proper clothes.

While the girls were choosing their dresses, Keith asked, "Do either of you know how this happened?"

"Of course, I know! It was my experiment yesterday! It wasn't supposed to do this, but it's fine."

"Fine? We're three-years-old!"

"Relax, Keith. It'll wear off by morning." CJ muttered under her breath, which Keith didn't hear, "I think."

"I'm wearing this!" Ruby pulled out a white dress that had what looked like cherry blossom petals swirling around the full skirt.

Rachel pulled out a dark blue dress that looked out of place in the collection of light colors. It was sleeveless and had a slightly shorter skirt, ending at her knees, when she held it up to herself. "I like this one!"

The girls hurried to the en suite bathroom and changed into the dresses. They came out, carrying the shirts they had been wearing. The boys were so mesmerized by the sight of their girlfriends in such pretty dresses that they missed the looks the girls were giving each other.

Rachel whispered into Ruby's ear, making the other girl giggle. The two girls dug through the pile again and pull out another two dresses, heading for their boyfriends. They pulled them into the bathroom and had them face away from each other.

"You two need better clothes. You should wear these!" Rachel giggled as she and Ruby held out the dresses they had just picked up.

"I'd rather just stay in my pajama top, darling."

Lance shrugged. "Sure?"

"But, sweetheart, Lance is doing it."

Keith briefly glanced over to see his best friend unbuttoning his pajama top, adverting his gaze back to his girlfriend, who was still holding out the red dress she had found. He sighed. "Fine."

Once the boys had their pajama tops off, the girls helped them into the dresses. Keith's dress was short sleeved and down to his ankles. Lance's was also short sleeved but the front ended at his knees while the back ended lower (at his ankles). While Keith looked like he was pouting at having to wear the dress, Lance was wearing it with confidence, giving everyone the idea that he may have worn a dress before.

Allura clapped her hands as the four exited the bathroom. "Oh! You all look so pretty! We should do your hair, Keith!"

Keith's hands immediately buried themselves in his still long hair. "Nuh-uh. No way, princess." He eyed CJ. "How sure are you that this is ending tomorrow morning."

"Pretty sure. Maybe 95%...85% sure. Well, maybe make that 75% sure."

Fin

Author Note 2: To CJ's credit, it did wear off the next morning.

@queenscene2 @80sgaytrashgoblin @lion-time @breadstickcat @toastess-with-the-mostess

[inumakkis]

Chapter one ; lost and found

warnings ; light angst ( okay maybe a substantial amount )

It's gonna be posted to be my ao3 when I actually edit it more because we know ao3 is superior . ( .lichtenberg is my username ! ) Stay safe guys ! I haven't properly proof read it because I'm tired but I'll probably see a mistake in a week and then fix it then after panicking .

-----

Things were always tough for Hitoshi Shinsou. That's how life was for him , he'd wake up and go to school only to be faced with the relentless bullying from his peers which his teachers dismissed. In a world full of quirks, he would much rather be quirkless.

Everyday felt like a battlefield , trudging through the trenches , avoiding any hits from the enemy and soon enough, he was at the front line. His guard was up and yet everyone saw the little cracks on how to get him down.

It wasn't so bad at first , the occasional taunt , nothing that he couldn't manage . though when he got to middle school, things got worse, kids got meaner. Well, so did he . A strong hatred grew towards the world from his bones that supported his figure.

Yet , the blond boy in class 1a would disagree . He never thought that Hitoshi was mean . No , he found his reserved and quiet . He enjoyed it . He enjoyed how he would follow Shinsou around like a lost puppy ( though Hitoshi would change that to a cat ) and the purple haired teen wouldn't spare him a glance.

Yeah , in Denki's mind ? Things were great .

23rd of June

Denki asked Hitoshi out after sitting besides him at lunch for over a month now . He turned him down.

27th of June

Shinsou had a bunch of lavender dropped at his doorstep , all plucked from the ground . He didn't even need to read the note to see who they were from . He simply tossed them on top of his desk before going back to reading.

29th of June

It was Kaminari's birthday and much to his distaste , there was no happy birthday from the boy he wanted to hear it from the most .

Shinsou knew the date , how could he not? When it was all the blond talked about within the recent week, eyes bubbling with happiness, only getting a glance from Hitoshi and maybe a nod of the head.

He would rather people think that he doesn't care then face the pain that comes with having a friend.

30th of June

Denki still hung around him , acted as if he didn't ignore the day he was most excited for out of the entire year . Shinsou didn't say a word.

1st of July

When hitoshi woke up , he had a gift at the foot of his bed and he wondered how Denki managed to break in to the dorms to drop it off. With tired eyes, he grabbed the note taped to the package .

— to toshi shinsou

“ I understand that you may not like me but I like you dude ! You think you're so tough but you're totally not . I hear boys like handwritten notes and I should know that since I am one but I have yet to receive one so it's a new experience for me too !!!!! Hppay happy birthday , I'm not mad at you . I know you don't want to be my friend and that's a-okay ! Just please let me down slowly ? I won't hang around with you anymore if that's what you want . I mean, you probably didn't like me in the first place and you wouldn't be the first so don't worry ! Pikaboy is fine with it ! Happy birthday .

Ps . A thank you would be greatly appreciated.

Pss . Also come on a date with me this Tuesday? I'll be at the restaurant down the road at 7pm . ”

Sincerly sincerely , Kaminari. :)

Shinsou paused . They were back to a last name basis now, Denki had officially removed his nickname from his vocabulary.

He pondered on why Kaminari would constantly go through trouble to make him happy and yet didn't even get a smile in return. Heck, by the last sentence , Denki seemed happy enough to be stood up publicly. Could he really do that to him though? Judging by the ink smudges on the paper , he couldn't . Sunshine boy had either spilt water very precisely or cried while writing it . He hoped it wasn't the latter. It made his chest ache and twist as he reread it four times . He noticed the spelling mistakes and how there would be another teardrop straight after as if he hated himself more for ruining the letter .

Hitoshi eventually tore his tired eyes away from the paper and opened the box which was at the bottom of his bed. He couldn't help the sweet laugh that escaped him. There would be no point hiding it now , after all no one was here to judge him or swear they say him show more than a stoic look.

It was a hoodie , purple and a few shades darker than his hair with the word ' mind fuck ' written across each sleeve while the front was decorated by cats .

Custom made , suddenly a tear dropped and Shinsou stared at it as if it had personally insulted him. He watched as the hoodie took it in , leaving the wet mark for show.

He would turn up to that date . He refused to wear anything fancy but he couldn't let Kaminari know .

5th of July

" dunce face , he isn't going to come ! He hates you ." Bakugou exclaimed as he watched Denki apply his eyeliner for the fifth time. Each time he applied it, he would cry it off .

" you think I don't know that ? I have to try though ! We're meant to help people and if my purpose is just getting myself involved in things that he doesn't like just to show that I care then I can proudly class myself as a hero !"

Mina rested a pink hand on his shoulder , wiping his eyes once more. " Come on, Danks ! He's gonna come , Bakubabe is just jealous because he can't get a date with Kiri ."

" WHAT THE FUCK DID I TELL YOU ABOUT CALLING ME THAT, RACCOON EYES— "

Hanta laughed from the background , playing some weird game on his phone . " Bakugou and Kiri sitting in a tree , K-I-S-S-I-N- OH MY GOD." The boy exclaimed as he ducked from an explosion that was sent his way .

Denki only laughed as Mina tilted his head back to stop the tears and began giving him some sharp winged liner . " Right , you look hot now go get that outfit on and get your sweet ass back here so i can do your hair."

" but I already did my ha-"

Mina out a finger to his lips. " Ah— Mama Mina knows best now hurry up . "

It turns out that Mama Mina did know best because low and behold, Shinsou was waiting right at the restaurant , 7:01 sharp. Hitoshi was far from a people pleaser , perhaps the opposite to Denki. He could give less of shit about what everyone else wanted but when someone had shown him unconditional care ? He knew he had to do something because what kind of hero would he be if he let them suffer due to his ignorance ?

" Let's make this quick." He commented , eyes sharp as he looked to the bubbly boy who had just turned up. It was clear that he wasn't expecting the other man there. His face lit up.

" O-oh yeah ! Sure dude !" Denki managed to get out as he walked inside the restaurant. It was far from fancy, that was clear . " Hey hun !" A woman gave a wide smile to Denki who wrapped his arms around her.

Hitoshi's mind wandered . Was this some kind of joke ? Why was he hugging a girl on a date with him ? Did he say date ? No he meant an outing because he felt sorry for him. That's it . Yeah -

" and you must be the boy that Denki has told me so much about - "

" AOI !" Denki's face flushed scarlet .

" sup, I'm his sister . "

Oh. . .

Oh .

That makes sense.

He looked between the two of them , why didn't he see it before ? The golden yellow hair , sitting in spikes across their heads , though hers was much shorter. They had the same smile and same eyes , the only difference was that her hair had a sideshave with the lightning bolt there.

Needless to say, Hitoshi felt dumb which wasn't meant to happen.

" that's very nice , I guess ?" It came out as a question , he had no idea on how to interact with people. That kind of went with his whole " no friends " thing .

" yeah , so get us a table , pronto !" Denki exclaimed and shoved Aoi along . " I'm going ! I'm going! There's a table over there , it ain't nothing fancy but you'll live. Your date " she wiggled her eyebrows at Denki who groaned. " doesn't seem like a people person , who knows why he's hanging with you - wait , sorry! I've been calling you a he ! You are okay with that , aren't you ?" Her attention turned to Shinsou who only managed to get out a little nod.

She let out a sigh of relief as she handed them both the menu's as they sat down. It wasn't long until she was off to go flirt with someone. Classic Kaminari's.

" She works at an lgbtq+ shelter for teenagers so she's really hyper aware of everyone's sexuality and stuff. " Denki commented , tapping his fingers on the table .

" that's good, I guess ? " Shinsou pondered their background for a moment before the blond boy pulled him from his thoughts.

" hey , my back hurts -"

" what? Why ? "

" from carrying this entire conversation." Kaminari let out a laugh and Hitoshi gave a fond roll of his eyes in return along with a chuckle.

He didn't realise his mistake until it was too late .

" you laughed at my joke ! You laughed ! Fuck yeah ! "

" wait no I didn't !"

And so came joke galore from Denki for the rest of their date . Kaminari wasn't funny , but the way he delivered each joke made Hitoshi's chest pound more and more.

He had been ignoring this .

As they walked out after a very full stomach and a very large discount, he tried to ignore the guilt eating up at him.

Denki had cried because of him, he had cried because he was ignored and he was now acting like Shinsou hadn't done anything to offend him ? What had this kid gone through ?

" so I said - hey are you listening ?" Denki pulled away from his ramble that he was on about Sero and Mina.

" uh yeah , Sero accidentally kicked Ashido in the face and she fought him."

Denki's face lit up and he continued to talk. He tried his best not to zone out this time .

Yeah , things weren't perfect but he could make an effort . Right ?

[clockworkgraystairs]

Everything I didn’t ask for #2

JURDAN FIGHT CLUB AU

Rated M

Warnings: Sexual content and violence.

After his friend Locke got them a doubtfu job, Cardan finds out things won’t be as easy as he thought. 

Maybe one mysterious girl will help him sort things out. 

Or not. 

Chapters: 1   2   3   4   5 [coming soon]

EIDAF Masterlist            General Masterlist             AO3

HAVE FUN

“I’m just saying, if I end up in some ditch tied up and face down it’s going to be on your dork conscience.”

Cardan rolled his eyes. 

For the last twenty minutes, the Roach had been complaining about the same thing. It was getting a little annoying. By the look on Locke’s face, he was already regretting inviting him.

The guy who had talked to Locke asked him for three people for the night, and since they were the closest ones from the whole bar the decision had been easy.

When the deal was closed, the man who presented himself as Madoc, had muttered some very specific rules:

-Be at the assigned place (outside the Elfhame) the next monday at 8:00 pm.

-No speaking about the job to anyone. He claimed he’ll know if they did.

-No cellphones.

After that, he’d left without another word.

On mondays and tuesdays the bar was closed, so that was not going to be an issue. What worried him though, was thinking the kind of trouble that kind of job could bring them. The promised payment, the weird man, the ridiculous rules, the fancy limousine that picked them up at 8 o’clock from the bar… 

Once the door closed behind him, he knew there was no coming back. 

Now, the three of them were sitting side by side in that limo that despite its comfortable leather seats, stinked awfully like cigars and alcohol. 

While Cardan was looking outside trying to see where the hell they were, Locke had successfully distracted Roach by trying to put some eyeliner on his face claiming it would make him look less like a cringy old man. At some point Roach’s attempts to escape left them both struggling on the car’s floor. Cardan could only laugh at the horror in Roach’s eyes. None of them realizing the vehicle had stopped moving. “GET THAT DEVILISH THING OFF MY…” he yelled, pausing mid-sentence when the door opened. 

Standing outside, Madoc stared at them with a quirked eyebrow. With a head movement, he commanded them to sit back down before entering the car. He carried two suitcases.

Locke opened his mouth to start apologizing when he realized the man was not alone. Behind him two other women got inside and sit next to him. The first one with straight half-blonde half-blue hair falling to her waist and a long black dress, didn’t even bothered looking at them and just stare through the window, her expression empty or maybe bored Cardan could not tell. The second one though, was a little taller and her navy blue dress made her brunette wavy hair stand out, he found her to be absolutely gorgeous, and unlike her companion she did survey them with curiosity in her eyes. 

Once she sat down she crossed her legs, the dress revealing a dangerous opening that ran up to her mid-thigh. It was until he raised his gaze and found her chestnut eyes looking right back at him with a playful grin in the corner of her lips, that Cardan realized he was staring, mouth half opened.

He blinked and lowered his head, feeling a rush of blood reaching his face. Madoc tapped the driver’s window twice and the limousine started moving again. 

“I trust that you won’t be climbing each other like that once we arrive to our destination, am I correct?” he asked Locke. The poor guy looking pale as a ghost just nodded. 

“Certainly not sir, we were just-” he babbled, playing with his hands. “We are deeply sorry.” The Roach didn’t say anything but his face was something between ashamed and angry, probably both.

“Good.”

Madoc opened the zipper from one of the suitcases and pulled out two pairs of walkie talkies. “All of you will have one of this for the entire night, you’ll have an specific work area but if you are needed somewhere else for any motive this is how I’ll let you know.” he gave a device to each one of them and kept the last one for himself. 

“You must not take it off, not even for going to the gods damned bathroom, understood? If this or any other of the instructions I gave you is ignored there will be consequences. Not pleasant to say the least.” his voice calm as he leaned back on his seat opening his coat. He had a gun. The three boys immediately tensed up. Cardan inhaled a sharp breath.

The girl in the navy dress snorted. Even while gazing to the road outside, she was clearly paying close attention to everything they were saying.

The man continued as if he didn’t hear her. “Now, I’m going to need your names. I don’t care for any last name. Just first name, or nickname if it suits you better.”

When none of the others answered Cardan turned to them. Locke had gone from white to green and Roach wasn’t doing any better. His heart was hammering in his chest. Clearing his throat he pointed to each one. 

“Well that’s Locke, you know him already. This one’s Roach, or that’s how we all call him.” A pause to see if he was going to correct him and tell his true name. He didn’t. “And my name is Cardan. We will attend all of your instructions so don’t need to worry about it.”

“You sure about that?” he answered, looking at the others in disbelief. “Because-”

“Gods Madoc, just give them a break.” The brunette interrupted, her voice low and silky. “We haven’t even arrived yet and those two look as if they’re waiting for the door to open so they can run for their lives.”

The man glared at her, and Cardan took those seconds to elbow his friend, hard. Get yourselves together! he seemed to shout at him. The red-haired shook his head and blinked as if he was coming back from a trance, quickly recovering and smirking to the girl.

“We won’t go anywhere miss, you don’t need to worry. We were just… processing all the instructions.”

The Roach only nodded once, still not daring to say anything but wearing a better face than before. 

The car stopped. Somehow in that little time they’d managed to get out from the city. Now the driver was parking in front of some kind of warehouse, a well maintained building even if it was in the middle of nowhere. Around them were parked at least other fifty cars. Expensive cars.

Someone opened the door and the girls exit the limo. Just before it closed again the navy dress girl turned to them, her gaze on Cardan.

“Have fun.”

~

After dropping the girls at the entrance, his group and Madoc entered the place through a backdoor that leaded to some kind of cellar and a kitchen. A couple of guys came and went from double doors carrying trays full of glasses.

Madoc pointed at a cabinet on a corner. “You’ll find a uniform there, put it on and meet me at the bar outside.”

Outside, turned out to be a huge saloon lighted up with a beckoning and low blue light, half filled with poker tables as well as other gambling stations. All of them nearly filled with people. The other area was some kind of dance floor where men and women were pretty much drinking and talking. 

The whole place surrounded by smoke, excited howls, and loud jazz and blues music. Roach whistled at the view. Cardan just wondered how high the bets actually went in those tables. 

They hurried to the bar zone, located on the opposite corner of the main entrance where Madoc waited with a not so patient face. He quickly explained the half-area they were supposed to attend, as well as the behavior expected from all of their workers. It was large, practically doubled the Elfhame’s bar size. Across it, another three boys in the same black and white uniform were in charge of the other half.  

After repeating the initial instructions, emphasizing on not dropping the walkie at any moment, Madoc was gone. People arrived almost instantly.

Rich people liked spending money, that was common knowledge. Still, it surprised Cardan how many of this (really expensive) martinis and mojitos they would dare to buy in a record time of three hours, either for themselves or to invite an entire round to some table partners. A glance from Locke told him he was thinking the exact same thing, needless to say his friend was having the time of his life flirting with some of those loaded women.  Even the Roach had relaxed by now.

“Hello Cardan.” The whiskey bottle almost slipped from his hands.

He turned around to find the brunette girl from the limousine sitting in one of the bar stools right in front of him, her gaze soft. An amused smile curved her lips. “Having enough fun?”

Don’t you dare staring at her as a total idiot again, he scolded himself.

“Good evening miss, indeed we are. It has been an… interesting experience.” He gave her the charmiest grin he could manage. Her smile widened. “The mojitos are flying away, in case you wanted any I suggest you hurry.” MOJITOS? Are you fucking serious?

She wrinkled her nose in the most adorable way he’d ever seen, “Thanks but I don’t really drink.”

Cardan nodded once. 

“Ok, uh- in that case maybe something with no alcohol in it?” It was getting harder to concentrate under her intense eyes. He took a glass and started cleaning it with a cloth.

“Maybe. Only if I get to invite you something too.”

A couple of seconds passed. He chuckled quietly. “There’s…no need miss. I am here to serve you. But I appreciate your kindness.”

“Do stop calling me ‘miss’. And I’m not talking out of kindness Cardan, I’m doing it because since I saw you in that hideous limousine I’ve thought you are incredibly hot.” The girl bit her lip and widened her eyes as if she could not entirely believe what she’d just said.

Actually his own mind had fully stopped working at the moment, but not exactly out of shyness. 

“Well I’m sorry, miss, but I’m afraid I don’t know your name.” Keeping their gazes locked, Cardan left the glass and the cloth aside and leaned to her, resting his hands on the table. She didn’t move backwards and looked up at him through thick eyelashes. “Care to tell me?” His voice came out guttural.

She opened her mouth.

“Heeeey there!” Locke’s arm materialized out of nowhere around his neck. “Are you offering this beautiful girl a drink? Because if you’re just boring her, allow me to take it from here."  He winked at her ignoring Cardan’s frown.

A flash of annoyance crossed her face before giving Locke a less wider grin. “The beautiful girl has a name, it’s Susan.” By the glint in her eyes, Cardan was almost sure she was lying. “And it’s nice of you but I’m everything but bored. I wasn’t exactly planning on asking your friend for a drink.”

He quirked an eyebrow, and she took her gaze back to Cardan, biting her lip again in a totally different way. His pulse rose again. She was not just flirting anymore.  That was a look of pure desire.

Cardan could almost listen the switch clicking on Locke’s brain. 

“Oh!” His friend turned to him, both amused and stunned. Then to her. “So I guess I just fucked up, my apologies milady.” 

After that he crossed the bar in long-legged strides, only half turning back to Cardan to give him a thumbs up while mouthing DAMN. 

She chuckled. “Was I too rude?”

Cardan kept his gaze on her. Her bright eyes, her lips, the exquisite cleavage of her dress. Gods she was gorgeous, and that damned look she’d gave him had tored him down completely. Would it be too much to rip off her dress right there? He leaned down to her again, this time at a distance that allowed him to smell her scent of violets.

A flash of Madoc’s gun passed through his mind and he froze. 

Whoever this girl was, it would probably get him nothing but trouble. Even if he wasn’t the embodiment of measurement himself, he had enough to deal with. 

She immediately noticed him and tilted her head, a silent question in her eyes. 

“I’m sorry… I-“ Cardan gulped, backing up an inch. “Maybe it wouldn’t be the best idea to… you know.”

She leaned back onto the stool, leaving one of her hands next to his. “I guess you’re right.” His breath hitched as he felt her soft fingers tracing his, slowly. “A terrible idea, Madoc would be furious.”    

Been foolish enough to ruin one of his brother Balekin’s dirty businesses had cost Cardan a life-long debt and several beatings already. He should know better than getting involved in something just as dangerous. 

He really should. 

~

The shelf rattled as her back slammed against it. Without letting go of her, Cardan kept devouring her lips as her hands tangled in his hair. 

Somehow, they’d managed to sneak into a spot behind several boxes and shelves way behind the kitchen, out of sight of pretty much everyone. If any person, besides Locke or Roach, had seeing them leave Cardan didn’t know. Or care. Mostly because his mind was went completely blank as she took his hand and led him out the saloon. 

As soon as they got out he’d encircled her waist fimly and grazed her ear with his lips. “Where are you taking me?”

“Careful,” She’d purred, reaching his neck with the hand that wasn’t holding his. “We may get in trouble if we’re seen.”

“I get the feeling you wouldn’t really care if we were, miss.” He’d teased, nibbling her earlobe. She tensed and pulled him faster, finally getting to a little corner where the light was low. She turned to face him, her breath ragged and her eyes dangerous. 

“I told you,” Her hand grasped the collar of his shirt, tugging him down to her eye-level. “To. Not. Call. Me. Mi-”

He yanked her to him before she could finish, their lips colliding fiercely. She let out a sharp gasp, her arms lashing around his neck. 

Gods, she tasted so good. She arched deliciously as one of Cardan’s hands slide down her back, then lower. Her teeth grazed his bottom lip. In a heartbeat, he lifted her onto a small shelf pushing himself between her knees, caressing her thigh at the split of her dress that had taunted him from the first moment. She pulled him closer, if such thing was possible. 

Cardan growled against her lips “Will you tell me your true name?”

He felt her grin as she slipped her kisses to his jaw. “And if I do?” she sighed. “Will you drop with formalities?”

“There isn’t anything formal about what I want to do with you right now.” 

Her next words were suppressed by a moan as his hand moved inwards to stroke her over her panties. The heat that came from her was enough to make Cardan want to kneel in the spot and eat her up. 

But not yet. 

In a swift move his fingers set aside the fabric so he could feel her exposed skin, teasing her entrance just enough to make her head roll back. 

Without stopping his ministrations, he seized her neck again prompting her to look at him. He could feel her heartbeat against his fingers. “Your name.”

She breathed twice, short and ragged, her eyes still defiant. He slipped one finger inside her, deep. She cried out and tried to shift her hips.

Cardan leaned to brush her lips with his. “I said-”

“Jude.” She sighed in defeat. “My name is Jude-ah”

She whined at the intrusion of a second finger. “Are you telling me the truth, Jude?”

Breathless curses slipped out of her. “Yes yes I am, please…”

That last word was his undoing. He groaned and moved his fingers faster. Pumping in and out until she squirmed against him. Feeling her moans in the hand he kept around her neck he kissed her again. She was gripping his hair tight enough to hurt, and shivered when he changed the angle of his thrusts to a different spot. 

Her breathing changed as she got closer, panting against his mouth. She pulled back an inch muttering his name.

“That’s it Jude, come for me.” He let go of her neck so he could clasp her hips still, rubbing with her clit with his thumb.

Jude jolted and cried out, falling over the edge with her hand covering her mouth in an attempt to muffle the sounds that were coming out of her. 

As she came down, she leaned back to the shelf. If Cardan hadn’t already decided she was the most exquisite creature he’d ever met, the sight of her breathing hard against her tight dress, mouth parted and a scarlet trace of blush that ran from her cheeks down to her breasts, shit, that would have done it. 

Pulling out of her, he took his fingers to his mouth giving her a wicked grin that made her blush even harder. 

“If you did that just to know my name,” She hooked a finger in his waistband preventing him from moving. “Let me show you what I’d do for your number.”

Jude’s hands roamed soft as feathers under his shirt, Cardan cursed under his breath as one of them headed down until she was stroking him over his clothes. 

His self control was not as good as it showed, he’d been rock hard since she’d whispered his name against his mouth when she was falling apart. And right now he could only think of Jude on her knees, taking his-

A loud ring came out of the walkie he was carrying, making them both stiffen.

“Cardan.”

Locke. He was going to kill the bastard. 

“Pst, Cardan.”

Taking the damned thing he hissed. “What?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt… again. But Madoc is looking for you. I told him you were on the bathroom but I don’t think he is going to believe that a third time, man.”

He sighed and cursed again. 

“He won’t. You need to go.” Jude muttered, getting back on her feet. Her face was serious but still got a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Besides, you’re not the only one who’s needed elsewhere.”

 Cardan stared at her. “We are not done yet, you and I.”

Her lips curved. She leaned to kissed him, her lips barely grazing his.

“Oh I haven’t even started.”

For a moment he wondered if it would be worth risking Madoc’s temper.

~

“You are so dead”

Locke raised his hands in surrender. 

“Hey don’t blame me, I’m the one who’s been covering up your ass remember?”

Cardan clenched his jaw, he knew that, he just needed to get out his frustration with someone. 

“Yeah, whatever. Thanks, man.” By the look in his friend he could say there were a lot of questions waiting for him. As soon as they get to a safer place. Cardan eyed the room searching for Madoc.

That’s when he noticed something had changed. 

Something in the air was different. Even the music was. The fluent jazz and blues replaced for faster and harder beats. 

People weren’t gathered at the poker tables anymore. Barely a handful of them. He spotted the rest at what he thought was a dance floor. None were dancing though.

Everyone there shouting and some of them clapping. Apparently surrounding something. A stage maybe?

“There you are!”

They turned to find Madoc, rushing towards them. He eyed Cardan. If he noticed his rumpled hair or wrinkled shirt he didn’t mention it. “Leave whatever you are doing and come with me. No questions.”

As they walked near the crowd Cardan could surveyed better what was going on.

He felt his face pale and heard Locke catch his breath.

The multitude formed a circle, in the middle, two men wearing nothing but trousers were circling each other. 

Both of them had bruises and blood all over.

With a roar, the broader man hurled himself against the other. They struggled for a moment before falling down to the floor. The smaller man could do little when the first one started dropping vicious blows against him. The attacker’s eyes were wide with rage, the people around screaming louder. Like animals.

A ringing noise filled Cardan’s head. Staying still as he could do nothing but stare at the blood splashing to the floor. 

“Why don’t you ever defend yourself, little brother?” Balekin laughed. Both of his men standing next to him, cleaning their knuckles.

Lying on his side, Cardan tried to lift his head, blood in his mouth blocking his words. He spit, staining the floor red. 

One of his eyes was so swollen it couldn’t open.

His brother huffed. “Pathetic.” A blow to his stomach came out of nowhere, throwing him on his back. He couldn’t breathe.

“Cardan. Cardan come back.” 

He blinked and turned, Locke staring at him with concern. They’ve met each other since they were kids. His friend knew everything. It’s ok he nodded. Cardan’s pulse hammered in his head. Taking a deep breath he looked back to the ring. 

The smaller man lay still, no longer trying to defend himself. Why is nobody stopping this?

As if on cue, a voice came out the speakers. “ALRIGHT ALRIGHT give it up for our winner, VALERIAN!” 

Most of the crowd cheered, some other cursed. The champion raised and grinned with nothing but bloodlust in his eyes. His golden hair falling over his face, wet with sweat and red.

“Lift him and bring him to the back.” Madoc pointed to the unconscious man on the floor. His tone left no space to refuse. “Now.”

~

After the fourth fight, Cardan had already got used to carrying the losers, males or females, without looking at their faces. He and Locke took them out to a room with several beds on it. 

Leave them there and return. Repeat. Were there any doctors in this place?

Matches kept going. Bets rising. 

Fighters won, fighters lost. Pick them up, take them to the back. Leave them there, return. 

He didn’t know how much time passed. Another fight was taking place outside.

He leaned against the wall and rubbed his face, waiting for the encounter to end. For Madoc to call for him. His mind kept going back to Jude, coming undone in his arms. Fuck. The door opened and Locke’s head popped in, wide eyed, motioning him to come out. The cheers were stronger this time.

“Is it over?” Cardan asked.

“Almost, but you need to come.”

He quirked an eyebrow and followed his friend. 

Locke stopped near one of the speakers and pointed to the ring.

One of the girls fighting was trying really hard to keep standing. Her unfocused gaze travelled from the floor to the crowd. Cardan clenched his jaw. It would be over soon.

That girl was taller than the other though, and tried to take advantage of that on her next blow. Failing. Her opponent swirled under her arm and connected her elbow to the girl’s nose. She didn’t even see it coming. Taking a step back she fell to the ground. 

If he thought the audience was loud before, it was nothing compared with this. They were out of control.

Sighing, Cardan entered the ring to continue his task, and froze right in his track when the winner turned. 

She stared at him, breathing heavily. Her brown hair was tied up on a pony tail. She was wearing black pants and a crop top. A bruise forming on her cheekbone. 

He gawked at her lips, now cracked and bloodied, and lower, where several scratches and purple stains covered her arms and torso. Blood covered the bandages around her knuckles.

Jude? He mouthed. 

Around them the crowd whistled, howled and clapped. It took Cardan a few seconds to decipher their chanting.

“QUEEN, QUEEN, QUEEN, QUEEN!”

TAG LIST

@demydreamer-otaku-and-book-lover​

@sensitivehighlord​

A BIG MASSIVE THANK YOU TO @highqueenofelfhame​ for helping me so much with corrections and advice since the first chapter, you give me so much courage. THANKS!!

I’m really sorry the chapter took that long! I moved to another town and I’m starting a new job and well… time is not always on my side, bUT HEY, A LONG CHAPTER AS A ‘FORGIVE ME’ GIFT FOR YOU!

EXTRA: If you want a visual of Jude’s dress, it would be something like dissss:

[archaickobold]

So! I’ve finally done it, here’s a thing i wrote

Cassius Solis, in charge of a City the size of an actual continent, has to deal with four of the people under him- Matthew Reyes, in charge of research, Laura Kay, in charge of a number of things including textile production, Vesper Cooper, spymaster, and Theodore O'Gallagher, head military officer. And oh yeah, the hivemind that is connected to his brain, made up of the immortal dictators that came before him.

This is going to be interesting.

Cassius examined his reflection in the full length mirror, leaning close as he wiped away a non-existent smudge of eyeliner. 

‘Cassius, you’re going to be late,’ a voice spoke in his head, but he didn’t even blink. 

“It’s five minutes, and I’m the Head of the entire City. They can wait,” he mumbled, continuing to go over his makeup with a critical eye. 

‘Yes, but it could be a matter of national importance,’ the voice argued again, and he rolled his eyes. 

“Or, it could be another hour long meeting of them bickering. They don’t need me there for that,” he countered, leaning back slightly, satisfied. He tugged at his white and gold coat sleeves, straightening them, and sighed. “But, maybe I should be there to stop them from killing each other. I don’t need the extra paperwork.” He strolled out of the room, not even paying attention to the staff that bowed as he passed. The golden soles of his boots flashed in the sunlight that was streaming in through the large windows, each step neat and sharp on the marble floor. The walls were covered with garish displays of wealth in the form of mosaics and tapestries made out of literal glowing fibers, but Cassius didn’t pay them any mind. He lived here, after all, so they were nothing new to him. 

After a few minutes, he arrived at the meeting room, exactly 4 minutes late. The others in the room stood, but Cassius waved them to sit, taking his own seat in the large chair behind the opulent wooden desk. He examined them- there were four of them, today. One, tall, pale, with steely gray eyes and black hair that had a few streaks of silver, cropped close to his head. Another had medium brown skin, her dark purple hair almost black. She was younger than the others, and about half a foot shorter than the gray-eyed man next to her. However, he wasn’t her main focus, as she was in a heated debate with the man across from her- He had piercing green eyes, and a permanent scowl on his face. It only deepened as the woman talked, his thick black brows creasing in anger. Despite the chaos happening right next to her, the final person sat quietly, a small smirk on her face. She had incredibly pale skin, and light green hair with a few gray streaks, her gray eyes peering out from behind her glasses. While there was nothing particularly outstanding about how she was dressed, she had a presence that was hard to dismiss. Cassius cleared his throat, loudly. When that still wasn’t enough, he cleared his throat again, before resorting to telepathically asking both of the people who were arguing, 

‘Would you please pay attention?’ He didn’t even try to keep the condescension out of his voice. The two finally calmed down after that, and Cassius relaxed slightly. Maybe they were in a good mood, and they’d actually be able to get work done, rather than fighting to keep the two of them away from each other’s throats. “Now, Matthew, Laura, I’ve heard you have something you want to tell me?” They both started talking over each other, and Cassius held up a hand, just barely holding back a sigh. They fell quiet. “Why don’t we start with you, then, Laura?” 

“He’s trying to sabotage me, I just know it! Shipments getting stopped at the border, at his border, might I add, and I need those shipments, I’m just trying to do what’s best for this City and he’s over there, trying to sacrifice what we’ve been working for, just to get his petty revenge-” 

“I was only doing it because she was stopping my researchers! They were doing their jobs, taking samples-” 

“They were kidnapping the people under my jurisdiction!”

“A small handful, that’s all,” Matthew said, waving a hand dismissively. “And their research is what really betters the City, how many technological developments have we had because of them, hm? Certainly more than the person in charge of textiles,” he spat, and Laura glared at him. 

“For your information, my sector does more than just fabric, and even if it didn’t, I’d like to see how far you’d make it without your fancy clothes.” 

“Farther than you’d make it without all of the life changing innovations that my people-” 

“Enough,” Cassius raised his voice. “Matthew, stop blocking her shipments and tell your scientists to stop kidnapping her people. Use your own, you have plenty of them to choose from. Or at least, you should, according to the census data you’ve given me. Laura, don’t antagonize him. There, is that fair?” 

“Not at all-” Matthew started, but Cassius ignored him. 

“Good, then that’s settled. You two, leave. I have more important issues to deal with,” he said, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. Matthew huffed, but reluctantly left, following Laura out. Once the door had shut behind them, he turned to the green-haired woman. 

“Apologies, Vesper. They insisted that I needed to hear their complaints. A waste of my time, as usual.” Her smirk didn’t waver as she said, 

“I understand, your Excellency. They can be a bit out of hand, however, so would you like me to take care of them for you?” He considered it briefly, but shook his head. 

“No, that’s quite alright. They do have their uses, sometimes,” he said, and the voice in his head- a different one, this time- said, 

‘Not to mention, the stability in Matthew’s sector is incredibly fragile. Removing him from power might be just enough to spur on a revolution, and I don’t think we need to remind you, Cassius, what happens if you’re responsible for a large scale revolution.’ 

‘I’m well aware, thank you. Now, would you please leave me alone, I need to focus.’ 

‘Sorry you don’t want the help of an entire group of immortal leaders, who all have far more experience than you. But please, if you think you can do this alone, go right ahead.’ The sarcasm was practically dripping from their mental voice.

‘That’s not what I meant at all, and-’ Cassius cut himself off. There was no point arguing with the hivemind when they got like that. Instead, he carefully returned his attention to Vesper, who was watching him with a careful eye. Suddenly feeling very uneasy, he quickly said, “You said you have some reports for me?” Her expression was unreadable, and he was only able to feel a brief flicker of some emotion with his telepathy before it was gone as she said, 

“I do, your Excellency.” She laid a small cube device on the desk, which lit up with a light green glow as it projected an assortment of documents into the air. “My spies have seen an increase in small skirmishes here,” she tapped an area on a map, “And here. These resistances aren’t strong, or organized, but they may be something to keep an eye on. Or, if we want to cut it off now before it gets too out of hand, I’d recommend making an example out of some of these… idealists,” she said. Her tone was neutral and unreadable, but something about the way she said the word ‘idealists’ made it seem as if it was slime in her mouth. Cassius nodded slowly, as the last person spoke up. 

“If I may, your Excellency, but I would advise against that course of action. That might give the rebels a rallying point, rather than scaring them into submission.” 

“I’m not telling you how to do your job, Theodore,” Vesper said, voice level with a cutting undercurrent. Theo just raised one eyebrow. 

“And I’m not telling you how to do yours, just making a suggestion.” 

“And I thank you both for your work,” Cassius interrupted, before they could start arguing. He’d had enough of that with Matthew and Laura to last a lifetime. “Vesper, Theo, I’ll take both of your words into consideration. I think it might be best if we enforce a stricter guard presence in these areas, but I don’t see a need to have any further action,” he said, looking Vesper in the eye, despite the fact that he was more than slightly intimidated by her. She was quiet for a long moment, meeting his eyes with a level, unreadable gaze. Her smirk never wavered, as gray eyes met gold. Just as he started to squirm, she nodded, simply saying, 

“Of course, your Excellency. As you say.” With that, she stood, not waiting for Cassius to dismiss her. She left, the door silently closing behind her. Cassius immediately deflated, sinking back in his chair and closing his eyes. 

“Theo-” 

“I’ll do my best to ensure she doesn't kill you,” he said, his tone serious, though there was an amused twinkle in his eye. Cassius groaned, massaging his temples. 

“Why,” he muttered. “Why did I ever take this job.” 

‘Because you wanted immortality, and practically limitless power and wealth?’ one member of the hivemind offered. 

‘That was a rhetorical question and you know it,’ Cassius replied, not letting the telepathic communication show on his face. Not even Theodore knew about the hivemind’s existence, after all, and he did want to live, and to be immortal, so he had to keep it a secret. Theodore, unaware of the silent communication, said, 

“I don’t know, Cassius, but you’re here now.” Cassius nodded tiredly. 

“That I am,” he mumbled, before looking up at Theo. “You didn’t have anything else for me, did you?” 

“I just wanted to make sure that Vesper wouldn’t try to kill you, or that you wouldn’t be caught in the crossfire between Laura and Matthew,” he said, a small smile on his face. Cassius returned the smile with one of his own, before closing his eyes again. 

“Thank you, Theo. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” 

“Just doing my job,” he said quietly, and Cassius had to shake his head slightly, his smile still in place. As the head of his personal guard, sure, maybe Theo had to provide him with some form of security, but he had chosen to guard him himself. Cassius very much appreciated Theo’s presence, as the one person he felt he could genuinely trust. And maybe that was because he was also his official second in command, but maybe it was also because he had proven trustworthy, time and time again, for the past 14 years. He let out a breath, pulling himself back to the present, and bracing himself for the rest of the day. He was sure he had plenty of work to do, and avoid, as usual.

[fucking-zawa-sensei]

Another Word for Family - erasermic

Title: Another Word for Family

Rating: M

Pairing: erasermic

Word Count: 10k+

Summary:

Shouta would never forget the way she’d whispered, in a voice that made it sound like she was on the verge of breaking apart from the inside out, face pressed into Shouta’s shoulder, thank you.

The words were haunting, as if she’d never expected to be saved, as if she never thought they’d keep her, as if she was still down there, in those dark labs, arms covered in bandages, being torn apart. 

Notes: A fic for the lovely @corndog-patrol for our server’s giftswap, who probably had no idea that I would somehow combine all of their prompts (1. Sexiest Mic Ever, 2. Dadmic with Eri, and 3. Erasermic formal wear) into one fic. I know you said no rats or you would scream, but there’s no way I could resist that. Please don’t yeet this into the void before giving it a chance, lmao. Love you!

Read the full fic on AO3 here

Another Word for Family

“She seems upset.”

Shouta’s thumb slips where he’s feeding his baby blue silk tie through its knot. He licks his bottom lip, tasting a bit of mango from the chapstick Hizashi had less than subtly thrust his way once he’d stepped out of the bathroom, the blond’s palm scrubbing over his freshly shaven face. Hizashi had said, “Soft…” before sliding the pad of his pointer finger across Shouta’s mouth, and continuing with, “Unlike other things.”

Now, he turns around, pulling the tie through and smoothing it down against his dress shirt. Hizashi is standing facing the full length mirror, eyebrows pulled together in contemplation, green eyes shining more than usual with the thin line of glimmering gold eyeliner penciled along his upper lid. They’re downcast, though, seemingly staring at his equally metallic oxford shoes.

The last time he’d worn them, Hizashi’s face had been dimpled by his stretched grin, eyes curved up in little crescents, happily tapping the hard soles against the wooden floor of their living room. It had been their anniversary, and Shouta had decided that while he may have said he hated the shoes when his husband practically pressed his face against the display window in the mall, he quite loved the way Hizashi’s smile seemed to inch larger and larger each time his feet skipped across the floor.

That was the thing about being in a relationship, something Shouta quickly learned the first time he felt himself falling in love with the other man, it wasn’t about you anymore.

Humans are inherently selfish, but Shouta would give Hizashi everything he had, and when he had nothing left, he’d go find more just for him, all for him.

Shouta walks across the room, coming up behind his half-dressed husband, Hizashi’s shirt still hanging on the back of their closet door, along with at least seven other options. It’s times like these Shouta is happy he only has about three suits, and that his hero work bulked him up enough that formal wear was one aspect of Hizashi’s closet he couldn’t really slip into with the blond’s penchant for wearing everything very tight.

Shouta slips his hands through the space between Hizashi’s arms, pulling the other man against his chest as he rests his chin on the blond’s bare shoulder. His palms go to Hizashi’s lightly fuzzed stomach, stroking over the soft skin.

Maybe he couldn’t fit into Hizashi’s clothes like he could in college, but he sure as hell had plenty of fun appreciating the way they looked on his husband’s body.

One of Hizashi’s hands comes overtop his, and the other reaches up to stroke through Shouta’s hair.

“Who is upset?” Shouta asks. “Right now, it looks like you.”

Hizashi snorts lightly, a forced, sarcastic laugh. He sighs out heavily afterward.

“Eri.”

Shouta’s teasing smile drops off his face, his body straightening up to look at Hizashi in the mirror.

“What makes you say that?” he asks.

It had been a little over two months that the girl had been living with them as an official member of their family. Before that, she’d been living at the dorm, hospitals, and being traded around between the teachers. She certainly spent a fair amount of time at Shouta and Hizashi’s house, but never permanently, never as part of their household, not really. It took a lot of paper work and house visits, and more than one very difficult meeting with the adoption representatives in which they discussed the morbid possibilities of their chosen professions, but they’d finally adopted Eri.

Shouta would never forget the way her eyes spilled over with tears, the way her cheeks flushed red with joy as she laughed and smiled and hugged them both with a grip tighter than he knew was possible from a girl her age.

He’d never forget the way she’d whispered, in a voice that made it sound like she was on the verge of breaking apart from the inside out, face pressed into Shouta’s shoulder, thank you. The words were haunting, as if she’d never expected to be saved, as if she never thought they’d keep her, as if she was still down there, in those dark labs, arms covered in bandages, being torn apart.

In that moment, he’d looked to Hizashi and saw a harsh determination in those eyes. It was one he hadn’t seen since the man was a boy, shorter, lankier, face shoved into the pavement, speaker prototype crushed beside him, staring at Shouta from across the alleyway where their first internship experience had gone more than a little bit wrong.

I’ll get us out of here, he’d promised, blood spilling out of the corner of his mouth, mixing with the gravel.

He did.

Shouta didn’t have to voice his thoughts, 10 years of marriage made silent communication easy.

We’re not done rescuing, he’d thought. We still have to save her.

Hizashi’s eyes bore into his, answered, we will.

Shouta sighs, steps back from Hizashi, using his hands on the other man’s stomach to turn him around. Hizashi looks sadly up at him from beneath his long lashes.

“I know,” Shouta admits. “Some days are good...but…”

“More days are bad,” Hizashi finishes. “Anymore, at least.”

“She seems to be getting more distant again, like she was when we first took her from Overhaul. I thought she warmed up so much...I don’t know why she’s reverting…”

Hizashi shakes his head, stepping around Shouta to sit on the bed. He lightly clicks the toes of his shoes together, a sad half smile flicking onto his face for a moment.

“Do...do you think it’s us? Or…”

Shouta narrows his eyes, assessing the slump to Hizashi’s shoulders, the way his arms are held tighter against his sides than usual. Everything about him screams defeated, insecure.

“Or what?” Shouta prods, already knowing the answer.

“Is it me?”

Shouta opens his mouth, rebuttals piling up inside his throat one after another, but Hizashi holds up his hand and closes his eyes.

“I just...I know I’m not doing anything wrong. I know. I don’t mean that I think she hates me or something, but she doesn’t seem comfortable with me the way she is with you. Her face lights up when you come home...she wants you to read her stories...she brings her drawings to you first. It’s just…obvious she prefers you.”

“That’s not…” Shouta shakes his head. “That’s just because I was on the rescue mission. She prefers Midoriya to the other students as well because he saved her. That has nothing to do with who you are...it will fade.”

“I know,” he sighs. “I just wish I could make her feel safe and happy.”

“You do.”

Hizashi opens his eyes and gives Shouta a soft smile, but it doesn’t feel confident.

“I just worry that the reason she’s becoming more distant is because you’ve started picking up more patrols and I’m home more than you now. Maybe she just doesn’t feel comfortable with me.”

“That comes with time,” Shouta insists, sitting down on the bed beside Hizashi. He reaches a hand over to grab Hizashi’s hand, squeezing gently.

“I don’t think it’s possible for someone to not warm up to you,” Shouta says. “I certainly did, and believe me, I tried very hard to ignore you.”

Hizashi laughs, a genuine, rich, charming noise. It makes Shouta’s heart pick up a bit, makes his skin feel a little warmer, relaxing into the sound.

“I’m serious,” Shouta says, leaning over to kiss Hizashi’s cheek. “Even if she’s still a little guarded around you, it will go away. She has a home now, for the first time, and that’s going to take some getting used to. Having people around her constantly, having someone excited to see her, interested in what she’s doing, that’s all foreign to her. I’m...calmer...you know? It’s easier for her to relate to.”

“Are you telling me I have to be quiet, is that it?” Hizashi’s pout is over the top, exaggerated in a way that lets Shouta know he’s kidding, teasing, that Shouta’s words are making him feel more like himself again.

“Well, a little quiet couldn’t hurt,” Shouta jokes back, sliding his hand around Hizashi’s back to place it on the blond’s still bare hip. He pulls Hizashi toward him, into a half hug.

“We’re a family. It’s not about you or me. It’s about us. All of us. If she’s sad, that’s on both of us. We’ll help her, we’ll fix it. She’s still recovering and it’s our job to make sure we do whatever we can to help that process be as painless as possible,” Shouta says, rubbing his thumb into Hizashi’s side soothingly. “But we’re all recovering. So it’s okay for you to have off days too.”

Shouta knows this part is important, makes sure Hizashi’s eyes are focused on him when he says it, because the other man had a tendency to put everyone else’s needs before his own in a way that sometimes became unhealthy. He also had an insane ability to manifest self-guilt out of seemingly nowhere, over seemingly nothing.

“She loves you.”

“I know,” Hizashi says, and his voice is confident, clear. A smile sits comfortably upon his face and Shouta feels himself exhale.

“Okay, now are you going to let me go to this fancy award show of yours with my hair the way I want it or are you-”

“No way! I’m doing it!” Hizashi jumps up, his energy rebounding spectacularly.

Shouta sighs, but it’s fake, and the quirk to his lips makes that plenty clear as Hizashi runs to the bathroom to grab a brush and some hairbands.

He leans back on his elbows, staring up at the ceiling with a half-smile on his face, listening to the sounds of his husband rummaging around in the drawers.

Slowly, though, his smile drops off as his mind wanders to Eri. Was she doing alright getting ready? She’d insisted on picking out her own clothes, but had hesitantly agreed to allow Hizashi to do her hair as well. Shouta bites at his lower lip.

Hizashi had been doing her hair since before they’d adopted her. Some days she’d practically skip over to him in the teacher’s lounge with a hand full of colorful clips and bobbles that one of the students had bought her.

So why had she looked so unsure of herself when they’d offered to help her get ready for the event tonight?

The door to the bathroom swings back open and Shouta is torn from his thoughts, watching as Hizashi approaches with a smile and a bottle of hairspray.

“No, no, no, none of that!” Shouta protests, sitting back up, glaring at the metal spray can.

“But it’s humid today! They’re taking pictures outside when we arrive!” Hizashi defends as he sits down on the bed again.

“I don’t care. That stuff is so hard to get out.”

“I’ll get it out for you!”

Shouta raises his eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Yeah,” Hizashi says, smirk on his face, as he drops his voice lower. He leans close, chest pressed against Shouta’s upper arm and shoulder as he whispers into his ear. “I’ll lather it up real good, my hands massaging your scalp, sliding through your hair, then down your neck, your back, your-”

“Okay, okay-” Shouta gasps, pushing Hizashi away. “Save it for later. We’re running out of time.”

Hizashi laughs, sitting back a bit. “Since when do you care about being on time to these things?”

Shouta looks away, to their slightly cracked bedroom door and the hallway beyond it.

Since Eri.

“I just want to get this over with,” he says instead, not wanting to let Hizashi know he shares the other man’s concerns about their new daughter’s emotional state.

“Fine, fine,” Hizashi says and begins brushing out the tangles in Shouta’s hair. “I’ll make this quick.”

Shouta leans into the touch, closing his eyes. As tense as he was feeling right now, this was always relaxing. Hizashi had an amazing, gentle nature.  

If he wasn’t careful, he’d end up being lulled to sleep like this.

Then we’d never make it to the award show, he thinks.

Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

Read the rest of the fic here