#should get ready ughh why do I keep forgetting things

[mortally-beloved]

forgot to buy waterproof makeup and a good amount of the makeup stores are closed

[pepper-up-potion]

Starry nights (Remus Lupin x fem!reader)

Summary: Remus has a crush on reader but never directly admits it so reader grows impatient and fesses up before him.

Warnings: the mention of the word penis (not in a sexual way it’s a joke more specifically the penis game where u say the word lowered and lowered in a public place), nothing else, it’s just fluff

Word count: 1783 words

A/n: Once again a fic inspired by my relationship 🙈. I feel like Remus is one of those people that thinks you’re already dating and forgets to make it official (much like my bf) so I wrote a fic about that. Hope you like it :)

(Y/n) is scribbling away trying to finish her astronomy paper about Jupiter’s moons before the end of her free period. She’s gone up to the library where she expects no distractions and absolute silence.

This wish is met until she arrives at her concluding paragraph. Laughs erupt from the front entrance of the library and she suspects that is all the work she is going to get done before class. Three boys sit down in front of her while she finishes her sentence. She finally looks up at Sirius, James and Remus who have just started playing the penis game.

“Penis” James whispers.

“Penis” says Sirius with a normal register. The few students close by turn their heads and look in disapproval. To this the boys start howling with laughter.

Remus fills his lungs and gets ready to scream but she cuts him off.

“Shhhh. You’ll get us kicked out.” She whispers with her eyes narrowed.

Remus looks at her apologetically as he releases the air from his lungs. “Sorry” he mumbles, cheeks red.

“We’re bored y/n come hang out with us.” Says James with a whiny voice.

“Don’t you have work to do?” She whispers sharply. Maybe if Madam Pince sees her whispering she’ll only kick out the boys and let her stay and finish her paper.

“Ughh who caressss” groans Sirius.

“We were thinking of playing a short game of quidditch. Do you wanna come with us?” Remus whispers.

“It sounds fun but I really want to finish this paper before my next class.” His face falls when she declines but he quickly covers it with an acknowledging nod.

“nerd.” Coughs Sirius.

She sticks her tongue out at him making them chuckle.

They quickly realize she isn’t going to budge and before she knows it, they were gone. Grateful for the peace and quiet she focuses back to her paper and writes down another sentence. As she ponders on what to write next she looks up and notices a small bit of folded parchment that had not been there before the boys came to visit.

Looking around to make sure it couldn’t be someone else's, she reaches out and unfolds the paper. Maybe she will recognize one of the boys’ writing and give it back to them.

Meet me at the boathouse at 10:00 tonight. -Mooney

Her stomach fills with butterflies and a deep blush tints her cheeks. It’s been a month now they’ve been going on what feels like dates. It’s always just the two of them, the activity always more romantic than the last. Remus walks her back to her common room every time and there’s the occasional hand hold during these night excursions. Neither of them have addressed how they feel about each other. It’s like a secret they’re both trying to keep from each other. A belief that it’s better left unsaid. Sometimes she wonders what would happen if she told him how she felt.

~

Remus is standing at the edge of the harbor looking out at the still water.

“Should I have brought a bathing suit? Or maybe a life jacket? How good are you with boats?” She jokes with a quizzical brow.

Remus does a fast 180 and smiles wide as soon as he sees her face.

“Do you trust me (y/n)?” He asks, smirking.

I trust you more than anyone. I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with you. It’s what she wants to say. She looks in his soft eyes. It’s like he knows the answer already. She settles with a small nod instead.

He grabs her hand and guides her to one of the small boats. He steps in first, offering his hand to help her next. With the flick of his wand the boat moves forward.

“Where are we going?” She asks, already a few guesses in mind.

“You’ll see.” He smirks.

It’s mid-October and she can already feel the cold wind stinging her cheeks as the boat moves away from the castle and into the darkness. They mostly ride in silence. There’s the occasional question and anecdote about their day but they don’t really feel it’s necessary to fill the silence.

“Were here” he says after a while.

“What do you mean we're here? There’s nothing here but water!” She says in somewhat of a panic.

“No love, look behind you.” The surname makes her stomach knot on itself and she feels her cheeks turn that familiar pink. She still can’t believe how easily he can get her all flustered.

She turns at the same time as the boat docks onto an island.

“This is bowtruckle island.” Remus says as he climbs out of the boat and gives her a hand out. “I come here when I need some time away from the boys. This is the only place they don’t know I go to. I call it my safe haven.”

She laughs but after looking at the small island, she sort of understands what he means. “There’s something sort of serene about this place. I can see why you like it.”

“Exactly.” He looks at her in absolute admiration. He knew she would see it too, it’s like she understands him perfectly, she feels what he feels.

For a moment they both stand awkwardly on the shore before Remus pulls out a pack. He walks towards the large tree that almost takes up the whole surface of the island. He pulls a blanket and two small pillows from the pack and lays them out on the ground. He looks up at (y/n) and points to one of the pillows.

“I thought we could look at the stars together.” He suggests.

She smiles and nods in agreement. She never knew Remus could be such a romantic until they started these “dates”.

Their conversations flow smoothly as they talk about the stars and classes and funny memories, getting more and more familiar with one another. They eventually fall into a comfortable silence. The rhythmic sound of the water swishing onto the shore helps her drift away into her thoughts. She wishes she could stay there forever. She feels at her best when she’s with Remus. She thinks maybe she should tell him that. Maybe she should tell him everything she’s ever thought about him. How badly she wants to kiss him. How much she wishes they could be a couple and walk around the school hand in hand to rub in everyone’s face that they are together. How she’s had a crush on him ever since he smiled and shook her hand when they first met in second year.

Her thoughts are interrupted by a sudden warm feeling around her hand. Remus had intertwined his fingers with hers. She turns her head towards him and they lock eyes. There’s a hopeful glint in his eyes. He turns his body a bit to face her and leans forward. She closes her eyes in anticipation for their first kiss when a strong gust of wind swoops their way. It sends a strong shiver down her spine and immediately kills the moment as she curls into herself and unintentionally moves away from Remus.

“Cold?” He whispers. It’s soft but there’s a light growl indicating he’s bummed. He sits up and grabs another blanket from his bag and unfolds it.

“This should hel-“

“What is this Remus?” It comes off much harsher than she had anticipated but she hardly had time to think before she spat out the words. She thinks maybe it would have been better to say any of the things she had been thinking before he went in for a kiss but she’s quite flustered. She’s fallen for Remus years ago and her feelings grow stronger every time they see each other. She just wants more clarity on what is going on between them and she’s growing impatient about it.

“What?” A panicked look crosses his face. “It’s a blanket...?” He tries.

“No Remus, I mean this.” She sits up and gestures to her surroundings. He furrows his brows in confusion. “Well, you’ve been planning these elaborate and romantic nights where we hold hands and do couple things and I have so much fun every time and I feel like we get along really well and I really like you, like I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else because you’re so kind and caring and thoughtful and funny and you smell good and you have nice hair and you’re the only person I want to take home to meet my parents and then kiss in my room afterwards.” She rambles out in one breath. Remus chuckles with a look of pure delight on his face as (y/n) pants completely out of breath, cheeks tomato red from the blunt confession.

“Do I have to wait until I meet your parents to kiss you?” He asks. She can’t tell if he’s joking or not.

“Please don’t.”

He cups her cheek before leaning forwards and softly placing his lips to hers. It starts slow and tentative but quickly develops into a desperate kiss as they make up for years of lustful temptations. Remus places a hand behind her head and one on her waist and guides her down onto the blanket as she hums softly in encouragement.

“Woooooo!”

“Finally!”

“Yeah Mooney!”

The cheers echo on the lake as Remus and (y/n) jump apart in surprise. They spot another boat on the water with three boys in it. Remus shakes his head as Sirius jumps up in excitement which sways the boat so far that Peter falls in the water. Peter pulls on the boat until it capsizes and soon there are three heads bobbing in the water.

“Merlin, I can’t with those three.” Remus shakes his head but his adoring smile says otherwise. “This is your final chance to back out. I can’t even take you to my quiet place without them interrupting.” He points his thumb towards the three who are now bickering on how to turn the boat over.

She places her finger on her chin pretending to think about it. “Hmmm, I think the benefits out weigh the consequences” She concludes.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” he says as he fills the space between stopping before their lips meet and quickly jerking back. “Just to be clear, I like you too.” He blurts with a panicked face and hands out to stop her from leaning forward.

“I’m happy we got that cleared up.” She smiles wide. “Now get back here.” She whispers as she wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him in for another kiss, the sound of the boys yelling fading out as the kiss deepens.

[sunsetcurvetaintedhotdog]

Let’s Be Kids Again ☀︎

Summary: Reader is having an awful day but luckily Luke is there to help her.

Warning: Probably some language and bad grammar

Word count: 1,766

Honestly, two more weeks left of school, and these teachers don’t give a crap. “UGHH!!” I quickly stood up from my desk because if I keep looking at all the missing assignments and projects that I have to turn in I’m probably gonna lose my mind.

Lately, I’ve been feeling like work just keeps piling up and it’s a never-ending cycle of turning in twenty assignments by the end of the week and then still being behind on fifteen more. I should be out right now not stuck inside on a Saturday. I could’ve gone to the boy’s rehearsal and just sat there. But no here I am stuck in my bedroom with papers all over the place.

I hear a knock at my door “Sweetie Luke’s one the phone come downstairs.” I quickly open my door and bolt downstairs.

Luke and I are best friends although I don’t really like saying it because it reminds me of how much I don’t want to be friends with him. I want more. I’ve had a crush on him for a while now still trying to adapt to the new feeling. I’m not gonna say anything tho it will ruin our friendship if he doesn’t like me back and just make everything awkward between all of us.

“Hey” I heard Luke’s mom talking through the other line “Luke wash the dishes before you leave please I don’t know how you could live in your own filth” on the other side of the phone Luke rolled his eyes at his mother exaggeration, there was only three cups in the sink “yea, yea, ok”. I started giggling at his antics knowing exactly he’s only saying that so she could get off his back. He’s not really gonna do the dishes.

“Hey, ok so I was thinking we could do something tonight. Reg really wanted to go to the new carnival that just opened. Something about needing to get his future told I don’t know” he let out a sigh “what do you think?” As soon as I was about to say sure I remembered the nightmare of homework I have upstairs waiting for me. “Ugh i cant i have homework sorry Lu”

“Forget about homework you could do it another day” “Lu I can’t just forget about it it’s due in a few days” Luke is now pouting “So, you’ve done a lot over the year getting a few bad grades won’t harm you come on party pooper” suddenly a light bulb goes off in his head “Bet i can win you at bumper cars loser has to buy the other one food?” He was teasing her and he knew it. Since they were little they always did bets sometimes going to far as none of them wanted to lose. He knew she wasn’t gonna turn down a bet.

“I hate you. You know that” Luke smiled in victory. “Yes, i love you too” he said with the biggest smile ever. He loved hanging out with her. More at carnivals her unmatched energy always amazed him she was so energetic and he loved it. Someone had to keep up with him right..

“Ok find I’ll meet you at the carnival” “ok see you there” I placed the phone back on the wall and went upstairs to change. Once I was done I headed out but my dad stopped me. “Finished your homework already?” “Uh...um... yea didn’t have that much apparently” yea that was a lie but that was tomorrow’s problem. I walked out and headed to the carnival which was only a few blocks away from my house.

“Hey there trouble” ah trouble the infamous nickname that Alex gave me when we were 12. Luke had made a bet on whoever can scare Mrs. Frances, our 7th grade science teacher, the hardest got to name the their band. Because of me the bands name is Sunset Curve, a huge victory for me but I can’t say the same for Mrs. Frances. She had to eat lunch with a frog that day...ops... yea no I wasn’t sorry it was hilarious but if it wasn’t for me Sunset Curve would be named Bloody Devils cause Luke thought it was cool.

“Hey Al, oh I like your.....” I was cut off by Reggie putting his arms around me and Alex. “WHOS READY TO RIDE THE HORSES!!” Yea Reg has a thing for horses that explains ‘Home is Where my Horse is’.

“Reginald relax go get a corn dog or something” Bobby rolled his eyes at the over excited Reggie bouncing on one leg. He truly loved carnivals. “Ok I’ll be right back after the corn dog we have to get our future told I heard the one here is really accurate I want to know if I end up marrying Reese Witherspoon.”

“Ok guys what do you want to do first? Ferris wheel, go-carts, games, ...bumper cars...” I side glanced at Luke and he was already looking at me. “Oh your on” with that me and him were racing to the bumper car line bumping into each other once we got there. He quickly grabbed me by the waist so I wouldn’t fall on the other people. We were both laughing and smiling like idiots. “We should’ve walked” I said wiping my tears off my face. “Yea probably” he chuckled. “Ok so Al and Bobby get to choose who wins.” i said “Ok deal if I win you have to buy me the biggest ice cream cone they sell here” he said “Ok and if I win....um I want.... “ I looked around and the saw the big pretzel cart “The biggest pretzel they can make” “Deal” we did our handshake and turned around to stand in line.

“Ok Al, Bobby, focus you need to make sure you watch to see who wins” Luke said Alex and Bobby nodded and we were off into our own bumper cars. Me and Luke were bumping off each other and hitting other strangers cars. I think I might get a neck cramp. But it was really fun and I think I won. We got off giggling “ Ok so who is the lucky winner” I asked “Luke I’m never getting a car with you, y/n won” Alex said “yea totally destroyed you dude” Bobby added. Luke let out a snicker “yea please I let her win..” “sure you did bud” Bobby patted Luke on the back and went off to flirt with a girl he had seen earlier in the line. Reggie isn’t back so he might be stuffing his face with corn dogs. “And then there were three” I sighed. Alex turned around from walking in front of me and Luke “yea well make that two there is this really cute skater over there and I think I might go talk to him so peace out” he turned around and walked away. He quickly glanced back and winked at me “have fun”.

“Ok that makes two then, you up to take me on the pretzel offer” I asked Luke, he looked down at me with one of his gorgeous smiles that can brighten up the whole town. Geez why is he making it so hard not to fall in love with him. “Anything for you” he kissed the top of my head and we headed to the pretzel cart. We ordered and sat down on a bench to eat the pretzel. He took many bites but whatever he did pay for it. Still I won so I don’t see how it’s fair he got part of the prize, oh well. “So homework is stressful right?” he asked. I groaned “ugh yes I just wish I could be a kid so I wouldn’t have to do so much work and the only thing I would have to worry about is sleeping in nap time” I rested my head against his shoulder and he rested his against mine. “ Ok then, let’s be kids again then” I looked up at him confused “what?” “Let’s be kids again, let’s ride everything here and completely forget that we have responsibilities for tonight. How does that sound” he was practically buzzing now with excitement “I’m down” I said. “First one to throw up cleans the others room for a week” he said “Bet!”. We got up and starting riding everything that we could.

It’s been two hours and I’m waiting outside the boys bathroom with a water bottle for Luke. Can you guess who won. “Ugh that last ride really pulled some strings” he said. I giggled at him handing him the water bottle. “Up for one more tho” he groaned “depends, i don’t think my stomach can take anything else. “Ferris wheel?” I asked. He nodded and we headed there. Now getting into the ride we sat next to each other and the ride starting going up. The sky was a beautiful mix of pinks, reds, yellows, and blues. He wrapped his arm around my waist and I laid my head on his shoulder while we just admired the sunset. Well i did, I didn’t know that Luke wasn’t looking at the sunset he was looking at me like if I were the most beautiful painting he’s ever seen.

“Y/n...” i glanced back up and what he did next really surprised me. He pushed his lips against mines and I didn’t react I was frozen in place. He was about to pull away when I finally starting kissing back. He took his hand and put it on my cheek and I tangled my hands in his hair. This was amazing I always loved carnivals because of the adrenaline a ride gave you but this completely ruled out that feeling it felt passionate and warm. My stomach was doing flips and I was loving it, everything about this moment was just perfect.

When we finally pulled away we pressed our foreheads together still with our eyes closed “You don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to do that” he let out a shaky breath “then do it again” I whispered. He leaned back in to kiss me. This kiss went on a little longer and it was even more passionate than the one before if that was even possible. Now there was nothing stopping us we both know how we feel about each other and we can be together now.

Now not only do I have my best friend with me constantly but I think I might have found my soulmate. I am completely utterly in love with Luke Patterson.

[rose-petal-spam]

Gift

Children were not an option with schlatt, but life likes laughing in the face of her plaything's plans.

A Dark figure stood outside Schlatts front door holding a sleeping baby boy. They gently placed a kiss on his head, setting him down in a basket of soft chubby flesh with curly blonde hair contrasting to the red blanket and white envelope setting in his lap. Soft sweet words and melodies kept the child's mind at ease as the figure rang the doorbell scurrying away from the scene of the crime leaving soft coos and cries on the doorstep of Schlatts house.

-----

Who the fuck could be up at 12 o’clock in the fucking night? Ughh if it Connor or ty I swear I’m going to skin their asses.

I can’t see shit in this fucking pitch-black house!

the hallway should be around here somewhere, oh great here it is.

fuck! the peephole is too tall, all I can see is the street which of course is empty.

Probably just the neighborhood kids playing a prank but I was supposed to get a package today with a schlattcoin in it.

The door squeaked slightly open summers lingering warmth invading the perfectly cool house.

the porch looked empty at least-

A small child sat in a basket slept soundly under the porch light golden fizz crowning him like a halo.

“What the fuck??”

Did someone just fucking leave a baby on my doorstep?

I glanced down the still vacant block, nothing had changed. No slow cars or anything, just a baby in a basket with a letter sitting on my fucking front door.

What do I do?

I-

I could just walk away from this definitely is not my problem in the slightest.

God damnit I can't just leave a baby on my doorstep-

fuck!

fuck Shit ass just FUCK! WHAT THE HELL DO I DO WITH THIS?

"Hey um did someone leave their baby on my porch?"

,,,

fuck. welp I just take him in and then drop him off at the orphanage in the morning

yeah they'll be able to take care of him, he'll be in good care.

yeah, then this whole weird dream can be over.

okay, kid let's get you inside whoever left you on my doorstep must be really upset.

ugh, fuck, it's too fucking dark in here to see anything.

Where was the floor lamp again?

Fucking! where is the stupid twisty thing

ah there!

the lamp flickered to life illuminating the dim living room, soft black second-hand couches with mismatched coffee tables, and a flat-screen TV. Half of the stains on the couch had been made by Connor at this point, and Ty always insisted on using a cozy on the coffee tables to not leave a watermark despite the countless others already there.

okay um, he'll just sleep in the basket tonight.

wait aren't babies supposed to sleep a certain way?

Maybe I should let him sleep in the bed with me?

fuck what if I accidentally move and sleep on him though-

yeah, let's just keep him in the basket what's the worst that can happen-

I'll just sit on the couch and yeah

I’ll just sit here and make sure he's' okay.

Then in the morning we can drop him off and find his mom and dad.

yeah,, just um sit here and make sure he's okay

,,,

Oh fuck- the letter

how the hell did I forget- and why the hell haven't I read it yet it literally had my name on it

,,,,

,,,

,,

fuck.

'I'm sorry to drop him off on your front door but I can no longer support him'. 'He is your son'. 'His name is Tommy after my grandfather Thomas'. 'please take good care of him'.

that bitch-

she just- after having the kid can't even go and support him!

I mean I would have-

I would have fucking helped out if I knew!

How haven't I heard anything about this?

fucking hell, I have a kid- I'm a dad now I guess? how the fuck-

I don't know the first fucking thing to being a dad

wait fuck am I ready to be a dad?

would I even make a good dad- I run a fucking scam business

how am i-

Small sounds came next to me, the small wiggling infant was stretching himself out kicking the blanket away. His bright blue eyes glanced at the world around him before falling shut again. I don't know why, but everything in me just swole with pride looking at his stupid ravioli sized fist and beautiful blue eyes

i-

I can't drop him off at the orphanage tomorrow

fuck

I can't just leave him.

I um

I guess I am a dad now? fuck I'm not prepared at all for this.

A small tight squeal erupted next to me as Tommy wiggled upset by something.

Fuck-

"fuck um- wait- shit no-no"

fuck I don't want to hurt him-

"shh shh it's okay little guy I got you it's okay"

his soft body fit in my arms as I gently cradled him, rocking him back and forth as he softly fell back into a deep sleep.

Okay yeah, yeah I um.

I can do this.

I'll be a good dad for you toms.

-----

A tale like any other filled the room: big happy balloons and birthday cake sitting on a table with a now 8-year-old Tommy sitting across from Jschlatt. The candles had long since lost their wish powers and gifts already opened and played with. Connor and Ty were sipping on their drinks listening to the story of how we got here with frosting-covered silverware and a now 9-year-old boy casually adding their comments on how Jschlatt didn't even know how to change a diaper before ty stepped in. Jschlatt had just finished his story of the now happiest day of his life.

"-and that Toms is the story of how I became your dad"

Tommy looked amazed and confused, his brows furrowed in thought.

god, he looks so much like me when he does that.

his horns should start sprouting soon too if I am correct.

"So I was your gift," he finally responded, "like from the Easter bunny?"

Conor snickered, remembering the panicked phone call he got that night at 1 am with Tommy crying in the background while I pleaded for him to come over and help. It was far from a gift at the time, more like being shoved into a car going 40 miles an hour with no clue what to do.

But I gotta bite. I would never trade it for anything in the world ever.

"Yeah, and to this day it's the best thing he ever got me way better than chocolate in my humble opinion"

yeah, the best gift I could have ever been given.

-----

This took a lot longer then the first fic ill admit but its also twice as long so i hope you guys injoy it just as much.

also again thank you gheysnakelady or @dadschlatt-tommyau for this amazing au i really like it.

[thejolexgroupchat]

the one where they met in med school - part seven

Jo’s first day at Seattle Grace

Be sure to check out our Master List for parts 1-6

You guys really have no idea how much Nat, @iamtrebleclefstories​ and @doc-pickles​ love writing this story.

(July 2007)

"You ready?" Alex asked as he looked at Jo in the passenger seat and Lexie in the back. They were sitting in the hospital parking lot, Jo and Lexie taking in the fact that today was the first day of their intern year. "You don't want to be late on your first day. Trust me, you want to hear Webber's speech. And I don't want to be late to meet my interns."

"Do you guys already know who you have?" Lexie asked. She wasn't originally supposed to come to Seattle. She had a top tier surgical residency waiting for her at Mass Gen, but when her mom died about a month ago, she got rematched at Seattle Grace to be closer to her father. On top of that, Lexie had just found out that she had an older sister who was working in this very hospital.

"No, we find out when you do," Alex shared. "Are you sure you don't want me to talk to Meredith? She's a good person. A bit emotionally stunted, but she's a good friend."

"No, Alex it's fine," Lexie shook her head. "I think she should hear it from me."

"Okay. I'm going to go inside. I'll see you guys later. Maybe if you're lucky you'll be on my service," he leaned over to the passenger seat and gave Jo a peck on the lips before getting out of the car. "Don't forget to lock the door."

About an hour later, Jo and Lexie were in the locker room, waiting for Webber to share which resident they would be working under. He went through the list of residents and called out interns.

“Alright everyone listen up. I am going to assign you to a resident. When I call your name, you will go find your resident in the hallway and await instructions. Trimble, Franklin, Morales, and Bozniack you’re with Stevens. Harrison, Allen, O’Malley, Johnson, and Phillips with Grey. Lawrence, Crowley, Vega, Brown, and Grey you’re with Yang. Last but not least, Hernandez, Jenkins, Davis, and Wilson, you’re with Karev.”

Jo and Lexie exchanged a glance. Jo knew that being on Alex’s service was always a possibility, however, she never thought it would actually happen. That would make things much more difficult than she’d anticipated. Prior to starting, Jo and Alex had agreed to keep their relationship private. Aside from Lexie, no one would know that the two of them were together, so that if Jo got to scrub in on a surgery or was handed a case, it was because she was good and not because she was dating a resident. But what was once a possibility, quickly became a reality, and they were going to have to learn how to deal with this situation if they wanted to keep their relationship private.

Soon after Webber assigned the interns to their residents, they all left the room, leaving only Jo and the other three residents there.

Jo was organizing her locker when she heard the others gossiping about Alex.

“Ughh, what was I even expecting from this? I have the worst luck ever. Of course I was going to end up with the douchiest resident. You guys heard about him, right?” Jenkins complained, Jo’s eyes glued to the objects in front of her.

“Yeah. His reputation around this place is not the best. I heard he is really good, though. Not everything is lost yet. Let’s wait and see,” Hernandez tried to be positive.

“I heard that too. Looks like he is really talented and hardworking, but I heard that if you’re not one of them, he will treat you like trash no matter what. One of the residents in his class, that is,” Davis added, making Jo’s heart sink a little.

If only they knew a bit more about him, they wouldn’t be so quick to judge. She knew that her boyfriend wasn’t the easiest person to deal with and he still had a lot of growing and learning to do, but he had the biggest heart. Hearing the other residents talk about him made Jo sigh.

“What about you, Wilson? Things aren’t looking good for him already. Dude is already late. First thing he does is make us wait for him. Ever heard anything about the guy?” Jenkins asked Jo, forcing her to pull her head out of the locker and interact with them.

“Not really, to be honest. Maybe he’s not that bad. I’m not the biggest fan of judging people before actually knowing them. Maybe the three of you can give it a shot? Soothes the soul a bit,” Jo gave them a sarcastic smile after closing the locker aggressively. She knew she shouldn’t be doing that. Getting into arguments with the people she was going to spend the next five years of her life glued to. Especially not that early into the thing, but she wasn’t about to let them say bad things about her boyfriend without giving him a chance. And she wasn’t wrong. They really shouldn’t judge him before knowing nothing but his name.

“You find him hot, don’t you?” Hernandez smiled at her. "You saw him earlier when Webber was giving us the tour and you thought he was hot."

Jo didn’t want to blatantly lie to them, so she was more than thankful for the moment Alex interrupted and entered the room.

“Hernandez, Wilson, Jenkins and Davis, come,” he ushered them to get ready.

Alex guided the four interns to the hall before glancing at his girlfriend, who was supporting a poker face like he had never seen before. Still, he could see through it with ease. His face twitched into a crooked half-smile, causing Jo to roll her eyes ever so slightly.

Although he couldn’t pretend he wasn’t excited about having her closer to him, he was worried that their original plan was going to be even harder than they had thought it would be. Knowing that she was going to be so close in proximity to him after a year of being an entire country apart, was going to severely push his restraint.

“So, I’m Dr. Alex Karev and I’ll be your resident. I have five rules, and you’ll have to use your underdeveloped brains to memorize them,” he started walking after noticing Jo was trying hard not to laugh at the things he was saying, but still keeping a straight face.

“Rule number one: don’t even think about kissing my ass. It won’t work. I already hate you, and that’s not gonna change. Rule number two: run! Trauma protocol, phone list, pagers, nurses will page you. You will answer every single page at a run. Your first shift starts now. I have no idea how long it will last. It’s not my problem. You should know that. You’re interns, grunts, nobodies, bottom of the surgical food chain. You run labs, write orders, work until you drop and don’t complain. I am not going to raise whiny babies,” he stopped in front of a door and eyed the four people in front of him before opening it and walking inside the room. “On call rooms. Attendings hog them to sleep or do other things. You will sleep when you can, where you can, and I don’t want to have to

find any of you doing the nasty anywhere, understand? Rule number three: if I’m sleeping, do not wake me, unless the patient is dying. Four: the dying patient better not be dead when I get there.”

Jo’s eyes shined teasingly as she raised her hand, “You said five rules. That was only four.”

Alex tried not to smirk as his pager went off, “Rule number five: when I move, you move. Let’s go.”

***

Jo’s first shift ended after thirty-six hours. She was completely and utterly exhausted, every muscle in her body protesting as she walked the two blocks from the hospital to her apartment. When she finally made it in the house, Alex was waiting for her with a beer and pizza in hand. He guided her to the couch and helped her sit down.

Jo groaned as her body sank down into the cushions, “I feel like I want to just curl up into a ball on this couch and sleep forever.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right,” Alex chuckled. “I know you’re exhausted, but I need you to eat before you pass out, so take the pizza and beer.”

“I thought you said you hate your interns and that’s not gonna change,” Jo raised her eyebrows. “You’re being awfully nice to me, Dr. Karev. I hope you don’t think that this means I’ll sleep with you. Because even if I wanted to, I think I’m too tired to do anything.”

“Shut up,” Alex rolled his eyes. He looked at her suggestively. “And, you know I don’t mind doing all the work. It might be good for you, ya know? Like a stress reliever. All it will cost you is making sure you get some food in your system.”

“Are you offering to service me?” Jo laughed. This was reason one hundred fifty-seven of why she loved this man. “Is this something you do for all your interns, Dr. Karev?”

“Only the ones I’m in love with,” Alex leaned across the couch for a kiss. “Trust me when I say, I am very eager to please you.”

“You’re so dirty!” Jo giggled and pushed his shoulder lightly. “But, I may have to take you up on that offer.”

The pair talked and laughed while they shared their meal. It was nice being able to spend time together again and finally be on the same page. Agreeing to finish their food, they sat there in silence for a while before Jo spoke up again, “Are you sure this isn’t a conflict of interest? Me being your intern?”

“It might be,” Alex sighed. “I have a hard time telling you no, or when to stop because I respect you and I love you. But I also know that going easy on you would only be a disservice to your career, so I’m going to do my best to let you know when you’re in need of improvement.”

“Thank you,” Jo brought her hand up to his face. “I’m really happy that I’m here.”

“So am I,” Alex grinned. “So, what do you say we go to the room and I’ll… help you relax.”

“Three and a half years in and you still have a one track mind,” Jo shook her head, an amused look on her face.

“What can I say?” Alex shrugged. “I have a super hot girlfriend and can’t get enough of her.”

[deathpuppies12]

The Bombing of Emotions

Cloud!

We stop by our place to drop off my things and then we're off to the train station. This is the first time I have been on the train I think. Cloud puts his hand on my shoulder, "stick with one of us please". I nod my head, Cloud and Tifa seem to already drift towards each other. Barret said we shouldn't stay in big groups so I decide to sit in the same cart as him. I take a seat next to him, "Spikey-ass send you in here", he asks. "No but he told me to stick with somebody and him and Tifa seemed to already stick to each other so figured it would be better to come by you", I say. He chuckles and ruffles my hair. I'll take that as a 'I did good'.

I sit quietly until some man in a suit starts talking loudly about Avalanche. Barret stands up and stalks towards them, shit what do I do. Cloud enters the cart, thank goodness. I take a deep breath, I stair some where else trying to not seem suspicious. Cloud takes care of the situation swiftly. Then the train passes through a weird red laser thing. What is this, are they gonna kill us. "Suspicious ID's sensed", what does that mean. "Shit", Barret mumbles, why shit, what's happening.

Cloud grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet. We pass through another laser thingy. "Sending in security". "Come on", Cloud drags me to the train door. "Wait what are you doing", I yell. These weird robots crash through the windows before Cloud can tell me what's happening. Tifa punches this weird button that slows us down. Barret opens the train door, wait OPENS THE TRAIN DOOR. We're gonna jump off the train! "Barret take her with you", Cloud yells still fighting the weird robots. "Got it", Barret picks me up like a sack and jumps out. I brace my self for a ruff landing, shutting my eyes.

I don't hear anything, are we dead. "No were not dead", Barret says. "Oh shit I said that out loud". "Yeah you did, how old are you anyway", Barret asks. "14, why". "Well you sure curse a lot for a 14 year old, anyway come on we gotta find Tifa and Cloud".I do my best to help Barret out with the guards but, it's proving more difficult because he keeps yelling things. I'm so used to Clouds silent battles only occasionally speaking when asking my for a cura. Cloud's sword is also a lot more quiet then Barret's gun. "Barret", I hear a female voice yell.

I only get a second to glance over before one of the guards nocks me down with his weird stick thing. What are those anyway? I feel my head start to bleed a little bit, "what the hell", I shout. "Ahhh", Cloud jumps over head and takes him out. "Cloud", he pulls me to my feet and checks my head. "You good", "yeah just a little scuffed is all". "Damn kid, had me worried for a sec", Barret says. He ruffles my hair again, why does he keep doing that. "Come on we gotta move", Cloud rushes on ahead.

It takes us longer to get to we're we need to be because we keep running into these snake things. We passed most of the time talking about all our different lettered plans. Some how we found our way by looking at these street paintings of dogs. How we did that I don't know, I dazed off a while ago. We make it to a big room with an even bigger robot in the center. "Tifa get back", Cloud lunges forward and moves her out of the way. It comes to life and swipes everyone over to the side. Of course it decides to lock onto me. I rush behind some shipping containers. Shit what am I gonna do, I peak out to see if it's still looking for me. It seems Cloud gained its attention. Thank Shiva, I step out and cast Bolt on it's stupid-ass. I stunned it, "YEAH TAKE THAT FUCKER"! "(Y/n), can you not yell and swear please", says Cloud. I only shrug, I'll blame it on Barret later.

We finally finish that bit- I mean robot off. I need to get ahold of my language. Barrets so excited he starts singing. I laugh, I like these people and I hope we stick around and help them more. "Wow (y/n) you did great", Tifa compliments me. "See Cloud I told you this would be a good idea", Tifa teases him. They are so dating, their not even trying to hide it anymore. I wanna tease Cloud about it but refrain. We continue on and now we're standing on the platforms right under the plate. Holy shit we are high up.

"We're gonna have to walk along this to make it the rest of the way". "What, Barret please tell me your joking". "Sorry kid, I don't like heights either".

We go along the underside of the plate successfully. We even got new materia out of it, which is always great. Cloud even gave me a summon, I can't wait to see what's in it. We meet up with Biggs and head inside the Mako Reactor. It's crazy in here, there's so much mechanical stuff.

We stop at this weird pit full of blue stuff which I'm assuming is mako. Looks like a smoothie although I'm willing to bet it doesn't taste like one. "Ughh", Cloud groans in pain. Oh no it's happening again, Cloud's getting another one of his weird headaches. "Cloud are you ok", I put my hand on his shoulder. Tifa leans in front of him trying to get his attention. "Tifa", Cloud says. "What".  "Nothing". That was weird, I don't think Cloud has ever spoken any ones name before like that after his headaches.

We plant the bomb and are now on our way out. Before me can make it to the latter it retracts and a big hologram of some old dude shows up. "Greetings my dear sewer rats! As architect of our populace engagement campaign I, Heidegger, head of public security... bid you welcome". What the hell is happening. The voice continues, "You should be flattered. Right now, you command the attention every person in Midgar". Everyone in Midgar is watching us. Barret pushes me behind him, "you don't need to be dragged into this", he mumbles to me.

The goes on to say, "And so, to a people beset by Chaos and uncertainty, we will offer the finest comfort: Bread and circus". "The big boy", Barret says. "I give you Shinra's latest triumph of technology. The airbuster! You're executioner." Well this is definitely not the way I thought I was gonna die. The voice finally finishes and the door I front of us opens. "Come on", we follow Cloud on ward. We stop by a few rooms to make are battle easier. Maybe this won't be so bad. Especially sense Cloud was a Ex- whatever. We finally come to a big open gap with a simple run way going across. This is it, the big battle. Out of nervousness I grab onto Clouds arm protection thing. Cloud slightly pulls back but my anxious hold is to stubborn.

I huge hologram appears in front of us again. This time it's a different old man. "President Shinra"...

"Oho. The eyes of one who has bathed mako, which would make you a SOLDIER". "Ex-SOLDIER". "Once a SOLDIER always a SOLDIER, oh and who is that behind you". He gasps, and whispers something to someone. Is he talking about me, I hide behind Cloud more. "It seems you've had the child I've been looking for this whole time". Looking for me, why would he be looking for me. Cloud throws his arm out to block me.

"Are you forgetting someone", Barret yells. "Of course how could I forget, you strike me as someone who goes on without end". "Ain't enough hours in the day to hold you to account for all your crimes". "And what a wasteful indulgence it would be even if there was". "You wanna talk about wasteful, what about mako! The life blood of the plant, and drying it all up". Barret and the hologram man go back and forth for a while.

When I final thought this was over the big robot is behind us. "You ready", Tifa says. "As ready as I can be", I say. This is the hardest fight we've ever been in, But before I know it we won! The robot fires off exsvplosives as a last defense. They hit the run way we're standing on, Me, Tifa, and Barret all get shot backwards. Wait where's Cloud, I look over the broke edge to see him holding on. "Cloud"! "Barret get Tifa and (y/n) out of here". "No Cloud", Tifa yells. Barret grabs Tifa throws him over his shoulder and pulls me by arm. "Cloud"! Before going throw the door I see him fall. "NO"!

[imnotwolverine]

The girl next door - Roof roof

The Girl Next Door - Chapter 2 ROOF ROOF

<Chap 1 | Chap 3>

Summary: A spring shower forces Lizz to call in help from Henry and apparently there is more to be fixed than just Lizz’s roof. 

Word count: 2.294

Warnings: strong language, teasing fluff

(Link to my Masterlist)

It had been two weeks since Lizz met Henry, and it was safe to say a good neighboured friendship was budding. 

As the British countryside sprouted with young life, the two of them found some much needed social diversion in each other, a daily routine keeping them sane while the COVID-19 virus wreaked havoc around the globe.

No parties, no friends, no family, no colleagues..and practically no work. It could make a good man go mad. And thus the two of them were quick to find a shared routine which was followed with religious precision.

It would start in the morning with Henry leaving his house to walk his dog, Kal.

The big akita would rush off as soon as the gate was opened and Henry would yawn, stretching out as his feet blindly carried him down the small road, only to halt when they reached the hedge of Lizz’s garden. Kal would be there with her, fetching all the rubs he could get before Lizz would pat his butt, sending him off back to Henry. Then Henry and Lizz would chat for a moment and Henry would excuse himself with a sheepish smile, making Lizz chuckle with delight.

No matter how many times they went through the routine, it still brought her great amusement when he’d shuffle on his feet, his thoughts somewhere between wanting to stay and not wanting to disappoint his dog and forgo their morning walk. And so Lizz would shoo them off, telling them tea would be ready at their return.

And it always was. Just in time for the moviestar and his hound to return, Lizz would set down two dainty cups of tea, the hot liquid in the cups steaming in the soft morning light.

Sitting down at either far end of a garden table, the two would speak about their plans for the day. And every day Henry would offer to help Lizz out with her plans, and every day Lizz would kindly decline.

‘I’m not sure why you keep saying that mr. Cavill. But truly. I’m a grown woman, I don’t need a knight in shining armour to help me with..well..this.’ She flared up her arms, indicating everything and anything around her. The list of things that still needed to be renovated and changed in this ruin of a house was endless, so she was sure he got the gesture.

He snickered and sat back in his clanky reed wreathed chair, moving the dainty cup of tea to his lips as he shrugged. The man was way too big for both the chair and the tea cup.

‘Well, then let’s say we are both obnoxiously stubborn: I keep offering my help and you keep rejecting me. There’s that.’ He hid his grin behind the cup, blowing gently before taking a sip.

‘Whatever floats your boat Hen.’ Lizz lilted, rolling her eyes.

‘So.. looks like it’s going to rain.’ He eyed up at the sky, the sun not to be seen as thick grey clouds stretched as far as the eye could see. ‘Yea, you better hurry before your sugar butt gets wet.’ Lizz sniffled. ‘Eyy..no calling me that missy. Some friendly neighbourly advice for you; don’t call them sugar butt.’ Henry retorted, a hint of playfulness in his low baritone voice. ‘Well, then some friendly neighbourly advice for you in turn; don’t call ‘em missy. MISSY! Here girl, prrt prrt, come on then!’ Lizz chirped, gesturing an imaginary pooch to come over. She laughed when she noticed Kal sitting up from his spot next to Henry’s legs, ears twirling at her high pitched voice.

Henry nickered, his cheeks dimpling as he shook his head. ‘Well, alright then. I apologise, Lizz. But ehm.. we really should be going now. Sugar butt or not, there’s no fun in tea parties in the rain. Thanks for having me and eh..see you around.’

‘Yea, yea it’s fine. See you Henry, have a good one.’ She smiled, her eyes following Henry - and his well rounded butt - as he lifted himself from the chair, his long legs stepping back over the little stone wall of her unruly garden.

He looked back once more: ‘And my offer still stands!’ He smiled, waving at Lizz. ‘Thanks, but no need!’ Lizz grinned, also getting up and quickly gathering the cups of tea as the first splatters of rain started to fall.

Living in England meant that rain was an inevitability. But this much rain? For so long? The gods sure had a laugh right now as Lizz had gathered every pot, pan and bucket in hope of keeping her house somewhat dry.

It seemed futile though, as the old roof of the house had more in common with a colander than with an actual roof.

‘Oh COME ON.’ Lizz cried, hasting into her bedroom as she found that the water was streaming right onto the mattress of her bed. ‘This can’t be…’ She tugged on the creaky metal frame, pulling the bed back a few inches. ‘..happening.’ Frowning she looked up at the heavenly water, pulling a face as she flashed her middle fingers. ‘And…YOU can go..suck it!’

In case you wondered: Yes. Lizz’s life was going…swimmingly.

Not only was she right now flipping the finger at a bit of rain water, she also had just received word that her ex was back in England. Her hot, hard to forget about, musician ex-boyfriend, Luis.

They had been in an off-and-on-again relationship, but ever since Luis’ band had gotten more fame, his schedule swamped with a world tour, it had been awfully quiet between the two. Was this them breaking up for good? Lizz didn’t want to think of it, and yet..perhaps..just maybe..she kept a slither of hope. And maybe, just maybe..she had just spent a good hour staring at his Instagram stories instead of preparing for the oncoming storm.

Ugh..she wished she could give herself an ass woopin’ for being such an idiot. But alas, this was were it was at.

And this bed? Well, it was beyond saving, she realised, the mattress already having soaked up a large amount of the water.

Leaning against her small wardrobe she sighed, repeating the mantra she had been muttering while scattering all pots and pans around the house.

‘It’s just water..Justttt…water..No need to panic. All will be fine. Breathe…’ She repeated the words again and again, but quickly enough her last bit of resolve slipped away and her restless legs carried her back downstairs, her hands grasping for her rain coat as she flung open the front door.

She hated to admit it..but..she needed help.  

*WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF*

Kal barked in alarm.

‘Calm boy, calm.’ Henry’s voice soothed the large Akita as the door was opened, Henry’s head popping around.

‘Oh.. Hey!’ Henry couldn’t help but grin as he was greeted by a near soaked Lizz, her small figure gloomily standing in front of his door.

‘Hi…’ Lizz sulked, a deep frown etched on her face.

‘Quite the weather hmm?’ Henry snickered. ‘Want to come in?’ He opened the door a bit further so she could step inside.

‘Yea..ughh.’ Lizz followed him through the door, Henry’s finger pointing at a near empty coat rack.

‘Usually I’d be most friendly a host, but unfortunately I’m not allowed to take your coat with the virus going on and all.’ Henry gave an apologetic smile as she shrugged off her coat and boots.

‘Thanks for letting me in.’ She muttered, closing the door and giving an excited Kal a quick ruffle through his fur.

‘But of course. Want some tea? I was just making some.’ Henry called over his shoulder as he padded back into his kitchen.

In all these weeks Lizz had never actually been inside Henry’s house. The weather had always been good and with the virus running wild, the two of them had mainly opted for outdoor diversions. Now however, with the rain racking aggressively against the windows, that simply wasn’t an option.

Lizz followed Henry to his kitchen, her mouth falling open as she noticed how well organised he kept everything.

‘I don’t know what I expected, but ..it’s definitely not.. this.’ She pointed at the clean worktops and a pot of stew softly bubbling on the stove. She heard Henry’s soft chuckle as he busied himself with fetching some cups.

‘That makes me curious about your other expectations of me.’ Henry winked, quickly walking back to the stew so he could give it a stir.

‘Oh. You know. The usual; bachelor pad, deep freeze pizzas, dissatisfying one night stands and proud owner of a gaming station in the darkest room of the house.’ She smirked, looking at Henry as he pulled the softly whistling kettle from the stove. ‘..Am I even remotely close?’ Lizz tried, seeing Henry’s lips curl up even further.

‘What do you think, hmm Lizz?’ He looked over his shoulder, quirking up a challenging eyebrow.

‘Okay okay. Gotcha. You are per-fect.’ Lizz reached for her phone, animatedly “answering it”.  ‘Yes? Mhm.’ She put it back in her jean pocket. ‘Disney called, they want their prince charming back.’

They both burst out laughing, Henry slightly blushing as he tried not to spill while pouring their tea in two large mugs.

‘Living room? And a towel perhaps?’ Henry finally managed, his laugh still echoing through the kitchen.

‘Yea..perhaps.’ Lizz nodded, reaching to take the mugs from him.

Without much of a second thought Henry offered her the mugs, his large hands softly grazing hers. Like in slow-motion their eyes met. Such soft..warm.. hands.

‘OH! Damn! Corona..’ Lizz spluttered, giggling as she quickly pulled away from Henry, taking the two mugs and making his blush even deeper.

‘Dammit. I don’t think I’ll ever learn.’ He shook his head, a soft chuckle reverberating in his chest. ‘Okay..looks like we’re in for another two weeks of quarantine then?’ He winked, quickly walking back down the hallway.

Not quite sure WHERE the living room was, Lizz followed him, only to crash to a full stop as Henry suddenly opened a wardrobe.

‘IEEEKS. Hen. Careful. Hot tea, incoming.’

‘Oh..sorry. Didn’t know you were so closeby.’ He looked around the wardrobe door, a hint of mirth in his blue eyes. Lizz rolled her eyes again. ‘Incorrigible Mr. Cavill. Incorrigible.’

‘And a towel for the soaking wet lady.’ Henry smiled a tad too happily as he held up a deep red, fluffy looking towel.

‘Thanks..’ She shook her head, unbelieving of the boldness of his teasing.

Henry walked back to one of the closed doors and pushed it open, inviting her in to what was a truly lovely living room. Raw, old oak floor panels. Light and comfy looking couches placed around a fireplace, and in the back a dining table that was completely covered with a scattering of paper, writing utensils and a laptop. Probably the place where he worked. And understandably too, as the table stood right beneath a window which offered a lovely view of the outstretched fields and the little road that interlinked their houses. Or at least, that was what Lizz expected, the weather outside now so dark and gloomy it was hard to make out anything other than raindrops as they splattered against the windows.

Looking back, she noted Henry was sitting down on one of the couches, his arm folding over the arm rest as he gave her a pleasant smile. Not to look like an absolute, soaking wet fool, she quickly put down the cups of tea on the coffee table, grasping the red towel and sitting down on the other couch, drying her dripping face and hair. The material was so soft and luxurious it made her wonder if this was one of those million-gazillion-threaded towels.

‘So..you were out for a stroll?’ Henry teased, reaching forward to pick up his cup of tea.

Lizz frowned, remaining silent as she mulled over what to say, the silence eventually broken by Henry as he continued; ‘Or something else? Need some..help? ..Perhaps? Neighbour?’ He tried to keep his tone casual, but it still sounded like teasing.

Lizz pouted and slowly nodded. ‘Goddamn..ROOF!’ She growled, her outburst making Kal woof in alarm.

Henry laughed, silencing the large dog as Lizz shook her head. ‘Kal knows how I’m feeling.’

Henry’s chuckles subsided as he let out a small breath. ’Well I’m afraid even I can’t fix your ..roof..’ Henry tried to say the word as quietly as possible, ‘..in this weather.’

‘Oh I wouldn’t ask that of you. But. Maybe a couch for tonight? Until the storm breaks?’ Lizz said hesitantly, looking at Henry with large puppy eyes.

‘..Is it that bad?’ Henry made a face, blowing at his tea.

‘Yea. Let’s just say I might need a new bed..’ Lizz scowled, earning another loud chuckle from Henry.

‘Dearness me Lizz. What have you gotten yourself into.’

‘You tell me Henry. You tell me.’ She huffed, also moving forward to pick up her cup of tea, the herby drink immediately calming her foul mood.

‘Well no worries. We’ll get you some place to sleep for tonight. And, if you are into that stuff..I am making a stew for dinner, so..’ He shrugged, raising his eyebrows as Lizz sniffled softly.

‘You are one good neighbour, Henry. And eh..sure..I’m into that..stuff.’

They both chuckled.

That night Lizz crashed on Henry’s couch - even after numerous attempts from Henry to take his bed instead - and while the storm roared on outside, the two of them made for a cosy really-get-to-know-each-other night. 

In the end it became apparent they had quite a few things in common. Their love of sports being one of them. And so, after a nice stewy dinner and some glasses of wine, the fireplace roaring a hot fire, they decided they could possibly extend their morning routine with a daily run..something they both were most excited about. And that was not only because the ..running.. could get their heart rates up.  

| Chap 3 >

[sapphirestarxx]

Through the Night

Chapter 7

Also posted on my AO3!

Tag wall: @lavendertwilight89 @hnnwnchstr @cstormsinukagblog @ruddcatha @fawn-eyed-girl @superpixie42 @ravisk

Let me know if you would like to be added to the tags for updates!!

~☆~

Kagome groaned as she awoke, already wishing she was back asleep again. Waking up was a mistake. Drinking as much as she had last night had been a mistake. She couldn’t even remember how much alcohol she had had...she was scared to see the bill she had run up at the club. Speaking of remembering, she couldn’t even really remember last night either. It was all kind of a vague blur.

Opening her eyes was a decision she immediately regretted and she was unable to control her wince. She stared at the ceiling and it felt like the room was spinning. It was so bright. The blinds...she needed to close the blinds. But that meant she had to get out of bed and the thought of moving made her stomach heave. Oh God, she felt awful. Her mouth and throat were so dry she could barely swallow and suddenly the need for water was all-consuming. Forcing her eyes open again she blinked against the light of morning and she became aware of the fact that she wasn’t alone in her bedroom.

“Hey.” Inuyasha greeted her and she rolled over to the sound of his voice. He was watching her intently with his bright gold eyes, sitting at the side of her bed. What was he doing in her room while she slept? She tried to remember. The last thing she recalled was being incredibly pissed at him. Opening her mouth she tried to ask him what the hell he was doing there but all that came out was a croak. She was so damn thirsty. Her head hurt so bad. This had to be the worst hangover she had ever had.

Sitting up she grabbed at the glass of the water that was blessedly sitting on her nightstand and downed it all in one go. The cool liquid felt so good on her parched throat but the movement of sitting up had her stomach heaving again. She gagged, covering her mouth with a hand.

“Don’t feel so good, huh?” Inuyasha observed.

Kagome was sure he was speaking in a normal tone of voice but it sounded so loud to her ears. Everything was too much. She felt like death. This was all his fault, she decided. If he hadn’t gotten her so mad and then left without telling her she would never have drank herself into such a stupor. She turned a glare on him.

He didn’t look impressed but she imagined she probably didn’t cut a very intimidating figure at the moment. She didn’t care. She may not remember much of the night but she certainly remembered everything leading up to it.

“Why are you in my bedroom?” She finally managed.

“You don’t remember, do you?”

“Obviously not.”

He sighed and looked torn between relief and disappointment.

“I figured that would be the case.” He said after a moment.

“You should probably leave. I bet I’m looking extra ugly right now.”

“Are you still mad about that??”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I apologized already!”

“Well I don’t remember it.”

“How is that my fault??!”

“This whole thing is your fault. Also if you’re going to raise your voice please leave...my head hurts so bad.” That last part came out more pitifully than she intended.

He huffed and crossed his arms but didn’t leave. “Fine. I’m sorry. Again. Alright? I didn’t mean any of what I said.”

“Right. You sound real sorry.”

“What the fuck do you want me to say?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. Please just go.”

“Well you weren’t so interested in getting me to go last night when you begged me to stay with you.”

Kagome froze at that, blushing, and her heart started beating faster from the anxiety those words caused. Oh God, what had she done last night?? Bits and pieces were starting to come back to her but when she tried to think too hard about the flashes of memory a sharp pain split through her head. Ughh.

“When I what??”

“That’s right, you heard me. You grabbed onto me and wouldn’t let me leave you.” He smirked as if her embarrassment was a victory for him. Asshole.

“W-well...I was obviously really drunk so you don’t have to worry about forcing yourself to stay with me anymore. I’m sober now so it’s fine. You can leave my useless ugly self in the care of Sango. I can call her and get her to take over looking after my safety.”

“I said I was sorry and that I. Didn’t. Mean. Any. Of. It!!” Inuyasha’s already short patience was wearing thin at this back and forth thing they had going. He had known she would likely be pissed again at him but this was ridiculous. How many fucking times did he have to apologize?

“Just because you didn’t mean it, doesn’t mean you didn’t say it.” She replied stubbornly. “You can’t take it back. That means that some part of you still thought it. So you can just forget anything that happened last night; I’m sorry I came onto you, but that’s obviously something you’d never even consider anyway. I don’t want you here out of guilt or pity."

“Fine! You’re being fucking impossible right now. And no, I’m not giving your care over to Sango so stop sayin’ that!”

Kagome opened her mouth to argue back but she retched instead and covered her mouth with her hands, trying not to throw up. This day was already sucking.

“Talk to me when you’re being reasonable!” Inuyasha snapped before leaving out of her window. He felt bad barking at her when she looked like she was going to be sick but talking to her right now was pointless. And she was pissing him off. Again.

Clearly she remembered nothing at all and worse, she wanted him to forget all of it. He couldn’t do that. Refused to do so. Even if she had been drunk at the time, she had expressed affection for him and pleaded with him to be with her. Stay with her. So he had. And here she thought it was out of fucking pity. Shit, why wouldn’t she just accept his apology and move on? Why was it always his fault?

Kagome watched his exit with regretful eyes and got her stomach back under control. Not being able to remember anything that was said or done last night coupled with her awful hangover had put her in a foul mood. She knew she was being stubborn and a little petty. Maybe Inuyasha had apologized but she hadn’t been ready to hear it. She was deeply hurt by his words.

Even so, it appeared he had brought her home and taken care of her, putting up with her ridiculous drunk requests when he hadn’t had to. Surely that meant something? She would talk to him later when her head stopped pounding. For the time being she was going to lay in bed some more, at least until the room decided to stop spinning and she didn’t feel the urge to throw up anymore. Possibly take a cleansing bath to clear her head, and then she could fix things between her and Inuyasha.

~☆~

Sango had three thoughts upon awakening: 1. No, just no, 2. Water, and 3. Oh God, oh God, what did I do last night??

The whole night was starting to come back to her as she laid in Miroku’s bed and tried to get her head to stop pounding. She was pretty sure the ceiling shouldn’t be spinning. Soon the need for water became too much and she forced herself to sit up. There was a full glass of water sitting on the nightstand and she vaguely remembered Miroku leaving it there for her. Bless that man.

Miroku. She couldn’t stop the cringe and blush as she remembered everything she had done and said last night. How was she going to face him? Maybe she could just lie back down and wait for herself to die of the embarrassment that was surely going to kill her.

Logically, she knew she couldn’t lie there all day. She had to get up at some point and when she did, Miroku would be outside the door and she would have to see him. Remembering the things she had told him, basically confessing the feelings she had tried so hard to keep to herself...it made her want to crawl into a hole. But that was nothing compared to when she had practically wrapped herself around him while half naked and had begged him, begged him, to sleep with her. That made her want to die. She covered her face with her hands.

There was only one thing she could do. Pretend she didn’t remember anything.

She didn’t know how long she laid there but it was long enough for the room to stop moving and her head to stop aching so much. Crawling out from under the covers she saw her bare legs and cringed again at the memory of the way she had walked up to him in nothing but his shirt. She also remembered the way he had looked at her, like he couldn’t believe his eyes, the heat and desire in them for her. And the way he had tried so hard to be a gentleman despite the way she had kept throwing herself at him.

Yeah, she was definitely pretending she didn’t remember anything.

Putting on the sweatpants she had foregone last night she finally ventured out the door. She needed to stop acting so nervous or she was going to give herself away. Once she felt she had herself and her face under control, she walked out into the living room. The beating of her heart at the sight of Miroku sitting on the couch wasn’t something she could possibly control, though. It was a struggle to keep her breathing even.

He looked up at her entrance and smiled. She tried to decipher what kind of smile it was then mentally shook herself. Overanalyzing his actions was not going to do her any good and would only make her more obvious.

“Good morning. How are you feeling?” He greeted her.

“Like death.” She answered honestly.

“I bet.” He laughed. “How much do you remember of last night?”

“Nothing.” She replied a little too quickly and he looked at her closely. She swallowed nervously.

“Really?”

“Y-yeah.” She stammered out.

“So you don’t remember begging me to sleep with you?”

Oh God, oh God!!! He had brought it up. No, no, no, no. She should have expected this considering this was Miroku she was speaking to. Was it possible to die of embarrassment? Her control vanished as her face flushed and her eyes widened. For a moment she couldn’t make her mouth work and she just stared at him dumbly.

“You don’t mind if I put on some music do you?” He asked her, with a gleam in his eyes. Before she could respond he started playing Into You by Ariana Grande on his bluetooth speaker. Then he turned around to gauge her reaction.

Although the music wasn’t very loud the sound still rang sharply through her head and she grimaced. Ugh. The memories of the way she had pressed herself into him as she danced with him and sang the lyrics of the chorus to him surfaced in her mind. And her telling him that yes she was very into him. Between her humiliation and the headache she wondered if he was trying to kill her. Her face was burning and she still couldn’t find her voice to speak.

“I-I what?” She finally managed to ask.

“This isn’t ringing any bells?” Miroku returned.

“Wh-why would it?” Sango lied.

Miroku knew it was probably a little mean to be messing with her like this but she was definitely lying and he couldn’t help but poke at her a bit. Of course, he couldn’t blame her for not wanting to admit remembering. He imagined she had to be dying inside of embarrassment from her actions and the things she had let slip. He had thought she was adorable, although holding himself back from throwing her against the wall and having his way with her after the way she had begged him was probably one of the hardest things he had ever done.

Still, she had revealed a lot of things she probably hadn’t been ready for him to hear. Or admit to herself. It was only natural that she would try to backpedal the whole situation. Miroku wasn’t about to let her do it without a fight, though.

“You can rest assured your modesty stayed intact. Well, mostly. It was hard turning you down, though.” Miroku winked at her.

Of course, Sango remembered the whole thing, the way he had held back and the way she had almost cried at his seeming rejection. Mortifying didn’t begin to cover it. But she was committed to acting like she didn’t remember anything despite the fact that she had a feeling Miroku knew she was lying. The man was way too good at reading people.

“O-oh. I’m surprised you let such a golden opportunity slip through your fingers.” She tried to joke but it came out lamely.

“Oh it was beyond tempting. But I would never take advantage of you; I care about you too much. And anyways, I can wait ‘til you come to me sober.” Miroku replied honestly, saying the last part teasingly.

Sango breathed a sigh of relief that he had seemed to finally drop the topic of her remembering last night. Even though she definitely recalled him saying something similar the previous night she was still a little touched at his words. She was sure saying no to her had probably been very difficult for him.

“Thank you.” She said sincerely, taking his hand before she could think better of it. He gave it a squeeze, brushing his thumb over her knuckles.

“No thanks are needed. I did what any decent guy would do.” He gave a half smile. “Besides, I got to have a beautiful woman in my bed, even if I couldn’t share it with her. Not yet, anyways.”

Sango didn’t know what possessed her, or maybe she was still drunk from last night. But something compelled her to pull him to her with the grip she had on his hand and she kissed him.

Her lips pressed against his and they were as soft as she had imagined and much better than anything she had dreamed. She allowed herself one moment to revel in the feel of warmth spreading through her at the contact before pulling away. It was a quick press of lips that ended in the space between one breath and the next, giving Miroku no time at all to respond until it was already over.

The sound of her heart pounding echoed in her ears as she looked into his face and saw him looking at her in shock. And then it shifted to something else much more dangerous and heated. She tried to let go of his hand but he wouldn't release it. Her breath came faster as he started to pull her closer again.

"M-Miroku…"

"You're the one who kissed me."

"That...that was a thank you. D-don't let it go to your head!" The excuse sounded lame even to her own ears.

"Too late."

Although he wasn’t letting go of her hand she knew if she really wanted to she could pull away. He wouldn’t force anything on her that she didn’t want. And that was the problem-- she wanted him to kiss her-- but it would complicate things more than they already were. Maybe it was the release of all her pent up feelings last night or the way he had taken care of her when she was a drunken mess but she couldn’t bring herself to move.

Just as his lips were about to touch hers again his phone rang. Sango jerked as if coming back to reality and Miroku cursed the timing.

“You should probably get that!” Sango said in a rush before making some excuse about needing to take a shower and scurrying off. Dammit. He had been so close.

Miroku picked up his phone and saw it was his uncle calling.

“What is it?” He asked, unable to keep the annoyance from his voice at the interruption.

“Miroku! Boy, is that any way to speak to your uncle?” Mushin admonished from the other end of the line.

He closed his eyes, exhaling. His uncle was right; it wasn’t fair to take his frustration out on him. There was no way Mushin could have known what had been about to occur between him and Sango.

“I’m sorry, Uncle. Your call just came at an inopportune time.” He apologized. “What is it?”

“That’s better.” Mushin said, appearing to be mollified. “I called because I have some more information on that thing you came to speak to me about three weeks ago.”

“You mean the spellbook and the runes?” Miroku responded. His mind instantly shifted gears at his uncle's words.

"No, no, the other thing. Although I suppose they're connected. That dark priestess you told me about, Tsubaki was it?"

"Uncle, that was two weeks ago, not three, and that was a phone call."

"Oh, was it?"

"Have you been drinking again?"

"Only a few cups. I acquired some premium sake yesterday and it is simply divine."

Miroku would have made a comment about how it was eleven in the morning but that would have been pointless. Any time of day was good enough for drinking according to Mushin.

"Alright, what do you know about Tsubaki?"

"Not much more than you already do, but I found out the name of the shrine she belonged to before she went rogue and was shunned. It's in the next town over, called the Shikon Shrine. Lady Kaede is the Head Priestess there and she may have more information for you regarding Tsubaki. I spoke with her and told her to possibly expect a visit from you."

Well, that was something. Maybe this Lady Kaede could give some insight into Tsubaki. Anything was better than nothing at this point. They had nothing to go on currently as far as finding her.

"Thank you, Uncle. That visit definitely won't be today, though." Miroku said.

"Got something better to do?" Mushin inquired archly.

"Our two lovely ladies are currently nursing hangovers from last night." Miroku replied dryly.

"Ohoho, women after my own heart." Mushin chuckled in approval.

After a couple more exchanges Miroku ended the call and pulled out his laptop, sitting back down on the couch. He decided to look into it while Sango showered.

~☆~

Sango took her time in the shower and used it to think. Miroku had been about to kiss her and she had run away like an idiot. Honestly, the only person complicating things between them was her. She was the one being ridiculous and trying to deny her feelings and she didn't even know why anymore. There were no more good excuses. She needed to be honest about her feelings and what she wanted. It wasn't fair to Miroku, but more importantly, she owed it to herself.

At first it had been easy to write him off-- he was a flirt and she was just his latest conquest. All his comments about her appearance and body had helped support her theory, but the more time they spent together the more it became clear he also cared about her as a person. Between saving her life, putting up with her drunkenness last night, and a multitude of other things he had proven himself many times over to be worthy of her trust. It was time to finally be real and honest about what she wanted-- him. She wanted to be with him, in every sense of the word.

Although the shower was helping, her head was still aching. Ugh, she had let Kagome talk her into way too many shots last night and this was a conversation she wanted to have with a clear head. It was too important. She decided she would talk to him about everything tomorrow.

Just the thought of doing so was giving her anxiety and making her feel shy, which was crazy because she was sure he cared about her in the same ways. She didn’t know the full extent of his feelings for her but it wasn’t like she had to worry about being rejected. But talking about her feelings, particularly with the object of those feelings, was difficult for her. Still, she wanted to take this seriously.

Several minutes later she was dried off and dressed in some leggings and a fitted pink long-sleeved t-shirt. She walked out to the living room to see Miroku on the couch on his laptop. He looked up at her entrance. After a few moments he placed the laptop to the side and stood up, walking over to where she was standing. She hadn’t even realized she had frozen in place at the sight of him until he was standing in front of her.

“Uhm.” She said intelligently.

“So that was my uncle on the phone.” Miroku told her. He was looking at her way too closely and she swallowed nervously.

“Oh? What did he say?”

Miroku told her the conversation he had had with his Uncle Mushin and she was silent in thought.

“Yeah, we’ll have to go pay Lady Kaede a visit. Definitely not today, though.” Sango finally said, wincing again at another stabbing pain in her head. Ugh, she just wanted to lay down.

“I told him as much.” Miroku said, but he didn’t move from where he was standing. When she said nothing else he spoke again. “So, you kissed me.”

Her eyes flew to his face at those words. She knew she should say something but words escaped her.

“You said it was a thank you, but something tells me you don’t thank all your friends by kissing them.” Miroku continued when she said nothing.

“Uhm. I don’t.” Sango managed to reply.

“Sango, why did you really kiss me?”

She couldn’t blame him for asking but this conversation wasn’t one she wanted to have at the moment. She was still nauseous and she needed to take some ibuprofen for her headache because it was killing her. At the same time she didn’t want to lie about her feelings to him anymore, not after she had just resolved to be honest about them.

“Miroku, I…I actually really want to talk to you about that. Well, about everything. I-- I remember everything about last night.” She admitted and he raised his eyebrows at her admission. “But my head is killing me and all I want to do is lie down right now. Unless there’s a demon to fight, I don’t want to move at all. And this isn’t a conversation I want to have with you when I feel so awful. It’s too important. At least, it is to me. There’s...there’s a lot of things I want to say to you but please, can it wait until tomorrow?”

She looked at him almost nervously after her little speech and he looked surprised but there was a small smile playing across his lips at her words. A very knowing smile.

“That’s fine. On one condition.”

“Wh-what’s the condition?”

In answer he pulled her to him and kissed her, wrapping one arm around her waist while burying a hand in her hair. His lips moved against hers, firm but not too demanding, as he held her against him. To say she was surprised would be an understatement but she softened in his arms.

Her heart was racing and she could scarcely breathe as he kissed her senseless. Wrapping her arms around him in response, she held onto him as her knees went slightly weak and warmth bloomed in her chest at the slow and very thorough way his lips took hers. After several long moments he pulled away, capturing her bottom lip gently between his teeth before releasing it with one final kiss.

Her cheeks were flushed and she was panting a little as she continued to hold onto him. It took several breaths before she was positive her legs would support her again. He looked into her eyes and seemed satisfied with what he saw.

"Okay. Now we can wait until tomorrow."

“Oh.” She said, staring up at him.

“Oh?”

“It’s weird but it’s almost like I felt better when you were kissing me.” She said before she thought better of it. She blamed the way he had totally removed all the sense from her body with that kiss.

He chuckled a little bit at that, clearly trying to fight a grin. “If that’s the case, I’d be more than happy to be of assistance. I’m very okay with doing this all day.”

She blushed at that and pushed him away.

“Th-that’s not necessary!” She stammered. As tempting as that sounded she needed to rest and she wanted to have their talk before allowing anything further to happen between them. “Tomorrow!” She insisted.

“Alright, alright. Tomorrow.” He agreed. They released each other and he gave her a quick peck on the forehead. “Now go get some rest, my dear Sango.”

“Mm. That’s the plan.”

He went back to the couch and she got some ibuprofen from his medicine cabinet before returning to his bedroom and laying back down. Despite the way her head was pounding she felt oddly...happy and warmed from the inside out. They weren’t together-- not yet. But hopefully soon they could talk about whatever this was between them, once she slept off this awful hangover. Eventually the pills kicked in easing her headache and she managed to drift off to sleep again.

~☆~

Kagome finished her bath in the shrine’s cleansing pool and felt a million times better. She no longer felt the urge to vomit nor did her head threaten to kill her with the pounding headache pulsing at her temples anymore. The bath had been a good decision. It had helped to not only purify her physically but mentally as well.

All the events of the previous night had come back to her and she had a lot of conflicting feelings regarding it. The things she had done, the things she had said...to say she was nervous and embarrassed about facing Inuyasha would be putting it mildly. Oh God, the things she had done. He had hinted she had come on to him but she had had no idea exactly how...forward she had been. While it was true she could play it off as something she had done only because she was drunk, well...Inuyasha had told her he could smell lies. He would know the truth in an instant.

The last thing she had expected last night was for Inuyasha to have shown up at the club to take her home, although in retrospect she supposed she should have. It was just the sort of the bullheaded move for him to pull. And the way she had danced on him, hanging onto him, the things she had said...she cringed. Well, it was fine. She would get past the awkwardness somehow. Afterall, they still had to work together and he still had to protect her.

She was embarrassed at not only the things she had said and done but at the very immature way she had handled this morning. Inuyasha’s apology, while a little more rough than most, had been sincere and was among the many memories to come back to her. Of course, she had been hurt but it was time to clear the air between her and the dog demon.

She wrapped her yukata around herself and then the towel over that since the chill in the air was more present as autumn was now in full force. Shivering a little bit as she walked across the grounds, Kagome then entered the main residence again and dressed in clothing more appropriate for the season. She pulled on her most comfortable pair of jeans and a nice cream-colored sweater, then considered drying her hair before going in search of Inuyasha. In the end she decided against it; she wanted to speak to him as soon as possible.

While she probably should decide what she was going to say before she went looking for him, there was a sense of urgency dictating her actions. The need to fix things and reestablish the way things had been before was too important. She didn’t like how strained things were with them right now. It would be nice if last night had changed things between them for the better but she harbored no illusions on that front.

The idea of just continuing to act like she remembered nothing flitted through her mind briefly but she quickly discarded that thought. Now that all her memories were restored she was bound to let something slip, not to mention it would surely be obvious from the nervous way she would be acting and then he would ask about it. Might as well get everything out in the open so they could put this whole thing behind them.

Walking back outside she headed around back towards where the forest lay. She had no idea where he was but something told her he may have retreated to someplace more familiar to him after their fight this morning.

“Inuyasha!!” She called out, hoping he would hear and come.

After a couple minutes he appeared in front of her, dropping down from one of the trees at the edge of the forest. She felt absurdly pleased that she had been correct in her assumptions. With all the time they had been spending together it seemed she was getting to know him quite well.

“What?” He asked, giving her a look that was a mix between hostile and cautious, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Uhm.” Kagome said. She really should have planned this out before seeking him out. “Inuyasha, I’m...I’m sorry.”

At those words his demeanor relaxed and he uncrossed his arms.

“I don’t have to apologize again, do I?”

“No, no...I’m really sorry for the way I handled this morning. But, I was really hurt by your words yesterday, and the way you just left me without even saying anything.”

“Listen, words aren’t exactly my strong suit. Sometimes I say stuff without thinking, but let’s be clear about one thing-- protecting you may be my assigned duty but as crazy as it sounds I actually like being around you. I’m staying with you, got that? Not Sango.”

Kagome blushed at his words and she tried not to let her mind run away with all the possible meanings they conjured up. Could he possibly…?

She tried clearing her throat that suddenly swelled with anxiety caused by the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. If she was honest with herself, she had never grown so attached to a boy like this before. She hadn’t had the time or freedom. Her sworn duty was to her shrine. As embarrassing as it was, that was the main reason she was twenty three and still a virgin. Also the main reason she tried to live so vicariously through Sango (not that her love life was any better than Kagome's). She loved her best friend and thought that she could ultimately plan a happy ever after for her, even if Kagome herself may never get one.

The words she wanted to say wouldn’t come though. How does someone clear the air about saying such heartfelt things the night before? Especially when it was likely he didn’t feel the same. He had admitted yes, he liked to be around her. Not that he liked her. He didn’t have many friends; that much was obvious. She needed to try and keep that perspective; he was a half demon. He wouldn’t want anything more from her than friendship. That was hard to swallow but…

“So, about last night,” she finally started. Was she sweating? Trembling? “About uhm… what I said. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable in any way. I know I drank way too much and wasn’t in my right mind. We can just forget it. I--I didn’t want Sango to take over your duty. I really appreciate you staying and wanting to be with me.”

There was a glint of hurt that showed through his amber eyes but he then covered it quickly with his trademark scowl. Why would he be hurt by what she said? Had she phrased it incorrectly?

Inuyasha did his best to not let the disappointment at her response show through. What had he expected? He was a half demon and she was a priestess. Obviously everything she had done and said last night had just been because of the alcohol, not because that’s how she really felt. Even though he already knew that, some part of him had been hoping otherwise. Well, whatever.

“If that’s what you want.” He finally replied gruffly.

She looked confused at that. Why? She had been very fucking clear that anything that had happened between them was to be forgotten and didn’t mean anything. While she had said it in a very polite and nice way the meaning was still the same.

"Did I say something wrong?" She asked uncertainly.

"No, you said it just fine. Don't worry, I understood you perfectly."

“Then why--” Kagome started to say, but she abruptly cut off at the sudden overwhelming aura that slammed into her senses. She looked around then back at Inuyasha in alarm to make sure he felt it too. One look told her that he definitely had.

“What the fuck is that?”

“I-- I don’t know. It’s definitely demonic, but it’s…Inuyasha, I think whatever this is, it may be worse than that spider demon we faced. And I can sense another rune. Maybe multiple.”

“Seriously? As in more than one?” He sniffed the air as if trying to answer his own question.

“Yeah, it’s way too strong to be just one. Although it feels slightly off. Whatever dark magic Tsubaki is working it’s huge. If it is Tsubaki.” Kagome responded, already trying to zero in on the location this was all coming from. She didn’t know if she was annoyed or relieved at the interruption to her and Inuyasha’s conversation. It wasn’t going quite the way she had hoped so maybe it was for the best.

“What do you mean 'if it is Tsubaki?'”

“It feels the same but slightly off. It doesn’t quite match up to her magical signature, but the sense of the runes and dark spells they feed into are definitely the same.”

"Well whoever it is we need to hunt them down. This means bad news."

“I’m not looking forward to what we’re going to find. We also need to call Miroku and Sango, although I’d be surprised if they haven’t sensed it themselves. The feeling is so strong.”

“Yeah this aint good. We need to get movin’ as soon as we can.”

“Right. Just let me give them a call so we can meet up.”

With that Kagome called up Sango and when she didn’t answer she called Miroku. He told her he would be there with Sango soon.

~☆~

After getting off the phone with Kagome, Miroku reluctantly went to go wake Sango up. She had been asleep for the past four hours and he hoped that was enough because it was going to have to be.

The last thing he had expected earlier was for her to be so completely honest with him about her feelings. When she had told him she had a lot of things she wanted to tell him, and more importantly, that she actually did remember everything about last night, he had been shocked. And delighted. Then he had kissed her and she had not only let him, but welcomed it. He suspected he knew what she wanted to tell him tomorrow and he figured he could wait one more day. Assuming he was correct about her feelings, and after that kiss he was pretty sure he was.

He opened the door to his bedroom and paused in the doorway for a moment to take in her sleeping form. She was simultaneously the cutest and sexiest woman he had ever met. It was a shame he had to disturb her slumber but duty was calling. Walking over to where she slept he gently shook her shoulder, saying her name softly. Sango came awake and saw him then sighed.

“I thought I said I just wanted to lay down unless there was a demon to fight. Why are you waking me up?” She asked grumpily.

“Unfortunately, it appears that there is, in fact, a demon to fight. I’m sure you can sense it, too. I’m sorry.”

At those words Sango became more alert and focused her senses, and she could feel it too. She sat up and threw back the covers.

“What is that huge aura? It’s demonic but something is off. And it’s so overwhelming.”

“I know. I’m not sure, myself.”

Sango stood up and went to grab her bag that had her slayer outfit. When she turned around she saw Miroku was still standing there.

“Uhm. I need to change into my slayer gear.”

“Yeah, you better do that.”

“Then leave so I can get dressed!”

“And to think last night you were so eager to strip in front of me.”

Sango blushed at that and looked like she wanted to cause him physical harm. Miroku just smirked.

“I was drunk! Get out!”

“Alright, alright, I’m going.” He said, laughing.

Sango glared after him halfheartedly. He was pushing his luck, probably because he knew he could get away with it now after what she had revealed regarding her feelings for him. And how she had let him kiss her. He was shameless. And like an idiot she had fallen for him. She sighed.

Although Sango would have liked to have slept a few more hours she was definitely feeling much better than before. Her head wasn’t aching nearly as much anymore and her nausea had almost completely disappeared. These weren’t ideal conditions to be fighting in but she had done this to herself so it was what it was. She would manage somehow, plus the adrenaline from battle would help to clear her head.

Once she was dressed she exited his bedroom and found him waiting by the front door, already ready. She walked over to where her Hiraikotsu was resting against the wall, hoisted it across her back, double checked her blades, then walked to the door where he stood.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

~☆~

A little over an hour later all four of them had traced the feeling of the demonic aura and runes. It had led them to the outskirts of the city, at an abandoned shrine. It wasn’t exactly a ruin but it had certainly seen better days, judging by the outside appearance of the structure.

It was in a dilapidated state of repair and the shadows from the setting sun that were cast upon the building only helped to add to the ominous effect the place gave off. The black and white paint was chipped in so many spots that they almost resembled a mosaic. It looked sinister, although that may be partly from the immense evil they all felt emanating from within. Whatever lay inside was something terrible.

None of them said anything as they approached the entrance. All of them knew what they faced tonight would likely push them all to their limits. They were all prepared for that. Entering, everything appeared dark until one by one candles began lighting along the ceiling until they reached the back where a woman was standing in front of an altar.

She basked in the illumination, her back to them as if unconcerned by their presence. Spaced across the back wall where she stood were several of the runes, each one drawn in blood. The source of the blood became evident if one looked to the floor where a body lay beneath each mark. At first glance they appeared dead, but closer inspection showed they still drew breath, if only barely.

“I wondered if you all would come.” The woman said almost conversationally. She turned around and her dark eyes flashed in the candlelight while her long, wavy blonde hair shone brightly.

“Who the fuck are you?” Inuyasha demanded.

Miroku thought the more important question was to wonder where the huge demonic aura was coming from. As far as they could all see the room was empty save for them, the strangely docile captives beneath the runes, and the mysterious woman.

As the woman stepped forward Miroku got a glimpse of a large mirror placed upon the altar. It seemed to pulse as he looked at it. That couldn’t be good.

“That’s a little bit rude, don’t you think? Still, I was raised with manners. My name is Ayaka. I am Tsubaki’s apprentice.” She said. “There’s no need for you to make introductions.”

“And why is that?” Sango asked, her eyes seemingly on Ayaka but also canvassing their surroundings. Why did this almost feel like a set up? This woman was far too calm considering there was one of her and four of them. The answer became apparent soon enough.

“Because you’ll all be dead or comatose soon, fighting versions of yourself.”

The light of the candles flared at her pronouncement and the rest of the room was lit up, revealing four large floor-length mirrors. There were two mirrors on the left wall and two on the right wall. Almost reflexively they all turned to gaze upon the mirrors and Ayaka chanted a spell, throwing something into a bowl upon the altar. It activated her dark spell and all four of them were drawn into a separate looking glass, swallowed up in their own personal hell.

[milstrim]

Rise from the Ashes; Just to See You Again

Chapter 1: Mary Fitzpatrick

"It's yours, Mr. Stark."

The proof was indisputable, all labeled out clear as day in the paper in front of him. He searched through it, looking for anything that would prove the woman in front of him wrong, that he was not, in fact, having a child. Because he couldn't, he just couldn't. He wasn't supposed to be a father, and he most certainly wasn't supposed to be a dad.

He looked up at his assistant, who was checking things off on her clipboard, yet kept glancing at him expectantly, clearly waiting for a response. She waited a few more minutes before she got fed up with him sitting in his stupor, because she carried on.

"The mother, Mary Fitzpatrick, has asked for a meeting with you. I suggest you attend," she said, a hint of a warning in her voice, as if daring him not to meet the mother of his future child, "When would you like that scheduled, Mr. Stark?"

"Um, just--God," he covered his face and sighed through his nose, "Just get her over here as soon as possible. And I really mean as soon as possible. And, cancel everything else for the next few days."

"Very well. Will that be all, Mr. Stark?"

"Yeah--yeah yeah. That'll be all, Ms. Potts, just...don't tell Obie for the moment."

She gave him an odd look, but didn't question him, just continued typing and making notes. It was fair. He didn't exactly know why he didn't want to tell Obie, he'd known the man before he was even born, but something about the situation made him not want to. Tony knew how he would take it, it would be business as always, and that wasn't how he wanted to handle this...

How did he want to handle this?

"Of course, Mr. Stark. I'll alert you when she's ready to meet you."

"Thank you, Miss Potts," he grabbed a company stress ball off of his desk and threw it between his hands, just trying to find something to distract him from the news that was threatening to overwhelm him, "Dismissed."

Pepper left with a simple nod, her heels clicking on the floor as she did.

Tony leaned back in his chair, exhaling harshly through his nose. A kid, a baby. He was having a baby. Well, Mary Fitzpatrick was having a baby, he was more or less along for the ride. God, how had he been so careless? He should've, he should've--

Well, there was no point worrying about what he should've done, all he could do was plan for what he was going to do. And for now, the plan was to go home and...drink probably. To work in his lab and just try to forget, at least for a little while.

"Ughh, mmMMMm."

"Good morning, sir."

The voice of his AI rang through the room, worsening the headache that suddenly made itself apparent. He groaned in response, which Jarvis apparently took as a sign to turn his lights on, making him open his eyes before squeezing them shut again.

"I'm extremely sorry sir, but Ms. Potts has asked me to wake you up for your meeting,"

Meeting? He didn't have any meetings, Pepper had canceled them all. Unless--

Reluctantly, Tony got up, and, ignoring his throbbing head, he headed to the kitchen. When he looked out the windows overlooking the ocean, he realized just how late it must be. He vaguely wondered when he passed out last night, and how he got to his bed, before shrugging it off. It didn't really matter if he was being honest.

When he got to the kitchen Pepper was there waiting for him on her tablet, a pizza sitting on the counter next to her. He jogged over to her halfheartedly, making her look up.

"Good morning, Mr. Stark," she greeted.

"I hope that's for me," he said, forgoing a hello and grabbing the box, as well as pouring himself some juice. He stuffed a piece in his mouth, "Jarvis said I had a meeting, and I thought--"

"It's with Ms. Fitzpatrick. She also wanted a meeting as soon as possible so I went ahead and set it up for today. It's in a few hours at Stark Industries, and I'd advise you to not be late, Mr. Stark."

He swallowed his pizza nervously, feeling trapped under her piercing glare. Yeah, he should probably listen to her this time.

"Of course, Ms. Potts. Wouldn't dream of it."

He did end up being on time, for the most part at least. A few extra minutes making sure he got a good coffee couldn't have hurt, though judging by the look Pepper gave him as he walked into the pristine conference room, he was very wrong. She apparently decided to try and not make a big deal of it at the moment though, instead gesturing for him to sit down next to her. Reshuffling the stack of papers in front of her she turned to address the woman in front of her, who Tony had been pointedly ignoring.

He finally looked at her, and she looked right back, staring at him with a challenging gaze. Her curly hair was drawn back in a bun, and though she was probably seven or eight months pregnant she looked remarkably put together, sipping on a tea. She readjusted her glasses as they stared at each other until Tony finally looked away, turning to Pepper instead, who was leafing through her papers. The strawberry blonde didn't look up until she had found the one she was looking for.

"Now that Mr. Stark has finally joined us we can start," Pepper declared, setting a paper in the middle of the table, "This is a nondisclosure agreement, which we'll need you to sign no matter what decision you come to, which leads us to our next topic. What do you--"

"--I'm not keeping it," Mary interrupted, setting down her tea.

"What?" Tony asked, surprised. He understood that people generally didn't want to keep a one-night-stand baby, but the idea of his baby going up for adoption definitely irked him, "Why not?"

"I--well, being a mother in my line of work would be near impossible...I'm a SHIELD agent," she answered at their questioning looks, "And honestly, I just don't want to be a mother, but, well, I...I thought you might like the chance to be a father."

Tony let out a weird hacking noise, caught in between a cough and a laugh. Both women gave him strange looks, though Pepper's was definitely more judgemental. To be fair, he wasn't trying to be rude, but he had never been more caught off guard. And that was saying something.

"You-you want me to raise a child. I-I mean, the ways that could go disastrously wrong are numerous! I-"

"If you don't want it then you don't want it, Stark. I just thought you'd rather know, and that you'd rather have all the options laid out in front of you," Mary interrupted again, looking resigned.

That was true, he guessed. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if he Mary had had his child and hadn't bothered to tell him. But, him , raising a child!? It was crazy, ludicrous! And yet, he couldn't stand the idea that he would never know the kid, his kid.

"Where would it go instead? If-if I didn't take it," he asked, eyes wide.

"I'd look into families--I've been looking into families--but it'd most likely go up for adoption,"

Adoption. He...didn't know how to feel about that, but it seemed to gnaw at him. He hadn't really planned on having children, hadn't thought he'd be suited for fatherhood, he still wasn't, but imagining his child with someone that wasn't their own family, felt like a cold slap to the face.

It took Tony a moment to realize that both Mary and Pepper were waiting on him to make a decision, looking at him expectantly. Whatever he decided would determine everything about the future of the child and--he could feel his breaths becoming shorter and his heart beating faster as the weight of the moment set in, as everything he had been ignoring and pushing to the back of his mind caught up to him.

"I-I need to think about it," he blurted out, just to say something . Mary blinked in surprise, probably just expecting an NDA and a big fat 'no.' To her credit, she recovered quickly.

"Of course, Mr. Stark. Will you-"

"We'll be in touch, Ms. Fitzpatrick," Pepper smiled, reaching over and shaking Mary's hand and getting up to show her to the door, "Call me if you have any further questions. And we'll make sure to give you a call soon."

The two women walked out of the room, Tony assumed that Pepper was going to walk her to her car, or at least the lobby. Tony didn't even get up from his chair though, the situation seemed to be weighing him down, as if he had been chained to the chair the moment he had sat in it.

And so he sat, his chin in his hand, and pondered. Pondered the future of his child. If he chose to not take it, it would grow up without him, he might never meet them, and would that really be so bad? They might grow up with a loving family, one who does a better job than him, and maybe the kid should. But, for all his reluctance, he couldn't stomach that picture. A little doe-eyed boy or girl cuddled up with their family, their father--and it wasn't him.

The thought struck a nerve in him, and in an instant, the invisible weight that had been chaining him down only moments before lifted and was replaced with the need to move, to do something. He stomped out of the conference room, making his way to his car on autopilot.

He'd gotten to the parking lot and opened his car door, so close to being home free, when--

"Tony, m'boy!!" yelled a familiar voice from behind him. Not now. He held back a groan, instead putting on a smile and turning around.

"Hello, Obie," he greeted through grit teeth, hoping that he looked happy to see the man.

"What're you doing here? I thought you were working on the new missile at home."

"Oh, um, yeah," he replied, grasping for an excuse, "Pepper wanted me to come in and um, check over a few things. I'm just as surprised as you are that I came out here."

Obie chuckled good naturedly, taking his cigar out of his mouth lazily.

"Well, while you're here, care for a drink with me in my office? I've got a few things I've been meaning to go over with you."

Tony cringed, just wanting to be at home, alone, preferably. His friend looked at him expectantly, but Tony waved him off.

"No thanks. I just needed to be here for a couple hours, I'm at a real break through on the missile, so I'll have to pass," and without another word he climbed the rest of the way into his car, giving Obie a wave as he blasted off, leaving a trail of dust behind him.

He kind of regretted it, he realized as he drove off, not telling Obie. He'd known the man for longer than he could remember, and while he could be a little insensitive, he was always ready to help Tony with what he was struggling with.

Whatever, it's only been a couple of days. It can wait, he can wait.

He wanted to tell Rhodey, if anyone could help, it was him. But unfortunately, he was overseas and Tony wasn't able to contact him at the moment. It always sucked, but this was the worst possible time for the man to be away. He had always had bad timing, crazy good advice though. It made him wonder what he'd say.

Probably something helpful.

When he got home he still didn't know what to do, which was fair, he guessed. He'd been given the chance to be a father only an hour ago. It wasn't exactly a decision to be made lightly.

He walked over to the bar and poured himself a scotch, sipping on it slowly.

How could he be expected to raise a child when he was drinking at the thought of his own? How could he be expected to be a good father when he'd never had one himself? He had no example, no reference on how to do this. And God, what would Howard even think about this whole thing? He didn't even want to imagine the disappointment and shame that would burn in his eyes.

But, what would his mom think? She'd be disappointed sure, but she'd be so excited to have a grandchild, why, she would've spoiled the kid rotten. She would've given them everything they ever wanted and then some. There was no doubt she would’ve loved the kid.

"Jarvis, what makes a father? A good father?" he asked, borderline desperate on what to do.

"I'm afraid I don't understand, sir."

"What makes a good father? How..." he swallowed, " How can I be a good dad to my kid?"

"Sir, I am afraid I am not capable of answering this question."

Tony sighed, taking a long swig from his glass. It was at times like these that he missed the real Jarvis, who would've known what to do, who would've spoiled the kid just as much as his mom. Both of them would've loved his kid, loved them more than life itself.

And so would he.

He'd love this kid, tell them every day, they'd never question just how much he loved them. But, he could only do that if he took the kid. Mary didn't want it, and giving it up just wasn't an option for him.

Then there was only one option left. And if he was being honest, he wasn't dreading it as much as he thought he would.

"Jarvis, make arrangements for a meeting with Mary, as soon as possible. And, order everything a baby would need. A crib, toys, diapers. And I want every parenting book ever."

"Of course, sir," was it just him, or did Jarvis sound kinda happy? "I shall alert Ms. Potts that you intend on keeping the baby."

Tony smiled, before the feeling of his heart in his throat stopped him. He looked around his house in dismay, at his bar and the memories of countless women in these rooms. He wanted this kid, but he had a lot to do before they got here. It wouldn't stop him though, he was going to be a dad, and nothing could stop him.

Next Part

[chelledoggo]

[Fanfic] Forgiveness [101 Dalmatian Street]

genre: angst, oneshot with epilouge

age rating: all ages

content warning: family arguments/tensions

summary:

After a feud tears a rift between the two brothers, Deepak finds it nearly impossible to forgive Dylan. What will it take to start repairing the broken bridge between them?

“C'mon, Deepak. It's been almost a week, now. How long are you gonna keep holding this grudge for?”

“At this rate? Probably the rest of my life. Maybe even a little bit into my next life.”

Dolly stood near Deepak's hanging pod bed in the pups' bedroom. The small yogi pup lay curled up inside, with his face buried in the cushioning.

“Look,” Dolly sighed in frustration. “I get that Dylan said a lot of awful stuff to you back there. But he didn't mean any of it. He was having a bad day and just said some stuff out of anger.”

“That's not an excuse,” Deepak returned in a stern voice. “I have bad days, too. Everyone does. It doesn't make it okay to say those kinds of things.  He could've just walked away and meditated for a bit if he was that angry. But, no. He had to run his mouth. Dylan's gone way too far this time. I can't forgive him.”

“So, that's it?” Dolly asked. “Because of one little spat, you're gonna stop loving your brother?”

“Stop...loving?” Deepak turned around and faced Dolly, showing her his red, bloodshot eyes and his tear-soaked face. “Do you think I would still be crying this much if I didn't love Dylan anymore?”

“Well, then, why don't you just forgive him, then?” Dolly responded.

“I can't forgive someone who's not sorry,” Deepak replied as he once again curled into a depressed little ball.

“What are you talking about?” Dolly queried. “Dylan's been trying to make it up to you all week! He's been buying you expensive crystals, your favorite organic dog treats, all those Guru Miaow mantra CDs...And you keep turning them down!”

“Ughh,” Deepak groaned in exasperation. “You just don't get it, do you? You're just like Dylan.”

“Excuse me?” Dolly responded, a bit offended, but still trying to be sympathetic to Deepak.

“All those gifts and favors?” Deepak began. “Those aren't apologies. He hasn't once asked me about how what he said made me feel. He hasn't asked me if I'm doing okay or tried to hear me out. He thinks he can just bribe me into just forgetting all of it and make everything all better again. He doesn't care about me. He's just trying to save face.”

“Of course Dylan cares about you,” Dolly insisted. “I mean, remember when he went through Constantin's crazy cat tests to bring you home? Do you think he'd go through all that if he didn't care?”

“Come on, now,” Deepak scoffed. “You and I both know he only did that because everything was falling apart here without me. Plus, you basically had to talk him into it.”

“How could you even say something like that?” Dolly cried. “He did all that for you!”

“Be honest, Dolly. Do you think he would've bothered trying to bring me back if everything had been fine here without me?” Deepak stared Dolly down with an interrogating expression.

“Of course he would, silly!” Dolly's eyes welled up with tears.

“Yeah, maybe once Mum and Dad realized I was gone and guilted him into bringing me home, right?”

Dolly began to open her mouth to speak, but then held her tongue. Deepak was...kind of right.

“Your silence says it all, sister.” Deepak glared and turned away once again. “Everything Dylan supposedly 'does for us?' He only does it to save his own hide or feed his own ego. He doesn't care about me. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. He's just a selfish pup at the end of the day.”

Dolly didn't even try to speak. She just stared down bleakly at the floor.

“He doesn't feel the least bit bad about hurting me,” Deepak continued. “He's only trying to 'make it up to me' because he's upset that one of his 'loyal followers' stopped respecting him. It's all about him as usual, and he's done nothing as of yet to convince me otherwise. He's just pressuring me into accepting an apology that I'm not ready to accept. I don't have any reason to think he's sincere.”

“He's...he's really trying...” Dolly whimpered. “He feels really bad...”

“Oh, Dylan feels bad, huh?” Deepak responded sarcastically. “Let me ask you something. Has Dylan ever once voiced any concern for my feelings? Has he said 'I hope Deepak is okay,” or “I shouldn't have said those awful things to Deepak?' Or has he just been wallowing in his own self-pity and trying to haphazardly patch things up without any real thought so life can go back to normal?”

Dolly's head dipped down as far as it could go, as her teardrops pattered against the floor.

“...Is there really nothing I can do to change your mind?” Dolly asked in a weak, wavery voice.

Deepak was silent.

“...Deepak, come on, I--”

“Dolly,” Deepak interrupted. “I'm not mad at you right now, but I highly suggest you leave.”

Dolly sighed in defeat, and walked slowly out of the room.

In the hallway by the door to the bedroom, Dylan was waiting. He lay close to the ground, hiding his face in his paws.

Dolly looked down sympathetically at him.

“...I take it you heard everything?” She asked nervously.

Dylan's only reply was a sad, muffled “Mhm...”

“I'm sorry bro,” Dolly said as she gently stroked her brother's back with her paw. “I tried. I really did.”

Dylan said nothing.

“...Hey, come on, now,” Dolly said with an attempt at a reassuring smile. “I'm...sure Deepak'll get over it eventually.”

Dylan looked up at Dolly with wide, reddend, tear-filed eyes.

He didn't seem to have too much faith in Dolly's sentiment.

Neither did Dolly, honestly.

“...I'll be outside if you need me, okay?” Dolly said quietly as she began to head out. “Just...try to get your mind off it for now.”

Get my mind off it? Dylan thought. How can I? I just listened to one of my siblings go off for five minutes about what a horrible dog I am, and...And he's right.

Dylan sat and contemplated all the things he'd done to try to get back in Deepak's good graces. All the gifts, all the favors. But was he really doing it to help Deepak feel better? Or was it to make himself feel like he'd properly absolved himself of his own wrongdoings? Was he just so focused on looking like a good older brother in Deepak's eyes again that he didn't actually stop to think about what Deepak really wanted from him?

Dylan took in a deep breath and stood up. He poked his head into the bedroom, and saw Deepak still curled up inside his pod, facing away from the world.

“D-Deepak?” Dylan addressed his brother anxiously.

The only response was a loud, disgruntled groan from Deepak, muffled by the bedding inside the pod.

Dylan continued on anyway.

“I...I heard you talking to Dolly, and...you were right. There was absolutely no excuse for me to say the things I said to you. You're my brother. No, not just my brother. You're a canine being who deserves all the respect in the world. No one deserves to be talked to in that way, much less a kind, peaceful, loving pup like you. And...I can't force you to forgive me. Trying to butter you up for forgiveness isn't really showing that I care. I need to stop wallowing in my own guilt and respect you and your feelings.”

Silence.

“Deepak,” Dylan continued with a sigh. “I totally understand if you want to stay mad at me. I understand if you don't want to forgive me. You shouldn't have to just because we're family or anything. Honestly, I don't deserve it. I wasn't treating you the way family should treat each other. I won't press you for forgiveness anymore. You should only forgive me when and if you feel ready to, and not a moment before. I'll leave you alone now.”

Having said all he could really say, Dylan walked away slowly down the hall.

“...Dylan.”

The elder pup turned around to see Deepak standing near the doorway behind him.

The zen pup wore a stoic expression and avoided eye contact with his older brother.

“Dylan, I...” Deepak began. “I...appreciate that you said that. I...honestly wasn't expecting you to come around like that.”

Dylan gazed at Deepak with teary eyes, hardly believing what he just heard.

Deepak was silent for a moment, then spoke up again.

“Look, I'm...I'm really glad to hear you say that. I won't lie, I'm still hurt, and I'm probably going to hurt for a while. If you really mean everything you just said, and you want to rebuild our brotherly bond...just...give me some time, okay? No more apologies. No more favors. No more gifts. Just give me some space and let me heal for a while, and then let things between us patch up naturally. Is that understood?”

Dylan nodded, as he sniffed and smiled sincerely. “Of course, Deepak.”

“Good.” Deepak responded as he walked away.

“...L...Love you, bro,” Dylan called out weakly.

“...Mhm,” Deepak mumbled, not looking back.

Dylan sighed. He was anxious about how things would work out from here on, but he would try to remain hopeful. Deepak seemed like he was willing to mend things in due time, so all Dylan could do was have faith in his little brother and leave things be.

– – – –

Epilogue

That night, Dylan lay fast asleep on his side of the living room couch.

He was suddenly awoken by the sensation of something small and warm sliding up to him.

He looked over to see that Deepak had snuggled up to him and was curled up to go back to sleep.

“Deepak?” Dylan whispered. “What's wr-”

“I was just a little lonely,” Deepak responded flatly. “That's all.”

“Lonely?” Dylan asked. “In a room with 96 sibl--”

“Just...go back to sleep, okay?” Deepak interrupted grouchily, not looking up at his brother.

“O-okay,” Dylan replied. “G'night, Deepak.”

“Good night,” Deepak muttered. “...Love you.”

Dylan smiled. “L-love you t--”

“Sleep,” Deepak cut him off once again.

“Right,” Dylan acquiesced.

The elder pup smiled as he lay his head back down. It might be a long road to fully repairing the brotherly bond between him and Deepak, but this seemed to be a good start.

As sleep reclaimed its hold on the exhausted Dylan and his eyes slowly slid shut, he thought that, just for a moment, he saw Deepak smiling as well.

[maladaptive-ninja-returns]

Devil’s No 1(7)

Chapter 7: Abundance

Loki x fem!Reader, Bucky x fem!Reader

Theme: The definitions of devils, angels, demons etc. are twisted here in this world. But some things remain the same.

Series: Will contain violence, death, destruction, softness, fluff, smut, everything that my mind can conjure, really.

Chapter warnings: None... is a kink a warning?

A/N: This was written two years ago (I think) on @phantomrose96 ‘s prompt/situation of a shy girl summoning the devil to be friends with him (and something else that he does but I’ll leave that part out for you guys to have fun with). But I- being thirsty for tragedies- twisted things a little.

Word Count: Work tomorrow. ugh! Sundays always make me feel lonely. So lonely. I need a hug.

MASTERLIST in bio, love. Tags are open

credits to @russian-hiddlestoner for the picture

It was a journey. Through a tunnel, maybe? Or something deeper in the ground. Well, that's what it felt like. Like when you travelled in a train and passed a junction, or where the tracks met, maybe even a tunnel there! That was how you were feeling. Or rather, your conscience was feeling? Or should we call it your soul?

Let's just skip to the part where you felt it all and woke up.

...

WAKE UP!

A loud gasp rose from your lungs as your eyes threw themselves wide open.

"There you are," you heard the dark honey voice of the devil himself from somewhere around- hopefully he isn't still inside you, "I was worried about you."

By the layers in Loki's voice, you could clearly tell how he was mocking you but your brain was on too much of a spin to even consider registering that idea right now.

"Ughh," you responded, trying to get up from the sofa. "What happeuuh-" you barely stood straight before feeling yourself falling down again if not for Loki breaking your fall, catching you in his slender but surprisingly strong arms.

"Woah! Now, now. We haven't even had proper drinks yet."

You took the support of his arms- which were eerily stone-like under all that expensive fabric that he was wearing- and scrunched your nose as you stood up, this time slowly. "We had freaking Jagër didn't we?"

"And that's got you so blurry already," he announced, sitting down, and took you by your shoulder with him, causing you to look at him with a bit of a diluted and confused rage, "we really need to work on your drinking capacity."

You don't know who you shared a look with- God, an angel or any entity that was invisible right now- but you were certain of the age-old fact that the devil was not a good influence on you.

"That's the only way I get that thing out of your system."

Now hold on. What was that?

"What? What thing?"

Hmm...maybe not as bad an influence?

"That thing inside you make you all-" he flayed his hands like an English noble while scrunching his nose just a bit- "so depressing and boring."

Your neck hurt having to turn to look at him but your ego was taking none of it. "Excuse me?"

But did he show any empathy for you? Unless that devilish smirk- that was meant kill thousands of weak-hearted earthly creatures when gazed upon- was his way of showing you how he felt for you, he clearly wasn't anywhere close to 'e'.

Oh, what am I even expecting! And from whom?!

Loki turned to you and relaxed into the sofa, his back being supported by the arms of your comfortable furniture.

"So, humans don't count being saved by the devil from a demon empathy?"

The broken harp inside you made the worst possible sound any instrument could.

"Please stop doing that," you begged, turning away from his face, heat radiating from your cheeks from the embarrassment.

"Why?"

"Those are my private thoughts," you tried to stress but your voice broke.

Loki got up and leaned a little closer to you, making you shift a bit to the other side- never stopping him from leaning closer. "Oh but I like hearing how irresistible you find my form," he nearly moans into your ear.

Holy Buddha! Lord of mercy!

"Aw," he pretended to groan- quite seductively though- in your ears, "don't take his name," whispering while moving your stray strands of hair away from your face, "he always kills my party mood by giving me his eerie smile and asking me how I'm doing. Like he cares."

He nearly spat out the last sentence and you sat there with raised brows, wondering what choice had you made that brought you straight in the arms of the devil while he narrated his dislike for Buddha.

"It was a Wednesday and you had your exams that week," Loki began, still playing with your hair.

"No, stop!" You shifted to the other end of the couch, raising your leg over the sofa to block his body, "stop telling me what I chose wrong. Stop telling me how excessively great Buddha is and definitely stop reading my thoughts."

The rims of Loki's eyes light up in a fiery-green glow, looking at you with a tilted curiousness. "Are you ordering me, darling?"

Great. Now he brings his powers in play.

"I am requesting you," you stress, folding your hands in front of him, "this is really uncomfortable and my head hurts and...wait." The tone of your voice changed, so did that pleasing colour in your eyes that Loki was loving till you dropped it wear a hint of confused blue before turning into a suspicious grey. "What exactly did you do inside me?"

"Woah," Loki raised his brow, "I didn't know you were into those kind of...kinks."

You looked like a sad confused potato till it dawned on you how of context the devil was taking your words.

"Seriously? I am dying here from this unending pain and all you can think of is sex jokes," you nearly shout with whatever energy you have left inside you.

Loki flicked his finger and within seconds there were vines coming out of the floor, wrapping around your limbs like snakes ready to devour you whole. "Stop," you said with a hint of rage but the vines only grew tighter, beginning to dig into your skin. "Loki, please," you begged this time, watching them force your hands behind your back.

"Loki," you cried softly with just the right amount of fear burning in your eyes. Exactly what Loki wanted.

And so, he finally shifted, fixing his arms around you as his hovering figure came to a stop above you, blazing eyes looking at you with the intensity of burning everything between your skin and his.

"Do not forget, pet," he cooed, too close to you, "that I am the one who holds the chains to your life. And if I want, I can yank them as hard as I please because in the end, your cries will only deliver me pleasure."

You should have been afraid. You should have been shivering in fear and panic; your heart should have been pounding for watching death right in the eyes. But this scorching sensation that you felt inside you did not seem fear like. The shiver was definitely not because of panic or your nerves feeling this unhinged tide. And all you could do was look at him while blinking with visible stupidity, gulping down something to moisten your dry throat while Loki's eyes seemed to shift.

"See?" He nearly sang, "Now that's the colour I love to see." He inhaled your essence in, moaning as he felt it register inside him, making you question his senses- and for this one very discreet almost 'invisible in the darkness of the moonless night' reason, made you question yours. "Smells like the right amount of fear," he chuckled, "with a hint of something I can't really put my finger on."

Her kink of being tied up and aroused by you! Your insides shouted.

Shut up! Shut up!

"Hm," Loki looked at you with fresh eagerness, nearly killing you with the intensity of embarrassment about to explode inside your head, "I have to say you seem interesting to play with without your thoughts too. So, I'll keep this thing off till as long as I like."

He finally got up and away. You were relieved.

Danggit, your inner voice didn't seem, though, I thought he'll finally kiss you without context!

Awesome, you hit back at her, just the person I want you to be rooting for!

You know if she had a physical form, she would be rolling her eyes at you now because both of you knew you had felt something glow inside your chest- and heat up inside your legs- at the mention of being at his mercy.

Shaking your head, you tried to bring yourself to reality.

No, I am better than this. I have to be.

"So," Loki chugged a glass of your Jager, "what do you want to do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm not going to wait for you to decide on getting drunk and all that because I know the moment you hit the limit you will be crying your eyes out and I am not in the mood to ruin my suit for pent up tears tonight," he declared, letting his hands show you the piece of work layering his body, "more critical tears of underpaid labourers and cattle have gone into the making of this."

You shared that look again, with no one, in particular, being done with the devil for the night and yet knowing that there were still so many more hours to go.

"Fine," you got up, realising the vines had long since vanished, leaving barely any scars on your wrists and ankles, "we can go somewhere then? Uhh...someplace you'd like to visit? There's a pizza place here that's open at this time of the night."

You went on and on while Loki's concern for you modified into a chuckle transforming into laughter. "Oh, you poor human. You are about to die in five days and you are still worried about the things I want to see? Honestly, woman, who died and made you the queen of ethics? Wait, is there a course for such things now?"

He wasn't wrong. Because he admitted it right now, it all started to seem more real. You were going to die in five days. He was going to take your soul to hell and God knows do what all with it. Peter's disappearance and your state then had created such a perfect picture for it to make sense but now...

"Are you having second thoughts, darling?"

His words broke you out of this nauseating spell that you cast upon yourself and you found yourself standing in the kitchenette with your shot glass in your hand looking down at the floor where broken glass lay in a puddle of water along with one of your ceramic angels. You picked up the ceramic figurine to look at, a familiar old ache replacing whatever little glow had risen inside your chest.

The angel seemed to be looking at you, begging you not to do this.

"Yes," you finally declared, throwing the figurine in the bin, "I'm sure."

.

The angel on the watch sat by the lake on the lone bench, going through his device, looking at various statistics while someone hummed in the back somewhere, going about its own business.

"And another one and another one and another bites the dust..."

The humming was not as serene for the angel at work as he wanted it to be, but he was trying to get through it somehow. It was a really special person after all. One couldn't just tell him to stop humming.

"Would you stop humming," the angel announced, "I am trying to work here, Peter!"

Everything went silent, letting the angle heave a sigh of relief and go back to his tablet.

The tree behind him rustled before Peter popped out of it upside down. "Whatcha dooooooin', Happy?"

"Tryna' work."

"Can I help?"

"You've helped us already."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did. No go cuddle spiders...or something."

"Well, technically our friend did. You know, that woman who goes by the name-"

"Peter I just want a few moments of silence to track down what exactly does Tony want from that stupid-"

"Bad word."

"Excuse me?"

"You said stupid, put some of your essences in the swear jar."

"Yeah, right. That's not gonna happen. Now please just shut u-"

"Oh shoot! Happy-"

"Aha! Now you take out your essence young man and put them in the swear-"

"No, Happy, look!"

The angel followed Peter's gaze to the lake as he watched a figure soaking in it coming out with scars and wounds being healed by the water. The figure- a man, apparently- was heaving for breaths, his glass eyes searching for someone, anyone.

"Hello!" he shouted, the tiredness in his voice abruptly changing his pitch. "Is there anybody there?!"

"Should we let him in?" Peter asked in a whisper.

"Hello! Mr Stark?" he shouted again, catching Happy and Peter's hundred per cent attention, "it's me, Scott. Can you please let me in? There is some very very important news I have to share with you."

Happy turned to his device to open the gate of mirage.

The man, still tired as he was, lit up on seeing Peter and Happy standing in front of him.

"Oh! Thank God!" he almost cried, putting all his energy in his legs to walk towards, "thank you! Thank you so much! I need to s-speak to Tony Stark."

"Identification please," Happy announced, earning a confused stare from Peter.

"Happy, he can barely walk."

"I don't care. Whoever has to meet Tony has to go through me."

"But Happy!"

"It's okay," the man smiled at Peter, still breathing heavily, "it's okay."

"My name is Scott. Scott Lang. I'm Y/N's guardian angel," he declared before falling on the ground and losing all consciousness.

[eerythingisshaka]

The Coffee Prince Pt. 9

(T’Challa x Reader)

*Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*  *Part 4* *Part 5*  *Part 6* *Part 7*  *Part 8*

Word Count 4.6k

Okoye looks at you with heightened concern.  Looking from your belly to your strained expression she continues to walk you away.  “(Y/N), please, sit down and calm yourself.  We cannot risk you miscarrying at this moment.  Breathe!”

You stop in your tracks, staring at her with a deadly expression.  “Then take me to him now.  I won’t interfere and I’m not glass, I’ll be fine. I just need to see his face.”

Okoye locks her jaw looking around a moment to think, switching her spear from one hand to the next.  “You are brave to talk to me like this.”

You swallow hard but remain steadfast.  “I don’t meant to, I just want to know he is alright...ugh…”  You bend over clutching one side of your stomach.

Okoye tuts at you, helping you to  standing position.  “Ok, ok.  You get five minutes; less if things are...out of hand.”  Okoye holds you up slightly as you both walk towards Shuri’s lab facility.

Voices are raised as the elevator opens to the floor T’Challa is on.  They’re distant  so you and Okoye follow them as they become louder.  Passing one examination area, you see Erik lying peacefully on bed with an oxygen mask on his face.  He didn’t even look like he was hurt, just taking a nap from the looks of things.  Two Dora Milaje stand outside his area on guard.  Okoye whispers something that didn’t sound nice in tone in her native language as she rolled her eyes at him and carried you on.

The journey to where T’Challa laid is a strenuous one as your stomach contracts relentlessly.

“We are almost there…”  Okoye whispers, nodding at you in encouragement.  You were starting to regret your stubbornness to see T’Challa immediately during this unknown fit of pain until you finally see him.  

Shuri and a couple of others were working overseeing him, laying bandages across parts of his body, checking his vitals around his bed.  The woman in green is beside her too, questioning the numbers on the board.  Shuri instructs one of her assistants when you catch her peripheral vision.  She clenches her jaw as she says a few more words to the others before coming out.  

“Okoye, what is she doing here?”  Shuri says strongly.

“I can speak for...myself Shuri.  How...is he?”  You gasp between the twists happening in your guts.

Shuri looks you over, laying a hand on your shoulder.  “You do not look well.  What is happening?  Are you in pain?”

You try to wave off her concern, pushing past her.  “I don’t care about that right now, I want to see him!”

Shuri blocks the way to T’Challa.  “I need to get you in a room and examine your pregnancy.  You are obviously experiencing trauma to the point of a possible miscarriage.”

Okoye steps between you two.  “Princess, I suggest allowing her to speak her peace with the King at once.  Delaying her request only makes the situation worse, she is so very determined to do this.  Forcing her otherwise could make things worse, in fact.”

Then, the woman in green appears from behind Shuri.  “Hello, I know we have not met but I am Nakia, a friend of T’Challa’s.  I am so sorry you have had to go through this today, but I assure you everything is fine now.  Shuri, are you letting her see him?”

Shuri puts her hands on her hips defiantly.  “You only get-”

“Five minutes, yeah yeah.  I’d have seen him by now at this rate.”  You say sarcastically.  Nakia smiles at you before walking down the hall.  Her walk is elegant, voice like butter on bread, just smooth and flavorful.  You hold it in your mind to ask about her when things calm down.

As you approach T’Challa the assistants notice your presences, stepping back to give you access to him.  You feel yourself calm as you lean on the bed, looking over him.  One eye is swollen,  lip cracked from a hit.  A bandage covers one area of his chest; the cause of the wound you’d rather not know.  

As he lies down with his eyes closed, you don’t even notice the subsiding of your pain, getting caught up in the image of your love lying there helplessly.

“He should be fine, I assure you.  Luckily with the Heart Shaped Herb, he has a fast, regenerative healing ability.  We are just helping the process along.”  Shuri says from a distance.

You nod mindlessly, only wanting to watch him rest, wanting so badly for him to awaken.  

“Ohh, T’Challa.  What have you gotten yourself into?”  You whisper to him.  Your hand travels to his face, lightly caressing his widow’s peak as you love to do.  Your throat starts to feel tight as your eyes burn with tears.  This is why he didn’t want to tell you.  If this was the kind of life he was living, you would be feeling this way for who knows how often.  You rest your head on the pillow space not occupied by him as tears ran across the bridge of your nose.  

“Ahh, umhle…”  he croaks.

Your head pops up at the exact moment he speaks.  “T’Challa?  You’re awake?”  

His face looks strained as he stirs a little.  “Maybe a little too soon…”

Shuri rushes in to look over his vitals.  “Good to have you with us, brother.  You’ve given us quite a shock with your condition.  Worse than usual.”

T’Challa groans.  “I must be ok if you have time for jokes.”  T’Challa peers over at you, stretching his bruised hand out.  “(Y/N), what happened to you?  You have a mark on your head.”

You reach up, forgetting about the remnants of the crash you still display.  “Oh, right.  Don’t worry about it, I just got a little banged up during the whole thing at the club.”

T’Challa tries to sit up.  

“Lay yourself back down!  You are not properly healed yet, and I really need you to talk less.  (Y/N), two more minutes.”  Shuri reminds you.

“Enough!  You get so bossy when I’m away.”  T’Challa tells her.  “I’m so sorry you got in the midst of all of this, my love.  It shouldn’t be this way.”

You shake your head, holding his hand tightly, playing with his ring.  “You couldn’t help what that asshole was planning.  You did all you were supposed to, and with Shuri and Ayo’s help, I am alive.  This scar is nothing for what could’ve been.”

T’Challa nods, blinking slowly.  “That is good to here.  But what about…”  His voice trails off as his eyes linger on your midsection.  You look down, taking his hand to spread it across your stomach.  All you could do is nod for the amount of emotion stirring underneath the surface of your calm demeanor.  T’Challa’s head falls back on his pillow as he closes his eyes.  

“Thank Bast.  I prayed I wouldn’t awake to a loss.”  

You swallow, keeping your voice as level as possible as you spoke.  “I was not sure about this before, ChaCha, I really wasn’t.  With all that has happened, I felt even less like I wanted to bring a child into this world if it meant its father was doing this stuff.  But, seeing you just now and thinking over all the good I have experienced with you and your family supporting me…”  Your voice cracks as your vision blurs.  T’Challa caresses your face, running his thumb over your edges comforting you.

You lean over to kiss him softly.  While chapped and cracked, it was still electrifying for you as ever.  

When you part, T’Challa says, “You continue to lift my spirits whenever I am with you, a feat I will never ignore.”  Suddenly he goes into a coughing fit.

Shuri lays a hand on your shoulder.  “Guys, let’s go ahead and take a break so we don’t get worked up again.  (Y/N), I’ll let you know when T’Challa is ready for another visit, but it’s time for him to rest now.”

T’Challa takes your hand, kissing it.  It takes everything within you to walk away from him, but you took solace in the fact that he is getting well.  

Heading back to the elevators with Okoye, a man with scars on his face in a blue patterned blanket stands outside the area Erik is laying.

Okoye slows her pace calling out to him.  She and the man talk back and forth rapidly, voices sharp and strained at certain parts of the conversation, but no way could you decipher.

Okoye looks back at you.  “Apologies this is my significant other W’Kabi, emphasis on the ‘other’ at the moment.”

W’Kabi side eyes Okoye.  “Do not make my first impression an ill one, love.  I hear you are the apple of our King’s eye at the moment, eh?”

Okoye answers for you.  “She is not a moment, do not be rude.  And don’t even think about hounding T’Challa about Klaue, he is not our concern anymore.”

W’Kabi perks up.  “T’Challa killed him?”

Okoye sighs.  “He died during the fight.”

W’Kabi squints at Okoye.  “T’Challa didn’t kill him?  Why?  Who did?  How?”

You were over W’Kabi’s attitude and decide to take control of the situation.  “Ughh, ohh, I don’t feel well…” You clutch your stomach, heaving.

Okoye holds you, walking around W’Kabi to the elevator.  “I have other obligations W’Kabi, let us be for now.  Keep watch over your men at the border.”

Finally you and Okoye make it into the elevator to travel to the intended destination.

“Thank you for breaking that up.  I know you weren’t actually unwell.  I appreciate that.”  Okoye says, maintaining her gaze straight ahead.

You nod, relaxing.  “Sooo...what is his deal?” You ask.

Okoye’s shoulders drop as her eyes look around for an answer.  “His history with the man that worked with the outsider that is here is extensive.  Klaue was the cause of many deaths here in one day, including his parents.  He has wanted revenge for as long as I can remember and T’Challa promised that.”

“Sounds like something he would do.  Are they friends?”

Okoye nods, smiling slightly.  “Since they were boys, pranking each other and messing around with the rhinos.  W’Kabi holds him to high esteem.”

You tuck your lips, feeling silly as you ask your next question.  “And what about you guys?  How long have you been together and shiiiit?”  

Okoye turns to you wide eyed.  “Excuse me?  Your language needs to be clean around me, understand?”

You shrink within yourself.  “Sorry.”

Okoye shakes her head straightening up again.  “But to answer, we have known each other since I started training to be a Dora, so 15 years?  A couple for six.”

“Woooow, that’s good.  The best one start as friends, I always hear.  And I like you seem to wear the pants and all.”

Okoye’s mouth opens and closes a couple times before continuing.  “We balance each other out, (Y/N).  So, even though I could kill a man an infinite amount of ways before he could blink, W’Kabi has as much say as I do in what matters to one another personally.  He is not weak, and I am not expected to remain strong at all times...which can be nice…”

The elevators open to a floor with low lighting.  It appeared more lowkey compared to the bright and bustling vibe of Shuri’s lab.  Okoye goes up to a door typing in a code to unlock them.  As they roll open, you are lead into a living space.

“This is where you will be staying.”  Okoye announces as you continue to look around.

You were impressed by the space; tall ceilings, large windows covered by heavy curtains.  You could see parallels between the style of T’Challa’s condo and this room.

“Thank you, Okoye.  I really do love it!”  You walk over to sit on the couch, lounging back on it.

“Well, like it or not, this is it.  I will come by in the morning with word on T’Challa’s condition.  You focus on resting yourself, it’s been a long day, eh?”

“You can say that again.”  You say as Okoye dismisses herself from the residence.  You basked in the comforts of a soft surface to lay on, looking at the sunset through the cracks in the curtain parts.  The exhaustion from the last two days catches up to you as you lay there, feeling pressure on your eyes as you fight to keep them open.  Your hand rests on your stomach, followed by a fluttery feeling.

“Ohhh, you caused me a lot of trouble today, so don’t even right now.”  You scold your belly as you lift your shirt a little to see.  Your stomach still looked like it’s usual self, but you felt better staring at it knowing a little you and T’Challa rested inside.

“So I have decided to keep you, little one.  Wow, saying it out loud is a revelation.  But it’s true so flutter if you’re happy.”  You wait a moment before being greeted by a tickle.  “There you are….yeah I just don’t think I can give you up after all of this.  Your dad is pretty damn cool, lemme tell you.  But you already know, you’re super cool already, growing all fast.  Don’t grow too fast though, huh?  You’re my first, I wanna savor this, and tell people about it before you get here.”  

Your eyes can’t keep up with the conversation as they drift.  “I might be crazy for this, but I want you to see all of this for yourself.  I need someone else to see this so I know I’m not dreaming.  ChaCha makes everything feel like that though, you get used to it…”  You meant to make it to the bedroom to rest properly but that’s just how good the couch is.  You probably said a few more things but they became lost in the dreamscape of your mind as you fell asleep.

Your mind is busy while you’re sleeping, replaying all of the days events over and over again with varying outcomes.  One dream consisted of you running through the holding area Tavia’s in, being chased by something you couldn’t see.  The voices were loud and clear though, cursing you and demanding you to stop as gunshots rang out.  You called for T’Challa in vain as the voices came closer, shots ringing right by your ear until suddenly a hand wraps around your waist.  

You sit up quickly, hyperventilating and sweating in the calm of the living room.

“(Y/N)?”

Your heart stops as your body jolts away from the voice looking in its direction.

T’Challa looks at you empathetically, laying a hand on your knee.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, umhle.”

Your chest heaves with breath, trying to calm down as you stare at him feeling your forehead for fever.  “You’re warm, do I need to call Shuri to examine you?”

“DO I NEED TO CALL SHURI TO EXAMINE YOU??  You were just laid out in that hospital bed on your last leg, and you’re wondering what’s wrong with me?!”  You exclaim in confusion.  Looking him over, turning his head back and forth, amazed by no sign of a black eye or swollen lip.  Pulling at his shirt roughly to look down and find no bandages.

T’Challa just smirks, unphased by your outburst as he sits next to you on the couch with one arm wrapped around you.  “I missed you too, my sweet.”

As his arms came around you, you felt the flutter in your stomach again, as if to remind you to be kind and calm to its father.  Laying a hand there, you snuggle to T’Challa, closing your eyes and sighing deeply.

“I have missed you T’Challa.  I’m just so confused and in shock, I couldn’t bear doing all of that alone.”  

T’Challa’s head rests on top of yours.  “I’m so sorry I lost you.  Erik kept me pretty busy and I just couldn’t keep up anymore, but you have my word that won’t happen again, you are too important to me.”

“You don’t have to promise me that.  I know your intentions are good and things will happen, but you aren’t to blame.”

T’Challa sighs, holding you tighter.  “I have been kicking myself for not letting you in since I met you.  Maybe if I was more forthcoming, you would’ve been more prepared for something like this-”

You look up at him, laying a hand on his chest.  His eyes moistened but resisted any tears from falling.  “Stop beating yourself up!  You got enough of that already today.  ”

T’Challa smiles weakly as you lay your hand to the side of his face.  “I understand why this would’ve been difficult to tell me about now.  I probably would’ve laughed in your face, especially describing your suit, cuz that leaves little to the imagination, ok?  But whatever could’ve changed from telling me, it doesn’t matter now, because I am safe, lying here with you ok?”

T’Challa shakes his head, eyes twinkling in admiration.  “That’s why I am crazy about you.  You know just how to reset me when I short circuit.”

You giggle before stop short.  “Wait, that is a joke, right?  You’re not part robot, or something?”

T’Challa chides you as his hands find your sides tickling you into submission.  “Fine, FINE!  You’re not a robot, staaaahp!”

You share a hearty laugh together, the first good one in what felt like ages.  “But what did Erik do to you to make you so bruised and shit?  You did not look good at all ChaCha.”

“He got his too, trust me.  And he gets up a lot slower, might I add.  But it’s a blur really, at some point he tricked me playing dead and when I retracted from my suit, he got ahold of my necklace, so that’s when the bruising really occurred since I had no armor.”

“Wow, were you trying to kill him?”  You asked cautiously.

T’Challa shrugs.  “Not necessarily, but if it had to happen so he would stop, I was willing.  Especially after he shot me.

“YOU GOT SHOT!?”  You exclaim, ready to tear into him for details.

Suddenly your kimoyo beads light up, interrupting the good time you were having.  It was Shuri.

“Hey!  How are-”

“Where is T’Challa?!”  Shuri asks rather rudely.

Before you could speak, T’Challa sticks his head around.  “Hello sister!  I hope I haven’t worried you!”

Shuri rolls her eyes aggressively.  “Your monitors made it look like your heart had stopped, and then I check on you to see you’re gone, OF COURSE I AM WORRIED!”

T’Challa sighs.  “I am well, just catching up with (Y/N).  Erik is still knocked out?”

Shuri nods.  “Yes, contained and under sedation until we go to question him.  Well, let me not keep you two.  (Y/N), since he is feeling so well, remind him to make you a proper meal in the morning for you and the baby, ok?”

T’Challa responds, “Oh, if you could put in an order for me with the kitchen staff?  We would like-”

“....umntu ovila (lazy person).  Boy bye!”  Shuri says followed by a swift hang up.  

“T’Challa, stop giving your sister such a hard time.  The girl has done a lot since you were gone, and patching you up too!  I still cannot believe...”  

T’Challa crosses his arms.  “Ohh, she has a high tolerance, built up by years of experience.  But I’m glad you are so chumy with her.  Did you make your acquaintance with anyone else?”  T’challa asks, changing the subject.

You roll your eyes but continue.  “Yes!  Actually, I did.  I met  couple Dora Menage’s, Ayo and Okoye.  They all are so damn cool, with the bald heads and spears and strength, it’s dope!”

T’Challa chuckles.  “Dora Milaje, my love.  And yes, they are Wakanda’s most trusted protectors for centuries, so they are indeed awesome.”

“They are hundred of years old?? Oh my God, do they get a serum too for immortality?”  You ask excitedly.

“No!  What are you- I meant that their position has been around for years, not them specifically.  We aren't immortal, that’s crazy.”

You side eye T’Challa.  “Oh ok, of everything I’ve seen THAT is the craziest, cool.”

T’Challa rubs your back tutting at you.  “It’s ok, you get used to it quickly.  Now what else happened while I was under.”

“Umm, I met your mother, Queen Mother to be specific.  She is soooo beautiful T’Challa, and a personality to match.  We had a great talk about things going on, and the baby, she really spoke to me like we knew each other forever.”

T’Challa’s face smiles warmly.  “Yes, she is great.  I’m happy to hear that.”

“Other than that, just a bunch of people here and there, but those were the main ones.”  You pause before continuing.  “T’Challa, what’s going to happen with Erik and Tavia?  I can’t imagine they will be treated lightly for what has happened.”

T’Challa looks away from you as his face drops.  “Well, we don’t have to talk about that tonight.  I have kept you up long enough.”

You shake your head vigorously.  “No, I’m up now, we can talk some more.”

T’Challa gets up, taking you by the hand.  “Can we just go to bed?”  T’Challa raises his eyebrows suggestively.  You scoff at him, crossing your arms, not moving.

T’Challa looks up to the sky before sitting down by your legs.  “Bast and the ancestors.  Listen (Y/N),  I have plans to see them tomorrow to question them and their motives and from their, I honestly have no plans yet for them after that, ok?”

You marinate on his words.  Tavia told you of some of the plans they had, but you weren’t sure if you should tell him or wait for them.  “I spoke to Tavia the other day, before you and Erik came back together.”

T’Challa’s expression turns serious as you spoke.  “What did you all discuss.”

“The obvious: how could she do this to me as a friend and to you as my boyfriend.  How could a guy make her so crazy to even be down for this.”

“And?  What did she say?”  

You hesitate.  “T’Challa, if I tell you, you won’t have any reason to question them tomorrow.”

T’Challa holds up his hand in surrender.  “I plan to give them a fair trial either way, please, tell me.  This is important.”

You think he sounds calm and collected enough, so you did.  You told them about Erik planning to take the throne from T’Challa and even that they were possibly related.  

T’Challa shakes his head.  “That is not possible, my uncle had no children and has long been presumed dead.”

You shrug.  “That is what she told me.  Shuri could just run a blood test for that, right?  And then you both could-”

T’Challa shakes his head, holding his hands together in frustration.  “That’s not going to happen.  It’s impossible, so why waste the time.”

You peer at T’Challa.  “ChaCha, this isn’t something you should brush under the rug.  At least consider it.”

T’Challa looks at you with an unreadable expression.  He may not have even been looking at you exactly, just your direction while his mind was elsewhere.  You sit up, scooting towards him laying your hands on his shoulder.  “Don’t go into this with a heart overrun with unchecked emotions.  You hold the cards now, so look at this objectively.  I wanted to keep this from you for these reasons, I tell you, it’s tough keeping secrets.”

“Tell me about it.”  T’Challa says flatly.

You reach for his widow’s peak, stroking it gently as your belly flutters.  “We are counting on you to be a great man, which you already are.  Don’t overcompensate where it’s unnecessary.”

T’Challa takes your wrist, bringing your fingers down to his lips, kissing their tips.  “You have my word, and my heart...and my undivided attention.”

T’Challa reaches for your hips, snaking his hands down your thighs to bring you across his lap facing him as you straddle.  

“Shuri said I am 6 weeks at least.”  You whisper in his ear.

T’Challa beams with pride, grabbing your waist and rolling small circles over your stomach.  “My Bast, our little bean must be excited to see the world.”

“Little Bean, that’s cute ChaCha.”  You feel at home in his lap, those big beautiful eyes looking up at you is the best view you can imagine.  There had to be a reason for falling for him so fast, one that was not in vain.  Maybe your future child is one but your inner confidence being fortified by T’Challa’s cosigning and being exposed to a new world, much better than any you have known so far, seemed to help to assure you were on the right path as well.

You rest your forehead to T’Challa’s feeling a need build inside of you that he must have felt himself as his hands dipped between your legs to feel you through your bottoms.  Kissing him deeply, it felt good to express your love without worry, as the night concluded with passion uninhibited.

---

The next morning, you look over to T’Challa laid across the bed, out like a light.  So much for breakfast, as you check the time reading 11 am.  Getting up to get dressed, you take your time, feeling more and more at home with the Wakanda lifestyle.  The closet was filled with choices, all in your size of the latest Wakandan fashion.  You smile to yourself feeling the sturdy yet soft fabrics of all sorts of colors, thanking whomever (most likely Shuri) for being so accommodating.  You stay conservative, in a maroon colorblocked top with a tail in the back and some black leggings and sandals.  

Looking around the living area, you find a clear glass door with food behind it that appears to be the fridge.  You have an apple with a chocolate spread that is even better than Nutella, and if the label was right, carried enough nutrients for a balanced breakfast.  

You rubbed your belly or ‘Little Bean’ as your body digested and began to grow restless.  You decide that you want to see what Shuri is up to, just to get out and do something until T’Challa wakes.  

Getting on the elevator, you make you way to her lab floor, still buy but way more normal than yesterday.  As you walk down you pass the area in which Erik is located.  You would’ve missed it since no Dora were guarding at that point.  He looks as rested as T’Challa is, still sedated as he lays.  No one was in the hall to stop you as you walk towards his bed.  Looking him over, you can see his attractiveness.  T’Challa wasn’t wrong though about getting his licks in; one eye blackened, the other has a decent gash above his eyebrow.  There was bruising around his nose, and a similar cut on his lip like T’Challa had.  The locs give him an irresistible edge to his symmetrical features nonetheless.  A sheet covers most of his body, but you notice some keloids along his shoulder that put you off.  

Moving the sheet carefully, you notice they travel a long ways down his torso.  Did T’Challa do this?  No, couldn’t be, these are healed scars, right?  How did he get them in such abundance?  As you move the sheet back, you notice a necklace laid across his chest with a ring on the end.  Deja vu hits you as you reach for it, picking up the ring to study it.  Your mind flashes back to the ring that T’Challa has, the one that is on his hand as he caressed your belly while wounded.  Why would they have the same ring?

Quicker than you could react, Erik’s hand snaps out from the sheet to grab your wrist hard making you yelp.

His face is maniacal as he sits up pulling you towards him.  “Hey princess.  Bout time you brought your ass back around here.” 

Part X

Masterlist

My Ragtag

@sweetpeachjones@scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade@universalbri @therevolution-willbelive@you-like-this-chain @sarcastic-sunshines@airis-paris14@afraiddreamingandloving@kreolemami@lalapalooza718 @syreanne@thiccdaddy-mbaku@she-is-golden @wakanda-inspired@90sinspiredgirl@bidibidibombaclaat@sithlordslut@brujademente@chaneajoyyy@slimmiyagi @lewatigress @shesakillerkween @queentearra @fiercedeception @yaachtynoboat711 @yofavcocoa @katasstrophey @zxddy-panther @babygirlofwakanda @destinio1  @heyauntieeee @ambthegamer

[awkwardedgygirl]

Voices

HAPPY VELENTINE’S DAY!!!!!!! Ok so last year for v day I wrote a miraculous ladybug fic but this year I love Voltron. It is cute and I love it. They here each other’s thoughts and I wanted Keith to be the excited one. anyway there is cussing and some self esteem issues so be careful. Enjoy!

Keith always liked the idea of soulmates. He has never had anything constant in his life but always found comfort in knowing that there was someone out there he was destined to be with.  He knew that he would not meet his soulmate until the universe decided that they were ready and he didn’t know how exactly they would connect. But nevertheless on the night of his eighteenth birthday he tossed and turned all night waiting for something to happen, but nothing ever did. This taught him that his soulmate was younger then he was but he did not lose hope. Then one night, July 28th to be exact, it happened.

He was sleeping peacefully when all the sudden he was woken up by singing. Not just any singing but someone singing happy birthday. Keith sits up and looks around his room but nobody is there. He then realises it is in his head. Why was happy birthday playing in his head at midnight?

Wait.

Is this his soulmate singing? Is this his connection? Songs?

Keith quickly tries to think of a song, but he can’t think of one. The singing in his head has ended and he feels the presences leave. He missed his chance, he missed his chance at meeting his soulmate and he doesn’t know what to do. He gets out of bed and paces around his small studio apartment freaking out about his missed chance. After a good hour of pacing he sits on the couch and ends up falling asleep in the most uncomfortable of positions.

He wakes up to his phone blaring from the other side of the wall and gets up to shut it off. He remembers the night before and decides he needs to go to the gym to clear his head. He puts on his workout clothes and gets on his motorcycle and heads over there.

Once there he gets on the treadmill and puts in his headphones Welcome to the Black Parade begins to play.

When I was a young boy.

Huh, Keith thinks, that is a new voice.

To see a marching band,

“He’s back!” Keith says out loud scaring the guy next to him.

“Ugh I wish” the voice in his head says.

It is a man’s voice! His soulmate is a guy! He was really hoping it was.

“Umm hello?” Keith thinks.

Silence.

Then a very faint, “Hello.”

Keith smiles, “Oh my god yes you can hear me!”

“Well duh you are in my head.”

Keith laughs, “No I am not in your head, well I mean I guess I am but I am real too!”

“And why should I believe that? How do I know I am not just going crazy?” The voice sounded skeptical.

“No I am real,” Keith promised, “I am at the gym right know and I was listening to Welcome to the Black Parade which is why you were singing it. I heard you sing happy birthday to yourself last night. Happy birthday by the way”

“Thanks.” The voice mumbles.

“I promise you I am real.” Keith pleads.

He feels a sigh in head, “Ok so what is this then?”

Keith’s heart beats faster, “I think this is our soulmate connection.”

After what felt like a century for Keith he hears a very faint, “You don’t want me.”

Keith panics, “No I do I promise.”

“No guy trust me if you met me you would not want me. I’m sorry you got such a shit soulmate. I have to go now. Good bye.”

“No wait!” Keith says out loud adding to the strange looks he was already getting. But he does not care. The voice in his head is gone and he is not sure if he will ever hear it again.

The rest of Keith’s day is a blur. He can’t tell you what he did or what he saw he spent the whole day in his head hoping to hear that voice again. But he never did. It stayed silent. It was a week until he heard another song. It was very faint and in a language he did not recognize, but it was beautiful. He laid in bed listening to a beautiful voice speaking what he now realises is Spanish. The song ends and he knows he has to say something,

“That was beautiful.” He thinks.

“..Thanks.”

Keith wants to keep the conversation going, “So do you speak Spanish?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool.” Keith wants to say more but does not want to scare him away again.

Eventually the voice talks, “My family is from Cuba, we came to America when I was young.”

Keith’s heart feels warm, “Wow that is really cool do you like living here?”

Keith feels the shrug, “Yeah it’s alright I miss the beach though.”

“You don’t live near a beach? Keith asks.

“Ha.” The voice says, “Not even close.”

“Oh,” Keith says, “sorry.”

“Not your fault.”

“I live in the desert.” Keith says hoping to keep the conversation going.

“Cool.”

Pause.

“Do.. Do you like it?”

Keith shrugs, “Yeah I moved around a lot and the desert is definitely my favorite place.”

“Cool cool.”

“Yeah.”

“Well umm I should get to bed but it was great talking to you?”

Keith smiles, “Yeah you too.”

Keith gets to talk to the voice at least once a week now. He is able to ask him a few questions without scaring him off. Like his favorite color and hobby and simple things like that. He can’t ask anything to big or he might leave again.

It is a month later when at three in the morning he is woken up by the voice.

“You are a failure.”

“No one likes you.”

“You disappoint everybody.”

“He does not want you.”

Those same thoughts fly around his head over and over. Keith jumps out of bed, “Wait what is happening?” Keith thinks.

But the voice only continue getting louder and louder until Keith is on his floor crying.

“He does not want you.”

“No!” Keith says out loud, “That is not true. None of this is true. Don’t listen to it please.”

The voices stop.

“Did I wake you? Oh god I am so sorry I didn't mean to wake you.”

Keith takes a deep breath, “No it is ok don’t worry.”

“No it is three in the morning and I woke you up I am so sorry.”

“Hey.” Keith says out loud, “Don’t worry about me tell me what is wrong.”

“I just have these thoughts sometimes but don’t worry.”

“You are my soulmate of course I will worry.”

“I already told you. You don’t want me.”

“Well that is for me to decided isn’t it?”

No response.

“Look,” Keith sighs, “my life has not always been easy and it seems like yours hasn’t been either. I always found comfort in knowing I had a soulmate and I want you to feel that comfort too. I don’t care if you just want to be platonic soulmates or you never want to meet. Just know that I will always be here for you.”

“Ok.”

Keith sighs in relief, “Are you ok now? Do you want to talk about it?”

“No I am ok, Go back to sleep. Thank you.”

Keith smiles, “Anytime.”

The next morning Keith is woken up by Hollaback Girl playing in his head.

Keith groans, “Really?”

The singing stops, “Sorry.”

Keith groans again, “No it is fine,” Keith yawns, “Go on.”

Keith hears an exasperated sigh, “Well I can’t now.”

“Why not I hear you sing all the time.”

“Yeah but this is different I am.. Showering.”

“So?”

“So? SO?” Excuse you sir but I am naked.”

“Ummm I can’t see you?” Keith is confused.

“Yeah but I can hear you and it is weird.”

“Ok? Well what do you want me to do about it? You were the one singing?”

“Ugh just listen to something else!”

“Ok ok!” Keith gets up and grabs his headphones and Fall Out Boy begins playing.

“Better?”

“Yes thank you.”

After five minutes he speaks again, “Did you mean it?”

“Yes.” Keith responds.

“Okay ummm cool.”

Keith chuckles, “Yeah.”

Keith feels a deep breath, “My name is Lance by the way.”

Keith’s heart beats faster but he tries to at least sound cool, “Mine is Keith.”

“Huh. I like that name.”

“I like yours too.”

“I have to go but I will talk you later Keith?”

Keith smiles, “Yeah bye Lance.”

Keith and Lance continue to talk for months. They learn everything about each other. Lance learns about Keith’s parents and Keith learns about Lance’s self esteem issues.

It is one night in January around eleven that Lance speaks, “Hey Keith? You awake?”

Keith puts down the phone he was scrolling through, “Yeah?”

“Would you ummm,” a pause, “would you want to video chat?”

Keith jumps up out of bed, “Holy shit yes!”

Keith hears laughter in his head, “Okay cool me too.”

Each one gets their computers and add each other on skype. Keith hits the button to call Lance and his heart is beating out of his chest. Lance picks up and Keith sees Lance for the first time.”

“He’s beautiful.” Keith thinks.

Lance laughs, it is a beautiful laugh, “Well thank you, you are not so bad looking yourself.”

Keith’s face reddens, “Oh god you heard that?”

“Fraid so.”

“Ughh” Keith groans, “this is going great for me.”

Lance smiles, “I agree.”

“So not to be the one to like kick a gift horse in the mouth or whatever but why did you decide to video chat?” Keith asks.

“Honestly?” Lance thinks, “I wanted to know if you were as hot as your voice sounded.”

Keith raises an eyebrow, “And? Final verdict?”

Lance places his fingers on his chin rubbing an imaginary beard, “So far all signs point to yes.”

Keith laughs, “I appreciate that.”

Keith and Lance video chat every night after that for the next month. Most nights they even fall asleep with it still on and Keith gets to wake up to see a sleeping Lance and it fills his heart with joy.

But he does not wish for more, yeah he would like more one day but he will never pressure Lance to do anything he does not feel ready for.

It is a normal Thursday when Keith wakes up to his skype call being disconnected. He is kinda bummed about it but he thinks to Lance to have a good day. He goes to the gym and work and has a really good day. As he is walking home he begins noticing all the flowers. He pulls pulls his phone to check the date and groans.

How could I forget Valentine’s Day?

“I didn’t.”

And that is all Keith hears. He decides the best course of action is to rush home and do some online shopping for something for Lance. He is moving so quickly he almost doesn't notice that his front door is open

Keith walks in slowly ready for whatever might happen. What he does not expected though is someone sitting on his couch playing video games and he looks to have about three pizza boxes along with some smaller boxes.

“Umm,” Keith looks around, “Can I help you?”

The game pause and the mystery man stands up to reveil,

“Lance!” Keith runs and engulfs him in a hug and Lance hugs back.”

“Oh my god what are you here?”

Can’t breathe,” Lance says

“Oh sorry,” Keith let go and put him back on the ground, “What are you doing here? How did you get here and better yet how did you get into my house?

“Oh umm” Lance scratches the back of is head, “I want to surprise you and I have this friend who is really good at finding out information and umm I broke in”

Keith laughs, “It doesn’t matter I am so happy you are here.”

Lance hugs him back, “Yeah me too.”

[ohfrickfanfic]

Blasphemy

Just a heads up this might be a little mish mash of Christianity and Catholosimn since I was raised Catholic and know more of that terminology/practices, but their fairly similar and this is fiction so just roll with it.

Word count: 6.7K

Pairings: Fuck boy! Josh x Churchboy!Tyler

Warnings/tags: Enemies to Lover’s, bullying, underage drinking, peer pressure to drink, blasphemy, sacrilege, sex in a church, unholy uses of anointing oil, degradation, hair-pulling, coming out, loss of virginity, anal fingering, rimming, lots of song lyrics. 

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Churchboy,” Tyler hears coming from behind him, just moments after exiting his dorm room.

He doesn’t even have to look to know who it’s coming from; Joshua Dun, the last person Tyler was hoping to see on his first day of college. ‘This is what I get for wanting to stay local’, he thinks to himself, continuing down the hall and trying to ignore Josh as he always has, but it’s not that easy.

Maybe to some, college means wild, drunken parties and getting laid, but not to Tyler. He takes his education very seriously, and other than the few sips of wine he has at church every Sunday where he serves as senior acolyte, he doesn’t drink either. And as for getting laid, Tyler is a virgin. His religious beliefs play a big role in that but being in the closet plays an even bigger role, which, is a whole other story in itself.

Having recently come to terms with his sexuality, Tyler struggles with his faith. He’s a firm believer and wants to live a righteous life, but he can’t deny who he is, and it often eats away at him.

To Tyler, college is supposed to be about new beginnings and fresh starts. It’s supposed to be about learning, growing as a person, and living life to the fullest, but how is Tyler going to do any of that now that his past has seemingly followed him to college?

Josh Dun was Tyler’s high school bully, and ironically, his first same-sex crush. No matter how many times Josh broke Tyler’s spirit with the way he treated him, Tyler’s heart would pound with lust whenever he was around, and Tyler hated him for it. He hated him for how low he made him feel with his words, and he hated him for how high he made him feel late at night when he was alone in his room. And now, in college, Tyler’s going to have to deal with the highs and lows that come with Joshua Dun once again.

“I’m talking to you, Churchboy!” Josh calls, raising his voice as he catches up to Tyler. He yanks him by the arm, cornering him between the wall and the double doors that lead further down the hall. “We met again,” he says, staring at Tyler intensely. Just then, the double doors fly open, almost hitting the two as one of Josh’s skater friends emerges through the doors.

“Dun! What up, cocksucker?” his friend Brendon shouts, playfully punching Josh in the arm while passing by. “Wanna grind the rails on the ramp at the library after classes? You know how that always pisses the librarians off,” he turns around to ask, walking backward down the hall.

“Sure thing! Catch you later, man,” Josh answers, returning his attention to Tyler.

“You’re g-gay?” Tyler questions bravely.

“Where the fuck did you get that from?” Josh asks.

Nervously, Tyler lifts his arm, pointing down the hallway toward Brendon, “B-but he called you—”

“He was just fucking around. That’s what friends do. Maybe you’d know if you had some,” Josh quips. “Why? You wanna suck my cock or something?” Josh asks, taking a step closer to Tyler and teasingly eyeing him up and down.

Tyler’s silence speaks volumes.

“You do, don’t you? Admit it, if I were church, you’d get on your knees.” Josh taunts, placing both hands on the wall behind Tyler, boxing him in. “Say it!”

“Josh—”

“Say. It.” Josh hisses in his ear.

“Frick! Fine. If you were church, I’d get on my knees,” Tyler rushes out quickly, ending with a knee to Josh’s balls, shoving him away, and making his way through the double doors humiliated, angry, and slightly turned on.

“Fuck! Josh groans loudly, grabbing himself and doubling over in pain. “You’re gonna get it! Your ass is mine, Joseph!” he shouts after him.

************************************************

Finally, back in his dorm room after a long day of being half hard in his classes, Tyler lays on his bed, quickly shoving his jeans down his thighs, along with his boxers, and begins a slow tug on his length. Images of Josh play through his mind as he wills himself to get fully hard, but the anger, embarrassment, and upset of the day’s earlier events won’t allow it.

Frustrated, Tyler spits in his palm and tries again. He pictures Josh cornering him against the wall with passion, not hatred, and pretends his aggression is neediness. He pictures his words are meant for pleasure, not punishment, as he visualizes getting on his knees for Josh.

Suddenly, his dorm room door flings open.

“Oh shit, sorry!” Tyler’s best friend, Jenna, squeaks out, quickly turning around and closing the door before anyone else sees. “Did you forget you invited me over to study? I can come back,” she says with one hand over on her eyes and the other clutching onto the biology book under her arm.

“It’s fine, I’m not getting anywhere anyways,” Tyler huffs, pulling his pants back up. “And don’t you ever knock, by the way?” Tyler teases, pumping hand sanitizer onto his palm. “This isn’t the first time this has happened.”

“I wouldn’t have to knock if you weren’t always masturbating in the middle of the day,” Jenna teases, turning back around. “I still remember last time, back in high school, when I caught you getting off to that asshole J— “

Jenna’s words are interrupted by a loud pounding on the door and a familiar voice. “I know you’re in there, Joseph. I’m not done with you,” Josh shouts, passing Tyler’s room.

“Tyler, noooo!” Jenna reprimands, taking a seat by Tyler on his bed, placing her textbook to her right. “Not again!”

“Ughh, I know, I know,” Tyler says ashamed, covering his face. He slides his hands up into his hair, twirling one piece anxiously and begins to try an explain himself.

“I didn’t know he was even gonna be attending here, I swear. I was heading to class this morning and I heard someone shout ‘Churchboy’. I knew it was him instantly; he’s the only one who ever calls me that. I tried to ignore him and just keep walking, but then he cornered me…”

Tyler goes on to tell Jenna of the morning’s events in great detail, down to the way Josh’s warm breath felt on his neck as he hissed lewd demands in his ear, and how his colorful sleeve tattoo contorted as his arm muscles flexed, boxing Tyler in.

“You got it bad, Ty— real bad,” Jenna says with a slight laugh, shaking her head once Tyler’s done rambling on about Josh.

“I knowwww,” Tyler drawls with an annoyed whine. “I just can’t stop thinking about him.”

“I just don’t get it, Tyler. What do you see in him? I mean besides his hard-to-miss, bright yellow hair and good looks. C’mon, Ty, he treats you like shit. You don’t have a chance in hell with him, and even if you did, he doesn’t deserve you,” she says, taking his hand and sandwiching it between hers.

“Honestly, Jenna, I have no idea. I’ve asked myself the same question many times,” Tyler admits.

“Just promise me you’re not gonna let him get to you and affect your grades and what not,” Jenna says, releasing Tyler’s hand and shifting to pick up her biology book by her side.

“I’ll try not to, but I’m pretty sure I’m getting my ass kicked the next time he sees me,” he states with nervous laughter.

“Page fifty-three,” Jenna says, shaking her head as opens her book.

*********************************************

It’s Sunday now. The rest of the week had gone on without incident. In fact, Tyler hasn’t even seen Josh once. He doesn’t know whether he should be relieved, disappointed, or worried. ‘Maybe it was just a freak thing running into him that day. The campus is huge, certainly days could go by without running into each other,’ he tells himself, mostly to calm his worrying mind as he gets ready for church.

**********************************************

“Good morning, Tyler,” the pastor greets him as Tyler enters the sacristy, where the robes and other items used in worship are kept.

“Good morning, Pastor,” Tyler returns his hospitality and makes his way over to the wardrobe.

“How was your week?” the pastor asks while Tyler slips a white robe on over his clothes.

“Eventful, to say the least,” Tyler answers. “Well, actually, that was just one day, but still, it feels good to be here.”

“Well, I’m sorry you had a rough day, but I think I have just the thing to cheer you up,” the pastor states. “Today, and for the next few Sundays, you’ll be serving alongside a new altar server. He’s young, about your age, but here’s the thing, he’s a real troublemaker. It seems he’s doing this as some sort of community service. I didn’t have to let him serve it here, but I know how much you enjoy helping others and I thought maybe you could befriend him while you teach him the ropes. You know, help get him on the right path.”

“Thank you, Pastor. I’ll do my best.”

“Oh, actually I think he’s here now. I’ll be right back. I’m just going to show him in.”

Tyler gathers the things needed for service while he waits. He arranges them meticulously on a gold tray and carries them out to the altar, followed by the bells. Once done, he returns to the sacristy.

“Tyler, this is the young man I was telling you about. I’d like you to meet—"

“J-Josh!?” Tyler blurts out, taken aback. He hadn’t seen Josh in nearly a week, and church was the last place he expected to see him, and with brunette hair nonetheless.

“Oh, wonderful! You two already know each other. Tyler, I think you’re just the thing this young man needs. I’m looking forward to seeing you work together,” the pastor says, making his way over to the wardrobe. “Joshua, today you’ll mostly just be observing Tyler. Stand when he stands, kneel when he kneels, etcetera. But also watch carefully as he performs his duties so that you may help next Sunday. And try to arrive a little earlier next week,” the pastor speaks, handing Josh a white robe. Josh nods as he takes the garment, giving the pastor a fake smile of understanding in response. “Service is about to start, is everything all set Tyler?”

“Yes, Pastor. All set.”

“Great. Let’s begin,” the pastor says, stepping out into the hall just as the choir begins singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.

Quickly, Josh slips the robe on over his clothes with a roll of his eyes and Tyler motions for him to follow the pastor. Grabbing the large candle lighter by the door, Tyler swiftly lights it and joins the procession, walking side by side with Josh down the aisle between the pews to the altar. The pastor and Tyler both bow, Josh following seconds later. The pastor turns left to the pulpit and Josh follows Tyler to the right towards the altar, watching as he lights the candles. Tyler extinguishes the candle lighter’s flame, standing the lighter up against the wall before taking his seat in one of the two large, elaborately carved gold chairs behind the pastor’s pulpit.

“You dyed your hair,” Tyler whispers as Josh sits in the chair beside him, scooting back on the oversized red velvet cushion.

“Shut up,” Josh mutters quietly under his breath.

“Josh, you can’t talk like that in here,” Tyler warns lowly.

“Watch me.”

********************************************

“Do you think you two will be okay here by yourselves to finish putting everything away? I have some errands to run,” the pastor asks back in the sacristy after service as everyone hangs their robes back in the wardrobe.

“I-I don’t think—” Tyler starts.

“I don’t think that would be a problem, Pastor,” Josh cuts Tyler off, giving him a mischievous look.

“Great! I’ll see you two next Sunday,” the pastor says before leaving.

“Ummm, can you bring me the ciborium and the chalice so I can put them back in the tabernacle?” Tyler asks Josh hesitantly.

“The what and the what?” Josh asks with a baffled look.

“The container used to hold communion and the cup for the wine,” Tyler clarifies.

“Ya coulda just said that, Churchboy,” Josh huffs under his breath, walking to the altar. Tyler takes them from Josh when he returns and begins wiping the chalice with a clean white cloth.

“Ooooh, wine! Josh exclaims, reaching into the tabernacle, grabbing the bottle he noticed, and popping open the cork.

“Josh, nooo!” Tyler scolds, trying to grab the bottle back from Josh but it’s too late. Josh has already brought the bottle to his lips and begun taking a large sip.

“Have some,” Josh says, holding out the bottle to Tyler.

“I -I don’t drink.”

“Bullshit. We both just drank the damn wine from that fancy cup thing a few minutes ago during — whatever the fuck that was we just did,” Josh quips.

“That was communion. The ‘fancy cup’ is called a chalice, and that was the blood of Christ,” Tyler corrects him.

“Riiiiiiight,” Josh says with a sarcastic nod and crinkled brow. “Tell ya what, have some wine and show me you know how to chill out and live a little, and maybe I won’t fuck with you so much.”

“Fine,” Tyler says reluctantly, quickly returning the other items to the tabernacle before snatching the bottle from Josh’s grasp.

With his back against the wardrobe door, Tyler sinks down onto the lurid, seafoam green carpet of the sacristy and takes a large sip, passing the bottle back to Josh, who has joined him on the carpet.

“I know you told me to shut up about your hair earlier, but I ummmm… I-I like it brown,” Tyler says nervously, trying to break the ice as Josh takes another sip.

“Yeah, I don’t, but they said I had to dye it a ‘natural’ color in order to serve my community service here,” Josh says, making air quotes at the word ‘natural’. “And since none of my other usual places I’ve served community service wanted me back, I got stuck with this,” Josh says, handing the bottle back to Tyler.

“How’d you end up with community service anyways? If you don’t mind me asking,” Tyler asks, then drinks again.

“Me and Bren got arrested for grinding on the rails at the library the other day after classes,” Josh admits. “Apparently, it’s destruction of property,” Josh adds in a mocking, authoritative voice.

They pass the bottle back and forth until it’s empty, making small talk between sips and even sharing an occasional laugh once Tyler starts to relax.

“Ya know, maybe you’re not so bad after all,” Josh teases, nudging Tyler with his elbow. “So, tell me, was that the first naughty thing you’ve ever done, Joseph? Hmmmm? Drinking a few months shy of your twenty-first birthday, you big sinner, you,” Josh jokes, sounding more playful and less brash than usual, punching Tyler in the arm.

And there it goes again, that familiar feeling brewing in his pelvis every time Josh starts teasing him like this. Josh’s words sound a bit more suggestive as Tyler replays them through his mind before answering.

“No, I’ve— I’ve committed p-plenty of sins,” Tyler admits with a shaky voice, his hand flying up to twirl a small section of his wavy brown hair.

“Really?” Josh scoffs. “Like what?”

“Well, for starters, I’m gay,” Tyler blurts out.

“You’re what?” Josh asks again in disbelief.

“Frick! Why? Why the heck did I just tell you that? Like you need more things to use against me,” Tyler says, burying his face in his hands.

“Nah man, don’t worry about it. Me too,” Josh responds honestly with a shift in his demeanor.

“I-I’ve only ever told Jenna, and for some stupid reason now I go and tell you! What the heck is wrong with me?” Tyler rambles nervously. “Wait, wh-what did you just say?” Tyler asks, his pulse beginning to quicken.

“I said, ‘me too’,” Josh repeats. “As in… I’m gay too. And yeah, pretty much same, only Brendon knows.”

“Oh, wow… ummm,” Tyler rubs at his brow in shock as he tries to find words. “So, like, are you and Brendon, ummm…"

“What? Dating? No, just friends,” Josh smiles. “With occasional benefits,” he adds with a laugh after a long pause.

Tyler shakes his head, trying to rid it of his attraction to Josh that’s currently clouding his judgment. “No, you’re full of it! I don’t believe you. I refuse to be a victim of your sick head gam—,”

Tyler’s words are cut short by Josh’s soft lips pressed firmly to his. His body goes limp and motionless; paralyzed by shock his lips are unable to kiss back.

“Sorry,” Josh says, breaking the kiss.

With his eyes locked on Josh in a trance-like gaze, Tyler brings his fingertips to his own lips, touching them in disbelief.

“I’m sorry,” Josh repeats. “I didn’t have the right to do that. It’s not fair to you. I’ve always been so cruel to— “

This time it’s Tyler’s lips that interrupt Josh, kissing him back. His thumbs brush over Josh’s blushed cheeks, cupping his face, and eagerly pulling him in. With one swipe of his tongue, Josh parts Tyler’s lips, gaining access to his warm, wet, mouth, and deepening the kiss.

Smacking sounds echo throughout the small church room as their tongues dart wildly in and out of each other’s mouths. “You have no idea how long I’ve dreamt about doing that,” Tyler says after the kiss has ended.

“What? Kissing me?” Josh asks, bewildered. “You can’t be serious. Why?”

“Ha, I wish I knew,” Tyler says, letting out a small chuckle. “You’re always so vile to me. I pretend like I don’t care, even though I really do, but I’m twisted up inside my mind and part of me kind of enjoys it. Almost in a -a, like, sexual wa— why am I telling you this?”

“Sounds like you have a degradation kink,” Josh smirks, standing to face Tyler. “I can work with that.” Quickly, Josh undoes his belt, shoving his pants and boxers down his thighs in one swift motion, revealing his already half-hard cock and begins stroking it. Tyler eagerly shifts onto his knees in front of Josh, gazing up at him with lust filled eyes.

Towering over Tyler, Josh grabs a handful of Tyler’s hair, craning his neck back; watching his Adam’s apple bob in his throat. “I distinctly remember saying something to you last week about church and being on your knees— who woulda guessed?” Josh laughs, talking down to him. “Now suck!”

With a shaky, inexperienced hand that’s only ever pleasured himself, Tyler reaches up, grasping Josh’s now fully erect length and brings it to his lips. He may be a virgin, but he’s not clueless. He’s watched enough porn to know the basics, and he knows the areas of himself that are more sensitive to touch than others, so he decides to focus on those areas on Josh first.

With his eyes locked on Josh’s, Tyler opens his mouth, giving an experimental lick to the underside of Josh’s tip. Josh shudders in pleasure, his eyes fluttering closed as he grips Tyler’s hair tighter. Taking it as a sign he’s doing well, Tyler repeats the action several times before changing it up a bit and circling the circumference of the head with his tongue before encompassing it completely with his mouth. Slowly, Tyler begins to bob over Josh’s length, embarrassed he may gag if he takes him any deeper.

“Mmm, Tyler, you ever done this before?” Josh questions, enjoying himself but noticing Tyler’s hesitation.

“Unh uh,” Tyler hums with his mouth full.

“Oh f-uck!” Josh hisses, the vibrations driving him wild. “Keep that up and there’s gonna be a lot more on that tongue than Hallelujah.”

Until then Josh was content letting Tyler control the depth, but now he can’t help but push Tyler’s head down until his tip brushes the back of his virgin throat. Tyler gags and his eyes brim with tears, but he finds himself surprised that he actually enjoys the feeling, much like when Josh taunts him.

“I want you to remember what I taste like every time you get on your knees to pray,” Josh teases, thrusting his hips forward and gagging Tyler again, causing his throat to tighten around Josh’s length. “Mmm fuck. You love me using your throat like this, don’t you? Such a good little slut for me.”

Tyler moans and quickly begins palming himself through his exceedingly tightening pants; Josh has to be right about his degradation kink because every harsh word is traveling straight to his dick.

“Stand up!” Josh orders, pulling Tyler up by his hair, saliva stringing from the corners of his mouth. Switching his grip from his hair to his shirt, Josh grabs Tyler, pulling him in for a sloppy kiss. His fingers descend the placket of Tyler’s button-down shirt painfully slow, pausing every few buttons to rest his forehead against Tyler’s, allowing them to catch their breath.

“Josh, please,” Tyler begs, thrusting his hips forward and shouldering off his shirt as Josh undoes the last button at the bottom, his hand hovering centimeters away from where Tyler wants it most. Josh rapidly undoes Tyler’s belt and unfastens his pants, letting them pool by his ankles.

“Is this what you want?” Josh asks, shoving his hand into Tyler’s boxers, gripping him firmly as he begins pumping him.

Instantly Tyler’s eyes roll back, his jaw-dropping, his mouth hanging open to take in a deep, shaky breath. “F-uuuck,” he exhales, blown away by how heavenly a simple hand can feel and how different — better — it feels that his own.

“You can’t talk like that in here,” Josh mocks.

“Can’t. Help. It. Feels. So. Good.” Each one of Tyler’s words is punctuated by a breathy moan as he leans forward, burying his face into Josh’s shoulder. With his free hand, Josh cradles the back of Tyler’s neck, and continues to stroke him with the other, Tyler’s whimpers dampening the fabric of Josh’s shirt. Tipping his head down, Josh begins mouthing at Tyler’s neck, discreetly wetting his middle finger in the process before trailing his hand down Tyler’s back and slipping it into the back of his boxers.

“What are you doing?” Tyler questions lifting his head, surprised by the feeling of Josh’s wet finger pressing between his cheeks.

“Prepping you. You want me to fuck this tight little hole, don’t you?” Josh asks, sliding his finger in up to the second knuckle.

“Huuuuhh,” Tyler gasps loudly, collapsing forward once again and nodding ‘yes’ against Josh’s clavicle.

With Tyler’s knees buckling from the pleasure of both Josh’s hands working him simultaneously, Josh decides it would be best to bend him over. Keeping his finger moving inside of him, he roughly spins him around. Moving his hand from his cock to his shoulder blades, he bends him over an ornate chair, identical to the ones they sat in during service and kneels behind him, sliding his boxers down his legs.

“Knees up,” Josh instructs, lightly giving Tyler’s ass two quick consecutive smacks.

Facing the backrest of the oversized chair, Tyler does as he’s told, bringing his knees up one at a time and kneeling on the velvety red cushion while Josh removes the tangle of fabric from around his ankles. With the new angle, Josh is able to penetrate Tyler deeper, his finger brushing past his prostate.

“J-esus Christ! W-what was that?” Tyler blurts out, pushing back on Josh’s finger, desperate to feel the sensation again.

“You like that, huh?” Josh can’t help but chuckle at the religious boy’s ecstasy-laden outburst.

“Uhhh fuck! Do it again!”

“You’re getting quite the mouth on you, Churchboy. I like it!” Josh smirks. “If you like that, then you’re gonna love this…”

Josh sucks the middle finger of his free hand into his mouth, coating it with saliva. His knuckles grind together as he eases it in alongside the other, stretching Tyler out.

“Mmmm— Josh! More!” Tyler pants, gripping the intricately carved frame of the chair, clearly enjoying the addition of the second finger.

“Don’t worry baby, I’m just getting started,” Josh teases, continuing to work him open. Moving both fingers in and out of him in unison, he creates a small gape between his digits. Leaning forward, he begins to lap at the opening, fucking Tyler with his tongue, causing him to writhe needily, and bounce back against Josh’s face.

Enjoying the response he elicited from Tyler, Josh groans and slips his fingers out. Tyler whines at the loss of the feeling, but is quickly satisfied when Josh abruptly grabs his cheeks, spreading them open, and delves his tongue back in between them but this time, sloppier, wetter, rougher. The licking continues until Josh feels Tyler is sufficiently slicked, his saliva trickling down Tyler’s crack and dripping off his balls.

“You ready?” Josh asks as he stands, tugging on his painfully hard dick.

“Mmm, ready.” Tyler nods.

Slowly Josh starts to push in.

“Uhh, ahh— shit!” Tyler grunts, tensing up, his fingers that were once gripping the decorative chair frame in pleasure now making carvings of their own as he digs in his fingernails. Josh quickly pulls out and heads to the supply cabinet.

“Josh, what the hell are you doing? Come on,” Tyler begs.

“No, I was hurting you. I’m looking for something. I have an idea, just gimme a minute,” Josh says, scouring the contents of the cabinet. “Don’t you guys have some kind of, like, oil for fucking sick people or some shit?”

“Anointing oil?” Tyler questions. “Yeah, bottom shelf, next to the Holy Water.”

“Found it!” Josh quickly opens the bottle, pouring some into his palm and slathering it over his length.

“Somehow, I don’t think this is what they meant in Ecclesiastes when they said, ‘Let your garments always be white and let your head lack no oil,” Tyler snickers at his own pun.

“I swear, only you would make bible jokes when you’re about to get fucked in the ass,” Josh teases, rolling his eyes. “You ready? Let’s try this again.”

Tyler nods and Josh lines himself up once again, cautiously entering him.

“Better?”

“Uh, mmm, better, but— “

“Yeah, it’s probably still gonna hurt a little. The head’s the worst part. I promise it will start feeling better after that. Let me know if it’s too much or you want me to stop, okay?”

“K.”

Reaching an oiled-up hand around Tyler’s hip to his cock, Josh begins pumping him in an effort to distract him from pain as he attempts to push in deeper. He has the head almost all the way in when he senses Tyler’s muscles tensing and notices his face twisting into a grimace.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed if it hurts, Tyler. You can tell me. I know the first time isn’t exactly a walk in the park, and I want you to be as comfortable as possible.” Josh pauses, allowing Tyler to acclimate to the stretch.

Peppering kisses along Tyler’s shoulder blades, Josh runs his left hand up and down the expanse of Tyler’s torso, his other hand simultaneously working to keep Tyler hard through the pain. He keeps this up, waiting for a signal that Tyler’s ready for more, and then he gets it; Tyler lets out a small moan and Josh feels his weight shift back towards him.

“Mmm, better now,” Tyler says with his voice still slightly strained, but his body much more relaxed.

“Ok, I’ll go slow. If I’m hurting you, you need to tell me Tyler.”

Josh studies Tyler’s expression and body language, looking for any signs of discomfort as he pushes in deeper. Not sensing any, he begins to set a slow and gentle rhythm, moving his hands to Tyler’s hips and stroking both sides encouragingly as he rocks his pelvis against the flesh of Tyler’s backside.

“Josh!” Tyler gasps breathily.

“Am I hurting you?” Josh pauses momentarily, awaiting Tyler’s answer.

“No, feels so good. Don’t stop.”

“Mmmm, you want me to fuck you harder?” Josh asks, tangling his fingers in Tyler’s hair.

“Please. Yes!”

“Yes, what?” Josh says harshly, pulling his tousled brown waves.

“Uhh umm?” Tyler mutters, confused by the question.

“It’s Sir. Yes, Sir,” Josh grits through his teeth, tugging Tyler’s head back.

“Oh fuck!” Tyler moans. “Yes, Sir”

Gripping tightly onto Tyler’s hips, Josh slowly draws back his own hips, then hastily trusts them forward, his skin clapping against Tyler’s, giving him a taste of what’s to come. Loud, pleasure-filled cries escape Tyler’s lips and his arms begin to weaken, the majority of Tyler’s upper body now being mostly supported by Josh’s grip on his hair.

“You like that, huh?”

“Yes!” Tyler cries out, “Y-yes sir,” he corrects.

Josh maintains the new pace, roughly fucking in and out of Tyler’s tight hole.The once shy, quiet, religious boy under him a blissed-out mess of whimpers, whines, and words he seldom uses as orgasm nears.

“I’m gonna—” Tyler doesn’t even finish his sentence before spurts of warm cum fountain from his tip, landing in copious amounts on the chair’s soft red fabric below him.

Josh releases Tyler’s hair, letting his pleasure-wracked body fall forward. With Tyler’s head pressed awkwardly against the backrest of the chair Josh palms the side of his face, holding his head against the plush fabric as his own climax hits, his hips faltering as he finishes inside Tyler.

His dick pulses one last time, emptying the last bit of cum before he pulls out. Sweaty and exhausted, Josh sinks down to the floor, tugging Tyler down with him before softly whispering, “Come here.”

“You alright?” Josh chuckles out of breath, rubbing soothing circles on the inner thigh of Tyler’s visibly shaking leg.

Tyler pants rapidly, trying to catch his breath before answering, “Yeah, I think so,” he laughs, “I’ve just never came that hard before.”

“I wasn’t planning on being that rough with you since it was your first time, but you seemed to be enjoying yourself once we got going. You took that like a champ,” Josh smirks.

Tyler starts to blush, feeling slightly embarrassed that Josh had discovered something about himself that even he didn’t know about or understand until today, but it all made so much sense now.

“Hey, you don’t be ashamed of what you’re into,” Josh states, nudging Tyler’s leg with his knee, noticing the rosy hue developing on his cheeks. “Everyone has their kinks.”

“I know, it’s just that before today the only thing I knew about myself ,sexually, was that I was into boys.”

“You’ll learn even more as you gain more experience,” Josh says, “So you really haven’t done any of that before? Not even with a girl?”

“Nope. I - Uh -I kissed Jenna and she let me touch her boobs once, in like, high school when I was still trying to figure myself out,” Tyler admits, “but that’s about it.”

“Well, I’d be more than willing to help you figure out what else you’re into some time,” Josh smiles. “Would you like that?”

“God, yes!” Tyler answers.

“You’re just full of sins today, aren’t you?” Josh laughs, “What happened to the innocent little Churchboy who told me I couldn’t say ‘shut up’ in church?” Josh teases.

“I guess blasphemy is just for me,” Tyler chuckles.

“You’re killing me, Joseph,” Josh joins in Tyler’s laughter. “Come on, those legs working yet? We got a lot of work to do. Why don’t you start with that chair?” Josh laughs again, pulling Tyler up onto his feet.

*********************************************

Tyler phones Jenna the second he’s back inside his dorm to tell his best friend the news.

“Hey Ty,” Jenna answers.

“Jenna, are you sitting down?”

“Yessss? Are you?” she asks, confused.

“I’m not sure I even can,” Tyler laughs on the other end.

“Tyler, what the heck are you talking about?”

“I lost my virginity, Jenna!” he practically squeals into the phone.

“Tyler Robert Joseph! Weren’t you just at church? Oh my gosh, I’m hanging up, I’ll be right over. You gotta tell me in person. I wanna know everything!”

“No, no, no. Don’t hang up. I’ll just tell you over the phone.”

“Whyyyy?” Jenna asks suspiciously.

“Because you can’t hit me over the phone?” Tyler mumbles softly, his words sounding more like a question than a statement.

“Tyler Joseph, what did you do?” Jenna asks, her suspicion growing further.

“Well, I lost it at church, actually,” Tyler admits

“WHAT?!” Jenna exclaims, “TYLER! How? With who? What the frick?”

“Umm, we had a new altar server that was there serving community service. I had to train him and then after, the pastor left us alone to run some errands and we might have drank a bottle of communion wine. I was feeling kinda good — not drunk — but good, and I accidentally outed myself. Turns out he’s gay too, and one thing led to another.” Tyler ends the story there, hesitant to admit to Jenna who it was, knowing she would never approve.

“Drinking, Tyler? That’s not like you. I’ve never seen you drink anything more potent than a Redbull. You’re not even old enough!” Jenna scolds. “And with a felon nonetheless!”

“He’s not a felon, Jenna!” Tyler raises his voice, starting to get defensive. “It was just a misdemeanor for skateboarding, geez.”

“Why do I feel like there’s something else you’re not telling me?” Jenna pushes.

“Because there is! Because I know you won’t approve!” Tyler pauses, taking a deep breath, “It was Josh! I lost my virginity to Joshua Dun! There! You happy?

“Tylerrrr,” Jenna sighs softly, disapproval evident in her tone.

“And Yeah, I drank the wine to shut him up at first okay?” he admits, “but I’m glad I did. I’ve spent most of my life living according to how some six-thousand-year-old book tells me too. I can’t even begin to tell you how good it felt just to let loose and rebel a little and not worry about if I was being judged by some higher power. You know how much I’ve struggled with this, the two big parts of who I am: a Christian boy and a homosexual boy. They don’t exactly work together.

“Tyler, I know, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to come off like I’m judging you. I just want what’s best for you and I think we can both admit that that’s not Joshua Dun. I mean, in a way I’m glad that maybe you got this whole Josh obsession out of your system now, but let’s be honest.”

“Jenna, you weren’t there, ok? He was different. He taught me things about myself I didn’t even know. He was gentle and caring when I needed him to be, and then - uhhh-um- not so gentle when I wanted him to be too,” Tyler smirks to himself remembering the way Josh manhandled him. “And as far as having Josh out of my system; you couldn’t be more wrong. I want him more than ever now. He said he’s willing to help me figure out what else I’m into sexually, and I fully plan to take him up on that offer.”

“So, what, you think you guys are, like, dating now because you let him take your virginity?” Jenna scoffs, “That’s not how boys like Josh work, Tyler. You’re a piece of meat to him. Fresh meat, virgin meat, the best kind of meat. Of course he’s willing. What if tomorrow, in the halls, he treats you like the same way he always has? What if he outs you, Tyler? Did you even once stop and think of that possibility? I don’t wanna see you get hurt. If I’m wrong, I’ll eat my words and trust me, I hope that I’m wrong.” Jenna pauses, hoping to get some kind of response from Tyler, but he stays silent. Jenna can tell he’s angry with her.

“So I guess this means we can call off our pact of losing our virginities to each other if we didn’t lose them by graduation,” Jenna laughs dryly, trying to end the conversation lightheartedly.

Tyler didn’t hear a single thing Jenna said after ‘What if he outs you?” because no, he hadn’t thought of that possibility at all, and now it’s all he can think about.

****************************************************

“Hey Churchboy!” Tyler hears as he exits his dorm room Monday morning. It feels a lot like deja vu as Josh corners him and boxes him in again. ‘What if tomorrow, in the halls he treats you the same way he always has.’ Tyler’s stomach turns remembering Jenna’s words from last night, and he’s sure the feeling is showing on his face.

“Hey, relax, I’m just playing around this time. No more dickhead Josh, promise,” he says, lifting his hands briefly in the air like he’s surrendering. A wave of relief washes over Tyler. “Besides, I thought you liked your little nickname now,” Josh smirks, flirtatiously fingering the buttons of Tyler’s plaid shirt. Tyler tucks his bottom lip between his teeth, and wiggles his hips slightly, trying to keep Josh’s words from reaching his dick.

“Mmmm, thought so,” Josh notices. “Anyways— “Josh changes the tone before they get too carried away, “— Why don’t I walk with you to class. Where you headed?”

“Economics,” Tyler smiles.

Jenna’s wrong.

“Cool, I have statistics a few rooms down. Come on, I’ll walk you,” Josh says, stepping back from Tyler. “Ya know I had fun with you yesterday, even when we were just talking.”

“Me too,” Tyler purses his lips together after he speaks in an effort to hide the ridiculously enormous grin threatening to spread across his face as they walk.

Jenna’s so wrong.

“I was wondering if you wanted to go to the skatepark with me after classes today, and then maybe grab some food, as like, a date?” Josh questions. “Bren will be there too, he met some Sarah chick. So it will be like a double date.”

“You— y-you told Brendon!?” Tyler’s stomach drops, replaying Jenna’s words in his head ‘What if you outs you.’

“I’m sorry. Don’t be mad. He’s not gonna tell anyone. It’s just that he’s my best —”

“I’d love to go with you. I overreacted, I’m sorry,” Tyler apologies immediately, remembering that he also told his best friend. “It’s ok. It’s fine. I get it, the whole best friend thing — I told Jenna too.”

“Well, that explains it,” Josh laughs.

“What?” Tyler questions.

“The evil look she gave me when I ran into her in the cafeteria earlier,” he snickers. “I take it she doesn’t approve of me.

“Bingo.”

“Can’t say I blame her, but I’ll do everything in my power to prove her wrong,” Josh says, looking to Tyler while they walk. Tyler can’t suppress his smile any longer. It floods his face, reaching his eyes and lighting them up, and crinkling them in the corners.

“Can I ask you something?” Tyler says.

“Sure. What is it?”

“Are you nervous? Because that Sarah girl will be there too, and she’ll know it’s a date?”

“Yes and no,” Josh answers truthfully, “Part of me is really nervous, but part of me also feels really liberated that someone new is gonna know.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. I know this is probably gonna sound crazy, but ever since yesterday I’ve just wanted to come out so badly.”

“Same.” Josh smiles, slipping his hand into Tyler’s.

“W-wh-what if someone says something?” Tyler asks.

“Fuck ‘em. I’m done hiding,” Josh says, gripping Tyler’s hand tightly.

“Me too,” Tyler says, his ridiculously bright smile illuminating his face again.

Moments later they pass Jenna in the halls. Her eyes go wide in shock at first, but then she winks, giving the boys a friendly smile.

“So does that mean she’s doesn’t wanna kick my ass for being a jerk to her best friend, and then taking his virginity, anymore?” Josh jokes.

“If I know Jenna the way I think I know Jenna, then it’s gonna take a lot more than that to convince her. But you’re off to a good start,” Tyler smiles.

“Actually, speaking of ass kickings, I never did get you back for kneeing me in the balls. What do you say we trade it for a spanking instead? Something tells me you might like that,” Josh teases.

“Yes, sir.”

Part 2

[quentinxdelancret]

Discord (OLD) Thread || Quentin and Jaycee

Discord thread featuring: Quentin and Jaycee @jayceelynd

When: December 24th, 2020 (christmas eve)

Description: Quentin goes over to Jaycee’s to wrap christmas presents and they end up distracting each other from their holiday blues.

Tw: SMUT!!!

Jaycee. Jaycee was buzzed, while she packed both of her bongs, a few of her bowls, along with rolled blunts. Today was a day she tried to forget and honestly wasn’t sure if she was going to make tomorrow. Knowing she had family, but they didn’t want her or love her for that matter. But this time of year it hurt, so raw with emotions. Thankful she saw Q in the chat when she did, or her spiral could have ended badly. Hearing her doorbell she fixed her sweatpants material shorts that matched her off the shoulder sweater. Her hair wasn’t even brushed yet, she went to speak and hiccuped and closing one eye. “Well okay I guess I’m not allowed to say I’m glad you’re here.” She faintly laughed, offering to grab some of his things. Patiently awaiting to jump into his arms and wrap herself around him. She needed to just be held and feel the warmth of his scent right now. “You’re such an amazing friend, please never change.” She whispered into his neck, playing with his hair at the nape of his neck.

Quentin. Quentin was oddly sober considering what day it was. But that was all gonna change real fast. He had been lucky enough to keep himself busy with other things all day. But now that the day was coming to an end, and he was about to be on his own. It was all about to hit. Thankfully he and Jaycee always had each other though. They spent almost every Christmas ever together since they met, and it never failed to lift his mood. He let out a laugh as she pulled her door open and hiccuped, shaking his head playfully at her. “Started without me. I see how it is” he teased. Handing her some bags before following her inside and putting the rest down. Not waist it a moment longer before swooping her up into his arms. “So are you, doll. You know you always got me. That’s definitely never gonna change” he assured. Kissing the top of her head as he set her back down.

Jaycee. ”Listen, I apologize.” She laughed softly, squeezing high tightly before he sat her down, clearing the living room floor with music softly playing in the background. Wanting to make room for them when he was ready to wrap. “You know I wouldn’t want to spend this day with anyone but you. I’m here, Romeo.” Hiccuping she burped at the same time. “What the fuck was that.” She hiccuped again, with her hand on her chest giggling before she plopped on the couch, patting for him to come sit with her, his drink already made and doubled at that. “I love you Q..” she grabbed his free hand and hugged it. She really did love him, how could she not love someone who got her and was there for her no matter what. He was one of her best and dearest friends, someone you cherish and make sure is solid too.

Quentin. Quentin laughed at how cute Jaycee was being right now. She wasn’t even meaning to be cute, but it was that type of cute you only see when you really love somebody. “No need to apologize, darlin. You deserve to be as drunk and cute as you please today and every day” he beamed. Taking a seat beside her on the couch after watching her clear the area on the floor. “I love you too” he giggled. Watching her hug his hand before leaning over to rest his head on hers. “You’re so cute right now. You know that?” he asked with a huge smile. Lifting back up to grab his drink and down more than half of it to catch up with her. “So... you wanna get wasted and wrap presents first? Or should we get right into smoking all this weed and make out until we can’t breathe?”

Jaycee. Humming at him assuring her she was fine, she did fucking deserve to let loose and have some fun. Especially right now, this time of year sucked big time for them both, so why wouldn't they get lost and go crazy. "I am noooot" she playfully smacked his chest at him saying she was being cute right now, snuggling into him as he leaned his head against hers. "Who say's we can't smoke while wrapping, and drink. Then we can make out until we can't breathe, but we both know it's not finishing at kissing." Booping his nose as she looked at all the gifts that needed wraping. "I have some cute gift bags and tissue paper you can use to cut down on the time as well." she winked, she honestly just wanted his lips on hers, but she told him they'd wrap gifts so they were going to do what needed to be done first.

Quentin. “Yes you are” he laughed again as she booped his nose. “....and I’m pretty sure no one said we couldn’t do that. But, I’d much rather leave the wrapping til the end.” He grabbed his drink that she had made for him and downed in all in one go. Hissing slightly from the burn before wrapping his hand around hers. “Come’re... “ he beckoned, pulling her into his lap. He placed his hand onto the side of her neck and let his thumb caress her jawline. “Oh, we are definitely not stopping at kissing.”

Jaycee. Both of her hands sliding up his forearms, reaching his wrist as she smirked. “We both know that if we don’t wrap those gifts, we’re not going to want to afterwards.” Of course she wasn’t even thinking of wrapping gifts right now. Not when Quentin was demanding of other activities to follow. “Have we here been able to stop at just kissing?” She asked while running the tip of her tongue under his top lip, before pulling it between her teeth. “Unless you’ve changed your mind?” Jaycee breathlessly whispered against his lips, a shit eating grin spread over her lips.

Quentin. To be honest, Quentin didn’t really care if the gifts got wrapped or not. He could always wrap them in the morning if he needed to. Or hell, just throw them in gift bags like Jaycee suggested. With the way her tongue was tracing up beneath his top lip, he could hardly focus on any of that right now. “Oh fuck that.. I am definitely not changing my mind” he informed. Lifting her up and laying her back onto the couch as he pulled himself over her. Using his knee to part her legs for him before pressing down onto her and connecting their lips in a heated and aggressive kiss.

Jaycee. Jaycee spread her legs for Quentin, when he pushed his knee between her thighs. Giving him room, only to feel how adamant he was about not changing his mind. Sliding her hands up and under the back of his shirt, her nails raked down from his sculpted shoulders to cup his firm ass. Needing to pull him in  closer, pressing her warmth against his cock. Jaycee slid her hands over his hips, while her fingertips ran over his defined abs, letting her nails graze every now and then. Wanting him to feel pain and pleasure as she couldn’t get enough of his lips, or his taste. “How about you unwrap a present then?” She bit at his lips, soft laughter mixing into their kiss.

Quentin. The sexual tension between these two was definitely at an all time high tonight. Maybe it was because of their shared pain, or their deep personal connection. But right now, it didn’t really matter. They both wanted to feel good, to feel better, and what better way was there for them to do that than to have sex?  Quentin didn’t even hesitate when Jaycee asked him to unwrap a present instead. Pulling up from her tiny frame to remove his shirt and then leaning back over her to discard of hers as well. His lips instantaneously connecting to her breast as he worked on getting his pants undone. It was like he couldn’t get them both undressed fast enough. But before he knew it they were both laying naked and he was hovering over her with a burning desire in his eyes. His cock rubbing pleasurably along her hot wet folds as his hand moved to grab her face. Kissing her breathlessly as his hard lustful breaths echoed through her mouth.

Jaycee. frantically she was trying to help him undress himself and her as she groaned as his lips closed around her breast. Hissing once they were finally skin to skin, his cock was literally throbbing against her swollen clit and silky wet and warm folds. Growling with a grunt at how devouring delicious their kiss was, it was as if they were craving and starved of each other for years. It has always been that heated with Quentin and Jaycee, always hungry for rough passion, or just plain rough and raw fucking. Sometimes mixing the two was hours of pleasure. Her right hand grabbed his jaw, letting her nails sink into his cheek, opened mouth as she rolled her pussy over his cock at her entrance. Not letting him slide in just yet, grunting at her own frustration. Then again she was being greedy at watching and hearing him as she rolls her hips against him with more pressure. Her body shook, with quivering anticipation of what his next moves were. “I can fucking feel your clock throbbing, fuck Quentin..” she moaned as she could feel the thumping while it matched her own throb of need.

Quentin. The sounds coming from Jaycee right now we’re vibrating throughout his entire body and straight to his cock. It was like he absolutely could not get enough of her as they kissed each other hard and fervent. “Ughh baby” he whimpered softly as she rolled her hips against him. The definition in his arms highlighting his muscles as he held himself over her and fought against the burning urge to take control. He really wanted to take his time and enjoy this. To make her feel better than she had in a really long time. His lips moving to her neck as he bit and sucked lustfully at her salty skin. “God, you’re so fucking wet” he moaned against the trail of wet kisses he left along her neck. His hand moving to grip at her hair as the other gripped the back of the couch. “Fuuu..” he moaned again. Jerking his hips in just the right way to slide into her as he pushed his entire way against her.

Jaycee. Jaycee could honestly spend the day just admiring how beautiful Quentin was, taking in how rigid and bulging his defined muscles were. Her trembling hands shook as she rand them over his arms, knowing he was fighting to control himself. Sliding her hands over his shoulder to run her fingers through his silky soft hair, not knowing what she needed or wanted in life. But right now, in this minute it was just the two of them in the throes of sticky hot passion, a need to finally have one another. Looking up into his blue eyes as he got a grip on her hair, panting with a burning need. Choking out as he finally sank his entirety so fucking deeply imbedded in her wet silky walks. “Oh, god.. yesss.” Hissing at the pain, biting down as he skin only to growl as she tasted saltiness off his skin. Slowly her hips rocked, rolling her tongue up the vein bulging on the side of his neck. One thing she loved about Quentin is he never cared if he left his mark or was marked by a loved. Something they both enjoyed doing. “Fuck, I missed feeling you so fucking deep!” She moaned breathlessly, adjusted to how stretched he had her she raised her hips more taking more of him if it was even possible.

𝓠ᴜᴇɴᴛɪɴ There was a connection between Jaycee and Quentin that neither one of them could really ever explain. Their bodies craved to be touched by one another. Their lips always craving just a bit more each time they came together. Maybe that was why Q liked to take his time with her. His hips moving with a slow grind as he pushed his entire length into her. “You feel so fuckin’ good baby” he moaned out with a whisper. His lips moving to her neck as he sucked a small bruise on to the space above her collar bone.

Jaycee. Jaycee’s rolled hips against his as Quentin’s body grinds into hers. The angle her hips were due to the couch, caused for him to hit deep and almost pass out from the intense pleasure. “Oh, Quentin” she moaned brokenly, breathless as she bit down on his shoulder as she knew he was leaving his mark on her. Jaycee would always crave him, something she gave up fighting a long time ago, in a cave somewhere on a beach. Holding onto him as she accepted the rhythm he created. “You always feel so fucking good, fuck.” Running her hands down his back, letting her nails sink to the flesh of his back.

𝓠ᴜᴇɴᴛɪɴ Sinking his entire length deep into Jaycee’s core, he could feel her walls clamp around him. His mouth gaping open with a pleasurable gasp as he started to rock his hips back and fourth. “Mmm... shiiiit” he hissed as he felt her teeth sink into his shoulder. His hips involuntarily thrusting harder and faster from the pain mixed in with the pleasure. She always knew exactly how to touch him to really get him going and he couldn’t resist it. His hand moving to grab her face below her chin as he pressed his fingers into her face. “You like that baby” he asked with a heavy rasp to his French accent.” His thrusts hitting deep against her g-spot as he leaned down to crash their lips fervently  together.

Jaycee. Jaycee swore she tasted blood from how hard shit bit down on Quentin. It would be the first time one of them have marked one another. But he stretched her so fucking painfully good, how could she not return the painful pleasure to him. Her teeth clenched as he grabbed her face, cupping her jaw, while her eyes rolled into the back of her head. “Fuck yesss..” she hissed, as every powerful thrust he hit her g spot she gasped as if he was knocking her breath away. “I fucking love it.” Roughly she kissed him back with an animalistic need. Growling through a moan as she held onto his ass with one hand and the other making a tight fist in the other. “You wanna break me?” She was hungry for raw passionate deep hard fucking.

𝓠ᴜᴇɴᴛɪɴ God! She was so fucking sexy like this. Her body practically caving to his every touch as he continued to pound deep and hard into her core. “Yeah you do. You love this cock don’t you baby” he growled against her mouth. Pulling back just slightly to hook his hands around the back of her knees. Pushing both her legs forward to get a much deeper angle as he picked up his rhythm. “Oh fuuuu-“ he growled through his gritted teeth. His hand gripping so hard at her legs he was sure he was gonna leave a mark. “Ughh.. baby. You’re so fucking tight” he moaned erotically. Leaning into her to drape her legs over his shoulders as he wrapped his arm beneath the small of her back. His other hand gripping the back of the couch as he practically jack hammered into her.

Jaycee. Jaycee loved how much he loved to fuck her, it was an addiction she had that she never wanted to kick. “I love your cock.” A sharp gasp, she inhale while moaning loudly at how deep he was. He was so fucking sexy when he was lost in the throes of pleasure, taking his pleasure with knowing he was driving her to the brinks of passing out from how deep he was. “Fuck!..” she grunted as he jack hammered his cock deep within her soaked walls, Jaycee sank her nails into the back of his shoulders. “Yess.. you love fucking this pussy don’t you baby?” Leaning her head up to bite and suck on his neck before slowly running the flat of her tongue up the center of his neck. Grazing her teething hungrily over his chin before she found his lips, moaning loudly into his nought as she tasted him.

Quentin. Jaycee was without a doubt, the only woman Quentin ever felt like he could completely let go with like this. His thrust pounding so deep and hard into her he was sure she was going to be walking funny when they were finished. “God, fuck yes. I fuckin love your pussy baby” he growled. His teeth clenching as he pulled out of her and flipped her over onto her knees. “Don’t cum baby... not until I tell you to” he demanded. Slamming his hard throbbing cock back into her throbbing pussy without an ounce of hesitation. His fingers wrapping firmly around her neck from behind as he yanked her head back to sink his teeth into her jawline. “Mmmm” he growled from the pit of his stomach as their skin slapped together so beautifully. He was so close himself but he honestly didn’t want this to end.

[asseret-sarim]

You can leave now.

Requested by @melconnor2007

Summary: You and Bucky have been dating for a few months. But when the Russian spy Natasha Romanoff comes into the picture, everything changes. She is ready to do anything, anything, to get him. You’ve been warned: she is not scared of playing dirty.

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Y/N: Your name

Warnings: Angst… But lots of fluff, fluff for everyone!!! There may be some cursing…

Word count: 2,616

About the SHIELD Archives: When we carried out some research about James Buchanan Barnes, we found out he was the Casanova of Brooking. We submit some of his adventures. Security Level: Classified.

A/N: I’m taking a break from “The Past, the present… The future” to write this request. I was in serious need of writing some fluff! But don’t worry, the next chapter from the series will be up soon. Enjoy reading!

“Do we really have to go?”

“The answer remains the same it has been for the last hundred times you’ve asked me”

I put my best puppy face “Please?”

“Ughh… No, don’t do that. Don’t do that. We have to go.” Bucky turns around to face the window but I go around him.

“Please?”

He clearly intends to say “No” again, but he makes the mistake of looking inside my eyes. In a second, he is out of combat, looking at me with a heartbroken expression. I intensify my puppy look. “We could stay here and have some fun” I whisper, stepping closer to him. He is still too mesmerize to answer. “Please. I’m begging you.”

He leans closer, his gaze never leaving mine…

Buzzzz… Buzzz

I curse internally at whoever had the great idea of calling him at this exact moment. He still holds my gaze for a few seconds, indecisive. But the phone call has broken the atmosphere.

Bucky leans in towards me “Go get changed, Doll. We will have as much fun as you want when we get back” He whispers, dangerously close to my ear. A shiver runs down my spine and I leave the room before I melt in the very center of the carpet.

I take a cold shower as slowly as I can possibly withstand. Maybe we don’t have to go if it gets really late. I usually love to hang out with the Avengers, but today is different. Today we are celebrating that Natasha Romanoff has comed back from a six-month mission in Russia. I’m really happy she is back and alive, I only have one thing against her: I’ve heard too many rumors about Bucky and her. And I don’t want to test if they are true.

“Doll, you OK there?” Bucky asks from the other side of the door “You’ve been in there forever. We are going to be late and I know that’s exactly what you want”

“Then why do you ask?” I reply him “I still have a lot left”

“Y/N. If you don’t get out of the shower this exact moment I’m going in and dragging you out myself” He threatens.

“You wouldn’t dare.” I put the shower temperature a bit lower.

“I think I would” and I hear the sound of the lock giving up under pressure…

“OK, fine! I’ll hurry up! Stop whatever you’re doing!”

His cristal laugh fills the corridor. “Shame. Ok, be fast”

My dress is waiting for me when I turn the water off. It’s magenta, hugging my body down to my knees and then falling delicately, like a waterfall, to the ground. It hangs from my left shoulder and the back is made with translucent fabric. But the most beautiful part are the silver needlework emulating flowers that starts in my left shoulder and wraps around my back and my right hip, fall down to the ground. I add golden earrings, that are thin chains that fall down to my neck, and a simple bracelet matching them. I let my hair fall freely and do some quick makeup, before meeting Bucky in the living room.

He is looking out the window-wall, astonishing in his perfectly cut suit. The image is beyond words. When he turns around I feel a like insecure. Should I have worn another hairstyle? More makeup? a different dress? Yes, I’m sure I should have chosen the short blue one. He walks up to me, his expression unreadable.

“You shouldn’t have worn this dress” he whispers. I knew it! “It’s going be really difficult to pay attention to anything else tonight. It’s not fair.” I look up at him and he is smiling with admiration. I feel my breath finally back in my lungs, but his eyes chase it out again. A long moment passes, allowing us to enjoy the simplicity of the utter feeling that we are in love. My insecurities vanish and a wicked smile fights its way to my face. I’m unable to stop it.

“You look beautiful when you smile like that” Bucky says, mirroring my expression. “Well m’lady. If I have the honor of showing you our ride tonight.” He offers me his arm and I take it, barely able to keep a straight face.

The drive to the restaurant is relaxing and fun, but as soon as we meet everyone in the private room the restaurant has arranged for us, I feel all my fears weighing me down again.

There she is, looking flawless. Her fiery red hair is pull back in an elegant bun resting on her neck, just the right amount of hair out of place to look casual without being informal, like she was born with that bun. Her green eyes, framed with extra-long, extra-dark eyelashes are beautiful, nothing to do with mines. Her china skin is perfect and the dress… A long black dress that falls down to the floor. It’s tight around her upper body but from her waist down it turns into a sea of light, flowing, translucent fabric, with an opening in the front that goes up to no-one-knows-were, showing off her model legs completely. The cleavage of the dress is brushing the limits of too-much, but not crossing them, and over it there is a strap of jewelry. Everything about her looks amazingly tempting for a guy. And when she shoot a malicious smile at me, I suddenly have no doubt who’s going to win tonight.

Tony, astonishing in his dark blue suit, sits me down next to the Russian spy and sets Bucky in front of her. He doesn’t mean any harm with that, but I feel betrayed by my own friends as I sit down. Natasha offers me a warm smile of welcome, more fake than plastic, but doesn’t waste any other smile in my direction. as soon as Bucky sits down, I discover that the rumors about her flirting skills were founded. Her smiles are breathtaking, her conversation is interesting, yet suggestive in the bad way, and she breaks the touch barrier just enough to transmit attraction without being creepy. There’s no way Bucky wont be at her feet at the end of the night.

I eat in silence, wishing this night would end immediately so I could finally hear Bucky’s decision to leave me from his own lips and the wall of tension building up inside me could finally collapse. At one point, I realize Natasha is talking to me.

“Y/N, we were just wondering how much experience you had in night combat” She smiled. I tried to calm down, it was just an innocent question about my abilities fighting in low-visibility conditions… Then why the hell did it sound so dirty?

“I-I have some e-experience, but I’m not great a-at it.” I answer nervously. Only when I see Natasha’s look of victory, hidden under her understanding expression, do I realize the question meant just what I thought it meant.

I feel my cheeks hot, but they are not the only thing… My upper left leg feels strangely warm and when I look down, a dark red stain is forming in the fabric. It’s not possible! Out of shock, I stand up and everyone can see the blood stain. Stammering, I excuse myself and slide towards the bathroom. Behind me, the uncomfortable silence is broken by Natasha’s voice.

“If you excuse me, I’m going to help her. Must be lady problems” she says, her voice soft and calmed.

In the bathroom, I try to clean the stain, that smells mysteriously similar to chemical products. I’m not on my period and, though I don’t know how, I know exactly who is behind this. The stain just won’t clean off, so I breathe deeply to calm down and, with my hands still shaking, turn to the door.

The cause of all my problems is standing right there, smirking. She looks me up and down, judging me, and then nods with despise.

“I’ve heard you’ve been entertaining my boyfriend during the months I’ve been away. I just came to tell you that your services are not longer needed, you can go away.” She informs me.

I can’t believe my ears “Beg your pardon?”

She gives me a hard look “You are not longer needed to keep Bucky entertained. Understood? You are not welcome. Yes, I’m sure you’ve had fun this few months (Who wouldn’t, really? It was the perfect chance for someone like you), but now Bucky has me and he doesn’t need your “services” any more. You didn’t actually believe he was falling for you, right? He is in love with me.You were just a little distraction he needed while I was away and he obviously doesn’t need you anymore. So go away little girl, and let adults make things properly… if you get what I mean.” that sounded terribly bad “I don’t want to see you near Bucky ever again. You’ve annoyed him enough and now that you don’t have any way of making it up to him, you better leave his life. And look at you, you have definitely proved the team that you are a fool. Nice memory they’ll have of you.” She smiles darkly and looks at the stain on my dress. I turn to leave, but she is not done yet. “Oh!” she whispers menacingly “And this is nothing. If I ever see you around him again, trust me, you wont forget the face of my friends. I will destroy you. You don’t know how far I can go… How much I can make you suffer.”

And she’s gone, leaving me shaking. I drop myself against the wall, my back slamming hard against the cold surface, and slide to the ground. I can’t breathe, I can’t stop shaking and I can barely contain the noise my tears are making. She’s right, I’m a fool for believing he was ever interested on me, having someone like Natasha. I’m weak. I have nothing to do with his life.

I leave the restaurant and walk around the streets. I can’t go back to the tower, because everyone will be there. I’ll call a friend tomorrow and see if they can collect my personal items from there. Now I have to find a place to spend the night and my subconscious takes me to a decadent section of the city. It wouldn’t be the safest place for someone normal, but I’m a highly trained spy. As long as I can see them, I can fight them. And I feel much more confident now that I know where I’m going. It’s an abandoned construction that looks like an sport hall. I discovered it while doing parkour with my friends one day and I kept coming back after that. It is big and the celling has loads of iron beams that are rather easy to get to and more confutable that you’ll think. Something about empty places makes me feel free and calmed, just what I need now.

I rip the lower section of my dress to be able to climb better (I wasn’t planing on wearing it again anyways) and sit on one of the beams closer to the window. Its dark and cold and I get goose bumps, but I feel safe. I slowly lose conscience…

Boom! The sound of doors opening rips me violently from my sleep. I kneel on the beam, my senses already working at full speed. Crap! With this darkness I’m not going to be able to fight anyone. The footsteps stop and I hear a metal screech, meaning someone is climbing the beams. As silently as I can, I change of platform, but whoever’s following me hears me and changes directions as well. We carry on this way for a while, nearly dancing, until I realize I have nowhere else to jump to. I’m cornered. I try to take a step back but my feet slip on the edge and I fall back, my heart stopping…

And a set of strong arms cut my fall. My heart is racing. Who is this man? What does he want? A million terrifying thoughts cross my mind but then the man speaks.

“Y/N. Oh, thank Heavens you are here. We’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Steve sets me down and wraps an arm around me.

I smile in relief. “Sorry. I didn’t want to bother you. I was going to send someone to collect my things in the morning”

Steve freezes “What do you mean? You are moving out?”

“Yes… I’m a fool and so annoying to the team. And now that Bucky has Natasha, no one needs me anymore. So I’m going to move out.”

“Y/N, what do you mean? Bucky’s been sick worried since you went missing. All the team has! You’re not annoying, you’re part of our family. Who told you we didn’t like you?” He frowns “Wait… It was Natasha, wasn’t it?” My silence is his answer “I’m going to kill her. Don’t listen to her, she’s just jealous. You’re amazing, just don’t leave us again.” He presses me to his side. “You’re freezing! We need to get you to the tower now.”

The tower… The last place I want to be in. I enter the common room wrapped in a blanket, still with my destroyed dress and ruined makeup, Steve walking at my side. Bucky is sitting in the couch, his head on his hands, and Natasha next to him in a comforting position. When he hears the door, he looks up and his eyes shine. His expression changes from worry to relief automatically, like a weight has been taken from him. He runs towards me and wraps me in his arms. They feel like home, their embrace forming an unbreakable barrier between me and the world. They warm me up better than any hot bath would.

He kisses the top of my head and then rest his forehead on my hair. “Y/N… Don’t ever do that again. I thought I’d lost you.” he sounds so heartbroken that a shiver runs down my spine. “What happened?”

“Natasha happened.” Answers Steve for me. Bucky turns around, never letting go of me, and his grip tightens.

“What did you do?” Bucky everything but roars towards the Russian spy.

“Nothing! She’s lying! She’s in shock, probably delirious.”

“Really? Because I can really see you threatening someone I love just to get your way, Natasha.”

“No! I just…”

“You just didn’t like the idea that I had found my soulmate and it wasn’t you.”

“I’m your soulmate, Bucky. I don’t get why you don’t see it!”

“I think I can judge that myself.”

“So you choose her, then? Are you sure? Because that little, insecure brat won’t give you what you want.”

I wait for his arms to leave me as he realizes Natasha is right. But they don’t. His voice is deep and husky when he answers “She is everything I want.”

Tears fall down my cheeks as I hear the door closing after Natasha. Steve also leaves the room. Bucky looses a little his embrace so that he can look at my face and smiles, registering every single little detail until his eyes stop on my lips. “I thought I lost you” He murmurs softly. “You nearly drive me crazy”

“I—I don’t understand.” I whisper back. “Why have you chosen me? Natasha is right, I can’t give you what you want.”

He leans in closer, our lips almost touching “You still don’t understand it? You can’t give me anything, because you’ve already have. You are everything I want. Just tell me you’re mine.”

“I’m yours, Bucky”

“And I’m yours.”

He closes the distance between our lips, sealing like that the promise.