#y'all this took like 3 months of working on and off to finish- you will clap and cheer. this is a threat /j

[tea-cat-arts]

My fe3h and pokemon brainworms came back with a vengeance so I come baring more of this AU (trainer cards coming eventually)

[levandright]

And oh, how I'd love to go Paris again

pairing : jake x f!reader ୨ৎ content / warning(s) : non-idol au, love at first sight, fluff, strangers to friends to lovers(not stated but heavily implied), tension, they're in love your honor, fate reference/mention, can be read as either hs or uni au its up to you ୨ৎ word count : 5.9k

synopsis. you're overwhelmed with your school finals close by, while you are taking a short break from your studying, you couldn't help but reminisce about your precious memories in the city of love when a song that reminds you of your time in paris play. ୨ৎ lev notes : the class trip may not be 100% accurate but its for the plot okay... i had to make it inspired by the 1975 cause i love them too much not to do so + it fits with how i literally have them as my top artist this year :3 (i started writing this days earlier before spotify wrapped lol) also i literally had paris on loop for like 7 hours in total while writing this... anyways hope y'all like this cause it took a lot of brain power to write it, trust i will post what the heart wants as soon as i finish a surprise fic im working on rn ꒰⠀for @sugarikiz event 'ʏᴏᴜʀ ℰ𝓎ℯ𝓈 ᴏɴʟʏ ☁︎.𖥔 ' ꒱

you're at your school's library, cramming for your upcoming finals. with a little over a week to prepare for months' worth of lessons across multiple subjects, the pressure is taking quite a toll on you. two cups of coffee sit beside your laptop, one already empty. even though you've been studying for less than 40 minutes, you already feel the urge to down all the caffeine left in front of you just to keep from dozing off again.

sigh, 'just gotta finish this whole powerpoint. then, i can finally relax for a bit' you silently hype yourself out. with the reward of a break for an hour of studying, you quickly go through the entire lesson in a flash.

grabbing the not empty cup of coffee, you take a much needed sip to keep yourself awake for more hours of studying.

a while later, you're stretching in your seat after having finished with that specific powerpoint. 'finally i can take a break' you think to yourself

as you sit, and stare at your laptop's screen. contimplating on what to do to pass time, you decide to play music to relax yourself.

clicking the shuffle button on your playlist. you put your headphones on and rest your head on your arms, as the familiar tune of paris by the 1975 play.

the music pulls you into a memory, that unforgettable class trip to paris.

꒰ and oh, how i'd love to go paris again ꒱

you’re on the bus, the city outside the window slowly coming to life. everyone in your class is chatting excitedly, pointing out landmarks and planning what to do when you finally get off. the eiffel tower is getting closer, its towering frame making your heart race with excitement.

“can you believe we’re actually here?” keeho says, leaning over to nudge your shoulder. his energy is infectious, and you can’t help but smile.

hyunjin, sitting across the aisle, snaps a quick photo through the window. “this already feels unreal,” he says, grinning. “i’m going to fill my camera roll today.”

the bus comes to a stop, and your teacher announces a short break to explore the area. the three of you quickly stick together as everyone spills out onto the cobblestone street. paris feels alive—the air smells like fresh bread and coffee, and the chatter of locals blends with the hum of passing cars.

“we need food. let’s find a café!” keeho declares, already marching toward a row of cozy-looking places with outdoor seating.

you follow, laughing as hyunjin drags you by the wrist to keep up. he’s scanning every building, taking quick snapshots of anything that catches his eye. “wait, stand here,” he says suddenly, pulling out his phone to snap a candid photo of you and keeho in front of a flower shop.

“are you going to take pictures the whole trip?” you tease.

“obviously,” hyunjin replies, unbothered. “someone has to document how good we look in paris.”

eventually, the three of you settle at a small café. the waiter brings over menus, and you all take a moment to soak it all in. keeho orders a slice of cake, hyunjin gets a croissant and coffee, and you decide on a simple baguette sandwich.

“okay, this is officially the best food i’ve ever had,” keeho says after his first bite.

“it’s just cake,” hyunjin says, rolling his eyes but stealing a forkful anyway.

you laugh as they bicker, feeling a warmth settle in your chest. sitting there with your best friends, surrounded by the magic of paris, everything feels perfect.

after finishing your meals, you and your friends head back to the bus to regroup with your class. the energy is buzzing as everyone talks about their plans for the rest of the day. your teacher announces that the next stop is a famous museum nearby.

the museum is grand, with high ceilings and beautiful architecture that makes you feel small in the best way. inside, it’s quieter, with your classmates dispersing into smaller groups.

hyunjin immediately pulls out his camera again. “this lighting is perfect,” he mutters, snapping a photo of a sculpture in the corner.

keeho rolls his eyes with a smirk. “he’s gonna be like this the whole time.”

“he’s consistent, at least,” you joke, earning a laugh from keeho as the two of you start wandering through the exhibits together.

the artwork is stunning—paintings that feel alive, sculptures that seem to breathe. you and keeho take your time strolling through the halls, sharing your thoughts on each piece.

“i don’t get this one,” keeho says, staring at an abstract painting.

“it’s open to interpretation,” you reply.

“so… the artist spilled paint everywhere?”

you nudge his arm. “be serious!”

keeho grins but then glances around. “hey, i’m gonna find the bathroom real quick. don’t get lost.”

“sure, sure,” you say, waving him off.

as he walks away, you wander aimlessly, letting your feet carry you through the museum’s winding halls. you stop to admire a large painting of a serene countryside when, out of nowhere, you bump into someone.

“oh, i’m so sorry!” you blurt out, taking a step back.

the stranger turns to you, and your words catch in your throat. he’s tall, with warm eyes and a gentle smile. his presence feels calm, yet somehow magnetic.

“no worries,” he says, his voice warm and calm, with a hint of an australian accent you catch right away. “are you okay?”

you nod quickly, feeling your cheeks heat up. “y-yeah, i wasn’t looking where i was going.”

he chuckles lightly, brushing it off. “happens to the best of us.”

he pauses for a moment, as if waiting to see if you’ll say anything else. you manage a small smile. “thanks for being so nice about it. i’m—uh…” before you can finish, keeho’s voice rings out from somewhere nearby.

“hey, y/n! where’d you go?”

the spell is broken, and you glance over your shoulder to see keeho waving at you. turning back to the stranger, you offer an apologetic smile. “that’s my friend. i should go.”

“of course,” he says, still smiling. “take care.”

you hurry off toward keeho, your heart still racing. as you rejoin your friends, you glance back briefly to see the stranger walking away. something about the moment lingers, a small spark you can’t quite explain.

after regrouping with keeho and hyunjin, the three of you continue exploring the museum. hyunjin has finally tucked his camera away, much to keeho’s relief.

“didn’t think i’d ever see the day you’d stop taking pictures,” keeho teases.

“i’m just saving space for later,” hyunjin retorts, grinning. “besides, i want to actually enjoy this.”

the three of you move through the museum, pausing at different exhibits. keeho offers more of his hilarious “critiques,” while hyunjin points out details you might’ve missed. for a while, it feels like time doesn’t exist, just the three of you soaking in the beauty of parisian art.

after some time, you excuse yourself to find the restroom. as you leave, keeho calls after you, “don’t get lost again!”

“i won’t!” you call back with a laugh, shaking your head.

once you step out of the restroom, you turn a corner and nearly bump into someone again.

“oh—sorry!” you start, looking up. and there he is.

the boy from earlier.

“you again,” he says with a warm smile, his eyes lighting up with recognition.

“yeah, me again,” you reply, feeling your face heat up.

“i guess we’re just destined to keep running into each other,” he jokes, his tone light and teasing.

you laugh softly. “seems like it. i never got your name earlier.”

“jake,” he says, extending his hand. “and you?”

“y/n,” you say, shaking his hand. his grip is gentle but firm, and you feel your heart skip a beat.

“nice to officially meet you, y/n,” jake says, his smile widening.

the two of you start chatting, the conversation flowing easily. he tells you he’s here with his own group, visiting from another school all the way from australia, and you share a little about your own trip. his voice is calm and steady, and his subtle humor keeps making you giggle.

at one point, he gestures toward a nearby painting. “what do you think of this one? please don’t say the artist spilled paint everywhere.”

you burst into laughter, shaking your head. “no, no, that’s keeho’s specialty. i actually think it’s kind of beautiful, in a chaotic way.”

“good answer,” jake says, grinning.

before you know it, the sound of footsteps and familiar voices echo down the hall. “y/n! where are you?” keeho calls, his voice unmistakable.

you glance in the direction of the sound, then back at jake, your smile faltering slightly. “that’s my friends. i should go.”

jake nods, his expression soft. “of course. it was nice talking to you, y/n.”

“you too, jake,” you say, stepping away reluctantly. as you walk toward your friends, you can’t help but glance back once. jake is still standing there, giving you a small wave.

you rejoin keeho and hyunjin, who immediately start teasing you for taking so long. but as the three of you continue exploring the museum, you can’t stop thinking about jake. and though you don’t say it out loud, you quietly hope that fate will bring you together again.

it’s been a day since the museum, but your thoughts keep circling back to jake. his kind smile, the way he made you laugh, and that unmistakable australian accent—it’s all stuck in your head.

after dinner with your classmates at the hotel, the buzz of chatter feels overwhelming. you decide to step outside for some fresh air, hoping a quiet walk will help clear your mind.

the streets of paris are calmer at this hour, bathed in a soft, golden glow from the streetlights. a small park just down the road catches your eye, and you wander toward it, settling onto a bench beneath a tree.

you sit there for a while, letting your thoughts drift. the cool breeze carries the faint scent of flowers, and the distant hum of city life feels oddly soothing.

suddenly, you feel someone sit down beside you. you glance over, and your heart skips a beat.

it’s him.

jake.

the boy you couldn’t stop thinking about.

he notices your surprise and gives you that same warm smile. “hey,” he says casually. “fancy seeing you here.”

you blink, struggling to process the coincidence. “jake? what are you doing here?”

“could ask you the same thing,” he says with a light chuckle, leaning back against the bench. “i was out for a walk, saw this park, and thought i’d sit for a bit. didn’t expect to run into you again.”

you laugh softly, shaking your head. “paris must be smaller than we think.”

“or fate has a funny way of working,” he says, his tone teasing but his eyes sincere.

the conversation flows naturally from there. he asks about your class trip, and you tell him about your visit to the museum and all the places your group plans to see next. he shares stories about his own class, laughing about his friends’ antics and the moments that make the trip memorable.

“you’re telling me someone actually fell asleep in front of the mona lisa?” you ask, barely holding back laughter.

“yup. full-on snoring,” jake replies, grinning. “the security guard didn’t know whether to wake him or leave him there.”

the two of you laugh together, the sound blending into the quiet of the park.

after a while, jake stands up. “wait here,” he says, his tone playful but mysterious.

“where are you going?” you ask, watching him walk toward a nearby food stand.

“you’ll see,” he calls back over his shoulder.

a few minutes later, he returns, holding two neatly wrapped chocolate crepes. he hands one to you with a grin. “figured this would make the moment even better.”

you take it, smiling at his thoughtfulness. “thanks, jake. this is perfect.”

as you both sit there, enjoying the crepes and chatting under the parisian sky, you can’t help but feel like this moment is something straight out of a dream.

the days in paris pass like a blur, filled with sightseeing, laughter, and the magic of simply being in the city. but the most unexpected highlight of your trip that osn’t on the schedule—is jake.

you can’t quite explain it, but somehow, you keep running into him. these little moments have become the thing you secretly look forward to the most.

────୨ৎ────

you’re standing at the counter of a small café, debating between ordering a croissant or a pain au chocolat. the decision feels monumental, and you’re entirely lost in thought when a voice interrupts you.

“go for the pain au chocolat,” jake says, appearing beside you with an easy smile.

you blink, startled at first, before breaking into a grin. “jake? what are you doing here?”

“getting breakfast,” he says, holding up a cup of coffee and a bag. “didn’t think i’d see you again so soon.”

“neither did i,” you reply, chuckling. “are you always this lucky, or is paris just this small?”

“maybe both,” he teases. “need help deciding?”

“i was leaning toward the croissant, but now i feel like i have to trust your judgment.”

“always trust the chocolate,” he says, nodding sagely.

you laugh and order the pain au chocolat. as you wait, the two of you chat, his humor making the simple café feel like the best spot in paris.

────୨ৎ────

a couple of days later, you’re wandering through a mall with keeho and hyunjin, trying to find souvenirs to take back home. keeho is busy debating between two scarves for his mom, and hyunjin is glued to his phone, looking up recommendations.

you drift toward a small kiosk filled with handmade trinkets, running your fingers over delicate keychains.

“don’t tell me you’re buying one of those cheesy eiffel tower keychains,” a familiar voice says behind you.

you spin around, your heart skipping a beat. “jake!”

he’s holding a bag of his own, filled with souvenirs. “fancy meeting you here.”

“again,” you add with a laugh.

keeho spots jake and gives you a knowing look, while hyunjin just raises an eyebrow before wandering off. you try to ignore them and focus on jake instead.

“what’s in the bag?” you ask, nodding toward his purchases.

“just some stuff for my family,” he says. “and maybe a keychain or two.”

you laugh. “i thought you were against cheesy keychains.”

“only when other people buy them,” he says, his grin mischievous.

────୨ৎ────

the park has become your little escape, a quiet place to think and reflect. you’re sitting on the same bench as before, lost in thought, when you hear footsteps approach.

“do you have a permanent spot here, or are you waiting for me?” jake’s voice breaks through your daydream.

you turn, smiling as he sits down beside you. “maybe both.”

“lucky me, then,” he says, leaning back and looking up at the sky. “so, what’s on your mind today?”

you hesitate for a moment, then decide to be honest. “just… thinking about how much i’ve enjoyed this trip. and how strange it’ll feel to leave.”

jake nods, his expression softening. “yeah, i get that. it’s been a lot, hasn’t it?”

“yeah,” you say quietly, and for a moment, the two of you sit in comfortable silence.

that evening. your teacher gathers the entire class in the lobby of the hotel to deliver the news.

“you’ve got two days left to enjoy paris before we head back home,” she says. “make sure you start packing your things and grab any last-minute souvenirs.”

the room fills with murmurs of excitement and relief. most of your classmates are thrilled to return to canada, and part of you is, too. but as you head back to your room, a bittersweet feeling settles in your chest.

two more days. that’s all the time you have left before you have to say goodbye to jake.

you don’t know why the thought stings so much, but it does. and now, more than ever, you hope for one more chance to see him.

────୨ৎ────

the second-to-last day in paris feels like a blur of excitement and nostalgia. you, keeho, and hyunjin make it a mission to visit as many places as possible, squeezing every last drop out of your remaining time in the city.

as the three of you step into the vintage store, you're greeted by the faint smell of aged leather and a mix of retro music playing softly in the background. the shop is packed with everything from old records to racks of vintage clothes and shelves lined with random knick-knacks.

“okay,” keeho announces, clapping his hands together. “this is the place to find hidden gems.”

hyunjin raises an eyebrow. “hidden gems or overpriced junk?”

“you just don’t have the vision,” keeho shoots back, already digging through a rack of jackets.

you wander toward a glass display case near the counter, something catching your eye—a vintage digicam. it’s small, sleek, and looks like it’s been well cared for. you kneel to get a closer look, curiosity piqued.

“hey, what’d you find?” keeho asks, appearing beside you with a leopard-print scarf draped around his neck.

you point to the camera. “a digicam. looks pretty cool, doesn’t it?”

keeho leans in, inspecting it. “very cool. are you gonna get it?”

you hesitate. “i don’t know… do you think it still works?”

“only one way to find out,” hyunjin says, suddenly appearing on your other side. he gestures to the shop owner, a kind-looking older man, who unlocks the case and hands you the camera.

you examine it closely, turning it over in your hands. the lens looks clean, and the buttons feel intact.

“how much?” you ask the shop owner.

“twenty euros,” he replies with a smile.

keeho gasps dramatically. “a steal! you have to get it.”

“yeah, before someone else does,” hyunjin agrees, casually flipping through a rack of shirts.

you laugh at their enthusiasm and decide to go for it. “alright, fine. i’m buying it.”

as you hand over the cash, keeho strikes another pose with the scarf. “what do you think? parisian chic, or should i stick to my usual?”

“stick to your usual,” hyunjin says without looking up.

keeho sighs, draping the scarf back onto the rack. “you two have no appreciation for drama.”

you test out the digicam, snapping a quick photo of keeho mid-pout. the image pops up on the tiny screen, surprisingly crisp for something so old.

“perfect,” you say, showing him the photo.

keeho grins. “okay, maybe you do have an eye for the dramatic.”

hyunjin wanders over with an oversized sweater, holding it up against himself. “thoughts?”

keeho wrinkles his nose. “are you auditioning for a grandpa role?”

“i like it,” you say, defending hyunjin’s choice.

“thank you,” hyunjin replies, smugly tossing the sweater over his arm.

the three of you spend a bit longer in the shop, goofing around and trying on random hats, sunglasses, and jackets. you snap more photos with your new camera—keeho wearing an old captain’s hat, hyunjin attempting to look cool in aviator sunglasses, and a candid shot of the two of them laughing together.

by the time you leave, the bag with your new camera swings lightly at your side, and your heart feels full. the memory of this moment—just you and your friends being unapologetically yourselves—already feels like a keepsake all its own.

at a small crêperie, hyunjin’s crêpe is covered in whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.

“how are you even holding that without it falling apart?” you ask, staring at the overloaded treat in wonder.

hyunjin shrugs. “skill,” he says simply before taking an enormous bite.

keeho watches in horror. “that’s going to end up all over your shirt, and i am not letting you borrow mine.”

“you sound like my mom,” hyunjin says through a mouthful of crêpe.

by the seine river, you take turns with the digicam, capturing moments that feel like they belong in a movie. keeho makes exaggerated poses on the bridge, while hyunjin tries (and fails) to look mysterious.

when it’s your turn to hold the camera, you take a candid shot of the two of them mid-laugh. it’s perfect—pure and genuine, a reminder of how much these moments mean to you.

“alright, photographer extraordinaire,” keeho says, pointing dramatically at the eiffel tower in the distance. “get my good side.”

“you don’t have one,” hyunjin jokes, earning a glare from keeho.

as the day winds down, you find yourself lingering outside the hotel while keeho and hyunjin head inside.

“we’ll be in the lobby if you need us,” keeho calls over his shoulder, giving you a knowing look.

once they’re gone, you make your way to the park. the same bench, the same tree, and this time, jake is already there, waiting.

he stands when he sees you, his smile soft but bright. “hey.”

“hey,” you reply, walking up to him. “beat me here this time, huh?”

“had a feeling you’d come,” he says, shrugging.

you sit down beside him, the quiet of the park wrapping around you like a blanket.

“you’ve been busy,” jake comments. “i saw you earlier near the seine with your friends. looked like fun.”

“it was,” you say, smiling at the memory. “trying to cram everything into one day, you know? time feels so short now.”

jake’s expression shifts, just slightly, and you know he understands what you mean.

“speaking of time…” you begin, hesitating. “we’re leaving tomorrow. my class is flying back home.”

jake nods slowly, his gaze dropping to his hands. “i figured it was coming. my group leaves the day after.”

there’s a pause, the kind that feels heavy but not uncomfortable.

“do you think we’ll meet again?” you ask softly, not daring to look at him.

“i hope we do,” he replies, his voice quiet but firm.

the weight of his words lingers between you, saying everything that neither of you can.

you pull out your digicam, breaking the tension with a small smile. “can i take some pictures? you know, to remember this?”

jake’s face brightens slightly. “of course.”

you snap a few shots—some posed, some candid. jake laughing at something you said, jake looking off into the distance, and finally, one of the two of you together, taken with his help.

as the night deepens, you know it’s time to go. you stand, reluctantly. “i should get back before my friends come looking for me.”

jake nods but doesn’t move. instead, he reaches out, gently taking your wrist.

“wait.”

you turn, surprised, as he pulls something from his jacket pocket—a pair of silver rings, simple and elegant.

“for you,” he says softly, slipping the smaller one onto your right hand’s ring finger. the fit is perfect.

your heart races, words failing you as he looks at you, his gaze full of unspoken meaning. then, he leans forward, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“goodbye, y/n,” he murmurs, stepping back.

it takes you a moment to find your voice. “goodbye, jake.”

as you walk back to the hotel, your mind replays the moment over and over, the cool metal of the ring on your finger grounding you in the surrealness of it all. that night, lying in bed, you can’t help but wonder if the universe will bring you and jake together again someday.

꒰ paris again, and again, and again, and again, and again ꒱

a tap on your shoulder pulls you out of your thoughts, and you lift your head groggily. you blink, trying to focus on the person standing in front of you. it’s keeho, grinning mischievously, while hyunjin stands behind him, sipping his americano with a slightly amused expression.

“y/n, what are you doing?” keeho asks, leaning in and waving his hand in front of your face.

you yawn, rubbing your eyes. “i’m taking a break. i can’t even keep my eyes open for more than a minute.”

hyunjin raises an eyebrow. “yeah, we can tell. you’re practically sleeping at your desk.” he leans against the back of your chair, his voice cool but teasing. “how about you stop pretending to study and actually join us for once?”

keeho’s grin widens as he jumps into the conversation. “we’re heading to a café to study, and you’re coming with us. you need a change of scenery.”

you groan, feeling your body resist the idea of leaving the comforting quiet of the library, but deep down, you know you’ve been at it for too long. a change of pace might be exactly what you need.

“come on, y/n,” keeho insists, his voice full of that playful energy you can’t ignore. “we’ll make it more fun. you can’t study like this. plus, you’ll probably get more done with us around.”

you hesitate for a moment, your mind torn between the need for a proper break and the looming pressure of your exams. still, you can’t deny how much you need a little distraction. “fine,” you sigh, finally giving in. “but if we end up just talking the entire time, i’m leaving.”

hyunjin chuckles, giving you a knowing look. “i think you’ll be okay. we’ll actually study this time. promise.”

keeho grabs your arm, pulling you up from your seat with a playful tug. “good, because you need us to keep you sane. now, let’s get out of here.”

as the three of you leave the library, you let out one last sigh, knowing that even though you might not get as much studying done as you hope, you could definitely use the company.

the café is warm and inviting, the soft hum of background chatter mixing with the aroma of fresh coffee and baked goods. it’s a stark contrast to the quiet, studious atmosphere of the library, and you find yourself breathing a little easier as you step inside.

you find a small corner table and set your laptop down, letting out a contented sigh as you settle in. keeho and hyunjin head to the counter to order, leaving you to fidget with your feet, trying to shake off the weight of the past few hours spent studying.

your eyes flicker to the window, watching people pass by as you idly tap your fingers against your coffee cup. eventually, you stop, catching sight of the ring on your right hand.

you pause, fingers tracing the smooth metal, your mind drifting back to paris. “it’s been three years since that time in paris,” you think to yourself, a wave of nostalgia washing over you. the memory feels distant now, like a dream you’re not quite sure was real.

you wonder if jake still remembers you, if he thinks about you at all. you’d been so wrapped up in the magic of those moments, so caught up in the fleeting connection between the two of you, that you’d completely forgotten to exchange socials, to keep in touch.

a soft laugh escapes you, tinged with frustration. you can still picture your past self—so carefree, so caught up in the magic of the moment, never once thinking about the things you should have done. and now, years later, it stings.

the photos you took back then are all you have left—memories frozen in time, but still, you find yourself wishing you had more. a way to bridge the gap between then and now, something more than a ring on your finger that’s become a quiet reminder of what you left behind.

a soft laugh from keeho breaks you from your thoughts, and you glance up to see him and hyunjin walking toward the table, their arms full of coffee cups and pastries. keeho places your cup down in front of you, his expression softening when he notices the faraway look in your eyes.

“you okay?” he asks, settling into his chair across from you.

you smile faintly. “yeah, just… thinking about paris.”

hyunjin raises an eyebrow but doesn’t push. he simply places a croissant in front of you and nods. “we’ll make it through these finals. paris will still be there when you’re done.”

you nod, but the bittersweet smile remains on your face, the question still lingering in the back of your mind. will you ever see jake again?

you manage to get some work done, but there’s plenty of laughter and light-hearted banter between you guys. hyunjin and keeho constantly bicker over the most ridiculous things—whether iced coffee is better than hot coffee, or if studying with background music is productive.

“you’re seriously telling me you don’t like the classics?” keeho says, shaking his head dramatically. “what kind of music do you even listen to, hyunjin?”

“i listen to music that doesn’t make my brain want to shut down,” hyunjin replies with a smirk, taking a sip from his americano. “but hey, if you need classical music to study, you do you.”

you laugh at their back-and-forth, shaking your head at their silly rivalry. the sound of their bickering is strangely comforting, distracting you from the pressure building up inside your mind. you feel a little lighter, even if it’s just for a moment.

after a while, you excuse yourself and head to the bathroom inside the café, needing a quick break from the endless cycle of notes and coffee. the place is busy, but the hum of quiet conversations and the scent of freshly brewed coffee make it feel comforting.

you take your time, refreshing yourself and letting your thoughts wander for a few moments. when you finally finish and head back out, you’re not paying attention to where you’re going, still lost in your thoughts.

and then—bam.

you collide with someone, the force making you stumble slightly. your reflexes kick in, and you immediately start bowing in apology, your words rushing out in a flurry of embarrassment.

“i’m so sorry! i didn’t mean—”

but before you can finish, you hear a familiar voice, soft and warm, with that unmistakable australian accent.

“y/n?”

you freeze, and the world seems to stop for a moment. you slowly lift your head, and there, standing in front of you, is none other than jake. in the flesh.

for a split second, all your words get caught in your throat. your heart races, and your brain scrambles to process the unexpected reunion. this can’t be real. is this a dream?

jake’s brows furrow slightly as he looks at you with concern, his voice softening. “are you okay?” he asks, stepping a little closer to you, clearly worried about your sudden silence.

you blink, feeling your heart thumping louder in your chest as you try to find your words, but they’re nowhere to be found. you stand there, staring at him, completely at a loss for what to say.

he leans in slightly, just enough to make sure you’re okay, his face showing that familiar concern. “y/n?” he gently says your name, and your body snaps back to reality.

“i—uh… sorry, i just—didn’t expect to see you.” you feel the heat rush to your cheeks, embarrassment flushing your face. "i thought… i thought i was imagining things."

jake chuckles softly, his expression softening with a smile that makes your heart flutter. “i didn’t expect to run into you here either.” his tone is light, playful, but there’s something in his eyes—something that makes the air feel a little thicker.

you both stand there for a moment, awkward silence hanging between you. the familiarity of this moment feels surreal, but there’s no denying the warmth that spreads through you at the sight of him.

“so, uh,” you start, finally finding your voice, “what are you doing here? i didn’t expect to run into you… again.”

jake’s lips curl into that familiar, soft smile. he shrugs nonchalantly, but there’s a glint in his eyes, something unspoken. “guess it’s just fate.” he says, his tone playful but there’s a layer of sincerity underneath it, one you can’t quite ignore.

you chuckle lightly, but the tension between you both is palpable now, thickening the air around you. there’s an undeniable pull between you, something that neither of you have fully acknowledged, but it’s there, lingering in the space between your words. you feel the heat of his gaze, and the sudden awareness of how close you both are makes your heart beat just a little faster.

“so… how’ve you been?” you ask, needing to break the moment but also curious, wanting to know everything about him since that last time you saw him.

jake rubs the back of his neck with a small, shy smile, a gesture you remember well. “i’ve been good… just been busy, you know. but i’ve been thinking about our time in paris a lot.” his voice is casual, but his eyes hold something deeper, a hint of vulnerability that you weren’t expecting.

you nod, understanding exactly what he means. you’ve been thinking about paris too. every memory feels like a treasure, something you’ve carefully tucked away, not wanting to forget any part of it. you wish you had more time to ask him about the things he’s been up to, to know if he’s felt the same pull that you have, the connection that neither of you can explain.

you glance down at your hand absentmindedly, and that’s when you see it—the ring he gave you in the park, so simple yet so meaningful. the silver band glints in the soft café lighting, and your heart does a little flip.

jake notices too, his gaze dropping to your hand. his smile softens, almost imperceptibly, but you notice it. there’s a quiet understanding between you two that you don’t need to speak aloud.

“i see you’re still wearing it,” he murmurs, his voice low, almost tender.

you look up at him, meeting his eyes, and for a moment, everything else fades away. you feel like you’re back in paris, standing in that park, with everything still ahead of you, full of hope and possibility.

“i didn’t want to take it off,” you say quietly, your voice barely above a whisper.

jake doesn’t say anything at first, his eyes locked on yours. then, without warning, he reaches out slowly, his fingers brushing lightly over your hand, and he gently presses a kiss to your right hand, right where the ring rests. the simple gesture feels like it speaks volumes, and you can’t help but feel a surge of warmth spread through you.

“i’m glad,” he says softly, his voice just above a murmur. “i’m glad you kept it.”

for a moment, neither of you speaks. the world feels like it’s holding its breath. the space between you feels charged, but neither of you is in a rush to break the silence. it’s as if this moment, this small, quiet exchange, is enough.

you blink, still a little stunned by the gesture, your heart racing, but a smile tugs at the corners of your lips. you can’t help but feel the warmth in your chest, the way his simple action makes you feel seen, valued, even though you never really said all the things you wanted to say.

when you finally speak, your voice is soft but steady. “i didn’t think i’d see you again.”

jake takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving yours. “i didn’t either, but i’m glad i did.”

enha perm taglist. @dazzlingjaeyun @honeychocos @manaah02 @kozumesphone

©levandright

[love-quinn]

— WATCH

summary — you’re trying to show the team that you’re fine after spencer’s return from prison. if you were coping well, you probably wouldn’t have to try so hard

pairing — post!prison spencer reid x fem!BAU reader

track three — “watch” by maisie peters

warnings — swearing, probably ooc reid, probably overdone to the point of pitiful boredom but i wanted to give it a go, everything to do with the prison storyline

word count — 3.1k

note — how are we?? it's been a bit of a rough april for me i won't like to y'all, i actually wanted to have the whole masterlist finished by this point but then i moved across the country so things got put on hold for a bit. i hope you enjoy this i genuinely don't think i've written anything quite like this, at least not recently, but i had a good time <3

You were on top of the world. 

It had been hard, Spencer being gone. It was the most amount of time the two of you had ever spent apart since the day you’d met, and you hadn’t handled it well. Four years together, six years on the same team, and then three months of cold silence. 

You’d never thought you’d regret moving into Spencer’s apartment but if you still lived in yours it would be easier to pretend like he was just on a trip. His bed, softer and warmer when it was shared, had probably grown sick of you with the amount of time you spent sitting up cross legged against the headboard, running the duvet fabric under your hands to slow your breathing. 

You’d cried so hard you’d made yourself sick on multiple occasions, grief stricken and guilt ridden, not knowing how to help him and terrified for his safety. You’d been offered some personal time off immediately after Spencer’s trial that you had initially declined, wanting to help the team with their case to exonerate him. Then Emily had walked into the ladies’ bathroom and found you on the floor struggling to breathe and sent you home. 

You’d taken time off, tried to distract yourself tirelessly for over a week before you got a call that finally kicked you into gear: Spencer was allowed a visitor, and he’d requested you. 

Seeing him so exhausted, hair unruly and a nasty gash beside his eye, had finally caused you to pick yourself up and get back to work. You had other cases that took your focus momentarily, but the second those were done with your mind was firmly locked onto his case. 

It felt like a borderline obsession, except it wasn’t something that you could just quit cold turkey or stop doing. It was a need, it was the only thing you could think about. It wasn’t a struggle, it wasn’t a hassle. It was as natural as breathing, and as painful as dying. 

And then suddenly he was back at home. You’d gone to bed one night alone and then the next time you were back in your apartment you were leading him inside gently. 

He hadn’t said much to you since he’d been arrested. You’d gone to visit him three times, as often as you were allowed, sometimes alone, once with his mother, who was even more devastated than you were. 

Having him back was a dream. Being able to see him, to know he was there, regardless of the fact that he wasn’t really speaking to you, was everything that you could have asked for. You wanted for nothing, your boyfriend was finally back, everything was going back to normal. 

Spencer had some mandated time off (well, technically he didn’t work for the FBI anymore so his mandated time off was more akin to unemployment), and you’d taken time off to be at home with him.

He’d hugged you so tight when he’d first seen you, and since then you’d held his hand in your own whenever possible. Once the two of you were home, though, things were different. 

You hadn’t expected for him to be completely okay upon arriving home. Prison was rough, it wouldn’t take a profiler to understand how he’d struggle with the adjustment. It wasn’t big things, at least at first. He’d have to shower with the bathroom door open, but you couldn’t be in the bedroom while he did it. He’d get up in the middle of the night and migrate to the couch, too overstimulated with the feeling of you beside him, despite the ache he’d felt in his bones every waking moment, desperate to be near you. 

You tried to tell yourself it was okay. Laying alone in your bed at night, him thinking he’d snuck out without waking you and clearly not wanting to hurt your feelings, you’d try not to take it personally, knowing that somewhere inside him was your boyfriend. 

You knew he didn’t want to hurt you, he was clearly doing his best. Sometimes you’d see glimpses of the Spencer that you knew, when you made him breakfast one morning and he’d pressed a kiss to your temple with a soft, “thank you, angel.” Some nights, if he managed to settle in bed, he’d reach out for your hand to feel your skin beneath his. It felt like the man you loved was maybe learning to love you back again. 

But the love you felt didn’t just exist in the good moments when he could stand to be around you. It festers in the times he flinches when you move too quickly, at night when the smell of your shampoo invades his nostrils and fills him with nostalgia for a moment he’s currently trying to bring himself to enjoy. And when he flinched or left the room, you told yourself that he was adjusting.

Members of the team had called you, asking how he was doing, asking how you were doing. You weren’t 100% sure why, but you found yourself lying to them without thinking. Things were great, you were doing so well. Spencer was elated to be home, and you were even more elated to have him there. You couldn’t admit to them that you were terrified you were losing him, this time in a slower, more visible way than you were back when he was still locked up. 

It was different when he wasn’t right in front of you. You ached for the things you used to have — his hands in your hair, scratching your scalp as the two of you sit side by side watching a movie so old he had to explain every reference the characters made, your legs in his lap in hotel rooms after a long case, the way his lips would twitch up halfway through sharing a factoid when he realised you were the only one listening. You couldn’t admit you were terrified because that meant maybe things wouldn’t go back to the way they were. The way you wanted them.

You couldn’t admit you loved him so hard it was hollowing you out, leaving plenty of room for him to fill you with his grief. You savoured every single second of his presence, memorising the curve of his cheeks and the lines of his jaw, desperate for some proof of life from someone you knew better than you knew yourself. You pushed through it, pushing the curtains open every morning, setting out coffee and sweaters and paperback novels for him every morning that he never touched. 

Spencer didn’t know how to be around you. He’d spent almost four months completely alone. He’d started out in protective custody but had been put back into genpop for one reason or another. He was too exhausted to advocate for himself by that point, spending his nights awake and thinking of your smile, or your laugh, or, fuck, the way you smelled. He maintained a low profile, unlearned your trademarked softness and spent days fantasising about what it was like to be in your sphere again. 

You, ethereal and enthralling and everything good in the world. He was desperate to see you again, to get to hold you, to whisper all the things he’d never told you before he’d been ripped from you. But none of his fantasies had prepared him for how alien his own home would feel upon his return. How you could be laying in the same bed as him and still feel unreachable to him. 

He knew you were trying with him, endlessly patient and warm. He saw the grief in your eyes when you thought he wasn’t looking, the way your hands shook as you’d pour him coffee. You didn’t flinch when he pulled away from the few times you tried to initiate physical touch. That was almost worse. He wanted you to be angry with him. You weren’t letting his slights against you build up resentment against him, which only made him feel worse. You were letting him do this to you. 

It had started small. You asked him every time you left the apartment if he’d like to come with: grocery shopping, the laundry room, getting the mail. Some days he was clearly doing better than others, touching your hand and looking you in the eye. Still, the answers were always no, albeit some gentler than others. 

He was sitting in the corner of the living room, an unread book on the arm of his chair, jaw tight, when you’d asked him if he’d like to come to the store with you to pick some things up. It came with no expectations, it was barely even a request. Just an offer, hanging in the air. 

Spencer had snapped — why would he want to go with you? It had come out harsher than he’d intended in that it had come out of his mouth at all. You were standing in the doorway, keychain threaded loosely in your hand, and something flickered in the way you looked at him. You’d left and the silence had been violently loud. You hadn’t slammed the door behind yourself, hadn’t raised your voice even while he was raising his, going on about how smothered you were making him feel and how he was sorry that he couldn’t be the boyfriend you wanted him to be. You’d stood there and taken it, and then you’d left. You weren’t home for several hours, past when he knew the store shut, and with a few bags of items. 

He hadn’t needed to migrate to the couch that night, he’d started there. 

The next morning, he woke up to you putting your shoes on at the front door. You’d given him a pinched smile. “I, uh,” you cleared your throat, trying to maintain your dignity. “I called Emily, I think it’s time for me to go back to work. Give you some time to yourself.” You’d finished with your shoes and then reached for your coat. “Sorry for waking you, you can go back to sleep. Uh,” you patted your pockets for your keys, clearly trying to find something to busy yourself with so you didn’t have to look at him. “Have a good day, call me if you need. I’ll let you know if I need to go anywhere. Love you.”

You’d left before he had the opportunity to say it back. Neither of you were sure if he would have been able to bring himself to. 

He’d ranted the night before about how you couldn’t possibly understand what he was going through and that was true… to an extent. Aside from him, there probably wasn’t anyone but you who understood. You had been there every step, in court, at work trying to save him, in that cold sterile room where you’d held his hand like he was still someone you loved. 

You were baked into his very being, and Spencer spent the whole day trying to avoid evidence of your existence. Your coffee mug, made exactly the way he liked it (you’d started taking it the same way about a year into your relationship), your lipstick still on the rim. The unmade bed he allegedly shared with you, one side still perfectly flat. Your perfume in the bathroom that overwhelmed him so heavily he cried so hard he threw up. 

You knew trauma’s face, had come across it countless times in the decade you’d been working for the FBI. You recognised it in Spencer. And now, sitting at your desk for the first time in weeks, you had the room for the question to worm its way into your psyche: what if loving him wasn’t enough?

You’d gotten looks from the team when you walked in. Concern from Emily played off as cool nonchalance, a warm smile from JJ like she couldn’t believe you were walking around. Luke had brought you a cup of coffee three times before noon, but didn’t say anything. Even Garcia emerged from her office to kiss your temple and call you petnames. You recognised the look in their eyes. It inhabited your own often, every time you had to talk to a victim’s family. 

You jumped into it with gusto — research, consults, even paperwork, something you heavily procrastinated on. You spent late nights at the office that rivalled even Hotch’s worst, and he’d been dealing with his dying marriage at the time. Your situation was different, you swore. 

It took two weeks for JJ to get herself alone with you. It had been a rough case, a child abduction you’d only managed to solve after three girls under the age of ten were found dead. It would’ve affected you at the worst of times, JJ couldn’t imagine how you were doing. You were in the conference room, grabbing something you’d left during the briefing a few days ago, when she’d slipped inside. “Hey,” she’d said softly. “How’re you holding up?”

You couldn’t answer. You didn’t know how to tell her you were grieving something you’d never had, and missing something right in front of you. He’s home and I’ve never felt more alone. I’m terrified something is going to rip him away from me again, but this time it will be my fault. Instead, you’d smiled too-big and said, “It’s been really nice having him home.”

Then, before you realised it, you were crying. JJ was at your side, letting your nails dig into her forearms as she wrapped them around you, her blonde hair falling in your face as you sobbed into the open room. Emily was next to come in, not saying anything, but standing with her back to the door, giving you the privacy to mourn. 

Neither of them brought it up with you the next day, for which you were grateful.

Spencer noticed something was wrong as soon as he’d seen you getting ready to go back to work. He saw the late nights, the tired eyes. The thing about your partner being one of your coworkers is that you couldn’t lie to him about your workload, or your demanding boss asking you to stay late. He knew you were avoiding him. 

When you were home, things were different as well. You ghosted around the apartment, trying not to take up space that felt empty and frigid when you didn’t. You never initiated physical contact with him anymore, and his body ached from it. 

He didn’t know what to say to you. He was your boyfriend, and he couldn’t wade through a muck to figure out what you needed. There were brief, pounding moments when he wanted to say something. But Spencer had said enough to you, and it hadn’t been kind. 

The night you returned from your case, the first one back on the job and a fucking doozy at that, things shifted. When you came through the door, Spencer was standing in the entryway, watching you take your coat and scarf and boots off. “Hi, honey,” you tried to hide your surprise, not wanting to scare him off. 

He could see it in your eyes. You wanted to ease him with a pleasantry — long day, bad case, glad to be home. But he knew that look too well. 

It was slow, the way he put his novel down on the back of the sofa, propped open and upside down, to approach you. He was hesitant, like you’d flinch or yell at him. When you didn’t, he reached for you like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to anymore. When you didn’t object, he wrapped his arms around you, and felt you shudder a breath against him before sinking into his hold. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, reaching into his throat and clawing the words out violently, not minding the burn of shame as he dug them out. “I’ve been such an awful boyfriend lately.”

You didn’t object, mostly out of the fear that if you spoke up it would edge him back into silence. 

“I don’t know how to let you help me,” he confessed, tasting the salt of his own tears- when had he started crying? “I don’t know how to help you I feel like my-” he hiccuped, “my life isn’t mine anymore and I… it hasn’t been for months.”

You’d clutched onto him the second he started talking, needing to keep him physically tied to you. 

“I never thought I’d get to see you again.” He sobbed into the top of your head. “It was, Jesus, it was awful in there, and every time something happened I… I didn’t want to have to bring it home to you. I had to disconnect from it so I didn’t carry it out, and I told myself it would only be temporary until I got to come home and then…” he took a deep, gasping, shuddering breath. The scent of you filled his lungs. “Then when I got out, I realised it wasn’t something I was just doing anymore, it was who I had become. And that’s not the version of me that you love- that you deserve.”

His nose was pressed to your hairline. Your throat was tight but you let him go. “Every single day in there I thought of you, every waking moment was spent missing you so much it hurt. I never wanted you to see that version of me.”

He pulled back just slightly, needing to see your eyes. They were shining. “I don’t know how to be the version of myself that you love.”

You shook your head, tears brimming. “You already are, Spence. All I ever wanted was you, I just want you to be okay. I love you.”

He was fully crying now, tears wetting the top of your head. “I’m worried that if you see me now… I don’t know how to make you want me again”

You reached up for his face, and he didn’t wince as your palms pressed to his cheeks. “Of course I want you. You don’t have to make me, I already do. I didn’t stop.”

He was the one who leaned in first, but you probably needed it more in that moment. It had been nearly four and a half months since Spencer Reid had kissed you, he knew you were well overdue for one. Your hands slid up the back of his neck to play with his hair, still long and unruly. He’d ask you to cut it for him eventually, he liked it better when you did it. He could feel your rib cage under one of his hands, your pulse beating in your jaw with the other. 

That night, you’d laid beside him, his index finger curling into yours. He knew you weren’t asleep yet, watching the rise and fall of your chest as you breathed. The night was so dark it felt like it almost swallowed it when he finally spoke up, voice whispered and hushed as if sharing a secret he couldn’t bear to acknowledge. “I love you, angel.” 

You squeezed his hand. 

[cringe--is--dead]

𝖀𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖞𝖆 𝕳𝖆𝖏𝖎𝖒𝖊 𝖝 𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗; 𝕬𝖗𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖉 𝕸𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖆𝖌𝖊 𝕻𝖙. 3

𝕻𝖆𝖗�� 𝕺𝖓𝖊

𝕻𝖆𝖗𝖙 𝕿𝖜𝖔

𝓐/𝓝: again, I go into writing these as blind as y'all reading them so I'm so sorry if this is rushed! >.< Also! It's been a hot second! So sorry! I had a bit of... a mental health crisis, got myself put under a bit of a 72-hour hold... but I'm here! And back! Kind of. I'm not super proud of this chapter, I'm so sorry!

It had been a few days since your arrival, since your official first meeting with the man who was to be your husband. Yet, though you assured him and Kotoha you were well rested now, that's all he remained. The man who would be your husband.

It was almost... frustrating to deal with. Your first meeting with your oldest brother's wife was at their wedding; she was beautiful, quiet in her white, lacey, dress. It was quick, you were scolded when you fidgeted in your dress, and your brother and his wife took off not long into the reception. The same thing happened when your second and third brother got married, and it wasn't until you turned thirteen you had learned what happened after a wedding such as those.

Your sister's wedding had been different, the man she had married was kind with both his words and his actions. He allowed your sister to mingle with her family, mainly you and your mother, before he introduced her to people he knew; those he did business with, his own family that had managed to show up and, looking back on it you realized now, a handful of his concubines.

Though she hadn't been taken to bed right then, the wedding was still a quick affair, and you were beginning to question why Umemiya was prolonging yours.

"You seem upset by something."

You thanked the years of etiquette practice that you didn't jump and drop your spoon, merely turning your gaze towards Kotoha who was sending an almost pitying look your way. You placed the spoon down, hands falling to your lap.

"I'm just thinking, I suppose."

Cherry meowed quietly, upset that Kotoha had stopped petting her. Your future sister-in-law continued to pamper her, studying your figure, "Is something the matter?"

"I'm just..." You bit your tongue.

You were allowed to speak freely here, so far. But you were worried that there was a line you'd accidently cross.

"Go on," Her voice was kind, reminding you, in a way, of your own mother.

"It's been about a week since I arrived here, and well," You twisted the fabric of your outfit in your hands, the clothe more comfortable to move around than the ones you grew up in, "There's been no discussion of when I shall be married to Umemiya officially. Have I... done something to offend him since arriving?"

You can only imagine how angry your father's letters will be once they begin arriving. At this rate, you had been gone for months, and he hadn't received one word of your wedding. You wouldn't be surprised if he appeared on one of his ships, demanding answers.

“No, you haven’t done anything,” Kotoha leaned towards you, gently placing her hand atop of yours, the warmth comforting, “I promise you. He’s just… working on finishing a few things.”

“And those things happen to be completed!” Umemiya’s voice was loud and boisterous, having the two of your startle where you were, turning to see him walking towards you, a large smile on his face.

“Kotoha, if I can borrow my fiancé for a moment?”

You felt your cheeks warm at the title given to you. Yes, you knew logically since you two were to be married you were his fiancé, but he said the word with so much warmth.

She looked from him to you, before nodding, telling you she’d find you later, and leaving you two alone. You weren't entirely sure what to say; he must have known you were growing rather antsy to wait, not that you would have disclosed that to his face.

If he was anything like the men you grew up with he would have exploded at you by now, reminding you that your opinions and your annoyance was of no importance to him, to know your place. Instead he smiled at you, and it was as warm and welcoming as it was the first time you ever saw him.

"I know you must hate waiting as long as you have been," He began, gently taking your hand in his and tugging you to follow him down the hall, leading you towards the entrance to the estate, "But I promise you, I think it will have been worth it."

You merely nodded, unsure of what it was he was planning. Maybe he had more business to attend to before becoming a married man? Granted, there was really only one type of business you could think of that would be affected direly due to his marital status, and though you may not know him all too well, you felt as if that wasn't within his character.

Outside the estate was an older woman, much shorter than you, accompanied by a man a few years older than you both. He was holding some type of clothe cover, allowing the older lady to gently fuss over whatever it held.

"Granny!" Umemiya paused, and you followed suit, nodding your head politely while he bowed towards her.

She turned, a serine smile on her face when she saw the pair of you, "Oh goodness! Umemiya-kun wasn't lying, you're quite beautiful young lady."

"Oh," You felt your heart skip a beat in your chest, cheeks ablaze as you thanked her, glancing towards your fiancé who didn't look ashamed at the statement.

"I know our traditions regarding weddings are rather different," He turned towards you quickly, and you felt a bit confused as to what the point he was going to make was, "So I had Kotoha and Tsubaki find different styles and ideas that were closest to Western wear that they could, and we commissioned this for you."

The lady began gently unwrapping the cloth her son, or grandson, was holding. Your knowledge of Japanese wedding kimonos was rather limited, but you knew immediately that the dress before you was not one. It was beautiful, to say the least.

It was far less showy than the dresses you had seen at all your siblings' weddings, but that was fine with you. The fabric appeared rather light, swaying in the gentle breezes that danced past. It wasn't too thick, no extra padding or extra fabric that would make your skin itch and crawl.

"It's beautiful," Was all you could muster to say, eyes wide as you stared at the dress-- at your wedding dress.

"I'm glad you like it, my dear," She quickly wrapped it back up, ushering her son to take it inside, "It was quite fun to make, I made sure the fabric was softer than the poor examples Tsubaki-chan brought me. The dresses your father sent with you were rather uncomfortable, I do hope you'll let me make more clothes for you in the future. Your children, too."

"C-Children?"

"Alright, granny!" Umemiya cut in, pointedly, but not unkindly, all while the older lady giggled rather mischievously, "We've got one more place to go to, thank you for the gown."

She waved you two off as he led you two out, hand on the small of your back as he ushered you out. The estate wasn't quite as large as the one you grew up in, but it was large none-the-less, and you two were quickly eloped in a comfortable silence. He had yet to move his hand from your back, and the touch was burning, in an unfamiliar way.

It was rather... nice.

"Thank you. For the gown. It really is beautiful."

He smiled, eyes crinkling as he chuckled, "It's your wedding as well, I wanted to incorporate some things from your culture as well."

"You didn't have to."

He shrugged in response, "But I wanted to."

He wanted to. For you. Your heart fluttered once more, your chest squeezing uncomfortably, and you quickly looked away from him, studying the cherry petals that danced in the afternoon breeze.

"I know that this marriage isn't something you had asked for," It was startling how quiet he had become, his voice lacking the boy like charm or the energy it had contained before.

"But I promise you I will do everything I can to be the best husband for you, I'll make sure your needs are always met, that you're never left unhappy or wanting." He had stopped walking at this point, and, in turn, you had stopped as well, facing him with wide eyes.

"You will have freedom here, to study and learn whatever your heart desires. You'll be able to help with decisions for the town if you so choose, your opinions and voice matter her," Your hands were in his, and you dropped your gaze to them.

They were much larger than yours, and you could feel the callouses on the palms of his hands. He worked hard, he held power over his town, but he worked with them as well as for them. You'd seen first hand these past few days how many people felt comfortable and safe coming to him with problems, requesting aid or help, and how quickly he was to ensure they received that help.

"I- I don't doubt it," Despite how certain he always seemed, you could hear the vulnerability in his voice, the desire to make sure you believed the words he was saying to you, "You... have been far kinder than most men in my life before now."

He nodded, and you glanced up, noting that, while that seemed to assure him, the sentence seemed to make him deflate a tiny bit. The melancholy look was quickly replaced, movement seeming to catch his attention. He nodded over to where he was looking, and after a moment of confusion, you looked over, curious as to what he was trying to show you.

"It's rather beautiful here," You felt your mouth open, a gasp much louder than intended falling from your lips, "Seems a rather nice place to settle down."

You were taking off down the pavement before you realized it, warm tears budding in your eyes as you ran. For how quickly you made your way to your destination, your sister had managed to drop the bag she had been holding, uncaring as it fell into the grass. You all but fell into her arms, sobs of-- what? Happiness? Sadness?

Whatever you were feeling, you were sobbing in your big sister's arms, her holding you as close as she had when you were a mere child. Her hands were combing through your hair, and you felt a few warm tears of her own fall onto your head.

"You look beautiful in your kimono, darling," You laughed, squeezing her tighter.

Some part of you was vaguely aware of Umemiya walking to join you all, greeting her husband, the pair of them allowing you two your moment as they directed where the bags should be sent to.

Finally, you pulled back, sure your face was blotchy and red in all the wrong places, "What are you doing here?"

Her hands cupped your cheeks, thumbing under your eyes as she rid you of the few tears still falling. She smiled, looking as radiant and beautiful as she always did to you.

"I'm here for your wedding, silly goose," She placed a gentle kiss on your forehead, "Your fiancé sent us letters as soon as you departed from father's, we would have been here sooner but we ran into a minor storm on the way here."

Before you could panic over that idea she shushed you, "It's all fine now. We just may have to stay a bit longer now," She winked, "Just to ensure our ship is in top shape."

"You all are welcome to stay as long as you please," Umemiya spoke, and you turned to him; he was smiling, a true smile, large and happy and warm and everything you were feeling in that moment, "We have enough room."

Your sister stepped back, thanking him, her husband moving to pick up her bag, smiling softly at you, "It's nice to see you again."

You nodded, rubbing at your nose, "You as well."

Umemiya shifted to stand a bit closer, "I hope the waiting seems worth it, I was hoping things could have worked out perfectly, but I'm not one who can control the weather. Nor do I understand making clothes, Tsubaki scolded me every time I went to check on your dress--"

You threw yourself towards him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders, having to stand on your tiptoes as you pulled him into a tight hug.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much." You felt as if you sounded borderline hysteric, but you couldn't bring yourself to care.

He wrapped his arms back around you, the weight on your waist oddly comforting, grounding.

"Anything for you," You pulled back after a moment, flat on your feet as you looked up to him, "I mean it."

A/N: part four will (should be) the wedding! and maybe more!

[shigaraki-housewife]

top megumi x bottm male reader pleasee you can throw ur own spin on it and you can choose the setting but please include overstim love ya

I am truly sorry that it took months to write this for you Anon. But I do hope that I did you justice after months of waiting. <3

Please Note that everyone is 18+

Megumi x M!Reader

Over stimulation, praising, mirror sex, dacryphilia and Oral.

The way Megumi hands roam all over your body, as his body pressed up against you on the dance floor. The music is loud and it smells like sweat as people brush against you both.

Turning around you wrap your arms around Megumi's neck as you grind against him. The way your guy's body moves as one, the way his hands are holding your waist close to him, leaving no room between you two. Leaning in close to your ear, Megumi whispered in your ear "Let's go home." Megumi's hot breath hit your ear making you shiver just a little. Nodding your head you grabbed your boyfriend's hand, leading him off the dance floor and to the exit.

Making it to Megumi's car, he opened the door for you to get in before shutting it and getting in the driver's side. During the drive home, you had a thought, unbuckling your seat belt you got in a comfortable position. Leaning over the seat holder, you made quick work with Megumi's belt and zipper. Megumi's hand gripped the stirring wheel tight as he knew what you were about to do.

Taking his cock out of his jeans you spit on his length before putting your mouth on his tip, hollowing your cheeks out, you slowly put more of his length in your mouth before going back up, leaving just the tip in your mouth. "Fuck." Megumi cursed under his breath as he feel you taking his whole length in your mouth before sucking.

Megumi took one of his hands off of the stirring wheel before weaving it in your hair. "You doing such an amazing job, sweetheart," he said breathlessly, making you bob your head faster wanting to please him more. humming around his cock, you pull your mouth all the off before licking his slit. Tasting his precum on your tongue, it took everything in you not to go back sucking his cock. Instead, you tuck him back in his pants before sitting back up and buckling back up.

"Why did you stop?" Your boyfriend asked breathlessly as he looked at you from the side. "Patient, That was just the per show." You winked.

****

Pulling into the driveway of your guy's place, both of yours quickly got out and made your way up the driveway as Megumi opened the door, particularly pulling you in the door before slamming the door closed and pushing you up against the door, you back hitting the door a little hard, but not caring as you were pulled into a heated kiss.

Breaking the kiss Megumi, started to bite and suck on your neck, pulling a moan from you. Dragging you to the bedroom, Megumi pulled both of y'all to your bedroom mirror. "Strip. Now" Megumi said as he started to remove his clothes. Standing next to the mirror, He patiently waited for you to finish removing the rest of your clothing. "Kneel." Doing as you are told, you kneel in front of him, your hands resting on your legs, as you wait for further instruction.

Megumi held his cock in one of his hands as he guide it to your mouth, quickly opening your mouth, you took the tip of his cock in his mouth as he slowly pushed his length into your warm hole.

Humming you took him all in your mouth as you started to bob your head at a steady pace. Letting out a small groan, Megumi Grabbed a fist full of hair as he looked down at you. The way your lips looked stretched around his cock, he don't think he can last long.

Pulling all the way out he helped you up off the floor, before, turning you around, so that you could face the mirror, lifting your hands you placed them against the sides of the mirror, as Megumi lined himself up being you before he slowly pushed in. Sighing you felt him bottom out before he pulled out beside the tip before pushing back in.

Megumi's hand held yours as he slammed inside of you at a fast pace, Looking down you gripped the mirror as Megumi kept hitting the soft spot inside of you "F-fuck, Megumi, Right there." You moaned out as your boyfriend picked up the pace, Letting go of one of your hands, he used his free hand to grab your neck just lightly so you could look at yourself in the mirror, Your eyes meeting his as your first orgasm washed over you.

Still not satisfied, Megumi, didn't let up the pace, as he continued to fuck you. "You feel so good, fuck." Megumi said as he leaned his head on your back and his hands found their way to your hips. "So good." You moaned out as you felt your second orgasm approaching you. You jolted as you felt Megumi's hand wrap around your length, as he moved his hand up and down at a fast but steady pace, as your second orgasm washed over you.

By your third orgasm, you started to feel tears in your eyes and you turned into a babbling mess not able to speak coherently. "One more time. Can you come one more time for me?" Megumi asked asked he slowed his pace down. Nodding your head you tried to speak. "Y-yes." You groan as you felt every vein and the curve of his cock inside of you.

"That's my good boy, you look so pretty when you cry," Megumi said as he grabbed your face and looked you in the eyes through the mirror. "Come for me," Megumi said as the knot in your stomach snapped and your came for the fourth time. You felt Megumi come inside of you as he fucked his cum into you making sure none of it will come out.

Pulling out Megumi kissed your shoulders, as he lightly rubbed your muscles. "Was I too rough?" he asked looking at you through the mirror, you leaned back against him and hummed in content, "No, you were perfect, like always." You said as you turned your head to kiss his cheek.

"Let's get clean up and go to sleep. Okay." Nodding you followed Megumi to the bathroom to clean up. After you both were cleaned and dressed, you made your way to the bed and lay down. "I love you." You said as you yawned cuddling up against Megumi who wrapped his arm around you "I love you too Y/N." He replied before kissing your head.

[ill-skillsgard]

will you write more for faust? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

A/N: Oh, heyyy! Here to make my once every year-or-two submission to the Faust girlies. I know you think I've moved on from this, and maybe I should have, but I still am and forever will be down bad for this boy and pairing.

I've had this idea stuck in my head for literal YEARS, y'all. I tried to write it a bunch of times but other things kept coming up. Now, I've finished it, and it comes complete with every emotion under the sun (and some good ol' smut, as is tradition!) This is approximately 6k words, and I'm quite confident any FxF fans who still exist will freak the fuck out reading this. So, I hope you enjoy it, and sorry for leaving you hanging since 2023. LOVE YOU <3

Warning: 18+ workplace harassment, violence, weapons, mentions of asphyxiation, loss of consciousness and blood, drinking, PiV smut, mature language and Faust going from being a problematic BF to a not so problematic BF? You be the judge. This story, along with everything I write, is strictly meant for adult consumption.

Summary: Faust isn't sure he can handle Faith's new lifestyle, but doesn't want to interfere with her choices as a grown woman. His influence hasn't exactly helped her before. He tries to come to terms with it all until Faith turns the tables and does something he never expected.

- Not based on Lords of Chaos. I use Faust!Valter’s likeness only as inspiration.

Read more Faust x Faith here [x]

"Jesus fucking Christ, Faith. You're wearing that to work?"

Faith ignored Faust's remark, and got into the passenger side of his car. He glared at her as the stereo screeched distorted black metal, but she kept smiling.

"I'm gonna be late, Faust. Can we go?"

"Dude, your whole ass is hanging out."

"Yeah, well, if my dad actually stops paying my tuition, I need to save up as much as I can. The sluttier I dress, the more tips I make."

"I told you I'd help," said Faust.

"We have to go!"

Faust sighed and reversed out of the driveway. He said nothing for several blocks, and Faith could tell he was displeased. His silence satisfied her like a new, destructive habit. She had developed a taste for pissing off the men in her life, and Faust was the newest test subject.

Faust pulled up in front of the restaurant where Faith worked and said nothing. Even when she said goodbye, he nodded and stared ahead. Like Faith, his habits were changing. He didn't want to exert control over her, and if he opened his mouth, an argument would ensue. Faith really had changed after all the months he spent abroad, a defiant streak finally breaking through the shell of her religious upbringing. Though he had many times encouraged her to do as she pleased, Faust wasn't sure if he liked this new version of her.

"Hey, I said I love you," Faith repeated.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Are you really that mad?"

"It's fine," he said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Say it back then."

"Love you," he muttered.

"Beetle," Faith sighed. "Say it like you mean it."

"Yeah, Faith! I love you. Love this new fucking wardrobe of yours. Love the idea of weird dudes staring at your tits and ass all night. Love that you're just doing whatever the fuck you want now. You're a free woman. Looks good on ya, kid."

Faith exited the vehicle and came around the side to lean over and in through the window. She kissed him on the cheek. His outburst did not dissuade her, and he glared ahead while she speckled him with more kisses.

"You're so cute when you're pouty."

"Mhmm. Thought you were gonna be late?"

"Will you pick me up at twelve tonight?"

"I dunno. I'll probably be busy."

"Doing what?"

Faust sighed and turned to her finally.

"Probably jacking off or something. I don't know."

Faith giggled. "Okay, handsome. Send pics. I'll see you at midnight!"

Faust took off after watching Faith turn and leave, the edge of her skirt riding up dangerously close to showing her panties, if she had even worn any. It was an outfit he would love to see her in for him, but not out in public. But Faust had vowed to himself not to intervene in her life too much. He hated feeling like a parent to her, like Stan. And he had only himself to blame for leaving Faith behind so she could move on and develop her rebellious side. Now she had a sharp attitude, a tattoo that taunted him, and all trace of innocence was shattered.

He hated to admit it, and would never confirm it aloud, but Faith had changed so much while he was gone. This new girl was far from the one he had fallen in love with. She looked the same and smelled the same, but something inside of her had wholly shifted. Based on how she had spoken to her father the day he came over to interrogate her about Hunter, Faust understood that he had come home to a woman who had taken the girl's place.

Despite the sour goodbye, Faust returned to the bar and grill later that night, parked and entered the establishment for a drink. Faith didn't notice him at first while she busied herself pouring beers from the taps and handing them to her patrons. Faust sat at a high table alone, and watched her until a woman approached him wearing a half apron and a smile.

"Welcome, hun. Can I get you started?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'll have a Guinness on tap."

"Of course, I'll get that right away. Need some more time with the menu?"

"No, just beer for me."

The server removed the menus from the table and left to fetch his drink and several others. Faust barely noticed when she returned and set the pint glass down. He was too busy staring at Faith and how she smiled at her forty-and-fifty-something-year-old patrons posted right in front of her at the bar. One man with a blue baseball cap and a white golf polo kept watching her and grinning. He knew the look. The man liked what he saw--a young, good-looking girl serving him. He and two others took up residence at the bar to watch a hockey match on the large screens bolted to the bar room walls. When they weren't talking loudly amongst themselves, they were shouting and cheering for the home team. Blue Hat paid more attention to Faith than he did the game, and Faust studied him from across the room.

It took a while for Faith to notice Faust, and when she did, she perked up and excused herself. As Faith came out from around the bar, so too did the man's eyes follow. All Faust could think about was what must have had running through the older man's mind; that Faith looked amazing in her tiny skirt and he wanted a piece of her. It tainted his mood, and where he would have felt a twinge of delight in her approaching him, there was a curdle of disdain.

"Thought you were too busy jerking it to come pick me up?" Faith said, smiling.

"I got bored, and you haven't sent me anything new to get me going. I've been stroking it to the same titty pictures for two years."

"I can fix that for you soon." Faith winked, and it broke his stern mask for a moment.

"Please do."

"You're early, by the way. I'm not done for another hour."

Faust nodded. "I felt like a drink."

"Why don't you come up to the bar?"

"Maybe. I don't want to get in the way of you making tips."

"Just pretend you don't know me," Faith said with a mischievous smile.

Faust sat back, spread his legs and smirked. "Would that turn you on?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Okay, then go back to your customers and pretend you're not actually addicted to my big fucking cock."

A crack of arousal stung in her groin and fizzed out through her bare legs. Faith had been so sure that she was over him when she started seeing Hunter, but that had been a farce. Faust's words had a way of snaking through her with a forked and flickering tongue. One well-timed comment could shake her core, reminding her that she was and might always be obsessed with him.

"Go on, baby doll. Make that money. I'm just another guy who wants to drink beer and have a good look at you."

Faith wanted to reach up and kiss him, but the prospect of playing strangers was a promising game of fun. She nodded and returned to her post behind the bar, much to the delight of the man with the blue hat. He had been dropping flirtatious lines on her all night, and now that Faust presided over her in his secretive way, each wink made her heart skip a worried beat.

Faust made his way to the bar at his own pace, just as Faith noticed her other patrons were getting bleary-eyed and too jolly. Their team had won, and the celebration called for Tequila shots, which Faith lined up on the rail. She looked over at Faust and he nodded for another Guinness. He ignored the raucous celebrations next to him, and sipped the dark beer as though he were the only one in the bar. Faith stole looks at him, always one to counter the energy, and admired his calm demeanor, though she knew he was anything but placid on the inside.

Blue Hat noticed Faust, and lubricated by alcohol, called over to him. "Damn, was your mom an Amazonian? You're the biggest motherfucker I've ever seen!"

Faust said nothing but raised his glass and nodded. It wasn't the first or last time someone remarked on his height, made even more noticeable by his black leather jacket, boots and long hair.

"Hey, sweetheart, get the giant over there a shot too," Blue Hat said.

"I'm good," said Faust.

"Oh come on! Bet you could house a twenty-sixer no problem. A shot, honey!"

Faith looked at him, worried and unsure. Faust shook his head again.

"I think that's a no," Faith said. "And I think it's about time to call it an evening, gentlemen. I'm closing soon, and you've had plenty."

"Don't tell me your cutting me off. You know, I've been coming here since probably before you were born. Which makes it even weirder that I find you so hot. You're my daughter's age."

Faith's cheeks burned and she could almost feel the way Faust boiled, too. He glared at Blue Hat, but the older man was too drunk to notice. He reached over the bar and touched Faith's arm.

"What are you doing after tonight, honey? Do you like pool? 'Cause I got a real nice pool table. I can teach you how to play."

"Oh, I know how to play," she said.

"Oh, you do? Well, how about you come over and teach me a thing or two, hm? We could have some fun."

Nobody else in the bar besides Faust paid any mind to Blue Hat. The music was loud, the spirits high from the home team win, and servers were clearing tables and collecting glasses. But Faust heard none of the commotion. An angry whistle rang in his ears as sweat pilled on his palms and back. He pressed his teeth together to keep from screaming or bashing Blue Hat's face into the bar rail. The game of strangers lost its novelty and Faith tossed him a begging stare not to intervene.

"Now, now, I think you've had enough," Faith laughed uneasily. "Don't say anything you'll regret."

"Okay, okay. But can I tell you something, beautiful?" Blue Hat leaned all the way over the bar. "You are so fucking gorgeous. I just wanna take you home."

Faith laughed it off again, then busied herself with the last orders of the night, turning from the bar patrons to punch totals into the tablet. All around them, the din of voices and clinking glass consumed, but Blue Hat had his drunken sights set on Faith. Faust watched him watching her, and pictured sending him through the window. He could not cause a scene at her place of employment, but he wished he could. And maybe a younger version of himself might, just as he had when he saw Hunter kissing Faith at the house party. He wondered if he had really changed all that much in less than a month.

"Hey! Hey, beautiful. Come back over here," Blue Hat called to her.

"Sorry, I can't. Just give me a minute," Faith said. She made the best of every distraction possible, but it only lasted so long before she had to close out the tabs from the men seated before her, including Blue Hat, who was eager to get her attention again.

"Come on, honey. Just one date?"

"I think you're gonna go home and sleep this off, okay?" Faith said. She was professional, and juggled her tasks well.

"Only if you come home with me!"

The familiar flames of rage erupted in Faust's head, the same ones that had consumed a life, and licked at the sky from the spires of Trinity Church. Faust broke, and stood up fast, sending the stool flying back with a screech.

"She said fuck off, asshole!"

Before Faith could react, Faust grabbed Blue Hat by the shirt and hauled him off the bar stool. The sudden commotion drew everyone's attention as Faust raised his fist. His knuckles hovered, ready to fly at any second.

"Faust!"

He barely heard Faith's voice, and everything melted away except for Blue Hat's rosacead face.

"I suggest you fucking beat it before I turn your face inside out, motherfucker."

Voices cut through, and two male staff pulled Blue Hat away from Faust as he kicked and screamed and lost his hat.

"Oh, yeah? Try me, punk! Do you know who I am? I'll kill you!" Blue Hat repeated his threats all the way out the door while Faith's manager Paula checked on her.

"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave, as well," said Paula calmly to Faust as he seethed, shoulders heaving with deep breaths.

"No, wait! Paula, he's my boyfriend. He was just trying to--please. It's okay."

"This is your boyfriend? But I thought..."

"It's a long story."

Paula conceded, but not before sizing up Faust with a loud and disapproving sigh. "Close it up, everyone. Let's clean up this shitshow.'

As the buzz died down, and the restaurant emptied, Faith came around and hugged Faust. She stifled a laugh and tugged on his labels.

"You are just a magnet for violence, Beetle. I can't take you anywhere."

"And you just let dudes talk to you like that all the time?"

"Not always. But that's kinda what happens when you're a girl. Sometimes you have to smile and take it."

Faust scoffed. "Absolutely not. You don't take that shit."

"Easy for you to say, Mister six-foot-four. It's different when you're a woman. Sometimes it's easier to smile and nod than to get stalked and assaulted."

"Okay, Jesus fuck, I'm getting you a knife."

"Don't be silly!"

"No, I'm serious. I keep one in my jacket at all times," said Faust.

"I know. Now, will you behave so I can close up? Then we can go home and have all kinds of filthy sex. My big scary protector." She traced circles on the center of his chest, and it did wonders to calm him. Faust smirked and kissed her.

"Filthy, hm? That's how you want it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Yeah, okay. You gonna be a good girl for me is that it?"

She stood on her tiptoes and whispered, "I don't want to think. I just want you to make me your little sex doll."

"Hm, well how could I refuse? Even though I know your pussy isn't used to me anymore."

"Make me used to it."

"Alright, bad girl. Do what you need to do," Faust pulled his cigarette pack out and shrugged off his jacket, hanging it on the back of a barstool. "I need to cool off a bit. I'm gonna go out for a smoke."

"I'll be like twenty minutes."

"Sounds good."

Faust stepped into the cool night air and breathed in deeply. It wasn't fresh like the air in Norway where he had spent a couple weeks touring with Grey Tomb, but it was better than the staleness of the restaurant. He lit his cigarette and looked up at the sky. Smog covered most of the stars, and he grew wistful for the brilliant views of the country that had welcomed him during his year touring abroad. He had missed Faith with all of his heart when he was in Europe, and though he had her back, his longing still hadn't evaporated. It settled on different lands where his talents were revered and not looked down upon. A new dream of taking Faith away from everything they knew of their small town pervaded his thoughts. He wondered if she would ever follow him that far.

It wasn't the right time to ask her, he decided. He was still trying to navigate Faith's new personality, to uncover what more about her had changed. For now, he would relish in the familiar comfort of having Faith back in his life.

Faust paced slowly back and forth in front of the restaurant, smoking until the urge to piss took him around the corner between the restaurant and a pet store that had closed hours prior. He stuck his cigarette between his lips, freeing his hands to unzip his pants to relieve himself from the beers he had drank inside. Faust spat the butt of his smoke into the puddle he made with a short hiss, satisfied as he tucked himself back into his pants. He turned on his heels, and met with a force that slammed his skull and spine into the brick wall. The air fled his lungs, vision clouding over like a billow of steam.

A pair of thick hands encircled his neck, and through the buzz, Faust saw his assailant eye to eye. The man with the blue hat, now without his effects. He was a few inches shorter than Faust, but his tattooed arms were formidable from years of laboring. Faust scratched at the fingers crushing his throat, but the man didn't flinch. Blue Hat dodged each attempt Faust made to kick or drive his knees up, too.

"Like that, ya sonofabitch? Not so tough now, are ya?"

Faust could not take the breath required to retort. Heat raged up from his neck and pounded in his cheeks. The blood vessels in his eyes screamed until they burst and blinded him over again. Blue Hat pressed his thumbs into Faust's trachea harder, intent on breaking something as his victim turned purple.

Faust pressed his teeth to his lips, producing a weak f-f-fff sound that died in his compressed throat. His lungs fought to inflate with each passing second, shuddered in his chest, on the brink of collapse. His temples throbbed, and soon his assailant's weathered face blurred.

I'm dead. I'm dying. It's finally caught up with me. Faith...

"I'm gonna leave you in a puddle of your own piss, fucker. How about that? Nobody fucks with me."

Please don't let me fucking die like this.

Another moment without oxygen passed and the thoughts in Faust's head died. The synapse in his brain crackled. All strength left his limbs and his legs went limp, dragging his weight down and scraping the bricks behind him. All he could see was the blurred image of a man's rage-stricken face, his bared teeth and wild eyes, growing blurrier and somehow distant from him. His heartbeat slowed, each thump louder yet spaced farther apart from the last. He was falling, everything turning black.

A terrible howl ripped through the alley and echoed off the brick, ringing off the nearby dumpster like a struck bell. The man let go of Faust's neck and flailed backwards as a sudden explosion of pain erupted in his upper back.

Faust sucked air into his pulsing lungs, throat like shredded, bloody meat. He tasted iron.

"Faust! Faust, get up," Faith yelled.

Her voice cut the haze like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. He still couldn't see, but flung his hand out to find her. Pain oozed into his skull, but Faith was there and she pulled him onto his knees.

"You gotta get up, Faust. Come on!"

"F-Faith--"

"Please, baby. Get up! Breathe! Breathe for me, please!"

Faust knew he had to do as she said, and struggled to a stand, his legs still wobbling from lack of oxygen. Pins and needles ripped through his extremities and Faith was not strong enough to support his weight for long. As the edges of his vision returned, Faust looked around the alley and saw Blue Hat lying face down with a knife--his knife--lodged in his left shoulder two inches from the neck. A red blossom of blood grew steadily on the back of his white polo. Faust looked at Faith, dwarfed in his leather jacket, wide-eyed, and snapped into urgency.

"Oh... oh, fuck," said Faust.

Faith pulled on his hand, and he took two uneasy steps, head screaming from the near asphyxiation. It took a minute to orient himself, and when he was certain he could move without falling, he took Faith by the hand, hunched down to pull the knife out of the man's back and stumbled away as fast as they could without looking back.

~*~

"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, Faust! This is... I... Oh my God! I killed him! I stabbed that guy and he's probably fucking dead!"

Faust struggled to get his boots off, still woozy from the strangulation, while Faith babbled and paced his apartment. He flopped onto the couch and closed his eyes to try to make the world stop spinning, but Faith's panic filled his ears and finally, he reached out to hush her.

"You didn't kill him."

"Yes, I did! Didn't you see all the blood? Faust, I killed him. I'm gonna go to jail. My life is over. They're gonna find me and then I'm done!"

"Quiet down! Please, Faith, just calm down. You didn't kill him with one tiny stab wound."

"What if I severed a main artery?" Faith said. "What if there are cops there already? They're gonna know it was me."

Faust grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her onto his lap to stifle her fresh bout of tears. He cradled her, pressed her face into his chest, and began to rock slowly. Every few seconds, Faust hushed her until her sobs turned to whimpers.

"You are not going to jail. He didn't see you, and if anything were to happen, they would come after me," Faust said.

"Oh, so can take the fall? No... I don't want that either."

"Listen to me, Faith... everything will be fine. He was a big dude. It takes more than that. Shit's not like how you see in movies. Plus it was defence."

Faith looked up at him with watery eyes. "Is this how you felt after...Sven?"

He flinched. "I thought I told you never to bring that up ever again."

"You're right. Sorry, I'm an idiot," Faith's voice shook.

"No, you're not. You saved my fucking life, babe. Hey, look, and listen to me... I could have died. That motherfucker was seconds away from killing me. Killing me, Faith. But you did what you had to do, and I'm so fucking proud of you."

He kissed her hard, tasting the salt of her tears and her half worn off lipstick. It was the sweetest taste in the world. Faust had spent months trying to remember her flavor while he was gone, but it had faded from his mind. With it fresh on his own lips, he never wanted to go a day without kissing her again.

"It doesn't matter what it felt like when I did what I did. Doesn't matter that we broke up and we both tried to forget each other. And I don't fucking care if I have to get a real job to support us both. I just want you, okay? Forever. You are mine."

Faith nodded as she clung to him. "I never loved him, Faust. Never. I swear. You're the only person in the world I care about. It was fake... I was just trying to convince myself that I moved on from you. I was such an idiot."

"Yeah, I know," a hint of a chuckle came through, and Faith snorted, too. The smile only lasted a second before she grew quiet and stared at him.

"I would kill for you, too, Faust. I'd do anything. I get it now... I understand what you did," Faith said.

"Shut the fuck up," Faust growled, and smothered her lips again so no words could escape. As much as he loved Faith, she pissed him off almost just as much. After a full day's worth of anger, and having almost met his match, Faust was in an unforgiving mood. He had lost all control of his life, and Faith was the last familiar thing to which he clung. Yet even she seemed like a stranger now.

"Get on your knees," he said between mashing their mouths together. Faith didn't hesitate. She pulled away and slid off his lap onto the floor, staring up at him and waiting for orders. He nodded slowly. "That's my good girl. And you're going to stay my good girl, aren't you? Take your top off."

While she stripped, so too did Faust remove his pants and kicked them out of the way. He pulled his shirt off next and let Faith take him in for as long as she needed before she whimpered and looked longingly for guidance. This is what he craved. Her big eyes pleading for him to instruct her, to teach her. He didn't want to think of her gaining new experience with another man, learning how to dress to get attention and forgetting about him, however temporary. He wanted his good church girl to corrupt himself.

Faust widened the space between his legs and smirked as Faith stared at his cock already erect enough to touch his navel. She bit her lip as her eyes got heavy.

"No matter how many times I see it, I still can't believe how big you are," said Faith.

"Oh yeah? Well guess what? Now you're gonna fucking gag on it. So get over here and open your mouth for me, princess."

She listened, and he purred, leaning over and grasping the back of her neck while he gathered all the saliva in his mouth and dripped it onto her tongue.

"Suck my big fucking cock like a good girl. Now. Like your life depends on it."

Soon he was wrapped in a warm, wet embrace. Faust swore he could feel the ripples of pleasure in his hands and feet, and she had only just started. He moaned and sank into the couch, spreading his arms and legs and tilting his pelvis up to give Faith the best angle. He looked down and cursed when he saw her mouth so full, felt her tongue bathing as much of his cock as she could manage. She pulled off and wrapped her hand around the base and kissed the head over and over until he growled and forced her head back down.

"I know you wanna make out with it, but I need to feel that throat right fucking now. Fuck's sake... After the night I've had. Mmm. After the shit you gave me all day," Faust pushed his hips up, giving his instructions between biting his lip. "That's it, baby. There you go. All the way down."

If this was her punishment, Faith thought, she could handle it. All she fantasized about was having Faust back, him making her do the vulgar sex acts he had taught her before, and new ones she had yet to discover. Hunter had been a good boyfriend, and sex with him was better than she expected, but it was nothing like how it was with Faust. With him, she felt brand new. Like her mind had been fresh until she flipped through the filthy pages of his depraved Kama Sutra, each chapter dirtying her even more. She wanted public sex like when he brought her to the boiler room, sweaty, unrelenting, hedonistic fucking like in the motel room when they had put on porn and tried to copy what they saw. Faith needed him to pick her up and make her feel small and stuff his cock into her no matter how much it hurt sometimes, and she wanted to convince him to keep going even though he knew it was painful. She wanted to see how much of his cock she could take in her mouth before she choked and made him moan from the sound of her struggle. Nothing felt as good as when his tough exterior melted away and left him panting and gripping for anything to hang onto.

"That's my good fucking girl. You like that nice big dick in your mouth, huh?" Faust groaned.

Faith moaned around him and he sank further into the sofa, eyes rolling. One moment, she was bobbing up and down on him, trying her best to keep her lips wrapped tight around him, and the next he pulled out and told her to stand up.

"Turn around right now, and bend over for me. That's right. Show me those fucking panties. Your short little slutty fucking skirt. You like it when men look at you, don't you?"

"Only you, baby--"

Smack!

"Don't fucking lie to me. I know you think you're some kind of bad girl now. Getting tattooed, working at a bar, wearing your slut fucking outfits. I bet it gets you off knowing all those guys go home and pump their dicks to the thought of you. You like getting hit on. You want them to think of you."

"Mmph, Faust..."

"But when you went home every night and played with yourself... Who did you think about, baby?"

"You. I always thought about you."

Faust slapped her ass again, purring, "that's fucking right. You thought about me. And guess what?"

"What?"

"I thought about you, too. Only you. I always jerked off to the memory of stuffing that pussy so full of cock. Mm-hmm, how you'd whimper and almost cry from it. I guess, even though I'm just one of the many guys who get off to you, I still have it made... 'cause I'm the only one you think about when you play with that pretty little pussy."

He stretched her panties over, and pulled her onto his lap. Without a moment to get used to him, Faust angled his hips just right and shoved himself into her until there was nowhere else to go. As a short-lived act of kindness, Faust started slow, one arm coiled around her chest, and the other making sure her panties didn't slip over and obstruct the insertion. Once her breathing leveled out, his thrusts picked up speed and force.

"Listen to me, yeah? Are you listening?" He whispered in her ear. She nodded frantically. "You're quitting that fucking job, but not before you go back to the bookstore and ask for your old position back. I don't want you going out with your whore friends drinking at fucking dive bars anymore either. You're finishing school with good grades. Do you fucking understand me?"

"Yes, Faust," Faith squeaked.

"Second... Mmm, my god, that pussy feels so good on my dick... You're getting that stupid tattoo covered up. I don't care what it is, just get rid of it. And you know what else? Fuck, can't believe I'm about to say this... But... Fuck... You're gonna be a good little girl for your dad. Get your fucking tuition paid for. Don't fuck this up by trying to be something you're not. You got that? You have the chance at a good fucking future--something I never had. You're not gonna waste it trying to prove you're some kind of bad-ass. 'Cause you're not."

"Okay, I will, Faust."

"Promise me."

"I promise!"

"Yeah, you're gonna be a good little Daddy's girl again."

"I will."

"That's right. You're gonna do good in school like you used to."

"Yes, baby."

Faust lifted her shirt to squeeze her breasts, his other hand toying with her clit as he thrust in harder.

"You're gonna have a good career. Make lots of money."

"Okay," she whimpered.

"And you're gonna fuck my cock forever. Because you belong to me."

"Yes, baby, I belong to you. I know, I know."

Just when Faith thought he might speed up, Faust pulled her closer, angling her face to his so they looked into each other's eyes.

"And I'm gonna fucking marry you... One of these days. And I'm gonna keep you so well-fucked and cumming on my dick every night. I promise."

"Mmm, oh my God, Faust. That's so fucking hot."

"Yeah?" He smothered her mouth with his, moaning as he pumped his groin up and up and up until Faith was shaking on top of him. "I wanna feel it now. I need you to cum all over my cock, baby. It's the only way I can cum too."

Faith lost words and communicated her agreement by murmuring and whimpering in time with his rapid thrusts, but she nodded, and Faust continued rubbing her clit exactly how he knew she liked it.

"Do it, baby. Cum for me. Cum for me right now. I wanna feel you get so tight and cum with my cock inside you."

The rhythm sustained, and Faith nodded, delirious, and let the warmth coupled with his perfect little strokes take over her mind. Faust kept whispering in her ear. He knew how much she loved his dirty talk and hearing him moan as he approached orgasm as well.

"You're gonna cum, baby, yeah. I'm gonna make this pussy cum for me. Aren't I? Yeah, just like that, hm? Keep playing with your clit while I fuck you. Mmm, feel that fat cock splitting it while I hit that fucking G-spot over and over and over, baby. That's my good girl, Faith. Yes. Cum for me. Be a good girl and cum on me."

"I'm... I'm gonna..."

"Yes, baby, you're right there. Oh, fuck, I feel it--"

"Keep going! Oh my god, please don't stop."

"Nooo, no, no, I'm not gonna stop, princess. Not until I feel that pussy spasming all around me. Mm-hmm. Be my good girl and give me what I want."

Faust kissed her again and mixed their moans, thrusting and rubbing and cursing until Faith's breath finally hitched and she made a pained expression and gasped. He felt her entire body tighten, and an immense wetness that followed immediately. He opened his eyes and saw more liquid than he anticipated, yet all of his own fluid had shot out inside of her. The realization made him leer with satisfaction.

"Awww, did my good girl squirt all over? Fuck, baby, that is so fucking sexy. Let me just... Mmm, fuck. Pump you so full of cum," Faust shivered. "Christ! Oh, fuck... I'm still... shooting it. Fuck. There you go, princess. Nice, big load of cum for your sweet, wet little pussy."

"I don't think..." Faith paused to catch her breath. "I have ever cum that hard. Ever."

"Oh yeah? Sex hits way different after you've murdered someone."

"Faust!"

He chuckled and soon was biting his lip again as he pulsed inside of her. "You're still taking your birth control every day, right? Because I just unloaded a whole fucking population of babies inside you."

"Yes, silly. I've never gone off it."

"Mmkay, good. I, uh, think I got another one in me, to be honest."

"You can't be serious?"

"Oh, I'm fucking serious. Daddy got real backed up while he was away."

"Ew! Don't say that!" Faith said.

"What? You don't like it? You don't want Daddy to keep fucking you?"

Faith pressed her palm over his mouth. "That is so wrong."

He stuck out his tongue and she snatched her hand away. "I thought girls liked that Daddy shit?"

"Well, not me!"

"Yeah, guess you got a good relationship with your dad. Probably a good thing."

"You're a nasty boy," Faith giggled. "But... I like it."

"You fuckin' love it.

Faith kissed him, and soon, he was stirring his hips again, still inside her.

"I was serious about another one, though, baby. Can we, uh, take this one to the bedroom?"

"Yes, sir," Faith replied.

He purred low in his throat. "Now that I can get behind. Sir? Fuck. Get in that fucking bedroom, young lady."

[runawaydr3amerao3]

🎙️ Idling In the Impala and the One-Night Stands 🧍🧍‍♀️🧍‍♂️

By which I mean the gang at the @idlingintheimpalapodcast did an episode ranking their favourite one-off characters! Get it? One-night stands...

(Jokes are funnier when you have to explain them, right? That's how that works? Okay, cool, thought so.)

(Yeesh, tough crowd.)

Listen: ❤️ YouTube 💚 Spotify

And, of course, the episode chapters are on the Tumblr post if you want to see what's going down in the episode and where:

Sooo. You know what I'm going to ask. Who's your fave one-off? I don't think I can answer this question fairly, since I haven't finished the series. 🤔 If I had to answer it up to now, though...Jesse and Cesar from 11x19 The Chitters (they count as one, okay!)? The cat from 8x08 Hunter Heroici (I'm a cat person, sorry not sorry)? Sarge from 13x06 Tombstone (BAMF 👏)? Umm... Nope. Can't pick one.

Okay, I get why K&S do ranking and don't just pick faves now...

Hey, by the way! If you missed it, IITI launched their stunning 🏳️‍🌈PRIDING IN THE IMPALA🏳️‍🌈 merch line last month, featuring incredible artwork by the one and only @quickreaver! 🙌😍 By making a purchase, you can support a charity doing vital work for LGBTQIA+ young people, as well as contributing to the ongoing costs of the podcast! Check out my post about it for more deets (sorry, too many off-site links are a bugger on visibility. 🙏):

Oh, and don't forget that likes, comments, and subscriptions on YouTube and Spotify are super helpful for the podcast in battling the algorithms, too. They also support Kasey @sam-is-my-safe-word and Sandra @talltalesandbedtimestories to continue bringing us this excellent content, and content creators keep the fandom turning, so let's show them all the love we can! 🫶🥰

[winterbean177]

Zarck Fic WIP taster <3

Hi y'all! Small update for my fic which will eventually be put up on AO3...

I'm almost finished with the plot outline!

And I've started writing the actual thing... Here's the first couple paragraphs as a taster:

Prologue (status: incomplete)

The Commander was sick of waiting and watching in silence. 

Waiting on a solitary distant planet for upwards of five entire years, devoid of any other kind of social contact, had started to take its toll. Zarck had to give them at least a little bit of credit, as it took them years for that distress beacon to be activated, spewing out their signal to anyone who would listen and come to their aid. It definitely outlasted his prediction that his wayward team would barely last a year by themselves without getting killed, or even worse, tainting the Pupa’s evolution so severely that their mission would culminate in utter failure.

But he certainly hadn't expected the team to last that long. Yes, under the right care and proper attention, the Pupa should have only needed a year or two to mature and see the terraforming cycle to completion, but seeing as they hadn't wrecked it up in maybe six years he couldn't help but be intrigued by their pure dumb luck. That Korvo he had left "in charge" was truly never meant to be leader, Zarck often mused to pass the time, and if anything this utter failure even after so many years of denial (for surely it hadn't taken them all that time for the mission to fall apart, those stubborn, pigheaded adults must have put off sounding the alarm for a while), proved that Zarck had been exactly where he needed to be: in control.

The first two years of waiting had been his most difficult. He had waited, at first eagerly, to detect that distress beacon within the first six months, knowing very well the group did not have the skillset to take care of the Pupa without him-  he hated being put with the most clumsy, naive set of Shlorpians on the homeworld to work alongside, but there was no fighting those who had made the decision to pair the team in such a way. After the first few years, counted with pebbles, sticks and scratch marks littered all over his tiny escape pod, he had begun to assume the team had already perished, none of them around to even sound the alarm, but he paid those dark possibilities no heed. After all, it was merely a What-If situation. No matter what, with the right quantum entanglement technology, this make-believe reality would cease to exist upon the press of a button, and everything would be restored to how it was supposed to be. No questions. No arguments.

Korvo’s reckless stupidity would prove his inability to be team leader, and he would surrender the position instantly back to Zarck as soon as he realised it was not all that easy as it was made out to be by their Commander.

Oh, how he longed to see the look on that idiot's face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you liked it! Please feel free to interact with this post to show your support <3 I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas and even any questions!

And as always, I hope you have a good day/night depending what time you're reading this at!

-WinterB

[loomiseater]

Fifty Shades

Hey everyone! This is a look at the first chapter of my new Christian Grey book! I just started writing yesterday so I'm only on chapter 3. I'll upload the book whenever I fully finish writing it. I plan on doing 3 books just like the films. I'll upload it daily to my Wattpad and Tumblr whenever I finish writing. ALSO! This is a Christian Grey x Black!fem!reader, but you can still ofc read this book if you're not Black. I've never seen any Christian Grey BWWM fics so I decided to write my own. I really hope you all enjoy this! Lmk what y'all think!!

🩶Y/n's Pov🩶

It was around 7:00 AM when I woke up. I was supposed to be job hunting since I recently dropped out of college, and since then, my parents stopped giving me money. I dropped out because I want to do something I love in life, which is acting of course. But I need to be realistic, I need a stable income since my parents weren't providing for me anymore, and I need the money for acting classes.

My parents weren't rich or anything, but their income was stable and they were well off. I'm the fourth kid out of five siblings. My oldest brother, Ryan, is 30 years old; he's in the Navy, currently on duty. I miss him, I haven't seen him for six months. My big sister, Nyla, is 28 years old. We're not on speaking terms right now. We haven't spoken in two months, two months ago I found out her husband was abusing her.

I confronted her about it and tried to offer her help but she didn't want it. You can't help someone who doesn't want help, and ever since, she hasn't spoken to me, I've tried reaching out but she just ignores me. Theres only so much I can do.

My other brother, Miles, 26 years old, is a firefighter. He's not around that much, not because of any drama or anything, but because being a first responder takes up a lot of your time. Then next of course is me. 19 years old and now a college drop out. After me is my baby sister, Aniyah, who's fourteen years old. She just started her freshman year of high school.

I totally forgot I was supposed to be taking a break from job hunting today, my best friend Aaliyah is currently sick so I'm supposed to be interviewing some man for her. Aaliyah works for our local journalists company. And I'm currently sharing a two bedroom apartment with her until I can afford to live on my own.

I stared at the wall for a couple of minutes until I finally got up and started my day. I brushed my teeth, then got in the shower and washed my face while I was in there, it's more convenient. I got out and dried myself off, now putting on some coconut oil, then going in with some vanilla lotion.

I wanted to go with a professional look today so whoever I was interviewing would take me seriously. Aaliyah would not tell me who the man was, she says I'll gasp when I see him though. I highly doubt it.

I decided to go with some basic colors for my outfit since this is a business setting. I may be a broke bitch right now, but my outfits are still gonna eat. I placed in some earrings, sprayed some perfume, and walked into the living room.

Aaliyah was sitting on the couch with some Ginger Ale and Saltine crackers.

"You feeling any better?" I asked as she threw her head back. "No! My stomach is killing me!" She groaned. "Aww, I'm sorry, babes." I frowned at her current mood. She's been like this for the past 2 days.

"Hey, take my car today." She offered but I kindly rejected. "Take it! I'm not gonna tell you again!" She stated. She sounds just like my mom. "Okay! I'll take it." I said as I took her keys off the table. I was at the door about to open it until she spoke up again. "Do you remember where to go, Y/n?" She asked as I rolled my eyes. "It's the 21st century, Aaliyah, I have a gps." I smartly said as she threw a cracker at me.

She missed as I laughed at her and headed out the door.

I pulled up to a building called "Grey House" it had a sleek modern design and was really tall. It looks expensive. I checked in with the woman at the front desk. I had to look at the paper that Aaliyah handed me for the name of the man I was interviewing. "Um- I'm supposed to be interviewing Christian Grey." I said as I looked at the name again making sure that it was right.

She smiled and kindly told me the room number and floor. When I made it to floor twenty, I was greeted by two women who offered to take my purse and was bringing me to Mr. Grey's office. I followed the blonde women down the hallway as I admired the look inside. The floor was white marble, their were glass doors and windows everywhere, along with paintings.

"Right this way." The blonde announced as we stood in front of two double doors. The doors were wide and long with two cylinder handles. I haven't even met this man yet but I for some reason feel nervous all ready. I opened the door, not even noticing the extra step. In result I tripped into the room. "Ounch!"

I fell on my wrists. As I looked up, I saw a man turned around looking out into the window with a gray suit on. His office was massive. I was still on the floor as he turned around and started walking towards me. "Ms. Robins." He stated. I guess he thought I was Aaliyah.

His long legs strutted over to me, he looks so powerful, and rich. "Are you alright?" His questioned with a look of concern as he helped me up. I nodded my head before shook my hand. I finally got a good look at him and thats when I realized who he was. I held in my gasp but my eyes widened. He was that billionaire. He's one of the richest men on earth.

I guess he took notice to my widened eyes. He chuckled a bit before greeting me. "Christian Grey."

"Y/n Walker." I greeted back.

I couldn't read his face, it was like a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Um, Ms. Robins has the flu, so she asked me to fill in." I say as I realize he was probably wondering who I was since I'm not Aaliyah. "So I see." He started off. "So, you're studying journalism as well?" He finished as I shook my head no.

"No- I-um recently dropped out of college." My voice was hesitant, to be honest I was kinda embarrassed. I quickly changed the subject back to Aaliyah. "I'm Aaliyah's friend, she's sick right now so I'll be taking over the interview."

Mr. Grey looked passed me and nodded his head before walking back to his desk. "As I said, I only have ten minutes." That was kind of rude. I rolled my eyes, thinking he didn't notice but he did. He tilted his head, amused at the fact that I would even do that.

I hurried and sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. I began to look down at the journal, reading through some of the notes. I mentally picked one of the questions and turned on my recorder. I looked up and Mr. Grey had this cold look, he looked annoyed almost, like he didn't wanna be here. It was making me feel nervous and a bit self conscious.

It was silent for a bit until he stood up and walked over to me, handing me a pencil that had his name on it for some reason. He sighed before resting on the front of his desk. "Ready?" I asked with smile. "Whenever you are." He replied. I smiled again before looking down at the notebook.

"Um-okay. So this is for the special graduation issue on the student newspaper." I explained. "Yes, I'm giving the commencement address at this year's ceremony." He answered. I was actually surprised, this is a man who usually keeps to himself. "You are?" I asked just to make sure I heard right.

He looked liked he was offended by my question so I quickly back tracked. I was trying to look for words to say but I couldn't really think of any. "I mean, um..I know." I softly said. I then looked back down at my paper seeing what else I can ask him. The room was filled with awkward silence until I spoke up.

"You are very young to have amassed such an empire. To what do you owe-" before I could even finish reading the question, he cut me off. "-To what do I owe my success?" He said with an attitude. I looked back down at the paper before answering "Yep.." I awkwardly said.

"Seriously?" He scoffed.

"Yes.." I frowned. "Business is about people." He started off as he walked back to the other side of his desk. "And I've always been good at people. What motivates them, what incentivizes them, what inspires them." He finished. I gave him an apologetic look before speaking up. "No offense, sir, but maybe you're just lucky." I stated. "Excuse me?" I'm assuming no one has ever spoken to him like that.

For some reason he had a smile on his face. "I've always found that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." He said. He stared at me for a bit before he started talking again. "The key to my success has been in identifying talented individuals and harnessing their efforts."

"So you're a control freak." I mumbled lowly just enough for me to hear but apparently he heard it too. "Oh, I exercise control in all things, Ms. Walker." He smirked. I softly laughed at statement before looking back down at my paper. His smirk turned me on, my whole body started feeling hot.

"Do you have any interests outside of work?" I read. "I enjoy various physical pursuits." He said with that same exact smirk again. I licked my lips before looking back down at the paper. I wasn't even paying that much attention to the words, more so just saying them out loud.

"You're unmarried-oh, you were adopted at age four!" I said with shock. I was starting to become more interested.

"Thats a matter of public records." He coldly said. I immediately put my head down not wanting to be in his view, but he ended up sitting down next to me in the other chair. He tilted my chin up with his finger as he looked into my eyes. His icy blue eyes were so beautiful, just like the ocean.

"Why don't you ask me something that you want to know?" He asked before taking his hand away from my chin. My breathing was shallow from his touch, his fingers were smooth, yet rough. I cleared my throat before answering. "Earlier, you said that there are some people who know you well..but I get the feeling that, that's not true?" I sincerely asked.

The room went silent, he was thinking about what to say, no one has ever asked him that deep of a question. Most interviewers just ask him stuff like "How does it feel to be one of the richest men alive", "When are you getting married?", or "How much do you spend in a day?"

Before he could answer my question, the blonde from earlier poked into the room. "Mr. Grey, your next meeting is in the conference room." She announced. "Cancel, please. Me and Y/n are not finished here." He says, not even looking at her, his attention was fully focused on me. My heart started beating faster, that was all the questions I have for him. "Yes sir." The blonde responded.

"Oh- sir, thats all the que-" "I would like to know more about you." He stated. His eyes were filed with curiosity, waiting for me to answer. "There's really not much to know about me." I shyly said. And I was right. I'm only nineteen, I haven't really even been through life yet.

"You said you were a college drop out?" Even though he's correct, I did say that and it did happen, it still felt like a stab to the chest anytime someone says it out loud. "Yes." I pressed my lips together to stop myself from frowning. "Why?" He asked. I lifted my head back up at him to see his head tilted, waiting for me to answer. "What do you mean?"

"Why did you drop out? Money problems? You're parents?" He questioned. "I want to be an actress. It's my dream." I smiled. "What made you fall in love with film?" He asked as he leaned closer into me. I was starting to get nervous from how close he is but I nonetheless answered his question.

"When I was a little girl, my dad would take me to almost every new movie that came out." I started off, thinking about all those soft memories. "Film is something we bonded over, then middle school I joined drama, but I haven't done anything theater wise since senior year of high school." I smiled.

He look intrigued by my answer. "How old are you, Y/n?" He asked as he squinted his eyes. "I'm nineteen, sir. You?" He seemed surprised by my answer. "Why that face?" I asked as he shook his head. "Nothing, you just look really young." He answered. "Thank you?" I didn't know if it was a compliment or not. "You didn't my first question, how old are you, Mr. Grey?" I asked again. "Twenty-seven" he stated. I squeezed my legs, older men are just so much hotter for some reason. I guess he saw my legs squeeze together, he stared at my thighs for a while before speaking up.

"If you're looking to make some extra money, I have a personal assistant job opening." He offered. I softly laughed before speaking up. "I don't think I would be the right person for that job." "I think you'd be perfect for it." He said back as he rubbed my thigh some. I was officially turned on now. I stood up before things could go any further.

"Um- Thats all the questions I have for you." I said as I was now walking out the door. The blonde woman from earlier handed me my purse back as I thanked her. "I hope you got everything you needed." Mr. Grey said as we were now by the elevator. "I did. Thank you, Mr. Grey." I thanked as he shook his head. "Christian." I smiled and pressed the button for the elevator as he tuned me around by my waist.

"In case you rethink about the personal assistant position." He said before he handed me his business card. I took the card from him and thanked him whilst walking into the elevator.

"Goodbye, Christian."

"Goodbye, Y/n."

[3lkin]

Hey y'all. 2024's almost done, ain't that somethin. what a wild year.

(sappy stuff under the cut)

So. Here we are. December 24th, wowza.

Honestly, Imma just start out by saying thank you. Thank you to all the people who followed, or liked my work or reblogged, or even just saw it in passing and kept on scrolling. Thank you to anyone who saw any of my friend's work, or even just existed in the mcyt community. Y’all are my inspirations, and I don’t think I would be where I’m at right now without the incredible support I’ve gotten this past year, especially from my friends over on the Desert Life SMP <3

I wasn’t really sure if I actually wanted to post this over here originally. The art I tend to post are the pieces I’m the most proud of. I don’t like posting sketches or unfinished pieces because they feel messy, or like I didn’t try hard enough. But I also think it’s a valuable thing to show progress, and show where you came from as an artist, as short a timeline as 1 year might be.

Funnily enough, when 2024 first hit, I was the least involved in the mcyt community that I’d been since 2020. I hadn’t really watched Secret Life, I was sort of scooting away from the QSMP, and I was barely paying attention to Hermitcraft (dark times, I know). So what was I up to early 2024 in my art journey? Well, I was finishing up my first Outerwilds animatic (which, as of yesterday, just crossed 4k views WHAT THE FU-). It’s strange, because I remember when working on it, I made the choice not to show the main, player, characters face til the very end, which one may classify as stylistic, but nonono, I just really hated drawing humanoids lmao.

When I finally put that animatic to bed, I wanted to pick up a new project, and for some weird reason, even though I wasn’t really even paying attention to the mcyt community at that time, I drafted up a Life Series Winners animatic. And that’s basically the only thing I worked on, February, March, and April. Looking back on all that now, I’m still really proud of what I set out to make. At the time, I know how happy I was with that style, and how excited I’d been when I first figured out how to tween and started attempting a bit of animation. That animatic got me a place on my first MAP, where I met so many wonderful people, many of which are such large parts of my life now. And after that, the year just took off.

throughout June and July, I participated in Art Fight for the first time, and was exposed to so many incredible artists. I went back to using line art, relearned how to shade and utilize color. August hit, and I was convinced to jump on Tumblr. Was that a good decision? Um. Well it certainly fueled the Desert Duo brainrot I’ll tell ya that. In all truth tho, having the ability to show my work to the wider community was something I didn’t really have up until that point, and seeing how excited people were about Wild Life or other mcyt goings-ons was such a cool experience.

If someone walked up to January 2024 Elkin, and showed her the last three months of work I’ve done, I don’t think in her wildest dreams they would ever think it was them who was going to make it. I’m honestly so proud of where I’m at with my art right now, and how far I’ve come over just this past year. Whether it’s through colors, anatomy, composition, effects, I’ve learned so much from so many wonderful people, and I can’t thank them enough for being such large inspirations.

Damn this got long fast lmao, was meant to be only a couple paragraphs :/ If for some reason you’ve made it all the way down this post, thank you to you as well, for taking the time to be here and read this absolutely blabber. Hope all y’all have a wonderful holiday season, and a happy New Year. Here’s to 2025 :)

[mcrdvcks]

Down Bad - Chapter 24

Chapter Summary: Amina's body set's itself back on track, which gives Amellia the chance to give Amina surgery. While helping Omega for a school project, Amina and Hunter come across a rare flower.

Word Count: 13.1k+

Pairing: Hunter x fem!Jedi Original Character

Notes: hi again!!

i totally forgot when i was going to post this yesterday that it had a looong smut scene (all hail the mighty sex pollen trope!), so i wanted to review and edit it before posting it. please be kind, because it's my first time doing a sex pollen scene

so, if anyone has any requests they'd like to see for hunter, amina, or anyone else in the story, don't be afraid to comment! i'd love to hear y'all's ideas!

TW: periods, cramping, mention of blood, surgery, sex pollen, overstimulation, unprotected piv, mulitple orgasms

(also can we talk about this gif!?)

Series Masterlist - Chapter 23 → Chapter 25

AO3 Link For Chapter

Amina groaned, feeling the stabbing, pulsating pain in her lower body. She wanted nothing more than to stay in this uncomfortable bed on the starship, because getting up meant she’d have to deal with a whole other world of problems.

She curled up in bed, bringing her knees to her chest. A few moments later, her comm started dinging, so using the Force she brought it to her.

Anakin popped up in the hologram, “hey, Lucky. Just thought I would check in.”

“Hey.” Amina rasped.

She watched as Anakin furrowed his brows before speaking again, “it’s back? The Red Wave?”

Amina let out a small chuckle before wincing in pain, “it’s supposed to happen every month, you know. But I get lucky enough for it to happen so randomly it could happen every 4 months, or every 2 weeks.”

He kept his expression before looking around whatever room he was in, “I could come and help you. I’m sure Obi-Wan and our battalions can handle it.”

“Ani, you can’t keep leaving whatever mission you are doing just to help me.”

His eyes flashed with frustration before he masked it with a more controlled demeanor. “The Council isn’t going to let you have a day off. This is the best we can do. Ahsoka can come along with me.”

Amina sighed before giving in. She was in a lot of pain, and it would be a while before she would even stand up to go to the bathroom. “Okay. Fine.”

Anakin’s relief was visible, and he gave her a small smile. “We’ll be there soon. Just hang in there, Lucky.”

The hologram flickered off, and Amina let out a long breath. She hated feeling this way, so helpless and dependent on others. But Anakin always seemed to know when she needed him, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

---

Amina walked into the kitchen pouring herself a cup of caf as she leaned against the counter. Her stomach was hurting, and she felt like bantha fodder.

Hunter was out at work helping Shep, and Omega was at school. Amina grabbed three fruit pastries and sat on the couch.

Amina took a bite of one of the pastries, the sweet tang of fruit filling her mouth as she chewed. She glanced around the room, the familiar sights and sounds of their home offering a small measure of comfort in the midst of her physical turmoil.

After she finished eating the pastries and her caf, she quickly went to the bathroom coming across a harrowing discovery. Blood.

At first, she thought she was dying, but that thought lasted only a half a second. She had been on hormone therapy for 3 months now, been through the mood swings, lost appetite, and nausea.

But now, she entered her least favorite part of womanhood once again after over 2 years. She put on an absorption pad and washed her hands.

As she sank onto the couch, Amina couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. She picked up one of the datapads lying on the coffee table, trying to distract herself from her racing thoughts.

But no matter how hard she tried to focus on the datapad, her mind kept wandering back to the pool of blood in the bathroom. She felt a knot forming in her stomach as she thought about what it could mean for her and Hunter's dreams of starting a family.

She wanted a baby, but a small part of her couldn’t help but feel scared for how Hunter would react. Would he act like the Council and be angry at her pain? Or would he be more like Anakin and actually care about her pain?

Amina knew it would be the latter, but a small part of her wouldn’t let her believe it.

Just then, the front door opened, and Hunter stepped inside with Omega, his expression tired but warm as he caught sight of Amina on the couch. "Hey, sweetheart," he greeted, crossing the room to wrap her in a gentle hug. "How was your day?"

“I’m gonna kill myself.” She mumbled into the pillow.

Amina's words hung heavy in the air, her voice muffled by the pillow pressed against her face. Hunter's heart clenched at the sight of his wife in distress, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow as he knelt down beside her.

"What's wrong, Amina?" Hunter's voice was soft, filled with worry as he reached out to gently brush her hair away from her face.

“The Red Wave.” She said, lifting her head from the pillow, “that’s what Anakin called it at least.”

Omega’s eyes widened in understanding as she nodded while Hunter looked from Amina to Omega.

Hunter's brow furrowed in concern as he took in the scene before him. He could see the distress etched on Amina's face, the lines of worry deepening with each passing moment. Without hesitation, he moved closer to her, kneeling down beside the couch to offer his support.

"What's the Red Wave?" Hunter asked, his voice gentle yet filled with urgency. He reached out to gently place a comforting hand on Amina's shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring.

Omega sighed, “maybe Amellia needs to give you a lesson too.” She told Hunter.

"Amina," Hunter began, his voice gentle yet filled with urgency, "what's going on? What's the Red Wave?"

Amina took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she struggled to find the right words to explain. She glanced at Omega, silently pleading for her support as she prepared to share something deeply personal with Hunter.

"The Red Wave," Amina started, her voice soft yet tinged with sadness, "it's what Anakin used to call it. It's... it's my period."

Hunter's brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to process Amina's words. "Your period?" he repeated. “But… that’s good, isn’t it? The hormone treatment is working.”

Amina wanted to slap him, “no, I hate my period.”

Omega hummed in agreement, “I can get you a heating pad and some muja fruit.”

“No, not muja fruit. Haroun bread.” Amina said.

As Amina reclined on the couch, her discomfort palpable, Hunter's concern deepened. He couldn't fathom why his wife, whom he loved dearly, would despise something that indicated her health was improving. But he also knew better than to push her too hard. Instead, he opted for a more supportive approach.

"Alright, no muja fruit," Hunter conceded, his voice soft and understanding. "Haroun bread it is. Omega, could you fetch some for Amina?"

Omega nodded eagerly, her youthful energy propelling her off the couch and into the kitchen in a flash. She returned moments later with a warm loaf of Haroun bread, some pain killers, and a glass of water.

"Here you go, Amina," Omega said, offering her the bread with a gentle smile. "I hope this helps."

“Thank you, honey.” Amina replied, eating a piece of the bread before taking the painkillers.

As Amina sat on the couch, nibbling on a piece of Haroun bread and taking the painkillers Omega had brought her, Hunter couldn't shake the feeling of concern gnawing at him. He watched his wife closely, his heart heavy with worry as he saw the discomfort etched on her face.

"Feeling any better, sweetheart?" Hunter asked, his voice soft with concern as he reached out to gently squeeze Amina's hand.

Amina managed a weak smile, her eyes flickering with gratitude as she met Hunter's gaze. "A little," she admitted, her voice soft and tired.

“Are you in a lot of pain? Is that normal?” he asked worriedly.

“Yeah.” Amina stated.

Hunter thought she was going to continue but she didn’t. “Is there something else?”

Amina turned her head away from him, “it’s stupid.” She murmured.

"It's not stupid, Amina," Hunter said softly, his voice filled with reassurance as he reached out to gently cup her cheek, urging her to look at him. "Whatever it is, you can tell me. I'm here for you, always."

Amina's heart ached at the warmth and sincerity in Hunter's voice, the love and concern evident in his eyes. She knew she could trust him with anything, yet the fear of burdening him with her troubles still lingered in the back of her mind.

"It's just..." Amina began, her voice trailing off as she struggled to find the right words to convey her thoughts. "I don’t like having my period because it reminds me of before the war and during it.” She looked over at him as he nodded at her to continue.

“I always had painful periods, and before the war it was fine. Me and my Master would just stay on Coruscant and meditate. But when the war started it was hard for me during that time of the month. I was in pain and Anakin would come up with excuses on my he needed me to work with him on missions just so I could rest for a day instead of being yelled at by the Council.”

Amina looked down, “I guess… a part of me thought you would be mad at me too.” She whispered.

As Amina whispered her fears to Hunter, his heart ached with empathy. He reached out, gently brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek, his touch tender and reassuring.

"Amina, sweetheart," Hunter began, his voice soft and comforting. "I could never be mad at you for something like this. It’s a normal part of your life.”

Amina's eyes flickered with relief at Hunter's words, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She leaned into his touch, her heart swelling with gratitude for his unwavering support.

"I know it's silly," Amina admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I just... I didn't want you to think less of me because of it."

Hunter's heart clenched at the vulnerability in Amina's voice, the raw honesty of her words piercing through his defenses. He reached out, gently brushing away a stray tear that glistened in the corner of her eye.

"Amina, look at me," Hunter urged, his voice filled with tenderness as he locked eyes with her. "I could never think less of you, not in a million lifetimes. You are the strongest person I know, and I admire you more than words can express."

Amina's breath caught in her throat at Hunter's words, the warmth of his love washing over her like a soothing balm. She felt a sense of peace settle over her, the weight of her worries lifting ever so slightly in the presence of his unwavering support.

"Thank you, Hunter," Amina murmured, her voice choked with emotion as she reached out to clasp his hand in hers. "Thank you for always being there for me, for loving me despite my flaws."

Hunter's heart swelled with love as he squeezed Amina's hand gently, his eyes shining with adoration as he gazed at her.

"I will always be here for you, Amina," Hunter vowed, his voice filled with conviction. "No matter what challenges we face, no matter how dark the road ahead may seem, I will stand by your side, now and forever."

Amina felt her heart flutter at Hunter's words, the depth of his love washing over her like a tidal wave. She leaned in, pressing her forehead against his, their breaths mingling in the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"I love you, Hunter," Amina whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "More than words can say."

Hunter's heart swelled with love as he gazed into Amina's eyes, his own filled with a depth of emotion that words could never fully express.

"I love you too, Amina," Hunter replied, his voice a soft murmur that resonated with the echoes of their shared love.

---

After 3 days of Amina’s period, and only being able to curl up on the couch or the bed, Hunter told her they were going to see Amellia about it.

“Well, it’s a good thing that you have your period, since it means the hormone therapy worked, but there are a lot of cases where having scar tissue can make your period more painful than normal. But the good news is, now we can look at getting a Hysteroscopic surgery to remove the scar tissue," Amellia explained, her tone hopeful yet cautious. "It's a minimally invasive procedure that can help alleviate your symptoms and improve your chances of conceiving."

Amina's breath caught in her throat at the mention of surgery, her mind whirling with a mix of fear and hope. She glanced at Hunter, her eyes searching his for reassurance as she tried to process the news.

“When could we do it?” Amina asked.

“Well, I don’t have all the things I need here, so I’d need to order them off world. And I would prefer to perform the surgery when you are not on your period since it provides better visibility. Give me at least a week, I should have the materials and your cycle should be over by then.”

Amina sat on the chair, her mind buzzing with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation as she absorbed Amellia's words. The prospect of surgery was daunting, but if it meant finally finding relief from the debilitating pain of her periods and increasing her chances of starting a family with Hunter, it was a risk she was willing to take.

"Okay," Amina replied, her voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling inside her. "Let's do it."

Hunter squeezed Amina's hand in silent support, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination. He knew how much this surgery meant to Amina, and he would do anything to ease her pain and help her achieve her dreams of motherhood.

Amellia nodded, a small smile of encouragement gracing her lips. "Alright then. I'll start gathering the necessary materials and prepare for the surgery. We'll schedule it for next week, once your cycle has ended."

Amina let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, a sense of relief washing over her at the thought of finally taking action to address her condition. She glanced at Hunter, her heart swelling with gratitude for his unwavering support.

"Thank you, Amellia," Amina said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. "For everything."

Amellia waved off Amina's gratitude with a dismissive gesture, her focus already shifting to the task ahead. "Don't mention it," she replied, her tone brisk yet kind. "I'll see you both next week for the surgery."

Amellia stepped out of the room before poking her head back in, “actually, I’ll see you for dinner, right? The whole group? I’m going to make smoked kaadu ribs.”

Amina nodded with a smile. "Sounds great, Amellia," she replied, her voice warm with gratitude.

As Amellia left, Amina turned to Hunter, her heart fluttering with excitement at the prospect of spending time with their friends. "What do you think? Smoked kaadu ribs sound delicious, don't they?" she asked, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Hunter chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he nodded in agreement. "They do indeed. I can't wait to taste them," he replied, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm.

---

They started to set the table while Hunter made a Berbersian crab salad. Amina handed Omega 6 cups to put on the table as she put down the plates.

“What’s Amellia bringing?” Omega asked Amina.

“She’s bringing smoked kaadu ribs. It’s kaadu meat with a sauce, cabbage slaw, and a berry muffin. It originated from Naboo.” Amina answered.

Omega grinned eagerly as she placed the last cup on the table, her youthful energy palpable in the air. "I can't wait to try those smoked kaadu ribs," she exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Amina chuckled softly, "I'm sure they'll be amazing," she replied, her voice warm with reassurance. "Amellia is an excellent cook."

As they finished setting the table, the front door swung open, and Amellia stepped inside, a large tray of smoked kaadu ribs in hand. Her eyes lit up with a warm smile as she caught sight of Amina and Omega in the kitchen.

"Hey, everyone!" Amellia greeted, her voice bright with cheer as she made her way into the kitchen. "I brought the smoked kaadu ribs. They're all ready to go."

Amina smiled warmly at Amellia, her heart lifting at the sight of their friend. "Thanks, Amellia," she said, gratitude shining in her eyes. "They smell delicious."

Amellia beamed at the compliment, setting the tray of ribs down on the table with care. "I hope you all enjoy them," she replied, her tone sincere. She looked around the house, “where’s Crosshair and Wrecker?”

“I’ll go get them!” Omega said, as she walked out the front door.

Amina nudged Amellia with her shoulder, “have you talked to him again?”

Amellia blushed, “no. I’m not usually a nervous person but…”

“Maybe today will give you the little push you need to talk to Crosshair again.” Amina said.

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Amellia replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She glanced at Amina, her gaze searching for reassurance as she tried to gather her courage. "I'll talk to him tonight."

Amina smiled warmly at Amellia, her eyes shining with encouragement. "You've got this," she said, her voice filled with confidence. "And if you need backup, just let me know."

---

Amina finished her daily lesson with the children of the island as she walked over to Amellia who was waiting at the edge of the grassy field. “So?” She asked.

Amellia groaned, “I couldn’t do it. I have asked out so many guys, and out of the 6 guys I’ve dated, I was always the one who cut it off. But I can’t ask out one guy? Old age is getting to me.”

Amina chuckled, "you're 28, Ames. You've still got plenty of time."

Amellia sighed, her shoulders slumping with defeat. "I know, I know," she replied, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "But it's just... I don't know why I can't seem to do it."

Amina reached out and gently squeezed her friend's shoulder. "It's okay, Ames. Maybe you just haven't found the right moment yet."

Amellia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, maybe you're right," she said, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. "Thanks, Amina."

Amina smiled warmly at her friend. "Anytime, Ames. You know I'm always here for you."

They walked over to their houses, Amellia’s right next to Amina and Hunter’s as Amellia glanced over at Amina, “you know- now, this may be weird of me to ask, but… is there any way you could ask Crosshair if he…”

“Likes you?”

“Or anyone.” Amellia said, raising her hands in a placating manner.

Amina hummed, “I don’t know if he would tell me that- ”

“Well, what about Hunter? He’s his brother. Or even Omega, Crosshair seems to do whatever Omega wants.”

“Are you talking about Crosshair?”

Amina and Amellia turned towards the voice, which was Omega standing behind them.

“Yeah- no, I mean no.” Amellia quickly said.

“He looks at you.” Omega spoke softly. “It kind of reminds me of how Hunter and Amina looked at each other before they got together.”

Amina narrowed her eyes at Omega, a hint of amusement flickering in her gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about," she repeated, her tone laced with playful defiance.

Omega raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of her lips. "Sure, Amina," she said, her voice teasing. "Keep telling yourself that." She walked in between the two women as she turned her head upwards towards Amellia, “when we go on our morning walks, sometimes he looks up the mountain in the direction of your house.”

Amellia's cheeks flushed a light pink. "Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Omega nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! I've noticed it a few times. He tries to be subtle, but I'm pretty good at noticing things."

Amina chuckled softly, shaking her head at Omega’s perceptiveness. "Well, there you have it, Amellia. Straight from Omega’s observant eyes."

Amellia bit her lip, a mixture of hope and nervousness swirling within her. "Maybe...maybe I should talk to him," she said, almost as if trying to convince herself.

Amina placed a reassuring hand on her friend’s shoulder. "You should. You never know until you try."

Omega nodded in agreement, her youthful enthusiasm infectious. "Exactly! And if you need any help, you know where to find us."

Amellia smiled, feeling a bit more confident with her friends' support. "Thanks, you two. I’ll give it a shot."

They continued towards their houses, almost to Hunter and Amina’s house when they saw Hunter and Crosshair walking towards the house in front of them.

Omega gently pushed Amellia forward as Hunter ruffled Omega’s hair, “how was school?”

“It was good! I was going to ask Amellia to help me with some math homework.” Omega looked up at Amellia expectantly, trying to get her to go along with her story.

“Y- actually I have s- some papers that need signing.” Amellia said quickly, “good night.” She patted Amina’s arm before turning around and walking back to her house.

Hunter raised an eyebrow as he watched Amellia retreat back to her house, then turned his gaze to Amina, clearly seeking answers. Amina sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"It's complicated," she said finally, giving him a small smile.

“Complicated?” Crosshair asked, his toothpick in his hand.

Amina hummed, “yep, complicated.” She opened the door and looked back at Omega, “want some juice?”

Omega nodded eagerly. “Yes, please!”

Hunter chuckled, shaking his head as he followed Amina inside. Crosshair lingered for a moment, his gaze drifting in the direction of Amellia's house before he stepped in behind them.

As they settled inside, Amina poured juice for Omega and herself. She turned to Hunter with a warm smile. “Want some juice too?”

Hunter nodded, giving her a grateful smile. “Sure, thanks.”

As Hunter settled into his seat at the kitchen table, Amina joined him, placing a glass of juice in front of him with a gentle smile as Omega sat between them.

"So, what's on the agenda for tonight?" Hunter asked, breaking the silence that had settled over the room.

Amina glanced at him, her expression softening with affection. "I was thinking we could watch a holo-movie," she suggested, her voice warm with anticipation. "We haven't had a movie night in a while."

Hunter nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "That sounds good," he replied, reaching for his glass of juice. "Any preferences?"

Amina shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "Surprise me," she said, a hint of mischief dancing in her tone. "As long as it's not one of those sappy romance dramas."

Hunter chuckled, shaking his head. "Noted," he said, amusement coloring his voice. "I'll find something action-packed for us."

Omega perked up at the mention of a movie night, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Can I pick the snacks?" she asked, her voice eager.

Amina and Hunter exchanged a knowing glance, both of them smiling at Omega's enthusiasm. "Of course, kiddo," Amina replied, her voice warm with affection. "Just try not to eat all the popcorn before the movie starts."

Omega grinned, her eyes shining with mischief. "No promises," she said, her tone teasing as she reached for her glass of juice.

Eventually, the time came for them to head to the living room and choose a movie. Omega eagerly led the way, her excitement palpable as she perused their collection of holo-movies, carefully selecting the perfect one for their movie night.

Once they were all settled on the couch, popcorn in hand and movie ready to play, Amina couldn't help but steal a glance at Hunter. Despite the challenges they had faced in recent months, she felt a deep sense of gratitude for the man sitting beside her, his presence a source of strength and comfort in her life.

Hunter caught her gaze and offered her a warm smile, his eyes soft with affection. In that moment, surrounded by the ones she loved most, Amina felt a sense of peace wash over her, the worries of the outside world fading into the background as they lost themselves in the holo-movie playing on the screen.

As the credits rolled and the movie came to an end, Amina stretched her arms above her head, feeling a sense of contentment settle over her. "That was fun," she said, her voice filled with satisfaction.

Hunter nodded in agreement, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, it was," he replied, his tone warm with affection. "Thanks for picking such a great movie, Omega."

Omega beamed at the praise, her eyes shining with happiness. "You're welcome!" she exclaimed, her excitement infectious as she glanced between Amina and Hunter. "Can we do this again tomorrow night?"

Amina chuckled softly, ruffling Omega's hair affectionately. "We'll see," she replied, her voice gentle. "But for now, I think it's time for bed."

Omega's expression fell slightly at the mention of bedtime, but she nodded in resignation. "Okay," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment. "Goodnight, Amina. Goodnight, Hunter."

"Goodnight, Omega," Amina replied, her voice warm with affection. "Sleep well."

---

One of the nurses at the medical center gave Amina anesthetic through her iv as Amellia walked in. “Alright, I’m going to let that settle into your system before performing the hysteroscopic surgery to remove your scar tissue.” Amellia said, looking up from her datapad.

Amellia smiled reassuringly at Amina, her expression gentle and comforting. "You're doing great, Amina," she said, her voice calm and soothing. "Just try to relax and let the medication do its job."

Amina nodded, her eyelids growing heavy as she fought against the urge to succumb to sleep. "I trust you, Amellia," she murmured, her words slurred slightly by the effects of the anesthesia.

Amellia's smile widened at Amina's words, a sense of pride swelling within her chest. "Thank you, Amina," she replied, her voice filled with gratitude. "I won't let you down."

With that, Amellia turned her attention back to her datapad, her focus shifting to the task at hand as she prepared for the hysteroscopic surgery. She double-checked her equipment and reviewed Amina's medical history, ensuring that everything was in order before proceeding.

Meanwhile, Hunter sat by Amina's side, his hand clasped firmly in hers as he watched over her with concern. Despite his outward calm, his mind was racing with worry for his wife, the thought of her undergoing surgery filling him with apprehension.

"You'll be okay, Amina," Hunter murmured, his voice low and reassuring. "I'm right here with you."

Amina squeezed his hand gently, her gaze meeting his with a look of gratitude and love. "I know, Hunter," she replied, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "I trust you."

Hunter smiled at her words, a sense of warmth spreading through his chest. He leaned in closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before settling back into his seat, his presence a source of comfort and strength for Amina.

As the minutes passed, Amina could feel the effects of the anesthesia intensifying, her eyelids growing heavier with each passing moment. She fought against the urge to drift off to sleep, wanting to stay conscious for as long as possible before the surgery began.

Amellia glanced up from her datapad, noticing the change in Amina's demeanor. She walked over to her patient, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's time, Amina," she said gently, her voice calm and steady. "I'm going to start the procedure now."

Amina nodded, her eyelids fluttering as she struggled to keep them open. "Okay," she murmured, her words barely audible as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.

---

She blinked the fogginess away from her eyes before closing them due to the bright white lights above her.

“Amina?”

She looked to her side to see her brother, Ahsoka, and Blu standing by her bed. “Huh?”

Anakin grabbed her hand, “you scared me- all of us. Two pieces of metal to the gut?”

"To be fair, it wasn't my fault Separatists shot us down," Amina replied with a small smirk, her memories from the past flooding back as she spoke.

"You were supposed to wait for backup," Anakin chided gently.

"I was waiting for backup when we got shot down," Amina replied, her tone playful despite the seriousness of their situation. She remembered the chaos of the battlefield, the blaster fire raining down around them as they fought to survive.

Anakin squeezed her hand tightly, his expression filled with a mixture of relief and worry. "We're just glad you're alive," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you."

“Aw, come on Ani. You know that won’t happen. My middle name is Lucky.”

He chuckled, “only because I gave it to you.”

“Well, too late now. It’s permanent.” She flicked his nose playfully.

---

Hunter watched anxiously from his seat, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for any sign of trouble. He trusted Amellia implicitly, but the thought of anything going wrong filled him with dread.

Minutes turned into hours as the surgery progressed, each moment feeling like an eternity to Hunter as he waited for news of Amina's condition. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Amellia emerged from the operating room, her expression weary but relieved.

"It went well," Amellia said, her voice soft but tinged with exhaustion. "I was able to remove the scar tissue without any complications."

Hunter let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging with the weight of his anxiety. "Thank you, Amellia," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "You've done a great job."

Amellia smiled tiredly at Hunter's words, a sense of satisfaction washing over her despite her fatigue. "It was my pleasure, Hunter," she replied, her voice warm with appreciation. "I'm just glad everything went smoothly."

With that, Amellia excused herself to update the medical records and check on her other patients, leaving Hunter alone with Amina as she began to stir from her anesthesia-induced slumber.

Amina blinked groggily, her gaze unfocused as she struggled to regain her bearings. She reached out for Hunter, her hand searching for his with a sense of urgency.

Hunter took her hand in his, squeezing it gently as he leaned in closer. "I'm here, Amina," he murmured, his voice filled with tenderness. "Everything's okay."

Amina let out a sigh of relief, her tense muscles relaxing as she felt the reassuring presence of her husband beside her. Hunter gently stroked her hand, his touch grounding her as she began to fully wake from the anesthesia.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice a comforting balm. "How are you feeling?"

Amina blinked a few times, her vision slowly clearing. "Groggy," she admitted, her voice hoarse. "But okay. How did it go?"

"It went well," Hunter replied, a smile tugging at his lips. "Amellia was able to remove the scar tissue without any complications. You're going to be just fine."

Amina managed a small smile, relief washing over her. "That's good to hear," she murmured, her eyes beginning to drift closed again.

Hunter squeezed her hand gently. "Get some rest," he said softly. "I'll be right here."

Amina nodded weakly, her exhaustion pulling her back into a light sleep. Hunter watched over her, his heart filled with a mix of relief and love.

---

The next morning, Amina woke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the windows. She stretched carefully, mindful of her still-healing body, and turned to see Hunter dozing in a chair beside her bed.

"Good morning," she said softly, her voice gentle.

Hunter stirred, blinking sleep from his eyes as he sat up. "Morning," he replied, a sleepy smile spreading across his face. "How are you feeling?"

"A little sore, but better," Amina said, giving him a reassuring smile.

Hunter reached out and took her hand, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. "I'm glad to hear that," he said warmly. "Amellia will be in soon to check on you."

As if on cue, the door opened and Amellia stepped inside, her expression brightening when she saw Amina awake. "Good morning," she greeted, her tone cheerful. "How are you feeling today?"

"A bit sore, but better," Amina repeated, giving Amellia a smile.

"That's to be expected," Amellia replied, glancing at her datapad as she approached. "But everything looks good. You should be able to go home later today."

Amina nodded, feeling a sense of relief at the prospect of returning home. "Thank you, Amellia," she said sincerely. "For everything."

Amellia smiled warmly. "It's my job," she replied. "But I'm glad I could help."

Hunter stood and stretched, his muscles stiff from a night spent in the chair. "We'll take it easy today," he said, his tone firm. "No pushing yourself."

Amina rolled her eyes playfully. "I know, I know," she said, her voice light. "I'll take it easy."

Amellia chuckled, giving them both a knowing look. “Before I let you two get ready, I just need to go over your recovery. It’s normal to have light bleeding for up to two weeks after the procedure, as well as cramping pain for a few days. And I would advise you to not have sex for a week. If you develop a fever, you will need to come back to the medical center.”

Hunter nodded, his expression serious. “We’ll keep an eye on everything.”

Amina smiled, feeling reassured by Amellia’s thoroughness. “Thanks, Amellia. I appreciate it.”

Amellia gave them a warm smile. “You’re welcome. Now, take it easy and let me know if you need anything.”

As Amellia left the room, Hunter helped Amina get dressed, his movements gentle and careful. “You heard the doctor. We’re going to take it slow.”

Amina rolled her eyes playfully. “I know, Hunter. I’ll be good.”

Hunter chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’m just making sure. Let’s get you home.”

They made their way back to their house on Pabu, the warm sun and gentle breeze providing a comforting backdrop. Hunter kept a steady hand on Amina’s back, guiding her carefully.

Omega was waiting for them at the house, her face lighting up with relief when she saw Amina. “Amina! Are you okay?”

Amina smiled, hugging Omega gently. “I’m fine, Omega. The surgery went well.”

Omega sighed in relief. “I’m so glad. I was worried.”

Hunter ruffled Omega’s hair affectionately. “Amellia did a great job. Amina just needs to rest for a while.”

Omega nodded, her expression serious. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything she’s not supposed to.”

Amina laughed softly. “Looks like I’ve got two people looking out for me.”

Hunter and Omega shared a look, both of them determined to ensure Amina’s recovery went smoothly. They spent the rest of the day relaxing, Hunter and Omega taking care of everything while Amina rested on the couch.

---

A few days later, Amina was feeling stronger, the initial soreness from the surgery beginning to fade. She was careful to follow Amellia’s instructions, taking it easy and allowing her body to heal.

One afternoon, while Hunter was out running errands, Amina and Omega were sitting on the porch, enjoying the warm Pabu weather. Omega was working on her homework, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“Need any help?” Amina asked, glancing over at Omega’s datapad.

Omega looked up, her expression relieved. “Actually, yes. I’m having trouble with this math problem.”

Amina scooted closer, looking at the problem. “Let’s see. Ah, okay. You need to use this formula here.”

They spent the next hour working through Omega’s math homework, Amina patiently explaining each step. Omega’s face lit up as she began to understand, her confidence growing.

“Thanks, Amina,” Omega said, her voice filled with gratitude. “You’re really good at explaining things.”

Amina smiled warmly. “I’m glad I could help. You’re a quick learner, Omega.”

Omega beamed at the compliment, her eyes shining with happiness. They continued to chat, their conversation light and easy.

Later, as the sun began to set, Hunter returned home, his arms laden with groceries. “I’m back,” he called, his voice carrying through the house.

Omega jumped up, rushing to help him. “Do you need any help?”

Hunter smiled, handing her a bag. “Thanks, Omega. How was your afternoon?”

“It was good! Amina helped me with my homework,” Omega replied, her tone cheerful.

Hunter glanced at Amina, his expression softening. “How are you feeling?”

Amina smiled, feeling a sense of warmth at his concern. “Better. Just taking it one day at a time.”

Hunter nodded, setting the groceries down. “Good. We’ll keep taking it slow.”

---

The next morning, Amina and Omega were up early, ready for their morning walk. Amina had been cautious about not overexerting herself, but the gentle walks had been a good way to keep moving without pushing too hard.

As they walked along the path, the island’s beauty surrounding them, Omega glanced up at Amina. “Do you think Amellia will talk to Crosshair today?”

Amina smiled, the memory of their conversation with Amellia coming to mind. “I hope so. She just needs a little push.”

Omega nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe we could help somehow?”

Amina chuckled. “I think we’ve done enough pushing for now. Let’s see if Amellia can find the courage on her own.”

They continued their walk, enjoying the peaceful morning. The island was a sanctuary, a place of healing and renewal, and Amina was grateful for every moment they had here.

When they returned home, Hunter was waiting for them, breakfast ready on the table. “Perfect timing,” he said, his smile warm and welcoming.

Amina returned Hunter's smile, feeling a rush of affection for her husband as she took in the sight of him standing in their cozy kitchen. It was moments like these, simple and mundane yet filled with love, that made her grateful for the life they had built together on Pabu.

Omega practically skipped over to the table, her enthusiasm contagious as she eagerly pulled out a chair and settled into her seat. "Thanks for making breakfast, Hunter," she chirped, her eyes shining with excitement.

Hunter chuckled, a fond look in his eyes as he ruffled Omega's hair affectionately. "You're welcome, kiddo," he replied, his voice warm with affection. "What's on the agenda for today?"

Amina took a seat beside Omega, feeling a sense of contentment wash over her as she looked around the kitchen. "Well, I need to tend to the garden in the front," she said, reaching for a slice of toast. "There’s some weeds that need to be pulled out.”

Hunter nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at Amina. "I'll help you with that after breakfast," he offered, his voice gentle. "We can get it done together."

Omega perked up at the idea. "Can I help too?" she asked eagerly, her youthful enthusiasm shining through.

Amina smiled warmly at Omega. "Of course, sweetie. The more, the merrier," she replied, her tone filled with affection.

As they finished their breakfast, the sense of togetherness and love filled the room, creating an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. Afterward, they all headed outside, ready to tackle the garden as a team.

The morning sunbathed the island in a golden glow, the air fresh and invigorating. Amina knelt by the flower beds, her hands moving methodically as she pulled out weeds and tended to the plants. Hunter worked alongside her, his strong presence a comforting constant. Omega darted between them, her laughter ringing out as she helped with smaller tasks.

It wasn't long before the garden looked tidy and well-maintained, the flowers standing tall and proud in their beds. Amina sat back on her heels, wiping a stray strand of hair from her forehead as she surveyed their work with satisfaction.

"Great job, everyone," she said, her voice filled with pride. "The garden looks beautiful."

Hunter straightened up, stretching his back as he smiled down at Amina. "We make a good team," he said, his tone warm and affectionate.

Omega beamed, her eyes shining with happiness. "It was fun," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "Can we do it again sometime?"

Amina chuckled softly. "Of course, Omega," she replied, her tone gentle. "There's always something to do in the garden."

They spent the rest of the morning relaxing on the porch, enjoying the peacefulness of the island. Hunter and Amina shared a quiet moment, their hands intertwined as they watched Omega play with Lyana and Jynna.

Even Wrecker ended up coming over, and him and the kids played with water guns on the grass.

---

A few weeks later, Amellia arrived at their house for a follow-up appointment. She greeted them with a warm smile, her expression bright and reassuring.

"How are you feeling, Amina?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Amina smiled warmly at her friend. "Much better," she replied, her tone cheerful. "I've been taking it easy and following your instructions."

Amellia nodded, her eyes scanning Amina for any signs of discomfort. "That's good to hear," she said, her tone professional yet friendly. "Let's do a quick check-up to make sure everything is healing properly."

Amina nodded, feeling reassured by Amellia's presence. She knew she was in good hands with her friend and trusted her implicitly.

As Amellia conducted the check-up, Hunter stood by Amina's side, his presence a comforting constant. Omega watched with wide eyes, her curiosity evident.

"Everything looks great," Amellia said finally, her tone filled with satisfaction. "You're healing beautifully, Amina. I would say things could go back to normal, but continue to take your hormone medication.”

Amina sighed in relief, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Amellia," she said sincerely. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything you've done."

Amellia smiled warmly at her friend's words, a sense of pride swelling within her. "It's my pleasure," she replied, her voice filled with genuine affection. "I'm just glad I could help."

As Amellia prepared to leave, Amina and Hunter walked her to the door, their hearts filled with gratitude for their friend's care and support.

"Thank you again, Amellia," Hunter said, his voice warm with appreciation. "We couldn't have done this without you."

Amellia smiled, her eyes shining with warmth. "You're welcome," she replied, her tone gentle. "And remember, I'm always here if you need anything."

With that, she left, leaving Amina and Hunter feeling a renewed sense of hope and gratitude.

---

Amina, Hunter, and Omega walked along the shore looking at the different plants. Omega had a school project where she had to choose one plant native to Pabu and write a short paper on it.

Since Tech was no longer around, they had to do it the hard way. Walking around the entire island.

“Is this one native?” Omega asked again, holding up a pink leaf as Hunter scanned it with his datapad.

“No.” He replied simply.

Omega groaned, “ugh, this is taking forever!”

"It's okay, Omega," Amina said, her tone gentle. "We'll find the right plant soon enough."

Omega sighed, her shoulders slumping with defeat. "I just want to finish this project already," she muttered, her frustration evident.

Hunter looked up from his datapad, a reassuring smile on his lips. "We'll get there, Omega," he said, his voice calm and steady. "We just need to keep looking."

With renewed determination, they continued their search along the shore, the warm sun overhead and the gentle sound of the waves lapping against the shore providing a soothing backdrop.

Omega stopped walking and turned around to face Amina and Hunter, “maybe we should split up?”

Hunter nodded, “alright, find some various plants and bring back leaves or petals and meet back here in 10.”

Omega ran off going South, before going up the mountainside as Hunter and Amina walked West before doing the same.

Amina would pick up leaves on the ground or pick petals off of flowers before handing them over to Hunter as he scanned them.

"I'm starting to think this assignment is a scam," Amina huffed, her voice tinged with exasperation as she picked up yet another leaf and held it out to Hunter.

"We already have tried that leaf," Hunter said calmly, his tone patient as he glanced at the leaf Amina was holding out to him. He could sense her frustration, but he also knew they couldn't afford to give up just yet.

Amina groaned in response, letting the leaf fall from her hand as she cast her gaze out over the shore. They continued walking up the mountainside as Hunter bent down and picked up a small leaf.

Amina walked a few paces away from him and bent down over a white flower with a gold center. She brushed her fingers on the gold center as some of the pollen flew into the air, as well as some on her finger.

Hunter bent down beside her, tearing the flower from its stem and holding it up to scan it. “Nope, still not native.” He said, as the wind blew some of the pollen into the air and Hunter dropped the flower. “Come on, Omega’s probably waiting for us.”

Amina placed her hand in Hunter’s as they went back to the spot where they split up to see Omega walking towards them with her hand full of various leaves and petals.

“I think I found 12 different ones. I hope one of them works.”

Amina smiled warmly at Omega, "I'm sure one of them will work perfectly," she said, her voice filled with reassurance.

Hunter nodded in agreement, a proud smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You did a great job, Omega," he said, his voice warm with pride. "Let's see if one of them is native.”

Omega would hand Hunter one leaf or petal at a time as he scanned it. Once they got to the 9th one, Omega was hoping that this one, or the other 3 she had would be right.

He scanned it and looked at the information, “seems like this one is a native flower. It’s called a Cantri flower.”

Omega let out a squeal of delight, her excitement bubbling over. "Yes! I knew we could do it!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with happiness. She grabbed the petal from Hunter’s hand, dropping the other 11 leaves and petals. “Come on, let’s go home! I want something to eat.”

Amina and Hunter chuckled as Omega led the way back up the side of the mountain to their house. Amina pulled on her dress’ collar, billowing air into her chest.

It was suddenly uncomfortably hot outside to her, but everyone else seemed fine. Hunter pulled off his jacket, draping it over his arm that was holding the datapad as his other arm draped around her shoulder.

His touch was electric, and it heated her in a completely different way. But she couldn’t tell what was making her so uncomfortable.

Once they turned off the walkway of the mountain and down the brick walkway, Omega turned around to face them as her smile dropped. “Are you guys, okay? You seem kind of… off.”

Amina exchanged a quick glance with Hunter, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to suppress the discomfort coursing through her body. "Yeah, we're fine, Omega," she replied, forcing a smile onto her lips despite the unease swirling within her. "Just a little tired from all the walking, that's all."

Hunter nodded in agreement, his expression mirroring Amina's attempt at reassurance. "Exactly," he said, his voice steady but lacking its usual warmth. "We'll be back to our usual selves once we get some rest."

Omega studied them for a moment, her brow furrowing in concern before she finally nodded. "Alright, if you say so," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Let's get back home then."

As they continued down the path, Amina couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort that had settled in her stomach like a heavy stone. She stole a glance at Hunter, who walked beside her with his usual calm demeanor, but she could sense the tension thrumming beneath the surface.

They passed by Amellia’s house when she walked out, holding a small tote bag. “Oh, hey you guys! I was just about to go shopping at the market- Maker, why do you two look…” Amellia trailed off. She tsked before opening her door, “come in, come in.”

“We’re fine Amellia, just tired- ” Amina started as Amellia cut her off.

“In the house. Now.” Amellia stated, as Amina and Hunter shared a look and begrudgingly gave in, walking into Amellia’s house with Omega behind them. Amellia pulled out her datapad, “what symptoms are you feeling?”

“Hot, and… just off.” Hunter said as Amina nodded in agreement.

"Hmm," Amellia murmured, her brow furrowing in concern as she tapped away on her datapad. "Hot and feeling off... Those symptoms could indicate a variety of things." She glanced up at Amina and Hunter, her expression grave. "Given your recent history, Amina, I think it would be wise to run some tests, just to be safe."

Amina exchanged a worried glance with Hunter before nodding in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," she said, her voice tinged with apprehension. "Better to be safe than sorry."

Hunter placed a comforting hand on Amina's shoulder, his touch grounding her as they waited for Amellia to finish her assessment. He could sense Amina's anxiety, mirroring his own, but he knew they had to remain calm for Omega's sake.

“But it is weird that Hunter is also feeling this way. Have either of you come into contact with someone who was sick?”

“No.” Amina and Hunter replied at the same time.

“Okay…” Amellia tapped on her datapad, looking at a flower petal in Omega’s hand. “Oh, were you guys outside?”

“We were helping Omega find a plant native to Pabu.” Hunter answered.

Amellia hummed, “it could be dehydration or heat exhaustion, or you came into contact with a poisonous plant, or something bit the two of you. I’ll take some blood tests and me and Omega will go over to the medical center to process them.”

She grabbed the pen and grabbed a blood sample from the tops of their hands, “okay, go home and drink some water. If you feel any pain, maybe take low dose pain medication until I figure what’s wrong.”

Omega and Amellia walked out first as Hunter and Amina followed, walking a few seconds to their house and entering.

Once inside, Amina sank onto the couch, her thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of worry and fear. She glanced over at Hunter, who was pacing back and forth across the living room, his brow furrowed in deep concentration.

It was hot, even hotter than before it seemed, and there was a burning sensation slowly building up in her body. And Hunter pacing around wasn’t making it much better, especially now that he was twirling his comm in his fingers.

She reached behind her and untied her dress’ strings, before pulling her arms out of the short puff sleeves. A short sense of relief washed over her before the discomfort came back.

Hunter, still pacing back and forth, glanced over at her, concern etched into his features. "Are you feeling any better?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

Amina shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips as she sank further into the couch cushions. "Not really," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "If anything, it's getting worse."

Hunter stopped pacing and approached her, kneeling down in front of her with a furrowed brow. "We'll figure this out, Amina," he said, his tone firm yet gentle. "Amellia will run some tests, and we'll know what's going on soon."

His hands on her knees didn’t add any comfort, in fact it made the burning sensation worse. She looked at his face, noticing sweat building up on his forehead as she brushed it away.

Hunter didn’t seem to be any better than her as he took his hands off her knees and slipped off his shirt, throwing it to the side.

As Hunter discarded his shirt, the air seemed to crackle with tension, the heat of the moment mirroring the rising temperature in the room. Amina's gaze lingered on him, the muscles of his chest rippling with every movement, and she felt the urge to trace the skeletal tattoo of his ribs with her fingers and tongue.

Amina swallowed hard, her throat dry as she struggled to find the words to break the suffocating silence that enveloped them. "Hunter," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "I... I’m going to get us some water.”

As Amina spoke, her voice quivered with uncertainty, her thoughts tangled in a web of emotions she couldn't quite unravel. She rose from the couch, her movements slow and deliberate, as if weighed down by an invisible burden.

Amina made her way to the kitchen, her steps heavy with the weight of unspoken words and unaddressed fears. She filled a glass with water, her hands trembling slightly as she brought it to her lips and took a sip, the cool liquid offering a brief respite from the suffocating heat that seemed to engulf her.

But it didn’t help much. So, without thinking, she slipped completely out of her dress, leaving her in only her brassiere and underwear. Amina tossed her dress on the kitchen table behind her.

She grabbed another glass and filled it with water, walking into the living room where Hunter moved himself to sit on the couch. She placed her glass of water on the caf table and reached her other hand out with his glass.

Instead of taking the glass he grabbed her by the wrist, the cup falling to the floor, rolling underneath the table as water soaked the rug.

Hunter pulled her onto his lap, his rough hands slowly moving up her back as she let out a low breathy moan. His hands tangled in her hair at the base of her neck as he tilted her head downwards to face him. The heat between them was palpable, a magnetic force drawing them closer as Amina’s breathing grew heavier.

“Hunter...” Amina murmured, her voice a soft plea.

“Shh,” Hunter whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. “Just let it happen.”

His fingers traced the curve of her spine, eliciting a shiver from Amina despite the oppressive heat. She straddled him, feeling the hard muscles of his thighs beneath her. As his hands roamed over her body, the burning sensation inside her seemed to intensify, a fire that could only be quenched by his touch.

“You’re so beautiful,” Hunter said, his voice husky with desire. He slid his hands down to her hips, pulling her closer, pressing her against his growing erection. Amina gasped, the friction sending sparks of pleasure through her already overheated body.

“Hunter, I... I need...” Amina stammered, unable to form coherent thoughts. Her body moved on its own, grinding against him in a desperate attempt to alleviate the burning ache between her legs.

“I know,” Hunter replied, his grip on her tightening. “I’ve got you.”

His hand slipped between them, fingers finding the edge of her underwear. He pushed the fabric aside, his fingers sliding through her slick folds. Amina’s head fell back, a guttural moan escaping her lips as he began to stroke her, each movement sending waves of pleasure coursing through her.

“Kriff, you’re so wet,” Hunter groaned, his own arousal evident in his voice. He circled her clit with his thumb, teasing her until she was panting, her hips bucking against his hand.

“Please, Hunter,” Amina whimpered, her hands clutching at his shoulders. “I need more.”

“Patience,” he murmured, his voice a low growl. He slid two fingers inside her, her walls clenching around him as he began to pump them in and out, his thumb continuing to circle her clit. The sensation was overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and relief that made Amina’s head spin.

“Yes, just like that,” Hunter encouraged, his free hand gripping her hip to steady her as she rode his fingers. “You’re doing so good.”

Amina’s movements became more frantic, her breath coming in short gasps as she chased her release. Hunter’s fingers curled inside her, hitting that perfect spot that made her see stars. She was close, so close.

“Come for me,” Hunter commanded, his voice rough with need. “Let go, Amina.”

With a cry, Amina’s body tensed, her orgasm crashing over her like a tidal wave. Her walls pulsed around his fingers, her juices soaking his hand as she trembled in his arms. Hunter held her through it, his lips pressing gentle kisses to her neck.

“Good girl,” he whispered, his voice full of pride. “You did so well.”

Amina slumped against him, her body boneless from the intensity of her release. But the burning sensation inside her hadn’t completely abated; it was still there, a simmering heat that demanded more.

“Hunter,” she murmured, her voice hoarse. “I still... I need...”

“I know,” he said, his tone gentle yet firm. He shifted her off his lap, grabbing her thighs as he positioned her hips on the armrest of the couch. Amina’s heart raced as he stood, unbuttoning his cargo pants and pushing them down along with his boxers, freeing his erection.

Hunter’s eyes were dark with desire as he stepped between her legs, his hands gripping her hips. “Hold on,” he instructed, his voice a low rumble. “This might be rough.”

Amina braced herself, her hands gripping the couch cushions as Hunter lined himself up with her entrance. He pushed into her in one swift motion, a gasp escaping both their lips as he buried himself to the hilt inside her.

“Kriff,” Hunter groaned, his grip on her hips bruising. He pulled back slightly before thrusting into her again, setting a fast, punishing pace that had Amina crying out in pleasure.

“Yes, Hunter, yes,” she moaned, her nails digging into the fabric of the couch. The heat inside her was almost unbearable, but every thrust, every movement brought her closer to another climax.

“You feel so good,” Hunter panted, his thrusts becoming more erratic. “So kriffing good.”

Amina’s legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper as she met his thrusts. The room was filled with the sound of their bodies slapping together, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.

“Hunter, I’m gonna... I’m gonna come,” Amina gasped, her body tensing as the coil inside her wound tighter and tighter.

“Do it,” Hunter growled, his thrusts becoming harder, faster. “Come for me, Amina. Let me feel you.”

With a scream, Amina’s orgasm hit her like a freight train, her walls clamping down around Hunter’s cock as her entire body convulsed with pleasure. Hunter followed her over the edge, a guttural roar escaping his lips as he emptied himself inside her, his hips jerking with each pulse of his release.

For a few moments, they stayed like that, Hunter still buried deep inside her as they both caught their breath. The heat between them had lessened slightly, but the burning sensation was still there, a lingering reminder of the mysterious flower’s effects.

Hunter gently pulled out of her, helping her sit up. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern despite the lingering haze of desire in his eyes.

Amina nodded, her body still trembling from the intensity of their coupling. “I’m okay,” she said softly, her voice a bit shaky. “But... I think…” She trailed off, as Hunter kneeled down and gripped her thighs, pulling her closer over the armrest.

She could feel his warm breath across her pussy, his hands making marks on her thighs. Hunter’s grip tightened as he spread her legs wider, positioning her legs over his shoulders. Amina’s breath hitched, anticipation coursing through her body.

“Hunter…” she murmured, her voice filled with both desire and uncertainty.

“Trust me,” he replied, his voice low and husky. His tongue flicked out, teasing her folds before delving deeper, lapping at her slickness. Amina gasped, her back arching as pleasure shot through her like a bolt of lightning.

His tongue moved expertly, alternating between slow, deliberate strokes and quick, teasing flicks. Amina’s hands gripped the couch cushions, her knuckles turning white as she struggled to maintain her composure. Hunter’s fingers dug into her thighs, holding her in place as he devoured her, his mouth relentless.

“Hunter, please…” she whimpered, her body trembling.

Hunter’s response was a low growl, his tongue plunging deeper, tasting every inch of her. He found her clit, circling it with his tongue before sucking on it gently, sending waves of pleasure crashing through her. Amina’s moans grew louder, her hips bucking against his mouth.

“You taste so perfect,” he murmured against her, his breath hot and tantalizing.

Amina’s response was a throaty moan, her body writhing with need. She could feel the tension building inside her, a coil winding tighter and tighter. Hunter’s hands moved from her thighs to her hips, pulling her even closer, his tongue driving her closer to the edge.

“Hunter, I’m going to…” she gasped, unable to finish the sentence.

“Do it,” he commanded, his voice rough with desire. “Come for me, Amina.”

With a cry, Amina’s orgasm ripped through her, her body convulsing as pleasure flooded her senses. Hunter didn’t stop, his tongue continuing to work her through her climax, drawing out every last shudder of pleasure. When she finally stilled, he pulled back, his lips glistening with her arousal.

“You’re incredible,” he said, his voice full of admiration.

Amina panted, her body still trembling from the intensity of her release. She barely had time to recover before Hunter stood, his eyes dark with need. He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her towards the bedroom. The urgency in his movements was palpable, a reflection of the burning desire they both felt.

Once in the bedroom, Hunter pressed her against the wall, his hands roaming over her body. He kissed her fiercely, his tongue claiming her mouth as his own. Amina moaned into the kiss, her hands tangling in his hair, pulling him closer.

“Turn around,” he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Amina obeyed, turning to face the wall. Hunter’s hands were on her in an instant, pulling her underwear down and tossing it aside. He positioned himself behind her, his body pressing against hers, his erection hard against her ass.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his breath hot against her ear. “I can’t get enough of you.”

Amina shivered at his words, her body alight with desire. Hunter’s hands gripped her hips, lifting her left leg slightly as he positioned himself at her entrance. He pushed into her with one swift motion, a gasp escaping both their lips as he filled her completely.

“Kriff, you feel so good,” Hunter groaned, his grip on her hips tightening.

He set a brutal pace, each thrust hard and fast, driving them both towards the edge. Amina’s hands pressed against the wall for support, her body rocking with each powerful movement. The burning sensation inside her seemed to lessen with each thrust, replaced by waves of pleasure that had her crying out with every breath.

“Hunter, yes,” she moaned, her voice trembling. “Don’t stop.”

“I won’t,” he promised, his voice a low growl. “You feel so good.”

His hands moved to her breasts, squeezing them roughly as he continued to pound into her. Amina’s head fell back against his shoulder, her moans growing louder with each thrust. Hunter’s teeth grazed her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

“Come for me again,” he commanded, his voice full of authority. “I want to feel you come around me.”

Amina’s body responded to his words, the coil inside her winding tighter and tighter. She could feel her orgasm building, a tidal wave of pleasure ready to crash over her. Hunter’s thrusts became more erratic, his own release nearing.

“Yes, Hunter, yes,” she cried, her body tensing.

With a scream, Amina’s orgasm tore through her, her walls clenching around Hunter’s cock. The intensity of her release sent him over the edge, a guttural roar escaping his lips as he emptied himself inside her. They stayed like that for a moment, their bodies pressed together, trembling with the aftershocks of their climaxes.

Hunter slowly pulled out of her, turning her to face him. He kissed her gently, his hands cradling her face. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft.

Amina nodded, her body still tingling with the remnants of pleasure. “I’m okay,” she replied, her voice a bit shaky. “That was…”

“Amazing,” Hunter finished for her, a satisfied smile on his face.

Amina smiled back, leaning into his embrace. The burning sensation inside her had lessened considerably, though it wasn’t completely gone. She looked up at Hunter, her eyes full of love and desire.

“Hunter,” she whispered, her voice still husky from their earlier activities.

He looked down at her, concern mixed with the lingering heat of their passion. “Are you still feeling it?”

She nodded, biting her lip. “Not as bad, but it’s still there.”

Hunter’s hand caressed her cheek, his eyes searching hers. “Then we’ll keep going until it’s gone.”

Amina nodded, her hands sliding down his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles. She dropped to her knees in front of him, looking up at him with a mixture of desire and determination. Hunter’s breath hitched, his hand tangling in her hair as he watched her.

“You don’t have to,” he said, though his voice betrayed his need.

“I want to,” Amina replied, her hands moving to his hips. Hunter’s hand tightened in her hair as she wrapped her lips around the tip, her tongue swirling around the head.

“Kark, Amina,” Hunter groaned, his hips jerking forward involuntarily.

She took him deeper, her mouth working over him with fervor. Hunter’s other hand joined the first in her hair, guiding her movements. His control slipped as the pleasure built, his hips thrusting into her mouth.

“Look at me,” Hunter commanded, his voice rough.

Amina’s eyes met his, her gaze heated and full of want. Hunter’s grip tightened, his thrusts becoming more insistent. She gagged slightly, but the look of determination in her eyes only spurred him on.

“You’re doing so good, sweetheart,” he praised, his voice strained. “Such a good girl.”

Amina’s hands moved to his thighs, steadying herself as he fucked her mouth. Her eyes watered, but she didn’t pull away, her tongue working against him with each thrust. Hunter’s breathing grew ragged, his control slipping further.

“Fuck, Amina,” he groaned, his hips snapping forward. “I’m gonna…”

Before he could finish, his release hit him, his cock pulsing in her mouth. Amina swallowed as much as she could, the rest spilling from the corners of her lips. Hunter’s grip loosened, his body trembling with the force of his climax.

He pulled back, lifting her to her feet. “Are you okay?” he asked, wiping the remnants of his release from her lips as she sucked it off his thumb.

Amina nodded, feeling a rush of affection and desire for Hunter. "I'm okay," she replied, her voice soft but steady. She gazed up at him, her eyes still clouded with need. "But it's not gone yet."

Hunter's expression hardened with determination. "Then we keep going." He scooped her up effortlessly, carrying her to their bed and gently laid her down, his hands caressing her body. He could feel the heat radiating off her, the aphrodisiac flower still wreaking havoc on their systems.

He positioned a pillow under her hips, elevating her slightly. Amina's breath hitched as she felt his intentions, the anticipation building once again. Hunter kissed her deeply, his tongue exploring her mouth as his hands roamed her body, squeezing her breasts through the fabric of her brassiere.

“Hunter…” she moaned against his lips, her body arching towards him.

“Shh, I’ve got you,” he murmured, pulling back to look into her eyes. “You’re my good girl, right?”

She nodded eagerly. “Yes.”

“Good,” he growled, his hands slipping behind her to unclasp her brassiere. He ripped it off her, the sound of fabric tearing filling the room. “I want to see all of you.”

Amina gasped as the cool air hit her bare skin, her nipples hardening instantly. Hunter’s hands moved to her breasts, kneading them roughly before taking one nipple into his mouth, sucking and biting gently.

“Does that feel good, sweetheart?” he asked, his voice husky.

“Yes,” she moaned, her hands threading through his hair. “It feels so good.”

Hunter’s free hand trailed down her body, his fingers slipping between her folds once more. “You’re so wet,” he murmured, his thumb circling her clit. “You like having my come inside you, don’t you cyar’ika?”

Amina’s hips bucked against his hand, her body desperate for more. “Hunter, please…” She whined.

Hunter’s grip tightened on Amina’s hips, feeling her desperation as she moved against his hand. "Patience, sweetheart," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "I’ve got you."

Amina's response was another whimper, her body arching into his touch. "Hunter, I need you," she pleaded, her voice trembling.

Hunter’s fingers moved faster, his thumb pressing harder against her clit. "You like this, don’t you? My sweet girl needs more, doesn’t she?"

"Yes," Amina gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders. "Please, baby. I need you inside me."

Hunter groaned at her words, his own arousal surging. He shifted her, adjusting the pillow under her hips, elevating her just right. He lined himself up with her entrance, pausing to look into her eyes. "You ready for me, sweetheart?"

"Yes, Hunter," Amina replied, her voice breathless. "Please, I need you."

With one swift motion, Hunter thrust into her, a gasp escaping both their lips as he filled her completely. "Oh, Maker," he groaned, his hands gripping her hips.

Amina’s back arched, her body responding to the overwhelming sensation. "Hunter, yes," she moaned, her hands clutching at the sheets.

Hunter set a relentless pace, each thrust deep and powerful. "You feel so good, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice rough. “So good.”

Amina’s breaths came in short gasps, the intensity of their connection driving her wild. "Harder, Hunter," she begged, her hips meeting his thrusts.

Hunter’s grip tightened, his hands moving to pin her wrists above her head. "Like this?" he asked, his voice a low growl as he drove into her harder, his cock hitting deeper with each thrust.

"Yes," Amina cried out, her body trembling. "Oh Maker, Hunter, yes."

Hunter's eyes were dark with desire as he continued to thrust into her, his pace relentless. "You like that, sweetheart?" he growled, his voice rough. "Does that feel good?"

Amina could only nod, her breath coming in short gasps. "Yes, yes, it feels so good," she moaned, her fingers creating a fist as Hunter kept a steady grip on her wrists.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear as he spoke. "I want to hear you, Amina. Let me hear how much you need this."

Amina's moans grew louder, her body arching into his touch. "I need it so much, Hunter," she whimpered. "I need you."

Hunter's thrusts became harder, each movement driving him deeper inside her. "You're so perfect," he murmured, his voice full of admiration. "So perfect for me."

Amina's nails dug into her palms, her body quivering with each powerful thrust. "Hunter, I'm so close," she gasped, her eyes meeting his.

Hunter's eyes burned with intensity as his thrusts becoming more forceful. "Come for me, Amina," he commanded. "Let go for me."

With a scream, Amina's body convulsed, her orgasm crashing over her. Her walls clenched around Hunter, pulling him deeper as he continued to pound into her.

"That's it, sweetheart," Hunter growled, his grip on her wrists tightening. "Such a good girl."

He didn't slow down, his own release building as he drove into her over and over again. "You feel so good," he groaned, his voice strained. "So kriffing good."

Amina's body shook with the force of her climax, her moans filling the room. "Hunter, please," she begged, her voice hoarse. "I need more."

Hunter's eyes darkened with desire as let go of her wrists and pulled her closer, his hips slamming into hers. "You want more, sweetheart?" he growled. "I'll give you more."

His hands moved to her hips, lifting them slightly as he angled himself to hit deeper. Amina's breath hitched, the new angle sending waves of pleasure through her body.

"Yes, Hunter," she moaned, her fingers clenching around his biceps. "Just like that."

Hunter's pace was punishing, each thrust harder than the last. "You like it rough, don't you?" he growled, his eyes locked on hers. "You like when I take you like this."

Amina's response was a choked moan, her body trembling. "Yes, Hunter, I love it," she gasped. "I love it when you take me like this."

Hunter's hands moved to her thighs, spreading her legs wider as he drove into her. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice full of admiration. "So kriffing beautiful."

Amina's eyes fluttered closed, her body overwhelmed by the intensity of their connection. "Hunter, I can't," she whimpered, her voice trembling.

"Yes, you can," Hunter growled, his hands gripping her thighs. "You're strong, sweetheart. You can take it."

Amina's body responded to his words, the coil inside her winding tighter and tighter. "Hunter, I'm going to," she gasped, her eyes squeezing shut.

"Do it," Hunter commanded, his voice rough. "Come for me again, Amina. I want to feel you."

With a cry, Amina's orgasm tore through her, her walls clenching around him. Hunter's grip tightened, his thrusts becoming more erratic as he followed her over the edge.

"Kriff, Amina," he groaned, his hips jerking as he emptied himself inside her. "You feel so good."

They stayed like that for a moment, their bodies pressed together, trembling with the aftershocks of their climaxes. Hunter slowly pulled out of her, his eyes searching hers.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

She nodded, letting out a soft sigh, “yeah, much better.”

Amina leaned her head against Hunter's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear. She felt a sense of peace wash over her, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. Despite the uncertainty of their situation, she found solace in the arms of the man she loved.

Hunter's fingers gently traced circles on her back, his touch comforting and reassuring. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, his lips lingering against her skin as he savored the moment. For him, there was no greater joy than being with Amina, sharing these intimate moments that bound them together in a way that nothing else could.

His head moved off the pillow as Amina got onto her elbows, “what is it?” She asked.

“Amellia is at the door.” He responded.

Amina hurriedly got off the bed and grabbed a pastel green nightgown and quickly slipped it on going to the front door. “Yes?”

“I ran your blood tests and I found out what is wrong. You probably ran into some sort of flower that contained a strong aphrodisiac, or in simpler terms, a sex pollen. The best course of action would be to- ” Amellia looked up from her datapad, finally looking at Amina and a few of clothes strewn about the living room.

“Oh. It seems you already figured out the antidote.” Amellia said, tucking hair behind her ear.

Amina adjusted her legs, the soreness from her and Hunter’s escapades settling in. “Seems so.”

“Well, that’s good. Because sometimes if you don’t do anything, it can actually lead to death.”

Amina blinked rapidly, sex pollen? It seemed like something out of a cheap holo-drama, not anything that would happen in real life. “W- wait. Sex pollen is real, and it can lead to death?”

“Yes.” Amellia stated, “and masturbation won’t work, you have to really exhaust yourself. It’s quite strenuous actual- ”

Amina cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she struggled to find the right words. "Um, yeah, okay, great. So... we're cured because we... well, you know," she stammered, her gaze flickering nervously to the scattered clothes strewn across the living room floor.

Amellia nodded, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yes, it seems you've stumbled upon the antidote quite effectively," she said, her tone laced with amusement. "Sometimes, nature provides the most unexpected solutions."

Amina shifted uncomfortably, the weight of the situation settling heavily on her shoulders. The idea that something as innocuous as a flower could have such potent effects seemed almost surreal. Yet here they were, living out their own unexpected romance amidst the chaos of their daily lives.

"So, what now?" Amina asked, her voice hesitant. "Do we just... wait for the effects to wear off?"

Amellia nodded, her expression serious once more. "Yes, that's usually the best course of action," she replied, her tone professional. "But if you experience any lingering symptoms or discomfort, don't hesitate to come see me. I'll be here to help."

Amina offered a grateful smile, her heart still racing from the intensity of their encounter. "Thank you, Amellia," she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. "For everything."

Amellia returned the smile, her gaze warm with understanding. "Of course, Amina," she said, her tone gentle. "Just take care of yourselves, alright? I’ll have Omega stay overnight with me.”

With a final nod, Amellia bid them farewell, leaving Amina and Hunter alone once more in the quiet confines of their home. Amina turned to face Hunter, her heart fluttering in her chest as she took in the sight of him, shirtless and tousled from their earlier activities.

"I can't believe that actually happened," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hunter chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yeah, me neither," he said, his tone light. "But I'm not complaining."

Amina's cheeks flushed with heat as she met his gaze, her stomach fluttering with a mixture of nerves and excitement. Despite the unexpected turn of events, she couldn't deny the rush of emotion that surged through her at the thought of being with Hunter, intimately and unreservedly.

"I guess we should probably clean up," she said, her voice tinged with reluctance as she glanced at the scattered clothes strewn across the floor.

Hunter nodded in agreement, a playful smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, probably," he said, his tone teasing. "But first, I think we should... take a shower."

Amina's cheeks flushed with heat at his suggestion, but she nodded in agreement. "Yeah, a shower sounds... good," she said, her voice breathless with anticipation.

y'all have no idea how excited i am for the next chapter!! that's where things start to get real interesting…

tags: @callsign-denmark

[noahtally-famous]

A Guide To Surviving The Apocalypse....

HFKJHJFH IM SORRY Y'ALL 😭😭 both for answering this ask so late and for not updating agtsta in ages (omfg i just checked and has it rlly been almost a year?!)

firstly, ive been rlly busy as of late, college has been kicking my ass stg ugh so im sorry for slacking off on asks and posting stuff </3

as for agtsta, well, a lot of crazy shit went down for me last year and my motivation for writing, in general, just freaking TANKED bc of it lmfao like the ao3 curse has had its eye on me for a while but finally took me down for real this time hdjkfh ill explain more in detail in the author's note bc I know you guys deserve an explanation. i've been regaining my motivation over the past 3 months this year, and im actually halfway done with the next chapter of a guide to surviving the apocalypse (yay!!). so im hoping to finish it sometime soon and publish it!

thank you so much for reaching out & for your patience, anon and the rest of my readers, i seriously appreciate it, and I'm so sorry for dipping for a while there 😭 im trying to get back into the td fandom, working on my fics, and possibly publishing more in the future (🤭)

bottom line: dw y'all agtsta isn't being ditched, it's still happening, the next chapter is in the works, trust!

[compo67]

Finishing Wolfsong.

Just 2 hours left.

I had my in-person interview with the law firm on Friday. I was going to take the train. I woke up 5 minutes later than I wanted. My mom and I spoke for a while. I was late taking a shower. It was snowing and no one could drive. I pulled up to the station just as the train got there. Sigh.

So I drove. A solid hour. In stop and go traffic. Halfway through, I realized I had forgotten my wallet. So I had no drivers license and no way to pay for parking. Sigh.

I pulled over once I got into the city. Paid for parking online. $23. Sigh.

At least I hadn't forgotten my bag or my padfolio or my portfolio.

But then, in the parking garage, I noticed that my sister had tied my tie incorrectly. It was way too short. So I untied it and tried starting over. Didn't work. I went and sat in the garage lobby and watched a YouTube video until I made something resembling a knot (lol).

I walked a block in the snow to the building, then changed my shoes. Security asked for a license. Thank goodness they accepted the photo of it I have on my phone. I got to my floor with 5 minutes to spare. Sigh.

The rest, well, it went okay. I still have a rapport with the hr manager. We got along very well. The secretary coordinator was... tough. She asked difficult questions, some I had prepped for, some I hadn't. A recurring theme was how do you handle difficult personalities?

Like. Uh. Y'all know I've worked retail, right? And a 24/7 crisis line? Handling difficult personalities was 75% of my job. I know when to say, "That's out of my expertise." And I can diffuse most situations with the tone of my voice. But the fact that they kept asking different versions of that question was kind of a red flag. The HRM assured me that she and her assistant would be a team. But still.

I met with one of the lawyers on the recruiting committee. He was very weird and said some shit I would never say to a candidate, let alone a candidate for an HR position. He referred to himself as a fat white man. He said kids, even his own, are annoying. He said he works a lot and he's always tired. Yikes, but also, dude. Just. Dude.

My last meeting was with the HRM alone. We real talked. She shared she has RA. I shared that I do too, and EDS. She didn't look at my cane like it was a foreign object. She shared that an employee snuck a dog into the office for 3 weeks before she noticed. It's an ongoing issue now with the ADA and the building policy. I felt bad for the doggo.

My mom, the other day, had to speak to a gentleman at work about his clothing. There had been complaints about him. Whenever he sat down, his ass was hanging out. Full plumber butt. She approached the situation with tact so he wouldn't go off, but surprisingly, the man was so embarrassed and apologetic. It's weird sometimes, this hr stuff.

I asked for a salary range I think I deserve. It's close to what I was making at the crisis line. Maybe a little more.

I'm a fast learner. I'm motivated to help anyone I can and if I can't, then I can get them in the right direction. I'm just not sure this is enough. The president of the firm seems like he'll be the difficult personality. But he does like hockey. So maybe that's my in?

HRM said I'd hear back from her this week. I just now scheduled sent a thank you email.

I want to work for this HRM. But I'm a bit wary now. We'll see. I have 9 months to try and hold down a full time job without losing my SSDI benefits.

I got home Friday and collapsed onto my recliner. I ate an edible and took an Ativan, and promptly fell asleep. It felt so good to sleep after so many feelings.

I attended a feminist menopause workshop on Saturday morning. It was reassuring and I learned a few new things. Glad I went.

Today, I'm going to my dad's after doing his grocery shopping. Then headed to KPs. She quit her job at the crisis line. I'm so proud of her, but also worried about her. It's always tough quitting without something else lined up. But she did what was best for her.

Today, all I did was knit and watch movies with my mom and sister. It was great. I needed that.

Okay, sleep now. ❤️

[chrononautintraining]

20 questions for fic writers

Thanks for the tag @lindirs-gaze!

1. how many works do you have on ao3?

78

2. what’s your total ao3 word count?

1,216,174

3. what fandoms do you write for?

My current hyperfixation is The Untamed/Modao Zushi, but I write for whatever. I've got a lot of one shots for properties I think are neat like Welcome to Nightvale or Parks and Rec.

4. what are your top 5 fics by kudos?

A Passion for Mushrooms, Mountain Flowers, The Seedling, Family's Just Another Word for Something Left To Lose, and In Town for the Wedding. Four in Hobbit/LotR fandom and one Naruto.

5. do you respond to comments? why or why not?

I really try to. I appreciate feedback so much. When I'm in a funk it really brightens my mood, so I want to respond and build community with readers not just drop a story. And sometimes I go months without checking my inbox which makes me feel awkward about replying. It's a mix.

6. what is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Interestingly, Family's Just Another Word For Something Left To Lose, according to some readers. It's ambiguous at the end and *a lot* of people think Kakashi dies, which is not at all my intent. I was paralleling the same scene with Iruka in the anime, and Iruka survives. It did not occur to me that the ambiguity would be what so many people took away.

The one I wrote that's intentionally angsty at the end is all i hear is your gear, which has no happy intentions and is all just about Crowley being a demon in hell.

7. what’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

So much of my stuff is romance with a traditional HEA ending, but weirdly the ending I like most is A Spy in the Shire. It's a happy ending for this one oc dwarf, but in the broader context of the series I think it both emphasizes the Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies AU happiness as well as justifying the many sacrifices made in canon.

8. do you get hate on any fics?

yeah for sure. And I am sensitive about it. If it hits me when I'm already feeling low, I usually have to stay away from fandom spaces for a while and I often lose the motivation to write at all. It sucks. Some of it I can brush off more easily, like the Iruka/Kakashi shippers who come onto my fic to make fun of the way Mighty Guy looks and try to pick a fight. They are likely children and I just don't engage. But the people who criticize my writing or a specific story for reasons they are happy to detail can be harder to ignore.

This is of course a very different thing than the helpful folks who point out that I've once again mixed up desert and dessert. Y'all are lovely and I appreciate the help.

9. do you write smut? if so, what kind?

Yes, as the mood strikes. ...the kind I'm in the mood for? Almost always romantic stuff between a major pairing.

10. do you write crossovers? what’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Listen. Ron Swanson and Wolverine would be very good friends, actually. My Parks and Rec / X-men crossover is not crazy.

11. have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge.

12. have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! One of my Naruto fics is available in Chinese and two of my Modao Zushi stories can be read in Russian. As I speak neither language, I can only assume the translators did an awesome job of making my writing smarter, funnier, and sexier than it is in English.

13. have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, but I find the idea of collaborating interesting.

14. what’s your all time favorite ship?

This is not how my brain works. I pretty much constantly have a Current Obsession and then pairings I still enjoy. Right now, Wangxian invented love, but I'll always enjoy revisiting a certain romance involving Mister Spock or the Leverage Pretzels and Beer OT3.

15. what’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I desperately want to finish my Zombie Criminal Minds series, particularly because being able to revisit it will mark the end of my pandemic / outbreak related brain gremlins.

16. what are your writing strengths?

speling

17. what are your writing weaknesses?

I'd like to do more with humor. I feel like I frequently manage to provoke a sensible chuckle, but I've read fics that make me crack up. Someday, I'd like to write a really Terry Pratchett style laugh-a-minute story.

18. thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Sometimes you gotta do it, because it's in keeping with the canon, but it's always best to do sparingly. If it's longer than a greeting or an honorific, I like to translate directly within the narrative or use a footnote.

19. first fandom you wrote for?

Slayers. Yes, I was that anime kid in high school.

20. favorite fic you’ve written?

My favorite child? Well, I've never really cared for Pit Stop...

I suppose, back against a wall, I enjoy the world building in None So Blind. We just don't spend enough time in dwarven spaces that aren't complete ruins in the canon. Coupled with thoughts on fantasy accessibility and the classic trope of tripping a romantic lead into a pile of literal pig shit, I just like it. Good work, 2018!me.

If you'd like to play, please pretend I tagged you! For the meme, I'll invite @youhideastar, @primtheamazing, and @sunshine304

[ageless-aislynn]

From @mrtobenamedlater

If you get this, answer w/ three random facts about yourself and send it to the last seven blogs in your notifs. anon or not, doesn’t matter, let’s get to know the person behind the blog! ☀️

How about 3 random Halo facts about me? 😎👍

There are so many characters that I know woefully almost nothing about ( and who several of my fellow Halo friends write about). If they come from the books, Halo 5 or Infinite, chances are that I'm seriously winging it on who they are. A couple of times I've had to look them up to see who is a canon character and who's an OC. On the plus side if you're a writer for any of them, you're obviously great at it because I can't tell the difference between your OCs and canon characters, lol! Good work, keep going! 😎👍

2. I'm legit not kidding that this is one of my proudest moments:

I have a bit of a tremor in my hands, sometimes worse than others, so I really didn't know if I'd be able to play well enough to even finish the first game on Easy. (I ought to record it sometime just so y'all can see what I mean as my reticle is BouNcINg aLL OvEr thE plAcE on a bad day while I'm trying to aim, lol.) But I figured out strategies based off of Youtube tutorials that helped me to mitigate it as much as possible, helped me figure out my strengths as a player and then sometimes I just devoted a lot of time to grinding it out, trying to get through. Halo 2's Regret boss battle took me about 2 weeks to get through on Legendary. Halo 3 ODST's Coastal Highway was almost a month. Learning how to get on the rooftops to avoid the Jackal snipers on Halo 2's Outskirts is a MUST, lol! (And they'll still sometimes snipe you from, like, the other side of town! 😧😜) Mastering grenade jumps made me so happy and I adore learning ways to break out of bounds!

3. I do love every Halo game in the MCC but the only one I routinely play from start to finish without skipping any missions is Reach. There's just something about it that makes it such a joy to me, I can't even explain it. Though it's not a joy if you're trying to do the Legendary speedrun achievement. I still haven't gotten even close to getting my total time under 3 hours. 😔

From just under 8 hours to under 6, so at least I'm getting better, though! (And look at Heroic, I took its Fastest Clear Time from over 11 HOURS 😱to under 3, so that made me happy!) So, hopefully one day! 🤞😣🤞

Bonus Halo fact: I really adore these games. They came into my life at a time when I desperately needed something to distract me, something I could learn, was ABLE to learn, something that lets you be creative, to challenge yourself, to play it easy, to play it hard. I will always be thankful to the MCC for that. I hope to one day be able to play 5 (currently is not available for the PC) and Infinite (borked up my previous computer, yikes) but even if I can't, the 6 beautiful games of the MCC will hopefully be with me for the rest of my life.🤗🤗🤗💖

[the-one-who-lambs]

🐑🐑🐑 (3) (for the fic ask thingy in case this confuses u lmao)

3. What’s something you learned about yourself as a writer?

This is... a long one. TL;DR: It took me a while but I finally, actually internalized that I don't need to set goalposts for myself and consistently move them.

Story's gonna get vulnerable and involve a few other people too. Many of y'all probably saw me go through a whole character arc but I've never really talked about how I felt about this (aside from a couple close friends).

Around July/August, I noticed my readership going down because I had just finished a big writing project and I was moving on to other stuff/trying to figure out what my next big thing was gonna be. I have always always written for myself but ngl, getting lots of consistent engagement and then suddenly not as much anymore made me wonder if I was doing something wrong, if the quality of my works were going down. I vented to a group of friends (including you lmao sorry Juliet) about it and they were like "chill it's the beginning of the semester and people are getting rly busy it's ok" and I was like "yeah makes sense" but nope, I had just plateaued and was dropping off a little for a couple months.

Around the same time, I posted about reaching some sort of milestone and got an anon (maybe well intentioned but it seemed kinda backhanded) that basically said "oh if you ACTUALLY have that many reads that makes you the most popular writer in the cotl fandom. I'm gonna place u above everyone else due to this metric I just kinda invented." And once I noticed my readership had stopped growing and just kinda leveled off/dropped a little bit it made me anxious. Sadly, "keeping others interested" with my writing wasn't really a concern of mine until this started bothering me

I did know that recognition was not the same thing as talent but silly perfectionist brain thought "oough you're the exception btw. you're just not interesting anymore and therefore you're probably not as good anymore lol"

Anyway. October rolls around. I start getting some asks comparing my writing to bamsara's, starting with them mentioning little details that sound very similar but realistically are coincidences because sometimes multiple writers see a theme/motif and we all start chewing it. Anyway, it's obvious that anon is just trying to start shit. Maybe they saw how I'd been kinda beating myself up abt my writing for a little while and tried to make me jealous of them. I don't know. It's probably not worth trying to understand tbh. I just delete the asks. I keep anons on just in case there's a genuine concern.

at this point I'm gonna interrupt to say EVERYTHING TURNS OUT OK I PROMISE and I'm not tagging you in case it's a sore spot but Sara if you're reading this I'm literally so sorry that me learning the lesson I got out of this involved you getting these nasty messages too.

Bam posts something kinda vague about how they get compared to some writers they've never read before. I hope this is a coincidence but alarm bells are going off and I keep this to myself.

Anon keeps doing this every once in a while for a few weeks; at first it looks like anon is accusing bamsara of copying me (???? like i said, we're just exploiting similar themes) and then it starts turning into basically "they're doing everything you're doing but better." Bam obviously hadn't done anything wrong, so I keep supporting them as I do the other writers in the fandom. Eventually the anon gets kinda pissy that I'm not envious or trying to tear someone else down or whatever. I've kept this mostly to myself and they don't like that.

So when they send an ask in mid-November and this had been going on for a few weeks I finally answer an ask to tell them to shut the hell up (gracefully) and then I forget about it and go to sleep. Wake up the next morning and uhhh. See Bam feels like shit because they got a really scathing message. Comments say it happened during a stream and I check it to see if it's the same anon and it is. Fuck on a stick. I literally burn myself out with anger over the next two days until I donate to their kofi as a peace agreement. They reach out and apologize for something they didn't do and it takes me until now to realize that literally nothing I have worried about over the past few months matters at all.

Anyway. It all turns out fine because we become mutuals and hype each other up. Kicker is, whoever it was forgot to turn off anon in Bam's askbox so we got to block them and I'm pretty sure they deactivated too lmao. I reached out to a bunch of writer friends and checked in with them to violently spread positivity and I've been trying to violently spread positivity as much ever since. Yay. Happy ending but sucks that this had to happen for me to crush my anxiety. Bam and I are buddies now and I've also befriended many more writers since, too. cotl writers we are unionizing.