#*soft cell plays in the background*

[ressaart]

and you think love is to pray

[pinkthrone445]

-Abbott's house- Part 4

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Pairing:Melissa Schemmenti x Reader

Gender:Fluff, funny, soft, hurt, smut

Warnings:Mention of weed, SMUT detailed

Summary:The district gives the school the idea of spending a month living together to strengthen bonds, you never thought that would change your relationship with some so much.

Enjoy you sinful souls 😈

Last weekend before the end of the month shared with your colleagues, last weekend of having to ignore the redhead, last weekend of avoiding situations and having to make arrangements so you don't feel uncomfortable being with her, last weekend of feeling like your heart was in a thousand pieces every time you remembered the humiliation in that game night.

Since it was the weekend, you had the opportunity to go out and go home for a few days before spending the last days of the week with the last activities with your classmates. You already had your car packed up and had started to leave and avoid being with Melissa, you felt like staying at home eating junk food, watching romantic movies and crying. But you didn't even make it two blocks from the house, that your car decided to stop working. After a lot of insults and trying to fix it by yourself, you decided to call the tow truck and go back to Abbott's house walking.

When you arrived there was no one there, many went to their homes for the weekend and the others went to a bar together. You tough it was a good idea sleeping somewhere else than in the same room as Melissa, so you sent a quick message to Janine letting her know that you would stay in her room so you wouldn't have to be alone with Mel, and you went to grab some clothes so you could change while you stayed there.

Honestly you were in a very bad mood, between your broken car and your broken heart, you were very upset, but help came to your hands when you opened your drawer to take out clothes and a box of chocolates was waiting for you. It was a box of marijuana chocolates that you usually ate when you were on your period so the cramps didn't hurt that much, but you had quite a few left over this time because Melissa had been helping in other ways.

Smiling, you took the box and ate two quietly while you looked at your cell phone waiting for them to take effect, after a few minutes, your body began to relax and your mind fell finally silent, your back felt lighter and your broken heart didn't feel so bad anymore. From one of your bags, you pulled out a bag of chips and started eating while choosing something to watch on your computer, feeling so much happier than before. The house and your mind were completely silent and that brought you much needed peace. You carefully took off some of your clothes while letting the movie play on the background and looking for clothes to take a relaxing bath, but you were distracted by feeling the texture of the different fabrics and garments, especially the ones that were softer.

After spending a lot of time in it, in your jacket pocket you found a cigarette, you usually didn't smoke, in fact that cigar had ended there after you had gone out with Jacob for a few drinks and put his cigars in your pocket, but for some reason, now you really wanted to do it.

After playing for a few minutes with the cigarette in your hands, you closed the closet and went out onto the balcony with a lighter in hand. The movie was still playing in the background, but you had already stopped paying attention to it a long time ago. Carefully, you lit the cigarette and raised it to your lips, taking a long puff and closing your eyes, holding the smoke for a few seconds before releasing it into the cold night air. The effects of earlier marijuana were still having an strong effect on you, so the bitter taste of the cigarette was stronger, but that didn't stop you from finishing it.

Hunger attacked your body again so you decided to go back to the room for more snacks, but when you walked in, the redhead was there, sitting on your bed, hugging your pillow and staring into nothingness. You never heard when she came to the house. In silence you approached the bed to take your clothes and go to bathe, but your eyes wandered to the box of chocolates, and suddenly you understood the silence and how lost the redhead was.

About half an hour ago, Mel had come home from the bar very sad because she missed you more than you knew. She was so sad thinking about you that she didn't thought that maybe you had come back to the house since your computer was on the bed, the only thing she noticed was the box of chocolates on your nightstand, chocolate that would help with her sadness or maybe if she ate them they would make you angrier with her and at least you would speak to her again at least to yell at her.

Melissa thought that you had managed to go home since the car wasn't at the door, it never occurred to her that maybe it had been tow truck and that you had stayed in the Abbott's house.

After eating 3 chocolates, she sat on your bed hugging your pillow and smelling your scent, until the marijuana took effect without her suspecting it. And that's how you found her when you came back to the room. Lost, staring into nothingness and hugging your pillow.

-"Melissa...Did you ate my chocolates?" - You sighed looking at her seriously. Melissa looked at you and nodded in embarrassment, but a small smile escaped her lips as you were at least talking to her-"How many did you eat?" - You asked again

-"Three... They were delicious, I don't regret anything..."- She wanted to comment defiantly but the effect of the chocolate made her very relaxed, which made her voice soft and cute

-"They had marijuana and I usually eat 2 at most because they're big, you ate 3...so maybe you'll start regretting it soon... From the way your pupils dilated, I'd say it's already taking effect" - You muttered and sat on her bed looking at her, as she was still sitting in front of you on your bed. The redhead turned slightly paler as she had been a little scared by what you told her, she had never used marijuana that way before-"Don't worry, even if you ate a lot, it's not enough to start feeling bad, you're only going to have a few hours of feeling very relaxed, very happy and with very little common sense, so just go with the flow and enjoy the trip" - You muttered and lay back on the bed on your side, looking at her

-"Why do you have those chocolates here? I didn't know you consume them" - she whispered, playing with the paper of the chocolates and looking at the box and its details

-"I don't eat them all the time, only when my cramps are very bad... That's why I bought them..."-You watched what she did, even though she had rejected you, it didn't mean that you stopped loving her or that you didn't care about her anymore. The light in the room gently hit her hair making it shine delicately, from consuming the chocolates, her eyes were a darker shade of green, but at the same time more crystalline and bright. Her body looked more relaxed, but her eyes hid sadness and you didn't know why

-"I'm hot" - she whispered and you nodded

-"You sure are" - You joked with a soft laugh-"It's normal... You can feel hot or cold, it's different for each person..."-You answered

-"What do you feel when you eat them?" - She asked curiously and got up from your bed to lie down in front of you in her own bed, also lying on her side, looking you in the face

-"Right now I feel relaxed, my head doesn't go as fast and I don't clench my jaw so much... Some senses are awakened while others are calmed... Earlier I was very hungry, do you feel hungry?" - You consulted looking into her eyes gawking, it felt nice to have her so close even though you weren't even touching each other. You missed her so much

-"No... Just hot, can we go together at the terrace? I don't want to go alone, but if you don't want to go, we can stay here"-Mel was whispering to you, as if it were a secret between you two. You nodded and walked with her to the terrace, breathing in the cool night air. Carefully you leaned against the rail, looking up at the sky, Mel took off her blouse in silence and you tried to stare at the floor so you wouldn't look at her breasts and bra on display

-"This is what I need it, fresh air... This is nice... It reminds me of the night we spent admiring the stars after skating on ice..."-she whispered and you nodded still trying to look at everything except her

-"It seems like so long ago...Everything changed"-You murmured

-"Yeah... I miss you" - The redhead murmured, and you looked up to look at her, straight in her eyes

-"You miss me as your friend?" - You asked, and she smiled sadly

-"I miss you as my everything... You were always there and suddenly you weren't, you leave a big emptiness..."-The redhead brushed your hand on the rail, then intertwined her pinky with yours and you let her

-"I miss you too..."-You whispered and looked back to the sky.

After a few minutes of silence, you felt Mel's body shiver with cold, squeezing your hand more firmly

-"We should go inside Mel, you might get sick" - Carefully you bent down to pick up her blouse and when you got up, you had Melissa face to face, so close that the air she breathed touched your lips

-"I really miss you" - she whispered over your lips. Even though your mind was screaming for you to get away, your body couldn't move an inch, you weren't even sure if you were blinking or breathing

-"Mel..."-You didn't even know what to say, but her name came from your lips like a prayer

-"I miss you every passing second" - she murmured again, brushing her lips against yours-"I don't want to lose you, I want you close... Don't run away from me... Please" - She whispered before kissing you, no matter how much something told you that this wasn't right, you didn't do anything to walk away, you just relaxed and decided to continue the kiss, dropping the blouse to the floor, you ran your hands down her neck until you reached the nape of her neck and grabbed her silky hair between your fingers. Melissa carefully took your waist, sticking your body to hers while kissing you.

Though your heart was racing a thousand miles an hour, your lips were soft and slow, remembering every movement and sound and etching it into your memory. Her lipstick stuck to you, giving the kiss a soft cherry flavor, her perfume entered through your nose reaching the depths of your being, her hands were soft but firm, sure about what they were doing. Her feet began to move, pushing you into the room and pressing you against the door. You lightly separated yourself from her by taking a deep breath, giving your lungs a break, they felt set on fire. The redhead had you trapped between her arms and the door, so you delicately turned to try and open the damn sliding door that got stuck every time you close it. Mel took this as an opportunity to press her chest into your back and kiss the soft junction of your neck and shoulder, causing a deep chill to run through your body and a soft moan to escape your lips. With the door finally open, the redhead grabbed your waist and guided you to her bed while still kissing and biting your neck, walking very slowly ans trying not to fall.

When you reached the bed, Mel took your waist and carefully turned you around so she could kiss your lips, she carefully pushed you making you sit on the bed without breaking the kiss and she sat on your lap, her breasts practically bounced in front of your face making you salivate

-"Kiss them" - The redhead ordered by tangling her hands in your hair, scratching the nape of your neck with her nails giving a pleasant burning. With trembling hands you peeled off her bra and let it fall to the floor, her breasts fell free in front of your view, you licked your lips before starting to give soft kisses on her neck, earning you a moan as a reward when your hands began to play softly with her breasts. Your full hand massaged her entire breast while you let her nipple be free between your thumb and index finger, little by little you were bringing those fingers together pinching and pressing her nipples on each hand, they were already hard and awake but as you squeezed them tighter, the redhead let out a moan of pain and pleasure and puffed out her chest silently asking for more.

Your lips left the kisses on her neck when her skin turned red, so you began to lower your kisses to her breasts, with one hand you squeezed it and guided it to your mouth while with your tongue you licked her nipple as if it were a lollipop. Then you started sucking it with your whole mouth, alternating with a few bites and licks. You repeated your same actions with her other breast until they were both hard and sensitive.

Melissa pushed your shoulders to make you lie flat and pulled your pants off in one hard swoop, let them pool on the floor

-"Take everything off princess" - She ordered and you nodded, seeing how she also began to peel off and take off the rest of her clothes, you tried to take off your clothes as quickly as possible so as not to miss a second the sight of that goddess undressing in front of you.

Her white skin contrasted sharply with her reddish hair, her green eyes were darker, almost black and didn't leave you for a second, her breathing was agitated like yours, her chest rose and fell in a heave and her curls jumped gently from the movement. Her body certainly wasn't that of a teenage girl, but she was still making you salivate like the last bottle of water in the desert or the forbidden apple in the Garden of Eden.

Mel climbed onto the bed and sat on your hips kissing you gently as her hands caressed your face, it felt so sinful and so loving at the same time. You didn't know if it was the effects of chocolate, but every millimeter of your body felt awake and ready to feel her.

Your heart was beating so hard that it was the only thing you could hear besides Mel's heavy breathing, you were afraid it would escape from your chest.

The redhead, after kissing your lips until they were swollen and red, lowered her face to your crotch and stuck out her tongue, she traveled a wet path from your crotch through your stomach, your breasts, your neck and ending at your ear, then she went over that path with kisses, going down from your ear to your crotch.

You didn't know if this was all big hallucinations from eating the chocolate or if it was true, if it was true, you knew it was because she had also consumed chocolates and her boundaries had been loosened because of it. Should you stop her? Was this right if they were both on drugs? Why were you thinking about that instead of fully enjoying it? This was your dream come true, you had to concentrate on what you... Ohhhh

A scream came from your lips as Melissa began to pull your outer lips apart and then lick all over your entrance and clit, Your hands immediately went to her hair, grabbing it and pressing a little closer her face to your crotch. Melissa was making all the right movements, her tongue was spinning on your button, her saliva mixing with your juices, her nails scratching your legs, sucking your entrance every now and then while her nose pressed on your clit, but everything was so slow that it seemed like torture and wouldn't let you reach the place that you need it.

-"Melissa Please!!" - A frustrated scream left your mouth and the redhead laughed, lifting her head to see you, her chin full of your juices. She looked like a vision from heaven

-"I wanted to see how much you could take before you started crying" - She answered, and before you could think of a witty answer, the redhead inserted two of her fingers into you, immediately making you moan and squeeze your walls on her. She settled in so she could kiss you as her fingers moved in and out of you at a steady force, increasing the speed more and more. It was all too much, her kisses on your lips and neck, her fingers inside you, your dream coming true, the sounds of your juices every time she pumped into you. When her thumb started stroking your button, it was the straw that broke the camel's back, an animalistic scream, like something out of a porn movie, left your lips and your body began to tremble, trapping the redhead's fingers inside you for a few seconds while your walls contracted and you felt as if you touched the sky.

You didn't know how many seconds you were enjoying the afterglow, but the soft and tender kisses that the redhead gave over every inch of your face while with her fingers she peeled off some hairs from your sweaty forehead, made you return to reality

-"You okay hon?"-she whispered over your lips and you nodded smiling like a fool, caressing her waist-"Do you need anything?" - she asked again, noticing how gone you were

-"Sit on my face please" - You muttered in a raspy voice from shouting so much.

-"Honey, you can barely move... I'll crush you" - she commented and you shook your head. Your body wasn't fully responsive, but you didn't plan to end that night without trying her at least once

-"Sit, now"-You ordered by squeezing her waist making her feel chills and following your orders. For a long part of the night, Mel sat on your face, managing to come at least twice and then collapsing next to you and falling asleep cuddling with you.

The next morning the effects of the chocolate were completely gone and you had returned to your senses, maybe your memory was a little blurry but your body undoubtedly remembered each and every one of the details of last night.

The redhead was still asleep next to you and before you could think about how this would change your relationship with her and how you fucked up everything, someone knocked on the door of the room scaring you and waking the redhead up

-"We have stuff to do! Don't be late!" - Barbara's voice from the other side of the door made you blush excessively when you saw the state of nakedness her friend was in in front of you.

[yandere-sins]

The Enemy’s Embrace

a/n: This doesn’t really has any big background. I saw a book quote on TikTok and thought that the scene would fit so well in a yandere scenario. So I wrote it! Hope you guys enjoy it :3

Warnings: Yandere, Mention of Stalking, Mention of unconsenting actions, Mention of Killing, Soft Yandere

»»———————— ♡ ————————««        

A shuddering sigh escaped your shivering lips as your gaze fell from the lattice above your head to the cell bars keeping you locked inside the cell.

There were so many things wrong with you being thrown in the dungeon. You didn't commit the crimes you were accused of and never fought the guards to deserve the resentment they've harbored. They had been downright glad to deliver you into the outdoor cell despite the early-winter cold setting in already, telling you you 'deserved' it.

Why did this happen?

Even after days, you lamented the questions of why and how, but the realization—a realization that made you angry beyond measure, furious and wild—had long set in. No matter how much you tried to ignore it for the sake of your own sanity, it wouldn't let you forget the reason you were here.

Not least because the reason kept talking to you with an awfully smug grin on his face as he waited for you to break.

"I don't mind sharing, you know?"

"I know," you mumbled, turning your back towards your cellmate and hitting your head against the cold stone to remain composed. You knew. You knew so well. The man wouldn't stop talking, belittling you with every word he uttered. And you knew he didn't mind sharing at the cost of you giving in to him.

It was driving you mad.

Glancing back over your shoulder, you watched your arch nemesis, the man you hated most in the entire world, flap his beautiful fur coat into the air, exposing the free space he had underneath to spare for you. That was if you could lose your dignity and sit between his legs, allowing this awful man to envelop you in a warm embrace.

He was grinning, as always, when he caught your eyes. Smugly. Challenging. Aware. Aware that you were slowly freezing to death in just your clothes while he had cozily bundled up in luxury unbefitting of a prisoner. He had been here longer than you, thrown into this dungeon for his crimes before they even came to get you. Someone took pity on the man who presented himself oh-so-dramatic and charming when he wasn't an insane villain. He just had to wail to and flirt with some of the noble ladies passing by the lattice until one of them decided to drop the poor man such a fine fur coat to survive the cold. 

It wasn't like he could come near you or hurt you again from his position, bound by chains around his wrists that weren't short enough to immobilize him but not long enough to walk away from his spot. But even after all this time, he still enjoyed the torment of your suffering; every breath you blew against your icy fingers sending a shiver of excitement down his spine.

Sadly, no one thought of gagging him as would be appropriate for a notorious liar. Though the court believed you initially when you told them about his misbehavior—the following, the touches, the murders all in your name—somehow, he convinced them that you weren't an innocent part in all of this. There was nothing you could have done to convince them of your innocence after he charmed his way into the hearts of the jury with fake reasoning and pleading for justice. He opened his mouth, and everyone played his game—except you.

For these reasons, you hated him. And for your rejection, he loved you.

He could have had anyone, even a noble knight or the princess of the kingdom. But he wanted you, specifically, and preferably on your knees, begging for him. His taunting invitation to a warm huddling under the fur was just another way to torment you. He simply wanted to have you just because he decided you belonged to him, and crush your mind to fill it with the same insanity as his.

You had fought him for years. You barely escaped him on so many occasions. But while it had felt like victory to see him being dragged off by guards to his new home, the outdoor cell you hope he'd never escape from, in the end, it had all been in vain. And as you stood in the cell, facing the grey stone wall, this realization was the hardest to accept in all your life.

Because you were really fucking cold.

Even if you had thought about the possibility of yourself dying while getting rid of this lunatic, the thought still pained you. Things had gone wrong many times, but you always made it. You wanted to live. You fought so hard for your freedom and to survive. How could you possibly just throw it out now and allow him to lure you into his grasp?

"What must I do to make you come here and stop being so wary of me? When have I ever done something for you to hate me so?"

Even when he let out a defeated sigh before he spoke, his voice was nothing but mockery. He once again played the role of a savior. A gentleman, a soft-hearted soul in a cruel world. He was right that the world was a cruel place, especially for a genuine and kind person like you. But if you needed saving, you didn't want it to be from an actor who played the role of the selfless hero while grinning at the blood on his own hands.

"I'm good," you replied coldly, much like you were feeling. Hugging your body, you sunk to the ground, rocking yourself back and forth while trying to ignore the annoying villain on the other side of the cell. Closing your eyes, you tried to imagine the summer sun shining down, warming your skin instead of the cold winter breeze ramming into you. Things would have been much easier if he had stopped talking.

"Not to unnerve you, but despite always being stunningly beautiful, the color of your lips is slowly making me nervous, too. We both know you are freezing."

He just wouldn't shut up.

"I. Don't. Want. You. Near. Me," you repeated the same phrase you've been telling him from day one. A phrase he usually liked to ignore and keep sputtering. However, not this time, and suspicion forced you to open one eye to see what he was doing as he didn't reply.

He was simply staring at you. Blankly, unnervingly. You had to look away because his unblinking eyes were unsettling to look into, wide like those of cats staring at an object of desire but void of the empathy of a human.

"Frankly, I don't care what you want," he muttered quietly, barely audible over the howling of the wind. "But if I beg you to come here and let me warm you, will that help? Would you stop torturing me with that pitiful sight of you if I pleaded and said 'please' and 'pretty please'? If I could, I would already be by your side regardless of if you'd let me, but don't you have pity on me, too? Pity on the man who has to watch the love of his life slowly freeze to death while he can't do anything to save you?"

You were so tired of his tirades. The endless amount of garbage he spoke as easily and freely as a bard sang of overdramatized adventures of heros without flinching about their lies. "Please," he breathed. "Please let me warm you."

Another shiver ran through you—from the cold or the desperation in his voice, you weren't sure—but you didn't move from your seat. Didn't give him the gratification of acknowledging him even if your body began to burn from the cold. You heard the rustling of chains, and when you finally looked up, you could see him twist and turn his wrists in the cuffs, trying to loosen them somehow. Only when he noticed your gaze on him did he change from fighting the restraint to giving in.

Letting his hands sink to the ground as far as the chains allowed, he kneeled on all fours before reaching up one hand, ignoring how the cuff cut off the blood flow to his hand. He could never reach you, but he was still trying. No matter what, he never ceased to pursue you, even in the most impossible situations. It made you shiver even more to know the person that selfishly claimed you as his, had the determination of a starving lion to get what he wanted even when he was chained and immobilized.

"I'm begging you," your enemy emphasized. "I'm begging you to let me help you. Let me hold you, so we can survive this together—or die trying. Together. Don't die so far away from me where I can't reach you. Can't even follow you... I can't even hold your hand. Please don't leave me like this. Please just... forgive me. Have mercy on my unworthy, oppressed heart."

Your eyelids were growing weary from the cold, and your mind even more so from his words. But as your movements slowly stilled, conflicting, old thoughts came to mind. Thoughts that you had chugged into the deepest drawer of your mind after he had been imprisoned. Thoughts you hoped never to have to resurface.

I'll survive this. I can escape him no matter what happens. This is not the end.

Slowly, weakly, your arm stretched out. The realization turned your enemy's expression into a surprised one, then he lept forward, ignoring any restraint and the impact on his body as he reached for your hand. His fingers barely grazed yours, but as you collapsed forward, he managed to snatch your wrist, keeping your face from hitting the dirty ground you two were seated on.

And before you knew it, you were enveloped in warmth.

He shifted all around you for a while until your feet were tugged in and under his legs, body covered by the fur and his—probably hurting—arms, one hand holding the coat closed around you so no draft could touch you, while the other one pressed your head into his chest, his chin resting on top of your hair. Completely absorbing you into the little warm orb that was the world he lived in.

"Finally," he sighed, turning his face downwards to nuzzle it into your hair, ignoring the grime that must have built for days. As if nothing about you could scare him off. He didn't seem bothered by anything as long as it concerned you, but you ignored anything he did for once, letting out a long sigh as the warmth slowly thawed you.

"You're not getting out of this one," he mumbled, planting a reverent kiss on your head, filled with the fulfillment of his longing for you, drawing it out as long as possible. Hand reaching up, he cupped your face and warmed your cold cheek with his palm while his thumb caressed you as if you were the most precious object he ever held in his grasp. "I finally have you," he muttered, and you couldn't help a weak huff as the words ever so softly reached you.

"You can't escape me now. You're all mine. Finally. I waited so long for the day you'd finally give in to me. I'll get us out of here, and you'll never have to want for anything, I promise. I'd do anything for you. You know that."

You simply let him keep brabbling while he kept you warm. Fearing that if you refused him now, he too would reject you. That this really would be the end despite all the hardships you had overcome up to this point. You felt nothing of the worship he felt for you, for him, but if this was the only way to stay alive, you'd bite your tongue and let him confess a million more of his crimes to your ears only. You'd overcome this all the same.

You'd survive this, too.

But for now, you'd be warm, cradled in your enemy's embrace.

[itaipava]

— soft moments with carlos sainz.

doing skincare and taking care of yourselves on a free day; soft laughter when your fingers get caught in the tangled strands of each other’s hair or laughing when each other applies some cold product to the face; he silently researching more about all the products you have just to learn a little more about it so he can use it on you. offering to apply the products to your face but secretly transforming it gently into soft caresses; getting lost in the glare of your eyes and you needing to snap your fingers in front of his face so he can go back to the real world.

drying each other’s hair after a hot shower late at night together; the quiet world outside as you exchange soft smiles and bright eyes. getting close enough to share each other’s body heat to fight the night’s chill. he humming softly as he massages your scalp with the towel, occasionally dropping kisses on the top of your head; he gently but precisely grabs your hand when you’re drying his hair and placing a kiss on your palm.

having breakfast together; your favorite playlists playing in the background, barely loud enough, but you like it that way. his voice, deep and muffled, telling you what he dreamed of or what he planned for the day; a comfortable silence falling every now and then as he watches you adoringly and hands you a napkin with a smile when you leave some food on your lips.

calling you ‘good girl’ not sexually. he does it proudly; his tone is always playful and catchy. it happens when he sees or hears that you are taking good care of yourself as if you have a better sleep schedule. or sometimes, you’re arguing about what to watch on netflix, and when you finally relent, he softly drops the nickname with a smile as he happily kisses your cheek.

watching the sunset together; sitting side by side, hands resting close enough. soft whispers as you forget about your worries and everything bad that happened during the day or week. looking at each other as the light of the golden hour shines upon you both; admiring and adoring each other’s characteristics like it’s the last time.

him patiently listening to you ramble on about anything anytime; he stops everything he’s doing just to listen to you. sometimes you hesitate and your words trail off or you stop abruptly because you’re worried that you’re bothering him by talking too much. but he just looks at you curiously and says, “why did you stop?? talk more! i’m all ears”

watching tv late at night; curling up together on the sofa in a warm, comfortable blanket. the volume loud enough to be able to hear, but not loud enough to dominate the atmosphere. not many words exchanged, just tacky shows lazily and silently. occasional chuckles and soft touches, his fingers absently tracing across your skin as he snuggles closer to you. throw popcorn at each other to catch in mouths during commercial breaks.

waking up from a nap together. the slight movement and sound of one is enough to wake up the other, sleepy noises; little hums and mumbles and a few soft yawns. silly, funny fights about who has to open the eyes first and look at the time - he relents with an annoyed sigh, but still gives you a quick kiss on the forehead after glancing at his cell phone. then just lying in silence, completely content with each other’s company.

sharing a bathroom space; it’s the playful little ’don’t peek’ as one pee while the other shaves. it’s the lingering hand touches when he’s passing you the towel; him splashing water at you while you wash your face. and it’s the way your eyes meet in the mirror while you’re brushing your teeth together and you both smile — it’s just a small stretch of lips at first until you’re both grinning uncontrollably because right now, everything just feels right.

discovering your favorite new series, movie or songs together; it’s exciting feeling and fun looks that you exchange when you finish watching the first season of a new series and, before moving on to the next one, discussing what could happen in the next few episodes and which characters you liked or hated the most. it’s that feeling of being able to share with each other the dumbest jokes and theories of all, but happy because the other will understand.

[norrisleclercf1]

Could you maybe like expanded on the idea of lando being you husband ☺️

Decided to make some of these headcannons so here's this one

Lando as your husband is something else

As your husband when he comes home, you'd think that you'd be taking care of him right?

Nope

This boy makes sure that the moment he steps through the door he's taking care of you

Since he's gone so much Lando loves spoiling you to make up for the lost time

Waking up to Lando naked in the kitchen cooking breakfast after he spends the night showing you how much he's missed you

Lando who streams with you in the background playing with him

Husband Lando who takes you out for romantic dinners to keep the romance alive

He loves taking you away from everyone and taking you to some random vacation with no cell service

If you're in the shower you best believe that Lando is going to sneak in and join you, placing soft kisses on your neck

If there is a special day between you two, you'll wake to gifts at the foot of the bed if he's home

If he's at races then he'll have Max or someone else sneak into the house and put them in the living room

When you're sick Lando is right there refusing to leave your side until your healthy

With his wedding ring, Lando hates taking it off, he actually fought with the FIA and they made a compromise to the rules because of Lando

Drivers were now allowed to wear wedding rings or jewelry of significance, but the rings needed to be pinned to their breast pocket inside their race suit

At one point Lando did lose his ring and had a full blown panic attack

After that he got his first tattoo with your name on his ring finger

Husband Lando who doesn't pressure you into the whole kids thing until you're ready

Lando who when you over drink or are exhausted will do your entire night time routine

He once stole your clothes, just so he could see you in his clothes and since then whenever he's home you make sure to wear his clothes

When you fight Lando hates it because you don't talk and this breaks his heart talking to you is the best part of his day

Lando who goes shopping for you when you don't want to and doesn't even have to call to ask what to get because he has it all memorized

When you're on your period he does everything around the house and when he's finished lays down with you and holds you close rubbing your lower stomach to ease the pains

Husband Lando knowing everything about you and loving you so much

[saturnsorbits]

Another Tide

Fandom: My Hero Academia, Warnings: Pirate AU, Violence, A Touch of Gore, Background Suggested KiriBaku and MinaOcha, Rough Sex, Spit, Spanking, Lacking Prep, Choking, The Smallest Bit of Ass-Play, Soft Sex, Ambiguous Ending. Word Count: 14.5k.

Summary: Captain Bakugo Katsuki certainly left an impression when he broke his promise and abandoned you. Unluckily for him, you're rather good at holding a grudge.

A/N: Based on: This.

Water drips from the ceiling of the cells. In thin rivers, it travels down the stone, nourishing the moss that sustains, barely, by the stolen natural light allowed by the tower door. Most of the cities jail cells are above ground, but not this one. This, buried beneath one of the old royal towers, is a hole reserved only for the worst men who displease the crown. Men, like Bakugo Katsuki.

'Ah.' The voice breaks from the darkness. It's as rough as the mid-summer storm outside, as more inaudible words are purred into the air. A fitting voice for a pirate. 'My princess, returns...'

Lifting your candle a little higher, you take your leave from the final step of the tower and peer about the lock-up. There are only four cells here, buried below the world; although only two of them are currently occupied. Slipping your feet from your shoes, you cross the flag-stone to the third cell and squint into the dim. 'I am not your princess.'

Chained to the floor with his manacled hands in his lap, Bakugo squints against the light offered by the burning candle. 'C'mon now...' His chains jingle as he unfolds himself, clambering to his feet. 'Don't be like that, my love.'

Your eyes find his in a moment, but before you're lost to their crimson depth you're turning and moving towards the last cell. The light from your candle flickers, casting awkward shadows against the stone as you near the bars. There had been two of them, hauled in spitting and hissing at last light a month back and while Bakugo had endured, his companion hadn't fared as well under the cities charge. 'Midoriya...'

You press yourself to the bars. Slumped against the far wall, Midoriya's head hangs over his hips. His shirt is torn, exposing most of his right arm and chest allowing you to see the thick strips of flesh that have been torn from his bicep. The muscle-fibre underneath pulses, red and angry, but the wound is dry. It looks as though it's been that way for a while. You swallow. 'Midoriya.'

'He's dead.' Bakugo's voice shakes the unsteady silence. 'That'll happen when you flay a man like that. Weak disposition be damned, he did well to last as long as he did.'

You lock a gasp behind your teeth and step back, a hand covering your mouth.

'You couldn't have saved him, princess.' Bakugo's rings clink as he wraps a large palm around the bar of his cell.

'I -.' Forcing yourself to look away from the dead man, you drift silently back to Bakugo.

Overturning a palm, he flexes his fingers in quiet request and smirks when the soft of your skin meets the rough of his. 'Not even your hands can suture wounds that deep.'

You swallow. The odd shapes Bakugo traces into your skin feel repetitive, but calm your nerves, each loop and twist settling the void in your stomach.

Licking his lips, he blinks up at you. 'That'll happen to me too, ya'know... Eventually.'

'Don't say that.' Whispering, you lean forward, pressing in close to the bars. At this distance you'd guess he could feel your breath against his cheeks, after all, you can feel his. Each soft exhale makes you shiver and lean into him further.

'It's the truth.'

'Katsuki -.'

Bakugo bites at his lower lip and let's his forehead hit the bars. 'You could stop it.'

'Katsuki. I -.'

'You just need to give me the key.'

You sigh and press further forward. Your head would touch to his if it had not been for the bars. Bars that needn't be there. 'You know I can't.'

'What'll it take, Princess...'

Something squirms in your stomach. You had only intended to peek that night when they had first been hauled in and yet... Your feet continue to lead you back here. Since, you've risked your neck to bring them bread and extra mutton, thread and needles and poultice for their wounds. You've brought them all that you could, but you'd never expected them to take something of their own.

Despite being behind bars, somehow, Captain Bakugo Katsuki has stolen your heart.

And he knows it.

'Take me with you...' The words leap from your tongue, your hand curling to cling to him. 'Take me with you and I'll steal the key.'

A smile tugs at Bakugo's mouth, forcing his lip to curl over pointed teeth. Keeping his eyes trained on yours, he dips his head to press his lips to your knuckles. 'You want to be a Captain's whore, Princess?'

His words make you shiver. 'Your whore.'

'I think I like the sound of that...' Not for the first time, Bakugo wonders just what you'd taste like. Delicious, he'd bet, but a sweet little thing like you deserves to be savoured. '...If that's what my Princess wants.'

Your eyes widen. 'You'd – You'd take me?'

'Why not?'

Excitement zips down your spine making you stand straighter. Bakugo's lips are rough and itch at your skin, but that doesn't stop the heat that bubbles in your stomach when he lays a second kiss on the bend of your ring finger. 'Really?'

'You get me that key and...'

Rooting about under your skirts, you twist and turn for a second before pulling back a closed fist. You'd pick-pocketed one of the guards weeks ago, hoping that Midoriya's worsening wounds wouldn't require an impromptu breakout attempt. Turns out, you'd be been right, just not in the way you'd hoped. Unfurling your fingers, you reveal a set of small, silver keys.

'Oh, you little -.' Bakugo laughs. The sound is sharp and bounces off of the walls for a heartbeat before you slam your hand over his mouth to quiet him. He winks and kisses your palm.

'Quiet.'

Lowering his voice, he grins wide before dropping your hand in favour of wrapping a hand around the back of your neck. He pulls you in, forcing both of your cheeks to crush against the bars, but the soft reward of your lips is enough to make him bear the discomfort.

You gasp, but fall into the kiss all too easily. The grip he has on your neck guides you, tipping back your head until he can press his tongue against the seam of your lips and lick inside. Moaning, you let him devour you, moving in rhythm with him as the kiss deepens impossibly and then... The key slips from your hand.

'Now.' Bakugo pulls back. Throwing the keys up in the air, he catches them again like he hadn't slipped them from your palm moments before. 'You should go -.'

Your eyebrows knit. The taste of him lingers on your tongue, but before any words of protest can be propelled from your lungs he's continuing.

'… Pack only what you can carry and meet me back here a beat before sun-rise. We'll barter passage on one of the leaving merchant ships.' He kneads his thumb against your jaw while he talks, enjoying how pliant you are under just one of his hands.

'Okay.'

'Can you do that for me, Princess?'

'Yeah... Yes.' You nod and take hold of his wrist, urging yourself someone deeper into his hold.

Bakugo smiles, tilting his head. 'Good girl.' Leaning in, the next kiss he presses to your mouth is soft and long. A sigh breaches the seam of your lips and he swallows it eagerly, inhaling as much of you as he can before pulling back only to peck your lips again. 'Now, go...'

Reluctantly, you step back beyond his reach. Your heart is hammering in your chest as you tip-toe back across the stone floor and slip back into your shoes at the foot of the stairs. With a new hope burning in your veins you twist on the bottom step and smile back at your captain whispering a soft: 'I'll be back.' into the darkness and then, you're gone.

It takes you barely a moment to pack your entire life into a sack small enough to bundle in your arms, but the first bell of dawn hasn't even rung before you're sneaking back out towards the cells. The shadows swallow you, letting you vanish into the darkness still clinging to the city.

Anticipation makes each of your steps quicker, makes your heart sing as you imagine salt spray and oceans as far as you can see. You wonder where you'll sleep. If you'll bunk with the crew or be welcomed into the captain's personal quarters. You wonder how often he'll kiss you. How often he might gift you more... If he really will make you his whore. The thought makes you giddy, makes you move somehow quicker as desperation creeps up through your legs.

'Katsuki...' You've taken your shoes off at the top of the tower this time, careful not to make any noise and spoil your escape. The stone is cold on your feet, but it doesn't slow you down. 'Katsuki.'

Squinting into the darkness, you leap from the last step and hurry to his cell. 'Katsuki – I.'

The door swings open as soon as you lay a hand on it. Inside, a set of manacles lay on the floor open and abandoned. Slipping into the cell, you look around as if he might morph from one of the walls or manifest himself from shadow. He doesn't. Instead, you're forced to reduce yourself to your knees, overtaken by the sudden rush of emotion that batters its way out of your chest. You want to scream, want to slap yourself for trusting a pirate, for letting your silly, little emotions get the best of you.

Swiping for the manacles your breath jams in your throat, heart stopping as you catch sight of glittering letters scratched into the metal. In rough hand caused by the sharp edge of one of the keys is a message: 'On another tide, my Princess. Your captain sends his regards.'

The wind whips at the skin of Bakugo's cheeks as he slips below deck on the heels of his first mate. His hand clings to the bannister, the wood scuffing against the rough of his palm as he descends. It had taken years for him to find his ship again, his crew... Years to re-build what had been taken from him. Now, a month or so shy of a decade, he was once again one of the most feared pirates the sea had ever seen.

The grain of the ship's bannister snags at him, but he doesn't remove his hand from her walls as they turn from the crews sleeping quarters and make their way to the dry store. 'There best be a good reason for me being dragged down here, Red. I swear if this is another excuse to get me alone, I -.'

Kirishima hisses at him. 'Of course there's a good reason.' He stops dead, forcing the Captain to bump into his back. 'And if I wanted to get you alone, I'd simply lay in your bed and call for you. You're hardly hard to tempt...' A smirk plays at his lips as his eyebrows arch, forming neat little half-arcs on his forehead. 'Captain.'

A growl bubbles in Bakugo's throat as he wraps a large palm around the bottom of Kirishima's jaw. 'Have I ever told you how pretty you are when you -.'

'Yes, yes.' Shaking off Bakugo's touch, Kirishima shivers before moving off again. 'I'm the prettiest jewel you've ever stolen, best lay on the ship. I'll suck your cock later, if someone else doesn't get to you first, but right now, we have a problem.'

Bakugo grunts, but follows on wordlessly – trying to remain undistracted by the dull hardness stretching out his breaches.

It takes barely a moment before Kirishima's palm is meeting the door of the dry store and forcing it open to reveal what he has trapped within.

Bakugo clicks his tongue. 'Well, well, well... Would you like to tell me why you've bound one of my rigging boys in his own ropes?'

Just inside the room, laying against the tied down kegs of ale is Monoma. He's sat on his hands, his shoulders curved causing his chest to concave as he struggles weakly against his bindings. Sweat slicks his hair to his brow and trickles down his neck, dripping onto the pale skin of his chest that is exposed by a torn shirt.

'Caught this one in the nest with a scope and a mirror...' Leaning back against the wall, Kirishima crosses his arms and props a foot up against the wood. 'He was sending light signals off the bow.'

'Ah.' Squatting down before Monoma, Bakugo cocks his head. 'And why would he be doing that, ha?'

A cold chill rocks down Monoma's spine when the Captain leans in and licks at his teeth. 'I -.'

'Now.' Reaching forward, Bakugo squashes Monoma's cheeks between his fingers. 'I'd think twice about lying, mate. You wouldn't be much good with the rigging if I cut all your fingers off, would ya?'

Swallowing down hard, Monoma shakes. 'They paid me.'

'I'd be mad if they didn't, I was the one who taught you pirates don't do shit without gold... Who? For what?'

'The – the...'

'The, the, the -.' Bakugo babbles back, a wicked grin taking his lip as he administers a firm slap across Monoma's cheek.

The force turns his head, stopping the words trickling over his lips. He pauses. 'The woman... She, she approached me while we overnighted on I-Island. Offered me a sum if I would help her tail us in open water... I've been sending her light signals at dawn.'

Bakugo slaps him again. 'How much did she pay?'

'A – a couple hundred pieces and a night with one of her crew.' With red cheeks, Monoma tries to shuffle backwards. His eyes flicker from the floor to the Captain and back again.

'You...' Bakugo barks out a laugh. 'You little shit, you.'

From behind him Kirishima snorts and taps his boot against the wall. A coy smile itches at his lip as something proud twinkles in his eyes. 'I told you we shouldn't have taken him on board, Captain.'

'I know. Stop your gloating.' Standing, Bakugo stretches out his spine and thumbs at the dimples in his back.

'Should I toss him overboard? Or...' Kirishima's teeth shine, biting soft into his lower lip. 'Better yet...' Stepping forward, his hand falls to the large curved knife secured to his hip. 'I could cut pieces off him and feed it to that shark I've been trying to tame.'

Holding up a hand, Bakugo can't help the smirk that takes his lip. 'Can't let you turn him into fish food just yet, Red. First we need to know -.'

'Captain!'

Bakugo's head drops down at the sound of Kaminari's voice. He pinches the bridge of his nose. 'I swear if that little idiot has got himself caught in the ropes again, I -.'

'Captain!' The second shout comes from a new voice. It's higher in pitch, but of a firmer tone and is accompanied by the sound of a boot stomping on the wood overhead.

'Shit.' Perking up, Bakugo exchanges a worried look with Kirishima before they're both scrambling back towards the stairs and racing their way back onto the deck.

Light blinds them both as they emerge, arms shielding their faces, but it doesn't take long to spot the source of the disturbance.

Kaminari is tangled in the rigging, his legs twisted around the ropes allowing him to lean forward and hold a telescope to his eye. He pulls back, stretching an arm out towards the horizon before shooting an eyebrow raised smile at Bakugo. 'Ship!'

Bakugo answers. 'What are her colours!'

'She's not flying any, Cap.' Mina strides across the deck, her swords already unsheathed and hanging at her sides. Stopping a foot from Bakugo, she presses both of her weapons into one hand to yank the telescope from her belt and hands it over. 'Your orders?'

Snatching the telescope from Mina, Bakugo glares through it while scowling. Through the small lens, he can see it. A ship, a little smaller than his own, sails on the horizon. White foam is spitting from its stern, the water parting quick as it cuts through the water towards him. Under his gaze, the white sheets hanging from the masts are hauled down, replaced quickly by sails of total and complete black. Biting his cheeks, Bakugo licks his teeth as he lowers the scope and passes it back to Mina. He looks back at Kirishima and nods. 'Alright boys, let's give our kin a warm welcome!' From the back of the small crowd of crew gathered on deck, Sero smiles crooked and excited.

'The cannons?'

'The fucking cannons!' Grinning from ear to ear, Bakugo leaps to action striding across the deck towards the helm. 'Red, bring her round. We'll meet her head on. Mina – take the defence, I want any ladders that land on our rails burnt. Sero -.'

'… Holes as big as I can manage, no damage to the hull.' Sero waves his hand above his head, flashing Bakugo another large smile before descending below deck with a small squad of cannon boys on his heels.

'Kaminari!'

'Yes, Captain?' Somersaulting from a section of netting high between the masts, Kaminari almost breaks his neck landing on the deck, but manages, somehow, to right himself before he meets hard wood.

'Get in the nest. I want to know exactly what we're dealing with.'

Tossing a lazy salute, Kaminari is scuttling back into the rigging before Bakugo can bark out any more commands.

With the whole ship put to orders, Bakugo takes up post by Kirishima as his first mate strains to turn the boat around. The wheel fights him, the water below tugging awkwardly, but the man's broad shoulders make short work of the struggle.

'You think this is Monoma's woman?'

Bakugo grunts. 'Probably got twitchy after this mornings signal wasn't sent. Figured her little rat had been discovered...' Inhaling deep, his fingers play at the hilt of his sword; the other slipping inside his jacket to feel the hard curve of his pistol. '… Decided it was better to act now than risk having us plan something she couldn't control.'

He shrugs. 'I'd almost say she was smart had she not chosen our ship to attack.'

A wide grin takes Kirishima's lip. 'She'll certainly be in for a shock, Captain.'

'That she will indeed.'

Waves lap at the sides of the boat as Kirishima's brute strength forces her to turn. Overhead, gulls scream anxiously awaiting the oncoming bloodshed as they power forward, carving through the ocean.

'Ready, boys?' Bakugo unsheathes the sword at his hip, his ringed hands playing out an odd tune as he readjusts his grip on the metal.

There's mania reflecting in the burning of his iris', a wide grin splitting his lips as he narrows his eyes and spins on a heel to face his crew.

Gathered on deck the crew wait with baited breath. In their hands an all manner of weapons shine, axes and maces, swords and worn, wooden pistols all jitter as their owners shake and twist their wrists.

'Aye, aye Captain!'

The chorus makes the skin on Bakugo's chest blister, goosebumps coating his skin as the shouts of his crew wash over him. With the sea spray on his face and his prey set firmly in his sights, he feels unstoppable. His chest puffs up, throat already raw as he lets loose a terrifying scream. 'To the depths with her! Leave none unharmed – The one who brings her Captain to me alive earns their pick of the loot!'

'And what if I don't want any of their loot?' Mina tips back her hat and cocks an eyebrow.

Bakugo pretends to think. 'The pick of the women then! If you can turn on your charm for long enough to convince 'em to slip into your bed.'

A fierce grin takes her lip as he hoists the sword in her right hand high above her head. 'That's more like it, Captain. I'll have a new lady to warm my bed tonight, lads.'

Another chorus, this one accompanied by the stamping boots of Sero's cannon hands below as they finally lay sight on their target. The air is whip sharp, cutting as they make their approach. Under the hull, the waves part easily – sliced as the boat cuts through the ocean with a speed no longer seen in the large admiral fleets of the surrounding empires.

'She's not turning, Captain.' Kirishima mumbles. His hands are white against the wood, tugging her still as they press against the water. With the wind on their side, they'll be upon the other ship in moments; but she's made no move to turn away.

'Just makes her an easier target, my love.'

'She's turning to face us, Captain.'

The salt air scratches at your cheeks as you lean into the wind. 'I wouldn't expect anything less.' Your fingers tense, palm squeezing at the metal hilt of your sword where it hangs at your hip. There's a smile playing at your mouth, one you break only to lick the dryness from your lips. You've been waiting years for this, but now the moment is within reach, you find your skin buzzing with bee stings. The manacle forced shut around your wrist feels heavy now. Spinning on the ball of your boot, your stride to the edge of the bridge and lean over it's edge.

Below the crew stutter to a stop. They're a motley bunch, picked up from various ports and won through too many drunken games of cards – a crew of opportunity and circumstance if you ever saw one. A few even still wear the dark navy tail-coats of the Ingenium company, although now the rich cotton is sun bleached and stained, making them look no better than the low-life drunks who they serve beside.

Sparing a glance at the mast, you smirk at the man tied to it and adjust his hat on your head. For the most part, Tenya Iida had been a good sport when you'd commandeered his ship and bound him with his own rigging. He'd struggled, for a time, but a good few days gagged without food had sorted him right out. Now, he tends to yell odd instructions that no-one listens to and lectures the seagulls on the proper running of a ship. 'Loot what you want!' You shout over the crashing of the waves against the hull. 'But, leave their Captain to me.'

'Aye, Captain!'

The echoing chorus fills your stomach and makes your chest swell. 'To your stations, lads. We've got a ship to take.'

'Captain!' At the helm, Momo flicks her hair over her shoulder. It's waist length now, with a series of pretty braids that start at her temples and tie together at the base of her skull; each of which are adorned with a series of shiny trinkets - souvenirs from the various drinking games she's won.

You turn, flicking up your eyebrows as the crew scramble to their posts. The sound of old leather boots almost drowns out Momo's words as she yells out over the wind.

'They're speeding up!' Momo's chest heaves as she shouts, her eyes wide and steeled.

Dropping your jaw, you haul in a breath for an answering shout, but before the words can leap from your tongue there is another voice rising above the noise.

'Cannons!' Tokoyami is horizontal as he swings nimbly down the rigging from the crows nest. He dangles effortlessly above the deck, the ropes wrapped around his joints as he cups his hands around his mouth.

You nod. 'I want to know everything you see.'

Without another word Tokoyami is scrambling back to his perch, his eyes already squinted and trained on the approaching vessel.

There's a broken kind of nervousness that trickles through your veins as you watch the crew ready the boards. Three lean strips of wood, steadied by four strong hands wait, swaying in the wind on deck. In barely a moment, they'll be dropped. You swallow and wet your lips, feeling for the worn and yellowed page tucked safely away in the inside pocket of your coat.

Soon, the ship will be on you and in amongst all of the chaos to come... You'll find him.

Bakugo slashes out with his right hand, the curve of his sword gliding easily through the throat of an advancing pirate. There's a wicked grin pulling at the corners of his mouth, a spark igniting in the depths of cold crimson as he rotates his shoulder, taking down another man. Pausing, he kicks out, sending a third body to the floor before a keen twist of his wrist dyes the edges of his blade red.

Licking at his teeth, he stills – taking stock of the new space around him. A mess of bodies litters the deck. Both the wounded and dead lay side by side in pools of seeping blood, as their comrades battle on around them, not able to care too much where their feet land. Bakugo bites his tongue to stop a smile. Somewhere in the bloodbath, he can hear Kirishima laughing. The noise is like music, sharp and yet, soft – melodic as it catches the wind and finds its way back into his ears. He spins, eyes keen and searching as they land upon his second mate.

Kirishima has his hand wrapped around the neck of man. He flails in his grasp, nails scratching desperately at the thickest parts of Kirishima's forearms as his legs kick out, trying and failing to strike the large chest in front of him. 'Well that isn't going to get you anywhere...'

The man wheezes, dropping one hand to his belt. His fingers scratch at the leather, digging and twisting frantically as he works to free a small stiletto dagger. The hilt slips into his palm, allowing his hand to tighten to white around it, but before he can even lift the weapon to strike a sickening crack stops him in his tracks.

Cocking his head, Kirishima's sighs as if disappointed. His fist is white knuckled, with thin rivers trickling over the dips of his fingers as he tosses the, now limp, body to the floor.

The show of strength forces Bakugo to readjust himself in his breeches; but he's barely given a second to appreciate the sight of his second spitting on the next man he sends to the floor before an ear splitting laugh is ricochetting around the insides of his skull. He'd rush, if he hadn't already heard the noise one thousand times before...

Across the deck, Mina has a body squashed under the sole of her boot. The man writhes, eyes torn wide and terrified as he claws at the wood he lays on. The pressure on his chest keeps him pinned, stops him wriggling too far away as Mina flashes him a deadly wink and presses to tip of her blade closer to his throat.

'Let it be known...' Licking her lips, she lets another chuckle bubble up her throat. She reaches up, grabbing at the loose collar of her shirt with a tight fist and pulls, yanking open the material. The shirt falls open, clinging together by a singular button at her navel – just above her pants and exposes the hot, flush of her dark chest. 'That you where killed by a woman.'

'Please... Fuck – Don't...'

Mina ignores the pleas, letting them fall on deaf ears as she rolls her eyes and slices the man's throat.

He coughs twice before his lips are stained red. The gash in his throat is deep enough that he doesn't suffer, but that doesn't stop the ice cold dread that seems to fall upon the surrounding pirates.

Spinning on her heel, Mina wrenches her other sword from her belt and brandishes it at her hips. Her chest heaves, tit's framed by her open shirt as she swings herself around to face her next opponent. She cocks an eyebrow and snarls, lips pulling back over her teeth as she watches the new man in front of her almost wet himself with panic. 'Now, who's next boys...'

Laughing, Bakugo drags his eyes away from Mina's performance. She's always enjoyed a spectacle, but he must admit that this might be his favourite yet. Under his feet, blood seeps making each of his steps awkward and slippery. His boots refuse to grip, making fighting difficult as he slices through another pirate. Almost sliding to his knees, he clenches his jaw – eyes searching the clashing rabble in search of the source of his troubles.

Whoever captains the other ship is going to rue they day, they ever decided to place a target on his back.

The first step is the easiest. The board wobbles under your boots, giving and swaying as the ships lean closer together. Already, there are holes littering both hulls. The marks of exchanged cannon fire has scorched the varnished wood, spewing the scent of burning into the air. It's thick, the smoke cloying your lungs as you draw your sword and take another step.

On your heels Uraraka already has her blade drawn. There's a wicked glee in her eye as she bounces the plank, hurrying you along. 'In front, Captain.'

A man with a missing eye blocks your path. He grins, wide and gap-toothed as he reaches for his belt and the large mace he has slid into the leather. Twisting it over in his palm, he barely has time to reel back his arm before there are a pair of boots colliding with his chest.

Tokoyami twists before he hits the deck, his arms spreading like wings as he lands another kick on the jaw of a man to his left.

'Captain...' He huffs breathing hard. 'Are you -.'

Clearing the last of the plank, you plant a hand on Tokoyami's shoulder and squeeze. 'Thank you... Now -.'

'Bring me your strongest man and watch me reduce him to his knees!' Uraraka's voice is high-pitched and delicate, more fitting a princess than a pirate as she spits at her feet as swings an easy elbow into the women attempting to shift the boards from the side. Chewing on her lip, she scans the scene eyes bright as she claps eyes on a mountain of man. 'You!' She screams. 'Come meet my blade.'

With the lower half of the man's jaw obscured with a bandana, you're forced to focus in on the way his eyes widen. He sets his stance, grey hair flopping lazily into his eyeline as he raises his axe high enough to clash with Uraraka's blade.

They twist, the sound of scraping steel poisoning the air as the man takes a step back to swing. The muscle in his shoulder bulges, dark veins popping as he once again attempts to crush Uraraka with his strike.

She dodges him easily. Pirouetting, she barely gives enough time for her back foot to catch the grip of the wood beneath her before she's launching herself back into the air and straight at the man before her. 'Is that all you've got? Don't tell me you're going to be a disappointment...'

You're not given long to admire Uraraka's zeel as you duck a mace aimed for your head. The weapon skims your head, missing by millimetres as you drop to a knee and slash at the man's calf. He goes down with a scream. Leaping back to your feet, you send your heel into his nose at the same time your steel sinks deep into the tissue of his shoulder, severing the joint as he slumps forward at your feet.

Beside you, Momo reels her fist back. The skin of her knuckles is blooming, purple marring the paleness of her fingers as she flicks off specs of blood. 'It's been a while since we've had a good fight.' She grins, flashing pearled teeth. 'Remind me to thank you when we're celebrating later.'

Rolling your eyes, you push your way further into the fray. With the fight reaching a crescendo on all sides, you're forced to duck and weave to keep moving. Anticipation makes your skin itch, your whole body pulled taught as you side step another stray sword and scan the mess of bodies clashing together on the deck.

He's here.

You know he is.

You just have to -

'Oi, Princess. This your shit show of a crew bleeding all over my deck?'

You press your tongue to a back molar as his voice manages to shatter the chaos around you. There's a fire, steady and strong already stoking in your chest as the full force his betrayal repeats on you. Grinding your teeth, you haul in a breath and press shut your eyes; willing your body to contain it's rage for just a moment. 'Need I remind you...' You turn and cock your head, eyebrows high on your head as you glare. 'That I'm not your Princess.'

There's ice in Bakugo's vein's when he lays eyes on you, but he's soon thawed out by the rage burning in your eyes. He barks a laugh, willing his shoulders to roll before they lock and leave him defenceless. He never thought he'd see you again...

'Oh,' he cocks his head, slipping easily back into his cocky persona. 'But, you wanted to be, didn't ya... Sweetheart.' Swallowing, he juts out his hip, just enough to lean on the sword he slides back into it's sheath with a limp wrist and barks out a laugh. 'So, what? You missed me so much that you travelled the entire seven seas just to crawl into my bed, huh?'

Swallowing bile, you blink slowly to compose yourself; but your hand moves quickly as soon as Bakugo takes a step forward. It's muscle memory, easy, as you levy the blade at his throat and press the tip against his jugular; preventing him from slinking any closer.

'C'mon, Sweetheart. Don't be like that.' He laughs, feeling the way his Adam's apple grates against the blade with each twitch.

You scowl. 'I don't think you have any right to tell me how to act, Bakugo.' Spitting his own name at his feet, you press the blade closer into his throat. For a moment, you entertain the thought of slitting it, of cutting him open and watching him bleed out; but then, how would you get your answers.

He rolls his eyes, not even blinking as your sword dents his skin. 'What can I do for you then, Princess?' Savouring the pet name, he makes sure to keep your eye as the embers flare. 'If you're not here to be my whore.'

Gritting your teeth, you lick over your lip before gesturing the on-going chaos with a tip of your hat. 'Call off your men.'

A bark of a laugh leaps from his chest. 'And pray tell why the fuck I'd do that.'

'Because I want answers...' His mouth drops open to speak, some witty one-line retort already furled at the back of his tongue, but before he can loose it into the air, you raise your eyebrows. 'And in return, I have information about One for All.'

Bakugo stills. His expression is unreadable, eyebrows kept tight as his mouth flattens to a thin line. The muscle in his jaw ticks. 'And I can trust that you'll call off your crew?'

You nod.

'Men... Stand down!'

Echoing his shout, you call your crew to a stalemate.

It's a ghostly sound, the absence of noise in a place that was once full of it. The sudden lack of screams and bloodshed make the air around the ship ring as everyone slowly, turns their eyes to you.

'Should I be following you back to your ship...' Bakugo chuckles, licking at his teeth. 'Captain.'

'No.'

Your bluntness stuns him, making him lean back on a heel as he regards you with soft suspicion. 'And why would that be?'

You chuff. 'I'd rather you not damage my ship when I tell you what I have to say... You're not the most, subtle, of men.'

Choosing to ignore your insult, Bakugo lowers his head before spinning on his heel to address his crew once more. 'You heard the lady – a truce, then, for the moment. Back to your jobs, lads. Clean the blood from the decks and escort our visiting Captain's crew back to their ship before they make the place look cluttered, ha?'

Re-sheathing your sword at your hip, you hold up a hand and push back into Bakugo's space. 'I want Uraraka and Yoamomo to accompany me.'

Squinting, Bakugo's eyes roam the ship. 'And who would -.'

'Here, Captain.' Yaoyarozu slinks forward, elbowing pirates out of her way as she goes. Her blouse is almost entirely covered in blood, but even the dousing she has received is nothing to how Uraraka looks.

Clinging to Yaoyarouzu's shoulder, Uraraka looks as though she's been bathed in red. Her face is dyed, cheeks blush bright with splatters as large as chicken pox littering her features. Much of her hair is matted, clumped with viscera that drips from brunette strands and onto her shoulders . She limps forward, each step causing her to wince and drag her left foot, the ankle refusing to bare weight as she uses Yaoyarozu as a crutch; but despite it all – she looks perfectly overjoyed.

Bakugo looks the pair up and down before pressing his tongue to the roof of his mouth and whistling. 'In that case: Kirishima! Mina!'

Kirishima is at his side in a flash. His sword is still drawn and held low, his knuckles tight and white around it's hilt. 'Captain?'

'Put that away!'

Bakugo might pretend to bark at his second, but you don't miss the soft way he wraps his fingers around the others hand and squeezes softly.

When Mina arrives, she looks no better than Uraraka. Her shirt is torn entirely, exposing the plump roundness of her breast as she cocks a hip and takes up post on Bakugo's other side. In one of her hands, she holds a blade. In the other, an already stained cloth that she uses to clean down the edges of her sword. 'So, she pretty enough to evoke a stale mate or do you two have business?' Her eyes flicker over you feeling rough, but her attention is soon stolen by Uraraka.

Mina winks.

Uraraka, somehow, blushes underneath all of the blood covering her face.

'Shall we?' You tilt your head and blink lazily.

'As you wish, Princess.' Bakugo smirks before turning on a heel and making his way down the ship towards the Captain's quarters.

There's a soft tittering behind you, a mixture of your crew's and Bakugo's as the pet name lingers in the air; but whatever thoughts spin around people's heads, no-one is brave enough to speak them.

That is, except for Mina.

'So... You fucked this one then, Captain?' She skips alongside him, boots almost skating on the blood underfoot as she slaps him on the back.

'That's none of your -.'

'No.'

Mina bites her tongue as your and Bakugo's voice blend to one. Her hand slips from his back as she falls into line with Kirishima once more. 'Ah... So, it's like that then.'

Bakugo glares at her over his shoulder. 'It is. Now, if you wish to keep your tongue, you'll shut up.'

'You can't do that, Captain!' Tossing up her hands, Mina clasps both of her hands over her heart and spins, catching Uraraka's eye before curling her tongue around every single word that drips from her mouth. 'It's my best feature.'

Uraraka splutters, managing a subtle: 'Second best' as her eyes drift down Mina's collar.

Ducking under the ornate rails of the ships upper staircase, Bakugo reaches up to rest a hand against the door frame, while searching the inner layers of his shirt. He hums, curling his fingers against his chest as he retrieves a thick golden key kept on twine around his neck. Not bothering to take the key from around his neck, he stoops to unlock the door and holds it open with a large palm splayed against the wood. 'Ladies first.' He smirks.

You roll your eyes and ignore the way your saliva dries out in your mouth. Fixing a new scowl onto your features, you dip your head in cordial thanks before slipping past him and ensuring not even your elbow scrapes his chest.

'The last door on the left should suit our conversation, unless you do really wish to have a more personal kind of talk.' His voice echoes softly down the short corridor, smooth and silky as it sinks into your ears.

Slamming a hand on the door in question, you sigh. 'This will suffice.'

Vanishing into the room, you don't bother to hold it open for him.

The cabin is larger than you'd expected, with a bulky desk that occupies most of the space. An assortment of papers litters it's surface. Some are maps, while others bare strange markings and delicately written hand that look almost indecipherable to your eye. Aside them is too many bottles of rum, all opened and in various stages of being drunk; their corks long forgotten or discarded on the mahogany floor that creeks as you step inside.

The door opens again, allowing a slither of light to trickle in from the corridor before it's blocked by Bakugo's bulk. 'This is as far as your seconds go, I'm afraid.' He braces an arm against the doorframe blocking the path.

Uraraka walks straight into him, almost clotheslining herself on the muscle of his bicep. 'Captain!'

'There's sensitive stuff in here I'd rather not let prying eyes see.' Growling, Bakugo glares over his shoulder, but refuses to move.

You raise your eyebrows. 'Am I not prying eyes?'

Huffing a chuckle, he shakes off the shiver that slinks down his spine like a stray raindrop. 'I'll be leaving Mina and Kirishima out there too. If they try anything, I won't be responsible for their actions.'

Making a non-committal noise in the back of your throat, you make a small hand gesture to Uraraka that seems to make her calm. She tosses herself back against the wood of the corridor and folds her arms across her chest, a pout already forming on her lips.

Beside her, Kirishima wears an almost identical expression.

Relaxing his arm, Bakugo pauses for a moment before crossing the threshold and letting the door finally, slam shut. Skirting around the room, he takes up post at his desk, landing lazily into the detailed chair behind it. He lifts his legs, reclining to toss his boots up onto his papers. Crossing his ankles, he moves them under his feet until comfortable and folds his hands across his stomach. 'So...' He smiles, the pointed edges of his incisors flashing above his bottom lip. 'What information brings a little sweet thing like you out here into open waters? Or, where you really just so desperate to see me again?'

You roll your eyes. 'You're of little consequence, these days. Sorry to disappoint your ego.'

He huffs, letting his eyes roll lazily down your body. Piracy looks good on you, apparently: Really good. Your skin is glowing, a side-effect of long days on deck and there's a strength lingering underneath your stature; one he's not sure he'd like to get on the wrong side of.

Cocking your hip, you lean your wrist against the hilt of your sword. 'You're looking for it, aren't you, One for All.'

It's not a question, he notes. The hair on the back of his neck stands on end, pulling tight at his skin as he tenses the muscle between his shoulders to suppress a shiver. 'So fucking what if I am?'

You smile then. It's nice to know all those days blackmailing Monoma into submission didn't all go to waste. 'You're not the only one.'

Bakugo's eyes grow dark, eyelids slipping to half-mast as he regards you carefully. 'Half of the pirates I know are searching for it.' He licks his teeth. 'So, if that's your information, I'm afraid you might have to offer me something more... Satisfying, to satiate me not sinking your ship.' Letting his eyes slip down your body, he doesn't even attempt to hide the slight tenting in his pants as he shifts his ass on his chair. Unclasping his hands, he pets down his thigh, cupping his cock in his palm through his breeches.

'Midoriya.' You annunciate his name clearly, letting it skip off of your tongue.

Bakugo responds as if you've hit him in the face. He sits up, bolt straight as his hands fall to the arms of his chair, knuckles whitening. 'Deku's dead.'

You shrug. 'Guess you don't need the information I have then.'

Pausing for a moment, you observe his silence before slowly turning on your heel. The wood creaks under your boots, screaming out into the silence as you cross the room.

'Wait.' His voice is forced out from between gritted teeth.

Peering over your shoulder, you smirk. 'Yes?'

'I liked you better when you were desperate to bed me.' He growls.

Offering him only the prettiest of smiles, you turn back to yank at the chair facing him and slip yourself into it. 'And I preferred you behind bars...' Leaning back, you kick one leg over the other. 'Now, about those answer's I wanted.'

'Speak your wishes, Princess.'

'I'll tell you a little...' You run a hand over the leather of your boot admiring how the splatters of blood shine in the low light. 'To wet your appetite and then, I want what I came for.'

Bakugo tries to growl and keep his eyes sharp, but there's no denying the warm swell of pride that lingers just under his breast bone. He inclines his head, asking for you to continue.

'The night you escaped, you thought Midoriya dead, but you were wrong. Had you let me actually check over him, instead of attempting to seduce me to escape, we might have actually avoided all of this.'

'Attempted.' Bakugo licks his teeth. 'I think we both know you were practically dripping onto the stone that night.'

You fix him with a glare. 'That's not the point... Midoriya rolled. The guard convinced him to work for them. He's to find One for All and in return, they won't hang you.'

'They'd have to catch me first.'

Raising an eyebrow, you tilt your head. 'They did: twice.'

The muscle in Bakugo's jaw ticks. 'You're working for them.' Standing, he slams his palms down onto the table. 'You conniving little -

'Luckily for you -.' Ignoring his outburst, you fix him with a glare. 'I have alterer motives.'

He tuts.

'Thanks to Midoriya, I am one of only three people privy to the last whereabouts of All Might and I'm also in possession of the map that leads there.' You tap your nails against your knee, letting your eyes roam over Bakugo's features. The vein in his temple jumps with his pulse, his hands once again whitening and tight on the arms of his chair.

Leaning back, he forces himself to relax. 'And what do you want for this information of yours, assuming that I even believe you.'

You smile. 'I want to know why you abandoned me.'

A bark of a laugh leaves his throat then. 'Oh, you sweet fool. You travelled all this way, got yourself entangled in Gods know what, became a fucking pirate all because I hurt your precious little feelings?'

'Need I remind you that you are sitting where you are, only because of me.' You fix him with a steel glare, but your face tells nothing of the storm swirling in your chest.

'I would have -.'

'You would have rotted in that cell, don't let your ego betray your intelligence.'

Bakugo grits his teeth. 'Why do you care so badly?'

'Why won't you say it?' Swallowing, you press your tongue to your teeth. 'Are you that scared to say you developed even a little affection for me?'

Glowering, Bakugo licks at his teeth sucking air in through them harshly.

'There's talk about you in almost every port, y'know.' You sigh and tilt your head, rolling it onto one shoulder as a coy smile tugs at your lip. 'They talk about you like a bad case of the itch. Say that you think with your cock and don't care what happens afterwords, but they're wrong, aren't they?' Leaning forward, you brace your elbows on the table. 'If you really didn't care, you'd have taken me with you and used me. I had money, a station so to speak, talents you could have used, but you didn't. You left me. Why?'

Sighing, Bakugo hangs his head. 'What do you want me to say, Princess.'

You don't complain at the pet name this time, instead you catch his eye and blink.

'Fuck.' Rolling his shoulders, he sinks in his chair and bites his lip. 'That month we spent together, with you tending me through those damn bars was the longest month of my life... I – I never expected to get attached to you.'

'So it was attachment that caused you to leave me behind, supposedly safe and sound?' You arch an eyebrow, urging him on.

He snorts. 'Something like that...'

'Ah.'

'I'm not going to say I was in love with you.' Tensing his jaw, Bakugo snaps. Having you close again is fraying his nerves and making him itchy. If only he could touch you, he's sure he could calm his nerves.

You swallow. He looks wild, eyes wide and honest despite the lies he is trying to clench behind his teeth. 'I never asked you to.'

'Because I'm not.' He lies.

'Okay.'

'I wouldn't even know how... As you've so kindly pointed out, it's not exactly my forte. I'd have to think with more than just my cock for that, wouldn't I?' He laughs and it's an ugly thing. A burst of noise tossed from his throat as he attempts to keep down the bubbling emotion in his chest, something he's not sure is worth locking away any more.

Licking your lips, you haul in a slow breath and offer him a smile. 'I think I could have loved you, had we had more time.'

He swallows the 'me too' lingering on his lips and instead, decides to steady himself folding his arms across his chest.

Standing, you trail your fingertips across the edge of his desk. 'Thank you...' Each step you take makes Bakugo's chest hollow, his heart threatening to jump clean out of his mouth and confess his sins to you in person. 'For your honesty.' Reaching the edge of the desk, you cock a hip and look down on him. With your knees almost knocking together, it's almost too easy to see the way his breath stutters, his Adam's apple bobbing as you take another step forward.

Bakugo swears the world stops spinning when you lean over, hands gripping the recently vacated arms of his chair. You're so close now he could crane his neck to kiss you, but his pride won't let him, not just yet. He grunts, not trusting himself to speak.

'It's a shame really, I think I would have liked it...' Pressing closer still, you part your thighs until you can slide neatly onto his lap.

He takes hold of your waist instantly. His palms squeeze, fingers digging into the fat at your sides tentatively as he wills his cock to not have a mind of it's own, for once. You're warm, searing into his skin as you lift a hand and playfully walk it up his chest to link with the other behind his neck. 'L – Liked what?'

You rock your hips, pushing deeper into his lap until your legs are forced to fold underneath you. Fixing your eyes on his, you let them slide to his lips before speaking. 'Becoming your whore.'

Bakugo's swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing clear in his throat as he refuses, stubbornly, to drop your gaze. In his breeches, his cock swells. The material itches at his head, causing each twitch to bring with it the dull, rough sting of worn cotton as he tries to will himself back to softness.

Cocking your head, you rake your nails over the back of his undercut while letting the other hand wonder down to the clef of his chest. 'So... What do you say, Captain.'

A shiver straightens Bakugo's spine.

'Want to find out what you've been missing all these years?' Leaning into him, you smile when you feel his breath quicken against your lips. 'Want to see what your whore can do?'

Bakugo lets his hands slip, his rough palms skating over the corset at your waist until he can grip your hips and urge your pelvis flush to his. Possessiveness singes his skin. 'His Whore'. The words sounds sweet, delicate and dangerous as he repeats it in his head. His heart sings, beating uncontrollably as he finally, finally gives in to the surge of need simmering in his stomach. Catching his breath, his summons enough of his runaway charisma to flash you his signature, sharp smirk. 'You sure you can handle it, Princess?'

You counter him quickly, pushing him onto the back foot once more. 'Are you sure you can handle me?.. I'm not the naive girl you left back in that tower.'

There's fire in his veins, an inescapable burning that churns inside of him as your touch leaves sparks in its wake. Your confidence riles him. It makes him want to put you back in your place.

Chuckling softly, you nose at his cheek while pressing your tits to his chest. You grind yourself down on his lap, the soft mound of your cunt pressing in close until you can feel the tell-tale heat of his arousal threatening to soak his breeches.

He hisses, gritting his teeth to trap a moan in his throat. Skating his hands down your back, he moves deliberately slow before slipping broad palms under your ass and squeezing: hard. The moan he receives is criminal and fed straight into his ear, so close that he can feel the shake of your breath on the side of your neck as he hoists you up and closer.

Twice his cock twitches, managing to press the briefest of kisses to your clit through the material of your clothes. It sends shock waves through you, making your thighs tense around his hips. Locked in stasis, caught between sense and desire, you swallow down the rising worry that you might be wrong about Captain Bakugo Katsuki after all. He looks at you with fire in his eyes and a cool snarl painted on his lips making your stomach clench uncomfortably.

'You bitch.' He mumbles, the words soft and longing in the back of his mouth, before bringing your lips together.

The kiss starts sweet. There's a delicacy to the way he moves against you, a lingering something that he refuses to communicate in any other way; but it isn't long before the hunger sets in. Sinking into his touch, you move to lock your arms around his shoulders. Your nails scratch at his hair, tugging rough when he sucks your lower lip into his mouth and bites almost enough to earn blood.

Bakugo reels. He yanks at your skirts, hauling them up and over his knee until his hands can touch against your flesh. It's dizzying. Every noise you make has him ravenous, desperate as he lands a harsh slap against your ass.

You squeal and shift, rolling your hips to grind against him. There's too many layers of clothing, but neither of you are coherent enough to rectify the matter as you continue to consume each other, lost to the feel of him as he pulls away to lay a trail of burning kisses down your neck. 'Katsuki...' His name is stolen from your mouth as a particularly harsh scrape of his teeth scratches across your collarbone.

A growl leaves his throat, vibrating against your skin as the elastic band of his willpower snaps. With one swift movement, he squares his shoulders and leans forward, yanking you up off his lap.

Squealing, you cling to him, but you're barely airborne for a handful of seconds before your ass hits the hard wood of his desk. He occupies the space between your thighs like he belongs there. His hips force your legs wide, encouraging you to bend your knees and pull him impossibly closer to steal another kiss.

Even with his eyes closed, Bakugo makes short work of the laces tying shut your shirt. His fingers dip under the material, not bothering with the edges of your corset as he tears free as much as he can. 'Shit...' Pulling back barely an inch, he lets his eyes drop to your exposed chest. 'Fuck, you're so damn pretty.' Dipping his head, he rakes his teeth across the apex of your tit. 'So, fuckin' beautiful...'

Bakugo's bite brings with it a dull sting, but that is nothing compared to the violent shock of pleasure that rocks through your stomach when he takes one of your nipples into his mouth and sucks. His tongue swirls around the bud, his hand coming up to cup your tit as the attention he pays leaves you panting and gasping for air. Your legs lock around him, forcing his aching cock to press against you and relive the growing pulse of your cunt.

Lifting his gaze, he continues to suckle at your chest while soaking in the soft moans that slip from your mouth. From this vantage point he can see it all. Your chest heaves, throat opening as you release another high whine and let your head fall back on your shoulders. It's exhilarating, controlling your body like this – having the woman who was so high and mighty only a few moments before shaking in his gasp with only a few flicks of his tongue. 'Oh, Princess...' He coos, pressing his chin to the valley of your breast. 'You look good when you're desperate.'

Your head snaps up as soon as his mouth leaves your tit, the sensation of his tongue leaving your legs feel weak and your cunt surly leaking onto the dark cream of his breeches. Licking your lips, you reach for him and feel the dull edges of his teeth when you kiss his smirking mouth.

He's right, you think. Your body is alive, buzzing with everything that is him. Distantly, you mourn the idea that you could have had this all along; could have avoided the countless years at sea, the disgusting port towns and near-death bar fights while you searched for him, but all of your musing dies quickly when you feel his cock twitch against you.

Your fingers make quick work of the buttons of his shirt, almost tearing the material as you yank it away from his torso to finally get your hands on the skin of his chest. He's blushed down to his nipples, a rose-hue coating his skin as he shivers and presses into your touch.

'Seems I'm not the only one.'

He huffs, but doesn't refute you. Instead, he cups both of your breasts and rubs his thumbs absently over your nipples. He kisses you before dropping a hand from your tit and letting it skate down the front of your corset, he reaches your thigh, feeling through your skirts. 'Bet you're already wet enough for me to take you, huh Dripping onto my desk just at the idea of getting this cock.'

Mewling into his mouth as he growls filth into your ears, you barely feel his hands tighten on your waist before he's pulling you off the desk and bending you clean over it.

Bakugo wastes no time in hauling up your skirts and flipping them over your ass, leaving you clearly on show for him. The sight makes him clench his teeth. You're soaked. Your underwear is almost translucent and sticking to your skin, giving your cunt a soft sheen. He licks his lips.

'Are you just going to stare?' You twist to look over your shoulder and cock an eyebrow. Anticipation simmers painfully in your stomach, your skin burning for him as you feel his eyes roam your body. You need him to touch you, need to feel his hands, his mouth, his cock.

He chuffs, rolling his eyes. 'Can't a man enjoy the view?' Carefully, he dips his fingers under the edge of your underwear and pulls it away from your skin enough to see your puffy cunt.

You're about to chastise him again, to remind him that you've already wasted enough time in between the tower, the ocean and now; when the elastic of your underwear is snapped against your clit. You squeal and thrash, the pain blooming until it fades to a wonderfully sharp pleasure. Moaning, you try and fidget away, but all that gets you is another dull slap. 'B – Bakugo!'

'Oh, sorry Princess....' Bakugo licks his thumb before pressing it to your clit to sooth the sting. He rubs it softly, giving you enough pleasure to make you whine, but not enough to settle the burning in your stomach. 'Do you want me to be nicer, is that it?'

'I want you to fuck me.' You spit, summoning the rest of your restraint.

Chuckling, Bakugo smirks before leaning down over you and kisses your cheek. He rubs his cock against the cleft of your ass and revels in the way you arch for him before pulling back. His breeches are at his knees in a moment, his underwear shoved unceremoniously under his balls and his sword belt discarded on the floor as he takes his cock in hand. The skin of his palm is slick in seconds. Pre-cum leaks from his tip, drooling eagerly as he gives himself a cursory stroke.

Refusing to resist, you peak, twisting again to see just what Bakugo had been hiding. His cock is thick, thicker than you've ever seen with pale, pearlescent skin that roses towards it's head. The pubic hair surrounding his base is wild and darker than his hair, trailing up until it grows sparse just below his belly button. Your mouth waters.

Pushing up onto your tip-toes you press your ass backwards and wiggle.

A harsh slap makes Bakugo's palm tingle as he brings his hand down on your ass. 'You still want to be my whore, Princess?'

There's a wickedness in his voice, one that makes your knees shake as you feel the dull edge of his cock press against you. He spreads your ass with a hand, revealing yourself and all your neediness to him.

'Yes. Fuck – yes...'

'As you wish, but I'll warn you now...' He sinks into you without any prep and grits his teeth against the tightness of your cunt. Your body squeezes him, pulsing already around the stretch as he bottoms out. 'I'm not gentle with my whores.'

The first thrust takes your breath. You're full, impossibly so – feeling him clearly in your stomach as he slowly, pulls out and sinks back in. Despite his warning, he gives you a few dull strokes to adjust, his pace slow, but firm as he takes a hold of your hips. It's too much and not enough all at once as your body becomes pliant, lost to the feel of him as you finally come together. Hauling in a breath, you flash him a smile of teeth. 'Ruin me... Captain.'

Your words go straight to his cock, making him twitch inside you. He tightens his grip on your hips, his fingers digging into your flesh as he fucks back into you with a vengeance. Already he's seconds away from losing control, indulging in you enough to meet a premature end, but he's determined to make it last. He's waited long enough after all. 'Don't worry Sweetheart, you'll need carrying back to that ship of yours by the time I'm finished with you.'

His balls hit against your clit with each thrust, sending periodic rushes of pleasure up through your stomach. It's rough, harsh as he treats you like a toy for his end, but your cunt drools betraying your enjoyment.

'Look at you, making a mess, taking me so well...' He grunts, leaning over you to collect your arms and pin them at the small of your back. You arch beautifully, allowing him to hit something delicious inside of you that makes you thrash, but he pays little attention to the moans that trickle from your mouth. Your pleasure is simply a by-product, an accidental consequence of his gruelling punishment. For a moment, he thinks he’s seeing things - a flash of silver contrasted with the skin of your wrist; but then, he’s ripping the sleeve of your shirt and exposing the manacle. ‘Is this what I think it is, Princess?’

You don’t answer, screwing your eyes shut instead.

‘Answer me.’

Another smack against your ass has your eyes rolling back. It's like every nerve in your body is being assaulted. Your cunt grips him, clit twitching with each dull slap of his balls as you're forced to lie still and take him. Words blend into nothingness in your head, every thought slowly replaced by him, until all you can utter is a weak and broken: 'Katsuki.'

'I don't let my whore use my name... It's Captain to you.' He spanks you again just to watch the flesh jiggle. It's hard to deny how incredible you feel, how your body seems to fit his perfectly, how your moans and how his name floats from your tongue has him almost a moment away from losing his mind. Gritting his teeth, he tightens his grip on your wrist and fucks you harder. ‘Now tell me, what’s this pretty little bracelet you’ve got here. Huh?’

'Captain...'

He shouldn't have told you to say it. Fuck. His cock jumps, threatening his end as his title slips off of your tongue. It's exhilarating, hearing you like this, having you with all your wild-cat attitude pinned beneath him and gushing for him. It makes him harder, makes his heart jump and his stomach twist.

'Captain, please...' Tears bead your eyes. You're so close, teetering impossibly close to the edge as he chases his own pleasure while ignoring yours. Still, you can't help the way you body responds. He’s like the worst kind of drug, the one you take knowing it’s going to fuck you up.

Leaning over you, Bakugo releases his grip on your wrists to loop an arm around your neck. Yanking up your head, he grunts into your ear – forcing you to feel just how good your body is making him feel. 'You really do love this, don't you. Love me using you, ha? Love that you're nothing more than a hole for me to get off. No wonder you where begging for me to take you with me. No wonder you kept my little trinket - bet you wore it all this time, ha, Princess? Did you wear it while you fucked yourself? Had other men fuck you and imagine it was me?’ Wrenching your head back, he slips a thumb into your mouth and forces you to drop your jaw. He presses down on your tongue, eyes wide and delirious as he opens his mouth and spits directly onto the muscle. He snarls. ‘Desperate bitch.’

There's a constriction around your throat, one that makes your head swim and your cunt pulse. His arm brackets your shoulders, forcing you still as he pins you with his weight and whispers sin into your ears.

'This is a dream come true for you, ha? Whore.'

That's enough. His voice gravelled and low, laced with the evidence of his pleasure sinks into your ears and causes your entire body to tense. Pleasure bubbles low in your stomach, rising quickly through your body until all you can do is gasp and rock your hips back against him. Your words are garbled, struggling to fit around the fingers he still has wedged in your mouth, but you manage. 'I'm – fuck – Cap – Captain, I'm going to -.'

'That's it. Cum on this cock, Princess.' Bakugo growls, licking a thick stripe up the side of your neck before he bites down, leaving a trail of broken bruises on the soft skin of your neck. He can feel you sucking his fingers, the sensation causing his hackles to rise as his cock throbs at your eagerness.

As soon as he gives you permission, you know you've lost. Your cunt clenches, pulsing around his cock as you cum hard enough for your vision to blur. It makes you feel weightless, your whole body tensing as pleasure washes over you in a series of beautifully drowning waves. Time stands still, everything around you being thrown into pointlessness as your world is wrecked by Bakugo's continued thrusts.

Having you cum on his cock feels like heaven. Kissing up your neck, he releases his hold, slips his fingers from your mouth and stands up gently; rocking his hips as he pushes you closer and closer to overstimulation. Pulling half way out, he pulls open your cheeks, admiring the way your release clings to him easing the slide as he sinks back in. It's mesmerising, watching how your body swallows him, taking everything he has to give despite the fact he knows you're spent. It makes him want you more, makes him want to give you more. Inhaling, he spits again, letting the droplet land square on your hole. ‘Next time…’ He mutters, smoothing a thumb over the puckered flesh of your ass. Testing the stretch, he dips his thumb in until the first knuckle. ‘I’ll fuck you here.’

You gasp. His words causing your body to stir again as your orgasm drags on long enough to make you feel delirious.

‘That’s my girl. Fuck -.’ Bakugo has to focus to stop himself from cumming along with you as your cunt begins to milk him. The tension is perfect, hauling him closer and closer to things he doesn’t want to admit. He’s drunk and at your mercy, despite his cruel words and taunts; right here, now, is the softest he’s felt for years.

Bakugo's hands are on you again as you come down from your high. His cock has gone, the lacking stretch making you feel empty and anxious as he pulls you up and turns you back to face him. Smoothing his thumbs over the apples of your cheeks, he presses only the softest of kisses to your lips before helping you back onto the table. You grip his shoulders, pulling him close. 'Want – want you to finish... Need you – Kat – Katsuki, please.'

'Shh, Princess. Shh. I'll give you what you want, okay. You can have all of it.' This time when he takes up your skirts, he's gentle. Urging the material up your thighs he encourages you back enough to slip between your thighs. His cock presses to your clit, bumping it awkwardly as he shuffles closer.

You jolt and whine, hands still clawing at his shoulders as he takes himself in hand and gives you what you want. This time, the stretch is welcome. He sinks into you slowly and sets a pace that has your ass bouncing on the wood.

'There you are... Good girl, fuck.' Leaning forward, he rests his forehead against yours and prises one of your hands from his shoulders. He entwines your fingers, dropping them to the desk for leverage as he holds you tight, continuing to make the edges of your vision blur. It's soft. Softer than he'd ever wanted to be, but the longer he spends lost in you, the more he realises that there's no escape. He's not sure there ever was.

Whining, you squeeze his hand and lift your eyes to his. Warm rubies stare into your soul, a thousand things he'd never say obvious in the surface of his iris' as he grunts and moans against your mouth. 'Please...' Lifting your legs, you wrap yourself around his waist and pull him impossibly closer.

'Okay, Sweetheart.' He kisses you then, a barley there touching of your lips, before speeding up his thrusts as he uses you to bring him to his own end. Your body responds to him perfectly, tensing and holding him, beckoning him to finish as he grits his teeth and screws shut his eyes.

'Look at me...' You gasp, nosing at his cheek.

He obliges, eyes snapping open as he hurtles towards ecstasy. Looking at you makes it worse. It makes his heart burn as well as his stomach. You're so beautiful, with your clothes half-torn and the evidence of him littering your neck. The light from a near-by window catches each bruise, illuminating them and making each glow in turn.

A dull pang of possessiveness flares in his chest and he feels the tell-tale tightness of his balls pull up, as they prepare to spill. 'I'm – fuck... I'm gonna -.' Pulling back, he tries to slip a hand between your bodies to take hold of his cock; but your legs tighten around him preventing his retreat. He swallows. 'I'm gonna... Fuck, fuck! I can't – Gonna...'

'Inside, please.' You voice sounds wet. Desperation fills your chest. You're not sure when you'll next get the chance to have him, if ever, and the longing drives you to boldness. 'You said you'd give me everything... Said -.'

'Fuck...' Swallowing, he doubles down, sheathing himself completely inside of you. 'Okay, Princess. You – you can have it. Shit.' He knows he shouldn't, knows better than to cum in the women he beds and yet, he finds himself unable to deny you. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind, he wonders if he even wants to. It's too easy after all, to comply, to press his cock deep and spill, hot, thick and white.

His cock kicks inside of you, nudging against your walls and making your eyes roll back. You hadn't thought you could feel any more full, but as he continues to cum, you're proven wrong. Letting your head rock back on your shoulders, you settle into the feeling as Bakugo drops his forehead to your collarbone and pants against your throat.

His nose skates against your skin, eliciting goosebumps in his wake as he mumbles soft, half-words into your skin.

You don't let go of his hand, even basking in your afterglow. Instead, you relax into the rhythm of his breath and the slow stroking of your fingers along the bulk of his shoulders. It's nice, peaceful, the closest thing you've had to happiness in the past few years and still, it's over far too soon.

Eventually, Bakugo's nonsense mumbling turns into solid words. They're still spoken into your shoulder, dulled by the echoes of pleasure that still pluck at his nerves, but there's something sad lingering behind them. 'I'm still not going to say that I love you.'

You chuckle at scratch at his scalp, earning yourself an appreciative hum. 'I'm still not going to ask you too.'

'That's the problem...' He kisses the join of your neck. 'I reckon I could'da been, too… If I'd have taken you with me.'

His words make a black hole open up in your chest. A part of you had known it, of course, but hearing it all out loud from the man himself has your skin breaking out in cold hives. Swallowing, you bend forward and press a kiss into his crown.

'S'not good for a pirate – just means you've got more to lose.' He sighs. 'And I didn't... I don't want to lose you, even if it means I can't have you.' Digging his chin into your chest, he flicks his eyes to yours and tries to look unamused, like he hasn't just bared his heart while seated inside you and staring at your tits. 'That good enough for ya?'

You nod, smiling.

'Right.' Stretching to kiss you, he slips out of you and swallows the moan you release. He can feel his own cum dripping down his cock, warm and sticky against his shaft as he reels back enough to slip you underwear back into place. 'We should...'

You relax the muscle in your legs, letting him step back and fiddle with the edge of his own underwear. He tucks himself back in, using a spare rag to clean himself off before he's yanking up his breeches and fastening them once more. He buttons his shirt then, stopping half way to look up at you. 'Here...'

Abandoning the rest of his buttons, he starts fixing your skirts ensuring that the layers fall perfectly once more. He's delicate and diligent when re-lacing your shirt too, his fingers gracing the apex of your chest and the hollow of your throat as he slowly loops each thin stretch of fabric. 'Thank you.'

Bakugo pulls you in by the waist before stealing your breath with a blinding kiss. It says too much and not enough all at once and leaves you reeling, even after he pulls away. He clears his throat, but doesn't drop his hold on you. 'We should go.'

'One more kiss?'

He grants your request, basking in you one last time before he finally, steps back. Readjusting his sword belt, now tied back around his hips, he rakes a hand through his hair and turns to the door. He pauses, bowing low. 'Ladies first.'

'A pirate and a gentleman.' You muse. There's still a sickness clinging to the lining of your stomach, one you ignore in favour of sharing his smile. In the aftermath, with your anger quenched, it’s harder to forget that you came here with a mission. The folded piece of parchment burns in your pocket, making you want to be sick.

A smirk curls his lip as you pass him. 'We both know I'm not a gentleman, Princess.'

Before you can clear the room, the crack of a harsh palm striking your ass has you squealing like a teenager and bolting. You can hear his boots, their dull falls following you as you scamper down the thin corridor and towards the deck.

He catches you before you can reach the light and pins you against the walls, your arms trapped at either side of your shoulders by the wrist as he presses in close. 'What was that about one more kiss?' He chuckles.

You don't give him an answer, instead, you surge forward and let emotion take over you. Safe in the empty corridor, you find yourself thankful that your seconds had evidently abandoned the lower quarters for the air. The kiss he grants you is fleeting, but deep and has you panting again when he finally releases you.

'I don't think I'd ever tire of that.'

'I don't think I'd ever tire of you.'

'Of me, maybe not, but you'd tire of the sea – of chasing things that only matter to men like me.'

'Women can care for treasure too.'

He smiles, sadly. 'Different treasures, Princess. You came here seeking me, while I seek -.'

'You still want the map.' You answer for him, with that cold slice of ice wedged back into your heart. Part of you think he might argue, that he will toss back up his walls and begin spouting more theatrics about piracy and danger, but he doesn't. He lets you go, reluctantly and smooths down the front of your dress.

'That was the deal.'

Opening your mouth to speak, you think better of it and lock your jaw. Disappoint sinks in your stomach, but you're not given a moment to dwell on it. You could explain the dangers, explain how the guard are planning to take his head regardless of Midoriya’s assistance, of how it was you they had sent to lure him into the trap. How the map in your pocket will surely lead to his demise.

Still, you know there’s no point.

He won’t listen.

He’s a pirate, after all.

Bakugo marches down the corridor, unaware of the turmoil in your chest and beckons you follow before kicking open the door and sliping back onto the deck.

'Ah, it's nice to see you getting along.' Bakugo's grin is from ear to ear as he strolls over to where the seconds have removed themselves.

Uraraka stands up, straightening herself from where she had been laying in Mina's lap.

Kirishima doesn't lift his eyes. 'Well, we couldn't exactly stay down here.' He grumbles. 'What with all the damn fucking noise.' The knuckles on his right hand are bloodied, the wrap he's woven around them already stained and dirty, but if he's in any form of discomfort, he doesn't show it.

Bakugo laughs and claps Kirishima, hard, on the back before whispering something in his seconds ear that makes him perk up, if only slightly. Straightening, he turns to you and holds out a hand, palm facing upwards. 'I believe you owe me a map, Princess.'

You try and hide the disappointment lining your features as you bow your head. Turning to Yaomomo, you incline your head.

The gesture catches her off guard, but sends Momo scrambling through the many pouches attached to her belt. It's in the second that she finds what she's looking for, retrieving an old tattered map from within. She holds it out, eyes questioning.

Taking it from her, you don't pause when dropping it into Bakugo's hand.

He snatches it, grin wide and feral as he spins on the balls of his boot addressing the entirety of his ship. 'We have a new heading, lads!'

The crew that had been lazing about the deck are on their feet in an instant. Fists are thrown into the air, shouts loosed from throats and boots stamped against the wood. It's electric, the air fizzes around them as the entire crew becomes energised at their captains words. In a seconds, men who had been hanging from the rigging, or leaning on stray cannons are called to action.

'Captain...' Uraraka steps forward, unsettled by the sudden movement. ‘That map, it’s the wrong -.’

Bakugo turns to face her, eyebrows furrowing when you step in front of him.

'We should return to the ship.' You silence any further protest with a hand. 'It's obvious we've run the course of our relationship here.'

Hauling in a breath, you force a smile to your lips before signalling for your two ship-mates to flank you. It takes all of your strength to cross the deck to the rail where a short board links your ship with Bakugo's, but you manage every step without looking back over your shoulder to see if Bakugo is following.

Part of you hopes he is, hopes that he's already feeling the same ache in his stomach that you are and following on your heels.

Another part of you knows that he’s not.

Taking hold of the rail, you move to hoist yourself up when a feather light weight touch graces your waist.

'Captain...' Bakugo's eyes linger on yours when you turn to face him. His chest clenches, heart hammering in his chest as his gaze drops to your lips. If he was a better man, he'd kiss you, but he's always been a pirate first. Dragging his eyes back to yours, he offers out his hand. ‘On another tide, Princess.'

You huff a laugh and shake your head, but take his hand regardless. 'Your Captain sends her regards.’

He smiles. The faintest hint of blush is visible on his cheeks, high on the bones.

Beside you, Uraraka has already hauled herself up onto the rail; her face bright red as Mina blows a kiss in her direction. She pauses, teetering there until both you and Yaomomo clamber up beside her.

The first step is the hardest. The board wobbles under your feet, but it still feels more secure than the tatters of whatever could lie between you and Bakugo. Each step takes you away from him, leading you back towards the life you'd built while on his tail; except now, it all feels heavier.

Landing on the deck of your own ship, you turn back just in time to watch Uraraka and Tokoyami push the board into the recess of the ocean, separating the two ships. From over the rail, you can still see him – his proud mess of blonde hair obvious against the dark mahoganies of the ship. If you squint, you can swear you see him raise his hand to his mouth and kiss the skin there; but it wouldn't be the first time your heart had convinced your eyes of seeing things in it's rose-coloured light.

'Where too, Captain?' Tokoyami cocks his head, nudging your elbow with a curled finger.

You wipe a tear from your eye, blinking away the mist. What's done is done, you suppose. It's not as if you hadn't expected this... Signed up for it, even. Still, you rest easier knowing that Bakugo’s heading is set far away from what will happen to you when the guard discover your deceit. 'We're to meet back with the fleet.' You bite the inside of your lip. 'They need to know he took the bait.’

-> Masterlist

[silantryoo]

BONUS [ LIKEALOOK ] — gaeul's ahn yujin.

kim gaeul, second year.

WARNINGS; manipulation, unrequited love, pining, mentions of sexual acts, self-sabotage, peer pressure, self-deprecation, coercion, power imbalance (5.7k)

jang wonyoung was beautiful.

she was ethereal, almost angel-like. her brown, doe-like eyes could make anyone lose track of their thoughts, becoming a bumbling, incoherent mess in front of said girl. her soft, princess-like smile could catch anyone's attention with just one glance, like a lighthouse shining though the foggy sea.

jang wonyoung was heaven-sent.

there was no one that came close to the level of elegance and beauty that she held. there were people who came close, people who came from similar backgrounds, and people who spoke in a similar manner. but even then, there was no one that could be jang wonyoung.

gaeul wasn't stupid. she knew all of this, just like any other person who had ever encountered the volleyball player.

and she knew that she could never, ever stand a chance against someone like her.

gaeul wasn't born with athleticism. even as a child, she preferred to stay indoors, opting to watch her peers play as she read books about dance and volleyball. at ten years old, she had begged her parents to take a chance on her, just that once, to let her try something she was passionate about despite her small stature. even then, she knew they always had doubts when it came to anything she did.

she wasn't pretty either, at least, not like wonyoung. her boyish charms, despite making her unique, could never hold a candle against someone like jang wonyoung. she knew it in her heart, even if anyone tried to say otherwise.

but gaeul could never hate the younger girl.

wonyoung had come into try-outs wide-eyed, an innocence filling up the room as she stepped in. she was filled with an excitement that gaeul hadn't seen in years.

it was refreshing, beautiful even.

the girl was young, and hailed from the same high school that yoo jimin had come from. she couldn't imagine the pressure. the whispers followed the young girl everywhere she went, and it didn't help that yeji made it as difficult as she could've for the younger girls.

but she outperformed all expectations, crushing all the doubt that yeji (who was greatly irritated) had for the girl. there was no denying that jang wonyoung played volleyball like it was dance, and everyone's eyes were on her.

everyone except gaeul's.

gaeul heard yujin before she saw her. she could hear the girl laughing from outside the olympic-sized gym, joking about something dumb to get a giggle out of the other girls. she would yell in excitement whenever anyone made a particularly good serve, set, or dig, and would scream at the top of her lungs at the slightest inconvenience.

gaeul loved it, maybe more than she should've.

but as loud as ahn yujin was, her feelings were louder, and it didn't take a genius to realize that she was infatuated with jang wonyoung.

gaeul wanted to hate her, but she could never hate the girl.

gaeul could only hate herself.

being roommates with yujin was both a curse and a blessing.

yujin was loud, and all gaeul had ever known prior was quiet.

she grew up in a family where success was a priority, where both of her parents were financial analysts for a huge company, away on business trips for months on end, and her older brother locked himself in his room to study all day.

it was terrifying, most days.

gaeul had no one to run to. the young kim was left to her thoughts, letting them spiral out of control until she couldn't think of anything else.

but soon, familiarity turned the silence into a blessing, and the kim house was no longer a jail cell. it filled with an ambiance that seemed to embrace gaeul in her times of need.

but ahn yujin was loud (and gaeul didn't know if she loved it or hated it in that moment).

"unnie."

gaeul bit back a smile, listening to the younger girl sigh as she read through the notes of her anatomy class.

gaeul realized that yujin was harder to ignore than she thought.

"hello?" yujin waved her hand in front of the older girl's face. "can you stop studying and pay attention to me?"

the dancer shook her head. she already knew what this was going to be about.

"yes, yujin?"

gaeul turned to face yujin, holding up two pieces of clothing, one a blue cardigan and the other a green sweater.

"do you think wonyoung likes green or blue?"

wonyoung was a topic that yujin seemed to love. every conversation the two had seemed to revolve around wonyoung or volleyball, maybe even both. gaeul knew what she was getting into the moment she found out the younger girl was her roommate, but hearing it regularly didn't make it hurt any less.

thank god it was just a silly little crush.

gaeul thought for a moment, a finger tapping the side of her cheek. she looked at yujin, eyes wide and anticipating.

even her eyes were loud, full of emotion, and swirling with excitement.

"i think she likes her girlfriend." gaeul teased, raising an eyebrow.

"unnie." yujin whined, huffing as she lowered her arms. "just answer the question."

gaeul rolled her eyes, looking in between the two.

the dark green sweater wasn't something yujin wore often. in fact, it was the first time gaeul had seen it. it was harsh, like the weeds seeping through the cracks of a sidewalk.

gaeul glanced at the light blue cardigan before glancing back at yujin. the younger girl always looked good in blue, and gaeul always thought she looked the prettiest in soft colors. she liked the way yujin's smile stood out more.

"blue." gaeul hummed. "it reminds her of y/n."

"okay." yujin threw the cardigan on her bed and removed the sweater from the hanger. "green it is."

she turned around as yujin got dressed, humming a love song as gaeul went over the lecture notes she had earlier that day.

it had been a tough week for the older girl. being a second-year dance major made her realize that sitting through a three-hour dance composition lab and a two-hour anatomy lecture with two hours of sleep was something she had to deal with from now on. luckily, today was the weekend, but even if she wanted to sleep, yujin had asked her earlier that week if she they could to get dinner whenever gaeul was free.

she couldn't say no if she tried.

gaeul looked over at yujin, watching as she buttoned up her shirt.

"i thought we were hanging out today." gaeul asked, trying not to sound too hurt.

yujin looked over, brushing her hair as she shrugged. "you said you were busy."

gaeul knew she just wanted an excuse to hang out with wonyoung by herself.

"i said i needed to study first." gaeul frowned, turning back to face her paper.

"yeah." the younger girl's perfume engulfed the entire room as she sprayed her wrists. "busy."

gaeul wondered if yujin would've done the same thing if she was anything remotely similar to wonyoung.

gaeul shook her head, too tired to argue with yujin. she just wanted to close her eyes and listen to the silence around her, lulling her to sleep like she was ten years old again (even though she would've preferred yujin's loud singing to keep her awake).

the door slammed open, and gaeul looked over at yujin with questioning eyes.

"that door is supposed to be locked."

yujin smiled, and gaeul forgave her almost instantly.

"hey, unnies!" wonyoung burst through, dressed comfortably in jeans and her suma sweater.

"hey, wonyoung." gaeul smiled at the taller girl. she never understood how wonyoung could look so put together so effortlessly.

beside her, yujin dusted herself off. "hi."

wonyoung looked between the two, her eyes settling on a half-awake gaeul whose hair was pushed back with a headband.

"is gaeul-unnie not coming with us?"

yujin looked at her, begging her to say no.

gaeul glanced at wonyoung. she wanted to go with them, with yujin. she wanted to get the girl who held doors open for her, and who bought her snacks because it reminded her of gaeul. she wanted to be the girl yujin talked about, but that wasn't her.

she wasn't jang wonyoung. she wasn't talented, she wasn't pretty. she was just kim gaeul, and maybe that would've been enough for someone else, but gaeul didn't like someone else.

gaeul liked yujin (and gaeul could never say no to yujin).

"no." she could feel her breaking her heart in two. "i'm busy. sorry, wonnie."

"oh." wonyoung pouted, genuinely upset. she wanted to hang out with both of them, and gaeul knew that wonyoung was too kind to forget the older girl. "i'll get you food, okay?"

"you don't have to." yujin argued, looking at her roommate. "she has money."

"she needs to eat too." wonyoung pointed out, before grinning softly (gaeul wondered if she looked like that when she thought of yujin). "plus, i promised y/nnie that i was gonna get her bread."

sighing, yujin nodded in defeat. there wasn't much that she could do against l/n y/n when it came to wonyoung.

the two put their shoes on, and all gaeul could do was listen as she tried her hardest not to cry from frustration.

(she didn't understand why the gastrocnemius and the soleus were this important to dance.)

"you two have fun." gaeul cleared her throat, trying not to let it waver. "don't spend too much money."

she could hear the hesitation in the air, and she wondered if yujin had saw through her at that moment. she wondered if somehow she had garnered a chance.

(wonyoung looked at her figure with worried eyes, and all yujin could do was look at wonyoung.)

yujin cleared her throat. "we'll see you later, unnie!"

gaeul nodded, listening to the door click closed.

it was just a silly little crush.

it didn't matter whether she looked for signs of yujin everywhere. she didn't care that she turned her head whenever she smelt her perfume in class. it didn't bother her that she would always think of yujin's coffee order before hers.

it was a crush, and there was no chance it would have been reciprocated.

kim gaeul wasn't jang wonyoung.

gaeul wondered what it was like to really excel at something.

by no means was gaeul average. she had made it into Seoul's University of Multi-Arts, one of the sought out SKYS universities. she was smart, averaging a 3.7 unweighted gpa. she was talented, enough to warrant a spot on the top university volleyball team of the nation.

but even though she wasn't average, she was just gaeul.

gaeul who was another face on the team. gaeul who was just another dance major. gaeul who was nothing special.

the dorm room door opened with a swing, and the tall, opposite hitter appeared, loud and boisterous as ever.

"unnie," yujin exclaimed, the door clicking closes behind her as she showed off a bouquet of pink roses. "do you think wonyoung would like this?"

gaeul loved pink, just like yujin loved jang wonyoung.

"you shouldn't give flowers to a girl that's taken, yujin."

it hurt. so deeply.

yujin sighed, "wonyoung's sad, though."

gaeul was sad too.

she was tired from bouncing back from the studio to the court every day. she was upset that her parents had missed her birthday to work extra hours at their stupid corporate jobs.

she was sad, because she wanted to hate jang wonyoung, but no matter what she did, the girl would always be like a little sister.

she could never blame wonyoung for being wonyoung, gaeul could only blame herself.

"she's sad and taken." gaeul smiled softly, covering up the pain with a grin. "you're gonna start a fight between her and y/n."

"i know..."

yujin plopped down on her bed, still gripping onto the bouquet.

gaeul looked at the young girl, listening to her huff as she turned to look at the dancer.

yujin had a good heart, perhaps a little too soft for her own benefit (and gaeul loved it, just like she liked, loved, yujin).

the older girl looked at her, eyebrows furrowed as yujin sat quietly at the foot of her bed.

"do you want to start a fight between her and y/n?"

"no!" yujin shook her head almost immediately. gaeul couldn't help but smile. yujin always had a soft spot for her old schoolmates. "y/nnie's cool. she's good for wonyoung."

yujin was quiet, and that was all gaeul needed to know.

she sat up, sitting beside the taller girl wordlessly. she could hear the chatter of the students and the chirping of the birds from outside. she hoped that the silence would envelop yujin, she hoped it would comfort her.

so gaeul waited.

"i just wish i met wonyoung first."

gaeul smiled.

i wish i had met you first, too.

"i know." the setter whispered, the silence deafening her ears. she looked over to yujin, the sun illuminating the girl brightly. "but you didn't, and there's nothing you can do."

yujin looked at her, and gaeul swore saw something.

but yujin wouldn't look at her like that. she wasn't wonyoung.

"i know." the younger girl's hand twitched, her eyes trained on gaeul's slightly calloused hands.

"i'm not letting you beat yourself up over this." the older girl sighed. she stood up, her eyes trained on yujin. "let's get food. what are you craving?"

and almost instantly, gaeul's loud, boisterous ahn yujin came back.

"my parents just came back from thailand!" yujin exclaimed, a slight blush on her face. "so thai food?"

"okay." gaeul nodded, ignoring the loud beating of her heart. "i'll drive this time."

yujin looked at her, and gaeul wondered if yujin wished she was wonyoung at that very moment.

gaeul wondered how well the team would take it if she decided to transfer schools.

she turned her body, facing the door as she listened to the wind blowing through her undrawn curtains.

suma had already been short players before ryujin and alex had left, and yeji was clearly at her breaking point, losing her setter in the mix. jimin had been in a funk since catching yeji, and coach bam was dragging the younger girls through hell and back, giving them little leeway for mistakes. gaeul wasn't even sure they were going to win this year, and she didn't need her parents breathing down her neck because of another loss.

(plus, yonsei had a great dance program that gaeul had eyed before choosing suma.)

yujin burst into the room, nearly out of breath. gaeul shot up, wondering why the younger girl was causing such a commotion.

the door creaked closed, and gaeul waited for the younger girl to speak.

yujin sat down at the foot of gaeul's bed, her head hung low as gaeul scooted closer to her. the older girl stayed quiet, letting yujin catch her breath and sort through her thoughts.

yujin's voice broke through the silence in a whisper.

"wonyoung broke up with y/n."

gaeul looked at yujin.

"what?"

wonyoung was y/n's and y/n was wonyoung's. although gaeul never had a good example of love, she didn't need to to know that they were meant for each other. she would've never thought that they would break up so abruptly.

the older girl looked at yujin, quiet and calm.

"yujin?" gaeul whispered. "are you okay?"

yujin spoke gently, and it sounded almost foreign to gaeul. "i didn't think wonyoung would be this sad."

gaeul sighed. "she loves her, yujin."

the younger girl stayed silent.

"i guess so." she muttered, playing with the side of her thumb. "i just don't understand how she loves her so much."

"yujin..." gaeul shook her head in disbelief.

sometimes, she forgot that yujin had never been in love or even thought of love. the younger girl was just a meathead who liked volleyball and pretty things.

yujin looked up, confused. "did i say something wrong?"

"no." gaeul sighed, the younger girl's eyes shining with guilt. "i just want you to understand why wonyoung is sad, and your pea brain isn't gonna take an explanation from anyone else."

"unnie!"

gaeul rolled her eyes playfully before letting the silence take its course.

"wonyoung loves y/n." yujin stared at gaeul, trying to take in everything the older girl was saying. "that's her y/n."

"but she could be anyone's y/n."

and you could be anyone's yujin.

"not to wonyoung." yujin looked more confused than before, and gaeul couldn't help but ask. "have you ever been in love, yujin?"

"no." yujin shook her head. "have you?"

gaeul stared at yujin.

"yeah." it was weird admitting it out loud. "i think so."

yujin stared back at her, her eyes shimmering against the bright light of the sun.

"what's it like?"

the older girl smiled, trying to push back the blush that was rising into her cheeks. "you know i'm not good with words."

yujin held her gaze, and gaeul knew that she couldn't say no.

gaeul nodded, yujin keeping her full attention on the girl in front of her.

"i guess..." she took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts, and trying to think of anything aside from the girl in front of her. "being in love with someone is like having your own person with you all the time."

gaeul looked down, playing with her hands as yujin's eyes bore into the crown of her head.

"you always have a piece of them everywhere." gaeul could feel the hot rays on her back. "maybe it's a cardigan at some store that reminds you of them, or the coffee order that you always check the price of. maybe it's the food at some random corner on the street."

gaeul just wanted yujin.

"maybe it's everything but nothing."

gaeul looked up, finding yujin's eyes glazed over with an emotion that gaeul had never seen before. the older girl wondered if she had just confused her more.

"yujin?"

almost instantly, yujin snapped back to reality.

"why?" yujin cleared her throat, unable to meet gaeul's eyes. "why would wonyoung break up with y/n if y/n was her person?"

gaeul traced the faint bruises on her forearm.

"maybe because she didn't feel like a person."

for a moment, everything was quiet, and yujin couldn't help but watch the sun shine against her roommate's figure.

"that explanation is making me sadder." yujin sighed, her eyes never leaving gaeul.

the older girl looked up, smiling softly at yujin as their eyes met. "i told you i wasn't good with words..."

the room settled in a stillness, and gaeul could hear the hum of the lights, and the blood rushing through her veins.

she wondered if yujin liked the quiet.

suddenly, yujin shot up, almost robotically as she grabbed a random blue hoodie from her coat rack. her face was a firey red as she muttered nonsense under her breath.

"i need-" yujin cleared her throat, avoiding the older's gaze. "i'm gonna go find wonyoung."

gaeul couldn't compare, no matter how hard she could've tried.

"okay."

the door slammed closed, and everything came crashing down.

gaeul didn't mean to avoid yujin.

though the younger girl had been suspiciously insistent on hanging out with her these past two weeks, gaeul had been swamped with schoolwork and volleyball and hadn't been in their dorm for longer than six hours (which was mostly her sleeping).

most of the time she saw yujin was in practice, and they could never find the time to hang out after, considering yeji had made it her mission to recruit gaeul as her new setter instead of shin ryujin.

but gaeul had messed up again, setting slightly too high for yeji's liking.

yeji landed lightly, grabbing the ball as she chucked it full force toward gaeul's stomach. the setter winced, her finger getting jammed as she caught it.

"what the fuck is wrong with you?" the captain yelled, gaeul keeping her head down.

"sorry, sunbaenim." gaeul felt small, and she just wished everything would stop being so loud. "i'm not feeling well."

"i don't care if you're feeling well or not." yeji spit out, jabbing her finger on gaeul's temple. "you're my setter... mine. stop thinking about yujin and play properly."

gaeul looked up, eyes wide and distraught.

"i wasn't thinking-"

"leave gaeul alone, yeji." jimin interrupted.

gaeul hadn't heard jimin speak since the party.

"look at you finally talking again." yeji smirked, and jimin tried her best to stand her ground. the captain smiled at her proudly. "for a second, i thought i broke you."

she turned to gaeul, the younger girl's eyes avoiding her own. "yujin doesn't think about you. she doesn't care about you. you understand that right?"

she knew that. gaeul didn't need to be reminded of that.

gaeul nodded. "yes, sunbaenim."

yeji glanced at jimin, giving her a smile before turning her attention back to gaeul. the older girl leaned in, her lips dangerously close to gaeul's ear.

"yujin doesn't care about you like her." gaeul's eyes widened once more. how did yeji know about yujin's crush on wonyoung? "i know you already know that. you're a smart girl, so stop thinking you have a chance and focus on what's important, okay?"

"yeji." jimin pushed yeji away from gaeul, the captain glaring at the dark-haired girl.

rolling her eyes, yeji watched as gaeul sulked in silence. "answer me."

"yes, sunbaenim."

"get your head out of your ass and set properly." yeji mutter, grabbing the ball from gaeul. "i won't ask again."

"yes, sunbaenim." gaeul bowed. "sorry."

yeji looked at her for a moment, the entire court filling with a tense silence.

"good."

there was a glint sparkling in her eye, something that jimin had already been familiar with. gaeul couldn't help but blush at the sight of it.

the captain walked away, getting a drink of water and leaving the two girls alone.

"gaeul." jimin muttered, her eyebrows furrowing. she watched as yeji eyed gaeul once more. "don't fall for it."

"what?"

jimin looked at her almost desperately. "please. just don't fall for it."

gaeul looked at her curiously before yeji called her over. she didn't understand what jimin meant, but gaeul wouldn't know until it was too late.

yujin missed gaeul.

she missed the frustrated sighs that came from her side of the room, and that stupid nike headband that the girl always seemed to wear when studying. she missed waking up to the window wide open as the shorter girl shivered in her bed, and she missed the stack of books that engulfed gaeul's desk.

she hadn't spoken to her all week. whenever yujin would wake up, gaeul's already-made bed would be empty, and her school bag would be gone. by the time the day ended, gaeul either had practice with the team or with yeji.

(personally, yujin thought yeji had been a little too close to gaeul.)

their dorm was silent without gaeul, and not the silent that yujin learned to love.

"unnie!" the taller girl rushed to the setter, nearly tripping over her own shoes with excitement. "wanna go get food?"

yujin looked at her with anticipation, her heart beating out of her chest as she waited for a response.

"i can't." gaeul sighed, watching as yujin deflated. "yeji-sunbaenim needs me to train with her."

"that's the fifth time this week." she just wanted gaeul to herself. "can't you just ditch her?"

"i can't." gaeul looked at yujin, and yujin could feel her face suddenly erupt into a blush. "we're already down people."

"it's her fault that ryujin-unnie and alex-unnie left." the girl muttered. "we were already short people because of coach bam, but now there's only eight of us."

"it's fine." gaeul shrugged, re-taping her jammed ring finger. "at least i'm getting minutes."

"i guess so..." yujin nodded, watching as gaeul quietly hummed. she knew gaeul wouldn't do anything stupid, but every time yeji looked at the older girl, she couldn't help but get a sinking feeling. "i can stop by and watch."

"it's okay, yujin." gaeul could only imagine how angry yeji would be throughout the whole practice. "i don't think yeji-sunbaenim would like that."

yujin didn't like yeji. she was hot-headed, and blamed everyone but herself. she wasn't a good captain, especially to the younger girls, and everything always seemed to revolve around her.

but yujin especially didn't like how fond of gaeul she suddenly became.

"why?" the younger girl bit the side of her cheek. "does she... does she like you?"

gaeul shook her head. "that's not why."

"are you sure?" yujin had heard stories from ryujin, about how yeji could make anyone hers, so long as she had enough interest. "i can sit in and double-check for you."

"it's okay." gaeul had never seen yujin this panicked, and she wanted to do everything she could to calm her down (without angering yeji in the process, of course). "wonyoung's coming over later, right?"

"yeah." yujin relaxed for a moment, and it took everything in gaeul not to break into pieces. "but, she doesn't have to! i can reschedule and go with you instead."

gaeul blushed, wishing that yujin meant it in more of a romantic way than a friendly way.

"you're sweet." sighing, she shook her head. "i'll be okay though."

yujin just wanted to be with gaeul.

"but-"

"kim gaeul!" yeji's voice boomed from outside the changing room. "you better hurry the fuck up."

"yes, sunbaenim." gaeul replied, standing up as she squeezed the taller girl's forearm. "i'll see you later, yujinnie."

gaeul walked out, missing the lovestruck look that was etched across yujin's face.

"yujinnie?" the younger girl smiled, covering her mouth as she blushed.

she was so gonna tell wonyoung later.

gaeul wondered if something had changed.

aside from yujin's odd behavior (which gaeul found endearing), gaeul found herself less and less tired from yeji's one-on-one practices. she didn't know whether it was the fact that yeji had decided to stop yelling at her, but it felt nice going to bed with some energy left.

but something was wrong. gaeul could feel it in her stomach.

the two changed quietly in the change room, and the clock ticked, filling the void. it was only eight pm. if gaeul went home now and finished studying, she could finally have a proper conversation with yujin before she passed out. it had been nearly three days since they last spoke.

the setter quickly packed her stuff, only stopping as she felt a presence near her.

"gaeul." yeji hummed. gaeul turned around to face her senior. "i've been thinking about something."

yeji's tone carried a softness that gaeul didn't know the girl was capable of. carefully, yeji sat down next to her, waiting for gaeul to do the same.

gaeul followed, looking at her with anticipating eyes.

"i need my setter." yeji placed a hand dangerously high on her thigh. "i need you. do you understand?"

no one had ever wanted gaeul before.

she was the girl who was always given numbers to give to her friends. gaeul was the friend who gave relationship advice without experience. no guy or girl had ever bothered to look her way. but now, her captain was here, and despite everything, gaeul had never felt more needed.

"gaeul?" yeji whispered.

gaeul swallowed. "yes, sunbaenim?"

the older girl leaned in, her face suddenly millimeters away from gaeul's. "has anyone told you how pretty you are?"

gaeul had never been called pretty before.

"i need you to focus on me, okay? forget about yujin." gaeul felt a cold hand playing with the hem of her shirt. "let me help you."

yeji kissed her softly, her hand making its way under gaeul's shirt. she tasted like mint-flavored smoke and smelled like a long day outside. it felt suffocating, wrong almost, and gaeul couldn't help but wonder if kisses were supposed to feel like this.

"sunbaenim," gaeul pulled away as yeji started attacking her neck. "i don't think-"

the older girl looked up, feeling yeji's hands on her waistband. "let me help you."

it was all wrong, but gaeul just wanted to be needed by someone, even if it wasn't yujin.

"okay."

gaeul came home around two am.

she ignored all the worried texts and calls from yujin by yeji's orders, and went home feeling like a shell of herself. she knew what happened wasn't right, and seeing yujin's and wonyoung's faces as she entered their dorm room was enough to solidify it.

she didn't miss the looks that they gave her as she entered her bed, not even bothering to change (but she missed the look that wonyoung had given yujin as the opposite hitter held back tears).

yujin tried to talk to gaeul the next day, to try and understand why she had slept with yeji. but gaeul didn't want to tell her that she just needed to about everything; about how she wasn't pretty enough, about how she would never be anything like wonyoung.

gaeul had slept with jeon somi that night, and with some random girl from yonsei the day after.

"gaeul-unnie."

"wonyoung." gaeul smiled, trying her best to shake off yeji's gaze on her. she didn't need a reminder of why she was spiralling right now. "what's wrong?"

"i can't get my form right." wonyoung massaged the volleyball nervously, ignoring the glare yujin was sending her. "can you help me?"

yujin rolled her eyes. "your form looked fine to me."

"yujin." gaeul sighed before nodding at wonyoung. "yeah, i'll help you."

"i can't hit anything." wonyoung pouted, glancing at a fumming yujin. "i feel like my form's right but i just need someone to double-check."

gaeul stood up, ushering wonyoung with a hand on the middle of the taller girl's back. "can i see it?"

yujin bit her tongue.

"sure." gaeul smiled, and yujin wanted nothing more than for her to smile at her. "haewon, can you-"

"haewon's resting." yujin interrupted, before she stood up. "i'll do it."

haewon looked at her. "i'm not-"

"you are." yujin insisted before turning back to gaeul with a grin. "what do you need help with?"

"i just need you to try and set this."

gaeul gave her the ball, her eyes looking expectantly at yujin. the taller girl gladly took it.

"okay."

wonyoung took a step back, waiting for yujin. though she wasn't a setter, she had known wonyoung well enough to know where the middle blocker would've wanted it. still, wonyoung had swung slightly too early.

yujin stared at her.

"that was a shit spike."

gaeul rolled her eyes. "yujin."

"i'm already your opposite." yujin whined. "why do you need to train her?"

gaeul sighed, shaking her head. "because we only have one person as opposite, and the only other person available is jimin-sunbaenim who's training to be an outside."

"can't you just ask to chaeryeong-unnie?" yujin said, exasperated. she didn't understand why anything was the way it was.

why couldn't gaeul just like her back?

gaeul took a deep breath. she didn't want to argue with yujin. "you go ahead."

yujin nodded before hesitating. she didn't want to leave gaeul alone with a girl, and even though she trusted wonyoung, she had never felt such an ugly feeling before.

(yujin had asked if it was normal, and wonyoung had burst into tears thinking about y/n and her new girlfriend.)

gaeul watched as yujin left, stealing glances at wonyoung. the setter should've known that yeji was right. she'd always be second to the taller girl.

she turned to wonyoung, grabbing a motionless ball on the ground.

"you're swinging too early." gaeul explained, watching as yeji stretched from a distance. "do you want me to delay it a little?"

"you like yujin-unnie, don't you, unnie?"

gaeul could feel her cheeks heat up. wonyoung wasn't supposed to know, but there was no point denying it now.

"what does that have to do with spiking?" she muttered.

"i know how to spike." wonyoung caught a glimpse of yujin, who had been talking to chaeryeong as she stole glances at the two. "yeji-sunbaenim said you were in love with her in the change room. i don't know if yujin-unnie knows, but-"

gaeul shook her head. "this isn't important."

"unnie." wonyoung didn't want another relationship to be ruined because of her. "i understand. i just don't want yujin-unnie to find out that way."

"she won't find out."

"you're not gonna tell her?" wonyoung questioned. "i'm sure she feels the same w-"

"she doesn't." gaeul said sternly. she didn't even know why wonyoung had brought it up in the first place. "i know she doesn't."

wonyoung stared at her, wishing that the older girl would just listen to her for a moment.

"don't you think you guys have been talking for too long?"

gaeul turned around, coming face to face with the taller girl. "yujin."

"it's okay." wonyoung gave a reassuring smile. she knew how horrible yujin had felt these past few days (she had to talk her out of getting gaeul's attention 'the yeji way'). "yeji-sunbaenim starting to get mad and i don't want her to yell at me for distracting her setter."

"she won't yell at you." gaeul looked over at yujin who was glaring at yeji.

wonyoung gave her a look. if there was anyone in the room who understood what she was going through at that very moment, it was jang wonyoung.

sighing, gaeul nodded before wonyoung engulfed her in a hug. the older girl couldn't help but let out a much-needed laugh. wonyoung was too sweet to hate.

yujin couldn't help but shift her focus toward the two.

"thanks, wonyoung." gaeul pulled away and squeezed her arm.

the middle blocker nodded and walked away, sparing a glare at jimin as she took a seat next to haewon.

yujin watched as gaeul shook her head, gripping the ball before turning to the net. the fluorescent lights shined against her face, and the built-in fans hummed from above.

yujin swallowed. "what was that?"

gaeul smiled, and it was like everything had gone quiet.

"nothing."

kim gaeul was beautiful.

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[justabigassnerd]

Unexpected

Pairing - Jack Reacher x child!reader

Word count - 2,322

Warnings - gun violence, death, blood mentions, child endangerment, angst, lil' pinch of fluff

Summary - on a mission wherein he saves a child, Jack Reacher finds himself forming an unlikely softness towards the young child

A/N - oooh this is new isn't it?? this was a request sent in by @fangirl23obession so I hope I did the idea justice. writing for Jack ended up being a lot harder than I anticipated so I hope this is an okay read for y'all. as per y'all please send in requests, feedback and enjoy!!!

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While travelling the states, Jack had caught wind of some suspicious activity within an Army regiment and so naturally went to investigate further. He didn’t care that he wasn’t technically part of the military anymore. When he got involved in something he was going to see his investigation through until the end.

The Army, knowing who he was and still respecting his rank despite him not being part of the Army anymore, let him weigh in on the ongoing investigation into how a soldier had gone completely AWOL with no evidence of foul play yet before he disappeared, he had been disappearing for hours at a time late at night and returning only in the early hours of the morning. At first, his comrades and superiors thought he was sneaking out to go to nearby bars and spend the night with people outside of the Army but when his superiors went to nearby bars to question the staff, they all denied seeing him at all.

As the investigation progressed, Jack found more and more evidence pointing towards a group of former military personnel who were trying to gain power to supposedly take back from their former places of work. Jack didn’t understand why such a group existed and quite frankly he didn’t care. He was there to do a job and that’s what he was going to do before moving on. He’s dealt with much worse in his lifetime. He wasn’t about to let one measly group of rogue soldiers do any damage.

What Jack could never have predicted was them scooping up a child off the streets and taking them hostage as a way to try and convince people to listen to their demands. With that newfound information, Jack was preparing to go off in search of the group to end them once and for all. The Army, of course, insisted he take some soldiers with him to assist in the whole ordeal and while Jack would rather go about everything himself, he knew he had very little say in the matter so allowed them to come with the one rule that they listen to everything he says. He is in charge of this operation and he’s not going to let anyone undermine him on this mission.

When Jack tracked down the base of the group, he took the soldiers assigned to his mission with him and headed to the old warehouse as he muttered to himself about the cliché of it all. When they arrived at the warehouse, of course, there was a group of ex-soldiers waiting for them, so Jack and his team immediately came under fire and were forced into cover. Jack commanded his team with ease, his military background having never left him and orders slipped from his mouth before his brain could even catch up. He managed to advance forward and make his way into the warehouse, taking down any men who refused to back down.

When he finally fought his way through the splinter cell of rogue soldiers, he reached what he could only assume was the main operations room where the leader had chosen to hide out, a young girl tight in his grip as he held his gun towards Jack.

“You better back up there, Reacher. You don’t want anything to happen to this kid now, do you?” The leader growls, moving his gun to be placed against your temple as more tears work their way down your cheeks as you squirm to try and get out of the man’s iron grip.

“The kid isn’t part of this. Let her go.” Jack says, his gun trained expertly on the man standing before him. He longed to pull the trigger, to end all this mess right here and now but he held his itchy trigger finger back. He knew he couldn’t fire his weapon now, not in front of a young child.

“If I let the kid go, you’ll just kill me. I’m not that stupid.” The leader snaps angrily, the barrel of the gun digging further into your temple with each word that leaves his mouth and Jack quickly begins to figure out a solution.

“Here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to put my gun down and you’re going to let the kid go. I won’t try anything. In fact, I’ll let you go.” Jack bargains, beginning to lower his weapon, crouching down and placing his gun on the floor before holding his hands up in surrender.

“I heard your men out there, they’ll kill me.” The man then says, his anger never diminishing.

“They’re only out the front of the warehouse, I never thought to send anyone around the back, so you have a free escape if you go now. Just let the kid go.” Jack says, slowly straightening up and loosely gesturing to the door behind the leader. He remained silent for a moment, eyes flicking between the door and Jack, watching warily to see if he’d dive for his weapon. Keeping his gun trained on your temple, the leader begins to back away towards the door, moving the gun away from your temple momentarily to open the door before returning it to where it was against the side of your head, ignoring the slight whimper that left your lips as the gun digs into your temple again. The man glances between Jack and his doorway to freedom before harshly shoving you to the floor and exiting the warehouse, slamming the door behind him. Jack picked up his gun and made his way over to you, helping you get to your feet, and you immediately clung to his leg, taking him aback slightly. As you clung to his leg, Jack heard a singular gunshot ring out from outside. He knew it was a good idea to bring along a sniper.

“Are you hurt, kid?” Jack then asks, reminding himself of the task at hand as he carefully detaches you from his leg and crouches down to be at your height. You didn’t respond vocally to Jack’s question, just shaking your head as more tears rolled down your cheeks. Despite you shaking your head, Jack checked you over anyway, just to be sure. Once he was satisfied that you were indeed unharmed, he looked at you once more.

“What’s your name?” Jack asks, the gentlest tone to his voice that sounded foreign even to him.

“y/n.” Came your mumbled response, throat thick with tears as you wiped at your eyes harshly.

“Hi, y/n. I’m Jack.” Jack introduces himself to you, doing his best to maintain a gentle tone to not frighten you.

“Do you know where your parents live, y/n?” He then asks, receiving another head shake from you and fighting back a sigh as he glances up as if the ceiling held all the answers. He shouldn’t have expected a young child to know their parent’s address, but it would’ve made his life a lot easier.

“I don’t have any.” You mumble, making Jack look at you curiously.

“You don’t have parents?” He asks cautiously, hoping he somehow heard you wrong but when you nod in response, he lets out a soft sigh. You couldn’t be much older than five and he felt awful that you had no parents.

“I’m going to take you someplace safe, and we’ll talk with some people I know and look at finding you a nice place to live.” Jack says finally, straightening up and immediately you cling to his hand with your small one.

“Okay, kid. I’m going to need you to close your eyes while we leave the warehouse. I won’t let you trip or fall. Promise me you’ll keep your eyes closed.” Jack instructs, looking down at you as you nod, closing your eyes and clasping your free hand over your eyes for good measure. He didn’t want you to see the blood and dead bodies he knew were on the other side of the door. True to your promise, you kept your eyes closed the whole way through the warehouse, your nose wrinkling at the overwhelming stench of iron but you kept your eyes covered the whole time until Jack told you it was okay for you to open your eyes. When you uncover your eyes and blink them open, you discover that you’re standing in front of a car and Jack opens the door for you to climb in. A soldier offers you a hand to help you climb into the car, but you shy away, your grip tightening on Jack’s hand.

“Come on, in you get.” Jack says, letting you hold his hand to climb up into the car, curling up in one of the seats as soon as you’re in the car, eyeing the other soldiers standing by the car carefully. Sensing your discomfort, Jack climbed in the other backseat to offer a familiar presence and he hadn’t anticipated you clinging to his hand once more. If it had been any other situation, Jack was sure he would’ve taken his hand right out of your grip but there was something about the way you only trusted him that made his usually icy heart melt just a little.

The journey back to the military base was short and silent and when you all got out of the car, you were immediately clinging to Jack once more as he led you into one of the offices where Jack’s arrival was expected. The moment Jack entered the room and stood in the middle of the office, you hid behind his legs, aware of all the eyes that were on you as the Colonel stood from his desk.

“Ladies, would you two take young…” The Colonel begins, gesturing loosely in your direction as he realised, he didn’t know your name.

“y/n.” Jack fills in the blank for him.

“y/n. Thank you, Reacher. Take y/n here and get her washed and a change of clothes while we discuss the operation if you, please.” The Colonel finishes, and as the two approach you, you shy away further behind Jack’s legs.

“Hey kid, you go ahead and go with them, okay? They’re just going to get you cleaned up. I’ll be here when you’re done.” Jack says down to you as your head pokes out from behind his legs, looking up at him before tentatively stepping out from behind his legs and letting the two women usher you away so Jack and the Colonel can talk. Jack goes into detail regarding the mission and how it was successful before the subject moves on to returning you to your family.

“She told me she doesn’t have any parents. I don’t know what happened to them, but it seems she’s been alone for a while.” Jack explains as the Colonel nods along to Jack’s words, brow furrowing in thought.

“Okay, I’ll call up Child Protective Services and I’m sure they’ll find a safe and stable home for her.” The Colonel states, reaching for his office phone just as Jack speaks up.

“Actually, Sir. I’d like to take care of her.” The words left his mouth with no hesitation which took the Colonel by surprise. Jack Reacher was never a man who had shown much care for those around him, but you had come along and showed a side of him no one had seen before.

“Are you sure, Reacher? With your lifestyle, she wouldn’t have a very stable life.” The Colonel says, hand hovering over the phone as he watches Jack carefully.

“I’m very sure.” Jack nods, and the Colonel mirrors his action, his hand withdrawing from the phone. Just as the Colonel backs away from the phone you come rushing back into the office, sporting new clothes and damp hair, greeting Jack happily as he crouches down to be at your level.

“I got a choice for you. The Colonel here can call some people who will help find you a nice home, or you could come with me. It’s up to you.” Jack offers up the two choices and you fall silent, eyebrows bunched up as you think.

“I wanna stay with you.” You finally state, grinning at Jack who nods, straightening up and allowing you to grab hold of his hand as he turns to look over at the Colonel.

“Thank you for your assistance, Reacher. Maybe I’ll see you again.” The Colonel says, dismissing the two of you and you leave the base, skipping happily alongside Jack. Jack takes you to grab a quick meal while telling you that you’re both going to get on a bus after and head someplace new which you were excited about. When you got to the bus station, Jack paid for the two tickets, and you boarded the bus. You immediately claimed the window seat and Jack took the aisle seat. But Jack didn’t mind one bit, being on the aisle seat meant he could protect you much easier.

When the bus first departed, you were happily whispering to Jack about how excited you were about everything but soon they were replaced with stifled yawns.

“How about you take a nap, kid? I’ll wake you up when we get there.” Jack says softly, taking his jacket off and draping it over you like a blanket as you curl into the jacket, eyes soon closing. With you soon asleep, Jack figures he should get in some sleep of his own and rests his head against the chair and lets his eyes close.

When he feels a small weight rest against his arm his eyes slowly peel open again, glancing down to see you slumped against his arm. With the corners of his mouth twitching up into the smallest of smiles, he carefully winds his arm around you, tucking you into his side as you curl further into him a sleepy smile covering your own face.

Maybe being a parent wasn’t out of his comfort zone after all.

[punishereditz]

The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia

Pairing: Jack Reacher x f!reader

Warnings: 18 Plus only! Minors DNI! DO NOT COPY! THIS STORY CONTAINS HEAVY SUBJECTS! Mentions of murder. Mentions of trafficking. (Not detailed.) Smut. Unprotected sex. P in V. Oral. (F receiving) Dirty talk. Size kink. Praise kink. Scratching. Creampie.

AN: Reba, you are my queen

Word count: 2.5k

Summary: Well, don't trust your soul to no backwoods Southern lawyer. 'Cause the judge in the town's got bloodstains on his hands

~

The station was silent expect for the small grunt you let out as you stretched. It was going on 11 pm, everyone had done left expect for you and Reacher. He was determined to keep working. This case was eating him alive. When a man he was stationed with years ago randomly shows up dead, he knew he had to look into it. The more he looked though, he learned just how complicated this whole thing was. The mayor. The judge. Lawyers. Officers. The preacher. All dead in a spam of a couple months. Why were all the men with high power in the town suddenly dying? He couldn't figure it out.

"Where's the files on the preacher?" Reacher asked as he stood with a soft sigh.

"Over at Scott's desk." You answered and looked back down to your papers. With a nod from Reacher, he walked across the room over to the chief's desk. Rustling through the papers before he found what he was looking for. He started to make his way back to your office, but as he walked down the hall, he came to a sudden stop. Taking a step back, he looked at the framed photo on the wall.

A picture of the mayor cutting a ribbon. Then his eyes drifted to the woman standing next to him. She looked familiar. Reacher couldn't figure out where he has seen her though. That's when his eyes moved to the background of the photo. A small child standing behind the mayor. It hit him like a ton of bricks. It was you. The child in the photo having the same scar as you that lines from your eyebrow to your hairline. You're the mayor's daughter? Reacher thought. It was all clicking in his mind. You were the one responsible for this. But... something still wasn't right. He was putting all the pieces together, but there was still a piece missing.

What was your motive? Why did you do it? Questions flooded Reacher's mind as he walked back into your office. Returning to his seat. His eyes lingering on you before he looked to the files. He didn't know what to do yet. He considered locking you in the cell right now, but he didn't have enough proof. And if you really are the one who did all this... will he be able to put you away? He's been in the town for almost a month now working with you and the station. He's grown partial to you. Captivated by you, even. There was something about you... your fierceness... your pretty eyes. It had Reacher longing. And he wasn't the only one feeling this way. You knew the second he walked into town he would be the death of you. That captivating smile and bluntness would get you into trouble. Once you got insight into how Reacher works, you knew he would figure you out. That he would know it was you.

And as you looked at him sitting across from you, you know that he knows now. It finally clicked for him. You're honestly shocked it took him this long. But now that he knows, you're not sure what to do. You thought about just telling him, but what would he do? How would he react? Would it hurt him? You couldn't stand the thought. The thought of him seeing you as a monster. You weren't sure why you cared so much about Reacher's opinion; you didn't care what anyone else thought of you. So why care about he thinks? You were hesitant and you hated it. As the night went on, neither of you said anything. But you both knew. You both thought about what to do.

Reacher tossed and turned in his hotel room. Completely restless. He was trying to find that missing piece, but he couldn't. Why? That was the question that played in his mind on repeat. He didn't know why. Why would you do it? It was starting to bother him too badly. With a sigh, he got out of bed, and he threw on his clothes. Walking out into the cold, rainy night. Walking to your house at 3 am. He didn't care how late it was or the fact that it was pouring down. He had to know. So, he marched up the steps and he banged on the door. The line between your eyebrows growing as you got out of bed and went to the door. When you opened it, the crease between your eyebrows deepened.

"Reacher? What are doing?" You slowly looked him up and down. His jeans a shade darker from the wetness, his shirt glued to him. His muscles showing through it. His hair dripping and his chin quivering. Fuck. He looked so good.

"Why did you do it?" He simply asked and you weren't the only one staring. Reacher's eyes glued to the oversized t-shirt, the outline of your nipples visible and the boxers that were barely visible. Fuck. You looked good.

"What?"

"Why did you do it?" He said more firmly.

"Did you walk here? You're going to end up sick." You moved to the side to let him in.

"Don't change the subject. Why did you do it?"

You sighed and stopped. Looking down. Not prepared for this conversation.

"I was wondering how long it was going to take you to figure it out." Now Reacher was confused.

"You knew I was going to find out?" You simply nodded and handed him a couple towels and a blanket.

"Yeah. Surprised you didn't realize sooner." You started to make a pot of coffee and Reacher hummed. Thinking.

"Why?" He asked again. You took a deep breath. Trying to prepare yourself.

"The mayor... he was my stepdad and when I was a kid... he used to do terrible things to my sister." You paused. "When I got older, I learned that half the men in town, especially my stepfather, were trafficking kids." Reacher's eyes widen as he realized.

"I tried to take it to court numerous times, but because the judge and lawyers were in on it, it didn't matter how much evidence and proof I had, they always dismissed it." Reacher nodded as he listened to you closely. It all made sense now.

"So..., that's why I did it, and I'll do it again." You broke the silence and you slide a cup of coffee over to him before you rested your hands on the counter and looked down.

Reacher took notice of it, and he stood up. Taking the quick step over to you. He gently placed his hand under your chin and tilted your head up so that you would look at him. "Is there anyone left?"

"Yeah... the chief. I think he's starting to suspect it's me." You spoke softly and held back a gasp as Reacher was suddenly so close and his cold hand was still holding your chin.

"Alright. We can take care of him tomorrow." He simply said and he let go of your chin. He still stood close though.

"What?" You grew confused and he simply repeated his words.

"We'll take care of him tomorrow."

You went to speak, but nothing came out. You went to argue with him and tell him that it's none of his business and he shouldn't get deeper into this than he already is, but you knew you couldn't fight him on this. He's too stubborn. He'll help rather you like it or not, so you don't push.

Instead, your eyes travel over his body. At his still soaking wet clothes that are stuck to him. Your eyes going to his muscles and lingering there. You realized you were staring and snapped yourself out of it. "I think I might have some clothes that will fit you. You can shower and get warmed up." You leaned off of the counter and started to walk down the hall. A smirk growing on his lips as he caught you staring. His eyes going to ass as you walked away. Then he quickly followed and watched as you searched for the clothes.

Now his turn to stare. His eyes stuck on your ass. His mind wondering off, but you quickly pulled him back to reality. "Here. These should work." You held them out to him, and he accepted them with a small smile and a soft thank you. He went into the bathroom and got into the shower. The scolding water hitting him. The tension in his muscles easing. His eyes fell closed and he let the water sooth him. When he opened his eyes, he looked down at his hard cock. With a groan of frustration, he let his head fall back. His mind continuing to wonder back to you. But not because of the case. Oh no. His mind kept going back to the image of you in those boxers. The outline of your breast in that shirt. You looked absolutely gorgeous to him. He wanted to jerk those clothes right off of you, but he knew he needed to hold back his thoughts. Although he wanted to bend you over the counter, he still felt the need to stay professional.

Even after solving everything, and being able to have you now, he still feels he should keep the relationship at a businesslike level. But you? You pace around your living room wondering if you should you just go join him in the shower or not. Over the past couple weeks, you've caught yourself staring and your thoughts wrapped up in a dirty fantasy about him. And after seeing him show up at your door in the rain and handle your confession so well, you can't stop the desire that is growing stronger. You let a frustrated groan out and you walked down the hall. You went to knock on the door, but before you could, the door was being opened and you were greeted by a shirtless Reacher. That's it.

You leaned up and captured him in a deep, heated kiss full of desperation. His body quickly relaxing and his strong arms wrapping around you. Lifting you up and carrying you back to your bedroom. His tongue gently brushing against your lips as he tried to deepen the kiss as he sat you down. Grabbing your shirt and pulling it over your head. His hands going to your breast. Gently massaging them. He laid you down on the bed. Kissing down your neck. His lips grazzing over your breast as he kissed your stomach. Kissing each and every scar, freckle and mark he could find until he stopped at your hips. Grabbing your boxers and pulling them down.

Greeted by your wet cunt. He hummed in amusement. "This wet already?" He teased and spoke in a confident tone. Then before you could say anything, he wrapped his lips around your clit. Gently sucking on it. A sharp gasp leaving your mouth as his tongue circled around it. Your slow breaths turning into heavy pants as his tongue kept working your clit. His movements slow and gentle. Making a chill run down your spine, your back arching and your legs shaking. His mouth on your sensitive clit felt so good. He was working you like no one else has before. Bringing you a pleasure you had no idea you could feel. It had you shaking. It had you wanting more. You needed more. Despite how good it felt and how you didn't want it to end, you grabbed his hair and pulled his face up. Moving your legs off of his shoulders and pulling him up so he stands in front of you. You raised up and started to kiss his abs. Your mouth traveling down to his v line. Gently kissing him.

You gripped his sweatpants and pulled them down. When his cock was free, you had to hold back a gasp. He chuckled at the shocked expression that you couldn't hide. "Will... it fit?" You said shyly and Reacher grabbed you by the chin. Pulling you up. "You can take it." He whispered in your ear, and he laid down on the bed. Pulling you down on top him. He gently kissed you. A kiss of reassurances. He carefully rubbed his cock through your folds. Putting the head at your entrance. Then he moved his hand away. Wanting you to take this at your own time. You slowly pushed down on his cock. Gasping as your walls stretched around him.

"There you go... that's it. Good girl." Reacher groaned as he watched as your cunt slowly took all of him. His hands holding your ass. You sat there for a moment to adjust to him, then you lifted your hips. Dropping back down. He bit his lip to hold his noise back. You noticed and pulled his lip out from his teeth, and he softly whimpered. "Don't start holding back from me now." He whimpered again when he heard your dirty words and felt your walls clenching around him. His eyes going down to your breast as they bounced with your bouncing hips on his cock. Your movements getting a steady pace that makes you and Reacher breathless. Yours and his moans growing louder and louder. He couldn't help himself when he let his hands move all over your body. Moving along your sides, your breast, your neck, your hair, over your back and down to your ass.

Gripping it. Helping guide you on his cock. As he admired you, he looked up at your closed eyes. Your head back in pleasure and your hands moving up your own body and squeezing your breast. He completely lost all bit of control he had left. He put an arm around you and with a swift move, he moved your body under him. Getting on top of you. He thrusted deep into you. The breath being pulled right out of your lungs. You dug your fingers into his shoulders and a loud moan slipped from your lips. Your eyes rolling into the back of your head as he thrusted deeply into you. It was passionate. It was sweet. It was slow. He made each thrust into you mean something. He made sure with each thrust that you knew how he cared for you. How long he wanted this. His groans getting louder and his thrust getting harder and faster. Your walls clenching around him and your nails dragging down his back as the new speed felt sensational.

You didn't even know he could make you feel even better, but he does. Your climax was on the edge. Struggling to hold it back. His climax creeping up on him as well. The volume in his groans increasing as he felt your climax release onto him. Driving him into his climax. Filling your cunt up with his seed. The results of yours and his pleasure dripping down onto the bed. The two of taking a moment to catch your breath. Once you did though, he gave you a grin and thrusted into you again. Round after round. He made you feel the best pleasure of your entire life all into the morning. The sun setting and lighting the room. His arms wrapped around your small body. Holding you close to him before you two have to finish what you started. The reason he came into this town. The reason he was brought to you.

[widowbitessting]

what about is Reader has a nightmare? What would the trio! do?

The Coffee Incident

Wanda/Natasha/CarolxReader

Word Count - 1674

You jolt awake, still half asleep as the remnants of the nightmare still play on your mind.

You struggle free from the blankets enclosing you.

It's wrapped too tightly around your legs, feeling more like claustrophobic ropes bound to cut off circulation than a cheap duvet from Target, and you frantically kick yourself free; trembling body toppling out of your single bed.

You’re panting, breathing deep despite your lungs struggling to fill with oxygen.

You find yourself on the precipice of a panic attack and you’re frantic to bring yourself down.

“A dream…” you croak out, “it was just a dream.”

But your brain can’t stop replaying it on a loop in your mind and the panic is quick to consume you.

"MJ." You croak out, forgetting that she's spending the night at Peter's.

Fresh hot tears spill from your eyes and down your cheeks and you frantically grab for your cell through blurred vision.

You need them.

Struggling to open your phone, you lose your temper quicker than normal and end up biting into your palm to stifle a frustrated scream.

You have to put in your passcode, twice to be exact, until you're able to get to your contacts.

Clicking the first name in your recents, you pray that they pick up.

Blood is thundering around your ears as your phone rings.

Legs bouncing anxiously as you rest your forehead down on your knee.

"Please...please...please..."

A sleepy voice picks up.

"...hullo?"

"Nat?"

You can hear shuffling on her side before she replies, sounding more awake than she did when she first picked up the call.

"Y/N? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

You squeeze your eyes shut as more tears trickle down your face, the taste of salt seeping onto your tongue.

"I - I..."

You crumble and let out a sob.

"Y/N, baby, where are you?" Natasha asks.

You can hear another voice in the background, asking Natasha if everything is okay.

"Ho-home."

"Are you hurt, baby girl?" Natasha asks. She says something else but it's aimed at either Carol or Wanda and you miss it.

"No - I, I'm just scared. MJ isn't here. I'm sorry -"

"Don't be sorry, detka. We'll be there as soon as we can okay?"

"You're coming?"

"We all are, baby. Can you stay on the phone for me? I want to make sure you're safe until we're there, okay?"

"I - I'm...please, I didn't mean to disturb you..."

"Kitten, you never disturb us." Carol's voice jolts you a little. "You're our girl; you could never."

"Okay..."

Even though you're still trembling on your cold floor, you can't help but be soothed by them.

By their voices.

It takes them no time at all to reach you.

Letting themselves in by the key you had given them shortly after you had all officially started dating.

It's Wanda who comes through your bedroom door first, donning her slept in pyjamas; closely followed by both Carol and Natasha. Both in similar attires. 

You're on the floor still, duvet in a heap by your feet, phone pressed tightly to your left cheek.

Had you had been in a better headspace, you might have found it funny how you could hear them on the phone as well as see them rushing to your side.

But you can only stare past them, eyes glossy.

Wanda peels your phone from you, speaking to you through cotton filled ears; and it isn't until you're embraced in a warm hug, do you register that they're actually there.

In your room.

At 2am in the morning.

The hug feels amazing and you melt into it, eyes instantly growing heavy as Wanda's fingers twirl the baby hairs at the base of your neck.

While lips meet your cheek, kissing away any residue tears that had dried on your skin.

“Baby girl?” Carol speaks calmly, hand holding your own. “Come back to us.”

But the panic is quick to return and your lungs once again struggle. 

“I - I can’t…” You let out a sob, “I can’t breathe.”

Wanda cups your face, forcing your eyes to look at her. 

You take her in. 

Her green eyes that are looking at you with such a soft expression, you find yourself melting into her gaze.

You can’t help glance at the small freckle on the bridge of her nose.

You love to kiss that one. 

“Focus on me, my love.” She says, bringing you back. “Can you do that for me?”

You can only nod, words dissolving on your tongue. 

“Good girl. Listen closely and breathe for me. Nice and deep, in through your nose.”

You do as you’re told, nostrils sucking up oxygen and whistling as they do.

When you exhale through your lips, it’s shaky and you’re sure your morning breath hits Wanda square in the face. 

Regardless, she’s unfazed by it. 

“Do that again for me and after you’ve exhaled, my love, I want you to try and tell me five things you can see.”

“See?” 

“Yes, darling. Five things.”

“Well…you, Natasha and Carol…” you say. “That’s three.”

“Cheeky girl.” Wanda smiles, “go on. Two more.”

“My laptop…”

“Last one my love.”

“Erm,” You look around your room, seeing every potential thing to use but you can’t take it in. “Um…”

“One thing, baby girl. Anything.”

“My - my lamp.”

“Good job, kitten.” Wanda says. “Can you name me four things you can feel?” 

“Well…you…I can feel you…and my pyjamas.”

“Go on.” Wanda says, “three left.”

“The carpet on my feet…my bed frame on my back and…um…my hair on my shoulders…?”

“You’re doing so well for us, baby girl.” Wanda smiles, “Now, three things you can hear? Use those listening ears I know you have.”

You still feel as if your heart is about to claw out of your ribcage but you do as you’re asked regardless; squeezing your eyes shut as you force yourself to listen around you.

“I’d normally hear MJ’s snoring but she isn’t here so…” 

“That doesn’t count, baby.” Wanda says, “try again.”

“The -” Your voice cracks, “the horns outside.”

“There we go,” Wanda says, hands still holding your firm. “They’re so loud, aren’t they?”

You nod, smiling slightly.

“I can, I - someone is breathing heavily.”

There’s a beat of silence before Carol replies: “…no they’re not.”

Causing Wanda and Natasha to let out a small laugh. 

Your smile grows. 

“What else, love?”

“The dog barking downstairs.”

“You’re doing amazingly, love.” Wanda kisses your head. “Two things you can smell?”

“You’re minty breath…and, I…” You swallow. “My shampoo. It’s strawberry.”

“You’re being so brave, baby girl. So brave. Last one; what thing you can taste?”

“I don’t wanna answer that.”

“Why not?”

“…cos I’ll get into trouble.”

“Just tell us, baby.” Wanda gently pushes. 

“…I can taste my coffee…”

“You’re coffee, huh?” Natasha asks, smiling. “Now when did you have coffee?” 

You shrug, looking down.

“Answer me, kitten.” 

“Before bed I guess…”

“You guess?” 

“...yeah.” 

“Why did you have coffee before bed?” Carol asks.

“...because I really fancied one…and we had coffee in…”

“And you thought that was a good idea?” 

“I didn’t think I was gonna get caught…

You really wished the ground would swallow you whole.

“Okay, so,” Natasha says, “I think you know you’re gonna have a caffeine ban tomorrow regardless, don’t you, sweetheart?”

You sigh and pout, bottom lip springing free.

“Yes.”

“So for now, I think we’ll discuss the coffee incident tomorrow when we’ve all had some more sleep.”

“Yes,”

“Yes what, kitten? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten who you’re talking to as well.”

“Yes mommy, sorry.”

“Good girl. Now, do you feel grounded enough to try sleeping again?”

You didn't even realise your heart rate had calmed; that you could breathe normally and move your body functionally again. 

“I didn’t…”

“Wanda is very skilled at bringing people down from panic attacks. She’s our super star.”

Wanda smiles brightly and nods in agreement.

“It’s all about distractions and grounding. I knew it would work better with us all here and look, it did. We even caught you out on a lie too.”

“Yippee for me.”

“Now less of that, do you feel okay enough to sleep for us?”

“…I - well yeah but not alone…I don’t wanna sleep alone…”

“We’re not going anywhere, kitten.” Carol says. 

You finally register - and to this day you have no idea how you missed Carol and Natasha putting out blankets and duvets and pillows - the floor littered with cosiness and click on your girlfriends’ plan. 

They never had any intention to leave.

There’s three pillows lined in a row, close to your bed and you can’t help but giggle as the image of you rolling out of bed and landing on them fills your brain.

Carol ushers you into your bed and kisses your forehead before Natasha slips a straw between your lips and tells you to “Drink up, our little coffee drinker.”

You do as you’re told and drink heavily before Natasha tucks you in tight and kisses your forehead too. 

Wanda copies the other two and even sneaks a kiss on your lips.  

“We’ll just be down here if you need us, okay?” She says.

You nod and nestle into your pillow. 

“Now close your eyes and try to get some sleep. Goodnight baby.”

“Night night.”

After five minutes you decide sleep isn’t going to happen. You’re far too lonely and wide awake to sleep. 

Four minutes pass and you decide there’s a big enough space on the floor for you to wedge in between Natasha and Carol. 

Three minutes later and you’re softly saying “excuse me.” with your pillow pressed against your chest. 

Two minutes go by and you’ve settled on the floor, Natasha hugging you tightly to her body while Carol plays with your hair. Eventually, Wanda complains that she’s being left out and the blonde shifts to face her and pulls her into a cuddle. 

One minute later you’re fighting sleep with Natasha's lips pressed to your head. 

Sleep, with sweet dreams, soon follows. 

Bliss. 

[oneshotnewbie]

Alex ,Kara and B!D get into a car accident and B!D is the one that gets most severely injured

⚠️Trigger Warning⚠️ This one-shot includes the topic of an car accident, injuries and blood. Those plots are presented. If this triggers you too easily or you just can´t handle the subject, I urge you NOT to read this work. I am NOT embellishing this topic under any circumstance. Read at your own risk.

ᕚ---ᕘ

The sky was tinged with a soft pink as Alex, Kara, and you headed off to spend a weekend with your mother in Midvale. The narrow streets were busy and flooded with the setting sun, but the anticipation of spending time together and the fresh breeze that carried the scent of flowering grass and trees outweighed any hectic pace.

Alex, a cheerful DEO agent with bright eyes, drove J'onn's borrowed car with a big smile on her face as she tapped the steering wheel to the beat of a song. The music on the radio created a pleasant and happy atmosphere as Kara kept lifting her head to look at the passing landscape. You, the adventurer of the sibling group, looked out the window and couldn't wait to see the familiar streets of Midvale again.

"I'm so excited to see Mom again. It's been far too long." With a wide grin curving your lips, you counted the kilometers that were still away from your old home, the memories of your childhood flooding you. The suburban streets, the shops and the park - everything felt so familiar. The blonde giggled in her seat, looking at Alex for a brief moment before turning back to face you. "Yes, it's going to be a nice weekend. I can already taste Eliza's famous lasagna."

Alex continued to focus on the busy streets, wanting to get you safely to your destination while you continued to relive stories you had experienced together with Kara. "There's the playground where you used to take me to play, Al!" You remarked, your mind immediately flashing back to the time you scraped your knee jumping off the swing. The scars were still visible on them. "And over there is the ice cream parlor we always stopped at after school!"

Kara nodded meekly, the past of the beginning of her new life on earth flashing past in her mind's eye. "There's something magical about Midvale. Like a trip back in time - and I love it." She spoke in a whisper and a silence dominated the car, apart for the soft melody in the background.

The roads passed small towns, many green fields and picturesque landscapes. You three siblings exchanged stories, laughed and enjoyed the ride. The anticipation of the weekend back in your past was literally palpable while the annoyances passed easily.

But suddenly and unexpectedly, a loud honk ripped through the air, followed by the squeak of the wheels and a deafening crash. Your car skidded before going down an embankment and colliding with a tree that saved you from a high drop.

The world seemed to move in slow motion for a moment as Kara tried, with shaking hands, to free herself from the wrecked, upside-down car. The air was filled with the sweet smell of gasoline and smoke as Alex, her eyes wide and her hands clenched on the steering wheel, still not quite over the shock of the accident, tried to orient herself. "Are you all good?“

The redhead tried to answer in a daze, not understanding what had just happened. "I-I think so. Y/n? Kiddo, how are you?"

But when there was no answer to her question, nor did she hear any noise, she turned around. Kara was finally out of the car and walked around to check on you. The sight in the back seat was shocking. You lay lifeless, thrown against the door by the impact. The distraught face, pale and marked with traces of blood, triggered a wave of panic in both of them.

"Y/n? Y/n, please, say something!" The blonde spoke fearfully, reaching her hand through the broken back window to grab your leg. She shook it, pulling on your pant leg as hard as she could, but you didn't move. "We have to get help. Quick, where is my cell phone?"

Alex looked around the wreckage, finally unbuckled from her seatbelt. She crawled around in the front cabin of the car, spread her hands in the shattered glass pieces and frantically searched the interior before she got to Kara's phone, which luckily remained intact.

She skillfully threw the cell phone out of the open passenger door into the hands of the blonde, who immediately called 911 while the redhead fought her way through the smoke and debris to get to you and stabilize you. Every step felt like an obstacle course in a nightmare. "Sweetheart, please wake up! Please!"

Meanwhile, Kara had notified all rescue workers and helped open the door to help her eldest sister rescue you from the wreckage as carefully as possible. The sight of your lifeless form in Kara's arms was heartbreaking. The minutes began to feel like hours.

"You can't give up, y/n. We can do this. You have to hold on," the blonde sobbed, clutching your blood-stained jacket tightly in her hands. She tried to stay calm as she had your head lying on her lap, gently stroking your dull hair.

The ambulance approached, sirens blaring, cutting through the tense silence of the scene. When the paramedics arrived, they immediately began life-saving measures and pushed your siblings aside. Carefully, you were placed on a stretcher and taken away immediately. "We have to take her to the hospital immediately. It doesn't look good," the paramedic spoke, the injuries were serious and the atmosphere was filled with tension and worry. "Do you need an ambulance? Are you in any pain?"

They both shook their heads abjectly, the helplessness palpable in their eyes, as the ambulance sped away, accompanied by the blue lights reflected in the tears on both siblings' faces.

The two called their mother and told her in brief detail what had happened. The two were immediately picked up from the side of the road and followed the ambulance in a state of uncertainty. The journey was filled with silence, only broken by the critical state of you.

In the hospital, time once again felt unhinged and stretching. You were asked to wait outside while the doctors did everything they could to stabilize you. The wait in the emergency room was accompanied by anxious thoughts and silent prayers, filled with a fear that connected the waiting siblings and your mother.

The moment the attending physician emerged after hours, he carried a mixture of hope and fear, his face showing strain. "It was a serious operation and her condition is still critical, but we are doing our best. We have to wait and hope."

The news hit Alex and Kara like a blow. In the hours that followed, they lingered in the waiting room, praying for you and holding each other. The night passed slowly and the first rays of morning sunlight illuminated the hospital corridors. The doctor came out again, this time with a look of caution on his face. "It was close, but her daughter and sister survived the surgery. It will take a long recovery time, but we are optimistic."

All three breathed a sigh of relief, tears of joy mixing with the exhaustion and dirt that still lay on their faces. Together they made their way to your hospital room to support you as the sun rose over Midvale.

Alex and Kara literally stormed into the room. The sight of you connected to numerous tubes and equipment brought a mixture of relief and sadness. They sat on the bed and held your hand. "We are here with you. You will get through this," the redhead whispered softly. "We love you. You are not alone."

The next days and weeks were characterized by fear and hope. The siblings shared the pain, the fear and the desperate longing for a positive turnaround. And as those days passed, Alex and Kara seemed to grow even closer as they waited side by side for you to return to life.

[hyperactive-cowboy]

Ok so I've never posted nor let someone else read any of my stories, so this is a little of a bet with myself but the christmas vibe in me is really strong this year, plus I started to hardly ship those two lately, so here we go.

I'd like you to let me know if there are any mistakes or if it sucks but don't be too harsh loves i'm not a native english speaker. Also the other two chapters (if I'll still be in the vibe) will surely be released before 2024. ENJOYYY

I just wanna see my baby standing right outside my door

Warnings: just fluff and angst

Ship: F1 involved!Lando Norris × not F1 involved!Oscar Piastri (established relationship)

Wc: 3.3k

Chapter: 1, 2, 3

Summary: AU where Lando is away and Oscar misses him while he prepares a christmas party to surprise his boyfriend, but someone other makes an even bigger surprise for him.

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

It wasn't the first time he woke up near a cold pillow and an empty space, he was used to it.

But still, every time he opened his eyes, surrounded by his smell, he wished to find him playing with his hair, smiling, even snoring. The only thing that mattered was that he was there.

Lando had flown away the week before to film some stupid Christmas videos for his stupid work in that stupid team.

Couldn't they film the videos while the season wasn't over yet? Absolutely no! They had to take him away from him the Christmas week.

Oscar turned around and crawled out of the bed, taking the jacket Lando used every winter morning to feel warmer. He almost never felt cold, but the familiar presence on his shoulders warmed his heart. And also he wasn't ready to leave behind the smell of chocolate and cinnamon Lando's pillow had.

He took his phone and unlocked it to see the notifications: two were from Lando (his usual "good morning" with one of his smile's pic and a big red heart), three were from Logan (who asked him if they could meet up for launch to organize the christmas party they have been talking about for a few months) and one from his boss (asking him if he could do an exchange of shifts on thursday).

Oscar answered first his boss with a "yes", and then a "yes" to Logan, for last answered his boyfriend with a "morning love❤️".

Oscar decided it was the moment to be productive, so he did breakfast and then got washed. He took a notepad and a blue pen, starting to write down some ideas for later.

After some time of brainstorming, he took his phone again and texted Lando to know if he could call him in the next few minutes.

As an answer, his phone immediately started to ring with the special ringtone he had set for when his boyfriend called him.

"Hey" as Oscar heard that stupidly sweet voice he started smiling.

"Hey"

Awkward silence

"Hi" Lando laughed.

"Hi. How is it going?"

"Everything's okay. We should film the last bit this noon, then the editing and last the return trip, and then i'll be home again" 

There was a background noise, but Oscar didn't mind it.

"So you think you'll be home tomorrow afternoon?"

"Ehm… no actually I don't think I'll see you at least until friday"

"Friday??" Oscar was shocked. Usually Lando was away for not even a whole week. This time they would've taken him away for nine days. Another four days before touching his soft curls and hug him. 

Oscar snorted and Lando laughed softly.

"I swear it won't feel this long. I lov-"

"Lando?" 

No answers

"Hey are you there?" 

Again no sounds from his phone. 

He hung up and sent a message to Lando asking him what happened.

Oscar turned off his phone and looked at the clock on the wall in front of him. 

He had to hurry. He was late. He was never late and the few times he had been it was all Lando's fault. Well, this time could also be considered Lando's fault. 

His cell lit up for a new notification but Oscar was too busy getting ready to notice it.

He took the phone, the keys and the paper sheet with the party's ideas and rushed out of his house to lock it.

Once in the car, Oscar acknowledged the way he was dressed: a simple pair of gray sweatpants and one of Lando's hoodies. He sighed but then left out a soft laugh: this was one of the reasons why he loved having a boyfriend who wore the same size as him, having a double closet.

"You are late" is the first thing Logan says to his life-long friend

"Hey it's a pleasure to see you too"

"I've been waiting for you for the past twenty minutes" Logan opens his eyes wide to confirm his statement.

"Hey slow down I already have some ideas" 

Oscar grabbed the sheet and exposed all his ideas to his friend. 

They should've only launched together but the meeting lasted until half past four. 

They had everything ready. Now they only needed to call their friends to invite them over.

Only after coming back home, he read Lando's text: sorry the line went dead, call me again when you can ❤ ️.

Of course Lando knew he was busy with this party organization thing, so he would've waited for him.

Oscar couldn't call him that exact moment, so he decided that the second he walked through his house's door he would've written a note on his fridge to remind himself to call his boyfriend as fast as possible.

If his calculus were correct, Lando would've landed at the airport two days after the party, the 23rd of the month. Just right in time with the Christmas celebration at his parent's.

He was mentally destroyed by the fact that Lando wouldn't have been with him at the party, but it has already been postponed enough. 

Passing by the fridge not giving it even a look, Oscar selected the first person he was sure he wanted at the party.

Well, if he couldn't have his boyfriend there, he would at least have his boyfriend's best friend.

"Hey Osc, long time no see" he hears Max's voice through the phone as brilliant as in real life.

"Yeah it has been a tough period. We were planning a christmas party at our place on wednesday, are you in?" Oscar asks directly, he has a lot of people to call and a little time to do it.

"But isn't Lando away?" 

"Yeah, we wanted to do this thing together, but then he was called away and we can't postpone it anymore" 

Max lightly giggled. Oscar couldn't tell why, but he imagined it was because of something that was happening there.

"Yeah I think I'll be there" 

"K, thanks mate. And you can come with who you want" 

"Great, thanks. Bye"

After Max hung up, Oscar called a lot of the other members of the grid and some other friends, giving them the same instruction as he did before. He didn't mind calling Charles though 'cause he knew he would've come with Max (Verstappen).

When he controlled the clock for the 100th time, it was too late to have a snack, so he decided to start preparing dinner.

He was also used to cooking. Lando wasn't a total mess at it, but a little gremlin menace yes.

He took out of the freezer a couple of vegan burgers and some strange vegetable his mum was obsessed with (which he didn't remember the name of).

Closing the freezer, he got up. His sight arrived perfectly at the same height as the note he had taken before, but totally forgot about.

Oscar took a pan for the burgers and a pot for the vegetables so fast he was about to fall into the drawer. Started cooking his dinner and rushed out of the kitchen to call Lando.

"Honey I'm so so sorry I didn't call you earlier, I know it's late where you are now. You were probably asleep and I woke you up but I got so invested in this damn thing I even forgot to have a snack mid invites"

"Woah slow down there Flash. No worries, here's just two hours later than there, I just got back to my room" Lando laughed. 

Oscar sighed in relief. Lando was already under enough stress, he didn't want to add to that by interrupting his sleep schedule. Although he knew his boyfriend wasn't picky when it came to places to sleep.

"Oh okay sorry. Didn't want to upset you"

"No way. You could never"

Even if Lando couldn't see him, Oscar blushed. Maybe it was a good thing Lando wasn't there with him.

"Oh thanks then. Anyway I called everybody who was on the list and got everything ready" 

"Well done, did everybody confirm?" 

"Mm…" Oscar checked his notes and answered with a "nope", popping the "p".

"Pierre and Daniel are not sure, but everybody else will be here" Oscar explained.

"Good. Even Max said yes?"

"Don't know which one you are asking about but yes, both of them said so" 

For the nth time that day Oscar felt dumb not knowing the reason for some things that happened to him (ex. Max laughing at him on the phone) and felt even dumber thinking about those things. Of course people had their own lives beside him.

He was pretty sure it was the loneliness speaking in his mind. Still he decided to give an answer to one of those questions

"Lando, why did the line die like that before? It looked like you entered some galleries" he asked to test the waters. 

"Uhm… Yeah actually there was a black out, so I think it was its fault" 

"Oh okay, sorry" Oscar felt even more stupider now. 

"I just wanted to hear your voice" he admitted.

"Hey baby I miss you too" Lando whispered to him.

That sentence melted his heart. He was literally dying to see his boyfriend again, and couldn't wait for Friday to arrive.

The day had arrived.

That early morning he and Logan had met to prepare his house and give him the keys, given the fact that from 10am to 4pm he would have been at work.

Max had insisted on helping them out and insidied into his house nearly earlier than his best friend.

"Don't worry. This will be the best party you've ever been to" Max assured him.

"Do I have to remind you this is MY house? Maybe I should be the one preparing it"

"We will be better than you, trust me" Logan entered the conversation.

He and Max weren't even that close, but still they were playing against him as a team.

"Okay then. Just don't burn down my home please. I would like it to be still in one piece when I come back" and with this sentence he left his house, shaking a little, in the hands of two feral menaces. 

One part of him was even glad for them because he didn't think he would have made it to the night if he had to do everything by himself.

Oscar wrapped the christmas-themed scarf around his neck and prayed to every deity to let him have a peaceful day. 

When Oscar got in the elevator that took him to his house he could already hear the last notes of "Santa tell me" and was almost relieved to have the certainty that the apartment was the same as how he left it. Just with some more decorations, music and lights.

Oscar slowly opened the door, being scared of something jumping on him, but instead got nearly blinded.

His two friends didn't prepare anything to scare him, but they did put up a whole lot of multicolored led lights on his ceiling.

Every piece of furniture was embellished by red, green or white christmas balls and fancy ribbons. Even the rug in his living room has changed from a neutral striped one to a "light up says one christmas tree to another". The joke wasn't even funny, but still it made him smile. They had maneged to even find a piece of mistletoe to hang under the door.

And as if he couldn't be more shocked than that, when Oscar entered his kitchen he was surprised by an extended variety of food, from olives and other snacks to a delicious-looking cake, from a not-cooked-yet roast to at least a hundred chocolate cookies with gingerbread man drawn on them.

Even more shocking was the sight of Max with a Santa stiled apron and cookie dough all over his face, while Logan was singing "Last Christmas" not getting even one note.

"What in the world you two" Oscar exclaimed.

The two friends fastly turned towards him. They hadn't heard him coming in and were a little scared at first by that reaction. 

Logan and Max looked at each other not knowing what was happening, and the american instinctively stood up in front of his new friend to try and protect him. 

Oscar jumped on Max and Logan, but not to hurt him. He really wanted to give them a hug. So he did.

It felt strange for him to hug someone who wasn't his parents or his sisters. Even when it was Lando doing it, it felt weird the first times (and still did a bit, to be fair).

"Thank you for everything" Oscar said when he felt his friends get comfortable in his arms.

"That's no problem mate, really" Max replied.

Oscar was on the verge of tears. For him this act mattered more than a thousand words.

Not knowing what to say, he just squeezed his friends even more.

The last guest had arrived. At the end, neither of the hypothetical two more guests could come.

Pierre had already flown away to France to spend the holidays with his family and Danny was spending his first Christmas with his girlfriend's parents (he was so nervous when he gave Oscar an answer).

The party was being wonderful until then. 

Everything was at their place, all the people that mattered to him (to them) were there, all the food were cooked and ready, the music was loud but joyful and even the smell was fantastic: chocolate and gingerbread. Even Charles -in that ugly jumper- was there, he came with Max (Verstappen), like Oscar thought. So Christmas coded. Perfect.

There was just one thing missing: him. Lando. 

Oscar thought about sending him a video or a picture, but then looked at the watch on his wrist. It was 10PM. Too late to try. The next day Lando would've started his return to home and he needed to be ready and rested for that.

He'd have just taken some pics and videos and sent them to Lando the next day.

Oscar decided it wasn't the right time to get sad and that he could have cried about it later that night, maybe with a mug filled with hot chocolate or a big bottle of gin. 

He put his phone in the back pocket of his jeans and started chatting with Liam and some other friends from F2 and F3.

Oscar was suspicious of Max. He was surely going to do something crazy in some way. It was at least the eleventh time he had gone to the kitchen that night without a reason -all the food was in the living room and they had also bought a mini fridge and wrapped a big red ribbon around it just so they DIDN'T have to always go to the kitchen to take the drinks.

Oscar followed his friend and peeked from outside the door and saw Max giggling and jumping like a schoolgirl while he was texting someone on his phone.

Like literally. He was coordinating little jumps on the spot and moving his arms. 

He was so stunned by the scene before him he didn't even realize his friend wasn't watching the phone anymore. 

"Hey man no one ever told you to not overhear?" Max scolded him with a strange look on his face.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to-" his friend had closed the door in front of his face. HIS door of HIS kitchen in front of HIS face. And didn't even stutter. Because he was distracted by Max acting like some teen.

If possible, Oscar was even more astonished.

He turned around still with his mouth a little open. He headed to the drinks table and took the one which looked the most alcoholic.

If he couldn't have neither his boyfriend nor his house for his own, at least he would've gotten drunk. 

He surely got drunk.

That one drink was followed by many others, every single one with a different color and taste. Some more alcoholic than others.

Oscar wanted to find someone to get absolutely wasted with. Someone like one of his oldest friends. Someone like Logan.

In fact, Oscar hadn't seen Logan for a while now. 

He stood up from the armchair he had fallen into earlier and all the room around him started to rotate, "Jingle bell rock" in the speakers more powerful than ever.

He took just one step, then he felt like he was flying. Oscar didn't know how it happened but a moment later he was faceplanted in the sofa cushion.

"Mate what the-" Oscar heard a familiar voice and then two hands took him by his arms and helped him get up.

A blond lock of hair shone in Oscar's face and finally the voice and hands had also a face and a name. 

"Ehy, what are you doing?" Logan sounded worried. Why was he worried? Oscar really couldn't tell. Everything was going the right way. 

"It's going to be a mess" Logan looked from his right to his left and then did it again, trying to find a solution to a problem Oscar didn't even understand.

"'m kay. No worries jus lemme sit" he didn't even have the time to bend, he immediately felt transported towards the exit of the room.

"C'mon I'm helping you get ready, you shouldn't resist so much" Logan dragged him into the bathroom and opened the tap.

He stood Oscar up "I'm sorry mate" Logan said just before pushing his head right under the coldest water he had ever felt on his body.

Suddenly Oscar's irises contracted and his brain resumed part of his normal functions. He pushed away from the sink but instantly had to bow on the toilet.

When he got up and watched himself in the mirror, he was sure he had never looked this bad. His longer-than-usual hair was glued to his forehead, his skin glowed with sweat and water, half of his shirt was covered in vomit while the other one was soaked with alcohol. 

Oscar thanked his best friend and opened the door, heading to the living room murmuring about needing to kick out all those people.

"No no no mate, what are you doing? We need to change your clothes and get read-" Logan talked so fastly he nearly stumbled on his words, taking Oscar by his arm and trying to move him towards the closet in his bedroom. 

"Nope, I'm ending this party in ten minutes, you can stay if you want but everybody else needs to exit now. I'm not in the conditions to continue this" 

"But- but you can't" Logan sounded desperate. "Okay well you can, just- just change your shirt. This one is so dirty I can't even look at it"

Oscar took another look at himself and had to admit his friend was right. 

A clean and fragrant white shirt later, Oscar was entering his living room with the intention of guiding everybody out of his house. 

One step in the room, the sound of his doorbell rang in the air. 

Max Fewtrell ran out of the kitchen (why was he still in there?) with a crazy smile.

"My guest must've arrived" he announced directly to Oscar, inviting him to open the door.

His guest? Oh yeah the one Oscar had told him he could take with himself. But why would someone arrive this late to a party? He had no idea, but still he went to the door, opening it without even looking who was ringing through the peephole.

Oscar was drunk. Wasted even. It was surely an image created by his flooded brain to make fun of him, but when he looked around to see if anyone else could see his vision, he was hit by a hundred flash lights.

So it wasn't just his imagination.

Lando. His boyfriend. Was really on one knee in front of him, out of his door.

[autumnshighlady]

I’ve Always Liked to Play With Fire (part 14)

NESTA ARCHERON X ERIS VANSERRA X FEMALE!READER

summary: Reader and Azriel have a talk, Nesta discovers Eris’ secret

warnings: Night Court slander, semi graphic torture, Rhysand is horrible

word count: 7.1k

DO NOT REPOST ANYWHERE

a/n: IM BACKKKKKK!!!!!! SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!!! This is some of my worst writing but I love the concept so here ya go, I hope this was worth the wait! More action coming soon, chapter 16/17 are gonna be HUGE!!!!!! x

feedback is appreciated, just no hate pls! these are just my opinions, i’m more curious to see how you all like the writing and characterization and storylines!

part 1 // part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / part 5 / part 6 / part 7 / part 8 / part 9 / part 10 / part 11 / part 12 / part 13 / part 14 / part 15 /

read on ao3

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READER POV

You didn’t know how long it had been since Rhysand left you bloody and strung up in the cell. In some ways, you were grateful that the past while had been a blur. Your memory was a haze of flashes of searing pain, Rhysand’s voice in the background demanding you reveal the bond to him and admit the details of your conspiracy against his court. Yet you did not break, even as those tendrils of dark power carved into your already open wounds.

Despite not being able to feel her on the other side of the bond, Nesta was what got you through it. The thought of her in Autumn, far away from the Night Court’s reach, made you grit your teeth and fight the urge to crumble in front of the High Lord. You closed your eyes and pictured the eldest Archeron sister wandering through the paths of the woods, brilliant leaves of red and gold falling around her and landing on the soft grass. Her creamy skin adorned in a soft emerald dress, that golden-brown hair trailing down her back, finally free. You pictured her happy, content in her new environment. With Eris.

Even in your half-conscious state, you wondered how well the two were getting along. While the Inner Circle thought the Autumn heir was a cruel, sadistic bastard, you always knew Eris as your best friend’s older brother… the aloof, sarcastic male who would attempt to charm you to piss off Lucien. You never told Lucien, but every wink Eris had sent your way made butterflies swarm in your stomach. Eris was clever, a good intellectual match for Nesta at least. You had faith in her to be able to navigate the Autumn Court politics. After all, she had been raised to be a perfect courtier. Why the Inner Circle wanted to ignore that and make her into a warrior instead was mind-blowing. Even Lucien, who was incredibly skilled at negotiating and getting along with other courts, was treated like trash by the Inner Circle.

You missed him terribly. It had been months since you had seen Lucien, who was reportedly dwelling in the human lands now. You suspected he was being fed lies by Feyre and Rhys about your involvement in their court. No doubt their version of the story told a tale that painted you as the obedient female who eagerly immersed herself into the Night Court, grateful to be given this chance.

The eerie quiet of the cell was broken by the rush of air in the corner, the soft sound itself deafening against your pounding head. You couldn’t recall the last time you drank water, your throat dry as sandpaper. You didn’t lift your head up, for the weight of it was too much for your neck to bear. You did nothing, just accept the fact that Rhysand had returned for another crack at you.

But it was not Rhysand’s sneering voice that muttered, “Mother above.”

“Az…” Your voice was raspy and almost unrecognisable as you lifted your chin up. The spymaster stood before you, eyes widened slightly. His jaw was tense, and there was something about his expression you couldn’t decipher.

When he didn’t say anything, you tried again. “Please… help….”

“What happened?” He asked coldly, his shadows swirling around him. You flinched as they approached, drifting towards you like Rhysand’s mist had. The action didn’t go unnoticed. Azriel blinked, the only indication of surprise he was likely to give. Still, you could see it in his eyes as he put the pieces together. Not once had you ever flinched from the shadows that hovered around him. Until Rhysand’s own likened darkness had cut through your skin like butter.

“Water…” You mumbled. For a moment, you thought Azriel was going to ignore your request and continue to just stand there staring at you. But after what appeared to be a moment of contemplation, the spymaster pulled out a small canteen and unscrewed the lid. With his scarred hands he lifted it up to your lips. Your entire body sagged in relief as you eagerly drank the water, taking as much as he would give you. After downing about half of the liquid, Azriel stepped back.

“Thank you.” You said, voice clearer this time now that your dry throat had vanished.

“Rhysand did this to you.” Azriel said more as a statement than a question. After training with the spymaster for months, you could read him a bit easier than before. There was something behind his expression, revealed by the widened eyes and tensed jaw, that made you think whatever Azriel had expected his High Lord to do in his interrogation of you, this was not it.

So you nodded, and the tears that had been pooling in your eyes finally spilled down your cheeks. You hated crying in front of Azriel, or anyone really. But you were too tired to hold your tears back. Days in this cell, tortured without food or water… It was too much.

“Gods,” Azriel muttered, running a hand through his tousled locks. “When Rhysand told me he wanted to interrogate you himself, I didn’t expect…. this.”

You choked out a laugh. “Why does it matter to you anyways, Azriel? You were willing to send me to die on an impossible mission. My fate here is really no different.”

Azriel stiffened visibly, brows narrowing. “How did you–”

“Does it matter?” You interrupted bitterly, twisting your wrist around in the chain to try and relax the stiff muscles.

“You know if you want any shot of getting out of here, you’re going to have to tell the truth.” Azriel growled, his voice dropping. “You’ve been hiding things from me this entire time, and I’d like to know what. And why, starting with how you knew about the confidential mission to the continent before I even told you.”

You laughed again, a hollow, bitter sound echoing throughout the cell chamber. You were beyond caring at this point. No matter how you answered their questions, or if you answered them at all, there was no escaping the fact that telling the truth or not, you would not make it out of these dungeons. “You don't understand,” You retorted. “It doesn’t matter how I know. Telling you how will not change the fact that neither you nor Rhys will let me out of here anytime soon.”

The shadowsinger folded his arms, his cold gaze unblinking. “You do realise that if you want me to help, you’re going to have to be straight with me.”

It killed you that you couldn’t tell Azriel what was really going on. Some part of you yearned to, hoping that he’d finally get his head out of his High Lord’s ass. But you couldn’t shake how he just left you in here with Rhysand. Rhys apparently has his claws so deep in every member of the Inner Circle, it would take a lot more than a few months of training one on one with the spymaster for him to change.

“Please, just…” Your voice was barely above a whisper as you hung your head, ashamed. “Kill me. Get it over with.”

You heard him scoff. “I am not going to kill you.”

“You basically were by letting me be sent to die on the continent.”

“Damnit, (Y/N) I was trying to help you!” Azriel snapped, his tone rising.

You froze as you were lifting your head up. “What?”

Azriel rubbed his face with a scarred hand, leaning against one of the rocks that jutted out from the wall. He looked exasperated, the weariness on his face visible even in the dim lighting of the cell. “I was trying to find a way to get you out of the mission.” He said. “I told Rhys it would take months, years even to get you ready for that level of assignment. He did not listen. I spent those four weeks trying to find a way for you to escape, to get out of here.”

Your mind reeled from more than just exhaustion. Azriel had been trying to help you this whole time? He may not be brave enough to put his foot down to Rhysand, but had enough sense to try and get you out of this mess.

He continued. “I was trying to set up refuge for you, in a village far south on the continent. You’d have been safe there, if you laid low. I would have told Rhys that my spies reported you were killed.”

“Why?” You couldn’t help but ask. “Why lie to him for me? He’s your high lord.”

“Yes. And he always will be. But that does not mean I am not allowed to have my opinions on the way he handles some matters. It is unfair to drag someone into this line of work who does not want it, and it is even more unfair to send them on assignments they are not ready for.”

You chose your next words carefully. “You know why he did it, right?”

Azriel only stared at you, saying nothing.

“He wants me dead,” You whispered. “He wants me dead and you know it. That’s why he arranged the mission-”

“No,” Azriel cut you off, his voice sharp. “He was desperate for another spy, and could not send me. Braillyn would have expected that. You were the best one for the job, because they don’t know you. He just didn’t understand that you weren’t ready.”

You shook your head, heart sinking at Azriel’s denial. He wasn’t stupid, some part of him had to know the truth – that Rhysand wanted you dead because your defiance of him could cause unrest, even more so if you were plotting against him. Which you were. The first big step had been a success, getting Nesta out of the Night Court in a way that, by the law, prevented them from coming after her.

There was much more you had in store for the Inner Circle, but only time would tell if you would be able to pull it off. None of which would happen if you did not escape this cell.

“That’s not true, Azriel.” You said. “I wish you would see it. He knew I wasn’t ready, but if I died then he wouldn’t have to worry about me anymore. But if I somehow survived then he’d get the intel he wanted.”

The spymaster’s glare hardened. You shrank back slightly as he propped himself upright once again and stalked towards you. Large wings flared slightly, a menacing sight as he asked you firmly, “I will ask you this one more time. How did you find out about the mission?”

You didn’t answer, wondering if he was going to try and carve answers out of you like Rhysand had. Azriel had likely done such a thing countless times, perhaps in this very cell. Your wounds were crusted over and raw, fae healing abilities diminished in the darkness of the prison.

“It was Eris, wasn’t it?” Azriel said after a few minutes, bitterness and disappointment lacing his voice. “That’s why he proposed to Nesta, and why she insisted on you coming with them. It was part of a plan, wasn’t it? A plan for you and Nesta to escape.”

You did not bother confirming nor denying it, any defiance you had long ago wilted. Half your body had gone numb, and the other half ached beyond belief. You could feel yourself slipping further and further away, a discouragingly slow descent towards death. It was almost worse than the torture itself, being so close to death’s arms embracing you and carrying you to freedom, yet not quite there yet.

“Why?” Azriel asked sternly, taking your silence as an answer in and of itself. “Why would you want so badly to leave? To take Nesta away from her family?”

Bitterness coursed through you, igniting a fire in your voice. “If that is truly how you see it then you won’t even try to understand.” You hissed at him.

Azriel perched himself atop one of the rocks in the corner, those massive wings folding in. He shrugged, arms folded. “Humour me.” He challenged dryly.

These moments were crucial, you knew. It was your chance to either convince Azriel to help you, or to seal your fate and be locked in here forever. The choice weighed upon your already heavy shoulders like a rock. Rhysand would likely return soon and Azriel would disappear again, along with this one chance. And so you chose.

“Nesta will never be part of the Inner Circle, and you know it.” You said. “All you guys have done is try and muzzle her, control her, make her docile enough to sit quietly alongside you at the table but never truly be a part of everything.”

“We were trying to help her–” Azriel interrupted, but you quickly cut him off.

“By forcing her to train? Do something she never wanted? There are many ways to help someone, Azriel. This method may have worked for you and Cassian, but it is not for everyone. Nesta was hurting after the war, and all she received was judgement. You lot consume a bottle of wine every Friday night at Rita’s, but when Nesta does it, suddenly it’s a bad thing? You’ve all slept around, but when Nesta does it, she should be shamed? You have all held her to an impossible standard and refused to give her time to heal. But none of you ever cared about her healing, only how she made you look. You’ve done exactly to her what Tamlin did to your High Lady.”

You expected Azriel to argue, to fight back in defence of his found family. But he merely stared at you, eyes unreadable. You took it as a sign to continue.

“Nesta is drowning in the Night Court.” You said, locking eyes with the shadowsinger. “She will never be accepted here, and being a warrior is not what she wants. You are not stupid, Azriel. You know this. Feyre has found her new family, and that is fine. Let Nesta find her own. Please, just let her go.”

The eerie echoes throughout the cell were the only sound for the next few minutes. Your gut churned at Azriel’s reaction to your rant. He had said nothing, made no defence nor an agreement. That was almost more nerve-wracking to you.

“You see much of yourself in Nesta, do you not?” Azriel finally spoke, unfolding his arms. “That’s why you resorted to involving Eris to help get Nesta out. You have known him for as long as you’ve known his little brother, so you went to him for aid, did you not?”

“Yes.” You muttered. You didn’t have it in you to deny anything anymore. With what you had already admitted, Azriel would figure everything out on his own. You just hoped that Nesta had solidified her position in the Autumn Court quickly enough to prevent a war from breaking out.

“And he was at the meeting where Rhysand discussed sending you to the continent,” The spymaster continued, hazel eyes gleaming in the darkness. “So that’s how you knew. And you came up with the idea of marriage to get Nesta out, did you not?”

“Yes.”

“Here’s what I don’t understand,” Azriel stood up, once again looking down at your withered form. “That plan involved a clean way out for everyone except you. Why? Were you wanting to get sent to the continent to die?”

“It is because she loves Nesta.”

The arrogant voice of the High Lord filled the room, chilling your bones. Your entire body went stiff with panic, and even Azriel’s eyes widened as Rhysand appeared from behind you. Clearly, he hadn’t expected his brother back so soon.

The sound of footsteps and a dark presence was all your senses noted as you closed your eyes, feeling Rhysand walk around you to stand next to Azriel. You couldn’t bring yourself to open them, to look into the face that had sneered as tendrils of dark mist tortured you for hours.

“Good job, Az, you got her to talk!” Rhys clapped Azriel’s stiff shoulder, shock still evident on the spymaster’s face. “She said a hell of a lot more to you than she did to me. But I don’t recall ordering you to interrogate her. Unless my excellent memory is wrong, of course.”

Azriel straightened his spine, glaring at the High Lord. “You didn’t,” He said plainly. “But seeing the results of your last meeting with her and how little information you gathered, I believe it best you leave the rest of it to me.”

You finally opened your eyes, greeted by the practically feline smile of the High Lord. He bore a triumphant look on his face, one that made your body shake with nerves. Somehow, he had heard almost everything – Azriel’s shadows not even detecting his presence. Deep down, you knew that you were never getting out of here now.

“No.” Rhysand said. “You’ve done enough. You can carve her up all you want and nothing will make the magic mark appear, so I don’t need you for this next part. You are dismissed, Azriel.”

Unlike before, Azriel stood his ground. “No,” He growled. “As your spymaster, it is my job to be involved in these things. I am staying.”

Rhysand merely shrugged, showing no signs that he cared about his brother defying him. “Suit yourself. But you are not to intervene, do you understand?”

“Intervene with what?”

Rhysand hummed, taking a step towards you. You flinched as he brought his hand up, taking one of your tangled locks and pushing it behind your ear. An act so seemingly gentle, filling you with more fear than you had ever known.

“You look famished, darling.” He crooned, stroking your ice cold cheek. “If you show me the mark that allows you to communicate with Nesta, we can get you a nice hot plate of food and some water.”

With your mouth no longer dry, you gathered up as much saliva as you could manage and spat in the High Lord’s face. From the corner of your eye, you noticed Azriel’s jaw drop open slightly at the action, and you almost laughed.

But Rhysand only chuckled, wiping your spit off his face before standing back up to his full height. “I may not have been able to get into your head before,” He said. “But now that you are weakened, I will be able to break through your shields.”

Searing pain shot through your skull and you screamed. Those dark tendrils that had sliced your flesh before were now in your head, scraping down your shields like nails on a chalkboard. The pain was unlike anything you had experienced, the worst migraine of your life times a hundred.

Through the screaming, which you weren’t sure if it was in your head or out loud, you could hear Azriel’s muffled voice in the background. “Stop it, Rhys,” He was protesting. “You’ll kill her.”

Rhysand ignored him, continuing to try and force his way into your head. It felt like the entire force of the sea had come crashing down on your skull, pushing and pounding in every direction in search of a crack. Your entire body shook, the pain from your physical wounds nonexistent in comparison.

“This isn’t right.” Azriel was saying. “I will get her to talk, just stop this. She’ll never trust us if you keep doing this.”

“I don’t care about her trust.” You heard Rhysand say, his voice both in your head and echoing throughout the room. “Once I get into her head and get what I need, she will be of no more use to us. Then she’ll be your problem.”

The sensation of white hot needles pricking into your head took over, and you let out a wail. It was a thousand times worse than before, especially in your starved state.

Please, You begged the Mother, or any gods out there. Please kill me. Grant me this mercy and end it.

Amidst the pain and your screams, a warm sensation brushed your shoulder, like someone’s hand was grasping it in reassurance. You can do this. It seemed to say, in a voice so familiar yet like nothing you had ever heard before.

“What are you saying?” Azriel growled.

The High Lord’s next sentence was all you heard before darkness overtook your vision. “When I am done, I need you to kill her, Azriel.”

NESTA POV

The smell of a freshly made breakfast sandwich and tea roused Nesta from her sleep. As her eyes crept open to meet the golden glow of the sunrise, she became rapidly aware of the presence lounging beside her. Nesta’s vision focused after a few blinks, a male with red hair coming into focus.

Instantly, she shot up, wincing as the pounding headache she apparently woke up with protested. “What the fuck, Eris?” She practically yelled, bunching up the bedsheets to cover her nightgown.

“Ah, finally you’re awake!” The prince said casually, as if he was not laying next to her sleeping form with his head propped up against the bed frame. “Half the day has gone by already while you slept.”

“It’s sunrise, asshole.” Nesta hissed furiously, wishing she had a dagger nearby to stab him with. “Were you watching me sleep?”

“Exactly,” Eris quipped, turning to the next page in the book that he was currently reading. “And no, watching you sleep is rather boring. Especially when you snore. Besides, this novel is way more interesting.”

Growling, Nesta snatched the book from him after noting it was a smutty romance one she had snuck from the library and was currently reading. Eris smirked knowingly, making Nesta’s cheeks burn. “I did not take you for a romance novel type of female,” He purred, arrogantly reaching up his arm to rest behind his head. “Especially ones with such erotica.”

Nesta gave him a hard shove, unbalancing him. “Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

Eris chuckled, raising his hands in mock defenselessness. “But I brought you breakfast! Am I really not allowed to bring my loving fiancé breakfast in bed?”

She shot daggers at him with her eyes. “Your loving fiancé is going to murder you before the wedding if you don’t get out within the next fifteen seconds.”

Eris sighed in defeat. “I do not know what I did to deserve this type of treatment from my future wife.” He muttered in obvious sarcastic pity, but climbing off the bed nonetheless. Nesta crossed her arms over her chest, cursing inwardly at the headache that plagued her. If she had better control of her magic, she’d send a stream of silver fire after Eris’ ass on his way out.

It had been one week since the dinner with Beron where she was granted one month to train her powers, and every day had been the same routine. Get woken up before the sun has even risen, ride Diadoro and Calypso to a remote clearing in the forest about an hour away, try over and over again to follow Eris’ instructions only for either nothing to happen or absolute catastrophe. The day usually ended in an argument, either about training, Eris’ progress in finding you, or where he was on his plan to dispose of his father. And then followed by a very silent ride back to the manor.

“Meet me by the lake in 10 minutes.” Eris called out as he shut the door, leaving Nesta to eat the breakfast laid across the tray. She groaned, rubbing her eyes and wishing for just an hour of rest.

Sleep hadn’t been coming easily lately. Every night was the same dream – Nesta running around a dark maze with walls of stone, trying to get to you. She could hear your screams as if they were real, echoing throughout her head whenever she was left alone with her own thoughts. Eris insisted he was doing everything he could to find you, but the more time passed the more worried she got. Every day Nesta woke up, she was plagued by the aching in her chest.

In record time, she managed to consume half of her breakfast and get herself dressed. The outfits Eris had always prepared for her were admittedly perfect, and today was no different. A forest green gown with gold buttons up the front, and a subtle dark pink trim. Nesta had no idea where Eris was pulling these gowns from, but she didn’t complain as she slipped on the comfortable material.

Eris was waiting with Calypso and Diadoro, the creatures tacked up and ready to go. Calypso was pawing at the ground impatiently, as if she had been waiting a while.

“At last she graces us with her presence.” Eris called out as Nesta approached hurriedly. It had taken her an extra few minutes to get ready, as her hair did not cooperate in its usual cornet. For the first time in Autumn, Nesta had simply pulled her golden brown locks back into a simple braid before hurrying out the door.

“You said ten minutes, I took fifteen, get over it.” She snapped, taking Diadoro’s reins from Eris’ outstretched hand. “Besides, I needed a few minutes to recover from the fright of looking at your face the first thing waking up.”

Eris chuckled. “A sight to look forward to after our wedding day, my dear.”

Nesta rolled her eyes, climbing into the saddle as Eris held the stirrup in place for her. He had insisted Nesta get used to riding, something she had protested at first. But admittedly, it was fun, not that she’d ever admit that in front of Eris. As the Prince got on Calypso’s back, the pair and their horses headed off through the path they had taken every day for the last week.

It was a scenic route, the Autumn hues throughout the forest bringing Nesta a sense of calm that she had never quite found at the Night Court. She was no longer always cold, bones chilled by the crisp night air that seemed to somehow be present during the day, even though none of the Inner Circle seemed to feel it. She only wished she could share this stroll with you.

After about twenty minutes of riding, Nesta decided to change things up and break the usual silence that they rode in. “Where are you with your search for her?” She said quietly.

“Well, my spies are convinced she is still somewhere in the Night Court.” Eris responded cautiously, his voice flat.

“So why can’t we go back and get her?” Nesta pressed as they continued to ride through the trees.

“Many, many reasons,” Eris said in a matter-of-fact voice. “Firstly, you know that the High Lord and the brute would snatch you up immediately. You would never get out after that. Secondly, neither of us knows the terrain. The Night Court is large, and she could be anywhere. It is not easy to pinpoint exactly where she is out of the dozens of places she could be.”

“Eris, every night I have the same dream. I’m running through an underground maze of stone, with walls of black rock. And I hear her voice. And you’re saying this doesn’t help at all?”

The Autumn princeling sighed, halting the horses. “Correct. Because the Night Court has hundreds of mountains, all of which could be harbouring some underground dungeon. So no, it doesn’t help.”

Deep down, Nesta knew he was right. She tangled her fingers in Diadoro’s mane to soothe the sea of worry churning within her. “Why did we stop?” She asked after a few moments.

Eris turned to face her, his eyes serious for once. “Nesta, I know how badly you want to find her. I do too. But with how well hidden and warded the Night Court is, not to mention remoteness, it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. And if the magic from your bond can’t reach her, I’m afraid I’ve done everything I can.”

“No.” Nesta refused to believe it. You had been her anchor to this earth for months, her reason for keeping her chin up and moving through the relentless stormy sea it seemed she was destined to wade through.

Eris’ voice was gentle. “Nesta, you are immortal now. You have a long life ahead of you. Clinging onto this will only hold you back.”

“Easy for you to say,” Nesta shot back, not caring how deep her words cut. “You don’t care about anyone. Must be no problem for you to just drop people once you’ve gotten what you want.”

For the first time since she had known him, Eris’ face fell slightly. Regret washed over Nesta immediately at the hurt flickering in his amber eyes. Insults were part of Nesta and Eris’ routine now, but this…. She knew she had gone too far.

“Do you truly think so little of me?” Eris asked, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. There was no trace of the arrogant prince she had grown used to.

“I just…” Her voice trailed off. “I don’t know what to think anymore. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”

“I know. And I’m doing my best to get things back on track, but it’s proving almost impossible.”

Nesta swallowed the familiar lump in her throat that indicated tears were going to begin welling up soon. “I know.” She said before coughing and regaining her composure. “Anywho, you were the one insisting we were late. Let’s get going.”

Before she could move Diadoro forward, Eris turned Calypso to the right and headed off the path. “We’re doing something else today,” He called out. “Follow me.”

Nesta didn’t have to do anything, as Diadoro was already following the white horse off the path, expertly stepping over roots and branches in his way. “Where are we going?” She demanded.

“It’s a surprise.”

“Tell me.”

“That would ruin the surprise.”

“I don’t care.”

“I do. Keep moving.”

Nesta huffed, but didn’t protest. She had never been on this route before, and the further they got the rockier it was. Trees grew sparser, and the soil became harder. The journey reminded Nesta of something from one of the fantasy books in the library at the House of Wind, and with a pang she thought about Gwyn and Emerie.

She wondered how her disappearance had been explained. Most likely, they had been told that Nesta was kidnapped by Eris or something. Nesta missed them terribly – Emerie’s snorting laughter, the way Gwyn’s eyes would light up as she explained something in her research, how they both took an instant liking to you.

“Eris?” Nesta asked about thirty minutes into their trek.

“Yes, my fearsome goddess?” Eris singsonged over his shoulder in response.

“Can I bring my two friends to Autumn?”

“I did not realise you had friends other than (Y/N) in the Night Court.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, I do. I met them at my training, and…” Her voice trailed off, unsure of how to phrase it without seeming weak. Nesta had never needed anyone before, but the lack of Gwyn and Emerie’s presence in her life lately was beginning to weigh on her.

“You miss them.” Eris finished her sentence for her. “Once I am High Lord, we can invite them to come here.”

“For a visit?”

He shrugged. “Or to stay permanently, if that is what they wish.”

Nesta’s heart fluttered with excitement at the idea. She knew Gwyn would love it here certainly, once she got used to it. Emerie too, who would be relieved at being miles away from her vile family. “I’ll hold you to that, Eris.” She said sternly.

“Consider it one of the many wedding gifts I shall spoil you with.”

Nearly two hours later, Eris finally halted Calypso and got off. It was the longest ride Nesta had been on thus far, and her inner thighs ached. Luckily, the prince was already reaching up to grab her waist, lifting her out of the saddle with an impressive amount of strength.

“Thanks.” She mumbled, cheeks red with embarrassment before asking, “Where are we?”

There was nothing notable in her surroundings, save for a rocky cliff that loomed above them a few metres ahead. Calypso and Diadoro had pressed their noses to the ground in search of grass amidst the sparsity.

“All will be revealed.” Eris winked, then extended his hand. He glanced up at the cliff, and Nesta crossed her arms.

“I am not scaling that cliff.” She said sternly, causing Eris to chuckle.

“I would not make you, certainly in those skirts,” He said. “We’re winnowing up there.”

“You know I hate winnowing.”

“Fine, if you’d like to climb it then I’ll see you in a few hours–”

Nesta quickly grabbed Eris’ hand, cutting him off. It tingled against her own, like electricity in her veins was jumping out to meet his own. She ignored his smirk as the world went askew and the ground fell away underneath her feet.

A split second later, they stood atop the cliff. The wind immediately whipped across Nesta’s cheeks, but it was not cold. Oddly enough, it was warmer up here, like the very rocks they stood on were heated. The colourful forest spanned across the horizon, bright with the now late morning sun. Nesta’s braid whipped in the wind, coming undone within seconds.

“I’ve been keeping this from my father,” Eris said, turning away from the edge of the cliff and walking away, leaving Nesta to follow. “A secret weapon, if you will.”

Nesta hurried to catch up, her long strides matching his own. “A weapon to kill him with? Up here?”

Eris chuckled, shaking his head. “No, between you and me we are perfectly capable of doing it ourselves. This weapon will help solidify me as the High Lord and prevent other courts from going to war with us. And I think it will help you with your magic.”

Nesta halted, dread forming in her stomach as she thought of the last few magical weapons she encountered. The mask, that took away everything she felt and made her raise an army of the dead. The Cauldron, that stole her humanity away from her and turned her into a creature she had grown up learning to hate and fear. The thought of something else like that made her knees go weak.

“It’s nothing like the Cauldron, I swear to you.” Eris said calmly, as if reading her thoughts. “Come, I promise it’s something entirely different.”

After a second of hesitation, Nesta resumed following Eris. They walked further and further, approaching a large mountain with a cave entrance that was bigger than anything she had ever seen.

“Are we seriously going down there?” Nesta gaped. The closer she got, the warmer the air was. It sang to the silver flames within her, and she felt them dance.

“Yes.” Eris said, igniting a flame in his hand in place of a torch before entering the darkness. Not wanting to lose the light and be stranded in the dark, Nesta followed. They walked down the large cavern, and the further they went the more her power begged to be let out.

“You can feel it, can’t you?” Eris asked, pausing at the bottom of the slope they had just crawled down. “Like calls to like, Nesta.”

Eris’ flame didn’t illuminate much, but by the way their footsteps echoed, Nesta could tell whatever chamber they were in was large enough for a small city. “What is this place?” She asked.

As usual, Eris continued his lecture and neglected to answer her question. “You fear your power too much, Nesta, because you haven’t seen anything like it. You are letting your fear control you, and you need confidence if you are to wield your powers in a manner that impresses my father. There are many fire-wielders in this world, Nesta Archeron. Yours may be different, but you can learn from others. And not just me.”

Nesta took in a sharp breath, the taste of smoke and ash on her tongue. “This secret weapon…” She said slowly. “It’s not a ‘what’.... it’s a ‘who’.”

Eris nodded, his pale face a striking gold in the light of the flames. “Do not be afraid.”

Before she could ask what he meant, a low but fierce growl vibrated throughout the chasm. It quaked her bones, and the floor began to tremble with what felt like the footsteps of a large creature. And then another, and another.

Nesta trembled as they grew louder, but refused to shrink back. She would not be a coward, not in front of Eris, even as whatever weapons Eris had approached them. The prince stepped forward, lifting up his flaming hand and illuminating the dark space a bit more to reveal not one, but three massive, scaling heads.

The heads of dragons.

The one in the middle had onyx scales, barely visible within the darkness. Its head was only illuminated by its glowing amber eyes. The one on the right was almost as big, but it had golden scales and larger horns on its head. And the one on the left crawled opposite from Nesta, a shining shade of silver with a longer neck. Each beast exuded sheer power and might, the space in the enormous cavern almost too small for their bodies.

Time seemed to slow down and stop as the three dragons approached, the orange glow from their mouths and bellies lighting the chasm. They were a thousand times bigger than a horse, almost the size of an entire palace.Nesta gawked, and her magic began to thrum excitedly at the beasts. Realistically, her instincts should have screamed at her to run before she was burned to ash, but she felt none. No, Nesta was rooted to the stone in fascination and awe.

Eris approached the black dragon, who lowered its head and growled. For a second, Nesta thought it would simply devour Eris whole. But instead, it let out a crooning noise and pushed its nose into Eris’ flaming palm. He began murmuring to the dragon in a language Nesta didn’t recognize, and the beast purred in response.

Her fixation on Eris with the dragon was broken by a low growl, and she flinched as the silver dragon snaked its head towards her.

“Summon a flame.” Eris instructed, still stroking the snout of the black dragon, despite its head being twenty times his size.

“What?” Nesta said, still frozen in place as the dragon crept towards her.

“Just do it.”

She raised a shaky hand, taking a deep breath. She tried not to think about the size of the dragon’s teeth approaching her as she reached down and grabbed a hold of a silver tendril of her power.

Yes please! It seemed to cry. Let me out to play. Let me make new friends.

Just as Eris had taught her, a ball of silver fire began to dance in the palm of Nesta’s hand. The dragon paused, lowering its head even further towards her hand. Nesta tensed up, but her flames had other plans – they flickered in the direction of the dragon, almost as if they were excited to greet it.

The silver beast made a low rumbling noise in response, and pressed its nose into Nesta’s hand, just as the black dragon did with Eris. She gasped, expecting her flames to burn the creature’s nose and cause a wake of destruction, yet it did not flinch from her fire. Its eyes met Nesta’s, and she felt as if her very soul was being gazed into, as if the dragon could see every raw, vulnerable part of her. The scales were smooth against Nesta’s slightly shaky hand, hotter than the warmest coals yet they did not burn her. Her flames danced along the scales, exploring the dips and horns of the dragons’ head. But it did not seem to mind, only continuing to gaze into Nesta’s eyes.

For a moment, she was overcome with emotion. The sensation of touching a creature so mighty, so powerful, one that she thought only existed in the stories she read. But then she, too, was now a creature that existed in storybooks. One that was admired for its beauty yet feared for its power, much like the very beast before her. It looked at her with such understanding, such intensity Nesta felt like she could both crumble on the spot and conquer the world at the same time.

“Her name is Athariel,” Eris’ voice broke her out of her trance. “I figured you’d like her. The one with me is Morgoth, and the golden one is Zorzimril.”

“I…” Nesta swallowed her emotion, tentatively stroking the dragon’s scales. It made a purring sound, the silver flames dancing around it excitedly.

“I found their eggs here just over a century ago.” Eris explained, his voice echoing in the chamber. “I thought they were rocks. There were rumours of dragons existing at the beginning of the world, but the last rumour comes from the wild hunt. No proof of them existed, until I found the eggs. No amount of research helped me figure out how to un-petrify them, until I felt them call to me. I used my magic and lit the hottest fire I could manage, placing the eggs inside them. A few hours later, they hatched. I’ve been raising them in secret for almost 150 years, training them. They are my secret weapon.”

“Like calls to like…” Nesta murmured, observing how her silver flames played with the dragon, who remained unscathed.

Eris smirked, patting Morgoth on the cheek. “Exactly. I have bonded with Morgoth, and I figured you and Athariel would be a good match. You can learn a lot from her, and she can help you conquer your fear. From everything I’ve learned over the past century, they’re loyal beasts. If you bond with her, she will defend you fiercer than anyone in this realm.”

The thought of this powerful creature looking out for Nesta made her overwhelmed with emotion. Maybe they were both seen as monsters by the rest of the world, but they could face it together, if Athariel let her. Nesta thought back to all the times she felt true fear – at the Hewn City, Illyria, the battlefield, there was no trace of that now. Somehow, she felt safer with this dragon than she had in the Night Court.

Nesta glanced at Zorzimril, the golden beast. “What about her?”

Eris sighed, resting his shoulder against Morgoth’s head. “I had hoped that with (Y/N) here, she would bond with her. It seems like fate, does it not, Nesta Archeron? Three of us, three dragons. I am not particularly religious, but it seems the Mother has set this out for us. Zorzimril is the reason I still have hope that we will find (Y/N).”

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[yutasbimil]

Ride With You

beomgyu x fem!reader | txt ff. [one-shot] !!! also posted on my ao3 acc! { here } tags: fluff cw: frenemies vibe, friends to lovers, lots of bantering, teasing, much used 'person a got sick in bed, now person b takes care of 'em', falling in love, domestic fluff, playing video games, fluff! note: needed to take a break and cleanse from writing nasty things, need fluff in the meantime. needless to say, this is inspired by a post, and how reoccurring it is w/ beomgyu’s role in txt mvs and the beef(?) bikes have with him lmao. and im dumb af as well in riding one, this is the result ig lmao Surprisingly, I have a song in mind about this writing I did?! :0 (Shocking for me at least haha) ▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။ | ‘Bodybag’ by chloe moriondo ! also, not that comfy w/ 2nd POV, tho hope 3rd POV is good for y'all ♡ word count: 4.6k

do not repost © yutasbimil (2024)

“Pabo-yah! We’re already late, Gyu!” Y/n huffed, stepping on the bike pedal harder. 

“Step on it, Y/n!” He further pressed his tone along with his grip on her waist. Her smirk is anything but mirth at the male’s hot touch.

“Don’t tell me what to do!”

Y/n resisted to roll her eyes and keep her eyes on the road. Heck, she can’t even shut her eyes for a moment but she’s very much annoyed already.

And I know what you’re thinking, you’d usually expect the guy pressing on the bike to lead, with the girl riding behind them. Not that she's thinking of rom-com tropes with this dweeb. Ew. 

If anything, Y/n thinks the same as well, but the exhausted cranks ticked her off. All of this whilst on how much Beomgyu is berating her while he’s the one sitting behind her. The nerves!

“Yeonjun keeps calling me! Our call time was ages ago—”

“Yes, I know, Captain Obvious!” Another huff, aligned as another tramp as a steep path meets them. And the ringing and vibrating noise in the background is pressuring her. “How about you be the one to take the wheel? Not me having to carry your ass up this hill!”

Man, why did they even think of taking a bike ride to go to the meetup?!

His dumbness is so contagious, that she might have to rethink her life choices hanging out with him too much. The single brain cell the two people have to share is oozing.

“Sorry if I have such a big ass—”

“For all things you have to apologize for,” Y/n grunts. “Why don’t you start with your stupidity? Pabo Beomgyu—”

The bike ride all the way to the hangout was rough, coarse as the words the two spit out to each other.

It was opposite to how soft her tone was at Taehyun, whom they just catch on with his magic tricks as if it’s an intermission number before their arrival.

Beomgyu rolls his eyes at how amused Y/n reacted, pulling two seats for both of them. He grabs her bag with a huff, putting it on a vacant seat.

“I know it’s impressive, but you seem overly fascinated by it, Y/n.”

“I don’t need your opinion, shut it, Gyu.”

“Hey, hey, how about you two chill?” Kai gestures to them to lower it down. 

Soobin bats an eye at Kai. Of course that will calm these two feisty beans. 

It earned another huff from Beomgyu as Yeonjun butts in, rubbing his hands in anticipation, he smirks at the two new arrivals. “And you two already know the deal right?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Beomgyu throws a towel near Y/n, sliding his card with his other hand. “I’m on it—”

Barely having enough reaction time on the thrown towel, she wipes her sweat in confusion, furrowing her eyebrows at Beomgyu. “I also have to contrib—”

“I said I’m on it,” he pressed. “Don’t make me change my mind, Y/n.”

“Geez, Choi Beomgyu,” she says in defeat. “Suit yourself, Sweet Cheeks.”

Before another banter ensues with his sharp daggers at her, Soobin intervenes.

“Thank you, Choi Beomgyu!” He beams, wrapping both Beomgyu’s arms to grab his attention. 

‘I’m also late, why does he have to take all of the credit?’ Y/n pouts at the thought, and it remains a thought as Beomgyu looks like he's already settled it. She just stayed eased in her seat, having to emphasize at least to herself. ‘I need to pay for the food too since I’m also late.’ But she doesn't want to ruin Beomgyu’s already good mood.

In Beomgyu’s defense, they wouldn’t be late if it weren’t for him, and Y/n’s effort in taking them there, he had to make up for it. Of course, he won’t say that directly. 

“Beomgyu, you dummy,” she says inaudibly, more on pouting seeing him this energetic with them.

She just goes on and joins them but alas, her social battery is bound to be quickly depleted with a group dominated by extroverts.

“I'm sure Y/n missed us so much she's this speechless huh?” Yeonjun says, making Y/n smile wide at how he's even laughing along with the others. Hyuka’s laugh, in particular, is hilariously contagious, oh lord— “It's just been so long with the semester piling up uni work, y’kno? This is a nice break.”

“Look at how this cutie is gracing us with her charm.” He goes on and pinches her cheek but Beomgyu is quick to swat his hand away from her, earning a smirk from Yeonjun.

This sly fox.

Beomgyu quickly catches on and he gets caught in his clutches, turning to what Yeonjun wanted.

“Aigooo…” Yeonjun turns his attention to him. He just goes on to aggressively wipe Beomgyu's lips as he's pretty much slobbered with gochujang sauce to be even bothered.

“Hyung! You almost wiped his lips off!” Kai points out how Yeonjun is holding down Beomgyu's head a bit too firmly.

Soobin just laughs hysterically. “That better shut him up, he's hella noisy!”

Yeonjun continues with his agenda at hand, further throwing Beomgyu off with his question. “Don't you agree Y/n is such a cutie, Beomgyu? Good enough to be someone's girlfriend, hmmm?”

Yeonjun kinda hitting on Y/n earns an eye roll from the other. “Ya! Stop that.”

“I ought to start than being a slowpoke!” Yeonjun was clearly taking Beomgyu's annoyance with his comment rather than Yeonjun touching him.

“What are you on about?”

Y/n is just ignoring them. Not catching on as it's pretty much the same thing with their bantering. Right? She just shakes her head, it can't be even bothered. Hyuka is mostly the only one who got the hang of being nice to a girl, and Taehyun… Soobin as well. Maybe because they have a sister. Or who knows?

Y/n sighs.

It's not just being nice and giving compliments being the lack or being the problem.

“You guys need to talk to girls more.” her tone is a bit prim. The jerk of the guys’ brow set a different mood. It just left Y/n tilting their head on them.

Or whatever they’re trying to achieve here for the matter.

Is this Yeonjun’s way of making up for all the teasing? But how is it that Beomgyu is against this whole 'being nice' thing? And towards me?

Yeonjun was simply complimenting me, right? How is it that Beomgyu is so provoked?

Her thoughts just left her spinning like a cyclone.

Given that it's Beomgyu that talks the most with Y/n. They're pretty close. And his company fills the warmth and hole that she needs to be entertained.

As much as she despises his guts, might as well put his existence to use, right?

But is bantering all there's to it? 

Because outside the claw ripping and hissing, there isn’t much room given for them to talk heart-to-heart. The others give them a chance but it’s often thrown out the window quickly, as bantering seems to be the top priority and the most natural and most sane option for the two.

What even begins to draw and intrigue me with such a guy?

Y/n had her chin propped up in her palm, lazily glancing over Beomgyu and others going about their day. 

What's stopping them from being close?

Not that she wants to be close with him of course. 

It’s not like she really looks at her obnoxious friend in a certain light right? Y/n doesn’t treat Beomgyu any differently, if anything she’s mostly focused on him just because he’s an attention-grabbing loudmouth of a friend. She’s even sure that given Y/n had four more other guys to validate this, they’ll say the same tops how they just appear as frenemies at most give or take.

She’s left quiet the whole time just observing the group, particularly the loud megaphone they acquired of a friend. There was a clear distinction between who is introverted and extroverted. With how Soobin and Y/n are just munching their way into the bread they ordered in peace. 

Can there ever be a day for me and Beomgyu to be this solemn as well?

Aish, what am I even saying? The redness on her face is easily prompted up her skin as she fixes herself in her seat. Y/n kept her demeanor stoic and expressionless. Not that she was even trying to give effort on this.

Having gotten used to their silence and behavior, Taehyun picked up something else from the lady that he had to tap into her shoulder.

“You good?” Taehyun says, gesturing with a thumbs up. She mirrors his bright expression, though it came off bleaker than expected. “Fine, Taehyunnie, just tired.”

She didn't know that that would be the first surge of her fatigue.

“Where’s Y/n?” 

You wouldn't really expect it to be coming out of Beomgyu's mouth as 1. They are almost always the two stuck to the hip, it's mostly the gang asking either of them where each other is. and 2. Don't they hate each other's guts to be this concerned about the other's absence?— But that dismisses the first point— Soobin shook his head and finally answered Beomgyu's query, though with the same worry. 

“Didn't she message you that she's staying sick at home?”

A crease appeared on Beomgyu's forehead. “Wasn't she just fine the other day?”

Soobin shrugs. “I thought so too, we're thinking of visiting her later but she refused. Her cold is contagious, she said.”

“Aish, I don't care. You know how that girl is.” 

With a sprint, Soobin wasn't able to stop Beomgyu in his tracks. But he knows as well how his friend means well, and Beomgyu knows Y/n the best. Even if they appear they would slit each other's throats.

-

“Fudgesticks, my throat is killing me.” 

It’s as if a slit down her neck appeared, along with piles of tissues by her bedside consuming her space.

Y/n also forgot due to her raging headache to buy some necessities to at least ease her pain. She can't talk well to let her Mom know so she's mostly stuck in bed.

“My vision is too blurry for this.” 

Even tapping on her phone is strenuous. Y/n gets into another coughing fit before she hears a knock on the door. 

She didn't order anything, or know someone coming over. But the familiar footsteps and patterned knock even pushed through her muffled hearing.

Her ears turned red at the sight of her friend, a bag on hand with some fever-cooling patches. Even with a mask on, he still looks cool. Huh?

What was that about, Y/n?

Moreover… What the hell is he here for?!

“Beomg—” She was quickly shut silent as he peeled off the seal on the cooling patch, placing it on her forehead. It at least soothes her, relaxing her in her bed. Maybe because of the elevated temperature that she softens for Beomgyu. 

He pulls down his mask as he leans close, checking her neck with the back of his hand. Y/n didn’t know but this was the most quiet she had seen Beomgyu. His face painted with worry and seriousness even throws her off. Is her fever turning her delirious? How is it that every bit of his movement is caught by her vision? As if played in slow motion? Heol. 

Y/n from her is sure she’s stone-cold sober and off her fever already. So this might be caused by something else… Okay, breathe.

But it's not usual for him to be this way. 

He even fixes the placement of the cooling patch before speaking again. “Damn, it barely fits with your forehead so big.”

There we go.

“Be glad I'm not in the energy to argue right now.” She barely responds as another cough kicks in, Y/n quickly covers her mouth as Beomgyu hands her a tissue.

“I'll make the most out of it, no worries “ He beams a shit-eating grin.

“What are you doing here?” she finally asks. Most probably to annoy me, she figures. That’s practically the reason he was born to do so. But what added another crease on her forehead was her realization hitting her, glancing back at her door. “And how…?”

“Your mom is going out, so she told me to take care of you.”

“Heol.”

“Hey, don't be like that,” Beomgyu shakes his head, but no dismay can be traced in his wide smile. “What I'm doing is already charity, showering you with my presence.”

“That goes more to Mom.” she snarks. “She likes you so much.”

“Hmmm? I'm so handsome and nice that she wants me as a son huh?”

She probably shouldn't have said that. It's obvious how it pumps his ego with his head already so massive.

“Since I'm done acknowledging your presence, how ‘bout you go home.” she huffs, pulling the blanket over her face.

Beomgyu just sits beside her in her bed, shrugging as he keeps his lips pursed. “I know you'll reject me coming here if I don't barge in, so I had my way.”

“Right…” she coughs again, limiting her words and pulling further away from Beomgyu. “I suppose…ha- the others… told you not to visit?”

“Yeah, you were quite persistent on it, knowing Soobin he'll comply. But remember I'm more persistent than you, Y/n.”

“Making it a competition still, huh?” She barely rolls her eyes at him, in a mix of amusement and annoyance. But the cooling feeling on her forehead and the paper bag beside her puts her at ease. She can't help but stare at him but it feels quite strange seeing him like this, and the two of them not bantering for a hot minute. 

The sickness buff I guess, he's being nice.

“Plus, your mom makes delicious soup, I ought to have it all by myself without the gang.”

His true colors show through. Y/n snickers. “FYI, that's for me, Beomgyu.”

“For us.”

He’s still as cheeky, she digressed.

Usually, it's no fun being sick in bed, boring at most with nothing to do. But Beomgyu's visit at least lessened that boredom. 

After a warm meal together, he still stayed in and revealed to bring some of his DVDs for them to share. Besides the more calmer version of Beomgyu, their conversation is to the least minimal with bantering, even having to adjust to her not screaming or straining her throat too much over video games. Fighting games and cooking games are surprisingly a good match for the two of them despite being cat and dog most of the time.

He had been incredibly mindful and detailed in being patient with her despite being a fanatic gamer on things. His tone and deep voice are soothing to the ears he's even helping her in the process.

Is it really just the heat of the slight fever or is the warmth of her cheeks different from anything?

“Ya! Pabo-yah! The rice is burning, Y/n!” It snaps Y/n back to her place, they're playing Overcooked, and Beomgyu is their supposed Head Chef. 

He had a stern look on his face that made her flustered.

“Sorry!” She didn’t even bump his arm that harshly but having to hear him wince at her closeness, she had to follow-up another apology. I didn’t notice the band-aids and bandages earlier. “What happened to your arm?”

“That’s nothing, come on, let’s go over this stage again.” Beomgyu quickly brushes off any means of asking about it. It draws her attention away further when he’s back with his immersed stare and explanation to her throughout the game.

She can't help but enjoy this moment but has he been this warm leaning close to her and less annoying?

Wasn’t this what tickled her curiosity about what it would look like if they were anything but down each other’s throats?

And this is surprisingly… to her liking. Being with Choi Beomgyu like this.

This was different from the other day. Much different from their usual time around each other. Or has his smile always been like this and I just refused to see it this way because my pride is in the way? 

Nah, being prideful and spouting the word ‘pabo’ runs smoothly and is easier.

This is easier to maintain.

But his smiling at her as they got 3 Stars in the game struck her as well.

“We work so well, Beomgyu.” I can at least give him the same warmth for now.

Y/n needs to get out of this fever-like dream.

Y/n is still not quite out of it even with her fever and health recuperated. It added more confusion to her seeing Beomgyu up and early before heading to school, near an alley practicing riding a bike.

He almost topples over along his bike seeing her presence— is he embarrassed or?

Y/n jerked her body in a mix of running towards him to check up on him and a sense of withdrawal. She might’ve looked stupid, glitching in place.

She's supposed to hide as she's still not ready to face him, but there's nothing wrong right? How is it that she's this ditzy? Why did she even think of hiding in the first place?

But she cannot stand looking at his stupid face, ridiculous how it's all for another reason other than annoyance—

“Y/n~!” Beomgyu chimes as he comes rushing to her.

He invites her to go to school together, mostly it's incoherently received on Y/n’s end as she's washed with disbelief.

Blinking a few more times, she just stands there motionless. More on how, he… Choi Beomgyu… wants to go together with me to school?

“Okay… uhm, are we taking the bus or?” The words finally reach Y/n’s tongue but her vision still cannot process much looking at Beomgyu's face.

“We can take a bike ride on the way?” Beomgyu suggests. 

Okay, coming off with an odd but usual start for them. 

Huh?

“Are you asking me to drive for you, or—” She starts slowly, trying to conceal her tone. Y/n is a bit pissed knowing she just came off from a fever but was dumbfounded at his answer.

“I’ll be the one…” Beomgyu says.

She perked a brow at him, skeptical of his answer. “You sure about that?”

Beomgyu promptly nods.

Being too caught up to think of even bringing up what she saw earlier, by the looks of it… was he learning how to ride a bike these past few days? She can’t even begin to look at his obvious bandages… Choi Beomgyu, you… sighs… Don’t tell me it’s because of him practicing too much? But why so suddenly? And for what…?

“Come on, Y/n, we're gonna catch up to Christmas if you still don't plan on budging.”

Y/n barely even had a chance to refuse with Beomgyu already pulling her close.

The bike ride was a little bit bumpy, but more or less smoother than expected not till they encountered some humps along the road. 

“Beomgyu, slow down!” she yelps. It made Y/n cling to his torso, the vibrations of his laughter didn't help as they scurried on their way to university. 

He's having too much fun with this.

-

“Why are you suddenly being nice to me?” She finally mustered up. 

“Haven't I always been nice to you?”

“Are you kidding me?” For once she was not amused by his teasing, her knowledge of the bandages on Beomgyu’s arm added to her withdrawal from banter.

“I'm the nicest out of the crew, what do you mean?” Beomgyu appealed.

“Yeah, yeah. You're a saint compared to Kai.”

She was trying her best not to fidget in place, but her fingers landed at the edge of his polo shirt. Her pleading eyes made Beomgyu give in. And this isn’t the first time this happened to him.

“I feel bad, okay?” Beomgyu slips, but the context is still not out there for the other end to comprehend, making the girl look up at him. 

“Hmmm?”

He tried his best to keep the light atmosphere, but maybe the sting on his arms urged him to reach out to her? Here goes nothing.

“You've been doing much for me, Y/n.” Beomgyu voiced out. “I didn't even realize you were tired. Last week when you still pushed through to ride a bike with you. I mean I've always seen you as a strong person, but I often forget how you hide your problems. And I at least want to give back to you.”

“Huh?” Is he for real now? But he had done so much for her in taking care of her when she was sick, and in some other instances—

“I know you don't like hearing this or me taking the blame but I know it's partly because of me you got sick. You got fatigued over carrying my big ass. And yeah, I've been a big ass for quite some time now towards you so I'm sorry.”

“Yeah, your big ass is at fault here. Definitely.” It slipped off Y/n’s lips out of disbelief that he even apologized for that, she sneers. “You're heavy up that hill when you’ve got mountains,” Y/n added, pointing at his bottoms.

“Y/n, what the heck? You're talking to me about my ass like that?” Beomgyu goes on and hides his bum with both his hands.

“Yeah, you're my ass.”

“What?”

“What?”

Y/n is shocked at herself as well, did she just claim him-oh sh—

“You're an ass,” she retaliated. “A-and, you started it!”

“Nuh-uh, I heard something else.”

Is he sure he wants to guarantee what I just said?!

“It's probably because you fell from that bike from that curb.” Y/n turned her back to him quickly and fastened her pace. “Now come on, chop-chop! We're gonna be late, remember?”

Beomgyu blushed to himself, didn't know she'd catch him that way but he'd act nonchalant and turn the tides back at her.

Just as she’s secured in his back, he stepped on the pedal and took her by surprise. “So you want me as your ass?”

The emphasis on ‘your’— It took all her self-control to convert her urge to push him off into huffing out CO2. “Can we stop talking about asses?”

“Aye, sorry you don't have one—”

“Choi Beomgyu!”

“No worries, I'll let you carry mine anytime.” The obvious wink in his tone made her writhe in embarrassment. Y/n just holds onto him even though she’s going to turn this smooth ride unstable with the amount of teasing he’s doing.

“I'd rather not.”

“Okay, I'll ride along with you in whatever you prefer. But don't you want to ask me what I prefer?”

“What?” She lightly tapped him on the shoulder, even by the leg to signal him to side the road first. Without going down the bike, they just stayed there, the atmosphere between the two not as still as the raving wind. The two are slightly in regret for being too close to each other. But they’re also too stubborn to budge to hide away the obvious pumping heartbeats deafening them.

“How about you take the whole package, can I be yours?” Still not turning to Y/n, Beomgyu shakes like the leaf on the tree.

Y/n furrowed her brows, mouth agape as it’s been robbed with words. She did her best not to touch her bandages to make him twirl and turn to face him properly. 

Y/n leaned in close to him but the words still not quite reconnected with her brain.

Beomgyu blushes at their distance, much the same and quite different from when she was sick. There's a hint of rose pink in her cheeks that he is quite distracted to not notice her flick his forehead. “Aish!”

“Are you sick in the head?!” Y/n fumes. “What nonsense are you spurting, do you even take responsibility for that?!”

“Yes!”

“Pabo. Let's go.” Turns her back blushing, but he easily catches on to get the bike from her. “Let's go, Pabo-yah.”

Moment of silence enveloping them, the thumping of their hearts still quite not simmering down their caged bodies. The only thing distancing them are the bike handles they’re walking in by other ends.

“Are you serious?” She almost blurted way too loudly to her liking, it came off breathless. “Be mine?”

“Be yours, be my baby. Whatever suits you.” Beomgyu directly stares at her but he’s also on the verge of melting in his scarlet cheeks. But he had to stand his ground and make this clear. “And okay, I know Yeonjun and I get on each other's nerves a lot but the last time just pushed me to admit it, okay? 

“The randomly brought up comments about ‘cutie’ and ‘GF’ thingy with me?”

“So you were listening to that time— but that’s beside the point, you’re more than that, Y/n.” Okay… it’s just that he did push me to admit that I like you. I like you, Y/n. Not to sound like a high school kid but I like-like you, Y/n. To be clear. And I'm sorry for being an ass most of the time but you know that it wasn't meant to hurt you like harm you.

“I know, Beomgyu,” she admits, finally without that mask of pride of wanting to one-up him, as there is no means of doing that right now. As of right now, she’s also seeing Beomgyu as he is, without their childish attempts to get into each other’s skin. 

And why did they even begin to do that, and since when?

That is not for this agenda to go through, Y/n just laughs in disbelief, but it’s now about her whole belief system being rearranged about this man standing so close to her.

Without any ounce of fake-built grudge, she warmly smiles at Beomgyu.

“Same here. I like you.”

It really showed through more in her vulnerable state, and that time he took care of her when she was sick in bed resurfaced a lot of things in the past as proof he had been looking out for her all this time. Even though it is mostly swept under the rug forcibly by the guy himself by the amount of teasing and bantering. He was hiding it under the guise of being a prick when he’s actually soft on the inside.

But it’s all no longer for naught.

Aish, Choi Beomgyu. We really went all through that as it’s more fun that way huh?

“I bet Soobin will say ‘Took you guys long enough!’” The thought brushed past Y/n, making her shake her head in all this absurdity. 

“I’ll add another 5,000 won if Taehyun says ‘I almost got sick of your bantering!’”

Calculating the closeness and blurting out her summation, she marveled at the near future expectation. “Now they have to deal with us being lovey-dovey, huh?”

“Heol.” 

The duo, as if in full sync, made fake barf noises, then burst out laughing. Y/n and Beomgyu unconsciously intertwined their fingers until fully wrapped around each other, giddily holding hands on the way to the university.

So the feelings were hindering them, and they concealed it underneath all that cat and dog masquerade.

But what’s sure for her is that she’ll certainly ride along these feelings and where this would take them, together.

※ my masterlist | #enjeiwrites ※

[halfway-happyyy]

begin again (rooster bradshaw)

AN: rooster still struggles with the death of his parents from time to time, and though he could turn to a multitude of people to get him through- he chooses you (his ex-flame). no warnings, only soft feelings ahead.

reader's call sign: sass

pairing: rooster bradshaw x female reader

Penny Benjamin's name flashes across the screen of your vibrating cell phone, rousing you from an otherwise heavy slumber and you answer it, frowning at the late hour.

“Penny, is everything alright?”

Because everyone knows that bad news has a terrible habit of following two-AM phone calls.

Penny hesitates on the other end while someone in the background hollers something. “Everything's fine, Sass. I'm sorry for waking you, but would you mind swinging over here to pick Rooster up?”

You blanch at the question. “He’s back on American soil?”

“Oh, he sure is.” She confirms.

Swinging your feet over the side of the bed, you ask, “What about Mav?”

Penny sighs heavily. “Maverick is currently as indisposed as Rooster is.”

“Penny, m’darlin’! Is that her? May I talk to her?”

Penny pulls the phone from her ear to hiss something at someone in the background and then she’s back a second later to tell you that he’s asking for you personally.

Lucky me.

“Yeah Penny- give me twenty minutes.”

In the short amount of time that it takes to drive to the Hard Deck you nearly turn back twice; the last words you ever uttered to Rooster play on like a broken record in your mind and causes unease to prick at you. You’re about to make a final run for it when the familiar neon sign catches your eye through the early morning light and it’s entirely too late now. Parking your car, you notice that the bar is closed for the evening, and you glance around in mild confusion. You are mere seconds from calling Penny back when you spot three lone figures standing on the beach a couple yards away. Drawing nearer, you notice both Penny and Maverick with their arms around Rooster’s impossibly broad shoulders- and they’re telling him something, but you lose their words to the white noise of the waves breaking on the shore before you.

“Hi guys.” You announce your presence and Maverick turns to face you, his smile wide and begrudgingly infectious.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. It’s good to see you, Sass.”

Penny turns to you, her expression grateful. “Thank you for coming, Sass.”

“Bit of a rowdy night for a Wednesday, huh?”

Penny tugs her bottom lip between her teeth and nods her head, her sky-blue orbs glitter brilliantly in the low morning light. “It sure was.” She pecks Rooster’s cheek goodbye and tugs on the sleeve of Maverick’s worn leather jacket. “Hate to cut a party early Mav, but eight o’clock comes fast.”

Maverick guffaws and thumps Rooster on the back twice. “You owe me a beer, kid.” He ruffles a palm through the mop of Rooster’s unruly auburn hair- something about the gesture tells you it’s a remnant from his childhood, and it makes you smile. “You remember what I told you, hm?”

Rooster nods, once.

“Thanks again for coming, Sass. I’m sorry for waking you.” Penny whispers as she walks past.

“It’s no problem, really. I had just closed my eyes.”

She caresses a warm palm to your cheek, her gaze knowing. “His plane hit the tarmac a week ago and he hasn’t stopped talking about you since.”

You watch them retreat from sight and sidle up next to Rooster. “So. This is how I find out you’re stateside?”

He sways a little on the spot, a byproduct of the alcohol consumed, no doubt. “You made your position about our future communication adamantly clear the last time we spoke.”

You certainly can’t begrudge him that because it’s true. “And yet here we are.”  

“Here we are.” His soft, wrecked voice echoes.

Silence settles like fine dust between the pair of you, and despite everything that transpired in the past, you cannot deny that you missed him with every fiber of your being. A multitude of questions dance just shy of your reach- Where have you been? And- Why did you listen when I told you never to call again? But all you can manage is a quiet, “Talk to me, Rooster.”

“It’s his birthday today.” He murmurs. His gaze is distant- lost to the vast ocean before him. “He would have been sixty.” His admission weighs heavier than you thought it might, and your arms ache to hold him. “Is it fucked up that I come here sometimes to feel closer to him?”

You shake your head. “Grief is a fickle thing, Rooster. You do what you can to cope. No one can fault you for that.”

“I miss them so much.”

His despair is suddenly palpable; it washes over you like warm rain and all you can do is be near to him. “The grief means that there’s love, Rooster. It means that there is so much unexpressed love still. And it’ll stay with you- it’s supposed to stay with you. But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.” A tear slips from his closed eye and cascades down his flushed cheek, and you reach up to brush it away with the pad of your thumb. “Let’s get you home, hm?”

Rooster relents and stumbles through the sand to your car. The ride is silent, your eyelids heavy with the weight of interrupted sleep. “Will you wait around a little while?” Rooster asks, upon arrival. And because you’ve always had a particularly hard time with saying no to him, you smile softly and nod your head.

“Sure, Rooster.”

It’s been six months since you’ve been inside of his house and stepping into the front hallway brings the memories back in roiling waves.

Rooster taking you up against the wall after an evening out at a military gala, the kitchen where scrambled eggs and bacon were made on Sunday mornings. The living room where he used to slow dance with you to Otis Redding. The photographs adorning the walls that the two of you purchased together.

“May I put a record on?” The hour is late and wearing on, but you’re not sure when you’ll get this opportunity again, so you take full advantage of it.

“Of course.” Rooster murmurs.

Making your way over to the record player beneath the bay window, you search through the case next to you until you find the one that you want. Slipping Giant from Buddy Holly out of its cover, you place it into the player, position the needle, and step back. It takes a few moments before the riff to Love Is Strange sounds through the speakers and transports the otherwise quiet room to the late sixties.

“A good choice.” Rooster approves from the doorway.

“It’s nostalgic for me.” You shrug.

“Me too.” He pushes himself from the doorframe to walk over to you. “May I?” He asks, in reference to a dance.

“You may.”

He takes you into his arms, and the achingly familiar feeling they bring you is so intense, you have no choice but to drop your chin to his shoulder blade to keep from sighing in utter satisfaction. He sways slowly with you on the spot, his large warm hands cradle the small of your back- and they hold you like you’re the most fragile thing in the universe. Like if he’s not careful, you’ll shatter into a million magnificent pieces before his eyes.

“Most of my memories are thread bare, but when I listen to music like this, I can still see them together.” He clears his throat. “He’d put on a record- like you just did, and he’d dance her around the living room until it ended. And the next night, they’d do it all over again.”

The needle ticks and the record finishes and your eyelids threaten close of their own volition when Rooster leads you by the hand to his bedroom down the hall. He makes no move to remove your clothing, and sleep is so heavy on your mind that you fall into bed without another thought. He sidles in beside you, brushes the hair back from your ear and says, “I never got to thank you before I left.”

“Thank me for what?” You mumble, sleepily.

Rooster traces a fingertip down the bridge of your nose. “I packed ice around my heart after my parents passed. I got scared of making homes out of people, but you made me feel less afraid about it all, and I’ll always be grateful to you for that.” His fingertips trace the outline of your lips, and you can’t help but smile into the touch. “And if tomorrow comes and you’re still here, I’ll tell you everything, Sass.”

“You're drunk, Rooster.” You whisper.

And everyone knows that drunk words mean nothing when the morning light touches them.

Yet six am arrives and sunshine beams through a crack in his curtains, and the very first words out of that wonderfully gravelly voice of his are- “I meant every single word I said earlier.”

And as you watch a slow, sleepy smile bloom across his face- happiness warms inside of you like sunlight through a stained glass window.

[tessa-liam]

Turning the Page

Against All Odds –5- 

Choices, The Royal Romance, AU 

Series Premise: As Riley Brooks journeys through life as a single parent in New York City, an epiphany strikes as she contemplates the future for herself and her two-year-old son. 

Turning the Page Masterlist 

Main Pairing: Liam Rys x F!MC Riley Brooks 

All characters belong to Pixelberry, except William Brooks (Rys) and Matteo Magro, who belong to this series. 

Category: On-going series, contains angst/fluff/depression. 

Rating: M🔞Warnings - Series will contain crude language, NSFW material – not Beta’d - please excuse all errors. 

 Against All Odds – 5 

Chapter Summary: Liam and Leo arrive in New York City. As Leo represents Cordonia and attends the U. N. conference, Liam, with the assistance of security intelligence, finds and reunites with Riley, uncovering her secret. 

Music Inspiration: To Love Somebody, Beyries; More Than Words, Extreme 

A/N1: In this alternate universe, after King Constantine orchestrates two individual scandals to humiliate and entrap Riley Brooks and Olivia Nevrakis in shame, Madeleine Amaranth secures her position as the Queen of Cordonia. Riley, as the King’s mistress and Olivia, in self-imposed exile. Tariq is never found. 

A/N2: My submission for @choicesflashfics, Week#58, prompt #3 - “I just wanted to make sure you were ok.”  

Brooklyn Heights, New York City 

As the season's first snowflakes fell softly on the ground, Riley sat curled up on her couch, a soft blanket tucked around her legs, her laptop balanced on her knees. William, who had spent the afternoon playing with his toy train and building blocks, was now napping peacefully beside her. 

Riley was lost in thought, the events of the past few days weighed heavily on her mind. She had read the news about Madeleine's pregnancy and had read the press statements on the internet. She was more than surprised by the announcement and curious about Liam's reaction to Madeleine’s revelations. Of all the questions she had, what bothered her most was the question of what would happen next. She couldn't imagine the stress Liam was under, but she also couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that the marriage was finally over. 

Riley was drawn from her thoughts by the sound of her cell phone ringing. She reached over and picked it up, glancing at the caller ID. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw that it was Maxwell. She took a deep breath and answered the call. "Maxwell, hello!" she said, trying to sound casual. 

"Riley! I am so glad I got a hold of you! Are you doing alright? “I just wanted to make sure you were ok.” Maxwell's voice was filled with concern. Riley could hear the background noise of the city through the phone, and she could picture him rushing down the busy streets of the Capital, his phone tucked between his ear and his shoulder. "Did you see the news? How are you holding up?" 

"I'm okay, Maxwell. A little shocked, but okay." Riley paused, her mind racing. She wasn't sure how much she should reveal, but she knew that she could trust Maxwell. "To be honest, I've been thinking a lot about Liam and wondering how he's doing. Do you know if he is alright?" 

Maxwell hesitated for a moment before responding. "I'm not sure, Riley. He was not taking questions after the press conference. When Drake and I tried to get his attention, he was called away by his advisors, but he did smile back at us. I think he'll be okay." He paused again, and Riley could tell that he was carefully choosing his words. "Look, Riley...I don't want to keep secrets from you, and there's something you should know." 

Riley's heart started to race. "What is it, Maxwell?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

"There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to be blunt. Liam is coming to New York, Riley. He's coming to find you." 

Riley was speechless. Her mind was reeling, and her heart was pounding. She had so many questions, but all she could manage to say was, "He's coming here?"  

"Yes, he's arriving tonight. Look, Riley, I know you're probably not ready to see him yet, and that is completely understandable. But I wanted you to hear it from me and not from someone else. And... I just want you to be prepared." 

Riley's head was spinning, and she could feel tears starting to well up in her eyes. "Maxwell...I don't know what to say … are you sure about this?"  

“Little blossom, yes,” Maxwell responded, somberly. 

"You don't have to say anything, Riley. Just promise me that you'll give him a chance. He needs you now, more than you know.” 

*** 

As the snow continued to fall, Riley sat quietly on the couch, staring out the window, lost in thought. Her heart was conflicted. On the one hand, she knew that Liam’s arrival would bring a torrent of emotions and feelings that she was not yet ready to face. But on the other hand, she could not deny that part of her was excited to see him again. 

… and William! Riley’s swallowed hard; her hands trembling, as she felt him stir beside her. 

The Four Seasons Hotel, Manhattan 

Liam stared out of the floor to ceiling window of the penthouse suite, the lights of the Manhattan skyline spread out before him. He was filled with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. He knew that finding Riley was the first step, but he had no idea how she would react to his arrival. He sighed and turned away from the window, walking over to the bar cart. 

“Well, Li, how do I look?” Leo asked, walking out of his room, slipping gold cufflinks into his sleeves. 

Liam chuckled and lifted a bottle of Macallen and poured the amber liquid into two crystal tumblers. “Very dapper, brother. I’m sure the ladies will love it.” 

“Oh, please. Like I need help getting their attention.” Leo flashed a wicked grin, accepting a tumbler of scotch. 

“Right. Just make sure you stay focused, Leo. I am counting on you to stand for and represent the crown.” 

Leo raised an eyebrow. “I know, I know. You have nothing to worry about. I will handle the press and keep them off your back.” 

Liam nodded, grateful for his brother’s support. “I appreciate it, Leo. What would I do without you.” 

“You would be a royal mess, that’s for sure,” Leo quipped. 

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Bastien opened the door, allowing for a stream of Liam’s royal guards into the suite. 

“Your Majesty, we have a report that the American media has caught wind of your arrival and are converging on the hotel.” 

“It’s showtime,” Leo said with a smirk, downing the last of his drink. 

Clapping Liam’s shoulder, Leo left with two of the guards to attend the U.N. conference opening ceremonies. Liam had no doubt that his brother would be the center of attention and charm of the press and dignitaries. As Liam finished his scotch, he turned his attention to Bastien. 

“Bastien, is the car ready?” 

“Yes, Your Majesty, it is waiting downstairs. There is press coverage outside the front entrance; I suggest we exit via the service entrance, Sir.” 

“Very well, lead the way.” 

The limo ride to Brooklyn was a blur, as Liam’s thoughts were consumed with seeing Riley again. He knew he was taking a significant risk by arriving unannounced, but he could not let another moment go by without reaching out to her. 

When the limo finally pulled up in front of her brownstone, he took a shuddered breath as he watched Bastien get out and perform a quick perimeter sweep. Once completed, Bastien returned to open the limo door, and Liam stepped out. As he walked toward the steps and up to her door, the air felt electric, and he could feel his heart racing. 

What would she say when she saw him? 

Would she even speak to him? 

Liam had so many questions, but the only way to find the answers was to take a leap of faith and knock on her door. He hesitated for a moment, then lifted his hand and rapped on the wooden door. After a few moments, the door opened, and Liam’s heart stopped. There she was, the love of his life, the one who had captured his heart and never let go. 

“Riley...”- he managed; his voice choked with emotion. 

“Liam,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. 

Their eyes locked, and Liam felt as if the rest of the world had melted away. They stood there, staring at each other, both lost for words. Liam’s mind raced, and his heart pounded. He had imagined this moment so many times, but now that he was standing here in front of her, he was paralyzed with fear and uncertainty. 

...and, wow, she looked incredible! 

Her chestnut hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her chocolate brown eyes sparkled with emotion. She was dressed simply; a soft, silver grey sweater and jeans. But there was no mistaking the elegance and grace that radiated from her. Liam’s breath caught in his throat, and his heart ached with longing. 

She was his sun and stars, his everything. 

He knew he was in for a battle, but for Riley, it would be worth it. 

Riley lost her struggle, her eyes welling with tears. 

“Liam...” she managed, before stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his neck. 

He held her close, inhaling her scent, savoring the feel of her body against his. It felt like a dream, a moment too good to be true. 

“I missed you,” he whispered. 

“I missed you, too.” Her voice was a soft murmur, muffled by his shoulder. 

Liam felt her trembling, and he pulled away to look into her eyes. “Are you alright?” he asked, concerned. 

“I’m fine. I’m just...” she trailed off, unsure how to continue. 

He smiled tenderly and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. “It’s all right. I am not going anywhere.” 

His heart was pounding as he looked down into her beautiful eyes, and he knew in that moment that he would do anything for her. 

Riley grasped his hand. "Please, please, come in." She turned and pulled him toward the living area and motioned for him to sit on the sofa. 

"Would you like something to drink? Wine, scotch, whiskey?" Riley asked. 

"Scotch sounds great." 

As she busied herself with pouring his drink, Liam took the opportunity to look around her home. It was filled with warmth and love, and it was clear that a family lived there. Toys were neatly gathered beside the fireplace, alongside a bookshelf of children's books. 

Riley returned with his scotch and settled onto the couch next to him with bottled water for herself. 

“You have a beautiful home, Riley,” Liam commented. 

She smiled shyly. “Thank you. It's not quite a palace, but we’re happy here.” 

Liam noticed all the pictures, framed and positioned throughout the room. Taking note of the two men and small boy standing beside Riley next to a Christmas tree. 

“So, you’ve got a family now. Are you married?” 

Riley’s expression grew serious. “No. No, I’m not.” 

Liam breathed a sigh of relief. Riley noticed the framed picture Liam referenced. 

“Remember, Daniel?” Riley paused, breathing deeply. 

“Yes, he worked at the bar...”, Liam’s words trailed off. 

“That’s right. Daniel, along with his husband, offered me a place to live, here, when I returned from Cordonia. They didn’t want me to be alone in the city.”  

Liam noticed that her hands were trembling as she set her water bottle down on the coffee table. 

“Liam...” Riley began, her voice trailing off. 

“What is it, Riley? Please tell me.” Liam encouraged, as her eyes filled with tears. 

“This is really hard for me.” Riley choked out the words. 

“Riley?” Liam questioned softly, placing his hand on hers. The worry now etched on his face. 

“There is something I need to tell you, Liam,” her voice wavering. Riley closed her eyes, unable to continue looking at him. 

“We have a son. His name is William. He is two years old.” Riley blurted out quickly. 

Liam was stunned. Rendered speechless. His head was spinning as he looked into her eyes. He swallowed thickly, not sure what to say. 

“Liam, say something,” Riley pleaded. 

“We have a son,” Liam said, his voice barely a whisper. 

“Yes,” Riley said softly. “I am so, so sorry I didn’t tell you. I wanted to, but it was never the right time.” 

Liam took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. 

“I know it’s a lot to take in, and I don’t expect you to be okay with it. But I wanted you to know the truth. It was wrong for me to keep it from you.” 

“...but I was scared. So scared of what would happen if I stayed in Cordonia. Of what Madeleine would do. Of what that would do to your reputation.” 

Liam sat back on the sofa, his gaze not leaving Riley's face.

"I understand why you would feel like you had to do that, Riley. I'm not mad at you," Liam said, his heart heavy. 

"How are you feeling?" she asked, concerned. 

"Honestly? Confused, hurt, a little angry," Liam admitted. 

"I'm so sorry, Liam," Riley said, her voice breaking. 

"Riley, I just need some time to process this." 

"I understand," Riley said softly. 

"Do you want to meet him? William, I mean," she asked. 

"Yes," Liam said, his voice choked with emotion. “Very much." 

Riley stood up and walked down the hall. Liam followed her and stopped when they reached a door covered in brightly colored stickers.  

Sleeping on his side, wrapped in a blue blanket, William slept hugging his Scooby-doo plushie. 

Liam's heart swelled with emotion. He knelt beside his bed; eye-level with the little boy.  

“This is your son, Liam. William.” 

“My son.” He slowly repeated.  

Riley's lip trembled, watching his emotions starting to overtake him. “I'm going to leave you alone with him... if that is OK. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."

"Thank you, Riley."

She squeezed his hand and then quietly left the room.

As Liam looked at the child sleeping before him, a whirlwind of emotions washed over him. Pride, love, regret, sadness, all vied for a place in his heart. But most of all, he felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness and responsibility. This boy, his son, was a gift. Liam would do everything in his power to make sure he was safe and loved. 

Liam leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on the boy's forehead.

"I love you, William," he whispered. "I will always be there for you."

With tears streaming down his cheeks, Liam made a silent vow:

No matter what, he would do right by his son.

Thanks for reading 🫶

📌All fics & edits: @ao719 @txemrn @queenmiarys @sfb123 @twinkleallnight @alj4890 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @harleybeaumont @busywoman @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @imjusthereforliam @lovingchoices14 @kyra75 @tinkie1973 @emkay512 @malblk21 @kristinamae093 @charlotteg234

📌TRR/TRF Liam & Riley @irisk12 @thesvnsins @walkerdrakewalker @jared2612

📌Turning the Page: @emersyn-in-cordonia @mainstreetreader @belencha77 @iluaaa @mysticalfangirl @queenwalton @bascmve01 @umccall71 @choicesfrog @amandablink

📌Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @choicesflashfics