#*we were acquaintances three hours ago now we are friends

[maddy-ferguson]

failed my driving test twice, no actual friends in college, applied to a cool thing and was rejected, no bitches...thank god i'm seeing goodfellas in theaters in a few days because what do i have going for me rn

[notjanine]

it’s ten am and i’ve already worked out gone grocery shopping petted a stray cat and met an acquaintance* for a ~3 mile hike there is no mental illness in this body

[autumnleaves1991-blog]

Can't Take the Home out of Oklahoma (Javi Rivera x F! Reader)

A/N: Thank you to everyone that read We Found Love in a Tornado, this is a continuation of that. I also have another part already written and ready to post! I also recommend listening to Out of Oklahoma by Lainey Wilson while reading this. I had it on repeat the whole time I wrote it.

Pairing: Javi Rivera x F! Reader (Kate's Sister) *No physical descriptions besides mentioning younger sister.

Warnings: 18 + Language, angst, some sexual situations (no smut..yet), and movie spoilers.

“I lost three of my best friends so you could get your big grant money!” Javi shouts at Kate and she takes a step back like he’d struck her. His hands are still shaking as he replays the words over and over like a broken record. “Shit, Kate, I-”

Kate pushes past you and runs towards the white truck and you don’t hesitate to follow. “Baby,” Javi follows close behind running to keep up, “no, please don’t go.” 

“No Javi,” you stop holding up your hands, “that was too far, give her some space.” 

He freezes, tears tracking through the dirt staining his cheeks. But you leave, climbing in the passenger seat beside your sister and taking off into the night. Kate is silent, her knuckles bright white with how hard she is clenching the wheel and you slip off your boots and lean back closing your eyes. 

“You don’t have to go with me, you know,” she whispers, her eyes still on the road. 

You sit up slowly opening your eyes. “I’m not letting you go again,” you reach a hand out and leave it outstretched before her own holds on tight across the center console. “We Carter girls got to stay together. Let me know when we get there.” 

Kate huffs out a broken laugh, “And where are we going?” 

“You can’t take the home out of Oklahoma, Katie, you’ll know when you get there,” she squeezes your hand but doesn’t let go and you lean back closing your eyes. 

Several hours pass before the truck slows down and you blink away the sleep, the old farmhouse a friendly site. You sit up, look at Kate with a small smile, and follow her out of the truck, finding the spare key and entering the house. 

Everything is as you left it and you quickly find two glasses and fill them with water from the jug in the fridge. “Mama, it’s us,” Katie calls when a shadow moves in the doorway, her arms opening for us. 

“My girls,” she embraces us and presses a kiss to our head, before looking at our disheveled appearance and the blood drying on Kate’s cheek. “What happened to you?” 

“Nothing,” Kate shakes her head, “we just needed to come home.”

“You go take a shower, I’ll get you some extra clothes and clean up the bedroom,” Mama hurries towards the stairs. 

“You shower first,” you hold Kate’s hand and follow mom up the stairs, “you stink.” Kate smiles sadly before giving you a playful shove. 

“If I knew you girls were coming, I would have had the room all set up,” Mama tosses shirts and magazines into a box before putting it on the bed with a sigh. “What happened out there?” 

“We survived an EF4,” she covers her mouth, “barely to be honest. If it weren’t for Kate we’d probably be dead. Javi and Tyler covered us from the brunt of the damage.” 

“Javi? He came by a few months ago looking for you two. And isn’t Tyler your boss?” 

“Yeah, he is. He’s a really great guy, and absolutely losing his mind over Kate.” 

“No, he is not,” Kate blushes coming into the room and ringing out her hair with the towel, “we’re just acquaintances. If you want to talk about someone losing their mind it’s Javi! He ran into a Tornado and confessed his love for you live on camera.” 

“He did what now?” Mama looks between you two, before crossing her arms with a smirk, “I am going to have to see this video.” 

“Tomorrow,” you tell her, “I promise you can see the video tomorrow. Tonight he’s on my shit list.” You walk away towards the shower, stripping off your clothes. 

“Uh oh,” Mama calls, “trouble in paradise?” 

“You tell her,” you shout at Kate before getting in the shower and washing off the dirt and grime from the day. When you emerge Mama is gone and Kate is snuggled under the covers of the queen size bed of her former bedroom. 

“Do you need anything?” you ask her, tugging on the clothes Mama left at the end of the bed. Kate doesn’t say anything, just pulls back the cover with a raised brow. You don’t hesitate crawling into the bed beside her and flicking out the light. “You okay?” you whisper, turning to face her.

“No,” she shakes her head, “Javi was right. They died because I got it wrong. I killed them.” 

You reach over and pull her into your arms, letting her cry against your chest, her arms wrapped tight around your waist. “Listen to me, Katie,” you whisper when her cries slow, brushing her hair out of her face, “it was a horrible tragedy. And there is nothing you did that could change that. That storm took everything from you, when are you going to stop letting it?” 

Kate is quiet contemplating your words and eventually sleep claims you both. Two sisters, holding on to one another, weathering the storm. 

The next morning comes too soon, the sun streaming through the window and the roosters crowing at the first break of daylight. Mama moves around the house and the scent of coffee floats up the stairs, and you crawl out from under Kate and slip silently down the stairs. 

“I LOVE YOU!” you hear Javi shout from the kitchen and come around the corner to see Mama sitting at the table with her laptop and a cup of coffee. A hand pressed to her mouth as she watches the moment Javi literally ran through a storm to follow you. 

She presses the keyboard and looks up at you, “that’s got to be the most damn romantic thing I’ve ever seen. And I watch alot of hallmark movies.” 

You snort, “thanks, mama. I feel pretty lucky to be on the same level as hallmark.” The coffee is fresh and you prepare the cup and bring it over to the table, “I wish we could just live in that moment.” 

“Why? Is he not treating you right?” 

“No, he is. And I do really love him, but he hurt Katie. And his company Storm Par while built with good intentions are taking advantage of people’s tragedy.” 

“Sounds like something you need to talk about with him,” she sips her coffee and reaches a hand out to hold your own. “Javi is a good man, he’s really grown since he first came around here. And I can tell by that video that he really loves you. You’ll figure everything out.” Mama rises, kissing the top of your head before walking out the front door to muck and feed the cows. 

You sit there, drinking another two cups of coffee before Kate stumbles down the stairs dressed for the day. You switch places, giving her a cup before climbing back up the stairs to get dressed. When you’re finished you follow her out to the barn and sit back watching her go through the memories and the grief that follows. 

Neither of you notice the sound of a truck pulling up until the barn door opens and Tyler and Javi walk through the door followed by our smirking mama. “Seems like you two have some guests,” she looks between the four of you, seeing the variety of expressions. “I’m gonna make some lunch, the boys are staying.” She doesn’t ask, retreating to leave the four of you in silence. 

Kate sighs rubbing her head, “what are you doing here?” 

“Javi here gave me your address, Dex remembered your name from an article a few years back,” Tyler steps toward her, “I’m real sorry about your friends.” 

“And I was an asshole,” Javi's voice cracks, “I should never have said that, Kate. I hope you’ll be able to forgive me.” 

“There’s nothing to forgive, it’s the truth. I killed them,” Kate lowers her head fidgeting with her fingers, “but-I am tired of letting that storm take anything else away from me.” 

“Can we have a moment?” Javi looks between you and Tyler, and you look to Kate who nods at you. You follow Tyler out of the barn but not before Javi reaches for your arm and pulls you into his chest, snaking his arms around your waist. “When I’m done here don’t think you’re getting away with leaving me again.” 

You nod, squeezing him tight before following behind and closing the barn door. Mama stands against the fence acting like she hasn’t been listening the whole time and you laugh. 

“That fence seems real interesting mama,” you tease giving her a hug from behind. 

“Tyler,” she turns, wrapping you up in her arms, “you’ve been taking my baby into Tornados for two years and we haven’t met, how is that possible?” 

“I’m not sure ma’am but I think you may be seeing a lot more of me.” Tyler looks back at the barn doors before turning back around, “hopefully.” 

“Why don’t you stay the night? We have plenty of extra space.” Mama holds you tight as you go to protest, effectively shutting you up. “I insist, both you and Javi can spend the night.” 

Tyler beams, “thank you ma’am, sounds like a wonderful offer.” 

“Perfect, I’ll go make some lunch!” 

Tyler waits a moment before chuckling at the embarrassed expression on your face. “She seems real friendly,” he teases. 

“Nosey is more like it,” you grumble before cracking a smile, “but she means well.” 

“How are you holding up?” He asks, leaning on the fence beside you, “that was one hell of a twister.” 

“I think the twister was rather mild compared to the rage I felt when Javi yelled at Kate.” 

Tyler lifts a brow, “you’ve kinda jumped ship with everything regarding your sister. I remember a few days ago you being so angry to see her.” 

“That was before I knew, before I really understood…how broken she is.” You glance up to see Tyler already looking at you, “my sister lost everyone she cared about. I remember thinking Jeb was the one she was going to marry someday. They loved each other so much.” 

You sit there silent before the creaking of the barn door has you standing up straight, Javi making a beeline to you. “She’s all yours,” Javi tells Tyler, clapping him on the back as the other man all but runs into the barn. 

Javi stands before you, your arms crossed over your chest and a frown on your face. “Baby-“ he starts before you step forward and shove him, hard. 

“That’s for what you said to Kate,” you feel the tears burn, shoving him again, “and that’s for being an asshole.” 

“I deserve that,” he says quietly, resigned. “You done pushing me, baby?” You nod, brushing the tears off your cheeks and he holds up his hands, “can I hold you?” 

“Yes,” he doesn’t hesitate for a second. 

His arms are warm and you can feel the muscles as he tugs you into his chest, your head landing in the crook of his neck. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers, pressing kisses to your head, “I’m so sorry for saying that. I-I was just angry and hurt and scared and I took it out on you and Kate.” 

“I was scared too, Javi,” you hold him tighter, “I almost had you ripped away from me, literally. We almost died in that pool, all of us. And then the second we get out, Scott is there trying to make money off of that motel owner. I just lost my mind.” 

“I know,” he rests his head against you, “I got to figure a way out of this. I really needed the money for the start up, but not like this.” 

“We’ll figure it out,” he pulls back to look down at you. 

“We?” he smiles. 

“Yes, we. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” 

“I don’t know about that. I was unprepared for how much it would hurt to see my whole life drive off in my truck.” 

You cringe, “sorry about that. We did kind of leave you stranded.” 

“You had every reason,” he shakes his head pulling you back into his chest, “I was a major asshole.” 

“Yeah,” you chuckle, “you were.” 

He laughs, tickling your side, “hey! I said I was sorry.” 

You squirm trying to move away but he holds you tighter, both of you laughing, the stress from the last 48 hours melting in his arms. “I forgive you.” He sags in relief, before leaning down to press a kiss to your lips, your arms winding around his neck. The kiss turning more passionate with every second. 

“That is going to take some getting used too,” you jump apart with a yelp. Kate and Tyler standing in the doorway to the barn. “My best friend and my baby sister, gross.” 

“Oh hush,” you chastise teasingly, “imagine how I feel with my boss making goo goo eyes at my older sister, talk about gross.” 

“I do not make goo goo eyes,” Tyler puts his hands on his hips. 

“But you don’t deny you have feelings for her?” you challenge matching his stance. 

“Well I- “ Tyler shakes his head before sighing, “I can’t argue with you there.” 

Kate looks at him with wide eyes and opens her mouth to respond when Mama shouts from the front porch, “lunch is ready!” 

The conversation burns in their eyes and you look at Javi with a grin, pulling him towards the kitchen to help bring out the food. 

Mama has outdone herself, bringing out a plethora of bbq and sides for us to devour. The sweet tea flows and everyone smiles as they dig into the food. 

“So Javi,” Mama passes me the coleslaw, “what are your intentions with my youngest?” 

Javi chokes on his tea and you frantically pat his back and glare at your mama. He clears his throat, catching his breath and taking your hand, “Excuse me ma’am you caught me by surprise.” Mama grins, not looking the least bit sorry for almost killing your boyfriend. “I love her. I’m going to do my best to never let her forget that for the rest of her life. And in the future, if she’ll have me,” he meets your eyes, giving you a wink, “she’ll let me become Mr. Carter.” 

“Good,” Mama smiles, “and you,” she turns to Tyler. 

Tyler never falters, his smile in place as he looks at Kate, “maybe I can convince Kate to give me a second date. Since the first one was interrupted.” 

“That was not a date,” Kate argues. 

“Okay,” he nods, “then a first date. We can start there.” 

“How about you go tonight?” Mama smiles, looking at the four of you, “take her line dancing.” 

“Mama,” Kate chastises, “I’m not ready.”

“No time like the present, Katie,” Mama stands lifting the plates and walking towards the house. 

“We don’t have too,” Tyler places a gentle hand on her arm, “I just want to spend some time with you.” 

Kate looks at him grateful, “thank you.” 

“What about you?” Javi looks at you with a smile, “want to go line dancing?” 

“You want to go line dancing?” Your brows reach the ceiling as you look at him. 

“Or,” he looks at Kate and Tyler, “how about we dance here?” He stands holding out his hand, “milady?” 

“There’s no music,” you stay seated looking for your sister for backup. 

“I got it,” Tyler pulls his phone from his pocket and pulls up the Spotify app. “Here we go,” he turns up the volume, Ain’t in Kansas Anymore by Miranda Lambert blaring out of the small speakers.

“Come on baby,” Javi moves his hips back and forth and you stay in your spot watching him with wide eyes. “Tyler buddy, come help me out!” 

Tyler jumps up with a cheer and as the chorus breaks they start dancing, their fingers in the air as they twirl their finger in Tyler’s signature move. Kate laughs beside you, quickly covering her mouth as they move to the beat, spinning to give you their backs. 

“Come on girls,” Mama shocks you both, whipping around, “live a little.” 

“Shit,” Kate looks at you with a shrug, both of you scrambling to your feet to dance beside them. The four of you laugh through several songs, trying to keep up with the steps, Javi breaking off to pull you into his arms for a slow dance. Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson serenading you to Save Me.  

You rest your head on his chest as he sways you to the music. Kate and Tyler move closer together and he holds one of her hands and wraps the other around her waist. They’re stiff at first before Tyler flashes her a smile and she melts into his arms. 

“I meant every word,” Javi whispers and you lift your head to look at him, hands pressed to his chest and his hands low on your hips. “I love you, baby. And I’m gonna spend the rest of my life trying to prove it to you.” 

“When did you know?” his eyes soften as he thinks back. 

“When you came and tapped me out.” 

“That long?” You shake your head, “we’ve wasted so much time.” 

“What about you?” 

“After the EF5,” you close your arms and lean against his chest, “I just remember running into the hospital and seeing you standing there. And my heart stopped.” His hands run comfortingly on your back, “I’ve never been so scared in my entire life.” 

“I know,” he tightens his arms around you, “I felt so numb to everything and then you come barreling into me. Almost took me to the ground,” he chuckles, “I should have realized it then.” He shakes his head, “I’m sorry it took me so long.” 

“We both made mistakes,” you open your eyes and pull back, “the main thing now is that we’re together and nothing is gonna tear us apart.” 

He leans down and kisses you, wrapping his arms around your waist. The music fades and for a moment nothing exists besides the two of you. His lips are warm and soft and he groans tugging you closer till you’re flush against each other. His tongue moves out to flick against your lips and you open your mouth on a moan tugging his curls between your fingers. 

“Javi,” you whimper, feeling him hard against you and leaving you dripping. 

When you come up for air you notice the music gone and so are Tyler and Kate. “Do you wanna move this inside?” he whispers against your lips. 

“God yes,” you sigh, “but I would rather the first time we have sex not be in my childhood bedroom.” 

He chuckles, his voice deep and raspy, “understood. But,” he leans down lowering his voice to whisper in your ear, “but I am going to make love to you baby, and soon. I’m gonna taste every inch of this body and have you shaking beneath me, till I make you cum so hard you see stars.” 

“Fuck, Javi,” you grind against him, your panties drenched, “you can’t say shit like that to me.” 

He chuckles holding your hips and pushing you back a step, “down girl,” he teases, “you’re trying to climb me like a tree.” He laughs when you pout, “you’re the one that didn’t wanna have sex in your childhood bedroom. You worried Justin Timberlake would be jealous?” 

“Don’t insult Justin,” you glare, “he’s been with me a long time.” 

He holds up his hands in surrender with a smile, “okay, I’m sorry. I’ll never speak ill of Justin again.” 

“You better not,” you warn playfully, “or there could be trouble.”

He reaches for you, putting an arm around your shoulders and leading you into the house. When you’re outside Kates room he gives you a soft kiss, his lips lingering for a moment before he whispers, “love you,” against your lips before going into the room, mama set up for him earlier. 

“I love you,” you whisper back, going into the room and closing the door quietly behind you. 

“I thought you’d spend the night with him,” Kate says softly from the bed, “I wouldn’t blame you.” 

You quickly change into your pajamas before crawling into bed beside Kate and pulling her into your arms, “I’m happy right here.” 

Kate feels tense, her shoulders tight, “Tyler wants me to try again,” she whispers into the darkness. “He found my research and wants me to try again to tame a tornado.” 

“And what do you want to do?” 

“I want their death to mean something,” your shirt dampens from her tears and you rub her back. “I want to try again but I’m-“ her voice cracks, “I’m so scared of getting it wrong again.” 

“Only you can decide Katie,” you give her a squeeze, “but I can guarantee one variable that’s different this time.” 

“What’s that?” 

“Tyler Owens. He is the tornado wrangler, and heaven help anything that tries to take you away from him. Trust him, he won’t let you down.” 

Kate contemplates, her shoulders dropping as she melts into you and it only takes a moment for her to breathe to even out. You sit there and wonder how long it’s been since she slept so peacefully, and you tug her closer before falling asleep. 

@angryschnauzer @itspdameronthings @mars-interlude @its-breanna-lynn @waitingforsols @combat-sixty-three @phoenixhalliwell @littledragonlady @wunder-blunder @

[daydreamingmia]

First Day on Set🌊🔱

Walker Scobell X Reader | Series | You Belong With Me🔱 Part 1

A/n: Sorry, I didn't re-read the story, so there might be spelling errors.

Y/n's bio: The reader is just a few weeks younger than Walker. She got her start on Good Luck Charlie as Charlie. But Taylor Swift discovered her musically. She has released three record-breaking albums so far. Once Taylor took her under her wing, things were never the same. Not that you didn't like it. You loved it!! But sometimes the paparazzi can be annoying. Especially when your best friends are huge stars.

When she gets the part of Annabeth in Percy Jackson, she becomes best friends with the cast. Especially her co-star, Walker Scobell. But will they become more than just friends?

The alarm clock goes off and you look over to see it is 7 am.

You groan as you turn it off

"Come on y/n! We are going to be late!"

You hop out of bed as your remembered what day it was. Today was the first day of filming Percy Jackson! You have loved Percy Jackson since you were very little and you were so excited to play Annabeth! You hop out of bed and rush to get dressed.

This is just the first thing I found on pinterest

(You can change it if you'd like)

By the time you are ready it is 7:35. You run out to the car and jumped in. Then you saw a text from the group. You have gotten very close to all of them in the last few months. Especially Walker.

Camp Halfblood GC

Walker🔱: Y/n! You were supposed

to be here 20 minutes ago! Are

you still asleep?🙄🙄🙄

Aryan🐐: Oh no! The monsters got y/n!!😱😱

Y/n: I just fought one off!! I'm on my way now!!

Y/n: I just fought one off!! I'm on my way now!!

Walker🔱: On second thought

maybe don't come here. 😬

Y/n: She says she'll let me live

if I tell her where Walker is hiding.

Walker🔱: What?!

Y/n: I'm on my way!! She let me go😁

Walker🔱: Oh no! You are the one

who is gonna betray me 😱😱

Y/n:🤣🤣🤣

Y/n: I'm pulling in now.

Walker🔱: Cool. You want some Chick fil a? I'm ordering delivery.

Y/n: YES PLEASE!!!😁

××FLASHBACK××

You and the cast of Percy Jackson were going to a Party to meet one another.

You get out of the car and are half way there when you realize you forgot your phone.

"Ugh! Mom I forgot my phone ill run back and meet you there."

She nidded

You were running back when you ran into someone.

"Hey!" He said jokingly as you both fell to the ground.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't look where I was going!" You apologized

"Don't worry about it!" He said with a chuckle as he stood up and offered you his hand. You took it and he pulled you up

"Hey aren't you that girl from Avengers?" He asked

"Please to make your acquaintance." You said in a funny voice bowing

You both laugehd

"Y/c/n is such a badass!"

You talked for a little but then parted way so you could get your phone.

××END FLASHBACK××

When you got to set you parking in your marked spot and went to your trailer to meet your hair and makeup artists(Gina and Natalie). They were very nice and sat you down as you got to know each other.

Walker walked in with Chick Fil A and sat next to you.

"I got you a cookies and cream milkshake too" He said sitting down I the seat next to you.

"Thank you!! Your makeup is done already?" You asked while grabbing the milkshake he was taking a sip out of.

"IT WAS DONE AN HOUR AGO! YOU WERE LATE!" He screamed and you both laughed.

You take a picture of him and the food and post it.

The first scene you did was the bathroom scene.

You were talking with Dior when the director yelled action. You got yourself into character.

"I can explain" Walker said nervously

"No you can't" I replied

"Okay. Wait...I know you dont I?"

"No you don't" I replied channeling my inner Annabeth

"You were there that night in the infirmary"

"Yes. I'm Annabeth"

"Are you stalking me Annabeth?"

"Yes" I say like it's totally normal

"Okay" He said caught off guard

"Well, I've been waiting to see if something like this would happen so I know if you can help me"

"Help you do what?"

"Win capture the flag of course"

The director yelled cut and Walker walked up to you dripping wet

"Hey great job! You were born to play Annabeth!" He said as you backed away from him

"What's wrong?" He asked a little confused

"I don't want to get wet" you said continuing to set back

"Well in that case..." He said with a mischievous grin in his face

He then lunged forward and had you in and bear hug and was spining you.

The hug you didn't mind but now you were covered in water too.

"WALKER! PUT ME DOWN!" You demand

"Fine" He said putting you down

"That's what you get for eating my nuggets" He said with a fake stern face

"I hate you! You said looking at how soaked you were.

"You love me" He said with a smile

"I do" you sighed

A/N: This is my first attempt at fanfiction!! I hope you like it!

[maxipad031]

i want you (18+)

synopsis: you’re an arising model with a crush on the queen of wakanda that has finally manifested itself, and you catch her attention at the royal ball where the most important people attend. you, being from the river tribe happen to be born into one of those important families and you finally let shuri know how much you’ve been craving her, unaware she’s felt the same for maybe even longer than you have…

ubusuku obuhle - good evening, sthandwa - my love

contains: smut, shuri x black female reader, fingering, grinding, cunnilingus <3

picture on right for dress reference, song recommended below, lower case intended, enjoy x

finally, here you were, at 5pm, in your baba’s beautiful vibranium enriched vehicle, taking you from the river tribe city to the most important ceremony of the season. of course, you couldn’t hold your excitement as you saw the vast golden gates open at your arrival, signifying that you were in the golden tribe territory, which was a feeling you couldn’t get over. meanwhile, your mum and dad rambled on in the front about the tragedy that was the recent death of queen ramonda. “she was the best queen we ever had, wakanda will greatly suffer from this.” your dad uttered, before turning the wheel swiftly to the right as he drove down to the semi-full parking space. the whole country tilted sideways after the news and you couldn’t help but think about how the princess- no, queen shuri was feeling after also having lost her brother to an unknown disease.

“y/n darling, you can come out now.” your mum announced joyously, as she packed her handbag. you didn’t even realise the car had stopped as you were so deep in your daydreaming,

“y/n darling, you can come out now.” your mum announced joyously, as she packed her handbag. you didn’t even realise the car had stopped as you were so deep in your daydreaming,

“yes mother.” you said hurriedly, as you undid ur seatbelt, carried your purse and opened the car door, closing it securely behind you. it took you three months to plan what you were going to wear for this day but it wasn’t even that amazing. you wore a blue dress that had cuts on the side which exposed some of your midriff as well as your back. moreover, it was sleeveless and exposed your upper torso, showing off your clean cut collarbones that fit your bone structure nicely. a large aureate necklace made from pure vibranium hung down your neck, complimenting your outfit in all its glory. you also wore some expensive golden heels that made you just a slight bit taller, but not too much. earlier, you had gone for a long hair appointment where they straightened your puffy 4c hair but also curled it, so it was like a 90s girls style which perfectly suited your facial features; it was no surprise as to why you appeared in many front pages of wakanda magazines, you were perfect model material.

“my daughter is so beautiful, you’ll definitely have all the men after you.” your mum complimented as she nudged your side, smiling from ear to ear as she looked and examined your stunning outfit.

“ah, that’s a stretch ma..” you smiled, rubbing your arm nervously. she never failed to make you feel good about yourself which is one of the reasons why she was one of your best friends.

“come on, oya chuku let’s go inside!” she excitedly says, calling my dad as he finally leaves the car. there aren’t much people outside which is understandable because it’s quite cold and the ball started an hour ago which means you were a bit late.

The three of you hurriedly went inside, bouncers at the door stop carefully scammed your invitation and once it was received as valid, the doors they guarded opened, revealing a literal paradise. the place was huge and you knew nothing but hard work went into building it. images on the walls explained their magical stories and exquisite artwork displayd themselves proudly. people dressed in wakandan attire bustled about, taking in their share of the surreal scenery. afrobeats blared in your ears from all directions, but the beats were so catchy and dance worthy, you couldn’t help but move your hips a little. you were so busy in your own world that you didn’t see your parents go off without you to talk to the elders. there wasn’t a lot of people there but it was enough to give you anxiety as you saw people eyeing you with looks of envy but also somewhat admiration? you were quite well known due to your popularity in the modeling industry but honestly you didn’t care, you just wanted to see…her.

the dora milajae stood around the room in a neat unified order, with their tall spears in hand, ready to handle any disruptions. their presence was formidable and reassured everyone’s safety; wakandan military was no joke at all. carefully, you roamed around the vicinity, finding the next best interesting thing. there were bars with any drink you could possibly think off as well as the lovely aroma of sweet bread and the notorious jollof rice. you weren’t hungry as you’d previously had some takeaway but you were killing for a drink, an alcoholic drink. your parents never let you drink any sort of alcoholic beverage as they strongly believed it was “bad for your soul”. obviously, they were superstitious as hell but you turned 20 two months ago and you’ve never drank before; you needed to have your share of fun right? with full confidence, you began your indirect journey to the bar ahead as you weaved in and out of people. before you could get there though, the loud sound of spears hitting the ground caused your body to jolt in shock as your eyes darted around the room in panic as to what was going on.

“haha, you’re as nimble as ever.” a familiar voice says out of nowhere from your left.

“kaya?” you questioned as you turned around, seeing your best friend walking up to you quite excitedly.

“yes bitch it’s me!” kaya squealed, hugging you tightly, “but we have to listen i think the queen is coming out now.” she said quietly after standing by your side as she pointed at the empty performance stage. you were happy about her arrival because at least you weren’t alone but upon hearing that, your heart started to race with anticipation as everyone in the ball room went hushed.

you felt your heart begin to swell as you waited; you don’t know why she made you feel such butterflies, but it was undeniably there, nestling within your chest.

all of a sudden, a cascade of claps roared up and you watched carefully as the queen of wakanda walked with confidence to the middle of the stage. you’re pretty sure your jaw physically dropped as soon as you saw her but you quickly put yourself together, looking around to make sure no one saw. queen shuri wore a black suit with crystal embezzles on the sides joining together at the back, as well as silver rings that perfectly snuggled around her slender fingers. she had recently shaved off her hair, leaving her with a buzz cut which did nothing but make her even more attractive for no reason. she wore black heels that perfectly complimented the outfit and made her even taller than she already was. she stood in the centre of stage, taking in the crowd of people below her as if she was mentally preparing what she was about to say.

“damn, she’s handsome as shit, right y/n.” kaya muttered shamelessly, looking at you for a reaction. you’d told her first about your infatuation with shuri and she wasn’t even the slightest bit surprise. she was a living embodiment of your type and kaya did believe you could actually pull it off. you turned to her, beaming widely as you nodded profusely to her comment. you looked back up at shuri and you swore you caught her looking at you but it was just for a split second before she cleared her throat and started to speak to her guests.

“ubusuku obuhle, thank you everyone for coming tonight,” she greeted, her accent thick with the dialect of wakanda, “as you all know i’ve been bethroned with the title of queen and i can assure you that i am determined to fulfill that duty as much as i can. wakanda is one of the most powerful nations in the world that my mother gave everything to and even though it’s almost impossible to walk in her noble footsteps, i want to be able to give my people all i can provide and make wakanda a better place for everybody.”

everyone in the crowd was solemn with the reminder of the queen ramonda, but nodded in agreement to shuri’s speech. they held nothing but trust for her and knew that she’d lead wakanda in the right direction.

you loved the way she spoke, with such intellect and passion that always managed to diffuse its way to everyone she talks to. her voice was almost like a lullaby that you’d sleep to but her words held such weight that never failed to impact you. although right now, everything she was saying was coming in one end and out the other as you stared longingly at her satisfying face, wishing to just smother it with kisses you know?

soon, she was done speaking and it had finished with the sea of claps again, even whistling making its way through the noise. she’d disappeared back behind the black curtains once again but you wish she’s come back and just blabber a little bit more so you could hear her sweet voice infest you ears. you mentally scolded your mind to stop having weird thoughts but it never really stopped. missing her already, you sighed and turned to kaya who was already waving at somebody she knew like the social butterfly she is.

“hey y/n, i’m going to go talk to him for a second, i’ll be back don’t worry!” kaya said, walking to a guy from the jibari tribe that she definitely liked.

“okay, don’t get pregnant, abeg.” you pleaded with fake concern. she laughed and flipped you off as she walked away. you internally smiled at her rather vulgar action but scoped your surroundings once again.

“oh yeah, my drink!” you remembered, throat parched even more as shuri took away all the last moisture left. you walked slowly, careful to not fall down in your heels and embarrass yourself. finally, you got there but were surrounding by people gisting and gossiping about god knows what. you catch the attention of the bartender, letting him now what you want.

“hey, may i have a dry martini?” you asked, remembering kaya had once told you to try it out other than the fact you have no knowledge of any alcoholic drinks.

“sure m’aam, do you have id?” he asked, waiting patiently for a reply.

you stopped, “uh…let me check.” fuck.

you hated situations like this. you faked checking inside your purse, knowing damn well your id was sitting on your dresser at home right now.

“fun fact, i actually left it at home, i’m 20 though.” you said, dropping your bag in a huff and hoping that would slide.

“no, i’m sorry you look younger, i need id.” he insisted, tapping his hand on the bar as other people behind you waited o order a drink too.

“shit, okay whatever never mind, it’s okay.” you said, waving your hand in dismissal as you exited the line. you didn’t know whether to take what he said as a compliment or an insult. bummed, you were about to walk away until you felt two hands grip your shoulders, pulling you back into your original position. annoyed, you look up to who had the audacity to touch you right now, when you were met with the last person you expected to see at this moment.

queen shuri?!?

your face immediately softened from the angry expression as she looked at you warmly with a bright smile, as if she’d known you for decades. your soul exited your body and buried itself out onto another planet as you couldn’t believe what you were seeing. surprised was an underestimate, you were bewildered, shocked, perplexed, all the above. you didn’t even have time to react as she shifted to talk to the bartender.

“put the dry martini on me, she’s actually my close friend and i can confirm she is of age, but thank you for taking your job seriously.” she bowed her head slightly as a sign of respect and the guy reciprocated.

“of course my queen, i’m sorry.” he apologized, heading to the back to whisk up the drink for you.

yes, your mouth was physically agape this time but the burning sensation of her hands still on your shoulders made your mind wonder into places you didn’t know it could. you side eyed her and slowly turned so your faces met once again before you looked away like a timide hamster.

“hello to you too.” she said with that raspy voice laced with her wakandan dialect. her hands finally left your shoulders and she turned her body to face you. you didn’t mean to be disrespectful or anything but you literally couldn’t formulate words right now, all your communication skills evaporated; you just stared at her.

she let out a little laugh, “ah, most people bow to me like 50 times but i guess you just like to stare.” she said jokingly, as she looked down at you from her overbearing height. as if clapped out of a trance, you stood straight and tilted your head forewards, “queen shuri, sorry for my manners.” you were trying your hardest to conceal your panic but it was probably quite obvious to shuri.

“no need for that, just call me shuri, it’s okay.” she said reassuringly, turning around to look at the landscape of the busy ball. people stared in awe at her and her aura was so powerful you could almost feel it; you couldn’t help but feel so inferior being this close next to her.

“what do you think, is it nice?” she asked, looking at you intently for an answer.

you gathered courage to look up at her but it immediately shriveled up as you met her hooded brown orbs, full of so much sincerity it was unreal.

“i think it’s beautiful, you did an amazing job which is obviously no surprise.” you replied, slowly gaining your confidence back.

“haha, you flatter me y/n.”

…what

how did she know your name? you stared up at her in confusion as you heard your name emitted from her loud and clear. she shifted her gaze to you, seeing your surprised expression, “you forget you’re kind of famous in wakanda right, you're on almost every magazine i see.” shuri explained with a smirk.

ah..

“yes, oh yes you’re right, i often forget that im perceived by other people.” you nervously chuckle, looking everywhere but her.

“you look amazing in them though, you could go global to be honest, your visuals are unreal.” she uttered in a quite sensual manner, turning her body to face you once again with her elbow propped against the bar; rizz overload. you could feel her eyes on you, maybe checking you out, but you couldn’t be too sure because you certainly weren’t looking up at her.

“that’s too large of a compliment, i doubt it.” you say, hands getting clammy as you fiddled with your bracelets trying your best not to freak the fuck out.

what do you do when the queen of fucking wakanda basically calls you hot?

yeah, i thought so.

"i could talk to your agents, work something out." she suggested, adjusting her suit like she wants to attract girls.

shit, fuck she was so sexy.

you coughed, trying to escape the thoughts swirling around ur head, “oh wow, that would be amazing my queen.” you smirked and bowed again almost teasing her.

“i told you to not do that.” she reprimanded and with a swift motion, she took your hand in hers, her soft palms enveloped with yours as she pulled you closer with her infamous smirk. her other hand snaked to the side of your waist and her face came close to your ear, her breath tickling the outside of it ever so slightly. you felt like you were about to explode, the pure charm this woman possessed was inhumane. however, your moment was interrupted by the cough behind you both, signifying your drink was ready; you lowkey forgot about it.

“oh, right thank you very much.” you quickly turned around quite embarrassed and formally bowed at the bartender as you took your dry martini, taking a careful sip.

shuri nodded at the man and turned her attention back to you, she watched as your face twisted in disgust as you swallowed some of the drink. it felt like hot iron just went down your throat and you don’t think you could ever get used to that. she couldn’t help but chuckle at your priceless expression.

“yeah, i can tell you don’t drink.” she commented, as you both walked along to the side to make space for others.

“yeah, this shit is nasty.” you said, swirling the drink in your hand, repulsed by the taste that was on your tongue a moment ago. yeah, you’re not drinking the rest of that so you stuck your hand out to try and give it to shuri.

“for me? aw, how nice but i don’t drink either thank you.” she cooed, kindly rejecting the poor dry martini as well.

damn, you two were more alike than you thought, i mean you never thought you’d get such a rare chance to be sharing a conversation with shuri to discover that but i guess you caught her attention.

she still took the glass from you and set it down upon a nearby table, holding eye contact with you the whole time.

the music was getting louder, the tension between the both of you thicker, you’re attraction to her growing as the seconds ticked away. as if she read your mind she asked, “do you want to leave, go somewhere more quiet?” her eyes bore into your soul as she stuck her hand out as an invitation for you to take it; what a gentlewoman.

you smiled, turning your head as you grew nervous but you ultimately accepted her hand and with that, the familiar feeling of her warm hands met yours and she led you both through the crowd. you had no idea where you were going but all you knew is that you were going to be alone with shuri, one on one, just you and her. peoples heads’ turned, eyes looked with curiosity since shuri was always the centre of attention so it was no surprise all eyes were on her. however, your social anxiety was going off the charts and you lowered your head in embarrassment. yes, you were used to it but not at the same time, you couldn’t explain it. there was a clear circle around you both as no one dared to interrupt the queen. curious as to where you were going, you looked up and saw kaya staring at you both wide eyed with a look of disbelief splattered across her face.

you mirrored her expression back and her face twisted into a smile, she mouthed, “you go girl!” as she lifted her fists in encouragement. you mouthed back, “thank you.” and waved goodbye at her as you continued to follow shuri who now had a tight grip on your hand as if letting go would cause something bad to happen. finally, she’d taken you behind the black curtain that she’d previously appeared from which hid the behind the scenes preparation for the ball. decorations hung loosely, tech people working on the lighting, some of the dora milaje guarding the rooms of the royal family. they saw you both but paid no attention as it wasn’t their business to know what the queen was up to, “here.” shuri’s voice was deeper as she pointed at a big noir coloured door infront of her. still holding your hand, she pushed it open with the other hand. the outer section lit up a bright purple as it recognized her handprints and let her in with ease. the technology in wakanda was insane and you knew it was due to shuri’s big brain power. the door opened to reveal a large room, quite modest in its aesthetic, large mirrors circled around the room, as it mimicked that of a walk in wardrobe. there was a long black couch situated in the corner where shuri led you to. her hand finally left yours as she sat down, moving some clothes to make some space for you.“i’m guessing this is your dressing room or something.” you said, still looking at each aspect of the place.

“mm, something like that.” shuri replied, shifting closer to you. you could tell she was feeling you right now but oh boy how she didn’t know how bad you wanted her to touch you all over-

“i’m gonna cut straight to the chase, i find you really attractive, and i anticipated your visit to the ball this evening.” shuri confessed, licking her two-toned lips flirtatiously as she said that. her voice remained deeper than before as she stared at you intensely for a reply. you were still shocked from the moment you met her but this was an opportunity of a lifetime and you weren’t going to waste it with your shy self.

“i’ll be so honest, i feel the same, i’ve wanted you ever since i saw.” you also confessed, mentally cringing at your words after you said them, but who cares, it was too late and she’d already heard them.

shuri didn’t reply to you, but a sly grin creeped upon her face as her piercing eyes averted from your face to your lap as her left hand moved to settle upon your exposed thigh from the slit in the dress, rubbing the smooth chocolate colored skin underneath. she looked back at you and she’s fixated on your glossy lips as her want for you grew uncontrollably.

yeah that’ll do it.

all the shyness in your body disappeared as you swiftly grabbed her face and looked at her lips as you hungrily joined them with yours. shuri deepened the kiss with equal needs as her hands desperately moved to touch what she can. you felt them carefully snake down to your ass and lightly squeeze it, which caused you to moan into her mouth. shuri used that as an opportunity to slip her tongue inside your mouth and you eagerly welcomed it as you moved closer to slightly grind yourself on her. the kiss went from soft and passionate to hungry and lustful as every touch felt like a spark of electricity coursing through your body, making you more horny than you already were; you could feel shuri smirking into the kiss as she knew how badly you wanted her. impatient as fuck, you arms laced themselves around shuri’s neck as her hands met your waist, pulling you closer as your fervent kiss was beginning to get more intense. shuri’s breath quietly hitched as you bit her lip, dragging your tongue over it slowly to soothe the pain it must’ve caused. with her superhuman black panther strength, shuri lifted you onto her lap where you accidentally broke the kiss due to your surprise.

you didn’t realise how much you needed air until you stopped kissing her but you just couldn’t get enough, if felt so fucking good.

“shit shuri, i want you so bad right now.” you whisper, against her now swollen lips, grinding your flexible hips down onto her lap as her large hands guided your movements. your hair stuck to your face that was being invaded with sweat as your body temperature increased. your cheeks had their fair share of melanin but they visibly blushed slightly red.

“mm, shh baby girl, let me make you feel good.” she lustfully whispered back, pulling your necklace and locking your lips together again. you were addicted to this feeling, like being high, but the drug was shuri. your blue dress had been lifted up to around your middle thighs as this was going on and shuri took this to her advantage as her slim fingers crawled up your dress to attend to the place you needed her the most.

your body felt like it was was ablaze and the air was thick and hot, almost suffocating. your kiss was beginning to get sloppier as the both of you tried to get every piece of each other. without hesistion, you undid shuri’s blazer button and took it off her lean torso revealing a black bralette under that hugged her chest nicely. she helped you take it off and threw it across the room, gripping your hips again as your lips were still attached like magnets.

eventually, shuri broke the kiss and her lips trailed down to your exposed neck where she attacked the melanin flesh, sucking and biting on the sensitive skin whilst teasing you under your dress touching everywhere but your pussy. everything shuri did was undoubtedly raising your libido levels and you didn’t ever think you could be so aroused; everyone you’d been with wasn’t able to make you feel this way. you raised your head up to allow her more access as lewd sounds and profanities spewed out of your mouth in response to her naughty antics. your hips moved on their own as you were desperate for any sort of friction. shuri could feel what you were doing and you jolted as you felt the pad of her two fingers press down gently on the outside of your pussy behind your panties. she peppered small kisses on your collarbones and chest which only heightened your desire; her foreplay game was unmatched.

“yes shuri, please touch me.” you alluringly pleaded, getting wetter with every aching second she wasn’t touching you.

“you don’t have to tell me twice y/n.” shuri moved you off her lap and laid you down onto the smooth couch below, spreading you out so she could see the beauty of all of you. you didn’t even care at this point, you just needed her in you.

shuri used three fingers to roughly move your white panties out of the way as she gently caressed the outside of your wet heat, a grin plastered on her face as your slickness soon started to coat them.

“you’re so wet for me baby.” shuri commented looking straight into your bambi eyes, enjoying the major effect she had on you.

you could see the smug look on your face, but your eyes were half-lidded and mouth slightly ajar as you nodded your head as permission for shuri to keep going. the speed at which she was circling your clit started to increase and your chest was rising and sinking quicker in response to the pleasure. shuri paused and your eyes flickered open as you wondered why she had stopped “can i pull this down?” she queried, referencing to the part of your dress covering you boobs. you profusely nodded as you desperately wanted her to continue. swiftly, she pulled it down and licked her lips like she just saw a 5 course meal. she admired the way your boobs perfectly sat on your torso, just looking so inviting. whilst still touching you, she leaned down and took your right nipple in her mouth, tongue swirling over it skillfully as she looked up at you to see your expression. you were looking at her but the eye contact along with the sensation of her fingers brushing along your clit and the feeling of her warm tongue on your sensitive nipple caused you to throw your head back, the titillating sensation becoming too much for you to handle, “ngh, yes shuri more fuck.”

shuri abruptly stopped sucking and moved up whilst leaning down besides you.

"you like that?" shuri whispered in her ear as she switched her focus to your pussy, rolling your swollen clit in between her fingers. the sentence equipped with her actions obviously ignited something in you as your melodic moans grew louder with your thighs starting to tremble. shuri laughed lowly and placed two agile fingers inside of you, meeting a bit of resistance.

you tensed and hissed at the stretch but then melted into it slowly as it started to progressively feel good. shuri then began to rapidly move her lanky fingers in and out of you as you began to writhe in pleasure,

"oh my god shuri, don't stop!" you begged, relishing in the way she was effortlessly fucking you.

your insides were warm and shuri’s shoulder muscles tensed as she searched to feel the rough and sensitive flesh for your g-spot. she seemed to have found it as you suddenly arched you back into shuri, gripping her muscular shoulders tightly and squeezing your eyes shut. you flung her head back once again as you felt a tight knot forming in your lower stomach; your orgasm was so close. shuri could tell by your wrinkled eyebrows and pleasure-filled face that continuing would make you soon cum so she quickly took her fingers out to do something else which made you jump and become upset from the sudden feeling of emptiness. however, you felt shuri slip your panties off fully and move lower, which made you immediately realize what was happening.

as expected, the ecstatic feeling was quickly replaced by shuri’s wet and warm tongue lapping up the slick stuck to the side of your thighs and using it to get lots of moisture on your now swollen clit.

you cried out, “shuri!”

shuri hummed in response, which resonated throughout your whole body and added to the buildup of your eventual release. shuri began to wildly suck on your throbbing pussy at a pace she knew would have you on edge in a matter of seconds. enjoying how sweet you tasted, she massaged your folds with her tongue and tasted every bit of you that she could. she looked up to see you looking at her through hooded eyes and she confidently kept the eye contact, which forced you to look away. although, you bucked your hips up to meet shuri’s quick tongue for maximum pleasure. your toes curled and you gripped the sofa to the point where there were indents of your long finger nails as you dragged it down harshly in reply to shuri’s amazing head abilities. your hands were lost and didn’t know where to go but ended up on shuri’s smooth shaven head as you pushed her down further into your pussy.

"argh shit, i'm really going to cum." your abdomen tensed as you gained awareness of the familiar feeling of your release brewing up. you tried to quell it since you didn't want this insane feeling to end already, but it was a struggle since shuri was being cruel and not letting up.

the atmosphere was doing nothing for shuri to subdue her own arousal.

"cum for me baby." shuri commanded in a hushed tone, licking your clit with the tip of her tongue slowly and blowing cool air on it to see how your body reacted to it.

your harmonious and lascivious voice rolling her name off the tip of her tongue was so stimulating to shuri and she could feel herself growing wetter too. the pure eroticism that emanated from the body beneath her was enough fuel for shuri to use and she reached up, trailing along your toned body that now had a thin layer of sweat, to find one of your small breasts that she had since neglected and it fit right in her hand like it was meant to be. she caressed it, while still working downstairs and fiddled the brown nub in between her fingers, which was the last straw and instantly drew you over the edge. with a loud squeal, you had finally reached your long awaited peak which caused you to occasionally spasm as the orgasm overwhelmed your body, making you sigh in pleasure, and slowly inch away from shuri since your sudden sensitivity just couldn't handle it anymore.

shuri, being the meanie she was, wasn't having it though and she wrapped her arms around the back of your shaking thighs, pulling you back into her firm grasp, "where do you think you're going? i'm not full yet."

she began to eat you out again with two hands nestled above your pubic bone. you knew how she won all those fights because the sheer strength she currently obtained was crazy as you literally couldn’t physically pull away from her.

"shuri...please." you whimpered, trying to tug her head away, not wanting to cum two times in a row in such a small amount of time.

shuri was really enjoying this though,

"you taste so good, i can't stop myself."

yet, she could see you on the verge of tears so she pushed her sadistic ways to the side for the moment and finally stopped to give you a break. she pulled her mouth away from your warm heat which was glistening from slick and some of her saliva. she gave it one last peck and then slowly climbed up to you and kissed you passionately in which you openly welcomed. the fact you were kissing her when she was just making out with your cunt was kind of dirty but really hot at the same time. she pulled your chin up with her hand and kissed you deeper, hands caressing your chest gently. you did the same and your hands wandered, exploring shuri’s body as you wished to touch her in the same way she just did to you. she gladly complied and let you do it but the moment was brought to a halt.

suddenly, you heard a very sharp knock on the door which caused you both to stop kissing as you jumped out of your skins. your head twisted to the door and then at shuri as you looked at her, in deep fear of you both being caught. she chortled at your expression and held a finger to her face to shush you.

frozen in position, you both waited for it to stop but it continued, harder this time.

“my queen, are you in there?”

“okoye?” shuri yelled out in a slightly annoyed tone due to her disruption and the fact she’s possible going to leave with blue balls.

“oh, you’re safe, thank bast.”

“why are you calling me, what’s wrong.” shuri asked as she picked up her abandoned blazer from the floor, wore it and began to button it up again. you did the same, pulling down your dress from your waist, and picking up your panties that had somehow found it’s way onto the floor. you wore them again and walked towards the mirror so you could properly see yourself.

“you’re needed in the ballroom to attend special guests.” she announced, “are you okay, should i come in?” she sounded worried but stern simultaneously.

“no, no! okoye it’s okay, i’ll be out in five minutes.” shuri replied calmly, watching you closely as you used the mirror to fix up your hair and outfit as if nothing just happened.

“okay, my queen.” okoye’s footsteps could be heard leaving the door and you both sighed in relief.

“fucking hell, that was close.” your heart was about to beat out of your chest as you held your face in your hands, laughing underneath them as the embarrassment of what you’d just done was coming back to you.

“i bet you liked the thrill though.” shuri walked up behind you, her arms gripping your waist as she pulled your ass into her crotch. you dodged her attempt to kiss your neck and playfully pushed her away, “whatever weirdo.”

she laughed and turned you around to face her, kissing your forehead sweetly, “i’m sorry we couldn’t continue sthandwa, but keep these and i’ll be in contact with you very soon.” she took out a pair of kimoyo beads from her trouser pockets and placed it in your hand, closing it herself manually as a sign that you should keep it. it was so pretty, your name in wakandan alphabet was all around it, the light glow of vibranium was a perfect accessory that you wouldn’t mind keeping until you died to be honest. it was like she planned all of this.

“will you track me or something.” you placed it on your wrist, watching how it perfectly complimented your skin colour.

“mm, maybe.” shuri ruffled your soft black hair and walked towards the vast door, opening it and standing to the side so you could walk out first, “thank god no one else can open this.” she said, closing the door behind you both. the latch clicked and it was locked once again under the command of shuri.

“that would’ve been dreadful.” you said, head leaning on shuri’s chest as she wrapped her arm around your shoulder.

“definitely.”

you both walked back into the ball ready to act as if nothing unholy just went down between the both of you…but it was obvious, everyone could probably tell, down to the wobble in your walk to the dark red mark that had magically appeared out of the blue onto your neck.

what a mystery.

[stalkedbytrains]

We call with the seven for the magic circle to...

The autumn night was very cold and very blustery. It was a perfect autumn day if it wasn't so damn frigid.

June had been dreading the text that was coming all day. She knew it was. She knew what day it was. It seemed like everything in the world had gone out of it's way to remind her that today was October 6th.

Finally the dreaded text came.

"Olivia finally found a sitter. We're meeting at 8pm tonight."

The last text from Lauren was from exactly one year ago, it was almost the same thing. And again from the year before and the year before that.

June never replied.

Now well into her 30's June friends often sent texts that were less demanding or certain. More along the lines of 'hey we're thinking of maybe hitting up a happy hour sometime next week? when can you make it?!"

But this meeting. Tonight was mandatory. It was as required as any ritual.

Everyone must attend.

She wished they could let the dead ghosts rest and banish them to leave her in peace.

But she'd felt the creeping cold, the claws at her back all day. She knew what day it was before she even woke up in the morning after fitful sleep and terrible nightmares.

No matter how scalding the shower was, how busy and demanding the job was, she would not be warm until the 7th.

June couldn't forget.

It was October 6th.

That night, after the sun had set, June set out to meet with her five other friends.

Well, to be perfectly frank, to call them friends now was nothing short of a misnomer. They were acquaintances at best. They had been friends, once. But no longer.

Not for years.

But they still had to meet every year on the same day. Every year for the last seventeen years.

June walked into the darkness of the forest preserve.

The girls all used to wander deep into the woods, as far as they dared away from the civilization and the safety of the parking lot.

Not anymore.

They were all older and more careful and lazier.

It was barely thirty feet into the woods, the lights of the parking lot could still be easily seen.

Hell, this year they had it set up on a picnic bench.

June was thankful, she didn't want to sit on the ground, her knees were already sore from this long, cold day.

This year was colder than all the others. It seemed that every year for the last seventeen years October 6th was setting records for the coldest day on record.

June, as always, was the last of the girls to arrive.

She took the open seat.

There were a smatterings of quiet greetings.

No one wanted to be here. They wanted this over and done with so they could leave and be on their way to somewhere else, back to their lives.

Lauren pulled out the chalk from her large purse.

"Everyone ready?" she asked as a courtesy. She didn't wait for a response and was already drawing the magic circle.

No one answered. It was the sixteenth time they've gathered to do this, they knew the ritual very well.

As Lauren sketched the circle and the patterns and the runes, each woman took out their candles. Each had prepared their candles according to the old rules and placed them at the indicated portion of the circle, with one space absent at the head of the table.

Three women on each side of the table. Six candles.

One empty space.

"Alright, done," Lauren said without need.

There was a collective intake of breath as the women prepared themselves.

Lauren as always started the ritual. She let her candle with the tiny extension of what small reservoir of magic she had left.

"With this magic and this meeting there is one for the light."

June instantly felt the temperature drop. She felt the shadows grow.

Olivia went next and let her candle with a snap of magic, causing the light to flare and burn brilliant for just a split moment before settling into a soft, cold, light. "With this candle and these gathered there are two for the sight."

The darkness grew by another large measure. Another snap of cold and wind rustled the dying leaves on the trees.

June's heart was in her throat. Something felt different this time.

But she couldn't stop the ritual. Better to get it over and done with as fast as possible.

She snapped her finger and lit her candle. Her candle didn't burn nearly as bright, nor flare as big.

"With this circle and this pattern there are three for the Night."

She had to choke out the last word. It felt like she was trying to push out a word as a physical object from where it lodged inside her throat. It hurt to physically say.

Sweat beaded her forehead as the ritual continued despite the fact that she could no longer see the lights from the parking lot. They should have been so close, but they were miles away now, distant pinpricks in the dark forest.

Her breath misted in front of her as the temperature dropped again.

She was shaking, both from the cold and because of the other thing.

Jessica was next. She lit her candle, but she grimaced as she did so, almost like the act physically hurt her.

"We call with four for the silver," she said as she dropped a small silver coin into the middle of the magic pattern Lauren had drawn.

The coin smashed into the table with a loud thud. It didn't bounce or move. It was like it was magnetically pulled right to the center.

The area was totally dark now. The only light came from the four lit candles. June could see the breath of the other women. All coming out in shallow clouds, all at the same time.

She swore she saw something moving in the pitch black forest behind the girls on the other side of the table.

She couldn't move. She couldn't say anything.

Too quickly, without stopping or realizing what was happening, Fiona went next. She lit her candle and it barely burned.

Her hands were shaking with the cold.

She dropped a gold coin that slammed into the table, denting it as she said, "And five for the gold."

June swore she heard another voice speaking in tandem with Fiona. Somewhere at the head of the table where... no...

She tried to move, to do something, to call out, to stop Rachel from saying the next part.

But the candle was already lit. This time blazing high and bright like a railroad flare.

June swore she saw a dark figure standing behind Rachel.

Her mouth was frozen shut, from fear, from the cold, from the other thing in the back staring at her over Rachel's shoulder.

Two voices this time. "We call with the six for the secrets, never to be told."

For the last sixteen rituals, this is where it would have ended. This is where it should have ended. But this wasn't like the last sixteen. This was like the first one.

This one was the real magic. The Deep Magic. The Old things that they never should have meddled with.

The darkness should have snapped away. The candles should have gone out. The parking lot should have beckoned sweetly. Home and safety.

When the ritual was not completed because their seventh had been missing these last seventeen years, it should have ended.

Then the voice spoke from the entity that was hiding in the shadows.

"We call with the seven for this magic circle to," it said with a slow, deliberate tone. There was a harshness there, a rawness, like a voice after a concert of delightful yelling, but worse. "Hold," the voice finally finished.

The ritual was close to being completed. For the first time in years.

"NO!" June yelled, but she was too late. She couldn't move fast enough. She couldn't stop the last candle from being lit.

What looked like the edge of a knife reflected the soft candle light as the seventh candle materialized and was lit with a cold blue flame.

The paralysis that took over all six women finally broke as the darkness retreated slightly.

Standing at the head of the table, dressed in something that June could only think of as a battle nun outfit (some kind of form fitting black habit, pieces of steel or iron armor clinging to arms and chest and head) was a worn, scarred, and tired looking, much older Natalie.

"Sisters," she said in her worn voice, with a smile that had no warmth, "so good to see you again. Thank you for joining me."

Olivia was the first to recover. "Natalie! You're alive!"

She moved to get up and presumably hug their long lost friend, but Natalie moved a single finger and Olivia was slammed back into her seat with an overwhelming force of Natalie's magic.

"This is not a happy reunion for you," Natalie said as she reached behind her to produce some object from the darkness.

She dropped a black mass of something on the table in the middle of the circle, on top of the silver and gold.

After a moment, the candle light illuminated a grotesque form, the severed head of some kind of horrible amalgamation of goat, man, lizard, and bird.

"One of you sold me to this demon, the Lord of the Frozen Wastes, Farimelligion. Unfortunately for you, I did not die. I fought off my captors for these long years. My powers grew and grew until I was able to slay him and free myself from your spell. I intend to find out, exactly, betrayed me. And I will collect my pound of flesh."

To illustrate her point, she dropped the sword she was carrying, a cracked and bitter looking silver blade covered in frost and radiating cold.

"I regret to tell you that forgiveness was something that was taken from me out there. There is no repenting. But I will spare anyone who turns on their sister like they turned on me."

i have a kofi

[javispunk]

Hii, so I saw an edit on tiktok of joel to i can see you by Taylor Swift on the background and i was wondering if you could do something based on that? Maybe like inspired by the lyrics and the moments between them that relate to those lyrics? But feel free to so it as you imagine it!!! Thx S2

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM2C5KGbd/

Yes! I saw this edit and was thinking of doing something inspired on it and Taylor’s song, at least now I have an excuse to actually do it! This screams dbf!joel, so I had to do it. Thank you so much for the request :) I hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you’d like any other kind of version on it, or some kind of series on this?? Thank you for the support.

I can see you

Summary: You’ve been in Jackson for about a couple years now and you’ve always seen Joel go on about his days, filled with patrol duty or just casually at the cafeteria. Either way, and oblivious at first, you see each other. One night at the bar, you confirm your doubts.

Pairing: dbf!joel miller x fem!reader

Content/Warnings: +18 smut (minors don’t interact!), age gap (Joel is in his early 50s, reader is in her mid twenties), fingering, oral sex (female receiving), unprotected sex (p in v).

Notes: This is a bit long, I got carried away. It’s also a bit of a slow burn but bare with me! Please excuse any mistake, as english is not my first language. Comments and reblogs are always appreciated! Leave any requests you’d like me to write :)

You kept to yourself at Jackson since you joined in a couple years ago. You had a few people you could call friends and rely on. Besides them, your dad was also a good call. He always made sure to provide anything for you. You weren’t a child anymore, not even close to it. But you were his only daughter and that would be enough.

There would also be no effort made on your part to make more acquaintances, and that’s fine, that’s just the way you were. The people you usually had gatherings with would be your dad’s friends. And being a social butterfly, he had a few of them. But Joel Miller was his most relying one. He was a little bit younger than your dad, but they still found ways to share common interests. They’d do patrol duty together, always make way to eventually do a Saturday night dinner at yours or his - either the three of you or with more guests. You also learned about Joel’s loss and grief very quickly, something you could relate with.

For more than a year now you’ve felt safe with these people. Never once you got to complain about them, nor they did regarding you. Tonight it was just you, your dad and Joel at the dinner table. The usual setting of the table, familiar by now - your dad at your right, Joel at the other end, opposite from you.

“It should be alright if we get there by 5.” Joel spoke as he continued putting food on his fork. His signature plaid flannel shirt falling on top of his shoulders on a way that was now familiar to you.

"I'll be there sooner if I can get an early night." Your dad held the plate in his hand as he tried to collect more food from the table center. "I'm sure Adam will be there if I let him know." You received a gaze from your father as he spoke once again. "By the way, he told me he left you a message at the bar. Have you talked to him?"

"Dad... c'mon." You kept looking at your plate before turning your eyes to both man at the table.

"What? He's a great guy, he's your age. Great sense of responsability, I've seen how he handles work."

"Well, that's great for him. I don't see what that has to do with me."

Joel chuckled at your statement, still looking down at his plate. Your dad looked at him. "Honestly, I don’t understand this kid.”

Even though you were in your mid twenties your dad insisted on calling you kid, kiddo, any type of derivative.

“Well” you began as you collected your plate. “This kid has work in half an hour. I’ll just do the dishes and then go.” You headed to the kitchen with a sarcastic smile.

Once you put down your plate in the kitchen counter, you supported the weight of your body on it with both your hands. You sighed with frustration. Eyes closed, head down. The amount of hours you did the previous week at the bar left you restless and honestly wishing for a week worth of sleep. A few minutes passed, and you stayed like this. Silence prevailed until you heard Joel’s voice behind you.

“Got two more.”

“Fuck.” You jumped at the sudden voice, looking briefly at him, going back to the kitchen counter the next second.

“Sorry.” He quickly spoke. His body relatively close to yours, placing both plates on the sink. “Here, I’ll do that.” He took the sponge from your hand, slightly touching it.

There were several moments of tension between you and Joel over the last year or so. Usually cordial and kind moments like these, but they were filled with tension, you were not sure if it was sexual, but it felt so for you. Joel was at least 20 years older than you, you were not sure about his age. In a matter of seconds you recalled all of these encounters. The way he’d wait down the hall for you, or the way he’d always try to brush past you whenever you were in the same room. You would notice how he would make conversation with you whenever he could, how he would shower you with gifs - actual cool and useful gifs - how he payed attention to your interests, or how he'd get protective whenever he felt you were in some kind of danger.

"So you don't like Adam." he asked, mid-chuckle, while grabbing some soap.

You put your hand on your head, slightly embarrased. "Well..." You also looked in the direction of the dining room, searching for your dad.

"Your dad went to the neighbours. He said something about a favour. He'll be back soon enough." He noted.

You looked at him with your mouth slightly opened in a form of response, before speaking again. "Adam's alright. A bit insistent. My dad always makes a stand on the matter of relationships, I'm not sure why."

"You're almost what? 26? He probably wants you to get married. I got married around your age. That's how we'd do it in Texas."

You looked at the man's back. You didn't know much about his past. He had no pictures of his ex wife in his house. You knew he had a daughter before the world went to shit. That was the extent of knowledge you had about his grief and sorrow. Ellie would have filled some of the void in his life. But besides that, Joel was a lonely man.

"I'd get married if it wasn't the end of the world. Or if there was someone interesting around here." You laughed.

Joel followed your action, closing the running water tap. "I'm sure you'll find him." He chuckled, looking at you as he dried his hands with a cloth handtowel.

"Besides, I'm great on my own." Your voice raising an octave.

“I’m sure you are." His eyes on you. "Do you need a ride? It's freezing outside."

You shook your head no, while grabbing the coat propped on the back of the chair. "It's just a few minutes walk, I'll be fine. It will be even colder when I close at 1am. But thank you." You smiled his way.

He nodded his head, hands on his hips.

***

The clock marked half past midnight when you first looked at it since you entered the bar. You didn't stop to breathe since you started serving drinks at 8pm, walking from one corner of the bar to the other in a fast pace. The bar was usually filled with middle aged men, a few younger people, about your age, casually sitting in groups over a few tables. You sipping a few drinks once in a while over the hours without anyone noticing.

You think about the small amount of time you still have to work while you go around the counter and collect the empty beer bottles on the nearest table. You grab the cloth hanging from your shoulder only to wide your hands on it, before you make your way behind the counter again, your back against it.

"A whisky if it's not too much trouble." You heard Joel's voice.

You quickly turned around, a smile appearing, plastered on your face without you noticing. "Hi!" You swifted the counter dry in front of him. "What are you doing here? I thought you started work at 5." You started preparing his drink.

Joel slightly shrugged both shoulders, before removing his jacket and propping it on the stool next to him. "Couldn't sleep. How's your shift going?"

"Alright. A few drunk men making a mess, but that's mandatory."

You grabbed his glass and started pouring the honey coloured liquid.

"But you can put them in their place."

"I don't have a choice." You supported your body on your elbows, leaning on top of the counter in front of Joel. The cleavage on your shirt open and exposed to his sight, as you felt his eyes directly on it. You held his drink in your hand, giving it to him in a nonchalant movement. The alcohol probably getting to your head at this point of the night, just the slightest - you were sure the rest was your attraction to the older man.

You watched Joel's eyes on you, before he moved them up to your own. He coughed before speaking, in a way of disguising his actions. "Thank you."

You smiled, noticing his stunned tone. "You're welcome."

You would never have this behaviour at dinner nights of course. Here, where everyone was a little drunk and honestly, wouldn't remember parts of the night, you felt this urge to mess with him. You knew he kind of like you by the way he would move next to you, by the way he'd speak directly to you, the words he would use when no one else was hearing.

You held your place in front of Joel. Him taking a sip of his drink as the ice clinked when the glass turned on his hand. Eyes locked on yours. You noticed the bar emptying slowly, but surely.

"Would you mind giving me a ride home? I have to close the bar and by then it should be pretty late."

"It's alright sweetheart." he spoke after ungluing his mouth from the glass which was now resting on the counter, him looking at your smug expression, which earned a half upward smile from him, before looking at your eyes again.

"Thank you." You touched his arm in a thanking gesture, leaving your hand over it much more time than it was needed to. You never touched him. It even felt like a challenge, something that was forbidden to do. His skin was soft even though his figure looked rough from working everyday out on the cold weather on patrol duty.

His eyes looking down at your efforts, while he held his drink in front of his mouth the whole time. You eventually moved away from him, continuing your work.

You took care of the wet glasses, cleaning them, your back leaning against the back counter of the bar, facing Joel. Every few seconds your eyes would be on top of him, while you wiped dry the cups, moving your fingers in a slight but surely suggestive manner. You were not doing anything wrong. You were far away from Joel, just doing your work. Behind him, still in the distance, you saw a man approach the counter. Adam.

"Hey." He looked at you with a wide smile, hands on the counter, not noticing the man sat beside him right away. "Oh, hello Mr. Miller. How are you?"

Joel slightly raised his glass at the kid, hoping that would be enough of an answer to his question. His broad shoulders square, looking foward, miding his own business.

You also noticed the last group of people leaving their booth, putting down the money on top of the table for you to collect it.

"Hey, we're almost closing but can I make you anything?" You asked him.

"Hum, not really. I gathered you didn't get the message I left you back there." He looked over at Joel for a second, before continuing. "I wanted to know if you'd like to go to the movie night next friday? They're going to show that movie you wanted to see at the theatre."

Your mouth opened before you grabbed another glass to clean. "I'd love to, but I think I'm doing a night shift on friday. Sorry."

"I heard that movie is great." Joel's voice muffled from the glass on his hand.

You looked at him, watching his smug smile covered by it. He was doing this on purpose.

"I'm sure it is. But have fun, I think the group from the cafeteria wanted to go."

"Next time then." Adam tucked at the sleeve on his jacket. "Tomorrow I get off work around midday, if you're free for lunch."

You were free, but had no intention on agreeing on his plan. But for the love of God, you could not find a single excuse to get yourself out of this situation. You noticed the younger man's face, hesitant. As soon as Joel noticed your silence, he spoke, still facing his glass, now almost empty.

"Actually, I'm gonna need your help until later. We'll have lunch outside Jackson." Joel saved your night with a simple phrase.

Adam looked at Joel with a disappointed expression. "Well, alright. I'll come by and let you know when-"

"You should go home, kid." Joel interrumpted him. "We got an early shift tomorrow." He looked in his direction for the first time since he appeared uninvited.

"Yes, sir. I'll be there." He agreed, before turning to you. "Do you need a ride? It's awfully cold outside."

Joel put his drink down and got up. "Let's go kid." He grabbed him not so gently but still not roughly by the jacket, putting an arm around his shoulders, turning him away from you and guiding him through the front door. Once he put the young man outside, he closed the door behind him and spoke from a distance. "You're already closing right?"

"Thank you for that." You continued to tidy everything behind the counter, as Joel made his way to you across the bar. "Am I supposed to marry him?"

"If you really want to." He entered the space only reserved for staff. "I'll help you with that."

"You don't have to."

"I know, but it'll be a lot quicker and we can get you home."

You smiled. "Thanks, I'll just finish some things out in the back."

You ran to the kitchen, hoping to get a moment for yourself. Did Joel help you just out of good heart? That didn't seem like something he'd do. Maybe because you were his best friend's daughter - he was just trying to be nice.

After a while you heard his voice behind you, for the second time that night. "You know, he would be a nice husband. He can almost kill a few clickers without screaming if he puts his mind to it."

"Shut up." You laughed, throwing him a napkin you had at hand, still trying to finish your work duties.

Joel grabbed it in the air, laughing along with you. He scrunched it up in his hand, approaching you and almost connecting your bodies together - your back touching his front, as he placed the napkin on the table in front of you. Arms next to each side of you, hands placed on the edge of the table, where he supported his body's weight.

Your heart started beating and you swore Joel could hear it, because his behaviour was too bold to be natural.

"But you don't wanna marry him, do you?" His voice was low and you could feel the vibration from his tone on your back.

"No, not really." It seemed like he was waiting for something from you. A sign to act his next move, without being criticised. It almost felt like he was afraid. Afraid of you not feeling the same. Not wanting the same.

Your body tensed under his. His presence hovering above you. He was significantly bigger than you. Fuck, you thought. He smells like sandalwood and the whiskey you gave him earlier. You were almost intimidated to turn around, so you decided not to.

"So you're all shy now." You watched his hands shift on the table top, before moving them to your lower stomach.

Your heart felt like it would break free from your ribcage. You looked down at his hands holding you in place. They looked huge on your body.

You turned around suddenly, trying to play his game. Your hands behind your body. "What do you mean?" You put on your best innocent smile.

You saw him do the same. You noticed his eyes were the most gorgeous you'd ever seen when he raised his eyebrows before speaking, hands now on your waist. "I mean how you made me hard under that counter top back there."

You rolled your eyes in response, while you shrugged your shoulders. "Couldn't really notice. But I do now." Your hand flew to the bulge in his pants.

A laugh came creeping in his tone. "Careful, sweetheart."

"Why?" Your head up, looking at his face from underneath.

You both stared into each other's eyes with doubt on your expression. You decided to break the hesitation, gluing your lips to his. The taste of whiskey still prominent on his mouth, as he slid his tongue inside your mouth.

Your hands immediately on the back of his head. One of his on the lower of your back and the other on your ass, putting you on top of the table. You opened your legs to wrap them around him, Joel immediately erasing the gap between you both.

His hands running from the top of your back to the back of your thigh, holding it in place around his waist.

"You have no idea how long I waited to touch you." He spoke once you both pulled back for air.

"You're gonna relive your little fantasies or do something about it?" You asked as you started to unbotting your pants while looking his way.

He immediately replaced your hands with his, taking your jeans off in a swift motion. Your shirt followed quickly. He left your paneis still on, just putting them to the side before sliding his middle finger in your slick folds. He laughed as he felt how wet you were, before inserting his finger in you. You whimpered as you felt his rough calloused skin inside your cunt, moving up and down inside you. You moaned his name quietly, trying to hold on your excitement. It seemed like his knees gave in on him as soon as he heard his name coming from your lips.

"Say my name again." You heard him ask.

"Joel..." You moaned louder when he added one more finger inside you.

"Sounds so good coming from your pretty little mouth." His thumb rubbing soft circles on your clit as he kept fucking you with his fingers.

Your eyes rolled back in protest. The amount of pleasure building on your stomach was like something you've never felt before. He began to curl his fingers and you made a gutural sound with your throat, head falling back.

Joel got on his knees and placed both hands on each side of your pelvic area, holding both your legs between his biceps and forearms. You felt a void, missing the friction his fingers stimulated inside you.

"Please." You begged him.

"Please what, sweet girl?" His head between your legs, looking you up, mouth dangerously close to your core.

"Please, make me cum." Your voice came out almost in a whisper. But it was more than enough for Joel.

His lips connecting to your core, kissing it gently first, focusing on your clit. You were a mess of whimpers under his touch as he gently made out with your cunt, visibily holding himself not to get out of his pants and fuck you right then and there. Sucking on your clit, he then moved on to your entrance, sliding his tongue inside you, licking your core from bottom to top.

He was good. Joel kept his hands on your lower stomach, trying to hold you still as you moved under his touch. It was unnerving the amount of pleasure he provided you with. You never once had your body react like this.

You looked down at him, entertained in his own little paradise. He was truly intoxicated by the scent of your skin, the feel of your core, the wetness you had started to drip a few minutes ago.

He kept his rhythm steady and intense at the same time.

"Fuck." You kept moaning as you looked down at his face between your legs. Every now and then he looked up at you and the tight knot on your stomach would grow. The look of lust in his eyes enough to make you cum. "Joel, I'm- I'm-"

"I know sweet girl, you're so close." You felt the vibrations from his voice on your pussy. "Best fucking thing I've ever tasted in my life."

That did it for you. Your orgasm loosen and spread through your entire body, your legs shaking as Joel held them tighter, keeping his tongue on you, making you enjoy your high. Your head was thrown back, your hands behind your back on top of the table, supporting the weight of your now numb body. You kept your eyes closed for a while, feeling your body tensen up and resting for a while.

You felt one of Joel's hand grabbing you by the lower of your back, helping you with supporting your body weight as he noticed you couldn't do it yourself.

"So fucking beautiful." He spoke while unbuttoning and dropping down his jeans with his spare hand. With his help now, you could use your hands. You took his flannel off, before ripping his underwear down his thighs, his lenght shot right up, hard as a rock, bouncing on its own weight.

You felt your cunt pulse once again, still sensitive from your previous orgasm. One of your hands held his cock, pulling him closer to you. You heard Joel moan as he felt your hand moving up and down him.

"You like that." You stated. Not even a question. You were letting him know you knew. With your legs slightly up, around his waist, you positioned his length on your entrance slowly, making him eager for your warmth.

Once you got his tip inside you, he couldn't control himself, pushing his cock inside you slowly and deeply. It was out of your control now.

"Fuck, Joel." You screamed as you felt him stretch you wide.

He panted above you. "Shit..." he mumbled to himself, as he looked down, seeing himself dissapear inside you with each thrust. "You feel so fucking good."

Once you got used to his girth, you felt Joel fasten his pace. He was hitting your g-spot every single time he slapped his hips on your ass. The clapping sounds making him go feral. Holding one of your legs up with his arm for better positioning, Joel kissed you again with urgency. You left your mouth hang open against his when he once again fasten his pace, letting him know you were enjoying it by letting a whimper come out every time he thrusted inside you.

"Prettiest fucking thing. Let me see your pretty face when you cum." He mumbled against your open mouth.

You felt your second orgasm creep on you. His words took you to the absolute edge. His low voice making them feel like velvet. It didn't take long for you to feel that explosion of pleasure inside you. Your whole body shaking for the second time. Your ecstasy face putting him on the edge.

He quickly pulled himself out of you, letting his warm release hit your chest, running down your tummy after a few seconds of kissing each other. You wouldn't let go. You physically couldn't get enough of each other. His hand still grabbing the back of your neck, to keep you close to him. Your hands tangled on his hair. Both of your breathings slowing down as a few minutes passed just making out in an endearing way.

Your foreheads glued to each other as you panted together.

"Please come pick me up more often after closing shifts."You laughed and he followed.

"I'll do anything you want me to."

[yellowhollyhock]

lonely holiday

SAINW Raph

Twenty-two degrees. Sliver moon. About 8pm.

Raph crouched next to April's porch, watching the snow fall.

He'd only realized a couple hours ago that it was December 25.

It had always been a bit weird to him, anyway, that they celebrated Christmas. Mikey and Donnie saw it on tv, and Splinter was eager enough for them to experience some kind of culture, he'd always done what he could to make it special for them. Then when they made friends with the Professor, and through him made acquaintances with other humans in their neighborhood, they'd noticed the stark contrast between Christmas for the wealthy... and Christmas for people like them.

It had never been their holiday. Just scraps they borrowed from the loudest of the humans. Why should he still feel obligated to stop by?

Soft light and quiet voices drifted through the window. It sounded like Mikey was telling a story. Anything to keep his mind off recent events. Mikey had always been that way.

Raph sighed, finally giving up on the idea of knocking. If he'd been sitting here this long, it wasn't gonna happen. He shifted, getting ready to toss three small packaged onto the porch.

Before he did, he heard a soft thud. Then two more, softer. He peeked over the edge of the porch--and found three packages.

Then a turtle dropped down behind them.

Raph felt himself deflate. He could wait for him to leave, but if he did he'd just be angry at himself all week, wondering why he didn't reach out, to try to talk, to punch him square in the snout, maybe cry together. Maybe even make things right.

But probably not.

"Hey," he hopped onto the porch, his voice stopping Leo before he could knock. "What are you doing here?"

Leo's eyes widened. "Raph, I--" then his expression hardened. "I was just checking on Mikey. What are you doing here?"

Raph placed his packages down next to Leo. "Just dropping something off."

They glared at each other over top of the messily wrapped gifts, neither acknowledging how they'd clearly not included each other.

Then the door swung open. Casey's laughter petered off as he took in the tense situation right outside his front door.

"Hey guys," he greeted calmly. "Whatcha standing out in the cold for? You should come in. We just had dinner; want us to make you a plate?"

Leo kept his eyes on Raph, waiting for him to make the first move.

He kept doing that. Raph hated it. Leo was always one who watched for his enemies to make the first move, wanting to understand the way they would think before he decided how to proceed. If it was that, if they were just enemies now, maybe Raph could handle it.

But he was looking at him the way he used to look at Master Splinter; waiting for a judgment call.

Well, Leo had given up on Master Splinter, and Raph didn't intend to plug any holes for him.

He turned away.

"You guys go in. I got places to be."

It was a bold-faced lie, and he didn't think any of them wouldn't see right through him. He didn't care.

"Come on, Raph. April made way too many mashed potatoes for just three of us."

Raph paused, but only to angle his head up and blink away tears. It was so much like something Don would've said.

He waved a hand at Casey dismissively. "I'll see you guys for New Years."

He walked away and kept walking, knowing Casey and Leo would stand on the porch letting the cold in until he was well and truly gone.

He wasn't gonna let anyone hang around in doorways for him. Leo could have Christmas. Leo could have it all.

Raph was better off alone.

[gh0stlyfixation]

The love of us

Part two

Paring: Simon x reader, mentions of König

Word count: 1.9k

Warnings: smut, MDNI! Thigh riding, not implied but consensual actions. Drinking, swearing. Things kinda move quickly.

Part of “The love of us” series, part one - part three

I’ve never written smut so I hope it’s okay🥹

König had been sent out on a mission in his home country while Simon was left back enjoying his leave. It’s been a day since that appointment and Simon received a message that his results are in, “everything looks good! Your cholesterol is a little bit high but it’s expected when your diet is red meats only! Have a good day!” The message read. It’s true, he loves his steaks, it’s all König cooks for him. “Maybe I’ll add in more chicken,” Simon says to himself as he parks his car at the base's office parking lot.

Simon sees a shiny black BMW pull up, the windows are tinted and the engine is loud, but a pretty sounding loud. They must make lots of money. That’s when he sees a pair of heels step out of the car, a leg showing, and then he looks up at the person's face, it’s you.

Your wearing a black pencil skirt with a light blue blouse tucked in, and black heels to match. Your hair was up in a messy bun and glasses on your face, and no makeup on. He sees you place your purse over your shoulder and that’s when he realizes he’s staring at you because you look over and give him a wave, “Hi Ghost!” You smile.

FUCK! She’s smiling at me! He waved back smiling at you but she couldn’t see it through his mask, she sees the face shift under it.

She walked over to him, her heels clicking, fuck she looked good. As she gets closer he sees a diamond ring band on her right ring finger, almost looks like a wedding band, was she married? Simon thinks, no it would be on her left finger if so. “Call me Simon.” he tells you.

You nod and smile, “Good to see you again! Where’s König?” You asked him, seeming a little disappointed he wasn’t around.

“What? I’m not enough to talk with?” He teased.

“What! I-” you stuttered

He chuckled, “relax, I’m just teasing you. He’s out on a mission in Germany, also seeing some family members.” He said.

“Oh, why didn’t you go with him? To see his family?” You asked as the both of you walked to the building. Simon was surprised you knew of his relationship. Maybe word got around to you, “my nurse informed me, plus it was how you and him interacted that gave it away. I think you both are cute together.” You explained, surprising him more.

“Oh, well, his family isn’t too supportive so to ease the tension I don’t go. What about you? Do you have a partner?” He asked, casually trying to see what the band was about.

“Oh, um, no. But I was married.” You sighed, “he passed away a few months back before I moved here.” You say.

Simon felt bad for asking, he was mentally kicking himself, “how if I may ask?” He asked. He felt stupid again for asking such personal questions

You didn’t mind though. You didn’t have any friends here and it felt nice talking about this to someone, “cancer, stage 4 and aggressive.” You told him walking into your little office. You set your purse down and point at the picture of him, "that’s him a few days before he passed.” You said. Simon leaned down to look at the photo.

“I’m sorry for asking. I wouldn’t have if I knew it was such a bad history.” He spoke up looking at you.

“No, it’s okay. I don’t have any friends here so it’s nice talking to you.” You pathetically say.

How can you have no friends, or at least acquaintances in two months, “you have me and König, I know he likes you a lot.” Simon says. You scoff playfully and put on your white coat and grab a mirror to put mascara on.

“What do you do with your friends?” You asked.

“Drink with the boys, we don’t have many girlfriends.” Simon says.

“I like to drink.” You said.

“Want to get one tonight then?”

—

Simon picked you up from your apartment a few hours ago, you skipped out to his car wearing a sundress and you were now 6 drinks and 2 shots in, you were plastered. “This is so fun,” you giggled.

Simon was able to pace himself, and learned that you could not. Simon smiled at you through his mask, “is it?” He asked

“I bet you're cute under that mask, why do you wear it?” You asked pinching the mask around his cheek feeling how thick it was, “doesn’t it get hot?” You ask him ignoring the first question. “I bet you have more.” You continued. He chuckled at your actions and words, “oh, what about König? Man’s huge. He's hot, your hot too. Like two tall men? Hell yes. Fuck I’m speaking too much, where are my fries?” You said walking back to the bar and asking for your fries that were never ordered.

But Simon sat still at your confession, maybe she’s just too drunk. But she’s also said so much truth about herself, she can’t be lying.

Simon quickly sent König a message with a picture of you at the bar demanding your fries, “she’s just admitted that we're hot because we're tall. Also demanding fries.”

König messaged quickly, “fuck you managed to get a date with her in less than 48 hours of knowing her?” Completely ignoring that fact she called him hot.

Simon looked up and saw you demanding the fries you never ordered, Simon stands up to grab you from the bar, “come on, I’ll get you some fries on the way home.” He said.

“Okay!” You giggled forgetting about the bartender. You grasped his hand and Simon melts at this, you holding his hand, it's so tiny compared to his.

You skip into the parking lot pulling him with you, you hear simons phone ring. You keep moving as Simon struggles to get his phone from his pocket.

“Yeah?” He asked with a sigh not looking at the ID.

“Hello to you too. You ignored my message Liebling.” König said.

“Woo!” You yelled as you jumped.

Simon sighed again as you let go of him and ran to his car, “she’s a literal child when she drinks. I had to pry her away from the bar, she was demanding fries so much the bartender was getting frustrated.” Simon said as he unlocked his car for you to sit.

“She called us hot?” König asked him

“She said and I quote ‘man’s huge.’ About you and then said you were hot and that I was hot because we were two tall men.” Simon said with a stifled laugh.

König chuckled, “keep winning her over. Not sure when I’ll be home, unfortunately. My sister says hi by the way.” He says.

His sister was the only one who supported Simon and König, “tell her the same. I’m about to go now, I love you.” Simon said softly with a smile.

“I love you too,” and he hung up.

“Was that König?” You asked with your seatbelt on ready to go.

“Yes, he was asking about you.” Simon told you.

“Oh,” you say suddenly getting shy and quiet. Simon smiled at your reaction.

He placed a hand on your thigh and you tensed at the action but continued to smile, “no need to be shy, little girl.” Simon spoke.

Little girl, he called me a little girl, “I am anything but a little girl.” You pouted crossing your arms and making your breast squeeze together.

Simon looked over at you and noticed your pouting lips, god you looked hot, he thinks. You see him staring at you, and you do it back, you wanted to pounce on him.

And that’s exactly what you do. You quickly unbuckle your seat belt and push his mask just above his lips and grab his cheeks and pull him towards you and crash on his lips. Simon had no time to react and he knows it was your drunk impulsion to make you do this but he didn’t have it in him to tell you to stop. You both fight for dominance, you winning and sticking your tongue in his mouth grazing his. Simon placed his hands on your waist and hoist you up over the center console onto his lap not breaking contact.

You moan when he rubs your waist, everything feels 10x better, hotter. You only imagine if König was here, watching you both. You grow wet at the thought but pull away for some air. You place your hands on Simon's chest and unknowingly start rocking your hips on his clothed thigh, he doesn’t stop you.

You had control, something Simon doesn’t give away easily but he wasn’t going to do anything to you but kiss and watch, you were drunk. It felt so wrong but so right. You trusted him that much he knew.

You whined when Simon held you down by the waist, “that feel good pretty girl?” He cooed.

You nodded frantically placing your hands on his shoulders. He could feel the wetness seeping through his jeans, “s’good.” You moan going fast throwing your head back.

“You gonna make a mess on me? Come on darling, show me what you got.” He said.

You squeeze your eyes shut feeling your orgasm coming quickly, “I’m gonna cum!” You say before grabbing his face again and kissing him hard. He kisses back just has hard, helping you move.

“Ah-oh fuck Si!” He forces you through your orgasm as you jerked on him. You leaned your head against his forehead, suddenly sobar.

You hadn’t orgasmed in over a year, it felt so good. “You okay pretty girl?” He asked softly pushing some of your hair back and separating your faces to gauge how you felt.

“So okay,” you sigh with a smile. “Was that okay? I didn’t ask for permission, I kinda just did it.” You ask worriedly.

“It’s more than okay. A suprise for sure.” He says with a smile. You can see his smile for the first time.

“You have a pretty smile. I bet your face is even prettier.” You say trying to get him to take it off.

Simon thought hard about it. Only König gets to see his face and the outside world. He wears a mask to keep his identity hidden during work and combat. Not because he’s ugly as Soap so kindly asked.

“I want you to know only special people get to see it.” He told you.

“Oh,” you frown looking down, suddenly feeling stupid. Simon puts a finger under your chin and lifts your head back up to see his mask is long gone.

“And you are special.” He finishes as you look over his face, handsome, you think.

“I was right.” You said with a smile kissing him.

Then you remember König, you just came all over his boyfriend, and you get worried again. You get off Simon and sit in the passenger seat putting distance from you both, “what’s wrong?” Simon ask. His face grows in confusion.

“I just came all over you!” You exclaim.

Simon smirks, “yeah you did, and?” He ask.

“König is your boyfriend! You just cheated!” You say in disbelief.

“Trust me, if he was here, you’d be coming again but on his thigh.” Simon points out smirking more at you.

“What?” You asked, your eyes wide.

“We’ve been looking for a third party in our relationship. König and me have been smitten with you since we met you.” Simon confesses.

“You met me yesterday? And I was less then interesting yesterday.” You spoke with a scoff not knowing how to take this information.

“König liked your smile.” Simon says trying to make you feel better.

“Oh,” you said sitting up a little bit straighter. “And you?” You ask crossing your arms again.

“Your eyes.” He says to you while looking in at them.

You get shy once again, “let’s get you home. I know your going to be feeling a headache.” He spoke.

You nodded and looked down at his thigh, a damp dark spot shows and his cock bulging in his pants. You suddenly feel guilty, god damn, so many emotions! You thought.

“Don't worry about me, pretty girl.” He says as he notices your gaze. You wonder how big he is. He’s got to be massive. “Stop thinking about it,” Simon says. You instantly look away as Simon drives away to your home with a smile.

I’m fucked, you thought.

[sebastianswallows]

Dangerous and Delightful — Chapter 6 — Other friends

— PAIRING: Sebastian Sallow x F!Reader

— SYNOPSIS: Sebastian is a purveyor of forbidden artefacts, a dark arts researcher, and a curse-breaker for hire. Ominis, desperate to save him from himself, hires Reader in secret to persuade him, by any means necessary, to leave his illegal activities behind.

— WARNINGS: none

— WORDCOUNT: 3k

— TAGLIST: @bloofinntoona @sarcasticpluviophile @estrotica

“Absolutely not.”

“But Ominis!”

“Don’t you ‘but Ominis’ me. And I won’t hear any ‘oldest friend’ or ‘thought I could trust you’ or even an ‘after all we’ve been through’. You won’t manipulate me this time.”

“Why not?”

“I stand firmly on this, Sebastian. No dark magic items in my house.”

“It’s a big place, you scrounger. You won’t even notice it.”

“No. My house, my rules.”

“Well what would you like me to do with them? Donate them to St Mungo’s?”

Sebastian was fortunate that Ominis’ fireplace was large enough for him to Floo his trunk into the living room, but just as soon as his presence was known — and more importantly, the reason behind it — Ominis became… less welcoming.

He had no issue hosting Sebastian for a few nights while that thing with the Aurors blew over, but not his ‘cabinet of wonders’, as he took to calling it. Sebastian was exasperated. Nothing in there was that bad, he said, he sold those ones to the highest bidder — which, surprisingly, only made Ominis more upset.

“You can stay, on the condition each nefarious item in there is destroyed.”

“Sure,” grinned Sebastian.

“By me.”

“Now wait a minute —”

“Can’t you see that this is not worth it, Sebastian?” Ominis sighed. “This obsession only gets you into trouble.”

“It’s not an obsession, it’s a career.”

“And why can’t you find another one!?” said Ominis in the shrill tone that told how angry he was, a tone Sebastian knew well.

“We each have our talents, Ominis, and this is mine.”

“Dark magic is not a talent. It’s a liability.”

“Fine, then! I’m a ‘liability’ to you!”

“Oh, here we go again…”

“After everything, everything we’ve been through together —”

“Much of that, might I remind you, was me getting you out of trouble!”

“So why can’t you get me out of trouble once more!?”

“No,” said Ominis, turning his head away.

Sebastian sighed and threw his hands in the air. He felt ready to strangle something.

“You need to make a choice, one you should have made years ago, before Solomon — dark magic, or your friends.”

“Well, first of all, I deny your spurious accusations. There’s hardly any dark magical items in this trunk.” He told the truth, there were only about eight. “And second of all, you’re not my only friend.”

“Is that so?”

“That is so.”

“Fine, then.”

“Fine.”

“Fine!”

Sebastian stood in Ominis’ living room, arms crossed over his chest and heaving, while Ominis waited imperiously by the door.

“You expect me to leave now, or…?”

“Have you changed your mind?” asked Ominis with a cocked brow.

“No.”

“Then yes. You’re only welcome back when you’ve come to your senses.”

With a gritting of teeth and an angry swipe of his wand to transform the trunk into a more manageable briefcase, Sebastian walked toward the door. Ominis stood by, impassive and stoic,

Just as he was about to leave, Sebastian thought to ask, “Wait, can I use your Floo powder?”

And so he found himself back at the Three Broomsticks. It was far enough away from London to give him some space, but in familiar territory that made him feel somewhat secure. At that late hour, there were no children around, and none of his old professors to run into either.

He’d given some thought to hiding out in his old childhood home in Feldcroft, but something about it didn’t feel right. His thoughts always went back to it when he was feeling lonely, when he was feeling lost, when he had second thoughts about what he was doing and was eaten away by guilt and regret and fear — before they turned bitter all over again. And besides, since both those Aurors seemed to have been acquainted with his Uncle Solomon, they probably knew where he used to live. No, Feldcroft was out of the question, especially since he didn’t know how long they’d have their eye on Burke’s shop.

He should have suspected it, when there were traces of figures those past few nights in which he picked up the shipments from Dover. It became blatantly obvious that Aurors were keeping track of their activities, but Sebastian thought he was hiding his traces well enough. His concealment charms had always been sufficient before. He was beginning to wonder whether they had spoken with old man Burke already, and the lout just never told him, let him compromise himself…

“Should’ve known,” he muttered as he downed another glass of Firewhisky. “Got to get used to shady types in this business…”

The alcohol burned just right, but it did little to fill his empty stomach. He ordered a serving of roast lamb with spring vegetables and picked at it for the next hour.

This wasn’t the first close call he’d had, but it was the closest yet. And worst of all, it proved Ominis right — it was a dangerous business, and he should get out of it, and he was obsessed, but he couldn’t leave... He didn’t want to, first of all, and second of all he had no idea what to do with himself if he lost this. Sebastian realised with horror that this work — researching and acquiring rare items, the crafting and breaking of curses, conquering forgotten places, unveiling mysteries, the risk of death — was the greatest thrill of his life. The only thrill of his life. And he, in fact, had little else. A few friendships here and there, some more innocuous hobbies, but nothing that would have made his life a life.

He swirled the Firewhisky in its little glass and thought about whether he even wanted anything else. Books had always been an escape for him, a comfort, filled with new and wonderful and interesting things, and in no time at all his pursuit of the interesting had become the most worthwhile thing he knew. It was an easy step from that to the dark arts, because while a whole cabinet of warlocks might argue that they were dangerous and immoral and perilous to one’s soul, no one could deny that they were interesting.

But then, like seafoam breaking on a cliffside, she came to his mind again.

She who was content with such a quiet life, a little house — much like his own had been in Feldcroft — growing flowers, raising poultry, trading with the neighbours… For her, a sunny day was a reason to be happy, and winters were spent around a warm fire, and spring spent picking flowers, and autumn drinking fresh wine from the barrel… She never missed the sort of life he had, because she never knew it. Hadn’t been drawn to it. Wasn’t tempted by it.

“What a life,” he sighed, taking another drink.

Could he be envious of it? He could. Of the purity, the peace, the smallness and the closeness and the comfort of her home, with its cluttered little living room and cramped kitchen and however many bedrooms she could fit inside that house — probably two, one for herself and one for…

“Her brother,” he whispered in a moment of sudden sobriety. “She has a brother. One who isn’t there right now.”

Sebastian scrambled to get up and asked the barkeep for a quill and parchment. Ten minutes later, an owl was sent off to her wherein he modestly asked if he could visit her again and maybe, possibly, if she was willing, and for adequate compensation, stay a few nights in her brother’s bedroom.

She received it in the morning, and read it with some trepidation... She had expected him to write soon, but not to so boldly ask to live with her. Perhaps she’d put a bit too much Amortentia on that glove…

But there was something off about his letter, something… specific. He didn’t just want to live with her, he had her brother’s bedroom in mind, and for a limited amount of time, and — oh. Her brother’s bedroom.

She spent the next two hours going through spell after spell to get the place ready, trying to make it look as natural as possible for a young wizard about his age, transfigurating and disapparating and summoning the sort of things that would typically be in it. She fretted and fussed over it for so long that the morning turned into the afternoon. With bated breath, at 3 o’clock, she wrote back to Sebastian that she would be willing, if he so needed it, to host him for a few nights at no expense.

She read through the letter at least five times before she sent it with the owl. Immediately after it flew off, she wondered if she could not have worded something better, but it was too late now…

Her fireplace was too small to be linked to the Floo network, so Sebastian was due to arrive on foot from the nearby tavern. She considered going to wait there for him, but she found too many things to fuss about in the house — the clutter in the kitchen, the dust in the living room, the weeds in the garden, and the wash closet overly decorated with frilly little toiletries she’d collected over time. She wasn’t sure how she could survive having a man live with her for… for however long Sebastian intended.

He knocked on her door sometime in the evening. She scrambled through the house as she looked everything over one last time, caught herself in the mirror, fixed her hair one last time, and then finally went to the door. She took a deep breath — and then another, because she needed it — and opened it.

Sebastian smiled brightly, looking surprised and grateful, and like he hadn’t slept much the night before. His clothes were in a bit of disarray, the tie a bit crooked and his shoes dusty from the village road, his hair sticking out every which way like he’d been threading his fingers through it countless times, and he even seemed a bit unshaven…

Then again, she probably didn’t look much better. She’d hardly eaten anything that morning, spending it instead to get the house ready to receive a visitor — a tenant, actually.

“Good morning,” she said awkwardly, “I-I mean evening, hello, I…”

“Hello,” laughed Sebastian, his eyes shining as he took her in — his salvation. “Hope I didn’t inconvenience you an awful lot with this…”

“No! No, not at all,” she said, smiling brightly and tucking a loose lock of hair behind her ear.

“And on such short notice too…”

“No, don’t worry about it! Please, come in.”

She stood aside and let him pass, noticing with some surprise that he only had a briefcase with him. Did that mean…?

“So you’re only staying for a day or two, or…?”

Sebastian turned toward her with a crestfallen look.

“I c-can, if… if that’s…”

“I mean, you only have a little luggage with you, and…”

“Oh, this,” he laughed, looking down at it. How much trouble it had caused him… “It holds more than it seems to,” he winked at her.

“I see,” she smiled.

They looked at each other awkwardly for a few moments before she remembered to lead him further in. She had him sit by the fireplace while she brought out the tea, and let him catch his breath. It looked like he needed it.

“I hope the journey hasn’t been too rough,” she said as she poured him a steaming cup of Ceylon.

Sebastian understood her meaning. “Look that bad, do I?”

“No,” she said at length, sitting opposite him. “Just… tired.”

“It’s been a long couple of days. That’s why I may not be presentable. I…”

He didn’t want to tell her what had happened, didn’t want her to get that impression of him. It was bad enough that Ominis had chastised him like a little boy, like they were back at Hogwarts. He didn’t want to look like some irresponsible reprobate to her as well. On top of everything, he worried that if he told the truth, she might withdraw her offer to host him… But then again, he thought, that’s her right, isn’t it?

“I may have been a little careless,” he sighed, determined to tell her, in the end, as much as his pride would allow. He dared look up at her and found her sitting quietly in the patchy old armchair, looking him at him, listening. “Since you’ve been good enough to offer me your hospitality, I suppose you want to know why I called upon you. Because it truly isn’t my intention to put you through any difficulty, and I really am ashamed to have had to ask, but —”

“Think nothing of it,” she said with a quick wave of her hand. “Please… Tell me.”

Sebastian bit his fleshy lower lip and continued. “For the past several years, I’ve been helping out a… businessman, with some shipments. And with research into certain items that he trades in. And sometimes other things, but… The point is, this gentleman has caught the eye of the Ministry, and they sent their Aurors over to investigate.”

He could almost hear it when the breath froze in her chest.

“They paid me a visit yesterday afternoon,” he said, taking a sip of the tea.

“What happened?” she asked quietly.

“Nothing. They asked me some questions, I answered… Offered to make me an informant, although I’ll have none of that,” he sneered. He wouldn’t betray even someone like Burke to the Aurors… No, if Burke was to get what was coming to him, it would be from Sebastian’s wand. “But it was too close a call for my liking. They’re watching my flat in London, I know it. I’ve seen them.”

She sat completely still as she listened to him, captivated by the intrigue. This was far more exciting than the little gossip that went around in Upper Flagley about Mrs Royer’s son stealing Mrs Patenaude’s pears.

“I can’t exactly clear my name for the time being, and as I’m not the only one involved, that complicates things. As I see it, the best thing I can do is disappear for a little while. Let things calm down…”

“But do they have anything to incriminate you?” she asked in a small voice, the teacup forgotten in her hands.

“They have nothing,” he grinned, and thought ‘I hope’. “No need to worry, Miss. According to the law, you are hosting an honest wizard.”

She smiled with him. This all felt very exciting, but at the same time filled her with very rational concerns — logistical concerns. She needed now to rethink supplies for two people, for an indeterminate about of time, and cater her morning and evening routine to, perhaps, his own. And if he intended to slip out to London or elsewhere and do the sort of things he did, she needed to make sure he could come back in at night, or… wherever he returned.

Sebastian read all of these worries in her frown, and asked in a smaller voice, “Is that alright? If you changed your mind about it, I… I will think nothing ill of you.”

“No, I haven’t,” she reassured him quickly. “It’s just… well, I’m not very used to this,” she finished with a tense laugh.

“Well, just pretend I’m your brother, then,” he chuckled.

She smiled tensely back and nodded, then dipped her head to sip her tea.

“And about payment, I couldn’t possibly live here with some form of—”

“We can discuss that later.”

“But, really…”

“Would you like to see your bedroom?” she asked.

She led him to the right side of the house, to a chamber that opened directly from the living room.

The narrow brown door opened to reveal an almost perfectly square room, small and with a quite low ceiling, as otherwise was the rest of the house. A pair of little windows opened like eyes toward the garden and the fields beyond. The floor was softened by a carpet that was perhaps half the size of the room itself, weaved in red and brown and green in something of an autumn scenery.

On the left side, by the door, was a narrow bed that was quite high and looked exceedingly soft, covered over with brown blankets tipped with tassels all around the edges. A wardrobe stood at its foot, hewn from rough old wood. Facing the windows were a little writing desk and a chair that looked quite hard and uncomfortable, but it was cushioned by a pillow on the seat. On the desk, bathed in the evening breeze, was a stout little candle in its silver holder, an empty vase, a mug, and a pewter wash basin with an accompanying ewer.

“Oh, darn,” she said, rushing in to get the empty mug. “I forgot that there…”

“That’s alright,” he chuckled. “Don’t concern yourself with tidying up or… with anything, really.”

She stopped and looked at him, watching his face, his every move. “It isn’t much,” she shrugged, looking around herself in shame. “But…”

“It’s wonderful,” he said, looking at her with a warm smile.

“Don’t suppose it compares to your London flat,” she winced.

“No, it doesn't,” he said brightly, looking around the room. “It’s impeccably clean.”

She laughed briefly, incredulously, but she wasn’t about to turn down his compliment. “Well, I’ll let you get… get comfortable…”

The young lady took two small steps toward the door, smiling up at Sebastian who smiled back, looking grateful and at peace and… something more. He didn’t move, as if he had forgotten how to, choosing instead to look at her closely as she brushed past to leave the room. Even a hint of her body brought back the same fire to his nerves that he had felt that Friday when he woke up with nothing but her on his mind.

She closed the door behind her and took what felt like the first breath in hours. Her hands gripped her corseted waist for something firm to hold onto, something to remind her that she was solid, she was real, this was real.

“I won’t survive,” she said to herself. “I won’t survive him…”

[tboybuck]

HEARD!!

i wasn't about to count out each and every sentence, but i ended up (re)writing about 2k, so y'all can have half of it - under the cut

Eddie’s thirty-fifth birthday is toward the end of January, and he’s been actively swerving every attempt Chrissy and Robin have made to celebrate the milestone with him. So it’s not until the first week of February, when the girls drag Steve to Eddie’s bar to surprise him during his shift on a quiet Tuesday night, that they finally manage it.

Eddie clearly feels ambushed when the three of them walk into The Crawl and Chrissy hops up on a barstool to order, “An hour of your time, hot stuff!”

She winks at the woman working the bar with Eddie, who seamlessly takes over the job for him as Robin pulls him away by the elbow. Eddie is calling out to her, good naturedly begging for help, claiming he’s being kidnapped, calling her a traitor. Steve follows the three of them to a booth and takes his place beside Robin and across from Eddie.

Eddie barely acknowledges him. He grumbles at Chrissy about how his birthday was over a week ago and this was underhanded, surprising him at work like this and pulling his employees into their little scheme.

“You promised,” says Chrissy as the woman from the bar comes over with a pitcher of beer for the table.

“I promised I would spend my birthday with you, and I did. I don’t even celebrate shit like this.”

They finish the first pitcher, Steve uncharacteristically quiet as he watches Eddie with Robin and Chrissy. It’s not that Steve’s never noticed how good looking he is; of course he’s noticed. Especially here, in the low light of the bar with his hair pulled back into a low ponytail, silver wisps of it curling at his forehead and temples as he laughs. He really is almost startlingly attractive when he smiles, tall beer glass to his lips as he laughs at something Chrissy says to him.

It’s just that… well, Steve’s a little intimidated by Eddie. He carries himself like he doesn’t give a shit what people think about him, his personality larger than life, his opinions even bigger. He doesn’t let anybody give him shit for anything, and he’s always the first to go on a long winded rant about something he’s passionate about. And Eddie is passionate, he’s passionate about so much. He’s got something to say about things Steve’s never even considered before. He makes Steve think, makes him question things he’d never even thought about before

As the bartender places the second pitcher on the table, Eddie stands and tugs a squished pack of Camels from his back pocket, telling the table he’s running out back for a smoke break. Robin catches Steve’s eyes and tilts her head at him, toward Eddie, telling him silently to follow him and talk to him outside.

“Can I bum one?” Steve asks as the door to the smoking patio closes behind them, drowning out the heavy music from inside the bar.

“I guess.” Eddie hands him a cigarette and produces an expensive looking Zippo lighter from thin air. “Light?”

“Thanks.”

“Didn’t think you smoked, your highness.”

Steve does not smoke, quit years ago as a matter of fact, but every once in a while the craving will come over him when he’s had a few too many drinks, and Christmas at his parents last month had set him back pretty heavily. The cravings come more frequently now. Steve tells Eddie all this, for some reason. Eddie huffs a bit of a sardonic laugh, his tongue peeking out as he wets his lips.

Silence reigns for a moment while Steve works up his nerve. “We’re friends, right?” he asks.

“We are acquaintances at best, Harrington.”

“Okay, fine. You’re into the whole, like… stickin’ it to the man thing, though, right?”

Eddie looks at him cautiously. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Steve presses on. “What if the man were my father and I was trying to get disowned?”

“I would ask what that has to do with me?”

“Well,” Steve begins, “my dad is like… passively homophobic -”

“Lemme stop you right there. No.”

“Eddie, please. I am desperate,” he says, imploring. “It’s a family reunion. Just pretend to be my boyfriend. One weekend. We never have to talk about it again.”

“What’s in it for me?”

“I’ll pay you?”

“I don’t need your fucking charity, Harrington, I’m doing damn good for myself.”

“God it’s not… it’s not charity. It’d be charity to me if you go, okay? My dad’s got this… trust account that he’s been keeping from me. I need it. I don’t know if you know this, but my job doesn’t exactly… the money’s not great , okay, and once Chrissy and Robin get married they’re gonna wanna get a place and… I can’t fucking afford this apartment on my own.”

“Jesus Christ, a trust fund,” Eddie mutters. “Why me? Why not Robin?”

“My parents know Robin. They’re still convinced I’ll make Robin see how sinful her lifestyle is, or something. They want me to make an honest woman out of her.”

Eddie sighs. “How much?”

“How mu- huh?”

“How much, Harrington? As in, how much is this little facade worth to you. How much are you willing to pay me for my company?”

“Uhhh, a grand?”

“Chump change. Ten.”

“Ten thousand dollars? Are you high?”

“Usually. Yeah.”

“Five.”

“Ten,” Eddie insists. “I know that trust fund’s gotta be at least a hundred bands the way you’re gagging for it.”

Steve scoffs, throwing his hands in the air. They’re circling each other, sharks in the water, a challenge. 

“You don’t need my money, so why? Huh?”

“Why are you so insistent that it’s gotta be me?”

“I asked you first!”

“And my question is more important. Why me?”

“Because I don’t know anybody else!” Steve says. “And I thought you might be into the idea - really play it up and be an asshole on purpose to a couple of people who really deserve it, embarrass me along the way.”

“But you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend? I barely know you.”

“Yeah, and whose fault is that? Not mine. I’ve tried. For the girls if nothing else. Why do you hate me so much?”

“I don’t hate you, that’s ridiculous,” Eddie says with a roll of his eyes. “You know what? Fuck it. I’m in. I’ll make your dad wish he’d finished in your mom’s mouth instead.”

“That’s… that’s fucking disgusting. Thanks, though.” “I’m still getting a cut of that fucking trust fund, though, rich boy.”

[trivialbob]

Yesterday Sheila and I rode bikes on an 18-mile loop we like through Minneapolis. It took us three hours.

Two miles im my front tire popped. I have no idea what I ran over, but the tire was flat before I came to a stop.

Luckily I had tools, a pump, and a spare tube. It's been a while since I changed a tube. This time I accomplished the task in under five minutes, barely getting my hands dirty.

With that taken care of we re-started the ride. The Minneapolis Greenway is in better shape that previous years. The path has been repaved and re-striped. No tents were set up along the way.

When we got off the Greenway we went to one of my favorite local bike shops, Hub Bike Coop. Sheila pet the dog that was in there; I looked at bikes and bought two new tubes for spares (one for each of our bikes).

Years ago I put a Hub Bike Coop sticker on my old Corolla. Matt ended up with that car. The Hub sticker and another for the University of Wisconsin remained on the car while Matt lived in New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. It's a Corolla, so despite being nearly two decades years old I like to think that little blue car with my two stickers is still banging around somewhere on the east coast.

From the bike shop we pedaled south to Venn Brewing. An Australian Shepherd and three other dogs were inside. Sheila pet all of them. For her drink she ordered a Fruited Plains: Grapefruite Wheat. After taking a sip of it, I ordered the same thing. Wow, what an excellent beer on a warm day while biking.

Then we headed south and east to Lake Nokomis. There's a concession stand there where we've ordered beer before. Yesterday we saw a sign posted by the counter stating no beer and wine sales.

The place had been serving alcohol illegally for 12 years. Someone finally noticed that there isn't sufficient "covered seating" to allow beer and wine sales. Good thing after a dozen years of alcoholic chaos someone put an end to that madness and pulled the liquor license.

Still thirsty, we headed west along Minnehaha Parkway to Chicago Ave. Then it was just two blocks north to the Town Hall Tap. Sheila had a blood orange lager while I went with the Masala Mama IPA.

We sat at a table on the front sidewalk and split an appetizer. People watching was decent. Sheila, however, thought it was "people talking." She had nice comments for everyone who walked by.

"Oh I like that dress you're wearing." The woman in it was flattered and chatted with Sheila briefly.

"That's a cool tattoo." That woman also stopped to talk with Sheila, explaining how there was still a lot of coloring to be added to it and what it was going to look like. The tattoo parlor two storefronts away.

"Those are nice sandals. Are the straps a light auburn brown, or is that a darker eggshell (free range, not grocery store egg)?"

Now do you understand why it took us three hours to complete the loop?

Next door to Town Hall Tap is a theater. An old movie projector sits in front of the building. A theater employee told me it had been in use there from about 1945 to 1965.

Next to the theater is the Creekside Supper Club. As Sheila talked to everyone walking down Chicago Avenue, I went over to check the supper club's menu. Next time we are in that neighborhood I want to eat there. Maybe I can also find out how that woman's tattoo coloring is coming along.

Finally we paid our tab. Sheila said goodbye to all her new friends and acquaintances. Then we rode more of Minnehaha Parkway over to Lake Harriet where the car was parked. We thought about getting a beer at the Lake Harriet concession stand (which apparently does have sufficient covered seating). But after seeing all the bike shop and brewery dogs, we wanted to get home to our dogs.

At home we swapped two bikes for three Aussies and went to our local brewery. Sheila went to get us a beer. Oliver, Sulley, and Ella would not stop staring in the direction she went. Sheila always comes back, but they don't trust me on that.

The food truck on site served pizza. We didn't want any. The dogs had other ideas.

[i-am-baechu]

Chapter Four The One About The Wedding

Summary: “Did you just ask me if I sell coffee in a fucking coffee shop?” And with that, Taehyung was smitten by the Barista in the crazy flower sweater vest. Friendships will form but most importantly Taehyung will finally meet his soulmate. 

•——————•°•✿•°•——————•°•✿•°•———•

Genre: Idol au, strangers to lovers au, barista reader!, slow burn (friends with benefits to lovers kind of), semi-short storyish format, friendships, romance, angst, comedy, and smut

Main pairing: Idol! Taehyung x Barista! Reader 

Side ships: Hoseok x OC 

Warnings: Explicit language, smut, mature themes, homophobia, smoking cigarettes, drugs and alcohol usage 

⇜ Masterlist ⇝

•——————•°•✿•°•——————•°•✿•°•———•

The girls stood in the small bathroom stall with a mixture of annoyance and ignorance (Julia). Y/N tilted her head at Nikki as the older girl looked away from her glare, “You know the more you glare, the more wrinkles you get.” 

“I should kill you right now.”

“How was I supposed to know the door was going to break?”

Nikki took out a pack of cigarettes and Y/N slapped the small white box out of her hands, “You're not going to smoke when we're stuck together. This whole place says no smoking.” 

“If I turn my head, I don’t see the sign anymore. Which means I can smoke.” 

“Guys, I need to go to the bathroom.” 

The two girls looked at Julia and then back at each other, “Fuck.” 

An hour ago 

The organ started playing the famous song that brought two souls together. The soft melody played through the church as everyone stood up to see the bride. It was Nikki’s cousin's wedding and she begged her roommates to come with her. Nikki hated her cousins (well she hated her whole family). They always acted like they were better than her because they were doctors and CEO’s. She only went when her mom bribed her with paying rent for three months for the girls, why would she say no to that?  

Y/N looked down the aisle with an excited look but it dropped when she saw Julia...dressed in all white. Julia was in a white satin floral dress and a white pearl clip in her hair. Y/N looked away and looked at Nikki who was already looking at her, “Is she wearing white?”

“I’m sure she has a reason...”

“Y/N, who the fuck wears white to a wedding if you’re not the bride.” 

“I mean there's colored flowers on it...”

As Julia walked down, everyone stared at her disgustedly but she didn’t seem bothered with the looks. She saw her roommates and waved at them with a wide smile. Y/N closed her eyes as she glanced up with a frown to whisper to herself, “Please give me strength.” 

Julia stood next to Y/N with an excited look, “The uber took forever to get here. Did the bride already walk out?” 

Y/N sighed and looked down the aisle to see the bride glaring at them. She nodded her head and looked at Julia with a stern look, “Yeah, she did.” 

Julia turned her head away from Y/N to look at the bride with a wide smile, “She looks so beautiful. I love the lace work on the skirt.” 

When the Ceremony ended, the girls stood in the waiting room with drinks in their hands. Every time a person walked past them, she overheard their whispears and wanted to hide from everyone. If she was them, she would talk bad about them too but that didn’t make it easier. Julia didn’t seem to be bothered by anything as she continued to drink her champagne, “I met someone.”

Nikki raised her eyebrow at her, “You met someone? Who?” 

“It was someone from Bts, Hoseok I think... He was very sweet, we got drunk and fucked but he wants to hang out again.” 

Y/N’s eyes widen and her mouth dropped, “You had sex with Hoseok?” 

Julia nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders, “I told him I wasn’t looking for a relationship and he said that was perfect for him.”   

“So friends with benefits?” 

“Acquaintances with benefits.”

Nikki nodded her head and turned towards Y/N with a small smirk (something that made her nervous to see), “What about you Y/N? You were with Taehyung last night...did you get dick down?”

Y/N slapped her arm and looked around to see if anyone heard them, “Don’t say that...and no I told you it wasn’t happening any time soon.” For now...

“How can you keep your hands to yourself? It's clear he likes you.” 

“Nikki, you don’t always have to have sex to make it known that you like each other. You can go on dates and that's what I want with him.” 

Nikki raised her eyebrow and took a sip of her drink, “So you really like him?” 

“Yes...I do.” 

Julia smiled at this and brought her glass up to her confession, “That’s good Y/N. I’m happy for you.”

“Julia put your glass down.” 

A group of older women walked past Y/N but stopped to look Julia up and down with disgust, “You should be ashamed of yourself.” 

They walked off and Julia looked at Y/N with a frown, “I don’t think your dress is that bad.”

“You think they were talking about me?” 

“It's probably too colorful.” 

Y/N glanced down at her blue dress and then back at Julia’s dress, “Julia have you seen what you're wearing?” 

“A floral dress? It's great for spring” 

“The dance floor is now open! Let’s welcome the new married couple!” 

Julia smiled at this and downed her drink before placing the glass on a table. She clapped her hands excitedly and looked at the two girls, “Let’s go! This is going to be fun!” 

Y/N watched Julia run into the ballroom, pushing others to get there (making more people talk bad about them). She glanced down at her dress with a frown and then back at Nikki, “I thought this dress was cute...” 

“It is cute, Julia is just...Julia.” 

The two girls went into the ballroom when the crowd went down but they still overheard some of the gossip, “They’re probably going to last for a month before they divorce...”

“She’s a doctor, why would she go for some office worker? What a stupid choice...” 

Y/N glanced towards Nikki who seemed unfazed by the older women gossiping. Y/N frowned at this and she intertwined their fingers together. She rubbed her knuckles with her thumb as Nikki sent her a small smile, grateful that someone cared for her. As soon as they entered the ball room, Nikki dragged her away from everyone and went to the bar. Sitting away from everyone. Nikki looked around and then back at Y/N, “My family are evil and leeches...that’s all they are.”

“Let's not think about them tonight. We can still try and have a good time.” 

Nikki looked at the bartender and nodded her head, “I need more alcohol to deal with these people.”

“Just be careful...I don’t want you getting sick because of people you hate. They don’t deserve your health.” 

“Yeah, yeah...so, are you ever going to tell me about last night?” 

Y/N glanced at Nikki and then at the dark wood beneath her fingertips, “T-There’s nothing to say.” 

“Bullshit, now tell me what happened.” 

And Y/N did just that with wine in her hand. She talked about how they ate together and afterwards watched a movie. She didn’t remember the movie because she was too busy kissing Taehyung (and doing other things). She was going to stay the night but remember the wedding so she opted to leave to make things easier. He had his manager drive her to her apartment as they sat in the back sharing laughs and kisses. Nikki smiled at this, “Wow, you really like him. Do you see yourself dating him?” 

“I mean I would want that but I like the pace we're out right now. I like texting or facetiming him, maybe it can be upgraded to a date soon.” 

“He better ask you out. With the way he grabbed your ass, that means he wants you.” 

“Nikki stop.”

Nikki let out a laugh and she looked at the bartender to order another drink but stopped. She grabbed Y/N’s wrist harshly, making Y/N confused. Nikki quickly left the bar with Y/N behind her confused, “Yah! Nikki, what the hell are you doing?” 

“Gotta go...” Y/N rolled her eyes and stopped walking to rip her hand out of her grasp. Nikki sighed and looked at her with a frown, “What!?”  

“What’s wrong?” 

Nikki sighed at her and placed her hands on her hips, “I saw my ex...” 

“Oh...Catherine.”

“No, the other one.”

“Megan?” 

“Ding ding. She’s been texting me lately about getting back together but she only wants to be with me to get money from my parents. Now let's find Julia and get the hell out of here.” 

Y/N nodded her head at this and followed Nikki through the “dancers”. Their eyes landed on Julia who was talking to one of Nikki’s aunts. The only thing that Y/N heard from the conversation was “Always wrap it before you do it.” She had many questions but she didn’t want any answers. Nikki ripped Julia out of the conversation, not bothering to say anything to her aunt. The roommates quickly made their way to the exit but stopped when Nikki heard her grandmother’s voice echoed in the lobby.

“Fuck, fuck...to the bathroom.” 

No one questioned the decision, they knew her grandmother could be...too much. They went inside the furthest stall, locking it tight. When Y/N looked around the stall she raised her eyebrow, this stall was different. It didn’t have any gaps underneath and was rather like another room (a very small room) rather than a stall. Nikki sighed and leaned against the wall, “I fucking hate this family so much.” 

Y/N nodded her head at this and patted the top of her head, “I know...we should stay here for ten minutes and then leave. I’m sure your grandmother will be gone by then.” 

“Oh she will. I’ve heard she was the one that planned dinner so I know she'll be there to watch those poor workers.”

The girls sat on the floor (the best they could) and played uno on their cellphones to have the time go past faster. It was an intense game between Nikki and Julia while there was no way for Y/N to win at this point, “Nikki, just let me win. I never win.”

“That sucks for you.”  

Y/N rolled her eyes and opened her text message from Taehyung with a smile on her face. Ignoring the yelling between the two, even though it was funny.

Taehyung:

So...you're playing uno in the bathroom?

Y/N:

Yes...well losing at it 

Taehyung:

Well, I was wondering if next week you would want to go on a date with me? Jin showed me this private restaurant and I thought...it was perfect for us

Y/N:

Ohhh! I would love to go on the date...if you want lol

Taehyung:

Maybe we can dance on the rooftop or you can let me eat you out with the sunset on us

Y/N: 

I-I...

“I WON!!” 

The yell from Julia scared Y/N and she dropped her phone in her lap. She couldn’t tell if her heart was beating fast from Taehyung or Julia. Nikki glared at her and crossed her arms over her chest with a pout, “Lucky, anyways. We should go, I’m sure the witch is gone.”

Nikki was the first to stand and walked over to unlock the door but there was a long pause. Y/N and Julia looked at each other with blank faces as Nikki stood there. She turned around and gave Y/N a fake smile, “What would you do if I told you that the door won’t open...” 

“The fuck you mean the door won’t open.” 

“The door won’t Y/N, like I unlocked it but it won’t open...”

Y/N blinked her eyes at this and pushed Nikki out of the way. She pushed and pushed but the door didn’t budge. She quickly turned around with her back against the door, “It won’t open.” 

“Yeah, tell me something I don’t know.” 

“What the hell are we going to do?”  

Julia raised her hand and Y/N looked down at the tiling before looking back at Julia, “Yes Julia?” 

“We can die here.”

“We’re not dying...we can’t afford funerals.” 

The girls stood in the small bathroom stall with a mixture of annoyance and ignorance (Julia). Y/N tilted her head at Nikki as the older girl looked away from her glare, “You know the more you glare, the more wrinkles you get.” 

“I should kill you right now.”

“How was I supposed to know the door was going to break?”

Nikki took out a pack of cigarettes and Y/N slapped the small white box out of her hands, “You're not going to smoke when we're stuck together. This whole place says no smoking.” 

“If I turn my head, I don’t see the sign anymore. Which means I can smoke.” 

“Guys, I need to go to the bathroom.” 

The two girls looked at Julia and then back at each other, “Fuck.” 

Y/N tried kicking the door but it still didn’t move. Nikki stood in the corner with her hands in her hair, “Julia I swear to god you better clench.” 

“I can't! I need to go now!” 

Y/N kept kicking at the door but stopped as she let out a loud groan. She turned towards Nikki and then looked at the small gap at the top, “Get on your knees, Nikki.”

“Oh, kinky.” 

“Shut the fuck up and do it.” 

Julia started to jump a little as she looked at the ceiling with sweat starting to form on her face. Nikki let out a groan when she felt Y/N’s flats hit her back harshly, “Fuck can you be nicer?” 

“No, because we’re locked in here because of you. Now push up.” 

Nikki raised up slowly as Y/N started to climb over the stall but stopped when she saw Nikki's grandmother on the toilet. Her eyes widened at this and slowly moved back down. She looked at Nikki with a scared look, “Nikki...your grandmother has a hearing aid right?” 

“Yeah? She usually keeps it off because she doesn’t want to hear anything, why?” 

“Your grandma is next to us.”

“Fuck.”

Extended ending:

Y/N and Nikki stared at the wall with blank looks. Y/N glanced at Nikki and shook her head, “Next time we should hide our faces.” 

“Listen, I didn’t think about that...Julia are you done?” 

“Almost~” 

Y/N sighed and shook her head, “You owe us pizza...shit you owe us lunch and dinner for the next week.”

“That’s fair.” 

There was a long pause in the stall and a sigh behind them. Y/N raised her eyebrow at the sigh, “Julia, is everything okay?”

“I need to shit...” 

“Oh fucking hell.” 

[milkmademozzarella]

WC: 845

Category: Angst

Fandom: BNHA

“Baby, what are you doing?” He tilted his head. “Are we going on a getaway?”

Your brows furrowed, and you squinted at him. He was in normal civilian attire, with a rose in his hand contrasting with his light blue dress shirt. He also had freshly ironed khakis. At one point, that person was you. Now, all you felt was disgust.

“You’re dressed nicely,” You avoided his question.

“Well, it is a special day today,” He grinned.

You grimaced as you recalled what you were wearing 45 minutes ago.

You were seated patiently at the dinner table, scrolling through your phone while waiting for your pro-hero husband to get home. The temperature within the building was low, so you wouldn’t sweat, so you were shivering. The attire you chose didn’t help either. You were wearing a stunning green dress that fitted you perfectly. It wasn’t just any green; it was your husband’s signature green. The TV was on as background noise, something to keep you focused as you prepared for the evening, and now that the evening was set up, it had served its purpose. You were paying it no mind until you received a text that caught your attention.

“So, I don’t know what you’re doing right now, but if you already know I’m so sorry.”

You tilted your head, confused. Katsuki usually never texted you. He preferred in-person communication. Hell, he barely texted his group chat with his friends.

Following his message came a flurry of messages, some from unidentified numbers, others from close friends, co-workers, or acquaintances. You didn’t have time to read all of them as you dialed Katsuki’s number into your phone and waited patiently for him to pick up. He answered after the first ring.

“Hello?”

“Katsuki? What happened? Is Izuku okay?” You panicked.

“(Y/N) I need you to calm down, okay? Take some deep breaths.”

“Katsuki what the fuck happened!”

“If you don’t know, I’d rather talk to you in person about it,” Katsuki sighed.

“Know what?! What the fuck happened?!” You were yelling at this point.

“Izuku had an affair.” Katsuki’s voice cracked.

You felt time stop as you dropped your phone onto the counter. Your eyes filled with moisture as you digested the information you just received. Izuku, your husband of 3 years, had an affair.

“W-What?”

“I’ll be there in an hour or so to get you, okay? You’re at your house, right?”

“Right.”

“Cya then.”

You ignored the incoming notifications and went to the internet browser app on your phone. You typed in Izuku’s pro hero name into the search bar and sobbed at the results. Through blurry vision, you tapped the most recent article. Barely able to read about his affair with fellow pro-hero Uravity. Your best friend.

You let out a loud wail and ran to the bedroom, throwing open your luggage onto the bed and entering the closet.

And that brings you back to the present.

“Special to one of us, maybe, but I guess that’s long gone,” You shrugged.

He let out an awkward laugh. “What do you mean, honey?”

You stayed silent. You were unaware of what to say to him, knowing that if you were to speak a word regarding the situation to him, you’d burst into tears again.

“I know what you did, Izuku,” You sighed. “The whole world does.”

“What’d I do?”

“You and Uravity,”

“Hm? We’re all friends, what happened?”

“Ruining three years of marriage for fucking what, Izuku?”

The gears started to turn in his head, his expression going from confused to shocked to absolutely mortified.

“Honey, no! I—I—I would never!”

You roll your eyes as you feel tears spring to life, threatening to spill over your lashes and make contact with the surface.

“No, no, no, honey! I—I wouldn’t do that to you, you’ve got to understand!”

Izuku placed strong hands on both arms' sides, immobilizing you and keeping you in place to listen to his rambling. His voice became muffled, and you could only study the expression on his face. His green eyes were wide with panic, and his lips kept moving. You don’t even know if he knew what he was saying anymore.

“Let go!” You hiccuped.

Slam!

Katsuki pushed open the door, ramming into Izuku and landing a punch square on his jaw. The impact caused the shorter male to stumble backward, his hands automatically coming to the place of impact as he fell to the floor square on his bum.

“Put your hands on her again and I’ll put you in the fucking ground!”

“It—It wasn’t like that!”

“You’ve fucked up big time, Izuku!”

Katsuki grabbed you and stormed out, rushing you to his car in case Izuku tried to chase after you guys. He buckled you into the passenger's seat. He got in the driver's seat, speeding into the night, leaving Izuku alone in the practical mansion.

“I know…”

[strawberrywritersguild]

♡ The Little Things: Chapter 2 - Cuisine and Company ♡

Pairing: Julian Bashir x gn!reader Word Count: 3519 words Summary: The historian invites Julian for dinner in their quarters as thanks for taking care of them. They introduce him to several historic cuisines, one of which has strange side-effects.

It'd been three days since you arrived on to Deep Space 9. After the disaster that was your first day aboard, you'd gotten rather comfortably situated in your quarters and work-space, and all your medical files were finally delivered to doctor Bashir. Now, all that was really left to do was to get acquainted with people.

And who better for that task than the pretty doctor who'd gone and looked after you during your vulnerable time. If he would be amenable of course, which you weren't certain of. It's like he'd been avoiding you.

And there he went again, spotting you on your way to the infirmary and turning back around.

"Good doctor!" you call, jogging to catch up to him. Julian's face instantly flushes, his eyes looking around for an escape route. There is none. "Would you, perhaps, join me on the promenade for a quick bite to eat? As a thank you, for taking such good care of me."

"I, uh, I- I would be most glad to, but- I have-" Julian stammers, not entirely certain if he's trying to refuse or accept. Oh, he'd love nothing more than to spend some time with you, but he couldn't help but keep staring at your lips, and that smirk, and remember how soft they were-

"Good doctor, I happen to be very aware that it's your lunch hour. So, would you prefer terran food, or something more exciting?" You ask, turning the both of you around smoothly. Julian doesn't even fully realize that it's happened and just goes along with it. You smirk. He's so cute.

You lead the two of you over to the promenade, silently watching Julian's face change as he comes to the realization of what's happening. Usually you'd be chatting people's ears off, but you really don't want to scare any potential friends you might make on the station.

"I've not yet become fully acquainted with your food situation, so if you have any recommendations give them now." You startle Julian, who turns to you with wide eyes. "If you don't, we could always go to Quark's-"

"No, no!" Julian immediately stops you, horrified at the idea. "There's plenty of other good establishments to enjoy-"

Just then, a huge bang echoes from ahead of you, near the food court. The two of you halt, look at each other, then ahead.

"…Would you…" you turn to Julian and take his hands into yours. "Would you rather come to my quarters, I could make something for us there?"

"It's fine, I'm sure that was nothi-" Another bang, followed by a crash. Julian winces, and smiles awkwardly. "On the other hand, I would love to see what you could come up with."

"I hope I'll be able to impress." You say, bringing his hands to an almost kiss, before dragging him off towards the crew quarters.

"And this is a lovely Vulcan salad, from about six centuries in the past. I learned to make it during a trip to Vulcan about sixty years ago." You set down a bowl of fresh blues, Julian eyeing the strange colours. "It's made with a type of salad that's since gone extinct."

"Delightful. Thank you." Julian nods, taking some of the salad onto his plate. It's already pretty full of strange looking food, at least to him.

"I'll think up some interesting dessert while we eat." You sit down, taking some of the Trill arbon soup onto your plate. You smile placatingly, watching Julian poke at his food.

"So, uh… how are you settling in?" Julian asks, clearly trying to stall having to test your food.

"Very well, good doctor. I've found this station to be… interesting." you smirk, taking a bite out of your meal. Julian, observing it, dares to take a small bite.

"Mm!" Julian perks up, slamming his fingers on his mouth. You look to him with concern, wondering if you'd fucked up the Gandorik mousunt meat. Then, he starts smiling. "This is the best thing I've ever had!"

You give a sigh of relief, relaxing into your seat. "Oh, thank goodness. The last time I made anything Gandorik was my last host."

"No, no, this is truly some of the best food I've ever had." Julian assures you, testing the soup. "Your last host, who was he?"

"Asquil (MC), my twentieth host. He was a brilliant man, documented the entirety of Trill history into a book. He was the one who started on our work to actually document everything." You explain, gesturing with your fork. Julian seems invested, which encourages you to continue. "He was one of my longest living hosts, spent the last few years of his life opposing the destruction of the Klorian historical archives, to the misfortune of the current ruling party. He managed it, considered his life work to be done, and I came to take his place."

"How old are you exactly? You said Asquil was your twentieth host, you must be rather old then." Julian asks.

You sigh, thinking back on the years and years of living in your head. "I'm almost 2000 years old. Which is rather old for a joined symbiote, but I'm… special."

"Special? In what way?" Julian asks, wondering if it's a medical or mental thing.

"I'm… smaller, than all the other symbionts. I've always been, always will be. By all predictions, I'll still be viable for joining for another thousand years."

"Is it a hormonal thing?" Julian wonders, almost wanting to get his medical tricorder to check.

"Yes, I have growth hormone deficiency. I don't really mind, it allows me to be humanoid a lot longer." You mutter, poking at your food.

"But it's still something you find embarrassing." Julian observes, noting your sudden lack of confidence.

"It's like being the shortest in class, despite being the oldest. None of the others dare make fun of me anymore, but they sure did back when I was young. So it's a bit of a sensitive topic, even now." You explain, biting your Ooluvian shick bread, mostly so that you don't have to talk anymore.

"But now you're older than any of the others, and wiser, because of it." Julian notes.

"Well…" you purse your lips, not looking up from your meal. "I guess."

You don't say anything further, and Julian doesn't really know what to say either. The two of you eat in silence for a moment before Julian decides to just change the topic.

"So, was it Asquil who first got you into food history?" He asks. You laugh, finally looking up at him.

"Absolutely not, Asquil was the worst cook anyone's ever met. It was Hosor, my seventh host, who first started looking into food cultures. These are all from his recipe book." You explain, looking excited to be talking again. Julian's relieved to see that. He's decided that you don't look right without a smile.

"Recipe book?"

"Yes!" You lean closer towards Julian, your voice climbing up. "Back then, we didn't have replicators, so it was vital that every step be recorded. And even after we got access to replicators, I personally liked making my own food."

"You can cook?" Julian raises one of his brows, not sure why he's so surprised.

"Yes, though not as well as I used to. Asquil was such a clutch in the kitchen that all knowledge in the world about cooking couldn't have helped him. I haven't actually cooked since." You explain.

"Well, I'd love to see you try." Julian teases.

"I might have to some day. Maybe I'll even teach you how to. Teaching someone can be very… intimate." You giggle, waving your fork at him. Julian blushes, suddenly the one having to look away. You stand up and head for the replicator. "That reminds me, dessert is in order."

"What… what exactly are we having?" Julian asks, suddenly realizing that you've both finished your meals.

"Songean chocolate lake." you answer, bringing over a bowl of something clearly made of chocolate. At least this one doesn't look to strange, by Julian's standards anyways.

"I love chocolate." Julian says.

"I'd predicted so." You say while sitting down. Julian goes to take some to his dessert bowl, before you intercept his hands. "Let me." You smile, holding his hands on the bowl while you ladle him some.

"T-thank you, professor." Julian says, bringing his bowl towards himself once you're done. Your smile turns into a smirk while you take your portion.

"You're welcome." You wink. Julian quickly looks down at his own bowl and spoons some into his mouth. It's the best damn thing he's ever tasted.

It doesn't take long until conversation starts sailing again, though the eating takes a while. Good conversation can really distract the company.

After you're finally finished, you escort Julian to your quarter's door. You're a bit reluctant to let him go, but it's getting late and you're still trying to adjust to the rhythm aboard the station.

"I hope you enjoyed your stay, good doctor." you say, still holding onto his hand as he stands on the other side of the door.

"It was absolutely terrifying." He answers, smiling.

"…" Your eyes widen. "What?"

"I was scared to come here, mostly because you're really attractive and I don't really know what to do with that." Julian continues, before pausing. He comes to some sort of realization causing his smile to fade. "…I didn't mean to say that."

"Good doctor, I think it's best we stop by the infirmary, don't you think?" You take a hold of his other hand, guiding him towards the infirmary.

"I think it's for the best as well, but I would very much like to stay in your quarters much more." Julian says, before once again realizing he talked too much.

"Very flattering, good doctor, but maybe some other time." you smile placatingly, before looking ahead with a panicked look. You have no idea what's happening, and you don't like it.

"So you're saying that he can't tell anything but the truth?" Jadzia asks, looking between you and Julian, who's sitting on one of the med beds. You'd called for her the instant you arrived in the infirmary and realized that a science officer might be of more use than a nurse.

"Yes, it started the moment he left my quarters." You explain.

"And what were you doing before that?" Jadzia asks, raising one of her brows. You have a feeling she's had that same look around you before.

"I'd invited Julian for dinner, mostly just to tease him because I realized he's attracted to me." You prattle, before pausing. "I…"

"Didn't mean to say that?" Jadzia asks, her brow raising higher.

"Yes…"

"It seems you've been affected as well." Jadzia laughs.

"It seems so, yes." You sit down next to Julian, feeling a bit faint. Julian sets a hand on your shoulder, which you pat.

"Well, I'll look into it." Jadzia promises. "Meanwhile, how about you two look into this as well."

"Sure, sure." You wave as she leaves, still chuckling about the whole thing. You glare after her. "Dax did always like to get on my nerves, no matter the host."

"That something you wanted to say, or something you had to say?" Julian asks.

"Both." You grumble. You pat the bed harshly and stand up. "Well, time to get into my files to see if I can find anything."

"I'll do the same then." Julian stands up as well, and both of you find places to work in the room. You probably already know what's wrong, but your memory is so long, and your mind so tiny, that sometimes you forget. That's why you're trying to get everything documented.

The two of you work in silence for a long while before the door chimes suddenly again. You look up and see a cardassian walking in. No one seems alarmed, so this must be the Garak you've heard about.

"Well well, dear doctor, I heard you'd had a little incident during lunch." Garak smiles, to which Julian looks both a little alarmed and defeated.

"Yes. One could say that." Julian shuts his mouth as quickly as he can. Garak smiles endearingly at that.

"Dear doctor, you're much less talkative than usual. Something you don't want to say?" he chuckles, leaning closer to Julian who's looking more and more annoyed.

Julian bites his cheek, doing anything he can to not start talking. You watch amused as Garak keeps trying to provoke the good doctor. You leave the two of them to it, going back to your files.

"Really, dear doctor, it's nothing to be embarrassed abou-" Garak's teasing is interrupted by your shout.

"Found it!" you jump up from your seat, clutching your pad. You look to the two confused friends. "I found what caused it!"

"Really?!" Julian shouts back, getting up from his seat to stand behind you.

"Yes, I'm afraid I forgot about the side effects of the main ingredient in Songean chocolate lake. Kayron roots have a truth-serum like effect. It's why it's no longer made anywhere." You explain, going further into the files. "It seems an antidote does exist, on Songe. I just don't have on file what it is, so we won't be able to replicate it."

"Seems your only option is going to Songe yourself and getting it." Garak points out, to which you groan.

"Songe is a highly isolationist planet. They're not going to take well to a visit." You mutter, setting your pad aside.

"Well, maybe it's better you stay this way then." Garak suggests, to which both you and Julian groan. Garak chuckles, moving towards the door. "Have fun, you two!"

"I don't understand why you like him." you mutter to Julian.

"Sometimes, I don't either." he answers back. You snort, laughing slightly. Julian looks highly offended, which makes you laugh harder.

You, Julian and Jadzia are aboard the USS Ganges, getting ready to leave for Songe. You still think this is going to be a waste of time, but you don't exactly have any other options. You don't fancy being under the effects of the Kayron root for the rest of your life, no matter how amusing it is.

"It'll take us about six hours to reach Songe, so get comfortable in the meanwhile." Jadzia informs you, to which both you and Julian nod to. You've both become remarkable quiet lately, something which only Jadzia is able to fully enjoy. No one else aboard the station has been subjected to just how much you can run your mouth yet.

"So, which of your hosts are we to blame for this one?" Julian asks, and Jadzia can't help giving a deep sigh once you open your mouth. So much for peace and quiet.

After six hours of torture (if you asked Jadzia anyways) you reach the star system Songe resides in. You give a deep sigh, as the conclusion you've come to is that you'll have to negotiate with the Songean people. Something you're not looking forward to.

"I thought one of your previous hosts was an ambassador. I'm sure this'll be a peace of cake for you." Jadzia reminds you, though you're certain it's more Dax than her.

"Yes, Thedius. He was good, an excellent one in fact. But that was over a thousand years ago, the rules have changed, so to speak." you mutter, biting your nails. As soon as you notice, you stop. You hate doing that.

"No one after that has been an ambassador?" Julian asks.

"No, it was soon after that that we became permanently just 'the professor'. Sure, I've had talks every once in a while, but nothing serious."

"And yet you're the favorite Trill of many a planet." Jadzia mentions, smiling secretively. Julian wonders what that's about, but decides not to ask. He knows you couldn't help answering even if it was a secret of some kind.

You look not too thrilled by her insinuation. You can sense Julian's curious stare and turn to him. "I'll tell you about it later." Julian nods, confident in your promise.

"I'll try and initiate communication with them now." Jadzia announces, prompting you to get in front of the communications screen. A few screen taps and a tense moment of silence later, a blue feathered alien appears on screen.

"This is President Fulkaid of the Songe Communion Circle. What is your business here?" The alien greets you, giving you a strange salute. You nod back in greeting.

"I am Loriaz (MC), a historian from the planet Trill. We're very sorry to disturb you, I understand you aren't too keen on it. But we have a bit of a problem only you could help with." You say back, not even attempting to give the salute back. You have a feeling they wouldn't take likely to you botching it, or even attempting it.

"What might your problem be?" President Fulkaid asks, looking mildly interested.

"Me and a colleague of mine were affected by the Kayron root. If my notes are correct, the only antidote exists on your planet." you explain, getting a few nods from the president.

"I understand, but to make sure that you are in fact telling the truth, we'd like to ask some questions from you. And you cannot step foot on the planet, it'd be against our laws."

"I understand." you say. The president nods, getting a pad from someone out of view. Their feathers ruffle a bit.

"Are you here with honourable intentions?"

"Yes."

"Where are you coming from?"

"Deep Space 9, a Bajoran space station."

"What species are you?"

"A joined Trill."

The president looks interested again, and looks to a screen out of view again. A few seconds pass by.

"Are you the trill symbiote known as (MC)?"

"Yes. I was Hosor (MC) the last time I visited Songe." you explain. The president nods.

"I see. Then, could I ask you a rather personal question, to make sure?"

You bite your tongue, having a feeling about what he's about to ask. "…Sure."

"I appreciate it. Now, are you the progenitor of the Kal-family?"

You lean your head against your hand, taking a deep breath. "Yes… I am the progenitor of the Kal-family."

Julian and Jadzia exchange eye contact, wondering what's happening. They'll be sure to ask before you take the antidote.

"…That's all, dear ancestor." The president says, just before cutting communication. You groan, hiding your face on the back of Jadzia's seat.

"I should've remembered that one." you mutter, to the absolute laughter of Jadzia and Julian.

"Ancestor! You're his ancestor!" Jadzia gaggles, to your annoyance. You lift your head up just to glare at her.

"Like Dax doesn't have any descendants somewhere in the universe."

"Yeah, but I didn't expect it from you! I can't wait to tell Pixie about this!"

"You absolutely will not!" you screech, getting into a bit of a struggle with Jadzia who's still laughing. Julian takes a step back, not wanting to get caught in whatever you're doing.

There's that name again. Now at least Julian knows that it's a person, someone you seem to care about. Or at least their opinion.

Only half an hour later president Fulkaid gets in touch again, beaming a few bottles of the antidote aboard. You take a bottle of it for study, but the other two you and Julian take.

"Ugh." Julian gags, the taste the antithesis to what caused this whole mess. You silently agree, coughing. You and Julian look to each other, looking over each other for any oddness.

"Lie to me about something." You say to Julian.

"Umm, I'm not a doctor." Julian answers, sighing in relief afterwards. The feeling of being able to lie again is strangely dizzying. Though it might just be from not getting to talk as much for the past day.

"Well, it seems like this adventure is over." You say, nodding to both Julian and Jadzia. Jadzia nods back, while Julian's too relieved to acknowledge it.

"I'll… I think I'll go take a nap. This has been surprisingly exhausting." Julian says, heading to the back of the runabout.

"Good idea, have a good nights rest, good doctor." you say to him.

"Thank you, professor." he says back, just before the doors close.

"Well, this has just been something." Jadzia says, sitting down to get ready to pilot you back home. You sit down yourself with a deep sigh.

"I hate to say it, but yes. This has been something." you situate yourself into the chair better, feeling tired yourself. Jadzia smiles at you, feeling some sympathy for you.

"I heard Julian told you he found you attractive." Jadzia says. You open your eyes, looking unimpressed. "Any mutuality to that?"

"Yes, Julian is very attractive." You say, before you pause. You and Jadzia look to each other, both thinking the same thing. You glare at her, before settling down again. "No mention of this to anyone."

"If you say so." Jadzia smirks, setting a course back to DS9. She can't wait to see where the two of you are going.

[nihilnovisubsole]

[taps mic] is everybody here? everyone still manning their tumblr blogs after the twitter roller coaster of the past couple of months? cool

so! 2022, huh? it's not new year's eve without one of my soppy, navelgazing year-in-review posts. if you're reading this, you survived. as an acquaintance of mine put it, "i hope 2023 is the year it all pays off for you."

if i seem unusually optimistic about it, it's because this year, against the odds, things started looking up. i had no idea when i stepped out last december 31st and listened to the neighbors' firecrackers what i was in for. i didn't know that when obsidian emailed me on a january afternoon about "a quick follow-up meeting," it would be their offer call. i didn't know what kind people i'd meet there, or the lengths they'd go to to make me feel like a respected peer instead of a gatecrashing fan. i knew least of all how it would affect my state of mind: that i'd finally feel a sense of accomplishment and dignity. i look ahead and i see a viable future for myself. i've been paid to write for years, but now i can support myself with it. i think about the weight that takes off my mother. i remember staying up until 4 A.M., wondering how i'd do the only thing i ever wanted to do. it was a big, dark ocean then. it's still an ocean now, but i've got a boat, a crew, and a lantern. it's hard to overstate what that does to you.

the downside is, there are only 24 hours in a day, and your time feels very different when you're on the clock for eight of them. i knew it'd be a change, and it's gone more smoothly than i thought it would, but i just can't churn unpaid stuff out the way i did years ago. projects that would've taken a long time in college have become interminable now. you wouldn't believe how much half-finished art i have sitting around. it's not lost on me that this is just ordinary adulthood, and even i had to get around to it at some point. laugh all you want! seriously, i probably deserve it, and it's hard enough to find things to laugh about in this decade.

part of me misses that pillowy freelance lifestyle of cramming my paid work into the mornings, then doing fun projects all day. then i remember i was numbing the ache of not having a career that i now have, and the superficial sense of leisure came with a heavy price. it wasn't worth three cents a word and almost no creative input. it wasn't worth being on medi-cal and having my mother keep me afloat. it certainly wasn't worth watching my friends work themselves half to death because they weren't privileged enough to have that support network. i think we all agree that we should have a better world, that artists should be able to just make art, that contractors aren't paid enough. [except for relic, they were very generous, i loved them.] in the meantime, we have to make it through with what we have, and figure out how to look after each other as best we're able to.

i think, when people gain a measure of success in life, they want to fantasize that they did it all by themselves. that's ridiculous. i wouldn't be writing any of this without the people who hyped up my wild fanfic ideas or bought dangerous crowns. i'd never have written anniversary without the other longsummer nights authors building a vivid world for hercule and aida to live in. i'll never forget the colleagues and the industry doors they helped me through, and, you know, i'm not much now, but i hope i can pass that on. even if you only have a little power, you have to use it for good, right? otherwise, that's how you get a chandelier dropped on you.

seriously, though, read anniversary. i want to talk about it more. it's short, i swear!