#2) it's always brilliant until they see my face and hear me talk

[skaikruswan]

lord meowpheus rescue mission where he was thought to be a stray and taken to animal control to be neutered and morpheus is so stubborn he refuses to just turn back and disappear so matthew has to ask reader for help in between choking back his laughter

A cat in distress

WC: 1,6 k (I love this kind of prompts)   Ao3

Relationship: Morpheus x reader 

Notes: Morpheus as a cat, established relationship, a lot of teasing, reader to the rescue, 2 POV

Dear anon, I have to applaud you for this brilliant idea. I hope you like it. If you liked this story, i have written others.

The tales of Lord Meowpheus: I II III

Morpheus jumps to the next roof, enjoying the mobility and freedom this form brings. Through the eyes of a cat, the waking world looks different. He enjoys its simplicity as he scales down a tree. 

A tabby cat crosses the street, narrowly avoiding a taxi. She carefully approaches him, keeping a safe distance. 

“I know who you are,” she whispers, flattening her ears and lowering her tail. 

“Who am I?” he asks while sitting down, intrigued by the conversation. 

“The prophet told me about you, but I also know you. You’re the guardian of dreams,” she answers, bravely taking a step forward. Cats have always been perceptive, and there’s a reason why humanity associates them with the supernatural. 

“I am.” After his answer, the cat bows her head. 

“Can you tell me more about the dream of a thousand cats?” He can’t deny her request, so he tells her the same story he had told the prophet, but with additional details. 

Brought back to the edge of the Dreaming, he doesn’t pay attention to the van, doesn’t notice the humans with their nets until it is too late. 

“My lord, help.” Morpheus could almost feel and taste the cat’s terror as they are put inside the van with several other poor animals. He would not abandon her in her time of need. He ignores Matthew, who repeatedly knocks against the glass every chance he gets. 

“Boss, this isn’t funny anymore. Get out while you still can!” Matthew begs while they are standing still for a moment. Morpheus pretends not to hear him, retracting his claws. 

“Fine, I am getting help.” Matthew flies away and Morpheus lies down, resting his head on his front paws. He’s not concerned. Why should he be? 

---------------------------------

You like to take a stroll through the heart of the city now and then, sitting in a cute coffee shop and sipping your favorite drink, spending way too long in stores without buying something, or discovering some new places you haven’t been. Your latest discovery is a cat café. You really need to bring Morpheus here, already grinning as you imagine his reaction. 

A raven’s caw brings you back to reality, and you look up to see a familiar one soaring above you. It caws consistently and you almost caw back. Fortunately for you, you spot a small side alley and among the broken bottles and trash, you find a quiet place to talk. You’ve become quite good at reading the raven, and by the way his little chest is heaving, you think that he’s out of breath. Did something happen? 

“What’s up, Matthew?” you ask the raven. Instead of answering, Matthew starts croaking, and it takes a moment for you to realize that he’s laughing. 

“I want to laugh too,” you say, raising one eyebrow at him. 

“Morpheus is about to get neutered,” he finally wheezes, and you narrow your eyes at him. Can ravens that used to be humans be enchanted or on drugs? 

“I don’t follow,” you deadpan, tapping your foot impatiently. 

“Morpheus is a cat, got caught by animal control, and he refused to turn back. I know where he is,” Matthew explains, before breaking into another fit of croaking. 

You open your mouth, but you don’t find the right words, so you choose to bury your face in your hands. Dating the immortal king of dreams never gets boring. How else could you experience this kind of shenanigans? 

“Bring me to him,” you demand, and start to follow Matthew, weaving through the crowd, Matthew’s croaking laughter still ringing in your ears. 

                   -------------------------------------------

You find yourself in front of a small animal shelter, and you hope that Morpheus is waiting for you. Matthew gives you one encouraging nod, perched on a streetlamp, and you enter. The signature smell of animals hits your nostrils, and you hear barks, chirps, and meows. Fortune seems to favor you, because there is nobody else in here, except the receptionist around your age, standing at the desk and flipping through a magazine. 

“Hi, um I hope that you have found my cat. Can you help me?” you babble, wishing you weren’t that nervous. You know that Morpheus can’t be in danger; you wish you could claim the same for the poor veterinary who would seriously attempt to neuter him. 

“Sure. What’s his name and what does he look like?” she asks, putting away the magazine. 

“Morpheus is a black cat, with yellow, almost golden eyes.” The receptionist nods politely at your description, but you notice her raised eyebrow. “I really like Greek mythology.” 

“Let me check.” You watch anxiously as she leaves her spot and enters the confined area where they keep their animals. You can’t help but drum your fingers over the smooth wood. 

She returns, holding a disgruntled black cat in her arms, and your shoulders sag with relief. 

“Morpheus!” you exclaim, reaching for him as the receptionist gently puts him on the desk. Dream of the Endless nudges his head against your palm and you scratch his favorite spot under the chin. 

“He’s not chipped, and we found him without a collar, so we thought that he was a stray,” the receptionist explains, and you sigh. While you’re glad that all is well right now, you won’t let Morpheus get away with it that easily. 

“Don’t feel bad. I haven’t had Morpheus for that long and well, he always manages to get rid of his collars,” you say with a sheepish smile. Time for some teasing. 

“Oh yeah, I get it. Cats can have a mind of their own. Did you know that mine fell into an aquarium?” The receptionist giggles as she seems to remember it. 

“I rarely have to worry with Morpheus. He usually manages to get himself out of trouble. I am quite surprised that he got into such a predicament,” you say earnestly, trying to keep a straight face as you drag your hand over his back. 

“My love, we should leave.” You hear Morpheus clear inside your mind, a hint of annoyance in his voice, but you’re not ready to leave yet. 

“Once again, sorry that we caused you to worry. Someone should have realized that such a beautiful and well-kept cat belongs to someone,” the receptionist coos, scratching Morpheus’ ears. Your heart skips a beat at the notion of Morpheus belonging to you. 

“Oh yeah, Morpheus demands a lot of care. One could almost say that he’s vain about his fur,” you continue, shaking your head in fond exasperation. Morpheus stares at you and lets out a low hiss. His hair really is a soft spot for him. 

“I think someone wants to go home,” the receptionist suggests, and you nod. You must thank Matthew for alerting you and give him a detailed record. Maybe you should even tell Lucienne and Merv, just to go all in. “Do you need a carrier?” At the mention, Morpheus growls, arched back and bristling fur. 

“Trust me, you don’t want to try this,” you answer, glaring at the cat as you get a taste of your own medicine. You sign the necessary paper and just pick Morpheus up, holding him secure in your arms. The receptionist gives you a small wave as you leave the animal shelter. Matthew is gone, so maybe he returned to the Dreaming. 

“You can release me now,” Morpheus requests, but you only shake your head, holding him tighter. 

“There are so many dangers for cats around,” you say out loud, not caring if somebody thinks you’re a crazy cat-person. “You could get hit by a car or a bus, kidnapped by someone who wants a cat, or just end up in a shelter again.” 

“Side alley on your right,” Morpheus commands, his voice dangerously low as he starts wiggling around, making you almost drop him. Fine, you had your fun. You do as he asks, ignoring the stares of the people around you. The things you do for love. 

“One cat in distress rescued,” you tease as you kneel and gently release him. “You should really be more careful, kitty.” You realize that you’re playing with fire right now, but you just can’t stop. 

“Kitty?” Morpheus asks wryly, stretching his legs as he moves around you. One moment you’re looking at him, and in the next you’re screaming as you’re staring into the golden eyes of a big cat. You lose your balance and land on the hard concrete, now at the exact height to get a good look at the long, sharp fangs. You gasp repeatedly, frozen with fear as a tiger, its fur the deepest black, presses its muzzle against your cheek. 

“My love, am I still a kitty?” Morpheus asks, his voice a deep purr, and you are still so shocked that you can only gape at the big kitty. Sooner or later, you’re going to have a heart attack, but then again, you brought this upon yourself by teasing too much and appealing to his pride. Vain cat indeed. 

“You will always be my kitty,” you answer after your heart has stopped racing, giving him a soft look as your shaky hand touches his head. It feels so different, almost rough, but at the same time softer than expected. How many people can claim that they’ve touched a tiger? 

You blink and Morpheus is now standing in front of you, his hand holding yours. He pulls you upright, right into his arms. You loop your hands around his neck, your head resting on his shoulder. Despite everything, you were worried, and it just feels right to be in his arms. 

“Thank you, my love,” Morpheus whispers into your ear as he holds you close, his hands resting on your waist, gently swaying you. 

“Anytime, kitty.”

[sserpente]

Loki Season 2 – Episode 1 RECAP

HERE WE GO AGAIN! FINALLY! LET’S DO THIS, SHALL WE?

As always, HEAVY SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 1 BELOW THE CUT!

Also from now on, as usual, in addition to the keep reading tags, I will tag posts that contain spoilers with the hashtag "#loki season 2 spoilers" and "#loki spoilers" so you can filter them from your dashboard until you're ready!

Did I stay up until 3 a.m. to watch the first episode again? Yes. Yes, I did.

We are starting off so damn STRONG. Damn it, I just wanted to hug Loki so bad. He’s been through so much shit and he was so heartbroken and desperate! Imagine you get to cup his face and just tell him to take a deep breath with you! What made it even more painful was the moment he fully realised that Mobius didn’t recognise him—his one friend, the one person who likes him for who he is… and he doesn’t remember him… and then the relief on his face when was in the right place again!

Loki was so panicked about the impending war. For good reason, obviously but it truly shows that Thor: Ragnarok lied. Loki wouldn’t be a bad king, now hear me out—in The Avengers, Thanos had the upper hand. You all remember that one scene where he sort of backtracks and says “It’s too late… it’s too late to stop it…” but can’t join forces with Thor because The Other was watching him? Loki understands the sacrifice for sure and in the first Thor film, when he tried to wipe out Jötunheim, what I believe is that he wanted to prevent the war that Thor himself had started by attacking those Jötuns. Loki’s not about violence and causing pain and destruction, he just got caught in the middle of it several times, and circumstances forced him into choices that were not heroic. We knew that already, of course… but it’s nice to see that reflected in the series. Besides, we don’t need him to be a hero. We just need him to be Loki. 🥰

The jokes were spot-on, not too silly, not out of place, in my opinion, but sprinkled in just right so far. Skin? Also, can we please talk about the warning on the floor that said Spaghettification? Come on! 😂😂😂

Now in that sense, O.B. is indeed brilliant. A lovely and light addition to the serious bureaucracy of the TVA for sure!

I really wasn’t worried about Loki making it back safely, somehow. Let’s face it, they wouldn’t have killed him in the first episode of Season 2. With that being said… I hope for their sake he stays safe at the end too, otherwise, I will hurt a lot of people! 🙂

X5… X5, what are we gonna do with him? I hate him. Of course, I do. He’s got something about him that just makes you want to slap him in the face. 😒

Now there are two questions we immediately ask ourselves, right? Where, or rather, when did Sylvie come from? And who pruned Loki? Was it another Sylvie, or another Loki? Another Mobius? B15? An antagonistic character who realised their wrongs? A new character? A Kang Variant? They’ve definitely left us some loose ends! 🤔

And lastly… it’s absolutely heartbreaking to see how much Loki cares for Sylvie despite what happened at the end of Season 1. She basically betrayed him! For reasons Loki understands, of course, but still… it broke his heart… and hence it broke mine. He was so ready to stop the others from going after her even though he was facing the very gruesome time slipping problem. 😭

If you’ve seen the video I posted earlier, you’ll know that I have already seen Episode 2 as well today. I won’t lose a word about that one until next week though! 😉 All I’m gonna say is that we’re in for a treat. 😏

PS: I want that TVA handbook as a notebook for my writing.

[bunnakit]

Not Me Episode 6 Music

so i'm probably not going to get totally caught up today because i'm starting to get tired and i still have my real job to do, but i'll do about 2 of these a day until i get caught up again.

when White and Sean are arguing about boundaries we see another appearance from Safeguard by Charles Holme - this could be a nod to White wanting to safeguard his friends.

Only Love Is Real - Todd Kessler

as White enters their room to find Sean sprawled on the bed this song kicks in. i'd post the lyrics but i don't know if they really have much relevance here (but it is a beautiful song)

Break Me (Kevin Faltin Remix) - Wholm, Michael Shynes, Kevin Faltin

OUGHGHGHGH. so like, for my taste in music this isn't my fave BUT the song is so good for the mood. this comes in after their big talk, Sean's in his cups and White starts getting ready for bed.

One more wine and one more whiskey We just kept the car in park And dimmed the headlights so we see the stars Let em tell us where we should start And I'm scared as hell Because there's no way to know how this goes But I can't help but say I promise to give you my all But it might break me (Break Me)

i really think this is where the boys start having some serious feelings for one another - whether they recognize they're romantic or otherwise i can't really say, and i think this is where they're beginning to trust and lean on each other a little more. the lyrics of this song are just chef's kiss. neither of them knows how this is going to go, how it might hurt them, and they're both just scared young adults trying their best.

Live Long and Prosper - Bonn Fields

as Sean argues with the police in his memories this plays. it's a haunting tune that really captures so much of what this scene is.

This is My Love - Daniel Pratt

oh holy shit. i had always wondered where this song plays and now that i know i am changed. i can never not know. oh it hurts, it's so good, it's so brilliant.

this song plays as Sean gives White the candy to replace the taste of the bitterant. we don't hear any of the lyrics but Sean's actions really replace the lyrics in their own way. (i'm having shrimp emotions @timetoboldlygo !!!) {i do think this might be a religious song btw, but we can ignore that part of the song bc i said so}

Tender and kind, built over time This is my love for you Steady and pure, patient and sure This is my love for you

BECAUSE THAT'S HOW SEAN SHOWS LOVE!! HE CARES AND HE'S KIND AND TENDER AND -- OH I'M NOT OKAY, SEAN IS SHOWING HIS LOVE

when Sean and White are arguing and Sean asks White to give him some encouragement we get another appearance from Flares by Life in Colour

Dylan Thomas/Bitter Bitter - The Duke of Norfolk

i'm coming UNGLUED IN THE SERVER. this song plays as Gram confesses to Yok that he has felt love. "You're always with Black. You don't have time for anyone else."

Heavy the rain doth pour and heavy the tongue. The light does miss the forested face. Bitter, bitter the pendulum swung Bitter, bitter the pendulum swung Open the sky for me and cut out the heart the fruit does spoil the children’s laughter Bitter, bitter the blackest of arts ‘Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright’ the sun does try despite the shadow Bitter, bitter ‘the dying of the light’ Bitter, bitter the dagger in the fight

oh i'm peeling apart at my seams. like, yes, sure, this could apply to Gram's feelings for Eugene but for it to be playing when Yok mentions Black???

the sun does try despite the shadow Bitter, bitter ‘the dying of the light’

is.. is Gram the sun? he tries despite the fact that the shadow (Black) never looks at him? he's bitter because the light, his feelings, are dying in his chest? hmm?? MAYHAPS? (im probably just seeing what i want to see but FUCK YOU FOR MAKING THIS SONG PLAY its one of my favorites)

Chaos at the Spaceship - Out of Flux

the perfect song title for the iconic scene of Yok brandishing the flares. that moment is really just one of the moments of all time in this show, an absolute favorite, and absolutely pure chaos.

I'll Understand - Roza

one of the best choices lyric wise in this entire show, in my opinion. as Sean is choking White and walks away from him (in the next episode) this song plays with it's apt lyrics.

The end of the world at the palm of my hand When it all goes to hell, will you still be my friend? My face to the sea and my back to the land If you can’t come with me I’ll understand

the pain is unending and forever. i don't think i need to even say anything about how these lyrics tie in with the scene, it's pretty clear. OUCH.

alright thats all i have in me for tonight but i love you and im smooching you all

[cwritesforfun]

Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd x Fem!Reader: Dating Mav’s Daughter

Pete/Maverick is your Dad. He’s dating Penny. You’re a WSO because as your dad says “you have a more brainy brain than aviators.” You’ve been friends with Bob since flight training. You started dating him 1 year ago after a dangerous mission you had together and you love him. Y/N = Your Name

Y/N’s POV

I’ve been at Top Gun for 2 weeks. We’ve been practicing drills a lot today. My dad has me switch with different aviators all day, which stresses me out. I have to think like each of them thinks and anticipate how I can best help them. Everyone says they like having me fly with them, but I don't know if they’re lying or not. I’m drained from the day and want to sleep, but we’re going to the Hard Deck as a team to drink since we have tomorrow morning off.

I see my dad waving me over and I run over to him. My dad exclaims “Hey. Are you okay?” I answer “I’m just tired.” He replies “As your dad, I love you and want you to relax. As your captain, I think the team would like to have you there. I can tell that everyone is comfortable around you and I know sometimes it may seem like I push you a lot. I think you have a brilliant mind and a very friendly personality that helps in the air.” I reply “I know you mean well and you’re pushing me to succeed. I don’t think it’s too much. I can handle it.” He asks “Of course, you can, kid. You’re my daughter for Pete’s sake. Ah, see what I did there?” I laugh and he asks “So as your dad, are you and Bob dating?” I smile and answer “Yes. We’ve been dating for one year. We try to keep our relationship private because we don’t want anyone to treat us differently. How did you know?” He answers “He’s not great at hiding his feelings for you. I can also see how he gravitates toward you in a room of people and I can see him visibly relax near you. He also seems more open to sharing and talking near you. I think it’s great how you two bounce off each other’s ideas and uplift each other.” I reply “That’s really nice to hear, Dad.”  He says “Bring him over to me and Penny tonight. I want to meet him as your boyfriend.” I reply “Okay. But be nice, Dad.” He smiles and says “I always am, kid.” We hug and I leave.

After changing into more relaxed clothes for the bar, Phoenix and I head out in her car. The boys took their cars earlier. Phoenix asks “So are you and Bob ever going to do PDA at work?” I answer “No, Phoenix, we’ve talked about this. Bob and I want to keep our relationship private at work because we don’t want everyone in the Air Force world to know. Friends know and anyone who sees us out together would know, but we don’t want our love life to interfere with work.” She replies “Ugh you’re too sensible. I love you, Y/N. I told Bob to ramble today and he talked about how much he loves you. It was the sappiest and sweetest ramble that I’ve ever heard while I’ve been flying.” I reply “I did not have the same experience with Hangman.” She asks “Oh no, what did you talk about with him?” I answer “He asked about Bob’s favorite sex poses? I did not respond to that because it was unprofessional. I switched the topic to how Hangman has a lack of sex life. That really angered him and we’ve flown the best we’ve flown together today.”  She starts cracking up and cannot stop laughing until we arrive.

I notice the boys with several opened beers and a pool game going when we get there.

I walk over to Bob who smiles when he sees me. I stand between his legs and hug him. I say “My dad wants to meet you.” He replies “But I know your dad. Why does he need to meet me again?” I answer “He wants to meet you as my boyfriend.” He asks “How did he know?” I answer “He said that he sees your feelings for me on your face and how you find me in a room.” He replies “Oh, okay...” I poke him on the shoulder and ask “What’s up? What’s bothering you?” He answers “I’m sorry if I’m too obvious about my feelings. I try to hide them, but your face just lights up the room every time. I need cheering up sometimes. I know we keep our relationship private at work, but I like being around you. You’re my girlfriend, but you were my best friend first.” I smile and kiss him on the cheek. I then say “You’re so cute when you ramble about your love for me. I love you, baby. You are always welcome to be near me. I love being around you too and you make me the happiest human.” He smiles and we kiss.

Bob sighs and exclaims “Okay, let’s get this over with. Let’s go say hi to your dad.” I laugh and take his hand.

We walk over to my dad and Penny who are sitting at the end of the bar. I say “Hi Dad. Hi Penny.” They turn to face us and smile. My dad hugs me and so does Penny. I introduce Bob as Robert and my dad introduces himself as Pete. We talk about having a double date one day when we are all free. My dad asks Bob about his intentions with me and I laugh at his reaction. He just took a sip of water and just spewed it all over the seat next to my dad. Bob says “Uh sorry about that… I just …. Wow I did spit everywhere … Whew that was weird…” I notice his eyes grow panicky wide and I slide my hand over his. He tends to ramble and panic when he gets nervous. He’s so cute. I squeeze his hand as he inhales and exhales calmly. Bob continues “My intentions with Y/N… she is my world. We started as friends and we were best friends. I still remember that we only stopped being friends for one week because I insulted her to try to get in with the cool crowd. It was the worst thing I’ve done and I regret nothing more.” I reply “Babe, that’s not helping your case with my dad right now. You’ve beaten yourself up about that a lot, it’s okay. I love you and know you don’t think of me as an object to be won like those other idiots.” My dad asks “So, they were talking about women as objects?” Bob says “Yes sir. I told them the next day that I don't agree with them and why they should praise women. I went on this long rant about why we should support women and about women’s history in the Air Force. I know a lot about history, which can bore some. Those guys never wanted to talk to me again, but it’s okay because they were kicked off the mission for sexual harassment a few days after that. I’m not one for wishing karma on others, but I believe they got what was coming to them.” My dad says “I think you did what was right and that they deserved that as well. No one should ever treat women like that.” Bob replies “No they shouldn’t. I stand up for women now if I hear someone insult them... all that to say, I love Y/N and I want her to be happy. I think she’s a brilliant, impressive, beautiful, kind, loving, amazing girl. She lights up the room with her smile and personality. I heard you saw how I move to be with Y/N in a room and I have to tell you that I feel safe with her. She makes me feel safe, loved, trusted, and heard when I’m near her. She’s also my best friend and someone I can always rely on. I would love nothing more than a bright happy future with your daughter, sir.” Penny says “You are the sweetest boy. If I wasn’t twice your age and taken by Y/N, I would swoop you up.” My dad gasps and says “You didn't include me.” Penny sasses back “You haven't even asked me out properly.”

Oh snap!!! I do not want to be in this conversation right now.

I gently push Bob away back to our friends and we make it back to them.

Bob sits down and I sit next to him. I lean my head on his shoulder and he wraps his arm around me. I yawn and ask “How was your day today? I’m very tired.” He replies “I am stressed with the mission. Being on a plane with Phoenix is fun though because she thinks through her decisions more than my last partner on a mission. Why did your dad hold you back today?” I answer “He knows that I’m exhausted. He said that he’s pushing me because he knows I can succeed with the challenges thrown at me. He said that is why I switch aviators all the time. But, it stresses me out so much. I want to work well with everyone and I want to succeed as a WSO, so there’s not much I can change.” He replies “Babe, it’s stressing you. You should tell your dad to ease it up on you. Is there anything else stressing you out? I’m here for you, Y/N.” I reply “I don’t want to fail. As Maverick’s daughter, I have to succeed.“ He kisses me on the forehead and says “I love you and you’re an amazing WSO. I think you might be better than me. You’re not going to fail anyone least of all your dad. You were chosen to be at Top Gun because you are one of the best. You just have to believe it.” I reply “I may have been chosen for Top Gun, but this mission is dangerous. I want to make it back and I want to have a future with you.” He kisses me on the forehead again and says “We’ll be safe, Y/N. I know you and you’ll survive. I will too. We’ll have a future together. Speaking of, so you like me?” I laugh and he says “I’m kidding, babe. I love you and I can imagine the bright future we have. Do you think your dad likes me?” I answer “Of course. He has to.” He replies “I also wanted him to know that I respect women. If we have any sons, they will too.” I ask “Sons? Bob, are you pregnant?” He laughs and answers “No I’m not. I just love you and want a future with you.” I reply “Let’s finish this conversation after this death-defying mission we have coming up.” He smiles and we kiss.

THANKS FOR READING!!! I appreciate you. Comment with any requests or ideas:) ILY!!! 

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter Thirteen (Part 2)

“Well, couldn’t have let you starve.” He holds the door open for me and I slip through it under his arm. It’s snowing again, and freezing flakes start landing instantly on my face. I shove my hands into my pockets as we walk together, but I can’t help but marvel at how bright the sky looks. Even though it’s well past midnight now the brilliant white carpet laid over the city reflects back into the sky making it look the same way that it does in the middle of summer on those impossibly long days when the sun never quite dips all the way below the horizon. 

“It’s been nice to see you again.” Jude says. “You know, I’ve missed talking to you.” 

I dig my chin into the collar of my coat to warm up my face with my breath. “Yeah.” I say. “You know, I really didn’t think it’d be so easy to talk to you after so long.”

“Let’s not leave it so long next time. I want to be your friend again.”

I blink, taken aback by the directness of his words. “You do?”

“Yeah, of course, I always felt like we kinda clicked.”

I laugh with incredulity. “Okay, well, you’re going to have to email back this time then.”

He looks at me and his eyes crinkle up. “Oh, sorry, but I definitely won’t. I’ve already proved to you that I’m horrible with communication. You’re going to have to wrangle me with a phone call.”

“Oh, well now you’re just making this sound like too much work… Who calls anyone anymore? You’re like some relic from the nineties.”

“Come on, me, I call people, in fact, it’s probably the only sure-fire way to access me at all. At least then you’ll know when I’m coming back to Dublin and maybe someday if you wanted to you could visit me in Berlin.” 

“Hmm.”

“And you’ll love Berlin.” He swears. “You’ll love my friends and the things that we do, it’s not all about drinking all of the time, there’s so much else. And the restaurants, you can have any food you want, anything in the world…”

“You’re really trying to sell it to me here, I get it. Berlin’s the best…”

“Just, here…” He holds out his hand expectantly and I stare at it until he clarifies. “Your phone please, Evie.” I dig it out of my pocket and give it to him. He starts typing something, and when he hands it back to me I see he’s put two things into my notes app. 

“The first one is my German number.” He explains. “And if you don’t have a roaming plan on your phone, that second thing is my skype name. You can call me for free.”

“Okay, well, you know where to find me…” I give him a side-eyed glance “…unless you’ve already deleted my details.”

“Never.” He says. “I still have your number.” 

“Okay then, but I won’t be surprised if I never hear from you.”

“You will.”

I don’t believe him. 

We reach the bar then and head back inside where my face is flushed with a sudden blast of warm air. The private area is nearly empty now with  just a few stragglers left, including Shane, Claire and Jen waiting forlornly around the table. Claire perks up when she sees us. “Oh you’re back, finally.” She breathes. “We really wanted to leave.”

“Where’s Marnie and Dean?” I ask her. 

“He and his friends got thrown out by the bouncers, and then Marnie and the brown haired girl went with them. It was about half an hour ago.”

“It was fun to watch.” Says Shane caustically. “He could hardly even walk.”

I give him a tight smile, trying to hide the deepest shame I have possibly ever felt. I keep picturing his face, Claire’s face, and even Jen’s face when they saw Dean. The shock and disgust in their expressions. It feels like shock and disgust at my decisions, at the choices I’ve made and the people I’ve chosen to spend my time with. I feel a second wave of shame when I think of the things Marnie said to Jude, and the way he just laughed her off like she was pathetic, like she doesn’t have any power I’ve been allowing her after all.  As I look over the small group left in this bar, I realise that Marnie would never have waited for me to come back from the takeaway, she would have left me here on my own, but here are Claire and Shane and Jen who sat out their boredom just so they could make sure I wouldn’t be left alone at my own birthday party.

Then I take Claire’s arm. “Well, I suppose we better get going, so. Thanks so much for coming, this was really really nice.”

“Yeah, for sure.” Jen says to me. “I’d love to catch up with you again sometime.”

“I’d like that too.” I say. 

“Summer.” She says. “When Jude comes back again in June I’ll have you over for a movie, we can all spend time having a proper catch up.”

“Yeah, absolutely.”

“Come on, let’s all walk out together.” And so we do, we all head out onto the snowy streets and when we’re ready to leave everybody starts hugging each other goodbye. When it’s my turn to hug Jude I try not to linger in his arms for too long, and I don’t know how to say goodbye to him again so I step back from him and raise one hand in an awkward wave. “Safe trip home.” I say.

“Don’t be a stranger.”

“You don’t.”

“I wouldn’t, not again.”

And then Shane, Claire and I walk away from him together without looking back. 

And that’s that. After a year and a half, we’ve run into each other again, we’ve talked, we’ve caught up and filled in the blanks and now it’s over, he’s gone, and my life will go back to the way it used to be. I have no hope in my mind that I’ll hear from him, and I wonder if it’s for the best that I don’t. He won’t call. The movie night at Jen’s house won’t happen, and maybe we won’t run into each other for a year, two years, maybe more. Or maybe, I think to myself as I trudge through the snow, maybe we’ll never see each other ever again. 

Prev // Next

[neufer]

Reread of The Hollow Boy!!

It took me a while to organize my thoughts, but here I am! You know the drill. I’ve finished rereading thb and have come to share my thoughts on the internet. 

1. Out of the whole series, I think this book gives some of my favorite descriptions of the trio.

- “[Lockwood] was a picture of poise and unconcern. It’s how I want to remember him, the way he was that night: with horrors up ahead and horrors at our back, and Lockwood standing in between them, calm and unafraid.” 

- “As always, peril suited [Lockwood].”

- “My name is Lucy Carlyle. I make a living destroying the risen spirits of the restless dead. I can throw a salt-bomb fifty yards from a standing start, and hold off three Specters with a broken rapier. I’m good with crowbars, magnesium flares, and candles. I walk alone into haunted rooms. I see ghosts, when I choose to look for them, and hear their voices, too.”

- “George, it had to be said, had been more of an acquired taste, being scruffy, acerbic, and renowned around London for his casual approach to the application of soap. But he was also intellectually honest, had boundless curiosity, and was a brilliant researcher whose insights kept us all alive. Plus -and this is the crucial point- he was ferociously loyal to his friends, who happened to be Lockwood and me.” 

- “We were a total mess. We’d been up all night. We smelled of ectoplasm, salt, and fear. We looked at one another, and grinned. Then we began laughing. . . But that was just it. We weren’t hopeless. We were good. We were the best. And we never fully realized it until it was too late.”

2. Some of my other favorite descriptions/descriptive moments:

-  “. . .Flo is the unwashed queen of the river. . .”

- “Superimposed upon it all, my face blurred in and out of view. I glimpsed the child I’d been when I first came down to London, and the operative I’d now become, a girl who spoke with ghosts. More than spoke: who knew their desires.”

- “There’s nothing like the onset of night to bring out the best in an agent, and for some of us the darker it is, the better. I’m talking visually here. Suddenly every embarrassing pimple is cloaked in shadow; jaws become firmer, waistlines sleeker. Unwashed faces become pale and interesting; the lankest of hair acquires a glamorous sheen. The rougher points of personalities recede too; thoughts turn to survival and to the job at hand. So it was with the ragtag band that Lockwood had assembled that evening. For once, as we stood beneath Aickmere’s tissue tree, our similarities outweighed our differences. Kipps and Lockwood, Kate Godwin and I -we were all made of the same stuff.”

3. The Lavender Lodge case has always been one of my favorite opening sections, because it shows the duality of Lockwood & Co:

- “Remember I said there was that moment of sweet precision, when we gelled perfectly as a team? Yeah, well, this wasn’t it. The rapier shot past, missing me by miles. It skidded halfway across the floor. The bottle struck Lockwood right in the center of his forehead, knocking him out the window.”

- “Lockwood, of course, could throw. I was already moving up the ladder. A small square object came spiraling straight up and over the central beam; down it came, landing right in my hand. Not even a fumble. Close by, George was slashing with his rapier, watching my back, carving coils asunder.”

4. A bit of personal info about me: I’m currently in college studying journalism and have a little bit of experience in the field. So reading the chapters that start with newspaper articles has been very enjoyable for me. For instance, I just know that the reporter who came up with the headline ‘Bed & Breakfast -And Murder!’ was absolutely delighted with themselves. I certainly would’ve been.

5. As always, I’d like to highlight the moments humor and sarcasm that stuck out to me most.

-  “Pass me the ladder, George.” George waved his hands above his head in panic. “Where from? Down my trousers?”

- “It’s angry!” I gasped, ducking under a grasping coil. “I got a connection with the ghost! It’s angry about something!” “You don’t say?” High above, George raised his knees to avoid the thrashing tentacles. “Your sensitivity is amazing, Luce. How I wish I had your Talent.”

- “Kipps was red-haired, scrawny, and pathetically self-satisfied. For a variety of reasons, possibly connected to the fact that we often said this to his face, he had long disliked us here at Lockwood & Co.”

- “Are you going to listen to him?” the skull said. “I wouldn’t listen to him. If you want to make psychic contact with a killer ghost, why not? I say, Go, girl!”

- “Barnes may be grumpy,” Lockwood said, “but when I show him your findings, he’ll act soon enough. He knows how good we are.” He winked at us. “Don’t worry. I know we have our differences, but there’s a lot of mutual respect there. If he hesitates, I’ll sweet-talk him. He won’t let us down. . . “That total and utter idiot,” Lockwood growled. “That mustachioed imbecile. That benighted, blinkered jobsworth. He’s a clown! A fraud! An oaf! I hate him.”

- ‘George was surveying the room. “Yeah, don’t think much of the displays,” he said. “Some of these mannequins are hideous. . . . Oh -it’s you, Quill. I thought you were an exhibit.”’ I actually laughed out loud.

- “How’s the party going? Holly Munro grooving away?” “She’s eating her walnut salad with reckless abandon, yes.”

6. I’d like to take this moment to thank Stroud for throwing us some repressed Locklyle bones to go along with all of the angst. 

- First, Lucy still wearing the silver necklace Lockwood gave her in tws and then using it during the Lavender Lodge case? Beautiful. I ate that shit up.

- “I smiled at him. There was a horror behind that door. I would see it in seconds. Yet my heart sang in my breast, to be standing beside Lockwood in that house. All was as it should be in the world.”

- Lucy makes such a habit of attributing her physical reactions to Lockwood to something else. “Lockwood, somewhere two floors above, would have a similar setup. I imagined him up there, standing alert and watchful in the dark. I felt a twist in my chest, pleasant and painful at the same time: probably indigestion from those stupid sandwiches.” 🤦‍♀️

- “I glanced at him -his eyes were bright, his face set, his long legs swinging beside mine. We were in step together, perfectly in sync. And in that moment the world around us dimmed and blurred. Tensions and disagreements fell away. Everything was simple. It was just us, together, chasing a giant helium balloon down a central London street. Everything was as it should be -back in it’s proper place. Perhaps Lockwood had had similar thoughts. He grinned at me; I grinned at him. A swell of joy rose in me. . .”

7. I wanted to talk about this next bit separately. It gets a little angsty, but trust me, there’s more to come. So, I think it’s safe to say that “Come off it. You know I’d die for you.” is one of the biggest lines throughout the whole series. I’ve found that it’s kind of hard for me to conclusively analyze it (perhaps that’s for the best). Over time, some of the discourse I’ve seen surrounding this particular line is that it played a key part in Lucy’s decision to leave, and it obviously doesn’t really display healthy behavior. I agree with this, but I think it’s also important to note a few things Lockwood says after that. Mainly, he talks about how he has to look out for Lucy because he can’t lose someone dear to him again. In my opinion, this is a very important moment for Lockwood, because it’s really the first time he opens up after showing Lucy and George Jessica’s room. He then goes on to say, “Under the anger and the sorrow, Lucy, I was just left feeling hollow. Because I should have been in the room. I should have been there for her. And it’s not going to happen again. Whatever the cost, as long as you’re in my company, be sure I’ll always be there for you.” And that’s the beauty and the tragedy of it, isn’t it? Because at the end of the day, Lockwood just wants to protect those that he loves. He just isn’t able to find the balance between loving someone by being with them and loving someone by being prepared to die for them.

8. While we’re on the topic of Lockwood, let’s take a second to appreciate some of the moments that made me go 😧🥰 at the same time.

- There’s of course saving Lucy from the ghost in the Wintergarden house. I’ve always loved the sentence, “Quite how Lockwood managed to leap so far, I never understood,” and for no real good reason, I just think it’s amazing. And the whole description of the moment as well, because you’re so in awe at Lockwood and so worried about him at the same time. 

- The whole parade fiasco is amazing too. First, he throws his rapier to knock a gun out of the one guy’s hand (taking a page out of Lucy’s book, perhaps?). Then, he saves Ms. Fittes from a bullet by diving in front of her, using a plastic unicorn as a shield. And then, there’s this!! “[Gale] turned away from the edge and, in the same deftly casual movement, his rapier flicked up and jabbed straight out at Lockwood’s side. The action was so quick I didn’t fully comprehend it; nor the way Lockwood’s arm shot down to block the sword tip with his rapier guard. . . It gave me a chance to see how close the sword had been to slicing cleanly beneath the ribs. It would have traveled into his lungs and pierced his heart.” ???? 

- Nearly forgot about this: “Lockwood threw his rapier away; he stepped out of the circle. I saw him stagger as the wind caught him; his coat billowed up and outward. With an effort he kept his feet, leaped across the edge of the hole. Then he was beside us, grinning that old grin.”

9. Oh, you thought we were done discussing Lockwood? You thought we weren’t going to take this opportunity to transition into a discussion about his tragic childhood? Sorry, you’re wrong. Listen, it’s not as if I forget about how tragic (there’s really no better word to describe it) his backstory is. It’s always there, just in the back of my mind, and then BAM! I think about it too much and I get so emotional. Let’s break it down:

- Let’s begin with the fact that he’s even able to tell George and Lucy so much when he shows them Jessica’s room. Yeah, later on Lucy realizes that he left out some stuff, but, telling them about how she loved the smell of lavender? And that’s what he keeps in her room? 😭 He’s also able to admit that he wants to talk about it, it’s just too painful.

- Also wanted to point out this line: “But that’s too much like dealing with an ordinary Visitor -and she’s not that, George, she’s not ordinary. She’s my sister. Even if she does come back, I couldn’t use iron on her.” *cries*

- For some reason, I SOBBED when I read the bolded quote that I already mentioned in #7. I’ve never cried while reading these books, so I have no idea why, but it just hit me so much harder this time around. Seriously, that whole scene where Lucy tells him she went into the room and what he says in response? I was NOT well. (Oh yeah, and his parents being his first ghosts??? Way to slip that in there, Stroud😭)

- SPEAKING OF WHICH, I think it was SO heartbreakingly genius of Stroud to have Lucy accidentally experience the traces of Jessica’s death. Because from that, we get this: “For whenever I looked at Lockwood, so cooly contained and self-assured, the memory of that desperate little voice came rushing back, and set me squirming in my seat. Nor could I forget the echo of that little boy’s violent grief, the fury that had instantly avenged his sister and -years later, in his every action- continued to avenger her.” Like, fuck😭.

- One last little note. I think out of the entire series, this book incorporates it’s title the best. Because, as mentioned in the book itself, not only is the Fetch posing as Lockwood a ‘hollow boy,’ but Lockwood himself is a hollow boy. That’s literary genius.

10. We’ll take a little break from the angst for now. There are a couple really sweet found-family moments in the beginning that I really love. First: “Yes, we were overworked; yes, we lived in partial squalor. Yes, we risked our lives almost every night. Yet I was very happy. Why? Three reasons: my colleagues, my new self-knowledge, and because of an opened door.” It’s just so adorable to me. And then second (we won’t acknowledge what happens after this just yet): “Happiness bloomed inside me. This was what it was all about. Portland Row was home. My real family was here.” ❤️❤️ 

11. Kind of along the same line, I want to highlight George for just a moment. Not only is he an absolute genius in this book (I mean, he figures out what ‘the best minds in DEPRAC’ can’t, and that is just simply iconic), but he also perfectly exemplifies being the ferociously loyal friend Lucy describes him as.

- He has such good instincts throughout the entire book, and is really the friend that Lucy needs him to be. For instance, when Lucy misunderstands him and thinks he’s talking about her dislike for Holly when really he’s talking about her connection with the ghost Little Tom, he immediately asks her about Holly. 

- He’s also just spot on, about pretty much all of Lucy’s problems. It’s pretty well recognized throughout the fandom that George knows everything, and this particular book shows that very well. Examples: “Were you feeling particularly abandoned or needy up there?” “Never good to bottle things up -is it, Lucy?”

- Then there’s of course this: “Leopold Winkman flipped his hat rakishly low across his eyes, spun on his shiny heel, and began to saunter away. His picture of serene progress was interrupted by George, who, whipping his rapier from his belt, stuck it diagonally between Leopold’s legs so that he tripped, lost his balance, and tumbled into a crowd. . .”

- And this (in regards to Lucy losing control of her Talent): “You mustn’t put too much emphasis on this. Things happen to all of us. I’m sure we can all support you going forward, and-” This in itself is just so ❤️, but it also made me really sad to think about what Lockwood says in tcs, which is George was pretty ‘cut up’ about Lucy leaving.

12. A few other things before we end with a discussion about all the drama.

- I really appreciate Kipps in this book. I can honestly say his character development is one of the best I’ve seen in any form of media, and I think we start to see a lot of it here. I sort of forget about the Kipps/Lockwood comparison that Stroud obviously alludes to, but it really shows in thb, like in this instance: “No matter what Barnes says, no one has a clue what’s going on in there. It’s a free-for-all, chaos every night, and it’s already cost me the life of one agent. It’s not going to cost me another. Nor do I want to sit quietly back, doing nothing. If you’ve got a worthwhile lead. I’ll work on it with you. That’s all.”

- Honestly, props to Lockwood for recognizing that the company was not ‘coping’ with being overworked. He could’ve handled hiring Holly and a lot of other stuff a lot better, but at least he was able to see that they needed help. Also, props to Holly for being like, ‘you know you guys can turn down clients, right?’ 

- While on a case by herself, Lucy says, “Slowly, insensibly, a malign atmosphere began to invade the room. . . Doubt rose in me; also anxiety and a strong feeling of self-loathing.” Good to know what I feel normally is what it feels like when a haunting starts. /j

13. And finally, the one pretty big thing I haven’t talked about. Yeah, that. So obviously, there’s a lot of tension, repressed feelings, miscommunication, and just overall drama in thb. While rereading it this time, I just kept thinking, ‘this is really complex.’ Lucy sort of addresses this: “The funny thing was, I still acknowledged the connection that Lockwood and I had made, the previous night, as we ran together side by side, and the rest of the world molded itself around us. It had been real, I didn’t doubt it. But what I did doubt was Lockwood’s ability to sustain that connection in any meaningful way.” I’ll elaborate more on that later. Right now, these are the moments that truly made my jaw drop and made me want to shrivel up in a hole:

- ‘“I saw him as he passed; he was running for his life. Don’t shrug at me like that! He was so desperate. We’ve got to feel sympathy for him.” That was a mistake -I knew it at once. A light in Lockwood’s eyes flicked out. His voice was cold. “Lucy, I don’t have sympathy for any of them.”’

- ‘“I’m just worried for [Holly’s] sake,” I said. “You felt the energy of the apparitions last night. She’s a novice at this. Look -she doesn’t even know how to attach a rapier to her belt. She nearly tripped over it then.” I allowed myself the smallest grin, saw Lockwood’s gaze on me, and looked away. “Well, you needn’t worry too much,” he said slowly, “because I’ll keep an eye on her. She can stand beside me in my circle. That’ll keep her safe. You’ll be alright, I know.”’

- ‘“I hope so,” Lockwood said, “or next time I’ll leave you behind.” “And what? Bring Holly Munro along instead?” He went all pale and silent then. “It’s up to me who I take and don’t take,” he said slowly, “but I sure as hell won’t bring anyone who jeopardizes the safety of other agents. If you want to spend the rest of the winter dealing with Cold Maidens and Stone Knockers on your own, just say the word.”’ *and that’s exactly what Lucy ends up doing💔*

- ‘“I’d like to make a final toast. We’ve all done well. But there’s one person who I feel should be thanked for their very special contribution.” [Lockwood’s] eyes met mine; I felt happiness run through me like syrup; even the tips of my toes felt warm and prickly. I was back in that moment during the chase. I hadn’t been mistaken. “Holly,” Lockwood went on. . .’ When I tell you this gets me every time. My stomach drops and I get such second-hand embarrassment.

- ‘“Lockwood asked me to come, didn’t he? It’s not my fault my Talent’s not as sharp as yours.” “Well, you could’ve always said no to Lockwood.” “Like you do?” She gave her trilling laugh.’ 😳

- ‘“But don’t pretend you’re so caring, Lucy Carlyle! I told you about what happened to me at Cotton Street, and you couldn’t have cared less!” “That’s not true! How dare you say that?” “Then why didn’t you show it, Lucy?” “Because. . . because the same bloody thing happened to me! I lost my team as well! They all died too! All right? It upset me!” “Well, I didn’t know that!” “Well, I didn’t ask you to know about it, did I? It’s my business!” “Like Lockwood’s past is your business too?”’ 😳

14. So yes, the complexity of the situation. The way I see it, it’s easy to see how both Lucy and Lockwood, and then Holly, are in the right and wrong at the same time. I’ll start with something that I always think of when I think of thb. So, I know that Lucy gets a notable amount of hate for how awful she is to Holly. And rightfully so; there are a ton of moments where Lucy’s inability to tolerate Holly is honestly annoying. However, I don’t think all of her behavior is unwarranted. Because listen, as someone who had like four good friends at the age of 15, I know how disorienting it is when someone new comes into the mix. That’s really the root of Lucy’s problems with Holly. Think about it. The last group of people she was really close with -her team under Jacobs- all died. She’s still able to form meaningful relationships with Lockwood and George, and doesn’t want it to change. She even voices her concerns, so yeah, it’s understandable why she’s upset. It doesn’t entirely excuse her actions, but, like I said, it’s complex. Which brings me to Lockwood. He (as well as Lucy) obviously has some very, very repressed feelings that he can’t even begin to work through. I think that’s important to note, as well as the past trauma he’s slowly working through. Something else I noticed: he’s really bossy when it comes to Lucy and her Talent in this book. I thought for a while about why that might be. He does mention at the end that her talent ‘makes her vulnerable’ and he ‘has to look out for her.’ So that definitely has something to do with it. But, I also think some of it might stem from the stress of wanting his company to be respected. Made me really glad I don’t have to worry about running a company while being an angsty teen. But, like with Lucy, that doesn’t excuse his actions. One last note, I think it’s so interesting how Lucy can go from describing working with Lockwood as the ‘rightful pattern of events,’ and having Lockwood’s voice being the one she wanted to hear ‘more than any other’ whilst below Aickmere’s, to leaving. It really puts the severity of the situation into perspective.

Whew, that was a lot. But, so is thb. I just have to say, despite all the conflict, I truly love this book. I always have. It took me so long to make this post that I’ve already read tcs, so maybe I’ll get that post up soon! I’m really looking forward to finishing this reread.

[oldestenemy]

every me, every you, every moment passing through - pt 3

Part 1, part 2, my eternal apologies because it's gonna have a part 4.

The interior beyond the dungeon sigil is lightless and rough. Carved through crystal, or ice, or some amalgamation of the two. So far it had been empty and straight

“I want him to be alive too you know. Properly.” Penny says softly as they walk through the darkness. “I went looking for him when I was first enrolled, and ended up trapped in the Dark Cave. My parents always talked about how brilliant he was, he was my idol, everything I wanted to become.”

“Join the club.” Duncan replies, “He was the greatest necromancer of all time, and he shouldn’t have died the way he did.”

“Did anyone ever ask them about it? I know none of us really reconnected with them until last year, but—after they came back from Dragonspyre, did anyone ask?”

Marla’s question creates a heavy silence.

Malorn wonders if they even would have talked about it if prompted. Thinks about the way they’d all but thrown the Dragonspyre key at him. About how reluctantly they took it back. “They were just a kid.”

They had all been just kids. Even young adulthood seemed too young for some of the things the wizard had described to him and Penny. The two of them talk sometimes about that day at the wizard’s castle. Watching the clouds pull in from nowhere as the shadows grew deep purple and cold.

Ahead of him, Duncan trips on the uneven ground and catches himself on the wall. It lights up a shining translucent blue, and in the patterns an image starts to take shape.

“That’s Big Ben!” Penny says, pushing forward and laying her hands against the wall. It is the top of a clocktower becoming visible, the inner face of the clock shining in the darkness. There are three figures in the center of the room: a tall thin hairless cat in a well tailored suit, a small humanoid figure with their back turned, and Malistaire Drake. “This is—”

“—A memory.” A chittering voice echoes through the passageway, sourceless. “This cavern holds the memories of your friend. Their victories. Their losses. Their life.”

“Show yourself!” Duncan shouts, his voice bouncing off the walls as he peers into the dark. “Afraid of a fight?”

A loud deep repeated clicking follows those words.

Laughter maybe?

“Peace, Spellbinders. Your friend is waiting for you, wrapped in memory and time.”

The voice fades out, and suddenly all four of them are running hands along the wall as they go.

Memories from every world, with no seeming timeline or reason or connection. Malorn watches them like they might hold answers, letting the glow of past battles illuminate their journey forward. Marleybone, Wizard City, Grizzleheim, Zafaria, Mooshu, Krokotopia—

His hand alights an image he’s seen. Three figures standing together in the center of a square. Meteorites raining down around them. Then it shifts as though the view is rocketing into the sky, coming to rest surrounded by starlight, another duel, this time with a familiar face. “Guys.” He calls out to stop the others going further, and they gather to see the former Professor of Death in the same skeletal visage Mortis had shown them. “Press your hand to the wall, you can hear it.”

“I will take you apart and reassemble you as a wretched thing, to be pitied and feared by every living being in the spiral!”

Duncan is the first to pull back. “That… doesn’t sound like Malistaire.”

Malorn sighs, drawing back from the wall as well, “No. Whatever it is, if it’s his spirit, or his shade, or a wraith made out of his body—”

“—we have to kill it.” Duncan says, staring at the image on the wall in disgust, “It’s an insult to his memory.”

Malorn nods in agreement, “We can deal with that once we find them. Together.”

For once, Duncan seems to be speechless.

Under different circumstances Malorn might actually be impressed.

They are so close to the end now, the glowing of the far side of the tunnel is almost blinding for how near it is. Marla pulls everyone up short as they reach it, a single blinding teleporter that she reaches a hand out to touch. “Whatever is behind here—it’s gonna put up a fight.”

“We can handle it.” Penny says, and Duncan nods in agreement.

Malorn takes a breath, one hand resting on his deck pouch.

And together, they step through.

~*~

“Spellbinder.”

It is almost relief that the wizard feels when the clicking voice of Archmagus Lorcan greets their demand of the darkness. Used to things going catastrophic with little notice, they had expected much…much worse.

“You’re joking.” The wizard mutters, finding a half solid vision of Lorcan replacing the reflection of their earth self. Like he’s not fully there. Safely out of reach. “You lost, Morganthe is dead, the spiral stands—”

“—I am honored to stand before the deadliest wizard in all the spiral.”

“What?” Every moment facing him before, he had never missed a chance to call them weak, call them lesser, decry their lack of limbs and eyes. That title had been attributed to Morganthe.

“You are young, and stubborn, and powerful. Morganthe could not hold the web she wove together, in the end, she pushed everything beyond her own limits—but you—” There is a deep rumbling, is that, is that supposed to be laughter? “—you tore through our ranks without care, without remorse, you are better suited to our needs.”

“Our needs,” they scoff back, “who is left, Lorcan? Khyrsalis is at peace.” There is no dueling circle here. Not even beneath the stone. Nothing to release their magic, no way to start a fight if he comes through. Just talk. Their diplomacy may be rusted to oblivion but lying for time is not.

“Peace can be broken,” Lorcan replies, “is this world not an apt example of how easily peace can shatter? Even when long held? You will require molding, shaping, spinning to suit fully the whims of the Magi. But you will do, child of light and shadow both, with your might we will crush the wayward spider and his kin.”

“Are you listening?” The wizard spits, stepping toward the reflection as they speak. “I’m not going with you, nothing you say will change that, I will shatter these walls until I find you, and I will send you back to Khrysalis covered in Basilisk venom.” Unbidden comes the thought that they should have hit harder the last time. Lorcan should have faded to nothing like Santa Muerte. Like Ghost Dog. Should have disappated and been dealt with.

It’s not easy to tell when the Arachnea smile. It’s something in the change of the pincers and the wizard never quite got the hang of it.

“Very well,” Lorcan’s voice is fading with the reflection, “you will change your mind in time—enjoy the slaughter—Spellbinder.”

His visage fades, leaving in its place the barely visible view of a duel.

Containing the four classmates they had fled here to get away from.

What were they doing here?

The wizard lets out a frustrated scream, sick and tired of dealing with this place and now—with no visible way out, no option to flee with their friends in danger, and nothing to take out the reignited rage on—trapped here with very few options.

They zero in on Penny, drawing the teleport sigil only to have it dissolve in the air. The familiar wall of a dungeon already full to its limit.

No way through.

No way back.

There aren’t doors in this room, and though the wall through which they can see the duel is cracked—there’s no promise of what is on the other side, and their spells need the dueling ring to be released properly.

To bend Shadow, is to bend reality.

Old Cob’s voice is even worse than Raven’s. Maybe it’s just a memory. Surely they had heard him say that in the Hive.

To bend shadow.

Cold runs down the wizard’s cheeks and they raise a hand to find their eyes leaking that deep purple starlight again.

Bend Shadow.

What was a dueling circle beyond symbols and circles. Some of the training circles were drawn in chalk. Others in paint, in stone, embedded into the ground by magic or mundane.

The wizard wipes more of the starlight from their face, drops to their knees, and begins to paint.

Just one circle should do.

One of the battle placements.

Just enough to let the cards be invoked.

“Please,” The wizard alternates between running starlight stained fingers across the crystal tile, and looking up to check on the duel through the fractured wall. “please please work.” Their face is burning for how cold it is, but the circle has come together.

Pushing back to their feet, they step into it and draw out their deck.

There is a flash of brilliant purple, and their cards suspend before them in the air.

They hold out both hands, murmuring old words and pulling Earthquake from the center. The circle they stand in flickers, shudders in and out, the other cards drop—

The ground shakes.

Shatters.

And a point of sharp brown rock slams into the far wall. The wizard rushes forward, feeling the circle dissolve as they do, clambering over sharp crystal and coughing from the dust.

Landing on the ground only two feet from the edge of the duel.

Read the rest here <3

[theoriginalladya]

Ten Random Lines

I was tagged by @tealenko - thank you so much for thinking of me!!!

Rules: Pick any ten of your fics, scroll to the midpoint, pick a line (or three) and share it. Then tag ten people.

Let's see what we've got here...

Must You? Mass Effect - Gianna Parasini x Kaidan Alenko

God, it was so much easier to do this kind of thing when she was alone.  Had anyone walked in on her, she could just dive for cover under a desk, behind a cabinet, in a ventilation shaft.  Quick, safe, easy.  But, with two of them involved, it more than doubled the risk of getting caught, and that was tying her stomach up in knots.

2. Neverending Winter Nights Dragon Age - OC x Nathaniel Howe

He rose and took a step back from the bed before reaching out to help her to her feet.  When she followed, he stood before her, removing each piece of her armor until only the lightweight tunic and leggings worn beneath remained.  But he also noticed as he focused on the armor that her hands were not idle.  They moved to her braid, easily and quickly loosening the tie.  He half-considered asking her to stop when they started to unweave the braid, for he liked how it looked on her, but he noticed she removed a few small metallic items from it, items that stopped him cold as realization dawned. 

Caltrops!

“Maker’s breath!” he rasped, attempting to recover his breath even as his eyes widened in surprise.  It didn’t take much to understand they both could have been injured had they not been removed.  “Why?”

Slender shoulders shrugged as she finished loosening the rest of her hair.  It fell into a long, heavy, thick curtain around her shoulders only ending at her waist.  “In my line of work,” she explained, her voice nonchalant, “I do what I need to in order to survive.”

3. Home Mass Effect - Kristofer Shepard x Kaidan Alenko

Kris half-turns toward him, and it’s like the sun breaks through the clouds to shine directly in Kaidan’s face; Kristofer’s smile is so bright and brilliant, such a contrast to what Kaidan has come to expect over the years they’ve known one another. Not to suggest that Kris is never happy, by any means, but this is taking it to a whole new and completely unexpected level.

4. Brain Freeze Mass Effect - Aubrey (Shepard) (clone) x Kaidan Alenko

Aubrey frowned.

“It’s a popsicle,” Kaidan told him.  “Haven’t you ever had one?”

Aubrey tilted his head to examine the bright blue tube he held more closely.  “No?”  Cautiously, he brought it close to his nose and sniffed.  Whatever a ‘popsicle’ was, it was cold and made his nose twitch.  “What’s a popsicle?”

5. Bait & Switch Mass Effect/Mass Effect Andromeda - Reyes Vidal x Kaidan Alenko

“I don’t necessarily expect trouble,” Reyes explained, “but I also know better than to arrive at a rival’s base unprepared or unarmed.”

Alenko eyed him quietly, then lifted his hand. As he made a fist, a sheen of bluish-white energy skimmed over his skin, wrapping around his fingers as he closed them. “I’m never unarmed.”

It was impressive, charming even, in an odd sort of way. Reyes had never been up close to a biotic like this before, though he’d heard others talk about it. “Good.  Because there is always the chance they’ll take our weapons from us when we arrive.”

6. La Vie En Rose Mass Effect Francesca Shepard x Kaidan Alenko

“What happens next?”  She lifted her head to look at him.  He could see she was still in discomfort, but her expression seemed a bit easier than earlier.  

Sighing, Kaidan told her what he knew.  “My parents are supposed to meet me when we arrive.  Take me home.”  Keep me under house arrest?  He shrugged.  “After that, I don’t know.”

He saw her draw her lip in between her teeth, biting down on it as she considered this.  “What if ….”  Was that fear he saw in her eyes?  “What if we don’t have a home to go to?”

7. Give Me Peace Mass Effect Female Shepard x Kaidan Alenko

“Kaidan,” she gasped, their faces near enough he could hear her soft grunt, “I -”

“Don’t!” he hissed back, struggling to find an advantage somewhere.  “You don’t get to call me that - only she did.  I don’t know who you are, but you aren’t HER!”

“I AM!” she returned, meeting and matching his every move.  Time was slowing down a bit, she had a chance, if only he would listen.  “Kaidan - I am her … but I’m not."

8. Lonely Sunday Morning Mass Effect Michaela Shepard x Kaidan Alenko

It's then she notices her last chance, her one saving grace.  Lying on the coffee table and flipped onto its face is her music datapad.  She crosses the room in three strides and grabs it as well as the earbuds and returns to bed.  A simple touch of her finger to the pad starts the playback.  Something soothing and gentle, she hopes.  Something that will transition her failure into sleep so she can get proper sleep to deal with whatever the reapers or Cerberus throw at her next.  You win some, you lose some, she recalls her father saying once so many years ago.  With a sigh, she thinks, Yeah, Pop, but today we lost an important one … one that might just keep us from winning the whole thing …. 

She desperately hopes she is wrong on that count.

Lying back, her eyes close and she sighs heavily as the first soft strains of piano filter in.  It isn’t any song she is familiar with, but it has a nice sound to it … and then a deep, powerful, rich voice starts to croon.  Resonate. 

9. Shepard in Sherwood Mass Effect Female Shepard x Kaidan Alenko

“Shepard, you’re going to an awful lot of trouble just for a movie,” Kaidan observed.  But, he snuggled down next to her.

Shepard shook her head as the intro started.  “Not at all,” she countered.  “This movie is sooooooooo worth it!  Now … HUSH!”

The opening strains of music was actually a strumming sound which confused Kaidan for a moment.  Most movies began with huge orchestral pieces.  And then the animation appeared on the screen … and a …

Kaidan frowned.  “Is that a chicken?”

10. Run Away With Me Mass Effect Michael Shepard & OC

He really shouldn’t be making promises, especially important ones – powerful ones – but to hell with it.  She needs hope right now… and maybe he does too.  Leaning his back against the wall, she moves to lie her head on his lap, curling against him like a contented cat.  What better proof that looks can be deceiving?  Gently, he combs his fingers through her curls.  “You know, you can go with me when I leave.”

Joelle huffs softly, but does not pull away.  “Alliance is your dream, Johnny, not mine.”

“You could do a short enlistment.  Go to school, study afterward, become whatever you want.”  He waits a minute.  Then two.  When still she says nothing, he adds, “Can’t be any worse than here, can it?”

Looks like the randomizer came up with some good ones (I have far too many (148) to just pick ten!)!

Not going to tag anyone specifically since I'm not sure who has done this already, but anyone wanting to participate, consider yourself tagged by me!

[concernedlily]

cousins wip 4

pt 1

pt 2

pt 3

“Porsche,” Korn says and waves him to the seat on the other side of the small table set up on the lawn. It’s a good choice, Porsche thinks; it’s about the only place of the whole tower that could be considered neutral territory, given everything that’s happened between Korn and Porsche, and Kinn and Porsche, and Gun and Korn, and everyone and everyone, everywhere else. 

“Hello, Uncle,” he says pleasantly and gets a considering look back. He remembers Korn inviting Porsche, as his son’s committed boyfriend, to call him Papa, and feels sick. 

He slips into the chair and settles himself. Don’t show fear, don’t give them the fucking satisfaction even while there’s a gun pointed at your head and an arsehole on the other end of it. 

“Thank you for coming,” Korn says. There’s a decanter of whisky on the table between them, two heavy crystal tumblers already with ice next to it, and Korn gestures to it. Porsche nods and Korn pours them both a glass. Whisky at three in the afternoon doesn’t seem so healthy but Porsche doesn’t know if Korn’s supposed illness was ever even real, like his death wasn’t. It’s not Kinn’s brand; it tastes peatier, more aged, and Porsche sips it slowly. He needs a clear head to deal with Korn. 

“I hear that you and Kinn have parted,” Korn says. 

Porsche had promised himself he wouldn’t get riled, would stay as quiet as possible, not give anything away that Korn could use later, but it’s too fucking much. “Of course,” he says, not trying to hide his disdain. This fucking family. Would he have been like this, if his mother had stayed; if he’d grown up in a place like this, a brilliant diamond with a dark fracture at the core?

Korn sips his whisky calmly. “I understood it wasn’t mutual.”

“We can’t be together,” Porsche says through gritted teeth. 

“You still blame me for allowing it to happen,” Korn says and Porsche stares back up at the pond, his eyes burning. He can hear himself, pleading with this man not to have just burned down his whole world. How could you do this to us?

“Yes,” he says flatly. 

“The truth might never have come out,” Korn says, like all that matters is whether people know. “You made Kinn very happy. Can you blame an old man for wishing to see his son happy?”

The time Porsche saw Kinn at happiest was in the forest. Just the two of them, Kinn free of the weight of violence and danger and building his father’s empire, living simply and talking together over an open fire in the evening. He says nothing. 

Korn leans forward, watching Porsche in a way that makes the back of his neck prickle and his thighs tense, ready to launch him into action. “Can you work with him?” Korn says intently. “He still needs your loyalty. The main family still needs the minor family.”

“He has all my loyalty,” Porsche says. 

Korn sits back slowly, and Porsche is furious about being the one to put that look of approval on his face, but he’s not going to play games with this. He doesn’t care what Korn’s planning, what anyone else says or thinks: he’s going to make it clear to anyone who asks, he’s still Kinn’s in the ways that matter to their world. He’s going to be the family Kinn always should have had, caring and reliable and protective, even if the ring on his finger that makes him Kinn’s family isn’t the one he’d imagined. 

“The main family is grateful,” Korn says. He’s smiling, that trust-me-I’m-harmless smile, a little tilt to the corners of his mouth. 

“I don’t need gratitude from the main family,” Porsche says crisply. “I need money, men, and a signal of the main family’s support our clients and business partners can understand.”

That much has been clear from the few conversations he’s managed to have so far with people in the sphere of influence of the minor family. Nobody has been outwardly difficult, but it’s been made clear nobody is going to bother much to listen to Porsche until they’ve seen some kind of sign he’s not going to be knocked out of place as fast as the main family put him into it. It’s a paradox: he needs to establish himself separately to the main family, but he can’t do that without relying on them to legitimise him. 

Korn looks at him in a new way, apprising him in a way that makes Porsche both bristle and suspicious. Korn looks almost surprised to see Porsche has more to him beyond kicking ass and being a piece of ass. Like he didn’t expect to see Porsche trying to make this work, or maybe just didn’t think he could. 

It makes him mad enough to tip his hand. “And I want my mother,” he says clearly. “As soon as the minor family is stabilised, I want to bring my mother to live with me.”

“No. She stays with me,” Korn says and it’s the first betrayal of the ruthless mafia lord he must have been in his prime, a flash of anger in his eyes and disbelief that Porsche would dare step out of line that he masters almost as soon as Porsche sees it. So different to Kinn, who uses anger to cover his fear and uncertainty. The smile is back a moment later and he says in a more pacifying tone, “I hope you can understand, Porsche. I know Nampheung looks well enough, but her medical needs are extensive. I know them well. She receives the best care here.”

It’s been seventeen years and she doesn’t even know her child, Porsche wants to scream at him, but he bites his tongue. He doesn’t have anywhere safe to put his mother right now even if he got her; there’s no point challenging Korn outright for her before he’s ready. “Of course, Uncle,” he forces out. “Thank you for caring for her.”

Korn nods, his face blank. He glances at his bodyguard and Porsche does too. He knows Kasem, although not well, he’d never been on Kinn or Tankhun’s teams. He’s solid, well able to take care of a man who doesn’t leave the house so much, but he’s not going to be fit to head up the whole bodyguard operation like Chan did. Kasem steps forward now and Porsche stands up, taking the hint. 

“I was sorry about Chan, Uncle,” he says. “You must be missing him.”

“Thank you,” Korn says, politely, not even twitching from his relaxed posture in the easy chair, and it’s even worse than that previous brief glimpse of what’s in Korn’s cold heart. Chan had served him for decades, run his whole security, died for him, and Korn is just - there’s nothing, at the thought of his faithful bodyguard. Nothing at all. There’s a void inside the man and it hurts to think this is what brought up Kinn. Porsche has no idea how he came out with such capacity to love, such softness inside him yearning for recognition and to be met with care and gentleness back. 

They’d been so close to getting out. Porsche had thought he was so close to getting Kinn out of here.

“We both have much to rebuild,” Korn adds, watching him keenly, and there’s nothing left to do but bow, to the exact degree necessary and no more, and leave.

***

Porsche’s next couple of days are spent stuck in an airless room, thoroughly swept for bugs by Arm, with a computer not linked up to the network. He sits around a table with the money men, who put spreadsheet after report after bank statement after accounts for money laundering businesses after lists of expenditure in front of him. Once he’s looked at them all dutifully, comprehending almost nothing, Red - who is either their self-appointed leader or the actual supervisor, Porsche isn’t sure - talks it through in a way he can understand. There’s a Powerpoint presentation. 

The upshot is that there’s money coming into the minor family that none of the formal records can trace and none of the secret records Arm found on Vegas’ and Gun’s machines and in their offices mention either. The minor family has been making and spending millions of baht not so much under the table as digging a hole down from the cellar, and wherever it’s coming from probably isn’t going to be very happy with the return on investment that is their business partners gone and Porsche in place and clueless.

“I need to report this to the main family,” he says. Given that Pete had found records easily on Vegas’ computer for side deals, Porsche is betting that this was Gun’s matter, and that makes it likely that any useful information about it has died with him. Even if Vegas wakes up co-operative, if Vegas even wakes up, he probably won’t be able to add anything useful. 

“It’s done,” Gear says briefly and Porsche ducks his head, running a hand through his hair. Of course, he thinks, with a sinking feeling: he’s reliant on Gear, but Gear isn’t his, not really, not the way Porsche was Kinn’s or Chan was Korn’s; of course Gear is reporting back to the main family and Porsche was stupid for not realising it before.

He wonders suddenly whether Kinn came up with giving him Gear, or whether it was Korn’s instruction; or more insidious, Korn dropping hints to his son until Kinn wouldn’t even recognise he’d been gently led to giving Korn what he wanted and thinking it was all his own idea.

Still. “Thank you,” he says, firmly. If Gear is reporting to Korn Porsche isn’t going to give him anything to report other than that Porsche is loyal to the core, honest with the major family in all their business.

And if at some point things start happening that Gear doesn’t know about to report at all, then that’s Porsche’s business.

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning! I hope you slept well and feel rested? Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day. Welcome to the weekend! Looking forward to turning my alarm off and sleeping until whenever.

Yesterday was a brilliant day of Zoom 1-2-1 tutorials. Such a buzz to be able to help people! So nice to hear those words, “Yes, that makes sense!” By the end of the day, I was all talked out, so The Trouble and I reclined on the sofa, ate dinner and watched this very good Disney Plus show we’ve become addicted to: ‘911’. The original starred Angela Bassett, the ‘Lone Star’ spin-off stars Rob Lowe, produced by Angela Bassett. There is absolutely nothing new or original about this show – firefighters and paramedics rescuing people – but the characters are very engaging. This has been our escapism over the last few weeks. Good TV to recuperate to.

When I get home this evening (about 8.00 pm), The Mighty Josiah will be running the joint. There will be toys everywhere, all the TVs and all the lights will be on, and he’ll be playing games on his iPad. It’s always a joy to see his beautiful face! And there was an interesting story I saw yesterday about ‘baby workers’. Mums in Japan have been encouraged to take their toddlers into nursing homes to spend time with the residents and, in the words of one old lady, "They are just so cute and they make the whole place brighter." What a nice idea! Japanese innovation again! Those of us with grandchildren know how those happy little faces light up your home with their laughter and foolishness!

In addition to the cellulitis (this is the bit I didn’t tell you), in my attempt to walk on my swollen left leg, I put too much pressure on my left ankle and damaged it pretty badly. The wound I’m currently living with is big and ugly. I’ve got some beautiful nurses reading this page, so they know what I’m talking about. The rest of you would go a bit queasy if you saw my ankle. In fact, my major pain right now is NOT the cellulitis but the ankle. I’m a guy that LOVES powerwalking, so to be tottering around like a 100-year-old man is NOT fun! I cannot wait to heal so I can walk again. I have some big walking plans (including walking home from the studio), so I am hugely frustrated!

Please don’t forget that the amazing Bob Masters has set the dates for The Ibiza Soul Festival 2023 (May 11-18). Really looking forward to that! Check my page or Bob’s page for details.

Hope you can join me tomorrow at 1.00 p.m. for ‘The A-Z Of Mi-Soul Music’ The Letter I (Part Three). Quality and variety, as we do.

I post this status every single week day, Monday through Friday. If you want to read it but you don’t see it, just go to my profile. I’m always here!

Have a fabulous and funky Friday! I love you all. You’re probably thinking, “You don’t even know me!” but, if people can hate for no reason, why can’t I love?

[emetsbrows]

*ramble*

I’ve been trying to avoid my computer ever since my email and phone have been flooded by recruiters. Something about having to talk to people offering jobs feels like being forced into chasing my own demise. Anyway, I don’t have this blog linked on my phone and haven’t taken the time out yet to work around that, so I’m probably missing a lot of amazing content. I’ll do my best to pick things up when all this is over, though I can’t make promises. Chances are that when someone actually will say ‘yes, do work for us’ I’ll be gone for even longer. In a way I’m happy I found out about The Dark Side of Dimensions’ existence (Yu-Gi-Oh! movie) because it gives me a reason to not think of FFXIV for a bit and be envious of everyone that is able to play and have fun. (And somehow the ending is surprisingly therapeutic. On the other hand, I’m now stuck in another hyper fixation. I don’t know if that’s better or worse.)

Another thing is that I do have some WIPs and ideas now lying about that are going absolutely nowhere because I feel exhausted as f* every day of the week.

Things I’ve been trying to work on so far that are FFXIV related:

- RP with Luka ( @lukawarrioroflight , continuation) - RP with Amon ( @spotofmummery , continuation) - ‘Drowned’ (working title, drawing) - Dalamud headcanon (still want to check its movements on the Astrolabe and adjust ideas based on that. Can’t really look at it right now because the thing’s dancing makes my head hurt like a stubbed toe)

When these will get finished: when the gods are willing to either lend me their strength or allow me some sleep. Preferably both, but even I know that’s asking too much.

This said, I’m wishing every single one of you the best, especially in the accursed year that is 2020. I’t’s been blowing off lids of every single pot it’s been able to touch and in a way I hope that some of these pots will spill something that will push us into a better more humane world.

[a-second-hand-sorrow]

Congratulations (Roy Kent X Reader)

WC: 3407

Warnings: Swearing, discussions of pregnancy

Summary: The five times Y/N tells someone about her pregnancy.

A/N: This fic was requested by a lovely anon and it can be read as either a standalone piece or an accompaniment to Lover, whatever you choose. I hope you guys enjoy this!

1: Keeley

Of all the people Y/N was going to tell about her pregnancy, the first person was naturally going to be Keeley. She hadn’t even told Roy yet, instinctively calling Keeley as soon as she saw the two lines on the stick.

“Hiya babes, how are you?” Keeley asked cheerfully, surprised Y/N called her work phone rather than her mobile.

“I’m pregnant.” Y/N blurted out, suspicious at Keeley’s sudden silence. However, it was broken very quickly by a very loud, trademark Keeley Jones scream.

“Holy shit! Congrats, babe! That fucking amazing, you’re gonna make such a great mum.” Keeley said, her enthusiasm easing Y/N’s nerves slightly.

“Thanks Keels. I’m freaking out a little bit, but I figured I needed to tell you. You’re my best mate after all.” Y/N said, and Keeley was very happy to hear that.

“You’re so nice to me, it’s ridiculous. Have you told Roy yet?” Keeley asked, and Y/N paused.

“I’m going to take your silence as a no, then.” Keeley said, and Y/N laughed nervously, her eyes anxiously darting around the room.

“Yeah, I haven’t told him yet. It’s not that I’m scare of how he’ll react, I just don’t know how to tell him.” Y/N said, and Keeley hummed contemplatively.

“How are we thinking? Like a subtle, heartfelt confession or a big massive reveal?” Keeley said, pulling up a Word document on her computer to begin taking notes.

“Probably closer to the subtle route. Roy’s never really been a big gestures guy, so I think he’d appreciate it being more personal. Plus I don’t want to put in all the effort a grand gesture needs. Can’t be arsed, to be honest.” Y/N said frankly, eliciting a loud laugh from Keeley.

“You and Roy are perfect for each other, Y/N/N. Ok so something small and personal. Holy fuck, I think I’ve got it!” Keeley exclaimed, and Y/N could hear the sound of her frantically typing on her keyboard.

“You planning on telling me what your brilliant idea is, Jones?” Y/N said, waiting for Keeley’s response.

“A custom Richmond jersey with Roy’s number on the back that says ‘Kent Junior’ on it. I’m just drafting up an email to send to our kit manufacturers to see if they’ll do it. If they don’t, I’ll fight them all until they cave.” Keeley said, and Y/N felt a smile break out on her face instantly.

“That’s perfect Keels! God, you’re a fucking genius.” Y/N said, glad that she finally had a plan for how to tell her husband the news.

“Awe, you know it babes. I’d love to stay and chat but I’ve got that meeting with the Bantr people coming up and I really can’t be late.” Keeley’s apologetic tone was strong, and Y/N immediately reassured her.

“It’s fine, you being on track to become the most amazing boss bitch ever takes priority, but thank you so much for your idea! Let me know what the kit people say.” Y/N said, smiling brightly as Keeley said her goodbyes before hanging up.

She finally had a plan, now all she had to do was execute it.

2: Roy

It had been about two weeks since Y/N spoke with Keeley, and when she finally received the package with the little Richmond jersey she nearly burst into tears. Children are so tiny, and that jersey made her painfully aware of it.

Today Richmond had a match at Nelson Road, and Y/N was sitting in the box like always, sandwiched between Keeley and Rebecca. While Rebecca was distracted talking to Higgins about something, Y/N leaned over to Keeley.

“I’m telling Roy after the match. I’ve got the little jersey in my bag, I’m gonna pretend it’s a present for him to celebrate his first season coaching.” Y/N said, and Keeley’s eyes widened.

“That’s fucking brilliant!” Keeley exclaimed, trying to keep her voice down to avoid suspicion. Y/N smiled at her, confident in her plan.

The match went surprisingly well, with Richmond taking the win by one goal. Y/N was so happy for Roy, watching his excitement play out on the pitch.

After the crowds had dwindled out of the stadium, Y/N found Roy alone in Ted’s office. She took in a deep breath, knocking lightly on the door frame.

“Babe!” Roy said, Y/N waving at him shyly. He smiled at her, walking forward and pulling her into a brief kiss. She kissed him back, a little upset when he pulled away.

“Congrats on the win, babe. The team’s really needed that Roy Kent spirit around here.” Y/N said, and Roy waved his hand dismissively.

“You’re just flattering me.” He said, still bashful when given compliments. Y/N smiled, reaching into her bag for the jersey which she’d carefully wrapped in white wrapping paper, a small silver bow on top.

“What the fuck is that?” Roy asked as he noticed the package Y/N was holding.

“It’s a ‘congratulations on doing so well in your first season as a coach’ present. Surprise!” Y/N said, holding the gift out towards Roy with a bit of a flourish. He took it somewhat suspiciously, grunting as he struggled to open the wrapping paper.

“Is this a Richmond jersey?” Roy asked and Y/N nodded, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet.

“Why’s it so fucking tiny?” Roy said, dropping the wrapping paper on the floor as he examined the jersey.

“Take a look at the back.” Y/N said softly, and Roy flipped it over. He saw his name and number and thought Y/N was just being stupid until he saw what was written after his name.

“Kent Junior? Y/N, what is this?” Roy asked, and although he was sure knew the answer, he wanted to be certain.

“Well, it’s the jersey that we’ll ideally give our child. I’m pregnant, Roy.” Y/N said, her voice breaking slightly as tears welled in her eyes.

Roy gasped, looking up from the jersey to meet his wife’s gaze. He didn’t say a word, and Y/N was terrified he was going to freak out until he put his hands on her face and pulled her into a kiss. He was so tender, so gentle with her that she wondered what had happened to her husband.

“You’re telling me we’re having a baby?” Roy said, his usually gruff voice softer than Y/N had ever heard it. She nodded, tears falling down her face.

“That is the best news I have ever heard.” Roy said, kissing Y/N once more before dropping down to his knees so his face was level with Y/N’s stomach.

“Hey little one. I know you probably can’t hear me and have no fucking clue who I am right now, but I’m your dad, and I’m going to love you so fucking much, you hear me?” Roy said, resting his head against Y/N’s stomach as her hands fell to his shoulders.

“You keep that up and our baby will be saying ‘fuck’ before it can walk.” Y/N said, a weak laugh slipping past Roy’s lips as he stood up.

“If our baby’s first word is anything other than ‘fuck’ or ‘shit’ I’m asking for a paternity test.” He joked, a few stray tears falling as he watched Y/N laugh at his awful joke.

“Let’s go home, Roy.” Y/N said, and Roy nodded as he slipped his hand into his wife’s, joy radiating off him in waves. He was going to be a dad, and there was no one else he’d rather go through this journey with than Y/N.

3: Ted

Ted had become like a father to Y/N in her time spent with Richmond, and as much as Roy refused to admit it, he had grown very close to Ted as well.

As they walked through the changeroom hand in hand, they were both a little nervous. Y/N waved at Sam as he passed them, Roy simply giving him a curt nod. They approached Ted’s office, taking in a deep breath.

“You ready?” Y/N asked, glancing up at her husband. He nodded, knocking on the office door with his free hand.

The door swung open far quicker than they were prepared for, and they were greeted by the sight of an incredibly smiley American.

“The Kents! How are my two favourite people in the world doing today? Second only to Kermit and Miss Piggy of course. Do they count as people or Muppets?” Ted asked, ushering the couple into his office.

“I’ve always thought of the Muppets as people.” Roy said, Ted widening his eyes before nodding to himself.

“He’s a closet Muppets fan, don’t tell anyone. Once you’ve heard Roy sing a one man rendition of the Muppets Christmas Carol your world is forever changed.” Y/N said, grinning despite the daggers getting sent her way by Roy.

“You promised to never tell anyone that.” He said, and Y/N shrugged her shoulders playfully.

“As much as I am loving this fascinating insight into y’all’s relationship, is there a reason for this visit?” Ted asked, and Y/N nodded, looking over at Roy.

“We have some relatively exciting news we want to share. Roy?” Y/N said, prompting her husband.

“Right. Y/N is pregnant.” Roy said, and Y/N couldn’t help but laugh at his straight to the point attitude. Ted gasped, his hands flying to cover his mouth.

“This isn’t some weird prank, right?” Ted asked, and Y/N shook her head.

“It’s all real. I found out about three weeks ago so it’s all still early days but you’re the first person we’ve told together.” Y/N said, and Ted felt his heart swell.

“Together? Have you told anyone else?” Ted asked, cocking his head to the side questioningly.

“I told Keeley when I first found out but other than that no one else knows. There’s also something else we want to tell you.” Y/N said, and Ted beamed at both of them, eagerly awaiting the next piece of news.

Y/N nudged Roy, trying to prompt him to speak. “We want you to be the godfather.” Roy said, and Ted’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

“Do I have permission to hug you two right now?” He said, his voice wavering slightly. Y/N nodded eagerly, Roy letting out a grunt that Y/N had come to learn signified ‘yes’.

Ted jumped out of his chair and pulled the couple into a big hug, squeezing them both tightly. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve loved being able to have the pleasure of watching you two grow both as people and as a couple, and to be able to watch y’all become a family is just beautiful. I’m so proud of you both.” Ted said, his kind words nearly bringing tears to Y/N’s eyes.

“Thanks Ted, that really means a lot. I know Roy isn’t very vocal, but it means a lot to him too.” Y/N said, pulling away from the embrace. Ted nodded, moving a step back to look at them.

“If you guys need anything at all, don’t be afraid to call me, you got it?” Ted asked, and Y/N nodded, looking up to see Roy send a nod Ted’s way.

“Well alright, thanks for stopping by!” Ted said, waving as the couple left his office. On their way out, Beard walked in, sending Ted a questioning look.

“What was that about?” He asked, sitting down opposite Ted, who waved him off.

“That was nothing important. Anyways, what can I do for you, Coach?”

4: Rebecca

Y/N, Keeley and Rebecca had become an unstoppable trio in their time knowing each other, and when Y/N knocked on the door of Rebecca’s office, she was unsurprised to hear Keeley’s voice telling her to come in.

“Y/N! How are you?” Rebecca asked, standing up from her seat to give Y/N a quick hug.

“I’m great, thanks Rebecca! How are you?” Y/N said, taking a seat on the couch next to Keeley.

“Oh, I’m doing pretty well. Keeley and I were just chatting about this guy I’m meant to go out with this weekend. I’ve never really liked being set up, but Sassy’s been insistent.” Rebecca said, and Y/N chuckled at the exasperated tone in her voice.

“My opinion on you dating remains steadfast. You and Ted would be absolutely perfect together.” Y/N said, Rebecca instantly going a shade of pink Y/N recognised from whenever she’d brought up the prospect of her dating Ted in the past.

“As much as you seem to refuse to drop that idea, my answer stays the same. I’m his boss, it would be wrong on so many levels.” Rebecca said, and Keeley piped up with a comment of her own.

“You were Sam’s boss as well and that didn’t stop you.” She said, and Y/N snorted with laughter, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth as Rebecca stammered.

“Let’s move on to something else please, ladies. Y/N, how are things with Roy?” Rebecca asked, and Y/N smiled at her, preparing herself for the news she was about to share.

“Things are going really well actually. I’m, uh, I’m pregnant.” Y/N said, and Keeley simply smiled at her friend, already well aware of her situation.

Rebecca, on the other hand, was receiving this news for the first time and she was pleasantly shocked. “Shit Y/N, congratulations! That’s amazing news. Who else knows?” Rebecca asked, reaching over to give Y/N another short hug.

“Well, just you, Roy, Keeley and Ted. We’ve been trying to keep it a little on the down low. I think Roy doesn’t want any sappy stuff from the team so we’re leaving them ‘til last. He’s a big softie but he refuses to let the team know that.” Y/N said, pulling away from Rebecca’s hug with a chuckle.

“That sounds like the Roy we all know and love. How far along are you?” Rebecca asked, curiously looking over at Y/N.

“We’ve known for just shy of a month so probably a bit more than that. We’ve got our first appointment today, actually.” Y/N said, a smile deeply etched onto her face.

“That’s wonderful! You two are going to make such amazing parents, I can just feel it. Do you have a preference for the sex?” Rebecca asked, standing up to grab a glass of water, placing it in front of Y/N.

“I’ve always wanted a girl, but to be honest I don’t really care. As long as the baby’s healthy that’s enough for me.” Y/N said, taking a sip from the glass Rebecca gave her.

“Can you imagine Roy with a daughter? Heaven forbid anyone who dares so much as look at her wrong.” Keeley said, and the women all laughed loudly, the image coming into their mind vividly.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Regardless, he’s going to be an amazing father. He’s already freaking out if I try to do anything he’s deemed too physically demanding.” Y/N said, chuckling to herself as she put down the glass.

The sound of knocking caught their attention, and suddenly Y/N looked up to see Roy standing in the doorway.

“There you are. I figured I might find you here. You tell Rebecca yet?” Roy asked, walking over to Y/N and stopping down to kiss her head.

“She did, and you both have my utmost congratulations.” Rebecca said, Roy sending her a rare smile in response.

“Thanks Rebecca, it means a lot. You ready to go babe? I don’t want to be late.” Roy said, and Y/N nodded, standing up from her seat on the couch.

“We’ve gotta head to our appointment, but I love you guys so much.” Y/N said, hugging Keeley and Rebecca goodbye.

“Congrats again, I hope everything goes well.” Rebecca said, waving the couple off as they left her office.

“God she’s gonna be such a fit mum, I just know it.” Keeley said, her comment earning a snort of laughter from Rebecca.

“You’ve got a very good point there, Keeley.”

5: AFC Richmond

Training had gone well today, and Y/N could feel the energy as she walked out onto the pitch.

“Whistle!” Roy shouted, and thankfully everyone listened and fell silent. He looked over his shoulder and saw Y/N making her way over, giving her a wave.

The team saw Y/N and all waved at her, a bright smile on her face as she waved back. Once she was at Roy’s side, he took in a deep breath.

“You may all be wondering what Y/N is doing here.” Roy said, the team all nodding. Y/N always came to matches, but it was rare she came during training.

“Well, it’s because we’ve got some news.” Roy said, slipping his hand into Y/N’s. She squeezed it gently, clearing her throat.

“The Richmond family is getting another member.” Y/N said, and this comment prompted confused looks as the team muttered under their breath.

“We’re having a baby.” Roy said, and suddenly the muttering turned into full-blown hollering, the team going mad. Y/N laughed, looking at the sea of fully grown men jumping and cheering.

“Congratulations you two.” Beard said while the team was distracted, and Y/N smiled warmly at him.

“Thanks coach.” Roy said, squeezing Y/N’s hand. The team was still chattering madly amongst themselves, and Ted took the incentive to blow his own whistle to calm them down.

Roy gave him an appreciative nod and turned to address the team. “That’s all we wanted to tell you. You can all fuck off now.” He said, and though his words were sharp the team knew he meant well.

“Congratulations. You’ll be wonderful parents.” Sam said as he passed Y/N, giving her a brief hug.

“Thank you, Sam.” Y/N said, squeezing him gently before breaking away. He smiled widely at them as he walked back into the changeroom.

“Congrats bruv.” Isaac said, his simple response respected by Roy, who gave him a nod in return.

“Felicitaciones!” Danny exclaimed, his ever-present joy as strong as ever. Y/N chuckled, smiling back at him.

“Muchas gracias, Dani.” She said, waving gratefully at him as he left. Suddenly Jamie was standing in front of them, and Y/N glanced between him and Roy, hoping to God something bad didn’t happen.

“As much as I hate the thought of you two having sex, I guess you’ll be good parents. I had a really shit dad, and even though I find you a colossal pain in my ass, I can tell you’ll be a good dad.” Jamie said, looking Roy dead in the eyes. Y/N looked anxiously at Roy, waiting for him to respond.

Instead of Roy saying something aggressive like he usually would, he took in a deep breath and hugged Jamie. Y/N was shocked, making eye contact with Ted and widening her eyes as if to say ‘what the fuck is happening?’

Ted simply shrugged at her, a playful smile on his face. Y/N turned back around and saw that the two men had parted, no words having been exchanged yet. Jamie nodded, moving over to quickly peck Y/N’s cheek before walking off.

Y/N looked at Roy, still trying to process what she’d just seen. “I guess Jamie’s less of a massive prick than I thought.” Roy said, and Y/N couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“I guess in a weird way Jamie’s been like our trial kid. Just think about!” Y/N said, and Roy immediately pulled a face.

“I don’t fucking want to think about Jamie being my trial kid.” Roy said, and as much as he pretended to detest the idea, Y/N had a surprisingly good point.

As they walked off the pitch towards Roy’s car, Y/N couldn’t help but be overwhelmed at all the love and support the Richmond family had given her over the course of her time with them.

That insane love and support became even stronger the day they welcomed their daughter, Y/N’s hospital room filled to the brim with as many members of her crazy Richmond family that were allowed in. As she looked around the room, she felt her heart swell at the sight.

Unfortunately, most of the team were banished from the room once Roy started crying as he held his daughter, telling them all to fuck off so he could have a private moment with her. Y/N laughed, looking over at her husband holding their daughter, muttering softly to her as he sniffled.

“She’s perfect, Roy.” Y/N said softly, watching as Roy’s teary eyes met her own.

“She gets that from her mother, I’m sure.”

[jikookiekosmos]

When I Dream of You || jjk

➥Pairing: best friend!jungkook/reader, husband!jungkook/reader

➥Summary: Jungkook always imagined being with you was like a dream come true, and after years of pining he can finally say it’s all he could have ever hoped for and more. But what happens now when Jungkook’s dreams about you no longer have a happy ending?

➥Genre: established relationship, (somewhat?) heavy angst, smut, fluff, hurt/comfort

➥Rating: 18+

➥Words: ~6.2k (little much for a drabble i know, sorry)

➥Content warnings: story mostly told from jungkook’s POV, jungkook has a nightmare, feelings of insecurity and anxiety, mentions of harassment (not much), yoongi to the rescue (seriously he’s the voice of reason i love him), making out, grinding, slight hair pulling, riding on top, reader is in control (and jk is happy about it), unprotected sex (safe sex is great sex), cumming inside, cute times in the shower, jungkook is actually the sweetest, reader and jk are so in love with each other it hurts, also jk saying ‘only for you’ is a thing i started and can’t stop now oops

A/N: hello! This is part of my Only for You (OFY) Drabble series, but it can be read as a stand-alone! Their relationship will make a lot more sense though if you’ve read OFY beforehand. This fic takes place roughly around a year after the events of OFY. (I also mentioned this in the post for OFY but for those who haven’t read it, the Kun in the story isn’t referring to any other irl person specifically, it was just a name I chose to make the initial story easier to write.)

As always, thank you to @dntaewithluv​ for being so supportive of me and motivating me to keep writing when there are times I feel like I shouldn’t. And for also being my beta-reader and just generally an amazing person, one of the best friends I could ever ask for.

I’ve written a few other drabbles and will list them below, along with a general timeline:

Use My Best Colors For Your Portrait - ~6 months after OFY

Stay With Me - a few months after this dream drabble

I know this is the most angsty thing I’ve written so far (update: Stay With Me now holds this title), but I got attached to these characters and wanted to tell more of their story so here we are. I basically wrote this all in one sitting because I’ve had this idea in my head for a little while and I was excited to get it out. I hope that if you read this, you enjoy it~

➥OFY Spotify Playlist (songs I listened to for inspo)

➥Series Masterlist

➥All Works Masterlist

taglist: @inlovewiththemoonn​​

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

Jungkook was dreaming again.

It was a dream he’d had many times now, and it always started the same way. He watched as you appeared in the doorway of the chapel, ready to make your trek down the aisle.

You looked dazzling in your dress, and through the thin veil that covered your face, Jungkook could see the brilliant smile you wore, which caused him to break out into one of his own. Each step that brought you closer to him made his heart race faster, and it didn’t take long for you to finally be in front of him.

Well…somewhat in front of him.

He could only watch as at the last second, you turned slightly and were now standing in front of Kun, the man you were originally meant to marry. Jungkook’s stomach twisted with fear as he observed Kun lift your veil over your head and take your hands in his as you both stared into each other’s eyes. You, looking at Kun with all the love in the world, because that’s just how you were. And Kun, looking back at you, with a sinister expression that made Jungkook feel dizzy.

He opened his mouth to object, to speak, to do something but no sound would come out. Everyone around him that had gathered to see you get married were either oblivious to Jungkook’s obvious distress, or they just didn’t care.

They weren’t here for him, after all. They were here for you, in the same way that he was here for you, too.

When his legs could finally move without crumpling underneath him, he walked over to stand next to you and Kun as he tried to reach out to you. He couldn’t touch you, though, because it was like there was an invisible wall in between the two of you now. A wall he could still see through but couldn’t reach past. He moved back at the realization, only to be met with something similar hitting his back.

Jungkook whirled around and was met with the same thing, now surrounding him on all sides, trapping him inside some sort of box. A box where he could still see what was happening but couldn’t stop it despite what he did. He felt suffocated.

He was shouting from inside his new prison, banging on the walls, trying to make any sort of sound that would reach you. And he knew you couldn’t hear him; you didn’t spare even one glance his way. But he still had to try. The longer he let this go on, the greater the chance of losing you grew to be.

And the possibility of that, of losing you in any capacity, was something he couldn’t bear to even think about.

Jungkook could hear everything coming from your mouth. The cheerfulness in your voice was usually something he loved to hear under any given circumstance. But in this case, it was threatening to tear him apart. He listened dismally as the two of you started reciting your vows to each other.

And his heart started to break when he heard the words from the letter he’d tried to give you all those years ago. Tears were forming in his vision as he listened to Kun rattle off the words he’d written for you. Words he never got to claim as his own until much later, when it was almost too late.

He could feel his heart shatter at the sight of the breathtaking smile on your face as you two finished your vows, moving now to kiss each other and seal the deal.

He tried once more to call out to you, but any sound he could’ve possibly made would’ve been immediately drowned out by the cheering from everyone around you.

His legs gave out as he knelt down to the floor, helplessly staring at you as you linked your arm with Kun’s to walk back down the aisle as a newly married couple. It took the last bit of his strength to look up as you passed, and you didn’t notice him.

But Kun did.

Kun paused in front of Jungkook, still separated by that invisible wall, and he grinned. It was the kind of grin you’d expect from someone who’s sole purpose in life was to sabotage others’ happiness. Which, ironically enough, is exactly what Kun was now known for.

All Jungkook could do was look on while you left the chapel, followed by the many guests who had gathered for the ceremony. Only when everyone was gone was he able to move about freely, but he opted to remain seated on the floor there instead as the chapel slowly started to fill with darkness once the doors closed.

Jungkook awoke with a start, bolting upright and inhaling a sharp intake of air. He was covered in sweat that dampened his hair and made it stick to his forehead. His breathing was shallow, and it took him a few seconds to remember where he was.

He was at home, in his bed. It was nighttime and sleeping next to him was a figure who’d remained undisturbed by his sudden movement.

He cautiously looked over at your sleeping form. You were turned on your side, facing away from him, breathing peacefully. His eyes softened at the sight and he could feel his heartbeat start to slow down into a pace much less frantic.

He pushed his hair out of his face as he took a deep breath. He knew he should probably wake you, especially since you always told him to do so whenever he had nightmares. Lately, he hadn’t been having any bad dreams, so it had been a while since he last had to rouse you from your slumber.

He reached an arm out, only for it to gently fall by his side. He hated waking you unless it was really important, because he knew you sometimes had trouble sleeping, and this included falling back asleep if something made you wake up during the middle of the night. You’d been especially exhausted lately, what with the new exciting event that had suddenly happened in both of your lives.

Well, exciting wasn’t really the right word. Terrifying fit way better.

After managing to avoid Kun for over an entire year, he somehow turned up at your new place of employment one day, surprising you and frightening you all at the same time. He told the staff at the front desk that he was an ‘old friend, here to congratulate you on your new position.’ And they believed it, so they let him come up to your office unsupervised.

Let’s just say when Jungkook heard about that little ordeal, he was not pleased at all.

Ever since then, Kun had been borderline harassing you, even sometimes going as far as to try and talk to Jungkook during his shifts at the bar. That lasted for all of maybe 2 encounters before Kun found himself banned and unable to return.

You both thought he was out of your life for good after the break-up, but he was proving to be much more of a plague than you or Jungkook initially imagined. So yes, these recent events had maybe been causing Jungkook to have intrusive thoughts once again that translated themselves into the one recurring nightmare he used to have shortly after the two of you got together.

The nightmare of him losing you. You obviously didn’t end up marrying Kun, but you came a lot closer to it than Jungkook liked. And that wasn’t because he’d been pining after you for years; he could’ve dealt with that, if it ended with you being happy. It was more so the reason that your relationship with Kun hadn’t seemed genuine on his end, and Jungkook wanted better for you than that.

Sometimes he wondered if he was the right one to give you what you deserved.

He shook his head to keep more thoughts from seeping in, but he knew sitting here alone in the dark wouldn’t help with that for long. He glanced at the time on his phone. It was 2:08 A.M., so not too late, but most people were usually sleeping at that time.

Nonetheless, Jungkook pulled back the covers and swung his feet over the side of the bed to stand up. He moved as gently as possibly to not risk waking you, but on his way to the bathroom he had to pass by your side of the bed.

Your sleeping face was free of worry, and your lips were slightly parted as you were breathing softly. The sight made Jungkook’s heart thump. He couldn’t help himself when he leaned down to plant a gentle kiss on your forehead.

If you woke up, he’d just tell you he had to use the restroom and try to coax you back to sleep. You looked too cute for him not to kiss you, though, so he deduced it was worth the risk.

He padded off to the bathroom then, only wearing a pair of gym shorts. Every step he took was calculated so he didn’t make much noise, and when he finally made it to the bathroom, he closed the door as quietly as possible, listening to the faint click before he leaned against the sink.

He sighed and fished his phone out of his pocket, scrolling through his contacts until he found the name he was looking for. After dialing the number, he put the phone to his ear, and within 2 rings someone picked up.

“Kook? You ok?”

Jungkook smiled. “Yeah, Yoongs, I’m ok. Just needed to talk to someone, that’s all.”

He heard shuffling from the end of the line and he felt a small pang of guilt at the fact that he may have woken his friend up. But then again, it was Yoongi, and he wasn’t a stranger to being up at this hour.

Yoongi hummed. “Y/N not awake then, huh?”

Jungkook shook his head, despite Yoongi not being able to see him. Yoongi took his silence as confirmation.

“Hm, well you do know I love talking to you, but I am wondering why this time of night?”

Jungkook sighed. Better to get it over with than beat around the bush. “I had a nightmare.”

“Oh no,” he could hear the somberness of Yoongi’s tone. “Is it the same one, or…”

“Same one,” Jungkook answered without hesitation.

“Kook, we’ve been over this-”

“I know,” he groaned, running a hand down his face. “I know. Trust me, I don’t want to keep having this happen either.”

“Can you think of anything that may have triggered it?”

Jungkook tongued his cheek then. The more he thought about it, the only thing he could see as being a potential trigger for these dreams to come flooding back would be Kun’s unwanted reappearance.

While he was still thinking, Yoongi continued.

“Do you think it has anything to do with that asshole showing up again?”

Jungkook smirked. He knew how much disdain Yoongi had for Kun, and for good reason.

“Yeah, it’s exactly that, I’m almost positive.”

It sounded like Yoongi was moving again and Jungkook could just picture him now, sitting up and shaking his head in disappointment, not at Jungkook, but at the situation.

“Jungkook, I’m gonna level with you.”

Jungkook gulped.

“I honestly have no idea why you’re letting someone like that affect you. He’s not worth your time, he’s not worth Y/N’s time, not worth anyone’s time if you ask me. Letting him continue to have this kind of effect on you isn’t healthy.”

Jungkook sighed again, his breath coming out somewhat shaky. “I know, it’s just…it’s hard. It’s really hard, Yoongs. I can’t help but think of how close I came to losing her and fuck it hurts every time I think about it.”

“First of all, you wouldn’t have lost her, and you know that-”

“Yeah but seeing him is a reminder that I came close.”

“Jungkook,” Yoongi’s tone was stern now, and Jungkook immediately stopped talking.

Yoongi took a deep breath. “Like I was saying, you wouldn’t have lost her. You mean too much to her and she means too much to you for either of you to have let that happen. Give her a little more credit, yeah?”

At the mention of you, Jungkook’s lips curved upwards into a smile. He knows you’d never allow anything to take you away from him, outside of maybe some things beyond both of your control. But you certainly would never let someone come in between the friendship you both shared.

A friendship that had developed over several years and had now blossomed into a beautiful, loving partnership.

There it was again: you. Anytime Jungkook thought about you, it always made him happy. He was so in love with you and had been for so many years, so it was sometimes still surreal to him that you two were together now. Your smiling face was all he needed to get him through some days.

But right now the vision of you playing out in his head was the sight of you the night he found you in your house kneeling on the floor after Kun broke your marriage off. You looked so utterly broken, and Jungkook made a promise to himself then and there that he’d do anything in his power to make it so you never felt that way again.

“Kook? You still with me there?”

Yoongi’s voice roused Jungkook out of his thoughts. “Yeah, I’m here.”

“Good. You know I worry about you, kid.”

Jungkook smiled. “I know.”

“This is the first time you’ve had this dream in a while, right?”

Jungkook leaned against the sink again, looking at the tiled floor underneath his feet. “Yeah, it’s been months.”

“Then I want you to do something for me, ok?”

Confused, but intrigued, Jungkook shook his head. “Yeah, sure.”

“I want you to take a look at your left hand.”

Jungkook did as he was told, splaying his fingers out in front of him.

“Now tell me what you see?”

Jungkook’s breath caught in his throat as he looked at his gold wedding band as it glistened faintly in the light of the room.

“My wedding ring,” he answered softly.

“Exactly. Your wedding ring. It belongs to you. And it means you’re the one who’s married to her. Not him, not anyone else, but you.”

Jungkook could see exactly where Yoongi was going with this, and the thought made him almost tear up. Yoongi knew exactly what to say and when to say it whenever Jungkook needed reassurance about something, and this was one of those times.

“Jungkook, I’m gonna tell you this, and it’s something I want you to remember. Y/N loves you. She loves you so much. My God, sometimes it’s hard to look at you two because you’re always so lovey dovey like-”

Jungkook laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I get it.”

He could imagine Yoongi smiling on the other end. “Good. I think as long as you remember that, you’ll be ok. It’d probably still help to talk to her, though. You know how upset she’d be if she knew you were suffering in silence about your dreams again.”

Jungkook shakily inhaled, his grip on the sink behind him tightening. “I know. I’ll talk to her, probably in the morning since she’s still asleep-”

Jungkook cut himself off when he heard the soft sound of you calling his name. “Yoongs, I gotta go, thank you for answering and for everything else.”

Yoongi chuckled. “Anytime. Night, Kook.”

Jungkook hung up the phone and peered from behind the bathroom door. He saw you sitting up in the bed now, rubbing your eyes before you stretched. He was so fond of you, the sight made his heart swell.

He also noticed how the t-shirt you were wearing had ridden up some during your stretch and he could see the exposed skin of your thighs now now. He even thought that something as simple as you wearing a t-shirt was breathtaking. And when it was one of his t-shirts, like it was now – on some days it was enough to drive him crazy.

Now wasn’t the time for that though. He watched lovingly as you focused your eyes on him and smiled. He wasted no time getting back in the bed with you, seated with one leg crossed under him, his hand coming down to rest on top of your own.

“Hey,” you greeted him with a lazy kiss. Jungkook melted into the kiss when you deepened it, because after everything he just went through, any touch from you now was igniting all his feelings for you.

All of them, which is why he pulled back to rest his forehead against yours.

“Hey,” he said with a smile, nuzzling his nose against yours before pulling away to look at you. He could tell you were still sleepy, but you wouldn’t attempt to go back to sleep without talking first. Especially since he knew you could tell something might be off.

Your brows furrowed. “Koo? What’s wrong?”

Jungkook took a deep breath, intertwining his fingers with yours. “I had another nightmare.”

The immediate look of concern on your face made his heart lurch, and not in a pleasant way. “Baby, what happened?”

He brought up your hand to place a kiss on your knuckles, right above your ring.

“I had that nightmare. You know the one…”

You frowned. “Jungkook-”

“But it’s ok, really. I talked to Yoongi and I feel a little better.” He was looking anywhere but your face now, so you placed a hand under his chin, tilting it up so he’d look at you.

“You know you can always wake me up and talk to me.” You brushed your thumb across one of his cheekbones and he sighed into the touch.

“I know. You’ve been having trouble sleeping lately so I-”

“You also know that if I have trouble sleeping, usually cuddling with you helps. So please don’t use that as an excuse.”

Jungkook felt guilty again because he knew you were right. Before he came along, sleeping wasn’t always easy for you, but in the comfort of his arms, you found slumber much faster these days.

You took Jungkook’s face in both of your hands, your own chest twisting with pain at the sight of him. His big, doe-like eyes were shining with so much emotion, and all you wanted to do was take away all his worries.

“Do you know why you had that dream again?”

Jungkook nodded, absentmindedly brushing his thumb along your thigh. “Everything that’s happened with Kun lately, it- I don’t know, it just bothers me. It bothers me way more than it should. And I guess it just made me think again about- well, you know.”

Jungkook’s head hung then, and you leaned down so you could look into his eyes once more. He brought his head up to keep you from having to lean uncomfortably like that for too long.

“Koo,” you brushed a piece of his long, dark curly locks out of his face. “I love you. I’m in love with you. I know that things happened in the past that we can’t erase or change, but what we can do is focus on our future. Our future that we’re building together.”

He started to smile at your words, his heart lurching again now, but in a good way this time. Every time you told him you were in love with him, he felt like he could conquer the world.

“So please don’t worry about what almost happened or what could’ve been, because what matters is we’re here now. We’re here together. And I don’t plan on going anywhere,” you placed a quick peck on his lips, “Unless you want me to, that is.”

Jungkook quickly wrapped his arms around you and pulled you so you were straddling his lap, making you giggle as you tried to steady yourself. His hands rested comfortably against your waist and you placed yours on his shoulders. He looked up at you now with so much love and adoration.

“Never. I’m not planning on ever letting you go,” he accentuated his words with his grip around you by wrapping his arms more tightly around your waist to pull you closer to his chest. “Not until the day you decide you don’t want to do this anymore.”

“Well I don’t see that ever happening, so I guess we have nothing to worry about then, do we?” You booped his nose and he grinned, placing a hand on the back of your head to bring your lips down to meet his once more. The kiss was soft, yet passionate.

And it quickly turned into something more.

You deepened the kiss and Jungkook groaned into it, kissing you back now with a fervor that had you unconsciously moving your hips against him. He broke the kiss to lean his head back against the headboard, eyes shut and mouth parted.

“Fuck,” Jungkook panted. “I’m so fucking in love with you, Y/N. And right now,” he opened his eyes to stare at you again, tongue darting out to wet his lips.

His hand snaked underneath your t-shirt to brush at the skin he found there, pulling your head back down for another kiss.

“I want to show you how much I love you,” he whispered against your lips. “Will you let me?”

The sound of his voice shot straight to your core, and you were nodding before he could even finish his question. He chuckled against your lips before he started trailing them down your neck.

“Need to hear you say it, baby,” he spoke as his lips ghosted over your throat, his hold on you tightening.

“Please,” you breathed out, pulling at his dark tresses and making him grunt. “Please, Koo. I want you to make love to me.”

That was all he needed. Jungkook started placing kisses along your neck and down to your collarbone that was exposed from the collar of his shirt, his fists clenching around the material at the bottom of it.

“I love you,” he kept saying in between kisses. “Gonna take care of you.”

He started tugging your shirt up and you met him halfway, ridding yourself of the garment fast enough that it made him chuckle at your eagerness. He started peppering kisses all over your chest, kneading at your breasts, rolling your nipples in between your fingers and making your hips move faster.

You could feel him growing harder underneath you through the thin fabric of the shorts he was still wearing, so you sped up your movements, making him moan.

“These need to come off, don’t you think, baby?” You tugged at his shorts. Another moan came from Jungkook as he nodded, helping you move up so he could shimmy out of his shorts. He still didn’t think he could ever get used to that pet name coming from you, and he thought it was the sexiest thing ever when it fell from your lips.

Of course, Jungkook thought nearly everything you did was sexy. That was just the effect you had on him. Everything intimate was intense in the best way possible, and if this was what being in love felt like, he never wanted to stop being in love with you.

He loved you. He needed you. He wanted to be with you for the rest of his life. And he’d never felt this way about anyone else for.

He felt all of these things for you. Only for you.

Jungkook was pulled out of his thoughts of how much he loved you by the feeling of you grinding down onto him again, this time the only barrier of clothing between the two of you being your own panties.

Yeah, Jungkook wasn’t having that.

He made quick work of removing your soaked panties, laughing again at your enthusiastic impatience. He loved seeing that you wanted him as much as he wanted you.

“Be careful, angel,” He cooed at you as you tried to steady yourself on his lap once more. He rubbed his hands up and down your thighs while you huffed, a cheeky grin plastered on his face.

“Just wanna feel you already,” you said breathily, and the sound of your voice mixed with the words that fell from your mouth made him twitch. He knew he probably wouldn’t last long inside of you, and with the way you were already worked up, he figured you might not either.

But tonight wasn’t one of those nights where he planned on going for hours anyway (even though you both definitely could at times and boy did he love it when that happened). No, tonight was about him proving to you how much he loved you, telling you through his words and soft caresses and the way he took care of you.

And you did the same for him. Jungkook had never had anyone care about him before the way that you do. He knew you’d do anything to ensure his happiness, the same as he would for you.

And that’s also why he thought you were destined to be together. And he hoped he would never fuck that up, that anything would ever fuck that up.

Jungkook heard you whine from your place in his lap, still grinding against him to find some much-needed friction. You felt so good on top of him that he let himself enjoy it for a few moments, soft moans escaping his lips as he watched you through half-lidded eyes. You leaned down to give him another kiss, and in the same movement, he picked you up by your thighs under your ass and placed you back down where his tip was at your entrance.

He grunted against your lips as he felt you sink down onto him, waiting for you to accommodate to the stretch as you’d done many times before. You always told him you could handle it and sometimes you wanted him to be a little rougher with you from the get-go. Jungkook wasn’t at that level where he was comfortable with that yet.

But one day, he thought, especially with how good you feel around him, he just might be.

When he was finally completely inside of you, he waited just enjoying the feel of your warmth around his length. He brushed some hair out of your face, noticing how your eyes were glinting in the faint light of the room.

God, he could never get enough of staring into your eyes. He’d happily get lost in them over and over again.

Now, though, they were starting to close as you picked yourself only to drop down again a moment later. The action caused Jungkook to let out a throaty moan, eyes fluttering closed at the motion.

Hm. That was new.

Usually, Jungkook would guide you with his hands on your hips, and it wasn’t that he didn’t let you have control, it was more that you never really wanted to take control. So, seeing you decide to do it now was exciting and something he’d gladly let happen if that’s what you wanted.

To be sure though, he placed his hands on your waist. You placed yours on top of his and shook your head.

“Let me take the lead,” you said as you pushed his chest to where he was lying down more. “You can keep your hands here, but I want to do the work.”

Jungkook frowned, only because he knew you still had to be tired. “Angel, are you sure? I can help- fuck.”

You cut him off as you clenched around him before you started moving again, his hands constricting around your waist. You placed your hands firmly on your chest to help you get more leverage as you continued moving.

As you sped up, Jungkook leaned his head back into the pillow he was lying on, eyes screwed shut and the prettiest sounds falling from his lips. You watched as the muscles in his neck strained with the movement, and that alone made you want to mark him up.

But now wasn’t the time for that.

Jungkook managed to open his eyes and look at you riding him, the sight making him twitch inside of you. He thought you looked so beautiful like this, and you taking the lead was so hot to him, he knew he’d definitely not last long if you kept this up-

“Do you know,” you broke off to moan as his cock hit a spot inside of you that made your breath hitch, “do you know why I wanted to take control tonight?”

Jungkook swallowed and shook his head, rubbing his hands along your waist.

You smiled at him lovingly, taking one of his hands and bringing it to your lips before linking your fingers. The action made his heart soar.

“It’s because you always take such good care of me. I want to take care of you in that same way,” you squeezed his hand, letting your words wash over him.

“But you do take care of me,” he started to say, only to be interrupted by the feeling of your walls clenching around him again.

“I know. But tonight, I want to show you I know how to take care of you in this way, too. I want to show you how much I love you.” You leaned down, hitting a new angle that had both of you moaning as you brushed your lips against his. “Will you let me?”

Jungkook felt himself getting closer as you repeated his words from earlier. He nodded vigorously, kissing you with so much passion that you thought you might topple over. You sat up straight again and started moving faster, now pulling out as much as possible before dropping back down.

Jungkook’s high was approaching fast because of the combination of you taking control, the way you were riding him, and your words. He was feeling so many things at once and he tried to will himself to not let go.

He didn’t want to let go yet, not until you were there with him.

To help you along, he reached down in between both of you and started rubbing your clit, relishing in the feel of you around him as you stuttered in your movements. He smirked, knowing that even when you were in control, he still had an effect on you the same way you did him.

“Come on, angel, I’m right there, I want you to cum with me.” Jungkook’s voice was husky now, the pleasure threatening to overtake him any second. He bit his lip as he stared at you, watching as your head lolled forward on your neck and you started shaking from the overwhelming sensations coursing through your body.

“I’m almost there, Koo, I love you so much,” your sounds were increasing in pitch and becoming more frequent, so he knew you were close. All that was left now was for you to reach your high together.

He took your hand that was still intertwined with his and placed a kiss on the inside of your wrist. “I love you, too,” he said softly.

His response was enough to finally provoke your orgasm, it being so powerful that you fell forward on top of him. As you did, you were clenching so tight around him that his release wasn’t far behind. He grunted as he placed his head in the crook of your neck, filling you up, the familiar sensation of warmth making you shiver in his hold.

Both of you were trying to catch your breath, you now completely laying on his chest and his arms snaked around you. He placed a kiss on top of your head and you both just laid there for a few moments.

Jungkook was the one to break the silence. “Well, that was certainly something.”

You giggled. “Yeah, I enjoyed that, Don’t know why I haven’t done that before.” You felt his chest rumble with laughter underneath you.

“Me neither, but you can absolutely do it more often. I know I won’t be opposed.”

“Deal,” you said as you leaned up to place a kiss on his nose. “But only under one condition.”

“Oh?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow, intrigued at your proposition.

“You,” you said as you traced patterns on his chest, “need to stop being so cautious with me.”

A tiny frown etched itself onto his features. “Angel-”

“I mean it, Jungkook. I’m not some fragile thing that’s going to break anytime you stick your dick in me.” He couldn’t help the laugh that erupted from him, immediately apologizing afterwards because he knew you were being serious.

“I know you’re not, I just- I never want to hurt you.”

“And I’d let you know if you did. So promise me you’ll at least try to treat me a little less like I’m gonna break under your touch?”

He ran his fingers through your hair as you laid your head on his chest again. “I promise to try. I don’t just do it for you, though.”

You brought your head back up to look at him, quirking your own eyebrow. “Oh? What do you mean?”

He chuckled darkly, his stare alone making you throb. “I also do it so I can maintain some self-control.”

You laughed. “What’s so bad about losing control?”

He smirked. “Nothing, I guess. We’ll have to see though, won’t we?”

The suggestion made you tingle with desire, but you were unfortunately too tired to go again, so you figured it’d be best to leave it alone for the night. Jungkook finally pulled out of you, making you let out a small whine at the loss. Before you could say anything, he picked you up and carried you with him to the shower, as he did most nights when you two shared these intimate moments.

In the shower, he helped you clean off, and as he was washing your hair, you stared up at him, seeing his dark locks falling into his face with the weight of the water that drenched them. His lips were parted and his tongue was slightly sticking out as he concentrated on making sure he lathered every inch of your hair with shampoo. He looked so adorable like this that you couldn’t help but giggle.

You ran your hands along his chest now to help him wash off the soap, and your ring caught the light, glimmering faintly. Jungkook picked up your hand and turned it this way and that to watch the ring shine from different angles, before he linked your fingers together.

“I told you I’d get you a better one, didn’t I?” You rolled your eyes in amusement at the cocky smirk that tugged at his lips.

“You didn’t just tell me, you promised me.” You continued washing all the suds off of him as he wrapped his arms around you to bring you closer.

“And did I follow through on my promise?”

You pretended to think about it for a second, making Jungkook tickle you under the shower’s waterfall. “Ok! Ok! Yes, you did,” you said as you laughed. “You always follow through on your promises.”

“I try,” was his soft response. He nudged your cheek with his nose, which is something he did when he wanted a kiss, a habit you were very quick to pick up on in the early stages of your relationship. You wrapped your arms around his neck and stood up on your tiptoes, placing a gentle kiss on his lips that had him letting out a small sound of contentment.

“I love you. And I’m in love with you. Nothing, nor anyone, will change that.” You reassured him as you pushed his hair out of his face. Any doubts he still had you wanted to erase them all.

You wanted him to know that you loved him with everything you had.

He smiled, brushing his nose against yours. “I know. And I love you more than anything. All the love I have to give is for you.” He placed another soft kiss on your lips before he pulled back to quietly add, “Only for you.”

Those three words meant so much to you, and every time you heard him say them it made you fall for him even more, if that was possible. The two of you continued to hold each other and exchange lazy kisses until the water turned too cold to bear. After drying off, you both snuggled back into bed, with you falling asleep almost instantly, feeling safe in Jungkook’s arms.

He kissed the back of your neck and wrapped his arms around you securely, resting his forehead against your shoulder as you both laid on your sides. Your soft breathing let him know you were already asleep and he smiled, elated that he could provide you the comfort you needed to help you fall into peaceful slumber once more.

When Jungkook inevitably followed behind you, he was met with nothing but pleasant dreams, and all of them were about you.

[honeypiehotchner]

Looking Too Closely (Bucky x Stark!Fem!Reader) -- part one

I know, I know. I just finished a 100k fic about Aaron Hotchner, I have another fic for him coming in May, and yet here I am, writing a Bucky Barnes fic. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier has done things to me, guys. I knew I was going to fall right back in love with Bucky and I totally did. So here’s this xx.

(Also, as for the timeline, don’t question it. I’m kind of imagining this on its own separate timeline, but I’ll pull details from everywhere)

Summary: You’re (possibly) Tony Stark’s daughter. You’re also (possibly) on the run from the law. What better place to show up than the Avengers Tower? [Oh and no Bucky in this one! He comes in part 2]

Warnings: angst, mentions of death (your mom), mentions of homelessness, Tony is kinda an asshole (but I still think it’s in character)

BUCKY BARNES MASTERLIST 

You weren’t going to come here.

It was a last-resort kind of option. A I-don’t-want-to-sleep-on-a-park-bench-(again) option. An is-going-to-jail-really-better-than-just-knocking-on-a-door? Kind of option.

Turns out, knocking on a door is better than going to jail. Especially when Tony Stark’s shocked face is almost as comical as your mom’s.

Currently, you’re soaking wet (damn skies decided to open up before you could get to the Tower) and sitting in Tony’s office while he paces and talks on the phone.

“Pepper, honey, I know this is bad timing, but I need you to pick up, okay? I have a kid here— Okay, she’s glaring at me, so not a kid— No, you know what? She is a kid and she’s getting water everywhere and she says she’s my kid and I’m two seconds from going into crisis mode.”

You and me both, you think to yourself. If you knew Tony was this much of a drama queen, you would’ve just gone to the police station. It was closer, anyway. Damn.

Tony ends the voicemail (which is his fifth one, you believe) and spins around to face you, a nervous smile on his lips. “Okay. How old are you again?”

“19,” you repeat tiredly. It was one of the first questions he asked you. “And I don’t actually know if I’m really your kid, okay? My mom says you are, but I don’t know.”

“Where is your mom?” His eyebrows raise like he’s brilliant and has found a way out. “Can you call her?”

“I don’t have a phone, but even if I did, no, I can’t,” you pause, rolling your eyes at his confusion. “She’s dead, Tony. She passed away last month.”

His confusion settles into shock. “Oh.”

“Oh is right,” you chuckle, ignoring your teeth chattering. “And trust me, I wouldn’t be here if I had literally anywhere else I could go.”

Tony opens his mouth to reply, but is cut off by his phone. He hurriedly answers and returns to pacing. “Pepper! Hi!— Okay, slow down, yes I’m telling the truth! Why would I lie— Okay, that was one time. Listen, this time, I’m not lying.” Pause. “Yes, there really is a kid here. You’re serious? Okay, fine, hang on.”

You watch as Tony starts a video call, and then turns the phone around on you.

Pepper Potts’s eyes widen when she sees you staring back at her, a cold and shivering mess.

“Um, hi?” Your voice is small and wary.

“Shit,” Pepper replies, and Tony turns the phone back on his face.

“See? Not lying.”

“For God’s sake, Tony!” Pepper yells. “Get the poor girl some dry clothes! I’ll be there as soon as I can, but try not to freeze her to death before I can get there. Christ.” The call ends.

You muffle a giggle in your hand, looking up to find a tired stare from Tony. Your laughter ends and you mirror his expression. “I told you dude, if I had literally anywhere else I could go, I’d be there.”

“Homeless shelter?” Tony questions.

“A homeless shelter in New York? You mean a breeding ground for disease and sexual assault?”

Your blunt reply has Tony faltering, but he accepts it. “Right. Let’s just— Let’s get you into something dry and warm and maybe get some food in you.” His eyes graze over your form. “When was the last time you ate?”

“Do you really want to ask me that?”

He thinks it over, and nods. “Never mind. Follow me.”

You stand and follow him, leaving a trail of water wherever you step.

He grimaces, pausing in his steps to say, “FRIDAY, will you dry the floors in here before I get back?”

“Who the hell are you talking to—”

Your question is promptly cut off by a female voice answering Tony. “Yes, Mr. Stark.” The voice echoes all around and sounds human, but distinctly sounds like it isn’t.

“What the fuck was that?”

“FRIDAY,” Tony replies. “Stands for ‘Female Replacement Intelligent Digital Assistant Youth’. A mouthful, I know, so I just call her FRIDAY. She’s my AI and she’s all over this building.”

“She— Never mind,” you shake your head. “Cool. Weird, but cool. I guess.”

Tony smiles, but then continues walking, exiting his office.

You follow closely behind, trying not to get too distracted by everything you’re seeing. All you saw on the way up here was the lobby, the elevator, and then right into Tony’s office. Now, you’re seeing out glass windows and down into the rest of the Tower. You have a clean view into what looks like a lab, and you see a few people working in there, but they’re too focused to even bother looking elsewhere.

After stepping into the elevator with you, Tony says, “Wanda should have some extra clothes you can borrow and if not she can at least help you...find some.”

He eyes you like he doesn’t quite know what to do with you, which you think is remarkably humbling of him. Part of you expected (what with all the stories you’ve heard and read about him) that he would act like he knew exactly what to do — regardless of whether it was right.

Maybe he will act that way later, but right now he almost seems frightened, and it’s weirdly comforting.

“Wanda is one of the…” Tony pauses. “You know where we are, right?”

You raise one eyebrow. “You mean do I know this is the Avengers Tower and that the Avengers are real people?”

“Yes…”

“Then yes.”

“Okay,” Tony says, straightening and composing himself once more. “Wanda is one of the Avengers.”

“I know.”

Tony hesitates, and the elevator is still going. “You’re not some crazy fan, right?”

“Dude, I told you. If I had anywhere else to be, I would’ve gone there.” You shrug. “Yeah, it’s cool or whatever, but I’m not going to faint.”

“Good to know,” he says, though you faintly hear him mutter, “cool or whatever,” to himself.

Finally, the elevator stops and the doors open to a new floor, one that you quickly realize is what can be described as the residential area for the Avengers. Their rooms are on this floor, along with a kitchen and a living area of sorts — both of which are empty right now.

Tony notices you looking around and says, “Most everyone is out on a mission right now, so it’s just me and Wanda around.”

“Okay,” you say.

Tony takes you down a hall and around a corner, and stops at a door. He knocks a couple times and then says, “Hey Wan, it’s me and I have a...an issue that I need your help with.”

The door opens a moment later to reveal Wanda Maximoff, a younger woman closer to your age wearing a confused expression. “An issue?” She questions, and then her eyes land on you. “Oh, hi.”

“Hey,” you offer a small smile. “I’m Y/N.”

“I’m Wanda,” she replies, offering a smile in return. But when she looks at Tony, it drops. “What did you do?”

“Why does everyone always assume that I’ve done something?”

“Because when have you not done something?”

Tony pauses. “Fair point. Look, the kid needs some clothes, and I figured borrowing something old of yours would be more comfortable than Avengers workout gear.”

Wanda seems surprised Tony even thought of that. “Of course,” she looks at you. “You can take a shower to warm up, if you want. But I definitely have some clothes you can borrow.”

“Thanks.”

“Just uh…” Tony pauses, waving around like the words will appear in thin air. “Bring her to the kitchen when she’s done.”

“Standing right here,” you mutter, earning a laugh from Wanda.

“Go away,” she waves at Tony. “I’ve got this.”

Tony walks away, clearly elated to be rid of you and have you in the hands of a responsible adult that is not himself.

Wanda shuts her door with a roll of her eyes. “Sometimes I wonder how Pepper keeps him afloat,” she murmurs. “Anyway, on to you— Oh, before all that, I can read minds, but I am actively blocking that right now. I’ll try really hard not to be nosy, but don’t worry, I am really good at keeping secrets because of it.”

You can’t help but smile. “It’s okay. There’s not much that goes on up here anyway.”

She gives you a skeptical look. “I may not be listening, but the amount of energy I am using right now to not listen tells me that’s far from true.”

You just shrug in response, not wanting to get into it.

Thankfully, she keeps her promise and moves on, too, walking toward her closet. “I have loads of t-shirts and hoodies, skirts, too, but I do have some leggings. Do you have a preference?”

“Just whatever you’re comfortable with letting me borrow.”

Part of you thinks she read your mind, though, because she hands you leggings and a t-shirt, along with one of her many zip-up hoodies. You were silently wishing she wouldn’t hand you a skirt.

“My bathroom is just through there and there’s clean towels on the shelf if you want to shower.” Wanda smiles, gesturing toward the open door at the other end of her room.

“Thanks.” You walk over and quickly pee, not realizing until you entered that you’ve desperately had to piss this entire time.

You decide against a shower for the sake of not wanting to take up too much time, and not feeling up for being naked in a stranger’s shower (albeit a kind stranger).

After changing into Wanda’s clothes, and hanging your wet ones over the shower curtain, you go back into Wanda’s bedroom. She’s sitting on her bed, mindlessly moving a red ball of energy between her fingers and up her arms.

She smiles upon seeing you, but doesn’t drop the energy. “Feel better?”

“Yeah,” you nod, mesmerized by the glowing ball of red in her palms. “That’s so dope.”

“Dope?”

“Really cool,” you clarify.

“Oh,” she giggles, and the energy evaporates. “I think I’ve heard Peter say that a few times.”

You have no clue who Peter is, but you don’t question it. “Should we go out there?”

“Yes,” she slides off the bed. “I’ll come with you. Tony can be a handful.”

That’s what your mom used to say about him, too.

You follow Wanda silently out into the hallway, and as you both get closer to the living area and kitchen, you hear two voices this time. One is Tony’s and after a few more steps, you find out that the other voice is Pepper.

“You’re saying she just showed up out of nowhere?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying because that’s exactly what happened.”

“And she says you’re her father?”

“Allegedly,” Tony scoffs, resting his hands on the kitchen counter. “I don’t actually know. I can’t remember that far back.”

“How far back?” Pepper asks, arms crossed over her chest.

“She says she’s 19.”

“I’ll be 20 this year,” you interject, enjoying the way Tony fumbles and tries to put on his mask one more time.

“Hey kiddo,” he says. “This is Pepper Potts, she’s the one who wrangles me in.”

Pepper shakes her head before offering you a warm smile and her hand to shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Y/N. I’m sorry you seem to be going through such a tough time.”

“It’s okay,” you say while shaking her hand. “I’m sorry for barging in and all. I didn’t know where else to really go.”

“Nope, that’s okay,” she assures you. “We’re going to get this figured out. Do you mind if you and I just talk for a minute?”

“That sounds good.”

“Awesome,” Pepper smiles. “Okay, Tony, just...go to the lab or something. But...go away.”

You and Wanda share a look as Tony saunters off, no doubt muttering under his breath.

“I’ll leave you guys to it,” Wanda says, gesturing between you and Pepper. “It was nice to meet you.”

“You too,” you smile. “Thanks again for the clothes. I’ll try to give them back soon.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Wanda shakes her head before heading back down the hallway to her room.

You’re left alone with Pepper, who doesn’t terrify you, but the prospect of what conversation is going to come next does.

“Do you want something to eat?” She asks. “I can order something while we talk.”

“Um...pizza?” It’s inexpensive and never fails you in terms of being able to eat it.

“Sure,” Pepper smiles gently. “What kind?”

After telling her your favorite toppings, the two of you take a seat on one of the couches. She finishes placing the order on her phone before she sets down the device and gives you her full attention.

“So. Tony told me your mom passed away,” Pepper pauses. “I’m really sorry for your loss.”

“It’s alright.”

“He also told me you didn’t show up with anything at all,” Pepper says. “Do you mind if FRIDAY does an identity check?”

“Is that like a background check?”

“Essentially, but it’s not that extensive. It’s just so we know the truth about who you are.” She pauses again, sensing your hesitation. “Unfortunately, it’s just a precaution we have to take.”

“Okay,” you agree, realizing you have nothing left to lose. “Uh, how do I…?”

“Right,” Pepper chuckles. “FRIDAY?”

“Yes, Ms. Potts.”

“Will you please do an identity check on…”

“Y/N M/N L/N.”

“One moment.”

“It should just take a few seconds,” Pepper explains. “Oh, and there will be a hologram that will appear— Right there.”

“Identity confirmed.”

The hologram appears in front of the TV, showing general information about you alongside a picture of you — a picture that you think is on your driver’s license, wherever the ashes of that is.

“Y/N M/N L/N, born to Isabella L/N in 2001 in a hospital in Newark, New Jersey. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.”

Your eyes widen. “That’s weird.”

“Thank you, FRIDAY,” Pepper says, and the hologram disappears. “It is a little freaky. I’m still not totally used to all of Tony’s tech, but I’ve stopped worrying about it. Good news is, you are who you say you are.” She pauses. “But I do have to ask why you decided to show up here? You told Tony if you had anywhere else to go, you would’ve, so I understand.”

“It’s the first place I could think of,” you admit quietly. “I’ve been living on the streets for a few weeks now.”

Pepper pales. “You’ve been homeless?”

You nod. “Mom died in a house fire. It was our house. I was on a walk to the gas station to get her favorite candy bar because she had been having a rough time.”

“And she…”

“By the time I came out of the gas station, fire trucks were blaring past and I could smell the smoke. The flames were high enough to see from a mile away.”

“I...I am so sorry.”

You shrug, surprised you’re not crying. “Everything I had was in there, except the clothes I was wearing when I got here. She had my cell phone because we could only afford the one, but it burned, too. Everything burned.

“Anyway, she… She always told me Tony was my dad and I didn’t believe her, but then she showed me pictures of them together, and it made me believe her. So I figured coming here would be better than staying on the streets or going to another shelter.”

Pepper nods. “Okay, well, I’m glad you came here. I am. But...Tony can’t do anything for you if he isn’t your real father.”

“I understand.”

“We can do a paternity test,” she offers. “If you want to, I’ll get him to agree. It wouldn’t be the first one he’s had to do, but this one…this one would probably be the first I think he’d do willingly.”

You furrow your eyebrows. “Really?”

She nods. “The others have been infants and the mothers have mostly been after money. The paternity tests were used in court.”

Your eyes widen. “I do not want to go to court.”

“You won’t,” she says. “The test could be done here and kept between the three of us. But, until then, it is up to Tony what he wants to do — whether or not he wants to let you stay. I’m not saying I will allow him to kick you out, but if he doesn’t want you to stay here, I will do everything I can to make sure you are somewhere safe.” She pauses, watching your expression as it changes. “I’m sorry if this sounds so harsh. It’s a recycled speech I’ve had to give a thousand times,” she laughs airily. “But I do mean it when I say I will make sure you’re safe. I don’t care if it comes out of my paycheck.”

“No, you don’t need to do that,” you start shaking your head, but she stops you.

“You are special, I can tell,” Pepper says. “And Wanda seems to like you, which is telling. In the time that she’s been here, it hasn’t been easy to get her to open up to others.”

You felt comfortable around Wanda, too. The same kind of comfortable you feel with Pepper right now.

Before anything else can be said, footsteps are heard and the smell of pizza fills your nostrils.

“Did you order me pizza? You’re too kind, Ms. Potts,” Tony’s voice floats from the hallway before he enters the living room, pizza box in hand.

“Actually, it’s for Y/N,” Pepper says.

“It’s fine,” you wave them off, but neither of them let it slide.

“Nope,” Tony says, placing the box down on the table in front of the couch. “I’ll get plates. You’re eating.”

“But if you—”

“Ah-ah,” he holds up his index finger, raising his eyebrows. “No arguing.”

“Seriously?” You deadpan, rolling your eyes.

You open the box and pull out a slice while he’s busy wasting time getting plates. When he returns, he hands you a plate, even though you won’t use it. He plops down next to Pepper and grabs a slice, shoving half of it in his mouth.

“Want some?” He gestures the half-eaten slice toward Pepper.

She shakes her head. “No, it’s your favorite, not mine.”

Your chewing slows. “It’s your favorite?”

“Yeah,” Tony replies, eating the other half of his slice.

“It’s my favorite, too,” you reply slowly, reaching for a second piece.

Tony smiles, grabbing a second slice, too. “You’ve got good taste, kid.” He takes less of a big bite this time. “So, what’s the consensus? How much money do you want?”

“Tony—” Pepper starts, but he doesn’t let her finish.

“Or, let me guess, paternity test. And money. College? I can give you a scholarship.”

With every word that falls from his lips, you get more and more angry.

“Or are we just waiting for the police to pick you up? I have to admit, that’s boring, but if that’s what we’re doing—”

“That is enough,” Pepper hisses.

“Um,” you swallow the bite of pizza that you had in your mouth. “Thanks for the pizza and...dry clothes and the talk, but I’m gonna go.”

“Y/N--” Pepper tries.

“No, it’s fine,” you shake your head as you stand. “It’s okay, it was a bad idea anyway. Don’t worry about the test, I mean, I’m an adult anyway, it’s not like it would make any difference.”

“She has a point,” Tony adds.

You ignore him. “I’ll just...yeah.”

The two of them are still bickering when you run off, toward the elevator. The doors open quickly and you let the elevator swallow you whole.

You were stupid, so stupid for coming here. You would’ve been better off on another park bench or something.

When the elevator reaches the lobby, you’re running out as fast as your feet will carry you.

+++

You’re thankful for Wanda’s hoodie when the cold wind of New York starts biting into your skin. It’s a miracle to find an open park bench, and it’d be a miracle if it could be a few degrees warmer outside, but you know that’s asking for way too much.

Still, you try to relax and rest. You have no clue where to go from here. Maybe back to a shelter, but the idea of that makes your body shiver for a different reason other than the cold.

You zip the hoodie up to your chin and wrap your arms around yourself, keeping the heat in as much as you can. Eventually, because of the exhaustion, you find yourself drifting off.

When you wake, it’s with a jolt because the empty seat next to you on the bench is now filled.

“What do you want?” After realizing the person is none other than Tony Stark, you can’t be bothered to be polite.

“For you to come back to the Tower before it starts raining.”

You sit up straighter, shaking your head. “No thanks. Did Pepper put you up to this?”

“Actually, I put myself up to this,” he replies. “I was a jackass. I’m sorry.”

“Thanks.”

“I mean it, kid.”

“Maybe stop calling me ‘kid.’”

“I will when you quit acting like one.”

You lift your head to glare at him. “That’s a low blow. Even for you.”

“I just want you to come back to the Tower with me,” Tony says. “I’m sorry. It was a low blow, and so was everything else I said earlier. But I refuse to let you sleep here when there’s a perfectly fine and vacant room at the Tower. Right next to Wanda’s room.”

You mull it over for a second. The mention of Wanda is enticing because despite today’s circumstances, she did seem kind and harmless. The two of you seemed like you could get along well, too, which is rare for you — and her, apparently.

“Fine,” you cave. “But only because this bench is uncomfortable as hell.”

Tony sighs, but doesn’t comment on that. Instead, he stands, gesturing for you to follow, and you do. “Okay, come on. I parked over here.”

“Parked?”

“Yeah, ki— You walked a good thirty minute drive from the Tower.”

“Oh.”

“It’s fine,” he says. “But it is about to rain, so.”

He clicks something and what was once a black smudge in your vision suddenly lit up as the car’s engine roared to life, turning the headlights on, too.

You can’t help but scoff.

“What?” Tony asks through a laugh. “It’s my car.”

“It’s so flashy.”

He accepts it. “Fair point.”

You have no clue what make or model the car is, but regardless it’s too sleek and too low to the ground. Thank God you aren’t driving.

You hop in the passenger seat, unashamed that you want to get out of the wind. Tony silently turns the seat warmers on when he gets in.

After driving for a few minutes, Tony breaks the silence.

“I need to call Pepper to let her know I found you,” he says, and without another word, the car begins calling Pepper. Well, FRIDAY does, because she’s in his cars, too.

Pepper picks up almost immediately. “Please tell me you found her.”

“I did, Pep.”

“Thank God,” she says, exhaling deeply. “Is she in the car? Y/N?”

“I’m here,” you speak up.

“Good,” she replies. “I was scared he made you angrier instead of apologizing.”

You’re still angry with him, but you don’t say that. “He apologized.”

“Good,” Pepper says. “Drive safe, Tony, please.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll only go ten above the speed limit.”

“Tony—”

“Call disconnected.”

“Oops,” Tony says. “Do you want a milkshake? Late night snack?”

“I’m good.”

“Suit yourself,” he shrugs, speeding up.

+++

You got a milkshake.

Not because you really wanted one, but because Tony ordered you one anyway. He guessed your favorite — it’s the same as his, but still — and didn’t let you argue. And you’re not one to let something go to waste if it’s right in front of you.

Pepper and Wanda look more than relieved when you enter the Tower beside Tony, milkshake still in hand.

“I have returned with the… With Y/N.”

You roll your eyes.

“Thank you,” Pepper says, but she still gives Tony a glare. When she looks back at you, her expression is soft. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” you murmur. “I won’t stay for long, I promise.”

Pepper shook her head. “You can stay for as long as you need to. There’s no sense in you sleeping anywhere else when there’s a room here you can have.”

“I could use the company,” Wanda adds, smiling gently. “If you want.”

You smile in return, but you’re still wary. You look at Tony to see what he thinks, but to your complete surprise, he doesn’t look angry or anything.

“As long as you don’t ask for an entire floor, you can stay,” he says.

That’s about as good a response you’re going to get out of him, it seems, so you accept it.

[softrozene]

Too Long

Anonymous requested: Hello, I'm a silent reader of you and I really like your works❤️💗! Can you please write about Doffy wherein he finally found his lost love and actually pregnant when she left him? I know that it looks like impossible considering how evil he is but I just really wanna know how it will goes. Thank you! and Take care. Don't over work yourself! ❤️💗 and sorry if my English is broken.

Your English is perfect <3 and I am so sorry for the long wait, here you go Lovely! I had fun with this since I love Doflamingo despite his evil ways XD

Doflamingo x Female Reader

Warnings: Fluff, slight angst- Doflamingo is probably out of character because I write him with emotions and not as evil lol (if you need another reference just basically imagine him as Klaus from the Originals lafdkafds)

Words: ~1400

First things first- There are three ways I imagine this going

1.       (the most likely way) Doflamingo goes a tad crazy, gives no cares, and simply takes the child after deeming his lost love long unworthy of going with them for not telling him she was pregnant unless he can find some use of her or she proves herself rather quickly

2.       He keeps tabs on Reader and the child constantly but that is it. Takes no action unless necessary

3.       Actually puts effort into coming back into their lives by forcing them to come back to Dressrosa where he can spoil them silly

This scenario is going to be a mix of 2 and 3 because I want fluff lol. Anyway, enjoy:

-

Doflamingo stares long and hard at the piece of paper before him. The pictures that accompany them make his blood boil with anger, but his heart yearns with interest as to what happened. What this is. Why it happened but more importantly… Why he did not know.

The woman in the picture is beautiful… Very beautiful and very pregnant. A shock to him. She will always hold a special place in his heart. She taught him how to trust on a certain level and yes, even in the end she did leave him, the end of their relationship was left on a good note. Even so, he can’t lie about not looking for her.

After the mutual breakup, he looked far and wide for her, wanting the presence of a person he could trust right by him. He would try to persuade her to come back but… He never found her. Until now that is.

So… Why is just now finding out she left him… When she was pregnant? Why is just now finding out he is a dad?

The piece of paper is just the island name of where she is residing. Not too far from Dressrosa but not too close either. It saddens him for a moment. Did she not trust him? After everything they have been through together- All the learning of loving each other, the trusting, did she really not deem him worthy?

Him the King of Dressrosa?

He would like to think that he would be a perfect dad- Nothing like his silly foolish father who stepped down from the royal life he could have had. No, he would give the child everything they could have ever asked for. The mother of his child wouldn’t need to lift a single finger. He would spoil them, protect them, do anything for them…

So why?

It is a question he wants an answer to, and he will get an answer to. No matter what. That is what he promises himself as he looks at the next photo- One of his former lover no longer pregnant but… With the child- A darling little girl that has his blonde locks and her mother’s eyes.

The anger simmers down as he decides he will bring them both home. He will try to because of that little hope he has in his heart for growing a genuine family- Nothing like the one he helped destroyed, it means everything to him the longer he stares at the two faces.

The brief reminder of Corazon… Pains him but it will not be like that. Corazon simply did not have faith in him. These two… He will show them that he has their best interest at heart.

-

Finding them, was rather harder than expected. They were at the island that was disclosed to him by someone who recognized her but… (Name) really was too good at blending in with this island. It was rather busy. Cute for it being a bigger place.

So many families too, Doflamingo notes. The thought slightly irks him. Five long years without her and five long years of missing out on the child they created. He has every right to being mad. He has every right to go on a rampage.

Just as he wonders if he should demand someone to show him where she is- He hears a gasp behind him. One too full of shock that it grabs his attention immediately. However, what he did not expect was to feel tiny arms wrap around his legs- The way Baby 5 and Buffalo used to.

He glances down to see the girl from the pictures staring up at him with a wide smile. Her eyes are so gentle and for a moment… Remind him of only innocence as she stares up with genuine curiosity and happiness.

She even speaks to him- And in that moment he already knows that she has him wrapped around her finger- He would fight and kill anyone who would look at her remotely wrong. Is this what it is like to be a dad?

“Hello! I think you’re my dad!”

A laugh comes from behind him again and this time his heart feels like it is stopping because he knows that laugh so well. It haunts his dreams because he loves it so much- It used to be the sound that he tried to coax out of her every day. It is (Name).

He turns and indeed when he sees her… Doflamingo realizes just how long it has been. Too long in his eyes but… She looks as perfect as the day he first saw her. Those (hair color) locks and stunning (eye color). She has not physically changed in the slightest yet… She is still the most stunning person to him. Her eyes look down to their daughter before going back up to meet his.

“I need to put her down for a nap. She had a busy day at the school. I suppose you want to talk then?”

How is she so calm about this? The rage wants to come out- He wants to lash out but… He also just wants to hear her out. He wants to hear her side to everything. That and the way the little girl is holding onto his leg sleepily.

It just makes him melt. He says nothing as he follows the woman to her house. The place is too small for his stature but… Perfect for (Name) and their lovely daughter. It takes just a few moments for (Name) to put the girl to sleep and come back out to join him.

When it is about to grow quiet, he immediately asks, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

(Name) knows what he means. She has a sad smile on her face now as she asks back, “Were you ready to be a father? It is not as simple as you would have thought… It… How do I say this gently? You are selfish. Okay… That came out harsh but… You are. You look out for yourself and pull your family in with you.”

The pretty face that he is in love with does very little to comfort him after those words. That is until she continues.

“I was going to reach out when I found I was pregnant. I thought you would have liked to know but then I remembered why I left. I wanted to find myself and I did. Then… Then she was born, and I realized what being a parent is. You- Make all these choices hoping it is what is best for them and that is simply what I did. I thought you would not want to be in our lives, so I said nothing. I did not want you to have to choose between your dream of being the King of Pirates or her because we both know what you would choose,” (Name) says her tone sad now.

Doflamingo’s anger is valid but… So is (Name)’s in this regard because she is right. He does not say so because he knows he could have both. He will prove he can have both but for now…

“How does she know I am her dad?”

(Name) smiles at this. She pulls out a picture of Doflamingo and herself from her pocket. It is a good photo too. One of them hugging each other. He remembers it because the family kept photo bombing all the rest.

“I told her. Everything about you. I could not lie to her about who her father was. How much he did love me and would have loved her, but I also could not lie to her about how big your goals are. Of course, she is a child, so she does not understand. All she knows is that you want to be a bigger King. She has dreamt of meeting you for a while now.”

These words. He can salvage this. He can unite them. He knows he can. So, he will. He will have both the family and his dreams as he desires.

“Let’s give her a proper meeting then when she wakes up… And (Name), it is good to see you. I hope I can manage to convince you that Dressrosa would be a brilliant place for her.”

The way (Name) stares at him. Yeah, he can convince her.

[hoodieofholland]

Professor Tom x cheerleader reader ( part 2?)

- the reader goes and takes his exam, she decides to wear her uniform, she gets a good score on the test, and after class Tom gives her a reward

( sexual tension when he sees her in the uniform and then smut after class )

A/n: this was WILD to write, and i luv it. This is loooong, so prepare yourself!

Warnings: smut (+18, dni if you're a minor), oral (f rec), fingering (f rec), protected sex, little praise kink, little sir kink.

"Alright, people, we'll get started as soon as you're ready to take the test", Tom says as he prepares the amount of paper on his desk, flipping through them to make sure everything is set up for the first exam in the semester.

The students are taking their seats, a small crowd whispering and whimpering loudly as they nervously make their own preparation for the most feared day of the year.

Mr. Holland rests his arms, crossed over his chest, as he takes a look to the class before grabbing the papers, his eyes looking for a specific student on their own desire. He didn't want to even think about it, to make it more clear to himself, but he was looking for you. Miss y/n, his most brilliant student, always perfectly on time, was late today. He pondered about taking his time to give the exam, so he could give you a few more minutes to arrive, but he didn't want to be more unprofessional than he was already feeling like.

He sighed in frustration, but before he could start walking around the class to hand out the papers, the door cracked open and you walked in.

Tom's eyes flipped immediately at you, jaw tightening as soon as he looked at the way you were dressed to attend his test.

It wasn't exactly warm outside, but you were wearing your cheerleading outfit now, a tight short yellow skirt, an equally tight gym top and yellow socks that reached your knees, letting your thighs bare. It wasn't warm, yet you chose to wear the outfit that left little to imagination.

Tom's eyes widened, caught out of guard. You were naturally gorgeous, in your very formal and usual clothes, the ones you wore for classes, but right now... right now you were beyond anything he has seen in that classroom.

"Sorry, Mr. Holland", you smiled apologetically. However, there was a hint of a smirk on the corner of your lips, result of the joy you were feeling for your professor's reaction to your entrance. "I got lost on time"

Sure you could make the important test on time, but it wouldn't give you all the attention you wanted as soon as you stepped Mr. Holland's class. It took you the entire night to figure out that was what you wanted since you two changed words in his car, but when you finally chose to give it a try, you decided to wear that same outfit from practice, regard from the sweater you were wearing back then to protect you from the coldness. Now, you left your arms exposed, breasts beautifully hugged by the material of your top and even a small part of your stomach bare, since the skirt only covered to your waist.

Tom knew he should give you an advertence for being late, and he was sure that if it was any of his other students, he would have done it. But Tom also knew he treated you differently, and not only because you were his best student - also because he was attracted to you in many ways.

This is so wrong, he thought to himself, but couldn't help the words that was slipping out of his mouth.

"It's okay, Miss y/l/n. Take a seat, we're about to get started".

You do as you're told, taking the nearest seat to his desk, the one that usually people avoid to not get so close to the professor. The small crowd of girls that were always excited to watch Mr. Holland in his classes and always made sure to seat close to him, now were in the back, too scared of the exam to pay some attention to the hot man.

You were fine with it. After studying a whole night, you were confident you were going to do well.

Mr. Holland handed you the paper and couldn't help but exchange look with you. Your legs felt weak for a moment, staring into those beautiful bright brown eyes, but you regained some composure before concentrate on test again.

***

A week passed since your test, and Professor Holland was set to start his class sharply on time, as always. This time, you didn't wear your cheerleading clothes, but still got a bit more dressed up than necessary for class.

Mr. Holland saw the moment you crossed the door, a small smile covering your lips. He stared at it for good five seconds straight until you took your seat.

"Good morning, everyone!", he said, clearing his throat as he got up from his desk to start his lecture. "I already finished grading your tests, so I'm going to hand it to you with my notes by the end of this class".

You crossed one leg over another, too caught up on your thoughts about your professor to actually care about the class. You knew it was useless to struggle to pain any attention to what he was saying. Though his abilities speaking and explaining were undoubtedly amazing, Tom's charm was distracting itself, and even worse when he spent the whole morning eyeing you every now and then.

You weren't so convicted that there was something really happening there, but you couldn't help the excitement running through your veins each time he gave you a side look, as if he was trying to avoid it.

By the end of the class, you were packing your things, slowly, as you weren't excited at all to go to your next class. Most people did their way out of the classroom, only a few small groups being left. You've already received your test back, being extremely satisfied with your high score, though a lot of your classmates couldn't tell the same.

So when you got up from your seat and walked to the door's direction, you were surprised to hear Mr. Holland's voice.

"Miss y/l/n, can I please have a word with you about your test?"

You blink a few times, suddenly nervous with the subject. A lot of thoughts passed through your mind, asking yourself if maybe he made a mistake and your score wasn't that high after all. Maybe he thought that you cheated on the test, maybe-

"Miss y/l/n?"

Your heartbeat is fast by now, and you watch as the few students leave you behind with Mr. Holland facing you sternly.

You gulp. Damn, you think to yourself, he's going to warn me, I was staring at the man the whole fucking day. He's going to punish me for being such a-

"Yes, Mr. Holland", you walk to his desk, test on your hand, that is slightly shaky. Mr. Holland look at the paper and shows his hand so you could give it to him.

He's wearing his usual clothes - the only type of wearing you've ever seen him in - a black sweater, sometimes with a turtleneck, and some really nice trousers. Mr. Holland was always dressed up in a not very casual set of clothes, but you liked it. It matched his professional and intelligent look.

"What's the matter, Mr. Holland?", you can't help yourself from asking, nervously fidgeting with your fingers. "Is something wrong?"

He looked distracted for a moment, flipping through the papers, as his eyebrows lift an his eyes avert from your writing.

"No, no, Miss y/l/n. There's nothing wrong here", he smiled warmly at you, eyes bright as always.

You sigh in relief, but still don't get the point at why he called you after class. "So..."

"I was just going to congratulate you, for your grades. But I'm also really curious about how you deal with it all", he rests his index finger and thumb over his chin, the trace of his smile still there. "You know, cheerleading at day, brilliant student at night".

You take a few seconds to realise that was the casual tone he used with you in his car, while he drove you home. He was just being friendly, not professionally. He must have liked the talk you both had, and that caught you out of guard.

Because no matter the fact that you dressed up to his test to get his attention, no matter how much confidence you had walking in his class, right now, with his bright brown eyes staring at you, all you could feel was your knees going weak, your mouth slightly dry.

"Well, I got the best professor in the department, so... not so hard", you smile, tugging your hand on the strap of your backpack.

Mr. Holland chuckles and shakes his head, collecting the papers and handing it back to you.

"And how is the TA work going? Are you enjoying it?"

You bite your lip slightly. You wanted to tell the truth, that you were expecting to see him more while doing this, that it was one of the main reasons why you accepted the job, but you wouldn't dare to say it out loud.

"Yeah, it's great. Don't think being a professor is my thing, though, for all that matters. It's a valid experience", you shrug.

Tom shakes his head in agreement, and both of you fall silence, staring at each other. Your eyes slowly avert to his lips, his thin yet tempting lips. It's just a matter of seconds until he speaks again.

"So, you're free to go now. Don't want you to miss your next class", he says as he gets up from his seat to get his belongings together. You look at his hands working, the prominent vein on his arm showing, and gulp.

"Fuck, wish I could be dismissed from that one", you whimper without realising what you're saying. Mr. Holland looks at you with a cocked eyebrow.

"Watch your language, y/n, I'm still your professor", he says in a stern voice, but you can see the joy on his eyes. He's joking.

So you decide to play along.

Bitting your lips, you cross your arms over your chest, a sassy expression on your face.

"Then why are you calling me by my name, Mr. Holland?", you tease innocently, and he turns his head to look at you. Discreetly, his eyes go to your lips, the way your teeth are grazing over it, just like he wished he could do-

"Clever remark". He smirks. "But you've told me to, remember?"

"Right", you bounce back and forth on your feet. "Does it make us friends or something?"

Mr. Holland looks at you with a puzzled face, quite intrigued by your speech and how casual you sound about it.

"Well, that would not be very professional of me", he said, eyes not leaving your figure, slightly narrowed.

"But that's not something that would bother me, Mr. Holland", you smile. "And I'd never judge you anything but strictly professional, if that matters".

His smile widens. "Yeah, it does". Tom puts some papers inside of folders that he brought to the classroom. He paused, staring at the desk as if he was far in his thoughts. "Tell me, Y/N, is it really that weird if we get to like each other? I mean, more than a student gets to like her favorite professor?"

You heart loses a beat, not entirely prepared for the subject to switch so quickly.

"I don't- think so", you say as soon as you find your voice.

Tom's shoulder visibly relax. "Good. Cause I really like spending time with you".

He throws his bag's strap over his shoulder and look at you, who's standing a lot closer now.

"Can I ask you something?", you say, barely in an audible voice. Tom nods.

You can sense everything now - the heat radiating from his body, his not so regular breathing, the way he clench his hand around the strap of his bag as a reaction to your question. It's all just under your nose, waiting for his confirmation that what was going on between the two of you was real.

But maybe you didn't have to ask it. Maybe that's what would end up bringing you two to nothing but a blushing face. So you decide otherwise. You decide to take a step further and ignore the discomfort on your stomach that almost yells you to stop as an instinct. You swallow hard as you walk closer to Mr. Holland. He watches your every move cautiously, eyes travelling from your eyes to your hands and chest, and then your lips.

That's it, you tell yourself, he wants it too.

And as easy as it is for you to realise you had a big fucking crush over your English professor, you can see that he does like you too.

You drop your backpack slowly, his eyes never leaving your face. "If this is messed up, please tell me to stop", your voice is a whisper, but he can hear it, he can hear everything. He can hear your breathe coming harshly from your nose.

He hesitates, but at the end he knew he couldn't fight that anymore. Mr. Holland brings his hand to your waist and the other to cup your cheek. His bag is now on the floor, matching yours. There's a frown between his brows, deep enough to make it clear that he's going through an inner fight.

"That's okay", you say, looking directly into his eyes, a wave of confidence bringing the words freely through your lips. "I want it as much as you do".

Your faces get closer and closer, noses touching one another, and you start to close your eyes, too taken by the feeling of his touch.

"This is wrong", he whispers before swallowing.

You shakes your head negatively, inhaling the air that was filled with his scent. "No... just shut up and kiss me, Tom".

That was what he needed to bring his lips to touch yours vigorously, like he was holding himself much longer than just the couple of minutes the two of you spent together. You sigh as soon as you feel his thin lips hovering yours ever so slightly before clashing then together in a rhythmic slow burning kiss.

His presence was everywhere, his touch on your waist, still burning over the fabric of your shirt. His tongue makes its way to your mouth, finding yours.

The realization of the fact that you were making out with your professor in his classroom hit you hard, turning you on even more. Anyone could walk in and find the two of you in that state, your hands tugging on his curls, messing his once perfectly tidy hair, your lips fighting to feel one another in every way possible and your desperate whimpers every time Tom lowered his head to kiss your neck.

The wet path of his smooth kisses over the sensitive skin shivers in contrast with the cold air.

"Been dreaming 'bout this forever", Tom's accent is even thicker now, with his voice coming out husky. "Since you first talked to me, darling, since you first walked in my class".

You moan, unable to say something more, your hands clenching around the fabric of his sweater.

His face is now on the same level of your again, and when you feel his breathing hitting you, his hands cupping your face, you open your eyes slowly.

"I want you", he says it quietly, word by word in a slow flow, "But I want you to tell me if you want it too. I don't want to pressure you into anything, and I don't want you to think that I do this with my-"

"I do", you cut him off, too desperate to wait. "I want you, Tom"

Hearing you calling him by his name made Tom snap out of his own worried thoughts to concentrate on you and you only. He took your lips on his once more before saying in a quiet hurried whisper.

"Meet me in my office in five minutes. Not more, not less, just be there in five minutes".

His face held a serious expression and you couldn't help but nod quickly before he grabbed his bag, eyes never leaving your face, and walked out of the classroom.

You were left there, still out of breath, checking time up to count the most long five minutes of your entire life.

Thinking straighter, without your professor's mint scent filling up your senses, you couldn't believe that it actually happened. Only God knows how many times you caught yourself daydreaming of this day, of how sometimes you'd get yourself off by the thought of Mr. Holland having his way with you.

You walk out of the classroom and wait at one of the aisle's bench, holding your backpack tightly. The corridor was empty and you were thankful that no one was able to see your excited and nervous expression. By this moment, you wouldn't be able to hide it anymore.

So when your watch hit five minutes, you almost jumped from the bench and walked down the hall, looking for the stairs to the next floor, where you knew Mr. Holland's office was.

It was gladly at the end of the hallway. A very nice wooden board held the description "Prof. Thomas S. Holland", making your knees go weak at the realization that he was right there, waiting for you.

You almost knocked on the door, but thought it was dumb anyways, so you just turned the handle before entering the room.

Tom was standing by his desk, his back facing you. You could see the hard breathing he had by the way his shoulders were moving heavily.

"Please, don't tell you are overthinking it", you say in a low voice, closing the door quietly behind you.

Tom turns his head and smiles sweetly at you. "I'm not", he says.

You don't know what to do by now, so you just stand at the door, holding the strap of your backpack, that's hanging by your hand. Mr. Holland makes his way to you, taking his hand to cup one of your cheek, thumb caressing the skin softly.

"You're so gorgeous", he whispers.

The room is dark, only illuminated by the din light from a lamp on his desk. You can see everything, though, from his slightly moves to the small frown on his face. You flutter your eyes close as he lean into you, lips brushing over yours in a tempting way.

His hands travel to your waist, fingers deepening in your skin, making you whimper against his mouth.

You put your hands around his neck, brining him impossibly closer, and hear him groan.

Tom smashes your lips together, tongues not wasting time to collide in a passionate kiss. Yours fingers lock with his curls, pulling gently as he takes your bottom lip between his teeth.

"Shit", you moan against him, feeling the wet patch on your panties growing even more. Your walls are clenching at the thought of being so close to touch your professor inside his office.

Tom takes you abruptly, supporting your weight as he carries you to his desk, putting you to sit on it.

His hands are quick to undo the first buttons of your shirt. However, before he continues, his eyes search for yours, asking for approval, which you quickly give by shaking your head fervently. "Please", you whimper, squirming under your makeshift seat.

Tom smirks before continuing his work, the tip of his fingers brushing over the sensitive skin between your breasts as he does.

He opens your shirt, revealing the black bra that held your breasts tightly. Lowering his head, Tom lets a trail of wet kisses along the way from the base of your neck to your covered nipples.

"Please, Sir. The more I like this... I don't want foreplay right now".

Tom arcs an eyebrow at you, the pad of his fingers massaging each one of your nipples, pushing the bra's fabric aside.

"You know you don't have to call me sir now, Y/N", he says in a husky voice, a smirk in the corner of his thin lips. His eyes were glistening in pure lust as he saw you opening your legs further to get his body closer to yours. "But you want to, don't you? You like it, calling me sir. You like the thought that your professor is about to fuck you".

You bite your lip to suppress a moan, your core throbbing with desire simply for his words.

He grabs the back of your thighs and squeeze them, pulling your lower half into him. "Who would know that such a good student would be so fucking naughty", his hand goes up your bare thigh, getting closer to where you desired his hands the most.

"Please, Tom. Just- just do something". You beg him, as you watch your skirt going up, revealing your soaked panties.

Tom smiled wickedly, "Thought you wanted it to be sir instead". You're about to give him a wise answer, but then you feel his thumb pressing directly into your clothed clit, and swallow hard the lump that formed in the back of your throat.

"Damn it", you curse, opening your legs even more.

"You're so fucking wet", he states, looking to your center. You put one of your legs over the desk, allowing him to take a better look and to get a better position with his hands. "Bloody beautiful"

Tom kneels down on the floor, looking directly to your center, which made your pussy throb again in expectation. His breathing is so close to your heat that you can feel the shiver running down your spine as he gets closer.

"Is that okay, darling?" He looks into your eyes, asking for permission, and you nod yes firmly. Tom smirks, his lips connecting with your pussy. You release a moan just in right in time his tongue swirl around your entrance, teasing you.

He closes his eyes, feeling the taste of your sweet cunt filling up his senses. As soon as he fucks his tongue into you, you grab his curls, "Shit, Tom, just like that".

He moans inside of you, which made you roll your eyes back, hips bucking to create the even more friction between his tongue and your walls.

You couldn't believe that was actually happening. When most of college guys wouldn't give a shit about your pleasure when you were getting laid, there was your English professor, the most respected man in that department and also the most desired one, going down on you, tasting you like it was his last meal.

Tom puts one finger inside of you, while his tongue lap over your clit. Seeing that you adjusted pretty well, he brought another one. "Tom- I'm close"

You pull his curls tightly, bitting your lips when he hits just the right spot. "Fuck, fuck-"

"Shh, darling, can't make much noise, gonna get us caught", he said in a rushed voice, eager to bring his mouth back to you.

"Sorry, sorry", you said, bringing your free hand to cover your mouth and biting it, as you feel the sensation at the bottom of your belly, your swollen bud of nerves throbbing and showing you were about to come.

It's almost impossible to contain the stuffy sequence of pleasured sounds you released, but you try your hardest while Tom is still stimulating you through your high.

"That's it, I've got you, I've got you..."

You lean against the desk, trying to catch your breath, eyes almost closing shut. If that wasn't the best orgasm from an oral you've ever had, you didn't know which one it was. You could still feel your walls clenching around nothing, holding on into something to keep bring you back from your dizzy state.

"You alright?" Tom asks, a hint of worry on his voice as he smooths your bare legs. "We can stop if you want to-"

"No", you swallow, opening your eyes and shaking your head. "Just gimme a moment. This was- this was fucking fantastic".

Tom looked at you for a couple of minutes, his worried expression giving place to a smug one. He got up from his knees, helping you to take you foot off the desk and straight your posture. You smile at him, caught in the sight on his eyes. It was softer again.

In fact, Tom felt his heart racing inside his chest. He got the most beautiful view right in front of him. He had imagined this scene so many times he couldn't dare to admit, but none of them made justice to the reality, to the expression of pleasure on your face as you came.

"I'm okay", you say, putting your hands on his shoulders, running them down his arms. It was defined, firm and so good to touch, you couldn't wait to take that stupid sweater off. "I want more. I wanna touch you", you drop one of your hand to his crotch, massaging his covered cock, which felt painfully hard. Tom groaned, bitting his lip not softly to cover his sound.

His hands came to your jaw, cupping your face as he leaned to kiss you softly on the lips. "I really would like to feel this pretty mouth around me, darling, but maybe another time, I need to be inside of you right fucking now".

You nod your head eagerly, pulling him closer to a kiss. Your hands were quick to undo his buckle, dropping his trousers to the floor. Teasing his a little, you took a handful of his cock on your hand through his briefs, pleased by the moan he released into your mouth. But that didn't make you take any longer to pull of the material, revealing his length completely.

By the time you saw his lower half naked, with his dick standing hard and red at the tip for you, the pre cum coming out already, you felt your mouth watering, and you knew that if it wasn't for the fact that you wanted to feel him inside you as soon as he wanted it too, you'd get down on your knees just to feel him wrapped around your lips.

Tom pumped his cock a few times, taken by the sight of you staring at him with so much lust on your eyes. He smirked, his cock throbbing on his hand.

"You like it, darling?", he teased, aligning his tip with your clit to rub a few time. His voice came thicker now, "Is it enough for you?"

You lean against his chest, bitting his shoulder to contain a moan, whimpering as you feel your bud aching for more friction. "Yeah, Tom. Please, please, just fuck me already", you cry out.

"Spread your beautiful legs for me then... yeah, just like that. Good girl". He uses his cock to hit your entrance a couple of times, the tip teasing you every then and now. And then he realised. "Shit, I don't have a condom here. Fuck, I completely forgot about-"

"It's alright-", you breath out, trying to speak without letting a whimper scape. "I've got one in my backpack, just- fuck, pick it for me, I think I won't be able to walk if I get out of here right now".

Tom cocks an eyebrow at you in question, and you feel your cheeks burning at his stare. "Do you always carry a condom with you during classes?"

"What? No! I just thought-", you didn't want to admit it out loud but you also didn't want him to think other things. "I just expected this to happen some day, alright? Judge me".

Tom's face turns into a smug expression again, a smirk making his way to his lips as he chuckles lightly. "So you really wanted us to fuck this whole time, eh?"

You roll your eyes and shove his chest slightly. "Oh, fuck you".

He took a grab of your wrists, firmly, holding you in place, licking his lips. "No, I'm gonna fuck you. By the way, you should've told me sooner, I'd be very pleased to make your expectations real". Tom brushed his thumb over your bottom lip, "You have no idea of how long I've been dreaming of this. Always walking in my class, in this office, wearing those tight jeans of yours... that day in my car, all I could think about when I saw you in that fucking clothes was that I wanted to take you right there, in the backseat. My best student, the most gorgeous girl".

As he speaks, you suck his thumb inside of your mouth, licking it like it was something else. He watched you amazed, his cock twitching in excitement. "How can you be real, Miss y/n?"

You smile, lips still wrapped around his finger, before letting it go and dropping a wet kiss before saying, "Get that condom, Mr. Holland, I can't wait much longer"

"Alright", he chuckles, before turning around and looking for your backpack, following your instructions to find the pack. Tom ripped it and wrapped the condom around him with ability, making such an effort to control his eagerness.

He came back to you, pumping his length a bit more again, though he couldn't be any more hard than he already was. "There you go, love".

You have to bite your hand again as soon as you feel his tip entering you. Your pussy stretch at it, and you throw your head back at the small pain and the pleasure. No amount of arousal could prepare you for this. Tom caught your expression and was slow enough to continue, substituting the pain for the pleasure, while rubbing your leg to distract you. "It's okay, I've got you", he whispered, pulling your lower half to sit in a more comfortable position. You breath out, not feeling a bit of pain now, just the greatest sensation of having his cock stretching your walls deliciously. Tom hissed as soon as he got entirely inside of you, trying to not be snapped out by the feeling your snug walls around him.

"Is that okay, love? Are you- fuck, are you fine?", he asked in a husky voice, feeling his throat tightening at the pleasure.

"Yes", you nod fervently, "Yes, please, move...".

Tom didn't waste any time to start moving, slowly at first. The feeling was too good to not lose yourself into it. He put his lips in your ear, whispering and grunting while taking himself out of you completely just to fit it all over again.

You held his body tightly, feeling the intensity of his moves, the precision that his hips held to slam right back into your pussy. But soon enough, both of you needed more than that, and Tom started to take a faster pace.

"Tom... oh, my God, yes", you let out a cry, throwing your head into his shoulder, which made him only move faster.

"Fuck, you so tight", he moaned, grabbing your ass cheeks all at once to bring you closer to the edge of the desk. He slammed harder into you, hitting spots that made your eyes roll.

"Yeah, darling, so good to me, such a fucking good girl letting me fuck you", the sweat on his forehead was beginning to form, but he didn't seem to feel any kind of tiredness, keeping the steady rhythm.

You spread your legs even wider, bending your knees so he could have a better angle. That was enough to make Tom take you in his lap, not daring to get out of you while he carried your body to the opposite side of the room, your back hitting the wall. He was going to fuck you against it.

You whimper, not being able to form any sentence as you felt the knot forming on your belly again. It was all too much, and then you felt the pad of his thumb over your clit.

"You look like you're about to burst, darling", he said, his breath coming in heavy waves as he thrusts his hips into you.

Your boobs were bouncing with the movement of your whole body, between your arms that were firmly holding onto Tom's shoulder to keep you from falling. It was a sight to be seen and Tom could feel his orgasm approaching as well.

"That's 'cause I fucking am-"

"Tom?"

A knock was heard on the door, making your eyes go wide. You bite your lips to refrain any sounds, your face writhing in pleasure as Tom didn't seem to care to stop his thrusts.

He was too focused on your high to stop and decided that he'd ignore whoever was outside, but the person didn't seem to let it go.

"Tom, mate? I'm off now, you still want to go to that pub?", It was Mr. Osterfield, Tom's best mate and one of the most well-known professors in that college. He was right in the other side of the door, and the thought that only a single sound from your lips could get you and professor's Tom caught made you clench around him.

Your lips part involuntarily, and Tom is quick to cover your mouth with his hand to keep you from moaning. He stares into your eyes as a sign to keep quiet, which you agree with one difficult nod.

He clears his throat and his hips loses rhythm, going back to the slow pace again. "Yeah, Haz, I'm grading some essays and will be out in a few. Just wait me in the parking lot".

His control gets you even more wet, the thought that he was fucking you and still talking to Harrison getting you to a blissful state.

"I can help you, if you want", Harrison insisted, which made Tom groan, burying his face into your neck.

"No, Harrison, I'm fine, I'll be there in a minute", he said sternly and the deep in voice made you clench again. Tom had his face writhing in pleasure and pain for not being able to fuck you harder and faster by that moment.

"What is that, man, c'mon-"

"Harrison, for fuck's sake, told you, you can go now!", he shot, his hands tugging on your skin hard, the rhythm of his hips painfully slow.

Mr. Osterfield mumbles something like "Alright, you dick", and you two heard the footsteps going away.

"Oh my fuck, I'm sorry-" Tom breathed out, taking his hand away from your mouth.

"Don't- just move, Tom, I'm begging you", you moan, bringing his chest closer to yours. He bites the skin of your neck and nods before going back to his previous rhythm.

"Goddamn it, you feel so fucking good. I won't last much longer, sweetheart"

"Me neither", you whimper. Tom brings his face back to watch you, smashing your lips together.

His pace is fast, both of your heart blasting inside your chests, chasing your high, before Tom leads this thumb over your clit and brush it so quickly and with so much precision that you can't help but cum at that very moment.

"Tom-", you almost yell, but Tom is quick to cover your mouth once again, this time with his own lips. It doesn't take longer for him to reach his orgasm too, feeling your walls hugging him tightly, begging him to come too. He kept thrusting his hips into you, ridding both of you through your orgasm.

"That's it, my girl... my best girl"

Your breath is coming in heavy pants, chests colliding in each other, the closeness between the two of you making you feel insanely safe and good about what you just did.

Tom has his hair clearly messed, and anyone could tell what he just did with you if just took a look at him. You weren't far from it yourself, skirt all rumpled and lots of red spots on your skin.

Your legs felt weak, and Tom helped you to put your feet back on the ground. He took himself out of you slowly, taking care to not hurt your overstimulated heat.

After discarding the condom and pulling his trousers back, Tom watched as you tried to clear your own mind to collect yourself together.

"Wait", he said before turning to his desk and taking some tissues from a package before walking back to you. "May I?"

You looked up at him, confused at first, and very surprised when you got the hint of what he meant.

"Uh, I can do it myself, no need to worry", you said sheepishly. Tom frowned and shook his head while getting down on his knees to wipe the mess between your inner thighs.

The both of you remained silent, not knowing what to say. You were afraid of his moment, of what it meant from now own and what changed in your relationship. After all, after fucking on his desk and getting to moan his name, he was still your professor.

Tom got up and discarded the tissues on the same bin as the condom. He stared at it a few seconds before saying in his usual playful tone, "Well, I gotta remind to get rid of it before anyone gets to clean this room".

You giggle, tidying up your clothes.

"So...", you grab your backpack, unsure of what to say next. "I think I should go now. Y'know, before someone gets suspicious".

"You don't have to", Tom is quick to say, but shakes his head before continuing. "I mean, you should probably go home, it's not going to look well if you leave my office so late, but... what I meant is that you can, y'know, come back".

"Oh", you blush, and then shrug. "You mean, this is not a one time thing?"

"I didn't want it to be", he admits, closing one of his hands in a fists, nervously. "Is that what you want?"

You nod a few times, staring into his eyes, and see as a smile makes its way to his lips. The contrast between this expression and the so confident one he held just a couple of minutes ago is incredible.

Then he adds a more serious tone to it, licking his lips. "It doesn't have to be here, though. Would you like to... go to my place? We could have a proper date, if you agree, and not only-"

"Are you asking me out?"

Tom swallows and before answering, he averts his eyes. "Well, I couldn't get more unprofessional than I already did, so I think there's no harm on it. Yeah, I'm asking you out".

You smile sweetly at his nervousness. That man just fucked you like there was no tomorrow and now he was shy for asking you to go on a date.

"I'd really appreciate that, Mr. Holland", you say. He looks up at you and relief washes his face.

"Okay. Okay, perfect, so... I'll message you. Well, through your e-mail, cause that's all I have. Unless you wanna give me your number, then I might-"

"C'mon, sir, we only fucked once, do you really think it's appropriate to have my number so early?" You joke, narrowing your eyes, hearing his charming laugh right away. "I'll keep my eyes on my e-mail then".

Tom smiles at you, nodding. You say a quiet 'see you', before turning around and getting out of the office, glancing at your favorite professor one more time before closing the door, both of you excited to your next encounter.