#9 door staff lockers

[digitalshree]

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[hynzsn]

★ KISS MY WOUNDS ★

☆ choi san x male reader

꩜ .ᐟ fluff

contents: playful!san, boxing, boxing match, locker room, kissing, kissing hands / arms, thigh grabbing, sitting on lap, pet names (baby), teasing

wc: 1.3k

summary: san asks his boyfriend to kiss his swollen knuckles after winning yet another boxing match.

a/n — this is literally like my first time writing a fic yall omfg!!! feedback is heavily appreciated, i’d really love opinions and thoughts on this. please spare me if this is complete trash >.< i’m still getting used to this and learning as i go along <33!!

♡︎♡︎♡︎ likes, comments and reblogs are highly appreciated ♡︎♡︎♡︎

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

“8…9…10.”

and with the ring of the bell, the match that felt like it could’ve lasted a lifetime was finally declared over.

san was notorious for his opponents never passing anything but the second round, but today was different.

“and there we have it, ladies and gentlemen. referee kim hongjoong has called a stop to this contest at 3 minutes and 30 seconds into the third round, declaring the winner by knockout. choi san!”

despite his body physically feeling drained, san raised his arms to revel in that joyous feeling of being the winner, to have defeated the obstacle in his path to complete stardom—his opponent. in the crowd was y/n, wearing what seemed to be both a look of concern and frustration.

when san’s gaze fixed upon y/n, he recognized that look—the look he’d seen more times than he could count. for a second, san’s mind jumped to the countless times he’s had to reassure y/n, and it looked like today was going to be the same.

san wanted nothing more than to run over to y/n, exhausted body and all, but he knew right now wasn’t the time.

so, following protocol, san dropped his arms to his side and sauntered over to the ringside, where the medical staff could tend to his injuries and check for any signs of more serious damage. luckily, his opponent hadn’t caused any major damage; all he had were swollen knuckles and a slightly bruised left rib from where his opponent had gotten the better of him.

but that doesn’t take away from the fact that his opponent had more energy than the sun itself, an absolutely little firecracker that wouldn't go down. the crowd’s energy was still at its peak, but it was expected given the performance that san had just put on.

his eyes never left y/n’s, not even for a split second, even with the medical staff gently placing an ice pack on his slightly bruised ribs or with his coach practically drowning him in praise and awe. no, his eyes were on his beloved, the only person he cared about in this venue right now.

“locker room, meet me there in 10,” san mouthed, his eyes filled with nothing but love as he waited for y/n to respond.

y/n had responded with a simple nod, a smirk playing on the corner of san’s as he anticipated the moment of finally being with y/n. he’s been craving his boyfriend ever since y/n gave him his ritual good luck kiss earlier.

oh, y/n’s kisses felt like heaven for san; they felt like home. he could still taste the lingering scent of pineapple mint that radiated from y/n’s lip balm, a taste he had grown very fond of.

 ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

once the medical staff had finished tending to his needs and had given him a thumbs up, san practically bolted to his locker room, and with the thought of y/n in his mind, it gave him an adrenaline rush like no other. there was also the fact that during the checkup, it gave him more than enough time to sit back and take a much-needed rest, giving him the respawn he needed for his time alone with y/n.

with the swing of his locker room door, san was only faced with nothing but an empty locker room. it was okay, though. given the number of people in the venue, he could only imagine the struggle to escape, from the wild fans to the mess on the floor from disposable cups and spilled food. he had expected for y/n to arrive a bit late.

he took the time to sit down on the locker room’s bench, purposefully choosing to position himself where his eyes could lock on the door, just waiting for y/n to arrive.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

the door to his locker room had finally swung open, and there was y/n walking in with that same concerned look. god, he looks so beautiful, san thought to himself.

“are you hurt?” y/n asked, rushing over to where san was seated, the shakiness in his voice showcasing just how concerned he was.

before san could even get an answer in, y/n had cut him off.

“what did the medical staff say? i want to know everything.” his eyes were boring into san, but all san could see was the amount of love y/n harbored for him, and the feeling was more than mutual.

“calm down, baby,” he said, his voice nothing but a soft and reassuring tone.

“i’m fine. just swollen knuckles, and my rib is bruised slightly, but nothing a little ice pack couldn’t take care of. there’s seriously nothing major.” san wrapped his arm around y/n’s waist, bringing him in even closer and sitting him down on his knee.

“really? are they sure? that fight looked... rough. y/n comfortably sat on san’s knee, his eyes still boring into san as he tried to search for any signs of discomfort or dishonesty plastered on his face, but was met with nothing.

“yes, baby, the medical staff team knows what they're doing. i wouldn't be sitting here with you right now if I wasn't okay.”

“but... my knuckles do hurt a bit. there is something I need—something that i desperately need, baby. and you're the only person who can give it to me.”

“what is it?” y/n had practically jumped out of san’s thigh, ready to get him whatever it is that he desperately needs.

a smirk played on the corner of san’s lips; this was exactly the moment he'd been waiting for.

“kisses.”

“kisses…?” y/n repeated, a small frown appearing on his face as if san had just asked for the impossible.

“yeah, kisses. kisses from my beautiful boyfriend. am I asking for too much?” san asked, his voice taking on a teasing tone.

a blush slightly creeped up on y/n’s face. “no, I just thought that you were going to ask for something, you know… serious.”

“but this is serious, baby!” san protested, his voice now a soft whine. his duality, from one minute being teasing and cocky to whiny and pouty, was seriously impressive, almost scarily impressive.

“look.” san held up his hands for y/n to see, showing his red-swollen knuckles. “don’t i deserve some tlc?" i just fought my ass off out there.”

y/n couldn't resist that soft, whiny voice—not now, not ever. it was as if a siren’s song had pulled him in.

the blush on y/n’s face deepened.

“okay, okay.”

y/n softly took san’s hands into his, bringing his hands up closer to his lips and tenderly planting kisses on the swollen knuckles. all the while, he kept eye contact with san.

san let out a soft sigh at the feeling of y/n’s lips on his skin. it felt like he was floating in the clouds with every kiss. y/n’s kisses were so soft and so loving. so… so… san couldn't even think; all he could do was just revel in the way y/n kissed his swollen knuckles.

“this is the best kind of pain relief anybody could ever ask for. kisses from my baby, ” he purred, closing his eyes and leaning back on the bench, the back of his head back against the lockers, as y/n kissed up his hands, going from the back of his hands to his wrists, even working his way slowly up his bare arm. the feint taste of sweat and musk lingering on y/n’s lips.

“you’re so cheesy,” y/n said, a slight chuckle escaping from his lips as he gave san’s arm one last kiss, directly on his bicep.

san opened his eyes and watched as y/n now made his way up from his bicep to just inches away from his lips. his mouth suddenly got dry, his tongue darting out to wetten his lips.

“yeah, I am. but you know you love me for it, baby,” he said confidently, closing his eyes again and pressing his lips against y/n’s in an affectionate and soft kiss. 

y/n eagerly returned the kiss, moving his lips to match san’s rhythm, letting his body loosen up as he felt san’s calloused hands gripping onto his thighs and pulling him down onto his lap.

 “yeah, I do.”

[yelena-bellova]

Heartfirst: A Ted Lasso Story - Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty: Believe

Plot: Richmond and West Ham face off in the deciding match of the season.

Word Count: 3.1k

Warnings: language

A/N: Well, we’re almost at the end. I wanna thank everyone who’s patiently waited for this one through my depressive waves and exhaustion. Means a lot. This one’s short and sweet, but hopefully it brings some smiles <3 Enjoy!

—————

The long anticipated day had arrived.

Richmond versus West Ham.

From the first crack of dawn, the entire town of Richmond was abuzz. Shops were closed, pubs were bustling, even those who didn’t care about football were showing their support. This was the highlight of the year.

Y/n was up with them, so anxious she was barely able to eat or sit or do anything but anxiously pace her apartment. The caffeine in her morning tea didn’t help either. Caring, it turned out, came with enough nerves for the whole team.

Jamie had spent the night at his place, the two of them agreeing he needed rest more than they needed time together. He’d made Y/n promise to text him when she got to the stadium so he could sneak out and see her before the match.

Y/n waited as long as possible, which was still two and a half hours ahead of the match, before getting dressed. The controversial #9 shirt was now standard uniform and she put it on with pride. She pulled out her phone and snapped a picture in the mirror, sending it to Jamie. His response was quick.

Jamie Tartt: Magic

We’re def gonna win now.

Y/n smiled, more giggly than anything else. She gathered the rest of her things and headed out.

Despite getting there early, the traffic surrounding the stadium was substantial. There were fans lining the streets, waiting for the gates to open. All along Nelson Road, you could hear the Richmond chants. Everyone was ready for a match.

Y/n parked in the staff lot and headed into the building. There wasn’t much work to do on game day. Pressers and interviews were already lined up and organized. Higgins wouldn’t even be in until right before everything started. She had time to spare.

Deciding some calm before the storm would be nice, Y/n slipped into her office. There were still a few leftover things there, books and papers and such. Some computer supplies and her chair. Eventually she’d move back in once Keeley was more settled, but for now it felt like a ghost town.

From her desk, she could hear the roar of the crowd filing into the stadium. Their cheers and collective conversation. Y/n settled into her seat and simply listened, uplifted by the enthusiasm penetrating the walls.

There was no way to know on her first day at Nelson Road what would transpire. That she would find the family she’d always longed for or the love she’d never let herself have. That she’d have a job she could take pride in. It had all come to be in spite of her best efforts and beyond what she thought she ever deserved.

A tear slipped down Y/n’s cheek. Her world was golden.

When it was finally time, she headed back downstairs, texting Jamie when she was outside the locker room. The boys’ chatter could be heard through the doors. The adrenaline was practically seeping out the cracks.

Jamie slipped out, him and Y/n sinking into a hard embrace outside the door.

“Hi,” Jamie mumbled into her shoulder.

“Hi,” Y/n giggled, running a hand over his hair.

“I like this.”

“What?”

Jamie swayed them lightly, face still buried in Y/n’s coat. “Getting to see you before a match. Don’t have to come up with excuses now.”

Y/n laughed as he moved them around, pulling back eventually to properly see Jamie. She placed her hands on his cheeks, “How’re you feeling?”

“Good,” Jamie smiled, “Good. We got this.”

“Yeah, you do,” she beamed, “Are we gonna be one of those couples that has some pre-game good luck ritual or something?”

Jamie glanced down at Y/n’s chest. The sight of her wearing his number seemed special enough. “Long as you’re wearing that, we’re set. But,” he adjusted his grip and nudged Y/n’s nose, “Can never have too much luck.”

Dipping her slightly, Jamie smiled into an easy kiss with Y/n grinning equally. It was a routine they could settle into quite comfortably.

“OI!”

Jamie startled and pulled them back up. Roy was coming out of the coach’s office and stalking towards them. When he reached them, somewhat awkwardly, Roy held out a badge to Y/n.

“It’ll get you on the pitch,” he explained, “We save ‘em for sick kids and rich pricks that want a good story to tell their rich prick friends.”

Y/n rubbed a thumb over the badge. V.I.P. Was he offering what she thought he was?

“If you distract him or I catch him tryin’ to show off for you,” Roy pointed to Jamie, “You get the fuck out of there.”

When Y/n nodded, barely hiding her smile, Roy headed back down the hall.

“I love you too, Roy,” Y/n called.

He grunted as he rounded the corner.

“Guess we’ve got his stamp of approval,” Y/n mused as she fiddled with the badge.

“Guess so,” Jamie chuckled, “You gonna do it?”

“Yeah. But I’m starting out in the box,” Y/n wrapped her arms around Jamie’s shoulders, “I am here for people other than you.”

Jamie smirked, “But mostly for me, right?”

“Tell yourself whatever you need to,” Y/n smiled against his lips, leaving one more kiss, “I love you.”

“Love you too,” Jamie replied and stole one more hug from her, “Next time I kiss you, it’s gonna be on the pitch.”

“It better be.”

Y/n stepped away, dragging her hand down Jamie’s arm and holding his fingers till they were forced by space to part. They turned away from one another, beaming.

Y/n went through the staff entrance into the stadium, melting into the crowds until she reached the elevator. She took it up to her respective level and entered the owner’s box. It was twenty minutes to game time and most guests were already in their seats. From her spot, she could see the top of Keeley’s pigtails in the front row.

“Hello,” Y/n greeted in a sing-song tone.

Keeley squealed and stood up to hug Y/n, sliding over a seat and letting Y/n settle next to Rebecca.

“You remember my dear friend, Flo, I’m sure,” Rebecca gestured to the brunette on her other side.

“Of course,” Y/n reached over and squeezed Sassy’s hand. They’d met at a staff event Rebecca had invited her best friend to.

“You have a lot of gaps to fill in,” Sassy winked theatrically, “With scandalous amounts of details.”

Y/n looked between Rebecca and Keeley, “Do you just go around broadcasting my love life to everyone?”

“You’re dating one of the most popular players in the country,” Rebecca pointed out, “It’s not going to stay a secret forever.”

If they were honest, Jamie and Y/n really hadn’t considered the publicity. Everything had come to be so suddenly that the press were the last thing they were thinking about.

“How’s he feeling?” Keeley asked.

“Good,” Y/n answered, looping her arm through Keeley’s, “Definitely no repeats of last time.”

“Good,” she nodded.

“And,” Y/n turned towards Rebecca, “Have we had any run-ins?”

Where West Ham was, Rupert followed, and everyone was eager to know how Rebecca was handling it.

“Yes, and all is well,” she smiled, only half-forcing it.

Sassy snorted from beside her best friend. Differing interactions had clearly occurred.

Nevertheless, Y/n accepted the answer, “Okay.”

Soon enough, Higgins and his wife joined the group along with Barbara. When the whole group was assembled, the Hammers and Greyhounds came onto the pitch. As they stood in front of the crowds, Richmond looked noticeably…shaken.

“Something happen?” Keeley asked.

“I don’t know. Everything seemed fine when…” Y/n shut her eyes and bit her lip, “Shit.”

Rebecca looked over, “What?”

“Beard asked me for any videos or photos I had from the season,” she explained, “He said it was for something he was putting together.”

The women took a breath, while simultaneously holding one.

The tears passed and the match started like any other. The first fifteen minutes flew by without either team scoring, which felt like some sort of victory. It was short-lived though, as by halftime, West Ham had scored twice.

Y/n found that watching a match as a player’s girlfriend was a whole new experience. Anytime Jamie made a move, she was practically out of her seat. If a Hammer looked like he was going for him, anxiety flooded her chest. Every emotion was heightened, a blessing and a curse.

When the boys headed off the pitch, there was nothing left to do but fear. No matter how hard the women tried to appear calm, each of them were sweating out the possible loss.

“That’s it,” Y/n announced once she’d grown too nervous to stay still.

“Where are you going?” Keeley asked as Y/n climbed over her legs.

“Down there.”

“I didn’t think your badge got you that far,” Rebecca half-asked.

Y/n hopped on one leg around Sassy on the aisle. “It doesn’t,” she replied, “Keep a closer eye on the printer.”

Weaving through the crowds, Y/n made her way to the staff entrance. Halftime seemed the most logical moment to sneak down. The announcers would be on break and commercials would be running.

Once she got to the pitch, she hurried along the edge, oblivious to any puzzled looks she received. Even if she was simply a passive observer, Y/n could feel a rush of energy sweep over her. She couldn’t imagine what the boys felt like every time they stepped up.

“Hey,” Will brightened up when he saw Y/n, “You made it.”

“Yeah,” Y/n squeezed his hand quickly, smiling to Nate on the other side, and settled into the empty seat. “There’s perks to being on Roy’s good side.”

The three shared a grin of anticipation before Trent leaned out of his seat and patted Y/n’s shoulder.

“Nice to see you down here,” he smiled, winking.

And the feeling that filled her, though she’d expected it to be out of place, was one of belonging. Like there was nowhere else for her than right where she was.

When the fifteen minutes were up, the Greyhounds and Hammers reentered the pitch. Jamie’s eyes went to the dugout to find Y/n looking back at him. They shared a soft smile, their eyes lighting with glee. This was a special moment.

Roy was quick to spot the spark. “I’ll fucking take you out,” he promised.

Y/n nodded, “Yes, coach.”

The boys came back with a new fire lit under them. They were playing not only like they had something to lose, but like they were actually enjoying themselves. It was a perfect combination.

Jamie got the ball to Dani, who in turn missed a shot off the goalpost. Sam took another shot at it only to recieve the same outcome. The third attempt, made by Colin, was still no dice. It wasn’t until the ball got returned to Jamie that he finally put it away, a perfect shot.

“YES!!” Y/n leapt out of her seat, throwing her fists in the air and not even bothering to hide her bias.

After the boys finished celebrating, Jamie looked straight over to Y/n, slapping his hand over his chest. It took them both straight back to Wembley.

“He’s gonna do it again,” Y/n said adamantly, settling back in next to Will.

“He’s gonna do it again,” Will repeated. Neither of their eyes moved from the pitch.

Jamie was off again, moving across the field when a West Ham player swept past him, tripping him. He rolled rather harshly into the grass.

The second he went down, Y/n was up and breathless. She had to catch herself before she ran out onto the pitch.

“Get up, get up, get up,” she whispered.

The referee rightfully called a penalty and Richmond gained a free kick. Just after it was called, Sam helped a grinning Jamie to his non-injured feet.

Y/n smirked and shook her head, “Fuck.”

While it was Jamie’s shot to take, he rolled the ball over to Dani. Dani in turn passed it to Isaac, which surprised everyone.

“Crap,” Y/n uttered.

Nate looked over, confused, “What?”

“Just…” Y/n struggled, “Guard your face.”

The knowing spectators sat at the ready as Isaac lined up the shot. He took careful steps back before surging forward and power kicking the ball. It was fast, but flew past the net and straight into the crowd. The stadium groaned with disappointment, it would have been Richmond’s assurance of victory.

“Shit,” Y/n mumbled, running her hands over her hair.

“Wait, wait, wait, guys,” Nate drew Will and Y/n’s focus upwards, “Look.”

Mike Dean was crossing the pitch to the posts. He inspected something in the net before signaling that it was indeed a goal. Isaac had just sent it through the netting.

Nate, Will and Y/n jumped out of their chairs, grabbing onto one another in a victorious embrace. Richmond wasn’t out of the ring just yet.

With stoppage time started for the grounds crew to replace the net, the Greyhounds headed to the sidelines to discuss strategy. Once enough had been said, Jamie jogged over to the dugout, making a beeline for his girlfriend.

“Hey,” he smiled, “What’d you think?”

Y/n exhaled shakily, “Yeah, we’re definitely breaking up after this because I can’t take the stress.”

Jamie laughed.

“No, seriously,” Y/n grabbed his hands, “My palms are a fucking river, my mouth’s dry. I can’t do this on a regular basis.” She pulled their intwined fingers between them, urging Jamie to look at her. “You’re brilliant.”

While his cheeks were already flush red, the hue deepened at the compliment.

“You’re a fucking menace out there, and you don’t stop being one,” Y/n practically commanded, “Because I got news for you, you’re in their fucking heads. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that once you’re in somebody’s head,” Y/n grinned, “You don’t come out.”

Y/n pressed a palm to Jamie’s cheek, the sounds of the crowd and everything around them disappearing. “You’ve got this.”

Jamie’s self-confidence wasn’t lacking, but there was something about hearing those words come from one specific person that made it shoot sky high. If Y/n believed in him, he could win the whole fucking thing.

“And you need to go now before Roy kills me,” Y/n finished.

Just as Jamie was about to tell her he loved her, their attention was drawn to the side. An indignant Rupert was marching down the field, brushing past the Greyhounds.

“I gotta…” Jamie said distractedly.

“Yeah,” Y/n slipped her hands away, Jamie headed back to the boys.

The whole team watched in shock as Rupert berated his head coach before shoving him to the ground. The stadium was stunned into near silence. An unprecedented moment.

The boys headed back out to the pitch as the ref whistled and Rupert had no choice but to leave. The crowd came back to life fully and began a rousing chorus of ‘Wanker’ to carry him off the field.

“Holy shit,” Y/n exhaled.

“What was that?” Will asked without really seeking an answer.

There was no time to look any further into it as the match restarted. There was serious hustle from Van Damme before the Hammers eventually made a goal, bringing the score to 3-2. However, one of the players was found to be offside and it returned to a tie.

Finally, it came down to the very last minute.

Jamie carried the ball to Richard, who was taken down by a Hammer, and Richmond earned a free kick. If they made it, they could take the whole thing. They just needed a really, really, big move.

As the coaches huddled, Ted looked back at the seats. “Hey, Nate,” he called, “Nate, come here.”

Hesitantly, Nate got up and joined Ted at the front. Ted called out to the boys and began pointing to the former assistant coach.

“What’s happening?” Y/n asked Will as Ted began to shout something about an Oscar.

“I don’t know,” Will mumbled.

Whatever it was, the boys seemed to understand it, and each headed to their marks. Y/n prayed that the unconventional coaching methods of Ted paid off one last time.

The ref blew the whistle and the teams set off. Sam laid the ball off to Dixon, who slid it over to Bumbercatch. Jamie, exaggeratedly, made a run for it, screaming for a pass.

For two seconds, Y/n stood wildly confused, before she spotted Sam. No player was near him. She and Will clutched onto one another.

This was it.

Bumbercatch got the ball to Sam.

Sam made a perfect goal.

The entire stadium, from field to nosebleeds, went wild. And once the ref called it, it became overwhelming.

The Greyhounds had done it.

Y/n and Will latched onto one another and jumped up and down, somewhere between tears and screams.

The pitch became flooded by the players, the coaches and the fans. Y/n didn’t secondguess her decision to run on, following the rest of the crowd. Trent and her ended up beside one another, racing up to the growing group of Greyhounds.

As she looked around, searching for anyone to congratulate, she spotted Colin, hand in hand with a man she’d never seen. Just before he dragged him into the victory circle, the mystery man spotted Y/n and smiled.

“I think you belong with me.”

The two shared an understanding look, Y/n’s eyes flicking briefly to Colin, who looked ecstatic.

“I think I do,” Y/n smiled back, grabbing the extended hand and racing off with them.

The whole team was locked in an embrace, surrounding a dancing Ted. They cheered and chanted and fell into one another. All the while, Y/n and Colin’s beau held onto one another, letting their other halves enjoy their moment.

Jamie, however, was already searching around frantically. The second they made eye contact, he and Y/n were snaking through and past their friends to get to one another.

Jamie threw his arms around her, lifting Y/n up and spinning her around. Y/n’s eyes began to water as the full emotion of their magnificent win sunk in.

“You did it,” she cheered as they spun.

Jamie set her down finally, took one good look and pulled Y/n in for an earth shattering kiss. The one they’d both been waiting to share longer than they even knew.

When they eventually pulled back, breathless and giddy, all the joys around them seemed to amplify. Naturally, Jamie and Y/n ran straight back into the team huddle. Once the boys saw Y/n, she got passed around from body to body in big sweaty hugs. Even Roy swept her into a firm embrace.

There was singing, there was chanting, there was so much pure happiness. After a season filled with so many trials and tribulations, the Greyhounds had earned their perfect moment in time. And it was glorious.

————

Heartfirst Taglist: @lalla-04p @optimisticsandwichgladiator @makingmunson94 @taytaylala12 @storysimp @sokkigarden @lightninginab0ttle @poohkie90 @alipap3 @verra-nerevarine @shineforever19 @spaceagechimera @burnafter-reading @qardasngan @cyberpvnk-enthusiast @sogoodtoheritsvicious @buckybarnex @angelsunflxwer @blueanfield @thewildestwonderland @sablecities @oxxolovemelikeyoudooxxo @strawberryacethingz @mentalistfan @tortilla-maria1 @katdahlali @for-fuck-sake-im-alive @glitterquadricorn @jamieolivia27 @imvibin69 @katlizada @lil-tracys @fanaticalfantasist @heyitz-julia @cactajuice @peachyy-tea @notalxx @rockchickrebel @anxiety-prime-max @mentalistfan @loveforaugust @jellycolors @actuallybarb @heletsmelovehim @lovinnscarletknight @imfalling-inlove @leslieiscrying @meg-ro @littlemisssunshine192 @beboldbebravethings @maydayfigment @spencerreidsbookclub @dream-alittlebiggerdarling @lemoonandlestars @im-a-weirdo-for-life @mindless-rock (tags cont. in comments ❤️)

[jimblejamblewritings]

riddle means misery |part 11.

Summary: Y/N Riddle. Not much more has to be said. Everyone hates her. She’s evil... she has to be.

Warnings for the Series: 18+, this series is dark. Manipulation, dubcon verging on noncon, abuse of power, violence, ed mentions, death, blood

Pairing: Bill Weasley x black!reader (semi-slowburn)

Word Count: 3.1k

A/N: I was thinking about ending it here because I’m genuinely not sure if I have anything else but I also want to explore the relationship so idk 

Previous Part | (Series Masterlist) 

Charlie blinked three times. When his older brother asked him to have lunch at The Leaky Cauldron, nothing could have prepared him for what Bill wanted to say. He hadn’t seen anyone in their flat for a while now— be it witch or muggle— but he thought it was just Bill taking a break from the dating scene. He wasn’t expecting the answer to be because he was starting to fall in love with you. 

He grimaced as he plainly spoke his mind. “Bill, she probably sees you as a kid.”

“It’s only ten years, barely, considering my birthday is well before hers. She’s not even close to Mum and Dad’s age. They didn’t even cross paths at Hogwarts once.” 

Charlie sighed. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant look at you, no offense. Y/N’s been through so much. She probably wants to settle down right away and put anything exciting behind her. Do you really think you can give her boring and stable?” 

“I could try.”

“That wouldn’t be you though.”

“Then what do I do, Charlie?”

Both men ordered another round of drinks to discuss. Charlie found his worry for his brother lessening and growing at the same time. He was more on board with Bill asking you out. He was still concerned that you would either say no or not work out— either way, breaking his brother’s heart. Bill wanted to go for it. He didn’t always fall hard for someone. But he remembered those few serious relationships always being pleasant. Usually they only parted ways because of differences in lifestyles or ideas. 

Charlie set down his drink. “I just thought of a potential issue.”

“What?” 

“You’d be her first relationship. That could be terrifying on top of all the other differences with you two. She’s still trying to accept that she has friends now.” 

“So I should just forget about it then?”

“I think you should be prepared for her to say no.” 

Bill nodded. That was a possibility with anybody he asked out. He should go for it anyway. He was already trying to think of ways to ask you out. Charlie was right. If you said yes, he would be your first relationship. The things he saw in your trial couldn’t be unseen. There were no moments of tenderness but he was determined to change that. 

You weren’t at the flat when they got back. You had been using your newfound freedom of not asking permission to leave the house anymore to go anywhere. Quite often, people received little packages on their desks with souvenirs of wherever you had been— Marlene got them in her locker. Both Weasley men assumed you wouldn’t be back until dinner because Gallyrogue was nowhere to be found. That thought was immediately ruined by the sound of something in the cabinet. Charlie opened it to see Gallyrogue looking at his reflection in a shiny pot. You came back, leaving your shoes at the door. Bill immediately moved to help you with your things that were overflowing in your arms. He decided tonight wasn’t the night to ask you out. He’d wait a little bit. 

That waiting a few days turned into waiting the entire summer. He never asked you out but he spent more time with you than ever before. He was even with you at Platform 9 and ¾ when it was time for the new school year. You had only ridden the train once in your first year and couldn’t remember anything about it. So you volunteered to be one of the staff members that helped monitor the train. 

You were letting Remus have his position back as Charms professor and taking the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. It was pretty obvious to everyone why that would happen. No one else alive knew more about Dark Arts and how to stop that than you. Bill held on tight when you gave him a hug before leaving his arms and waving from the train. You’d see him tomorrow night, agreeing to stay at Hogwarts overnight for two days out of the week and every other weekend. The same as lots of staff members that had family that didn’t work at the school— McGonagall, Dumbledore, as well as Sirius and Remus were some of the few exceptions that stayed overnight for the entire school year. 

You weren’t left alone when you got into your train compartment. All of the Marauders’ kids piled into the compartment. Then the Weasleys found them and soon it was another family affair in a compartment way too small to hold everyone. And then their friends came in. Ginny and Reggie Lupin were practically all over you, the same way they had been all summer. They were mildly obsessed with potions. They were your little foraging buddies. Reggie also liked to pet Gallyrogue, officially annoying his dads with questions about getting a niffler as a pet despite the fact that he and his siblings already had individual pets. 

The kids finally left you alone when you arrived at the castle. You left dinner a little early to prepare your classroom and sleeping chamber. Gallyrogue took the time to observe his new stomping ground for the school days. You had been asked to move down to a classroom on the ground floor so the niffler could leave to be outside whenever— Gallyrogue knew how to open the window. You also had a fireplace in the classroom. Partially for warmth and partially for you to use it for the Floo Network.  

Your first class of the day were the sixth years. You wished it was the first years because you would have just taken them down to the Chamber for the first day. It had been such a success last year that every student asked you and Remus if they could go down there and get a basilisk fang. You thought about making it a ‘Welcome to Hogwarts’ tradition for the first years to get old basilisk fangs and a trip to the not so secret anymore Chamber. 

You weren’t sure if you were comforted by the fact that none of your friends’ children were in sixth years. At least you could have looked at them while teaching if you got nervous. It would be your first class ever. What if you weren’t good at teaching children? 

Remus was kind enough to leave his old notes telling you where each year had left off in lessons. The children liked your class so far. You were doing alright, certainly better than Quirrel. It was hard for you at first to get used to everyone’s eyes on you. You turned to write something new on the board. 

James was walking by, having no classes first period. He was picking up supplies for McGonagall from Hogsmeade and finally making his way back. Did he decide to take the long way around to see how you were doing? Maybe. James was glad that he did. 

He made it to your classroom just as the chalk dropped from your shaking hand and you crouched down to hug yourself. He shooed all the students away from where they were starting to leave their desk to see if you were all right. You nearly jumped out of your skin and wanted to scramble backwards when James’ hand landed on your shoulder. He gently grabbed the sides of your face. You started shaking your head. 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“No, Y/N, you’re fine. There’s nothing wrong.” 

“I don’t do dark arts. I’m not bad, I’m not bad.” 

“I know, we all know. Trust me.” James looked at the board. Letting you take this position was a bad idea.  

Your class was dismissed and an emergency staff meeting was called. You slowly entered, wringing your hands the entire time. They tried to look away from your bloodshot eyes. The Marauders had already seen on the map that you had been in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom— it was safe to assume you were crying. You sniffled twice and stood in front of everyone.  

“I promise I’ll do better.” Your words were measured and deliberate. 

Dumbledore shook his head. “It was inappropriate of me to ask you to switch positions in the first place. Considering your situation we should have been more careful and let you keep your position.” 

“But I can’t do Charms.”

Severus raised his hand. “I’ll take her spot. Y/N is a brilliant potion master too, there’s no need to make this a big hassle.”

The switch was finished before lunch with no problem. You kept your classroom but Severus and the house-elves had helped move everything from his potions rooms and closet up to your space. The felix felicis had to be put up on a high shelf to avoid Gallyrogue’s clutches. 

Potions was a lot calmer for you. It was better to be teaching something rather calming. You still agreed to take the first years to get basilisk fangs. Other professors tried not to make their presence known as they walked by your classroom every now and then to check up on you. A smile came to McGonagall’s face as she saw you pass out supplies to your first year class with some Ravenclaws and Gryffindors. 

“I want everyone to look at these ingredients and pick your favorite one by the end of the week. I promise to teach each group all the potions that can be made with their favorite ingredient… everything that isn’t dangerous.” 

Dinner was buzzing with students talking about your class. The Marauders smiled at you as you walked into the hall with an interesting sort of scurry. James and Sirius snorted while Remus sighed. Your niffler was running behind you. One of your shoes was in Gallyrogue’s mouth and they could only assume that the other one was in his pouch. You dropped a bunch of stuff on the staff dining table, including a very large object. 

“I found a drag— Oh, thank you Gallyrogue.” You stopped to put on the shoes he gave you. “I found a dragon egg! The poor baby was abandoned in the forest. I’m going to give it to Charlie.” 

“She’s worse than Hagrid,” Sirius whispered to the other two men. 

“Y/N,” Remus started. “How about we give him the egg after dinner? Aren’t you hungry?” 

“Oh, Bill wants to have dinner together. I’m meeting him there.” 

“You’re going to dinner with Bill?”

“We’re going to France. I dressed up.”

“You’re going to France?” 

“I just said that.” 

“Yeah, she just said that, Honey,” Sirius said, highly amused. “Let her go before she’s late.”

You gathered your stuff, handing it to Gallyrogue who gladly pocketed all of it. The men watched you walk off to your date that you obviously didn’t know was a date. Most of their dinner conversation turned to talking about you and Bill. They didn’t even know he was into you. James was immediately for the notion of you two as a couple. 

You were excited to go out for dinner. Bill had told you the restaurant was really nice. It was on a beach in France. You had only been to France once— staying for a month to learn variations of the Cruciatus Curse when you were nine. It would be nice to go under different circumstances. You met Bill at the Public Floo Network near the restaurant. He was dressed nicely, hair even pulled back. 

“You look lovely,” he said, a bit breathless.

“Thank you.” 

“Can I escort you?” Bill held out an arm. 

You took it with no problem. Bill felt like his heart was pounding out of his chest. He was going to do it. He was finally going to ask you out like he had been planning all summer. Everything was perfect. He had planned for it. You guys were sitting on the outer deck to look at the beach. The sun was setting and the glass jars had fire in them to keep guests warm and give light. You were ordering good food and talking like you had been ever since coming to stay with him and Charlie. A waiter brought out the bouquet that had been planned and Bill was going to spill his guts. 

“I have really enjoyed having you around.” 

“I have too.”

“No, Y/N, not in that way. I have enjoyed having you around, past just liking your presence. You are so strange sometimes and I love it. Your scurries, the way you get excited about potions stuff, your determination to make every single recipe in that muggle cookbook even though we both hate asparagus and it’s in a surprisingly large amount of dishes, I love all of it. I don’t just want to love the things you do or the things about you. I want to love you. I want to get rid of that stupid wall between our rooms and stay with you. And I know I’m a bit younger than you but I’m serious. I’m serious and I’m ready for a future with you. I would like to date you. Would you be my girlfriend?”

“No thank you.”

Bill looked defeated. He still handed you the bouquet. It was always a possibility. He knew that when he talked with Charlie about it. As far as Bill was concerned, ten years wasn’t that ridiculous— not when you both met each other as full grown adults. But he always knew that you might’ve not felt the same way. He didn’t expect the rejection to hurt so much considering he wasn’t always successful with dating. Maybe it was because you had said so sweetly and shortly. Maybe it was because he saw your patronus that he swore was his. 

“Is it okay if I ask why?” 

“You’ll leave me,” you said simply. 

“What?”

It was simple to you. Everyone else had left in the past so why wouldn’t Bill? It made complete sense to you. What about the man in front of you was any different than everybody you had ever met. It kind of pained you to say it but only three people had ever been on your side with no conditions or out of guilt/remorse. Your parents and Lucius Malfoy. It wasn’t that you didn’t trust Bill but somewhere in the back of your mind you were waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

Bill nodded. “Thank you for telling me. I do promise I won’t leave you. Even after my embarrassing confession, I hope this doesn’t change things between us. I’ll always be here for you.” 

“I… believe you.”

Bill smirked. “No you don’t.”

“Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for. You know if we leave now we can get gelato in Italy before all the shops close.”

“Won’t we have to spend more money on the Floo?”

“It’s only a couple knuts for the extra trip.”

You thought about it for a few seconds before agreeing to go. You and Bill walked shoulder to shoulder eating gelato until it was finished and it was time to go home. True to like he said, nothing changed between the two of you. It created a weird dynamic when it came to everyone else though. As far as the Marauders were concerned, Bill showing up to the school everyday with your lunch was a very boyfriend thing to do. He had made it clear that he knew where the two of you stood which made it all the more confusing. 

You were very comfortable with what had been established between the two of you. You liked Bill. You would never admit it to Charlie but Bill was slightly higher than the other Weasley. You liked how Bill refused to cast ‘muffliato’ on your room so he could actually help you with nightmares whenever you woke up screaming. You liked how he embraced your weirdness. 

Bill was at Hogwarts, giving you your lunch as normal. This time he brought his own because you asked him to stay. You wanted to check on his scars from Fenrir with all of your equipment that was at the school. It was important that nothing was happening beneath the surface of the scars that could harm him. Bill laughed when you started to get your potions ready before scrambling to close the curtains so none of your students would see a shirtless man. 

“Are we all good?” he asked as you moved to check the scars on his face. 

“Your chest is fine and…” You pulled down the bottom lid of his eye. “Your face is perfect. And you don’t feel any symptoms like Remus, right?”

“Nothing past the same ones as last time.” 

You nodded. “Those might be permanent then. You can stop taking the wolfsbane if you want.” 

“Sounds great. You ready to eat?” 

The two of you sat on your desk and set up lunch in between you guys. This time Bill made soup to go with the asparagus meal because both of you really couldn’t stand it. He laughed as you made a face. 

“Why can’t we just skip these meals?”

“We’re finishing the cookbook.” 

“Alright, alright. Gally, come here.” 

You watched Bill feed all of the asparagus to the niffler. His smile made you smile a bit. Some of his hair fell in front of his face. You started to push some of it behind his ears for him. Your fingers paused, still holding his hair.   

“Okay.”

Bill sat up straight. “Okay what?” 

“I want to date you, if you still want me.”

He choked on his drink. “For real? This isn’t because of anything I’ve said, is it? If you need space ju—”

“I want to date you. I think. You were right, you haven’t left yet. No one has. I’m always afraid of everything, real or not, so maybe I can try not to be. Maybe you will be a good thing. I won’t know if I’m still scared of everything. I don’t want to be scared of you— of who you might be.” 

“Can I hold your hand?” 

Bill laced his fingers through yours, holding your hand up to his lips with a pause until you nodded that it was alright to kiss it. His thumb rubbed over your skin in a slow, comforting manner. Bill waited until you met his eyes again. His face held the utmost seriousness. 

“I will never give you a reason to be scared. I know your past was awful and you’re new to all of this. We’ll go slow, okay? Your pace for it all. I can’t promise I’ll get everything right, I’ve never been with anyone in your position before. But I promise you, Y/N, I won’t ever give you a reason to be scared of me. I’ll be the place you can go if you feel scared. Does that sound good?” 

“I’d like that.” 

“Brilliant.”

(part 12)

FIC TAGLIST:

@thirsty4nonlivingmen @0collectiveworld0​ @motomamita​ @queen-stars2​​

PERMANENT TAGLIST:

@venomsvl @peaches-n-sunscreen @summerellaz @supernaturallover2002 @sambucky8 @9daykrisr @thebitchinleo @23victoria @scarlets-widow @pagetpagetpagetpaget @lovexnatasha @awesomebooklover17 @1234-angelika @imatrisk @blackreaderatrisk @princess-jules47 @alexloveskili @a-marie-a @siriuslysirius1107

[lunathegalacticwolf]

Here's the school rules in my Baldi AU.

Warning: Unsettling stuff, a lot of words

1. Always knock 3 times before entering Baldi's office. If someone knocks back, it's not Baldi, it's the kidnapper.

2. If the kidnapper is in Baldi's office, don't enter the office. This was the mistake the principal made and we still haven't found his eyes.

3. If Chalkles is on a chalkboard, but his face is turned upside down, tell the principal and he'll burn the chalkboard. It's not really Chalkles, it's a trap.

4. If you enter a classroom and any furniture was turned upside down, grab the notebook and never enter that room again.

5. ALWAYS get the map from Johnny's store. If you can't afford it, stay near Baldi. If you have the map and you find a room that's not on the map, NEVER enter the room.

6. If you hear Dr. Reflex crying in a room, knock on the door 3 times. If you hear a voice tell you to come in, do not enter. Only enter if the sobs continue with no verbal response.

7. Never, EVER look at the ceiling. The ceiling might look back at you.

9. Sometimes Johnny will be missing. If you go to Johnny's shop and he isn't there, leave the shop immediately. It is a trap.

8. If Mrs. Pomp tells you to come to her class, only go if she gives a specific time limit. If she doesn't give a specific time limit, it's a trap created by the kidnapper.

10. Mrs. Pomp always makes stomping noises when she's in her classroom. If it seems eerily quiet, do not enter the classroom.

11. If you need to go to the bathroom, ask Baldi, Mrs. Pomp, Gotta Sweep, Principal, or Dr. Reflex to take you there. If they take you to one that's far away from Baldi's office, run away and hide in a locker until the voices stop.

12: If the lights within the school seem to be flickering rapidly, stay as close as possible to Baldi until the lights stop flickering.

13. If you see a pitchfork in the wall or in the ground, pull out your walkie talkie and call Baldi, Dr. Reflex, or the principal immediately. Something is trying to cull you into a trap... and it's NOT the kidnapper. What is this creature? Well... that's for rule 14.

14. If you hear anyone's voice in the shadows, DO NOT go there. That is a creature of nightmares; the CopyCat. It's a trap to lure in its deadly clutches and it can use anyone's voice... including your own voice...

15. If you hear breathing inside of a classroom, but no one is in there, leave the room immediately. Do not return unless Dr. Reflex is with you.

16. If you see a locker that is open for no good reason, calmly close it and leave the hallway immediately. Do not return to that hallway unless a staff member is with you and no matter how much you want to, NEVER look inside of it.

17. If Baldi tells you to go to the library, ask him to go with you. If he accepts, go to the library. However, if he declines, do NOT under any circumstances go to the library.

18. If you're sick and need medicine, ask Dr. Reflex to get it for you. If he gives it to you right then and there, do NOT accept it. It is the kidnapper trying to trick you. Only accept the medicine if he takes you to the infirmary first.

19. If the chalkboard Chalkles is on is sideways, calmly flip his chalkboard back to normal. If he comes off the chalkboard and starts pressing his face against you and giggling, let him do it. However, if he comes off and stares at you without moving, leave the classroom immediately. This is a trap set by the kidnapper.

20. Be mindful of trapped elevators. Always look down before entering an elevator. If you see a tripwire, do not enter that elevator and find another one.

21. If you enter a room and it begins to glitch or distort, do not panic. Grab the notebook, calmly leave, and find Baldi immediately. Null is trying to warn you about something non-verbally and you can't answer his warning directly.

22: If you hear the words "150 Points." coming from deep within the school halls, calmly ask Baldi to confirm the number of points you have. If he says you do NOT have 150 points or if he cannot be found, go hide in a locker ASAP.

23. Sometimes a classroom will be locked. Do not try to pick the lock under any circumstances. Dr. Reflex has the only key to the classroom.

24. In the event of a power outage, use your walkie talkie to contact Baldi for help. If you hear Baldi's voice, make your way safely to his office. If you hear Principal of the Thing's voice, do NOT go there. It is the CopyCat mimicking his voice.

25. If you hear a calm voice that's not anyone you recognize, don't panic and follow its instructions. While this entity doesn't really exist, it is trying to help you.

26. If you walk down a hallway and it never seems to end, do not turn back or continue walking. Calmly pull out your walkie talkie and call one of the staff members.

27. If you go to the bathroom, do NOT look in the mirror. It will not be your reflection staring back at you.

28. If a staff member's voice sounds unusually forced or strained, tell another staff member immediately. It is not who it seems to be...

29. If a chalkboard says that Baldi is gone, call Baldi immediately. If he tells you he's okay, leave the classroom immediately and never return to it. If there's no answer, run and find the principal. You can find Baldi together.

30. Do not under any circumstances try to enter the principal's office. There's a reason you always went to Baldi's office instead...

31. You may come across a computer room. Do NOT mess with the computers under any circumstances.

32. If Mrs. Pomp is being eerily quiet and following you, run away and find the principal. That is not who it seems...

33. If you find a notebook with your name written in it, do NOT turn the page. Find Gotta Sweep and he'll dispose of it.

34. If the phone in Baldi's office rings, do NOT answer the phone. Ask Baldi to do it instead. If he doesn't answer it and he seems eerily worried, then stay near him. It means something is out there...

35. Never help anyone that looks exactly like you, no matter how much they plead. It's always a trap.

36. Never answer a voice whispering "Wanna play?" It's not Playtime, she only talks at a normal volume. If you hear the whispers, ignore them and act as if you don't hear them.

37. If you see what looks like one of the staff members in a random hallway, but they are not moving, do NOT approach them. Hide in a locker until you see them leave the hallway.

38. If the lights turn off while you're in the bathroom, call Baldi immediately and stay in the bathroom until he arrives to get you.

39. If a bell rings seemingly with no source, stay near Baldi until the ringing stops.

40. If you hear footsteps behind you, don't turn around or run. Calmly keep walking and ignore it. If you find a staff member, stay close to them until the footsteps stop.

41. If you hear a door slowly creak open while you're in a bathroom stall, do not look under the door and stay quiet. Stay right where you are until a staff member comes to check on you. Don't get impatient and don't take an unnecessary risk.

42. If you hear an eerily cheerful voice calling your name over the intercom, do not respond to it no matter how innocent it sounds.

43. If you hear Dr. Reflex singing to himself, remain calm and listen closely to his words. If he says "look behind you" or anything similar, do NOT look behind you and leave the hallway immediately. It isn't who it seems...

44. If an unexplainable black puddle underneath a locker, do NOT go near that locker and stay close to Baldi until Gotta Sweep is able to clean it.

45. The vending machine will restock itself. We don't know why.

46: If your vision starts to distort or change rapidly, calmly tell Dr. Reflex. If he is unable to explain why you're like that, stay near him and stay calm. Do NOT panic. That's what the CopyCat wants...

47. If a staff member appears to be talking to nobody, do not approach them and do not listen to the "conversation."

48. If you see a dark figure staring at you from a classroom window, do not look at the figure. Proceed to hide somewhere.

49. If a staff member's face disappears or melts, stay away from them, but keep them in your line of sight. Go find Baldi as fast as possible, but keep watching the said faceless staff member.

50. If you see a strange skeletal-like hand, stay away from it. It is an extremely dangerous creature feared by everyone, including the kidnapper and even... the CopyCat.

51. If you see a red and white doll with button eyes in a room, no matter how much you want to, NEVER approach her. She will get angry.

52. You may get a sense of deja vu or a feeling that you've been in this school before. That could be because you have...

53. If you see a mirror in a classroom, look at it and count how many reflections there are. If you remember entering the room alone, the answer should be only one... Leave the room immediately if that isn't the case.

54. If you see a room with boarded windows, do NOT enter that room alone. It targets its victims only if they're alone...

55. Sometimes, a classroom will suddenly lose power, becoming pitch black. Do not enter this classroom.

56. If you hear a faint, yet echoing sound of someone laughing, do not respond to it. It's not a staff member.

57. If you are alone and encounter the CopyCat, stay calm and find Principal Of The Thing.

58. If you hear a faint sound of a toy duck quacking, go back the way you came.

59. If you hear random voices mumbling at different frequencies, try to cover your ears and find Baldi.

60. If a beaker of a green substance starts to bubble in the science room, leave the room immediately and tell Dr. Reflex.

61. If you hear a strange banging sound coming from a locker, do NOT investigate the locker to see what the cause of this sound is.

62. If you suddenly feel a sense of dizziness or lightheadedness, rest your head on a wall and calm down until your head feels normal again. If the dizziness persists, seek help from one of the staff members.

63. If you see a child's drawing of a clown on the wall, back away slowly and find the nearest classroom.

64. If you walk into Johnny's store, but his skin is nearly pitch white, leave the store immediately. That is a trap.

65. If you walk into a classroom and there is a candle that's been lit, leave the room and never go back.

66. If you see an entity that you think might be the CopyCat, but you see a skeletal hand on the ground, it is... the Corrupted Entity. The CopyCat never gets down on all fours other than to study his prey or to rest...

67. If the principal speaks to you, but his dialogue is backwards, run, hide, and quietly call any of the staff members. That is NOT who it seems to be. That is Johnston (aka the Corrupted Entity).

68. If you hear a piano playing from far away, do not search the halls for its exact source of origin. Stay in a classroom, lock the door and keep your ears covered.

69. If you see a clock suddenly stop ticking, leave the room immediately and find Baldi.

70. If you hear a sudden high-pitched ring in your ear, do not panic and cover your ears. It will subside after awhile.

71. If you spot a small, white shape moving fast in a classroom, do not look at it. It's not Skribblez or Squiglez, it's a trap.

72. If you see footsteps that lead to a dark hallway, but have no footprints leading out, do not follow the footsteps.

73. If you enter the library and everything is silent except for a cold breeze, leave and find Baldi.

74. If you start to feel something breathing on your neck at random times, find Baldi.

75. If you see a classroom with a blackboard that has a phrase on it that constantly replays, don't go into that classroom ever again.

76. If you're in a classroom and you hear knocking on the door, do not answer the door. Keep yourself hidden under a desk in the back of the room. None of the staff members knock, so it's not them...

77. If you hear a faint sound of a child saying "Mama" from the girls' bathroom, stay away from that bathroom at all costs.

78. If you hear a student mumbling to themselves in a classroom when there are no other students in the classroom, do not investigate. That is Johnston.

79. If you see a classroom with a single black desk in the middle of the room, leave the room immediately and don't return ever again.

80. If the entire school suddenly feels extremely cold, but the heater is still on, stay calm and find Gotta Sweep. He'll deal with it.

81. If you hear a high-pitched screech out in the halls, run back to a classroom and cover your ears.

82. If you see a student running around all by themselves, do not try to interact with them. It's likely one of the ghosts of the school, and it's best to leave them be.

83. If you see a student walking into a classroom that you do not recognize, do not follow the student into the classroom. Avoid that classroom entirely.

84. If you see blood on the floor, avoid going into that hallway. It's another trap.

85. If you hear whispering coming from the other side of a door, do not open the door or listen in on what the voices are saying.

86. you hear multiple desks scraping against the floor at the same time, find somewhere to hide and try to stay as quiet as you can.

87. If you hear a distant phone ringing within the halls, do not search for the source of the ringing.

88. If you see a chair suddenly tipping over in the distance, stay still and see if anything else happens, and keep an eye on the chair.

89. If you hear multiple voices whispering "I know what you did," find somewhere to hide, and stay hidden until the voices stop.

90. If you walk into a dark hallway and see a bright light at the end of it, do not approach the light.

91. If you see multiple chairs and desks floating in the air in a classroom, go to the previous classroom immediately and close the door behind you. Do not investigate the source.

92. If you see a shadow of a child suddenly running away behind you, avoid looking behind to see who it is.

93. If you hear a child laughing coming from an open door, don't look into the room. Ignore the laughter and keep moving.

94. If you see a painting on a wall of a child smiling, don't look at it for too long.

95. If you see a classroom that has glowing red eyes in the dark, avoid that classroom at all costs, and do not go near it.

96. If you hear whispering that gets louder and closer to you, hide in a classroom until the whispering is no longer heard.

97. If you see a door with a bloody handprint on the handle, do not open the door and stay as far away from it as you can.

98. If you hear a sudden high-pitched laughing ringing in your ears, cover your ears and keep moving.

99. If you hear faint footsteps coming from above the ceiling, go to Baldi's classroom as fast as you can.

100. If you see a small pile of broken pencils on a floor, DO NOT touch them no matter what.

I know there's a lot, but I think it's sinister.

[danopdf]

The Cutting Edge [Joe Liebgott/David Webster] - chapter 2

chapter 2 - toe-pick

pairing: joseph liebgott x david webster, [hockey player x figure skater au]

The Cutting Edge (1992 film) Rewrite

word count: 3574

summary: David's coaches introduce him to his new partner, turns out, they have their work cut out for them.

warnings: swearing, mild injury nothing graphic at all, some angst

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a/n: chapter 2 is here! I have been working on this and a BoB x MotA crossover so hopefully that should be out soon! I hope the tag list works and please lmk if it doesn't, or if you'd like to be tagged! <3

Enjoy!! :D

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Phillidealpha - 1991

“Alright, I’ll see you guys on Monday.” Joe waved, making his way towards the awaiting beat-up pickup truck. A chorus of “Bye Joe”’s and “See ya man.”’s following behind him.

Joe tossed his raggedy hockey back into the back bed of the truck and hopped in the passenger side, placing his cooler lunch box at his feet, and his hard hat on his lap.

“So, how was school today?” George asked. Joe didn’t have to look over to see the shit-eating grin on the dirty-blond face.

“It was fine mom, can you just drive, there’s a game across town tonight I gotta get ready for,” Joe said impatiently. George threw the truck into drive and began to pull out of the steelworks parking lot.

It was silent on the drive back to the bar George and his partner Joe Toye owned together just the sound of the radio playing some new rock hit softly in the background, as the truck pulled into the parking lot of ‘Easy Company’ the fair sized bar, sitting just off a popular backroad near the city was frequented mostly by the nearby factory workers, and people who come to watch the hockey games on Friday and Saturday nights. The bar itself was in a mild state of disrepair but well-loved by both the locals and the bar workers alike, it may have been slightly run-down but for Toye and George it was a labour of love, practically their second child after that old dog they had adopted together.

Joe hopped out of the truck the second it had stopped, rushing around to the backbed to grab his bag, hauling it over his shoulder. Practically running into the bar, not bothering to hold the door for George, who nearly got clipped by it.

 “Joe hey, listen, Gene called in. He got a shift at the hospital so we need you to cover tonight.” Toye greeted from behind the counter, hauling the glass rack full of beer mugs up onto the freshly washed counter.

“Can’t. Got a game tonight- Hey Muck, make me a sandwich! Any mail for me?” Joe yelled into the kitchen.

“Joe, it’s a Friday night, we need you here, and Muck! Don’t make him that sandwich he’s not going anywhere, he can make it himself!” Toye hollered through the small window separating the bar from the kitchen in the back. Skip hadn’t moved from his place on the counter too enthralled with whatever book he was reading, just sticking his thumb in the air to acknowledge the command Toye gave him.

“I can’t Toye, the guys need me out there.”

“And we need you here! Babe’s still coming in, and Donny said he could come in from 9 ‘till close, but we need someone to do the in-between.” Toye slammed the mug he was holding down onto the counter, pointing at Joe, clean bar towel in hand, “Joe, when you moved here 2 years ago we said that as long as you helped us when we needed, we would shuttle your ass to any hockey game you wanted. Now is the time for you to nut up and help us.”

Joe scoffed, pulling his hand back from the back door he was about to walk through.

“Why can’t you call Bill, see if he’ll pick it up? He’s usually hanging around here with you guys anyways, might as well put him to work.” He sneered, pushing his way through the back door, to the staff entrance, his bettered hockey sticks leaning against the wall next to the array of lockers, each with a staff member's name on it, some with stickers adorning the outside (like his own, covered in hockey team logos), or photos of family and friends (like Babe’ was, covered in photos of him and Gene).

“Joe,” George pushed through the door, hot on his heels, “Come on we never ask you to come in on Fridays unless we need you. And we need you tonight, this place is gonna be packed-”

“I can’t George you know I can’t. We’re playing our rivals tonight and I can’t leave the boys hanging-”

“So you’re gonna leave us hanging?” George pointed him with a glare.

Joe sighed, leaning his head against the cool metal of his locker.

“George. I heard from one of the guys that there may be a scout coming to the game tonight. They’re down a few bench-men on the US team for the next winter games, and they wanna see if I still have it.”

“Did they say that?”

Joe turned his head to face George, “Did they say what?”

“Did they say that they were coming to look at you?”

He closed his eyes, “No. They’re coming to look at the new kid that’s been playing with us-”

“Shit Joe I’m sor-”

Joe shot up straight, “But George, if I can just show them how far I’ve come,”

“Joe don’t-”

“Then maybe they’ll let me even just be a benchwarmer for practice, which is the first step to getting back on a team. A proper team.”

“Joe! You got a letter from the Flyers,” Joe’s eyes lit up with hope, his heart began beating,

Oh my god, they saw it. They’re gonna put me on the team! This is the start of a new career, a brand new start for Joe Lieb-

 “They saw your tape and they don’t think you’re ready yet.” George ripped the bandaid off in one fell swoop, his head turned downwards to avoid the sagging gaze of Joe.

He froze at the news, brain trying to process his future once again falling through his fingers like sand. Joe sagged, fingers going numb, his sticks slipping through his grasp.

“Oh.” 

George dragged Joe into a hug, squeezing him tightly. His fingers gripping Joe’s jacket when he didn’t hug him back, he just stood there looking dead over George’s shoulder, “Well…there goes that I guess.” He whispered to himself.

George pulled back from Joe, a sad smile on his face, “But hey listen, on the bright side of things, a man came in today looking for you. By name.” Joe perked up at that, “Said he was looking for a man that could skate, and that there’s a paycheck involved, a pretty hefty one apparently.” Joe turned back to his locker, put his sticks back, and began to change out of his work clothes.

“That’s great George, but if it’s not hockey, I’m not interested.” He shrugged off his jacket, quickly wiping his eyes as he did so, hoping George didn’t notice.

“Joe buddy,” George leaned against the side of Joe’s locker, “we can’t make you do something you don’t wanna do. But we also can’t stand by and watch you put yourself through the wringer every time a letter comes in with your name on it, hoping that this time it’s something good.”

Joe paused halfway through slipping on his clean jacket, “If this is your way to ask me to work for you full time you know the answers gonna be no, right?” he chuckled wetly, George laughed with him.

“I know buddy. That guy was hoping that you’d go by tonight and see what he’s offering…I’m sure I can convince the owners to give you the night off for this, a real job offer.”

Joe huffed, fixed his dark hair in the mirror he had pasted to the side of his locker door, wiped his cheeks, and turned back to his friend, “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”

– – – – – – – – – – – –

David locked eyes with himself in the wall of mirrors as he skated along the edge of the rink. Watching his posture, he lifted his back leg and spread his arms out, one in front and one behind his perfectly straight torso.

David lowered his leg and went into a gentle spin, twirling thrice before coming to a stop.

“Looking good David!” The brunet coach hollered from the side of the rink. David pushed forward skating close enough to the mirrors that he could look at himself properly, he began to fix the curls of his hair and wipe at his cheeks, clearing his face of any sweat that had beaded there with the cuff of his white knitted sweater.

“-last one only lasted just over a month,” The door to the private rink swung open revealing David’s second coach. The redhead guided an unknown man through the doors and walked over to where the first was standing at the side. He pushed off his right foot and hustled his way over to the small group forming on the sideline.

“and before that it was three weeks-” David hockey stopped right in front of the new man, spraying small shards of ice onto his jeans.

“Two and a half weeks actually.” He looked the black-haired man up and down, taking in the slim figure in a worn flannel + jacket combo, jeans, and a backward cap, “He couldn’t keep up.” David sneered at the new man.

“Joe Liebgott, this is my co-coach Lewis Nixon. And this,” He gestured grandly to David, “is your skating partner David Webster.” David’s jaw dropped.

“Him?” David pointed out, “Are we picking homeless people up off the streets now for me to skate with? He looks like he’s never even seen a pair of skates before!” He complained to Winters.

“David, Joe is a hockey player, he’s got the skating prowess and physical strength that we’re looking for.” The redhead explained matter-of-factly.

“A hockey player!?” David screeched, “You’re kidding, Nix’ please tell me he’s kidding!” He turned towards his other coach, who stood from his bent-over position on the rail.

“David we know this isn’t ideal, but he’s got what we’re looking for and he’s an ex-Olympian so he knows his way around a competition. So, you can either suck it up and figure out how to work with him like an adult or you can keep skating here, alone in despair. It’s up to you David.” Nixon crossed his arms, a small smirk already on his face, knowing he had David, who let out a grumble and leaned down to tighten his pristine skates.

“Fine then,” he straightened up, flipping his curls back, “but if he can’t keep up he’s gone.” Joe chucked at that.

“Don't worry your pretty little head princess, I can keep up.” He stepped out onto the ice in his dirty sneakers, a hockey bag on his shoulder.

“David, this is Joe, Joe Liebgott, please play nice.” Winters introduced him, Joe sticking his hand out to David, who skated back slightly at the sight of his raised hand, “What, don’t want to shake my hand? They may be a little rough, but I’ve never had any complaints before.” He winked.

“Real nice. What is this, are you trying to ruin what career I have left?” David asked, offended.

“Hey, hey, hey wait a second, who's checking out who here?” Joe took his hand back, using it instead to adjust the strap on his shoulder.

“Listen, I don’t know how many slap shots you’ve taken to the brain but this is your audition and I can assure you it’s over. I’m not skating with this buffoon.” Joe looked startled at the mention of ‘slapshots to the brain’, something only Nixon had noticed

“Listen, I’m not a figure skater, I’m a hockey player, alright?” He defended.

“Then why are you here?” David skated right up in Joe’s face, staring him in the eyes,

He’s got nice eyes. Shut up, David. “Get him out of my building.” He turned towards Dick and Lewis, who were watching in both exhaustion and amusement respectively. Lewis chuckled at the duo, Dick just sighed, and Lewis reached over to pat his partner on the shoulder.

“Temperamental, they told me that’s what you were and they’re right. There’s another word for that you know!” Joe yelled.

“Who told you that?” David demanded.

“It’s no secret honey, everybody knows it!” Joe turned back to Lewis and Dick, stepping off the ice onto the rubber sideline, “Listen, sirs, I’m real’ sorry, but I wouldn’t wish this on my goddamn worst enemy alright?” Joe patted Nixon on the shoulder and began to make his way out the door he and Dick had walked through not even 10 minutes ago, David skating in the opposite direction of the door.

Dick put a hand on Joe’s shoulder, giving Lewis a look.

“Alright, both of you stop it.” Lewis hollered, the slight echo in the at-home area causing his voice to echo, “David, you’re a duo skater. Duo means two.” He held up two fingers at that, “And you haven’t been able to keep a partner for more than a month, and even then all you did is complain. You’re skating nowhere but in circles, hoping that a partner will just come along and fall into your lap, which they won’t if you keep your shitty attitude up.” David looked down, suddenly finding digging a small ditch with his toepick much more interesting than looking Lewis in the eyes. Joe snickered at the sight of David looking like a kicked puppy, “and you,” Lewis turned to Joe now, who shut up immediately at the parental tone Nixon took with him, “you’re not going anywhere alright? You’re excited every time you get on the ice at your beer league games, or get the chance to skate on the lake, and here we are giving you another chance at an Olympic medal and you're just going to walk away from it? No. You’re going to sit down and lace up because we’re the only people who are looking at you for a skating career.” Lewis finished, chest heaving and hands on his hips. Dick looked down, bringing a hand up to his face, but not in shame like Joe and David were, but to cover the silent laughter he was trying to cover up, at the sight of his partner parenting the two grown men. “So. Joe you’re going to drop your bag, put on the skates Dick gave you and you’re going to get on that ice.” Joe dropped his bag right where he stood with a huff, “And David you’re going to not be an asshole for 10 minutes and we’re going to run through the basics. Understood?” Nix’ raised an eyebrow in challenge.

“Understood.”

“Yeah sure Nix’.” Joe and David grumbled respectively. Realizing that they were both beaten and now stuck with each other.

– – – – – – – – – – – –

“Alright good, now Joe your left hand goes on his waist, and your right comes up to hold his right one outstretched. Get a little closer Joe, don’t worry David won’t bite.” Dick’s hands placed Joe’ where they needed to rest on David’s body, and gently pushed Joe closer so his chest was pressed against the left side of David's back. One of his hands coming up to hold onto his slim waist, the other sliding along David's arm to grab a hold of his hand, “Perfect Joe. Now on my count you’re going to push off your left foot, and go for a lap around the ice, sounds good?” the redhead asked.

Joe nodded his head, hair bouncing off his wrinkled forehead, brows knit in focus.

“Sounds great Winters, let’s just get this over with.” David forced out.

“Wait, wait, hold on a second.” Joe interrupted, “What is this thing on the front of my skate?” He lifted his left foot slightly, showing off the rigged point of the blade.

“That’s the toepick Joe. I wouldn’t let it get in your way.” David teased, unamused at the stupid question Joe had asked.

He leaned down close to David's ear, whispering “I don’t let anything get in my way sweetheart.” David straightened up against Joe’s chest, his neck tingling from where his breath fanned.

“Ok you two, let’s go on, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4!” On the four David and Joe pushed off their left feet in long strides, putting pressure on their left feet to make a graceful turn at the top of the ice, “Great! That looks great you two!” Dick called out from his place on the ice, Lewis in his skates on the side where he was earlier, clapping at the sight of the two skating in unison.

After the graceful turn at the top of the rink, they got to the straight away. David picked up his pace, taking quicker, shorter strides, slowly leaving Joe behind, struggling to catch up to the brunet's pace while keeping a hold of his waist and hand.

“Hey buddy, slow down man we’re supposed to be keeping pace!” Joe huffed, legs moving twice as fast to try and catch up to the brunet's quick strides.

“If you want us to keep pace then keep up!” David turned his head to Joe, taking a few more strides, and effectively leaving Joe behind enough that his grip on David’s waist and hand had him stretching forwards, fingertips barely hanging on, he began to stumble forwards, toepicks catching on the ice ahead of him, causing Joe to go tumbling forwards and crashing onto the ice with a loud SMACK!

“Jesus Christ David! Could you try not to kill the guy on his first day!” Lewis cried out. Dick rushed over to help Joe back on his feet, asking if he’s okay, as Joe brushed bits of ice off his shirt.

“I’m alright, I’m alright. He hits softer than my younger sister, and a tumble on the ice ain’t nothin’ new to me.” Joe turned to David, who was glaring at him from his place at Lewis’ side where he was getting berated by the black-haired man, giving David a smile at the sight of his misfortune.

Dick gave Joe one more once over, “David get over here!” He hollered. David skated over, using the toepick at the top of his skate to stop himself once he got close enough, “David apologize to Joe.”

“What!”

“Huh?”

Dick looked at David expectantly, hands on the hips of his slim black skate pants, “You heard me, apologise to Joe.” David looked at him appalled, whilst Joe had a shit-eating grin on his face at him getting chastised by the ginger.

“Joe,” David gritted out, “I’m sorry that you couldn’t keep up with m- OW!” Winters slapped David's arm giving him a glare, “Joe, I’m sorry, that I on purpose and with malicious intent went faster than I knew you could keep up with so that you would fall.” He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, avoiding Joe's smug face.

“Good, thank you, David. Let’s head back to one and go again.”

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Joe picked his head up at the sound of the beat-up old truck pulling up into the gated driveway of the mansion.

“Going my way?” George peaked his head out the passenger's window.

“If you’re heading to your mom's house then yeah.” Joe joked, standing from his place on the front steps of the large house, he jogged up to the passenger's side, tossing his hockey bag in the backseat and slamming the door.

“Shut up Joe, you look like you’re waiting for your divorced dad to pick you up.” Joe barked out a laugh as he slid on his seatbelt. George shifted out of park and booted out of the fancy driveway.

“So, how was it? You found a new calling in the world of figure skating?” George joked. Joe looked out the window, watching the trees and occasional lit-up mansion pass by his window.

“Yeah, I think so…”

“You don’t sound so sure of that, what’s up?” Joe sighed, running a hand through his wavy hair.

“He’s an asshole, is the issue. Never had to work a day in his life, has been living off of daddy’s money- did you know the rink is attached to the house? It’s not even in the backyard, it's in its own wing of the house!” Joe had started waving his arms around the cabin of the truck at this point, George trying his best to avoid getting smacked by the flailing limbs whilst trying to drive, “and he spent the whole time trying to get rid of me!” Joe took a heaving breath, sitting back properly in his seat, “but I mean other than that, yeah it was great. Dad’s a bit of a wack-a-doodle but he’s the one paying me, so him I can deal with.”

George looked over at him before quickly turning his eyes back to the road, “Well that’s not so bad I suppose. What about the coaches? Are they as big of assholes as your new partner is?” Joe placed his feet up on the dash, which George immediately batted off, “Get your feet off the dash you fucking hooligan.”

Joe crossed his legs at the ankles instead, “Yeah they’re alright, they’re some ex-figure skaters that are married on the side or something, I don’t know man. Talented though that’s for sure, they would demonstrate some of the moves they wanted us to do and it was impressive. I like ‘em.” Joe smiled to himself, finding picking the dirt from under his nails more interesting than looking at the smile George was giving him.

“So same bad time, same bad channel tomorrow then?”

“Yup, tomorrow and, if the paychecks hopefully keep rolling in the way they are now, every day after that.”

– – – – – – – – – – – –

taglist: @hanniewinnix @ewipandora@grumpy-liebgott

[silentcartoonist2018]

Sample of Chapter four of my Epilogue AU

—————————————————————————————————————————

*SPLASH*

“Hah…….huff……..Huh??”

A sudden rush of cold water hit his face and woke up Mr. Krupp from what felt like the best sleep he ever had. After a yawn, he realized he was back on familiar territory. It was his office, completely back to normal, but from what, he doesn’t really know. He could make out a faint smell of melted plastic coming from somewhere on his desk but didn’t see what it was.

“Naptime’s over, Principal.” Said a familiar, and somewhat condescending voice.

It was Reid.

“R-Reid? Wha….what just happened? And…what’s everybody doing in my office??” Mr. Krupp stammered.

Upon closer inspection, Krupp could see that some of the teachers had been peeking into his office as if there was a big commotion going on. Also present were a couple of paramedics who had been checking his vitals for who knows how long.

“Sir, do you know what your name is?” Asked a paramedic.

“Wha? Of course! Benjamin Krupp.” The principal answered.

“See? He’s perfectly fine. Just like I said.” Reid said to the paramedics.

“I see….but we should take him in to check for any possible head concussions.”

“Hold on!” Exclaimed Mr. Krupp. “What’s all this commotion about?”

“You were unresponsive for over 6 hours.” Said Ms. Anthrope. “Then everybody else started lining up to see if they could wake you up for a pay raise, but then thought it was better to call 9-1-1.”

Mr. Krupp looked up at the clock. 4:15

Everything came back to him all at once.

“MY DATE!” In a rush, Mr. Krupp got up and readjusted his tie and crammed his way through the door, past the teachers and staff and….

“Edith?”

“Oh my gosh,” said Edith as she clutched her smartphone. “A-are you okay? Everybody thought you fainted and—“

“I-I’m fine! I-I-I’ll explain later, tonight! See you at the restaura—I-I mean, later!”

Krupp probably crashed into two or three lockers on the way out of the building.

[allthecastlesonclouds]

a complete list of fears ages 5-28 (aprox) by the yellow dress

this took so long oh my god. you can see where my soul left me. uh. since you clicked the read more here are my favorite section of backgrounds.

[Begin ID] A three page comic of Fabian Seacaster. Lyrics from A Complete List of Fears Ages 5-28 (Aprox) by The Yellow Dress.

The first page has 9 panels. The first is split into three sections: Seacaster Manor (a large land-based boat), Aguefort Adventuring Academy, and Mordred Manor (a stone mansion). There are music notes dotting this panel. The second panel, to the right, is a drawing of a Messages page: two texts have been sent, reading "A Complete List of Fears Ages 5-28 (Aprox)" and "The Yellow Dress." An unsent text reads "Here's a complete list of everything I've ever been afraid of" with a loading sign next to it. The text is being sent using voice chat. The next row has three panels: the first is Hallariel and Bill Seacaster arguing- we cannot see their faces. They are saying "everything I've ever" "been afraid of." The other two panels are reflections of each other: both are in a wooden room, and a young Fabian and a Freshman Year Fabian are leaning against a wooden door, behind which sound emanates. On the rafters, text reads: "from the age of 5 to" "oh, let's say just the other day." the next row has 4 panels. The first is a row of lockers: two are closed, one is open. The middle one has a note hanging out of the slots as well as red ruby stickers, and the open one has corn stickers and holds a book that's titled "On the Topic Of World Religions." the lockers read "maybe things i've misremembered". the panel beneath this one is a depiction of the Battle in the Nightmare Forest, where we see Riz Gukgak falling off the staircase and the Fire elemental in Fabian's battlesheet saving him. the text in this panel reads "maybe things i've just forgot." The final two panels show Fabian pondering his eyepatch, putting it on, and walking out. The text reads "but as far as I can figure" "this is pretty much the lot".

The second page has 8 panels. The first panel is split into two sections, one showing Fabian walking out of Seacaster Manor with a slight frown on his face, and the second showing him beginning to practice his sparring forms. The text on this panel reads "make of it what you will" "make of it what you will." The second panel is split into three sections: the first is Upchungle flying through Elmville, the second is a orange-toned Fabian being threatened by a purple-toned Whitclaw atop Crow's Nest, and the third is a book filled with shaky, nigh-unreadable writing. The text in this panel reads "'cause it's birds" "and heights" "and movie credits". The third row on this page shows three panels. the first depicts baron atop fabian in Riz's office, trying to eat Fabian's eye. The second shows fabian walking off Seacaster Manor's balcony, his father dying behind him in flames. The third shows Fabian drowning, presumably off Leviathan. The text in these panels read "crowds and puppets" "dying in a fire" "being washed right out to sea". the final row has three panels. the first is Chungledown Bim, grinning wildly and summoning some disgusting-colored magic. the second is a bloody-eyed Fabian trapped under a burning rafter. the third is in the chapel of the Unnamed Goddess, a stained-glass depiction of Kristen with her staff. it shows the skeleton unicorn, blood dripping from its horn and light catching its eye socket. the text in these panels read "losing all of my front teeth" "being buried half alive" "bugs that burrow deep inside".

The third page shows 6 panels. The first panel is split into three: the first is the Hangman, dog form, stabbed in the stomach. Blood pools out of him and his eyes are closed. the second is an owl coming down to eat the sexy rat, and the third is Kalina, summoning magic and shrouded in shadow. her yellow eye is the only thing that comes through clearly. the text in this panel reads "wild dogs and things like that" "domesticated mice and rats" "not all of them, just their feet". The second row shows two panels. the first is a picture of a pirates' hat with a large red feather, sitting on the ground in the forest. the second is the same background, but the hat is replaced by the text. the text in these two panels reads "or that my whole life" "could be sleep". the final row shows three panels. the first is Fabian, small, standing up against Kalvaxus, a red dragon so large his wings break the boundaries of the panel. Fabian's friends are dead around him. The text along Kalvaxus' wing reads "ferris wheels and certain blues". the second panel is fabian, alone, fading inside the Nightmare Forest. He is staring at his hands, looking slightly sad. The final panel shows fabian, just out of a run, hugging Gorgug. Gorgug looks surprised. the text in these panels read "oh, but mainly losing you" "these days, mainly losing you."

[End ID]

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[lifeafterthelayoff]

Part II, Day 27

A list of all 23 jobs I’ve held so far:

1. Mowing grass for the farmer John Wolters, who often paid me in 1930s-era silver certificates.

2. Detasseling and de-roguing corn for Oetting's Detasseling. Rural kid summer job, hot and tiresome.

3. Clean-up guy at Orly's Meat Market, Locker, and Deli. I cleaned the whole bloody place.

4. Sales representative at Dumont Telemarketing. Yes, I was a telemarketer, and I’m sorry.

5. Hired hand at Schmadeke's Feed Mill, one of the grain elevators in my rural Iowa hometown. So much dust.

6. Soldier in the Iowa National Guard, where I had the opportunity to work security for the circus and qualify as an expert on the grenade launcher. (Not at the same time, though.)

7. Pizza technician at Pizza Hut, where I made pizzas. Curious to know how much free root beer I drank there.

8. Summer park technician at Butler County Conservation. For two summers I got to help keep the parks trimmed and tidy.

9. Trash man at Iowa State University. Picked up trash around my dorm, and it was trashy.

10. Food service dishwasher at the University of Northern Iowa. No. Just no.

11. Weekend on-air talent and assistant music director at KUNI-FM, a public radio station. Still one of my favorite jobs ever.

12. Retailer and vinyl record specialist at Co-Op Records. The discount was large and the subsequent paychecks were small.

13. Content manager at Stayhealthy dot com, where I participated in the Dotcom boom and garnered my first tech layoff.

14. Assistant manager at the Sam Goody music store in a mall, almost the exact opposite of the cool indie record store above.

15. Receptionist at Public Radio International. Get a foot in the door, they say. I did, and it really kicked things off.

16. Client Relations Manager at Public Radio International. I sold programs and an early SaaS CMS to stations. 

17. Senior Manager, Interactive Content and Marketing. Got to work with Ira Glass, Bob Edwards, and the BBC. Met Slash in an elevator.

18. Content Strategist at Brain Traffic. Got to work with THE Kristina Halvorson, which was fantastic.

19. Sr. Manager, Digital Content Strategy at Ameriprise Financial. The on-page disclosures were really something: 4,000+ words on one!

20. Vice President of Web Content Strategy at Weber Shandwick. Agency life, all of the clients, and amazing bosses.

21. Sr. Content Designer at Shopify. Content design, commerce, and cool co-workers.

22. Staff Content Designer at Shopify. A promotion to be proud of! Such a well-oiled content team there. (Miss y’all, still!)

23. Content Designer at Cash App. Easily the hippest colleagues ever.

24. [INSERT YOUR COMPANY HERE!]

[sunnysheep]

the latest update in the sheep plays hockey saga: new town, new rink!

"get off the ice or the zamboni's gonna getcha" <- ive been thinking about this quote from the ice staff on loop it was so funny

ive done stick and puck two times, and both times the poor teenage girl on desk has looked at me and been like, "let's getcha your own locker room." lmao women perks i guess (very funny to me more on this later)

so instead of sharing a locker room with 20+ men and boys , i can get my own locker room as the sole girlie playing hockey! yippee!

so. the locker room. first off, the first time they let me in, they forgot to unlock it the whole way so the door locked behind me when i exited (leading to a very unfun time when i had to go sweatily get someone to let me back in after). then, the locker room itself: open floor plan jack and jill style room w/ benches, with the middle connector that consists of a very gross shower stall, a small sink, and a urinal. like lol what am i supposed to do with that they dont even have a dedicated female locker room pshhhh

i have a theory that the main locker room that they put they boys in is bigger. i have yet to be in any other locker room than the one i was put in, so i haven't been able to test it yet, but i will report back if i can get intel

the new rink has a very different demographic than my old rink. out are the 9 yr old hockey boys and in are the teenage and college-age boys! yippee! though honestly they are very fun - i love it when they try some wild trick shot and then pretend like they havent spent the last five minutes missing the net (mood)

ive been working on backwards skating, which has been very difficult. backwards crossovers are an absoulte nightmare and i dislike them greatly. very envious of the hockey players that just backwards skate like nothing. i want to eat them

side note: just want to say that can rinks PLEASE have more working adult-friendly public hours?? like my dudes only had three (3) times that i could feasibly(ish) make to go to stick and puck the past three weeks, and no times for the whole month of june!! like i understand why most of the hours are during the normal workday (kids off school etc), But my working adult self also wants to play the hockey 🥺

seriously why can't they have evening hours (or at least let us on the OTHER ICE) like they have 2 rinks in the building... why can't we use them both please i will pay money to skate please

anyways, i do love skating so it's been nice to have a rink close by again :) also looking forward to starting up lessons again in a few weeks!!

[greenbagjosh]

Tuesday 12 November 2002 - breakfast on the train - view of the Berner Oberland - revisiting the yodeling station of September 2000 - lovely Spätzle supper with Hürlimann-Mass

12 November 2002

EN  Hi everyone!  I had taken the night train from Hamburg Hbf to Zürich HB via Bremen, Basel Badischer Bahnhof and Baden in Aargau.  I arrived too early to check in at the hostel in Mutschellenstrasse, so I went to Bern for a few hours and returned to check in.  

DE  Hallo allerseits! Ich war mit dem Nachtzug von Hamburg Hbf über Bremen, Basel Badischer Bahnhof und Baden im Aargau nach Zürich HB gefahren. Ich kam zu früh an, um im Hostel an der Mutschellenstrasse einzuchecken, also fuhr ich für ein paar Stunden nach Bern und kehrte zum Einchecken zurück.  

DK  Hej allesammen! Jeg havde taget nattoget fra Hamburg Hbf til Zürich HB via Bremen, Basel Badischer Bahnhof og Baden i Aargau. Jeg ankom for tidligt til at tjekke ind på hostellet i Mutschellenstrasse, så jeg tog til Bern i et par timer og vendte tilbage for at tjekke ind.  

SE  Hej allihopa! Jag hade tagit nattåget från Hamburg Hbf till Zürich HB via Bremen, Basel Badischer Bahnhof och Baden i Aargau. Jag kom för tidigt för att checka in på vandrarhemmet i Mutschellenstrasse, så jag åkte till Bern i några timmar och återvände för att checka in.  

FR  Salut tout le monde! J'avais pris le train de nuit de Hamburg Hbf à Zürich HB via Brême, Bâle Badischer Bahnhof et Baden en Argovie. Je suis arrivé trop tôt pour m'enregistrer à l'auberge de Mutschellenstrasse, alors je suis allé à Berne pendant quelques heures et je suis revenu m'enregistrer.  

Guten Morgen!  Good morning! About 7 AM I woke up in my first class train compartment on the EuroNight train from Hamburg Hbf to Zürich HB.  The train staff gave my passport back and then served me breakfast, about the same as what I would expect to receive on an inbound transatlantic flight, namely pastries, yogurt and coffee, and I do not remember if a hard boiled egg were included.  The train stopped at Baden AG (I would stay at the youth hostel near Wettingen, the following August), before proceeding through Spreitenbach, Dietikon and Schlieren before terminating at Zürich HB, which at the time, did not have its Löwenstrasse underground station built, so it had to stop at the head-station platforms.  I exited the train, withdrew some Swiss Francs, took my wheeled bag, put it in an old locker that still took coins, and left it there for the morning.  It was only 8 AM and it was too soon to check into the youth hostel, it started accepting travellers about 2 PM.

I looked for a train that went to Bern, as I wanted to see the Zytglogge, Bundeshaus and SNB buildings there.  The train I found, a "Dosto" SBB train, was a direct train to Bern.  I had my first class ticket, valid in all of Switzerland until the 19th November, so I went to Bern, and arrived in about one hour.  I think somewhere between Lyssach and Burgdorf, there was a new rail tunnel constructed, and the train went about 120 km/h or 75 mph through it.  Eventually the signals would be recalibrated so that a journey from Zürich to Bern would take only 45 minutes.

Around 9:15 AM, I arrived at Bern SBB station.  I bought a day pass for around 7 CHF, for unlimited local transport.  I took the tram to Zytglogge where I saw the astrological clock.  There is another similar clock close to the Bundeshaus.  I walked to the Bundeshaus.  The SNB building is almost next door.  I did not go inside the Bundeshaus, but I did go to the terrace, and was able to see the Berner Oberland mountains, including the Matterhorn.  It looked like it had a nice coating of snow.  I decided the next day to go to Brig, and come back through Geneva.

I went back to the tram stop, Bundesplatz, and took a tram in the direction of Muri.  I just wanted to see what it looked like.  Somehow I was interested in the traffic signal setups, they looked like they dated back to the 1970s as I remember from my first couple of visits to Zürich and Glarus.  I took the tram back to Bern SBB.  I think it was close to 11 AM, so I took the train back to Zürich HB.  I may have returned there by 11:45 AM, almost lunchtime.  I took the S Bahn to the Migros close to the Stadelhofen train station.  Stadelhofen is one of the many structures designed by Santiago Calatrava.  I remember in Dallas he designed a vehicle bridge across the Trinity River.  I bought some food and drink, and then took the S-18, not a regular S-Bahn train line, but one that used meter gauge and the Zürich tram electricity, namely 750 volts DC.  I took the S-18 to Maiacher, where, on 10th September 2000, I did a bit of yodeling.  Sadly I did not have an Alpenhorn to go with that.  Maiacher was still the same underground station that I remembered from back then, was not refurbished until the late 2000s.  I went back again in February 2012 and it looked much nicer, with a decent color scheme.  I exited the station, to eat my lunch.  

About 1:30 PM, I returned to Zürich HB, collected my luggage and took the tram line 7 to Morgental, passing by the Enge commuter rail station.  Then I transferred to the trolleybus line 33, and rode it one stop to the Youth Hostel stop which was next to a Migros florist.  I walked to the hostel and arrived about ten to fifteen minutes later.  There was much construction going on at the hostel since early 2001.  The former entrance and the breakfast room had been swapped as a result of the renovation.  I was given a bed in a four bed room.  The room had a sink, but the toilet and shower was in a large room on the floor.  

I left the hostel around 3 PM.  I took the trolleybus from the hostel stop to Morgental, changed to the line 7, and went to HB.  I walked along the Niederdorferstrasse doing a bit of window shopping.  I had dinner at the Brasserie Johanniter.  I had a full liter of Hürlimann beer, and Spätzle with ham, onion and cheese.  It was very good.  

After supper, I went back to the hostel.  At the time, I did not have my own laptop computer, let alone even a smartphone (a Siemens S40 triband does not count), so I had to use the internet terminals at the hostel for a reasonable fee.  I needed to find out, what were the schedules for tomorrow's train journey, to Brig, Sion, St. Maurice, Geneva, Frauenfeld TG and back.  I had to go to sleep soon, and be ready to wake up for breakfast which would be served starting 6 AM.  

Please join me for tomorrow's journey to Brig through the Lötschberg tunnel, then to Sion, St. Maurice and Geneva, and also to Frauenfeld, the cantonal capital of Thurgau.  The weather will be fairly nice for spotting the southern side of the Berner Oberland.

Good night!  Gute Nacht!

[phenomenalgirl9]

Idol! Namjoon x Non-Idol! Reader: Dating Rumour

A/n: This one has an established relationship. You can just read this independently or read the First Part. It wont matter if you don't but it'll make more sence. Also for anyone who's read the Other Part, this happens like 1 year down the line, even Bang PD knew about you and Namjoon and said it was fine with the labels as long as its not public, the staff and the artists knew.

Summary: Its common to have a dating rumour when one is an idol. But what if you have a dating rumour being a non-idol and someone leaks your personal info. What happens? Find out.

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

You were driving back from work, it was really crowded in your area. Songs were playing from the speakers, but you were getting impatient so you opened you phone to check as you waited for the road to get clear and that is when you noticed

11 missed calls from Nika 🌻

21 missed calls from My Love 🐨

9 missed calls from Tata 🎙️

3 missed calls from Land Lady

And over 100 texts

"Damn! Whats wrong?!" You shouted .

You contemplated whom to call first and you hit the call button for Nika your roommate, she picked it up as soon as the call connected. And before you could say anything you heard.

"WHERE ARE YOU BITCH! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED WE ARE?"

"Woah! Calm down. My phone was on silent mode, I was in a meeting and forgot to turn the sound back on. But why so many missed calls? And what's with the crowd in our neighborhood?" You asked.

"You're in the neighborhood? Turn around and drive to some alley and send me the location. Quick" you heard a background voice that said "tell her to send it to Namjoonie too" you smiled at Hoseok's voice.

"Nika? Where are you and what's going on?" You asked getting worried of her tone, she rarely sounded that worried.

"I'll tell you when you get to safety, but untill you reach the dorms, do not and I mean DO NOT leave the car and wear a mask and the cap you keep in the dashboard locker" she said hurriedly.

"But-"

"No buts do it quick and at any cost do not leave the car or check your socials" she said "DO NOT" you were ichting to ask why or to check your social account but you knew she asked you not to do so for a reason so you'll agree. You wore the cap and mask and shared your live location to Nika and Namjoon.

Within minutes, you recieved a call from Namjoon.

"Are you safe?" Was the first thing he said, you could hear the worry laced in his words.

"Yes, Joon but whats going on?" You asked "And I am parked by a Lamp post in XXXX Lane"

"I'll tell you everything when you come back, just do what Nika has told you. Sihyuk Hyung has already sent someone to reach you" he said.

"Hitman Bang?! Why is he involved? DID I DO SOMETHING?!" You asked freaking out.

"No no, calm down jagi. Everything is fine. Everything will be fine okay" he said "I've gotta leave to reach the dorm in time, be careful. Okay babe?" He said

You hummed and hung up.

You waited listening songs and waited. Your patience was running out and you picked up your phone and were about to unlock it and check your notifs when a knock came from the window. You screamed at the sudden sound and got even more scared when you saw two figures in black hoodie and black cap and black mask outside your window. You were so scared and thanked lord that all your windows were up and the two kept knocking. You were about to dial the police when one of them lowered their mask, to reveal Beomgyu, as he shouted, "Noona open the door". You hit the unlock button for the car and he got in on the back seat while another voice came to your side and asked you to scoot to the passengers's seat. You ruffled across to the other seat, and Beomgyu said, "Thats Samuel, our guy, don't worry" in english, you literally felt that he was in a spy movie feel and you couldn't deny that you felt the same, with all this going on.

Samuel got into the driving seat and you peered back Beomgyu and asked "Whats going on Gyu-ya?" You asked as you put on your seat belt.

"Ah, Kookie hyung told me to not talk about it untill you reach there" he said.

"There where?" You asked

"To the dorms" He said "We couldn't send Samuel alone cause you don't know him and wouldn't trust him"

"Like hell I wouldn't" you said and looked at Samuel and said "no offence" and he nodded.

"So I came along. Don't worry Bang PDnim will take care of the rumours" he said.

And your eyes went wide and a 1000 thoughts rushed to your head "Rumours? Oh MY GOD!" you freaked out

"Sir you were not supposed to say that" Samuel said

"Oh!" He said and covered his mouth "please don't freak out Noona! Please! Or Your friend will kill me!"

"Who Nika? Where is she?" You asked.

"She's in your apartment, with Hoseok hyung in it, he can't leave" he said and added "please don't ask me anything more"

You sighed and said "okay"

"Are you hungry? I have snacks" he said and you were about to pick up your phone but Beomgyu snatched it away quickly. "No! Don't check your phone. Here eat this" he said and gave you a packet of Cheetos that you ate begrudgingly.

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

You entered the dorm building, to find Namjoon and Taehyung in the loby, as soon as they saw you they rushed to you and Namjoon hugged you tightly. You suddenly felt another weight on the back and understood that it was Tae on the back.

"Can I now know what happened? What rumour?! Was it the reason why our neighborhood is mobbed?" You asked as they left the embrace, you took your phone and bag from Beomgyu who gave you a hug and Samuel parked your car and gave you the keys. You went into the lift and what the two started to explain to you was.

You had a dating rumour with Kim Taehyung

"WHAT!" You had shouted.

"Someone got a clip of the two of you talking and then concocted wierd stuff about similar rings and hoodies" Taehyung said.

"Also that one time you left your phone in our practice room, and it was visible in some Video and you have mirror selfies with it the backcover being same" Namjoon said.

"But how did they know my name and address?!" You asked.

"Now that's the mystery we all are on" Taehyung said.

"Now you know why Si-hyuk hyung was involved? And we are all so worried cause someone leaked something. The background, staff or any person's faces are always blurred. There's someone on the inside" Namjoon said, as you entered the dorm apartment with them.

"I have a dating rumour?!" You mumbled "I HAVE A DATING RUMOUR! OH MY GOD ! WHAT AM I GONNA DO?! I'LL HAVE TO LEAVE THE CITY?!!! CITY HELL I'LL HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY! WHERE WILL I GO! OH MY-" You were rambling and Namjoon just held your shoulders and crashed his lips with yours. Yes, Namjoon's personal way of shutting you up when you're rambling or freaking out. Once, when you were freaking out about a project infront of Jungkook while you were waiting for your boyfriend, he actually ran and called Namjoon from his studio to calm you down.

You just instantly melted into the kiss and tangled your hands on the back of his neck. A shiver ran down your back as you felt his tongue rub against your lower lip gently asking for entrance, and you would have gladly given if you hadn't heard a sound of throat clearing.

"Please get a room before you decide to suck faces" Taehyung said as he made way to the couch. Giving one last kiss on your cheek he took your hand in his and you both walked in. You found all the 5 boys sitting on the couch. There were two spots left as Hobi was still stuck in your apartment with Nika, you and Joon took seats.

"How's our famous girl?" Jimin chirped and everybody looked at him "Too early?" He asked.

"So who was it?" You asked

"Well it was the SKGossip channel but we are sure that there is someone on the inside" Suga said as he lit up a tablet and showed you the screenshots of the pictures that they used as 'proof', you just kept staring at the pictures spellbound and didn't know what to say. "Don't worry, were filling a law suit and will get to the bottom of this, but you need to stay here for a while" Suga added

"Here? Why?" You asked

"Because nobody knows about this location and you will have to work from here or take leave" Namjoon said.

"But, what about my clothes and things" you asked.

"Hobi will get them on his way back, talk to Nika about that" he said, taking your hand in his to rub soothing circles.

"Where would I stay?" You asked. Of course you've been to the dorm before but you have never stayed over night as your over night "plans" generally took place at your place.

"Well, Jimin could shift to Hobi's room and you could stay there" Jin said shrugging.

"Or she can just stay with me" Namjoon suggested. And everybody looked at him and Jungkook said "We don't want to hear you guys doing it"

"We wont-" you were saying but were cut off by Namjoon saying "We'll be quiet"

"Namjoon!" You hit him on the arm.

"Ouch! What" he said rubbing the spot and the boys laughed.

And thats how you ended up living with the idols of your dreams, with your Roommate/only friend visiting from time to time. The law suit was going on and they said they had received an anonymous email with all the files and videos. So the company and the authorities were looking into the matter. While you often found yourself at extreme situations of nose bleed staying surrounded by 7 hot as hell men.

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

"JUNGKOOOK!" You shouted

"HOW MANY TIMES DID I TELL YOU GUYS NOT TO LEAVE YOUR BOXERS IN THE BATHROOM!?" you said scrunching your nose in disgust and the bunny boy appreaded and asked.

"How did you know they are mine?" He said.

"They have Iron mans face on it! Whose else could they belong to?" You said.

"Hey! Namjoon hyung had a Winnie the Pooh boxers!" He said.

"Yeah, I know" you said and went inside the bathroom to do your business.

It was one of your off days so you went over to their home theater to watch a movie. When you are stuck here, might as well enjoy your time.

You took a comfortable seat and schemed through netflix, amoung your search your eyes landed upon a movie of your native country. Yeah, not being able to go to your place, made you feel homesick, so you put it on. And right then you heard the door open and in came Suga, and took a seat and got comfortable.

"You wanna watch something?" You asked him, pausing it.

"I did, but I didn't know what to watch, so this is fine, please put on the subtitles" he said and leaned into the seat.

With in 5 minutes of the movie you heard a walking music coming to your way and a chirpy "Hiii. I wanna watch too!" Hobi said "Can you please start from the first, please Yn-ah!" He said "Also I brought pop-corn" he said.

"okay" you re-started the movie.

"Wait wait, so they are best friends but she loves him and he loves the other girl?" Hobi said mid-way.

"Yeah" you said. Suddenly a scene appeared and you laughed, but Hoseok and Yoongi were lost, so you explained them in context to your country as to why the part was funny. You enjoyed it in the starting but slowly it got annoying as you had to pause the movie alot to explain them.

"Wah! The women of your country are so pretty" Yoongi commented, and you felt proud.

You noticed Hoseok cry as the female protagonist got her heart broken and cried. Almost at the middle of the movie, you noticed Jimin enter with bags of snacks you were about to whine as to you couldn't restart the movie but he shocked you as he ran to take a seat and said "Damn I love this movie*

You literally paused the movie and looked at him in utter surprise. "What? (Your country) movies are really enjoyable" he said.

Later that night

"I heard you explained a full movie to the boys" Namjoon said shifting into the bed beside you.

"Yeah. All I wanted was to watch a movie" you said "But it was enjoyable to watch them get so intreagued" you said.

"Thats my (Your country) girl. I bet me and Hobi have the real catches" he said

"You bet. And that is what makes a lot of K-Armys hate me more" you said pouting.

"Aww babe, I told you not to read those" he said.

"I know, sorry" you said hugging is physically large form.

"Its okay babe, things are already getting better, they're close to tracing the person who did it and in no times things will get better" he said kissing your forehead.

You noded and sighed "lets just enjoy our time together untill then" you said.

"That's more like it" He said and the two of you lulled to sleep in each other's arms.

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Other Works

Taglist (Open): @jung-nika-hoseok @bbl32

Comment or send an ask if you wanna be my permanent taglist member for BTS or the others too.

[peachy-panic]

Shatter

Part of Do No Harm. 

Timeline wise – Still Day 9, continued from here.

Warnings: Some dark subjects here. Suicide (minor character), self harm, blood, nudity, navigating some extremely fucked up power dynamics, implied noncon, severe panic attacks, BBU/BBU-adjacent

The shower in the staff locker room can’t get hot enough.

Sebastian stands there long after his skin is pink beneath the spray, lost in his own head. His skin may be scrubbed clean after the first few minutes, but he is confident his body will never forget the memory of this stain.

Two slashes down the wrist with whatever contraband they’ll inevitably find later in her cell.

And he couldn’t save her.

Somewhere beneath the grief, he understands the odds were never on his side. It was too late before she even landed on his operating table. What weighs on him now, though, are the few split seconds during the procedure—precious seconds while he fought for her life—where he wondered if he was doing the right thing by trying to save her at all.

There is a part of him that can’t help but feel like just another monster in uniform, stripping away her autonomy. Telling her this choice, her only shot at escape, was not hers to make.

Sebastian braces a hand on the tiled wall, his forehead falling after it, as the tears finally break loose.

He needs to go see Jaime, he thinks, trying to pull himself together. His guilt can wait. He’s sure it will be there at his apartment door, lurking in the shadows when he gets home. Sebastian can compartmentalize with the best of them, and right now, Jaime is his priority.

He shuts off the water. Goes through the motions of toweling off and maneuvering his limbs into the spare clothes from his locker. Shuts off the light on his way out.

When he gets to his office at the end of the hallway, the room is empty.

Sebastian nudges the door all the way open, glancing at his watch. It’s late in the day, but not quite late enough for a handler to have already collected Jaime. Anxiety knots in his stomach. He looks toward the nurse’s station, but Aria’s not there to ask. One of the younger nurses sits alone behind the computer, her glasses slipping down the bridge of her nose. She looks up when he approaches.

“Dr. Tate.”

“Hey. Have you seen”—he bites down on the name he wants to use—“um. The person who’s been assisting me?” When she blinks at him, probably a bit startled by the urgency in his voice, he hurries on. “Young guy, blond. Usually in my office.”

“Oh. Dr. Greer came and got him a little bit ago,” she says. “I figured you knew.”

The uptick in his pulse is probably visible against his throat. “What for?”

“Cleanup,” she says with a sympathetic wince. “Poor thing. Hope he’s not squeamish with blood.”

Fucking Greer.

Sebastian pushes away from the nurse’s station before she’s done speaking, making a beeline for the operating room. He’s angry—furious—and not entirely just with Greer.

He let his guard down, leaving Jaime vulnerable while he locked himself away. A shower was necessary, sure, but he should have tried to think of something. He should have— It’s his fucking responsibility to look out for Jaime while he’s here, in his care, and leaving him to be exploited by his asshole attending is a poor fucking performance of that role.

He is poised for a screaming match when he scans into the scrub room, ready to pull Jaime out of there and away from the mess that he should have no part of but—

Sebastian stops short just inside the sliding door.

Greer isn’t there. He doesn’t see Jaime at first either. Instead, he spots Aria. Through the soundproof glass, he sees her crouched near the corner of the room, her back to him. It only takes another step forward for Jaime to come into view. His blood goes cold.

Sebastian doesn’t hesitate.

“What the fuck happened?” He crosses the room in record time and, fresh clothes be damned, drops to his knees in the wreckage.

Jaime is on the ground, huddled into himself with his back against the corner and blood-stained fingers threaded through his hair. His forehead is pressed to his knees, but Sebastian can hear the ragged pulls for air between sobs. He realizes at that moment: he has never heard him cry. The sound cuts straight through his chest.

“None of the blood is his, from what I can tell,” Aria says. “He’s having a panic attack. I didn’t… I wasn’t out there when Greer called for him. I would have stopped him.”

Her tone is detached and level in a way that he can’t begin to match right now, but there’s just enough there to give away the edge of uncharacteristic guilt. Sebastian can’t think about that right now.

“Hey.” He shuffles closer, an outstretched arm hovering just short of Jaime’s skin. He pulls his fingers into a fist and forces his hand away before he can make contact. “Jaime,” he tries.

“Careful, Tate.”

He doesn’t acknowledge her quiet warning other than to lower his voice. “It’s me,” he says. “I’m here. It’s going to be okay, can you just–Can you look at me?”

It should come as no surprise that the conditioning runs deep enough to reach him even in a state like this, but that doesn’t lessen the blow of watching his head pull robotically up to meet his eyes. Sebastian’s breath catches in his throat at the crimson streaks on his skin, dragging down his cheeks like bloody tear tracks.

“Jesus,” he chokes.

His brain is shorting out, quick to abandon every minute of training and experience he has to keep his cool under duress. He squeezes his eyes shut and tries to draw in a recalibrating breath. The familiar scent of blood prods him into action.

Step one: Get Jaime the fuck out of this room.

“Okay,” he says, decisive. “We need to get you out of here, and then I…” He swallows, briefly casting a glance at Aria. “I’ll call someone to escort you to a shower.”

Jaime flinches so hard he hits the wall. “Please,” he whispers, gazing up at Sebastian through tear-filled eyes, and it's immediately clear what he actually wants to say:

Please, don’t.

It’s the closest thing to denial he’s ever given Sebastian and probably the closest he ever will. Sebastian wouldn’t dream of pushing against it.

“Okay,” he says quickly, nodding. “That’s okay, we won’t do that. We’ll just���”

“Greer is gone for the night,” Aria interjects. “He left early. The rest of day shift should be leaving soon. I can keep the night crew away from the lockers for an hour.”

He doesn’t have the presence of mind, in that moment, to recognize how grateful he is for her cool head, her grounding presence. But he is. “Thank you,” he whispers.”Can you… he’ll need—”

“I’ll call Julian. Have him bring a fresh set of clothes,” she says before he can finish. Her eyes flicker briefly back to Jaime. “Go. Take care of him.”

She doesn’t have to ask him twice.

***

Jaime is still hysterical by the time Sebastian lowers him onto the metal bench in the locker room.

Aria had made good on her promise to clear the way. Sebastian managed to get Jaime across the clinic without turning any heads, but it was no easy feat. Jaime was out of his mind with panic every step of the way, sucking in shallow breaths and scratching thin, red lines down his arms until Sebastian noticed and intervened.

The second Sebastian steps away, he’s right back at it, like muscle memory, fingernails digging into flesh. Sebastian drops into a crouch in front of him.

“Jaime, please.” He reaches for Jaime’s hands once again, peeling them off of his arms to hold between them. It’s almost worse, he thinks, how pliable he makes himself under the manipulation. “Please, try not to hurt yourself. I know you’re scared, just–Here. Squeeze my hands, okay? I can take it.”

Jaime’s grasp goes completely limp in his hold.

The sound of the locker room door makes both of them jump, but Sebatian swivels back to see Aria coming through. She flips the deadbolt behind her.

“Here.” She pushes a pile of linens into his waiting arms as he stands to meet her. “Towels, a blanket, some extra clothes for you. Julian is on his way with some for him.” She nods to Jaime, then places a small, black pouch on top of the pile. “There’s disinfectant and some gauze here. I didn’t get a good look, and I’m pretty sure none of the blood is his, but just to be safe.”

She pauses, leveling him a meaningful look.

“And six milligrams of Ativan. If he wants it,” she says quietly.

Sebastian resists the urge to drop everything and throw his arms around her.

“Thank you,” he says earnestly, instead.

She turns to go, but Sebastian stops her. “Hey. About the OR. Don’t… Don’t call another worker to clean it up, okay? I’ll take care of it.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

“Aria,” he argues, “I’m not going to let another–”

“I’ll handle it,” she cuts him off. A buzz in her pocket has her reaching for her phone before he can argue further. “Jules is in the hall with his clothes,” she says. “I’ll be back.”

He locks the door behind her and hurries back to Jaime’s side. Jaime’s fingers, at least, are curled into the material of his shirt this time.

“Hey,” he says gently. “We’re going to get you some new clothes, okay?”

Jaime’s lips move like he might be trying to say something, but he’s trembling so hard the twitch might be involuntary. His eyes are glued to some invisible middle distance between the opposite bench and the floor.

“It’s going to be okay,” Sebastian tries again, desperate to occupy the silence with something other than the sound of his crying. Desperate to make him believe it’s true.

Jaime squeezes his eyes shut, fresh tears cutting through the lines of blood on his cheeks. He hitches in a hiccuping breath. “Ah–” He swallows around another attempt at speaking. “I… I-I don–”

Aria chooses that moment to knock on the door, and Jaime locks up in an instant. Holding back a sigh he knows will be misinterpreted in the worst way, Sebastian crosses the room to let her in.

“Keep the door locked,” Aria instructs after she’s handed off the clothes to Sebastian. “Just to be safe. But I’ll keep everyone away until you’re finished here.” She considers Jaime, who seems to be anywhere but in the room with them, then lowers her voice. “Do you think you have enough to admit him overnight?”

Sebastian spreads his hands, feeling helpless. “Without a physical injury on record, I doubt I’ll get his primary to sign off on it. And Greer sure as shit won’t override it.”

The tight line of her mouth thins even further. She nods once, curt and unhappy. “One step at a time, then. Do what you can for him now.”

“Aria,” he says before she can leave. “I… Thank you. Really.”

She bites down on what was probably going to be a more characteristic snipe, and instead reaches out to give his arm a squeeze. And then she’s gone.

Adrenaline washes out at the click of the deadbolt, leaving only jagged shards of anxiety on the shore in its wake. He takes a breath, forcing on a calm demeanor that he doesn’t quite feel, and turns around.

He finds Jaime on the bench where he left him, staring down at himself like he’s registering the mess for the first time. Sebastian follows his gaze, eyes move over the blood covering his body, from his hair to his clothes to his shoes, like something out of a horror movie. It’s dry in some spots and clinging to his skin in deep, sticky patches in others.

Something shifts. A gasp cuts through Jaime’s shallow breathing, and then he’s hyperventilating. His hands grab and claw at the bloody material like he’s trying to rip it away from his skin.

“Okay.” He takes a step toward him, palms out in front of him in a placating gesture. “Let’s just… Take a breath,” Sebastian tries, but Jaime can’t hear him.

Jaime pushes back and stumbles off of the bench, arms caught in the torso of his shirt, his movements becoming frantic to the point of uselessness. “I can’t–” he cries, scrambling back against the locker. Sebastian winces as his shoulder makes hard contact. “I can’t get– get it off. Get it off, please get it off, get it–”

“Jaime.” Sebastian crosses to him, falling to his knees. Golden-brown eyes find his, glassy and distant and so fucking afraid.

He knows what needs to be done, but he hasn’t the faintest fucking clue how to proceed. It takes a couple of tries to get his next words out.

“Jaime, I… I need you to know that I would never hurt you. And I will not touch you without your permission,” Sebastian says firmly. “But we need to get you clean. Do you think…” Deep breath. “Do you think you can undress on your own?”

He doesn’t need a verbal answer to know the truth, and he feels cruel for asking after what he just witnessed, but he has to try. He has to give him a chance.

“Help me,” is the frantic cry he gets in response.

A hand around his wrist makes his whole body go still. Sebastian looks down at the point of contact like it’s a vivid hallucination. But the echo of Jaime’s tempers through Sebastian’s arm is all too real.

“Please.”

The last of his resistance slips away.

“Okay.” His voice catches, coming out half a whisper. “Hold onto me.”

With some effort, he gets Jaime to a standing position, letting him lean most of his weight against the wall. He tries, as best he can, to encourage Jaime to finish undressing himself. Whatever panic has him reeling now can only get worse with someone else’s hands on him.

In the end, Sebastian settles for holding his weight however he can, letting Jaime lean on him and hold onto his arm whenever he starts to lose his balance.

He’s seen Jaime in various states of undress before, through multiple rounds of STI testing and physical examinations. Still, he is painfully aware, through every second of this interaction, of the power dynamic that exists between them, and of the abuse he knows for a fact Jaime has suffered at the hands of others.

He is pointedly and devotedly detached about the way he proceeds, keeping his gaze and his touch as noninvasive as humanly possible. The only snag in this plan comes when he stands up from helping Jaime step out of his pants and comes face-to-face with two sets of long, thin bruises peeking out the top of his underwear.

Perfect imprints of fingers curled around his hips.

They’re still mostly red– only a few spots of purple swirling to the surface. So they’re new. Less than a day old, probably.

It clicks into place: Jaime’s fog this morning, the tension in the way he carried himself around Sebastian after a week of building his trust. Rage crackles through his body like lightning. Fuck. Fuck. Sebastian had noticed, and he had asked, but he hadn’t pressed, and maybe he should have, and–

Not now.

“Come on,” he says, pretending not to notice the glaring blotch of color on his skin. “I’ll make sure the water is warm.”

***

Only when he’s sure Jaime can hold his own weight under the spray of water without collapsing does Sebastian leave him in the shower stall.

“I’ll be right outside,” he promises. Then adds, with perhaps more weight than is warranted, “I will not open that door unless you explicitly tell me to.”

After he changes—again—he busies himself with collecting the bloodied fabric, stuffing it into the bin alongside his scrubs. He tries to have everything ready before Jaime gets out of the shower; his clothes laid out across the bench nearest the shower stalls and—

His fist closes around the bottle of pills Aria left for him. He feels a lot at once; grateful and terrified and so completely unsure of the right and wrong thing to do.

He will offer it, he decides. He will explain in the most professional way he can the effects and side effects, and the choice will belong to him. To Jaime.

After only a few short minutes, he hears the water shut off. When Jaime appears in the doorway of the locker room, wrapped in a towel too big for his frame, there is a little more clarity in his eyes. The smudges of dried blood are replaced by tear tracks, and the rims of his eyes are red and swollen, but he’s looking at Sebastian like he finally sees him again.

The moment their eyes meet, something breaks. Jaime’s knees collapse under him.

Sebastian makes it across the room just before he can hit the ground.

For… God, he doesn’t know how long, they sit there on the cold, tiled floor; Jaime clinging tight to the front of Sebastian’s borrowed scrub shirt, and Sebastian wrapped around him like the circle of his arms can fend off the entire world.

Jaime cries. He falls to pieces. Sebastian can’t imagine how long he’s been forced to hold this in, but he would sit here on the floor all night—consequences and back pain aside—if it means letting him get it out.

“Talk to me,” Sebastian begs after a few more minutes pass, just the barest whisper against his damp hair.

And Jaime tries. He abandons his first few attempts, unraveling into wordless sobs. Finally, the words come in a devastating whisper:

“I... I don’t… I don’t w-want to die here,” he pleads desperately. “I d-don’t… want to die.”

Sebastian’s heart lay in ribbons of muscle and tissue all around them. There’s nothing he can say to that. No promises he can make that will ease his terror. No pretty lies he can tell him to make it better.

So Sebastian just holds him tighter. He holds him. And holds him. And holds him, praying with every minute that passes that he hasn’t crossed some invisible line.

As they sit in the temporary shelter of the faculty locker room, he senses a thought crystallizing into something solid. It’s a thought that’s been simmering in the back of his mind since he took this position—and he’s always pulled away from it in the end.

There are an endless string of reasons—valid, responsible reasons—why he’s never let himself hold space for the idea in any real way: The possibility of the risks outweighing the reward, the ever-expanding doubt that Sebastian has ever had a clue about what he’s doing, and the proven knowledge that he is out of his depths in this fucked up system.

But in this unexpected moment of clarity, none of them hold a candle to the possibility of what Sebastian can do. If overthrowing a decades-old system is off the table for now, then maybe altering the conditions of one man’s suffering can be enough for now.

One step at a time, Aria told him earlier.

The sound of his resolve shattering is a near audible thing.

Tomorrow morning, he will do whatever is required of him to file a formal application with contract affairs.

TAG LIST: @whumpervescence @shiningstarofwinter @distinctlywhumpthing @whumptywhumpdump @nicolepascaline @anotherbluntpencil @hold-him-down @crystalquartzwhump @maracujatangerine @batfacedliar-yetagain @thecyrulik @pumpkin-spice-whump @melancholy-in-the-morning @also-finder-of-rings @insaneinthepaingame @skyhawkwolf @whump-for-all-and-all-for-whump @mylifeisonthebookshelf @dont-touch-my-soup @whump-world @inpainandsuffering @cicatrix-energy @quietly-by-myself @whumpsday @extemporary-whump

[yurievinstitute]

Always on my Mind

by Sephi

Fandom: The Batman (2022)

Pairing: (F/M) Bruce Wayne/Edward Nashton (swimsuit fetish, porn with feelings, fem!Edward, high school AU)

Summary: The quiet, stoic Bruce Wayne keeps to himself, but he can't take his mind off of Edith Nashton, his shadow in the school corridors.

Read on: AO3 | FFn | Tumblr (under the cut)

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A/N: This is inspired by @Lacryboy's art on twitter that has put a spell on me ever since I first saw it: (Here) and (here). Please give the artist some love!

Thank you to J (for everything), especially since I've handed you two Batman fics to edit in the same week.

I've decided to call female Edward ->; Edith. I honestly don't know if the fandom has agreed upon a name so I went with what felt right to me.

I listened to this song the entire time I wrote this.

I really, really enjoyed writing this and I am considering making this a series. Please let me know what you think! Thanks for reading. Happy 6/9! [and happy belated crosspost lmfao]

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Bruce had once again been instructed on what his plans ought to be for this late fall Friday night. A girl in his sphere of influence was throwing a very trendy pool party that he simply had to attend, renting out the entirety of the giant complex. It came packed with decorations, an ice cream cake served in the aquatic themed dining hall after hours of ‘free’ swimming for as many teens as she dreamed of inviting. The tactic, of course, was one would prompt their parents to rent the space and reap the rewards of inviting every person in school to come whether they liked them or not—because in order to be invited the promise of a birthday present was required.

Of course, she was here. Bruce sighed heavily, suppressing the swell of emotions that welled to the surface as soon as she walked through the sliding glass doors. While he couldn't put words to what he felt—disbelief and pleasure blending together at the forefront, the fear of getting caught in his attraction a close second—it hadn’t dawned on him that she’d actually show up.

It didn’t help matters that he could already smell her, a scent he’d never appreciated until he’d buried his face into the nape of her neck the very first time they’d gone there.

No one knew about Bruce and Ed’s secret afterschool hobby, and for the sake of his comfortable daily life, they couldn’t find out. Bruce belonged to a different social class, his pool of potential girlfriends predetermined by the hierarchy of the school years ago—not that he ever acknowledged them or had any interest. 

Edith was a strange girl, a quiet, studious type, notorious for making the wrong outburst or remark in class or to her peers. She had long been deemed creepy, unwilling to socialize, let alone make friends. The first time she’d spoken to Bruce one on one, it dawned on him that he’d never really heard her make any sound beside her signature giggle, a mix between a snort and a laugh. Many of his classmates blamed her behavior on her strict, militant upbringing in an orphanage that masqueraded as a Christian organization. Yet her overall peculiarity was precisely what attracted Bruce in the first place, what made him respect and ultimately obey her quiet, giddy request from that first encounter.

Bruce watched Edith wander to the very outer corner of the entrance to the public pool, standing sheepishly under some birthday balloons and staring like a fish out of water at all of the other girls. As each took their turns placing the gifts they’d brought for the birthday girl atop the large pile in the center of the hall, he remembered their first time.

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After the drama and chaos of previous years, the staff of Gotham High decided that lockers would be assigned through a random draw. This year, their final year, Bruce’s locker was right beside Edith’s. Many times, he’d close his locker to see her peeking out behind hers, cowering as soon as he'd give her a quizzical look only to resume staring as soon as his back was turned. She’d never talked to him, but she'd always made a point to stay there as long as he did, watching which book he took out first, and how. Or admiring how he smoothed his hair in his locker mirror.

Today, Bruce was late leaving classes; he'd had a few questions to ask his biology teacher about an upcoming test. The hall was a ghost town—everyone else had long cleared out to rush home—all save for Edith, waiting patiently at her locker, growing more and more giddy with excitement as Bruce approached.

Outwardly, he ignored her. Internally, he was fascinated. He screwed up his combination twice under the pressure of her heated gaze from behind her long bangs and thick glasses.

“Bruce…. Wayne…”

Her voice was as quiet as a mouse. If Bruce had been rattling inside his locker, he wouldn’t have heard it. He turned to face her with a respectful half-smile.

The silence dragged between them as Bruce waited patiently for her inevitable question. She giggled, breathing heavily as though she were drunk on his attention.

Before the tension could become unbearable, he asked: “Yes?”

Edith twirled her fingers. She couldn’t seem to stay still; she bounced on her feet gently, suddenly self-conscious and staring at her fingers. Her face flushed a warm pink. 

“How dirty is your cock?” She blinked demurely, unflinching. 

Bruce dropped the pencil and papers he’d been carrying. As he stared at her in shock, she bent low to pick them up. Edith made a point to look directly at where his cock sat in his jeans and inhaled deeply as she passed it. 

“Do you watch porn?” She smiled gently. “Bruce…?”

She extended the papers he’d dropped as if it was nothing. “Are you circumcised?”

It didn’t take much for Bruce to turn a bright red. “What?”

Edith set his papers in her locker, closing it before stepping closer to Bruce, close enough that he could feel her shallow breath against his skin. 

“Silly… are you circumcised, Bruce?” She laid a hand on his chest. “Can I see it? I’ve never seen one in real life before.”

Bruce felt all the blood in his head rush to his cock. He could smell her shampoo. Her hands were so soft and gentle. Her eyelashes looked so long behind her glasses. The evening sun leaked in through the windows at the end of the hall, turning the edges of her sandy-brown hair a glowing orange.

“Please?” Her fingers curled into the front of his shirt. “I really need to know…”

Bruce swallowed hard, squeezing his eyes shut. Her hand trailed down his chest before falling back to her side. Her gentle mannerisms beckoned him closer. She acted as though the questions she’d asked were all so normal, so simple… 

“I can’t just do that—” Bruce’s hormones quickly overruled the response he’d been meaning to give, “—right here in front of everyone.”

Edith squealed with joy, covering her face in her hands, rocking back and forth ecstatically. “That’s okay, that’s okay! I know a place no one goes.” She hooked her arms into his. “Come show me what it looks like,” she whispered,  “Master  Wayne.” 

Edith hurried to pull him down the corridor before he could come to his senses. She threw open the janitor's closet door, pushing him in first before following him, locking the door behind her. It was dark. Bruce had only a few seconds to balance himself between the dusty shelves of cleaning supplies before it went pitch black.

He gasped, shocked, as he felt her palm against his jeans, massaging and coaxing his cock gently into saying hello. It felt good. It felt really good. It wasn’t long before the tightness of his jeans became unbearable; he busily unzipped them, pulling his boxers down just low enough to expose his cock.

Edith pulled the string to the small lightbulb that hung in the closet. It was dim, but just bright enough to see Bruce in his full arousal, flushed just as pink as she was. She squatted down, bowing her legs, coming closer to get a really good look—as far as Bruce would allow before he reflexively started backing up against the shelf, rattling its contents. 

“Wow…” Edith took a deep breath. “It smells so strong…”

Bruce blushed deeper, embarrassed, especially as he watched her continue to huff the smell after saying that.

“So this is what Bruce’s uncut dick looks like…” She sighed dreamily, licking her lips. “What does it look like when Bruce Wayne touches himself? I wonder…”

Bruce had never had a woman look at him like this; he was a private person, but the attention was intoxicating and the pleasure led his hand to act before he could think. He ran his fist all the way down the length of his cock to Edith’s gentle applause. He reasoned to himself he could stop after a few thrusts, but those few turned into many until he was fisting his cock exactly how he liked it, coming apart exactly as he did every night when no one was looking. 

It didn’t take long. 

“I wonder,” she breathed, “what does Bruce Wayne look like when he cums?”

That was all it took. He let it all go across her waiting face, most of it landing on her glasses. She grinned like a child at the foot of a Christmas tree.

Together, they had crossed the point of no return; that evening marked the start of their secret, special relationship.

・‥…━━━━━━━🦇💞❔━━━━━━━…‥・

Bruce thought about it the entire time he undressed in the men's changing room. He turned himself towards his locker and peeled off his clothes until he was down to his baggy swim trunks. Two long white stripes trailed neatly down his outer thighs in harmony with the smooth lines of his long legs. He was grateful for the way the shorts fit; the looseness afforded him some level of safety and privacy when it came to his sinful imagination.

He stood under the last shower, the broken one no one dared to use that only supplied cold water, hoping it would shock the arousal out of him. He should have known from all his many sleepless nights that there was no chance he would fix things so easily.

He didn’t bother to make small talk with his friends even as they all stood awkwardly in line. They had accepted long ago that he wasn’t the chatty type. Bruce maintained an ice cold expression, brows furrowed, deep in thought—even if those thoughts were only about Edith, her body, the way her hips curved, the heat of her plush thighs… 

Bruce practiced counting down in his head from ten, trying his best to focus on the numbers instead of the memories of their secret encounters; the way her hands felt; the way he melted into her eager mouth… He tried pitifully to read the variety of bright posters plastered over the tiled mosaic walls, all futile attempts to coax his brain into memorizing the pool guidelines rather than imagining what  she  might look like, soaked through in a clingy swimsuit. His peers mistook his steady concentration for anger.

Despite his efforts at self control, Bruce started scanning the perimeters for a glimpse of Edith as soon as he was let through to the bright, open space of the pool. He knew she would be away from the rest of the girls, most of whom were throwing vibrant inflatables back and forth at each other in the sun shelf of the pool. The water glittered under the fluorescent lights, a serene aqua-blue that reflected all the colors of the energetic paintings along the walls and foundations. The complex was split into multiple pieces. The largest section of the pool was structured in a tiered grid. The rest of the concrete space was shared with a hot tub and a children's section under a bridge walkway connected to the most shallow entrance of the adults’ space.

Edith cowered under the shadow of the bridge, the only girl wearing goggles. The water lapped at her calves. Her swimsuit was tight, leaving no part of her anatomy to the imagination. It looked wet, glistening whenever the reflection of the light hit the latex off the face of the waters. Unlike the skimpy bikinis the others wore, hers was a single-piece suit, terracotta-green and undoubtedly a hand-me-down—if the outdated color didn’t give it away, the fit certainly did. She cradled herself, covering as much of her body as she could, her skin flushed a light pink—whether from embarrassment or arousal, Bruce couldn’t tell.  

As his peers dove into the water, Bruce watched her, entranced. Her naked body… slick, wet and on full display. In public. He clenched his hands into fists. Counting wouldn’t help him now. He watched as she nervously spun herself back and forth, talking to herself. He wished he could make out what she was saying. 

“Come on, man!” One of his friends grabbed his shoulder, leading him around the mouth of the deep end. Edith’s eyes caught Bruce’s. She smiled, knowing she had his full attention. She opened her arms, proudly revealing herself, her body, her perky nipples to her exclusive audience. One of Bruce’s friends pushed him into the pool while he was too busy studying the lines her pussy made in her damp swimsuit.

Under the waves, under the shock and pressure of the cool water, there was only one thought Bruce could hold on to. No matter what it took, he had to fuck her today.

・‥…━━━━━━━🦇💞❔━━━━━━━…‥・

Bruce waited at the vending machine, conveniently beside the exit to the girls’ changing room. He pretended to fiddle with it, pressing buttons every so often but never completing a purchase. He’d left the pool earlier than anyone else, changed quickly, and anchored himself here to capture the object of his desire. He’d have just enough time to take her outside, around the back of the pool, to the cover of one of the tube slides in the abandoned playground. That would be enough. He’d make it be enough.

She came out quickly, more quickly than Bruce anticipated—she must have been watching Bruce, following him as soon as he’d left the pool. Her hurried footsteps altered Bruce before she even made it down the long entryway filled with all of her classmates' empty shoes. She beamed when she saw Bruce stationed at the vending machine.

“Edith.” Bruce’s voice was quiet but had full command of his strength. Edith seemed stunned that he would address her directly, but her surprise melted into an expression of pure euphoria. She smelled of chlorine, her oversized blouse was soaked; she hadn’t even bothered to take off her swimsuit. Bruce was excited that she was only wearing her standard long skirt.

“Were you really waiting for me?”  She breathed. She looked away, blush coloring her cheeks. “I’ve been waiting for you too.”

Bruce couldn’t stand to keep himself back any longer. He lunged forward, grabbing her by the wrist. Edith let her body go slack, let herself drift to his arms, let him lead her out through the glass doors into the chill of the crisp fall air. She giggled, questioning none of it, sweating and warm despite the cold.

They rounded the corner, stopping at the tall wooden fence of the playground that would offer the majority of their cover. Bruce let go of Edith just to launch himself over, offering her a hand from the top of the fence so he could effortlessly pull her over. They crashed into the gravel with a sound like fireworks amid the stars.

Bruce wordlessly carried her to the bottom of the covered, plastic blue tube slide. He pressed her down with firm hands, not caring about the puddle of water on the mouth of the slide she crashed into. She was wet anyway. He wanted her wet. Bruce stared at her for a moment, his eyes full both of tenderness and the pain that bloomed from his unending want.

Edith stretched her arms out to him and wrapped them around his neck. They kissed.

Bruce kissed her deeply until he had to pull away so they could catch their breath. He rested his forehead on hers, panting, feeling the relief of finally getting close to her after what felt like an unbearable time apart. Before he could even rest his hands on her waist, Edith was hurrying to unbutton herself, exposing the shiny, sultry swimsuit underneath. Bruce groaned as his hands finally slid against it—he could finally feel for himself how thin the fabric was under his fingers. Edith gasped, rolling her hips, bringing her legs up around Bruce’s waist to pull him in closer.

His knees buckled until he rested them against the edge of the slide, a steady force reigning over her eager body. His desperation and need washed over her, and he pressed frustrated kisses along the side of her jaw, then down her neck to the raised line where her swimsuit hugged her collarbones. She tasted like fresh water and salt. All Edith could do was bask in his advances, rocking her head back and forth as waves of pleasure shivered through her, her body trembling with excitement and bliss.

Bruce pulled her swimsuit collar down forcefully, although it eagerly bent to his command, revealing her milky skin, the crest of her tender breast. He thumbed her nipple through the slick, damp fabric, relishing the moans that escaped her lips as he worked. He touched her with severity and impatience. Her breast popped out of the tight material, instantly assaulted by Bruce’s waiting hand. He pressed her back deeper into the slide, grinding his arousal—physical evidence, proof, I need you—down into the damp heat of her pussy. 

His strong hands trailed down her chest, down across the valley of her smooth stomach, quickly brushing down along the length of her legs until his fingertips met the edges of her long skirt, sliding it upwards, discarding it around her hips. Beads of water rolled down her thighs, steam ghosting along the small gap of space between her pussy and Bruce’s erection. Edith shook, pressing the pads of her fingertips into Bruce’s shoulders, pressing him closer. 

“Are you gonna put it in me?” Edith whispered into his ear, her lips brushing against it gently. “You’re not going to use a condom, right?”

Bruce tightly clenched his fist around the edges of her discarded skirt as she spoke, a feeble attempt to control himself.

“I want to feel you all the way inside…” Edith gently carded her fingers through his hair, rolling her hips up to meet Bruce’s waiting dick. “Bruce… I missed your cock so much.”

Edith wasn’t just wet from the waters of the pool. The bottom of her swimsuit was slick with cum, a demonstration of how badly she needed him in return.

“Fuck,” Bruce groaned as if close to tears, “I can’t take it anymore.”

He pressed into her, gliding once, twice into the heat of her pussy. He brought his hand down to feel it for himself, feeling her twitch against his index finger as she moaned his name. His finger came back glossy with her cum.

He pulled the thin swimsuit to the side of her pussy, exposing it to the cool air. It was so pink, so warm, so plush… Instinctively, he ran his finger gently along the edge of her clit, savoring the way she rocked her hips and cried out into his neck. He let his finger slip between her folds, her pussy throbbing as though it was trying to suck his finger inside. Like lightning, he unbuckled his jeans, pulling down his boxers, crashing his lips into hers as he rubbed his thick cock between her legs.

“Yes… yes…” Edith purred against his lips between their passionate kisses. “Bruce…  yes…”

Bruce hadn’t fucked anyone before, let alone Edith—the one he’d imagined being with the most. His cock wept for her, his stomach knotted in tight braids of ecstasy. He let his cock taste her cum, let it slide against her clit. He rocked against her, savoring each of their special moments, relishing his primal satisfaction at finally tasting the fruit he’d dreamt of. 

Bruce slid inside Edith all at once, pushing in as deep as he could possibly get before pausing in shock. He couldn’t believe how good it felt to have her surround him completely, to squeeze him so tightly. He adjusted himself, trying to aim further, to feel more of her—quickly craving more, he pulled back in one fluid motion before crashing into her harder than before, lost in the fever. Bruce pressed both of her legs up to her chest, fucking her like an animal. The sound of their sex was loud, obvious, filled with Edith’s gasps between their sloppy French kisses.

This was all Bruce ever wanted. Every time he sank balls-deep into her secret embrace, the realization hit him harder and harder. Edith was all he had ever wanted. Edith was all he had ever needed.  His cock shivered as Edith clenched down around him. 

He had to cum inside her. He had to make her all his own.

Before she could protest, Bruce slammed her waist to the back of the slide so she couldn’t escape. He pounded her faster, sweating; now his legs were shivering as Edith’s had been the entire time.

He’d do it. He was going to do it. He was fucking Edith. He was inside Edith. This was what Edith’s pussy felt like. This is what Edith felt like inside, in the space no one else could fill. He was a part of her now. Now that he’d had it once he’d chase it forever. He broke from her lips, a trail of spit following his lips.

He wanted to see what she looked like when he did it.

“Edith.” Bruce sounded weak, contrary to the force of his thrusts. “I’m… I’m gonna…”

Bruce came hard into the deepest part of her, harder than he’d ever come before. Edith looked serene, face plastered with the gentle smile she only ever offered to him, the glow of their sex glittering off her cheeks. He sank to his elbows, leaning into her, nesting his face into the crook of her neck while he poured out all those unspoken feelings into the only person he felt mattered. 

Edith, Bruce held her close, I love you.