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i2ycat · 4 months

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Trouble is a Band

synopsis being in a band was all you ever wanted, and so when you were able to fly across the globe to join your brother’s high school band, you jumped at the opportunity to show everyone everything that you’ve got. singing in a band? check. performing in front of a crowd? check. falling in love with your brother’s best friend, who is in a complicated relationship with one of your fellow bandmates? check?

pairing park jongseong x fem!reader genre high school!au, kind of band!au, fluff, angst, friends to lovers, brothers best friend trope, slow burn-ish? word count 7.5k warnings implied sexual relationships (there’s no smut), kind of an implied fwb situation, liking someone who is taken(??), mentions of toxic relationships, bitchy character lol, cursing, kissing, nicknames (princess, baby), semi-proofread, lmk if i missed anything else lyn speaking i’ve been writing this for like 2 months and even lost sleep over this, the real ones know ☝🏻 idk why but this was much harder to write compared to my heeseung one… and this is not my best work, wouldn’t say i’m entirely proud of this i’m ngl so i won’t be too surprised if this flops </3 also this got me thinking ab jay and guitars wayyyy too much main masterlist

reblogs and comments are very much appreciated!

“Are the schools here always up a damn hill?” You heave out an exasperated pant, your legs burning from the early morning cardio you definitely weren’t prepared for, or even expecting for that matter.

The summer sun is so unforgiving that in under ten minutes, you’ve become such a sweaty mess that you’re furiously sweating from every possible angle; your uniform practically drenched from your back and underarm areas. A layer of perspiration sheens the expanse of your forehead and it results in you resembling something the likes of Abby from Chicken Little as individual strands of hair stuck to it like glue.

You look over at an unbothered Jake with his hair still perfectly intact and looking as if he had just walked out of Vogue magazine. You scoff at this.

The only things you and Jake had in common were having the same last names, a slight similarity in facial structures, and maybe a shared interest in band music but that was about it. You’ve had totally different upbringings up until now, with you having lived in France while he was in Australia, and soon after, in Sokor. You were apart for most of your childhood, only seeing each other for vacations and special occasions, like that one time Aunt Jung had her outdoor wedding in Barcelona and you’d met Jake and your mother at the airport out of pure coincidence.

But despite the distance, it didn’t deter the both of you from being as close as you guys are, still making the effort to talk almost every day, even if you were drained from school. You remembered nights when you would call up Jake just to rant to him about boys — yes, multiple — you were talking to while he ate lunch on the other side of the world.

However, other than just being brought up differently, you guys were total opposites. If Jake was known to be the golden retriever with his high energy, bright smiles, and friendly dispositions, then you would be considered the chihuahua — closed-off and somewhat sarcastic. You didn’t have a social circle as expansive as Jake's because you liked to be alone. People have always told you that you had this brooding aura about you, and you could never tell if they were complimenting or insulting you.

“You get used to it,” Jake simply shrugs, adjusting the straps of his bag in a manner that did not mirror yours in any capacity. It was ridiculous how not even a single drop of sweat was in sight. “Now hurry it up! If we walk any slower, we might actually be late.” He drags you by the arm, to which you inwardly groan, already regretting the fact that you transferred to a pseudo-gym of a school in the dead of summer.

—

Transferring to an entirely different school system definitely posed itself as an inevitable challenge at first, but even then, half a day passed you by uncharacteristically fast. It might have been because you were sleeping through the majority of your morning classes, unable to totally grasp or get used to your supposed mother tongue just yet, that made time pass seemingly faster.

That, coupled with the fact you never functioned properly in the morning in the first place thanks to your night owl tendencies.

You’d spent most of your life conversing in either English or French, rendering your skills in your own mother tongue to an intermediate level at best. You could, at the very least, listen and understand it to a certain degree but not speak it as well as Jake does. You were only able to communicate with simple sentences and the few swear words and phrases your father used whenever he was lecturing you.

A day before your flight back home, you’d even attempted to touch up on your language skills with the help of your father and a facetimed version of your brother and mother, but it was already too late then. You were a lost cause. You definitely don’t blame your parents for your inability to speak the language, but rather, you blame your own lack of enthusiasm to learn it on your own in the first place.

“Y/n, right?” You rub the sleepiness from your eyes away as your gaze averts to the girl standing in front of your desk. She, with her neatly braided hair and black rims, sported a welcoming smile that gave you the impression of a class president. Maybe she was; you haven’t been paying attention to anything the teacher said since this morning.

You slowly nod, “Yeah, I am.”

“I’m Mia, the class vice president.” Okay, so your guess wasn’t entirely off the mark. You were only missing a word.

“Hi.” You purse your lips into a tight-lipped smile, unknowing of what to say next and silently wishing that your brother would come get you faster. Why did his classroom have to be so far from yours? Did the administration really think you could handle all this on your own?

In the painful silence, you were sure that this Mia girl could sense the awkwardness radiating from you with the way she’s trying so hard to keep the conversation afloat, probably thinking that you’re an introvert that doesn’t like approaching people first — which if it was any other day she would’ve be right on the money on but all you wanted right now was to be left alone to your own thoughts. You were still suffering from jet lag and time differences, and those two combined ran your social battery dry.

“Where’d you transfer from?”

“France.”

“You’re french?”

“No, I just moved there really young.”

“I see,” she said, nodding her head as if she were deep in thought. “I’ve always wanted to go to France.”

“It’s nice there.”

“So, can you speak-”

Before she can even finish her question, a blaring bang coming from the front door reverberates in your almost empty homeroom, save for yourself, Mia, and a group of friends in the back with their homemade lunches. You almost dropped to your knees to thank the heavens for hearing your prayers as you watched your brother's figure stand there, taking a moment to catch his breath as if he’d just finished running a marathon.

“Hey, Jake!” You damn near winced at Mia’s drastic change of voices in your brother’s presence. You were sure she had a deeper voice just a few seconds earlier, even having the same mezzo tone as you do. It definitely raised a few brows, but you weren’t the type to judge people too quickly, and you didn’t want to think that about such a sweet-looking girl.

Maybe she just had a crush on your brother; whatever it was, your senses were telling you that they were currently not in favour of Mia’s presence.

"Oh, hey, Mi. I see you’ve met my sister.” Jake acknowledges her before turning to you and saying, “Come on, we've got to go meet the others.” He beckons you towards him with a nod of his head, to which you happily oblige, just thankful that you don’t need to go through the rest of lunch with any more of Mia’s interrogation-style questioning.

You follow your brother after handing Mia a terse goodbye, attempting to at least have an amiable smile on your face in the process.

Even if Mia had more things she wanted to ask you, she put them aside on the backburner for a later date. Instead, opting to just wave you and Jake off with the same friendly grin she always has on.

When you’re out of earshot, making quick work to slide the door close behind you, you make your way beside Jake in quick strides. “You know her?”

“Obviously. Why?”

“Nothing.” You shrug the feelings of uncertainty off, not having the energy to try and dig anything up on the first day of school. “You said we’re meeting the others?”

“Yeah, my friends, you’ve seen them. They heard you were transferring here and really wanted to meet you.”

From the number of times you’ve called Jake during his school hours, you were bound to interact with a few of his friends, mainly the three youngest of the group: Jungwon, Sunoo, and Riki. There would even be times he’d leave you alone with his friends while he went for a toilet break, and when he’d come back, you'd already be three months into the storyline with your then-current situationship.

You were obviously excited to finally meet them after only having talked to them via Jake’s phone. Throughout the four years, you’d like to think that you’ve created a connection with some of the boys, given that they already know so much about your life and you know theirs. The older ones, not so much, despite being much closer in age ranges.

Out of the four oldest, you’ve only managed to properly talk to Sunghoon. It was when you were on call crying to your brother about the fourth boy of the month, and Sunghoon just so happened to be going home with Jake that day. He’d eavesdropped on your conversation and offered you some advice, explaining that he had a sister of his own, as if that gave him the certification needed to meddle in your affairs.

You didn’t even know he was with Jake, let alone hearing you bawl your eyes out, blowing into copious amounts of tissues included, until he started going off about how boys are scary and that you shouldn’t trust them so easily. It startled you, almost making you scream, but you were grateful for his brotherly advice either way.

When the two of you finally make it towards the other end of the sixth floor, Jake slides the door to his homeroom open, and you’re immediately greeted with the view of six boys scattered around the empty classroom, a few having acoustic guitars and drumsticks in hand. This may sound cringy, but it reminded you of that one scene from Lemonade Mouth, where everyone was in the detention room and just communicating through the music. Except you weren’t in a detention room, and instead of singing, mindless chatter filled the space.

You’ve always daydreamed about being in a band, even going as far as attempting to create one of your own, but keyword: attempt. You obviously failed at doing so in your previous school because nobody likes being in bands nowadays, and your brother, knowing this, instantly jumped at the idea of adding you as their newest member.

He’d already gone through the logistics a week before you even officially transferred, coercing everyone in the band to agree to your addition, but truth be told, it didn’t even take that much toiling since everyone was just excited to finally meet you, and they'd already heard about how talented you are thanks to Jake’s endless bragging.

“She’s here!” Jake announces, prompting everyone to halt whatever it was they were doing and immediately jump at the sight of you gracing their homeroom entryway.

“Y/n!” Jungwon, Sunoo, and Riki are the first ones to capture you in a big embrace, effectively squishing you under their hold. Is this what people feel when they finally meet an online friend?

The mixture of fulfilment and excitement bubbling inside you was hard to maintain levelled, spilling out of you in the form of a grin that extended from ear to ear. You considered these three your babies at this point, wanting to spoil and shower them with as much love and affection as an actual mother would. It didn’t matter if you were only a few months older than them, that’s wasn’t the point.

When you’re released from their embrace, you can finally see the rest standing there with a cordial expression plastered over their features. You must admit, you’ve always thought that Jake’s friends were all attractive and had a relative charm to them, but it’s even more apparent now that you’ve met them in real life. With their tall stature and undeniable talent, you could only imagine the long line of girls waiting for them.

As you start to scan the boys one by one, you catch yourself gravitating towards Jay. He’s donning the school uniform, the same exact ones that the rest are, but he makes it so uniquely his by unbuttoning it to show the black shirt underneath and cuffing the sleeves until it reaches his forearms.

From the plethora of Instagram stories you’ve seen about Jay, you knew that Jay was into fashion and occasionally designed the outfits the guys wore onto stage. And as a fashion guru yourself, you applauded his impeccable style, finding yourself in constant awe of the effortless aura and innate ability for fashion that he possessed.

It also didn’t help that he was totally up your alley in terms of physical attractiveness. The others were pretty and charming in their own way, yes, but Jay had you hooked the moment Jake posted that photo of him fresh out of the beach, with tan skin and wet hair, looking like a damn Greek god.

Did you mention that you’ve also watched an unhealthy amount of videos of Jay playing the guitar? Because you have and it made getting attracted to him so much easier. Even through the screen, you could just tell that he was in his element, like he was born to perform as the passion he had for the instrument oozed out. Everything about him was just so mesmerising; you’re sure that you’re not the only one who sees that.

The timeline is blurry but from then on, you’d developed a small, insignificant crush on him, one that you didn’t bother mentioning to your brother because you were scared he would force you to act on it, even when you weren’t sure if you liked him enough to want to date him. You haven’t even properly met the guy at that point.

To you, it was simply an attraction. One that you’d get over in about a month because it’s what you always do.

“Hey, guys.” You wave.

“You’re awfully shorter than I thought you would be.” Riki says this from beside you, silently mocking you for all the times you’ve challenged him about his height.

“Of course you would say that.” You playfully roll your eyes. “You’re obsessed with your height, Riks; we get it.”

"Okay, back off, guys. That’s my little sister you guys are hogging.” Jake shoos the younger boys away with a flick of his hand, to which they dejectedly comply, making way for you to enter further into the classroom. “What was on our agenda again? Right, Y/n’s position in the band.”

“We could use another guitarist.” Sunoo muses, with Jungwon and Sunghoon silently agreeing on the side.

“Nah, we already have Jay and you for that.” Your brother shakes his head. “Wait, speaking of Jay, where’s Jiwon? You said she’d be here when I came back.” At this, all eyes shift towards Jay, who simply shrugs.

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t tell me you guys are having a lover's quarrel again.” Heeseung sighs. Your ears immediately perk up at the mention of Jay, Jiwon, and a lover's quarrel in the same sentence. Confusion starts to pervade your stomach.

Huh? When did they start dating? You thought Jiwon was only a close friend.

You’ve only ever heard of Jiwon, not once seeing her face in Jake’s stories or any of the others. All the information you had on her was that she was the same age as you and played the keys for the band. Jungwon, Sunoo, and Riki mentioned her once or twice, but it was more of them complaining about her. Other than that, it was as if her existence evaded you completely.

“The third one this month, mind you.” Riki quips.

“It’s only the second week of the month, though.” Jake’s mouth gapes at the fact that his best friend is still willing to go through such a toxic relationship, or whatever it was, even when she limits the people around him until she’s the only one left in his life, when they constantly fight over the smallest things, or even when she encourages him to drop his best friends. He doesn’t understand what’s so good about Jiwon that’s got Jay under her spell, and he doesn’t want to know either.

“Can we just drop it?”

Your brother puts his hands up in defeat and says, “Whatever you say, bro.”

An awkward air of silence starts to permeate the air, and by now, you’re sure someone could cut through the tension with a knife.

You clear your throat before saying, “Is it okay if I’m just a singer?” in an attempt to divert the conversation back to its original agenda, which thankfully works because the others start talking, adding in their own thoughts here and there. And by the time lunch ends, you’re officially set as the band’s lead singer and lyricist.

Finding out about Jay and Jiwon’s relationship made you realise just how little you know about these guys, only having talked to them through FaceTime and watching them live their lives through snippets of Jake’s Instagram.

The warmth and familiarity you were initially met with made you completely forget that you only officially met these guys today. They were all, to some extent, still strangers to you.

—

A few hours of school turned into two weeks, and two weeks into a month. By now, you’ve gotten more than used to everyone’s dynamics and energy, though it was still a little too high for you at times. You were thankful that your brother was there whenever you couldn’t communicate your feelings and thoughts as well as you wanted to, and for the rest for being so understanding.

All of this was a dream come true for you, truly. Ever since your father introduced you to the world of music, you’ve dreamt of being in a band yourself, singing your own songs in front of people, and feeling the music course through you as you stand on the stage.

But no matter how much you wanted to saturate your mind with happier, less confusing thoughts, it always seemed to circle back to the same thing: Jay and Jiwon.

Over the course of a month, you’ve managed to interact with Jiwon on several occasions, each lasting around a minute. They consisted of mostly quick pleasantries, instructions, and the rare ‘how are you’s? She wasn’t cold but not entirely friendly either, which you totally get because it’s not like you were any different.

Throughout the majority of the breaks in between practice sessions, she stuck by Jay’s side, engaging in playful and flirtatious banter that the boys would secretly roll their eyes at. You’d asked your brother why everyone seemed to not like seeing Jay and Jiwon together, but he simply shrugged you off, leaving you with even more questions.

“Hey, Y/n.” You look up from your notebook to see Mia, who you’ve wrongly assumed was a pick-me at first, cheerfully greeting you.

Somewhere along the line, she’d bashfully admitted to you that she liked your brother. It definitely explained the change in personalities and voices whenever he was around, but it didn’t make you want to recoil any less. She was a good-natured girl who hated letting anyone down, so when she asked for a favour from you — one that involved you setting her up with your brother — there was just no way you could decline. If she wanted to date your brother, you would happily aid her in that.

Which brought you to a now-blooming friendship.

“Hi, Mi.” You managed to reciprocate her energy.

“You’re having band practice today, right?” She asks with a tilt of her head, to which you nod. A beat passes before she bites her lip in anticipation. “Is it okay if I come watch?”

From the way her eyes glowed with hope, you could immediately tell that she only had one mission in mind: to see Jake. “You’re not being very discreet with this,” you chuckle, endeared by her amateurish antics. “But, sure. Practice starts at 4.” Hearing this, she immediately clasps her hand into yours, thanking you as if you just saved her entire bloodline.

She leaves you to your own accord not soon after being called by the teacher, “I’ll be there!”

With twenty minutes to spare and no one to spend it with, seeing as your brother was busy with lunch detention and your three babies had a student council meeting to attend to, you decided to make your merry way towards the practice room with your notebook in hand.

Pushing the door open, the view of Jay playing the guitar by the window warmly greets you. You're awestruck by the way he strums the chords so effortlessly, filling your ears with the most beautiful progressions you’ve ever heard, like it was heaven’s sonata. You would’ve loved to just stand there all day and relish in the intimate moment he’s created in the dingy room, but it only takes a few seconds before Jay inevitably notices your figure by the door.

“Y/n?”

“Sorry, I didn’t think anyone would be here right now.” You take a step back, ready to shut the door close behind you, but before you could move even an inch, Jay refused, instead asking you if you could keep him company. “You want me to stay?”

“I mean, why not?” He pats the space beside him and scoots over.

Your steps are hesitant, somehow alarmed by the prospects of Pandora's box in your heart breaking open the moment you decide to sit next to him. But it was just a simple, friendly act, so what could possibly go wrong here? You push those thoughts away and plop yourself on the cushioned window seat, leaving just enough space between you and him.

“So, why are you here?” He asks you as he carefully sets the guitar back on the floor.

“Everyone else was busy,” You could feel Jay’s intense watch on you, and you couldn’t help but feel the burning sensation on your skin. Just being in his presence alone was already making you feel hot; your cheeks were heating up in the process. “How about you?” You just wanted him to stop looking at you, because you wouldn’t know what to do if he noticed just how he was making you feel.

“Me?” He hums. “I guess I just wanted some peace and quiet.”

“Oh, am I disturbing your peace and quiet? I could leave right now.”

“You don’t have to be so antsy. I’m not going to bite you, ya’know?” He chuckles, clearly amused by your response. “And besides, you’re giving me peace by just being here.”

“I see.” You nod slowly as you bite your lip in an attempt to get a better hold of your nerves. There was absolutely no need to be so nervous around your brother’s best friend.

“I just realised something,”

“What?” You shift in your seat to get a better look at him.

“This is the first time we’ve ever had a one-on-one talk.”

“Yeah, I wonder why.” You retort, and he raises an eyebrow at this.

“What do you mean by that?” His head tilts at an angle, looking at you with those deep-set eyes of his. You can try to deny it all you want, but the skip in your heartbeat is hard to mistake; it’s not a feeling you’re stranger to.

“I don’t know; you never seem to talk with anyone else other than Jiwon during practice, so it’s no wonder we’ve never actually talked before.”

“Wow, you’re sounding a little salty there.” Jay’s lips form a lopsided smirk after noticing the defensive expression that adorned your features. “Nah, I’m just toying with you.” The airy laugh he lets out does little to nothing to soothe the chaos that ensues in your heart and mind.

“For your information, I am not salty. It’s just a bummer that you never really tried forming a closer friendship with anyone else in the band.”

“It’s not that I haven’t tried." He mumbles.

“Sorry?”

He shakes his head and says, “It’s nothing.”

A comfortable silence engulfs the air between both of you before Jay continues, “Hey, since you’re so salty about me not giving you my attention, how about I buy you ice cream tomorrow?”

“First of all, I am not salty. And second of all, it wasn’t that-”

"So, is it a no?”

You narrow your eyes at him. “If you admit that I’m not salty, then maybe I’ll agree to it.”

“You’re not really in the position to be giving me a challenge, seeing as I’m the one offering you free food,” he bites down a simper. “But fine, your highness, I hereby declare you not salty.” He adds a curt bow for the dramatics, and you can’t help but roll your eyes in faux annoyance.

“You’re so annoying.” You huff out.

“If you’re going to be in our band, you’re going to need more tolerance and patience than that.”

You could feel yourself slowly letting your guard down in Jay’s presence. The playful and witty banter he offered you made you feel like you’ve known him longer than you actually do, and it felt nice.

It felt almost too nice to be around him. But like everything else in your life, this feeling too shall pass. He has a girlfriend, for Christ's sake. So you better make sure that it will.

—

With your head resting on your hand, you silently watched the busy street beside you. When you first came to Korea, it was summer, but now that the leaves were starting to turn orange little by little, you could tell that it was nearing your favourite season of the year — autumn. To you, everything felt just a little more romantic under the autumn leaves and the cool breeze that hangs in the air.

“Were you waiting long?” Jay’s voice snaps you out of your thoughts, and you quickly shake your head. “Sorry, Ji wanted me to teach her this riff on the guitar.” He pulls the seat out in front of you to sit, and you take the opportunity to sneak a longing glance at him: tousled hair, swollen lips, an untucked collar. It definitely looked like he did more than just teach her chords, but you bite your tongue.

It was none of your business.

“Did you order already?” He flips through the menu of desserts.

“No, I was going to, but I realised I didn’t know what flavours you liked.”

“Sorry,” He passes you a sheepish smile. “I’m going to go on a whim here and guess that you like Rocky Road.”

You raise an impressed brow. “How’d you know?”

“I just know you like that.”

“We’ve known each other for 3 weeks, Jay.”

“Okay, damn. You really do wound me,” a hand raises to his chest, feigning hurt. “Okay, now you guess what flavour I like.”

You ponder over for a while but decide to just settle on the most basic flavour of all, “Vanilla?” His face visibly falters at your answer; you could almost make out a pout forming on his kiss-bitten lips.

“Wow, I could tell the amount of thought you put into that.” His sarcastic claps boom throughout the modest ice cream parlour, earning him dirty looks from the few customers at the neighbouring tables.

“So you don’t like vanilla?”

He crosses his arms and asks, “What do you think?”

“Ugh, this conversation is going nowhere; go order it yourself.” You groan out, rising on your feet to order on your own.

“Calm down, princess; I’ll go order it.” Before you could protest, he'd already made a beeline for the cashier.

Princess? That was new. Oh, who were you kidding? All of this was fucking new.

A feeling of internal turmoil starts to bubble violently, like a seething kettle waiting to be opened. You hated how he was so nonchalant about everything. And you hated how he unknowingly made you feel things you shouldn’t feel. It felt awfully wrong on so many levels, but this thing was just a friendly gesture, a payback, if you will. There was nothing wrong with hanging out with your brother’s best friend on a Thursday evening, even if you held an underlying attraction for said friend, right?

“Here, one Rocky Road for your highness, and one good ol’ vanilla ice cream for her loyal servant.”

“So you do like vanilla ice cream,” you scoff.

“I never said I didn’t.” He shrugged. “Woah, this might actually be the best vanilla I’ve ever tasted. Try it!” He scoops a chunk out for you to taste, which you politely decline. There was a certain line you didn’t want to cross, no matter how insignificant and innocent the gesture might’ve been. Maybe you were thinking too hard, but it would’ve been weird for you to share an indirect kiss with a taken man, even if he was your brother’s best friend. “Hm, your loss then.”

The both of you remained in silence with the dulcet melodies of Wave to Earth playing in the background, and it served as a pleasant companion to the overly complicated noise in your head, all caused by the boy sitting a few feet from you.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you.” Jay’s voice pulls you out of your own mind, causing you to look up at him expectantly. “You have a really beautiful voice.” His warm smile shoots you in the heart, right where you know it shouldn’t. It was just a simple compliment, one that you’ve heard plenty of times before, yet it sounded so good coming from him. It almost made you want to keep proving yourself to him so you could keep hearing him praise you like that.

“Thank you,” You bite the insides of your cheek as a way to chide yourself. Just why were you so easily affected by everything he says and does?

“I really want you to sing this song I’m writing. I mean, I’m not totally done yet, but I wrote it with your voice in mind. It’s for the upcoming music festival.” He pulls out his phone and earphones from his pocket, sliding his chair closer to yours and offering an earpiece, which you cautiously take.

You straighten your back in an effort to keep yourself focused, not wanting to mind the way his shoulders are pushed up against yours, or the way you could practically make out every single feature on his face, or the fact that you would’ve felt his breath fan against your face if he turned even just a bit to the left. You needed to physically force yourself to focus solely on the music.

Don’t mind the confusion.

The sense of focusing.

The only sure thing is you.

So now, put it all behind.

I’m just going to walk according to how my heart beats.

Fatal trouble.

Jay’s voice fills your ears, alongside Jungwon and Sunghoon’s. You could appreciate their heavenly voices all day, but the striking lyrics seemed to be the main reason for taking your breath away. It sounded as if they were speaking to your troubled thoughts right in the face, slithering around you to tempt you into falling deeper. Deeper into what? You didn’t want to even think about it.

"So, what do you think?”

“It's... it’s good.”

“That’s it?”

“What did you want me to say?”

“No need to get so feisty, princess.” He ruffles your hair, and you sigh, feeling the overwhelming defeat take over you because, no matter how much you wanted to fight the feeling, you knew that all your efforts would come crashing down anyway.

You were a weak woman with many faults, and being attracted to someone who is so painfully taken is the biggest one of them all.

—

With only a few weeks left until the school’s music festival, it’s no surprise that everyone has been on edge, but particularly so with Jay and Jiwon. Anyone with a pair of eyes could tell they were going through a rough patch in their relationship right now, made apparent by the abnormal amount of distance between them and the lack of flirtatious banter filling the room.

Every practice session was filled with the suffocating tension that made practicing so much more exhausting, and Jake had had enough of it.

“I know you guys are having yet another lover's quarrel, but can you guys quit it? We have a festival coming up, and we can’t afford to have both of your immature asses fucking this up for us.” Your brother’s stern voice shakes the entire room. He was usually never the one to get mad at people, so it felt unusual to see this side of Jake.

“We’re not lovers,” Jiwon retorts as her fingers mindlessly hover over the keys on the keyboard. She tilts her head at Jay and says, “He made very sure of that.”

“Look, it doesn’t matter what the fuck you guys are or not; I just need you guys to keep it civil for the sake of our performance, if not our team.”

“Oh, fuck off. As if you guys have ever even tried keeping it civil with me,” Jiwon seethes, the dark chuckle of complete disbelief she lets out hanging heavy in the air. “Yeah, I see the way you guys roll your eyes at me, and I hear the way you guys bitch about me behind my back too. I’m not fucking blind, Jake.”

You could see the way everyone shifts uncomfortably in their spots, and you can’t help but do so too.

“Quit it, Ji.” Jay’s attempts at getting Jiwon’s rampage to stop proved futile, as it only spurred her on.

“Shut up, Jay. I know the only reason you refuse to make it official is because you started liking your best friend’s little sister over me.” As soon as she dropped the bomb, all eyes darted towards Jay, who only stared at Jiwon. His jaw ticks in what you could only surmise as vexation, with the evidence of it starting to sprawl across his features. “What, baby? Cat got your tongue?” Jiwon sneers.

“Jiwon, if you’re not going to contribute anything to the band, you can just go home.” Sunghoon speaks as he points to the exit.

“I was planning to anyway,” she says, picking up her bag from the floor. “I am so fucking done with this, and you guys are all fucked.” With that, the door behind Jiwon shuts with a deafening bang.

The eight of you remain frozen in your spots with the shock of it all coursing through your veins like a hot iron. You needed a minute or two to even begin to assimilate whatever the fuck just went down.

When she said that Jay liked you over her, she meant it as a friend, right? There’s no way it meant anything more than that, right? Why does he keep confusing you? Why did he have to have your heart right in the palm of his hand? You felt your head start to pound the more you thought about it, and you just wanted to escape from it all.

—

Life since you joined your brother’s band has been everything you’ve ever imagined and more. You were finally able to meet people you called your family; you were able to sing your heart away on stages the way you always wanted to; and you were able to feel alive in a way you couldn’t when you were in France. But it didn’t stop there. You fell in love — a little too hard at that — and now you were suffering the consequences of that.

You had a track record for falling in love way too easily with people, as evident by your long list of situationships turned relationships, so when you found yourself staring at Jay for a bit too long, you weren’t entirely alarmed because you knew you’d be able to get over it in a few weeks. It was no biggie, or so you thought.

After Jiwon’s official departure from the band, the overall atmosphere had lifted and everyone was back to their normal selves; Sunoo and Sunghoon were back to bickering, and Jungwon and Riki were back to hogging you. Heeseung occasionally joined in sessions despite the senior duties that called for his presence. Jake and Jay, on the other hand, were preparing diligently for the festival, working on the song non-stop. It’s because of that that you haven’t been seeing either of them lately, which you were thankful for because it gave you time to really think. Think about whether Jay liked you as a friend or in a romantic sense.

“You’re thinking about it again, aren’t you?” Mia nudges you in the arm. She knows you like the back of her hand at this point, given the amount of time she’s spent at your practices. It’s thanks to your cupid skills that your brother and her have been spending much more time together inside and out of the practice room, and despite either of them telling you that they’re just friends, you know better than that.

You sigh, knowing that it’s no use lying to her. “Is it that obvious?”

"Oh, baby, it’s written all over your face.” Her neatly manicured fingers push loose strands of hair out of your face just before squishing your cheeks in an endearing manner. “Talk to me about it.”

“Ugh, I don’t know.” She gives you a knowing look. “It’s just... that I liked him for so long, thinking that he was taken, and I felt so fucking guilty for it. Then the whole ‘Jiwon leaving’ thing happened, and now I’m all confused. Honestly, there hasn’t been a moment where Jay hasn’t confused me. Everything he says and does just makes me want to scream, ‘What the fuck are we!’ but I know he’s just doing it because we’re friends or whatever.

I mean, he literally calls me princess. How does he not expect me to not feel things? It’s so damn frustrating. I thought I would be able to get over these feelings before winter started, but here we are in the dead of winter, and I’m still helplessly pining over my brother’s best friend, like a damn loser.”

Everything you’ve been holding since you transferred here finally threatens to spill out, and by now, you just couldn’t help the tears from lining your eyes and your throat from constricting.

“Oh, my Y/n.” She embraces you in a hug and connects her forehead with yours; it only eggs you on to fully succumb to your emotions, and so tears become full-fledged sobs. “It’s okay, let it all out.” Her voice, along with her hand ministering to gently soothe your back, lulls you.

Until you’re left only as a sniffling mess, she continues to caress your back. “Thank you, Mi. I really appreciate it.”

“I’m always here for you,” She squeezes you one last time for good measure before letting go of you. “Now, we need a plan for you to get your man.”

“No, we do not.”

“You did it for me, so it’s only fair if I return the favour.”

“I don’t even know if he likes me like that,” you exhale for what seems like the nth time this month.

“Then we’ll make sure he does. Simple as that,” she claps her hand. “Boys fall for anything, so if he doesn’t already like you, he will anyway, because just look at you! You’re stunning, funny, kind, talented, and so so so much more. Believe me when I say that, Y/n.” Her features soften even further as she shares a look of sympathy with you.

Her words melt right through you, and you’d like to believe that you do hold the ability to make Jay fall for you.

—

Endless weeks of toiling had brought you all to this exact moment — d-day. You fidgeted with the microphone stand to try getting a better hold of your emotions because there was no way you would mess things up, not when you’ve all worked so hard for this.

The seats in front of you are filled to the brim, yet out of the hundreds of faces, you could only recognise a select few: your mom, Mia, and a few of the others’s family members.

Jay, who stood not too far behind you, could see the trembling in your legs. “You’ll do perfect; I know that because you were made for this.” He whispers in your ear, squeezing your hands in the process. You’ve never wanted anything more than to just kiss the boy for being so damn near perfect — everything you could’ve asked for and more — but he wasn’t yours to kiss, so you heed those thoughts away, instead simply nodding your head.

“Hello, we are ENHYPEN, and we’ll be performing an original song called ‘Fatal Trouble.’” Jake’s voice echoes throughout the school hall, with claps following shortly after, just before it falls back to a silent abyss.

Sunghoon’s keys fill the empty air before you start, “Can’t believe. You, in front of my eyes, everything is the same. But your smile is one I don’t know. Your pupils are like an abyss.” You shut your eyes, letting your emotions lace through each and every word you sing.

As soon as Sunoo and Jay’s electric guitars and Riki’s drums joined in on the melody, you could physically feel the shift in the air. It brought goosebumps to your skin watching people gape at you in awe and watching their eyes twinkle against the stage lights.

“Fatal trouble. It’s getting blurry. The memory of you is crumbling down.” Heeseung and Jungwon’s lower voice harmonises with your higher one, creating the most heavenly of harmonies to echo across the expanse of the hall. It felt so electrifying to finally be able to see the fruits of all your hard work. You’re happy you got to perform with these boys side by side.

By the time the instrumentals fade to complete silence, your heart roars against your chest like a lion so hard you can practically hear them in your ears. You all take time to thank the audience before heading backstage, where you all instantly huddle together.

“We did so well!” Sunoo beams.

“For all our hard work, I say we go drinking after this,” Heeseung suggests with a motion of his hand, to which the others instantly agree.

“Drinks are on me!” You chuckle as you watch your overly excited brother raise his arm like a puppy. You of all people know just how hard he exerted himself just for this performance, if the dark circles under his eyes were anything to go by, so you’re just happy to finally see him be himself again.

Cheers and hoots are heard throughout the backstage area until the staff politely asks you to leave. Before you could even follow the rest past the door, Jay’s call to you stopped you in your tracks.

“You did well out there,” he compliments with a sheepish smile, and it does the same thing it always does to you — make you fall even harder. You were so damn weak for him. “I knew you would kill it.”

“You did too, considering it is your song.” He steps a foot closer to you, and despite the hitch in your throat, you don’t do much to shy away. Jay takes this as a sign to be more forthright with you. He takes your hand in his, tracing circles with his thumb along the backside of your hand.

“I wrote this song for you. It wasn’t just your voice that inspired me to write this song; it was your smile, the way you made me feel, and the warmth you gave. So, technically, it’s our song.” The boyishness in his tone is obvious, almost like he was scared to admit this to you in the first place.

“I-…” You’re rendered speechless at his insinuation, feeling the familiar giddiness starting to spread across your body. “Are you confessing to me right now?” His deep eyes hold yours, staring at you with such admiration and intensity that you feel like you could cry.

“Yes, I am, princess.” His voice was nothing short of a whisper. You could see the way he eyes your lips, and so without much contemplation, or even hesitation for that matter, you take the first step in your newfound relationship by trapping him in a kiss. Further closing in the distance between you, your arms travel around his neck while his hands find purchase in your waist.

As breathless as you felt, you couldn’t let him go — not when this is all you’ve ever wanted for so long. Months of seeing him with Jiwon and hopelessly pining over him brought you to this moment, and you were going to let yourself relish the fuck out of it.

taglist @enhaslay @channiesdarling @kim2005bomi @letwiiparkjay

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drabblesandsnippets · 5 months

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Drabble #2

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Plus-size female character (unnamed)

Background: Just something I wrote in a Target parking lot waiting for my pickup order lol

Summary: Bucky listens to his girlfriend pleasure herself in the backseat of his car.

Warnings: 18+ Only. Explicit sexual content. Masturbation. Dirty talk. Praise. Slight domination.

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She has no idea how she ended up in the backseat of his car, her skirt hiked up and her legs spread wide as she touches herself. She’s never done anything like this, but all reservations left her miles ago when Bucky pulled out of the airport parking lot, convincing her to trust him. They still have at least thirty minutes before he can get her home and he wants a show until then.

“That’s it,” he encourages her, his eyes briefly glancing at her in the rearview mirror, his hands gripping the steering wheel. “Let me hear you, doll… Fuck, I missed you.” It’s been weeks of phone sex and dirty texts and all Bucky wants to do is pull the car over so he bury himself inside of her. But she deserves more than a quick fuck on the side of the road after being apart for so long.

Her hands keep moving, following his instructions, the teasing pace driving her crazy. She could easily speed things up - he can only see her face after all - but all she wants is to please him. She’s missed him, ached for him in every way, and she’s nothing but a willing participant. One hand cups her breast inside her bra, pinching her own nipple while her other hand stays between her thighs, her fingers rubbing her clit slowly.

Her breath gets heavier, her moans and soft gasps filling the small space as Bucky talks her through it, his words fueling her desire. “God, you’re fucking incredible,” he tells her, his cock straining against jeans, desperate for some sort of relief. He shifts slightly, glancing back at her again before returning his eyes to the road, grateful for his enhanced senses. He needs to hear her, be responsible for her pleasure, but not at the expense of her safety.

When the slow pace becomes too much, she finally asks for more, her body trembling with need. “Bucky, please.” He knows exactly what she wants, and he wants to give it to her, but if she comes before they make it off the freeway, there’s no way he’s going to be able to make it home before he has to have his way with her. So, he continues to make her wait.

“You’re doing so good for me,” he promises, “just keep touching yourself like that. Nice and slow.” Her groan of frustration is laced with pleasure, his praise making her pussy pulse. As much as she wants to complain, or take control back, it’s nothing compared to how much she gets off on submitting to him. She’ll do anything he tells her to, especially like this.

When he finally takes the familiar exit, Bucky glances at her again, turning his head slightly to let her see the smirk on his face, making her breath catch. For just a second, her hands still, her body tense with anticipation, until his voice breaks through, finally giving her permission. “I want you to fuck yourself, can you do that for me, Princess?”

He barely finishes the question before she presses her fingers against her entrance, sliding deep in one smooth motion, making herself cry out in pleasure. Her noises send a jolt straight to his cock and he resists the urge to reach down to free himself, regripping the steering wheel instead, the metal groaning under his vibranium hand.

“There we go,” he breathes, his voice rough, his eyes briefly meeting hers in the mirror. “Just like that... show me how good it feels.” He doesn’t even have to see her hand to know exactly what she’s doing. Two fingers deep inside of her, curled to press against her g-spot while she grinds her palm against her clit. It’s the fastest way to make her come, and he licks his lips at the thought of how wet she is for him.

His ears pick up all the telltale signs of her getting closer to her orgasm, her breath quick and uneven, her head thrown back against the seat. She doesn’t even realize how close they are to home now, but Bucky’s been counting down the seconds, and the moment he reaches their street, he tells her, “Can’t wait to taste you, have you ride my face until you’re screaming my name.” That’s all it takes for her to fall.

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skbeaumont · 6 months

Text

Texas Heat | Joel x Reader

Chapter 1 - Worst Decision, Best Decision

Series masterlist

Chapter Summary: You've just finished a Masters back home in England, and, with little idea of what you want to do next, decide to spend the summer in Texas, staying with your mum's cousins, the Adlers. But its not the Adlers who pick you up from the airport: it's their handsome neighbour, Joel. Rating: Teen (for now) Tags/warnings: slow burn, eventual smut, age difference (reader is 25, Joel is 37), AU! no outbreak, porn with plot. Word Count: 1.7k

The Texas heat is something else. You’ve hardly been stateside more than two hours and already it feels overwhelming, cloying and claustrophobic. It doesn’t help that the air-conditioning in the airport is sporadic and patchy. By the time you make it through security, into the dry heat of arrivals, your shirt is sticking to your back, hair plastered to your forehead and you’re wondering why you ever let your mother persuade you this was a good idea.

“Go to Texas,” she’d suggested, when you arrived home from your last university term, unsure of what to do or where to begin with starting a life for yourself, “stay with the Adlers – they’re family and god knows Connie would love to see you. Spend the summer there – see what happens.”

And so here you are, too old for a gap year, really, at twenty-five, too young to commit to anything for more than a summer, dragging your suitcase – one broken wheel courtesy of British Airways – through arrivals, wondering if you’ve just made the worst decision of your life. Danny and Connie are strangers but for the fact that they’re your mum’s cousins, though you’ve seen enough photos of them to know who you’re looking for. You look out over the crowded lounge, trying to spot them.

The man your eyes fall on definitely isn’t Mr or Mrs Adler, but he’s holding a sign that bears your name (along with an assortment of hearts and two poorly drawn butterflies). He’s younger than Danny and Connie, maybe late thirties, dark hair curling around his ears, a patchy beard that only accentuates the strong line of his jaw and nose. His eyes – dark, hooded – are searching the crowd of passengers emerging from arrivals. You slow, watching the man, wondering who he is, wracking your brains to remember if the Adlers have a son or brother they haven’t mentioned before in their letters and Christmas cards, but you come up blank.

Eventually, while you’re still wondering who this man is and why he’s got a board bearing your name, your eyes lock with his. He raises his eyebrows – a question – and you sigh, start off towards him, the broken suitcase bumping against your ankles. When you reach him he holds out a hand for you to shake.

“’m Joel,” he says, voice deep, a smooth Southern drawl that you thought only existed in movies, “I’m Danny’s neighbour. They’re sorry they couldn’t be here, they had to take Mrs Adler – Nana – to a hospital appointment. I’m gonna drive you back to theirs, if that’s alright?”

“Of course,” You take the offered hand, shake it, trying not to think about how large it feels compared to your own, how much strength seems to rest in the callused palms and thick fingers. “I’m guessing you didn’t make that sign?”

Joel looks at the name card in his other hand, colour rising on his cheeks as he takes in the love hearts and butterflies that have been painted onto it.

“I can’t say I did.” He replies, “You’ve got Connie to thank for that.”

You laugh and he smirks too, mouth curving up with amusement, eyes crinkling as he does.

“I’m parked right outside,” he says, “I can take that, if you want?”

You hand him the suitcase, about to warn him about the broken wheel but he lifts it easily by the handle, the weight nothing to the shifting muscles that stretch the sleeves of his t-shirt.

His truck is huge, obscenely large compared to the cars you’re used to seeing back home in England. You clamber in, take in the toolboxes in the bed, a hard hat strewn on the back seat, large work boots in the footwell that dwarf your own battered Converse.

“‘scuse the mess.” Joel says, getting into the driver’s seat. “Been a busy week.”

“You’re a builder?” You ask.

“Contractor. Me ‘n my brother, though mostly me, if I’m being honest. You?” He asks the question without looking at you, already starting the engine, something grating in the ignition as he does so.

“Nothing, yet.” You reply, pulling your seatbelt on, “I just finished university – college – and I’m still kind of figuring it out.”

“What did you study?”

“Maths, then a Masters in Theoretical Physics.”

“Shit, smart girl.”

Something about the way he says this, his eyes lingering perhaps a little longer than they need to on your face as he does so, makes your stomach flip.

“Know what you’re going to do with it, now you’re done?”

“Not a clue,” You reply, looking out of the window as the city opens out around the truck.

“Well, don’t rush into anything. Nothing like your twenties to spend messing around trying things out.”

“That what you did?”

He scoffs out a laugh at this, gives you a sideways look. “Not exactly. I had a kid at twenty-two and spent the rest of my twenties figuring that out. Still am, really.” He pauses, flicks his sun visor down and taps a small polaroid that’s slid into the back of the mirror. “She’s thirteen now. Sarah.”

The girl in the photograph is pretty, all bright eyes and curly hair. She’s leaning back in a chair, giggling at something the photographer has just said.

“She’s beautiful,” You say, and you can see the pride bubbling up in him as he flips the visor back up.

“Smart, too. Struggles a bit with math, now they’ve started bringing in algebra. I’m not much help, either. Once you get past adding and minusing, I’m lost.”

You laugh at this, grin at him. “I’d be happy to help out. God knows I’ll have plenty of free time, and I like teaching.”

“Might just take you up on that.” He replies, giving you a soft smile in return.

There’s a dimple in his cheek as he does so, visible only through the patchiness of his beard. He seems to get more and more handsome the longer you look at him. Leaning back in the truck, you can’t help but let your eyes trace his profile, the strong curve of his nose, plushness of his lips. It’s more fascinating than the concrete jungle that’s passing by the windows of the truck.

He’s a good driver: steady, reassuringly confident. He lets one arm rest across the back of the truck’s long seat, the other gently holding the steering wheel, guiding the truck down the freeway. If you laid your head back against the seat it would rest in the curve of his wrist. You don’t, but you can feel the heat rolling off of his arm anyway on the back of your neck, warm in contrast to the cool air blowing through the AC unit. You let your eyes gently close, jetlag starting to creep up on you. Your limbs are stiff and sore from the long plane journey. The hot sun beats down through the windscreen, casting patterns on your closed eyelids. It’s peaceful, here, in the truck with this handsome stranger, and before you know it you’ve fallen asleep, head lolling back on the seat.

Next thing you know Joel’s gently saying your name, one large hand on your shoulder, rousing you from sleep. You open your eyes, squint against the bright sun. He’s parked up in the driveway of a large, brick built house on a suburban street. The garage door is open: tools are stacked up inside, ladders and racks of scaffolding. The drive and lawn are neat, a little scrubby from the heat. You turn, look over at a house you recognise as the Adler’s, the one you’ve seen in it family photographs sent with the yearly Christmas card. Your new home, for the next three months.

Joel holds the door of the truck open for you and your climb out, get your feet down on the solid concrete driveway. He moves round to the back, tugs out your suitcase like it weighs nothing, even though your arms are still aching from dragging it through security hours earlier.

“Connie left me the key,” Joel says, reaching a hand into the back pocket of his jeans and pulling out a brass key on a flowery keyring. “I’ll help you get your stuff in, then leave you to settle in. Connie and Danny should be back in an hour or so.”

The Adler’s house is nice. Quaint, a little dated, décor straight from the 1980s, but it’s homely. You feel settled immediately. There’s a photograph of your mum on the bookshelf, from back when she was a kid, long before she moved from Texas to London.

Joel puts your suitcase at the foot of the stairs, asks if you want him to take it up for you, but you’re not sure which room you’re staying in so you tell him to leave it, that you can sort it out later. There’s a whining from the back room and you look at Joel, questioningly.

“That’ll be Mercy,” He says, moving through the hall to the kitchen, swinging open the door.

A bundle of fur throws itself down the hallway towards you, tail wagging. Joel watches, grin on his face as you bury your face in the dog’s soft coat and wrap your arms around him.

“I’d better head off,” He says when you stand up, brushing fur from your clothes. “You need anything, just give me a shout. You know where I am.”

“Thanks, Joel.” You say, watching him pull open the door, t-shirt bunching up around his shoulders revealing a tanned strip of skin just above the waistband of his faded jeans. “And I meant what I said about helping Sarah with that maths homework.” You add as he steps out onto the porch.

He turns back, shields his eyes from the sun to look at you, mouth turned up in a grin. “And I might just take you up on that, darlin’.”

And then he’s gone, long strides taking him back across the lawn and towards his own house. You lean back against the closed door and shut your eyes, basking in the imprint of Joel’s handsome face etched on the back of your eyelids, wondering if you’ve just made the best decision of your life.

#joel miller #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fic #joel miller x reader #joel miller smut #joel miller fanfic #the last of us #joel miller x you #joel miller au #joel miller series

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guilty-pleasures21 · 2 months

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Neighbour's son Miguel

I'm just stretching this out to keep you guys on your toes 😈, but I already have it all planned out and it's so cute!!!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Warnings: None.

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Neighbour's son!Miguel who started uni two years ago - just like you. You bounce on the balls of your feet as you search the airport for wavy brown hair and that signature O'Hara smile, and your heart thuds in your chest when you find who you're looking for. “Gabe! Auntie!” You rush over and give each of them a big hug. “My car’s just outside. How was your flight?” Conchata sighs as you take her arm and start guiding them towards the carpark. “It was horrible, mija. So cramped and so noisy! Juro po Dios, I am never getting on another flight again!” Although she’d left their father years ago, no longer able to stand the constant abuse and affairs he’d carried on shamelessly, she’d wanted to wait until her sons had finished school to move back to the house her ex-husband had left her in the divorce. Gabe grins at his mother’s dramatics as he pushes the trolley behind you. “Be careful what you wish for, mamà,” he jokes. Conchata shakes her head firmly, standing her ground. “No. If you or Miguel ever want to see me again, either you get on a flight or you stay with me forever.” You laugh as you get into the lift to go down to the carpark. “That doesn’t sound too bad,” you mumble softly, your heart fluttering at the mention of your old friend. “How is … How is Miguel?”

Neighbour's son!Miguel whose mother exchanges a knowing look with her younger son at how shy you’ve suddenly become. The two of you had fallen out of touch over the last few years, the miles of ocean between you too great an obstacle to overcome at your young age. But your mothers had stayed in contact, gossiping over how neither of you had truly been able to let go of the other, even after all these years. They’d planned Conchata’s ‘welcome back’ barbeque for the first day of Miguel’s summer break, not-so-secretly hoping that the two of you would take a liking to one another and eventually end up together. “He’s fine,” Conchata assures you, patting your arm as the lift doors open. “He'll be here next week in time for the barbeque.” Gabe leans over as he pushes the trolley out of the lift and towards your car. “He said he's heading to the airport straight after his last exam!” he reveals excitedly. “He was all like ‘¡Ay, Dios! I can't wait to see Y/N again! She looks so pretty in her pictures on Instagram. I hope she doesn't have a boyfriend or anything.’” You cover your face with your hair as you help Conchata into the passenger seat. Had Miguel really said that about you? You’d definitely never thought the exact same things about him: how handsome he’d grown to become, how none of his pictures had ever included a pretty girl by his side, how he’d apparently spent his prom night with his friends instead of any date. Definitely nothing like that. “Right. Sure.”

Neighbour's son!Miguel whose brother chuckles as he loads their bags into the back of your car. “Well, just so you know, he's never had a girlfriend. And he hasn't met anyone in uni either,” Gabe reveals to you, his tone teasing. He shuts the boot, then starts climbing into the backseat. “And even if he did and has secretly been lying about it to us, I can one hundred percent assure you that she won't be there when he goes back next year. That's the Gabriel O'Hara guarantee.” He couldn’t imagine his brother being with anyone but his childhood sweetheart - the girl whose life his own had been so intricately intertwined with from the start. And if he were being honest, he’d always suspected that his brother had secretly felt the same, forever subconsciously comparing every girl who crossed his path with the one who’d held his heart from the beginning. You laugh at his words as you pull out of the parking lot, trying to not get your hopes up. “Sure. I’m gonna hold you to that, Gabriel O'Hara.” Gabe leans over the back of your seat, a mischievous grin on his sharp features. “Of course!” he agrees easily. “Anything for my brother’s little bombón.” You bite down on your lip to stop a giggle from falling out as your heart flutters at the familiar term of affection.

Neighbour's son!Miguel whose flight landed an hour ago. You rush around your backyard, helping your mum get the food set up for the barbeque. “Y/N!” your mum calls. “Can you call Roshan? I need him and Gabe to help your father put up the fairy lights. That man is so stubborn!” You smile as she continues muttering about your dad, her voice fading away as she goes to help your sister with the ice box. You wander back into your house and find your brother standing in the kitchen, his head in the fridge as he searches for something to munch on. You nudge the fridge door and fix your brother with an exasperated look when he straightens. “Seriously?” you ask. “Can't you just wait half an hour for dinner?” He shrugs and pops another ball of chocolate-coated wafer in his mouth. You sigh and roll your eyes as you close the fridge door. “Mummy wants you and Gabe to help Papa put up the fairy lights. They're in the backyard.” Your brother leaves to find your parents, but you hear his voice filter in from the entrance. “Miguel?! Hey! How's it going! How'd you get so huge?!” Your heart stops when you realise that he’s finally here: your best friend in the whole world who you’d thought about at least once everyday since he’d left all those years ago. Wait. Did that make him your Roman empire? Wait. What did that even matter right now?! The only thing that mattered was making sure you looked your absolute best when you finally met him again! You spin around, meaning to rush over to the bathroom to check that your makeup was all right, but you stop in your tracks immediately. “Hi.”

Continue

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suhlogic · 4 months

Text

home is wherever we are [kim mingyu x fem!oc] 🔞

genre: fluff, smut, established relationship, non idol au, mingyu's a soft dom

warnings: unprotected sex, size kink, rough sex, dom!kmg, sub!oc

[8:00am]

liz just landed in seoul, the weight of the jet lag dawning on her during the ride from the airport, she just wished mingyu picked her up but she was going to surprise her boyfriend and didn't want to feel like a bother waking him up knowing that the preparations for the upcoming comeback definitely has him sleeping in after pouring all those late nights in the studio and practice room with the boys.

the drive from the airport was a bit longer than she expected but it was a relief as her friends, jeonghan and soonyoung insisted on picking her up. seoul in the spring was still cold—although not as harsh during the winter, it was a good balance of everything she loved. especially knowing that mingyu was at home made her smile at the thought of him.

"hey, where are you guys? i'm already outside the airport" she said on the phone. “liz, we're just going to park then we’ll go to you.” jeonghan says as you hear soonyoung in the background reply, “we can already see you, we’ll be there in a bit.” she replied back with a simple okay and waited for the two to help with her luggages.

they finally met up and it did not take long for the three of them to hug each other as the best friends reunited despite her just being in manila for a week to visit family. it was always a no-brainer for her that the moment she was introduced to mingyu they hit it off so quickly and for the first time that night, she felt like she knew him for a lifetime already.

the drive on the way to their home was relaxing, it didn’t feel too heavy for her and it helped that jeonghan and soonyoung were talking to her too asking about the trip and telling her how mingyu was when she was away. as she looked out into seoul’s skyline, she dozed off to alleviate the jet lag as the chattering of her two friends droned on for the rest of the drive.

[10:30am]

the car pulls over to the familiar facade of mingyu and isa’s house as soonyoung wakes her up and says, “liz-ssi, we’re already here. jeonghan hyung is just getting your stuff from the back.” she gets out of the car and is greeted by the cold breeze and bright sun— the smile on her face had love written all over her not being able to hide the fact that she was going to see mingyu behind that door. the three of them exchanged their goodbyes as she set foot on the steps of the house. isa began to fumble for her keys but mingyu beat her to it and she was greeted by her boyfriend whose hair was slightly sticking up all over the place wearing just a sweater and a pair of gray sweatpants with a sleepy smile on his face. she dropped her bags and immediately jumped into his arms to hug him tightly, “hi, love…” she says smiling as she cupped his face, “i missed you so much,” mingyu held her closer and tucked in a lock of hair behind her ear, “the house felt so lonely without you,” he whispers before immediately kissing the tip of her nose.

he put her down on her feet and held her hand as they walked together into the living room. she began to take off her coat and hoodie, only now left with just a tank top thick enough for the cold outside and the warmth in their house as mingyu brought her luggage and bags near the stairs. “baby, come here please,” she says with a pout while patting the spot next to her on the couch. he couldn’t resist how pretty she still looked despite being on the plane for hours yet she was being so tempting so early in the morning. he lays down next to her on the couch as they both begin to cuddle each other closer, isa being the little spoon playing with his hand constantly comparing it to hers. “angel, have you eaten yet?” gyu asks, looking at her intently. “i haven’t.” she says as he begins to get up but isa stops him. “no baby, i’m still okay, it can wait—i just wanna cuddle up with you now.” mingyu smiles at how touch-starved she was for him and cuddles her up again. “you missed me so much?” he smiles bashfully, “i didn’t get to cuddle and kiss you for days, it’s so bad.” she pouts. she’s definitely thinking of being fucked by him so early now mingyu thought.

mingyu lies down beside her, feet up on the coffee table as she’s snuggled into his firm and broad chest. “love, do you wanna do anything today?” he says as his chin rests on top of her head. “we could just go to anyang again tomorrow? i love the park there.” she says absentmindedly while drawing imaginary scribbles of nothing on his chest, “but now i just want you,” she says with a mischievous smirk, adjusting to sit herself up to kiss his jawline and was returned by a smile from him. “you’re not at all tired aren’t you?” he says in a low voice with a hint of morning grogginess still present. “no, who said i was?” she says as she begins to sit on his lap facing him and wrapping her arms around his nape and kissed him fervently. mingyu’s hands roamed across her body and began to feel her up under her shirt, she suddenly pulled away from the kiss moaning in pleasure because of how good his warm hands felt. “baby, please…do something,” she sighed in desperation. “gonna have to use your words angel,” he whispers as he left kisses on her neck and jaw.

“daddy, please i need you inside me,” she whines as he sends a smile back at her while he takes her shirt off. liz grinds harder against his clothed dick and feels him getting harder by the second. “atta girl, that’s more like it,” he says. mingyu proceeds to stand up and carry her, she didn’t even question his strength and height as he always frequented the gym with seungcheol and wonwoo.

“jump.” he says as he puts his hands on her ass while not breaking the desperate and steamy makeout session on the way to their shared bedroom. her clothes were scattered across their home but she didn’t care one bit, all she cared about was having mingyu to herself after a week of being so touch-starved. he lays her down gently on their bed before he removes his sweater, liz kept herself occupied by fondling her huge tits and rubbing her clit as she smiled naughtily at him. mingyu’s eyes right now were far from the kind, loving, and happy ones she was always used to. they were now filled with lust and desperation, “hmm, did i tell you to touch yourself?” he said tauntingly as he cupped her face and kissed her once more before sucking and leaving hickeys all over her chest and stomach, even down to her thighs. his hot breath comes in contact with her thin and flimsy lace panties as he took them off gently. “so pretty, all spread out for me yeah?” he says as he places his head in between her thighs and begins to eat her out, licking her wetness making figure eights with his tongue and sucking on her clit making her moan loudly. mingyu rubs his thumb against the bud of her wet clit and inserts his middle finger inside her which made her arch her back and let out a whiny moan, "gyu, i need you so bad baby..." he continues to move his digits slowly as he kisses her lips, tongues intertwining with each other. "patience, princess, daddy's just takin' his time with you, hmm?" he whispers.

seeing her close her eyes in pleasure and moan his name drove mingyu crazy. he starts to finger her faster, "daddy, please i'm so close..." she whines. "cum for me baby, come on." he smirks as he kisses her forehead while curling his fingers inside her. she looks so spent and needy for his dick lying so prettily on their shared bed as mingyu begins to rid himself of his sweatpants. he wasn't wearing a pair of boxers underneath, just his huge, long, and thick dick slapping against his perfectly sculpted abs. its red angry tip oozing with precum. "fuck, so gorgeous looking all spread out for me," he groans as he hovers on top of her once again. mingyu teases her folds with his manhood as she lets out a moan.

"baby please put it in," she whispers. "'m just adjusting angel, don't wanna hurt you.." no matter how many times they fucked, mingyu's size was still something she needed to get used to. although deep down she loves the size difference they have, and so does he. they both moan at how his dick fills her up, "fuck, baby you're so tight...just all mine,huh?" he groans. mingyu's always been such a talker during sex and it drives her crazy especially with how he's got her under him, her legs put on both of his shoulders as mingyu thrusts inside her tight and warm pussy slowly hitting spots that made her see stars and moan more. as he fastens his pace, he begins to kiss the side of her ankle.

"fuck baby, you drive me insane," he says as she removes her legs from where they're positioned and begins to put them on his lower back, caging him in as she feels him hit deeper and harder as the tip of his dick kisses into her cervix. "daddy, i'm close please...go faster," she pleads, teary-eyed from the hellish yet pleasurable actions they've been doing. mingyu's other hand travels to her neck as he slightly chokes her while his thrusts get harder and sloppier, nearing his climax. "angel, i'm getting close too...let's cum together yeah?" he moans as he fondles her boobs once more leaning down to kiss her all over her face. "fuck, baby please...pretty girl..." he moans as liz feels his thick warm ropes fill her up.

mingyu kisses her face once more and removes himself on top of liz . "babe, are you good? was i too rough?" he asks gently with his eyes now softening up. "no, gyu i'm okay...i liked it" she smiles, now facing her lover beside her. he laughs at how smitten and blushed she looks, "okay love, i'll just get a towel to clean you up okay?" as mingyu got up, she begins to smile more at herself thinking how lucky she was to have the man of her dreams. his broad back facing her from their shared bathroom and he catches her smile again once he got out to wipe both of them off of the mess they made.

after cleaning up, mingyu pulls her close against his chest and covers their entangled bodies with the duvet to keep them warm. "i missed you so much," he says as she's now facing him, his huge, toned arms wrapped around her body. "i missed you too, gyu," she smiles tiredly. "hmm, is there anything you want to do later?" he asks softly. "let's just stay in, love, i'm still so sore" she says in between laughs. "okay, let's just sleep again and go out for dinner later, yeah?" he says as he kisses the tip of her nose again— the two lovers falling into deep slumber once again after being apart for a week and for liz, this is where she's at her happiest with mingyu, no matter where she is in the world as long as he's by her side and same goes for him.

#seventeen #svt #mingyu imagine #kim mingyu #mingyu smut #svt x reader #svt imagines

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cheriladycl01 · 8 months

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All in a days work - Alexander Albon x Lifestyle/Travel Vlogger! Reader

Plot: Y/N vlogging her travels with Alex and how she see's so much of the places that they travel too with the Grand Prix

"Hey guys, this week Y/N Adventures moves to Belgium. We just had an extremely short summer break but it was so fun! Alex and I went to Thailand for 10 days and then stayed in London with family for the rest! The vlogs already out so you can go check that out" you grin before you stop to one side in the airport you and Alex are currently navigating through.

"We're leaving a little earlier compared to most driver's. We have to be in Spa, and checked into the Hotel Red Bull provide for the race weekend by Thursday the 29th. It's currently the 25th of August 2019 and we are going to Brussels for 4 nights" you say excitedly before you look over to your boyfriend confused.

He was the typical 'airport dad' boyfriend when you both travelled, and you always wanted to catch it on camera because everyone who watched you found it hilarious.

Currently he was looking down at the bulk of paper, checking through the bag meticulously making sure passports and all other essentials were there.

He'd had too many close calls where you guys had forgotten travel adaptors and were travelling with dead phones or times when you'd gotten flight times mixed up by an hour and had to run to the gate.

He turns to look at you, seeing the camera making him groan before turning away with a light blush. You laugh to yourself swinging the camera back round to yourself before looking around.

"We are currently in London Gatwick, and we are going to go find the Red Lion, Spoons so i can tell you guys about the itinerary of this week" you grinned before cutting the camera and taking your on-board suitcase and Alex's hand walking towards the pub.

"Okay, so Alex is at the bar ordering us drinks right now and I'm going to talk you through the itinerary. So we get into Brussels at 11.30 and can check into our hotel straight away. Then tomorrow we'll be going to Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and looking at the amazing art, and then in the afternoon we are meeting with a friend from Belgium whose going to give us a walking tour of the city centre. Tuesday Alex and I have a spa booked and we'll do some shopping! And then Wednesday is our free day where we going to meet some locals and get a real feel for the culture" you say before spotting Alex coming back with your lemonade that you gladly took from him with a thank you and a massive gulp.

"What have you told them so far, sweetheart!" he asks taking a sip of his beer.

"The itinerary for before the race!" you smile at him.

"Hmmm, you've not told them about the fun day trip after?" he offers making you gasp forgetting that you had major things planned for the Monday and Tuesday before Italy.

"Yes guys we are going to drive over to Germany to Cologne so we can spend time in the theme park there!" you exclaim excited.

"Mmm she wanted to go to Ferrari Land but we are saving that for when we go to Abu Dhabi!" he interjects.

"Then we'll be going straight to Italy! Italy is one of Y/N's fav places guys!" Alex chuckles, you guys had met in Italy 2 years prior while he was in F2.

"Yes I'm excited to see you there!"

*Skip to Sunday!*

"So this is actually Alex's first race in Red Bull, he's starting from 17th today as qualifying wasn't what we were hoping for yesterday, was it hunny" you pan to Alex zipping up the outer part of his race suit. He pulls his headphones out and tilts his head to the side, a cute puppy dog expression resting on it.

"Qualifying, your first in Red Bull wasn't what you were hoping for? But it's today that matters!" you smile kindly at him to which he nods, knowing that yesterday he was still trying to get used to the car. It wasn't like the Toro Rosso he had driven since the start of the year, it was more aggressive, something that was a Max Verstappen driving style. But today is what would count, he agreed with you.

"Yeah. I mean it's a hard car to drive and even with the practice sessions it's still hard to get used to! Spa is also a difficult track, so yeah its just about getting used to it!" he smiles, pulling you in by your waist to his side before kissing you and running of somewhere into the garage.

"It's looking like an interesting season though guys. Lewis is strong, Ferrari is strong, we've got 3 new promising rookies one of them being my boyfriend! So yeah I'm excited for today!"

Max DNFed early on not even completing his first lap, whereas Alex stormed through the grid all the way from P17 to P5 gaining valuable points for Red Bull.

"You did amazing Alex! I'm so so proud of you!" you compliment hugging him as you were stood with the rest of the Red Bull Team! It was a really sweet moment. All of the team cheering for Alex as he pulled into the pits. Christian had congratulated him on an amazing first race and the rest of the team pulled him into hugs that you filmed.

The chaos in the garage was something you loved!

"Charles! Charles" you'd shouted over to him as you saw him walking to the cool down room preparing for him P1 podium!

"Oh Y/N! Hello!" he grins looking down at you.

"Well done on P1 it was an amazing race from you today!" you grin, pulling him into a side hug. You both chat for a little while before Seb comes out heckling him inside.

"Well guys, Belgium has been a blast! I'm going to edit these videos on the plane to Cologne and Italy!" you grin before ending up the vlog.

"Ah you all finished up for Belgium baby?" Alex asks peering over you shoulder wrapping his arms around your waist from behind.

"Yeah! I'm excited for Cologne! Did you say Lando and George were coming with us?" you ask, tilting your head to the side unsure if Alex's rookie friends were accompanying you on your two day theme park trip.

"Yeah, they don't need to go home, so they said it would be easier travelling with us!" Alex smiles swaying you side to side.

"This will be lots and lots of fun!" you exclaim.

Before you knew it you and Lando look it in turns driving the four of you across the Belgium border into Germany and to the Theme Park you guys would spend time in. You got there late Monday morning all of you being tired and not wanting to get up at the ass crack of dawn. You guys all enjoyed a hotel breakfast together.

All the other drivers were confused about the four all in very chipper moods and all animatedly discussing something.

They had of course asked where you were off to and after explaining you were going to a theme park. Charles, Pierre, Carlos and Daniel all agreed to join you guys which left them in a car behind you following you to the park.

Some people, like Lando, Carlos and George didn't want to go on some of the bigger rides. So it was left to the rest of you, you all changed seats making sure no-one was left alone the whole time. You guys went to all the little food stands, making sure to get Lando waffles and get Charles chocolate covered strawberries.

It was probably one of the best days out, and you knew that people especially the F1 fans would enjoy the vlog around the park. There was funny moments between Lando, Carlos and Daniel. Chares and Pierre had ended up on a kiddie ride just the two of them. You and George had been sat on the mine train together and were talking to each other in what you could only describe as a Texan Drawl.

"So how are you all feeling about Italy, home of Tifosi you've got a lot of pressure Charles" you smile over at him. You guys were all sat in a Chinese themed restaurant around a big circular table, talking about the season so far and what lies ahead.

"I mean, I felt good in Belgium the car had the pace. I feel like I can do the same in Italy" Charles admits.

"How about you babe, you think you can keep Golden Boy Max behind you?" you grin teasing your boyfriend who said he was stressing about Max and how he wont always DNF in a race.

"Yeah, I mean that car is literally built for Max. Pierre I'm sure would agree with me that its a hard car to drive because of that but I feel like I'm getting there" he offers.

And that's exactly how that weekend went. Alex placed ahead of Max, who did stay in the race while Charles won his second race of the season. It was an amazing race weekend followed by lots of shopping in Milan where you treated Alex to a gift congratulating him for his amazing races.

After Italy there was a big break before Singapore, rather than keeping on the road travelling you guys decided to go home and see both of your families in London. You were always travelling and coming home always felt like you were on some kind of reality TV show, where you were sat down before being unloaded with all the current family drama.

You and Alex would share look with each other, making gasps every now and then and interjecting where necessary. But it was always fun telling them about the stories from your own travels. The stories were more dramatic and chaotic from your days of solo travelling before you'd met Alex but you still had funny moments to report back to them.

And Alex's family always loved to hear what you and Alex and all your friends had been up too!

So coming home for this break was very needed!

Taglist:

@littlesatanicassholebitch @hockey-racing-fubol @laura-naruto-fan1998 @22yuki @simxican @sinofwriting @lewisroscoelove @cmleitora @stupidandunnecessary @clayra-g @daemyratwst @honey-belden @moonypixel @lauralarsen @vader-is-hot @ironcowboycopnickel @itsjustkhaos @the-untamed-soul @beebo86 @happylittlereader @ziejustme @lou-larcher5 @thewulf @purplephantomwolf @chasing-liberosis @chillyleclerc @chanthereader @annoyingmoonballoon @summissss @evieepepi08 @havaneseoger08 @celesteblack08 @gulphulp @fandom1ruined2me @celebstories @starfusionsworld @jspitwall @sierruhh @georgeparisole @dakotatankbig @youcannotcancelquidditch @zzonsbeek @tallbrownhairsarcastic @mellowarcadefun @ourteenagetragedy @otako5811 @countingstacksandpanicattacks @peachiicherries @formulas-bitch @cherry-piee @hopexcroc @mirrorball-6 @spilled-coffee-cup @mehrmonga @bigsimperika @blueberry64857959 @eiraethh @lilypadlover @curseofhecate @alliwantisadonut @the-fem1n1ne-urge @21stcenturytaegi @dark-night-sky-99 @spideybv28 @i-wish-this-was-me @tallrock35 @butterfly-lover @barnestatic @landossainz @darleneslane @barcelonaloverf1life @r0nnsblog @ilove-tswizzle @kapsylia @laneyspaulding19 @lazybot @malynn @cassielikereading @viennakarma @teamnovalak @landosgirlxoxo @marie0v @jlb20416

#f1 imagine #f1 x reader #formula 1 x you #formula 1 #formula one #formula one fanfiction #charles leclerc #lando norris #alexander albon #alex albon x reader #alex albon #alex albon imagine #alexander albon x reader #alex albon fluff

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evergreen-endo · 12 days

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CHAUFFEUR | Y. ENDO + C. TAKIISHI

cw: 18+ mdni, f! reader, fluff to smut very quickly, car sex(?), reader gets fingered lol. uhh that's it i think. wc: 1.5k. a/n: this is p tame compared to my other works on here ✮ツ hope u enjoy anyway.

“Thank fuck,” you breathe, luggage in hand as you finally make it past baggage claim. It’s been a long few weeks on your business trip without Takiishi and Endo. While you enjoyed the peace and quiet at first, it quickly became lonely without them. They’re always there to help you relax after a long shift, or to listen to you complain about your boss, though it tends to turn into them threatening to talk to him for you.

You wait on a bench outside the airport for Endo to pick you up, jittering with excitement. You’re sure he has plenty of stories to fill you in on– he’ll take any opportunity to talk about Takiishi– as well as pent up energy to take out on you. The thought makes you cross your legs and smile to yourself in anticipation.

The all too familiar low, rumbling purr of Endo’s car alerts you that he’s nearby, and you scurry to your feet. The polished black sheen of it rolls around the corner, definitely over the airport parking lot speed limit, and pulls up right in front of you, the brakes nearly screeching to a halt. You swear the driver’s side door opens before the car even comes to a full stop, and Endo's tall, tattooed frame prances towards you, muscled arms outstretched, with a bellowing, “Babyyyy!”

He’s just as excited as you are, and butterflies swarm in your tummy at the thought. As he closes the distance, you lunge towards him and get swallowed up in his warmth, face pressed against his pecs that bulge under his tank top. His voice is muffled against your hair when he murmurs, “I missed you baby, welcome home!”

You giggle, “Not exactly home yet, Yamato. Countin’ on you to get me there.”

He presses a kiss onto the top of your head with an obnoxious muah, and mutters, “Got you, baby. Lemme get these bags off your hands.” As he turns to load your bags in the trunk, you startle a bit at the presence behind him you hadn’t previously noticed– Takiishi.

He stares, waiting for you to approach him. Staring back in shock, because a bustling airport isn't exactly his scene, you amble towards him, “O-oh. Chika. You came!” He blinks, and nods, fingers twitching at his sides, perhaps in anticipation. You fumble a bit in your steps toward him, and your eyes flit around his face in search of…well, anything, really.

The sound of the trunk slamming shut barely registers as you and Takiishi stare at each other, as well as Endo’s sing-songy tone, “Of course he came! I told you he missed you!”

The comment has you beaming and craning your neck up at the man in front of you, hinting that you want a kiss without being too forward for his liking. But Takiishi, full of surprises as he is, pulls you to him by the back of your neck, making you yelp. The second your lips connect, his tongue is sliding against yours and nearly breaching your throat. He drinks you in like he’s trying to consume you, sucking and biting your lips until drool drips down your chin. Even then, he’s dipping down with his tongue to clean you up before he gets you messy all over again. His hands circle your waist and run down your hips, squeezing as gently as is possible for him. Ringed fingers dip under the hem of your shirt so he can smooth over the skin of your belly, making you squeak from the sudden cold. You’re brought back to reality when the airport’s sliding doors open beside you, and a group emerges, murmuring amongst themselves and letting out awkward coughs.

Your eyes shoot open and you separate with a loud pop, a string of spit still connecting the two of you as you nervously laugh in their direction, averting your eyes while his burn into you, still. A deep giggle reminds you that Endo's waiting, arms crossed and bulging over his chest as he leans against his car. His mouth is stretched into a smitten grin as he gazes at the two of you, completely infatuated, before he chirps, “Ya ready now?”

Endo opens the backseat door for you, like a gentleman, before a harsh grip on his wrist prevents him from closing it. Takiishi slides in beside you, grabbing the inside handle to slam it shut, almost crushing Endo’s fingertips in the process. Endo sighs to himself with a dreamy smile as he walks around to the driver’s side door. Lovebirds, he thinks.

The second Takiishi sits beside you, his hands are on you. Innocent at first— as innocent as he can be. He rubs and squeezes at your thighs as you rest your head on his shoulder and throw quick, tired responses to Endo as he blabbers on enthusiastically, oblivious to the scene behind him.

“Did you touch yourself while you were away?” Takiishi whispers right into your ear, calloused palm trailing up your thigh.

You nod your head no, and he tsks. “I don’t believe you.”

His fingertips dip under your skirt as he recalls the times you missed their calls in the past two weeks, claiming to be “too busy” to answer, even though you promised to call back later. He didn’t take kindly to your lack of availability. It was to the point Endo was nearly praying you’d pick up on the first ring, just so he wouldn’t have to walk on eggshells around Takiishi until you graced them with a call back.

He pulls your panties to the side, swiping a finger through your folds and breathing out deep through his nose at the feeling of your slick. Other than the kiss at the airport, he can’t think of any other reason you’d be dripping like this. So now, as he’s gathering your slick on the pads of his fingers to circle your clit, he wonders if maybe you truly went two weeks without touching yourself to the thought of them. Most importantly, him. The thought has him bristling, a searing heat behind his eyes and a tight pull in his chest. He kisses his teeth, unfamiliar with the feeling that’s been brewing in his gut since you left. So what if you were too busy to miss him? Your pussy clearly wasn’t.

In one movement, he’s down to the knuckle of his index. Your eyes flit to Endo in the rear view mirror, his own twinkling as he beams, rattling off plans he’s made now that you’re back. You’re half listening, nodding so Endo feels acknowledged and Chika feels encouraged— not that it would stop either of them from doing what they want.

You’re thankful for the way Endo never shuts up, or there would be nothing to cover the squelch as Takiishi slides a second finger in, curling them upwards and moving at just the pace you like. His rough fingers drag against your walls in a way yours never could, stretching you and reaching spots you long for when he’s not around. He scissors them, prompting you to spread your thighs further apart to give him more access. Pushing deeper into you, he feels around for the spot he knows will have you falling apart in no time. A gentle reminder that you have no business ignoring him again.

Endo's voice is merely an echo to you, but you're alert enough to register and muster out mumbled affirmations. It doesn't sit well with the man who's knuckle deep in you, waiting on you to give him what you owe him. Once he brings the heel of his palm down to grind against your clit, you’re fucked. There’s no way to hide the blissed out expression you wear or the desperate cant of your hips to match his tempo.

Endo, still babbling on, checks the rear view mirror, nearly pouting at your lack of response, only to see the whites of your eyes and Chika latched onto your neck. Suddenly he’s quiet, and turning the music down too, so he can hear how sloppy you are as Takiishi pumps his fingers inside you. He’s not paying enough attention to the road to notice a pothole that directs Chika’s fingers straight into your sweet spot, forcing a loud, strangled moan out of you.

“Chika,” you whine, rolling your head back onto the headrest and grabbing at his thighs.

“Hm. So now you wanna talk to me?” He angles his fingers to press up against that spot, over and over again.

“Can….hah! Ah..Chi—fuck!”

“Use your words.”

“Chika….Chika can I cum? Please?”

He responds by pushing his fingers deeper as Endo takes a hand off the wheel to palm his aching cock.

An obscene, drawn out moan of Takiishi’s name is followed by a sob, and you’re squirting all over his fingers and Endo’s leather seats. He removes them to lean forward and drag his hand along Endo’s cheek before dipping into his mouth. Endo moans as his eyes roll back into his head, swerving around on the road in the process. “Watch it.” Takiishi corrects. Endo nods rapidly, eyes lidded. Chika leans back and drags his gaze down your body, adjusting your skirt and patting your hair down. “Is that enough proof?”

You’re still reeling from your orgasm, head fuzzy, “Pr–huh? Proof of what?”

“...That I missed you.”

#endo x reader #chika takiishi smut #endo yamato smut #endo yamato x reader #chika takiishi x reader #takiishi x reader #endo x takiishi x reader #endo smut #takiishi smut #wind breaker smut #endo yamato #chika takiishi #in memoriam — ♱#haunts — takiishi ♱#endo my betrothed — ♱#i've been writing this for soooooloooongg #idk that i've ever written anything this long i'm a drabble girly with a short attention span #leave it to these two to pop my word count cherry ugh

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airportparkingdeals89 · 2 years

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How To Compare And Choose Cheap airport parking deals

This article is about cheap airport parking deals. It will help you find the best deals for parking at airports and compare them side by side. The first step to finding cheap airport parking deals is to research your options. There are a lot of sites and apps available that list all of the different airport parking options, their prices, and reviews from other users. You can also buy a flight pass to a few airports for significantly less.

Also, the demand for airport parking is increasing with the increase in passengers. This has led to a rise in the prices of airport parking. This article will help you learn how to compare and choose cheap airport parking in UK. We will guide you on how to find the best deals for cheap airport parking, how much it cost, and what are the benefits of booking online.

It is very important to compare Compare airport parking prices, location, and amenities. Also, you must know that the price of airport parking will depend on a few factors like time of day, length of stay, and type of vehicle.

#Cheap airport parking deals #Cheap airport parking in UK #Compare airport parking

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xiaq · 9 months

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How is Denver so far compared to Austin?

I quite prefer Denver, but I'm biased for a few reasons.

Austin makes me sad. Austin now is not the Austin I grew up in/the Austin I loved. And nostalgia for a place that no longer exists while still technically existing leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Did you know that the greenbelt and all its trails and climbing walls used to feature a creek that never dried up? The level might fluctuate, but it ran all year round, fed by springs from the aquifer. You could climb until you got overheated and then go sit in the water for a bit to recover. Now, after years of extreme heat, persistent droughts, and people pumping water out of the aquifer, it's just miles of dry rock with small trees growing in it, that occasionally floods when it rains. I can't climb there without feeling...I don't even know how to describe it. Like I'm walking over the corpse of an old friend.

Denver gives us a community. In Denver, we live in a walkable/bikable community within 2 miles (or much less) of our grocery store, restaurants, a gluten-free bakery, coffee shops, our climbing gym, and several friends. I've seen more people in person in the last three weeks here than I did in the previous 3 months in Austin. One of my friends jogs by every afternoon. Others live at the park I walk Deacon to in the mornings. People just...drop in to see us/how house renovations are going spur-of-the-moment because they were literally walking by/on their way home. Community is so important to me and I have that here in a way I didn't in Austin.

Terrain. Texas is so damn flat. I get a thrill driving to Home Depot here because I can see mountains in the distance. Our rooftop deck looks at the mountains. I can be in the mountains after a less than 30-minute drive. I had to drive for hours to get to a hill in Austin. Here, mountains are just...present in a comforting way.

The seasons. Austin doesn't have seasons. Here, we have gorgeous sunny weather most of the time but the trees change color in the fall and we currently have snow! Deacon LOVES snow. Probably even more than me. There is something so delightful about taking a walk while it's snowing. When the whole world is quiet and white and still. Even after living in one of the snowiest places in the US for a year, snow is still so novel to me. Big fan.

Travel. I can walk to the train station from our house, which will take me to the airport in 25 minutes. And Denver is a hub for Southwest which means tons of direct flights at low costs (to places like Austin!). I also have a companion pass for Southwest, which means I can take B (or anyone else I please) with me for free on any Southwest flight. Which is very handy. B's mom has already visited us twice (coming again this weekend) because there are quick direct flights from Phoenix she can take advantage of. The negatives are the cost of living and the fact that the homeless population is large and the city doesn't seem to have the appropriate resources (or perhaps willingness) to address it. But those are both issues that plague Austin as well. The only thing I miss about Austin is the ability to see my parents whenever I want. My mom is coming to visit in two weeks and we're hoping to coax my dad out when it warms up a bit (and we have the guest rooms ready), but I definitely miss them.

#austin #denver #texas #colorado #x moves #this got longer than i meant it to #lol

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mrs-johansson · 2 months

Text

Strangers in the night - Scarlett Johansson x Fem!Reader

Part 21:

“That was amazing guys. Let’s do it one more time and we’re all done for the week,” Greta said from behind all the cameras and we all got back to our starting spots. “And action!” She yelled out and everyone was focused on their lines.

Speaking over each other, bumping into each other, working out every little thing that Greta asked for the scene.

“Christopher Columbus, look at that,” I walked in front of the painting, Timothée joining me. “That’s my grandfather. Are you scared of him?” He asked with a calm tone. “No, I’m not scared of anyone. He looks stern, but my grandfather was much more handsome,” I said. “Jo! We do not compare grandfathers,” spoke Laura from behind us and that was our cue to turn around surprised.

***

“When are you coming back?” Asked Flo as she was laying on my hotel room bed while I was packing a bag. “In a week. I won’t be needed for that time anyway,” I said. “Ah that’s a shame, but tell Scarlett happy birthday for me. What did you get her by the way?” She asked while munching away on her dinner. “I made a painting for her because she wanted one for a while now. I got her a bunch of little things, like new sunglasses because she broke her favorite pair, a necklace, stuff like that. And booked us a 5-day vacation between Christmas and New Year’s. I checked with her assistant and she doesn’t have anything booked and Rose will be with her dad, so we’re free to go.” “Aw, that’s nice. Where are you guys going?” “The Maldives. I haven’t had a real vacation all year and neither did she so I think we both deserve it,” I said and Florence nodded with a smile. “Yeah. I can’t believe you guys are going to be together for a year soon. It’s crazy, isn’t it?” She said and I was quick to let the smile loose on my face and think about my relationship. Oh, how I love my girl. “How you were pursuing me to get together with her because we were supposed to do a lesbian drama together?” I smirked and laughed after Flo’s face dropped. “Okay, now that’s not true,” she pointed her finger at me and I spread my arms with a smile. “Well, it worked, didn’t it?”

Hours later Florence was kind enough to drive me to the airport and after a quick goodbye, I was on my way back home, ready to kiss my girlfriend and see little Rose running around my living room.

Rolling my suitcase out with a hat on my head, trying to be very low profile, and find Scarlett quickly. As I exited the building I called Scar, looking around the parking lot. “Hey, are you out yet?” Spoke my girlfriend on the phone. “Yeah, I’m at exit B. Where are you?” I asked and the next second her car pulled up in front of me and the window started rolling down. “I could’ve spotted you from the other side of the parking lot,” she said as she hung up the call and I walked closer to the car. “No, you couldn’t, you can barely see without glasses,” I put my suitcase in the back and jumped into the passenger seat. Scarlett’s hand quickly found mine. “Hi,” I leaned to kiss her cheek, but she made sure that I gave a kiss to her lips also. “Missed you,” I mumbled against her soft skin. Looked from her lips to her eyes and I just fell in love with her eyes again and again. They are so inviting and warm and so seductive the way she could look. “I missed you too. Couldn’t really sleep without you,” she said, making me smile giddily. “Yeah?” Her eyes were just stuck to my lips and I could never get enough of that. She was magnetic, pulling me in with only a look.

But the next moment ruined the vibe very swiftly. Camera flashes lit up the car during the early hours of the New York night. Scarlett let out a heavy sigh before we both settled into our seats and she drove off with a huff. I took hold of her right hand and planted a soft kiss on the back of it. “Relax, baby. Frowning attracts wrinkles,” I said and a small smile pulled on her lips. “What, you’ll leave me once I have wrinkles?” She suggested jokingly and I chuckled while shaking my head. “I will love you and your wrinkles until my last breath, babe. Remember that when you first have wrinkles.”

About a 40-minute drive later we finally pulled up to my house. It was 10 pm already so I was a little tired but I wanted to spend all my time with Scarlett while I was here.

I brought my suitcase up to my room and then rushed down the stairs. Scarlett moved around the kitchen, looking for something edible but to her luck I cleaned out the fridge before I left so I wouldn’t come home to a rotten kitchen.

Quietly snuck up on her and wrapped my arms around her waist and left small kisses on the back of her neck and shoulders. Her hands held onto mine which was secure on her stomach while a light chuckle left her mouth. “What are we gonna eat? There’s nothing here,” she said but I couldn’t really care less about food. “We’ll order something,” I leaned my head against her back, closing my eyes and letting myself soak in the warmth of her body. “You’re very clingy, everything okay?” Scarlett asked rightfully because I’m not always this touchy. “I’m just happy to be home,” I mumbled. “Yet you’re not hugging your couch,” she chuckled but I just turned her in my arms and leaned on her shoulder, nuzzling my face into her neck. “You’re my home, you crazy woman,” I said, her arms wrapping around my shoulders. “I love you with all my heart baby,” said Scarlett then leaving a kiss on the top of my head. “And I love you forever.”

Soon we ordered some food and watched a movie. My choice was Grown ups but I was quickly shut down so we watched Dirty Dancing for the 100 time. I swear Scarlett acts like it’s her first time watching every single time but she’s cute about it so I don’t mind it.

We took a long shower and it was 1 am when we finally got to bed. I basically pulled the cover up to my ears and turned towards Scarlett. She was on her phone, just going through some emails before she put her phone down for good. “How’s the skincare stuff going? Any progress?” I asked and she nodded. “I found a potential business partner, so it’s coming together. If that works out we’ll have a great deal and it should be fine from then,” she explained and closed her phone, putting it on the charger.

Moved her pillow just a little closer to mine then got under the covers, wrapping her arms around me. “This is my favorite moment in the day,” I said with my eyes already closed, snuggling my face closer to her neck. “Yeah, mine too.”

***

Waking up in the morning I was very tired. It was 7 am when my eyes shot open and I couldn’t go back to sleep at all. I looked over at Scarlett to see her still fast asleep, so I got out of bed as gently as possible and pressed a soft kiss on her head before getting dressed and brushing my teeth, getting my hair ready before making my way to the grocery store.

Got enough food for the remaining days of my stay. I thought I’d make some great breakfast for Scarlett’s birthday tomorrow, so I got the ingredients for that. Bought some wine and a couple of candles for my bedroom because I’ve used up all of that was there. After paying I packed everything in the car and made my way home but as I was stuck at a red light, Scarlett’s small picture popped up on the console screen.

“Good morning,” I picked up the call with a small smile. “Where are you? It's 9 in the morning,” Scarlett’s raspy, heavy morning voice rang through the car as I drove on the streets of Manhattan. “I was at the store but I’ll be home in like 10 minutes. Did you sleep okay?” I asked. “Yeah, would’ve been better if you were here but it’s fine.” “Sorry, I just got some food and stuff. I’ll be there soon though.”

Once I got home, Scarlett was already sitting in the kitchen, drinking her coffee. I made breakfast for the two of us then we answered some emails and I approved some of the fresh cuts from Jojo Rabbit.

In the afternoon I made sure everything was set for Scar’s birthday dinner. I asked whether she wanted something smaller with a few close friends or more like a party thing, and to my surprise she asked for the party so I made sure to invite everyone she requested. I still haven’t met a lot of her friends so I was a bit nervous but I was happy to finally meet them.

Rose sadly only arrives on my last day in New York but it’s still better than nothing. So Scarlett suggested we stay home and hang out, rather than going somewhere public.

The next day rolled around quickly and when my eyes opened in the morning I was way too excited. Scarlett was obviously still sleeping so I gently slipped out of bed and made my way to the kitchen. I thought through the whole breakfast that I’d like to make for Scarlett’s birthday. It’s our first birthday together and I just wanted to go all out.

I made the fanciest breakfast I could think of that Scarlett liked. I prepared mimosas with the prettiest cutlery and plates that I had. And by the time I was finished, it was already 10 am so I went upstairs to wake Scarlett up.

She was wrapped up in the covers like it was freezing cold in the room and it obviously wasn’t. The blinds were still closed off, not a single source of light in the room. I got on my knees next to the bed and brushed a piece of hair out of her face, smiling like an idiot. I love this woman with my whole being.

“Scar,” I said softly. Put my hand on her shoulder and brushed along her arm. “Wake up baby,” I tried again then her eyebrows furrowed slightly before she let out a deep sigh. “It's morning already? We just went to sleep,” Scarlett murmured, her voice very deep and raspy. A smile pulled on my lips as she said those words, and even though she didn’t see me yet I nodded. “Yeah, it’s 10 actually. Slept well?” I asked but she still didn’t open her eyes. “Mhm,” Scar pulled the covers off herself a bit and turned to her back. I sat on the edge of the bed, putting a hand on Scarlett’s side to hold myself up. “Happy Birthday baby,” I leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Thank you,” her hand blindly found mine and placed it on her stomach as she kept her eyes closed. “I’ve made breakfast,” I said and she opened one eye, eyebrows furrowed. “Really?” I nodded to her question then she closed her eyes once again making me chuckle. “Get ready, and downstairs,” I left a kiss on her cheek before I got up. “You’re the best,” heard Scarlett say as I walked out of the room. “Just for you, love.”

I already started plating our food when I heard footsteps on the stairs. “Whatever you made, smells good,” Scarlett said as she entered the kitchen before I felt her arm being wrapped around my waist then a kiss on the side of my head. “Here,” I handed her a mimosa and grabbed one for myself. My free hand rested on her shoulder as she patiently waited for my next move. “I love you and I hope everything you wish for will come true. You’re amazing and I’m honored to spend this day with you. I love you. Happy birthday my love,” I said, short and sweet. Leaned in to give her a long kiss, purring all my love into it before Scarlett smiled into the kiss and we pulled away. “I love you and thank you. I wouldn’t want to spend this day with anyone else.”

We sat down at the table and had breakfast in peace. It was a lovely thing really. Very quiet music was playing from the radio in the kitchen and we had light conversations and just soaked in the moment. Scarlett praised my cook all along and I was just happy she liked it. I wanted her to know how much I appreciate and love her, and sometimes my only way with that is food.

“So, first gift, are you ready?” I asked once both of our plates were empty and we had time to relax. Her hand fell off my knee as I stood up and walked behind her to get the painting I made for her. “First? Baby, you really didn’t have to,” she insisted and I just shook my head as I pulled out the wrapped-up canvas. “I didn’t but I did at the same time.”

Got back to the kitchen and stood beside her as she now turned her chair outward and looked up at me. “Please tell me you painted something,” she said with a smile and I just checked before handing it over. “Well, open it,” I shrugged and stood behind her, putting my hands on her shoulders as she ripped the wrapping off then when she saw the popping colors she let out a relieved sigh. “Wow… this is beautiful. I’m still amazed that you can do things like this. Thank you,” she grabbed my hand and planted a kiss on the back of it. “You said you wanted something in the dining room, so I tried to make something that fits in there aesthetically.” “Yes, this is perfect. I love the peaches, it’s amazing.” “I’m glad you like it,” I gave a kiss on the top of her head. She slid the painting away carefully then looked up at me, and pulled me in front of her. “Honestly, I don’t even need anything else,” her smile was everything. Scarlett’s hands were on my thighs, running up and down my skin. “But you will, I thought out everything very well,” I said and she shook her head with a sigh before she pulled me down onto her lap. “I have everything I need right here,” she said gently, although a seductive smile pulled on her lips, and her hands slid up to my bum. I chuckled and shook my head lightly. “Is that a subtle hint for my ass or…” I let the end of the sentence linger and Scarlett just rolled her eyes then put a hand on the back of my head and pulled me down into a kiss.

Her touch was soft but her kiss was passionate and fierce. My hands quickly found their way to her shoulders, before one of them slid to the back of her head, my fingers tangling in her short hair. I pushed myself a little on my tippy toes, and slowly started to grind my hips, kissing her deeply. Scarlett hummed against my lips, her hands sliding around my waist, pushing me down on her lap.

My hands trailed down on her chest, fingers tangling in her hair as she whispered, "I want you." With a smirk, I whispered back, "For what, may I ask?" Scarlett’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she replied, "To make my birthday even sweeter."

I smiled, kissing her soft, plump lips once again. She did not waste any time to take my shirt off, letting it fall by her chair. Her hands eagerly explored every inch of my exposed skin, with her mouth following suit, leaving a trail of kisses and gentle bites.

My breath hitched as I arched into her touch, her fingers digging into my back. My boobs rose and fell with each ragged breath, my eyes darkening with desire as she placed one of my nipples between her lips, causing me to gasp and arch further into her.

Her hands explored every inch of my body, tracing every curve and dip until she reached my shorts, which she slowly slid down my legs along with my underwear. Allowing her, I lifted myself to help her remove them completely, revealing my naked body to her.

She watched the way the light of the room danced across my skin, highlighting every contour. With a soft moan, I reached for her, pulling her closer and pressing my lips against hers. My wetness was evident against her thigh as I pressed myself against Scarlett.

Her hands landed on my hips, pressing me down onto her thigh, allowing me to grind against her. My soft whimpers filled the room as I moved with increasing urgency, my body responding to her touch. As her hands moved my hips at a slow, agonizing pace, her lips sucked hungrily at my neck, leaving a trail of kisses down my collarbone.

"Please," I gasped, my voice barely above a whisper. "Faster."

She obliged, increasing the pressure and speed of her movements and feeling my body tremble in response. With each movement, her name became a desperate plea on my lips, my breath coming in short gasps as I surrendered to the pleasure she was giving me.

My nails dug into her back, my body arching in pleasure as I cried out her name in a mix of pleasure and desperation.

"You want to come, baby?'' Scarlett whispered in my ear, teasingly, as she felt my body shudder with anticipation. All I could give in response was a breathless nod, my eyes pleading for release as she continued to push me closer to the edge.

Her grip on me tightened, helping me speed up as I finally reached my peak, my body trembling in pure bliss as my eyes rolled back, lost in the overwhelming sensation of pleasure.

"You’re doing so good for me," she encouraged me softly, feeling a sense of satisfaction as I finally found release in her arms.

As I came down from my high, she held me close, kissing my forehead gently as I caught my breath. I stood up from her lap, my legs a little wobbly but I pulled her up from the chair and led her to the couch, pushing her down on her back.

“Your turn.” My hands explored her body as I sucked on her neck. She couldn't help but let out a soft moan of pleasure.

Pulling her underwear down, she lifted herself slightly to allow me access, eagerly anticipating the pleasure I was about to give her in return.

With each caress and kiss, I felt her surrendering completely to me. "Please, Y/n," she gasped. My fingers expertly found their way to where she needed them most, sending waves of pleasure through her body.

As I circled her clit with just the right amount of pressure, she arched her back in ecstasy, unable to contain the overwhelming sensations she was feeling.

“Baby, your fingers," she moaned, wanting them inside of her. My fingers slid inside her effortlessly, matching the rhythm of her body's response.

"You're so perfect," I whispered, my voice husky, nipping her jawline as I continued to please her. The combination of my words and touch drove her wild, pushing her closer to the edge of release.

Her walls clenched around my fingers, her breaths coming in short gasps as she surrendered to the intense pleasure building inside her. My skilled touch and whispered words sent her over the edge, her body trembling with the force of her climax.

As she collapsed back against the couch, panting, I couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly beautiful Scarlett was.

"Come here baby," she whispered, pulling me into her arms and kissing me deeply. Straddling her, I smiled down at her, "I'm not done with you yet, love."

My swollen lips brushed against hers as I leaned in for another kiss, my hands already starting to explore her body once more. I moved her legs to allow my sensitive clit to meet hers, sending a surge of pleasure through both of us. The room filled with the sounds of heavy breathing and soft moans as we both lost ourselves in each other, completely consumed by desire.

"Baby, go faster," she gasped, unable to control the overwhelming sensations coursing through her body.

I picked up the pace, my movements becoming more urgent as we both raced towards ecstasy.

As the intensity grew, I felt a wave of euphoria building inside me, pushing me closer to the edge. Scarlett’s breath hitched as she matched my pace, her own pleasure evident in the way her body responded to mine.

With one final thrust, we both reached the peak of pleasure, exploding in a shared moment of pure bliss and our juices mingling in a beautiful, messy symphony. As I collapsed on top of Scarlett, the scent of sweat and sex lingered around us.

“Happy Birthday baby.”

****************************************************

Like by robertdowneyjr and 11 378 923 others

y/n_cole: happy birthday to my Scarly💐🌼 you’re the coolest and sweetest person ever, I love you lots✨❤️ thank god you didn’t get snapped away🕷️❤️

tchalamet not the Infinity War shade👀

y/n_cole it was a must!

florencepugh That cake! Iconic!🍒

y/n_cole I love to be appreciative😌

natasharomanoffsupremacy Y/n is just like us, a huge simp for Scarlett

****************************************************

Y/n’s painting for Scarlett

#gxg #scarlett johansson x you #scarlett johansson x reader #scarlett johansson x female reader #scarlett johansson smut #scarlett johansson imagines #scarlett johansson #florence pugh #little women #timothee chamalet #actress!reader #famous reader #wlw #gl

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sirjaketkiszka · 20 days

Text

It’s a Sin: Chapter One

Priest!Jake Kiszka x Fem!Reader

+++++++++++++++

Father forgive me, I tried not to do it… Turned over a new leaf, then tore right through it…

+++++++++++++++

Word Count: 4,811

Warnings: vague mentions of religious trauma, uneventful, and poor writing.

Disclaimer: apologies for any potential spelling errors or grammar mistakes.

It’s a Sin Masterpost

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The gentle melody coming from the car’s radio fades out of earshot as the view from the backseat fully encapsulates you. Dark gray, gloomy skies act as an incessant threat of the chance of rain– a common occurrence for this time of year– as the branches of the towering western hemlocks sway against the strong wind.

Passing a large sign that reads: Garden’s Gate, your eyes take in the sight before you; Various wood-built structures line cobblestone sidewalks just off the side of the poorly paved road, and small homes nestle themselves between what you assume are family-owned businesses. An assumption you make based on your previous research–

Garden’s Gate, established in the mid-1800s, holds a population of only 253. Well, 254 now. It’s heavily religious, extremely traditional, and very tight-knit. Every building is original, a well-functioning relic, and upheld by its caregivers; the citizens. You can’t lie, the town does intimidate you, especially coming in as an outsider– a non-religious outsider at that. But when you saw pictures of the town while scrolling on your laptop, you fell in love.

Just coming into view is the town’s church, the first building to be created when the town came to be. The foundation is built from local wood, chopped just mere feet away from the church itself, and it’s surrounded by scattered tombstones. The years gone by remain present on the church’s slowly rotted wood as flecks of the boards peel away from the exterior walls. Still, the church stays upright, a consequence of minute renovations that strayed away from disturbing its original composition.

An arched, intricately engraved brown door represents a stark contrast compared to the withered appearance, and similarly, arched stained glass windows take their place on either side. Just above the entrance is a circular window, the panes reminiscent of a daisy, and above that is a smaller square window. A bell hangs from the rooftop of the church, encased by sturdy pillars that uphold the cross.

The outdated taxi turns onto a gravel driveway, just a quarter of a mile long and directly across from the church you’ve been admiring, and leading to your new home. When the grumbling crunch of the rough pebbles begins to slow, and the tires come to a halt, you nearly jump out of the cab. The driver plasters on a polite smile, putting the car in park and exiting to retrieve your bags from the trunk.

“Please, let me get that,” You insist, rushing to his side and peeling your eyes away from the beautifully built cottage before you. The both of you fumble to lift the heavy luggage from the car, an exaggerated oof punching from your lungs when you set the suitcase on the damp ground. When the driver gently places your smaller bag on top, you graciously thank him, handing him the hefty toll that accumulated from your journey from the nearest airport; over an hour away.

As the faded yellow car turns around and descends the long, winding driveway, your feet stay planted, your eyes frantically observing the exterior of the house; it’s quaint with tall windows and deep green grass crawling along the layered stone skirt of the structure. The worn paint is off-white, but chipping off in various places, and the roof is harboring a light fuzz of growing moss, a result of the constant dew blanketing over the town. You love it.

Slinging your small carry-on over your shoulder, and firmly gripping the handle of your overweight luggage, you trek across the scattered stone path leading to the front steps. The two short steps creak and groan under your own weight and the added load. As far as you know, the house has remained unoccupied for years but was taken care of by members of the local church.

So, when you lift the dingy doormat inches away from your feet, retrieve the house key, and open the door with an agonizingly loud rasp, you’re surprised to see how well-kept the interior is. Any leftover furniture is covered with discolored bedsheets, and there’s a lack of dust that you expected to see when first entering.

Somehow, the inside of the house is eerily more cold than outside, causing goosebumps to pepper along your skin. The air is stagnant, just the tiniest specks of dust floating past your line of sight, and like the steps leading up to the door, the stained pine hardwood floors squeak beneath you.

“Just needs a little love,” You sigh, surveying the open living room. It seems as though the only furniture left that isn’t yours is the used leather couch, the oval-shaped coffee table a couple of feet from it, and a large, empty bookshelf that resides to the left of the room. All the other furniture, however, is yours– delivered just the day before by a moving company you hired. Was it smart to tell them where the key was so they could go in without you? Probably not, but nothing seems out of place or alarming.

While it’s the middle of the day, the murky sky prohibits any ray of sun from shining through, resulting in the dimly lit space in front of you. Thankfully, the light switch is beside the door, and you flick it upward; though, it doesn’t do much.

There was very little information online about the house you stand in, and all you know is that it was built not long after the town originated. It still has its original flooring, the same awful wallpaper installed in the 1970s, and turns out, the later-added light fixtures from the mid-1900s.

Finished with your gawking, you drag your hefty suitcase into the house, pass the threshold, and leave it leaning against the wall with the smaller bag. As you step further inside, you notice the layout; the kitchen is to the right of the first floor, a large cut-out space in the dividing wall allows a look out into the living room, and there is no dining room, just a spot big enough for a dining table in the corner of the kitchen.

The kitchen is small, but big enough for just you. Due to previous renovations, polished sandy stone counters lay upon dark mahogany wood cabinets. It’s not a look you would usually go for, and it’s certainly not your taste, but that was a problem for later, you ultimately decide. Thankfully, a gas stove and rundown refrigerator are provided with the house, although you’re not entirely sure how well they work. The refrigerator hasn’t been plugged in for however long, and you’re extremely relieved to see that the shelves are spotless and no lingering smell wafts from it when you cautiously swing the door open.

Taking in the final sweep of the kitchen, you notice a packed box labeled “Bedroom: second floor” is set on the counter beside the built-in sink, most likely forgotten by the movers. You lift the decently heavy box with a quick huff and haul it to the stairs to the left of the living room. Carefully looking over the box, you ascend the stairs and are met with a slim hallway, consisting of three doors; your bedroom, the bathroom, and a smaller room, which will most likely be your hobby room.

The bedroom door is left open, allowing you to shuffle into the bland room without struggling with the doorknob. Setting the box onto your bare mattress, it bounces against the plush material, nearly falling over the edge. An exasperated huff rushes past your lips as you plant your hands on your hips, spinning in a slow 360 while your eyes scan the room; The walls are a beautiful shade of sage green– a consequence of the previous tenant– and the floors match the dark red mahogany of the kitchen cabinets. Now this, you wouldn’t change.

Moving boxes littered the hardwood floors, most of them piling up in the farthest corner, acting as a reminder of the extensive work you have ahead of you; unpacking.

You must’ve spent hours just unpacking the boxes belonging to your room– going back and forth on what should be placed where and if you should hang your clothes or fold them into the dresser. Needless to say, these are very important decisions. And with important decisions, came great hunger pains.

“My goodness,” You mumble under your breath, checking the digital clock you unpacked and noticing that the last time you ate was just before your flight. Eight hours ago. Needing a break, you lift from your seated position on your bedroom floor and stretch, letting out an obnoxious groan at the sensation of your joints cracking and back arching out of your previous slouch.

You figure now’s as good a time as any to explore the town, and it’s definitely not because you have no food. On any other day, you would cook. In fact, you love it. The art of cooking felt calming for you, but it’s only something you do as a hobby. It stays sacred that way. Had you pursued it as a career, it would’ve been tainted. Not done purely for enjoyment, but out of obligation.

Either way, you need to eat now. Your stomach growls and cramps at the mere thought of food, and your arms instinctively wrap around your torso for a sense of relief. Where can I eat? What can I eat? You don’t know the town well enough, but perhaps walking down the vacant streets will lead you to a restaurant, or a store, of some sort.

Loud footsteps echo through your house as you saunter down the aged steps of the staircase, your exhaustion and hunger forcing you to move at a leisurely rate. Unsure of the early evening weather, you grab your jacket that hangs on the coat rack by the door anyway, pushing your arms through the thick sleeves and leaving the front open.

Just as you expected, the early October air nips at your face the moment you open the front door, the tip of your nose immediately reddening and cheeks turning rosy from the harsh cold. In your hometown, it’d still be decently warm, probably in the low-70s, but you relished in the colder months. You always look forward to wearing your plethora of knitted sweaters, warm leggings, and chunky boots.

The hinges of the door screech behind you as it shuts, and you turn to lock it, pocketing the key and walking down the ridged path ahead of you.

It’s a short walk, and it’s nearly a ghost town. In the five minutes it takes you to walk to the main road, cross it, and enter the town, you have yet to see a single soul. The uncomfortable atmosphere reminds you of an episode of The Twilight Zone. Actually, the very first episode of The Twilight Zone… Small town. Completely alone.

Your inner monologue nearly leads you to run back home, but you push through, realizing how ridiculous the thought is. As you step into civilization, if you could call it that, you do notice the silhouette of store clerks passing in your peripheral as you search the store signs. Phew.

The stores are decently spaced apart, and some of the elderly structures are homes of the town residents. The uneven cobblestone sidewalk urges you to walk cautiously as you admire the historical details, reading the signs as you stroll by;

Bank. Very thorough.

Seamstress. Not quite it.

Antiques. The whole town is one.

Bakery. Perfect!

The bakery sports large windows displaying their baked goods, and the sight of them causes your stomach to grumble. Your hand impatiently wraps around the store’s doorhandle, swinging it open, and making the bell above it ring. The interior isn’t very well-lit, like most things here, apparently. There’s a total of three tables in the dining area, each with two seats, and a large L-shaped counter that houses all of the pastries.

Hungry eyes scan the abundance of food, probably enough to feed the whole town, you assume, until they land on the cashier. She stands behind the glass counter, a large outdated cash register stationed in front of her. You can tell by the look on her face that she knows you’re not from here, and despite her customer service smile, she’s wary. To dilute the tension, you smile, stepping up to the register.

“Hi, there,” Your voice rang out louder than you expected, and you may have freaked her out even more.

“Hi,” She pauses, her voice reflecting her concern, “Um– What can I help you with?”

“Well, I just moved here,” You explain, and the tension in her stiff shoulders falters for a moment, “So, I’m not sure what to get, what do you suggest?” Maybe asking her for her opinion would ease her anxiety, and it seems to work.

“Oh!” She perks up, eyeing the pastries through the glass and pointing, “You’ll love our housemade muffins. Any flavor, really.”

“I’ll take one of each flavor then,” Your insatiable hunger does the talking for you, but you know you’ll eat the rest later. You have quite the sweet tooth, and sure, you should be eating a “real” meal, but– you have no excuse.

“Perfect,” She smiles, genuinely this time, as she places each flavor into a medium-sized box; Blueberry, chocolate chip, banana nut, poppy seed, and cinnamon crumble. Yum. Setting the box on the counter beside the register, she rings you up, stating your total as you happily hand her your card, “So, you’re the one who bought the house across the church.” She states. It’s not a question. You guess your move was the talk of the tiny town. There’s no surprise there.

“Word gets around, huh?” You chuckle, taking back your card when she hands it to you.

“Well,” She chuckles as well, insinuating that of course word gets around in a town with a population below 300. “We didn’t think it would ever sell. Not that there’s anything wrong with it! It’s just that newcomers aren’t very common, you know?”

“I figured,” Your tone is understanding as you shrug, grabbing the box off the counter, and the decent weight of the baked goods surprises you. The cashier offers you a gracious smile as you thank her for her help, spinning on the heels of your feet and heading for the door. Your hand stalls on the doorknob, and you turn to look at her, “I’m sorry, what’s your name? I could use a familiar face around here.”

“Sara! Without the H,” Her cheerful voice carries across the small bakery like she’s relieved that you asked, and it makes you feel warm, “What’s yours?”

When you answer, she repeats your name back to herself as a reminder and waves you off, calling out to you to let her know how you like the muffins. You didn’t go into town expecting to make any friends so soon, but you’re sure glad you did.

Rushing home, your eyes focus on the moving ground beneath your feet; bulky stones make your steps wobbly, and you’re careful not to trip. Unlike your short journey into town, it feels as though the walk back takes an eternity due to pure impatience.

The crisp air pinches your skin as you work against the breeze, your eyes looking both ways down the entirely empty road as you cross it. The wet gravel shifts under your feet as you stomp up your driveway and finally approach your home. Though, at the moment, it feels like just a house. Vacant, void of fond memories, and any familiarity.

You ultimately decide eating alone at your thrifted dining room table feels too depressing, so you settle for the slightly damp front door steps. Plopping down, the light layer of moisture soaks into your pants, and you squirm at the feeling.

“Gross,” You grumble, your hands fidgeting with the folding lid of the paper box. When you flip the top open, you’re face to face with five large muffins, all delicately handcrafted and baked to perfection. The uncomfortable feeling underneath you becomes a distant thought as you grab the blueberry muffin with two hands, letting the box balance on your legs. You waste no time bringing the fluffy baked good to your mouth, your lips parting and teeth flashing to consume a substantial bite.

The sweetness coats your tongue and an exaggerated groan leaves your throat as you chew slowly, your teeth crushing the shriveled blueberries. You’re not sure if this is the best muffin you’ve ever had, or if you’re just really hungry. Though, it didn’t matter. If the bakery did a blueberry muffin this well, the rest had to be held to the same standard, you hope.

So, for the next five minutes, you take a bite from each muffin, eyes nearly rolling back at the taste of each one. If you really wanted to, you could finish all five right this second because of your persistent hunger, but you’ll show restraint… For now.

Just as you’ve circled back to the blueberry muffin, you notice a line of people waiting outside the church just across the street. It’s not Sunday. You thought to yourself as your eyebrows furrowed, watching as a priest opened the doors to the church, welcoming the group of church-goers in. The amount isn’t large, maybe ten people, but you keep watching intently. They’re too far to hear, and even to see clearly, so you assume that the priest is thanking each member for coming with every vague nod of his head.

You’re unable to get a good look at the priest, but from your seated position, he looks young. Squinting your eyes, you’re only able to make out that he has long hair, and is average height. His features are blurred as a result of the distance, and you find yourself wanting to wander over there just to see him. Something about his presence is alluring.

Once you think you’ve had enough of the food in front of you, you close the box and stand, your eyes still drawn to the church. You aren’t religious, not at all, but the concept intrigues you. Devoting your life to a person, or people, you’re not confident exist. Believing in something greater as a sense of comfort. You admire it. But, you also despise it.

Reemerging suppressed memories cause you to zone out, planted where you stand on the last step of your small porch. The silence morphs into whispered echoes of your childhood, and your hands absently squeeze around the delicate box.

The kids exiting the church hurled overplayed insults at you. None you haven’t heard before. If anything, you wished they were more creative. You couldn’t lie, though, it all hurt the same.

A single drop of rain pulls you from your recollection as your eyes frantically blink, realizing you’re staring down the church, the priest looking directly at you through fickle raindrops. Still, you can’t make out any defining features, and he seems to be struggling with the same predicament. The line of people has filed into the ancient building, but he stands there, looking at you.

Not bothering to acknowledge him, you turn around and step up to your door, quickly unlocking it and stepping inside before the rain becomes a consistent downpour.

The sight of your disorganized living room and kitchen causes an irritated exhale to exit your lungs. That would have to be a problem for tomorrow since the comforting sound of speckled rain on your lanky windows pulls a yawn from you. The day wears on you– traveling, unpacking, a bit of exploring– it all takes a toll on you.

Your feet drag as you set the half-eaten muffins on the kitchen counter, and you lazily complete your nighttime routine, having to actively pull from boxes to find what you need. You figure a lot of your unpacking will play out that way; you needing something, then having to search for it, and inevitably unpacking the rest in the process.

Usually, you’d struggle with falling asleep in an unfamiliar environment, but the moment your head hits the pillow, your heavy eyelids blind you. Your breathing evens, your body falls limp, and your features soften in restful bliss.

“You shouldn’t let their words bother you, baby,” Your mom swept the hair sticking to your tear-stained cheeks away and cradled your face in the palm of her hands.

“They kept talking about you,” You sniffled, looking her in the eyes with shame, “They said mean things.” Your voice came out in a whisper, and she sighed.

“Do you want to know why?”

A knock at your door causes you to shoot up from your lying position and a startled gasp expands your lungs as you bend at the waist with your blankets pooling around you. Your sleep-ridden eyes move around the room, remembering where you are, and that yes, you did move into a new house. Most of the empty boxes have been moved to the hallway, and the rising sun casts a soft light across your bed sheets. Looking at the clock on your otherwise bare nightstand, it’s still relatively early, 7 o’clock to be exact, and you aren’t expecting any visitors.

The lack of central heat sends a chill down your stiff spine as you search for your robe hanging in the nicely sized-closet. Wrapping the warm, soft garment around your trembling frame, you head downstairs where the knocking continues for the second time.

“Coming!” You call out, hopefully loud enough for the person on the other side of the door to hear.

Through the stained glass, you see a dark figure standing on the steps, their head rotating and looking around the outside of your house. You pause for a moment before opening the door, the bright contrast of outside piercing your dim-adjusted eyes, causing you to squint to focus. When your gaze finally lands on the man in front of you, you realize it’s the priest from yesterday.

As you had guessed previously, he’s of average height and has long, wavy hair that has grown just below his shoulders. The ends of his chestnut hair are thinned out, but it holds decent volume as it swoops into a side part, likely a consequence of his hands running through it. His face is chiseled, his high cheekbones prominent through his hollow cheeks, and his jawline is well defined. A light purple hue swatches underneath his eyes, emphasizing their captivating auburn shade of brown, and his blush pink lips quirk in a friendly smirk. He’s young, probably around your age, and it surprises you.

He’s wearing all black– a long sleeve button-up, paired with his clerical collar, and a pair of jeans that are a slightly lighter shade of black compared to the rest of his outfit. Over everything, he’s wearing a black petticoat that stops right at his knees, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets.

“Uh– Hi, can I help you?” You ask, still holding onto the door, and shielding half of your body.

“Hello, I’m Father Jacob Thomas Kiszka,” His voice is surprisingly smooth, and your heart quickens a beat, “I haven’t had the chance to properly introduce myself.” He smiles, pulling his hand from his pocket and holding it out for you to shake. His fingers are lengthy, and his hands are quite veiny, and they curl around your hand gently when you accept the handshake. His palm is warm, and incredibly soft as his semi-firm grip bobs your guys’ hands up and down.

“It’s no problem,” You dismiss while releasing his hand and letting yours awkwardly hang beside you when his lingering warmth melts away, “I only got here yesterday.”

“That’s right,” His smile falters a little, falling into a permanent content smirk, “Do you mind if I come in?”

“Not at all,” You lie through a clenched smile, suddenly very aware of the state of your house, and you, “Can I fix you a cup of coffee?” You ask while stepping aside, letting him cross the threshold. When he slides past you, his overpowering scent floats just beneath your nose as you breathe in. The breeze in his wake smells strongly of cinnamon, a mixture of other rich spices, and musk. You find yourself breathing in again, holding the scent in your lungs like a drag from a cigarette.

Shutting the door behind him as he graciously smiles at you, his eyes wander around the still-covered furniture in the living room, and the boxes piled along the walls. Heat creeps up your neck, embarrassment burning in your gut from the mess.

“I’m okay,” He finally answers, turning to you with that perpetual smirk.

“Suit yourself,” You shrug, disappearing into the kitchen. The coffee maker is stashed away in one of the boxes, and you don’t plan on searching for it now, but you need an excuse to step away. Your hands fly to your frizzy hair as you roughly brush out any kinks with your fingers, and you rub the remaining sleep from your eyes. Had you expected company, you would’ve looked somewhat presentable, but you haven't been granted that pleasure.

When you reappear in the living room, he immediately turns to you, both hands back in his pockets. His presence is slightly offputting, though you’re not entirely sure why. Despite his average size, his vitality consumes the space surrounding him, including yourself.

“I apologize if I’ve woken you up,” He speaks, his eyes discreetly glancing over you, “I understand that it’s early.”

“Please, it’s okay,” You wave a hand at him, “I was already awake.” Another lie.

“Right,” He chuckles, and it’s apparent that he knows you’re lying, “I won’t be long– I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood.”

“I appreciate that, Father,” You smile at his welcoming words, and for a moment, his body language is conflicting. He’s contemplating something, and you’re eager to know what it is.

“May I ask, do you attend church, Miss…” Oh. That question. It’s not your first time hearing it, and honestly, you expected it, especially from him. The end of his last word drags out as he waits for you to introduce yourself, something you forgot to do when he did so himself.

You answer quickly, stating your first and last name, but insisting that he calls you by your first. “Miss” felt too formal. You are anything but formal. “I can’t say that I do,” You answer his question truthfully, and you don’t miss how disappointment radiates off his stature.

“That’s a shame,” His words alone sound harsh, but his tone is discouraged, and you know he doesn’t mean it the way it came out. “I’m sure you can tell, but this town, the people, are very… devout. I figured I’d ask,” A pause, “Perhaps, if you’d like, you could join us.” His insinuation feels like a punch in the gut, and you hate to have to reject his offer, but attending church is out of the question.

“That’s a lovely offer, Father,” You say sincerely, and the shift in his demeanor indicates that he already knows you’re going to decline, “But I’ll have to turn you down on that, I’m sorry.”

“No worries,” He waves you off now, his eyebrows furrowing at the increasing concern on your features. You hate saying no to people, and somehow, rejecting a priest’s offer for you to come to his church feels even worse. “Just thought I’d ask,” He shrugs, offering you a flash of a closed-mouth smile.

“Alright,” An uncomfortable silence falls in the space between you two, and his gaze lingers on yours for a moment longer.

“Anyway,” He clears his throat, eyes shifting from yours, “I should get out of your hair– let you get settled in.”

“Of course,” You step toward the door, opening it for him and watching as he steps back outside, turning to face you, “Thanks for stopping by, Father.”

“It was a pleasure,” Your name rolls off his tongue effortlessly, and you feel guilty for silently wishing he’d say it again, “I’ll see you around.”

Watching as he turns around, you observe how he strides down the stone path, his hair swaying with every swift step and broad shoulders mimicking the movement. Unable to look away, you keep your eyes on him until he’s disappeared into the church, not sparing another glance in your direction. You still feel as though you’re not completely awake, and your strange, brief interaction with Father Jacob only solidifies the contemplation of whether you’re dreaming.

An unexplainable and nagging feeling settles in your gut, but you choose to ignore it, chalking it up to built-up stress. Closing your door, you face the surplus of labor scattered across the living room and kitchen. Procrastination calls to you, but you refrain.

“Let’s get this over with.”

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A new Jake fic, hurray! I hope you all enjoyed chapter one <3

I’ve been waiting to write this since the idea came to me in a dream, oddly enough. Much love!!

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Taglist:

@musicislove3389 @fleetingjake @peaceloveunitygvf @dancingcarbon

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Tags:

#greta van fleet #jake kiszka #jake kiszka fanfic #jake kiskza x reader #jacob thomas kiszka #jake gvf #jake kiska fic #jake kiskza smut #gvf fic #gvf smut #jake x reader #priest jake kiszka #greta van smut #greta van fic #gvf fanfiction #greta van fluff

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neerons · 7 months

Text

Masquerade Kiss 💋

Revenge & Challenge event | All stories' summaries

[Warning: this is a long post. I have left aside the stories "That was actually..." as they were very short and didn't mention anything important about either the characters' development, or past]

ᴋᴀᴢᴜᴏᴍɪ

Mini Scoop 1 & 2

(Location: The US)

① In this story, Kazuomi surprises MC by visiting her at her new office (as a freelance agent). He suggests to her to go somewhere she might like, but she turns him down as she has something already planned which is… eating noodles! Instant noodles, something Kazuomi had never tasted in his entire life. MC asks him if he wants to try eating it as well, and as Kazuomi is adventurous and never misses a chance to try new things, he discovers the taste of instant noodles.

Kazuomi compares them to the flavorless noodles he had back in college and say they’re complete opposites. Kazuomi doesn’t seem to hate the taste too much, and MC says the taste is quite addictive, and that she will make him discover more flavors and foods common people would eat, and that he had never tried out. Kazuomi agrees but insists that he wants them to have steak for dinner later.

② It’s evening and time for their dinner date, but Kazuomi is late. MC waits for him in his living room at the Raven while watching the latest drops to a streamer. She then recognizes a location used for a movie, which happens to be the Raven. She's surprised, and this is how MC learns that not only a movie was shot at the Raven, but also had Kazuomi take part as an actor for a scene. Kazuomi comes back home right at this time, and seeing what she's looking at, he explains to MC he had a cameo* role in that movie years ago. He had also attended the awards ceremony. Kazuomi had to play his own role from real life, which is the owner of the Raven hotel.

MC thinks about how he looks younger, has a youthful energy on screen and acts a bit differently despite playing his own role. MC rewinds the movie to watch his scene again, but to MC’s disappointment Kazuomi snaps his finger which turns the screen off. He mentions they should get going or they’ll be late to dinner, and MC tells him he can tell her about this experience over delicious steaks. He agrees and smiles, and they eventually leave his place.

(*Cameo: a very brief appearance in a movie or play, usually played by celebrities or actors)

Fun Picnic Challenge 1 & 2

(Location: Japan)

① In this story, MC gets assigned a mission that leads her to fly to Japan. Kazuomi surprises her yet again by waiting for her at the airport, and knowing that her mission is not urgent, takes her somewhere.

Kazuomi and MC go on a picnic in a park in Japan. Among all the other families present there, MC mentions they both stand out and look out of place, like they don’t belong here, especially Kazuomi. Confirming her feeling, women whisper loudly enough for them to hear that they think Kazuomi looks like a celebrity. People soon gather to get a bit closer to see him, but still keep their distance. MC thinks to herself that in the US, people see Kazuomi as a hometown hero while he comes off as intimidating to Japanese people.

As they walk to find a nice picnic spot, they hold hands which reminds MC that they never really had classic, ordinary dates like this one. They end up finding a good spot on an open field, and as Kazuomi and her set up the blanket for their picnic, MC laughs about how it’s very strange to see Kazuomi doing this, not used to seeing him do ordinary things. She explains to him that he has to put weight on the corners of the blanket, to prevent it from moving because of the wind. He listens as he never did such things and isn't used to it.

② They start eating the bentos with the typical Japanese homey food Kazuomi brought for their lunch, which was made by a chef. Kazuomi, in a sort of somber tone, mentions how the food tastes really good, "too good, even". MC understands that it sounds like there’s a deeper meaning to his words, but doesn’t question him and enjoys her date with him.

They soon finish eating everything and relax by lying on the blanket. Out of the blue, Kazuomi starts telling MC a little bit about his past. He explains that his mother once brought him to a park to have a picnic between the two of them just like this. He doesn’t know why she suddenly did that, considering that it’s not something they ever did in their family. We learn that his mother came from a rather wealthy family, and that she never had to cook or do anything on her own due to this.

Despite her lack of knowledge, his mother had prepared a bento herself for the picnic she had planned for her and Kazuomi. She didn't know how to cook, but still tried. An overly sweet Japanese omelet. Burnt fried chicken. These are the traditional foods she tried to make for them. Kazuomi thinks back on these memories, which makes MC remember his earlier words about the food the chef made being "too good". She realizes that due to nostalgia, burnt chicken might taste better than a meal prepared by a chef to Kazuomi.

Understanding that this memory comes with sadness for him, MC decides not to ask anything and proposes to play badminton together, as a way of making him associate picnic to a happy memory instead. Smiling again, Kazuomi agrees and they start a bet for their match.

Redacted Lover: The Depths of His Heart 1 & 2

(Location: Japan & The US)

① In this story, Kazuomi suddenly wakes up from a dream in the middle of the night. Heart pounding and covered in sweat. He’s in his bedroom at his place in Japan, and had a dream he often has, especially when it’s Christmas. We don’t learn what he saw in that dream, but we understand it’s linked to the memory of when he lost everything.

Kazuomi once again is reminded that "forever" might not exist, which makes him think of MC and their relationship. He turns to look at his side, but she’s not lying next to him. She’s on a mission, so he’s sleeping alone. Kazuomi is thankful that she doesn’t have to see him in that state, as he doesn’t want to show her how pathetic and weak he can be. He doesn’t want anyone to see him like that, but especially her.

As he ponders on how he used to be like before, he mentions that not even Yuzu and Kei know the old him. Naive and sweet. He used to foolishly think that "her" love was forever. We understand he’s talking about his mother. He used to think a mother’s love lasted until death, but he was wrong.

(MC’s PoV)

Luca (Hugo’s cousin and MC’s new coworker) tells MC she got assigned a new mission by somebody she used to work for back when she was at the EAC. Being in the US, MC flies to Japan to work her mission, and she is led to a residential neighborhood with luxury homes. She’s done with her mission and prepares to head back, but she suddenly and surprisingly spots Kazuomi near her, looking at a house that seems even more luxurious among the other ones.

She wonders what he’s doing here, and realizes his behavior is strange compared to usual. He seems to not have noticed her presence, which is weird coming from him. She goes to walk towards him and wants to call out his name, but she stops herself. On Kazuomi’s face is an expression she has never seen before. A look of pure hatred and coldness.

She wonders what that house means to him. She decides it’d be weird to not talk to him, so she walks near him and casually greets him as if nothing happened. Kazuomi seems panicked to see her. It’s the first time she sees that expression on his face as well and is confused about his reaction. He asks her what she’s doing here, something he had never been concerned with whether she was working or not, which confuses MC even more.

Kazuomi appears to be shaking and looks down momentarily to gain his composure back. MC thinks he’s not being himself, and understands that the house he’s looking at must be the one he grew up in before losing everything. MC asks him if he wants to have a glass of champagne at the Raven since she’s done with her business, and he agrees in a small voice and starts walking along with her without looking at MC.

MC asks him where his limo is, and Kazuomi responds he came here alone. MC is surprised since it’s long to walk from the Raven to their current location, but when Kazuomi asks her if she wants him to call the driver, she refuses, as she feels like walking.

② Kazuomi and MC arrive at the hotel, and share a glass of champagne. Kazuomi is very quiet and doesn't look at her. MC remembers that during all the time they've been together, they had never pointed out each other's weaknesses, therefore she never asked him anything about his past. MC asks him if she can stay around with him a bit longer, and without saying anything, he shows his approval by pouring her another glass of champagne.

MC then notes how far they're sitting from each other, when normally they would be sitting next to each other and talk non-stop. She says their usual conversations increasingly became like tennis matches since they met, and were filled with banter which felt like home to them both. Now they're both sitting quietly as Kazuomi acts differently.

Considering how he has always accepted her for who she was no matter what, MC decides to see him for who he is as well, and asks him if he can tell her what happened. Kazuomi eventually opens up to her about his past.

(Kazuomi's PoV and flashback)

We learn he used to live in a grand house in Japan, with staff (butlers and maids) who greeted him when he came back home after school. His father was a self-made man with a successful business. His mother, (named "Mrs. Shido" in-game) came to see him and waited to have dinner for him even though he was a bit late coming home from school that day. She mentions she doesn't mind waiting for him as she likes to eat with him. Kazuomi, however, wonders if she actually means it, but deep down he hoped it was true.

He surprisingly mentions how he doesn't look like her at all. But how he's in fact the very spitting image of his father, like twins. We then learn that Kazuomi's father had many mistresses, and he doesn't know whether or not his father's wife is his actual mother. Kazuomi had checked the official documents of his birth, but he mentions that his dad could have very well changed the information about his birth mother to hide who his actual mother is.

Kazuomi remembers how his father was rarely coming home and would have done everything for his business. It's heavily hinted that his father got his hands dirty to make his business successful, too. He even sometimes came home with a group of threatening men with whom he had private conversations in a room.

Kazuomi recalls that despite the luxury and friendly staff, somehow the home was cold. He then mentions that the "too bright lights" and faked smiles of the staff were all used to better hide the truth. He couldn't stand any of these things anymore, except for one: his mother.

Despite not knowing if they're linked by blood, he says she loves him... or not. He thinks she only loves his father, who she's loving through Kazuomi since she's often ignored by her husband when he comes home. She was left feeling lonely and gave her affection to Kazuomi instead.

Kazuomi then tells MC how at that time he thought everything would last forever, but... He couldn't finish his sentence, stopped by his painful memories of the truth we have yet to discover. MC tells him that she won't ask any questions unless he wants her to, that she's focusing and is here for the current Kazuomi, and doesn't care about his past. Kazuomi smiles at that. They continue their night holding hands on the couch while sipping champagne.

Later on, they go to bed without being intimate with each other and sleep. Kazuomi wakes up again in the middle of the night, and at his side, there's MC sleeping, dreaming about Kazuomi taking away from her her DVD with Tom Cruise, which makes him laugh since she doesn't seem to have changed even though he confessed some revelations to her earlier.

This time, he didn't have a nightmare. Kazuomi appreciates that MC didn't ask him anything more about his past, as she valued what was important to him more than what she could have learned. His love for her is also even more affirmed as she wasn't weirded out by him or shocked with the way he acted. He thinks this:

"This is why you mean so much to me. This is why I want you my side. Maybe you are someone in whom I could confide everything."

He mentions how he tried to replace his old painful memories with new ones with Zack, the family, and motel. But he can never forget his mother and the past. He then asks MC something out loud while she's sleeping. About whether or not she'd still love him if he showed his true, actual self, and saw how pathetic he really is. He wonders if her love would sway upon learning how stuck in the past he is. But despite not believing in forever, he hopes that's what will define their relationship. He wants their relationship to last.

We understand finally that, the current Kazuomi Shido acts the way he does as a sort of persona, but that his behavior might be an act he uses to hide his past. He acts the way he thinks people, and even MC would want him, Kazuomi Shido, to act. But one day, he'll gamble everything, such as his life, and will risk losing everything again to hope taking everything back. Everything that was stolen from him back then. When that time comes, he'll have to let go of MC's hand, as "nothing is forever in this world".

ᴋᴇɪ

Mini Scoop 1 & 2

(Location: UK)

① Kei comes back to his hotel room at the Raven where MC greets him. Lately, MC mentions that he always goes straight to the bathroom to take a shower right after coming home, without coming near MC. MC says that ordinarily, this would look like he'd be cheating on her, but she knows him well enough to know he wouldn't do that. MC thinks that he must be trying to wash away scents that he doesn't like.

(Kei's PoV, at GoE's headquarters)

Kei and Josh try to find ways to improve security around the headquarters, but Kei asks Josh if he would want to build a tree house in the forest. Josh recalls that they always talked about building one as kids, but never got to do it. Kei thinks back to his past, where he, Maru (the puppy they found) and Josh found branches they could use for the tree house. In the end, they couldn't make that wish come to life.

MC came to headquarters and, as she found no one in the basement, followed the footprints in the back of the church which lead her to them. She sees Josh and Kei build the tree house based off of plans made by Victoria in the forest. She's surprised as she sees Kei climb a tree. She realizes in that moment he had been taking showers to wash off the dirt. Kei meaningfully tells Josh they're finally doing what they couldn't back then, and that there will be more to come. MC leaves the two friends as she doesn't want to intrude.

② MC is at GoE headquarters, drinking tea and eating cookies she brought from the Raven with Josh. Josh starts saying how he wishes he knew how to make cookies like these, to sell them faster for charity. MC starts to wonder if Kei should have kept religion as a part of his life, seeing how Josh turned out. She also wonders what Josh thinks of Kei giving up his faith, and ends up asking him if he thinks Kei has changed. MC assumes that Kei must have changed a lot compared to when he was a child, however Josh tells her he's very much like the Kei he knows, a protector and a leader.

We then get a flashback to Kei and Josh as children living at church. Kei gets openly angry at the priests and argues they don't feed them enough despite getting money from charity. The priest responds that it's to keep them from committing the sin of gluttony. Kei replies that he knows they keep all the food and drinks to themselves and leave them weak. Kei thinks they do this on purpose so they can't resist, since they usually barely feed the children when it's that time of the month. The time when the devil comes.

Josh tries to calm Kei down so he doesn't get punished, but Kei has a plan and violently throws a chair at a priest and starts pulling out his hair. This is a plan elaborated so that, hopefully, one of the sisters will discreetly share more food with them.

Hearing the story, MC wonders if the current Kei she sees is gaining his original self back by protecting others, like he used to.

Redacted Lover: Leading the Remains 1 & 2

(Location: France)

① This story happens around two weeks after Kei was involuntarily hospitalized by MI6 after a mental break. In order to try to recollect more of Kei's repressed memories, he and MC went from London to Paris, and have then taken the train to go to the Romleys' winery, located away from the city. They get a bit closer physically as they are sitting next to each other, and MC notices his body is seemingly colder than usual, like a doll's. MC eyes Kei looking at the mountains while on the train, and she recalls that Kei is often struggling to keep himself in the present moment as he often dissociates with his year-old self lately.

Kei asks her again if she really is okay with following him to the winery, and MC confirms that she'll keep her word and always be there next to him, which makes Kei smile. MC thinks that they both know how risky it is to try to discover Kei's repressed memories by going to the place where his traumatic experience began, but Kei is compelled to go. In order to stop Caleb who is an immediate danger, Kei wants and has to recover everything he can to be more stable quickly.

MC doesn't agree with Kei's plan as she is scared for him, but she knows Kei couldn't care less about his own pain and will respect his wishes. They arrive at the winery when it's still light outside, and they go to see Libre*, another horse that was then replaced after the last one with the same name was killed by Caleb. Kei greets the horse and he seems relieved to see him. Kei tells the horse apologetically that for his safety, he (the horse) will have to go to London for some time and that he can't stay here. MI6 will watch over the horse until things are over with Caleb.

(*Libre means "Free" in French)

MC remembers her conversation with Caleb from before and that he has taken the first Libre's mane after killing him. She also recalls how she learned that Caleb loves Chad, which is why he targeted Kei and Libre. She also learned that Chad and Anne are special agents who worked for MI6 before. MC hasn't told Kei about this conversation, and has a dilemma of whether she should tell him or not.

After that, they get closer to a storage building near the winery where unused barrels and tools are kept. Kei asks her if she remembers the time he told her he had built a secret hideout there. She says she does, and Kei starts walking towards the storehouse by taking little steps. He explains that his secret hideout served the purpose of hiding. She understands what he means when he says that, and Kei continues to mention it was to escape from Caleb. Kei mentions Caleb kept visiting this place even after what he had done to the original Libre.

MC asks Kei about Chad's and Anne's opinion about Caleb, but Kei replies he probably has never told anyone about what Caleb did and what happened at this winery, so they didn't have anything to say about Caleb still coming here. MC tells her she remembers that when Kei first took her to this winery before, he mentioned that he has wanted to be a "good boy" for his family. MC asks him if what he meant back then, about being a "good boy", meant that he had to keep what happened with Caleb a secret from Chad and Anne. Kei and MC are holding hands, and Kei starts gripping her hand more tightly. She looks at him, and he faintly nods.

They finally arrive in front of the storehouse, and Kei is visibly tense, which is very unusual of him, as he often wears a pokerface or mask. MC thinks that who he was the first time they came here and who he is now are like two different people. She thinks how now, Kei has changed so much and reclaimed his emotions, how he lets himself feel and want things. Reuniting with Josh, who he thought he had lost, also helped him recover his memories. She wonders, if Kei hadn't met her, would he have lived his life without remembering these memories? If he hadn't opened his heart to love her, Caleb wouldn't have targeted him. She thinks all of this happened because he met her. That all the root of his suffering is her presence in his life, as well as their love and romance.

Kei tells her to wait outside, and lets go of her hand. They're standing in front of the wooden double doors, and he says he needs to do this part alone. He opens the door with an old key, which can be a metaphor of Kei opening the door to the memories he's kept back.

② We are following Kei through his PoV as he enters the old storehouse. Since the area they're in is known for its safety and being low-crime, the caretaker of the storehouse once told Kei there isn't really a need to lock up the storehouse. That explains why Caleb managed to come here as he pleased. Kei mentions that if he had remembered that sooner, he wouldn't have taken MC into this hell. He thinks back on the choker, now tainted with bad memories for him and MC. Kei calls it cursed.

Kei finally opens the doors and closes them behind him as MC watched him enter. Kei finally remembers that this place isn't really his secret hideout, but a place he had built desperately to hide from Caleb. "What happened that night, the night that's stained with Libre's blood?". Kei remembers his shirt at that time, soaked in a deep red color.

(TW: the rest of the summary might become too graphic at some point, so please take caution)

We have a flashback of Kei as a child, with Caleb. Caleb calls Kei a good boy after the latter changed his clothes soaked with blood, and is now wearing a clean white shirt. Caleb and Kei are going to have dinner, which has been prepared by Caleb. Kei instantly recognizes the meat served on the plate. It's Libre. Kei recalls what just happened to Libre, and how he has vomitted. The 8 year-old Kei thinks that since he was raised in the dark in that church, he has adapted well to abnormal situations. He thinks that if he makes the wrong choice here, it could be fatal and he could die.

Caleb then proceeds to tell Kei they shouldn't wait too much to eat since the dish will be cold, and Libre would be sad if they don't enjoy the meal. Kei asks him "...Why Libre?" and if Chad said it was okay to eat him. Caleb tells him it's a secret from Chad.

C: "You're a smart cookie. You can understand that some secrets are born from love."

K: "Yeah. They told us that at the church, too."

Kei follows him along to protect himself from harm, but doesn't want to hear what Caleb wants to tell him any further. Kei keeps telling himself: I don't want to hear it. I don't want to eat it. However, seeing that the marquess has already taken his knife and fork, Kei does the same. Caleb then starts mentioning that he feels the deepest love for Chad (Kei's grandfather), but explains that Chad has Anne. He tells Kei about how good of a couple they look, that their love is beautiful. Kei agrees with him. He then tells Kei that he'll be satisfied with getting Chad's love indirectly instead. Kei, very quiet, proceeds to ask if that's why he's going to eat the horse that Chad loves, and Caleb confirms it.

Kei feels he's going to throw up. His hands are shaking, and he's scared that his knife and fork will clatter against the plate and make a sound. Knowing that Caleb takes manners very seriously, Kei wants to avoid offending him and get on his bad side. Kei quickly takes tiny piece of meat into his mouth, puts his knife and fork down while squeezing his fists in his lap. He chews and tries not to vomit.

Caleb talks more of his twisted version of love, and how people in love often want to become one, and he teaches Kei to always remember that "to love is to eat". Kei wonders if everyone who talks about love is a nutcase, because he already had bad experiences with the men at the church, and now him. Kei starts to think at this very moment that "Love" is disgusting. Kei downs a whole glass of water after finally swallowing his piece of meat.

Kei then asks him something else. About how Caleb said Kei's father is with him "too". Kei starts dissociating from the moment, too shocked of what has been going on that night. Like he's not really present. Kei realizes too late that he shouldn't have asked that question. He wants to get away and run, but his body won't move. Caleb starts telling him...

Suddenly, the flashback takes an abrupt stop as Kei, in the storehouse, starts dissociating after recollecting these memories. He sinks to the floor, panting hard. Kei finally remembers something he repressed. The memory of Caleb eating Kei's father. We follow the flashback again, and Caleb tells Kei that by being with him, he is with his father as well, as he is now inside Caleb. Kei doesn't particularly feel anything upon hearing this, as he had no parents growing up. He was also taught in church that the line between what's normal and what's not is blurry.

Kei is quite calm, but starts to wonder if he's going to eat him, and Chad or Anne. Since nothing happened to the Romley's, Kei realizes Caleb has a line drawn between who he will eat or not. He tries his hardest to stay part of the second category. To do that, he remembers that the men who came to visit them, children, at the church to abuse them once every month wore a mask. With a mask on, their ranks and identity were forgotten. Kei decides to start wearing a mask to protect himself, and change everything into "a dream of pleasure".

The current Kei then recalls what Caleb had shown him in his summer cottage. What remained of his father. Blue eyes, encased in a liquid. A strand of blond hair, same color as Kei's. And something (mysterious to us readers?) that was frozen, which according to Caleb was the most delicious part. Kei kept it all a secret to not burden the Romleys with his discoveries. The current Kei still remembers the blue eyes looking at him that day, and tells them to stop looking at him. Kei struggles to breathe, and accidentally turns over a barrel near him while trying to breathe properly again.

MC hears the sound of the barrel and runs inside. Kei keeps himself from dissociating by digging his nails into his neck. MC asks Kei if he's with her mentally, and he replies with a smile that he is, that he remembered things, even if maybe not everything, and that it will be over. Kei now understands the reason he repressed these memories. Caleb's version of love. Kei's disgust of others' warmth. He had put all that on his experiences in the church and rejected that other part of his life. In his mind, he had to bury these memories because he thought Chad couldn't know this. Because he wanted to protect the Romleys. So he erased himself.

MC touches his neck, now bleeding. Kei worries that now that he remembered all of this, he will find it difficult to accept MC's touch as well. Kei however thinks of how he is able to hug her, and how he finds himself relieved in her arms. He says he's glad she's here. She strokes his hair and doesn't press him for answers. He thinks that's very her, to not ask questions about what he remembered. He thinks she's spoiling him with her kindness. Kei then tells MC about something he had kept hidden in this winery.

They go towards a hiding spot of Kei's, and after opening the inside of a barrel with a knife, Kei retrieves a leather-bond journal. This journal had been kept by Kei at the time he lived in the church. Inside, there are notes written about the enemies he had, what they did to them (the children), and when. Kei tells MC that she always does everything in the name of justice, and he says that what he's going going to do might be justice, but what he does, the fact that he wants to protect the ones he couldn't protect back then, is because of her. She seems reluctant to have Kei face his past so openly as she is scared, but after a few seconds, she tells him she has faith in him, no matter which path he chooses. That she'll walk with him.

Seeing her, Kei tells himself that no matter how many times his heart is crushed, no matter the struggles he'll have to go through, one day, he'll give her what she wants. They smile at each other, two accomplices in their work, and two lovers. One day, he wants to tell her the words she wants to hear.

Caleb in London Challenge 1 & 2

(Location: The UK)

① It’s a few weeks after the GoE team has completed their mission with Caleb. Yuzu and Kei aren’t here, so MC, Josh and Theo are having a conversation. They start talking about Kei and MC informs them that he went to the Romleys’ winery recently and found a book he kept as a child where he wrote down about anyone who wronged him and the other children at church. Josh calls it a revenge book, and adds that he didn’t know Kei kept such a book back then. MC informs them that Kei is working on finding the individuals written in the book. The talk continues and they bring up Yuzuru. Theo wonders if he’s alright and if he’s traumatized after what he experienced. MC says that Kei referred him to a psychologist and that he’s doing what he can.

They all worry about Yuzu since he hasn’t undergone psychological and physical training to work on the field. Theo mentions that since he’s their technical advisor, he’s more suited to stay at SHIBA or GoE HQ than be on the field. Josh says that Yuzu actually thinks about joining the field and start training for it, that he doesn’t want to back down after what Caleb did. MC mentions that Yuzu doesn’t like to lose, to which Theo jokingly adds “That’s Italian men for you”.

Suddenly, they hear Yuzu run and enter the HQ base, out of breath. He tells them with difficulty while trying to breathe that Caleb was chasing him through the streets of London, and that he had to run. Yuzu is angry at Caleb and downs the glass of water Josh quickly offers him. They’re all shocked to know that Caleb managed to escape from the London police and is now walking in broad daylight without caring. Theo mentions that he seems to be in good physical shape to run that many kilometers, so his training might actually go well if he undergoes it.

They all start to worry about telling Kei that Caleb is back, since he is currently experiencing dissociative amnesia and would rather avoid triggering him any further if possible. Speaking of the devil, Kei enters the base and asks why they’re saying his name. They all keep quiet and avoid his gaze. Kei tells them that whatever they’re going to tell him is fine, and he reassures them that he’s not being his 8 year-old self right now. Josh tries to find an explanation, but Theo intervenes and says that Yuzu has ran kilometers all the way here through the streets of London, as a part of his training that he has just started. Kei congratulates Yuzu, and it’s secretly decided between them to keep the information about Caleb’s new whereabouts hidden from Kei.

② Without Kei, the team gathered for an emergency meeting. They had decided to keep tabs on Caleb and gather intelligence on him by figuring out his movements pattern. They are worried that he is going to try to see Kei in person. They want to keep Kei safe psychologically from any more truth he might not remember yet, just in case. They’re also worried about Kei dissociating and becoming his 8 year-old self in public if he sees Caleb, since if it were to happen, his public image would be compromised by the media instantly and add more trouble to the table.

MC and Kei are in a park, on a bench, after she suggested to him they should take a break from work for a bit. She actually wears a earpiece and is in contact with the other GoE members, as they are observing Caleb’s movements, if he’ll come or not. Kei and MC talk and she wears a scowl on her face, which makes Kei teasingly ask her if she’s really trying to relax from work given the face she’s making. She says she’s fine and is only looking to see if the ice cream van Kei likes will come.

Kei looks at the time and says it should almost be time for the van to be here. MC is right away informed by Theo, Yuzu and Josh that Caleb is trying to buy the ice cream van as an apology gift for Kei. Josh sounds sad as he says that this van is incredibly important to Kei and him, as they had promised each other as kids they would buy an ice cream from that van in the future.

MC tells Kei she is thirsty and will get drinks, and tells him to wait for her on the bench. She walks away to communicate with the team about Kei’s location and asks them about Caleb’s. It turns out they are both in opposite directions. Not knowing if Caleb will be headed towards Kei after buying the van, MC decides to be safe and leave the park with Kei, and asks them to keep Caleb far away as long as possible. They hear that Caleb is negociating for the price of the vehicle and wants to deliver the van to the Raven, which might be a hint that he doesn’t know Kei is here at the park.

MC thinks the delivery might just be a trick that’s part of Caleb’s game, and decides to stay safe and get out of the park. She goes back to Kei and finds the excuse that it’s getting cold and asks him to go to a café instead. He agrees, and she takes his hand and starts walking but he tells her they can stay here longer. She wonders why he’s saying that, and Kei says she might want to keep tabs on Caleb. MC is shocked and asks how he knew about it since they kept it secret.

Kei says she shouldn’t underestimate the boss and that he knows what his team does. MC is actually not surprised to learn Kei knew everything. They decide to work on the intelligence gathering all together, and Kei strongly affirms that he won’t let Caleb turn the ice cream van into a bad memory. MC thinks Kei is so strong despite having gone through a psychological break, and she thinks she needs to become stronger as well alongside him.

ʏᴜᴢᴜʀᴜ

Mini Scoop 1 & 2

(Location: The US & Japan)

① MC is at Yuzu's place cooking in the kitchen. Yuzu comes home from work and overhears her humming a song. Yuzu wonders why she particularly seems in a good mood. MC tells him to go wait at the table as she's almost done, and kisses him on the cheek. As they eat, Yuzu discovers that she cooked the kind of food he likes. Yuzu asks her if she's going to tell him what put her in such a good mood, and she announces her surprise: Victory Duck, a gift Yuzu gave to her, has been chosen as the official Mars exploratory duck.

She made it possible through an acquaintance of hers at NASA. Apparently, Victory Duck would be soon able to capture footage and take samples from Mars. By the time she announces this, Victory Duck was already on Mars. Yuzu looks at the footage through the tablet MC shows him. Yuzu thanks her as it is a lovely surprise and smiles.

② They're in Japan, and MC spends time over at Yuzu's place whenever she's free from work. MC asks Victoria if Yuzu is still working in his "secret room", to which Victoria notifies that he entered the room a bit less than a hour ago. MC then decides to get something to eat and discovers a brand of yogurt she recognizes in the fridge. It's the type Yuzu said he didn't like as a kid and decided not to buy them when he and MC were grocery shopping before.

MC mentions that he must have bought them due to nostalgia, after all. She finally hears Yuzu get out of the room, and goes to greet him. She notices that he left the door to the secret room open, and she sees a paper craft farm inside. Yuzu ends up showing to her what he was making, and explains that the yogurt labels are parts of a set. He has currently collected 42 of them.

He mentions how he never got many as a child, so he never was able to complete the set. He wanted to do it as an adult, but felt bashful about doing something so childish in front of MC. MC reassures him that it's nothing to be embarassed about. MC likes crafts as well, and asks him if she can help him put it together, Yuzu smiles and agrees, and they end up eating yogurt for the rest of their stay in Japan.

Redacted Lover: Italian School Days

(Location: Italy, Yuzuru's middle school)

① MC accompagnies Yuzuru as he was invited as the founder of SHIBA by the middle school he attended in Italy, for their homecoming celebration*. Yuzuru is giving a speech and everyone is very focused on what he says, when mostly people would not care about speeches. Knowing that this is SHIBA's CEO, the students are very interested in him. The audience applauds him once he is done speaking, and MC and Yuzu move to a classroom for a break.

(*Homecoming: the reunion of former students or members of an organization or school to celebrate said organization or school.)

MC asks him if this is the first school he attended once he came to Italy. Yuzuru explains that it was his first school and that in Italy, middle schools are from ages 11 to 14, but that he attended that school before turning 11 and went to high school before turning 13. He only stayed for about 2 years in this school. MC asks him if he's looking forward to the class reunion tomorrow, but Yuzu claims he won't be going and says that he only accepted the task of the speech to be of help to the students.

Yuzuru seems firm in his answer and furrows his brow, which makes MC think that he probably doesn't have good memories with this school. They end up leaving the school.

We then follow Yuzuru through his PoV. He remembers his past here, a country he never really felt at home. He recalls a conversation with Jun when he was younger. He got mad at Jun and told her he wouldn't go to a school in Italy, as he doesn't know any Italian. Jun responds that the best way to learn a language is to hear and speak it, that they'll teach him the language and other things, so that would be killing multiple birds with one stone.

Yuzu is still reluctant and doesn't want to go, but without a choice he starts attending the local middle school. We then witness the sad events that happen to him at school, as he gets bullied by the kids. The boys often grabbed him by the hood and stuff him in the locker. Yuzuru was quite big among the kids his age, but he was no match against these Italian middle schoolers. Being studious was seen as a negative quality by the other students.

Yuzuru remembers his school in Japan, where kids were mean to him as well. He felt lonely back there too, as he was separated from Takumi, his little brother. However, to him, it was better in Japan than here, in Italy. Suddenly, a girl named Carina rescues him from the locker. She's a popular girl from a grader higher than him. Yuzu thinks she's his ally until he discovers that she mocked him when he tried to thank her.

Everyone laughed at him when she "turned him down" and mentioned that Carina would never like someone like him, when he simply wanted to show her his gratitude. They then tied him to the basketball hoop at the gym, with the entire school watching and walking by. Yuzuru decides to get out of here as he didn't survive to end up in such a situation. He decided he would become the best physically as well, as he can't just rely on his wits for survival.

We're back with MC's PoV, and she's at Jun's looking at pictures of Yuzuru when he was a child. Jun mentions to her how she wished she could have sent Yuzu to a school for gifted children, but sadly she didn't have the money. As she hears Jun talk about Yuzu's experience, MC understands that rather than getting special treatment, Yuzu had a really hard time here and finally gets why he didn't want to go to the class reunion.

MC then goes back to the hotel she's staying at with Yuzuru. Once there, she asks him if he wants to get his revenge on his old classmates by turning up, now that he's internationally a known and respected figure. Yuzu, however, says that he doesn't see the value in that and would be left with disgust for his pettiness if he did that. MC gets what he says and thinks that they can even make fun of him for his success now. She has a hard time accepting how painful it must have been for him, but respects his feelings.

② It's the day after, and MC is reluctantly helping the school with the guests list for the homecoming celebration. It was originally Jun's task, but she asked MC to replace her since she had a business dinner she couldn't avoid. Jun is an old friend of the principal and often helps out the school with tech and art programs, so MC wanted to help Jun with this even if Yuzu told her she didn't have to.

MC notes that his classmates were all older than Yuzu, so they're now around 35 years old, which is Kei's age. MC notices that time doesn't bless everyone the same way compared to Kei (lmao girl that's savage I love you. Sorry. I broke out of my serious narrator phase. I'll be back) She understands why Yuzu wants to analyze Kei since he's like a vampire.

At that time, MC gets hit on by three guys who ask her what year she was, and someone who helps manage the event tells them she's only here to replace Jun. Hearing that name, they call Jun "Yuzuru's crazy old lady", which makes MC grateful Jun couldn't come, as she would probably have grabbed the guys by the ear and drag them behind the school if she had heard that.

A guy then puts two and two, and asks her if the reason she replaces Jun is because she's with Yuzuru. MC stays ambiguous and says she'll let them imagine whatever they want. MC came as Mia, an alias, and won't affirm she's dating him since he's a public figure. The men keep hitting on her and say she's wasting her whole self if she's with Yuzuru, and keep trying to get her to dance with them.

MC is wondering what the right move is, and as she's about to find an excuse, Yuzuru enters and ask them what they want from his partner, revealing their relationship. MC didn't expect him to come and is surprised, along with the other guys. As they see Yuzuru, they mention how tall he is now, but make a way of mentioning they know how small he used to be back then. Yuzuru replies to them in a smart and elegant way while approching, showing the big difference in height between them now.

He looks down at them. They're intimated and MC notes that Yuzuru really radiates the aura of an actually successful person, which scares them away since they can see it in person. A hierarchy forms and the guys think of an excuse to go away. MC asks Yuzuru why he came and he replies that he just felt like it. That the child in him was being asked to come. That when he's with MC, he can stand proud anywhere. Yuzuru helps MC out at the welcome desk until time to close the desk comes.

They decide to stay a little longer, and find out a dance is about to start in 10 minutes. Yuzuru goes to give his hand to MC but a woman tries to take his arm, happy to see him again. This woman is Carina. Yuzu asks her to let go of him, very displeased. Carina mentions how she's so happy to see him on TV. MC evaluates her and sees that she's a gorgeous woman. Carina asks Yuzu to dance with her, and says thzt she couldn't say it when they were kids, but that she ahd a crush on him.

MC sees that she's only saying it because Yuzu is now famous. Thinking that this woman tricked and humiliated Yuzuru before, MC thinks twisting her arm is called for. However, she decides to go away to let them dance, but Yuzu stops her. Yuzu tells the other girl that there's only one person he'll be dancing with. That there's only one woman for him. Yuzu says all of it sincerely and seeing how he has zero interest, Carina gets mad and childishly says that she's still the one everyone wants to dance with, even now. In true Yuzu fashion, he matter-of-factly replies that she can then dance with whoever she likes.

He ignores her and takes MC to the dance floor. As they dance, MC asks Yuzuru if it wouldn't have been better for him to dance with Carina, as she is the most popular girl. If he had danced with her, he would have gotten the last laugh and show everyone how successful he became. However, Yuzuru says "Objectively speaking, you're clearly the best woman". Yuzuru then explains that he doesn't need to show anyone anything of who he became. He understood that he wasn't bothered anymore with this school, that he didn't feel anything bad towards it anymore.

Other attendees are dancing, but everyone is looking at Yuzuru. Yuzuru keeps talking with MC as they dance, and Yuzu expresses his gratitude to her and whispers that he is only able to face his past because of her, as she holds his hand along the way. He realizes that while he doesn't love being here, his past troubles are now insignificant to him. That it's meaningless to carry these troubles with him.

MC says she had always wished to have a dance at school, and that she's happy to have it with Yuzuru. Yuzuru then retorts that she wouldn't have said yes to a dance with him if they were at school at the same time. She denies it and says she would have had a huge crush on him. Yuzu smiles and replies he would have probably watched her from afar. With affection, MC thinks to herself that it's pointless to compete over that, since she doesn't even know for sure who fell for the other first when they first met

Squirrel on Memory Lane Challenge 1 & 2

(Location: Japan, Yuzuru’s home & Inokashira Park + Zoo)

① Yuzuru and MC are hanging out in Yuzuru’s living room. MC gets a mail adressed to her birth name from her out of her bag. She doesn’t receive a lot of mail adressed to her actual name. Yuzuru asks her how she receives her mail since she has a particular lifestyle, and she explains that the EAC has a box for each of her aliases and birth name where she receives her mail. She explains that she often doesn’t get a lot of mail for her real name and it’s mostly junk. She finds out that this letter is from her college from when she was a student. It’s an invitation to a homecoming celebration.

Yuzuru asks her if she’ll go, since she did tell Yuzu to go to his own back in Italy. MC tells him that she probably won’t. He asks her why, and she replies that given the nature of her job and the years she’s been doing it, she finds it safer to avoid going to a gathering where there might be people she has met on missions. Therefore she prefers avoiding seeing people of the past. Yuzuru then remembers and says that he thought she didn’t talk about her visits to Ehime (where she was raised) often, and figured she just didn’t mention them, but now that he thinks about it, he asks her if she actually visited there. She replies she didn’t.

She mentions that she doesn’t even go back to her parents’ home, and only calls them from time to time, including a few video calls sometimes. However, since she doesn’t know if the calls might be traced, she tries to keep them as short as possible. While remembering these things, she remembers that before meeting Yuzuru, the only people she could open up to were Hugo and Theo. And even then, she didn’t tell them about personal things. Yuzuru tells her it must be lonely, and she agrees. Yuzuru tells her that while it’s not healthy to think this way, when they did the VR, he was a bit jealous of her school life and wished he was there to see it.

She says it’s normal to feel this way, reassuring him. And she mentions that if she had went to school with Yuzu, MC wouldn’t have let Carina do what she did to Yuzuru. Yuzuru is then reassured to know that it’s normal when you love someone to want to know more of their past and change things that made your lover sad. Yuzuru tells MC he’d like to know more of her past, if that’s okay with her. She’s surprised he wants to know but agrees to show him the areas she used to visit when she was younger, as a college student. Since Yuzuru doesn’t know what college life is like in Japan, he’s looking forward to it. They decide to make plans to visit the places the next day they have a day off.

② MC and Yuzu are hanging out together, visiting places MC often went to when she was in college. Their little tour led them to the Inokashira Park Zoo. MC explains she used to go there with her friends during the cherry blossom season. They start looking at the animals, and Yuzu stops to stare at the ducks. Seeing him, MC asks him if he likes ducks. Yuzu denies it and wants to change the subject.

Finding it odd, MC makes him confess what's on his mind, and Yuzuru tells her that Kei actually once said MC looked like a mallard duck. MC is surprised and asks Yuzu if he thinks the same. He adds that Kei said MC seems to like clothes that are the same colors of a mallard duck's head, and therefore claimed that Yuzu must like the color of mallard ducks.

MC says that she can't really claim Kei is wrong, and Yuzu reassures her that he likes the way she dresses. MC thanks him, but thinks deep down that she'll never be able to forget mallard ducks whenever she dresses now. They start walking only to stop again, as Yuzu sees squirrels. MC is happy to see their area has changed to a more natural environment, and Yuzu mentions that he noticed MC seems to really like squirrels. She confirms it and says that they're cute and don't carry diseases.

MC asks Yuzu to enter the squirrels' area, but he seems reluctant. She insists that they're safe for humans, and goes inside without noticing Yuzu furrowing his brow. Once they are in the area, MC finally notices that Yuzuru isn't comfortable. He tells her that he remembered the cage broke 10 years ago, and all the squirrels fled. They came back later once the cage was rebuilt, but there were more squirrels than before, which means there were wild ones as well.

Yuzu is scared a squirrel is wild and is going to bite him. Just when MC goes to tell him there are low chances of that happening, a squirrel stares at Yuzu, jumps on his leg to go all the way to his right ear, and bites him. It runs away soon after, and both MC and Yuzu are shocked. MC worriedly asks him if he's okay, and tells him they should get him some hand sanitizer, but Yuzu claims he has to go to a hospital.

MC thinks he's overreacting, but considers that since Yuzu grew up with limited access to medical care, it might be important for him to care for his health that much. MC apologizes to him for bringing him here, but Yuzu tells her it's okay. He says he lost this round, but that he'll have his revenge on the squirrels one day, which makes MC think Yuzu is really cool for admitting his defeat without giving up

ʙᴏss

Mini Scoop 1 & 2

(Location: The US, Seiichi's hideout)

① MC often goes to visit Seiichi at his new hideout whenever she isn't working. They're both hanging out in his living room when Seiichi goes onto the balcony and calls MC by the name "Akari", her old alias, and tells her to come here. MC wonders why he's suddenly calling her by that name considering she's not working but still joins him. She asks him what he wants, and he tells her he actually didn't mean to call "her". MC doesn't understand, but soon realizes a cat is coming to rub against Seiichi's feet. He was actually calling that cat "Akari" and he tells the cat it's time for dinner.

Seiichi feeds her and wears an expression of tranquility on his face, which MC had never seen before. She tells him she never pictured him as a cat person, to which he replies that in case she was wondering, he didn't adopt the cat, the cat is the one who decided she was going to live here. MC suddenly hears another cat coming from behind her, and soon a second cat joins to eat. Seiichi calls this one "Chloe", another one of MC's past aliases.

MC is surprised he called the cats by her aliases, and Seiichi says that he remembers how MC always wanted to choose her aliases herself. He also mentions that her actual name is special to him, therefore it can only belong to her. She's relieved to hear that, and mentions that she finds it a bit weird to name cats after your lover.

MC playfully asks him if she should keep rabbits and call them Nogi and Kazuya, Seiichi's own past aliases. He actually turns to her, seemingly unpleased with the suggestion and asks her if she means that. MC finds his reaction funny considering he can't take his own medicine. She's also very pleased to see that Seiichi, who always wears a poker face, is showing her this expression to her only. Seeing him, she smiles.

② MC is petting Akari's fur and feels at ease while doing so. She is thinking of Seiichi, and about how it must have been hard for him to leave the EAC and his past life as a result. She whispers to Akari to be a good companion to Seiichi. Seiichi comes back right at this time from the kitchen with a sake bottle and cups on a tray, asking "Sharing secrets?"

MC playfully replies that she's telling her secrets about him that only MC knows. He says he's curious, to which, as usual, MC replies he really doesn't look the least bit curious like he so claims. He actually tells her he really is, with a serious look on his face. They stare at each other seriously, and erupt into laughter simultaneously. MC tells him he never changes, which makes him ask her if she wants him to. SHe denies it and says him never changing is the greatest gift she could ever receive.

Hearing her say that, Seiichi says it's difficult for him to say it, but he suggests drinking sake together. MC is surprised, as he originally prefers drinking beer and asks him if he gave it up. Seiichi mentions he's grown homesick, but jokes and mentions it was simply a gift from one of his clients. They cheer and drink a cup of sake. Seiichi says he might like this occasional drink, and that it feels good to drink when he's not on a mission and smiles. MC notes that he looks very relaxed.

MC asks him if he doesn't do this kind of thing often, to which he replies he can't even remember the last time he did. He also mentions she's the only one he has drinks with. MC realizes that ever since leaving the EAC, Seiichi never had someone to relax with or open up to. Instead, he fought for justice and worked missions on his own. She hopes to help him find ease when they're together at least.

She asks him if she could make him his favorite Japanese-style rolled omelets. He says her idea sounds great, and actually tells her he had ordered jakoten, MC's own favorite dish from her hometown. MC tells him he's the best, and he sends the compliment right back at her. They had both thought of giving the other their favorite dish. They decide to give another toast of sake to celebrate their reunion and unchanging relationship. MC is joyful as she is spending time with the man she loves, eating food that she loves. They never run out of things to talk about, and keep talking about things to make up for the lost time, even after the sky grows light.

Partners in Work Again Challenge 1 & 2

(Location: The US, Seiichi's hideout)

① We are following this story through Seiichi's PoV, and MC suddenly asks him if he wants to work with the EAC. Now that MC is a boss at the agency and Seiichi an agent working in the shadows, she suggests it to him to help out with a mission through a contractor. Seiichi is surprised, and even though he thought of this possibility he didn't imagine it would become a reality.

Seiichi asks her why they need a contractor, and MC sarcastically answers that they don't have enough people, and that she wonders why that's the case, saying in a subtle way it's his fault. He tells her she should find a new person to hire, the same way he found her. She says they're working on that, but training them will take time. Seiichi playfully answers "Like it took time for you?" and she replies "No comment"

The reason why the EAC has less agents now is explained through Seiichi's thoughts. After leaving the EAC, he has taken with him the agents that had turned bad within the agency, therefore disposing of the "rot". Seiichi has been living well with the cost of leaving the agency but feels bad that MC is now in a difficult situation, now that the EAC is short on agents. He tells her he might be of help.

She understands that him working with her will depend on the conditions, with he agrees and adds that he's currently without employment. He has to hustle to earn his keep. MC shows his three fingers and asks him if that amount would do it for him. He says it depends on the job. She says it's simple intelligence gathering, which is child's play for him. He thinks that it'll depend where he'd be going undercover, but that it's a lot of money for a job like this. It's even too much according to him. He tells her that if it's really important to her, he'll do it for...

At that moment, he gently takes her hand and raises her remaining two fingers, elevating the pay for the job even higher, which makes MC's eyes widen. She says that that's a lot and ballsy of him, to which he replies he knows his worth, to which MC replies he also knows this is complicated for them. They smile as they feel each other out, as usual. Seiichi is wondering what her next move will be with this unreasonable demand, now that she's the boss.

He actually doesn't want such an enormous sum, he simply wants to see how she is developing. She says he's putting her in a difficult situation, but that's she's going to double her initial offer, therefore she's now putting up 6 fingers. She mentions that she has another condition, and boldly asks him to find something for her as well as the information.

Hearing this, he inwardly cracks a smile as he is proud of her, since she made it look like she was giving it up only to get what she really wants. He feels like he's seeing himself if he were in her position. He asks what she wants him to find, to which she says she can't tell him until they have an agreement, and he knows it. They keep feeling each other out, and MC tells her him accepting also depends on how much he trusts her.

He says that given how she looks confident, she couldn't fathom a world in which he doesn't trust her. She replies that he's the one who made her the boss, so it makes sense for him to trust her. She cups his cheek with what Seiichi describes to be her "slender little hand". He notes that when she negotiates, her tactics switch between hard and soft as he observes the way she is as the boss. He says out loud "Very interesting" as he realizes that she contructs her role of the boss partly shadowing him, and partly creating a persona of her own.

She asks him what is interesting, tilting her head with a look of innocence on her face. He's thinking that this is the only thing she'd have to work on, as otherwise he would have a lot of rivals with whom to compete (I'm guessing he's saying she's so cute she would attract many men with her behavior and look).

He finally tells her that he'd like to say yes to her proposal but that he has no interest to be involved with the EAC. He asks her if they could pretend this conversation never happened. She isn't pleased that that's his final answer, since he could have said that from the very beginning, frustrated that all her effort was for nothing. Seiichi then replis joyfully "That's the look".

She is confused of his reaction, and he thinks that she never would have let him see a look like this on her face when she worked under him. It's something he only got to see once they became lovers ocasionally. He tells her he missed that look. MC says that when she once made that face before, Kazuomi told her she looked like Seiichi.

Seiichi replies that he's honored. Her brow furrows as she doesn't get why that's an honor, while his own smile deepens in contradiction. He loves to see that an ace special agent like her sometimes shows him expressions of her human nature, and he thinks to himself that this is an expression that he loves "so very much"

② Seiichi is at his home, and opens a package of freshly roasted coffee beans that smell wonderfully. He takes an item that's slid between two cartons. This is a passport. The photograph is him, but the name is unknown. The passport will be used for his new mission. It was made by the same craftsman he used in his EAC days.

Seiichi is all ready for his new upcoming mission, except for one thing. He didn't actually replied to MC's proposal yet. Later, at night, he treats MC to coffee made with the new beans that arrived. MC says drinking this reminds her of when they used to drink coffee a lot together, and he replies that these beans are different since they have been roasted for one minute longer.

MC takes different sips but doesn't notice the difference and how he can tell there's one either. He tells her that's a shame, and shows her his fake passport. MC says the passport is a fantastic creation and asks if it was made by his usual contact, and he confirms it. She says that the craftsman has gotten even better at making them (who are they talking about?! I thought it might be Old Man Shige but maybe not since he's more of a tech guy??)

Seiichi mentions to MC that she can tell the difference between a true or fake passport, but fails to notice it with coffee. MC thanks him and shrugs. MC ends ups asking him where he's going now that he's made a passport, and he sends the question right back at her, explaining that he accepts the job she suggested.

She's surprised to learn that he only denied her request before to see a reproachful look on her face. She's relieved that he accepted, and mentions that loving him this much is going to cause "someone" a great deal of pain down the line (wait is she talking about herself or Kazuomi?!) Seiichi apologizes in a half-joking gesture as he bows a bit and calls her "boss", which makes her expression soften.

She opens her laptop and starts explaining the job to him. Her look shifts to one of a pro agent the moment the laptop turns on. She tells him he's going undercover to make contact with Dubai's royal family. The EAC has lost contact with the agent they had on the field, so his number one priority is intelligence gathering. MC wants him to dig into what happened within the royal family and to the agent.

Seiichi asks if they know if the agent is still alive. MC responds "I'd say that goes without saying" (I guess that's a way of saying that he's dead). All emotion is gone from her face as she says this. Seiichi is thinking while all agents accept their fate, this is the first time he's seen her be so businesslike about it. MC says he seems surprised, but Seiichi is simply thinking how much she's grown.

She does what needs to be done in her role as a senior agent. Seeing how professional she is has a reinvigorating effect on him. He thinks accepting the job was worth it since he got tot see her like this. Whether it's MC or anyone else at the EAC, witnessing someone show their commitment to the cause of justice is always special to him. MC ignores that he is currently moved, as she goes on with her explanation of the mission.

At this moment, he's thinking he's wrong to be so moved, as she's a senior operative at the EAC, and her boss as of now, while he's... He doesn't finish his thought, but he then tells her that maybe, he was still looking at her as a junior agent. MC stops and says she can't pretend she didn't hear that. She is upset that he might not have listenened to her at all. She looks testingly at him and he repeats the details she gave him about the mission, proving he did listen while thinking about other things.

MC smiles as she sees that he did listen and says he loves to make her job more difficult, so she wears a troubled expression but doesn't seem displeased at all. He says she resembles him in this way as well, and he can't get rid of the feeling that he raised her, seeing how alike they are.

He recalls their first time meeting, about how it was supposed to be him saving a girl that day, and it resulted in making her part of this, his, world deeply. He's thinking that there were times he have regretted that, but he now thinks that his judgement that day wasn't wrong, that her presence in this world isn't a mistake.

He tells her that she's not a junior agent anymore, and that he wants her to feel every bit the boss that she is. She replies that she does, that it comes naturally to her, as she smiles. Seiichi tells her he's happy to work with her again, and she replies that she is, as well. They give each other a firm handshake as they are happy to work together again

There you go! I hope the summaries were well explained enough. I did my best and I hope you enjoyed them just as much as me!

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