#I made a bedroom for the kids (I didn’t like the idea of separating their bedrooms since they’re all so close)

[nightmareonpeachstreet]

Sometimes u just gotta find things to distract you from Arlecchino until she comes out

Like decorating your teapot to be a family home for Arle, her wife Furina and their 3 kids, Lyney Lynette and Freminet

[littledovesnow]

a growing family

request(s): Reader and Coriolanus have a little fight, and Reader blurts out she's pregnant. AND corio when you tell him you’re pregnant? maybe even him going to the doctor with you?? I love ur fics <3

word count: 2.1k

content warnings: pregnancy, little angst (like a smidgen of it, you gotta squint to see it), little bit of mean coriolanus

You stared at the calendar that was pinned to the corkboard, heart hammering in your chest so bad you could hear it.

“No, no, no.” You mumbled, running a hand through your hair, getting stuck in a few tangles.

Not wanting to face your husband when he got home, you grabbed your purse and headed down the grand staircase and out of the apartment, walking over the Corso’s small grass area and up to the Snow’s apartment.

Knocking on the door, you looked at your chipped nail polish until the door flung open, Tigris appearing on the other side.

She had a wide smile on her face, but it fell as soon as she saw your expression. “What’s wrong?” She asked, pulling you into the apartment.

You looked down the hall to see if the Grandma’am was home. “You have to promise not to tell your cousin.”

Tigris’ eyes grew, and she looked you up and down. “What? Why? What are you-”

“I’m late.”

It took a moment before Tigris’ head snapped up, eyes meeting your own. “You- have you gone to a doctor yet?”

Shaking your head, you let out a tearful laugh. “Are you kidding? As soon as anyone sees me walking into an obstetrician’s office, they’ll run to the Capitol News fast as lightning. I want to tell Coriolanus myself; I don’t want him to find out from the paper.”

Tigris frowned. “How late are you?”

“A couple weeks. I lost track of time, and I was stressed so I assumed it was just late. But then I was taking a shower and the smell of my body wash made me want to throw up. And- oh my God, my boobs hurt so bad.”

Tigris laughed, sending you an apologetic look. “You’ll need to tell Coryo soon. I think he wants to go out to some of the Districts and do some press soon.”

It was true, Coriolanus had brought the idea up the other night at dinner, wanting to start gathering a following for the upcoming election now that President Ravenstill had announced he would be stepping down due to his poor health.

Nodding, you toyed with the loose hem of your jacket, tears coming to your eyes again. “I know, I’m going to. I just don’t want him to get mad. We’ve always talked about starting a family once he’s more established in the field.”

Tigris said your name softly, grabbing your hands. “I know Coryo, and I know he won’t get upset. Maybe if you keep this a secret any longer he’ll get a little disgruntled, but he won’t be mad.”

You appreciated the older Snow more than you thought you would, giving her a tight squeeze. “Thank you, Tigris.”

-----

Coriolanus closed the door to the apartment, letting out a sigh as he tried to keep his work and home life separate.

He called your name, walking into the kitchen with the bottle of wine he wanted to surprise you with.

Entering the kitchen, he frowned when he didn’t see you where you were usually humming to something on the radio, looking in the fridge or preparing dinner. As much as he offered to hire an Avox to cook and prepare meals, you declined it; stating you liked being able to make whatever you were hungry for.

“Love?” He called, setting the wine down and moving down the hall to the bedroom, worry growing in the pit of his stomach when you weren’t on the chaise with a book in your hand, as you sometimes were when he worked a little later than usual.

He heard a shuffle in the bathroom, behind the closed door.

“Sweetheart, are you alright?” He asked, opening the door slowly, stepping in when he saw you sitting against the tub, hair pulled back crudely.

“Hi, Coryo.” You threw him a smile, though it looked more like a grimace given your current situation.

Kneeling down, Coriolanus moved some of the hair that was still growing out from the bangs, frown on his face. “What’s wrong, why didn’t you send for me? Dr. Gaul would’ve let me leave. She’s got a soft spot for you, you know.”

You leaned into Coriolanus’ hand, small groan coming out of your mouth. “Didn’t want to bother you. It’ll pass in a few minutes.”

“And how are you so certain about that?” Coriolanus mused, rubbing your back as you leaned over the porcelain bowl once more.

Once you were sure you were done, you slowly rose, Coriolanus with a careful grasp on your hip to keep you upright.

“Because,” you took a swig of the water glass you had poured earlier, spitting into the sink basin. “I felt like this yesterday, too.”

Coriolanus’ hand moved to your forehead, feeling for a fever. “You don’t feel feverish. Perhaps it’s that new jam you’ve put on your toast this morning. Did you have it yesterday, too?”

Looking at him in the mirror’s reflection, you simply nodded, even though you did not. “Yeah, probably just a bad batch.”

Coriolanus helped you to the bed, hand moving along your jaw in admiration. “Why don’t you rest, I’m sure I can scrounge up some soup.”

You nodded, watching your husband’s retreating figure as he disappeared down the hall.

Once you were sure he was out of earshot, you leaned your head against the wall, one hand going to rub on your not-yet-visible bump. “You’ve gotta give me time to tell him.”

-----

It had been two days since Coriolanus found you on the bathroom floor, and he continued to believe that you simply had a small bout of food poisoning, none the wiser to the true reason you were ill only a few times.

Currently, you were sitting next to him, across from the Plinths, who insisted on weekly dinners at their apartment, only a few floors below you and Coriolanus.

An Avox went around pouring wine, pausing when you held a hand over your glass. “None for me, thank you.”

Ma Plinth looked between you and the bottle of wine. “It’s your favorite?”

Smiling, you were going to explain when Coriolanus spoke up for you, comforting hand on your thigh.

“She’s been a little ill the last few days, some food poisoning.”

Not believing it for a second, the older woman simply nodded, letting the Avox pour her another round.

“Coriolanus,” Strabo Plinth spoke up, leaning forward to talk business. “Have you given any thought about visiting the Districts? It would do you well to stop in before you officially start campaigning.”

Though only Capitol residents were eligible to vote in the upcoming election, many candidates made sure to stop into a majority of the Districts to show they aren’t afraid of the rebels, that they can control them if need be.

Coriolanus nodded, setting down his utensils. “I am, yes. Dr. Gaul and I had been talking about a good time for me to take a short leave. It looks like I’ll be able to go in few months, plenty of time before the campaigning will start.”

You mulled over the sentence for a moment, telling yourself now was as good a time as any. “If you go then, I won’t be able to go with you.”

Three sets of eyes focused on you, varying degrees of confusion swimming in all of them. “Why? It will be autumn, perfect season for photography of Panem’s future leading couple.”

Coriolanus quickly thought over any important dates in your family, none that arose during the time you two would be on the train. “It’ll only be a few weeks; we’ll be back in time for your sister’s birthday.”

You smiled at the blonde, looking at Strabo Plinth as he spoke up.

“A man can’t properly campaign without his wife there, how will the Capitol view you as a First Lady if you’re not by his side?”

“Yes, and perhaps seeing a united front will help lessen the threat of another rebellion.” Coriolanus nodded, clinking his glass of whiskey with his late classmate’s father.

Mrs. Plinth, eyes narrowing, seemed to figure out what the men did not. “Honey, why don’t we save this conversation for a better-suited time? I’m sure I can talk to Ravenstill and get him to set up a meeting time between the three of you.”

Strabo Plinth and Coriolanus both seemed content with that, shifting subjects to something you weren’t interested in.

You sent a grateful look to the woman across from you, who simply nodded in return.

-----

“I don’t understand why you don’t want to go visit the Districts with me.” Coriolanus snapped, fingers hastily undoing the tie he despised wearing.

“Coryo, I do want to go with you. It’s just that time won’t be good.” You carefully removed the numerous hairpins from their position at the nape of your neck.

The blonde man grumbled, pulling his shirt from where it was tucked into his trousers. “If we go any sooner or later it’ll be a bad time for my campaigning! Too soon, the news will have moved on to something else, like- like Flickerman’s new parrot!”

You rolled your eyes, struggling to unzip the dress you wore. “Can you-”

“Go any later and it’ll impede the speeches and galas and events I need to be in the Capitol for!” Coriolanus’ voice raised, and you paused to look at him, hand still trying to grab the zipper.

“Coryo.”

Coriolanus threw a hand up, face growing red from anger. “Do you even want me to become President?! To be able to give you all you want, to never have to worry about money, food, anything?”

You were at your wit’s end, hand finally falling from your back. “I do, Coriolanus! I do want you to be the president. But if you travel to the Districts at that time I can’t go with you because I’ll be too pregnant to go with you!”

There was a silence so loud you didn’t dare breathe. “What?” Coriolanus whispered, eyes meeting yours. “Pregnant?”

Nodding, you were once again trying to unzip the dress, huffing as you gave up for good. “Yes, and I had a special dinner planned but you just had to go and ruin it.”

Coriolanus silently moved behind you, carefully unzipping the dress and letting you use his hands for balance as you stepped out of the skirt. “You didn’t have food poisoning, did you?”

Shaking your head, you felt your eyes water. “No.”

You must have looked like a fool, standing there in your undergarments, husband behind you with his dress trousers and socks still on.

“I’m sorry for yelling. I- I’m sure we can still visit the Districts before the election, just a more abbreviated tour than planned.”

You laughed, a watery, light laugh. It was music to Coriolanus’ ears. “Whatever you want, Mr. President.”

-----

Your knee was bouncing rapidly, the only telltale sign of your anxiety.

Coriolanus had gone forth and scheduled an appointment with the Capitol’s best obstetrician, going to far as to personally thank them for agreeing to see you at such an early time. He also laid out the threat that if anything were to happen to you during the pregnancy that could have been stopped, the obstetrician would never see their family again, but that wasn’t for you to worry about.

“Love, you don’t need to be nervous. I’ll be with you.” Coriolanus mumbled, hand moving from behind your chair to your thigh, thumb rubbing soothing circles on the side.

“I know, I just- this is our first child, Coryo.” You looked up at him. “I can’t help but be nervous.”

Coriolanus smiled, pressing his lips to your temple. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”

The nurse came out and escorted you two back to the exam room, instructing you to pull your shirt up as she squirted gel onto your stomach.

You and Coriolanus watched her every move, anxiety sky-rocketing as she frowned at the screen.

“What? What’s wrong?” Coriolanus asked, hand gripping your own.

“I just- let me get the doctor to confirm, give me one moment.” She didn’t look back as she left the room, leaving you and Coirolanus to soak in an anxiety-filled silence.

Only a few moments passed before the nurse returned, doctor in tow, and she also moved the wand around. “Ah, yes. You are correct.”

“What?” You asked, eyes flitting between the medical professionals and the back of the computer.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Snow. You’re having twins.”

-----

a/n: send requests here

[winterzsurprise]

A New Beginning || Miguel O'hara

Pairing: Miguel O'hara x F!reader

Summary: You tell Miguel that you're ready to have a child with him.

Tags: SMUT, NOT BETA READ, breeding kink, unprotected sex, big dick Miguel, creampie, vaginal fingering, brief blowjob scene, soft sex that turned rough later on, Miguel kinda whimpered lol.

Period is gone and came the asexual lil shit who can't write smut anymore lmaooo. I have two other plots just waiting to be finished (something about being paralyzed by his venom and needy sex after a death scare) but aaaaaaaaaaa. This is so shit, I apologize lmao.

mi vida - my life || cariño - honey || mi cielo- my sky (correct me on this please)

“I think I’m ready.”

Miguel didn’t respond for the longest time, focused on frying the vegetables. Clearing your throat you tried again.

“Miguel? I think I’m ready.”

“For what exactly? What trouble are you brewing up again?”

Sensing his dedication towards completing his task, you grew doubtful of your decision of dropping the news to him. 

Miguel, always tuned in to your moods even without seeing you, immediately turned off the stove and turned to face you with crossed arms at your prolonged silence.

“Alright, what is it?”

Now seeing the permanent frown in his face, you wondered if he’s even as ready as you are. Being the leader of the inter-dimensional spider society and a chronic over-worker, you could see him putting his job first as the protector of spider people since he sometimes does it with you.

But you’ve seen how his eyes lingered a little too long on Mayday and Peter B whenever they visited. You’ve seen him replay clips of a future that doesn’t belong to him and watched him mourn over a child that never existed in this universe.

Having a kid with both of your features…

It doesn't seem like that bad of an idea.

“I’m just… thinking about kids you know?���

The twitch in his eyebrow betrayed his uninterested expression. “Oh? What about them?”

“I think I’m ready for one.”

Tensed silence immediately filled the room, locking your throat close as you waited for a change in his stance with bated breath. You saw the surprise flash in his eyes but he made no move to indicate his interest in the subject. 

If it wasn’t for Mayday, you wouldn’t have thought about bringing a child into a world where she'd have parents from two separate dimensions, both superhuman and known as saviors of the world. Not to mention, while being an active crime fighter in your own universes which is not an ideal occupation for a pregnant woman.

Even then, you had your IUD removed a few days ago when you returned to your world for a visit and only today did you guys had the time to bond.

As you linger in the silence, regret starts to crawl up your throat. Maybe it's a stupid decision after all...

His sigh sliced through the thick atmosphere before his voice did. “Are you sure?”

Miguel, no matter how unsure his voice sounded, had a hungry look in his eyes.

“I’ve been thinking about it for so long and... I think I’m ready now.”

You swear you could hear the clock from the living room tick beside you as you wait in anticipation. 

tik!

tok!

tik!

tok!

tik!

Miguel reached behind to remove his apron, crumpling them like a paper ball and tossing them to the side before crossing the distance between the two of you with one large step, hands surging to cup your cheeks to pull you in for a deep kiss.

You melted in the soft plushies of his lips, hands rising to tangle themselves into his hair. 

His hands wandered down to your rear, tapping it rapidly and you jumped up to wrap your legs around his waist before proceeding to walk blindly to the bedroom, relying solely on muscle memory.

Miguel’s lips melded with yours smoothly with years of experience, his taste familiar in your tongue. Your fingers combed through his hair, tugging him closer as the door opened behind you.

It didn't take long before you hit the softness of your bed. His body dwarfs yours in every way and the realization never fails to send jolts of pleasure down your spine.

There's greed and desperation in Miguel's hands as he tore through your shirt and bra, freeing your breasts that pebbled with goosebumps from the cold air. Despite the hunger and rush in his movements, his touch is the softest it has been in a long, long time since the needy sex from months ago after a death scare.

His fingers found your stiff nubs and pinched them, sending sparks crawling over your body, stirring your nerve endings awake. Miguel's lips parts from yours to pepper kisses down your skin, leaving warmth in its wake.

You quickly made work of his top, pushing it over his head before he latched onto your skin once more like a bloodsucker.

"You're so pretty, mi cielo." He groaned, kneading your mounds together. "I lose my mind just thinking about your tits growing full with milk for our kid." 

You couldn't suppress the shudder racking your body at the mention of having your own child, together. A low moan left your lips and Miguel's hand wandered lower to tug on the bands of your shorts and underwear.

"You don't mind this one, yeah?"

"Rip it off."

He didn't need to hear it twice, the sound of fabrics tearing off into two echoed in the room and plant both your legs on either side of him, leaving you bare for him to see. Sitting back on his heels, he admired his work as he caressed your inner thighs with small circles, a promise of what to come.

"As much as I want to eat you up, I want to see you falling apart my dick more."

You nod feverishly, sighing as deft fingers found your clit to roll in tight circles, occasionally scooping down to spread your wetness around your folds. Heat explodes from your abdomen, spreading across your body as pleasure slowly ricochets inside you.

His finger enters you, curling up to caress the spongy part of your walls and you moan. Miguel spared no time adding another digit inside you, picking up a fast pace and your body arched, hips twisting to follow his ministrations.

But before the pressure in your abdomen builds up, he pulls away to your distaste.

"Fuck…" You whined.

"Stop whining and get on top of me. I wanna see you bounce."

He slipped off of his pants and boxers, tossing it to the side before switching positions with you. You reached down to his hardened length, pumping him leisurely while he ran his calloused hands up and down the meat of your thighs.

You eyed the clear pre-cum erupting from his tip with every pump with fascination. Miguel's hands tensed on your thighs as a warning yet you bent down to lick off it off. A salty taste explodes in your mouth and Miguel grunts, nails digging into your flesh.

"Mi vida..."

"You're such a mood killer." You said, earning yourself a pinch in your thigh and you giggled.

You positioned his intimidatingly huge dick directly under you and with a deep breath, you let the tip sink into you. It's barely in and you're struggling with his girth stretching you wide open. Seeing the struggle in your face, Miguel rubbed circles on your hips.

"You can do it, baby. You know you can take me in."

With the slight pushing from Miguel, you eased him in with a mewl. He feels deeper and fuller this way and you gasped at him, nudging more of him inside.

"Fuck..! You're so deep..! I c-can't—"

"You can and you will. I'll make sure you do."

"P-please... Ah!"

Surrendering your control to him momentarily, he gladly took up the mantle. Your mind grew fuzzy at how full he makes you feel and it pleased Miguel to no end to see you drunk on his cock. Reaching up to your neck, he pulls you down for a dizzying kiss.

You whimpered into his mouth as he gained some speed, nudging the roof of your uterus, keeping your mouth hang ajar, spouting gibberish and noises of absolute ecstasy. His hands roamed your body with the greed of an explorer in a new land yet tender as if handling a feather whilst you tugged hard on his locks.

"You feel so tight around me. God, you feel heavenly." He grunts as he drives himself in your heat.

Your body grew feverish as your heart grew fuller from the softness of his touches and kisses. The knots in your abdomen twisted tighter, your impending climax arriving a little early.

"I-I'm close…"

"Give it to me, come all over my dick. I want it all."

Picking up speed, you cried onto his shoulders as he plummets into you hard. Your hips grew erratic as you followed the intensity of his thrusts, his hands grabbing the globes of your ass to guide your heat onto his. 

"Come for me, cariño."

Your whimpered whispers of his name filled the room as you tip closer to the edge.

The knots in your abdomen unfurl and you come, trembling on top of him with a shout. He grunts as the tightness brought by your end, hugged his girth firmly. His hot pants fanned your ears as your climax encouraged him closer, the sound of his pleasure sent sparks throughout your body and swells your chest with pride.

"Take all of me, baby. You want it yeah? Want me to fill you up real bad? Want me to breed and knock you up?"

"Yes yes yes…! I want it please please please!"

Miguel protectively wrapped his arms around you as he came, exploding and painting your insides white with a deep groan. His arms only tightened around you, forbidding you from leaving.

Flipping you both, he sits up to stare at where you both connected with lust clouded eyes. Pulling out, you groaned at the feeling of his seed pulse out of you and Miguel clicked his tongue.

"You're wasting them."

Scooping them up, he plunged them into you and your thighs twitched from the intrusion. You let your eye close as your soul slowly settles back into your body, exhaustion weighing your eyelids shut.

The sound of wet squelch of his fluids mixed with yours burned your cheeks and you forced yourself to focus on the feeling of his fingers plunging his seed back in, pleasurable albeit a little painful.

Miguel halts, only to bring your legs up to your shoulders, stirring you awake from your momentary rest to meet the wicked gleam in his dilated eyes as he pinned your thighs down and loomed over you.

"Don't even think of sleeping tonight or tomorrow. We haven't even started."

[i9messi]

I want a baby — Ruben Dias

Meeting his friend’s baby triggers Ruben’s desire for a baby, turning him into a cute, baby fever-filled mess.

Word count — 1k

ruben's masterlist

It all started when one of his friends had his first child. You and Ruben went to meet the baby for the very first time and both were practically fascinated with the child. Your boyfriend held the baby in his strong arms, holding him like it was fragile, something he had to take care of and protect.

The vision shocked you. You and Rubén had never spoken before about having children, but to see him that way, with a baby in his arms, an instant feeling made you ask yourself what if you and him were parents someday. The idea wasn't so terrible after all.

"Look how small it is. Did you see his little hands?"

His brown eyes met yours and you couldn’t help but smile.

"He’s so cute."

"Our babies would be cute." Ruben said casually, totally sure of what he thought.

Oh, did Ruben think about you and him having a baby?

"Can’t you see us doing that?"

You smiled at your boyfriend’s question.

"Actually, I can."

That was just the beginning. As the days went by, he constantly sent you cute baby videos and photos. You couldn’t stop smiling and thinking that you wanted one, that Ruben was the right man to have your first baby and that maybe, you were ready to start trying.

One day your friends needed your help to babysit their baby. Ruben was practically already knocking on the door of his friends' house. While you were babysitting, you both looked at each other and took care of the little boy. It was a whole new experience, giving the bottle to the baby, playing with him and singing lullabies. At the time of changing his diaper, your man volunteered and made no complaint about anything at all. That proved your suspicions that Ruben would be an amazing father.

"I could do this with our baby."

You smiled, "You would be a great dad, a great one."

"I think you’d be an amazing mother. I can’t wait to have a baby of our own."

The talks about having children became a topic of conversation before bed. You had come out of the bathroom and settled into his arms, with your head on his chest. Lying next to him was amazing, but lying down and touching his skin, listening to his heart and having him so close was your drug. Kind of like heroin.

"I want a baby."

The silence was interrupted by his voice and his statement. There was a moment of silence, until you reacted and realized you hadn’t imagined it. You raised your head to look at his face. He was totally serious.

"Ruben, are you serious?"

"I’ve been thinking a lot lately about having kids and I think I’m ready. I want a baby. I want to hold our baby in my arms, I want her or him to look like you and me, to be a constant reminder that we are a family. Because that's what I want, I want a family with you. But I really don’t want to have kids with someone other than you, I want you to be the mother of my babies."

Your heart was beating like never before. Your cheeks were red and you wanted to kiss him. So you did, you didn’t control yourself anymore. Your lips joined together, Ruben kissed you back as euphoric as you. His hands went up to your hips, where he held you close to his body. He just separated to keep talking about the baby.

“Would you want to have a baby with me?”

“I’d love to have your baby, Ruben.”

That same night you started your try to have your first baby. A few weeks later, Ruben came home and found you in the bedroom.

"I haven’t looked at it yet. I was waiting for you."

Both approached the bathroom, totally nervous about the result of the pregnancy test. You didn’t dare look at it, so you let Ruben look at the evidence. It was the first attempt, the first time you checked on the pregnancy test, so there might be a chance you weren’t pregnant yet.

Ruben had read a lot, had been informed about how the pregnancy process would be, and had even seen videos of couples discovering they were pregnant. So when you saw him stay quiet you didn’t know what to expect.

"Ruben?"

"You’re pregnant."

"Wait-we’re having a baby?"

You couldn’t believe it, your eyes filled with tears and he came to you. You both hugged and began to understand that in nine months, your baby was going to be born.

“Eu te amo, eu te amo…” he repeated, his face full of happiness.

Ruben always placed a hand on your lower abdomen, even though the pregnancy wasn’t showing yet. Just thinking your baby was there was enough to keep him happy as ever. He was the happiest man in the world, you had made him the happiest man in the world.

When Ruben was not training or at his matches, both shared time at home, talking about the baby and all your plans about the future. He would buy any cute article of baby clothing that he saw, and do a mini haul of what he bought for your baby. That meant he had already brought your baby a City jersey with his number on it.

He also tried to figure out the baby's gender by analyzing your symptoms with old wives' tales.

"I feel like a fat cow."

"Well, you're the most beautiful cow I ever met.”

But your insecurities continued, having a baby in your belly made you feel much more emotional than usual. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but once you found yourself crying and seeing your body in the mirror. Ruben came closer to you and put both his hands in your belly.

"I think I’ve fallen more in love with you being pregnant."

The day he met his baby, Ruben knew that baby was all he needed in his life. That you and your baby were your family, two people he would love forever. The child was finally born and you were both crying.

"I am so grateful to you for loving me and allowing me to be a part of this family with you."

You loved him. You were both new at this, but were excited about your upcoming adventures as parents.

[nexysworld]

Summary: Leon is sent on a mission to carry out a hit for the government. He hated these missions the most, but worst of all you weren't supposed to be there. You weren't supposed to see him. Pairing: ID!Assassin Leon x Fem!Reader Tags: NSFW, MDNI, Smut, canon typical gore, graphic depictions of murder, comfort sex, mild dubcon, unprotected sex, fem!receiving oral sex, soft sex, angsty sex, hurt/comfort/hurt, dark content, descriptions of wound dressing. WC: 5.2k

A/N: This was a birthday fic for the wonderful @elfven-blog. <3 Title from the lyrics to the song Sextape by Deftones. Edit: I also have a bot based on this fic now: Character AI | Spicychat

Read on A03 || Ask Box || Masterlists

Cool air bristled the hairs on the back of his neck, limbs tingling with the typical anticipation of what came next. Hits weren’t his favorite type of mission, not by a longshot, he wanted to save people, not kill them. But with experience came a certain professional numbness and a way to compartmentalize. It didn’t help that the locale for this affair was in the dead center of a suburban upper class neighborhood. Every home had that same limestone brick or white overlapping paneling. Every door the same mahogany brown, tacky lawn gnomes, overly green grass, white picket fences – the works. The possibility of witnesses was high, the escape routes limited. 

Regardless, Leon was a professional, and he would make it work. He always did.

Tilting his wrist, he looked down at the gold rolex, it was a little past 2:30am. He listened closely, to ensure there was no movement inside. The double windowed back doors were his point of entry. The brass knobs were old, the locks inside not quite as intricate as modern ones, all it took was a good smack against the swiss army knife he’d jammed into it for the lock to click open. The door opened quietly, he made sure to not close it completely behind him to ensure he could make his escape. 

The house had an eerie quiet over it, almost like the universe knew what was about to happen. Leon cracked his neck and let out a breath, careful to not touch anything as he moved throughout the lower floor, clearing each room. The kitchen was pristine, nothing out of place on the island or counter. There was no homely smell of food, only the lingering scent of some harsh cleaner. Not a sign that anyone had even been down there within the past several hours – a good thing, he noted. Through the archway came the living room, he had been hopeful someone had opted to sleep on the couch, separate targets were easier targets. Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t so lucky. 

The plush gray sectional was untouched, not so much as a divet into the cushion. The TV remote lay on the dark oak coffee table. Unlike the kitchen, this room felt more homely. The faint smell of some fruity air freshener was all over, the cherry walls were lined with gold plated frames of the family. 

His target was some small town politician, Jackson Moore, normally somebody not noteworthy to the government in the slightest, but he made the unfortunate mistake of shaking hands with terrorists, facilitating the sale of some new viral invention through the local pharmacies. The idea of another Raccoon City incident made his stomach turn. He wasn’t sure who he held more anger for, the people like this person who’d bring it about, or the government that he knew turned a blind eye until now – the same government who wouldn’t make the effort to save the people who uphold it. 

He shook his head, and pushed his bangs back refocusing for a moment. He scanned over the pictures. Most normal family outings, some graduation photos and holiday ones in there. Hunnigan had told him beforehand that all of the kids were off to college, none due back for several more weeks. The only targets in the house were Mr. and Mrs. Moore. 

There was only one more room on the bottom floor, where he was sure his victims were, the master bedroom. Leon made his way over, silently padding down the short hall staring at the door. It was cracked, the sound of light snoring and the smell of mint wafting from the room. He peeked inside, letting his eyes adjust to the dark room, a string of moonlight the only thing illuminating the sleeping lumps on the bed. 

He tested the door, it squealed slightly as it opened making him freeze. One of the sleeping forms moved slightly rolling over. He waited, still as a statue until he was sure that both still remained asleep before sliding himself through the narrow opening he’d made. 

Looming over the sleeping forms, he pulled his gun out from it’s holster attached to his waist. Even with the silencer, he knew he needed to be quick. One shot would wake the other, and then it was a matter of speed. He cocked the pistol, taking a few more steps towards the unaware persons before him. The gun felt heavy in his hand, but he lifted it anyway, deciding to start with the official target first. 

Will the trigger pulled back, the room lit up for a split second with the bang of the gun. Time slowed as he watched the man’s body jolt slightly, blood splattering onto the pillow, the walls. The smell of gunpowder and iron hit his nose. The man’s fingers twitched slightly before his movement stopped. Just like he had expected, his wife was awake instantly, though no noise came from her. 

Wide eyed, she stared at Leon, then down at her husband next to her. Her mouth opened like she was trying to scream, but the noise was caught in her throat, tears welled in the woman’s eyes. Blood had splattered onto her too, some chunks of brain along with it dripped from her curlers onto her lap. Her trembling hands reached over to her husband, “Jacks.” She whispered, reaching over and putting her hand on his deformed face. “Jacks.” She leaned over the man, trying to scoop the bits and pieces of him back together. 

Leon wanted to feel sorry for her, wanted to wonder if that’s how someone might react to his death some day. But he pushed those feelings aside, she was a target, culpable in everything just as her husband was. He lifted the gun again, pointing it at her.

As she looked at him, eyes wide with fear, her mouth formed the shape of a word. He didn’t need to hear it to know it was a plea. He pulled the trigger again.

Deadshot, like putting down an animal, between the eyes. 

Her body crumbled over itself as she slumped forward onto the bed, the back of her head exploded open like a volcano of bone, blood, and brain matter. 

Not dwelling on it,  he put his finger to the device in his ear. “It’s done, Hunnigan.” “Good work Leon. I’ll make sure that –”

“Hey mom, you still up? I thought I heard something.” 

The soft voice pulled Leon from his conversation, there were footsteps out in the hallway and the sound of a lightswitch clicking on. ‘Shit.’ He cursed to himself inwardly.  He took a few steps back from the door, whispering to Hunnigan. “You said there were no other targets here.” “There aren't –” “The daughter is home.” “Does she know you’re there?” “No, not yet.” 

There was a moment of silence on the line before she spoke again. “Leon.” Hunnigan’s voice was serious, she knew him well enough after all these years to know his thoughts. “Leave no witnesses.” “There won’t be, she doesn’t even know I'm here.” The sound of the fridge opening and closing indicated the girl’s location.  “Everyone at the location is a target, Leon. Everyone at the location is a witness.” “Not if she – “ “Leon, this is an order.” “I can wait for her –” “Leon –” 

“She doesn’t have to die.” “Dad, is that you?” The sound of his voice, despite him doing his best to stay at a whisper, must've alerted the girl.  There was shuffling around on the other end of the line, the next voice he heard made his blood cold. The head of the D.S.O shouting into his ear. “Kennedy, this is an order, kill her! Complete the mission. Do you understand me?”

“Understood.” He said flatly, disconnecting from the call. In a worse stroke of bad luck, the door to the bedroom swung open nearly at the same time. 

And there you were. 

Glass shattering as it hit the floor, water splattering around as the light from the hallway lit up the room from the opened door. You trembled in place as you processed the sight of things. Leon was frozen where he stood too. You were an adult, but young, more importantly innocent in all of this. Rarely in his forced-on-him career has he had to kill someone completely innocent. Usually it was the partners of criminals, civilians caught in crossfire. But never someone as young as you, never in a situation so targeted.

He hardly registered the shriek you made before you bolted. Acting purely on instinct he took off after you, the delay of his own shock didn’t matter much when he noticed the slimy trail of bloody footprints from where you’d ran through the glass left in the hallway. His own boots crunching it against the ground as he moved.  If you had been smart, you’d have turned for the front door, or even the back. Instead, nearly sliding on your own blood you went for the staircase, the one route that would trap you on the upper floor. You let out a yelp of pain, trying your hardest to only use your less injured foot to bounce up the stairs as quickly as you could, the blood matting down into the carpet with each step. 

It didn’t take long for Leon to catch up, thumping up each one loudly as his boots made contact. He wasn’t sure why he didn’t take his gun out, why he was even letting you attempt this unwinnable escape, he also didn’t know. Maybe it was just delaying the inevitable. 

He reached out for you just as you made it to the top of the stairs. A simple shove was all it took to send you flying into the decorative hall table that waited at the top. A sickening crack was heard as your head collided with the dark wood, knocking it over as you rolled over with a groan, dazed from it. Managing to prop yourself up on your elbows, Leon could see the trickle of blood that began to run down your eye and cheek, along with the starting to swell shiner from your high-speed table collision. 

You scuttled backwards, as best you could, haphazardly tossing the vase that had fallen at him. It missed, and went crashing onto the stairs. Tears mixed with the blood on your face, diluting the color, only leaving the dry specs stuck there. You looked pathetic and terrified in a way that made Leon’s heart twist.

“P-please… don’t.” You pleaded, putting your hand out and up as if that simple gesture would be enough to stop him, distance him from yourself. 

He couldn’t do this, at least not like this. He kneeled before you, cupping your uninjured cheek in his hand. “Shhhh. Shhh.” 

“P-please… I won’t tell any–” “It’s ok,” he cooed. “It’s not my style to hurt pretty girls, you know that?” He added as he scooped you up from the ground bridal style. He knew he shouldn’t be doing this. Getting his DNA all over you, getting your blood on him. This wasn’t a clean kill, this wasn’t what the upper brass wanted. For the moment though, he didn’t care. “Where’s your room, Sweetheart?”

You didn’t point or make a sound, your eyes darted from him to the cracked door next to him and then back to him as you shook in his hold. He wedged it open the rest of the way with his foot, before gently placing you down on your bed. It didn’t look right, all the blood staining into the fresh and plush sheets. It was different than your parents downstairs, the whole room screamed you. From the decor on the walls, to the laptop on the nightstand, your college hoodie hanging off the back of the chair at your desk. More reminders that you didn’t deserve this. 

Before you could, he swiped the phone off of the side table, stuffing it into his pant pocket. “I know you hurt right now.” He said sweetly, “Give me a minute and we’ll get you all cleaned up, alright?” He gave you a moment to process his words. ‘What the fuck am I doing?’ He asked himself, as he held your hand, patting your arm gently. He could see the confusion in your eyes as the gears in your head turned to try and make a decision – timidly you nodded. He shot you his signature smile. “Atta girl. Stay here for me, no funny business.” Pointing a finger gun at you before he slipped out into the hallway and into the upstairs bathroom. 

The suddenly bright lighting stung his eyes, he saw himself in the mirror, your blood speckled onto his jacket, some dried to his face. He looked rough, a cold sweat broken out onto his face, blue eyes distant looking back at himself. He splashed some cold water onto his face to calm his nerves before digging around to see if there was anything he could use to alleviate some of your pain, even if temporarily. The medicine cabinet was well stocked, though nothing would be enough to really combat the pain of your cracked head and torn up feet. He bit his lip as he grabbed some bandages and the bottle of peroxide. 

First aide wasn’t really his specialty, but he knew enough from training. Along with the other supplies, he filled the empty cup on the counter with warm soap water, and took the washcloth with him. 

To his surprise you were exactly where he’d left you, splayed out on the bed, looking scared and exhausted. Your head rested against the pillow, eyes staring up at the ceiling. “I’m going to take a look at your feet first.” Not that he really gave you the option, but you nodded in return. Leon was no stranger to gore, guts, and the rest, but something about them gave him pause. There was so much blood he could hardly see what was skin and what was glass. “It might sting just a little.” He assured, pouring the cold liquid out onto your feet. You hissed and squirmed a bit, but he placed his arm over your ankles to keep them still, watching as the peroxide bubbled, clearing away the redness of the blood. Small pieces of glass fell with it onto the now stained carpet. He opted to speak to you, see if he could get you to calm down some more while he worked, pouring more over the wounds. “You’re in college?” There was something about you that was indescribable to him, familiar to him, and he wasn’t sure why. 

“Yeah.” Finally you answered with words, voice barely above a whisper.  “Shouldn’t you be at school then? I thought the semester was still going.” He as he checked you over for any more obvious glass. When it was clear the peroxide had done it’s job, he took the bandages, gently wrapping them around your feet, gauze padding them. 

“D-dropped out.” You squeaked out. “Last minute decision, had to come home.” He tied off the bandage before moving to look at your face. “School’s not for everyone. You’re probably better off without it.” Leon dipped the washcloth into the cup, wringing it out over the carpet, not really caring about the mess. He dabbed it gently against your injured face, helping to remove the remaining mess and to get a better look. Luckily the cut above your eye seemed superficial and the blood had stopped running, it was just a matter of cleaning up the  dried mess that was left over. He was careful around the tender purple skin as he cleared as much as he could. “You have a boyfriend you leave back at school?” 

“No. Never had one at all actually.” You replied, wincing when he accidentally touched a painful spot.  “Never had one?” He asked more for himself than as a real question to you. ‘Hasn’t finished school, never had a boyfriend. This is so fucked up. She can’t be any older than Ashley was…’ He thought to himself, debating whether the court marshalling would be worth letting you go. In the same train of thought, he considered what would happen to you if he did. The government would probably send someone else just like him, someone less soft. He bristled at the thought, sitting up straight on the side of your bed. “That’s a shame, I would’ve thought a cute girl like you would be drowning in guys asking her out.”  “Not really” You seemed to relax a bit now, well as relaxed as a person could be in your state. He could still tell from your blown pupils and 1000 mile stare that you were still in shock. Probably a good thing. “My parents are… were, strict.” Your face contorted like you were about to be sick at the memory. 

Leon went back to stroking your cheek gently for comfort. “So no boyfriend, ever have your first kiss? First time?” Now that he had a better chance to really look at you, all cleaned up he realized who you reminded him of. Not so much Ashley, she was more strong willed and you didn’t quite look the part either. It wasn’t just the age, no…your voice, mannerisms, the way you looked. It was so very much her. Someone he hadn’t thought about since before even Raccoon City.

“Yeah. Wasn’t very good, some drunk frat boy.” You admitted leaning slightly into his touch. Silence passed between you both, nothing but the ceiling fan whirring above you. An automated air freshener spritzed roses and lilac into the air, barely covering the distinct peroxide and blood smell. Leon was surprised when you finally spoke again. “Why did you do it?”

The look on your face gutted him more than it should have. “I had to.”  “Because of his job?” “Something like that, yeah.”  “Did he deserve it?”  “Yeah.”

You nodded, turning your eyes away from the ceiling to look at him. There was another tense silence before you spoke again. “Are you going to kill me too?” 

He felt a chill ran over his body at the question. He leaned forward pressing his forehead to yours, moving his hand up to stroke your hair. “I don’t want to.” It wasn’t a real answer and he knew that, but it was honest.  “Why are you being nice to me?”  “I told you, I don’t like to hurt cute girls.” “That’s not it.” 

How you read him for filth like that he’ll never know. “You remind me of someone.” He leaned back just enough to look at you again, but kept your faces close, so close he could feel the warmth of your breath on his face.  “Who was she?”  “My first girlfriend.” He admitted.  “What happened to her?”  “We broke up.” He said with a short laugh. “Right before my very first day as a cop.” While the conversation was far from appropriate for the situation, he supposed it worked to calm you down more as he felt you relax into the bed. His internal struggle was still playing tug-of-war with his psyche, not sure of how to proceed.

The piece in his ear picked up with some static before Hunnigan’s familiar voice was heard. “Leon are you there?” 

He ignored her in favor of continuing to dote over you, hand gently running through your hair, taking in your features more. That trepidation never left your eyes – he understood it. He probably looked psychotic right now, a murderer who was being eerily kind. He was self aware enough to know that much. 

“Leon, we haven’t heard a status report. Has the last target been eliminated?” She spoke loud enough this time that while it couldn’t have been above the lowest whisper for you, it was obvious you heard it, eyes widened again, mouth opening slightly. To keep you quiet he leaned forward pressing his lips to yours, a soft kiss you didn’t really return. “Stay quiet for me, ok?” He mumbled against your lips, before sitting up again. He considered replying to Hunnigan, but looking down at you, he took his earpiece out, tossing it to the other side of the room instead. 

Hey eyed you again, before adding another kiss. ‘I shouldn’t be doing this.’ He reprimanded himself, as he placed another this time to the corner of your mouth, then your cheek, then jaw. Another on your neck for good measure. ‘I should’ve done it the second she opened the door. I should’ve done my job.’ Despite his mind’s dialogue he continued now at your collar bone. ‘Like ripping off a band aid…. I can’t let her last moments be like that.’ He began to rationalize as he looked up at you. “Let me make you feel good.” 

“Wh-what?”  “You deserve better than a drunk frat boy. Let me make you feel good.” He repeated.  “Why?”  “Because I want to.” He could clock the nervousness in your voice immediately. “You can say no.” He added. “I’m not a rapist.” 

“A-are you going to kill me if I say no?”  “No, of course not.” Again, it wasn’t technically a lie. He wouldn’t be doing it because you declined, but he felt mild disgust with himself for side-stepping the reality of the situation again. ‘It’s better this way though. For her.’ 

“Ok.” You said, nodding at him to continue.  He treated you like glass, gently working your thin tank top up and over your breasts. He continued by kissing each one tenderly before taking your left nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it until he felt it pebble. When you whimpered at the feeling, he began to suck on it, kneading your other breast with his hand. When he pulled himself off with a pop, he looked down at you, lips parted, eyes closed. Enjoying so much despite him having done so little. Adorable. 

He ran his thumb along your bottom lip until he saw those pretty eyes crack open before capturing your lips again, taking the chance to slip his tongue inside once parted. You were sloppy with inexperience, but tasted like dessert, sweet. It made his cock twitch against his pants. He groaned slightly into your mouth, ignoring his own need. Pulling away he let you catch your breath, giving him the chance to move down your body one kiss under your breasts. The next above your naval – stomach contracting slightly. He added one more above the hem of your night pants. 

He looked up at you, silently checking with you if it was alright to continue again. When you nodded, he helped you out of the pants. Gently tugging them down from the waist band, lifting each separate leg himself, careful to not hurt your already injured feet. “You alright?” “Y-yeah.” 

“Let me know if anything hurts, ok?” “Ok.” “Good girl.” 

Leon tugged his leather jacket off discarding it on the floor before rolling up the sleeves of his button up. He claimed a spot between your legs, lifting one over his shoulder for better access to what he was about to do. He gave a reassuring kiss to your thigh, using a free hand to part your folds, rubbing his thumb over your clit gently. He eyed you watching as you melted under his touch, soft whimpers tickling at his eardrums. “Such a pretty girl.” He cooed, replacing his thumb with his tongue, swirling it around the sensitive bud. 

He had to grind down on the bed himself to relieve some of his own tension, reminding himself to keep his focus on you. His grip on your leg tightened as you arched your back, squirming more and more against his touch.  “God…oh god…” You chanted, head tossed back, the leg draped over his shoulder kicking at his back. He knew you were close when your voice cracked, soft gasps escaped your lips. He continued lapping at you as you ground against his face, letting you ride through your orgasm – only stopping when your hands made purchase in his hair to get his attention. “C-can’t…can’t.” 

Pulling back, he wiped your slick off his chin with his forearm, looking down at you. He watched as your chest heaved slowly, returning to a normal rhythm. Your uninjured eye was lidded less with shock and more with that familiar coming down of pleasure. He went to move back when you grabbed his arm, looking directly at him. “What about you?”  He was a little shocked by the words, your concern for him. “I said I wanted to make you feel good.” He chalked it up to your likely traumatized and now lust hazed brain. “Don’t worry about me.” Leon made the motion to move again.  “Wait.” You called, grip on his arm tightening. “What if… what if I want to?” 

He didn’t move, unsure of how to respond. He’d already fucked up the mission, already covered you in his DNA, yours on him – but he couldn’t do what you were asking. That was too far.

“P-please?” You choked out, tears now welling in your eyes, spilling over and staining your cheeks again. 

And just like that he was taken back to that day again, right before Raccoon City. A night he swore was the worst of his life, until he knew better. Sitting there across from him, begging him not to go – you sounded just like her too, like she was frozen in time beneath him. Even worse, this was the opposite of what he wanted, he wanted to make things easier for you, relax you.  “I just want to be close, please? Please?” You were full on crying now, face scrunching up, barely able to catch your breath.  “Ok. Ok.” He said, leaning down to kiss you again. “Shhh, don’t cry. Don’t cry. How do you want me to take you?” Your words came out between sniffles and hiccups. “Any way, you want.” 

He nodded, sitting back enough to help you sit up, slipping your shirt off all the way. “Can you flip over for me? Lay down flat on your stomach.” He helped you comply with the command, still careful of your injuries. He could see the bandages on your feet had turned a slight pink. Once you were laid out the way he wanted, relaxed, face down into the pillow, he worked his own shirt off, tossing it over in a pile atop his jacket. His gun was removed from the holster, he was careful to lock the safety, discarding it with his other items. He left his pants on, undoing them enough to free his half hard cock, the head still weeping. 

He spat in his hand, giving himself a few good tugs, feeling himself hardening fully again. “You ready?”  “Yeah.”  He crawled forward, gently lifting your butt up just enough for him to line himself at your soaking entrance. He grunted when he pressed in, you sucking him in warm and wet. He let you take a moment  to relax down again as he leaned forward, pressing the entirety of his bare chest to your back, sinking his cock in slowly until he was buried all the way inside of your heat. 

He kissed up your shoulders, and neck, rolling his hips into your slowly. “God you’re tight baby.” He whispered against your ear. He didn’t have the heart to rail you into the mattress, wanting to abate your request for closeness, intimacy.  “S’big…” You lazily mumbled into the pillow.  “I know, I know.” He crooned your neck just enough for him to lock your lips together again. “But you’re doing so good, taking me so well.” Letting you rest, he returned to focusing on the motion of setting a steady but not too rough pace, angling himself so that he hit that spot inside of you that had you whimpering again. He rewarded the noises by rolling you both onto the side, where he could wrap an arm around you like a tight hug, leg gently pulled over over his own so he had a better angle.  Likely for the best, Leon was close already, he slowed down more, returning to simply rolling his hips as he trailed his hand down your stomach, ghosting it over your naval and thighs before rubbing at your clit for a bit as he kissed and sucked softly against your neck. He fucked you like he would’ve done to her, like you were his lover, the most important thing to him. 

Your velvet walls felt like heaven as they squeezed against him, closer and closer to your own second orgasm. “That’s it baby.” He whispered hotly against your ear. “One more time for me, ok?” He sped up his fingers, feeling you tighten around him so much that he nearly felt his own eyes roll back. “G-good girl.” He praised, gripping your hip to speed up his own movements, his balls tightening as he came, cock throbbing as spurts of his seed painted your insides. 

Leon held you like that for a while, curling in on you, offering soft praises as he nuzzled into your neck from behind. He didn’t move a muscle until your breath evened out completely, and he could tell by the low thrum of your heartbeat that you were incredibly close, if not already asleep. He looked up at the clock on the nightstand – 4:45am it read. He had about 20 more minutes max before someone from HQ would be sent in as backup, now that he’d been MIA for so long. 

Now fully soft, he gently pulled himself out of you, and carefully rolled off the bed. He watched you for any more signs of movement as he buckled back up and redressed. There was that eerie silence settling over the house again, he felt heavy with the weight of the evening crushing against him like an invisible force. He wished for a moment that the world would swallow him up where he stood so he didn’t have to face his responsibilities, the consequences. 

You looked peaceful laying there. He knew it was just the exhaustion, shock, and grief, that kept you tugged under the waves of unconsciousness, but for his own sake he pretended you were in a truly relaxed state. Moreso, he was glad you wouldn’t experience any more of that pain or fear tonight.  Leon clicked the safety off the gun, watching you for any signs of movement. Not even a twitch as he cocked the gun again. He walked over, sitting at the side of the bed again, eyeing you over one more time. It felt like he was saying goodbye to a lot of things at that moment, his ex all over again, your future,  another piece of the man he wanted to be.  “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve this, you know?” He whispered, mostly to himself as he pressed the barrel of the pistol to the pillow. 

He couldn’t look this time. He wouldn’t look this time.  His chest tightened, having to take a moment to stop the bile trying to work its way up, and the urge to cry that had him wanting to heave against the floor. He grabbed his earpiece as he made his exit. 

“This is Kennedy to HQ – the last target has been exterminated.” 

[rinasangel]

“What is this feeling?” Kim Minjeong

kim minjeong x fem reader

content warning: college au, angst, swearing, slow burn, fluff, eventual smut, sensitive topics like divorce, reader is pretty much emotionless until minjeong comes in her life, roomie minjeong, emotional conflicts, reader’s first time doing anything, cunnilingus, fingering

a/n : i’m happy to say that this is my first fic on this blog and i hope you enjoy <3

word count : 4.4k

requested : yes

“Fuck you! I can’t believe that you would do this to me after we’ve been married for ten years. We have a child!”

Loud noises and voices filled your senses, your parents were arguing again, but this time it seemed different. Even though you were young, you were not oblivious. By looking at their expressions you could tell that they were angry, but something about your mom’s face made you wonder if there was an emotion that was more extreme than anger.

Although you were only a child, you were heavily affected by your parents’ divorce settlement. At that time, you had no idea what caused your mom to take you away to a whole knew house, eat different meals, change schools, and eventually gain a new dad (which you were still indifferent to). Maybe it was because things got too loud when they were together, it did start to give you headaches.

Everything in your life changed in what seemed like just a snap of a finger. As you grew up, you became cold to the outside world. You were angry and confused as to why your father was taken from you. Well, you learned as a teenager that they split up because your dad had cheated on your mom with some dumb bitch from his work office, but it’s whatever.

High school felt like a big blur of numbness. Friends were something you were lacking, but that was by choice. Throughout your childhood and transformation into adulthood you learned to never trust anyone. Who knows how long those friends will even last? Who knows that if you had a partner they wouldn’t cheat on you and cause a messy breakup?

You weren’t dumb though. You knew that your feelings are impacted from your trauma as a kid, but you brushed it off once you realized that people were just there to hurt feelings and break hearts. That way, you didn’t even need to question if you wanted friends, or a relationship. You already know the truth about the world, so you thought.

Now, you have been accepted into your dream university. Although things were going smoothly in the right direction so far, you couldn’t help but feel conflicted about the anoint of people that will be attending the school this year. You felt a bit strange, but that emotion couldn’t be pinpointed after most emotions have been blocked out from your consciousness.

After begging your mom to pick a single room in the dorms, you were quickly humbled after discovering that such things didn’t exist. You had to have a roommate. Through the entirety of your life you were mostly fearless, but now you’re being forced to spend a whole 4 years with a person you’ve never met before. A weird feeling hit your chest. Was it anger? Or perhaps being what they call, nervous?

Many thoughts and scenarios filled your mind, you were overthinking, something that you haven’t done since you moved houses after the incident. It wasn’t clear why completely normal human interaction at a university was so intimidating to you, but you felt small when you shakily entered the new room.

Quick eyes darted around to observe every little detail. Kitchenette, small dining table with… two chairs, small couch with a small tv, couch only has room for about… two people. There were only two more doors so you naturally assumed that they were separate bedrooms, thank the lord. You let out a relieved sigh before turning the knob to one of the doors. Swinging the door open, you were expected to be met by a small and intimate room, but you were met with a… bathroom?

“Hey! You must be my roommate. I mean i would hope so since you’re looking at the place very intensely.”

Once the voice that wasn’t yours hit your senses, your heart began to beat abnormally fast. Are you nervous? You’ve never been nervous before, just very cold and locked away from the world and other humans. Shaking away the questions in your head, you tried to compose yourself before turning to the source of sound. There was a girl standing in the other doorway. A very pretty girl.

“Hi, I’m Minjeong. Kim Minjeong.”

The pretty girl softly spoke with a smile of her face. You looked down slightly to see an extended arm and an open hand. Oh god, you’ve never shook hands with anyone before. How do you shake hands again?

“Hey… I’m y/n. Nice to meet you Minjeong.”

Shit, you forgot to put any emotion of your face or your monotone voice. It’s like you were on some emotionless default setting. Your cold hand awkwardly reached for hers and wrapped around, it was warm. She sweetly smiled as you both shook hands. Or well, she shook your hand, you might’ve forgot to move after her warmth reached your icy hand.

“Nice to meet you too, y/n.”

Something was happening to you, your face felt like it was heating up as your heartbeat began to almost hurt from its intensity and speed. Are you okay? Maybe you’re sick. Oh shit, you don’t want to get her sick if you’re not feeling well. You reluctantly pulled your hand back, initially shocking her. You take note of this as you swiftly correct yourself.

“S-Sorry. I’m just, not feeling that well. I don’t want to get you sick or anything…”

Look at anything but her, that’s what you told yourself. The floor was a nice contender, that was until she took a few steps closer to you, soft slippers shuffling across the wood floor. You almost gasped when her hand lifted up to rest itself against your blazing cheeks and forehead. The pretty girl is really close, a bit too close.

“Oh no, you’re burning up.” Minjeong frowned as she continued to check the temperature of your red face.

Cute. You think she’s cute. But why? You have never found anything cute before, not even a small puppy, not since you were a kid.

You felt like you were about to pass out, feeling quite pathetic since all she did was check your temperature and you were borderline having a panic attack, but it’s whatever.

“Here, come sit down and I’ll get you some medicine.”

“It’s okay. I think I’m oka-“

She suddenly dragged you by the arm and sat you down on one of the dining chairs. You felt like a child again, like she was your mom taking care of you. You felt safe in a way, something you haven’t felt since you were… a kid. It seems there is a pattern, Minjeong was making you feel things you haven’t felt in almost your entire life. But how?

“Here y/n, take this.” Minjeong spoke softly to you as she handed over a glass of water and a couple of pills which you assumed to be advil.

The corners of your lips turned up into a shy smile. While picking up the glass you thanked her and used the water to help swallow the medicine. After setting the cup back onto the table, she gently grabbed your hand, leading you towards the other room you have yet to explore.

As the two of you walked past the door frame, you were greeted with half the room being covered in ivory decorations and posters of who you presumed to be her favorite singers. The other side was blank and you knew that it was your side of the room.

“You don’t have to go all out like i did, but i thought it would be nice to make myself at home since we’re going to be living together for a while.”

You hummed softly as she continued to explain her decoration choice. This isn’t too bad. Maybe it was a good thing to finally talk to someone all these years.

As time passed, you found that you and Minjeong surprisingly had a lot in common. This made it easy to talk to each other. Conversations no longer felt uncomfortable or forced to you, at least when you talked to her.

You also found yourself frequently doing things together. She offered to tour around the school together, and she even offered to walk you to your classes. You haven’t felt this cared about by anyone who wasn’t your mother, it was strange to you.

Soon enough, interactions within the school turned into fun activities outside of it. She would often ask if you wanted to go to the movies, or take a walk at her new favorite park, or even go out to eat together.

When being with her, you just feel so happy. This girl would never fail to make you laugh or smile, and you found yourself naturally feeling close to her. Is this what having a friend was like?

Although you felt a bit regretful about refusing to meet anyone new in the past, you couldn’t help but be extremely grateful to have a friend you cared about in the present. Minjeong had completely shifted your once cold and lay-low world into a bright and sunny one.

As your friendship with her developed even farther, you started to become afraid. You were afraid because Minjeong was beginning to make you feel something strange. You often found yourself gazing at her for extended periods of time, and she would make your heart pang faster than normal. She suddenly made you nervous even though you have been friends for a solid amount of time now.

Why are you nervous? Maybe your body is starting to reject her in a way. But why? She’s your friend, you can’t lose that now, the only thing that made your life worth living.

Hundreds of questions and doubts floated by, but you pushed them aside when Minjeong came back and sat down across from you.

“Here’s yours y/n. I’ve never met someone who likes cotton candy flavored ice cream, I’ll have to try some.”

Minjeong spoke with a smile as she handed you the cup of cotton candy ice cream you ordered at the counter. The two of you were enjoying a nice ice cream shop getaway after a long week of uni. You thanked her and began to eat your frozen treat.

The girl in front of you reached across the table and glided her spoon into your blue ice cream, successfully stealing a bite. The action made you two giggle as she ate it off of her spoon and hummed at the taste.

“It’s very good, I like it y/n. Oh- you’ve got something on your lips.”

You looked at her like a deer in headlights as she took a napkin and gently wiped the stray ice cream off the corner of your mouth. She retracted her hand and let out a light giggle.

“There, all better.”

The feeling was back again, but this time you smiled uncontrollably. It was still out of nervousness, but it almost felt like a good thing. The small silence was broken when she began to speak.

“I have to tell you something y/n. I’ve wanted to tell you for a while now but I needed to find the right time. I think now’s a good time and I can’t wait any longer.”

You were a bit stunned by this. What did she have to tell you? You hoped it wasn’t bad, or maybe you did something wrong perhaps. You just nodded and maintained eye contact, letting her know to continue.

“I really like you y/n, and i want to be something more than just friends, if you want that too.” She bit her lip in anticipation, nervous for what you had to say.

Her words had a hard time sinking in your mind. You honestly couldn’t really tell what she meant, mostly because no one has ever told you this before.

“More than friends..?” Your confusion was obvious to Minjeong and she explained further.

“Yeah, like you know, girlfriends.” She was now shyly smiling.

You could vaguely pinpoint the emotion you were recently feeling while around her. Maybe you liked her too? Everything was unfamiliar, but you knew a thing or two about romantic interests just from watching a few shows, even though you didn’t necessarily understand it.

Many thoughts swam in your head, most of them were just trying to understand what she meant. But you know what she means, you’re just overthinking.

Ultimately, you decided that you reciprocated the feelings she had presented to you on this winter night. You liked her too.

“Minjeong, I…” You slightly hesitated, and this didn’t go unnoticed to her.

Her heart dropped. Maybe she had scared you off. Or maybe you didn’t feel the same way and she had made you uncomfortable. She wanted to crawl into a hole and shame herself for possibly ruining a perfectly good friendship.

“…I would like that. I like that idea.”

Minjeong’s face lit up and you couldn’t resist having the same reaction. She let out a relieved sigh and held your hand in hers.

And that’s when the next chapter of your life sprung into action.

You and Minjeong were now dating and things couldn’t be better. She held your hand everywhere the two of you went, and you loved it, her hands were so soft and comforting. She would frequently take you out on fun dates that she thinks you’ll enjoy, as well as spending quality time alone in your dorm together. She was everything you could ever hope and wish for.

When she is feeling particularly happy in a day, she would run around with a grin on her face and brag about how amazing her girlfriend was. When she is feeling defeated and sad, she would hold you closer when you hugged her and cry softly into your shoulder.

When those dark moments would appear, something inside you automatically knew how to comfort her. You would hold her tightly and tell her that everything will be okay, and you would leave soft kisses on her cheeks and lips while wiping her tears away. It was those moments she cherished the most.

But there was something that stood out to you, and that was the events that were currently happening.

It was quiet for a moment. The only thing that could be heard was steady breaths and quick heartbeats. You don’t remember how you got here, but you were laid down on Minjeong’s bed with her hovering above you. She held your waist gently with one hand. You observed her pretty eyes as they darted down to somewhere lower on your face.

You could feel something in the air shift when she licked her lips. She looked like she wanted to eat you whole. With hooded eyes and parted lips, she looked up into your eyes once more before closing her own and leaning in, closing the gap. Everything felt surreal at this very moment.

Her lips felt so soft against yours. You closed your eyes and enjoyed the feeling of her beginning to move. This felt way too good. You never expected kissing to be this good.

It started off slow. You felt fluttering in your stomach as she kissed you. You have heard about the saying ‘Butterflies in your stomach’ before, but you never really understood what it meant, until now.

Your eyebrows furrowed when she introduced her hot tongue to yours. Things were becoming messy now. Wet smacks and soft moans could be heard in the quiet room. After a few minutes of softly making out, she broke the kiss to catch a breath, a small trail of saliva connecting you two. She then began to kiss across your jawline and down your neck.

Minjeong feverishly left sloppy kisses down your neck, leaving marks and bruises causing a whine to slip out of your mouth. She focused back onto your lips as her hands fumbled with the drawstrings of your pajama pants. Once she successfully untied the string, her warm hand slipped inside and underneath your panties. The air was getting thicker as your breaths became heavier.

Things were going too fast for your brain to register. You’ve never done this before. You’ve never done this before and you were starting to panic.

“M-Minjeong wait.”

The girl on top of you immediately drew her hand back and looked at you in concern.

“Shit, I’m so sorry y/n. Was i going too far?” Minjeong was on the verge of rambling but she caught herself in order to listen to your response. Her heart was racing as she was afraid that she had crossed a line.

“It’s noting. I’m just, a little nervous. I’ve never done this before…” Your voice was shaky as you confessed to her.

Minjeong was shocked. She was shocked that a beautiful girl like you had never had sex before, she thought you were a pretty good kisser but maybe you were just a natural at it. But nothing to worry about. Even though Minjeong was extremely horny and wanted to devour you, she was also very understanding and sweet.

“Hey, it’s okay yn. We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I’m totally okay with just kissing or even doing something else non sexual.”

She melted your cold heart. You’ve discovered a new emotion at this very moment. A feeling that you have never experienced throughout your life, not even when you were younger. You felt like you wanted to be around her at all times, or that you wanted to kiss her forever, or tell her that you loved her.

Wait, what is this feeling?

“No it’s okay, I really want this. I just think…” You trailed off, hesitating to wisely choose your next words.

She waited patiently and watched you with a soft expression, urging you on to continue. You were about to step into unfamiliar territory, but you are ready now.

“I love you Minjeong.”

Warmth. Warmth was all the both of you felt.

“I… I’ve never loved anyone before, but i know I’m in love with you Minjeong.”

To say you were a bit nervous was a god damn understatement. You just admitted to feeling something you’ve never felt before to the most beautiful person you’ve ever seen. You felt like you were about to explode when she didn’t respond back.

After a great deal of silence and you awkwardly darting your eyes across the room, she carefully held your chin with her hand and tilted your head up, planting a soft kiss onto your lips once more.

This time it felt different though. Deeper might be the word to describe it. It felt deeper. It felt like all of her own emotions were being poured out in just that one kiss. There was something in particular that felt more prominent.

Love.

Everything felt right now. Was this the secret to life you have been locking away from yourself within your own consciousness? You never knew such a strong feeling could exist in your heart, but here it is being revealed by Minjeong.

She leaned back a bit and rested her forehead against yours, staring into your eyes that were staring right back.

“I love you too. So much.”

A wave of happiness crashed over you as you leaned in to kiss her once more. Now it was exciting, passionate even. Your mind was reeling with thoughts of her, only her. You wanted her and she wanted you back, so badly. She resumed back to her previous actions and let her lips trail further down your clavicle.

“Can i take this off?” Her hands her hovering over the hem of your shirt.

You eagerly nodded and lifted your arms over your head so she could remove the piece of clothing that was blocking her view from your gorgeous breasts. She softly moaned when she laid eyes onto your plump mounds, her mind hazy from arousal. Her hands slid over the sensitive skin of your waist and up to your bare chest.

You were nervous and on edge as she moved to gently squeeze your chest with her hands. Your body involuntarily jolted at the sensation. So this is what it feels like to be touched in those areas, it feels nice.

Things escalated quickly as she was soon sucking on your nipples while you whined and moaned. It felt so good whatever she was doing. All you could do was grip the pillow your head was resting on and let Minjeong do whatever she wanted with you.

Not after long, you started to feel hot and wet down there. You knew what sex was, you’re not dumb, but you’ve never touched yourself before so you have no idea what it feels like. It suddenly felt too hot in your pants, but Minjeong fixed that.

She planted light kisses down your abdomen and stopped when she reached her destination. She licked her lips in anticipation and dug her fingers into the waistband of your bottoms. With almost being lost in complete lust, her senses were swiftly regained once she remembered that you were a virgin.

While looking up at you with awaiting eyes, she made one last confirmation. “Are you sure about this baby? I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop myself once I start.”

Something within those words made heat rush down to your core once again. What was she going to do to you? There was only one way to find out.

“Yes I’m sure. Please touch me Minjeong, it feels hot down there.”

You’re too cute for her, fucking adorable even. Something about you triggered her to rip your pants and panties down, leaving you completely naked and bare. She slid her hands under your thighs and pushed them apart, revealing your dripping cunt. It was all too much for her. Before you could even begin to predict her next move, she dove in.

It was unlike anything else. It was beyond heavenly. Minjeong held you close to her as she drank up all of your juices. You let out a loud moan of her name when her tongue circled over your clit, sending waves of pleasure throughout your entire body.

Your hand instinctively reached to push her head closer when she started to suck on the small nub. Loud pants and whines could be heard along with the sinful noises from your girlfriend in between your legs. Your hips began to move on their own, chasing her mouth even though it wasn’t going anywhere.

Short after she started, you felt a tight knot in your tummy. The feeling only caused your eyes to roll back. You didn’t know what was about to happen, it felt like the knot was about to burst.

“Minjeong wait, please stop, I feel weird. My tummy feels so weird.”

Your girlfriend ignored your cries and please and continued to eat you out like she was starving. She didn’t expect you to last long, but it was just another thing that made you even fucking cuter to her. She sped up her movements and feverishly ate your cunt to encourage your first orgasm. You rolled your hips against her face, feeling closer and closer to your inevitable peak until…

The knot snapped. The knot snapped and everything felt ten times stronger. You practically screamed out her name as your body convulsed. Your pussy and your abdomen clenched over and over again. Tears prickled at the side of your eyes as you felt winded, you gasped for air. Your girlfriend slowly circled your clit with her tongue, helping you ride out your orgasm.

Minjeong ran a hand along your lower stomach to calm you down and bring you back to reality. You let go of her pretty hair and your hand retreated back to the bed. She swallowed every last drop and eventually pulled back while licking any remaining juices off of her own lips.

“How was it baby? You seemed to enjoy it.”

You couldn’t even speak. Your body was still twitching lightly as you stared at each other. A smirk grazed her features before she stuck two of her fingers into her mouth, properly preparing them for the next movement of your pleasure. You blinked curiously as she eased a finger into you.

It hurt at first, but soon the pain faded as she smoothly moved in and out of you while kissing and leaving marks all over your thighs. The pleasure only doubled when she squeezed the second one in, thoroughly stretching out the pussy she’s claiming as hers now. It all felt too good.

“I-It’s too much Minjeong. I can’t.” You whined out and sobbed as you covered your eyes with your arm.

It felt so good it almost hurt, it was too much, but Minjeong didn’t care. She wanted to see her baby come undone one more time before she’s satisfied.

Her long fingers only deepened their strokes and curled inside your sensitive pussy. Her mouth drifted back down and found its way onto your clit once again. That was the final straw. You felt the now familiar knot come back as she assaulted your swollen cunt.

“M-Minjeong, I feel weird again. Feels so good, please don’t stop.”

She smirked at the sound of you slowly becoming addicted to her touch. She never missed a beat or slowed down, desperate to make you reach your peak once more. She gave one last lick to before sitting up to meet you in a sloppy kiss.

Her thumb circled your puffy clit as her fingers thrusted at a steady pace. You moaned against her lips, a new set of tears falling down your cheeks as your orgasm ripped through you. You broke the kiss and held her close, gasping as she bit down onto your shoulder, the pain only adding to the pleasure.

Your cunt clenched around her fingers rhythmically, your body followed a similar pattern with jerks and twitches. You let out a satisfied moan before falling limp onto her bed. Your high slowly subsided and you felt a sudden rush of exhaustion fall over you.

With tired eyes, you watched Minjeong pull her digits out and enter them in her mouth, humming at the taste.

“Mmmm, I like this flavor more than any dumb ice cream flavor. You’re so fucking delicious y/n.”

You rolled your eyes at the cheesy comment before pulling her down to cuddle you. She held on to her stupid grin and softly kissed your forehead before pulling away and lifting your achy body up.

“Okay baby, let’s get you cleaned up.”

So this is your conclusion, your awakening. There is something deeper in life, and there is something more to feel than numbness. There’s love. And you found the love of your life, Kim Minjeong.

[obxsummer]

A Change of Summer // OBX x The Summer I Turned Pretty Crossover

where summer in outer banks meets summer in cousins beach and our favorite pogues meet our favorite... kooks: the fishers and conklins. conrad fisher x gn!reader x jj maybank

warnings: violence, angst, probably injuries and cussing, no use of y/n

a/n: based on these tiktoks (acct: @/sun.aepp on tiktok) I found and then I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. so here we are. for the sake of my feelings, Susannah isn't gone and nothing happened between Conrad and Belly at the end of S1.

navigation

--

The air always smelled different when you pulled into the driveway of your family’s summer house. Everything felt comforting when you came back here, like a home away from home that held memories for as long as you could remember. Every year, your family would start their journey in Cousins with your long-term family friends, the Fishers and Conklins, before taking off after the Fourth of July to come here: the Outer Banks. 

This year was different though. This year, the moms were taking Cousins for themselves and the kids were all here, with you, for the first time ever. It took a little convincing to get Jeremiah and Steven away from their so-called ‘dream summer jobs’, but once you told them they could work at the country club here instead, they were sold. Cousins would always be one of your favorite places, but you were so excited to make some memories here with them too.

“This place is insane,” Isabel Conklin, or Belly as you all called her, spoke up from your passenger seat as she looked at your summer home with bright eyes. She had been your co-pilot and entertainer for the drive down while the boys all went together in a separate car so you weren’t all squished for the long ride.

“Come on,” You laughed and shut the engine off. “Let’s go so you can pick your bedroom first before the boys get here!”

Belly Conklin was the sweetest person you’d ever met in your life. Growing up together meant sharing secrets, long-distance FaceTime calls, and embarrassing moments that would go to the grave. She was only a year younger than you, turning 17 while you would be on vacation together, which really only pulled the two of you closer together.

You quickly opened the garage door of the home and rushed inside with your bag smacking your hip. Belly burst into a fit of giggles as the two of you scrambled over the freshly cleaned floors to get first dibs on the bedrooms. 

Leaving the younger teen to situate herself, you moved into your personal room. It was just how you left it from last year with bright white and pale accent colors filling the space. Your feet moved first, throwing your body on the bed with a big sigh as you sank into the plush mattress below. 

“Holy shit!”

The exclamation broke you from your momentary peace as you opened your eyes. You made your way downstairs to see the new figure in your kitchen with a wandering gaze and astonished expression. 

“Damn, this house gives Cousins a run for the money!” Steven Conklin always knew how to make you laugh. As the second oldest of your group, he had no trouble being anything but a role model sometimes. You shook your head at him and left him to explore the area on his own, deciding to grab the rest of your stuff from the car. 

“A little help unloading the car would’ve been nice, Steven.”

Jeremiah Fisher’s bright blue eyes always sparkled when you looked at them. You held back a laugh and walked closer. He didn’t hesitate to drop the bags in his hands when he caught sight of you. “My favorite ray of sunshine, look at you!”

“Jere!” You laughed but ran to him nonetheless as he caught you effortlessly in a hug. “I’m so excited you guys are here!”

Jeremiah spun the two of you in a circle before placing your feet back on the ground. “Listen, I have to admit I was a bit hesitant about not heading straight to Cousins.”

“I promise it’ll be a good time,” You reassured and gave his cheek a small squeeze. “Belly already claimed her room so you might want to go fight Steven for what’s left.” Eyes widening in shock, he took off instantly into the house and hollered for Steven to wait up.

Moving around to the trunk of your car, you grabbed a few handfuls of the items you could before coming face to face with Conrad Fisher. A gasp escaped your lips at the lack of space between the two of you before you took a small step back. “Conrad, hi.” 

He didn’t miss the suppressed emotion behind your tone. The last time the two of you saw each other, were close to each other, it took everything in him not to kiss you. “Hi. Do you need some help?”

Glancing at the bag strap across his shoulder and the large cooler in his hands, you shook your head. “No, no. Thank you, though. How was your drive?”

Conrad Fisher. The boy who you had hated, loved, envied, admired. Every emotion you’d come to experience had a tie back to the boy in front of you.

Things with Conrad had always been complicated. He knew you better than anyone, yet he pissed you off every chance he had.  He knew that you were wrapped around his finger too, and you hated that. You knew things had been rough when his mom went through her cancer treatment, and the whole ordeal with his parents’ divorce obviously, but that version of him had slowly disappeared since last year. You hoped this summer would actually put things back on track between the two of you. 

“Boring. Jere snores when he sleeps.” His reply was simple and held the same tone yours did. This is how things always were when you guys saw each other after half a year apart. Awkward, tense, and then you’d slip back into your routine like nothing ever happened.

The kitchen was empty when the two of you walked in. You quickly left Conrad to himself and started stacking things by the stairs to take up for Belly and yourself. The pattern continued until both cars had been emptied out and everyone was conversing in the main sitting area. 

“So, what first?” Jeremiah looked at you eagerly once the noise died down.

You shrugged as all of their eyes moved to you. “Plenty of options. I definitely want you guys to meet my friend Sarah. You’ll love her and her boyfriend. We’ll need to hit the grocery at some point too. We could do a quick island tour and grab some dinner to start?”

One of your other favorite parts of the summer house: your dad’s summer car. The custom-colored four-door Jeep Wrangler brought you so much joy with its oversized tires, LED lighting, and decals. 

The five of you piled in, Conrad calling dibs on the passenger seat much to your surprise before you were on your way. The warm, salt-water air took over instantly as you pulled from the driveway. The music filled the otherwise silent car as the wind flowed around you. 

“So, a little bit of OBX lingo for you,” You started after turning the music down a bit. “There are two sides to Kildare Island, which we’re on. This is Figure Eight and the other half is called The Cut.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Steven asked without moving his gaze from the passing views.

You knew it was going to be odd describing to them the balance and lifestyle of the island but better to tell them now than wait around. “Well, they’re metaphorically separated by social class. Those who have more income are on Figure Eight are called Kooks. Those on The Cut are Pogues.”

“Like…pogies? The fish?” Conrad’s addition to the conversation was slightly surprising but you nodded regardless.

“Low on the food chain, yeah.” You reached over the console to point towards a building on the passenger side. “That’s the country club. Steven and Jere, I already talked to the manager and he’s going to find you guys open positions if you’re still up for it.”

Both boys exchanged a fist bump, completely disregarding Belly who was stuck in between them. 

You continued to point out a couple of other monumental landmarks that might spike interest including Sarah’s house alongside popular restaurants and stores. It was obvious when you switched from Figure Eight to the bridge to The Cut. The home quality instantly changed and the people were much more scarce. 

“Damn, okay now I can see why you guys don’t come on this side of the island,” Jeremiah said as he caught sight of a rundown house. The majority of the area was still torn up from the hurricane that had just come through prior to your arrival.

You nodded. “I don’t really know anyone who lives on this side for the most part. But, they do usually have a bonfire at the start of the summer so we can always check that out if we want?”

“As long as it doesn’t end up like Belly’s first bonfire, sure,” Steven laughed from the backseat which prompted his sister to smack him across the shoulder. “Ow! I was joking, geez.”

“You’ll be fine here, Bells,” You reassured as you stopped at a light. “Unlike these idiots, I won’t leave you.” You glared at Jeremiah and Steven in the rearview mirror for emphasis. 

They attempted to defend themselves but you tuned them out as you looked through the window. The realization that you’d never really spent time on The Cut was setting in, minus the few parties Sarah and her boyfriend would drag you to, and the rare occasion you had to drive this way instead. 

“Yo, can we get some food? I’m starving.”

Deciding dinner would be a good move, you made your way to The Wreck. It was the best food you’d had on the island that wasn’t $100 per meal. While this was a summer to splurge with your friends, you definitely weren’t looking to drain your account in the first week. 

--

“Does this look okay?” 

Belly’s voice broke through the music in your bathroom as you continued to get ready. After a minor amount of persuasion, everyone decided the bonfire was a good move to kick off the trip. 

You took in Belly’s crop top and jean shorts. “Yeah, absolutely. Hey, do you wanna grab us some drinks from downstairs and we can finish getting ready together?”

The two of you emerged downstairs sometime later to find Steven and Jeremiah entertaining themselves with cup pong against Conrad on your kitchen island. You moved fast enough to swat Jeremiah’s shot away from the rim of Conrad’s cup, effectively costing the opposing duo a turn. 

“No!” The blue-eyed boy groaned at his loss before taking a sip of his red cup. 

You weren’t paying attention to him though. Conrad had shifted right when your hand crossed his vision and was looking at you. You froze at the eye contact, wishing he would say something, anything, to give you a hint of what he was thinking. Was it about you? Did he like your outfit? When he stayed quiet, you offered him a small smile before turning away. 

“Hurry up!” You replied to Jeremiah’s protests as you grabbed more drinks from the fridge for yourself and Belly to take along the way. “We’re already late and I wanna get there before they run out of stuff. Sarah texted me that she was already on her way there.”

It took a little more prying before you convinced them to leave and walk to the beach for the bonfire. The music was already blaring from who knows where when the five of you arrived. After getting drinks for everyone, you found a spot in the sand to claim as a standing area. 

“Okay, so when does this get good?” Steven asked as he looked around at the surrounding crowd. 

You glared at him and flipped him off. “I don’t see you bringing life to the party, Conklin. Go find someone to make out with.”

“Ew! I didn’t need that image in my head,” Belly groaned before taking a sip of her drink. She looked surprisingly comfortable compared to her normally stiff exterior when it came to parties. Granted, the past few that she’d been to hadn’t exactly been the best. 

The sound of your name being called grabbed your attention just before a head of blonde hair invaded your view. Sarah Cameron had always been the happiest soul you had known. Having her around each summer made a huge difference on your trip.

“Sarah!” You embraced her tightly before letting go.

Her classic summer dress flowed in the wind as she took a step back. “You bitch! You didn’t tell me you were here!”

“Sorry, sorry.” Your apology wasn’t real, but you felt the need to say it regardless. Jeremiah cleared his throat behind you to which you snapped back to attention. “Oh! Sarah, these are my friends Belly, Jeremiah, Conrad, and Steven. Guys, this is Sarah Cameron.”

“I’ve heard practically everything about all of you,” She said and gave them a wave before her gaze moved back to you. “Come on! Topper’s been dying to meet everyone.”

“Topper?” Steven repeated the name as he and Jeremiah snickered. You gave them a sharp glare and continued to follow Sarah further into the crowd.

The air grew warmer as the six of you approached the large fire that everyone was surrounding. Sarah broke away from your side to run forward where you could see her boyfriend, Topper Thornton, chatting amongst his friends. To your unease, Sarah’s older brother Rafe Cameron was staring right back at you.

Growing up, you didn’t mind spending time with Rafe. He was two years older than you, but he loved to think that meant he controlled everything. As you got older, his desire to be in a relationship with you became painfully obvious. You had politely turned him down as much as you could, but nothing ever really stuck when it came to him.

Quick introductions were made before everyone fell into casual conversation. Belly and Sarah were getting along just as you thought, and it even seemed like Conrad was starting to crawl out of his shell. That was probably the alcohol more than anything, you reminded yourself.

Your conversation with Jeremiah was cut off when you saw a blond teen stumble their way toward Belly and Sarah. “Sarah, can I interest you in a tasty Milwaukee beverage?”

Your friend gave the kid an odd look and shook her head. “No, thanks.”

“Is it not fancy enough for you?”

“No, we were just-“

Topper stepped around you to come to his girlfriend’s defense. “Hey, I’ll take it.”

The boy offering the drink was instantly annoyed. “I didn’t ask you, Topper. If you’d said pretty please, maybe. But you didn’t so, too bad. You can have it, Sarah.”

“She doesn’t want it, asshole,” You spoke up from over Sarah’s shoulder. Jeremiah had moved to stand at your side and you could tell Steven and Conrad had stopped conversing to watch.

Topper smacked the cup out of the guy’s hands, the liquid splashing all over. “See what happens?”

You were vaguely aware of someone pulling your shirt backward as the blond teen’s friend threw himself at Topper. It didn’t take long for a full-blown fight to break out which caught the attention of everyone around. Angry shouting followed as the dark-haired boy screamed at Topper to continue the fight.

“Guys, we should go.” Jeremiah tugged at your shoulder and started to grab the rest of your group to herd you away from the violence in front of you.

“He’s got a gun!”

The statement ran your blood cold as you looked to see the blond kid from before with something dark and shiny against Topper’s head. Hands grabbed at your hips and lifted you forward as the five of you took off from the scene in fear. Someone’s hand was in yours, practically dragging you through the sand back up to the concrete path you’d used to get here. You didn’t make it very far before two loud cracks filled the air, gunshots.

Once the bonfire was out of your sight, you took the chance to slow down and catch your breath. “Is everyone okay?”

Belly’s eyes were wide in shock as she stayed close to her brother’s side. Jeremiah put his hands on his hips as he turned around to make sure nobody was following him. Everyone was clearly shaken and you were right there with them.

“What the hell was that?” Conrad’s hand dropped from yours, something you’d just now noticed. “So much for a fun, casual bonfire to kick off summer, huh?”

You took a step back in defense. “How the hell was I supposed to know that would happen?” You shouted. “I would have never taken you guys if I knew what was going on!”

Conrad’s eyes flared but he shut his mouth and continued to walk on the path. You stood frozen for a moment before groaning loudly and stomping behind him all the way home.

It took some time to get the nerves out of your system, but a cold shower helped. You texted Sarah to make sure everything was okay before heading to the kitchen to get something to drink. Belly and Jeremiah were watching a movie in the other room while Steven occupied himself with calling his mom to check in (and would hopefully be leaving out some major details of the night).

You came face to face with Conrad when you stepped into the slightly lit kitchen. He was rolling up a joint on the countertop and probably didn’t even notice you were there. You stood still for a moment and just observed him.

“A picture would last longer,” He blurted but kept his gaze on the object between his fingers. Shit.

You rolled your eyes and walked to the fridge to grab a drink. “Wasn’t staring.”

“I could feel your eyes on the side of my head.” You could hear the smile in his voice. You weren’t sure what it was about Conrad Fisher that kept you coming back but you knew you couldn’t stop. Cracking the top of your drink, you pulled a chair away from the kitchen counter to sit.

Moments of silence passed with the only noise coming from Jeremiah and Belly’s movie in the other room. The feeling of anxiety still coursed through your veins. It would be like that for a while, and you doubted that you would be able to get some sleep.

“Are you okay?” Conrad’s question was quiet, and you almost thought you imagined it. Even if you wanted to tell him yes, that you felt fine, you knew he could read you like a book. You offered a shrug instead. He watched you for a moment before standing up from his seat. Freshly rolled joint pushed behind his ear, he made his way over to you and grabbed your hand to pull you out of the chair so he could lead you through the house. “We’re heading to bed.”

Jeremiah and Belly were no doubt watching you follow the eldest boy up the stairs to your bedroom. Conrad slowly closed the door behind the two of you as you paced slowly back and forth.

“You don’t have to stay,” You whispered as you sat down on your bed with a sigh. Everything felt really overwhelming and suddenly, you doubted the good intentions behind having everyone join you here for the summer.

This wasn’t abnormal behavior for you and Conrad. He had unfortunately stumbled upon you fighting through one of your first anxiety attacks and talked you down before sharing his own experience. Turns out, the two of you had way more in common than you’d thought. This routine built up from helping each other over the years and it’d become second nature at this point.

“I’m not leaving you like this; you know that.” Conrad was already in his pajamas – sweatpants and a Cousins Rowing t-shirt, as he climbed under your covers. You stared at the ground beneath you for a moment before caving and making your way to crawl in next to him.

Often before you’d joke that maybe the two of you should have a smoke session and clear the air instead of sharing a bed after things like this. Conrad disagreed each time. You knew he was right about that being an unhealthy way out.

Fingertips smoothed across your back before sliding beneath your t-shirt. His skin was warm as he continued to give you the physical touch that would eventually calm your nerves. It was hard to shut off the thoughts running through your head but having someone to hold you and bring you back to earth always made everything easier. Conrad knew that. He knew you. 

“Thank you.”

Your appreciation was left unanswered but acknowledged when Conrad pulled you closer against his chest. You fell asleep to the feeling of his lips against your head.

--

The next day had been much less eventful. You took the time to get some groceries from the store to stock up the fridge (and snagged some alcohol from your connection in town). Unpacking went by quickly and before you knew it, Conrad, Steven, and Jeremiah were begging for some surf time. Belly only offered a shrug to say she didn’t care what the group did, which is how you ended up here.

Ocean water chilled your bones as you sat on the surfboard below. To your amusement, Conrad kept encouraging Steven even with wipe out after wipe out. You decided it was a good time for a break and made your way out of the water to sit by Belly who had volunteered to watch everyone’s things.

“Hey, Bells.” You set your board in the sand and attempted to tame your salt-water-soaked hair. She smiled and handed you a towel so you could cover up before taking a seat next to her. “Everything okay?”

“Can I ask you something?” She questioned at the same time. The two of you shared a laugh before she continued. “Um… I’ve just been thinking. Is-Is there something going on? With you and Conrad, I mean? You guys have always been a certain way and then last night…”

You let out a deep breath and thought to yourself. Isabel Conklin had always looked at Conrad Fisher with the biggest heart eyes one could have. Everyone knew that including Conrad, but the two had never been anything besides best friends. 

You didn’t want to be the one to break her heart, so you shook your head. “Nah, Bells. Conrad’s just as complicated and stoic as he’s always been, you know? I take everything he does with a grain of salt because you never know how he’ll react. We’re just really good friends.”

“Really good friends that sleep with each other in the same bed?”

A sudden interruption pulled your attention away from her question, to which you were extremely grateful. “Hey, does this belong to you guys? It was blowing away.” A girl stood in front of you with a t-shirt in her outstretched hand.

A deeper look at the shirt in her hand proved it to be Conrad’s so you stood up to grab it from her. “Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.” 

She gave a nod before focusing on you. “Are you from here? You look so familiar.”

You smiled and shook your head. “No, no. Just a regular for summer. You?”

“Yeah, yeah. I live off Clove. Been here my whole life.” She shrugged and looked over her shoulder to where you could see two other figures in the water surfing.

“Oh! We’re right off Anchorage so probably within walking distance,” You replied. “Did you happen to eat at The Wreck the other night? I swear-”

She nodded. “Yeah. My parents own it so I’m there all the time.”

“Kiara, right? My mom is great friends with Miss Anna.” You fidgeted with the t-shirt in your hands to see Cousins Rowing in large white text. 

“That’s me.” Kiara shrugged and gave you a smile. “Were you guys at the bonfire last night?”

Belly's demeanor shifted noticeably as she stood up, her voice carrying an edge as she answered, “You mean the bonfire where a gun got pulled? Yeah, we were there.” She took the shirt from your hands, her steps taking her towards the water's edge.

“Sorry about her,” You sighed and crossed your arms as you watched her stop at the shoreline where Conrad was exiting the water. His mere presence on the surface of the beach seemed to shift the whole atmosphere.

Kiara waved off the apology. “Totally fine. Listen, my friends and I brought some snacks and drinks. Would you guys-”

“Kie! Are you ever gonna get your ass in the water?” A voice from behind her grabbed your attention and you instantly noticed the blond boy who pulled the weapon last night.

Kiara’s response was sharp, “Clearly in the middle of a conversation, JJ. Thank you.”

“Geez, alright forget I asked.” The blond boy, JJ apparently, came to a stop beside her and stared at you. Your face warmed at the attention. “Do I know you?”

You shook your head slightly as Kiara elbowed JJ’s tanned ribs. “Not officially but I definitely know who you are.”

He winced and let out a low whistle. “Damn. Guess my chances of taking you on a date just disappeared.”

“That you can bet on.”

You jumped at Conrad’s voice behind you and turned at his sudden presence. He brushed loose hair from his forehead and kept his expression stern, clearly unamused at this conversation. Not that it was any of his business on who you dated or spoke to. There was no surprise at his reaction but you didn’t expect him to be there.

You rolled your eyes at him. “I don’t need your help.” 

Conrad stared back at you with unflinching determination as a silent conversation passed between your eyes. You recognized his concern, even if he struggled to convey it in a different way. His protective instincts always kicked in when it came to you. 

Your attention moved back to Kiara. “We have snacks and stuff too. Do you guys wanna come sit? Maybe we can get to know each other?”

“Yeah, sounds good to me.” Kiara smiled. “I’ll grab our stuff and come over. JJ, help me?”

The blond boy was glaring knives in Conrad’s direction but followed his friend regardless. You turned back to Conrad and shoved his shoulder. “What the hell was that?”

“He was eye-fucking you. It was gross.” He turned away from you and moved back to the messy towels in the sand to sit. 

“You don’t have to act so childish all the-”

“Sorry, I don’t want you hanging around someone who owns a gun and clearly doesn’t care who they point it at,” His reply was sharp and direct. Conrad’s eyes didn’t meet yours again and it was easy to recognize that he was pissed.

Kiara returned shortly later with a cooler packed with cheap beer and both of her friends including Pope who you all were introduced to. He and Steven quickly connected on scholarships and college options while Kiara scooped up Jeremiah’s bubbly personality instantly. Conrad and Belly were sulking to themselves which left you with the infamous JJ.

“Sorry if I scared you last night,” JJ suddenly blurted which surprised you. He caught your expression and continued. “Kie said your friend seemed upset about it when she asked.”

“Oh, Belly?” You waved a hand toward her. “I think it just kinda surprised all of us but they’ll get over it. Why did you have a gun on the beach anyway?”

JJ smiled to himself as if he were remembering something. “Long story. You smoke?” He held his weed pen out for you to take which you did happily. “So, y’all are Kooks I take it.”

You blew out the smoke before nodding. “Something like that. At the end of the night, we’re going home to Figure Eight so…” You trailed off and took another hit before handing it back to him. 

“Nicest Kooks I’ve interacted with, if I’m honest.” He took the pen back and quickly downed his beer. He crushed the can with his hands and tossed it into the sand by Kiara for her to place in the trash bag. “Is he always like that with you?”

You followed his gaze to where Conrad had moved away from Belly and was having a smoke session himself. “Yeah, unfortunately. It’s complicated, to say the least.”

JJ laughed, “I love a challenge.”

You laughed softly and gave him a smile. “Good to know.”

You couldn’t help but feel that amid the chaos of the past few days that this might become something different… something new and exciting. And deep down, that’s exactly what you needed it to be.

-- 

The rest of your afternoon with Kiara, Pope, and JJ went really well. You hoped your groups could blend together throughout the summer and maybe it wouldn’t be so boring and repetitive. 

You and Jeremiah were in charge of dinner tonight and after the amount of weed and alcohol consumed on the beach, everyone was begging for some actual food. Jeremiah had one of Susannah’s famous recipes memorized and had no trouble assigning you as his co-chef to help.

The aroma of spices filled the air as you stood by the kitchen counter. Jeremiah practically danced around the kitchen with easy confidence, his movements efficient and fluid. The clatter of pots and pans and the sizzle of food on the stove formed a comforting backdrop to the disaster of thoughts swirling in your mind.

Jeremiah glanced at you, a knowing glint in his eyes as he stirred a pot on the stove. "You seem a bit off tonight. Everything okay?"

You sighed, letting the wooden spoon in your hand rest against the counter. "Not really. I think Belly's upset with me, and I just... I don't know what to do about it."

He nodded, his gaze sympathetic. "Is it about Conrad?" He wasn’t a stranger to the ongoing tension that came with his brother’s presence.

Your shoulders slumped slightly, and you offered a hesitant smile. "Yeah, you could say that."

Jeremiah's hands worked deftly as he chopped vegetables, his voice calm and soothing. "You know, she's been in love with him for a while. Seeing you two together might be a bit hard for her."

You picked up a bell pepper, your fingers tracing the smooth surface absentmindedly. "I get it, I do. But it's not like I asked for this mess. And we’re not even really together."

"Well, you're not exactly making it easy on yourself."

You huffed a frustrated breath, dropping the vegetable into a bowl. "You're right. I'm not. But what am I supposed to do? Ignore my feelings? I don’t even really know what they are, to make things better."

"No, not at all. Just be mindful of how your actions with Conrad might affect Belly. She was really quiet today."

"I guess she figured out Conrad slept in my room last night." You leaned against the counter, your gaze fixed on the bubbling pot in front of you. "It's just so damn complicated, Jere. I thought we were all friends, but now it feels like I'm stuck in the middle of some love triangle drama."

Jeremiah chuckled again, his eyes warm as he reached out to touch your arm briefly. "You know, love triangles are cliché for a reason. Emotions are messy and unpredictable. But they don't define who you are."

A wistful smile tugged at your lips as you met his gaze. "When did you become so wise, huh?"

He grinned, turning back to the stove. "I try my best. Now, how about you help me with these potatoes? Maybe cooking will help take your mind off things for a bit."

As you grabbed a potato and a peeler, you felt a small sense of relief settle over you. Jeremiah's presence was a comforting grace, his wisdom a soothing antidote to the chaos of your emotions. Together, in the midst of chopping vegetables and simmering sauces, you found temporary relief from the tangled web of feelings and expectations. As you worked side by side, the kitchen filled with laughter and the clinking of utensils, you felt at home.

Following the clean-up of the kitchen after dinner, you moved outside to enjoy the coolness of the night and the sound of the ocean waves. To your dismay though, it seemed you weren’t alone.

The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the beach as you sat on a lounge chair. The atmosphere was charged with unspoken tensions, a sense of unease hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. Belly's eyes were fixed on Conrad, a mixture of frustration and adoration etched onto her face until she recognized your presence and it shifted to one of anger. On the opposite side of the pool, you exchanged glances with Conrad, a blend of irritation and a deeper emotion that remained locked beneath the surface.

"Isn't it just wonderful how we keep managing to go to the same place?" Belly's voice pierced the silence, her tone dripping with a hint of bitterness as she swam through the water. "Must be fate or something."

Conrad let out an exasperated sigh, his eyes rolling dramatically. "Fate? More like a twisted game." The beer and weed combo was definitely affecting his usual style of silence.

You offered a small smile, your gaze meeting Conrad's for a brief second before you shifted your attention away. "It's never boring, that's for sure."

Belly's focus shifted to you, her frustration now directed your way. "Oh, of course, you find it entertaining. Always the center of attention, aren't you?"

“What the hell?” Your patience wore thin, a flicker of annoyance glinting in your eyes. Belly never talked to you like that. "I'm not seeking attention, Belly. People choose to interact with me."

She leaned in, her tone accusatory. "Yeah, because you know exactly how to manipulate those choices."

You were in shock that she was this upset with you over nothing. Nothing happened between you and Conrad so why was she treating you like a bug on her shoe?

Conrad couldn't hold back his snarky remark. "Manipulate? Is that the word we're using now?"

Your reply held a touch of sarcasm, your positive attitude gone out the window. "Well, if the shoe fits..."

Belly's frustration ignited into anger as she stood up in the shallow end of the pool, her voice laced with emotion. "And if the shoe fits, you wear it well. Playing everyone like a fiddle." Her voice cracked, her anger barely contained as she stood her ground and faced Conrad. "And I'm not falling for your denial either! Everyone can see the way you two look at each other."

Conrad's gaze wavered, a fleeting vulnerability slipping through before he hardened it into a defiant glare. "You don't know anything."

Belly's voice trembled, her frustration giving way to a heartbreaking mixture of hurt and rage. "I know enough to see that you're pushing me away because of it."

You couldn't help the bitter chuckle that escaped you, your voice laced with a biting edge. "So now it's my fault that you two can't figure things out?"

Conrad's eyes flashed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, please, don't give yourself that much credit. You’re doing a great job of fucking things up on your own."

Belly's hands trembled, her voice breaking as she lashed out. "You're the one who's not important enough to admit your feelings. You're too busy with your mind games to figure your shit out."

Rising to your feet, you felt the tension in the air like a physical weight, suffocating and inescapable. "And what about you, Belly? Clinging to your illusions won't make them real."

Her eyes welled up with tears, her voice a desperate plea as she kept her gaze on the boy. "I just want you to see me, to choose me."

Conrad's tone softened, carrying a mix of frustration and regret. "Belly, it's… it’s complicated."

The silence that followed was heavy. The waves provided a distant soundtrack, a rhythmic reminder of the tumultuous undercurrents within the circle.

You exchanged one last look with Conrad, a fleeting connection that held a complexity beyond words. Your heart was physically hurting. “If that’s how you guys feel about me then I’ll make it easy for you.”

Conrad’s voice called your name as you turned your back. Your actions were swift as you darted back into the house without another word. The weight of the day's emotional turmoil settled heavily as you retreated to your bedroom, seeking solace in the familiar space. 

You sank onto the edge of your bed, your thoughts a swirling mess of hurt, confusion, and frustration. Belly and Conrad's biting words echoed in your mind, their harshness etching wounds that seemed to run deeper than you'd anticipated. The three of you never fought, minus the petty arguments you'd had as kids.

A soft knock on your bedroom door drew your attention, and you looked up to see Jeremiah's concerned face peeking in. Without a word, he stepped inside; his presence was a welcoming gift. His gaze was gentle as he closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment before crossing the room to sit beside you.

"You okay?" Jeremiah's voice was gentle, carrying a genuine concern that touched you in a way you hadn't expected. “I could hear bits and pieces.”

You sighed, leaning your head against the wall behind you. "Not really. It's just... everything feels so messed up right now."

He shifted closer, his shoulder brushing against yours in a comforting gesture. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Relationships can get pretty messy sometimes, especially when they involve Conrad."

You closed your eyes briefly, allowing his presence to anchor you in the moment. "It's just that... I don't know what I'm doing anymore. It's like I'm caught between feeling hurt by Belly and frustrated with Conrad, and I don't even know where I stand."

Jeremiah's hand found yours, his fingers intertwining with yours in a reassuring grip. "It's okay to feel lost. But you don't have to figure it all out right now."

A small, bitter laugh escaped you. "I wish it were that simple. I love him Jere, I’ve always loved him and I probably always will but it’s so… so toxic that it hurts."

He gave your hand a gentle squeeze. "You're not alone in this. And you know what? Sometimes people lash out because they're hurting too. You know Conrad shuts down when he’s overwhelmed."

“You like her, don’t you?” You should’ve seen it before. While you and Belly were looking at Conrad, Jeremiah was always looking at Belly.

He shrugged and stared at the pictures on your wall like they would tell everything. “She’s busy looking at Conrad. It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it matters,” Your reply was a little more aggressive than you intended. “Jere, you deserve to be happy too. Maybe Belly just needs a push in the right direction.”

A sad smile graced his face as he looked at you. “I don’t want to be second to Conrad my entire life.”

Your gaze met his, a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion in your eyes. You leaned your head against his shoulder, finding comfort in his unwavering support. "Don’t downplay yourself. You always know how to make sense of things. That’s the Susannah in you."

He chuckled softly, his fingers tracing soothing patterns on your hand. "Well, I've had my fair share of tangled relationships and confusing feelings. But maybe it’s a bit of my mom’s influence, too."

You smiled, the weight on your shoulders lightening just a bit. "Thanks for being here, Jere. We’ll figure it all out."

He turned to you, his eyes filled with warmth and sincerity. "Always, no matter what."

As you sat there, side by side, a sense of calm settled over you. In Jeremiah's presence, the chaos of your emotions felt more manageable, and the wounds from the day's conflicts seemed to soften. Sometimes, all it took was a friend who truly understood and cared to remind you that even in the midst of heartache, there was always a glimmer of hope and a way to find your way back to yourself.

-- 

Walk on the beach tonight? 

The new text flashed across your screen as you stared at the unknown number. Today had been less tense than yesterday but still awkward. Belly was avoiding you at all costs and Conrad was in his normal shifty mood. Steven and Jeremiah started work today at the club so you had to fend for yourself in the house for most of the day.

It’s JJ btw. Got your number from Kie. Guess I should’ve started with that.

You smiled and typed back. Would love to. Meet me at my place at 8. I’ll send the address.

JJ’s response was instant. I’ll be there.

A few hours later, you made your way to the back deck where you had texted JJ to meet you. 

Conrad sat on a folding chair, his sun-kissed hair tousled by the breeze, his dark eyes fixed on the horizon. Beside him was Belly, her arms crossed, and a stormy expression on her face. She shot a quick glance in your direction, her distaste obvious even from a distance. You stood a few feet away, your gaze focused on the beach, your heart heavy with the weight of the recent argument. They still had yet to speak to you.

Jeremiah lounged in the chair next to you, his frame propped up on his elbows, seemingly lost in thought. He watched Belly intently, his feelings for her hidden beneath a carefully crafted mask of nonchalance that you could see through now that you knew. 

Steven perched on the arm of a chair, his smile bright but strained, trying to keep the peace between his friends. He glanced at you sympathetically, understanding the turmoil that churned beneath the surface.

Tension hung in the air, a thick fog of emotions waiting to be acknowledged. It was clear that the disagreements of the past few days had taken their toll on the group's dynamic. Conrad's and your on-off relationship had always been a whirlwind, but lately, it had been more stormy than sweet.

Feeling the need for an escape, you turned to see JJ walking up the path from the beach. He strolled along the shoreline, his lanky figure cutting a carefree silhouette against the setting sun. Catching your eye, he grinned and waved, gesturing for you to join him.

As if pulled by an invisible thread, you left the deck and walked toward JJ, leaving behind the complicated web of emotions that surrounded your friends. You could feel their curious glances on your back.

"Hey there," JJ greeted, his voice carrying a laid-back charm that put you at ease. “So this is where you live, you Kook.”

"Hey," you replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of your lips at his light teasing. The weight on your shoulders seemed to soften with each step you took away from the group.

JJ returned the smile and gestured toward the shoreline. "Wanna take a walk?"

Grateful for the distraction, you nodded and fell into step beside him. The sound of the waves grew louder, drowning out the distant murmur of your friends' conversation. As the two of you walked along the water's edge, your thoughts began to drift away much like the actions of the sea.

Back by the house, Conrad watched you go, his conflicted gaze fixed on your retreating figure. Belly sighed beside him, wishing he’d watch her that way. Steven's gaze flickered between the two, his role as the peacekeeper extending beyond words.

As you walked alongside JJ, a sense of calm settled over you. The soft, warm sand beneath your feet provided a soothing contrast to the emotional turmoil that had been stirring. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was a gentle symphony, drowning out the noise of your thoughts.

"That seemed awkward. Trouble in paradise?" JJ asked, his voice carrying a genuine curiosity.

You glanced at him and shrugged. "Just needed a break, you know? Things have been a bit complicated with everything."

JJ nodded in understanding, his eyes reflecting a quiet empathy. "I get that. Sometimes a little distance can give you a fresh perspective."

You found yourself opening up to JJ more than you had expected. Maybe it was the anonymity of sharing your thoughts with someone who wasn't entangled in the web of emotions that seemed to follow you.

"It's just... this thing with Conrad," you confessed, your voice tinged with frustration. "And it's been affecting everyone in the group, especially Belly. She's always had a thing for him, and she's not too happy about me being in the picture."

JJ listened attentively, his gaze fixed on the horizon as he let you pour out your thoughts. There was something comforting about confiding in someone who didn't have any preconceived notions about your life. He never thought he’d play therapist - that was usually Pope’s role anyway.

"I get it," JJ finally said, his voice gentle. "Our group set up rules to prevent this kind of thing actually. No pogue on pogue macking. Keeps the emotions out of play."

You laughed at the statement even though it made so much sense. “Yeah if our moms hadn’t encouraged the idea in the first place, that rule would’ve solved a lot of problems.” 

As you continued to walk, you felt a sense of understanding and admiration growing between you and JJ. It was as if the beach, with its calm and beauty, served as a canvas for your shared thoughts and feelings.

"And what about you, JJ?" you asked, curious to know more about the person who was becoming a source of comfort and escape for you.

JJ shrugged, a playful grin crossing his face. "Oh, I'm just trying to enjoy the summer vibes. The beach is my escape, you know? It's like my therapy. Just glad I can enjoy a good surf here and there too."

You chuckled, the tension in your shoulders easing. "Well, I'm glad I stumbled upon your therapy session."

The two of you walked in companionable silence for a while, the fading light of the sun casting long shadows on the sand. As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, you found yourself laughing and genuinely enjoying the moment. The beach had a way of making everything else seem small and insignificant in comparison.

Eventually, the sky began to darken, and the stars emerged one by one, casting a soft glow over the shoreline. With a reluctant sigh, you realized that it was time to head back to your home.

"Thanks for this," you said to JJ, “I really needed it.”

He smiled, his eyes reflecting the moonlight. "Anytime. The beach is always here, I’m just an added benefit."

The soft sound of the waves, now illuminated by the faint glow of the moon, provided a serene backdrop to your conversation. As you walked, the sand shifted beneath your feet, the soft surface occasionally giving way to hidden obstacles. Lost in the moment, you didn't notice the uneven ground, and before you knew it, your foot caught on a raised piece of sand and you stumbled forward. Your ankle twisted painfully, and you let out an involuntary gasp of pain, collapsing onto the sand.

"Shit, you alright?" JJ's voice was laced with concern as he knelt beside you, his hands hovering near you but not quite touching.

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as the pain throbbed in your ankle. You clenched your teeth and nodded, squeezing your eyes shut to fight back the discomfort. “Just twisted it.”

JJ's expression was a mix of worry and empathy as he crouched down beside you. "Let me help you. We'll take it slow."

With his steady support, you managed to get to your feet, though each step was accompanied by a throbbing pain that made your breath catch. You leaned on JJ for balance, grateful for his presence in this moment of discomfort.

As you made your way back to the beach house, the distance seemed longer than ever, and you were acutely aware of JJ's arm around you, guiding you carefully. The soft glow of lights from the house grew closer, and relief flooded over you as you realized you were almost there.

Just as you reached the poolside, the back door burst open, and Jeremiah, Steven, and Conrad rushed out, their faces etched with concern as if they’d been watching you walk up from the beach. Belly stood near the doorway, her expression a mixture of curiosity and detachment.

"What happened?" Conrad's voice was urgent as he hurried to your side, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

"I twisted my ankle," you managed to say, your voice strained from the pain.

Conrad's eyes flickered between you and JJ, suspicion evident in his gaze. He seemed to be on the brink of saying something, but Jeremiah and Steven stepped forward, their presence a calming influence.

"It was an accident, Connie," Jeremiah's voice was firm as he clocked Conrad’s angry expression. "We need to go inside and get some ice."

Conrad's jaw clenched, his gaze still fixed on JJ, but he exhaled sharply and nodded, seemingly accepting the situation. "Fine, let's get inside."

With the combined support of JJ and Conrad, you were guided inside the house and settled onto a couch. Your ankle throbbed painfully, and you winced as you tried to find a comfortable position. Steven quickly ran for an ice pack, while Jeremiah propped up your ankle with a cushion.

Conrad hovered nearby, his eyes never leaving you, a mixture of concern and something more complex in his gaze. His fingers twitched as if wanting to reach out, but he held back, his emotions a mixture of worry and guilt.

As your friends tended to your injury, you caught glimpses of Belly's distant gaze, her form a silhouette against the lights of the house. She watched the scene unfold without a word, her feelings seemingly held at arm's length.

“Thanks,” You breathed a sigh of relief when JJ handed you the painkillers that Steven had found.

Conrad turned from his spot on the couch next to you, his eyes narrowed as he faced JJ. "How could you let this happen? If you hadn't gone for a walk, this wouldn't have happened."

JJ's brows furrowed, his expression a mix of frustration and defense. "It was an accident, dude. I didn't plan for anyone to get hurt."

Conrad's jaw clenched, his fists curling at his sides. "You should have been more careful." He knew he was overreacting but it was you and when anything came to you he just snapped.

Steven, who had been observing the conversation, stepped forward. "Hey, hey, let's take a step back here."

Conrad turned to Steven, his anger still evident in his eyes. "Steven, seriously. He should have been more responsible."

You groaned, your gaze shifting between Conrad and JJ. "Look, I get that you're upset, but accidents happen. It's not fair to blame JJ for something that was just my bad luck."

Conrad's shoulders remained tense, his fists slowly unclenching. Steven's tone softened as he stepped closer to Conrad. "Blaming JJ isn't going to change what happened. Right now, everyone needs to just get some rest."

Conrad's expression softened slightly, his anger giving way to a mixture of concern and guilt. "Yeah, whatever."

As the tension in the room began to ease, Jeremiah glanced at you. "Hey, why don't we give them some space? I think they could use some privacy right now."

Belly, who had been quietly watching from the corner, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea." You’d forgotten she was even there.

Jeremiah's gaze met yours, his expression filled with a mixture of apology and exhaustion. "I'll check on you later."

You smiled, appreciating his concern. "Thank you."

As your friends filed out of the room, leaving you and JJ alone, a sense of calm settled over the space. You leaned back against the couch, your injured ankle propped up on a pillow. The pain had subsided somewhat, but your thoughts still churned with the emotions of the night.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his eyes filled with concern. “I’m sorry.”

You nodded, appreciating his attentiveness "Yeah, I'll be okay. Thanks for helping me and seriously, don’t apologize. Sorry that he attacked you like that."

The soft glow of the room's lights cast a warm ambiance, and you found yourself stealing glances at JJ when you thought he wasn't looking. There was a calmness about him, a sense of understanding that you hadn't expected to find in someone you had just met.

As if sensing your thoughts, JJ turned his head and met your gaze, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You know, I've had my share of beach mishaps, but I think this one might just take the cake."

You chuckled softly, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood. "Yeah, I guess I'm breaking records here."

The two of you shared a comfortable silence, the weight of the evening's events fading into the background. At that moment, it was just you and JJ, the connection between you growing stronger with each passing second.

"I hope this didn't ruin our walk," you finally said, your tone teasing.

JJ grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Trust me, this will be a story to remember. Can’t wait to tell the Pogues."

As you gazed at him, a mixture of gratitude and a hint of something else—something that had been simmering beneath the surface—bubbled up within you. The warmth in JJ's gaze was inviting, his presence comforting.

Before you could overthink it, before the complexities of your relationships and the weight of the night's conversations could hold you back, you leaned in and pressed your lips against JJ's in a soft, gentle kiss.

The moment was tender, a release of emotions that had been building throughout the evening. JJ's lips were warm against yours, and for a heartbeat, everything else faded away—the tensions, the conflicts, the doubts. It was just you and him, connected in a way that felt both unexpected and right.

When you pulled away, the room seemed to hold its breath, the air charged with a new kind of energy. JJ's eyes searched yours, his expression a mix of surprise and something deeper, something that mirrored the emotions swirling within you.

"Wow," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.

You smiled, a mix of nerves and anticipation dancing in your chest. "Yeah, wow."

In your post-kiss bliss, you’d missed the individual audience with glassy eyes. There, standing a few steps up, was Conrad, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and hurt. He had unintentionally witnessed the kiss, and he wished more than anything that he hadn’t.

He turned away abruptly, his footsteps silent as he ascended the stairs. It was clear that he was upset, his emotions a tangle of confusion and perhaps jealousy as his heart broke in his chest. He was losing you. God, he was losing you and he had nobody to blame but himself.

--

navigation 

part two

wanna see certain scenes in the second part? ask me anything

[eumppattv]

HEESEUNG IDEA

so i have had this in my drafts for a couple months now. i might turn this into a short written series, so pls let me know if you’re interested 👀

I quietly made my way through the door, careful to not wake anyone up. I was exhausted, the airport sucking out all my energy. Still, it was worth, as I get to pull off the best surprise in history. I had barely finished my second year at university, before my parents had started planning my return home for the summer. They had rejoiced at the thought of both their kids returning home, as last year Jake had spent his second year summer on a “boys trip”.

This year I had copied my brother, with my friends and I planning our “girls trip”. I spent months searching up the best hotels, restaurants, and activities in the area. I was more than excited, though it seems I was alone in my feelings. Instead of planning alongside me, my friends decided to plan their weddings instead, with all but me ending our second year in relationships. Suddenly, our girls trip was no more- so here I was, back home without anyone’s knowledge.

I had kept my plans private, opting to not tell my family the real reason I was back home. I would take it to the grave, and instead tell them I “missed them and cancelled my plans”. Half true. I closed the door, dragging my small suitcase through the hall. I stopped dead in my tracks, seeing a light shine around the corner. I mentally cursed, not expecting anyone to be awake at this time.

I left my suitcase in our hallway closet, before tiptoeing my way to the kitchen. I turned the corner, a little excited to surprise whoever was awake at 2am. I turned the corner, only to come face to face with some random guy, standing in my kitchen, eating Nutella. I screamed, heart dropping at the sight. He did the same, dropping his spoon in the process.

“Who the fuck are you?!” His eyes grew wide, like a dear in headlights- frozen in place. Before he could speak, Jake came running down the stairs, stopping in between me and the stranger. He ignored my existence, instead turning to the guy. “Is that my Nutella?” he asked, walking towards him. “No it’s mine! I bought it yesterday, when I went shopping with your mom” the boy replied.

He went shopping with my mom? I coughed, gaining their attention as Jake finally turned to face me. “Y/n!” he exclaimed, excited to see me. He went in for a hug, lifting me up in the air and then placing me back down. I laughed, excited to see my brother, before I remembered… the stranger. I glanced behind Jake, seeing the guy standing awkwardly to the side. Jake noticed my focus had shifted, and he followed my eyes before realizing he forgot to introduce us.

“Oh Y/n, this is Heeseung, my friend from college. He’s staying here for the summer.” you nodded, glad that he wasn’t an intruder. “Sorry for scaring you. I didn’t know Jake had a sister” he said, offering up a sweet smile. “It’s okay” I said, chuckling at the absurdity of the situation. Jake laughed along with us, before excusing himself to continue his “beauty sleep”.

Feeling the effects of the airport, I decided to follow, grabbing my suitcase from the closet and dragging it up the stairs. “Let me help you” said Heeseung, running up and grabbing the suitcase from my hands. I let him take it, too tired to argue against his politeness. “So you went shopping with my mom?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me. He chuckled, setting my suitcase in front of my door. “Yeah, Jake and your dad were out so I didn’t want her to go alone”. I didn’t expect him to be so sweet.

“We’ll thank you, I’m sure she enjoyed your company” I said, opening my door to head in and crash on my bed. “Goodnight” he said, that sweet smile still plastered on his face.

My morning routine was soon shared with Heeseung. The guest bedroom was across from mine, with our separate bathrooms placed next to each room. Yet here I was every morning with the boy by my side. It started two weeks ago, when he had stopped by to ask if I had any extra toothpaste. We had started small talk, which soon turned to a full on conversation in between brushing our teeth. The next day I had gone up to him, to ask whatever stupid question was on my mind. Soon we just found each other as soon as we woke up, enjoying each others company.

I would be lying if I said something hadn’t shifted between us in these weeks. We went from strangers, to close friends, to something else. We were now comfortable with one another, teasing each other and sharing our deep thoughts. But I felt that shift this morning.

“Heeseung stop, I need to get ready!” I exclaimed while the boy pushed his way in to get in the view of the mirror. “I need to get ready too” he said, fixing his hair. I sighed, rummaging through my makeup bag. Heeseung looked down, eyebrows knitted and in deep thought. “Why are you getting all dressed up?” he asked. “I’m meeting up with my friend Sunoo” I responded, pushing him slightly so I could do my eyeliner in the mirror.

He hummed in response, moving out of the way and sitting on the stool I kept in the bathroom. He positioned it right next to me, staring me down. I felt it, the intensity of his gaze on me, and suddenly I was feeling self conscious. “Why do you have to get all dressed up for a guy?” he asked a little too aggressively. I ignored his tone, eyes never leaving the mirror. “Because I want to feel good” I responded, now turning to look at him. “Are you jealous or something?” I joked, not expecting answer.

“You’re too pretty. What if he falls in love with you?”

Nothing was the same from then on.

[incorrectbatfam]

Okay, so I want a little angst fic where Robs twins and Milo get kidnapped, and the kidnapper is doing the whole cliche thing with ‘cHoOsE oNe, will your twins or Milo live??’ and, Rob thinks, it should be obvious, right? Pick ur twins! But, it’s a difficult decision, he can’t let any of them die, and he’s stressing Tf out. Like, Milo is fourteen! And the twins love him! (Kinds? He bullies them sometimes but it’s fineee)

At the end, the bats come and save them, but it’s still an eye opening experience.

The Gooners Christmas kidnapping fic that exactly one (1) person asked for

Word count: 3,375

———————

“What’s the password?”

Milo chuckled. “Jackie, you’re only supposed to do that when you get picked up from school.”

“Dad said to always ask before getting in the car with anyone,” the six-year-old replied. 

“But you know me.”

“What if you’re a shapeshifting alien trying to abduct us? Or an evil robot clone?” 

He sighed. “Unicorn ice cream. Now are we going Christmas shopping or not?”

“Sure,” she said, “when Gunner quits being a slowpoke.”

As if on cue, the other boy stumbled out of the three’s shared bedroom, tugging his blue snow boots on. Since he didn’t know how to tie the laces yet, Milo kneeled down and helped him.

“Now remember, the mall’s gonna be really busy, so what do we do if we get separated?”

“Meet at the food court,” they say in unison.

“And what do we not do?”

“Go to a security guard.”

“And why don’t we do that?”

“Because they don’t work for people like us.”

“Good job.” He patted the pom-poms topping their matching hats. 

Once Milo buckled the twins in and put his favorite rock album on, they set off. There was a light dusting of snow on top of the salt laid down earlier that morning, but the fifteen-year-old managed to weave through the holiday traffic and beat the lights in time to snag the last parking spot at Gotham City’s shopping hotspot. 

“Any idea what you’re gonna get your dad?” he asked as they walked into the bustling shopping mall. 

“How about a watch?” said Jackie. “I saw a really cool gold one last week.”

“Hm… maybe,” he said. “Gunner, what about you? Any thoughts?”

Gunner stifled a laugh. “Pants.”

Milo rolled his eyes playfully. The kid was in that phase where pants were the funniest thing in the world. But in the nine months since he started living with the Steelers, Milo hadn’t seen Rob get anything—buying or stealing—for himself. It was always for the kids or to sell on the internet. And, frankly, the man looked like he spent a year on a deserted island. 

“We’ll start with pants,” he said.

“What about you?” Jackie asked. “What are you gonna get him?”

“I’m not sure.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Probably something as a thanks for, you know, not leaving me to the wolves.”

“Like what?”

Gunner said, “How about a World’s Best Dad mug?”

“That might work for you, but he’s not my dad,” said Milo. He shrugged. “Eh, I’ll figure it out.” 

They perused a few clothing stores, the twins pointing out pieces of clothing their dad might like. Milo kept a mental inventory as he fiddled with the magnet in his coat pocket. He also made notes about where the cameras and security guards were placed. 

After about an hour, the kids were whining about being hungry (breakfast wasn’t exactly filling—they shared an egg and a slice of toast between them). Milo took them to the food court and used some cash he pickpocketed the other day to buy them both kids’ meals from the Batburger pop-up stall. 

Once they sat down, he said, “I’m gonna go get the gifts for your dad. Do you guys have your phone?”

Jackie and Gunner nodded and pulled out matching rose gold and black smartphones, respectively, that totally weren’t stolen and jailbroken. 

“Good. Stay here and don’t move. I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes. Call me if you need anything.”

Milo still had a thing or two to learn before he could begin swiping electronics and jewelry, but shoplifting clothing was easy. He grabbed a shopping bag from behind an unoccupied register and wove through the aisles for the list of things from earlier. He took them to the dressing room and removed the security tags with his trusty magnet before putting the clothes in the bag. Then, for good measure, he stuck them back onto random clothes throughout the store before walking out while using his phone like any other teenager. 

When he didn’t see the twins at the food court, there was a small spark of panic. He called Jackie and it rang three times before she answered. 

“We’re in the bathroom,” she said. 

He should’ve noticed the quiver in her voice. When he stepped into the all-gender restroom, he was met by the kids pressed against the wall with a haggard middle-aged man towering over them. 

Gunner cried out, “Milo!”

As the door fell shut, the stranger whirled around, pointing a sawed-off shotgun at Milo. “You with them?”

Stunned, Milo nodded numbly. He wasn’t sure if that was the right move or not. 

The man’s hands trembled. “Do as I say or I shoot.”

Milo reached for his batarang—the one he found on the street—inside his jacket, but before he could grab it, the man walked around him and prodded Milo in the back with the barrel. 

“I know you heard me. Now all three of you move it.” 

The bathroom was five steps from the exit, so there wasn’t any chance to make a getaway without putting Jackie and Gunner at risk. They were ushered roughly into a white van with the peeling logo of an electric company. A second person was in the driver’s seat so the guy with the gun got into the seatless back with them. He slammed the door shut. Milo motioned for the twins to get behind him. 

The driver turned the radio up as they made their way onto the road. 

Smart. Milo thought. Mask any calls for help. This obviously wasn’t the kidnappers’ first rodeo. 

But neither was it Milo’s. Being a runaway street kid, he had his fair share of close calls with bastard adults who tried to manipulate him because of his age. While he couldn’t call himself an expert, he had a general gist of how these situations went. 

Traveling at sixty miles per hour in a windowless van with no clue where they were headed, Milo didn’t have an upper hand. He needed information. Something was better than nothing. 

He studied the man with them, who had tucked the gun away. Even in the dark, he could see the man wasn’t doing well for himself. The worn-out clothes plus the crudeness of his weapon ruled out the mafia. What would Falcone or Maroni want with some random kids from Burnside, anyway? Milo could also rule out some of the major Rogues—Riddler, Two-Face, and Mr. Freeze all had standards. 

The man’s graying blonde hair and beard were both overgrown. His face was hollow and his breath smelled like spoiled leftovers. Clearly, he hadn’t taken care of himself in a long time. Mental break? But unless it was a case of folie a deux, there’s no way he could’ve gotten a second person to be his getaway driver. More likely than not, he was on his last legs and holding people for ransom was his Hail Mary. 

Milo also tried to analyze the man’s body language, but the low light and the moving van made it difficult. Kellin would’ve probably deduced everything with their assassin training by now. 

He glanced over his shoulder at Jackie and Gunner. Gunner always had more braggadocio, but underneath he got more scared easily, and Milo saw it in the way the kid clung to his sister’s arm with tears running down his cherubic face. Jackie appeared calmer, but her big brown eyes looked up at Milo, silently begging him to do something.

Milo took a deep breath and turned to their kidnapper. “You mind telling me what you want with us?”

“We don’t want anything from you,” the man replied. 

“Then what? You gonna sell us? Because we’re pretty unmarketable.” 

“No,” he said. “This isn’t about you. It’s about your father.”

“Axel Carr? Good luck with that. I’m as dead to him as he is to me.”

The man pointed to the twins. “I meant theirs.”

“How do you know their dad?” Milo asked slowly, careful not to let a name slip in case the man was bluffing. 

“I worked with Rob Steeler under Scarecrow. When he left, instead of getting promoted, they let our entire crew go since we lost our key player.”

The man was clearly getting started and Milo hoped he’d keep going until the boy could formulate a plan. 

“My whole life torpedoed after that. No gigs meant no income. No income plus a disabled kid meant I had to give up custody.”

While unfortunate, Milo was more focused on the clock and speedometer up front. Eight minutes had passed since they started driving and the speed had stayed consistent. The hum underneath the wheels told him they were still on the highway. 

“Without that money, I can’t get my kid back. So here’s what’s gonna happen.”

They came to a stop and there was the sound of a garage door opening and closing. Gun back in hand, the man prodded them out. 

“I’m gonna make Steeler pay,” he said. “He gives me cash for his little tikes. Otherwise, if I can’t have my family, then neither can he.” He turned to Milo and cocked the gun. “As for you, I’m afraid I can’t have any witnesses.”

“Wait!” Milo exclaimed before the man put his finger on the trigger. “Don’t you think killing me right away will cause a huge scene? You’ll end up with cops at the doorstep before you can even ask for the money.”

The driver muttered something to the gunman.

“True,” the gunman said.

The driver whispered something else. The gunman’s face lit up and he nodded. 

“Better idea,” he said. “I was going for around thirty grand. That’s ten grand for each of you. For each one he can bring me, I’ll let you go home.”

Jackie piped up. “What if he can’t?”

The man smiled. “For your sake, little girl, you better hope he does.” 

The gunman forced the three to surrender their phones while the driver bound them with rope to a water pipe against the wall. The windowless garage offered no clues to the outside, but the fishy smell in the air meant they were close to the harbor. It hadn’t been used in a long time because every step someone took left a footprint in the dust. Off to one side, underneath a mountain of scrap wood and netting, was a speedboat with a gaping hole in the hull. On the other side was a small, messy work table where the driver and gunman were making the ransom call. 

“Milo, what do we do?” Gunner whispered. 

“Just stay here and don’t move unless I tell you to,” he replied. “I’m gonna get us out of this.”

“What if you get hurt?” Jackie asked. 

He smiled. “Remember when I did a cartwheel with a twisted ankle? A little hurt doesn’t bother me.”

His arms were pinned to his side, but he managed to maneuver them enough to grab his magnet and batarang. Normally he would have had a trunk full of inventory to work with but this was going to have to do. 

While the kidnappers were on the call, he sliced himself out of the ropes with the batarang. He also loosened Jackie and Gunner’s restraints to prepare for a quick escape. 

The only exit was the garage door, controlled by a red button on the wall. If he was one of the bat-people, he could easily throw the batarang and hit the tiny target far away, but as just Milo, the risks far outweighed his chance of success. Normally he would have tried anyway, but he had the kids with him. 

He gestured to Gunner’s boots. “I need to borrow something real quick.”

The boy nodded. Milo undid the laces, resulting in two long strings in his hands. He tied them together to create a single, even longer cord, which he then put the batarang on one end of. 

The kidnappers turned toward them and the gunman shouted, “Hey!”

Milo muttered a prayer to Wonder Woman on the off chance that’s her thing. 

He twirled the string and released it. It wrapped around the driver’s knee, causing the man to stumble and fall. His joint cracking echoed through the garage and a red stain grew on his cargo pants. 

He reeled it in before throwing it at the gunman’s face. The tip grazed the man’s cheek, drawing a thin trickle of blood, before spinning back around into Milo’s hand. Milo threw a punch, but the man caught it. The gunman twisted before shoving Milo to the ground and pointing the shotgun at him. 

“Had fun playing Robin?” the man asked, finger nearing the trigger. 

Stall. That was all there was left to do. 

“Heroes are overrated. They always have to follow some stupid code,” Milo said, doing all he could to keep his voice steady. “You and I have more in common than you think.”

“Whatever deal you’re trying to cut won’t work,” the gunman replied. “Steeler’s already on his way and he accepted all my terms.” 

“What if I tell everyone what you did? Then what?”

The gunman laughed. “Tell who? The same cops you’re always running from? Don’t think I didn’t do my homework on your little posse.”

The driver was pretty much down for the count because he was still on the floor with the pool of blood slowly growing. Plus, he didn’t seem like the fighting type to begin with. Unless there were more kidnappers lurking, Milo just had to make sure the gunman stayed focused on him. 

“Your kid. How old are they?” Milo asked. 

“He’s ten, and unlike you, he’s actually suffering. He didn’t bring it on himself after a fight with daddy.” 

That plucked a nerve. For a disheveled ex-henchman, the man knew a lot. 

Milo clenched his jaw. “And what would he say if he knew about this? Even if you get the money, what makes you think he’d want anything to do with you?”

Smack. 

Milo fell back as the gun met his temple. His head throbbed and black speckles swam in front of his eyes. His fingers traced over the spot and came back red. Through the dull ringing in his right ear, he heard the twins cry out his name. 

He turned back to the gunman, still kneeling. “If you’d do this to us, what’s stopping you from doing it to him?”

This time, a kick to the stomach forced the wind out of him. He doubled over, gasping. He reached for the batarang but the gunman kicked it away. 

The man raised his gun for another strike but the garage door interrupted him. 

“Step away from the kids.”

The twins exclaimed, “Dad!”

Rob made brief but reassuring eye contact with them before turning to the kidnapper. 

“I got as much as I could, Frederickson. Now let go of my kids.” 

The kidnapper walked over and snatched the water-stained blue duffel bag out of Rob’s hand. He opened it and counted through the banded bills before turning back to Rob. 

“I said thirty grand. This is only twenty-five.”

“That's all I got, I’m telling you! Just take it and let my kids and I go home.” 

“We had a deal.”

While the two men went back and forth, Milo crawled over to the batarang. The open garage door meant the bright lights inside flooded the harbor with nothing blocking the way. The bright lightbulbs dangled from the ceiling. 

It was sheer luck the batarang flew over the adults’ heads and wrapped around the base of the brightest light bulb before dangling in front of it. It wasn’t very distinct, but his makeshift Bat-Signal would have to do. 

The man cocked the gun. “Now you gotta pick. It’s them…” He pointed it at the twins. “Or him.” He pointed at Milo.

What kind of choice is that? Milo thought. Of course pick them.

Rob stood there as if nailed to the spot, fists clenched. 

“Fredrickson, think about this,” he said, his normally firm voice edging on pleading. “Is five thousand dollars worth having this on your conscience?”

“You were always the soft one,” the man sneered. “You never let it on around the boss until our last sting.”

“There’s ransom and then there’s this,” Rob said. “Fredrickson. Darren. You’re not okay.” 

“Rob,” Milo said. 

The men’s heads both swiveled around. 

Milo swallowed. “Give him what he wants and he’ll be out of your hair. It’s obvious. Pick the twins.”

Rob sputtered, eyes wide. “I-I…” 

“You trust me on the field all the time,” he said. “So do it again.”

“I can’t.”

The gunman said, “So the little ones go.”

“No!” Rob yelled. “I just—I just need…”

“Take. Your. Pick.” 

His eyes darted between Milo and the twins. Milo knew his boss was an idiot at times and the proof was right here. The twins were younger. There were two of them as opposed to one of him. They were actually Rob’s. 

Before the gunman could repeat himself again, a brand new voice chimed in. 

“I’ve seen this trope before. Spoiler alert: the good guys win.”

With a swish of her purple cape, Spoiler released her grapple and knocked the shotgun away. She coiled the rope around the gunman before kneeing him in the ribs. Milo didn’t think much of heroes given how they beat up people like him and Rob, but he couldn’t help but marvel at each fluid strike. As easy as one, two, three, four, and five. 

The gunman hit the ground and she clasped a pair of handcuffs on him. Nearby, Orphan collected the driver. 

Spoiler crouched beside the twins and freed them. “Are you guys alright?”

They nodded. Gunner said, “Is the supervillain defeated?”

“I’d hardly call him super, but yes,” she said. “He’s not gonna bother you anymore.” 

As red and blue lights flooded the room, Milo’s head pulsed even harder like a kick drum at a rock show. Some of the blood from his temple dripped onto the floor. His stomach rolled. 

Rob answered some of Spoiler’s questions before she set them loose. Of course cops would be at the scene. Why didn’t Milo think of that?

The twins ran into their dad’s arms and he scooped them up. Milo had never seen his boss so relieved or so scared. He staggered to his feet, one hand in the brick wall for balance. His head spun and a sharp pain was finally sinking in. 

Rob put the kids down and turned toward Milo. 

“I’m sorry,” Milo said. “It’s my fault we got into this mess and—”

He was cut off by a pair of arms wrapping around him. 

“Rob, what—”

“Just shut up and take it.” 

The hug ended before Milo could fully register it. After one of the medics patched his wound, all they had left to do was go home and pretend this never happened. Business as usual. 

“The car’s still at the mall,” he said. 

“I borrowed one from Otto,” Rob replied. “I’ll get ours in the morning.”

Once they were back at the apartment, Rob tucked the twins into bed with an extra-long story. Meanwhile, Milo cleaned himself up in the cubicle-sized bathroom and changed into something more comfortable. 

He tried to sleep after that but wound up tossing and turning for hours, replaying the night’s events in his head. What if he hadn’t left the twins alone? What if he’d brought a better weapon? The Steelers were already hanging by a thread and he just cost them twenty-five grand. If one of the others was in his position, they could’ve figured a way out by themselves. Blaise would’ve siphoned the gas from the van and turned it into a flamethrower. Booker and Molly would’ve been better negotiators. Kellin would’ve fought their way through.

The door opened. The thin bar of light cut between his side of the room and the sleeping twins’ bunk bed. 

“It’s two o’clock,” Rob said. 

Milo propped himself up on his elbow. “And?”

“I could hear you down the hall. You’re gonna wake the twins up at this rate.”

“Not on the clock, not my boss.”

Rob quietly chuckled. “Get some sleep. I’ll be in the living room if you need me.”

[n0sewise]

look, I think Gon and Killua are well liked by their friends and loved ones, but I also think that they’d be just the worst couple on the planet.

like maybe Gon is cold because he’s not used to that type of weather, and instead of Killua giving him his hoodie, they both just wear it at the same time, and yes it looks weird and they’re walking awkwardly but obviously this was the best solution to the problem. and they don’t set out to be That Couple, but they share everything and of course Gon is going to hold out his bubble tea so Killua can try the flavour he got because he said he didn’t want mango, but Gon knows he’ll want to at least taste it, and they’re holding hands so there’s no way to pass it over without letting go.

they’re good friends to have around, great even, but sometimes it’s annoying to talk to them because Killua will just give Gon A Look, and he’ll smile back, and somehow a silent conversation is happening that neither one will elaborate on and it’s hard to talk to someone when their partner is draped across their shoulders and playing with their hair

their friends start specifying that the invite for Boys Night is just for Gon or just for Killua and Yes, they know they’re both boys but last time they just made out in the corner and forgot to socialize.

maybe Killua has come over after school every day since the sixth grade, and Mito loves him, she really does, but suddenly the boys are sixteen and Gon is no longer allowed to close his bedroom door when Killua visits because Gon is not a quiet kid and Mito knows they aren’t studying up there

maybe the Zoldycks go on vacation to the French Riviera for the holidays and Killua is absolutely insufferable the entire time because No One has ever been in love the way he is and How Dare they separate him and Gon, and he racks up an Astonishing phone bill messaging Gon about how stupid everything is and how it’s no fun without him, and here are eleven selfies of him on an exquisite beach Not Smiling because he misses him so much. maybe Gon is slightly better over the holidays but Mito notices he’s been awfully preoccupied with his phone this year and she leans over to look at what he’s doing and ends up seeing the most explicit message from Killua, and Gon is so focused on typing out a response that he doesn’t even notice his aunt reading over his shoulder in horror. Mito calls Ging for the first time in…for the first time ever, and demands that he have The Talk with his son because she can’t look Gon in the eye for at least a week. maybe Ging thinks it’s funny until she tells him what the text said and Ging goes a little bit greenish and mutters something about being thankful they can’t get pregnant

maybe Leorio decides it’s a good idea to gently hint at the possibility that most first relationships don’t work out, and it’s okay to break up before college and Killua is already on his phone playing a game and ignoring him, but Gon is paying attention and is so offended that Leorio could even Suggest that they aren’t soulmates who will be together forever. maybe years later when they’ve all grown up some more it will be cute and sweet how Gon was right, but at the moment it’s annoying and Leorio is secretly dreading the day they break up

maybe they do break up briefly and over something stupid when they’re seventeen and they make it everyone’s problem. the Zoldycks are a pretty emotionally constipated family and they’re really not prepared for seventeen year old heartbroken Killua blasting his breakup music from his room at an eardrum shattering volume. maybe Alluka is the only one who is allowed to enter his room, but Illumi tries it One Time because Kil, you need to turn down your music and come eat dinner with the family, Mother is worr- and he doesn’t get any further than that because Killua has hurled a textbook at his head and Illumi has to duck. the water bill for the next month is absurdly high because Killua discovers that he can lay on his back in his marble shower and stare up at the ceiling while he ruminates over his exquisite heartbreak, and Silva just pays the bill because he can’t deal with it. Gon is no better. he doesn’t stay in his room like Killua, but he finds a way to bring him up at every possible opportunity. he’s doing his science homework at the kitchen table and Mito is making spaghetti when suddenly Gon sighs Loudly and says, “Killua used to love spaghetti,” as if Killua has passed away, and when Mito asks if he wants to talk about the breakup he just sighs again and says no. then they’re eating dinner and Gon sighs again, staring out the window and says how blue the sky is and how Killua had blue eyes too, and when his grandmother asks if Killua died or something, he stands up dramatically and says he’s no longer hungry and leaves the room.

when they finally get back together everyone around them is relieved because they’re even worse when they’re apart

[mymoodwriting]

Request for Anon (Sequel to Wolf!Baek) 2.3k, werewolf, abo dynamics, pregnancy, giving birth, domestic life, fluff (@starillusion13)

“You still need to bite me.”

After the whole ordeal of presenting, and Baekhyun’s part in it, you had been staying at his place for the time being. You kept to yourself in the bedroom, but that doesn’t mean you could avoid him.

“I won’t pressure you or anything, just saying.”

It wasn’t easy staying with him either. At times things got hazy, since you were constantly surrounded by his scent. Not to mention it so easily became a habit to call him alpha. You’d always scold yourself afterwards. It felt like parts of you were being eroded little by little. You shouldn’t have stayed with him, but you also didn’t have the heart to go home.

“Y/n.”

“Hm…”

Baekhyun was still such a gentleman to you. He made you breakfast in bed, dragged you around the house for exercise, and snuggled up with you for naps. You felt so childish with him around, and he knew he was pushing all that on you. It was hard to say no.

“You have to go home at some point.” Baekhyun said. “Your family is probably worried. You need to tell them.”

“No.” You whined. “I can’t… they’re gonna be ashamed of me…”

“You just came of age, they know you’re meant to present soon, do you have any idea how worried they must be?”

“I messaged them telling them I was fine…”

“They’re still gonna want to see you. They might even show up here.”

“You can’t let them come here!”

“I won’t, but you can’t avoid them forever.”

You tried, you really tried, but you knew Baekhyun had a point. It was only a matter of time before your family came to confront you themselves. They were probably imagining the worst case scenario already. Although you had other things to worry about. A week later Baekhyun was dragging you out of the house. Not to see your family but to see the doctor.

“I’m not some kid!”

“You have to see a doctor after you’ve presented. Especially cause you’re an omega.”

“Don’t say that!”

“It’s true.”

“I don’t wanna go! I’m perfectly fine!”

“Y/n-”

“I said no!”

“Y/n!”

You whimpered and collapsed to the floor when Baekhyun yelled. You were shaking a bit, eyes glued to the floor. When he wanted to, his voice could affect you, and you hated it. You felt Baekhyun softly pet your head and kneel down.

“No one ever likes going to the doctor, and I’m sure you don’t like the idea at all anymore, but it’s important.”

“I don’t wanna go.”

“You have to. Come on now, I don’t like forcing you this way.”

Baekhyun helped you up to your feet and you quietly followed him out to the car. He opened the door for you and put your seatbelt on, giving you a quick kiss on the cheek. You pulled up the hood of your jacket, not wanting to be seen at all. For the sake of privacy there was a separate waiting area at the clinic for omegas, and it made you both nervous and calm. Baekhyun held your hand and was trying to calm your nerves. It was just a check up, nothing serious. Yet when your name was called you jumped. Baekhyun found you cute, pressing a kiss to your cheek and walking along with you as you followed the nurse.

You sat and waited for the doctor, Baekhyun pushing down your hood and fixing you up. He kept a hold of your hand throughout the exams, and the doctor was very nice too. They informed you that you were well, and nothing was out of the ordinary. You were a healthy omega, and Baekhyun couldn’t help but ask whether you were pregnant or not. It was too early to tell, but he’d keep his hopes up. Although that also brought up the bite. You hadn’t properly closed the bond, which was something you needed to do before it began to hurt. You thanked the doctor and soon enough the two of you were on your way.

“You did good, I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks… can we go home now?”

“Of course.”

You were glad the doctors’ visit was over, and just wanted to get home to cuddle under the sheets and take a nap. You made the mistake of closing your eyes to rest, and when you opened them again you found yourself outside your parents house.

“Baekhyun… what are we doing here…”

“Everything is okay, so you should see your family.”

“No, no, no, no… you-”

“Come on. I told them we’d be coming over.”

“Baekhyun!”

“Better now than later.”

You didn’t want to get out of the car, but it wasn’t hard for Baekhyun to drag you out. You fought him all the way up to the door, and only froze when he rang the doorbell. You pleaded with Baekhyun to let you run away, but he held your hand tightly. When you saw the doorknob turn you closed your eyes, not yet able to face your family. Yet you heard a cheerful exclamation, and soon found yourself in someone’s arms.

“My precious baby, it’s so good to see you.”

“Hi… mom…”

You were pulled into the house and the big reunion commenced. Everyone came over to hug you and say hello. Of course you didn’t even need to say anything, they could all smell you and they knew.

“You’ve grown so much.”

“Yeah…”

“Baekhyun, we can’t thank you enough for being there for our daughter and taking care of her.”

“I always had a feeling it would be the two of us.”

“We’re so happy to see that’s true.”

This wasn’t just a quick stop as you and Baekhyun sat down in the living room, having some tea with the family. You mostly kept to yourself, but Baekhyun was eager to talk and speak of the future. Of course he mentioned the fact that you were trying for kids, which made you hide your face. You wouldn’t say you were trying, more like the chances of you being pregnant were high considering what you did that night. Still, your family was so excited over the idea of having pups running around the house. You didn’t want to be here, but all the talks about the future and building a family were starting to warm you up.

Although it was good to see your family, you couldn’t stay for too long. You were already nervous to be there, and the mix of scents wasn’t gonna go over well. You softly tugged on Baekhyun’s sleeve when it was becoming too much and he understood. That’s when he brought up his last point, wanting you to properly move in with him so you could be together. Of course your parents were all for it, and that would be something to better prepare for down the line. You both said your goodbyes and returned to Baekhyun’s place. The fresh air did you good, but you were still shaken up by the whole ordeal.

“See, we killed two birds with one stone today. You went to the doctors and saw your family. Now you have nothing to worry about.”

“You…”

“Hm?”

“I still… have to bite you…”

“I know, but you look tired. How about we get you to bed so you can rest.”

You shook your head. “I can do it now…”

“Are you sure?”

“We can kill three birds today…”

Baekhyun chuckled. “Okay then, come here.”

You were pulled into Baekhyun’s embrace, letting his scent wash over you. It was calming and soothing, helping to wash away the stress from earlier.

“You should bite me where I bit you.”

“Okay…”

Baekhyun led you over to the bedroom, sitting you down on the bed. He slipped off his shirt and you stared at him for a while before he got your attention by petting your head. You smiled shyly, leaning over to hug Baekhyun. You buried your face into the crook of his neck, taking in a deep breath. You were always going to do this with someone, but you really didn’t think it would be Baekhyun. You did a countdown in your head and drew your fangs, biting into Baekhyun’s shoulder. You felt his grip get tighter for a moment before he relaxed.

You slowly pulled back, Baekhyun greeting you with a big smile on his face. He wiped away the bits of blood on your lips. You were starting to feel different, a bit dizzy and hot, your own bite mark throbbing. Baekhyun noticed your change in demeanor, laying down with you in his arms. It would take a while for the bond to properly settle, but he’d be taking care of you going forward. You still needed to rest after such an exciting day. So Baekhyun decided to get you cleaned up. He ran a bath and carefully stripped your clothes. One day you’d properly take a bath together, maybe with a little pup too.

🖤

As he said, you eventually properly moved into his place, starting to make it a real home. It was strange. You had been here before so many times, but now it’s where you would stay, where your life would continue. Baekhyun was sweet, being kind in a way you had never seen before. He always spoke about having kids with you, and one day he woke you up with such big news.

“Y/n!”

“Hm… what?”

“You’re pregnant!”

“Huh?”

“I can smell it! I’m gonna be a dad! And you’re gonna be a mom!”

“Are… are you sure?”

“I wasn’t wrong about you being an omega.”

Baekhyun pulled back the covers, his hand gently rubbing your belly. His smile made you giddy, you were really doing all this with him. He excitedly got up to make breakfast, knowing he now had to prepare meals for three. As you got out of bed you could hear him singing in the kitchen. His happiness made you happy as well. You had worried about your future once you found out you were an omega, but seeing Baekhyun like this assured you that everything would be okay.

“Come, sit, you and the baby have to eat well.”

You had only heard stories about how pregnancy affected someone, and now you got to experience it first hand. The morning sickness wasn’t easy though, but Baekhyun made sure to help you through it. Not to mention indulging you in all your cravings. He screamed so loud when your belly got big enough for you to be waddling around the house. He loved holding your hand and walking with you, felt like walking with a penguin, and he just loved peppering your face with kisses, your belly too.

“Ah, I can hear the heartbeat.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s steady, we’re gonna have a healthy baby.”

“I’m gonna feel so much lighter when they get out of my belly.”

“We should go visit your family soon. We need to plan the baby shower too.”

“Oh my gosh, are we getting to that time already?”

“Yup. We have to celebrate you both!”

Everyone was happy for you, and so excited for the baby. All that joy rubbed off on you, and every step of the way you had support. Others made plans for the baby shower, and you arrived to a wonderful surprise. You hadn’t asked about the gender, wanting it to be a surprise, and so everyone at the shower cast their own votes, also helping to pick out names. You had so much fun, and were really looking forward to the big day. Baekhyun doted on you every day, the smallest of things making him jump and asking you if you needed to go to the hospital. But of course the big day was bound to arrive. You were half asleep then, having just woken up from an afternoon nap.

“Baekhyun…”

You could hear him drop whatever he was doing and rush over to you, nearly trying over his own feet. He was out of breath but with a smile on his face.

“Yes, what is it?”

“I think my water broke…”

“Your water? What does… wait you mean?! Like right now?!”

“Yes…”

“Oh my gosh that’s great news! The baby is coming!” Baekhyun cheered. “Oh wait, the baby is coming, we have to go!”

“Yeah, that would be good.”

Baekhyun had prepared for this day, having a bag in the car ready to go. He took your hand and carefully walked with you over to the car. You kept a hold of his hand the whole way, trying to keep calm and control your breathing. Upon arrival Baekhyun stayed by your side for as long as he could. The pain was something unimaginable, but there was a joy to it as well. Baekhyun was practically sharing in your pain as well, letting you tightly hold his hand and encouraging you. 

“Here comes the baby.”

You could say that giving birth was the hardest thing you had ever done. You weren’t sure if you wanted to do it again, but in the moment you were so happy. Your baby was cleaned up and wrapped up in a blanket, handed over to you. Tears ran down your face as you held your baby, such a big smile on your face.

“Hi… hi there…”

“They have your eyes.”

Baekhyun came to your side, looking down at his beautiful baby and beautiful wife. He couldn’t believe any of this either, but it was the best moment of his life.

“Baekhyun… is this real?”

“Of course it is. You’ve done great so far.”

“It feels like life moves so fast… but I’m grateful to have you by my side. Especially as I start this new chapter of my life.”

“We’re in this together.” Baekhyun kissed your head, and then the babies. “I love you both.”

“I love you too.”

[nerdieforpedro]

A Night of Madness

Joel Miller x plus size female reader

Fanfiction 18+

Warnings: Awkward family dinner, smut, heavy Southern accent, Joel is a menace

Summary: Jane had a one night stand. She meets him a month later at the last place she expected him to be. Joel is well, Joel 'fucking' Miller.

Masterlist

Notes: I made Joel’s accent extra Southern, not sure why just wrote it and kept it. All mistakes are my own. I thought I had posted it last week and still saw it in my drafts. I was very confused. 😐

“Um…hello. Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, name’s Joel doll. So you’re Jane?”

“Yup. I’m Jane. I’m here.” The pair shook hands, Jane felt her face become warm along with her underarms, anxiety is a bitch.

“God, could you two be anymore awkward? You’re the damn godparents for goodness’ sake!” Tommy had his hands on his hips. His brother was a big teddy bear. A mean ass looking one, but still a teddy bear.

“Tommy, ya’ don’t need to yell. Hell, we just met. Since’s he’s not gonna tell ya, you can park right here.” Joel held out a chair for Jane who sat and pulled her pale-yellow sundress down. It was her favorite, made her feel confidant. And she needed to for this so called ‘family dinner.’ Maria had insisted on it, gathering those who she felt closest to. It was sweet but also meant Jane would have to meet new people, like Joel, though he wasn’t exactly new. Joel’s daughter Sarah was previously unknown to Jane as was the adopted Elle and her girlfriend Star. Jane knew Tommy and Maria of course and their two children, Maria was six months along again.

The teens were playing with children while the adults spoke, Maria asked for Tommy’s help in the kitchen, presumably to explain again why this was a good idea when maybe it wasn’t. Did they really need to meet? Joel didn’t think so, though he was shocked it was the same woman who last time he saw her she was in a royal blue dress one month prior.

He had seen her in a bar and she looked very out of place. Apparently she had gotten separated from her friends and was asking the bartender if he had her phone’s type of charger. He did not. Joel offers to buy her a drink and to use his car charger. He thinks he knows where it is in the truck. She was weary but did need to to be charged, so she agreed and set out to his truck, she laughed about her poor luck and was thankful he was not a creep as she put it. Joel laughed and put a hand over hers, telling her he wasn’t, she would be safe with him. Her fingers intertwined with his and she leaned over giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Be careful who you say that to handsome. You might get more than you bargained for.” Her sultry voice and made Joel shift in the driver’s seat.

“That right doll? I don’t ’suppose ya’ nothing I can’t handle. I might give ya’ sumtin’ ya’ll never forget.” Joel’s other hand cradled her head and pulled him to her, crashing their lips together. It wasn’t long before she had her panties off and Joel was being jerked off by her. She then rode him both in his truck and when he was able to drive, on his couch later. After napping, he insisted that they go to the bedroom where the elder Miller made sure to take his time, get her out of the dress so he could explore all of her curves. He expected her to be hesitant but she was bold and poked fun at him for bemoaning his back. She soon was made to swallow her words as well as Joel’s cock. He tasted her core and couldn’t get enough of her, but the time the sun rose in the morning, they were sprawled across the bed, tangled in each other. It was then that she nervously said she had to go. He didn’t get a name or a number. Turned out she gave him something he couldn’t forget too.

Now they were sitting, making small talk over pasta and garlic bread like none of that happened. She was giggling like everything was fine. When dinner finished, Tommy and Maria put the kids to bed while Elle drove Sarah and Star to a local concert, Joel had already agreed on account of Sarah’s excellent grades, now they were left in an uncomfortable silence. Jane spoke first, after five solid minutes of quiet. “It’s, I don’t think we should mention that we know each other at all. It will make it weirder than it already is.”

“That so doll? Houdya figure?” Joel leaned forward, he had rolled up the sleeves of his red flannel shirt, with a smirk on his face. Jane’s met them and then went back to his face. It was frozen right now, but she remembered the expressions, the sheer awe that it showed looking at her naked form. No one else had treated her with such reverence. It scared her and she didn’t know the man’s name. Her first one might stand. It was easier to do than she thought, but so hard to leave. She knew if she didn’t Jane would have never called an Uber and left. “I remember a hellova night and morning.” His accent sent shivers up her spine. She thought she had a night of madness but she knew she was wrong. It was everything about him, the accent, his hulking frame actually making her feel small. Those hands all over her body and the praises he gave her.

“Doll you sound fuckin’ beautiful right now.”

“Tightest pussy I’ve had, you took me all the way in.”

“Shit that tongue, make me drown ya’ throat.”

“Fuck Doll you’re so soft, lemme hold ya’ stay right there. Not pulling out ‘till I harden up ‘gain.”

Jane remembered all of it and he had given her something she’d never forget. She’d gone so far as to go back to that bar and ask the bartender if he know the man she had left with. He’d scoffed at her and told her it wasn’t his job to remember everyone she fucked. She may have through another person’s bourbon at him. A waste of good liquor.

“I can’t…I lost myself that night and became,” Jane whispered “a bit concerned about finding you. So we can’t…” Her train of thought was lost when Joel’s hand patted her thigh. His touch gentler than the smirk he had.

“Jane, you look pretty in that yellow dress. Damn near close to that blue one you had on.” Joel’s thumb pressed into her thick thigh before scooting closer to her and leaning into her ear. “Still prefer you out of it. I wanna grab ya’ and see ya’ dripping’ fer me.” He left a small kiss to her check and stood to meet the footsteps he heard coming down the stairs. Jane felt her thigh where Joel’s hand had been, missing the pressure.

“You two make things a bit more friendly? You can’t be stiff ‘round each other. For the kids’ sake.” Tommy chimed as he hugged Maria. Jane stood and nodded, hugging the happy couple before moving toward the door. Joel used his long legs to meet her there and open it for her. “Brother, walk her to the car. She parked on the street. Elle’s car was blocking the driveway earlier.” He suggested, Jane put her hands in front of her plush belly, she normally did that when she was anxious. A given since she felt she might fuck him in her car on the street outside of her friend’s house. Joel and Jane stepped out of the house in silence until they got to her car.

“What is it about you that makes me want to have you rail me? I feel insane…” Jane opened her car door and tossed her purse in, slipping her keys in one her dress pockets. Joel stepped to embrace her but she stopped him, putting her hands on his chest. “No. Give me your number Miller. Tell your girls you’re sleeping over at your brother’s house. You’re following me to my place. Now.” He commanded and hopped into her car. Joel put both hands up and walked around to her window.

“I showed ya’ what ya’ couldn’t handle Jane. Now you wanna keep handlin’ it until ya’ understand. I’m fine ridin’ ya out Doll. I’ll follow ya’ and show ya’ some good lovin’ darlin’.”

The Tag List:

@fhatbhabie @morallyinept @pedritapascal @pascalsanctuary @nissaimmortal @grogusmum @theywhowriteandknowthings @beefrobeefcal @goodwithcheese @iamasaddie @psychedelic-ink @modernperplexity @pamasaur @pedrodascal @marcus-is-my-muse @clawdee @mintypossum @trulybetty @perotovar @joelslegalwhre @josephquinnswhore @mandoisapunk @awilderi @deviinci @secretelephanttattoo @for-a-longlongtime @tessa-quayle @legendary-pink-dot @sin-djarin @maggiemayhemnj @rhoorl @magpiepillsjunior @intoanotherworld23 @beabliss @alwaysmicado @daddy-dins-girl

[deansapplepie]

Inherited | Chapter 4

Summary: You’re not leaving the farm and now Daryl need to deal with the fact that both of you are sharing a house.

Warnings: yelling (?), swearing, ghosts of the past, soft asshole Merle.

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Reader

Word Count: 2,630

A/N: English isn’t my first language so it can have mistakes.

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Chapter 3 Chapter 5

Chapter 4: Why does it matter?

The next morning Aaron and Eric left to New York, you were going to miss them, but life needed to go on and they had their own lives. You stayed on the porch watching the taxi disappear on the road, now your real life started, no Aaron and Eric to build a bubble of protection around you. It was you, the farm, the memories of your father, your ghosts and Daryl.

“Why didn’t ya get a ride with them?” You jumped at Daryl’s voice and presence, you thought he had left as soon as the guys had said their farewells.

“ ‘cause I’m not leaving” you answered, and now it was his moment of being startled, his heart beat desperately and anxiety was boiling in the pit of his stomach.

“Wha’ d’ya mean?”

“It’s ours. Everything. I don’t mistrust you, but he made this choice for a reason and I don’t think I was supposed to leave.” You turned to him and you couldn’t quite read the expression on his face. “We’re stuck together.”

He stared at you for some seconds and it felt like hours, you held his sight. Who looked away first would lose this battle. You didn’t know what was on his mind, but you knew he wouldn’t voice anything. “I’m planning on separating his things for donating, there’s probably things that fit you. If you wanna, you can join me and help, of course if you don’t have anything better to do.”

He wanted to say ‘maybe’ or ‘I dunno’, but nothing came out of his mouth, he grunted in response and left descending the stairs, he needed to think, he needed some time. He was almost accepting the idea of both of you having to talk from time to time due to the situation, but he wasn’t prepared to live full time with you.

After he left, you went back inside and went towards your dad’s bedroom, you didn’t opened it since you arrived and you still didn’t know if you were ready for it. You breathed in, your hand touched the doorknob and you finally opened the door. It was the same you remembered, all organized and clean, mostly men weren’t as organized as him.

It hurt not seeing him around and it felt wrong going through his things, but you also knew that it made no good keeping his things and it would be better if you could redirect it all for people that could use or that needed. You made small piles of things, his shirts, his belts with cool buckles, boots, pants, hats… there were so many things, but fortunately you knew what to do with some of them.

It wasn’t very difficult to separate his things, since he was very organized, but of course you couldn’t make it all in a day. You walked around the room and on top of the chest of drawers you saw a picture of you and Daryl, when you were kids. You remembered so damn well when it was taken, it had been on your first summer back to the farm and you were so happy, even Daryl was smiling in the pictures, teeth and all, and even as a kid he wasn’t one to openly smile like that.

“Why are ya smiling stupidly?” You jumped at the voice that came from the door.

“Jesus Christ! Couldn’t you knock or make some noise? You scared the shit out of me!” You complained, your hand on your chest and the other still holding the picture frame. Your smile faded, you hadn’t even noticed how big you were smiling, your cheeks hurt.

He shrugged, he didn’t give a damn if he scared you or not, it even entertained him. But his curiosity was bigger and stronger than him, so he didn’t even see when the words left his mouth. “What were ya lookin’ at?” He knew he was going to regret it.

“Us.” You replied, you could have made up an excuse and hidden the picture, but he was going to know it either way. Besides that, baby Daryl wasn’t the one that hurt you so you were allowed to smile and remember fondly of him. You turned the picture frame to him, so he could see. “Little you, with his cute blond hair and smiling, who’d guess you’d become your grumpy asshole ass.” You didn’t even know if it was allowed say the word ass so many times in the same sentence.

He took the frame from your hand and looked at the picture, damn, it was difficult to maintain his stoic face at something so cute and pure. His childhood were never easy or magic like the other children, but his best memories had been in this farm, with you and your dad… sometimes one good memory with Merle here and there. “Look lil ya before you became yer bitchy run away self.” He retorted using the cue of the moment to mask his smile into a sassy one.

When he took his eyes off the picture, he caught you staring at him. He wanted to know what you were thinking, but he couldn’t quite see your thoughts and feelings at the moment. He looked straight in your eyes for a little more time and then averted his gaze from you.

“I organized it in piles and there’s somethings that I think would be perfect for you. Like his stylish belts.” You took one in your hand to show him, he knew all his belts, he had seen him using it throughout the years. “I know you have your own, but they’re very beautiful. He was very fond of them, so I think you’re the perfect person to have it. Besides, it’s a good thing to have to remember him.”

“I don’t feel good taking his things… it feels wrong” He looked anywhere but you.

“And I don’t like to touch his things to give away and all, but is something I need to do. We can’t keep everything locked in here. I know you don’t believe in shit, but for him to be in peace on the other side, we need to move on…” you said, your voice dying in the end, expecting him to answer you harshly, but he didn’t. He just grunted and took the belt that was on your hand with a beautiful horse sculpted on its buckle. “Nice, so… his hats, you can also have them. Or at least the ones you like. I’m keeping this one.” You showed him a beautiful brown cowboy hat that you had given him in one of his birthdays many years ago. “Some shirts if you like or if it fits, you can take too. Many things are not your size, so… maybe they could fit Merle? I don’t know. The boots we need to think about something, I know you’re not the same size.”

You were holding all the conversation alone, he was unable to say anything. What he could possibly say? It pained him seeing all the things from your father being separated to give away, but he knew you were right and soon or later you’d need to do that. He woke from his thoughts with you waving your hands in front of him.

“Wha’?” He answered coming back from his turmoil of thoughts.

“I was asking about Merle, how’s he going? What’s he doing?” You asked leaning on the drawers.

“Why does it matter?” He answered, since when were you interested in Merle?

“Because he’s you brother and my friend.” You answered. God, how could he be like this? You had known Merle all your life, you could care about him and he wasn’t so bad as anyone else thought.

“He’s fine. He’s probably doing shit.” His dry answer got to your nerves, but you breathed in and kept calm.

“I was thinking… if he doesn’t have anything better to do, maybe we can contract him. We’ll need help and it’s a good way of keeping him away from… the bad things.” Why were worrying about him? It was none of your business! He was the one that should worry about his own fucking brother!

“And you think an honest job would keep him away from the nasty things he does?” His tone was acid.

“I don’t know, but we could try to help him. We can’t abandon him and…” you never got to finish your thoughts.

“He fucking abandoned me! Not once! Not twice! Many times!” He bursted out.

“I know…”

“No. Ya don’t.” He said teeth greeted. When did he became like this about Merle? His brother wasn’t an easy person, but his brother was everything to him, he would never turn his back to Merle. “I’m not talking to him about it, maybe ya should. Yer good at that, aren’t ya? Just like you made back then.”

He stormed off the room and in seconds you could hear his heavy angry steps down the stairs. Wow! Was he really mad at his brother because you told him all that happened? Did Merle lecture him or something? Damn. You didn’t know what to think.

You hadn’t expected to find Merle in the bus to Atlanta in the scorching hot day in Georgia. You were just trying to run away from everything, the negative thoughts, the shame, his words, your words, the pain… That same day you had made your luggage and called Maggie asking if she could take you to town, you were going earlier to Florida where you were going to College. She tried to talk you out of it, but you just couldn’t stay any longer.

That morning you left your dad heartbroken, he didn’t understood what had happened. He knew Daryl and you had fought, he could feel it in the air. The day before none of you showed up for dinner, saying you were not hungry and that day in the morning Daryl left early to the woods to hunt and clean his mind before starting work. Both of you gave him lame excuses and he didn’t buy any of them, you were inseparable this summer, well you had always been, but he knew there were a couple of summers that things changed between you two to more than friendship. God! He was even afraid he’d be a grandpa before what he expected. He knew both of you would eventually fall in love and get together, since childhood you were like soulmates, but he also thought he was too young to have grandchildren.

So, when you left and none of you would tell him the real reason, he stopped asking, he wasn’t going to force you into anything. But he also noticed that after that you started to call more and come less to the farm. After that you came a couple of years for thanksgiving and Christmas, but then you stopped completely.

It was the middle of the morning when Maggie left you at the bus station, you bought your ticket and as soon as they said you could enter the bus you did. You found a sit in the middle of it and chose it as yours. One minute before the bus left the station someone came running and hopped on the bus. You didn’t really paid attention, you just wanted the bus to start moving so you could watch the landscapes passing by the window.

“ ‘morning doll!” Someone said sitting by your side. You looked to your left to see Merle sat by your side. “ I Wasn’t expecting to see ya here.”

“Hey Merle…” you answered, normally it was fun to have him around, but right now you didn’t think it was a good idea to have him there. Daryl and you were much younger than him, and he saw you growing up, so even though he would hit on every woman, he never did it to you. He saw you like a little sister. “Why are you here?”

“Got some business in Atlanta…” he answered, by business he meant dealing drugs or robbing some place.

“Hope you don’t get in trouble.” You said, months after you heard he had gone to jail. Again.

“Hm… wasn’t ya supposed to leave in middle of August?” He asked, of course he knew… or he just supposed because normally it was how long the summer vacations lasted.

“Yeah, I changed my plans.” You answered looking through the window. You were not being yourself, he could see it, and he didn’t need to be a mind reader for that.

“What’s wrong sweetheart? Did ya fight with Daryl?” He wasn’t the one to go around, he’d rather be direct.

Silence.

“So you fought.” He affirmed, no answer from you was an answer. “Don’t worry, give him some days, he’ll call ya and ya’ll make up.”

“We won’t.” You rested your head on the window.

“It was that bad?” He asked, you turned to him and nodded. “Ya know yer like a lil sis for me, ya can tell me anything.”

“We were both assholes.” You reckoned, but you thought what he did was worse.

You knew you’d probably regret it in the future, but you opened your heart to Merle and told him everything about your fight. At the moment it made you feel a little bit better, but of course later when you were alone you’d feel bad all again.

“Damn… this time it was real shit.” He murmured, he passed his arm around your shoulders and squeezed your arm. “ ‘m gonna kick his balls. That wasn’t how I raised him.”

You gave him a look of ‘really?’, because you knew what Merle was capable of saying.

“I dun say the things he said to a pretty sweet girl like ya.” You weren’t sure that he didn’t, because you never saw Merle being nice to any woman besides you or the nice elderly lady from the bakery that would give him extra cookies or muffins every time he went there.

“Please Merle, don’t tell him anything. I don’t want he thinking I was talking bad about him.” You pleaded him, you just told him because he was a friend and you needed to vent. Also he wasn’t going to leave you alone until you said anything. “Promise you’re not saying anything.”

“I promise doll.” He lied. Once he was with his little brother he’d give him a hard time. He knew you wasn’t a saint too, you even admitted it to him, but he couldn’t let him go easy for what he did.

At the Atlanta bus station, you said your farewells to each other and received a brotherly hug from Merle before heading to the airport.

After you finished with everything in your dad’s bedroom, you took the things you separated for Daryl plus the picture and headed downstairs. You didn’t know where he was or where he went, but you descended to the basement and let everything on the mat in front of his door. You weren’t expecting the way he reacted and you didn’t know everything would turn out like this. You sighed and left the basement, going to kitchen after all, you still needed to eat.

Wanna be add to my tag list? Let me know. (Please tell me if you want to be tagged on everything or just specific series)

Everything Taglist: @lilyevanstan1325

Inherited Taglist: @angelbunny222 @lightningyummy

[pearlywritings]

Morning kisses

synopsis: just a sweet morning shared within the Rex-Lapis’s household.

pairing and characters: Zhongli x fem!reader, Xiao and Ganyu. All four’s last name is Rex-Lapis.

tw: modern AU, established relationship, fluff

word count: 1.5k+ words

a/n: In this modern AU of mine Xiao resembles his dad Zhongli a lot. Same amber eyes and same dark brown hair. He will obtain his teal green hair color when he is older, when he has that teen "I wanna dye my hair and be different" phase. More information about this AU and character’s roles for better understanding will be in a separate post once I finish and publish a couple of more related fics.

Off note, this is basically the very first Genshin fanfiction I’ve ever written, even before starting this blog. Finally it’s out!

The sounds of little feet scurrying just outside the bedroom door made you stir from sleep. Softly groaning and burying your cheek into the pillow, you reached a hand out from under the covers and patted the other side of the bed. As expected it was empty but still held some warmth of your husband's body.

Rolling onto your back, you lifted an arm to drape over your eyes - even if the curtains were still drawn together and no light dared to be a nuisance. The other felt a bit numb from being caught up in between two bodies last night and you groaned again. Feeling how the smallest movement of fingers sent jolts of electricity through your whole limb wasn't the thing you'd be fond of early in the morning.

Great, it seemed like one of the legs was no better - sometimes you truly were tempted to call your husband a cuddling monster. Maybe you even had, and most likely he hadn't even been repulsed by that, only softly laughing.

Speaking of your husband… Lifting the less affected arm, you blinked a couple of times and gazed at the dresser. The hanger that you put on the handle last evening was empty, signaling that if you didn't hurry you'd most likely miss your husband's departure.

Finally pushing yourself up and quickly swinging your legs over the edge of the bed you were ready to start this new day. With a nice stretch, one that makes your joints crack in places, you quickly padded to the bathroom.

When you emerged in the kitchen just a couple of minutes later, you witnessed one of the most heartwarming scenes your little family could've gifted you with.

Zhongli, your dear loving husband, had your 4-year old son in his lap, softly nudging his cheek with a knuckle to wipe some syrup. Xiao was happily munching on a waffle, and you could swear he was swinging his little feet under the table, back pressed to his dad's chest. Such a papa's boy.

"I am surprised you are not worried he'll ruin your work clothes, love," molten gold in his eyes seemed to swirl when the man noticed you standing in the doorway, leaning on the wall a little.

"Ah, sorry if we woke you up, dearest," the deep soothing voice almost had you weak in your knees. But you held your ground, it was barely a morning, no way you'd push through it if your knees gave up right now.

"You didn't. Just heard Xiao running past the bedroom," your hand gently touches Zhongli's shoulder and you bent down to place a kiss on his temple. "Seems he had the same idea I did once I woke up."

"Oh? And what could that be?" He inquired, eyes watching you drag a chair from its original place closer to his.

"Want to see you before you leave for work," now almost one eye level with your son, you sweetly smiled at him. "Hey, baby. You wanted to have breakfast with daddy and tell him goodbye before he leaves?"

Xiao eagerly nodded and you had to shield Zhongli's sleeve from getting caught in the syrup almost dripping from the waffle.

"Papa came to my room to give me a kiss," he explained, quickly licking a sticky droplet before it fell off his treat. Right, your husband made sure to give you and your two kids good morning kisses, even if you were asleep on days like this, when he had early lectures in the University - you were the first to get his affection while he was still in the bedroom and then he headed straight to your son’s room, since your daughter was usually up already due to early classes at school and got her portion of morning affection during breakfast.

"Did you give him one back?" You wondered. Xiao shook his head, ready to bite into the soft texture of the waffle again. "But I will!"

"I am sure you will," you chuckled, ruffling his hair and standing up to grab yourself a drink and a spare plate.

You adored mornings like that, there was something really special about being able to wake up to catch Zhongli before he left, since it was always a very slim chance on this exact day of week. It was like a small achievement every time, like you managed to give him a kiss in return and secure the "give a morning kiss every day a week" challenge. But having your little son there too? Extra points, and you knew your husband's mood was lifted considerably.

Stifling a yawn, a plate in one hand and a mug in the other, you joined your family at the table again and were quickly passed Xiao over, who'd just finished his second waffle.

"Sorry, love," Zhongli mumbled apologetically, finishing his cup of tea and putting it on top of his own empty plate. "I should go, if I don't want to get caught in a traffic jam," he stood up, brushing his pants and checking if there was anything improper in his appearance.

Spoiler: he always looked immaculate and that time was no exception.

"Come on, Xiao, give daddy a kiss," your son enthusiastically reached his hands up, making a grabby motion and his dad bent down to receive a small, maybe a little bit sloppy kiss on his left cheek.

"I love you, daddy."

"I love you too, baby," affectionately ruffling his hair and getting his son's happy noises, he then moved a bit higher, brushing his lips against yours.

"I love you, darling. Don’t forget to tell Ganyu I love her too."

"Mhm, same, dear." you pecked his nose, giving him a soft look that was reflected in his own eyes, “and don’t worry, I won’t, but later. Poor girl must be so tired after yesterday’s exam… I’ll let her sleep a little bit longer, fortunately, she doesn’t have classes today.” Zhongli nodded in agreement. While being a University professor he still was very aware of his daughter’s struggles during this examination period. After all, it’s her last year of high school.

"Sounds perfect to me. Xiao,” he quickly glanced at the boy again, “be good for mommy, okay?"

"Mhm!" the boy nodded, playing with your fingers that were wrapped around the middle of his small body. Satisfied with his answer, the man put the dishes in the sink and pushed his chair back under the table.

When Zhongli was out in the hall, getting his coat on and fetching his briefcase, you carefully moved Xiao to his own chair, filling his plate with new treats and quickly excused yourself out of the kitchen.

You got to your husband just when he was ready to step out of the door, holding his keys; the small golden dragon trinket attached to it reflected the hall lights.

"Is anything wrong?" Concern laced his words, but you shook your head.

"No, not at all. I just don't think that kiss was proper. Wanna try again?"

Now it was his turn to shake his head with a soft chuckle - not in denial though, in amusement.

"Having been married to you for so many years I should've predicted something of the kind, but you really never cease to surprise me, you know that," putting the keys in a pocket and the briefcase down, he opened his arms. "Come here, my gem, and I shall assist to your request."

Maybe it was still your sleepiness from the early awakening, but you felt the giddiness of a schoolgirl. With a giggle, you almost threw yourself in his arms, them enclosing tightly around your waist while yours snaked their way around his neck.

Lips found each other like a perfect puzzle, like two parts of one complex mechanism forged together, and you both contently sighed. That was the bliss of the morning you both enjoyed and, honestly, didn't want to end.

"If you don't let go of me right now, we are going to be stuck here all day," the teasing lilt in his voice only made you want to act on that exact idea more. But you knew people would be waiting for him somewhere else, and you were willing to share him with them, since they were his students and you were proud of him and his job.

"Fiiiiine," releasing your hold on his neck, you took a step back and bent to grab the briefcase to pass to him, which he took with a look of gratitude. "Make sure to teach those students some interesting historical stuff."

"Why of course, love, that's my job. I'll see you both in the evening. Want me to grab something on my way back?"

"I'll send you a message with a list, thanks. See you later," and with the last exchange of smiles he was out of the door and a couple of seconds later you clicked the lock closed.

Now, time to check if your little Conqueror of Waffles had finished his plate and started on yours.

[harlowcomehome]

“Turkey Day!”

It was the night before Thanksgiving and you were in the kitchen double checking all of your ingredients for what felt like the millionth time.

“What doing?” Jade asked as she chewed on her finger, a habit you were trying to get her to break.

You picked her up, setting her on your hip. “Making sure we’re all good for turkey day” you tickled her stomach as she let out a giggle.

Jack heard the commotion and came from the living room, Hazel following closely behind him. “Tell me you’re not double checking ingredients again” he teased as he came up behind you, placing a kiss on your neck.

You giggled as his beard tickled you, “I’m just nervous. This is the first time we’re hosting.”

Hazel was watching from the middle of the kitchen “Uncle Clay said he’d bring pies. Do you think he’ll remember?”

Jack laughed “doubtful, your mom bought extras just in case.”

You smiled back at her and Hazel nodded with a giggle.

Jade rubbed her eyes and you shut the kitchen cabinet. “Okay Jadey girl, let’s go to bed” you smiled as everyone made their way out of the kitchen.

“Hazey, did you brush your teeth?” Jack asked and she nodded.

“We’ll be right there to tuck you in” you both reassured Hazel as you and Jack both went to assist Jade with brushing her teeth.

“I excited for twerky day” Jade giggled. Jack helped her get off the counter and the two of you tucked both girls into bed before heading to bed yourselves.

“What time are you waking up to put the turkey in?” Jack asked as the two of you laid down.

“Your mom told me she usually starts at 5” you yawned and he looked over at you in shock “as in AM?” You laughed “yes, as in AM.”

The two of you fell asleep after a few exchanged “I love you’s” and lazy kisses.

The next morning was hectic. You woke up and made sure the turkey was put in the oven at a decent time.

Jack had overslept but he deserved to, so you didn’t mind it. You showered and got the girls ready before he finally woke up. He panicked walking into the kitchen, “babe! Why did you let me sleep in?” You laughed, walking over to him and placing a kiss on his lips. “Go shower, your family is headed over here soon ” you slapped his butt as he walked away earning a wrinkly nose from Hazel.

Jack got ready quickly and helped you set up the table, making sure the girls were settled and entertained as well. You had also made a separate table for the kids with Thanksgiving day crafts to keep them busy.

Urban and his daughters were the first to show, he had brought some baked mac and cheese, which Jade was excited for. Clay and his fiancé showed up right after and then your in-laws immediately behind them.

“Pies?” You questioned Clay who surprisingly remembered them and handed them right to you. “I assume this was all you huh?” You teased his fiancé who immediately giggled and agreed.

You had just taken the turkey out of the oven, Jack was slicing it up for everyone when Hazel ran over to you.

“Now?” She whispered, Jack still heard her though and held back a laugh, you looked up at him suppressing your own giggle.

“Yes, I’ll go with you and help you put it on” you patted Jack on the back “you got it?” He nodded “we’re good.”

You and the girls excused yourselves to the bedroom. Hazel was giggling “I think grandma and grandpa are going to think this is funny.” Jade giggled too, obviously less aware of what was going on.

You helped both girls get into their turkey costumes. Jack had the idea of making sure the both of them wore a turkey costume today. At first you weren’t sold on the idea but Hazel seemed really excited about it, so you thought it would give everyone a laugh.

Jack knocked on the door, “it’s me” he yelled and you told him to come in. The first sight he got of his girls made him audibly say “awww.”

“You both look so cute” he snorted, laughing at the sight.

“I’m a twerky daddy” Jade giggled. Hazel spun around in her costume making the two of you laugh and shake your heads.

“Are you recording or do you want me to do it?” You smiled.

“Can you?” Jack giggled back, still looking at his daughters.

“Yeah! Girls, are you ready?” You smiled as you took your phone out of your back pocket.

Both girls nodded and Jack walked out of the room first, “the girls wanted to show everyone something” he announced.

Both girls walked out of the bedroom, greeted by giggles and “awww’s” immediately.

Your in-laws took pictures of the girls and with them. You and Jack stood back and watched as the girls did their best turkey impressions.

“I can’t believe you actually got Hazel to do that” you laughed and he shrugged “I promised her a bigger piece of pie.”

“Jackman” you laughed as you shook your head, he just smiled in response.

“Let’s eat!” Jack announced making sure everyone had a plate.

When everyone was sat down with their plates, you watched Maggie as she tried the turkey. She looked over at you and winked, giving you the reassurance that you needed. You felt like you finally took your first deep breath of the night.

Jack turned to you and whispered “told you, you had nothing to worry about.” His hand on your knee, giving it a light squeeze. You smiled, leaning in to give him a kiss.

“You were right” you smiled.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I was what?” He gloated and you laughed “I don’t blame you for wanting to hear it again, it’s not every day that you hear that.”

“Wow” Jack laughed as he playfully rolled his eyes.

“No comeback?” You smirked and he laughed, “it’s Thanksgiving! Be nice to me.”

You smiled at your husband, who never failed to make you laugh. You were thankful for your family and you loved all of your moments together.

[erin-bo-berin]

Steve and singleteenmom!reader getting married pleasse!!

Should I do another, separate one for when he proposes? Because I have the cutest idea for that. But since you asked for getting married, that’s what this will be!

(This is a cute gif he’s just has a cute face ok bye)

“Today’s the day kiddo!” Steve lifted his daughter—his official adopted Harrington daughter—into his arms.

“You ready for your mommy and daddy to get married?”

“Yesh!”

She was growing up so fast. At three years old now, she still had the cute toddler talk, but was losing her baby looks every day. It made Steve sad in a way, he wished he could keep her as a baby forever. Kids really didn’t keep, that’s for sure.

“Shouldn’t she be with Y/N and the bridesmaids?” Dustin asked.

“Yes, but you know her. This kid doesn’t do anything by the book. She wanted me to help get her ready,” Steve said.

She looked absolutely adorable in her flower girl dress. Her hair was still a bird’s nest from last night’s sleep, though. Robin was going to come down to get her later, so she could have her hair done before the ceremony.

You and Steve had been living together for over a year now, dating for two, but he’d insisted on being traditional and not seeing you until the wedding ceremony.

“What mawwied mean?” she asked Steve.

“Well, it’s when two people who love one another have this ceremony. Sometimes it’s big, sometimes it’s small, it depends on what they want. Anyways, it to celebrate them as a couple and they make these promises called vows. Basically saying they’ll love another for the rest of their lives, be with each other in sickness and in health, things like that. Then they kiss and they’re married.”

“If I kish my teddy does dat mean we mawwied?”

Steve, along with the other boys in the room, laughed. Oh, the childhood innocence.

“Not exactly, sweetheart.”

“Careful, Harrington,” Eddie said from across the room, where he sat, his only groomsman to be in a leather jacket, “Next you’ll be explaining the birds and the bees to her.”

“Ugh, I had to do that for Henderson when he was younger.”

“Yeah and I’m still scarred!” he yelled from the kitchen.

“We were all scarred by that, Steve,” Mike said.

“You told them?!” Steve asked, exasperated as Dustin came in, fixing his bow tie.

“It was too funny not to share,” Dustin shrugged.

“You nervous?” Lucas asked, looking at his older friend.

Steve shook his head with a smile.

“Nope. I can’t wait to make her my bride.”

•

The bridal room was a disaster.

Well, bridal room was a bit of an exaggeration. You were in the Wheeler’s master bedroom.

While the groom and his groomsmen were down in the basement, you and your bridesmaids were occupying every inch of the room, plus running up and down between the main levels and upstairs.

Clothes, makeup, hair tools and hair products littered the bed, the floor, the vanity, pretty much any surface available.

“Please tell your parents I’m sorry for the mess,” you told Nancy sheepishly.

If it was strange for your soon to be husband’s ex girlfriend to be one of your bridesmaids, you didn’t care. You’d grown close to the party of friends he came with when you began dating him and Nancy happened to be a part of that.

“You’re shaking like a leaf,” El said, sounding worried.

The girls looked amazing in their corresponding dresses. You’d picked the color, but you’d allowed each bridesmaid to pick the style of dress they wore and they were rocking them, each style picked looking just like something they’d wear.

“Are you nervous?” Max asked.

“A little. Not about marrying Steve. I mean, I know I want to do that. It’s just everything is catching up to me. It’s a big day. I want everything to be perfect.”

“It will be,” Robin assured you.

“Yeah. Besides you’re surrounded by family and friends. It’s already perfect, right?” El said.

“You’re absolutely right,” you smiled, hugging the teen.

“I better go get the velociraptor from downstairs,” Robin said, heading for the door.

“Did you just allude that my daughter is a dinosaur?” you asked, laughing.

“Yes, but only because she’s wild. She’s still cute though!” she called as left the room.

You took a deep breath, looking at your reflection in the mirror. Your hair and makeup was done, you were in your dress, your veil accenting it just perfectly without overdoing it.

You were ready to marry Steve.

•

The Wheeler’s backyard was big and spacious. It had been decorated beautifully for the wedding. Chairs lined on both sides, creating the aisle for you to walk down, where Steve would be waiting.

The wedding party walking down the aisle went way too slow and yet way too quickly at the same time.

First down the aisle was little girl Harrington, accompanied by Dustin, which surprisingly was Dustin’s idea. She held firmly into uncle Dustin’s hand and tossed flowers out of the basket that he held in his other hand for her. The crowd loved it, smiling and waving at her when she stopped to wave at all the loved ones she saw. They all laughed whole heartedly when they made it down the aisle and she greeted Steve quite loudly and excitedly from her place on the bride’s side of the altar.

“Hi daddy!” she waved, like she hadn’t just seen him an hour ago.

“Hi baby,” he laughed, waving to her, then putting his finger to his lips, letting her know she needed to be quiet right now.

Next was Nancy and Will, followed by Max, escorted by Lucas.

It was already halfway through the wedding party and you were trembling. Nerves, anticipation, joy, everything was tumbling into one.

“You okay?”

You looked over at Hopper, who’d you’d asked to walk you down the aisle. When you had, he’d hugged you so tightly and said he’d be honored to.

“Yeah, just want to get this part done,” you laughed.

“Don’t worry,” he smiled, giving you a fatherly kiss on the head, “I’ve never seen a couple more in love. You’ll do great up there.”

Robin, accompanied by Eddie was only one couple between you and walking down the aisle and your nerves turned to pure excitement. You couldn’t wait to see Steve at the end of the aisle and for Steve to finally see you in your dress. He’d refused to see it until the moment he saw you coming down the aisle.

Your soon to be husband was quite the romantic, that way.

Lastly, El, escorted by Mike had their turn. That left you and Hopper.

“We ready to get you married?” Hopper whispered with a smile as your wedding march arrangement began playing.

You nodded.

“Ready as ever.”

The entire crowd melted away when you caught the first glimpse of Steve, waiting patiently at the altar. He looked so handsome in his dark suit, hair neatly combed back and every strand in place, not that you were surprised. He must’ve gasped because his entire face was lit up with surprise and awe as he stared at you.

You smiled at him, even though you were still halfway down the aisle.

“You look beautiful,” he mouthed to you and you grinned wider, nodding your head towards him as to say he looked great too.

When you and Hopper reached the end of your bridal walk, your little girl ran over to him, ready to do her next part in the ceremony. He lifted her in his arms.

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the officiater asked.

“I do!” she shouted, causing laughter and aww’s to chorus from the crowd.

“Good job,” you whispered to her as Hopper took her and sat her between him and Joyce—you knew your active three year old wouldn’t be able to stand still long enough, even for the short ceremony, so you’d opted for her to sit with them.

You stood in front of Steve as he took his hands in yours. You’re sure the pure love radiated from him was evident on your face too.

You didn’t remember much of the ceremony as you were absolutely captivated by him, but according to everyone else, it went off without a hitch.