#I pulled the Boy out of the box and made that Boy a Man - Moodboards

[thekids-onholiday]

Nikola Orsinov [The Magnus Archives] Moodboard!

Self indulgence for and by me! ~ Nikola

without extra border!

center picture cosplay credit!!!

[samuel-de-champagne-problems]

49%

Title: 49% 

Summary: If there’s one thing that Spencer hates more than rejection, it’s spontaneity. But sometimes the things (and people) we love outweigh the things that we hate.  AKA a series of events leading up to a weekend wedding between the BAU’s finest Dr. Spencer Reid and his partner in crime, Y/N. 

Word Count: 1365 

Warnings: none 

Author’s Note: I hope that you enjoy reading this! I really appreciate all of the support and kind words :) 

49%

Spencer Reid is terrified. Nothing could compare for the pure fear that courses through his veins in this moment. Not even the times he’d run into hostage situations without wearing a Kevlar vest or even in the most lonely parts of his life. He figures that he’s terrified because he has so much to lose. Never in his life did he have someone that loves him as much as Y/N does. And that terrifies him. Somehow, when Spencer is with Y/N he’s simultaneously a man numb with love and a little boy shaking with fear. He knows that he should have gotten over this fear of rejection years ago. He knows that Y/N would never intentionally hurt him. He knows that she loves him more than anything. 

So why? Why is he so terrified to ask her to marry him? Logically, there’s no reason for her to say no. They’ve been together for 3 years, which is long enough at their age to enter into an engagement. It’s not like she doesn’t want to get married; he’s seen her Pinterest wedding moodboard. She talks about their children, almost like they're already here. She wants to get married and she wants to have kids, but the question that bounces around in Spencer’s mind is does she want that with him? 

“Next!” the barista calls Spencer forward to the counter to order. 

“Hi, I’ll have an extra large black coffee with 6 Splendas, and uh, a large iced green tea with honey,” Spencer orders, pulling out his credit card to pay for the drinks. Coffee is probably not the wisest choice, but what can Spencer say the heart wants what the heart wants. 

Spencer awkwardly waits for his drinks, trying to ignore the small box that burns a whole in his pocket. He’d bought the ring a couple of months ago, right after a case that both of them almost didn’t come home, or worse almost came home in a casket. 

“Two drinks for Spencer!” a barista from behind the counter calls, telling him that his drinks are ready. Spencer takes a sip of his coffee, the sweet liquid burning his tongue. Taking a look at the time on his watch, Spencer decides that it’s time to head to the park. 

It’s a short walk to the park, but it seems like it’s the longest walk of his life. Maybe if he wasn’t so nervous or terrified, he'd be able to enjoy how beautiful was. Spencer might be a complete ball of nerves, but he’s a romantic at heart. He wants this to be a perfect start to their perfect life. He finds the park bench that he told Y/N to meet him at. He sits there, waiting for her to show up and waiting for their life to start. 

Spencer’s leg bounces up and down. He should have worn a different pair of shoes. These Converse are so old and ratty, he thinks. He thinks he looks ridiculous in his cardigan and corduroy pants, what was he thinking? He can’t actually expect that she’s going to yes to him. 

While his thoughts are occupied by the constant inner commentary of rejection and ridicule, he fails to her the leaves crunch behind him. His vision goes black when his eyes are covered by a pair of familiar feeling hands. Y/N’s laugh gives it away instantly, but Spencer’s constant vigilance does cause him to yelp in a high pitched squeal. 

“Spencer! It’s me honey,” Y/N says, wrapping her arms around his neck and peppering his cheek with quick kisses. It’s the kind of kisses that say “I’m happy to see you” and “You’re the only one I want to see”. It’s at times like these that he doubts his doubts; maybe he can have faith and hope and lean into the romantic side of himself. The side of himself that sees them walking in the park with a baby stroller, playing on the playset with their children, teaching their kids how to drive in the parking lot and sitting on this bench when their backs hurt all the time and their faces have a few more wrinkles.

“I’d know that laugh anywhere, Y/N” Spencer says, watching her move to sit next to him on the bench. 

“Ohh, thanks for the iced tea!” She says, taking a sip of the cold drink. Even though it’s barely winter, Spencer still can’t believe that she can drink iced beverages in any kind of weather below 50 degrees. He nods and kisses her on her cheek, which causes a small giggle to emerge. Spencer is still kind of surprised that his affections can elicit such happy responses from her. 

“So,” Y/N starts. “Why did you leave our house at 7:00 AM and text me to meet you here?” 

“Umm,” Spencer says, the nerves bubbling to the surface. You can do this, Spencer, he thinks. You can do this, she’s not going to say no. She can’t say no. At this moment, Spencer is really wishing he had his passport with him and a getaway car to jump in, just in case Y/N says no.

“Did you know that only 3% of weddings happen in a courthouse?” Y/N asks at a completely stunned Spencer. 

“Yeah,” Spencer says timidly, not entirely sure where this is panning out, but grateful to listen to his girlfriend. It beats the alternative, him saying something stupid and her laughing at him; him fleeing the state and ending up a magician in a Las Vegas casino. 

“Yes, courthouse weddings are a great alternative, they’re affordable and efficient for couples who just want to get married without all that fuss,” Y/N adds, looking at Spencer. 

She’s profiling you, Spencer thinks. Don’t make eye contact. He knows (and she knows) that the moment he looks into her eyes, he’s done for. Las Vegas here he comes….

“And 51% of marriages end in divorce,” Spencer tells her, before he can even think about what he’s saying. Great he thinks, the day that he’s supposed to propose to her, he’s talking about divorce statistics. 

“You know that I failed statistics in college, Spence?” Y/N asks him. 

“I think I remember you mentioning that,” Spencer says, now thoroughly confused as to where this is going. 

“I have an evil plan to seek revenge against statistics, so I think that it’s my life mission to prove them wrong,” Y/N finishes, pulling something out from her bag. 

Spencer can feel his heart beating in his chest. He’s even more terrified than he was before. Suddenly all those songs that Y/N made him dance to late in the middle of the night make complete sense. 

“But, I also think that it’s my life mission to spend the rest of my life with you, Spence. So, I know that it’s not alway the case for the girl to propose marriage, but I think that you deserve someone to propose to you,” Y/N says, very quickly. 

Spencer sits there on the bench with Y/N sitting right next to him, utterly speechless. Did she just….

“You want to marry me?” Spencer says, dumbly. 

“Of course I do, Spencer! Give me your hand, I got you an engagement ring and-”

Spencer, suddenly fearless, cups her face in his hands, effectively making her quiet. He works on the surge of confidence, leaning in and kisses Y/N on the lips. It’s like he’s kissing her for the first time in his life. It’s like his first kiss ever, but it’s the first kiss of all the kisses of the rest of their life. 

“So I’ll take that as a yes,” Y/N says, breaking apart from Spencer. 

Spencer lets out a laugh, completely forgetting why on Earth he was so scared to propose. 

“So you’re not the only one who had this idea, Y/N” Spencer tells her, reaching into his cardigan pocket. He hands her the velvet box and reveals the vintage ring that he picked out from the second hand jewelry store. 

“Spencer? Is this why you told me to come here? Oh God, I ruined your proposal!” Y/N says, embarrassed that she messed with Spencer’s plans, knowing how nervous he can get. 

“On the contrary Y/N, I’m sure that this is the best possible proposal,” Spencer tells her, as she lays her head against his shoulder. 

“Spencer,” Y/N says, suddenly serious. 

“Yes, fiance?” Spencer teases. 

“How would you like to be in the 3% of marriages? Like as soon as possible. Like tomorrow? I don’t think I can wait another second not being married to you,” she confesses. 

“As long as we’re in the 49%, I’ll do anything you want.” 

[sagiow]

Fanfic Writer Ask Game: ❤️, 🦋, 🎯 & 🎨? please and thank you!

❤️ What is your favorite line that you’ve written in a fic?

ooooh boy. TIL that I have 41 fics on AO3 (not counting the drabbles written for Tumblr eyes only), and I don't remember the literary details from 39 of those.

I'm still stupidly proud (and wrecked. so wrecked.) about spotting the Eli in Cornelia, and the Antares-to-Scorpion parallel. But that's an idea, not a line.

So because you asked, I skimmed Bel astre que j'adore and this was the theme that drove the car before it turned into a 10K train.

"There it was, her Holy Trinity, embodied in all its glorious contradiction: the man she loved, singing the glory of the Lord she loved, on the altar of the Church she loved. God was Love, indeed, but only God could share himself in three; the sinner that she was could only choose two. She knew who she must let go, but the way he sang, and the glances he stole her way as he did so, made it impossible to consider."

And at the other end of the serious spectrum, this Anne/Charlotte exchange:

“Dear Sister,” Anne sighed, “You see, men are only good for three things. One, giving you a name worth something you can actually use to own and influence anything in this rotten world. Two, carrying heavy boxes as Samuel demonstrated. And three… well, three is also most definitely not for your young virginal ears.”

“Three is also most definitely not reliant on men only. Not if you want it done properly.”

(I also noticed I had Byron Hale making wry comments about syphilitics and really, I deserve all the bad things happening to me).

🦋 Which character is your favorite to write?

I'm really enjoying (in a masochistic kind of way) writing Cornelia right now, and switching over to Eli as a sanity-checker, because that lady has serious issues and trauma (not that he doesn't, but writing him doesn't constantly feel like he's about to completely unravel and/or snap if I pull on the wrong string... yet). But her warmth, love and faith counterbalance it and are so inspiring. And she can be very funny.

In Mercy Street, I think Jed probably came easiest with the dry wit and sarcasm we share, and Byron for being such a flamboyant yet oddly earnest clown (which we don't exactly share, but it's tons of fun to write about). Mary was my favorite on the show and I loved writing her, but I'm aware there was some personal projecting going on there.

🎯 Do you have a writing milestone you’re working towards?

I actually have two: finishing In camera and writing a sex scene.

Unfortunately, they go together, which is why I'm answering Fic Ask Games instead of writing.

🎨 If someone were to make fanart of your work, what fic or scene would you hope to see?

Fanart? For me? Someone could just write one of my shitty titles in pretty calligraphy and I'd be over. the. moon.

I would get a giant kick out of seeing anything from Cruise Ship brought to artistic life to supplement co-writer's @jomiddlemarch's moodboards. Heart-shaped hot tubs, vintage walkie talkies, smarmy lounge singers, inflatable unicorns, open bars. If someone could draw a Where's Waldo scene set on the Empress Queen in all its glorious nonsense, I would have peaked in this life and could die very happy.

[ericsangyeon]

addicted - l.sy

‘He was like fire, she was his igniter. Together they were each other's addictions.”

pairing: sangyeon x female! reader

word count: 7.0k

genre: angst, fluff, suggestive

theme: gang au sorta??

warnings: SMUT!!, profanity, drinking, guns, blood, kidnapping, bang chan and skz are villians

a/n: hey guys! i wanted to try writing a fic bc why not! this is my first tme ever writing smut so be nice. also this was edited many times but there could be mistakes so just bare with me. enjoy it! i worked really hard hehe -t :D

playlist moodboard

~

“Kevin oh my god. I'm not going to that criminal ball.” I roll my eyes at my best friend.

“Pretty please? You can finally meet Jacob! And I'm pretty sure a certain someone wants you there too,” Kevin smirks from the other side of the work area. I stop cleaning the countertops and stare up at him with wide eyes.

Kevin, and his boyfriend Jacob, are members of the underground mafia group TBZ, which never gets brought up when I'm with Kevin because he knows it makes me uncomfortable. That was until Lee Sangyeon came into the picture. Sangyeon is the leader and “big boss” (as Kevin calls him) of TBZ, and has somehow found interest in me. Ever since Kevin brought him into the cafe a month ago during one of my shifts, I kept bumping into him everywhere. From work, to campus, to even near my apartment. He tries to make small talk with me, which I always ignore and keep distance from him. I see him all the time despite wanting to, and I want nothing to do with him…. even though he literally looks and talks like an angel sent from heaven. I'm positive there is some sort of an attraction between the two of us. But don't tell anyone I said that. Lee Sangyeon is hopelessly attractive and I couldn't help myself to have developed a crush on him. If it wasn't for his shady career choice, I would have hooked up with him in an instant.

“How many times do I have to tell you Kevin? I want nothing to do with him,” I cry while Kevin snickers.

“He's not even that bad, he only hurts people who have wronged him” Kevin explains.”But never mind about him, Jacob really wants to meet you and you said you’re free Friday so please, please pl-”

“Fine oh my god.” I huff while Kevin claps, pleased with himself. “One problem, I have nothing to wear.”

“Not to worry about that sweetheart, I got that covered. Just text me your measurements.” Kevin says. I was going to try to argue with him but I knew he would win no matter what, so I just shot him a thumbs up.

“Anyways babes I gotta go to class now. See ya y/n!” Kevin grins, blew me an air kiss which I caught with a small smile, and walked out of the cafe.

I sigh and put the cleaning supplies away. As I went to greet a customer, all I could think was - it's just a ball, with your best friend and his boyfriend. What could possibly go wrong?

~

On Thursday night, as I was getting ready to make dinner, there was a knock on my apartment door. I went to answer it, but found no one there when I opened it. Instead, a white box with a small bag on top, both had my name on it. “Oh yes.” I thought to myself. “The criminal ball.”

I grabbed both items and brought them to my room to open them. I unsecure the first box to be greeted to white tissue paper and a note on top, which I pick up and read the writing.

“This colour will look ravishing on you. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

Or at least that's what I thought it said. It was written in a script that I had never seen before, and it certainly wasn't Kevin’s handwriting. Maybe Jacob’s? I put the note aside and unwrap the tissue paper to take out the dress and my jaw drops. I pull out a ball gown that was wine red and had a lace strapless top with a semi-poofy skirt attached. Below it were gold open toed high heels. I laid everything down on my bed and reached for the small bag that was on top. Without checking first, I pull out what was in that bag and gasp. In my hands is a beautiful gold mask with black silk fabric to wrap around my eyes. Fuck. Kevin never mentioned it being a masquerade ball? Now I have a higher chance of running into Lee Sangyeon since I probably won’t be able to tell who's who.

I send Kevin a quick text saying thank you for the dress, cursing him out for not telling me that piece of info. To finish my day, I made my dinner and went to bed early.

~

Friday night at 6:45pm, found me applying my last coat of lipstick as I stood up from my vanity chair. Staring back at me in the mirror was a completely different person. I loosely curled my long straight hair so it was falling down my back in waves. My makeup was not too heavy, yet not too light. My eyeshadow was a nude colour to contrast with my mask, as well as my lipstick was wine red to match my gown. The dress and shoes fit me perfectly (thanks Kevin), as well as the finishing touch, the gold mask.

My phone beeps and I looked down to see a text that the car Kevin sent for me was here, so I grabbed my phone and clutch and locked up my apartment. “Goodbye bed, I’ll see you later tonight.” I thought to myself, smirking.

The car waiting for me downstairs was gorgeous and sleek, and when I entered the back seat, the driver tipped his hat at me and we were on our way.

After driving 20 mins out of the city, the driver turns onto a single sided road where in the distance, I could see a huge house with bright lights shining.

“Oh my god.” I whispered to myself as the driver pulled up to a mansion - no - castle with a staircase leading to the entrance. The car stops and I could feel myself start to get nauseous. The driver came to open my door, lending me a hand so I could get out of the car safely.

“Have a great evening, Miss y/n.”

“Thank you, I do hope so.” I smile softly as I turned to walk up the staircase on this warm June evening.

As I was walking in the big hallway that led to what I'm guessing is the ballroom, I went over my rules for tonight. 1) Don't trip 2) stay with Kevin 3) avoid Sangyeon at all costs.

But of course, when the guards opened the big double doors for me to enter, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me as I walked further into the room. I see someone come forward from the crowd of people and my eyes go wide because I know it is not Kevin or Jacob.

Lee Sangyeon is walking towards me like he had been waiting for this moment, and there was nothing I could do about it.

He looks amazing of course, like a walking marble statue that came to life. His light brown hair was pushed back to reveal his amazing eyebrows and smirking lips and he was dressed in a black velvet suit that was so low cut that I could see a glimpse of his defined pecs. He wore a black velvet mask over his brown eyes. Sangyeon had me very much weak at the knees right now so thank god everyone went back to minding their own business.

“Y/n! I'm so glad you could make it.” He smiles at me. That goddamn smile. “You look exquisite.” Sangyeon said to me as he reached down, grabs my hand and softly kisses it while staring at me.

My breath hitches. “You don’t look too bad yourself.” I softly smile at him. “Now excuse me,” I whisper, attempting to create some distance. But his hand on mine got tighter.  “May I have this dance?” Sangyeon asks. I nod my head, not sure what took over me. He softly smiles at me and leads me toward the dance floor, where other couples are dancing already. As we were nearing the dance floor, I felt myself trip over my gown. Before I could faceplant with the floor, rough hands were on my waist pulling me up.

“Be careful y/n.” Sangyeon chuckles and I thought I would throw up on his designer shoes.

He puts my hands on his neck and grabs my waist to pull me close to him. Sangyeon starts to sway me back and forth, eyes never leaving mine. As we danced for a few minutes, I felt his thumb lightly brush against my hip bone and I saw him slightly leaning his face towards mine. I finally jumped out of the trance he put me in and unwrapped my arms from his neck.

“I can’t do this. Excuse me.” I told Sangyeon as I brushed past him, leaving him on the dancefloor alone.

I speed walk over to the bar and spot a familiar black head of curls standing with a brunette boy wearing a similar tux.

“Where have you been, asshole?” I yell behind Kevin, making him jump and then smile at me.

“Hey y/n you made it! Meet Jacob, my boyfriend.” He gestures towards the man next to him wearing the same mask.

���Nice to meet you, Jacob. Kev, I'm getting a drink and then calling a cab to leave. I can’t be here.” I say while looking around.

Before Kevin could say anything back, I turned my back to him and ordered red wine from the nearest bartender. I sigh and drink my wine and look over at the guy who is standing next to me.

“Rough night?’ He smiles at me.

“You could say that.” I smile back as I drank more of my wine.

He chuckles and extends his hand to me.”I’m Bang Chan.”

“Y/n.” I shake his hand back.

His smile faded once I said my name.”You’re Lee’s girl?”

I stare wide eyed at him. “I'm who's girl??”

Before he could answer me, a body was standing between us. Sangyeon.

“Piss off Bang, she's mine.” Sangyeon growls at him.

“Excuse me?” I said but no one seems to hear me.

“Chill out Lee, I was just getting to know her, but I’ll leave.” Bang Chan waves bye to me behind Sangyeon’s back and walks away.

Sangyeon turned around and looked at me, his defined jaw clenching tightly.

“Y/n, we are leaving.” He states.

“I am not going anywhere with you!” I yell back while a muscle in his jaw twitches as he clenches  his hands into a fist.

“Y/n. I suggest you go with him before he tries to shoot someone, because he will.” Kevin appears and says behind me, squeezing my shoulder. I just nod my head at Sangyeon. Kevin would never put me in danger. Right?

Before I could even say bye, Sangyeon grabs my hand and is leading me out the ballroom door, out of the castle and towards his car.

He opens the passenger seat car door for me. “Get in.” He says to me. I glare at him as I get in slowly.

Sangyeon shuts the door and walks over to the driver side, gets in, takes his mask off, and starts the car without even saying anything. And we are off to god knows where.

The entire drive was silent. Sangyeon is gripping the wheel tightly, rough fingers scattered with rings turning white. I'm too scared to move, only moving my hands to remove my mask and my heels that were starting to hurt my feet.

20 minutes later, we are back in the city and Sangyeon is pulling into a parking garage surrounded by guards. He pulls into a parking spot, and leaves the car after stopping it. I open the car door to follow him, barefoot and all.

In the elevator I kept trying to glance over at Sangyeon, but he’s looking straight ahead, defined jaw still clenched. The elevator door opens and I gasp. I walk out behind Sangyeon to see a beautiful penthouse common area surrounded by glass windows overlooking the city night sky.

Before I could even admire the place and the city lights that surrounded the room, my back is being pushed against a hard wall to face a livid Sangyeon. He grabs  my wrists and leans in.

“How dare you talk to other men, especially him.” Sangyeon growls in my ear. “You’re mine.”

I stare at him in disbelief as he faces me again. “I-I will never be yours. You can't tell me what to do.”

A smirk slowly appears on his face. “Oh yeah? We will see about that, princess.”

Before I could even think of a witty response back, Sangyeon grabbed my face and his lips were on mine, and I felt my tough interior crumble as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him even closer, bodies touching.

He kisses me again. And again. Like he is possessing me. And it was working as I kissed him back hard. “You are mine” Sangyeon whispers against my lips. “No one else’s.” Sangyeon starts kissing down my neck, lightly sucking on certain parts, while I’m biting my lip trying to hold back my moans. It felt so goddamn good, but I'm stubborn and didn't want him to have the upper hand. Sangyeon sucks hard on the crook of my neck, making me release my lips and moan as I feel him smirk against my neck. He won, I lost and now I am melting into his touch.

Sangyeon kisses my shoulders and exposed collarbones, stops and chuckles into the crook of my neck.

“You know I picked this dress for you. Not Kevin.” he says while unzipping my gown.

“What?” I whisper, shocked.

“You heard me.” Then my dress is on the ground, leaving me in just my black strapless bra and panties.  Sangyeon is staring at my body with lust covered eyes as I just stare back at him, both of us breathing heavily, a boner starting to appear in his velvet suit pants.

“Wow, you’re so fucking beautiful.” He says quickly before kissing me again hard on the lips, shoving each other's tongues deep inside our mouths.

“Jump” He mumbles against my mouth and I obey, wrapping my legs around him as he carries me to his bedroom, never breaking the kiss.

When we enter his room, he lays me down softly on the huge mattress and proceeds to take my bra off, leaving me topless.

“God, these tits.” I hear him growl as I hiss at the cold air hitting my bare breasts, but the hissing quickly turns into moans as Sangyeon takes my right nipple into his mouth and sucks on it while playing with the other one using his hand.

“Fuck.” I moan loudly, mouth parting.

After rotating, sucking and playing with my breasts, Sangyeon removes his mouth from my nipple and starts to kiss down my stomach, inching towards my panties.

“You're such a good girl for me.” He coos on my stomach as I moan and squirm. Sangyeon brushes his fingers lightly against the fabric of my panties and looks up at me and mouths “you sure?” I nod my head back. He smiles before removing my panties with his teeth. I am now bare naked in front of a fully clothed Lee Sangyeon.

Sangyeon positions himself right in front of my pussy and spreads my legs open as I gasp and watch him lean down. He kisses and sucks on both my thighs, guaranteeing hickeys in those spots later on.

“You’re so fucking ethereal, Y/n.” Sangyeon mumbles and kisses the tops of my thighs softly, and before I could even think, his mouth was on my clit and I scream.

“FUCK Sangyeon oh my god!” I arch my back and moan loud as he licks into my clit.

“So wet me for me already.” He murmurs against my pussy.

He starts to suck and kiss my clit and I can’t breathe. I could feel his tongue exploring my entire pussy, eating it up as if it was his favorite food. My hands found his soft light brown hair and as I ran my hands through it, he sucked on my clit even harder. After for what seemed like seconds, Sangyeon comes up for air and proceeds to put a finger slowly in my hole, pumping in and out.

“You tasted so good, I can’t wait to see how you take my fingers and then my cock.” Sangyeon rasps out as he adds another finger as I'm a moaning mess below him.

“FUCK! Im gonna-” “Cum for me babygirl.” He says while pumping his fingers faster. I arch my back and scream his name while I cum onto his rough digits. He removes them from my pussy and sucks on the juices that got on them.

“Tastes so sweet.” He says while licking his fingers clean and staring directly at my hooded eyes and parted mouth.

Before I can even catch my breath, his lips are on mine quickly, stands up from the bed and unbuttons his blazer, revealing his amazing toned upper body and taking off his pants and boxers, cock slapping against his abs. He was huge, I gulp knowing that that's going to be inside me soon.

“I'm on the pill!” I hear myself blurt out. Sangyeon chuckles at that.

“Good to know y/n.” He says with a smile while running a hand through his hair before positioning himself over my body, hands on each side of me and aligning his cock with my hole.

“This is gonna hurt.” I thought to myself, since the last time I had sex was high school and it was awful to say the least.

Sangyeon starts to slide his dick in slowly and I can’t breathe again.

“Fuck. You're such a tight baby girl.” He rasps out as I let out a string of curses.

Sangyon thrusts into me slowly at first, but when he realizes i'm no longer screaming and just moaning, he removes his cock and slams it back into me hard and fast, which makes me lose my mind. He swears under his breath a few times before he speeds up the movements. I wrap my arms and legs around him, leaving scratches on his back as he leans closer to me and touches his forehead with mine.

“You're so beautiful sprawled out like this under me princess.” he growls into my ear as he thrusts even harder into my pussy, making both of us swear and moan each other's names as I move my hands from his back to his hair and he moves his to play with my nipples.

Between Sangyeon pinching my nipples and his cock tearing me open, the pleasure flowing through right now is something I have never felt before.

“Shit y/n!” Sangyeon grunts and thrusts hard once more into my pussy and pulls his dick out and uses his right hand to pump out his orgasm all over my stomach. His other hand reaches down to rub my clit in circles while kissing my neck and leaving more hickeys to help ride out my second orgasm of the night.

“Fuck Sangyeon!” I scream as I release all over his fingers once again. He licks it up again and mumbles “so sweet princess.” while looking at my dilated pupils.

He gets off me and rolls over so that he's beside my overstimulated body but head is tilted towards my direction.

“Are you okay?” Sangyeon asks me, concerned eyes looking over my shaking body that's struggling to even look at where he is.

“I'm amazing.” I respond back softly, him sighing in relief as he strokes my cheek with his knuckle.

“I've wanted to do this for so long.” He whispers and smiles softly at me.

“Me too.” I whisper back smiling as he kisses my lips softly and jumps out of bed, and runs into the connected bathroom fully naked leaving me alone in his huge bed, body paralyzed.

Sangyeon returns with a washcloth and a bowl of warm water and moves my shaking body so I'm lying on his leg while he dips the cloth in the water and starts to clean me up.

“You did so well for me. You were so beautiful when you came. So beautiful for me.” He murmurs to me fondly, rubbing the cloth over my body tenderly as I'm falling in and out of slumber. As I fall asleep, Sangyeon gets into bed next to me and tucks us both in. He kisses my forehead and wraps his arms around my waist and I rest my head on his chest.

“What a night.” I think to myself before dozing off in Sangyeons strong arms, moonlight shining through the huge windows.

Tomorrow is a new day, where we decide what happens next. But one thing's for sure.

I am addicted to Lee Sangyeon.

~

Light shines through the windows as I open my eyes to an unfamiliar surrounding, and then it hits me. I had mindblowing sex with Lee Sangyeon and now I am lying naked, tangled in his bedsheets. I feel an arm loosely draped around my bare waist. As I sigh and glance over next to me, I find Sangyeon lying on his side, staring at me with fond eyes.

“Good morning, beautiful.” He whispers to me in his deep morning voice. Swoon.

“Good morning, handsome.” I whisper back to him with a smile on my face.

I untangle myself from his arm, and attach my lips softly to his. Sangyeon does not react at first, but proceeds to kiss me back softly and full of tenderness as he cups my face into his hands. I break the kiss and lay my head on his bare chest.

“Last night was amazing.” Sangyeon murmurs into my hair and kisses my temple as I nod back.

Oh fuck, I just remembered. I sat up and faced the man with wide eyes.

“What's wrong baby?” Sangyeon asks, genuinely concerned.

“Fuck, what do I tell Kevin?” I gape at him.

Sangyeon chuckles loudly, eyes crinkling as he grabs my waist and pulls me down towards him. He tickles me, making me laugh.

After lying in bed for what seemed like hours and just talking, Sangyeon reaches over to the night table next to him. He grabs his phone and starts to furiously type as I just stare at his fingers flying across the screen.

“I told Jacob he is in charge over at the house this weekend, which means I get to spend it all with you.” He says as he puts his phone back down. Apparently, now I was spending the weekend at Sangyeon’s luxury penthouse. Good thing I didn’t have work this weekend.

After taking a shower in Sangyeon’s massive ensuite bathroom (and looking at myself in the mirror, in shock at the sight of my hickeys across my body), I changed into the clothes he left me, which seems to be his boxers and a blue and pink pullover sweater. I walk out of the bedroom towards the kitchen to find a very shirtless Sangyeon putting waffles on the island counter. He briefly explained to me earlier that he sent all his staff home, including his cooks, so it could just be us in the penthouse.

“Wow, waffles? You really know the way to a girl's heart.” I say amused as I take a seat on one of the island chairs.

He laughs loud and leans over the island, arms resting on the counter. “It's one of the only things I know how to make, so expect take out the rest of the weekend.” Sangyeon says with a smile on his beautiful face as I wolfed down the waffles in front of me.

“One day I’ll teach you how to cook.” I wink at him.

Sangyeon grabs my hand softly and rubs his thumb over my knuckles and kisses them softly. “I would love that, y/n.” He says with a smile on his face.

The rest of the day is spent just relaxing. Sangyeon shows me around his penthouse, from his impressive indoor gym to his walk in closet in which he implies that will once be mine as well. I ignore his comment. Afterwards, he shows me the tv room where a massive flat screen was attached to the wall and asks me to pick a movie, which I pick The Notebook.

“Really y/n?” Sangyeon rolls his eyes as he sets the movie up.

“Yes Sangyeon really. Now come sit here and enjoy.” I respond as I pat the spot on the leather couch next to me.

After the movie, and laughing at an almost crying Sangyeon, I go to retrieve my phone from my clutch to find 15 missed calls from Kevin.

“Oh good! He didn't kill you!” Kevin cries in my ear after picking up after the first ring.

“Yes Kev, I'm totally fine.” I respond quietly.

“Did you guys fuck?” Kevin asks and when I don’t respond, he screams into the phone, which makes me cringe and move the device away from my ear.

“OMG I KNEW IT YOU HAVE TO TELL ME EVERYTHING! WAS HIS DICK AS BIG AS JACOB AND I THOUGHT?” He yells into the phone as I softly chuckle and proceeds to tell everything to a panicking Kevin.

“Holy shit. I owe Eric $50.” Kevin sighs into the phone after I explained everything to him.

“You were betting on me? Anyways I don't even wanna know.” I say annoyed.

“Are you guys like a thing now?” He asks me.

“I'm not entirely sure.” I reply unsure.

“Well no matter what, I support you sweetcheeks.” Kevin assures.

I snort. “Thanks Kev, right back at you. Gotta go now eat dinner, I'll update you later.”

Kevin laughs. “Enjoy Sangyeons big d-” I hung up on him.

That night found Sangyeon and I, fully clothed, cuddled in bed and holding each other, just listening to each other's heartbeat and making small talk.

“Sangyeon, how did you become the leader of TBZ?” I asked, looking up at him from where my head was on his chest.

He sighs and looks straight ahead. “For generations, a Lee has always led the gang, no matter what. It was between my cousins and myself, but my elders picked me, as my dad was the former leader before he passed and I've always been a leader, even since I was a young boy,” Sangyeon replies.

“I’m so sorry.” I say to him. He smiles softly and kisses my cheek.

“Don’t worry about me princess. Tell me, what are you studying?” He asks me.

“I'm studying childhood studies and english lit  so after I graduate I can enroll in a teachers college. I wanna be an elementary school teacher.” I answer him proudly.

Sangyeon smiles at me fondly. “You will be an amazing teacher.” He says while stroking my face with his hands. He kisses me softly as I melt into his touch.

After not being so sure about Sangyeon, I have come to realize how amazing he is. I can feel myself starting to like him more and more each day.

I am his and he is mine and in the end, it's him and I.

~

Months pass, and Sangyeon and I can’t get enough of each other. Everyday when I finish my shift at work, he picks me up and we either go to his place or mine to have dinner. Last week I even taught him how to boil pasta! But, sometimes we don’t even make it to dinner because I end up riding him in the back of his luxury car. Whoops.

One day while we were lying in bed after having sex, I sat up.

“Wait Sangyeon, what are we?” I asked him, facing where he was lying on his back.

Sangyeon sat up next to me.  “Well y/n, I'm extremely fond of you and think you are the most intelligent and beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on, and I wish to give you nothing but happiness and satisfaction. I would love nothing more than for you to be my girlfriend,” He says to me, a glimmer in his eyes.

I stare at him, shocked because no one has ever said anything like this to me, and then I felt myself smile at him as I wrap my arms around his shoulders.

“Yes Lee Sangyeon, I will be your girlfriend. I will be yours.”

He smiles wide back at me. “Then you are all mine.” He whispers back as he connects his lips with mine for a passionate kiss.

Kevin thinks it’s hilarious that I wear more turtlenecks more often, which always makes me turn beet red. Because when Sangyeon and I have sex, he doesn’t just bite, he chews on my body like a fucking dog (“Doesnt it feel so good though?” “Kevin I swear to god.”) I have also gotten to meet Sangyeon’s entire gang, made up of 11 men including himself, and watching Sangyeon speak to them so confidently and leader-like makes my heart flutter. Yeah, I definitely think I’ve fallen in love with Lee Sangyeon.

A rainy Thursday afternoon found me finishing up my shift at work, getting ready to close the cafe as the only employee left. Sangyeon had texted me earlier saying he couldn't pick me up today due to an important meeting, so I was stuck walking home alone. Which was fine with me since my apartment was only a ten minute walk from the cafe.

As I was locking up the cafe doors, I heard a car engine behind me. I turned around smiling, expecting to see Sangyeon, but my smile faded, when the window opened and Bang Chan was in the passenger seat, pointing a gun at me.

“Y/n. Get in the car right now so no one gets hurt.” He commands me in a monotone voice.

“Never.” I sneer back at him and start to back away from the car.

“Fine. Guess we are doing this the hard way.” He replies.

Before I could sprint away, someone appeared behind me, put a cloth to my mouth and grabbed my waist. As the world around me went black, all I could think was, “Lee Sangyeon is going to murder you for stealing his girl.”

Blood. Blood is dripping from a gash in my forehead when I regain consciousness. I look around frantically to find myself in what looked like an abandoned warehouse with my hands and legs tied together with heavy rope.

“Help!” I scream loudly, but that did not do anything for my situation. Instead, Bang Chan enters with another man holding a rifle and I feel another scream forming in my throat. The rope tied around my hands and legs were digging into my flesh and I could feel blood emerging from them.

“Ah y/n! Lee’s playtoy! Glad to see you awake!” Bang Chan claps and smiles at me wickedly while I just glare back.

“TBZ knows you're with us sweetheart.” He says. “We told them it's either you or the money.”

My mouth opens and then closes. “What money? I swear I don't know anything, he never tells me about his work,” I cry to him.

“LIES!” Bang Chan screams. “Han. Go get her.” The other man - Han - walks over to me, ignites the rifle and puts it against my head hard. I start to cry even harder and squirm in my spot even though I feel the rope burning getting worse.

“We are going to try this again y/n. Where is the money?” Bang Chan yells into my face. I spat at him and Han forced the gun to my already bleeding forehead harder.

“I'm done. Shoot her.” Bang Chan shouts.

“No, please don't shoot!” I cry, knowing nothing will make a difference.

As I felt Han press down on the trigger, I stop thrashing and sat still. At this point, there was nothing I could do to stop this myself.

Lee Sangyeon, don't forget about me.

“DON’T FUCKING TOUCH HER!” A familiar voice yells behind Bang Chan.

I wail loud with my last bit of strength I had.  “Help m-” BOOM!

Around me, I see the building collapse, rubble hitting my head as it knocks me over. Gunshots were loud and clear although my ears were ringing loud.

The last thing I remember before blacking out again were strong arms pulling me out of rubble.

Beeping. White ceiling. That is what I see and hear when I finally regain consciousness again. Looking around the plain room, I can see that I’m in a hospital bed. There is a bandage on my head and I can feel both my wrists and feet bandaged tightly, as well as an IV in my right arm. I move my head to the right slowly to the hallway window and see guards are positioned outside the hospital room. “Anything for Lee Sangyeon’s girl.” I think to myself and chuckle.

Wait. Sangyeon. Where is he? Is he alive?

“Hey sweet cheeks.” I hear a voice from the other side of the room. I slowly turn my head to see Kevin standing up from the couch that is in front of my bed and smiling at me.

“I'm glad you're okay. You woke up earlier than the doctors thought. You don’t have to worry about the Stray Kids gang anymore. They all died in the explosion.” He explains to me.

I nod my head slowly.

“Sangyeon. Where is Sangyeon?” I rasp out to Kevin.

Kevin softly smirks and shakes his head at the ground. “He's okay, he was here a few minutes ago, he hasn’t left your side in days. I’ll go get him, he's just getting his bandages touched up. He got injured in the explosion while pulling you out of the rubble.” Kevin tells me as I feel tears in my eyes. He would’ve sacrificed himself to save my life.

After patting my head softly, Kevin left the room to get Sangyeon, leaving me alone crying softly.

“Y/n.” I gasp and sit up and look towards the door, where the love of my life, Lee Sangyeon is standing with white bandages on his left arm and tears streaming down his scratched up, but beautiful face. Seeing him standing in front of me, makes me cry even harder. Without saying anything, I rip the IV out of my arm, slide out of the bed and jump into Sangyeons arms, and engulf him in a hug, which he gladly returns.

“I thought I lost you.” I cry into his shoulder as he sits down on the bed with me on his lap. I move my head to stare into his beautiful eyes, that still have his usual shimmer, even after all that has happened. “You'll never lose me.” He whispers fondly as he cups my face in his hands and wipes away my tears softly with his right thumb.

Sangyeon held me like I was a broken doll, fragile but sweet. He whispered sorry to me over and over again, which I quickly shushed and ran a bandaged hand through his soft brown hair.

“I love you so much.” I say to him, grabbing his neck softly and pulling him towards me.

“I love you more princess.” He says while smiling wide at me, which made me smile back at him as we connected foreheads.

~

“God Sangyeon. Go take a shower you stink.” I say to him as we enter his penthouse after being in the hospital for days, which ended with the doctor clearing both of us. I got the bandages on my head, hands, and feet, and he got his bandages removed.

“And you don’t smell y/n?” He smirks at me as I scoff. “Shower with me.” He says, eyes darkening as my breath hitches.

“Okay.” I nod, and we are on our way to his huge ensuite bathroom.

We both strip out of our dirty clothes and get into the massive glass shower, me going in first with Sangyeon following.

I watch him pump the liquid from the shampoo bottle into his hands, and lather the shampoo into my hair as he stands behind me.

“You’re so fucking beautiful Y/n” Sangyeon tells me as I lean my back into his chest. His hands lightly trace my body, lingering on my lower stomach and my breasts. I could feel his erection growing, and being the little greedy bitch I am, I grind down on it slowly. All of a sudden, he turns me around and attaches his lips to mine hard, and we are both caught in a rough make out session. He breaks the kiss and stares at me with lust clouded eyes.

“Are you gonna take care of this princess?” Sangyeon asks me while his eyes are motioning to his cock.

“Yes Sir.” I reply, not sure where that came from, as he pushes my shoulders down lightly and I feel myself fall to my knees.

Without thinking, I grab his hard cock with my hands and pump it a few times.I licked the slit tasting the precum that had come out, before sinking my mouth down his shaft softly, making him swear under his breath.

“Fuck you’re such a good girl. You suck my cock so well.” He hisses while grabbing my hair and guiding my head back and forth while I lap up his precum. He guides my head so that I swallow his cock and I gag on it a bit, which makes him growl loudly. My watering eyes glanced up at Sangyeon to see his head tilted back, mouth open partially.

“Fuck y/n I’m gonna cum. Gonna dirty up that hot mouth of yours.” Sangyeon rasps out as I feel his hot cum go down my throat as he rides out his orgasm. I release myself from his dripping cock and swallow the cum that had landed in my mouth.

“Fuck y/n. Princess. You're so good at that.” He cooes at me while helping me stand up and kisses me quickly and firmly on the mouth.

“Do I get something for being good, Sir?” I ask him while batting my eyes together, trying to pout as much as I could.

“That depends, what do you want? You want me to fuck you in this shower until you can't walk” He asks me loudly.

“God yes!” I answer him. Sangyeon picks me up like I weigh nothing as I wrap my legs and arms around his broad body.

“FUCK!” I scream as Sangyeon slams his cock into my pussy without any warning.

“You’re so fucking tight, shit.” Sangyeon curses under his breath.

I moan like crazy as Sangyeon fucks me hard, every thrust hitting my g-spot.

“You feel so good y/n. Your tight pussy feels amazing around my cock.” He rasps out before sucking on my jaw, making me arch my back and moan. I could feel my orgasm coming already. Sangyeon is a sex god and he knew how to have me cumming within seconds.

“I'm gonna cum in you, y/n, ok? I want you to feel my hot cum inside of you.” He growls in my ear as I loudly moan. I couldn't even answer him, I just nodded my head while leaving scratches on his back.

“FUCK!” We both scream and cum at the same time, I shudder feeling Sangyeons hot load entering my pussy. He drops his head onto my shoulder, whispering praise in my ear as I'm shaking in his arms. Both of us panting and sweating, even underneath the water. When he pulls his cock out, his cum and my cum is dripping fast out of my pussy. Sangyeon puts me down but I start to fall over, so he catches me and starts to snicker.

“Well I guess we have to take a real shower now and clean ourselves up.” He says amusingly as I roll my eyes and smack his chest as he laughs.

~

June 2021, I finally graduate college! As my name is being called, shouts and cheers come from the audience as I look and see the entire TBZ gang jumping up and down. My smile grows even bigger when I'm shaking the headmaster's hand and see Sangyeon, my boyfriend of one year, in the audience holding a bouquet of red roses with a huge proud smile on his face. After enrolling in teacher’s college and officially moving in with Sangyeon, Kevin announces to everyone over a gang family dinner that he and Jacob are getting married, and that I'm his best person, which makes the whole gang erupt in chaos. Sangyeon has to calm everyone down, and congratulates the happy couple fondly, knowing that everyone will be as supportive when he finally asks his best girl to marry him.

Two months later I found myself at the MoonBae wedding. During the reception, Kevin calls all the non-married men and women to the dance floor so he can throw the bouquet. What shocks everyone the most is when I catch it, making Kevin and Jacob both scream and tackle me in a hug. Sangyeon chokes on his glass of scotch and turns purple watching the whole event unfold.

Sangyeon proposes to me one quiet night four months after Kevin and Jacob’s wedding as we are both drinking wine and watching the sunset on his penthouse balcony.

“Y/n, You are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me.” He says to me with tears in eyes as he gets down on one knee. “Will you marry me?” Sangyeon asks.

“Yes! Of course I’ll marry you. ” I answer him crying.

Sangyeon smiles wide at me and picks me up and spins me around before kissing me passionately.

“I love you so much y/n l/n.”

“I love you more Lee Sangyeon.”

“You’re mine forever.”

“And I'm yours.”

well i hope you enjoyed! sorry if it was bad or rushed again it was my first time hehe

stream breaking dawn and support tbz on kingdom :D

[wandsandwheezes]

Fake It | Weasley Twins | CH2

one //

Warnings | Mature themes, fake relationships, secret relationships, love, sex, drama, angst, fluff, other chapters include smut 18+

Summary // Fred Weasley has been set up to publicly date Y/N, London's best Quidditch Seeker in order to drum up some publicity. Y/N however has a different ginger man on her mind; George Weasley.

creds to @vogueweasley​ for the moodboard<3

The warmth on your skin as George's arm lazily draped over your side, truly was a feeling you could get used to. Shamelessly it was your fourth night in a row you'd spent in his bed, a part of you longed for you to wake up in his arms every morning. George was not a heavy sleeper, easily disrupted by anyone and anything, perhaps the only way he'd ever sleep through the night was when he'd passed out drunk. Having seen just how affectionate he gets after a few too many shots, you were glad you hadn't been at the fire whisky fuelled celebrations. 

Sneaking around with George was much easier at Hogwarts, no cameras, no fame, no interruptions; just kisses and evenings together. Part of the reason you and George had such a good time together in Muggle London was that more often than not, you were just a normal couple, free to kiss and hold each other in front of everyone. He pulled you from bed early that morning to take you on a surprise trip before your training that evening. 

He'd gotten you to wrap up warm and comfy in an attempt to block out the freezing British winter winds. The ten minute walk from your home to the Embankment was full of conversations about all of the gorgeous Christmas displays, you even begged him to let you put up the Christmas tree early in the house, giving in when you looked at him with your puppy dog eyes, "I'm so whipped, aren't I?" he laughed, fingers interlocking with yours as you walked. His eyes trailed across the river before an Idea popped into his head, he nodded towards the London Eye, sat proudly across the river in all of its glory. "What do you say, Princess? Fancy heading up there for a bit?" 

Your eyes were beaming the minute the wheel started spinning. You'd managed to get a pod all to yourselves, a rare opportunity, but one you grasped with two hands, laughing as he picked you up and spun you round and around. "We should run." you spoke softly, hand running through his hair gently as you looked into his eyes. "For you, I would." he murmured, catching your lips for a long kiss, it wasn't quick or fiery, just a deep, long passionate kiss. He took his time with you because he had it, there wasn't any rush here, no chance of being caught or stopped. His kiss said a thousand words about the way he loved you.

Looking out over London's bustling city with your head in George's chest made you realise just how perfect a life with him was. When there were no cameras, no press, no fakery and especially no Cherry in sight, It was easy to feel every beat of his heart, as they synced together beating as one. You were tracing circles on the back of his hand taking in every curve of his knuckles and the beauty of every sporadic freckle. Only you could differentiate the touch of your lover so distinctly, you felt him in the way he curled his fingertips up when he cupped your jaw, or how his arm would wrap around your waist with enough strength that made you feel protected. 

"Where would we go if we ran?" You mumbled softly, your small fingers slotting through the gaps between his own. "Remote Indonesia…" he joked, pressing a kiss to the crown of your head. "I'd go anywhere with you, My Love, one day we won't have to run, I Just wish eighteen year old me had enough balls to say he loved you and then we wouldn't be in this mess." you shook your head, pulling his arms around you tighter as you snuggled into his hold, "Don't you dare, George, It's you and me forever, no matter what, right?" he hummed contently, pulling your hand up to press a gentle kiss to your knuckles, trailing kisses up your arm to your neck between every word. "Forever, and ever, and ever, and ever…"

 //

You'd just stumbled your way into your dorm, arm still in a sling after a pretty nasty accident, a bludger to the ribcage never did a girl any good. A box of chocolates lay on your bed, as well as a note. 

Words aren't enough to tell you how sorry I am, I'll make it up to you, I promise . Get well soon, Y/N <3

-G

Locking eyes with George from across the great hall as you sat with your friends and he with his, he was looking at you with pleading, guilty glances. It really wasn't George's fault that the bludger hit you, sure he hit it, but you were on rival teams and that was the danger of the game. If the fact that he was the first at your side when you struck the floor should've made it obvious, but the fact that you were struggling to breathe and you couldn't move much really over shone the moment. 

You were sat in the room of requirement, in front of the roaring fire, staring directly at each other. You were only a month into the relationship and It wasn't awkward, just unfamiliar, he wasn't sure if he could touch you or hold you, let alone kiss the pain away. Instead he settled for holding your hand, thumb brushing over the back of it comfortably. 

"You need to stop blaming yourself George," 

"But I hurt you, and I-" 

"Shh, baby, the massive Iron ball hurt me… It’s all part of the game." You had now leant forward to crawl onto your knees, kneeling before him, you pressed your lips to his, making him forget about his bewitching thoughts, now only focused on you. 

"I'm going to protect you." George stated so matter-of-factly, that it made you recoil slightly. It was tough words from a 16 year old. He caught your expression, "I'm serious. It's going to be me and you, Forever." You were blushing, he made you feel like the only girl in the world. 

"No matter what?" You questioned. 

"Forever, no matter what."

//

After your impromptu date, George made his way to the shop and you went back to his to grab your phone, and get ready for practice. You'd left it there, the time away from the pinging and buzzing from Cherry's latest update

 or her next best opportunity. You were unsurprised by the 30 odd messages from your Publicist rambling on, but one stuck out like a sore thumb. Fred. 'shit' you thought, 'I've gone and missed something.' hesitantly opening the message to see just one message. 

>> are you gonna head by the shop today? No worries if not, I know you're busy x

<< I’ll try and pop in before practice, if not… coffee tomorrow? :)

You contemplated how your reply sounded while you stripped from your clothes to pull on your branded activewear, a picture caught your eye, the Gryffindor quidditch team, captained by Oliver Wood in Harry’s first year. They all looked so young and eager to get out onto the field. A devilish idea crept into your mind and you found yourself rooting through George’s drawers, finding exactly what you had set out for. You pulled on the old Gryffindor quidditch sweater, observing yourself in the mirror, It was odd to see yourself in the deep maroon and orange after years of donning the silver and green. You picked up your phone, sending George a quick text. 

<< Meet me down the alley by B&B… I need to show you something. I’ll be 5 x

>> I won’t ask ;) x

You wrapped your coat around your shoulders, slinging your duffel over your arm before grabbing your wand, apperating just up Knockturn Alley. you checked over your shoulder, hoping not to be caught, you passed Bourgin and Burkes, spotting the boy with fiery red hair standing down the secluded alley. 

“What did you need to show me then, trouble?” he joked leaning against the wall, steam billowing from his lips from the bitter cold. You smirked, unzipping your coat to show him the knitted sweater. “Is that-” you cut him off with a nod, fingertips reaching to zip your jacket back up, but his strong hands catch your wrists, pinning you against the wall. “Take it off or I’ll rip it off.” he was half joking, smirking down at you as you rolled your eyes. He caught your lips in a hurried kiss, his hand leaving your wrist to cup the side of your face. 

Even with your eyes closed you noticed the bright flash, a flash you knew all too well. You’d been caught. Thinking quickly on your toes, you put on your signature giggle, pushing George’s chest away while whispering a soft ‘play along’, as your eyes caught his, you bat your eyelashes. “Freddie, stop it will you?” he tried his hardest not to laugh, as he backed up holding his hands up in defeat. “I can’t hold my girl from her practice any longer.” the small group of paparazzi were begging for another kiss, or at least more interaction, you dragged George away from the scene, “show’s over I’m afraid folks!” the cameras continued to rapidly flash as you  quickly apperated him away from the scene to his office. 

“That’s gonna be the front page tomorrow,” you sighed as you slumped into his desk chair, throwing your bag to the floor, “Cheryl is going to murder me in broad daylight,” He was gently rubbing your shoulder, before he leaned down pressing a kiss to your forehead. “We’ll fix it, baby.” he reassured you, tilting your chin up to look at him. “Forever.” the word that quickly became your ‘I love you’. You stood and pulled off the jumper, as well as your jacket, handing him back what was his. “Make sure to take it home will you? We can have some fun later with it,” you smirked, picking up your bag and sending him a wink before apperating to practice. 

Cherry’s deep red car was outside of the stadium, you dreaded the conversation that was about to happen, contemplating just bolting out of there. ‘Better to face her head on than piss her off’ you thought, taking a deep breath to calm yourself down before opening up the door and climbing into the passenger seat with a smile. “You should’ve said you were swinging by and I would’ve showered, I feel bad stinking up your car!” you joked, trying your best to sound surprised by her visit as you pulled your duffel onto your lap. 

“Good news, You’ll be the front cover of the prophet tomorrow.” you gasped, a smile on your lips, “I am?” she laughed, tapping away on her phone, pulling up a picture, “Yeah it’s you and Fred… locking lips. Care to explain what happened to the ‘no kissing’ rule” You took the phone thrust into your face by your publicist, looking at the picture snapped just a few hours prior. You had to admit George did look pretty sexy in the position he was caught in, you looked over at her with pleading eyes. “I’d love to congratulate you, but that’s not Fred you’re kissing, is it?”

You cocked your eyebrow at her, “Who else would it be? Of course it’s Freddi- wait you don’t think that’s George do you?” you laughed, pressing your lips together, to stop the full laugh erupting. “Don’t let Fred hear you say that, he gets funny about people mistaking him for George, you know.” she looked back at you blankly, clearly unappreciative of your laughter. “Come on Cherry, what reason would I have to be kissing George?” you tried to think of a reason around the ‘no kissing rule’ “The only reason I don’t like kissing Fred at events is because I don’t want it to seem fake, I’m obviously not adverse to kissing him, I just like to do it in private, He is an attractive man after all.”  Cheryl was now squinting at you, she sighed however, pulling her phone back out of your hands. 

“You’re right, why would It be George?” she adds, pulling the car out of it’s parking space, “Here, I’ll drop you home, you need a shower desperately.” you laughed pulling out your phone, seeing a text from both of the twins. 

>> Let me know when you’re on your way home, I’ll stick the shower on for us ;) x

>> Coffee tomorrow it is! :) 

When you jump out of the car, Cherry rolls down her window, to speak to you. “I want a nice kiss like that for the product launch.” you go to protest but she cuts you off. “Make it happen.” and with that she was away in the wind.

Today was a close call, almost too close for comfort. You and George needed to be more careful, and harder yet, you had to keep that copy of the Daily Prophet out of Fred’s eyeshot. 

// TO BE CONTINUED // Chapter Three >>>>>

taglist //  @starlightweasley​ @slytherinsunrise @gcdric @theweasleysredhair @whiz-bangs78 @weasleysflowr @vogueweasley @minty-malfoy @vivianweasley @feetoffthetablee @thisismynerdyself @rip-us @witch-and-a-half @sarcasticallywitty15 @pandaxnienke @loony-loopy-lupinn​ @pigwidgexn​@starkidpotty​ @mrmoonyy​ @mackaywhore​ @softlyqoos​ @colorfulprofessornickelangel​ @fandomscombine​ @satellitespidey​ @txtdreamss​ @aaannabbanana​ @kaylahmarie​

[fangirlings-things]

First Costumer

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Arthur Shelby x female reader

Summary: you just got hired to do the job you always wanted and your first costumer, is no other but a Peaky Blinder

Word count: 2.1K

This is based on the moodboard below, made by my friend. You can find the original post here

A/N: I wrote this for @flowers-in-your-hayr 650 followers celebration. congratulations, love!! you're amazing, thank you for understanding my brazilian jokes lol and I hope you like this 💖

TAG LIST: @sophieshelby ; @charmingvalkyrie ; @inglourious-imagines ; @fairyofvoid ; @locke-writes ; @regalbanshee ; @captainshazamerica ; @lotsoffandomrecs ; @flowers-in-your-hayr ; @too-spoopy-to-be-frukd

You heard the doorbell ring and the sound filled the bookshop. Finally, a costumer. Your very first costumer. How exciting! 

You got down of the ladder you had previously climbed to fix some of the higher shelves and passed your hands through your brown simple dress, making sure it was proper and in order. Mr. Cuthbert had taken a long time to finally accept you as an employee in his establishment and now, you had to make him proud. 

You had always loved books. Since you were just a little girl, you mother had given you novels to read and you grew up living in many different ones from the reality you actually found yourself in. Books were your passion, your refugee, your ideal spot. To be able to work around them and make people happy by buying books, well, it sounded like perfection! 

The costumer took his time to walk through the shop, eyeing the shelves like they were unusual strangers in the street and then, he got to you at the back of the bookshop. Your first costumer was a man. 

He was tall. Not too tall, but just enoguh to make him able to look at some of the upward shelves without having to raise his head too much. His skin was white, giving a nice contrast with the black coat he wore. He had a moustache and you could only see a few strings of his brown hair, due to the cap he wore.

Then, you realized. After taking notice of the cap, the fine clothing made sense. No ordinary man in Birmingham had such fine clothes to wear, especially not in the middle of the week, during the lunch break time of the factories. Oh no, that man absolutely did not work in a factory. That man was a Peaky Blinder. His only bosses were the Shelbys and the Shelbys only. 

"May I help you, sir?" you asked him with a polite smile, pushing to the back of your mind the realization you had just come to. It didn't matter who he was outside Mr. Cuthbert's bookshop. He was a costumer. Who clearly, for the way his eyes were going from one shelf to the other, intended to buy a book. 

He focused his eyes on you and you saw that his stare wasn't harsh or the one of a demon, as many people said the Peaky Blinders were. His eyes were kind, even though there was an agitation in them that you couldn't quite comprehend. Maybe not even he could. "Yes" he said simply and as you kept staring at him, waiting for further information, the man looked even a bit disconcerted, like he wasn't used to having such attention upon him. "It is my sister's birthday this week and Ada, well, she really likes books, has a great shelf of them at her house. So I thought it would be a good idea to you know, give her a new book as a gift"  

You couldn't help but smile. That man, whomever he was, seemed so genuine in everything. You could see the care in his expression when he spoke of his sister. It was a nice thing to see. The stories you had heard about the Peaky Blinders seemed to be all wrong. He was a normal person. Not some crazy, openly violent man. 

"Do you have any specific book in mind?" you asked him, hands joined in front of your body and excitement filling your body because that was apparently going to be a successful sell. The man just squeezed his lips on a thin line, eyes going to the floor  as if he was embarrassed. It got to you. "Don't worry, I am sure we can work something out. What kind of books does she like?" 

He watched as you moved around the place graciously. Clearly you knew every corner of that place, every shelf, every single book and where it was. You looked at a particular spot, frowned then moved on like there wasn't anything interesting for whatever you wanted him to take to Ada. "Well, she's a communist, so she does like politics" 

"Very well" you walked towards the politics shelf, searched the titles, but nothing particularly got your attention or seemed fitting. You turned back to the man. "Does she like classics that have to do with politics?" 

"I think so, what do you have?" he asked, seeming kinda excited for what you would come up with. He accompanied you as you went to shelf on the other side of the corridor and pulled out a book. "Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo. It's centered around the French Revolution" 

The man looked down at the floor again as a quite nervous laugh escaped his mouth. "I don't think that is a good idea. France does not give my family the best memories, you see" 

"You fought the war?" you asked, smile fading a bit because of the seriousness in his tone. Maybe that's where his agitation was from. Maybe, he never did get back from France at all. He only nodded in agreement, still not looking at you. "Thank you, for your service" 

He gave out a little smile, but you knew by the way the corner of his lips didn't rise too much that he was anxious to change the subject. Honestly, see the obvious hurt in him made you want to change it either. "Alright, no France. What about Bram Stoker's Dracula?" 

"Dracula?" he frowned, eyes meeting yours in utter confusion at such a strange name. 

The fact that he didn't knew about it made you smile as you began to describe que novel's story to him with a mysterious tone in your voice to cause suspense. "It's about an old man, Count Dracula, who lives in a castle and feeds on the blood of young women to survive. Sometimes he kills them so they can join him in the after life and also drink blood from innocent people" 

The man laughed due to your clearly forced misteirous tone and the way you raised your eyebrows at him while speaking, seeming to forget the previous sadness that had overwhelmed him with the memories of the war. You were glad for it. "That sounds bloody awful, love" 

You could not help but also laugh, trying to ignore the heat that took a hold of your face when he apparently without thinking, called you love. "It is, actually" then you shrugged, passing your hand through the said novel's cover at the shelf. "But is a fine horror book" you crossed your arms over your chest and squeezed your eyes in his direction. "Be honest with me now, will your sister like this one?" 

He squeezed his lips again, this time his features assumed a expression that clearly said 'sorry'. "I don't think so. Ada is a feminist. I think she would not like a story where a monster man kills women and faces no consequences" 

"That is a very good point" you said with a sight and then turned around, biting your lower lip as you thought and thought about more options. The challenge on your very first sell was being quite exciting and you could say, interesting. Much of it of course, was because of that man. Suddenly, an idea popped into your head and you turned back to the Peaky Blinder with a smile. "What about On the Origin of Species? It's a book about pure knowledge, scientific one, about evolution. No France, no monster that slaughters women" 

The man gave it a minute of thought and then returned your smile. "Knowledge and evolution. It does sounds like Ada" you both felt silent for a moment and then, he cleaned his throat and nodded towards the book you had just gotten into your hands. "I'll take it" 

"Very well" you motioned for him to follow you and then made your way towards the back of the shop again, placing it in the cashier. "You want it wrapped up as a gift?" he quickly agreed and you raised two options of gift wrap in the air. A green and a blue one. He chose the green one. "You can also add a small card if you want" 

"That is nice, thank you" he said and again, as you looked at him, the kindness in his eyes seemed to shine out from everything else. 

You grabbed a gift card from the inside of a box where they were kept and placed a black pen upon it. "You can write it or if you want, I can write it for you" 

"You should write it, I bet your handwriting is better than mine" he said and you chuckled, nodding as you agreed to his request. 

"What do you want it to say?" you waited as he clearly thought about the question, looking unsure. With one of his hands, he took off his cap and then passed the other one through his hair. When he claned his throat, you were ready to start writing. 

"Dear Ada, happy birthday" he looked at you as if that was it but then, seeing the expression on your face that clearly indicated you wished him to talk more, he thought for a second and then continued. " Since you like books so much, I hope you will like this one, that a very nice girl helped me pick" as you wrote with a smile on your face, you did your best not to raise your eyes to meet his. "I know I am not always a very good brother, but I love you. Happy birthday, Arthur" 

"That was beautiful" you told him, letting go of the pen and starting to wrap up the gift carefully, slowly, in no rush to let the Peaky Blinder go away. Arthur. His name was Arthur. It was a beautiful name. Suited him just fine. 

"Alright, then" his eyes went to the floor again, seeming now embarrassed because of your words. 

You finished to wrap the gift in silence, then when it was done, you sighted and looked at the man. "If you want us to deliver the gift at your sister's house, in case you're busy, we have a delivery boy for such" 

"That sounds good, I appreciate that" he replied. 

You nodded in agreement and got a piece of paper, to then grab the pen again. "Can you tell me her adress, please?" he did so, and you wrote it down so the boy Mr. Cuthbert had hired a little while before you could do his part of the job later. "He is supposed to look for Ada...?" you left the question in the air, waiting for him to answer, eyes still on the paper. 

"Ada Shelby" 

Your eyes snapped up on the very same instant. 

Shelby. 

His sister was Ada Shelby. 

He was Arthur Shelby. 

"Something wrong, love?" he asked, and he didn't seem harsh like you expected him to, for the way you not in the slightly hid just how astonished you were to know his identity. His eyes were still kind, but a part of the previous sadness had come back. 

"I'm sorry, that was rude of me" you wrote down Ada Shelby and then left the paper upon the gift, at the corner of the cashier. 

"I'm used to that kind of reaction by now" he said with a nervous laugh, that carried absolutely no humor at all in it. Even if he was indeed used to the said kind of reaction, he clearly did not like it. You felt guilt consume you. "How much do I owe you?" 

You told him the price, still lost in your thoughts and cursing yourself for being so stupid and rude. So rude. He gave you the money, you placed it in the due place. "Have a nice day" he told you and then turned around to leave, placing his cap back in his head and then his hands went to the pockets of his clothes. 

You watched him leaving with a intense feeling of exasperation, tried to think fastly enough to say something and then before you could even really process what you were actually going to do, the words left your mouth. "Mr. Shelby?" he turned back around as he heard you calling, a bit of gentleness in his features. "If you ever need to buy another book, I am sure I can help you find something good" 

His lips curled up in a smile, a pure one. A bit of the guilt you felt left your body like he had just taken it completely away, just by smiling again. "I'll remember that, love" 

And then, Arthur Shelby left the bookshop.

[riverkloss]

My entry for @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie for her 500 challenge! My twist on Hansel and Gretel! Plus I made a moodboard which is super nice if I say so myself. ❤

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I hated the dress, it was pretty but the way it hung on my body, the color, for what it stood for.

Purity, Marriage, to be chained down to a man, one I didn't love.

Harold's mother Mary was fixating on my hair, near pulling it out at the roots, I fought back the winces, at one point I thought about turning around and grabbing her hair to yank it out of her scalp.

She was tall, thin, she reminded me of a spider, her dark hair pulled into a bun, neat and tightly. A dark dress as if she was in mourning, I was.

She was acting as if I was her porcelain doll to dress up, one without a mind.

The reflection was haunting me, this girl staring back at me. Blank eyes, a trembling lip. It didn't look like me, she looked like a stranger, she looked lost.

Mary yanked again at my roots while braiding my hair, a burning pain running alongside my scalp, I hissed in pain. "Stop moving." She scolded me as if I was a child, I huffed out a breath of anger.

Hero's head perked up watching carefully with those big brown eyes of his, alerted and waiting. He was a very intimidating looking dog, but a big baby to me. He was a mutt, half sure he was a German Shepherd, and a Husky, his eyes always on me watching everything I did.

The last of his litter, the runt. Once I got him he grew and grew, he seemed to get bigger everyday.

My best and only friend.

"Is that what you have packed?" Her voice had a distasteful tone. I turned my head to follow her gaze on my trunk, a box full of books neatly stacked on top.

"Yes, May I ask why?"

I looked at her confused, I shifted the front of my body towards her, relieved that my hair was free of the clutches of her fingers.

"You won't be needing all those books, you won't have time to read once you have children." Her eyes look for an imperfection in my face, ready to fix it.

A sickening feeling turns my stomach. I will have to lie in bed with him, have his children.

The thought makes me ill.

"We need the money." The sentence my mother told me runs in my head.

"You should feel grateful for marrying my son." She states, her lip almost upturning in a snarl.

I want to tell her that her son is a pig, a ugly little repulsive pig with his head up her ass, the words die in my throat, I felt incapacitated by my own words, my mind, constantly double thinking over myself.

"Tell your husband that my dog likes to sit in the front seat." It felt good to push back even the slightest at her.

"Didn't your mother tell you? The mutt isn't coming with you, Harold has never been fond of dogs or any pets, dirty things." Those words pushed me back more, I actually let out a laugh in disbelief.

"I've seen dirtier." I smirked at her, I watched her open her mouth to say something as her face switched to spite.

"Mary? The guests are arriving." I hear her husband call out from behind the closed door.

Her hateful gaze doesn't intimidate me.

If anything it fuels me more.

"You best pray to God before the ceremony." Is all she says before she leaves me alone.

I bite back the untasteful words to tell her to shove God up her ass.

I turn my body towards my mirror once again, laying my palms flat on my vanity, so many emotions running through me.

Alone.

There was no stirring through the house, everyone was outside in the front of the house, my chance was open, and I was a fool if I stayed, lived in misery.

I was a fool to take it too, but a free fool was better than one who had none and was still a fool at the end of the day.

I needed a sign. A sign from any of the gods, I pleaded to any of them who would listen.

Then I heard the chime of bells, from the windchime against my window. There it was.

The last gaze I had in the mirror, at the girl who had the glint of a spark in her stormy eyes, a soft smile on her lips.

I darted for my carry bag, shifting my books off my trunk and stuffing clothes in, the few dollars I had, along with the few books I could take, feeling a loss for the others I had to leave behind.

"Let's go, Hero." I waved my hand, he sprinted up quickly to follow behind me, as I moved through the house quickly and quietly, to the kitchen. I opened the back door, the warmth of the spring air hitting me, as I stepped out the door. Hero was at my side as I closed the door behind me.

I turned my head, and my Uncle was leaning against the house smoking a cigarette, he looked at me, panic ran through my body.

And as I thought my freedom was vanishing through my fingers.

"Keep to the trail." He nodded to the woods, he took a deep inhale of his cigarette.

A breath of relief escaped my chest.

"Thank you."

He waved a hand. "See you later, Kid."

I smiled softly. "See you later."

I knew there wasn't a later, but it was better that way than saying goodbye.

The woods were only steps away, and I ran for life, for freedom.

I was a free fool.

~~~

Dark clouds came overhead, the night rolling in as the sun went down, the birds quieting.

My legs were heavy and burning, and Hero kept at my side, patiently.

"Are you lost?" A smoky voice says, making me jump with a gasp, my heart felt like it was going to pop from my chest.

I turned my body towards the trees. A tall man stepped out of the tree line, but didn't step on the trail, his hair was dark, braided and shaved at the sides, scuff lining his boyish features. I noticed a small birthmark on his cheek near his nose. He looked familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. He was quite handsome.

"No, I'm not lost." I stated confidently. Hero didn't react to him, which was odd because Hero didn't like strangers. It made me slightly uneasy.

He perked up a dark brow at me, a charming smirk.

"Are you sure?" He was looking at my dress, his smirk getting slightly bigger.

"I would think you would be at a wedding."

I held onto my bag tightly, ready to strike first if it came that way.

"You should know that they are waiting for you at the end of the trail, they thought they would let you walk to defeat." He turns his head briefly to look down.

My face morphs in surprise for a moment, but it's something that my mother would do. That I believe.

"Why are you telling me?"

He bite his tongue with his sharpest canines.

"You're pretty."

I scoffed. I knew what I looked like, yes I was pretty, but men didn't want wives that outweighed them, or intimidated them.

Weak men.

"I know a way off the trail, one you won't get caught."

I pressed my lips together.

"How can I trust you when I don't know you, you're a stranger in my eyes.

"My name is Hvitserk, now we aren't strangers." He smiled at me.

He outstretched his hand for me to take, but I was still weary of him.

"If you try anything Hvitserk, I will let my dog tear you apart." I stated.

I reached for his hand, and he helped me step from the trail into the treeline, Hero followed and began walking in front of us.

"I'm curious, why did you run away, was the husband-to-be grotesque?" He is toying with something in his pocket and pulls out a few wild berries, he pops one into his mouth.

I laughed at that. "I don't want to be held down in a loveless, freedomless marriage, I want more."

He nods, listening to every word, while popping berries into his mouth.

"My father is pushing us boys to find wives, he is more in the old ways about it, stealing a woman and taking her to the underworld." I laugh a little at the underworld part.

"Like Hades and Persephone?"

He raises his eyebrows at me.

"You know that story?"

"I've always liked that story, My parents hated when I read books like that, they thought it would tamper with my mind." I whirl my finger around my temple.

"He stole her away, but they actually loved each other, he treated her with equality and respected her, never cheated on her, or had stray eyes for another, he would destroy the world if she asked." I continued.

He held out his hand to offer me a red berry and plucked one with my finger. I put the berry in my mouth, it was so sweet and ripe against my tongue, almost a cinnamon hint to it.

"If you asked me, I would too."

I playfully rolled my eyes, taking another berry, then another.

"Though my Mother doesn't want to admit it, I think she went willingly as well."

"Oh?" I peer at Hero who is still walking ahead. I paid little attention to what he said, but I should have.

"She ate the berries my Father offered to her, and she became tied to the underworld."

I stare at him like he's grown two heads.

And my gaze goes to the berry in my fingers,

Red and plump, I feel drunk all of a sudden and light like I am floating.

He curls himself around me, and I gasp.

"I think Cerberus will be glad to see his son again." He chimes.

He holds onto my full hip with a heavy grasp.

"I'm sure you'll give me sons too." His gaze darkens on me, he leans down to my lips and my heart feels heavy.

He presses his lips to mine, and I'm engulfed in hellfire.

Maybe being in the Underworld won't be so bad.

[thekids-onholiday]

Void, Eye, Tentacle, and Radiation Moodboard!

For @possibly-in-wonderland !

With lighter outline

[cal-kestis]

You Come Around And The Armor Falls | Din Djarin x Fem!Reader

(Part II of The Aftermath of Losing Everything)

moodboard/sketch/gifs made by me, please don’t repost :)

Summary: You and Din continue your travels across the galaxy. A trip to Tython reveals your path and a stay in Sorgan breaks down Din's barriers. But red-stained visions will lead you both on a dangerous journey you can only hope to survive. (Set after S2) Rating: M (for reasons that will happen eventually)     Word Count: 7105 Warnings/Tags: Soft!Din, Fluff, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Slow Burn, no use of ‘Y/N’, cuddles, Din tells you more stories about Grogu and gives you a new nickname A/N: This chapter is very soft :’) 

[PART I] // [Read on AO3] // [Series Masterlist]

v.

Tython is a mountainous terrain, a landscape of rocky slopes and bumpy hillsides. 

From the viewport of the cockpit, you see a small mountain with six protruding pillars arranged in a circle on top. That must be the place. 

The Mandalorian — Din — makes a joke about traveling the last stretch with the windows down as he circles around it, chuckling to himself at some secret memory before landing the ship far from the ancient-looking pillars. 

When you exit the ship, he turns to you with his arms outstretched. And when he tells you to grab on, you back away immediately, finally understanding his joke. 

“We can definitely walk,” you argue, shaking your head and strutting past him.

“That’ll take too long,” he sighs, gently taking hold of your wrist until you stop in your tracks. “It would be dark by the time we got there.”

“I don’t give two bantha ticks. There’s no way in Malachor that I’m letting you dangle me through the air like a kriffing womp rat.”

“You say the strangest things when you’re angry,” Din chuckles.

“Don’t you have another jetpack?” You demand, ignoring his comment.

“Even if I did, you haven’t been trained in the Rising Phoenix.”

“The what?”

“Just hold on,” he mutters and you imagine his eyes rolling, a grin on his lips. He pulls your hands toward him, wrapping them around his neck. One of his arms rests on your lower back and the other scoops you up behind your knees, cradling you against his chest. Flames burst from his jetpack, launching the pair of you off the ground ungracefully as he adjusts to carrying another person. Your grip tightens around him for dear life and he can’t fight the smile on his lips when he feels you bury your face into his neck as he flies high above the mountains toward the pillars.

“We are never doing that again,” you say once your feet finally touch the ground.

“Come on. It’s not that bad,” he says, holding your shoulders as you regain your balance. “The kid loved it.”

You scoff, taking in the scene around you. The pillars look much taller up close, towering above you from all sides and pointing to the middle of the round platform where a smooth mound lies dead center. It’s covered in dirt save for the few shrubs that managed to blossom from the dry ground.

“It’s a rock,” you say, unimpressed as you circle the half sphere.

“Seeing Stone,” he corrects.

“Fine. It’s a stone and I’m seeing it,” you say, turning your gaze on him with your hands on your hips.

It's strangely fitting to look at him and see yourself reflected in the beskar, warped and wavy from the curves of his armor. His hands fall to his hips, mirroring your posture.

“So, what happens next?”

“I don’t know… exactly,” he admits with a long sigh. “There aren’t any controls. I just sat Grogu on the stone and something… happened. Ahsoka said if he reached out through the Force, someone might hear him. So, sit and reach,” he commands, gently nudging you toward the stone.

“Nonsense Jedi bantha crap,” you grumble under your breath, ripping another short chuckle from his chest. You smile, sitting cross-legged on the stone.

“Focus,” he says, hands on either of your shoulders before he backs away, remembering how last time, the energy field had knocked him back more times than he’d care to admit.

You close your eyes, concentrating on something you don’t quite understand. Your eyes screw shut tightly, wrinkling the skin between your brows, and you frown.

“Nothing happened.”

A leather-clad thumb trails a gentle line down the furrow between your brows, smoothing the wrinkles by your eyes with a gentleness that tugs your heart so fiercely, you almost fall off the stone.

“It will,” he says softly — confidently.

You open one eye to peek at him, watching as he steps away again and nods, fingers itching to pull his hands back to your face. A blue butterfly appears in front of your nose out of nowhere, another landing on your knee. You watch as they flutter around you in silent encouragement, take a deep breath, and softly close your eyes once more. One clammy palm presses into the stone beneath and you refocus your thoughts, reaching out for one thing: Din.

Din Djarin, a kind, gracious man hidden beneath impenetrable armor. How can someone who never shows his face be the most beautiful person you’ve ever known? You’ve never seen his smile, but you hear it in the baritone of his laughter and teasing. You’ve never seen his eyes but can feel them — concerned, curious, observant, warm — underneath a tinted visor. He gives you pieces of himself in ways that can’t be seen, but in moments that spread heat to your cheeks and flutters to your belly. And he takes little pieces of your heart in exchange. After years of surviving on your own, you never imagined you could care so deeply for another person.

Suddenly, a beam of energy encircles you in blue transparent waves and Din takes a few extra steps back just in case, a triumphant smile on his face as he whispers under his breath, “Good girl.”

He paces back and forth as you sit atop the Seeing Stone for nearly an hour, your eyes gently twitching, fingers brushing together, locked in a deep trance.

“Then, Grogu may choose his path.” Ahsoka’s words echo in his memory.

He wonders what your path is, if it will continue to weave with his or if it leads you far away. He doesn’t let himself hope, doesn’t let himself imagine — knowing full well how it broke his heart the last time.

Finally, he feels the powerful energy wane, your body collapsing over the stone, and he bolts to your side.

“I’m fine,” you assure him with a hand on the side of his helmet. “Just took a lot out of me.”

He nods, keeping silent despite his eagerness to hear what you found.

“Din,” you whisper, his name sounding like the lullabies of his childhood on your smiling lips. “I heard him.”

Din imagines a hooded figure leading you by your hand, leaving him behind.

“I heard Grogu,” you clarify and Din’s helmet whips toward you so violently, the way it slices through the wind is practically audible.

“You heard… Grogu?” He stutters quietly.

“Yes!” You squeak excitedly, standing on your feet, your hands holding tight onto his arms for balance. “He had quite a lot to say,” you laugh, and Din lets out a half-sob, half-chuckle, remembering the time his boy babbled nonsense the entire way from Nevarro to Corvus.

“How is he?” Din whispers so quietly he’s not sure if he spoke at all.

“His master says he’s getting stronger each day.” You wish you could see the pride in Din’s eyes. You know it’s there. “And he misses you, a lot.”

Din holds his breath, visibly fighting back tears.

“But he said he’ll see you again soon, just like you promised.”

You leave out the answer you gave to an invitation to join his master. And you leave out Grogu’s parting request: “Please take care of my father. He shouldn’t be alone.” But you tell Din everything else.

Tears drip down his cheeks and you see the wet drops slip out of his helmet and land on his cowl.

“Did you tell him that I—”

“Yes,” you say, a hand on the side of his helmet. “I told him.”

He wraps his arms around you, pulling you tight against his rapidly beating chest — similar to the way you’d done when he'd allowed you onto his ship.

“Thank you,” he says, helmet pressing against the top of your head, his gratitude rumbling through beskar into your skin.

—

vi.

He doesn’t ask you when you plan to leave him.

You don't give any inclination that you plan to stop traveling the galaxy at his side.

So, you find yourselves together on Sorgan, deciding to lay low for a while.

Sorgan is a swampy, humble planet. Nothing like Tatooine. To you, that makes it all the more beautiful.

Din brings you to a small krill farming village, which only adds to the planet’s enchanting charm. Children run through the fields as their laughter wafts in the air, enveloping you in a soothing balm. Men and women kneel over rivers with woven baskets full of the bouncing blue krill, soft smiles etched into their faces as they work.

When the Mandalorian saunters through the village, the children come bounding up to him in hoards, eager grins and grabby fingers boxing him in until he can’t walk any further. You can’t help but laugh as he visibly sighs before kneeling to greet them, accepting a small pink flower from one of the little girls.

Before you had landed, he’d mentioned visiting this village once or twice before. But it’s clear that he hadn’t just passed through. He’d made an impression. You half expect to find a statue of him in the center of the village after seeing the way the children looked up at him with stars in their eyes.

When the children finally leave to play, you follow several steps behind Din, watching his interactions with curious eyes. A beautiful woman with long, raven hair stops him with a gentle smile, her eyes softening with vast yet familiar constellations reflecting in her irises. It seems like there’s a history between Din and the raven-haired woman — something he’d failed to mention, but you try not to dwell on the uncomfortable way the idea squeezes at your heart.

Whatever Din says to the woman is too quiet to hear from this distance, so you settle for reading his body language. Although he speaks to you far more often now, you find you can understand him even without words.

The woman tilts her chin, a soft smile unwavering on her lips until Din shakes his head, the setting sun reflecting off his helmet as it moves right and left. His shoulders slump and the woman’s smile slips off her face as she reaches a sun-kissed hand toward his elbow and squeezes gently. The woman says something, confidence in her eyes, and Din nods.

Finally, Din glances in your direction and you gravitate toward him without instruction.

“This is Omera,” Din tells you.

The woman — Omera — smiles once again. “Hello. We’re happy to have you both as our guests. I’ll prepare your lodging,” she says, turning on her heel to leave the two of you alone.

“Thank you,” Din says. 

When Omera is out of earshot, you can’t keep the tinge of jealousy out of your voice when you say, “She seems nice.”

“She and this village were very kind to us when Grogu and I came here before. We can trust her.”

You nod, more curious to know what he’d just said to the woman.

“Did you tell her about Grogu?” You ask, wondering if you made accurate observations.

He’s quiet for a moment. “Yes.”

You see his shoulders slump again. Reliving the goodbye is never easy for him.

“It’ll be dark soon,” he says, changing the subject and wordlessly handing you the pink flower one of the children had given him earlier. When you don't take it immediately, he decides to tuck it behind your ear as you do with your pencil, sending a wave of heat down your neck. (Later, when you’re alone, you press the flower between the pages of your drawing pad for safekeeping.) 

“Looks like they’re pitching a fire. Hope you like krill.”

Dinner moves at a slow, peaceful pace, accompanied by friendly voices of storytelling strangers. They regale you with the fantastical tale of the legendary Mandalorian and the fearless former Rebel shock trooper who saved them from a band of pirates and a destructive Walker that stood tall above the trees — the two heroes who not only restored harmony but showed this village how to be brave and how to fight for themselves. You feel at ease sipping on spotchka, listening to stories honoring your friends.

But as the thought passes through your mind, ‘friend’ suddenly becomes the strangest word. It fits Cara Dune, the courageous marshal who you’d met several times on Nevarro, the woman you’d shared drinks and laughs with at cantinas, the warrior you’d trust with your life and Din’s life. But Din, your ‘friend’? The word seems to fall short.

After dinner, the villagers retire to their beds one after the other — leaving you and Din at the fire.

Din looks around at all the families, watching as one father carries his son on his back and a mother cradles a swaddled infant in her arms. He sees Omera and her daughter, Winta, in the distance — their hands joined and swinging between them as the little girl skips toward their humble home.

He clenches and unclenches his fists, the leather gloves silently screeching as the material sticks and peels away from itself again and again. His brows pinch together as he stares down at empty hands — empty hands that had foolishly allowed themselves to get used to holding someone else.

An image pierces his memory: three tiny green claws wrapped around his yellow-tipped thumb.

He blinks, blurry vision refocusing on his hands. Empty. 

You watch him intently, feeling sadness roll off of him in waves, drawing you in until you’re submerged just as deep, crestfallen on his ocean floor.

When the heart breaks, no amount of bacta can heal it. You can’t cauterize the lacerations carved inside of him or stitch the pieces together. But you can let your scarred heart bleed and beat next to his, until the heavy thud, thud, thud, thud evolves into the resilient rhythm of a somber symphony only the two of you know.

He exhales. It’s a weary, crackling sound behind his helmet.

“Sometimes, I wonder if I made the right choice,” he admits quietly like he’s ashamed.

“For him? For Grogu?” You ask.

He nods, the motion almost imperceptible if not for the glint of firelight that flashes off beskar.

“I know you did. Grogu is doing well. He told me himself,” you whisper, opening his clenched fist and molding your fingers between his. “You’re a good man.”

For a moment, the moons and stars disappear at the same time, enveloping you both in inky darkness save for the angry red flames that reflect against his armor. He decides not to speak, not right away, allowing a shivering silence to shroud him as he weighs his next words. The late evening decrescendos into a soft lull of the crackling fire, wind-bristled branches, and a familiar thud, thud, thud, thud.

“Sometimes,” his modulated voice finally rumbles. The dark window of his visor anchors itself on the way your hand completely fills one of his. Then he looks away, beyond the trees, beyond you. “I wonder if that’s true.”

You try to piece the words together yourself, try to make sense of him — how he can’t see what you can see as clearly as the roaring fire.

“What do you mean?”

He sighs, his thumb stroking the back of your hand. “I was scared to take you to Tython,” he admits.

“Because of what happened with Grogu the last time? You defeated Gideon. The Dark Troopers are gone, nothing was going to happen—”

“Not because of that,” he interrupts, taking a breath. “Because I… don’t want you to leave. And I feel selfish because you should be able to go — to train.”

Your heart beats faster at his admission, your mind mulling over his words to make sure you heard them right. A shaking hand reaches for his helmet, pulling his visor to face you.

“Di— Mando,” you whisper, taking a quick glance at the empty village. “I already chose my path at the Seeing Stone. I’m not leaving,” you reveal to him for the first time. You do everything you can to make him believe your words, squeezing his hand tighter, attempting to send your feelings through your skin into him.

“It isn’t right. You should train. You’re so powerful,” he says, almost to himself.

“No, I’m staying with you. And I know it’s right,” you declare, staring into the T-shaped visor where his eyes are. “You said Grogu knew where he was meant to be when he was young. He trained even before he met you. Letting him continue was the right thing to do for him. You did the right thing,” you argue. “But I didn’t go to some fancy Jedi temple. When I was a kid, all I wanted was... to not be alone anymore. And now, I’m not. This is where I’m meant to be.”

You watch as flames dance across his helmet, his body still as he stays silent. Then, suddenly, your body feels warmer than the crackling fire, encircled in his tight embrace. You stay wrapped together like that for several minutes, limbs wound around each other like vines. You almost fall asleep on his shoulder from the peaceful sound of his breath so close to your ear.

“Come on,” he says, the crown of his helmet now resting against your forehead. He gently detaches you from his body as he stands, extending his hand for you to take once again. “It’s late. Let’s go to bed.”

With your hands joined, gently swinging between your bodies, the two of you walk side by side to your shared lodging.

The hut is small and quaint, sparse in decoration but plentiful in necessity. A bed for two sits nestled in the corner of the single room, the soft orange glow of a lamplight casting hazy, billowing shadows against the wall. Din stands on the threshold, shifting his weight between his feet as you explore the room, your fingers gliding across the soft fabric on the bed.

“All clear, Mando. The bed doesn’t bite,” you tease him, his head shaking — probably rolling his eyes — as he closes the door behind him.

“I’ll take the floor,” he says, removing his cape and laying it on the ground.

“That’s ridiculous,” you argue, rolling your eyes this time. “We came to Sorgan to relax. You can’t sleep on the floor.”

“I’ve done worse,” he shrugs. You don’t doubt it.

“I don’t care. There’s plenty of space for both of us. If you don’t sleep on the bed, neither will I,” you resolve, crossing your arms over your chest.

“Who’s being ridiculous now?” He says, a hand on his hip as he stares you down. When you don’t relent, he sighs. “Fine.”

You practically bounce with delight, removing your socks and dusting off your clothes before diving under the plush covers. A breathy moan escapes your lips as your body sinks into the mattress and it freezes him in place on the other side of the room.

“Oh, stars. This is heaven,” you hum.

Din approaches the bed like it’s a rancor crouching in wait to devour him whole. His knee hardly touches the top of the mattress before you’re sitting up with another accusatory glare.

“You’re going to sleep in your armor?” You question incredulously.

He doesn’t want to argue in circles with you again, worried the other villagers may be able to hear, so he sits on the edge of the bed and removes each plate of beskar one by one, save for his helmet. He’s left in a long-sleeved top, dark pants, and woolen socks — his hands the only skin on display after removing his gloves.

He turns on the mattress, his feet resting beside yours as he lays his helmet down on a squishy pillow, facing your curious gaze once more.

“When was the last time someone saw your face?” You whisper.

“Not long ago,” he answers truthfully. “The child.”

“And your Creed?”

“He meant more.”

You nod, understanding full well that the love for another being can easily outweigh any rule or law or virtue or doctrine or belief or obligation.

You tuck your hand beneath your pillow, squinting your eyes as if trying to see through the panes of his helmet. You wonder, not for the first time, what he looks like when he rolls his eyes or laughs or smirks. You wonder if his eyes soften when he looks at you the way you know your eyes do whenever he’s near... if a dimple appears in his cheek just for you. Your knees bend slightly, touching his legs. 

“What happens if you take off your helmet?”

He doesn’t respond right away, as if looking for the correct answer.

“I used to think I could never put it back on,” he says, pain in his voice as the word ‘traitor’ echoes in his mind. “But now, I’m not so sure.”

You hum in acknowledgment, submerging the room into a long gap of silence, your eyes flitting across his covered face, your own features reflected in the silver steel. He watches as you close your eyes and wonders for a moment if you’ve decided to finally sleep. But then, your hand reaches in the direction of the open flame across the room, and with a flick of your wrist, the lamplight extinguishes, enveloping the room in complete darkness.

“You’re good at that,” he comments, a hint of a smile in his voice.

“It comes in handy,” you say, the fabric beneath your shoulder rustling as you shrug.

The room is quiet again, the steady sound of soft breathing filling the small space between your bodies.

“Din?” You whisper.

His eyes close at the sound of his name spoken so delicately by your lips. “Hmm.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” he answers, not missing a beat.

“I won’t look, I promise. I can’t even see. I just,” you pant as if speaking alone has made you breathless. “I can’t imagine sleeping with a helmet on is all that comfortable. You can take it off. You can trust me.”

Your hand trembles as it blindly reaches for the side of his helmet but his hand immediately traps you there against the beskar. You fear you’ve taken it too far when he pushes your hand back toward your side of the bed.

But then you hear it, the sound of air releasing, a puff of unrestrained breath, metal gently hitting the floor. And then his hand is holding yours again and placing it on his cheek, touching his skin for the first time. His eyelashes flutter against the side of your fingers, closing shut as your other hand tentatively explores the rest of his face.

He’s warm. Soft and rough at the same time. His entire weight leans into your palm and you think, this must be what it feels like to hold the entire universe.

“I never thought—” he suddenly whispers, a jagged inhale, a shaky exhale, his breath touching your lips. “After I lost the kid,” he continues, his thumb caressing your hand on his cheek. “I never thought I’d feel this again.”

You wonder what he means by ‘this.’ Touch? Tenderness? Warmth? Care? Or something much, much deeper?

You desperately wish you could see how he looks in this moment, feeling another person’s skin against his own after depriving himself for so long. Your fingers run across wrinkles and scars and you wonder, not for the first time, how long he’s had to carry these marks and stories all on his own. Your thumb finds the bridge of his nose, trailing down the strong curve until below it, a dense smattering of hair scratches at your skin.

“A mustache?” You ask, amused.

You hear his smile widen when he chuckles. “My father had one.”

It makes your heart ache, remembering the story he told you about his home planet, how his parents had sacrificed their lives to keep him safe. How the siege built his distrust of droids and redirected his faith to the Mandalorians who lifted him out of devastating danger. As you trace his mustache with reverence, you wonder what parts of his mother he wears like armor.

Below that, your thumb drags along the plush outline of his lower lip, from one corner to the other. You swear they’re lifted — at least just slightly. As you move your fingers across his cheeks, you find the shallow dip of a dimple and you smile so big he must be able to see it. His jaw is sharp and prickly, freshly shaved probably the day before. 

As he leans heavily into your hand, you think to yourself how much you want to help carry this weight for him.

“Can you say something?” You ask quietly, your hands still touching his skin, careful not to disturb the bubble you’re in.

“What do you want me to say?” He whispers.

“Hmm,” you respond, enjoying the feeling of his voice rumbling through your hand. “Anything. I just like the way you sound.”

For a second, you think you feel his lips press against your palm.

“Cuyan,” he says, the foreign word tickling your skin.

“What language is that?”

“It’s the tongue of my people: Mando’a,” he explains, his cheek stretching upward under your hand. “It’s not spoken much anymore.”

“It sounds beautiful. What does ‘cuyan’ mean?”

His hand falls into your hair, brushing the strands with his fingers. “It means survivor.”

“Like you,” you smile.

“And you.” 

You smile wider.

“Stars, please keep talking,” you plead, despite the peaceful yawn slipping from your lips. Your hand on his face wraps around his back instead, holding him like a pillow. Nestling your head over his heart, you feel the strong thud, thud, thud, thud against your ear — your own heartbeat starting to synchronize with his. His hand continues combing through your hair, his chest rumbling with a gentle chuckle.

“Kotep means brave,” he whispers, his voice weaving through the hairs at the crown of your head. “I remember the time I introduced you to Cara Dune. We were in a rush but she was taking her time pummeling someone into the dirt. And you rolled your eyes, took the blaster from her belt, set it to stun, and shot him. Then, you smiled, shook Cara’s hand, and said ‘Nice to meet you.’”

“Kotep,” you mumble, half-awake. “Maybe more stupid than kotep.”

“Sometimes, they’re one and the same,” he chuckles, making your entangled bodies shake. “Mirdala means clever. Like when you snuck onto my ship and convinced me to let you join my crew even though I wasn't looking for one. Or when you rewired the jammers so that our ship could scramble Imperial and New Republic codes.”

“Kotyc means strong. When you saved me from that rancor, I was terrified,” he whispers. He tilts his head down, his lips pressing against your hair as he listens to your slow breathing. You’re fast asleep, arms still wound loosely around him, cheek pressed against his chest. But he keeps talking. “Not of the rancor or even of you. You’re so strong, so powerful, just like the kid. I was terrified I’d have to let you go too. Then, you said you want to stay. And I felt so guilty because I was so relieved. But I want you to stay too, truly, for as long as you want, ner kar’ta. Ner kar’ta means my heart.”

He places a gentle kiss on the top of your head.

“Before I met the kid... before I met you, ner kar’ta… I never thought I’d get to have this, whatever this is,” he whispers into your skin. “That was a past life. This is heaven.”

—

vii.

The few nights you stay in Sorgan give you ample time to study his features in the dark, etching them into your mind the way you would on paper.

Every night after the first, he whispers words like cuyan, kotep, mirdala, and kotyc as you fall asleep — some you remember and some you don’t.

When you leave Sorgan, you notice he wears his helmet less. Not outside of the safety of darkness and certainly not outside of the ship. But in quiet, shadowy moments and dim corners of your metal home — he feels comfortable enough to be without it.

He’s giving you a portion of what he knows he can’t fully give to you... not yet. But it’s like he’s inviting you, waiting for your hand to find its place on his cheek once again.

When you retire to your quarters each night, he powers off the lights and whispers, “Good night, ner kar’ta,” faint enough to make you wonder if he means for you to hear it. Ner kar’ta. It’s a beautiful phrase, one from his people’s language. He’d shared it with you that first night he let you know him, feel his skin with its scars and soft expanses. But for the life of you, you can’t remember if he taught you what ner kar’ta means. (You curse that comfortable bed and his warm arms for tempting you to sleep so easily.) The way he says ner kar’ta each time is like a sanctified prayer and you desperately want to know what Divinity has that he wants. 

Sleep had never come easy to you before. Not in your years of lonely nights surrounded by danger on Tatooine. Before you met Din, nightmares had been enemies you kept close like friends. Not by your own will, of course.

But nightmares quickly became scarce foes. Living with Din made you feel safe. He’s a protector, but more than that — he shows you the strength you have inside you like a mirror, his bravery reflected in your eyes. Kotep means brave. You remember that.

But as you feel yourself growing more connected to your powers, the Force, your dreams seem more vivid, more rooted in reality, peculiar prophecies. And nightmares feel like omens.

You have a recurring horror story that plays in your mind in fragmented flashes, pieces you’re too scared to dwell on in the clear light of day for fear they may form a mosaic of your own image, cast away in the vast expanse of space. Alone. Again. 

Tonight, the nightmare visits you and bathes your thoughts in red. You don't recognize the dreamscape from your travels with your Mandalorian, you only see the way it paints everything in a bloody tint and sets your skin on fire. Then, you see Din — hear him yell in agony under the attack of an invisible enemy. But you’re rooted to the ground, your limbs morphing into distorted vines and branches, dry screams ripping through your throat until you can’t make a sound.

“Din!” You gasp, waking up in a cold sweat in your darkened quarters, the desperate sound of your voice echoing through the ship.

“What’s wrong?” Din sprints in, panting as he skids to a stop. He turns on the lights to reveal himself in only his underclothes and helmet, head snapping back and forth as he examines the scene. When nothing seems out of place, his shoulders relax. “Are you okay?”

Your chest heaves as you attempt to steady your breath, not realizing tears are rolling down your face until he comes forward to wipe one from your cheek.

“It was just a dream,” you say, not fully believing your words. “But it felt so real.”

The edge of your thin mattress sinks at the same time you feel his bare hand brush a sweat-slicked strand of hair out of your face. His fingers comb through your hair and settle at the base of your head before he pulls your face into his soft chest. The steady beating of his heart under your cheek immediately helps yours slow down.

“I’m here. You’re safe,” he says, and all you can do is fist your hand in his shirt and hold onto him, anchor yourself in his solid body because it’s not you that you worry about. Not this time. But you don't tell him about the nightmare or the fragments that have been haunting you the past few days. You just listen to the way he breathes in through his nose and sighs through his lips.

“Scoot over,” he whispers, untangling himself from your arms. You sniffle and do as he asks, giving him room to settle under your covers and wrap his arm around your back so you can use his chest as a pillow. “Do you mind getting the lights?”

You chuckle, closing your eyes and levitating the pencil on your drawing pad until it hits the controls for the lights and blankets the room in darkness. Almost immediately, you hear the hiss of Din’s helmet and the light thud of it hitting the floor before you feel his soft hair touching the top of your head.

He holds you, his thumb stroking the skin on your arm, his breaths coming out as warm puffs against your hair. And like those nights in Sorgan, you let your fingers draw smooth shapes into his skin and rest over his heart.

“Do you want to hear about the time I took Grogu to school?” He asks quietly, indulging you with the deep rumble of his rich voice.

You tilt your face upward and try to see his smile in the pitch black, nodding your head so his shirt beneath your cheek rubs against his chest. You want to hear every story about his past as long as he says it with his voice and his hands on your skin.

“I was on Nevarro, just passing through for repairs. And of course, I ended up on a mission at an Imperial base,” he chuckles, sending vibrations through you.

“Of course,” you laugh with him.

“I couldn’t take the kid with me. Karga and Dune brought me to a school, so I left him there for a while.” Your hand raises to his cheek so you can feel that pull of his smile under your fingers. “Mid-mission, I have to bolt from the base, grab my ship, and pick up the kid on the way. I’m in a rush and the educator droid tries to keep me, saying my son stole some poor boy’s snacks. I don’t have any time for the droid to explain more and just mumble sorry and grab the kid. He’s got little blue crumbs all over his cloak and a silver packet of cookies. He ate so much he got sick on the ship when I flew back to help the others near the base.”

You feel Din shake his head, laughing at the memory.

“I had to let him wear one of my tunics while I washed up his clothes. I even tried sewing up the bottom so it would protect his feet better,” he snickers. “Not the best stitching job I’ve done.”

You don't think your heart has ever felt so full and large and ready to burst. You love listening to him talk about Grogu, the fondness in his voice tugging you impossibly closer to him until the two of you blend into one.

“He whined for hours when he finished those cookies.” He muses, lifting one of your hands and drawing lines on your palm with the tip of his finger. “Such a little womp rat.”

“Wonder where he got it from,” you tease, your voice still scratchy from tears but laughing in genuine amusement.

He scoffs, the mirth never leaving his honeyed voice. “I only ever taught him strength, honor, and loyalty.”

“Oh, I’m sure. This is the Way,” you say, attempting to imitate his deep baritone.

“You really like to give me a hard time, don’t you?” He teases.

“Ah,” you grin. “The Jawa calls the Ewok short.”

He stills before bursting into a full-bodied laugh. “I’ve never heard that one before,” he gasps between wheezes.

You laugh with him, your shaking bodies gradually calming into a slow vibration of charged energy. You can’t see it but you feel his eyes looking into yours when his breaths settle down, his thumb now tracing over the slope of your lip.

“Sleep, ner kar’ta,” he says, stroking his fingers over your hair once more. And you desperately want to ask what it means, why he calls you this beautiful phrase. But soon enough, your eyes are closed and he kisses your head before letting sleep take him as well.

When he wakes in the early hours of the morning, your quarters still mostly covered in the ship’s shadows, he gently slides himself out of your hold and tucks you deeper under the covers, before putting his helmet back on and walking to the fresher.

On his way out of your room, he notices a sliver of light peeking through the doorway and a splash of pink catches his eyes. He looks down to find your open drawing pad sitting on your dresser, the pink flower he gave you on Sorgan pressed and dried onto one page.

And on the page beside it is a rough charcoal portrait of a man that looks vaguely like him. The sketched face shares the hooked curve of his nose, a mustache below it covering his lips, and wavy locks atop his head. But the other features are empty, blanks waiting patiently to be filled in once you fully grasp the picture.

Beside the off-white space where his eyes should be, he sees a note in your scribbled handwriting that reads: 

Eye color?

He takes the pencil lying between the stitched binding of the booklet and gives you another piece of himself, writing below your question:

Brown.

— 

viii.

When you wake, you half expect to find your cheek still pressed to a warm, beating chest, strong arms wrapped around your body, perhaps even a charming snore blowing the hair at the top of your head. Instead, when you open your eyes, the space beside you is cold and empty, and you wonder if it had all been a fantasy you’d conjured to erase the nightmare that had plagued you moments before.

But when you slip out of bed and pad over to your door, you spot your drawing pad which you’d left open. And below the question you’d scrawled across the page, you find his answer and can finally put a color to his eyes — a rich, warm, melting hue that fits his gaze so perfectly you think there must be a Maker putting these pieces into motion.

You grab the pencil from the booklet, place it behind your ear, and go to find him.

Leaving your quarters, the ship feels unusually frigid and you hold your arms tightly to retain the residual warmth from the bed covers.

When you walk into the cockpit, you half expect to find Din in his plainclothes again, giving you a chance to wrap your arms around his waist and whisper “good morning” into the soft planes of his chest without his beskar blocking the way. Instead, you find him fully-armored, crouched over with his elbows on his knees, helmet hung low and held between gloved hands. In front of him, a holoprojector loops a message from a pale, uniformed woman.

“Din Djarin,” the grave voice addresses him by his full name, sending shivers down your spine. “Yes, I know exactly who you are. If you don’t want the entire galaxy to put a name to your face, you will help me devise a plan to release Moff Gideon from the New Republic detainment facility. We will send you coordinates to an Imperial base shortly.”

The blue projection vanishes briefly before starting again in a haunting cycle.

“Din,” you whisper, startling him out of his stupor, his helmet whipping around as if ready to take aim and fire. You walk toward him slowly, kneel in front of him with a gentle hand on his knee, and face the holoprojector. “Who is that? How do they know your name?”

He sighs, his helmet falling into his hands once more.

“When Gideon took the kid, I had to make a choice,” he says, voice rough and ragged despite the hours of restful sleep he got the night before. “I snuck into an Imperial rhydonium refinery on Morak to get Gideon’s coordinates from a data terminal. But the terminal required a facial scan.”

“They have your face in Imperial data archives,” you gasp, the understanding poisoning your veins and causing your heart to drop into your stomach.

“They have everything in the archives,” he corrects, his modulated voice distant and detached. “And they’re about to take it all away.”

“No,” you whisper. Standing up suddenly, anger washes over you at his quick defeat. “No! I won’t let them. There must be something we can do.”

“I won’t free Gideon,” Din says, stern and almost frightening in his resolve.

“I’m not saying we break him out,” you respond, hands up in defense. “But there’s always more than one way to skin a womp rat.”

Your heavy footsteps echo in the small space of the cockpit as you pace back and forth. Din’s helmet follows you slowly as you walk in circles and he sees the gears turning in your mind. You pull the pencil behind your ear towards your lips and gnaw at it with your teeth, an action he quickly learned meant not to talk to you lest your brewing idea slips from your skull. The holoprojector repeats its threat over and over, the voice grating against the metal walls until it begins to sound like an endless shriek. And with a roar of frustration, your clenched fist comes flying down onto the holoprojector until the image fizzles away.

“I’ve got it.”

The plan goes as follows: Send the Mandalorian to the Imperial base under the guise of full cooperation and stall the holoprojector Imp for as long as possible. This will give you enough time to sneak in through an air vent (“Or… something.” “Or something?” “Yes, Mando. Whatever’s convenient at that moment!”), find a terminal, and hack the system, wiping every Imperial archive of Din Djarin.

“That’s a horrible plan,” he says.

“It’s not ‘horrible,’” you argue.

“It’s dangerous.”

“You got something better?” You challenge.

His long sigh is enough of an answer.

“So, we’re doing it then,” you say, suddenly a million times more nervous than when you’d laid out your blueprint for him. “Punch in those coordinates. Let’s go pay a visit to some Imps.” [READ PART III]

End Notes: Please support this story with a reblog or comment in the replies! I’d love to know what you think of it so far. :) (Also, I know the Seeing Stone is more of a beacon but let's just say you can talk to other force-sensitives if you meditate deep enough.) Btw, zoom into the moodboard to see the sketch of Din. Should I upload the full size? Mando’a Glossary: Cuyan = survivor [koo-YAHN] Kotep = brave [KOH-tehp] Mirdala = clever [MEER-dah-lah] Kotyc = strong [koh-TEESH] Ner kar’ta = My heart (kar’ta = heart [kah-ROH-ta]; ner = my [nair]) Star Wars slang: The Jawa calls the Ewok short = When somebody comments on or accuses someone else of a fault which the accuser shares.

[they-dont-get-my-back]

A customer (Chapter 1 out of 2)

Protagonists: Jeno Lee, original character, NCT Dream members mentioned Genre: mystery, noir, self-knowledge “Jeno wanders to a mysterious bookstore where he encounters even more mysterious individual, but somewhere deep down Jeno knows that this story is actually only about him.” TW: none 

See other members’ stories here:

TBA

Author’s note: When I saw this particular moodboard, an idea sparked inside my mind. With a constant support from my friends, I finally finished the first half of the story that I am presenting to you now. Thank you for your love and kindness, this is for you, I hope you’ll like it :) Special thanks to Woo and Volpe for proofreading <3

Any feedback, reactions, comments, recommendations or ideas for other members’ stories are welcomed, I wouldn’t mind turning this into a series.

Tagging: @neocluefor , @your-local--trashcan​  Let me know if you want to be added!

A dark, dim evening, the sun had just set, bits of the dusky orange sky shone through the maze of power lines, chimneys, rooftops and posts. As Jeno was walking down an empty tucked away backstreet, he felt like he set foot on a hidden crossroad between two worlds. The feeling of the unknown and the unexplored sent shivers down his spine and he quickened his pace, as he did not wish to get held up at here any longer than necessary. He told his manager he just wanted to grab something warm to eat and stretch his legs a little, but the truth was… He wanted to be alone.

Not so long ago Jeno realised he has a very rare gift – a gift of invisibility. Wherever he’d go, no matter how many people surrounded him, he felt unseen and unnoticed. Jeno, we need you to voice over this ad. Jeno, we need you to shoot a dance video. Jeno, we need you to smile for the photos. No, no, do the thing with your eyes, yes. Oh, you’re still here? We don’t need anything now. Sorry, were you saying something? Listen I gotta go, talk to you later maybe? Everyone knows Jeno the idol, but how many people have heard of Jeno the person? How many people remember Jeno the friend from school, Jeno the boy next door? What’s the point of rushing back into dorms, if he’s going to feel all the same? At least at here I can hear my own thoughts for a change. Without having to fight to get a word in. Noone’s interested in what you have to say anyway, so be a man, Jeno, and go sulk somewhere where people don’t have to look at your sorry face. Hmm, jjamppong sounds nice.

He walked where his feet led him, hands in the pockets of his coat, eyes staring blankly on the passing pavement tiles, red tiles, black tiles, grey tiles, shapes and figures, forms and contours. His mind unfocused, his thoughts scattered. Stop. Wait. Like in a dream, he saw himself standing in front of a narrow door, black paint flaking away, a few variously shaped and randomly placed yellow window panes, a big brass handle waiting to be pulled. He noticed a little oval plaque in his field of vision and the next thing he knew, he was standing in the middle of a bookshop. A minute passed, maybe ten, maybe an hour. Jeno glanced around, scratching his head. „Uh… good evening!“ He bowed his head a little, even though he didn’t see anyone at the counter. Nevertheless, he felt like he’s being watched, scrutinized, evaluated. Something was staring at him and Jeno suddenly wished that he was invisible again. He turned his head to where he felt the uncomfortable feeling coming from and there it was - behind the desk, on the left side of the wall, squished between large overflowing bookcases, right next to a tall wooden coat-stand shaped like an old tree - a red door with a big round opened eye painted on it. The door was opened, just a few centimetres, and a faint piano music was coming from inside. Come in, if you dare.

Jeno cleared his throat. Might as well look around properly, before they come back out. It’s no use of shouting or trying to make myself heard while that song is still playing. Listening to the melancholic but somewhat promising tune, Jeno inspected the surroundings. The shop looked messy and untidy. Chaos was the king of this castle, carelessness the lady of this household and together they ruled over their tiny land made of heaps of books, magazines and papers haphazardly placed on each other, shelves full of postcards and pictures, walls covered with ornaments and embellishments. Without a single tag or label in sight, Jeno wondered how could anyone find anything in here. He imagined the miscellaneous objects flowing into the shop and never leaving again. His gaze landed on a flashy pink paper packet filled with chewing gums in a no less showy wrapper on one of the shelves. Cool, a freebie! He reached for the gum, unpacked it and threw it into his mouth only to immediately pull a disgusted face as he chewed into the candy. It was like biting into a tasteless rubber. He spit it back out into the crumpled wrapper, put it next to the rest of the unused gums and set out to look for a trash can. He tripped on the thick dusty carpet and nearly stepped on something that looked rather expensive. This must be a bookshop with super rare prints and antiquities of some kind, this isn’t a place for me, I don’t fit in here, I should leave. And so, he stayed, bound in the place by a force of increasing curiosity he did not quite understand.

The piano stopped playing. Perfect, now’s my chance. „Hello? You, uh, have a customer! Heh…“ he stuttered awkwardly. Jeno wasn’t the type of a person who would enjoy excessive attention. If he ever tried to voice his opinion and was met with disregard or unconcern, he would simply think it was because his opinion on that matter was stupid and pointless. That’s why he was fairly used to this, not being heard. The only difference was that usually the rest of the members would fill the room with their chatter, so his lack of involvement in the group activities would normally go unnoticed. Unlike here, where the only sound was a deathly silence and Jeno’s thoughts humming in his head. He already spoke twice, what more does he need to do to be heard? Raise his voice? I just want to buy a book and get out of here. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak and right at that moment, the piano started playing again.

„Wha-, are you kidding me?“ he mumbled quietly under his breath. He looked around, confused, as if he was looking for understanding and sympathy from the other angry customers waiting for their turn to be served. He was the only one here and yet they’re making him wait. What is this, a private concert? Did they possibly saw him coming? Did they think that they’ll impress him with playing lowkey creepy piano melodies? This better not be a prank. He really wasn’t in the mood for fans and he didn’t think he could fake a smile at this hour. But he didn’t notice any hidden cameras, or any security cameras at all for that matter. He paced around the room nervously, scratching his neck. That’s it, I’m leaving. I don’t need that book anyway. I don’t need anything. If they don’t want me here, that’s okay, I’ll do just fine on my own.

He made a few strides towards the front door and then turned around again. „Hellooo! I came here to ask about books! Books that you happen to be selling!“ he raised his voice to the most pleading yet still polite level. The piano stopped again and Jeno gazed hopefully at the red door. He started walking back to the counter, slowly, carefully, as if he didn’t want to scare off the possibility of finally being served. He leaned on the desk, ready to place his order, tapping his fingers impatiently on the dark wooden surface. And just like that, as if it wanted to laugh directly into Jeno’s face, the piano started playing yet another tune, as impatient as Jeno himself. He pursed his lips and bent his head down. What the heck is this place, huh? A bookstore or a concert venue? At least serve some coffee and cake next time! He could just leave, never come back and forget about this place. But he really needed that book, he’s been looking for it so long, and he knew, he just knew, that this is the right place to look for it.

„Alright!“ Jeno raised his head and pointed his index finger to the door, from which the music was coming. „I’m going in there! And I’m going to knock real loud, so you better not be scared or surprised or angry!“ I doubt they can hear me, he thought, as the music only grew louder and louder. Okay, here we go… He approached the door behind the counter, cautiously, and with his finger still pointing forwards he tapped on the red wood with his nail a few times, gingerly, like he was expecting the door to bite his hand, after a while he shook his head and finally made a few feeble knocks. He put his head inside with a quiet: „Excuse me…“ and peeped into the backroom. As soon as his foot touched the threshold, the music stopped playing and Jeno opened the door wide. The room was small and empty, safe for the piano by the wall. No other door, windows, cabinets, electrical appliances, boxes, merchandise, not even trash. Just four bare walls and the damn piano that he swore was playing just a mere second ago.

Jeno gulped, his hand on the doorknob, his feet midstep, his whole body ready to run in the even that something would go wrong. Now now, be brave. „Hello?“ his voice was dry, hoarse and small. Goosebumps covered his nape. „Oh! A customer!“ said a voice behind him. „JESUS CHRIST!“ Jeno nearly fell back onto the ground, as he made several hurried steps backwards, tripping over boxes, books and papers, knocking over the tree coat-stand which embraced him in its patulous grip, making him feel trapped. „Can I help you?“ said the voice and as Jeno’s ragged breath started to decelerate again and as the stars stopped dancing in front of his eyes, only now he saw a pale face hovering in the shadows of the dimly lit place. The initial shock was over and, gradually, the face grew hair, and connected with a torso, arms and legs. „I…“ Jeno stuttered as he finally untangled himself from the clasp of the coat-stand and stood straight, „came here to buy a book.“ He clutched his hand near his heart and blinked hard for a few times. Get a grip, man, get a grip. „Then you’re in the right place! After all, this is a bookstore and we store all kinds of books,“ smiled the face that no longer resembled a ghost, but a person. „I’ve been… waiting here for 15 minutes… at least.“ He tried to sound angry, but the truth was he wasn’t really sure of how much time he actually spent here. Oh my god. A thought just crossed his mind. What if they’re already closed and I didn’t notice and just practically barged in here demanding to be served?!?! He wiped his forehead and opened his mouth to apologize for his intrusion, but before he could say anything, the figure in front of him spoke again. „Gosh, but I didn’t hear or see you at all!“ said the person, covering their red coloured lips with their hand. Typical. „I… tried to…“ Jeno sighed. If they didn’t hear me, I should have made more effort I guess. „I apologize, I’m sorry for the inconvenience I caused you.“ He bowed his head slightly. The person, dressed in a silky black dress that rustled with every step, fixed their dark eyes on Jeno’s apologetic face and shook their head disappointedly. They passed Jeno, who hurriedly backed out of their way, bumping into the red door, oh, I could have sworn the eye was open. huh, weird, and started to rummage through the bookshelves and bookcases, opening drawers and cabinets, dancing around all the clutter with their feet bare, without knocking over a single thing.

„So?“ asked the bookstore owner, combing through a particularly overflowing drawer. „Sorry?“ „Which book are you looking for?“ Jeno resisted the urge to facepalm himself and laughed nervously instead. „Ah, the book…“ Wait, the book? What book? „Umm… the book,“ he frowned. Why is he here again? He finished his schedule, yes, and then got out of the car sooner than the rest, because…? Because I wanted to buy a book? Uhh… I guess? „Um, yeah, I was hoping to get a book about the history of-“ „Hey!“ the character was now standing in the middle of the room, their arms crossed in an irritated manner, the long red painted nails tapping angrily. „Did you eat my chewing gum?“ You IDIOT! And you even left the wrapper and the actual gum right there on the shelf, ugh! „I’m really sorry,“ Jeno started apologizing at the double, „it was just sitting there, I thought-“ „How did it taste?“ asked the owner. „Um…“ Jeno blinked a few times and frowned. „Weird,“ he answered, looking down at his feet, like he was feeling guilty and disappointed at the same time. „I remember really liking this brand and it surprised me that is tasted so… stale,“ he answered truthfully. The woman sighed. „No wonder. It’s a special edition, a collectible. It’s been sitting here for five years. And now it’s ruined.“ She took the whole package in her hands and shook her head, discontented. Who the hell stores a pack of freaking chewing gums? „I guess I should have treated it better, maybe all the exposure made it tasteless and bland.“ She clicked her tongue. „What a shame. But at least the wrapping is still colourful and pretty to look at.“ „Uh… yeah. Sorry about that.“ She put the gums back in place and resumed with the thorough scouring of the area. „What book did you say you wanted?“ Oh, yeah, the book. The damn book again. „Ah, yeah, um… I was interested in the techniques of-“ „How about this one?“ The woman, currently kneeling down by one of the huge bookcases, proposed. Jeno stared at her, eyes wide. She reached under the furniture, scrabbled and felt around a bit, until she triumphantly retrieved a blue hardback tome. Just what is going on in here?  

Jeno watched the woman get up again, dust down her knees with a sigh, and then walk back behind the counter. She put the book on the desk and Jeno finally got a good look. The jacket was dusty, creased and torn in a few places. There were no pictures or details, it was just… blue. „Sound…” he read out loud. „Sound?“ Jeno raised an eyebrow. „That’s the title, yes.“ „It looks like a… heavy reading.“ He took the book in his hands to weigh it, it must be at least 500 pages long. „And pretty expensive.“ „It’s a poetry book, if you’re worried about the pages. And you don’t have to pay me for it.“ „Ah, I-… Wait, what? You don’t want me to pay you for it?“ „No, because I am not selling it to you. I’ll only let you borrow it. I‘ve always wanted to read it, because I am curious about the story, but… Do you sometimes get the feeling, be it a book, a movie, a photograph, or even a new pair of shoes, that it’s calling out to you? And when you finally get it, it’s like it’s your missing puzzle piece that you didn’t even know you need and it makes you complete?“ „I… guess, yeah.“ But not really, no. I can’t remember the last time I had this feeling. „Well, turns out, this book doesn’t complete me.“ She packed it in a plain paper bag and sealed it with a decorative tape. „But it might complete you,“ the owner said expectantly, sliding the wrapped book towards Jeno. He touched the paper and for a while, the room drowned in complete silence and time stopped, like a movie that froze and only showed a single frame. A frame with a book wrapped in a plain paper bag in the center, a woman’s hand with red fingernails touching it on the right, a man’s veined hand touching it on the left. Jeno’s hand.

He moved his fingers the tiniest bit and with them, the book. His body was immediately hit with a wave of electricity, the time unfroze and Jeno sighed heavily, leaning against the counter, like he just ran a hurdle race. „Will that be all?“ asked the owner with a kind smile. „I… can’t just take it.“ „You already did.“ She pointed towards the book Jeno was hugging anxiously, like he was afraid someone would steal it from him. He looked down, sighed again and finally stood up straight again. „I can’t take it for free. Even though I’m just borrowing it. How do you know I won’t run off with it?“ „Are you a thief?“ „No, but… I could be!“ „Well, in that case… How about you leave something behind then, like a pledge? I quite like the ring of yours,“ she pointed on Jeno’s hand, which he quickly pulled away. „That’s… it’s not anything fancy, and it’s bent, twisted… it’s worthless.“ „I’ll lend you a thing that’s worthless to me and you’ll lend me a thing that’s worthless to you. That’s a fair deal I’d say.“ She held out her hand. Jeno hesitated. What will the others think when he comes back without his friendship ring? They probably won’t even notice. „Alright…“ he took off the ring and rolled it around for a bit in his hand. Then, with a guilty feeling, he placed it in the owner’s hand, immediately regretting his decision. „Thank you for your purchase, have a nice day and see you whenever!“ he heard the woman say with a smile, pocketing the ring quickly. Then the door behind him shut with a loud bang and he was staying outside, with a book he didn’t know he needed and without a ring he didn’t remember wearing.

[magalidragon]

**Insert moodboard when I get around to it 🤣 Judge Jon and Lawyer Dany with the boxing love are coming soon to a computer near you**

anger management | bonus chapter | a teaser

Jon didn't listen, smacking the gavel. "Court is adjourned."

Pyp shouted. "All rise!"

They did so as Jon gathered his things and walked out, with a quick glance over his shoulder in her direction, a wide smile on his lips before he disappeared into the judge annex. He was followed closely by Satin, who was fussing with paperwork. Dany slipped out of the courtroom first, making her way rather lazily towards his chambers. She paused outside of the heavy onyx door, made of carved dragonglass, with the gilded nameplate beside it. The Honorable Jon Snow, Juveille Court Associate Judge.

She lightly tapped her fingers to it, and noticing a smudge on the corner, frowned and used the silk scarf attached to her tote bag to clean the gold sign, smiling at it. She pushed open the door, entering the main reception area, where Gilly Tarlly-- his other clerk and assistant-- sat at her desk, on the phone with huge eyes, no doubt listening to her husband relay the circus at court.

Gilly waved her through without a word, nodding along. "Wow Sam, wow....and you survived? Wow..."

Dany chuckled, walking by the antechamber where Satin's office was, filled to bursting with books, files, and folders. There was a small conference area and then Jon's office, with its two doors, the one slightly hidden against the wall which led to the snaking passageways between the courtrooms and the chambers. She entered without a word, dropping her tote on one of the plush club chairs in front of his desk, while Satin paid her no attention, stumbling through Jon's schedule with him.

"I have a draft of the judgment on the Thenn matter, then there's also this phone call I received regarding the wilding care legilstation you were to provide testimony on, plus Mr. Giantsbane called to infom you that if you do not show up at the meeting you will..." Satin trailed off, flushing pink, his beautiful face looking like carved ivory with two red circles on his cheeks. "I do not care to repeat it."

Jon chuckled, scanning his messages. "I can assume." He glanced over at her and cut Satin off immediately. "Thanks Satin, we can talk after lunch."

"You have a pre-trial hearing at two..."

"I know, I'll be done by then, clear my schedule for the next hour, hold all calls."

"There's also that gala tonight..."

"I'll be there," Jon interrupted him. He walked Satin to the door, the clerk barely nodding at her, and trying to get one more word in before Jon slammed the door, making sure to flick the lock. He spun around, grinning at her. "Hey."

"Hey," she cooed.

They locked eyes, not saying a word, until she was suddenly on the couch in the corner, Jon's hard body covering hers, the two of them tangled up, frantically trying to kiss the other, a mess of teeth and tongues. She yanked at his tie, diving her fingers into his shirt collar to touch his warm skin, groaning when he pulled back, arms remaining snaked around her, and palms wide on her back. The warmth seeped through, sending her toes curling in her heels. She flung off one-- the buckles were an illusion they were easy to step in and out of-- the shoe knocking onto his bookcase, the other falling off the edge of the couch.

Jon leaned backwards, pulling her over him so she could stretch out atop him, twirling with his tie. "What is this nice surprise?"

"I wanted to see if you were free for lunch, but got a show instead."

"And I see that it affected you greatly."

"Hhm," she hummed. "My big strong judge, telling those nasty little rulebreakers what for."

"You defend those nasty little rulebreakers."

"I can tell the ones who have heart and future and the ones who are sadly too far gone." She frowned, thinking of the darkness that surrounded the boy in the courtroom. "That one today is too far."

Jon sighed. "Doesn't help he has Thorne as his attorney."

"Will you revert the case to criminal court?"

"Unfortunately I think the only way Rast will learn a lesson is if he's with the big boys, but I need to review the facts of the case." He twirled a lock of her hair, which had escaped her braids, around his index finger, pondering the vaulted ceiling. "But I think yes, I will have to do that."

She kissed his chin, his beard bristly and tickling her liips. "Such a fair man."

"I try to be."

"I don't know how all the women in your court can stand upright, with you there in your robes and with your gavel." She made a face. "Perhaps I should set up shop in the back."

He laughed. "You're the only one I can handle."

"Good." Dany climbed off him, tugging her blazer back into place, feet bare on the plush carpets, curling into the softness. She sighed, thinking that lunch might now be out of hte question, glancing at her watch. She shrugged. "I think maybe we don't have time to get anything. We have the gala tonight, I get to walk around like a judge's wife." She preened. "Do you know what they call us around here?"

Jon frowned, walking around the edge of his desk. He picked up his robes, which he'd tossed on his chair, and began to hang them up. "You know I pay no attention to that drivel."

She giggled. "The Wolf King and the Dragon Queen. Apparently, we are a judicial power couple."

"Oh if only they knew." He wrinkled his nose up, which she tapped with her fingertip, the bump that had been there for several months now smoothed out from the surgery he'd needed to get to reset it. Apparently her initial punch had dislodged it in such a way he had trouble sleeping. She didn't mind, he was handsome with or without the broken nose.

[myrandom-fandomlife]

I Think I Kinda, You Know Chapter 1: The Agreement

JJ Maybank x Carrera! Reader 

Moodboard, Summary, and Playlist

Gif Credit 

Word Count: 2k

Warnings: Swearing, implications of smut, mentions of a toxic relationship and cheating

A/N: So, I’ve been working on this for a while, trying to make it an awesome first chapter. I was originally going to write actual smut into it, but I decided against it because I feel like my smut is super cringe. I might write descriptive smut in future chapters. I’m really proud of this, so I hope you guys like. Huge thanks to my beta and irl best friend @otherfandomsrun​ for proof reading, helping with ideas, and hyping me up. Show her some love! I kinda ended this on a cliff hanger, but I’m already working on chapter 2! Fic is below the cut, and feel free to ask to be on the tag list!

You sat next to your sister, Kiara, on the HMS Pogue. That pogue group of friends had expanded quite a bit in the last year. First it was you, Kie finally deeming you old enough to tag along on their adventures. (Which you had, anyway. You were only a year younger, for God’s sake.) Then Sarah, who you and Kie weren’t too fond of, but once you got to know her she was actually pretty awesome. Sarah’s dating John B, Kie and Pope are… complicated, which leaves you and JJ. Generally, you are left alone together because the others have paired off, and recently there has been some unexplained tension between the two of you. You couldn’t lie either, JJ is hot. But, you knew JJ wasn’t one for commitment, and if Kiara knew about your attraction to him, you wouldn’t hear the end of it. So you try your best to repress any non-platonic feelings of attraction down.

“You good Y/N?” Sarah asked. She’s laying her head in John B’s lap across from you. Pope is driving the boat and Kie is next to you, looking out at the water. JJ is on the other side of you, smoking.

“Yeah, just spaced out for a second. I’m good though,” You smiled and leaned over to the cooler to grab another beer. 

“I’m bored,” JJ complains, promptly stealing your beer, taking a long gulp. 

“Come on, JJ! I just opened that!” He smirks at you so retaliate by stealing his blunt from his hand and taking a hit.

“I know,” He takes another long drink. You take another hit and blow the smoke in his face. 

Kie pinches your side, making you flinch, “Careful. If you go home smelling like weed, mom and dad will have a fit.” Your parents weren’t strict, really. And they had warmed up to your group of friends quite a bit, occasionally inviting them over to dinner or to eat at the restaurant. Surprisingly, your mom’s favorite of the group was JJ, and she had always wanted either you or Kie to date him. She loved Pope, though, of course, but you thought she probably wanted to take in JJ as the son she never had. 

“Nah, Kie, let her live a little. Plus, your parents aren’t home tonight. Something about a ‘much needed date night.’” He shrugs at your confused faces and steals the joint back, taking a long drag. “She told me I have to stay with Y/N while Kie is working late tonight.” She was always talking to JJ and putting him to work when he came over to pick up you and Kie, so you weren’t surprised she had told him that before you guys left.

“Oh no, you don’t have t-” You start.

“I’m glad she’ll have someone there, I don’t like her being home alone,” Kie cuts you off, giving you a look that says ‘don’t argue with me, because I’ll win.’

“Yeah, some of the guys on Figure Eight, are super creepy,” Sarah adds. John B nods in agreement, but you think he’s dozing off. 

“You mean like, your brother?” Kie asks, causing Sarah to laugh.

“That guy, Chad, that Y/N dated was a huge creep, though,” JJ adds with a hint of hostility, and everyone nods in agreement. 

“And a cheater!” Pope calls, causing you to tense up. Chad was still a sore subject for you. You had dated for 6 months and right at the end you found out he had been sleeping with other girls the whole time. You broke up about a month ago and you were definitely over him, but it still hurt to know you wasted 6 months of your life on that scumball.

“Too soon, man,” JJ answers, passing the blunt back to you. You and him had grown closer in the past month, him being there to comfort you after the break up when the others couldn’t. Not to say that Kie and Sarah weren’t there for you, Sarah came to your house and you three watched movies all night when it happened. Of course, all three of the boys offered to fight him for you- which you politely declined; but it’s the thought that counts. Everyone helped you cope one way or another, but whether they were working, doing school work, or navigating their own new relationships, they couldn’t be there for you as much as JJ had in the past month. You weren’t mad at all, though. You were sort of grateful it had been him. Everyone else was walking on eggshells around you the first week or two, like they were scared to be happy in front of you. JJ was his usual self, though. He would make you laugh, and let you cry. He was there when you needed him most, and you were glad.

You happily take his offer and shrug the comment off, “It’s okay, J, he’s right.” He gives you a sympathetic look that says, you sure? And you nod, handing his joint back. 

“Oh shoot, I have work in an hour,” Kie says just as we pull up to the dock.

“Dad needs me home tonight to help with some project at the house,” Pope adds, while JJ starts securing the boat to the pier.

“Hey,” Sarah taps John B’s face lightly, “We have dinner with my parents soon. Time to wake up.” He stirs and opens his eyes groggily, flinching a little from the light. Everyone gathers their things, sunkissed and exhausted from the day of boating.

“And we have absolutely nowhere to be,” JJ playfully bows and holds out his hand to help you up onto the small deck. 

You laugh and take his hand, stepping off the worn vehicle. “Except for watching Friends at my house.”

“Very true. Pizza?” He asks brightly. JJ coming over to watch movies or binge a tv series while eating pizza with you and sometimes Kie had become a common occurrence. These nights usually ended with the two or three of you falling asleep sprawled on the sofa together.

You nod, “Duh.” A small chuckle escapes him and you walk up to the Chateau, where you had all met that morning. Then you all start going your separate ways, but you, Kie, and JJ all pile into the silver SUV your parents had gotten for Kiara when she turned 16. They got you a car when you turned 16 a couple of months ago, but Kie liked driving more than you did. You thought maybe it made her feel like you still needed her, which you do. You can’t imagine not having Kie to help you through everything in your crazy life. 

The sound of JJ saying your name from the front seat snaps you out of your thoughts, “What, JJ?” 

He turns his head and his lips curve into a smirk, “Oh nothing, I was just saying how hot you look tonight.” He then bursts out laughing at what you assume is the look on your face.

Small giggles leave you. Kie shoves JJ’s shoulder lightly and adds, “Stop hitting on my sister!” At that you and Kiara crack up too, the car filled with your laughter as you head home.

--------

Approaching the large house, Kie jumps out of her car almost as soon as it’s parked, muttering about being late and needing to get ready. As you and JJ head inside, JJ questions, “Want me to order the pizza?”

“Yeah, I just want to change out of this swimsuit,” You scrunch your nose up, “Saltwater.”

He softly smiles, “The usual?” You shake your head yes and shoot him a grin in return before turning to go up the stairs. You swear you can feel his eyes on you as you retreat.

You try to be quick, donning a cropped t-shirt and some cotton shorts. You throw your hair into a messy bun, bounding down the stairs when you’re done. Your eyes land on the blonde-haired boy in the living room and you see that he already has the pizza, “What are you? Magic?”

His eyes slowly trail down your body, making your face heat up, but he laughs, “Nah, just had to name drop and I was given high priority on my order.”

You giggle, and he adds that Kie had left for work while you were changing. You help get blankets set up on the couch, and turn on the tv. He’s already grabbed a few beers to split between the two of you and you usually just eat the pizza straight out of the box. Pressing play on Friends, you start your favorite kind of night.

--------

A whole pizza and two beers each into your sleepover, you’re both feeling a little buzzed. Currently, you are discussing Chandler and Monica’s relationship, “Yeah, I don’t know. I haven’t been laid in a while so I feel like I need a situation like them, where they just have sex. Minus the feelings though, because gross.” You shudder dramatically and he laughs.

“Yeah, I agree. I just want someone I can have really good sex with, no strings attached.”  He pauses, then looks up at you, a calculating expression on his face.

Then you get what he’s thinking, “JJ...”

“No, think about it. We’re both super hot, we both want to get laid, and we both want no feelings. We could even make a contract if that makes you feel better?” He rambles for a second, still thinking.

“Okay, say we did do this. What would the rules be?”

“Well, there’s the obvious one. The other pogues cannot know. Especially not Kie.” He licks his lips.

You nod, “Yeah, I get that. How about, if one of us gets uncomfortable with the arrangement, we stop?”

He meets your eyes with his dark blue ones and moves toward you on the couch, “Agreed. The last one is very important. We absolutely are not allowed to fall in love. Can you manage?” His lips curve into that smirk again and you can’t help but let a small laugh tumble past your lips.

“I can, can you?” He moves even closer from his side of the couch, and your breathing hitches. The noises from the TV can’t be heard over the sound of your blood rushing in your ears.

“Definitely.” Then his lips are on yours and you forget how to breathe for a second. His tongue is exploring your mouth, hands moving to the bottom of your thighs to wrap your legs around his waist. He starts kissing down your neck, your hands pulling at his hair and making him groan into you.

You feel him bite down on your soft skin, your chest heaving. “Fuck, JJ. Upstairs,” You moan when he continues his antics. He complies with your request and let’s just say, it was a very good night.

--------

You wake up naked, with an ache between your legs as you slowly recall the events from the night before. You groggily open your eyes, spotting a familiar blonde head right away. He looks peaceful. You turn over to check your clock and realize you have an hour until your early work shift, meaning Kie will be knocking at your door very soon.

“Shit,” You tap JJ lightly on the shoulder and he stirs, “J, get up, Kie’s gonna be at my door soon and I don’t think she’s gonna like that you’re currently naked in my bed.”

He smiles, “Good morning to you, too, sunshine.”

You hit him with your pillow, “I’m serious, JJ!” You get up, stumbling a bit on your sore legs, which he smiles proudly at. Then you’re rushing to put some clothes on and he reluctantly does the same.

He puts his hands out in front of him in surrender, “Okay, okay. How am I supposed to get out without Kie seeing? I can’t exactly walk out the front door.”

“Um.. how about the window?” Before JJ could respond, there was a knock at the door, both of your eyes widening in shock.

Tag list: @treestarrrrrrrr​ @sspidermanss​ @harrysbbby​ @thatsonobx​

[jtargaryen18]

Lost Boys Life

Author: @jtargaryen18

Artist: @mortenavida

Rating: Explicit 

Length: 6.7K Words 

Pairings: James “Bucky” Barnes/Steve Rogers (Smol!Steve)

Warnings: Anal Sex, Fingering, Making out, Blow Jobs

Summary: Steve Rogers finally got a chance to make a delivery to his celebrity crush, Bucky Barnes, from the electronics store where he works. Could that one chance meeting end the lonely life of a lost boy?

Link to fic and art at AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25643050

@stuckybangs

A/N: Thank you to @mortenavida for making the incredible moodboard for this fic and for the fantastic idea. Thank you to the moderators of this challenge.

Thank ALL of you for putting up with me.

~~~

The doorbell chimed at 12:47 PM. Scrubbing a hand through his hair in frustration, Bucky Barnes marched to the door. He had a live stream for the Last of Us 2 in less than fifteen minutes and he was losing his shit.

Bucky had just hit 100 million subscribers on YouTube. He needed the live stream to go well. Waiting for a last-minute delivery of replacement headphones wasn’t doing anything to calm his nerves. But Galaxy Electronics was his go-to and they hadn’t let him down yet.

“Fucking finally, Gil,” Bucky grumbled, opening the door with a little more force than necessary. “I need—”

Only it wasn’t Gil standing on the other side of his door. His gaze roamed over a smaller blond guy who had bright blue eyes and a gorgeous face. The sleeves of his dark sweatshirt were pushed up to his elbows and his tight-fitting jeans hugged slim hips and a nice ass.

The little bastard just waited while Bucky unwittingly checked him out.

“Not Gil,” he said with a smirk.

“Please tell me you’re from Galaxy,” Bucky pleaded. He needed the damn headphones. “I ordered—”

“Razer Nari Ultimate,” the blond said, pulling his backpack off his shoulder and unzipping it. When he pulled out the box with the new headset, Bucky blew out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you so much,” Bucky told him, pulling his wallet from his back pocket as he took the box with the headset. He usually gave Gil a twenty for a delivery. But this guy?

Bucky wouldn’t mind seeing him again.

Pulling out a fifty, he pressed it into the blond’s hand. “What’s your name?”

That blue-eyed gaze moved between the money and him.

“Steve Rogers,” he said after a moment.

“Thank you, Steve,” Bucky told him with a smile. “I’ve got just enough time to pull this off.”

Steve shrugged a shoulder. “Good luck.”

Tucking away the money and zipping up his backpack, he headed towards the elevator.

Bucky just stood there watching him walk. More like strut.

Dumbass, you’ve got a live stream.

Bucky got himself set up, got on the live stream just in time. But he was distracted the entire time. Did Steve Rogers know who he was? Was he out there watching his channel?

Thoughts of the other man clouded his mind for the rest of the day.

~~~

Steve Rogers grinned as the elevator doors closed behind him, his heart flying in his chest.

Yeah, he might be in a shit ton of trouble. Hell, he might even lose his job.

Meeting Bucky Barnes? His celebrity crush? Totally worth it.

Steve wasn’t surprised when his phone started humming before he reached the ground floor.

“Where are you, Rogers?” His boss was loud.

“On my way back,” he said calmly, still grinning from ear to ear.

“Where the fuck did you go?” His boss sounded pissed. But then Nick Fury, the owner of Galaxy electronics, was always some negative emotion.

“Gil was tied up so I made that delivery to Barnes,” Steve kept his tone as professional as he could. “Got it to him in time for his live stream.”

“Thank fuck for that,” Nick grumbled. “Get your ass back here. We’re busy.”

“Almost there,” Steve told him. He was three blocks away so that was a stretch. But he could move quickly.

“And you can explain to Gil that you made that delivery,” Nick informed him.

“Will do.” Steve ended the call.

Steve knew he was going to catch hell for sneaking off with the headset. Gilmore Hodge had been working at the store for ten years. Steve heard that every damn day. Gil had seniority so he got to make all the deliveries which wasn’t a big deal ten years ago when he started. Now that they had several clients with big YouTube channels in the city?

Had Gil mentioned to Steve he’d worked there for ten years?

Yes, he fucking had.

Steve had worked there for six months, watching and waiting. Finally, that opportunity showed up. Gil had honest-to-God thought he could deal with Alexander Pierce in time to make the delivery to Bucky Barnes for his live stream on his YouTube channel WinterSoldier.

Gil hadn’t been able to stop him from dashing out the door with the headset and his crush’s address.

Oh, but he’d be waiting for Steve to get back.

It would be worth it. Just getting to see Bucky Barnes once. And somehow – he didn’t know how – he’d been able to maintain his composure. Steve had gotten the headset there in time, didn’t fangirl. He thought he’d played it cool. Oh, he didn’t need a photo or an autograph with the man whose channel had been his life for the last six years. It was enough to meet him once. Just once.

Bucky had been even more gorgeous in person. If that were even possible.

His head was so wrapped around finally meeting the man, he didn’t pay attention when he walked back into the store, taking his backpack to the lockers in the back. Before he could open the combination lock on his, he was grabbed roughly from behind and spun around to face a very angry Gil.

His co-worker’s face was angry red, his knuckles white where they gripped the front of his sweatshirt.

“What the fuck was that?” Gil hissed.

“What?” Steve asked, knowing good and damn well why Gil was pissed but not about to admit to it.

“You took the delivery to Barnes?”

“I was helping out,” Steve said back, hating the slight tremor in his voice as he answered the larger man. “You were taking care of Mr. Pierce. I just wanted to pitch in.”

“Little fucking liar,” Gil growled at him. “I’m the only one who makes deliveries to Barnes. To any of ‘em. You got that?”

Steve nodded. He knew Gil was an asshole but the level of anger he’d reached took Steve completely off guard.

“He give you a tip?” Gil demanded.

Yeah, a $50 dollar bill and because he touched it, I’m framing it.

Steve nodded, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet and pulling out the only other bill in it. A ten.

Gil smirked as he yanked it out of Steve’s hand. “That’s it?” Laughing, he released him. “You must have done a lousy job.”

Watching him walk away, Steve blew out a sigh of relief. But then Gil turned around.

“Don’t do it again,” he warned.

***

“Steve, come over here,” Nick called.

Steve had been working on inventory all morning. He only had fifteen minutes until lunch. Bucky had posted a new video on his channel earlier that he wanted to watch.

Putting down the inventory list, he made his way over to his boss.

“Need you to make a delivery,” Nick told him when he reached the counter.

What was this?

“Me?” Steve had to ask.

Gil’s head shot up so fast from the other end of the counter that Steve almost laughed.

Nick nodded. “Barnes asked for you.”

Bucky Barnes asked for him?

“He wants a new microphone,” Nick explained. “I’m sending you with four he can try. Bring back what he doesn’t want.”

Steve nodded eagerly. Trying out microphones? That could take a few minutes.

Gil marched towards them, his glare on Steve. “I’ll take ‘em,” he told Nick.

Nick calmly regarded him. “He specifically requested Steve. So no, you won’t.”

Gil’s eyes narrowed. “Since when?”

“Since today,” Nick said. “He’s paying extra so he gets what he wants.”

Gil shook his head, sneering at Steve. “What did you do? Blow him?”

Oh, I wish.

“You do your job and don’t worry about it,” Nick told Gil.

Placing the boxed microphones on the counter, Nick looked at him expectantly. “He’s waiting.”

Steve didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed the boxes, headed straight for the back, and got his backpack out of his locker and got the boxes packed into it. Then he was on his way.

His heart was hammering in his chest as he marched up the sidewalk. Steve certainly hadn’t been expected to get another delivery for him and he was thrilled. Nervous, but thrilled all the same.

How would he maintain a cool façade this time? It was easy to pull off when you were making a quick appearance. When you were bringing four microphones for him to try out? Well, he just hoped he could keep from making an ass of himself.

When he reached the door to Bucky’s apartment, he took a deep breath. Trying to calm himself. He didn’t get the chance to hit the doorbell. The door slowly opened, and Steve just stared. Bucky’s thick brown hair swept back in shining waves, a YouTube t-shirt that was two sizes too small stretching across the muscled wall of his chest.

“You okay?” Bucky asked him with a smirk.

“Of course,” Steve told him. “I’m here from Galaxy. I’ve, ah, got the microphones you wanted to try out.”

“Come in,” Bucky motioned him in, smiling.

Steve was fangirling on the inside, walking into his idol’s apartment. He let Bucky shut the door and lead him into another room. His studio where he did the live streams and recorded his videos.

“Thank you for bringing those up so fast, Steve,” Bucky motioned for him to have a seat on the stool next to the one he sat on – the guest stool – and Steve was trying to remember to breathe. “I’ve needed a new one and I just don’t get a lot of time to shop.”

“I’m glad to help,” Steve told him, trying to sound disinterested and missing it by a mile.

He pulled his backpack off and began to dig out the microphones, placing them on the table where Bucky had his computer and all his peripherals.

As he watched, Bucky unpacked the first one. “How long have you worked at Galaxy, Steve?”

Steve folded his hands in his lap, trying to seem passive. “Ah, about six months I guess.”

“You like it there?”

“It’s a good place to work,” Steve admitted. “I’m happy there.”

Watching Bucky pull the microphone he was using out of his setup, he went about setting up the first one he wanted to try.

“You familiar with my channel?” Bucky asked casually.

It’s my life.

What he said was, “I’ve heard of it.”

While Bucky worked, Steve took the opportunity to look over the gorgeous man. He knew from his channel that the man worked out. It sure paid off. His shoulders were wide, his arms heavily muscled. His thighs and ass?

Down boy.

He stayed quiet while Bucky did a sound check with the first microphone, letting him test it out and so grateful he got to be here doing this. It was fascinating to see where Bucky did his filming.

“You live here in the city?” Bucky’s question broke him out of his thoughts.

“Yeah,” Steve replied. “Nothing like this but I’ve got a place.”

“You live alone or…”

Wait. Why did he want to know?

Bucky had always been tight-lipped about his private life. There’d been a rumor last year that he went out with another YouTuber – a guy – which gave him hope, made his crush ten times worse.

He couldn’t be hitting on him, right?

“Just me,” Steve said finally.

Those blue eyes were on him as Bucky unpacked his second microphone. “You want to, ah, have dinner some time?”

Steve thought his heart might explode. Was he serious?

It took a lot, but he forced himself to meet Bucky’s gaze. “I would.”

Bucky flashed him a grin that had his heart skipping beats. “Yeah?”

Steve nodded.

“Are you CapRogers0704?” Bucky asked idly as he hooked up the second mic.

And he was caught.

If Bucky knew that, he knew exactly how big a fan of his Steve really was.

Steve dropped his head, feeling color light up his face. Bucky’s chuckle was a rich deep sound.

“You’ve heard of my channel, huh?”

“Hey,” Steve grinned at him, “I’m here for my job. I had to play it cool.”

“Checking out my ass part of the job?”

Steve would be permanently flame-red at this rate.

“Not complaining,” Bucky went on. “Just curious.”

“I’m sorry.” Steve decided honesty was best. “I’ve been a fan of yours for a while now… I tried to behave.”

“I appreciate that.” Bucky tested the second mic. “Do you mind coming here for dinner? I can send out for whatever you like.”

Was he kidding?

“That works for me,” Steve told him, still struggling to get his mind around the entire scenario. His heart raced as he watched Bucky test the other two mics.

When he started boxing one up, Steve leaned forward on his knees. “Did any of them work for you?”

“Yeah, I really like the last one,” Bucky told him. “I’ll take that one and send the rest back with you.”

Steve nodded.

“Can you put that one on my tab and maybe bring another with you when you come to dinner? I’d like to have a backup.”

“Absolutely.”

They got the other three mics back in the packaging and Steve got ready to head back to the store, his mind spinning. Did he ask for Bucky’s phone number? Ask when he wanted to do dinner?

No, just be patient.

As he zipped up his backpack, Bucky watched him. “Have plans tonight?”

Steve shook his head, unable to keep a smile off his face.

“So six o’clock? You like Moroccan food?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Steve managed. “I’ll be here. Can I, ah, bring anything?”

Bucky had a killer smile. Seeing it on the videos and live streams was one thing.

Having it flashed specifically at him?

Priceless.

“Just you,” Bucky told him, opening the door for Steve as he made his way back to the store.

If only it wasn’t early afternoon when Steve got back. His head wasn’t in the game. He was reviewing every moment, every bit of conversation in his head, over and over. Had he misread everything? Or did he for real have a date with Bucky Barnes?

Gil was quiet and surly, shooting Steve glares every opportunity.

Finally, five rolled around and Steve headed to his place with just enough time to freshen up and make it back to Bucky’s by six.

***

Bucky Barnes set the table, got everything from the delivery laid out nicely on the table. Yeah, he was a little nervous. It had been well over a year since he’d even tried to go out with anyone.

Every time he thought about Steve? It brought a smile to his face. What was it about the guy? Granted, he didn’t know a lot about him. But he really did want to.

The blond showed up at six on the dot and their conversation over dinner got off to an awkward start. The wine helped a little. By the second glass, Steve’s face was flushed, and he seemed more relaxed.

Bucky suggested they play Outlast: Whistleblower because yeah, he’d cyber-stalked Steve a little bit. Wanted to see what he was into. After a couple of hours, the game playing slowed as they talked more.

Right now, Bucky was crazy about Steve sitting above him on his couch, laughing at the tale of his first attempt at live streaming and how he almost ditched his whole damn channel that day.

“When did you start following the channel?” Bucky had to ask, gazing up at him from where he sat in front of the couch..

Steve blew out an exhale, his hand on the edge of the cushion. Bucky wanted those fingers in his hair.

“Almost from the beginning,” Steve admitted. “Not your channel though. You.”

Fuck it. Bucky leaned his head on Steve’s hand and what do you know? He took the hint, his thin fingers sliding through the waves of his hair. He hummed at Steve’s touch.

“You ask fans to have dinner with you often?”

It was a fair question.

“No, I don’t date a lot at all.”

Steve smirked at him. Cocky little shit. “This a date?”

“What do you think?” Bucky shifted a little closer where he sat on the floor. “I was kind of hoping it was.”

Those big blue eyes widened. “Me too.”

It was all he needed to hear.

Hooking a hand around the back of Steve’s neck, he pulled him down for a kiss.

There was no hesitation. Steve’s lips were soft, tentative at first. Bucky coaxed him, keeping it soft and light. When Steve sank both hands into his hair, he pushed for a little more.

Steve’s breath was coming fast when Bucky pulled back. But he needed to stop and be honest.

“I don’t have a lot of luck with relationships, Steve,” Bucky explained. “I’m private. And the last couple of guys I went out with? Made me pretty mistrustful.”

Steve nodded, his mind going a mile a minute unless Bucky missed his guess.

“That’s not your fault or problem,” Bucky told him. “Sometimes I get involved too fast and it makes me a little paranoid… I’m just being upfront.”

Nodding, Steve stole another kiss from his lips. His tongue a gentle tease before he abruptly pulled back.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Steve’s gaze locked with his. “I haven’t been in many relationships. I really don’t know what I’m doing. But I’ll always tell you the truth.”

“That’s what really matters,” Bucky told him. “That and staying out of the tabloids you know.”

Bucky hated adding that, tried to make it sound like a joke. But it was how his last two relationships ended.

Steve nodded but he didn’t say anything. It would have been nice to know what he was thinking. Now he’d wonder if he put him off by saying it.

It didn’t stop Bucky from pulling him off the damn couch and into his lap. It had been too long since he’d held someone, kissed someone. And Steve felt so good.

***

The next two weeks for Steve were like the best dream. When he wasn’t with Bucky at his place, he was still watching his videos and live streams. Bucky told him with a laugh he couldn’t film either with Steve there. He said he wouldn’t be able to concentrate.

Knowing Bucky meant that as a compliment? It was everything.

The biggest challenge he had was playing it cool at the electronics store. Gil didn’t really speak to him now that Steve was Bucky’s personal delivery boy from the store. And Gil paid way too much attention to him now. It was creepy.

Steve didn’t think Gil would go so far as to follow him, but he wanted to err on the side of caution. He kept his deliveries to Bucky’s place short, didn’t linger. He told Bucky that he didn’t want to fool around at all then because he didn’t want to give Gil anything.

Bucky mostly honored that request even though it was him Steve was protecting.

Going and coming to work? Steve did nothing different than he ever had. He came from his place in the mornings and went home to his place at night. Most of the time he was hauling ass up the sidewalk back to Bucky’s within an hour of getting home.

Steve was on his way to Bucky’s then, deli sandwiches he’d picked up in hand, and more than a little nervous. It was Friday night and Steve was off for the weekend. Bucky wanted him to stay overnight.

As he rode up in the elevator, his brain whirled. They’d made out so far, some petting. Sex? Would this be the night?

Bucky greeted him with a heated kiss the minute the door was closed. Steve clutched the bag with dinner tighter as Bucky’s mouth claimed his, soft as first but quickly gained momentum. When he finally stepped back, Steve blinked up at him in a daze.

“I’ve been looking forward to this,” Bucky told him, grinning.

Steve was struggling to form words. “I brought dinner,” he finally managed.

Bucky excitedly told him about a charity event he was planning over the sandwiches and a couple of beers. That he wanted Steve’s opinion meant a lot. And he surprised Bucky with the questions he had, gave him a couple of ideas. Hey, he’d been on the WinterSoldier channel for years after all.

They wandered into the living room. Instead of gaming like they often did, Bucky wanted to watch a movie. While they were both big horror movie fans, they were ten minutes into it and had just reached the death of the main blonde, when Bucky’s hand landed on his thigh.

Steve jumped when Bucky leaned in. “This okay?” he purred into his ear.

A nod was all he could manage.

Bucky’s mouth was soft and warm along his neck, his lips teasing the lobe of his ear. Steve appreciated how careful Bucky was with him. Yeah, he knew he wasn’t the biggest guy, but ego only stretched so far.

“Kiss me,” Bucky whispered.

Steve turned and angled his head for him, wrapping his arms around the brunet’s neck and enjoying a kiss that had him hard, aching. Bucky’s hand sank into Steve’s hair before roaming down his back, sliding over the curve of his ass.

Pulling back, Bucky blew out an exhale. “Please tell me you’re ready for this.” Those blue eyes gazed deeply into his. “I want you.”

Steve leaned forward, resuming the kiss as Bucky squeezed his ass. “I’m yours,” he whispered against Bucky’s lips.

Pushing him back on the couch, Bucky’s fingers plucked at the buttons on his shirt, pressing heated desperate kisses down Steve’s chest as he revealed it. Steve fought to breathe as Bucky’s kisses reached his stomach. Flashing a smile, Bucky finished unbuttoning Steve’s shirt, pulling it free of his jeans.

When those long fingers plucked at the button of his jeans, Steve sucked in a breath.

Bucky stopped. “Hey, I don’t want to rush you,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss just below Steve’s belly button. “You want me to stop, I will.”

Steve’s hands found Bucky’s hair, clutching at it. When he pulled at the locks, Bucky hummed contentedly as he pulled down the zipper Steve’s jeans, his hand stroking over him just beneath his boxers.

“Can I touch you?” Bucky asked, his blue eyes smoky with desire.

Why the hell would I say no?

“Please,” Steve rasped, watching as Bucky worked his jeans and boxers down over his slim hips, stripping him bare.

Bucky returned to his place between Steve’s slim thighs, his hand sliding up to wrap carefully around his aching cock.

“You’re perfect,” Bucky told him, his hand stroking him up and down gently. “Perfect for me… You like this?”

Steve was fighting for control. What do you think? He managed a nod.

When Bucky got his mouth on him, it was all he could do to hang on. Bucky teased the head of him with lips and tongue, so slowly first. By the time Bucky was pulling him into his mouth, Steve was gripping the couch cushions, clutching at the rich dark locks of Bucky’s hair. When Bucky hummed, taking his throbbing cock to the back of his throat, Steve cried out, his entire body shaking. When Bucky swallowed around him, he came hard, the world spinning away as Bucky carefully finished him.

Steve fought for air in the cool of the room as Bucky smoothed his hands over his chest, dropping kisses over every part of him he could reach.

“Want to get comfortable?” Bucky’s smile was gentle. “Are you staying the night with me?”

“I am,” Steve told him, letting Bucky pull him into his bedroom.

Seating himself on the side of the bed, Bucky pulled the Henley he wore off. Steve went down on his knees before him, hoping to return the favor. Pushing Bucky’s knees apart – oh, my God, those thighs --  Steve began to pluck at his jeans.

Watching him with those incredible eyes, Bucky helped Steve take down his jeans and boxers. Steve was just thankful he wasn’t drooling over the guy. Naked, Bucky was absolutely perfect. He didn’t feel worthy of touching those magnificent thighs, loving the warmth and crisp hair under his hands.

“I don’t have a lot of experience at this,” Steve told him, pressing a wet kiss to his inner thigh. “You’ll tell me if I screw up, right?”

Bucky had been about to speak but Steve got his hands on him, stroking him in smooth, careful strokes. The brunet let his head fall back, his hands lifting to Steve’s shoulders. Steve was marveling at how Bucky’s cock was as gorgeous as the rest of him. The man was hard and heated in his hands.

“I’ll like whatever you do,” Bucky purred as he sank his fingers into Steve’s hair.

Getting his mouth on him, Steve savored the taste of him, enjoying the way the gorgeous man above him surrendered to his touch. His breathy sighs were music to Steve’s ears as he worked at taking more of him in, his fingers testing the weight of his balls.

Bucky’s fingers tightened in his hair, tugging. He groaned. “Tell me how you… fuck… don’t have a lot of experience at this?”

Steve managed to pull him to the back of his throat, loving the way Bucky’s entire body tensed. Bucky was pulling his hair as he fought for control.

“You little shit,” Bucky whispered with a smile playing about his lips. “You’re so damn good at this.”

Steve just wanted him to enjoy it, working him with his hands and mouth. He was so caught up that he was almost startled when Bucky’s hands firmly grasped his head and pulled Steve off.

“I need to be in you.” Bucky’s tone was pleading. “Can I?”

Bucky’s mouth claimed his, taking a long taste of him before his mouth blazed a trail across to Steve’s ear. “Can I make love to you?”

Steve allowed himself to be pulled onto the bed, pressed onto his stomach as Bucky rapidly peeled away his shirt. The rain of wet kisses and nips over his shoulders and neck was heaven before the brunet reached into the drawer of his bedside table, pulling a tube of lubricant.

Steve was trembling where he lay, anticipation about to get the best of him. Bucky’s hands smoothed over him, Bucky's mouth stealing kisses from his lips. When he finally heard the click of the tube’s cap, he willed himself to relax as Bucky used it liberally on himself, on Steve.

“You look so good,” Bucky’s voice was rich sound in the solitude of the room. A single finger traced his entrance gently before sliding slowly inside him. “I want to make this good for you.”

The brunet’s touch was careful. By the time a second and third finger slid carefully inside him, Steve was impatient, ready for Bucky now. But the other man knew just how much push and speed to use as he worked him with his fingers, patiently learning Steve until he hit a space within him that had him seeing stars. Bucky had him howling, ready to shoot off again.

“Bucky, please,” he whispered, his body clenching greedily around Bucky’s fingers. “Please.”

“I want you too,” Bucky purred into his ear as the wide head of Bucky’s cock pressed at his opening. When he began to push in, the burn and stretch was everything Steve wanted. He fought to relax, to breathe as Bucky filled him, sinking deeper with careful movement that were making him crazy. When he reached the end of Steve, he lowered himself over his smaller lover, caging him on the bed.

“You okay?” Bucky whispered.

“Fuck, yeah.” Steve rolled his hips. “Ready.”

Bucky’s movements were careful, slow. He made Steve feel desired, surrounded as filled him completely. Steve’s fingers clawed at the bedding as he moved with his lover, enjoying the sensual movements inside him as Bucky learned him, warmed him up.

A heavily muscled arm wrapped around him like a band of iron, rolling Steve onto his side with Bucky spooning him. His thrusts gained in strength and speed, taking Steve’s breath away. Bucky painted his shoulders and neck on hot kisses. Steve could have held on even so until his lover’s other hand captured his aching cock and began working him in quick, smooth strokes.

Steve’s cries filled the room as he came, kept coming. Everything spun away by the time he’d finished, hanging onto to Bucky’s arm and hip as his thrusts took on the rhythm of desperation. Fast, hard, and completely controlled by Bucky’s need for release.

Bucky’s grip on him was just shy of painful when he came, his growl in Steve’s ear making him shudder in the best way.

The blended sound of their labored breathing filled the room. Bucky eased out of Steve but kept him in his arms and that was just fine with him.

“Regret spending the night?” Bucky teased.

“Nope,” Steve told him.

“To think,” Bucky’s fingers linked with Steve’s at his chest, “you were out there all this time.”

“Still giving me grief about being a super fan?” Steve laughed. “No regrets.”

“No, it’s just… When I got started on YouTube, I didn’t expect what happened. I never thought I’d have a following, you know? It was just kind of crazy how all of that came about. I just wanted to meet people. Other gamers. Make friends… If I found someone special? Well, that would be alright too.”

Steve’s heart clenched in his chest at his words. Bucky had been lonely. Like him.

“That’s what I’d do a lot of nights when anxiety was getting to me or I was dealing with some controversy,” Bucky went on. “I’d imagine that person out there, someone special, and I’d imagine… I was talking to him when I filmed. And really, I guess I was.”

Steve smiled.

“Now, I think I actually found him,” Bucky said finally.

Oh, how much Steve wanted that to be true. He was falling hard for Bucky. He was gorgeous, kind. They had a lot in common. The funny thing? Now that he knew him better, that he ran Steve’s favorite YouTube channel didn’t matter so much. Just Bucky.

“You’re not saying anything,” Bucky’s tone took on a note of anxiety. “I’m scaring the shit out of you, huh?”

Steve squeezed his hand, burrowed back into him. “No, not at all.”

“It’s just…” Bucky shifted behind him, propping his head on a hand as he hovered over Steve’s shoulder. His face was so handsome in the warm light of the single lamp. “I like this. I really like you.”

“I feel the same way, Bucky,” Steve gazed up at him.

“Yeah?”

Steve stretched up to kiss him. Bucky took over the kiss, moving to roll Steve under him without breaking it.

“Can you stay the whole weekend?” Bucky’s grin was a witch’s brew of wicked and sincere.

Steve nodded, unable to keep from smiling back.

***

“Who’s that?”

Bucky wasn’t expecting any deliveries today. Steve had just finished his shower from the sound of it as Bucky made his way to the door.

He didn’t expect Gil from Galaxy to be on the other side.

“Hey, Gil,” Bucky said casually. “What can I do for you?”

“Just thought I’d check in and see if there was anything you needed from the store,” Gil told him with a tight smile. Bucky didn’t like the way the other man’s gaze was searching his apartment behind him. “I’d be glad to bring it to you.”

What the fuck? Gil wasn’t normally like that. And he already had help from Galaxy electronics with his Stevie so…

Apparently, the guy felt like his territory had been encroached upon.

“I’m good, Gil,” Bucky said. “But I’ll let you know if I need anything, okay?”

Bucky sensed Steve’s presence somewhere behind him and Gil must have seen him from the way the man's jaw locked and his eyes turned hard and mean.

“Thank you,” Bucky dismissed him, slowly closing the door.

He didn’t care at all for the way Gil had looked at Steve.

Steve was peering out from his bedroom door. The look on his face was pure panic and it got worse as Bucky got closer.

“I am so sorry.” Steve’s voice was even small. “I didn’t know he was there. I would… I would have stayed in the bedroom until he was gone, I promise…”

“Hey,” Bucky brushed a kiss on his forehead. “You didn’t do anything wrong, okay? You’re my guest here. You got that?”

Fresh from his shower, Steve nervously scrubbed a hand through his drying hair. “Yeah.”

“What’s his deal?” Bucky wanted to know. “You saw it was Gil, right?”

Steve nodded. “It’s just… he always did deliveries for the store. Always.”

Bucky grinned as he sat down on the edge of his bed. “Not always.”

The color rising in Steve’s face told him there was a story there.

“Well?”

“One day he was busy with one of our bigger clients,” Steve explained, a sly grin on his face. “I knew you had your live stream in less than an hour, so I grabbed your headphones and made the delivery.”

“You’re a good employee,” Bucky replied.

“I did it to meet you,” Steve admitted.

Bucky waved him over, bringing him to stand between his spread thighs. “Don’t worry about him, okay? He can’t do anything to you.”

“I know.”

Pulling him down for a toe-curling kiss, Bucky then threw him across the bed.

“You promised me the weekend,” Bucky reminded him.

***

Steve knew something was wrong when he walked into the store on Monday.

Nick looked up from his desk when he walked by – Nick never did that – and that was the first red flag.

The way Gil was whistling about and acting like he was having a ball doing the same job he did six days a week was the other.

What had happened? Gil knew he’d been in Bucky’s apartment. Did he tell Nick? Was this the part where he lost his job?

Steve tried to keep calm, taking his backpack to his locker, and securing it there. He’d just made it back into the store when Nick called him into the office.

Fuck.

Steve kept his head up, shoulders back as he walked in. He shut the door at Nick's request.

Shit, this is serious.

Taking a seat on the other side of Nick’s desk, Steve decided to get to it. “Is there something wrong?”

Nick blew out an exhale before his gaze met Steve’s. “As far as I’m concerned, no,” Nick said slowly. “But you’re about to have a rough day.”

Steve’s anxiety level rose. “Why?”

Nick had a tabloid on his desk, one of those cheap, color wannabe papers you saw waiting in line at the grocery store. There as one of the front page features was a picture of Bucky from his channel. A picture of Steve from his own Facebook page was in a bubble next to it along with the headline, “WinterSoldier’s Newest Boy Toy.”

Steve’s heart broke in his chest. He’d expected some confrontation with Gil today. He wouldn’t have liked it but he would have survived it.

This? This was far worse.

“What you do in your personal life is your business,” Nick went on, handing him the tabloid. “I want you to know I didn’t have a hand in this.”

This would end his relationship with Bucky just as it was beginning. Bucky had warned him.

“I know who did this,” Steve told Nick.

From his expression, Nick did too.

“Why don’t you take the day off?” Nick offered.

Steve appreciated him so much, nodding. That way when Bucky called or came looking for him, well, it would be handled in private. Steve knew that conversation would break him open. And the last thing he wanted was to give Gil that satisfaction. He’d already won a major victory over him with the tabloid story.

Payback for Bucky choosing him.

Steve had just made it from the back with his stuff when he saw Bucky march into the store. Tears stung the backs of his eyes when their gazes met. Guess he was going to get that humiliation after all.

Bucky just stared at him for a long moment. Steve just hoped that the man he was falling for couldn’t tell his heart was breaking in his chest.

Looking around, Bucky spotted Gil and marched straight for him. Bucky and Gil were pretty evenly matched in size. Gil’s smug grin faded as Bucky approached him.

“Hey, man,” Gil tried weakly.

“What the actual fuck?” Bucky wasn’t keeping his voice down. “I know you’re responsible for the little tabloid story. You think that’s funny?”

It was satisfying to see Gil take a step back.

“I don’t know what---”

“Oh, you fucking do.” Bucky pointed back at Steve. “You got butthurt because I started having Steve bring my stuff to me and this bullying shit is what you come up with? Really?”

Now Gil looked confused.

“I don’t want you to have a damn thing to do with me, my needs, or my account here from this point on,” Bucky told him. “Or I’ll go elsewhere.”

Considering how much money Bucky spent there, it wasn’t a surprise that Nick wandered out of his office.

“Our apologies,” Nick called. “Won’t be a problem. He’s fired.”

Gil’s mouth dropped open as he stared at Bucky in disbelief. If nothing else, Steve could enjoy someone finally taking Gil to task for his actions. He wasn’t used to that.

“Get your stuff,” Nick told him. “Get out.”

Gil didn’t look up as he darted from behind the counter and headed for the back.

When Bucky headed for him next, Steve had worked out mostly what he wanted to say. He didn’t expect Bucky to pull the backpack from his hands and sling it over his own shoulder.

“Are you okay?” Bucky said in a quiet voice, his blue eyes lit up in concern.

Had Steve missed something?

“He’s got the day off,” Nick called, heading back into his office.

“Is that right?” Bucky asked him.

Steve could just nod, barely holding himself together at this point.

“Let’s get out of here.” Bucky led him out of the store, walked along with him quietly until they got back to his apartment.

Dropping his backpack by the door, Bucky pulled Steve into his arms the minute the door was locked behind them.

“I’m sorry,” Bucky told him.

Steve shook his head, shook off his hold. He didn’t understand.

“Aren’t I the one who’s supposed to be apologizing?” Steve wanted to know. “The tabloid…”

“I know,” Bucky said, framing Steve’s face in one of his large hands.

“You said that things like this ended your other relationships.” Steve's heart was flying. “That it made you mistrustful.”

Bucky shook his head. “Both of them gave the tabloids the stories themselves,” Bucky explained. “They did it to get PR. They played me. Maybe that wasn’t completely their intention but…”

Brushing a kiss on Steve’s forehead, Bucky’s smile was hopeful. “This wasn’t on you.”

Steve blew out an exhale. “Doesn’t change the fact that there is a tabloid story on you and me.”

“I’m not ashamed of you,” Bucky told him. “And I don’t care if the world knows we’re together. It only matters that you’re with me.”

Hope and relief bloomed in Steve’s chest, making him feel like he could breathe again.

“I’m with you,” Steve said softly.

“And it’s not just because of my channel,” Bucky said grinning.

“I really like your channel though,” Steve shot back with a wink.

Bucky pulled him in for a kiss that was careful, loving. Steve shook in relief and he really didn’t care about that, enjoying being in Bucky’s arms. When the kiss broke up, they were both breathing hard.

“Monday off, huh?” Bucky teased him. “Want to do a video with me today?”

“Thought you couldn’t film with me here?”

Bucky shrugged. “I’ll be expected to address that story. Might as well show you off.”

But he pulled Steve in for another kiss and then it was much later before they got around to filming that video.

[peterspideyy]

chapter 1 | never look back

series masterlist

next chapter 

a/n- the moodboard is mine, so if you use please give credits :)

————

you shot your eyes open, and breathed out heavily as you were met with darkness. the only thing you could make out were boxes around you, by it lighting up every so often from the walls surrounding you, out of the cage you were trapped in. you looked down. you couldn’t see the bottom. stomach churning, you felt as you where going upwards and upwards. looking up, your eyes went wide as you saw a wall. you were going to hit it, and the cage you were going up in, wasn’t slowing down. you fell down, hiding your face in your arms, when suddenly, the cage jerked to a stop.

opening your eyes carefully, you were shocked to see how everything was illuminated red, and then suddenly a flash of green. then, it was dark again. you couldn’t see anything. the only thing you could hear, was your ragged breaths. a loud siren went off, as the wall above you opened, to allow light in. you winced, at the sudden brightness, moving your hand above your eyes to allow yourself to adjust to the light. looking through the holes of the cage, you saw how random figures appeared above you, looking down. it was almost as they were mocking you.

mumbling from the figures above you was heard, as all you could do was stare up in confusion. your brain rattled with hundreds of questions. but, the one you kept on asking yourself, always popped up in your mind. where were you? the figures opened the cage above you, and you started to notice features. looking around frantically, you noticed how they were all boys. why were you the only girl?

you crawled back, immediately feeling insecure at how different you were, compared to the lads staring down at you. your head whipped to the side, as one of them jumped down and crouched to your height.

“day one, greenie.” the brown haired-boy spoke, pulling you up and out of the cage.

————

it’s been a year now since you came up to the glade, and you remember it like it was yesterday.

for some reason, alby thought you could do well for the gladers, so put you in second command with peter and newt. how that happened, you still have no idea. but, it caused a close friendship to blossom between the three of you. and for you to fall helplessly in love for the brown haired boy, peter.

“morning, shank.” newt laughed, sitting down opposite you with his breakfast.

“morning.” you smiled, looking behind him. newt noticed this, turning his head to follow your gaze until it landed on something. well, someone. he laughed, shaking his head while he looked back at you.

“the only way your going to be with peter, is if you actually do something about it, not bloody drool over him.”

“oh shut up, i wasn’t drooling. i was just,” you shrugged, “watching.”

“sounds like drooling to me.” newt teased, before shouting peter over.

“newt what the bloody hell are you doing?” you whispered shouted, as your eyes went wide as peter came closer and closer.

“i’m setting you up, you shank.” newt smiled mischievously.

“newt!” you mumbled, but stopped when peter was only a few meters away.

peter ran up, threading his long fingers through his chestnut curls, making your heart flutter. you shouldn’t be this in love with someone. shaking your head, you tried to think normally around him.

“hey newt, y/n,” he nodded, and the way your name rolled off his tongue, made you weak, “everything okay?”

newt smiled, looking at you. giving him a harsh glare, “well, me and y/n were just talking and she has something she would love to say to you, don’t you?”

you could strangle him right now. smiling sarcastically at newt, you turned to peter who was looking at you in the most fascinating way.

“erm okay i-“ you were interrupted by a loud siren from the box. a new glader.

you all looked at each other, before running towards the cage where boys were already surrounded looking down. you three made your way to the front of the crowd.

“saved by the bell.” newt whispered in your ear, making you roll your eyes.

newt signalled the boys on either side to open the cage. looking down, you noticed a boy dressed in a blue top and some trousers. peter smiled, apologetically at you. he knows how hard it is being the only girl in the glade, and every month he knows how much you hope it’s a girl, but it never is. you can’t help but feel like a fluke.

gally jumped down, making the black haired boy fall to the ground, confusion written over his face as he looked above to look at everyone. his gaze stopped at you, and for a split second you recognised him. from somewhere. and the way his face fell, he seemed to have recognised you too.

gally grabbed the boy, throwing him out of the cage as he landed with a groan, before standing up and running away. the gladers around you laughed, as they shouted ‘we have a runner’. you gave them all a look, especially at newt and peter, to stop laughing. you winced, when you saw the boy trip over a rock and fall to the ground. but, he soon got up and looked around, eyes blown as he took in the scenery surrounding him.

you, peter, newt and alby all made your way over to the boy, with the other gladers following you. newt ordered everyone to go back to work, as you got closer to the boy.

“y/n, do you want to do the tour today?” alby mumbled so only you could hear. looking at him, you nodded, smiling slightly.

“hey, hey, it’s okay.” you spoke to the boy.

“where am i?” he breathed out.

“this is the glade.”

“the glade?”

you nodded, as you looked at the others, “this is alby. he’s in charge here. i’m y/n, and i’m second in command with peter and newt.”

he looked at the four of you, before landing his gaze back onto you.

“what’s your name?” you asked.

his eyes went wide, “i-i can’t remember.”

“it’s okay, you’ll get that in a couple of days. it’s the only thing they let us keep.”

his brows furrowed, and you almost laughed as you remembered how confused you were when you came up.

“come on, i’ll show you around.”

taking the boy around the glade, showing him what we do and how we live, was fun. you’ve done tours before, but it’s normally alby doing it, so it was a nice change. you took him up to the highest point of the glade, as you both stood and watch the boys go about there daily lives.

“we have three rules here, and you must follow them, okay?”

he nodded, looking at you.

“one, never hurt another glader. this only works if we have trust.” you spoke, pointing at the gladers below.

“two, everyone does their part. no slackers. and three, never go outside the glade, unless you’re a runner.” you sternly spoke, pointing at the gap in the maze.

“runner?” he questioned, making you nod.

“come on, i’ll show you were you’ll be sleeping.” you grinned, taking the boy down the stairs.

“y/n!” newt called. you looked at him, noticing how he was calling you over. looking back at the boy, you called chuck over.

“help him set up, okay?” you told chuck, laughing as they both went away. turning around, you ran to newt.

“everything okay?”

“is the greenie okay?”

you shrugged, nodding, “i can tell he has a lot of questions, which are still unanswered.”

newt nodded, before looking behind him and smiling widely at you.

“what?” you asked.

“oh nothing. just young love.” newt joked. before you could call him a slinthead, peter came smiling at you both.

“y/n, can i talk to you, erm please?” he asked, rubbing the back of his neck. you nodded, as you both walked away from newt, who was giggling at you.

“what were you about to tell me, before the box came up?”

your heart dropped. of course he would remember. you secretly hoped that the new greenie, would cause him to forget, but it didn’t.

“oh erm,” you started, trying to think of something to say, quick, “i was just saying how grateful i am for you.”

peter’s smile grew wider at your words, and while it was true, it wasn’t what you want to tell him. he grabbed your waist pulling your body towards him in a hug. you let out a surprise yelp at the action, but wrapped your arms around his neck. pulling away, he didn’t move his arms and neither did you. your breath hitched, as you realised how close you were.

“hey, i don’t want any kissing near me!” minho shouted, running past. you pulled away from each other grasp, a faint blush painting your cheek at what minho just caught you and peter doing.

“slim it, slinthead.” you laughed, before following minho to the mapping room, while of course smiling and waving bye to peter.

running up to catch up to minho, you pushed him jokingly, as he laughed loudly, “you’re totally smitten for him.”

you shook your head, laughing at him, “find anything?”

minho’s expression changed, as he shook his head, “nothing, y/n. i-i don’t know where to look anymore. there’s no way out.”

“hey,” you said, patting his back, “there has to be a way out, okay? we’ll get out, eventually, we just need time. why don’t i go out with you tomorrow? i know it’s my day off and all, but i want to get out of here as much as you do.”

minho nodded, smiling at you gratefully. he was about to speak, but shouts from the gladers interrupted you both.

“what the hell?” you spoke, as you and minho both ran to the commotion, which was at the entrance of the maze.

greenie was coming closer and closer to the entrance, causing you and minho to run even faster. you groaned, as you saw gally push him to the ground. the other gladers noticed and started running too.

“take it easy, take it easy.” you spoke softly, as you got near the greenie.

“just calm down alright.” newt shouted, eventually arriving to the group.

“what’s wrong with you people!”

“calm down.” peter spoke, not stuttering once.

“why won’t you tell me what’s out there?” the boy shouted, shaking slightly.

“we’re trying to protect you, man.” alby replied, raising his hands up to calm him down.

“you can’t just keep me here!”

“we can’t let you leave.” you spoke, trying to calm him down.

“why not?”

the sound of metal churning interrupted the boys words, as you breathed out heavily. you felt a hand on your shoulder, and looked up to see peter looking down at you, smiling sadly. you smiled back slightly, as you all watched the sides of the maze started to come closer to the opposite side. soon, they locked together, with the slight gust of wind breathing out of the smallest gap, before there was no way in.

“next time, i’m going to let you leave.” gally mumbled walking away, making you roll your eyes.

“welcome to the glade.” alby spoke down the boys ear as he walked away too. you, newt and peter stayed with the boy as he looked back at you. in his eyes, you could tell he had so many questions. we all did, when we first came.

“come on greenie, we have a surprise for you tonight.”

you, peter, newt and greenie were all leaned against a log watching the stars in the sky. it was silent, only the sound of the gladers laughing and talking, and the odd crackle from the fire, was heard.

“hell of a first day, greenie.” peter spoke, looking at him. you laughed, nodding your head agreeing with him.

“here, put some hair on your chest.” newt said, handing him a jar filled with liquid. the boy looked at newt, before taking a big sip of the drink.

“oh i wouldn’t-“

you were interrupted by him spitting it out and coughing loudly.

“-drink that.” you finished, cringing at how it must of tasted to him.

“what is that?” he asked, disgust lacing his voice.

newt laughed, “i don’t even know. it’s gally’s recipe. it’s a trade secret.”

“yeah, but he’s still an asshole.” greenie replied, looking at his fingers.

“he saved your life today. trust me, the maze is a dangerous place.” peter spoke, looking at the greenie before sipping the drink.

“we’re trapped here, aren’t we?” greenie asked, already knowing the answer.

“for the moment, but, do you see those people over there,” newt replied, turning around and pointing at a group of gladers, “they’re the runners. every morning, when those doors open they run the maze, mapping it, memorising it, trying to find a way out.”

“how long have they been looking?” greenie asked, turning the face newt.

“three years.” you answered.

the greenie looked at you, “and they haven’t found anything?”

“no, we haven’t. but we will.” you replied, looking at the maze walls.

“wait, we?”

“y/n, is a runner too.” peter said, similing at you.

“really?” greenie asked.

you laughed, “yeah, don’t be surprised, i’m faster than half of those shanks.”

newt laughed as well, “she is.”

you blushed, finding it a bit uncomfortable at how all the attention was on you. peter noticed this, and placed his hand on yours to calm you down. well, it didn’t really help your nerves. he had his hand on yours, after all.

“do you hear that?” you spoke after a couple of minutes. the greenie looked at you, as he listened, and in the distant you could here the faint noise of a wall closing.

“that’s the maze.” peter carried on, sipping his drink again.

“it changes every-night.” newt added.

“how’s that even possible?” greenie whispered.

“well, you can ask the people who put us here.” you laughed.

“that’s if you ever meet the bastards.” peter added, making newt nod in agreement.

“what i’m trying to say is, that the runners are the fastest and most strongest gladers, and that’s a good thing because if they don’t make it back before those doors close, then they’re stuck out there for the night. and no one has ever survived the night.” newt spoke, pointing at the maze every so often.

“what happens to them?” greenie asked, not bringing his eyes away from newts.

“well, we call them grievers. well, of course, no ones ever seen one and lived to tell the story. but, they’re out there.”

you gulped loudly, remembering when a close friend of yours was stuck in the maze. newt looked at you, immediately feeling guilty at bringing up such a sensitive subject.

“right, that’s enough questions for tonight. you’re supposed to be the guest of honour.” newt giggled, standing up and pulling the boy up with him, who mumbled random words. newt replied with a ‘no’, taking the boy around the glade, leaving you and peter alone.

“do you think we’ll ever get out?” you asked, looking at his hand on yours.

peter sighed, “i’m not sure. but, i hope we do.”

“what do you think the world is like outside?” you inquired, looking at the walls.

you felt peters gaze shift to you, “honestly, i don’t know. but, i hope it’s better than this. i hope there’s no maze. i hope it’s just freedom, you know. but, most importantly, i hope i get to spend it with you.”

you looked up at him, beaming slightly, “i hope i get to spend it with you too.”

“we‘ll get there one day, y/n.” he mumbled.

“i hope we do, because i don’t know what i’ll do if we don’t.” you whispered, looking at your hands.

“how about this, if we get to that paradise, we dream of, i’ll say ‘forward’ to you.”

“forward? what’s so special with that?” you questioned, looking at him.

“well, i’ll tell you when we get to it, silly.” he laughed, sticking his tongue out.

“okay.” you smiled, laughing with him.

laughter and shouting from the gladers behind, caused you both to see greenie in the fighting pit, with gally. you rolled your eyes, pulling peter up with you to go towards the group. standing in between newt and peter, you watched as greenie got pushed and thrown around by gally, while the gladers laughed. you saw how newt chanted with the others, causing you to slap his arm playfully, making him stop.

“stop calling me greenie.” greenie-i mean boy, spoke.

“what do you want to be called? shank?” gally replied, causing the gladers to erupt in laughter.

after some more pushing and throwing, gally kicked the boy causing him to land face first. you winced, knowing how much that must of hurt. however, you soon stopped wincing, when you saw all the pain from the boys face disappear. he mumbled something, before standing up, happiness filling his eyes.

“thomas! i remember my name, it’s thomas!” the boy- well thomas laughed, while the gladers around him chanted his name, giving him a hug.

“welcome home, thomas.” you spoke, patting his shoulder, as he grinned at you.

“alright guys, let’s tuck it in for tonight.” alby said, clapping his hands as the gladers went there respective ways to the hammocks.

you and peter walked slowly to your hammocks, after newt said night to you both.

“you okay?” peter softly asked, you nodded, a yawn escaping your lips.

“mm just tired.”

“i can tell,” he chuckled, “get some rest, yeah?”

“you too.” you smiled, climbing into the hammock, while bringing the blanket over your body. peter smiled, saying night, before walking away. you closed your eyes at the warmth, soon falling into a peaceful sleep. only the sound of your soft snores and grievers screeching from the maze, was heard.

————

a/n- thank you for reading chapter one for my new series! also, thank you all so much for 400 followers🥺 i love you all :)

i’m not going to be updating this until i’ve finished ‘partners in crime’, so please be patient!

————

tag list-

@dreamofaprilsblog @parkersbliss @missmulti @rubberducky-jrr @serasara809 @parkersdarling @euphoniumpets​ @whatthefuckimbisexual @parkeret @juliebean247​ @used-avocado​ @justahockeylover

[thekids-onholiday]

@coleminecanary 's 200+ followers Event,

Day II, edit a character you don't like!

Kent Mansley [The Iron Giant] Moodboard!!!

Requested by no one.

Themes undefined. We went for a general vibe of Mansley's job and his outfit choice, I suppose.

We've never really liked him as a character, but of course, no hatred towards kins, fictives, etc of him. I've just never really liked him as a character...

Blehhhchhg. It's so hard to make moodboards when I dislike a character. It makes it so much harder for us to actually WANT to do it.

But regardless, it was fun.

[nano--raptor]

If you said Destiny, I wouldn’t believe you

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Words: 1100

Warnings: Fluff, emotions, softness, hinting at sadness and pain from the past, happy hopeful ending

A/N: This is my contribution for @the-ss-horniest-book-club​ Romcom Drabbles challenge! I wrote this inspired by a scene in the French movie Amelie, if you haven’t seen it I highly recommend, it’s a beautiful, lovely story and always gives me lots of feels❤ You can watch the scene I was inspired by here, this happens after Amelie finds the box in her apartment and is determined to find the owner. In the movie she delivers it anonymously, but I wanted an event that brings Bucky and the reader together. Also, don’t at me about Bucky’s age, I just thought it worked as written and kept it that way :) *Bottom right image of the moodboard is from the movie! Thank you so much for reading, enjoy!❤

-----

The knock at the door pulled Bucky’s attention away from the game and he turned the volume down on the tv as he stood. The game - baseball - was so different from what he remembered, they hit harder, ran faster, threw further. It was exciting to watch, but sports in the future was weird to him. Athletes seemed superhuman these days. Maybe they were; maybe he and Steve weren’t the only super soldiers. Maybe there were also super athletes.

His attention was still on the tv as he unlocked and pulled the door open, but when he turned his gaze to the person at the door the world faded away. A woman, young, pretty, with bright eyes and a bright smile. She looked sweet and hopeful and Bucky found himself smiling back at her even though he had no idea who she was.

“Hi! Um, is this the Barnes residence?” She sounded a bit nervous, and Bucky’s smile faltered slightly, a bit unnerved that a complete stranger had tracked down his home - and him - by name, but she seemed honest and genuine, so he gave her the benefit of the doubt.

“Uh, yeah,” he answered slowly, cautiously, keeping a calm expression but with a hint of a frown now resting between his brows.

“Oh yay! Is, um,” the woman tried to peek around him. “Is there a Mr. Banes here? Barnes Senior?” Bucky’s mouth twitched back into a smile, cocking his head at her question. 

“As in, my father?”

“Um, maybe?” she shifted on her feet, blushing slightly. This was odd, but she was adorable.

“Nope, it’s just me.” Bucky relaxed slightly, holding back a chuckle but burning to know what the woman was after. She frowned slightly and looked down at a parcel in her hands, which Bucky hadn’t noticed her holding until now.

“Hmm, ok, that’s… odd. Would you by chance be James Barnes then?” Now Bucky’s smile faded and he mirrored the woman’s frown, defenses rising again.

“Yeah, that’s me… why?”

“Well, um. This doesn’t make any sense but… I suppose this belongs to you then!” She held out the parcel, a small box wrapped in brown paper. Bucky took it cautiously, looking it over and giving it a slight shake. He peered down the hall before stepping back into his apartment and motioning the woman to join him. She nibbled her lip and hesitantly agreed, stepping through the door and closing it as Bucky headed back over to the couch. He gently unwrapped the paper, revealing a weathered tin box. His eyes widened and the paper fell from his grasp and he slowly sat down, opening the tin gingerly. The woman watched as emotion covered his face, fingers gently sifting through the contents. 

In a flash, memories came flooding back to Bucky as he saw photos, newspaper clippings and small cracker jack toys inside. Memories of a childhood so long ago, it seemed like another lifetime, another reality. So much had happened that his former life seemed like a distant fantasy. A story of someone else’s life that he only knew and remembered from reading about it. 

Bucky loved baseball as a kid. He remembered when the Yankees won the World Series in ‘32, then the Giants, and then a few years later, the Yankees won four back to back titles. What a time that had been. He and his friends would run around the neighbourhood, they’d try and play ball whenever they could, and play catch when they couldn’t. He remembered trying to call their shots, and running like hell when the ball went where it wasn’t supposed to.

It was a simpler time then. They all ended up going their own ways, and Bucky had started chasing other interests, eventually joining the army, but seeing these items that he’d collected as a boy made his past life actually seem real.

“Where did you find this?” he looked up at her, his voice quiet, emotion heavy in his eyes. She looked back at him, almost looking like she might cry, a small smile on her lips.

“I actually found it in my apartment. It took a while to track down the history of who had lived there, but eventually I found out about the Barnes family, in the 30’s.” They held each other’s gaze for a moment, before Bucky just breathed “wow” and looked back down at the contents of the box again.

“I remember that place now,” he said with a sigh. “But I’d forgotten all about this.” A few moments passed before the woman shifted and cleared her throat nervously.

“One thing I don’t understand, if I may. You… you don’t look like...” her voice trailed off and Bucky chuckled, finishing her thought.

“Like a 90 year old man?’ She smiled and nodded shyly. Bucky closed the tin and set it on the table, leaning back on the couch and smiling softly at her. “You wanna hear a crazy story?”

-----

You’d fallen in love with Bucky that day. Conversation flowed easily and before you knew it you were meeting for coffee, having lunch together in small cafes, spending nights together. You’d go for rides on his motorcycle through old neighbourhoods of the city while Bucky pointed out landmarks that he now remembered from his childhood. He made you happy, and seeing him happy and at peace, after hearing about his life, warmed your heart in a way that you thought was impossible.

One day, the two of you sat by the river in comfortable silence, while you skipped rocks across the surface, when he’d suddenly asked you:

“How can you love someone like me?” He looked at you with sadness in his eyes, and it broke your heart. “Bucky Barnes. I never used to believe in destiny, or miracles, or fairy tales. But the day I found that little tin box in my apartment, my life changed. I set out to find the owner, to bring happiness to those around me, and I found you.” You laced your fingers together with his, feeling a sense of calm after so long of feeling alone, holding onto your fairy tale dreams of true love, wondering if they’d ever happen.

“The world has been hard for you, but you have a kind heart and you deserve someone who loves you, and reminds you of that.” You smiled softly. “I love you Bucky.”

Bucky smiled and squeezed your hand, leaning in to give you a gentle kiss. “I love you too darlin’, and you definitely show me that everyday. Thank you.”

-----

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