#I think the happiness and relaxation that will come from having nicely organised clothes that I love may win out in the long run

[laesas]

My mental health has been pretty good lately. In celebration I'm going to try on several pairs of jeans and trousers that fit last summer :)

[ittoscumdump]

Bathroom encounter

Pairing: Logan Howlett x fem!Reader

Warnings: MDNI, 18+, Lowkey somewhat a plot, smut.

Summary: After a mission, you just wanna take a shower and relax, your luck is so bad that your bathroom suddenly decided to ruin your plans. But that isn’t gonna stop you from getting what you want even if it means using someone else’s bathroom. Well, not only did you get a nice shower, you even got to have fun.

Word count: 4k+

A/N: I personally don’t know what i just cooked, this is my first ever fanfic. I’m personally more of a reader than writer. I thought about this in Sunday morning and decided why not write it, and after years of reading, I believe my writing is acceptable and readable. I apologise in advance if my writing makes you cringe.

After a long, tiring mission, you finally arrive at the X Mansion. All you wanna do is lock yourself in your room and take a nice hot shower to make the fatigue go away and take a long nap. Surely, things are gonna go your way, right?

You quickly run to your room and ignore everyone on sight. Few even greet you but the last thing you wanna do is stand and chat with a person. You lock your door and leave a long sigh out of exhaustion. You start to undress yourself and your mood lightens when you enter your bathroom “Finally..” just as you started to feel better your hopes were immediately crushed. You turn the lever left and right, you even pull it multiple times but not a single droplet of water comes out of the shower head. Great. “FUCK!” you cursed angrily.

You come out of your bathroom and sit on your bed ‘why does this always happen to me?’ you press your fingers on your temples thinking about which of your past sins led to this situation. You felt like crying, then you let out a sigh out of frustration until you remembered something. Logan was sent out on a mission too and he wouldn’t be back for a while.. so using his bathroom won’t cause any problem, right? Yes, you could ask someone to fix your problem but you seriously don’t wanna talk to someone right now and Logan’s room was right across the hallway so, why not.

You quickly wear whatever you find, not caring if it’s literally the dirty clothes you just got out of. You pick up a towel and grab your bathroom products and open your door. You look around and sneakily make your way to Logan’s room not wanting to be spotted by anyone. You’re in front of his door, you reach your hand to the door knob praying it’s not locked and you feel relieved as the door unlocks.

You do a final look around before entering the room and quickly close it behind. You lean your back on the door as you look around, and actually thinking back, you’ve never been inside his room. The room is somewhat organised to your surprise, your nose is filled with the faint smell of his cigar which he always smokes and also a hint of whiskey. You don’t know why but you like the smell.

You walk towards the bathroom and toss your clothes in a corner and enter. You hang the towel and turn on the water. You become happy that you can finally relax and take a nice shower. As you wash all your fatigue away, letting the warm droplets make contact with your skin. You hum a melody as you continue showering.

After spending about more than 30 mins, you finally finish. You feel like a brand new person. Your mood has lightened and so has your body. You move to the sink with a mirror to wash your face.

Meanwhile, Logan's door opens, Logan groans as he enters his room "tch, what a day.." he mumbles to himself in a low voice. His attention is immediately drawn and walks towards the bathroom when he hears the water running and realises someone is in his bathroom, his eyebrows furrows. He waits until there is silence before he swings the door open.

You are unaware of what is happening outside the bathroom and casually splash water on your face. You turn off the sink and turn to take your towel and suddenly- the door swings open.

You quickly turn your head to the door and you are met with Logan's eyes. Your eyes widen as your breathing stops. He stares at you in awe and takes in your wet naked figure before looking down and says "Sorry." as he quickly closes the door behind him.

It takes a few seconds for you to comprehend what had happened, your face turns into a tomato and embarrassment takes over you. You quickly wrap the towel around you and stay in the bathroom for a while recalling what had just happened and how are you gonna get out of here without having to meet Logan.

You bite your lip in frustration and embarrassment, you suddenly think back about the way he looked at you ‘did he just check me out before lea-’ you shake your head ‘this isn't what you should thinking about, y/n.. ugh i wanna disappear.. I don’t wanna go out like this.’

Finally, you inhale and exhale and calm yourself ‘okay, it's okay.. i can do this. It's not like he's gonna kill me for using his bathroom, right?’ You think as you reach for the door and open it. You see Logan sitting on his bed, looking like he was waiting, obviously.

He stands up and looks at you, you chuckle awkwardly and say “Hey, aren't you supposed to come back a few days later?- okay, thats not even the point- so like- the water in my room wasn't working so l decided to use your bathroom, haha-” you laugh nervously to not make things awkward.

He walks towards you slowly as his eyes narrow, you walk backwards and gulp when your back hits the bathroom door. He left a small gap between you two, he was literally towering over you and looks down at you. Was he always this tall? Fuck.

Your mind turns into a mess seeing him like this ‘is he mad at me?’ ‘Is he gonna kill me?’ ‘Fuck, why does he look so hot?’ ‘Wait wha?-’

Logan starts speaking cutting off your thoughts “Yeah, i was but i was able to finish my work quickly than i imagined so i came back-”

You cut him off before he says anything more “Look please don’t kill me, i’m sorry. I swear i didn’t mess with your stuff and i even bought my own stuff to use, please spare this poor soul who just wanted a nice shower” you almost say this in one breath.

Logan chuckles softly at your innocent plea, “I’m not mad, bub.” in a low, deep tone and smirks.

You sigh out in relief and put your hand on your chest “oh, thank god..”

You spot your clothes which you had tucked in the corner and go to pick it up. Logan moves a little and watches your every move.

You have your clothes in your arms now. You clear your throat “So um, thank you i guess?- for the bathroom?-” you say awkwardly. God you just wanna leave this room and let the void swallow you whole.

You head to the door and just as you slightly open the door it’s shut again. You see Logan’s hand on the door, he was behind you. So close.

“You’re gonna go out like that, doll?” He says in a low voice, almost a whisper.

You can feel him behind you, you can feel his heat on you. “Yeah..?” You say in a low voice, slowly turning to him.

He moves back and goes to his wardrobe getting something. You watch him with curiosity and raise your eyebrow. He takes out two pieces of clothing which looks like a t-shirt? And what? Your eyebrows furrow and you look at him and then the clothes he has in his hold and back to his eyes as he walk towards you again.

“Huh?” You whisper out, turning your head in confusion.

“Wear these, don’t want anyone else to see you like this.” He says in a low voice, his smirk still plastered on his face.

You chuckle softly in confusion “Logan, it’s all good. I seriously don’t need it and my room is just across” you give him a smile, trying to politely decline. Who would’ve thought the cold lone wolf can be a little protective. Cute.

Logan leans in this time, he tucks a wet strand behind your ear “Not taking any risks, princess.”

“What will they think when they see a girl with only a small piece of cloth covering her, coming out of my room, hm?” He whispers in your ear. “Unless, you want that.”

His voice makes a shiver run down your spine, your cheeks slightly heat up when you realise what he means. You nod obediently, your breath uneven as you drop your clothes from your grasp and take Logan’s offering. “You’re right…”

Logan smirks as he sits on his bed, watching you.

You unfold the grey t-shirt “You wanna see me change or something? Turn around” you blush and hide your body with your arms.

“I have already seen it, darling. Don’t gotta be shy.” He says playfully, leaning back.

Your ears and face heat up and you immediately throw the trousers he gave you at him. “S-shut up!” You pout.

Logan lets the piece hits his face and grabs it “Kidding, princess. I’ll turn around.” He turns around, his back facing you now. “I did see everything though” he says and grins.

You ignore him and immediately wear the t-shirt and remove the towel. The t-shirt is really big on you. It falls above your knees, maybe you wouldn’t even need to wear bottoms. You can smell his scent, it’s nice.

“P-pass me the trousers now.” You say, looking away with your arms crossed.

Logan turns around and looks at you. God you look so fucking beautiful. Seeing you in his t-shirt makes him feel proud, like you’re his girl. Well, he wants you to be his girl. He stands up and walks towards you, he thinks your pouty embarrassed expression makes you look even more cuter.

You reach your hand out still pouting and flustered. Why do you have to be so adorable. He takes your hand and is towering over you again but this time he makes sure to leave a little to no gap between.

Your eyes never leaving his, you feel your words are stuck in your throat. Your heart flutters because of how close he is.

You’ve always had a school girl crush on Logan, the way he sometimes flirted with you, the way he would tease you, the way he would make eye contact with you during training. It makes you go head over heels for him. But you never had hope that this one sided crush could turn into something. Logan was always known to be smooth with the ladies and you were also very younger than him. You hated when he called you kid. ‘He probably acts the same way with others’ you would always tell yourself that and shrug your feelings off.

But right now, your heart is pumping is crazy. It might even come out. You are unable to predict Logan’s next moves.

Logan notices how stiff you are. He leaves your hand and caresses your cheek. “Relax, princess.” He slurs in a deep, low and gentle tone.

If you could scream right now, you definitely would. Not because of fear or anything but because of how crazy he is making you feel inside.

You close your eyes as you breathe in and out “Logan, i-” Logan cuts you off and crashes his lips on yours. You muffle something but he doesn’t care. His hands grips your thighs and start to wander under your shirt. His hands were everywhere-tracing the curve of your waist, skimming up your ribs, his touch igniting a fire in you that you hadn't realised was there. He was careful, almost reverent, despite the rough edge to his movements, as if he was holding himself back from completely losing control.

He pulls away, chest heaving. “You okay with this, princess?” You nod, trying to catch your breath. He proceeds to leave wet kisses on your neck “Wanted you so bad, baby. Always wanted to do this.” He attacks your neck with aggressive bites, leaving hickeys. You whimper his name as you grabbed his fluffy hair and tugged them whenever he found that sensitive spot. You could feel his smile forming on his face, while sucking and licking your, now red neck. He leaves your neck and kisses you again.

You bring your hands up to his neck, giving in. Logan palms one of your breasts, his thumb brushing over your nipple before giving your breast a little squeeze making you gasp. He takes this chance to shove his tongue in and taste you even more. You moan into the kiss and your hand grips the collar of his shirt.

He pulls away just enough to look into your eyes, his breathing ragged. You can see the neediness–you are just as desperate as him. “Need you now, pretty girl,” he growls. He pulls your t-shirt over your head, throwing it wherever.

“Need you too, Lo,” you whisper desperately. His gaze darkens as he picks you up effortlessly. You wrap your thighs around his waist and gently caress his face, smiling softly.

Logan takes you to the bed and puts you down. He felt your wetness, your arousal. How he was grateful for those urgent instincts right now. Your needy eyes not leaving his as you watched him creeping down. His devilish smile not leaving his face for a second. The image of Logan's face between your legs drives you crazy and you couldn't wait to finally feel him. “You smell s’fucking good, baby.” he said before his lips leaned against your folds.

Logan starts to spear his tongue inside of you, making swirls around your clit when he looks up at you. “Ohh my god- Logan- Mmh~” you mumble, you try to protest at first, but your hips grinding against his face told him enough. He grabs your legs and forces them down onto the bed as he buries his face even deeper into your heat, making you squirm even more under his grasp.

You throw your head back onto your pillow, gripping onto the sheets when he pulls away to nip at your inner thigh, pressing kisses on them before he continues to fuck your cunt with his tongue. His tongue laves through your folds, savoring you, exploring you. “Tastes so good, beautiful,” Logan mumbles against you. “Always s’sweet, s’perfect.”

You can only curse under your breath, biting your lip and let out a stifled moan in response. You feel him chuckle against you between the licking and sucking of your wetness.

“S’good, s’fucking good.” he moans into your cunt, the vibrations making you fuck yourself deeper into his unrelenting tongue. Nose rubbing purposefully in small circles on your clit. Fucking you with his tongue the way he wants to with his cock and he didn’t give a fuck if he suffocated in-between your thighs - he fucking loved it.

“Hngh- shit shit shit yes!” your nails are digging into Logan’s scalp at this point. And you really can’t help but angle his head just right so that his tongue curls against that one spot inside your plushy walls. He fucking loves the way you use him.

Logan’s letting out a strangled little grunt at being so used by you as you drag your cunt across his pretty mouth. Body jerking into his as he hits that spot over and over-

“Lo- hah!” thighs quivering, Logan’s grip bruising as he holds you down. “M’m gonna-” Your plushy walls sucking him up, thighs squeezing around his face.

“Mhm?”

“Cum! M’gonna cum- ah- fuck fuck fuck-”

He groans huskily into your cunt. Throwing his head back ever-so-slightly to let your slick slide down his throat - greedily waiting for more that was to come. “Then show me how you cum, baby. Cum all over my tongue.”

And then you are - all over Logan’s pretty face. And fuck he doesn’t think you’ve ever looked prettier. Holding his head in place as you rock your hips into his waiting mouth, letting him drink you in so greedily. Clamping down on his tongue like you were trying to milk him. Your cunt firm on his face and swollen lips letting out such pretty whines of his name like a prayer as you fucking use him for your high.

He’s pulling away, your slick decorating his lips so prettily. You watch him so intensely, mouth parted, eyes glossy as he runs a thumb along his mouth, pooling your juices on his fingers and popping them into his mouth. One by one.

Your jaw drops a little in disbelief as Logan licks his fingers clean, eyes rolling to the back of his head at your addictive taste. Oh he was ruining you without even touching you. He now pulls his shirt off him, revealing his hot body and delicious abs. You admire the sight, nearly drooling.

“Not enough, princess.” he chuckles. “C’mon, gimme a kiss.”

And, really, how could you ever say no to that face? Because you’re pulling him to you, capturing his lips in such a sloppy, filthy kiss - forcing you to taste yourself.

You pull away and slur desperately “Want you s’bad, Lo, please-” you don’t even have the patience to finish the sentence before you’re fumbling with his belt.

“Greedy, are we?” Logan teases, helping you.

Logan’s pulling his boxers off - so tight with his swollen cock, a dark patch right where his weeping head was. You looked down to see his cock and holy, your pupils widened at the sight. Logan chuckles a bit, catching your attention. “Too big for you, princess?” he asked provocatively. But this question sent more vibrations into your eager, soaking cunt, than any provocation or fear that it won't fit.

Logan was massive - so long and flushed your favourite shade of pretty pink. He was achingly hard and throbbing, springing up to smear precum all over his abs.

He kisses you as his hand makes their way to grip your ass, the tip of his cock nudging against your entrance. "Please," you beg, trying to sink down onto him, but he holds you back, holding your hips in place.

Logan chuckles softly “Please what, baby? Use your words,” All your respect was long gone and you cared about nothing more than screwing this man. “Please, fuck me, Lo,” you put your forehead to his, while moving your hips back and forth, desperately trying to feel him. “Wan’ your cock in me s’bad, please”

What kind of man would deny you when you’re begging like this? He certainly can't.

“So fucking desperate and impatient,” Logan teases, suddenly thrusting into you, bottoming out, splitting you open.

“S’too big- Hngh!” You moaned as he was stretching your walls, those wet squishy sounds were music to your ears. “Look at me” he cupped your cheek and made you look into his lustful eyes. “That's it, good girl,” he clenched his teeth as he was almost balls deep into you. Your fingernails drag down his back, leaving bright red trails that heal almost immediately.

He presses his forehead to yours. He's deep inside you, unmoving. “Lo,” you whine. “P-please, m-move.”

“Wanna feel you first,” he grunts, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips. You're shuddering against him almost instantly, walls clenching around his cock. “S’fucking tight,” he murmurs, his lips meeting yours again. “S’ warm, fuck.” He finally pulls out and thrusts all the way back in, somehow deeper this time.

You both savor the feeling of him inside you, two halves of a whole forming into one, your bodies completely intertwined.

“Doing so good f’me,” Logan praises, the vibrations of his delicious voice going straight to your core. “Such a good girl,” He slides out, his cock dragging along your walls, and slams back in. “Like that?” He grunts, filling you up. You nod immediately and hum a soft yes, and Logan rams into you, his hips snapping roughly.

“It feels so good, Lo,” you whimper, the sound of his skin slapping against yours making your walls clench. “O-only want you.”

“I know, pretty girl,” Logan groans as he thrusts deeper, harder. “Always knew,” His pace is insatiable, unrelenting, frantic. “Think, i never notice? The way you look at me? The way you try not to rub your thighs when i tease you?” His thumb strokes your clit, adding more pressure with every swipe. “Think i don’t notice your lil’crush on me, hm?”

Your walls flutter around him as he flicks your overstimulated clit. You can’t even form words let alone comprehend what he’s saying by the way he’s fucking you right now. “L-logan, i-” you close your watery eyes and furrow your eyebrows at the overstimulation. “M’close- ah-” you whine as Logan plunges into you, his hips snapping against yours.

He coos “Shh, it’s okay, princess,” placing a kiss on your forehead. He pulls his hips back, far enough that his angry, red tip is just kissing your sloppy entrance, surging forward, forward, forward- “Y’don’t know how fucking long I’ve wanted this, princess. Shit.”

“Needed this ever since I saw you,” he whispers into your lips, ragged and so fucked-out. “And you just had to be here today, fuck,” Each word punctuated by a harsh, heavy thrust. He’s drilling into you faster. Harder. Hips burning now as he fucks you like some animal.

“You know how fucking crazy you made feel when i saw you like that, hm? Wanted to bend you over that sink and fuck you right there.” he slurs, fingers almost a blur on your clit as he matches his place. Cock hot, and throbbing inside you.

You see stars behind your eyes at both the pleasure and sheer overstimulation as Logan starts fucking your cunt as best he could without fucking breaking you - but, honestly, he didn’t give a shit if you cried. He just wanted to stuff you full and have you cum harder than you ever have in your life.

“Fuck- fuck yes m’gonna cum Lo- hngh.” You pull him closer to you, allowing him to bury his face in the crook of your neck. Logan bites your pulse point, licking soothingly once he's finished. “Cum f’me, princess,” His thumb is still on your clit, drawing those tight little circles. “C’mon baby, cum on my cock,”

“Lo!” your eyes fly open, “Yes yes yes-” you whimper as you finally reach your high. Your walls flutter again, your eyes roll back, eyebrows furrowing as you moan a string of curses and Logan's name.

“That’s it, baby. Good girl” Logan says softly, pressing a kiss on your temple. Hips sloppy and absolutely soaked with precum and slick. Logan isn't finished with you yet. You know there's more to come. “Think you can give me one more, baby? I know you can.”

“S’too m-much, Lo,” you choke, the tension already building back up at the bottom of your belly. “I-...” You trail off, fucked out beyond belief. He's still splitting you open with every thrust, filling you to the brim. “Fuck, princess. Squeezing m’so tight, want m’to come inside, hm?”

“Yes yes- please,” you whimper. Logan pinches your clit, circling roughly, and the current drags you under. It's more intense this time, stars flooding your vision as you let go.

He feels you shatter around him, your pussy squeezing him so tightly. He thrusts into you few more times and then with a low groan, and one, harsh little thrust spilling inside you, painting your walls. Fingers digging into your skin as he holds your hips to his, letting your cunt be filled up so sloppily. Pumping thick, hot ropes of seed that dribbled out of you each time he pumped his hips into yours. Fucking it deeper and deeper inside you.

You share one breath, your chests heaving together as Logan's cock stalls inside you. He strokes your clit, riding out your orgasm, easing you down from your high. His fingertips slip away from your bud and trail up your body, his arm wrapping around your back. He pulls you into his chest, holding you close, his cock still half-hard inside you.

He presses kisses to any skin he can get his mouth on until you pull him back up to your lips.

“L-logan?” You say in a low voice.

“Hm?” He hums in response.

“I-I..” you trail off “l-love you..” you blush, looking away.

“I love you too, doll.” He smirks at you and drops a kiss to your forehead.

You snuggle into him, giggling.

“Shower?” He asks and looks at you. But something about his smirk tells you that he still wants to continue but in the bathroom.

[fandxmslxt69]

One and Only

Prince!Loki x f!asgardian noble!reader

Warnings: um none. maybe a few grammar errors or weird sentences, some suggestive content (mentions of sex like once) Reader is mentioned to be wearing a green silky dress, and Loki is sort of wearing his suit adjacent to the one in Avengers + His horns.

A/N: Dearest lovely @fictive-sl0th - first of all, thank you for organising this amazingly fun Secret Santa event for us- it's been so much fun and I'm happy that it's my first event on Tumblr! Secondly, I truly hope you enjoy this little thing Camille- your prompt was so much fun and I hope I did it justice!

Synopsis: Loki is forced to find a bride, and things take a turn when a familiar face shows up.

Prompt: King Odin wants Loki to marry so he orders him to pick a bride during the annual yule ball. (He’s not amused haha) But things take a spicy turn when you show up and turn out to be a coveted noblewoman instead of the tempting, mysterious villager you pretended to be during all your earlier accidental encounters. In the end Odin gets what he wants ;)

Word count: 2.7k

“It’s time to do something useful. You will find a bride as soon as possible, Loki. With my heir off playing dress up on Midgard, I have none but you to wed off,”“Now, I’m sure Thor will come back with a nice bride-” 

“Asgard will NOT have a mortal woman as its first bride. Not now, not ever. It’s decided. This year’s Yule ball will be to find you a bride. Only Asgard’s finest, most eligible women will be up for a chance at marriage with you,” 

Loki grumbled to himself as the maids fussed over him. This was useless. Loki had no desire for marriage for another few centuries. His mood went from poor to sour to downright depressed and cynical as the days counted down to Yule. He thought perhaps someone would talk some sense into Odin, and yet there was a sinking feeling in his stomach after Odin declared his choice that told him he didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. 

One of the maids tucked too hard on his cape, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Watch it,” he snapped. The maid muttered a quick apology, but before he could get another word in, there was a knock at the door before Frigga stepped in. 

Loki felt himself relax as she walked into his room, taking her time to look him over as she walked closer. “I’ll take it from here,” She addressed the women softly. They nodded and hurried out the door, but Loki couldn’t help letting out a groan while watching them hurry out. “I’ve scared them out of their minds,” “Now now,” Frigga stood beside him as she smiled at him in the mirror. “I’m sure Ingrid understands the stress you’re under,” Loki grumbled again under his breath. “I will find her later, to apologise,” Frigga hummed as she fussed at his clothes. He was wearing his finest Asgardian leather, the colours of the armour were a deep green and a rustic black only leather could give off. Frigga had ensured the suit stayed in the best conditions, even going as far as ordering the gold arm plates remade to be in perfect condition. He looked like the perfect image of the Asgardian prince. Regal and poise, and impeccable fashion taste. Even his head piece was polished thoroughly, and it lay on his bed, waiting for him to pick it up and wear it. His signature horns. His signature dress. 

He’s just missing that signature Loki grin. But he had no intention of giving anyone that smile. It was already someone’s. He had no desire to share it with another. 

“What are you thinking about?” Frigga had stopped fussing over him and stood behind him, watching him intently through the mirror.

“Nothing,” He lied quickly. 

“Nothing?” He nodded. “Exactly. Nothing,” She hummed, turning around to grab his horns from the bed. “Very well. I do hope we get to see that girl you’ve been sneaking off to see. Perhaps she will be a good fit,” He nodded, the words not registering until a few seconds later. His eyes widened, and he spun around to look at her. “What? What girl?” He closed the distance between him and his mother, grabbing his horns from her. “There is no girl. There’s never been a girl. What are you talking about?” 

Frigga raises her eyebrows. “Right…”

He nodded, carefully placing the horns on his head. There is no girl. Not anymore. 

She won’t even be there, so what’s the point?

“I don’t think there is anyone for me,” The words fell out of his lips before he could stop them.

Frigga’s eyes softened. “My dear boy, if I can see everything you hold, I know someone out there can too,”

Yes, he thought. She can, but what about everyone else? Odin? What did he think? The thoughts only soured his mood even more. “Perhaps we should go now,” He said curtly, holding his arm out for his mother. Frigga smiled softly, an edge of sadness in her eyes. 

“Very well,” She said, hooking her arm around his as they left his room.

*                                                               *                                                               *

Asgard’s usually plain ballroom had transformed itself to fit the spirit of Yule. Decked in only the most lavish of decorations, the ballroom glittered and sparkled as people settled in, women dressed in their finest robes and men in only their best attire. Loki stood by his mother and Thor as Odin drilled on, giving thanks to those who came, and promising a dance to every woman from Loki before he was to pick his bride. With every word he spoke, Loki felt a shiver run down his neck. He had no desire to be here, but this was not the first time he had been forced to forget about his own feelings and opinions, so he knew how to power through the night. 

You stood in your own corner with your mother, who made comments at everyone she could get her hands on. You only rolled your eyes or muttered a word in conversation, your mind too preoccupied. You had no idea how to feel about coming. At first, you had no desire to go. Why, all of a sudden, was Loki wanting to get married? Had he not told you, mere days ago, that he had no intention to run his life? It’s silly, it’s not like you were in love with him (maybe a little) or betrothed to him, but it still felt like a small dagger to your heart. Then, you thought perhaps he had a change of heart. Or perhaps it was his mother’s idea. Perhaps you even had a chance. He knew you, at least. He flirted with you, outside of this castle at least. And then you remembered that he only actually knew you as the girl he ran into at the village. And suddenly, bile rose up your mouth and you threw your invitation out. 

But naturally, your mother wasted no chances to shove you with any respectable man, and a prince is as respectable as they come- and there was nothing in the Nine Realms that could have stopped her from going to the Yule Ball. So here you found yourself, in your finest green silks (unintentional) and the best pieces of your gold as your mother fussed over every piece of hair out of place. 

You watched Loki from your corner as he danced with the first few women. He had a polite smile on his hands, and a few times you heard him laugh at something one of them would say, and your gut twisted and your lunch made its way up your throat. The laughs brought you back to your own secret encounters with him, nights you spent wandering the village and exchanging stories. You remembered the first time you made him laugh so freely, and it unlocked a new desire in you- to make him laugh for eternity. 

Perhaps that was a little too obsessive at the time. But you couldn’t blame it on yourself. Loki was the kind of man who wormed his way into the heart and nested there forever. Once he was in, there was no way to flush him out of your system. Certainly not after knowing what lay beneath his clothes and his….various talents. A blush crept up your neck just at the thought of those sensual nights with him- frantic, urgent and allconsuming. 

When he laughed with his new partner, something hard set in your gut. Maybe you didn’t have the best chance at winning this, but Norns, you were going to make sure he knew those laughs were yours first. 

You handed your glass to your mother, ensuring that your dress was in its best condition, and  fixed the draped piece of fabric over your shoulders. You could feel all eyes on you as you walked as elegantly as you could to Loki as the song ended. “Your Highness,” You interrupted politely, and the woman shot you a dirty look. “Am I have your next dance?” Loki began to say something before he fell silent, his eyes widening a fraction as they took in your face, and then trailing down your body. He made a noise at the back of his throat as he reached for your hand, motioning with the other for the songs to recommence. “Of course,” He said, although it sounded strained.

You smiled, stepping closer as he pulled you up against him, your bodies moving in sync to the music, your name fell from his lips in a stunned whisper. 

“What are you doing here? Did you sneak in?” Loki asked in disbelief. 

You laughed quietly. “No, Your Highness, I got my invitation like everyone else here,” He frowned, that pretty sculpted face of his scrunching up. “What? But…I thought- you’re just-” “A simple village girl?” You finished for him.

He paused, then looked almost offended. “Darling, simple is an offensive word to use to describe yourself. Nothing about you is ‘simple’,” Your heart skipped a beat, and those butterflies erupted in your stomach again. “Thank you, Your Highness,” “Oh quit that,” He said as he spun you around. “You say it like you don’t know me,” 

“Perhaps I don’t,” You replied.

“You know me better than all the others in this room,” He leaned in, smiling softly. “How in the Nine Realms did you get here, darling?” You bit your lip, trying to fight back the stupid smile from spreading across your face. “I told you, I got my invitation. I came here with my mother,” He hummed. “So, you are not a villager,” He frowned slightly at his own stupidity. How had he not asked before- in all your recent encounters? Perhaps the mystery that came with you was too addictive- the ability to leave behind all masks and remain bare to a complete stranger was…a safe haven, he supposed. You did know more about him than anyone else attending tonight. Secrets he’d never shared. Jokes he never told. Books he had no one to talk with. No one but you. You held so much of him, and he thought he held so much of you- but how much of it was real? You giggled. “No, I am not,” “Hm. Cheeky. It seems I have been fooled,” “Not…fooled. Simply….misguided. An inaccurate conclusion. I assure you though, I had no intentions of deception. I stand true to every other word I said,” You added, as if you could read his face, as if you could hear the worries and doubts in his mind. “But you never said you were noble,” You shrugged. “And you never asked,” A smile tugged at his lips, an odd sense of comfort settling in him. You were still…you. “No…I suppose I never did,” He leaned in then, dropping his voice to a whisper, “You look ravishing tonight, though. How have I never seen you in such a fine colour?” 

You blushed really then, looking up to meet his piercing eyes. “You look quite good in that colour yourself, Loki,” 

He chuckled, offering no other reply as you continued to dance. Soon, the song ended, and you stepped back from each other. Before you could turn to leave and potentially cry and laugh your heart out, he took your hand and leaned down, placing a soft kiss on it. He looked back up at you, and Norns, how gorgeous he really looked- all smirks and piercing eyes and those horns. “I hope to have another dance soon, my lady,” You nodded quickly, your mind short circuiting as another woman came up to ask for his next dance. You stepped back, before speed walking back to your spot by your mother. Of course, she shot a billion questions an hour, but you only ignored her, eyes focused on the man dancing at the centre of the room, glowing brighter than even the sun. 

Time passed, and you had no idea how many dances Loki went through before other pairs began to join. You danced with a few, but really your mind kept wandering back to Loki. 

When was he going to ask you that second dance? Was he really going to? 

Maybe he had somehow telepathically heard you, because just as you finished your dance with a nice gentleman, Loki stood from his seat at the front- having taken a break from dancing- and made his way back to the dance floor. 

The entire ballroom held its breath, and you stupidly turned around as if to make conversation with the person closest to you, or even run. Before you even had the chance to utter a sentence to a poor woman whose face looks pale with fear, your name rang loudly throughout the ballroom, coming from none other than the most handsome prince you had even laid eyes on. You turned around slowly, face tilted up to meet his eyes. “Your Highness?” He held out his hand, a smile tugging at his lips. “May I have another dance?” Everything felt deathly still as Loki led you back to the centre of the floor, and the music started again. You danced and you twirled across the floor, hand in hand with Loki as he grinned widely at you. He didn’t grin like that at anyone tonight. Maybe you were reading into the situation too much, but your heart melted just from his smile and the way his eyes held such pure joy as you danced through not one, but two, but three songs. By the end, you were breathless, partly from dancing, but partly from his fixing gaze and the overwhelming urge to kiss him. Even after all the times you’ve met, you were always consumed with the need to kiss him, to touch him, to run your hands through his hair and trace every line of his body. He was addictive, and while you had always thought love took its time to settle in, some part of you always knew that Loki might just be it. 

You were nearly drowning in the colour of his eyes, and that soft, bright smile he wore for you. Your face hurt from how hard you were smiling at him, and you were so close- just a little higher and your lips could connect with his. It was almost trance like, how soft his lips looked were hypnotic, and the way he eyed yours with a desperate need only encouraged you. You leaned up, he leaned down a little, arm wrapped around your body, lips almost touching and-

“Ahem,” Odin stood from his throne, and you felt the spell shatter. Damnit. 

“I believe,” Odin paused, his eye landing on you and Loki, who jumped apart from one another like you were set on flames. Your cheeks were flushed, avoiding the eyes of everyone, and Loki stared right ahead at Thor, who you noticed was smiling widely and making incredibly disturbing faces at his brother. “Prince Loki has found a bride,” 

Loki’s eyes flickered to you, his mouth opening to argue with Odin. Probably to argue- to say that he hadn’t even asked for your opinion, to add that marriage takes time, or should be considered and debated. 

Maybe you were foolish, or a little too desperate, or maybe it was the magic of Yule that possessed you, but you simply smiled and gave a little bow to Loki. 

“You-,” He swallowed, looking around nervously. “You would accept? If I asked you to be my wife?” 

You smiled widely. “Would you wish for me to be your wife?” A pause, then a small nod. “I don’t think there is anyone else I’d like to share my jokes with,” Your heart was pretty much exploding in your chest. Your hands were definitely shaking, and you thought you might just pass out right then. “Well, lucky you, because I only want your jokes, and I only want your smiles and your laughs to be mine. I…I would be honoured, to be your wife, and to call you my husband, Loki,” 

Sounds of cheer echoed around you, and Loki’s face broke out into the widest grin you had ever seen as he looked at you like he had just handed him the world. “I had no idea you were obsessed with me,” He said, though you could barely hear his words over the sound of festivals. 

“Maybe a little,” You replied, and his grin only widened. 

“Well, I’m obsessed with you a lot,” He tugged you closer to him, sealing your lips in a kiss.

Tags: @joyful-enchantress @mochie85 @muddyorbs @holdmytesseract @sailorholly @lady-rose-moon @cultofcarter @coldnique @ijuststareatstuffhereok89 @smolvenger @loz-3 @catsladen @lokisgoodgirl @acidcasualties @divine-knight-hand @quirkiest-turtle @glitchquake @nyxlaufeyson @fandxmslxt69 @holymultiplefandomsbatman

[tadpolesonalgae]

Surprise…?[*]

Mor x reader

synopsis: reader plans a sweet little surprise for her girlfriend but gets shy at the last minute. Thankfully, Mor arrives early, finding reader in the midst of her surprise before she has a chance to back out. 

a/n: I know mommy is American, but it just feels wrong to use mummy so we’re keeping it with an o (also happy June everyone!)

warnings: reader being kinda housewifey, so many sapphic vibes I’m so happy, mommy kink, themes of exhibitionism/voyeurism(?), sexual themes!

word count: 2,220

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

You flush, stepping out from the bathroom, hands wringing together as nerves fizzle beneath your heated skin. 

You’ve made the bedroom look nice, made sure clothes are crisp and clean, folded neatly in their shelves or organised on hangers, have made sure the sheets themselves are suitably coloured in a romantic red, pillows plumped with the duvet spread flawlessly over top, and small candles flicker throughout the room, emitting the distinct scent of vanilla that’s one of the few the two of you can agree on to have permeating every corner of your home. 

Everything looks as you’d wanted it to, down to the clothing, but… You glance away from the bed, teeth pushing at the softness of your inner lip, shifting on your feet as you’re reminded what you’re wearing. Pretty, red lingerie that settles comfortably against your skin—the sweep of your hips, the curve of your breasts—flawlessly fitting. The lace has neat floral designs embroidered into the sheer fabric, small leaves unfurling from the blossoming petals, and you trace your fingers over the delicate stitching. 

Is it too much?

You glance self-consciously around the room, looking at it through a new, doubtful lens. Mor’s been having trouble with some diplomatic affairs, navigating court politics and while she hasn’t revealed details due to their privacy, you know she’s been stressed. Will she even want this?

Easing in a breath, you reassure yourself—you aren’t offering sex explicitly, if she wants to then you’re ready, and if she doesn’t then the mood is set for another kind of relaxation, and you can run her a bath. 

Your throat rolls, again glancing down at yourself doubtfully. You don’t want to pressure her into anything… You should put something on over the top to hide the lingerie, so if things happen on their own you’ll be prepared. That way you won’t have to worry, and you won’t be so…exposed. 

Now, where had you put that one night gown? Mor bought you a silky red one that would match the theme of the room, as well as easily being interpreted as romantic or relaxing—it would be perfect. Thinking hard, you’re fairly certain it’s actually folded up in one of the boxes beneath your shared bed, having felt too shy to wear the silky gown. 

Hesitantly you pad around to the bed, kneeling on the creamy carpeted floor as you check, spotting the box you remember. Crawling forward, descending onto your forearms while your ass remains stuck in the air, you slowly shuffle as far as you can before the base of your spine is pushing against the bed frame. The box is just a little further away, so you reach out, arm stretching as fingertips graze the lip of the cardboard, so nearly there…

A muffled thud comes from behind you and you startle, head smacking on the wooden boards that hold the mattress aloft, and you whine as the pain blossoms across your skull, ankles crossing, toes curling as you blink away the startled tears.

“Sweetness…are you alright?” 

Frantically you scramble out from under the bed, humiliation and embarrassment flushing hot against your skin as your arms cross self-consciously over your torso, thighs pressing together in attempts to conceal the finely stitched lace that’s hugging your hips and breasts. “I— You’re home early,” you state, glancing through the room nervously. Your throat rolls, then you’re swiftly turning on your heal, heading directly for the bathroom. “I was just—… Let me get my robe on and I’ll be—”

Elegant hands sweep around your waist delicately, Mor having moved faster than you as she holds you still, bringing herself into your body. “Hold on, sweetness,” she says gently beside your ear, “I need you to slow down for me. What is all this?” You fumble, squirming lightly as you feel the soft fullness of her breasts grazing your back, the gentle stoke of her fingertips over the exposed skin of your tummy. The slight tickle of her breath against the shell of your ear, fanning down your throat. 

“I…” You swallow thickly, shifting in her hold, hands tentatively settling over hers. “You’ve been tired lately, so, I thought it might be nice to…to relax…together…” Your voice gets quieter and quieter, eventually trailing off into the silence, nerves wriggling in the pit of your belly, sizzling beneath your skin as you wait for her reply. 

“Is that what this is for?” Mor murmurs, fingers grazing the band of thicker lace just below your breasts. “To…relax?” She sounds a little breathless, but mostly composed. 

“Only if you want,” you mumble, features hot with embarrassment. “I…the bathroom’s ready too, if you want…”

“To eat you out in the bath?” She asks, pulling your body flush to her own, her hips pushing against the swell of your ass, winding lightly, subconsciously as need begins to flicker to life. 

Your breath catches, fingers stuttering over her knuckles at the suggestion, wild heat fluttering across your skin. “I— I’d thought you might want one to yourself, actually,” you manage to squeak out. Mor hums beside your ear, and her hand skates higher, the pads of her fingers lightly grazing the red gauze of the lingerie covering your breasts, skimming across your nipple, feeling the slight bump beneath her digits, liking the way your breath hitches. 

“Will you get on the bed for me?” She asks softly, voice strangely thick as she noses at your throat, and your thighs press together, heart pounding with nerves and… You bite your lip, “how?” What position?

Her red lips curve at the question—you’re prepared and ready. 

“Start on your hands and knees?” Mor requests breathlessly, squeezing your waist reassuringly. “Give me a real pretty view of you.” And with a quick kiss being pressed to your jaw, she releases you, and you fumble your way over to the bed. 

With as much composure you can manage, you crawl up onto the bed, disturbing the perfect set of the crisp sheets as you lower onto your hands and knees, legs slightly spread as you lean your front forward to the mattress, head tilted to the side to glance at her for approval, heat fluttering beneath your skin. 

Stood at the foot of the bed, Mor’s removing a bag from her shoulder, the first having been what made the dull thud sound when she’d dropped it at the entrance. Then her hands are dropping to the richly coloured fabric of her dress, tugging it off over her golden head of hair, the silky strands gleaming in the candle light, and with less than a thought she’d brought one of the plush armchairs up from the living room, falling back into it with what looks like an intense relief. 

“Keep still for me, sweetness,” she instructs breathlessly, and you bite down on a needful sound as she pulls her hair from the front of her body, allowing you a full view of her almost naked torso, save for the underwear still greedily clinging to her figure. Arousal begins to simmer in the pit of your belly as her red-tipped fingers make their way down her body, your throat rolling as she slopes in the unnecessarily large chair, hooking her legs carefully over the arms, so she’s splayed apart, baring her clothed sex for you to see. 

“Mor…” you almost whimper, barely managing to keep your voice steady, forced to watch from afar as the pads of her fingers run teasingly down her centre, applying a slight pressure to the dip between her thighs before dragging back up, lightly circling a small spot at her apex. You swallow thickly, considering how it would feel to crawl over to her, to remain on your hands and knees as she keeps your hair back from your face while you lick at her sex, allowing her arousal to gleam against your lips and nose, to have her dripping down onto the seat just so you can lick all the way back up to her clit.

“What is it, angel?” She asks, eyes locking with your own as she dips her hand down her underwear, fingers slipping beneath the pretty fabric and heat swarms your body as you listen to the sounds as she plays with herself—out of your view. 

“I…want to see…”

Her lips curve in a feline grin, one that has your thighs desperately wanting to squeeze together to find some kind of friction, but she’s told you to keep them open, so you have to obey. Instead you settle for spreading them a little wider, hips winding gently as if that’ll suffice for rubbing against her.

“How perfect,” she muses, hand retracting from her underwear. “I want to see you, too.” 

Your spine curves, hips shifting as if to draw her attention back between your legs, toes curling on the mattress as you watch her shift in her seat. Her finger points at you, and you squirm as magic begins guiding the red lace down over your hind, dragging slowly past your thighs, embarrassment and arousal liquefying between your legs as you feel the material sticking to your pussy, slick suctioning the material flush to your wet heat, imagining how soaked the underwear must be. How erotic the view must be. 

“Mor…” you plead once she’s pulled them away enough for her to see you. “Please…” 

“Please what, sweetness?” Mor asks, heat simmering in her gaze, and you fumble, knowing what she wants. Your fingers curl in the sheets, looking away as you pull your lower lip between your teeth. 

Mor’s lips curve, leaning further back in the seat as she allows her fingers to dip below the band again, drawing your attention as her digits wet themselves in her arousal, playing with her clit idly before dipping down to her entrance. You watch helplessly as she pushes two of her fingers inside, able to hear as they gently slide in and out, curling how she likes while the heel of her palm glide over her clit—all of it painfully hidden from you. 

“What do you want, sweetness?” She asks again, voice more breathless than before, able to make out the hot flush on her cheeks as she watches you with that intensity. “I—… mommy…” Mor’s lids flutter with pleasure as the title floats from your tongue, her hips winding to bring against her palm, feeling the fresh wave of arousal that drips from her cunt. 

“Oh good girl,” she moans softly, half-lidded eyes remaining locked with your own, and you realise with a start you’re actually dripping with arousal, can feel as the erotic liquid gather just shy of your clit, the droplet heavy and full enough to begin dripping down into your underwear. Mor wishes you were dripping into her mouth, instead. Wishes her head was already between your perfect, pretty thighs while you hovered above her, patiently waiting for each drop to grace her tongue. 

Arousal swarms with staggering ferocity as the fantasy blossoms across her mind, evolving into something more substantial, how she could make that a reality so simply. How she could so easily lay her head beneath you, your arms tied above your head so you’re partially suspended while you’re kept spread out above her face. How she could strap a vibrator to your pretty pussy, pressing tight to your clit, so she could watch as you cum again and again without relief from her mouth, simply allowing your slick to gather, to drip as she’d wanted. 

“Mommy, please…” you beg breathlessly, and Mor can’t find it in herself to refuse, watching how you react, how your eyes watch her so keenly as she slides the underwear from her body, allowing it to drop to the floor, and a series of small, whimpering moans spill from your mouth, practically begging for her to go over to you and…

She swallows thickly, your arousal permeating the air, desire uncoiling all the stress and tension that’s slowly been winding up in her body. 

“You’re being so good for me, aren’t you, sweet girl?” Mor breathes almost to herself, removing her bra before she stands, completely rid of clothing and with half a thought you’re completely naked, that lovely red lingerie disappeared from your body, allowing her to take you in. 

Mor settles on the bed behind you, and you make to raise up onto your arms, to turn to her, but she gives you a look. “Stay right there for me, okay?” You flush, wanting to please her, and return back into position, shaking as she gets closer, anticipating the pleasure she’ll push into your body. “Will you be good for me tonight?” She asks lowly, watching how you shudder as her breath brushes the sensitive area between your legs. Gods, she could really just lean forward and latch her mouth over you. 

“I will,” you mumble, hips shifting slightly, and Mor pulls away from your cunt, glancing down at where your head is pressing into the mattress, looking back at her. 

“Tell me, sweetness,” she instructs, goading you into repeating that lovely title you’re often too shy to use. 

Heat flushes your cheeks, but this time you don’t look away. 

“I’ll be good for you…for mommy.” 

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

general taglist: @myheartfollower @tcris2020 @mali22 @slut4acotar @sfhsgrad-blog @needylilgal022 @hannzoaks @hnyclover @skyesayshi @nyotamalfoy @decomposing-writer @soph1644 @lilah-asteria @nighttimemoonlover

[gabessquishytum]

No one is entirely sure how it started, as it came about so gradually. Certainly it wasn’t the job Hob Gadling was originally hired for at Endless Ltd.—in fact no one can quite recall what his original job was at this point, beyond that whatever it was he’s no longer doing it—but no one is complaining, as it’s generally agreed to be a major benefit to the office environment.

The idea is that if you request a meeting with him, and he accepts and puts you in his schedule, it’s understood that you’re meeting in his private office to have sex with Hob Gadling, Company Slut.

You wouldn’t think it necessarily to look at him. Sure he’s gorgeous and charming enough, but he behaves like your average friendly coworker—you wouldn’t be able to tell that underneath his business casual clothes he was wearing lingerie and a plug to keep him nice and open for his next “meeting”, or that he has a small closet full of other sexy little numbers and toys in his office (that the company gives him a budget for).

The whole thing mostly works because Hob is just so likeable, both in and out of meetings. He cheerfully participates in work events and hangouts and friendly office gossip, and remembers important details you shared about yourself and your life. And in meetings he’s open to most things, never makes you feel shamed or embarrassed for what you’re into, and always helps you clean up and put yourself back together at the end (and of course he’s an amazing fuck every time). Everyone remembers fondly the story of there being a mix-up and two different people showed up to Hob’s office at the same time for a meeting. Hob had looked at the pair of them and suggested they share the time slot, as he thinks they’d appreciate each other’s contributions. After that meeting the two started dating, and have recently just gotten engaged.

(Everyone also remembers with awe the story of the board meeting that was turning incredibly tense, and if it exploded the way it was threatening to it would’ve caused a lot of problems for everyone at the company. Then someone had the bright idea to call up Hob and ask if he was willing to come mediate. He walked in, then a couple hours later everyone walked out looking pleased and relaxed, all issues resolved. Hob stumbled out after them looking very rumpled, very satisfied, and very worn out, and everyone was very understanding when he decided to reschedule his next few meetings and take the rest of the day off.)

Currently, office gossip has noticed that Hob has been having a few more meetings than normal with Mr. Dream Endless, one of the CEOs (Hob usually goes to the Endless CEOs for meetings instead of them coming to him, so it’s easier to notice when they happen), and a few people think they’ve spotted the two of them spending time together outside of work, possibly in a date setting? General consensus is pleased for Hob and they wish him well, though some are concerned about what the relationship would mean for his job, both for their own interests and for his job security.

(Dream has no intention of ending or changing Hob’s position as Company Slut so long as he’s happy to keep doing it. For one thing, it’s clearly a benefit to the company; employee turnover is at an all time low, productivity is up, and morale has never been better. For another thing, Dream finds it all incredibly hot. The only way it’d be better would be if he could watch Hob at work, if it weren’t a violation of privacy for his other employees. As it is, Hob has taken to sending Dream post-meeting selfies of himself looking well-fucked as a compromise.)

-🪽anon

I like this concept soooo much. Company Slut Hob!

From 9 til 5, Hob works a very busy day. He usually grabs breakfast at the office cafeteria so he can say hi to his colleagues - he's a very social guy! And after that, he gets right to work. He mainly organises his own diary so from 9 - 11am he's mainly arranging "meetings", taking a few calls (some people like to just talk to Hob, and it's a service he happily provides as he describes his lingerie of the day). By late morning, it's time to properly get to work. Frustrations have been worked up, people are getting tense and frankly, some just need stimulation. That's exactly what Hob is there for. And aside from a quick lunch break, he's pretty much block-booked up until he staggers home at 5pm. Occasionally he works overtime - more than usual, ever since he's been spending more time with workaholic Dream... but of course so one wants him to burn out, so he has plenty of scheduled days off to relax and rest his tired body.

When an email finally goes around to the whole company announcing that Hob and Dream are dating, many workers nearly have a heart attack! But the email assures them that Hob will keep his job and nothing will change. The whole office collectively sighs in relief. The company would definitely collapse in less than a month if Hob had to quit! But if anything he seems more horny and full of energy than before. He's got new lingerie to show off, and Dream has given his whole little office a makeover so it's now even more comfortable for both Hob and his colleagues. In fact, some workers who weren't really interested in Hob’s services before start showing up just to cuddle on his big plush sofa and talk through their problems.

Hob deserves a very big bonus, and no doubt he'll get one... in the form of Dream’s cock and a blank cheque for him to spend at his leisure!

[marvelwitchergilmore]

Wedding Invitations (2)

Summary: Colter Shaw x Fe!Reader -> You and Colter have known each other since you were 15. He was there to help you once, and he's here to help you now.

Disclaimer: This is Part Two. Fluff, maybe some light swearing. Mostly just cute fluff, with the added addition of some slightly annoying family members.

“Reenie,” Colter’s voice came out a little shocked as he held up the suit in front of him. “It’s tailored.”

Reenie smiled on the other end of the phone. “You’re welcome.”

“How is it tailored?”

“Relax, James Bond. I have a video, remember? I sent it to Bobby and he used his magic and got your measurements.”

“What video-” Then Colter remembered. “Please delete that.”

“I don’t think so. You’re very…appealing to the eye, shall we say. But the look of shock on your face…I think I might make it my screen saver.”

“Please don’t.”

“Just make sure to get to the venue on time.”

“I will.”

And he did. 

However, it just took him a little longer to actually find his date. 

But once he spotted you, he couldn’t take his eyes off you. 

You stood, dressed in the bridesmaid’s gown you’d been given, in the corner talking - or rather, being interrogated – to one of your aunt’s. 

But Colter’s breath knocked him out for a few seconds. He’d seen you dressed up before. He’s seen you…like this before. But something just felt…different. 

“But, honey, if he doesn’t show, what am I meant to say? That my niece got jilted at the altar and is now making up dates? Do you know how that would look?”

“There is more to me than being engaged,” you replied. 

Colter smiled. 

You frequently kept in contact with each other and over the last couple of months, you seemed happier. Certain things you’d remember when you were with Jonathan and you’d, slightly, be thankful that you were no longer together. 

Now, you could bake whenever you liked in the kitchen, not having to be worried if it would upset his sense of smell. You could finally finish TV shows you’d been dying to watch, without fear of spoilers or someone getting bored and switching it over. You could also finally decorate your bedroom how you liked. Of course, you liked it how it was. But the small things, like the colour of the throws, and pillows, and the way you organised your clothes. It could be…you. 

When certain events came around, it hurt. Like what was meant to be your wedding day. The entire day you just walked around a garden centre looking at plants until you grew hungry and went to get a pizza. 

You even managed to go on a couple of dates. 

They never lasted longer than a month or so, but it was nice to have the feeling of moving on. 

Until you got cornered by your aunt, interrogating you over your relationship status and if you had in fact made up your date for the evening. 

Thankfully, luck was on your side because just as she was about to point out the list of pros a relationship can provide, Colter came up behind you. 

And your aunt fell silent. 

At first she was shocked. The fact that you did, in fact, have a date and it just so happened to be a man that looked like Colter was the first part. Then she smiled. 

“My goodness, didn’t you strike lucky with this one,” your aunt said, talking to you. 

Until you felt Colter’s hand on your arm. “I did.”

You smiled and leaned a little into Colter, silently revelling in your aunt’s shock at his answer, rather than yours. 

“Please, excuse us.”

You walked Colter away from your aunt before she could quite literally jump on him. 

“Thank you for coming, nice tux by the way.”

“Reenie.”

“Figured. She does know a good tailor.”

“What was that back there?”

“My aunt? Oh, yeah, apparently being a tenured history professor doesn’t live up to the same standing as being a married tenured history professor with a kid on the way.”

“Shouldn’t they be more focused on, I don’t know, your happiness?”

You nodded. “Most of them are, but there’s just the odd few who don’t realise how deep they’re actually digging their knives.”

Colter studied you for a moment. “Are you okay?”

You looked up at him. “It’s been a long day.”

“It’s two in the afternoon.”

“I have been up since four am, I feel like I’ve been poked, prodded, burned, scratched and pinched on every surface of my body. God only knows how Ida is feeling, and she’s the bride. I just hope they start the wedding soon because my feet are killing me.”

You lowered your hand to meet your raised ankle, to rub at it for a moment. 

“Don’t you wear heels for work?” 

You nodded. “I do. But they’re broken in. These are not.”

“But I thought-”

“Last minute change.” You quickly explained. “Either way, I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for coming.”

“No need. I was in the area.”

“How was the case?”

“Quick, easy. Stolen car. The husband reported it missing, but it turned out his mistress had stolen it because he still hadn’t left his wife.”

“Wow.”

“I was there when they had the argument. Got heated, let me tell you that.”

An hour later, the ceremony started and Colter’s eyes rarely left you. People laughed and cried during the speeches and you couldn’t have looked happier for the couple. However, the minute it was over you found Colter before he could find you in the sea of wedding guests. 

And for the next forty minutes whilst the new bride and groom shared some alone time surveying their venue, yourself and Colter found two seats at the back of the hallway. 

From your purse you pulled out a small pile of plasters. 

“Here, let me.” 

Colter tore some of them open whilst you angled your foot to place them on the growing hot spots. However, just as you placed your feet down on the ground, thankful to feel the flat floor, your aunts seemed to have jumped out from the corner beside Colter. 

And you were both subject to different questions until they finally opened up the doors to the dining hall. 

“Thank god, I’m starving.”

Colter managed to get yourself and him around the crowd to find your seats. You’d been placed at table four with a couple of the other bridesmaids and their partners. 

For most of the night, it ran smoothly. You ate, drank, danced. All in all it was a fun evening. You listened to the different speeches made by the parents and new in-laws. 

However, when couples were dragged onto the dancefloor, you were fully prepared to sit that section out. Until Colter reappeared from the gents toilets, just past the bar, and lowered his hand to you. 

“Colter…”

“It’s just dancing.”

It took you a moment before you placed your hand in his and allowed him to pull you towards the dancefloor. 

Holding you in his arms, his hand enveloped yours by his chest whilst his other hand remained securely on your back, your own hands in his and on his shoulder. 

For a while, you both danced. Slowly, holding each other closer. Until Colter shocked you by dipping you slowly with the song. 

And you smiled. 

And so did he. 

Bringing you back to your feet, he spun you close to his body before pulling you back in. 

“I don’t know if I’ve said this already, but thank you. For coming, I mean.”

Colter smiled, leaning down. “You never have to thank me for coming to you.”

“I do mean it, though.” You told him. “I could have made up an excuse or found someone else. You didn’t have to say yes, and you did, and I’m…glad. Thank you.”

“Do you have anything else to do? For the wedding?”

You shook your head. “Not unless Ida needs to go to the bathroom.”

“Can’t the other girls help her?”

“Why are you asking?”

“Want to get out of here?”

Usually, you would have said ‘no’, but something changed when you looked at Colter. So, you replied. 

“Yes. But let me say goodbye, first.”

Colter nodded, letting you go for a moment whilst you walked around the dance floor to where Ida was standing by her table, finding her drink. 

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” Ida smiled as she looked over your shoulder and back to you.

After that, you grabbed your bag and found your hand in Colter’s as you both made your way out and away from the wedding. 

Colter helped you into the passenger seat of his truck, closing your door for you. By the time he got into the driver’s seat, you already had one of your heels off. 

It wasn’t long before Colter was pulling up alongside his home, and grabbing the small bag of groceries from the back whilst you hooked your heels through your fingers, hitched up your dress and carried the pizza box inside. 

Shutting the door behind you, Colter came back out from his home and took the box from you before helping you up the stairs. 

By the time he closed the door behind him, you were already pulling the pizza box open as you sat down by the table. 

“So they just had one delivered to the classroom?”

You nodded. “Yep. It was the final day and they did share, so I let them off with a warning. It’s fun to have cake delivered to the classroom, but it’s also not school policy to have food delivered during class time.”

“Sounds like I missed a party.”

You laughed before taking a bite of your pizza. 

It wasn’t long before you found yourself snooping around Colter’s place, leaving him sitting at the table, watching your every move. 

“You have a mug from every state? Hey, wait a minute.”

Colter hung his head to cover the smile creeping up on his face before he looked back at you. He tried his best to remain guiltless, but you could practically smell it on him. 

“This is my mug.”

“Is it?”

“This is my mug that has been missing for three months.”

“Three months? Sure you didn’t just leave it at work?”

“This is my mug that you stole-”

“Stole?” Colter asked. “You should have set up a reward.”

“-from my home.” You gasped a little, trying to hide your smile. “Oh, Colter. I never pegged you for a thief.”

“Finders keepers, I say.”

“Oh,” you said, your eyes never leaving Colter as he stood and walked closer to you. “The Rewardist is calling finders keepers now, is he?”

“I believe he is. Considering you never set up a reward.”

“Because I thought I lost it.”

“Oh, well in that case.” Colter plucked the mug from your hands before placing it back on the shelf in pride of place. “It’s still lost.”

“Oh, really?”

He shut the door. “Really.”

However, when Colter looked back at you, you felt something shift. It felt silent in the camper. Too silent. And yet somehow, too loud. You were suddenly aware of your own breath, trying to find a way to keep it controlled in order to avoid suspicion until you noticed Colter seemed to be, albeit more subtly than you, doing the same thing. 

However, just as you felt yourself leaning in a little and seeing Colter doing the same, it was like something pulled you back into reality. 

Cleaning your throat, you placed your gaze anywhere else. Or, at least, the very least, you tried. Every other second, your eyes flashed back to him as you both leaned against the counter and dared not look at each other. 

“I better-”

“Yeah.”

However, despite that awkwardness passing when Colter jumped into the shower and you had full access to snoop. You found a picture of himself, his brother and his sister. By the looks of it, his mom had made them all pose for it. And it didn’t look like it was that long ago.

“Wow.”

“What?”

“This your brother?”

Colter paused for a moment. “Maybe. Why?”

“He’s hot.”

Colter tried his best to hide his groan. “Please don’t tell him that. It’ll only inflate his ego.”

You chuckled softly. “Relax, Colt. It’ll just be our little secret. Besides, he’s a little too…burly, for my type.”

“Burly?” Colter asked, trying his best to not let his smile show in his voice. But you heard it. 

“Doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the view though. Your mom seemed to strike gold with her children.”

Colter paused for a split second, not holding back the smirk. “Are you saying I’m good looking?”

“Shit,” you thought to yourself. “Don’t let it inflate your ego, Shaw.” You told him. “Just because you’re not…unpleasant to look at.”

The shower cut off and a moment later, the shower door opened causing you to turn around and face Colter as he stepped out, sweeped up in steam whilst his towel remained securely wrapped around his hips. 

“Unpleasant?” Colter repeated. 

“You have nice…” you swallowed, taking in the picture in front of you. Colter. Shirtless Colter. Wet hair, smelling great, shirtless…Colter. “Eyes.” you forced yourself to finish, whilst also forcing your eyes to look at his face. 

But he caught you staring. 

He half smiled coyly. 

“Eyes, hm. Never heard that one before.” 

Turning around, you found yourself watching him and his back, partly memorising the small scars you saw littering his back before he turned back around and closed the door. 

Ten minutes later, it was you being his bedroom door getting changed. However, the struggle came with your dress. 

“Colter?”

“Yeah?”

“I need your help.”

You slid open the door. “My dress. Can you do the zip?”

“Oh, yeah. Sure.”

Walking closer, Colter found the top of the zip and pulled it down watching it loosen around your shoulders and hips before it reached the bottom. 

“Thanks.”

Colter cleared his throat a little as he closed the door on you once more to let you get dressed. 

When you opened it again, you were dressed in a t-shirt and what looked to be Christmas pyjama bottoms. 

Your hair that had been styled for the wedding was now a little messier, but out of your face a little more. 

And at some point between brushing your teeth and arguing with Colter over which movie to watch, you fell asleep beside him. 

Little did you know, everything would change when you woke up. 

A small sliver of light was coming in through his blinds, lighting up the side of your face in a warm glow of the first breath of the morning sun. And all Colter could do was watch you for a moment. 

You were so still and calm. No thought process that made your brows furrow or made you rub your hands across your face. Not worrying about getting up early or grading papers or teaching a class was only taking it for the credit rather than the actual joy of the subject. 

You were just…you. 

“Are you watching me sleep?”

“You look peaceful.”

“Only seems fair. I watched you.”

“I knew it!”

“Shut up.” You laughed a little, digging your head further into the pillow. “What time is it?”

“Early, I’d guess.”

“How early? Because if it’s before eight, then I’m using you to block out both the light and the cold.”

Colter turned over and looked at his watch. 

“It’s before eight.”

You groaned and when Colter turned back around, it looked like you were wishing for the bed to swallow you whole. 

“Come here.”

Scooching closer, Colder wrapped the blankets, along with his arm, around your back before allowing you to lower your head against his chest. 

“You really are like a hot water bottle.”

“Thank you?”

“You’re welcome.”

After a few moments of silence, which included Colter unknowingly tracing patterns on your back with his hand that lay under you, you asked him a question. 

“Where did you get your scars from?”

“Hmm?”

“The scars on your back. They’re small, but they’re deep. Where did you get them?”

“Since when did you know how deep a cut was?”

“I’m a History Professor.” You told him. “I’ve seen plenty of case pictures.”

Colter smiled a little before nodding and explaining a couple of them. 

“Okay, so what about this one?”

Your finger lightly traced an old bullet wound on his shoulder. 

“Bullet wound.”

“What?!”

“Relax, it wasn’t fatal.” Colter assured you. “Hurt. But it was a clear wound.”

“I can’t believe you got shot.”

“Twice.”

“What?”

“And that’s just recently.”

“Do you make it a habit of getting shot?” You asked him. 

“I try not to.”

And then there was that look again. Except this time there was no turning away. There was no escaping to a shower or bathroom. Mostly because, well, you were interlinked. 

But also because…you didn’t want to. 

Laying beside Colter, it made you feel…calm. And for the first time, you didn’t want to turn away. 

So when Colter pulled away for a moment before leaning in further, accepting your nod, you let his lips meet yours. 

It was shy at first. New. Uncertain. You’d both been friends for over twenty years and in the blink of an eye, you were kissing him. 

But then, something broke. Or, rather, moulded into place. 

You pulled Colter closer, holding the side of his face. Whilst his own hands pressed you closer to him before one creeped up towards your own face, through your hair and back down your back. 

After that, it felt like your body was moving independently, or maybe with your mind. 

Pushing up, Colter rolled onto his back, still holding onto you before you managed to move to straddle him, your hands running down his chest before he shot up to meet you once more in a kiss where your arms stretched over his shoulders just as his own hands were beginning to make a mess of your hair, letting it down from the scrunchie you had thrown it up into. 

However, before things could go any further, a call came through Colter’s phone. 

Looking to his bedside desk, you looked back at him and for a moment, you wished it would stop. But then, reality hit. 

“You should answer that.”

“Wait.”

“Answer it, Colter. It could be important.”

It took Colter a moment but he stretched back as you climbed off him, escaping out of the bedroom as he answered it. 

“Hey Teddi,”

Forgetting your shoes, you grabbed one of Colter’s sweaters and made your way outside, being hit with fresh, but very cold air that was as close to a cold shower as you could get for the time being. 

However, it wasn’t long until Colter opened up the door and walked down the steps to where you were pacing back and forth. 

“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have- we-we shouldn’t have-”

“Shouldn’t we have?”

“Should we have?” 

“I don’t regret it, if that’s what you’re asking. Do you regret it?”

“No. At least, not yet.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

You stopped pacing and faced him. “What is this, Colter? Because I don’t have any answers. And we’ve been friends for, what, twenty years? I didn’t even see this coming. I- did you see this coming?”

Colter had to speak truthfully. “Not exactly.”

“See. So…what do we do? Do- are…are we meant to forget it? Do we move on?”

“Do you want to move on?”

You shook your head. “Colter…I don’t know what to do.”

“Maybe we don’t have to know.”

You looked at Colter. “You do know me, right?”

Colter smiled a little and walked closer towards you, albeit a little slower than normal. 

“I do,” he nodded. “Which is why I am going to ask you this. Not thinking of anything else, not thinking of how it will change things, did you want to kiss me?”

“Yes,”

“And not thinking about that, would you want to do it again?”

“Colter…” You could feel yourself blushing, hard, as Colter got closer to you. 

“Just answer the question,” he smiled reassuringly, his voice a little softer. 

“Maybe…yes.”

“And if I asked you that tomorrow night,” Cotlet took one of your hands in his, slowly, before picking up your second.”Could I take you out on a date, what would you say?”

“Yes.” 

“Then, tomorrow night, at seven o’clock, can I pick you up from your home and take you out on a date?”

You finally met Colter’s eyes fully, for the first time, since you were lay in bed. 

“Yes.”

Colter smiled, leaning in closer. “Can I kiss you again?”

“Yes.”

[natilieal]

stede's super fun sleepover adventure (ft. a mildly traumatised izzy hands)

‘Just so I understand,’ Izzy says, voice steely in a way that would have most men quaking with fear, but only earns him an indulgent smile from Stede, ‘you’re going to enforce mandatory bonding time for me with the rest of the crew so that I can… learn to get along with them?’

Or, Stede organises a sleepover to try and get to know Izzy better. Somewhere in between wearing Stede's clothes and getting his nails painted, Izzy loses his mind.

inspired by this post. thank you to @endrega23​ and @im-just-so-so​ for tolerating me & enabling this. the amount of izzy brainrot i have subjected them to is unbelievable.

warnings/tags: crack treated seriously, implied steddy hands, technically pre-steddy hands, bed sharing, izzy giving angry chihuahua energy literally any time someone tries to be nice to him

read it here on ao3!

‘You want me to what?!’ Izzy does not screech, but it’s a near thing.

Ed is reclining on one of the many excessively plush couches in Stede’s cabin, pipe in hand. His boots have been discarded, his feet in Stede’s lap. Stede, meanwhile, barely paying attention to him – content instead to sit there and massage Ed’s feet while Ed, once again, tries to ruin Izzy’s life.

Izzy hates them both.

‘Relax,’ Ed waves the pipe in his hand, and Izzy tracks the smoke that trails through the air. It helps distract him from the sudden, burning desire to strangle his captain. ‘It’s not a punishment, mate. You don’t have to look so upset about it.’

Not for the first time, Izzy wonders if Ed and Stede’s combined stupidity might be enough to kill him one of these days.

If I die because Stede fucking Bonnet gave me a stress-induced heart attack, Izzy vows silently, I’ll haunt them both for the rest of time. When they die and become ghosts, I’ll continue to haunt them. A double-haunting. That’s how extreme and inescapable my vengeance will be.

‘Just so I understand,’ Izzy says, voice steely in a way that would have most men quaking with fear, but only earns him an indulgent smile from Stede, ‘you’re going to enforce mandatory bonding time for me with the rest of the crew so that I can… learn to get along with them?’

‘Yes! It’ll be good for morale,’ Stede says, massaging Ed’s calves now. Izzy wants to break his fingers. ‘You’re part of this crew too, Izzy. You don’t need to be their friend, but maybe a little extra bonding time will help. Especially as their first mate—’

‘What,’ Izzy sneers, ignoring the warning look Ed shoots him for daring to interrupt his precious darling Stede Bonnet, whose word is gospel, ‘you want me to go on a little picnic? Organise a little sleepover, braid someone’s hair while we all talk about boys?’

Stede brightens. ‘Those are wonderful ideas! I’m glad you’ve come around so quickly. And I’ve been thinking, Izzy, that we didn’t exactly start off on the right foot either. I think us having a sleepover would be a great way to get to know each other better! We can start there and use it as a practice run before you start planning things with the rest of the crew. Oh! Ed could be there, too. A bonding night for us three! Doesn’t that sound nice, Ed?’

‘Hm? Yeah, sure, sounds great.’ Ed has been watching Stede’s hands the entire time, and Izzy is certain he hasn’t heard a word.

‘I’ll let you know when I’ve sorted out the details, then.’ Stede says.

Izzy opens his mouth a few times, as if to say something, but all that comes out is a strangled wail. Neither of them notice when he leaves, too caught up in each other.

⸻

A few weeks go by with no mention of the sleepover. Izzy starts to think that maybe Stede has forgotten his little scheme – become distracted in the face of some newer, shinier half-baked plan that Edward is no doubt enabling.

But, of course, the universe has decided that Izzy Hands does not deserve to be happy. Midway through berating Lucius on deck for another failed chore, Stede bounds up to him, grinning widely and looking something like an overexcited puppy. Izzy can almost feel his blood pressure spiking.

‘Izzy, there you are!’ Stede smiles, as if it’s a pleasant surprise to find Izzy on deck, and not literally his fucking job to be there. ‘Are you ready for tonight?’

‘Tonight?’ Izzy echoes dumbly.

‘Yes, you know, for our bonding time.’ Stede wiggles his eyebrows in a way that makes Izzy want to rip them off his face. ‘I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to organise it. I hope you haven’t been feeling neglected, but there was a lot of planning involved. I wanted to make it special.’

‘Special.’ Izzy repeats. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Lucius watching the two of them, mouth agape.

‘Look, Izzy, I know that we’ve had our differences,’ Stede says, ‘but you’re an important part of this crew. Agreeing to this whole thing is a big show of trust on your part, and you deserve to be rewarded for it. So, yes, I have taken extra effort into making the evening special for you.’

‘Can’t wait,’ Izzy replies, nauseated. Stede gives him a thumbs up – who even does that? Izzy thinks with disgust – and walks off.

‘Well,’ says Lucius, clearly delighted. Izzy sighs.

‘Don’t—’

‘You’ve been a proper little seductress, haven’t you?’

‘Fuck off, Lucius!’

Izzy storms off, fuming. Behind him, he hears Lucius say, ‘Pete, babe, come here, you won’t believe what just happened–’

⸻

Izzy resolves to just skip the whole stupid thing and spare his sanity, but after dinner Ed appears on deck to physically manhandle him into the captain’s cabin. Apparently, he’s getting predictable.

Lucius wolf-whistles as they pass him, and Izzy barely has time to react before he’s being shoved into the captain’s cabin, Ed shutting the door behind them. Stede is standing at the table, fussing over a cake stand crowded with things that Roach must have spent all day making. He gives Izzy a smile.

‘Remember,’ Ed says, hands still on Izzy’s shoulders, ‘this is supposed to be fun.’

Izzy counts backwards from ten, and then says, ‘So, what are we doing first?’

⸻

The first thing on Stede’s agenda is apparently debasing Izzy further, because he abandons the table to shepherd Izzy over to the wardrobe.

‘First thing’s first, you and Ed have to get comfortable,’ Stede says, handing him a stack of clothes. It’s a pair of soft, cream-coloured pyjamas, and a green silk robe. Izzy pushes them back toward Stede, scowling.

‘I’m comfortable like this,’ he says.

‘Come now, Izzy,’ Stede says, undeterred, ‘I know that leather gets terribly uncomfortable after a while. Besides, it’s not very good for relaxing in, and that’s the point of tonight!’

‘Just give it a go, Iz,’ Ed says. He’s already changed into his robe. ‘If you don’t like it, you can just change back later.’

‘Fine,’ Izzy snaps, accepting Stede’s stupid clothes. He figures he’ll put them on to appease his captains, wait an appropriate amount of time, and then change back. At least then they can’t complain that he hasn’t tried.

They turn away to allow Izzy some privacy while he changes, settling in at the table with their backs to him. Izzy can hear them talking softly to each other. He’s almost tempted to make a run for it while they’re distracted, accept whatever punishment that would bring him. But he fights down the impulse and instead changes, trying and failing not to think about the fact that he’s wearing Stede Bonnet’s clothes.

The pyjamas are ridiculously soft, almost painful against Izzy’s chafed skin. He’d rather die than admit that Stede was right about his usual clothes; they were tight and restrictive, and if he wasn’t careful, they’d pinch and leave his skin raw and itchy by the end of the day. It feels wrong, somehow, that he should be allowed to wear clothes like these instead. The feeling worsens as he shrugs on the robe, expensive and unnecessary as it is. People like Izzy aren’t made to wear things like this, and his skin crawls as he takes a seat at the table.

‘Don’t you look nice?’ Stede says. Izzy’s head snaps up, already snarling and ready to snap, but there is no trace of mocking in Stede’s face. Instead, he’s giving Izzy a soft smile – the same smile he gives the crew sometimes, when they’ve done something nice and made him proud. Izzy thinks that might be worse.

Stede obviously takes his silence as agreement and begins serving both of them from the cake stand in the middle of the table. It’s a miracle it hasn’t collapsed under the weight of all the tiny pastries and sandwiches balanced on it. Izzy can’t bear to look at it for too long, and instead looks over to Ed. He is, as usual, staring at Stede and ignoring everything else in the room. Izzy looks away. He decides he hates sleepovers.

‘Oh, Izzy,’ Stede says, ‘how do you take your tea?’

Izzy looks helplessly at Ed, who shrugs at him in return. Clearly, he’s content to either make eyes at Stede or watch Izzy have the worst evening of his life. Bastard.

‘However you make it is fine,’ Izzy replies.

‘Don’t be like that,’ Stede chides. ‘I want to make you tea the way you like it. Part of learning to get along is learning these things about each other, you know.’

Izzy would rather cut out his tongue than admit to Stede fucking Bonnet that he’s never had tea in his life. He’s always scraped by on table scraps and whatever he could squirrel away – and that never managed to include fancy drinks served in patterned china. Tea, to Izzy, has always been a drink for other people; people who indulge in nice things, people who are weak. Izzy has always prided himself on his ability to remain strong and steadfast, to eke out a survival based on the bare minimum. He’s never stopped to consider that life doesn’t need to be like that – and now that he’s here, sitting at Stede’s banquet table, wearing Stede’s expensive clothes, surrounded by luxuries he wouldn’t have been able to imagine on his own, he feels strangely unmoored.

Izzy can’t believe he’s been thrown into crisis over tea. Fuck Stede Bonnet, he thinks vehemently.

Ed finally seems to take pity. ‘Why don’t you do what you did for me? Make it how you like, and then Izzy can adjust it from there.’

‘Oh!’ There’s an understanding look on Stede’s face that Izzy doesn’t like, but the look Ed gives him stops him from saying anything. Instead, he watches quietly as Stede fusses over a cup of tea, before standing up to carry it over to him. The whole production is so unnecessary.

Izzy stares down at the teacup and imagines smashing it on the floor.

‘Come on, man, try it,’ Ed says. ‘We’re dying from the suspense over here.’

Reluctantly, Izzy takes a sip. It’s warm, and sweet. There’s something about it that’s almost comforting. It’s possibly the nicest thing he’s ever tasted.

‘It’s fine,’ Izzy says. Stede gives him that soft smile again.

⸻

Eventually, they finish the tea. The cake stand is mostly empty now, Ed happily eating whatever Stede puts in front of him. Izzy has been picking at the same slice of cake, pretending to listen to their conversation and relying on monosyllabic answers to get him through it. Stede hasn’t tried to make him talk, but he keeps an eye on Izzy’s teacup, refilling it the way he refills Ed’s plate. Izzy isn’t sure how to feel about that, so he ignores it.

‘Right!’ Stede says, once his and Ed’s plates are empty. On Izzy’s plate is the mangled remains of his slice of cake that he’s. been mashing into oblivion. Thankfully, no one says anything about it. ‘I think the next thing on the sleepover agenda is some self-care.’

Izzy really doesn’t like the way they both immediately turn to look at him.

⸻

‘Come on, Izzy,’ Stede sighs. ‘Don’t be unreasonable.’

‘I’m not being unreasonable!’ Izzy snaps. ‘Look at me. I’m wearing your fucking clothes. I’m being reasonable, I just don’t want you to paint my nails.’

‘Izzy,’ Stede says, in the most insufferable whiny voice Izzy has ever heard, ‘It’s a standard sleepover procedure! You have to!’

Izzy doesn’t know how to tell Stede that he’s never been to whatever fancy, rich-boy sleepover he’s trying to replicate. Izzy’s idea of a sleepover is sharing a hammock belowdecks because there aren’t enough for every person to have their own. He opens his mouth to say something, but shuts it again after a murderous glance from Ed. He’s supposed to be getting along with Stede. Telling him exactly what he thinks of this whole pampered rich boy routine would set them back to square one, and obviously make Ed very angry with him.

Instead of telling Stede Bonnet exactly where he can shove his nail polish collection, Izzy takes several deep breaths. He holds out his left hand toward Stede and says, ‘Can you paint them black, please?’

The smile Stede gives him is blinding. Behind him, Ed nods his approval.

Izzy scowls back at them and stays silent while Stede works. He tries very hard not to think about the fact that he can’t remember the last time someone held his hand this gently.

⸻

‘What the fuck is that?’

‘This,’ Stede says excitedly, holding up a jar of some kind of green paste, ‘is a face mask. They’re good for your skin.’

‘Ooh, I love those,’ Ed says. ‘Do me first.’

Izzy watches with sick fascination as Stede uses a small brush to apply a thick layer of the face mask to Ed’s face. It looks unnecessary, and uncomfortable, and the idea of Stede Bonnet being that close to him is deeply unnerving.

‘You’re not getting that shit anywhere near my face when he’s finished,’ Izzy says.

‘Come on, man,’ Ed says. ‘You’ll be fine. It’s relaxing.’

‘Don’t even fucking think about it,’ Izzy says in Stede’s direction.

⸻

Stede does, in fact, successfully coerce Izzy into putting the face mask on.

To Izzy’s eternal devastation, it is relaxing.

⸻

‘Okay,’ Izzy says, bordering on hysteria, ‘I ate your cakes. I wore your dressing gown. I did the nails and the face mask. Can I please go to bed now?’

‘Bed sounds like an excellent idea! It has been a long day, hasn’t it?’ Stede replies. Ed is already on his feet, pushing the curtains aside to reveal their stupidly huge bed and a truly inappropriate number of pillows. It’s a wonder the ship stays afloat at all.

Izzy swallows another cutting remark and instead focuses on divesting himself of Stede’s ridiculous dressing gown, making a beeline for the door. He’s trying not to sprint, but he’s at his wit’s end. He’s had enough of trying to play nice, is thinking longingly of the blessed silence and solitude of his room –

‘Where are you going, Iz?’ Ed calls. He does not sound impressed.

Izzy turns from the door to see that they’re both already in bed. There’s a space between them that Stede pats invitingly.

‘Going to bed?’ he tries.

‘It’s a sleepover, Izzy!’ Stede laughs, gesturing again to the empty space on the bed between them. ‘You’re meant to sleep here with us. We made room for you.’

Briefly, Izzy fantasises about sprinting out of the cabin and pitching himself overboard. But Ed is starting to frown again, and Stede has that strange expression that he wears around Ed sometimes, when Stede is just so sad about the state of their general existence. Seeing it directed at himself makes his hackles rise, but he’s far too tired to start a fight now. The night has apparently been going well so far, and he’s not a quitter.

Instead, Izzy heaves a deep sigh, surrenders the last of his dignity, and crawls into bed between Ed and Stede. It’s an unbelievably soft mattress; he sinks into it, and the slight, ever-present ache in his back disappears.

‘Are you comfortable, Izzy?’ Stede asks.

‘Yes,’ he replies, surprised to find that he means it. Ed and Stede settle beside him, not quite touching him, but close enough that he’s very aware of it.

‘This is nice,’ Stede says. ‘I’ve had a nice evening.’

‘Yeah,’ Ed agrees. There’s a beat of silence, and then Ed nudges Izzy.

‘I guess,’ Izzy says. He closes his eyes and tries to pretend he’s not about to go to sleep in Stede Bonnet’s bed, nestled between him and Ed.

‘I may have to warn you, Izzy, I am a bit of a cuddler,’ Stede says. He blows out the candle on the nightstand, plunging the room into a pleasant darkness. Not being able to see Ed and Stede’s faces out of the corner of his eye helps, and he finds himself relaxing without even realising it.

‘Of course you are,’ Izzy sighs. ‘Night.’

‘Night.’

‘Goodnight, Izzy. Goodnight, Ed.’

There's a few minutes of blessed silence. Izzy relaxes and allows himself to be lulled by the rocking of the ship and the sound of the waves outside. It's surprisingly nice. He's almost asleep, when –

'Izzy, would you still be Ed's first mate if he was a worm?'

⸻

‘Ooh, I’ve got one,’ Ed pipes up sometime later. Izzy, again on the verge of sleep, jerks awake. ‘Okay, so, say you get a million dollars, but in exchange there’s this snail–’

‘What the fuck, Ed?’ Izzy groans.

‘No, wait, hear me out. There’s this snail that follows you around like, forever, and if It touches you, you die. How do you avoid it?’

‘That sounds very stressful,’ Stede says. ‘Is it worth taking the money?’

‘It’s a fucking snail,’ Izzy snaps. ‘Just get someone else to step on it, done.’

‘Nah, won’t work,’ Ed says. ‘It’s immortal.’

‘What? You can’t just make up extra rules to your stupid fucking snail riddle because I solved it that easily –’

‘I said it follows you around forever –’

‘Boys,’ Stede chides, and they both fall silent. ‘Izzy, I thought your answer was good. Ed, don’t be unfair to Izzy. It’s a very practical solution.’

‘I guess,’ Ed grumbles, and the three of them settle down again. Except, now, instead of trying to get to sleep before either of his captains have the opportunity to misfire a brain cell and say something ridiculous, Izzy’s thinking about the logistics of an immortal snail following their ship.

He regrets it before he’s even opened his mouth. ‘If it’s following you, but you’re a pirate captain, couldn’t you just… keep sailing? Unless you’re about to tell me it’s a fucking immortal snail with a boat, it’ll just sink, won’t it? How the fuck’s a snail supposed to reach your ship from the bottom of the ocean?’

‘Show off,’ Ed mutters. ‘You’re too good at problem-solving.’

‘Don’t be a sore loser just because he’s smart,’ Stede says. ‘Very clever, Izzy. Well done.’

Izzy’s chest flutters a little at the praise. He must be coming down with something.

⸻

‘Did you see how Frenchie was looking at Wee John today, Ed? Do you think something’s going on there?’

‘Dunno. What do you think, Iz? You’re around the crew a lot. Anything to report?’

Izzy is so tired. He’s up at dawn usually, checking inventories and doing chores around the ship that he knows the other crew members will invariably fuck up. All he wants to do is enjoy this stupidly comfortable bed for the few hours he has access to it and get a decent night’s sleep for once in his miserable life. All his captains want to do, apparently, is drive him insane.

He tries to come up with something cruel to say, but he’s simply too exhausted. Instead, he mumbles, ‘Wee John has a crush on Frenchie.’

Stede gasps and turns to face him. ‘Really?! Do you think it’s mutual?’

‘Probably.’ Izzy yawns. ‘They’re always staring when they think the other person isn’t watching. It’s nauseating.’

‘Do you have a crush on anyone, Izzy?’ Stede asks, after a pause. Izzy feels several complicated emotions at once and is able to name approximately none of them.

‘Go the fuck to sleep, Bonnet,’ he says instead.

⸻

‘Izzy,’ Stede says thoughtfully, ‘what kind of bread do you think I’d be?’

Izzy, for a brief moment, imagines ripping all of Stede’s hair out of his thick fucking skull. ‘What the fuck does that mean?’

‘Well,’ Stede continues, ignoring Izzy’s venomous tone, ‘is there a specific bread that reminds you of me?’

Sometimes, talking to Ed and Stede together makes Izzy feel like he’s from a different planet. ‘Bread’s just fucking bread, isn’t it?’

‘Come on, Iz,’ Ed groans. ‘Use your fuckin’ imagination.’

‘Christ, fine,’ Izzy says. ‘I don’t fucking know. I guess you’d be a – a croissant.’

‘A croissant?’ Stede replies, sounding curious, ‘What makes you say that?’

Izzy thinks fondly of his days under Blackbeard, when lashings were commonplace on deck, and he lived in constant fear of his neck being snapped. It was a simpler time.

‘I don’t know. Because you’re – fancy.’

‘Hear that, Ed?’ Stede says, delighted. ‘Izzy thinks I’m fancy.’

‘Fuck off, Bonnet.’

‘I dunno,’ Ed says, thoughtful. ‘I think you’d be, like, challah. Because yeah, you’re fancy, but you’re special, and soft, and sweet.’

‘Oh, Ed,’ Stede says, voice suspiciously thick and – is he crying? ‘That’s so kind of you.’

Past lives must be real, Izzy decides, and he must have been a terrible person in his. There’s literally nothing else to explain why he deserves to be here, sandwiched between his captains, while Stede cries about what kind of bread Ed thinks he is.

⸻

‘Okay, Iz, fuck, marry, kill,’ Ed says sometime later. ‘Me, Stede and Lucius.’

Izzy stays silent for a while, unsure of how to process the onslaught of mental images Ed’s question brought him. Any answer he could give feels incriminating. Eventually, he decides on, ‘Fuck Lucius, marry Stede, kill you.’

He assumes that’ll be the end of it, but Edward gasps like he’s been stabbed. ‘Kill me? Izzy, how could you?! You weren’t supposed to kill me!’

‘It’s just a hypothetical, you’re not actually dead,’ Izzy groans. ‘Who cares?’

‘Now, Ed,’ Stede says, sounding entirely too pleased with himself, ‘don’t be upset with Izzy for having good taste.’

‘Good taste my ass,’ Ed pouts. ‘I need the explanation for this – this shit. This betrayal.’

‘Lucius – well.’ Izzy doesn’t want to insult him unless it’s to his face. ‘You know.’

Ed and Stede make noises of agreement.

‘And Stede’s got money. We’d have a lovely, short-lived marriage, then he’d die under mysterious circumstances, and I’d run away with his fortune.’

This time, it’s Stede who gasps while Ed cackles. ‘Izzy! You – you cad! I thought we had something special!’

It might be the fact that it’s late and he’s feeling slightly delirious, or it could be the fact that the room is dark enough that the others can’t see his face, but Izzy finds himself smiling while Ed and Stede bicker over him. He’s almost enjoying himself.

⸻

‘Oh no, Izzy,’ Stede whispers mournfully. ‘We did almost everything you suggested, but we forgot to braid anyone’s hair.’

Ed has finally fallen asleep, snoring quietly somewhere behind Izzy. The room has been quiet for long enough that Izzy is barely awake – he understands that Stede just said something, and that he should answer, but doesn’t think about the words coming out of his mouth. ‘Next time, then.’

He vaguely hears Stede whisper something, but he’s asleep before he can process it.

⸻

Izzy wakes up laying on his stomach. He’s stuck half underneath Stede, who has apparently attempted to roll on top of him during the night. Ed’s pressed up against his side, arm flung across both Izzy and Stede. Ed’s knee is pressing uncomfortably into his stomach, and they’re laying close enough that bits of Ed’s hair are in his mouth. This is possibly the most uncomfortable Izzy has ever been.

It's also the best sleep that Izzy has ever had. It’s a far cry from every other morning of his life – usually he jumps out of bed the second he’s awake, mind racing in a million different directions. But for once he feels quiet, content to lay here and enjoy the relative peace of the morning. Even if that peace includes Stede crushing him into the mattress.  

He lays there for a while longer, eyes shut, drifting in and out of sleep, when he hears the door open.

‘Morning Captains, sorry to interrupt, but Roach was asking about breakfast and – oh. Oh my God.’

I can’t have anything nice on this stupid fucking clown ship, Izzy thinks. Because of course the one morning that Izzy is here, very clearly cuddling Ed and Stede, very clearly wearing Stede’s clothes, is the morning that Lucius is the one to come in and wake the captains up.

‘Right, um,’ he hears Lucius dither as he gets closer to the bed. ‘Um – Captain? Ed? Izzy?’

Izzy’s about to make the worst decision of his life.

‘Fuck off, Mister Spriggs,’ he says, voice muffled. It’s hard to be intimidating when his face is pressed into a pillow. ‘We’re trying to sleep.’

‘Right! Yep! Of course!’ Lucius squeaks. He hears hasty footsteps. ‘I’ll – just. Go. Um, tell Roach not to worry. Bye! Pleasedon’tkillme!’

Izzy’s feeling rather generous this morning, and strangely disinclined to murder. Instead, he lets himself fall back asleep while planning an appropriately humiliating punishment for Lucius. There’ll be time to feel weird about the whole thing later.

[sneales]

Hi there!

I'm a big fan of your writing! I love how you characterize characters. They're all very different from each other and they seem very in character! If you don't mind, may I request Gojo, Nanami, Yuji and Megumi and how they'd be on the day of their first date with their s/o who they've been Pining after for so long? Or maybe how they'd be like the day of their wedding?

💘GOJO, NANAMI, YUJI AND MEGUMI ON THEIR FIRST DATE AND WEDDING DAY + HEADCANONS💘

Characters: Gojo, Nanami, Itadori, Megumi, gender neutral reader Genre: romance Warnings: grammar mistakes Notes: Aww anon, thank you so much! I pay attention to make them seem different so I’m really glad you noticed T.T (well, Gege-sensei makes everything easier since his characters are so well written ♥). I did both the date and the wedding, I hope it's ok!

→Requests are open!

Gojo

He has never felt so nervous for a date before.

He doesn’t really organise anything in particular, he simply dresses up and tells you to meet in town.

You walk around the streets full of people, stop at shop windows, take photos, buy something... just normal things.

He holds your hand most of the time, nobody will stop him from being affectionate now.

Whenever he finds a food shop or a stall, he stops and buys some food, like seriously he makes you eat a lot lol

He’ll joke a lot about how hard you made him work before you fell in love with him, how could you resist such a hot man for so long?

Everything feels a bit random, but it’s not bad not having anything organised.

By the end of the date, he tries to get at least a make-out session.

~

If someone had told him “you’ll get married one day”, he would’ve called that person crazy.

The only thing he really likes about weddings is the after party and he basically asks you to get married only because he wanted a big party.

He invites a lot of people, he calls a dj for the music and definitely tries to do stupid games and pranks.

He’ll definitely dirty your face with the cake when you two cut it and pray he didn’t rent a place with a pool otherwise he’ll throw you and your expensive dress into it lmao

When the wedding day arrives, he’s probably super nervous right before the ceremony. He wore his shirt inside out and he tried to tie his bow tie four times, but luckily Shoko was there and fixed everything.

After the formalities are sorted, he gets much more relaxed and ready to party lol

Nanami

He wants everything to be perfect, he doesn’t want to disappoint you in any way.

Buys new clothes, go to the hairdresser, he’s basically as shiny as a diamond.

He booked a restaurant and right on time he’s at your house, ready to drive you to your date.

He likes the quiet and intimate atmosphere, interrupted only by the waiter and the good food.

You talk about many things and get to know each other better.

You weren’t really expecting it, but he flatters you often.

It’s almost funny because he comes out of nowhere saying saying things like “your eyes are really pretty” with his stern face.

If you didn’t know he always means what he says, you would think he was lying lol

When he drives you back home, he greets you with a small kiss on the lips.

~

He has always dreamed of being married.

He’s not a fan of huge parties, he prefers traditional and classic ceremonies.

He takes care of the organisation, chooses the place, the colors of the decorations, the flowers etc. etc.

Of course, he pays a lot of attention to his own wedding dress too.

Everything in his plans is perfect, there is only a variable that will definitely try to mess up something, but unfortunately he still cares about the variable enough to want him at his wedding so he hoped for the best.

When the day arrives he won’t show it, but he’s very nervous, very happy, very in love.

Itadori

So nervous lol

He wanted to bring you to a fancy place, but he’s broke so you end up watching a movie.

He absolutely wants to watch a film you’d like.

You chose a romantic comedy and he gets a bit flustered because the movie is so cheesy and argh was he supposed to do something? Like accidentally brushing your hand while you take popcorn or grab your hand while you have it on your arm chair??? eventually he doesn’t do anything.

He ends up not remembering anything of the movie afterwards.

You eat a cheeseburger in a fast food nearby and now he feels definitely more relaxed and comfortable.

Like Nanami, he likes to compliment you, but in a warmer way.

He is impressed by anything you say. You study? He’s so impressed. You work? He’s so impressed. You like knitting sockets? Wow, he’s even more impressed.

Your confidence skyrockets.

When it's time to say goodbye, he gives you a big hug.

~

He doesn’t think marriage would add anything to your relationship, but he would really like to spend a day where you two are the protagonists and where you could have fun together with all your friends.

It’s an easy-going party, good food, nice music, a lot of laughs and fun.

He’s probably the most relaxed out of the four on his wedding day, he feels the most comfortable with you and his friends so he’s super happy to spend a special day together.

Megumi

He isn’t really sure about what to do, so it will probably take him a lot of time before asking you on a date.

One day he noticed there was an art exhibition and he asked if you wanted to go together.

He’s not a super expert of art, but he thought looking at paintings could give him many conversation topics.

He’s awfully afraid you’ll think he is boring or uninteresting, so he really tries hard to talk a lot.

That’s kinda weird for you because you know him well, but you still think it’s very cute he’s putting so much effort.

He pays a lot of attention to how he’s dressed, like Nanami. He was probably stressing over it so hard.

He chooses something a bit plain eventually, because he doesn’t want to look too desperate to get your attention.

You still think he looks very good, he’s a natural beauty.

At the end of your date, he feels very unsure about what to do, he thinks you shouldn't kiss on a first date and any other form of contact would be too awkward so he gives you a little and safe kiss on the cheek and runs away.

~

Not a great fan of weddings and parties, too many people, too much noise, but he loves the engagement and stability a marriage gives to a couple.

You invite only few people, the ceremony is not too formal, it’s intimate but still fun also because those few people are actually chaotic af (you think Gojo and Nobara would just sit quietly? Nah).

He feels very emotional when the day comes, his hands tremble a little and his voice shakes from time to time, he smiles much more.

[neverendingdream111]

“A stubborn friend” [Diluc x gn!reader]

> It was almost 10 pm when you finished the last comission for the day

> To say you were tired was a big understatement, and the only thing that was on your mind was getting some well-deserved sleep

> But then you remembered you had one more thing to do - you had to deliver a message to your friend, Diluc, from the knights (they weren’t on the best of terms since the incident and Kaeya was one of the most annoying little shits people in Mondstadt, you were a messenger of some sort)

> Wanting to get this over with, you headed to Angel’s Share, hoping to find him there

> Seems like the Archons (Venti) wanted to make this even more difficult for you, because behind the bar stood Charles, which meant that the redhead wasn’t on shift tonight

> Since you were a regular visitor at the tavern (not because you liked drinking, no, that was a job for Kaeya and Venti who you often found yourself looking after when Diluc was at the verge of loosing his patience for the two), you decided to talk for a little while with the present bartender, who gave you the information that the person you were looking for was most likely at Dawn Winery, working on some paperwork

>You thanked him and said your goodbyes, heading to the Winery

> It didn’t really matter to you that it was late - you were more than capable of protecting yourself. After all, your reputation as one of the strongest members of adventurers guild didn’t come from nothing, right?

> Anyway, your trek went smoothly and soon you found yourself standing at the entrance of Diluc’s home

> Adelinde - the head housemaid - let you in, saying that the owner was in his office. The staff knew you well, considering you came here quite often. Be it a commission or just because you wanted to see your friend; you definitely didn’t need a guide to show you where to go, so you headed straight to the room where Diluc was

> You weren’t even surprised when he had told you without raising his head that he didn’t need anything and wished to not be disturbed, most likely thinking you were one of the maids

> You just walked across the room, stopping in front of his desk and placing the envelope right on the document he was currently reading. You only took your hand back when he finally met your gaze, which took him a few seconds after recovering from his surprise at the action

> “What are you doing here?” he asked, opening the envelope, his crimson orbs quickly scanning the contents of the letter

> “Playing a messenger, if you haven’t already noticed” you shrugged, crossing your arms “How long ‘til you finish all of this?”

> He just sighed, placing the letter on a nearby pile of papers “I don’t know, possibly an hour...”

> “... or five. Look, I know you have insomnia and your job is important, but we talked about this, Diluc. You need to get some rest” you narrowed your gaze, exasperated at his behavior. It wasn’t the first time (and most likely not the last) when a situation like this occurred. If there was an even bigger workaholic than Jean, it was without a doubt him

> “I thought you were merely delivering the message?” he raised an eyebrow at you, clearly too tired to argue

> “I’m just being a good, caring friend, and that’s how you repay me?” you gasped dramatically, placing a hand on your chest in mock offendence. A glare from him caused you to stop your ministrations, sighing again at his stubborness “But seriously, you should go get some sleep”

> “I cannot--”

> “Diluc” you interrupted him, now compeletly serious “It’s not up to discussion”

> He stared at you for a moment longer, and...

> ... ignored you

> this man--

> “Ok, that’s it” you started gathering his papers on one pile, so he couldn’t reach for them, and then placed them on the coffe table that stood in front of a sofa on the other side of the room “I tried being nice but apparently, it didn’t work”

> “Y/N--”

> “No buts, mister, you’re going to rest whether you like it or not” you then marched up to him and grabbed his arms, forcing him to stand up. He didn’t fight when you led him to his bedroom, too exhausted for this now

> He might be stubborn but you were even more so

> When you finally reached your destination, you helped him out of his coat that he still wore and placed it on the back of a nearby chair. Then you exited the room, letting him change into more comfortable clothes. When he was done, he just opened the door and sat on the bed without a word

> You soon joined him, and then he decided to speak up “We both know that I will most likely not fall asleep...” he murmured, slight irritation still evident in his voice

> “You do have a point here...” you sighed, thinking about a way which would help him

> Then you came up with an idea

> You undid his hair tie, letting the crimson waves fall comfortably on his shoulders, and he immediately grabbed your wrist, somehow startled by the move

> “What are you doing?” he asked, a light pink dusting his cheeks

> “It always helps me to calm down when someone plays with my hair, so i figured it’d work for you as well” you smiled sheepishly, for the first time this evening not so sure of your actions

> He looked at you for a moment longer, letting go of your arm and sighing, allowing you to continue

> Delighted at the fact that he actually let you touch his hair, you had to contain your excitement as to not hurt him accidentally, slowly brushing his locks with your hand

> Diluc wouldn’t admit it out loud, but your touch did soothe him. His shoulders relaxed and eyes closed, as he unconsciously leaned into your hand

> Usually work was on his mind, occupying almost all of his daily routine, but now the only thing he could think about was the way your fingers combed through his hair, and soon enough his thoughts were drifting towards you in general

> You two had... An unusual friendship, that was for sure. You have known him ever since you were children, along with Kaeya. After the death of his father, he thought that he’d lose you as well, just like his brother, but instead you stayed. Not only for him, as you were friends with the Cavalry Captain to this day, but either way it mattered to him the most at that time

> Ever since, you were an anchor of some sort for him, a person he didn’t need to put up his facade around, which he was grateful for. Truth be told, you could be a lot sometimes, but you always meant well. You both helped each other in their time of need, always there for the other. Be it a big problem like defeating a group of Abyss Mages roaming near the city, or a small one, like giving an honest opinion on something

> He helped you and you helped him. Just like today

> You knew he’d have problems falling asleep, that he wouldn’t stop worknig, so you had to force him to get some rest

> It worked, thank the Archons, as he slowly felt himself drift off, his head a too big of a weight that he desperatly tried to hold up

> You noticed his struggles and smiled to yourself, carefully detangling your fingers from his locks. That earned you a confused and oh so tired gaze, at which you squealed mentally because of how adorable he looked

> “Lay down” you whispered, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. It took him a minute to process what you said, giving you a nod and slowly making himself comfortable under the covers

> a big, tired baby ajsadkadkja

> You just smiled contentedly at the sight, happy that he let you see him, so vulnerable and exhausted it made warmth spread trough your chest

> Again, you smoothed his red hair delicately, marvelling at how soft it was, making sure he fell asleep

> Which he did, obviously, if you couldn’t tell by the slow rising and falling of his chest

> So you whispered a soft “Good night”, turning off the lamp on his bedside table and carefully leaving the room without making any noise, closing the door behind you

> When he woke up, he could admit that it was probably the best he’s ever slept since the passing of his father

> With a small smile on his face, he got dressed and came down to eat breakfest, greeting the Winery staff whenever he passed them. After he was done eating, he headed straight to his office, dreading yet another day spend behind his desk organising the documents

> Imagine his surprise when he entered the room and saw everything that previously occupied the desk, now neatly sorted into small piles

> He quickly looked over the papers on the first pile, seeing it was put in perfect order

> His shock quickly turned into confusion. Who did this? The maids don’t come to his office unless asked to, and the last time someone was there was yesterday when you--

> Oh

> So that’s what happened, then

> He huffed, shaking his head with a smile

> You really were something

First drabble on this profile! It turned out way longer than I expected, haha.

Have a nice day/good night!

16.02.21

~Nana

[etherealluminescence]

Could I request a headcanon of the brothers reacting to finding MC sleeping in their bed?

Sure thing anon! Thanks for asking. No gender specified so it’s a GN!MC. ✨💘💗 thank you for requesting. I appreciate it.

I have three more requests after this one!! Don’t worry other anons I’ll get to you three asap. Two nsfw fics and one hc!

Brothers reacting to finding GN!MC in their bed sleeping

Lucifer

You wanted to make sure Lucifer wasn’t overworking himself, so you made him some tea and brought it to his office a bit after dinner.

After knocking and entering, you ask him how he was, how much work he had, and made a bit of casual conversation. He insisted it wasn’t much, but you could tell from the mountainous stack on his desk, it was going to take quite a few hours so you were going to do something nice for him.

Kissing his forehead, you left your boyfriend to his work and went to his bedroom. You were going to clean and organise it! That way he won’t have to worry about dust, and you’ll even wash his bedsheets and pillowcases tomorrow, because you’re the best lover ever.

You figured it would just take an hour or an hour and a half. What you didn’t expect was you forgetting where everything in the drawers go after cleaning them, and had to figure out where you even put them in the first place when cleaning. You also didn’t expect to see hidden photographs of you two in his drawers, but because you saw them you couldn’t not reminiscence and gush!!

It was already near midnight by the time you were done, so you decided to rest your head on his big comfy bed for a bit, relax your muscles, and then leave. You didn’t want him to find it was you, even if it were obvious. You just wanted him to have one less thing to stress about.

But your own exhaustion betrayed you, as you fell asleep and passed out for a few hours.

Sighing, Lucifer finally finished his paperwork. It had to be around three am about now. If Mammon didn’t annoy the witches again, for who knows what, probably existing, he would of been done hours ago.

He made his way to his room, gently massaging his stiff shoulders on the way. As he entered, he could immediately tell you were there, and noticed just how out of place certain things were.

This could only be your doing. You were the only one who would come into his room, clean it, and accidentally disorganise it.

He made his way to his bed, and smiled softly seeing your chest slowly rise up and down while you snuggled into his pillow.

He took off his coat, and climbed into bed cuddling you without changing, he just wanted to embrace you. You’re just a human but you’ve affected him, a great and prideful demon, so so much over the course of a single year.

He’s going to kill Mammon for taking away his precious free time with paperwork instead of spending it with you, but that can wait until the morning.

Mammon

It was breakfast time and you figured you should wake Mammon up, since he surprisingly was still asleep in his room. Normally you were the last up.

You walked into his room and made way to his bed, gentling shaking him. He wasn’t budging at all, so you decided to go a different path.

If he was going to sleep, so were you! You crawled into his bed and snuggled between his arms, your back against his chest, and your head under his for maximum warmth. Afterwards, you pull the sheets high enough to nearly cover your face.

When Mammon wakes up in an hour, though, he can tell he’s immediately touching something. Is he being punished in his sleep again?

Taking the covers off, he immediately looks down at what he was holding, only to notice it was you?? His favorite human’

Realization doesn’t really kick in that you’re sleeping in his bed snuggling in his arms because he goes to your room for cuddles. But then it hits him like a truck.

You crawled into his bed something when he was sleeping, made yourself comfy, and went to sleep yourself?

You’re putting way too much trust in him, aren’t you!! He’s a man, he is a demon, yet you just went to sleep in his arms for who knows how long.

He stopped working for awhile before coming to the conclusion that of course you wanted to sleep with the GREAT Mammon he’s the best there ever is, who wouldn’t?

He goes back to sleeping, but now it’s back to back. Although he came to that conclusion it’s different than normal cuddling okay! He has to respect your personal space.

Leviathan

You were feeling slightly sick with a stomachache, and really just wanted to disappear off the planet to make it stop.

You were trying to think of a way to go to sleep and feel good at the same time. That’s when you remembered sleeping in bathtubs is good when you’re sick. At least that’s what your dad told you, and made you do as a child.

The coldness of the tub pressed against your skin should soothe it, so trusting your dad’s nonexistent medical degree, you went to test it out. My dad told me to do this once.

You didn’t want to bother Asmo asking for his bathtub when it’s probably covered in roses, so you went for someone who literally slept in a bathtub, Levi.

You knocked but there was no response. However your stomach hurt and you were not leaving for anyone. You entered the room, surprisingly unlocked. Levi was nowhere to be found, but you would explain it later.

Climbing into the bathtub, you lied stomach down while exposing your stomach. You brought one of pillows under your face and just planted yourself into it.

A half hour later, Levi returns to his room. He went to pickup a new limited addition Ruri Chan figurine. When he walked by his bathtub he thought he saw something or someone in it, but went to put the figure away first.

If there was something in his tub, one of his brothers must of did it. He purposely left the door unlocked because he already set up a curse, so they’ll get what’s coming to them.

But then he notices it’s you and freaks out;; he set up the saying Ruri at the end of every sentence curse again.

Okay maybe it’s not too bad it was be adorable. He missed hearing you say ruri at the end of your sentences. But why were you in his tub?!

Realization kicks in and he’s so conflicted does he moves you, does he wake you, does he question every single decision in the entirety of his life right now?

He went for the latter. He’s slowly freaking out that he ends up just watching you from above sort of creepily for the next two hours.

When you wake up you just roll onto your back and see Levi staring down at you with an I’m not sure what to do striken face on. You burst out laughing and explain.

Now Levi thinks he overthought, but you assure him it’s fine and it’s sort of your fault for just breaking into his bed. But he’s concerned about your stomachache.

Your dad’s nonexistent medical degree saved you this time, and you hate to admit it. So you change the subject by offering him cuddles while still in his bed.

Congrats, you’ve broken your Levi.

Satan

You were only going to return a book you borrowed from Satan then go back to your room, you swore, but your desires betrayed you.

You greatly missed your boyfriend who has been busy studying up new curses, and practising magic with Solomon. You were happy he was socialising and learning, but you couldn’t help but feel lonely without him around so much lately.

You ended up returning his book, but reached towards his bed. Surely, he wouldn’t mind, right?

You crawled on top and snuggled into his blankets, trying to get the smell of him. It felt so incredibly comfy to be laying in his scent, that you closed your eyes for just a few minutes...

Click! The door began to open, and in came Satan. He was out for nearly half the day and it was nearly midnight, he just really wanted to rest. Lucifer did not deserve the amount of time Satan was using trying to learn to curse him.

He took off his blazer and set it on his chair before walking to his bed. He could see that something was underneath his blanket, a decently large shape.

He cautiously walked towards it. Was one of his brothers playing a prank and decided to put something under his blankets?

Peeling off the covers, he sees you, sleeping soundless, trying to snuggle into the blanket to get more warmth.

His heart melted and he could feel his exhaustion fading away from just seeing this. He changes into his night clothes and climbs into bed, hugging you from behind.

In the morning you wake up in his arms, engulfed by his warmth. You realised that you never actually woke up and left after you closed your eyes for “few minutes”. But this was actually very nice.

Peeling his arms up for a bit, without waking him, you turned around and snuggled into his chest after giving him a quick kiss.

If you two could always wake up like this, then this is your new bed.

Asmodeous

You and Asmo had spent the whole day shopping. You liked to shop, but shopping with Asmo was a whole other sport. Trying on fifteen outfits per store is a little bit too much for you.

When you two returned, Asmo immediately brought you to his room and told you to wait on his bed, while he goes to the bathroom and open up a few products.

It was pretty late in the afternoon, and you two weren’t going anywhere else, so it was nothing major, maybe a bit of makeup and a fashion show just small Asmo stuff.

While he left, you were sitting on the bed, but your back was really hurting, so were your feet. Everything just hurt. Way too much pushing, changing, walking, ah how you suffer.

You lay down backwards not intending to do anything but rest, your legs hanging off, and close your eyes. His bed was so soft and comfy it’s a crime that your bed isn’t this comfy.

When Asmo returns he sees you passed out on his bed, and is automatically gushing. He should be pissed you fell asleep during your shopping-makeup date but you were very special.

You’re absolutely adorable and even Asmo would say you’re pretty close to him in looks, because he loves you so much. He automatically forgives you.

You look so comfortable that he just picks you up, he may look delicate but the boy could easily throw you, and he fixes your position.

Not to anyone in particular, he says that it’s bad for your position to be like that while you sleep. He brings his covers over you, and goes to take off his makeup.

He won’t join you in bed because you deserve personal space, and he needs to spend two hours preparing his beautiful skin for dinner, but he will watch over you and continue to smile.

Beelzebub

All the brothers had an important meeting that lasted all afternoon until evening. With you not being a student council member, you weren’t going to wait out in the hall until evening, so Solomon walked you back to your dorms.

After getting back you thanked Solomon and just did stuff Lucifer usually told you not to do. Jump on the bed, eating extremely sweet snacks, go into everyone’s closest and take something and just wear it for a bit before returning it.

It was finally Beel’s closet’s turn to be ransacked by you. You started with his shots and they were all just extremely large. You saved his for last since it would take the least amount of time. One of his shirts could just be used as a nightgown.

You looked through a bunch of his shirts and decided on his regular black triangular one, because that smelled most like Beel, which you really loved.

After putting it on, you took off your pants/skirt to really see just how much of a dress it looks like on you. This man is absolutely giant.

You sigh to yourself in content as you jump backwards onto his bed, resting. You spent all evening breaking Lucifer’s rules and damn did it feel GOOD.

But now you were tired, so a small rest is needed. They probably wouldn’t come back till very late in the evening, so you’ll leave before then.

You were wrong. The meeting was finished earlier than expected, because everything with the witches got cleared up pretty quickly. All the brothers went their seperat ways to probably change, Belphie going straight to the attic, Lucifer’s face pissed him off.

Going to his room, Beel walks over to his closet, but before that he just sees you in his bed?? In his shirt, that’s obviously way too large for you.

His face goes from the surprise devildom sticker one to blushing. He had no clue why you were in his bed, and why you were wearing his shirt. But it was extremely cute and looked good on you!

He repositions you so that you’re comfy and pulls the blankets up more. You should really sleep with pants on do it doesn’t make him feel immoral please.

Beel watches over you while you sleep and even brings snacks up to his room to share with you when you wake up, but he eats like half of them. I’m sure you’ll still appreciate the sentiment when you’re awake, though.

Belphegor

It had been a very rough day for you. You procrastinated on all your assignments so you had to get them done in a few hours, you fell down the stairs, and you even forgot to bring your lunch to school. You were dead tired and couldn’t bring yourself to face reality anymore.

You had no idea where Belphie was and he wasn’t answering any calls, so you decided to go into his room and sleep so when he came back, he could snuggle with you.

You walked into his room and casually greeted Beel who was on his side eating cake.

Crawling into Belphie’s bed, you made yourself comfortable and snuggled into the blankets, trying to find even a little bit of his smell on it to comfort you.

You ended up falling asleep fairly quickly, and Beel eventually left the room to invade the kitchen again. During that time, Belphie returned home from rad.

He was sort of annoyed that his phone died and no he had to charge it, because he didn’t do overnight, and his sleep schedule is already abnormal.

He goes over to his bed to reach for the charger when he suddenly notices you!! Absolutely adorable, brightens his mood.

Normally he has to find you for naps, and cuddles into you, but this time you were just defencelessly sleeping in his bed, your shirt slightly pushed up and you were hugging his cow pillow.

The sight was adorable and he ends up forgetting to charge his phone again, because he’s already in that bed cuddling you, going to sleep.

He slept a whole lot at rad that he even came home late, but damn did he feel so tired and comfy with his arms wrapped around you.

[megalony]

We have to go

I know I’ve been absent for a few weeks but I’ve finally managed to get an imagine done. This is a murderer! Ben Hardy imagine that I might do a follow up part for if you all like it. Feedback is always lovely.

Taglist: @lunaticspoem @butlegendsneverdie​ @langdonzvoid @jennyggggrrr​ @rogmeddows @radiob-l-a-hblah​ @rogertaylorsbitontheside @chlobo6 @rogertaylors-lipgloss​ @sj-thefan​ @omgitsearly​ @luckytrashgooprebel​ @scarsout​ @deaky-with-a-c​ @killer-queen-ofrhye @bluutac​ @vousmemanqueez​ @jonesyaddiction​ @ambi-and-sunflowers @milanosaurus @httpfandxms​ @saint-hardy​ @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls​ @mrsalwayswritex​ @rogerina-owns-me @hellsdragon​ @im-an-adult-ish​ @crazylittlethingg​  @tabsispage​ @allauraleigh​ @onceuponadetectivedemigod​

Murderer! Ben masterlist

Summary: Ben is a hitman and that means he has to be careful that he doesn’t put his family at risk. That means that when he is in danger, they have to move, sometimes in the dead of night.

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Y/n) tiredly fluttered her eyes open, blinking to adjust to the darkness of the room before she slowly started to scan her eyes around for Ben. Her brain was so accustomed to being woken up in the night or early morning due to her husband that any noises she heard no longer set off her anxiety. It was normal to hear him looking around for his keys, his belt or his clothing when he got up early or came home late. And (Y/n) was no stranger to listening to him stumbling home from a late night, smelling of booze and crawling into bed and wrapping himself around her like a vine.

But as she slowly looked around for him, (Y/n) started to wake up a bit when she noticed Ben was moving around the room rather quickly. He was clearly moving things by the way (Y/n) could hear clothing being ruffled and items being picked up and discarded like tissue.

What was he up to?

There was no time for (Y/n) to try and formulate any words or sit herself up in bed before her heart jumped in her chest as she was suddenly staring into her husband's wild eyes. Ben was crouched down in front of the bed, his arms folded on the edge of the bed and his chin resting on his arm and (Y/n) could barely make out the small tight-lipped smile on his lips through the darkness of their shared bedroom.

"Hey baby. Sorry to wake you darlin' but I need you to get up cause we got a lot to do." Ben's voice was quiet as he knew (Y/n) had only just woken up due to him rushing around the room and he knew he would be confusing her but he needed her to be awake before he even began to explain what was going on.

He leaned forward and stole a quick but very desperate kiss from her lips, nipping at her lower lip with his teeth before he pulled back and pushed himself to his feet.

A groan escaped (Y/n)'s lips when Ben flicked on the bedside lamp before he went back to doing whatever he had been doing that woke her up. (Y/n) couldn't fathom what was happening but all she did know was that Ben was in his organised panic mood. When Ben had to get things done he made sure he did it but when it was something panicking him he started to get a bit shakey and moved and talked quicker than normal like life was moving on fast forward setting.

Ben was never a settled man, it didn't matter if he was oddly calm or if he was always thinking about something, he had to be moving and doing something. He liked to organise and reorganise the house, it helped him calm down and get his mind in order and he liked a clean tidy house more than (Y/n) did so when he was home he got to work. Sitting down to watch a movie was something he couldn't always do but he did try and relax, it just didn't seem to be in his nature.

"Ben... what are you doing?" (Y/n) slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position that made her head spin considering she had only just woken up. She wanted to go back to sleep, she wanted Ben to crawl into bed and sleep with her or even for him to just babble about his day and draw patterns on her skin until he dozed off. She just wanted to sleep rather than wake up and work out what he was doing now.

(Y/n) could feel her heart starting to pound against her ribcage in a way that made her body coil forward itch from how uncomfortable the feeling was. Ben was stuffing clothing into bags. He was packing up their stuff in a haphazard kind of way that (Y/n) had seen before.

"Ben..."

The way she slowly said his name with a warning tone caused him to momentarily stop what he was doing to look at her.

"We need to go."

Those four little words were enough to force a whine past (Y/n)'s lips and make tears well up in her eyes without her even having to know the reasons behind Ben's words. In the six years that (Y/n) had been with Ben, she had heard those words a dozen times and she knew instantly that this was going to be a bad one.

Whenever Ben said those words it meant one of two things. It either meant that something had gone wrong with a deal or a fight and they would have to go away for a few days or weeks and then come back home. Or it was more serious and meant they would have to take everything and move homes altogether. (Y/n) hated when it meant they had to move and that had happened three times in the six years she had been with Ben. She knew what he did, she knew he was a hitman and that it meant killing people for large sums of money.

Ben loved what he did and he knew what kind of a man that made him. It made him a monster for killing people who either deserved to be killed or simply needed to be killed to fit someone else's plans and life. Ben was good at what he did and he had the kind of conscience where killing people didn't play on his mind at all, he felt no remorse for what he did. Despite being a family man and being someone who would go to the ends of the Earth to keep his family safe, Ben was a killer at heart.

But none of that mattered to (Y/n) because she always saw the other side to Ben. She saw the kind, loving and caring man who would do anything for her without her having to ask. She saw the man who smiled at her when she did nothing at all, the man who would wrap himself around her and just hold her because he wanted to feel her touch. (Y/n) saw a man who would do absolutely anything for her and for their children and that made her uncaring to what he did for a living.

But part of what Ben did meant that he had to have a normal home life, or as normal of one as he could manage. If people believed he was a good family man like he actually was, then they were less likely to believe that he was a cold blooded killer.

(Y/n) was fine with that. She was fine with creating a perfect family image for Ben because it was what she wanted, she wanted a loving family and Ben was a loving husband and father despite the cruel and heartless ways he killed people without even needing a reason to clear his conscience. But (Y/n wanted to have a home that she could decorate and make feel like it was theirs that they didn't have to uproute and leave when things went wrong. (Y/n) wanted to live somewhere where she had friends and family to talk to and be around, she wanted their boys to grow up in one place and have a permanent school rather than going to different schools and nurseries whenever things went wrong.

Leaving within a few days was okay, (Y/n) could deal with quickly packing things up and moving within a space of a week. That was okay, (Y/n) took at least three months to decorate each home they had in case they had to quickly move. She left items in boxes and essentials in easy places or bags in cupboards so if Ben did something bad they didn't have to run around and look for everything to pack up.

But they had been in this house for two years.

Billy had been born in this house and (Y/n) had it decorated lovely, they had nice neighbours for a change who weren't nosy or rude or creepy. (Y/n) had a lot of old friends in this neighbourhood and it wasn't a bad area to live in. She wanted this to be their home and to stay their home, she didn't want to take another long drive to a random destination and find a new home and start again.

Ben knew this.

Ben knew (Y/n) wanted a normal family life and a permanent home and he wanted that for her too. Before he met her Ben had a few flings and one night stands but had been dead set against being a family man because it would be too hard with his job. Then (Y/n) walked into his life and changed his outlook completely. She made him fall madly in love with her without having to do anything at all. They had two boys together and Ben loved when he came home and switched to being a normal family man, it made him so close to changing his job to something normal and reliable and more to the point, legal.

But he couldn't do that, deep down he would never be able to change that much so he did everything in his power to make their family normal, loving and happy.

"No. Ben we can deal with this... we'll call Joe or we'll just go for a week or two and say it's a holiday, Ben please." (Y/n) rubbed her hands over her face as she tried to think of anything they could do without really knowing what had gone on. She didn't want to move, they couldn't move right now it was bad timing, it was so bad.

"Baby, baby look at me." Ben moved until he was sat down on the bed next to (Y/n) so he could take her hands in his own. "Someone in connection to one of my old targets is here. Now they know me and if they find out about my last target they will put two and two together. This was always a risk and I need us to move before they spot me and things get ugly."

"Can't we just go for a few weeks-"

"I can't take that risk babydoll. My last target was an hour away from this town, that was close enough to home as it is and if someone says my name around here or this person sees me it will be a lot worse. I need us to be safe cause this person is dangerous and therefore we have to go. I've got a place sorted for now and then we'll search for a permanent place soon I promise."

Ben had targets, they were the people he killed because using names or any other tags made it too real for him and for (Y/n). Targets seemed easier, it was hard to imagine a person as a target. Sometimes in order to kill people Ben had to get close or talk to people who were close to his targets and that meant he took the risk of them recognising him. If this person recognised him and found out about someone who had been murdered an hour away from Ben's hometown it would be suspicious and Ben knew this man would know enough to suspect Ben of being a killer.

His first priority was his family and that meant that if someone was threatening their safety Ben uprooted them to keep them all safe. He also made sure he didn't take any jobs for at least two months in order to make sure things blew over and quietened down.

Ben could see the tears forming in (Y/n)'s eyes and it made his stomach churn to see her so cut up. He let go of her hands so he could hold onto her hip and cup her face with his free hand. His thumb smoothed over her cheek to brush away a stray tear before he leaned close and pressed his forehead against her own like he was trying to merge their thoughts together. Ben knew (Y/n) would eventually be okay with this, once they found a house she adored they would buy it and decorate it until it was perfect and Ben would do everything he could to make sure it was a forever home for them.

But right now he just had to move them all to keep them safe.

"We can't do a midnight flit, Ben. The boys... they won't understand, it'll be hard to move everything like it always is. And the baby..."

(Y/n) closed her eyes and leaned her temple more against Ben's as she wished this was just a bad dream she was going to wake up from at any moment.

The boys were five and two, they weren't going to understand why they were leaving in the middle of the night and not going back to the place they knew to be their home. They would be confused, leaving their friends behind and going to a new home, a new school where they would have to make new friends and get used to a new school system. It would be a lot for them to take in, the last time they had moved Billy hadn't even been born but it was a lot for Harvey to cope with since he had only been three at the time.

Billy had been born in this house, (Y/n) had hoped that was a sign that this might be their forever home and she wanted this baby to be born in this home too. She wanted to get through this pregnancy without anymore problems or worries happening to make everything turn upside down.

Ben knew this was bad timing, he had been afraid of something like this happening and he wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't the only option he had right now. (Y/n) had suffered a miscarriage when Billy had only been ten months old, it had been a short time between his birth and getting pregnant again only for (Y/n) to lose the baby and suffer a very bad haemorrhage which hospitalized her for a week. That traumatic event had panicked Ben because it had taken a toll on (Y/n) and Ben couldn't take any jobs for four months because he had to look after (Y/n) and the boys.

They had finally gotten to a better point in their lives where the boys were fine, their relationship was great and (Y/n)'s depression caused by the miscarriage was under control. Learning they were pregnant again had been a worry and a shock and (Y/n) had been scared of losing this baby too.

Ben didn't want to uproot their family right now when (Y/n) had been put on bedrest for the remainder of her pregnancy due to complications. He didn't want to take any risks when it came to this baby because (Y/n) losing another baby would kill her too and she was his whole world. But if he didn't move them all now he risked someone finding out about him and either the police would get involved or it would get a lot worse and he would have the risk of his family being put in harms way.

"I know, I know it's shit timing baby but we have to go now. I'm gonna go pack the car and I'll try and keep the boys asleep and move them to the car. You know the drill, doll."

He pressed another longing kiss to (Y/n)'s temple, carding his fingers through the hair at the back of her head before he slowly pulled away and stood to his feet. Whenever this happened, and it had only happened three times before, they had a drill to go through. They packed clothing, paperwork, money and any other essentials into backpacks and carry on bags to stuff into the car and then Ben or Joe would come back to the house in a few days and clear it out. They took the essentials and came back for everything else when it was clear and Ben would sort out the house in terms of cancelling the rental and cutting off the electric and giving back the keys.

A sigh escaped (Y/n)'s lips as she rubbed at her eyes that were so desperate to shed tears but she had no effort or will to cry. She was too tired and numb to cry no matter how badly she felt she needed to in order to feel better.

(Y/n) tried to busy herself getting dressed but she kept stopping and staring at the wall in front of her or finding her eyes locked onto Ben, watching his every movement. He had managed to rather neatly pack their clothes into two carry on bags within minutes and was now kneeling down at the foot of the bed in order to get the dark grey box he always kept there.

(Y/n) watched the way Ben's silver chain around his neck hung forward like a medallion trying to show him some kind of sign. The silver ring that hung so neatly at the end of the chain was slowly swaying back and forth, repeatedly tapping against Ben's chest each time it fell back towards him. With what Ben did for a living, he knew it was best to keep his wedding ring around his neck so no one could see it. If people did end up finding him and knowing what he did then at least they wouldn't know he was married and had a family.

It had only now dawned on (Y/n) that Ben was only wearing his black work jeans and nothing else, no shirt, no hoodie, not even any socks. She wondered what he had been doing before he woke her up, maybe he had gotten blood on his clothes and therefore had washed them or even binned them. Maybe he worked himself into a state and stripped off in a hot flush which had happened a few times before. Maybe he had been in the midst of changing clothes and felt he had to pack up before he finished getting dressed.

Without his shirt it allowed all of Ben's marks and tattoos to be on display, not that (Y/n) hadn't already gotten each one memorised so that when she closed her eyes she could still see a map of his body.

There was something about Ben's look that was so calming and affectionate despite the many marks covering his skin. He had scars littering his skin from where knives had cut through him during bad and drunken fights in the dead of night, he never seemed to go a single day without bruises of some sort forming somewhere on his person. And the tattoos he had made his body look like a road map. Ben had dates inked into his skin of when the boys had been born and the date of when he had married (Y/n), plus a few designs on his arms and his lower abdomen.

Ben had roman numerals tattooed onto each knuckle on both hands and he had the same design on the back of his neck in large black ink. All of these marks would normally warn people away from him, they made him look dangerous and as if he was a threat or just made him intimidating. But (Y/n) always seemed to overlook all the marks and the ink, it was as if the colours faded and she just saw the person Ben was. He seemed to loving and inviting to everyone despite his outlook.

(Y/n)'s staring didn't go unnoticed by Ben, he could feel her eyes boring into his skin like she was trying to burn him with her intense gaze but he paid no mind to her staring. It was something (Y/n) naturally seemed to do and it never bothered him.

He found the box under the bed that he had been searching for and when he took off the lid, he started placing all the documents into the small backpack he had gotten ready. The grey box was something they took everywhere with them, it contained their passports, the boys' birth certificates, their insurance numbers and documents. But it also held a plastic wallet filled with fake documents. Ben had fake passports, driving licenses, insurance numbers and legal documents created so that if things got tricky they could switch identities in emergencies.

It was harder now they had the boys because they couldn't go changing the boys' names and think that they would understand but Ben had to have the documents made just in case a new identity was needed.

He also kept a lot of money and credit cards stashed away because when they had to disappear like this, cash was the best way to pay for things because it couldn't be tracked like a credit card could.

Breaking out of her trance, (Y/n) slowly padded across the carpet to where Ben was knelt down in front of the bed. Without saying anything, she held her hand out to her husband who placed two credit cards, a driving licence and an unknown amount of cash into her hand. (Y/n) knew the drill, she would place all of those items into the seam of her handbag so if they got stuck or had to improvise, she could take them out of the hidden seam and start using them.

She leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to Ben's temple before she headed out of the room and quietly made her way downstairs. They had to be quick but they couldn't be too loud in case they woke the boys.

It felt like they were both in a trance or placed on autopilot because they knew what they were doing. The first time this happened they had been rushing around like headless chickens trying to remain calm. They had talked about what they would do if this situation ever happened but actually going through it was a lot different. But now it was a drill, it was a fire drill and they had to do what they always did to make sure everything went smoothly.

The couple bypassed one another in the hall and when going up or down the stairs to get the bags to pack the car.

(Y/n) went into Harvey's room and Ben went into Billy's room, both of them working in the darkness to pack up their son's clothes, essential toys that they couldn't go without and the bits such as bottles and beakers and nappies.

"Double-check there isn't anything you need to take tonight then go get in the car, I'll get the boys." Ben rested his hands on (Y/n)'s shoulders, slowly massaging his fingers into her skin before he turned and made his way into Harvey's room.

Ben grabbed a pair of socks and sat down on the end of Harvey's bed, slowly moving the cover so he could slide the socks onto his eldest boy's feet so he wouldn't get cold. He pulled the navy blue fluffy blanket from the end of the bed and was carful when wrapping it around his son before he effortlessly eased Harvey from the bed. His look-alike stayed motionless and in a sleeping state just like Ben expected, nothing every seemed to wake Harvey up, not even a thunderstorm or an earthquake.

He hated to do this.

Ben hated himself as he walked down the stairs, holding his son to his chest tighter with every step he went down. He didn't want to imagine how the conversation would go when the five year old woke up to realise he was no longer at home but was in the car driving to a new home in a new town. But it had to be done, and this was easier than waking Harvey and trying to explain everything to him right now.

It didn't take long for Ben to kneel in the car and slowly settle Harvey into his car seat with the blanket still tucked around him and his rabbit toy cocooned under his arm. Ben made sure the small emergency light in the front of the car was switched off for now so it wouldn't wake Harvey who couldn't stand any lights on in his room when he went to sleep.

He made his way back into the house and up to Billy's room, slipping a pair of socks onto the two year old and a jumper to make sure he stayed warm before he wrapped Billy's sleeping blanket around him and cradled him in the crook of his left arm.

Ben felt his heart jumping in his chest when Billy curled up into his chest, sighing as he tucked his face into Ben's side in his sleep. This was why Ben was doing this, he couldn't have anything happening to (Y/n) or their boys, he couldn't have them in danger because of him.

When Billy was curled up in his car seat safe and sound, Ben headed back inside, doing a double check of the house to make sure the essentials were in the car and all that was left were the decorations and household items that didn't need to be taken with them. He could see the pain in (Y/n)'s eyes as she looked around the house whilst pulling her cardigan tighter around her frame to fight out the bitter old of the early morning.

"I'm sorry, doll."

"I know. But can we just... try and make the next one a bit more permanent?" (Y/n) looked up at Ben with tired eyes that softened like melting chocolate when Ben wound his arms around her waist so he could pull her closer to his chest.

"We will, I promise. And this is just a precaution, I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't to keep you all safe. We have a good cover up, anyway." Ben inched his hand under (Y/n)'s cardigan until the palm of his hand was resting against the side of her stomach.

He was only moving them for their safety, and their family was the best cover they could ask for. They had two young boys and a baby on the way, no one was going to think they were anything but an ordinary, loving family.

[readerinsertfanfiction]

Hiya, me again! 💖💫 I have another request ^^💖

Can you make Ranmaru, Kennyo, Kenshin, Shingen, Ieyasu, Yuki, Mitsuhide and Mitsunari with MC that on her period and has really bad cramps, but is like super embrassed to tell anybody so they have to find out on their own?🥺💫💖

I'm that kind of person, so I'm silently dying rn.. 🥺💖💫 Anyway, I totally understand if you won't want to write this, I know it's kinda weird... 🥺 💖 Ily and have a nice day! 💖💫

~ Leiia 💖💫

Hola Leiia! Two requests in a row on the last day of the year. Is this a blessing for the new year, or are you cursing me? 😂😂😂 Just kidding! I’m super happy you found my inbox to request from. It has been really quiet in there and that makes me sad. I had for some reason always imagined that when my blog grew a decent size there would be constant interactions like little chats and requests, but alas.

Periods are the worst and especially to have them right now! Lots of warm water bottles for your stomach and I hope you have all of the yummy comfort food to flood into the New Year as one happy Leiia! (//shot for the period joke)

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku

Characters: Ranmaru Mori, Kennyo, Kenshin Uesugi, Shingen Takeda, Ieyasu Tokugawa, Yukimura Sanada, Mitsuhide Akechi, Mitsunari Ishida

Ah, to be a woman! Even in the modern age you couldn’t be spared from the hells of nature, the terror that mother Gaia blessed you with. And as much as you dreaded it in your age, where menstrual care had considerably improved compared to the sixteenth century, 1582 was just a special type of hell. One that you didn’t dare to speak of to your beloved, thus leaving you to tide it out alone. Or so you believed...

Ranmaru

As a ninja and as a spy Ranmaru had grown accustomed to reading body language and yours that day had been off. As if you were in pain, hurting somewhere, strained and in need of some tending. As a page Ranmaru got around places and it didn’t take him long and a talk to the maids to figure out what he needed for you. All little things that he gathered and carefully packed, for he knew the importance of hygiene, before he dropped it inside of your room, not wanting to embarrass you any further despite all of the thought he put into it.

When you found the package you couldn’t help but smile at the little note and the peach that Ranmaru had left you in which he wished you well. Young as he was there was a taught kindness within the young man that endeared you deeply.

Kennyo

He hadn’t realised what was wrong when he noted how you had withdrawn yourself. However, when he found the bloodied cloths that you had planned on cleaning the monk understood. Quietly he had taken it upon himself to wash them for you, not wanting you to be near cold water when you were already suffering. And without another word he fetched new wraps for you as well and left them in your room along with some extra coals and linen to keep you warm.

When you asked him about the laundry later the monk shrugged as he told you that he had already done it, acting as casually about it as he could. You didn’t dare to name the wraps directly and neither would the monk, not wanting to put you on the spot. He did invite you into his embrace, however, claiming that he missed your presence when in reality he just wanted to keep you out of the wind. Not that it didn’t make for a good excuse to cuddle up.

Kenshin

When you refused him that night Kenshin was confused, fear clamouring him that you were tired of him. But when he noted the spot on your linen the man immediately shut up, relief washing over him, but also pain contorting over his face as he wondered what cruelty the world had condemned you to lose blood so regularly. As if there wasn’t enough bloodshed already.

“Lie down for a little longer, rest,” the man told you after that he had the maids clean the futon. That day he ordered for all of his work to be brought to his room, not wishing to leave your side as he had stews and soups made to warm you up.

Shingen

He could immediately tell that something was wrong and even more, he had figured that it was coming as well. This man is nothing if not informed and prepared. The day before the start of your period he had drawn a hot bath for you, to relax your muscles and warm up your body. The next morning he had a tea mix of ginger and red dates delivered to you that was said to help with the cramps and getting your energy up and running again. Of course he had said nothing of it, not wanting to embarrass you, but it was easy to tell in the attention he had put in everything for you.

“How are you feeling?” he would ask you at the end of the day, his hands massaging over your back as he gently had you seated down in his lap. You could only sigh in contentedness as he rubbed over every stiff and strained muscle in your body.

Ieyasu

As the equivalent of a doctor in the Sengoku Ieyasu is more knowledgeable than most. His limited exposure to women however has him lacking in direct experience. Yet, he tries his best from the scriptures he read and the maids that came to see him with their ailments related to it. As such he had a good idea of what it was like and what was needed during your period, and most of all how to recognise the coming of it.

“I added some goji berries to the tea. It should help replenish your energy, but I still advise you to take it easy,” the blond had told you, his voice though stoic, not as harsh as it usually was when treating others. You couldn’t help it after all.

“And keep warm. That is important, if you don’t want the cramps to worsen,” came his next warning as he dropped his haori over your shoulders.

Yukimura

When he saw your face contort Yukimura thought you were hurt and was quickly by your side. When he noted that you were pale the male nearly dragged you back into your room for rest and called for the physician. It all was unneeded, as you gently stopped him.

“What do you mean this is normal? You aren’t supposed to be hurt by your own body!” Yukimura had exclaimed after that you had explained it to him. Of course the male wouldn’t immediately understand, but he was a little more considerate as he brought you Shingen’s sweet red bean buns later.

“I heard these were good for you and that you will need the energy from the sugar,” he informed you gruffly, a blush dusting his features. Somewhere you could have sworn that you could hear Shingen laugh in the background.

Mitsuhide

If there was ever something that escaped his mind it certainly wasn’t your health. This man had you figured out before you even started to cramp and had adequately prepared. Sweets within your reach, all warmed. Fresh tea at your disposal and Chimaki ready to cuddle, but mostly to cuddle the cramps away.

“You didn’t think you could hide away from me, right?” he teases you as he gently switches the lukewarm tea with a new cup.

It was infuriating and endearing how well-informed and well-organised this man was in regards to you.

Mitsunari

You hadn’t expected a pile of blankets waiting for you when you had returned to your room. Neither did you expect the wraps of bandages clumsily unrolled. Or the strong smell of ginger in the air, slightly burned, not all too thoroughly cooked, and floating in big chunks in your tea.

“By my estimation your period should be around, right?” Mitsunari spoke with a beaming smile, a flash of pride on his face as he showed you his labour and good intentions. You hadn’t expected the man to remember, much less to even study up on it, but it was a sweet gesture all the same, if not a little embarrassing.

“Ah, but I do hope you can still use those wraps. I just can’t seem to get them right,” he guiltily admitted as he was reaching out for the bandages once more.

You were quick to interfere with his good intentions, just like with any continuation of his performance.

[ibijau]

Part 2 of That Age Reversal AU

warning for canon typical violence, and for, like, all of Nightless City :)

Bent over some ancient maps of the region around Nightless City, Nie Huaisang barely noticed his brother entering his tent. 

The Sunshot Campaign, so far, was going decently but not great. It had been easy in the warmth of summer to make war, but now that winter was settling in, new difficulties were encountered on their side. Nie Huaisang, useless as a commander of men and a tactician, at least participated in the effort by organising supplies lines so they wouldn't run out of food and medicine. 

It wasn't the most glorious of tasks, and Nie Huaisang knew he would get out of that war without a title, no matter how important his contribution. It suited him just fine.

Still, he would have liked for some of the other sect leaders to cooperate with him a little more. They were all always begging for supplies, yet refused to contribute money or any goods from their territories, not until he sent Nie Mingjue to threaten them for it. 

And now Nie Mingjue had returned from the Langya front, hopefully having obtained something, if not from Jin Guangshan himself, then at least from one of his allies.

"So, how are things over there?" Nie Huaisang asked, never looking up from his map. It was so ancient, from back before Qishan Wen had risen to such prominence, but it was the only one he'd found in their library and he was trying to compare it with his memories of past travels to Nightless City. 

When his brother remained silent too long, Nie Huaisang finally looked up his way. He instantly worried at seeing Nie Mingjue so sombre. 

"Did something happen?" 

Nie Mingjue hesitated. Instead of answering, he came closer and pulled Nie Huaisang into a hug. It happened more and more these days. The initial glory of fighting for freedom was melting away, and Nie Mingjue was starting to realise what messy affairs wars were. It had become even worse since Meng Yao's departure, with Nie Mingjue’s temper rising too easily sometimes. Nie Huaisang tried to make him meditate as often as possible and closely monitored his spiritual energies, still traumatised by the memory of their father's death. 

"You're so quiet tonight," Nie Huaisang complained lightly, as if this weren't anything more than a mild annoyance. "Come on, say something. If you don't want to talk about the war, give me news of Meng Yao. Did you get to see him?" 

Nie Mingjue tensed, and the hug turned so tight that it was nearly painful. 

"I saw him," Nie Mingjue muttered. "They made him a foot soldier, like any normal recruit." 

Nie Huaisang sighed, and patted his brother's back. Of course he had expected that, knowing Jin Guangshan, but Nie Mingjue still held illusions about fairness and justice. 

"It's their loss," Nie Huaisang said firmly. "And Meng Yao is too clever to stand for it very long. It's good for him to see first hand how the Jins are, so he gets over his obsession with his father. That way, when he comes back to us, he'll know…" 

"He's not coming back," Nie Mingjue snapped. 

"Is he dead?" Nie Huaisang gasped, unable to see any other reason why their friend wouldn't return to them. Meng Yao knew they valued him the way Jin Guangshan never would. Aside from death, what could keep him from them? 

"He's not dead," Nie Mingjue hissed. "But he's also not coming back. He's made his choice." 

Relaxing a little, Nie Huaisang once more patted his brother's back, then rubbed little circles into those tense muscles. Of course, it was normal for Nie Mingjue to feel a little betrayed once he realised Meng Yao had really left them. And Nie Mingjue was only seventeen, with a heart too big and a mind still too soft, he felt everything so intensely. Whatever he said now, Nie Huaisang was certain his brother would welcome Meng Yao with open arms when he came back to them, and help organise his courtship with Lan Xichen. 

It would be so nice when things fell into place. 

"Da-Ge, you really like Meng Yao a lot, don't you?" Nie Mingjue asked. 

"I do."

"Weren't you disappointed when he left us?" 

Nie Huaisang grimaced. 

"A little, but you and Xichen were so excited about doing this for him, and… He needed to make that mistake to understand. I know he's a good and serious young man though, and ultimately he'll make the right choice. And when we have him back, we're not letting him go again! Not unless a great beauty comes begging to marry him."

"He's not coming back," Nie Mingjue stubbornly insisted, making his brother roll his eyes. 

Ah, teenagers could be so stubborn! This would be a lesson, not just for Meng Yao, but for Nie Mingjue as well. And when they had both learned it, they'd all be happy together again. 

-

Quiet wasn’t a word Nie Huaisang would have ever thought of using to describe the Unclean Realm, but upon returning there after the war, it was the only one that fit. Those high, thick walls felt safe in a way they hadn’t in years. The disciples making noise during training seemed peaceful compared to what Nie Huaisang had heard during the war. There were no more battles, no more wounded to care for, no more dead to bury with what little respect they could manage when they needed to be so hasty about it. Nie Huaisang’s office, a cramped room that saw little sunlight, felt like the height of comfort after so many months in a draughty tent where he always ended up getting mud on his clothes.

More than that though, the Unclean Realm felt safe because finally the elders had all been forced to accept that Nie Mingjue and him weren’t just foolish children playing at ruling. Nie Mingjue had proved an amazingly competent leader of men whose troupes adored him, helped in this by the fact that they had never lacked in any of the supplies they needed thanks to Nie Huaisang’s careful organisation.

Nie Huaisang wasn’t so foolish as to think he no longer had enemies, not after so many years of fear, but for the first time since his father’s death he felt certain that he had more allies than opponents.

It was an odd thing to feel safe again in his own home.

All Nie Huaisang needed to be happy was for Nie Mingjue to finish recovering from what he had suffered at the hands of Wen Ruohan, and then all would be well.

It really was the only stain on the many victories they’d obtained during the war. The fact that Wen Ruohan had managed to capture Nie Mingjue, that he had hurt him… But it was in the past now. Nie Mingjue was better, almost entirely recovered, and arguing daily with the healers for the right to get out of bed. Another week, the healers said, and so that morning, as he walked out of his brother’s room, Nie Huaisang privately gave it about a day before Nie Mingjue became too bored and ignored their orders.

With this consideration in mind, Nie Huaisang headed to the training ground to give some orders to the masters in charge. He couldn’t stop Nie Mingjue from doing as he liked, but he could at least make sure others would keep an eye on him and mind he remained reasonable during practice.

It was there, in the main courtyard, that Nie Huaisang discovered Lan Xichen. The young man, who was following his first disciple toward the building that contained his office, smiled brightly when he spotted him, and immediately walked his way at a pace so quick it came rather close to running.

“What a pleasure to see you, Lan er-gongzi,” Nie Huaisang greeted him. “Ah, no, my apology… it’s Zewu-Jun now, right?”

“Please don’t call me that,” Lan Xichen begged, blushing and wringing his hands. “It’s embarrassing, and we’re friends, right?”

“I just don’t want to be disrespectful to a great war hero. Mingjue is very keen on letting others people call him Chifeng-Zun, it’s getting to his head a bit. He’s such a brat. And I suppose you’re here to see him?”

Surprisingly, Lan Xichen shook his head.

“Hopefully I’ll talk to him later, but first I wanted a word with Nie zongzhu, if possible? I need your help with something that concerns your brother.”

“Then I cannot possibly refuse,” Nie Huaisang replied. “Let’s go somewhere more private, Zewu-Jun.”

“Nie zongzhu!”

Nie Huaisang laughed at the younger man’s outrage and embarrassment, glad to see that even after everything they had all gone through, at least this remained the same. It really was such fun to tease Lan Xichen.

A few moments later, the two of them were in Nie Huaisang’s office, and Lan Xichen finally explained what his problem was.

“Nie zongzhu, you know that your brother and Meng Yao… that is, Jin Guangyao have had something of a falling out during the war?”

Nie Huaisang nodded. Nie Mingjue had refused to give him any details, but apparently the two had had an argument of some sort, shortly before Meng Yao left to become a double agent at the court of Wen Ruohan. Nie Huaisang had some vague suspicions that the argument might have been about that very decision to act as a spy, something which Jin Guangshan now claimed to have ordered. Knowing Jin Guangshan and Meng Yao both, Nie Huaisang rather suspected that the young man had gone off on his own in a new attempt to gain his father’s attention, which had sadly worked.

“They were such good friends,” Lan Xichen sighed. “And I like both of them so much, it really pains me that they cannot seem to reconcile. A-Yao really wants to, you know! And he’s so sorry for what he had to do while pretending to work for Wen Ruohan. I know that Mingjue is angry at him for it, but he really had no choice, it was the only way he could save him.”

Nie Huaisang nodded again. This too, his brother refused to talk about, and so he had only heard it from Lan Xichen. But apparently, after Nie Mingjue and some of his men had been captured, Meng Yao had killed those Nie disciples to amuse Wen Ruohan, all while waiting for a chance to kill the tyrant. Yet Nie Mingjue had only seen this as a betrayal, and would have killed Meng Yao if Lan Xichen had not pointed out that their friend had saved him.

Nie Huaisang, who would have slit open anyone’s throat, even his own or Lan Wangji’s, if it could have saved Nie Mingjue, simply failed to understand why his brother remained so stuck on this. It was sad, yes. He would have preferred for their disciples to make it alive, because they were his too, certainly. But sacrifices had to be made sometimes, and ultimately Nie Huaisang cared for nothing but his brother’s well-being.

For saving Nie Mingjue, Meng Yao had Nie Huaisang’s eternal gratitude.

“Mingjue can be a little stubborn,” Nie Huaisang said, which they both knew to be an understatement. “I don’t think there’s anything we can do about this situation.”

Lan Xichen smiled nervously, twisting his fingers.

“I have an idea, but I’m not sure Mingjue will like it. If I had your support, though… he listens to you and values your opinion so much, if you support it, I’m sure he will agree!”

“You overestimate the power I have over my brother,” Nie Huaisang chuckled. “I’ve never even gotten him to eat his vegetables. But go on, tell me your idea, Zewu-Jun.”

Lan Xichen bit his lip, and closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.

“I was thinking Nie Mingjue, A-Yao, and me could become sworn brothers,” he announced. “That way, they’d have a better chance to spend time together and reconcile! And it would be good for A-Yao to have friends outside of Lanling Jin. Even if Jin zongzhu has recognised him, I don’t think any of them really see his worth. But if he’s sworn brother with a future sect leader and with the brother of another sect leader, then they’ll have to treat him with more consideration, right?”

He sounded so innocent and hopeful, Nie Huaisang wanted to lean over and pinch his cheeks like he would a child. Lan Wangji really had the best little brother, and Nie Huaisang envied him to have someone like that at his side, instead of a wilful brat. If things had been different, Nie Huaisang really would have tried to steal Lan Xichen away.

“It’s not a bad plan, but it’s not exactly a good one either,” Nie Huaisang pointed out. “Nie Mingjue is too stubborn to accept this. And besides, if you swear brotherhood with Meng Yao, won’t it make it awkward later down the line when you marry him?”

Lan Xichen, always perfect and elegant even in the middle of battle, gaped at him with an expression of mild horror so ridiculous that Nie Huaisang couldn’t help laughing.

“Sorry, was that supposed to be a secret? Your brother kind of spilled the beans.”

“My brother told you I want to marry Jin Guangyao?” Lan Xichen gasped, the horror on his face getting worse.

Nie Huaisang grinned, and waved his hand.

“Something of that effect. He told me you had a person in view, and of course I’ve seen how you are with Meng Yao, so it was easy to draw a few conclusions. I can only wish you great happiness, although I will say that I’m upset you kept it secret from me. I thought we were friends, Lan er-gongzi.”

Lan Xichen gaped some more, opening and closing his mouth a few times, much like a very pretty goldfish. He then closed his eyes and, like before, took a deep breath before speaking again.

“Nie zongzhu, although he is very dear to me, I have no such intentions toward Jin Guangyao,” Lan Xichen proclaimed in a pinched voice.

“But there is someone,” Nie Huaisang teased, still a little pained that his friend had kept such a secret from him. “Come one, tell your Huaisang-ge about the boy you like. Is it someone I know? Does he like you back? I know it’s a boy, Wangji said as much, but he wouldn’t say more.”

“Brother talks too much,” Lan Xichen muttered, a heavy blush spreading on his face. “I haven’t said anything because I thought Nie zongzhu had enough problems on his own without being burdened with this. When we wrote to each other about my brother and Wei Wuxian, didn’t you always say you had no time for that sort of things yourself?”

Nie Huaisang waved his hand. “My case is different. Who can think of romance while raising a brat like Mingjue? I refuse to consider it at all for the moment, I’m too busy. Maybe when he’s sect leader, I can think about that... But that doesn’t mean I can’t make a little time for gossip now,” he added with a mischievous smile. “Zewu-Jun, tell me about your boyfriend. I need to make sure it’s someone worthy of you. Obviously Wangji thinks he is, or he’d have put an end to it, but Wangji has awful tastes so that doesn’t say much.”

“Nie zongzhu, please stop teasing me,” Lan Xichen begged. “You really don’t know?”

He looked so distressed that Nie Huaisang, for a moment, truly felt sorry for poking fun at him like that. At the same time, his curiosity was piqued. If both Lan brothers thought it obvious who Lan Xichen liked, how could he have missed it? Even with Lan Xichen being a kind and sweet boy who treated everyone warmly, including an old man like Nie Huaisang himself, there had to have been signs which he had missed.

Nie Huaisang told himself it was just that he saw Lan Xichen as another little brother and so the idea of him being in love was mildly unpleasant, but even that didn’t sit quite right. After all, he’d been delighted from the start by Nie Mingjue’s angry little crush on Jiang Cheng, while the idea of Lan Xichen liking anyone just displeased him.

Maybe it was just that nobody could ever be good enough for this boy who smiled like the sun.

“Let’s make a deal, Zewu-Jun,” Nie Huaisang offered with a devious grin. “If you tell me about your boyfriend, I’ll support you when you tell Mingjue about your idea of becoming sworn brothers.”

Lan Xichen inhaled sharply and pinched his lips, looking as if he might cry.

“Nie zongzhu, that’s not fair. The two things have nothing to do with each other!”

Nie Huaisang nodded, his grin growing wider. “Zewu-Jun, life is unfair.”

Lan Xichen looked down at his hands, fidgeting nervously. It was the most anxious Nie Huaisang had ever seen him, and as the silence between them started to stretch, he found it worrying. Lan Wangji clearly approved of the match, meaning it couldn’t be an awful one, nor an impossible one, so what could have made Lan Xichen so fearful to reveal it?

Nie Huaisang, feeling the other man’s anxiety be passed on to him, was about to call off the deal when Lan Xichen took a deep breath. He then looked right into Nie Huaisang’s eyes and spoke with new determination.

“I cannot give a name,” he explained, his voice trembling slightly. “This person isn’t free to be courted at the present, and I do not wish to add to his troubles. But I… I like him very much, and I have hopes that he at least likes me a little. It will be a few years before he is free to live his life as he pleases, but when he is… when he is, I will do my best to make him fall in love with me.”

“Isn’t it troublesome to have to wait like that?” Nie Huaisang asked, surprised by that dedication. “I remember being nineteen, I wouldn’t have had the patience to wait for anyone.”

“This person is worth it,” Lan Xichen replied vehemently, his face the brightest shade of red Nie Huaisang had ever seen. “He really is, and I really hope I can convince him to let me have a chance when the time comes.”

He sounded so hopeful and determined that Nie Huaisang couldn’t help being touched. For a reason he couldn’t quite name, he also felt envious of this mysterious man. His own experience with romance had been people attracted by his status as sect leader, or people trying to trick him into letting his guard down to plot against him and his brother. Hopefully he might get a chance at something a little less tainted once he was finally free to step down in favour of his brother, but even then he didn’t expect to ever provoke the sort of passion that Lan Xichen apparently felt.

“That man would have to be a fool to not fall for you,” Nie Huaisang stated, trying not to sound too bitter. “But if he is a fool, come to your Huaisang-ge for comfort and we’ll see what to do. Maybe I’ll decide to seduce you and keep you here in the Unclean Realm. That way you can at least become Mingjue’s brother, and we have much better food here than the Cloud Recesses.”

Lan Xichen quickly looked down. “I would very much like to be Mingjue’s brother, yes,” he whispered.

Nie Huaisang could only laugh at his quiet eagerness. He leaned over the table to gently tap Lan Xichen’s burning cheek.

“You really are such a sweet boy, I’m glad my brother and you are friends. Now, there’s an easier way for you to become his new big brother, so let’s go talk to him about your idea. He won’t like it, and I’m not sure it’s a good idea anyway, but I promised to help and so I will.”

Before Nie Huaisang could move his hand away, Lan Xichen grabbed it in both of his and squeezed it gently. To make matters worse, he then smiled that beautiful, bright smile of his, the one that really did make Nie Huaisang want to steal him away from his sect.

Maybe it was for the best that Lan Xichen wasn’t his little brother, because Nie Huaisang would have let him get away with too much, even worse than he already did with Nie Mingjue.

That night, when everyone had gone to bed, Nie Huaisang heard a specific knock on his door. Even recognising the signal, he grabbed his sabre on the way to greet his guest, but as expected it was only Nie Mingjue, alone and looking calmer than he had that afternoon when Lan Xichen had presented his plan.

Nie Huaisang couldn’t help smiling. That was just like his brother to act like that, exploding with emotion at first, only to later give things a more thorough consideration once he had calmed down. He silently invited his brother to come in, and quickly closed the door behind him.

While Nie Huaisang went to sit crossed legged on his bed (heavy conversation could be had in comfort), his brother decided to remain standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. He’d grown so tall, and yet he still looked like a little boy sometimes, shy and uncertain about what to think about complicated situations until he had checked his emotions and thoughts with his big brother. Nie Huaisang was going to miss that, the day Nie Mingjue realised he didn’t need him at all to make his mind about things.

“Do you really think I should do it?” Nie Mingjue asked. “What Jin Guangyao did was… it was really bad. I know he saved me, but I didn’t want to be saved like that.”

Nie Huaisang gave the question some serious consideration, now that he wasn’t distracted by Lan Xichen’s infectious optimism.

“It would put you in a delicate position,” he admitted. “Since you’re the youngest, you’d owe him respect, which you can’t seem to give to anyone except Lan Xichen.”

“And you,” Nie Mingjue protested.

“Only when it suits you,” Nie Huaisang corrected with a shrug. “But Meng Yao would also have a responsibility towards you, to be a model and a guide. And if he fails to act in a way that fits your sense of justice and decency, it would be easier to confront him if he’s your sworn brother. Otherwise, he’ll just be the member of another sect, one we don’t even get along with all that well, so you would have no right to say anything about his behaviour unless Jin Guangshan too condemned him.”

“Which he won’t,” Nie Mingjue bitterly grumbled. “But I don’t know if I can trust Jin Guangyao at all, not anymore. He’s not an honest man.”

“Neither am I,” Nie Huaisang reminded them, both of them knowing to what extremes he had gone in those terrible early years. “A-Jue, sometimes… sometimes the world forces us to make choices that we don’t like. I’ve made those choices, and I would make them again, because you matter than much to me, and I cannot regret them. This will be your choice. I won’t force you to go along with Lan Xichen’s idea, and I won’t even ask that you try to be on good terms with Meng Yao if it is so unbearable to you. But he will remain my friend, and I will remain grateful to him for saving you, no matter what choice you make, and I believe the same goes for Lan Xichen. Do you understand that?”

Nie Mingjue somberly nodded.

They dropped the conversation that night, and did not speak of it again in the days that followed. But in the end, Nie Mingjue agreed to the sworn brotherhood, saying he wanted to keep an eye on Meng Yao and that seemed the best way to do it.

-

It started slowly, a few light drops announcing a storm none of them could have predicted.

On the whole, Nie Huaisang felt little interest in Wei Wuxian’s actions and methods. The boy’s insolence amused him at best, because it infuriated so many of those stuffy sect leaders who had made his own life a living hell whenever they had dismissed him. He was perhaps a little sorry for Jiang Cheng who clearly didn’t know what to do with such an unruly shixiong. And he definitely felt very sorry for Lan Wangji who would never get to marry that chaotic boy now, but he was certain Lan Wangji was reasonable enough he’d recover from it with a little time. In fact, Nie Huaisang was already trying to come up with a list of available ladies of good birth and good cultivation that might suit him better than Wei Wuxian ever would have, anyway.

As for the rest, it really did not concern Nie Huaisang. He had maintained his grip on Qinghe Nie by staying resolutely outside of all those quarrels that other sects enjoyed so much. Nie Mingjue often berated him for staying so neutral, but it was simpler than trying to keep up with all the arguments that were happening all the time.

It was not his problem when Wei Wuxian, at a Night Hunt on Phoenix Mountain, alienated almost everyone present by showing off his methods. All Nie Huaisang cared about was that Nie Mingjue, using only legitimate skills and methods, easily took down half of the preys present that day, reminding everyone that the future leader of Qinghe Nie would be a man above all else.

It did not concern him when Wei Wuxian, on a whim, decided to further antagonise Jin Zixun and steal some war prisoners from him, even turning one of them into a fierce corpse of apparently unprecedented power. Nie Huaisang watched those events unfold, and felt very glad that neither those Wen nor Wei Wuxian were in his charge.

Perhaps it should have caused him surprise when Wei Wuxian seceded from Yunmeng Jiang and established himself with his evil cohort in the dreaded Burial Mounds of Yiling. But at nearly the same time the renewed engagement of Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli was announced, which was a topic worthier of Nie Huaisang’s attention. He ordered new robes, and commissioned a new guan for the occasion. It was a lovely wedding, and he spent most of it chatting with either the Lan brothers or Meng Yao, which was the most pleasant use of time Nie Huaisang could think of.

There were rumour of unsavoury characters gathering at the feet of the Burial Mounds, horror stories about the Ghost General that reached the Unclean Realm, causing Nie Mingjue to worry… but more importantly Jiang Yanli was going to have a baby, and who would have thought Jin Zixuan of all people would be the first in their generation to not only get married but also become a father? It made Nie Huaisang tease his brother about getting on with it already, or else someone else was going to snatch Jiang Cheng right in front of him. Nie Mingjue grumbled something about pots and kettles but refused to explain himself.

Then, for young Jin Ling’s hundredth’s day party, it became rumoured that Wei Wuxian had been invited, and Nie Huaisang felt comforted in his decision not to become involved. Everything was going to sort itself out, as it usually did. So Nie Huaisang enjoyed the party, playing at making Lan Xichen blush, until…

Until someone came in running, saying that Jin Zixuan was dead, that Wei Wuxian had used his Ghost General to murder him in cold blood.

After such a crime, even Nie Huaisang couldn’t refuse to get involved anymore. When Jin Guangshan called a gathering of all the sects in Nightless City to declare war against Wei Wuxian, Qinghe Nie had no choice but to come. To do anything else would have been to side with the Yiling Patriarch, and neither Nie brothers felt any inclination to do so. Wei Wuxian, whatever else he was once, had become a menace to be taken down and eliminated.

But perhaps, just perhaps, Nie Huaisang should have kept his sect out of this mess after all.

Because Wei Wuxian heard about their gathering, about the burning of his two closest accomplices.

To say he was unhappy about it would have been quite the understatement.

Very early on, Nie Huaisang lost track of what was happening around him. All he knew was that there were a great number of fierce corpses attacking them, more powerful ones than his cultivation safely allowed him to fight against. He was forced to stick close to Nie Mingjue, shamefully hiding behind his little brother when it should have been him protecting the younger boy. All he could do was weakly guard his brother’s back, and warning him whenever enemies drew closer.

The fight went on for what felt like hours, bringing wave after wave of relentless fierce corpses that never tired even though the living did. Nie Huaisang became convinced that they would all die there if Wei Wuxian couldn’t be stopped. He begged and begged Nie Mingjue to fly away while he still had the strength for it, so that at least he survived, but Nie Mingjue, pig headed brat that he was, refused to abandon their comrades, refused to act dishonourably even to save his own life.

But at last, after an eternity and a half, the number of fierce corpses diminished, letting them regain the upper hand. Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang, who were among the few still standing, were left facing a scene of utter desolation beyond anything that even the Sunshot Campaign had brought. Corpses fresh and old surrounded them, and everywhere all they could hear were the moans of the dying and the wounded rising in the most horrible sound Nie Huaisang had ever heard.

“Mingjue, take care of our people,” Nie Huaisang ordered with an empty calm he hadn’t felt in years, not since his father died before his eyes in a fit of murderous madness. “Do not squander your spiritual energy trying to heal them, but send a message home so those who stayed behind come help us. Leave the dead where they are for now, we can’t do anything for them, but gather everyone who is wounded and can be moved safely. If anyone is well enough to help, make them help. No spiritual healing! We don’t know if Wei Wuxian won’t be back.”

Nie Mingjue nodded numbly, looking lost and small for all that he was so much bigger than Nie Huaisang now. It was tempting to go hug him, to tell him that things would be fine, but Nie Huaisang couldn’t be sure of that, and they had no time for sentiment until they knew what had become of Wei Wuxian.

“Get to it!” Nie Huaisang shouted. “We don’t know how much time we have!”

His brother startled at his tone and turned to obey, but quickly stopped to look again at Nie Huaisang.

“Da-Ge, are you also going to look for survivors?”

“I’m going to look for the Lans and the Jiangs,” Nie Huaisang announced. “They were closer than us, they’ll know more about what’s going on.”

“Then I’m coming too,” Nie Mingjue decided. “I’m not leaving you alone. If he comes back…”

“You will do as I say and help our people!” Nie Huaisang hissed. “Find them, help them, protect them. That’s all you have to worry about for now!”

“But Da-Ge!” his brother protested, stepping closer, only for Nie Huaisang to stop him with a gesture and a hard look.

“For once in your life, you’re going to obey the order I give you, Mingjue. Now get to work! We don’t know how much time we have!”

Nie Mingjue, wilful brat that he was, knew better than to insist. He walked in one direction, while Nie Huaisang hurried into the opposite one, calling out for Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng. If anyone had managed to keep an eye on Wei Wuxian it would be these two idiots who didn’t know when to give up on a lost cause.

Nie Huaisang walked among the dead, shouting and screaming and crying for whoever would hear him, increasingly hopeless to be heard when all around him were nothing but dead and dying people. Then, at last, he heard a voice calling him back.

“Nie zongzhu!”

It was a familiar voice. Too familiar, in fact. Nie Huaisang found himself running on wobbly legs until he reached the young man calling for him, a white shape stained with red. Falling to his knees next to him, Nie Huaisang gathered Lan Xichen in his arms, cradling him close against his chest.

“How are you feeling?” Nie Huaisang asked as he touched the other's cold face, already preparing himself to use what little spiritual energy he had to help the younger man if necessary. “Where are you hurt?”

“I’m not,” Lan Xichen sighed, clinging to him like a terrified child. “It was just so much, I needed to rest, I just needed to rest, but now I can’t get up anymore. What about you? Did they hurt you?”

“Mingjue protected me,” Nie Huaisang admitted, ashamed that he still had the strength to run around when Lan Xichen had fought to exhaustion. “What about your brother? Is he fine? When did you last see him?”

Lan Xichen tensed at the question, clinging to Nie Huaisang so hard that it hurt, hiding his face against the older man’s shoulder.

“He’s gone. He’s gone!” he sobbed. “He left us, he just left us! I thought that he was going to go over and kill Wei Wuxian when he collapsed, but instead he… Huaisang-ge, how could he choose him over us?”

Nie Huaisang cursed. He had thought that Lan Wangji had gotten over this, now that Wei Wuxian had shown his true face. The very fact that the Lans had been there in Nightless City had felt like a proof that Lan Wangji had truly understood there really was no hope for his one sided crush.

Instead, Lan Wangji had only been waiting for a last chance to join the man he loved.

“Xichen, what happened exactly?”

“He ran when Wei Wuxian collapsed, and… we were all so tired, but Brother still had some strength and he flew away with him. Huaisang-ge, what are we going to do?”

“Our best,” Nie Huaisang hissed.

It took some effort to get back on his feet, especially with Lan Xichen leaning on him so heavily, but Nie Huaisang managed, driven by a newly found hatred for the man who, until moments ago, he would have called his best friend.

“Xichen, do you think anyone else saw this?”

The younger man, trembling in his arms, managed to shake his head.

“I don't know. I don't know! I think... Just me, some Lans… there were still so many fierce corpses, I don’t think anyone was paying attention. Huaisang-ge, how could he do this? He’s our sect leader, he’s supposed to be righteous, he’s supposed to be an example, how could he choose that man?”

“He’s an idiot, like his father before him,” Nie Huaisang retorted, pulling the younger man closer to him. “Xichen, listen to me. Nobody can know what your brother did. Nobody except you, your uncle, and whoever your uncle chooses to trust. You hear me? Don’t tell Mingjue, and no matter what you do, don’t tell Meng Yao. It has to be a secret. If anyone knows, they’ll ask for Wangji’s head.”

Still leaning hard on Nie Huaisang’s side, Lan Xichen nodded weakly. 

“We’re going to find your uncle now, and we’re going to tell him what happened,” Nie Huaisang whispered, which got him another nod. “And then, you two are going to save Wangji from himself, and nobody will ever know what happened. Can you walk, Xichen?”

“I think I can,” Lan Xichen mumbled, only to nearly collapse at the first step he tried to take.

It broke Nie Huaisang’s heart to see him like this, wounded and exhausted more than he had ever been in the war, betrayed by his brother. More than ever Nie Huaisang wanted to steal Lan Xichen away to the Unclean Realm so he could be kept safe and happy, among people who would never choose a murderer over him.

But he couldn’t do that. After what Lan Wangji had done, Gusu Lan would need its Second Jade more than ever. They did not deserve him, but they would need him, and Nie Huaisang knew too much about that to really consider this silly fantasy of his.

What he could do, however, was pick Lan Xichen in his arms, the younger man too exhausted to resist the indignity, and help him look for his uncle. There was an odd sense of rightness to it, to holding Lan Xichen so close against his chest, the younger man's arms tight around his neck, like a bride carried into bed, or a child cradled by their mother. If Nie Huaisang had not been so distressed over everything that had happened, he might have questioned it.

But right then, none of that mattered. All that counted was getting Lan Xichen back to his uncle, and then returning to his own brother to check how he was doing. And perhaps when he found Nie Mingjue again, Nie Huaisang would hug him tight, just because he could.

Just because between the two of them, there could never be such a betrayal as what Lan Wangji had just committed that day.

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Fluffy Days ~ Jumin Han x Reader

Everyone, when they looked at Jumin, they saw him for his position as the Director and future CEO of one of the top 5 biggest, wealthiest companies in South Korea, so it was needless to say that, before thinking of how much he worked to perfect himself to be the best version of a professional director as he can, despite the title being given hereditary, people would still think of all the riches he was blessed with.

Many, like Zen and Yoosung, would envy him for having so much money and being able to do anything he could even dream of, including any weird fantasy like creating a wine line specifically for cats, or a cat brand...

And only he knows what else he thought of, but never tried to give form to.

However, very few ever looked at him for being a hard-working man, business-orientated, rational, logical and always putting the benefit of the company above all else.

But...

Was Jumin truly happy the way he was?

That question was answered one day, when a certain maiden called Y/N found a weird phone on the ground, and somehow found herself joining this charity organisation called RFA, and given her profession as a Vet, and having enough money for herself, and obviously not being a materialistic gold-digger...

Well, the brunet man of the RFA found himself completely entranced by this mysterious woman, who, in time, will end up being his girlfriend, and even more, his fiancee.

In due time, though, there is no rush.

The other important question that even fewer people ever ask themselves was...

Was Jumin never stressed out or over-worked?

And the answer goes pretty obvious that yes, he was, rather often, but he masks that and tries to cope with it by retorting to his childish self that has been long locked away, and yet, sometimes resurfaces when needed, so he does silly cat projects.

Now that he has a lover, however, he can allow himself to go on dates, that began rather fancy, but upon her protest, became more relaxed and casual, preferring peace and content to extravagance and luxuries.

They would go on a picnic in the forest nearby, take impulsive trips to what-ever place they felt like, sometimes throwing a dart on a world map on the wall and going wherever it lands, or going on shopping sprees for whatever self-care items they felt like, doing skin care routines together from time to time, cuddling together in the cinema room, eating commoner cinema snacks that he has to admit, aren’t too bad (although he won’t trade the ‘Melanin’ stake for popcorn).

There are, however, some days when he would just want to stay at home and cuddle with Y/N and Elizabeth the 3rd - Those days are definitely the most stressful and he needs to calm himself down before he bursts with weird emotions, which is something he prides himself to never do, and yet, he acknowledges the fact that it is not impossible, and he is still just a human, not a heartless robot as some claim he is.

As soon as he got home, Jumin sighed, going to his room, threw his blazer on the chair nearby, and folding up his sleeves, he let himself fall on his bed, looking at the ceiling with an exhausted and annoyed expression, before closing his eyes altogether, taking a few deep breaths to calm down.

Sighing at the deplorable state her beloved was in, she went to the bathroom and drew hot water, putting in some lavender bath salt, lighting up some incense sticks, some scented candles with lavender, vanilla and cinnamon, made the lights be dim, put bubble solution and waited until it was hot and steamy in the bath, as she searched for some calming Lo-Fi music, choosing some mountain sounds that had soft bird chirping and forest sounds included.

When everything was perfect, she threw in a Lush northern lights bathbomb, loving how great the purple and blue blended together, and went out, sitting on the side of the bed next to Jumin, gently brushing away the hair from his face and kissing his forehead.

“Come on, darling, I drew you a bath. Let’s help you relax a bit...Shall we?” she spoke in that soft voice that could always sooth his worries away.

He didn’t have the power to say much, but humming positively, he sluggishly followed Y/N to the bathroom, where his eyes widen and how aesthetically pleasing and relaxing the bathroom became.

It was almost like he never had any idea how relaxing a bath can be, and not as much of a ‘chore’ as he felt it was.

Y/N told him to take his clothes off already and get in the water before it gets cold, which seemed to make him chuckle in amusement, but did so without any protesting, and he found himself sighing at how good it felt having his sore, tense muscles tended by the hot water.

She pushed him gently down by the shoulders until he was up to his chin in water, then went to pour a glass of his favourite red wine for him to enjoy.

“Is this how you always take baths?” he asked in a lower voice. “Most of the time, yes. I make this ritual whenever I feel the need to properly relax, and it sort of became like a Pavlovian reflex, y’know?” she snorter in amusement, sitting on the ground next to the bathroom. “I see...Now I understand why you were always looking forward to them.” he nodded slightly in agreement. “I’m happy if it can help you as well. I haven’t seen you this stressed since the whole Sarah and Elizabeth the 3rd problem.” she gave him a sad smile, which made him look deep into her eyes with a pondering look. “I don’t appreciate too many unexpected things coming up all at once.” he nodded, leaning back once again. “What kind of music is this?” “Oh, this! It’s called Lo-Fi, and it’s mostly for relaxing. It has all sorts of genres and types, but this, in particular, is a mountain Lo-Fi. Do you like it? I know it’s different to the classical music you always had, but I thought maybe a little change wouldn’t hurt. I-I can change it back to Debussy and Vivaldi if you don’t like it!” she blinked, her eyes widening at the realisation that she messed up, but he could only chuckle at her cute reactions. “I don’t mind this. It’s pretty nice. Perhaps, as you said, a change in the usual routine wouldn’t hurt once in a while.” he gave her a soft smile, which left her weak to her knees. “Sweet. Let me pamper you up a bit, then.” she grinned, as she started applying a hydrating face mask, putting two big cucumber slices on his eyes. “Why...Are you doing all this for me, Y/N?” he asked, unsure of himself. “Why? Because you’re stressed out an you need to relax, obviously.” she spoke as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Yes, I know, but...Why...?” he asked again, putting emphasis on the last world. “Ohh, I think I get what you mean. Because I love you, of course. I want to spoil you because you love me, and you care about me, and you make me happy, so of course, I want to do anything in my power to reciprocate and make sure you know how much I love you.” her words were so sweet and innocent that Jumin felt the burning need to throw away those stupid cucumber slices and look at her beautiful face, but decided against that impulse, so he won’t upset her and her thoroughly prepared routine.

After that, she took away the slices and gently washed away the cream-mask, in circular motions, as he massaged his face, and he truly felt in Heaven for the first time in ages.

If this wasn’t bliss, he had no idea what else could be.

And if that wasn’t enough, the shower gel she put on the sponge smelled like home-made chocolate, and as she gently rubbed his shoulders, arms and neck, he had to use all the self-restraint he had not to grab her arms and get her in the tub with him so he can hold her tightly to his chest and kiss her until he forgot to breathe altogether.

It lasted for at least an hour, but Jumin got a bit bored and restless of staying in the bathtub, and told the girl he’s done for now, she brought him his bath robe and told him to get in his sleeping wear while she cleans and organises stuff around the bathroom, as it was one of her little quirks, to have everything in order, which always amuses him since he does the exact same thing all the time, going as far as to scold Assistant Kang for not putting the folders on his desk at the exact millimeters specified.

As soon as she was ready, Y/N did a short night time skin care routine and went to her lover, cuddling with him and bringing out the laptop and putting on his favourite movie on the huge plasma TV that he only ever turned on thanks to her.

Jumin wasn’t even sure if he was paying attention to the movie, as he let Y/N hug his head to her chest, gently playing with his hair in a way that made him almost sleepy, yet very warm and content, his past stress and worries being long eradicated.

He remembered her saying that since she was very little, and even now, when she’s all grown up, she always loves crawling in her mum’s arms in bed and letting her play with her hair, as it was one of the few things that can combat her insomnia and help her sleep peacefully...

And now, she was doing it to him, and he felt more than honoured to be subject to such personal, intimate and comforting act of pampering.

That is the kind of privilege he would do anything to achieve, and it was happening to him, as the angel that his girlfriend is was always the one person who could somehow make him feel happy by merely existing.

Outside was a gorgeous night, and Jumin’s dormitory was illuminated by nothing more than the twinkling stars and the glorious silvery light of the moon that was looking over the two lovers holding each other under the covers of the master bed, while faint jazz music played in the background, as it was one of their little before-sleep rituals, still feeling the little euphoria from the movie they just watched.

“Jumin...I love you. And I’m really grateful for everything you’ve done for me. Never forget that, okay?” the h/c girl spoke in a gentle voice, as the man ran his fingers through her long locks, just as he would play with his cat’s fur, and she’d start purring. “I won’t forget, Y/N. I’m glad you were able to convince me to meet up with you, despite the circumstances, back then when we barely knew each other. No, actually, I am glad that you found that phone.” Jumin’s velvety voice spoke out, ringing in her ears. “Want to go out tomorrow? I have a free day tomorrow at the clinic. We can go have a walk through the forest or the park, if you want.” Y/N suggested, drawing shapes on the man’s chest absent-mindedly. “I don’t see why not. Elizabeth the 3rd is at V’s and I’ll have Assistant Kang erase everything from tomorrow’s schedule. I believe I had some meeting with another business with a group of women...Not something I’m too fond of.” he groaned slightly, making the girl chuckle and raise slowly, resting her form on her elbow. “What, you don’t want to throw around too many compliments and sickeningly sweet sugar-coated words in just one day?” she chuckled, a teasing smirk on her face. “The more I look at you, the more you remind me of a vixen. I don’t see any reason why I should carelessly throw around compliments to thirsty women who are only in it for my money and looks, when I could direct them all to that one person who holds my heart.” Jumin shot right back, making the girl dramatically put her hand over her heart, mimicking that she got shot by Cupid’s arrow. “Mon Dieu, my ears can’t believe what they’re hearing, are you sure you’re not trying to charm me again?” she leaned down to plant a soft kiss on his lips, as one of her hands gently brushed away the fringe from his face. “There is no end line to the path to someone’s affections. I believe that once you found the special someone, one should continue to show their appreciation towards said person.” his words soothed her heart like a nice glass of rose syrup as he snaked his hands around her waist and brought her back into an embrace, her head resting on his shoulder. “You always know how to make my heart beat like crazy.” she nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck, giggling softly, making the man shiver slightly. “Just like a fox.” he muttered, chuckling lightly.

[rosy-wooyoung]

[17:16]

🎄 Day 10 of the Christmas project 🎄

pairing : yunho x fem!reader a/n : i’m a day behind and I’m sorry, I really have to get ready for an interview, so please excuse me if I’m MIA / a few days behind 🥴

"Mom, I'm going!" You shouted from the doorstep, hand on the handle. As you were about to turn the lock to unlock the door, your mother appeared from the living room, her book in hand. "Are you going out dressed like this?" She asked, gazing at your outfit, a wrinkle forming on her forehead. "Well, yes. Why? Doesn't it look good?" You asked as you took a look at your outfit in the mirror in the entrance hall. You were wearing a burgundy turtleneck dress with a beige coat, thermal tights, and black boots to protect the other parts of your body from the cold. "Aren't you going to get cold? The fabric's quite light though," your mother's voice trailed off while feeling the material of your dress, shrugging. "I'll be waiting for the train in the station lobby, don’t worry," you reassured your mother and unlocked the door, grabbing your purse and exiting the house after greeting your parents.

Once arrived in front of the coffee shop where you were supposed to meet with Yunho, you pushed open the door, immediately greeted by the cafe's ambient heat, triggering a shiver of happiness throughout your body. Taking off your gloves, you scanned part of the cafe, looking for the slender figure of your date. You smiled when you noticed the man you were searching for, walking towards him. He stood from his chair once he saw you coming, his height making you feel small despite being in heels. “Ah, Y/N. Please take a seat," he greeted you, gently pulling up the chair, giving you time to get comfortable before pushing your chair closer to the table.

Yunho was a man you met through an acquaintance. This mutual friend worked at the same corporation as your date, and you met him for the first time on her birthday, a few weeks ago. Because of your busy schedules, the second week of December was the only time you could find a free spot in your respective calendars to dine alone together. You were the organiser of your friend's birthday party, immediately catching the attention of the man in front of you. You were smiling, beaming with happiness as you brought in the birthday cake, happily singing the famous melody to your friend, quickly joined in by several other guests.

Yunho had managed to intercept you in the kitchen to talk to you, but other people had come to interrupt your discussion, pulling you out of the room. You were forced to send a sorry smile to the man in front of you, but he just shook his head in understanding, surprising you a few hours later by sending you a nice text to suggest a date, the one you were currently on.

"Do you want to go for a walk? I don't know about you, but that drink gave me a full stomach," Yunho suggested, pointing to the empty milkshake glasses that sat on the table. “Good idea, I don't think it wouldn't go amiss,” you got up and put your coat back on, crossing your arms over your chest to keep maximum warmth against you as your date held the door for you to exit the building.

He walked beside you in a relaxed manner, following your hesitant steps on the cold ground, hoping with each step that you weren't walking on frost. Steam was coming out of your mouths as you continued to chat happily, your noses becoming redder as the conversation progressed. The young man noticed that you had started to speak more quietly, sometimes having difficulty understanding the words that came out of your mouth.

"Are you okay? Aren't you cold like that?" you could hear a hint of concern in his voice, his hand resting on your shoulder sending electricity through your veins. "Y-yes, yes, don't worry," you managed to mumble through gritted teeth, not wanting to let it seem like you were freezing. This walk was not as romantic as you had hoped it would be. However, your body could not hide anything anymore. Your jaw started to twitch, and your whole body began to tremble, trying somehow to warm you up.

Yunho's gaze grew more serious, looking at you with a worried face as he saw your teeth chatter. Now your body was shivering all over, and you looked at him with an embarrassed look. Yunho took his hands out of his pockets and loosened the cashmere scarf from his neck to wrap it around your neck.

"T-Thanks," you manage to say, and he grabbed your arm, gently spinning you around. “Come on, let's get you home. I don't want you to get sick because of me," he said and switched sides, walking on the outside part of the sidewalk. "Are you sure?" "Yes, it would be selfish of me to leave you like that in the cold," he turned his head in your direction, his hot breath gently brushing your face. "I think I have a train in about ten minutes," you stated while looking at your watch, your trembling fingers struggling to hold your coat sleeve. Your mother was right, once again. You should have dressed warmer, but your urge to impress the man in front of you was more exciting than being warm in comfortable clothes.

"I'll drive you back home, I think it will be more convenient. The train station doesn't have a place to shield yourself from the cold," Yunho suggested, and you felt warmth flush your cheeks. Not only did he just give you his scarf, but he also wants to be your personal driver? "But are you sure? This is the opposite direction from where you live,” you whispered, and he shook his head with a smile. "If that means I can be with you longer, I'm happy to take the detour," he replied with a big smile, and you chuckled in embarrassment, surprised at his flirtatious words.

"My dear, after you," he opened the passenger door of a black sedan, motioning for you to get inside. He closed the door and walked around the vehicle to come and sit next to you, putting his hands on the steering wheel. "Let me just check something," he leaned over, reaching out to open the glove box, his fingertips lightly brushing your knee. He pulled out two heated pads and handed them to you, thanking him with a big smile. "Keep this in your hands until the car warms up," he said as he pressed a few buttons on the dashboard, lukewarm air-conditioning bursting from the cracks in front of you. Before closing the glove compartment, he took out a glasses case and put them on before closing the compartment to your knees.

A few minutes after leaving for your parents' house, you felt a gentle warmness progressively spreading in your back, feeling the seat heat up. You smiled while looking at Yunho, who focused on the road. He glanced briefly in your direction and smiled back, asking you again if you were feeling any better.

“I'm warming up, it's so nice to do all of this for me,” you looked straight ahead and watched a car overtake you on the motorway, paying little attention to it. "That's okay, I wasn't going to let you freeze at the station while waiting for your train to come home," he replied with a smile, his right hand sliding off the gearshift to rest gently on your knee. The gesture was gentle, with no ulterior motive. It was meant to be soft and comforting, his action sending a wave of heat to your cheeks. "Thank you," you whispered and noticed Yunho smirk, his thumb mindlessly brushing the cool skin of your leg, your date smirking as he felt the chills rise on your skin. His actions made your heart pound, feeling a wave of heat spread from your face to your neck.

Yunho had returned his attention to the road, his gaze glancing at the speedometer as the car was propelled at fairly high speed. He drove carefully but still fast, his dexterity and ease at handling the wheel made you feel safe. You also had to admit that seeing your date with glasses didn't leave you indifferent, your stomach twitching, finding him even more charming with the rims perched on his nose.

After a few more minutes of driving, he took a motorway slip road and entered a neighbourhood, guiding him through the blocks to yours, parking his car in the driveway. Your date turned the ignition off, and you fell silent, the warm imprint of Yunho's hand on your knee vanishing as he pulled it off to rest it on the wheel. You stifled a chuckle as you saw the curtains on the living room windows discreetly open, very briefly making out your mother's face between the curtains.

"I think you are expected," your driver followed your gaze and laughed. You turned to him awkwardly, but he seemed too amused by the situation to find it embarrassing. "It was great, I had a nice time with you," you said after a few seconds of silence, your breathing serving as background noise. He shifted in his seat to face you, a thin smile decorating his lips. "I had a lot of fun meeting you outside of our text messages," his smile was as bright and warm as the sun, seeing him so happy made you grin too.

You pursed your lips, anticipating his next move. Was he going to kiss you? On the mouth or the cheek? Was he just going to hug you before asking you out? "Alright, I'll get going," you whispered, feeling a hint of disappointment flaring in your heart when he hadn't done anything. You gave him one last smile before getting out of the car, the coldness of the night welcoming you in a cold hug.

“Y/N, wait,” Yunho got out of the car as well and joined you on the sidewalk, sinking his hands in his coat pockets. You saw him take a fairly deep breath, his eyes roaming your face without stopping in a specific place. You swallowed and kept your gaze on him as you could almost see his brain boil. "What-" you said as he wrapped his long arms around your shoulders in a warm hug, leaving you little to no choice to close your arms around him. You felt Yunho let out a small sigh of relief, simpering against his chest when you realised that he is just as nervous as you are.

Feeling that your back was starting to ache, you put your hands on his chest to pull yourself away slightly, his arms falling from your shoulders to hug your waist. Your heart fluttered as you looked at him with a shy smile, glad you got to exchange that embrace with him. He brought his face closer to yours and placed a delicate kiss on your temple before letting you go to the door of your house.

“Drive home safely,” you turned around one last time, smiling, twisting the doorknob after unlocking it. He thanked you and went back in his car as you entered your house, letting out a sigh of relief as the warmth of your home greeted you with open arms. Not hearing Yunho leave immediately, you went up to your room to freshen up before going to bed and looked out your bedroom window.

A few feet below, Yunho was smiling like a kid at the funfair, laughing to himself in his car, proud that he was brave enough to give you a kiss on the forehead. Yunho smiled to himself and embarrassingly scratched the back of his neck, feeling all giddy at your actions and walked away, happy that the first date with you went well. You spent the rest of the entire evening chatting via text messages, sending love to each other back and forth. He couldn’t wait for your next date. And that’s exactly what he asked you right before you were about to wish him goodnight.

From Yunho 🧸 : “Monday 14th at 6:30pm for our second date, what do you say?” “Sounds perfect to me!” 

[cowboisadness]

Hang ‘Em High {Arthur Morgan x OC} Chapter 13

Pairing: Arthur Morgan x FemOC

Summery: Belle Hawthorne is high society looking to escape her mean husband. A robbery by the Van Der Linde gang could be her chance. Can she escape his cluches and possibly discover what love should feel like?

Warnings: Micah being Micah

.....

Chapter 13

I couldn’t stop thinking about Arthur's reaction after telling him I wanted to kill that no-good bastard. Currently stood in the cover of Arthurs tent as Miss Grimshaw checked my wound for any infection and helped me apply fresh dressings. She had seen so much of me at this point it didn't bother me anymore. She really was the mother hen of this gang. His reaction was one of confusion at first. His brows furrowed and his mouth hanging open like he had a million questions but didn’t know which one to start with. The moment I began to laugh his expression relaxed, snorting out a laugh along and shaking his head. Like it was a lighthearted joke shared amongst friends. To be honest, I am undecided on if it was a joke or not, I couldn’t see myself going through with something like that but I imagined it none-the-less The rage was true, I felt it from the depths of that pit in my stomach and as it spread throughout me. I wanted him to die, to be rid of him for once and for all, it would be the only thing to quell this feeling. 

My wound travelled from my breastbone and down just shy a couple of inches from my navel. A clean-cut that wasn’t deep enough to require stitches but enough to scar. Another to add to the collection.

Once done I made my way to the scout fire just on the edge of camp. It was hardly used by other members of the camp so the fire was out, everyone preferring to sit amongst each other at the main fire. Kicking the burnt logs on top I collected what I was after, the charcoals that sat at the bottom. Old wood that was burnt for so long and almost starved of oxygen. It was perfect for what I needed. I took my blackened treasure to the lakeside, collecting a pestle and mortar as well as a spare metal cup on the way. Sitting on the small jetty I began to make my concoction, breaking down the charcoal till it was nothing but dust and adding small amounts of water. Mixing it all together till a black paste was formed. I kept at it crushing as much of the charcoal until it was thoroughly mixed. The sun was high in the sky at this point, its rays reflecting off the ripples as it licked the stony shore. I continued what I was doing even as I heard footsteps on the jetty coming towards me. The person stopping just a couple of feet away from me, my back still turned away from whoever it may be. “What you up to girly?”

It was Micah. I had only interacted with him a few times since being here. His comments always seem condescending and slimy. The girls had warned me about him, none of them liked him and actively tried to keep away from him after comments he had made towards each of them. I wouldn’t have guessed he had been here only a handful of months given how he hangs around Dutch like a bad smell. “Charcoal mixed with water. Going to use it as eye makeup to hopefully make me less recognisable while out of camp.” “I thought only whores painted their faces. Whores and clowns.” He sneered 

“They possibly do.”

“Bit of a shame to ruin that young pretty face with makeup don’t you think? If you ever want to leave camp for a drink just come along with me. I’ll make sure to take care of you.” His voice turned lower with seductive tones. Worthy to make the bile from your stomach make its way up and stick to the back of your throat.

“Um, thank you for the offer, Micah, but I think I’ll feel much safer disguising myself somehow no matter who is with me.” I still didn't turn to him, hoping that he would take the hint that I didn't want his company. 

“Suit yourself. But the offer still stands, I’m willing to take you out on the town. Show you how us folks really party. None of that pricey wine and fancy petticoats you’re probably used to.”

I finally turned to him, looking at him deadpan in the hopes he would get the hint. He seemed too as he raised his hands in defeat and began walking backwards back into camp. That man desperately needs to go into town himself and pay for a woman. Hopefully, then he might just be a bit more bearable to converse with. But no woman would be paid enough to lay with that man. 

 Once done I poured the contents into the metal cup then cleaned out the pestle and mortar before returning it. The camp was much quieter than this morning when Sadie threatened to slice up Pearson. Arthur decided to take her out of camp and help with collecting any provisions Pearson needed. Knowing what Sadie had been through, losing her home and husband brutally and thus having her life flipped completely on its head, I wasn’t surprised by her overall behaviour. A once hardworking and happy woman with nothing to lose. I understood that in a way. They both arrived back, Sadie now sporting pants instead of a dress. They both unloaded the wagon and then Arthur was off again to meet Dutch back in Rhodes. I made my way over to the wagon to help organise the provisions and to offer my help in preparing the stew. Give Sadie and Pearson a break from each other. “Nice look you got going on, Sadie.” I smiled at the woman as I approached. She turned towards me, a box of vegetables in her hands. 

“Why, thank you. Thought I would take a leaf outta your book. They are sure more practical than a damn dress.”

“More comfortable too.” She hummed her agreement, placing the box down and then leaning against the wagon and lighting a cigarette. She offered me one to take from the box and I gladly accepted. She lit another match and presented it to me for me to light it with. Smoke quickly fills the air between us. 

“So how are you doing?” She asked, waving the match in the air and then flinging it into the dirt.

“I’ve had worse. What about you?”

“This place is driving me nuts. Glad I could get out for a while. Shooting those no good Raiders that ambushed us helped me relieve some of the rage.”

“You got ambushed?” I looked at her with wide eyes, smoke being exhaled as I spoke. 

“Relax, I ain’t afraid to hold my own...Ain’t afraid of dyin’ neither.”

“Hmm, I knew that feeling once,” I replied, thinking back to that night looking over the balcony railings in Saint Denis. Dying by his hand was a petrifying thought but dying by my own was something I thought about often back then.

“Oh, I got what you asked for. Sumac flowers and beet juice?”

“Thank you so much, Sadie. This is perfect.” I boasted, taking the items from her.

“What you need it for anyway?”

“Sumac and beets are natural dyes. Hoping together they will change my hair colour to a dark red.” 

“Well, that sounds mighty smart.” She smiled, blowing out smoke into the air above and then flinging the cigarette into the dirt along with the matches. We parted ways after that and I began to help Pearson prepare the stew. He seemed considerably more at ease with me as his assistant chef this time around. We exchanged mindless chatter about the weather and what variations of stew he could create. That was until he mentioned his time in the Navy. Once he started he couldn’t stop. But I listened along with a smile on my face and the occasional ‘uh huh’. After the threats he received this morning and gave out no less, I wasn’t in the position to stop him from having this moment of happiness.     Once everything was in the pot and beginning its slow boil, I made my way over to Karen for a towel I could borrow. Collected a fresh pair of clothing and a bar of soap and made my way to the lake. Beet juice and Sumac in hand. I'd crushed the Sumac into a powder after preparing dinner then mixed it in the jar that held the beet juice. It was very dark red, like old blood or wet artists paint. With my dark blonde hair, it should have no problem changing the overall colour while still looking somewhat natural. I’ll look like a new woman no doubt.  I followed along the waters edge until I was out of sight from the camp but still close enough I would be heard if anything was to happen. Placing the towel and soap on an old fallen log I made work on stripping my clothes and dressings, dropping them on the dirt around me. They were sweat-soaked anyway with how hot it can get here during the day. Opening the jar I was met with the powerful smell of beets, that earthy smell along with the scent the sumac was giving off was overwhelming but thankfully not too unpleasant. Making my way into the lake I began pouring the mixture onto the top of my head, making sure to get every strand completely saturated and not paying any mind to how it will stain my skin on the back of my neck and down my back where it lays. Leaving a trail in my path I flung the jar back onto the shore once I was waist-deep. Thankfully the lake remained shallow quite far out, given that I couldn’t get my wound wet. I began to wash, humming to myself at the delightful coolness the water granted. I’m starting to get used to this. Bathing in lakes instead of warm and deep porcelain tubs. Fish surrounding me instead of bubbles and the smell of the earth instead of Lavender hair oils. Although I'd probably be saying the exact opposite if I was in colder climates. I spent more time than I usually would bathing. Cupping the water and letting it pour over my shoulders and arms to wash away the soap and dirt, being careful to avoid the cut as I went. The scabs formed a ridge along my flesh, the skin tight and red around the edges. A constant reminder. 

Leaning back I dipped my head into the water to remove the dye and just hoping it had done its job. The water surrounding me turned the same deep red as I ran my fingers through my hair, pulling out any knots as each digit travelled from the top to the ends. An overwhelming sense of tranquillity washed over me as I looked out beyond the lake to the land ahead and around me. A small flock of ducks milling about further up, diving under the water to catch any small fish swimming below them. I slowly started making my way along, hoping I didn't disturb them. The cool water lapped around my waist and rippled behind me. Perching myself next to a large boulder standing out of the water to watch them as they quacked and ruffled their feathers. I was lost in my thoughts once again for a short while, the sounds of my name being called from the shore behind me bringing me back to where I was. I made my way around the boulder to see Arthur standing at the shore beside my scattered clothing. We saw each other at the same time, my arms coming up to cover myself, him turning around to face away from me. No doubt he saw. I could feel the heat flushing to my face, my cheeks probably as red as my hair should be. “Jesus...are you okay? Your cut opened up?” He asked, fidgeting on his feet as he looked in the direction of camp

“What? Erm, no, I’m fine.” I shook my head. He turned back slowly then, his eyes going everywhere else until they landed on me, then looked down to where my clothes lay.

“W-well what's with the blood all over here?”

“Oh...that’s beet juice. I’m fine, Arthur. I’m coming out in a moment.”

“Okay...Well, Hosea is looking for you.” 

“Okay...Thank you, Arthur.” I said more quietly, my cheeks still burning and my arms wrapped tightly around my chest. His eyes met mine for a moment and I expected him to turn away again like the gentleman he usually is, but he didn't. And neither did i. He inhaled deeply, nodding his head then turned to make his way back to camp with some haste. 

I leaned against the boulder, exhaling a breath I didn't know I was holding in. The chill of the water returning as my body began to cool down.

Despite the embarrassment of what just happened I thought to myself, out of all the men in the camp he was the only one I was glad came looking for me. Anyone else I would be mortified. 

I didn't mind Arthur seeing me like this. I trusted him...I liked him. 

My whole body shivered, goosebumps forming all across my arms and chest. It wasn’t caused by the water or the air was beginning to lower in temperature. 

With my lips curving up into a smidgen of a smile and a quiet sigh I admitted to myself that I liked that he saw me. I wanted him to.

@kashasenpai​