#I've stumbled on some random shit in my time searching for things to turn into earrings

[begrudginglytumbling]

So these exist apparently, and I kinda really want them but they work out at over a quid per charm (it’s a pack of 6, and I’d have to get a pack of WYB and a pack of XZ, obviously) and I genuinely can’t decide if it’s worth the price considering all the other expenses I’ve had to cough up this month and there’s still two weeks to go until payday. But there are Xiao Zhan charms where he’s in the bunny hat with carrots. How am I meant to resist that? How?

[greatideas-badwriter]

Worth The Risk: Chapter 11

'Stop. Stop. Stop,' Sasuke told himself while kissing Sakura, but he didn't listen. 'For once in your fucked up life, do the right thing!'

It didn't matter how much the man hated himself for following his emotions rather than logic; there was no way in hell he'd turn away from that woman while she stood there crying because of him.

The moment he opened the door to shoo Karin out of his room and his eyes landed on the pink-haired girl, all alarms went off at full volume. He'd been trying to move on from his unhealthy obsession with her, but when he recognized the look of betrayal on her pale face, he wanted nothing other than to throw his fist through a wall.

Finally pulling away, ending their kiss, he searched her teary-eyed face again. 'She's always so pretty, even when she's crying.'

Rather lamely, he admitted, "You're right. I have no clue what I'm doing." Sakura's brow furrowed, as she likely assumed he was trying to take back what he'd just done, but Sasuke interrupted, "But I won't hurt you on purpose."

He meant it, too. When he became so enamored by her that he was willing to try something he swore off years ago, he didn't know, but that was the case. After Izumi, the man vowed never to look for or stumble upon love. He didn't deserve it.

'Itachi will be happy when he finds out, but he shouldn't be.'

Sasuke said, "Let's get some sleep. It's late."

"Okay, but, um, I-I don't want to do anything…."

He rolled his eyes, giving the woman a light shove toward the bed while he turned to click off the lights, "I'm not an idiot."

Sakura lay on her side with her back against the wall, facing him as he joined her under the covers.

'Why's she so far away?' Just when he was about to ask aloud, he remembered how rare it was for her to allow someone to touch her and decided against it, 'I've pushed my luck enough for one night.'

The pair remained silent as they fell asleep, though Sasuke took much longer.

If the angry, hurt expression on the woman's face earlier as she yelled at him was anything to go by, Sasuke was fortunate she didn't completely ice him out. Sure, she'd gotten angry at him in the past, but it wasn't fiery hot like tonight.

When he thought about why that was, a satisfied feeling washed over him, 'She was jealous. I didn't take her for the type.'

Yes, it was serious, not comical, because he hadn't simply flirted with someone. Sasuke slept with one of her only friends, knowing very well that it would affect her. That said, it stroked his ego a little to know Sakura felt that strongly.

'If I pull some shit like that again, she'll disappear. There's not a doubt in my mind.'

Even if Sasuke did want to find some random whore to sleep with, he couldn't because he'd only be able to picture Sakura's face, to remember her voice and scent. It was odd, realizing a man notorious for having a new partner each week only wanted one specific person. It was definitely a unique experience.

He turned onto his back, sliding his hand under the pillow with a sigh, only to open his eyes when his fingers wrapped around something cold and metal. It was a knife, and he knew it before pulling it out to stare at in the dark room. The weapon reminded him that next to nothing about Sakura's past was known. Obviously, It had darkness, or she wouldn't be spooked enough to sleep with a blade.

'Fuck, that's why she sleeps so little, isn't it? She's scared of something. Someone,' Sasuke turned onto his side again, looking at the woman's sleeping face with new eyes, 'Who is it? It has to be a guy because she doesn't like hanging around men. They make her uncomfortable.'

The weapon was returned to its spot under the pillow, and the Uchiha man reached under the blanket and searched until he found her hand, gently allowing her to unconsciously grasp it like she had last time.

'What did he do to her? Did he hit her? What if he-' Unbridled rage flooded his entire being before he could even finish the thought, so he shook his head and tried to think about something else.

Sasuke was remembering all sorts of things now that he'd come to the conclusion that she had, indeed, been hurt by someone. She squeezes her eyes closed and tries to make herself smaller whenever anyone speaks too loudly, even if they aren't talking to her. If the tiniest mistake is made, she apologizes like she'll be killed on the spot for not being perfect.

'And above all else, she hates being paid attention to.'

Unlike most women, Sakura tried to remain invisible rather than seek out compliments or talk endlessly. It took the Uchiha man only a few days of living together to conclude that he couldn't make assumptions about her just because she was a girl. He'd been waiting for her to say something to try and tempt him to flirt, but it never happened.

The warm, gentle feeling in his chest was becoming more and more normal. It appeared again as he looked at the woman, barely holding back the urge to pull her closer because he knew it'd scare her if she woke up.

Uncharacteristically, he whispered, "I wish you'd tell me what happened."

Though Sakura was fast asleep, and he knew that, a tiny bit of disappointment came over Sasuke when she didn't respond.

For the first time in a long time, Sakura slept well and didn't even dream. There was only the overwhelming relief that she and Sasuke were finally on the same page and the electric anxiety, borderline excitement, that he was sleeping so close when neither of them was drunk.

Emerald green eyes crept open in the morning to see the man's back. They traveled up to admire the adorable way his black hair had become a mess throughout the night, the tiniest hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. More than anything, the pink-haired girl was grateful that he hadn't disregarded her boundaries while she slept.

'He likes physical affection. I don't need to ask or even see it to know. He always barely stops himself from touching me.'

Blushing, Sakura decided to try meeting him halfway. She cautiously scooted closer, slipping an arm over his waist, pressing her forehead to his back, and closing her eyes with a calming breath.

Like a stove that'd just been turned on, the woman gradually became warmer and warmer until it felt like she'd begin to sweat. Just before she could pull away, Sasuke spoke in a raspy voice, deep from sleeping, "You don't have to panic all the time. Do you really think I'll get mad?"

"It's…not that," she replied, pulling her arm from over his side but snuggling into his back instead of scooting away now that she knew he was awake.

"I have a question," the man sounded half-asleep, still, which was a little cute, so Sakura made a sound encouraging him to ask it. He hesitated momentarily before saying, "Skip your classes today."

Sakura scoffed, "That didn't sound like a question."

He made an amused sound, "Do it. Stay in bed."

After pondering for a moment, the woman admitted sheepishly, "I think I have a fever anyway, so I guess it'll be alright. Just for today."

The man slowly rolled over to face her, dark eyes hazy with sleep as he pressed a hand to her forehead with a frown that just got deeper when he realized she was, indeed, quite warm.

He didn't say anything, but she could tell he felt terrible because she'd obviously gotten sick from walking around in the dead of winter at night while taking Karin home yesterday. Part of her wanted to say something to ease his guilt, but she didn't because he deserved to suffer at least a little. Just because they kissed doesn't mean the woman was entirely over being angry with him.

'We need to talk about things, but where do we even start?'

Are they just friends that were open about their physical attraction to one another? Are they more than friends? Sakura couldn't imagine Sasuke agreeing to date, even if they ended up doing everything a couple would.

As the woman stared at his stoic face, she felt her temperature rising again, 'Was he always this handsome?'

Having agreed to play hooky, the duo ended up moving to Sasuke's room after Sakura forced him to change the sheets. Then, they watched movies of all genres. It wasn't like they paid much attention to them anyway. Barely half an hour into the first one, Sakura couldn't help but ask, "How old are you?"

"What?"

"I know you're around my age, but I don't know the year you were born," she said a little softer, feeling embarrassed. They were lying side by side, just far apart enough that their arms were mere inches from touching.

"Guess," the attractive man teased, amusement thick in his tone.

Sakura glanced over to survey his features, looking back at the screen when he noticed, "Uh, twenty-four?"

The Uchiha scoffed, "Holy fuck! Do I really look that old? I'm twenty-two."

"That's only a two-year difference. It's not like I said you look thirty or something."

Sasuke hummed, not bothering to avert his stare, when she caught him looking, "I bet you're twenty-one. I'd guess younger if I didn't meet you in a bar."

"Should I be flattered or offended? Do I look like a teenager?"

"You're just…little," he said with a strange, unfamiliar warmth in his eyes.

She blushed, frowning as she faced the television again, "I can't help that. It's genetics. My mom and grandma had small chests, too."

'Figures he'd make a comment on that. Pervert.'

Since reaching puberty, Sakura'd been teased about being flat-chested. A lot of it came from her very own boyfriend and friends. She was too scared they'd get upset if she told them it made her uncomfortable, so she suffered in silence. That ignorant choice ended with her developing a stigma.

"I meant you're entire body, not your tits. Get your mind out of the gutter," he faced the TV, too, but reached over to wrap his fingers loosely around her wrist.

The pair was silent for about an hour, the movie ending and another one beginning, before Sasuke hesitantly asked, "Earlier, you said "had" when talking about your mom and grandma. Are they…?"

'Why does he suddenly want to know about me? He's never so much as asked my favorite color.'

Either way, the woman responded, "My grandma died when I was in middle school."

"And your mom?"

Sakura's eyes glazed over, so she wasn't actually seeing the screen, though it appeared that she was, 'I can't tell him everything. Not yet.' She decided to open up a bit, but not entirely, "Dead to me."

The question of why that was hung in the air, but the pinkette quickly asked, "What about you? Do you have any family besides Itachi around here?"

"Tobi's a distant cousin by marriage, but other than that, no. All my blood relatives are dead."

'The terrified look on his face when he thought Itachi was dying makes sense now. That's his one weakness: his brother.' Empathetic sadness washed over her, and she turned her arm upright so he could interlace their fingers instead of holding her wrist, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I have family out there, and I've cut them out of my life when you probably-" "That's stupid as fuck. Don't think things like that."

Things became quiet briefly before he mumbled, "You're lying here with me after all I've done, so you must have a good reason for it."

"Can we change the subject?" Sakura asked bluntly. She didn't want the topic to remain so serious when they were only just now getting along.

"Oh, are we playing twenty questions? I'll go first," Sasuke said in a mock-gossipping tone, as though pretending to be one of her female friends, "Favorite food."

"You'll laugh," she blushed, continuing when he made a sound of denial, "Cheeseburgers."

The man chuckled, "I never would've guessed. Toppings?"

"Loaded!"

They looked at one another when he squeezed her hand, and her heart fluttered when he grinned playfully, "Let's order that tonight. I have to see it."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "You're paying."

"Naturally."

"Okay, my turn, right? Um, how old were you when you had your first kiss?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his grin turning into a smirk, "Damn. Here I was, going easy on you to be nice, and you're going straight for the fucking dirty details." He made a show of pondering the question before saying, "Thirteen."

'So young! He'll never stop teasing me if he finds out I was sixteen for mine.'

It was comfortable between the pair as they continued asking one another questions. The casual vibe that the Uchiha man emitted worked wonders to relieve her unease, reminding the woman why she was initially drawn to him in the first place. No other man, not even her teachers, could come close or talk with her like this without Sakura being on edge.

'I wonder why that is….'

That evening, Sasuke left before returning with food; burgers as promised. Sakura often found herself too nervous to eat much, her stomach twisting into knots that refused to loosen. She'd just spent hours getting comfortable, so that wasn't the case this time.

'Cute….' Sasuke thought while watching the tiny woman before him in awe. Unlike he'd ever seen her before, Sakura ate casually. 'She wasn't lying. It really is her favorite.'

At this hour yesterday, he'd have never guessed that he'd be sitting there, sharing a meal with the pink-haired woman after spending the entire day together. When Itachi suggested getting to know her better, he was hesitant because he knew he'd feel this way afterward: even more enamored than before.

Sasuke clung to every little fact he was given.

She likes traditional "guy" foods like burgers, steak, and BBQ. Her favorite color is red, but she also really likes green. Winter is her favorite season, while Summer is her least. She gets cold more easily than anyone he's ever met, but the man didn't need her to tell him that. He'd picked it up on his own.

Something told him not to ask the deeper questions yet, so he stuck to superficial things.

'What will she do if she discovers how obsessed I've become? I need to hide it well, for both our sakes.' The concept of someone trying to get close scared each of them, but likely for different reasons.

His reason was that he didn't deserve to be happy, and he knew it. That's why he deluded himself to one-night stands, partying, and carrying on like a world-class douchebag. Sure, those things were cool when he was a teenager, but now he'd matured enough to see how much that lifestyle lacked substance.

'Nothing, and no one stays.' If they tried, Sasuke would make them hate his guts, so they wouldn't dare come crawling back.

He hated himself, and it was easier to remain unhappy and self-punishing when surrounded by boring or annoying things.

'But now Sakura's here, and I can't do that to her; I won't,' the man thought, eyeing her profile as she watched the action movie on TV and continued eating, 'This is the most selfish thing I've done other than getting Izumi killed.'

Sakura had no idea just how fucked up a person Sasuke was, but he held back just enough of that side of him that she didn't notice.

"Are you feeling okay? I didn't get you sick, did I? Why aren't you eating?" The object of his desires was looking at him with bright green eyes and a concerned frown. He shook his head, wordlessly taking a bite so she'd stop staring.

That night, after both had showered, separately, of course, Sasuke lay in bed in a suddenly not-so-happy mood because she'd gone to Zetsu's room to sleep, 'I thought after last night, and today, she'd just sleep here.'

That thought led him to realize he may have made a mistake in assuming she felt even a fraction of what he did. 'She let me kiss her, but that doesn't mean she's up for anything.' Groaning to himself, his eyes shot open, 'What if she just wants to be friends?'

Panic, anger, confusion, and a few unfamiliar low emotions swirled around the pit of Sasuke's stomach.

A soft knock on the door interrupted his stressing, and he rolled over to see Sakura enter, quietly closing the door behind her and crouching beside the bed, "Can I, um…Can I sleep in here, just for tonight?"

The man sat up, eyes narrowing when he recognized the expression on her face as something negative. She was scared for some reason. "What's wrong?" He nodded, though, and turned to face her when she climbed under the covers.

She lowered her eyes to his chest, voice soft and wavering, "It's freezing tonight, and you're warm, so I thought maybe I should take advantage of that."

'Fucking liar. You're not even good at it.'

Sasuke hesitated to say or do anything as he watched her eyes squeeze closed and her head lower to try (and fail) to hide that she was in tears. He was pissed at her for not being honest, but he kept in mind that even someone like her had pride. She didn't want to swallow it and admit to not wanting to be alone.

So, when the man got the urge to pull her closer into his chest, he didn't hold it back this time and prayed it wasn't a huge mistake. He did it. He wrapped an arm around her waist and maneuvered her so he could slip his other one beneath her.

The scent of her shampoo wafted over him as she tensed up, hands fisting his shirt, "...Sasuke?"

The Uchiha man pressed his lips to her forehead, not quite a kiss, and grumbled softly, "You said you were cold, didn't you?"

It was then that Sakura realized he knew she'd lied, and he could tell because she steadily relaxed her muscles until her face was buried in his shirt, and she was freely sniffling. The woman nodded moments later with a barely audible voice saying, "It was like ice in there."

'What she's really trying to say is that it was bad, whatever shook her. Maybe another nightmare? That's the most likely thing.' Always the selfish one, Sasuke tried to memorize the feeling of her petite body pressed against his as he drifted off to sleep.

[rabbits-of-habit]

Tw : mentions of p*dophillia, general violence

...

It had been months since HABIT had made any sort of contact with Noah. Or, as HABIT had recently discovered - Adam.

After his daily searches online, the demon stumbled across something. A text post. The accounts of a teenager who had fallen victim to Noah, revealing his name to really be Adam Rosner.

HABIT was pissed to say the very least. He considered himself careless and immoral but one thing he would never do was hurt a child in such a personal and explicit way. The universal disgust of pedophiles transcended species.

After months of waiting, biding his time, HABIT finally snapped.

He lured Noah to his house with a promise of answers. But Noah wasn't getting answers. And the moment he stepped through the threshold of his home, Toby struck him in the back of his head with a large, metal pipe.

Everything went black.

It was hours until Adam came back around. The sky had turned dark - not that he could see from the attic room.

Adam grumbled softly, prying open his eyes. His head was pounding. But he seemed to quickly snap to reality when meeting the gaze of a particularly angry looking pair of royal purple eyes.

"Mornin', sunshine." HABIT seethed through jagged, clenched teeth.

"What the fuck is going on ?" Adam attempted to move, but found he couldn't move more than a few inches from the chair, and that his wrists were bound uncomfortably with rope.

HABIT let out his signature cackle. His voice layered and seemingly glitchy- like the human ears simply couldn't comprehend his true voice.

"We know what you did, Adam."

Noah swallowed the lump of anxiety in his throat. He knew he had royally fucked up.

"Crimes against children ? Really, Noah ?" HABIT moved, crouching in front of the terrified male. He toyed with the hunting knife in his hands.

"I've done some fucked up things in my time. But children ? Trying to fuck them, no less ?" The demon seemed disgusted by the mere idea, turning his nose up.

"But because you've committed such hayenous crimes, I'm gonna let my little pet here," He pulled Toby closer, using a strong hand to ruffle his brown, curly hair playfully, "Take the lead."

Toby grinned excitedly, like a child on Christmas. He moved his attention to the large assortment of random objects laid out on the floor, browsing them thoughtfully.

"What you thinkin', Rabbit ?" HABIT asked, affectionately wrapping his arms around the shorter males hips.

"I'm thinking..." A particular object caught his eyes. Hair clippers. "I want to shave his hair off and make him eat it." He smirked.

The demon let out a small chuckle, impressed by the creativity of his new pet. He released Toby from his grasp so he could retrieve the hair clippers.

Toby smiled sweetly. Something about him was so strange. Despite his face being scarred with burns and his malicious eyes, something about his laugh and smile seemed so innocent. So alluring.

Adam was snapped out of his train of thought when Toby approached him again, his heavy boots creaking the rotting floorboards. The sound of the clippers turning on filled the once silent room.

Toby, without much care, ran the buzzer across Noahs hair. A clump of his black, curly locks fell to the ground. Noah sighed uneasily, squeezing his eyes shut as Toby made quick work of his once iconic hair.

Once the clippers were switched off, Noah reluctantly opened his eyes, staring down at years worth of hair growth. But he didn't have time to mourn his hair before Toby picked up a large clump of it and forced it into Adams mouth. Adam, of course, attempted to spit out the hair, but the other males surprisingly strong hands forced his jaw shut.

"Eat it." Toby snapped, seemingly agitated by Noahs unwillingness to comply. HABIT, seeing his pets frustration, steps in.

"Hey, you disgusting piece of shit. You're going to eat it or I'm gonna do something a lot worse than whatever Toby could ever dream of."

Adam eventually gave in, swallowing as much of the hair as he could. It was an odd texture and felt awful in his throat.

With a satisfied grin, Toby released Noahs jaw.

*Chefs kiss.* The perfect wham to finish fuck a*dm Friday a lil late and to start off Halloween month. Dude this is awesome and well written. 👏-Mod Dirk

[moonlight-mellohi]

Familiar Faces, Connected Stories

4 months later, @sugarglider9603 I finally finished the second half!! :D Ohmygosh I'm so sorry for the wait, but thank you all for being so patient, alot has happened including the absolutely dreaded writers block. All of your comments, likes/kudos, reblogs (on Tumblr) have been helping me finish this chapter, so I really want to thank you guys for enjoying this💙💙💙💙

Another important note, but there is a reason I'm posting this today. That's because today (April 2nd) is my 16th birthday! I actually finished this on Monday (March 30th) but I decided to wait the few days so it would be a bit more special (also yes I know it's late I'm posting this, imma be busy all day so night posting it is!)

Also dont worry, if your new here (go check out the previous stories in the Master Post link!) do note I'm going to be writing my interpretation of the pokebois evolutions :D that and more short side stories are coming asap

Alright I've held you long enough, do enjoy!

Bonus note: this fic (Runaway Eevees) is what Sugar has said cannonly happened of how Remus and Deceit met the group, so if you wanna read that go ahead (it's a good read) :D

Ao3 link

Ao3 series link

Part 5 (chapter 1) Part 6

Master Post

Words: 2,931

Summery: ' Virgil's eyes widened "you've all met before" he looked at all five Eevee's faces, finding guilt in three and confusion in the other two "when, how? Was it before I met all of you?" He scratched at the ground.

His brother-father figure perked up behind him "you.. never told him?" He questioned the three trained Eevees, who all shuffled their feet. "We didn't want to worry him?" Roman tried, only for his trash brother to growl. '

The group will finally tell their stories, revealing past connections, and making new ones for the journey ahead

Chapter 2

Virgil watched as Thomas set his hands on Roman and Logan's backs, putting a halt on the growling. Well, for now at least.

He inwardly sighed, he knew the others where protective, heck he himself was being protective of his brothers at the moment. But this much hostility to other pokemon he obviously knew? He even saw Patton's tail twitching, as though the father figure wanted to pull Virgil away but was resisting.

He remembered when he first met this group of misfits, that field of flowers where Patton taught him how to make flower crowns. Yes Logan was sitting out, but Roman pounced at any opportunity to play with any wild pokemon, and Patton came right over to join the dark furred Eevee the second he showed himself. Them acting this way around pokemon they never met..

Virgil's eyes widened "you've all met before" he looked at all five Eevee's faces, finding guilt in three and confusion in the other two "when, how? Was it before I met all of you?" He scratched at the ground.

His brother-father figure perked up behind him "you.. never told him?" He questioned the three trained Eevees, who all shuffled their feet. "We didn't want to worry him?" Roman tried, only for his trash brother to growl.

"Well!" Thomas clapped, startling them all "I'm guessing you guys need to talk about something, and since language barriers exist and food still needs to be cooked, I'm going to go burn that. Don't faint each other!" The trainer stood up from his chair making his way to the pile of berries, leaving several Eevees that probably would faint each other before speaking a word.

Virgil huffed, suspicious and annoyed "alright, first things first!" He chirped in a light tone, though it was clear the growl that accompanied it reached all the others ears "would anyone mind telling me how you've all met?"

______________________________

"-and then you woke up with no knowledge of what went down, so we just didn't tell you" Roman finished lamely. All five Eevees had taken their own bits and pieces of the story to tell, mainly because when two started arguing Virgil would hiss them down. Other than that, the dark furred Eevee didn't speak a word and kept his face neutral throughout.

Virgil sighed, flicking his tail "so you never thought once why two random Eevees took me? Logan, I thought you were the smart one. Well" he added and Logan's ears started to lower in shame "you are the smartest one here, just not about this.

"And you two" the youngest turned his head "did it occur to you that you could have just gone up and asked?" He paused, realizing the answer before the marked Eevee spoke.

"Well," he mumbled, "for one we thought they were the ones that took you in the first place. You just disappeared that day" Virgil shuddered, remembering that was true, though the truck story could be told another day "plus they're.. caught pokemon" he finished. "Ya" Virgil continued "just like me."

"But-" the stink covered Eevee tried, but Virgil shook his head.

"Thomas met me several times before I joined the team, in fact from the story Logan and Patton have told me" he flicked his tail to the shiny pair of parents "Thomas wouldn't let himself catch them until both of them made it clear they wanted to join his journey."

Patton nodded "before Thomas saved us, twice if you count the Team Rocket members in the marketplace, we never trusted humans. Most of the time humans tried to steal us for our fur color, Thomas was different" the father figure hesitated, "it.. kind of felt like a puzzle piece clicking into place when we met."

All the Eevees blinked as Thomas hummed in the background. None of the Eevees had ever mentioned to another about a feeling of a puzzle piece, Thomas had once made a comment of it, but the three there to witness that were more focused on Virgil's tail slipping into the bushes. The two unnamed Eevees even remembered when they first met Virgil hidden in the dumpster, they had felt some kind of connection.

"That.. wasn't just me who's been feeling that when we all meet?" Roman voice stumbled, eyes widening even more as the other 5 shook their heads.

"Well, you all seem to be in a better mood" Thomas chuckled, causing them all to jump. "Woah" he calmed, laughing.

 "Well, food is all ready and prepared, there's enough for you guys as well" he grinned at the newbies.

The two hesitated at the idea of food, but with a comforting chirp from their brother, they followed.

______________________________

With dinner cleaned away (Thomas somehow managing not to burn anything, Logan praised happily) the group curled before a campfire as the trainer roasted marshmallows (these, he did manage to burn more often than not).

Virgil spent this time explaining to both groups how he knew both sides, of how trash and marked Eevees saved him (he didn't explain what he was escaping from), how he really was taken from them, how he met the group in the field of flowers, and how he finally stayed with Thomas for good. By the end of the story his head was laid on the ground as he cuddled Roman (a late addition during the story time, since when he explained they were boyfriends the trash covered Eevee full on tackled Roman) listening to the fire crackle. Wispy clouds drifted lazily across the sky as the night crawling forest pokemon howled and chirped and hooted.

He looked at his family, most of his past was back in his life; but for how long? He shuddered and curled more into Roman's warm fur, hating the realization he might lose them again after looking for so long. They wouldn't want to be with a trainer, especially even if it meant having Virgil being back in their lives.

Virgil. He nearly spat the name at the ground. He wanted one again for so long, from the day he hatched he had one before it and everything was taken away by.. her. He vowed never to take a name again, especially from a human. If he did, would he be betraying his oldest family connection? What would Sleep and Pecha think of his now, their little Star taking a new name, only for this one to probably drive these brothers away.

Virgil lifted his head up, staring at the two nameless pokemon maybe four tail lengths away. Why did they keep searching for him anyways?

He startled as Roman nudged his cheek. "Sorry" the starter apologized "you just dazed off staring at those two, I was wondering if you were ok."

Virgil sighed "I.. I was just wondering, why did they follow me" he mumbled, unable to look at anyone he opted to stare up at the sky. Unfortunately the world decided to push the clouds out of the clearings sky view, only piling on more of his original family's guilt. He never went searching for that farm ever again after his.. escape, and knowing Thomas they wouldn't go 100 feet anywhere near there with Patton, Logan, and Virgil. Sure, Sleep was reckless, but Pecha would be sensible enough to know not to go out into the world, an unknown area only Eevees who were taken by trainers ever saw. Those puzzle pieces were probably lost to time.

But these two.. he looked back down, Star's eyes trailing at all of his family's faces, stopping at the two. They were here, close enough in one bound he could tackle them. Why did they come, why did they care enough to try and steal him back from (what they knew at the time) hostile people and pokemon? Why did they keep looking, why did he keep looking?

Why.. did he keep looking? Virgil stood up, eyes widening. Because they were, they are family. Family he didn't want to lose, he couldn't lose any more of them. With a push from his hind legs and a squeak of surprise from Roman as he momentarily turned into a launch pad, Virgil crashed into his brothers.

"Shit, wha-" one of them cried, getting cut off as Virgil curled close.

"Please don't leave me again" Virgil chirped quietly, to the point only the two he was curled against him could hear. Virgil burrowed closer "please" he whispered "I can't lose anyone again."

The two looked at each other in surprise. They thought, well Virgil wouldn't want them to stick around. From how he told the story they would never (and probably want never) to take the smallest away from this team, and from the looks of it the three Eevees didn't trust them much right now. They didn't, right?

They usually would never hang around a human more than a few moments, never used to having a family bigger than just the three of them. It seemed logically from their past for it to be near impossible for this human and three of his pokemon to ever trust them.

..But

But it was like the light silver shiny had said earlier, they could feel the puzzle pieces there, already connected to Virgil and ready to connect with them all. A human, who was like none other. He had witnessed them take one of his own, but when that one showed he still trusted the two misfits, the trainer opened his arms, gave them food for no other reason than one he trusted showed they trusted the two strangers.

And the three Eevees, Virgil seemed to trust them to the ends of the Earth. Patton had offered them to join their meal right away. Roman had laughed off the trash Eevees tackle and just said Logan's reaction had been similar. Logan, while seeming to be the least likely one to want them here, listened to their half of the story without interrupting unless to give more detail, and was showing trust even now by watching from the fire's other side, not moving an inch. They trusted them in a way.

No, they didn't think of these four as family yet, but for the first time since they met Virgil, since they met each other, there seemed to be a chance to make that come true.

"Ok", the marked Eevee nudged Virgil "we'll think about it overnight."

For some reason, they realized they wouldn't even need that time.

Because the best part of staying was not only they would gain a whole family, one they would perhaps one day learn they could always trust, but they would regain their brother. Their brother they would have searched for eternity to find, and given anything to stay with.

______________________________

Thomas yawned as he sat up, Patton rolling off the trainer's shoulder still fast asleep and swapped to flopping over a passed out Logan, who was moments ago tucked between Thomas's ear and shoulder. The human glanced around, finding Roman (who always moved in his sleep) laying across the sleeping bag where his left ankle was. Last but not least Virgil was curled under a cuddle puddle with the two new Eevees from last night off next to his sleeping bag, the only contact being Virgil's tail brushing Roman's.

The trainer chuckled and slid his foot away from it's prison, quietly hissing as he tested the tingling foot. Of course it was asleep. Well, the best way to wake it up was to get active so..

 

The dirty Eevee stretched, rolling off from the top of the cuddle puddle. He let out a small oof when he came in contact with the floor a moment later than he expected. The strange, definitely not earth floor….

Eevee blinked, watching not one but two of his brothers curl together sleeping. Yesterday wasn't a dream he realized happily, watching the three other Eevees scattered throughout the tent sleep. A pleasant smell carried his paws out of the durable plastic flap, emerging to a bright, just after dawn day. The human (Thomas his always chaotic mind somehow supplied) was back making more hot food. Well, at least he seemed to be attempting with varying success, a stack of nice enoughly done pancakes sat on a plate to his left, with a smaller (but not by much) pile of black crispy pancakes to his right. Now the left crispy brown ones looked appealing, the Eevee thought the crispy, burnt pancakes smelled like a gift from Arceus himself.

 

Thomas stumbled in surprise when the stack of miserable pancakes clattered to the ground, only to laugh as he watched the dirtier of the Eevee pair dive at them hungrily.

"Well breakfast won't be ready for a bit more, but I wouldn't mind the early clean up crew" he giggled as the Eevee glanced up only for a moment, only to turn to back and attack the pancakes again.

"Just make sure not to scatter them too far" Thomas warned kindly, turning back to the camping stove " we'll have to clean up afterwards." The trainer smiled as the Eevee chirped in agreement.

 

Soon the others crawled out, and the burnt pancake (and other foods Thomas just didn't get right) devourer went to chirp and chat with the others. Food was served, equipment packed, and about two hours later Thomas was adjusting everything onto his back. If it hasn't been for Logan, Thomas knew he would never have had his stuff packed so neatly.

"Welp" Thomas said out loud "it's time to get going, we have a gym challenge next town" his four cheered different levels of excitement. He turned to the two wild runners "I guess this is goodbye for now" he smiled

After so many run-ins with Virgil, Thomas had skillfully learned how to hide his heart ripping out everytime he had to leave puzzle pieces behind.

This skill came into play hard when Virgil looked up at the trainer with such sorrow, Thomas nearly burst to tears right then and there. Instead he smiled, offering a hand for comforting pets. Virgil did not walk near the hand, instead letting out and angry hiss.

Thomas shook his head, wishing he could fully understand what Virgil was saying, but got the message "I can't force them, you know better than anyone here that I only bring members on my team if they want to join. Never by force, I always give an option."

Virgil wine was cut off though as the dirty Eevee snapped from his frozen trance and bounded forwards, stepping up to Thomas and putting his paw onto the human's hand. Somewhere in him remembered a similar interaction with Roman when they first met, but that was washed away when the other Eevee came up and chirped something, only to get tackled by Virgil right after.

"Oh" Thomas realized, smiling "I'm guessing that's a good thing?" He asked his team beside him. Patton nodded excitedly, Roman purred, and Logan merely flicked his tail positively.

"I guess I can do this then" he slid out two pokeballs, setting them on the ground. The wild pair looked at eachother one last time before the smaller marked one nodded, and both touched the white button.

 

"So" Thomas asked as the group wandered down the trail, focusing on the pair walking (or in the dirtier ones case bouncing) by his feet "I was wondering if I could offer giving you names? You don't have to, but-" Virgil rubbed the trainer's cheek from his spot in the hood, stopping the human's splutter of words before chirping some of his own down. The two below responded after a moment and Virgil gave off a purr as a signal: both had agreed it would be ok.

"Alright.." he mumbled. Earlier events of when the dirt covered Eevee had offered his paw in the same way Roman had came rushing back, turning and twisting until a name suddenly formed "how about Remus for you?" He wondered. Said Eevee stumbled as though surprised, but after a moment Remus gave a happy chirp, Thomas smiled in return.

Finally there was the Eevee with the special marks on his face. There was something in his mind that he felt for some reason, it just felt right for him to call the other 

"Janus" he mumbled by accident out loud, the trainer's eyes widened as he glanced curiously at the pokemon "what about Janus?" The Eevee seemed to think hard although weighing the name vs. something only he saw, he knew. Before Thomas could speak the little Eevee glaced up and nodded, the most determined nod he had gotten out of the six of them for figuring out their name.

Six of them.

Thomas grinned widely as all six of his Eevees walked or rode on him. It had all started with Roman, the first time Thomas had found a puzzle piece. Then Patton and Logan, Virgil, and finally Remus and Janus. It felt right, like he was home. Like he was with family.

"It's interesting," he voiced quietly to his team "how many of us have seen each other before really meeting each other. There's even more to explore in the future, so many possibilities, so many mysteries. But I'm glad" he sighed gleefully as the distant sound of cars passed. The town was close by.

"I'm glad I get to do it with so many familiar faces. I'm glad that we all have connected stories. I.. honestly couldn't imagine walking our next journey without you guys, my completed puzzle

My family."

[hearteyes-for-killmonger]

A/N

This is Death Note meets Black Panther. So if you like the idea of Erik as Light Yagami, you're in the right place.

Let me know if you'd like to be tagged.

My fics have no READ MORE option because I do them all from mobile. :/ so sorry about the forever scrolls. 😫 Good thing is I'm keeping chapters to about 1500 words.

1. BEGINNINGS

Dear Journal,

I've written of much in my lifetime and now I continue this in my afterlife. But, Journal? How can I accurately describe this VAST realm where the ghost of my former self now exists? That is all I am.

I'll start with the sky for it has demanded my attention. The contrast of the deep purple and rich blue against blindingly white flashes of light make the starry sky of this ancestral plane the most majestic to behold, even greater than that of a Wakandan sunrise, and for that I am grateful. Under this realm’s sky which is so undefiled, so splendid, so divine that no mortal can look upon or stand under it without first forfeiting their very lives and human shells.. we souls of the past run free in our transcendent forms.

But are we truly free within this elaborate repetition?

When we are not running, we write. I'm sure you're beginning to understand. As ancestors, our words bind the earth realm to our own. We are accountable for recording the events in the earth as well as names.

“N'Jobu. Are you going to run?” Chika paces below on the ground, his jet black fur shining blue under the dramatic sky. Life in the ancestral plane is akin to a vivid dream that never seems to come to a point or an end. “What are you pondering so intently? Give that journal a rest, you are free, N'Jobu. You are meant to run on.. forever,” he spoke, each word echoing in my ear, a cement block sealing my monotonous fate. Is that all there is? Running?

“..I’ll remain here.”

Another omen. The curse of eternal disappointment. Chika runs, striding through the soft green grass, toward eternity. He won’t be back for a millennium and it will still be too soon in the scale of forever.

As I perch atop my branch inscribing these entries, I watch the living trapped in the sinking wheel which is humanity.

I see Wakanda entering a new era. I see impending war waged by the unjust. My claw moves on it's own, inking the names of the innocent and the young. They come everyday before their time. I cannot hold back my–is it sympathy? No, sympathy is invalidation. I’ve been removed from mortality for entirely too long to care. The thing I feel–is intrigue.

-N'Jobu

Sinking wheel aside, the human world has its interesting moments. The human mind is an interesting machine. Humans with the capacity to choose their destiny on a small scale will often cling to life for the sole purpose of defiling it. Tooth and nail, they fight to defy and delay the inevitable, still meeting the same fate they struggled against. Humans pursue the end of a certain evil only to be overcome by the specific evil they’ve created.

Humans as a whole? Predictably ordinary and violent. However, the most interesting things pertain to the actions of individuals. Individuals are the wild cards.

That's what I'd like to explore.

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

Erik slid his phone from his pocket, sliding it in his line of vision as he walked briskly down the city sidewalk toward the block where his office building stood tall. Yahoo news had a few ridiculous articles, pointless in the nature. He considered putting in his earbuds to listen to his playlist until he reached his building. Or maybe he'd pick a research to dive into absorbing it for no other purpose than regurgitating it to the easily impressed. His business partner would be impressed for sure. Decisions, decisions. Clicking quickly through the internet, he stumbled on a title.

17-year-old Isaiah Mark Lewis was unarmed when he was shot after fighting with two officers who first used a stun gun on him.

Disgusting. Another senseless death at the hands of the morally corrupt, the third he'd heard of in two weeks. He hit the back button searching for something different, something lighter.

Marzeus Scott, an unarmed 35-year-old killed by police in Blytheville, Arkansas.

He exited his browser, pocketing his phone and looking ahead to the silver sky and concrete jungle which enveloped him. Black man with a bald fade and suit up ahead, 2:00. Black woman with a long skirt and blazer behind him, 6:00. He couldn't help but see clear targets on their backs as well as his own. It was an unspoken phenomenon, this fear of blackness that became the black soul's burden to carry. Like ants, black people were expected to work pointless 9-5's for CEOs that cared more for dogs and money than human life. Everyday there was the dark aura of the capitalistic, racist shoe hovering above, playing god.

His calf-skin Armani loafers hit the ground at a steady pace and the Harlequin Jacquard wool blazer he wore moved with him like a thick second skin. A police car rolled along with the traffic to his left as he kept his eyes forward.

2:00. Black man sitting on the ground. Elderly. Homeless. It was only a matter of time before he'd be chased away by some pompous authority. Erik took out a few bills folding them into his palm to quickly pass to the old man.

"I can't take this," he rasped. "I can't-- I-- Thank you so much. Thank you." He grabbed Erik's hand which held the $300 and shook it, not letting go. "Thank you so much," he repeated before Erik pulled his hand back.

Great. Now he had to wait at the crosswalk because he'd missed the break in traffic.

He checked his watch impatiently, a rose gold Patek Philippe Nautilus gifted to him by his team at 2K Security, Inc. Having fattened their pockets over the years, he was their hero. And now he was on his way back to his office for a virtual meeting with Samsung.

"Good morning, Mr. Stevens," Gloria, the receptionist perked on his arrival to the ground floor lobby. Nodding in greeting, he could feel her eyes scrolling over him but like every time before, he ignored this--stepping into one of the four large elevators which took him up smoothly to the very top where his spacious office resided.

Large floor to ceiling windows lit the white painted room naturally and his computer awaited, ON but sleep. He could practically see the seconds ticking quickly by, but luckily he was just in time for the meeting with Sandeep.

"Password and login, okay.. 2kMeetings.com. Input access code," he mumbled punching keys all to see the brown skin man with a pompadour of thick straight jet black hair staring back at him. He started the recording.

"Can I say this the best web conferencing software I've used thus far? And I've used a lot," Sandeep commented seemingly impressed. Erik wasn't surprised having been named in Forbes, but he smiled nonetheless giving humble thanks. This software was his own creation. The company overall was his baby. He nurtured it like one would nurture an actual child.

The meeting began and as it progressed, Erik had new projects to undergo, features that Samsung wanted to incorporate into their products and even into their own security and data systems. They began to talk user privacy, security VPNs, and MDMs. Soon after, it was time to disconnect and implement some of the changes discussed.

Hours later, Erik had not ceased in his work. He would not stop until he absolutely had to, it was a thing about him. When it came to his baby he was totally engrossed.

"Baby," Erik spoke into the phone catching it on the second ring when he saw the name Mika flash on the screen with a picture she'd taken and set as the icon herself. "Oh, uh--Dinner? I don't know, I've got a lotta shit to do today." He started typing a code and nearly forgot to continue his call. "Uh--Mika," he paused to type another line. "I may be late tonight."

Movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Something had fallen through the sky.

"Hm? Oh. What happened?--Nah, I ain't hear about that story, but I just read about two more today. They're just out here killing niggas left and right." He stood looking through one of the tall clean windows to see what had dropped from the sky. No one on the ground seemed to notice. Was he buggin? "Hm? They what? His hands were up and they shot him? With cameras recording?" He listened to his girl's angry report. She was right, they'd probably get off regardless of the evidence. She would know, she was a cop. Well, a detective.

He headed back to the elevator, cellphone in hand while his girl gave him the entire story, venting her frustration simultaneously. When he stepped onto the sidewalk outside of the building, there was no disturbance. No one seemed to be glued to the area for any particular reason. He looked in every direction including up finding a black leather bound journal on the concrete with its spine in the air. If he hadn't seen it fall from the sky, he'd have assumed some random passerby dropped it and he'd have ignored it. Picking it up, he shook and dusted it, turning it this way and that. "No. No protest." Mika was bent on being front line, but it was dangerous. She could get hurt. "You're not going," he asserted. "I understand, but I want you to be safe, okay? Hm?--Aight. I'll see you tonight. Love you," he said hanging up and pocketing the phone, both hands now gripping the worn journal. Whose was it?

The deafening whir of a siren broke through the city noise before a police car appeared from around the corner up ahead. The stories of the three recently murdered men swirled in Erik's head. With the police's extreme prejudices, the results were never favorable for those who looked like him regardless of what they wore, did, or their level of innocence and involvement. He could only imagine the violence that would come from the driver when he made it to his location. Would there be another bad report?

There he was again--anticipating the drop of the sadistic shoe overhead. An ant's mentality. As an ant, this world he was chained to was nothing but disappointment.

Tag list: @muse-of-mbaku  @goddessofthundathighs  @panthergoddessbast  @thadelightfulone  @misspooh  @marvelmaree  @youreadthatright  @forbeautyandlife  @theunsweetenedtruth  @bidibidibombaclaat  @myboyfriendgiriboy  @dameshaemonique  @blackpantherimagines    @vikkidc  @hidden-treasures21  @mysidefanting  @hold-me-like-a-heart-beat  @syndrlla97  @winteroflife  @thotyana-in-this-hoe    @texasbama  @gingerylimonte  @princessstevens    @magic-madness-heavensin  @wawakanda-btch  @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade  @wakanda-inspired  @blackgirloneshots  @thegucciwaffle  @thiccdaddy-mbaku    @purplehairgawdess  @indigoxsummers  @cccccx1    @dynastylnoire  @iamrheaspeaks  @blowmymbackout   @they-call-me-le  @theblulife  @raysunshine78  @sheisexcellent @fd-writes @soufcakmistress @ju5tp34chy

[squishyharold]

You said prompts are always welcome :)))) how about "I got pulled by someone but he just wanted to make his flat mate jealous and now they're fucking it our of their systems and I've been left in the living room with an awkward boner and you're their other flat mate who witnessed what happened pls help me" NARRY

oh boy, oh anon, this got a bit out of hand… I hope you actually like this haha  ✌💛🌞

the worst night of his life

narry fanfictionrating: explicitwords: 6940pairings: narry (side-lilo and brief larry let’s never talk about this again) (accidental and light daddy-kink )

Harrypractically falls through the door when Louis’ finally manages towiggle a hand behind him to open it. It’s not that easy with theirlips connected in such a messy kiss, all wet with a bit too muchtongue but Harry hasn’t been kissed in weeks and hasn’t had a shag inmonths so he doesn’t complain. He’s on the edge of being tipsy afterLouis bought him only two drinks and then asked him to go back to hisplace to fuck. Harry was briefly worried about being too easy butLouis’ hands on his arse were quite convincing.

Sonow they’re stumbling into Louis’ flat (that seems way too big forone person) and Harry gasps when he’s being pushed against the edgeof a table. He makes a little noise of complaint but Louis ignoreshim and grinds against Harry’s hips instead, letting out anexaggerated moan that echoes through the whole room.

Louisusually isn’t the type of guy Harry would go for but it’s just forfun anyway, so why not? After a few more awkward kisses and touchesHarry decides to just turn off his brain and let his body do therest, like dipping his fingers into Louis’ trousers to touch morenaked skin. God, it really has been too long since he has touchedsomeone and has been touched by someone. And Louis is definitely intoit, still making those obnoxiously loud noises while he tugs atHarry’s long curls and rolls his hips again. Harry whimpers when hefeels Louis press against his half-hard dick and he’s so ready tojust bend over the table and let Louis fuck him right there becauseapparently he’s not just that easy but also that desperate.

Butthen one of the quite many doors open and Louis’ rips away from hismouth, leaving Harry cold and confused. There’s a guy looking lividwhile he yells at Louis and Louis yells back at him like he’s done ita thousand times before. Harry’s alcohol muddled brain barely keepsup with what is being said.

“Doyou think this is a game?” The bloke growls with his handscurled into fists.

Louisjust snorts, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Whatisn’t?”

“You’resuch a fucking arsehole, has anyone ever told you that? Just becauseyou don’t care about what the world thinks of you doesn’t mean otherpeople see things the way you do! Not everyone can make thosesacrifices and pretend that the world can go fuck itself.”

“Jesus,Liam, I didn’t ask you to give up your life for me, I just asked youto tell your fucking friends!”

“AndI told you it’s not that easy,” Liam hisses and now he’s almostnose to nose with Louis. “I see them at work, too, and what willyou do if I lose my job? Who will pay your share of the rent, huh?”

“Fuckyou,” Louis almost spits into his face. “I never needed afucking sugar daddy, I just needed my best friend, my boyfriend,not to be ashamed of me.”

Liamgroans in frustration. “And I told you that’s not it, I told youa thousand times. When will that ever get into your thick brain,huh?”

Harrycan see how Louis’ shoulders are trembling with anger (or maybesomething else). “You can talk all you want, Liam. It’s theactions that count.”

There’ssomething taunting in Louis’ voice that Liam picks up on immediately,eyes flashing dangerously. “Is that why you’re cheating on me?Are trying to make a point? That’s pathetic.”

Louisholds up one finger in front of Liam’s face. “First of all,you’re not my boyfriend anymore so it can’t be called cheating,”then he raises a second one, almost shoving it into Liam’s eye,“second of all, I’m alwayspathetic you fucking donut!”

Harryblinks, not quite sure how it happened because he’s pretty sure heonly blinked once, but suddenly they’re grabbing each other’s facesand kiss so desperately they almost fall over. But they don’t. Liamis pulling Louis toward the bedroom instead, the one he just came outof, muttering strings of “Fuck you”or “I love you”into his mouth (Harry is not quite sure which one it is, maybe it’sboth).

Thedoor closes with a bang and then Harry is just left stare standing,staring at the wood like it’s an enchanted cupboard that leads intoanother world where he doesn’t feel like a piece of crap. Wow,he thinks. That’s a first.

He’sheard rumours of this technique before, about making out with somerandom person to make your crush jealous. It’s something he has alsoseen in movies before, something that made him sit on the edge of hisseat because he loves romcoms and all the fake drama and the sweetslow burn until they’re finally together.

Whatnone of these movies ever depicted is how shittyit is to be the onewho is used to make someone else jealous. They don’t even explain howthe fuck this person is supposed to find their way home now. Harrywas so busy snogging Louis on the bus he doesn’t even know where heis. At least no one else witnessed this disaster.

Butas if on cue (because apparently the universe hates Harry), anotherdoor opens and a boy with damp blonde hair steps out of the bathroom,rubbing a towel over his head. He wears nothing but a pair ofsweatpants and a tank top, humming something to himself that soundslike a lot like Bryan Adam’s summer of 69and they instantly lock eyes.

Hestops dead in his tracks when he sees Harry still standing there likea fucking idiot with an uncomfortable boner and his floral shirt halfunbuttoned (though it always looks like that). They look at eachother and the boy frowns at Harry, mouth opening to ask a questionbut then Louis moans loudly from behind the door and his mouth snapsshut again. Harry feels his face grow incredibly hot when the guy’seyes flicker between him and the door and he finally makes theconnection.

Harryfeels so humiliated he wants to die and he prays to any god who willlisten to just let the ground swallow him whole so no one will everknow about the worst night of his life.

“Shit,”the guy curses and rubs the towel over his hair one more time beforehe drapes it over his shoulder and beckons Harry over. “Comeon,” he says and moves to open another door that probably leadsto his own bedroom. And since Harry doesn’t know what else to do hetakes the offer like a drowning man in search for an island or someshit like that.

Theroom is small and cosy with a desk that is so loaded you can’t evensee the surface and a chair that has become a closet for every pieceof clothes this guy owns. There’s an Irish flag above the bed thatHarry quite likes and the soft light from the desk lamp makes himrelax a little. This room kind of feels like safe space.

“Sitdown with me.”

Theguy is already sitting cross-legged on his bed and pats the spot infront of him. Harry bites at his lips because he’s not quite surewhat the guy is trying to do but then he just toes out of his shoesand joins him anyway.

“So,are you alright? My name’s Niall.” Harry can hear his accentnow, it’s a really nice one.

“Harry,”he provides quietly and rubs his nose so he doesn’t start to cry.

“Niceto meet you, Harry. And I’m sorry about Louis, he’s the biggest knobin the world but I didn’t think he’d pull something like that. It’sshitty and I’m sorry you got caught up in it.”

Harryjust tries to shrug it off and plays with a loose thread on Niall’sduvet. “It’s okay. I didn’t plan for my evening to end like thisbut… it’s okay.”

“It’snot okay,” Nialll huffs and when Harry looks up he can see himglare at the wall like he’s superman with his x-ray vision and cansee exactly what Louis and Liam are up to. “They’re a fuckingnightmare to have as flatmates and an even worse couple but theycan’t seem to live without each other. Last week Louis broke Liam’sphone so he’d lose all his contacts and the week before that Liamthreatened to beat up a guy who was flirting with Louis. Which ishilarious because Liam once cried because he accidentally killed aspider that he wanted to carry outside. Louis kinda wormed his wayinto Liam’s heart and now it’s a never-ending drama with them.”

Harrylistens to the story and now it makes absolutely sense why Louisinsisted to go to his place even though Harry’s was closer, why hewas being unnecessary loud and why he told Harry at the club that hewas perfect because helooked nothing like him. Buthis stupid tipsy ass didn’t care and now he’s in this mess. GreatJob, Harry.

“Sorry,”Niall says when he notices that Harry doesn’t comment on it. He’s notsaying anything, really. “Do you want a cup of tea or something?I can even fix you some food, though I gotta warn you, I’m a shitcook.”

Harryfrowns at that because everyone should know how to cook, it’s vitalunless you don’t care whatever shit you put into your body. Nialldoesn’t look like he doesn’t care, he’s quite toned with nice armsand… well, he looks fit. Which doesn’t help with the boner thatHarry is still having. He probably needs a cold shower.

“I’mfine thanks–” He cuts himself off and his eyes widen when theyhear the first moan drifting over from the other room. It’s highpitched like someone’s being sweetly tortured and then he groans Fuckyes, Liam and Harry wants toactually die. His cheeks turn a few shades darker and he hides hisface in both hands. He’s so fucking embarrassedhe can’t even function properly.

“Erm,I’m gonna put on some music, yeah?” Niall’s blushing a littlehimself like he’s embarrassed on Louis’ and Liam’s behalf and thathelps a little at least.

Niallcrouches down in front of his stereo, the only expensive thing inthis room – no wait, that’s not true. Harry spots a guitar leaningagainst the wall, free of dust and shining brightly like it’s beentaken proper care of. Harry wonders if Niall would play something forhim if he pretended to cry. But that would be just as shitty aspulling someone to make someone else jealous. So he holds back thetears and just sniffs a little until Niall has put on a song loudenough to drown out the sounds Liam and Louis make.

“TheChain!” Harry blurts out because he fucking loves the song andeven manages to smile at Niall when he slumps back down on the bed, alittle comfier this time, so Harry makes himself more comfortabletoo, with one leg thrown over the edge of the bed and the other stilltucked underneath his thigh.

“Ilove Fleetwood Mac,” Niall says with a grin. “My band and Icover a few of their songs sometimes.”

“You’rein a band?” Harry asks and his eyes flicker over to the guitaragain. “Yeah, makes sense. Do you just play?”

“Ising sometimes,” Niall shrugs. “We don’t really have ourown songs yet.”

“So,are you any good?”

Harrytries not to stare when Niall laughs because first of all, it’s agreat laugh and second of all, he looksgreat when he laughs.

“Nah,we’re probably shit. But it’s fun, so.” He shrugs. “It’sjust a hobby anyway. I’m studying sound engineering, that’s why Istill have to put up with shitty flatmates.”

Harryhums, nodding to himself. “I’m studying law. Doesn’t leave muchroom for hobbies but I always loved to sing. Probably have a betterflatmate though, Zayn’s barely home but he always pays the rent ontime.”

Niallgroans like he’s jealous. “Can we switch?”

Harrylaughs. “No way, that would be even more awkward than it alreadyis.”

There’sa serious look on Niall’s face this time, it almost looks stubborn.“Honestly, Harry, listen to me: If anyone should be embarrassedit’s Louis, not you. Can’t believe he even managed to pull someonelike you, you’re way out of his league.”

Harrycan’t help but snort and brushes a few strands of hair behind hisear, mirroring the grin Niall is giving him. He’s trying to cheerHarry up and he wants Niall to know that it’s appreciated. Niall nodsat him approvingly and shifts a little closer with his tongue stuckbetween his teeth so he can poke Harry in the ribs.

Hemakes a strangled noise. “What was that for?”

“Youjust look very pokable,” Niall says, still grinning and Harrycan’t stop grinningback. He doesn’t know if it’s because he’s still a little drunk or ifhe just feels very comfortable around Niall. So comfortable in factthat he already forgets about Louis and Liam and concentrates on themusic instead, singing along to the chainwith his upper body rocking to the beat of it.

Nialljoins him by humming some harmonies under his breath, moving hisfingers to the right chords of the song like he would with his guitarand then they’re just jamming together and Harry feels a littlelighter, so light he might just fall off the bed.

“Careful,”Niall laughs and keeps him steady by getting a hold of both of hishands.

“I’malways careful,” Harry lies but he’s such a bad liar that even astranger calls him out on it.

“Ifeel like that’s a complete lie,” Niall snorts while the songchanges to Landslide.“I bet you trip over your own feet like an oversized puppy.”

“I’mnot. I even do some boxing.”

Niall’seyes flicker to his arms immediately, like he’s trying to see themuscles underneath the awful print. But Harry loves awful prints andhe’s not ashamed of it.

“Areyou any good?” Niall asks with a raised eyebrow and Harry jutshis chin out in defiance.

“I’mamazing!”

“Yeah,sure,” Niall chuckles to himself. “But I’m sure you’rebetter at singing. Honestly, you sound great, have you ever thoughtabout joining a band?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

Harrytilts his head. “What, yourband?”

“Sure,”Niall says and tilts his head in the same direction. “You need aproper hobby, don’t you? Boxing is lonely and you study lawwhich can’t be that exciting.” Harry can’t really argue withthat. “Don’t you think you could use a change of scenery?”

Insteadof answering Harry just throws his head back and sings loudly, “WellI’ve been afraid of changin’ ‘cause I’ve built my life around you,but time makes you bolder even children get older and I’m gettingolder, too… Oh, I’m getting older, too.”

Harryalmost gets lost in the music like he always does. Doesn’t matter ifhe’s listening to it on his way to class or during a workout. Noteven the shower is safe from him and his  performances and when he’scooking he sings the list of ingredients to the tune of BritneySpears. Also, the best part about Christmas is singing Christmassongs with his sister. Fuck,music takes up so much space in his life, he didn’t even realise ituntil Niall pointed it out.

WhenHarry tips his head forward again and opens is eyes Niall is evencloser, his hands still squeezing Harry’s. It surprises him so muchthat he feels himself lean forward as well, it’s pure instinctbecause Niall is so fit and he smells so good since he came fresh outof the shower and Harry probably smells like a liquor store and thatdoesn’t seem to bother him at all.

“CanI kiss you?” Niall asks quietly, all serious now and on the edgeof desperate. It makes Harry’s head swim and his heart pound. Evenhis dick almost swells back into fullness just from that question.

“Yes,please,” he says politely because his mother said to always bepolite.

Niallsmiles and lets his hand smooth over Harry’s wrists and up to hisarms to get a better hold of him and just haul him into Niall’s lap.He goes willingly, eagerly, and smashes their mouths together beforehe can even straddle Niall.

Harryis so much taller than him, so he has to hunch over to kiss himproperly and Niall’s head is tipped back all the way to kiss himback. It’s already so much better than kissing Louis and that hasnothing to do with skill, Harry has kissed enough people to knowthat. Kissing always involves two people and those two people have tofit together in order to be ‘good at kissing’. Niall might be shit atkissing in general but Harry wouldn’t care because he’s greatat kissing Harry and that’s all that matters to him right now. Heenjoys the slow drag of their lips, the hint of teeth grazing hisbottom lip whenever they move their heads to change the angle.

They’recompletely in sync and Harry breathes little needy moans againstNiall’s lips, squeezing his thighs together like he’s preventinghimself from grinding into his lap. He’s holding back, he knows heis, because he doesn’t want to be a charity case here, he doesn’twant Niall to feel sorry for him, he just wants to be wanted. That’swhat he always wants.

“Doyou want me to fuck you?” Niall whispers against Harry’s lips,hands roaming his back. “I’d fuck you good until you scream.What do you say, hm? Do you want Louis to hear what he’s missing outon?”

Harrymoans and wriggles on Niall’s lap, already feeling hot all over. Fuckyes, he doesn’t just want to be fucked, he wants to be claimed and towash away the humiliation from earlier. Because Niall doesn’t look athim like he’s a second choice, like he’s bait for someone else. Hiseyes are so wide and blue, so hungry for Harry like he’s the fuckingjackpot. Harry’s always a fucking sap when he’s had alcohol but hethinks he might be able to fall in love with that look on Niall’sface. He’s definitely able to get fucked by Niall, that’s not even aquestion.

ButNiall is still just looking because Harry hasn’t given him an answeryet and the fact that he waits for consent, that he even asked if hecould kiss Harry, makes his cock jump with need.

“Howsturdy is your bed?” He asks instead and Niall’s patience turnsinto shy confidence.

“Haven’tfound out yet. I usually don’t take people home.” His fingersmove up under the hem of Harry’s shirt, trailing over his bare skin.

Harryfeels himself shudder and carefully drapes his arms around Niall’sneck, “Good thing I was already here then. Now let’s find out.”

Niallblindly grabs for the remote of his stereo to turn it off before helets it drop to the floor and kisses Harry again. It’s rougher thistime, with more tongue and teeth but not too much, it’s just rightand Harry feels like he could get off just from kissing Niall. Well,and maybe from rutting against him like a brainless animal becauseNiall tastes so good, smells so good and feelsso good, he doesn’t know what else to do. But Niall doesn’t seem tomind, he’s already growing hard himself. There are hands popping thelast few pathetic buttons on Harry’s shirt before it’s shoved overhis shoulders and he’s half naked.

“Come'ere,” Niall mutters and breaks away from Harry’s lips to drapeone arm around his waist and flip them over.

Harrymakes a surprised noise when he’s suddenly on his back with a heavilypanting Niall on top of him. His eyes and hands follow every line ofHarry’s body, starting from his hip  over his stomach to Harry’schest. He’s swallowing hard as he re-draws the tattoos on his skinand Harry just lets him.

“Fuck,I want to get my mouth on every inch of you but I don’t think thenight is long enough,” he says like it’s just a normalthing to say even though it’s not and Harry stares at him like he’sinsane and wants nothing more than to be infected with it.

“Just.Just start anywhere you like,” Harry whines and squirms on theduvet so he can push his hip against Niall’s.

Niallis only grinning and lets his fingers trail over Harry’s arms, downto his wrists. He pins them above Harry’s head in one swift motionand bends down to kiss him at the same time. It immediatelyextinguishes any will in Harry to break free, he just goes bonelessinstead, breathing through his nose as Niall kisses all the words andnoises out of his mouth.

“You’reso fucking pretty, you know that?” Niall murmurs against Harry’smouth before he licks back into it. He’s not so careful anymore, notso composed and when he moves around, Harry can feel how hard he inhis sweatpants. It would be nice to touch him, to circle his fingersaround him and feel how big he is, to find out how much he’s going totake up his arse in a minute.

There’sthe faint noise of a bed creaking in the other room but Harry quicklyforgets about it, tunes it out completely when Niall lets go of hishands to shift back on his legs and open his trousers. It takes a bitof effort to get them off but when Harry is completely naked heshivers with Niall’s mouth leaving kisses on his skin as he crawlshis way up Harry’s body (of course he leaves out Harry’s desperatelythrobbing dick).

“Fuck,”Niall curses and stares at Harry like he did something odd.

“What?”He asks, suddenly anxious that he fucked up. But he didn’t even doanything, did he?

“You’reso good for me already,” Niall says in awe and kisses alongHarry’s arm with pleased little noises rumbling in his throat untilthey reach– oh. Now Harry understands. He’s talking about the wayHarry just kept his hands above his head, even when Niall let go ofhim. His fingers curled around the little rods of the headboard oninstinct, he didn’t even think about it. But it seems to drive Niallmad with want so he better pretends to have done it on purpose.

“Iwanted to fuck you on your hands and knees,” Niall growls intothe skin on his neck, tormenting it with bites like they’re a treat(and oh, they are to Harry). “But now I really want to look atyou while I take you apart piece by piece.”

“Niall,”Harry whimpers, body jerking against him. “You’re not even nakedyet.”

“Hmm,I think I like it when you’re naked and I’m not.”

“Niall,”he complains a little louder which only makes Niall chuckle.

“Alright,no teasing. I think Louis teased you enough today. Fucking dick moveof him, god, I reallywant to hate him but it means I get to have my way with you so Idon’t really know what to do.”

Hepresses his thumb into the fresh bruise he just left on Harry’s neck,making him gasp. “Fuck me. Please.”

“Ah,”Niall says. “Right, that’s what I wanted to do.”

Hisfingers wrap loosely around Harry’s dick, nothing else, just toground him as he leans over to his night-stand to provide a bottle oflube and a condom. It kind of works though, Harry expects to go wildwith the faintest touch but Niall excites him and calms him down atthe same time.

“Tellme what you like,” Niall asks while he coats his fingers withlube. “I don’t know you yet, but I want to make you feelgood.”

Harrycan’t really think, the word yet making his fuzzy brain ponderall the possibilities. But Niall’s finger is already teasing the rimof his hole, his eyes watching Harry carefully.

“Ilove being stretched out until it’s just enough,” he finallysays when he meets Niall’s eyes. “Just enough so I can stillfeel it when you fuck me. I like when it’s too–” He gasps atthe first finger entering him. “Too much. I like it rough but Ialso love going slow, I…” He trails off for a moment andcloses his eyes when Niall slides his finger in and out. “I wantto be taken care of—fuck! Niall.”

Theother boy grins and licks over his teeth as he repeats the movementthat barely grazes Harry’s prostate.

“Notyet, but good thing I already found it.”

Harrygroans. “You’re the worst.”

“Maybe,”Niall murmurs and gives Harry a look that he doesn’t know where toplace. “But I think you’ll love it.”

“Fuck.”

Hisfingers tighten around the headboard as Niall keeps stretching himout, adding a second and third finger with softly spoken words thathave Harry keen and writhe on the bed. Who knew that asking what helikes could be such a turn on? He has been in countless situationsbefore where he felt like he couldn’t say anything. He didn’t hate itbut sometimes he didn’t enjoy it, he just endured it until the lessnice parts were over. With Niall it was completely different, hemakes it so easy to just say it out loud and he doesn’t feel bad forguiding him when he gets it wrong. Not that there’s anything Nialldoesn’t nail on first try.

Harrycloses his eyes and takes a deep breath when Niall finally strips outof his clothes and then quickly climbs back between Harry’s legs toroll on the condom and sink into him, careful and slow. His handssqueeze Harry’s sides and keep him warm and steady as he bottoms out,breath catching in both of their throats. It’s just the way Harrylikes it, stretched enough but with a slight burn that makes himsquirm underneath the body on top of him.

Whenhe opens his eyes he can see Niall watch him with a trembling jaw,like he’s barely holding himself together. He’s waiting and Harry’sheart jumps with arousal and affection for this guy that he just met.He loosens his hands from the headboard because they’re starting toache but also because he wants to hold Niall.

“Youcan move.” Harry doesn’t recognises his own voice, he sounds sowrecked already. “Come on.”

“Roughor slow?” Niall whispers against his lips but doesn’t kiss him.It’s driving Harry mad.

“Rough,”Harry decides right then and there, digging his nails into Niall’sback to urge him on.

Niallpulls almost all the way out before he thrusts back into him,stealing Harry’s breath once more before he gives in and kisses him,teeth catching Harry’s lower lip. He starts with a quick pace andHarry loves it. He wants Niall to know how much and tells him betweenkisses, whenever there is enough air in his lungs. Doesn’t matterthat he can’t really think straight and that it’s more gibberish thanactual words.

“Youfeel so good,” Harry whimpers when Niall changes the rhythm andfucks harder into him, face pressed into his neck now.

“Ifeel like that’s my line,” Niall gasps, hands skimming downHarry’s body to grab his thighs and jerk his hips forward.

“Ohfuck, fuck.” Harry’s hand grabs at Niall’s bleached hair.“Fuck you, get your own line.”

Niallcackles into Harry’s skin and he can’t help but laugh, too, which isridiculous. Sex with Niall is fun and that’s a word he hasnever associated with this kind of activity. Sex is usually hot andgood or very awful but never fun.

“Alright,”Niall says and stops moving, which makes Harry complain and squirm onthe bed. “Jesus, you’re such a little monster aren’t you? Can’teven keep still for a moment while daddy is catching his breath.”

And– oh. Harry did not expect that. He didn’t, but now the words haveslipped out of Niall’s mouth and they make him shiver all over, makehis cock twitch where it’s trapped between their bodies as heproduces a strangled noise in the back of his throat.

Niallbraces himself on his hands to stare down at Harry like he didn’teven mean to say it, but when he sees what the words did to Harry hiseyes grow dark.

“Didyou like that, too?” He asks and rocks back onto his kneeswithout pulling out of Harry, who’s still moving around so Niallgrabs at the fat on his hips to keep him still. It’s that groundingfeeling again, the certainty of being in good hands, the best handshe could possibly be in and Niall has very nice hands. They’reso rough and calloused and Harry wants to die on the spot becausehaving Niall’s dick in him like this, having Niall’s eyes roam hisbody in fascination, it’s enough to drive him close to the edge. Onlyhis neglected cock stands between himself and a mind-blowing orgasm,he can tell.

“Yeah,you liked that,” Niall realises with an intrigued growl and thenhe rolls his hips to watch Harry arch off the bed in pleasure. “Youreally, really liked that.”

“Please,”Harry breathes and brushes away a few strands of hair that stick tohis face. “Please don’t stop.”

“No?You still want it rough, baby?”

Harrynods so fast his head hurts and tries to reach out for Niall with onehand while he props himself up with the other, dragging theirforeheads together.

“Pleasefuck me, daddy,” he says in a shy voice that has Niall groanlike he’s in pain.

“Ohgod, okay, jesus. Come here, babe.” He catches Harry’s mouth ina kiss before he can say anything else, thrusting his hips at thesame time to fuck him deep and raw. “Such a good boy,” hemutters and Harry is about to faint from how well he’s being fucked.It’s like the alcohol has evaporated a long time ago, theintoxication he’s feeling coming from Niall and how great his dickfeels each time he rocks back into him.

“More,”he whispers and falls onto his back again when Niall pushes at thehollows of his knees and almost bends Harry in half. That’s it,that’s it. Niall’s dick finally rubs over his prostate and itmakes Harry grow restless. He stops his arms from flailing around bygrabbing his own hair with one hand and clawing at his face with theother, his little finger trapped between his teeth.

“Shit,how are you– so hot. Louis is a fucking idiot, I can’t believe helet you slip through his fingers.” There’s sweat gathering onNiall’s forehead, his still damp hair plastered to it as he givesHarry these looks that make him blush. He wants to be good for Nialland he basks in the attention he’s receiving. Niall can’t even blink,can’t look anywhere else and Harry loves every minute of it. “Youcan be as loud as you want, love. Let them hear, yeah? I want them tohear how much my boy is enjoying himself. Come on, Harry.”

Hecaresses the back of Harry’s thigh before he finally reaches for hiscock that needs to be touched so desperately. Harry could’ve done ithimself but he wanted to last longer for Niall, he didn’t want tocome yet, didn’t want the night to end. This night, that somehow hasturned from the worst night of his life to the best night of hislife.

Niallgives him a firm stroke, thumb circling over the swollen tip andHarry lets out a choked cry as he writhes on the duvet with his nailsdigging firmly into cheek. It’s so different from all the other timesHarry has hooked up and it has never been so hard to keep his bodyand his thoughts together. Niall’s words, the sounds every time hiships meet Harry’s, Niall’s eyes worshipping his body, it makes Harryforget about his less exciting and mostly troubled life. Which inturn reminds him why he wanted to get drunk and hook up with someonein the first place.

“Louder,”Niall demands, sounding less controlled and more like he’s about tocome. “Do you know why I want them to hear? It’s not–” hetakes a deep breath but his words come out jerky anyway from the wayhe’s fucking into Harry. “It’s not for my sake it’s for yours.Louis, he should be taught a lesson, yeah? He shouldn’t fuck withpeople like that. And I want him to know, that… that you can have agood time without him. You’re having a good time yeah? How does myboy feel?”

“Sofucking good,” Harry breathes and then whimpers when Niall pullsaway from his cock and his thigh to lightly slap his arse. He holdson to it painfully hard, but it’s just the right amount of painfuland Harry would have no trouble telling Niall if it wasn’t.

“Language,”he groans, which has Harry half-moaning and half-laughing.

“Sorry,sorry! So good. Feels so good,” he corrects himself and now thathis legs are free again he spreads them a little wider, causing Niallsink deeper into him.

“Fuck,”Niall chokes out because apparently he’s the only one allowed tocurse and somehow that turns on Harry even more and has him groanlouder. “I take it back, fuck them, I want you all for myself.”

It’senough, all of it is enough to make the heat coil in the pit ofHarry’s stomach. Niall recognises the moment and quickly curls hishand back around Harry’s dick, stroking him as fast as he fucks himand then the heat simply unravels again, making Harry’s mouth fallopen as he comes hard. He feels his toes curl in the duvet and he canonly hold his breath for a moment before the moans fall from hismouth, loud and unapologetic

“That’sit, there’s my good boy. So pretty, so fucking pretty I can’t even–oh god.”

Harrycan’t help but feel a little disappointed when he calms down from hisorgasm and notices that Niall already came and is currentlyrecovering from it with his head fallen back and his chest rising andfalling in quick motions. Harry didn’t want to miss it but he’s alsovery pleased that he could make Niall come at all.

Theireyes lock a moment later and it kind of brings them back intoreality. A reality where Harry is not Niall’s boy and they’repainfully aware of the silence in the other room. Harry feels sore,his legs are aching and he nervously bites at his bottom lip, notsure how to read the look Niall is giving him. But then the cornersof his lips turn up into a smile and the knot in Harry’s chestloosens instantly, making him mirror the expression until they’rechuckling and giggling.

Harryis still kind of out of it and barely notices Niall pulling out andgetting rid of the condom. But he feels the faint sensation of a wetcloth cleaning up the mess on his stomach before a warm body slipsback into bed with him. Niall’s struggling a bit to get the duvet outfrom under Harry, yanking at it and laughing when Harry just sprawlsacross it like a star fish to make it extra hard.

“Brat,”is what he mumbles against Harry’s ear when he’s finally able to pullit over both of them.

ToHarry’s delight Niall just curls around his back and pulls himagainst his chest where it’s still a little sweaty but mostly warmand cosy. Other guys either tend to not cuddle at all or let him bethe big spoon because he’s so tall but Niall doesn’t care, he presseshis face into the back of Harry’s neck, leaving kisses on his skinwhile telling him to go to sleep. And well, there’s nothing elseHarry can do because he’s so tired and pleasantly exhausted, hisbrain completely wiped from anything that ever bothered him.

*

Theyfuck again in the morning, though Harry doesn’t really want to callit fucking. It wasn’t even planned, Harry just kept wriggling hisarse until Niall was hard again and asked him quietly if he wanted itrough or slow. Harry picked slow this time and turned around to kissNiall lazily while he was opened up with three fingers.

That’show they end up on their sides with Harry’s leg hooked over Niall’ship as he keeps rocking in and out of Harry. They’re not in a rushand Niall’s movements are so gentle and slow that Harry almost fallsasleep again. Not because it’s bad, it’s just so nice and soft andHarry easily goes pliant in Niall’s arms. They are looped around hisbody, fingers splayed over his back.

“Lovehow you feel around me, baby,” Niall whispers and leaves kisseson his cheek, his jaw. “Don’t worry, daddy is taking care ofyou. Do you want a proper kiss?”

Thewords let the heat curl in Harry’s body all over again and make itquite obvious that he didn’t just enjoy them because of last night’salcohol.

“Yesplease,” Harry hums against Niall’s mouth. It’s not proper, it’sjust very sweet the way Niall pours himself into the kiss and Harry’sheart actually flutters a little. Woah.

“Howclose are you?” Niall murmurs after pulling back.

“Dunno.Close…? Want you to come inside me.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah…”

“Wantme to fill you up?”

“Mhm.”Harry nods, which is ridiculous since Niall’s wearing a condom.“Need you, daddy.”

“Fuck.Be a good boy and come with me then.”

Harrywhimpers. “I can’t.” He doesn’t actually know if he can orcan’t because Niall is going so slow and it doesn’t feel like there’sa build-up to anything but then he feels Niall’s hand sneakingbetween them and his head lolls back in pleasure. “Oh.”

“Thereyou go, come for daddy. Just for me this time, I know you can.”

AndHarry does. It’s just a tiny orgasm compared to last night but itmakes him feel fuzzy around the edges and he’s actually consciousenough to feel it spread in his body until he’s trembling with it.He’s giving a soft sigh while he burrows himself deeper into Niall’sarms and enjoys the little jerking motions as he comes as well.

Theyjust stay like that for several minutes or hours, Harry can’t tell,but at some point he hears two people bickering outside of the doorlike an old married couple, hears cupboards being opened and closedagain. Harry couldn’t care any less. He watches Niall through hoodedeyes but Niall is too focused on the little bruises he left onHarry’s neck and shoulder, kissing them while brushing back his hair.

Harryhasn’t felt this calm and sated in ages and it suddenly hits him thatthis might end any second when Niall decides to throw him out of hisbed. And he didn’t even have the chance yet to convince Niall not todo that. All Niall did yesterday was ask him what he likes. He tookcare of Harry and Harry never bothered to ask what he likes.

“Ilike fucking pretty boys,” Niall says when Harry blurts out thequestion like a scared teenager asking for his crush to hold hishand.

“Ohreally?” Harry mutters, not exactly happy with the plural inNiall’s answer.

“Mhm,”Niall hums and runs a delicate finger up and down Harry’s thigh thatis still thrown over his hip. “I also like dating prettyboys.”

Harry’sfrown deepens and his bottom lip juts out in a pout. “Boy. As inone boy, which is me. You should date me.”

Healready loves the lazy smile that appears on Niall’s face as he presses themcloser together. “Sounds good. I think I’d like that even more.”

Harrynods and decides to be brave by leaning in for a kiss that has Niallmoan in a completely non-sexual way. It’s more like he’s tastingreally good food, which makes Harry realise how hungry he actuallyis. Especially when the smell of coffee reaches him.

“So…”Niall looks very pleased after they break apart. “Now thatwe’ve settled that: Are you ready to have the most awkward breakfastin your entire life?”

Harrygives him a look. “It’s only as awkward as we make it, Niall.And I want to make it very awkward… for them.”

Niall’ssmile turns into a grin and then into a laugh and Harry joins him amoment later.

Yeah,definitely the best night of his life.