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writeforfandoms · 1 year

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Fall Into Me 3

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We get to see the beginning of yearning here. It's gonna be good. :)

Warnings: Swearing, Emotions.

Rose was not going to cry. She refused. For one thing, she was still in the coffee shop. For another, it was completely illogical to cry. It made no sense and it wouldn’t help.

She just had to get through this last hour and go home. Maybe she’d get some ice cream on the way. Ice cream always helped.

Of course, it would also be helpful if nobody else came in until closing time, but alas.

Soap sauntered in, wide grin in place. “Evenin’, bonnie,” he greeted cheerfully.

“Hi Soap.” Rose smiled, leaning on the counter. “Don’t tell me you’re here for more cookies.”

“Nah, already nabbed the rest of the box.” He winked, enjoying her little giggle. “Grabbin’ coffees for us. Gaz and I are going out.”

“Ah, I see. Enjoying the city nightlife?”

“You know it.” He winked, flirtatious and over the top. “If you wanted to come, we’d love the company.”

Rose chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re very sweet, but it’s not my thing.” Too many people. Too many stares. She always felt like someone was judging her when she went out.

“Got it.” Soap didn’t push for anything more, his smile gone soft. “You got any plans?”

Which brought the ache in her chest back, through no fault of his. Rose smiled through it, willing it back down. “No. No plans. Figured I’d find a movie to watch, maybe make some headway on the hat I’m knitting.”

“You knit?” Soap leaned forward as if that was the most interesting thing he’d heard all day.

Rose blushed but nodded. Usually people just smiled and nodded when they found out. “Um, yeah. Learned in high school and haven’t really stopped since. It’s fun.”

“When you finish the hat, you should bring it in and show it off. I’d love to see.”

“If I finish it in time, I will.” Rose smiled, willing her blush to go away. “So, what can I get you?”

“Two mochas with an extra shot in each.”

Rose nodded and turned to start on the drinks. Mochas were easy, at least. The motions were all routine by now.

“No Carmen today?”

The question made Rose grimace, just a little, and she was grateful she was facing away from him. “No, she’s out sick today.”

“You need any help?”

“Oh, I’m fine.” Rose smiled over her shoulder. “Only got an hour left, anyway.”

Soap made a little noise of assent, although it sounded like he didn’t quite believe her.

“Two mochas with an extra shot.” Rose set the cups down carefully in front of him. “I hope you two have fun tonight.”

“We will, hen.” Soap picked them up and winked at her. “Enjoy your knitting! Don’t forget I wanna see it.”

Rose chuckled and waved him off, watching him go. She waited until he was in the elevator to slump a little.

Alright, she’d been right: having all these sexy men around was trouble. They were a daily reminder of her own singleness. She wrinkled her nose. Not that it was their fault. But she was lonely and had been for a while, and they were nice. More fun than the other people in the building, more likely to chat and joke with her.

But she enjoyed the interaction too much to give it up. She’d just have to make sure none of them ever got the faintest whiff of her interest.

Closing was easy but slow - Rose just couldn’t muster the energy to do it with her normal speed, not today. She locked up and stowed her keys in her purse, yawning briefly.

“Heading home?”

Rose jumped several inches, though she didn’t make a noise. She whirled, too fast, and nearly fell.

Alejandro caught her, one hand under her elbow, looking apologetic. “Ah, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Rose blew out a breath, trying to smile and shaking her head. “It’s okay. I didn’t hear you come up, is all.”

He frowned a little, giving her a quick once over, but thankfully he let it pass. “You are done for the day?”

“Yeah. You?” Rose took a half-step back, and his hand fell away from her skin. She’d wanted to lean into that touch too much. That way lay danger.

“Mm. Food first, then home.” He smiled a little. “Do you have far to walk?”

“Not too far, no. Fortunately.” Rose lifted one hand to cover her mouth when she yawned again. “I should get going, though. Have a good weekend, Alejandro.”

“You too.” Alejandro held the building door open for her, and Rose nodded to him before she turned and headed home.

She did, at least, remember to stop by the corner store and pick up ice cream before she walked up to her apartment. The building wasn’t bad, not too old but not so new it was expensive as all get-out. The higher floors had bigger apartments, but hers was… kind of tiny.

The open floor plan didn’t bother her - her bed had been pushed back into the far corner, a curtain set up to help block out the rest of the room and any residual light. The kitchen area was spotless, her plants nestled in the window in front of the sink. The rest of the space was taken up by the couch, coffee table, and end table that doubled as a TV stand.

It wasn’t much, but it was hers, and she didn’t have to share.

“Home again, home again,” she muttered to herself, kicking off her shoes and hanging up her purse and jacket on the hooks by the door. The ice cream went straight into the freezer for now while she debated if she would be a semi-responsible adult and have real food first.

Responsibility won out. Turning on the TV for background noise, Rose made pasta.

And if she kept thinking about the handsome work-neighbors, well… She’d take it easy on herself, after the day she’d had.

A quick look at her phone showed no further messages from her two friends beyond the “Have to cancel tonight, sorry!” Trying to quell the frustration and bitterness, Rose stuffed her phone away again.

Time for some knitting therapy and sci-fi.

Her alarm went off far too early, and Rose groaned into her pillow. Barely awake and she wanted to cry. Not a good look for the weekend.

But she got up. She dressed. She made it down to the coffee shop in time to open. And she smiled. All day.

Because there was no alternative. It had to be done, so she’d do it.

It had been a while since she’d had to work weekends, and she was remembering why she tried so hard to avoid it.

Monday barely felt any different, except that she saw her regulars in the morning. Jerry got his usual, Kathleen switched things up, Conner actually made it in before 9. The ebb and flow was almost soothing by now, helping her to fall back into the rhythm of the week.

Until Gaz.

“Mornin’,” he chirped, looking bright and refreshed. Rose felt grungy in comparison (even though she’d showered last night).

“Morning, Gaz. What can I get you?” She smiled, trying to keep herself on the polite end of warm.

“Just tea.” He wandered up to the counter, laptop in hand.

“You planning to hang out?” Rose asked, glancing meaningfully at the laptop before she got down the tea.

“Mmhm.”

“Go ahead and pick a table, I’ll bring your tea over in a moment.”

“Thanks, love. You’re too sweet.”

Rose didn’t turn to look at him, focusing on her work. It didn’t matter that he’d called her love. He didn’t mean it. It was just a cute thing he did.

But damn if it wasn’t getting to her. She needed more sleep. And a night with friends. And maybe a glass of wine.

Rose took a deep breath. Then another. The rising scent of earl grey was soothing, and she left the tea down to make herself a cup.

“Here you are.” She lifted the portion of the counter to walk over to his table, setting the tea and the sugar next to him.

“Thank you.” Gaz smiled and caught her hand gently. “You alright?”

“Didn’t sleep well.” Rose shrugged in a “what can you do?” kind of way. “It’s fine. Let me know when you’re ready for a refill, I’ll be here all day.”

He chuckled quietly at her little joke and released her. Rose tried not to think of how warm his hand had been, how nice even that little bit of contact felt.

She failed. But she did make tea.

“Soap mentioned you knit?”

Rose blinked a couple times, having completely zoned out behind the counter, and looked over at Gaz. “He… did?”

“Mmhm.” His smile was small but warm. “Made me curious, too.”

Rose snorted. “It’s hardly rocket science,” she said, waving one hand. “It’s not that interesting.”

“Love, we don’t have skills in that kind of area.” He looked almost… remorseful? A little bitter? Something. “None of us are all that great at making things. Except cooking.”

“It’s really not hard.” Rose shrugged, though she was watching him now, noting the interest in his eyes, the way he was trying to turn the conversation away from himself. Again. “But if you’re really curious, I’ll bring some knitting in tomorrow.”

His smile was bright and cheerful and all the convincing Rose really needed.

#fall into me #cod fanfic

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clowncorz · 6 months

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a song for you

pairing: captain john price x reader

warnings: alcohol, painful yearning and longing

notes: 'a song for you' by donny hathaway is The Song okay... also this is my first time posting a fic on here... this fic has been out for a while on my ao3 but i need to start posting on tumblr cause this is where the girlies are

You and Price had worked together here and there, there and here... The job didn’t matter. It never mattered. All that mattered to him was that he was getting paid and he was doing some good in the world. All that mattered to you was that you were with him. That was all that ever mattered to you. He was all that mattered. It was rare when you got to spend time with him outside of work. And even then, all he would talk about was work. You felt broken, in a way. You were split into pieces. One was strictly professional, only interested in getting the job done. Another piece was desperate for the touch of a man. Another, way larger piece, was longing for him. Only him. This larger piece must have been your heart. Your heart ached for him, when you went to sleep at night and when you awoke in the morning. You longed for him. You yearned for him.

You decide to take a leap one night. It was all beginning to feel like too much, that pull in your chest. The pull towards him. It was like heartburn. Metaphorically and sometimes it literally felt like indigestion. He’s giving you a ride home when you pop the question. The car is freezing, or maybe not. You’re anxious, you feel like it’s freezing but you know he’s good at keeping his car at a normal temperature. You’re shaking like a dog. He looks over at you for a second, you see out of the corner of your eye. You feel like sinking into your seat. You cut him off before he even gets the chance to ask if you’re alright.

“John,” it feels strange coming from your mouth. You never call him that. Now that you think of it, you have probably never called him that the entire time you’ve known each other. You muster up the courage to turn and look at him as he’s driving. He’s completely focused on the road, one hand on the wheel and the other hand—the one closest to you—resting on his thigh. He smiles. God, you love his smile. Oh, God, you don’t think you can do this. There’s that feeling again, burning in your chest and in your throat. You feel like you’re gonna hurl. His sweet smile, his eyes crinkle and he turns to you for a second, noticing your serious expression.

“Am I in trouble, miss?” Ugh. You can’t help but smile. Your face is burning, you feel like you’re smiling like an idiot. You have to look away. You can’t keep staring at him like this. Your smile falls and you look down at your hands. You feel him nudge your arm gently. “What is it? Something wrong?”

You shake your head. “No, of course not. I just…” I love you. I need you. I want to be with you. Not a day goes by where I’m not thinking about what it would be like to wake up in your arms. “Do you wanna go for a drink?”

He chuckles. You swallow so hard that you have to squeeze your eyes shut tightly. Like a child trying to get a pill down. Your face feels so hot, your chest feels hot, your fingertips are tingling. He takes a wrong turn, or… What you think is a wrong turn. But he pulls the car over. As it slows to a stop, you wonder what it would be like if he just took you right there in the backseat. You blink, remembering that this is reality. To your left is a bustling bar. Well, there’s a bustling club. Next to it, is a bar. Where twenty-somethings are being kicked out and tripping over their feet. Before you can realize what’s happening, your door opens. You think, God, I must be dreaming. But no, if it was a dream, he’d hold his hand out for you and oh God, he’s doing it. He holds his hand out, waiting for you to take it. You take too long.

“Fine then, have it your way.” He has that little smile painted on his stupid fucking face as he raises his arms in surrender. You huff, climbing out of the car. You feel like you can’t breathe, your body is so warm that you aren’t even phased by the brisk air of the night. He walks ahead of you, making a beeline to the bar. You look over at the club and think about how you should be there, with people your age. But you turn your attention to Price, who is being as gentlemanly as always and holding the door open for you. You can’t help but smile, you follow him into the bar.

The music that’s playing is quiet, you immediately recognize that it’s older music. Stuff your parents used to listen to. There’s a man with grey hair whose head is buried into the bar counter, he has a glass of whiskey in his hand, you swear you can hear him snoring. The bar is made up of different types of woods. If you asked someone to picture a bar, this is what it would look like. The way Price interacts with the environment—and the people in it—tells you he’s been here before. More than once. You both pull a seat up at the bar, he orders a beer for himself and an iced tea for you—he knows you don’t drink. Why does he know that? Have you ever told him that? You can’t even remember. You can feel something inside your chest tugging you towards him but you know you can’t get any closer. If you did, you’d be in his arms. God, you’d love to close the gap. You feel like crying. You’ve felt like crying this entire time. For months. His knee is touching yours, his fucking knee is touching yours. You watch him carefully as he takes a drink. Your eyes following his hands wrapped around the glass bottle, your mind wanders. You feel like you suddenly feel like you’ve got superhuman senses—a microscopic droplet of beer dribbles down his chin, through the hair there. He says something, you know that because you’re watching his mouth. You don’t know what he says. You feel something on your knee. His hand. Oh fuck.

“Is something bothering you?” Yes. Yes. Fucking yes! You shake your head. Think of something. Quick. Jesus fucking Christ!

“Been distracted lately.” You say, looking down. He’s already moved his hand away from your leg.

He chuckles again. “Might need something a little stronger than iced tea, hm?”

You nod. He says something to the bartender, you don’t bother paying attention. Part of you feels embarrassed. Embarrassed that you got yourself in this situation with your fucking coworker. You’re ashamed to be feeling this way, There’s no way it’d even work. He’s like, twenty years older than you. The bartender places a drink in front of you, you look at Price.

“You’ll like it, trust me.” He takes another drink.

You take a sip of your drink. He’s right. You were never much of a drinker, so you’re unsure of the customs when it comes to drinking at a bar. But by his reaction when you take a bigger sip, you know you’ve made the wrong move. He laughs, which makes you laugh. Suddenly, you’re at ease. He’s smiling at you. Before you know it, you’ve downed your first drink and you’re back to your simple iced tea—you have a nice buzz going and Price is on his… Well, you’re unsure of the number of beers he’s had because you’ve only been paying attention to his lips as he takes a swig.

“Ah… Fuckin’ love this song…” He says. If you were a dog, your ears would perk up as you listen to the song. You’ve heard it before—from your parents. You remember. You watch his reaction, his cheeks are flushed slightly, you know he’s a bit more inebriated than you are. His eyes are closed, he’s really into the song, his fist is clenched slightly as he moves his head. Suddenly, he nods, dropping his hand to the counter. He looks at you and leans in a bit closer. “Dance with me, yeah?”

“Okay.” You nod, allowing him to take your hand and drag you to the empty space near the jukebox. You can’t help but giggle as he takes you in his arms and starts to dance with you. Sloppily, but it’s sweet. He holds you delicately and the both of you are smiling brightly as he starts to sing to you. He pulls you closer to him and that tugging in your chest is slack. You let out a sigh of relief. This is what you needed. This is what you’ve been craving. Not just from anyone. Him. This is what you needed with him.

You feel a familiar tingling in your sinuses, your tear ducts getting a bit itchy as your head rests on his chest. He’s humming along to the song and you squeeze your eyes shut tightly. Don’t cry. Do not fucking cry. He starts to caress your hair and you feel a tear slide down your cheek. You listen to his humming through the rumbling in his chest, he’s petting your hair softly. You’re crying. You have never felt such a rush of emotion in your life. He sways with you in his arms, singing a beautiful song to you. A song he loves. He knows you’re crying, you think. That’s why he pulled you in so close. No other reason. It doesn’t matter, though. This is everything you needed. This is all you need. To be his.

#captain price #captain john price #captain price x reader #x reader #call of duty #cod mwii #captain price cod #john price #price cod

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tempobrucera · 1 year

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Linger

Pairing: Thomas x Reader Wordcount: 2.2k Summary: 5 times you want to ask Thomas to stay the night but don’t + 1 time Thomas stays Warnings: Fluff, some yearning - I guess A/N: Short and sweet (short isn’t what I am known for and the other ones are getting much longer again) and probably not really good but I need to get myself back to writing. So many ideas are still waiting for me, next ones are gonna be another Thomas (smut) one and some more poly fics.

Add yourself to my taglist. / Masterlist

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One

You can’t really remember when you thought about it the first time. About Thomas staying the night. Thomas in your bed, next to you, keeping you warm. The first time you thought about asking him to stay you can remember however.

After everyone already left Thomas decided to stay.

“I could have another drink,” he had smiled, “And another cigarette.”

And he stayed for another cigarette and drink right at your kitchen window. Lit cigarette in one hand, drink in the other. Your eyes followed his movements, how he moved the cigarette to his lips. How he inhaled, then exhaled.

Internally you sighed, aware of your staring.

First there was Thomas, who leaned outside the window, looking up at the sky with a frown. Just before a raindrop hit your own face. It started to rain down heavily in a few seconds. Thomas flicked the cigarette out of the window before closing it.

“Do you have an umbrella for me?”

You did just shake your head, you don’t have one. You gave it to a friend a while ago and have not seen it since. There was another sigh from Thomas.

That’s the first time you thought about asking him to stay the night. The image how you cuddle close, watch something silly before falling asleep, how you could touch him without worry. All the things you’re too afraid to ask for, you weren’t quite sure what he would think about it, if he would be surprised, confused, maybe even uncomfortable.

“Time to get wet then.”

Thomas smiled at you before pulling you into a hug for a bit longer than usual.

Two

The next time it happens is about a month later. Thomas being home from tour for a few days and coming around when some friends are over for dinner. He brings a bottle of white wine.

It’s a normal night, laughter, drinks, Thomas who compliments your pasta in front everyone, spaghetti still in his mouth. It has you blushing.

You got closer over the last weeks. You feel like you are becoming a friend to him. But with that your longing also intensifies. A burning little flame somewhere close to your heart. You’re surprised that no one has called you out about it by now. Sometimes you can’t take your eyes off him, when he laughs or when he’s silly and cute. When he pouts at Vic. When he plays guitar which someone just put into his arms in a bar. Someone should have noticed by now but even Thomas himself seems to be oblivious to it. Sometimes he just looks back at you - and smiles.

Once again he stays behind again when everyone leaves. Even helps you clean dishes, hums some melody next to you. He looks tired, there are dark circles under his eyes. You want to brew him a cup of tea, wrap him into a blanket and wait until he falls asleep. But there’s that fear of him looking at you out of big eyes and to scare him away. That he could think that you’re too clingy. The fear of the awkwardness the question could bring.

He laughs about a stupid joke you tell him when you’re back in the living room. He looks good sprawling his long limbs all over your sofa and he doesn’t look like he’s planning on leaving soon. It’s already two o’clock in the morning. And for the first time you’re talking about something that goes deeper, that feels like a connection.

You want to ask him to stay when he hugs you goodbye two hours later. But you don’t. And Thomas leaves, you can feel the brush of his lips against your cheek.

Three

The third time has you laughing and Thomas muttering under his breath. Thomas just came back inside from smoking on your balcony.

“What did you do?” You laugh.

He’s only in one shoe - the other one missing.

“Fell through the railing when I stretched my legs.”

“You don’t want to get it back?”

“And then some weirdo grabbed it and ran away.”

You snort.

“For real?”

“For real.”

He sits down next to you and puts his head on your shoulder. He started to be closer to you, also on a physical level. It makes your cheeks heat up and sets a colony of insects free in your chest. Everytime his fingertips are brushing your skin, everytime he hugs you close, when he whispers something against your shoulder and you can feel his breath.

“I guess, you don’t have a pair to spare in my size?” He laughs and gets you out of your spiraling thoughts.

“No,” you laugh as well. But you could stay here. At least until the morning and someone could fetch you a pair, you think. But all you say is: “Sorry.”

“Looks like I’m gonna walk home barefoot then.”

Four

Another night, another night you want to ask Thomas to stay.

It’s the last night of Sanremo. Vic is lounging on your couch with a drink in hand while Ethan and Thomas are sitting on the floor, Thomas has his head in Ethan’s lap until Vic throws a pillow at his head.

“You're going to be the next Damiano?” She laughs at him.

Damiano left an hour ago, his social battery running low. Vic rolled her eyes and made fun of him not helping the general situation until Ethan told her off and Damiano decided to flee out of your home. Now she’s throwing another pillow against Thomas' head. He looks up at her grumpily and the next cushion hits him square in the face. Ethan catches the next one while Thomas scrambles up from the floor, takes his drink and ends half on top of you not even a second later.

You can see Ethan and Vic look at each other but they don’t comment. Thomas only cuddles closer and you brush your fingers through his hair, scratch his scalp. He sleeps through Vic jumping on the sofa, Ethan who moved up to sit next her telling her to fuck off when she jumps on his thighs and both yelling at the screen in Italian. He only wakes up when you whisper into his ear.

“Who won?” He yawns.

There’s no time to answer him as Vic already screams Ice Cream time and Ethan tries to shush her.

“You’re like a five year old on a sugar high already,” Thomas mumbles. Somehow Ethan still trudges to your freezer and hands out cold sweetness to each of you.

Thomas feels like dead weight on your legs when Vic and Ethan go to get their jackets and shoes. Ethan comes back with Thomas’ stuff which he dumps on Vic when he sees that Thomas doesn’t move.

“Thomas, c’mon.” Ethan mutters. “Or do I have to carry you out of here?”

You want to say that he can stay. In your lap, just like he is. Half asleep but Ethan and Victoria are both looking at you and everything you want to say dies somewhere in your throat.

Thomas stretches his arms out to Ethan who picks him up with a sigh.

“Can some of you idiots please open the door for me and the bigger idiot in my arms?”

Five

It’s already half a year since the thought crossed your mind the first time.

They just came off stage and Thomas hugs you as sweaty as he is. Grinning and twirling you around a little bit. You laugh. The moment ends when Damiano gives Thomas a friendly slap to the shoulder and he lets you down.

There’s dinner, drinks and dancing when they’re all showered and in their day clothes again. Thomas who chases after you on the sidewalk when you go back to the hotel. Thomas who weasels himself into your room before you can protest, throws himself on your bed - shoes still on, turns on the TV and grabs for the menu that’s on the nightstand.

“We just had a three course meal?”

“That was hours ago,” he looks at you offended, “I’m still growing.”

“Where are you still growing?”

He looks back at you and blushes. You’re sure you’re getting redder than him. Before one of you can say something Thomas buries his nose in the menu and you lock yourself in the bathroom.

When you come back Thomas is sprawled out on your bed munching on some steak fries. He is completely occupied by the documentary that’s on TV. He only looks at you when you crawl into bed next to him, he gives you a slice of apple cake.

“You said cake is always a good snack,” he says before you can question it.

He’s right, you did say it but that was months ago.

The point of the night where you can’t keep your eyes open anymore reaches sooner than you want to. Thomas moves next to you, takes the plate out of your hand, covers you up with the blankets. You force yourself to open your eyes and for one silly second you think he’s going to kiss you. He’s only kissing your cheek like he did so many times the last few months.

“I should leave.”

But he’s still lingering on your bed next to you. As all the times before you want to tell him to stay. You’re sure you’ll feel lonely the second he closes the door behind himself, you would love his company and waking up wouldn’t be such a tragedy when you would wake up next to him. But there’s still the worry to freak him out, that you’re too desperate.

“Good night.”

You can hear the almost silent click of the doo that announces that he’s gone.

Plus One

It happens again when Vic shows up at your place for a movie night. To your surprise she has Thomas in tow who gives you a small wave and a smile before he bites his lips.

“Brought a chaperone,” Vic looks at you apologetically, “Damiano said I need to be supervised. No party, no fun.” She rolls her eyes. You’re asking yourself why Thomas of all people has to play the babysitter, it’s not like he’s known for saying no to a party or a wild night out. Maybe sometimes more tamed than her because as he said he loves his bed more than Vic would ever love a guy but still not the person you would have expected to look after her.

“I thought we were only watching a film and drinking some wine anyways?”

“Great,” Vic says and ushers you into your own flat, “Thomas loves some wine and watching a movie.”

He looks like he wants to slap her and you’re sure he’s communicating to her without words, just with a look, at this moment. You raise an eyebrow but it is ignored.

You don’t think about it anymore when you’re all spread out across the living room. Wine and snacks between you. Thomas ends up with chips crumbs all over his shirt. Vic shakes her head: “Can’t take you anywhere, you’re a pig.”

Thomas just shrugs.

“At least you’re a good reminder to myself why I shouldn’t go back to men. Your species is horrendous.”

He flips her off.

Half way through the film they’re having another argument, Vic calling him a disgrace. You’re getting more wine.

By the end of the film Thomas is asleep on your sofa while Victoria and you are sitting in your armchairs. Without thinking you get a thin blanket to wrap it over him. You blush when Victoria laughs.

“Was a great evening,” Vic says when she gets up, “but I have to leave.”

When Victoria hugs you goodbye you finally ask: “And … What’s with him?”

“I’m certain he can find the way to the door himself. Or he doesn’t.” She winks. Then she’s gone.

You can’t bring it over yourself to wake him up just to kick him out. Which is why you let him in his peaceful slumber, you press a kiss to his forehead before you go to bed.

You almost scream when you wake up in the middle of the night, someone behind you in your bed. You’re close to a heart attack and the panic sets in.

“Sorry,” Thomas whispers, “Shit, sorry, it’s just me.”

“God, you scared me.”

“That was stupid,” he admits, “Sorry, sorry, that was a stupid idea.”

Only now you realise that Thomas has his arm wrapped around your waist, his face buried on your shoulder.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to invade your space like this,” he says, “But … Can I stay?”

“I would like that,” you say when you turn in his arms. Thomas aims to kiss your cheek when you move the tiniest bit and his lips land on yours, your hand in his tousled hair.

He looks at you.

“Sorry, sorry,” now it’s your turn to apologise, “Sorry.”

Before you can flee from your own bed, he wraps one of his legs around you and gets you to kiss him again, this time deeper than before.

“That means …,” he sounds a bit out of breath, “I don’t have to go back to the couch?”

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END.

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Taglist: @writingmaneskin, @oro-e-diamanti, @iamtashaquinn, @teenyweenynightghost, @findaqueenwithoutaking, @foreveryking-thatdied, @findoutwhoyougonnacall, @maneskinbrainrot, @little-moonbeam-666, @ethaneskin, @maneskin-dimensione, @l0standn0tf0und, @butkutee, @gr8rainbowpunk, @maneslut, @maneskintifoso, @weareoddlydrawn, @hiraetheral, @imjustanerdwholikestoread, @cuzimitaliano, @hopelessromantic727, @dating-villain, @maneskinsimp, @till-you-scream-and-cry, @wonderlandishell, @h1ppieth1ngs, @paralianeyes, @livvyysstuff, @que–sera–sera, @romanoffswoman, @lovelyy-moonlight, @crwnnjules, @roisinlove123, @whitewolf-writes, @lizzylynch1, @fugg1977, @maneaterdoll, @imposter-27, @cheese-toastie-11

#maneskin fanfiction #måneskin #maneskin #thomas raggi #maneskin fluff #maneskin x reader #maneskin x you #maneskin fanfic #maneskin imagine #thomas raggi x you #thomas raggy x reader #thomas raggi x yn

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footprintsinthesxnd · 9 months

Text

Empty Chairs At Empty Tables

So this is inspired by the song for my favourite musical Les Misérables ‘Empty Chairs At Empty Tables’ where the character Marius sings about loosing his friends during the French Revolution. I feel that this song fits a lot of characters from the HBO war fandom but I was just drawn to writing this fic for Eugene Sledge. Warnings: themes of war, loss, grief, death, death of a beloved pet, PTSD

Thank you so much @georgieluz for proofreading it.

Deacon watched the couple, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth as sat with a lopsided grin. Eugene never saw him move but every time he turned around he was right in his heels. Eugene reached down to scratch his dog's head affectionately, watching as he smiled up at him.

“The way he looks at you, sometimes I wonder whether he’s the love of your life instead,” Y/n joked, laughing as Eugene stuck out his tongue at them.

“You’re just jealous that he got the last sandwich.”

“Not at all, you know I’d do anything for him,” Y/n began scratching Deacon’s arm which caused the dog to flop down onto their lap.

“Which is exactly why I’m not worried about leaving you with him. I know you’ll both look out for each other,” Eugene sat down, a solemn look on his face.

“We’re gonna be just fine, right Deacon? Your Dad has nothing to worry about,” Y/n spoke to the dog and Eugene felt his heart swell for the hundredth time that day as he realised just how much he loved them.

“Gene, please don’t be sad,” Y/n reached over, cupping his cheek. “We’re going to be just fine.”

“I know,” Eugene mumbled, his lip wobbling as the tears began trickling down his cheeks. “I just don’t want to leave you.”

“I don’t want you to leave either, but I know you have to. It doesn’t make it any easier though,” they admitted, running their fingers through his red locks.

“I love you, Eugene Sledge. Come back to me.”

“I promise.”

To my dearest Y/n,

How I wish I was at home with you. I want nothing more than to be back in that field, on the red-checked picnic blanket with you and Deacon. Those days were so simple. If only all of life could be that simple.

Today I saw a man have his whole leg blown off and he just stood there looking at us, it was as if he didn’t realise what had happened to him until the medics were trying to get him on a stretcher. How does that even happen?

I hope everything at home is going well. Thank you for visiting my parents, it means a lot to them when you visit and Deacon always loves your visits, he tells me so personally. I wish I was there with you. All I want is a hug. It seems silly really, childish even, but to just have your arms around me, even for a second would be enough.

I love you always my darling,

Your Eugene

————————————————————————

My Eugene,

I’m sure by now you have received the news of Deacon’s passing from your parents. I am so sorry, my love. Just know that he did not suffer. His old body carried him well right until the end and I spent the last three days and nights of his life by his side. We sat out under the apple trees and I read to him just like you used to. He was comfortable when he passed. The house is quieter without him. Now that I am without either of you I do feel truly alone, not even Sidney is here to support me.

I pray every night for your safe return to me my love.

I love you forever and always

Your Y/n

Eugene felt his legs shaking as he stepped off the train onto the platform, his hands shaking as he held onto his kit bag tightly. He could see Sidney, leaning against his truck, a cigarette hanging limply from his lips. It was the reunion he was excited for but not the one he had been yearning for. Sid talked all the way back to his house, talking of his fiancée, life since he’d been home, and his family but Eugene barely registered any of it, his mind too preoccupied with the image of Y/n.

“Drop me here, Sid,” Eugene spoke up as the view of the driveway came into sight.

“You sure, I can drive you up to the house?”

“No, it’s okay. I need the walk. I’ve been stuck on the train for hours.”

Sidney pulled up to the end of the driveway, cutting the engine.

“It’s good to have you back, Gene.”

“It’s good to be back. Thanks for the ride, Sid.”

Eugene slung his kit bag over his shoulder, leaving Sid behind him as his legs carried him up the driveway in long strides. As he approached the house he could see them, arranging one of the flower baskets by the front door, their sleeves rolled up and looking just as lovely as the day he’d left. Eugene felt his heart swell at the sight of them and he promised he would tell them every day.

He dropped his kit bag in the lawn chair, approaching them slowly so as to not disturb them.

“Y/n?” He spoke, his hands shaking a little at his sides.

Y/n dropped the flower basket, oblivious to the terracotta shattering across the decking.

“Eugene?” They squeaked, their hands coming to their mouth. “Is it really you? Are you really here?” Y/n stepped down off the decking, moving to stand in front of him. Their hand reached up to cup his cheek, Y/n’s fingers grazing at the soft flesh and Eugene sighed.

“It really is you,” they whispered, tears trailing down their cheeks to match Euegne’s.

“I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

“It's so quiet, isn't it?” Euegen turned his head to look down at Y/n, as they smiled sympathetically at him.

“You'll get used to the peace again, my love. I promise.”

“It’s not that,” Eugene sighed, shifting to sit up on his elbows, “Deacon always used to snore on the end of the bed. He was so noisy when he slept.”

Eugene could feel the tears starting to trail down his cheeks being brushed away and a chaste kiss placed on his lips. “I miss him every day,” Eugene cried, a sob escaping from his lips as he was enveloped in Y/n’s embrace.

“It’s okay, Gene. We’re going to get through this together.”

“NO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU WEREN'T THERE!” Gene screamed, throwing another vase across the room and watching as it smashed on the floor, glass shattering like icicles across the hardwood floorboards and the flowers cascading amongst the disarray.

“I know I wasn’t there for you then, Eugene but I’m here now and I am never leaving your side,” Y/n cried, “So don’t keep trying to push me away because I’m not going anywhere.”

“But you have no idea. They’re all dead, they’re all gone and I came back. Why did I deserve to come back? There are houses all around the world with empty chairs where they should be sitting right now,” Eugene slipped down onto the floor beside the smashed vase, his head hanging low as he sobbed.

Y/n couldn’t take it anymore and was by his side in an instant, cradling him close, comforting him. “Shh Eugene, please don’t talk like this. I need you. Your family needs you. I am so glad you came home.”

“But why did I deserve to come home and they didn’t,” Eugene glanced up at them, his large tearful eyes breaking their heart further.

“Because I love you, that's why. Because it wasn’t your time and quite possible because you deserved to come home.”

“And they didn’t.”

“No. You all deserved to come home. What you must do now is decide what you want to do with your second chance. You were given a chance to come home and you must live each day to the fullest for all of those who didn’t make it home. Okay?” Y/n looked down at him and Eugene nodded, resting his head against their chest. Y/n reached down, cradling their fingers through his ginger hair, soft, soothing strokes. Eugene’s breathing soon settled into a more normal rhythm as Y/n heartbeat calmed him.

“I’m glad I came home,” Eugene whispered, “because I have a very important question to ask you.”

“You do,” Y/n replied, looking down at the man they loved.

“Will you stay with me? Always?”

“Of course I will Gene. I’m not going anywhere.” The couple sat on the floor of Eugene’s room, no longer aware of the time or space around them. The only thing that mattered right now was that Eugene was home, and he was safe and with time he would heal from the horrors he had seen.

Tags: @georgieluz @iceman-kazansky @yeahcurrahhe-e @msmercury84 @blvestxr @dustyjumpwjngs @theflyingfin @jump-wings @kafka-ohdear @kmc1989 @mads-weasley @docroesmorphine @liptonsbabe @lena-basilone @sweetxvanixlla @hesbuckcompton-baby @ronsparky @allthingsimagines @whollyjoly @bucky32557038ww2 @panzershrike-pretz @malarkgirlypop @hanniewinnix @inglourious-imagines @l13bg0tt @samwinchesterslostshoe

#eugene sledge #the Pacific #eugene sledge x reader #hbowar #empty chairs at empty tables

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akwolfgrl · 19 days

Text

The matchmakers match

Vivi!”

“Nami!”

Sanji watched as Nami and Vivi embraced as if they hadn't seen each other in years and not a few hours, like long lost loves. Like Odysseus seeing his beloved Penelope after twenty long years. It was sweet, if not a little painful. He yearned for a love like that. They were always like this, Sanji could vividly recall the way Nami mooned after Vivi when she would leave. It was like watching the sun vanish behind the clouds. This was before they even started dating.

Vivi and Nami, along with Usopp and Kaya, were his first matches. All he had to do was give them a nudge in the right direction, but the feeling of helping people find love stuck with him. It wasn't long after he started to work with Eros. He had been doing his own personal practice for only six months and had assumed he'd go down the kitchen witch route like Zeff. He probably could do both if he wanted to.

“Happy Birthday, Sanji,” Vivi parted from her wife to give him a hug.

“Oh thank you so much, Vivi darling,” Sanji happily hugged the blue haired woman back.

“Happy birthday, Sanji!” Usopp cheered, sliping into the both with his soom to be wife.

“Are you looking forward to tomorrow?” Kaya asked him, sweet as always.

“Of course I am, my dear Kaya,” Sanji informed her. “I've been eager to try the Don Angie lasagna for myself, and anytime spent with my lover ladies and dear friends is a good time,”

“What's Zeff making?” Usopp asked.

“No idea, the old geezer wouldn't tell me,” Sanji admitted.

Nami giggled and smikered. “I know what he's making,”

“Oh Nami sweet plase tell me!” Sanji begged and pleaded reaching across the table hands claspsed together. “I'll happily pay any amount you wish me to!”

“Hmm tempting but nope,” Nami patted his head false remorse in her voice. “I'm sorry, Sanji-kun,” Sanji pouted as he sat back up.

Sanji shiged. “Well if Zeff entrusted the secret to a beautiful lady, I must respect it,” If it had been Usopp, he could have pushed further, Luffy would have told him. “Well I'm going to get a drink before Luffy shows up,” Sanji left his group and headed for the bar.

“Sanji!” A familiar voice greeted him as he approached the bra.

“Ace, I didn't know you worked at Ivas place,” Sanji remarked as he slid into an empty stool.

“I just started the last bar shut down after Pops died,” Ace explained, his eyes filled with sadness as he remembered the man that took him under his wing. “Well, I have a new job now, Ivas been great to me! So what can I get the birthday boy?”

“Hmm, surprise me. Oh! By the way, are you and Law still coming tomorrow?” Sanji asked.

“Yup! Law doesn't have any surgeries scheduled for tomorrow, I'll be bringing the alcohol Nami already gave me a list. Law said he'd take care of the gift.” Ace began pouring vairues liquids into a large shaker cup.

“Good to hear. I don't want the bloody rice I made this morning to go to waste, I haven't made it since we broke up,”

“Oh man he's gonna love that, you need to teach me how you make his onigiri one of these days,” Ace poured in ice, topped the cup with another cup and began to shake.

“It's really simple. You just take the normal amount of water and replace half of it with blood. Mix well before adding it to a rice cooker, unless you still don't know how to cook?” Sanji asked, watching Ace strain the liquid into a martini glass.

“Gilty, and here we go! I call this Mr. Prince,” Ace presented the glass with a flourish before topping it with a sugar flower. The drink was a bright blue, it smelled delicious, and Sanji knew it would be strong.

He took a sip. “Mmmm prefect,”

“Yes you are,” Ace told him with a flirty wink.

Sanji rolled his eyes fondly. “Save that for your boyfriend,” Ace laughed at him. There were no hard feelings between him and his ex boyfriends, Sanji had set the two of them up after all. He took a sip of the drink and hummed. “This is wonderful, Ace!”

“I am to please, now tell me about your newest client,”

Sanji happily talked about his newest clients as he drank the cocktail Ace made him.

#one piece #fanfic #black leg sanji #sanji #princess vivi #nefertari vivi #vivi x nami #usopp x kaya #usopp #kaya one piece #one piece nami #portgas d ace #ace x law #past ace x sanji #past law x sanji #love witch sanji #the matchmakers match

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specialgradefckr · 3 months

Note

Heyyo! I'm usually just a lurker, but your Heatwave series has been absolutely incredible and I had to write in. I'm not usually an ABO fan, but you are rapidly changing my mind. Started with the Yuuta/Rika piece and loved your characterization of that sad eyed dude. Sweet and mostly passive while also being fully aware of reader-chan's BS.

Day 4 tho??? 🥵🔥🥵 I'm a more recent Gojo convert and oh my stars, "...you think for a moment he sounds like a dog toy. You think you want to make him your dog toy." Arrogant, but also whiney and pathetic Gojo really hits for me. The Pining? Phenomenal.

Just wanted to gas you up a bit and let you know what an excellent writer you are. Totally looking forward to the rest of the Heatwave series and whatever else your big brain cooks up in the future! 😊

wanted to gas you up a bit

awwhhhhHHh THANK YOUUUU 🥺 i super appreciate it!!!

honestly i started this blog recently and i've been trying not to compare the numbers but sometimes i get discouraged, you know? like, i AM doing it for the art (i knew day 3 was not gonna get a lot of love) but i'm posting it bc it makes me happy to see people enjoying it.

it's super encouraging to hear from you (and all the others who leave comments or reblog etc.) that my work is doing well.

i'm trying to be more critical of my own writing, fix things i don't like about it, and sometimes i need a reminder that it's still worthwhile and enjoyable to read even when i feel like it could have been better.

I've been writing like? All 10 of the Heatwave prompts concurrently, and while it means I have all of them drafted and partly written rn, it also means I switch between them a lot.

Inevitably I start to kinda. Lose the plot sometimes of a scene I'm trying to write skdfhglsdhg like the intro to the Yuta fic was SOOOO long actually and it was rambling about social phenomena with alphas, basically the omegaverse version of red pill dudes LMAOOO

and that was also supposed to lead in to like. the idea of what a REAL alpha is. the non-gendered values of leadership, protectiveness, and actually being sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of people around them (a crucial trait for someone in a leadership position).

and yuta fits those things SO WELL. he is CONSTANTLY worried about the people around them, how they feel and what they think. he admires the shit out of his classmates who like, tried to attack him when they first met fghskjdfgh. he wants to protect them but he never looks down on them.

later in the manga we see that yuta's consideration and empathy isn't just for his classmates. he cares a lot even for people who are very capable of protecting themselves - he cares about their feelings.

so i just knew like. yuta and tsundere reader. yuta who can see though your fussiness because he's always been perceptive.

yuta who thinks you're hot bc he has a constant boner for strong women but also has a deep yearning to see you be honest and vulnerable with him, and goes feral for it.

yuta who you can be vulnerable with because you know him and his gentle smile, his kind words, how he looks up to you even though he's a special grade and stronger than you'll ever be,, hhhh....

but yeah anyways. *grasps you and shakes you by the shoulder* GOJO. GOJO SATORU BEING HIS PATHETIC NEEDY SELF. GOJO BEING YOUR SQUEAKY TOY AND LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT -

tmi but "fuck me until i sound like a dog toy" is actually something a previous partner said to me??? i've never been much of a top but hearing that just kinda had me... hsdfgjhdsg HHHHHH

i think a major part of gojo's appeal is how he can be arrogant and pretty AND sultry all at once. there's something utterly delicious about a slutty confident man who is also crying screaming throwing up for you to let him put it in you skdhflsdhg

next heatwave fic is sdkfgsdlhgshg uhhhHHhh different from the ones you have read, it's a yandere piece with gojo and geto.

After that it's another gojo piece i think you'll REALLY like >.> masochist!gojo is a favorite headcanon of mine and i was actually super hyped writing some of the smut there so far hehe.

glad you've enjoyed so far! more to come for sure ;)

#answered asks #jujutsu kaisen #local-crybaby #jjk omvegaverse #speg chatter

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tooxmanyxships · 5 months

Note

some more dando rot

"there - you can cry. it's okay. i would never judge you for that."

“If you’re not going to take care of yourself, at least let me do it for you!”

Domestic violence verse here we go again.

I swear I'm gonna make a full fic out of these some day.

It took a long time, but eventually Lando let Daniel come a little closer.

Both physically and emotionally.

He still doesn't talk about the marks on his body. Or how he flinches every time someone as much as raises their hand unexpectedly.

But at least he's letting Daniel in. A teeny tiny bit.

Enough for him to let Daniel stand close to him, shielding him from everyone else around, as he leans against a wall, eyes downcast, shoulders slumped.

"I'm such a failure."

"No you're not."

"I can't win. I will never win."

Something told Daniel that Lando wasn't only talking about the race.

"Don't give up, Lan. And don't be so hard on yourself."

"But I deserve it. I'm a loser. I will never gain anything in my life."

"Lando, stop."

"She tells me every time. How I disappoint her."

There we go.

"You're not disappointing anyone."

"I am! I'm a huge disappointment!"

Oh how Daniel yearns to touch the Brit. To give him some physical touch that doesn't hurt him.

But he can't. He knows how scared Lando will get when he feels his hands on him.

He always thinks touch is equal to pain.

Daniel hates that bitch for it.

"I don't want to hear you say that anymore. It's not true. We're all so proud of you, Lan."

"I---- I don't deserve - - - -"

He can't finish the sentence. His head seems to drop even lower and his shoulders start to tremble just a little bit.

Shit.

Daniel just wants to wrap his arms around him and hold him close. He can't.

He doesn't want Lando to flinch away from his touch like he does when he sees Carlos or Max hug the younger boy.

So he does the next best thing he can think of at that moment and produces some paper tissues from his jacket pocket and holds them out for Lando to take.

"There--" trailing off as Lando smacks the tissues out of his hands. He reaches down to pick them up. "You can cry. It's okay. I would never judge you for that." He wouldn't judge him for anything.

Lando huffs. Daniel can hear his breath hitching.

He wishes, not for the first time, he could take away all of the boy's suffering.

Instead, he holds out the tissues again.

"No one else will see. Just let it out."

That seems to do the trick.

Lando's shoulders rise once, then slump again and now they start to shake for real.

He sees Lando bury his face in his hands before he slides down to the ground.

Daniel presses his nails into the palms of his hands, hard, as he forces himself not to reach out and touch.

Instead he crouches down in front of the broken boy.

"This needs to stop, Lando. I'm here to help." There's a sob and Daniel is honestly close to tears himself. "Let me help you."

There's nothing but silence after that.

Daniel lets his hands rest on his own knees, but he's sitting so close to Lando that his fingers brush against the other's knees just lightly.

He doesn't flinch. Daniel definitely takes that as some kind of win.

He takes in the form of his ex teammate, one of his best friends, in once again. He looks small and fragile and thin. He looks broken.

But not beyond repair.

The sobs quiet down into sniffles. Eventually those die down too.

Daniel lifts himself up into standing position, wipes his hands off on his pants for no reason at all, then holds one of them out to Lando to help him get up.

Lando finally lifts his head up enough to stare at the offered hand.

"Come on," Daniel wiggles his fingers. "Let's go grab a bite to eat." Sad, hopeful eyes, staring up at him. “If you’re not going to take care of yourself, at least let me do it for you!”

Lando takes his hand.

#f1 fanfic #f1 rpf #dando #my writing #daniel ricciardo/lando norris #daniel ricciardo x lando norris

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glitxhwayventeen · 2 years

Text

The Confused One

Ten

Characters: Ten x male reader

Warnings: anxiety to the maximum, questioning of sexuality i guess, controlling and manipulative parents, existential crisis mentions, sex mentions/implications but nothing too serious, bad influence Ten, mentions of cheating (though the couple doesn’t really care for each other anyways so🤷🏻‍♀️), mentions of forced/arranged marriages, crying and couple fighting, i think that’s it but let me know if i missed anything!

Author’s Note: the ending is kinda word vomit so I’m gonna go back through it in a few days when i have time. Other than that, what do you guys think?

Please remember that all of these chapters and the content within them are a work of fiction! They’re just for fun/entertainment!

Watch It All Burn Masterlist

The Confused One: Part 1

Mostly anxiety and 🥀 with a teeny tiny bit of 💋 if you squint.

Bold= Korean Dialogue Italics= Thoughts Pink= Cantonese Red=Mandarin Green=English

Tag List-

‘Am I making you feel good?’

Truth be told, you felt terrible. You felt like a horrible person. You felt like you were just another guy letting his dick do the thinking instead of his head. But you couldn’t admit that to him out loud.

‘Fuck- yes!’

The dry chuckle you heard from the boy behind you made you feel like you needed to throw up. This wasn’t you. It couldn’t be you. But it was.

‘I know baby.’

His words sent shivers down your aching spine. Every part of you yearned for him. Every cell in you wanted him to want you the way you wanted him. But that was wrong, so so fucking wrong.

‘Are you close?’

You couldn’t help it. Your girlfriend hardly gave you the time of day. You tried to be understanding and rational given your situation with her. But you needed the release she so frequently denied you and he was willingly dangling it in front of you, it was yours for the taking.

‘I- I need to come!’

Waves of lightning shot through every one of your veins deliciously as you felt your body shake back your orgasm. You'd never been touched the way he was touching you. You’d never been used the way he was using you. You'd never felt the way you felt with him. You knew you shouldn’t give in. But you just couldn’t stop yourself.

‘Of course you do love.’

Part of you hated how sweet he sounded. The butterflies fluttering throughout your belly at his sentence should’ve made you hate yourself. But it only made you like him even more.

‘Now, are you gonna be a good boy and come for me?’

You wanted to cry. The pleasure he was forcing on you and the guilt your mind was making you feel was all too much for you to handle. You shouldn’t have been there. You should’ve been at home studying. But you chose to be with him instead.

Though, just as you felt your body start to convulse in the constant jolting it so desperately craved, an all too familiar sound started buzzing through your ears and your eyes you’d thought you’d closed due to the pure ecstasy you’d been enduring shot open in shock.

The all too familiar decorum of your boring beige room cascading throughout your line of sight had begun being a painful reminder of just how much you’d wished your dreams were real.

“They could be,” Ten had promised you when you mentioned your secret shame to him during one of your many midnight rendezvous, “You just have to say the word.”

You rolled your eyes at the burning memory and the charming boys' tempting words. As if you’d ever get the option to back out of your sad sham of a life you were living.

But that was Ten, the ever so care free and unpredictable boy who changed the course of his own destiny on the turn of a dime. He’d never understand why things had to stay the way they were for you.

Then again, he lived a completely different life than he lived. Not just because you were a goody goody and he just, well, wasn’t. But because he had different problems than you did. After the two of you had gotten together, you began corresponding with one another daily. After months of confiding in each other over just about every thought, feeling, and experience you had, he eventually told you he was a werewolf.

Of course you didn’t believe him at first. And Why would you? It sounded ridiculous at the time. It even sounded ridiculous when he took his contacts out to show you his strangely inhuman eye color. It wasn’t until he actually shifted in front of you that you had actually come to terms with what he said being the truth.

Not that the truth changed much. You needed a little time to get over the idea of fairytales and fables possibly being true but once you had, you realized he was still the same Ten you had come to know and love.

He was still kind and caring, still funny and charming. He still made you smile in a way you weren’t sure you ever did before he came around. He still lit up your world in a way no one else ever seemed to be able to. He still made you feel things no one else ever had or probably ever would. And he still made your pathetically dull and plain life worth something for the first time.

Everything with him was so simple. His chaos was the perfect fit to your calm. His crazy was steadied by your levelheadedness. He brought fire to your life and you brought water to his. Being with him would be as easy as breathing. But it just wasn’t meant to be.

Sure, in a perfect world you’d love to be with him. But your parents would never allow your little affair to continue if they knew it existed. Not only did Ten bring the exact opposite of everything their plans for you represented, he was also untouchable in their eyes for people like them.

Ten was a practicing Buddhist foreigner from Thailand. He was in the right economic class as you which might have helped when it came to him being a foreigner to your snotty parents sure. But even if his family did have a pretty big privy purse to match the extravagant scenery his country was known for, it didn’t change two simple facts: 1. He was a boy and 2. Your parents were freakishly religious Christians.

They would rather be killed than let their only beloved son be with a non-christian, non-Korean, party boy. You could almost hear the disapproval dripping from their voices as you thought of what would happen if you told them what you really wanted of your life.

‘No son of ours will make a mockery of this family by being with the likes of him.’

You felt massively naive for not realizing how ridiculously uptight and homophobic they were when you were younger. The reality only dawned on you when you realized just how much more you liked being with Ten than your own girlfriend, something you tried to keep under wraps as much as possible.

But you were positive the fact became apparently to her the first time you had all hung out together when you brought her new ‘friend’ over for a project and she noted just how quickly you became friendly with the Thai boy, a rather odd occurance considering how painfully shy you were by nature.

Still, she said nothing and pretended to see nothing. All the nights you snuck out to see him, all the times you left the room to take a call so you could hear his voice, all the hurried messages you’d type and send to him throughout the day while blocking your phone screen from view. She acted as though she hadn’t noticed your growing affections for him and that all was going on as normal with your relationship.

You weren’t too shocked by the move. You had both realized long ago that you weren’t in love with each other but rather created a compromised friendship in the hopes of making the best of a bad situation. If you weren’t weary about whether or not she’d break your big secret to either of your parents accidentally, you would’ve openly even told her about it. You hated lying and sneaking around her back because you knew it wasn’t respectful. But you felt you just didn’t have another choice. You just couldn’t risk it.

So, like many morning before your current one, you quickly got up from your bed, your girlfriend still snoring softly from her side of your shared mattress, and bolted to the bathroom to clean yourself and your shame up.

As you washed away the sticky substance that had accumulated against your abdomen while your shower head pelted your body with hot divets of water, Ten’s words kept playing through your mind like a broken record.

‘You just have to say the word.’

If only your life could be that easy.

——

“Oh,” Your girlfriend, Hae, groggily spoke from bed while rubbing her eyes as you emerged from the bathroom of your apartment with your towel draped across your waist, “You’re up already.”

You gave her a polite, albeit awkward, smile and nodded, “Yeah, I uh- woke up early again and figured instead of sleeping I should just try to get a fast start on the day, you know,” You lied, going to your dresser to rummage through it so you could find yourself some clothes to wear.

She bowed her head in understanding as she watched you go about the room so you could get ready. Observing you was something she did a lot, it was another reason you just knew she already knew about you and Ten, but that didn’t mean it made you any less nervous.

Being around her, even when you were children, had always made you nervous and on edge. Then again being around people usually made you feel that way. Well, people aside from Ten that is.

“We’re supposed to have dinner with your parents tonight,” She reminded you, breaking the uneasy silence that had rested throughout the air causing you to jerk your eyes away from buttoning your pants and bringing them up to look at her in horror.

“D-Dinner? W-What dinner?” You stuttered.

She mumbled something about you never remembering anything before she exhaustedly ran her fingers through her hair, “The dinner your mom texted you about the other day. You know, the one where she said they wanted to talk to us about something important? Ring a bell?”

Your eyes widened even further. It did ring a bell. Mostly because you remembered sheer panic spreading through your body as you received and read the message. Your parents hardly ever actually saw you except on holiday breaks now that you were in college. So when your mother texted you out of the blue and requested the four of you have a meal together, you couldn’t help but be so worried about what their intentions were for the dinner that you forgot all the details you had discussed.

“O-oh yeah,” You thickly swallowed the whine ready to pass through your throat, “Y-Yeah I remember. But- uh remind me again what time it was scheduled for exactly…?”

Hae rolled her eyes at you in disbelief, clearly no more excited for the event than you were, “It’s at 6pm ____. And you know if we’re late there’ll be hell to pay,” She added with a raised brow, getting up out of bed to throw on her own clothes for class, “So you need to make sure that whatever it is you were planning on doing at that time tonight gets moved to another time okay?”

Okay, you were 100% positive she knew about what you had been up to considering you had originally been planning on seeing your secret boyfriend at that exact time later.

“Yeah,” You tried to play it cool, “yeah of course. I won’t be late I promise.”

You truly meant what you said. You didn’t want her to be stuck stalling with your annoyingly boring and judgmental parents while you went out and had fun. If she knew about your little other life and was willing to keep it mum, then you figured the least you could do was have her back when it came to dealing with them.

“I hope not. Because if I have to listen to your father talk about the importance of cosmetic surgery as you age again I’m gonna throw myself out the second story window,” She laughed, causing you to force out a small chuckle of amusement as you planned out how you were gonna tell your boyfriend you couldn’t meet up with him because you and your girlfriend were going to meet up with your parents, who’d never approve of him and could never know of him, for dinner.

——

“Seriously?” Ten practically growled through gritted teeth as you sat and ate a very late lunch across from him on a patch of grass that was just out of view from your university’s campus.

To say you felt bad was a bit of an understatement. You had originally just decided it was best to just tell him you had to reschedule your little date, if you could even call it that, for another time because something came up. But, as he always seemed to have a way of getting you to open up about any and everything, you ended up telling him the whole story.

You told him you had forgotten about dinner with your parents, that they would probably hate him if they knew he existed or was in your life in any capacity let alone a romantic one, that you didn’t want to go but had to because you didn’t want your girlfriend to suffer through it alone, and that your girlfriend seemed to already know about the two of you being together and didn’t seem to care. And of course as you originally assumed, he was pissed at the explanation you gave.

“If she already knows about us then why are you still even with her?” He quizzed with a hint of venom lacing his tone, his true eye color beginning to seep through his fake contacts.

All you could do was let out a deep sigh, “You know why.”

But your answer only seemed to aggravate him more. He stood from his cross cross position on the grass and stared down at you with now fully crimson eyes, this time with flaring nostrils, claws beginning to elongate from his fingers, and a jaw so clenched you were sure his teeth would break.

“No I don’t know why!” He protested, clearly doing what he could to contain his anger for your sake, though you also knew he couldn’t help some of it.

After you had come to terms with werewolves being real and with actually knowing one, Ten answered just about every question you could think of involving them.

He practically gave you lessons on imprinting and mating. He talked about a really weird time when wolves got super sexually aggressive called rut. He had you meet his pack and disclosed to you how pack business and connections worked, that’s also when you found out your favorite student was not only in said pack but also mated to Ten’s baby sister along with another one of their ‘brothers.’

But most importantly, he told you all about shifting. You realized his claws and teeth could grow whenever he wished and that his body even rejected the contacts he used to cover his eyes so often he had to change them multiple times in a day to keep people from seeing their true color. He explained the whole ‘changing during a full moon’ thing was complete horse crap and that they could change at will, at least, most of the time.

You knew when he got too emotional, whether it was good or bad emotional, he could end up shifting out of instinct. And he cautioned you that people could get hurt when that happened, much like his sister Minnie apparently had when her mates fought over her and lost control. Though he swore he would do whatever he could to keep a similar situation from happening to you, not that you were ever really worried about it considering Ten was the only person in the world who made you feel safe and secure.

But as he towered toward you, part of you did start to get a little worried, even if it was only for a moment, he could turn into a super strong giant animal after all while you were just a weaker than most human he could crush with one paw.

As angry as he had worked himself up to be and as much as you tried to not show your fear, he noticed you shrink into yourself and turned away from you to collect himself. He may have been mad and hurt, but he didn’t want to scare or frighten you.

Truthfully, you didn’t understand why he was so upset. Sure you were still in a relationship, but what did it really matter to him if you were or not?

You always thought you had felt for him maybe a tad more than he felt for you anyways. Thanks to your newfound werewolf knowledge, you figured it was because at any moment he could imprint on a passerbyer and he’d have to dump you so he distanced himself. It stung, really stung actually, but it was what it was and you knew that.

You thought you both did. That’s why whenever he talked about wanting you to give up your current life and try for a new one with him you didn’t really entertain the idea much at all, even if you really wanted to. You were just a human who had trouble controlling emotions and severing ties and he was a werewolf who’d have no control over who fate decided to pair him up with.

Having to reschedule sucked yeah, but it wasn’t like the love of his life was blowing him off for someone else and telling him they could never be together.

Ten never told you he imprinted on you. He figured it was a lot for someone as nervous as you to take in all at once. So he decided to wait until he thought you were ready for it.

He always figured once you told your girlfriend or she found out about your little affair, the two of you would finally get to be together fully. But he was wrong.

Now you didn’t know you blowing him off for someone else and telling him you could never be together was crushing him. You didn’t know the reason tears were now flowing freely down his face was because it felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest at your so nonchalant refusal to leave your girlfriend. You didn’t know you were the love of his life.

“I don’t know why it has to be like this and i don’t think it’s fair for it to be happening,” Ten said just above a whisper, barely audible to your human ears.

You called his name to get his attention, but he seemed cemented in his place and wouldn’t move. You tried once more and received no response once more.

So you eventually got up from your spot on the ground hesitantly and gently laid your hand on his shoulder, “Ten?”

Finally, he turned himself around to face you. That’s when you saw his tear stained cheeks and pulled him in for a hug instinctually and without thinking.

He was quick to return it, wrapping his arms around your waist as he buried himself against you and sobbed ‘it’s not fair’ over and over in English.

Ten hadn’t meant to start crying in front of you. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have so easily let himself be wrapped up in your arms. But he couldn’t stop himself once the pain of you basically telling him you wouldn’t leave your girlfriend even if she knew the truth.

Because it meant he’d still have to share you. He’d still only get partial moments with you and not full ones. He’d still have to restrain himself from grabbing your hand and lacing his fingers between yours in public. You’d still be saying goodnight and good morning to someone else that wasn’t him. You’d still be sleeping with and sharing the same bed with someone who wasn’t himself.

You acting like your girlfriend knowing about the two of you changed nothing meant he’d have to keep living a hallow life in the shadows while your girlfriend got to keep living a filling life in the light with you. It hurt him in a way he wasn’t ready for and so he broke down. And instead of pulling away from you like he should’ve if he had been stronger, his heartbroken inner wolf yearned for your touch and gave in to you holding him.

When he was upset normally, you were who he’d turn to to comfort him. Now that he was faced with the harsh reality of having to hide your love from the rest of the world, you were the only person that could make him feel even remotely better.

——

After about half an hour of crying and sobbing, Ten eventually calmed down enough to relax back down to your original spots. You apologized for having to see each other again at another time and promised to make it up to him, something he unconvincingly responded to with ‘okay.’

And, while it made your chest hurt to know he was still so upset over something you really had no control over, time had gotten away from you and you soon had to leave him to get ready for dinner.

And dinner was going okay enough. You had arrived together with Hae on time, dressed sharper than you had been earlier in the day as per your parents usual dress code. Even though the food you knew there was no way either of your parents cooked was good, the conversation was as dull as the day was long. That is, until desert came and your father halted everyone from digging in to their treats.

“____, I’m sure the two of you are wondering why your mother and I wanted you and Hae over today,” Your father accurately pointed out, taking another sip of his brandy with a light hiss.

You cleared your throat to keep your voice steady after having it go unused for most of the evening due to your parents obsessing need to talk about themselves, “Yes father, I suppose we are.”

Truthfully, you didn’t even really like your dad all that much. Even more truthfully, you didn’t really like either of your parents all that much, but you disliked your dad’s personality more than your mother’s.

Sure, your mother had no idea what quality family time or house work/chores were, she had maids and nanny’s hired especially for all that, but at least she put in the effort to send you a text message every now and then to make sure you were still alive. You were pretty sure you’d never once received any form of distant communication from your father.

So listening to him go on and on about his work and how all your friends must’ve been jealous of you for how much money your parents made really made you want to cave into your seat and disappear.

Your father was quick to glance over to your mother, who strangely gave him a nod of approval before he continued on, “Well ____ my son, your mother and I, as well as Hae’s parents, believe it time the two of you finally get married and start a family.”

Hae, who had just been in the middle of swallowing some much needed wine, began coughing aggressively while you stared up at your beaming parents in pure confusion.

“W-What…?” You barely murmured out just as your girlfriend managed to get her coughing under control and began to question ‘come again?’

Your father let out a hardy laugh while your mother mustered a strangled giggle, “Marriage son. Then children. Just as we planned remember?”

You shook your head as if to shake out all the unpleasant feelings beginning to build up in your stomach, “N-No. W-We planned for later father. Much much later.”

“Yeah. We weren’t supposed to do any of that till after we both graduated and had our careers where we needed them to be.” Hae confirmed.

But it seemed it didn’t matter much to your parents what had been originally scheduled anymore, “Yes we know that children,” Your mother ever so nonlovingly replied with an eye roll, “But the plans have changed.”

The fact that she said something so life changing so casually and finished her sentence by taking another rather chill sip of her expensive wine only made your stomach churn that much more. That meant they had already had their mind’s dead set on the idea.

They went on to explain that your maternal grandfather was getting sick, very sick. And it seemed that his dying wish was that his only grandchild be settled down and married, hopefully with a child on the way, before he passed. Which meant your parents had to have their plan jump started a little, or you would say a lot, sooner than anticipated.

Your father told you that the two of you would be married as soon as your mother could put together a lavish enough wedding to impress their friends and that afterwards, you would switch universities to one closer to the house they would get ready for you and you would finish your degrees there. He also stressed the need and want for a child as soon as the two of you were happily, though not by either you or Hae’s standards, married.

You were unsure of what was going on for the rest of the night, but you could guess based on where your parents' statements were heading. You started to feel dizzy and flushed and essentially blacked out the remainder of your visit with them so you wouldn’t burst into tears right then and there. It wasn’t until you and Hae managed to get to your car that you finally broke down.

Part of you expected her to be upset with you for not at least pretending to be happy when the two of you were together. The other part thought she might even be pissed at you for doing something as childish as crying. But to your shock, when you looked over to your right, she had the same drops of despair rolling down to her chin.

The two of you stayed like that for what seemed like forever, just staring off into the distance as tear after tear was shed in mourning of your previously mediocre lives. You never know what you had until it’s gone.

“What in the hell are we going to do?”

——

“No! You can’t!” Ten declared loudly with a stomp, almost as if the small childlike protest would help change what was to come.

But, as much as you wish it would, you knew that it wouldn’t change a thing. Your fate was set in stone long ago.

You let out a long winded sigh and ran a shakey hand through your hair while you tried to find something to focus on to ground your never ending nerves, “I don’t have any other choice Ten.”

After having fallen asleep after a night’s worth of dry heaving and silent sobbing, you called him the next morning to tell him you needed to speak with him about something important. Once you’d met up in your usual spot in the woods just off your university’s campus, you told him all about the previous night and what had happened with your parents at dinner. And he was clearly taking the news about as well as you and Hae were taking it.

“There’s always a choice!” Ten practically yelled at you, doing his best to hold back both the pathetic whines threatening to spill out of his mouth and the burning tears trying to pour past his waterlines, “You can tell them no! You can say-say you don’t want to! Y-You can call it off!”

You still didn’t fully understand why he was so upset over you having to get married and break things off. Sure you’d been sleeping together and all, but it wasn’t like you’d be together forever. You both had known that since you’d started your little hang outs and midnight rendezvous.

He’d eventually have broken up with you when he found his mate and you’d eventually have had to cut contact with him when you got married. That was just how it was and you thought you’d both been pretty clear about that.

Even though part of you never wanted to leave his side and would’ve preferred to at least keep him in your life once you’d had to get married, you could never do that to your girlfriend.

Hae was many things, but a bad person wasn’t one of them. She didn’t deserve to have an unfaithful husband or to be reminded of his past infidelities by having your ex-lover brought around all the time.

Still, seeing Ten so hurt broke a piece of you. You had fallen for him the night of the party and ever since seeing him in any sort of distress made you went to smother him with kisses and cuddle him until he felt better.

So the only thing your heart could think to do was apologize to him, even though you hadn’t actually done anything to him to warrant one in the first place, “This is just the way it’s supposed to go. I can’t do anything about it. I’m sorry.”

Ten just scoffed at you like you had just spit in his face directly.

“No, don't you get it?!” He tried to question with an angry tone, but really it came off as more desperate sounding if anything, “This isn’t the way it’s supposed to go!”

The statement caught you off guard. You were standing in the middle of a forest clearing doing your best to hold yourself together to break things off with the guy you had such strong feelings for you couldn’t separate yourself from him for much longer than a few hours. You were trying to do the right thing by being nice and apologetic while he started freaking out on you. Like he was the one who got the short end of the rotted stick that was your life.

How was that fair? You were the one who had to marry someone you didn’t love. You were the one who had to give up the one good thing you’d managed to ever find in your life. You were the one who had to be a stand up guy, a good son.

If you were anyone else, you’d have been able to pick your own friends growing up. If you were any other kid on the block, you wouldn’t have been forced into an arranged marriage. If you were like any other college student, you’d have been able to pick your university or your own major. If you had been literally any fucking body else in the world, you’d be able to fall in love with someone and stay in love and with them for as long as you lived. So how was any of what he was saying fair to you?

You could see why he would maybe be a little bummed, hell, you could maybe even see him being a bit sad you’d have to break things off. But why the hell was it supposed to just be so cool that he could pretend you were being the bad guy and deny what you were saying?

You’d tried being kind and you’d attempted being amicable and understanding. But his sentence ran through your heart quicker than a damn bullet train. ‘This isn’t the way it’s supposed to go.’

As if he knew anything about what life meant for you going forward.

Why did he get to stand there and act like you were the bad guy? Why should he get to pretend you got a choice in anything? Why was he able to question you or make you feel bad? What was he losing? He’d eventually get a happily ever after, you wouldn’t. He’d get to live the life he wanted, you wouldn’t. He’d get to grow old with the love of his life, you would never get that.

“And how do you know that?” Your demeanor changed from your usual passive self to a rather defensive one as your hands closed into a fist and clenched tightly, “You’re the one that doesn’t get it!” You chuckled dryly, leaving Ten dumbfounded as you towered over him, “I don’t like this anymore than you do!” Your voice began getting louder and higher pitched the more you spoke, “And neither does Hae for that matter! But there is no calling it off!” You finished, your body beginning to tremble in aggravation and frustration as you stared down your boyfriend.

It only took glaring at him for a few seconds for you to notice that he’d semi-sunk into his shoes at your new found sudden confidence to speak your mind. He almost looked rather… frightened that you’d finally managed to obtain a backbone.

But as overwhelmed and overworked with the situation as you were, you couldn’t let someone you cared so much about stay so obviously worried over your current state and not at least try to hold back some of your rage.

So you managed to turn yourself around and sit your lanky figure down on a fallen over tree log to calm yourself down, or at very least make yourself look less menacing. Not that you probably were to him in all reality since he was a werewolf that could rip you to shreds easily if he wanted to after all. But you wanted to show him it was your life you were truly mad at, not him.

“Not all of us have a plan literally designed by fucking date to give us happiness like werewolves do,” you whispered as you threw your head into your hands, “Us humans get whatever the fuck life throws at us and unfortunately for me this is it,” you began to muffley sob behind your hands, unable to keep your true emotions back any longer, “I don’t get a mate like you and your friends. I don’t get to be happy with one person i love for the rest of my life like you. I get whatever my parents plan for me or I’m fucking screwed,” after that, you cried hard over and over about life being unfair and how you didn’t want it anymore than he did until your throat hurt.

You couldn’t help it. Your life as you knew it before him was already intolerable and the one good thing, the one fucking thing you’d managed to find to bring some happiness to yourself was being taken away from you because you had to be a decent human being. You were close to having a full on mental breakdown at that point. And because he just happened to be around you, your boyfriend had to be the one to listen to you choked wails and curses as you cracked at the seams.

It wasn’t until you felt Ten’s nimble hand lay against your back and his warmth sit still next to you that you began to collect yourself enough to speak like a regular person again, “I hate fate for putting me in this position! I hate my parents for forcing shit on me I don't want!” You whimpered in a pout, Ten drying your eyes with the pads of his thumb before shushing you and bringing your head into the apex of his neck to comfort you.

Not that it helped much, because now that the flood gates were broken, you couldn’t help but vocalize everything that had been truly bothering you since you’d met him. It also didn’t help that the angle he had you in was also a bit awkward due to your height difference, which meant you were a little uncomfortable when you breathed too hard and jerking in his hold.

“A-And I hate you for dangling happiness right in front of my fucking face knowing i can’t do shit about it! I hate myself for fucking letting myself fall in love with you w-when i can’t fucking have you!” You turned and sniffled to look into his shoulder, too ashamed to hold your face against him while you told him how you really felt, “I fucking hate this whole situation more than you or my parents or Hae or anyone else will ever know,” you let the now tired tears slide down your cheeks and chin onto his nicely ironed dress shirt.

As you let a deafening silence fall over you because Ten didn’t react to your confession, you couldn’t help but think how you always liked when he dressed up even nicer than he usually did when he saw you. It made you feel like he wanted to put in the extra effort to be even more presentable for you and gave you the most ecstatic butterflies in your stomach thinking the man you loved cared that much about you.

Though in the current moment, it only made your chest ache even more knowing you’d probably never get that feeling again, “But it doesn’t fucking matter! None of that fucking matters because my life as I know it is o-over and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it!” You stuttered as you exhaustedly cried against the smaller boy like a defeated child.

You clung to Ten like you were going to fall away from the earth if you let go of him. You didn’t know when or even if you’d ever be able to hold him so tightly again. So you refused to release him from your grip even when you began letting the tired sobs wreck through your weakened body.

But after a few minutes of you hiccuping and whining, the small Thai boy finally pulled together enough courage to speak, still keeping you tight against him as he spoke softly, “Y-You love me?”

What kind of dumb ass question was that? You couldn’t help but push yourself off his shoulder and jerk back to stare at his face, your own no doubt red from the constant tears and hyperventilating, “Oh fuck off!” You used language you wouldn’t have normally used to show him your annoyance at his statement, then again, you weren’t normally in the position to lose someone you loved as much as you loved Ten, “Don’t act all shocked now! If you didn’t notice it before then you’re as big a moron as I am for letting myself get caught up with you!”

You never really meant to be so informal or improper, it just wasn’t how you were raised to be. Even when you were upset, though you’d let out a few swear words out of frustration, you’d never actually told someone to fuck off. Nor had you ever called someone as impolite a name as moron before.

But Ten had a way of bringing out a side of you you had never thought existed before. It’s one of the things you’d grown to love about him. And one of the things you’d miss the most about him.

Barely above a whisper, you heard Ten stutter, “I-I though- I mean, I- I didn’t know…”

You used the sleeves of your cardigan you had thrown on before you left your house to wipe off your face in an attempt to look a bit more presentable and stable, not that it worked much considering how roughly you had been crying only moments prior. But you had to try.

“Well now you do, happy?” You asked rhetorically, looking down to the forest floor at your feet as you tried to figure out what to do now that you had let your true colors show.

Though once an awkward and slightly uncomfortable silence, something you’d never experienced before with Ten as you’d never ran out of things to say with him before, took place for longer than a minute, your body went into survival mode and did what it always did when things got awkward: ramble.

“It’s not like it changes shit for you anyways,” you tried to half heartedly joke to lighten the mood, “You still get to imprint and love and be happy and ride off into the sunset and all the bullshit I read about in books.”

Learning was always a love of yours. You and the others around you considered yourself a bookworm for it. Some of your favorite stories involved good ending romances. A small part of you had secretly hoped that maybe your relationship with Ten would receive the happy ending you in your stories that you so deeply craved. But fairytales were just make believe. Your own current desperate situation was living proof of that.

“I don’t because I have to get married because a forced arranged marriage is the best thing someone like me is ever gonna get,” You sighed, picking at your finger nails out of nervous habit while trying to keep the once more burning feeling in your eyes from making matters worse as you let out the words.

Because admitting it all out loud stung almost as much as keeping it all in. Really, what other choice did you have but your arrangement with Hae? Even if you somehow managed to convince your parents to call it off, you just knew you’d never find someone you’d love as much as you’d come to love Ten. So it was your only real option at that point anyways.

Ten nearly immediately started shaking his head at your sad words, “No, it’s not.”

But it was. And that was probably what hurt the most. The best you could get was a set up arrangement by your parents to some girl whereas the guy you really wished you could be with would end up loving someone the way you loved him.

You’d just be a distant memory to him then. He’d get to find someone the universe deemed fit enough to be his soul mate and he’d probably forget you even existed. Then it hit you: He’d forget you one day.

He’d forget you and even if he did care even the slightest bit enough about you to remember some part of you and what you had together, he’d probably only remember the bad things.

Humans always remembered the stuff that hurt. And one of the last few memories he’d have of you was you yelling and crying at him, making it seem like the whole situation was because of him.

You’d told him you hated him for god’s sake. Surely he’d remember that if he remembered anything about you at all.

“Fuck I’m sorry,” You winced, hoping he wouldn’t be able to see the sorrow and the new tears building up in your eyes as the pain in your chest grew worse with each passing thought, “Ten none of this is on you and none of it is your fault.” You hated how sensitive you got sometimes because it meant crying over and over was something you did frequently, and you were sure he must have hated it too, “I’m just… upset and depressed. You should just probably leave because I don’t see it stopping anytime soon and I don't want to upset you or say anything else I don't mean to say.”

You sniffled, attempting to steady your breathing so the Thai boy could leave your line of vision in peace without being disturbed by your waterworks. Then you could break down all you wanted.

But instead of seeing his figure walk off into the distance, you heard him voice out the word, “No.”

“W-What do you mean no?”

“No, I'm not leaving. No, i won’t be happy. No you’re not a moron and no neither am i.” Ten simplified, taking your large hand in his smaller one as he forced you to turn your glossy eyes to look at him and sighed, “____, I imprinted on you the first day I saw you. I just never told you because…” He breathed deeply, though you could really only focus on his confession, “Because I didn't think you could handle it at first.”

While you were beyond confused and bewildered, most of what he had said had been blocked out by the sudden racing pulse sound ringing in your ears.

He admitted he had imprinted on you. Which meant you were his mate. Your strong feelings for a man you hadn’t known nearly as long as you felt like you had all now made sense.

Before you met him, you were content with just playing the role your parents had given you your whole life without fighting it. But after you met him, you started to see just how colorless and emotionless it all truly was because he brought an instant connection to your life you had never had before.

“Then when i did want to tell you you basically told me you were staying with your girlfriend even though she knew we were fucking and i figured that meant i needed to just leave you be because that meant some part of you wanted to be with her,” Ten shrugged as he uncomfortably shifted his weight on the log.

He had done exactly what you had done. He assumed you liked someone else deep down the same way you assumed he’d find someone else and leave you anyway. You both really were the world’s biggest morons.

“I was just gonna keep doing whatever it was you wanted to do no matter how much it hurt because I just… wanted you to be happy,” Ten admitted rather sheepishly while scratching the back of his neck with his hand that wasn’t holding yours, “But marriage is permanent and babies are permanent and I don't want you to be stuck in anything that permanent with anyone unless it’s with me because I love you.”

You assumed as a werewolf he would have because, if you were his true mate and if what Ten had told you about werewolves was true, he must’ve instantly felt love for you the second he laid his eyes on you. But still, hearing him say those three little words practically took the breath out of you as you never expected to hear them from him even though you felt them for him.

“Y-you love me too?” You stuttered, your brain barely able to form a sentence because of all the new information it had been flooded with.

Ten smiled earnestly and his eyes glistened with what you could now place as fondness, “Of course I do. You’re my mate.”

And before you could even think of a proper reply back, you realized your body seemed to have had other plans as, you found your lips quickly connecting with his own and your hands flying behind his head to weave into his soft black hair to pull him closer to you.

The kiss was beyond electrifying as it finally confirmed your real feelings for each other. It made you feel like something other than a puppet of your parents. As Ten’s own hands found purchase on either side of your face to deepen the kiss further, you realized being with him made you feel human, maybe for the first time in your life.

Eventually, the molding of your bodies had to end and someone had to break the ice in starting a conversation, “I know you’re scared of your parents and it goes against everything you were taught and told and all, but can you please for the love of god call off that stupid wedding so I can hold your hand in public and not be called an adulterous homewrecker?” Ten joked with his forehead resting against your own, finishing his sentence by pecking your nose gently.

You couldn’t help but smile like an absolute idiot while taking your boyfriends hand with a nod and tears in your eyes.

Were you still scared of your parents? Yes absolutely. Were you even slightly worried they might try to fleece you for your actions? Sure. But we’re you worried about your future or your happiness being put at stake? No.

Because with Ten by your side, it didn’t matter to you that your parents didn’t accept you. It didn’t matter that you’d lose all their ‘love’ and financial support. It didn’t matter that all, if not most, of your friends and family would turn their backs on you.

Because with him by your side you knew you’d forever be in love and be loved back by the only person that’s opinion actually truly mattered to you.

(Last Edited: 3/14/23)

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