#Lexis Fade

[mirandaputsherbestbuttforward]

CMDR. ALICE JOAN SHEPARD

Alt. Faceclaim: Emma D'arcy

I've been consumed by this thought for the last few days, realizing that Emma has just the right amount of 'boyish' charm and masculine demeanor that I've always envisioned Shepard having as a butch lesbian. Her main faceclaim (Antje Traue) is way more feminine than Shepard ever would be, even though their faces match pretty well (also, Antje is hardly in anything and it's hard to get source material that matches for the above reason). Emma is also currently 32, which is fitting for Shepard's canon age in ME3, whereas Antje is now older into her 40s.

Anyway, I threw this together based on a previous edit with Shepard's scars included. I had to darken their hair and eyebrows a bit, but their faces really line up, especially the Nose™:

[galaxywhale]

i started here lies the abyss today and now im getting emo over hawke siblings again help

[comatosebunny09]

beneath the skin | sylus

— summary: “who was that?” he simply asks, trying to mask the tinge of bitterness in his tone. “talk to me,” he coaxes after you hesitate, gently pinching your chin between his thumb and forefinger. “a ghost,” you say on a shaky whisper, as if admitting it aloud is taboo, like you’ll accidentally conjure him back into existence. — cw: reader is not mc, femme reader, assassin reader, jealousy, stream of consciousness, rekindled feelings, self-indulgent af, not proofread, i’m delusional and wanted to write something about someone trying to steal you away from sylus — wc: ~3k — now playing: bad dream - lexie liu

You’re used to the attention; it’s your job to garner it. So, the occasional stare doesn’t perturb you much. Usually. 

But this one—it feels different. Like the uncomfortable pressure of a needle painstakingly driven beneath your nail, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. 

You try to dance it off. Swivel your hips, smile pretty, a bewitching laugh in your throat as you gyrate atop the bar counter at Lux. But even as you turn to face the crowd gathered at your feet, their hands tossed skyward, bodies sweaty beneath the red sweep of lights and heavy mist, it lingers. Strips you down to bone, leaving you raw and exposed. Vulnerable. Confused. 

You pivot to address your admirer. To get a good look at who or what makes your skin crawl. But what greets you robs the air from your lungs, and you err in your steps, nearly stumbling off the counter if not for the dancer beside you, steadying you with her fingers wrapped around your wrist.

You feel like you’ve seen a ghost. An echo from a past you worked your damndest to suppress. The warmth and color drain from your face. You’re ramrod stiff, mouth spilling open, eyes blooming wide. Your heart careens against your ribcage, seemingly stopping before restarting to thrum double time. 

He reminds you of a forest, eyes the color of wood watching you with unwavering intensity, undisturbed by the bodies swaying and brushing up against him. A sturdy oakwood tree untouched by deforestation and time. It’s perverse in a way, how he studies you, how his gaze softens the slightest bit. How he knows you even with the stretch of years keeping you apart like he’s peeling back the layers of your facade like an onion. 

His hair is feathery. Dark like coffee beans, brushing over sloped shoulders. It’s longer than you remember. Longer than the last time you’d seen him before he died. 

Dead. He’s dead. Been dead for years. 

But as if to drive your delusions home, that telltale beauty mark catches in the strobing light, perched atop full, red lips stretched taut—lips you still remember the texture of, the way they moved against yours, pouring unbidden feelings into the chasm of your chest. 

You forget what it means to breathe. Forget how to exist, the cacophony of the nightclub fading into obscurity around you. Muddled, and you’re stock-still, stricken by something untraceable. Grief? Fear? Rage? Maybe a combination. Whatever the feeling, it causes a prickling sensation to fill your head, and your heart plummets to your feet.

“—alright?”

It’s a faint call. A disordered sound, like your ears are trying to readjust after resurfacing from a pool. It breaks you from the spell he cast over you, alongside the firm press of fingers into your wrist, the tug, and you swivel your head to take in the wary look of your co-worker. 

“H-Huh?” you say when your voice returns. Swallow past the barbs in your throat, lick your lips. Blink rapidly, disoriented, as if snatched from a trance.

“I asked if you were alright?” 

Your lips crook with a shadow of a smile. You pat her hand on your wrist, tamping down the anxiety that swells like a tumultuous wave in your chest. 

“Fine,” you murmur to assuage her worries. She doesn’t look convinced but doesn’t press, letting you go after ensuring you won’t fall. 

You look back, expecting to see those eyes drilling into your soul. Expecting that heavy feeling in your stomach, expecting your breath to abandon you once more and the world to spin beneath your feet. But you’re remiss to see he’s gone, swallowed up by the crowd as if he was never there in the first place. 

With all the stress looming over your shoulders —the missions, the changes to your dynamic with your boss, the newest addition to your family—you’re sure you’re imagining things. Your mind’s playing tricks on you, trying to cope with the weight of your job. With the repressed trauma. The unreturned feelings. Seeking an out. A little reprieve. 

How the hell could a dead man come back to life? And why would he be here, of all places, haunting you like a specter with unresolved business? 

You really should stop drinking before you perform. 

—

It’s a typical Saturday night at Lux. 

Nothing seems amiss; no fights to break up, no opposition to snuff out. 

Sylus is safely tucked in his second-floor office, watching bodies sway behind the one-way, ceiling-to-floor window. 

It’s soundless inside—soundproof walls—save for his steady breathing and the typically erratic thud of his heartbeat. His hands are stuffed in his pockets, and he stands in a casual slouch, gaze uninterested. He almost wishes something would pop off. A breakup in the monotony, a reason to get his hands dirty. An excuse to flex his fingers, to ruffle the expensive pleat of his shirt. 

He catches sight of you in his periphery. The knock of your hips, how you drag your hands down the devastating curvature of your body. A smirk pulls at his lips. If nothing else, he can count on you to keep him entertained. His gorgeous distraction. His glittering, murderous doll poised to strike at the snap of his fingers.

He leans closer to the crisp glass, static prickling his face, and he’s entranced by that sultry smile. How you shine like a constellation, brighter than Lux’s other dancers, capturing the intrigue and envy of all those subjected to your performance. He falls prey to it, too. Then again, he’s always been a victim. Always been under your spell, even without the influence of your Evol. 

He doesn’t know when it started. The steady creep of feelings, the burning need to protect you. But it’s there, a pleasant, heavy pressure in his chest. A feeling he thought himself long dead to. 

He’s about to leave his office to draw you down from the counter, but—

His amusement peters when you turn and stiffen. When your hands fall listlessly at your sides, and even from this vantage point, he makes out your mouth falling open. He’s closer now, his nose nearly pressing into the glass. He squints, trying to glean what’s caught your attention. The muscles in his jaw flex and strain when he catches sight of a figure clad in white adjacent to you, stiff as stone.

Alarm bells sound in his head. He doesn’t like the way this man watches you. How his gaze lingers too long, and he can feel the tense set of your shoulders as if he’s filling your skin. Irritation thins his lips. He conquers the space between the window and the office’s door in three brisk strides, the swell of music from downstairs flooding inside.

He takes the staircase leading to the first floor two-by-two, urgency powering him forward. But by the time he reaches the floor—by the time he wends through the crowd, pushing towards you, searching above the bodies pressing against him for that haunting streak of white—the figure is gone. Vanished like a breath out as if he’d never been there. 

Sylus’ gaze snaps to you. He’s still a ways off; you hadn’t noticed him. He watches the dancer beside you try to calm you down. Watches as you anxiously sweep an errant lock of hair behind your ear—as you peer over your shoulder in search of something. How your expression dampens when you find nothing, and your shoulders slump.

Something’s got you spooked. 

Sylus stands in the midst of the dance floor for a bit longer, studying you as if you’ll disappear, too, if he looks away for too long. 

He doesn’t like this feeling—this unease curdling in his gut. 

Who and what was that? And why does he feel like it’s not the last of it?

—

It was supposed to be a typical exchange—a simple negotiation for a plot of land on the outskirts of the city. 

You weren’t entirely sure what Sylus intended to do with it, but you usually kept your questions to yourself. He’d fill you in on the intricacies of his plan as he saw fit. 

For now, you stand in good form behind him, hands clasped together in front of you. His secret weapon in case things get dicey. His right hand in case you’re needed.  

He sits in a red leather, pin-cushioned armchair, languidly sipping on his bourbon, his hair standing out beneath the lazy drag of the low light. You’d normally admire him from your vantage point—the line of his shoulders, that wispy sweep of hair, the virility he exudes without trying. But tonight, you’re tight-lipped and contemplative. Straight-backed as you wait for his guests, mind slinking back into the happenings of three nights ago.

You finally began to settle. Excused the specter you saw as a trick of the light, as a product of exhaustion and shitty eating. There was no way he could still be alive—the shadow from your past. And even if he were, he wouldn’t have waited so long to resurface. 

Would he?

“I can practically hear the gears turning in your head, sweetie,” drawls Sylus above the languid croon of the music inhabiting the office. 

He breaks through the noise of your mind, and you blink as if being drawn from a daze.

There’s a teasing fringe to his voice. You don’t have to fully see him to know he’s smirking, that devastating, charming pull to his lips. He turns his head slightly over his shoulder, peering at you. “What’s on your mind?”

You clear your throat, shifting your weight between your feet. He’s caught you drifting off again. He’s good at that, reading your silence, feeling the tension stretching between your shoulders.

“Nothing.”

“You sure?” he says after some time in deliberating silence. 

You know he means to press. He wants to, but he doesn’t—a part of him you admire. He never pushes you past what you’re willing to give. Never pries into your past, never drills into your skull, trying to discern what makes you tick. He very well could, the power of his right eye glowing a sinister shade of red when he cracks into the minds of his enemies. But he’s never used his power on you, at least from what you’ve gleaned, and you respect him even more for being ever patient with you.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” you lie through your teeth. Lips quirk, though the smile doesn’t reach your eyes. 

His mouth hovers around words as if he means to protest. He knows you better than you think. But he doesn’t get the chance to pry when the door to his office swings open, drawing your shared attention to it. 

You watch as a stout man strides in behind Kieran, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. He looks unassuming. You roll your shoulders back, the tension once coiled in your limbs slowly unfurling. You don’t know what you were expecting. What you were hoping for, and you’re about to relax before another figure strolls in behind the gentleman. Unmistakable, tall, shouldered. 

Your breath catches.

The man’s eyes flick to you, briefly drinking you in. You don’t miss the glimmer of softness, the belying of emotions behind a rigid exterior. You watch him sit in the armchair adjacent to Sylus beside the older gent with glasses, and you can’t fucking breathe.

Yunho. 

His name echoes like an old hymnal—a forgotten praise—in your mind. Something tucked away in the furthest hulls of your subconscious, dredging up memories you’d long since compartmentalized.

Under different circumstances, you might’ve fainted. Instead, you tamp down the swell of fear in your chest. The lump of emotion blocking your throat. The heaviness of your tongue. He’s here—he’s real. He’s not dead, presented as flesh and bone before your very eyes, and you weren’t losing your shit that night at Lux when you saw him.

Your body hums with pressure, with static. You feel dizzy as if your legs could give way at any moment. You feel sick. Yet you maintain your poise, your decorum. You avert your eyes to the floor when Yunho’s gaze flits to you every so often as if he’s trying to convey something. Trying to make up for years of leaving you in the dark, for leaving you to fend for yourself, to pick up the jagged shards of your heart alone when you thought he was mere bone and dirt.

The meeting drags on with an unbearable tenseness. You feel like you’re out of your body throughout. You don’t follow what all three men are on about, too busy battling the static brewing between your eyes and your knees threatening to buckle beneath the weight of Yunho’s gaze when he thinks no one’s the wiser.

—

He’s grateful when the negotiations conclude, Sylus is. He hates these things—the pleasantries that go into them, the small talk before he can take what he needs.

He shakes the stout man’s hand with a rehearsed pull to his lips, sealing the deal. The land will be signed over to him without incident. Good. He’s been itching to open a new club just for you. Knows you’ve been dying to have something of your own, a place with your name in scrolling Marquee outside.

He reaches over the glass-top coffee table to shake the hand of the younger man who had accompanied the landowner, and it’s like he’s been electrified when their palms meet. It’s a familiar, uncomfortable surge of static pushing up his arm, curling in his chest. 

Sylus stiffens, eyes shooting up. He locks on to irises that remind him of blackened tar pits. Soulless. Yet behind the aloofness lies a heated intensity that would burn through flesh if Sylus were anyone but himself. He’s thrown back to the memory of three nights ago at Lux when he’d caught the same feeling after chasing away whatever spooked you.

Sylus squeezes his hand a little more firmly than necessary, a slight divot forming between his brows. The gentleman’s stare is equally unrelenting, and it’s like he knows something. He doesn’t miss how his gaze flicks over Sylus’ shoulder to briefly take you in before he releases his hand, and both men depart, leaving you and Sylus buried in heavy stillness. 

He’d been doing that quite a bit, that man. Sneaking little glances at you, sometimes lingering while Sylus was deep in conversation. He didn’t like it one bit, the way his gaze felt like it was stripping through your clothes. But he said nothing—you were a far cry from unsightly. It was only natural that other men couldn’t keep their eyes off you, couldn’t contain their intrigue. But this felt…different. 

He rolls the stiffness from his jaw as he stands up straight, hands stuffed in his pockets, still staring at the afterimage of his two guests long after they departed.

The strain in your body was palpable, too. He felt it rolling off you in waves, crashing into his back. Didn’t miss how you shifted your weight between your feet, the rustle of fabric behind him, an occasional tight breath slipping through your lips as unease fell onto your person. 

It’s unlike you to be so out of sorts. So on edge. So he breaks the quiet lull between you by clearing his throat and swiftly turning to face you, a question perched on his tongue. He nears you with measured strides. Paces towards you almost like a predator cornering prey, and the way you glance down to avoid the smolder of his gaze makes something pull in his chest.

“Who was that?” he simply asks, trying to mask the tinge of bitterness in his tone. His expression slackens when you look away, your jaw moving, and you’re squeezing your fingers at your back, so much the tips turn white.

You push out a weighted sigh, your voice shaky and sticky, as if you might cry. Your mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water, but you fall silent, unease etching into your features.

He’s close now. So close, your perfume curls around him, the welcomed heat from your smaller frame permeating his skin. He wars with himself for a moment. Turns over his subsequent actions in his mind like an old vinyl before softly pinching your chin between his forefinger and thumb. He tilts your head back until you’re forced to look at him from beneath those ruinous lashes, and the wet gleam of your eyes is enough to make his stomach flip. Make the tendons in his neck pull.

“Talk to me,” he coaxes. Gentle like he’s persuading a lover to reveal the inner mechanisms of their mind to him. He knows you’re not okay. Wants to get to the bottom of your flightiness. Wants to help in any way he can. He’s not used to seeing you so stone-faced and avoidant. 

You relinquish a breath, lips quivering. You search his eyes, and he wants nothing more than to draw you into the circle of his arms. To cover you like a blanket on a winter's day, to absorb you. 

“A ghost,” you say on a shaky whisper. As if saying it is taboo, like it’ll conjure him back into existence. 

Sylus’ brows furrow. He prides himself on not delving into your past life. But, dammit it all, he’s never burned to know about what molded you into the person you are today more.

His gaze falls to your lips as they wobble. He wants to kiss them. Wants to take whatever anguish plagues you into his own body. Wants to kiss away whatever worries you have into oblivion. But he’s not sure how you would feel about that. If you’d push him away and completely shut him off from your heart. He’s made his intentions clear, his feelings for you—at least, he thinks he has. He’s been patient, waiting for you to come around. Waiting for you to want him as much as he yearns for you.

You draw him from the slurry of his thoughts when your fingers suddenly curve around his wrist. Soft, cautious, scorching through layers of flesh. A tired smile rounds your lips. You pull his hand away from your face, glancing down.

“I’m alright. It’s nothing to worry about. I—just need to get a little rest. Clear my head. Don’t worry about me.”

You brush past him without another word, and his fingers are poised at your back when you leave as if to stop you. When the door clicks shut with your departure, his fingers curl inward towards his palm into a loose fist before falling listlessly at his side. 

“A ghost, huh?” he murmurs to no one in particular, the words heavy and acrid on his tongue. He doesn’t notice the smoky threads of his Evol leaking off him, spurred by the ire slowly building in his chest.

[chiming-bluebells]

LEXI’S REALITIES

⋆ ˚｡⋆ᨳ an ode to life itself.

heavy-eyed and drowsy, filled with mirth, cinnamon, and a certain night-born sweetness; she plants her fig tree with reverence. her lives. her realities. her self portrait.

THE MAZE RUNNER . . . main/home reality !!

where i’m the first and second-to-last girl to join group a. med-jack with a penchant for creating mischief and napping underneath swaying branches; if i’m not in the med-hut playing doctor, then i’m most likely in the kitchen together with frypan acting as his sous chef.

i. the maze runner masterlist

ii. introduction

iii. pin board

FANTASY / TERABITIA . . . main !!

on a cold winter night in 977 A.D., a single star fell from the heavens. it descended gently into the glade of edrasil, pulsing softly like a heart. when the light faded, a newborn lay in its place. a girl with the glow of the cosmos still clinging to her skin. i, the princess of terabitia, had been born.

i. introduction

ii. pin board

iii. the ancient land of terabitia

iv. fragrant balsam & redolence

v. what’s in my bag satchel?

vi. this little life ; ask game

MARAUDERS . . . wip; main !

where i’m a witch; a half-blood descendant of the scandinavian noble wizardry house of NATT (,,NIGHT”). 1970s groovy galore. a seer and a parrot/budgie animagus nicknamed chatty. ravenclaw with an appetite for creating mischief together with the marauders; giving newt the hufflepuff prefect regular headaches.

i. introduction

ii. pin board

MOUNTAIN GETAWAY . . . wip; potential main !

reality where i co-run a ski resort and gift shop together with my best friends (yes, my maze runner people are in the mix. surprise, surprise), and spend my days knitting sweaters and mittens. idyllic little mountain town covered in pine forests; cute little cafés and bookstores in the heart of it all. cold cold winters with lots of snow, woolen scarves, and hot cacao.

i. introduction

ii. pin board

FISHERMAN’S DAUGHTER . . . wip !

the setting: norway, 1920s. think grand fjords, impressive mountains, and quaint villages.

the days on sea are defined by thick wool sweaters, sturdy boots, and mental pep-talks to brace against the cold and harsh weather. nets are cast. the crew works en masse. and seagulls cry overhead.

WAITING ROOM . . .

an introvert’s dream; where i live in a (literally) enchanted castle-like cottage. where warm summer rain and thunderstorms are the predominant weather, and sweet treats are in abundance. magical walk-in closet. access to edits of my dr selves. ginger the cat and bark the dog (of course). regular waiting room stuff.

FOR THE FUTURE . . . UNSCRIPTED / HALF-FINISHED REALITIES.

i. better cr ◞ author, artist & future screenwriter. lit. student at oxford. daughter to a world renowned film director and a celebrated novelist. nepo-baby dream and old money lifestyle.

ii. illustrator/band dr ◞ co-creator of GORILLAZ. set in the 90s. secret identity. artist, illustrator, guitarist & writer.

iii. mermaid dr ◞ dozing off in seashell beds and pulling pranks on sailors and pirates.

iv. house of anubis dr ◞ original het huis anubis…..but in swedish.

v. vampire / history dr ◞ experiencing historical events as an immortal blood-sucking being.

vi. traveller dr ◞ a reality solely for travelling around the globe and experiencing the world!

vii. pixie hollow dr ◞ i. have. wings.

[girlkisser13]

margaret

"when you know, you know"

pairings: stefan salvatore x fem!reader

warnings/tags: none. purely fluff.

summary: stefan tells his best friend about you.

stefan sat on the edge of the salvatore boarding house’s rooftop, staring out at the sleepy town of mystic falls. the night was calm, stars twinkling above, but his mind was anything but serene. next to him, his best friend, lexi took a sip of her drink, observing him closely.

"you're awfully quiet tonight, stefan," she remarked, nudging him with her elbow.

he sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "it's... complicated, lexi."

"when is it not?" she teased, then turned serious. "come on, spill. what's eating you up inside?"

he hesitated, looking down at his hands. "it's about y/n."

lexi's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "oh? do tell."

stefan's face softened as he spoke.

“when i’m with her, i feel at peace. like all the weight of my past just fades away. she’s kind, and she sees the good in me, even when i can’t see it myself. i can be myself around her, without any pretenses. she makes me want to be better, to do better. her laugh, her smile, the way she looks at the world. i just want to be near her, always.”

lexi smiled knowingly. "sounds like someone's got it bad."

stefan shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "i don't know what it is. all i know is that i can't stop thinking about her. when I'm with her, i'm happy. truly happy, in a way i haven't been for a long time. when i’m not with her, it feels like something's missing."

lexi leaned back, her expression turning mischievous. "stefan, you're in love with her."

the words hung in the air, and stefan felt his heart skip a beat. he looked up at lexi, the realization dawning on him. "yeah," he whispered. "i am in love with her."

lexi’s grin widened. "well, what are you waiting for? go tell her!"

stefan blinked, taken aback. "now? it's late."

lexi rolled her eyes. "love doesn't wait for convenient times. go, stefan. tell her how you feel. you might not get another chance."

with newfound determination, stefan nodded. he stood up, giving lexi a quick hug. "thanks, lexi. i needed that."

"anytime, lover boy," she teased. "now go get your girl."

stefan's heart raced as he drove to your house, the words he wanted to say playing over and over in his mind. by the time he reached your doorstep, his nerves were frayed, but he knew he couldn't turn back now. he knocked on your door, his breath hitching as he waited.

you opened the door, surprised to see him. "stefan? what are you doing here so late?"

he took a deep breath, his eyes locking with yours. "i had to see you. i couldn't wait another second. y/n, i need to tell you something."

you stepped outside, concern etched on your face. "what is it? what's wrong?"

"nothing's wrong," he said quickly. "everything's fine, actually. i just... i need you to know how i feel about you. i can't stop thinking about you. you make me feel alive in a way i haven't felt in years. i'm in love with you, y/n."

your eyes widened, your heart pounding. for a moment, there was silence. then, without a word, you stepped closer, cupping his face in your hands and pressing your lips to his. the kiss was soft and tender, yet filled with all the emotions both of you had been holding back.

when you finally pulled away, you smiled up at him. "i love you too, stefan."

relief and joy flooded through him, and he pulled you into his arms, holding you close. in that moment, everything felt perfect. for once, the world was just right.

and stefan knew that with you by his side, it always would be.

[c4llezz]

29. THE conversation

after daniela broke up with you, she shoved everything that reminded her of you in a box that she later hid in her closet thinking she would never see you again. years later she still reminisces about her time with you and thinks “i should’ve taken more pictures”

valentine’s day. a day of love and romance, of confessions and intertwined fingers. A day to celebrate with your partner or to laugh with friends.

definitely not a day to meet with your ex.

you’ve been wandering the streets for hours now, trying to escape the emptiness of your apartment. the silence had been too loud, your thoughts too chaotic.

but now, as you walk through the heart of los angeles, you regret leaving. the city is drowning in red, hearts plastered on storefronts, roses spilling from vendor carts, couples tangled in each other’s arms on every corner.

you don’t feel jealous. not exactly. you just feel... out of place. everyone else is where they’re supposed to be, while you’re heading toward a conversation that could rip open wounds you’ve spent years trying to heal.

with her.

daniela. your first everything. the first hand you held, the first lips you kissed (emilio in third grade didn’t count), the first person who got to know you even better than you knew yourself.

if someone had told you three years ago that you’d be meeting daniela again, you would’ve laughed in their face. then, in the quiet of your room, you would’ve cried yourself to sleep.

yet here you are, four years after your second valentine’s day together, walking toward the location she texted you.

it’s nearly 4:40. you’re early. you tell yourself it’s because you want to check the place first, but deep down, you know the truth.

the park looks familiar— too familiar. it reminds you of atlanta, of the park where you and daniela used to sit for hours, talking about the future you thought you’d share.

the place is empty, except for a lone figure on a bench.

you approach them slowly. “you’re early,” you say when you get close enough.

she flinches,“so are you”

you shrugged your shoulders “i wanted to scope out the place. make sure you weren’t planning to kill me”

she rolls her eyes and without a word, she stands and starts walking toward a tree. you hesitate for a second before following.

“i found this place while i was in t&d, out with ezrela and lexi,” she says, running her fingers along the bark. “it looks so much like our old spot that it became... safe. whenever things got too heavy, i’d come here and climb this tree. just like we used to.”

you smile despite yourself. “should we?”

the two of you settle onto a thick branch, side by side but careful not to touch. your can feel your heart pounding so loud she must hear it.

daniela stares ahead, gathering her thoughts, before finally speaking. “I’m glad we’re having this conversation.” then she pauses and with a shaky breath says. “everything i’m about to tell you is true. and i’ve thought about it a lot. about how i should say it”

she hesitates, then looks you in the eye. “i lied to you. when we broke up, i lied”

your jaw tightens. “i know. you should’ve told me what was going on before i spent my whole summer with you, thinking we were fine, when you’d already moved on with someone else”

she shakes her head “that’s what i lied about. there was never someone else”

“what?”

“i didn’t cheat on you. i didn’t leave you for another person. i just... i didn’t know how to end things without you feeling guilty about how i was feeling”

you furrowed your eyebrows “and how were you feeling?”

daniela exhales, staring at the fading sunlight. “i never told you how much the distance was breaking me. we went from talking every second of the day to barely speaking at all. weeks would pass without hearing your voice. and i knew it wasn’t your fault. i knew you were chasing your dream, and i was proud of you. but still... i was miserable”

the confession sits heavy between you. you watch the sun set on the horizon, thinking of the moment when things first started slipping through your fingers. “my friends told me you weren’t the same,” you murmur. “that’s why i kept flying out to see you. i thought maybe, eventually, you’d tell me.”

daniela laughs softly, but you can tell there’s no humor in it. “if i had, you would’ve stayed until i felt better. and when i was trying to end things you were seconds away from giving up everything just to make me happy. i couldn’t let you do that.” she swallows hard. “so i said what i had to say to make you hate me. because if you hated me, you wouldn’t come back. and if you didn’t come back, maybe i could move on.”

The ache in your chest is unbearable. “If you had just talked to me—”

“i know” her voice is small. “my biggest regret is not fighting for us.” for the first time, she turns and looks at you in the eye “i want to fix it.” she says determined “if you let me”

your breath catches in your throat “i don’t know, daniela. we are not the same people we once were. we don’t know each other anymore”

“then let me get to know you. the new you”

masterlist prev next

taglist...

@gtfoiydlyj @meganskiendielsbtc @itzkatflixs @fruityg0rl @reey0w @hrurchives @sunshinez4 @xochitlisbest @bandaidss320 @1luvkarina @kristalag @wtfisthisnoclueman @peanutbutterlover05 @awkwardtoafault @yjiminswallet @sirenontheloose @linnnsworld @saysirhc @caratinluv @mei2yok @1800hotnfunn @urfriendlylocalidiot

[fratttymatty]

Dumbgeons And DraGones

(all characters are 18+)

It was a rainy Saturday night, and the basement of Timothy Baxter’s house was alive with the sound of rolling dice, furious page-flipping, and exaggerated villainous laughter. Gathered around the ancient, coffee-stained table were five best friends: Timothy, Milo, Julian, Oliver, and Ezra. They were what everyone at Dalton High would call “the nerd crew”—gay, liberal, academically inclined, and utterly devoted to their twice-weekly Dungeons and Dragons sessions.

“We’ve nearly got it!” Julian declared, adjusting his glasses. “One more critical hit and the Dark Sorcerer is toast!”

“Let me cast Fireball,” Milo said eagerly.

“No, no, let me finish him off with Eldritch Blast,” Ezra protested.

While the boys argued strategy, three girls stood outside the basement window, peering in and giggling wildly. Cassie Winters, the queen bee of Dalton High, flipped her bleach-blonde hair over her shoulder and nudged her best friends, Lexi Carter and Tiffany Reynolds.

“OMG, you guys, they’re, like, so into this nerd game,” Cassie whispered.

“Totes embarrassing,” Lexi added, chewing gum with a dramatic snap.

“I know, right?” Tiffany said, pulling her hot-pink phone out to record. “Like, what even is Dungeons and Dragons?”

Cassie suddenly had an idea—one that would be, in her words, “so iconic.” She reached into her designer handbag and pulled out a small vial of pink liquid. Earlier that week, she had visited the town’s weird little crystal shop for “vibes,” and the shopkeeper had handed her the vial, calling it a “spell of transformation.” Cassie had no idea if it actually worked, but she loved the idea of using it for chaos.

“Watch this,” Cassie whispered, unscrewing the vial. “Let’s, like, make them cool or something.”

“What do you mean?” Tiffany asked.

“Just trust me,” Cassie said, pouring the liquid through the open window. It landed on the game board, shimmering as if alive, before seeping into the dice, figurines, and character sheets.

Inside the basement, the boys didn’t notice the strange glow overtaking their game.

“Final roll!” Timothy said, gripping the d20 tightly. He threw it, and it landed on a perfect 20.

“Yes! We did it!” Ezra cheered.

But before they could celebrate, the room started spinning. The game board erupted in pink light, and an intense heat filled the air.

“What the hell?” Milo shouted.

“Is this part of the game?” Julian asked, panicked.

The light engulfed them completely, and they blacked out.

When the boys woke up, everything felt... different. Timothy was the first to notice. He looked down at his hands—gone were his pale, wiry arms. Instead, he had tan, muscular forearms. He touched his face, which felt unfamiliar and... square-jawed?

“What’s going on?” he said, his voice deeper and smoother.

The others stirred, groaning and stretching. Milo’s once-curly hair was now a short, perfectly styled fade. Julian’s gangly frame was replaced by broad shoulders and washboard abs. Ezra’s glasses were gone—he didn’t need them anymore—and his delicate features had hardened into the rugged visage of a football player. And Oliver...

“Dude, I feel amazing,” Oliver said, flexing his new biceps.

They looked at each other, confusion giving way to excitement. Their nerdy clothes had been replaced by Dalton High varsity jackets, ripped jeans, and stylish sneakers. Their mannerisms shifted as well. Gone were the nervous fidgeting and rapid talking. Instead, they carried themselves with an effortless confidence.

“Bro,” Milo said, grinning. “This is sick.”

“Totally,” Timothy agreed. “Wait, Tim’s kinda lame. Call me Ethan now.”

“Ethan? That’s dope. I’ll be Matt,” Julian said, smirking.

Ezra, still examining his reflection in the basement’s dusty mirror, turned back to the group. “Yeah, and I’m Jake now.”

Milo and Oliver exchanged glances.

“Milo sounds like a nerd name,” Milo said. “Call me Ryan.”

“Oliver’s boring,” Oliver said with a laugh. “I’m Chase now.”

As they adjusted to their new personas, the basement door swung open. Cassie, Lexi, and Tiffany stepped inside, jaws dropping.

“OMG, it worked!” Cassie squealed.

“Whoa,” Tiffany said, staring at Ethan. “You’re, like, so hot now.”

“Thanks, babe,” Ethan said, flashing a dazzling smile.

Cassie wasted no time wrapping her arms around Matt. “You’re, like, coming to my party next weekend, right?”

“Obviously,” Matt said, already feeling like he belonged in her world.

By the end of the night, Cassie was dating Matt, Lexi had claimed Ryan, and Tiffany was all over Jake. Chase and Ethan, meanwhile, found themselves texting two other popular girls—Hailey and Brooke���about meeting up at the next football game.

As the weeks went on, the boys fully embraced their new lives. Their love for fantasy movies and indie music was replaced by action blockbusters and pop hits. Instead of discussing politics and social issues, they talked about sports and protein shakes.

The transformation was permanent, but none of them cared. They were no longer the nerdy outcasts—they were the kings of Dalton High, and life as jocks was totally awesome.

It was Friday afternoon, and the boys—Ethan, Matt, Jake, Ryan, and Chase—were lounging on the bleachers overlooking Dalton High’s football field. Cassie, Lexi, and Tiffany were draped across their shoulders and laps, laughing at every joke and sipping on iced coffees. Hailey and Brooke, who were now dating Chase and Ethan respectively, sat nearby, painting their nails and occasionally chiming in.

“Yo, so check this out,” Jake said, scrolling through his phone. “Apparently, the school board’s talking about letting the GSA put up some posters about, like, ‘inclusivity’ or whatever. Can you believe that?”

“Pfft,” Ryan scoffed, tossing a football in the air. “Man, that’s so stupid. Why do they need a whole club to tell people, ‘Hey, we’re gay’? Like, we get it. Nobody cares.”

“Exactly,” Ethan said, nodding as he draped an arm around Brooke. “It’s, like, do they think being gay makes them special or something? Just stop shoving it in everyone’s faces.”

“Right?” Matt chimed in, shaking his head. “It’s not like anyone’s out here making a ‘straight club.’ If they’re so ‘equal,’ why do they need their own group?”

Cassie giggled, flipping her hair. “You guys are so smart. Like, I don’t get why the school even lets them, like, exist. It’s so awkward.”

“And don’t even get me started on those girls from debate club,” Chase said, rolling his eyes. “They’re always whining about the patriarchy or whatever. Like, maybe if they weren’t such b****es, they’d actually have boyfriends.”

That got a laugh from the entire group, the boys high-fiving each other while their girlfriends giggled in approval.

Jake leaned back, smirking. “Yeah, they’re probably just bitter because no guy would touch them with a ten-foot pole. Girls are supposed to, like, be chill and hot, not try to act smarter than guys. It’s just basic facts.”

“Exactly,” Matt added, grinning. “That’s why you girls are the best.” He kissed Cassie on the cheek, and she squealed with delight.

The group laughed again, the boys reveling in their new personas. None of them missed their old lives—books, debates, and progressive causes were all a distant memory. Life was simpler now, and for Ethan, Matt, Jake, Ryan, and Chase, it was perfect.

(from left to right, row 2 to row 1: Chase, Tiffany, Cassie, Lexi, Ryan, Jake, Ethan, Matt)

[five-rivers]

providence 1

[You might have noticed my absence from the phic phight up until now, but I've been working on this all month! This is the first chapter of a completed fic that is 9 chapters long. The prompts used are from @alexapiper @ash-rabbit @kinglazrus, with special thanks to @jackdaw-sprite @datawyrms and Lexie for beta and encouragement. Also tagging @kawaiijohn because although I didn't quite hit your prompt it's in very close proximity and it helped inspire me.]

[CW: Later chapters have some dissec.]

“Clockwork?” called Danny, softly, standing on the ground just outside the wide open doors. It felt more polite, somehow, to walk in, rather than flying. Normally, he might not care so much about being polite, but… He looked around the entrance of the tower, spotting lingering evidence of the fight with, well. With the other Danny. Phantom. Evil future Danny.

Danny hoped he picked a name soon. Figuring out what to call him when he hadn’t was annoying at best and terminally confusing at worst. He at least needed a distinct nickname or something. Because Formerly Evil Danny just wasn’t cutting it.

(Tucker was calling him Shadow the Hedgehog, and Danny hadn’t played enough Sonic the Hedgehog to know if that was a valid reference or not.)

He shifted the weight of the bag in his hands, debating just… dropping it off. That felt rude, but after everything, barging into Clockwork’s home would be extra rude. Especially since it would be him doing the barging. Him, Danny, aka an alternate version of the person that had wrecked Clockwork’s home, merged with him, and broke the timeline to the point of weakening his powers indefinitely.

Then again, the doors were open, he had a strong sense of being watched, and despite visiting before, Danny was always curious about the inside of the tower. Time and space were, after all, sort of the same thing, and it seemed like he noticed something new and interesting every time he was there.

And he was worried about Clockwork.

Being forcibly merged with another ghost couldn’t be healthy, not to mention the damage to the timeline.

Maybe he’d just–

“Hello, Daniel,” said Clockwork from the depths of a shadow.

Danny jumped into the air, startled, then, sheepishly, set himself back down on the floor. Clockwork could time jumpscares perfectly, and the way only his outline and the glow of his eyes were visible only added to the effect.

“Hi,” he said. Then he held up the bag. “I brought–”

“Apology fudge, several types of tea, and a thumb drive with an almost certainly unnecessary security update for my time medallions.”

“Tucker wanted to contribute, and he didn’t have enough time to finish the scarf,” explained Danny, lingering on the threshold.

“Naturally,” said Clockwork. “Do come in, Daniel.” Clockwork faded back into the shadows and Danny followed.

“So,” said Danny, trailing after Clockwork, “how is cleaning up going? The, um, repairs?”

From what Danny could see, they weren’t going anywhere. Or, at least, they hadn’t progressed past the point of pushing rubble to the sides and making the walls whole. This was only the entryway.

(The view of the tower from the distance hadn’t been great, either, though. Cracks big and small ran through the whole structure, giving it a ruined and abandoned appearance. Glimpses of things inside the tower through cracked walls and shattered glass didn’t help. At one point, Danny had mistaken a shiny silver gear for the white of an enormous eye. At least, he hoped that it was actually a gear.)

Clockwork cast a glance back over his shoulder, the dim lighting leaving the left side of his face in shadow. “Well enough. It is the damage to time that I am focused on, rather than the damage to my dwelling.”

“Is there anything I could help with?” offered Danny, uncertainly. “Or– You probably don’t want me here.” Which was painful enough on its own. “I could just drop these off–”

He tripped over a loose stone in the floor.

“Flying wouldn’t be rude,” continued Clockwork, apparently choosing to ignore Danny’s rambling. “We are both ghosts.”

“Right,” said Danny, lifting off and flying after Clockwork. “Where are we going?”

“My workshop,” said Clockwork. “There is something I want to show you.”

Despite his general (and possibly misplaced) guilt, Danny perked up. Despite scattered visits to Clockwork (mostly for apologies regarding various temporal misadventures or attempts at paying Clockwork back), he’d never seen Clockwork’s workshop.

They traveled through a short passageway, full of all sorts of wall clocks, from old-fashioned pendulum and weight clocks to cuckoo clocks to cat-shaped clocks with swinging tails to clocks that could have come from a Casper High classroom to utilitarian digital clocks. Some of the clocks were whole and functional. Many more were broken and still. The edges of the hall, the corners where the walls met the floor, were covered with broken glass.

At the end of the passageway was a set of cracked-glass doors. In the cracked glass, Danny saw reflections. But not reflections of the hallway as it was. There were flashes of purple, of white fire, of impossibly huge, bloodshot eyes. Danny spun, reflexively trying to see what was behind them.

“The doors–”

“An unfortunate side-effect,” said Clockwork.

“Of what?” asked Danny, turning back to the door. The eyes were gone, at least, but, as a matter of personal preference, the Nasty Burger mid-explosion wasn’t much better.

Clockwork just held open the door, head still tilted slightly away from Danny. Keeping one eye on Clockwork (he was acting weird, even for him), Danny slid into the room.

Oddly, the first impression Danny had was of the basement lab back home in Fentonworks. The colors were different - stone and brass with highlights of blue and purple, as opposed to plastic and chrome with highlights of green and red - but the workbenches had the same feeling of cluttered organization, of chaos with bubbles of order around ongoing projects.

But those projects weren't like anything Danny had seen in the lab.

There was one of the time viewers, the image in it glitching and blurring around the edges, a set of candles full of nails in strange patterns, something like a pair of glasses with over a dozen lenses held onto it with spidery arms, a small wall clock casing full of what appeared to be an ocean, a detailed map of a galaxy, stuck with pins, an exquisitely detailed orrery with dozens of planets–

Danny pulled himself away from the orrery (the model of Jupiter had over a dozen moons!), then a grandfather clock that included the phases of the moon, then the pieces of a tiny and absolutely precious pocket watch, laid out on a piece of black velvet, and, then, finally, he was able to return his attention to Clockwork, who, thankfully, didn’t seem upset. Much.

He still wasn’t looking directly at Danny, instead studying something on a nearby table. Danny couldn’t tell what, exactly, with Clockwork’s solid-color eyes.

“What did you want to show me?” Danny asked.

Clockwork picked one clock - a small, old-fashioned alarm clock - up from a teetering stack of books on the table and handed it to Danny, taking the bag of fudge, tea, and tech from him and putting it on an empty stool. “Wait a minute.”

There was a ratcheting sound, and, all at once, the bells of the tower began to toll, from the enormous, booming bell at the very top of the tower, to the shrill alarm clock in his hands. Danny startled at the sudden noise, inadvertently throwing the alarm clock into the air. He lunged for it, trying to catch it before it could knock into something important or delicate. He did, but then he knocked into something important: the time viewer.

Or, he thought he’d knock into it. Instead, he slipped into its surface, like it was a portal, before Clockwork caught him by the elbow.

“Careful,” he said, almost teasingly. He tapped the top of the still-ringing alarm clock with his staff, silencing it.

Danny blinked, frowned, then wriggled, pulling himself out of the viewer. Clockwork let go of his arm and drifted backward, holding his staff with both hands and morphing into his oldest, most wizened form. Only his mouth and red eyes were visible beneath the shadow of his hood.

“What was that?” asked Danny. “I thought that you needed one of your medallions to go through one of those.”

“Perhaps,” said Clockwork. “But if that is the case, then how has this occurred?”

“Are you… asking me?”

“That is generally what is implied, with a question,” said Clockwork.

“Um,” said Danny. He looked down at the alarm clock. “Is this a time medallion, somehow? Like, not the shape, obviously, but…”

“And how would you test that hypothesis?” asked Clockwork.

Danny looked back up at Clockwork, then at the clock again. He put it back on the table, then, hesitantly, touched the time viewer. His hand went right through it, up to the wrist, before he snatched it away. He looked down at it with consternation.

“So, I guess that isn’t it,” he said.

Clockwork hummed noncommittally.

“You’re going to have to give me a hint, here,” said Danny.

“Consider: do you have what is, perhaps, an unusual relationship with time?” asked Clockwork.

Danny stared at him blankly, and Clockwork sighed.

“Have you had any uncommon interactions with the timeline in your past? Have you done things with time that wouldn’t be possible for a normal person?”

A blush rose in Danny’s cheeks. Yes, he knew he had an ‘unusual relationship’ with time. He’d time traveled more often than Marty McFly (probably, he hadn’t counted). Normal people didn’t do that. But the way that Clockwork asked had made it seem like there was some other meaning.

“Well, yeah. But when I asked you to send me back to Vlad’s accident I still had to use…” He trailed off. “That was before, um, Phantom, um.” Danny sucked his lips in, unsure of how to phrase what had happened delicately, much less clearly. “The weird time slips, those were all centered on me. Everyone else who noticed them was close to me.”

“In more ways than one,” agreed Clockwork.

Danny looked back at the glitching time viewer and made a face at it. The image was of a distant forest fire, smoke billowing up from the side of a hill. It hadn’t seemed particularly threatening before, but now that he knew he could fall in by mistake, he wondered if he shouldn’t edge away from it.

He looked back at Clockwork, meeting both red eyes for a split second. “Is that the only…” He trailed off, surprised.

Clockwork turned away again, swiftly. “Unfortunately, the nature of these effects makes it difficult for me to see with any clarity.”

Danny shook his head, forcibly reorienting himself on the conversation. He could process what he’d seen later. Hopefully. “You were still able to do the mind-reading trick pretty well.”

The corner of Clockwork’s lip that Danny could see twitched upward. “As I have told you before, I cannot read minds. I can only see timelines where you say what you are thinking.”

“Which is basically the same as reading minds,” replied Danny, thankful that they’d had this exchange so many times that his response was automatic. His thoughts were spinning, and stopping himself from blurting them out was close to impossible, so it probably was a good thing Clockwork couldn’t read minds.

“It is significantly more prone to error,” said Clockwork, with a shrug. “In any case, now you are aware of this phenomenon.”

“Right,” said Danny. He nodded to himself, as if the gesture would magically grant him the ability to know what he was doing. “Now I know. Your–” He cut himself off and chewed on his bottom lip. “Is there anything I can do to help you fix things? Or even just clean up?”

“I was under the impression that you were spending most of your time trying to learn how to be a bridge between humans and ghosts,” said Clockwork, rearranging tools on one of the workbenches.

“Well, yes,” said Danny, “but helping out is part of that, right? And this is, you know, sort of my fault, so…”

Clockwork paused, put down the tool he was holding, then looked directly at Danny. Which meant that Danny saw Clockwork’s scar again, and the way it had changed.

He swallowed.

“The events that led to this damage were not your fault, Daniel.”

“They kind of were, though,” said Danny, his shoulders rising. “I mean, it’s my fault that the other me exists, so, this is, too.”

Clockwork raised an eyebrow. “Would you prefer that the other Phantom not exist?”

“No,” said Danny, hurriedly. “At the beginning, but– But not now.” After separating from Clockwork and being stabilized by the clone, future Danny was much less murdery.

“He is his own person, separate from you, and has been so for some time. His actions are not yours, and your actions are not his.”

Danny licked his lips, wanting to protest, but nodded. Then, unable to stop himself, blurted, “Clockwork, your scar–”

“And that is certainly not your fault,” said Clockwork, covering the eye and turning away again.

Danny felt his heart drop. He wanted to believe that, but with how Clockwork was acting, he couldn’t. The last time he’d seen Clockwork’s scar–

When was the last time he’d seen Clockwork’s scar? Had it been right after the fight with the fused Phantom-and-Clockwork? Or had Clockwork been hiding it then? Had it been before? Danny couldn’t remember.

Either way, the last time he’d seen Clockwork’s scar, it had been a simple, healed-over gash, dark against ghostly flesh, rather than pale the way a human scar would be, thin and straight, almost the platonic ideal of a scar. Now, it was a twisting, branching thing, with burnt edges. Danny knew that shape. He knew it intimately.

He raised his hand to touch his chest, just below his heart.

“You will need to leave now, if you are to return before your parents miss you,” said Clockwork. “Remember that they no longer are aware of your secret.”

Danny nodded, and while he didn’t flee the tower, he left at a far greater speed than he’d entered. As he flew back to the portal, two, no, three thoughts ran through his mind over and over again.

Why did Clockwork’s scar now look like a Lichtenberg figure? What had done that to him?

What could Danny do to help?

[eyekonvivi]

The Seventh Star - Prologue-

A Katseye Imagine

When y/n , a French trainee with undeniable stage presence, is chosen as the unexpected seventh member of global girl group Katseye, she's thrown into a dazzling world of music, fame, and found family. But behind the lights, cameras, and meticulously choreographed performances lies a web of complex relationships, hidden emotions, and quiet rivalries.

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

The stage lights bathed everything in gold.

The crowd roared, cameras panned across glistening eyes and trembling hands. It was the Dream Academy finale—the moment when futures would be written in the stars or slip away like forgotten dreams.

I stood at the back of the formation, breath shallow, heart pounding louder than the music that had faded only seconds ago. Tears rolling down my cheeks, I extricate myself from Ezrela's embrace, the burning taste of defeat in my mouth. I could still feel the warmth of the spotlight that had followed me across the stage minutes earlier during the final performance—my last chance to prove that I belonged is gone...

My name wasn't called, maybe I joined training too late, maybe I didn't train hard enough, maybe I should have spent more time working on my weakness : dancing. I realise that it's over, I remember the laughters shared with Ezrela and Lexie, the disastrous cooking sessions with Sophia, Adela's reassuring encouragement, the improvised rap sessions with Lara. All these memories, all these moments that brought me to this end, which unfortunately for me did not lead to my dream. But that wasn't the case for all the girls.

Katseye—elegant, powerful, untouchable—stood just a few meters ahead. Sophia, Manon, Lara, Megan, Yoonchae, and Daniela held hands tightly, their bodies trembling, faces glowing with a mixture of disbelief and joy. Their names had been called. Six stars in the sky. The final lineup.

"—and now," the host announced in breathless English, "for a surprise that none of you saw coming..."

Gasps rippled through the audience. y/n's throat tightened.

The camera panned to the judges—artists, executives, legends. One of them nodded. Another smiled, eyes glimmering with mischief.

"This journey was about more than performance. It was about transformation. Growth. Fire."

The host turned—directly toward you

"And tonight, Katseye will shine with seven stars."

Everything went silent.

For a second, you was sure time stopped. Then—

"From France,  Y/n , bienvenue. You are the seventh member of Katseye."

The crowd exploded. Fireworks went off behind the stage. Someone screamed my name. A spotlight blazed to life above me. But all I could hear was the blood rushing in my ears and the sound of six footsteps—running toward me.

Arms wrapped around me. Sophia—always composed, now crying. Manon—giggling like a child, her accent warm and chaotic. Daniela—whispering something fast and sweet in my ear, in half-Spanish, half-English.  Megan clutched her hand. Lara and Yoonchae pulled me into the circle.

"We're seven," Sophia whispered, "We're complete."

I could barely speak. My eyes burned, my lips trembled. "I—I don't know what to say..."

"Say yes," Lara grinned. "Say you're ready."

"I am," y/n breathed. "I'm ready."

The cameras caught the tears on my cheeks and the way the members squeezed me tighter, already one of them. In that moment, I wasn't just a dreamer anymore.

I was Katseye.

-----

To be continued / the whole story is gonna be on Wattpad too

[caitified]

hi hi hi

can you write caitlin x fem!reader where lexi exposes caitlin on having a crush on a journalist or someone that’s around the team a lot? and caitlin is blushing kicking her feet…

maybe with some happy ending pls pls pls

thank u

sidelines

caitlin clark x reader

warnings:none

caitlin clark was a force on the court, but off the hardwood, she struggled with something much more personal: her growing crush on you, the indiana fever’s in-house journalist. your presence lit up every post-game interview, and caitlin found herself lingering on your words, your smile, your laughter. her teammates quickly picked up on her crush, particularly lexie and aliyah, who thrived on teasing caitlin about her infatuation.

“caitlin, do you need a scorecard to keep track of how many times you’ve stared at y/n?” lexie teased one afternoon during practice, earning a chorus of laughter from the team. caitlin shot her a glare but couldn’t hide the flush creeping up her cheeks.

“seriously, just ask her out already,” aliyah chimed in, smirking knowingly. “we all see the way you look at her.”

the banter made caitlin laugh, but inside, she was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement. every time you walked into the locker room, her heart raced, and every smile you threw her way sent butterflies dancing in her stomach. she was determined to keep her feelings under wraps, not wanting to jeopardize your friendship or the team’s dynamic. but it was getting harder to ignore the chemistry simmering between you two.

everything changed one evening after a particularly intense game. the fever had won, and the atmosphere was electric. caitlin was in the locker room, still buzzing with adrenaline, when you entered to conduct your usual post-game interview. the air was thick with anticipation, and caitlin’s heart raced as you approached, clipboard in hand. her gaze wandered over you, admiring how your hair glimmered under the fluorescent lights and the way your smile lit up the room.

“caitlin, can I get your thoughts on tonight’s game?” you asked, your voice steady and professional, yet somehow more intimate in the echo of the empty room.

caitlin nodded, her mind momentarily blank as she struggled to focus. “yeah, um, we played well,” she stammered, and she felt the playful eyes of her teammates boring into her back.

lexie, sensing an opportunity, leaned against a locker, smirking. “caitlin, what’s your favorite play of the night? or maybe your favorite person?”

the room erupted in laughter, and caitlin felt heat rush to her cheeks. you shot caitlin a teasing look, your lips curving into a smile that made her heart leap.

“lexie, come on,” caitlin protested, trying to maintain her composure.

but before she could redirect the conversation, lexie leaned forward, a gleam in her eye. “seriously, caitlin, are you going to tell y/n about your little crush or what?”

caitlin froze, her heart racing at the implication of her friend’s words. the room fell silent, and all eyes turned to you, whose surprised expression mirrored her own confusion. “wait, you like me?” you asked, a mix of shock and intrigue lacing your voice.

the embarrassment felt overwhelming, yet something deep inside caitlin pushed her to be honest. “yeah, I do,” she finally admitted, her voice steadier than she expected. “i’ve had a crush on you for a while now.”

the locker room buzzed with excitement, but for you and caitlin, everything faded away except for the shared gaze. your eyes widened, and you felt your heart leap at her confession. “i like you too,” you said, your smile growing, uncertainty melting into relief. “i thought you were too focused on basketball to even notice me.”

caitlin’s expression softened, her heart swelling with warmth. “you have no idea how much I think about you,” she confessed, stepping closer, the world around you dissolving into background noise. “you make my long days feel worth it.”

lexie and aliyah exchanged knowing glances, their teasing smirks transforming into supportive smiles as they allowed you two a moment. “you two are adorable!” lexie exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.

“i’m serious about this,” caitlin said, turning her full attention back to you, sincerity radiating from her gaze. “i want to see where this can go.”

“me too,” you replied, your heart brimming with hope. “i’d love to figure this out together.”

the tension between you melted away, replaced with a warmth that felt like the beginning of something beautiful. as you exchanged shy smiles, the teasing faded into the background, and the world seemed to settle into a comfortable rhythm. caitlin reached out, intertwining her fingers with yours, sealing the moment with a promise of something more.

the next few weeks unfolded like a dream. you and caitlin began to share stolen moments—quick glances during games, soft touches that sent shivers down your spine, and whispered secrets in the locker room. every practice felt electric, the chemistry between you palpable as you found little ways to connect outside the confines of work.

the team began to notice the shift, the way caitlin’s eyes lit up whenever you entered the room and the shy smiles exchanged during your interviews. lexie and aliyah could barely contain their glee, constantly nudging caitlin and whispering playful remarks that made her blush.

“so, are you two official yet?” lexie teased one afternoon, leaning back against the wall with a knowing grin. “or do we need to set up a press conference for this?”

“shut up,” caitlin shot back, though the smile on her face betrayed her. “it’s new, okay?”

aliyah rolled her eyes dramatically. “you guys are like a rom-com waiting to happen. just admit you’re in love!”

it was playful banter, but caitlin couldn’t help but feel a rush of affection for you. every time she looked at you, her heart soared. you were kind, intelligent, and so passionate about your work. it was hard to believe that you could be interested in someone like her.

then came the day of the big game—one that everyone had been waiting for. the energy in the arena was electric, the crowd buzzing with excitement. as caitlin took to the court, she could feel your eyes on her, your unwavering support grounding her amidst the chaos.

during a break in the game, caitlin caught your gaze from the sidelines and flashed a smile, her heart racing as you returned it. in that moment, everything else faded away. she was lost in you, the noise of the crowd a distant hum.

after the game, when the adrenaline still coursed through her veins, caitlin sought you out, excitement bubbling in her chest. you were surrounded by fans and teammates, but she didn’t care. she had to get to you.

“y/n!” she called, pushing through the crowd until she stood in front of you, breathless.

“great game, cait!” you beamed, and caitlin felt her heart swell. “you played amazing.”

“thanks! it felt incredible out there,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “and it felt even better knowing you were watching.”

you raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on your lips. “are you trying to charm me, miss clark?”

caitlin grinned, her confidence growing. “maybe I am. what if I am?”

you stepped closer, the world around you fading as you focused solely on each other. “well, you’re doing a great job,” you admitted, your eyes sparkling.

just then, lexie appeared, a playful smirk on her face. “i’ll leave you two lovebirds to it,” she said, winking as she walked away.

caitlin turned back to you, a mix of determination and vulnerability in her gaze. “can we talk? like, really talk?”

you nodded, the excitement bubbling in your chest. “of course.”

as you both found a quiet corner of the arena, caitlin took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “i know this is all new and maybe a little crazy, but i really like you. i want to see where this goes. like, really see where this goes.”

“i want that too, cait,” you replied, your voice steady and sincere. “i didn’t think you’d feel the same way.”

caitlin smiled, a wave of relief washing over her. “it’s more than just a crush for me. you mean a lot to me, and i’d love the chance to explore this.”

with those words, the two of you leaned in, the space between you disappearing. the kiss was soft and tentative at first, then deepened as caitlin wrapped her arms around your waist, pulling you closer. everything else faded away—no teammates, no fans, just you and her in that moment.

when you finally pulled away, breathless and giddy, caitlin couldn’t help but grin. “i guess we’re officially a thing now.”

“yeah, we are,” you laughed, the sound like music to her ears. “and i can’t wait to see what happens next.”

[xo-adeline]

"I'll tell you I love you, even if I don't know it..."

⋆°• ☁︎ - Movie Night! Feat. Alexis Ness - Our poll winner!

AN - I probably still will write for the other characters who scored higher but they might be a minute due to me having an AP project I have to finish!!

The cold winter night had been banished to outside when your boyfriend walked in the door, shrugging off his jacket before finding you in your shared apartment to give you his after-practice hug. That’s when he saw you curled up on the couch, watching the German snow from under your blanket. With a slight laugh and a smile, he came and sat down with you, hugging you as you finally noticed he was back. A quick kiss to your forehead before he stood up heading back over to the bedroom to shower and change into some comfortable clothes, rather than the sports attire he had been wearing.

Within an hour he came back, in a Bastard München sweatshirt, and a pair of joggers with his iconic number 8 on the right top side. Even when he was at home he found the need to represent his team. The winter was still cold, and most likely colder now that it was later at night. The clock read ‘8:31 pm’. You both knew he didn’t have practice in the morning and you weren’t busy. So what did that mean?

Movie Night! When you had both nodded at each other it was the race to find stuff around the house that you wanted to eat. Whether it was popcorn, candy, ice cream, or really anything else that was still in the house. And before long you were both sat back down on the couch, snacks in the middle and a remote in your hand as you scrolled through the rows and rows of movies on every streaming platform that you can think of. Eventually, you both settled on a movie ‘The Notebook’, Ness’s favorite. You could never tell him no when that cute smile and the little begs came from him when he saw you pass over it on screen. It had started okay, curling up into him while slightly snacking watching as the scenes progressed throughout. However, about 30 minutes in your boyfriend had continued to yawn every few minutes. 

You turned to look up at him, right after he had let out another yawn.

“You okay.? You look really tired. We can go to bed if you’d like.?” “No, no. ‘m okay.. Plus, I like having movie nights with you and we never get the chance.” “We have tomorrow, ‘lexis.. We’ll pick up where we are in the morning. Come on, let’s get you to bed sleepyhead.” 

With no other objections from him, you turned off the TV and started putting everything away, with the not-so-helpful help of your half-asleep boyfriend. It wasn’t too much longer before you had made your way back to the bedroom, doing your at-night routine as he got into bed, almost falling asleep immediately as his head hit the pillow. You laughed a little as you saw him trying to stay awake while you finished up the routine, getting into bed on your side. The small lights peeking in from the closed curtains illuminated his face just enough for you to see his eyes slowly closing as he drifted off, his hands moving to pull you closer to him, even if he was doing it subconsciously. Darkness soon overtook the room as the lights started fading before completely disappearing. He had already been asleep way before any of the lights had even had a flicker, but no matter. Somehow, even in his asleep state, he had whispered a small ‘..I love you..’ to you before you fell asleep. 

Somehow, Alexis Ness could still tell you he loved you, even if he wasn’t consciously thinking about it. Alexis Ness could love you whenever, and even if he was asleep he could show it.

[enha-roza]

I-LAND : EPISODE THREE

8thmember!oc

wc : 1.5k

Episode Three :

Episode three opened with the results of the first test. “Final score is 59, this means 10 I-Landers will be eliminated”. The room was silent as everyone processed what this meant. 10 I-Landers would be going to the ground and 10 Grounder would be coming up. Roza felt her chest tighten up, she was scared she would get picked to go to the Ground. “Voting for member eliminations will begin in 12 hours. Starting now you can check your individual scores.”

It then cut to the Ground, where the trainees were waiting to see how many I-Landers would be moved. “I wonder how many got eliminated?” “I think 5 or 6?” the room filled with questions, as the screen lit up and the number 10 displayed across it. “10!” “That's half?” The trainees felt bittersweet. The fact that 10 trainees were getting moved meant 10 other trainees were getting eliminated. It all felt weird.

The I-Landers waited around, some going to see their individual scores, some talking to one another. Roza decided to go see her personal score. As she walked in she started breathing heavily. “I hope I scored well…” she quietly whispered. After a beat the number “73” appeared on the screen. “Oh, thank god!” she said, feeling a weight off her chest. She had gotten the second highest score. She just hoped that the other trainees thought she deserved to stay.

Sooyoung on the other hand was happily walking around, not bothered by the chaos everyone was feeling. “Why are you so chill, did you get a good score?” Yunah asked as she joined Sooyoung, eating some chips. “I don't know.” “What do you mean you don't know?” Yunah questioned. “Didn't check and I'm not gonna.” Yunah stared at Sooyoung as she continued eating. “Why?” “Well, to put it simply, I think I did well. I don't need a score to determine how well I did. Plus it's up to the other I-Landers, not my score.” Sooyoung stated like it was obvious. “When you put it that way, it makes more sense…” Sooyoung gave Yunah a knowing look. “It's all about up here.” She giggled pointing to her head. “Plus if i got a bad score it makes me feel terrible, so I'm just avoiding it.”

Heeseung wandered around looking for Roza, when he found her laying by herself on her bed. “What's up with you?” “Nothing, just thinking…” she said mindlessly. Heeseung laid down next to her. “Enlighten me.” He laughed as Roza’s eyebrows scrunched up, clearly deep in thought. “It feels weird eliminating other trainees, makes me feel terrible” He watched as tears filled her eyes, threatening to fall. “I get what you mean… definitely messes with your head. But we did well and as long as the other thought so too, we should be safe right?” Heeseung said, trying to reassure Roza. “Yeah, but still. Feels wrong.” Heeseung intertwined their fingers, his thumb stroking over her hand to comfort her. “I guess we’ll find out soon,” he whispered.

The 12 hours had come to an end and the trainees gathered back in the main lobby. “We will now announce the 10 trainees going to the Ground.” The room went quiet and everyone waited as they anticipated who was going to the Ground. “The first trainee moving to the ground with 19 votes, is Youngbin. The second trainee moving to the ground with 11 votes is, Daniel.” silence filled the air as the remaining trainees were announced. “Jake, Jay, Yunah, Lexi, Eunha, Nicholas, Niki and Yena are all moved to the Ground.”

“Eliminated trainees, now say your goodbyes.” As the voice faded, sadness filled the quiet room. Many were disappointed they were eliminated. Roza and Nari looked over at Yunah, she immediately burst into tears. “Come here.” Roza tried comforting Yunah as she cried, Nari stroking her hair. “It's okay, you'll be back next week.” Sooyoung also comforting the eliminated trainees. Soon after those who were eliminated headed out and the I-Landers left quiet as they all processed the first of many eliminations. As the new Grounders settled in, the rest of the Grounders awaited the news of who would join I-land. “The 10 Grounders joining I-Land are Taeyong, Jaebeom, Meko, Jiwoo, EJ, Yoonwon, Sunoo, Jihyun, Kyungjin and lastly Ta-ki.” The 10 celebrated as their second chance to join I-land was announced. They gather their stuff and head to I-Land.

After waiting a while the I-Landers stood at the sound of the egg turning, meaning the new I-Landers were here. “Hello!” “We're here!” they shouted, happy to be joining I-Land. Roza and Nari screamed in excitement at the sight of Jihyun. “Omg Jihyun!” The three girls, happy to have all three unit members back in I-Land.

Shortly after sitting down and talking the screen flashed and they were presented with their new mission. It explained the mission and fire by BTS started playing in the background. “Wait, we're gonna perform fire?” “omg!” A video showing the dance and parts started playing, with a big dance break at the end. Everyone is now extra nervous. “This is gonna stress me out…” Roza whispered. “We’ll do fine.” K reassured her. “Please now decide your parts. Parts can be changed at any time.” the voice said over the speaker.

The Grounders didn't waste any time, sitting in a circle going around and deciding what parts to assign to who, each taking turns doing the dance break. After they sat and talked about the parts again, with Jay getting the center part and Niki getting the second part. It then cut to the I-Landers, who all decided Heeseung would be perfect for the center part.

The remaining I-Landers talked about who should get the second part, they decided on K who was also great at dancing. The remaining parts were divided out and they made their way back up to the living quarters. The new I-Lander’s excited to be back. Checking the item room and seeing the new phones and earbuds. “Omg these are perfect!” Sooyoung screeched, Sunghoon laughing at her.

The trainees now had time to rest and chat to each other. “The Ground was so bad, Unnie. You don't even wanna imagine it.” Jihyun whined to Roza. “Was it really that bad?” Sooyoung questioned. “We only had one ipad to share. And it's so cold and dark. The worst!” Jihyun dramatically yelled. Roza and Nari laugh at her demise. “Well I'm glad you're back this week.” Roza patting Jihyun’s hair. “I knew you missed me.” she winked. “Oh shut up..” Roza laughed, rolling her eyes.

Food was then set up in the kitchen and all 20 I-Landers went out to eat. “This is so good, I love pizza!” Sooyoung said with the biggest smile on her face. Roza laughed as she looked up at Jihyun, her cheeks full of food. “Slow down, Jihyun.” “She looks like a chipmunk.” Heeseung laughed. “Cute..” Jungwon whispers.

After resting and eating both the I-Landers and Grounders started learning the dance for the upcoming mission. Both groups faced hardships, the Grounders struggling to find the balance between leading and arguing and the I-Landers not having great teamwork and the newer I-Landers finding it hard learning on their own.

After practicing and getting most of the routine down the I-Landers and the Grounders continued to practice throughout the week. Going through the choreo time and time again until they felt exhausted. Which had left Roza feeling light headed. As the I-Landers decided to go through the choreo one more time, Roza tripped and twisted her ankle.

The others quickly showed concern as she tried to fight back tears. “Hey, you okay?” Sunghoon whispered while checking on her. “Yeah, fine…”. Roza felt her cheeks go red, sudden embarrassment washing over her. She didn't know why but she felt like she just let the team down by getting injured. She quickly stood up and rushed to the bathroom excusing herself.

After sitting in the bathroom for a couple minutes, a soft knock on the door ripped Roza out of her thoughts. “Unnie, are you okay?” Jihyun’s quiet voice called. “Yeah, I'm fine…” Roza mumbled. Jihyun peaked her face in and eyes softened at Roza’s tear stained face. “Unnie, you idiot. Why are you crying?” Roza laughed as Jihyun settled next to her.

“I don't even remember. I think I'm just stressed out by everything…” “I can guarantee you're not the only one. It's very obvious everyone is stressed, it's getting to our heads.” Roza watched as she rambled on. “How are you so wise? I'm supposed to be the older wise one.” Roza giggled as Jihyun eyed her. “You can't have all the wisdom, unnie.” “yeah, whatever… I think I'm ready to go back.” both girls getting up and rejoining practice.

Both teams continued practicing until it was time for the actual performance. All the I-Landers were nervous, unsure how many of them would get to stay in I-Land. All the Grounders waited and watched as they took the stage.

“Uhhh, my heart literally feels like it's gonna jump out of my chest…” Sooyoung whispered as they made their way to the stage. “It's okay, we just gotta work together. We got this.” Roza’s hand slipped into Sooyoung’s. “Yeah, totally…” Sooyoung sighed, still doubting herself. The I-Landers got on stage ready to perform and the music began as they danced together.

[lyracarvahall]

HeartBeat Sync PART 2

Chapter 2: Once In a Lifetime

What this proposition turned out to be involved a trip to Dallas, which thankfully Y/N was self-employed so getting time off was definitely doable. While her family thought that she simply worked from home, her music and writing of smutty romance novels has gotten her by.

Lexi accompanied her on this journey with a smug look on her face the entire time. They made their way to the airport lounge. They had a private jet awaiting them, much as Y/N tried to protest Eden’s investment. He insisted, however, that this would prevent delays since they had to make it in time for the show. Lexi wiggled her eyebrows as they entered the luxurious room.

Y/N scoffed. “Nothing to celebrate Lexi. Just a meeting. Don’t get excited.”

The smile did not fade a millimeter from her best friend’s face.

“Nothing to celebrate yet.” Lexi plopped down lazily in the airport lounge chair.

“I am still upset Lexi. I know you meant well but this could blow up in my face. I had a way I wanted to go about this and you forced me to expose myself.”

“Girl I know. I will never be able to say sorry enough. It will be made up to you once Eden offers you a job.”

Before Y/N could further argue the issue, a gentleman approached the pair. “Miss Y/N L/N and Alexia Thurgood, correct?”

Y/N subconsciously shrank away a little bit with the fact she was recognized. “Yeeeeees?”

“Apologies ladies.” A faint Irish accent could be heard from the tall and lanky gentleman. “I am Liam and I am to accompany you to your jet. Your pilot Minjun is awaiting you on the runway.” Lexi gasped wide-eyed, then shaking her head and hurrying to grab her belongings.

Quickly setting her drink down, and then nervously picking it up again to place a coaster under it, Y/N gathered her bags and followed Liam. The man had already turned on his heel and was heading towards the lounge exit. A few people eyed the girls with curiosity and Y/N shrank her face further into her hoodie.

After following the man through a large set of double doors and making their way through a concrete hallway (which totally would be the perfect place to KILL someone), they exited to the tarmac. Loud sounds from the engines and the employees wheeling luggage were very overwhelming and Y/N found herself hurrying past Liam to the small jet parked in front of them.

The side door slowly opened, revealing a set of stairs. At this time, Liam and Lexi caught up to Y/N. Everyone awkwardly stood around as the stairs slowly lowered, Liam and Lexi seemed particularly distant. Once the stairs lowered, Liam attempted to grab Lexi’s bag but she swiftly grabbed it back from him. “I’ve got it thank you.”

This wasn’t like Lexi at all so Y/N definitely needed some answers. She followed her best friend to one of the sets of seats facing each other with a polished oak table in-between them.

“The hell is going on with you Lexi? That was kind of rude…”

“You let a man do one thing for you and they expect you to fall under heel. That shouldn’t be the case, no matter what may try to make you say otherwise.”

At this point Liam passed the pair and set himself up at the back of the plane, quickly making a phone call, carding his fingers through his dark hair anxiously. Probably needed to let his boss know that the target had been acquired. He looked tired now, the friendly façade fading away to show another man clocked in to a job.

“Look Lexi, I know you are a strong and capable woman, but don’t be a bitch. Dude was just doing his job.”

“Ok fiiiiiine. I will apologize to him later. Eventually.”

“That’s the bestie I know and love.” Y/N smiled and squeezed Lexi’s hand.

Y/N took this time to look out the window and contemplate the events of the last couple of days. How had she ended up here? What was going to happen with her music? Was she going to make a fool out of herself in front of Eden. This just seemed like a bigger risk the more she thought about it. Her leg  jumped up and down with the anxiety.

“Y/N stop it. Everything will be fine. Stop being a nervous ninny.” Lexi looked up from filing her nails and raised a well-shaped eyebrow.

“You don’t know that!” Y/N said with a quiver to her voice.

“No, but I know the more you DO worry about it, the worse you will make it for yourself.”

“I hate it when you are right.” Y/N sighed and sank further into the leather seat.

“No you don’t. It is why you keep me around.” Lexi laughed at Y/N’s sulking and after no further exchange, she went back to filing her nails and turned her airpods on.

Realizing there was no further discussion to be had, Y/N went to look at her social media feeds for the first time in 48 hours. She had had to already block her parents’ numbers as well as her sister’s after a few degrading texts. Apparently they had heard about her identity reveal from a member of their church group. Y/N wasn’t nationwide news but somehow they had still found out.

Honestly Y/N wasn’t surprised and needed to finally have a reason to cut them off. She was tired of having to be someone she wasn’t just to keep them off her back. If there was one good thing to come out of this whole situation, it was that. Hopefully it was all worth it so she would show them she could do this. That she wasn’t too old, or too fat.

Logging into Instagram she saw a lot of new follows and message requests. Deciding she was not ready for all of the possible negativity in her messages and comments, she decided the followers was a safer way to dip a toe in the water, so to speak. There were over 4000 new followers. Quickly scrolling through them, she halted when she saw Eden-ary’s official account as well as a couple of other well known producers. All this attention made Y/N squeamish and dreading that there may be even more to come. These rambling thoughts lead her to a fitful rest, which lasted until the jet landed with a thud onto the runway.

Liam made a hurried escape off the aircraft once the plane came to a stop, mumbling that the girls needed to follow him. Y/N didn’t know what caused his change in attitude but she quickly grabbed her stuff and proceeded to follow him to avoid upsetting him further. This was going to be interesting….

=========================================

Sorry that Not much happened in this chapter but I promise next chapter will be eventful…perhaps with a fateful meeting or two 😉

Part 3 Here!

[thedarkestgreys]

for the hundred assorted prompts:

59

59. A fresh manicure and bruised knuckles

💅🏻🥊💋💅🏻🥊💋💅🏻🥊💋💅🏻🥊💋 💅🏻🥊💋

Fezco’s pretty sure the last time he found a rager actually enjoyable - with the exception of the night he beat Nate Jacobs ugly ass mug in - was back when he was sixteen, nearly seventeen. He’d only been selling at parties for maybe three months, and not hittin’ ‘em up every weekend at that point ‘cause he didn’t have the supply to meet the demand an’ hated leavin’ Ash home alone for more than a few hours at a time.

It was the first time he met Rue - a scrawny fourteen year old with tight braids who snuck into a high school party a few weeks before freshman year started. She was looking for weed, and someone sent her his way. He took pity on the kid, instantly knowing she’d never smoked before, and offered to teach her how. He’d ended up flying in the process, more cross faded than he’d ever been in his life, laughing his ass off with this weirdly manic teenage girl he barely knew in the back room of some rich asshole's house.

But nah, getting high as a motherfuckin’ kite wasn’t the stand out moment for him. That shit belongs solely to none other than Lexi Howard herself, Rue’s faithful best friend who followed her to that party like a puppy and got ditched in the crowd in favor of Rue chasing her high. It mighta been the first time that shit happened, but it sure as fuck wasn’t the last.

The five foot sumn brunette had hunted them down in the back room, all self righteous indignation as she stood with her fists on her hips and berated Rue for running off without her and smoking weed with, direct quote here, “some druggie.” Deep in his high Fezco mighta been, but part of him kinda wanted the pretty girl to turn her anger on him. Despite the braces adorning her teeth and the impeccably white Keds on her feet, he could tell Lexi Howard (whose name he’d learn months later) was a force to be reckoned with and the dumb, horny teenage boy part of his brain really wanted to see if she was all bark and no bite.

Several long years and incredibly stupid choices later, he’s kinda regretting that. ‘Cause at least when Lexi was givin’ Rue the third degree, she was too afraid to use cuss words out loud. Seventeen year old Lexi has a much more colorful vocabulary.

“Goddamnit Fezco,” Lexi half shouts, eyes blazing as her hair swings around her shoulders. “Who the fuck do you think you are? I know you have a temper but Jesus Christ, you cannot just start swinging on every fucking guy who shows the tiniest bit of interest in me because you’re such a fucking masochist that you won’t date me yourself!”

“Ain’t like that Lex.”

They’re stuffed into a too small bathroom in some fuckin’ pool house, Lexi having half dragged him in here to clean him up (and yell at him apparently) after the dude he traded blows with was pulled into the main house by his friends.

Lexi scoffs, looking through cabinets for a first aid kit. “Oh okay. Then tell me what it is like Fezco. Because you cannot keep doing this fucking shit to me. This is the second time you’ve gotten into it at a party with the guy I’m attending it with, and for the life of me I cannot figure any other common denominator beside myself.”

He huffs roughly through his nose, disgruntled at the whole thing. It ain’t his fault Lexi has shit taste in dudes an’ someone’s gotta teach ‘em how to be respectful. Finally Lexi locates the first aid kit, pulling the white box out from a cabinet before placing it on the ledge of the sink. The thing is a little dusty but thankfully pretty well stocked, which is good considering Fez has split no less than three knuckles on his left hand and all four on his right.

Quietly Lexi gets to work, opening up antiseptic wipes and arranging her supplies of bandages and tape. In all the months that their friendship had teetered on the line of sumn more, he can’t recall her ever cleaning him up after a fight or when a deal went south and he needed to use his fists to fight his way out. Maybe she had watched him? But nah, that ain’t right either - he was careful ‘but when he let her come around back then and fresh outta collecting wasn’t one of ‘em times.

Distantly he remembers her tellin’ him about her pops being scrappy. But shit, she woulda just been a kid when Gus was around.

A soft hand sporting a fresh manicure (he can tell by the longer than normal length - it had Maddy Perez’s handiwork written all over it) tugs at his own bruised and beaten fingers. Reluctantly (only sorta) Fezco lets Lexi get to work, cleaning off the drying blood as she throws used wipes in the bin.

“I don’t understand,” she finally says. He can hear the frustration in her voice. “After you guys got raided and you missed the play, you told me I had you all wrong. That you just wanted to be my friend and you were sorry if I misunderstood your intentions.”

In his line of work, Fezco’s had to lie. A lot. And he’s fucking good at it too. But that lie? By far the biggest one he’s ever told.

“I did,” he gruffs, wincing as one of the knuckles begins to weep more blood as Lexi cleans it.

“Then why the fuck do you keep punching my dates?” Lexi asks, getting straight to the point. “Because when you said we could only be friends I was fine with that. I didn’t like it, but I did it anyway because I’d rather be your friend than your nothing.”

It was the selfless thing to do. Let the girl go so she didn’t get caught up in his shit. ‘Cept Lexi is still caught in his whirlwind ‘cause he ain’t that selfless, ya know? Selfishly asking to be her friend while harboring the secret that he’s definitely, most certainly in love with her.

“C’mon now Lex,” Fez murmurs, stepping just a touch closer, invading her space ‘cause he’s an asshole and maybe a lil bit a masochist like she said. “I ain’t ‘bout to let some guy talk all disrespectful ‘bout you within hearin’ distance of me. Not what friends do.”

Lexi levels him with a look. “You didn’t even tell me what Clinton said. Just called him a punk ass bitch and started swinging on him.”

“Jesus Lexi,” Fezco groans, tipping his head back to look at the ceiling. He’d wipe a hand down his face if he could bend his fingers right now. “Overheard this dude talkin’ ‘bout how he was gonna fuck the virgin outta you tonight. You happy?”

“Maybe I wanted him to do that,” Lexi snaps bitterly, causing him to drop his head back to look at her instantly. “Maybe I picked this guy to come here with tonight with the sole intention of letting him fuck the virgin out of me in the backseat of his car. And you ruined it by punching him in the fucking face!”

Shocked, Fezco pulls his tender hand away from the girl. “You kiddin’ me right now baby? Cause this shit ain’t funny, forreal.”

They both flinch at the pet name - he’s never used it before and right now seems like bad timing.

“No, what isn’t funny is you thinking you have some say over who I do or do not fuck when the only person I’ve ever really wanted to fuck is you, you big fucking dummy!” Lexi cries, throwing her hands into the air in frustration.

Honestly, she prolly has more to say, but Fezco doesn’t give her a chance to articulate none of it because the moment the words leave her mouth he’s on her like a dog in heat. His hands fuckin’ ache but it all melts away the moment he threads his fingers through Lexi’s hair, tugging her forward at the base of her skull as he crashes his mouth down on hers. It takes Lexi a second to catch up, but when she does she’s clutching his shoulders, dragging him closer as he wraps his hands around her thighs and lifting her up so her ass can perch on the too small bathroom sink.

Fezco touches Lexi everywhere. Clutching her thighs and skimming under her blouse, finding the hot skin of her midriff as Lexi’s own fingers explore his scalp and beard, pulling a long moan from the back of his throat. They’re breathing hard yet they can’t seem to stop kissing, tongues sweeping into each other's mouths, teeth nipping at lips and necks.

It’s so fuckin’ good that Fezco could kick himself for denying them both this for so long.

“Come home with me,” he half pants, half begs when they finally break apart. “I’ll give you a bed. Don’t needa fuck some dude in his car, I’ll make that shit so good it’ll ruin you for anyone else, swear to God. I’ll give you whatever the fuck you want baby, s’long as you come home with me.”

Breathing hard, Lexi rests her forehead against his, grinning wildly. “I’ll settle for having you.”

[acronym-chaos]

Ame-Chan Inspired ID Pack

[PT: Ame-Chan Inspired ID Pack].

[ID: A purple thin line divider shaded at the bottom. End ID].

Names

[PT: Names].

Ace, Angel, Ari, Arlo, Aura, Blair, Bliss, Bowie, Bree, Candy, Celine, Ciel, Coco, Cy, Dex, Dia, Dream, Drew, Echo, Ellie, Emi, Evie, Finley, Finn, Gaia, Gray, Harley, Haze, Indie, Ivy, Jade, Jay, Joss, Juno, Kai, Leo, Lexi, Lila, Luca, Luna, Lux, Lyra, Max, Melody, Micah, Mint, Mira, Nami, Neo, Pax, Poppy, Rain, Raya, Ren, Riley, Selene, Skye, Star, Tate, Tessa, Venus, Vivi, Zane, Zara, Zia

Pronouns

[PT: Pronouns].

Ache / Aches / Aches, Anx / Anxi / Anxies [Anxiety], Cli / Click / Clicks, Cry / Cries / Cries, Emo / Emote / Emotes, Fame / Famous / Famous', Gloom / Glooms / Glooms, Live / Lives / Lives, Lol / Lols / Lols, Pani / Panic / Panics, Pos / Post / Posts, Sca / Scar / Scars, Scre / Scream / Screams, Sna / Snap / Snaps, Twee / Tweet / Tweets, Vi / Vibe / Vibes, Vie / View / Views

Titles

[PT: Titles].

The Anxious Dreamer, The Fragile Idol, The Glitching Star, The Heart That Craves Attention, The One Hiding Behind the Mask, The One Who Craves Attention, The One Who Fights [Pronoun] Own Mind, The Overloaded Streamer, The Queen/King/Monarch of Streams, The Star Who Fades in Isolation, The Stream’s Angel, [Pronoun] Who Can’t Log Off, [Pronoun] Who Dances on the Edge of Madness, [Pronoun] Who Needs More Followers

[ID: A purple thin line divider shaded at the bottom, end ID]

Requested by anon!

Also tagging: @id-pack-archive

[hd-junglebook]

Falling For It

Part 5

Hey...I am alive. This part is kind of mid buttttt at least it is finished, more jack content coming since I'm finishing up with school in two weeks.

Previous ... Next

Y/N sat with her friends at their favorite coffee spot, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach. Lexi's incessant complaints about Quinn were starting to grate on her nerves, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as she listened to her friend's woes.

"It's like he doesn't even care anymore," Lexi sighed, swirling her straw around in her drink with a frustrated look on her face. "I don't know what I did wrong."

Y/N exchanged a glance with Angie and Heather, who both rolled their eyes in unison. It wasn't the first time they'd heard Lexi lamenting about her relationship troubles, and they were starting to grow tired of the constant drama.

But before Y/N could interject, Lexi turned her attention to her, her eyes narrowing inquisitively. "So, what about you, Y/N? How's things going with Jack?"

Y/N felt her heart skip a beat at the mention of Jack's name, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a suitable response. She couldn't deny that things had been going well between them, but there was a nagging voice in the back of her mind telling her that it was too good to be true.

"Oh, you know, same old, same old," she replied casually with a shrug, hoping to deflect any further questions. "We're just taking things one step at a time."

Lexi wasn't so easily deterred, her probing questions becoming more persistent with each passing moment. And as Y/N felt the eyes of her friends boring into her, she couldn't help but wonder if there was more truth to Lexi's words than she cared to admit.

Lexi leaned in closer, her voice dripping with faux sincerity. "You know, Y/N, you're so lucky to have found someone like Jack. He's such a catch."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, a flicker of suspicion crossing her features as she studied Lexi's expression. There was something in her tone that set her on edge, a subtle hint of insincerity that sent alarm bells ringing in her mind.

"Oh, really?" Y/N replied, forcing a tight smile. "And what makes you say that?"

Lexi shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a glint of mischief in her eyes that Y/N couldn't ignore. "Oh, you know, just his charm, his good looks, his... appeal," she added with a sly grin. "I wouldn't be surprised if some other girl tried to snatch him away from you."

Y/N felt a surge of anger bubbling up inside her, but she forced herself to keep her composure. She knew that Lexi's words were meant to unsettle her, to plant seeds of doubt in her mind. But she refused to let her friend's petty jealousy ruin what she had with Jack.

With a steely resolve, Y/N plastered on a fake smile and brushed off Lexi's comments with a casual wave of her hand. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that trouble was brewing on the horizon. “If that’s what he wants to do but I don’t think that will happen anytime soon.”

…

Later that night y/n sat with Hugo on the couch, his purring lulling her into a state of comfort as they both watched ‘How to get away with murder.’ The noise from the TV faded into the background as her thoughts drifted back to Jack, his charming smile and magnetic personality.

He had been taking her out every week up until now and she couldn’t help the giddiness that spread into her body as she replayed their last encounter. Despite Lexi's snarky comments earlier in the day, she refused to let anything dampen her spirits.

A buzz near her leg caught her attention momentarily, y/n sprung up and snatched her phone unlocking it to see Jacks name on her phone. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she read his message, the warmth of his words sending a flutter through her chest.

"Come out to the bar with us tonight," the text read, simple yet inviting.

She twiddled her fingers as she thought of a text to send back. Before she could even type out a reply, another message from Jack appeared on the screen.

Another buzz vibrated her hands as he sent another one. "I'll give you a big hug," he added, a playful tease laced in his words.

With a satisfied grin, she hit send on her message and tossed her phone aside, the thought of seeing him again tonight filled her with a warm anticipation, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude for the unexpected invitation.

…

Y/N stepped into the bustling bar, the cacophony of voices and clinking glasses washed over her, mingling with the pulsating beat of the music. She navigated through the sea of people, her eyes scanning the crowded room in search of familiar faces just like last time.

The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and sweat, punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter and chatter. Neon lights flickered overhead, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the dimly lit space as she made her way through the throng.

Her gaze landed on a familiar figure tucked away in the corner of the room. Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted Lexi and Jack engrossed in conversation, their heads bent close together in hushed conversation.

Every step brought her closer to him, her heart pounding in her chest as she drew nearer to the corner where they sat. Lexi's laughter rang out through the crowded bar, her voice carrying a hint of flirtatiousness that set Y/N's teeth on edge.

As she approached, she caught snippets of their conversation, the sound of their laughter mingling with the pulsating beat of the music. Y/N's eyes flickered to Jack's back, his broad shoulders blocking her view of his face. Lexi's voice floated over to her, laced with a playful charm that made Y/N's skin crawl.

"Jack, you're such a riot," Lexi laughed, her hand resting casually on his arm as she leaned in closer. "I could listen to your stories all night."

Y/N's jaw tightened at the sight, her stomach churning with a mixture of frustration and jealousy. She forced a tight smile, her fingers curling into fists at her sides as she struggled to keep her composure.

 Jack's eyes lit up as he spotted her, a warm smile spreading across his face as he rose to greet her. "Sorry I'm late," Y/N interjected, her voice tinged with forced cheerfulness as she forced herself to meet Lexi's gaze. "Traffic was a nightmare."

Lexi's smile widened at her arrival, a glint of mischief dancing in her eyes as she turned her attention back to Jack. "Oh, don't worry about it," she replied, her tone dripping with honeyed sweetness. "We were just getting acquainted, weren't we, Jack?"

Y/N's heart sank at the implication, a surge of frustration bubbling up inside her. She clenched her jaw, her nails digging into the palms of her hands as she fought to keep her emotions in check. With a forced smile, she turned her attention to Jack, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for his response.

Jack noticed Lexi lingering, her eyes fixed on him with a hint of desperation. Ignoring her completely, he turned back to Y/N with a charming smile. "Hey, would you like to dance?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine interest as he extended his hand to her.

"I'd love to,” she answered.

His hands, warm and comforting, found their way to her shoulders, his fingers working their magic as he massaged away the knots of stress that had been building up all evening.

She couldn't help but sigh in relief, the weight of the world lifting off her shoulders as she leaned into his touch. His closeness, the warmth of his body pressed against hers, sent shivers of anticipation coursing through her veins.

"Better?" Jack murmured, his voice low and husky as he leaned in closer, his breath tickling her ear.

Y/N let out a soft chuckle, the tension that had been coiled tight within her chest slowly unraveling in his presence. "Much better," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned to face him, their eyes locking in a heated gaze.

With a sly grin, Jack took her hand in his, his touch sending electric currents dancing across her skin. "Good," he murmured, his voice filled with a hint of mischief as he pulled her closer, their bodies swaying in time with the music.

Their banter was playful, filled with teasing jabs and flirtatious remarks that left them both breathless with laughter. "You're quite the dancer, Y/N," Jack remarked, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he spun her around, their movements fluid and effortless.

Y/N grinned up at him, her heart pounding in her chest as she twirled under his guidance. "And you're not too bad yourself, Jack," she teased, Y/n leaned in closer, their faces inches apart.

As they lost themselves in the rhythm of the music, Y/N couldn't help but feel a sense of liberation wash over her. In Jack's arms, she felt free, unburdened by the weight of the world as they moved together in perfect harmony.

They were joined by the rest of the group, swirling around them in a whirlwind of laughter and joy. Lexi, in her eagerness to join the fun, accidentally bumped into Y/N, causing her to stumble and spill her drink all over Y/N's dress.

Y/N froze, her eyes widening in disbelief as the cold liquid seeped through the fabric, soaking her to the skin. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Lexi exclaimed, her voice tinged with feigned panic as she reached out to dab at the stain with a napkin.

But Y/N didn't hear her apologies, her mind consumed with frustration and anger as she turned on her heel and stormed off towards the bathroom, desperate to escape the eyes of onlookers and regain her composure.

The dimly lit hallway provided a welcome respite from the noise and chaos of the bar, the cool tiles beneath her feet a stark contrast to the heat of the crowded dance floor. Y/N took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, her dress clinging to her skin in damp patches.

She reached for a handful of paper towels, dabbing at the stain with shaky hands as she tried to salvage what was left of her ruined dress. But no amount of wiping could erase the humiliation and frustration that gnawed at her insides, her mind replaying the events of the evening over and over again in an endless loop.

Taking a moment to collect herself, Y/N straightened her shoulders and squared her jaw, determined not to let Lexi's carelessness ruin her night. With a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped back into the dimly lit hallway, ready to face whatever the night had in store for her.

She approached the booth where they were sat, she could hear the murmur of their voices, punctuated by bursts of laughter and animated gestures. Taking her place by Jack's side, Y/N couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as she settled into her seat, her fingers instinctively intertwining with his.

The group seemed to be deep in conversation, their voices rising and falling in a steady rhythm as they discussed their plans for the rest of the evening.

Quinn and Nico were engaged in a spirited debate, their voices growing increasingly heated as they argued back and forth. But Jack's touch was a soothing balm, his grip firm and reassuring as he squeezed her hand gently, his eyes meeting hers with a silent understanding.

Quinn leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he addressed the group. "Alright, so here's the plan," he began, "We can just go to our lake house. For some ya know late night fun"

Nico raised an eyebrow, a skeptical expression crossing his face. "And what exactly does 'late-night fun' entail?" he asked, his tone laced with amusement.

Quinn grinned, shooting Nico a playful wink. "Oh, you know, the usual—bonfires, music, maybe a little bit of skinny-dipping if we're feeling adventurous," he replied, his words met with a chorus of laughter from the group.

Lexi nudged Y/N, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Sounds like it's going to be quite the party," she remarked, her tone teasing as she glanced over at Jack.

Y/N rolled her eyes, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "Oh, I'm sure it will be," she quipped, shooting Jack a knowing look.

The conversation continued around them, Jack leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, "Let's go." His words sent a shiver down her spine, a thrill of anticipation coursing through her veins as she nodded in agreement.

With a quick glance at her friends, Jack's hand firmly in hers as they made their way towards the exit.

…

The lake house stood nestled among towering trees, its wooden facade blending seamlessly with the surrounding nature. She marveled at the tranquility of the setting, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of pine and the distant sound of birdsong adding to the serene atmosphere. She took a moment to soak it all in before Jack's footsteps approached from behind.

"Hey," Jack greeted, a warm smile gracing his features as he joined her by the edge of the lake.

"Hey," Y/N replied, returning his smile, feeling a flutter of excitement in her chest. Together, they wandered towards the lake house, their footsteps crunching softly on the gravel path. Y/N's cheeks flushed in embarrassment as Jack's hand found the small of her back, guiding her closer to him.

The wooden structure loomed before them, its windows reflecting the shimmering surface of the lake. Jack led Y/N inside, and she found herself in awe of the rustic charm of the interior.

Their tour culminated in Jack's room on the second floor, a cozy retreat with a panoramic view of the lake. Y/N's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight, the tranquil waters stretching out before her in a mesmerizing tableau.

"This is amazing," she breathed, turning to Jack with a smile.

"I'm glad you like it," Jack replied, his voice was soft, filled with warmth. His eyes sparkling as he led her to the window. Together, they stood in silence, gazing out at the serene landscape, the soft lapping of waves against the shore providing a soothing backdrop.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still, and Y/N found herself lost in the depth of Jack's gaze, a warmth spreading through her veins.

“I really like you y/n.” He said softly, his lips softly trailing down to the side of her neck before whispering. Y/N felt her heart swell with affection for this person who had captured her attention and her heart.

“Tell me to stop.” His grip tightened on her hips as she continued to stare outside the window. His kisses became more eager, becoming more passionate as he pulled y/n closer to his body.

A gasp escaped her lips causing jack to smirk, his hands creeping up to her back. Y/n looked up to meet his eyes not caring about her doubts anymore. “Kiss me,” she whispered. Jack’s lips met hers in a rush, y/n could no longer breathe due to the intensity.

Her breath was caught in her throat as jack wrapped his hands around her thighs and lifted her, slowly carrying her to the bed facing the window.

He dropped her down on the plump mattress before shrugging off his jacket. Y/n watched from her position, hungrily eyeing his figure hidden by the white shirt he was wearing.

He crawled back between her legs, her heart pounded at the sight of him so close in the intimate position. “Tell me to stop.” He begged practically, Y/n shook her head no, placing her hands in his hair while he gazed at her.

She trailed her nails down his torso, eyeing his body in the dim light of the room. His hands slide down to her hips and squeeze once more before moving a little lower to her thighs. “Why are u acting so scared Jack” y/n questioned teasingly.

"Scared?" He laughed at the comment as he caressed the smooth skin of her thighs a bit harder. "You think I'm scared of you?"

“I think you’re scared of what I can show you. How good I can be,” she tilted her head, meeting his gaze with a soft smile.

"Is that right?" He chuckled, the sound low and intimate.

Abruptly, Ang and Jesper walk in, interrupting the moment. “Oh jack, you guys should uhm come out and see everyone downstairs. They’re all waiting for you” she says with a smirk to jack. They both giggle as they close the door and leave the room in a rush.

Jacks smile quickly turns to a scowl. He leans back over y/n and whispers, “I’m not finished with you.” His hand runs down her face and caresses her cheek before he walks out of the room, leaving y/n to sit there shocked and speechless. She ran her fingers over her bruised lips, letting a small giggle out.