#Quicken Technical Support Number

[ambrosialdesire]

down boy, down

18+ DARK CONTENT BELOW, MINORS + BLANK BLOGS DNI

pairing: gorou x fem!reader word count: 6.5k warnings + tags: general yandere and obsessive themes, explicit sexual content, unhealthy relationships, kinda pwp, slight misogyny, dubcon, edging, male masturbation, heat (rut), knotting, breeding, innocent virgin (for now) & pervert gorou, mentions of panty stealing, brief sub gorou (he's just insanely horny), begging, degradation sorta, religious guilt implications, power imbalance/abuse of power, corruption (kinda, it's just yae miko is just nudging him), all characters are 18+ synopsis: generals are supposed to be the prime example of rigorous restraint and complete self-discipline, but this doggy general can't control himself when your presence is around. gorou feel like he's losing his mind with the way his thoughts only contain the need to completely breed you and it's getting worse as time goes on. a/n: yes i can write something else besides aot lolol some terms are not officially in-game (mostly the military terminologies) and some parts of the lore i sorta forgot because its been so long since i played inazuma's story. i tried as best as i could to fill in. there's not a lot of yandere gorou so i wanted to try my hand at it. this is technically my first smut fic in a while so apologies in advanced if it's bad (i'm terrible at dirty talk cause it's so awkward to write lol). in my mind, he has scars, muscles (but not super super defined ones), and is slightly taller than his in-game model. i wanted to try and write in the guy's perspective cause it may or may not be a practice for some incoming fics hehe enjoy!! note: please keep in mind of the tags above and do not proceed if triggering or uncomfortable, especially if you are a minor!! do not read my or any other writers' dark content if you are underaged. this is a fictional work and does not reflect irl morals, do not believe this is how a real romance works or functions.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ.───

For Archons' sake, Gorou's a general.

Someone who has the respect of all that he swore to protect. He's the supposed "top-dog" soldier of Watatsumi Island. He built his reputation from the ground up, spent years upon years training himself to be the best soldier on the island. He's the number one supporter of Sangonomiya Kokomi, the Divine Priestess who entrusted him with leading her army safely through the throes of this terrible war. He's been told he was a humble leader, a man of sincere righteousness, a good person.

Internally, he knew that everyone had it all wrong about him.

They don't know that this man, this soldier, had become a disgusting degenerate of an animal.

Sick, sick thoughts filled his mind when the nights grew quiet and the bonfires outside had soon slowly burned out. The innate want — no, need — to breed, consistently grew stronger with each passing night; it was a genetic predisposition that he felt like he had been cursed with. If he thought about it for too long, he could feel himself harden and strain against the restraints of his garments. He'd get himself to the point where he'd slowly palm himself, his body growing warm and his breathing quickening, but he'd never finish. It was frustrating from the way he'd get oh so close but he just couldn't cum, no matter how much his cock was twitching or how much his tip was leaking out precum.

It was too shameful, too scandalous.

Gorou wasn't always like this. For the longest time, his urges had always been easy to control. His mind had always been focused on battle positioning plans and extreme training regimes, anything to get the upper hand against the Tenryou Commission. It was like everything in him was suddenly rewired the day you joined the ranks.

Usually it was not his place to oversee newcomers, the lower ranked captains were assigned for that position. However, Her Excellency wanted him to train this group of newbies this time around. She told him that it was the utmost emergency, resources and people were running low and she needed time to gather more support. Gorou would never refuse her request so he obeyed her command, preparing himself with speeches and strategies.

Very few people were willing to go up against the Shogunate and her powerful army; he was the one that had to inspire them and ensure that their minds were set for fighting for what was right. They had to fight, not only for the island but for the people who were currently being persecuted in the Inazuma mainland.

As he approached the training area while reading over the speech, he stopped dead in his tracks. A light scent, almost a sweet floral, lingered in the air. It was a complete contrast against the sweat and dirt so he followed after it, his eyes finally landing on you.

You were sparring with one of the other newbies, pinning him to the ground while laughing. You held your own well, the man was twice your size and there he laid in a dazed confusion. His tail fluffed up as he watched you get up and stretch, the disheveled training uniform pulling up and revealing the smooth skin of your stomach.

He felt himself swallow nervously as you noticed his presence, your body stiffening and going into the position of standing at attention. You were the only one to do so, the others scrambling to copy your actions as they finally realized he was watching them.

It was rare to see women in Watatsumi Island or in the village, much less so his age. Most of them either were dedicated shrine maidens, women who were already happily married, or the elderly taking care of their grandchildren while their parents worked outside of the island. To see you was quite a surprise, especially since the other trainees that surrounded you were all men. There was a small handful of resistance soldiers that were the opposite sex, all working alongside Her Excellency as her advisors.

Gorou had to regain his thoughts, trying to shake out your smell out of his head. He began to speak, slowly pacing back and forth as he recited the whole trainee speech in verbatim, finally turning towards them and saluting a dismissal. The crowd saluted in return, soon dispersing to carry out other assigned duties and he opened his communication box to send back a message to Kokomi when all of the sudden, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

It was the flower-smelling soldier, you. He tried not to stare at you while he was talking but your scent was so enticingly distracting, he couldn't help but take a few glances. You were even prettier up close, the particular aroma was even stronger as you stood in front of him.

"General Gorou sir." You saluted quickly, your posture unwavering. You positioned quite well for a starting soldier, color him impressed.

"At ease. Do you need anything—?" He didn't know your name yet, lightly trailing off. You seemed to catch on with his hesitancy, perking up immediately.

"L/N. Private Y/N L/N. And yes General sir, I would like to ask when will we be doing weapon and hand-to-hand combat training."

"In a few weeks. The skills that we will be teaching this week is all physical activity training. It's quite necessary. It would be pretty embarrassing running down the battlefield and falling just because your body can't hold up the armor." He heard you snort, your hands going over your mouth almost immediately. His face grew warm as he stared at you with wide eyes, your gaze casting itself to the ground.

"Sorry General sir, I couldn't help but laugh."

Gorou's tail started wagging, his hand immediately catching it before it could move any noticeably faster. With his other hand, he placed it on your shoulder and smiled.

"Please, you can just call me Gorou. I'm not fond of formalities when we aren't on the field." Your eyes lit up once more, that was the funny thing about newbies. They always look up to the more skilled seniors, especially if they were a high rank like him.

"Yes sir- Gorou." You corrected yourself quickly, causing him to chuckle. The two of you began to discuss, mostly small talk to fill up the time. It was supposed to be a professional conversation but the more he spoke with you, the more personal he wanted to be. The two of you were soon interrupted however, you were needed by one of the captains. He quickly dismissed you, not wanting for you to get any bad first impressions from his colleagues. He didn't realize that his tail had drooped down low when you disappeared from view, the fur flattened down completely.

As the weeks went by, you proved to be a diligent and hardworking soldier, carrying out tasks with no complaints. During his observations, you rarely had any struggle keeping up with the men, not that it mattered in the first place. You were more nimble than most during close combat and you did better with a polearm than a bow or sword. During those weeks of training, he was only observing you. He swore it wasn't stalking, God forbid.

It was innocent at first, what he thought about you. He liked you, he usually liked all of his subordinates but something felt different about you. Was it because you were the only woman in the ranks at the moment? He wasn't like this around Her Excellency nor her advisors, but that was completely out of respect. Didn't he respect you?

The realization hit him when he saw your hair down one night while making his rounds around the camp. You were returning from the bathhouse, most likely bathing after all the men so you could have the well-needed privacy.

You spotted him first, waving a hand from afar. He only noticed when the floral scent hit him, barely smelling the hint of soap along with it. He finally became aware of the fact that your hair was still damp, pooling down over your shoulders. The moonlight bore down on you, giving you a glow that was absolutely breathtaking and then you smiled.

You smiled and everything suddenly felt tight in his body, as if he was being restrained by his own skin.

Gorou was lucky that it was nighttime and he was a distance away. Any closer and you would have been able to see how red his face had gotten. He'd only seen your hair up, a military standard that must be followed for all who had a hair length that went past their shoulders, so to see you like this left him dumbfounded. He quickly waved back and jogged off to his housing early, feeling his heart beat hard in his chest as he shut the door harder than it needed to.

He went over to sit on his bed, doubling over as he clutched a fist over his chest. His body was warming up and it felt like he couldn't breathe, only able to take in quick, sharp inhales. His mind felt like it was all over the place but still was able to only focus on one thing: you.

It was unethical with what he was feeling. He could only remind himself that he is a general — a rank higher than most — and here he was, thinking about a private. You looked up to him, you were supposed to because he was your leader, your guidance in this kind of world. Yet the way you gazed at him with complete adoration and fascination, the way you cheered praises at him when he showed off during sparring, it was getting to him when it shouldn't. Others had done the same but when it came to you, he just couldn't have enough.

Gorou's body felt like it was on fire and he moved to lay down, wincing when he finally noticed that he was hard. This never happened, this never happens. Maybe he could just sleep it off. In the morning, all of this would be gone. These... feelings.

He couldn't relieve himself. If he touched himself and came, it would be considered a sin. He had no room in his plans to visit the shrine maidens and confess something so innocuous. What would he even say? Forgive me, for I have thought and climaxed to one of my lower subordinates inappropriately. He'd prefer getting incapacitated by General Kujou Sara than say anything relating or similar to that.

He sat up and carefully removed his clothes, shuddering as the chilled air touched his bare skin. The bandages that he wore in his lower half were still intact but there was a definite outline of where his stiffened cock was being restrained. Fuck.

Gorou hesitantly went to trace his fingers along the outline, barely putting any pressure against it before he sharply inhaled, looking over and seeing that he reached the tip. It felt good, the wrappings were thinner than he originally thought. Shame soon shadowed over him, his hand retracting to his side and clenching the once-neatly made sheets. He shouldn't be doing this at all. Not when the origin of this came from a subordinate, a subordinate he shouldn't be thinking of in the first place.

He laid back down and shut his eyes tight, ignoring the panging throbs that were tempted to be relieved. He wouldn't let this issue bother him, so long as he can endure it. If he started something he would regret, then may the fallen god Orobaxi strike him down mercilessly.

Days turned into weeks and then into months. No matter how much he slept it off, tossing and turning restlessly in his bed, he was never able to get you out of his mind. He tried to avoid you as well, attempting to limit the interactions to important business only but it seemed that luck had never been on his side to begin with.

It was you who was always initiating, asking if your form is right as you held up the polearm in a perfect defensive stance, making him come to you and press his body against yours to fix your positioning. It was you who was always questioning whether or not a planned attack was coming soon, eyes lighting up as he mentioned a hint of any sort of battle. It was always you. Even when he was trying to map out positions on where a possible vantage point could be in his housing, he'd hear you approach the door and question him about what was arranged for tomorrow.

Some days, he wouldn't let you in. Gorou would tell you that he's busy at the moment and like a good little soldier, you obeyed his request and began to speak behind the barrier. What you didn't know was that his hand was pressing against his bulge as you spoke, biting his lip as he tried to keep himself quiet. His high morals always bit at him, making it so he could never bring himself to finish, a painful shame bleeding into the depths of his soul.

Whenever he heard your voice, it was like something was injected into his veins every single time you spoke to him. Your smell was even worse for him, his tail curling whenever you passed by him. And those eyes, God those eyes. Staring at him like he was the light of your life, turning into little half moons whenever you smiled at him. Everything about you ignited something truly terrible within him and he was addicted, the feverish heat never truly going away as you finally left his doorstep.

Her Excellency was worried about his change of state, telling him that he can take a break if he needed one. She noticed the sweat pool and drip down his flushed out and dazed face, even when the weather was fair and he barely moved an inch besides the occasional shuffle of his legs and tail. He couldn't, he wouldn't, not when the war was still going on. What would she think if he confessed to her about what he was doing to the thought of one of her soldiers?

You were a compelling distraction. A small bump in the road, a large sinkhole that he was struggling to get out of, slipping in deeper with every miserable attempt. The constant arousal and burning heat had diverted his busy mentality, only focusing on how his cock was aching and stirring for any sort of release. It was to the point where he started missing out on his other job, papers and requests piling up on his desk until his incompetence began to not go unnoticed.

‘•.¸♡ ♡¸.•’'•.¸♡ ♡¸.•’'•.¸♡ ♡¸.•’

"My, my, my. I haven't smelled this kind of scent in years, no wonder my best writer has been slacking in his duties." A disappointed but amused tut had Gorou's tail bristling from the sound of a familiar voice, ears flicking and head turning towards the now-opened door. A decorative fan hid her face but he knew all too well who it was based on the red-colored shrine maiden outfit and the long muted pink hair.

"Lady Guuji! You're not supposed to be here on enemy lines." He got up from his desk and quickly closed the door behind her, nails digging into the wood as a pang of warmth ran through his body. Miko closed her fan and walked over to his desk, pushing and prodding papers around with it as she slightly clicked of her tongue. Shit, has he really been that distracted?

"Oh Gorou, as far as I know, the Grand Narukami Shrine sides with no one in this war. I just wanted to see why the aspiring Ms. Hina hasn't been sending over her column responses like usual, you know she's usually so punctual with her postings! But now, I can see — no — smell why." She sniffed the air once more, his cheeks growing redder by the second.

"It reeks of your rutting stench in here, would you be so kind and open up a window for me?"

He obeyed and barely cracked two of his windows open, his tail still puffed up with anxiety as she sighed with displeasure. "You can't just wait this out you silly little pup, you need a release in order for it to go away."

"Re... release?"

Miko blinked once then once more. As if she finally came to a realization, a smug smile grew, her purple eyes glowing with amusement. "Don't tell me this is your first rut, dear Gorou?"

Rut. He heard of it before, the desire to breed whoever his body had chosen as his sworn mate. His father had mentioned it long ago when he was a young teenager but he originally thought that he was excluded from the effects. Why did you have to pop up now, out of all times?

"I'm surprised that you haven't jumped on your beloved leader when it started, I must applaud you for the amount of self-control you have in yourself." Clapping her hands in false praise, he was tempted to snap back at his other boss for assuming that he would ever treat Her Excellency that way when a knock filled the room. Her attention was now at the front door, one of her ears twitching with interest.

"Afternoon Gorou! I have something I want to tell you, may I come in?" He wanted to tear his ears right out of his head, the same uncomfortable warmth bleeding through his skin like an infection. He could already feel the starting familiar stir within the confines of his bandages. He felt like screaming or crying, maybe even both.

Out of all times?! Miko made her way towards the door before he could realize it and nearly opened it, cracks of the outside sunlight peering through. His body collided with the heavy wooden door without him realizing how speedily he reached it, a startled and surprised cry coming out of the other side as he slammed it back shut. Fuck, you sounded so cute.

"Gorou? Are you alright?" You asked, concern lacing within your words and he chuckled internally, already imagining your eyebrows scrunching together.

"Y-yes, I'm fine! Sorry about that, I tripped on my... m-my rut— I mean my rug— yes, my r-rug." He winced afterwards, embarrassed of his unprofessional behavior. A stifled giggle was heard behind him and a low growl came out of him in return, blue eyes narrowed as he shot a look at the pink-haired kitsune.

"Um, okay. Is it fine for me to come in then?" He could feel his hard-on throb, the lack of touch and urge to be in something warm irritating him. Yet the Guuji was still in the room, waiting for him to be finished with this conversation, as much as he still wanted to talk to you. His forehead pressed against the door, eyes closed as he tried to imagine what you looked like behind there.

"No, sorry not today. I-I'm awfully busy, paperwork's been piling up." He was met with silence and then a soft sigh, the tip of his tail twitching.

"Oh. Okay, sorry to bother you again Gorou. I..." There was a light sound of shuffling and two turns, as if you had something else to say. "I'll — um — I'll ask you another day then. Good luck."

The sounds of dirt crushing under your boots slowly began to fade away and he finally let out a relieving sigh, laughter exploding behind him and suddenly all his nerves were on high once more.

"Hah! You haven't chosen the priestess, you chose a soldier. A nice smelling one at least. Why haven't you made your move huh? I'm losing precious Mora because of your interest in her." Miko teased, the sound of her sandals clicking on the floor as she moved around in the small space.

"First of all, I would be abusing my authority. I'd just be taking advantage of her and her respect towards me, God knows if she'd report me for being an absolute disgusting pervert." His fist clenched against the door, waiting for his body to calm down before he faced the fox yokai. Every little cell was begging for him to go and chase after you, to finally, finally claim you as his. A small voice of logic had still made its presence known however, whispering the futures of every consequence that could occur if he had chosen to follow his urges.

"Play your cards right then doggy, you have all the power and control compared to her. And it seems that your patience is waning thin." She ruffled through his bed and with the tips of her fingers, she carefully fished out a small piece of cloth from behind his pillow, a deep color of scarlet burning in his cheeks as he finally turned towards her.

It was an accident, he didn't mean to grab it when he was making his normal rounds. He wasn't supposed to be near the bathhouse but his thoughts were suddenly clouded with a searing appetite, one that he was unable to resist. He didn't even realize that he had grabbed the neatly folded white panty from the bench, his conscious suddenly clearing when the tip of his cock was messily spilling pre-cum all over it when he made it to his home.

Gorou snatched it from her and shoved it into his pocket, a furious snarl suddenly slipping through his bared teeth. He himself jumped at the sheer sound of it, putting another hand over his lips as Miko stared at him in shock before laughing once more.

"This is why I hired you, you keep surprising me general." She sighed pleasantly after, pretending to wipe a tear. She was extremely humored with his heinous actions, as if she didn't care at all that what he was doing was any short of shameful. Miko made her way finally out, her hand on the knob not before looking back at her underling.

"And Gorou?" He flinched, his shoulders tensed.

"Yes?"

"My advice is get rid of your rut, no matter what it takes. You don't want to hurt that little soldier, right? So get her in your bed before your instincts do."

‘•.¸♡ ♡¸.•’'•.¸♡ ♡¸.•’'•.¸♡ ♡¸.•’

Even if Miko had told him he should, Gorou couldn't bring himself to do it.

He had merely yielded, telling Her Excellency that he hadn't been feeling well recently and she agreed to let him sort himself through his "illness". She gave him some remedies and medicines, occasionally checking in on him when she wasn't busy planning. None of her treatments were working but she never gave up. News of him succumbing to a sudden sickness had spread through the ranks but their Divine Priestess had told them not to bother him while he was recovering, which he deeply appreciated.

He had locked himself in whenever she left, placing a chair against the knob to prevent any outsiders from entering and each of the windows were nailed shut. Even if he did open a window for a needed draft, he'd still be burning awfully hot. Plus, he didn't need the others to know why he was moaning and groaning in supposed pain. It sucked, everything about this sucked. Maybe if he had just a small taste of you, everything would go back to normal.

No. From the start, nothing about you was normal to him. Every time he thought about you, the heat would get worse and his already-sore dick would swell back to life. Were you thinking about him right now? Did you miss him? Gorou wasn't the type to get envious easily, but the rise of his rut enhanced those feelings to the max. He despised the image about you moving on to other soldiers, especially the higher ups. None of them were as kind and thoughtful as he was, clawing at his pillows at the idea of your sparkly eyes looking at someone else.

He couldn't do much to keep you away from those men, all he was able to do was finish up what he was behind with for Yae Miko and rest everything away, relieving what he can without a complete release. Would the ache go away if he finally did cum? Ugh, part of him wished she had explained this thing to him more but having your boss explain the birds and the bees for their kind would be horrifyingly embarrassing.

Nighttime rolled into the camp once more, his eyes shut in frustration and his hands restlessly grabbing and pushing around his sheets. He couldn't sleep, the pangs getting worse and his brain continuously fogging. If he went on a walk to try and clear his mind, he didn't trust himself not to walk into the sleeping quarters and not take you right there. So he decided to bathe instead, running cold water until it reached the right amount.

Since he wasn't on duty at the moment, there was no hassle in removing his garments, though he did keep the bandage wrappings on since somewhat helped control his urges. He carefully unraveled the cloth, shuddering as his already hardened cock sprung out of its restraints and lightly tapped against the skin beneath his belly button. Trying to ignore it, he stepped into the tub and sighed in relief as the water chilled his overheated body.

Only a few seconds passed by and he couldn't resist not looking. Observing himself, he felt strangely foreign seeing a swollen ball near the base of his dick as he bathed in the cool water of his tub. It was just as sensitive as the rest of him, exhaling a quiet whimper as his fingers brushed against it. As if something nefarious had suddenly grabbed ahold of him, his hand slowly wrapped around the shaft above the rounded flesh and began to stroke himself, the water rippling as he shivered from the feeling.

This was the first time he ever touched himself in this manner, his head arching against the rim as he tediously ran his thumb over the reddened, leaking tip. Despite the water, he could feel the smooth glide of the slick that was continuously leaking out of him. His canines gnawing at the side of his lips, eyes focused on the languid strokes. It was almost torturously slow pace, a building pressure forming at the pit of his lower abdomen.

This was bad, very bad. He needed to stop right now before he crossed a line into sin, an inescapable downturn into hell itself. But it felt so good, so so good.

Gorou panted, his mind forming the image that you were in the bath with him, that you were the one slowly stroking him off. He could feel the heat crawl up his chest to his cheeks, seeing your hooded gaze on him. Despite your training, your hands were always so soft compared to his callused hands. Was it because of the lotion that you used after bathing? God he missed your scent, the panty that he took was already losing your smell.

He let out a low groan as he thought about your flowery aroma and without thinking, he started to mutter your name. His hips bucked against his hand, the bulbous swelling preventing him from going further down to the base. With every rough movement, the water splashed out of the tub.

He imagined you teasing him, telling him that he's going to run the tub dry if he kept on moving so much. Still pretending that you were his hand, he began to pick up his pace, your name on his lips growing louder and louder. You called him a filthy general, asking him how he could think of you in such a way for a lowly soldier, simple cannon fodder. You then asked him why he decided to steal your used panty and he only could muster up a weak apology. He begged you not to tell the others, not to tell Her Excellency that he wanted you, that he thought of you for so long that it was poisoning him and his very soul. Gorou wanted you so badly but you were unobtainable, someone he could never touch. He loves his job, he really does but he loves you even more.

You finally kissed him, the faint traces of his ghastly imagination touching his lips. His pathetic chanting ceased as a blinding white painted his vision, his face contorting and crying out in agonizing pleasure. The waves of his sudden orgasm flowed through his veins as he gripped the side of the tub. He felt the material crack under his palm, bits of it crumbling onto his fingertips. His ears flattened against the side of his head and his tail had wrapped itself tightly around his leg, his breathing uneven and slow.

Gorou finally opened his eyes, his mouth still parted open in a quiet breathless pant as he looked down into the water. A white substance flowed around him, his red face contorting to mild disgust. Short feelings of drowsiness and a small sense of relief that the pain was gone ebbed throughout his body. He unwrapped his hand from his shaft, slightly twitching from the lost feeling.

In a slow realization, he then registered that the burning simply did not die out. No, it almost felt like it had gotten worse. The warmth crawled up his stomach and flushed around his face, the once-cold water now displeasingly lukewarm. He could imagine the sinking fangs of Orobaxi pierce his soul and label him as tainted, a sinner. A small part of him felt no regret, that this is what was meant to happen but most of him — if not all — had a sinking, devastated feeling. He shouldn't have done this, especially with you in mind.

There was a small knock on the door as he got out of the tub from his second bath, almost inaudible if he hadn't had these ears of his.

Weird. No one should be up around this hour, they would most certainly get in trouble if he catches them. He huffed, rolling his eyes. Pranking the sick general, are we? Gorou quickly wrapped himself up with a towel tightly around his waist, approaching the front door with light caution.

"Hello? State your name and purpose." He called out through the closed door, ears perked and twitching around for any signs of life. Maybe it was just a passing animal.

"Gorou? It's just me, Y/N. Are you okay?" Fuck. He's so utterly fucked.

"Uh y-yeah, why wouldn't I be? You shouldn't be out of the sleeping quarters, I won't be able to save you if you get caught." He tried to be as stern as possible but the growing mass underneath his towel was starting to make it difficult to think.

You softly laughed and he could imagine you shaking your head. "Don't worry, I'm sneakier than you think. And I wanted to check on you because I heard yelling coming from your direction. I... I got worried since you're still ill."

Gorou's heart was leaping out of joy. You were thinking about him? Of course you'd worry about him, it was part of your character wasn't it? He could feel his hands grasp at the chair holding the door, almost tempted to rip it out of the way.

"I know I'm not the best at medicinal assistance like Her Excellency but I want to help you. I feel bad not being able to do much besides train without your guidance." You quietly mentioned and his mind suddenly blanked, the heat crawling up his nerves and limbs.

"I do need your help actually."

"Y-you do? Well, I'll do anything to help you get better sir."

Anything, huh?

Gorou pulled the chair away from the door and opened the door, finally seeing you. The glow of his lantern-lit room highlighted your features, admiring seeing your hair down and your sleeping attire loose on your body. He couldn't be more grateful for your naïve willingness. His little idiotic soldier.

He grabbed your shoulder and tugged you into his home, almost slamming the door shut before you could have any change of mind. Your eyes widened as you soon realized that he was fully exposed, his towel barely covering his throbbing lower half. He let you drink in the scars and the muscles he's worked hard to achieve before he finally made a move.

"Wha—" Barely a sound was able to escape you before he collided his lips against yours, bodies toppling over into the wooden ground. In the haze of his lust, he felt terrible that you may have hit your head onto the ground but your mouth was so warm and your lips were so plush that all of his empathy was washed away.

His hands grabbed at the thin pajama pants the military provided for every soldier and ripped them off of you. He made quick work at removing his towel, his heavily aroused cock springing out and brushing against your covered cunt. He could see through hooded eyes that although you were most definitely confused, your fear could barely hide the arousal pooling behind your pupils.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He whispered frantically against your lips as he tore off the white panties, almost salivating as he felt his tip catch onto your bare warmth. A few ruts against your pussy lips and he could already feel some slick gather against his shaft, not knowing if you were getting aroused or that was just his own pre-cum leaking down and making a complete mess.

Slowly or at least, as slowly as he thought he was going, he pushed the head inside. A long and relieved whine came out of him and your back arched, body pressing against his as you cried out from the sudden intrusion. Swiftly, his mouth enveloped yours to quiet you down. It would be a shame if any other soldiers made their way to his home, but then again, he could make them disappear without a single trace left behind. Curiosity is such a fickle thing to have as a soldier, it could end them up dead in a nameless pit or in your instance, speared by a horny general.

His head threw back as he began to thrust shallowly in quick succession, the knot preventing him from going any deeper much to his displeasure. Gorou had never felt such an indulgence in his life, he thought his little session in the tub earlier was everything but this? He could live with the sins building upon his shoulders as long as he could relish in your warmth for eternity.

Your hands gripped on the rug above you, clawing and grasping at it for dear life, moaning aloud as his cock dragged against your walls. The blouse that you were wearing was slowly loosening with every sharp movement he made against you, revealing your chest that he could never bear to look at before. He peeled back the fabric and grabbed one of your breasts, squeezing once before leaning in and sucking on the pert nipple.

His tail twitched in bold satisfaction as you started to whine out his name, begging him to go deeper.

"Yeah? You want that soldier?" His voice rumbled against your nipple, feeling you clench around his shaft as he spoke.

"Y-yes! Please, please just a little more." Obeying, he snapped his hips harder against the plushness of your thighs, the knot pushing and budging against your tight hole. You hissed at the sudden realization of the circular muscle swollen around the bottom of his shaft, but you didn't try to stop him.

Would it fit? No, it had to fit. You will fit him. His hands grabbed your hips, pulling you in until you were flushed against his waist. His mouth left your chest, moving towards muscle in between your neck and shoulder. Gorou wasn't going to leave you unmarked, the whole goddamn camp was going to know who he knocked his pups into. It would serve some good to the island, Orobaxi would be pleased to have new followers right?

"Gonna fuck — hah — gonna fuck you up, breed you full of cum. You're my mate, mine." He growled into your ear before he bit down into your flesh. At the same time, he forced his knot into you and clawed the plushness of your hips.

Your pussy stretched and gripped around the enlarged knot, trying to accommodate the sudden thickness. He could barely see your eyes rolling to the back of your head as you came, your walls spasming and milking his cock for his hot cum. Wanton moans were the only noise you were able to make as he continued to fuck deeply into you, his tongue licking at the inflicted mark.

The same pressure in his lower stomach that he felt in the tub overrode his system and he pushed his dick in a little more, feeling the tip hit against a barrier. White stars blinded his vision immediately, his body shivering and shaking as he came hard into your womb. He took in heavy breaths, resting his head in the crook of your neck.

The burning was gone, he could finally feel the air in his room as it cooled down both of your bodies. It was gone but he wasn't done yet, no, he was far from it. Now that he had finally had a taste, he wasn't going to let you leave, not when he had bound himself to you. Figuratively and literally.

His pupils were blown out with pleasure, the blue color barely making its presence known as he began to kiss up your neck. You were barely there, eyes heavy with sleep but still groaning as he began to move once more, walls too sensitive to handle anymore. That's okay, he would breed you in your sleep if he had to.

" 'm gonna put more pups into you." His words slurred as he lazily thrusted, his knot pulling and pushing into a particular nerve bundle. You could only whine in agreement, completely engrossed and fucked out on his cock as you quivered from the stimulation.

Gorou will take real good care of you. What was he thinking before? A general always will need his soldier, what a fool he was for trying to believe that he never wanted you. A rope can only be tightened so much before it inevitably snaps. You belonged here in his home, warming his bed so he could take you whenever he returned from the battlefield. He picked his head up from your neck, kissing you deeply once more.

You were truly a heaven-sent blessing, weren't you? As fate may have it, he had hope that Orobaxi and Her Excellency would bless the both of you with a beautiful litter.

[bk88thai]

Bk88

The Thrilling World of Bk88 Football Betting

Bk88 goes beyond just predicting the outcome of a game. It's about diving deep into the world's most popular sport. Here, you can explore the intricacies of football, strategize like a pro, and connect with fellow fans.

Bk88 offers a vast selection of options, along with helpful resources to enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the beautiful game. Whether you're a seasoned follower or just starting your football journey, Bk88has something for you.

Beyond the Beautiful Game: A Universe of Football Betting Options at Bk88

Bk88 isn't just another betting platform; it's a portal to a footballing paradise. Dive into a seemingly endless ocean of betting options, from the high-octane world of Premier League clashes to the nail-biting intensity of international tournaments. Predict the match winner, the first goalscorer, and the total number of goals – the possibilities are as vast and diverse as the beautiful game itself.

Become a Mastermind: Unveiling the Secrets of Successful Football Betting with Bk88

While passion is the fuel that ignites your betting journey, knowledge is the compass that guides you to victory. Bk88 provides a wealth of resources to transform you from a casual fan into a strategic mastermind. In-depth match analyses, expert insights, and up-to-date statistics equip you with the tools to make informed decisions and outsmart the bookies.

Thrilling Live Betting: Experience the Heart-Pounding Rush of In-Play Action

Bk88 takes you beyond the pre-match anticipation. Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of live betting. React to the twists and turns of the game in real time, adjusting your bets as the action unfolds on the pitch. Feel the pulse of the match quicken with every tackle, every shot, every near miss. Live betting at Bk88 elevates the beautiful game to a whole new level of excitement.

More Than Just Winning: Bk88 Rewards Your Footballing Passion

At Bk88, winning goes beyond the final whistle. The platform rewards your dedication with a treasure trove of bonuses and promotions specifically tailored for football enthusiasts. Welcome bonuses, reload bonuses, cashback offers – these incentives fuel your betting journey, allowing you to extend your playtime and maximize your potential winnings.

Unparalleled Security and Unwavering Support: Your Safe Haven in the World of Online Betting

Bk88 understands that security is paramount. The platform utilizes state-of-the-art encryption technology to safeguard your financial information and personal details. Additionally, a team of dedicated customer support representatives is available 24/7 to address any queries or concerns you may have.

The Beautiful Game, Seamlessly Delivered: A User-Friendly Platform for Every Fan

Bk88's user-friendly interface ensures a smooth and intuitive experience, regardless of your technical expertise. Whether you're a seasoned betting veteran or a curious newcomer, navigating the platform is a breeze. With a vast array of payment methods at your disposal, depositing and withdrawing funds is a quick and hassle-free process.

Join the Bk88 Community: Connect with Fellow Football Fanatics

The world of football is more than just individual victories; it's about the collective spirit, the shared passion that unites fans across the globe. Bk88 fosters a vibrant online community where you can connect with fellow football enthusiasts, share your predictions, celebrate victories, and commiserate over losses.

The Beautiful Game Awaits: Unleash Your Inner Champion with Bk88

Bk88 isn't just about placing bets; it's about embracing the beautiful game in all its glory. It's about the thrill of the competition, the camaraderie with fellow fans, and the satisfaction of outsmarting the bookies. So, lace up your virtual boots, step onto the digital pitch of Bk88, and embark on a thrilling football betting adventure. Remember, at Bk88, you're not just a spectator; you're a player, a strategist, a champion in the making.

Ready to take your love for football to the next level? Sign up for Bk88 today and unlock a world of exhilarating possibilities!

[mitom1tvbk]

The Thrilling World of Bk88 Football Betting

Bk88 goes beyond just predicting the outcome of a game. It's about diving deep into the world's most popular sport. Here, you can explore the intricacies of football, strategize like a pro, and connect with fellow fans.

Bk88 offers a vast selection of options, along with helpful resources to enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the beautiful game. Whether you're a seasoned follower or just starting your football journey, Bk88has something for you.

Beyond the Beautiful Game: A Universe of Football Betting Options at Bk88

Bk88 isn't just another betting platform; it's a portal to a footballing paradise. Dive into a seemingly endless ocean of betting options, from the high-octane world of Premier League clashes to the nail-biting intensity of international tournaments. Predict the match winner, the first goalscorer, and the total number of goals – the possibilities are as vast and diverse as the beautiful game itself.

Become a Mastermind: Unveiling the Secrets of Successful Football Betting with Bk88

While passion is the fuel that ignites your betting journey, knowledge is the compass that guides you to victory. Bk88 provides a wealth of resources to transform you from a casual fan into a strategic mastermind. In-depth match analyses, expert insights, and up-to-date statistics equip you with the tools to make informed decisions and outsmart the bookies.

Thrilling Live Betting: Experience the Heart-Pounding Rush of In-Play Action

Bk88 takes you beyond the pre-match anticipation. Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of live betting. React to the twists and turns of the game in real time, adjusting your bets as the action unfolds on the pitch. Feel the pulse of the match quicken with every tackle, every shot, every near miss. Live betting at Bk88 elevates the beautiful game to a whole new level of excitement.

More Than Just Winning: Bk88 Rewards Your Footballing Passion

At Bk88, winning goes beyond the final whistle. The platform rewards your dedication with a treasure trove of bonuses and promotions specifically tailored for football enthusiasts. Welcome bonuses, reload bonuses, cashback offers – these incentives fuel your betting journey, allowing you to extend your playtime and maximize your potential winnings.

Unparalleled Security and Unwavering Support: Your Safe Haven in the World of Online Betting

Bk88 understands that security is paramount. The platform utilizes state-of-the-art encryption technology to safeguard your financial information and personal details. Additionally, a team of dedicated customer support representatives is available 24/7 to address any queries or concerns you may have.

The Beautiful Game, Seamlessly Delivered: A User-Friendly Platform for Every Fan

Bk88's user-friendly interface ensures a smooth and intuitive experience, regardless of your technical expertise. Whether you're a seasoned betting veteran or a curious newcomer, navigating the platform is a breeze. With a vast array of payment methods at your disposal, depositing and withdrawing funds is a quick and hassle-free process.

Join the Bk88 Community: Connect with Fellow Football Fanatics

The world of football is more than just individual victories; it's about the collective spirit, the shared passion that unites fans across the globe. Bk88 fosters a vibrant online community where you can connect with fellow football enthusiasts, share your predictions, celebrate victories, and commiserate over losses.

The Beautiful Game Awaits: Unleash Your Inner Champion with Bk88

Bk88 isn't just about placing bets; it's about embracing the beautiful game in all its glory. It's about the thrill of the competition, the camaraderie with fellow fans, and the satisfaction of outsmarting the bookies. So, lace up your virtual boots, step onto the digital pitch of Bk88, and embark on a thrilling football betting adventure. Remember, at Bk88, you're not just a spectator; you're a player, a strategist, a champion in the making.

Ready to take your love for football to the next level? Sign up for Bk88 today and unlock a world of exhilarating possibilities!

[robertoboligan]

Roberto Boligan shares the Latest Trends in Software Development

Are you interested in knowing what is new in software development? The field of software development is dynamic, constantly changing to meet the demands of users and new technologies. Given how quickly the software industry is changing, it is important to keep an eye out for the major trends that will be influencing the software landscape in 2024.

It is clear that innovation is essential to success because more than 80% of companies currently incorporate AI technologies into their software. With Robert Boligan, here are the top software development trends to watch for:

Focus Is On Cloud

The trend toward cloud services has quickened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These services give companies the flexibility to grow or shrink as needed during uncertain times. Public cloud service end-user spending is expected to increase by 18.4% globally in 2021. This trend is probably going to continue into 2023 and beyond, as long as businesses keep digitising their operations.

Growing Interest in Blockchain

In addition to digital currencies, blockchain technology has many potential uses. It is useful for preventing fraud because it provides a safe way to record transactions. The demand for blockchain technology is expected to grow, with the market predicted to reach $39.7 billion by 2025.

Evolution of AI 

New opportunities for commercial innovation open up as AI advances. The speedy New software technologies are driving a wave of opportunities brought forth by AI advancements. With yearly growth of 34% since 2000, the field of AI patents looks especially promising in the area of natural language processing, which allows computers to comprehend and interpret human language. In addition, there is an increasing amount of interest in ethical AI, which aims to ensure that AI systems behave morally and in a way that benefits humanity.

Low-Code platforms:

explore the rise of low-code development platforms, which enable developers to create applications with little to no hand coding by using pre-made templates and visual interfaces.

See how low-code platforms facilitate collaboration on software projects and the quick prototyping of ideas between IT specialists, business users, and citizen developers with varying levels of technical expertise.

Understand the benefits of low-code development, including accelerated time-to-market, reduced development costs, and increased agility in responding to changing business requirements.

Advances in the Use of Current Languages

According to Roberto Boligan, the modern features and capabilities of emerging languages like Rust, Go, and Kotlin are drawing developers in, indicating a major trend in programming in 2024. Gaining popularity due to its emphasis on productivity, dependability, and performance. Its designation as the “most loved” language suggests that it may have a promising future.

Progressive Web Apps 

Progressive web apps are a great way to experience fast, dependable, and engaging user experiences on a range of devices. They combine the best aspects of web and mobile applications.

Discover the key features of PWAs that make them perfect for reaching a large number of web users, including responsiveness, offline support, push notifications, and app-like interactions.

Discover how to create immersive and accessible web experiences with PWAs by learning about the technologies that support them, such as web app manifests, service workers, and responsive design principles.

Cyber security focus:

Given the rising frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks targeting data, infrastructure, and applications, it is imperative that software developers understand the significance of cybersecurity. 

Learn about threat modelling, code analysis, danger scanning, and secure coding guidelines, some of the best practices for incorporating safety into the software development process.

Find out ways to protect sensitive data and prevent cyberattacks with proactive cybersecurity strategies and technologies like end-to-end encryption, zero-trust design, and AI-driven threat detection.

Resoucre URL: https://ventsmagazine.com/2024/04/15/roberto-boligan-shares-the-latest-trends-in-software-development/

[quickensupportcanada-blog]

If any query or help regarding quicken then dial Quicken Support Number 1-855-687-3777 and get the solution  

[dragonmuse]

@believesinponds Not to be greedy but OMG MORE I WANT MORE!!!!!!!! What happens with Charlie and Izzy while Lucius is gone for that month?????

(this got...so very very very smutty. Like probably not by most writers standards, but by Vera standards this is FILTHY. Some warnings: there is brief touching while someone is asleep, there is under-negotiated kink (but everyone has fun) and there is voyeurism which is negotiated.)

The office was weird without Jim and Lucius there. Charlie felt like he was creeping around a tomb. They had taken half the staff with them and the rest were out on smaller jobs. Charlie was dispatch and office support for those and that kept him mostly distracted from the silent main office, it's usually open door locked up tight.

He did not want to examine how bereft he felt with both of them gone. It hadn’t even been a full day, it was ridiculous to pout. They were showing a lot of trust, essentially leaving him in charge.

Several times, he got up to ask Lucius a question or to bother Jim only to remember that he was alone. He slunk back to his office feeling increasingly ridiculous each time. It was just a few weeks. He’d be used to it by the end, maybe even annoyed to lose the peace and quiet. Certainly, he was piling through work at an astounding rate. 

Around three, he started idly going through his phone every half hour or so. He had Izzy’s number, but it seemed desperate and silly to reach out to him. Charlie was going to prove that he could do this. He would visit in a few days, when Izzy might actually miss Lucius enough to want company. 

Just when he was winding down for the day and starting to think about distracting plans for the night,  he heard the beep of the keycard reader and the front door swinging open. 

“Charlie?” It was Read. She’d clocked out with him a half hour ago.

“Everything okay?” He got up and put his head around the door. She smiled at him. He smiled back. It was hard not to. Few people could withstand the force of Read’s easy joy. 

“Izzy said I should collect you for dinner. Anne is working late, but she might show up too if she can get away.”

“Sure, let me just send an email.”

He stepped back into his office, out of view and then punched the air in triumph. He hadn’t even had to invite himself. Taking a few seconds, he did actually send an email and shut down his computer for the night. 

“Let’s go.”

Read had Izzy’s old bike, which made for a fun ride. She drove right into the spacious garage under the building. She swiped her keycard and hit the PH button.

“Probably get your own,” she slid hers into her pocket.

“Me? Why?” His heart quickened. 

“Izzy said you’d be around a lot,” she shrugged, entirely without innuendo. “It’s no big thing. There’s a monitor in the apartment, they know who’s coming and they can freeze the elevator if it’s someone not allowed.  But if you have your own card, you don’t have to call before you come over. Just know if you hit the button and nothing happens, it’s because one of them turned off access.” 

“Huh,” he set that aside. He wasn’t trying to crack their security. Only habit made him want to try. “That’s cool. How often are you there?” 

“Couple of nights a week usually. Some mornings too. Izzy and I work out together a lot.” 

“That’s cool. Hey, why’d you get left behind this time around?” 

Read snorted, “Luc doesn’t need me to bodyguard if Jim is going to be right next to him.”

“Right,” he’d forgotten that was technically Read's job, she did so many things. “You’re good with chauffeuring?” 

“Oh yeah,” the elevator doors opened and she stepped into the living room, kicking off her shoes. Charlie followed suit. “I like driving and the guy is easy enough. Horrible voice though. I keep putting up the privacy screen so I don’t have to listen to him and he thinks I’m super courteous. I bet I get tipped.” 

“Tipped in what?” Izzy asked, coming down the stairs. 

“Money, I hope. If it’s blow again, then I’m going to riot,” Read groaned. 

“I think that was a one off,” Charlie assured her. “And Jim fired him as a client anyway. Hi, Izzy.” 

Izzy didn’t look him in the eye, but he said warmly, “Hello, Charlie.” 

“Told you I’d bring him,” Read ran a hand through her hair. “What are we eating?” 

“Cassoulet,” Izzy told her. “Set the table.” 

“Okay,” she headed into the kitchen. “What’s a cassoulet?” 

“Like a classic one?” Charlie asked, taking a step closer. 

“Yeah. Duck, sausage, beans and a pork ragu,” Izzy confirmed.  

“Hard to make?” Another step and Izzy finally looked up at him, a smile tugging on just one side of his lips. 

“Just takes time. Follow the recipe and anything is easy enough.” 

“Yeah?” Charlie took another step forward, getting into his personal space. “What if I like going off recipe?” 

“Then it’s a good thing you didn’t make dinner,” Izzy’s breath caught ever so slightly. “Are you staying the night?” 

“If you’ll have me,” Charlie didn’t move any closer. Not with Read just in the next room and no idea how Izzy wanted to play this. His skin buzzed with the near contact, electrified. “I’ll be here every night if you want me.” 

“Better pack a bag then.” 

“Do we need spoons?” Read called out. 

“Just forks!” Izzy told her. 

“I will,” Charlie licked his lips. “Tonight, I guess I’ll just have to sleep in the buff.” 

Izzy turned towards the kitchen, but he reached out as he went, a single finger sliding across Charlie’s bare wrist and that had no reason to be nearly as hot as it was. 

Dinner could’ve been torture, but Read, oblivious to tension, struck up a conversation about Izzy’s latest woodworking project. Despite himself, Charlie was interested in it too. Not the details, but he liked how Izzy talked about it, describing the little mechanical details of putting together a chest of drawers. 

“Wait, did you make the-” Charlie stopped himself before said ‘headboard’. The bed in Lucius and Izzy’s bedroom had an ornate wooden headboard that looked like a rack of blades criss-crossing each other.  “The shoe rack by the elevator.” 

“One of my first projects,” Izzy confirmed, not acknowledging the lapse. 

“Where is this happening?” 

“I’ll show you after dinner.” 

“Which is amazing, by the way.” 

“Yeah,” Read skewered a piece of duck. “I vote for this one to go into rotation.” 

“Add it to the doc then,” Izzy ate a bit himself, relishing it. 

“There’s a doc?” 

“I’ll send you the link. Izzy keeps a whole list of everyone’s favorites.  Some of them go into regular rotation for a while. There’s a date list so nothing repeats too often.” 

“Oh, that’s okay I don’t want to-” 

“More people putting things on there the better. Keeps things interesting,” Izzy cut him off. “Gets boring making the same five or six things.” 

“Please, you won’t even make lasagna twice in a month and you know it’s Luc’s favorite,” Read scoffed.  "That's why the doc has to be long."

They both helped with the dishes, then Izzy led Charlie through the showy living room to the other side of the stairs. There were a few doors, but Izzy only opened the one at the far end. It was full of shop equipment and smelled pleasantly of wood shavings. 

“Wow, that is a lot of power tools,” Charlie turned a slow circle taking it in. “How’d you get into this?” 

“Like working with my hands,” Izzy picked up something that must’ve fallen to the floor, which meant Charlie got to admire the pull of his jeans over his ass.  It stoked the fire in his belly as he waited for his time to strike.

They wound up in the upstairs living room, each of them on a different couch as they shot the shit. Occasionally, Charlie would catch Izzy looking at him and he’d spread his legs a little or make a point of skimming his hand over his thigh. Drawing the eye.  

Eventually, Read’s phone dinged and she drew it out eagerly. 

“Anne’s coming home,” she beamed. “She’s kind of tired.” 

“Made her a plate, it’s in the fridge. Take it down to her.” 

“You’re the best,” Read bounced off the couch. “See you tomorrow, Charlie.” 

“See you.” 

They both went silent, listening as she descended the stairs, crossed the downstairs living room and hit the elevator button. The chime of it’s arrival drew Charlie up. The final ‘snick’ closure of the door put him on his feet. Izzy watched him as he crossed the floor then sank to his knees in front of him. 

“Charlie...” 

“I tested clean two weeks ago, haven’t touched anyone else since.” He set his chin on Izzy’s knee. “I’ve been thinking about sucking your dick for four weeks before that. Please. Let me.” 

Izzy exhaled harshly, the sound cracking through the air. He spread his legs, 

“You don’t have to.” 

“I told you, I want to. Very badly.” 

He got his hands on Izzy’s jeans, unbuttoning them and bringing down the zipper. All the finesse he learned over the last few years went out the window. He’d only had one hour with Izzy before. A taste with limited choices.  It had stoked a hunger in him that couldn’t be easily he sated. 

Pulling down Izzy’s pants and underwear just far enough to reveal his cock was a good start. He was soft though starting to stir now.  Charlie set his hands on Izzy’s thick hard thighs and tugged him forward. Izzy went with a huff, one hand sliding through Charlie’s hair. 

Charlie bent down and took Izzy into his mouth all the way to the root. He let the weight of his cock settle against his tongue. He didn’t taste any different than any other reasonably clean guy, a hint of sweat and skin, but Charlie would know him now. He sucked slowly, the lengthening, hardening flesh better than any meal. 

Izzy groaned, cupping the back of Charlie’s head gently. He pulled off just enough to say, 

“I want you to fuck my mouth. But don’t come yet, okay? Unless you can go twice in a night?” 

“Not in a long time,” Izzy huffed. “But I can last as long as you need me too.” 

“Don’t say that,” Charlie grinned, then gave the head of his cock a playful lick, searching for the sensitive spot that made most guys twitch. Izzy was no exception and he grunted a little too, the sound gloriously loud in Charlie’s ears. “Might use you all night.” 

“I don’t have to do jack shit in the morning. Whatever you want, Charlie. It’s yours.” 

There was no response to that, but to get back to work. Charlie swallowed down around him and after a few long slow bobs up and down, Izzy’s grip did tighten a little on the back of his head and his hips thrust up tentatively. Moaning around him, Charlie spurred him on. 

It never got frantic or harsh, but Izzy hadn’t been lying about lasting. He used Charlie’s mouth for long languid minutes, the pace sometimes glacial, then speeding up out of nowhere so that Charlie almost choked. Just before Charlie could tap out though, Izzy would slow, pull out almost entirely and give him a second to catch his breath.  

It was torture. It was hypnotic. When Izzy pulled out entirely, Charlie protested the loss with a whine. 

“You asked me not to come,” Izzy reminded him, amused. 

“Yeah, I...” Charlie shouldn’t be dazed. He’d had plenty of guys, some of them objectively hotter than Izzy. And yet.   

“Come up here and kiss me while you figure out what you want,” Izzy suggested and Charlie was off the ground like a shot. 

He straddled Izzy’s lap, and gave himself over to a messy deep kiss. It was only when Izzy put a hand down on his thigh and winced that Charlie realized he was still fully dressed and Izzy’s cock was still out. 

“Fuck, sorry,” he laughed helplessly. “I’m usually way better than this.” 

“I fucking hope not or I might not survive,” Izzy snorted. “Listen, you want to keep it between us tonight?” 

“Uh..yeah?” Charlie had been reaching for the hem of his shirt, but stopped midway. “What’s the other option?"

“Get up and I’ll show you.” 

He got up reluctantly, and completed taking off shirt, mostly just to show off. Izzy watched him hungrily and reached out to draw hand down his chest. Charlie watched him, each catch of a callous on his skin a fresh delight. 

“I know you sit at a desk most of the day. How are you keeping this up?” 

“I wake up early,” Charlie purred. “What were you going to show me?” 

Izzy did his jeans back up and led Charlie back to the his bedroom. The room was just as impressive as it had been the first time. It was large, but not cavernous. To the right there were doors to closets and a bathroom that he’d only seen long enough to splash water on his face before. To the left were more windows, an entire open skyline. There was a cluster of chairs pulled close to them, an empty mug still sitting on the side table. Izzy must take his coffee there when the rooftop was inhospitable. 

The bed was the focal point, demanding attention even against the backdrop of the entire city. It was massive with its elaborate headboard towering almost to the ceiling. It was dressed in a thick comforter in a gray on blue pattern of Xs to match the headboard and pillows that could be mattresses into themselves. 

Izzy walked around it and to his bedside table. He must’ve made those too, Charlie realized, the elegant flow of them a match to the other pieces. With a quick rustle, Izzy pulled something free and turned to Charlie to show him. 

A remote. 

“Uh, for a vibrator?” he guessed. 

“Got that too somewhere. But no.” He pressed a button and there was a ‘click’ in the ceiling. 

A panel came down and a camera poked out like a tongue sticking out from the mouth. 

“What the fuck?” Charlie ignored Izzy’s protesting noise to stand on the bed and examine it. “This is a really good model. Like not for security tapes.” 

“No shit,” Izzy smacked him on the ass. “Get down here.” 

Charlie dropped back with a laugh, spread eagle over the bedspread, “Explain.” 

“Sometimes when Lucius is away,” Izzy glanced up at the camera, “he likes to see how I’m taking care of myself.” 

“Oh...oh shit, really?” Charlie’s laughter died away. “You make him sex tapes?” 

“They can be. But his phone gets a notification when I turn it on, so he can watch live if he’s somewhere that he can. Otherwise, it records and he watches later.” 

“That is...really fucking hot,” he stared up at the glassy eye. He remembered the sensation of Lucius’ eyes on him as he’d rutted against Izzy that night. How he’d come for the first time as soon as he’d heard Lucius draw his zipper down. 

“Up to you,” Izzy waggled the remote at him. 

“Would he be mad if we didn’t?” 

“No,” Izzy said with total confidence. “We discussed it before he left. It’s up to you. But if we never do it while he’s away, be prepared for him to ask you a lot of questions about what we got up to. Hell, he’ll probably do that anyway.” 

“Yeah, he does like a thorough interrogation,” Charlie licked his lips and decided, “Tomorrow. I want to turn it on tomorrow night. Tonight is just for us.” 

Izzy touched the button again and the camera folded away. Then he tossed it on the end table and reached for his own shirt, drawing it up and over his head. 

“Whatever you want.” 

“Nudity right this second.” 

Izzy had a fucking fantastic body and Charlie, cooled down by their interlude, took his time mapping it thoroughly. For his part, Izzy seemed content to lay back and let Charlie explore with fingers and tongue. There were interesting tattoos and scars, stories for another day.  

Eventually he made his way to Izzy’s ear, nipping at his earlobe. 

“I want you to finger me until I cry.” 

“Do you cry over getting fingered?” Izzy ran his hand up Charlie’s thigh. 

“I haven’t yet, but I bet you’re the man to make it happen.” 

Izzy flipped them with a single shove of his hips and an arm movement that Charlie didn’t catch. He grinned up at him, wrapped a leg around Izzy’s waist. 

“You’re dangerous,” Izzy determined then reached over to the night stand and dug out a bottle of lube. It was Charlie’s favorite brand. 

“You always use that?” He wouldn’t put it past Lucius to do that kind of research. 

“Mm, Luc’s favorite.” 

It was stupid to have a warm feeling over that, but Charlie was already feeling like his brain had dribbled out of his ears, so he let it happen. 

Izzy grabbed one of the ridiculously huge pillows and shoved it under Charlie’s hips, then he dragged Charlie closer, draping his legs over his shoulders. It was exposed. Vulnerable. Charlie was already so hard that his cock was tapping against his belly in an urgent rhythm. 

With one thumb, Izzy drew lazy circles over the sensitive ring of muscle and Charlie spread himself a little wider. The pad of his thumb pushed in slowly and Charlie groaned like he was being murdered. 

“Noticed you were noisy last time,” Izzy pressed a kiss to the inside of Charlie’s thigh. His beard rasped against sensitive skin. 

“You haven’t heard anything yet. I was trying to be polite.” 

“Fucking hell, why?” 

“Mmm, decorum or some shit. I don’t fucking care now, wring it out of me.” 

It turned out that Charlie’s instincts were right. Izzy’s fingers weren’t particularly long, but he used them well. With two, Charlie was a groaning mess and when he came back with three, he was ratcheting his way up to one continuous breathy moan. 

Izzy laid a hand over Charlie’s cock, pinning it down and drawing up his balls so he could get an even better angle. 

“Another?” Izzy asked. 

“Fuck...yes....please.” 

The third finger undid him, Izzy’s casual stroking of his cock, thumbing over his balls and languidly nailing his prostate over and over was earthshaking. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as he rolled his head against the mattress. 

“Fuck me!” He demanded and he didn’t have to ask twice. 

Izzy bent over him, withdrawing his hand and wiping it off on his discarded t-shirt. He reached for the lube again. 

“How much can you take?” Izzy wondered as he stroked a wet hand over his dick.  “Before you get sore.” 

“I fucking love being sore,” Charlie watched him, already planning to do this for him next time. Or maybe next time Izzy would let him top. That’d be hot as fuck.  “Just give it all to me.” 

Like with the blowjob, Izzy didn’t just take what he wanted. He strung it out and Charlie, despite thinking he was on the ragged edge, got strung out too. Izzy gave it to him slowly,  rubbing at just the head of Charlie’s cock as he pushed in. Then he moved with purpose, pulling out almost to the tip before pushing all the way back in. Charlie’s hands fisted into the comforter and he rocked back against each thrust.

Sometime the pace would pick up and Charlie would thrust into Izzy’s hand, certain he was about to come and then just on the edge, Izzy would back off again, return to those slow through strokes. 

“Ooooh fuck,” he moaned after the third time. “Izzy...Izzy please....” 

“Please what, baby?” He murmured, gentle as anything. “What do you want?” 

“I wanna come,” he sobbed. “Want to take you with me.” 

“So soon?” came a teasing tone. 

“Please...please I’ll last longer next time if you want. I’ll be good.” 

“You’re already good, Charlie,” Izzy kissed his knee, his thigh. “And now you’re going to come for me.” 

Izzy started up a steady pace at last, jerking Charlie's cock in time to his thrusts and Charlie full on wailed. He came hard and he was distantly aware of Izzy’s own deep groan.   

Dazed, Charlie went limp and stared blankly up at the ceiling as Izzy retreated enough let his legs flop back down. When Izzy got off the bed, he made a sound of protest, then winced at his own neediness. 

“I’ll be right back,” Izzy assured him. 

He did return with something warm and wet that he used to clean Charlie up and then turned on himself, before tossing it into the hamper and lay down beside him. Charlie rolled onto his side so he could bury his face against Izzy’s shoulder. 

“I think I died,” he informed him. 

“Pretty lively for a dead guy,” Izzy laughed, and glanced a kiss off Charlie’s hair.  

“How are you that good at sex? I mean obviously you could’ve had whoever you wanted, lots of experience and all, but I’ve had guys close to your age who were not that good.” 

“Haven’t actually been with that many guys,” Izzy ran a hand down Charlie’s back. “You’re the first since Lucius and I started up.” 

“What?” Charlie pulled his face away to stare at him. “No. Really?” 

“Really. And yes, I’m very aware that Lucius likes to notch the bedpost. Just not my thing.” 

“I...” And this was more overwhelming than the orgasm because he had to ask, sounding pathetic to his own ears, “why me then?” 

“Don’t know. Just liked you right away. Before we met, actually. Lucius was always telling me about you and the stories made me laugh. Your texts were always funny too. Then he started showing me pictures of you and I knew what he was up to, but I let him do it. I was interested.” 

“Fuck and he’d know I would be too,” Charlie realized. “He knows exactly who I like to take home when it’s not for...” 

“You don’t have to tell me,” Izzy’s hand came to rest on Charlie’s hip, “but I’ll listen if you want to talk about your job. I get the gist.” 

“I like it,” he said quickly. “I’m not traumatized or whatever and it’s not even that often. I’m pretty good at the upfront work, so it usually doesn’t make it that far. Anyway, my point is that Lucius just...matched us. And that doesn’t freak you out?” 

“That’s just Luc. If I got upset every time he was insightful, I wouldn’t get anything done.” 

“Yeah, I guess.” His attention drifted up to the ceiling. The spot where the camera had come down. “Does he want me too?” 

“He knows you want him, if that’s what you’re asking.” 

“He’d have to be way dumber than I give him credit for not to know that,” Charlie said ruefully. “He met me before I learned how to be subtle about anything."

"He told me that too."

"Welp, that's embarrassing as hell, thanks. Any way, I like you a lot. And if it’s just you and me and the shining eye in the sky, I’ll still enjoy any time we have together. I mean you just made my head turn inside out, so obviously.” 

“I meant it. Pack a bag and stay for as long as you want,” Izzy squeezed his hip. “I can’t speak for Luc, but I figure we’ll know after tomorrow night.” 

“Mmm, no pressure.” 

“There isn’t,” Izzy drew his hand slowly upwards again, a possessive stroke over Charlie’s stomach and chest, then grasped his chin for a long sweet kiss. He pulled away with a hum of satisfaction. “You’ll be amazing.” 

The bed was big, but Charlie curled up close to Izzy when the lights went out. Izzy slept on his stomach, one hand under the pillow, the other resting lightly on Charlie’s arm. They both fell into a deep sleep. 

The next day at work, it was only Jim’s rigorous training on focus that kept Charlie at all on track. Images from the night before kept teasing at the edges of his mind. He went back to his own apartment as soon as he could reasonably leave. Digging through the closet, he pulled out a suitcase. 

He packed enough for a week. 

Within four days, he was back to pile more into a second bag. While he was at it, he cleaned out his refrigerator and turned down the thermostat. Then he texted Alma that he’d meet her at the restaurant instead of at his place that week. 

Living with Izzy was like a dream. The days floated one into another. Charlie would wake early and Izzy started getting up with him, apparently a natural early riser himself. They’d work out, sometimes just the two of them and sometimes with Read, who seemed entirely unconcerned about the fact that Charlie had moved in. If anything, she was pleased to have someone to have sit up competitions with since Izzy wouldn’t indulge their bro-y bullshit. 

Breakfast was light and eaten, as Charlie had predicted, on the rooftop as long as the weather was good and in the bedroom when it wasn’t. Sometimes they fooled around in the shower, but usually Izzy was all business, making sure Charlie had what he needed for the day and then sending him off.  At work, Charlie found his focus and handled all the usual crises pretty damn well if he said so himself. And he didn’t even have to. Jim sent steady status requests and replied to his rundowns with thumbs up emojis each time. 

From Lucius there was silence. At work anyway. At night, after a leisurely dinner, Izzy and Charlie would turn on the camera and enjoy each other. Sometimes immediately, sometimes hours later, Izzy’s phone would rumble and there would be texts from Lucius. He never showed them to Charlie, only smirked and relayed, 

“He liked the angle of that one.”  or “He’s impressed by how far back you got your knee.” 

It was frustrating and hot and dizzying. 

Charlie wanted to know. He wanted to hear Lucius’ voice. He hadn’t gone this long without it since they’d met at the bar. 

But he had Izzy’s voice which was different, but just as good. Izzy wasn’t as varied in his praise, didn’t lavish on compliments, but he was also freer with the few things he did offer. Charlie didn’t have to complete amazing feats to get at ‘you’re doing well’ or a ‘that’s perfect’. Izzy said it when Charlie was just futzing around in the shower in the morning or brought Izzy a cup of coffee. It was heady in it’s own way. 

The month went by and one morning, so early even Charlie wasn’t used to being awake, he was roused by the featherlight touch of fingers stroking from his shoulder down to the naked swell of his ass. Goosebumps broke over him. He could hear Izzy’s deep breathing on his right. The hand was coming from the left. 

“Lucius,” he murmured. “You’re back.” 

“I took an earlier flight,” Lucius went on with the light touch, tripping back up Charlie��s spine. “We finished and I had no more interest in Prague, I must tell you. Beautiful city, but I was thoroughly sick of it.” 

“Welcome back,” Charlie turned onto his back to see him. In the grimy dawn light, Lucius was washed into grays. He sat on the edge of the bed, still fully dressed, except for his shoes. The metal of his watch was cool where it brushed over Charlie’s skin. The touching went on from shoulder to chest then skirting down his stomach.

“I watched you two in the airplane bathroom,” Lucius told him in the same tone he used to dictate reports. One finger touched the root of Charlie’s cock, which was quickly waking up along with Charlie, and dragged upwards.  “From a few nights ago. You know how to use this thing, don’t you?” 

“You know I do,” Charlie lay very still. Years of want were piling down on him like a train stopped too quickly, cars crashing one into the other. Cataclysmic.

“But I think you take it even better,” Lucius’ watch kissed the head of Charlie’s cock, a little shock of cold. “Izzy’s gotten to enjoy you to his heart's desire. It’s my turn now.” 

“Yes, Lucius,” Charlie shivered. He’d been under the covers, he realized. How long had Lucius sat here, peeling away the blankets to get at what he wanted without waking him? 

“Come here.” Lucius reached for him and Charlie went into his arms. 

He was kissed then, gently, one hand on the small of his back. A hum of satisfaction, then the tip of Lucius’ tongue traced over Charlie’s bottom lip. His hand dipped down, massaging over Charlie’s crack and he moaned for it. 

“Quiet,” Lucius said in a hush. “You tired my man out last night and you won’t wake him now.” 

“He tired me out too,” Charlie pointed out, but he dropped his voice to just above a whisper. “When did you see that?” 

“On the car ride home. Bless privacy screens,” Lucius kissed Charlie’s neck, a hint of teeth there. Then an actual bite to his shoulder and Charlie had inhale sharply so he would moan again. “I bet your still open from it.” 

Those clever fingers that Charlie had watched sketch, text and mix liquor for years dipped down and pushed dry into him. He was sore from last night, another one of Izzy’s marathon session, and the pain/pleasure mix of it had him all the way to hard. 

“Look at you,” Lucius murmured, “you want it so badly, don’t you?” 

“Yes...yes...please.” 

“Another time I might make you work for it, but not today.” Lucius shoved his fingers in deeper and Charlie brought up his own hand to muffle his cry.  “That’s it, my clever one. Very good. I have lube in my front pocket. If you get it out, you can have it.” 

Charlie scrambled, each movement impaling him further on Lucius’ hand. His pocket was tight to his body the way he was sitting and it took Charlie long moments between that and the shocky jolts of pleasure to draw out the sachet. He held it up triumphantly and Lucius took it from him. He tore open with his teeth. 

“Get me out while you’re down there.” 

He leaned back a little this time and Charlie sucked in a harsh breath before working at Lucius’ fly. He couldn’t be as rough as he was on Izzy’s clothes. Lucius had a thing about his fashion and he wouldn’t appreciate an accidental tear.  As if it was an afterthought, Lucius started to slowly fuck his fingers in and out of him as Charlie worked. When at last he’d gotten the fly down, he discovered that Lucius had apparently flown across the world without underwear on. Also, he shaved.

Charlie’s mouth watered. 

“Not right now,” Lucius said amused. “But I’ve seen how much you like it. Wait until I get you up on that roof on a warm day. You can suck me off for as long as you want.” 

This might happen again? 

“I look forward to it,” he said blankly, already imagining it. Dimly, he was aware of Lucius’ pulling out and then pushing in again with far more ease, the lube almost as cold as the watch. “Fuuuck.” 

“Sorry, sweet one, I’ll warm it for you next time,” Lucius said with sympathy. “But I’m in a rush to have you. Turn around now.” 

Charlie went where Lucius wanted him. He straddled his thighs, back pressed to Lucius’ chest. His legs were spread wide, but he was able to rest his head against Lucius’s shoulder. 

“Kiss me?” he asked, trying to sound smooth instead of desperate. Not sure he managed. 

“How does anyone say no to that?” Lucius smiled. “You are the reason the word 'winsome' was invented.” 

And then Lucius did kiss him, wrapping an arm around Charlie’s chest to hold him in place. Lost in the kiss, Charlie missed how he aligned himself and just as Lucius slid his tongue into Charlie's mouth, he also impaled him on his cock and swallowed down his moan.

The position was intoxicating. Charlie could barely move, held in place by Lucius’ startlingly strong arms and legs spread too wide to gain leverage. It gave Lucius endless ability to grope him, and he took advantage, doing as through an assessment of Charlie’s body as Charlie had done of Izzy’s that first night. 

“And these...”Lucius ran a thumb over Charlie’s left nipple. “They look so sensitive.” 

“They are,” Charlie gasped as Lucius gave him a hard thrust. 

“Mm, so how does this feel?” Lucius pinched the little pink bud and Charlie’s hips stuttered into the unfeeling air, seeking friction where none existed. 

“Oh fuck,” he whispered. He wasn’t supposed to make noise. He had to be quiet. Lucius pinched again, longer this time and Charlie bit down on his lip. 

“Trying so hard,” Lucius praised, only a little mocking at the edges. “Look at that pretty dick of yours. Just wants to be touched doesn’t it? Have you thought about my hand on your cock before Charlie?” 

“So many times,” he admitted. 

“Mmm, at work even?” 

“Sometimes...” 

“Naughty,” Lucius chuckled low and his hand moved to Charlie’s other nipple. Gave it a hard flick that made Charlie instinctively try to escape. But Lucius had him in his grip now. “But I’ll keep it in mind. For very boring meetings.” 

“Yeah?” Charlie licked his lips. Lucius started fucking him again in earnest, steady hard strokes. 

“Oh yes. Especially one of those webcam calls. A whole desk to hide under,” Lucius licked a stripe up Charlie’s neck. “But for now, I want your hands on my knees and I want you to show me some of that stamina you built up with my man.” 

Charlie obeyed. Lucius’ grip fell to his hips, adjusting minutely and the whatever Charlie thought was happening before dropped away. That had been Lucius toying with him. This was Lucius actually fucking. The pounding was fierce and steady as a metronome. It nailed his prostate with terrifying accuracy. Each thrust made his eyes roll back and he couldn’t have jerked himself off even if he wanted to. He was shaking and all of his spare attention was just on keeping quiet. 

“Poor thing,” Lucius said when Charlie was getting sore enough that pleasure was tipping into pain. “Let me help you.” 

One hand went over his mouth, firm and snug. The other, at last thank fuck, went around his cock. There was no tugging, just a firm hold and then somehow, impossibly Lucius found another gear, pounding into him. Charlie came with a scream, but it was almost entirely muffled by Lucius’ hand on him. He held himself up, but barely, keeping his position as Lucius thrust a few more times and came with a stuttering sigh. 

“Lucius,” Charlie said to the carpet, barely hanging on. “Holy shit.” 

“Mm, agreed,” came a fucked out laugh and he was hauled back up, limp a rag doll. Lucius kissed his shoulder, his neck, his cheek in a rain of affection. “Too much?” 

“No,” Charlie echoed his laugh. “I think for the first time in my life, exactly enough.” 

“Should I be offended?” Izzy grumbled. He had rolled to face them at some point and his hand was on Lucius’ back. 

“I meant between the two of you,” Charlie snorted. “I am sore as hell now though. Anyone else wants to ride this ride and it’s a twenty-four hour holding period.” 

“We’ll just have to use Iz,” Lucius decided, reaching out his unlubed hand to caress his husband’s face. “Sorry to wake you, darling.” 

“No, you’re not,” Izzy captured his hand and kissed the palm. “But I’m too happy that you’re home to care.” 

“Happy to be here. For many reasons, but right now if I don’t sleep I won’t be responsible for my actions. Darling, will you take care of the mess I’ve made of Charlie?” 

“Of course.” 

Charlie got a last kiss, a pat on the ass and then was sent to the bathroom to be gently washed down in the shower by a very attentive Izzy. 

“I think he wants me,” Charlie told him as Izzy turned the spray on both of them. 

“Yeah, confirmed,” Izzy laughed. 

“But for how long?” 

“A week, a month, a year, forever?” Izzy shrugged. “You think I don’t ask myself that sometimes? All you can do is hold on.”

With a sigh, Charlie slipped his arms around Izzy’s waist and did just that. The hot water pounded down around them both. They get out eventually, dress for the day. It was Saturday. No urgency to follow. Charlie would eat breakfast with Izzy on the rooftop. Eventually, the beautiful monster they both loved would unfurl his wings again and they would see where the day would take them.

[f1]

Alpine reveals preview of its Hypercar entry for 2024 World Endurance Championship | World Endurance Championship

Alpine has revealed the first images of the car it will enter into next year’s World Endurance Championship. The French manufacturer calls the A424 Beta a “precursor” to the machine it will enter into the WEC’s top category, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, in 2024. The LDMh prototype has been developed jointly by Alpine and ORECA. The car is powered by a 3.4-litre 90-degree V6 engine with a single turbocharger, plus a 50kw hybrid system. Alpine announced its coming two-car assault on the WEC Hypercar class in October 2021. Design work on the A424 began the following month. The car was developed at Alpine’s Viry-Chatillon base, where the Renault engines used by its Formula 1 team are produced. It is the first prototype the facility has created since 1978. “Viry-Châtillon is an entity bringing together many activities beyond F1,” Alpine executive director Bruno Famin explained. “At Viry, our vehicle division brings together customer racing, Formula E and other projects, including the A424 Beta and Alpenglow. “We have built on our existing strengths while adding quantity and quality to our workforce. In addition to the dedicated team, all the Viry-Chatillon departments contributed to the A424 project whenever and wherever needed.” Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free He said the team has been “fully committed” to the hypercar project since the beginning of last year. “The pace gradually quickened, and given Alpine’s ambitions to penetrate the American market the LMDh option was obvious as it requires a more limited investment in engineering than the LMHs. “The LMH/LMDh idea is to put the cars in the same aerodynamic and engine performance windows through thoroughly well-designed regulations. With the LMDh, we have a shared spine surrounded by a chassis from one of the four approved manufacturers. Manufacturers can also design a body with the stylistic codes of their brands, hence the divergences we are already seeing with prototypes whose style is not dictated solely by aerodynamics. “With this, Alpine is reaffirming its strong identity and its technical talents within an agreed budget, allowing us to market our LMDh in the future.” Alpine said the car’s name was chosen by combining a three-digit number beginning with four to evoke its past winning endurance cars, and the number 24 to reference the Le Mans 24 Hours. Pictures: Alpine A424 Beta Alpine A424 Beta, 2023 Alpine A424 Beta, 2023 Alpine A424 Beta, 2023 Alpine A424 Beta, 2023 Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free World Endurance Championship Browse all World Endurance Championship articles via RaceFans - Independent Motorsport Coverage https://www.racefans.net/

[nakachuchu]

Yearly Rut | Sub!Bunny!Hinata Shoyo (nsfw)

SYNOPSIS: Beast-people AU - Shoyo gets scared after a horror movie and wants to sleep with you.

READER: female

INCLUDES: mommy kink, mother figure, humping, somnophilia, sub/dom, femdom, praise, pet/master

WORDS: 1240

WRITTEN: 04/17/2021

NOTES: This started off with a thrist bc of @iwas-baby and now it's a fic 😋 I also blame @dilfhub bc I cant stop thinking about pet!haikyu men

Shoyo didn't grow up with a mother or a family. His parents and his sister were adopted before him, leaving him alone in the pet shop.

When you adopted him, you became his mother figure. You were the only constant in his life and he absolutely adored you.

He followed you around everywhere you went. If you needed to use the bathroom? He was going to follow you inside and wait in the corner. If you were cooking? He'd be waiting by his dinner bowl. If you were gardening? He'd be playing on the grass.

The only place he couldn't follow you to was your job. He would have hated it much more if he didn't sleep during the day. He was able to waste at least six hours by sleeping, and he would have slept more if he didn't wake up because of how much he missed you.

You worked eight hours a day, so he'd have to waste another two hours until you came back home. He usually pouted and huffed while curling up in your bed.

He technically wasn't allowed in your bed because he had a problem with messing up your bed by biting your blankets out of frustration, but he missed your scent.

"Shoyo, I'm home!"

You could hear the thumping of his feet as he rounded the corner, sliding and hopping toward you.

You laughed as you opened your arms just in time for him to collide against your body and wrap his arms around you.

His ears stood up, hitting you in the face as he rubbed his nose into the crook of your neck. He made sure to scent you after a long day at work.

"Sweetie, I still have to shower first."

He frowned at that. He didn't love showers because he hated how loud it was, but he wanted to spend as much time as possible with you.

"Can I shower too?"

You kissed his ear, chuckling when they twitched. "All right, sweetie."

He grinned and turned around, running excitedly to the bathroom while taking off his clothes—which was a simple oversized t-shirt. You could see his cute, puffy tail wiggling before he disappeared around the corner.

You followed after him and took off your clothes before turning the shower on. You washed his back and his hair for him, and he did the same for you in return.

Once the two of you were finished showering, you headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Shoyo sat by his dinner bowl the whole time, patiently waiting until you were finished making your meal so that the two of you could eat together.

His ears swayed side to side as he ate his meal with you at the table. He asked you the same questions he always did each time.

"How was work, Y/N? Did you miss me? Did you eat lunch? Did anything fun happen? Did anyone touch you?"

And you always answered the same way. "Work was good, Shoyo. I always miss you. Yes, I ate lunch. Work is never fun. I shook hands with a client today."

Once dinner was over, the two of you retreated to the living room to watch a movie before bedtime.

"I wanna watch a horror movie today!" he exclaimed.

You leaned in and kissed the tip of his nose. He smiled and held onto your waist, fists clenching around your pajama shirt.

"Are you sure? I don't want you getting scared later," you said.

He pouted. "I'm a big boy! I can handle it."

"Okay, sweetie, whatever you say."

And so, you scrolled through Netflix to find a horror movie to watch. Once you picked one and turned off the lights, the two of you settled down on the couch.

Shoyo sat next to you and there was a blanket covering the two of you. He was holding your hand, eyes trained intently on the television screen.

He would jump and his ears would flop down when a jump scare appeared, then he would cling onto you until he felt safe again. The cycle repeated itself, but you didn't mind.

"Y/N," he whined. "Can I sleep you with tonight?"

"I told you you would get scared, baby."

He pouted. "I know. 'm sorry."

You placed your hand on his head and gently rubbed his ears. He leaned into your touch, humming softly.

"Okay, let's go to sleep," you whispered.

He smiled and held onto your hand as you turned off the television and led him to the bathroom to brush your teeth before going to your bedroom.

He hopped onto your bed and slid under the covers, then waited for you to join him. You slid into bed and he covered you with the blanket before cuddling up against you.

"Good night," you whispered.

"Good night. I love you," he murmured.

"I love you too, sweetie."

The two of you slowly drifted off to sleep with Shoyo clutching your shirt tightly, afraid of the monsters under the bed.

He woke up in the middle of the night, feeling hot and sweaty. He kicked the blanket off, forgetting that he was sharing it with you.

He whined at the sight of your ass pressing against his hard cock. You were sleeping peacefully on your side, faced away from him.

He didn't know what day or month it was. He wasn't very good with numbers or keeping count, but it felt like it was time for his rut.

He panted as he gripped your hip with one hand. He started rubbing his cock against you because he couldn't help it. He was whimpering and whining, ears flopping around as he pulled your thigh back to splay across his hip. His hand now held onto your thigh, nails digging into it as he humped your ass.

With you being jostled around and the feeling of heavy breaths fanning your ear, it was no wonder you woke up.

You blinked a few times to get rid of the drowsiness. You could feel his hard cock rubbing against your ass, dampening your panties.

You looked behind you and saw his pretty tears staining his rosy cheeks that glistened in the moonlight.

"Shoyo," you called out.

He didn't even stop. He whimpered and looked at you, sniffling and crying out for his mommy.

"M-Mommy, it h-hurts," he cried.

You cooed. "I'm sorry, baby. I must have forgotten about your rut. Want some help?"

"Y-Yes, p-please."

You spread your legs and he crawled between them, pulling up his shirt to press his cock against your cunt through your panties.

He began to rub his cock against your cunt, scissoring himself with your legs. Your panties were damp because of his pre-cum and your cum.

Each time he rubbed against you, the head of his cock slid against your clit. He whimpered and sniffled, grabbing your leg to hold as support.

"M-Mommy—"

"Are you cumming? That's it. Good boy," you cooed.

He panted and his pace quickened as he sloppily thrust his hips back and forth, rubbing his cute cock against your panties.

"Nngh—"

His cum spurted out, painting your tummy in white. He panted, eyes heavy as his cock twitched.

" 'is not enough, Mommy," he whined.

You knew Shoyo could go on for hours during his rut. It didn't matter how many times he came. It was never enough.

"It's okay, sweetie," you reassured. "Mommy will help."

[spuffybot]

Walk Me to the Graveyard

Summary: Buffy walks through the graveyard alone at night, contemplating the past few months following the fall of Sunnydale. She reflects on her relationship with Spike, her friendships, and her future before receiving a shocking phone call.

Characters: Buffy, Willow, Dawn, Spike (mentions of Giles, Xander, Andrew, Kennedy, Faith, Wood, Angel, and Fred)

Warnings: Some adult language

Word Count: 4515

Author’s notes: If you read this, thank you. I’ve been chipping away at it for the past few weeks and I’m just glad I was able to finish something I started. “Ghostface” is a reference to the Scream movies, which Sarah Michelle Gellar had a cameo in. The high tea spot with the egg shaped bathrooms is Sketch, a place I didn’t get to visit this year due to the pandemic. I hope you all have a safe holiday season and new year. Hopefully I’ll finish the second part of this story in 2021.

Walk Me to the Graveyard (part 1)

Buffy’s joints creaked as she stood up from her crouched position. She’d been staking out this grave (no pun intended) for hours and dawn was slowly approaching. In the last few minutes the air had started to change, and she could hear the telltale rustling of birds in the trees. If this vampire was going to rise, it wouldn’t be tonight.

Stretching her arms up over her head, she rolled out her stiff shoulders, feeling strangely relieved by the lack of action.

Buffy had been coming to this cemetery every couple of nights for weeks, sniffing out even the barest hint of vampire activity. Technically she could have assigned graveyard duty to any of the Potentials, but she craved the silence and the normalcy of the activity.

She chuckled to herself. How far she’d come that she could relish a few hours of graveyard haunting and call it normal. If only her sixteen-year-old self could see her now.

The truth was she was tired. After the fall of Sunnydale, she’d been fueled by an insatiable need to just keep moving. Giles had suggested they hole up in LA and take refuge with Angel Investigations, but Buffy refused. She wanted to get started on rebuilding as soon as possible. They couldn’t afford to waste time in LA, on Angel’s turf, killing time as his sidekicks while thousands of girls woke up with powers they couldn’t explain. So instead the Scoobies had moved to London, taking on the role of de-facto Watchers Council. They’d rounded up the few surviving members of the former Council and had started reaching out to as many activated Potentials as possible.

They recruited the ones they could and provided support (emotional and financial) to the ones they couldn’t. It was rewarding and it kept her mind off things.

Things like telling a man she loved him only to have him choose death over a future with her.

Buffy kicked a crumbling headstone, cursing when she stubbed her toe.

She knew that wasn’t fair. Spike died saving the world. It was a sacrifice she’d made more than once, and she knew how much she resented the people she left behind for not understanding the weight of that choice. She didn’t want to sully the memory of his heroics with her bitterness. She just couldn’t help it. Besides, focusing on missing Spike was easier than accepting she didn’t know how to function now that she wasn’t the “one girl in all the world.” The irony of having an identity crisis over getting the one thing she’d always thought she wanted was not lost on her. She should be grateful that she wasn’t the only Slayer. Grateful that her future was finally hers to shape. Instead she just felt lost.

It didn’t help that everyone around her was adjusting to this new life and mission like they were born to it. Dawn was training to be a Watcher, and frankly, they needed as many as they could get. The Slayer to Watcher ratio had been drastically tipped and it was only a matter of time before things got out of control.

Faith and Wood had stayed behind in America, taking up shop at the Hellmouth in Cleveland. It was weird to think of Faith as the reigning defender of the Hellmouth, but it felt right. With Wood by her side she would stay grounded and on track. He understood the mission better than most.

Giles was in his glory. He’d vetted the surviving Watchers, firing some gleefully and taking others under his wing. Between them they’d established a kind of Watchers Hogwarts, training Watchers by day and guiding Potential Slayers on field missions by night. He was happy, which was something she’d never really seen him be before. Their relationship had taken a hit in the last few years and while she wasn’t ready to forgive him for everything, she didn’t begrudge him his success. Her Watcher had floundered ever since he was fired, unable to find purpose while she and her friends had grown up around him. Seeing as she suddenly found herself in a similar position it was hard not to understand how he’d gone off track. Besides, she’d lost enough people to know she wasn’t going to lose anymore. She’d fix things with Giles, eventually. For now, she’d just settle for on the same continent and on polite speaking terms. 

Xander and Andrew led the Potential Identification and Retrieval Taskforce. They came up with the name. Obviously. They spent their days traveling the world, chasing down leads and giving their best “join team save the world” sales pitch to scared and angry girls.

Buffy smiled thinking about them. The last time they’d video chatted, Xander had looked better than she’d seen him in years. He’d lost the chip on his shoulder that he’d been carrying since they graduated high school. For the first time in his life he was the best person for the job, and he knew it. Trustworthiness and warmth radiated from him and his knowledge of tactics and the cost of the fight lent him an authenticity the girls were drawn to. He never bullshitted or misled them, but he did inspire them. Like he’d inspired all of the Scoobies over the years to keep on fighting.

The sun was starting to peak over the horizon, and a misty fog enveloped the graveyard. She knew she was dawdling but she couldn’t bring herself to rush home. The alarms would be ringing any second now, Potentials and Watchers scrambling to the mess hall for breakfast before a day of study and training.

Technically she didn’t have any classes to teach until the afternoon, but Giles liked the staff to be present in the morning. He said it communicated solidarity and responsibility. Personally, she thought Dawn had just made him watch the Harry Potter movies one too many times.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she let it go to voicemail. It was either Willow calling to say she had another hit on the Potential alert locator spell or Giles calling to ask where she was.

Either way it could wait.

She just wanted to be in the quiet for a little bit longer.

That’s what she missed the most about Spike. Having someone she could be in the quiet with. He had always seemed to know what she needed, anticipating her every mood and desire.

She’d never met anyone she could just be alone with before him. He never expected anything of her other than to just be. In this chaotic mess of a life she now led she craved his company and his silence. Since she couldn’t have that she came to the cemetery. The dead kept her company in a way the living never could. The occasional scuffle with a vampire didn’t hurt either. The familiar comfort of a stake in her pocket, grave dust on her shoes, her breath quickening for the thrill of the kill, reminding her that even though everything had changed, some things never would.

Her phone buzzed again.

She frowned, wondering why she couldn’t even get a few hours of peace before the sun was fully risen.

Flipping it open she saw two missed calls from a number she didn’t recognize. No voicemail.

It was probably someone trying to sell her something.

Technically her phone was spelled against telemarketers, but magic was fickle. If someone really needed to reach her, they would call the office and leave a message with her secretary.

God. How had she ended up here?

When they’d first arrived in London she’d panicked. Back in California it had seemed so clear. Get to London, find the Watchers, find the Potentials, save the world. Simple.

Except once they arrived there had been bureaucracy and red tape to get through. The surviving Watchers had needed convincing and playing nice with morons wasn’t Buffy’s strong suit. After one particularly eventful meeting that ended with some snide British dude’s head slamming into a wall Giles and Willow had pushed her to take a back seat on the negotiations. Much to everyone’s shock, she listened.

As soon as she stopped leading she felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. Without meetings and planning sessions to fill her days she’d found herself wandering the streets of London with Dawn, playing tourist.

They were having high tea at this ridiculous spot with baby pink furniture and weird egg-shaped toilets when it hit her. She could walk away. The Hellmouth was gone, and there were more than enough Slayers to pick up the slack. Her friends would be disappointed but eventually they would understand. As she sat there watching Dawn sample pastries, no fear of imminent death getting in the way of her fun, Buffy couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like. This could be their every day.

They could finish out the summer backpacking through Europe then head home to America to finish school and settle down. She was pretty sure she’d heard somewhere that there were hardly any vampires in New Jersey.

She was so wrapped up in the fantasy that she almost missed what Dawn said as they were walking home to their flat.

“Sorry, what with the what now?”

Dawn rolled her eyes. “I said, it’s crazy how there’s this whole world out here and no one was helping keep it safe before.”

“Ummm excuse me, Slayer here, has saved the world, a lot. Even got a nice shiny headstone for my troubles.”

“Obviously but...you were always in Sunnydale. And sure, most of the big bad world endy guys ended up there too but...what about all the other regular level baddies hurting everyday people? I mean, look at them all.”

Dawn stopped and looked around, forcing Buffy to take it all in. The couples strolling along, groups of friends, kids in strollers. The street was flooded with people going about their day. As soon as that sun went down, they’d be joined by all the things that went bump in the night.

“I just think it’s kind of amazing what we’re about to do. For the first time we’ll be able to protect people all over the world. These people will have a chance like they’ve never had before. Like everyone in Sunnydale got because you were around. We can give that to them. I’m just...glad.”

Buffy’s heart warmed even as dreams of running away slipped from her grasp. Dawn was right. This was her calling. She’d find a way to live with it. Normalcy would never be available to her and the sooner she embraced that, the sooner she could start working towards happiness.

At least that’s what Willow was always saying.

Willow who saw a therapist three times a week and a substance abuse counselor twice a week.

After the battle she and Kennedy had parted ways. Their relationship had run its course and Kennedy wasn’t interested in staying on Team Scooby. Instead she took her slaying act on the road, traveling town to town looking for monsters to hunt and people to save. Occasionally she’d run into a Potential and send a heads up their way. She seemed happy. Everyone seemed happy. Buffy just couldn’t seem to find her groove.

Ironically, Willow was the only one to notice how out of sorts Buffy was. Maybe it was all the therapy or maybe it was just that she was more herself than she’d been in a long time, but Willow had become Buffy’s sole confidant these past few months. If she thought about it too much she knew she’d cry. It hadn’t occurred to her how much she’d missed her best friend until she got her back.

At first when Willow tried to reach out, Buffy had been cold and distant. Willow understood, even writing Buffy a letter to explain that she respected her need for distance after the way she had torched their friendship and Buffy’s trust. The letter had melted something in Buffy’s heart. It was the first time Willow had really acknowledged the fact that their sisterhood had been a casualty of Willow’s addiction.

The first time they sat down for coffee together felt like coming home. Willow seemed lighter, more like the girl Buffy had met her sophomore year of high school than the all-powerful Wicca she had come to know lately. She seemed shy, hesitant to take too much from Buffy, a reticence that allowed her to give more than she had intended to when she agreed to meet.

By their third coffee date it was clear that they were going to push through this. When a third turned into a fourth and fifth they decided to just make it a standing girl’s night. Every Tuesday for the rest of their lives.

Last Tuesday they’d finally broached the subject of Spike. Buffy had been dreading this, afraid to pick at the scab only to be met with judgment and condemnation. She wasn’t sure their renewed friendship could handle it. As much as she loved having Will back, Spike was a sensitive spot and she was afraid of how she’d react if Willow said something she didn’t like.

“Buffy, I tried to end the world. What’s a little bumpin of the uglies between former enemies compared to that? I am judgement free Willow of the no judgies zone.”

Willows face scrunched up like it did sometimes when she was trying to find the right words, her nose crinkling and her eyes rolling skyward.

“I just want you to be ok. And if that means loads of tasty mochas and squishy details about Spike sex, I am all ears. I’ve even got marshmallows.”

Buffy saw the sincerity on her friends face and felt something crack deep inside her. She’d been prepared for judgment at worst and stoic acceptance at best. Being met with such openness and warmth took her by surprise and she found she couldn’t hold back anymore. Her eyes welled up and before she could reign it in and full body sobs shook her.

As she cried, Willow rubbed her back and let her get it all out, careful to avoid pushing her to talk. It was exactly what she’d needed to be able to open up.

And open up she did. It was like the levies broke and all the confusion and hurt came pouring out. She told Willow about what happened in the Hellmouth. About her last days with Spike, how he supported her and strengthened her when no one else could, or would. This last part she said without any venom, all her anger and resentment at Willow long gone.

She even spoke about their last night together. How they’d made love in the basement, on that shitty cot. The first and only time they’d ever been truly intimate, Buffy’s walls fully down, her heart totally exposed.

“I know having sex with someone isn’t like, a big deal or anything. Especially when you’ve had sex as many times as we did.”

Buffy cringed as the words left her mouth. The familiar guilt over her physical affair with Spike flaring up.

“No!” Willow exclaimed.

“Buffy no. It is a big deal. It’s like, the biggest of deals. You and sex haven’t exactly had the most copacetic relationship, no offense.”

She smiled apologetically, eliciting a soft laugh from Buffy despite the anxiety that was clenching her gut.

“If you let yourself feel something good with Spike, even just that one time, it’s important. Special. You shouldn’t downplay that. He loved you and you let him show it to you. It’s romantic.”

At that Buffy really laughed.

“God Will. Spike. Romantic.”

Willow laughed too.

“You know...it’s not that weird. Remember when he kidnapped me and Xander? He wanted me to do a love spell for Drusilla. I think he’s always had a romantic streak. In a weird, murdery, vampire kinda way”

Buffy shook her head in amusement.

“Did I ever tell you Spike was a poet when he was human?”

Willows eye widened, and her hands flew to cover her cackling laugh.

“A poet? Oh my gosh. That’s...that’s too good.”

Buffy took a sip of her mocha, relishing the warm caffeinated goodness before adding, “he would kill me for telling you this but, the best part is the whole “William the Bloody” thing? That’s because he had a reputation for being such a terrible poet.”

At that Willow dissolved into full on giggles, hands clutching her stomach

“Ugggggh ok ok, I’m done laughing. Promise. Also why is that so cute? That’s so cute. Little Spike the poet.”

Buffy sighed. “The thing is Spike has this immense capacity for love. Even as a violent serial killer he was still driven by love. It scared me. That he was so willing to throw himself headfirst into love without a shadow of doubt. I’ve never...I’ve never been like that.”

She looked up at Willow, trying to read her reaction. The witch just nodded encouragingly for her to go on.

“I just...I told Giles once that I didn’t know if I could love. I was worried I was broken, like all the slaying made me cold and loveless or something.”

“Buffy, no,” Willow cut in, but Buffy held up a hand to stop her.

“I know it’s not true. I died to save Dawn, to save all of you, weeks after I said that.” Buffy’s eyes filled up again but this time she swallowed it down and wiped them clean.

“He really loved me Will. And I don’t know that I was in love with him but that last night we spent together...I kind of thought that I could be, someday. You know? I wanted him to know that. To know that there was a chance for us. I figured we’d have all the time in the world after...”

Buffy trailed off, suddenly tired. She didn’t need to explain the rest. How Spike had died, believing she’d never love him. How all the time she thought she’d have to figure out if she could evaporated in a burst of fire and ash.

—————————

She’d reached the cemetery gates just as the sun broke through the horizon. Her car was covered in dew, glistening in the hazy morning light.

She still couldn’t believe she had learned how to drive. And on the wrong side of the road! Her mom would die of shock if she were still around.

The thought of Joyce made her wistful. If only her mom could see her now. In her heart Buffy new her mom would be proud of the choices she’d made. She’d encourage her to let go of the past and focus on the future. She’d be overjoyed to know that Buffy had a future now. Sure, it still involved a massive amount of slayage but for the first time in a long time, the fate of the world didn’t rest solely on her shoulders. Her mom would tell her to embrace that and to live this new life to the fullest.

I’m trying mom.

Her phone buzzed again, and this time Buffy yanked it out in annoyance and flipped it open.

“What do you want?”

The silence on the other end only ticked her off more. If it was so important for someone to call her three times before she’d even had a cup of tea they could freaking respond when she finally picked up.

“Hello? I’m hanging up in three seconds if you don’t get all un-ghostface on me and just tell me what you want.”

She heard a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. Her annoyance bled to curiosity and she willed herself to be patient.

Infusing her voice with a level of calm she didn’t feel, she asked “Do you need help or something? I don’t know how you got this line if you’re not part of Scooby Central but…you got me.”

The silence eked on for seconds that felt like minutes before the caller sighed. Buffy’s pulse shot up, anticipation making her antsy. She shuffled from foot to foot, fighting her instinct to hang up. If this was a Potential calling for help she needed to wait it out.

Finally, a voice broke through the silence.

“Slayer?”

Buffy dropped the phone on the ground, her fingers losing the ability to function along with her brain, which had gone fuzzy and staticky at the sound of the all too familiar voice on the other end of the line.

She stared down at her phone, the call still connected, wondering if she had fallen asleep somehow.

A muffled “bloody hell” came out of the fallen phone, causing Buffy to gasp and jump back. She crouched down low, getting as close to the phone as she could without actually picking it back up.

“Shit. SHIT. Spike?”

The muttering and cursing stopped.

“Slayer…yea. It’s a long story. But yea.”

Buffy felt her limbs turn to jelly and she sat down on the cold gravel, her head falling into her hands. A sob bubbled up from her chest, turning into a laugh that she couldn’t control. She giggled for a solid minute before gingerly picking her phone up and pressing it to her ear.

“How? You better explain yourself right now.” Her voice was edged with steel, anxiety and adrenaline giving way to nervous anger. If this was someone’s idea of a sick joke she was going to get murdery.

She could almost hear Spike roll his eyes.

“Good god woman, can’t I come back to life without brassing you off?”

She bit her lip to stop a smile, not willing to let hope overrule a protective layer of skepticism.

Rocking back on her heels Buffy gulped down the crisp morning air, willing her body to calm down so she could take stock of the situation. Her dead ex sort of boyfriend was calling her…she looked at the phone number quickly…from LA. Ok. She could handle this. She was the Slayer, queen of things that go bump in the night and let’s face it, this wasn’t her first ex to come back from the great beyond. If Angel could do it…Angel.

“Spike, why are you calling me from LA?”

He sighed again and she could picture him rubbing the back of his neck, a grimace on his face as he debated the best way to tell her what was going on.

Despite the rush of anger, her heart warmed at the thought.

“Eh look, I said it was complicated. I just thought it was right. Telling you I was alive. Thought you should know is all.”

Whatever ice had melted in her heart immediately froze back up. No way was Spike going to call her from beyond the grave and then immediately get shady and secretive.

“So, is that your weird dodgy British way of saying you’re not going to tell me why you’re calling me from LA? Where Angel lives? Are you with Angel?”

She heard Spike mutter something to himself that sounded an awful lot like “bloody bint”. She rolled her eyes and stood up, pacing the lot in an attempt to keep her temper in check.

“Yea. Alright yea.”

His voice had changed, his accent becoming sharper, and she knew he was starting to get worked up.

“I’m in LA and I’m with Angel. If you want to talk to him you can damn well call him yourself. I don’t know what I was thinking. Bloke comes back as a sodding ghost, gets himself corporealized by a nice scientist bird and calls his girl up and she wants to know about Angel. Figures.”

Buffy rolled her eyes, not even bothering to interrupt his tirade. She knew he’d run out of steam eventually.

“Are you finished?”

Spike sighed again and Buffy felt the fight go out of her. She sat down on the hood of her car, overwhelmed by the emotions swirling within.

“Yea Slayer. I’m finished.”

Buffy’s shoulders slumped and she laid back, gazing up at the sky. It was going to be a cloudy day.

“How?”

“That’s the million-dollar question love. Seems no one can answer it.”

“Wait.” Buffy sat up; brow furrowed in concentration as she started to put together the various odd things Spike had said so far.

“You were a ghost?”

She tried to picture that. Spike all floaty and haunty. The image made her chuckle, which she quickly tried to suppress.

“Yea, yea, yea, laugh it up. I don’t know if I was a ghost. I was a something. Couldn’t touch, couldn’t feel. Just trapped at bloody Wolfram & Hart with your beloved Prince of Brooding.”

“Wolf ram and what now?”

“It doesn’t matter. Done what I set to do. You know. Guess I’ll let you get back to it then.”

Buffy felt white hot anger burning in her chest. Did he really think he was going to call her up, say hey, and then leave? Maybe forever? Who did he think he was?

“Fine,” she spat out.

“Fine,” came Spike’s huffy reply.

They’d reached a stalemate and Buffy did the only thing she could think of doing.

She hung up.

She stuffed the phone in her pocket, unlocking the car door and sliding into the front seat. She stared out the frosted windshield for a moment before screaming at the top of her lungs. When that didn’t calm the storm she felt brewing inside she slammed her hands repeatedly into the steering wheel. The metal and leather began to crunch and warp under the weight of her blows but she didn’t care. She felt like someone had set her insides on fire. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t cry, couldn’t do anything but scream and rage into the void.

Eventually she ran out of steam. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed but her throat was raw. Rubbing her face she switched into Slayer mode. Something was up and she was going to get to the bottom of it. Cagey Spike and his caginess be damned.

She forwarded the number he’d called her from to Willow and Andrew. Between the two of them they’d be able to trace it and dig up some dirt on where Spike was. As for how he got there, she was going to need boots on the ground. Luckily Kennedy had last checked in from Arizona a couple of days ago. She couldn’t be far from there and she owed Buffy more than one favor. She might not be Spike’s biggest fan, but she would do some recon and get Buffy the answers she needed. Once she knew what was going on, she could show up in LA and punch Spike and Angel in the face herself.

Buffy felt calmer. She had a plan. It wasn’t perfect but it was a start.

She’d let Spike get away once before. This time would be different. She didn’t know why or how but it seemed the Powers That Be had given her a second chance.

She wouldn’t waste it.

—end—

[thou-crusty-batch-of-nature]

The rise and fall of our love

part one | part two

playlist: gold by nick murphy and chet faker

too young to burn by sonny and the sunsets

cold cold cold by cage the elephant

pairing: reader x james, lily x james

warnings: language, fluff, a bit of angst

A/N: hope you like my first proper series! i've been working on this for a while and i'm so excited to finally post it! feedback is very much appreciated so lmk what you think

also, credits to @approved-by-dentists for the iconic line "I'll drop kick your firstborn", you can check her frog memes here

and credits to the harry potter wiki fandom, I took those amortentia info from there

p.s. the cover is made by me

word count: roughly 2.4K

MASTERLIST

"You can't expect me to believe this!" James was looking at you with his mouth agape and exaggerated wide eyes which made the conversation slightly more embarrassing than it already was. 

"5 minutes till midnight!" Sirius announced from a table with several bottles of champagne by his side. 

"Well, you should. I'm telling the truth!" 

"Y/N!" he shouted in a serious note, as if he was trying to decide whether you were lying or not. Your ears were burning. Someone hex me right now. 

"James!" you answered - this was like a bad version of the Marco Polo game.

Something in your eyes convinced him of your honesty. "You have never been kissed on New Year's Eve!" he gasped with such amazement that you didn't have the heart to reveal that, in fact, you have never been kissed by anyone on any other occasion - you still needed that remaining bit of dignity. Well, not a real kiss, that is. The only time you have ever kissed someone was on a game of spin the bottle in 3rd year, when you and Remus shared a very awkward one-second kiss, that James never forgot to bring up every other day. 

"Why is it such a big deal - I don't need a kiss to have a lucky year! I can manage fairly well on my own, thank you very much!" 

The whole Gryffindor Common Room was buzzing with chatter, clinking glasses and loud music. New Year's Eve meant a great deal to gryffindors, whether it was for the booze, the games or the chance to kiss your crush at midnight. 

You could proudly say that your presence was owed to none of the above, but rather to the persistent demands of your best friend, Marlene. Not that you didn't love a good party - it's the opposite, really. The only problem was your low intolerance to alcohol; three big gulps of beer were enough to make you the talk of the school for at least two weeks. And with Marlene and the marauders by your side, the chances of that to happen were outstandingly high.

"It's a matter of principle, it's about the neediness of human nature, about their need for closure and contact in order to feel full and satisfied! It's about the idea of knowing that you have emotional support!" he declared passionately with a hand over his chest. 

"So, people are horny and they need to kiss other people for them to feel valid and worthy?" You scrunched up your nose in disgust. "That's messed up!" 

"It's love, Y/N! It's not supposed to make sense, it's like magic!"

"You sound like a cringy girl from a romantic muggle movie!" You snorted.

"You're incredible!" James sighed, disappointed. "Alright, I'll show you, you'll see!" Soon enough, a gigantic clock appeared over the fireplace starting the New Year's countdown. 

"9…" People were chanting joyfully. 

"8…" You could feel James' stare, but you kept your eyes glued to the clock. 

"7...6…5…" You sensed him inch closer. 

"4…" He spun you around and cupped your cheek. 

"3…" You were lost in his eyes. They were an infusion of spring and autumn, a melt of fiery leaves and honey. 

"2… 1!" His soft lips met yours, and you could hear fireworks erupting outside the castle. You felt your soul implode. The kiss was shy, yet passionate. His hands were slowly grazing your back while yours found their way to his dark curls. It felt right - perfect, even. 

Even though it was your first kiss, you knew it was the best you'd ever have. Everything was easier when you were with James, everything felt at peace. You pulled apart when you ran out of breath, still longing for more. Your whole face was on fire, and you let your forehead rest on his. 

"Here you go. Wasn't that bad, was it?" 

"Eh- t'was alright." you joked, trying to sound cool. You laughed nervously, though you were pretty sure it sounded more like a squeal. Great. 

"Do you think Lily saw it?" Something in his voice made you realise that he wished she did. You were just a puppet in his cruel play. Your heart wrenched a little, but you managed to hide your pain. 

"Don't know. I haven't seen her tonight." You were his friend. That's all. The kiss meant nothing for him, and that was okay. 

Just great. 

"I think imma go check on Marls." you said, trying to hold your tears back. "Thank you, for the kiss." you exclaimed sarcastically, though James didn't seem to notice. He nodded absentmindedly, his eyes already on a certain red-head. 

Oh, you were so stupid! How could you let this happen? A wave of nausea washed over you while the knot in your stomach kept pulling at your insides. 

You made your way through the sea of people, right where you knew Marlene would be. There she was: lounging on the couch next to Sirius, drinks in hands, talking about Merlin knows what. You suddenly felt very bad to disturb your best friends who were both clearly having a great time, so you quickly turned the other way. 

"Y/N!" Marlene shouted. Shit. You quickened your pace, only to hear her shouts over the music. "Y/N Y/L/N stay where you are or I swear I'll knock you down!" 

You continued to walk but stopped when you saw James and Lily a few steps ahead. She was laughing while he was whispering something in her ear. Lily spotted you and smiled teasingly. You took a deep breath. Defeated, you turned and saw Marlene's tall figure facing you. "What happened? Why are you crying?" 

You haven't realised that until she asked you. Good thing that James was too busy fawning over Lily to notice. 

Marlene didn't wait for an answer to take your hand in hers and lead you back to your dorm. She pulled you in her arms while you finally let your tears fall. You felt pathetic; how could you believe he would actually like you the way you did? 

You told her everything apart from that unbecoming smile Lily gave you. They were also friends, not as good as you two were, but you didn't want to stir up any arguments. 

You and Marlene have been best friends for over six years. You used to be quite an introvert, whereas Marlene was cocky enough for the two of you, so she made it her goal to get you out of your shell. And she succeeded - even too well, some would say. 

And as for you and Lily, things were - you guessed you could call them decent. Neither of you made any effort to be besties, as Lily made it quite clear she didn't like you. However, you managed to become acquaintances for the sake of your friends'. 

"Y/N! What is our number one rule?" she asked when you finished. 

You sighed. "Bros over hoes." 

"I will never put a boy over our friendship, Y/N. You come first. Especially when you have a problem."

"Okay, mother." you rolled your eyes. "I should've drank the damned firewhisky. It would have been a far better alternative to get shitface drunk than deal with all this." 

"You're right." You glared at her. "What? You really are. That just proves my theory further: technically, alcohol is a solution."

×××

Naturally, the odds haven't been in your favour, and Lily and James were closer than ever. You would be lying if you said you were happy for them. 

"Now, Y/N/N, that's just cruel!" Marlene said with her mouth full, spitting half of her breakfast on you. Then, she silently handed you a napkin. You gave her a nod of thanks. "I mean, I get it, you are a tad bit jealous, but that's understandable!" 

"Am not!" you defended. "I'm happy for my friend for finding his love." You choked that word out. "Okay, I might be a tiny tiny bit jealous but that's not the case right now! I just don't understand his choice!" 

"Ah… here goes that 'he could've had all this but he chose that' speech..." Marlene sighed. 

"Yes- I mean no! That's not what I mean! I just don't like Lily!"

"I know…" she said regretfully. "She is a good friend to me, really - she's not that bad. I know you two had your problems, but… Wait, what are your problems exactly?" she squinted her eyes in confusion. "You've never told me the real reason you two don't get along." 

"Well…" 

"Good morning darlings!" Sirius interrupted, plopping down next to Marlene. 

"Good morning to you too!" James chirped with a sheepish smile plastered on his face. He sat next to you, hugged you and you could swear you heard him squeal. 

"Well, someone seems to be in an awfully good mood this early in the morning. Waddup?" you ask, popping the 'p'. 

"Someone got back to the dorm very late last night after having spent the entire day with -" 

"LILY-FLOWER! HERE!" James got up and waved frantically towards her. She furrowed her brows when she spotted him next to you and you quickly averted your gaze.

"Hello there!" she smiled, sitting down on the other empty spot next to James. She took his hand in hers and glanced at you. You rolled your eyes. 

"Is there something wrong?" Lily asked innocently. 

"Nah, everything's alright." Just my back hurts a little... from all the stabs. The intensities of your stares could burn holes through each other's bodies. 

"Y/N, have you finished your DADA essay? I think it was due Wednesday and I haven't written a word!" Remus cuts in, sensing the tension. You made a mental note to thank him later.

×××

"So what was all that about?" You were in the library "helping" Remus write his essay - in reality, you were munching on his chocolate while he was reading.

"What?" You decided to play dumb, hoping he would drop the subject. Remus leaned in his chair and rubbed his eyes. It was too early for any of this. 

"Your 'friendship' with Lily." he air quoted. 

"There's nothing wrong with us…" 

"Oh, then let me call her here and make friendship bracelets together!" he mocked. "You almost hugged to death out there!" 

"Quiet!" you heard madam Pince's high screech.

You let your head fall in your hands. "Is it so obvious?" you whispered. He gave you the are-you-kidding-me face and you groaned. 

"Fine! The truth is that I don't know why she hates me! I've tried to be her friend for so many years, ever since she became Marl's friend - and she rejected me every single time. Not to mention that she has never been the nicest to me. And now she acts like I drop-kicked her firstborn and I'm sick of it."

"So nothing happened?" 

"Nothing that I know of…" 

"Huh…" It was clear he expected somewhat of a greek tragedy. You glanced at the clock and cursed, you were running late to class. "Remus, we gotta leave."

You both got up in a hurry, stuffing parchments and quills in your bags. "Potions?"

You checked the time again. "In five minutes." 

"Shit." 

You sprinted down the halls of Hogwarts, going on every shortcut you knew. You reached the classroom faster than ever - seriously, you must’ve broken a record.

"What time is it?" Remus asked, a bit out of breath. 

"10:04" you managed to say. 

Remus knocked on the door while you struggled to keep an upright position - you had to admit that you were a bit out of shape. 

"Ah, Remus and Y/N, I was beginning to worry! Everybody is late today! Do you happen to know about Potter and Lily's whereabouts?" 

"No, sir." 

"Probably in a broom closet." Sirius said between coughs. Slughorn decided not to hear this remark. 

"Very well, then find your seats and get your books out." You hurried towards the empty desk behind Sirius and a now-seated Remus. Where was he? 

"Now, as I was saying. I prepared some concoctions this morning which you can find on your desks. Any ideas what these might be?" 

"It's Armortentia!" someone from the front exclaimed. 

"Excellent! Now, this is the most powerful love potion in existence. It causes a powerful infatuation or obsession from the drinker. Despite its power, Amortentia doesn't create actual love; it's impossible to manufacture or imitate love."

 You were already growing tired. "Miss Y/L/N, you seem awfully relaxed. Care to reveal what scent do you smell?" 

Your head shot up from the desk, trying to remember the question. You were ready to ask the professor to repeat it when you saw Sirius pointing to his nose and then to the potion. 

Thanks, you mouthed and Sirius winked. 

"I smell…" you started, closing your eyes and sniffing the liquid. 

"I smell gingerbread, old books and…"...James. You quickly opened your eyes as the realisation dawned onto you. "... musky cologne." 

"Wonderful, miss Y/L/N! Now, in the hour that remains you and your desk mates will have to brew an acceptable vial of Amortentia, helped by the example before you and of course, your books. So, open the books at -"

A loud knock interrupted Professor Slughorn. He turned his head just as James and Lily barged into the room all giggly and blushy. 

"Excuse us, professor! We had some urgent Prefect duties!" Yeah, right. 

"You are a tad late, I'm afraid. Oh well, you may come in, I've just finished the instructions for today's lesson. Potter, there's an empty seat next to Y/N; Lily, you can take a seat next to Miss Macdonald."

"Hello, roomie!" James whispered when he sat down, wiggling his eyebrows. "What are we brewing today?" he asked. Why did he always have that stupid smirk on his face? 

"That!" you pointed towards the tiny cauldron in front of you. 

"Hmm - let me see." he leaned forward to look at it, then scrunched up his nose when he tried to smell it. 

"Bloody hell, Y/N! Do you bathe in your perfume? And what is with this smell - lilies? Are lilies here? Well, besides the most beautiful one over there?" he nodded towards Evans. 

You couldn't help but blush and look away. You were sure you didn't put any perfume on this morning, so that meant…? 

"We are brewing Amortentia, you barmy wanker!" you heard Sirius' wheezy voice, who was trying and failing to hold his laughter. 

"Oh" James said, rubbing his neck. "Shit." 

Shitty indeed. 

You were in deep. 

****

part two

taglist: @futurewriter2000, @puppycat714, @booksbeforebois, @slytherinquill, @screennamealreadyused, @fific7, @with1love1anu

[alexathomson]

HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT QUICKEN ERROR CC-892?

Quicken Error cc-892 Quicken is one of the most popular on-start individual fund firms which allows their users to easily tackle all money or finance related records and premium in a remote place. However, Quicken is best suitable for Windows and Mac as it is a financial management tool which is developed and designed by Quicken Inc. As perfect is not always good, some Quicken users have reported that they have encountered lots of issues while working with the Quicken software. Here is one Quicken error cc-892 which have been recently reported by many Quicken users. However, the Quicken error cc-892 is the common error and occurs while updating account using the Express Web Connect. Due to this error, cc-892 Quicken is not able to update your account due to an unexpected error within Quicken. Usually, this is a temporary connecting issue which can be easily solved by following a few simple steps.

Symptoms of Quicken Error cc-892

When the Quicken Error cc-892 displays and collides the active program window.

The system many time collides with Quicken Error cc-892 when running the same program.

Displayed Quicken Error cc-892.

Windows runs very sluggishly and responds slowly.

At times, PC freezes for a few seconds.

Causes of Quicken Error cc-892

Incomplete or corrupt download of Quicken Program.

Due to Quicken, related programming change creates corruption in Windows registry.

Malicious program, virus or cyber attacks or any other malware disease has infected the system.

Another program incorrectly eliminated Quicken related relevant records.

Solution to Troubleshoot Quicken Error cc-892

Underneath are few troubleshooting steps which guide you in resolving the Quicken error cc-892 without creating any hurdle. But only if you follow these steps in the sequence as illustrated below. Here how to fix it:

Solution-1: Quicken program run with the help of latest release

Firstly, click on the ‘Quicken’ icon to launch it.

Next, visit to the ‘Help’ tab and then press on the ‘Check for Updates’ option.

Now, Quicken prompt you to install all the latest updates. For this, click on the ‘Yes’ tab on the next screen to easily install it.

Once installation completed, further continued ahead with two more methods which are discussed below.

Method-2: Deactivate Quicken Account

Initially, navigate to the ‘Tools’ option and click on the ‘Account List’ option.

Next, press the ‘Edit’ tab to the account which consists of some Quicken issues from the available account list.

After that, select the ‘Online Services’ tab.

Then, click on the ‘Deactivate’ tab to deactivate your Quicken account.

Press ‘Yes’ tab to confirm the deactivation process.

Once done, click on the ‘OK’ tab followed by ‘Done’ tab.

Now, you have to repeat the thing for some other accounts which contain this issue.

Alternatively, move towards the ‘File’ tab and click on it.

Under the ‘File’ tab, press the ‘File Operations’ option.

Now, click on the ‘Validate & Recover’ option.

Create a verify on Validate File and press the ‘Ok’ tab.

Finally, Quicken will automatically start the process of Validation.

Once the Validation process successfully installed, here you need to check out any existing problems associated with Quicken found into the DATA-LOG.

Method-3: Reactivate Quicken Account

Move to the ‘Tools’ option and click on it.

Then, press Ctrl+A all together to select all data.

Click on the ‘Edit’ tab for that account which recently deactivated.

After that, click on the ‘Online Services’ option.

Press the ‘Configure Now’ option.

Now, enter your bank credentials such as User ID and Password.

Once entered, click on the ‘Save Password’ tab to save typed credentials.

Next, press the ‘Connect’ tab.

Here in the process of associating bank details, Quicken will automatically show your information of the account by clicking on the ‘Link’ option.

Click on ‘Next’ tab which is followed by ‘Finish’ button.

Lastly, try to upgrade the Quicken account issue and check if the issue resolved.

Source By :  Quicken Error cc-892 , Quicken Support

[kpoptrashibnida]

Enough Pt. 12

A/N: Hey everyone, sorry for the weird formatting of this post. I am currently at work and have tons of down time. The work computers are not letting me log into Tumblr, so I have to post from my tablet, which is why this looks weird. I will however edit it once I get home, I just wanted to post this ASAP before I am bombarded by things to do at home or forget to post. Too many days have gone by and I have been anxious to update. Anyway, here is a new chapter! I hope you guys enjoy it. Things are starting to change my dears.... change is coming. As always, feedback is always welcomed and appreciated!

The next few days after the call you got from Namjoon were a blur. You wanted to tell Jaehyun about it right away, but as soon as he came to your apartment after being gone for the weekend, he ravaged you all night. After that, you were so immersed with work and meeting deadlines that it slipped your mind and the right time to tell Jaehyun never came.

It was Thursday and Jaehyun invited you to dinner, claiming that you both needed a date night. He was going to get ready in his own apartment and he said he would pick you up at seven. He instructed you to dress in your fanciest outfit because the place he was taking you to was a trendy new restaurant and they had a strict dress code.

You were excited to say the least, because Jaehyun was always so thoughtful with his date ideas.

You found a gorgeous red silk dress that hugged your curves perfectly; the neckline making your neck look long and elegant, the delicate thin straps attracted attention to your collarbones and the slit drew attention to your thigh. You felt incredibly sexy and you knew Jaehyun would enjoy it too. It had been sitting in your closet for the longest time and you were glad to finally have a reason to wear it. You made your hair in waves that cascaded down your back and your makeup was neutral but elegant. You wore your diamond studs and a dainty diamond necklace to go with it. After pairing your gold strappy heels, you grabbed a black shawl and your clutch, anxiously waiting for Jaehyun to arrive. You just hoped that you could concentrate on your date and not on the fact that now you had about a week to answer Namjoon. As punctual as ever, Jaehyun knocked on your door, the butterflies in your stomach fluttering wildly. Opening the door, your breath was taken away by the sight of a gorgeous Jaehyun in front of you.

“Wow, you look amazing.” Jaehyun complimented, eyes scanning your body in that gorgeous red dress. To say that his pulse quickened would be an understatement, he just wished he could keep his hands to himself until dinner was over.

“You too.” You say breathlessly, Jaehyun looked amazing in his charcoal grey suit, the top three buttons of his black shirt were undone, giving you a glance of his chest.

“I got you these.” He murmurs, giving you a bouquet of red roses.

You hadn’t noticed that he was holding them, you were focused on his gorgeous face, his hair styled in a way that showed off his beautiful bone structure.

“Thank you.” You smiled, taking the flowers from him and placing them in a vase with water.

“We should get going, they’re pretty strict with their reservation times.” Jaehyun said, grabbing your clutch and shawl.

“Okay, lets go.” You agree, walking out of your apartment and locking it.

Jaehyun held your hand and squeezed it, giving you a small smile. Once inside the elevator, he stood there and kept his gaze focused on the door. He seemed to be a little nervous and you were not sure as to why. You placed your hand on his cheek, turning his head towards you and placed a chaste kiss to his lips.

“You okay? You seem a bit distracted.” You comment, noticing he is not his usual talkative self.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He smiled, not really convincing you.

Before you could say anything else, the elevator door opened and Jaehyun took you by the hand once again and led you to his car.

The drive to the restaurant was short but you could tell something was off. Jaehyun was making small talk, but his eyes were very shifty and his hands were clammy. Maybe he wasn’t feeling well and still felt obligated to bring you out on a date. You instantly felt bad, you didn’t want him to go out of his way to take you on a date if he wasn’t feeling well.

The car came to a stop and Jaehyun got out and walked to your side to open your door like the true gentleman he is. The valet took the car and you were impressed at the level of sophistication this restaurant had. You felt giddy about coming to such a fancy place but nervous at the same time because of Jaehyun’s attitude. He held your hand as you walked into the restaurant and up to the hostess podium. The hostess, dressed smartly in an all-black ensemble, took you to your table that was in a more private part of the busy restaurant. The whole place oozed sophistication and you were happy Jaehyun took the time to bring you here. It was fancier and more expensive than the usual places you went with him, but you were not complaining at the change in scenery.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You’re being very quiet.” You ask, noting how Jaehyun has not been doing a lot of eye contact with you.

“Yeah, everything is fine. I am just a little tired.” He said but you were not convinced. He had his eyes trained on the bread basket as he nibbled on it. You tried not to get frustrated because you did not want to ruin your date at such a nice place. You decided to give him his space until he decided when he wanted to speak to you.

You felt your phone vibrate in your clutch and furrowed your eyebrows in confusion as to who could be messaging you at this time. You had a few text messages from an unknown number which further confused you. Opening them up, you had a good idea as to who they belonged to.

Unknown: Hey, I know it must have been a shock to see me again

Unknown: I’m sorry if I took you by surprise, but I knew if you had known beforehand, you would not have wanted to work with me.

Unknown: I hope you know that I’m doing this for the mutual benefit of your company and mine.

You tried not to roll your eyes as you read Chanyeol’s messages, he is as imposing as ever.

Me: How did you get my number Chanyeol?

Unknown: Wendy gave it to me when I asked

‘Of course, poor trusting Wendy would fall into his nice-guy trap. He probably told her some crap about needing to speak to me about work stuff. The bastard knows my office hours.’ You thought annoyed as you put your phone away in your clutch.

When you looked up, you noticed Jaehyun looking at you and you instantly felt bad. Even though he was being quiet, it was rude and ill-mannered to be on your phone in the presence of company.

“Sorry,” You smiled sheepishly, “It was a work thing.” You explained, internally cringing at the mild lie. Technically, it was a work message since Chanyeol is a client even if the message wasn’t work related.

“It’s okay.” He said with a small smile. He reached across the table to hold on to your hand, intertwining your fingers together and giving your hand a slight squeeze. “I’m sorry if I seem a little out of it. I am just a little tired, I hope I’m not being a downer.” He said gently, your heart squeezing for him since you were on your phone earlier.

“Of course not babe.” You grabbed both of his hands, giving his knuckles a soft kiss. “Thank you for bringing me to such a beautiful place.” You said with a smile, wishing you could sit on his lap and kiss him until you were both out of breath.

“You are a beautiful and special woman. You deserve this and more. I hope you know that I love you so much and I’d do anything to make you happy.” He said softly, his eyes shimmering in the dim lighting of the room. He looked so sincere that you instantly felt guilty for not telling him about Namjoon’s call.

“Thank you. I love you too.” You say, noticing how he kept touching the pocket of his jacket. Thinking nothing of it, you took a deep breath. You needed to tell him now.

“Jaehyun, there’s something I need to tell you.” You notice how he seemed to hold his breath, not expecting those words to come out of your mouth.

“What is it?” He asked, the nerves he felt earlier coming back full-force. He absentmindedly touched the pocket of his jacket again, but this time you didn’t notice.

‘It’s now or never.’ you gave yourself a small pep talk and took a deep breath.

“Babe, I got a call from Namjoon. He told me that after all the last crucial details for the opening are done, he no longer needs me to stay in New York. He says he has some projects lined up for me in Seoul and wants me to consider going back early. He gave me until next week to give him an answer.” You said it all in one breath, anxiously looking at Jaehyun’s face for his reaction.

He stared at you with wide eyes, surprise clear on his face. He was not expecting that at all and it made his heart sink. He was already dreading the end of the year and now suddenly it was getting cut even shorter? That's not fair.

“Oh.” He said dejectedly, not wanting to show his disappointment. “Have you given him an answer?” He asked, a little afraid as to what your answer might be.

“I have not. I can’t decide. I don’t want to be away from you and I wanted to see the project through until the very end. But the projects that Namjoon has are very good opportunities. It’s so hard.” You say, your throat closing up and you could feel the tears gather in your waterline. It was not fair that you had to choose between the man you love and a career you also love.

“Well, I want you to do what’s best for you. I love you and I support whatever decision you make.” He said, a small smile on his face. You knew he was trying to be supportive, and you appreciate that, but you could not bear the thought of being away from him.

“I know, I need a bit more time before I decide. I know we never discussed what would happen once my year contract was up and now I’m afraid for what will happen.” You confess, finally letting him know how you felt about the inevitable.

“Hey, hey, don’t be afraid. We will make it work. We had not discussed it before but we will find a way, don’t worry.” He gave you a reassuring smile. You were grateful that you had him in your life.

After dinner Jaehyun drove you home and he no longer was quiet and reserved like in the beginning. He was making conversation and even encouraging you to not stress out about giving Namjoon an answer. He was being very supportive and calm, which is exactly what you needed at the moment.

“Are you going to stay the night?” You ask once Jaehyun turns the corner into your street.

“Not tonight babe, sorry. I have some things I need to do when I get to my apartment. I’ll probably come over tomorrow though.” He said. You gave him a small smile and hoped he could not see the disappointment behind it. You really wished he could stay the night, you had an overwhelming urge to have him near you right now.

“Okay.” You said softly, gathering your things.

Jaehyun opened your door and walked you up to your doorstep, always insisting on being a gentleman.

“I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” Jaehyun said, hugging you and giving you a soft kiss on the lips.

You wrapped your arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, bringing your body as close as possible to Jaehyun’s, wanting to feel all of him.

He placed his hands on your hips, lightly groping your flesh. You moaned into the kiss, the need for him becoming stronger as the kiss deepened.

“You sure you don’t want to come in?” You ask between kisses, hoping he would agree to spend the night.

“I can’t babe.” He groaned out, pulling away. “I’ll come by tomorrow.” He placed a chaste kiss on your nose, completely detaching himself from you.

“Okay, good night.” You whisper, turning away from him and heading into your apartment.

You tried to ignore the dull ache in your chest, feeling rejected for some reason. You knew Jaehyun didn’t mean anything by not staying the night, but for some reason the fact he didn’t stay felt like rejection. You shook your head out of it, feeling silly for even humoring that negative feeling. You started to get ready for bed, a wave of exhaustion coming over you all of a sudden.

After your shower you saw your phone blinking. You walked to it, figuring it was most likely Jaehyun. You were surprised to see three missed calls from Chanyeol.

After a few seconds of debating whether or not you should call him back, you hit the callback button.

‘It must be work related. Why else would he call?’ You say to yourself. It was a bit late for it to be a work call, but you want to give Chanyeol the benefit of the doubt.

“Hey, you called back.” Chanyeol answered after the third ring, his voice sounding a bit wobbly.

“Yes I figured it was something important. What do you need?” You were trying not to be curt with him, but you couldn’t push away the feeling of disappointment at the fact that Jaehyun didn’t stay. Everything was irritating you right now.

“I do have something important to say-” He hiccuped, making you furrow your brows. Is he drunk? “I-I want to say… that I am so happy to see you again. And I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I really missed you.” He says, another hiccup coming out at the end.

“Chanyeol, are you drunk?” You asked incredulously. Of course he would be drunk, some things don’t change.

“Nnno. I am tipsy. Not drunk.” He drawled and you huffed in annoyance, this whole situation completely bizarre.

“Clearly.” You answer sarcastically. “Chanyeol, you better have a good reason to be calling me right now. It’s late.” You deadpan, already annoyed at the turn of events.

“I do ha-have a good reason-on.” He hiccuped, making you roll your eyes. “I wanted to say that I still have feelings for you and I used the gala as an excuse to see you again since you did a great job of shutting me out of your life.” He huffed, still slurred but more coherent.

You were silent for a few seconds, in shock at his declaration of still having feelings for you.

“Chanyeol, this is highly unprofessional. You shouldn’t have called me. I’m hanging up.” You said hastily, the rapid beating of your heart making it hard to breathe.

“Wait! I’m sorry, don’t hang up. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I know it must have been a shock seeing me. The truth is that I miss you, a lot. And you changed your number and I couldn't contact you. When the opportunity to work with you came up, I took it. I had to.” He explained, the loud ringing in your ears making it hard to concentrate on what he was saying.

After a few seconds of processing his words, you took a deep breath to level your breathing.

“Chanyeol, you’re drunk. Go to sleep” You said, deciding to hang up on him before he said anything else.

You plugged in your phone and put it on do not disturb, hoping no one else would contact you for the rest of the night. You closed your eyes and willed the erratic beating of your heart to go away.

__________________

Two days passed since that uncomfortable phone call with Chaneyol took place. He didn’t try to contact you, so you assumed he did not remember it at all since he was clearly inebriated. It was better this way, but you were still annoyed because you remembered it clearly. It kept playing in your head over and over and it affected your temper, to say the least. The stress of the final details for the opening gala was catching up to you, as well as the fact that you had about four days left to tell Namjoon what your decision was. Were you to stay in New York longer or cut your time short and go back to Korea to work on some exciting projects. On top of that, you had not been spending as much time with Jaehyun in the past couple of days. Ever since you told him about what Namjoon told you, he had been a little distant. He didn’t stay over at your place like he had said he would, claiming he was tired and had other matters to handle at home.

All of those stressful situations were making it hard to concentrate and it made you snappy, which you hated because no one deserved to be on the receiving end.

“Hey noona…” Mark said cautiously, slowly entering your office.

“Yes, Mark?” You asked, eyes still glued to the computer screen.

“Hey so I’m not sure if you saw the email yet, but Mr. Kim said that the final draft you sent him of the final details for the opening gala was incorrect.” Mark said, wincing at the end knowing that it was going to annoy you.

“Oh.” You sighed, refreshing your email and seeing the unread message that was sent almost an hour ago.

‘Fucking great. Had I seen this before, I could have gotten a head start.’ You inwardly groan, knowing it was going to take a while to get this rectified. You were mad at yourself for not being more thorough when double checking your work.

“Thanks Mark. I’ll make sure to finish this tonight. Go home. Have a good night.” You give him a small smile, returning your focus to the annoying task before you.

You had been editing the document when you heard a small rasp on your office door, looking over and seeing Jaehyun. Your mood instantly improved as you gave him a small smile.

“Hey, what are you doing here still? It’s late.” He said, walking in and closing your door behind him.

“I need to finish editing this document before sending it out to Mr. Kim tonight.” You explained, getting up from your chair and stretching your back.

“Oh man, that’s not good.” He said as his eyes looked at you intently. “You look very tired and stressed. Are you okay?” He asked, sounding genuinely worried as he sat on the corner of your desk.

“Yeah, I am stressed.” You agreed, needing to put some things out in the open.

“What's stressing you out? The deadlines?” He asked, genuinely curious.

“Yes, that. And you.” You conveniently decided to leave out the conversation you had with Chanyeol, not in the mood to deal with that.

“Me? Why?” He was surprised that you said he was part of your stress.

“Because ever since I told you about my phone call with Namjoon, I feel like you’ve been avoiding me. You never came to my place like you said you would. Are you upset with me?” You asked, feeling extremely emotional for some reason. You were trying not to let the tears roll down your cheeks, feeling very pathetic at that moment.

“I’m sorry you feel that way babe. I know I've been busy but I promise it has nothing to do with you. I didn’t mean to make you feel this way.” He came up to you and hugged you, making you slack against his body with relief. He held you close and caressed your back softly. You pulled away slowly in order to capture your lips in an urgent kiss.

You let your hands trail across his shoulders, bringing him closer to you as your tongue entwined with his. His hands were on your hips, kneading them softly as he rubbed you against his middle, allowing you to feel his bulge. You moaned softly, wanting to feel him closer to you. A sudden desperation took over you, making you palm Jaehyun over his slacks. He moaned into your mouth, hastily unzipping his trousers, freeing his hard member from its confine. He hiked your skirt up and moved your panties to the side, feeling your wetness pooling at your entrance. He groaned at the feeling and aligned himself, pushing all the way into you. You moaned at the feeling of being stretched out all at once, not minding the feeling of fullness. Jaehyun grabbed your leg from behind your knee, hiking it up his hip and thrusting faster into you. You moaned at the feeling of him reaching deeper in you, the pressure in your lower belly growing gradually. You tried keeping up with his thrusts, but he was moving at a speed you could not keep up with. His face was buried in your neck, his hot breath tickling you as you tried to move your hips in a way that would rub your clit against his pelvis. He grunted as he picked up the pace, your tight walls pulsing around him.

The position you were in was starting to get very uncomfortable and you tried to adjust; it was to no avail, Jaehyun was still pistoning into you like he had a purpose.

“Jae…” You tried, voice breathless, “Please, slow down.” You pant, scratching at his shoulders in order to get his attention.

He didn’t answer you and he kept up his pace, making you wince at the burn in your thigh and hips. He grunted at the feeling of you trying to move, your tightness finally pushing him over the edge. He released into you with a low moan, his hips finally slowing down. You stood frozen as he sagged against you, hot breath feeling sticky on your neck. He pulled out of you and reached for a tissue to wipe the mess between your thighs, throwing the soiled paper in the trash bin. He silently pulled himself back together, trying to look presentable before he left your office. You silently fixed your skirt as you watched Jaehyun straighten his shirt. You were still trying to make sense of what just happened, your heart thrumming in your chest uncomfortably.

“Are you coming over to my place?” You asked, trying to sound normal despite the tightness in your chest.

“Not tonight. Maybe another time babe. Want me to take you home?” He asks, glancing at you out of the corner of his eye.

‘Want me to take you home? Since when does he ask?’ You think, perplexed at his question.

“No, It’s fine.” You reply curtly, suddenly in a bad mood.

“You sure?” He questions, not understanding your sudden mood change.

“Yes, it’s fine. Have a good night.” You give him a tight smile. He keeps looking at you for a few more seconds as you gather your purse from your office. He silently follows you into the elevator and waits for your taxi to pick you up. The silence wasn’t extremely uncomfortable but it wasn't as comfortable as it used to be.

“Good night. Text me as soon as you get home.” Jaehyun says, giving you a small peck on the lips. You bid him goodbye and told the cab driver your address, not looking over at Jaehyun as he closed the door for you.

You were glad your cab driver was not one of those people that tried to have uncomfortable conversations. You were trying very hard to keep your tears at bay, not really feeling like crying in the back of a cab. You sniffled a bit and looked out the window, viewing the city passing you by. You were not sure why there was a sudden shift in your relationship with Jaehyun, but it scared you to not know where you stood and what was going on with him.

The cab stopped in front of your apartment building and you were about to text Jaehyun when you noticed a tall figure standing by the entrance of the building.

“Chanyeol?” You asked incredulously, not sure how to react to the fact that Chanyeol was at your residence.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re here alone.” He says, giving you a lazy smile.

“How do you know where I live?” You question, walking up to the steps of your building.

“I have ways of finding out.” He says mischievously.

“That’s really creepy, you know that?” You say, oddly happy to see him. You shake the feeling away as soon as it arrived, confused as to why you even felt that way.

“I guess so. Can I talk to you for a bit?” He questioned, actually looking a little sheepish.

“Yeah, I guess let’s go inside though, it’s cold out here.” You say, suppressing the shiver that ran through you at that second.

You led the way into your apartment, feeling very shy and nervous all of a sudden. You felt like you were doing something wrong. You felt guilty because it felt like you were cheating on Jaehyun. It was a stupid thought because you weren’t cheating on him and you were not doing anything wrong. And to be honest, you were still a little irritated about Jaehyun’s attitude change, so you didn’t really care if it would bother him if Chanyeol was here. You know it was childish, but you could not help it.

“Want some tea?” You asked, heading over to the kitchen to put water in the kettle.

“Sure, that would be great.” He said, sitting awkwardly on your couch. He looked comically small on your couch. For being such a tall guy, that is. He looked around your apartment, impressed at your place.

“Nice place you have here.” He commented, thoroughly impressed at how you had your life together.

“Thanks.” You placed the tea in front of him and sat across from him on the other couch. “So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?” You ask, sipping your tea.

“I just wanted to thank you. For everything.” He says, looking you straight in the eyes.

“Everything? Like, your promos? It’s part of my job, no need to thank me.” You shrug, not sure why he is thanking you.

“No, not that. I want to thank you for pushing me to be better.” He explains, wiping his hands on his pants.

“I don’t think I follow.” You say genuinely confused.

“You want to know the reason I've been able to become successful as Loey?” He inquires, confusing you further.

“Sure.” You shrug, not really understanding.

“You made me realize that if I was ever going to amount to anything, I had to work hard for it. If I was ever going to be good enough to be with you, I had to make something of myself. With that in mind, I worked hard until I reached my goals and surpassed them. Because I wanted to be someone who you could be proud to have by your side.” He explains, making you gulp loudly. You swear he can hear your heart beating in your chest, the air in your lungs running low.

“Chanyeol, I-” You began but were interrupted by him.

“You don’t have to feel pressured or anything. I know that you are in a relationship right now. But I just want you to know how I feel.” He says, giving you a warm smile, something that you never received from him before and you’d be lying if you said it didn’t make your stomach do somersaults.

“I see. Well, I am glad that I was able to help you, even though I was never aware that my nagging was actually making sense to you.” You both chuckle at that. That whole time you thought you were talking to deaf ears.

“But like you said, I am in a relationship right now. So.” You said with finality, hoping that the little bit of uncertainty you felt right now did not show. Your relationship has been great, so that’s the story you’re sticking to.

“I get it. But I just want you to know that if he somehow messes up, I’m here. I’m waiting for you.” He said that last part with a whisper.

You looked away, not being able to handle his eye contact anymore. He cleared his throat, making you look at him again.

“Well, it’s getting late so I better go.” He stands up from your couch and heads towards your door.

“Okay, be careful.” You say, holding the door open for him.

He looks at you for a few seconds and goes in for an awkward side hug, surprising you due to the sudden action. Before you could react, he was already out your door and heading to the elevators. You closed the door and placed a hand on your chest, willing your heart to stop beating erratically.

‘What just happened?’ You think to yourself, shaking the feeling away and heading to your bathroom to get ready for bed.

The air around you felt hot and stuffy, your skin slick with sweat and the sheets sticking uncomfortably to your back.

Large hands held your waist in a death grip, slim hips keeping your legs apart as he thrusts into you. The fullness of him deep inside you makes you moan loudly, fingers scratching a trail down his back.

His hot breath tickles your neck and you arch your back into him when his rough fingers make contact with your clit.

‘Just like that baby.’ He encourages into your ear, hips grinding into yours, moaning at the feeling of your tightness enveloping him.

Your legs started to shake, a clear sign that your release was soon approaching.

‘Yes baby, cum for me. Open your eyes, I want to see your face when you cum.’ he grunts, hips picking up pace.

You open your eyes and are met with piercing brown orbs; the intense eye contact and the way he keeps hitting that spot inside you are all it takes for you to reach your end.

‘Chanyeol…’ You moan as white hot pleasure takes over your body.

‘That’s it baby. You take me so well.’ He grunts as he fills you with his cum, hips slowing down.

“You’re so good to me baby.” He whispers in your ear, pulling his dick out of you.

You wake up with a jump, heart hammering wildly and skin drenched in sweat. You look at the clock and see that it is 3 am. You silently curse as you sit up to drink some water, feeling completely parched. You see your phone blinking on your night stand and pick it up to see what the notifications were.

You see that you had two missed calls and five messages from Jaehyun.

Babe: hey, did you make it home okay?

Babe: Babe why aren’t you answering me? Are you okay?

Babe: You’re making me worried, please answer me

Babe: Mark has you on snapchat and says he can see your location and it says you’re home. How come I didn’t know you were on snap?

Babe: You must be sleeping. Please message me in the morning so I know you’re okay. I love you

You sighed deeply and put your phone down, feeling bad that you forgot to message Jaehyun yesterday. The memory of your dream coming back full force, making you gasp.

‘I can’t believe I had a wet dream about Chanyeol. What the fuck is wrong with me?’

Once you have completely cooled off, you get back in bed and close your eyes. You had work in the morning and you did not want to dwell on why you dreamt what you did. It meant nothing. You were sure of it.

It had to be nothing.

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[crimsonbluemoon]

Working for Love: A TerrorMoo story 16/17

Hello hello! Happy Saturday to everyone reading this. This story’s been a lot of fun to write, and I’m happy to get this final part out. This is the technical ending to the story, but per Grace’s request, I’ll have an extra scene for people looking for a mature epilogue. 

But for those who don’t, this is the final one! So please, enjoy.

OH! And also make sure to come to my new Discord’s Podcast tonight at 8pm! ‘The Creativity Corner’ is for writers and authors who want to have others to connect with, or fans that wanna help support their favorite content creators. We’ve got a happy little community right now, so come join us! 

Our Podcast tonight will be about Burnout and Artblocks and how to push through them. 

If you need the link, here it is. <3 

Now enjoy the story!

Previous Part

Start from the beginning

Brian couldn’t keep the smile off his face if someone punched him (Tyler had already threatened to once, due to how ‘goofy’ his grin looked all day). Why?

Because he and Brock were together. 

Well, sort of. 

After comforting Brock during his breakdown, he’d spent a week sleeping at Brock’s place. Cuddling and kissing Brock every morning before life dragged them out of bed had been the best part of his day, and he felt high from the sensations that thrummed through his body each time Brock murmured his name with fondness. Sex hadn’t been talked about yet, which Brian understood. Brock had taken two hours to fully explain the negative effects his ex had on his body image, as well as his mental health. Just hearing how Brock’s previous boyfriend handled the situation was disgusting and left a bitter taste in his mouth. He’d split a pizza with Craig on Brock’s couch the next day, letting Brock catch up on sleep he’d been struggling to claim due to his anxiety. Mini looked rightfully spiteful when speaking about the ex, pointing out that the emotional abuse he’d provided Brock had been going on long before Brock even realized it. 

Brian had made sure to cuddle Brock even tighter that night, hoping his warmth could chase away any residual pain left behind. 

“You still didn’t ask him to be your boyfriend? You’re literally worse than Jonathan and Evan. I didn’t even think that was possible.” Tyler’s blunt statement made Brian laugh and Evan shrug, arms leaning on the front desk.

“There’s no expiration date on love.” 

“You saying you love Jonathan?” Brian asked, forcing himself not to pump his fists when finally getting a hint of a blush on Evan’s face. 

“I’m just here for the pizza man, not to get dissected.” And to prove his point, Evan reached forward to snag a piece from the box in front of him. The tradition of the gym was to provide pizza every first monday of the month as an incentive to get fair-weather members in for a work-out. The likelihood of them signing up for a class once there was higher, especially after the guilt of eating four slices of pizza came into play. It was a smart marketing move on Tyler’s part, Brian would give him that. 

“Number one, you’re here because I still pay you for some fucking reason.” Tyler smacked the back of Evan’s hand, scowling when Evan only clutched the crust harder and took the pain in order to rip a bite off the piece. 

“You can’t separate a man from his true love.”

“Funny, I don’t see Jonathan here.” Brian quipped back, snickering.

“Look who’s talking!” Evan’s childish reply didn’t deserve a response, so Brian ignored it by stuffing his own piece of pizza into his mouth. 

“Number two,” Tyler continued, glaring at both guilty parties. “Stop eating the customer’s food.”

“It’s closing time; the only one whose gonna come in now is Brock,” Brian said, glancing to the clock. It was close to 9:30, meaning they only had a half hour before the place officially shut down. A quick sweep of the gym saw two, maybe three, people inside. 

“And it’s so good.” Evan said, or that was what Brian thought he said, since pizza was muffling his words. 

“Number three; you both are hopeless losers if you can’t get the balls to ask out the men you’re in love with. I barely even tolerate Mini, but I was smart enough to make it official.” The last piece of information made Brian choke on his slice. Tyler and Craig were dating? Since when?! What alternate reality was he living in? And were they fucking, because Tyler still was just as grouchy as he’d been during his dry spell. Brian was going to have words with Craig. “And for the last fucking time, Brian, put your hat on.”

“Can’t,” he coughed out after swallowing the ball of dough lodged in his throat. “Gotta go get the weights ready for Brocky, bye!” 

“I’m going to fire you!” Tyler’s threat barely left a scratch on Brian as he tuned him out, humming when jogging through the gym to get to the weight rack. He’d set up time for Brock to work with him on free weights, which really was just a ploy to watch Brock’s bicep flex up close. All of Brock was handsome, but there was something about the transformation of his arm that really made Brian’s stomach heat with arousal. He wasn’t planning on getting anything out of it (other than a nice little image to think of in the shower), but Brian had already accepted that Brock could read a newspaper and he would somehow find it sexy. At least during this particular activity, he’d have a reason to ‘fix his form’.

“Hey.” Brian paused in moving one of the bars to the side when he heard a new voice call out to him, glancing over his shoulder at the newcomer. The man wasn’t out of shape, though the lack of definement on his muscles proved the gym wasn’t the first place he thought of going after work. It may have explained why he was calling out to Brian; he probably needed help with something he hadn’t learned to use yet.

“What can I help you with?” Brian asked, caught off guard by the once over he got. Sure, this wouldn’t be the first time someone had checked him out, but most did it from the corner of their eyes or behind machinery. The guy was bold, Brian would give him that. 

“I’m new to this gym. Was wondering how to sign up for training lessons.” 

“Most of our sessions are between the hours of 9am and 5pm; we rarely do one this close to closing. You can talk to Evan or Tyler at the front desk and see what trainer fits your timeframe,” Brian answered, giving a polite smile that stayed rigid with professionalism. Flirting was nice when he wasn’t dating someone, but Brian knew how to turn off his charm when he needed to. Here, seeing the obvious interest in Brian, he made sure to keep an appropriate distance from him when pointing out the front desk. “They’ll tell you all of our availability up there.” 

“Are you free now?” Persistence did not look good on this man, and Brian had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. From the corner of his gaze, he caught a familiar face, and his smile was much easier to throw out when seeing Brock giving him a wave.  

“Actually, I’m not. My boyfriend’s coming over to work out with me.” He’d said the title hundreds of times in his head, but it was the first that he’d let slip from his lips. And damn, did it feel good. He added a nod behind the man, who huffed and turned to inspect who Brian was talking about. Brian didn’t get to see the man’s reaction, because the joy that drained from Brock’s smile was far more important. Brock had never turned pale so fast in Brian’s presence, his wide eyes and quickened breathing both signs that something had gone terribly wrong. And fuck if people were watching (really it was just this one guy in the gym now), Brian needed to soothe him.  “Brock? Sweetheart, you okay?” 

“That’s who you’re dating?” The unnecessary bite to the man’s tone had Brian snapping his head back, his glare already reved up. 

“That a problem?” 

“He’s my ex-boyfriend.” A sentence had never made Brian’s stomach drop out and boil with rage at the same time. 

He was going to give Tyler a reason to fire him, after all. 

“You fucking asshole.” Brian’s hands grabbed the man’s shirt before slammed him into the mirror, fists shaking from how hard he was pressing into the other’s chest. “You fucking waste of life.” 

“Brian!” Brock’s cry of his name was heard, but for once, he didn’t feel soothed by it. Instead, the hatred and anger blistered in his skin, his teeth clenched together between scalding words of disgust.

“You vile dick. You, you, think you have any right to say shit to Brock? That you deserve anyone close to his calibre? Are you fucking crazy?” His arms slammed the man back again when he tried to respond, not wanting to hear his response. “I should knock every one of your stupid teeth out-”

“Please stop!” Brock’s chest was warm when he grabbed Brian from behind, his forehead pressed to the back of Brian’s neck. The arms around Brian were strong, but shaking, and it was the fact that Brock was trembling that made Brian finally let go of the other’s shirt. Brock pulled him back a couple feet before another hand grabbed him, turning him to face Evan and Tyler.

“Yo, calm down dude,” Evan tried to be calm about the outburst, but Tyler’s anger palpable in the air. 

“What the fuck was that? You can’t attack random ass people in the gym!” 

“He’s not random!” Brian snarled back, sending a scathing glare toward the man now staring at Brock. Brock, who was now pressed to his side, hadn’t noticed the look, too busy grabbing Brian’s hands to check his knuckles for bruises. But Brian had, and he wanted to rip the man’s eyeballs out of his head for even thinking he had the right. “That’s Brock’s ex.” 

“Oh shit.” Evan’s voice was quiet, but it seemed to echo from how silent the gym had become. Brock flinched next to him, but stayed silent on the topic, shaky fingers rubbing circles into Brian’s knuckles. 

“Jesus fuck, what is my life.” Tyler’s groan was followed by his hand sliding down his face, but Brian picked up on some of his ire washing away. He wished his anger had lowered at all, but seeing Brock’s ex open his mouth made fury rise through him again.

“Brock, you… you lost some weight.” It was insulting to hear Brock’s accomplishment said with such a surprised tone. Brian’s spine was ready to snap with how stiff it was, but he held himself still when Brock’s hand slipped to his lower back and rubbed along the vertebrae. 

“I’ve been working on being healthier,” Brock answered quietly, and Brian hated how hard it looked for Brock to make eye contact with the man who’d crushed him months ago. “It’s not really about the weight; just trying to be happy.” 

“That’s what I meant, that’s what I’ve always been telling you-” 

“No.” In an uncharacteristic rudeness that had Brian’s pride swelling, Brock steadied his feet and took a slow breath before continuing. “No, that’s not what you did. You tore me down and picked out everything you felt was wrong about me. It wasn’t about me being happy, it was about being good enough for you to date. You supported change; you just… you didn’t support me.”

“Well, I-” 

“But now,” Brock’s hand paused in its movement against Brian’s back, and he didn’t need any incentive to lean down and kiss Brock’s temple for reassurance. He felt Brock lean into the connection for a moment, as if trying to absorb Brian’s confidence in him. “I’m with someone who will.” 

“He’s only with you because you lost weight. If anything, I helped you. You’re never going to get better than you are now, which you only got to because I left you.” 

“Brock’s been the same fucking person since day one, you prick. Do you really think losing weight made him different somehow? How blind can you be? I swear to God- say something stupid like that again-” Brian was ready to launch across the floor to tackle the man to the ground, but in a blink of an eye, the man was yanked out of sight. Surprised, Brian glanced over to see that Tyler had the guy by the scruff of the neck. Using his height and strength, he manhandled the ex to the front of the gym, his scowl fierce. 

“Okay, I’m done with this. I have a no douchebag policy in my gym, and you’re well past that line. You’re done.” 

“Excuse me? I have a membership-”

“I’ll mail you a fucking refund.” Evan let out a cheer when Tyler tossed the man out of the gym, the doors slamming shut behind him. Brian wanted to feel anything but anger, but his blood was boiling. 

“Fuck!” Frustrated at himself for not chasing the man down, Brian pulled away from Brock, shoulders stiff when storming into the locker room. He barely made it past the door before he shouted again, hands slamming into the row of steel lockers lining the wall. His palms stung from the intense contact, but he didn’t care, needing to feel something other than pure rage. Why had that guy thought he had any right to make Brock feel worthless? All the emotional scars, the times Brock had lost sleep, the tears poured over that beautiful face were because of a piece of garbage like that? Another heavy roll of emotion washed over Brian, who clenched his hands and pounded against the lockers again. He leaned his forearms onto the cool metal, head no longer supported by his neck when he dropped it against the solid surface. Closing his eyes, Brian could feel his trembles trickling down his back, coasting along the skin light enough to create goosebumps in their path. 

“Brian.” The voice was cautious and soft, and Brian wanted to curl into it and never come out. He didn’t move from his tense position against the locker, hearing Brock move closer. “Tyler said to tell you he really did revoke his membership. Just deleted him from the database, too.” 

“Probably so I wouldn’t look up his address and beat the fock outta him.” And deep down, he knew Tyler’s caution was right on the money. 

“You wouldn’t really-”

“I would.” He took his time lifting his head to make sure that Brock could take in the serious expression on his face. “I would do it without a second thought.” 

“You shouldn’t do that.” Brock didn’t flinch away from the violence, but his concerned look was enough to settle some of the anger in Brian’s stomach. 

“After everything that focker did to you, I’d be more than happy to rearrange his face. Give me one reason I shouldn’t.” 

“Because that wouldn’t make me happy.”  Brian felt his lungs release the final wisps of tension at Brock’s soft touch, palms sliding over his cheeks to cradle his face in his hands.  “He’s a coward who would press charges, and then I’d be the one punished again. It’d just hurt me in the end.”

“Don’t want that,” Brian admitted without a fight. His shoulders slumped, leaning his weight onto the lockers. How did Brock ease his soul like this? Seconds ago, he’d been ready to tear through every house in the town in order to find the bastard who’d hurt the nicest man Brian had ever met. Now, nuzzling his nose against the soothing touch, he just wanted to hold Brock. But his body still shook with anger, and he didn’t trust himself to stay soft yet. Not the way Brock deserved. So he kept his forearms still, letting Brock take the lead in bringing their mouths together for a kiss that only lingered for a second. When Brock continued, the words caressed his lips like a whisper for nobody else to hear. 

“Neither do I. So we need to put this behind us.” 

“But he-”

“All that matters is that I’m here with you right now, not chasing after him to blow up his ego and make excuses for why other guys are stronger than him.” Brian could tell from the wistful way Brock’s tone shook that he’d been in those shoes far too many times before. “He can’t hurt me anymore. Maybe a year ago, seeing him would have ruined my confidence for days. But you helped me find my self-worth. I love myself too much to let him break me down again. And giving him any more of our time just feels wrong. So we’re not going to go after him; let his last memory of me be standing tall by your side without him. That’ll be worse than any bruise you’d give him, because it won’t ever fade. He’ll know I’m...” 

Brock’s confidence faltered, and Brian’s focus zeroed in on the quiver of the thumb that brushed over his cheek again. Brock was trying to be so strong, to be the support that Brian needed after he lost his cool over the ex. He was so amazing, and it shook Brian how often the beauty of Brock’s personality was hidden to make others feel better. Like Brian, right in this moment. And playing the bull-headed gym idiot others tended to see him as, he’d forgotten something important. 

“He’ll know you’re mine, sweetheart.” Brock’s face dusted with red was always Brian’s favorite image, and he felt a genuine grin catch the side of his lips at the sight. Still, he didn’t feel clear enough with his words. There was no way he was going to let Brock walk out of the locker room without knowing exactly what Brian wanted. Feeling in control of himself, Brian dropped one arm from the locker, his fingers roaming over the curve of Brock’s hip to pull him closer. Their chests met as Brian turned to face him, crowding him between his body and the lockers. “Tonight, he’s gonna go to sleep with the knowledge that I’m the luckiest son of a bitch in this town, because you’re my boyfriend.”

“Really?” The wide eyes and parted lips only lasted until Brian nodded. Then, like the first hint of sunlight over the horizon, Brock’s face bloomed with awe. His cheeks were stilly rosy, rounded and perfect to cradle the cute nose between them. His lips couldn’t hide his teeth from how brightly he smiled, eyes aglow with a warmth that would make fire jealous. Hands that others could find too clammy or pudgy were soft silk holding Brian’s cheek tightly, their foreheads meeting in the middle without words. Brian couldn’t stop himself from kissing Brock once, twice, three times more, his own relief growing with each second Brock didn’t deny the claim. And when he needed to pull away (because lungs didn’t care about romance), he made sure to use the space to answer Brock’s silly question.

“I’ve been head over heels for you since I saw you singing on the treadmill.” 

“Oh my God, Brian. You're the worst.” But the pure joy that came out of Brock’s watery laughter proved he didn’t mean it at all. Brian wanted to feel that giggle on his mouth, but before he could lean in again, a crackle shot through the air.

“Attention, love birds! Tyler and I would like to go home sometime before Christmas, so please stop fucking in the locker room. And clean any sex messes you make!” Mini’s loud cackle after the comment could be heard outside of the loudspeaker, and Brian laughed at the absurdity of their lives. Brock didn’t seem to find the humor in it, groaning before dropping his head onto Brian’s shoulder.

“I take it back; Craig’s the worst.” Despite rubbing Brock’s back to show sympathy, Brian couldn’t wipe the grin off his face if he tried. 

Because he and Brock were together.

No doubt about it.

And look at that; happy ending! I love these two, theyre so fun to write. <3 So I hope you’ve enjoyed this! Don’t forget about our Podcast tonight, come join and hang out, and as always, like, reblog, and let me know what you think! <3

[moon-ruled-rising]

as the rain hides the stars | xiv

Read the full story here...

xiv: we can’t make any promises

This ain’t for the best,

my reputation’s never been worse so,

he must like me for me.

We can’t make any promises

now can we babe?

But you can make me a drink.

-Taylor Swift, “Delicate”

When Dany was younger, she planned her future wedding with as much fever and gusto as a young princess with every resource at her disposal could. It would take place in the Great Sept of Baelor, obviously, as that was where all royal weddings took place. She would marry a wealthy foreign diplomat, or even better, a foreign prince. The guest list would be a mile long, with even more people attending the reception afterwards. Above all else, she remembered wanting one of those ridiculous many-tiered cakes and a hideous confection of tulle and lace for a dress. 

Of course, as Dany got older, the wedding day dreams were replaced with visions of a career and increasingly less domesticality. If nuptials ever presented themselves, she would go the quick and easy route of elopement. Anything else was frilly fantasy. 

Except now, those things were tangible and real. And the only thing that survived of her childhood wedding plans was the foreign prince, the only thing she didn’t have a say in. 

The Queen commandeered an old study near Dany’s guest room to be their official wedding planning headquarters. The whole space transformed and lost in the madness of planning two royal weddings in the span of a month.

In order for all the kinks to be worked out on the paperwork and numbers part of the treaty, Dany and Jon needed to be married as soon as possible. On top of that, both families were convinced they could sell the out-of-the-blue engagement as a whirlwind, love at first sight romance. Which meant they were stuck with a very limited window to get everything planned to the high expectations of the most important wedding of the decade. Maybe even the century. 

 Catelyn sat opposite of her with Elia and the Palace Event Planner, their electronic forms attentive on the screens. The Royal Event Planner from the Stark side was going over more options for color schemes. 

They’d ruled out Targaryen red and black unanimously and Dany shot down both the mauve and dusty pink options. She’d had enough of those colors in her youth. Varys always insisted she wear pink to everything important, as all unmarried Targaryen ladies did for centuries. The last thing Dany wanted was to deal with it on an already stressful, terrifying day.

The planner pressed a button on her little remote and another color palette appeared. 

“This one consists of laurel green, timberwolf, and a neutral grey,” she reported before continuing on about the reasoning behind the colors. 

“Too much green,” Dany said with only slight disinterest, reaching for a ring of fabric swatches near her.

“The ceremony is taking place in Godswood, the last thing we need is more green.” Catelyn agreed.

As Dany ran her hands over the pieces of cloth, she noticed a familiar color. 

“What about this one?”

She held the burgundy swatch up so everyone in the meeting room could see, including the two virtual guests. Deeper than Targaryen red and verging on purple, it was the same color as the heart-shaped leaves of the Weirwood tree.

“Oh, that’s lovely,” Catelyn cooed.

Elia voiced her approval at the same time.

“Could you create a palette around this and bring it tomorrow?”

“I can have it to you tonight, Your Highness.” She collected the sample and made a note.

“Thank you. And there’s no rush,” Dany smiled.

Once the meetings were over she hoped to avoid anything marriage related. She looked at the long list they still needed to cover. At least we’re getting somewhere. 

“Next item of business is wedding party assignments,” the planner continued.

“Since this marriage involves someone who is first in line for the throne, candidates for bridesmaids and page boys are selected by proximity to the royal family as well as status within the court. Here is a list of possible candidates.”

A list of potential bridal attendants landed in front of her. Rhaenys and Aegon were at the top of their respective categories along with Sansa, Arya, and Bran but the rest of the list was names she was unfamiliar with. 

“Lyanna Mormont would be a good choice. The Mormont’s have always been strong supporters of House Stark and her grandfather, Jeor Mormont, is currently Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. Choosing her would be a statement about your commitment to the Night’s Watch, who defend our Northern Borders.” Catelyn suggested.

Dany made a star by the name and surveyed the rest; Karstark, Maderley, Tallheart. She wanted Missandei as her maid of honor but knew better than to suggest it. It wasn’t her wedding. Technically, it was a transaction between the heir and the useful spare. Everything had to follow tradition.

She expected there to be limits on what liberties could be taken. Rhaegar and Elia’s wedding was much the same way, everything decided for them and all they had to do was show up and say the words. It all looked sparkling and magical to fourteen year old Dany as she watched from the audience with the other bridesmaids. 

Another list was set in front of her but this time she knew the names. They were the great houses of Baratheon, Tyrell, Arryn, and Tully. There would be at least one bridal attendant from each region and with the wedding between Cersei Lannister and Robert Baratheon, there was a spot open. Dany marked another star by Myrcella’s name and continued to survey them.

“We don’t have to have them all decided today, but within the next few days is preferable. We still have to send out the invitations and notify the choices for bridal attendants,” the planner reminded the room as Dany placed the selective list into the binder holding all of the wedding plans.

The mockup of the new couple’s cypher was tucked inside the cover, an intertwined D and J with a crown over it. It was strange to see her initials with someone else’s. 

According to Catelyn, a traditional Northern royal wedding ceremony included a processional, presentation of a sword, exchanging of vows and rings, changing of the bride's cloak, and recessional. 

“I’m sure we have a maiden’s cloak somewhere in this palace. They were in fashion once,” Elai stated, “I’ll have someone start looking as soon possible. Unless, Dany wants to commission a new one but that would tie up the seamstresses.”

“I was actually thinking we could exclude the changing of the cloak,” Dany spoke up.

The look she gained from the room wasn’t what she would describe as pleased. 

“It’s been performed at wedding’s for centuries,” Catelyn argued.

“Well, then, what if we altered it. A veil, cloak, and dress is a lot of layers but if we substituted something else. Like…”

To be honest, Dany hadn’t thought her suggestion through and as she frantically racked her brain for an example, she remembered Sansa’s festival outfit and the particular piece of sparkle that caught her eye.

“A brooch.”

“A brooch, Your Highness?” the planner questioned.

“Yes.”

“I think it’s a lovely idea. There are certainly more dragon pins in our collection than cloaks,” Elia offered, being the only obvious supporter of Dany in the room at the moment.

“We would need to discuss it further,” Catlyn sighed, writing something down.

It was the first time one of Dany’s suggestions garnered such a reaction from Catelyn and she was especially grateful she hadn’t suggested Missandei be in the wedding party.

“Now, there is one more tradition that we would like to keep. The first dance is always performed as a choreographed reel.”

“Choreography?” Dany bleated.

“Dany, you’ve taken dance lessons,” Elia tried to reassure her.

“When I was twelve. And something tells me this is a completely different wheelhouse than ballet and ballroom.”

Catlyn spoke up, “Not entirely but it does require a few sessions to get everything smooth. Unless you want to do away with that too.”

The way the Queen’s eyes settled on her was a warning and a challenge. As if speaking against her would bring the whole wrath of the North upon Dany. 

She straightened and tilted her chin a fraction, “I haven’t made my mind up yet.”

The wedding planner cleared her throat. Dany took that as her sign to let the moment pass and return to the task at hand. 

“We usually broadcast the ceremony but given the circumstances we’ve decided against it,” the planner informed, “but there will be a photographer there to capture everything.”

At least she wouldn’t have to deal with bloggers analysing every angle and glance. 

Her phone buzzed next to her and she turned it over out of curiosity. The notification expanded even though Dany didn’t want it to, revealing the news headline about her engagement. Her throat tightened and she squeezed her eyes shut as she took a deep breath. For most of the morning she’d been able to sit through the planning session with a detached sense of reality, like she was watching someone else flip through books of swatches and check items off lists. 

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Could you all excuse me for a moment?”

Dany stood and walked from the room with as much control as she could. As soon as the door closed her pace quickened. She wasn’t sure where she was headed but the more distance she put between herself and the wedding business the better she would feel. It took a flight of stairs and several turns before she was satisfied, only to realize she was absolutely lost.

With only one tour of a place as massive as Winterfell, there was no way Dany wasn’t going to get turned around. The sounds of a conversation came from a room down the hall. As she approached the details of the exchange became clear.

“I mean, this woman hasn’t had a single long term relationship in her life and suddenly she’s up and engaged to a man with a much higher rank after a week.”

She knew at once what they were talking about and rolled her eyes. Jon wasn’t that much higher ranked. 

The door was open when she reached the room, so she leaned against the frame. It was a smoking lounge and the conversation was coming from an old radio. Jon sat in one of the leather chairs, engaging in the act that the room was meant for.

“I’ll tell you what it is, it’s southern imperialism.”

The second person laughed.

“You shouldn’t listen to this shit,” she warned, a hint of teasing in her voice, “It’ll rot your brain.”

When Jon looked up, she stepped into the room, crossing to sit next to the radio as well. The room had a masculine energy about it that Dany was smitten with. Dark wood and leather, the stone around the fireplace and the sleek bear pelt on the shining wood floor, just one of the many hunting trophies on display with old weapons.

“A King should always listen to what his people have to say,” he remarked.

“To genuine criticism, but this is just conspiracy and gross speculation.”

The radio personality continued, “We’re allowing this foreign woman access to the ear of the most important person in our country. Now, what do you think she’s gonna do with that kind of power?”

“Push her own agenda.”

“Exactly, her southern agenda. She may have had people fooled at the Midsummer festival with that traditional dress stunt, but I was not impressed.”

She scoffed. The outfit wasn’t meant to be a PR stunt. Sansa suggested it and Dany agreed but they failed to consider that Dany was actually a nice person who wasn’t putting on a front.

And as for pushing her southern agenda, Dany wished they knew how much she loathed her brother and refused to impart his plans on anyone. Especially after the text message she’d received from him the other night, demanding her to hurry up and seal the deal. It was then she figured out how to work the whole ugly mess to her advantage. 

No matter where in the world she ran, she still had to answer to her brother and the Crown. And renouncing her titles was a hassle with too many negative repercussions, including Rhaegar’s thinly veiled threat of black listing her if she did. But in his desperate attempt to settle her down, he was handing her an escape plan on a silver platter. 

It wasn’t the sort of liberation Dany was looking for but it was the only kind she was going to get. And if it weren’t for the hysteria surrounding the weddings, she might have counted down the days like she did before her departure to university, with giddy anticipation.

As she brought her attention back to the radio personalities and their outlandish theories, she let herself sink down into the club chair. It was much more comfortable than the wooden one she sat in all morning and she was past caring if she wrinkled her business casual ensemble.

“While I’m with you on imperialism, I think there is a more obvious reason they’re engaged so soon and that is Princess Daenerys’ wardrobe. If you didn’t know, the Targaryen’s hosted their annual charity gala and the dress she wore was … putting a lot on display, to put it delicately.”

“I know what you’re talking about. Is there not a dress code at that court? Not that it matters, I mean, we all know about her nip slip-”

We’re still on that? She supposed the news cycle in the North was slower, allowing people like the two morons on the radio to focus their attention on something the South already considered old news. That would take some getting used to.

“You know, they said that picture was doctored,”

“Yeah right. At least Prince Jon knows what he’s getting in bed because there is a popular interview with her ex-lover Khal Drogo, he compared her to-”

“Could you turn it off, please,” Dany asked, not wanting to hear what came next.

“Gladly,” Jon answered.

She reached for the cigarette case without a second thought and slid one free, Jon lit it for her.

“So, tell me the truth. Are you really a spy for your brother?”

“What?” she choked on her laugh, not expecting that particular statement.

“The seductress of the south sent her to infiltrate the royal family and sell our secrets to foreign enemies,” he said with humor in his voice.  

“I can assure you I’m not. Whatever nefarious plans my brother has at work, he hasn’t included me in them. Not that I’d want to be a part of his scheming.”

“How do I know you’re not lying?”

“I’m not,” Dany laughed.

“Promise?”

“I, Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, first of her name, Princess Royal of the United Kingdoms of Westeros, and Lady of Dragonstone, promise that I am telling the truth. And when I make promises, I don’t break them.”

She lifted her cigarette back to her lips.

“I thought you were supposed to be in top secret wedding meetings all day.”

“We were in the middle of discussing the ceremonies and I needed to take a breather.”

“Let me guess, tradition?”

Dany groaned, “I’m going to be sick of that word by the time this is all over.”

“You get used to it.”

She wasn’t so sure. Her whole life was dictated by that word, and it wasn’t going to change anytime soon. But while the Northern traditions were a thorn in her side at the moment, 

She considered him for a moment, “You should come to them.”

“I don’t think I’d be of any help.”

“Yes you would. Right now, it’s me against Her Majesty and as much as we both dread it, it’s still our wedding.”

“What did you do to make Catelyn dislike you?”

“I merely suggested we re-evaluate a certain element of the ceremony and she acted like I insulted her entire life’s work.”

“As far as she’s concerned you did. Besides, if I showed up, there would be two people in the room she hates.”

“Exactly! Maybe she won’t even come. But it’s not her fault. There are so many rules about these weddings and she’s just trying to make sure everything goes smoothly. Now that I’m thinking about it, it would be more helpful if you weren’t first in line for the throne.”

“Not fair. That is all I have going for me,” he complained.

“Oh, whatever.” exclaimed Dany as she rearranged herself in the chair, folding her legs underneath her so she could lean on the arm and face Jon full on.

“You expect me to believe that you’re oblivious to the goo-goo eyes that get thrown at you everywhere you go?”

He threw up his hands in surrender.

“Oh my gods.” Dany shook her head.

“Okay, answer me this, if I wasn’t heir to a vast country who you happened to be engaged to and you met me at a bar, what would you do?”

Dany looked him up and down, trying to look like she was seriously considering his question. She already knew her answer, she’d admitted it to herself that night in the greenhouse. I wouldn’t hesitate to add you to my list. But hookups and marriage were different things with a common denominator and she didn’t want her answer misunderstood.

“Well?” he asked.

“Now I don’t want to answer it,”

It was his turn to roll his eyes at her.

A voice from the doorway called, “Your Highness”.

They both turned their heads. It was Ser Jorah and Dany sighed in relief even though she knew she was being dragged back into the wedding fray.

“Her Majesty wanted me to let you know the florist is here.”

Dany nodded and snuffed the butt of her cigarette into the ashtray. When she stood, she saw that her pants and blouse weren’t wrinkled and was relieved. 

“Have fun,” Jon said as she headed for the door.

Despite her best efforts, a chuckle and smile escaped her.

“I’ll try.”

[hanguangjeans]

Things I've learnt as a skater that almost never make it to fanfiction

Because I've read enough fics to cringe when the figure skater throws their very expensive skates in their bag and run off somewhere because nobody ever treats their skates like that.

DRY OFF YOUR SKATES.

You dry off skates with a towel so that you protect the leather and so that the blades don't rust

You put your blades in soakers (aka basically socks for your blades) so that the condensation gets absorbed somewhere and doesn't rust the blade

AIR YOUR SKATES they smell when left in a closed bag

It takes like 10 minutes putting on skates and like 15 minutes getting them off because you need to wipe it down

YOUR SKATES NEED TO BE REALLY TIGHT SO THEY NEED 10 MINUTES TO PUT ON

Literally everyone falls

Everyone.

Falls.

From the board huggers to the pros doing jumps and spins everyone falls and that's natural

Just fall

TRIPPING ON TOE PICKS

The number 1 cause of falling

You can be talking to someone and then end up face down on the ice the next moment because toe pick

Stabbing yourself with a toe pick is not fun but extremely common to do so

Stabbing yourself in the boot is literally the most heartbreaking thing it's like stabbing an expensive bag with a fork

Boots need to be replaced often if you're skating at a high level cuz the support breaks down faster than you'll see physical wear and tear outside of the boot

Blades need to be sharpened every 30-ish hours of usage (around once every two weeks-ish if you skate everyday)

Blades can sometimes cost as much as a boot

There is a break-in time for boots because they're sooooo stiff

Some people wear their new skates around the house to quicken the break-in time

Boots have different stiffness ratings and you can't get any random boot you like because you need to make sure it has sufficient padding for your foot

You can't randomly get custom boots made for someone without their foot measurements

Boots need to fit on your feet like a damn glove

An exact fit

You can't use anyone else's skates unless you're both the same size

Rental skates are pieces of shit

No matter how pro you are you'll never be able to skate normally on rentals

WEAR GLOVES

The ice gets super cut-up and falling without gloves on can scrape your hands

It's extremely painful when that happens

Wear gloves pls

PEOPLE WEAR PADDING

Especially if they're learning something new

Pads for your butt, pads for your knees, heck even padded gloves

Padding protects your joints especially if you have joint problem

Like smashing your knees against the ice frequently causes you problems

A one-way ticket to old lady knees

Say goodbye to unblemished legs

Your knees will forever be bruised

Things people put in their skate bag:

Waterbottle, towels, band-aids, exercise tapes, extra socks, extra gloves, extra layers/clothes, hair-ties, skate guards, soakers, gels for blisters

You'll notice that Olympic pros use luggages and that's cuz they literally lug their entire house with them

Costumes, exercise mats, exercise gear, clothes, tracksuits, makeup etc

Whatever looks easy on screen is actually really freaking difficult to do

Katsuki Yuuri should technically not have been able to land the Quad Flip on a whim without practice unless he actually trained for it in Detroit

You can't learn stuff on your own

Like you need a coach or an experienced skater to teach you the correct techniques

You need someone to spot your mistakes cuz you won't be able to tell on your own

People record themselves for this reason

Throwing yourself in the air and spinning is difficult like try jumping and turning more than 360 degrees on land and see if you can do it well

ZAMBONI

WHY DOES EVERYONE FORGET THE ZAMBONI

Skating on fresh ice after a zamboni is a religious experience

ZAMBONI

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.