#We do have a car harness but as it's a short drive he's fine

[faofinn]

No.5 "You better pray I don't get up this time around."

@whumptober-archive

Debris | Pinned Down | "It's broken."

When Harrison had met Tai, he’d certainly not expected to grow so fond of him so quickly. But it had just felt… right. They’d somehow got good chemistry, hitting it off immediately after a slightly rocky start. Even though Harrison was busy with university, he still found time to see the Irishman, and they’d fallen into bed on more than one occasion. 

They’d decided to change things up a bit and go for a hike rather than their usual bars, and it was nice, the change of pace. It was a short enough drive out of the city, up into the hills, and they enjoyed the warm sun on their faces and good conversation as they walked. 

They’d stopped to eat lunch, taking in the views over the city, and when Tai had leaned in for a kiss, Harrison hadn’t pushed him away. It was nice, the casual domesticity of it all. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to kiss him. 

As they headed back down the hills, they had to pay attention a bit more as to where they were putting their feet, loose stones and dust easy to lose their footing on. Hars had already done it once, his knee giving out on him, but Tai had caught him with a breathless laugh. They were virtually back at the car when Tai stumbled, twisting his ankle as he went. 

He definitely heard a crunch, and the pain was immediate, red hot agony. He just about managed to keep himself upright, but couldn’t take any weight through that foot, gripping onto Harrison like his life depended on it, knuckles white. 

"Hey, hey, easy." Harrison was quick to take his weight, wrapping a strong arm around him. "I've got you."

“Fuck.” He whimpered. 

"What's wrong?"

“My ankle.” Tai groaned. He tentatively stretched it out towards the ground and recoiled almost immediately. “Nope.”

"Careful!" He couldn't hide his worry. "Let's sit, let me have a look."

“I felt something go.”

"I heard it." Harrison admitted. 

“You’re gonna have to drive.” He whined. 

"That's the least of my worries."

“Hurts.” He panted, feeling woozy. “Where are we sitting?”

"Just down, you look like you're gonna pass out." He said softly.

Tai nodded, and sat with Harrison’s help on the dirt. “Fuck.” 

"I've got you, you're gonna be okay." He soothed, rubbing Tai's back. 

“How bad does it look? It felt bad.”

Harrison pulled a face. "I've seen worse. But it's broken, there's no doubt."

“I was hoping you weren’t gonna say that.”

"So was I."

“I’m not gonna be able to stand.”

"I can carry you?"

Tai scoffed. “Really?”

"Hey, don’t be so mean."

“I don’t want you to hurt yourself too.”

"I'll be fine."

“Mm.” He mumbled. “Hurts like fuck.”

"If we get back to my car, I've got stuff in the boot."

He nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

"Or I can go get it, but I'll have to leave you alone for ten minutes." He absently pressed a kiss to his hair. "Hey, if I do that, you'll be high as a kite for the rest of the hike. You might enjoy it."

“I just want to go home.”

"I know, love." He rubbed Tai's arm, the affection instinctive. "I know."

“Can we go back to the car?”

"Of course. Want me to carry you?"

He nodded sheepishly. “I’m not gonna be able to stand.”

"You know, there are easier ways to get close to me." He teased, standing up.

“You don’t like the damsel in distress routine?” Tai joked weakly.   

He helped him to his feet, balancing himself s moment before looping an arm under his knees. He moved as gentle as he could, aware each movement would be agony for Tai. Concern covered his face as he frowned at him, eyes wide with worry.

"Is that okay?"

Tai had definitely paled, everything spinning a little, but he nodded. “Yeah.” He replied tensely. 

"Just breathe, you're okay. I've got you." He murmured. "You're okay."

“Didn’t know you were this strong.”

"Am I more attractive now?" He teased.

“Maybe.”

"This all a ploy to get closer to me?"

“Would be funny if it was.”

He grinned down at Tai. "Y’know, there's easier ways."

“Probably less painful too.”

"Oh, most definitely."

“Was a nice hike, though.”

"I certainly enjoyed the view."

“Yeah?”

He hummed. "And the scenery was nice, too."

“Oh, shut up.”

"I'm serious."

“So am I.”

"I'll be quiet then."

Tai leaned into him with a soft hum. “You can keep talking.”

"Ah, no. You've made your bed, you can lie in it, suffer in silence and all that." He'd barely made it a few steps before his act broke and he laughed. 

“See, you can’t resist me.”

He hummed. "Yeah, something like that."

He was quiet for a minute. “You think it’s definitely broken?”

"I'd put money on it." He said softly. 

“Ugh.”

"Hey, you'll have to come stay with me." He murmured. "I can look after you then, make sure you have everything you need."

“Oh, so now you’re trying to get me to move in?”

There was a hint of blush on his cheeks. "Maybe."

“Not complaining.”

"You're not?"

“You just promised to wait on me hand and foot.”

"Like a king." He teased. 

“Mm, perfect.”

"Only fair."

[fellatiogal94]

Stranger Danger for Puppers

Yesterday my Dad and I decided to get some chinese take-away near our home. We drove up with our soon-to-be 7 month old Chow, Mochi, to the place as there is this perfect area to practice Heel and Short-leash in a noisy and highly distracting park area. This is like advance training that I wanted to test out on Mochi to see if he will remember his training in this area.

So I walk out to the park while my Dad went to the take-away, as soon as I crossed the road over the park, this overweight middle aged (over 40) white guy limps away from his seat infront of this cafe, making moon eyes at my dog. “Oh look at ‘im, he’s so fluffy, can I pet ‘im? Oh please, I love dogs”

Now, I really need to train Mochi. He goes up to everyone and every dog hoping to make friends and get the world record of the most pets he can get. I need this to stop as he could and has, run out on a road. He might get hit or hurt, maybe the dog is not friendly or the person has severe dog phobia. So I tell the guy that I am very sorry but I need to train my dog, I gave him my reason and tried to walk away but my dog is like 20kg (40 pounds) and he is going no where as there is a big person that is gushing at him.

The guy ignores my wishes and starts lathering Mochi with pets while gushing on and on on about “How fluffy”, He tells me how he understands “You see?”, he has a friend who had such a sweet dog, “but he ran out and got killed by a car, you see?” “It was a terrible terrible accident” “I wanted to walk ‘im so I let ‘im out” “But I didn’t have ‘is leash, you see” “I didn’t kill ‘im” “It was an accident” “terrible terrible”

At that point I am getting warning bells, Mochi had enough of the pets and turned to watch a car drive past, the guy was fingering his collar looking and trying to see past the fluff. and then Mochi veered away and I see the collar slump a little. I lunged forward and grabbed my dog by his butt fluff and the guy backed off, walking behind me. THE FUCKER HAD RELEASED THE FUCKING CLASP ON MOCHI’S GOSH DARN COLLAR!

He walked up behind me and Mochi, sensing my fear, went around, removing my grip, and started nipping at the guy’s heels until he chased the guy off of the sidewalk and then heeled by my side, loose collar, my heart in my throut.

The guy limped off laughing “he likes me, he likes me” and I bent down and reclasped the quick release collar and walked into the park dragging Mochi away.

If I hadn’t been vigorously training Mochi, he might have run across the road where it’s slightly busy and gotten hit....and If he did, I would have killed the guy, I don’t care if I went to jail, that dog is my fucking life, I didn’t spend more than 3 months loving and raising my fluffy land shark, just so some creepy prick can kill my dog and call it a “terrible terrible accident”. 

I didn’t tell my Dad about how close that guy got, I didn’t want him to worry or to chase the guy down. I was tempted to call the police but I had no proof or evidence, it would be my word against his...but NEVER AGAIN. If I see that guy again, I’m not going to fucking let him near my baby.

Have a picture of my dog, look at that pose! My little lion!! ( ´ ∀ `)ノ～ ♡

[heli0s-writes]

Clumsy

Summary: Serendipity, it’s the only way Steve can describe it. His ma was right: he’d always been slow.

Pairing: Steve Rogers/Reader

A/N: Fluff with a tiny sprinkle of Steve angst because I love one sad boi. Written for @wkemeup​​‘s 4K Challenge like an entire year ago!! I’m so sorry, Kas!! The prompt was Bright Eyes’ “First Day of My Life”. 2.8k words.

It was supposed to rain.

Thunderclaps rolled in the distance all morning. Moisture hung heavy in the air and the earth smelled like wet already--- salty, thick, sweet. The app on his phone blinked gray clouds straight across the screen. Seventy-three degrees and a nine-five percent chance of precipitation. Winds NE 20 miles per hour.

But at 2:30 in the afternoon when Steve slides into the car, it’s clear and blue.

So he figures it’s coincidence and poor meteorology when the engine quietly rumbles to life. He fixes the collar of his shirt, checks for hotels around the midway point, and sends an uneasy look to the empty passenger seat.

Then, he makes his way to where you are.

-

The two-lane country road stretches on. Winding and curving, pitch-black and howling with wind and wildlife. Bugs splatter on the windshield and he mechanically sprays a bit of fluid, wiping them off, the squeaks giving his radio a bit of rhythm in all this late-night talk. It’ll be another half hour before he gets to the hotel and he’s still wrestling with himself if he should even break.

No reason to now. He can drive all night. No reason to other than his pride.

“So what is it?”

There’s an imprint in the seat. An outline of a warm body folding soft creases in the leather. Late night talk radio fizzles out, and he’s tired, so he can’t get too upset at his brain for seeing the shape even though it’s been months since anyone’s sat there.

He chances a look over, then quickly back ahead because sure—the sedan is small, but this tiny strip of pavement feels even smaller. Too right and he’ll careen into the woods, too left and if another car’s coming around the bend Steve would roll out alive, but he’d be the only one.

He looks again.

Legs folded. Bare feet. Ankles crossed on the dash. Casually sitting with one hand on your phone and the other one behind your head, face lit incandescent by the screen. It was the first time he’d been alone with you after New York; he remembers this.

You hadn’t even given a glance sideways at him, still fixed on the screen, thumb sliding up and focused on mission details in a perfect picture of indifference.

“Your whole thing. Mister Red-White-and-Broody, most eligible bachelor in all of America—which, by the way, is so far up your ass all fifty states might as well be coming out of your mouth—”

“Stop it.”

“Okay, Rogers.” A smirk. His last name slipping between your lips like military title. “Fine, you’re all gilded in the front, suffering in the back. So—” You turned finally, pulled your feet back and tucked them under your body, “What is it?”

Steve pretended to think, left hand clenching a fraction tighter on the wheel, feeling its strength beneath his grip. His face remained impassive and dedicated forward, turning the seconds in his head, counting down the appropriate time for his reply.

It was a game, certainly. Your assertion, your poise, hand propping up your head—all of it. Your entire being was a foil to one Steven Grant Rogers and he was strapped with you for half a week. Already the car ride was beginning to foreshadow what was quickly seeming to be a long assignment.

“It’s my job—”

“So weak.”

“I’m busy—”

“Are you even trying to lie?”

You were known to do this: lay out a path of questions that only gave your company the pretense of a genuine conversation. You’d lead them like a wrangler leading horses to water, knowing they wouldn’t drink, but giving them just enough time to stare at their own reflection in the pool before you’d yank the harness elsewhere.

It was always a short path, but what you lacked in subtlety you made up for with honesty.

Agitated, Steve snapped before he could rein himself back in.

“What are you, my psychologist?” Horse.

“You don’t have one. You are the only Avengers Tower resident who has run off every psychologist on Stark’s payroll. So--” a twist of your torso, your back pressed up against the door handle as you stared at the outline of his side profile. Wrangler.

The question dangled in front of his gritted teeth. The answer he’d known long ago was behind two perfect calcium rows, pressed up, trying to find its way through the cracks.

What’s your thing? We fought together. We live together. We suffered a cataclysmic event in the form of aliens together---so why doesn’t anybody know you?

You leaned forward, body tilting until it almost touched your former footrest. Your head sloped to find his face and when he flicked his eyes sharply to yours, Steve knew it wasn’t sharp enough.

“You don’t want to be vulnerable.”

You’d led him through the brief route of your inquisition and had seen all you cared to see. Your voice bounced off the window when you closed your eyes and turned away.

“Steve,” you sighed, mouth going to the side in a smile. “Vulnerability is clumsy, but it’s the only thing worth anything.”

He had thought: No, it isn’t. He’d spent too long being vulnerable already, and he couldn’t afford it again. Twenty years of a miserable half-life and seventy years of sleep and suddenly the world was new and different and strange. Coming back into his body was new and different and strange but it was the body that afforded him invulnerability.

Mostly, anyway.

Steve decided, then, at least he could make up for that lump of mortality—that lump of weakness—with performance.

So, he became the blacksmith to his feeble Brooklyn boy heart. Forged carbon steel, gold-plated, immaculately polished like his own shield at press conferences. Smoothed himself into a monumental display of impeccable posturing and hid the boy away where no one could reach him. Let him go back to sleep, too. Frozen in a time long passed, long forgotten.

He wasn’t Steve Rogers anymore because no one knew Steve Rogers anymore; it was the only way he could carry on. Didn’t you know?

No, he supposed, you didn’t.

On the ride back you surrendered yourself to the backseat, laying down in the most comfortable position the sedan would allow, and chatted his ear off the entire ride home. Called him Steve and looked at him through the rearview mirror. Eyes met eyes, and yours crinkled at the edges with some secret knowledge.

By the end of it, all he could think about was how he didn’t mind the conversation and that his first name even sounded a little nice coming out of your mouth.

You shimmer in the passenger side until your hair hangs a little longer. His brown leather jacket is around your shoulders. A stretch of your arms. A stretch of your lips. Months passed and Rogers befell the man you knew during the Manhattan Crisis while he became Steve.

Steve on missions and in the field—On your six, Steve! Keep up, old boy. Steve at the tower and Steve in the gym— don’t touch my weights, Steve, you’ll throw your back out.

Steve getting the door and pouring the whiskey and letting you wear his jacket when you were cold. Finding you across rooms at parties because there was an easiness to your presence that calmed the crowd. Shooting pool and watching movies. Up late and out late and laughing until the early hours.

He was Steve, your friend, because he finally allowed himself to have a friend.

You change. Shimmer again until your hair is pulled back from your swollen face. A hospital gown crinkled around your shoulders. Asleep, cold. Too close to death, too close to him. He couldn’t even sit by your bedside, only standing by the door, shuffling from one wall to the other and watched the monitors with a too-loud and static-filled brain.

He was hesitantly Steve when you stepped too close to him on the balcony nights later, hand precariously hovering over that fragile boy heart, finally pressing down on it, feeling his delicate pulse thawing and crawling towards you. Tipsy smile and you tasted like whiskey and easy joy.

The kiss was clumsy, like you’d said. Vulnerability threw him back to the 40’s, all gangly limbed and ill, his lungs malfunctioning, his breath smothered in his mouth. He stumbled, but the banister held him up.

You didn’t mind that his knees felt boneless. You chalked it up to too much drink, but the touch of your still-bruised cheek abruptly burned down his throat—warm and smooth and cataclysmic until he caught sight of the way you winced as his hand cupped your tender face. Steve stepped back, then, and apologized for what he said should have never happened.

There was a small quiver from your shoulder before you quietly went back inside.

He cursed himself on the balcony. Cursed letting it all happen in the first place. Captain Rogers watched your retreating steps, burying the spark and the fire. And the boy must have cried in his ice-block coffin when he buried him again, too.

“Don’t look at me like that.” God, he’s going crazy. Poor night-vision and an addled brain causing him to scold an empty seat. “You stopped talking to me.”

His grip on the steering wheel tightens the way it does when you’re too deep in his head and he can’t get you out. Days without hearing from you smeared together in careful steps of a cagey dance. Comments always presented as half-truths—riddles he struggled to deconstruct. Breadcrumbs never leaving enough of a trail to lead him anywhere. He wants the harness back. Wants back your confident hand.

“You could have said something.” Steve scoffs, because you always had something to say. “Anything. You could have said anything. We were—friends.”

And hell, doesn’t that sound stupid out loud? Maybe it’s best that he’s got nothing but infinity beyond the sedan’s glaring brights and a million thoughts of unsaid words. It’s all useless, anyway. Best that he can get it all out now, talking to your ghost. It keeps all his thoughts in his head and keeps him from yelling every time he sees you not-looking, not-smiling, not-talking to him.

Steve flicks the wipers on again. Shuts off the radio. Shuts off the navigation. Takes the car off cruise-control to give himself something to do. He’ll stop overnight, after all.

Suddenly then, in the distance, two glowing eyes greet him steadily. Measured paces, in a firm and crisp trajectory, growing closer and closer. Glaring and vivid, beating the monotonous grind of nighttime out of him. His pinky moves, and his high beams flip to low beams, white giving way to yellow and the glistening road signs and tree-shadows in the distance slowly diminish.

Bleached spectral glaring of leaves and road signs soften ochre and brown, indigo dark. For a fleeting moment, even Steve’s enhanced eyes feel half-blind again as he readjusts to the pitch-black night barely lit. The car coming toward him does the same, highs blinking low and they pass each other in quiet understanding. In blind trust on the dark road, dependent on each other’s good faith to see it through.

He thinks of Sarah Rogers in a tiny Brooklyn kitchen, floral wallpaper yellowed and peeling behind her. One hand on an apron-clad hip, cooking interrupted by her son stumbling in dripping blood down his shirt, her other hand clenched around a wet kitchen rag.

“Steven Grant Rogers! Oh—wretched! What else can I say,” she’d sigh as she pressed it to his nose, “You do whatever you please, anyhow. You just put this on your face—and don’t think it’ll get you out of doing the dishes, either.”

“But—” he’d attempt.

She’d put up her hand, “Lord have mercy on any young woman that’ll have you. May she have your poor mother’s patient heart.”

His ma always called him slow. A dolt through and through. Quick to temper, but laborious to do much else. Common sense always took its sweet time-- took the long path home to get to Steve Rogers. In seventy-odd years, he hasn’t changed.

Better than coincidence and better than poor meteorology. Serendipity. It’s the only way he can describe it.

Like finding a crumpled up twenty in his pocket—or in his case, a five—enough then for a week’s worth of meals. Like having that nightmare— the one right before the plane crashes and instead of going down with it, he wakes up. Like expecting to drive five hours through a storm and stopping overnight, but instead it’s clear and blue as far as he can see.

The rush, the relief, the deafening joy that shuts everything else up and out.

Sarah Rogers was right: he’d always been slow.

So he careens back onto the highway from the service road, steadying his foot on the pedal and flies about fifteen miles faster than the speed limit says he should. The car is vibrating to a thrilled beat inside his chest. Steve can’t help smiling.

-

It was supposed to rain. All the way to the next mid-morning but the sky parts a brilliant orange sunrise and he nearly sprints to the door. He doesn’t wait for it to open all the way before he barrels in. A sliver of parting wood is enough, and Steve throws it wide with his enormous shoulders, kicking it shut firmly with his boot.

The imprint of your body on the couch is still warm—you, halfway across the room in alarm—real and even warmer when Steve gathers you into his arms. He’s been awake for over 24 hours, talking to himself, talking to your hallucination, so he apologizes when his teeth click against yours in a frantic kiss.

“Rogers--!”

You pull away, dazed, a little bit pissed off, but you cow the swirl of emotions into professionalism. “What are you—you’re not supposed to be here until late—did you drive through--”

“Steve,” he interrupts, “Steve.”

He’s so tired of the long road. Can’t stand another second of maneuvering in the dark down winding paths or broken streetlight avenues you’re not at the end of so he keeps his next phrase short: “I really like you.”

You raise your brow and brush the back of your knuckles over your lips, the light from the balcony streaming over your face. His hand tenderly brushes your cheek, the same one he touched all those months ago and you blink in surprise. Quick, calculating movements even as you lean gently into his touch.

“Steve…” you say slowly before your mouth pinches together in a poor attempt to hide the smirk threatening to surface. “You drove all night to… ask me to call you Steve.”

“Well,” he shrugs, “And the mission.”

“Right, the mission. The debrief didn’t mention that it required a lot of… kissing.”

“It came up recently; I haven’t adjusted the file yet.” He grins at your rolling eyes, your swollen lips peeling back to reveal a joyful display of teeth at his stubborn defiance.

“Took you long enough,” you mumble.

You place your hand over his chest, over his heart.

You kiss him and Steve hears himself sighing into your mouth. His cheeks flush with embarrassment, but you’re not letting go, and he presses his lips to yours a little slower, a little firmer, learning the ways you like to feel him there.

“Steve,” you breathe, and it paints him in the most galvanized care. “Steve,” you say again, and his eyes slip shut, like he’s being laid to rest. And maybe he is. Finally weary of lugging around all his armor, all his pretense.  

The boy emerges, thawing toward his name held sweetly in your mouth.

He fumbles with his awkward limbs—a newly birthed foal trying to find its footing—but you’re patient and enduring. He takes in his trembling body—knobby knees and gangly elbows. Inept gait still learning how to be. He takes the sights—white casting over the balcony. You, even brighter.

It was supposed to rain, but you link your fingers through his, leading him toward the open doors, smiling against a backdrop of sherbet swirls. He stumbles, but you’ve got him. A few short steps, just a few more, and Steve kisses you again in the sunbathed daybreak, resurrected and anew.

[atlafan]

Office Neighbors - Part Four

a/n: alright, the angst in this is...ANGSTY, so please be careful lmao, I think the smut and fluff makes up for it though, but you tell me. enjoy! (reblogs and feedback are helpful!) (not proofread, I’m sorry) 

warnings: fluff, angst, smut

words: 17K

masterpost

You were in a large t-shirt, underwear, and a pair of socks, getting your things packed for the conference. Harry would be picking you up around eight to hit the road for New York so you wanted to make sure you weren’t scrambling in the morning. You had your A/C cranked as you were running around so you wouldn’t be sweaty before bed.

The buzzer for your door goes off, and a shock goes through your system. You look out the window towards the street and you see Harry’s car lit up by the street light. You rush over to your door to buzz him in. You don’t even have time to consider putting something cuter on by the time he’s coming in through your door.

“Harry, what are y-“

He drops a small bag he brought with him, and pushes you up against the wall crashing his lips to yours. His hands drag down your hips and to your thighs to hoist you up. You instantly wrap your legs around his waist and tug at his hair.

“Wh-what’s happening?” You breathe.

“I didn’t want it to happen at the hotel.”

“What?” He gives you an almost pained look. “Oh!” You look down at yourself. “I looked so much cuter for you the other day, though.”

“I can’t tell you how cute I think you look right now. Can I please take you to your bedroom?”

“Yes.” You kiss on his neck while he walks you down the hall to your bedroom. “I want you so bad, Harry.”

“I know, I want you too, I was being silly the other night.” He gets you onto your bed and kicks his shoes off before settling on top of you. “I want this…with you.”

“Me too.” You arch up to kiss him.

“You’re okay with all this? Me being here right now?”

“Yes, Harry.” You reach for the hem of your shirt and lift it off, revealing your breasts to him.

“Do you have condoms?” He says as he licks over one of nipples.

“Y-yeah, in my bathroom.”

He hums his response as he kisses down your stomach. Everything felt hazy. When he looks up at you to speak, a buzzing sound comes out of his mouth.

“Huh?”

Your eyes flutter open to the sound of your alarm, and you nearly start crying from anger.

“Oh, for the love God!” You groan as you kick your blankets back.

It had been a couple of days since you were intimate with Harry. He called you the next morning to see how you were, ever the gentleman. He had a chance to see Andy before the conference, so he took it, not that you blamed him, but you were sort of hoping he’d come by and rail you.

You take a very quick shower, and make sure your things are together before he comes to pick you up. You had been up late getting everything packed, and clearly the stress from that had gone into your dream, and dream Harry came to relieve you of that stress. You just wish the real Harry would. Not that the other night wasn’t amazing, because it was, you were just sort of hoping to fully have sex with him. You understood him and you didn’t at the same time. What was the difference between having his dick in your mouth or having it in your vagina? You knew have sex was serious, and he probably had to be careful about who he got into relationships with because of his son, but he’s known you almost a year…doesn’t he trust you?

You’re taken from your thoughts when you hear your buzzer. You perk up a bit, and grab your backpack, and rolling luggage, and head out the door. Harry’s waiting outside his car with his trunk open. He looked really handsome. He was wearing a pair of light blue shorts, a white t-shirt, and a pair of sunglasses.

“Morning!” He says. “Got coffee and a breakfast sandwich for you in the car, I stopped off at Dunks.”

“Thanks, you’re the best.” You kiss him on the cheek and he puts your luggage in the trunk. You keep your backpack with you in case there’s anything you may need.

“So, it’ll be roughly four and half hours. We can stop anytime you want, don’t be afraid to speak up.”

“Do you…drive through the city often?”

“Not really, why?”

“Well…it’s just…do you mind if I do the first half of the drive? I’d like to gets us through Boston.”

“We don’t need to go that way. We’re going to take 93 to 293 and go through Manchester, and then eventually we’ll switch to 95, no need to go through Boston at all, love.”

“Oh…alright then.” You get the passenger seat and buckle up. He gets in the driver’s side, and pulls onto the street.

“That’s not to say you can’t drive, we can take turns. Or I can drive there and you can drive back, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“I just…sometimes I get road rage and I can be sort of a back seat driver, especially when it comes to driving in the city, but if we’re not going through Boston we shouldn’t have a problem.”

“Don’t forget, I do go to London quite a bit, people drive like wankers out there just the same, so I know what I’m doing.” He smirks at you.

“Mhm.” You nudge him.

“Did you sleep well? I feel like I never sleep well before big outings like this, no idea why.”

“Yeah, um, I slept alright.” Your face flushes a little as you remember your very vivid dream. “Slept like a rock, really.” You clear your throat. “What did you do with Andy?”

“I took him up to the cabin for some alone time. Went kayaking, made a little fire, it was fun.”

“Oh, that’s great!”

“Yeah, he says hello by the way.”

“Aw, that’s sweet.”

“He asked a lot of questions about you, he’s so nosey.” Harry chuckles.

“Probably just wants to make sure you’re not going out with a crazy person.” You laugh and open up your breakfast sandwich. You take a bite, and then have a sip of coffee. “Thanks again for breakfast, so nice of you.”

“Oh, don’t even worry about it. I have a little cooler in the back seat as well with other snacks if you get hungry.”

“Gee, thanks, Daddy, did you pack capri-suns? Those are my favorite.” You grin at him as you tease him.

“Make fun all you want, but when you get hungry or thirsty, you’re gonna be happy I prepared.” He side eyes you. “I have a tough time taking my dad hat off sometimes, alright?”

“No, no, it’s nice that you think ahead. I appreciate it.” You put your hand on his shoulder and give it a squeeze. “You just make it very easy to tease you sometimes.”

“Glad I can be a source of entertainment for you.”

“Hey, someone has to be on this long ass ride.”

“Long ass ride.” He chuckles.

“Yeah, it’s mad long.” You say as you look out the window.

“Mad long kid.” He says in a horrible Boston accent and you slowly turn to face him.

“Was that supposed to be me?” You laugh. “I don’t think you want to play the accent game, pal.”

“I think it’s cute when you let it out a little. I think you said ‘wicked’ in one of the classes I observed and I had to try not to laugh, or like any time you say ‘pissed’.”

“Everyone uses those words! It’s not like I’m sitting there going, ‘that’s wicked pissah, guy’, give me some credit.”

“See, again, I just think it’s cute.” He smiles. “Say more super-Boston words, what’s another good one?”

“Umm, god, I don’t know.” You giggle. “Is dungaree one?”

“What in the fuck is a dungaree?” He laughs.

“It’s another way to say blue jeans.” You laugh. “My parents and grandparents used to say it all the time. I don’t know if it’s a Boston thing though. Umm, spuckie is like a sub sandwich…sort of an East Boston thing though, so not everyone says it.”

“I notice you dropping your R’s a lot towards the end of the day. You don’t really have much of an accent otherwise.”

“I sort of trained myself not to have one because it’s fucking annoying. You sound like a moron. I think it just comes out more when I’m tired.” You shrug. “Do you mind if I connect my phone to the Bluetooth? Listening to NPR the entire time doesn’t sound like fun…”

“Not into morning radio, huh? Sure, you can just use my phone since I have the GPS going.” He grabs it out of the cup holder and unlocks it for you.

“Thanks.” You go into Spotify and slightly snoop at his Daily Mixes. You didn’t listen to a lot of the same stuff, but you did some similarities.

“Anything but top-40 is fine with me.”

“Don’t like pop?”

“No, I do, I just hate listening to the same shit that’s always on the radio.”

“Fair enough.”

“Put on…put on music you would have listened to in college or something.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to expose myself like that!” You giggle. “I listened to a lot of degrading RnB.”

“Ha!” He shakes his head. “Please, find a playlist and put it on, I’m dying to know.”

“Alright.” You find a playlist with RnB songs from the later 2000’s and figure that will suffice. Rude Boy by Rihanna plays first, a great start. “Ugh, love this song.” You say and put his phone down.

“This is what you’d party to?”

“Sometimes.” You shrug. “It’s just a good song in general. I like Rihanna…do you?”

“She’s not bad.” He shrugs. “I probably wouldn’t let Andy listen to her.”

“Oh, but that’s half the fun! Being a kid and listening to really inappropriate music in your room, pretending like you know what they’re talking about. Used to do it all the time with Eminem.”

“Same here, actually.” He chuckles. You sing softly to yourself and he smiles. “Don’t be afraid to belt it out, I sing in the car all the time.”

“Really? Because you haven’t done it once since I’ve known you.”

“Good point.” He turns the music up and sings along with the chorus and you start laughing. “Come on, Y/N!”

You start singing with him, and that continues on a lot throughout most of the car ride. Around the halfway point, you stop at a rest area to use the bathroom and freshen up. You both grab a slice of pizza for an early lunch, and then head back to the car.

“Do you want me to drive, Har?”

“No, I’m fine…unless I’m making you car sick…”

“No! I just didn’t know if you needed a break.”

“I’m really all set, but thanks.” He pecks your lips quickly and then you both get into the car. “What do you feel like listening to now?”

“You pick.” You smile.

“No I want you to…I like knowing what you’re into…” He blushes.

“Do you like rock music at all? My mom used to listen to all those 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s bands. Might be night to take a break from the profanity.” You chuckle.

“Rock works for me.”

“Eddie Money?”

“Crank it.”

You both giggle and you put on some music. You feel like the two of you have been putting on a concert, and it’s been so much fun.

//

You arrive at the hotel for the conference, and head right into the garage to park it. Harry gets a ticket that he’ll be able to get validated inside. He helps you with your things, and then you both head inside to check in.

“Harry Styles.” He says to the woman at the desk. You go to the person to her.

“Ah, Dr. Styles, great to have you for the CMT conference. Did you take a ticket for the garage?”

“Yes, here it is, thanks.” She takes it and stamps it.

“Right, and you’ll be here three days, correct?”

“Yes.”

She types on her keyboard and makes some rapid clicks.

“Alright, you’ll be on the twenty-fifth floor, here are two room keys, Wi-Fi is included, and there’s complimentary breakfast every morning.”

“Wonderful, thank you so much.” He looks at you and steps back to wait until you’re given everything. “What floor are you on?” He asks as you both head to the elevator.

“The twentieth, you?”

“Twenty-fifth…I think they gave me a suite or something.”

“Oo, fancy.” You smile. “I asked for a room with two beds so I wouldn’t be shoved into a closet sized room.”

“Smart.”

You both head into the elevator, and Harry follows you out once you’re on your floor. You raise an eyebrow at him.

“I just wanna get you in your room in case there are any creeps watching through their peep holes.”

“Harry…I’ve been to a hotel alone before.”

“I’m sure you have…it’s just for my own peace of mind, humor me?”

“Alright.” You shrug. You key in and he comes in with you. “Still tight, but definitely more floor space with two beds.” You hoist your luggage on top of one of the beds and sit down on the other. “I think I’m gonna relax, get settled for a bit, but do you wanna get dinner later? We could just go to the hotel bar.”

“Yeah, that sounds good. Wouldn’t mind a quick nap, honestly.” He yawns. “See you soon.” He leans forward and kisses your forehead before heading out.

You end up falling asleep for a bit, and then you put on a bit of a nicer outfit for dinner. Harry tells you he’ll meet you outside your room for dinner. He looked a lot nicer too.

“Hey.” You smile and hug him.

“Hey.” He kisses the top of your head, and holds your hand on your way to the elevator.

“Are you happy you get your presentation over with tomorrow?”

“Oh, definitely. Then I’ll be able to enjoy the rest of it.” You both find a spot at the bar and order a couple of drinks while you look over the menu. “Did you want to split something? I’m not starving.”

“Me neither, yeah, that sounds good.” You furrow your brows at the menu and gasp. “Har! They have vegan Buffalo wings, can we please get that?!”

“Yeah, that sounds like it’ll really hit the spot.”

“And curly fries, gotta have curly fries.”

“Agreed.” He smiles.

You both order the food and clink your cocktail glasses once they come to you. The Buffalo wings really did hit the spot because you both scarfed the down.

“I wonder if we’ll run into anyone we know here. I’ve been to this conference once before, but it was a couple of years ago.”

“We all sort of go to different ones, like, our faculty. Plus, not a lot of people go to ones in the summer because they don’t want to think about work, but I like it. I feel like it keeps me fresh for the school year, you know?”

“Mhm.” You smile and just listen to him talk for a little bit. Harry was so incredibly intelligent, and you always liked listening his thoughts on things.

After a couple of drinks you both decide to call it a night since Harry would need to be up early in the morning to prepare for his presentation. He walks you to your room, just as he did earlier.

“Well…goodnight.” He says.

“Did you want to come in?” You nod towards your door.

“I do…but…I probably shouldn’t. I need to get to sleep…”

“Okay.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s really okay, I don’t wanna be the reason you’re tired tomorrow.” You wink at him and peck his cheek. “See you for breakfast?”

“Definitely.” He smiles and waits for you to go inside before walking back to the elevator.

//

You wake up feeling refreshed the next morning. You take a quick shower, and put on a pair of grey slacks paired with a pink blouse and navy blazer. You liked looking nicer at these types of things. You put your hair up into your buns, just so you still looked a little fun, and head down to breakfast with your laptop bag slung over your shoulder. Your jaw nearly drops when you see Harry down at the breakfast restaurant. He was wearing a suit…you had never seen him in one before. It was brown, and he was wearing a purple button up underneath it.

“Y/N!” He snaps you out of your trance as he waves you over.

“Hey.”

“Morning.” He smiles and kisses you quickly. “You look nice.”

“Thanks…so do you, I mean…you look…so handsome.”

“Oh, stop.” He swats a hand at you. “It’s just dress pants and a matching jacket.”

“No…it’s more than that. I mean, look at all the other people. Blue or black slacks, white button ups. You’re very fashion forward.”

“You’re just now realizing? Well, how nice of you to come out from under your rock.” He winks at you, and you put your bag down so you can go up to the buffet with him.

“Yours it at ten, right?”

“Yup. Which session are you going to first?”

“There’s a working session about advising that I wanna go to, just to get some tips since I’m advising this year.”

“That’s a great idea.”

“What about you?”

“I’m not going to anything this morning, just so I can focus. I’m gonna practice my presentation again.”

“I’m excited to see all of your data. I hope more schools will see they should be offering wellness courses.”

//

Your first session was extremely eye opening for you. You head to bathroom quick, and then go to where Harry’s lecture will be. You weren’t sure where to sit. You knew he hated when people sat in the back of his class, so you knew not to sit all the way in the back.  You decide on the fourth row. Not too far back, but not right up front either. You didn’t want to make him nervous. Seats were filling in here and there, which you were happy to see. Harry loved an audience.

“Y/N, is that you?”

“Dr. Pierce!” You gasp and stand up to hug your old friend.

“Please, you know you can just call me Arthur.” He chuckles.

“Old habits, would you like to sit with me?”

“Not saving it for anyone else?”

“No, the person I would be is going to be presenting.”

“Ah!” He says, sitting down next to you. “You know Dr. Styles?”

“I do, we’re colleagues actually. Office neighbors, in fact.”

“Good for you, he’s very bright. I’ve read a lot of his work, it’s refreshing.” He looks you up and down. “You look wonderful, your new institution is treating you well?”

“Very well! Thank you.” You smile. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”

“You’re just saying that.” He runs a hand through his hair. “This kids today are turning my hair white.” He laughs. “That’s why I wanted to check this out. Maybe if I can find a way to make them less stressed, I’ll be less stressed.”

“You’ve definitely come to the right place, Harry is the king of no stress.”

Harry could see the audience filing in from behind a curtain. He smiles when he sees you, and then squints when he sees you speaking with the man next to you. It was clear you knew each other and it wasn’t some stranger sparking up a conversation. He could tell because you nudged him after he made you laugh, something you would only do with a friend. He sighs and pushes his glasses up his nose. He can hear himself being introduced, and then he walks out. The room claps and he nods his head once he’s at the lectern. He was given a lapel mic to wear so everyone could hear him, and a remote to turn his slides. This was he could easily walk around the stage.

“Good morning everyone, I hope you enjoyed your first sessions…or an extremely long breakfast, whichever.” He shrugs and the crowd laughs. “I’m Dr. Harry Styles, and I’m so happy you’ve decided to spend your time with me this morning.”

You smile as he says this. You remember him saying this to his wellness class when you observed it. He said it to them everyone morning.

“I say this to my students every time we meet because even though, much like you, they’ve paid to be there, they still have to make the choice to get up and come to class.” He changes his slide. “I teach a class called Communication, Media, and Wellness, it’s just one of the few I teach, and I only offer it at eight in the morning.” He hears some people make comments and he grins. “My attendance rate is one-hundred percent throughout the semester, wanna know how I do it?” He changes the slide, and shows a picture of his classroom with students, desks in a circle, heads down on the desks. “We take the first ten to fifteen minutes to meditate, and then we do the same with the last five minutes. I give them time to settle in and clear their minds. Some fall asleep, some work on their breathing, and some just listen to me speak.” He changes his slide. “We talk about a lot of things in this class. We talk about what we see on the news, social media, and everything in between. We talk about how those things make us feel. We talk about tactics to help ease our anxiety, and if I’m noticing a particular energy, we break out the yoga mats and do some stretching.” He changes the slide again. “Students today are anxious about everything. They’ve grown up during some really tough times, never truly feeling safe. I’m here to help them learn how to cope.”

Harry goes over some data he’s collected over the last few years. He sends surveys to his previous students every semester until they graduate, and then twice again after they graduate. Everyone that’s taken his class thus far has graduated, and those that haven’t graduated yet all had high GPA’s. He shows comparisons of their GPA before the class (it’s only offered to sophomores and up right now), and their GPA after taking the class. There were only improvements.

“These students are able to take what they’ve learned with me and apply it in other classrooms and in their lives outside the classroom. The biggest thing I explain to them is to not be on their phones before bed, to not even watch TV really. It’s too stimulating, and sometimes it causes anxiety and then you can’t fall asleep.” He changes the slide and the crowd laughs. It was a picture of students presenting Harry with a sign that says ‘NO SCREEN BEFORE BED’. “This group made me this because I must have said it a hundred times that semester. I keep it hung up in my office.” He changes the slide to show students in their place of work after graduation. “Many of the results I got from my graduated students are that they’ve taken things with them. I have students have fallen in love with reading before bed, or they listen to a podcast, or use some type of app that tells them a story at night to help them fall asleep. They they’re able to wake up refreshed and ready for the day. Many of them even wake up and mediate to help them really become alert.” He changes the slide again to a picture of him giving a yoga lesson outside on the quad. “I know this may seem silly, but it really does help these students. Offering a class for credit on this allows them to already build it into their schedule, rather than offering classes at the gym that they really have no obligation or incentive to go to. This is a CM course, but it also counts towards our school’s general education requirement. We call it a Wellness Connection, so any student can take this course. I’ve had such a mix of students take this course, and they’ve all come out better for it. Offering something like this in today’s age is extremely important for our students who are facing so many hardships. I hope you’ll consider implementing some of this into your classrooms.” He looks out to everyone and smiles. “Thank you.”

Everyone claps, and someone else comes out and tell everyone that there’s about fifteen minutes for questions. Harry gets a few and is able to answer them best he can. Once it’s all done he takes a deep breath and sits on the stage. He knew some people would want to come up to him afterwards.

“Will I see you later?” Arthur says to you as you both stand up.

“I’m not sure…I doubt we’ll be at all of the same sessions.”

“Maybe at the bar later then?”

“Maybe.” You smile. “If not…it was really good to see you.”

“You too.” He hugs you again. Harry sees this and furrows his brows.

You grab your things and walk over to him.

“Excuse me, Dr. Styles, I have a question.” You grin.

“And what might that be?” He says, taking his suit jacket off and rolling his sleeve ups.

“How are you so incredible?”

“Y/N.”

“I mean it! I was floored. What incredible data, and it’s all true! It’s all things we notice in our classrooms. I really need to implement that no screen thing into my own life, to be fair I tend to read on my phone, but-“ You realize how fast you’re talking when he raises his eyebrows at you. “Sorry…just a little excited.”

“I’m glad you got a lot out of it.” He smiles. “Who, uh, who was that guy you were sitting with?” He asks as you both walk out of the room.

“What guy? Oh! That was Dr. Pierce, he teaches at my previous institution. It was a nice surprise to see him. He spoke really highly of you too. He said he’s read a lot of your work, which is incredible because I’ve never once heard him say he likes anyone’s work but his own.” You laugh.

“Was he one of your professors?”

“Not necessarily…he was, um, a colleague…” You blush slightly. “I’m headed to the session on…what?”

“Was he the professor you-“

“Harry, now really isn’t the time, okay?” You say quietly. “It was before you and I even knew each other, it doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter when you were sitting with him.” He frowns.

“He’s just a friend.”

“A friend that you-“

“Not the time.” You snap. “You’re not my boyfriend, check yourself.” You huff and walk away from him so you’re not late for your next session.

His mouth falls open, silence coming from him when he tries to call after you. He shakes his head and heads to his next session.

You were so pissed you skipped lunch and went for a walk outside instead. You were barely able to concentrate during your session, and you didn’t answer any of Harry’s texts. Were you acting childish? Maybe, but you hated when men got like this. What the fuck did it matter if that was the professor you slept with? It was so long ago, and the two of you were friends. You didn’t want to sleep with anyone but Harry, couldn’t he see that?

By the end of the say you had calmed down, and you finally answer his text. He had asked you to come up to his room before dinner so you could talk. You knock on his door and he lets you in. He had changed into a pair of jeans a t-shirt, you were in still in your nice clothes.

“Harry, I-“

“Let’s get something straight.” He cuts you off, and you’re a little shocked by his tone. “You were right earlier, I’m not your boyfriend. In fact, I think it would be too soon for a label like that considering it’s only been about a month since we started all this.” He steps closer to you as you had backed away when he started talking. “But what I am is the person that you’re seeing, right? I’m the one who had their head between your legs just a few nights ago, so I don’t wanna hear it. It’s a stupid fucking word that people use to put some type of seriousness on their relationship, and I’ve never really understood it. You’re either with a person or you’re not, plain and simple.” He looks at you. “You acted like a fucking teenager earlier, you realize that right?”

“I was upset.”

“So you ignored me? You said something purposefully hurtful and then walked away? Is this how you handle things? You don’t like when someone says something to you that you don’t like so you shut down?”

“I didn’t shut down! We’re at a fucking conference and you were starting something with me that I told you wasn’t the time to start. We each had a session to get to! Unlike you, I paid to come here, Harry.”

“You still acted like-“

“Do you know much you disrespected me back there? Do you even care? There I was, amazed by you, and all you could care about was the fact that I used to sleep with someone, and I was polite to them. He asked me when he’d see me again and I totally brushed him off because I came here with you and I wanna spend my time with you!”

“You don’t even think it’s a little weird that a guy that much older than you wanted to sleep with you?”

“That’s society! Older men like younger girls, what can I say? Is it sickening at times? Sure! But at the time, when I was twenty-three, I wanted it. I was attracted to him, we got along really well, and I made a move, okay? Me, I made the first move.”

“He should have told you no.”

“But he didn’t! I rode that dick for an entire semester, and then summer happened, and he went across the country to go on sabbatical. It was a brief stint, okay?”

“You’re being vulgar.” He shakes his head.

“That shouldn’t be new to you. You’ve been out with Janette and I enough times to know how I talk. You’re making a big deal out of nothing, and for what? Are you jealous? Is that it? He’s fucked me and you haven’t?”

“I’m not jealous of that.”

“Oh.”

“I’m not jealous of anything, I just didn’t like watching you flirt with him from backstage.”

“I wasn’t…” Your eyes start to water. “I wasn’t flirting with him…I was just being nice…cordial.” You blink a few tears away. “I…need to go, I’ve lost my appetite.” You brush by him as you walk towards the door.

“Y/N.” He sighs. “Don’t go, we can work this out.”

“You basically just said having sex with me wasn’t anything special, so…yeah, I’m leaving.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You said you weren’t jealous of it!”

“Because I’m not! It would be a stupid thing to be jealous over. I may not have fucked you with my prick, but I got in there, I made you orgasm – twice! My main problem-“

“Well, I hope you enjoyed getting in there because it’s not happening again.” You were livid now. “Here I was, putting you on a pedestal for so long, but you’re just like every other guy. You’re an asshole!” You huff and turn towards the door again. “And if I’m acting like a teenager, then that makes you the tallest fucking baby I’ve ever seen in my life!” You leave and slam his door shut.

//

“You said what to her?!”

“Don’t yell at me! I called for help, Paige, not-“

“No, no, I will yell at you. Where do you even get off getting upset that she was talking to an old colleague?”

“I told you, they used to hook up, and he’s like fifteen years older than her, it’s gross, and I see it as him taking advantage of a young girl.”

“Harry…” Paige sighs. “It doesn’t matter how you see it, it’s how she sees it. She clearly didn’t think anything was wrong with it at the time, you can’t get mad at her for it. It was before you even knew each other. Ugh, this is just like when you punched Ryan Green at that party when you saw him talking to me.”

“Because he was the guy that dated you before me! He shouldn’t have been talking to you in the first place, he knew we were going out.”

“It doesn’t matter, it’s about trust, and not jumping to conclusions. I don’t think I had ever been so mad at you.”

“Yeah…but…you forgave me…”

“And nine months later we got Andy, I know, I know.” She sighs. “You said some real hurtful shit to her. What happened to deep breaths before speaking?”

“I couldn’t help it…”

“You and your green eyed monster.”

“I have to apologize…I feel terrible. I put up a front, and it was like I had no control over anything I was saying. What if she doesn’t want to date me anymore?”

“Then it looks like you’ll have a really awkward drive home in a couple of days.”

“Not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be, that’s the reality you’re facing. Now, from what you told me she said…it sounds like you both have some sorry’s to say. I agree she shouldn’t have ignored you all day, but maybe she just needed to cool off.”

“True…fuck, I really hope I didn’t fuck this.”

“You won’t know until you go down there and talk to her. Bring a peace offering, she’s got a sweet tooth, right?”

//

Harry taps on your door with one hand, and a boxed Oreo cheesecake in the other. You were in your pj’s already, just a large t-shirt and shorts. You sigh when you see him through the peep hole. You open the door, but only enough for the chain to stay latched.

“Hi.” You say softly.

“Can I come in?” He says just as softly. “I know it doesn’t make up for anything, but I brought cheesecake…”

“What kind?”

“Oreo.”

You close the door and at first he feels defeated, but he hears you slide the latch and you open the door all the way, letting him in.

“Thanks.” He hands the box and the plastic fork to you. He sits down on one of the beds, and you sit across from him, taking a bite.

“Is this from downstairs?”

“No, I went one of the restaurants close by and got it.”

“Oh…thank you…it’s delicious…”

“Good.” You take another bite and set it aside. “You’ve been crying?” Your eyes were red and puffy.

“Balled my eyes out, actually.”

“I’m sorry, I feel terrible.”

“So do I.”

“It was my fault…I did disrespect you, and I lied…I was jealous. I know I have no control over anyone you’ve slept with previously, I just didn’t think I’d be in the same room as them with you acting all buddy-buddy. Why should a guy like that have the privilege of knowing you?”

“Why should you?” You scoff.

“Touché.” He smirks. “Suppose I don’t really deserve that privilege right now.”

“I didn’t know you could say such hurtful things to someone…is that how you are when you’re angry?”

“Not when I’m angry, but…I’ve sort of always had this problem with jealousy. I’ve tried everything to work on it. Believe it or not, I’m way better than I used to be. One time I punched one of Paige’s ex-boyfriend’s right in the face because he was talking to her at a party.”

“Yeah? And how’d she handle that?”

“Um…” His face flushes. “Well…she has her own issues so…uh…well…we got Andy out of it, let’s just leave it at that.”

“Aggression isn’t exactly a turn on for me. I don’t like macho guys who need to assert their dominance like that.” You look down. “I’m sorry I ignored you all day, I’m sure that didn’t feel good, and you probably didn’t like seeing how bratty I can be.” You sigh. “And I cried more so because…I don’t want this to be over, and…-“

“I don’t want it to be over either…it’s barely started.”

“Were you really just trying to look out for me?”

“It was a mix of that and being jealous. I mean…I can’t wrap my head around a forty-one year old guy being able to rock your shit.”

“Harry.” You chuckle. “He was in his late thirties at the time, give him some credit. Besides, who said I was getting my shit rocked? Maybe I was rocking his.” You smirk.

“Y/N.” Harry sighs and lets his head fall back.

“You need to know something, you’re, like, all I think about.”

“Really?” He looks at you again.

“Yeah…I don’t want anyone else, I don’t even know who else I could want, honestly.”

“I really am sorry for how I acted earlier.”

“Me too.” You bite your bottom lip. “But…I don’t wanna be spoken to like that again. I’m not your kid, Har.”

“I know that.” He says defensively.

“You, like, had your dad voice on.”

“I was just speaking sternly so you’d take me seriously.”

“I felt like I was getting a lecture from my father, I don’t need that from you. I think if something goes wrong we need to try to find a way to properly talk about it. It’s not just on you, it’s on me too, obviously. It’s something we can both work on.”

“Okay.”

“Do you wanna get cozy and split the rest of this with me?”

“Thought you’d never ask.” He perks up.

Harry kicks his shoes off and gets on the bed with you. You had some random movie on the TV, and you cutely feed him bites of the cheesecake off your fork.

“Just so you know, sweets can’t buy my affection.”

“It was a peace offering.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah…Paige gave me the idea.”

“What?” Your eyes grow wide. “Harry, you told her we had a fight?!”

“I had no one else to call for help!” He pouts. “Please don’t be mad.”

“I don’t want her knowing anything bad about me…I her want her to trust me with Andy.”

“She does.” He shrugs.

“She does?”

“Yeah…because I trust you.”

“Oh…well, I don’t want you running to her every time we have a disagreement.”

“Well, I was thinking this could be the only one we have.” You laugh at that and so does he. “Sorry, she’s still, like, my best friend, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to call my sister about this.”

“And notice…I’m not all jealous because you’re best friends with your ex.”

“It’s a little different, I’ve got a kid with her.”

“Most people I know who are divorced with kids aren’t as nice to each other.”

“We’re not divorced, we never got married, didn’t I tell you that? Maybe that’s why we don’t hate each other, nothing on paper that legally needed to be divided up.”

“Oh yeah…you did mention that once I think.” You set the box aside since there were only crumbs left, and look up at him. “I think I prefer when we disagree as colleagues better. I feel exhausted.”

“Same here.” He chuckles. “It’s also been a really long day. I should let you get to sleep.”

“Can’t sleep now, I just had all that sugar!” You laugh and crawl into his lap. You sigh as he starts to rub your back. “Can we just stay like this for a little while?”

“I’d like that.”

You nuzzle into his chest, and he rests his chin on the top of your head. You hear him take his glasses off and you look up at him again. You both slowly lean in, lips ghosting over each other, and then you’re kissing softly and slowly.

“Mm, you taste like Oreos.” He smiles against you and then bites down on your bottom lip, sucking it gently. You groan into him and he holds you closer.

“Please.” You breathe. “Can we-“

“I’d like to wait until we get home if that’s alright…we have another day of sessions, and then we’re heading back…we’ll get back late…and I might too tired to even get back to my place, so…”

“So then you’d have to come up to mine, just to be on the safe side.”

“Exactly.” He grins. You groan and then give him a lip smacking kiss.

“Okay, get out of my room.”

He laughs at you and you get off of him. He kisses you again before leaving. He was going to be the death of you.

//

Things were much better the next day. You both even went to some similar sessions. Luckily, Dr. Pierce was nowhere to be found, so you didn’t run into him. You both decide to skip the awards ceremony since it was mostly for board members anyways so you could hit the road.

“Alright, I’m driving.” You say. “You good with that?”

“Go for it.” He hands you the keys and you get into the driver’s seat.

You didn’t lie when you said you had road rage. Harry nearly had a heart attack every two seconds watching you weave in and out of lanes as you got out of the city.

“Get out of the left lane you fucking asshole!” You yell. “Look at this guy, can you believe it?” You look at Harry. “Let’s go!” You yell before he can say anything.

“Babe! Babe, relax, there’s no rush.” He says, putting his hand on your thigh.

“Wh-what?” Your features soften.

“I know you’re eager to get back, but let’s get there in one piece, yeah?”

“I…” You look at him quickly and then back to the road. “Yeah.” You swallow. Had he not realized that was the first time he called you babe? “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He chuckles. “Didn’t realize how badly you wanted to fuck me.” He smirks.

“Shut up.” You roll your eyes as he gives your thigh a squeeze. “You just called me babe…”

“I know.” He nods. “Is that alright?”

“Yes.”

He leans over the console to kiss your cheek and then he sits back. He was really glad nothing got too fucked up between you. He liked you so much, he wanted to keep seeing where this was going.

//

It was dark by the time you pulled up to your apartment. You had stopped off at the same rest area and had a quick bite. You were sort of shocked that Harry let you drive the whole way, maybe he was saving his energy. You turn the car off and swallow.

“So…you’re coming up?”

“You want me to?”

“Yes.”

He nods and you both get out of the car. He opens the trunk to grab yours and his bags and then he locks the car. He follows you up to your apartment.

“If I could just have a second to go, um, freshen up…feel free to use the hall bath if you need it.” You were blushing, perhaps a little flustered at the prospect of what was to come. He simply nods at you before going to use the other bathroom.

You rush into your own bathroom with your things. You weren’t sure what you should do. Should you bother with a fresh pair of underwear? It was only going to come off…was Harry the type to even care about that sort of thing? Something tells you probably not. So, you just freshen up your deodorant, and put on a little perfume before going back out. He was bent over one of his bags putting his glasses away. You come up to him and slide your hand up his back. He stands up straight and looks down at you.

“You want this?” He asks softly.

“I want you, Harry…”

You wrap your arms around his neck and pull him down to you. Your lips find his and his hands find your hips. He nibbles on your bottom lip, getting a soft moan from you. One of your hands slides up to his hair as he starts walking you back into your room. You both get on the bed and he hovers over you.

“I had a dream sort of like this the other night.” You smile up at him and he smiles back.

“Yeah?”

“Mhm, but I’m already liking this better.”

“Why’s that?” He asks as he takes his shirt off.

“Because this is real and not something I can wake up from.” You run your hands up and down his torso and it sends a shiver up his spine.

He tugs at the hem of your shirt and you sit up so he can take it off. He immediately unhooks your bra to let your breasts free and attaches his hands to them. As he leans back down to kiss you, your hands work to undo his jeans, and you toe them down his legs so he can kick them off. He kisses down your chest, licking over both of your nipples, sucking on one, before kissing his way down your stomach. He undoes your shorts and tugs them down your legs, leaving you in your underwear. It wasn’t your sexiest pair, but he didn’t seem to really care as he started kissing you over them. Your hips buck up. No one had ever really done that to you before. You watch as he watches the wet spot become more damp and he presses his thumb into it. He looks up at you when he hears you gasp.

“I know, you want these to come off, right?”

“Please, Harry.”

He nods and hooks his fingers into your underwear to drag them down your legs. Once you’re fully naked before him he licks his lips like you’re a buffet ready to be devoured.

“There’s something I’d like to do…if you felt comfortable with it.” He says and your eyes light up. You were sort of hoping he was a little freaky.

“What?” You bite your bottom lip in anticipation.

“I’d like to eat you out from behind, can I do that?”

Okay, not as freaky as you thought, but definitely not something guys offered to do often.

“Sure.” You shrug, and roll over onto your stomach. You get up on your knees and elbows and look back at him.

He comes closer to you, holding you close as he kisses on the back of your neck. He works his way down your back, biting you occasionally to get you a little riled up. He bites into your left ass cheek and you grunt. You feel him spread you apart, and you buck forward when you feel his tongue slide between you folds.

“Stay still for me.” He says as he grips your hips, diving back in for more.

You grip at your blankets as you feel his tongue sliding up and down your slit. He adjusts you a little so he can briefly suck on your clit. You moan out when he does so, not wanting him to stop, but he does. His tongue enters you, going in and out, only briefly. You feel his fingers start to rub on your clit as his tongue slides back on your slit, back further, and up to your other hole. Your eyes widen when you feel his tongue there, he doesn’t enter you this way, but he was certainly getting a good lick. You couldn’t find it in you to care because his fingers were sliding into your cunt.

“Oh, fuck.” You groan as he pumps them in and out of you.

You couldn’t remember ever feeling so stimulated before, everything he was doing felt incredible. His tongue stays lapping around your other whole while his fingers fuck you from behind, his thumb rubbing circles into your clit.

“Oh my god, Harry.” You moan. He grunts against you, not letting up for a second.

Your body starts to feel warm all over, and you feel your stomach start to tighten. Your breathing is getting heavier, and you could feel sweat forming on your forehead. He was getting in so deep with just his fingers, and what he was doing with his tongue was sending you.

“H-Harry, I’m gonnaaaa-“ You couldn’t finish your sentence. Your eyes roll into the back of your head as you come around his fingers.

He retracts them and brings his tongue back around your folds to lick you clean. He sucks his fingers into his mouth as you slowly turn around to face him. You were shocked.

“Good?” He smirks.

You grin and tackle him down onto the bed, pinning him down and crashing your mouth to his. You sponge kisses to his jaw and neck and down his chest. He groans when you start grinding over his still covered cock.

“I think these should come off now, don’t you?” You say, already tugging at the band of his boxers.

“Yeah.” He lifts his hips to help you as you tug them the rest of the way down. Just as you’re inching your way down his body he grips your hips and pulls you back up.

“What are you doing?”

“M’not done with you yet.” Yup, he was definitely resting up in the car earlier. You get the gist and raise yourself over his mouth, and lower yourself so his tongue can be on you again.

“Fuck.” You breathe as he sucks on your clit.

You reach behind you to pump his hard dick, and he bucks up into your hand. You use your other hand to tug at his hair. He was moaning against you from the way you were jerking him off and it just added to the sensation on your core. His tongue slips inside you and you essentially start riding it.

“Fuck! Oh my god.” You groan. No one had fucked you like this in a very long time, and he hadn’t even put his dick into yet.

You have to use both hands to grip at your headboard when he starts sucking on your clit again, and slips two of his fingers inside you from behind. You were a mess above him, crying out and whining about how good it felt. You release onto his tongue and he sucks on you until you’ve ridden it out completely. You slowly get off of him and sink down onto the bed. You look at each other for a moment.

“You’re wild.” You chuckle.

“I told you…I can get a little excited.” He leans forward and kisses your forehead. “Do you have any condoms handy? Mine are all packed away…”

“You packed some?” You look up at him with wide eyes.

“Well…I just wanted to be prepared in case anything happened…and then I went fucked it so-“

“Hey.” You cup his jaw. “It’s all good now, okay?” He leans into your touch and kisses your palm.

“Okay.”

“I keep them in the bathroom, just give me one second.” You get up and wobble slightly. Your legs felt like jelly after all that. You rummage through your cabinet below the sink and grab a few…just in case.

“How come you keep ‘em in there?” He asks as you come back out.

“I…don’t need them as often and I keep other things in my night tables.” You shrug and get back on the bed.

He cups your cheeks and brings you back down to him to kiss you. You hand him one of the condoms and toss the others on the night table. You lay on your back and lick your lips as he rolls it on.

“Is this the only form of birth control you use?” He asks as he shuffles to hover over you.

“Yeah…I got off the pill last year.”

“Oh, how come?”

“I just didn’t like the way it made me feel.” You clear your throat. It was the truth, but you also got off it so that if you met someone and got serious you would have an easier time getting pregnant when the time came, but you certainly weren’t going to say that to him. “Is it okay that we use condoms?”

“Yeah, I don’t care, I just don’t know if we had a backup is all.”

He slots his lips over yours and opens your legs up. He runs his fingers over your slit to make sure you’re still wet. He looks down to line himself up with you, and you push his hair away so he can see better.

“You sure?” He asks.

“Yes, Harry.”

He smiles at you and slowly start to push in. Your mouth falls open at the feeling. He was thick, obviously, but holy shit. Not only is he really good at eating out, but his dick felt amazing. How any woman could have ever let him go was beyond you. He grunts once he’s all the way inside you. He gives you a second and then he starts to thrust in and out of you. He props himself up with one arm, and uses the other to hook under one of your legs to drive in a little deeper.

“Oh! That feels good.” You moan as your head rolls back. Your nails dig into his biceps.

“Yeah? Like feeling me this deep? You feel so good, Y/N.” He says into your ear and it makes your eyes roll into the back of your head.

“God, keep talking.” You tug at his hair.

“Could barely concentrate during my presentation the other day.” He says between kissing on your neck and shoulder. “You looked so beautiful.”

“Your confidence up there was so sexy, I was about ready to find a closet or something to blow you in afterwards.”

“Jesus.”

“Would you have liked that? If I just tugged in you somewhere discrete and made you feel good?”

“Yes.” He grunts. He sits up and puts both of your legs over his shoulders and fucks into your hard and fast.

You look up at him wide eyed and reach to scratch at his stomach before your hand lands on your clit. You rub circles into yourself as you both continue making eye contact. With each thrust you could tell he was looking for your g-spot, watching your features to see what feels good. When he hits it you gasp.

“Ha! Right there?”

“Yes, keep doing that, I’m close.” You whine and rub yourself faster.

“Should make you wait, you already had two, greedy.”

“Don’t be mean.” You pout. “Please, Har?”

He grins at you and continues to hit the spot over and over. He could feel you tightening and squeezing around him. You definitely were close.

“Oh! Oh my god! Harry, Harry!” Your back arches and squeeze around him especially hard. When you become too sensitive you pull your hand away from yourself. You thought he wouldn’t be much longer but there he was…rocking in and out of you.

He comes closer to you, burying his face in your neck, slow, precise thrusts. You dig your nails into his ass and he groans. Alright, he liked feeling your nails, this was something you knew for sure now.

“Can I get on top?” You nearly beg.

“Yeah.” He breathes.

He pulls out of you carefully and gets on his back. You swing a leg over him and sink down with ease. You raise and lower on him until you get a groove going. His hands slide up to your breasts and he kneads them. You were surprised he was letting you just ride him and that he wasn’t thrusting up into you, but you appreciated having the control. His hands move your hips and ass, squeezing at different locations. You smirk down at him.

“Can’t decide where I wanna touch you most.” He admits.

“Wanna feel you all over.”

His hands move up to your back and he pulls you down to him so your chests are flush together. He bends his legs at the knee and digs his feet into your bed so he could thrust into you, moving you up and down on him. You kiss on his neck and move to his mouth as you grind on him. You both were moving in sync, and you were getting the best friction against your clit. You weren’t sure if you’d be able to come again, having never had four in one go, but you both were up to the challenge. He moves you faster and faster on him. You have to detach your lips to breathe when you start panting.

“Shit!” You cry out when you feel your release. You rest your head on his chest, and gives you a moment to regain yourself before pulling out. “You…you didn’t come yet.”

“I know, we’re not done.” Your eyes widen at him. “Don’t tell me you’re tired, babe.” He smirks.

“Nope.” You shake your head and grin. “Gimme all you got.”

He flips you onto your stomach, and has you lay flat as he slides in, almost his full weight on top of you. You almost sigh with relief because this was something you had been craving for what felt like ages. Just feeling him full on you, almost crushing you, but in the best possible way. He rocks in and out of you slowly and kisses on your neck and shoulders. It was needy at first, but now things just felt sensual. You feel a little bad he can’t really feel how soaked you are around him.

He slides an arm under your chest to grip one of your breasts, and his other hand snakes just under your pelvis. You gasp when you feel his fingers on your clit. You were overly sensitive now. He was just pressing down, not moving, and applying pressure. His hips move in circles and your mouth falls open. He was really stretching you out now. Your hips move with him, and he starts moaning softly.

“Love feeling you like this.” He says into your ear.

“Me too.” You whimper. Now his fingers rub circles into your clit with same motion as both of your hips, big and slow. “Harry.”

“Shh, I know you’ve got one more in you. This time we’re gonna do it together, how does that sound?”

“Sounds good.” You groan.

Between his breath in your ear, his fingers on your clit, his other fingers tweaking your nipple, and his cock working wonders inside you, you had no idea how you hadn’t melted into a puddle on your bed and evaporated into thin air.

“H-Harry, I-“ You squeeze around him and he bites hard on your shoulder.

This sends you over the edge you cry out loudly. You practically scream his name, which helps him meet his own end. It was so hot, you could feel his come through the condom. He kisses down your back as he pulls out, and you wince.

“Sorry.” He mumbles as he gets off your bed. “M’just gonna take care of this in the bathroom.”

“Be my guest.” You breathe. You push yourself up and waddle to the hall bath. Your shit hadn’t be rocked quite like that in a long time, if ever.

When you come back into your room he was grabbing a fresh pair of boxers from his bag and sliding them up his legs. His glasses were back on his face, and he was rummaging for his toothbrush.

“You have toothpaste I can use?” He asks, pushing his glasses further up his nose.

“Mhm.” You nearly squeak. Your voice was hoarse. “Just let me do my thing and then it’s all yours.” You sounded like you had gravel in your throat it made him beam at you.

Harry goes into the bathroom after you, and you throw a large t-shirt on and get into bed. You were nervous, a guy hadn’t stayed over with you in this apartment yet. And you had been living there a year! He comes out and slides into bed with you.

“It’s alright I’m staying?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re as stiff as a board.” He chuckles. “Here I was thinking I loosened you up.”

“Harry.” You breathe. “Please, I’m exhausted.” He laughs at that and leans over to turn your light off. He pulls you to lay on his chest.

“You don’t do this often, do you?”

“No…I get nervous sleeping next to people.”

“Why?”

“Because, like, what if I roll over too much and wake you up, or snore, or talk in my sleep, or what if I…don’t look cute when I wake up.”

“Y/N.” Harry laughs. “You’re talking about things that all people do, it’s okay.”

“I also really like to get wrapped up in my blankets…like a burrito.” You mumble the last part.

“Well, you know I like holding onto something, so why don’t I be your burrito tonight?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, let me wrap you up, we’ll get all snug.”

You smile and peck his lips before turning over. He spoons you nice and tight to him, his limbs slung over yours, blankets cozy around the both of you. You sigh happily.

“This is nice.” You whisper.

“I agree.” He whispers back.

“You…have a lot of stamina.”

“Surprised?”

“A little.” You chuckle. “Good surprise though.”

“Did you like everything I did?”

“Yes, very much.”

“Even the stuff at the beginning.”

“I was very surprised by that, but it felt good with everything else you were doing.”

“Good, so you weren’t freaked out?”

“Nope.” You adjust closer to him. “I’m pretty open to trying things. I would have told you if I didn’t like something.”

“Everything just felt right with you.” He nuzzles his face into the back of your head.

“I feel the same way.”

Everything would be different now, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. You had never connected physically like that with someone before. You were falling for him, hard, to say the least.

//

You wake up just as you did the night you went camping with Harry. His body pressed close to yours, and his breath on the back of your neck. You could hear light snores coming from him. The clock on your bed side table reads 9:30. You sigh and adjust against him, hoping to maybe fall back asleep. His arm pulls you closer to him, and you turn onto your back to look up at him. He blinks a few times before looking down at you. He smiles and opens his mouth to speak, and as if on cue, his phone starts buzzing.

“It’s Andy.” There’s a slight sigh. “Do you mind if I take it?”

“No, go ahead.” You giggle. That kid sure had impeccable timing.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Dad!”

“Hi, buddy, why you calling so early?” He knuckles at one of his eyes and sits up.

“Says the guy that gets up before sunrise every day.” Andy scoffs. “How was New York, did your presentation go well?”

“It was good, yeah, a lot of people showed up, I was surprised. Got asked some good questions.”

“Did Y/N come?”

“She sure did.” Your jaw drops and you smack Harry’s chest. He chuckles softly.

“So, is she your girlfriend yet, or what?”

Harry’s face loses all color and he clears his throat.

“Uhhh, I don’t know yet, um, could I call you later, Andy?”

“Why, are you busy?”

“A little.”

“Doing what?”

“I’m just tired, we got back late last night, and then…I didn’t fall asleep until later. Not really awake enough for a full conversation.”

“Fine.” He sighs. “Call me later, love you.”

“Love you too.” Harry puts his phone down and looks at you. “Sorry, he doesn’t understand how this stuff works…”

“What stuff?”

“Like…dating timeframes. You know how kids are, they think you go out on one date and that makes someone your boyfriend or girlfriend.”

“Labels really scare you, huh?” You sit up and look at him, covering your upper half with the blanket.

“No, that’s not it, I just don’t want you to feel rushed or pressured.” Your features soften at that.

He was right, it had only been a month, it was probably a little soon to rush into the boyfriend/girlfriend label. You shuffle over to sit in his lap, and you lay your head on his shoulder. He holds you close and rubs your back. You start laughing.

“What?”

“I can’t believe you said that to him.”

“Oh, he didn’t pick up on the innuendo, s’fine.” He kisses the top of your head. “Sleep alright?”

“Mhm, did you?”

“Yeah, like you a lot better than my body pillow.” You both laugh at his dumb joke. “What are you doing today?”

“Hmm.” You look up at him. “Laundry for sure, grocery shopping…I’ve got some reading to catch up on, you?”

“Bout the same. Could we have a shower and some breakfast? Then I’ll get out of your hair.”

“That sounds great.” You kiss his cheek. “But no hanky panky in there, I’m throbbing and not in a good way.”

“Sorry.” His cheeks grow red.

“No! It’s okay, I just...you had me all over the place, and your dick is really big. Not complaining at all, it was just a lot all at once.”

“I…may have been a little excited.”

“No skin off my nose, I’d rather have it like that anyways.” You kiss his nose and get off of him. You extend your hand out and lead him to the bathroom to start your shower.

//

“You bitch! You can’t just say he spent the night and not give me details!” Janette says over FaceTime later that evening. “I’ve missed everything!”

“When you get back we can go out for drinks. I don’t think he’d like it very much if I spilled the beans. I’m not sure what we’re telling people…if we’re telling people.”

“It’s been about a month, right? You could tell people you’re seeing someone.”

“Other than my brother you’re the first person I’ve told.”

“Please, just tell me this…did you go to sleep happy?”

“Very.” You smirk and she squeals.

“God, I’ve missed you.”

“I miss you too.”

//

A few days pass, and you end up going to Boston for your birthday. You and Harry have spoken, of course, but you haven’t been able to see each other. He was really bummed because he wanted to take you out to dinner.

“Can I take you out for a night on the town when you get back?”

“I’d like that.”

Harry was one of the sweetest guys you had ever dated, and you felt really lucky. Your parents and brother and Julian were all taking you out for dinner at one of your favorite Chinese food places in the city.

“How was New York, honey?” Your mom asks.

“It was great! I learned a lot. I’m really glad I went, there were so many good sessions.”

“And you went with one of your colleagues?” Your dad asks.

“Mhm.” You say, sipping your drink. You and Phil make eyes at each other and you swallow hard. “We’re…well, we’re sort of seeing each other.”

“Oh?” Your mom gasps and then she smiles. “Where the hell is he then? You didn’t invite him o your birthday dinner?”

“Mum…it’s a bit soon for him to meet the family, it’s only been a little over a month since we’ve started going out.”

“How long have you known him?” Your dad asks.

“Almost a year. He’s my office neighbor, so we’ve been friends a while.”

“Well, I’m just tickled pink! It’s been ages since you’ve had a boyfriend.” Your mom beams.

“He’s not my boyfriend, not officially, anyways. We’re just dating, seeing how it goes.”

“What’s the problem? He should want to snatch you up.” Your dad says.

“He needs to be really selective with who he gets serious…he sort of has a kid…” You mumble.

“A kid?!” They both say.

“How old is this man?” Your mom asks.

“Only thirty-two, Phil’s age.”

“How old is the kid? Must be young.” Your dad says.

“He’s eleven, actually…they had him young. I’ve met his mom, she’s really nice. She has a serious boyfriend who has a daughter. Harry’s son’s name is Andy, and he’s very sweet.”

“So, you’ve met him?” Your mom asks.

“Oh, sure. Harry has to bring him to work sometimes. I’ve gone hiking with them too.”

“Yeah, Y/N went camping overnight with them.” Phil says with a grin. “Think that was when he finally had the balls to ask her out. Shared a tent and everything.”

“I’m never telling you anything ever again.” You groan.

“I think next time we come up for a visit we should meet this man. I mean, you really want to get involved with someone with a kid in middle school? What if things get really serious, and then you find out he doesn’t wanna deal with having a baby again? I know it’s your choice, but you’ve always said you wanted a baby, I don’t want you wasting your time with someone who won’t give that to you.” Your mom says.

“Wow, a lecture on my birthday, what a gift.”

“We just want to make-“ Your dad starts but you cut him off.

“Look, I get I’m the baby of this family, but I’m not stupid, I know what I’m doing. It’s taken me a year to open my eyes and heart up to him, and I can’t believe the time I already wasted not being with him. He’s…he’s amazing, and kind, and exactly what I want in a guy. If things get more serious then I’m sure the topic of babies will come up, and we’ll talk about it then. I’ll let you meet him when I think it’s time, not when you do.” You huff. “Now, can we please enjoy this lo mein? It’s delicious.”

Phil invites you to spend the night at his place after dinner, which you’re thankful for. You didn’t want to be lectured anymore. Just as you’re crawling into bed you get a FaceTime request from Harry.

“Hey!” You say a little too excitedly.

“Hey, birthday girl. Have I said happy birthday enough times to you today? How about one more: happy birthday, Y/N.” You bite your bottom lip as you smile.

“Thank you, Harry. You’re so sweet.”

“I can’t wait to see you, I think you’ll like what I have planned.”

“I can’t wait too.”

“Andy made you a card, I saw him today and he gave it to me to give to you.”

“Aw, he’s so cute. He’ll be home with you pretty soon, huh?”

“Yeah, couple more weeks.”

“Listen, um…I sort of told my parents about us tonight…I hope that’s alright.”

“You did?” He perks up.

“Yeah, they wanna meet you soon, is that weird?”

“I don’t know, is it weird that my mum and sister are dying to video chat with you?”

“You told them about me?” You swoon.

“Course I did…a little while ago, when I was still keeping how I felt to myself…think it was after Andy’s birthday party.” He rubs the back of his neck.

“You’re so cute, Harry.” You smile. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Noah asked me to lunch…for some reason. Should be interesting. What about you?”

“Phil’s cooking for me all day to try out some new recipes.”

“Lucky duck.” You giggle at that.

“I’m tired so I’m gonna go to sleep, but I’m really happy you called. It’s nice to see your face.”

“It’s nice to see yours too. See you in a couple days.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

//

Harry met Noah at a casual seafood place for lunch. They sat outside, and both ordered a beer with their lunches.

“So…not that I don’t like hanging out, but usually we do it with the kids around. What’s this all about?”

“Getting right to it, huh?” Noah chuckles. “Well…I guess, how do you feel about me, H?”

“How do I feel about you?” Harry laughs. “Well, if I were a prick I’d say you annoy me because you’re the guy fucking the mother of my kid, but I’m not so I won’t say that.” He smirks as Noah’s face falls. “Jesus, relax, mate, I’m teasing. I like you, obviously. You’re good to Andy, and to Paige.”

“You scared me for a second there.” He clears his throat. “We all have a nice thing going, this blended family thing.”

“Yeah, I’d say it’s all working out as well as it can.”

“Paige and I have been together for three years now, and we live together, and Rachel loves her to pieces, Andy too.” Harry hums his response and takes a sip of his beer. “We’ve chatted a bit, I know what she wants, so…I’m planning to propose next week.” Harry nearly chokes on his drink just as the waitress comes over with his food. “Sorry…”

“No, uh, no, uh, you just caught me by surprise.” He clears his throat. “Why are you telling me this? You want my blessing or something?”

“Sort of…look, after my wife, well…” He tears up slightly. “I never thought I’d fall in love again, and I love Paige so much. She’s been a great mother figure to Rach, not that I would let her forget her actual mother. If I’m going to be Andy’s step-dad, I wanna make sure his actual dad is okay with it.”

“Y-yeah, I’m okay with it.” Suddenly the food he was starving for made him feel sick. “Um, thanks for letting me know.”

“Of course!”

“Have you talked with her father?”

“God no.” He scoffs. “Would rather ask for forgiveness instead of permission with him. Besides, I think your blessing would mean more to her than his. I know how much she cares about you still, H.”

“Right.”

Harry does his best to make it through his lunch, but he gets most of it wrapped up, assuring Noah he just wasn’t that hungry. When he gets home, and puts his food in the fridge, he grips the counter and starts crying. He wasn’t sure what suddenly came over him, but there he was, alone in his kitchen, sobbing. It wasn’t that he wanted to be with Paige in that way, it just felt like a kick to the gut. He knew she would say yes to Noah, but she had said no to him. She didn’t love him enough to stay. She loved Noah more than him. Harry had you now, sure, but what if you’d never love him, or if you did, would you love him enough to stick it out?

//

You were very excited for your night out with Harry. You weren’t sure where he was taking you for dinner, but you wanted to look nice, so you go with a black dress that flows around your thighs. Your hair is down and wavy, and your make up is just on point tonight.

Harry: I’m here

You’re a little surprised that he didn’t ring your buzzer like he’s been doing, but you shrug it off. You’re even more surprised that he’s sitting in his car. Since you started dating he’s been waiting for you outside. You open the car door and get in.

“Hi.” You say brightly and kiss his cheek.

“Hey.” He gives you a soft smile.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, why?”

“No reason…”

He pulls onto the street and heads towards the local movie theater that wasn’t really used for normal movies. It was a place for live bands, dinner and a show, sometimes they’d show old black and white films and someone would come to play the piano live, that sort of thing.

“We’re going to the Flying Elephant?” You ask excitedly.

“Yeah, I thought it would be fun to eat and listen to some music.” He mutters.

He was off, you could tell he was trying to seem happy and excited, but something was definitely wrong. What could have happened in the last twenty-four hours? Your eyes widen you remember he had lunch with Noah yesterday, did they get into an argument?

Harry parks the car, and this time he opens the door for you like he usually would. He gives you a peck on the lips and smiles.

“You look really nice.” He says.

“Thank you.” You smile.

He leads you inside and one of the workers scans the tickets he got for the show. You follow him up to the small balcony where your table was. You had never been to an event at the Flying Elephant, but you had mentioned a couple of times that you would like to, so you thought this was very thoughtful.

“What kind of music is it tonight?”

“Jazz I think, but, like, the fun kind, big band style.”

“Oh, fun!”

A waiter comes over with your favorite bottle of white, two glasses, and a basket of bread. He says he’ll be back soon to take your order. Harry had clearly planned a lot of this out, so what was his problem?

“Got your favorite.” He smiles as you clink your glasses. “Happy birthday.”

“I see that, thank you, Harry.” You each take a sip, and then look at the menu. “Oh! They have a tofu marsala, that sounds nice.”

“I’ve had that here before, it’s really good.”

The waiter comes back and you both end up ordering the same thing. You take another sip of your wine and look around at the other people filling in. Harry’s quiet more than usual, so you decide to speak up.

“How was your lunch with Noah yesterday?”

“Huh? Oh…um, it was good.” He shrugs. “Nothing really to report.”

“So, did he just wanna hang out or something?”

“Yeah.”

“Harry…” You reach across the table and take his hand, giving it a squeeze. “Are you sure everything’s okay? We didn’t need to come tonight if something’s going on…”

“No! No, everything’s fine…I’m just in a funk I guess, I’m sorry. It has nothing to do with you, but I don’t really wanna talk about it.”

“Alright.” You sigh.

“I’m glad we’re here tonight, together.”

“Are you nervous about classes starting soon?”

“No.” He chuckles. “That’s, like, the least of my worries right now. Really, it’s fine, I’m just in my head about something stupid.”

“Well…if you feel like talking about it I’m here for you.” You smile softly.

“Thanks.” He gives you’re a hand a squeeze.

Luckily when your food comes out the music starts, and the tension breaks a bit. The band sounded incredible, and you both were having a wonderful time. A couple of the performers told jokes between sets, which had everyone in the audience hollering. Harry had the waiter bring a cupcake over to your table with a little candle in it for dessert. Birthdays weren’t really a bid deal to you, but it meant so much that he put so much effort in. You blow your candle out and split the cupcake with him.

“That was so much fun, thank you so much.”

“I’m glad you had a good time, babe.” He puts his hand on your thigh as he drives you back home.

You relax a little at the pet name. You desperately wanted to know what was bothering him, but you didn’t want to push him since he said he didn’t want to talk about it. He pulls up to your building and turns the car off with a sigh.

“If you don’t feel like coming up you don’t have to…”

“No, I want to. I wanna spend time with you.” He smiles and gets out of the car, and opens your door for you.

“Can I get you anything?” You ask as you get into your place.

“Just a glass of water would be great.” He says, sitting down on the couch. You fill a glass for the both of you and him his when you come to sit with him. “Thanks.” He says as he takes a sip.

“The band sounded great, I’d like to do that again sometime.”

“Definitely. They show film festivals there sometimes too. I usually give my classes extra credit if they go.”

“Fun! I love a good film festival, what do they show?”

“All of the shorts nominated for Oscars usually. All of the animated ones too, it’s great. Although, usually they’re all really somber for whatever reason.”

“People probably figure sadness will get them the nom.” You roll your eyes. “I think it takes more skill to make someone laugh, but that’s just me.”

“A lot of the comedies I’ve seen have had some of the darkest or saddest moments.”

“That’s what I’m saying! Comedies can be really gut-wrenching.” You sip your water and set it down on the coffee table. He does the same, but twiddles his thumbs.

“Har, you’re killing me.”

“Why?”

“Because something’s wrong and you’re making me nervous.”

“It doesn’t have anything to do with you…”

“I know, but you’re here with me now, and you’re not all the way here. Just talk to me, please?”

“I…it’s stupid.”

“It’s not if it’s making you feel bad.” You put your hand on his shoulder. “Whatever it is you can tell me.”

“At lunch yesterday Noah told me that he’s going to propose to Paige. He invited me out to get basically get my blessing or some shit.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Apparently they’ve spoken about it, so she’s going to say yes, which is good, they make a great couple.”

“So…what’s the problem?”

He looks at you, eyes glossy.

“I don’t know.” He whispers and shakes his head.

“Are you…sad that things are going to be so official between them?”

“Maybe…I mean, I don’t want her in that way, you have to know that, Y/N. I’m not sad because I’m in love with her or anything, those feelings have long since left, but…it just sucks, like, it’s just a reminder that I wasn’t worth sticking it out for or something. It brings back to such a shitty time in my life, you know?”

“Oh, Harry.” You rub at his back. “I’m so sorry…”

“it didn’t work for a reason, we were both really young, and she…she told me she wasn’t in love with me anymore, for whatever reason, I mean Andy was a total accident, I don’t know if she and I would have lasted with or without him. It’s not like we were a perfect match. I think we were always better as friends, but I was stubborn about it. When we hooked up those few times after things ended, that was me going to her, not her coming to me. I was so lost, you know? Look at me, it’s been over ten years, and it feel likes it happened yesterday all over again.” He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“I get it, this is a big change that’s going to happen.” You chew your bottom lip. “I had a high school sweetheart, the kind that I thought I was going to be with forever and marry and have kids with. But when it came time for us to go to college we ended it to give ourselves some freedom. Well, about a month into school I go on Facebook and see he’s in a relationship with this girl that he had started talking to over the summer while we were still together. It crushed me. Now he’s married to her or whatever. It sucks when you thought you were someone’s number one, and it turns out you weren’t…but I also believe that things happen for a reason. I wasn’t meant to be with him, and maybe you weren’t meant to be with Paige. I think we all go through things on journeys that lead us to the person we’re supposed to be with.” He looks at you and blinks. “Sorry, I hate when I’m feeling like shit and someone tries to use their own story to relate because we all know that doesn’t do anyone any good, and I know I could never really know the feelings involved with having a kid with someone, but-“

He cups your cheeks and brings you close to him. He slots his mouth over yours and your eyes flutter closed. He gently sucks on your bottom lip and you groan into him. He lets go of you and smooths some hair away from your face.

“Thank you.” He smiles. “What you said did make me feel better.”

“Your feelings are valid, Harry, don’t discount them. I know it’s sort of awkward to talk to me about, but I don’t want you to feel like you’re going this alone.”

“The more I talk about it, I just feel silly. I’m happy for them, truthfully. He just sort of sprung it on me, but it all makes sense now looking back on it, like, why he’d wanna meet up alone.”

“Pretty respectful of him, not everyone would check in with the ex.”

“I know, it was really kind of him to consider my feelings. I’m sorry it put me in such a funk, I hope I didn’t ruin our evening.”

“You didn’t, it was really nice. Clearly you put a lot of effort in.” You cup his cheek and rub your thumb over his cheekbone. You peck at his lip and smile. “I think I’m too full to do anything, but if you wanna stay and cuddle…”

“I’d like that.” He smiles. “Sure you don’t mind?”

“No, I want you here. We can get cozy, watch a little TV, and pass out.”

“That sounds amazing.”

//

A couple of days later.

Andy stood there inside with Rachel watching through the glass door as Noah got down on one knee and proposed to Paige. He grimaced as he heard her squeal and nod her head yes as he slipped the ring on her finger.

“Can you believe it?! Now we’ll really be brother and sister.” Rachel beams at Andy before running outside to congratulate the two.

Paige looks around and frowns when she sees Andy walk away from the glass and further into the house.

“I’m gonna go talk to him, one second.” She says to Noah and Rachel. She goes upstairs and taps on his door before entering. “Hey.”

“Hi.” He was sitting on his bed hugging a pillow to his chest. Harry used to do the same thing. She sighs at the sight, and sits on the edge of the bed.

“Wanna tell me what’s going on? You’re not happy for me?”

“I just don’t understand how all of this works.”

“How what works, honey?”

“Being in love. You didn’t wanna marry Dad, but you wanna marry Noah? What’s wrong with Dad?”

“Oh, Andy, nothing’s wrong with Dad. I love Dad, but…we were so young when we had you and-“

“You say that like you were sixteen, you were twenty-two mom, almost twenty-three, it’s not that young.”

“When you get to be that age maybe you’ll see that it is actually a really young age to have a baby.”

“Whatever.”

“Andy.” She sighs. “I don’t really know how to explain it, I just didn’t see a future with your Dad. I didn’t wanna be the wife of a college professor. At the time, Dad put his studies over everything and I just couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I became resentful, and I fell out of love with him. I wanted something else. Noah and I have a much better connection. Dad and I are good friends, which is great and helpful when it comes to you, but I haven’t seen him as anything more in a long time. Did you think we were going to get together?”

“No, I knew you and Noah would end up getting married, I just didn’t think so soon.”

“It’s a big change, I know…but really not a lot is going to change. He’s just gonna be my husband instead of my boyfriend.”

“He’s gonna be my step-dad.”

“Sure, but you can still just call him Noah. He doesn’t expect you to call him Dad or anything.”

“Good, because Dad is who I call Dad.” He huffs. “Rachel refers to you as Mum sometimes.”

“Does that bother you?”

“It doesn’t bother you?!”

“No…I told she could call me whatever she wants. I don’t mind it. I mean…I am sort like a mom to her. Is this why you like living with Dad more? You think we’re becoming a family without you?”

“No.” He mumbles. “I like being in school with Brandon…and Dad…like, Dad knows how to do my hair the way I like, and he takes me on fun trips, and he helps me with my homework.”

“I help you with your homework.”

“Yeah, but you’re not a teacher. He knows how to explain things to me better than you, and as much as I’ve liked swimming all the time, it’s boring just going to the lake every day. I’ve barely been hiking this summer.”

“You could have told me, I would have had Dad come get you for a weekend.”

“Yeah, just for a weekend. I hate going back and forth, Mum, I hate it so much. I just wanna live in one place.”

“Well, I’m sorry, that’s just not an option. I’d miss you too much. I missed you so much last year only seeing you on weekends.”

“Yeah? How do you think Dad felt before I got to live with him?”

“Andy, don’t speak to me like that. I’m trying to-“

“Well, stop. Just stop trying.” Tears well up in his eyes. “I wanna go home now, I don’t wanna stay here for another two weeks, I wanna go home now.” Tears were streaming down his cheeks.

“Honey…I don’t know if Dad can-“

“Then call him.” He wipes tears from his eyes. “I don’t wanna be here anymore.” He looks away from Paige and it breaks her heart.

She wasn’t sure what to do. Should just give in and let him do his thing, or should she just give him what he wants. She didn’t want him to resent her, or make him think he was held hostage here.

“Okay, I’ll call your father.”

She stands up and leaves the room. She goes downstairs where Noah and Rachel are.

“Where’s Andy? I thought we could all go get ice cream to celebrate.”

“Andy wants to go home, I need to call Harry.” She grabs her phone off the counter and goes down the hall to the office.

You and Harry were out for a walk by the river to watch the sunset. It was really romantic. You had stopped to kiss each other when he felt the buzzing in his pocket. He sighs and rests his forehead against yours as he fishes his phone out of his pocket.

“It’s Paige, do you mind, babe?”

“No, go ahead.”

“Thanks.” He swipes to take the call. “Hello?”

“Hi.” She sniffles.

“Hi…um, are you alright?”

“No.” She swallows. “Andy wants to go home, to your home. He doesn’t want to wait two more weeks.”

“What happened? Is he alright?”

“He…he’s not happy with me. Um, Noah proposed…and I said yes.”

“Congratulations.” He says it sincerely, but he rolls his eyes.

“Thanks.” She sighs. “Andy and Rachel saw from inside the house, and he went right up to his room, and then he started saying all these things, and then he started crying and now I’m crying, and I…I don’t know what to do Harry, he hates me!”

“He doesn’t hate you.”

“It’s like he doesn’t want me to be his mom anymore. He doesn’t want me.”

“He wants you, he just…might not want everything else.”

“That’s not fair. I deserve to be happy too. Ugh, you should have heard him. ‘Dad’s better at helping with homework. Dad takes me on fun trips’. I felt like a piece of shit.”

“You do plenty of fun things with him. He’s just…it’s a lot that’s changing.”

“Not really. The living situation is staying the same, I’ll just have a husband instead of a boyfriend. God, I wonder if he’s scared I’ll want another baby…”

“I mean…do you?”

“No! One was plenty, I’m too old.”

“You’re only thirty-four.”

“The store’s closed.”

“Okay, Paige.” Harry rolls his eyes again. You find a bench to sit down at to give him a little more privacy. “What do you want me to do, do you want me to come get him?”

“I guess so, I’m not gonna make him stay here if he doesn’t wanna be here, but I can’t not see him, Harry. We have to keep the weekend arrangements.”

“And we will. Maybe once he’s with me for a bit he’ll calm down. He’s a preteen now, maybe his hormones are starting to act up.” He runs a hand through his hair and looks over at you. “I can be there in like forty minutes, tell him to get his shit together. He’s gonna get a stern talking to, I can tell you that much.”

“Don’t angry with him.” She sniffles again.

“I can’t have him making you cry.”

“But he was crying, and-“

“You just got engaged, he could have acted better. He’s too old to be acting like that. I’ll be there soon.”

“Thank you, Harry.”

He sighs and comes over to you.

“I’m so sorry, I have to go pick up Andy, do you mind if we go?”

“Of course!”

You and Harry jump into his car and make your way to Paige’s house. When he pulls up he leaves the car running.

“Do you mind just waiting here a moment?”

“Not at all.” You smile and he nods.

He goes up to the front door and rings the bell. The door flies open and Andy practically flings himself onto Harry.

��Start putting your things in the trunk, I need to speak with your mother.”

“About what?”

“Andy.”

“Great, so you’re mad at me to?!”

“No one’s mad at you.” Paige says as she comes into view.

“Go put your things in the trunk, and then come back into the house the three of us are gonna have a chat.”

“Here, I’ll-“

“Let him do it, he wants to come home so bad, he can load his shit up.” Harry huffs and goes inside.

Andy was stunned, but he does as his dad says. When he opens the trunk he grins.

“Hi, Y/N!”

You turn around and give him a smile. A smile that says it’s good to see him, but he better not lollygag. Once Andy gets all of his things in the car, he goes inside and down to the office where Harry and Paige were waiting for him. Harry was leaning against the desk with his arms crossed, and Paige was sitting on the couch.

“I’m very disappointed in you.” Harry starts. “Your mum just got engaged, and you couldn’t even say congrats?”

“Right, because you look thrilled.” Andy scoffs. Harry and Paige look at each other and then back to Andy.

“You better check your attitude, or you’re gonna wish you were staying here. You can’t run from your problems, Andy. I’m glad you’re coming home, but it doesn’t change anything. Mum’s still marrying Noah. He’s gonna be your step-dad, and Rachel’s gonna be your step-sister. That’s just the way of it.”

“Noah loves you, Andy, and so does Rachel. I don’t understand, I mean, it’s been three years…”

“He’s not my dad, and she’s not my sister.” He huffs, crossing his own arms. “I don’t love them.” He could feel tears forming in his eyes again.

“I think…” Harry starts. “Maybe it’s time you start seeing Dr. Gardner again.”

“No!”

“Andy, you clearly have things going on that you can’t articulate to us, maybe talking to someone else could help.”

“I agree with Dad.” Paige speaks up.

“Of course you do, you’re always quick to pass me off so I don’t have to disturb your perfect life!”

“You said you wanted to go to Dad’s!” She stands up. “What did you want me to do, say no?”

“I don’t know! Even when I said I wanted to live with him you just let it happen!”

“Because you put up a fight when I even thought about saying no!”

“Whatever, I like living with him better anyways. I had the best year at school I’ve had in a long time, I have way better friends, and I can actually have a conversation with him.” He hands ball into fists. “I…I…I ha-“

“Don’t, Andy.” Harry interjects. “If you say that, there’s no taking it back.”

“God, fuck this!” Andy storms out of the room. Noah had taken Rachel for ice cream, so luckily they weren’t witnessing any of this.

“Andy!” Paige and Harry say at the same time.

“Hey!” Harry grabs Andy’s arms. He tries to yank it free, but Harry’s much stronger. “We don’t speak like that, do you understand me?”

“Stop talking to me like I’m a baby!”

“Then stop acting like one!”

“Harry.” Paige says. “Stop yelling at him. It’s not going to solve anything. Andy, you can’t speak like that to us, it’s not right. Dad and I have been breaking our backs trying to do everything we can to make you happy. We haven’t asked for much in return. I really want to marry Noah, but I won’t if it makes you that upset.”

“What?” Andy’s features soften and Harry lets go of him.

“I won’t marry him if it upsets you that much.”

“Paige…” Harry says.

“But…then you’d be unhappy, Mum.” Andy says. “I don’t want that.”

“We should have talked more about what it would mean if he and I got engaged and all that, I’m sorry I didn’t include you in those conversations.”

“I’m just confused about a lot right now…” Andy looks away. “I’m sorry for how I acted…it’s great that he wants to marry you.” He looks at Harry. “Can I still come home with you?”

“Yes.” Harry sighs. “Go get in the car, I’ll be out in a minute.”

Andy gives his mother a hug quickly, which surprises her, and then out the door he goes. Harry and Paige look at each other.

“What else do you think is going on with him?” Harry asks.

“I have no idea. I wish I did. I try to talk with him, get him to open up, but he’s very selective.”

“I’ll see if I can have a more relaxed chat with him. He’s only going into sixth grade, he shouldn’t be this moody.”

“Let me know when he wants to come back next…”

“I will. I’m sorry he spoiled everything.”

“He didn’t, they’re bringing me back a big old sundae, and I’m gonna stuff my face.” She smiles. “Look.” She holds the ring up. “Got my style just right.”

“It’s beautiful.” He smiles. “You know, Noah had a chat with me about all this, wanted my blessing and everything.”

“Really?” Her eyebrows raise. “Well, thank you for telling him it was okay.” She says facetiously. “Do you know if he spoke to my father?”

“He did not.”

“Good.” They both laugh. “Thank you…I don’t know how I’d handle him without you sometimes.”

“What are co-parents for?” He hugs her. “I’ll call you in a couple days, yeah?”

“Sounds good.”

Harry comes out to the car where you and Andy were sitting in an awkward silence.

“Sorry bout that.” Harry says as he buckles up.

“No worries.” You smile.

“Do you mind if I drop you at your place, need to have some alone time with that one.”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

Harry looks in the backseat, and sees Andy with his chin resting in his palm. He sighs and faces forward again. He pulls onto the street, and makes his way home. Harry drops you off, and walks you to your door.

“I’m sorry about all this.”

“Hey, it comes with the territory.” You shrug. “Shit happens.”

“I’ll have less time to spend with you sooner than I thought…”

“Harry, don’t worry about me. Once school starts we’ll see each other every day. We’ll make time for date nights later, go take care of things with him. Seems like he really needs you right now.”

Harry kisses your cheek and gets back in the car. It’s silent until they get home. This time he helps Andy with his things. Once it’s all settled, they both sit in his room to chat. They each sit crisscross, holding pillows to their chests.

“Whenever you’re ready.” Harry says softly. “I know there’s gotta be more to all this.”

“There is.” He sighs. “It’s just…I feel like everyone around me is finding their true love.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mom has Noah, you have Y/N now, and…Brandon, ugh, Brandon started dating this girl Molly…she’s in our class, and they go to the same camp, and he told me they, like, kissed, and…now I feel like he’s never gonna make time for me anymore. I always thought relationships were for adults…I didn’t know he liked girls…I don’t like girls like that…not yet anyways.”

“Oh, Andy…it’s okay that you don’t like anyone yet, and this Molly girl isn’t Brandon’s true love. Odds are they won’t last long. You’re only eleven.”

“When he called me to tell me he was so excited he had his first kiss…and I felt…sick.”

“Sick?”

“Yeah, like, my stomach felt weird like I was going to throw up, and my chest started to hurt. I thought it was my asthma, so I took my inhaler, but it didn’t help.” Harry’s eyes grow wide. Andy was describing heartbreak.

“What did you say to him when he told you?”

“I told him that it was cool or whatever…but that was a lie.”

“It made you feel achy, huh?”

“Yeah, but I don’t really know why…”

“That’s okay, you don’t need to have it all figured out right now.”

“But what if when I see him next he wants to talk about her, or he wants to invite her everywhere?”

“You just need to tell him that you’re not comfortable with it, and that you’d prefer the one on one time. If he’s really your friend he’ll understand.”

“I just wish I knew what was wrong with me.” He starts sniffling. “I hate that I’ve been so mean to mum, I feel like I’ve been taking things out on her, and I know I hurt her today.” He starts crying, and Harry pulls him into his chest.

“Come here.” Harry lays him down with him, letting Andy cry into him and so he could cuddle him easier. Arms wrapped around him tight. “When you feel up to it you can call her to apologize.”

“She must hate me.” He hiccups.

“She doesn’t, I promise.”

“I don’t want her to know about why I’ve been upset.”

“Okay, it can stay between us.” Harry rubs Andy’s back with one hand and scratches his scalp with the other. “When does Brandon get back from camp?”

“In a few days.”

“Is that why you wanted to come back here? So you could see each other?”

“And because I missed you.” He snuggles further into Harry, and it nearly breaks his heart. He couldn’t remember the last time his son let him hold him like this.

“I missed you too.”

“Are things with Y/N going well? I feel bad, I know I messed up your date.”

“Things are good, and it’s okay. We were just out for a walk by the river, nothing special.”

“Is she your girlfriend yet?” Andy yawns. Poor kid’s had a long day.

“Not exactly, but soon I think.”

Harry lays with Andy until he’s in a deep sleep. He goes to his own room and texts Paige that Andy will call her tomorrow to talk some things through. Just as he’s about to put his phone down your name pops up.

You: I know it’s none of my business, but I hope Andy’s alright…is he?

Harry: thanks for checking in, he’s doing fine. We had a good talk, he even let me lay with him a bit. Poor kid felt bad about cutting our date short

You: you’ve raised such a sweet boy, honestly

Harry: maybe you could join us for dinner here some night, I think he’d like that

You: I’d love to, just name the night and I’m there

Harry sighs happily. Other women he’s dated in the past always thought it was cute he had a kid at first, but none of them ever understood that Andy came first. You were so cool about it, and he adored you even more for checking in.

Harry: hey…I like you a lot

You: hey…I like you a lot too

[mindofharry]

Try a little tenderness is on, you’re in a a flowy summer dress and harry is in one of his flowery shirts and plain shorts. you both showered earlier together and then settled down to watch 10 things i hate about you. One of your favourites and one that harry likes too. After that you both decided carbonara was the meal you would make on the first night of your honeymoon.

“you smell good” you sighed snuggling your head into his chest as he moved you both around. “thanks, baby. used your shampoo by the way” he replied making you giggle. “i noticed” you say as he twirled you around. Dreams by fleetwood mac came on making the tempo of your dances change. Your dress twirled around as harry danced around the kitchen with you.

You never wanted this moment to end.

or you and harry have your honeymoon in italy.

The drive to the cottage made you feel car sick. You had begged harry to rent a car and let you drive, but he insisted on driving his new wife to the cottage. You love to drive. One reason why is because you never feel sick in the drivers seat, and because driving is just so relaxing to you.

“you’re not driving” Harry said taking the keys off of you. You pouted and stomped your foot like a two year old. Harry raised his eyebrow and pulled you into a hug. You got married two days ago, staying at a hotel in london before heading off on your romantic voyage. Harry (and you, but mostly harry) has been looking foward to visiting italy again. You’ll even say he was more excited to speak italian than say his vows. You can admit, italy has so much history. you both met here, you staying here for work and harry obviously here for a shoot or something. You bet at a local bar and hit it off straight away.

Harry and you spent the chunk of his trip together. At the beach, his hotel, your apartment, the bar. You thought it would just be a summer fling - but here you are, married and back in italy. Nothing beats it to be honest, you wouldn’t change a thing.

So here you are, in his car that harry loves, trying to keep your lunch in your stomach. Why didn’t you buy a bottle of water? And why didn’t you put your foot down with driving? Your stubborn usually, something harry loves about you. But once harry brings out those green puppy dog eyes and famous pout, there’s no way you can cause a fight over it, and that asswhole knows you can’t say no to the pout and puppy dog eyes.

“you ok baby?” the bastard asked with a smirk. you groaned and opened your window ignoring his question, harry placed his hand on your thigh his cold rings bringing some comfort to you. “we’ll be at the cottage in 5. you can hold onto until then, right”

He asked and you nodded placing a hand on your forehead. “i’m fine, just wished i ignored that pout” you mumbled making harry chuckle. “no one can resist it, honey” he said making you nod. It’s true, you’re not the only one. His mum, for one. The only that gave him those fucking eyes, can’t resist them. When he was a child the minute he didn’t get something - bam, puppy dog eyes and he’d get it straight away. The same with poor jeff. He just can’t say no.

“you definitely take advantage of us” you say, silently thanking god as you see the cottage just up the road. Harry scoffed putting on the indicator to park the car. “i do not take advantage of people. i just get what i want very quickly” he said making you laugh.

“sure, baby. if that’s what you want to call it”

Unpacking it the most relaxing thing for you and harry to do with each other. You offer to help him when he gets home from tour and trips etc, it’s relaxing and nice to just talk.

“How much did you bring?” Harry asked opening up your suitcase. “the right fucking amount. we’re here for two weeks, har. Not two days” you replied making your husband roll his eyes and open up the drawers.

Your husband.

you’ll never get used to that. Harry styles is your husband. you get to come home to him, have his babies, go to his concerts, paint his nails. You also get to watch endless amount of rom coms without any complaints so that’s definitely a plus.

“Don’t complain, just put away my clothes” you say only getting a kiss on your shoulder in response.

“Hey, why don’t we go out to the pool for a bit. unpack later? want to see my wife in a bikini” Harry said leaning back on the bed, you grinned and picked up one of your favourite pink bikinis.

“you’re desperate to see my tits, aren’t you?” you asked only getting a boyish grin from your husband. “ok fine. i’ll meet you outside then” you say grabbing your bikini and making your way to the bathroom. “hey! i wanted to see those beautiful boobs of yours!” harry yelled as you locked the bathroom door. “too late”

You changed in record time, tying up your hair and putting on some lotion and your sun glasses. Luckily you had waxed and shaved everywhere before coming on the trip. Usually you don’t mind having a little hair, but this time it was a little different. Harry always said he doesn’t care, but you’ve done it now so he better like it. Your bikini was a little small, but that was kind of the point. The last time you wore it was last year in spain - harry and his little (boner) friend liked it very much too.

You stepped out of the bathroom and heard harry jump into the pool outside. Walking outside you grab the attention of harry and unbeknownst to you, the two 14 year old boys next door. All men were gobsmacked and harry couldn’t believe you were all his.

“i’m so glad i put a ring on you” he said getting out of the pool and placing his arms around you, getting you all wet (in more than one way). “hmmm. is it just for my body?” you teased, harry shook his head kissing your neck. “i love you for how smart you are. God, you’re like a dictionary. And how kind and selfless you are, so nice to everyone. And of course your perky little tits”

You rolled your eyes “My perky little tits love you too” you replied moving around him and bending down. Harry god a good look at your ass, hello boner.

You guys stayed in the pool for awhile. Sometimes swimming together other times alone. You even had a little swimming contest that you won - harry said he let you win. But you know when he’s lying and you’re obviously a much better swimmer than him. The pool is refreshing and cool in the scorching heat and you’re sure harry’s going to burn because he hasn’t reapplied any lotion whatsoever.

After getting out of the pool you both lay out on two chair, waters and cokes in between you both. “Harry, let me put lotion on you. you’re as red as a lobster” you plead making him sigh. “fine but only because i want to” he pouted sitting up.

You rubbed the lotion all of his skin, enjoying the little winces he lets out. serves him right for not listening to his wife. You always warn him, but he never listens. One day you’re just going to stop and he’ll have to put his own lotion on.

“i love you”

“i love you too, now massage me”

It was getting dark out once you decided to cook dinner, you were going for dinner tomorrow instead too tired to go out right now. Anyways you love cooking with harry, it’s nice. Have some stevie nicks and otis redding on in the background while talking about different types of food is oddly comforting and such a nice thing to do at the end of the day. And harry doesn’t like to take over either - he does his bit of cooking, you do yours and that’s that. There’s always a dance break too, like right now.

Try a little tenderness is on, you’re in a a flowy summer dress and harry is in one of his flowery shirts and plain shorts. you both showered earlier together and then settled down to watch 10 things i hate about you. One of your favourites and one that harry likes too. After that you both decided carbonara was the meal you would make on the first night of your honeymoon.

“you smell good” you sighed snuggling your head into his chest as he moved you both around. “thanks, baby. used your shampoo by the way” he replied making you giggle. “i noticed” you say as he twirled you around. Dreams by fleetwood mac came on making the tempo of your dances change. Your dress twirled around as harry danced around the kitchen with you.

You never wanted this moment to end.

You could see you bringing your children here in a couple years, dancing with them to otis and fleetwood. That would be nice, you thought.

Making dinner was full of smiles, laughing and dancing. Just how you like it.

“This is amazing, baby” Harry said placing a hand on your thigh. “you made it too, har. take some credit” you say sipping at your wine. Harry squeezed your thigh and continued to eat his pasta - adele was currently on in the background, making it as peaceful as ever.

“i’m so glad i’m your husband”

“baby” you pouted pecking his lips. “i’m glad to be your wife” you say pecking his lips again. His lips are soft and something you could addicted to. You could kiss him for hours straight if you could.

“i think we should visit the bar we met in sometime tomorrow” you say, harry nodded in agreement. “yeah, they have nice sangria there too” harry replied making you roll your eyes.

“and a place full of beautiful memories” he added, you laughed nodding “that’s more like it. but yeah, the sangria’s are to die for” you agreed kissing his cheek before standing up and clearing off the table.

“why don’t you pick another movie and i’ll wash up?”

And so harry practically made you go into the living room and pick out a movie. Angus, thongs and perfect snogging - one he also didn’t mind. He really is the perfect husband. He did mind a little when you said the main male character, robbie was your crush when you were younger.

“so you weren’t a directioner?” he asked and you cackled “of course i was! i had multiple crushes baby!” you say trying to justify your crush on the character. Harry gave you the silent treatment for 10 minutes.

“Are you done ignoring me yet?” you asked as georgia the main character, flirted with robbie. harry sighed and pulled you into his chest making you look up at him.

“i guess. maybe you’ll have to kiss it better” he teased making you giggle but place your lips on his.

“i think i’m ready for bed, mr styles”

Harry bit his lip and pulled you off the couch making you squeal and laugh.

“i think so too, Mrs styles”

[joaquinwhorres]

Francesca and Diego + first aid with feelings?

oooh ok! this is admittedly short, and it's also off the top so it may not fit into my fic, but I am so thankful for this ask and thought it'd be fun!

"Can you drive any faster?" Diego grumbled from the backseat as Francesca flipped on his car's turn signal.

"No, but do you know what can? An ambulance." She chanced a glance over her shoulder to simultaneously shoot him a dirty look and assess the damage. Diego stretched out on his stomach over the back seat, careful to keep the shard of glass lodged into his shoulder blade away from anything that might push it in deeper. But, the light grey upholstery was still light grey, and that was something.

"I don't need an ambulance. Or a hospital," Diego argued. "Just go to the my place."

"We are going to the hospital," Francesca asserted in the voice she tended to save for hostile witnesses.

"The hospital is going to ask questions." Diego winced as Francesca came to an abrupt stop at a red light. "I don't think you want to deal with that right now. Not with your case."

Francesca leaned her head back, looking up at the roof of the car with a mixture of prayers and curses swirling in her head. He was right.

The car behind her lay on their horn, urging her to move under the newly green light.

"Fine," she bit out, making a last second right turn which resulted in some colorful swearing from Diego.

. . .

The gym was empty as Francesca helped Diego to his back room, his arm slung over her shoulder and bodyweight heavy even as he tried to help her with hobbling steps. It was slow moving and she did almost drop him down the stairs when he decided to lunge forward without telling her, but in the end, she safely deposited him onto his bed.

He looked worse than he had in the car, and guilt scratched at the back of her throat as she watched him attempt to take off his harness. She should have taken him to the hospital. Screw her case and his aversion to trained professionals. He should be in an ER right now.

"I'm calling an ambulance," Francesca said, shaking her head and moving towards the door.

"Kika." The nickname stopped her in her tracks. "Please, just--help me."

She swallowed, bringing up a hand to rub at her temple before turning slowly back towards Diego. He still had one hand struggling to unhook his harness while the other stay straight to avoid moving the glass.

She helped him down the stairs and he sat on his bed, sucking in a sharp breath.

"I don't want you to die." Her voice was softer than it should have been when dealing with Diego. She needed to be firm, like stone.

"I'm not going to die," he dismissed, and it might have sounded a bit more derisive if he hadn't sucked in a sharp breath and the hand messing with his buckles dropped to the mattress.

Francesca stepped back towards the bed, easily undoing the buckles for him and slipping the harness over his head, careful to circumvent the shard. She lay it down next to her on the ground.

"See?" Diego asked with a grimace that should have been a shit-eating grin. "I'm in good hands."

"You should be in a doctor's hands," she argued, this time without any of the heat she had earlier. Her eyes roamed from his face to the glass in his back. The glass that was there because of her.

[votederpycausemufins]

we got so much snow, why do i still have class today? I mean it was short, but why have it at all?

oh and you’ll like this one today @petrichormeraki

:)))))))))

“Holy fuck you’re my dad. The captain is my dad.” Tubbo was stunned, still trying to comprehend it. Crumb on the other hand already accepted it. 

“I’ve got a big brudder! Tubbox is my brudder!” She was running around happily and eventually decided to just sit on Tubbo’s shoulder.

“You’re the kid of a celebrity Tubbo!” Tommy slapped a hand on Tubbo’s back in celebration. “Does this mean I can be your plus one to fancy events and shit?”

“I’m not really that kind of celebrity.” Sparklez rubbed the back of his head. “I mean I’m well known, but that’s mainly because I travel a lot.”

“Sprinklez is definitely a celebrity!” Crumb said happily, her tail flicking about. “Millions of people know him! He’s been so myany places!”

“Wonder how Kara’s going to react to all this. ‘Oh hey Kara, remember how I wouldn’t be available for a few days and now it’s been longer than that? Well found my long lost kid!’ I mean it works, but that doesn’t feel right.”

“Is Kara my mom?”

Crumb, feeling a bit chaotic at the moment, answered the question for Tubbo. “Ye!”

“No! No she is not!” Jordan immediately shouted. “That proposal was for being her thousandth kill or something, not for getting married!”

“Honorary mom!”

Sparklez inhaled sharply before sighing to calm himself. “Yes, fine. If you want to think of her like that, sure. Don’t know how she’d react if you call her that though, so maybe don’t actually say it aloud.”

“How’d you even lose him?” Tommy spoke up. He knew Tubbo’s side of the story, but he was a child at the time and it was around ten years ago, so the details might not be accurate anymore.

“Tubbo was really curious as a kid. Always following me around everywhere no matter how much I tried to get him to sit still. He got interested in almost everything I did. We were visiting one world, Univcraft, and I was just driving around.” Grian’s feathers puffed up at the name of the world. “Tubbo was in the back in his seat, but was getting restless. Next thing I know, he had managed to unlock and open the door.”

“Did you keep driving?”

“No! Of course not! I slammed on the brakes and jumped out of the car. Forgot to put park on at first and it started to roll away on its own before I could jump back in to fix it. Tubbo wasn’t in his seat so I assumed he fell out when the door opened but he was nowhere in sight. There seemed to be no evidence and the weirdest part was that he would have had to unbuckle himself from his booster seat and they were all still done up.”

Tubbo’s eyes widened. “I remember that! I… I think when I first realized I wasn’t in the car anymore, the first thing I was upset about was not being in my cool racing harness.” Tommy started laughing. “Hey! I was five!”

Sparklez couldn’t help but chuckle along with Tommy before pulling Crumb and Tubbo into a hug. “Both my ducklings are finally with me.”

“Duckling?” Tommy asked with a mischievous grin.

“I said Tubbo followed me everywhere. He also liked bees a lot so wore yellow half the time. He reminded me of a little duckling.”

“I remember wen Sprinklez cried wen we went to space an I followed him around in my yellow space suit!”

“Okay Crumb, don’t need to bring that up.”

“Hey, if you can say embarrassing shit about me, let her say embarrassing shit about you.”

Jordan winced slightly. “I guess that’s fair. So, what’s your life been like? I can tell you’ve been… active.” He vaguely gestured to a visible burn scar on Tubbo, which made the teen slump their shoulders a little. Tommy pulled Tubbo away into a protective hug and Grian put a hand on Sparklez’s shoulder.

“To put it lightly, they’ve been through hell. I’m pretty sure the only reason he’s doing as good as he is right now is because of Tommy. Don’t expect him to open up about everything right away. Give him space before you start asking questions.” Grian glanced over to the duo and Tommy gave him a quick thumbs up. “Trauma sucks, but having someone there to be supportive, even if you don’t know them as well as you should, is really helpful.”

“Thanks.” Sparklez gave Grian a short nod. 

“Well, I’m sure you guys will have a wonderful time together, but I still need to go see Xisuma and give him updates on… well, everything.”

“See ya Big G.” Tommy said to Grian before the avian was flying off.

Mumbo was trying his best not to completely panic, but he was slowly failing. “No no no no no. It has to be there! Why isn’t it there? Is it because of the ice? Is there something with ice?” Mumbo looked down at himself and still saw no symbol. “Maybe it was whatever Dream did. That’s surely something that wouldn’t be accounted for.”

“It wasn’t him, idiot.” Mumbo’s blood ran cold and he turned around to see Drista sitting on a chest. “Obviously it was you. I thought you knew VG and Watcher magic doesn’t mix.”

“This is. No. I, I’m not a Vault God. I refuse.”

“Again with the refusing. It worked before but it won’t now. I told you it was only a matter of time.”

Mumbo was in a state of complete disbelief, trying to find some excuse. Then his disbelief turned to anger as he thought of something. “No, this is your fault. You were keeping in contact with Dream. He said you were. You didn’t do anything.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t do anything. But you did instead. And how did you do that? Became a Vault God.”

“Well tell me how to unbecome one.” Mumbo demanded. 

“You pretty much don’t. That’s why Dream was able to do what he did. Even exiled, he was still a Vault God.”

“Please, there has to be something.” Now he was starting to plead with Drista, hoping for some glimmer of hope for him.

She tilted her head from side to side as she thought about the question. “Well, technically you’re not completely official. In fact I’m here to bring you to that. Maaaaybe if you say something to them, you can get some exception.” She paused to shrug. “Who knows. They may just force you to be one.”

“And if I don’t go?”

“You’ll still be a Vault God, just unstable. Though I will say, you’re doing pretty well on your own.”

Mumbo didn’t care to ask what she meant. He had to go. If he went there was at least some percentage of a chance that he could go back to normal. If he didn’t, he would absolutely end up hurting Grian. “Alright fine. Where do you need to take me?”

Drista smiled and pulled on a mask that was almost identical to the one Dream had worn. “Just follow me.”

Grian spun the chicken feather that was his quill on the table as Xisuma talked. Sure, this was all very important, but the avian was already bored. He kept asking more questions that should have been answered already, but the admin was too focused on the answers themselves to think about the entire context. “I said that it’s going to be like another dimension already. You can’t get to other dimensions without a portal. Think of it like a third being tacked on. And fourth since they have their own nether.”

“What about their end?”

“Again, they haven’t seen it because Dream destroyed all connections to it.”

“And the Watchers?”

“Are combining groups and are adding in two new Watchers to keep things running smoothly.”

“Any previous relation with Zoy and Riffed?”

“Zloy and Pixlriffs, and no. Petrichor and Meraki are just helpful with world crosses. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Can I go yet?”

Xisuma paused, tapping his helmet where his chin would be. “Alright, but I’ll be sending messages to you, so look out for those and try to respond quickly.”

Grian nodded and passed the book and quill over to Xisuma with the notes he had taken. He then got up from his chair and stretched before flying into the air. Now that Xisuma was dealt with and Tommy was occupied, next was getting the kids from Stress.

The avian flew over the desert between Xisuma’s jungle and the one that he, Stress and others lived in. He smiled as he passed Mumbo’s base, though he had to steady himself when his flying became a little wobbly. He brushed it off as him just getting distracted and then landed near where Stress said she would be.

“Dad!” Jrumbot was running up to Grian and the avian picked up his robot son in a hug. “You’re okay again! Daddy was really worried about you.”

Grian quickly gave Stress a thankful nod for her looking after the bots. “Well it wasn’t the best situation, but he figured it out like the smart man he is. Now speaking of him, we should go see him. He needs some more cheering up and love. Think you can help with that?”

Jrumbot nodded and then Grian helped him onto his own back, right between his wings. As the younger of the robots held tightly to Grian, the avian picked up Grumbot and then thanked Stress before flying towards Mumbo’s base. As they approached, Grian suddenly felt much more tired than he had moments before, so much so that Jrumbot slapped his face slightly to wake him up so he didn’t crash.

“What?! Huh? Oh right, I’m flying! Sorry boys, guess the meeting with Xisuma took more out of me that I realized. At least we’re almost there.” And he landed at Mumbo’s base, only stumbling slightly.

“Are you alright dad?” Grumbot asked Grian, who gave a nod.

“Yeah, ‘m fine. Oh, that reminds me. Thanks for your help. We found Tubbo’s dad.”

“While I’m glad I helped, you shouldn’t be trying to change the subject.”

Grian sighed, having forgotten how well Grumbot could read him. “I’m fine. I just want to find Mumbo and then we can all go to the big bedroom and hang out there.” He helped Jrumbot down off his back and ruffled his wings before folding them “Mumbo! I’m here with the kids!”

There was no answer making Grian frown. “Maybe he’s tired like you and went to sleep?” Jrumbot suggested.

“Yeah, might be.” Grian then pulled out his communicator to send random messages to Mumbo to either follow the hum of the vibration of a message or to wake Mumbo up with the sound. He sent off one message and was just starting to type another when he got the error message. “Wh- Mumbo’s not here.”

“What do you mean not here?” Grumbot asked, worried by how worried Grian looked.

“I… maybe he went back to the other world? But everything’s connected now, that shouldn’t be an issue.” Grian continued to worriedly ramble. The bots looked at each other and then took Grian’s hands, pulling him to where Mumbo’s bedroom was and got him to lay down on the bed.

“Do we need to get anyone?” Grumbot asked. “Iskall or Stress? Possibly Xisuma?”

Grian shook his head. “We just left Stress’ place. She’s helped plenty. And Xisuma is busy with the world merge. Iskall… they might be available, but message them first.”

Jrumbot’s screen face changed briefly. “Okay! I did it!”

Grian nodded then curled up in the blankets. He really felt tired now and a bit woozy. He gave a groan. “Ugh… Dream was a Vault God and I was around him for who knows how long. Plus I went to visit again… maybe there’s magic sticking to me or around here.”

“Are you sick again?”

Grian gave a half hearted nod. “Yeah, now both of you come here so I can cuddle you. That’s the best kind of medicine right now.”

Jrumbot immediately jumped into the bed and curled up in Grian’s arms. Grumbot on the other hand, wasn’t as fast. “Contact with people is usually not a type of medicine and I’m sure us not being humans makes it even less effective.” But despite his comments, he also joined his brother in Grian’s arms.

[jade-of-mourning]

theformat wrote, "im floating with the birds im talking to the weeds look what youve done to me"

in which i spontaneously take several hours to translate nate’s awfully punctuated commentary on dog problems into Comprehensive English Words. partially so i can write my stupid essay on it for fun. but yes here you go, 4.2k words from a 2006 livejournal archive that i managed to snatch out of two saves. here’s a link if you want to read it from the source, but i’ll have you know it’s a nightmare. early 2000′s nate ruess learn how to type properly challenge.

theformat wrote,

[@ 2006-5-18 18:44:00]

"im floating with the birds im talking to the weeds look what youve done to me"

Hi,

Sitting on my couch, watching ESPN. Damn, it’s good to be home. Things have been pretty crazy the last 6 months. As a lot of you know, we were dropped by our label — we went and recorded a new record, labels became interested, [and] we decided to release it ourselves. We went on tour, and now I’m [...] home for the next week: my first week off in six months. What do I do? 

Well, my roommate and I got memberships to the YMCA down the street from our house. It’s an amazing place. Downtown Phoenix is pretty much an amazing place. It’s not like the rest of the state — speaking of which, I’m declaring war on Scottsdale, it’s the opposite of Downtown Phoenix.

Anyways, so I wake up at 9am every morning. I don’t know what it is, really — I’ve been a "pro" musician for about 3 years now, [and] we are supposed to wake up at 11 or 12. I know some dudes that wake up at 1, but no; since I’ve been home the last few days, I’ve been going to bed at 1 and waking up at 9. My roommate has a job, [so] I think it has to do with that. 

See, there are 3 showers total in our house. I have the big bedroom, so I have the big shower, [and] since I’ve been off on tour and recording, he has gotten used to the nice shower in my room (Which is fine — anyone that’s gotten close to me knows I’m not too fond of showers, so it’s not like I use it that much). So every morning around 8:45, I wake up to my door opening and my roommate going through my room to use the shower. 

You know what it’s like when you’re half asleep but you want to act like you’re awake so as not to freak someone out with all the crazy babble, but you just end up saying all the same crazy babble? I do that every morning. I turn and look at him and try to act like I wasn’t just dreaming about tootsie rolls and parrots that shatter like glass. "Hey [Roommate's Name], that was some game last night" [is what usually] comes out of my mouth — something to that extent — and I think he feels sorry for me, but continues to walk right into my bathroom, and use the shower. 

At this point, I’m awake. I usually have to pee, and I have to then use his restroom. It’s a terrible swap, and it always ends with me wide awake on my front porch (har har) smoking a cigarette and wondering how the hell I’m gonna fall back asleep when the air conditioning is broken. Ah, what a wonderful life at home, [but] that’s the weird thing — I love it. Now we wake up and we go to the [YMCA]. We run, we play basketball, we jump in the pool, we play pool basketball, we get yelled at for dunking the ball. We don’t use soap before we go into the sauna, and the night usually ends with a poker tournament. This is the life I love to live when I’m away from the road. It too is the opposite of Scottsdale. It’s who I am, [and] it’s pretty much who I’ve become.

See, for the last 23 years, it’s been about the highs and the lows for me. I’ve got an addictive personality, [so] I stay away from a lot of things because of this; however, when I find things, I get generally excited. I go crazy. It’s all I think about and all I do for the next howeverlong. For the first 23 years, it was either talking non-stop or locking myself in my room. It’s either great or terrible; not good or bad. Dog Problems changed that.

Initially, Dog Problems was supposed to be that — the original concept of Dog Problems was to be 2 sides of music, the first half taking over where Interventions [+ Lullabies] had left off: "We'll be together in the morning…"

We weren’t, in fact. We were over before Interventions was even released. We were over two weeks after it was recorded, [and] I spent the next 2 years feeling terrible. We got back together… we broke up… we got dogs… we broke up… we got back together and got dogs…

I was still miserable, but I wanted Dog Problems to get me through everything. I wanted it to help me, not anyone else — just me. The first side was supposed to be me down in the dumps [and] everything that went down: how the two of us were dealing with it differently, [and] the second half was supposed to be a realization.

The first inkling of realization was a day [when] we were on tour. We were all laughing about something I’m sure Marko or Adam said. Here I was supposed to be depressed, but the fact that I can spend all of my days in different states with my best friends, all of us doing what we love — that was major! Then my mom called… I’ve got my parents! My friends! What else could I possibly need?

At that point, I felt as if a relationship in a Michael Bolton sort of way didn’t mean anything. It was the people you surrounded yourself with — those were the people that made the difference, and that was going to be side two. I was convinced that when I just closed my eyes and thought about the wonderful people around me, I was going to be great. Not good, [but] great.

I didn’t get that far, no. I got back into the relationship. 

I was sure it was going to work. At that point, life would be perfect, and we all want perfection right? [But] things went right back to far from perfect. Things went to terrible. I couldn’t stop feeling sorry for myself, but I had a concept. At that point, I figured that even by singing and recording these positive songs I was going to feel better, so Sam showed me what was then just a short acoustic guitar version of Snails.

This was it. This was my first chance to prove to myself that life can be beautiful. The thing is, I had never been more miserable. I remember writing the lyrics to Snails: my roommate was at work, I was on the bed, on my night stand was a giant bottle of booze, and somewhere off in California she wasn’t calling me back on a Friday night. So I went to work, listened [to it] over and over. I wanted to get it right; I wanted to be positive. I passed out, then I woke up the next morning [with a] big headache (P.S. drinking is not really that cool; it’s cool when you condemn it for the first 22 years of your life, then it becomes not cool, then it becomes ok when you moderate yourself) and I started writing everything positive I could think of. [...] Snails was, in Sam’s mind, supposed to be a 2 minute kid’s song, [but] I wrote so much that there was no going back. I thought that was it — Snails solved all of my problems.

It didn’t get that far either. Nothing could shake the depression, [and] I really started to worry about myself. Here I want to feel great, but I only feel terrible, [and] a few months later it got really really bad. I had to go to my parents house that night, I didn’t want to be at my house. I wanted to feel like a kid.

It’s funny how we always want to be adults when we're younger. We want to drive cars, we want to have girlfriends. I still didn’t consider myself an adult — all I wanted was to come home, be tucked in, know that everything was going to be alright. I woke up the next day [and found out] she met someone new. I’ve got to figure myself out…

In the meantime, we've got 4 songs we are recording over at our friend Aaron’s house (he is an amazing producer and [...] musician, and his house and his roommates have gotten me through a lot of tough times. They’re some of the only people I know who would rather spend their Saturdays getting dinner and watching a movie instead of going to a party. I like that). All of this turmoil in my relationship was going on at the time, and I was trying to write side two [but] I couldn’t. There was more fuel to side one. These songs have to be done, so I wrote about what I knew, and at that point I knew how to feel terrible.

So much for side two. Dog Problems is going to be one giant mess of depression and "look what you’ve done to me".

Atlantic got those four songs, as well as a few others. They were not psyched, to say the least, but some people at the label actually cared about it enough to say "go record". So we were able to pick our producer, we met with a few people, talked to a few more. Things were looking up. Dog Problems was going to happen. 

I remember meeting Steve McDonald at his house — Sam and I were excited to be [there] because we knew his wife Anna would probably be there. Anna was the lead singer/songwriter for a band we used to obsess about called "That Dog", her brother was one of the ten drummers in the world that I actually liked, so Steve couldn't be so bad. And he wanted to produce our record, so he had to be pretty cool! 

He was just that, and more. Sam and I were eating every word that came out of his mouth. He had stories; he was young, hip, energetic, and yet very all knowing. We saw someone that was going to let us do whatever we wanted to do, and in the meantime he was going to make us laugh and make sure we didn't lose our minds. From that point on, I knew there was someone I could always trust. I made a friend pretty quick.

Things were moving forward. Steve McDonald was to be the producer. I hated Los Angeles so there was no way in hell I was going to record there, [so] we decided Palm Springs would be perfect. Weird, but perfect. I had a phone conversation with Steve that night and we were finalizing everything. I was going to call Atlantic in the morning and let them know just how everything was going to work, [but] I didn't get that far.

I was sleeping in a blowup bed at the house when my phone rang. I didn’t wake up and answer like it was my roommate and he was coming into my room to use my shower, [because] this call felt different. Right away, I was awake.

It was our manager: "You’ve been dropped." 

When I heard that, the first thought going through my mind wasn’t "Oh man...how are we going to be famous now and make boat loads of money?" It was more like "fuck...but Dog Problems. We were supposed to go make Dog Problems."

The thing is, Atlantic wasn’t into Dog Problems. They were into whatever it was they thought we were. Never had The First Single made more sense — what was supposed to be a song about getting the band started and doing something with it had actually turned into a song about how stuck we were in the labels eyes because of the song. I was past that; we're proud of something we wrote when we were 19 and 20, but when I think of music, I think of progression. 

I think of all of the wonderful records I had been introduced to when I had nothing to do riding in a van. I think of all of the new influences, all the instruments, all of the "How did they do that?" And I think of how much it gets me through everything.

Music has been the consecutive[ly] great[est] thing in my life. It’s been that one thing, and with Dog Problems, it wasn’t about "I want everyone to sing along because I can write a catchy song." It was about feeling. It was paying tribute to all of the bands that we obsessively listened to. It was for Harry Nilsson and Van Dyke Parks, it was for Jellyfish and XTC. It was our way of saying thanks for making our lives better, whether it be lyrically or musically. It was never about being something, being told something, and sticking to something. It was an adventure, for the artist and for the listener.

[And] they didn't get that. They wanted the old record, the old songs, just with different words and a few different chords here and there. They didn’t care about Snails or Dog problems [or] what it meant to write those songs. They knew it wasn't going to be huge; the guitars were not big enough (if big guitars are your thing that’s fine, it’s just not really our thing right now); it wasn’t going to be competitive, and so they dropped us. And rightfully so: we weren’t going to change, and obviously the major label business is never going to change, [so] now it comes down to who goes down first. And we weren’t ready to go down.

Sam and I had conversations about it, whether the business end of things have been fucking with us so much that we'll never be sane enough to just enjoy it. We thought about getting out — it wasn’t [be]cause we hated each other, or the songs; it was because we hated the business.

Steve called to let us know that he was still onboard, label or not, [and] we let him know we were still on board. We were going to make this record, [and] I was going to feel great! But the record was going to cost something. How could we afford it? 

We were lucky that we had a management company like Nettwerk. Not only are they the most forward-thinking music business people around, [but] they’re also (for the most part) Canadian. Oh, and they care a shit load about the music we make. They could have waited for the ship to sink, but they told us they would pay for the record if need be. Fortunately, we were able to get money for getting dropped — Atlantic actually paid us to leave, so we could afford the recording ourselves. The only stipulation was that it had to be done quicker, and when you want something quick, you have to go to the "right here, right now" capitol of the world: Los Angeles. I was a little irked at the thought at first, then Steve said it was his personal goal to make LA a wonderful city for me. Like I said, I would jump off a cliff if Steve said it was the best way to get coffee, but I wasn’t jumping off of cliffs. I was too excited to make Dog Problems, [so] LA it was.

Sam and I moved to the "Silver Palace" in Silverlake California in the middle of December. We found an amazing studio in Burbank, California and an amazing engineer in Ken Sluiter, and our goal was to just do everything free from a record label and someone constantly messing up the recording process by saying things like "that’s not high octave enough". The only pressure we had at all was from our manager saying "You have a tour you accepted in March, [so] get it done by then.” Other than that, it was me, Sam, Steve, and Ken working 13 hours a day for 6 days a week.

It became our lives we were putting so much of ourselves into. Everyone that worked and played on the record was the same way when they were there contributing. I would leave the studio at 2 in the morning and wake up at 10 to be at the studio by 11. There was no free time — the four of us were so invested in this. We all bought into the concept. 

In the meantime, things outside of the studio were getting interesting. We had a lot of labels calling and constantly asking about it. During one week of recording, I remember at least 3 different label people coming down to the studio. Our minds weren’t made up as to what we were doing with the record once it was recorded — all we wanted to do was finish it — but we kept our options open and let people sit in the big chair and listen to what we had been working on. The response was overwhelmingly positive, but we didn’t really think about it too much beyond the compliments we were receiving. Sam and I got used to LA — I was 10 minutes away from where I had been the previous summer when I was back "on" in my “on and off" relationship. I was ten minutes from her, she was calling every day, I was singing about it… but how was it not getting to me? Why did I not care?

My phone was off. I woke up in Silverlake one morning and started wondering why for the last month I had a smile on my face. Sure, I was down at times, but the thing that had been bringing me down for 3 years was now the last thing on my mind. Apparently, it had been that way for awhile. Something that took 3 years to get over… I was finally just okay with it. No big realization — just the fact that things happen. People make mistakes. And I came out of it alright. I was good; not great… I was good, and that felt good.

I wasn’t looking for great anymore. I was okay. The last song on Dog Problems is all about that. Here, this record was supposed to be the downs, and the ups, and it ended with the middle: the realization that I don’t need to be talking; I don’t need to be locked in my room — I need to enjoy what’s going on around me. And if things go wrong, they go wrong. There’s always tomorrow.

Dog Problems means so much to me in so many different ways. I’ve never been more proud of anything in my life. I cried so many times during the making of the record. All the money I had spent on therapy, and all I had to do was go make a record, realize that I’m alright, and realize that I made something that I’ll forever be proud of.

Shit… the record was supposed to be about how California can change you for the worse, [but] it played a huge part in doing the opposite!

So as we were putting the finishing touches on the record (all our friends came in and recorded! A ton of people we admired came and worked on the record! All of their responses were so positive that it's hard not to get an ego about it. These are the people I worship. They’re the ones I wanted to pay tribute to, and they think we've made something unique and special. It’s like Michael Jordan telling you that you have a nice jump shot (no more sports references… I swear I’m done)) and we started to think about what we were going to do with it. How we were going to release it. Labels were getting pretty into it, and we knew we would have to make a decision soon.

After much debate and discussion, we decided that the record was something we had made completely on our own, so why not release it completely on our own? Nettwerk was going to take care of the distribution so it would have a major label distro. It would be inside all of the Best Buys; what more did we want? We didn’t want a big fat check — we did that last time. It made us miserable, and nothing came out of it. Barely anyone at the labels helped us, we weren’t making music videos, our songs weren’t on the radio, so why would we take their criticism? After all, everything that we’ve done — any success we’ve had is from being real people who make music. From showing up to play, from 3 years on the road. 

On Interventions [+ Lullabies], there might have been an Elektra logo on the back of the record, but it ended right there. We were the ones SHOWING people who we were. I wouldn’t have it any other way — no one knows us better than ourselves, so why not release it ourselves? To me, it’s not only a testament to the hard work we put into the band (Mike, Don, Marko, Toco, everyone else involved in putting these songs to life — you guys are the best thing we have. It’s pretty special when your best friends are some of the most talented musicians), but I really feel like the people who come to our shows are such good people that they don’t give a fuck what label it’s on.

They are there because we are doing something positive, and because we care about them as much as they care about us. So for the time being we've said "fuck the middleman": we're the only people we can blame at this point. I’m so tired of even talking about major labels and the split and everything like this. The music is the only thing I care about. Dog Problems is the only thing I care about, so why let someone else ruin it?

The Vanity Label was born.

The record got finished. We had no time to rehearse, and we had to go right back out to tour. Our first show before the Motion City Soundtrack tour was in Nashville — I remember the last time we were in Nashville, there were about ten kids. Reuben’s accomplice kept asking them why they hate whales, so we figured why not go there and get some of the rust out of the way. After all, we haven't toured in a year so there should be like 3 kids there; we can mess up if need be.

Unfortunately, we were not allowed to mess up. On a Sunday night in Nashville, with Ted Leo playing across the street (I <3 Ted), our first headlining show outside of Arizona in almost a year was over sold out. What the fuck happened? 

We thought we were going to have to play for another 3 years just to get back to where we were when we left, and yet it’s sold out on a Sunday night? It didn’t end there either — the whole tour went like that… night after night ("nite after nite?"). I couldn't believe it. As if having Dog Problems wasn’t enough, now we have people showing their support in the most positive way: coming to the shows, being there from the only thing they knew before. Those two months were such good months. It was the last thing I expected. Thanks so much to all the bands that played with us, and thanks so much for everyone that came to the shows and sang along. We'll be back in July.

In the meantime, things were going great on the Vanity Label front. Business actually felt natural. We are shooting a video with the directors we had always dreamed of doing a video with (it won’t be serious...no pouty face). There were magazines like AP and online magazines like AP taking notice, supporting the whole idea and concept. We actually took press photos. I’ve never been through any of this before, it’s exciting. I don’t think it’s going to change who we are, not one bit, but it’s still exciting to see people who can help out actually help out.

So where does that leave me now? Sitting on my bed. I’ve rambled for hours, the air still doesn't work, and I’ve been told that Dog Problems (something that isn't supposed to come out till July) has been leaked. Not the best news when you just got out of the pool, but it happens. I freaked out at first — I thought I was going to lock myself in my room. After all, this is something that we spent over two years making. It’s something that you have to take the time… listen to in headphones… play loud… listen to in order of the tracks… the artwork… Sam did the best artwork he has ever done. The packaging is something we paid extra for because Sam’s concept was so brilliant, and now… it’s leaked on the internet? I was locking my door, then our manager called.

"Hello?" 

"We're releasing it on the website today." 

"Wow."

So, here goes. You’ve read enough. I shouldn’t have to go on about it anymore, but I will say, if you wanna wait for the full hard copy release then do so. It’s July 11 — we are gonna be touring right after that — but if you want to get it now,.please do it by purchasing it right here. We released it, it’s our money, it’s our little baby — you should take the time to listen to it all the way through, free of distraction. You should turn the songs into your own. It’s an adventure, and it’s something that we put everything we have into; and if anyone deserves it first, it’s you guys who have been here with us all along.

Without further ado...

"Dog Problems"

- Nate

[maybe-your-left]

LOSE THE SHORTS WITH KYLO AND HIS CANINE COMPANION.... TOBY ✨

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE!

RECAP, in the last installment of Boyfriend Kylo, we bought a black pomeranian puppy named TOBY.

———

“Fuck,” Kylo grunted in your ear. His lips pulled back to bare his teeth, thrusting wildly into your hot pussy. You had been aching for him when you woke up, crawling under the black sheets and sucking him into your mouth. Deepthroating his length as he woke up, since then he had fucked you twice. Now onto round three, both your collective cum dripping out of your abused heat.

Your left leg was hoisted up on his shoulder, opening your pussy up for him. Allowing him the thrust deep, knocking against your g-spot with his heavy tip. Kylo had his arms hooked underneath your back, cradling you to his sweaty chest. Folding you in half underneath his large form, from above his back was wide enough to engulf your entire form. You were moaning wildly, your right hand weakly holding onto his shoulder while he fucked you.

All the blood in your body had rushed to your pussy, clit throbbing as it was ground against his public hair. Both of you were sweaty, slipping up and down the sheets. Kylo had kicked off the covers, letting his bare legs breathe as he dug you into the mattress. You locked lips, moaning as his tongue slipped into your mouth. Giving you shallow thrusts while you sucked on his tongue. Kylo mumbled into you, “Such a good girl... so full of my cum.”

He pulled his mouth away, gazing at your kiss bitten lips and soft face. Brows pinched together in pleasure as he pounded, “Ky-y...more!”

“Yeah,” he groaned, “I’ll give you more, gonna full you up again. Make it spill out of your pretty pussy all day-,”

BARK BARK BARK

“What the-?”

BARK BARK *slam* BARK BARK

“Kyyy-lo,” you whined, throwing your head to the right and out stretching your sweaty palm off the side of the bed. “Toby fell!”

“Why,” Kylo puffed, halting to a stop inside you, “Why is Toby in here?”

You giggled as the puppy lapped at your fingers, soft yips and whines falling from his throat. His big brown eyes stared at you, full of love and adoration for his master. It had been a week since you bought him, without permission, and Kylo still hadn’t given him away. You pulled your hand away lightly, giving Toby a big smile while you cooed at him, “Good morning baby boy! Did you sleep good?”

BARK BARK

You smacked Kylos shoulder, Tobys slobber coating his skin. “Gross,” he flinched away, your pussy clenching around him instinctively. “Fuck-get him out of here!”

“Don’t ignore him!”

Kylos nostrils flared, clenching his jaw and he pushed himself off of you to glare down at the puppy. Who instantly cried out for his Dad, tail waggling so fast he fell over. “See! He loves his Daddy!”

“Do not call me that while I’m inside you,” Kylo growled at you, his tone clipped and tensed as he scooted away from you. You whined as he pulled out, your heat begging for him to be buried inside once more, “Where are you going?!”

“I’m not fucking you with that bug eyed rat watching,” Kylo yelled over his shoulder, locking himself into the bathroom.

———

You and Kylo had showered separately, he was ticked off at you for babying the puppy during your intimate moment this morning. So you were being punished for it now, you walked out of the bedroom. Clasping your earrings on as you whistled down the stairs, “Baby boy!” you whistled a few more times, “Toby boy, where are you hiding?”

Silence.

You trotted down the stairs, heels clicking as you made it to the kitchen. You set down your purse, along with a dark red collar and leash for Toby. The tones matching your outfit, you walked around the island. Spying his food bowl still full from filling it earlier. “Bubba?”

Kylo grunted from the living room.

“Where’s Toby?”

You heard shifting from the couch, followed by a loud sigh, “I threw him over the balcony.”

“WHAT?!”

“Mm.”

“Kylo! Where is Toby?!”

“Calm down,” Kylo snapped, his hand shooting up from the couch. You stomped over to him, ready to scold him but your threats died on your tongue when you saw him. Kylo was laying flat on his back on your large sectional, a hand on his stomach and the other in the air signaling you. Curled on his chest, right between his pecs, was a snoring Toby.

His black fur blending in with Kylos long sleeve sweater, the two of them almost melding in with the furniture. Your bottom lip popped out, tears threatening your eyes as you whispered, “Bubba... he’s asleep on you!”

“Mhm,” Kylo hummed, his eyes shut as he waited for you to do something to startle Toby. “He just laid down while I was napping.”

“Uh-huh?”

“Yes,” his right eye popped open. A frown digging across his face, “I didn’t put him on me if that’s what you’re thinking.”

You leaned over Kylo, his eyes now focused on your cleavage. Slowly becoming clearer to him as you bent over his form, you pinched Kylos cheeks. Smooshing his lips together in a deep pout, “Well, both of you need to get up. We’re going shopping.”

“Wha da you mea shopping?” Kylo mumbled through your grip. Shaking his face away as he sat up, his left hand grabbing Toby so he wouldn’t tumble down. “Why is he coming with us?”

“Because he’s our baby.”

Kylo groaned, following you into the kitchen, still clutching Toby to his chest, “If you want a baby so bad I can give you a baby.”

You snorted, threading your arms through your pea coat before turning to your boys. Kylo glared at you while you clicked Tobys collar on, giving his a soft kiss to his furry forehead. You gazed up at Kylo, his eyes softening slightly at you.

“I don’t need a miniature Kylo,” you hummed, grabbed your purse and keys off the table. “Not yet.”

———

Kylo was pissed when you got down to the car, he had gotten you a gold Porsche for your birthday earlier in the year. It was brand new, leather interior and state of the art technology. Complete with a personalized license plate that read “Kitten”.

What threw him off was the car seat dog bed you had in the backseat, complete with little safety leashes and toys for Toby to chew on while in the car. All matching the colors of your outfit, and his collar. You had scooped Toby from Kylos arm once you got to the parking garage under the building. Giving him kisses while you clipped his harness to the seatbelt the store had educated you on.

“Why can’t he just go in the trunk? He’s a fucking dog!”

“Kylo!” you hissed, “I’m not letting him tumble around back there, especially with you driving.” You buckled yourself in the passenger seat and batted your eyelashes. Giving Kylo a big smile so he would get in and have a better attitude, if he was freaking out about the dog bed he was going to lose it when he saw Toby in your purse.

The first stop was Chanel, you were picking out gifts for various family members for the holidays. Wallets, scarves, purses, anything you liked was set on the glass counter. Stewing in the corner was your loving man, holding your purse.

With Toby in it.

The shop girls fawned all over the puppy, lifting him from your arms the moment you came in. They all knew who you were from how much time you spent at the store. So they were fine with him being inside, which set Kylo off further. “What do you think of this?” you held up a black purse.

Kylo spoke with a clipped tone, taking deep breaths as he watched you, “I hate it.”

“What?”

“It’s ugly.”

You scrunched your forehead, walking over to Kylo with the purse, “But you liked the other one, what’s wrong with this one?”

“You asked my opinion,” Kylo growled, “And I hate it. I don’t want to buy it and have to carry a dog in it when it’s almost $500.”

“Are you gonna be nasty all day?”

Kylo crossed his arms, slightly squishing Toby as he readjusted, “Maybe.”

Silence.

“Do I have to carry the bags all day?”

“Maybe.”

“Well,” Kylo placed a quick kiss to your forehead before he walked towards the couches, “Looks like Ill be in a bad mood today then.”

Kylo left you alone during the rest of the shopping trip, silently carrying the shopping bags, and Toby. He complained about having to carry him, saying that he had a leash and legs. Toby could at least walk next to him. But you just shook your head, “He’s scared of all the people on the street Kylo, just hold him for a little bit so he knows you love him.”

At the last store you were shopping at, you spied Kylo on the couch once again. Laying on his back, he had Toby suspended in the air with both his hands while he glared at him.

You tip toed over to see what he was doing, and perhaps to intervene in case he decided to chuck the dog like a football.

As you got closer you heard mumbling...

“I don’t see why your mom likes you so much.”

A heavy sigh.

“But you are cute,” he brought him down to his face, letting Toby kiss his nose. A soft chuckle came from his mouth, “Good boy.”

———

i’m SOFT FOR TOBY AND KYLO. YOU CANT KEEP LOVE LIKE THAT APART. 🥰❤️

[mourntheantagonist]

a little something I wrote for @smashmouth-hargrove after converting me with all their tommy content!

Breaking Character

3.3k | Explicit

warnings: tomgrove with sprinkles of harringrove and stommy, graphic depictions of violence, drinking, sexual content, homophobic language.

read on ao3

Billy didn’t really know what to do when he woke up on the hardwood floor of the empty Byers house with his car missing from the front yard, his movement off kilter from whatever was in that vial still coursing through his veins, and a death wish waiting for him at home considering the red-head he had been ordered to fetch was nowhere to be seen. With all of his energy lost in that fight he only vaguely remembered, just little flashes of a bloody Steve beneath him and sounds of breaking dishware echoicing in his brain, he’d given up on finding her, noting the time on the clock was already passed midnight and his father would have his ass either way. So instead of searching the town on foot, or parking himself in the Byers house on the off chance she’d come back, he stumbled over to the phone on the wall and dialed the only number he’d remembered from his short stay in Hawkins.

Tommy’s.

The guy was like a fucking lost puppy with the way he had followed him around from the moment he stepped foot into the high school. Coming up from behind him, firmly grabbing him by the shoulders and boldly introducing himself as “Tommy H.” making him wonder exactly how many people were named “Tommy” at such a small school. Billy had just brushed him off at first and searched for his locker, but Tommy persisted. Following him to first period which they just so happened to share, and even cornering him at lunch to sit with him and his group of other assholes, to which he declined and instead pulled the first girl he saw looking at him aside and invited her to eat lunch in his car with him, where they didn’t actually eat lunch at all.

Billy planned to just blow the guy off completely, not interested in being part of the “popular crowd” or whatever the fuck Tommy had called it, and he was kind of getting creepy, stalkerish even with the way he followed him around and practically begged for his attention, which he wasn’t interested in giving until the two words, or rather, the name had escaped passed Tommy’s lips.

“Steve Harrington and that freak Byers look to be getting a little close wouldn’t ya say? Think we should tell little ol’ Nancy?” He said it with a string of laughs and a slap on the shoulder of the nameless guy in the letterman’s jacket that stood beside him. Billy couldn’t give a shit about who Byers or Nancy were, he was far more hung up on “Steve Harrington”. The guy who stumbled into his fourth period class five minutes after the bell had rang and followed him to fifth where he watched from the corner of his eye as he stripped down into his gym clothes. He only heard his full name when they all stood in a line alphabetically by last name when he was called directly after him. Hargrove, then Harrington. Then they were all paired off into groups of two and of course, he got paired up with a Steve and his ridiculous head of hair and thighs he wanted to crush his fucking head.

Billy stuck around Tommy after learning he was the one with the most intel on the guy. Tommy told him about the Halloween party where “Keg King Steve” might just get dethroned if Billy had anything to say about it. He didn’t know the guy he was dealing with was fucking royalty.

Tommy became a second shadow after that. He was with him everywhere he went and if it hadn’t been for the service he did provide, he would have kicked him to the curb a long time ago. And now with him standing in a strangers house in the middle of nowhere without a means of transportation and the only phone number on hand belonging to fucking Tommy, he was lucky he hadn’t.

“Hello?” Tommy’s voice came over the receiver.

“Hey uh, it’s Billy. Think you could come pick me up from somewhere?” Billy’s voice was still groggy from the drugs.

“Are you drunk?”

“No, but I wish I fuckin’ was. Look I’m at the Byers and I have no car so if you could just come and rescue me that would be great.” he said it with the utmost sarcasm to his voice, despite none of it actually being sarcastic at all.

“Okay I’m on my way, I’ll bring beer.”

Tommy pulled into the front in less than five minutes from the moment he set the phone back on the hook. Apparently he didn’t live too far from the Byers place in the middle of the woods. Billy stumbled out the front door and managed to barely make it to the passenger door without toppling over, which didn’t do much to help his story that he wasn’t in fact drunk.

“Dude! What the hell is going on? What happened to your face?”

Billy just slumped into his seat and pulled a beer bottle from the six pack sitting in Tommy’s back seat and opened it with the ring on his finger. “Just drive, I’ll explain when I can’t fuckin’ feel it anymore.” he said, kicking his feet up on the dash earning a grunt out of Tommy.

“Where?”

“Anywhere but here.”

Tommy took off the parking brake with a smirk on his face and turned the car around.

“To the quarry then.”

Billy had been around there once or twice since he’d arrived in Hawkins. The first time was when they had first driven past the welcome sign and he stumbled upon it while scoping out the town for any reason to stay in the shithole. Instead he stumbled upon the two hundred foot cliff into bone crushing waters. But he’d only ever been there during the day when the sky was overcast and it looked like nothing more than doom and gloom, much like the rest of the town. This time it was late, the sky was clear and the stars and the moon were brightly visible and reflected on the water's surface. The headlights illuminated the space around them and it was oddly peaceful.

“Now you gonna tell me why you’re getting blood all over my car?”

Billy finished off the last of the beer that was in the bottle and tossed it out the open window. “I got into it with Harrington.” He said, wiping away at the blood that still was dripping from the nose that was definitely broken. Harrington was a shit fighter but he threw a mean punch.

“Why was he at the Byers? Why were you at the Byers? What the fuck is going on?!” Tommy had his seat belt off and his body fully turned towards Billy who was still sitting with his feet up on the dash reaching his arm back for a second bottle.

“I don’t fucking know Hagan. I was looking for my little sister and Harrington chose to pick a fight with me. My sister fuckin’ drugged me and when I woke up my car was gone,” Billy took a large swig out of the bottle in his hand, “that’s where you came in.”

Tommy took the bottle from Billy’s hand and took his own drink from the bottle, committing to staying with Billy at the quarry with that first swallow of bitter liquid down his throat. Billy quickly stole it back from him and chugged the rest of it, prompting Tommy to grab his own from the pack in the back seat. “So King Steve finally won a fight huh? Never thought I’d see the day.” Tommy said while he fiddled with his key trying to pop the bottle cap off. But Billy was quick to set him straight about exactly what happened.

“Harrington did not win the fight.” Billy let out a pained laugh. “Last I remember he looked dead on the floor.” Tommy was speechless, staring back at Billy with the mouth of the bottle held against his lower lip, frozen in place. “You got a smoke?”

“Is Steve okay?” Tommy’s voice was panicked, a total tone shift not only from how they were previously talking, but a tone Billy hadn’t yet heard out of the guy before. His eyes were wide and filled with concern and Billy had been trying not to think about everything that was currently swimming through Tommy’s mind since he had woken up on that wood floor.

“I don’t fucking know man, he wasn’t there when I woke up,” Billy just ignored eye contact with Tommy and began rummaging through the glove box in search of a pack and a light. “I’m sure he’s fine, they wouldn’t have just left me on the fuckin’ floor if I was wanted for murder.” he says it to Tommy, but also to himself as he finally finds a loose pack of reds and holds a cigarette in between his fingers, letting the words and the feeling of warmth as he lights up calm his nerves about whatever situation Steve was currently in. Nothing he could do about it now.

“What the fuck Hargrove? How bad did you hurt him?” Tommy was practically yelling at him, almost becoming teary eyed, punching Billy in the shoulder like he was trying to hurt him but didn’t know how.

“Why the fuck do you care so much? You got a boner for him or something?” It was meant as a joke. Billy really didn’t have anything suggesting Tommy was “of the same crowd” as he was from his observations over the past week aside from his weird infatuation with him that he’d just written off as him using him to get chicks after noticing how every girls eyes darted toward him as soon as he stepped foot out of the Camaro. But the way Tommy reacted to the accusation without immediate denial or fucking any other reaction that wasn’t his eyes growing even wider before turning his head down and away from Billy. “Did I strike a nerve there?”

“Can it Hargrove.” Tommy’s voice is low and quiet and he’s practically one with the steering wheel with how close his forehead is to it.

“What? That Little Tommy Hagan is a queer for Harring-“

“Shut Up!” Tommy yelled and surged forward from where he was sitting to being practically in Billy’s seat with both hands clutching the collar of Billy’s shirt and pinning him up against the car door. “Get the fuck out of my car Hargrove, walk home.” Tommy said in a mean voice, his teeth clenched and his knuckles digging into Billy’s collar bones.

And Billy just laughed his maniacal little laugh he gave whenever someone tried to start a fight they would inevitably lose in the end. Instead of reaching a hand back for the door handle and following Tommy’s strict little orders, he did exactly what he always did when it came to men he could win against. He fought back.

With the same swiftness that Tommy had, he flipped the script, turning everything right back around on Tommy so that he was the one pinned up against the drivers side door, his head slamming back against the glass window. Billy took it even one step further and pushed their combined weights against the door and with a free hand, opened it, causing Tommy to roll out onto his back along the gravel path they were parked on where he let out a pained groan.

Billy walked out unscathed, the only marks on his body being the result of a separate H name. Billy reached for Tommy’s bottle out of the cup holder and finished it off before chucking it out into the water below with a strong throw.

“So, Tommy H. eats dick for breakfast, I can’t say I’m totally surprised.” Billy took the keys from Tommy’s pockets and stuffed them in his own. He was just going to leave him there, begin a chain for vehicular theft and find somewhere else to be with someone else, but Tommy just had to go and open up his big and stupid mouth.

“Yeah, and what about you huh? I didn’t say shit about the way you were rubbing all up against Steve during gym!” Tommy started to get up, but Billy quickly responded by putting him right back down. He pushed him back down onto his back with the grip of his shoulders and climbed on top of him where both his knees were sitting on both of his hands leaving him completely immobile. Tommy screamed out in pain as his knees dug into his palms and the sharp rocks cut the skin on his hands.

“You calling me a fag?!” Billy yelled, his grip growing tighter and tighter on his shoulders, thumbs digging and bruising and Tommy didn’t have the breath to stop screaming to say anything in response. Billy chose to remove his knees from Tommy’s hands so that he would stop, but he stayed on top of him, sitting down so he wouldn’t be able to get out.

That’s when he noticed it.

Tommy was fucking hard.

“Oh, so Harrington ain’t the only guy who turns you on huh?”

Tommy made a bold move, and spit up at Billy, hitting him directly in the eye. “Get off of me.”

Billy just laughed and freed one of Tommy’s shoulders to wipe away at his eye. “Nice shot. This how you treat all the boys or am I just special?”

“I’m not fucking gay!”

“Well your dick tells me otherwise.”

Tommy just squeezed his eyes tightly, like he was trying to focus all of his energy on making it go down, which wasn’t made easy by having Billy Hargrove’s literal ass pressed up against it.

Billy had told himself he wouldn’t let this happen. Not here. But he also didn’t think he’d have the temptation so readily available, already hard for him and on his back ready to go. Billy Hargrove wasn’t one to pass up a treat like this. Sure, it wasn’t Steve Harrington, but Billy wasn’t anything if not good at playing pretend.

Billy leaned his body down to where they were chest to chest, both of their hearts pounding hard enough that they could feel each other’s. His mouth found Tommy’s neck where Billy found the most sensitive spot and took the skin right in between his teeth, causing Tommy to shudder and his dick to twitch against Billy’s ass.

“So Tommy likes a little pain with his pleasure too? You learn more and more every day.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Tommy said through a sigh followed by a gasp for air.

“Would you like me to stop?” Billy asked, knowing full well by the expression on Tommy’s face what his answer would be. But for good measure, Billy rocked his hips against Tommy’s dick to milk another moan out of his mouth. “You ever kissed a boy Tommy?”

Instead of answering with his words, Tommy bucks his hips upwards and utilizes his now free hands to grab Billy by the face and bring his lips down to his own, faces slamming together with bruise inducing force that leaves Tommy breathless and craving more. He kisses him like he’s starving, like just the taste of Billy’s lips was like a drug necessary for the continuation of his life and he’s not going to let go of it for even a second. Take all of it that he can get his hands on.

And Billy just kisses him back, closing his eyes and imagining dark brown hair and pale skin peppered in moles and deep brown eyes that could turn a sour kid sweet.

Tommy reaches his hands through the opening in Billy’s shirt and wraps his hands around to Billy’s back. Tommy’s cold hands against his skin cause him to shiver as they trace up and down and pull him in closer.

Billy grinds his hips into Tommy’s at a comfortable pace, his own dick matching Tommy’s level of hard as they’re both aching and throbbing and leaking with pre into their jeans, both of them agonizingly starved.

Billy trails a hand down the length of Tommy’s chest and undoes the button on his pants the moment he reaches his waist. Tommy’s rhythm was erratic and desperate and helping the guy out a little was the least he could do for being the tool he used to live out his own fantasies. Once the zipper was lowered, Billy reached his cold and bruised hand, coated in a layer of spit from his own mouth, into the space below Tommy’s boxers where he wrapped his hand around Tommy’s dick, pretending it was Steve’s, the one he managed to catch a glimpse of while they were in the showers after practice, the one he permanently ingrained in his mind and could see just as vividly now, and pumped. And Tommy did a lot of the work himself, thrusting himself into Billy’s hand, no longer able to focus on kissing Billy from all the intense pleasure that he was just breathing into Billy’s open mouth all hot and heavy. Tommy didn’t say it, but Billy could tell that he was on the brink with the way his face contorted more and more with each thrust. The sweat was spilling from his pores like multiple waterfalls and Billy just kept on closing his eyes, picturing Steve, not the freckled face below him that made all the sounds that sent him reeling.

Because it was one thing to want someone unattainable, and an entirely other thing to want someone who was.

Tommy came into his hand as Billy had that thought, moaning out the name “Steve” as he did, reminding Billy of exactly what this was, ripping the word “attainable” directly from his vocabulary and leaving him with the most disappointing orgasm of his life.

Okay, not true. It was still ten times more epic than any girl had ever given him.

The problem was that with all that buildup with Steve at the forefront of his mind, he came to the image of Tommy, who had just come to the image of Steve, another guy’s name on his tongue.

Billy just got up from where he was on top of Tommy, pressing his boot into Tommy’s thigh with an anger induced force, and walked off. He ignored the damp and sticky mess in his boxers and took a seat in the passenger seat of Tommy’s car while Tommy was still laid out on the gravel.

“Let’s go! Not a fucking word about this Hagan, you got it?”

He just nodded his head, his face flushed likely due to the answer to that initial question about ever kissing a boy being true, maybe because he was embarrassed for himself, maybe because he was embarrassed for Billy.

He didn’t want to think about that.

“Keys?” Tommy asked as he took his seat, holding his hand out for Billy to drop them. Billy tossed them over, ignoring the outstretched hand and instead reaching for his technically third beer from the back of Tommy’s car and not saying a word about it. Letting Tommy just take him wherever he so pleased.

Tommy took him to his house, surprisingly knowing where he lived, and Billy didn’t bother to question how exactly he knew the address. He didn’t say anything, not even a thank you before he closed the car door behind him and watched Tommy drive off down Cherry Lane.

He stood out there for a while by himself. Staring blankly at the yellow front door knowing that Hell awaits him on the other side.

And yet he couldn’t stop thinking about those words that Steve said to him when he first stepped out of the Camaro outside the Byers House.

“Don’t cream your pants.”

Because it was too fucking late for that.

He should have listened to him.

[sammy-gvf]

We get along (for the most part)

Chapter 2 

OC X Lee Bodecker

———————————-

Warnings- a little angst and cursing. 

Plot- The local rebel badass girl and Lee Bodecker have had run ins, lets see how it goes, shall we?

Word count : 2,705

MINORS DNI! THIS STORY WILL EVENTUALLY GET 18+. PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE GETTING IN TROUBLE FOR YOU BEING STUPID. THANKS. 

 CHAPTER ONE IS PINNED ON MY PROFILE!

Sunday morning.

Slowly, I woke from my slumber hoping that I slept through church. Unfortunately, the sound of footsteps coming towards my door tells me differently. Knocking at the door, I hear a quiet voice come through the crack of my door.

“Maggy, are you up? Mamas goin have a fit if you aint up for church.” 

That's my brother John, he is always there to wake me up on sundays. He enjoys going to church. I’m not really into it, i usually try to go back to sleep but my parents barely ever let me sleep through church, small town equals gossip. No matter what you do, someone is always talking about you. Sat the wrong way? Gossiped about. Sneezed during church? Gossiped about. Literally anything you do is talked about among the town residents. I was the talk of the town when I was in high school, everyone knew I was sneakin around with Arvin. No one  liked it obviously, bein called every name in the book. I didn't care clearly, it didn't bother me or Arvin. 

I groan and slowly get out of bed, stretching and looking out of my window. It's a beautiful sunny day in Knockemstiff, I never thought I would ever describe this run down town like that, it's quite beautiful here though. Open fields for miles, I could see why no one would want to leave. I mean in old age, you could just do anything with your land and live off it. 

Getting up, I feel my feet hit the cold wood floor of my room. Everyday, I hope I don't get a splinter from the floor so I wear slippers throughout the house. I head to the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror. My hair is disheveled and almost out of the bun that I had it in the night before, my eyebrows are out of place and the bags underneath my eyes are prominent. I sigh and splash some cold water on my warm face. I grab my toothbrush and go for it, spitting out the toothpaste and flashing my teeth in the mirror to make sure I didn't miss a spot. 

I heard my parents and brother moving around pretty quickly so I looked at the clock near my bed. It's 9:30 am, church starts in about 20 minutes and it takes 10 to get there. Quickly, I put my hair in a low bun, slapped on some powder and a plain lip color, a rose color to compliment my fair skin. Hopping around, I grab a plain flowy blue dress that goes up to about the middle of my thigh and a pair of white keds, quick and simple. 

I step out of my room and grab my clutch so I have something to hold while in church, I usually can't keep my hands still. I shut the door behind me and head out to the living room to see everyone quickly eating some toast off their plates in the kitchen, I hop over and steal a piece of toast and bacon off Johns plate and then we are out the door. 

Hopping in my dads truck, the ride there is quiet. We don't talk much in my family, only at dinner once and a while and sometimes when my father drinks. Which is only when he is done work on Fridays. I make sure I'm out of the house on fridays, he never stops talking when he is drinking. My parents and I have never been that close really, kind of an unspoken family thing. Mother stays quiet and does her motherly duties as us women are expected to do once we pop out a few puppies. I refuse to be like that. 

The ride to church is scenic,open fields for miles and so many animals to look at. I enjoy the breeze coming through my hair but I just wish it was from me driving my car out somewhere I have never been. Like maybe California, it's probably beautiful. I have never been to a beach, as a matter of fact I've never been out of Knockemstiff before. I envy everyone who leaves this place and never comes back. As soon as I can get out of here, I will. I swear on everything I love. 

The car stops and I get out, my feet hitting the dirt road below me. My keds are gonna need a cleaning after this. Stepping around the car, I separate from my family and hop around the back of the church to smoke a quick cig before I go through the church doors to act like I'm holy for 2 hours. 

Stepping to the left side of the church, I put my clutch on a bush and grabbed a cigarette from the pack stuffed in my bag. Quickly I light it and suck on it as quickly as I possibly can to just get a moment to myself. Looking out into the distance, I always forget that the cemetery is this close to the church. Graves for as far as the eyes can see. That distracted me to the point where I forgot how quick I was smoking and ended up inhaling too much smoke at one time, leading me to cough quite loud. I throw the cigarette on the floor below my foot and crush it quickly. 

I hear an oh so familiar voice in the distance as I finish my coughing fit. 

“ Ms. Lane, what a pleasure to see you on this fine sunday.” He says, walking towards me with his fingers hooked around the belt loops of his pants.

Same uniform everyday, never fails.

“Say, what are you doin here behind the church all by your lonesome? “ Lee says as he stands next to me, I can smell the tobacco and mint on him the same as I did last night. I look over at Lee with an exhausted look on my face from the coughing fit I just had.

Lee looks down at the ground and a grin forms on his face, sneaky bastard never misses a beat. 

“Ms.Lane-” Lee begins to say and I stop him

“Please, for the love of christ call me Maggy. I am not 16 anymore, Lee.” You say as you start to walk past him. He grabs your arm and stops you. 

“Maggy Lane, just know I know about your little reputation.” Lee says as he still has you by the arm, kind of digging his nails into your soft skin as you try to pull away a bit.

“As a matter of fact, I was there when you began your little shenanigans. Be careful of how you talk to your sheriff, little lady.” You look at him in disgust as he tries to intimidate you. 

“ Also, I told you those cigarettes was bad news, you're lucky I don't stop on over and talk to your pop about your little habit.” Lee says with a smirk on his face. You finally wiggle out of his grip, your arm dropping to your side with crescent shaped marks on your arm. You rub the spots where Lee's fingers were just digging into your upper arm.

Looking up at him, he tips his hat at you and starts to walk away. You spit on the ground near his feet and he turns around on his feet, quick. 

“ I hope you know you're a prick, Bodecker.” You spit out at him. 

Immediately, you are backed up against the wood boards of the church, both of Lee's arms on either side of your head. Your heart is racing and your breath is hitching. You're frozen. 

“Listen to me, you little bitch.” Lee inches closer to your face, your noses almost touching. You turn your head to the side hoping that he won't really notice but he grabs your face and holds it so you are looking him directly in the eyes.

“Your little mouth will get you in trouble, especially with me.” Your breath hitches as he gets closer. Your heart could explode. You were terrified. 

“ Lee, church is starting. We better get in there before we miss anything” A voice in the distance yells. 

 Instantly, Lee lets you go and strides back to the unknown voice. 

You stand there with a shocked look on your face, as if you had just seen the devil up close. You were frozen in your current position but as soon as people started going in the building you sank to your feet and sat there for a minute breathing heavily. You fixed yourself up and stood outside the door of the old church, taking a deep breath before going in and finding your seat next to your family. 

 Church dragged on and on, I felt like I was going to fall asleep. A screaming preacher, so many people in such a small space. Half way through, I got up to go to the bathroom and caught Lee staring at me and he gave me a small smirk. Creep.

Stepping into the bathroom, I look at my face in the mirror. It's still slightly red from where Lee had his disgusting hand around my chin. I pushed on the spot and it felt like it was going to bruise. 

“ Fuck” I whispered to myself as I turned my head side to side to look at the red around my lips and on my chin. This is for sure going to bruise. 

I splash some water on my face to refresh myself and then I step out of the bathroom to bump into something in front of me. 

“Shit, I am so sorry” You say as you back up into the oak door and look at the person in front of you. 

“ Oh, no worries hun.” the woman in front of you says. 

You look at her quickly as you step aside, sticking out your hand and you say “I don't think I have met you before, I’m Maggy Lane.” 

She sticks out her hand and shakes yours firmly, she is a very pretty woman with short brown curly hair. 

Thin and very well put together, can't be more than 25 years old. 

“ It’s very nice to meet you sweetheart, I’m Ruth Har- I mean Bodecker.” She says smiling as she pulls her hand back from the handshake and puts it back on her clutch bag. 

“You the sheriff's wife?” you say as you cock your head to the side questioningly. 

“Yes, I am.” she smiles, “ We've been married now for about a year, a very fine man he is.” She says as she steps aside to talk to you for a minute before she steps into the bathroom.

You were shocked, Lee actually was married? He was such an asshole, you didn't think anyone would want him. As you had said the previous night, you would tell his wife if he had called you another pet name but she looks so sweet. He doesn't deserve her. You had just said that assumin he even had a woman at home. 

“ Thats nice, say you ain't from around here, are ya?” You say in a little southern drawl, she aint from these parts. You can tell by the way she says certain words. 

“ No darlin, i'm from Tennessee.” she smiled “Met Lee out there while I was workin in a bar.” she blushed a bit.

“ Huh, well look at that.” you say as you cross your arms and lean against the doorframe of the bathroom. “ Lee does get out of town then.”

She chuckles and you look at the time, church is going to be over soon.

“ Well, it was very nice meeting you, Mrs.Bodecker.” You say as you turn your back and start walking towards the stairs to go back to the chapel area. 

“ You too, darlin.” She says waving at you. 

“ See you around” You say as you head back up the stairs. 

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

Chapter 2 already? I’m crankin shit out lol 

Hope yous like it so far! Dont forget to leave opinons/replys and as always dont forget to like/reblog!

tag list : @ladyfallonavenger

@please-buckme

@youcancallmeishita

@unsentlettersandmore

@angelicbabydolll

@local-spacegirl

@do-not-pray-for-me

@not-another-fangirl

@nerdy-depressed

@buckysdolls

[rae-arts777]

Vanilla Bean Chapter 3

It’s up on AO3 but it’s being weird and won’t show me the newest chapter

TW: Sexual Trauma (Unhealthy Coping) (or can be seen as unhealthy coping)

Makoto stared out the window of the car awestruck at LA. Laurent was driving them to their hotel. Laurent looked over at Makoto and chuckled.

“You’re like a kid in a candy store”

“Hey can you blame me? I never left Japan! And do not get me started on the plane ride! That was so cool!”

Laurent just smiled and continued to drive.

They sat in a traffic jam, Laurent tapping the steering wheel sighing “of course...stupid LA traffic”

Makoto yawned and looked over at Laurent “I’m bored.”

“We’ll be there soon enough, take a nap.” Laurent glanced over a bit at Makoto’s figure.

Makoto was in a tank top, but started to complain about being cold, so Laurent gave him his jacket. He stared at how cute his jacket looked baggy on Makoto. The way one side slipped off his shoulder. The sleeves covering his hands due to being too long. The middle open, showing his tank top off still..exposing just the right amount of chest.

Laurent held on the gear shift a bit tighter, biting the inside of his cheek. He tried to focus on something else around him.

Makoto noticed the way Laurent tensed up. He smirked and decided to mess with him a bit.

“Hey since we’re stuck here let’s kill the time”

Laurent looked at him, and latched onto the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white seeing the sight in front of him.

Makoto was slipping the jacket off his body, pulling his tank top up a bit “how about I give you a little preview of the service I can provide?”

Laurent bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to make the inside bleed. Trying everything not to get hard right now.

“Plus! I didn’t give you a proper lap dance!” Makoto said playfully and started to crawl over to Laurent’s side.

“Oh wait, hang on!” Laurent laughed nervously, as Makoto practically threw himself over to Laurent’s side giggling.

“Come on!”

The two started to tussle back and forth, Laurent trying to hold it together, while Makoto laughed his ass off seeing how flustered the blonde man was. The car started to rock back and forth while the two continued.

At the hotel, Makoto stepped out of the bedroom wearing a suit.

“I don’t get it, how am I going to perform in this?”

“Trust me, people like it when more clothes are on at the start. Makes them get more excited when you start taking it off.” Cynthia helped him with his makeup. “You remember what to do?”

“Yup, act like the candy is a drug, do a few performances for Cassano and his men, and try to gather as much information as I can.”

“And if things get too much, just find Abby and they’ll help you.”

Makoto nodded and put on the glasses Laurent had given him “okay! Let’s do this!”

Laurent and Makoto walked into Cassano’s manor, Makoto stayed close to Laurent’s side as they were escorted to the pool area where Cassano lounged.

“Eddie!” Laurent greeted him

“What do you want?” Cassano asked.

“Well I’m here to offer you a deal of course!”

While Laurent explained Sakura magic, Makoto started to scan the area. Looking for any exit, if things go south. Working in the club did teach him to always know where all the exits were. Never know when you might have to slip out for whatever reason.

“Sorry, I’m not interested.” Cassano waved Laurent off.

“Well that’s just too bad..I was hoping I could also share with you my new little performer while we discussed deals”

“Performer?”

“Yes! He’s just so eager to put on a show for you. Isn’t that right Vanilla Bean?” Laurent looked at Makoto smiling.

Makoto nodded and pulled down his collar to reveal to Cassano the black collar around his neck, “Please sir…”

The “meeting” was moved inside. Of course Cassano has a stage with a pole in his house. Vanilla Bean walked onto the stage. He squn around the pole, starting to loosen his tie, letting his blazer fall to the ground. As he started to unbutton his white tee, he exposed the leather harness wrapped around his chest.

Some of Cassano’s men started to whistle and cheer. Cassano watched, his eyes traveling up and down Vanilla Bean’s body.

Vanilla Bean started to undo his pants, pulling them down to reveal black latex shorts that clung to his body in the perfect way.

Cassano exhaled sharply, watching as Vanilla Bean started to work his way up the pole spinning.

“Where did you get him?”

“Paid a good amount for him, amazing is he not?”

“I’ll say...smooth skin too..does he do lap dances?”

“Of course” Laurent handed him the candy tin “He likes to be paid in his favorite treat” he winked.

Vanilla Bean slid down the pole getting on his knees, bending over to show his ass off to the crowd. He heard Cassano shake the tin of Sakura Magic, slowly sitting up, turning towards him. With a smile, he made his way to Cassano, his eyes glued to the Sakura Magic.

“You want this?” Cassano asked

Vanilla Bean nodded “please..”

“Earn it.”

Vanilla Bean straddled his lap, dancing to roll his hips against Cassano’s. He smirked internally looking down to see Cassano clearly growing hard.

“Be a good boy and sit on my lap.”

Vanilla Bean sat on his lap, purposely sitting to wear Cassano’s clothed hard dick would feel against his ass.

Cassano grunted a bit trying to hold back moans running his free hand against Vanilla Bean’s exposed skin.

“Good boy.” Cassano popped out one sakura magic, seeing how Vanilla Bean’s eye lit up “ah”

“ahhhhhhh ~” Vanilla Bean opened his mouth, allowing for Cassano to slowly push the drug into his mouth.

Vanilla Bean ate the drug, humming happily. His tongue started to lazily lick and suck at Cassano’s finger that was still his mouth. He made direct eye contact with Cassano as he continued to lick his finger.

Finally Cassano pulled his finger out, Vanilla Bean making a pop noise with his mouth “thank you sir.”

Cassano looked to Laurent “alright, but I want to get a couple more performances from him” he squeezed Vanilla Bean’s ass.

Laurent kept everything in him from screaming. “Of course. My darling Vanilla, be a good boy and go around and entertain some more, the adults are talking now.”

Vanilla Bean nodded and got up, heading away to the rest of Cassano’s men who were eager to get a dance.

After a few rounds and being able to make a few couple hundred as generous donations, Vanilla Bean noticed a man who did not seem to be joining in.

Salazar, Makoto remembered he was Cassano’s personal bodyguard. If they were going to take Cassano down, they'd need him out of the way.

Vanilla Bean made his way to Salazar “Hey” he sat on his lap.

“Not interested.” Salazar said

Vanilla Bean pouted and gave him a look “But I already gave everyone else a little dance, I feel bad leaving you out.”

“It’s sweet but really you don’t have too.”

“Ay salazar!” Cassano yelled at him noticing “don’t be blowing off such a wonderful treat.” he turned Laurent “Your toy do private sessions?”

“He does..”

“Great, Vanilla Bean baby boy, take my boy and show him a good time. Salazar go have fun, that’s an order, go ahead and use one of my bedrooms.” He laughed.

Salazar sighed and got up, leading Vanilla Bean to a bedroom.

Laurent eerily watched the two as they disappeared into the hall.

Upon entering the bedroom, Salazar ripped the blanket off the bed and threw it over Vanilla Bean, “you can stop now. It’s fine” He sat on the bed.

Vanilla Bean pulled the blanket off his head and saw the man there staring at the ground. Well he was cold so he kept the blanket around him.

Makoto made his way to Salazar and sat next to him “Surprise a guy like you doesn’t want a dance” he tried to joke.

“Not my thing.”

“You..work for Cassano.”

“Yeah..I do..” Salazar played one of the rings around his finger.

The two sat there for a while in silence not knowing what to say.

“So...how did you...start doing this?” Salazar asked.

“Doing what?”

“You know…”

“Need to make money someway, plus...Sakura Magic..I….can’t get enough..” Vanilla Bean giggled.

“You’re too young…for this life I mean...addiction is a bad thing..”

“I don’t think I asked for your opinion.”

Salazar shook his head and stared at the ground.

“You sure I can't do anything to make you not so grumpy?” Vanilla Bean asked

“I’m not grumpy”

“You sooooooo are!” He giggled and threw himself on Salazar’s lap and started to poke at his cheek “so grumpy!”

“Stop.”Salazar growled in annoyance.

“grumpy , grumpy, grumpy old man!”

“Ugh!” Salazar grabbed him by the waist, flipping him over his shoulder and down onto the bed, holding him down.

Makoto yelped and froze up, memories on that night in the club….the first time he had sex for money...they started to rush back. He stared at the ceiling feeling dizzy trying to focus on something.

Salazar quickly let go and tried to talk to him “Hey...Hey sorry did I startle you? I’m sorry, you with me? I was just getting you off of me, I wasn’t going to do anything.”

Vanilla Bean grabbed Salazar by the collar, and pulled him down, crashing their lips into each other. Salazar froze in shock, feeling Vanilla Bean shove his tongue through into his mouth.

Salazar tried to control himself….but slowly melted into the kiss.

His hips laided perfectly with Vanilla Beans, Vanilla Bean wrapping his legs around his waist. Their kiss became more sloppy and heated.

Salazar broke the kiss, staring down at the smaller figure in front of him panting.

“Are you okay…?” He asked.

Makoto nodded “sorry..”

“Don’t apologize." Salazar got off of him.

“No wait…!” Vanilla Bean...Makoto felt dizzy..but..they needed to do this.

“Please..I want it..” Vanilla Bean pulled his latex shorts down, fully exposing himself to Salazar.

“Are you sure…?”

“Yes..”

Makoto remembered screaming with pleasure as Salazar thrusted into him. His eyes focused on the ceiling the whole time, clinging to Salazar for dear life. He remembered digging his nails into Salazar's skin. Feeling like if he let go, he would be left behind.

He remembered being held tightly by Salazar, feeling him grunt against him nearing the end. At climax he remembered both of them moaning, and feeling his legs twitch as Salazar pulled out cumming into the condom.

He remembered...white...and then black.

Makoto woke up in the hotel room. How the hell did he get here? He felt sore…Getting up, he quickly darted to the shower, turning it all the way to high heat.

He was in there for 2 hours, just scrubbing seeing his skin turn redder and redder.

Finally he stepped out, his whole skin was...red...no longer smooth.

He changed into some baggy clothes to hide his whole figure. Making his way to the living room. He sat on the couch and stared out the window thinking about what happened last night.

Cynthia sat next to him “hey..”

“Oh hey..”

“You okay?”

“Yeah…”

“Okay…..did he-”

“No..no no no, it was all me..I started it, it’s okay.”

“....is it..” Cynthia looked at him worried.

“Its….fine..”

“Alright..” Cynthia didn’t want to push further “Are you still up for it?”

“Yes I can handle it, don’t worry.”

“Okay..if you need anything I’m here.” She got up and decided to leave him alone.

Makoto stared out the window swimming in his own thoughts.

Why...did he do that?

Makoto focus on his reflection, Vanilla Bean.

“Why did we do it? Because it's our job! Remember? We have to do what we have to. Got it?”

“Got it..” Makoto said.

[rat-father]

Part 1 of yet another series I'm starting!

This one is just gonna be fluff and comfort, little to no whump, because sometimes I just want to write about characters having a great time

This doesn't have much of a plot, it's more a collection of memories that make me happy combined with pet whump

Keaya is a pet who acts kind of like a service dog for his master whom isn't really a whumper but neither caretaker, just a pet owner

Tagging;; nobody rn

-- tw;; pet whump --

The sun was ever so slowly coming up in the distance. Keaya was the first one awake so he could make breakfast for his master. He had made a simple omelette, he knew his master Diona loved eggs, He couldn’t go wrong with that. Today would be a stressful day for her apparently. Something about a wedding, he wasn’t sure, but he knew a simple meal is best when master is stressed. He sat on his dog bed obediently, looking out the glass doors, taking in the nice view.

Keaya made sure to check the clock every now and then, he had to wake master up on time. As soon as the clock hit 12 he ran to master’s room upstairs. To his surprise, she was already awake and getting dressed. He froze up for a bit, master never woke up earlier, this was new. She had her back turned, searching through her wardrobe. He could tell she was stressed by her movements, twitchy and fast. Quietly he walked over to her and whimpered softly to get her attention.

“Hng.. Oh, hi pup. Is it 8 already?”

He nodded and gestured at the clock.

”Fuck.. Okay. I’ll be down in 5 minutes, go wait for me downstairs.”

He nodded again and left the room quietly. Master was really stressed today, he wondered where they were going. He grabbed his blanket and placed it next to master’s chair so he didn’t have to sit on the cold floor. Patiently he waited for master. The omelette smelled nice, and made it feel hungry. Maybe master would allow him to make one for himself too. When she came downstairs she was dressed in some fancy looking dress. He tilted his head in curiosity. Were they going to a party? That would explain her stress, its master got scared during parties.

Diona sat down in a hurry and quickly ate her breakfast. He gently tapped her leg whenever she started to eat too fast. It wasn’t Keaya’s first time seeing his master act like this, but it was strange seeing his usually calm master be so nervous. He rested his chin on her thigh and looked up at her, sighing. She stroked his hair and pushed some strands out of his face. That seemed to help her calm down a little.

“Today is a really important, so you need to be on your best behaviour okay?”

He nodded with a smile. It always tried to be on its best behaviour.

“Good. There’s gonna be a lot of people so you need to make sure you stay close to me.”

He nodded again as she rose from her seat. She put the dishes in the sink and started to head back to her room, pausing on the stairs.

“You can go make yourself breakfast, pup. We’re leaving in an hour.”

Excited he got up and made himself an omelette with what he had left over. While the egg was cooking, Keaya took his harness off the hook by the front door, and put it on to save master some time. Today was an important day, he had to be alert and obedient. He used a spatula to put his omelette on a slice of bread, and sat down on his dog bed to eat it. He could hear master pacing around upstairs, looking for something he assumed.

The pacing suddenly stopped, with a soft thump following. Instantly he stopped chewing and perked his ears up, listening for some form of movement. Everything was silent, that never meant good. He quickly ran upstairs to find master on sitting on the floor crying. He kneeled next to her and put his head against her chest, trying to calm her down. Once she was calmer he readjusted his position and hugged her silently.

He didn’t let go until her sniffling died down. Master must’ve been feeling very upset. He made a mental note to pay extra attention to her today. She ruffled his hair with a small smile and got back to pacing around. Keaya stayed on the floor, watching for a bit longer to make sure everything was fine, before going back down. He shoved the last of the omelette in his mouth and started to get everything ready.

First he made sure to refill her water bottle, it was gonna be a warm day today, so it was important that she had enough water on her. Then he made some sandwiches, in case she got hungry, and put them in his pouch attached to the harness. He didn’t really understand where they were going so he just packed the basic things and hoped it was enough. If there were gonna be a lot of people then it probably was a party of some sort.

He opened some of the windows and did a double check around the house to make sure nothing changed. They still had half an hour left, so Keaya took the opportunity to lay in the sun for a bit. He settled in front of the 2 glass doors, curling up in a ball. The sun felt nice and warm, he enjoyed it. He hoped he could also stay in the sun wherever they were going. Slowly he relaxed under the blanket of warm sunlight and drifted off into a light sleep.

He got woken up from his short nap by footsteps. They had 5 minutes left now, and Diona was gathering her stuff.

“You ready?”

She clipped the leash on to his collar. He nodded excitedly. Where they were going would be a surprise to him, and surprises are fun. She lead him to the car and let him jump into the back. He liked looking out of the window while they were driving, curiously peeking at all the cars going by. The car ride was long but he didn’t care, the music playing from the radio was enough to make time pass by quicker.

Master parked the car and Keaya immediately started looking around. They seemed to be at a park, the grass fields were way bigger then the ones at home. Diona opened the door for him, letting him jump out and sniff around. A group of people further away caught his attention. They had tables standing around with tons of food, chairs in rows, lots of flowers and tons of other stuff set up. He looked at master and back the group, confused and curious.

“My sister is getting married today,” she explained. “We won’t stay long but you know how my family treats pets, so ignore anyone trying to get your attention.”

She took his leash and they walked to the wedding together. When they got closer Keaya could hear the music and smell all the food. He recognized some of the people standing around but most were strangers to him. He followed Diona and stood next to her, not really paying attention to the conversations, rather taking in the place around them. Everyone was wearing fancy clothing, while Keaya was wearing a loose t-shirt with shorts and a harness.

Master sat down at a table with her parents, he knew them, they were friendly. He obediently kneeled next to her. The grass felt nice, much nicer then a wooden floor. He would roll around in it if he could. But he couldn’t, he had to focus and make sure master was okay. It was way louder then he had anticipated, he kept looking around thinking he heard something strange, but it was hard to tell. He had to rely on sight to make sure nobody came too close to master.

He watched closely when master’s dad stood up from his chair and walked over to him with a treat in his hand. He stuck his hand out so Keaya could smell it. Gently he took the treat from his hand and chewed on it. Master’s parents always took treats with them for him, unlike most of her family who hated him. He just ignored their disgusted and disapproving looks. He knew master loved him and that’s all that mattered to him.

After what felt like ages of waiting, Diona and her parents stood up. He followed them to the rows of chairs on the other side. Everything was nicely decorated in white and pastel colors. Master sat down on one of the chairs and gestured for him to sit between her legs, which he did without hesitation. Lots of people sat down around them and the seats filled up quickly. Different music started playing, and he turned to look at master to make sure everything was fine.

People started walking down the middle, one wearing a big flowy dress. Keaya got distracted and almost didn’t hear master’s breathing starting to go faster over the loud music. He rested his head against her leg, whining softly. That was enough for her to start playing with his ears and hair, calming her down again. He closed his eyes and relaxed into the touch. They were sitting under the shadows of trees, making the warmth more bearable. He didn’t pay attention to the guy talking through a mic or the people cheering. He wouldn’t understand what was going on either way.

Eventually the music stopped and he opened his eyes to see if it was over. People started to get up, he looked at master to see if they were going too. She ruffled his hair and also got up. She said bye to her parents and sister before they headed back to the car. He jumped into the back as soon as she unlocked the car doors, and laid down on his blanket.

“You did really well pup,” Diona complimented. “Do you want to get some snacks at home?”

He perked his ears up and nodded with a smile. He loved the snacks they sold on the beach they lived next to. She gave him a smile back and closed the door. They took a shorter route on the way home, passing through the city. It was a lot more crowded and busy, Keaya couldn’t imagine living there with master. They both preferred the quiet beach with little to no people around. It was only really busy during the summer vacation, but that was fine for them.

Master had taken him to the city before to do shopping when it wasn’t as busy. The city was massive and a bit intimidating to him. It was too easy to get lost in all the streets. They only drove through a small part of it and were out fairly quickly. He could see the familiar hills in the distance, the ones signifying they were close to home. He got more and more excited the closer they got, he couldn’t wait to lay down and roll in the warm sand of the beach.

Once they finally arrived home Diona walked them to the beach restaurant and ordered french fries for the both of them. While they were waiting she let him play in the sand outside. He dug a hole in the sand and started to roll around in it, getting sand everywhere in his clothes and hair. He didn’t seem to mind and just shook it off before continuing. When the order arrived she called him back and they sat on a bench eating their food.

The beach was empty for the most part despite the nice weather, there were only a couple people. The sounds of seagulls flying by and the waves hitting land was relaxing. Not a lot of pets lived around beaches, he was the only one in their neighbourhood, and he felt really privileged for it. His previous owner lived in the city, and he wasn’t nearly as nice as master Diona. He enjoyed every moment he could spend outside, where he wouldn’t be reminded of the dark basement he was in for so long.

“Should we go back home, pup?” She pushed some strands of hair out of his face. “You look tired.”

He nodded, he did feel tired after today. They headed back home, which luckily wasn’t too far away, his legs had started to hurt. He immediately went to his dog bed and dragged it over to the window so the sunlight would hit it. He plopped in it and fell asleep after a couple minutes. Meanwhile Diona sat outside in her lounging chair with a drink, drawing in her sketchbook.

[yeeharley]

day two: alone together by fall out boy / only one bed / road trip

⭒

So their choice of motel definitely wasn’t the best.

That actually might be a bit of an understatement- out of all of the motels Harry and Peter could’ve picked in Jersey, this is probably the worst they could’ve gone with. Irony is a bitch like that. 

Peter’s kind of being a bitch, too, with all of his griping about why do we even have to stay in Jersey and we could just drive through, you’re a good driver and i’ll drive home without you if you make me sleep in a motel in Jersey.

Harry knows he won’t. He’s attached to him at this point, and even making Peter stay a night in Jersey can’t make him angry enough for that. He’d never leave him behind.

Peter’s just one of those friends.

“You can’t even drive, dumbass,” Harry had muttered as Peter whined about his innate hatred of Jersey in the passenger seat. “I’m fuckin’ exhausted, man, and I’ve gotta sleep before we drive the rest of the way. You wanna try and drive this car?”

That had shut him up pretty quickly.

For a superhero who throws himself into dangerous situations every day, he’s way too nervous to get behind the wheel of a car. Harry should know- he’s the one who tried to teach him.

So Peter had conceded and Harry had driven for another fifteen minutes to the next motel on the way to the Starks’ cabin upstate (Peter’d wanted to visit after going over to France to see Harry’s dorms, an who was he to say no?). Their backs were all clunking around in the backseat, and under the dark eleven-o’clock sky, the moon was as bright as a spotlight.

The outside of the building was unassuming- cracked pink-ish stucco, a leaf-strewn roof that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in forever, cars parked in nearly every space. Harry had wheeled into the only empty space he was able to find, Peter craning his neck to look up at the motel, and they’d grabbed a suitcase without checking to see whose it was(sharing clothes is fine between friends, right?).

And that’s how they found themselves here.

Standing in the doorway of the only available room, staring in, Peter tucked close to Harry’s elbow with their suitcase clutched in his hands, staring at the one small bed tucked into the corner.

“Oh,” Peter mutters, expression unreadable.

Harry can feel his heart jump- is he not okay with this? He’s fine with taking the floor, of course, anything to make his friend comfortable. 

But is sharing a bed with him really that repulsive? Would it be that awful?

Okay, so he can’t really deny the crush he has on his best friend. That happens sometimes, right? Friends getting crushes on each other? It’ll pass. Totally.

Totally.

“I’ll take the floor,” he says quickly, stepping into the room and moving aside so that Peter doesn’t feel too cramped. “No worries, dude, you can-”

“No!”

Silence.

Harry turns around, brow furrowed, and takes in the wild-haired, wide-eyed, frantic appearance of his best friend. Peter flushes when they make eye contact and tucks the suitcase closer to his chest. Ducks his head. A single dark strand of hair falls into his eyes, and Harry suddenly has the unmistakable urge to brush it away.

Good thing he’s not stupid. Ha. Ha. Haha.

“No,” Peter says again, this time quieter. “Uh- it’s alright. You don’t hafta sleep on the floor.”

Harry tilts his head to one side. Furrows his brow. “I’m not letting you sleep on the floor, Peter.”

It doesn’t seem like it should be possible, but Peter’s face looks like it darkens a few shades. He bites his lip, eyes darting up to meet Harry’s before falling back to the floor, and says, “I- uh, I meant. We could just- we could share.” Pause. “I don’t mind.”

Oh.

Oh, okay.

“Ah.” Harry feels his own face grow hot and steps further into the dark-ish room to hide the blush. Is this a good idea? Can he control his feelings enough to avoid confessing? He knows he shouldn’t, knows it’s not a good idea- he’s never been good at hiding things.

But there’s something in Peter’s eyes that tells him that he couldn’t deal with a rejection.

He’s never been good at handling rejection.

“Yeah, sure,” Harry says, clearing his throat when his voice cracks. “Fine.”

Peter seems to relax a bit, then, dropping the suitcase gently to the floor and nodding in a way that seems to be to reassure Harry. He’s been in the same clothes all day- a pair of his good sweatpants and a pizza-fraction t-shirt- and, for a moment, Harry’s sure he’s going to change, but he just slides his shoes off, kicks them aside, and jumps into the bed.

He’s short circuiting. A broken robot. A phone in the water. 

Huh.

The hell is he supposed to do now?

“You coming, Har?” Peter asks, yawning and stretching his arms out over his head. Harry gulps, nods. Kicks his own sneakers off and tosses them into the corner before pulling his jacket off and hopping onto the bed beside Peter, who’s crushed up against the wall.

“This okay?” 

Peter nods as Harry scooches his legs under the threadbare blanket and eases himself back against the mattress. His heart feels like it’s racing a million miles an hour, but he just takes a deep breath and turns onto his side so that he can face Peter, who does the same.

His eyes are closed, so he can’t see the way Harry takes in the way the soft moonlight strokes over his dark lashes and curly hair. The way it hits his lips just right. The way it shines against his high cheekbones, against his perfect nose, against the lobe of his ear and the curve of his neck and-

“Peter?” Harry says, already knowing that he’s going to regret this.

Peter opens his eyes, and even in the low light, they shine like the sun. “Yeah?” He asks, eyes fixed on Harry’s, smiling just a bit.

A deep breath. In, out. “I really want to kiss you right now.”

He braces himself for anger, for disgust, for Peter to launch himself out of bed and yell at him about taking advantage. Nearly closes his eyes.

But Peter isn’t shouting. 

Isn’t frowning.

Isn’t angry.

He’s smiling.

“Okay,” he says quietly, biting his bottom lip with a little grin.

Okay.

Harry’s been holding back for almost a year, and now that he’s got permission, he isn’t going to hesitate. He pushes himself up on his elbows and flips over as deftly as he can so that he’s pretty much on top of Peter (isn’t how he imagined this going, but he’s here now, so there’s no stopping it).

Peter’s flushing like a tomato in the moonlight. He’s careful not to kick Harry as he pushes the covers off of his waist and gently places his hands on his waist, cocking his head to one side like a curious puppy.

“You gonna do it?” He asks, voice almost a whisper.

Harry doesn’t answer. He just ducks his head down, arms bracketing Peter’s face, and kisses him.

And it feels like everything he’s ever dreamed of.

Peter is warm and soft and careful, one hand moving from his waist to rest on the base of his lower back. Harry slowly, gently parts his lips, testing the waters. 

Slides a hand under Peter’s neck and twines his fingers into his curls, snickering at the way Peter gasps just a bit before tugging gently. 

Peter parts his lips, too, moving them against Harry’s once, twice, a third time, before his tongue darts out and swipes against Harry’s. That elicits a full-on laugh, because God. 

Neither of them really know what they’re doing, but it feels good.

This is good.

[maritimeericandersen]

Lost And Found

Grim and Max, finally, come to Swynlake. 

Benedict Grimsby was awoken in the middle of the night by the piercing ring of his telephone. Normally, he would have let whatever telemarketer it was leave their shoddy voicemail about how his national insurance number had been released and go back to sleep. 

But then the phone rang again. He let out a huff which then prompted Max to reply with a low woof from the other end of the bed. (That had been a war unfought. As soon as Max had stopped trying to scratch down Eric’s door and come to whine in Benedict’s room the invitation onto the bed had been a reluctant, Fine! But only for tonight.) 

A hand reached across the sheets toward the harsh source of light sitting on the bedside table. He squinted at the phone screen when he had managed to pull it free of the charger. The area code was unfamiliar. Swynlake? Who would be calling him from there? 

Benedict would have not bothered usually but it was the middle of the night and perhaps there was a bit of bitterness he wanted to get out for them having woken him up. “Hello?” 

“Hello, sir, we’re sorry to call you at this hour. Are you Benedict Grimsby?” 

“Yes.”

“We are calling about an Eric Andersen who was admitted here at the Swynlake General Hospital earlier tonight. It took us awhile to get his medical files forwarded to us, but you’re listed as his next of kin.” 

He sat up slowly, pressing the phone closer against his ear. “I’m sorry, who’s there?”

“Eric Andersen?” There was the sound of papers shuffling before the woman spoke again. “White male. Born January 7th, 2001.” 

“That can’t be right.” 

“What?”

“I said that can’t be right,” he told her a little more forcefully. “Eric Andersen has been missing for over a year and a half. I don’t know who you have in your hospital, but it can't be him.” 

“Well, I don’t know what else to tell you, sir. He was brought in by a Henry Charming who identified him.” 

He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Two years ago he would have simply trudged down to whatever hospital, knowing full well that those two boys (but mainly Eric, since the Charming boy had always seemed to have more sense to him) had gotten themselves into trouble. But now, it just couldn’t be possible. Eric was dead. Not officially, but there had been no other survivors. Everyone had told him that there had been no chance. They were too far out for anyone, even an Olympic athlete in the best shape of their life, to have swam back to safety. He was gone. 

If Eric had survived he would have called. He would have come back at some point— if not for Grim than for his dog. 

“Sir?” the woman’s voice called him back from his thoughts. “Uh, Mr. Grimsby?”

“I’m here.” 

“Right.” A beat. “Just in case this is your Eric Andersen, he’s in stable condition now. If you would like to see him, you can.” 

“Could I speak to him?” 

“He’s actually still under the anesthetic from surgery, but we can always call you back when he wakes up.”

“How long will that be?”

“There’s really no telling. Everyone responds to it differently and given the extent of his injuries it may be a while. A few hours at minimum.” 

“Alright. Thank you.” 

“Of course, sir.” He started to pull the phone away but she spoke again. “I’ll see you when you get here. Drive safe.”  

The drive from Plymouth to Swynlake was supposed to have taken around 3 hours. For Benedict Grimsby, in the early hours of the morning when hardly anyone else was on the road and going well over the speed limit, it took him around 2 and a quarter. 

There had been no time for him to think clearly about this whole ordeal— something that being the guardian of that wretched boy had taught him oh too well. He had packed a back blindly, hooked the harness around Max, and shoved them both into the car. 

When he arrived at the hospital he didn’t know what to do with Max. He couldn’t very well leave him in the car. It may have been early morning before the sun had risen but it was still summer. So he took him on his harness into the building. 

Luckily Henry Charming was there, accompanied by two girls that Grim did not recognize and didn’t care to at the moment. He put Max in their care and turned to find a nurse gesturing for him. 

“Mr. Grimsby?” she asked as he approached, voice familiar. It took him a moment to place it.

“The nurse from the phone?” he countered and she smiled, nodding.

“Yes. I’m glad you’re here. Eric’s finally awake.” She turned to motion down the hall. “Would you like to go and see him now?” 

The walk to the room had been all too short. He’d spent the whole drive there trying to convince himself to not get his hopes up. Benedict was a practical person. All Grimsby’s were. 

But the Andersen’s had not been. 

His friendship with Aiden had been forged out of a strong grip and obnoxious stubbornness to win Benedict over. It hadn’t been a miracle or an act of fate or some such nonsense people like to spin poetry around. They had been friends because Aiden had willed it into the world and Benedict had no choice but to grow fond of him. 

Isla was not, by blood, an Andersen. When he had first met her she had been a Harrington. There was a steadiness to her that Aiden sorely lacked. Where he was made up of impulses and moved where he wanted, she had always been a pillar. She knew what she wanted and how she was going to go about getting it. And Aiden had followed her, all the way to the end. 

That had left Eric, a product of both parts, with Grimsby. 

Their will had been a shock to him. The lawyer had told him if he didn’t want to take responsibility then someone else would surely take the child. The Andersen’s had all passed, Aiden’s brother having gone long before him, but Isla still had family. He had contemplated the decision for a few days. It had been the practical thing to do, just as it would be to allow Eric to grow up among his family. 

He did not know why he accepted custody. Perhaps because it had been his friends’ last wish and the knowledge that they had entrusted the life of their son to him. 

There had always been doubt in the back of his mind that he was ill fit for the job. Every bruise and broken bone Eric had come back with had been allusions to this. What made it fact was when he had not come back at all.

A grand total of three Andersen’s had died on his watch. Now, one had returned and hadn’t even had the decency to call for the score to be settled.

In the time it took to get from the lobby to the hospital room he had not been able to really believe that he would find Eric inside. 

But then the door opened and there he was, looking up from where he had been staring out the window. That ridiculous grin bloomed across his face, elbows moving clumsily against the cushions to help him sit up. 

“Grim! You’re here!” 

Benedict turned his attention to the nurse who was already making her way out of the room. The door shut behind him with a resonating click. He took slow and measured steps over to the bed. 

“Look, I know you’re probably seething— and you’ve every right to be angry. I wanted to tell you. Every day! Every day I thought to myself, I need to call Grim, I need to tell him but I couldn’t.” Eric shook his head, the dark curls on his head bouncing. “How did you know I was here?”

Benedict didn’t answer, simply turned to focus on the leg that was wrapped up in bandages and sitting on a stack of pillows. 

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Eric waved a hand at it. “They’re making a bigger fuss of it than necessary.” 

His eyes traveled up to the various tubes attached to Eric’s arms. There were the usual suspects, an IV and medication. But the one for blood told him that the boy was lying, even if he didn’t realize it. 

Whatever had happened to him had been serious. 

And to think, he never would have known had Eric not been brought to a hospital. 

A whole calendar year had passed and then some, and Eric had not bothered to say anything.

“Grim?” Benedict blinked, eyes meeting Eric’s. He looked uneasy. An unusual emotion to find on the boy who was always so sure, so confident, so stubborn. “I know it’s bad. I know. But— say something? Even if it’s only anger.” 

It was true that Benedict felt anger but there was so much more there, too. Relief, hurt, happiness, utter devastation. He did not know which one to lean on first, which one could possibly hold control over all the others in order to choose the words in which to react. They were all so loud, so demanding, he could barely think with ease. 

A hand rose and reached forward to touch Eric’s shoulder. It was solid. The corner’s of Eric’s mouth quirked upward and he brought his hand up to lay on top. It had always been so easy for him. He had constantly taken Benedict’s hand or thrown his arms around the man in a hug. It was always something, that constant line of unspoken communication that he was there. 

Its absence had been staggering. 

Its sudden return felt worse somehow. Like a mended bone needing to be broken again in order to heal correctly this time over. 

All this time Benedict had been in mourning, trying to deal with the grief of the boy he thought to be dead. It had been killing him, slowly but surely. That reassuring touch seemed to be the reminder that the both of them were still alive. 

His grip on Eric’s shoulder tightened, no doubt painfully so, and he leaned forward to capture the boy in a hug. It was only then that he felt Eric’s hesitation, how it took him several seconds to bring his arms up and around to return it. But once they were there and met with no resistance, he seemed to relax, clutching on just as tightly. 

“I’m sorry, Grim.” His voice was quiet now, thick with emotion. 

He pulled away, hands coming up to clutch either side of Eric’s face just to look at him. Alive. Breathing. Not dead, lost in the sea like everyone had said he was. His eyes were glassy and skin pale, but it was still the Eric he remembered.

Grim shook his head in disbelief, laughing until it tapered into a sob and he had to hug Eric to him all over again. “You really delight in these sadistic strains on my blood pressure, don’t you?” 

Eric laughed then too, the sound of it watery and surprised. “Are you mad?” 

“Oh, I think what I’m feeling goes far beyond the scope of the English language. Enjoy it now because in several days when I get over you not being dead, I will have plenty of anger left.” With a sigh he pulled away. “What happened?” 

“It’s a long story.” 

“You say that as if you’ve never used that excuse before.” 

And so Eric told him everything. From top to bottom. About the wreck, getting saved, coming to Swynlake, getting a job, going to uni, telling Henry, avoiding Philip, Tom, and John like the plague, and getting attacked by a creature earlier that night. 

“Or should I say yesterday?” Eric glanced over to the window where the sky’s dark inky blue had lightened. The sun had not come up just yet, but it was only a matter of minutes. 

Grim didn’t say anything for a long time, having to mull all that information over in his mind. Again, there was too much emotion to deal with. He couldn’t remember a time he had felt so much and so many all in the span of a few hours. 

“Grim?” He looked up to find Eric squinting at him. “Did I lose you somewhere?” 

He shook his head. “No.” 

“Then why do you look like that?”

“Like what?”

“I dunno— like you’re the one sitting in the hospital bed with a leg that’s just been used for a chew toy.” 

Grim let out a breath through his nose. With one last look at Eric he sat up, getting ready to stand. “Thank you for telling me. It seems you’ve made quite a new life for yourself here.” 

Eric watched, confused, as Grim stood. “Are you leaving?”

“Yes.” 

“But— you just got here.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” 

“Then why’re you going? I don’t understand.”

“Eric, had the hospital not called me tonight, would you have?”

Eric’s eyes drifted away from him then, falling on his hands that were fiddling with the blanket. “I don’t know.”

Grim nodded because he did. 

“But—! You’re here now! Can’t you stay?” 

“Why?” 

“What’d’ya mean why?” Eric scoffed. “Because I want you to.” 

“You didn’t want me here before.”

“Oh my god.” He rolled his eyes, arms lifting and falling heavily against the mattress. “Is that what you think? That I ran away from you?” 

“No. But you seem to be doing just fine here all on your own.” 

“I’m not! I wasn’t! I would’ve cracked a long time ago if it weren’t for other people. My boss, for one. My friends, too. I wouldn’t’ve gotten where I did if it weren’t for all of them.” Eric shook his head, one corner of his mouth raised up in a half smile. It disappeared after a moment when his eyes turned back on Grim. “And you. I wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren't for you.” 

“That’s not true.” 

“‘Course it is. What? You think 10 year old me could have done it all on his own?” Eric snorted. “Don’t be stupid.” 

“Eric—”

“I’m sorry. That was rude, I know. Shouldn’t have said it.” He sniffled, swiping the sleeve of his hospital gown under his nose and making Grim cringe. “I know you’re the one who gets to be angry here and that I’ve no right to it since I hurt you but— but you can’t just go around saying that.” 

Grim blinked. 

He had seen Eric upset before. Several times over and in many different ways. Frustrated over his school work. Humiliated over something that had happened at training that had gotten him yelled at. Heart broken. Grieving. Name it, he had seen it— or he thought he had. But he had never seen this. 

“After I didn’t say anything those first few months I knew that when I did tell you I had to have done something. Otherwise it would have just been like every other time I called you to come get me out of something. I wanted—” Instead of finishing his sentence a shuttery breath left him and that alone stretched the moment into eternity. 

Finally Grim found enough courage to ask, “What did you want?” 

Eric turned to look up at him, jaw working itself for a moment until he finally relented. “I wanted to be someone that you could finally be proud of. Not just some idiot kid who ruined your life when my parents made you take me.” 

Grim understood then that all those other times, all those little moments when he thought he had failed Eric, this past year and a half he had thought there was nothing worse he could have done then allowed him to walk right to his own death— it’s absolutely nothing compared to the sound of those words. 

“Oh, Eric. They didn’t make me do anything. It was my choice and I’ve never regretted it, or you, for a moment.” He stepped closer to the bed again. “And I’ve always been proud of who you are.” 

Eric stared at him, searching. “Really? Even— even though I barely graduated from secondary?”

“Yes.”

“Even after I broke your client’s fancy vase that one time?”

“Yes.”

“Even after I brought home that pig?”

“I do hope you’re not referring to Max.”

“And—” Eric hesitated but eventually continued. “And even though I didn’t tell you I was okay?” 

“Of course I am. I may not be happy about it and I may want to wring your neck for what you put me through this past year. And you may have gone about your pursuit for the truth in a very— unorthodox way, but, if what you’ve told me is true and you have accomplished all of this here, then, yes. Yes, I’m proud of you. I always have been.” 

A familiar grin blossomed over Eric’s face that transformed it into something like the sunrise about to take place outside. It was so earnest and bright Grim could not help but smile in return. “Ah, Grim, I always tell people you’re a big softie, and no one ever believes me.” 

“Good. I’d rather like to keep it that way.”

“So— this mean you’re staying?” 

“If you want me to.”

“Always.” Eric reached out to clasp Grim’s forearm. He turned his head, a shoulder lifting. “And I mean, if you’re not going to disown me over this then there’s really nothing worse I can do, is there?” 

“Don’t test it.”

“Believe me, Grim, I don’t think I could even if I wanted to.” He tugged on Grim’s arm until he was seated back in his chair. “You’re going to love this place! Don’t worry, it’ll be great.” 

Grim nodded. Odd how easy it was to slip back into their respective roles. How Eric made even the most complex of situations such as this one sound so simple. For now, Grim supposed he could believe him. “I’m sure it will.” 

A pause. 

“Hey Grim? Did you bring Max?” 

[yuulina-vre]

Gifting you a new life

Grocery shopping

Pairing: Steve x Bucky, Reader insert 

Warnings: None 

Word count:  3003 words 

Part: Four

Summary: Y/N and Steve are going grocery shopping.

Masterlist

* * *

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Y/N shoots Steve a unbelieving look. “Steve. You had a migraine yesterday that let you faceplant twice, made you hit your head and nearly forced a concussion on you and got you to flirt with a stranger that you can’t remember anymore. I’m sorry if I don’t believe you when you say ‘you’re fine’.” She crosses her arms to give her words more strength. It seems to work since Steve starts blushing a little and ducking his head in shame. “I apologized.”

“I don’t need you to apologize, Steve. I need you to take care of yourself and not to force you to work when you clearly should take a day to recover.” The blonde men sighs but nods, though, Y/N can see that he won’t stay home like she hopes. “Fine, go to work, but I will force you home if I see as much as flinch at any louder sound or bright light.” She pints a finger at his chest and is rewarded with a heavy gulp and a nod. “Okay. Let’s go.” She grabs her bag from the kitchen table, quickly pushes her lunch into it and walks outside. She knows that Steve’s following so she doesn’t turn around but gets into the drier seat of the car. Steve eyes her with a slight growl and gets in beside her. He hates it if he’s not driving but doesn’t say anything, knowing that he won’t win that argument as well. While driving and replaying her decision to let Steve go to work, she remembers the card from Bucky. She hadn’t had any time showing it to Steve until know. They only had discussed the event of the last day at the breakfast table and even then, it was just a short conversation filled with lots of pancakes, juice, and coffee. “Steve, do you happen to know a James Barnes?”

“James…? No, don’t think so, why?” While driving with one hand she reaches for her jeans pocket and tries to get the card out of it, having shoved it there yesterday evening. “What are you doing? Get your hand back on the wheel!” Steve almost screeches but Y/N rolls her eyes. “Chill. Here. He was the guy that helped me yesterday.” She passes the little white card to Steve before getting her hand back on the wheel while sending a look to him. Steve nods before looking at the card. “Hmm, doesn’t look familiar. Oh, he s from the military.”

“He seemed determined and wants you to call him. It seemed important to him. He looked disappointed when he noticed that he couldn’t talk to you yesterday.”

“What exactly did he want?” Steve lifts his eyes to look at her but Y/N shrugs. “I don’t know. He didn’t really say. But he looked serious, only said that they found something that probably belongs to your father.”

“M-my father?” Steve inspects the card again. “He’s working in the lost-and-found office.” His voice suddenly sound toneless, without emotion and total neutral. Y/N glances quickly over to him. He’s staring at the card but his grip had intensified, knuckles turning a little white.

“What exactly is the lost and found department?”

“It’s, eh…” Steve shakes his head and sits up fully, groaning as the light his him directly into the face but covers it quickly with clearing his throat. “They return things people lost while on the battlefield. The found things go to the lost-and-found office and they try to find the people. It’s a difficult thing to do, not very easy I assume. Sometimes they have to give it to the family that’s left. I think there is pretty much emotion combined with the task since… Since most of the thing belonged to soldiers that… didn’t make it.”

“Do you think, that whatever bucky has, really belonged to your father?” She watches as Steve sinks a bit into the car seat. His expression isn’t readable, but Y/N thinks she sees some kind of hope in his eyes. She knows Steve loved his dad. And she knows he was really sad, still is, after he passed away. He has almost no memory of him, only some pictures his Ma left behind. His eyes wander instantly over to a picture of his parents on dashboard. “Maybe.” He throws a last look to the card before he throws it into the glove compartment and closes his eyes. The rest of the ride is silent. Y/N’s eyes switch back to him from time to time, hoping she didn’t make him uncomfortable.

 * * *

 “Y/N! You come shopping with me later?” Y/N looks up from her lunch in the cafeteria to see Steve come walking towards her, bright smile on his face and oblivious to all the girls staring at him. “Why?” She looks at him, a bit skeptical, sandwich still half in her mouth. He never asks her to accompany him because, when she does, they always buy more that is on the list. “No reason.” Steve shrugs and sits down opposite her, trying to look innocent. “Uhuh, okay, I just pretend I don’t know that you have something in mind and go along. But no complaining.” She points her fork from the salad at him and Steve lifts his hands in surrender. “I promise.”

“By the way. Did you hear from Bucky?”

“Bucky?”

“Mr. Barnes.” Y/N wriggles her eyebrows at Steve, making him blush while he probably remembers the events of last night yet again. Steve had promised to call him but Y/N suspects him to chicken out on it since he hate calling people. “I-I- W-why would I hear from him?” Steve clears his throat and looks around to see if any student is listening in on them. “Come on Steve, really? You’re supposed to call him. He’s waiting to har from you. And you did flirt with him.”

“A-and?”

“And? Steve! You like him, you’re blushing!” Y/N leans forward to throw a pointed look at him. “I do not.”

“You really want me to pull my pocket mirror from my bag and show you?” She raises a eyebrow and smirks as Steve quickly shakes his head, blush intensifying. “And I think he likes you, too.”

“Wha- How do you know?”

Why else would he willingly get a stranger to the toilet and back? He must like you.”

“He does not.”

“Steve!” Y/N hits him with her fork against the forehead. “He has to. He laughed at your attempted flirt. No one ever does!” She falls back into her chair with a disbelieving expression. She stares at Steve for a while, how he squirms on his chair until he looks at her. “Yeah okay, fine. I might like him, at least what I think I remember.” She points her fork at him again, this time with a noodle still on it and a smirk on her face. “So, are you going to call him now?”

“Now?”

“Yes, why not? He’s waiting for your call and lunchtime is as good as any other time.” She shrugs and shoves the fork into her mouth. “I-I don’t know.” Steve rubs his neck once again and stares outside. “Steve. He’s a really nice guy. I don’t know what you think would happen. Besides, it’s not like you have anything better to do, right?”

“Actually, I have to get the assignment ready.”

“That can wait the ten minutes it needs to call him.” Steve gives a forced smile before he clears his throat and stands up. “I meet you at the car.” Then he leaves quickly to escape more of Y/N’s incoming ‘harassment’. She settles on a deep sigh and shoves another fork of noodles in her mouth. She will make him call that man! She quickly finishes her lunch and puts her tray away, waving at some of her students and colleagues before she walks down the halls to get to her classroom.

She sits at her desk and gets some of her papers, filled with notes for the lessons, out of her bag and places them neatly on the desk before she roams through the classroom to get all the utensils the pupils will need. While she prepares each desk with brushes, waterglasses, canvases and paints the students start to filter in. lunch break still goes on for about ten minutes. “Hello, Ms. Y/L/N.” The brunette boy that enters the class with two friends’ waves at her. “Hello Peter. Hello Michelle, Ned.” She nods at the three teenagers and wonders briefly why they enter her class. They’re actually in one of Steve’s classes and should head over to his history lesson now. “Do you have a moment for us?”

“Oh, eh. Sure.” She motions for her desk, abandoning the paint sprinkled aprons on one of the desks. “What can I do for you?” The boy squirms a bit in front of her, pulling on the sleeves of his pullover and looking at his friends. Ned is tipping on his phone while Michelle only looks disinterested around the room. “Peter?”

“I-I… Listen Ms. Y/L/N. I know I’m actually in Mr. Rogers class and that you only see me when you take over his classes but I hoped you could help me out, since you’re friends with Mr. Roges and I really don’t know how to tal-”

“Peter.” Y/N interrupts him, smiles kindly at him and places a hand on his shoulder. “Take a deep breath and then get to the point.”

“Ah.. okay. Erm… See, I only got into Mr. Rogers class because MJ and Ned are in it but I know I’m not good in it and that I’m going to fail it, so I thought you could put in a word for me? Please?”

“Oh.” She had expected him to ask for help with the class in a private tuition way but not this. “I’m sorry, Peter. I don’t think I can do that.”

“Oh.” To say the boy looks crestfallen is an understatement. “But I’ve already talked to Ste- Mr. Rogers about your engineering plans and all. We thought it might be good to talk to Mr. Stark. Maybe we can transfer you to one of his classes. This way you won’t fail your art class. But you might have to get all the years’ worth of stuff in your head in just one week to pass the engineering class.” Peter’s face goes from sad to surprised to happy and back to sad. “That is if Mr. Stark agrees. Otherwise, you have to just fail Steve’s class. You could ask him to write a paper to change your grade.” Y/N shrugs and makes up her mind to talk to tony and Steve after this class. Peter nods. “I will, thank you.” He quickly waves at her and before she even knows what’s happening, he’s gone again and the rest of her class trickles in.

 * * *

 The class goes by nicely, the students actually try their best and Y/N is pretty proud of them. After all, exams are right on the doorstep. Y/N packs her things and walks down to the parking lot. Steve is already waiting, running up and down next to his pickup but stops as he sees Y/N coming closer. He smiles shortly before he gets into the car. Y/N raises her eyebrows but follows him. “Did you call him?”

“Who?” Steve plays innocent and Y/N rolls her eyes. Of course, Steve doesn’t answer her questions in the car. “Steve. This can go two ways.” Y/N crosses her arms and send him a look of annoyance. “And that are which?”

“Either you call him and invite him for dinner, I’ll cook something special or…”

“Or?”

“Or I’m calling him.” Steve looks at her and Y/N looks at him. Neither of them saying more. “Thaaat doesn’t sound so bad.”

“Yeah. But if I’m calling him then I’ll make you cooking dinner and we both know how that will turn out.”

“You wouldn’t!” Steve gasps in horror. Y/N smirks, knowing well enough that Steve can’t cook for saving his life. She doesn’t even know how he lived on his own before they moved in together. Probably ordered take out every day. So now she decides to let her arms crossed and only raise an eyebrow, letting him squirm until he nods. “Okay, okay. I’ll call him… After shopping.”

“Steve, you’re an adult. I don’t know why you don’t like calling people. You have to do it on a regular basis.”

“I just don’t like it.”

“Yeah, but-”

“Can we just agree that I’m calling him after shopping?!” She all but blurts in a panic. Y/N sighs and shakes her head. “Fine.” She nods and lets Steve drive in silence to the grocery store.

They park and get out of the car to take a cart before they walk into the store. Y/N leads Steve through aisle after aisle until she stops. “Oh Steve, you’re in deep shit.” She turns around and eyes him knowingly. “What?” Steve looks confused. The smirk she shows him sends his face into a panic. “What?” He squeaks again and looks around.

“How good that you asked me to accompany you. Who knew that a certain someone would be shopping here, too? So, know you talk to said someone instead of calling and we still get our shopping done.” Steve frowns a moment until he sees the someone she’s talking about and gets so red in his face that Y/N blurts out laughing. “Go on you hero.” Y/N takes Steve’s arm and pushes him in the direction she just spotted the brunette ex-soldier. Steve stops though and squeezes her hand with a fond smile. “Y/N! I can’t. what am I going to say?”

“That is for you to figure out.” She chuckles and carefully loosens his hand on her arm. “Just invite him for dinner, Casanova.” She watches him frown a second and cleans his sweaty hands on his jeans before he walks in the direction of the other man and tap his shoulder. Bucky turns around, a little confused but then smiles brightly as he sees Steve. They talk for a moment, Steve pointing behind him with his thumb and bucky lanes a little to the side and catches Y/N’s eyes. He waves at her, still smiling, and she waves back before she actually turns away and continues the shopping.

She sees both of them a few times, walking together through the aisles. Sometimes they’re both blushing and Y/N thinks that there’s a little bit of awkward flirting involved. At some point Y/N got everything that’s on the list, and a little more, and searches for both men again. They’re just standing in the animal aisle and Y/N watches for a moment. Bucky takes a package of cat food and adds it to the cart, laughing at something that Steve had said. She’s reluctant to interrupt, wanting them both to get closer. She already ships both of them since they seem to get along so well. She can’t check out and get the stuff into the car on her own, though. Steve has the keys. She walks slowly up to them, smiling as she hears both of them laughing. “Hello Bucky.”

“Y/N.” Bucky smiles back and Steve turns around. He looks a little annoyed that she interrupts but recovers as he sees the full cart. “Was that all on the list?” He quirks an eyebrow at her and Y/N laughs. “Of course not. But you promised you won’t be mad, so you can’t. And it’s your fault anyway for letting me do it on my own.” That makes Bucky laugh. Steve’s head spins around to the man and a fond smile forms on his face. They talk while going to pick up the last things Bucky needs and walk to the check out. The moment Y/N has paid she feels that Steve and Bucky are a little disappointed that they have to say goodbye now. “Bucky, it was nice to see you again.” Y/N smiles at him and he smiles back. “Yeah, I’m glad too.” They smile at each other and /N catches Steve staring a little, so she nudges him in the ribs. “Well, I’m waiting at the car. Keys?” Steve startles a little, looks embarred but gives her the keys. She gives him that look again before slowly pushing her cart away. “Maybe you should come over for dinner? Tomorrow? As a thank you for helping me?” Y/N hears Steve ask and looks over her shoulder, while pushing the cart painfully slow to listen in. Steve has a light blush on his cheeks. “Oh. I-” Bucky looks at Steve with a blush of his own and then nods. “I would like that.”

“Great! I-I mean, eh, great. Yeah.” Y/N rolls hear eyes at his awkwardness. How he’s ever going to get a date is beyond her. After a few second, she hears hurried steps behind her as Steve quickly catches up with her. They’re are almost at Steve’s car as they hear a shout. “Steve! Wait a sec.” They turn around and see Bucky running up to them. Y/N quickly walks further to not disturb them, knowing that this conversation is something that’s not for her ears. Probably. She sees that they both shuffle nervously and Steve nods with the brightest smile she has seen in years. Bucky blushes a little, nods, too, and walks away then. Steve comes up to her as she loads the car, still smiling and a dreaming look on his face. “What did he want?” Y/N raises her eyebrows with her own little smile. Steve looks back at Bucky, who loads his own car now and Y/N has the feeling that he’s smiling, too. “He asked me if I like football.” Steve stares at her before he grabs her shoulders and shakes her, smile widening. “Y/N! He looks so handsome and is funny and he’s coming over to watch football and eat dinner with us!”

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