#also i seriously considered sitting down and describing every single character's smile but that would take. a long time.

[mercuryislove]

can you tell me about ur oc's smiles. any number of em any ones you want. we need some smiles today. <3

i got you!!!!! <333

(okay I'm very excited about this because it gives me a reason to also talk about the way they laugh lol)

When Ciaran smiles and he means it, it's so wide that his nose wrinkles and he squints. He smiles with his whole damn face and he smiles like all the fucking time, so he has laugh lines around his eyes that he doesn't notice or care about. He also sticks his tongue out a little bit if he's laughing. Also. You know that post that's like “I hate people who touch me when they laugh hard like unhand me you raggedy bitch”?? (it cracks me up SO much because I am the raggedy bitch that grabs people when I laugh.......) Anyway. That's Ciaran. He laughs loud and hard and snorts sometimes and is the kind of guy to grab someone's arm. and he doesn't care when people think it's weird.

Meanwhile Anwei has mastered the art of both smizing (thank u tyra banks) AND smilling only with her mouth. She can basically have two different facial expressions at once (bc she's a fucking weirdo). Her like “professional” smile is very demure. Shows no teeth, barely counts as a smile, would be perfect for photo ops. But her real smile is sooooo beautiful. She has extremely kind eyes and a warm smile and basically it can win the heart of everyone in a five mile radius. She doesn't share the same like. nose wrinkling, sore cheek smile that her brother does but it's still infectious and friendly and people love to see it.

OH AND THEN the fucking. omg. the Sovereign aka the most beautiful man on earth wtf. What is the thing they say about like. helen of troy or whatever. That she was so beautiful a thousand ships sailed for her or some shit. Well. His smile is so gorgeous that a thousand AND ONE ships would sail for him. I'm talking words can't even describe this man. You see him smile and it's like being welcomed into the arms of a lover or best friend. You could get lost in it (which is also kind of the point because he IS the perfect charismatic, hypnotic, magnetic uh killing machine). You WANT to get lost in it. People get light headed if they look at him too long. like. he IS the moment.

[leviiattacks]

Two Faced | Chapter Two

↳ levi ackerman, the very person who was about to kindly behead you by a surprising turn of events manages to become your loving husband? you would be elated if this was true love, but it's all thanks to a mysterious magic spell that your life is spared. for now at least.

pairing :: duke!levi x duchess!reader genre :: royal au, angst, fluff, slice of life etc word count :: 2.6k → click here for the next part !

You're apprehensive the first few days. Peering over your shoulder when you walk through the halls of the Duke's estate. You often find yourself fiddling with the only real possession you have remaining from the entire ordeal - a silver locket given to you by your mother, it hasn't stood the test of time, it's littered in small scratches and it's clearly seen better days. Neither does it shine the way it used to but you need it to feel at ease.

Currently, sitting in the estate's library you attempt to focus on reading the book in front of you. It details the life of an orphaned child, the rest of the plot is a blur to you as this task is not done with the intent of enjoying the literature but with the purpose of distracting yourself.

You've been avoiding Duke Ackerman for days on end now. He's made the occasional visit to your quarters, always politely asks if he's permitted to speak to you - allowed to take even a second of your precious time. You decline every single request, your excuses range from "I'm feeling particularly ill today." to"I would like to rest early.", He never inquires after you've responded. You do however find he communicates in a variety of different ways ; Meals of the finest standard, A luxurious place to live, the maids also offer you the opportunity to venture out into the beautiful gardens but you know he's asked them to do so.

Quite frankly, you're still petrified and are unable to fathom what happened that fateful day, you had never been one to put much faith in God especially after all he had put you through, but maybe there was a God or a higher being or a somebody who helped you in your moment of despair.

Eyes darting from your page to the door of the library, you swear you see the door knob twist and you hastily double take. Nothing looks out of the ordinary so you allow yourself to shake it off. Your eyes droop shut as you knead your shoulders attempting to relieve some of the tension you feel. Recently, you find it to be an ordinary occurrence for your muscles to seize at the worst possible opportunities.

"May I speak to you?" A beaming voice enters the room from behind you but never had such a cheerful voice made you freeze in fright. It's him.

At his appearance you begin to think of all sorts of scenarios and outcomes but the specific thought you've been actively ignoring slyly slips into view. What if the spell weakens?

Fate is an ever changing entity, one minute it may be in your favour, the next... you'd rather not delve any deeper into that alternative.

Jumping to your feet you don't look in his direction trying to keep the contact you have with him minimal.

He audibly huffs and just as you're about to scurry away he speaks again. "Halt your movements."

Something about his voice beckons you to do so and you anxiously face him.

"Did I come off too bold?" The expression he makes is unlike any other you've seen from him before. His eyes twinkle and it looks as if he's holding his breathe expectantly. It's almost comical how different he looks and you can't stop your cheeks from flushing. He's quite adorable under this spell.

But then a flashback is presented to you. The anger in his eyes, the cold feeling of his sword, if he were any closer he would have been swiftly slicing your neck open. Y/N, you were seconds away from becoming a corpse you remind yourself fiercely.

"I'm not doing very well at courting you, Am I?" He frowns as he asks but he's not upset, perhaps disappointed.

Looking at the floor you hear him bombard you with even more questions, he's crowding around you now like a swarm of bees - somehow he manages the job of an entire hive on his own. No one has ever taken such an interest in you.

Your conscience tells you that you will regret this later on down the line, it tells you this will come back and bite you incredibly hard, you will regret being so ignorant and trusting yet you yield. Is it so wrong for you to consider feeling affection? When the Duke snaps out of this spell he will promptly execute you and you're aware of that fact, so what reason is there to cower away in fear?

For all your life you have never experienced the true feeling of love. You had mother's maternal love, which hadn't lasted very long at all. Never would you have any other opportunity to experience the romantic intimate kind involving a significant other. If you were to die you may as well play the role of his wife for as long as this spell wills it. Perhaps he'll receive his memories back so late he forgets or simply no longer cares. Part of you hopes he doesn't remember at all.

"Would you like to..." you pause already regretting what you're doing but before you can continue the Duke cuts you off.

"Have tea together? Explore the gardens together?"

What really sticks out to you most is how he casually emphasizes the word together. He really doesn't care what activity you engage in as long as it's with him. You feel your heart twist in your chest. This is dangerous.

He's eager, leaning forward with wide eyes. It feels odd having someone care about your input, even more odd seeing that person smile at you with the same spirit of an elated child. It's bittersweet knowing his true character.

"Let's have some tea."

A few months have passed since then. Surprisingly you're still alive and the spell shows no signs of wearing away any time soon.

After the raid at your palace he's been nothing but sweet towards you. At first many people were against him courting you and a handful of his advisors attempted to steer his sights away due to suspicions and speculation that you were a "sinful witch" who had manipulated or even seduced him.

The day he had heard those rumors he caused an uproar and had fired the royal advisor who spread them around. "Impertinent fools have the audacity to make such comments about my Duchess." You would usually add in you were not worth such respect considering you were not officially a Duchess but the fiery blaze in his eyes had stopped you.

"Hey Lev, lets go have some tea they've learnt their lesson." You shot the gossiping maids a sympathetic look.

Being under the spell does not make him more tolerable towards other people is what you learnt that day.

Multiple women all with visuals worlds more appealing than your own approach him, some even sent by his advisors to set you up. They test if his love is strong enough to withstand the attacks of others. Time and time again he proves everyone wrong and doesn't think for a second to give up on you.

You're glad for that because through these few months you've ascertained how much you love the Duke for who he is. Well, who he's acting as. You want to slam your head against a concrete wall repeatedly when you think about the level of affection and tenderness you hold towards the man but you can not lie and say you hate him.

The fact that before meeting him you lived a life lacking of love and affection does not help your case either. It only makes it harder.

But it's painfully obvious to you that this is all truly one sided. You aren't really in love with the Duke but you're in love with the magic holding him hostage.

You share these thoughts to yourself as you take a short sip from your tea cup. Sasha has left the room to fetch some pastries and sweets. She takes her job seriously as head maid (you never address her as such because really she's just a friend to you). It's a chilly day hence why you've covered yourself up in a shawl, it coincidentally matches the beige drapes.

Suddenly a boy who you recognize to be one of the young apprentices by the name of Eren bursts through the doors of your tea room. His hair is all over the place and he's panting as he tries to formulate a sentence.

"Duke." Puff. " Duke Ackerman" Puff. "Refuses to return to the Imperial Palace and is threatening the Emperor stating he won't return to his duties!"

You ignore it and try to keep to your own affairs because who are you to interfere in military business? It's looked down upon to involve yourself in such matters.

You send him off and in the mean time Sasha makes her way back.

A few minutes later as the both of you are munching on a particularly sweet macron the palace's butler bursts in the same way as Jaeger and tries to get a word in but Sasha manages to interject first.

"My lady, perhaps you should check in on the Duke." she suggests.

You try to speak but the Butler cuts in abruptly.

"Duchess. I'm afraid he hasn't ate a meal in five days. Please talk to him."

"Mike there is no need to call me a Duchess when I hold no such title...wait the Duke hasn't ate for five days???"

You find it unbelievable that Levi has forgotten to eat or possibly starved himself for something.

Making your way to his office you enter with a speech prepared about how eating is one of the blessings you've been given and how it should be appreciated but instead you're met face to face with a trail of rose petals that lead to the Duke.

You stare at him in confusion. He holds a bouquet of roses in his hands and they kiss his chest, He gives you a look of admiration that can only be described as the look that is reserved for your one true love. His eyes glimmer and they shine along with his glossy raven hair. You look him up and down in astonishment.

He's arranged all this for you.

"I'd do anything to have you be by my side for all of eternity. Will you honor me with the opportunity of taking your hand?"

Just looking at this entirely different version of the Duke, you feel relieved and in the moment you recklessly accept his proposal. You know it's stupid, you know it's ignorant, you know you should be denying him but you can't make yourself ignore the will of your heart.

"I hope to live a long life. One with you present." he whispers into the shell of your ear, it tingles.

After weeks of the Duke's courting you accept his marriage proposal and the both of you quietly wed two months later.

He's so kind and affectionate that you're plagued with nightmares where the spell wears off.

In your nightmares he continues what he left unfinished. Every time he's about to plunge his sword into the depths of your chest he wakes you up and caresses your face in between his large hands. He wraps his arms around you after some time. Once your breathing relaxes he asks what has made you cry and you can't do anything to explain. It only hurts more seeing his concerned expression. The way his eyes flick between your eyes and trembling lips, you want to tell him the truth, instead you state that you"had a nightmare, and don't wish to talk about it." You don't want him asking questions over it.

It's another Wednesday and you're pacing back and forth in front of his office door arguing with yourself about whether or not you should enter. Finally, you decide to make your entrance and peek inside. You hear him arguing with his advisors as normal.

"Instead of blithering like a idiot and making excuses why don't yo-" he's midway through his sentence when he sees you at the doorway.

Dropping the previous matter he rushes over towards you and scoops you up in his arms. Smiling up at you, you smile back sheepishly ignoring the stares of his staff.

"Honey, why did you leave me? Where did you go?" He whines into your neck and you try to push him away shyly but he won't budge.

Everyone around you grimaces at his usual mood swings as well as the heavy flirting that he's targeting at you.

"You haven't come to eat dinner with me for three nights. You're the workaholic who left me." You swiftly retort his point and you pout at the end of your sentence. He pouts back and you can see his cheeks are tinged a blushed pink.

"Then we must dine immediately, you should have informed me that I had made you feel so neglected, my darling!"

After making your way to the dining room you and Levi are conversing happily as per usual when you spot his highly agitated secretary Mikasa. It settles in that she's been standing there for a considerable amount of time, time flies when you and Levi speak. She's clearly waiting for him to report back to duty.

The first time you had met Mikasa she was highly suspicious of you and would keep an eye on your movements at all times (literally) , you thought she perhaps fancied the Duke but later learnt that she was related to him and that was probably why she was on edge at the appearance of a new individual. Besides all that she's sweet really, sometime she joins you and Sasha for tea and you happily converse. She isn't much of a talker, more of a listener which works out well considering how extroverted Sasha is and how you love to story tell. You've shared many fond memories with her.

That's why you place a hand on Levi's shoulder and interrupt him.

"Why don't you return to your work? It's about time I send you back now." You suggest but he rolls his eyes in annoyance.

"Why do you keep on trying to get rid of me? I want to stay for a little longer. After all you are my wife. You count as one of my duties. If not the most important duty of all!" He's about to break out into one of his embarrassing speeches and you want to save Mikasa from that.

"Mikasa really needs you to complete your other duties. Do it for me Lev." You try and butter him up with the mention of his nickname. As expected he perks up and stands up to leave, not before placing a soft kiss on your cheek.

"Ah Lev, I'll be taking a short trip out today. Is that alright with you?"

You don't specify that 'out' means the Sunday Market place, he'll ask question after question.

He holds onto your chin with his thumb and leans in for a chaste kiss.

"Of course my darling. Be careful."

He giddily waves at you as he leaves and you wave back with the same enthusiasm. You giggle at the sight of Mikasa practically gagging at the two of you and glaring daggers at Levi.

The door then shuts and you're left alone.

All that accompanies you is silence and you purse your lips together trying to keep it together. Recently as soon as he turns away from you all you can think about is how this love of his is a hoax.

He doesn't really love you.

That doesn't stop all the sweet words he's ever uttered from flooding your memory.

"You're mine and I'm yours."

"My beautiful love."

"I love you I mean it." It hurts. He doesn't mean it.

But you'll keep the charade up. You'll find a way to keep him this way forever. It's selfish but you can't be blamed, It keeps you safe and happy.

Love is nice but you would prefer to live.

[chaolie]

Fundywastaken week, Day 5 - Fireworks

Yet another day of participating in @fundyfiles' fwt week! This chapter has a big time skip basically in the middle because I love stories that show how everything changes with time. So now you "have" to read that too, and you can also do so on my Ao3!

Characters: Fundy, Dream

Words: ~1.4k

Dream silently watched the walls of L’Manburg, sticking to the treeline to make sure no one would see him. There were people patrolling around, he could see their torches from miles away, and he was starting to lose faith that Fundy would come to meet him that night. It wouldn’t be the first time either, but they both knew that it was out of the fox hybrid’s control. Being Wilbur’s son, there were days his father or his father’s people would keep an eye on him for a bit too long, making it impossible to sneak out for a secret meeting. Being his own ruler, in a way, Dream didn’t face the same issue, but he could understand it whenever his boyfriend had to deal with that.

Just as he was contemplating turning back and going home, he heard something go off inside the walls. It didn’t sound like TNT, but must’ve been an explosion of sorts… oh no. Did his people attack without his orders? Oh, this was terrible- The citizens previously patrolling the walls all disappeared on the other side of them, presumably to help with whatever was happening, when some more explosions sounded out.

While listening to the people inside call for each other and deal with whatever was causing the sounds, Dream seriously contemplated running in there, too. If he covered his face with something else than his mask and found a cape or something, maybe they wouldn’t recognize him? So he could check if Fundy was okay? Oh, but if they did-

“Hey!” came a greeting in a hushed tone. The man turned and saw his boyfriend sneaking over, quickly using the trees as a cover for himself.

“...You’re okay,” Dream breathed out a sigh of relief. “Oh, I got so worried! Do you know what caused the explosions?” he asked.

“Hm… Do I…” Fundy hummed, and the man noticed a little mischievous glint in his eyes.

“What did you blow up?”

“Nothing! Nothing blew up!” the fox hybrid assured quickly, raising his hands in a defensive gesture.

“Okay. Then what happened?” Dream asked. Fundy glanced between the man and the walls of L’Manburg before finally turning his gaze to the forest.

“Can we walk?” he asked, and Dream nodded a short confirmation before the two got on their way. “So… You know how sometimes I miss meeting with you because it’s too quiet and I can’t sneak away?” he started.

“Yeah, that happens,” Dream confirmed.

“Yeah! And it’s annoying! So I thought about it, and I came up with a good solution! Just a few little fireworks here and there, and… boom! Enough commotion for me to get away! And when I’m back, I can say I got scared and hid somewhere!” he explained his idea. Oh.

“So those were fireworks?” Dream asked, and his boyfriend confirmed with a nod. Well, that made a lot of sense. Not quite TNT, but still loud. “Smart,” he complimented finally.

“Thanks! And, uh, sorry for worrying you with them. I probably should’ve told you about this before, but I wasn’t sure if it’d work,” Fundy explained, but Dream wasn't upset even before the apology.

“It’s alright. I’m glad you could join me tonight,” he answered, and Fundy smiled at that. “Should I get some gunpowder for you when we meet again?” he offered.

“Oh, please do! I promise not to weaponize it as TNT,” the fox hybrid smiled sweetly, and Dream sighed.

“Should I get some rockets for you when we meet again?” he made another offer, and Fundy snickered.

“If it makes you feel better,” he shrugged.

Dream still started to give him some gunpowder every opportunity he got.

***

Walking down the prime path was always a good feeling, but doing so this evening was truly delightful. With the anniversary of the war officially ending just around the corner, the decorations finally started to pop up all around the road, serving as a reminder of peace. There were flags hanging from almost every building, invitations to celebration parties, and some people even put out food they made just to cheer everyone else up.

All those little things were enough of a change to catch Fundy’s eye even if he was in the middle of excitedly running down the path and dragging Dream right behind him. Unluckily, he was too much in a rush to comment on them anyway. Well, ‘rush’ might’ve been the wrong term to describe him, there was no deadline he was racing with, no danger he was running from… But there was a destination he wanted to reach soon. Just earlier that day, he finally finished his little project and he wanted Dream to see it so badly. And it was dark already!

“So, where are we going again?” the man asked when the fox hybrid took a turn and left the prime path behind. Fundy looked at him and grinned.

“We’re almost there,” he assured. Initially, Dream nodded and even tried to speed up.

“Wait, that doesn’t really answer the question,” he pointed out after a moment, and Fundy laughed quietly before slowing down.

“Fine, fine… Just a bit further into this field,” he answered, pointing forward. And sure enough, there was a big, open plain in front of them. “The rest is a surprise.”

“Alright,” the man nodded again, and the two continued running. Yet just a couple of minutes later, Fundy finally came to a full stop.

“You can wait here,” he said, allowing his own hand to slip off of Dream’s. “Take a seat, get comfortable, and give me a second.”

“Sure?” the masked man said before sitting down. With curiosity, he watched Fundy walk further for a moment before kneeling down in the grass and doing something.

Fundy’s hand lingered above the lever hidden by the plants growing around it. Pulling those like this one usually filled him with guilt and was something he dreaded. It would always make him wonder, was this considered sabotage? Would others consider him a traitor if they knew? Tonight, however, putting his hand over the lever made his heart feel lighter and pushed a smile onto his face. Ah, how fast the times changed.

He pulled on it and immediately got to his feet, running over to where Dream was waiting and almost falling at the final stretch. Still, he managed to keep his balance and ‘gracefully’ sit down by his boyfriend’s side. The man snickered briefly, but stopped himself from commenting on Fundy’s slip.

“So?” he asked finally, and Fundy pointed at the spot he just returned from.

“Look over there,” he answered, and the man did what he was told to. Nothing happened. “...Come on, it’s not broken, is it?” he muttered to himself.

Just then, a single firework shot up into the sky with a long whoosh before finally exploding brightly with colours. Instantly, Fundy’s grin returned to his face and he let out a quiet “Yes!”, it worked! Then, another firework appeared, once again lighting up the night sky and assuring him that the redstone circuit wasn’t flawed either. Dream stared at where the last explosion happened in total awe.

“...Fireworks?” he muttered finally, and Fundy nodded.

“Yeah! Oh, this took ages to set up!” he exclaimed as more and more colorful explosions appeared in the sky. Despite still looking up, Dream had no trouble finding the fox hybrid’s hand and squeezing it gently.

“You did amazing,” he complimented, causing a sheepish grin to appear on Fundy’s face.

“Thanks!” he answered. After that, there came over a minute of watching the fireworks in comfortable silence.

“...Where’d you even get enough gunpowder for all these?” Dream asked finally, and Fundy turned to look at him.

“That’s a funny story, actually,” he answered. “I’m pretty sure you supplied most of it? Like, a year ago. I wasn’t sure what to do with the stacks I didn’t use, and, well… I figured this could be fun?” he explained.

“Oh? Well- I’m glad it’s still useful!” Dream nodded, still admiring his boyfriend’s work.

It was… strangely poetic. The fireworks they once used as a distraction, the gunpowder meant to grant them just enough cover to meet, now lighting up the sky with colorful explosions, making their presence obvious for miles and miles. And just a year later, they didn’t have to worry about that. Everyone knew they were dating anyway, they didn’t have to sneak around anymore. And if they ever dared to doubt that, those beautiful explosions were there to remind them - it was okay. Times were better.

[sxveme-2]

blueberry pancakes // bucky barnes

MASTERLIST

Description: A single mother. Juggling being a mom, a full time pediatrician, and a difficult ex who believed now would be the best time to finally be a father. A soldier ripped out of time. Ex-assassin turned superhero. Learning how to balance a new domestic life with handling demons of his past, while facing the trials of the future. a love story began over something as simple as chocolate chip pancakes with hidden blueberries.

Disclaimer: I do not own any original Marvel characters! All canon plots and canon characters belong to Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios. This is an original work. You may not publish it anywhere else

Status: Edited

Note: Takes place after endgame. I have elected to ignore Tony's death and Steve's leaving. Did not happen. Quick Reminder! My works are only published here, AO3 and on Wattpad, thank you.

Chapter Five: The One with the Burnt Pancakes

Warnings: N/A

Word Count: 2516

    Coming out of a divorce unscathed was more uncommon than its counterpart. Typically, a bit of baggage attaches itself to one or both parties. No matter whether or not divorce rates are through the roof in today's modern era, it still hurt more than words could describe. Especially when it's due to an affair. It creates this sense of unworthiness, and as though you weren't good enough. And when the pair has a child, it makes it ten times more difficult. Knowing that you'll have to break it to the child that their parents will no longer be together, and that they will most likely spend more time with one in comparison to the other.

But, when your child already has a bit of distaste towards your partner, it can make the blow a little softer. Sure, every mother wants their child to have a relationship with their father, other mom, etc. Whatever the situation is, parents, want that. They want to be able to see their child's face when they see their ex-spouse, but sometimes, there's nothing you can do about it. Especially when your ex never put in the effort, to begin with.

Above all, your perception of love changes. and that's exactly what happened to Lily. She lost all belief in herself and didn't believe she could ever find someone who would love her, along with the baggage that she carried alongside her. And that broken heart that she has yet to mend, and honestly, she wasn't sure if she'd ever find someone who could help. To cup warm hands around the two halves and hold them together until they combined once again.

Other things she deemed impossible, was her sitting in a kitchen with the avengers. Earth’s mightiest heroes. The people that destroyed an entire army. travelled to space. Some even having been ripped out of time and thrown into different roles and periods. These people had stories people couldn't even dream of, lived lives people only wished to be able to experience. And here sat Lily, a single mother of an 11-year-old boy, who lived in a domestic area, and worked as a pediatrician. She was minuscule in comparison to the Gods and soldiers that sat around her.

"So, is Hunter’s father around?" a soft voice asked, an accent dripping from the words. It had pulled Lily out of her thoughts of astonishment, as she tried to wrap her head around what was currently happening.

"Hm? Oh, no," Lily spoke, her voice as soft as the gentle ripple of a pond, while she sipped the coffee they had given her. Glancing up, a few of the superheroes looked at her with inquisitive eyes, wondering where he may be, or if he even was to be anymore, "We uh, we divorced four years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that," the girl continued. Lily had placed her as Scarlet Witch, or Wanda Maximoff. Hunter adored her. He ranted and raved about how cool her abilities were and how she could probably take down an entire army by herself if she wanted to, "He's cute. I've always wanted kids."

Lily nodded along as the conversation continued around her. She stayed as silent as a sleeping lamb, her green eyes glancing around as she tapped her fingers against her coffee mug. She wasn't sure what they wanted her to say. It had been proven time and time again that Lily was the farthest from a talker. Deep inside of her mind, the little voice of self-doubt had convinced her that no one cared about what she had to say. That the only reason people even spoke to her, to begin with, was because it was polite. But she's also been told that the world around her found that shy demeanour endearing, and mysterious. As if she held secrets behind those sealed lips when in reality, Lily was scared that if she spoke, she'd create secrets. Letting the world in on the pain she hid, that she kept locked away in a vault deep within her mind. protecting herself from being destroyed again.

"...So if you ever need a babysitter," Wanda’s voice sang again, yanking Lily away from her deeper thoughts once again, as though the two were tethered. the young blonde's attention perked up as the young girl continued speaking, "I'm your girl."

Was the Scarlet Witch, offering to babysit Lily's eleven-year-old? As in, seriously? Like to pick him up or come down from upstate New York to deliberately take care of him? If it weren't for the fact Lily rarely left the house, and if she did, it was with Hunter, she may have considered the idea. But Lily wasn't one to go out. The noise that came along with the idea of partying or going out on the town always got Lily's heart beating at a much too fast pace. If she was going out, it was to gen's cafe, or with three glasses of wine down and a whole bottle to go. The world was loud and intimidating, and could easily crush Lily's fragile heart and mind with a simple touch. And where would that lead her? Nowhere good, that's where.

"Oh that's sweet, but I don't typically go out, and when I do, he comes with," Lily stated, lips forming a tight smile as she ran her finger along the circular hole atop her mug.

"Really? A girl that's as beautiful as you must get tons of guys and go out on dates. and I see no ring on that finger," the infamous Tony Stark teased while shifting his weight to look at the blonde, "unless there's already a lucky fella."

A laugh of almost disbelief escaped through Lily's full lips as if the idea of Tony Stark calling her beautiful was too good to be true, "Oh no. my best friend tries but I don't date. Already have my hands full with work and Hunter."

"Where do you work?" Steve's voice now chimed in, pushing off the counter he leaned on as Bucky worked away, staying silent. He hadn't spoken a word to Lily since Steve walked her through the threshold of the kitchen, merely a gruff hi before returning to the feverish work he was doing on the pancakes. It was as though he was trying to make them perfect.

"I'm a pediatrician at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital down in Manhattan," Lily answered, her eyes averting from looking at any of the intimidating people around her. Why were they so interested in her? Why did they seriously care so much about her personal life? She just brought Hunter here for a tour, not an interrogation...was this what people did? Like...they wanted to learn more about her? It didn't make sense, she was pretty basic. There was nothing special to her, Lily thought.

"Oh, that's awesome. I have a few-"

"SHIT!"

The large outburst caused everybody to immediately turn their attention to where it came from. Behind the counter, Bucky was waving smoke away from his face that seemed to be billowing from the pan on the stove. He burnt the pancakes. Lily felt a small smile tug at the corners of her lips as she watched him throw a towel at the counter, his face turning a crisp shade of red, like a cherry. The moment his eyes landed on her though, his entire body lit up in a hue of pink it seemed. He grew flustered, biting down on this ever so soft lips he had. Lily was only human, she couldn't help but avert her eyes down to the thin layer of skin. And as if on cue, Wanda let her voice ring through the kitchen.

"Damn it, Barnes! I told you not to cook, and you decide to challenge your abilities in front of our guest?" The ginger exclaimed while standing from her chair, going to help the built man clean his mess.

A few of the others in the room whined, and Lily guessed they had been waiting for a bit to eat. She felt a twang of guilt deep within her, as though it was her fault. But it really wasn't, she wasn't the one making the pancakes. no, she was merely answering the personal questions they all seemed to have for her, as well as constantly glancing at the hall or behind her to see if Hunter was on his way back. Instead, he was now outside with Sam, looking at all of the different artifacts and things that weren't able to be kept inside of the compound.

"You much of a chef, Lily?" James Rhodes (Warmachine, she reminded herself), asked. No matter the amount of mental effort it took, Lily couldn't help but allow the tinge of rose to decorate her full cheeks. They seemed to want to get to know her, and she felt almost...accepted? No, maybe more so welcomed, by these beings of immense power and ability. She allowed her shoulders to relax, and her grip on her mug lessened.

"Nothing impressive, but I do know my way around a kitchen," she responded, tilting her head to the side, causing her blonde locks to dance across her shoulder, "Most nights, I try to make homemade meals for Hunt and I. It's important for a child's development." she finished but noticed how all of their eyes were glued to her. Raising her left eyebrow ever so gently, she let a giggle escape from her throat, "but sometimes I give in and order pizza."

"You should help Bucky out, he's never been the best cook. Got used to boiling everything in the forties, so he makes a mean hot dog," Steve teased, sauntering over in all of his Captain America excellence, "Anything else? Completely lost on him."

"It's a good skill to have. But difficult to master, I suppose." Lily shrugged, crossing her legs over one another as she rested her elbow on the glass table, cupping her chin as she sipped the hot liquid in her cup. She couldn't seem, however, to take her eyes off of the culprit of the burnt pancake smell. The way the muscles in his neck rippled whenever he clenched his jaw. How his metal arm glinted as a small stream of light entered through a window, creating a bright reflection. How his scruff along his chiselled chin seemed to be a bit overgrown underneath.

Her mind began to wander momentarily, a gentle and soft vision dancing itself into her brain. Him sitting on a chair in her bathroom, Lily sitting comfortably on his lap, facing him. His eyes sleepy and his hair unkempt. Her skilled and nimble hand resting on the side of his face as she trimmed underneath his jaw, getting those areas he seemed to miss. His lips parted as he seemed to slowly drift off again, as though Lily's gentle hands were willing him to...

A hand waving in front of her face snatched Lily out of her odd fantasy land. She cleared her throat and looked around her, eyebrows knitting together in confusion, as though she had been paying attention to the whole conversation she just missed. Holding her lips inside of her mouth, Lily shifted once again in her seat, attempting to play it cool as the blush that had formed on her cheeks seemed to grow rapidly.

"Sorry, could you repeat what you said?" she asked, her voice weak as her eyes shifted to look at the man behind the counter once again. She couldn't help it...he was beautiful.

"I said you should help Buck out making the pancakes. Most of us haven't eaten, and if you're as good as you say, maybe you can help." Steve grinned, a knowing glint in his sky blue eyes. The way he looked at Lily, as though he could see inside of her head, sent a shiver down her spine. The idea of anyone knowing where her mind just wandered was basically mortifying for her. Being such a conservative person, the idea of that getting out? Yeah, no.

"Oh no I shouldn't...I'm positive he's capable of making pancakes." Lily chuckled, her voice cracking halfway through. This caught everyone's interest, and Lily had to hide her face with her mug as the dark liquid slid its way down her throat.

"He isn't. We don't normally let him in the kitchen. C'mon Lily, show us whatcha got." Steve continued to pry, leaning back in his chair as the others encouraged the entire idea.

Lily's head turned back to where Bucky stood, an almost pleading yet bashful look gracing his perfectly sculpted features. Just the way his eyes seemed to call out for her, was enough to allow the eldest Osborne to give in to the peer pressure of her new acquaintances. That was something Lily believed to be impossible, being friends with these heroes. These people that laid their life on the ground multiple times, saving her and her son by protecting the world around them. She was in debt to this group, everybody was. They've kept them protected for countless years. But how would one even begin to thank them?

"Okay okay, I'll do it," Lily mumbled, finishing her drink before pushing herself out of the chair that probably cost the same amount as her dog. She pulled a hair tie from her wrist and securing the blonde locks at the nape of her neck as she gracefully floated towards the kitchen. Glancing around, she couldn't help but let out a laugh at how expensive the items around her were. Sure, she didn't live in a house with run-down appliances, but these were top-of-the-line, high-end, see-on Food Channel things. A far reach from Lily's budget, "Well, first of all, Bucky, you need to turn on the fan."

After preparing everything to ensure not only safety but also to optimize space and time, Lily turned towards the man she had just moments ago daydreamed of. For a moment, she found herself lost in those steel-blue eyes he had. As though he had captured the moon and made them his own, adding a tinge of the blue from the sky above. How with every flicker across her face, a story was told. The pain and suffering he had endured etched into the dips and creases of his face, especially around those beautiful orbs. A part of her wished that the other members of the group were gone and that she could grip the sides of his face and kiss those lips he kept licking. His tongue darting out to wet them, creating a slight chapped ring around the pink layer of skin.

"Hey if you two are done gazing into the eyes of each other and looking like Hollister models, the rest of us are hungry." Starks’s voice rang, snapping Lily out of the trance the ex-soldier had put her under for a few seconds.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, coke can," Bucky muttered while turning his gaze away from Lily's and focused on washing the blueberries, "I'm just cleaning fruit."

[ourstarscollided]

jatp fanworks appreciation - day 3 (wips)

wip wednesday - I didn’t think I wanted to join in on this day for my own stuff considering I’ve never posted anything original for this fandom, but I think this might just be the little boost I need from myself to actually finish the wips that I have sitting around. I am peer pressuring myself and holding myself accountable by posting this - or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. Most of the past 6 mths has just been me screaming to no one in a Google Doc, so here are some things I’ve been ruminating about over the last 6 months (and if my secret agenda is to get other people to write about it so I don’t have to? Then that’s between you and me).

Everything’s under a read more because I like giving context and that usually spirals out of control!?!?

If you would like to see more from any of the below, feel free to shoot me an ask/message and I can definitely share some more! (Or you can just come yell at me about JATP in general.)

Strangers Fake Dating AU // Julie x Luke

I’m a simple person. I see a prompt, I latch onto it, and then I completely miss the entire point of the prompt as my imagination goes wild for no real reason. This really was supposed to be a super short drabble, but it manifested into a 3k+ thing that isn’t even finished.

Julie’s not really sure what she’s supposed to do now. Nothing has ever prepared her for a situation in which she’s supposed to pretend to be a stranger’s girlfriend, especially if that situation involves parents. Does she continue this ruse? Can she come up with a quick enough excuse to tell this Luke character that she actually can’t stay? What if this is just all an elaborate plan to kidnap her? Has she been listening to too many true crime podcasts? Why does Luke smell so good? Does he know how to cook? Why does his shirt not have sleeves? What-

“I can hear you thinking from here.” Her head whips up at the sound of Luke’s voice, which is now at a whisper and kind of frantic. “I just- I just really needed to get my mom off my back, so I kinda need you to pretend to be my girlfriend. Just for the night. I swear I’ll make it up to you somehow.”

Julie studies Luke’s face and it’s nearly impossible to not cave under his gaze, which can only be simply described as ‘puppy dog eyes’. She finds herself smiling back, letting out a huff, “I hope you like lasagna.” And the grin that spreads across the boy’s face is enough for her to know that he’s incredibly relieved that she agreed.

“I’m Luke by the way. Luke Patterson.”

(Okay, he’s kinda cute. And no one this cute is a serial killer. Right?)

She gives a small smile back, “I’m Julie.”

//

5+1 alive!Juke AU // Julie x Luke

Inspired by paper - LANY

This is one of the first things I ever felt the urge to write down back in September because I love exploring the idea of how two people can appear to be the perfect relationship on the outside, but are actually fighting their own demons. Especially when it comes to celebrities and people who are in the spotlight. It’s basically a 5+1 fic about the moments from other people’s perspectives who happen to orbit around Julie/Luke that all revolve around paper. My outline for this is so long because I can’t manage to narrow it down, and there’s zero cohesiveness but I do have little things jotted down.

“Hey little man,” Luke’s knelt down to match his 5 year-old height, and a hand extends out to him for a high five, “What are you doing here?”

His eyes flicker to the left, towards his own apartment door, where his mom is giving him an encouraging nod. “ I- I just wanted to-” he stutters and finds himself looking at his feet as he shuffles back and forth on the spot. “I- I drew you guys something!”

He shoves the paper out towards the older boy in front of him, but doesn’t look up.

//

Reincarnation AU // Julie x Luke

I had a random thought in December about how magical it is that Julie and Luke are so tied to one another that their love transcends time and space, which will always lead them back to one another. I remember reading a book a long time ago about how the main character is fated to die at a certain age, and that kind of sparked this little idea. I can’t bring myself to actually plot out every single timeline right now, but I did manage to write a little bit.

It will never be as complex as Rosie’s idea and all the wonderful additions in the link here, and I don’t really plan on it being anything more than a small idea. But I really do still think someone should write some sort of reincarnation AU cause I’d hop on that so fast!!

“Okay- that’s not- Luke. You seriously just ran away?”

“What was I supposed to do Alex? We all know how this ends.”

His friend looks at him, face painted in understanding and he sighs, “Yeah. Yeah, we do.”

Because it’s true, Alex does know, so does Reggie and Bobby. Most importantly, so does Luke. It’s the exact same tragic love story every time.

Call it a curse or fate or destiny. Maybe it’s because Mercury is in retrograde. Whatever. It always ends the same way - with a heartbreaking goodbye, a whisper of the promise that they’ll find each other again, and the possibility of a happy ending. He’s said the same goodbye at least 734 times, but it’s not like he’s counting or anything. Fuck the universe and its mystical ways.

//

Competitive Alex // Alex x Willie

No real thoughts or reasons for this other than I just think I self-projected my need to play board games with people in real life into a fic. And maybe a little bit of my competitiveness onto Alex and then threw in Willie because I think he would be able to handle it while also finding it endearing. I also have written nothing about the actual competitiveness, it’s just 2k words of Alex crushing on Willie.

“Wait,” his eyes dart between the three boys, “You both know Willie? How come I’ve never met him?”

His roommates look at each other, and there’s a smirk on Luke’s face when he says, “Actually Alex, I think you have. Remember that time you got really drunk after one of our shows?”

Oh no. He really hopes that it’s not the time he’s thinking of, so he tries to sound nonchalant. “You’re going to have to be more specific, Luke.”

“The night we played at that tiny bar at the edge of the campus! We got paid in those tiny colourful shots?” He doesn’t really know where Luke is going with this, so he’s slowly nodding along. “And you were super upset that the hot dog vendor at the end of the street was closed?”

//

Dear Julie, Love Mom series

I made myself sad with this thought when I first watched the show and was talking to my friend about how I think that Rose would’ve left messages for the Molina family, especially when we found out that Wake Up was actually from her mom. I wrote a bigger explanation for it here.

Anyways, I started with the one for Julie’s wedding and it kind of became an 8k monster with three different POVs?!? As much as I love how I wrote this, I feel too unsure about my writing to share it in full, so you will get carefully selected looks alkfe. (I’m also kind of stuck on some of the more emotional scenes and I may or may not have procrastinated by photoshopping a moodboard for it.)

Excerpt 1 (Julie POV): A look into where I’m going with this whole letters from Rose thing.

The key clicks into place, and with a turn, the latch falls open. She’s not sure what she wants to find in the box, and she’s too scared to think about it really. All she knows is that this was the sign from her mom that she was waiting for all week, and in true Rose fashion, her mom had managed to give it to her, even if at the last second. Her dad turns the box to face Julie, and gestures to her to open up the lid.

Tucked inside is a VHS tape, the words ‘For Julie, on your wedding day’ written in her mom’s cursive on the cover. Some loose glitter and confetti fall back into the box as she reaches in to pick up the tape and turn it over in her hands. There’s a little purple butterfly etched on the back, the same one that’s been drawn on all the other messages that her mom had left her. Her finger automatically finds its way, tracing the shape of the small doodle.

“Do you want me to leave you alone, mija?”

Excerpt 2 (Julie POV): This part has absolutely nothing to do with the main plot of the story, but it self-inserted itself into this fic after @tangledstarlight and I talked about You’re Still the One by Shania Twain being their first dance. This whole scene came to me at 4am one night and might be the most self-indulgent thing I’ve ever written.

They knew that when they had asked Reggie to be in charge of the first dance performance, that they (and Alex) weren’t allowed to veto any of his ideas. Luke had warned Julie that that would be a mistake, but the giddiness that radiated off of Reggie when she had told him he could have free reign was worth it. She just hadn’t thought that he would actually take it to heart and run with it.

Sure, they had chosen You’re Still the One by Shania Twain as their first dance song, and sure it was more or less a country song, but she didn’t really imagine that she’d be staring at her adoptive brother, Carlos and her Dad wearing cowboy hats and boots at her wedding. They had somehow managed to ditch their Flynn-approved suit jackets and were sporting a taupe-coloured suede-textured vest over their dress shirts. If she looked closely, she could see that they had somehow also found some gaudy looking bolo ties with a matching set of ornamental clasps to wear. When she envisioned her wedding, she really didn’t expect that her first (public) dance as a married couple would be a full-on Western themed occasion. The only exception was Alex, who had settled on his cajon in the back, still in his pink suit, eyes rolling when she met his gaze. But even she knew how there was no real annoyance in the blonde’s reaction or else he wouldn’t also be wearing one of the tacky ties around his neck as well.

“I’m gonna seriously kill him.” She hears Luke grumble under his breath, only low enough for her to hear. But she’s still too busy giggling to actually be mad, and she knows that Luke isn’t really going to kill Reggie. At least she doesn’t think so.

Excerpt 3 (Luke POV): Idk man. My mind went “What about Luke?” and I said “You’re right!! What about him?!?”

He doesn’t realize that he’s just been silently staring at the woman in front of him, until a gentle voice breaks him out of his thoughts. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Julie’s peering at him from under her eyelashes, a curious look on her face.

“You just-” he gives a little shake of his head, trying to come up with the right words. He wants to tell her she’s beautiful. Stunning. A wicked beauty. But she’s more than that - she’s almost angelic. “I can’t believe you’re my wife.”

“Luke, we’ve been legally married for like, a whole year.” Her lips are quirked up in a grin, amusement in her voice. “You’ve only just realized that now?”

“That’s different.”

“Yeah? Different how?”

This feels a little strange to post and a little like my inner self seeking validation but let’s not talk about that.

Kskssj anyways present me @ future me: finish one of these because writing has been really cathartic for you and you didn’t think it would bring you so much joy!!!

[schmokschmok]

live forever in the stars

As authors for the @avatar-rarepair-exchange-2021 have been revealed, I’m three hundred exlamation marks in a trenchcoat to share the fic I wrote for @zukkaclawthorne!

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Relationships: Suki x Yue, Suki & Ty Lee (minor: Zuko x Sokka, Ty Lee x Mai)

Characters: Suki, Yue, Ty Lee, Sokka, Zuko (and a few more)

Wordcount: 9099 (3 x 3033)

Tags:

No Archives Warnings Apply

Alternate Universe - Modern

Weddings

Fake/Pretend Relationship (emphasis on fake)

Queerplatonic Relationships

Summary:

Then Yue leans close into Suki’s personal space (Suki catches her breath) and continues in a conspiratorial whisper: “This is actually Sokka’s second wedding. We were married in kindergarten for like half a day before I decided boys were icky and he found out girls have cooties.” She laughs, and Suki falls a little in love with her right then and there.

Read on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29060613

CN: alcohol, food (mentioned); briefly discussed acemisia (not graphic)

#1

Before opening the door of the car she’s sitting in, Suki casts a glance towards the small group of people waiting in front of the karaoke bar. Katara, Azula, Aang, Toph, and, of course, Zuko and Sokka are standing close together, their hands shoved into their pockets and already leaning towards going in.

Ty Lee has exited the car and, before Suki can get a chance to reach for the handle, Ty Lee is pulling it open for her, taking a step back to make room for Suki to get up and extending her hand for Suki to grab. She asks with a giggle: “What are you waiting for?”

“I wasn’t waiting for anything,” Suki replies while letting Ty Lee help her out of the car and onto her two feet, and it’s kind of true. It’s not like she’s been expecting anything to happen, really, it’s more that she was hit unexpected and hard by a sudden dread of getting back to the others which doesn’t really make sense considering the fact that she knows and loves most of the people attending the afterparty.

Ty Lee lets go of her and closes the door before locking the car and turning towards their friends with a little twirl of her dress. The heels of her shoes come down hard onto the asphalt of the parking lot and echoes between the cars, and for a moment Suki is incapable of doing anything other than admire the outfit Ty Lee put together and the poise she’s pulling it off with. Everyone, Suki thinks, put so much effort into their appearance and they look like the feature section of a fashion magazine.

Self-consciously, Suki’s fingers start tugging at her obi and she tries to sneak a peek at the orange obi-jime wrapped around her waist, fearing that the car ride might have distraught her outfit. It’s not very likely but seeing them all in their post wedding glory makes her worry, nonetheless.

“You look a-ma-zing,” Ty Lee says, emphasising her words by grabbing Suki’s hand again to keep her from fussing over her appearance. “Like, why wouldn’t you?” The palm of her hand is dry and warm in Suki’s, and Suki immediately feels a whole lot better.

“I’m just a little,” Suki pauses to think of a neutral word to describe what she’s feeling, “self-conscious, I guess. I forgot they would change into tuxes.” While her head nods in the direction of Sokka and Zuko, her voice is as low as possible to avoid letting the others hear the uncertainty in her words. “The only other one wearing traditional clothing is Azula, and I never thought I would have anything in common with Azula, you know?”

“Oh, hun, it’s okay,” Ty Lee replies and she’s really one to talk in her bubble-gum pink cocktail dress and matching cardigan, “Mai’s, like, going to wear furisode, too.”

“Mai’s not here and she’s conveniently skipping the first party as well,” Suki says, slightly disgruntled.

“It’s totally not her fault, her plane’s, like, delayed,” Ty Lee says softly. “She’s not mad about missing karaoke, though, you’re right.” She giggles. “Whatever, you still got me, seriously, I’m your plus one, right?”

There’s no such thing as a plus one, they both had to show their invitations – names printed neatly in small capital letters on the bottom half – to enter the reception while handing over their wedding gifts – Suki’s in an elaborately decorated envelope with her name written on it, Ty Lee’s in a plain red envelope with her and Mai’s names on it. But the thought of a plus one is nice, and as long as Mai is absent, Suki can at least bask in the thought of Ty Lee as her partner in crime tonight.

“Yeah, you are,” Suki says and tightens her grip on Ty Lee’s hand. “Too bad you’ll leave me as soon as Mai gets here.”

“You’ll survive, for sure,” Ty Lee retorts, giggling, and pulls Suki into the karaoke bar. The twilit, cold street is exchanged for the warmth and clean-cut light of the interior. Azula has fallen back a few steps as if she were waiting for Ty Lee and Suki, but Suki’s not at all sure if Azula would ever do such a thing, and the unhappy line of Azula’s mouth is no help at all.

“Azula!” Ty Lee exclaims cheerfully, the glee in her voice only surpassed by the joyousness of her smile. She even steps up a notch to reach Azula faster.

“Ty Lee,” Azula greets, then her gaze falls onto Suki as if now were the first time she noticed Suki at all. “Suki.” The movement of her head could almost pass for a nod in greeting and Suki chooses to interpret it as such. (She’s a little reminded of Mai – stoic faced and hard to read Mai. Suki’s not sure why and how Ty Lee keeps on being friends with people obviously emanating the absolute antithesis of herself, but it’s something Suki’s trying to adjust to ever since she came to know Ty Lee.)

“It’s, like, totally bitchin’, right?” Ty Lee asks, throwing her free arm over Azula’s shoulder and forcing her to duck. “Our first wedding is like: done, done, done!” She’s accentuating every done with a punch into the air, forcing Suki to do it too, their hands still clasped together.

Even though Suki doesn’t always believe Ty Lee’s claims that she holds a special place in Azula’s heart, it’s moments like this, moments in which Azula lets Ty Lee rope her into soft embraces and excited hugs, that almost convince Suki that underneath Azula’s unaffectionate and rough exterior lies something akin to a friend. It’s nice to witness, seldom as it is.

“Very,” Suki agrees when Azula only rolls her eyes at Ty Lee’s antics.

“It’s hardly our wedding,” Azula states bluntly, but the dry tone of her voice is betrayed by the way she’s still willingly trapped underneath Ty Lee’s arm.

Ty Lee pouts ostentatiously, before pulling Azula closer and quickly pecking her on the cheek. Then she lets go of Azula and retorts cheerily: “The first wedding of our squad, whatever!”

Already opening her mouth, probably to say something rude, Azula takes a step back to put some distance between herself and Ty Lee and Suki. But Suki beats her to it and asks: “The others are waiting inside?”

“Very,” Azula replies, obviously mimicking the tone of voice Suki used a few seconds ago to answer Ty Lee. It remains unclear if it’s a friendly attempt at homage or a mean-spirited comment to rile Suki up.

“Awesome, let’s go!”

Ty Lee grabs Azula’s hand, too, and pulls both her and Suki towards the hallway leading to the different booths. Already past three doors on each side, she stops dead in her tracks, causing Azula and Suki to bump into her.

“Gals, I totally don’t know where to go,” Ty Lee admits sheepishly. “Which booth is ours?”

Sighing, Azula walks around Ty Lee and beelines further down the hallway until she reaches the right door, Suki and Ty Lee trailing right behind her. When they enter the booth, their friends have already started rafting through the song selection. Chatter fills the room, and nobody really pays them any mind.

Suki didn’t expect many more people to be in the room, but it’s not only the small group that attended the reception after the wedding with the grooms’ family, but also a few people Suki has never met before. It’s still a fairly small wedding party, Suki thinks, sitting down beside Ty Lee who is still holding onto her hand and chose a seat next to a beautiful woman in a red dress that Suki has never seen before.

“June!” Ty Lee throws her arm over June’s shoulders, and Suki experiences the weirdest kind of déjà vu. It could be either the way June ducks her head and draws her shoulders up under Ty Lee’s excited embrace or the way her mouth forms an unhappy line akin to Azula’s. (Suki makes a mental note to ask Ty Lee if being emotionally unavailable is a requirement to become friends with her and if so, why Ty Lee decided to befriend Suki anyways.) “It’s, like, so good to see you!”

Either Ty Lee wore them down over the time of their friendship or every single one of her stoic friends is severely touch-deprived, there’s no other way Suki can explain the fact that all of them just take Ty Lee’s willingness to touch everyone at any given time with such stride. June looks like someone who could and would break the arm of someone touching her unsolicited.

While June and Ty Lee start to catch up on their lives (or rather: while Ty Lee catches June up on her life and June provides a few strategically placed quips), Suki lazily starts to inspect the other people in the room. Sokka and Zuko are squeezed in between Katara and Azula at the head of the table, in perfect view of the TV mounted to the wall. The only person separating Azula and Ty Lee is June who is either not acquainted with Azula or demonstratively turning her back to her.

Katara and Aang lean over the tablet, punching in the first drink orders while Sokka tries to tap on the screen, apparently to support a point he’s making – whatever that may be.

Leaning back in boredom, Toph chews on a chocolate bar as if they hadn’t been dining less than an hour ago. Almost sitting directly opposite of Suki and softly talking to Toph is a not-quite-stranger that Suki has seen at the reception but has never talked to. Taking the few uninterrupted seconds she gets before Katara is going to ask either her or the stranger for their order, Suki looks as discreet as possible at them.

Now that Suki is actually sitting somewhat close to them, she can see the white, fan-shaped dangling earrings and the little silver studs above them, a crescent moon on the left ear and three tiny stars on the right. A smile gentle as low tide plays around their lips and makes the skin next to their brown eyes crinkle. Their hair, bleached to a silvery white, is pulled towards the crown of their head, held together by a hairpiece in the same shade of blue as their dress and separated into two braids. Another two braids frame her face, also adorned with blue hair pieces. Somewhere between leaving the reception and sitting down at the table in the booth, they lost the shawl that had been draped over their shoulders.

In short: They are absolutely beautiful.

(The thing is that Suki is already cleaning up her act as best as she can because if she’s perfectly honest with herself, the first time she laid eyes upon the ethereal being on the other side of the table [or in the prior case, two tables over], the only thing she could think about was that this is fucking ridiculous. No one has any right to be this beautiful, especially when Suki’s heart is so desperately trying to get lost. – Suki didn’t have, no, still doesn’t have words to describe the visceral feeling evoked by them.)

When they turn their head and it becomes apparent that they could meet Suki’s eyes any moment, she lets her head fall onto Ty Lee’s shoulder, lifting their still intertwined hands up towards her lips so she can whisper in Ty Lee’s ear as inconspicuous as possible (she’s not at all sure if this makes as much sense as she thinks it does, probably not): “Ty Lee …?”

“Su-ki?” Ty Lee splits Suki’s name in two and stresses the last syllable, a soft singsong in her voice. Her head drops on top of Suki’s and she’s talking almost as lowly as Suki.

Still hiding behind their raised hands, manoeuvred in front of Suki’s lips as if she were only moments from kissing Ty Lee’s knuckles, Suki groans as quiet as possible without losing the implications of her sever sufferings: “I’m very gay, did you know that? Just, uhm, very gay.”

Ty Lee giggles. “And this great revelation came to you because of, like, what?” Her nose brushes Suki’s hairline, and Suki can feel Ty Lee’s breath on her forehead. It tickles.

“Next to Toph,” Suki answers with an almost imperceptible nod towards the stranger. “Saw them at the reception, too. I think I am in love.”

Ty Lee retorts: “Big words coming from you.” And Suki’s not entirely sure if Ty Lee is poking fun at her or if she’s actually amazed at Suki’s pash. “The last time I heard you talking like that you were, like, totally smitten with Sokka.”

“Don’t remind me,” Suki groans. “I still can’t believe that was a thing that happened.”

“As if!” Ty Lee says heatedly as if she were required by law to defend Sokka because she never quite overcame her crush on him. “You seriously can’t say something like that at his wedding!”

With the back of her free hand, she gently slaps Suki’s thigh, and Suki can’t hold back a chuckle. In reconciliation, Suki backpedals hastily: “I didn’t mean it like that.” Now, she lifts their intertwined hands to her lips and presses a soft kiss on Ty Lee’s fingers. “Sometimes I kind of forget that Sokka and I used to date.” Then she realises the way her words could come off as. “Not in a bad way! Just … it’s been so long, and we’re really close friends. You know what I mean?”

Ty Lee makes a contemplating motion with her head and hums. Then, after a moment, she says light-heartedly: “Totally! To be honest, sometimes I’m, like, forgetting it, too. Like, it’s more like I can’t think of a time when Sokka and Zuko weren’t, like, dating and stuff, right?” Her face lights up. “They’re so married!”

Her last words overlap with Katara asking them for their order, dutifully typing in Suki’s beer and Ty Lee’s oolongcha.

“No Mugicha?” Katara asks distractedly.

Waving her free hand dismissively, Ty Lee replies: “DD for now, seriously, I totally need the caffeine, right.” A smile makes its way onto her face and Suki thinks it may be caused by a combination of two things: Firstly, that Ty Lee is only driving until Mai gets here and releases her from her sober duties, and secondly, that Ty Lee cannot wait anymore to see her girlfriend again who has been gone for almost a week. (Which, admittedly, is not a long time for most people. But Ty Lee is not most people and she almost started wailing half a day after Mai’s departure. Naturally, she had to do it in Suki’s flat, starfished across Suki’s living room floor, a couch pillow in hand to sob dramatically into every once in a while.)

The door opens, revealing the last two people awaited: Smellerbee and Pipsqueak. They sit down next to Suki and the stranger who briefly meets Suki’s eyes while scooting closer to Toph, a gentle smile on their lips. Suki can’t take it and averts her eyes. (She wants to talk to them, to know their name, what brought them here – besides, you know, the wedding –, if they are single and maybe even interested in girls – interested in Suki, by any chance.)

“Where did you leave Longshot and The Duke?” Aang asks, leaning over the table to face both Pipsqueak and Smellerbee.

“Longshot doesn’t sing,” Smellerbee says, shedding her jacket and draping it over the back of the bench seat.

Pipsqueak says: “The Duke’s gonna be at the club.” He grins, throwing a hello and the desire for a green tea into the room. Katara nods and punches his order into the tablet.

“What about Jet?” Aang asks, evoking laughter from both Pipsqueak and Smellerbee.

“Not invited,” Smellerbee cackles. “Jet says it’s because Sokka and Zuko would rethink getting married if he were present.”

A shocked gasp draws everyone’s attention to Sokka who’s hand is pressed against his chest in mock offence. He exclaims: “I would never rethink marrying Zuko!”

“I might,” Zuko pipes in, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Didn’t want to take any risks. And Sokka thought it’d be weird to have that many exes present.”

“It would be weird. The quota has been met,” Sokka says. “I’m gonna file for divorce right now if you could do with another ex in this room.”

Suki laughs quietly while assessing the people in the room. Either the grooms are referring to Mai and Suki or there is another ex present Suki has never heard of. And if Zuko didn’t magically date Katara without Suki noticing, it must be the gorgeous person in front of her. (Which, okay, on one hand opens up the possibility of them being hetero, but on the other hand clearly shows that they would date someone like Sokka or Zuko – which could mean that Suki has a chance.)

“Please don’t,” Zuko says, pulling Sokka closer to him, “divorce is too expensive. We don’t have that kind of money.”

When Sokka gasps again, Ty Lee hides her face in Suki’s hair, laughing about their antics. The grip on Suki’s hand tightens for a moment and Suki can’t suppress the warmth coiling in her abdomen because she loves Ty Lee with all her heart and soul.

Suki doesn’t know anymore why she was dreading coming here because with Ty Lee’s hand in hers, and the people she’s known for years surrounding her, this evening can’t be anything other than perfect. (Even if her singing skills are more subpar than sublime, she’s here to have fun. And the way Aang practically throws himself into the small space in front of the table after their drinks arrived and they clinked glasses with Sokka and Zuko, and performs like he’s trying to impress the jury of a talent show, she’s sure that fun will be the last thing missing in this room.)

“We’re, like, totally gonna duet the shit of them,” Ty Lee whispers and Suki barks out a laugh.

  #2

“Zlint!” Ty Lee exclaims right after stepping through the door of the karaoke bar, pulling Suki through with her. “We were totally bitchin’ it!”

“You did,” Suki agrees, not sure if her contribution to their duets is as major as Ty Lee’s. “But I think I lost every ability to can when you-know-who stepped up.”

The group spilling out of the karaoke bar behind them also includes Sokka who drapes his arm over Suki’s shoulders and singsongs: “I could still divorce Zuko, just say a word. I didn’t think my singing would convince you to get back together with me.”

“We’re not divorcing!” Zuko calls from where he’s standing with Toph and Azula, and Toph says something to Zuko and Azula that actually manages to make Azula smirk.

Before turning back to Suki and Ty Lee, Sokka yells back: “Let me live!” Then he continues in a moderated voice and a grin: “Sorry to disappoint, but apparently I am stuck with my husband. Forever! Oh, no!” His grin widens if that’s even possible.

At this point (not that it hadn’t been obvious from the start), they all know that Sokka just really, really likes to say that Zuko and he are married. (Suki remembers the days leading up to the wedding when Katara, Sokka and Hakoda made akutaq and invited Suki over to eat with them; the nervousness that Sokka wasn’t comfortable revealing to anyone other than Suki; the late-night talks on the kitchen floor after Katara and Hakoda had already gone to bed; the way Sokka had held her hand and asked lowly what if he doesn’t want to marry me anymore, what if he changed his mind? and the way she couldn’t hold back a chuckle, telling him that she has never ever met anyone who’s as smitten with someone as Zuko and that there is no way Zuko could have changed his mind.)

“What a waste,” Ty Lee giggles at the same time that Suki says: “We weren’t even talking about you, dork!”

Sokka blinks in astonishment. “Huh, you weren’t talking about me? How come, I mean, why?”

Ducking her head in an attempt to come off as inconspicuous, Suki replies: “Not everything’s revolving around you, you know.”

“It should,” Sokka retorts, feigning offence, and buries his head in Suki’s hair to demonstrate the severity of her invidiousness.

Ty Lee leans towards Sokka and stage whispers: “Suki has a crush.” Then she nods to the group of their remaining friends. Suki wishes the earth would open up and swallow her whole, this is not Sokka-relevant information material.

“Do not!” Suki gasps, right before Sokka yanks his head up to look in the direction Ty Lee has nodded. He searches the faces of their friends, apparently trying to sus out which of them Suki could find attractive. (As if any of them would play in the same league as Yue whose name Suki learnt right after she tentatively took hold of the microphone and a chorus proclaiming her name to cheer her on erupted. – Not that there’s anything wrong with the others, Suki’s just not interested in the little sister of her ex-boyfriend, or people like Aang or Smellerbee who are so much younger than her.)

Sokka doesn’t seem to have run through the same equation as her, because he grips her shoulders, making her face him, and whispers scandalised: “You’ve got a crush on my sister? Suki!”

“Oh, please,” Suki forces over her lips, “I don’t. I … Sokka, eww. What the fuck.”

He lets go of her shoulders, his own relaxed once again. Then he scratches his neck with an awkward grin plastered on his face and says: “Sorry?” But it sounds more like a question than an actual apology.

“Katara is like my little sister,” Suki continues, and Sokka holds up his palms in a display of defeat.

Ty Lee, the absolute traitor, waves her hand dismissively and chimes in: “No, no, Yue. Suki couldn’t take her eyes off of her, right, like at all.”

“Ty Lee!” Indignation in her voice, Suki lets go of Ty Lee’s hand and crosses her arms in front of her chest. “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing, I just think you should, like, so do something to prevent you from, like, totally wallowing in self-pity the next few weeks because you didn’t even try to, like, chat her up,” Ty Lee replies light-heartedly. “She’s either with Sokka or Zuko, so you can at least check if you’ve got, like, a chance or whatever.”

Even though it almost sounds reasonable when Ty Lee says it like that, Suki doesn’t want help from Sokka or Zuko. She wants to quietly marvel at Yue’s beauty – from afar. Maybe test the waters and introduce herself. The least she wants is Sokka inserting himself and trying to matchmake; actually, she doesn’t even want him knowing because the probability that he gets way too excited at the prospect that Suki could be dating again, puts way too much pressure on Suki. In the end, he’s going to annoy her relentlessly if she already talked to Yue and if Yue is as nice as he made her out to be (because Suki knows that Sokka is going to oversell Yue, and Suki is going to end up disappointed – either because Yue can’t live up to the picture Sokka painted or because Yue’s not interested in Suki at all).

“Oh,” Sokka says, surprising both Suki and Ty Lee with his lack of enthusiasm. “Yeah, I don’t know. Yue doesn’t really do the whole dating thing. Most of the time, at least.”

“Normally, Suki, like, doesn’t do it either,” Ty Lee reminds Sokka (as if it were necessary) before Suki has the chance to say something. (She’s not even sure what she could have said. Maybe that she’s glad. Maybe that this is terrible.) “They don’t even have to, like, date. This is a party; today is totally about getting people together. Guys, don’t be like that!” Ty Lee extends her arms and twirls, her bubble-gum pink skirt lazily fanning out. “Live a little!”

“Yeah, Sokka, live a little,” Aang exclaims and jumps onto Sokka’s back like a spider monkey, the popped collar of his decorated kuspuk hitting Sokka’s ear. (Suki desperately prays that nobody listened to their full exchange. This is humiliating.)

Instinctively, Sokka grabs the hollows of Aang’s knees and laughs. He yells: “I’m living, okay, I am absolutely living my best life!”

Aang wraps his arms around Sokka’s neck and chortles: “Good! Now, go on, o my majestic horse, carry me towards the party!” His heels dig into Sokka’s hips and Sokka attempts to throw Aang off his back, but he’s not serious about it and starts to walk towards Aang’s van.

“Did you just call me a stud?” Sokka asks smugly, adjusting his grip again.

“Well, I didn’t call you a dobbin,” Aang concedes, startling a laugh out of Zuko, Toph, Ty Lee and Suki. “Now, go! Come on, let’s get this party started!”

But instead of going on, Sokka comes to a halt and turns back to them. After an accessing look over their group, he says: “We didn’t think this through, gentlepeople.”

“Why?” Katara asks, also taking a look at everyone as if she were able to find out what Sokka’s on about.

“The Mystery Machine doesn’t have space for so many people,” Sokka says, furrowing his brow.

Ty Lee shakes her head chidingly and chimes in: “Oh, whatever, Yue can, like, totally ride with us!” Suki almost loses it at the sight of Ty Lee’s shit-eating grin, but she reigns herself in because she doesn’t want Yue to think that she’s dissatisfied with Yue. Literally biting her tongue, Suki can see the winks Ty Lee and Sokka exchange before Sokka turns back to walking to Aang’s van, the rest of their group except for Suki, Yue and Ty Lee trailing after him.

You’re on thin fucking ice, Suki tries to convey through a hard gaze in Ty Lee’s direction, but Ty Lee just smiles at her as if she weren’t aware of her treachery.

When Yue opens her mouth to say something, Ty Lee exclaims: “I’m gonna go get the car, seriously, don’t move!” And then she’s gone.

“That was … weird,” Yue says, both eyebrows raised, but with the same smile she displayed on various occasions this evening.

Suki chuckles nervously and replies: “Yeah, she’s a weird one, our Ty Lee.” She has absolutely no idea why she said this; something that makes her sound like an elderly lady talking about the ‘special interests’ of her grandchildren. But Ty Lee is already too far away for Suki to find safety in following her without looking like a fool, so Suki remains rooted to the spot, averting her eyes before remembering that it’s kind of rude to ignore Yue.

“So,” Yue says unexpectedly, taking two or three steps to get into Suki’s general vicinity, “you’re Suki?”

“Yeah, I must be,” Suki replies but the uptilt of her voice at the end implies a question, so she corrects herself: “I mean, yes, I’m Suki. And you’re Yue.” At least she didn’t say something like and who might you be? Maybe there is mercy somewhere in the universe.

Yue, however, doesn’t seem to be bothered about Suki’s inability to talk to her. Instead, she pulls her shawl tighter around her shoulders and crosses her arms in front of her chest, and confirms: “Yes, that’s true.”

For a moment, they stand a mere metre apart, awkward silence encompassing them. Suki shifts her weight from one foot to the other and throws a glance towards their car, but there is no trace of Ty Lee even though their car is clearly in Suki’s line of vision. The traitor.

Yue drags one of her feet over the asphalt and a group of strangers walks past them. Suddenly, Yue’s much closer than before, probably because she got out of the way of the group. They look at each other and Yue breaks their silence with a question: “So … how did Ty Lee and you meet?”

This is not something Suki anticipated or expected. Normally, the first thing people ask of her is not … Ty Lee of all things. It’s not even that Suki can’t talk about Ty Lee – oh, she definitively could for hours – but when the first thing a beautiful woman asks is about the person you’re with, then the message is pretty clear, isn’t it? Yue is much more interested in Ty Lee than Suki. (This somewhat eases the tension in Suki’s abdomen because the focus shifts from her onto Ty Lee. But Suki also realises that she wouldn’t be interested in herself right now. She didn’t even manage to form one measly, coherent sentence since she’s been left alone with Yue. Why would Yue think of her as an acceptable conversationalist?)

“A few friends of mine and I founded a tessenjutsu group,” Suki says, longing for the wide pockets of her pants to bury her hands in. “After a couple of months, Ty Lee stumbled upon one of our flyers and joined our group.” The story is much less exciting than most people think. “Sokka and Zuko actually met at one of our show fights.”

“Oh! Sokka told me about that,” Yue replies, even though she doesn’t seem quite satisfied with Suki’s answer. “We used to talk much more, but sometimes life gets in the way.”

Her gaze turns melancholic and for a moment she averts her eyes, lost in thought. Then she blinks deliberately and changes the topic: “I only knew Katara and Aang before coming here. I hadn’t even met Zuko before which is pretty awkward if you ask me. This is the first wedding I’ve been to where I didn’t know both spouses to be.”

“Where did you meet them before?” Suki asks and it’s not the best phrasing because the wedding is so small (as is custom, but nonetheless), but she’s confident that Yue’s going to know what she means.

“Katara, Sokka, Aang, and I grew up in the same neighbourhood,” Yue answers, then she leans close into Suki’s personal space (Suki catches her breath) and continues in a conspiratorial whisper: “This is actually Sokka’s second wedding. We were married in kindergarten for like half a day before I decided boys were icky and he found out girls have cooties.” She laughs, and Suki falls a little in love with her right then and there. “But right before elementary school my family moved away. We corresponded until we were old enough to get phones.”

Yue doesn’t move out of Suki’s space again and Suki takes this as a sign and decides: She won’t be the embodiment of the useless wlw trope, she’s going to be a functional bi. She can do this. Just flirt with the pretty lady, Suki, come on!

“It’s a real shame that we didn’t attend the same kindergarten,” Suki says and in the very moment she continues, she thinks that this is probably not the right way to flirt, this is probably the worst way to flirt with someone who’s technically a stranger, but she can’t stop herself from talking, “you could have married me to get back at him.”

Suki’s not sure where she’s taking the courage from but she’s reaching for Yue’s elbow and touches it briefly to emphasise her point. (Maybe Ty Lee’s already rubbing off on her, terrible.)

“Emily Chen proposed to me a week later and I think we never filed for divorce,” Yue says, voice full of mischief. “I’m a married woman, it seems.”

“Scandalous,” Suki gasps in fake outrage. “If I had a nickel for every time I was rejected by a married person, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.”

Yue hides her mouth behind her hand, but Suki can still see the way her eyes crinkle at the corners. “Who could have rejected you?” An almost imperceptible blush spreads over her cheeks and Suki thinks that maybe she does have a chance with Yue.

“Sokka,” Suki jokes. “Or rather: Zuko did the rejecting for him. – Now that I think about it, it’s even weirder that it happened twice in one day, in like a really, really short amount of time.”

They laugh, and Suki catches sight of Ty Lee’s head that pops up behind a car right next to theirs. Redirecting her gaze onto Yue’s face, she says: “It seems like Ty Lee has finally remembered where we parked the car.”

As if on cue, Yue takes a step back, right out of Suki’s personal space into her own. As if she remembered that they’re not entirely alone; that they’re still out in the open on some street, Ty Lee only a few metres away.

“That’s good,” Yue says, the tone of her voice rather detached and distanced, and the line of her shoulders less relaxed than before. The engine of the car starts up and Yue turns towards the street. The awkward silence embraces them once again, and Suki wonders when, where and in what way she could have offended the universe to deserve such discomfort.

When Ty Lee pulls the car over, Suki reaches for the handle of the pillion seat because she thinks it could come off as flirty if she holds open the door for Yue. But when she opens the door, the seat is already taken: Apparently, Ty Lee thought it would be rather clever to move every little thing the car contains onto the front passenger’s seat to keep Suki and Yue from sitting in the front. The smile she displays would seem apologetic to most people, but Suki knows that Ty Lee is absolutely incapable of feeling remorse. (Well, okay, not entirely.)

“Sorry!” Ty Lee exclaims, motioning towards the backseat. “There’s still, like, plenty of room in the back, right?”

“Is that so?” Sukis asks at the same moment that Yue says: “No problem!”

Ty Lee sends a prompting gaze Suki’s way, and Suki closes the car door, already reaching for the backdoor without looking for it. Her hand brushes Yue’s and for a second her heart and head short-circuit. They let go of the handle, and Suki takes a step back to make room for Yue. Both utter an apology, and Suki can see out of the corner of her eye that Ty Lee suppresses laughter, only semi-successful.

Risking a second attempt, Suki reaches for the handle again and pulls the door open, outlandishly sweeping a curtsey (or rather: trying and failing at a curtsey and flapping her arm in a hopefully graceful manner). She adds: “After you!”

Yue smiles and shakes her head but climbs into the car without further ado. Suki slides in after her, catching sight again of Ty Lee’s shit-eating grin. (Now is not the time to think about it in great detail but she will definitely get back at Ty Lee for this stunt. If she’s persistent enough, she might even rope Mai into it. The probability of the latter happening is … not too high, but Suki likes to shoot for galaxies hoping that she hits a few stars on the way.)

“Your sense of orientation must be pretty bad,” Yue says. Then she gasps at her own words, clapping her hands in front of her mouth. “I’m sorry, I just mean: We could have walked to the car together, then you wouldn’t have gotten lost.”

Not trusting herself to keep it together and from straight up calling Ty Lee out in front of Yue or melt at the naïve sweetness that Yue emanates, Suki bites her tongue.

“I totally didn’t think of that, like, at all,” Ty Lee responds, sugary innocence resonating in her words. “That would have been such a help. I got totally lost in the parking lot.”

You did not!, Suki mouths and she’s pretty sure that Ty Lee has seen her, because she starts to giggle on the front seat again. Leaning her head against the headrest, Suki says: “We’re gonna take a photo of the parking spot, so we don’t magically lose the car again.”

 #3

 Suki is really doing her best, okay. She held open the car door for Yue and tripped Ty Lee on their way into the club; she asked Yue what she would like to drink and then went to the bar to buy her that very drink; she stood next to Yue and talked about their occupations and the way they spend their weekends, things they liked growing up, stuff you don’t usually talk about in a club with a stranger; she peeled Ty Lee off her shoulder (multiple times) to signal her availability; she initiated soft, gentle physical contact throughout their conversation to indicate her interest; she was genuinely funny, causing Yue to throw her head back in laughter, baring her teeth and revealing the column of her neck. At least seven of those actions could be considered aggressive flirting; if Suki were generous, she could even count tripping Ty Lee because it definitely counts as an act for the good of humanity.

Now she’s draining the last of her drink and thinks that she doesn’t want to go home, so she can as well go big.

“Would you like to dance?” She asks with more confidence in her voice than in her soul, breaking their contemporary pop-song remix filled silence. “I think I know this song.” In reality, Suki’s not sure if she knows the song or if the countless remixes have started to blur into each other so neatly that she can’t differentiate between them anymore. But it doesn’t matter, does it? She doesn’t need to know a song to dance to it with a beautiful woman.

Yue doesn’t look too enthralled at the prospect, and Suki feels her heart sinking. Maybe she’s been reading this absolutely wrong. Maybe she just thought that Yue seemed as interested in her. Oh, no, maybe she’s just being nice, and Suki is exactly the disaster bi she didn’t want to be, reading friendly banter as tentative dalliance.

Swallowing down her disappointment, she smiles at Yue and says: “Well, you know what? I think I’m gonna go and get some fresh air, now that I think of it.”

“Mind if I tag along?” Yue asks to Suki’s surprise. Because she had been sure that she overstepped Yue’s boundaries, alienating her in the process. “Fresh air would do me some good, I think.”

Suki nods and, without thinking about it, she extends her hand for Yue to hold, like she would do if Ty Lee or Sokka would stand before her. But Yue only spares a glance and doesn’t take hold of Suki’s hand, and even though it’s completely understandable and valid that Yue doesn’t take her hand, it still feels awkward. Suki's empty hand falls to her side, and she turns around to head for the exit and to avoid that Yue sees the look on her face. 

Once they get stamps on the back of their hands, they step out into the cool air, and it hits them right in the face. Suki feels a whole lot better underneath the streetlamp lit sky. Yue is right behind her when they swerve a group of smoking people in showy dresses and ten-inch heels, and Suki can almost forget what happened a few minutes ago.

The front court isn't too big, and a few benches are standing around, waiting for drunk and tired clubbers and hushed late-night conversations. Suki walks to one further away from the other people to catch a break from loud voices and close contact to strangers. Sitting down on the cold wood, she watches Yue out of the corner of her eye standing for a moment longer, until she’s sitting down as well.

The distant chatter and laughter of the other group is carried by the wind into the other direction, and they’re sitting in something almost resembling quiescence. From their bench, Suki can oversee most of the parking lot and she can even make out their car underneath a streetlamp at the far end.

Somewhat sobering up from the heated atmosphere in the club, Suki starts to wonder again what kind of signals Yue is sending her. When they finally reached the club and reunited with the rest of their group, Yue could have easily sat at Zuko’s, Azula’s, June’s and Toph’s table, or joined Aang, Sokka, Ty Lee and Katara on the dancefloor, or followed The Duke, Longshot, Smellerbee and Pipsqueak upstairs to the second dancefloor. But she didn’t. Yue waited for Suki to come back and stood with her offside, watching the people on the dancefloor, waving at their friends whenever they emerged from the crowd. – At any given time, she could have walked away. But she didn’t. She chose to spend her entire evening with Suki and that must mean something. – Yes, Yue hadn’t been interested in dancing with Suki, true, but it could also mean that Yue’s not interested in dancing, Suki or no Suki.

Yue had been receptive to her flirting, Suki feels confident. Would Yue be sitting next to her if she weren’t?

So, Suki draws a few deep and discreet breaths, and breaks the silence: “I don’t know if it’s bad luck, but there has been someone tonight really outshining the grooms.” Her eyes flicker to Yue’s face to gauge her reaction, before she can force her gaze on the parking lot again. Casual, Suki, just one damn time! “You know who’s the prettiest tonight?”

Her fists lying on her knees, Suki waits for anything. She’s a bit proud of herself because this is going to be the smoothest pick-up line she has ever used. There is literally no way this can go wrong. (Well, there is the possibility that Yue is deeply and utterly hetero and won’t take it as a compliment, but even if she’s not romantically interested in Suki, it’s still likely that she’s going to react in a respectful manner. – Suki doesn’t think that Sokka would be friends with someone that couldn’t handle being mistaken for gay.)

“Ty Lee?” Yue says. (Or asks? Suki doesn’t have the foggiest if the uptilt of her voice is meant as a question or just caused by embarrassment. – Either way, this is not what Suki envisioned. At all.)

Mai is supposed to arrive at any given moment and maybe it’s time that someone explains to Yue that Ty Lee is already in loving, monogamous hands, so Suki retorts, feigning an amused chuckle: “Don’t let her girlfriend hear you talk like that.”

The way Yue furrows her brow makes her seem more contemplating than surprised. The fingers of her right hand tap an unsteady rhythm on the back of her other hand, and her voice sounds uncertain when she says: “I think it's already too late for that.”

And Suki doesn't know how to take Yue's soft confession because as far as Suki is concerned, Yue and Mai have never met. Suki is at a loss for words, and they fall back into the awkward silence Suki was desperate to leave behind.

A few minutes go by, then a cab pulls into the parking lot and Suki looks without much interest at the shadowy figure inside paying the driver and rummaging around. When the door is opened, however, Suki perks up because it’s none other than Mai who exits the cab. And if Mai is here, it means that Suki is officially released from her role as Ty Lee’s chaperone. (Not that Suki had been dutifully chaperoning Ty Lee in the first place. Or that Ty Lee actually needed someone chaperoning her.)

With poise in her every step, Mai makes her way over to Suki and Yue, calmly stepping around suspicious puddles and radiating serenity.

“Mai,” Suki calls out as if Mai wasn’t already on her way to them. “What took you so long?”

Wrinkling her nose, Mai returns her greeting and says: “Hit a traffic jam after a massive departure delay.” Her left hand is wrapped around the strap of her pochette and she throws a glance towards the entrance. “Suki, I need to know something before I go in there.”

Suki nods and shifts involuntarily closer to the edge of the bench. Mai and her, they don’t usually interact too much even though Ty Lee is something like Suki’s best friend. They don’t really have as much in common as Suki sometimes wishes. So, if Mai needs her opinion on some matter or another, Suki thinks it must be vital.

“What do you think is more important,” Mai starts, her expression flickering between deadpan and concerned, “looking for Ty Lee or Zuko and Sokka?”

Suki snorts with laughter and asks: “Is this really something you should be asking?”

“I think,” Mai replies, and she seems peeved, “I want to act in the best interests of all parties concerned. I also think I could offend one of them by going to the other one first. And I am too tired to fall victim to their antics.”

Now Suki realises that Mai is serious, but she still can’t hold back teasing her a little: “You think Zuko could be offended if you look for Ty Lee first? Seems out of character to me.”

“Very funny,” Mai says, rolling her eyes at Suki. “You know better than me that Sokka’s a theatre kid at heart.” Which is true, unfortunately. “So, opinions?”

Suki shrugs and finally answers Mai’s question: “Last time we saw them, Sokka and Ty Lee were painting the dancefloor red. Best bet is walking straight into the crowd and taking potluck who’s the first one spotting you.”

Mai nods absentmindedly, then she turns away and heads for the entrance. She doesn’t make it that far before Suki calls after her: “Hurry up, Ty Lee’s been crying so much since you left.”

“Ty Lee cries crocodile tears every time we’re on the phone,” Mai retorts over her shoulder without turning back. “She’s going to live.”

When Mai enters the building while opening her pochette to retrieve her portemonnaie, Suki finally gives her attention back to Yue who looks positively alienated, so Suki attempts to explain Mai’s behaviour: “Don’t be fooled, Mai’s just as eager to see Ty Lee. You can’t pry them away from each other, even if you tried. Mai’s just … Mai’s not big on PDA, I guess. But you probably know that already.”

Yue blinks at her. “I,” she hesitates, “do not.”

Leaning into Yue’s space, Suki asks excitedly: “You wanna tell me she’s more public with her affection when I’m not around? This is outrageous. I think I deserve to see Mai all soppy and corny!”

“No,” Yue intercepts. It still looks like she’s trying to make sense of the situation. “I mean, I have never met Mai.”

Now it’s Suki’s turn to frown. “Didn’t you say that, you know, you told Mai Ty Lee is the prettiest?”

“I said I think I told Ty Lee’s girlfriend that Ty Lee is the prettiest,” Yue replies slowly. Which doesn’t make sense because Mai is Ty Lee’s girlfriend and Yue said those words to Suki.

Suki blinks. And she blinks. And she blinks. Then the realisation hits her, and she points to the entrance door of the club and then to herself. Her hand makes a weird circular motion, and she ascertains beyond doubt: “Mai is Ty Lee’s girlfriend.”

And when Yue’s only reaction consists of closing her eyes and throwing back her head, Suki declares: “Ty Lee is my best friend. Ty Lee is not my girlfriend.” (Her words may be tinged with the slightest bit of hysteria.)

“Oh,” is everything that slips past the smile growing on Yue’s face. She’s lifting her head, and when their eyes meet, Suki asks not without agitation: “Wait, let me get this straight: You thought I was dating Ty Lee? Because I’ve been flirting with you the whole night long and already began to think you just weren’t interested.” She snickers. “You can tell me if you’re not interested but if it’s because of Ty Lee I can assure you that she’s not my girlfriend. Never was, never will be.”

“Well, I must confess,” Yue replies, also snickering, “I was irritated because it seemed like you were trying to hit on me, but I also thought: Why would she try to hit on you, Yue, she’s got a gorgeous girlfriend. So, I didn’t try to dwell too long on the thought?”

“Oh, wow, you asked about Ty Lee’s and my meet cute, didn’t you?” Without thinking about, Suki reaches out and rests her hand on Yue’s elbow. “I thought you were really, really into Ty Lee. I felt kind of bad because I didn’t know if you knew that she’s in a committed relationship.” Suki hesitates but then she decides to throw all caution overboard. “And Sokka kind of said that you didn’t do the whole dating thing? So, I didn’t know if you were just trying to reject me as gently as possible.”

Yue splutters which shouldn’t make her more endearing, but it does. “Sokka is an overprotective dork.” She sighs deeply. “I don’t usually date, he’s not wrong. But I’m not not doing the whole dating thing.” Like an afterthought, she leans into Suki’s touch and Suki almost forgets to actually listen to the words coming out of Yue’s mouth.

(Concentrating is hard, okay, she’s so close to Yue. She can see the cut glass embedded into the tiny stars on her earlobe and the texture of the ivory, almost fan-shaped earring that Suki now knows is an uluaq-earring that Katara gave to her. She can see the moles dotted across Yue’s neck and cheek, and her dark roots. Suki sees her own distorted reflection in Yue’s eyes and the faint wrinkles around the corner of her eyes. She can make out a single freckle on the bridge of Yue’s nose. – It’s not that Suki doesn’t want to listen to Yue, but her beauty is truly distracting.)

“So,” Suki says softly, tearing away her gaze from Yue’s lips, “you do want to dance with me?”

Grabbing Suki’s free hand and enclosing it with both her own, Yue retorts: “Well, I want to dance with you but Sokka’s not entirely wrong? Dating is pretty exhausting, and I don’t often think someone’s interesting enough to try?”

“You know I’ve heard that everything that comes before but can be omitted,” Suki replies because she doesn’t know how to take Yue’s words. Yue’s either turning her down or asking her out. Which one it is? Fuck if Suki knows.

“Okay.” Yue starts drawing nonsensical shapes on the back of Suki’s hand, apparently turning over words on her tongue. (Suki’s about to melt. Just straight up dissolve into a puddle of confused contentment.) “I usually don’t date because people aren’t interesting to me, romantically speaking. This explanation, however, kind of ignores the fact that in the past some people didn’t want to date me because I’m … ace.” The hesitancy of Yue’s words hits Suki right in the heart (and elicits a rage that Suki can barely force down her throat).

But Suki doesn’t tell her some platitude about the validity of asexuality (because one must be a self-entitled twat to think that this is necessary in any kind of way; as if her asexuality were any less real without verbal confirmation) and Suki doesn’t tell her some truism about how it’s their loss that they didn’t keep her close (because duh). Instead, Suki says: “My last boyfriend broke up with me because, in his opinion, Ty Lee and I shouldn’t be touching so much.”

Her hand jerks up slightly to make air quotes but Yue’s hands are still holding it firmly between them. So, she shrugs her shoulders to make up for it.

“I think it’s nice,” Yue says. “You know, when I’m not currently obsessing over the fact that you’re touching my arm even though you’re clearly taken.” She smiles apologetically.

“Most people think it’s nice. At first.” Suki tilts her head. “But I think I would like to give it a shot. See how you like it a few weeks from now.”

Something in the back of Suki’s head rings out. Something about we grew up in the same neighbourhood but right before elementary school my family moved away. Something about I only knew Katara and Aang before coming here. But she doesn’t want to concentrate on the obstacles that lie before them, she wants to grab Yue’s hand and drag her indoors. She wants to dance underneath the neon lights. She wants to cup Yue’s face in her hands, brush her cheek with her thumb and take in the way her lashes cast a shadow on her skin. She wants to sink her fingers into Yue’s hairline. She wants to pull her impossibly close, and even closer still. She wants to drown in Yue’s laughter and drink in her every expression. She wants to listen to everything Yue is willing to tell. (She even wants Ty Lee’s triumphant cheers and her Seriously, I, like, totally called it!, and Sokka’s flummoxed expression.)

“Ask me again.” Yue’s grip on Suki’s hand tightens and Suki is positively overwhelmed.

Suki takes her hand off of Yue’s elbow and brings it down to their clasped hands. Cupping Yue’s hand in turn, she asks as desired: “Do you want to dance with me?”

Suddenly getting to her feet, Yue holds onto Suki’s hands and pulls her right up with her. They almost crash into each other, unable to catch themselves or the other, and laughter spills out of them into the eternal twilit night.

“Yes, I do want to dance with you,” Yue breathes out into the small space between them, and Suki almost lets go of her hands in excited surprise. “We should do it now.”

Yue turns around and pulls Suki with her, beelining to the entrance of the club and straight into the waiting mouth of a soft teethed beast. (Suki is ready. If she can turn a whole day from anxious apprehension to absolute perfection, then she can do this to. It’s just a dance with a pretty lady, Suki, come on, you got this! And she will.)

[artlessictoan]

another ao3 req, for a butch sak/femme ino domestic drabble! y’know i’ll say one thing for this req theme, it’s got me describing character’s clothing a hell of a lot more than i usually do..

(requests open)

(ao3 mirror)

---

She poked her head through the front door cautiously, scanning around for any sign of her.

With the entrance declared clear, Sakura slipped silently into the house and shut the door as softly as she could, all the while wary of both the house’s other occupant and the large, heavy box held in her left hand. It wasn’t that far to the office, if she could get in unnoticed, then it would all be smooth sailing from there.

She slowly crept forward, the stairs her goal, peeking around every corner as she went, the living room was empty, but she swore she could hear faint humming from the kitchen.

Ok, that was fine, the kitchen wasn’t in her direct path, she could easily sneak upstairs without being seen, so long as she was quiet. Taking a deep breath, she placed one foot on the first step. The second one creaked, as did the sixth and ninth, she would have to skip them if she wanted this to work out – normally not an issue, but right now she had an unwieldy weight to contend with as well. But she could do this, she’d been practising for the last few days, this was no problem at all.

When she was just two steps from the top, the box in her arms let out a high-pitched cry.

Her heart stopped dead for several seconds, as she waited for the tell-tale sound of feet against floorboards, completely frozen in place. Nothing. Releasing her held breath, she shushed at the box, before continuing her journey.

From here it was a straight shot to the office, second door on the left, nothing to get in the way, she had won. As soon as the door was shut behind her, she let out a sigh and gently placed the box on the floor, flapping her loose tank top to try and cool herself down a little – it wasn’t a particularly hot day, but she’d been tense with terror and excitement for the last hour or so and she’d never quite gotten over her panic-sweating – she had just leaned down and opened the latch on it when she heard footsteps echoing down the hallway.

She flew out of the office and slammed the door behind her, leaning against it and all but panting as Ino stopped, hand still raised from where she had been about to knock on the door, wearing an understandably confused expression.

Sakura plastered a forced grin onto her face. “Heeeey beautiful,” she said, reaching up to kiss her wife’s cheek.

Ino leaned down a little to help her, but was still giving her a strange look. “Thought I heard you moving around up here,” she said, brushing a hair through her long, perfect, silky hair, “why didn’t come tell me you were home? I was just making some tea, could’ve got you a cup ready too.”

She glanced at the office door, then back to her wife. “Actually, I think I’m good, why don’t you just go have your drink?”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Ino asked with a grin, clearly joking, except that, yeah, Sakura kinda did want her to go away right now. A fact which Ino quickly picked up on, curse her terrifying intuition. “Oh. You actually are.”

“Not like that! I just… have something I need to get out of the way, y’know?”

A fine brow rose. “That’s pretty vague-” she crossed her arms, fabric of her – unfairly revealing – wrap top swishing as she did. And really, how was Sakura supposed to concentrate on her mission when her beautiful, amazing wife was standing right there, wearing that deep plum skirt that hugged her hips and showed off enough of her long, long legs to drive Sakura mad. “You’re up to something, aren’t you?”

“Whaaaat, noooo! I just have something I need to get done for work tomorrow, boring stuff, but if I don’t do it now then I’ll forget about it later.” There, perfectly reasonable explanation, she was great at this!

A soft thud filtered through the door behind her.

Ino’s eye narrowed on her and Sakura could feel the sweat dripping down her spine. “What was that noise?”

“Probably just the neighbours playing their TV too loud again?” Shit, her voice was starting to tremble, she had to divert the flow of this conversation and fast. “Anyway, what do you want for dinner? I’m pretty sure we’ve got some eggs that need to be used up-”

A second thud. Quickly followed by frantic scrabbling.

“Ok, seriously, what are you hiding.” Ino didn’t bother asking, nor did she wait for her to move, instead just placing a hand against her shoulder and giving her a hard shove.

Sakura stayed firm, earning a foul look from her wife. Once more, she was pushed, once more she held position and placed a solid hand against the doorknob before she could get any ideas. Behind her, there was the ominous sound of something scraping against wood. “Or… maybe they’re putting up some new shelves?”

Ino looked thoroughly unimpressed. “You do realise how obvious you’re being, right?”

“I’m not hiding anything!” she yelled, despite every one of her brain cells screaming at her to just shut up. And her declaration clearly didn’t sway Ino either.

Her wife gave her a long, hard stare, lasting almost a minute – long enough for Sakura to wonder if she wasn’t considering just giving up – before a delicate hand jabbed into her side, sending electric prickles across her entire body.

She leapt back instinctively, clutching at her stomach to try and smother the ticklish sensation still lingering there, giving Ino plenty of room to quickly throw open the door and step inside.

Pushing through her discomfort, Sakura leapt onto her back, sending her toppling forwards onto the thankfully thickly carpeted floor with a screech. “Shit, I’m sorry! Are you hurt?” she asked, lifted herself up enough that her considerable weight wasn’t crushing her comparatively delicate wife down, but still hovering over her and keeping her trapped.

Ino groaned into the carpet, but quickly snapped, “What the hell is wrong with you, what are you hiding in here that’s soooo…”

Sakura winced. Well, this was officially an unmitigated disaster.

Any lingering pain was ignored as Ino stared at the creature in front of her. “Oh, my, god,” she whispered, so soft that Sakura had to lean down to hear her properly, which a very bad idea, because the speed at which Ino pushed herself up, lead to the back of her head colliding heavily against her chin.

Both women fell back to the floor in a groaning, tangled heap. As the pain faded, however, Sakura found herself laughing, soft snorts gradually growing into mildly hysterical cackling.

Ino soon joined her, carefully peeling their aching limbs apart and sitting back up, rubbing at the back of her skull. “Fucking hell, are your bones made of steel or something?” she asked, clearly not expecting a real answer from Sakura, who still couldn’t stop laughing long enough to pick herself up. “Ok, calm down idiot, you’re scaring our guest.”

The reminder of the cause of their current predicament brought her back to reality long enough to push herself onto her elbows and try to halt her snorts. Also, she badly needed to breathe, but that was secondary.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Ino sounded more frustrated than she looked – her soft, beautiful smile betraying her true feelings.

Sucking in deep breaths and rubbing at her aching cheeks, Sakura followed her wife’s gaze to the ginger cat cautiously watching them from under the desk. “I wanted to surprise you,” she said, carefully shutting the door again, just in case the nervous animal decided to bolt off into the house, and get trapped somewhere – they still had a lot of pet-proofing to do and the shelter had recommended keeping the new cat to a single room until it was comfortable with the new environment. “I was planning a whole dramatic reveal and everything.”

“Well, I’m definitely surprised-” she held out a hand to the cat and made gentle cooing noises to call it over “-but you know I would’ve been just as happy if you’d just told me you were getting a cat.”

“That takes all the fun out of it though!”

Ino rolled her eyes and elected to ignore that, instead focusing completely on the large ball of fluff, who was slowly relaxing and taking cautious steps towards the pair, whiskers twitching as it sniffed the air around them. “Oh, you are just gorgeous! Aren’t you baby? Yes, you are! Do they have a name?” she asked, as the last of its nerves dissipated and it allowed her to scratch under its chin.

“The shelter called her Gingersnap, but if you want to change it-”

“Ohmigod! Gingersnap! You are just the most precious little girl, I love you so much, look at that sweet little nose, I just want to boop it!” By this point, Ino had dragged the cat into her lap and was lavishing it with smooths, her eyes lit up with pure glee and mouth stuck in a wide, giddy grin. Gingersnap for her part was purring like a jackhammer – which Sakura was maybe a little jealous of, it took several days of visiting the pet shelter before she could so much as touch the normally skittish animal.

Clearly Sakura was going to have to start fighting to get attention from anyone in this household.

Suppressing a snort, Sakura shuffled closer and wrapped an arm around Ino’s waist, leaning heavily into her side and watching the pair with soft eyes. Well, now that the cat was – quite literally – out of the bag, she could at least get Ino to give her a hand deciding where to put all the new bowls and toys and litter boxes still stacked in the office. She glanced around the room, wondering what to sort out first, when she noticed something lying on the floor.

“So, I guess you’re not mad at me anymore,” she said with a smirk, watching Ino fawn over the cat as it rubbed against her well-manicured hand and guided her to smooth under its chin.

“I still expect a full written apology by tomorrow and you’re paying for my medical bills-” she turned her head and pressed a lipstick stain into Sakura’s cheek, before immediately returning to the new love of her life “-but no, I am not mad.”

“…And will you stay not mad if I tell you that Gingersnap knocked your favourite vase off the desk?”

---

[just-come-baek]

Wedding Fever 5 | final

Pairing: Baekhyun x Reader

Themes: s m u t | fluff | angst | DRAMA | wedding!au | friends to lovers!au | SLOWBURN

Word count: 13.1k

Summary: Baekhyun is the best man, and I am the maid of honor at our friends’ wedding. Although should we be excited about our friends getting married, we seem to complain a lot more every time we meet for another preparation. Maybe it’s a bit fanciful of me to think that, but I hope, somewhere between choosing flowers and venting about the reception prep, he’ll like me just as I like him.

Warnings: infidelity, profanity, sexual themes (oral female receiving, cock riding, dirty talk if you squint, pretty vanilla), extreme cuteness, unpleasant and problematic confrontations, usage of alcohol, manipulative behavior,

A/N sorry for taking so much time. I hope you enjoy the final chapter, and maybe check out my future stories with Baekhyun.

“I’m hungry,” I announced randomly when Baekhyun and I almost walked past McDonald’s. I had barely eaten that day, and although I had made a resolution not to eat at fast food joints, I couldn’t deny I craved some French fries. “Let’s go,” I said, pulling Baekhyun with me, ignoring his protests.

“A bit bossy of you,” Baekhyun answered, following behind me. At this time of the night, there were barely any customers, so with ease, I ordered two servings of fries, and Baekhyun paid. I had left my purse with Jiwoo, and besides, no matter how you look at it, it was somewhat our first date. Maybe, it wasn’t perfect, but it was Baekhyun, so I felt contended.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked when I placed the tray with our fries between us, clumsily opening the packaging of ketchup. Baekhyun just sat there, looking at me, smiling brightly. Did I have something on my face?

“I’m just curious what else are you going to surprise me with further the way,” Baekhyun replied honestly, leaning forward, his chin resting in his hand, his arm being perched on the table. “It’s been like ten minutes since I told you my feelings, and it’s been great. I mean… you know… hanging out with you like that without holding myself back.”

“I had no I idea I surprised you at all,” I admitted honestly. It was strange that Baekhyun found me so intriguing. If one of my friends had to describe me, I’d probably be a disappointingly one-dimensional character. There’s nothing unique about me. I just work 9 to 5, watch trashy television, eat lots of potato chips, and drink too much coke and wine. “I’m pretty basic if you ask me.”

“And if you ask me, I can’t agree with you.” Baekhyun retorted, and I shook my head, stuffing my mouth with fries. “Yes, you must be a masochist if you like doing these things to yourself, but at least, you’re not ashamed of it. And that’s something I really respect about you. You don’t pretend someone you’re not, and I can’t wait to see more of it.”

“You better eat your fries,” I snickered, getting a bit embarrassed by the amount of attention he just gave me. Honestly, I preferred when we were bickering. Now, it just felt as if he placed me on the pedestal for me to be worshipped. I wasn’t used to that kind of treatment, and I needed plenty of time to get accustomed.

“Oh, trust me, I’m gonna eat mine and a half of yours. I'm the one who paid after all,” Baekhyun shot back, and I grinned, finally interacting with the Baekhyun who I fell for. I loved him the most when he was carefree and a little bit of silly. It’s refreshing to hang out with him, especially when everyone around me tended to be overly stressed all the time.

“Not if I eat mine first,” I challenged, and then Baekhyun leaned to steal one of my fries even though his weren’t even touched. “Oh, that’s how you wanna play? Bring it,” I added, mirroring his actions. Giggling, I stole some of his fries and put them into my mouth. “How it’s possible that yours taste better? This is crazy.”

“Mine were fried with love,” Baekhyun concluded, and I almost choked at the absurdity of his statement. Yes, the female cashier smiled at him fondly, but still, our fries were out of the same old oil. As much as he’d like to, he didn’t get any special treatment tonight.

“When are you gonna learn to bullshit better?” I teased, and Baekhyun looked at me in an artificial and over the top angry way. Although I could tell he was only fooling around, his angry face was convincing and stern. “Gee, don’t make a face like that, I’m almost scared.”

“And I’m fully offended,” Baekhyun said seriously, but after a second he burst out laughing, and I started giggling uncontrollably, realizing the alcohol didn’t fully leave my body yet. The remains lingered, intensifying my reactions. “OK, maybe not fully, but mildly.”

“I’m a tease. That revelation surprises you, doesn’t it?” I said shyly, and Baekhyun just grinned.

“I had a hunch, but I can assure you, you’re no competition to me, baby.”

“Wow,” I interjected, sounding shook. “Did you just ‘baby’ me?

“I think I did. What are you gonna do about it?” Baekhyun challenged, and I didn’t say anything, feeling how much cheeks burnt. It only took him one word to make me blush. How embarrassing was it? “You like it, don’t even try to deny it.”

“I do, but I’d rather have you called me a princess,” I said boldly, having no refrain in voicing my inner desires. I had imagined Baekhyun calling me affectionately, using my favorite pet name, but now, when it could happen, I didn’t know I was ready to hear it. “I’m full,” I added, as I pushed my tray away, hoping to dodge the intense atmosphere around us.

“You barely touched it,” Baekhyun remarked, amazed how quickly I satisfied my hunger. “But okay, let’s go, I just want you to drink some water and go to sleep.” He added, and my heart melted when I heard him. Nobody has ever cared about me so much. What did I do to deserve him?

“Actually...” I started, wanting to tell him about the secondary purpose of organizing Jiwoo's surprise bachelorette party. “It’s pretty embarrassing to admit, but I pledged to leave the club with a man with whom I was going to have a sex marathon. I struggled too long with a dry spell, so yeah… I made a promise to myself to leave the club with someone for the sole reason of having lots of sex.” I explained, and Baekhyun choked on his fries, not expecting me to put the truth in such a straightforward way. “So yeah, you were literally the one who dragged me out of there, so now you owe me at least two mind-blowing orgasms.” I finished, and I could swear that people sitting at the next table could hear me. I didn’t care, though. Baekhyun had confessed to me, and now it was time to make up for the lost time.

“Are you serious?” Baekhyun asked bewildered that I could actually leave the club with a stranger only because he could potentially satiate my needs. “You’re joking. You’re gorgeous; it’s not possible for you to be under the dry spell.” Baekhyun reasoned, trying to justify his surprise.

“I don’t know whether you’re shocked or shied away,” I said, not sure how to read his expression. Was he disappointed in my hedonic resolve? I just needed some intimacy, and since I had no idea how he perceived me, finding someone else to cater it for me was the only solution I had left.

“I’m probably both,” Baekhyun admitted, looking straight with an absent gaze. I observed his face, trying to find a change in his mimics, but he only furrowed his eyebrows, being deep in his thoughts. “You really shocked me. What would happen if I didn’t come clean? I could lose my only chance to be with you. I can’t believe you were so close from being snatched away from me.”

“Don’t put that much thought into it. None of it happened, so it’s pointless to dwell on it. Everything’s fine,” I replied, smiling brightly. Everything that I wished to happen became a reality, and I couldn’t be any happier. But then, my good mood vanished, being replaced with awful thoughts of Jiwoo’s infidelity. Hongbin didn’t deserve any of it, and when I wondered what was going to happen with their relationship, I was angry at Jiwoo for ruining it.

“Yeah, I guess,” Baekhyun agreed, sending me one of his beautiful genuine smiles. He really seemed happy when being with me, and I couldn’t imagine how hard he must’ve held himself back. And how could he do that to me? Only if I had known, only if he had given me a sign, I’d force him for a confrontation. I had only needed a single clue that he was interested. None of us made a move until tonight, and our cowardice game had been played way longer than necessary. “Let’s just get you home.”

***

Frankly, I was a bit nervous about going into Baekhyun’s apartment. I had never been there in the past, and this night there was already full with first times. When we reached it, Baekhyun fought with the lock, and considering my promise of a wild sex session, he was probably a bit afraid that I’d jump his bones as soon as he’d open the doors.

None of it happened, though.

I wanted to, but I had waited long enough, so an hour or a day wouldn’t make a difference to me.

The moment he pushed the doors open, he moved to the side, letting me in first.

“I can’t believe you’ve never mentioned you had a dog!” I exclaimed when I felt the typical smell. A few seconds later, Baekhyun flicked the lights on, and I saw the most adorable Corgi ever. Excitedly, it ran up to me, resting its front paws on my shins.

Quickly, I crouched so I could pet its soft fur, but also because I was wearing fishnets, and I didn’t want the dog to ruin them.

“I wanted you to like me because of me, and not because of my dog.” Baekhyun joked when he took off his jacket and hung it on the rock. “This little monster is the cutest dog ever.”

“You’re absolutely right,” I agreed with a quiet chuckle, as I rubbed his dog which now was lying on its back, demanding my attention. “It’s adorable, but you have nothing to worry about. I like you the same with or without a pet.”

“So you do like me,” he said with a huge grin, when he sat down on the couch’s hand rest, staring at me petting his dog. “Glad to know that,” he added, and I rolled my eyes at him; he was adorable, and I just couldn’t help myself. It was like I was living a fairytale. “OK, make yourself at home, and I’ll get you something to drink.”

I was already swept off my feet, why did he still try to impress me?

Not that I minded.

Kicking off my shoes, I lay down on the couch, and Baekhyun’s dog stretched out on the floor, so I could still pet him. Closing my eyes, I moved my hand through the dog’s fur until I dozed off. The couch was incredibly comfortable, and I didn’t even realize when I fell asleep.

The next thing I remember was Baekhyun waking me up to drink the water, change into pajamas he prepared for me, and go to bed. However, he didn’t do it in a gentle way but quite violently, shaking me out of the slumber. Before he had acted like a sweet boyfriend, but right now, he had no mercy, waking me up in the most annoying way possible.

“Hey, sleepyhead, what about that sex marathon that you wanted?” Baekhyun teased, having so much fun seeing my great plan fall through over a minor nap. Ten minutes ago I was ready to have sex, but now, when I closed my eyes, I needed to get back to sleep.

“You’re right; let’s do it,” I answered him, being on the edge of reality and dream.

“You’re incredible,” Baekhyun said, chuckling at the fact that despite being tired, I was still determined to get into his pants. “Just drink this, and then go to the bathroom to wash yourself and change into more comfortable clothes, and I’ll make the bed.” He asked me, but when I didn’t react, he just grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

“I hate that side of you,” I groaned when Baekhyun handed me a glass of water.

“I’d rather hear you complain now than in the morning completely hungover,” Baekhyun said, being genuinely concerned about my wellbeing, and I rolled my eyes, gulping down the water. “OK, here.” He handed me a set of clean clothes to change. “You can go and change yourself, or I can throw you over my shoulder and carry you there. How it is gonna be?”

“I really hate that side of you,” I whined once again but obeyed his orders. I knew I was going to regret it if I didn’t listen to him. Baekhyun was my voice of reason at the moment - he knew what was best for me.

When I stood up, Baekhyun spanked me playfully, and I swiftly spun around, sticking out my tongue. We both could be mischievous. “You’re gonna thank me when you wake up!” Baekhyun hollered just before I closed the bathroom doors behind me.

***

I woke up early in the morning. It was a few minutes past 7 o’clock, and I wasn’t surprised by it. Whenever I slept in not my bed, I had a very light sleep, and I woke up quite early and well rested, and that’s how I was feeling right now.

I was lying in Baekhyun’s bed, wrapped in a thick duvet with Baekhyun sleeping soundly beside me. Carefully, I turned around to face him. He looked great, and if I had a chance to wake up to this view every day, without any doubt, I’d be the luckiest woman on Earth.

Remembering how violently he had woken me up earlier, I placed my hand on his shoulder and tried to shake him awake in a similar manner.

He deserved it.

“Good morning to you, too,” Baekhyun whispered in his morning voice, as he turned his back to me, trying to get back to sleep. I guess we aren’t that different, after all.

“And you had the audacity to literally pull me up,” I whined, lying on back, staring at the ceiling, thinking of another approach of waking him up. “I can’t believe you’ve done it.”

Suddenly, Baekhyun turned to me, propping on his elbow beside him, resting his left hand on my side. “I did what I had to do. I forced you to drink water, and now, you don’t feel hungover, do you?” As much as I didn’t want to, I had to admit that he was right.

“I don’t, but you didn’t have to manhandle me,” I argued, trying to tease him back.

“So… what do you want to do today?”

“I don’t know. Are you asking me out on a date?” I inquired, staring into Baekhyun’s eyes, trying not to grin like a teenage girl when having her first kiss.

“I am,” Baekhyun said proudly, any sign of shyness from yesterday completely vanished. We were lying in a bed, teasing each other playfully, and our interaction felt so natural. Almost as if we already passed that awkward phase over the night. “So… what do you want to do? I’m fine with everything. If you ask me, we can even stay all day in pajamas, and watch TV, and order takeout.”

“Mm… that sounds tempting, but I have a better idea,” I said, and Baekhyun cocked his eyebrow, curious what I had in mind. “I’ll go to Jiwoo’s to get my stuff back, then I’ll make myself look presentable, and then we’ll meet at the bowling alley. What do you think?”

“What’s wrong in the way you look now?” Baekhyun wondered as he stared at my face, trying to spot my flows. “The way you looked in these fishnets and this skirt was amazing, but now, all dressed in my sweatpants and my T-shirt? Princess, it’s an instant boner.”

“Oh my God, you didn’t say that!” I said, a bit taken aback with his bold compliment.

“But, Princess, I just did, and I meant it,” Baekhyun repeated and leaned forward to peck my chin. “I’d rather stay at home with you, but let’s do what you want. But why bowling, though?”

“That’s embarrassing,” I said, trying to hide my face under the duvet. “I’ve never gone bowling, and I’ve always wanted to have a date at the bowling alley.”

“OK, let’s go there. I’ll teach you how it’s done.” Baekhyun answered confidently.

“Just be aware that I’m a natural at most of the sports. Just don’t be surprised if I destroy you.”

“That’s not happening, Princess,” Baekhyun whispered, gently kissing the corner of my lips. “But if you’re so confident in your skills which you don’t have yet, we can bet. Whoever wins, can decide what we do after bowling. What do you say?”

“It’s on.”

***

When I was ready to leave, (which was around noon) Baekhyun offered himself to give me a ride to Jiwoo’s apartment. Surprisingly, Jiwoo was still asleep, so I asked Hongbin to give me my purse. Every time I glanced at him, I wanted to tell him the truth about what Jiwoo had done last night, but I bit my tongue. I had to think it over; maybe there still was a chance for them to make it up, and I didn’t want to deprive them of it with my rushed confession.

I would think about it after my date with Baekhyun. Jiwoo’s mistakes couldn’t affect my life to that extent, so I decided to spend some time with Baekhyun before I’d get involved in the drama I was going to stir in Jiwoo’s relationship. They were my friends, and I cared for them, but now it was time for me to be selfish, to focus on my happiness.

With Baekhyun, we agreed to meet at the bowling alley around sevenish; it gave me a lot of time to take a long relaxing bath, put on a delicate make-up, and choose a suitable outfit for our second date.

No matter how much time I had spent with Baekhyun today and yesterday, it still felt a bit surreal. Yesterday, I had wanted to fuck a stranger, but today I was getting ready for a date with my crush. I just couldn’t believe how many things had happened in the past two days.

Baekhyun wanted to pick me up and go to the bowling alley together, but I was stubborn, insisting on meeting there. I wanted him so much, so I feared we might not even leave my apartment, last minute deciding to stay in, fucking each other into oblivion.

Because of traffic, I was a bit later than I wanted to, but Baekhyun wasn’t angry at me. Before my arrival, he only managed to rent a pair of shoes for him. “I’m sorry,” I said when I ran up to him. As soon as he heard my voice, he spun around and greeted me with his radiant smile.

“Hi, there,” Baekhyun said, pressing another peck on my chin. Why does he keep kissing me there? The gesture felt innocent, and it slowly started to drive me insane. “Wow, I see you’re trying to impress someone,” he added when he studied my outfit. It was a simple combination of a shirt and skinny jeans, and it seemed it caught his attention. After that playful spanks he had given me, I had a hunch he had a thing for cute butts, so it was an easy decision to put a pair of tight trousers.

“No, not really,” I spoke casually, shrugging off the indirect compliment. “I just put the first thing I found in my closet.” It was a blatant lie, and Baekhyun knew it, but none of us really cared. “You look good, too,” I added when I checked him out. He was wearing a pair of casual jeans, and a V-neck T-shirt, and he looked insanely good; out-of-my-league kind of good.

“OK, just change your shoes, I want to destroy you,” Baekhyun spoke eagerly, excitedly hurrying me.

Our date was exactly the way I imagined. Even the male character was the same. Baekhyun explained me all the rules and the techniques I needed to know in order to win our bet. Moreover, he used every chance he had to touch me, and I couldn’t complain. I enjoyed it too much.

His experience was evident, but my natural talent at sports showed, too. However, overall, he won, but only because he was distracting me whenever it was my turn. Nonetheless, my skills were impressive for a first-timer.

“OK, you won, what do you want to do now?” I asked as we sat by our table to finish our beers. I had so much fun; I could stay up with Baekhyun the entire night, as I couldn't care any less about work on Monday.

“Actually, I didn’t think that through. You seemed so confident about your natural talent, I was sure you were going to win.” This time it was his turn to lie to me so I would feel slightly better. He really knew how to sweet talk.

“Frankly, it doesn’t matter that much to me,” I answered honestly, and Baekhyun gave me one of his widest smiles. “I’d have fun with you even if you took me to a yodeling show.”

“OK, maybe let’s do that on another date.” Baekhyun dismissed my terrible idea, and I agreed with him. “What about getting a drink? We could sit down and just talk. We haven’t properly discussed that thing between us. What do you think?” It was considerate of him wanting to know my opinion, but honestly, I didn’t like talking about my feelings. It was difficult for me, and I knew it was going to be twice as difficult to open up like that in front of Baekhyun; especially when our romantic feelings for each other would be the hot topic.

“OK, let’s do that,” I replied reluctantly, smiling at him. It was going to require lots of energy, but it had to be done. Baekhyun and I could finally start a fantastic relationship, and I didn’t want to squander it due to problems with speaking up my feelings. Baekhyun was worth the most painful torture and a simple conversation with him wasn’t a big price for what I was going to get in return.

When on the way to the pub, I was coming up with scenarios how our conversation could go wrong, but thankfully, Baekhyun made it ridiculously easy to talk about it. Though the place was quite packed with people, we managed to find a small table just for the two of us. Once seated, Baekhyun asked me what I wanted before he left to the counter to get us the drinks.

The anticipation for Baekhyun’s return kept me stressed; I was playing with my fingers, nervously looking around, trying to come up with a backup plan if I screwed everything up. However, the moment he came back to our table with our drinks and his warm smile, I knew that everything was going to be just fine.

“You know what? You’re so adorable,” Baekhyun stated, as he sat down, setting my drink in front of me. “You told my parents that I took you to the bowling alley on our first date. It’s beyond me how I could forget it.” He explained with a nervous smile. “But then, I kicked your ass like I said I would.”

“I said that then, and I’m going to say that again.” I giggled, taking a sip of my cocktail. “You cheated!”

“I did not,” Baekhyun remarked, and then we argued passionately for about next ten minutes why giving me heart-eyes had distracted me and why it should’ve been considered unfair.

Later, when our drinks were half drunk, I was relaxed enough to voice my feelings and expectations regarding our relationship. Wow, our relationship. It sounded lovely.

I told him everything; how much I used to pine for him, how much I looked forward to seeing him on the wedding preparations, or how I enjoyed his company. And Baekhyun did the same, and when he was finished, my mouth hurt due to all that excessive grinning.

“I was so afraid of this conversation, but now, I’m relieved,” I confessed, finishing my cocktail. With Baekhyun next to me, it was easy. Everything with him was easy.

“Yeah, me too,” he added, placing his hands on top of mine. “So let me escort you home. It’s already late, and you have work tomorrow. I don’t want you to be all grumpy tomorrow because of me.”

“As if that could ever be the case,” I said, rolling my eyes at him.

***

Being ever so gentlemanly, Baekhyun walked me home, saying it’s one of boyfriend’s duties to make sure the girlfriend gets home safely, and though I was self-sufficient and fully capable of not killing myself on my way back, I let Baekhyun accompany me.

When we were standing in front of the door, he leaned and kissed my chin chastely. OK, what the hell was that? It was adorable for the few first times, but now, I was annoyed.

“Why are you kissing me like that?” I asked boldly, not even trying to hide how it frustrated me. With my arms folded across my chest, I stared at Baekhyun, demanding answers. Sheepishly, he smiled, evidently troubled with my inquiry.

“Don’t get me wrong, Princess,” he started, intentionally manipulating me with the sly usage of my favorite pet name. I loved it when it rolled off Baekhyun’s tongue, but I wanted to be kissed properly, and I wasn’t going to let him leave me with my needs unsatisfied. “It’s just… hmm… I kiss you like that because… I know I won’t be able to pull away if I kiss you the way I want to.”

“You’re really stupid if you think I’d let you pull away,” I replied, chuckling. Maybe, I sounded needy, but we had wasted too much time to beat around the bush. “I don’t know how you imagined it, but I’m not going to wait for our third date to do it. I’ve waited enough, and I want you right now,” I confessed, taking a step forward, so my nose almost touched Baekhyun’s.

“You really mean it,” Baekhyun whispered, letting me kiss him. My hands instantly cupped his cheeks, as I pressed my lips against his. The kiss was slow – I was taking me time, getting used to his taste. “I’m so stupid for making you wait,” he spoke against my lips, and I only hummed in agreement before I nipped his bottom lip greedily.

Getting rid of all inhibitions, Baekhyun placed his hands on my hips, pressing me against the door. He was impatient, passionate, and desperate to feel me; hurriedly, he pulled my shirt out of my jeans, wanting to touch my soft skin.

With raw passion, he kissed me, and I moaned into his mouth as soon as I felt his hands roaming upward to my bra. It was finally happening! Tightly, Baekhyun was pressed against me, and I couldn’t help myself but grabbed his cute butt and yanked him against me.

“I want you so much,” Baekhyun muttered, as he ground his hips against mine. Sensually, he kissed my chin and my neck, leaving a wet trace on my skin. “You don’t have any idea how much,” he added, and I shivered when I felt his shallow breath on my wet neck. Oh God, Baekhyun’s such a horndog! “I could fuck you all night.”

“Oh, Baekhyun,” I moaned when he sucked a hickey on my collarbone. “I’ve waited for you to do it for so long, I might even let you,” I breathed out as I enjoyed Baekhyun's ministrations.

We were just making out, but it made me so lightheaded as if I had drunk a whole bottle of champagne by myself. I wasn’t thinking straight; right now, Baekhyun was the centre of my universe; my time, my energy – everything – belonged to him.

“Oh, please, I can’t wait any longer,” Baekhyun whined, and I unwillingly let go of his firm butt, so I could fish my keys out of my purse. “I want to undress you… touch you… feel you.” Baekhyun whispered against my skin, as he undid two first buttons of my shirt. “You’re so damn soft,” he added before he dove into my cleavage, gently nipping my breasts, making me moan.

“Baekhyun, seriously, how the hell have you been restraining yourself?” I asked, being amazed of his self-control; he had used to ignore me like a plague, but right now, I felt as if I was his oxygen which keeps him alive. “You’re such a horndog!” I chuckled, pushing him away quite harshly.

“It may sound cheesy, but when we kissed for the first time,” Baekhyun started, watching me unlock the door. (Though I was standing backward, I could swear I felt his eyes on my butt.) “I don’t know how to put it in words, but I want to say that your kiss felt so, so good that I knew… I just knew that you’re one in a million. That you’re the only one for me.”

“You were right,” I giggled, as I pushed the doors open. “It does sound cheesy; you’re cheesy.” I said, but Baekhyun didn’t even try to fight with me on that; he just grabbed my head, and once again kissed me deeply, sliding his tongue into my mouth.

Eagerly, I kissed him back; the magnitude of our needs was no joke. Not breaking the kiss, Baekhyun grabbed my butt and hoisted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his hips.

“You’re mine,” Baekhyun whispered, as he walked inside my apartment, kicking the door shut. “Where do you want me to take you?” He asked, pressing me against the doors, his lips landing on my cleavage once again.

“I’d let you take me anywhere,” I said honestly, having no shame left. Right now, I could voice all my desires, and I was sure that Baekhyun wouldn’t make fun of me. I had a hunch I could say the kinkiest thing ever, and Baekhyun would only smirk, eager to try to it with me. “I fantasized about you fucking me in your car, but since we made it upstairs, let’s just go to the bedroom.”

“As you wish, Princess,” Baekhyun pecked my lips innocently, as he strolled to my bedroom, already knowing the way. It wasn’t his first time in my bed, but having sex was something new.

Once he approached my bed, he didn’t gently lay me down as any other man would. Baekhyun was different, and he literally threw me on it. I whined, but when Baekhyun climbed on top of me, I burst out giggling. He was adorable – propped on his elbows, positioned between my legs, lingering above me.

“Why are you giggling so much?” Baekhyun softly inquired, almost as if he was worried that somebody could hear us. “Tell me,” he demanded, and I just looked into his large, sparkly eyes, having no clue what I did to deserve that man. God, I loved him so, so much.

“I’m just super excited,” I added, pecking Baekhyun’s lips, hoping he’d understand that I wanted him to lean down and kiss my breath away. “Fuck me, Baekhyun,” I prompted, grinding my hips against Baekhyun’s growing erection.

“You’re so eager,” Baekhyun whispered, as he started to kiss my neck, slowly making his way down to my collarbones and breasts. The moment I felt his lips on my skin, I held my breath and bit my bottom lip; it was the beginning, and I didn’t want to become a moaning mess during the second base.

Skillfully, Baekhyun undid the rest of my shirt’s buttons what allowed him to nibble my skin all the way down to the waistband of my jeans. “Mm…” I purred in pleasure, as I raised myself from the mattress to discard my wrinkled shirt, letting Baekhyun admire my chest displayed in my best bra.

“You’re killing me, Princess,” Baekhyun said in a deep voice when he stopped his ministrations to look into my eyes. Per usual, they had a pinch of playfulness, but right now, it was mixed with thirst.

Impatiently, Baekhyun grabbed the hem of his V-neck T-shirt and pulled it over his head, tossing it over his shoulder. Finally, he started undressing, and I could admire his beautiful body. Baekhyun was skinny; he didn’t have the most defined abs, but I didn’t care. For me, he was the most handsome man I’d ever laid my eyes on.

“Come on, Baekhyun, I can’t wait any longer,” I rushed him, reaching for his belt to unbuckle it. “Strip for fuck’s sake,” I cursed, and Baekhyun smirked when I began undoing my jeans, earnestly yanking them down my thighs. I was impatient, and he loved my urgency.

“God, I love you so much,” Baekhyun confessed, as he mirrored my actions, and quickly returned to his previous position, but this time – completely naked. “Show me how much you love me,” he encouraged, and I, like under a spell, began to arch under him, rubbing my sex against his erection.

“Baekhyun,” I hissed when his forefinger touched my womanhood, gently pressing it against my clit. His touch was very delicate, and I was incredibly responsive – one flick of his finger, and I’d writhe. “Please, I’m so ready to feel you,” I said shamelessly, but Baekhyun only smirked as he continued to tease me with his digits.

“You’re beautiful,” Baekhyun said, and I, despite my low self-esteem, believed him. His voice was so powerful, and it took complete control over my body and my mind, and now, when under him, I felt like a queen.

With his mouth on my neck, sucking another hickey, Baekhyun thrust two fingers into my pussy, making me gasp for air. “Yes,” I whispered into his ear, trying to control my volume. “Fuck me with your fingers, please!”

“If you think that your dirty talk works on me, then you’re absolutely right,” Baekhyun said, as he started to rub my clit with his thumb. “I have to get you ready for my cock,” he added mischievously, curling his fingers inside of me.

“What about you, though?” I asked innocently, batting my eyelashes at him. I barely touched him, and his cock looked as if it needed my attention. I wanted to stroke it, to suck its tip, to make Baekhyun beg me to stop. I wanted to give him as much pleasure as he was giving me. “Let me take care of you,” I demanded, reaching to his length, only to have my hand smacked away.

“After I eat you out, Princess,” he spoke, his eyes fixated between my legs; my sex and his fingers were glistening with my arousal. Having sent me a silly smirk, he dove between my thighs, gently kissing my sensitive bud, almost sending me to overdrive.

“Fuck!” I screamed, kicking my head backward. His large hands were holding my thighs in their place, as his tongue rubbed against my sex. Baekhyun was giving me the best head of my life, and I was so greedy of his ministrations, I rocked my hips against his mouth with desperation. If he kept pleasuring me like that, I’d get off on his tongue, and I was sure he wanted me to come around him.

“Please,” I begged, holding my breath. My body was all hot, as the orgasm was approaching. His grip on my thighs tightened, and he still moved his tongue inside of me at a languid pace. “Baekhyun, please, stop, I’m coming,” I cried out, not caring whether he wanted me to come around his cock or his tongue.

“Don’t hold in your moans,” Baekhyun said, as he looked at up me, smiling cheekily. “Don’t be shy,” he added before he dove between my legs again, pushing his two fingers inside of me, sucking on my clit. Shamelessly, I moaned at the top of my voice, as Baekhyun touched me in the all right places. My body was all tensed, the orgasm was within my reach, and I was ready for it to surge through me. Biting on my bottom lip, muffling my moans, I grabbed the sheets when the wave of fire erupted within me, as I squeezed around Baekhyun’s fingers in absolute bliss.

“Baekhyun,” I murmured his name as I slowly came back to my senses after the mind-blowing orgasm. The sensation was so intense that my mind went blank – his name was the only word on the tip of my tongue which I could voice at the moment.

“Yes, princess” Baekhyun asked in a lighthearted tone, as he lay beside me, placing gentle kisses on my neck, waiting for me to regain my energy. His lips were teasing me, touching me like a feather, but I couldn’t care less; I felt too good to be annoyed.

“That was so…” I started, but I couldn’t finish; he fucked my brains out, and it was impossible for me to describe how good he made me feel. With my last three brain cells, I only knew how to moan his name. “Baekhyun, it was so…”

“You’re cute when you’re speechless,” Baekhyun admitted, and I didn’t even try to argue with him; it was obvious I stood no chance on outtalking him, so I only smiled like an idiot. “Tell me when you’re ready for my cock,” he whispered into my ear, as he gently caressed my skin; I was all sticky, but Baekhyun didn’t seem to mind. Carefully, his hand wandered all over my body, making me feel as if he was worshipping every curve of my figure.

For the very first time, I felt genuinely loved.

I used to think that dreams don’t come true, but now, my wish was lying beside me, and I couldn’t be any happier. With Baekhyun by my side, I had everything I wanted, and that feeling was deliberating.

“Mm…” I purred as I snuggled closer to him, hesitantly reaching for his cock.

“Mm… indeed,” Baekhyun chuckled silently, hiding his face in my hair, as he felt my fingers on his rock-hard cock. “That’s right. Show me how much you want me,” he encouraged, and I gripped his erection, giving it a few unsure strokes. “Come on, I know you can do it better,” Baekhyun teased, knowing it would make my grip tighter and strokes faster.

“Like that?” I asked innocently, but Baekhyun just pressed his face against the pillow as if he was embarrassed to moan. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who was sex-deprived and responsive to the gentlest of touches. “Am I doing it alright?” I inquired, although I knew he enjoyed my ministrations.

He wouldn’t be rocking his hips back and forth if he didn’t.

“Aaah…” Baekhyun hissed, as he abruptly lay on his back. “You’ll be the death of me,” he said, but I only smirked, straddling his thighs. “Is it a bit rich of me to ask you not to tease me and just go straight to the point?”

“Let’s say you’re lucky because I love you and I want you to come,” I answered honestly, giving up my chance to tease him. I’d love to tease him until his endurance, but at the same time, I thought of that bone-shattering orgasm he had given me, and I wanted to make him feel the same. Baekhyun said he loved me, so we had plenty of time to tease each other in the future.

Tonight, my priority was to serve him one of the best orgasms of his life.

Gently, I raised my hips and started to rub my sex against his cock, coating it with my arousal. The moment he felt me against him, his erection twitched.

“How do you feel about me riding you?” I asked him, and Baekhyun eagerly screamed yes. Smirking, I leaned forward, kissing him passionately. My tongue massaged his calmly, as my hips humped against his pulsating cock. “Oh, I am so stretched after your fingers that your thick cock would just slide right in,” I said, and Baekhyun placed his hands on my hips, trying to stop me, as I probably reached his patience limit.

“Why are you teasing me? You said you wouldn’t. You don’t love me anymore,” Baekhyun said, and I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore that snarky remark. I loved him so much; whenever I looked at him, I smiled, and my mouth started to hurt. I doubted my feelings for him could ever decline.

“Shut up, Baekhyun,” I spoke, as I reached for packaging of condoms which was waiting in my bedside table for an occasion like this. “Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?” I asked, as I carefully rolled the latex down his length.

“Right back at you, princess,” Baekhyun replied cockily, and I shook my head at him; how could he come up with his witty remarks in every situation? Even when I was about to jump on his cock and ride him, he had something to say to shut me up. “Oh, yes,” Baekhyun loudly moaned when I lowered myself on his shaft, “that’s right, you feel so good around my cock.”

“Oh shit, you fill me up so well,” I hissed when my walls squeezed around his cock. Slowly, I rocked my hips back and forth, adjusting to his size. Baekhyun rested on his back with his hands on my hips, helping me find the perfect rhythm.

“You’re so tight,” Baekhyun whined, and I giggled as I fucked him.

“Shit,” I cursed as I cocked my head backward when Baekhyun’s cock hit that right spot. Instantly, I swept Baekhyun’s hands off me and increased my tempo. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I moaned quietly, as I felt my orgasm was approaching.

“Don’t stop!” Baekhyun screamed, being probably louder than me. It wasn’t the wrong thing, though. His cock was stimulating my g-spot, and his moans were helping to get me off. His breath was quickened, his thrusts from beneath me were quick, and I just couldn’t hold my orgasm any longer.

I needed my release as much as Baekhyun needed his.

“I’m coming,” I panted, and Baekhyun groaned when he felt my walls squeeze around his throbbing erection. “I’m coming, Baek,” I screamed as I felt my body tense when my orgasm ripped me apart.

“Shit, princess, I –” Baekhyun moaned when he pushed his hips against me, releasing into the condom. “Fuck, it feels so nice,” he said when I collapsed on top of him, resting my head under his chin. His hands found purchase on my sides, as he pecked my temple.

“Yeah, it was worth waiting,” I said when I ghosted my fingertips across his chest. “But I still wished we hadn’t had to wait,” I added, and Baekhyun chuckled.

“I hope it rocked your life just as it rocked mine,” Baekhyun whispered, and I just grinned as I realized how perfect it was; we both made each other so happy, and it made me feel delirious. I wished we could stay on that cloud nine forever.

“What time do you have to get to work?” Baekhyun asked, pulling me out of my reverie. Right, tonight was Sunday, and tomorrow I had to show up at work. I guess it wasn’t that great idea to go on a date today; we had too little time to enjoy each other’s company to the fullest.

“I start at 7,” I said as I squinted to read the time from the clock. It was almost 1 o’clock. I was going to be screwed at work. “What about you?”

“Same,” Baekhyun replied, gently caressing my side. “What are you doing after work?” He asked, and I giggled, not knowing what to say. We had plenty of fun together, and Baekhyun looked forward to seeing me again.

“Actually, it’s pretty busy now,” I started vaguely, trying not to get too much into the details. I couldn’t tell Baekhyun I was planning to take a few days off to think through the drama which Jiwoo had caused. I didn’t want Baekhyun to get in the middle of it; it was better for him to stay out of it.

“So, I guess we’ll see each other on Tuesday,” Baekhyun concluded, and I furrowed my eyebrows, having no clue what he was implying. Had we made plans which I forgot? “I can’t believe that I’m saying it, but it’s actually the first time I’m excited about the wedding prep. Hongbin said we’re gonna choose cake.” He added, and I nodded, though I knew I wasn’t going to attend. Not after what I had seen. I just couldn’t lie to Hongbin about a matter of this magnitude. “Well… I mean I was excited multiple times because I knew I was going to see you, but this time is different because it’s about you and cake. You understand what I mean?”

“Of course, I understand,” I said with a genuine smile. Baekhyun was a sweet tooth, and he wouldn’t let a chance to have a piece of cake slip. Several pieces of many cakes, actually. He was going to be in the seventh heaven, and I felt sad because I knew I couldn’t join him and share my cake with him. He would have to survive with only one portion.

“It’s like two my favorite things in the universe – you and sweets,” Baekhyun whispered against my skin before he pressed his lips against mine in an innocent kiss. It was long and feather-light, but because of the emotions it conveyed – my heart skipped a beat.

If I had any doubts about his alleged feelings, now I was unconditionally sure that he was genuine.

“I wish we could stay forever in bed,” I confessed, hating the idea of waking up and going to work. I wished for this day to last longer because I really had no energy or any motivation to deal with the drama Jiwoo had stirred. I was in my paradise, but as soon as the sun would rise, my fantasy was to end. I couldn’t let them carry on, pretending that none of it had happened.

It was time for Jiwoo to take responsibility for her actions.

***

Saying ‘goodbye’ to Baekhyun in the morning was difficult, but since the two of us had work, he didn’t complain as much as he would usually do. In a rush, I put on some formal clothing and left my apartment, not wanting to be late. My boss wasn’t particularly friendly, and I didn’t want to get on her wrong side, especially when I was planning to take a few days off.

I had a plan in my head which I wanted to follow.

The first step was texting Jiwoo. I had to tell her that I knew about her mistake, and since talking to her face to face wasn’t an option, I opted for another solution. I’d just text her to inform her about what I had seen, resign from being her maid of honor, and ask her to confess her wrong-doings to Hongbin.

During my lunch break, I did what I was planning to do. It wasn’t the simplest thing I had ever done but it was a secret which I couldn’t keep. Twenty minutes later, I checked my phone to see if Jiwoo replied. Instead of texting me back, she left me on read, and I guessed that in this outcome it was good enough.

The second step was asking my boss for a few days off. Unwillingly, she agreed. It was the first time I had ever asked her that, so out of generosity, she complied with my request.

The third step was finding a quiet place to think everything over. At first, I wanted to take the money which I had been saving for Jiwoo’s wedding present, and go on a spontaneous trip somewhere where no one would find me, but given the amount I had managed to save up, it was impossible.

After a long inner debate, I settled on going to the spa. I had always associated this place with relaxation and composure, so it seemed ideal.

As soon as I had some free time, I made a phone call and booked a few services, packing my schedule for Tuesday with massages, face masks, and whatnot. I was to relax and clear my mind.

For the rest of the day, I made sure to finish all my projects so my boss wouldn’t call me during my free days. Besides, I didn’t like to leave things in pending. I felt much better because I didn’t have any past projects waiting for me, while new projects kept coming at the same time.

Refraining from calling Baekhyun was particularly challenging. He texted me a couple of times, telling me how excited he was about picking the cake, although he was super busy at work. I wanted to hear his voice, or interact with him properly, but I knew what was ahead of me, so I limited our interaction to the bare minimum. It was arduous but it needed to be done.

On Tuesday, I woke up around 10 o’clock. I had stayed late at work, and I had been exhausted when I had come back home. Lazily, I went to the coffee maker and turned it on. I was still tired, and I needed caffeine to help me.

I had to show up at the spa at 1 o’clock, so I still had plenty of time to get ready.

The Cutest Butt | 8:23 | what about a date after the cake tasting?

The Cutest Butt | 8:24 | I know it’s a weekday but I just want to take you to the movies

The Cutest Butt | 8:26 | what do you say???

It was adorable of him that he wanted to take me out, but I had other plans, so I had to turn him down. In the vaguest of ways, since he didn’t know that I wasn’t going to participate in the cake tasting. As soon as I poured coffee into a cup and added milk, I sat in a chair and wondered about my reply.

Me | 10:11 | sorry for not replying sooner

Me | 10:14 | let’s not make any plans

Me | 10:14 | we should go with the flow

Having replied to him, I silenced my phone, not desiring to be bothered. Jiwoo’s secret was gradually eating me from the inside, and I wanted to solve that dilemma as fast as it was possible. The only way I could achieve that was by cutting off contact with the outside. I could figure everything out only if I were left alone with my thoughts.

After I drunk my coffee, I got ready to leave.

Punctually, I arrived at the spa. With a polite smile, I greeted the receptionist, and he instructed me, so I had no trouble finding the right room.

Although I don’t particularly like when other people touch me, it felt nice to be massaged. The masseur was very skilled, and when he took good care of my body, I realized how tense I was.

At first, all I could focus on was pleasure caused by magical hands of the masseur. Only when he relieved me some pressure, and I got used to this feeling, my thoughts drifted to that unpleasant matter – Jiwoo’s infidelity.

From a bystander's point of view, it was simple – Jiwoo let another man drill her. In a healthy relationship, that kind of behavior was unacceptable. Having done it, Jiwoo proved that she’s not worthy of Hongbin’s love thus their hot affair should come to an end.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t a bystander but Jiwoo’s friend. It was my duty to support her no matter what. We had always been tight, and even when she had slept with Jungkook, it hadn’t broken us apart. As her friend, I was supposed to be loyal to her regardless of circumstances.

According to the role of a devoted friend, I should remain silent.

The matter was even more complicated, though. Somehow through the romantic acquaintance, Hongbin had become my friend as well, and it was only understandable that he deserved my loyalty, too. Maybe we weren’t as tight as Jiwoo and I, but he didn’t deserve being lied to. I just couldn’t let him spend the rest of his life with someone who had cheated on him so carelessly.

At this point, I wished I hadn’t caught her with that lap dancer. Everything would have been less problematic, and I wouldn’t have had conscience eating me from the inside. Jiwoo wasn’t perfect, but despite her flaws, she deserved happiness. The same was with Hongbin, though every plan of solving this situation seemed to deprive one of them of it.

Regardless of what I was or wasn't going to do, one of them was going to feel miserable; it wasn’t possible to take a cookie and eat a cookie – I needed to decide which one I was going to hurt in other to save the other, even though it might sting them both at the very beginning.

“Is there anything bothering you?” The masseur asked, sensing that I wasn’t getting any less tense. He was working on relieving my stress, but I wasn’t cooperating as terrible thoughts were running through my mind. “Just relax,” he instructed, and I rolled my eyes, biting my tongue before I said ‘easier said than done’ to him.

In between the treatments, I was intrigued to check my phone for any new calls or messages. It was tempting, but I expected the Pandora’s Box to have been opened, so I decided to enjoy the delightful ignorance. They had already met at the confectionery; therefore I suspected them to be confused as hell upon my absence or substitute.

Thankfully, I resisted the temptation.

Throughout the day I changed my mind about the matter almost every ten minutes. The situation referred to my friends, and making the final decision was hard as hell. Slowly my time was running out, and I didn’t come up with a solution.

I couldn’t ask anyone to guide me through it. The only person who came to my mind was Baekhyun, but I knew that his solution would be biased; he obviously favored Hongbin, whereas I learned how to like the lovebirds equally regardless of our history.

No matter how much I was thinking about that dilemma, I couldn’t find a solution which would satisfy both sides of the conflict. It was a vicious circle. Having pondered for over five hours, I didn’t come with any conclusion.

The only option was to judge Jiwoo’s actions with accordance to my morals. I had no idea what had made her fuck Wonho back then, but I knew that Hongbin deserved honesty.

I had to trust the facts.

I’ve always believed that the ugliest truth is better than the most beautiful lie, and if Jiwoo and Hongbin are really meant to be together, they will work it out somehow.

Hongbin has the right to know what Jiwoo had done at her bachelorette party.

My decision was final.

***

Around 8 o’clock, I returned home. Having made my decision, I felt mean, but my feelings only multiplied when I saw Baekhyun outside my doors. He was sitting on the floor with his back pressed against the doors, his knees bent, and his head low. Without any doubt, he was sad.

As soon as he noticed me, he jumped up to his feet, and stormed toward me.

“What the hell was that? I’ve been texting you the whole day! Why were you ignoring me? Is that true?” Baekhyun shouted, fuming because of my behavior.

What was true? Had Jiwoo confessed to her faults? Wow, I did not expect that.

“I’m sorry, I just have to think it through,” I answered, and Baekhyun’s expression swiftly transitioned from sad to furious. It was strange; did he really feel so mad when he found out about Jiwoo’s infidelity? No, it didn’t make any sense. “Wait, what do you mean?” I asked as I pulled out my phone out of my purse, curious what Baekhyun had texted me earlier.

The Cutest Butt | 15:47 | I’m stuck in traffic

The Cutest Butt | 15:48 | I’ll be late

The Cutest Butt | 15:48 | wait up for me, please

The Cutest Butt | 16:12 | wtf???

The Cutest Butt | 16:13 | who’s that chick, and why is she saying that she’s the maid of honor???

The Cutest Butt | 16:15 | what the hell happened???

The Cutest Butt | 16:16 | answer me as soon as you read it

The Cutest Butt | 18:38 | I talked to Hongbin

The Cutest Butt | 18:39 | is that true???

The Cutest Butt | 18:40 | how could you do it to me

I felt sick when I read these text messages. I had no idea what Baekhyun meant by any of it, but he seemed hurt by whatever Hongbin had told him. I had refused to participate in Jiwoo’s wedding, so she must’ve had come up with a story why I was dismissed from my position. However, now, with Baekhyun looking so devastated, I wondered what kind of bullshit she had told him.

“So everything we have gone through is a lie?” Baekhyun asked quietly, and I bit my bottom lip, as I stared into his eyes which were on the verge of watering. Whatever Hongbin had told him about me, it wasn’t right, and I had to explain this misunderstanding. I couldn’t lose Baekhyun over something I hadn’t done. It was Jiwoo’s fault, and I couldn’t let her mistakes ruin my life.

I shook my head, clueless about what I should say. It’s not what it looks like. Let me explain. You only need to hear me out. All of these lines which were suitable for my answer and cliché, and I knew Baekhyun wouldn’t listen to what I had to say if I used them. So instead, I decided to be blunt.

“Jiwoo had sex with a lap dancer during her bachelorette party I threw for her, and I caught her, and I texted her that I couldn’t be her maid of honor, and today I spent the entire day thinking if I should tell Hongbin about it. And I have no idea what she had told him, but it’s not true. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you in any way, and I hope you believe me.” I confessed on one breath, confusing Baekhyun since he didn’t expect to hear such breaking news.

“What?” Baekhyun asked in utter disorientation. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack,” I answered, faintly sending him a single smile. “Do you want to go inside? I don’t want to continue this conversation here,” I said as I looked around the corridor. Any time one of my neighbors could disturb us, and I didn’t want to get interrupted when discussing a matter of this magnitude; especially when Jiwoo probably painted me as a villain in her version of the story.

“Of course,” Baekhyun agreed, and we quickly got inside my apartment.

The first thing I did was to drop my bag and go to the kitchen to pour me and Baekhyun a glass of wine. I didn’t want to get drunk, but I had a feeling this conversation was going to make me mad, and a single glass of wine could help me remain calm. I had never liked chamomile tea anyway.

“OK, so tell me what I allegedly did,” I started as I handed Baekhyun his wine, and sat at the other side of the kitchen island. “Is it bad?”

Sighing, Baekhyun chugged the wine I had given him. “Hongbin told me what he heard from Jiwoo. According to her, she needed to replace you because you’ve always had romantic feelings for Hongbin, and she noticed them escalate recently. Jiwoo said that you only agreed to be her maid of honor hence you could be around Hongbin and eventually steal him away.” Baekhyun explained, and my jaw dropped. This was ridiculous; ever since I had met them, I had always been attracted to Baekhyun. “Is that true? Did you use me, so I could be your cover?”

I should feel offended by his accusations, and mad at Jiwoo for sowing a seed of doubt in his head. However, I also understood Baekhyun; we just started officially dating, so he’s probably extra cautious about our relationship. In that state of mind, it’s not difficult to manipulate people’s feelings.

“Do you believe in what I said?” I asked straightforwardly, a bit afraid to hear his answer. No matter how ridiculous my infatuation in Hongbin sounded, Baekhyun had no reason to discredit that option. Right now, it was my word against Jiwoo’s, and Baekhyun was torn apart.

“I don’t know,” Baekhyun said honestly. Unlike me, he didn’t have an entire day to think everything through; he was caught in the middle of that shitstorm. Moreover, he was expected to pick a side almost as soon as he heard both sides of the conflict.

“How could I be attracted to Hongbin when I was having heart-eyes at you ever since I met you?” I asked rhetorically, as I chuckled drily. I was interested in Baekhyun ever since Hongbin had introduced him to me. Jiwoo’s story about my infatuation didn’t make any sense.

“I must admit that your version makes more sense to me.” Baekhyun started, and I couldn’t stop a smile which stretched across my face. He believed in me, and even if he had doubts, he didn’t jump into any conclusion. He wanted to hear me out, and make up his mind cautiously. “I mean, it’s not the first time Jiwoo cheated, right? You told me she slept with your boyfriend.”

I didn’t want to return to that chapter of my life, but Baekhyun was right. Old habits die hard, so I had to assume that Jiwoo hadn’t changed that much after all.

“I took a few days off to think about it, and I decided to tell Hongbin the truth.” I started, as I poured us more wine. “But now, when Jiwoo lied about me, he might not believe me. It’s my word against hers, and I’m sure he’s going to trust his fiancée and not a girl who supposedly can do anything to break them apart, so she can have him all for herself.”

Because of what Jiwoo had said him, Hongbin probably wouldn’t understand my pure intentions. Right now, if I snitched on Jiwoo, he’d think I only wanted to ruin her flawless image so I could steal him away. In his head, I must’ve been a snake waiting for a perfect moment to bite. Because of lies which Jiwoo had fed him with, I was sure he wouldn’t believe me.

“What should I do?” I asked Baekhyun, feeling helpless, hoping that he knew how to save the situation. When Jiwoo had given me a role in this conflict, Baekhyun was the only person who wasn’t directly caught up in it. Maybe he could advise me. “At first, I wanted to tell Hongbin everything because I felt he deserved to know the truth. Right now, I’m outrageously mad at Jiwoo. Is it evil of me that I want her to suffer?”

“Come here,” Baekhyun simply said, as he waited for me with open arms. “As I said, I’m surprised you managed to stay friends with her after she slept with your boyfriend.” He whispered as he hugged me tightly, kissing my temple. “If you want, I can call Hongbin and arrange a meeting, so you could explain everything to him properly. He deserves to know the second side of this story.”

“Do you really think he’d believe me?” I inquired, staring into his eyes, but Baekhyun only smiled at me and pecked my lips, and I instantly knew it couldn’t be that bad with him by my side. Even the situation seemed terrible, Baekhyun’s support made me feel better. He was a single ray of sunshine in the darkest day, and I couldn’t believe in my luck of finding that man.

“It’s their life, not yours.” Baekhyun quietly started while caressing my back to show me his comfort. “You wanted to help him, and even if he doesn’t listen to you, it shouldn’t matter. If he really wants to be with her despite your accusations, you should let him make that mistake.”

“Okay, I’ll do that,” I murmured as I snuggled closer to Baekhyun.

“And don’t let Jiwoo or Hongbin dominate your life. If their problem, not yours. After the confrontation, just focus on your happiness. You can’t spend your life pleasing other people. Well… you can, but the only person you can please is me – obviously.”

“You can’t be serious even in one conversation, can you?”

“I can, but you looked like you needed a mood boost,” Baekhyun admitted, and I chucked loudly, already feeling better. “Besides you started it.” He added, and I furrowed my eyes in confusion, having no clue what he was referring to. “Did you seriously set ‘The Cutest Butt’ as my name in your contact list?” Baekhyun teased, and I playfully hit his arm in embarrassment. “Not gonna lie, I love it.”

***

The very next day, Baekhyun arranged the meeting with Hongbin. Officially, they were supposed to meet up for a gaming night at Baekhyun’s apartment – in order to Hongbin not suspect a thing, Baekhyun proposed something they did almost every week.

“Why am I stressed?” I asked Baekhyun, as I paced around his apartment, feeling much more nervous than I had ever been. My hands were shaking, and my stomach was hurting. I hated that feeling.

“Relax, you know Hongbin. He’s not the type to get too emotional.” Baekhyun tried to calm me down, but it wasn’t as effective as any of us hoped for. “He’ll listen to you, I know that much.”

“You better be right,” I said, though I wasn’t convinced. “I better check the pizza, I don’t want to burn it,” I added, excusing myself so I could check up on the pizza I was making. The moment I opened the oven, I heard knocking.

Hongbin had always been punctual.

Quickly, I got the pizza out of the oven, wiped my hands in my trousers, and went to the living room to greet Hongbin. Unfortunately, he wasn’t alone. Jiwoo must’ve suspected something, so she tagged along as if she was afraid there could be a trap.

“What the hell is she doing here?” Jiwoo angrily asked as soon as she noticed me leave the kitchen. In a very protective manner, she took a step forward, standing in front of Hongbin almost as if she was afraid I’d throw myself at him. “How can you still hang out with that wench? She used you to get closer to Hongbin. Can’t you see how obvious that is?” Jiwoo said in a worried voice, and I had to try my best not to burst to laugh.

“Jiwoo, relax,” Hongbin murmured, trying to calm her down. “She may have indecent intentions, but she didn’t do anything,” Hongbin added, but Jiwoo didn’t stop pretending to be very concerned. “Besides, I’d never cheat on you. I have always been loyal to you, and I’m going to remain loyal to you until the day I die.” Hongbin confessed, and kissed her cheek before he walked around her to properly greet Baekhyun.

“I’m sorry that I can’t say the same thing about your fiancée,” I interjected before Jiwoo would dominate the conversation, diss me, and force Hongbin to leave. It wasn’t the purpose of today’s meeting. It was about the hurtful truth.

“What do you mean?” Hongbin asked as he looked at me, and then at Jiwoo who was still in the middle of her impeccable performance. I couldn’t believe that she could stand there, stare into his eyes, and not falter. “Jiwoo; what is she saying?”

“I’m saying that she fucked one of the strippers during her bachelorette party,” I spoke, not even bothering to sugar-coat the truth. “I caught her in the bathrooms. I really wanted you to be happy together, but I just can’t let her lie to you.” I added, and Baekhyun walked up to me to hold my hand, as he sensed that I needed his support.

“What is going on?” Hongbin asked as he was still in shock after I revealed Jiwoo’s secret. “Is that true?” Hongbin turned to Jiwoo, and she quickly refused by shaking her head.

“Of course not, I told you about her,” Jiwoo spoke, and unless Baekhyun held me by his side, I might’ve run up to her to scratch her face off. I couldn’t fathom how she could lie to him so effortlessly. I had a feeling it was difficult to face the consequences, but since she possessed the courage to jump a random guy’s dick, she also should have some strength left to admit to her errors.

“Can’t you see that she’s trying to destroy our relationship? Before our engagement, she told me that she got rid of the feelings she had for you, but I stayed cautious. At first, I believed her that she started to like Baekhyun, but even then, I didn’t fully trust her. I knew that at some point she’d try to double-cross me, and it happens now.” Jiwoo spat, and I listened to her bullshit, fuming, purple with rage. “I’ve never told you about it, but back in college, I caught her having sex with my boyfriend.”

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

Excuse her? How could she say that? How could she manipulate the facts so easily?

“Oh, no, you did not say that!” I shouted as I tried to wriggle out of Baekhyun’s grip. “Let me go, I can’t stand here like that when she’s trying to pin her faults on me!” I yelled, yanking my arm free. “She’s lying! She fucked the stripper last week, and she fucked my boyfriend then!” I stated with a raised voice, hoping that Hongbin could detect bare honesty in my tone.

“Why are you doing this? Why can’t you let me be happy? Hongbin will never be yours, when will you get that shit in your head?” Jiwoo stated, making me more enraged with every toxic word that left her vile mouth. “He doesn’t love you and he never will!”

“Is that true?��� Baekhyun asked, and my heart broke when I heard his voice. No, it wasn’t possible. It wasn’t happening. Her venom couldn’t get to Baekhyun. No, he trusted me. Baekhyun knew better not to believe in anything that she said. Yes, she was convincing, but it was just lies.

Obviously mad, Baekhyun stared at me, and I looked away. His beautiful eyes lost its usual hint of playfulness, being replaced with disappointment and sadness. The revelation broke him.

That was enough. I had let Jiwoo bully me way too long. I could live with that, but Baekhyun was off limits. She messed with his feelings, and I wasn’t going to let it slide. It was fine as long as she was messing with me, but Baekhyun was someone I cared too much, and I wasn’t going to tolerate that kind of behavior. Jiwoo knew that he was my weakness which I didn’t want to involve in this mess.

“Not only you know how to manipulate facts, but you can manipulate people, too. Wow, I’m impressed. I guess you didn’t completely waste time when you were majoring in psychology.” I started, dangerously calm. I was driven by rage, and my voice didn’t even break once.

“Hongbin, I tried to do you a favor, but instead of helping you, I just lost my closest friends.” I started, as I looked him in his eyes. Now, I only wanted to voice my thoughts, and I couldn’t care any less about being blunt. They had it coming. “If you want to marry that filthy lying bitch, I can’t forbid you that. I can only hope you’ll realize what kind of monster you chose to be your wife. If you’re really that stupid to fall for her lies, you fucking deserve each other.”

“Jiwoo, I’m really offended that you value our friendship so little that you pinned your faults on me. You don’t deserve him, and I hope this thought will haunt you forever. Even if they don’t believe me, you know what you did.”

“Baekhyun, I have always been genuine with you, but if you believe her, then I think we should stop seeing each other. You said that Jiwoo’s lies don’t affect my life, but they just did, so it was nice being with you even if it only lasted for two days.”

“Now, that everything’s been said, I wish you hell,” I added, and with that, I stormed out of Baekhyun’s apartment. Whatever they decided to do, it wasn’t my problem anymore.

***

As soon as I left Baekhyun’s apartment, I took a few series of deep breaths. The conversation, or rather the monolog was stressful and tiring, and I felt a huge relief when I escaped that toxic place full of destructive people.

I didn’t expect Baekhyun to run after me, and he, in fact, didn’t, but I still felt a bit of disappointed. I had always been there when he needed my aid, but now, when I needed support, he was brainwashed with plenty of Jiwoo’s lies.

Regardless of how difficult for me it was going to be, I made up my mind to forget about him. I hadn’t wanted him to stand up for me – his support would be enough. Having that, I could do anything. I knew that without him, at first, it would sting a little, but further in the future, I was going to be just fine.

I am my own person, and I was planning to live my own life.

For the rest of the week, I used the same routine. In the afternoons, I was trying new Tasty recipes, and in the evening, I was meeting my friends over a couple of drinks. On Friday, it got a bit tedious, but I needed to contact my other friends who weren’t venomous snakes.

During that healing time, I had a lot of fun, and I didn’t cry once. I couldn’t blame myself for their wrong judgment, and I wasn’t going to cry because of them. Instead, I chose to put my new found energy to good use. I caught up with my friends, and I relaxed before work.

On Saturday, I met with my high school friends. It was enjoyable, but they were as solemn as they had been in high school, so we finished our meeting around 11 o’clock. It was a bit disappointing because I didn’t want to leave yet, but no matter what I had tried, I couldn’t have convinced them to stay.

I didn’t hurry to come back to my place, but when I reached it, I wished I had stayed for another round. Baekhyun wasn’t the last person I wanted to see, but it wasn’t the meeting I yearned to have, either. Did he not get the message? I was done with him.

“Just go home, Baekhyun,” I said trying to ignore him. For the past week, I managed to focus on other things, and I knew it was going to be difficult if he’d randomly show up at my doors. “I don’t want to see you,” I added, as I turned my back to him, trying to find keys to my apartment.

“Let’s talk,” Baekhyun offered, but I just snorted.

“There’s nothing to talk about. Everything has been already said,” I bitterly answered.

“I’m sorry it took me so long, but I want you to know that I chose you,” Baekhyun started to speak, although I told him not to do that. He was annoying. Couldn’t he get a hint that I didn’t want to interact with him? I literally told him to leave me alone.

“I didn’t want you to choose,” I talked back, not even considering that my worlds might hurt him. “Everything is over, Baekhyun. Just move on. You’re Hongbin’s best friend, you can’t leave him. You still can be the fantastic threesome with him and Jiwoo.” I quickly opened the doors of my apartment and slipped in, but Baekhyun grabbed the edge of the doors and yanked them open before I managed to close them behind me.

“Just shut up and listen,” Baekhyun ordered, as he walked inside of my apartment without my permission. “I know I messed up. I should’ve done something.”

“But you didn’t, so you missed your chance,” I spat, crossing my arms across my chest. “Goodbye, Baekhyun. It was lovely seeing you.”

“I gave up being the best man,” Baekhyun announced, but that didn’t shock me. He wasn’t the smartest man alive, but at least he had enough intellect to get out of that dramatic circle. “I wondered what I had said to you, and I decided to listen to my own advice. I’m going to put my happiness above anything else, and the only person who can make me really happy is you.”

“Yeah, right,” I snorted stubbornly, as I turned around to face him. Baekhyun was just as handsome as I remembered, and he was looking at me the way that used to make my legs weak.

“I've always believed you,” Baekhyun confessed, and before I managed to retort, he pressed his forefinger against my lips, shushing me. “I don’t care about what Hongbin thinks about you or this situation; I just know that I want to be with you. I don’t need anyone’s approval to be with you. I want to take you on dates, I want to kiss you. I even want to watch these stupid TV shows with you. I just can’t let you leave me. Not when I know that you still love me.”

“No,” I wanted to disagree, but Baekhyun once again shushed me.

“Shut up,” he sternly warned me, but as soon I firmly closed my mouth, Baekhyun started to chuckle. “Kiss me, princess,” he ordered, and I must’ve lost my mind because I pressed my lips against his in no time. Baekhyun knew which buttons to push to get me back.

“From now on, it’s only you and me, okay?” I asked as I pulled away. Smiling at me, Baekhyun stared into my eyes, his playfulness back, and nodded his head.

“It does sound like a dream to me,” Baekhyun replied and pulled me into his tight embrace.

[weirdochick56]

Enhanced- Bucky Barnes Chapter Four

Bucky Barnes x Mutant!Reader

Warnings: A violent scene is described in this chapter. A tiny bit of angst. 

Disclaimers: I don’t own any MCU characters/plots mentioned.

Word Count: 2, 484 words

(Gif’s not mine!)

Read Chapter Three Here!!

***

The darkness that surrounded you was serene. Calm and welcoming almost. You expected it to be cold and dark, but...it’s warm and enlightening. You figure it’s because you feel a part of the darkness.  

It took you in, accepted you and embraced your every flaw. From the ones engraved on your soul to the ones decorating your skin and mind. 

It didn’t push, it didn’t expect anything of you, thus it didn’t pressure you.

 You felt safe and at peace as our body floated in never-ending blackness. You were alone, but you didn’t feel like it.

 Suddenly, a strong force came in the opposite direction and sucked you through a small hole. A light. 

You release a gut-wrenching scream and your eyes fly open. 

It all happens so fast. You sit up and gasp, taking in a huge gulp of air, as much as you lungs could take in one breath.

 A bright light hits you directly in the eyes, forcing you to release a small groan and screw them shut, laying back down. Then your hearing tunes in.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

The beeping has become erratic. You cautiously open your crusty, dry eyes when you hear shuffling beside you, something warm is moving your hand.

When you look over, your head still hazy, the first thing you see is Bucky. His eyes are wide and his mouth is moving erratically, but you can’t seem to make out anything he’s saying. 

You squint your eyes, trying to read his lips. And then your ears zoom into his words. “...okay?”

“What?” says the words hurt your throat. They’re weak and cracking. 

He grips your hand tighter, his eyes glossy with unshed tears. “I’m going to get you a doctor okay?” He doesn’t wait for you to answer before releasing your hand and running out of the room.

“Bucky wa-” your hand is left outstretched towards the doorway.

*

“Okay miss Y/l/n. It seems all your vital signs are just about right.” The doctor, a chubby middle-aged man with a retreating hairline, smiles sympathetically at you. 

You nod stiffly, shifting your gaze over to Bucky, who’s leaning on a wall all the way on the other side of the room, his arms crossed over his chest and his concerned eyes trailed on you. Once your gazes meet, he’s quick to look away. 

The doctor clears his throat, gaining your attention and looking between you two. “I’ll leave you to rest then. I’ll be back in a few hours.” He throws Bucky a small smile and nods then leaves, closing the door lightly behind you.

“Why did you do it?” As soon as the door closes, Bucky blurts out the seemingly pressing question.

Your head snaps towards him and you frown. “Buck-”

“No,” he stalks over to you, his jaw clenched. “Why Y/n? I-I just. I-I n-” he pauses his breaking speech and lets a small sigh leave his lips, closing his eyes tightly. 

Your heart squeezed painfully in your chest. He finally opens his eyes, they’re damp, his jaw clenched so hard, it’s difficult to believe it wasn’t broken by now. 

“I need to know why y-you’d ever even consider-”

You interrupt him, your voice soft. “C-can we not talk about this? I,” you swallow the lump in your throat. “ I don’t feel comfortable.”

He grips the corners of your bed tightly, his knuckles turning white and his eyes set on your bandaged wrists, which you self-consciously hide from his view. “Y/n, you almost died. You can’t really expect me-”

You look him in the eyes, your own pleading. “Please Bucky.”

He scoffs, hangs his head and nods. His response is but a whisper. “Fine.” 

You sag at his compliant response, relief flooding you. After a second of tense silence, you decide to break it.

“Where is everybody?” 

He throws you a look, conveying the fact that he knew you were trying to change the subject, but true to his word doesn’t comment on it. “They’re waiting outside. You scared us doll.” He looks you in the eye then chuckles humorlessly. 

You hate to admit it, but you had were disappointed he hadn’t been personally affected by the whole ordeal. You know it’s wrong to feel this way, and you feel horrible about it, but you also can’t help it. 

Biting your lip, you elude his gaze, fiddling with the paper-thin hospital sheets laying on you. “That wasn’t my intention. I thought no one would notice.” Your last sentence is uttered reluctantly, scared of Bucky’s reaction to your confession.

Bucky lets out a small, incredulous scoff. “Not your intention Y/n? Y-you...are you kidding me? Did you really think no one would notice that you-” the vein in his neck is sticking out. He runs his hand through his face, a frustrated habit of his. Then his gaze flickers back to you, significantly softer and filled concern. 

“Do you know what it was like to find you laying in that bathroom floor, Y/n?” he swallows thickly, clearly pushing back tears. “I,” he holds his hands out, staring at them with a terrified glance. “I held your limp body in my hands. There was blood everywhere. Your blood, on me.” He looks down at himself. You suck in a sharp breath. 

He fists his hands and closes his eyes painfully. “And the worst part? I saw the life leave your eyes. I kept begging you to stay with me. Not to leave because,” his hand snakes into yours. You squeeze his hand tightly, holding back tears of your own. He seemed to understand what you meant and continued speak in a broken voice. “Because the thought of you dead, Y/n, terrified me. Lord knows I need you.” A single tear slides down his cheek, leaving a small wet trail on his cheek.

He doesn’t make a move to wipe it away, his eyes trained on you. He stares into your eyes and you do the same, ignoring your racing heart in the process, and searching for any type of sign that he was lying. But you can’t find anything that wasn’t sincerity and painful indignation in them. 

Your breath hitches in your throat at his words. What did he mean he needs you? You only just started talking. 

And yet, as you asked yourself the question, you realize, James Buchanan Barnes is the only person that could understand what you’d gone through. He might not know what it was, but he had the look. The one of someone tortured by their past. The same look you had. 

Maybe James Buchanan Barnes cared and trusted you enough to see this side of him because you and he were so similar. 

Maybe James Buchanan Barnes and you were destined to meet. 

***

A few hours fly by. Bucky leaves and the rest of the Avengers suddenly invade your hospital room. His still words float around in your brain a dozen times more. And you blush profusely, trying to repress the small smile you’d always feel creeping onto your face. It wasn’t of much help.

“Y/n?! Oh my God, you scared me!” Wanda rushes over as soon as her eyes land on you and tugs you into a bone-crushing hug. She buries her face into your hair. “Don’t ever do that again, please.” You smile and pat her back, holding back the urge to reciprocate her worried statement with one reminding her you couldn't possibly promise her that. 

Then, Tony runs over, taking your hands into his, his eyes stare at you with such heartbreaking sadness, it’s hard to not feel guilty.  “Oh, Buttercup...I’m so sorry.” 

You gulp, nodding and offering a forced smile. He looks like he wants to say more, but doesn’t do anything further. Something you're incredibly thankful for.

One by one, the Avengers offer you hugs and Thor even brought you a huge teddy bear, stating “So you don’t feel lonely at night Lady Y/n.” Your heart warms at their words and caring gestures. 

It’s sad, but you’d never felt more a part of the team than now. 

Steve and Bucky are nowhere in sight, which only serves to sadden and worry you. But you push those feelings aside, focusing on the lightening mood the rest of the Avengers had created in your small hospital room. 

Finally, the question burning deep in your brain you frown. “Hey, guys? Where are Bucky and Steve?” 

The room immediately goes silent and your eyebrows only plunge lower. The Avengers look at eachother. “What?”

Tony looks over at you, sighing. “They’re...talking outside.”

You raise a brow. “Why do I get the feeling you’re lying?” 

Tony lets out another sigh, looking directly at Natasha, who widens her eyes generously and shakes her head. You scoff. 

“You know, for a super spy you aren’t very sneaky Nat.” Her head snaps over to you and she smiles sheepishly. 

“Where are they?”

Tony lets his shoulders sag, defeated. “They- Y/n. I’m gonna tell you-”

“Tony, don’t,” Natasha warns.

Tony dismisses her with his hand, then turns back to you. “But you have to promise me you won’t leave this room if I do.”

You huff. “Deal. Now spill.”

“Steve and Bucky...are,” Tony swallows, seeming regretful about opening his mouth. You glare at him. 

“They’re what Tony?”

Tony presses his lips together. “Well, you know, it started out as a small discussion then,” he shrugs. “They started getting a little more aggressive with eachother and-”

“Tony.”

“Well Bucky, sort of, kind of,-”

“Tony!”

Tony jumps, startled. 

Thor laughs loudly from behind him. “I think what the man of iron is trying to express in words lady Y/n, is that the soldier for the colder seasons drepa the captain.

When all you offer as a response is small, confused look, he grins amusedly, clarifying. “Or as you Americans would like to call it; Bucky snapped Steve in half like a twig.”

Your eyes widen in alarm and you rush to take off your blanket. “He what? W-where are they? Is anyone seriously hurt?” 

Tony’s eyes widen with urgency and Natasha is quick to cut in, her voice, as usual, monotone. “I think Thor’s being a little dramatic.”

Thor glares at her, “Hey!”

Natasha continues, disregarding his small protest. “Bucky didn’t kill Steve. He just...roughed him up a bit.” She shrugs nonchalantly. 

“Uh, you call giving him a broken nose, two fractured ribs, and a black eye, roughing him up?” Tony puts his fingers in quotes and throws her an incredulous look.

“What?”

“Okay, maybe it was a bit harsh, but Steve deserved it,” Natasha admits. 

“Guys.”

“I agree, he was being a dick to Y/n. But did you see the way he jumped on Steve when he mentioned Y/n? It was so slick!” Wanda gushes with a small smirk.

“Guys.”

Thor snickers. “It was one of the most savage yet satisfying things my old Norseman eyes have ever had the pleasure of seeing.”

Tony turns to him, horrified. “You find this amusing, Thor?! He could’ve killed him!”

“Oh come on Tony. Don’t be overdramatic, Steve is strong enough,” Clint scoffs. 

“Guys!” All their heads snap towards you and growl. 

“What the fuck happened between them?!” 

***

BUCKY’S POV (A FEW HOURS EARLIER)

I step out of Y/n’s hospital room, my heart beating at a rapid pace. Goddamn it. Why did she have to make me feel so damn vulnerable?

I look up just to find Steve standing there, the rest of the team close behind, and a concerned look etched on his face as he headed for Y/n’s door. 

“Bucky. You were with her in the ambulance, have they told you anything?”

I can hear him talking to me. I can even see his facial muscles and his mouth moving, but I couldn’t register anything he was saying. All I could really hear and see was red. The more he talks, the angrier I get. 

“Is she okay?”

That registered at least. I clench my teeth and fist my hands. 

Steve frowns. “Buck?”

“Leave.” Is all I growl, refusing to let him so much as look at Y/n’s door. 

“What-”

“I said; leave.” I’m now standing nose to nose with him, anger pulsing through my veins like never before. 

Steve clenches his jaw. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you Bucky, but I’m gonna go see Y/n. So if you’ll excuse me,” just as Steve tries to sidestep me I beat him to it and push his chest back. 

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me is that that girl in there,” I throw my thumb over my shoulder aggressively. “Has been through hell and back. She doesn’t need you to remind her of why she did what she did.” Steve swallows thickly but continues looking at me evenly, refusing to back down. “Leave, man. This is the last time I’m gonna say it. You don’t deserve to see her.” I glance at the team. “In fact, none of you do. You did this to her.”

Steve scoffs. “No, Bucky. Y/n did this to herself it was her choice.”

I can see Tony cringe from the corner of my eye. Wrong choice of words Steve. 

I look at him calmly. “Say that again. I dare you.”

Steve squares his shoulders and puffs his chest. “I said; we had no influence in Y/n’s choice. She was the one who decided to-”

I didn’t wait for him to finish, pounding on him and bringing my fist down onto his face. I heard a sickening crack come from his nose but I didn’t stop, punching at everything I could get my knuckles on. “It’s...all...your...fault.”

Honestly, I don’t know where the hell I got the strength to take Captain America down in one move and on top of that be beating him to a pulp, but right now I don’t care.

He finally manages to push me off him, his face bloody and his breaths coming in labored pants. Nurses and doctors are rushing over to see what the commotion was all about. 

I don’t wait for them, dodging the aiding Avengers’ hands with a level of stealth even I didn’t know I had. I was so angry. I kick him in the ribs, ignoring his painful grunts, and sit on his stomach, my hands lunging for and tightly gripping his throat. 

I could only see red flashing behind my lids. I was pissed, sure, but I would never kill Steve, not really.

Steve continues to scratch at my hands and the rest of the Avengers are trying to pry me off. I scowl. “I should kill you for what you did, but I won’t. Believe it or not, Y/n would never forgive me for it. Even after you hurt her so much.” Then I stood up, ripped my arms from the team’s grips and stormed off, bumping my shoulder harshly with Natasha’s on my way out. 

Read Chapter Five Here!!

***

Okay, here it is folks!!

I honestly need a Bucky in my life, lol.

Anywho, as always reply, request, send asks about ANYTHING you want to ask me.

A Special Thanks To:

@jessikared97 @sherlockedtash88 and @lilypalmer1987 my brave-souled forevers! (lol)

As well as:

@wantingtobekorra

@littlephoenix-fire

@burningcoffeetimetravel

@superwholockwannabe

@babyplutoszx2

@stydia-4-ever

@animegirlgeeky 

@moli1497 -my lovely “Enhanced” people.

[okimargarvez]

THE MAGIC IF

Original title: The magic if.

Prompt: Penelope plays Ophelia in Amlet.

Warning: none.

Genre: comedy, funny, romantic.

Characters: Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez.

Pairing: Garvez.

Note: part 49 in Garvez canon Life.

Legend: 💑😘.

Song mentioned: none

1- This story is ispirated by my passion for theater, considering the fact Penelope joined a theater groupe... I had to write this. I’ve written it during the course of History of English Theater, dedicated on Shakespeare and especially on Amlet. They showed us different shows of Amlet, one incentrated on Ophelia character. 2- I love Luigi Pirandello with every inch of my heart. 3- My boyfriend understands nothing about theater and art at all. I think Luke has the same problem. 4- The magic if is obvious relative to Stanislavskij system.

GARVEZ STORIES

THE MAGIC IF

 -I don’t like it at all.- she barely holds back a laugh, looking away from the frown of her boyfriend. -Among all the dramas, you had to choose just that one?- he drives her crazy when he shows jealous. He's too soft, it reminds her of what Kevin did with Derek, only that she didn’t think that also one like his current boy could do such paranoia.

-Do you know it's just fake?- it's not the first time they've dealt with a similar theme. -It's not me the one that will kiss Carl, Ophelia and Hamlet will make love.- she takes his hands and sits down next to him on the bed. -Luke, do you think I could ever be attracted, I mean seriously attracted, by another man, when I got all this well of God available?- the man's pouting melts when he hears her use that explicit and provocative flirting tone.

-I'm not the only man in the universe, unfortunately.- he replies, chuckling. -And I don’t want another guy to put his dirty hands on you. I really had to find a theater lover, damned?- she hits him on the shoulder.

After all the dramas that I forced you to see with me you haven’t yet understood that it's all a wonderful illusion?- inside him he knows that the woman is right, but this doesn’t change the elementary fact that he is jealous about the idea that she kisses another man, whether it's for fake or not. But how can the engaged couples, the wives of the actors handle these things? And those who have to play even more burning scenes? Better not to think about it. Fortunately for him, her is just a hobby. -Everything depends on the magic if. You know that game you were doing as children, let's pretend that... and we became trees, little birds, whatever we wanted? It is essentially based on that. I have to think, eat, move as if I were Ophelia, I have to get into her head. And when I go on stage, I'm not your girlfriend anymore, I'm not Penelope, I'm not a computer analyst. I cease to be myself to leave my body to another being, a spirit that after almost five hundred years still has much to say.- Luke looks at her with a confused expression.

-This thing stinks as mysticism. What does it mean that you have another into you? You are... possessed?- he pronounces this adjective with a strange, almost frightened, indeed horrified tone. Too many years of Catholic upbringing bring with them such traps, things that can hardly be understood by those who grew up in such a different culture, like the American one. This is why many people had failed to understand why the priest who was the protagonist of I confessed hadn’t said what he had been told by the real killer and preferred to carry this weight on his shoulders, rather than breaking this so-called seal of the confessional. Hitchcock was European and Catholic. But she is wandering also in her thoughts; Penelope strives to return to reality.

-In fact yes, some scholars and men of the theater speak of possession.- he opens up even more his wonderful brown eyes and for a moment Penelope is lost, contemplating them. -I imagine that you have never heard of Luigi Pirandello.- his vague expression confirms her thought. -It was a writer and man of Italian theater, at the turn of the twentieth century. Yet I'm sure that at least once you've heard someone say "There are more masks than faces, on the street" or something like that... well, it's one of his quotes.- Luke can’t help but be fascinated by the enthusiastic tone with which she explains everything inherent in the world of theater. It had already been a shock to find that long ago she had been part of a company, with the express purpose of exorcising the murder attempt she had suffered. And certainly, he hadn’t reassured when he had described in detail the plot of that show.

-And how do you know an Italian writer and playwright of the last century?- he raises an eyebrow. It is clear that he couldn’t hold back his jealousy. Anything to do with Italy makes him automatically think of Kevin, the mysterious man with whom his Penelope had spent at least four years. And as long as he doesn’t know him, he will remain a shadow and appear to him far more threatening than he really is.

-Well, one person in my company mentioned it and... you know how I am, so curious, so I did a search on the Internet at home and then I went to one of those bookstores in the suburbs, those full of dust... and I took all the American editions of his novels and plays. It's really very fascinating.- he nods, looking at her as she settles the collar of her dress. In addition to being an actress, she has the task of the seamstress, given her passion for sewing as well. Her hands move skillful and precise.

-Are you sure that Ophelia had such neckline?- she can’t help herself, but she laughs at his frown. She feels him behind her and turning in his direction. -I would have definitely preferred if you had followed the original script...- he mumbles.

-Hey, Luke, you know what?- he shakes his head. -Carl can’t come to every rehearsal, so, you know... I'll have to practice with another man.- immediately he frowns, not understanding where she wants to go. -Do you think you are willing to make this sacrifice?- she smiles mischievously, playing with the necklace that ends exactly between her breasts.

-Uh, I... yes, I think I can do it. But I'm terribly slow to learn the lines. We will have to repeat the scenes many, but many times...- he approaches the female face. Penelope chuckles, while their noses touch each other. She closes her eyes, as she kisses him, her head full of their gasping breaths that in a moment fog up the glass of the mirror, given the poor size of the improvised dressing room in which they are. She struggles to hold back as much as possible, but then she feels his hand, this time yes, very cold, palpate her breasts and just can’t contain a moan of pleasure.

Someone knocks at the door, making them jump. -Hey, you two, in there!- a deep, male voice. Even Luke recognizes him, he plays Horatio. -Did you have cuddle each other enough? In five minutes, we have to start the rehearsals.- and then steps that means he is gone. Both burst out laughing, looking into each other's eyes for a few seconds and starting over.

-Are you satisfied now? I will not be able to look at any of them anymore.- but she is not really angry as she would to seem. -In a moment the whole building will know everything.- he seems much less worried.

-Well, you can say we were just trying to dig into your unconscious, to shape a believable character.- Luke shrugs. -It seems perfectly normal, many movie actors working in this way.- she doesn’t know whether to punch him or start kissing him again.

-You... you are tremendous. And you wanted to make me believe you didn’t know anything about theater! Method hot actor or cold actor? Stanislavskij or Diderot? The eternal conflict!- but man doesn’t understand a single word. -Leave to lose.- she takes him by the hand, dragging him. -We have to go on stage.-

TAGS: @theshamelessmanatee  @arses21434 @kathy5654 @martinab26 @reidskitty13 @jenf42 @gracieeelizabeth27 @silviajajaja @smalliemichelle99 @charchampagne14 @thinitta   @myhollyhanna23 @garvezz @mercedes-maldonado  @shyladystudentfan @cosmicmelaninflower @criminalminds14 @gonewhere @pegasus-scifichick

[crazyfreckledginger]

Q&A

Thank you to those who have asked questions, y’all are awesome!! It also means the world to me that we got this far! 80k you guys oh my god! You guys brighten my day I love and appreciate every single one of you!

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Everywhere! I want to visit every 

Which Robin is your personal favorite?

Oh no you didn’t! 😂 I can’t really choose, but I know my least favourite is Tim! (Sorry timmy!) But Dick, Jay and Dami are my boys!

Do you like to read? And if so, do you have a favorite book or series? / favorite book?

I like to read fanfiction, does that count? 😂 But as books, I love ‘Finding Audrey’ by Sophie Kinsella and ‘Everything, Everything’ by Nicola Yoon

What got you into the batboys?/  How did you develop interest in the batfamily?

I have absolutely no idea! Oh, no, actually, I think I saw an imagine on Tumblr a year ago and just started reading fanfiction about it!

Outside the Batfamily, who is your favorite superhero (or superheroes)?

Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, Peter Parker Laura Kinney and Logan Howlett! 

do you considere the robin's similar to peter Parker??

Yes, especially Tim!

How to you get inspiration for your one-shots?/  What inspired you to start writing? / What made you want to start writing? What do you do to get inspiration in writing?/ What is your motivation or drive? 

Before I started requests, I just had an accumulation of random stories in my head and had to write them out, now, most things. Sometimes it’s because of dreams, movie I watch with interesting scenes or plot twists, books or general ideas that just pop into my head, sometimes it’s also ‘what if’ type questions, if that makes sense.   

If your favorite batboy died,  how would you feel?

TeRiRbIE, probably mourning for the rest of my life lol.

Young justice season 3?

HELL YEAH DICK IS HAWT AF OMG

What's your favourite food?/ Favorite Food, 

Indian and Mexican food for life!

What do you like the most about your fave batboy?

EVERYTHING, MY BOYS ARE PRECIOUS

Do you think the rumor about Damian being Jason's son is true?

I didn’t hear about this before but nope, I mean how even?? 😂 Like, in most universes, the age gap between the two is between 10 to 14 years, how- I don’t- no, and besides, they come from a completely different background and I don’t know where this is from but it’s always going to be a no in my heart! 

Can you relate to any of the batboys?

All of them! I’ll generalise a lot because this might turn into an essay otherwise lmao.

Damian for his love of animals and hating people in general. Tim for the lack of sleep.  Jason is me tbh. Dick loves puns and jokes as much as I do.

Are Bruce and your father alike?

Kind of?

What's your favourite T.V show?

Sons Of Anarchy, Friends, The Vampire Diaries and Good Girls

Are you looking forward to Titans on October 18th?

I have mixed feelings about it, I’m happy they are making a live action Dick and Jason but it looks really bad, I’m still going to keep an open mind though!

Jason and Artemis or Kori and Dick?

Kori and Dick, I don’t seen Jason and Artemis’ relationship as more than friends, I don’t know what happened in RHATO, which is funny how I keep talking about the comics since I magically have never read any of them??? 

Thoughts on Redhood's transformation In Redhood the Outlaw?

I want my Jaybird hair back. I’m oKaY with the new design but I adore the old design!

Cookies: Alfred or M'gann?

Alfred’s (that was a tough one though!)

Is Brenton Thwaites good enough to be Robin in the upcoming series?

I don’t know! I’ve never really had a good face claim for Dick so I’m going to keep an open mind about it. He’d better had a nice bubble butt though!

Jason's gun or Dick's eskrimas?

Ughh this is haaard! Maybe Dick’s eskrima sticks.

Talia or Selena?

Selena

Poison ivy or Harley Quinn?

Harley Quinn

If you were in DC universe and you will be able to make a crossover it will be with?: Marvel, Transformers, Supernatural

Marvel or Transformers!!

Do you like birdflash?

I only see them as bros but I respect people’s choice of shipping them together!

Besides Batman what other fandoms are you into ?

Marvel, Sons Of Anarchy, Transformers, Stranger Things, Good Girls, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Vampire Diaries and loads more!

What’s your most liked story on wattpad

This one lmao (batboys x reader)

Do you like voltron  if so who’s your favorite paladin

I don’t watch Voltron, sorry, the fandom is insane and scary on Tumblr (without wanting to generalise) . I’ve tried watching an episode but I just can’t seem to get into it!

Will  you take request in the future Not that I’m asking for one I’m just curious I love your writing style

Aw thanks! 🙈 That’s so sweet of you. And yes of course!! I just closed them because I didn’t know when I would be able to have a reliable amount of time to write, I’m opening them soon hopefully! :)

Favorite movie of all time/  What's your favorite movie and why?

Logan, the FeElS, plus my girl Laura plus my man Donald Pierce is in it.

The Dark Knight (the one with Bane and The Joker) both villains are extremely intimidating and Nolan was able to portray them in an extremely terrifying way whilst keeping us on edge for the whole movies! True masterpieces.

Also Tomb Raider because kick some ass queen omg.

favorite character characters

DONALD PIERCE, Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, Natasha Romanoff, Laura Kinney, Dick Grayson, Wally West, Roy Harper, Jason Todd, Damian Wayne among so so many others.

favorite (video) game, 

Outlast and Until Dawn! 

Do you have/wish to have any pets? 

Yes I have had a bunch! Three rabbits, a sheep and a goat! I wish I’d have a cat though!

How would you describe your clothing style? 

Comfortable and tries to be at least a little stylish lol

Any artists/celebs You look up to? 

Not really no, I’ve never really looked up to anyone.

What kind of music do you like? 

Pop, Classical not the Mozart type of classical.

Do You have any "rituals" regarding your writing process? 

Yes! If it’s a series, I write the whole plot down on a book with details and elements that I want included. I keep it besie me to be sure I follow the plot whislt writing it.

Since I write in the evening, if there’s a one shot request that I lack inspiration about, I write something else and think of a plot when I’m in bed before i go to sleep. It really helps be get the requests written and in the queue. 

I normally sit in front of my TV, catching up on my series or something and just write. I don’t really have a ritual other than this!

Favourite cartoon?

Young Justice ayyye!

If you were to choose your own name, what would it be? 

I’ve never really thought about it, I don’t know, I like my name! 

But I really like Kia or *gasp* Sam. Not Samantha but just Sam.

Favourite mythical creature? 

Griffin, phenix and dragons!

What language do you wish to speak? 

Italian and Spanish!

Any lucky items/superstisions?

A tiger’s eye necklace my cousin gave me three years ago, I wear it everyday! If you could be any animal, real or mythical, what would you be? 

A tiger, an eagle or a griffin. I can’t choose lol!

Do you think you'd survive in a post apocalyptic world? 

Maybe? I mean I feel like I would be smart enough but I saw World War Z and dying is better than surviving with traumatic experiences running through your head 24/7!

Where would you go for a dream vacation? 

Everywhere! I want to visit the world!

If a genie granted you 3 wishes, what would you wish for? (No wishing for more wishes lol) 

DANG IT! 

1. That everyone should have a different perspective so that they can realise how bad the world is becoming and to change that.

2. Appreciation of every single being on the planet that sexual orientation does not matter in a relationship and that, no matter what you consider yourself, that society accepts you no matter what.

3. That everyone becomes the best person they can possibly be. We could conquer the world!

Do you prefer rain or sun? 

RAIN!

Do you like thunderstorms? 

Hell yeah!

Are you good at puzzles? 

Depends which ones, generally yes. Depending on my mood, I can be very stubborn and finish it and sometimes I’m going to be screw it I give up lol!

What do you enjoy most about life? 

My mutuals, happiness, fraternity, you guys and a few other things I’m sure (can’t remember)

What's your favorite fictional world? (DC, Marvel, Shadowhunters, etc) 

DC, Marvel, Transformers and the 10 year old in me says Narnia as well!

What do you think happens after we die? 

I feel like you’d come back as a different person. I’ve always wanted to believe that you’d become an animal but I have no idea!

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Indian food!!

Do you like to dance? 

Yes but alone! I’m horrible at dancing!

Where do you feel most comfortable/safe? 

With my best friend! Or at home!

What's something that always makes you smile? 

My mutuals, your comments they seriously make my day a little brighter.

Are you good at gardening? 

Nope I don’t like it either!

What's your preferred footwear? 

Sneakers if that’s what it’s called!

Favorite flower?

Roses!

What fills up your heart to bursting level? 

Kitties and puppies! 😍 Also anything including helping people or animals together and/or animals with their owners.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? 

Opening up to someone, showing my feelings and emotions and getting out there to make friends. I haven’t had the best childhood.

What’s your favorite poem or saying? 

“Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst”

And most importantly: do you think we'll ever see good writing again in DC for our favorite characters?

I really hope so, the writers are becoming more and more despised. Only DC fans hate DC on a completely different level of hatred lmao.

What'd you think of Heath Ledger's Joker?

Terrifying. heath Ledge did a fine good job at portraying someome that puts that unsettling feeling in your gut. Every one of his scenes are iconic. The best Joker so far in my opinion. 

whO rAnKs NumBer TwO iN "Batboys with a fresh booty" since we all know dick ranks number one

Hmmmm, 

Conclusion...

That’s a very cute tushy if you ask me!

[not my pics]

what do you think about Erik Lehnsherr and Stephen Strange?

I’m not particularly attacted to Erik but I know he’s misunderstood and I understand why he’s so loveable by many people in the X-Men fandom. But he’s just not my type of guy.

Stephen Strange is badass and a sass master and no one can convince me otherwise. He’s an awesome character.

what would your perfect date with Donnie (Donald Pierce) be like?

Ohhh, going to the movies and then just hanging out somewhere nice, talking and laughing and then ordering takeaway and cuddling up on the couch whilst watching Netflix ahhh! 🙈

[cheolsjigyu]

billet-doux ➸ ljh

genre - fluff ; college!au ; somewhat c l i c h é 

warning(s) - there’s like 1 curse word lmao

word count - 1199

a/n - so this is the second part of my series “13 beautiful words” feel free to leave some comments! :D <i seriously have a love-hate feeling with this fic so kjfdskfjs>

creds

(n.) a love letter

Lee Jihoon was a masterpiece.

Everything about him was beautifully made. His structure and his posture. His features. His mind. Jihoon was considered as a literary God in your university. With words so sensational, everyone anticipated every syllable that leaves Jihoon’s lips. He was a master at any literary works. The teachers were probably bowing before him inside their heads when he’s the one reciting in front of the class. He’ll have you near tears when you read his essays and poems. It will want you to explore his mind and learn words you didn’t even know existed before.

He was good with words alright, but he wasn’t good at talking to you.

The guy who has everyone wrapped around his finger as soon as he read out one of his pieces, doesn’t know how to say a single hi to a Biology major student. He always finds himself turning the other way around when he sees you going in the same direction as him. This results in Soonyoung teasing the shit out of him because he once caught Jihoon scrambling to the other side of the building when you were on your way to your locker. The never-ending teasing of Soonyoung about his supposed to be secret crush makes Jihoon want to bang his head on a wall.

The first time Jihoon couldn’t avoid you was in the computer lab. You were doing research on your paper when the door quietly opened to show Lee Jihoon. You knew Jihoon ever since you were in freshman year. He was always out with 12 other guys even though he seemed so introverted. You haven’t properly communicated before because he intimidates you and for his case, he just doesn’t know what to say to you.

When your eyes looked up and caught him, Jihoon felt like melting into a puddle. Of course, he couldn’t turn away. Not when you already caught his eyes and gave him a small smile. He almost cursed aloud when he noticed that you were the only person inside the room, not having any other choice, he just bowed and went inside. He sat at the computer farthest from you and was thankful when he saw you going back to doing your research.

Everything was going smoothly. The silence between the two of you was comfortable and the place he chose to sit at gave him the opportunity to steal glances at you without getting caught. That is until Soonyoung stride inside and startled the both of you. You, from writing and him, from looking at you.The look on Soonyoung’s face told Jihoon he was going to suffer from endless teasing.

“When are you getting finally going to grow some balls?” The question made Jihoon want to kick Soonyoung down the hill. “I already have some balls Soonyoung, stop being so obsessed with my body.” Soonyoung’s wheeze made Jihoon more irritated. “Shut up, you know what I mean.” Of course, Jihoon knows exactly what Soonyoung meant but he won’t let Soonyoung get the taste of satisfaction.

“I don’t know what you mean so leave me alone.” If Soonyoung didn’t know any better, he would actually leave because Lee Jihoon wasn’t pleasant when he was annoyed. But Soonyoung did know better so he just slapped the back of Jihoon’s head lightheartedly and laughed. “Ask her out already. Woo her with your words. Aren’t you a literary God or something? Step up your game man.” Jihoon was annoyed alright, but the pink-tinged on his ears made Soonyoung laugh some more.

Jihoon never denied his crush on you, but every time Soonyoung points it out, warmth always spreads on his insides and it’s seriously fucking him up. The guy who’s cool and always has an astonishing way with words is just a guy who gets all nervous when he sees this cute Biology major roaming around the campus with your stunning smile and precious laugh. Whenever he sees you, it’s like all the word he knows doesn’t exist except for one.

Beautiful.

Ever since he laid his eyes on you, that was the first word that popped into his head. It was simple. Overused. Nothing too deep but it suits you very well. You were beautiful. As he laid on his bed after his little walk and talk with Soonyoung, he can’t help but think that if he’s ever going to tell you about his feelings. He always wants to do it in a beautiful way.

Thankfully, the machines on his brain are still working properly at 3 AM, so he got an incredible idea.

The sun was already rising by the time he put down his pen. In every literary piece he’s done, this was the work he’s most unsure of. The scattered words on the paper were like the flowers in his neighbor’s garden. He was certain that the thump of his heart could be heard by his roommate. He was truly about to do this. He’s finally going to follow Soonyoung’s stupid advice. He’s going to grow whatever balls he has to grow and confess.

The moment he saw you inside the laboratory, he was freaking out.

The shake of his hands was increasing the anxiousness he felt as he stared at you from outside the window. You were breathtaking as always. Concentration was clear on your face as you looked at the microorganisms under the microscope. He always found you the most beautiful when your attention is focused on something. You were truly captivating.

Jihoon would stare more if you didn’t feel someone’s eyes on you. When you turned around to meet his eyes, the warmth that spread through his cheeks was making him want to turn in to the tiniest organism that exists on earth.

Then you smiled. It felt like those cheesy romance films where time stopped and the only two main characters are the only ones that exist. Whatever beautiful words he wrote down his love letter, no words can describe how gorgeous you looked when you made your way outside and meet him at the door.

“Hey, you need something?” Your scintillating eyes were twinkling brighter than the stars he loved watching at night by his window. The letter was tucked inside a small pink envelope. As he tightly clutched it with his fingers, he can also feel his heart tighten.

This was it. He was ready to give you his heart.

“I, uh, here.” His fingers softly reached out for your hand and he placed the letter on your palm. His hands were warm and smooth. Just like the pillows and blankets you have at home. You couldn’t help the surprise that crossed your face, but you gave Jihoon a soft smile before saying thank you.

He managed to give you a nod and a small smile before turning away. He was tingly all over, the butterflies in his stomach were going crazy. Before he could turn the corner, you called out to him. Your soft voice made him instantly halt and turned to you once again. The smile on your face sent chills running down his spine but your words made flowers bloom in his heart.

“Thanks for the billet-doux!”

[robotslenderman]

So hey, I realised I only told a couple of friends of how jury duty last year went, so I’ve copy-pasted (with minor editing) the shenanigans below. Content warning under the cut.

Content warning: the guy was a pedophile who tried to (keyword being “tried”) bait 13YOs into meeting up with him.

Having said that, I walked into this case expecting to be scarred for life and instead the whole thing was so ridiculous, the man was such a loser, the victims were so badass that the jury was like “this guy is a total joke.”

Especially after the fuckboy incident.

The trial ended up being pretty goddamn funny. Mostly thanks to the Crown Prosecutor, who had no fucks to give and was yelled at more than once by the judge for getting really sarcastic.

Here are things I wrote down over the course of jury duty:

The phrase, “Having sex with twelve-year-olds is overrated.”

“John* is now going to read about masturbation.”

That time we accidentally trapped two judges in a supply closet.

The random, partial handprint on the ceiling of the courtroom. Only one other juror ever saw it.

At one point I was exhausted and pretending to read from my folder and closed my eyes for a while. 

Afterwards, our jury officer went “ha ha ha I saw you but you were totally reading, right?”

“HA HA HA WHAT A COINCIDENCE YES I WAS!”

How awesome the victims are. Snips from the logs:

“Want to see a picture of my great penis?”

“What’s so great about it?”

“I love you.”

“Okay.”

“I love you.”

“I don’t.”

“Oh.”

“I’m not some Asian hooker!”

“I’m in love with you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Because you also said that to my sister!”

“I love both of you!”

“[Not amused]”

“Please block me, or I’ll keep wanting to talk to you. Thank you for helping me get over you, Nina*.”

The fact that the accused was trying really hard to be dodgy and creepy by convincing another victim to keep it secret. Meanwhile the victim was just as determined to bring him home and have him meet her family.

“I love you, Audrey*.”

“My name is Adriana*!”

Meanwhile, the face identity the police set up to catch the pedophile was as dumb as a post.

And the accused fell for it.

Then later spent half his time on the stand insisting the fake identity was so dumb that there’s no way he could possibly have thought she was really thirteen.

(No, really, he actually used that as a defence.)

One of the victims had the name of a Mass Effect character.

The “fuckboy” meme.

First conversation after being appointed to the jury, wondering if it’s too late to escape:

“What do you suppose we’d have to do to get kicked off the jury?”

“Come in wearing a badge saying ‘It’s Okay To Say No!’“

“OOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!”

Explanation: the marriage equality vote was going on at this time and the “No” campaign’s slogan was “It’s Okay To Say No [to same sex marriage]!”

One of the jurors is a middle eastern guy who grew out his stubble for a few days before the trial and glared at the barristers when they were rejecting jurors in the hope that they’d “think [he] looked like a terrorist” (his words) and get rid of him.

It didn’t work.

After he told us this, he said, “I should have grown a beard and put three plaits in it.”

Watching the slow decline of our next door neighbours’ collective mental health.

Waking up one morning to find they’d posted jury duty memes on their door.

“Waiting for the jury to come to a verdict” 

[Picture of a skeleton]

“Look at all the fucks I give” replaced with “look at all the counts we have to decide”

A picture of a group of old white guys in suits laughing their asses off, captioned with, “And then I said it’d only take fourteen weeks!”

They’ve been deliberating for two and a half months.

Every time one of my fellow jurors ran into them they came back wide-eyed and traumatised, convinced next door had totally lost it.

“Ha ha ha, you must be new here.”

Next door’s jurors often looked over their shoulder and squinted at us suspiciously if we happened to glance in their direction when they went into their room.

Rumour has it that they’d lost it so much they’d become obnoxiously perky, in that “I’m about to go insane” kind of way. I wasn’t sure about this, but later one Very Happily opened a door for me with a massive grin and a bit of eyetwitching, and... yeah, it’s totally true, they lost it.

There was also a rumour one of their walls was covered in mugshots, but I never got to see it because of aforementioned suspicious squinting and cagey behaviour.

Occasionally, between sessions, a member of the jury will, out of the blue, say, “Fuckboy” and have the entire room crack up.

“Fuckboy 2.0!”

Wincing a bit and thinking, “Man, the Defence is asking the accused some hard questions!” only for the CP to basically go “hold my beer” and totally lay into the guy.

I will never, ever in my life see anything as awesome as the Crown Prosecutor laying into a pedophile ever again. It’s over. I may as well keel over and die now. I’m amazed the accused didn’t crack because he held this guy’s balls to the fire for three days.

Ladies and gentlemen and distinguished guests, the fucking Crown Prosecutor:

“So your aim with these meetups isn’t to have sex with underaged girls, but simply to get them to agree to meet you?”

“Yes.”

“... That’s it?"

“It’s a hobby.”

“Have you considered stamp collecting?” [Gets chewed out by the judge.]

“So the pinnacle of your sexual satisfaction is when they agree to meet, is that correct?”

“Yes. At my age, I don’t need anything more.”

[Vaguely smug] “Well, here we have Jane Doe* agreeing to meet up with you. That’s the pinnacle of your sexual satisfaction, that’s all you want from this conversation, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Great! Let’s have a cigarette!”

“In this chat log, we clearly see that this woman has claimed to be fifteen years old, and you’re now telling the jury you think she was lying. Why?”

“She’s in Rwanda, and claiming to have dated many white men. That’s not possible because I’ve been to Rwanda, there’s barely any white men like me there."

“So you must be hot property in Rwanda, huh?”

[Slightly put out] “Well, actually, yes!”

The accused kept insisting that no, cybersex didn’t turn him on unless the other person was turned on, no really, honestly, truly, he would never be aroused unless they were too and this was all for his partners’ benefits! Really!

He kept doing this until the CP blurt out, “Oh for god’s sake, if you’re so damn nice, why don’t you open a charity?”

(The judge yelled at him again.)

Reading the following sentence out in a completely deadpan tone of voice, as if describing the weather: “I suggest to you that you wrote the phrase ‘I want to suck your clit and cum -- C-U-M -- inside you’ in order to obtain an erection.”

He often read out sexually explicit excerpts like this. It got even funnier every time there was a misspelling, because the CP would absolutely insist on pronouncing it exactly as it was misspelled and also spelling it out.

“The victim said she was ‘spechless.’ I think she meant ‘speechless.’“

As he read out excerpts where entire sentences were made out of internet slang, bad spelling and acronyms, you could visibly see him age.

Srsly the other jurors thought this guy was boring. Boring. What was wrong with them this guy is amazing.

Fuckboy

The deadpan, srs bsnss dry humour of the Crown Prosecutor was only made even funnier by the contrast with his counterpart (the Defence Lawyer) being flamboyant and found of flourishing his cape every time he sits down.

The jury naming the DL “Happy Jumps” because he liked to spring out of his seat every time he was addressed and, when standing, would never stop smiling. Then when he sat down again cue the cape flourish!

(Even funnier because every single moment he wasn’t standing up he knew perfectly well his client was screwed and his face reflected it.)

I Would Now!!!! :)))) Like To Address The Jury!!!! :)))) To Inform Them :)))) That I, Happy Jumps, :))))) Speak Like This :)))) As If I'm Capitalising Every. Word. I Say. :)))) Complete with lots of. Hand. Gestures. :))))) And Emphasizing Every Other Word :)))) And Pausing. Inexplicably. In The Middle Of My. Sentences. :)))) Just So I Can :)))) Smile At The Jury :))))

He talks exACTLY LIKE MY FUCKGING DAD DOES WHAT THE FCUK

Except for the part he introduced himself to us and at one point said, “As the court case climaxes, I will -- wait, advances, I MEANT ADVANCES.”

The jurors naming one of Happy Jumps’ cronies “Benny” because of how much he looked like Ben Affleck.

At one point Benny got inexplicably banished to the public gallery.

It’s okay, he was invited back to the bar table later.

The moment Happy Jumps officially doomed his own client to never being taken seriously by the jury again:

“So, your screenname here is written as JohnDoefb*. John Doe* is your name, correct?”

“That’s correct.”

“What does ‘fb’ stand for?”

[Flinches]

“?”

[Incoherent mumbling]

“Could you please repeat that louder?”

“...”

“...”

“... ‘Fuckboy.’“

The entire jury lost their shit.

(Very, very quietly.)