#also ik you said spooning but i could Not figure out how to get it to work HDNSGSND

[blaiddraws]

Sleepy cuddles with Ingo as the big spoon and Zisu as the little spoon OR sleepy cuddles with Ingo and a pile of sneasel kittens/his pokemon

more eepy <3

[takiberry]

imagining euijoo fingering you under the table while jo, taki, and nicholas is RIGHT there (inspired by that one photo iykwim)

yes ik what you mean anon🙁🙏 i love that photo sm.

( smut incoming ! pls dni if uncomfortable)

- ☁️

warnings: exhibition, fivesome intent from euijoo bc he’s horny, the others get hard, reader ends up sucking jo off and giving taki & nicholas handjobs, PUSSY EATING EUIJOO..🫡.

you were out with your boyfriend and his members, jo , taki , nicholas, out eating in tokyo. euijoo thought it’d be fun to go out with the guys, but he also thought it would be fun to tease the fuck out of you under the table despite you being right in the middle of him and jo, how fun.

so here you are, trying to push away euijoo’s hand that kept creeping up into your skirt ( which he successfully did ) he sipped his drink, acting as if he could do no wrong as per usual whilst he slipped your underwear to the side and pushed his two fingers into you, chuckling as he heard you grab onto the table gently as you bit onto your lip. jo looked at you with a confused look along with taki and nicholas who had stopped their conversation due to the sudden noise. “y/n , are you okay” taki asked as he raised an eyebrow, sipping his own drink as nicholas gave euijoo a look, as if he knew what is going on, euijoo gave his bestfriend a knowing smile and pumped his fingers in you at a quick pace, causing you to choke on your drink. “woah, calm down there, y/n, you’re gonna end up choking for real.” nicholas said as he handed you a napkin to wipe your mouth, jo put his hand onto your shoulder and rubbed it to help you, you know it shouldn’t but god did that do something to you because before you knew, you clenched around your boyfriend’s fingers which caused him to laugh to himself.

“i-i’m fine guys, don’t worry, i just hit my foot is all!” you said as you desperately tried to hold in a moan, all euijoo did was speed up his fingers, his jealousy becoming evident in his actions. jo and taki seemed to have figured out what was going on as they simply nodded and continued to eat their food, euijoo held a spoon to your lips and tapped on it. “say ahh, baby.” he said, you pouted before opening your mouth for him to place the spoon gently in to give you food, you chewed as euijoo continuously pumped his fingers into you like a maniac, making it so much harder for you to even hold in a moan.

jo’s hand never left your shoulder as he kept rubbing on it, taking a bite of his food every now and again as nico and taki tried to distract themselves as well. “why are you guys so quiet?” euijoo asked, knowing damn well why they’re silent, but he just wanted a reaction out of them. you couldn’t help yourself as you buried your face into jo’s arm, quietly starting to whimper from the amount of pleasure just euijoo’s hand alone was giving you. euijoo scoffed yet again as he place his thumb onto your clit, rubbing onto it harshly as his fingers continuously were being pumped into you like no other. jo felt his face heat up as he has never been in this situation before but god was it hot to him, taki and nico.

oh how wrong it feels but they can’t help but get rock hard at what was happening, luckily it was only you and them in the area, so if they wanted to fuck you, they could, if euijoo allowed it of course.

euijoo noticed that jo had gotten stiff from your sudden movement and chuckled. “baby, since you love being so close to jo, why don’t you just suck him off, i’m sure he doesn’t mind, right jo?” he said as he turned his head to the taller male, who’s face turned bright red from the sudden question, he gulped and nodded slowly, praying that his group leader won’t kick his ass for wanting get his dick sucked by you. “alright then, go on then, y/n. suck him off, give nico and taki a show yeah?” euijoo said yet again as he moved jo’s hand to your hair, jo was using his free hand to pull out his own cock from his pants, taki and nico couldn’t believe what was happening right now, was euijoo really letting his own friends do stuff to his girlfriend, IN PUBLIC. yep, he was, and boy was he turned on from it.

jo gripped your hair as you took his veiny cock into your mouth, nearly gagging as you pushed it to the back of your throat. jo tilted his head back as he moaned quietly, biting his lower lip, his hips moving on their own as he thrusted himself into your throat, having you moan against his cock. euijoo watched the scene with taki and nico as he kept his fingers pumping in and out you continuously, chuckling at how fucked out you seem to be getting already, seeing you choke and gag on jo’s cock, snapped something in euijoo. he liked seeing you suck on another man’s cock, why? who knows, but damn is it hot to him. euijoo looked over at the other two on the other side of the table, who seemed to feel left out in a way. “i’ll let her give you guys a hand job, but if you wanna fuck her, we’re going back to the hotel room.” he said as the two looked at their fellow member with slight shock, wow he really was allowing them to have their cocks by you AND in you? he’s definitely snapped into something else.

taki and nico moved the table away slightly before moving to where you were, taking out their own cocks, your hands taking each of them before pumping them like no other. taki gasped and shivered at the sudden pumping, holding onto the table behind him as nico just didn’t care as a moan left his lips, euijoo pulled out his fingers before diving his head in between your legs, his tongue lapping and slurping onto your pussy like a hungry puppy. you moaned loudly but it was kept muffled as jo kept fucking his cock down your throat, moans and groans coming from him and the others. euijoo held your leg up as he pushed his tongue into you, causing you to jolt a bit, your hands never stopping on nico and taki’s cocks as they moaned, was this supposed to happen? no.

but, be honest, did you like it? fuck yeah you did, and it sure as hell excited you more knowing they were all gonna use you as soon as you get back to the hotel

[songficsbyrissi]

You’re Mines Still (Erik X Reader)

“They say time heals She can't see her life without me, she's so blind still Fuck that nigga, you can tell him that you're mines still” - Yung Bleu feat. Drake

A/N: heyyyy y’all! Back from the dead again! 🤣 here to drop my shit and dip as always. I’m trying to stop that, I swear. Hennyways, I wanna put a disclaimer here: I have nothing against MBJ. I couldn’t care less about the nigga but I thought it’ll be interesting to have this nigga as the boyfriend, instead of making a character up in contrast to Erik. I think it’s perfect because I’m pretty sure they’re two completely different niggas. And I know “mines” isn’t proper English but I’m going with the title of the song so don’t start with me 😂😂😂 Aight imma let y’all read lol. Hope you enjoy it!

**************

You were doing it again.

You found yourself observing your boyfriend Michael, and comparing him to your ex, Erik. Right now, Michael came into the kitchen and gave you a swift kiss on the cheek to say good morning. It was sweet and nice but Erik would’ve grabbed you by the waist, pulled you in for a long, juicy kiss, followed by a smack on the ass. You found yourself low-key missing that, but you moved on so you had to let that go.

“Michael?”

“Yes, cookie?”

You held yourself back from rolling your eyes. It was a cute nickname, but ever since you told him your favorite dessert was chocolate chip cookies, here this nigga go, making it your nickname.

You shook your head. “Never mind.”

“You seem so distant, babe. What’s on your mind?” He asked from his seat at the table.

You avoided eye contact with him. “Nothing. I’ve just been tired.”

He snorted at this. “It’s because you work too much. I told you to chill.” He got up from the table and kissed you on the cheek. “Alright, I’ll see you later. I gotta go to the office.”

“Bye.” You said faintly as he walked out of the door. That was another thing. Erik could tell when something was bothering you and knew you avoided eye contact when you were lying. Michael just let anything you tell him slide. At this point, you could have a gunshot wound in your stomach and tell him you were fine and he’ll believe it.

You sighed deeply and got your things together so you could go back to your place. Michael asked you to move in with him, but you knew you weren’t ready for that. Not with him.

On your way to your apartment, you remembered you needed to do some grocery shopping, so you pulled up to the supermarket and pulled out your list of essentials on your notes app. The supermarket wasn’t too busy, thank God. You were able to weave back and forth through the aisles with ease. You got to the soup aisle and the broth you needed was all the way on the top shelf. You looked to the side to make sure no one would see you embarrass yourself. Before you could climb, a man’s arm reached up, grabbed the carton of broth, and handed it to you.

You smiled softly. “Thank you so much. I was about to embarrass myself climbing this shelf.”

“I could see that.” The man replied in a familiar voice that caused you to break your neck to look at him.

“Erik....” you breathed nervously once your eyes fell on him. He was still fine as always. The day you run into him, he would be wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants. An outfit that gets any girl’s faucet running. You wanted to sneak a glance, but you stopped yourself because you knew he would catch it.

He licked his bottom lip and looked you up and down. Damn him.

“Hey ma...it’s been a while.”

You nodded, looking down at your shopping cart. “Yeah, it has....”

“You still fine as hell.” Erik cracked a smirk and you were getting more and more nervous under his gaze. What the fuck is wrong with you?

You decided to breathe and ignore his statement. “How have you been, Erik?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, which something he always did when he was nervous. Holy shit, he was nervous around you. Why did that bring a pang of joy into your heart?

“I’ve been chilling. I'm still an architect. Still designing houses and getting people to buy them. It’s been aight. I’ve been successful.”

You gave him a genuine smile. “That’s good. I’m glad everything is going good in your career.”

“Yeah, it is. If only you were with me to see it all.”

You sighed deeply, shaking your head. “Erik-“

“I should’ve never let you go, Y/N. You were a good ass woman and you motivated me. I know I messed up but-“

“Erik, I’m kinda seeing someone else right now.” You spat out, preventing him from continuing the monologue he had going. He seemed taken aback by your outburst. Then came denial, anger, sadness, and acceptance all on his face.

“I’m sorry, Erik but I have a new boyfriend now. His name is Michael and he’s great. I figured you should know that.”

Erik let out a dry laugh in response and held his hands up in defense. “Yeah, you know what? I should’ve. A woman like you, of course, a nigga gonna snatch you up. That’s my fault. I hope he treats you well.”

“He does.” You swallowed hard and pushed your cart forward. “You take care of yourself, Erik. I’ll see you around.”

You didn’t wait for a reply. You just continued pushing until you heard his voice.

“You too, Princess.”

You stopped in your tracks for a bit, hearing that nickname for the first time in forever but you continued on your journey, refusing to look back at your ex.

You wrapped up your grocery store trip and went home. Even while you were cooking for your new man, Erik was still on your mind. You couldn’t help but think about all the times you had with him. One memory came back to you and you cringed. The night you two broke up.

“All you can think about are these damn houses! What about our house, Erik?!?!” You screamed coming closer to him, with your fists clenched. “What about all the shit you promised me?!”

“You’re still getting it, Princess! I promise!” He tried to pull you in a hug, but you pushed him away. All you saw was red. You didn’t want him touching you. You stuck a finger in his face.

“Bullshit! I’m tired of your empty-ass promises! I’m better than this! I’m better just being your damn girlfriend for all these years! It’s either you’re wanna be with me forever or you don’t! It’s that simple!”

Erik gathered up all the anger building to yell back. “No! It ain’t that simple! You just don’t get it.” Your angry demeanor softened at his words and you took a seat on the leather sofa. You wanted to cry because this shit was so fucking frustrating. You looked up at him with all the sincerity you could muster.

“Help me get it, Erik. Please. Because I just don’t.”

Erik took your trembling hands into his larger hands. “I just...I just don’t see myself as your husband right now. I got a lot of shit to work out before I can make that type of commitment to you, ma. I just need you to understand that and stick with me. I’m not saying it’s never going to happen. I’m just saying now’s not the right time.”

As much as you tried to prevent it, it happened. Tears were rolling down your cheeks. Erik began wiping them off, but you backed away.

“You keep saying that. When is the right time, huh? When?” You asked then sneered once you saw that once again, he couldn’t supply you an answer. “Just admit it, Erik. You don’t want to marry me. You don’t want to get a house with me, you don’t want to have kids with me. You don’t...” you swallowed hard, trying to find the strength to say this. “You don’t want forever with me. Now I get it.”

Erik shook his head vigorously as you rose from the sofa and he grabbed your hand. “No, baby girl! You’re not getting it! I love you! I love you so much! Please!”

You used your free hand to wipe some more of your tears. “You don’t love me the way I love you, Erik. I’ve been dying to be your wife, but you don’t want to be my husband. So I’m not gonna waste time with you when I can find someone who will.”

You released yourself from the grip he had on you, both figuratively and literally, and packed all your shit up. Despite the protests and guilt-tripping coming from Erik, you still made it your mission to get the fuck out of his apartment and get the fuck out of his life.

After mourning and healing from the loss of your long-term relationship, you met Michael. He was a nice man who looked similar to Erik but was completely different, personality-wise. Your friends noticed how much Michael looked like Erik, but they decided not to bring it up because they knew you would deny it. You were in denial, convinced it was all a coincidence. Deep down, you knew damn well he looked like Erik.

However, he was nothing like him and you thought that would work out in your favor. It didn’t.

You laid wide awake in Michael’s bed. He fell asleep after one round of sex and you were not satisfied. The sex was good, but one round??? Erik used to go at least 3 a night. Erik also would spoon, but Michael was turned away from you, snoring away. Your phone buzzed on your nightstand and you picked it up to see a text from your ex. You sat up in shock and opened it.

Erik:

Ik I shouldn’t b but I can’t stop thinkin bout u. I never stopped.

You took a deep breath and fixed your thumbs to respond.

You:

I’m with someone else, Erik. U gotta respect that.

Erik:

I do I just don’t like it. Can we at least be friends?

You contemplated your answer, then constructed a text back.

You:

Fine. We’ll be friends.

Erik:

With benefits? 👀

This caused you to stifle a laugh that would’ve been loud enough to wake up your boyfriend.

You:

Lmao no! Just friends, Erik.

Erik:

Lol I’ll take what I can get. Good night, Princess ❤️

After that last text, you were smiling yourself to sleep. It didn’t take long for Erik to invite you to group outings with mutual friends to eventually just you and him. It felt wrong but felt so right at the same time. You were alone in Michael’s apartment once again when Erik hit you up asking if you would like to see a house he built that was being pulled off the market. You agreed since you had nothing else to do. It’s just a house.

Needless to say, The house was gorgeous.

“Shittttt look at this fucking closet!” You cooed, entering the large walk-in closet in the master bedroom, and turned around to look at Erik with an enormous smile on your face. “Erik! You did that shit! This is my dream house! If I had the money, I would buy it right now!”

Erik chuckled with his arms folded. “It’s already bought, Princess.”

You scrunched up your face in disappointment as you stood against the marble island table in the middle of the room. “Ughh for real? I bet they don’t even like it like that!”

“Nah...I do.” He walked up to you slowly.

It didn’t click for your slow ass what he just said. “Of course you like it. You designed it.”

“Nah, we designed it.”

A record scratch went off in your head and you turned to see Erik right next to you. You gazed into his eyes to see an emotion you couldn’t describe. He saw confusion in yours.

“You ain’t noticed how this house is exactly your dream house? Everything you wanted in a house is right here. Baby girl, after you left me, all I could think about you and us and how I fucked us up. I was designing other houses and buildings, but there’s one that was most important to me that I never focused on and that was ours. I remembered our discussions and you didn’t know it, but I took notes of everything we wanted in a house. I finally had the motivation to get it designed, built, and bought.”

Erik built a house for you. He actually listened to you. Even when you thought he wasn’t, he was listening to every detail of what you wanted. You had so many questions to ask, but you were speechless. What were you supposed to say to this?

“I don’t want you to think I was on some creepy nigga shit because I wasn’t. It’s just that this design was gonna go to waste and I was going to let them sell it to the highest bidder, but I just couldn’t. This house was the last piece of you I had left. If I sold it, it was like me officially giving up on the possibility of us. I still had that hope. I’m a stupid ass nigga, I know.”

Your right hand grasped his left hand and he finally spared you a glance to see unshed tears in your eyes.

“I wanted this....from you....for so long. For so long! Why are you giving it to me now?! When I have someone else?!” You threw his hand out of frustration and exited the closet. You didn’t make it far. You just went into the master bedroom and cried your eyes out. You waited so long for this and he’s giving it to you now? When Michael was in the picture? Well, It’s too damn late.

Erik got on his knees and grasped your knees. You stared at him through the tears in your eyes.

“I know you’re building a life with this nigga, but stop. Stop that shit. You know he ain’t the one for you. Fuck that nigga. You’re mines still.” Erik was pleading with you. He began to shed a tear. Holy shit, he meant every word. “Baby, I’m on my knees. Take me back.”

Your ex began planting tender kisses on your knees and traveled up to your thighs, still holding you. Your heart raced at his actions, but you didn’t want him to stop. You missed him. You missed him so damn much. As much as you tried to lie to yourself, you still loved him.

“Erik, get up.”

He obeyed and you took his face in your hands, caressing the sides.

“You’re such a fucking manipulative motherfucker and I hate that I love you so fucking much.”

Erik took your hands into his and kissed the insides. “I ain’t trying to manipulate you, baby. I swear I’m not. I love you and I just wanted you to know that I heard you. You just wanted a nigga to show you that he was serious about you. I get it. While you were gone, I focused on myself and fixed myself because I admit I was dragging my ass with doing that while we were together. It was because I thought you were here to stay so I had all the time in the world to get my shit together. When you left, I saw that I was wrong. I was wrong as fuck.”

You didn’t say anything. You just let him keep talking.

“I love you, baby. All I’m asking for is a second chance to make this right, but if you say no, I’ll sell this house and leave you alone for good. I swear on my Pops’ grave, I’ll leave you the fuck alone, Y/N.” His words were so heartfelt. “I don’t wanna go unless you make me.”

You were hyperventilating through your tears, then a smile formed across your face. “Erik, I love you. I love you so much, baby.”

Erik tackled you with frequent kisses on your lips and it turned into a whole passionate make-out session. He planted kisses all over your neck while he unbuttoned your blouse and you could feel his hard dick through his pants.

“Fuck. I missed this. I missed us.” You breathed when his lips met yours, once again.

“I missed us too, baby.” Erik rested his forehead against yours and stared into your eyes with so much love. “Be my wife.”

You backed away from him and furrowed your eyebrows. “What?”

“You heard me. Marry me, baby. I don’t wanna waste any more time.” He saw the look on your face and his joyful expression turned somber. “You don’t want to marry me?”

You shook your head. “It’s not that, Erik. I always wanted to but just because we getting back together doesn’t mean I wanna rush into a marriage. We gotta fix us first. We can’t even fix us right now because I still have to break up with Michael.”

Erik put a hand through his hands and blew air out of his mouth. “You right.”

“And the way you asked sucked.” You deadpanned but found yourself laughing afterward and he face palmed himself. “Seriously? After all this time, I deserve a better proposal than that.”

Erik chuckled and placed a soft kiss on your lips. “You right. Once again. Imma do better.”

And when he said he would do better, you knew he wasn’t just talking about the proposal.

“You better. I ain’t giving you a third chance. This ain’t baseball!”

This caused him to guffaw, pull you into a tight, loving embrace, and kissed you once again. He had a grin on his face that rivaled the Cheshire cat.

“You’re mines still,” Erik said as a statement and a question.

“Yep. I never stopped being yours, baby boy.”

TAGS:  @lifelover4u @dessianna1 @brattywriters-anonymous @marvelmaree​ @purple-apricots​ @blackpinup22 @ljstraightnochaser @slimmiyagi @cancerianprincess @iamrheaspeaks @blowmymbackout @vibranium-chakra @nerd-lovely @chaneajoyyy​ @ohliyaxoxo @chefjessypooh @yourfavoritefavorite @airis-paris14 @ljstraightnochaser @quietstorm-73 @msincognito67 @sociallyawkward18 @mychemicalimagines @nerd-lovely @marvelpotterlove   @destinio1 @madamslayyy @thehomierobbstark @fd-writes​ @semianta​ @raysunshine78​  @lifelover4u @dessianna1 @brattywriters-anonymous @marvelpotterlove @guccixcucci​ @blackpinup22 @ljstraightnochaser @slimmiyagi @cancerianprincess @iamrheaspeaks @blowmymbackout @vibranium-chakra @nerd-lovely @chaneajoyyy​ @ohliyaxoxo @chefjessypooh @yourfavoritefavorite @airis-paris14 @ljstraightnochaser @quietstorm-73 @msincognito67 @sociallyawkward18 @mychemicalimagines @nerd-lovely @marvelpotterlove   @destinio1 @madamslayyy @thehomierobbstark @fd-writes​ @semianta​ @raysunshine78​ @fd-writes​ @rbhp @fandom-fangirl22​ @bigchoose​

(Sorry if you got double tagged or I missed you. I need to get my tags together I know )

[ptergwen]

last christmas | pt. 2

❆ series masterlist ❆

w/c: 2.5k

warnings: one suggestive joke and a couple of angsty moments

a/n: yo i forgot that harry was actually in this movie as an extra? that’s kinda funny to me but anyways pls send requests (ik it’s annoying i keep asking i’m just so bored y’all help) and enjoyyy

━━━ *:･。.

today feels better than most days. the throbbing headache you usually wake up with isn’t there. plus, you have your date with tom later. it still feels surreal to say that. it still feels surreal he’s your friend’s brother, and you only found out three days ago.

you throw on some sweats and head into the living room. your roommate alex is in front of the tv with a bowl of cereal. she puts it down, the spoon making an obnoxiously loud clink. you’re sensitive to sound, so you unintentionally wince.

“sorry, y/n/n. i thought you had the day off, no?” she asks, lowering the tv for your sake. you smile at the gesture and go to grab your coat. “i do. i just wanna get breakfast.” “we have stuff here,” alex reminds you and picks up her cereal for emphasis. she’s careful not to drop the spoon this time. laughing to yourself, you shrug into your coat.

“i’ll pass. i wanted to say hi to harry, anyway.” “right, tonight’s the night.” she turns her head towards you and smirks. “you’re shagging his brother.” your eyes go comically wide. “no i’m not! he’s taking me out somewhere,” you defend and button up your coat as fast as you can. it’s time to get out of here.

“i’ll make plans just in case,” alex calls out as you shuffle to the door. “yeah, bye!” you shout back. you planned on asking if she wanted anything, but you were too distracted. oh well.

━ ❆

the café isn’t too crowded when you get there. harry is on register, so he’s probably in a good mood. he eyes you curiously when you step up. you give him a big smile.

“you’re not in today,” he says quietly, pushing up the santa hat he’s wearing. you stifle a laugh. you’re all supposed to dress up festively, but you don’t. your manager made an exception. one of your co workers is watching harry, so he fixes the hat. it’s not done without a long exhale.

“i’m here for coffee,” you explain and glance up at the menu. harry squints at you. “you couldn’t have gone anywhere else?” feigning offense, you put your hand on your chest. “why, you don’t want to see me?” “when you’re supposed to be home resting, no.” he taps a button on the register. “what can i get you?”

“first of all, i have a date later. that won’t be happening,” you tell him smugly. he would try to act annoyed, but he’s honestly happy for you. tom, too. “can i have an iced coffee with liquid sweetener? please?” harry raises an eyebrow. “room for milk?” “sure,” you almost chirp. he can’t help but grin.

“i haven’t seen you this happy the whole time i’ve known you,” he mumbles while punching in your order. your smile fades into a concerned grimace. “is that okay, do you think?” harry looks up at you again. “why wouldn’t it be?” “because, i mean, it’s only one date. it could end up going no where.”

you lean over the counter so you can talk quieter. “what would i be happy about then?” “excuse me?” a woman interrupts your conversation louder than necessary. you’re trying to search harry’s face for an answer, but he doesn’t give you one. “one second, sorry,” he apologizes to the customer. you stand up right again.

“tom wouldn’t do all this if he didn’t feel something,” harry nearly whispers while you get out your money. you read your total befofe he could tell you. you let your hand linger in his when you hand him the cash. “you’ll have more than one night of happiness. you deserve it.”

you’re starting to get a bit emotional, so you pull your hand back. you nod and manage a small smile. “thank you, harry. really.” “you’ll let me know how it goes?” he checks. “tomorrow, yeah. have a good shift.” you give him a finger wave and go off to get your coffee. he waves back.

━ ❆

tom gets a text from harry a few minutes after you leave.

y/n is really special. don’t be a div tonight.

he scoffs at his phone and shuts it off. your smile pops into his mind then. he only got to see it once, but he can’t seem to forget it.

harry is right. you are really special, and he better not mess this up.

━ ❆

you and tom decided on eight for your date. he’s meeting you outside your place because wherever you’re going is in walking distance. you bundle up accordingly in your fluffiest jacket and some earmuffs. you’ve never worn them before, but they’ll be your best friend tonight. they’re also cute. this is the time to be cute.

tom buzzes to let you know he’s there at eight sharp. his punctuality is kind of a surprise. you don’t know much about the real him, but this is rare from what you’ve gathered. you tell him you’re coming and hop out the door.

the thing alex said earlier does cross your mind, and she did leave you the apartment. never mind all of that. you try to think of anything but that before you get outside.

“hey,” tom greets as you walk down the stairs. he grins playfully at your attire. “you look cozy.” “you don’t.” he’s wearing a thin black jacket with a flannel underneath. it’s not ideal for the middle of winter in london. a smug smile pulls at your lips.

“you’re gonna walk in that?” you gesture to his outfit, moving so you’re next to him. he hums. “i’ll let you tease me for it the whole way there.” the two of you start walking side by side. it doesn’t take long for you to fall into step. “the whole way? how far is it?” you raise an eyebrow.

“twenty minutes maybe? it can’t be too bad. we have loads to talk about,” tom says rather suggestively. you look over and he’s smirking. there’s never a dull moment with this man. that’s actually just what you need right now. “true. you start,” you prompt him, your arm brushing against his. “tell me all about you.” he leans closer to you instinctively.

“well, i’m an actor. obviously,” tom shrugs like it’s no big deal, making you laugh quietly. he really likes your laugh. “besides that. like, what do you do when you’re not acting?” you ask, eyes fixed on him. he’s so pretty under the streetlights. all the time, really. “this is so boring, but i love golf. i’m rubbish, though,” he says the second part under his breath.

“and i thought you were good at everything,” you tease, tom faking a frown. “no, but seriously. it’s probably nice to do some regular stuff when you can.” he exhales in a way that seems reflective. “exactly, i like having some separation. what about you?” “what do i do when i’m not acting?” you ask sarcastically. “sure,” he plays along.

you think about it while you turn the corner. tom watches you intently, like you’re about to say something actually interesting. you’re not. “not much anymore.” he’s about to ask what you mean by anymore, but you keep going. “i took a gap year from uni, so i’ve been getting that sorted,” you continue, looking up at the dark sky. this isn’t your favorite discussion.

“makes sense. what are you studying?” also not your favorite discussion. “i’m undecided. i was thinking about psychology, but...” you search for something, anything you can to change the subject. the first thing you see is the first thing you mention. “your ears are bright red right now,” you giggle and point at one. tom presses his hands to them, feeling how cold they are.

“damn, you’re right,” he gives in to your conversation from earlier. without thinking about it, you pull your earmuffs off. you put them around his head instead. they’re pink with white snowflakes on them. tom looks cuter with them than you do, you think. “here. these should make them a normal color.”

“aw, but i don’t want you to be cold,” he protests and goes to take them off. you grab his hand before he can. “i’m not.” grinning, he properly takes your hand in his. your fingers lace together like you’ve held hands a million times. he lets them drop between you two and keeps leading the way to your mystery spot.

you swing your hands back and forth, smiling when you feel his grip tighten. tom pats one of the earmuffs. “i think we’ll both be warm once we get there.” “where exactly is ‘there’?” you laugh out. it was supposed to be a surprise, but you have to know. he points at something straight ahead. you’re still too far to see it.

“yeah, i can’t tell what that is,” you confirm. his reply is a satisfied hum. “good. let me keep you in suspense for at least five more minutes.” “you’re cheeky, aren’t you?” he chuckles and swings your hands again. “i’ve been told.”

you two finally end up at a hot chocolate stand. there are white lights strung in the trees surrounding it, music playing quietly into the night. the atmosphere welcomes and comforts you as soon as you get on line.

“i figured it would be nice to get one of these rather than making them for a change,” tom fills you in. he seems unsure of it now that you’re here, his voice lower than before. harry’s text is replaying in his head. he wants this to be good enough, more than good enough. should he have planned something more? his nerves die down when you squeeze his hand in yours.

this is the perfect low pressure date you’d hoped for. the focus is on each other and not some fancy meal. you were right about the movies not changing tom. “this place is really cute. i like it.” you move up on line together. “and my hot chocolates kind of suck, so yeah. it is.” “no, i bet they’re delicious,” he reassures you with one of his famous eye crinkling grins.

you chat more about your barista skills and all the kitchen disasters harry has had to save you from. the story of the time you made foam explode all over the countertops has him giggling. his laugh is contagious, so you end up joining in. your laughter eventually quiets because it’s your turn to order.

“hi, we’ll have two large hot chocolates?” tom orders for you two. you shoot him a curious look. “large? i’ll never finish.” the sizes here are huge, which is part of their gimmick. it’s also why tom found it interesting. the joke is that the stand itself is small, but they have gigantic drinks.

“leftovers, then.” he winks at you. you’re disappointed you have to let his hand go while he pays. the cashier says your drinks will be ready shortly. tom thanks him and turns back to you. “you probably got in so much trouble, huh?” he asks about your work horror story. you look him over for a few seconds.

you’re shocked how genuinely interested he is in everything you tell him. there are much cooler things he could be talking about, but he wants to hear from you. it makes you feel like there’s something between you two already. like, you’re old friends or soulmates or anything bigger than two strangers on a first date.

even though it’s still early to tell, you definitely have a connection of some kind.

“nope. i’m better at cleaning than i am at making cappuccinos,” you remark, the cashier coming back with two large hot chocolates. tom hands you yours first. he takes his after. “thank you so much,” he tells the man again. “have a nice night,” you add. the two of you take your drinks to a small table under a tree.

you sit across from each other, tom setting the earmuffs down. he pushes them back to you with a smile playing on his lips. “i like those better on you,” you murmur before taking a sip of hot chocolate. “pink’s my color,” he agrees and does the same. it’s so good that you decide to have some more, even though there’s steam coming from the lid.

“maybe i will finish all of this.” “i knew you’d like it.” tom laughs behind his cup. he got all worked up about it for nothing. you’re having one of your best nights in a while, which almost makes you not want to bring up the next topic. it’s sadly inevitable, so you might as well get it out of the way. christmas.

“so, do you have any plans for christmas?” you start, downing another sip. tom puts his drink down and leans back in the chair. “i’m staying over my mum and dad’s. we’ll have our traditional holland celebration.” he smiles to himself just thinking about it. you’re happy he has something to look forward to. you don’t.

“are you doing anything?” there’s the big question. people usually get awkward when you go into detail, which is exactly why you won’t. “actually, no.” his excitement changes to confusion. he furrows his eyebrows and sits up again. “you don’t celebrate?” “i do, just not anymore. not this year, at least.”

tom is extremely curious what this ‘anymore’ is about. it’s the second time you’ve mentioned it.

“i used to love it. my christmas spirit ran out, i guess,” you eleborate, eyes shifting down to the frozen grass. tom almost frowns. it’s not because he pities you. no one likes that. christmas is one of, if not, his favorite times of year. he just wishes the whole world could be happy this holiday season. the lovely girl sitting in front of him, especially.

there has to be something he can do.

“no, you can always get it back,” he says softly, searching for your eyes. “i’ll help you.” you look up at him again and blink back the tears you feel coming. tom must feel so lost right now. he wouldn’t be with context. you’re going to tell him what happened when you’re ready because you do want him to understand. trusting him feels like an instinct.

“how?” your voice comes out even quieter than his. you pick up your drink to distract yourself. “let’s see,” tom thinks aloud. he snaps when he gets an idea. “have you done any decorating?” “my roommate put up a tree. she never did the ornaments, though.” he gasps over dramatically, earning a laugh from you.

“you can’t leave a naked tree sitting around.” “i told her it looked stupid,” you sigh and sip your hot chocolate. tom holds out a hand for you. “we should go to the shops”

it would be easy to say no. it would be easy to go back home and hide under your covers and avoid the missed calls from your family. the catch is, easy isn’t progress. you can’t move past this unless you work to get it done.

you take tom’s hand and stand up from the table.

“we should also get a ride this time.”

[sylvie-writes]

Petty Golfers

Warnings: Swearing, but what can you expect with a Ransom fic? Some cheesy, real bitchy moves. Bad depictions of golfing. Some suggestive material, but not rlly? Dad Ransom! There’s so much affection that I might have diabetes from all the fluff.

If you can’t tell, I suck at writing summaries and warnings. Please just take a leap of faith and read. It took me a week to write this and we are at a whopping 7k word count. So please leave some feedback, ik I sound desperate. Love y’all! 

Summary: A trip to the country club with Ransom and his aristocratic friends goes south.

“Ransom! Your mother is on the phone!” 

You were curled up on the sofa when Ransom’s phone rang, a picture of Mrs. Drysdale herself showing up. She rarely ever called, except to bitch at you or her son. Out of curiosity, you had answered the call, unknowingly becoming an victim to her demands.

“Get Ransom for me.” 

“He’s on his way down.”

“Tell him to make it quick.”

Who the hell did she think she was? You rolled your eyes, annoyed at her demand. The phone that was once pressed against your ear, was now pulled away from your face. 

“Ransom! Your mother is on the phone!” 

A quick huff from your mouth made you regain composure, continuing your ‘conversation’ with the woman. 

“Why did you answer my son’s phone, anyway.”

Linda’s tone was cold, just as when you had first met her. In the five years you had been with Ransom, not once had she shown you any form of kindness. 

Sick of her impertinence, you shoved back a snarky remark.

“Well, I don’t know if you know this, darling, but I’m dating your son! Actually I’m even engaged to him!”

Her end of the line was silent except for a loud scoff. 

It was about time that Linda learned you weren’t some obedient dog, cowering down to her like Richard or Walt would.

“That’s my girl!”

Ransom, thank the heavens.

Turning your gaze to the stairs, you saw Ransom wearing a smirk, sauntering his way over. 

The man bent down to kiss your lips before swiping his phone. You could practically imagine Linda’s screeching fit to her son and husband about what just happened. Clearly, it was actually happening as you heard Ransom nonchalantly reply, “That's not my problem.” 

You took this time to get cleaned up and ready, seeing Ransom was currently occupied and would be for at least the next hour. 

This was the first time you were gonna go golfing with Ransom and his friends. It was pretty obvious they were all gonna show up in Castore golf clothing, while you opted to wear a coral Columbia polo shirt and navy skort, caring less about the name of the brand and more about its versatility. 

After applying some minimal makeup, you walked out from the bathroom to take a peek in the bedroom mirror.

The coral polo was neatly tucked into the navy skort, stopping mid-thigh. Taking your hands, you slowly smoothed out the shirt, stopping on your small baby bump. About 22 weeks in, and you were already in love with this child. 

“Hi, little lemondrop. Oh goodness, are we gonna have a long day, honey.” 

As you talked to your baby, Ransom quietly snuck into the room, smiling at how great of a mother you are already turning out to be. In his mind, he figured at least the child would have one good parent figure.  

“Hey Sweetheart, sorry to interrupt, but I found you some golf shoes that should be comfortable.” 

You looked up into the mirror to see Ransom behind you, with a big grin on his face and a pair of white golf shoes in his hand. 

“Thanks, Ran.” 

A bashful smile spread on your lips as you took the shoes. A part of you felt guilty for him getting you these shoes, but you knew he didn’t mind. Unfortunately, your feet and calves had already started swelling due to the pregnancy induced edema. 

A quick trip to the bed, and you sat on the edge, struggling to get your shoes on, while Ransom was in the closet getting changed into his own golf attire. 

Ransom confidently stepped out in all his glory, a navy polo and some light khaki shorts, that clung to his muscular physique. Your eyes were glued to him in awe and like the cocky asshole he is, a smirk grew on his face.

“Like what you see, Babe?”

“Oh shut up, Drysdale.” 

You threw your shoe at him which he so expertfully caught. He gave a teasing smile and raised his hands in surrender before making his way to the edge of the bed where you were sitting. Getting down on one knee, Ransom gently picked up your foot and put it in the shoe, tying the laces, but not too tight. 

“Hmm, this feels vaguely familiar.” 

Yup, Mr. Silver-Spoon Fed, was down on the ground, putting on your shoes. In his own words he’d only do the “Helps” part for you.

Once Ransom was done tying your shoe, he motioned to himself on his knee, trying to provoke the memory of when he proposed months ago. 

Leaning forward, you placed your hands on his shoulder, and pecked his lips.

“I do.” 

With a wink, you got up and left the room, also leaving Ransom on the floor, as he just chuckled to himself. 

In all honesty you were dreading the day’s agenda. Ransom was taking you to the country club for a few holes of golf with his friends and their newest set of girlfriends.

Even though you had met Ransom’s friends and all, you could tell they had never liked you from the beginning. Eventually, with some work, Bently and Dylan warmed up to you. Without doubt, you understood why they were Ransom’s friends. They were exactly like him in every way, lifestyle and all.

In the years you had known the two men, Mallory and Samantha were the longest to stick around so far. Five months to be exact. This was an outstretched time of fidelity for the life-long playboys.

Maybe the men were trying to somewhat settle down like Ransom had.

The two women were standoffish from the start, always talking about things you never really cared about. Their lame attempt at trying to make you feel like an outsider was just straight-up annoying. When they did include you, it was a constant conversation about Ransom. You loved him and all, but if you were gonna be friends with these chicks, they might as well like you for you and not your fiance.  

Out of all the ‘lady friends’ the guys had brought, Mallory and Samantha were total bitches in comparison to the rest. And no, you weren’t jumping to conclusions and making assumptions about these women. Life had given you a fair share of bullies back in your day. 

This whole ordeal could be marked as the most uncomfortable thing you’ve done in your life. 

Mallory and Samantha were anything but friendly, going on and on about a Versace fashion show, and some model, from last month. Inwardly you reminded yourself that you were doing this for Ransom, who was having the time of his life with Bentley and Dylan. How they could have this much fun golfing, was beyond you. 

The three guys golfed while you three ladies stood watching and chatting. In a more accurate account, the three guys golfed while the two ladies stood watching and chatting about purposeless things in life, deliberately leaving you out.  

Well, come to find out all along you really weren’t gonna play golf, you were just gonna watch. Yay, so exciting. 

You would’ve played golf with the guys had Mallory and Samantha not opened their opinionated mouths and made the decision for you. 

At this point Mallory and Samantha were now blabbering about some new type of leather purse and you really wished Ransom’s club would have hit your head at that moment. Anything to relieve you from having to hear their pathetic whining. The two women didn’t care to include you. Surprise, Surprise.  Apparently, you weren’t good enough to be in their aristocratic circle.  

What the hell was this, high school? 

“So how are you doing, (y/n)?”

It was odd how Samantha was actually trying to engage in a conversation with you. You just hoped that maybe this was her olive branch. These were Ransom’s friends' significant others and you were gonna try your damndest to impress them, not really wanting to stir up any drama if it weren’t necessary. 

“I’m doing pretty well, thanks for asking. How about you two?” 

Now both women were fully turned to you, their attention no longer on the men, more so Ransom. 

“Dylan and I are gonna take a trip to Europe, not exactly what I wanted, but good enough I guess.” Samantha rolled her eyes and heartily laughed along with Mallory.

Her simple statement made your eyes almost bug out of your head. It was like an expensive trip to Europe to her was just nothing more than a drive across the state line. You swallowed harshly in an attempt to figuratively stomach Samantha’s words. Ransom regularly offered those luxurious things to you, but as always, you turned them down, claiming he was just enough. It was very true, though. You didn’t have high standards which took Ransom some time to get used to. Most women he was ever with, wanted things, extortionate commodities. 

You didn’t want to ruin your only chance at a somewhat blossoming friendship, so you trepidatiously giggled along with them. 

“Oh honey, did you gain weight? I know a great personal trainer, really cute too, maybe not as cute as Ransom though.” Mallory’s perfectly manicured hand motioned towards your growing stomach.

You just stared in utter shock at what she just said. To most people that would be offensive but then you remembered the crowd you were with. Judgemental. 

“Umm, no-well, uh, I’m expecting.”

Sheepishly, you looked down at your feet, now noticing the difference between your choice of shoes and theirs. 

Samantha was wearing those white oasis Hermes sandals she had mentioned earlier, while Mallory was sporting some gaudy rockstud Valentino stilettos. Yeah, they definitely did not come here to golf. 

“That’s why Ransom kept someone like you around!” 

And that was definitely not the answer you were anticipating. If anything, you figured they’d be gushing over your pregnancy like any normal person would. 

“Oh Sam!” You saw Mallory nudge Samantha who looked at her in shock, immediately stopping her obnoxious laughter. 

A breath of relief left your mouth as you looked to smile at Mallory in gratitude. 

“I should’ve known it would take a fake pregnancy to get him!” 

“Yeah, he can’t have a bastard child running around, now can he? He would never get laid again!”

Your smile collapsed.

Samantha and Mallory grabbed each other’s hand, careful of their bubble-bath groomed nails, yet laughing so hard that they had to support each other. 

The three men looked over in the direction of the women’s giggles and smiled, returning back to their game, completely unaware of the real situation.

Of course they didn’t see you, because your back was to them. If they had, your impression of a deer in headlights would have most certainly piqued their attention.

Your jaw dropped and you couldn’t even comprehend what you just heard. 

Holy hell, they were just egging it on, weren’t they?

It was then that you realized Mallory wasn’t trying to stand up for you just a minute ago. 

So apparently the two women weren’t trying to become your friends at all. You were just their little toy to ridicule. 

“Aww hon, don’t get upset! We are just joking around.” 

Samantha gripped your shoulder tightly and you gave a tight lipped smile, in an attempt to show that you weren’t hurt by their idiotic antics. 

As Mallory and Samantha turned to continue to stare at the men, you saw them roll their eyes, for the nth time. 

“Joking, my ass.”

You just stared daggers into their backs, slightly wishing the daggers were real. How dare they insult you by saying you were “faking” it? They could joke with you, but definitely not your baby. 

The motherly instincts were already kicking in apparently. 

“Hey girls, wanna try?” 

Dylan waved his driver club in the air trying to get your attention. You were in such a trance, anything anyone said was just tuned out, that was till two arms wrapped around your waist. 

The simple action made you jump out of your own skin, ready to strike whoever was behind you. 

“Jumpy, much babe?”  

When you turned to be met with Ransom’s grin, a wave of relief swept over your anxious body. 

“Huh, yeah. Sorry I kinda zoned out.” 

“I definitelyyyy couldn’t tell.”

Crossing your fingers, you had hoped that Ransom wouldn’t question your edgy tone that came out with the sentence. 

Luckily, he didn’t notice and instead unwillingly dragged you over the teeing ground where the rest of the group was standing nearby. 

“So, who wants to go first?” 

Bentley spun on his heel to face the caddy and pulled out a gap wedge, handing it to Samantha who giddily volunteered herself first.

“I’m not really sure what position, I should be in.” 

Samantha held the club, elbows bent, and performed a lazy test swing, striking the grass. 

“Ransom, could you help me? After all, you are the one winning.” 

Her flirtatious wink made you wanna vomit. You practically held back the gag, not wanting to cause another scene. Ransom’s water bottle was in the cart. Deciding you couldn’t watch anymore you walked to go get the water that seemed life saving at the moment. 

“Ok, so first off you are gonna want to spread your legs a little.” 

Samantha moved her hips suggestively as she got into the proper stance.

“Is this the correct position?

Ransom nodded, not catching her drift at all. The way she said “position” was absolutely flagrant. 

As you turned from the cart and back to the group, you saw Samantha pushing her hips into Ransom, her Prada dress, lacy, white, and most of all short, slid up just a hunch. 

“Oh, good god I’m gonna be sick.” 

Briskly, you semi-jogged towards the country club, not wanting to catch anyone’s attention.

No one had noticed your disappearance as expected and just continued on with the game.

Of course, you came back just in time for Mallory’s turn, who was also getting coached by your fiance. 

“Don’t get mad, don’t get mad.”

The navy skort you were wearing, had to take the hit as you clenched your fists tightly, balling up the smooth fabric. 

Mallory swung the golf club clumsily, her arms way out of whack. You just grimaced, these women were supposed to know how to golf for goodness sake. After all, golfing was a sport for the rich, at least in Mallory’s own words. 

“Oh Ransom. I think I might need your help. How do I swing again?” 

Ransom politely nodded and strode away from his previous conversation. He situated himself behind Mallory, her back resting against his chest, his arms encasing around her sides. The golf club was positioned in between Mallory’s long legs and the two of them slightly bent at the hips, Ransom’s hands over hers as they slowly swung the golf club a few times. 

It finally came time for Mallory to actually swing. She insisted that Ransom help her, and of course he did. As they swung their arms over their shoulders, Mallory twisted her head and kissed Ransom’s cheek. The ball teed off and Mallory thanked Ransom once more.

“Thanks for all your help, Ranny.” 

Mallory then leaned in to hug Ransom tightly, smirking when she saw your belligerent attitude.  

You swore to yourself that you were living a movie because my god, was this so fake. No one in their right mind would ever have the guts to accomplish anything that had happened so far today. Quite the lucky streak you have, if I might say so myself.

“You wanna go, Momma?” A teasing offer came from Bentley, one you wouldn’t pass up. 

Confidently, you smirked and walked over to grab a pitching wedge from Ransom’s golf caddy. 

You were really ready to knock these women off of their damn high horses, it was time they joined you all in the corral. 

“Gladly.” 

The straight up sarcasm that dripped from your sneer thoroughly confused Ransom.

Straightening his posture, he quickly walked over to help you tee off too. 

Normally, you wouldn’t have minded Ransom’s help, but at this moment you were fuming, striking the ball on the tee with great vehemence. 

Shamelessly flirting with Ransom, even when they knew you were right there. The deliberate actions of your so called friends really was the last straw. You could normally handle the level of pettiness Ransom’s friends propounded, but you couldn’t take it anymore. It all flowed through your blood and into your swing. 

Ransom’s eyes widened when he saw how you hit with a perfect form, swing straight and all. Your ball even landed on the green, closer to the end, unlike the two women who landed on the rough, even with his help.

“Well looks like Ransom got a good start, now.” Dylan shook his head in disbelief as Ransom winked at you, a token of his appreciation. Unfortunately, you were only seeing red and completely missed his action of affection. 

“That’s impossible!” Samantha had a look of repugnance on her face. Visibly upset that she wasn’t beating you in this game of cat and mouse, insult edition. 

Mallory then discreetly flipped you off, the guys too busy packing up in order to move further down the course.

“I’m over this shit.”  You walked away from the teeing ground and towards the swarm of people. 

“You ready to move on ladies?” Bentley pointed towards the golf carts that were pretty much all packed up, except for the club in your hand. 

“Sure!” Mallory’s overly peppy and fake voice was the last straw.

The two women started to walk away with the men, swaying their hips, every step taken with aplomb.  

“No, you know what, Sam, Mal, who gives two shits about a Versace runway model standing three inches off center, because I sure as hell don’t.” 

Bentley, Dylan and Ransom stood gaping with confusion at your sudden outburst. From their point of view, nothing extreme had gone down between you and the girls all day long. 

You turned from the outraged women, disregarding their insults thrown your way and meeting the faces of the befuddled men. 

“Sorry boys.” 

“Oh and one more thing, girls. If you say one more shitty thing, so help me, I am gonna take Samantha’s Hermes heels and shove them so far up both your asses, you’ll be able to cough them up.”

You ever so gracefully returned Mallory’s kind gesture and flipped her and Samantha off. 

In typical Ransom fashion, you turned away once more, basking in their shocked looks and ignoring their pitiful attempts at being the victims.  

With that you handed Ransom the golf club which he gripped angrily, as you stormed off towards the women’s locker room. You could feel him practically burning holes into your back.

 It was almost impossible to put in the combination to the lock for your eyes were welling up with tears. What made the whole thing worse was that Ransom didn’t even say a word, and he was angry at you?!

With a swipe of your hand, you wiped away the tears before grabbing your purse. You looked at Coach logo laughing when you thought of the Celine and Louis Vuitton purses Samantha and Mallory had. 

When you had gotten to the country club, Ransom handed you the keys to the Beamer to put in your purse. His car was the only other thing he loved more than himself, you, and the baby. In reality, it was his first child. 

Seeing the Beamer in the parking lot was like light at the end of the tunnel for you. Into the driver seat you plopped and the keys turned to the ignition. At the moment you could care less where you ended up, you just wanted to run for the hills and get far from here. 

Sure, you were embarrassed, but you were more angry than anything else. 

As you drove past the golf course you didn’t miss Ransom’s appalled look when he saw the Beamer leaving without him in it. 

Back at the course, everyone stood around giving each other confused looks. 

Dylan bravely broke the silence first. 

“What just happened, man?”

Ransom just huffed and shook his head. 

“No clue. Hormones probably.” 

Samantha full on giggled while Mallory took the next step and grabbed Ransom’s bicep as she laughed. 

“Thanks for making me laugh Ran, I really needed it after what just happened.” 

Mallory looked up into Ransom’s deep blue eyes with her sparkling green ones and batted her long eyelashes at him seductively. 

The clueless men took no mind in what was unfolding in front of them. 

“Oh that’s right. Congrats dude!” Bentley supportively patted Ransom’s shoulder, before returning back to his own caddy at the cart. 

Another shaky breath left Ransom’s mouth. 

“Yeah, thanks.” 

As Ransom headed back to the golf cart, he couldn’t shake the weird feeling inside. 

What was it, you ask?

Concern. 

He was concerned about (y/n). 

A cloud of vexation and offense floated around in the car with you, that when you arrived at Harlan’s estate you had not even registered it quite yet. 

The keys of the beamer were clenched tightly in your hand as you knocked, waiting patiently for Marta or Harlan himself to answer. 

As the door swung open, it revealed a surprised and smiling Marta.

“Oh hi (y/n)!” 

It was then that the weight of the prior events came crashing down on you and sobs were the only thing you could manage.

Marta quickly ushered you inside and enveloped you in a hug. 

For the few minutes that passed, you had finally calmed down. Taking a deep breath you explained everything to Marta while she led you to the guest room you and Ransom normally stayed in. 

“I’m so sorry for your terrible day, love. Why don’t you get cleaned up and you, Harlan and I can have some dinner?”

At the offer, you returned a small smile, but a genuine one nonetheless. 

A hot shower would hopefully help clear your mind a bit. You padded over to the bathroom, starting the water and then returning to rummage through the wooden dresser. Thankfully, Ransom had left his maroon sweater and your leggings. Your first win of the day after a colossal shitstorm, maybe things were starting to look up.

The last thing on your mind at the moment was Ransom, who was supposed to be here with you. Just the mere thought of him, irked you.

When you returned from the long and much needed shower, you checked your phone.

Ten missed calls from Ransom Drysdale

Five text messages from Ransom Drysdale.

You just scoffed, turning off your phone. He definitely didn’t deserve an answer from you and you most certainly didn’t want to hear his lame-ass excuse. Was he even calling to apologize or was he calling to pester you? 

Whatever.

The cell phone just rested on the bed, while you scurried downstairs to the smell of lasagna, tending to yourself with Ransom in the very back of your mind.  

It had been about an hour since you left and Ransom couldn’t get in touch with you. Bentley and Dyaln had just left the table to get some more drinks at the bar, something Ransom clearly needed. 

He called your phone once more, but to no avail, it went straight to voicemail.

Your sweet voice rang through his phone, oh how he wished you were here.

“This is (Y/n) Drysdale, I’m not here at the moment, please leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Have a great day!”

Ransom felt a sense of pride that emerged when you used his last name as your own. Never in a thousand years had he assumed he’d ever be married, until you came along. You charmed him with your humbleness and patience for his antics. So many things about you were good for that man. Long gone were the days of shunning off a committed relationship with his pinky ring that now rested upon your index. A small diamond engagement ring, another symbol of Ransom’s love, made home on your ring finger too. You, a beautiful vision in white, walking down the aisle, and he can already imagine it. 

An annoyingly squeaky voice broke him from his enchanting daydream of you as his wife. 

“Oh Ranny, just give up.”

Long fingers wrapped around the glass flute, bringing it up to the red lips of the vanilla-blonde woman. 

“Excuse me?” 

Mallory moved her drink away from her lips, resting her hand on Ransom’s right forearm that laid on the table.

“Well it’s no use to get in touch with Betty and the bastard. She isn’t gonna answer, clearly, but I will.”

Now he could see why you were upset. 

They must’ve said something to you. What was really surprising though is that you’d never take shit from anyone. Why would you cower down now?

He mentally scolded himself, that was a question to ask you later. First order of business was to give these two lovely ladies a taste of their own bitter medicine. Revenge was practically the man’s middle name, unfortunately. 

Ransom couldn’t lose the only thing in life that mattered to him. You brought him light in the darkest of his days. Family get-togethers always put him in a terrible mood, but when you were linked into his arm with a bright smile, things seemed a little bit more bearable. 

Who cared about the consequences at this point, Ransom madly grabbed the bellini and spilled it across Mallory’s black Dior button-down dress.

“Don’t ever talk about my wife and child like that.” 

The two women cried in disgust, popping up from their seats, prompting Samantha to drag Mallory to the ladies’ room.

Bentley and Dylan came back to the table, cackling, three Malibu sunset cocktails in hand. 

Ransom was practically seething at this point, his jaw clenched as tightly gripping the glass Dylan was handing him.

“Woah man, what’s up with you?”

“Your petty ass girlfriends, that’s what.”

Many drinks later, Ransom had finally finished his story, Bentley and Dylan not believing anything the brunette spoke about.

“You’re bullshitting us, Drysdale. Maybe we should take your drinking privileges.” 

Ransom’s signature smirk curled onto his face as he found his evidence. 

“Look over a few tables, fellas.” 

There was Samantha, her tongue down some guy's throat, Mallory wearing the other man’s large polo. 

“Shit, man!” 

Dylan dropped his glass onto the table in complete shock. He had really just assumed that Ransom was drunkenly hallucinating.

“I’m not here to listen to both of your problems, now help me go win my wife back.” 

Bentley and Dylan weren’t even phased by Ransom’s forwardness, for they were both too caught up in their own drunken sorrow. 

“Why? Can’t you see I have plans tonight with some rum?” Bentley motioned to the bar before chugging his own drink down.

“She-” Ransom hung his head in shame. “She-took-my-beamer.” In one quick breath the man made his embarrassing confession.

“Fine, it’s only because I like your wife. She’s good for you ya know.”

“Yeah, yeah, just get your drunk asses out of here.” All three men doubled over in cachinnation due to Ransom’s quip.

Like expected, Bentley and Dylan continued to tease Ransom before going off to get some water in hopes of sobering up, coming back with two women instead. 

A small snicker left Ransom’s mouth. He could remember the days when that was him, but now was much happier and satisfied to always come home with you. 

You were ecstatic to be greeted with Harlan’s large and welcoming smile. The man was basically your grandfather. 

“Well there’s my favorite granddaughter and soon to be great-grandchild!”

“Hiya Harlan!” 

Your crappy day suddenly brightened at the appearance of your favorite Thrombey. 

“Something’s wrong isn’t it?” 

Harlan rested his hands in yours offering a reassuring smile. You chose not to deny the correct accusation from the man, instead going to sit down with him and Marta, once again explaining the story. 

“I just wish Ransom wasn’t mad at me.” 

A dejected sigh fell from your lips as you looked down at your growing stomach.

“My dear, if you tell him what you just told me, I am positive he would understand.”

“But I feel terrible for not being able to handle those girls. I mean he was having such a great time with his friends-.”

Harlan abruptly stopped you from spiraling into a depressive cloud. 

“No buts, (y/n). Ransom’s friends are a crazy crowd of people, well, then again you have dealt with the rest of our family. Besides, Ransom’s friends deserved to be shown a bit of what you are made of. They need to understand that it’s not about the money or title, but the character within the person.”

You chuckled at Harlan’s exquisite speech. 

“Wow, so this is why you are a best selling author?”

“I guess so, just remember (y/n), stay humble and who you are. Don’t change for Ransom or his friends because in the end that boy really needed a girl like you.”  

A beautiful smile graced your lips at his encouraging words. Harlan always gave advice with much equanimity. 

You finished the sapid and delectable lasagna with Harlan and Marta, often stopping to talk about the baby, who was to make an entrance in a few months.

After dinner was finished, you helped Fran clean up the dishes which she greatly appreciated. It was surprising to anyone that someone with your kind and caring personality would end up with a bonehead like Ransom. If only they all knew, Ransom was rarely ever an ass to you, occasions like these didn’t occur frequently. 

By time you were done cleaning, Harlan had retired for the night, but not before playing a round of Go with Marta, who happily obliged and Fran gave you some clean sheets and then headed home herself. You were all alone now, only hoping when you’d see Ransom again. The two of you were both stubborn knuckleheads, who never wanted to surrender to the other. 

Step after step, the wooden staircase creaked loudly as you slowly climbed to the second floor. Hand on the knob, you leaned against the bedroom door, tiredly pushing it open. A glance at your cell phone told you it was only a little after nine o’clock. It was an emotionally tolling day and you only wanted to curl up with your fiance, oh who are you kidding, your husband. Unfortunately, the closest thing you had to him at the moment was his maroon sweater, casing your body. All of this made the silk bed sheets even more comfortable, entrapping your exhausted body and lulling you to sleep. 

Shooting up from your slumber, you made sure your phone was not on silent, just in case Ransom called again. Content, a void of darkness littered your sight, and you were out like a light. 

RING! 

The loud ringing emitting from your phone startled you, making your head shoot up from the pillows. 

Bentley Livingstone

The bright light from the screen awoke you fully. Squinting to look at the time, you scoffed.

10:14 pm

“What the hell, Bentley.” Your voice raspy from sleep, it was evident that he had woken you.

“Sorry Momma Bear, but can you let us in?”

“Us? And if you are at the house, I’m not there, Benny boy.” 

The last thing you wanted now was to be talking to him, you practically ripped apart his girlfriend, who he was actually committed too for once. You felt awful for ruining Ransom’s day with his friends, but quickly reminded yourself that those women were even worse to you. The men probably thought you were a total bitch, after their girlfriends had played the victims. 

“Cut out the sarcasm, will ya? I’m not mad at you, and actually I’m here at Harlan’s.” 

You felt so relieved that you could almost cry, damn hormones. 

Bentley must’ve known something had happened which meant Dylan knew and hopefully Ransom too. 

“Fine.”

You went to the bathroom to hurriedly tame your messy hair and brush your teeth, ridding the final taste of lasagna away. 

Harlan was asleep and Marta had left by this time, so as you opened the front door, you made sure to make it as quiet as possible. 

“Hi (y/n).” Bentley was the first to walk in, giving you a hug which shocked you before reciprocating the action. Dylan did the same and you were bemused at the men’s kindness. 

“So… what’s up.” Nervously, you crossed your arms over your chest, resting them on your small, yet protruding bump, all while awaiting an answer.

“We’d like to apologize on behalf of Samantha and Mallory.” Dylan stepped forward, placing his hand comfortingly on your shoulder. 

“I’m so sorry guys. I didn’t mean for all this to happen.”

“Hey don’t be sorry! I’m glad I found out Sam was in it for your hottie.” 

“Yeah. I’ve dated plenty of women but not anyone that cold.”

“Thanks, guys.” You looked up to be greeted with their bright smiles. It was nice to be so trusted. 

“Dude, those babes said they were free tonight.” Dylan held out his phone to text said woman, Bentley doing the same. 

Without second thought, you quickly put your hand between the two men, still having a very animated conversation. 

“As much as I’d love to hear you guys babble over some girls, do either of you know where Ransom is?” 

“He’s right here.” 

A very familiar voice sounded from behind you. 

There he was. Your hormones were through the roof and you couldn’t stop the happy tears that fell. 

You ran to your fiance, throwing your arms around his neck, while his one free hand wrapped around your waist. Ransom placed a sweet kiss on your neck, laying his head there for a while, relishing in your love. How could he be so deserving of someone with such patience? 

Too caught up in the moment, you didn’t even notice Dylan and Bentley sneaking out the front door. 

Ransom held out a bountiful bouquet of exquisite light pink roses. With his free hand, he took both of yours, placing a few kisses to your knuckles. 

Turning your hands over, Ransom kissed your wrists and then handed you the bouquet. You couldn’t help but giggle at all his affection.

“Pink roses, for you and our baby girl. I owe you both an apology.” Like a scolded puppy, he held his head in shame.  

“I owe you an apology too-”

Your fiance’s index finger came up to shush you.

“No you don’t, I do.” 

Ransom took your left hand, your ringed fingers intertwined with his now bare ones and led you up to the bedroom.

You went to go flump on the bed, observing as Ransom shut the door, and wordlessly sat next to you.  

“I’m sorry that I, of all people, upset you. I should have been there for you, but I wasn’t.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, full of remorse. Truth be told, you had never seen Ransom like this. Taking your left hand, you lifted his chin gently, the cold metal of the rings somewhat startling, making Ransom turn his solemn face to look at you.

“How did you know?” Gazing into his gorgeous and endless eyes, you saw his sorrow, a large pang to your heart. 

“Well, both girls tried to make a move on me. Mallory called our little lemondrop,” Ransom took a deep breath, saying the next word like it was gonna summon the devil himself,  “a bastard.”

You were so desensitized at this point, you just accepted the vile words. There was no use in letting their locutions affect you, because if they did, you’d be letting them win. 

“Yeah, they both kinda said that to my face too.”  In hopes of lifting the mood, you let out a dry chuckle to let Ransom know that you were somewhat okay. Especially, that he was here, next to you. 

“You girls were laughing and everything, I truly thought you were having a good time. I am so sorry, Sweetheart.” 

Ransom was so upset, he buried his face into your chest, while you slowly and soothingly rubbed his back. Instead of telling him about your other banters with the women, you just kept your mouth shut. The poor thing was already so unsettled, you didn’t want to make matters worse for him.

It seemed like an eternity that Ransom was in your loving hold. His sobs were quieted and he examined your look of content. First, he softly pecked the corner of your lips then placed his warm hands on the small bump of your baby. 

“Hi little miss, I owe you an apology too. Today I was not a great father at all. You and your mom will always mean the world to me. I can’t wait to meet you, honey.” 

Ransom ended his heartfelt confession with a slow kiss to the unborn baby, that even you could feel through the sweater, making your heart flutter. For many months, Ransom worried about being a terrible father. Well, if what he just said didn’t prove that he was gonna be a great father, then you don't know what would. 

Your hands flew up to your fiance’s face, once again holding him close, so close that your noses bumped. Both of your eyes were closed in bliss, that was until Ransom quietly spoke up. 

“The beamer’s fine right?”

Believe it or not, but sometimes Ransom could be a comedian around those he cared about. A few giggles left your mouth as you pulled away from the man who was also laughing himself. 

“I-I’m...serious, babe!” It took a few tries for Ransom to get the sentence out without cackling. For years it had been a running joke that Mr. Drysdale loved his car more than himself which was quite the revelation, if you ever heard one. 

Getting up from the bed, you leaned down to kiss between Ransom’s eyebrows that were knitted with concern. 

“Yes, your other child is fine.” 

“So now that the air is clear, are you hungry?” 

Don’t judge, just because you may have eaten lasagna just a while ago, didn’t mean you’d pass the golden opportunity for more food. You eagerly nodded your head before sitting on Ransom’s knee. His arms were wrapped around you in a protective manner, while his hands held the phone with the menu on screen. 

“Ran, what Chinese place is gonna be open this late?”

“Trust me, I know this place.” 

Half an hour later, a man showed up on the doorstep holding a plastic bag hopefully filled with your late night smorgasbord. To your surprise, the bag was actually filled with all its content which needless to say didn’t last long. Between your endless stomach and Ransom’s growing hangover, the greasy meal trays were soon empty. You and Ransom had taken the food up to the bedroom, devouring it all, while laying on the bed enjoying the time together. 

Even when things were rough, you and Ransom always found a way to get through. 

[smileysuh]

i have to ask... bc im yr cambaby anon... but yr masterlist says one sided pining and i have to ask... is the reader pining or are some of the idols pining after her (well ik she thinks the world of jin and johnny) - 🍓

the idols all pine for her! thanks for the question bb, look, let me show you, i tried to make all the guys soft for her in ways, some are obvious like Jaehyun, but some are softer and more show it with their actions :) all of these quotes are found in the end of the fics ;)

this is a pretty lengthy analysis lol, but you can see the progression of the series quite well i think :)

Mark Tuan :

When he comes to a stop, you both just kneel there for a few moments, catching your breaths. Then the coin noise interrupts your thoughts and Mark chuckles, pressing a kiss to your shoulder, “say goodnight to your fans and come cuddle.” he tells you, sliding from your cunt and collapsing on his bed, quickly hiding under the covers

This section is in cambaby's perspective so i can't dive into Mark's thoughts, so we have to show his pining in actions.

Mark's very soft and quiet, but the domesticity and comfort in him jus saying 'say goodnight to your fans and come cuddle' like- soft boy, in my experience, fuck buddies aren't HUGE cuddlers you know?

Jaebum :

when your phone is away, you turn to look at Jaebeom. He strokes your face, fingers coming to touch the collar still on your neck. He takes it off gently, putting it on his bedside table.

You like the quiet with Jaebeom, every second needn’t be filled by word

Another section in y/n's perspective means we can't say what Jaebum is thinking so we have to look at his actions

the way he touches her so lovingly- softly touching the collar and gently taking it off, this is soft aftercare and the comfort they have in each other is obvious in the silence im so soft for them

Lucas / Hendery / Johnny :

“What about aftercare?” Hendery’s voice is unsure, wide eyes darting between you and your two big protectors.

Johnny scoffs, “what do you two know about aftercare? Look at Lucas, he’s about to pass out.”

Lucas does look really tired.

Lucas simply shrugs, tugging you to his chest so he can press a kiss to your mouth, his tongue invading your mouth before he bites down on your bottom lip, a smirk on his face, “see you later baby.”

this scene has 4 people in it but is mostly y/n's 2nd person pov, so again, body language of the boys is key

Hendery is whipped and asks about aftercare because he's soft boy

Lucas is tired but he makes sure to say goodbye and use pet names, he's a lazy kind of lover but it works for him i think

Johnny showing up at all to drive them home goes to show how whipped he is for cam baby lol

Jinyoung :

he never falls asleep easier than when you’re with him, and you’re already passed out. But tonight, it takes a while for Jinyoung to get out of his own thoughts, too many anxieties running through his head.

Five orgasms was enough. One for each man you’ve slept with on camera. He’s not sure why that number means something to him, he doubts you’ll even consider it. But for some reason, it calms something bubbling in his chest.

You mumble his name in your sleep, and it’s the last thing he hears before passing out, a smile on his lips, cheek nestled against your forehead

our first scene in the dude's pov so we can see their feelings!

Jinyoung has the domestic watching you sleep trait, and he uses this time to face his anger and jealousy. although he doesn't overtly state he loves the reader, the clues in this scene are enough to hint that he does ;) like what's softer than falling asleep with a smile after kissing the forehead of the girl you just fucked the shit out of-

Taehyung :

“Stay the night.” Taehyung says, kissing your forehead as he cuddles you tighter, “and for breakfast.”

You laugh a little, humming with happiness as you burrow yourself deeper into the embrace. “How could I skip breakfast when I’m your main dish?” you tease.

Taehyung smiles, fuck, he loves-

Oof. He has to reel in his thoughts. Love is not on the table. It never has been.

Then why the hell does he keep feeling this way about you?

He’d met you through Namjoon originally. The entire maknae line had been in awe of you that first night, and you’d closely become friends with them all. Namjoon had told them all later that you were friends with a lot of idols and had worked in the industry for a while. He’d said you were discreet and a great companion, someone who understood what they were going through with work.

Someone who wouldn’t be a risk. Your feelings would never be compromised. Namjoon said you had a handle on your emotions and that friends with benefits with you would never result in any unwanted or sticky feelings.

On your end at least.

The sex is great, you’re a great girl, wonderful to talk to- who wouldn’t fall in love with you?

Taehyung looks down at you, you’re already asleep. He brushes a finger across your cheek, removing a stray lash that was there. He looks at the lash for a moment on the pad of his finger. After a moment of reflection, he blows it away and makes a wish, although he knows it will never come true.

Taehyung's pov really sheds light on a lot of this. it sets y/n as an idol fuck buddy (referred to tae by rm) who's good at not catching any 'sticky/unwanted feelings' so this alludes to the fact that she's probably not catching feels with ANY of her fuck buddies

Tae solidifies 'who wouldn't fall in love with [y/n]' hinting that everyone in the series is in love with her

taehyung knows it's one-sided pining when he makes a wish on a stray eye lash :(

Jaehyun :

They act as if this is the most normal thing in the world, Johnny pulling you to his side so you can taste his cooking. Johnny makes you open your mouth so he can spoon feed you, making an ‘ah’ sound that has Jaehyun’s skin heating with jealousy.

He has to remind himself, you’re not his.

And, from the way you look up at Johnny with stars in your eyes, he realizes you may never be.

our most recent boy Jaehyun, like Jinyoung, also gets his own inner monologue of jealousy :(

this solidifies Jae's pining, but also Johnny's again when he babies y/n and feeds her at the stove, because Johnny is low key the central figure of the series lol

[frostsinth]

Li’un Ma Shkio - Pt. 6

Part One, Two, Three, Four, & Five

Unvar and Karianna awaken in each others arms. Have things changed between them? Or is Karianna still fighting the strange bond she feels?

Bit of a slower scene. Next part gets better. Going to start wrapping up the story soon(ish), so stay tuned! Likes and comments to let me know you still want updates.

....

I wasn’t sure how long I slept, but when next I woke, I could hear the camp bustling around me just beyond the tent walls. Still, it was muffled, and only began to filter into my ears as I started to wake. It was easy to tune out.

My eyes blinked lazily, and I yawned wide, feeling a little hazy. That sort of stupor when you first wake up, when you are simultaneously in all the places you’ve ever woken up in your life before your brain catches up your memory retrieval. For a second, I thought I was back home, in my own bed. There was a little confusion as I tried to sort out where my window had gone, and why I felt like my head was at the foot of the bed instead of on my pillows.

But then suddenly it all came flooding back to me. I started slightly, my eyes going wide. I jerked and twisted, sitting bolt upright. My elbow hit something solid and warm beside me as I sprung up.

There was a loud grunt next to me, and I spun, giving a confused squeak when I looked down.

Unvar’s yawn was so wide I thought I might be able to fit my head inside his mouth. Slowly, he rolled onto his back and stretched his arms up over his head, the muscles rippling as he flexed them. Blinking dully, he looked up at me with bleary eyes, tucking his hands behind his skull.

“Yukna vat,” he greeted me in a deep grumble still laden with sleep.

I stared at him stupidly. “What?”

“Eh, good morning, you say.” He untucked one hand and rubbed his meaty fist against the corner of his mouth.

The Tlaloc resumed his stretching with his massive legs, grunting softly. The muscles in his abdomen flexed and I quickly tried to find somewhere else to look. Shyly, I pulled a blanket up over my shoulders and wrapped myself in it, suddenly very aware of the thin slip that barely covered my breasts and stomach, let alone my thighs.

Unvar grunted again, and swung his legs out of the bed. Sitting up, his broad shoulders rippled as he stretched them back and forth too.

“After midday,” He grumbled softly, shaking his head and running one hand over the top, “Not morning.”

Unsure what to do, I looked around the tent and listened to the muffled sounds from the other side. I rubbed at my injured shoulder, which was tender and sore this morning. But the skin was cool to the touch, so I figured I had managed to stave off infection so far at least. Unvar gave one last huge yawn, then stood.

I gave a soft “eep!” and quickly spun as his tight ass suddenly filled my view. I covered my eyes with one hand, staring down at my own lap instead as my cheeks flushed red.

The Tlaloc gave a snort. “Shikoba have strange-ness about body naked-ness,” He observed, and I felt the bed shift as he stood, “Is just skin. But Shikoba shamed by seeing it.”

I didn’t feel like arguing the point of it. Instead I listened quietly as he shuffled about. Eventually, I dared a peek through my fingers, and saw that he was just pulling up his armor over his stomach. He fussed with the ties while I slowly dropped my hand again.

“You have hunger?” He asked me, then turned without waiting for an answer and disappeared out the tent flap.

There were loud shouts in his guttural language, though I supposed the tone sounded mostly cheery. I couldn’t make out any of the words, and decided I only knew all of three words anyways. Considering they mostly had to do with kissing, they wouldn’t likely be very helpful to figure out what was going on. My lips tingled at the thought, and I felt my ears growing hot again. I scooched to the edge of the bed and draped my legs over.

Unvar reappeared, smacking the tent flap back, with a plate full of meats, bread, and cheeses. I jumped at his entrance, but managed to quickly relax when I realized it was just him. He lifted the plate a little, almost triumphantly, then plunked down onto his stump, grabbing up a fistful of food as he did.

Quietly, I slid off the bed, my bare feet wiggling as they touched the cool floor. But it was much warmer than the night before, so I shuffled over with the blanket still wrapped around me to take my seat across from him.

He had already gobbled up a large portion of the meat by the time I got there and held out the plate to me, so I took up a large leg of what looked like it might be pheasant for myself. I grabbed a warm bread roll and a large wedge of cheese as well, finding myself surprisingly hungry.

Unvar leaned back and grabbed a jug from nearby, dragging it over. He uncorked it, then drained half the liquid with thirsty gulps. Some dribbled down his chin as he drank, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at him as I watched. He gave a satisfied “ahhh!” as he dropped the jug down, and wiped at his wet mouth with the back of his hand.

I had stopped chewing, with the meat halfway to my mouth, staring at him. He seemed to notice, cocking his head to one side curiously. He held the jug out to me, shaking it slightly in invitation. I showed him my full hands helplessly, and he nodded, placing it within easy reach instead.

He leaned back slightly, the plate he had brought in almost entirely bare, and made some happy sounds I couldn’t quite describe. All while patting his stomach. He reached up and dug one fingernail between his tusks, stretching his jaw about as he did. It looks almost comical, and I wrinkled my nose to suppress a laugh. Instead, I focused on my own food, finishing it (though not nearly as quickly) then dragging the jug over to take a much more delicate few sips. Whatever the liquid, it was cool and refreshing, though tasted a little like barley or perhaps wheat. I licked my lips and sipped a little more.

Unvar meanwhile stood, collecting his boots and ax from where he had tossed them the night before. He also grabbed his broadsword, but didn’t strap it to his back just yet. Instead, he dragged it over to the fire.

“What are you doing today?” I asked him curiously, picking up another roll from the plate now on the ground. I used it to fish up the few scraps of meat left on the plate and spoon them up to my mouth.

He grunted. “Many things. Chief things. Hard to explain.” 

Then he turned and considered me, appraising me from head to toe. I swallowed my mouthful under his scrutiny and shuffled nervously. He shook his head. 

“Cannot wear blanket all day.” He told me, his tone almost scolding.

I glanced over at my clothes in a pile on the ground. “But, my clothes are filthy, and-”

I jumped as the Tlaloc Chief shouted something out the flap of the tent.There was a resounding roar in reply that had my eyes shooting wide.

Another Tlaloc entered the tent at his summons, ducking her head to avoid knocking it into the post over the doorway. She was huge! Taller than Unvar, and though not as wide, her muscles still seemed larger than my head in most places. She was covered with equally sparse furs and leather, and one of her long tusks was capped in silver. Garnished in simply a strange leather breast piece and a small fur skirt that reached halfway down her thighs, her chiseled abs and stoney shoulders were bare. Her hair was in wild dreads, falling about her shoulders like a black mane, and she crossed her meaty arms over a full bosom, raising one bushy eyebrow at Unvar. 

For his part, Unvar simply looked up at her and exchanged some words with her in their tongue. She grunted, then turned her eyes on me. Her hawk-like gaze made me feel like shrinking into some dark corner somewhere and never coming out again. She looked me up and down from head to toe as Unvar had, then turned back to him, speaking loudly. I didn’t have to know the words to tell she was complaining. Unvar growled back at her, and she seemed to bristle a little at his words. But then she nodded, and ducked back out of the tent.

“Ta’nik will bring you clothes.” Unvar told me, nodding approvingly.

“But-”

The Tlaloc in question reappeared, bundles of furs in her arms and a small basket under one elbow. Though perhaps it just appeared small since her elbow was the size of my thigh. She seemed to dip her head to Unvar, somewhat politely, then began speaking again in their deep, throaty language. Unvar argued back with her, and their volume slowly began to increase.

Ta’nik, as I supposed her name was, dropped her things next to the fire and spun on Unvar, her hands on her hips. Her voice was getting even louder, and I flinched nervously. Unvar raised his voice to match hers, and even raised one finger at her. But Ta’nik shoved him, gesturing to the door, then shoved him again. I was absolutely shocked, especially when Unvar grunted, seeming to relinquish whatever argument he had just lost.

Looking over at me sheepishly, he shrugged, scooping up his broadsword. “I wait outside.”

Before I could beg him to not, he slipped out the tent flap, leaving me alone with the female Tlaloc.

She spun on me, and I jumped as she stomped over and reached out. Her huge hand grabbed my good arm, and yanked me up to stand before her. My forehead barely came to the bottom of her ribs, and I had to crane my neck back to look up at her. Still, she glared down at me with her hawk eyes, then they narrowed. I wracked my brain, trying to remember the words Unvar had said to me just a few minutes ago.

“Umm…. Yukna… vak?” I tried, even attempting a feeble little smile.

Her scowl deepened. “‘Yukna vak?’ Tasht vil ik non, valmul shik’na.” Her tone was scolding, and I shrunk into the blanket.

Shaking her head, she grabbed the fur and yanked it off me. I yelped, but she simply tossed it to the bed, then grabbed one of my shoulders. She turned me a little, then back the other way.

“Ick’thin dul!” She exclaimed, smacking my good shoulder with the back of her hand and placing the other on her hip. Even that light touch had me staggering back a step to keep my balance.

She plucked at the thin slip I wore, then poked one finger at my bandages. Shaking her head and grumbling some other words I didn’t catch, she turned to what she had brought with her. She held up one fur, then dropped it and held another.

“Bah!” She growled, tossing it to the side.

Ta’nik scowled at my slip again, lifting the hem between two fingers and thumbing it. Her hawk eyes seemed to consider the bloodstain almost thoughtfully, then she poked at my bandage again. I resisted the urge to make a sound, but rubbed the spot after she had dropped her hand. Tsking, she reached down into her boot and pulled a dagger from within.

I started to back away, but she simply grabbed my shoulder and with a quick swipe, sliced the slip from my shoulder to waist. I grabbed at it with my arms as it started to fall away, but she tucked the knife back into her boot and pushed my hands aside back. The last remnants of my garment crumpled at my feet, she took stock of me again. My cheeks had grown red hot, and I crossed my arms over myself and tucked my knees together. Ta’nik let out something which I thought might be a hearty laugh, but the sound just had my ears boiling too.

Dropping to one knee in front of me, she picked up one of the leathers from her pile, swatting my arms aside and holding it up to my torso. Her head tilted slightly, then she tossed it aside in favor of another fur, this one a soft tan. It was a long strip that seemed to be fastened together at the ends to make a large circle. She draped it over my shoulders, and it looped lazily down my front, hooked around the back of my neck. She studied it for a moment, pulling it to more fully cover my breasts, then nodded approvingly. I prayed to whatever god was listening that this wasn’t the only thing I was expected to wear. My ass and legs were still completely bare, and the fur stopped just above my navel.

Thankfully, she picked up another light colored leather and fur stitched piece and wrapped it twice about my waist. It fell generously to my knees in front and back, though it rode a little higher on the sides where the layers broke and overlapped. She tugged my elbow, pointing and drawing my attention to the strings at my hip. She pulled them, and I felt the fabric tighten against my skin. Then she deftly tied a knot, and leaned back again to look me over.

She was talking to me now, as she reached back into her pile. She pulled out some leather straps and showed them to me. I supposed she was probably explaining something to me, based upon her tone and gestures. But I wasn’t sure what she meant. She gestured to her own ample breasts, then traced a line with the straps just underneath. She jerked up and down, obviously to illustrate some point. Then she reached out, smacking my elbows until I lifted them up, and wound the straps about my torso. One she placed in the spot she had shown me on her own body, the other she placed just under my armpits, then crossed it down to my waist and wrapped it around my body again. She pointed to the buckles, and showed me how to fasten them.

Ta’nik sat back on her heels, looking pleased with herself. She studied me, turning me this way and that, then nodded. But as her eyes skimmed up to my face, she frowned, then clucked her tongue. Meaty fingers reached out and tugged at my hair.

“Ow!” I exclaimed, pushing her hand away boldly.

She laughed, and I felt more inclined to smile back at whatever humor had tickled her now. With a gentle shove, she sat me down on the ground before her, then leaned over me. Her fingers wove through my hair, firmly, but not painfully. Plaiting the hair on one side of my head. She finished it with a bone pin, then tugged on it again with a smirk.

I smiled back at her. “Thank you,” I said, and genuinely meant it.

She probably didn’t understand me, but nodded approvingly, so I hope she understood at least what I was trying to convey.

I nearly fell onto my back as she yanked my foot out from underneath me and held it up. I scrambled, trying to pull it back, but she exerted no effort in keeping it under her control. She frowned, poking at my toes. I almost couldn’t suppress the giggle at her touch, and wiggled my toes at her. She smirked, then dropped my foot, gesturing over my shoulder and saying something in her own tongue. Glancing back, I saw my own boots there and gathered her meaning. No new shoes for me.

She gathered up the remainder of her things as I stood and slipped on the boots. I suddenly realized that they were indeed my own boots, and wondered exactly how they had ended up back at the tent.

Ta’nik shouted something out the door, then dropped the flap and came over to me again, tucking her things all under one arm. She smiled down at me and plopped her giant hand on my head.

“L’ma shikoba, dol un’nik guut dai.” She told me, then pinched one of my nipples through the fur. “Ol’n mi’hik Unvar dil’nuer pusht tlaloc’kin.”

She laughed at my yelp, and squished one of her own breasts through her clothes, nodding. She poked at mine, then back at hers, grinning widely.

“Yeah yeah, I get it-” I told her, pushing away her fingers and growing pink- “You’ve got bigger breasts.”

She laughed again, then turned at the sound of the tent flap opening. Ta’nik nodded, looking proud, and bustled off, pushing aside Unvar to leave.

He smirked, his eyes following her as she exited, then looked back at me. He froze suddenly, and I thought his eyes widened a little. I shuffled my feet nervously, tucking one loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“... Do I look ok?” I asked, suddenly worried. 

I tried to look down at myself. All the important bits seemed to be covered, though you could see a hint of the shape of my breasts around the edges of the fur both at my front and sides. It also seemed a little bold to have my skin showing from the nape of my neck to the bottom of my sternum, but the straps seemed firm enough to keep my breasts from popping out unexpectedly. My shoulders were bare, as was most of my back, but I felt the covering was not horribly indecent.

Still his reaction gave me pause, and I smoothed my hands over the furs on my stomach. He seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in, and shook his head.

“No… I mean-” He shook his head again- “-Yes, you look good. Look like Tlaloc!” Then he grinned, “Small, white Tlaloc. Missing teeth.” He tapped his own tusk to illustrate the point.

I laughed a little at that, not sure if the second part was very good. But I was sure he meant the first part as a compliment. I fiddled with the edge of the fur at my waist, twirling a loose piece between my thumbs.

“So now what?”

“Now we go.” He nodded, “Busy day. Much work.”

He grabbed his blood stained cloak from its hook, then pulled a smaller grey speckled fur from the pile. It had a small strap at the top, and he tossed it to me. The fur fit perfectly around my shoulders and upper back.

“Is cold,” He told me, “Come.”

I had to practically run across the tent not to lose him as he ducked out the door. The sunlight beyond blinded me briefly, and I blinked a few times. Unvar was already striding away, and I skipped to catch up to him. A few curious looks were shot my way, but for the most part the Tlaloc seemed unsurprised to have a human in their midst. Even one following around their chief, whom they each greeted respectfully.

“...Are there other humans here?” I asked as I considered the myriad of colors and shapes around me.

“Hmm?” He grunted, looking at me out of the corner of his eye.

“Ah, Shikoba. Other Shikoba, like me.”

He snorted, raising one hand in salute to a passing man. “Not like you. None like you.” Then he nodded. “But yes. Few. Servants, and a workman. Maltoc keeps one.”

“Maltoc?” I echoed, and there was a tingle down my spine at his choice of words describing my fellow humans.

Unvar didn’t seem to notice my discomfort. He nodded in response, steering us around a rowdy crowd gathered about what appeared to be a blacksmith stall.

“Maltoc. He… what is word-” He grumbled, scratching his chin, “ah… Shaz’gul … he keeps sick. Helps hurts.”

“A healer?” I offered, skipping a few more steps to keep pace with him.

Unvar shrugged. “Shaz’gul, ta tlaloc.” He replied simply. “Shikoba helps Maltoc, and Maltoc keeps shikoba.”

I fell silent, chewing that over thoughtfully as we rounded a few more tents. Finally we came to a halt, and a loud greeting was offered to Unvar as he approached a small group of Tlaloc men. They saluted him with their chest beating greeting and hunched their heads. Then more than one clasped his shoulder or punched his arm. At first I watched with alarm, but the grins exchanged seemed passive enough. I noticed the other Tlaloc draping their arms around each other or touching various parts of their fellows’ bodies as they spoke. As if conversation required some form of touch at all times.

The words they exchanged were too quick and strange for me to begin to understand, so I waited quietly a few feet away. A few minutes later, he clasped the shoulder of one and gestured for me to follow him again.

We repeated this several times with varying clan members. Sometimes Unvar would be given something, sometimes he would just talk. Sometimes the Tlaloc would fully embrace him in bone shattering hugs, or they would pound a fist into his chest which would incite some shoving before it settled into the usual communication. Once or twice the words seemed to get heated, but it always deescalated with a drink and some arm clasping. At first, I tried to follow the exchanges. Perhaps learn some words or get a sense for what was being said. And I was impressed with the way Unvar changed his mannerisms depending on whom he was talking to. I could tell all the tlaloc we met with seemed to respect him greatly.

But after what felt like hours of following him around with nothing but sideways glances to acknowledge my presence, I was growing bored. The talking was too fast paced for me, and the meetings beyond my scope. ..

....

UPDATE: Part Seven HERE

[ikenbar]

Mr. Love: Ike’s Choice CH4 PT1

Warnings: Blood, serious injuries, burn wounds, heartache, foreshadowing, Victor ANGSTTT (prepare for that the rest of this chapter to be that way >:D), and a very tedious yet oddly intriguing cliffhanger >:D

(Chapter Four (Victor and Gavin) Prologue, and part two coming soon!)

Please read the author’s note (and the beginning of the story) on chapter one part one if you’re new here :D

Chapter four:

Part one:

In a bright, white room was my queen. 

She sat in a large throne wearing a large crown and a beautiful black dress, seemingly dripping with elegance. She waved to me, face remaining emotionless. I approached her without hesitation and bowed to her, the metal from my armor bouncing the light from the room onto her face, making a sort of halo around her already shining eyes. I looked away, feeling unworthy of such light. She put her hand on my arm. I looked up. 

She had changed. She was just a child now, no longer wearing her black dress and instead in a strange and… familiar jumpsuit. Her grip was tight on my sleeve, causing me to notice that I had changed into my usual work uniform. I steadied the little girl in my arms. What was wrong? Who hurt her? Tears dripped from the bangs that veiled her eyes. I pulled her close to me involuntarily. She mouthed something to me. Something that she used to say to me all the time. A name she used to call me by.

 My heart stopped…

>>>

A bright light shone through my eyelids, making me tense my eyebrows and lifting me slowly back to consciousness and away from that strange dream. I opened my eyes slowly to a vast expanse of a white tiled ceiling. A horrible feeling crept through my throat, giving me the sharp urge to cough. I suppressed it as a gurgling sound came from above me. An oxygen tank hung above my head and monitors with blinking lights displayed themselves around me.

The haze cleared from my head and flashes of distorted images played in my mind. An upside down desk, a large fire, a tall man running up to me,… blood. Lots of blood.

I had shoved my desk over the mask and ran to the door to warn everyone of what was to come. I didn’t make it too far before the bomb had gone off and lit my office a flame. The desk was thrown at me, Crashing into my head and knocking me out on impact. When I came to, smoke had filled the office and it had spread throughout the building. The sounds of crying and screams filled the air. I threw the desk off of me and ran the rest of the way out of the office. I was quick to help as I came across scared and injured employees, ignoring the large burn I had gotten from the explosion. I moved furniture and encouraged people to find an exit but to do so as low as they could. I should have heeded my own words as smoke started filling my lungs and I started to hallucinate. There was a point I could have sworn the world had frozen in time and I was the only one moving. Everything around me seemed to be getting more twisted and mangled until finally I saw a bright light. I moved towards it and fell into the hands of…

My head felt heavy as I turned it to a desk in the corner of the room. A familiar figure sat at it, suit black and clean with his raven hair to match. He held a stern look on his face as he stared at a folder in his hands, knuckles white from how firmy he had been gripping it. 

Victor. 

I sat up quickly, causing my head to spin wildly. I groaned and clutched it. A chair screeched from next to me and footsteps came rapidly to my side.

“Hey,” Victor said softly, patting my back, “Don’t rush yourself.” I squinted against the pain and looked up at Victor. His eyebrows were in a tight knot as his eyes searched for peace in mine. “Are you alright?” He asked, words meaning more than just the headache. My stare lingered for a moment as I thought about what to say.

“I…” I grumbled. Victor leaned closer as he intently listened to what I had to say, “I... I am going to need an extension on your report.” Victor looked at me strangely for a moment. Then he sighed. His shoulders sagged and his face relaxed. He raised his hand and placed it onto my head.

“Dummy.” Victor whispered and he patted my head softly. The gentle motion made me freeze. But, even though my body had tensed up, I could feel the anxieties about the fire start to ease. I opened my mouth to quip further, but I stopped. The scratchiness in my throat had become more prominent the more I spoke. I cleared my throat, which I instantly regretted as the pain only increased. Victor must have sensed my discomfort. 

“How’s your throat?” He asked seriously. 

“Dry I guess.” My voice cracked.

“I’ll bring back some water after I get the doctor.” Victor said, pushing me back down on the bed. He pulled the covers up and over my body so that just my head was poking out of it, “Try to stay down.” 

I grunted, throat hurting too much to say much more. Victor lingered by my side a bit longer before finally hurrying to the door. 

I watched him leave, listening closely as his footsteps disappeared down the hall. I sat back up in bed. As much I would have liked to just lay there and wait for Victor, I couldn’t let other people work to fix what happened. 

The sudden movement caused my throat’s scratchiness to become unbearable. Unable to take much more, I finally let out a couple of coughs. I felt debris push through my throat, scratching it even further and causing it to feel worse than before. My headache also worsened with the coughs, pulsing just behind my eyes and verberating through my skull. I groaned and moved to hold my head in my hands… but stopped. An unusual resistance pulled at my left shoulder. Curious, I pulled at the neckline of my hospital gown and looked down. My shoulder had been wrapped thoroughly with a clean white bandage. I thought for a second then an image of a burning desk flying towards me flashed through my mind. When it knocked me out, It must have caught my shirt a flame, scorching my shoulder in the process. I slouched slightly. Once again I was thankful for the nerve damage in my arm. I thought again about what had happened. This time, just before the explosion.

The black mask with the green scarab.

 I didn’t think Montu would try to take me down again so soon after the last attempt. I guess I could never really understand what was going through a psychopath's mind, but why was he targeting me? Who out there wants me to hurt so bad that they’d try to bomb my office?

I flinched. 

Dylan. 

The man I had fired just before the mugging with Sam. He said I would regret firing him. But how would he be able to know I was going to fire him two weeks before I actually did it? After all, that’s when Hickman said he was hired, so he had to know by then that I would fire him. But I didn’t even know I was going to fire him then. How could he? But he was the only one with a vendetta against me… right?

I sighed and directed my attention to the desk Victor was sitting at. A stack of papers and files sat next to a dimly lit laptop. Hopefully I hadn’t been out for too long. Kiro’s filming was going to be-... 

I froze. 

I was on the phone with Kiro before the explosion. 

I groaned and slid my hands through my hair. I hope I didn’t worry him. Let alone miss our filming arrangements. I shoved off my blankets aggressively with my left hand. As I did so, I heard a slight pop come from my shoulder. I quickly looked down at it. I rotated my shoulder. Then prodded at the wound.  I didn’t feel any pain or see any bleeding. It should be fine… right?

I nodded to myself and removed the oxygen mask from my face, as well as the other various pieces of tech from my body. Then I stood up and walked over to the desk.

I bent down to look at the laptop screen. There had to be a date somewhere on here. If I could just find it, I would-

 Something yellow shone at the corner of my eye. I looked up. Just behind a small stack of files was a small yellow bowl. Inside it sat a small spoon with a lion’s head sticking out of the end of it. It seemed so childish amongst the busy work and intimidating looking files. I frowned and picked up the bowl. I recognized them. That was Maria’s bowl. That was my spoon. What was Victor doing with it?

Just as I placed the bowl back down, the door opened again. Victor walked briskly into the room, holding a cup in his hand with a cap and a straw. My mouth became drier with anticipation. 

Victor saw me at his desk and froze. “I thought I told you to stay down.” Victor’s voice was forceful as he quickly walked over to me. I opened my mouth to retort but ended up taking in too much dry air. I started coughing again, this time harsher than the last. I covered my mouth quickly, hoping not to get any germs on Victor’s work. Victor took me by the arm and pulled back to the bed. I complied, closing my eyes as water filled them. I sat down and wheezed. My throat and mouth filled with a strange thick liquid. At first I resisted it but, as the liquid coated the pain in my throat, a sense of relief began to overcome me. A hand rubbed my back but I was quick to wave it away.

Eventually I was able to calm myself enough to open my eyes, letting tears stream from them freely. I looked up and found a middle aged doctor standing in front of me. Victor just behind him, the knot in his eyebrows the tightest I had ever seen. I swallowed and clutched the hand over my mouth into a fist. Something wet squished in it. I looked down at my palm. A large pool of a dark red liquid dripped from it. It was then that I noticed the taste of iron so prominently in my mouth 

“Well,” I wheezed, “That can’t be good.” 

“Don’t worry!” The doctor said quickly, motioning behind me and to a nurse, “Since your throat is so dry, what debris you have in your lungs will cut you as you cough. It’s nothing we can’t fix with some water and a bit of patience.” The nurse behind me handed the doctor a wet towel, which the doctor took and cleaned my hand carefully. “Mr. Li.” The doctor addressed Victor with an open hand. I looked at him. His eyes were wide and the look of worry had only further increased, which seemed almost impossible before. His grip on the cup had increased, showing witness around his knuckles and a slight shaking of the water inside. His free hand was in his pocket and, from the projudance of it, it looked as if it were balled in a tight fist.

Snapping to, Victor looked over to the doctor and wordlessly handed him the cup of water. “Thank you!” The doctor politely said, taking it and handing it to me with a smile, “Now Miss. Bikira, I want you to drink at least three cups of water today.”

“Alright.” I said hoarsely, reaching for the cup.

“Also, I want you to try not to speak for the remainder of the day.” 

I scoffed and glared at the doctor. I began to say something but the doctor promptly stopped me as he shoved the straw of the cup in my mouth. “It’s for your own good.” He lectured, pushing the cup in my hand. I pouted and took a swig of the water. The water washed the taste of iron from my mouth and flowed smoothly down my throat, stinging the cuts as it passed them. I sighed in relief and took a few more drinks.

 “Now,” The doctor stood up, “I’m going to ask you some yes or no questions. All you have to do is nod or shake your head in response, alright?” I nodded. The doctor smiled with satisfaction and held out a hand to me. I looked at him questionably. “I’m afraid I can’t do the examination with a cup in your hands.” The doctor’s smile never wavered. Neither did my frown.

“Ike.” A soft voice came from behind the doctor. I looked over to see Victor staring at me. His face was resolute, nothing like it was before, almost making it seem like I had imagined the look before. I tried to muster up a face to match Victor’s but, after a minute, I relaxed and sighed. There was no use fighting both doctor and Captain Capitalist.

I gave the cup to the doctor who handed it to Victor. He then waved to the nurse again. She appeared next to me, wheeling in a cart full of instruments towards us. I flinched involuntarily. For some reason, the sight of such tools sent shivers up my spine. The doctor walked closer to the nurse, discussing something in hushed tones. I felt something warm come over my hand. I jumped and looked down. A large and familiar hand had covered mine. I looked up and met Victor’s eyes. He still looked worried but, more than anything, he looked to be determined of something. Seeing him this way made my uneasiness wash away.

And, with that, the doctor began his examination. He asked me questions as he worked, making sure I was fully responsive and showing no signs of a concussion. Victor didn’t let go of my hand the whole time the doctor worked. Occasionally he would offer me the water. Never once did I refuse a drink and never once did he waver with the cup. Seeing Victor like this gave me a strange sense of familiarity. I couldn’t pin point from where but, I couldn’t quite shake the feeling.

Everything seemed to be just fine with me until the doctor had begun unraveling the bandage on my shoulder. I watched him as he worked, nervous to see what happened to me. As he unraveled each layer, they became progressively more and more dense with fresh blood. Victor’s hand suddenly gripped mine tighter. I looked up in time to see Victor reach for my face, moving to block me from seeing the shoulder. I dodged his attack and arched my eyebrow as if to say, ‘What? Don’t think I can handle it?’ Victor’s face became darker. I immediately dropped my expression. I quickly looked down at my arm as the doctor removed the last of the bandage. A large portion of my shoulder was coated with blood and was missing a layer of skin. It looked tender as new blood came from it, making it clear what exactly that pop from earlier had been. I gulped. I had seen myself get hurt before but nothing like this. A strange feeling washed over my body. One that made me feel like the shoulder I was looking at, wasn’t my own.

A large hand appeared in front of me and rested on my cheek. It pulled me away from the scene and back onto Victor. “Dummy.” He croaked, pinching my cheek slightly, “Are you satisfied?” From the tone he was trying to play, it sounded as if Victor was trying to lighten the mood. But from the grip on my hand and the cloud in his eyes, I knew he was more disturbed then I was about the injury.

Without responding, I squeezed Victor’s fingers. He looked down at them then back up at me. I smiled and nodded in a way that told him, ‘I’m fine. Don’t worry.’ Victor’s expression softened, as did his hold on my hand.

The doctor wrapped up my arm again and brought the examination to a close. “Well, Miss. Bikira,” he began, “Besides the large burn on your shoulder, you have a few minor burns and a lot of debris in your lungs. We want you to stay here for observation and rest for a few days.”

“Days?!” I raised my voice, making my throat burn. Victor shoved the straw to my water back into my mouth. I waved him away and kept my eyes on the doctor.

“Yes, five days. At least.” the doctor sighed, “And please refrain from speaking, Miss.”

“I have business I need to take care of.” I persisted in my regular tone, “My office was burnt down. I need to-” The straw re-entered my mouth again, cutting me off. I growled and whipped my head to face Victor.

“You need to be quiet.” He finished my sentence for me, looking at me with a fierce expression, “Do you want to stay in the hospital longer than the incisal five days?” I rolled my eyes and swiped the water from Victor’s hand.

“I’ll let you rest now.” The doctor bowed and left my bed, “Press the call button if you need anything. And, for the last time, Miss. Bikira, try not to speak. If anything, do so in a whisper.” I pouted but said nothing more. 

An awkward silence filled the room as Victor and I were left alone. After some time, I heard a slight screech from the chair next to my bed as Victor stood up. “Get some rest.” He said, turning away from me and back to the desk.

“But I can’t!” I whined and drummed my fingers on my cup, “I need to make calls, find a new building, rearrange… some..-” I started coughing again.

“Stop talking.” Victor said firmly, turning back to me and pushing the water close to my mouth, “You’re going to start bleeding again.” I huffed and placed my head on the top of the cup, a lump growing in my throat. Bart’s dream had gone up in flames because of me and I couldn’t even do anything to fix it! Why did I, of all people, have to sit idly by and wait!? What had Bart done so far to fix things?! Hell, was he hurt?! Did everyone make it out?! Did I miss someone in the fire?!? Where was Bart?!!

“I’m here.” Victor’s voice yanked me from my darkening thoughts, making me jump. I whip my head up to lock eyes with him. He was looking at me seriously but there was an obvious sense of comfort laced in his strict features. “I’ll take care of those things personally with Bart. You don’t have anything to worry about. All you have to do now is heal.” Paused, unsure of what to say next. At that moment, I was finally able to get a good look at his face. His eyes were slightly red and soft dark bags sat under them. 

“How long was I out?” I whispered. Victor paused.

“... Two days.” He finally said. My eyes widened. Two days… I slumped into my bed, trying to calm my racing mind. 

“I thought I was stronger.” One of my thoughts leaked through my mouth without me realizing it. Victor’s hand twitched.

“...What?”

I jumped and kept my head down. “I-I thought… I was stronger than this. A fire left me bedridden for two days. I was almost certain I… was…” The air around me suddenly got tense. I looked up at Victor. I instinctively tensed up.

I had never seen him so furious.

 “You had been in the fire and smoke for thirty minutes before coming out.” Victor’s tone had become deep, dark, and intense. I jumped in my seat, “Not only could you have gotten trapped in a burning building but you had spent all of your time helping others instead of taking care of yourself! Do you have any idea how much damage you could have done to your body?!” 

“I’m not going to let my employees suffer if I can do something about it!” My voice rose to match Victor’s. My throat burned in protest but I wasn’t going to back down, “How can you expect me to take care of myself when my employee’s lives were in danger?!”

“Your life was in danger!” Victor threw his hands up in protest, “Your company wouldn’t be able to go on without you in it!”

“My company isn’t important! The lives of literally hundreds of people were!”

“Who are you to put a price on a human soul?! What makes other people’s lives more important than yours?!”

“Because I am the reason my company burst to flame in the first place!!” I regretted saying the words as soon as they left my mouth. Victor’s eyes widened. I grimaced and looked away from him. The chair next to my bed creaked as Victor slowly sat back down into it. I raised my hand to my mouth and bit my nail nervously.

 “... What do you mean ‘you are the reason?’” Victor gravely asked. I ignored his question and avoided his eyes further. “Ike.” Victor raised his voice, “What did you mean by-”

The room door banged open as someone came running in. I looked up and saw a small, breathless, teenage boy standing in the doorway. He was dressed in a school uniform with a heavy looking backpack hung carelessly from one of his arms. His brown bangs clung onto the sweat on his forehead as he looked at me with wide eyes. Eyes that read plenty of complex emotions past their hazel exterior. “Sam?” I gasped. Sam’s eyes lit up and a wide grin spread through his cheeks.

“Ike!” Sam shouted, throwing his backpack into a corner of the room. He ran to the bed and into my arms. The sharp impact on my chest caused me to wheeze and cough harshly. Victor stood up. 

“Careful of the arm.” Victor boomed. Sam jumped back and let me go.

“S-sorry!” He squeaked, pushing himself further down the bed, “Are you ok?! I didn’t hurt you, did I?!” I didn’t reply. I could barely hear him. Instead I looked over Sam seriously, looking for any scrapes or burns. For any sign he was anywhere near the fire. 

“...Ike?” He asked, tilting his head and covering his mouth slightly, “Are you-” I grabbed Sam’s arm and pulled him into a tight embrace. Sam froze. 

“Thank goodness you’re ok.” I sighed, leaning back into the bed with Sam in my arms. Sam stayed in place a moment longer, then he wrapped his arms carefully around my neck, hugging me back. 

“I. was. so. Worried.” Sam’s voice was slightly muffled as he held me tighter, “Dad told me about what happened when I came home from school and Maria and Adri were crying-”

“I was not crying.” Another voice chimed from the doorway. I looked up and caught Adri’s eyes as she walked into the room. She threw her backpack into the same corner as Sam’s as she glared at her brother, “There was just-... something in my eyes.”

“Yeah, tears.” Ashton pushed past Adri and walked into the room after her, eyes glued to his phone, “Hey, Ike.” I nodded to him but it was for nothing as he kept his eyes down. He took a seat at the desk and avoided any eye contact with the rest of the room. Victor watched Ashton as he sat down, eyeing him curiously.

“Samuel Lee, don’t you ever run like that on your own again!” A strong motherly voice came from behind the door. Maria came barging in, also pushing past Adri, and came trudging to my bed, “It doesn’t matter what the doctor tells us! We always stick together and you-” Maria locked eyes with me. Tears welled in them as she ran to my side. She held her hand over me, struggling to find a way to address me. I carefully pushed Sam away from me and held out my hand to her. Maria beamed and ran into my chest.

“Oh, Evie,” Maria said through the obvious lump in her throat, “I am so glad you’re awake!!” I opened my mouth but with how much weight that had been pushed against my chest, I started coughing again. Sam and Maria jumped away from me, giving me room to breathe. Victor handed me my cup again. I sipped on it, silencing the room for a moment.

“...I should be going.” Victor stood from his chair.

“You sure?” I choked, “You can stay if you-” Victor pushed the drink closer to my lips.

“What part of ‘stop talking’ is hard for you to understand?” Victor growled indignantly. I raised one of my eyebrows. Victor sighed and moved away from my bed and to the desk, “I have business I need to attend to.” Victor turned to my family, “Be wry of her shoulder and be sure she stops straining her throat.” Everyone nodded with determination.

“Yes sir.” Sam said seriously, "I'll be sure she stays down and quiet! Favorite brother's honor!!" Everyone glanced at Ashton. He merely shrugged and kept his eyes on his phone. Victor nodded to Sam then faced me.

“Ike, don’t think you have avoided our conversation.” His tone was the same sternness from before. I felt my shoulder tense. Victor turned away from me again and took the coat that hung from the back of his chair, carefully pushing Ashton forward as he did so. Ashton mindlessly complied, not wavering his attention from his phone for a second. “I’ll be back to pick up my things later." Victor said, slinging on his coat one arm at a time, "Enjoy the time with your family. And, for goodness sakes, Ikamara, will you try to keep your mouth shut?”

“Yes sir.” I whispered, rolling my eyes. Victor’s stare lingered on me a little longer before he finally left the room, closing the door behind him. 

Silence overcame all of us. “So,” I tried to break the ice, keeping my voice in a whisper, “Where’s Bart?”

“He’s working on reorganizing the company.” Maria walked around and sat down in the chair Victor had been sitting in.

“Since you’ve been out, he’s been working nights to get everything back in order.” Adri came closer as well, taking the doctor’s stool from the other side of the bed. 

I sighed, “I wish I could have woken up sooner.”

“Evie,” Maria smiled and caressed my hair softly, “Don’t blame yourself. You couldn’t help this. Besides, Victor has been a lot of help.” I raised a curious eyebrow.

“Oh?” I straightened my posture, “How so?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Sam smiled brightly, “Victor offered you guys space in his big building!” My heart jumped, “He apparently had places for people to work in temporarily. Dad said it was only until your office gets rebuilt.” I stared at Sam. Why would Victor do such a thing? Wouldn’t it just be more trouble for him?

“He also stayed here to watch over you.” Adri’s voice had a slight teasing tone. I whipped my head around to face her. She had raised an eyebrow and her lips curved into a smirk, “He was always here when we visited and sometimes we would find him waiting outside or talking to doctors.” My cheeks burned, causing Adri’s smirk to widen, “So, that makes two handsome men who will come to your beck and call? How lucky are you?”

“Excuse me!?” I scoffed, “What are you-”

“Three!” Sam spoke up smirking just as evily as Adri, “She also has a neighbor who is a police officer who was all over her last I heard!” My face flushed as I opened my mouth to argue, but my words were buried as my thoughts wondered. I had to call Gavin and let him know about the case. I couldn’t hide the fact I was being targeted from him for much longer. He had to find out at sometime. Especially if it meant being able to use the resources of the police department with it… 

But that would also mean there would be a chance that I would get kicked off the case. If Gavin was willing to put his life in danger to keep my title of an evolver safe, who knows what he would do if I told him I personally was being targeted… Still, I should call him and let him know that I’m alright. Hopefully he finds the fact I was blown up twice within a few weeks funny. I hope the joke will land over the phone… the phone…

A memory came to mind. One of my phone falling from my hand just before the explosion.

Kiro. 

I needed to tell him what happened and let him know where we are going from that point on in the production of the show… that is, once I get the information for it. I should also let him know I’m ok. He was on the phone with me when it happened. I probably scared him really bad. If not for the fact that I was hurt, then for the sound of an explosion itself. I hope I didn’t affect his work or him too badly…. work...

Lucien had gone on a business trip not too long ago. I wonder if he knew about the explosion. I wonder if he was worried. Although, after the date I had given him, I wouldn’t blame him if he was more relieved then worried. Still, I should give him a call. Let him know what happened and that I was fine. 

I looked over to the phone on my bedside table. The question became, who would I call first? 

“Ashton, your chess club starts soon.” Maria checked her phone for the time, “I need to get you home so you can change.”

“Don’t worry!” Sam spoke up and swung his arms back around my neck, “Adri and I can stay and watch Ike!”

“You, mister, promised to mow Mrs. Montenegro's lawn.” Maria patted Ashton’s back so that he would stand up, “You need to get home before it gets dark.” Sam groaned and slouched childishly. “Come on.” Maria ushered Ashton to the door. Sam gave me one last hug before jumping off of the bed. 

“I’m glad to see you’re doing ok.” Maria kissed my cheek, “Adri, would you like to come home?”

“Nah.” Adri spun in her stool, “It’ll be nice to relax here in the quiet.”

“You mean, working on your school work?” Maria glared at Adri. Adri stopped spinning and smiled at Maria cheekily. Maria rolled her eyes and looked back at me. “Try to relax, alright, Evie?” I nodded, still slightly lost in thought. Maria gave my hand one last squeeze before walking the two boys out of the room. Adri stood up and took the chair Maria had left, slouching into it and pulling out her phone. She didn’t seem to want to have a conversation.

“Do you mind if I make some phone calls?” I asked her, reaching for the phone on the table next to me. Adri looked up from her phone.

“Didn’t Mr. Victor say you needed to stop talking?” Adri arched her eyebrow, “Do you plan to whisper the whole time?”

“What are you gonna do, tell on me?” I arched my eyebrow back at her.

“I dunno! Maybe!” She looked back at her phone and smiled, “I’d kinda like to see Mr. Victor freak out over you again.” I rolled my eyes and handed her my cup of water. Despite what she said, she complied to my movement, taking my water cup with her phone free hand. I picked up the receiver from the table but hesitated over the keypad. Who would I call first? The superstar who I was on the phone with before the explosion? The cop who is investigating my case? Or the doctor who could get me out of the hospital faster with a few tips? 

After a moment to think, I pushed his number in with determination. I took a deep breath and listened to the tantalizingly monotoned dial tone. Half of me wanted him to pick up while the other half of me panicked at the thought of speaking to him. 

After the fourth tone played, 

someone finally picked up.

(Next)

[willowistic22]

"He urgently needs soup" for Ikeshot?

I got that school project done yayy which means I am back to writing my heart out in newsies fanfics JAHFJNFJKSNJSDF. i wrote this from start to finish for like 3-4 hours straight lol i wish i was this productive every day. one of my favorite and very underrated ship btw so i was soo excited to write it. and also might be a little too long than my other drabble request but hey ive been saying that for almost all of my drabble requests so im sorry not sorry  ✌🤪

requests are still closed for now till i have the motivation to reblog another prompt list but that also just applies to requests in general lol. till then, enjoy this and my next drabble request still in the works. 

He lets the cool night breeze be his company, sitting on the outdoor table of the restaurant his date told him to meet him at. Hotshot didn’t want to order till his date arrive, despite the loud grumbling coming from his stomach. Hotshot isn’t sure how long he has before starvation gets the best of him. Because it’s been well over an hour and a half, and his date hasn’t arrived yet. 

He bounces his leg frantically, the anxious feeling in the pit of his stomach worsens with every passing moment of not knowing. Hotshot puts all his energy and focus on the small details around him, ruffling his dark brown hair, fidgeting his fingers together. Doing all that just to distract his brain from what’s most likely happening right now. 

This can’t actually be happening, can it? Why would Hotshot get stood up on the third date? The one where his date had chosen what to do and promised to pay for it? Besides, it seemed that his date was showing genuine interest in him. Or did Hotshot just got too excited and read it all wrong? Is this suppose to be some sort of sign he needs to decipher? 

God, he hated those intrusive thoughts. It gave him a sudden headache, forcing him to pull away his focus from the tiny lights the restaurant had hanged for decorations. Putting his elbow on the table, Hotshot uses his palm to support his heavy head. 

“Are you ready to order now?” The same waitress came back to ask the same question for the seventh time, or is this the eight? Hotshot can only shake his head, the same answer he’s been providing every time that question is thrown at him, turning his face away just to avoid seeing the pity the waitress showed.

Hotshot still wants to hope for the best outcome, but him and every other people noticing his loneliness knows what’s happening. Still, he pulls out his phone to see if his date had responded to his text or he had missed a call. Nothing. Hotshot moves to text his friend Spot, asking him for a second opinion on what to do. 

It fucking sucks because I really like him. Hotshot had texted. He has to have a proper explanation for being this late, right?

He waits for the texting bubbles from Spot to turn into readable text, which didn’t took too long. 

You call two hours late? Look, I’m sorry I have to say this but he stood you up! 

Hotshot doesn’t respond for a moment because he doesn’t want to believe what his friend said. More texting bubbles starts to appear. He places his phone on the table to wait what more Spot has to say. 

I’m saying this because you’re my friend, Hotshot. Come over and we’ll talk about it

That offer looks tempting in Hotshot’s eyes. Before he could reply, the screen of his phone switches to the call display. The name on it confuses him, seeing that he had been ignoring Hotshot for the whole night. 

Hotshot was hesitant to answer it at first, but maybe it’s worth to listen what kind of sorry excuse he had for his lateness. That is, if this still counts as being late. 

“Hello?” Hotshot hesitantly spoke as he put his phone up to his ear. 

“Hey, uhh... a-are you still waiting at the restaurant?” The voice asked, tone nervously shaking. Hotshot could pick up some background noises from the callers end, it’s quite loud but it sounds like there’s too many things happening there to the point he can’t really tell what is what. 

“Yeah, yeah I am. Where are you?” 

There was a little pause for a second before he finally responded again, “So... remember I told you that I have a twin brother?” 

“Yes?” 

“And how I exaggerated about him being a total dumbass and an overall useless human being?” He continued on with a little awkward laughter following after, “Well, you’ll never believe what just happened and where I’m at right now” 

Ike’s in the hospital. The emergency room to be exact. Ike’s brother, Mike, had gotten himself into a drunken accident while he was at a bar. Ike didn’t fully explain what happened because he has no idea what happened there himself.

Hotshot thought Ike genuinely felt bad for leaving him hanging like that. He wanted to tell him but he was just too caught up with what’s happening at the moment. Things had just calmed down on his end, which is why it took him two hours to call Hotshot. 

He told Hotshot to come see him at the emergency room and get takeout for them to enjoy, plus a little something for Mike. Hotshot briefly explained to Spot what was really happening before he head to the hospital to make sure he doesn’t leave his friend hanging. 

The ER is packed with people. Whether they’re there as a patient or as a health worker in the middle of doing their night shift. A strong smell of latex and other medical scents filled his nostrils as soon as he stepped through the automatic doors. The lights are nearly blinding, but it didn’t took long for him to adjust to it.

He scanned the place to look for a small specific boy in the midst of the rush. He finally spotted a familiar face in the far back, hunched over a hospital bed. Hotshot caught his attention with a wave of his hand, which made him stand up from his seat to walk over to him. 

Hotshot makes his own way to him and they meet in the middle of their path. He bends down a little to give Ike a hug once they’ve gotten close enough, but Ike parted with an awkward smile, “I’m sorry. I really didn’t planned on having a date at the ER!” 

To which they both laughed as they make their way to Mike’s hospital bed. 

“What did you get?” Ike asked, finally noticing the takeaway bag Hotshot was carrying. 

“Nothing more than what you suggested on getting” Hotshot replied. Ike had suggested on getting the seafood dishes because that’s their specialty. But he specifically directs Hotshot on what to get for Mike. 

“That means you ordered something for Mike?” He asked, and got a simple nod as a reply, “Good. ‘Cause from what I can tell with his current condition...” 

He moves the hospital curtain to reveal an identical figure lying helplessly on the bed, a cast on the left arm and another cast wrapped around his head. Ike leans his weight against the bed railings with his hands before adding on, “... he urgently needs soup” 

“Is this the guy that keeps on kidnapping you from me to go on corny dates?” The boy on the bed managed to speak up. He looks a little disoriented but his consciousness is present. 

“Mike, we’ve only been on two dates” 

“And he’s gonna keep on doing it, is he?!”

Hotshot laughed at the brotherly interaction before Ike finally pulled a second chair for him. Mike gets his soup, despite still not being able to function properly, while Hotshot and Ike gets to have their third date. The two eat their respective dishes accompanied with a small chat but mostly getting entertained with Mike who’s either still under the influence of anesthesia or the alcohol. Maybe they’re lucky and got both. 

“I’m so sorry our dinner date had to turn into... ‘this’...” Ike put down his wooden spoon in the small food container to gesture his hands towards his brother, “And I’m sorry that it looked like I stood you up” 

“It’s okay. I mean, at least this isn’t another corny date like what he said” 

To which, Ike responded with a small laugh. 

“I should step up my game and get my friend to third wheel us on another ER date next time” Hotshot joked, earning a laugh from Ike, “Taking you on corny dates would piss your brother off” 

“Mike’s an idiot but he’s harmless” Ike explained after he stopped his laughing, “And... I don’t mind the corny dates. I just enjoy going out with you in general!”

Hotshot smiles at him sweetly and Ike returns the favor, ignoring the reality of where they actually are. It made him feel warm to know Ike felt the same way about hanging out with him. Because Hotshot clearly likes him. A lot. 

“Jesus, guys! Get a room!” Mike called out. He might still be a little dysfunctional but he’s sober enough to realize the tension between them, “Don’t gotta make me and my soup feel single while you two make out in public!” 

Hotshot looks down to his food to hide his laugh, whilst Ike gives his brother the stink eye but manages out a laugh. He face Hotshot again, “I swear, this isn’t how I wanted you two to meet” 

[mcwriting]

starstruck (2)

Heyyyyyy so I stuck to my word lol.

I’m basically unable to function after seeing far from home this evening but also it was so good. I teared up when tom did and my mom made fun of me but its okay because his acting was awesome! Highly recommend y’all see it (even tho ik you probably will if you haven’t already lol)

Ps this is my first time linking one post to another so please lmk if it doesn’t work, but if it’s not, you’ll always be able to access this through my starstruck tag!

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10

Fandom: Tommo Holland

Ship: Tom Holland x Reader eventually

Setting: LA

Word Count: 1386 (lol it’s shorter this time srry)

Warnings: i actually don’t think there’s any here, but lmk if there should be

Rating: K+ still

Background: part 2 of my DCOM inspired fic

B/f/n: your best friend’s name

                             __________________________________

Previously on starstruck...

The faint remains of his cologne wafted to your nose and you couldn’t help but breathe it in. You relaxed further into his grip and stayed comfortable until you heard a buzz on the table next to you.

You decided to ignore it until it happened two more times. Finally, you decided to wiggle out of Tom’s grip and succeeded without waking him. You picked up the cell and noticed it was 10 a.m. and all three texts were from b/f/n

Hey I’m coming over

I’ll bring ice cream since you said you weren’t doing too hot yesterday 

I’m on my way

“No. No, no, nonoNO,” you exclaimed, getting louder and louder, causing Tom to sleepily ask,

“Could you keep it down, darling?” 

“No, I can’t ‘keep it down,’ Thomas, because b/f/n is ON HER WAY HERE!”

“What!?” 

He sat up fully awake.

“We have to get you out of here without her seeing, and she’s probably gonna be here in like 5 minutes.”

Tom rushed to get up and find his keys that were in the pocket of his discarded jacket while you hurried to brush your hair and take a makeup wipe to your face.

You clambered down the stairs and hurried Tom through the kitchen and into the laundry room when you heard the doorbell ring, and when you didn’t answer in apt time, it began ringing like crazy.

Panic stuck your chest and you looked at Tom.

“Open the garage and leave in 5 minutes, then text me so I can close it.” You commanded, beginning to walk towards the entryway.

“Wait, wait,” he grabbed your arm, “I don’t have your number!”

You scrawled it down on a sticky note and ran, hoping he would get out safely and quickly. You opened the door to find b/f/n holding two pints of ice cream, raspberry sorbet for you and coffee ice cream for herself.

“My gosh what took you so long? I about started searching for the spare key with all these goods melting.”

You were about to reply when the door between the garage and utility room shut loudly. 

“Uh, who was that?” she asked, knowing your parents were at work.

“Oh, uh, a friend from dance. We’re working on a piece together and we decided to talk about it last night since I hurt my head,” you lied.

B/f/n furrowed her brows for a second before letting it go and coming inside to set up your typical movie day in the living room. Meanwhile, you headed back to the kitchen to grab spoons and check your phone, where a new number had sent a message. 

I’m out so you’re good to close the door. Thanks again for the great night ;)

You smiled and sent back 

That makes it sound soooo much worse than what really happened haha. You made it out without suspicion too :)

You decided to put his number in as a contact, disguising him as “Clara Twinkletoes” after a joke made late into the previous night, then headed to the living room.

                             __________________________________

After finishing one movie and your separate ice creams, you both decided to take a break and were looking at your phones.

“Hey, I know you hate talking about Tom Holland,” you gave a side-eyed glance to the bringing up of his name, “but guess what? He liked my picture last night! I just remembered to tell you!” 

B/f/n held up her phone to show you the notification, then went back to staring at it excitedly. 

“That’s actually really cool. I’m happy for you,” you expressed, leaving out the fact that you had asked Tom to like it when you were talking about the post at 1 a.m.

A few minutes later, b/f/n breathed out a soft “woah.”

You looked at her in confusion.

“Y/n, look at this girl Tom was photographed with yesterday, she looks like your twin!”

Dread filled your stomach as you stared at the picture of you and Tom in his black Audi A8, that stupid ballet skirt wrapping your head.

“Yeah, maybe if I took ride alongs with celebrities and wore nineteen fifties headscarves,” you quipped, “you only think that girl looks like me because you want it to be me, b/f/n.”

“Hmm, I guess…” she trailed, taking back her phone to continue scrolling through Instagram.

Not long after, you got a text from Clara twinkletoes.

Have you seen the picture??? I’m getting tagged and you are too

Like… everyone thinks that girl is you

Psh as if. We can talk about it later, I’m busy with my gal pal

Fine. Also, I was wondering if you wanted to go with me to the beach tomorrow? I wanna talk about all this in person

Hmm. Maybe. Probably not ;) 

“Hey, b/f/n?” You asked tentatively.

“Yeah?”

“Is it cool if you don’t spend the night tonight? I need to go to dance early tomorrow since I took the day off and I’ve also got this head injury so…” 

it wasn’t a complete lie. You did have a head injury and your plan was to go to dance at some point, but you decided to leave out the part where you might actually go hang out with hot shot Holland.

“Oh, uh yeah, sure. My sister is coming into town this week so it’s probably for the best, you know how my mom is about cleaning the house and stuff,” she said, obviously trying to hide her disappointment.

Around 4 pm, she got up to leave. You had watched two more movies and eaten plenty more snacks throughout the afternoon. 

“I guess I’ll see you later, y/n. Hope you’re feeling better tomorrow,” she smiled. 

You returned the gesture and gave her a hug, then watched from the doorstep as she mounted her bike and rode off to her house only a few neighborhoods away, you feeling queasy about lying so much.

                            __________________________________

You headed upstairs after a light dinner and some TV. It was only about 8 o’clock, but the combination of a head injury, late night, and slight emotional distress (from lying to b/f/n) made you feel exhausted, not to mention you would be waking early the next day. 

You changed into sweats and flopped into bed, checking your social media for a little bit to wind down. 

Your snapchat was just pictures from friends, only a couple of them joking to you about the whole Tom Holland situation (but of course none of them knew the truth)

Twitter and Instagram, however, were a different story. After the premiere, you had chosen to turn off notifications and were especially happy to know it was the right choice. 

On Twitter, fan accounts and other people were replying to a joking tweet you had made days before the premiere in reply to b/f/n where you said “Why be friends with that tom holland guy when you could hang out with your superior best friend hmmmm?? He’s lame compared to me lolol” 

People were going nuts about it, divided over whether you were just messing around or if you really didn’t like him. Most of them chose the former, though you knew you had meant the latter. Other people were tweeting about you separately and debating about that picture from the day before.

You almost deleted your Twitter in a rash decision but realized how suspicious that could look and instead closed it and moved to instagram.

It too was overflowing with tags and comments and follows and likes. Your stomach churned as you realized how big this was becoming. Finally you made the choice to meet Tom tomorrow, even if it risked being caught again. You sent him a single text to let it be known:

Alright twinkletoes. Let’s go to the beach.

You figured you could reply to whatever he sent in the morning and put your phone on do not disturb before plugging it in and checking the alarm.

You snuggled into the sheets and buried your head into a pillow. A sweet and musky scent drifted into your nose and you took a deep breath. 

Tom’s cologne

You sat up, sniffing around the sheets, pillows, and covers, realizing he had left his scent everywhere. 

“I need to wash these sheets tomorrow” you breathed to yourself in an annoyed tone. 

With that you laid back down, glad that b/f/n wasn’t there to ask whose scent was all over your bed. Though you tried to convince yourself that you wanted the smell gone, had anyone been watching, they couldn’t deny the way you sunk into the bed and the faint smile that made its way to your lips as you drifted into slumber.

                            __________________________________

A/N: there’s chapter 2!! Hope you guys enjoy. I don’t think I’ll post 3 until this weekend but who even knows haha. Love y’all and am so happy to have your support!

Tag List: @marvel-lously

[elf-zhyza]

Random stuff from the new vid, basically my running commentary

"Comment below, because the human connection will make me feel like a person again." mood

"Everything is going wrong in my life." mOOD

R: "What up, plebs" I never knew I needed to hear that

P: 🎵 "Singin to myself, cause I'm not uncomfortable at all" 🎵 poor Pat!

R: "Secret secrets are no fun, tell me now or else we're done." (Roman, you're doing great, sweetie)

R: "I have yet to receive my invite to the pity party." MOOD

P, dryly: "That's easy for you to say." (Huh.)

V: " What he means is that you're not a great judge of what is and is not an overreaction. Your most extreme reaction is an eyebrow raise." / L: "FaLSEhOOd!" / V: "I stand corrected." / P: "There's the one for the day." (Implying he screams falsehood every day at least once? I sure hope so)

V : "So I'm acting fishy. So sushi. I mean sue me." / R: "Don't act like that was an accident." My boys, I've missed you

4:26 V: "I'm gonna prohibit your breathing if you keep this up!" If you didn't hear that the first time, I beg you to go back and hear that part because it is golden, but if you'd rather not I get it

P: "2005's Just Like Heaven starting Mark Ruffalo and Reese Witherspoon?" / V: "Sure." He's so done

P: "You Ruffle-know it." First pun of the video!

R: "If they got married, then he'd be Mark With-his-spoon." Oh, I... I get it

P: "They'd be Mr. and Mrs. With-their-spoon." Pat no

R: "You hijacked my joke! You high-joked!" I stg

5:59 What. The fuck. That's so disturbing, just the fingers coming over the back of the TV? (But little did I know, it would get far more disturbing)

OH MY GOD, that mustache?!

P: "You killed him!" / R, on the floor: "Ughhghg"

What the fuck is this song? What the heck is going on?

Weeelllll then,,,

Deceit's 6 hands are back then,, and still a thing?

Well, we got a villain song, even if it wasn't the one I wanted. I'll just be patient.

"Look, Mr. Duke, I'm really stupid right now, just tell me who you are." What

Duke: "Black out all the juicy stuff." I'm sorry what

P: "Yeah, your... b-hole needs to stay zipped up in your pants where it belongs." What am I watching right now, did I take a left turn at Albuquerque or what

"I'm sorry I don't see the creative merit in 'juicy butthole.'"

UGH HE PULLED HIS EARS OFF HOLY SHIT THAT SOUNDED LIKE VELCROW UGH!

P: "You put those back on right now, mister!" uM EXCUSE ME SIR

L: "But you did exactly what I needed you to." / P: 🎵 "Patton, did a real good job." 🎵

R, mumbling on the floor: "No mommy, I don't want the mashed potatoes."

Duke: 🎵 "Hey prude, your art is bad" 🎵

That cackle! The Duke must've been both strange (and maybe in some twisted way, do I dare say fun?) to play

Duke: "What is my deal? B*tch, what is your deal?" The aTTITUDE

His outfit is so sparkly; wow my AD(H)D is everywhere

17:53 P: "................maybe"

19:08 okay I'm glad that we're pretending like that never happened, that was strange

V: "You bastard" / P: *gasps* / V: "Okay, you can't pretend that that isn't happening" (um, ew)

P: "That's what repression is?" (My poor baby, you shouldn't have to deal with all of that, my poor Patton. Also, I'm going to assume that response was because he has secret repression of his own but he didn't know what it was, ik I'm reaching with headcanons here)

L: "You're just para— expressing a healthy amount of concern. Thank you for being on guard." Logan knew that could lead to an argument, which is the last thing Thomas needs right now, so he changed what he was saying (maybe? people have mentioned Roman's "paranovigilant" so I'm not sure?)

L: "Ahahahah, I said figuratively, and that is why I say it." (What is this music?) "That 👏 is 👏 why 👏 I 👏 say 👏 it 👏" (Logan's clappy thing is back, is that a habit or just to accentuate his words, I wonder?)

Duke: "I looove being given two Ds at once." (Oh no, I did not need to hear that)

Duke: "Record scratch?"

L: "He's being too strict. Oh my goodness, Patton is being too strict? It's not me for once? What does that mean? Am I cool? Does this make me cool? Am I being cool?!" Logan, sweetie, you're cool, I promise! (He's so excited! ❤️)

The whole discussion about reek and the deodorant is the best ("pickled poo log") (" deodorants don't have flavors, you don't eat deodorants—" you were saying, Virge?)

"Dukey"

Ooh, Remus? That's a name

Duke: "I would never hide anything from you." Why did the camera pan to show Virgil looking guilty? Is he still hiding something?

27:49 what... was that? I think both Patton and Virgil display my reaction

I hate how much he sounds like Roman sometimes, but they are played by the same person and probably are supposed to sound alike

Logan's little "everything is okay" really got to me, it's oddly comforting

Duke: "It was just like old times." Yet more evidence that Virgil knows the Dark Sides! More theory fodder! Plus Virgil's "you /used/ to scare me" (turns out we don't need theory fodder anymore, it's been proved ^^)

They're all so excited to see Roman! (Especially Patton's "you're alive!")

Ahh, Roman & Logan are trying to get along now!

I don't wanna bring the Logan ships into this, but everyone's little smile at him before he leaves? I like him a lot more too after this episode

Roman's groan of "I don't like him" reminds me of how he used to react to Virgil

Roman & Remus left with the same "byeee"

Virgil's "the others", "I thought I knew how to handle them" (the music's crescendoing?), "Yeah, but I should know better" and fiNALLY "Because I was one of them." YESSSS OUR THEORIES PAID OFF I just went "wHOOO" super loud in the middle of my house

"partially due to a bad dream about demonic fridges" are we just... not going to talk about that? no??? He's pretending Gavin's just some kid who breaks into his house to steal his HelloFresh? "wHY DO YOU DO THESE THINGS! I HAVE CHANGED THE LOCK FIVE TIMES"

In conclusion, sorry guys, I don't really like 'Remus,' so don't mind me if I continue calling him the Duke. Now Sanders Sides to me will be associated with him, which is not a good thought. I finally understand why some people don't like our snake side, I might need to watch for trigger warnings for the Duke myself now. (Sorry!)

[hesthekingofsomewhere]

Yet Another Chatfic pt 5

part 1 I 2 I 3 I 4

this is a long chapter! and im posting it ahead of schedule! bc I love yall!

please leave comments! likes! I love feedback!

Also! this chapter has a peek into sarah, finch, and alberts groupchat

Queens of New York

8:15

santagay: say yeet if you made it home alive

DJacobs: Yeet!

SJ420: yeet

richbitch: yeet

Spot8365631: yeet

respecs: yeet

albiehadalittlelamb: yeet

WhereforeArtThou: yeet

noteventhatshort: yeet

SJ420: wheres finchy boy?

littlebirdie: still at their apt

littlebirdie: oh right

littlebirdie added crispycrutch to Queens of New York

PM with albiehadalittlelamb

santagay: al, finch slept over

albiehadalittlelamb: yeah ik?

santagay: i hate to say this and be that guy, but al, he slept in crutchies room

santagay: ik whats its like to be cheated on, and i never thought i would be having this conversation about finch but I dont want you to get hurt.

albiehadalittlelamb: ill ask finch, im sure nothing happened

PM with littlebirdie

albiehadalittlelamb: did my fake bf cheat on me?

littlebirdie: …

albiehadalittlelamb: GET SOME BOIII

littlebirdie: lmao so your not mad?

albiehadalittlelamb: why would I be mad? even if we were dating id be chill about this, ik you have a huge thing for crutchie and lord knows youd never get any action from me

albiehadalittlelamb: the only problem is that jack thinks your cheating on me

littlefinch: ok so should we fake-break up? cuz i kind of dont want to, but if jack thinks im cheating on you…

albiehadlittlelamb: i have a plan

albiehadalittlelamb: does crutchie know that were fake dating?

littlebirdie: ye, theres no way i would even be allowed into his room if we were actually dating

albiehadalittlelamb: ok but heres the thing, if jack thinks you cheated on me, then race probably thinks the same

littlebirdie: oooHHHHHH

littlebirdie: so now im also fake cheating on you so that race will feel bad and fall for you and your sad situation

albiehadalittlebird: exactly!

littlebirdie: nice! what could possibly go wrong

Queens of New York

respecs: so why is this chat called queens of new york

inyourFACEtrack: well you see…

inyourFACEtrack: twas all hallows eve 2017

inyourFACEtrack: and 7 of us showed up to kaths halloween as drag queens completely independantly

noteventhatshort: and sarah kath jack and i were dressed as disney princesses

respecs: thats beautiful

respecs: and here i thought it was bc ?everyone? here is lbgtq

santagay: well if you think about it, its both

richbitch: when was the last time we even had a straight in this chat?

crispycrutch: i think  we had morris in the chat for a week when he was dating romeo

santagay: oh god i forgot about that

SJ420: does he even count as a straight?

inyourFACEtrack: well there was a reason he was only in the chat for a week so…

santagay: true, speaking of which

santagay: specs, if you ever hurt romeo, we will find out where you live and steal all of you soap lest you ever get a date again

respecs: noted?

SJ420: he gave me the same threat when I started dating kath lmao

santagay: it worked didnt it?

SJ420: im hate you

santagay: you loved me once loser

WhereforeArtThou: oh shit he went there

inyourFACEtrack: oooooooooooo

crispycrutch: ??????

SJ420: once upon a time i thought i was a het, and then i dated jack for like 2 months

SJ420: and 90% of our relationship was checking out pretty girls together

SJ420: so i figured i should date those pretty girls

noteventhatshort: BIG MOOD

SJ420: for the record the other 10% of the relationship was jack checking out “cute” boys and me being like eh

santagay: and herre i thought you were just trying to stop me from being jealous

SJ420: jack at one point i kissed another girl in front of you and you did not care

noteventhatshort: AHHH

inyourFACEtrack: OOOF

richbitch: AN ICON

santagay: ok well

SJ420: don’t even try bud

DJacobs: That’s my sister!!!!!

santagay: but at least you didnt hide it

santagay: at least you werent kissing people behind my back like SOME people in this chat

SJ420: ????

Spot8365631: i thought you were over that

santagay: i am i just need to have moral high ground over someone

inyourFACEtrack: wait what

noteventhatshort: is this chat just stories of jack getting cheated on now?

richbitch: im living for this

richbitch: jack cant keep a man nor woman

noteventhatshort: but whats this about spot cheating on jack?

santagay: he BROKE my FRAGILE 15 y/o HEART

santagay: but spottie was too cool, lived too fast, couldnt be tied down to one man

Spot8365631: also david was a much better kisser

SJ420: OH SHIT PLOT TWIST

richbitch: CALLED OUT

inyourFACEtrack: 911? theres been a murder?

DJacobs: This…. is true.

inyourFACEtrack: THE LEGEND HIMSELF SPEAKS

respecs: i am living for the drama in this chat

crispycrutch: were kind of a mess tbh

respecs: i understand and completely respect that

inyourFACEtrack: you reSPECt that?

respecs: haha very funny not like thats my goddamn username or anything

Spot8365631: roasted

inyourFACEtrack: bitch

inyourFACEtrack: YO JACK ROMEO, GOT MY MFN 29TH

santagay: fuck offfffff

WhereforeArtThou: this bet is unfair

WhereforeArtThou: im only attracted to one gender, thats less than half the people to ask

santagay: dude ur still winning

WhereforeArtThou: yeah but its a lot more work

inyourFACEtrack: i only have 1 girls number, i think its p even

santagay: this seems like something you should have considered when we started

WhereforeArtThou: ok but consider this

WhereforeArtThou: i didnt

inyourFACEtrack: ok but consider this

inyourFACEtrack: ur a dumbass

WhereforeArtThou: strong words coming from a guy who threw a wii remote out the window

noteventhatshort: fight fight fight fight

inyourFACEtrack: my embarrassments are not ur entertainment smalls

noteventhatshort: ur embarrassments are my only entertainment what r u talking about

Spot8365631: also everything you do is embarrassing

inyouFACEtrack: i feel betrayed

santagay: you should

santagay: i once saw u put hot chocolate mix in oj

inyourFACEtrack: it tastes like a terrys chocolate orange i stand by my choices

crispycrutch: you snorted mr noodles seasoning bc spot told you to

inyourFACEtrack: and i got 20$ for it

Spot8365631: u didnt “””get”””” 20$ ur debt to me was just slightly reduced

inyourFACEtrack: EITHER WAY

crispycrutch: once i watched u drop a spoon into a pot of boiling water and stick ur hand in to get it

inyourFACEtrack: i think ur point has been made, thnk u crutchie

Spot8365631: please do not stop, hes had it coming

crispycrutch: i will stop only bc i value my safety and so i still have receipts for the future

inyourFACEtrack: oh god

inyourFACEtrack: why did i think it was a good idea to live with you

crispycrutch: bc you love me and i contribute to the rent

inyourFACEtrack: touche

crispycrutch: besides, i would have dirt on you regardless

crispycrutch: i have seen each and every one of you do stupid stuff, no one is safe

inyourFACEtrack: mooooom crutchies being meannnn

DJacobs: Crutchie, please delete your blackmail.

crispycrutch: how can i delete it when its in my brain

santagay: i have never been more scared of crutchie

SJ420: crutchie is my idol

crispycrutch: that does not make you safe my friend

SJ420: honestly at this point you could reveal anything about me and i would not care

SJ420: i have reached a god status where nothing you say could possibly embarrass me

richbitch: im so in love with you

SJ420: love you too babe

PM with SJ420

richbitch: ik youre in the next room but i dont want dave to hear, but I got a dinner reservation for two tomorrow at 7 and was wondering if you would like to join me

SJ420: i mean of course, but why are you asking me like this

richbitch: because

richbitch: also you should wear that dress you got for christmas

SJ420: ok?

More Than Just Cigars

SJ420: kath is acting weird

albiehadalittlelamb: what kind of weird

albiehadalittlelamb: like “i just lost a lot of money” weird

albiehadalittlelamb: “i just took a bunch of acid” weird?

littlebirdie: oh no is it “i just slept with jack” weird?!

SJ420: oh god no

SJ420: she texted me and asked me on a date

SJ420: i asked her why and she said because

littlebirdie: !!!!!!!!!

littlebirdie: DID SHE ASK YOU TO WEAR SOMETHING SPECIFIC

SJ420: ye, a dress from christmas

albiehadalittlelamb: OH MYYYYY GODDDDDDDD

littlebirdie: GIRL

SJ420: what????

littlebirdie: jfc ur blind

albiehadalittlelamb: if u havent caught on yet we cant morally help u srry

SJ420: GUYS PLEASE

littlebirdie: nope

albiehadalittlelamb: have fun on ur date tho

PM with santagay

albiehadalittlelamb: oh yeah finch did not, in fact cheat on me

albiehadalittlelamb: he was just making up with crutchie last night, they had a fight

santagay: and u trust finch in this

albiehadalittlelamb: ofc, ive known finch a long time, he would never

santagay: ok if you insist, i just dont want you to get hurt

albiehadalittlelamb: thanks jack

Queens of New York

littlebirdie: anyone else just, super glad that theyre gay?

littlebirdie: bc thats such an important feeling

DJacobs: Me too, Finch

Spot8365631: rt

SJ420: rt

noteventhatshort: rt

WhereforeArtThou: rt

albiehadalittlelamb: rt

santagay: rt but bi

inyourFACEtrack: rt but bi

richbitch: rt but bi

respecs: rt but bi

crispycrutch: rt but pan

littlebirdie has changed Queens of New York to Queers of New York

inyourFACEtrack: helllllll yeah

Spot8365631: no cussing, my mom checks my phone

inyourFACEtrack: oh my goodness im so sorry spot

inyourFACEtrack: ill delete the message right away

DJacobs: What?

DJacobs: Why does your mom check your messages, Spot?

DJacobs: You’re 23 and moved out?

DJacobs: Also I’m pretty sure I’ve seen you swear in this chat.

DJacobs: This is a meme, isn’t it?

santagay: u got there on ur own!

santagay: im so proud of u!

DJacobs: Thank you, Jack.

inyourFACEtrack: why does it feel like everyone is in loving and healthy relationships except me?

PM with inyourFACEtrack

Spot8365631: wow rude

inyourFACEtrack: were not in a relationship remember?

Queers of New York

DJacobs: Jack and I are not dating.

santagay: dude, were mom and dad, i think that’s close enough

respecs: question, in this mom/dad thing, who is everyone else

santagay: kath and sarah are the aunts obvi

inyourFACEtrack: smalls, romeo, crutchie, al, and i are their kids

inyourFACEtrack: finch used to be one of the kids but now hes dating al so that seems weird

inyourFACEtrack: i guess hes sarahs kid now?

SJ420: awwww i love my new son

respecs: what about spot?

santagay: hes kind of… his own entity… like an estranged uncle or neighbor that spends more time in ur house than his own

Spot8365631: rude but accurate

santagay: thats my name dont wear it out

Spot8365631: i hate you sm

santagay: then y r u always in my house???

Spot8365631: this metaphor has gone to far. blocked deleted and unfollowed.

santagay: honestly? thats fair

santagay: i respect ur choices

Spot8365631: sounds fake but ok

PM with Spot8365631

inyourFACEtrack: in a beautiful twist of fate, crutchie jack are going to see a movie with davey and kath, and im home alone with a meat lovers pizza on its way

Spot8365631: ok?

inyourFACEtrack: would you care to join me?

Spot8365631: no, sounds too much like a date, and were not in a relationship right?

inyourFACEtrack: dude, were friends, sharing a pizza, and maybe having anal sex

inyourFACEtrack: thats not a date its just what we do

Spot8365631: still no, i have to finish a foreign policy essay for tomorrow

inyourFACEtrack: oh ok

[suit-lady]

Taken Chances.

Pairing: Liz Allan x wlw!Reader

Summary: Requested by the lovely @tomhollandcouk! Vaguely, a gay Liz fic. In detail, Liz takes the chance in admitting her feelings, but different men in her life make the relationship complicated.

Warnings: Swears, gay (ik not a warning but), Liz’s parents are homophobic.

Word Count: 3095 (ik it’s long but it’s not long enough to split)

A/N: Again, this fic is gay. Also, this one is angsty and sad. Rip. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I liked writing it!

Junior year, things were supposed to be easier. Sure, you were going to be studying your ass off for the SATs and starting to look at colleges, but it wasn’t supposed to be so stressful. Midtown knew their students were trying to get test scores that were MIT-level, so junior year classes were meant to be a little more lax. Until about halfway through junior year, things were easier. Your SAT scores came back, and you cried with a good friend of yours, Betty, about how well you’d both done. While eating your celebratory ice cream, your world came crashing down.

“Say, (Y/N), you mind if I ask you a personal question, best friend to best friend?”

Raising an eyebrow at her, you replied, “No, go ahead.”

“How long have you loved Liz?”

You sucked in a breath, causing you to choke on the water you were drinking. “What?” you asked as you were gasping for air.

Betty gave you a look. “Come on, (Y/N). I see it. I know that look. It’s the same one I always give Kenny.”

“Are you sure?” you asked, blush creeping up your neck.

“Judging by how red your face is, yeah, I’m sure.”

You rubbed your face with one hand and said, “Y’know, I haven’t really talked about this with anyone…” You trailed off, but the look in Betty’s eyes urged you to go on. “Look, Betty, I’ve had a crush on her since we all became friends back in freshman year… I guess I kinda… fell in love with her sometime along the way? I don’t really remember one specific event where I definitely knew, but… I know it for sure now.”

The smile on Betty’s face was brighter than sunshine. “(Y/N)! That’s so cute!”

“Oh, stop, no it’s not. Being in love with your best friend is stupid lesbian shit that should only happen on TV.”

Betty shook her head. “Nope, it’s happening to you, and my intuition tells me that it’s also happening to Liz.”

This made you glare at Betty as you retorted, “Yeah, and I’m straight, Betty.”

She made a sharp “ugh!” noise in offense, and her mouth dropped open. “(Y/N), I’m serious!”

“I don’t believe you…” you replied, going back to your ice cream. “And don’t you meddle in this, Miss Future Journalist,” you added as an afterthought.

“Okay, (Y/N)… Best friends honour,” Betty gave in with a heavy sigh.

 -

 Two weeks later, Liz hosted an end-of-semester party. Betty kept pushing you to tell Liz before you went on a vacation with your family, but you kept refusing. You weren’t ready, you kept telling her. Later, you said it just wasn’t the right time. Betty eventually gave up for the evening, letting lose and having fun dancing to the songs Flash was blasting over the speakers. For a freshman, he was a pretty damn good DJ.

You stayed til the end of the party, as always. Since Liz had started being Midtown’s main party host, you helped clean up after parties so she wouldn’t have to do it alone. She always said you didn’t have to, but you always did anyways. After all, it guaranteed you nearly an hour of time with Liz all to yourself.

This time, however, Liz approached you when Flash announced the last song. She’d always come and dance with you and Betty and your other friends, but this was different. Instead of bouncing up and waving her arms to the music, she made a beeline to your group. Then, she gently touched your arm.

“Hey, (Y/N), were you planning on staying after to clean up tonight?”

“Yeah, of course!” You gave her a confused look.

She smiled, and you melted a little. “Okay, great! I just…wanna talk to you about something.” You confused look deepened, and she scrambled for an explanation. “Uh, well, like, say goodbye before you leave and stuff! And I’ve got you a little Christmas gift…”

Your eyes widened. “I didn’t bring yours!”

“It’s okay,” she said, waving a hand. “You can give it to me when we go back to school.”

“Oh, okay!” you said with a smile, and you two danced to the rest of the song.

You both waved at the retreating cars from Liz’s doorway, and then began cleaning up. While Liz took the kitchen, you took the dancefloor, placing your phone on the coffee table and turning on some quiet music. You figured Liz would do the same. Then, you heard her voice from the kitchen.

“Hey, I love this one! Can you turn it up?”

You looked towards the kitchen quizzically, but turned up Hayley Kiyoko’s voice anyways. Hayley was a notoriously gay artist, but you didn’t ask how Liz knew her. Although part of you was aching to know, the part of you that was afraid of the answer caused your throat to go dry. You ignoring the question begging to be asked and went back to cleaning, humming along to “Sleepover.”

After you finished cleaning, you followed Liz into her room. She started with the gift, chewing on her lip. Judging by her nervousness, you figured she had spent a lot of time picking out this gift. The item inside was a necklace with a small pendant of an atom, the nucleus a sparkly blue topaz. Gasping, you smacked a hand to your mouth.

“Liz, I love it!”

“You do?” Her eyes sparkled with delight.

“Yes! Would you help me put it on?”

“Of course.” She stood and walked around behind you. As she fiddled with the clasp, she began speaking again. “Okay, so… I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Yeah?”

“Okay, I talked to Betty about this like a month ago… She’s kept telling me that I should say this to you…” Her heavy sigh blew air all over the back of your neck, and you tried your hardest not to shiver. “Uh, (Y/N)… I’ve felt this way for a really long time, so I don’t want you to blow this off, okay?” She spun you around and looked into your eyes. “I’m falling in love with you, (Y/N), and I don’t think I can keep pretending anymore.”

Tears welled in your eyes before you could stop them. “Really?”

She gave you a look. “Yes, why would I lie about that?”

“Liz,” you said, placing a hand on her cheek, “I love you too.”

Time seemed to slow down around the two of you as your lips connected. Finally, this moment that you’d dreamed about for literally years was happening. Your heart was beating so fast, and you felt like you couldn’t possibly pull Liz close enough. Your bodies were pressed together, but your hand was still on her back, trying to bring her closer. Any space at all was too much.

Time flew as you kissed, and Liz ended up asking if you wanted to spend the night. After a quick conversation with her parents and a phone call to your mother, you were changing into a pair of Liz’s pjs. You’d worn her clothes hundreds of times, but your hands shook a little as you pulled the cotton shorts over your legs. Now, you weren’t just wearing a friend’s clothes; these belonged to the girl you kissed.

“Can we spoon?” Liz blurted as soon as you walked back in from the bathroom. She flushed and explained, “Uhm, it’s something I’ve dreamt about…holding you, I mean.”

You blushed as well, saying, “Oh, well, of course.”

The two of you got in bed, and Liz draped her arm around you, pulling you close to her body. Getting comfortable, you wiggled back into her. Her other arm was under your neck, her hand out in front of your face. Gingerly, you reached up and held her hand. It wasn’t long before you both fell asleep (after sharing a few more kisses, of course).

The next morning, you walked home wearing yesterday’s jeans and one of Liz’s sweatshirts. You didn’t take it off for the rest of the weekend because it smelled like her.

 -

 You went on like this for months. Nearly  every weekend, one of you would sleep over at the other’s house, and you’d spend the night kissing and cuddling the hours away. It was everything you’d dreamed it would be and more. Every moment you spent with her, you fell a little more in love with her.

Betty pretended to be jealous that you were hanging out with Liz more than you were her, but she was incredibly happy for you both. Every time you would say something about Liz when the pair of you went out together, Betty would be sure to rub it in that she was right. She was glad to see you both so happy and so into each other, but she was the only one who knew. To everyone else, you and Liz were merely the closest of friends.

Over the summer, however, you got to act however you wanted all the time. Your parents all worked, so both of your houses (or, at least one of them) was empty a lot of the time. Instead of being like typical mischievous teenagers and having a lot of friends over, you just had sleepovers almost every night. You saw her constantly, but you honestly couldn’t get enough of Liz, and she couldn’t get enough of Liz.

That is, until her father came home a day early from a business trip.

 -

 After he kicked you out of the house for kissing his “little girl”, Liz hadn’t spoken to you for three days. You figured it was because her parents had grounded her, and her (very long) message the moment she got her phone back proved you right. Unfortunately, now, her parents didn’t trust you, and you weren’t allowed over anymore. You told Liz to blame everything on you, that you’d pressured her, so that she wouldn’t get in trouble at all. Even though you knew her parents would never forgive you if Liz ruined your image in their minds like that, you figured it would be better for her relationship with them. You were sure that would be easier to come to terms with than a gay daughter.

In secret, you continued seeing each other. Liz would go to “Betty’s house” to hang out for a few hours and then go home. At one point, her parents were curious why she was spending so much time with Betty all of a sudden, and Liz told them that Betty was “pure and straight”. That one stung you, but her parents liked the answer.

 -

 Senior year was a different story. With study groups, her parents couldn’t stop you from coming over to the house. A mutual friend, David, had agreed to be your beard specifically to Liz’s parents, so you would show off new pictures of you and your boyfriend almost every time you were at Liz’s house. One night, her father commented that he respected your “newfound maturity”, and you brushed him off with a nervous laugh while inside you felt like he had set your lungs on fire.

Then, Liz started noticing someone on the Decathlon team: a sophomore called Peter Parker. He was cute, sure, but he was more of a “little brother” cute to you. Not cute like Liz was cute. When Liz said he was cute though, it sounded the same way as when she said you were cute. It worried you, but you chalked it up to paranoia because you were dating the prettiest girl in school in secret. Then, she surprised you.

“What if we both had beards, (Y/N)?”

“Why would you need one? Your parents think I’m the demon spawn.” You expressed genuine curiosity to the best of your ability, trying not to come off bitter.

“Well, y’know, homecoming is coming up…”

You nodded. “We talked about both wearing black this year, right?”

“Something like that,” she said with a laugh. “But…if I had a date, that’ll make my parents really believe I’m done thinking about girls and stuff…” She paused for a moment. “What do you think?”

“Yeah, that sounds fine,” you replied, smiling.

That Friday, when you went dress shopping with Liz and Betty, Liz picked out a pink dress.

 -

 The next weekend, the Decathlon Nationals occurred in DC, and your girl nearly died. You couldn’t sleep until she was safe at home, and your mother kept asking if everything was okay. After all, you and Liz didn’t see as much of each other as you used to. You blew her off with some sort of “still one of my best friends” comment.

You worried all weekend, and were more than ecstatic to see Liz on Monday afternoon. Before you could even get a word in, she blurted, “Peter asked me to homecoming! I said yes.”

Peter Parker.

“That’s great!” you gave her an enthusiastic smile. Betty reached over and squeezed your hand, and you could tell she knew something was up.

“Liz, I know that you’re gonna be busy with setting up and all that, but (Y/N) and I were gonna go out for ice cream. Did you want us to wait for you?”

“No, that’s okay! Thanks though!”

Betty dragged you out of the school, and you panicked so much that she just walked you to her house. After covering you in a blanket and making you a fresh cuppa, she sat down with you on the couch.

“Tell me everything.”

“There isn’t much to tell.” You chewed on your lip. “She said something about taking Peter as a beard, but it seems like she actually likes Peter.”

Betty’s gaze fell away from you as she searched for something to say. “(Y/N), I know it won’t make you feel better, but I’m so fucking sorry this is happening…”

“It’s not your fault,” you said as you leaned into her. “I just hope homecoming isn’t too long.”

 -

 You went with David and a large group of your friends (including Betty and Kenny) to the dance. Under the lights, the silky material of your dress shimmered, and your friends showered you in compliments. You thanked them with gracious smiles and awkward laughs, but your eyes would barely leave the door. Try as you might, you couldn’t stop anticipating Liz’s arrival. The only opinion you cared about was hers.

When she walked in, she was without Peter. She immediately came up to your group and said, “Dad decided to give Peter a ‘Dad Talk’.” She made air quotes, causing the posse to laugh. As an afterthought, she added, “By the way, you all look great!”

And that was it. Then, she just started dancing with the rest of you like you were just a group of friends. On the outside, you were, but the worry creeping into your lungs was starting to burn. You tried not to grimace as you realized you should have feigned sick like you debated on doing.

As soon as Peter walked in, Liz broke off from the group. He only spoke to her for a moment before running out of the other end of the gym. Slowly, almost in a daze, Liz walked back to the group. She looked defeated and sad, so the group greeted her with a bunch of “are you okay”s and “what happened”s.

“Peter’s ditching,” was all she said.

You chewed your bottom lip as some of your friends latched onto her with a chorus of apologies. Not wanting to feel the butterflies you still got every time her skin touched yours, you focused on having a nice guy with David. You weren’t into each other at all, but he was a lovely friend. Through the past few months, you’d spent a lot of time hanging out and taking cute pictures together, so you’d gotten used to having him around.

During a slow song, he told you, “You need to tell her that she hurt you.” When you opened your mouth to protest, he continued, “(Y/N). You haven’t looked at her since she walked in. It’s obvious something’s wrong.”

You sighed heavily. “Okay.”

 -

 After the dance, the plan was to go to the local IHOP for midnight pancakes. You all had gone back to your house to change clothes because none of you wanted to sit in those stuffy booths in suits and dresses. At your house, you confronted Liz after she changed. You offered her a hair tie, and she accepted. While she was preoccupied, you spoke.

“Look, Liz…”

“(Y/N), save it. Please. Don’t tell me you’re sorry that Peter ditched because I know you aren’t.”

Her words stung. “That’s not what I was gonna say…” you trailed off, chewing your lip.

“Well, what, then? Peter leaving has left me in a bit of a mood.”

“I just… I’m worried that you really like him… Like, the same way you like me.”

Liz sighed and rubbed her face with her hands. “You had to bring this up now, didn’t you?”

“Why are you saying it like that?” you asked, even though you already knew the answer.

You felt the tears burn in your eyes as she told you, “Yes, (Y/N). Plus, he’s safe. He’s a sweet boy that both of my parents like… I was planning on keeping our relationship up after tonight.”

“And what about me?” The tears were falling freely, but you didn’t care.

“I was gonna do my best to let you down easy when it was just me and you and not a house full of people.”

“Well, just tell them that some of the snacks at the dance didn’t sit right with me,” you said, sighing. “Tell them I puked or whatever you want. But I’m gonna skip pancakes.”

“Okay. Uh, goodbye, (Y/N).”

“Bye, Liz.”

As soon as the outside door shut, you threw yourself onto your bed. You sobbed into your pillows, wondering why the fuck you had to be right this time.

 -

 The week after homecoming, Liz announced that she was moving. Her father didn’t want her or her mother in Queens for the trial, so they were leaving for Oregon. After this, she was more than likely gone forever. She wished your group the best, but asked for you to hang back.

“Yeah?”

“Peter wasn’t worth it.”

“I know, but neither was I.”

“You were, (Y/N), and I’m sorry I made the stupid decision.”

You leaned over to her and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “So am I. Goodbye, Liz Allan.”

“Goodbye, (Y/N) (Y/L/N).”

Fin.

Tag List: @parkery, @hufflepuffholland, @peterandchurros, @peterfuckinparker, @peterfightmeparker, @trackingthislamp, @hollandaised, @tomfooleryholland, @nedslaptop, @1022bridgetp, @theweirdlunatic, @raindancer2004, @spideygurl, @siennarossi, @sachiparker, @softnerdypeter, @lgbt-avengers, @homecunnings, @spideytingles

[sparetimeentertainment]

To Share, A Marth/Roy Short by SpareTimeEntertainment

Written for my dear friend @ckr-the-cat!

The sugar twinkled as it caught the morning light, an enticing white glaze that shimmered in the fine sun of mid-morning. Placed there among its baked brethren, the sweet pastry scroll upon which the topping was layered sat, fresh and inviting, before it was torn from its rest by a hand and raised to meet the discerning eye of a man on a mission.

“You’ll do,” he said, before placing the treat onto a platter already occupied by other delicacies on offer around the generous dining room. The room was empty save for one or two service staff, who dutifully moved recently-used platters and cutlery from the tables. They worked around the pastry thief, whose odious work went unchallenged until a voice came from the doorway.

“Still hungry, Lord Eliwood?”

The lord in question, a dignified man of thirty-five, spun on his heel fast enough for the movement to stem from genuine surprise. He caught the sight of the elegant Altean princess, Elice, and cracked a relieved smile. The young woman giggled, a fine sound devoid of malice.

“Ah, princess. I thought for a moment you were your mother.” The redhead glanced at the sweets in hand, back to the girl. “Still, it seems I’ve been caught red-handed.”

“How do you know I’m not?” she laughed. “Father says I look more like her every day.”

“And Cornelius is right,” Eliwood snapped back good-naturedly, brazenly retrieving another sweet from the platter. “But even if you were your mother, she wouldn’t tattle, would she?” He handed the new pastry encouragingly to the girl. “Come, walk with me. I have to deliver these to my wife, and I would adore the company.”

Taking the fresh bread from the man and biting in, Elice fell in line behind him. “Is the lady Ninian feeling better?”

“Better, yes. But she’s still a few days away from full wellness.”

“Does she always get like this, your grace?”

Eliwood’s face settled on fond melancholy. “Every few months. I know the illness so well, we could set our clocks by it.” He turned to face the princess’ inquisitive eyes. “Still, it has never worsened, not even after she had Roy. I thank the Saint for that.”

“Would my healing staff help?” Elice asked sweetly. “Sometimes I can cure father of a stomach ache.”

“You’re a delight, princess,” Eliwood said, chuckling courteously. “But I’m afraid only time can help. Where is the King, anyway?”

“My father is, ah…” she consulted her memory as she took another bite of her pastry. “Meeting with the Commander, I believe.”

Letting out a low whistle, Eliwood turned the corner in the hallway. “I don’t envy him,” he said. “I’ve always found those particular mercenaries to be a little churlish. More so than most.”

“You just like Ogma’s group more because you see them more,” Elice jibed. “They aren’t too bad, honest. They’ve only been here for a few days.”

“I swear to make an effort for you, princess!” Eliwood laughed. “They are necessary for the security of the region, after all. Who else is yet to arrive, do you know? Ninian could do with something to look forward to.”

“Let’s see… there’s King Fado arriving on the weekend, bringing the twins. And Lord Sigurd’s family is coming on behalf of his father, they’re due tomorrow.”

“Goodness, Sigurd and Deirdre too? That’s quite the voyage. Last I saw them, Seliph was just a baby. If he’s grown even half as beautiful as his parents…”

“Oh yes,” Elice gasped. “They say admirers are already gathering at the port.”

“Oh, that will be wonderful,” Eliwood sighed. “Your father is good for holding these annual meetings.”

“What about you, Lord Eliwood?”

“Hm?”

“You and your family are here much more often than any of others. Several times a year, for a week or more at a time…”

“Well,” Eliwood thought out loud, scratching his clean-shaven chin with his spare hand. “Pherae is so close, Hector’s too busy, and Lycia does need to maintain ties. It’s a natural fit that I should come.”

Elice shook her head, blue locks curtaining her face. “I mean you and your family. How do you handle being away so often?”

“Well, Ninian and I…” the older man gave off a laugh to stifle his embarrassment. “We’re fine so long as we have each other, and Roy.”

“But doesn’t Roy get homesick?”

Nodding, Eliwood finally stopped outside the heavy oak door which led to the quarters currently allocated to him and his wife. “Sometimes,” he says. “Roy has a lot of friends back home. But I think he’s fine here. Because he has your brother.”

Elice’s face lit up. “Marth? He likes my brother that much?”

“Oh yes,” Eliwood confirmed with a fond laugh. “To the point their names are uttered in the same breath. They veer from the kitchen earlier on, to the library, to the barracks…”

From the gardens a loud banging noise suddenly reverberated throughout the castle, causing both lord and lady to jolt with surprise.

“In fact,” he said, “I’d put good money on that being them now.”

--

Laughter came in stops and starts of exerted breath as two boys ran, sprinting through the open doors leading to the castle interior. The taller of the two, an upright young man with a groomed head of dark blue hair, grabbed the shorter by his torso and threw them both over the back of a large plush dais. Soaring over the backrest and hitting the soft cushion below, both boys held their breath as a pursuing wave of jade magic sizzled over their heads – and impacted against a nearby vanity, knocking it and the flowers atop it to the ground with a loud bang.

The younger boy, a redhead with a kind and thoughtful face, panted as he observed the damage. “Well,” he gasped between breaths. “I didn’t plan for that.”

Untangling himself from the redhead, the young prince Marth, dusted himself off and rolled over so that he was on his back next to his friend. There the two laughed, a mix of relieved chuckles mingling in the air as their blue eyes, both warm and wide and welcoming, stared into one another’s.

“Are you okay, Roy?” Marth breathed, “Did he get you?”

Keeping his head firmly below the sightline of the dais, other boy sat up. “I don’t think so,” Roy said, patting himself down. “What about you?”

“I think I’m alright,” Marth started, before reaching around to his cape and pulling it up – a triangle of cloth had been cut out of its hem, severed clean by the cutting edge of the wind magic. The sight of this caused Roy to laugh again, the younger prince’s giggling causing Marth to start laughing in turn.

As he laughed, Roy leaned back, his hand coming to rest against the soft cloth of his own cape – where the fabric proved frictionless, sliding across the velvet of the couch without difficulty. Separated at once from his balance, Roy fell back with a yelp – but not before flinging out a grasping hand that clutched at anything for balance. Pulled forward by his shirt, Marth also stumbled forward, and after a brief moment of panic managed to stabilise himself with outstretched arms.

He then realised that he hung directly over the Pheraen prince, the blue in the younger boy’s eyes suddenly enhanced by his closeness and his surprise. Without meaning to, Marth gasped as his breath was unexpectedly taken by Roy’s visage; everything, from his crimson locks flattened against the cushions, to his pale skin – unblemished save for the flushing of his cheeks – was pure and innocent beauty.

“Umm… Marth…” Roy mumbled from beneath the azure prince. “Are you okay?”

Swallowing hard, Marth watched Roy’s lips as they parted and pursed to release the concerned sounds. The throbbing heartbeat in his chest whispered to Marth. How nice it must be to kiss them.

“Y-yes, my apologies,” Marth breathed politely as he helped the other back to a seating position. “You just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

Roy’s shade deepened as he realised he had neglected to withdraw his hand from Marth’s, their fingers momentarily flexing comfortably together before the redhead withdrew his in a hurry. “W-we’d better get going,” he stammered. “They probably saw us come in here.”

Marth murmured in agreement, and the two flustered princes rose ungracefully from their hiding place – unaware of the human mass that loomed behind them.

“Too late,” it declared.

A great python of an arm, a jointed clamp of youthful muscle, coiled its way around Marth’s neck with frightening speed. With a sudden pull, the arm’s owner jerked Marth in, pinning the boy against his torso and keeping him there. In the chaos, only Roy noticed the glint of gold as it fell to the ground – and instinctively moved as he saw the new entrant’s foot, stomping blindly as he balanced to restrain Roy’s friend, threaten to trample it.

Roy dashed in, taking aim at the lean torso of their assailant and unleashing a vicious jab with his gloved fist – only for it to produce a dull thud as it was stopped by a wall of hard muscle.

“Mistake number three,” came the other’s second interjection.

Roy was kicked off his feet as the figure swept one leg across Roy’s shins with surprising force. Hitting the floor with an ungraceful thud, Roy’s hands scrambled, fingers clasping around the object he needed and holding it close to his chest. He rose to one knee – and suddenly spluttered with difficulty as a muscled arm, identical to the first, now wrapped its way around his neck in turn. Pressed against the same torso as Marth, Roy looked up to face his captor.

He had known it immediately. The speed, the ferocity. He was only a year older than them, barely fifteen, yet his body was a honed weapon compared to theirs – a body ready for war.

He also was actually quite pleasant, when he wasn’t angry at you.

“Hey Mist, come look at this,” said Ike of the Greil Mercenaries. “I’ve caught two grubby little imps.”

Skirting around him, as always, was his little sister. The demure brunette, a usually sweet girl of seven, laughed lightly as her brother admonished the two boys he held in headlock. Roy couldn’t help but notice she had a wooden spoon in her hand, worryingly free of any signs that she had been baking.

“I gave you two rules when I arrived here,” Ike started, voice dripping with menace. “What were they?”

Marth spluttered. “Lord Ike…”

“Still not a lord, kid,” Ike squeezed tighter. “What were they?”

“L-lordlings are worms!” Marth squeaked out.

“There we go! Lordlings are worms.” Ike nodded approvingly as he turned the pressure from blue prince to red. “And the other?”

Roy groaned with difficulty as he answered. “Y-you mess with Soren…”

“…You answer to me,” Ike finished. “And imagine my surprise, you’ve messed with Soren. That was your first mistake. Second was getting caught.” Ike’s binding arm tensed further, causing Roy to splutter. “Still,” Ike said. “I expected it from Marth – the prettier the prince, the grubbier the attitude – but you, Roy? Father tells me you Pheraens are smarter than you look.”

“Ike, p-please,” Roy coughed, “we weren’t trying to-”

“Mist, whack him.”

The girl stepped forward, and, brandishing her spoon, knocked Roy cleanly on the scalp with it. Roy cried out in surprise, the pain of the light impact heightened by his gasping for air.

“Ike, please!” Marth gagged. “You’re hurting him!”

“Mist, him too.”

Now Marth yelped as Mist gave him a sharp smack across the crown of his head with the instrument.

Roy’s eyes turned from watching the girl to the doorway behind her – seeing a silent figure draped in raven cloth. There, clad in sable and with a sombre expression, was the young mage and tactician-in-training, Soren. His burning scarlet eyes glowered through at Marth and Roy with a unique contempt, pride and defiance mingling on his face to disguise hurt. Visible as always on the boy’s forehead was the sharp birthmark that indicated him as a Branded, half-caste child of two species. The odd boy, with his long dishevelled black hair and perennial expression of judgemental disdain, struck Roy as tragic. His face was weighed down by frowns. Moving for the first time since his appearance, Soren revealed his hand and the object it held: pinched by the string between forefinger and thumb, a cloth bag weighed down with soft contents.

“Think you were being funny, did you?” Ike snarled. “Think you were the first ones to think of that? I’ve dealt with gossiping princesses more daring than you two.”

“Ike, we weren’t making fun of Soren!” Marth gasped between wheezes.

“And I have a sword made of gold,” Ike growled. “You little royals are all the same.”

“Really, Ike!” Roy gagged. “It’s-”

“Enough,” Ike declared, quieting both with a firm pull of his arms. “I don’t give two figs about your excuses.” The mercenary suddenly stepped forward, dragging both princes along to bring them before the black-clad boy. “Now, I have had to do this to many little snobs across many different castles, and I’ve learned that the heads of bratty little princes don’t just pop off. They squeeze. Soren is going to open this bag you threw at him, and we’re going to smear whatever’s inside all over those prized faces. Then I’m going to squeeze some more.” Ike leaned down, whispering to both restrained princes caught in the fleshy stocks of his build. “No-one messes with my Soren.”

Hardly able to breathe, much less speak, Marth and Roy watched as Soren agonisingly loosened the drawstring on the cloth bag and reached in with a gloved hand. Feeling around grimly, Soren’s eyes never left the accused princes as he scooped up a handful of its contents and brought them up to the surface…

“What the…?”

There, crumbling away between the baffled student’s fingers, was a lump of doughy pastry.

“Hey, Soren,” Ike mumbled, loosening the grip on his captives ever so slightly, “you… didn’t have to switch the bags around. You don’t have to protect these guys.”

“I… I didn’t,” he replied softly, staring at the sweet bread in disbelief. Opening the bag with both hands, Soren gazed in to find the thing piled high with baked goods pilfered from the kitchens.

“We never see you at mealtimes,” Marth added from his headlock, causing Soren to look at him with fresh surprise. “Father says you’re always studying.”

“I read a lot too,” Roy gasped, nodding as best he could, “but not nearly that much! We were worried you weren’t eating enough.”

Silence held court over the proceedings for a long moment, the quiet of consideration broken only by the soft splutterings of Marth and Roy.

Ike released both boys with a shuffling of his strong arms. They collapsed to the ground in two piles of slumped lordling, gulping in sweet oxygen and rubbing at sore necks, soothing wounded prides.

“Well, blast,” Ike pondered, pleasant surprise finding its way onto his face in the form of a smirk. “Looks like we didn’t give you two enough credit.”

“Look alive!” Came Mist’s chirping voice, and the girl leaned over both princes with a petite trainee healing staff, the instrument flashing blue briefly as its curative powers relieved the boys of their reddened skin and throbbing heads. Then, realising she still had the spoon in her other hand, smiled by way of apology and tucked the weapon of blunt trauma into the blue ribbon wrapped around her skirt.

Ike’s great arms moved again – but this time, they stretched out in firm welcome to invite Marth and Roy above their recuperating position on all fours. Accepting gratefully, they rose to their feet, where they met with a sheepish smile from their Crimean counterpart.

“Well, I have no excuse,” Ike said. “I called it wrong this time. I’m sorry.”

“That’s alright, Lord Ike,” Marth said, recovering his princely posture instantly. “In hindsight, maybe throwing the bag wasn’t our finest idea.”

“Yeah,” Roy added, then turned to Soren. “I’m sorry if we scared you. We didn’t want to… we just thought you… we didn’t think we’d be welcome.”

The eyes of the withdrawn young man in question welled with uncertain emotion. He glanced to Ike, who smiled and nodded encouragingly, then turned to address the princes.

“Ike brings me my meals after the designated times. I eat with him,” Soren explained, a near-invisible blush entering his cheeks. “But, thank you for your concern. I will share these with the others.” He completed the sentiment with a deep bow, a strangely courtly motion for the unusual boy.

“Lordlings are still worms,” Ike said after a pause, grinning. “But you two are lords. Come by anytime.”

Marth and Roy’s faces lit up with success, looking at the Crimeans first, then to each other in the rush of accomplishment.

“We’d love to!” Roy exclaimed.

“Thank you, Lord Ike!” Marth celebrated.

“Heh,” Ike grunted. “Still not a lord, Prince Marth. Come on, Mist.” Turning around and kneeling down, the young girl eagerly jumped onto her brother’s back and clambered up, hands and limbs scaling the surface of his body. She perched herself on his shoulders, legs and arms gripping tight the laughing young man’s head.

Stabilising Mist’s legs with one arm, Ike rose and turned to Soren, who was still looking at his unexpected benefactors with curious gratitude. Ike held out his other arm, hand firm, inviting, reassuring. Soren took it without hesitation, the motion clearly something of a ritual between the two. The brooding boy’s uncharacteristic blush intensified as Ike’s fingers enclosed his own, squeezing tight and giving off warm waves of presence. Then the three walked away, boys clasped together, and Mist giggling all the way.

Blushing, the two boys that remained hadn’t realised the display had left them in awe, their hands brushing together as they had beheld the overwhelming security and devotion of the two. When at last the moment expired, Marth brushed himself down once more, rubbing at his still-aching neck and then sweeping the fringe out of his eyes. Realising the lack of a particular weight, Marth’s hands turned to his blue locks – and his eyes went wide with worry.

“Roy!” he burst out. “It’s gone! My circlet is…”

“Marth,” Roy replied, holding out a reassuring hand.

“W-where did it go?!” Marth demanded, eyes going to the floor as he spun around on his heel feverishly. Roy’s hand tugged at Marth’s sleeve until the other prince faced him. Held out in offer, in Roy’s other hand, was the shimmering golden circlet.

“I saw Ike accidentally knock it off,” Roy explained. “I knew he’d stop me and possibly step on it if I tried to grab it, so I…”

“That’s why you tried to…” Realisation dawned on Marth’s face, and with a flooding of gratitude flung his arms around the redhead. He’s warm, was the first thing to flash through Roy’s head as he felt the soft comfort of Marth’s presence surround him with thankfulness.

--

“So, it was given to you by your sister?”

The two were now in the library, Marth and Roy having pilfered cushions from the dais and piled them into a corner in the cool, dim space of learning. They leaned against the wall, Marth smiling fondly at the circlet as rubbed it down the hem of his shirt and delicately slid it into his azure hair.

“Yes, my sister and Caeda. It was when she had to go back to Talys after spending a year here,” Marth’s eyes were full of memory. “I wonder how she’s doing now.”

Roy smiled. “You have a lot of friends, huh?”

Giving off a polite chuckle. Marth leaned back and thought. “Oh, yes. Caeda and I write to each other, there’s Merric – he’s studying in Khadein – Gordin, Draug, Cain and Abel…”

“I met them at the trainee meet the other day!”

“That’s right,” Marth confirmed with a nod. “And that’s not even mentioning the friends from other Kingdoms. I have friends in Macedon, in Aurelis, Grust...”

“W-wow,” Roy stammered, suddenly feeling quite small. “That’s… a lot.”

“Oh?” Marth noticed the other’s hesitation. “Surely it’s the same for you?”

“A… a little,” Roy replied, head perched on his tucked knees. He thought of Lilina, and Wolt, his own friends and vassals. He also had friends scattered all around, but…

“Marth?”

“Mm?”

“Will you promise me something?”

Hesitation. “Sure.”

“You don’t even need to hear it first?”

Marth’s hand touched Roy’s encouragingly. “Go on. Say what’s on your mind.”

Roy swallowed back his nervousness, finding the other’s presence comforting. “Well… I want you to promise that we’ll always be able to see each other.”

The Altean prince cocked his head inquisitively. “Why wouldn’t we be able to?”

“Well, I just…” Roy struggled with the words. “I can’t shake the feeling that we’re not supposed to be able to do this.”

“What do you mean?”

Struggling with the words, the Pheraen toyed with the hem of his cape frustratedly. “I mean… everything is so nice. Mother and father bring me here all the time, and I love being here. But…”

“But…?”

“But I get the feeling it’s not supposed to be like this. I imagine this world, or rather this set of worlds, where Elibe and Archanea and Magvel and Tellius are all… divided. Inaccessible to one another, like a curtain has been drawn across them.” Moving forward onto his knees, Roy put his head in his hands, suddenly struggling to hold back the wavering of fear in his voice. “And in those worlds, pain and tragedy fester like wounds… and the people we love are hurt. I… I don’t even want to think about it. But I can’t help it.”

“Hey.”

Roy felt warm hands on his own, and slid them off his face – his eyes opening to see Marth, on his own knees, before him with the most serene expression of calm Roy had ever seen. Patience ruled the dashing prince’s movements as he guided Roy’s motions, keeping one hand intertwined with Roy’s while placing his other on Roy’s hip and pulling him forward, until all the boy cared to see was Marth’s eyes – which burned with purpose and patience.

“Maybe we shouldn’t be together,” Marth breathed, the words filled with precious meaning. “But since we are, I want to be part of your life.”

His eyes glassy and reddened, Roy squeezed Marth’s hand. “As in, while I’m here?”

Marth shook his head elegantly. “As in, always.”

The twin heartbeats of the two princes pounded to crescendo as Marth, no longer able to contain the emotion pounding in his heart for the redhead, leaned in, lips beckoning. Roy, for his part, watched with eyes half-lidded and surrendered to the comfort and the love the prince offered, the blush in his cheeks and the heat in his head proof enough that, no matter how strange it might have seemed…

They belonged together.

Roy gave off a soft murmur of content as their lips met, feeling naught but perfect adoration for the other prince, his gentleness and elegance suddenly filling the Pheraen with blissful images of a life to spend together. Suddenly the moment was over and Marth withdrew, looking sheepish.

“Was… was that alright?” he asked, doubts clouding his eyes.

Wordlessly, without hesitation Roy reached out and cradled Marth’s head in his hands, placing a trio of his kisses on the other boy – cheek, nose, and lips. “Y-yes,” Roy whispered with a giggle. “I’m just– I’m so happy to have you.”

Marth’s embrace now wrapped around Roy in turn, pulling the prince close as their love radiated out from their castle of cushions, in their quiet little kingdom in the corner of the library.

“And you always will,” Marth breathed.

Blinking back tears of joy, Roy nodded as they let themselves fall in love, a laugh shared with every grateful beat of their delighted hearts.

--

“M-mother, please!”

“Hush, darling! They’ll be here any moment!”

Roy glared indignantly at the ground as the lady Ninian, improved but still weary-looking, dabbed at her son’s face affectionately with a handkerchief, clearing his cheek of the remnants of the day’s morning tea. His father watched on smiling, as did Princess Elice and, more importantly, Prince Marth. The blue prince shot his new lover a glance of understanding reassurance as he endured the doting.

“There, all done!” The cerulean woman flashed a smile as she re-examined her boy’s face. “See? Much better.” She gave Roy’s pale cheek a gentle squeeze to complete his humiliation.

Eliwood caught sight of the body language Roy now shared with Marth, seeing the comfort, the confidence. “Roy,” he said in offer. “Would you like to join King Cornelius and his family in greeting our new guests?”

A smile spread across Roy’s thought at the idea, and he glanced at Marth, who nodded. “Yes, please!”

Taking his place under King Cornelius and Queen Liza – both of whom greeted him with warm smiles and a hand on the shoulder – Roy waited for the cheering of the throngs who had gathered to meet the latest arrivals to this royal conference.

What started as a murmur among those closest to the garden gates soon grew to applause as, in a blaze of royal presence, the crowds parted to reveal Sigurd and Deirdre. They were the very image of a perfect union, splendid lord and beautiful maiden, seeming to walk just above the ground, perpetually graced by flower petals and fanfare. White and blues and purples in endless regalia, they stopped before the King, and all the necessary rites were spoken.

Then, ceremony was done. “Sigurd, you look well!” Cornelius boomed, his voice carrying across the gardens. “And milady, you are as exquisite as ever.”

Deirdre nodded, and the forest maiden began to reply in turn – but her words suddenly became of lesser interest to Roy than her smaller doppelganger, a girl not much younger than he, who gazed at Marth with unbreaking eye contact.

“Marth,” Roy whispered. “Who is she?”

“Oh, her?” his lover whispered back. “I am told that her name is Julia. Seliph’s younger sister.”

“There’s two of them?” Roy asked, the slightest hint of threat in his voice. “Just my luck. All anyone ever talks about is how pretty there are.”

“Roy,” Marth laughed. “Relax. I’m not about to-”

“Sister!” a new voice hissed, interrupting their exchange. “It’s rude to stare.”

The heads of both princes turned to watch as a boy, about their age, talked to young Julia with a patient, if frustrated voice.

“But, brother,” Julia said. “He looks rather like you.”

“Be that as it may…”

From their angle, Marth and Roy could only see the boy’s strong frame, lean like his father, and sharing his crop of blue hair. Although, it struck both that he was a softer soul than Lord Sigurd, gifted great gentleness by the Lady Deirdre. Prepared for the typically Chalphian features of a handsome face, Roy felt assured –

And then Seliph turned around.

He was, quite possibly, the most beautiful boy that Roy had ever seen. He was at once effortlessly handsome and exquisitely attractive, his soft flowing locks of rich blue hair framing a face of supreme softness. His eyes conveyed generosity and nobility, and his smile was a thing of wonder. Everything about the lordling inspired reverence and adoration, and indeed Roy could not stop the heart pounding in his chest.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, turning to Marth and Roy, his voice as rich as his looks. “This is her first time on one of these expeditions. How do you do? I’m Seliph, of Chalphy. My father represents Duke Byron and wider Grannvale.”

Marth shook his hand with all the composure he could muster. “M-Marth, of Altea. Son of King Cornelius.”

Roy was next, as Seliph courteously turned to him. “A-and I’m Roy, son of Marquess Eliwood of Pherae. We represent Lycia.”

“Such fine company!” Seliph chimed with a chuckle, a harp-song that graced the air with its presence. “I wish to get to know you two very well.” He cast a glance over to his family as he heard his name called, then turned back to the two princes with a pleading smile. “I will return as soon as I am able.”

Giving a courteous bow, Seliph then left them – and both princes exhaled breaths they had kept stuffed in their lungs. Turning to face each other, both examined that the other was beet red. The lovers each felt ugly guilt blossom in their stomach, their relationship only a day old and already a source of confusion.

Marth was the one to broke the silence, as he saw Roy’s expression transition from guilt to worry.

“Hey,” he said, angling Roy’s chin to face him. “He’s out of my league.”

Roy was unable to stifle the tiny sliver of cheer that came to him, the snigger becoming a chortle, and the chortle a laugh. “I – I’m glad,” he gasped between guffaws.

Marth wrapped an arm around his shoulder and kissed him in his hair, causing Roy’s face to flush crimson.

“M-Marth, not in public yet!”

The prince chuckled. “I know, I know, just needed to prove something to myself.”

“Which was…?”

He held Roy closer. “That he can’t make you blush like I can.”

Smiling with reassured confidence, Roy’s clung to his Marth by the arm and turned back to face life – the life that was theirs to share.

[dreambook06]

Dream from: Jan 27, 2018, 1:00 AM to 9:40 AM

Jee.sus. No. this is so hard to write, it is SO goddamn much!!! WTF! so i will jump all over the place other wise it is too. much. so the longest part of the dream mustve been this wole alternate reality elementary school thing where there was a very ocd neat freak teacher who was like a pompous older woman but later it changed to sra. nelson lol. but she was like rly religious or something or idk like very whatcha call it like she thought pokemon was bad for kids or something idk so she hid all the pkmn stuff in the classroom or limited it or something idk something to do with pkmn somethings paper clipped to the floor then i broke in and puled them up out of the ground bc what she was doing was wrong and unfair to the kids idk exactly what it was. it made sense at the time. (i wasnt part of the classroom idk how i got involved in this all. i think i was present-day me the whole time?but veeeeery alterlate reality-y-nothing like irl at all) so yeah etc etc sO MUCH and then there’s this whole library thing where ... but it was so so much more like not a normal reality looking library it was jjust a single giant wall very flat mixed with theside of a cafeteria and on the wall there was a poster that said “frogger” w a pictute of frogger from ancient shadow and it was like one of those elementary lunch posters yknow like eat ur veggies or whatever and it apparaently was super nostalgic to me so i wanted to steal it lol and  i . did. i ws gonna just take a pic of it but i thought i might as well steal it to have the actual physicl thing in my posession. i took it off the wall and assumed no one would notice idk. this was all after house in the school btw so i went outin the side of the scool -verry unreality you dont understand- and put the rolled up poster behind or under a rock to take home when i left... also i had my ds w/ which was also near the rock and folds of some kind of paper thing but the whole time i was sueeper nervous someoneed find it and steal it. so much more ugh!! but basicallty the main thing was i was stealing back “my” childhood pokemon figures from the school that i’d stolen over the years when i used to go there - stolen from “sra. nelson”’s classroom and they somehow teletoprted out of my room and back tot theschool when they found out they were gone yrs later...etc... so i kept sneaking in and stealing back little by little and sra nelson set up like booby traps and stuff in this weird alternate reality classroom and things hanging from the wall idk. but later too i was i guess stealing pkmn cardswhich were on the thin library bookshelves.. i stolelike 3 of them and it became a huge deal the police were after me tryingto find out who did it so i had to keep sneaking back andreturning them after all but it made me so sad bc those thing were sonostalgic to me. idk soososososososo much more holy heck! there were way more characters it was insaaane!!! but im too awake now to recall and it’s not suuuuper important.. not one of those SUPER insanely unrealitydreams like the one from jan 20. 

so the whole other section of the dream was even more or just as wild... omfg.... gonna skip around a heck ton bc i dont know how it came to be,,,, so.

(ps i think i woke u p  around this part like slightly for 5 seconds to num-nums back side by my face bc she was up on be pillow behind and around my head with her back legs dangling on the side of the 2nd pillow by my face. she mustve just went up there or made some movement)

jeezuz it isSOmuch!!! nvm what i said before this is insalelyyl so osooo much!okay this isnt gonna be in order at all so this is gonna jump out of no where. basically it was this weirdweeriwriwridweirrdweridwerid world weirddddddd world like a weird unreality home a house a roun ish thingand i was thete somehow but also 3-ish year old me was there. and grandma c. and some parent idk. but idk. there was a couch and idk sooo much more a box tv in front of it...i guess i was there bc i was kind of time traveling through my life... but with tons of random stuff mixed together that don’t belong like ... fifer was in that house in this cat bed behind a curtain up high in this cat tree-like pillar... but fifer was dead. the dead body had been sitting in there for like 4 ish years at that point. they thought just putting a curtain over it would preserve the body. and i said that’s not how it works. but they pulled back the curtain (they=??? unreality version of mom?) and revealed fifer there perfectly preserved. then her leg began to move, she was moving, rising, like she was just waking up from a pleasant nap. hopped down the fuzzy beige pillar thing. acting normal.mom was stunned i was in disbelief reality was questioned.. i was like.. how...(also i was like “i thought we buried her in the woods at kc rd?”) was she never really dead and she’s just so so old she can do nothing but stay up there and not move? and every night she came down to eat? idk but mom was crying happily so hard. things were so weird idk idkidkkdkdkdkdkd.... later.... idk i was w/ dad in grandma evie’s alternate reality house kc rd house. everything was blank like no color so i had to use that one gimp tool that “select by color” tool and color the walls irl. like de blob... i didnt complete it. too much work and i didnt know the right colors everything was. i can’t remember the colors of things from old memory. i just used a deeper maroon brown ish color. but then i made my way to one room and idfk what else but it was reminiscent of old dreams big time and somehow the scene and everything shifted to something else and  a different room w/ a little seat thing by a curtained window and for some reason i was mimicking miranda sings voice, i was like ‘”it’s miraaaandaaaa..aa...a” so then jump back to that weird childhood house w/ me age 3 in it (but also me age present day whatever that is was there and it was from that pov this all happened..) so idfk like omg it was jus ttheir everyday life in like 2003 but unreality not not at all how it rly was just so werid in thisweird dome world house place omfg... big rooms weird angles of walls idk!! the whole place was like yellow...the vibe was kind of like this teletubbies thing but not rly it was just so... ugh!!cant xplain. 

anyway idk likegrandma doing dishes, cosette age 3 running around w/ rly curly hair lol......OH HOLY CRAP I REMEMBERED THE VERY EARLY PART OF THE START OF THIS DREAM HOLLLYY CRAP! wait... it’s slipping away.... let me thing...... ugh crap. it’s gone. but i remember like 2 fragments: so i was looking through some like idk videos of old school parties things idk that people recorded idk! like 7th grade and in one of them i was in a group with some other people and... karen! it was like this maze thing in the school idk like a party for fun kind of halloween idk idfk!! too vague to even...but it was weird for 2-3 reasons. 1: karen wasnt at our school in 7th grade. 2: karen and i were acting like BFFS and laughing w each other and playing games and making funny jokes. and 3: i looked like i was 5 years old in the video like a rly blonde and cuter version of 5 yr old me, while karen looked normal, like she was 13. it was rly weird idk but it ws so weird bc karen and i were best friends and while watching i was dumbfounded like i dont remember this at all!! and there were other clips too but idfk!!! idfr!!! (r= remember)

so back to thething... likek.   i was 3 and running around the place, trying to reach up by the dishes on the sink, reaching for a spoon and stuff, grndma or someone came over to me and pointed at the picture on the spoon of a 3d-ish patrick from spongebob coming off the spoon in a transarent squishy texture. and she asked who is this? and i said in a like my 1-1/2 yr old voice “patrick star.” etc it was so random it kept shifting back to the room w/ the dead fifer up there but also w/ the tv down andto the right of it and a our 00s colorful long couch.. grandma told me (apparently they could see me and stuff and it was just normal) to watch after 3yr old me while she did chores or idk.so i did and it was so hilarious the uninhibited things kid-me said. idk an example... but yeah eventually things got even more unreality w more giant rooms we traveled through and stuff al this weird trap door stuff and stuuuffffff. more characters came along idek.... but this now is near the end of the dream which i should’ve written about first bc now i forgot a lot.... so this will jump a lot and make no sense.... but i had my camera and was recording for fun... but the camera had ike 6 mins left on it which was bad. i wanted to record all the adventures that were going on it was crazy! omg.... so freaking much!!! this tiny little rat/frog thing that was on my hand i put it in front of the camera while i was on the couch watching a cartoon (a weird unreality show mix of childhood shows i dont even remember anything about it now frickign) w/ 3 yr old me and took a picture of the frog thing watching the show. and it was a rly good picture like hq and stuff..... later..... well basically the whole living room turned into water like deep water murky too and someone was trying to get across by riding an oxen or something...(oh yea somewhere in this dream there was a thing about me being vegan but i dont rmemeber. mightve been during all the “sra. nelson“craziness) but then the scene shifted to the same thing but aparently there were people filming a scene for a tv show or movie there and they had these scaey weird grotesque looking human things running slowly (bc water) in a circle while in the center there was a cluster of like 5 camels w/ ropes attached which the weird monster people were cirling around.... idfk!!! but the videographers had 360 cameras or whatever. i guess it ws a very dramatic part of the movie where they needed lots of different shots and angles ... and they made me join the people “actors” in the marshy water w/ the ribbon rope thing running slowly in circles almost like 3/4 submerged underwater .. and once they got their footage they packed up and left and there was a scene of them behind the scenes working w/ their footage and it was like rly bad quality i thought w/ like bright green grass and stuff and i was like were those even professional movie quality cameras? so the water draine and everything was back to “normal” 3 rd old me did a lot of more funny things too but idont remmeber... lastly. laaaastly.... the whole dream was pretty different... the house became a giant mario kart wii-esque race track but we were actually in the game bc it wasnt avideo game it was us actually in karts/bikes racing...it was me, some family, some others idk, and karen again. so we raced and it was crazy fun and a very wild fun map omfg... but it wasn all jusr racing it was a weird mix of so much. it went on for forever so many different obstacles and turns and tunnels and roomsand traveling and fun and not all by car. i was recoridng this too. oh yeah there was this one half-black guy who was like martin kinda and he was w/ me (& 3 yr old me?) on thejourney for some of the scenes....... there is sosososo much more to it you dont freaking know and neither do i now!!! forgotten!!! gone forever. oh well. too much to hold onto anyway. but it was so much more childhood stuff and wildness. but the game finished up around the last lap idk... back in race mode and there were these wario stadium-esque walls like a skate board slope ramp thingy... racinb up those,, get the speed boosts ont he ground, crazy,people neck-and neck, karen was like in th place but then she threw some chansey looking egg bomb thingy and hit 2 out of 3 people and they swerved and she raced toward the finish and won and was super happy and i got 6th place and she wanted us to watch the replay it was crazy too idk!!! actually it think we just re-watched the last 30 seconds where she threw the egg bombs and it was an aerial pov and it was hilarious to see the precision as they swerved out of the way and she sped thru the finish line lol.... might bve been some more stuff after this, and there was a shitton of more before all this and in--between. holy hell. but then i woke up and firgot it all. so the end. freakign. need a dream recorded. i swear to god. for real. holy. heck.