#also not quite sure when this would be set but eh

[edosianorchids901]

Till the World is Mended

@flashfictionfridayofficial prompt - "horizon line"

It was always strange to be in space again, after so long. To look out over the endless expanse of stars, stretching on and on forever. Adrift, almost.

The total lack of a real way to orient himself left Crowley dizzy. His eyes automatically sought out the horizon line, but it didn’t exist. There was no solid ground, not here.

But it was the only real safe place to meet. No one paid attention to the stars, especially not when both Sides were locked in their preparations for battle. If anything, they were looking at Earth.

Crowley unfurled his wings and flapped again, even though it wasn’t strictly necessary. He’d been just floating for a long time, letting his initial takeoff carry him. Demons weren’t bound by physics, which was terrific for takeoff. But physics came in handy when he wanted to remain in motion without doing much work.

He was nearly there, to the rendezvous point. He and Aziraphale had once met in benign places like St. James’s Park, the number nineteen bus, the British Museum café. Now, they met on a satellite, or the Moon, or floating further outside Earth’s orbit.

They were meeting well outside Earth’s orbit today. Every time, they changed things up a little. It hurt, having to sneak around like this again, but it would be worth it in the long run.

Crowley spread his wings wide to slow, then banked into a careful turn. He spun around, back towards the blue-green planet that he and Aziraphale were fighting again to save.

It wasn’t too long before a radiant burst of light flashed beside him. He glanced at the tear in space and caught a quick glimpse of Heaven’s bleak white walls before Aziraphale stepped through.

It was still weird to see Aziraphale in a regular suit instead of the old, comfortable clothes. But at least now, a year into his new job in Heaven, he’d switched from white to a gentle tan. It looked more like him, and so did the bow tie. It was Heaven’s tartan, not his own, but at least it was no longer a plain gold tie.

“Hello, Crowley,” he murmured, manifesting his wings. He drifted over, hands flexing anxiously. “Oh dear. I’m still not used to this.”

“It’s not that complicated, angel.” Crowley held out his hand, and Aziraphale caught it. The momentum put them in a slight spin, and Crowley stilled their rotation with a quick flick of his wings. “You just need more practice.”

“If only. I’d very much like to spend more time out here.” Aziraphale gave a heavy sigh as he used his own wings to steady himself. “I-I know I always complain about the difficulties of managing space, but it is so much nicer than Heaven. I really do loathe those white corridors.”

“Nnnnh.” Even after months of meeting like this, Crowley was never quite sure how to respond to that without starting an argument. And he was tired of arguments. “You’ve gotta have at least a little pull as Supreme Archangel, right?”

“Not really.”

“Not even enough to redecorate?” Crowley kept his tone light, and he smiled at Aziraphale’s mild annoyance. “Come on. I bet you could sell them on some motivation posters, at least. You could have Sandalphon write the slogans for them.”

“Perish the thought. I think I’d prefer to keep the all white décor.” A smile tugged at Aziraphale’s lips, though. Good joke, then. “I miss you, Crowley.”

“Nh. At least you don’t have to miss me right now, eh?” Crowley pulled a flask from his pocket. “Scotch? Also, I brought those chocolates you wanted.”

“You do spoil me, my dear. Thank you.” After Crowley drank, Aziraphale accepted the flask and did the same. His shoulders relaxed a little. “Oh, that is good. Do you know, I’ve been thinking it might be fun to set up a little black market in Heaven. Not that I can be directly responsible for it, of course…”

“Ooh, I can. If you give some random, bored angel an assignment near me, I can corrupt them.” Crowley flashed a grin. “I’ll get you supplied in no time. I’m already sabotaging Hell’s lower ranks by showing off how good things are in retirement.”

“More of them sneaking around to talk to you?”

“The ones who are sick of getting fed to Hellhounds or electrocuted or set on fire, yeah.” Shuddering, Crowley opened the box of chocolates and offered it to Aziraphale. “Mostly Erics. With Shax and Hastur so far up the hierarchy, they’re having a bloody miserable time.”

“Poor things.” Aziraphale ate a chocolate. “At this rate, you’re going to have an army in no time!”

“Well, that’s the plan. The more we can get on our side, the better.” Gesturing, Crowley conjured a tartan blanket. It spread itself out, then locked into place, like it was resting on grass. “There. Enough about work for now. Wanna lie down for a bit?”

“I very much do, yes.”

They settled in together, curling up close with Earth in view just below them. Almost every time they met up, they took the chance to cuddle, or at least hug. Today, with absolutely no chance of being spotted, it was a good time to cuddle.

Aziraphale rested his head on Crowley’s shoulder with a pleased hum. “This is really quite nice. I do enjoy having this view while we snuggle.”

“Me too.” Crowley kissed Aziraphale’s brow, hand drifting up and down his back. “I miss you too. But m’ glad we can be together for now.”

It was never long enough, but Crowley had always been an optimist. One day, he and Aziraphale could be together again full time. Until then, they would spend time together when they could, gazing down on the planet they were both fighting so hard to save.

[yoongiseesawmp3]

anything but - jeonghan

summary: roommate!jeonghan. you thought living with your best friend, jeonghan, would be easy. fun. like a sleepover every night. but as he watches you struggle week in and week out with crushes that don't like you back or dates that never seem to go well, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

word count: 8.2k

warnings: none rly, afab reader, unedited, sry

masterlist

jeonghan is ready to go to sleep. he had a long day, followed by a good, but tiring, night with friends, and he's been thinking about his soft sheets for the past two hours now. he's also been thinking about you, thinking about how happy he gets seeing your face light up when he walks through the door, but he knows he won't see that tonight. you're going on a date, dinner with some loser who's not him. he knows he could treat you so much better, but he can't just say that. things would get weird, and jeonghan can't afford the rent on his own. so selfishly, he keeps you and his feelings at arm's length. he's still thinking about you as he puts his key in the lock, wondering if he can stay up late enough to make sure you get home safe. when he opens the door, he changes his mind.

"what are you doing here?" jeonghan asks with a bit of anger in his voice, finding you laid out on the couch scrolling through your phone. "you told me you were going on a date tonight. did you cancel on him?"

"nope," you reply, popping the p as you sit up to stare at your roommate. "he cancelled on me. ten minutes before he was supposed to pick me up, actually, so i got ready for nothing."

that's when jeonghan notices the nice clothes you have on, your hair done up but mussed now that you've been laying on it. and, with a pang in his chest, he notices your makeup that looks smudged with tears. he knows you've been having dating trouble lately, and it's definitely been getting to you. but it makes his heart ache to think that you've been home all night crying over some loser who couldn't even bother to take you out.

"why didn't you call me?" he asks softly, joining you on the couch as he lifts your legs to lay them over his lap. he keeps a comforting hand on your calf as you explain, a slight tremor in your bottom lip as you say, "i didn't want to interrupt boy's night."

"baby, come on," he sighs. "you should have told me. you could've come to boy's night!"

"right," you scoff, rolling your eyes. "and hear all of them talk about their beautiful girlfriends and being so happy in a relationship? i'd rather eat drywall."

"we talk about other stuff," jeonghan laughs. "i told them about you getting us tickets to that soccer game and now i think they like you better than me. mingyu might be calling to see if he can take my ticket."

"never," you smile at him, sitting up and swinging your legs from his lap. "well, it's late. you're probably tired."

"eh," jeonghan shrugs, looking over you carefully to gauge if you're upset. "i could stay up a little longer, if you wanted to watch something."

"we're caught up on all our shows though," you pout. jeonghan sees an idea cross your face, so he asks, "what are you thinking?"

"nothing," you shake your head. "i remembered i didn't watch project runway last week, but you don't like that show-"

"put it on," he nods to the tv, looking over you one more time and noticing your clothes must not be that comfortable. "or you go change, i'll set it up."

"you don't know what episode i'm on though," you squint at him, and he shakes his head.

"nope, you're two weeks behind," he says. "i remember, because we went out the week before and you were ticked off that you were missing it."

"you pay too much attention to me," you mumble as you finally get up from the couch, jeonghan barely hearing you as he checks you out from behind. you're right, he does. too bad you haven't realized why.

when you come back from your room, you're wearing a hoodie that's seen better days and shorts that aren't quite doing their job. jeonghan clears his throat, trying not to stare, but when you sit down and put your legs back over his lap he can't help but skirt his hand over your skin, getting too close to your thigh without realizing.

"that tickles," you giggle, pushing his hand away. "you're annoying."

"ha, sorry," he laughs nervously, not sure what to do with his hands now so he reaches for the remote to press play. not far into the episode you curl up on your side of the couch, your knees tucked up beneath you as you lay down. jeonghan keeps an eye on you the whole time, attune to all your reactions and movements. he notices when you shiver, up in an instant to get a blanket.

"where are you going?" you call out, and he comes back wordlessly with the comforter from his room. he wraps it over you, using the rest of it to cover himself as he gets comfortable again. you find yourself dozing off, waking up every few minutes to see the progress on your favorite designers. you sleep through a whole section of the show, whining that you need to rewind, but jeonghan quietly explains what's happened and you're satisfied enough.

"do you want me to turn this off?" jeonghan asks after he sees your eyes closed again after you just complained about missing part of the show. you shake your head, not much of it visible outside of his blanket. you're noticing how nice his blanket smells, recognizing it as the same fresh scent that follows jeonghan around. it makes you feel at home, and that's part of what's making you so sleepy.

"i don't wanna go to my room," you admit shyly, feeling the tears from earlier just a moment or two away. "i'll stay awake, promise."

"do you want to sleep out here?" jeonghan asks, and you think about it for a moment. it wouldn't be the first time you had a little sleepover of sorts, both of you squished awkwardly on the couch or sleeping far apart from each other on someone's mattress that's been dragged out from one of your rooms. your silence decides it for jeonghan, and he says, "i'll go change, and then we can go to sleep." all you do is nod, getting comfortable beneath his comforter again as jeonghan slinks back to his bedroom to get ready for bed.

he comes back out and laughs to himself, your messy hair and scrunched sleepy face pulling at his heart. he knows someday he should tell you how he feels. he knows what you're looking for, and he knows he's perfect for you. it's just a matter of time before you figure that out, too.

-

a few days later, jeonghan was in the middle of a nap when he heard mumbling in the hallway and the sound of someone slamming doors. he was worried for only a few minutes, thinking it could possibly be an intruder, but as the mumbling gets closer to his door he knows there's a very frustrated y/n on the other side. he groans as he hoists himself up, shuffling to the door so he can peek out at you putting laundry away in the most irritated way possible. it's like you're trying to punish the towels for existing, and jeonghan can't help but laugh at the annoyed look on your face. it's cute, he finds himself thinking, but his chuckle pulls you from your dark thoughts and brings your anger to a new victim.

"what."

"nothing," jeonghan says defensively. "i thought someone was breaking in, you know, with all the banging around."

"shut up," you mumble, shoving the washcloths into the hall closet before slamming the door. you turn to your best friend and roommate, finger pointed accusingly, "i'm in a bad mood so don't piss me off."

"that explains the stress cleaning," he notes, and you ignore him.

"i'm going downstairs to put the dishes away," you grumble as you pass by him to get to the stairs, and he puts a timid hand on your shoulder.

"maybe do something that involves less breakables," he says coolly. "go punch a pillow or something."

"that's a good idea," you say, face lighting up slightly, and he laughs nervously as he finally asks what's wrong. "you remember that bitch of a dude who i was talking to a couple weeks ago?"

"gar bear?" jeonghan asks, and you roll your eyes.

"gary, yeah."

"what about him?" he asks, watching you unlock your phone and scroll to find something. you shove it into his hands, open to a very disturbing picture of a very ugly dick. "no."

"yeah. at three pm on a fucking thursday."

"stop making me look at it," he whines, pushing your phone back to you. "that's what made you mad?"

"yes!" you shout. "how did that thought process work? oh, this girl who i led on and then gaslit and then weirded out, she really needs to see my dick right now. it's the middle of the day! get a job! contribute to society!!!"

"why's he posing like that?" jeonghan asks, noticing more about the photo since you haven't locked your phone yet. "he looks so stiff."

"please stop," you say, but jeonghan sees a smile pulling at your lips.

"so what did you do?"

"i said 'what is your problem' and then i blocked him," you shrug, and he laughs.

"remind me to never piss you off," he says as he wraps an arm around you. "i'm sorry guys are assholes."

"i think i'm gonna become a nun," you mumble into his shoulder, staying in his hold maybe a minute too long. he presses a quick kiss to the crown of your head before letting you go, a blush on your cheeks that he takes pride in.

"you'd suck at being a nun, you're not nice enough," he jokes, and the way you glare at him makes him smile. "plus you fuck too much, aren't they supposed to be celibate?"

"forget punching pillows, i'm gonna punch you."

"sure baby," he chuckles, looking back at you as he walks downstairs. "you want food or something? i'll do the dishes. you just focus on not burning down the patriarchy."

"no promises," you mumble as you follow behind him. "but yeah, i wanna try this recipe i found the other day..."

it's over dinner that night that you realize how perfect jeonghan is. if only you could find a guy just like your best friend. someone who supports you, makes you smile, know how to get your heart to skip a beat. take, for example, his compliments. you like to joke to jeonghan that you need validation on your cooking, like tinkerbell, so whenever you cook for him the praises are nonstop. he's nothing if not supportive, so he tries to find things to comment on that he knows will make you blush. it works, and you do your best to tell him to stop without making it obvious that your heart is doing somersaults at his words.

this is what you want from a relationship, you find yourself thinking. you want to be comfortable with them, feel supported, all the things that jeonghan gives you. that night, you scroll through your dating apps, looking for a guy you think could meet those standards. in reality, you spend the whole night comparing the men on your screen to your roommate, subconsciously thinking of all the things you like most about jeonghan that these losers don't possess. you fall asleep like that, phone open to an empty chat, with jeonghan still on your mind.

-

so, a downside to living with jeonghan is you get the brunt end of all his weird energy. sometimes it's fun, and manifests itself in silly ways. like when you go thrifting, he takes it upon himself to find the weirdest thing in the store and insists on bringing it home. it means your apartment is decorated uniquely, but some of the stranger things you make him keep in his room. you haven't figured out yet that he only does this to make you laugh, loving how you smile sweetly at all the funny trinkets littered around your house. anything that goes into his room is eventually donated back to goodwill, its purpose served, doomed to delight another unassuming shopper some day.

other times, his weird energy comes out in worse ways. like today, he's not home, but you can feel that something's wrong. you know jeonghan is helping his friends with some video shoot, and he won't be home until much later. but there's a vibe in your apartment when you walk in. something is off, and it doesn't take you long to realize it. jeonghan has moved everything around, the couch where your kitchen table should be, the chairs from the table lined up in place of your couch. he's a strange one, your best friend, but it makes you laugh nonetheless, sending him a picture of the chairs and asking, "how am i supposed to fall asleep watching tv on this?!"

jeonghan smiles when he gets your text, shooting back, "watch tv in your room if you know you're just gonna fall asleep!"

really, he did the switcharoo for you to let your guard down. yes, moving furniture around is something silly that he would do, but he hid something further in the house that he wants you to find. he's hoping he'll be home when you do, but just the mere thought of your reaction has him chuckling. he goes back to whatever vernon wanted him to do, curious at each buzz from his phone, wondering if it's you.

jeonghan got the best of you, like usual. you did just go to your room, putting on one of your comfort shows so you could relax after a boring shift at work. you only get up to make a quick meal, dozing off again with the empty plate beside you. when the tv wakes you up you figure it's just time for you to go to bed, so you shuffle to the kitchen and notice a light coming from under jeonghan's door. he must have come home while you were napping, but it's late, so you go about your business. you drop your things off in the kitchen, returning upstairs to grab a washcloth and towel from the closet before you lock yourself in the bathroom. jeonghan is listening intently as you move around, waiting for the sound of the shower curtain pulling back and-

"JEONGHAN?!"

with sock clad feet that send him crashing through the now open bathroom door, he greets you with a shit eating grin. "you rang?"

"what the FUCK is that doing in here," you bellow, pointing at the plastic skeleton jeonghan found at the party store earlier that day. he thought it would be funny to hide in the apartment, at first just thinking about propping it up in the kitchen like the dead guy was making a meal, but the idea of scaring you a little was too good for him to pass up.

"man, when was the last time you cleaned your bathroom?" jeonghan jokes, "he must've been in here a while."

"fuck you," you spit, heart still racing from the surprise. that's when jeonghan notices something: you're naked. well, not entirely. like, you definitely don't have clothes on, his eyes flicking down to see your discarded panties and sleep shirt on the floor. he can't see the goods though because you're dangerously holding a towel over your body, one edge of it slipping as you reach out to try and punch jeonghan.

"what, you don't like him?" jeonghan pouts, stepping out of the bathroom to protect himself. "i thought you said you wanted to start decorating for halloween."

"this is not what i meant and you know it, you jackass," you try to say meanly, but jeonghan finds it cute. "it scared the shit out of me."

"i'm sorry," he says finally, hands twitching to reach out and grab you by the waist so he can rub comforting circles on your skin. but he can't. he physically shakes his hands out, a thing he does often enough to reset his mind that you look at him quizzically.

"why'd you do that?" you ask, and he clasps his hands behind his back defensively.

"felt like it," he shrugs. you roll your eyes and reach for the door, grumbling more expletives at him as you try to shut it in his face. "um, y/n?"

"what."

"you gonna shower with him?" jeonghan asks, pointing to your new friend. "i gotta admit, i'm a little jealous-"

"oh my god," you groan, grabbing the skeleton and throwing it at jeonghan with a comical clangor of plastic bones. "i hate you."

"love you too baby," jeonghan laughs as he closes the door for you, hefting the skeleton over his shoulder to go hide him in another corner of the house.

-

a few days later (jeonghan has hid the skeleton twice now), you come home from a date, dopey smile still on your face. you gasp when you see a body on the couch, thinking it's that stupid skeleton again. you breathe a sigh of relief when you realize it's a snoozing jeonghan instead. he looks angelic, his soft features shining brightly even in the dark room, illuminated by the tv. you don't realize that you're staring, nor do you realize jeonghan is peeking at you, the sound of the door waking him up.

"hey," he calls quietly, startling you. "sorry. i can go back to sleep and you can keep staring."

"i wasn't staring," you say defensively.

"sure," jeonghan nods, checking you out. "you look nice."

"who's staring now?" you ask as you cross to the kitchen. "i went out to dinner, but the portions were too small. do you want something to eat?"

"no, i'm good!" jeonghan calls. "was it a fancy place?"

"what?" you ask, coming back into the living room with a bag of chips. "i couldn't hear you."

"where you ate," he clarifies. "you dressed up, the servings were small, must have been a fancy place this guy took you to."

"how'd you know i was on a date?" you pout.

"y/n, i know you better than anyone else," jeonghan chuckles. "it was obvious. how'd it go?"

"good," you nod, ears burning under jeonghan's close attention. "don't wanna jinx it though."

"ok," jeonghan nods. "well i'm glad it was a good date. you deserve one of those."

"how was your night?" you ask. jeonghan shifts on the couch so there's room for you to sit and join him. once you're settled he explains how his friend seungcheol had come over for drinks, but he left a little while ago.

"i think he's got a girlfriend and doesn't want to tell me," jeonghan says, "because he feels bad that i'm not seeing anybody."

"you want me to find you a lady?" you tease. "you know my friends love you, i'm sure it'd be easy.''

"no," he shakes his head so some of his hair falls in his eyes. it makes it easier for him to stare at you without you noticing. "i'm good."

"well, it's a standing offer," you say as you get up to return the chips to the pantry. when you walk back through the living room, you ask, "where's jack tonight? i'm about to shower, i don't want another heart attack."

"i put the skeleton in your bed," jeonghan smiles with an impish glint in his eyes. "i figured it would be a nice surprise for the poor sap you might have brought home."

"you're annoying."

"thanks!" jeonghan chirps, and you laugh before telling him goodnight. he watches you go, smiling at something on your phone. jeonghan feels a pang in his chest ever so slightly, but he shakes it off, turning the tv off before he goes back to sleep trying not to think about you.

-

the following week, you're acting off. jeonghan notices immediately, but he doesn't bring it up to you at first. he's not sure if maybe work is stressing you, or maybe you've got family stuff going on...whatever it is, he'll give it a day or two before he checks on you, knowing how you like having time to yourself before someone swoops in to help.

the reality is, you really like this guy you've been talking to. that first date was amazing, and you wanted to go out with him again as soon as possible. you talk all the time, always ducking into your room when he calls while you're around jeonghan. you're actually ignoring jeonghan a lot, which you feel bad about, but you just can't get enough of this new guy. even though you're talking a lot, it's hard to set up another date with him because you're both busy with work. you've got plans to hang out on sunday, and for the first time in a long time, you're excited for a date. not nervous, not dreading it, just pure schoolgirl crush excitement.

that's why it's so crushing when, a few hours before, the guy texts you and cancels. you play it off at first, asking when he's free to reschedule, but his response is basically telling you to get lost. it hurts your feelings more than it should, because he is just some loser dude, but you also didn't know him that long. you have no reason to be so devastated over this, but you are.

jeonghan knew about your second date with this guy, so he made plans to be out of the house for as long as possible on sunday. as selfish as it was, he didn't want to be there for the giddy getting ready (you always ask him for outfit advice and he always tells you that you look great) or for the nervous pacing while you waited for the guy to pick you up (jeonghan always distracts you with jokes to calm your nerves). he also didn't want to be there after the date, if you happened to bring the lucky guy home. so he's out running errands, bothering his friends, and killing time until he's sure he won't walk in on anything he doesn't want to see.

when jeonghan gets home, it's late. after his day of farting around he went to his friend wonwoo's apartment for a while to heckle him while he played video games, and wonwoo finally kicked him out.

"don't you need to go home to your girlfriend?" wonwoo had teased, and jeonghan kicked him from his spot on the couch.

"y/n's my best friend and my roommate."

"so basically your girlfriend," wonwoo smiles that little smile of his, and it annoys jeonghan.

"she doesn't think of it like that," jeonghan mumbles, looking for his phone so he can head home anyway.

"because you're being too subtle."

"i'm not trying to be anything!" jeonghan says defensively. "i don't want her to know."

"why not?" wonwoo asks, finally turning to look at his friend. "you afraid she'll say no? because we all think-"

"i'll see you later, ok?" jeonghan says quickly, his shoes barely on as he tries to unlock the door. "hope cheol doesn't kill you again."

"in his dreams," wonwoo mumbles, his attention effectively back on the game and off of jeonghan.

jeonghan comes home to a mostly dark apartment, the stove light in the kitchen the only indication that you got home before him. he stops at the door to make sure there's no...unpleasant sounds coming from elsewhere, and when he's met with silence he kicks his shoes off carefully before heading to his room. he's exhausted, hiding from you all day being a good way to wear a person out. when he passes by your room something catches his ear, and his heart stops. were you moaning?

jeonghan knows he shouldn't, but he presses his ear against your door, telling himself he's only doing this so he can decide if he needs to stay somewhere else tonight. he's waiting to hear another voice, a man's voice, but he's met with a quiet whimper, followed by some sniffles. his heart roars back to life hearing that, almost breaking to pieces when he realizes you're not moaning, you're in your room crying. he's opening the door before he knows what he's doing, and you jump out of your skin at the unwelcome intrusion.

"go away," you whisper. jeonghan ignores you, coming to your bedside and looking down at you with concern in his eyes. "jeonghan, please. go away-"

"why are you crying?" he asks, and you don't say anything. "what did that asshole do?"

"nothing," you sniff again, willing your tears to stay back as you try to appease your roommate long enough for him to decide you're fine and leave you alone. "h-he was bu-busy and had to cancel-"

"fuck him."

"yeah, whatever," you say shakily. "it doesn't matter. i'm fine. now leave. please." your eyes are closed, trying to hide the tears that are welling up, and jeonghan is so quiet you assume he left, but he's trying not to let his own emotions show as he calls your name.

"y/n," jeonghan whispers, and when you look up at him you can't help it. you start crying again seeing him so upset over you being so upset, and before long you're back to bawling your eyes out. you barely register jeonghan cooing softly at you, climbing into bed and scooping you up into his arms. his lips are pressing soft kisses up and down your hairline, and it makes you cry even more. this is what you want, you think. this is what you need, what you've been missing. you want a boyfriend that will care for you like jeonghan does, that will be there for you like jeonghan is. it physically hurts you to think that you may never have that, that there's a possibility you'll never feel that kind of romantic love from someone. and you want to say that, you want to tell jeonghan why he came home to you pathetically crying so much, but he doesn't care. he just wants you to stop, so he'll hold you in his arms whispering sweet jokes to you until there's no more tears. he gets the slightest smile out of you right before you doze off, hands bunched into his shirt holding on for dear life. jeonghan holds you tighter, pressing one last kiss to the tip of your snotty nose before he drifts off to sleep with you.

-

you wake up later, not quite in the morning, but a few hours have passed. you're not used to sharing a bed with someone, especially when that person has such a vice grip on you as jeonghan does. once your mind has registered that you're awake, you also feel the burn of someone's eyes on you. sure enough, when you peek into the darkness of your room you see jeonghan staring back, eyebrows creased and teeth nibbling his bottom lip.

"stop chewing your lip," you tell him, reaching out to tug it from between his teeth. "i'm fine. you don't need to worry about me."

"wrong," he replies, watching you intensely as he brushes a strand of hair behind your ear. the quiet that follows has your face heating up, and the heat spreads through the rest of your body. it feels like every point where jeonghan's body is pressed against yours is on fire, and you want to pull away. but you don't.

"why aren't you in your room."

"because i wanted to sleep here," he replies. "i hope that's ok."

"it's not-"

"bummer," jeonghan cuts you off. "i'm not leaving."

"i'm not crying anymore though," you point out. "so. i'm fine."

"nope," he shakes his head. his bangs fall back into his eyes, and you think briefly he must need a haircut, but you hope he doesn't get one. the long hair suits him, even if it keeps him from seeing sometimes. you don't think about it, your hand unclenching his shirt and instead reaching up to brush his hair out of his face. jeonghan watches you carefully, and your breath gets caught in your throat when you look back down to his eyes. he's staring at you so intensely you can feel it in your chest, and that's when it hits you: jeonghan. you want a boyfriend like jeonghan. well! jeonghan's right here! what are you gonna do about it?

"jeonghan, i..." you trail off, staring at him like you're seeing him in a new light. he waits patiently for you to go on, thinking you might explain the situation a little more, but you don't know what to say. you just get hit with the intense need to bury your face in his chest, breathing in his scent and listening to his heartbeat as you fall back asleep.

"what?" he asks, trying to encourage you to keep speaking.

"um, can i just-" you try, but instead of speaking you just nuzzle into his chest, nose at the base of his neck tickling his skin. "i want to go back to sleep."

"then sleep baby," he whispers as he squeezes you tighter, afraid to let go. as you fall asleep, you let your hands relax against his chest, one of them laid right over his racing heart.

-

the next morning, you wake up to an empty bed and almost convince yourself you dreamed up jeonghan last night. like an oasis in the desert, he came to you when you needed him most. a little part of you wishes it wasn't real so you could go back to a time where you didn't know your true feelings for jeonghan, but your mussed sheets proves it wasn't a dream. jeonghan's scent is still lingering on your extra pillow, and you take a deep breath and remember how it felt to be wrapped up in your best friend.

jeonghan comes back into your room with two coffees in hand and he sees you nuzzling your face into the spot where his head laid just minutes ago. he lets you wallow for a moment before he calls your name softly. you jump up, cheeks warming as you look at jeonghan in your doorway.

"morning," he smiles. he hands you your coffee, your cold hands brushing his and sparking warmth across his skin. he stops himself from leaning down to kiss your forehead, knowing that whatever intimacy you shared last night is probably left in the past. you were sad, and jeonghan was there to comfort you. he'd happily do that a million times over, but he doesn't think you feel the same way he does.

"jeonghan, i'm sorry about last night," you try to apologize, but he shakes his head.

"don't," he stops you. "i would do it again if you needed it."

"well if you find me crying over some loser again tonight you have full permission to slap me," you tell him. "one night was enough."

"noted," he laughs, awkwardly standing in your room, unsure if he can get back into bed with you. you pick up on the way his eyes keep flitting from you to his spot, and you pat the empty space so he'll sit down.

"stop being weird," you say, bumping shoulders with him once he's comfortably next to you again. "so how'd you sleep?"

"pretty good," he starts out, "but there was this really annyoing sound coming from your side of the bed?"

"oh you mean me crying?"

"no, like this really loud, obnoxious snoring, kinda like-" jeonghan starts demonstrating, sending you into a fit of giggles and a pushing match to get him to stop.

"i think that was you!" you shriek, carefully trying not to spill your coffee. "don't spill that in my bed, i'll kill you."

"and then who are you gonna cuddle at night?" jeonghan asks, regretting it when he feels the tension between you both.

"i could always cuddle with jack," you joke to break the awkwardness, and jeonghan rolls his eyes.

"i hate that you named the skeleton."

"the skeleton is a guest in our home," you tease him. "show him some respect."

"whatever, freak," he says before downing the rest of his coffee. he gets an idea then, turning to you to ask, "what are you doing today?"

"um, nothing except work," you reply. "but you know my job is barely real so i'm basically doing nothing."

"let's go get coffee," jeonghan says, a playful look in his eyes.

"we just had coffee," you point out.

"no, no, we'll get good coffee, you can do some work, i'll watch you do some work, it'll be great," he insists, getting up and pulling you out of bed with him.

"if you're still trying to cheer me up i swear i'm fine," you say through your laughter, pressing back against jeonghan trying to push you toward your closet. "you don't need to take me for coffee or do anything else to make me feel better. i'm fine now."

"glad to hear it," he smiles softly, squeezing your hand that's clasped firmly in his. "but i still want to get coffee, so get dressed or everyone at the cafe will see you in that god forsaken t shirt."

the t shirt in question is one that jeonghan found for you during one of your goodwill visits. for whatever reason, it says 'i shaved my balls for this' and it got the biggest laugh from you all night, so jeonghan had to bring it home. despite being awful colors (light blue paired with neon yellow) it's actually quite comfortable, and you love the way it makes jeonghan laugh every time you wear it. it's unironically become your favorite sleep shirt, but you are mortified at the thought of anyone aside from your best friend seeing you in it. you quickly change, grabbing your work laptop from your desk before you head into the living room to find jeonghan waiting for you.

it's not unusual for him to take you out on random adventures, but this one feels different. he stays closer to you than normal, insists on buying your drink, and you catch him actually watching you work.

"get a hobby," you mumble, looking down at your laptop so he hopefully won't see your blushing cheeks.

"this is my hobby," he says. "i'm hanging out with my favorite person."

"seungcheol's going to be very sad to hear he's been demoted," you tease.

"he knows where he stands," jeonghan says, still watching you intently. you can't take it anymore, staring back at him.

"seriously, pretend to read or something! you're distracting me."

"i'm distracting you?" he smiles. "why? i'm not doing anything."

"i'm sending this email and then we're leaving," you say, and he shrugs.

"if you want, baby."

baby. it hits you harder this time, jeonghan's silly little nickname for you. you thought it started off as a sarcastic thing, but recently you feel like it sounds sweeter and sweeter coming from his lips. after last night, it makes your heart skip a beat, and that's when it hits you: are you on a date with jeonghan right now?!

"wait. waitwaitwait. hold on," you say, pointing at jeonghan and then yourself. "is this a date? are we on a date?"

"what? no baby," he shakes his head, and now you're confused. "no, if we were on a date you'd know."

"what's that supposed to mean?" you squeak out.

"do you want us to be on a date right now?" jeonghan counters, and you know your blushing cheeks have you in trouble. "you do?"

"i-i don't know-"

"hm, you wanna go on a date with me," jeonghan says matter of factly. "well, that's good to know."

"what are you doing?" you ask as he starts cleaning up his space.

"oh i need to go back to the apartment," he says. "gotta get my laptop so i can start planning a date that's worthy of you. i'll see you at home?"

"jeonghan, what?" you're left sputtering as he heads to the door, not looking back even though he knows your staring. he's afraid you'll see the excited/nervous shake in his hands, so he needs to go cool off. well, that and plan the best date of your entire life. he's got a lot of ground to cover. thankfully, the idiots you usually grace your time with have set the bar pretty low. jeonghan is determined to bring it higher, so high in fact that you won't be able to go on another first date without comparing it to his. if things go right though, maybe you won't have to go on a first date ever again.

-

jeonghan left the coffeeshop before you, so it would make sense if he was at the apartment when you got back, right? wrong. you come home about an hour later to an empty home, no sign of jeonghan. you think that's fine, it gives you a chance to actually get some work done. but jeonghan being mia has you a little nervous. what's he doing? he said he was going to plan a date. for you. and him. you and jeonghan...on a date? that's crazy.

you've done a good job ignoring that whole concept, trying to get ahead on a project you need to present later this week. you're so hyperfocused that the whole day goes by before you realize it, and when you finally emerge from your room you really expect to find jeonghan in the living room. he's still gone, so you decide to text him, asking casually if he would be home for dinner. the domesticity isn't lost on you, and it makes jeonghan smile when he gets it. he decides to call instead of texting back, balancing his phone against his shoulder and his cheek once you pick up.

"you miss me or something?" he asks, and you can hear the smile in his voice.

"i was just curious," you reply nonchalantly. "you've been missing all day."

"i've been busy."

"oh ok."

"i'll be home soon though," he tells you. "don't make dinner, just make sure you're dressed in an hour."

"for what?"

"a surprise."

"i need more information and you know that," you scoff, and you hear jeonghan chuckle.

"dress nice, but not fancy. and wear something blue so we'll match," he explains, and you feel your cheeks warm. "i gotta go, but i'll see you soon, baby."

hearing that coming from jeonghan now makes your heart skip a beat, and it makes you wonder if you've always felt like this and you just didn't notice. you keep thinking about him as you get ready, steaming out a dress you were planning to wear on a date that didn't happen. it's a soft blue with long sleeves and a low tie in the front. you worry for a moment that it might be too revealing, but checking the time rushes you into action. you're almost ready when there's a knock at the front door, which you ignore. there's another knock, this time louder, so you grumble your way to the living room to peek through the peephole. you gasp when you see what's on the other side.

you throw the door open, revealing a visibly nervous jeonghan with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. he's wearing a blue shirt, almost the exact shade of your dress, and he openly stares at you with a happy smile and a look in his eyes that you've never seen before.

"jeonghan?" you ask, pulling him from his intense focus on your chest.

"y/n," he smiles, eyes flicking up to yours. "you look stunning."

"i'm not ready yet," you pout slightly, checking the time on your phone. "you weren't very specific about when you were coming home."

"you look perfect," he says, checking you out again. "what else could you need to do?"

"wouldn't you like to know?" you tease, and he rolls his eyes.

"i can give you ten minutes, but any longer than that and we'll be late."

"late for what?" you ask as he passes you the flowers. "these are beautiful by the way, carnations are-"

"your favorite, i know," he smiles softly. "you buy yourself a bunch almost every time you're at the grocery store."

"i can't remember the last time someone bought me flowers either," you mumble, opening the door enough for jeonghan to come inside. "what are you still doing out there? it's your house, come in."

"finish getting ready," he laughs at you, reaching for the flowers again. "i'm putting them in a vase, weirdo. you'll get them back when you're done getting pretty."

"i'll be back," you whisper, running off before he can see how nervous you just got. you try to calm your nerves as you finish your touch ups, panicking last minute over which shoes and purse go with your outfit.

jeonghan is sitting on the couch, your flowers in your favorite vase on the coffeetable. he perks up at the sound of you shuffling down the hallway, but he pouts when he sees you holding up all your shoes.

"y/n, we're gonna be late."

"i don't know which ones to wear," you say simply, and he smiles as he comes up to you, analyzing the choices. he picks the white shoes and the white purse.

"glad we're still keeping this tradition alive even though i'm the one taking you out this time," he says proudly, watching you get situated. you stand back up, mussing your hair one last time before he asks, "ready to go, beautiful?"

"i don't know why i'm so nervous," you tell him, taking his arm as you leave the apartment. "we hang out all the time."

"yeah, but this isn't us hanging out," jeonghan says as you wait for the elevator. "i'm taking you on the best date of your life. nerves are completely valid."

"are you nervous?" you whisper, leaning in so jeonghan gets a good whiff of your perfume that he loves finding traces of all through his life. he holds your gaze, eyes flicking down momentarily before he shakes his head.

"no, i thought i would be, but i'm not," he replies simply as you get on the elevator.

"ok good, so i'll just freak out for the both of us then."

"would you? that takes a lot of pressure off of me," jeonghan jokes, and you pinch his arm. "ouch! so mean to me when i've made the perfect night for you."

"and what does this perfect night entail?" you ask. jeonghan just shakes his head, leading you out into the lobby of the building. he takes you a different way, not walking to the parking garage but instead to the main entrance of your building. "jeonghan, are we walking there? i don't think i can make it in these shoes-"

you stop mid-sentence, spotting the shiny baby blue mustang convertible parked outside. you look at jeonghan, mouth open in surprise. he has to tug you down the hallway and out into the cool night air, helping you into the passenger seat with ease. you watch on in shock as he gets into the driver's side, finally cutting through the fog in your mind to ask, "do you even know how to drive this?"

"yeah," jeonghan says coolly, opening the glovebox to hand you a scrunchie of yours that he stole. "here, you might wanna put your hair up."

"you're insane," you tell him, playing with the scrunchie in your lap as he starts the car. you can't believe this so far, and the date's barely begun. what other surprises could he possibly have in store for you?

-

after a quick ride out of the city, you find yourself at a retro drive in that's completely empty. you have a sneaking suspicion jeonghan rented it just for the two of you tonight, but you don't have a chance to ask. once he parks, he's asking you to open the glovebox and you smile when you see the stack of movie theatre candy boxes he's stashed away. you take them out, turning back to jeonghan to see he's produced a tub of popcorn from somewhere and a couple of your favorite sodas. you stare at him with your mouth opening and closing like a fish and he just smiles proudly in return.

"jeonghan, what did you do?" you finally ask, and he laughs.

"do you like it?"

"what are we doing here?"

"watching a movie," he says obviously. he shifts the snacks, the drinks going into the holders by the radio and the popcorn and candy going on the dashboard. "come closer," he mumbles, tugging your arm. the smooth vinyl of the seats sending you flying into jeonghan's side, and you giggle nervously as you adjust your dress. jeonghan lays the snacks out over your laps and drapes his arm across your shoulders for good measure. he looks at you to gauge whether you're settled or not, and when he decides you're ready he presses on the horn once. the screen in front of you lights up, and you gasp as you see the opening credits for your favorite movie flashing before you.

"where did you get the idea to do this?" you ask him with a smile, taking a few pieces of popcorn to give you something to do with your hands.

"just thought it would be something different," he shrugs, and you leave it at that. you can barely focus on the movie, hyperaware of how warm jeonghan is next to you and how every glance he casts your way sends your heart racing faster and faster. a few minutes into it, you remember your hair is still tied up from the ride, so you shuffle out of jeonghan's grasp to pull the scrunchie down and reset yourself. you know jeonghan is watching, so you mumble, "watch the movie, weirdo."

"i've seen it before," he whispers back, eyes still heavy on you. "i'm not missing anything."

"you've seen me before too," you point out, leaning back into his side once you're done moving around. "quite a lot, actually."

"yeah, but i've never seen you on a date before," he says. "and on a date with me? whoa. i gotta soak it all in."

you turn to look at him then, admiring the way his hair falls so slightly into his eyes, the way his lips stretch over his shy smile, how his eyes glisten when they meet yours. you could kick yourself for not noticing any of this sooner. who knew you had exactly what you were looking for right here?

"jeonghan, i-" you start, but realize you don't have the words to tell him what you want to say. you stop, staring at him with your brows furrowed cutely.

"what, baby?" he laughs, his thumb coming up to trace the creases in your forehead. "you're gonna give yourself premature wrinkles like this."

"why are you doing this?" you ask quietly. "why are you so...wonderful? all the time?"

"because," he shrugs, his hand falling from your forehead to rest just below your chin. "i've been trying to show you what it would be like. took you long enough to come around."

"show me what?" you ask confused.

"what it's like being loved by me," he smiles back. you feel your breath catch in your throat, and you want to say something. you want to tell him how you feel, how you're sorry it took you so long, how you love every moment you spend with jeonghan by your side. instead you just lean forward, lips brushing over his. you bring your hands up to his neck, wrapping them in the soft hair at the back of his head as you scoot impossibly closer and try to press all your love into this one kiss. jeonghan keeps his hold on your chin, thumb stroking softly at your cheek. he's the first one to pull back, laughing when you try to bring his lips back to yours so quickly. he leans his forehead against yours, soft hair tickling your skin as he asks, "so you get it now?"

"yeah," you nod, knocking your heads together and sending you both into a fit of giggles. jeonghan steals a few more kisses, and when you finally calm down he pulls you back into his side, squeezing you as close to him as possible. you lay your head down on his shoulder, pressing your lips into the closest part of him you can reach. "thank you, jeonghan. my jeonghan."

"my y/n," he sighs, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. "my beautiful, kind, funny girl."

"stop staring," you whisper bashfully. "you're missing the movie."

"i'm not missing anything," he repeats, but he takes one last look at you before he kisses the top of your head and finally turns back to the screen. this might be your first date with jeonghan, but it certainly won't be your last.

[banquetwriter]

hellooo! can i request johnnie x reader, where his tweets are about a song but the fans think they broke up because y/n also had a suspicious tweet like him!! thank you i hope you have a wonderful day!

୨୧ Assumptions ୨୧

pairing: Johnnie Guilbert ♡︎ Reader

warnings: ୭̥⋆*｡ short (I'm sorry) fluff tbh

summary: ʚ the fans get the wrong idea when you and Johnnie tweet lyrics of his new song ɞ

Words: 1299

An: this is short but honestly it's so sweet and I loved doing this!!

You made sure to keep balance with the plate and cup in your hands as you approached your office room. You had finally convinced Johnnie to start editing in your office since he moved in. You both even set up a little recording spot for him complete with a spooky background.

You walked up to the door and knocked against it slightly using your foot. After a moment or two the door opened with a slightly worn-looking Johnnie. “Hey what's all this for?” he asked, opening the door for you. “Well you have been working so hard on your new song I thought I outta surprise you.”

You say with a big smile holding up his cup of tea and chips. “Eh, I'm really proud of this song. I just hope it, you know, does well,” he says with a short laugh at the end of his sentence. You smile while walking to the couch that is directly next to his editing chair.

The one you sat at and relaxed while he would stream. The whole world seemed so in love with you two dating. Everyone loved how well you two worked. And you loved it too. “I'm sure they will babe. I think you fucking killed it with this song,” you spoke moving your legs up to your chest and setting the food on the desk.

He smiles as you sit down in his chair and start to click around on his computer. You plucked a chip off of his plate scrolling around Twitter. “Hey, quit stealing my chips,” Johnnie said, staring at you accusingly.

You pause looking up at him, blinking slowly for a second. “When your dick gets bigger I will,” you said with a faux smile. He giggles at your comment, turning back to the computer, his fingers reaching for the coffee mug.

“Be careful, I think the tea is still pretty hot.” you half mumble the warning before putting the chip in your mouth. “I'll drink whatever the fuck I want bitch.” he says in a sassy, Timmy-esque voice. He takes a small sip of the tea before yanking the cup away from his mouth. “Fuck!” he shouts as the hot piqued burned his mouth.

You let out a loud laugh at his reaction, covering your mouth as you did so. “Aahh fuck you!” he yelps again searching for a drink of something colder. You snicker looking back down at your phone. Twitter was usually an awful place to be and it wasn't any different than this time.

You banned Johnnie from looking up his name on social media sites, and it wasn't good that you still did it but occasionally you liked to check in on fans and see what was popular amongst the fandom.

Most were hyping up the newest video you had posted this week and taking clips from it as reactions. Your fans were so funny, like genuinely. It blew you away that people found you so funny.

Of course, there were a select few that were not ideal. One about how You and Johnnie haven't posted in a while, and that you two must have broken up. They were not true by any means. With Johnnie's new song coming out soon it was easier for him to bulk-record videos so he had more time during the day to work on it.

Johnnie had finally calmed down from burning the shit out of his mouth. “How much of the new song have you teased?” you asked using your foot to spin his chair so he faced you. You continued to munch on a few chips, eating all the food you brought for your boyfriend.

“Honestly not much just that I have a new song coming out, not even a date or anything,” he said, grabbing a chip too. “Mmm we should start doing more to promote it, well sorry, you should do more this isn't my song,” you murmur using your ring finger to tap around your phone with your chip-dust-covered hands.

“Mmm, I feel like it's both of our songs in a way, I mean yeah I performed it and edited it but you helped me write it. You're also helping me by taking care of me.” he gestured to his tea as he took a sip.

You smiled at his words. It was nice when credit was given for things like this. This was Johnnie's song but you did help him with the lyrics. It was about the heartbreak of getting older, the lyrics sounding like you were talking to time.

The idea simmered down into a few words; it was like breaking up with time. The lyrics were akin to a breakup song. It was a cool idea and one you dealt with as you grew older. You even starred in the music video as the “time” character.

“What were we thinking of doing?” he murmured with his mouth full. “Maybe tweeting a few of your lyrics? Something you wouldn't normally rant about I guess,” you suggested dusting your fingers off.

“That could be cool, we should do it from the chorus or something,” he said, pulling his phone out of his back pocket. “Yeah for sure,” you mumbled absentmindedly, moving the chair with your foot still.

Over the next few days you both tweeted lyrics from the song. ‘I will forever mourn the loss of us’ and ‘You can't stay innocent to it forever’ got the most likes. Unfortunately, you two were now trending. “What the fuck are we going to do?” you asked looking at the #Johnnieandy/nbreakup tag.

“Just ignore them? The song comes out soon anyway,” he reassured you, his thumb rubbing the side of your thigh. Your legs rested on his lap as you cuddled up next to him.

You still didn't like the idea that everyone thought you two broke up. You can see how someone might think that from your guy’s tweets. And yes you shouldn't assume something about someone online but that just means your fans care about you. Doesn't it?

After a few days, you both released another video on each other's YouTube channels. The entire comments were filled with asking where the other person was. If you two had really broken up this would have been awful. Thank god you hadn't.

You both decided that you two should make at least one video addressing the rumors. On one of your tik toks someone had commented ‘Did you and Johnnie break up?’ so you replied to the comment with a video.

“Hey guys so a lot of people have been asking if me and my boyfriend Johnnie broke up, so today we are going to go ask him,” you said holding the phone up to your face as if introducing a vlog.

The next shot was of your feet walking up to Johnnie sitting on the couch. “Hey babe?” you asked, pointing the camera at him. “Yeah?” he answered back looking up at you. “Did we break up?” you ask as if it was a normal question.

“Umm last time I checked no,” he replied back trying to hold his smile back. “Oh ok, sweat just checking. Love you,” you said back moving the phone down as he broke his serious face and laughed with you.

You posted the tik tok captioned “addressing the rumors”

You cuddled up next to him and read the comments. Most of them were making fun of others for assuming things. The other half was just talking about how cute the two of you were together.

The following day the song and music video were posted and the feedback was worth it. You were so proud of Johnnie and all he had done but this song meant so much to both of you.

[euphoricimagination]

꧁༺ 𝓜𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓬𝓾𝓽𝓮: 𝓢𝓪𝓴𝓾𝓼𝓪 ༻꧂

You were in your favorite coffee shop after your day at work had finished, a small and very cozy shop that was in the middle of Tokyo that surprisingly didn’t have many customers for being in the heart of the country.

After a very tiring day you decided to visit, ordering your favorite pastry and coffee to have while continuing the book you were reading at the moment: The Flowers of Buffoonery by Osamu Dazai.

You were comfortably reading there when suddenly loud voices start to come closer, soon entering the café four people with big bags.

“I told you this place is so quiet! Almost nobody here!” one with greyish hair says

“How d’ya know about this, Bokuto-san? Ya don’t read” one with blonde hair asks

“Akaashi showed it to me when we where in uni!”

“Akaashi-san does seem like someone who would like this place” an orange hair one says now.

You noticed that the black hair one didn’t say anything, in fact he looked rather annoyed by his friends; but deciding to mind your own business, you continue reading while they order. Soon enough they came to sit near you, enthusiastically talking about volleyball and whatever had happened in their practice. You had seen them before, but not enough to know their names.

“Excuse me” you hear a few minutes after, the orange hair dude now beside you smiling brightly “It says Osamu Dazai? Like the dude from Bungo Stray Dogs?”

“Eh? Well, yeah, but…”

“Osamu? Ma brother was named after an author?” the blonde one says, taking his things and setting himself on your table

“You idiots, Osamu Dazai is a real person and a famous author” the black hair one says, looking carefully at the book as the other ones also join you

“Yeah, but it is true that he appears on the anime, all characters are based on real life authors, Dazai being one of them”

“ahh, I see! Thanks for letting us join you! I’m Hinata Shoyo” the orange hair says smiling, making it harder for you to even be mad at them

Surprisingly enough, despite being strangers, they made you feel really comfortable, everyone being chatty and making sure you join their conversation.

“I heard that this book it’s quite good, the protagonist is recovering after a suicide attempt, right?” Sakusa asks you, looking at the book again

“yeah, he’s the only survivor out of the couple. Its much more…joyful than his previous works”

“I see, I might try reading it. How did you found out about it?”

“honestly…because of the anime” you chuckle, making him have a faint smile “it is very good though, so I’m kinda glad I did pick it up”

“I’ve heard of the author, never actually check it out though” he says while looking over at his teammates, who know where loudly discussing about a match “sorry about them, you were reading peacefully and they came and ruined that”

“it’s alright, I don’t mind. They’re funny”

“They’re annoying”

“Omi-kun! Why do ya look more comfortable with her than us? We’ve know each other since high school!” Atsumu whines with a small smirk

“Unlike you bunch, she knows how to act outside”

“Ah! I know! We have a game on Sunday, why don’t you come to watch us Yn-chan?” Hinata asks you, also with a knowing look on his eyes, it seems that the three other players realized something about Sakusa

“Yeah, we can show you how awesome we are! You can see Omi-kun in action too!” Bokuto adds, a slight shade of red in your cheeks

“We have to go, we have practice early tomorrow” Sakusa stands ups, sending a sharp look to the guys and making them stand up saying their goodbyes. Sakusa is the last one to leave, looking at you right before he left “I do hope you can come to see us….maybe you can lend me that book after”

[yorshie]

11 & 10 with Raph, a sort of confession\first kiss type of deal please! I need my boy to discover being loved.

-justalotoffanfic ❤️

Oooooooooooooo. First kiss. I think you might like reading this if you haven't yet, But Also Thank You for Requesting on Blurb Day! Let's have Pining Soft Raph to fight off those Mikey Brooms for a bit, eh? (edit: uh..... I guess this turned out more pining Reader and hopeless kiss. oops) also, sorry i forgot to do this with the other side blog requests but @justalotoffanfiction

Being with Raph wasn't always....a straight line. The curve of progress sometimes doubled back on itself, or stalled for a bit before resuming at a glacial place.

It was easy enough to understand, you thought, watching him move purposefully through his workout, racking weights and eyeing the amount before he slotted himself underneath on the inclined bench. There were things you'd probably never know about, but the few big ticket items you had heard of left several things completely clear.

The Turtles had been hunted, and could be so again in the future. They weren't human, and people sometimes reacted badly to that. And the last thing, probably the root of your problem with Raph, was that there would always be someone 'better' for you, in his mind.

Someone that didn't live in the sewers, that didn't have a shell and a different amount of fingers, someone that didn't tower over you or place themselves in danger over and over again.

He was stubborn, you thought with an exhale, watching him knock off a weight from each side and slot himself under the bar once more, the suicide set causing his muscles to twitch under the exertion.

You watched the tensed line of a vein curling over his tricep, the little hollow below his elbow dipping in and out of existence with each flex. Your eyes followed the strain of his deltoid where it disappeared under his plastron-

"Whatcha thinking about, sweetheart?" His gruff voice called, words bitten short from exertion, and you blinked, pulled from your line of perusal.

"What?" You asked back, shifting in your seat, playing innocent even as you drank in his figure again.

"There's something rattling around in that pretty head of yours," He paused, knocked off another pair of weights, and you followed the beads of sweat running down the back of his elbow without conscious thought. "Gotta be something you're not telling me, isn't it?"

Your mouth pulled to the side, not quite a frown, not quite a smirk, and you finally stood when he paused once more, chest heaving as he re-racked the bar and glanced your way.

You could be stubborn, you reminded yourself, but another little voice echoed the words, sounding a lot more sure of itself than the immediate bravado. You could also push too hard.

"I just..." You trailed off, but Raph ducked a shoulder and leaned forward, resting his shell against the bar. He lifted one eye ridge towards you, clearly waiting.

When you still couldn't get the words out, he gestured you over with a jerk of his head, repeated the motion with more sass when you took too long.

When you finally stood in front of him, eyes taking in how his plastron swelled with each breath, the obvious way his arms had all but doubled from the exercise, you swallowed heavily.

Raph snorted at your ogling, one large hand coming up to tuck against your waist. "I uh," He tapped his fingers, slowly, against the back of your hip, obviously thinking, " I don't.... I really don't wanna end up doing the wrong thing here, sweetheart, but-"

He broke off, staring at your face, and you couldn't care less who moved first, just that you did-

And you were both stubborn idiots, it seemed, because you both bobbed when one should have weaved, and the first time you missed completely, lips nudging along cheeks instead of finding each other.

Your fingers found his jaw halfway through his eye roll, and his hand cupped the back of your head through exasperation more so than any tender feeling, but the tiny well of ire at how stubborn he was disappeared the second his lips landed true.

They were wide, and soft, and you could tell he was trying so hard to keep it sweet. After the third tentative scrub you finally lost your patience and opened your mouth to lick against his lower lip, and he pulled back with a grunt and a look in his eyes that promised retribution.

You grinned at him, feeling drunk, and a little bit stubborn yourself.

[eepwriting]

Pretty Sounds ✶ IV x Fem! Reader

warnings: nsfw, smut, drinking, recording (with consent), oral (f receiving), fingering

!! mdi !!

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When iv suggested that you come stay with him for a couple days, you jumped at the opportunity. He would be leaving for tour soon and you both knew the chances of seeing each other for more than a day were slim to none.

You had your own responsibilities back home. Work, pets, your own friends and family to tend to and an apartment to keep up with. So touring with him and or taking multiple days off of work was just not in the cards for you.

The past few days had been exciting, relaxing and exhausting. You had visited iv plenty of times at this point but he was always excited to show you around the place where he grew up. Excitedly dragging you to his favorite spots, detailing stories from his youth, and of course taking your picture in front of every building you said was cool or pretty.

With all the fun and exploring, iv still had his own work responsibilities to deal with. Whether it be practice or meetings with the rest of the team, he and everyone else wanted to make sure the tour ran smoothly. Some days he’d be gone from sun up to sun down, always apologizing for leaving you alone all day.

You fully understood what you were getting yourself into when the two of you started dating so you never gave him a hard time about it. You had brought plenty of things to keep yourself occupied.

So when iv kissed you on forehead this morning and said he’d be back late, you were of course a little disappointed but knew you could keep yourself busy.

The day had actually gone relatively quickly. You spent the day reading, watching a couple episodes of the show you were currently trying to catch up on and cleaning up around the apartment.

After the kitchen was near spotless, you opened the fridge and spotted a bottle of wine that had been chilling for the past few days. You couldn’t remember where it had come from, only that iv “took one sip and gagged” so you knew that he wouldn’t be disappointed if you had a couple drinks. Grabbing a wine glass, you poured a small amount and took a tentative sip. It wasn’t the worst thing you had ever tasted but also not good by any means. Dry and notes of something you couldn’t quite put your finger on.

Eh, it’d do the trick.

Needing to bathe and feeling the soreness in your legs and back from all the walking you’d done this week, a hot bath sounded like the perfect way to end the day. With your glass and the bottle of wine you made your way to the bathroom. After plugging the drain, you turned the water to almost the hottest setting and watched the tub start to fill.

You wanted some bubbles, so you opened the cabinet under the sink in search for anything that’d do the trick. Settling on some of iv’s old body wash.

After stripping and pulling your hair into a loose bun, you stepped into the tub. The hot water felt great on your sore muscles and when paired with the wine that was already working its magic, you started to feel a little sleepy. You didn’t want to fully fall asleep, deciding to scroll through your phone for a while and sip on your wine.

Some time had passed, how much? You couldn’t really tell. All you knew was that the water was significantly cooler than before and that there were only about 3 sips of wine left in the bottle. Not wanting to get out quite yet, you closed your eyes for a minute and laid your head back against the wall. You found yourself humming a tune of a song you couldn’t remember and through your humming, thought you heard the sound of a door closing. It was a little hard to tell in your tipsy state.

Hearing soft footsteps and a creak at the bathroom door, your heavy eyes opened to reveal iv leaning against the doorframe.

“Hi baby!” Your hand came up in a small but excited wave. IV cracked a smile and could definitely tell you had been drinking just by the way you said those two words.

“Hi. You been having fun?” Said with a small chuckle. He fully stepped into the bathroom and took a seat on the closed toilet.

“Oh yeah. I figured you wouldn’t mind if I drank some of the delicious wine. You know, since you think it’s so gross.” You giggled slightly, hearing yourself slurring certain words.

“Hmm, how much did you drink?” He reaches down to pick the bottle up. “Oh! The whole thing huh?” He says with a laugh and a surprised look on his face.

“Well I didn’t mean to.” You shrugged. “I think time got away from me a little bit.” You held up your thumb and pointer finger in an effort to show how long you’d been in the bath.

“It’s okay.” He laughed. “I’m just glad you’re drunk here and not somewhere else.”

You rested your head against the lip of the tub, the coolness feeling nice against your temple. “Come here, I missed you.” You reached an arm out towards iv, ignoring the small drops of water hitting the floor.

He gladly took your hand and slid off the toilet seat to kneel down next to the tub. Your wet hands slid up and around his neck to pull him into a hug, his arms wrapping around you.

“I’m getting you all wet.” You said.

“Mm it’s okay, I don’t mind.” You felt him squeeze you a little tighter and place a kiss on your shoulder.

The two of you stayed that way for a short while before pulling away. IV looked down at the wine bottle, picked it up and finished off the rest of the wine, not without a deep look of disgust. “This shit is horrible, how did you drink this whole thing?” He wipes his mouth.

“I don’t really know, it started to taste okay after a while.” You reached out for him again. He let you pull him to you and wrapped his arms around you again. To say you got a little touchy when you drank was a slight understatement and now having iv home and touching you, you couldn’t help yourself. Turning your head, you started placing small kisses on his neck and jaw. Small kisses soon turned into open mouth ones and the quiet groans coming from iv only egged you on more.

“Mm, do you need something?” He asked, gently pulling your head up and away from his neck to look at you.

You giggled slightly. “Kind of.” You leaned in to place kiss on his mouth, which he gladly accepted. Both his hands on the side of your face, he deepened the kiss.

He moved to your cheek and jaw, placing kisses here and there. “Well, can I help you with that?” He mumbled.

You laughed “Yes, please.”

“Drain the tub and I’ll get your towel, okay?” He placed a final kiss on your lips and pulled away to stand.

You pulled the drain plug and moved your wine glass and bottle to the side before standing up. Shivering from the cooler air hitting your skin, you gladly accepted the towel iv handed you. He grabbed your hand to help you step out of the tub and soon started running his hands up and down your arms and sides. Simultaneously helping you dry off and warm up. “Don’t forget your legs.” He took the towel from you once your top half was dry, kneeling down to dry the front and back of your legs. Before standing, he placed a couple kisses on your stomach and thighs, almost as if he couldn’t help himself.

You whined slightly, begging him to stand up and stop teasing.

“Go lay down, I’ll clean up in here.” Tightening the towel around you, he gently pushed you out the door and towards the bedroom. Once there, you pulled the elastic from your hair, letting it fall. Making sure you were completely dry, you laid down, towel still wrapped around you as were still shivering. Iv returned shortly, crawling from the foot of the bed up to you. Bending down, he kissed you, fast and hungry, his hands wandering everywhere.

You couldn’t help the small whines and moans crawling up from your throat. The feel of all of him plus the alcohol creating a whole different sensation. He abruptly pulls away from you, eliciting another groan, this time purely from frustration.

“What? What’s wrong?” You ask.

“Oh nothing baby. I think…the sounds you make are always pretty but tonight they sound extra nice.” He leans back in to place a sloppy kiss on your mouth. “You don’t have to say yes, but could I record your pretty sounds? Just for me to hear? You know for when I’m gone? Please.” He looks at you with the most pleading eyes you’ve ever seen so you couldn’t possibly say no. Plus the thought of him listening to you when he’s away and physically can’t have you, turns you on more than you’d like to admit.

“Yes, of course baby.”

The look on his face akin to that of someone seeing snow for the first time, he rushes to fish his phone out of this pocket. Opening his camera, scrolling to the video setting, he presses record and sets his phone down next to your head.

“Thank you baby. Don’t be quiet now.” He resumes his messy kisses, trailing them down your neck. Grabbing both ends of the towel wrapped around you, he tosses them aside, letting out a quiet groan just at the sight of you. His mouth comes down onto one of your nipples, one hand on the other, tweaking and pulling. More moans fall from your mouth, everything feeling more sensitive than normal.

Your sounds seem to egg him on, almost turning him into an animal. He lightly digs his teeth into the flesh of your tit before making his way down your stomach, licking a stripe down along the way. When he meets the place you need his mouth most, you hear and feel him take a deep breath. His tongue comes out to draw small circles around your clit but never actually touches it. He continues his teasing for longer than you’d like before finally placing his tongue over your clit, sucking hard.

You moan loud, your hips bucking, finally getting what you want. You hear him slightly chuckle into you, the vibrations from him only helping more. He then licks a wide stripe from your opening up to your clit, again and again and again. You’re a moaning mess as this point but you want more.

“Baby, please.” You tap on his hand that’s been placed on your hip in an effort to keep you still.

“Hm, what do you want baby? Tell me what you want.” He takes a breath and looks up at you. You wrap your palm around two of his fingers, hoping he gets the hint. “Ohh, you want these?” He slightly wiggles his fingers with a dopey smile on his face.

You eagerly nod your head, not caring how excited you seemed. “Well get em wet for me.” His hand slides up your body, his pointer and middle finger tapping on your bottom lip. You slowly open your mouth, allowing him to place his fingers on your tongue. Mouth closed, you swirl your tongue around his fingers, sucking a little for extra measure. IV looks up at you with a blank but dazed look, his eyes only focused on his fingers in your mouth. You grab his forearm before pulling his fingers out, a string of saliva connecting the two of you.

A mumbled “shit” comes from him before his now wet fingers come down to draw tight circles over your clit before trailing down to probe at your entrance. You moan a frustrated moan just wanting to be fucked by his fingers before he finally pushes both in at once. Your breath catches in your throat, producing an almost silent cry from you. His thumb comes up to rub at your clit and it’s almost too much. Your mind foggy from the wine and lust, your body buzzing with pleasure. You squeeze your eyes shut to completely melt into the sensations you’re feeling.

You feel iv at your side now, kissing on your chest and neck, all while his hand is still working between your legs. You open your eyes and turn your head to see him, placing a hand on the back of his neck, bringing his mouth to yours. You both moan into the kiss, your fingers threading through his hair. With his fingers and thumb still working you at lightning speed, you feel yourself getting close.

IV can tell and pulls away to rest his forehead against yours, whispering words of encouragement to you. “C’mon baby. Let go for me. You look so pretty like this.” He places a kiss on your mouth between every encouragement and praise. Before you know it, your release hits you like a truck, your head rolling back, a quiet but high pitched moan falling from your mouth. “There you go. So good for me baby.” You can barely hear him speak, too preoccupied by your own pleasure.

IV’s fingers continue to work you through your climax, only moving much slower now. You feel him placing lazy kisses everywhere and anywhere while you slowly come down from your high. His movements eventually stop all together before he pulls his fingers from you. His other hand comes up to pause the recording on his phone, which you had almost completely forgot about.

“I’m gonna love listening to this baby. Thank you.” He smoothes some of your hair down before placing a kiss on your forehead. You let out a lazy hum, still too dazed to give a proper answer.

You reach out for him “Now let me help you.” Your voice quiet and relaxed.

“Not yet pretty, I have to make up for all the time you’ve spent by yourself.” He says as he makes his way down to settle between your legs again.

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This is kinda long so I apologize. This is also my first time writing in like…6 years or something so I’m sorry if this is shit.

I’m currently taking requests so if you’d like to see anything in particular just use the request button on my blog :)

K thanks for reading. Bye bye

[axcel-lucci]

I've been coughing and feeling sick, I don't feel like getting up. This one is a request where female reader gets sick, has a flu, and its set in modern au. How would Law react when he hears that female reader has a flu for about two weeks, while being taken care of by Luffy, Ace, and Sabo? See female reader didn't want to disturb Law from work, so the ASL trio took care of her. Sabo is more responsible than his brothers. Plus Luffy would bring Marco to check on reader.😊🤧😷🤒

Tell me next time, dumbass.

Trafalgar Law x reader (fluff)

A/N: hi! Sorry I took a bit long because I was kinda down myself (can't get out of bed for reasons unknown) and can barely open my phone. So I hope this is alright! (Also unedited)

My masterlist

Coming up with a fever wasn't really (y/n)'s perfect idea of winter. What she imagined was snowball fights, snowman making, snow angels. Maybe that's the reason she's sick.

She could've told her boyfriend, Trafalgar Law, that is also a doctor, about it so he could take care of her, but she didn't.

She would always listen to him rant about how hectic it is to work in hospital owned by "grandline" whatever whatever it's name was. And she didn't want to bother him by a simple fever.

But that's alright, she has his best friends to help.

The "strawhats" (what Luffy likes to call his gang of friends) would visit from time to time. Especially chopper. Robin's support dog, specialising in anxiety and depression.

Even though the golden retriever is working, he couldn't help but stay beside (y/n) whenever Robin is around to visit.

Nami would usually just lay beside her staring at the ceiling. Mostly because she herself was bored.

While the others would drop by but not as often because they're quite busy.

Luffy on the other hand, would visit with his brother's almost every day.

Ace and Sabo apparently has doctor friends as well. One is named Marco and the other is named... Hongo? Was it?

"In theory, Marco said some warm soup or porridge would help you." Ace said

"In YOUR theory or in this... Marco person's theory?" (Y/n) asked. She knew it would help but hearing Ace say such a thing concerns her

"Wat?"

"What...?"

The two just stared at each other with confusion before sighing.

"You're making me hurt my brain, Ace. Get out of here" she groaned with a frown making him laugh.

"When are you planning to tell your boyfriend that you're sick? I'm sure he's worried because you're not calling him all the time like you used to." Sabi hums softly as he hands (y/n) a bowl of warm porridge as she starts to eat

"You know I don't want to worry him..." She muttered as she ate

"Eh? What do you mean?" Luffy tilts his head, "he asks about you all the time whenever he sees me."

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah! When I said Marco was also helping, he kinda got up and left. I don't know why though..." Luffy muttered to himself with a pout.

"Luffy..." The three sighed with a bit of disappointment in their face

"What? What?"

"Let me take that..." Sabo said as he took the empty bowl from (y/n), "how do you feel...?"

"I'm feeling fine... I suppose..." She muttered slightly.

"Alright..." Ace sighed, "look. You should tell him, even if you're bothering him... I'm sure if I was your boyfr- I mean him, I'd also want to know my girlfriend's state."

She laughed a bit, "I know... I'll tell him eventually..."

"We need to go... I have night shift at work today and some agendas for the next... 2 weeks..." Sabo frowned slightly

"And Garp's coming over... As well as the family reunion in London..." Ace huffed, "will you be alright alone?"

"I'll be fine, don't you worry"

Oh the last words of someone burning up, phasing in and out of consciousness.

(Y/n) reached out to grab her phone, trembling hands scroll through her contacts list, her eyes blurry but eventually clicking one profile and calling it.

Putting it on speaker, and placing it beside her head.

Once she heard the familiar sound of someone on the other end picking up, she coughed slightly.

"Can you... Come over...? I don't feel so good..." She managed to mutter before passing out entirely. All she heard last was a panicked voice of her name being called and soon hanging up.

...

Law's pov

I was sitting at the on-call room, basically glaring at my phone screen, waiting for (y/n) to message me.

"If you stared any harder, that phone would crack" Marco chuckled beside me.

I just groaned a little, "tsk. You wouldn't know the worry I have for my girlfriend because you never had one." I snapped at him with a glare

"Ouch" he rolled his eyes.

My eyes snapped back at my phone once I heard it ring and seeing who was calling, my whole body seemed to relax to realize it was (y/n). After almost three days of silence from her, she finally called.

"Hello?" I answered.

I heard her cough, which wasn't a good sign already, her heavy breathing as well. "Can you... Come over...? I don't feel so good..." she muttered so weakly, I don't think I've ever heard her so weak before hearing her just huff out a heavy breath, I don't know why, but I had a feeling she had passed out.

"(Y/n)...? (Y/n)!" I called but had no more answer than her breathing heavily.

I stood up immediately and grabbed my stuff, changing out of my scrubs as well as I panicked.

"Woah there loverboy, you can't just leave in the middle of your shift" Hongo sighed, "but you know what? I'll take your shift, don't worry. Take care of your girlfriend"

I just gave him a swift nod before leaving and hopping into my car, wasting no time to power it up and drive off to her apartment.

I left my things inside the car, but took my wallet, phone, and the spare keys I had of her apartment with me as I rushed to go and unlock her apartment door.

At first glance, it was relatively quiet. Which wasn't entirely unusual considering at this time of day, she's either drawing or just laying in bed.

After locking the door, I threw my things on the kitchen counter and rushed to her bedroom to see her curled on her bed, her phone beside her head, and her face flush with what seemed to be a high rising fever.

I didn't waste any time and rushed to check her temperature. She was already so hot to the touch, but she started shivering a little.

"Don't worry, I'm here. I'll take care of you" I whispered to her before getting up and doing what is necessary to make her fever go down.

Eventually, her fever had subsided just enough so that her temperature was 39°.

Which was still a bit too high as a human's normal body temperature was 37° but at least a bit lower and manageable than before

"Silly girl..." I frowned as I kissed her forehead.

I continued to take care of her for the next 2 days. Hongo-ya and Marco-ya volunteering to cover my shift.

I'll need to find a way to repay them somehow, but for now, my focus is on (y/n) and her slow recovery.

(Y/n)'s pov

(Y/n) slowly woke up to the smell of what seems to be an aromatic scent of... Soup? Porridge? Whatever it is, it smells delicious.

But oddly enough, she doesn't have an appetite.

The door to her bedroom eventually opened and closed quietly as she then saw, through her thick eyelashes that were blurred with some tears, that Law was now in her apartment.

She could see relief in his actions when he placed down whatever he was doing and sat beside her on the bed, placing a hand on her cheek and wiping away the tears that managed to escape while she slept.

"You're finally awake..." His warm voice calls softly and kissed her forehead, "why didn't you tell me you were sick? I could've been here for you..."

"I... It's just that... You're really busy and... I don't want to..." She muttered before being silenced with a soft hush.

"Enough of that, didn't I tell you already that if you need me, just call...?" He frowned a bit before shaking his head, "we can talk about it once you're better. For now, sit up. I'm helping you eat."

With his help, she was able to sit up with her back against the headboard.

"Ahh" Law said after blowing the steam off a spoonful of soup, "I need you to eat even just a few bites so that you can drink some medicine. Okay...?"

She sighed as she forced herself to eat, she can't taste anything but her gut told her it was delicious.

"Blackleg-ya insisted for me to make you this soup... I hope it's alright" he says as he fed her a couple more times before she refused any more.

"Alright... Wait here and I'll grab some medicine."

She nods weakly as he left, but came back almost immediately with a glass of water and medicine in hand.

"Here..." He says as she drank the medicine and water, "that's my girl..." He smiled softly before kissing her cheek.

"Law..."

"Yes, love?"

"Thank you... For taking care of me all this time..." She smiled softly at him as well.

"Nonsense... This is the bare minimum. I promise, I'll take good care of you in the future. Just call me up and I'll be here. No matter how busy I am." He placed a hand over hers, "I want to kiss you on the lips but I'm afraid I might get infected. But I will kiss you once you're all better."

"I'm looking forward to that..." She said weakly with a tender smile.

"Now, get well soon alright? I'll be here." He smiled, "oh, and one thing... You should've told me, dumbass... I don't care how busy I am or whatever time is. I'll defy all odds just to be here for you."

"That's my boy..." She smiled as he chuckled.

[chocokayke]

Here's Alkaloid for my Splatoon/Enstars AU! All weapons are referring to their Splatoon 3 kits, because that's what I'm most familiar with. I wanna give a shout out to @mdkm444 for making this fanart that inspired this whole AU in the first place. : )

More info on each character below the cut.⬇️

Hiiro

I'm giving him the highest honor I could bestow on a character... My main.

I think Splatana Deco fits him, and how he sees himself at the beginning. It's a very mobile weapon and aggro with a supportive kit. He can easily strife with opponents to draw fire from his teammates, while also setting up beacons, and setting of tentamissles to displace enemies.

The idea is that he mostly sees himself as his brother's "shield" at the beginning, and I feel like having a weapon that supports and takes fire suits that role.

As he grows and gets more comfortable with his place in Alkaloid, he would pick up more aggressive weapons. I just really like the idea of him with dualies. I think he has a lot of fun zipping around with dodge rolls. : )

He runs a lot of Quick Respawn abilities.

I think his backstory would stay mostly the same, actually.

Aira

He's 100% that guy who draws hearts in the enemy base.

He strikes me as the type of person who would play weapons that are meta without fully understanding WHY they're so good.

He started out playing vanilla Splash-o-matic, but he sucks so bad at Crab Tank. Mayoi thought something more mobile would suit Aira, so he recommended Inkbrush and Carbon Roller to him.

Hiyori wears his eye makeup the same way. This is a very important piece of Aira lore.

Mayoi

Mayoi has the biggest change to his backstory out of Alkaloid. He was originally an Octarian Soldier under DJ Octavio.

He was there for the Splat1 final boss and the Calamari Inkantation. He is NOT Agent 8, to be clear. He escaped after Marina, but before Agent 8. He wasn't in the subway. (But the idea of him in the subway is very fun, and that might be something to explore in an AU of this AU.)

He's a huge Squid Sisters fan.

He first escaped to Inkopolis, but it was too overwhelming for him, and he ended up traveling a lot before settling down in ES.

He plays a lot of weapons, and at knows a lot about the weapons he doesn't play. He's extremely skilled and knowledgeable. He's a fantastic coach, and everyone wants them to coach their teams! (Help him.)

Unfortunately, he is still Mayoi and still has severe anxiety! Despite how skilled he is, he's too scared to play alone and is pretty low ranked. That's why he got his status as an "underachiever."

Generally plays a lot of long ranged weapons to stay as far away from the action as he can. Snipewriter is his main, but E-Liter deserves an honorable mention.

Any closer ranged weapons he plays are more supportive than aggressive. This bad boy can pop out so many Inkstorms and Tacticoolers.

I probably should have added Hydra Splatling to his list instead of Heavy Edit tbh? But, eh, he can play both.

I think Snipewriter fits his main really well due to the fact that it has super long range, paints well, and has a supportive kit. At the time I'm writing this, it's also the best competitive weapon in Splatoon 3.

Tatsumi

His backstory is also similar to his canon one.

His leg got damaged and wouldn't repair itself when he respawned, so he had to get it removed it let it regrow naturally. Squids can do that, don't worry about it. : )

The guy who makes sure your base is 100% inked during Turf War.

Me and my friend both agreed it is extremely funny for Tatsumi to run around with his beginner weapon going like ^_^: so that's what he mains.

Then my other friend recommended me what they call "noob trap" weapons, which is mostly short ranged shooters (Sploosh and Aerospray) so I immediately added those to the list. I feel like they suit Tatsumi, and kind of mirror how inept he is with technology in canon.

Despite that, he's actually quite skilled! He does pretty well with short ranged shooters and has fun playing with them. They're his go to choice, but he's experienced in a lot of different weapon classes.

Anyway, you know how the Sunken Scrolls in Splatoon 3 introduced Squid Jesus--

[qiwoomi]

ii. unexpected gesture

warnings: trauma, death, mentions of blood

series masterlist main masterlist prev next

You don't even want to recall how you end up having a dinner in a fancy restaurant with your husband in the first place.

Or rather, it is actually the first time that you both eat dinner together.

Only the clinking sound of your cutlery could be heard, making the silence between you both all the more obvious. Gods above, it's as if the universe itself turned its back towards you.

The silence drags on, until both of you finally finished your meals. Alhaitham looks up from his plate, grabbing a tissue as he wipes his mouth. You do the same, anticipating if you should say anything.

"I... want you to postpone the divorce." The man before you uttered, finally filling the uncomfortable silence. His gaze focused on you, searching for your eyes. You internally shrink under his eyes, his sudden suggestion to eat dinner with you is already enough to make you feel out of place, and now he is trying to make an eye contact with you.

The statement alone left you taken aback. "...Why?" You finally replied. There is so much you want to say, but you could only dream of mustering up the courage to say it to him. After all, he's quite unpredictable. What if you said something stupid? He would probably internally mock you, thus it's better for you to keep it to yourself. It's why you never try talking to him first.

It's laughable really. Maybe, even the moon and stars above would be entertained. What a loser. It's humiliating to think that you would end up in a loveless marriage when you've always been a hopeless romantic.

What's even more embarrassing is that the exchange of conversation between both of you is comparable to a regular discussion between business partners.

However, what Alhaitham says next is what fully caught your attention. "To be honest, I've never thought of our marriage as something out of convenience. It's no wonder that you would think that of course, since our situation itself is quiet... eh." It's the first time that he talks a lot. Usually, it would be either just a short request, question or reply. Nothing more than that.

"Like I stated. It's neither you nor is it my fault that we end up like this... So if you are planning to apologise, you shouldn't." You finally look at him in the eye. His mouth forming into a thin line, his brows furrowing. It's evident that he's already coming up of a reply.

"I want you to give me some space to think," Alhaitham folded his arms, his face morphing into his usual poker face. "it is to make sure that I don't make rushed decision. Moreover, I have yet to manage your alimony."

To make sure that he doesn't make rushed decision? It's not like he's the one who wants a divorce. Your relationship was fake anyway, what decision is there to make?

As if reading your thought, Alhaitham adds, "By the way, I'm not trying to invalidate your feelings in any way. I just... nevermind. Just give me 6 months."

Now that you think about it, you also do have to prepare for some things before the divorce. You still hadn't thought of which place you're going to stay at and etc.

Though a logical part of your brain wondered why would he need about 6 months to make up his mind. It's not like he's the one who requested for a divorce anyway.

You still agreed however. He might just want to exaggerate the time. Knowing him, he probably didn't take that much time to make up his mind... Alhaitham is known for his cleverness, he's the type to make a final decision immediately after hearing about them. Though, this is a different case.

As if last night's scenario isn't enough to leave you internally gag, you find yourself waking up to breakfast that is already prepared on the dining table.

A sticky note was then found beside the plate. 'I made you breakfast. — A.' You read.

You set yourself down, placing the glass of coffee as you start munching on the food. It makes you feel somewhat guilty for eating something that he make. After all, both of you mostly eat individually. Except when there's a special occasion of course.

Finishing the food, you immediately clean them up as usual.

Unexpectedly, you finished your class earlier than you thought. Your lecturer had business to do, so the class had to end at 3PM.

Your friends invited you to go out with them, but you refused. You want to head home and rest.

Stepping your foot inside the apartment, you went straight to your room. Immediately going for a warm shower. After that, you cooked some meal, and eat it inside your room while facing your laptop, which contains drafts for your assignments.

After finishing your meal, you clean them up and put it back to it's usual place, while also tidying up the living room for a bit. You continue where you left your assignment, typing away on your laptop now in a prone position on your bed.

Without your will, you inevitably pass out from exhaustion.

"You will lose everyone Y/n. Everyone will turn their backs from you. Just like me. " A voice echoed in the unknown room.

"You... Who are you?" You questioned. The woman in front of you has her face blurred, her body hidden from the mist. She's far from you, but her voice is loud enough for you to hear.

The figure only drew closer, your eyes widen at the sight of bloods dripping from her dress. As she draws closer and closer, you instinctively step back from her, as her face finally shows what you didn't expect. "Silly little girl, can't even remember her mother..." She then laughed maniacally. Her face was distorted, as your breathing becomes out of control.

"NO! Stay away from me! I don't know you!"

"You can deny it if you want but every time you remember about what happened, you'll always think about me. I'll always haunt your mind."

You covered your ears at this, shutting your eyes. "Please, leave me alone. I don't want to see you. Go away!"

"You know Y/n," She calls your name in a sing-song voice, "I've always wished you were dead. If only you were the one to die, years ago..."

Images of the incident years ago flashes through your mind, as you hyperventilate. The woman then walk towards you, her pace now increasing. It's as if she's chasing you.

"GO AWAY FROM ME!"

"Y/n! Hey, wake up!" Your body was shaken up. You quickly opened your eyes, only to see Alhaitham next to your bed. You don't even realise that your eyes are dripping with tears, your cheeks stained.

You are still recollecting what happened, but your body instantly reacted against your consent. As it reaches to hug the man beside you.

The man flinched, before resorting to pat your back.

taglist: @odevote118 @levisbebe @hitomi-inaru @no3hg3nshin

author's note: the first few chapters are a bit boring but it gradually gets better i swear 🤫 also taglist is open if u guys want

© @qiwoomi

est. 020323

do not copy, translate and repost my work.

[buckyalpine]

His Tags

18+ minors dni

Bucky x civilian reader 

@imagine-all-the-fandoms Love this so much. John Walker is actually NOT awful here, he’s actually quite nice. Sharon on the other hand..eh. I’m sure sure you would have pieced together by now, I have a thing for mirrors, I’m so sorry. 

Warnings: Floooof, Bucky is so in love with you, smut, a lil angsty but Bucky makes it all better

Word count: 3.7k

You sipped on your tea, anxiously waiting for the Quinn jet to land; Bucky had been gone for nearly a month and you missed your boyfriend more and more each day. You ran to the hangar as soon as you heard the low rumble of the jet, bouncing on your heels when you saw a very tired but hardly injured Bucky making his way towards you.

“Hey babydoll” Bucky kissed your lips, his arm easily lifting you up and carrying you on his hip as he made his way through the compound, straight to your shared bedroom. “Missed you so much”

“I missed you Bucky” You buried your face into his neck, inhaling his scent, peppering his face with kisses while he set his things down, still keeping you in his arms. He carried you off into the bathroom, stripping both of your clothes off before hopping into the shower. He held you close to him; the hot water soothing his sore muscles, all the stresses of the mission washing away when he was finally home again with you. His lips found yours, his hands roaming to feel every inch of your body that he’d craved to touch again.

“Welcome home soldier”

A few days later

You noticed Bucky had left his water bottle behind, making your way to the gym to give it to him. You entered the large room, scanning the space for your handsome super soldier boyfriend; you saw the rest of the team there before your eyes finally landed on him. Nat and Steve were sparring on the mats. Clint and Sam were hitting weights. Bruce and Tony were attempting to update the AI system. Your boyfriend was in his happy place by the punching bags.

“Hey y/n!” Steve waved at you from the mat while you made your way to Bucky, the rest of the team also greeting as you walked to the gym. Bucky had his music on and you knew better than to tap his shoulder from behind without warning. Your heart raced seeing him; watching him train was one of your greatest weaknesses. His hoodie had been thrown onto the floor, sweat glistening off his skin, his muscles tensed with each blow to the bag. You shamelessly admired him for a good while before realizing he’d look for his water eventually. You carefully stepped around so he could see you, placing his water bottle near him before leaving him to continue.

“You’re welcome to keep me company doll” Bucky smirked, knowing you were quietly watching him from behind.  You happily sat by his hoodie, giggling when he came over to give you a quick kiss on your head before slipping his headphones back on and continuing his workout.

You admired the swiftness and talent each person on the team displayed while they went through their routines. It left you mesmerized; the strength, precision and coordination it took to fight as an avenger was incredible. You silenced the tiny insecurity that started to gnaw at you; you’d never be as skilled as- shut up y/n.  

You shook your head, going back to looking at your beautiful boyfriend who was in his own world, focused on his hits, mind completely focused. He really did look like a work of art; muscles sculpted and flexed, his dark vibrainium shining under the light, his dark hair sticking to his forehead, pink lips parted as he panted. He was beautiful and his skill set was something you couldn’t even begin to comprehend and then there was you- just stop.

*****

The team had gathered together for dinner, which was a regular occurrence though today there were a few others that had joined the table. John Walker and his friend Lemar Hoskins had joined Sharon, who was visiting the compound, bringing in potential agents for her department.

“I know most of us know each other but maybe we can just go around and introduce ourselves? This is John Walker and Lemar Hoskins, they’re going to be joining the new recruits soon”

The team introduced themselves, while Sharon eyed you curiously; waiting for you to explain what you did since she’d never met you before. Her eyes were trained on how Bucky’s hand rested protectively over your thigh; he’d been touching you one way or another all night. Not that it bothered her. At all. She waited for Bucky to get up to use the bathroom before turning to you, giving you the sweetest smile she could muster.

“What exactly do you do y/n?”  

“Oh, I’m a teacher” you smiled, feeling a little out of place though no one else seemed to notice your shift in mood.

“What are you doing here then?” She scoffed, trying to hide her slip in attitude with a fake cough. Nat cocked an eyebrow while Tony’s face scrunched watching Sharon poorly cover her absurd question with a fake smile.  

“I-I’m dating Bucky”

“Right, didn’t think you were an avenger” She gave you a pointed look, before continuing to eat. You bit you lip, sitting back in your chair, wishing you could run off to your room. You knew you were not the best catch, Bucky deserved better. Someone he could train with, who understood his line of work better. He would have been better off if he was dating someone else but he was stuck with you instead. You could feel tears threatening to spill, John’s voice breaking you from your spiral.

“Y/n, I think I saw you in the paper before, they did an article about a program you started right?” he smiled at you, while Lemar nodded.

“I knew I’d seen you before, what you did was incredible. It’s a tough school too, so you must be incredible. You helped those kids a lot”

You smiled, not trusting yourself to speak. You squeezed your fingers into your palms to keep from crying at the table. You quickly excused yourself to the bathroom, wiping your tears and touching up your makeup as best as you could before returning to the table where Bucky was looking for you.

“Hi baby” Bucky smiled as soon as you sat down, kissing your cheek softly. He was a sweet heart. He deserved the world. He deserved more than you.

*****

You watched Bucky pack for quick mission, putting away a few things in his bag while you sat on the couch in the shared living room. He suited up in his gear, doing a quick pat down of his weapons before grabbing his bag.

“Baby, do you need me to do anything?” You always made him coffee before he left but recently even that had been taken over by Sharon, who decided to extend her stay. Fantastic.

“Don’t worry doll, I think Sharon already made some for everyone”

“You don’t need me to do anything?” Your heart sank a little, it was the one thing you were able to do for him but it was fine. You just wanted him to have everything he needed; that mattered more.  

“Just a kiss from my best girl” Bucky smiled, wrapping his arms around you and lifting you off your feet. He gave you the sweetest, longest kiss he could before he had to break away for air, placing you back down carefully on the couch. “Be right here when I’m back?”

He looked at you like an excited puppy, running off to the jet, hoping the sooner he left, the sooner he could get back.

“I’ll be here when you’re back” You gave Bucky a small smile, before walking off to your shared bedroom and slipping under the covers. He was off to save the world. You were here. You couldn’t silence the thoughts that crept up on you, your mind beginning to wonder why Bucky was even with you in the first place.

*****  

Bucky wandered around the living room looking for you; you had never missed his arrival after missions. He frowned when he couldn’t find you, making his way through the compound before finally checking the bedroom. He breathed out a sigh of relief, seeing a small lump under a pile of blankets, though he found it odd; you never slept this early.

“Doll? Are you okay?”

You shuffled from under the covers, poking your head out. The bed dipped as Bucky sat down, happily wrapping his arms around you when you crawled into his lap.

“M’okay, just tired” You lied, snuggling into his hold, freezing immediately when you remembered why you’d gone to bed so early in the first place.  

“What’s wrong sweetheart?” Bucky could feel your body tense up, your eyes focused on your hands, which you were anxiously fidgeting with.

“Nothing” You forced a smile onto your face, doing your best to swallow the lump that was forming in your throat, “I had a really bad headache” Bucky didn’t believe you but he didn’t want to prod until you were ready to talk either.

You insisted on staying in bed, claiming you’d already eaten. Bucky reluctantly ate his dinner quickly, dashing back upstairs so he could cuddle you and fall asleep. While he softly snored, little whimpers slipped from your lips as you tried to keep your sobs in. Your mind sucked you in deeper.

You loved your boyfriend.  You loved the team. They all loved you more than you’d ever know. Still, you couldn’t help but feel like you weren’t good enough for him. You knew you’d never measure up to what Bucky deserved. He was a part of a different world. They all cared for you in a way that you’d never be able to return. You’d never be able to help them the same way. You carefully slipped out of Bucky’s hold, deciding to go to the living room instead, not wanting to wake him up with your cries, the least you could do was let him get a decent night’s sleep.

*****

You were curled up on the couch, hidden under your blanket, quickly wiping away your tears feeling the seat dip as someone sat beside you. You peeked up to see a grumpy Bucky with bed head, looking down at you, sleep still evident on his face. You looked over at the clock; 1:09 AM.

“You okay bubba?” You’d managed to get yourself together; your heart worrying that Bucky could have had a nightmare when you went missing. Bucky shook his head, pouting down at you while you shifted so he could sit with you under the blanket.

“Couldn’t find my teddy bear” He whispered, wrapping his arm around you to pull you into his lap. “Can’t sleep without her” You rested your head onto his chest, fresh tears spilling from your eyes. There was no point stopping them, more took their place each time Bucky swiped his thumb across your cheek. “Please tell me what’s bothering you baby, did someone say something to you?”

“Bucky no, it’s just- I don’t- us” You struggled to find the words, not realizing you were about to send Bucky down a spiral of his own. Of course you didn’t think you were a good match, he was a monster and you were an angel and-

“I’m not good enough for you”

Bucky’s spiral came to a full stop, his ears perking up at your quiet confession.

“Sweet heart?”

“I-I’m not good enough for you Bucky, you deserve more than just me. You deserve someone who-”

“Stop. Please stop” You blinked up at Bucky, who looked at you with broken, glassy eyes. There was no way, of all people, his little angel thought of herself like that. Never.

“Y/n. You deserve the world. Every single day, I can’t believe someone like you would want to be with someone like me”

Bucky carefully scooped you in his arms, making his way back to your bedroom, gently setting you on the bed before crawling on top of you. His fingers carded through your hair, while he gazed down at you, he was so in love with you, there was not a single doubt there.

“You’re so pure and sweet and kind, please baby tell me, in what way am I not the luckiest person in the world. I get to call you mine, I get to show you off, I have the best girl in the world always excited to see me when I get back home”

You swallowed thickly shaking your head; of course he was the sweetest and wanted to comfort you but you were just holding him down.

“Bucky, I make it so much harder for you. You always worry about me, I can’t even protect myself-

“I’m here to protect you baby”

“But I can’t even fight-

“I can fight”

“Bubba, you don’t understand-

“Y/n, you don’t understand. For years, I didn’t even have control over my own mind; I’m finally free to make my own choices. Baby, I promise you, no matter what, I always chose you. I can finally make choices and decide what I want. It’s you baby girl. I love you. I want you. I want my y/n. Exactly as you are”

Tears spilled down your cheeks, while Bucky’s forehead rested on yours. He’d meant every word he said; he finally knew what freedom felt like and that included loving you.

“I love that you work outside of the compound. The best part of my day getting to come home to the sweetest girl in the world, and hearing all about her day, please don’t tell me to leave you doll, I don’t want anyone else”

“You know you’re mine baby, my best girl, my only girl” He kissed your forehead while you whimpered under him, holding back your sobs. Your hands slipped under his shirt, desperate to feel him closer.

“I want to feel you angel” Bucky whispered, taking his shirt off, before tossing yours aside. “Let me show you just how much I adore you”

The rest of your clothes were thrown off within seconds, leaving you both bare and wrapped up in each other. His hands rubbed up and down your body, gripping and caressing your skin till he came to your thighs, spreading them apart. You felt your heart face as he trailed kisses down your body before stopping right before you needed him most, his lips just barely brushing over your clit.

“Bucky…” You squirmed on the bed while he arms wrapped around your thighs, holding you still. He nipped on the soft flesh of your inner thighs, before kissing and gently licking the area after each bite.

“Shh, just relax for me baby, let me take care of you”

Your breath itched in your throat feeling his tongue dip into your entrance, your slick coating his tongue and making a mess on his face. He groaned, drinking up every bit of your arousal, pushing his tongue in as far as he could, his nose teasingly nudging your clit. The taste of you was enough to make his cock leak along with the sinful sounds leaving your lips; Bucky could barely keep himself from rolling his hips against the mattress.

“You taste so good angel, I love when my baby makes a mess on my face” he pressed a soft kiss onto your clit, feeling it pulse against his lips.

“Baby please…” You whined out, your clit swollen and throbbing, needing more friction. Bucky hummed, taking his time to savour you before letting you fall off the edge. His lips started to move slowly around your clit, his tongue flicking and swirling around the sensitive nub. He was practically making out with your clit, giving it gentle little sucks and kisses, making your orgasm climb higher and higher, pulling away just before you could let go.

“Baby please, m’so close” You looked down at him, your lip caught in your teeth, your hand going down to card through his hair, grazing his scalp. Bucky moaned, kissing your clit once more before coming up and pressing his lips onto yours. His tongue slipped into your mouth, letting you taste yourself, while his hands roamed down to rub his cock through your folds.

“I know you’re close angel, want to feel you around my cock when you cum” The blunt tip of his cock teased your entrance, nudging against it, loving the way you whined and squirmed under him.

“Bucky, need you” Your thighs were wrapped tightly around his waist, trying to buck your hips up to push his cock in. Bucky’s hand cupped your cheek while the other lined his cock up.

“I know baby, I know, I got you” You moaned into his neck, your arms clinging onto him as he pushed himself all the way in, hissing at the way your pussy squeezed around him. “That’s it baby; you make me feel so good sweet heart”

Bucky started off with a slow pace; neither of you were desperate to cum. There were no chasing highs, he just wanted to feel you and you just wanted to feel all of him. His hips rocked gently, hardly pulling his cock out, staying pressed against you while kissing you softly.

“I love you y/n” He whispered against your neck, his hands lacing with yours “love you more than anyone else”

“I love you James”

Bucky pulled out of you to turn you onto your side, facing the large mirror that was to the side of the bed. He spooned you from behind, his arm hooking under your leg to hitch it up as he pushed his cock into you. You nearly sobbed, watching his cock thrust in and out of you, covered in your creamy slick. He groaned as his eyes locked with yours, trailing down to watch the way your pussy swallowed his cock, your tits bouncing each time he fucked into you. His cock was hitting a deeper angle, your belly bulging each time he pushed in further.

“You feel that baby, that’s all me princess” Bucky took your hand in his, pressing it against your tummy, rocking his hips faster, making your eyes roll back.

“Please James” Your hands clung onto him, your head thrown back against his shoulder as he nipped your ear lobe, gazing at you through he reflection.

“Just wanna look at you, you’re so pretty baby” Bucky cooed, kissing your temple, trailing kisses down to your cheek. He slipped his dog tags off, putting them on you; the cool metal gave you goose bumps as he continues to thrust into you.

“See babygirl? You’re all mine” The sight of you in his dog tags unleashed something in Bucky. His gorgeous girl, bare, the feeling of your warm skin on his, the gorgeous sounds you made just for him, hair tousled from your love making, his name around your neck. Because you were his. His girl. His princess. His absolute everything. You were more than enough for him and he’d remind you of that every damn day if he had to. He picked up his pace, unable to hold off the way he balls started to throb, his sensitive tip leaking and stroking your g-spot.

“Y/n, you feel so good babydoll, m’gonna fill you up sweet heart, cum with me baby, please”

“James, fuck baby m’gonna cum” You whined, your face buried in the pillow as he slammed his cock into you faster. You could feel his balls tap your clit, his cock growing harder each time you squeezed and clenched around him. “Fuckfuck, I- JAMES please, oh- fuck-

You could feel your body throb, pleasure and warmth spreading throughout your body. Your orgasm immediately set off Bucky’s’ your moans and cries paired with the way you were clenching around him sent him over the edge.

“All mine angel, you’re all fucking mine” He moaned into your neck, stilling as his cock throbbed spilling ropes of cum into you. He continued to gently roll his hips, making sure he filled you till he was empty, your mixed arousal covering his thighs and your ass.

Bucky carefully pulled out of you, quickly grabbing a warm damp towel to wipe you down before wrapping his arms to cuddle you again. You snuggled into his chest, your hand going down to play with his dogtags as you always did, realizing he’d put them on you.

“Baby your tags…” You looked up at him, wondering if he’d want them back. He pulled you close to him, his hand brushing your hair away from your face.  

“They’re yours now doll, I want you to have a piece of me wherever you go. I’m always yours baby, just like you’re always mine”

He pressed a soft kiss to your lips while you nodded, tears welling in your eyes as you buried yourself into him. Bucky pulled the covers over you both, wrapping his arms tightly around you. He never wanted you to forget just how much you meant to him.

“Come here, my little teddy bear”

*****

Sharon seethed, seeing Bucky’s tags clink around your neck as you made your way to the kitchen. You hardly noticed her, your body still buzzing from the night before, not even realizing the little bites on your skin hadn’t faded away yet.

“This was the same man that almost said no to life saving surgery because he didn’t want to take off the tags” Sam snorted. “Gotta say, they look good on you y/n”

“Cause I didn’t want to lose them bird brain” Bucky countered but everyone knew it was so much more than that. He never took them off, keeping them close to him.His tags were the one thing that had reminded him of who he was. Of where he came from. It reminded him that his heart had always wanted to do the right thing. Of the choices he made when he was free.

“You gave her your tags?” Sharon questioned, struggling to keep her voice neutral. Bucky nodded, smiling when he saw you gazing down at them with heart eyes, your hand toying with the chain. There was no doubt; you’d never take them off.

“He’d give her his arm if she asked” Steve grinned, watching his best friend deeply in love with you.

“Sure” Sharon rolled her eyes, catching herself before scoffing again. Steve and Sam giggled to themselves like school children, watching Bucky shrug, coming over to hold you from behind while resting his head against you.

“My angel can have anything she wants”

-

Tags: @glxwingrxse @hungryyeyes @sebsgirl71479 @beabutterfly9877 @teambarnes722 @witchy-whoree @jamesbuckybarneswify @slutforsexyseabass @chrisdrysdale @littlemarvelmenfan @buggy14 @whimsyplaty92 @sergntbarness @inkedaztec @pono-pura-vida @moonlightreader649 @brooklynscherry-z  @elle14-blog1 @littlelightnings @psychomanniac-blog @happyt0exist @emmabarnes @bethyruth   @matchat3a @cjand10 @getwellsoontana @cherryschaos @lokisasgardianvampirequeen   @ashenc-blog   @buckybarnessimpp  @potatothots @goldylions   @high-functioning-lokipath  @morganemorgane @peaches1958 @kingfleury @spiderman-stilinski @peaceinourtime82   @gublur @wintersmelodie @geeky-politics-46 @lolawassad @almosttoopizza @a-poor-gryffindork @alternativeprincess @buckycallsmeaslut @kamaria-sweet-writes​

[mishi-with-jazz]

Vibrations: Chapter 1

Warnings: explicit content,mentions of sexual interactions, possibly even a lil added too. 13+

You were stimulating.Alot.The things is you were coming from the library yesterday (quite late, surprisingly alone, since you were usually accompanied by atleast one of your boyfriends) and that is when you were hit by a spell, you werent sure what since you hadn't felt anything at least till then.

When you woke up today you felt it.Vibration.Your underwear quite wet. You thought it was just you or some sorta dream, it was pretty normal but you were yet to find out how bad it was gonna get.

As soon as you stood up, you felt like you were about to collapse. How many orgasams had you done?

Thats when you saw a note on the table.

"Hey, little lady, feeling wet, eh?? You were hit by a spell yesterday right?? I will give you details, but meet me at the river before breakfast, also none of your boyfriends shall know..ur vibrations are at 3 rn, but remember 7 is always an option."

You gulped. Who could this be? You didn't really have any enemies at hogwarts. You considered telling the boys but then again someone who could set this kinda of a high level spell on you and sneakers in a letter in your dorm, must be pretty smart. You would have to deal with this on your own.

You sat on the bed for a little more while, slowly dragged yourself to the bathroom and got changed.

As you head for the lake, praying you wouldn't find any of the boys, you heard a very familiar voice.

Y/n, love where are you going? The halls that way, sweets! The raven haired boy exhilarated.

Oh um, remus, morning, actually I umm had some stuff to get, I will catch up with you guys later. You replied

But-

U quickly cut him off, by kissing him and ran away.

You reached the lake a few minuted later.

<at the lake>

Hello? Anybody here? You called out.Thats when you heard a whistle, it came from the area behind you, when you looked back you gasped. You were beyond shocked.It shouldn't have been very surprising. The person standing in front of you was your boyfriends worst enemy, he was the guy who even Remus loved pranking.

You saw Woakes lestrange, brother of Bellatrix lestrange.

I am sorry this is too short, but hopefully if I get a positive response I will add longer chapters.

*DM ME TO BE ADDED IN TAGLIST*

TAGLIST:

[gravehags]

Hello!!

Would you be willing to do a NSFW continuation of the Cardinal Copia book club one you did??

If so that would be awesome!! If not no biggie!! 😃

i had way too much fun with this oh my god. also jumped through many hoops to get this posted while the internet is out at my house lmao. enjoy!

part 1 here

~~~

For all your confidence leading up to this event, you sure are filled with doubt.

You arranged to have the seminary classroom all to yourselves, a nice cozy little rendezvous for your and your sweet Cardinal to discuss your book. Gnawing on your lower lip and wringing your hands anxiously, you groan. Would he be angry when he found out this club was only comprised of the two of you? Would he be frightened off? He was such a skittish little thing, always gesticulating and hurrying around the abbey. You adored that about him. You're halfway through a sigh when a knock happens at the door behind you. Right on time, you think as you steel yourself and open the door. He's wearing the red cassock today - your favorite - as he stands there gripping his book and gazing at you with such infatuation it makes your heart melt. Fuck you wanted him.

"Good evening, sorella," he begins, sidestepping you to enter the classroom, "eh, I'm the first one here!"

"Uh-huh," you confirm with a bright smile, hand on his lower back to usher him to a seat. "Punctual as always, Cardinal. Tell me, what did you think of the first chapter?"

"Shouldn't we eh…shouldn't we wait for the others to arrive?"

"The others…right. I'm uh...afraid it's just us tonight Cardinal."

He regards you with a peculiar gleam in his eye.

"I have you all to myself then, don't I?" he purrs with a level of seduction you hadn't expected from him, and it shows from the way your cheeks flush. Oh this is going to be fun.

"And I, you," you murmur, reaching a hand up to brush along his bicep, delighting when you see a shiver ripple through him, "I've always been fond of you Cardinal."

"H-have you?" he chirps, setting his book down and removing his biretta, placing it on top of his book. "Perhaps you should know then..."

"Mmhmm?" your hand continues to toy with the wool of his cassock as you bring yourself closer to him. Close enough to see the freckles that spatter across his cheeks and long nose.

"I have you right where I want you," his steady voice and the sinister grin that curls his lips make your jaw drop in shock but before you can say anything, do anything, he’s on you like a man starved. His lips slam into yours, tongue sliding into your gasping mouth as he backs you against the desk at the front of the room. It takes you a few seconds but the feel of his gloved hand gripping your hip through the thin black material of your habit makes you moan into his mouth.

He's delighted as he grins against your lips, the fine hairs of his mustache tickling you. When he pulls back to lay a line of fiery open-mouthed kisses along your jaw and throat, you're finally able to speak.

"H-how..how did you know?"

He chuckles into your neck, pushing his hips into yours so you can feel the curve of his cock through the abundant fabric he currently wears.

"Not quite as shy and awkward as everyone thinks, eh sorella? All but ignored - except by you. Oh I saw the way you looked at me from the moment you stepped foot into this abbey."

He pulls away for a moment, only to spin you around, one hand inching the fabric of your habit up your leg and over your hip. When his fingers dance along the waistband of your underwear, the breath is knocked from your lungs and he laughs against your hair.

"How long have you wanted your Cardinal, sorella?" he asks as he cups the wet heat of you. "How long have you wanted this poor, little, strange old man to fuck you?"

His fingers slide in and tease you open, making you sigh and lean back against his chest.

"Always, Cardinal," you breathe, "it was always you. No one else."

He rewards your candidness by circling your clit, the leather gliding through your slick with ease.

"Dolcezza,” he groans, grinding his cock against the curve of your ass. "Mi lasci avere te? Give yourself to me. Let me make you mine and you will want for nothing."

When two fingers dip down to tease at your entrance you cry out, arching backwards against him.

"Yes! I'm yours Cardinal, make me yours, please.”

He's got you bent over the desk within seconds, rucking your habit up over your hips and your underwear down them. He murmurs in Italian - you don't catch much of it - as you hear him curse while lifting his own garment. You cant your hips back to present yourself to him and grin lazily when you hear him fussing with the zipper of his trousers.

When he finally frees himself and guides the head of him along your slit, you moan wantonly.

"So wet for your Cardinal," he breathes, soaking his cock in your slick before prodding at your entrance. You nod through your haze of pleasure, mouth falling open as he pushes his thick length into you.

You don't know what you expected of him but he's big - delightfully so - and you keen aloud at the way you stretch around him. Your arms are already shaking as they support your body and he reaches around to tilt your head his direction.

"Ti benedica, preferita tra le sorelle."

"Thank you, Cardinal," you gasp and he rewards you by sliding out of you then slamming back in with such force you nearly collapse. He sets a steady but deep pace, gripping your hips hard enough to leave bruises, panting and mouthing at your shoulder. Each movement within you brings you closer to not only your beloved Cardinal but the Olde One himself, His light filling you up just as surely as Copia’s cock. You've never had a coupling like this and you plan to tell him so as soon as you've regained your senses. Streams of filth slip from the Cardinal's lips as he ruts into you, each thrust more powerful than the last.

"So fucking tight," he growls, sliding a hand down your spine, "I've w-waited so long for this. What d-delicious temptation you have provided. My mind has been f-filled with how your cunt would feel."

“I'd--ah!" You attempted to respond but the speed with which he fucks you now makes your eyes roll back in your skull. "I'd fuck myself to the t-though of you since that f-first day. Don't stop, please don’t stop."

Your confession and demand only spurs him on, cock slamming inside of you repeatedly and hitting that sweet spot you never seemed able to reach on your own. Your moans echo through the classroom and you know others outside can hear you but all you can care about right now is the man standing behind you giving you the most intense pleasure of your life. When you come undone, gushing over his cock, you let out a wail and reach a hand behind you to grasp at your Cardinal's hair. The tugging of your fingers on his greying brown strands is enough to push him over the edge and he comes with a shout, filling you up in spurt after spurt. When you finally relinquish your grip on his hair, your body sags against the desk, arms finally giving way. Your Cardinal has you though, arm wrapped around your middle to bring you close to him.

"Divino,” he pants into your ear before placing a kiss at your temple.

You nod dumbly as his cock slips out of you and his cum slides down the insides of your thighs to gather at the tops of your stockings. His gaze briefly follows its path with a glint of hunger in his eyes but ultimately he lowers your habit and turns you around to face him. When your eyes meet his, a goofy little smile makes his mustache twitch and you're reminded why you like him so much.

"Take me to bed, Cardinal," you request with a goofy smile of your own. His expression becomes deathly serious all of a sudden.

"But sorella, our book club.”

[the-himawari]

A3! Usui Masumi - Translation [SR] A Body That Captures Your Gaze (1/2)

*Please read disclaimer on blog; default name set as Izumi

---

Masumi: … (This isn’t right either… I can’t find a magazine that I can use as reference. I’m going to head home.)

Tsumugi: Oh my. Masumi-kun?

Masumi: Tsumugi?

Tsumugi: I don't bump into you in places like this very often. Were you looking for something?

Masumi: Yeah. But I couldn’t find what I was looking for, so I’m going home.

Tsumugi: I see. Same here. How about we head home together then?

-pause-

Tsumugi: By the way, I heard from Tasuku that you’re also going to be showing off your muscles in an upcoming magazine photoshoot. Is that right?

Masumi: Apparently. I’m not sure how much we’re going to show, but for me, I heard it’s going to be my abs.

Tsumugi: Oh, really? If I recall correctly, you’ve also been working on your muscles, haven’t you?

Masumi: Yeah. I asked Tasuku to come up with some muscle training regiments for me.

Tsumugi: But you weren’t working out this hard before, were you? Why did you decide to start?

Masumi: This all started after I heard about the time Director and Citron went to a body building competition together. She looked happy when she described how Citron participated and won the special judge’s award.

Tsumugi: Fufu. So the reason was Director after all.

Masumi: Of course it was. Otherwise, there’s no point going out of my way to ask for training menus to work on my muscles.

Tsumugi: That sounds like Masumi-kun, alright. Have you bulked up quite a bit from your workouts?

Masumi: It’s going. Sometimes I work on a hard regiment and sometimes not.

Tsumugi: I suppose I’ll be able to see the results of your efforts in the magazine that's coming out. I’m looking forward to it.

-pause-

Tsumugi: We’re home.

Izumi: Ah, these photos of Muku-kun are great! He has a certain allure, doesn’t he?

Masumi: ! Director’s voice…

*runs off*

Tsumugi: Ah, Masumi-kun. Wait for me!

-pause-

Kazunari: They're legit such a bomb photos!

Omi: I agree. These poses were Muku’s suggestions.

Masumi: What are you talking about?

Tsumugi: Are those photos?

Kazunari: Ah, if it isn’t Massu and Tsumutsumu!

Izumi: Welcome back!

Masumi: I’m home.

Izumi: We were just selecting which bromide of Muku-kun to sell this time.

Kazunari: Lookie, isn’t this one to die for? Mukkun’s pose is killing it!

Tsumugi: You’re right. He looks cool with his sharp expression too.

Masumi: You just mentioned that Muku's pictures look alluring… Do you like these types of poses or something?

Izumi: Well, there’s no doubt I thought he looked charming. But I wouldn’t say that I specifically like the poses themselves. Both Muku-kun’s poses and expressions in his photos fit the concept perfectly. That’s what's great about them.

Masumi: (The concept…) I got it.

*runs off*

Izumi: Huh!? Masumi-kun? What do you mean you got it…!?

-pause-

Muku: Umm, so you have something to ask me… Ah! Could it be that you want to talk about love!?

Masumi: No, not today. That’s not what this is about.

Muku: Ah, okay then…

Masumi: I’m going to be showing my abs in an upcoming magazine photoshoot. But… considering the concept, I probably shouldn’t just show them off. I think it’d be better if I looked more alluring. So if you have any books that might be helpful for those kinds of poses, let me know.

Muku: Eh!? You’re asking me about that? I think it would be better to ask Azu-nee to teach you things like that though…

Masumi: I’m asking you. Director looked at your bromides and said they were “alluring”.

Muku: Director-san said that…? Alright, understood. In that case, please leave it to me!

Masumi: Yeah. Thanks.

---

| next

[ghostchems]

the cardinal’s cure - terzo x female!reader

cardinal terzo notices you seem a bit stressed and he has the perfect solution.

author’s note: heavily inspired by @mardyart’s cardinal terzo art! about 2k words. 18+! mdni! this hit me like a brick. ao3 link. shout-out to @angellayercake who encouraged my craziness and also gave me some good ass ideas for this!

“Sorella… what is the matter, eh? Your face looks a bit… long.” 

Your eyes dart to hin, words immediately catching in your throat. Cardinal Terzo stands beside you, his immaculate black robes fitting his figure so well. For a moment, you forget how upset you were but it quickly comes flooding back when you see the concerned look on his face. His raven hair is neatly slicked back and the black paint around his eyes is sharp, the family’s signature white eye shining against the contrast. You fidget with your habit and turn away from him shyly.

“I’m okay, Cardinal. It’s nothing.” You continue collecting the dirty plates for breakfast, carefully putting them into the bin tucked under your arm. You’re not even sure if the cardinal even knows your name but you know he is still lingering behind you and you can feel his eyes on you. You always feel anxious whenever you’re in the same proximity as the Emeritus’ — the power they have in the clergy intimidates you and you’ve never really had any time alone with them. 

And they all have quite the reputation, especially Cardinal Terzo…

His gloved hand catches you by the arm and you nearly drop your bin, a small gasp drawing from your lips. 

“Please, let me help you feel better, mia cara. It would bring me great joy.” Terzo’s voice is as smooth as the leather glove that is holding on to your arm. 

“B-but my duties—“

“Non preoccupati.” His lips twitch into a grin. “Your Cardinale will take care of it.” Terzo’s grip on your arm tightens and he pulls you away from the dining area. You are able to think quickly enough to set your bin on a table on your way out but other than that, all rational thought is gone. 

You practically blink and you are in his lush office. The walls and carpets are all black with some gold and purple accent pieces throughout. He brings you to a purple velvet couch, easing you on to it as he takes a seat beside you. You are extremely aware of how impossibly close the two of you are, his knee pressing into yours.

“Now, Sorella, what is bothering you?” Terzo looks to you intently. 

“I-it’s really nothing.” You stammer as you try to get some space but he’s already so close it hardly does anything. “I-I’ve just been… getting in my own head lately. Stressing over things that I shouldn’t be stressed about.” You sigh and shake your head, wanting nothing more than to sink into the couch. He reaches for your hand and takes it gingerly in his, using his thumb to gently brush the back of it. The touch is extremely soothing and your eyes flutter up to his.

The look on his face is positively sinful. Terzo’s eyes are half-lidded and his lips are parted just enough that you can see his pink tongue and his fangs. He tilts his head at you slowly, then grins wickedly. You feel your cheeks redden and your eyes dart away from him.

“Mmm, sounds like you might need a little, eh… stress relief.” Terzo licks his lips as he slowly moves your hand and presses it against his hard cock through his robes. Noises leave your mouth that don’t resemble words, your cheeks on fire now. Was that what he had planned all along? Your thoughts are interrupted by his nose grazing yours, his hot breath ghosting over your lips. “We can help each other, Sorella.” He whispers huskily as he gazes into your eyes. 

Terzo leaves your hand on his erection and moves to cup your cheek, his fingers drifting along your jaw. His other hand moves to fondle your breasts through your habit and you feel his cock jump from underneath his robe. You’re at a loss for words, your mouth hanging open as he continues to touch you.

“Always so quiet, si? Always so focused on your tasks.” His lips graze your cheek but his eyes stay locked with yours. “I love to watch you, you know. So dutiful. So prim and proper. I’ve often thought of how my cock would look in that pretty little mouth of yours.” Terzo’s hands drift from your breasts down to your hips and then settle on your ass, giving it a harsh squeeze. You give a sharp gasp and you feel his cock jump again, your hand firmly pressing against it. 

“And you were so visibly upset today… I truly couldn’t help myself, cara. I needed you the moment I saw you.” His hips roll against your hand, his cock throbbing as he inches in closer to your face. “I’m going to fuck the stress out of you, Sorella.” Terzo sounds completely depraved, his voice low and raspy, and his lips quickly capture yours.

You whine quietly against his lips, melting into the kiss as his tongue licks into your mouth, the smoky cinnamon taste of him causing warmth to pool in your core. Everything he said is making you feel crazed; the fact that he has been watching you and wanting you — 

Your thoughts are interrupted by him breaking the kiss and his hands leaving your ass to move to his cassock, pulling apart the skirt to reveal his pants. He quickly tugs his belt off and unbuttons them, his leaking cock bouncing free.

“Go on, cara.” Terzo’s eyes flit to yours, his pupils blown so wide you can hardly make out the colors of them. You timidly shift to your knees on the couch, your hand moving to grasp at the base as your mouth hovers his leaking head. He growls and grabs you by the top of your habit, forcing your mouth around his throbbing length. 

It hits the back of your throat and you immediately gag, drool spilling from your lips as you give a soft groan. You try to situate yourself but he is relentless, his hand fisted in your habit as he moves you up and down his length. Your nails dig into the fabric of his pants as he fucks your face, his cock hitting the back of your throat repeatedly making you gag and moan around him. You look up at him through wet lashes, tears streaming down your cheeks.

“Satanas.” Terzo chokes out and you can feel his legs tremble beneath you. “It’s e-even better, a-ah… than I could h-have imagined.” He roughly pulls you completely off his cock, a string of spittle connecting your mouth and the tip. You draw in a sharp breath quickly before he’s maneuvering you again. He forces you to your feet and roughly moves you behind the couch, bending you over the back of it. He hikes up your habit and exposes your ass to him, his gloved fingers drifting over the lacy fabric of your panties.

“Do you want this, Sorella?” Terzo purrs as his fingers dip between your legs to press into the already damp fabric. “Do you want me to fuck the stress away?” He removes his fingers and presses his cock against you.

“Y-yes.” You gasp as you push yourself back against his cock. “Yes p-please, Cardinal.” He chuckles darkly behind you and pushes your underwear to the side. 

“Ah, not so quiet anymore, eh?” Terzo growls and grips your hips, his cock pressing against your entrance. “Cara, I am going to make you scream.” He thrusts into you without warning and you cry out, your hands grasping for the couch to steady yourself. The pain is quickly replaced with deep pleasure as he bottoms out and holds himself inside you for a moment. His one hand tightens his grip on your hip with bruising strength and his other splays out on your back, holding you down.

“So tight for your Cardinale.” He hisses then snaps his hips again, even harder this time. The couch wobbles and the sound of the legs scratching against the ground almost drowns out your sob. Terzo works up to a ferocious pace, his cock slamming into you with such force that the couch continues to move across the floor. Your mouth hangs open, drool still spilling out of it as moans spill from your lips.

His cock fills you up in a way you’ve never felt before, your walls clenching around him with each thrust as he drills so deep inside you. Your toes curl in your shoes and you give out a long, deep moan. Terzo removes his hand from your hip only to bring it down hard on your asscheek.

“Fuck!” You gasp as your body lurches from the spanking.

“You like that, cara?” Terzo growls and brings his hand down on your ass again. “Tell your Cardinale that you like it.”

“F-feels so good, Cardinale.” You whine, your nails digging into the couch fabric as he spanks you again and again. Deep moans rumble up from his chest while his thrusts grow more erratic. The wet sounds of him pumping in and out of you fill the room and you push back against him with each thrust. 

The hand on your back moves to grab you by the throat and tugs you so that your back is pressed against his chest. He breathes raggedly against your ear and he squeezes your throat. You can’t help but make a soft squeak, your hands flailing to grip onto his wrist as he pounds into you. His other hand slips down between your legs and he swipes his thumb roughly against your clit.

“A-ah! Terzo!” You choke out, your legs trembling as you feel the tension rise inside you.

“We must cum together, Sorella. We must invoke Him.” His voice is harsh in your ear and he bites at your earlobe. Your back arches against his chest as he starts to swipe his fingers against your clit in time with each bruising thrust. It’s becoming so much for you and you’re hardly hanging on as it is but what sets you over the edge is how he sinks his teeth sharp into your shoulder through your habit.

You scream. You’ve never screamed so loudly during sex. He snarls into your shoulder as his orgasm hits him, his hot seed spilling inside you while he rides through his and your climax. Your trembling so much, your head tipping back against him and your eyes squeezing shut as the most intense pleasure you’ve ever felt crashed over you.

Your legs finally give out and Terzo is quick to grab you, moving you over the back of the couch and plops you down on the cushion. He hums contently as he tucks his cock away in his pants and walks around the couch to join you. You feel like you’re seeing stars, your head spinning as he sits down between your legs and hovers over you.

“So?” He grins darkly and runs his hands up and down your hips, sending shivers through your body. “No more stress?” 

“For now.” You whisper and give him a knowing look as you squirm beneath him. Terzo’s face lights up and he sinks down on top of you, pinning you down with his weight. His hand brushes your flushed cheek.

“Well, you’ll just have to find me if it gets to be too much again, si? My door is always open.” He presses a soft kiss to your lips. “But if I find out that you’re feeling down and you don’t come to your Cardinale, well…” Terzo’s voice drifts off and your cheeks immediately flush and you feel a tinge between your legs. “I’ll just have to cum on that pretty little face of yours.” 

[alexawynters]

Scarlet Whispers pt. 7

Gif not mine

A/N: A first date. Ish. Also, I do not understand fashion, can't put together an outfit irl to save my life. I had to do much googling and running the descriptions by several people before I deemed it "acceptable". Again, edited while stoned. Lissen. Lissen. It helps with my seizures more than any medications ever have and now that I'm allowed to smoke again, I will be. I wrote this while in the hospital if I recall so hopefully the time I was able to dedicate to it shines through?? Eh.

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Female!Reader

Trigger warnings (let me know if I forgot to tag anything): Mentions of past child abuse, stalking, horror, dubcon, kidnapping, stockholm syndrome, gaslighting, angst, smut. There will be bits of fluff tho.

Rating: M. Minors DNI

Masterlist with parts 1-6 here

When Wanda told you that morning she had a surprise planned, you weren't quite sure what to expect. As a woman with the ability to bend reality, the possibilities were endless. You inquired about the dress code, hoping for some insight into where she might be taking you. However, she left you puzzled when she said you could wear whatever you were comfortable in. When you sought clarification, expressing concerns about being under or overdressed, she delighted in flustering you. “Detka, you could wear a paper bag, and you would still be the most beautiful person in the room.”

You resisted the urge to flee the room when you saw the hungry look she gave you. Stumbling over your words, unsure of what you had said, you simply nodded and went back to your room to get ready. Soft chuckles echoed down the hall as you left, and you were thankful she couldn't see the pink dusting your cheeks. It was clear that she knew the effect she had on you, and her laughter confirmed it. It seemed like flustering you was her favorite pastime, and she had stopped pretending otherwise. Unsure of what to do with this information, you searched your closets for something suitable for the day.

Uncertain about the plan, but wanting to strike a balance between casual and dressed up, you decided to wear a dove grey short-sleeved button-up shirt. This choice exuded a casual yet polished vibe. The short sleeves provided a relaxed and laid-back appearance, while the button-up style added a touch of sophistication. Rolling up the sleeves suggested a practical and comfortable approach, perfect for a less formal setting. If Wanda were to take you somewhere slightly fancier, you could always unroll the sleeves.

For the pants, you decided to go with black slim-fit chinos. They offer adaptability, comfort, and the ability to seamlessly transition between different dress codes and occasions. You paired them with a simple black leather belt with silver accents. As for the shoes, you selected black and white Bruno Marc Rivera Oxfords. These shoes strike a balance between the formality of dress shoes and the relaxed comfort fit of sneakers.

Once you had picked out your outfit, you headed to the bathroom to get ready. Unlike witchy, you didn't have magic to speed up the process. Wanda hadn't given you a specific time limit, but it was probably better to get ready sooner rather than later. After a quick shower, you applied a simple layer of tinted moisturizer to your face. Feeling more prepared, you got dressed and made your way to the main hall to meet Wanda.

You were wholly unprepared for the sight that greeted you.

Before you stood Wanda, dressed in a red and black half turtleneck striped knitted peek-a-boo sweatshirt. The collar doesn't reach Wanda's chin, giving a tantalizing view of her neck, and the shoulder cutouts accentuate her defined muscles. She has paired the sweatshirt with faux leather dress leggings and black high-heeled booties. Her fingers are adorned with several silver rings, and you try not to imagine how they would feel if she were to touch you. As you take in her entire appearance, you gulp. Finally, your eyes meet, and Wanda grins knowingly, making you blush bright pink, and you know she has likely heard your thoughts.

“You look great, Wands.” you complimented, shyly.

The witch preens at your praise and returns it in kind. “You look pretty handsome yourself, detka. Are you ready to go?”

“Well since you won’t tell me where we’re going, I suppose so.” you tease, hoping she will relent and tell you the surprise.

Wanda simply smirks at your attempt and opens a portal behind her. Gesturing "after you," she invites you to confidently step through ahead of her. There was a time when you would have been terrified to go through any magical portal without Wanda physically by your side. However, you had seen enough of her skill to know that nothing bad would happen to you. As soon as you step through the portal, you find yourself facing a fish tank that spans an entire wall. Your heart soars with joy as you realize that Wanda has brought you to an aquarium, one of your favorite animal exhibits.

A soft hand slipped into yours and you heard the warm timbre of Wanda’s voice next to your ear. You could tell she was smiling. "Surprise."

You turned to look at the witch, your gaze filled with awe and gratitude. The only time you had ever been to the aquarium was during a school field trip, which you had managed to afford with some money you had scrounged up over the course of a few weeks. No one had ever taken the initiative to treat you to the aquarium before.

Wanda smiled warmly at you. "I know you feel anxious in large groups of people, so I rented the place just for us. You can take your time exploring any of the displays without worrying about anyone getting in your way. We have the entire day, dorogoya, and I have another surprise planned for dinner." She gently squeezed your hand and gave you a quick wink.

A gentle warmth fluttered in your chest, as if a burden had been lifted. No one had ever shown such thoughtfulness and kindness towards you. The fact that Wanda had listened attentively when you shared your fondest childhood memory of visiting the aquarium, and went out of her way to recreate that experience for you just to see you happy, made your heart feel alive like never before.

Overflowing with appreciation and joy, you couldn't help but throw yourself into the witch's arms. With her reflexes honed during her time with the Avengers, she caught you in a gentle embrace. As she felt her sweatshirt becoming damp with your tears, Wanda was about to ask what was wrong, but before she could utter a word, you whispered a quivering "thank you" while holding onto her tightly.

For Wanda, this didn't feel like the anticipated victory. Instead, her focus was solely on how perfect it felt to have you in her arms, as if that was how it should always be. She had missed you so much. While being the big spoon every night technically meant she was still holding you, it was a completely different experience for you to actively seek out her touch. Now that you were, Wanda never wanted to let you go.

She whispered comforting words to you while holding you, with one hand gently playing with your hair as you calmed down. After what felt like both an eternity and not enough time, you released yourself from her embrace and wiped away some of your tears. You apologized, feeling embarrassed. In a gesture of comfort and intimacy, Wanda's thumb wiped away the remaining tears from your face.

“You never have to apologize for your feelings, Y/N. Not to me. I am glad you trust me enough to be so vulnerable.”

You watched, dazed, as Wanda brought her thumb, the same one that had just wiped away your tears, to her mouth. While maintaining direct eye contact with you, she slowly inserted her thumb into her mouth and used her tongue to clean your tears from it.

“Uh.. Yeah. S-sure.” Ever the quick wit from you…

Pillow-like lips curved playfully. "Come on, detka, let's see what this place has to offer?" The witch extended her hand to you, and in your daze, you accepted it. She simply had to guide you to the first exhibit before your initial shock gave way to excitement for the day. Soon, you were practically bouncing from one plexiglass panel to another, enthusiastically discussing the beautiful fish you encountered. Throughout the entire experience, you never released Wanda's hand, and she was thrilled to let you hold on.

Wanda was captivated by your innocent excitement. Her laughter tinkled melodically as you narrated the fish's experiences to her, even going so far as giving them names. Your enthusiasm for your special interest, your extensive knowledge about fish surpassing her own, and your ability to provide additional details not found on the descriptive plaques, left Wanda gazing at you with love and amusement in her eyes. Of course, you were too engrossed in the beautiful fish to notice, and she happily listened to your enthusiastic info dumping.

As you explored the aquarium, you couldn't help but wonder if this feeling of joy was what children often experienced. Being able to take in the exhibits at your own pace, with Wanda attentively listening to your ramblings, made you feel carefree and happier than ever before. Never diminishing your enthusiasm; Wanda remained engaged throughout, even asking follow-up questions to your explanations. It didn't occur to you, but you hadn't let go of each other's hands almost the entire time, and it seemed that neither of you had any intention of doing so anytime soon.

The highlight of the experience was when you and Wanda turned the corner and you found yourselves in an outdoor viewing area that led to an enclosure. As you approached, your excitement grew - it was an interactive penguin encounter! A person dressed in a wetsuit entered through a door at the back of the enclosure and made their way towards you, indicating that they were ready to let you in. After opening the gate, they introduced themselves and warmly welcomed both of you. You turned to Wanda in disbelief, unable to contain your excitement about the opportunity to play with real, live penguins!

Wanda smiled tenderly at your surprise and gently nudged you to follow the trainer into the enclosure. Your hands only now separated, and you almost, almost wanted to skip the adorable birds just so you could continue holding the witch's hand. Excitement prevailed in the end though because how often does one get the chance to pet penguins?

The trainer went to get a bucket of fish and brought it over to you, demonstrating how to entice the penguins to your side. Although the semi-frozen fish felt disgusting when touched, you were willing to endure any uncomfortable texture rather than miss out on this opportunity. With bait in hand, you beckoned to a nearby penguin, waving the fish to gain its attention. Success! The penguin waddled over to you, and you tried to not to lose your shit at how adorable the bird was.

The penguins were clearly accustomed to human interaction. They showed no hesitation in getting close to you to retrieve their dinner. You had anticipated having to throw a fish or two before the penguins would come close enough to touch, but to your surprise, one of the penguins allowed you to pet it while it enjoyed it's meal.

All the while, Wanda stayed in the background, capturing countless pictures, and several videos of you cooing and awing over the birds. By now you had a waddle of penguins surrounding you, and you were thrilled to interact with each and every one of them, not wanting any to feel left out. Eventually it was time to go, but you insisted the trainer take a picture of you and Wanda crouching with the penguins, Wanda feeling overjoyed that you wanted her to be included in this memento.

At first, she stood slightly to the side, positioned to be in the photo but not to draw the focus from you. However, you weren't having any of that, wrapping your arm around her waist and pulling her gently into your side. She laughed at your enthusiasm, grateful for the gesture. While the trainer took the photo, your smile shifted from the camera to Wanda, filled with adoration for arranging such an amazing day for you. Unaware of your change in focus, the witch was too absorbed in the pleasant feeling of being pulled close to your side while the picture was taken.

At last, it was time to go, and the aquarium employee led you guys to where you could wash your hands. Throughout you were waxing poetic about how this was the best experience of your life, and you were pretty sure you were going to go to sleep that night dreaming about penguins. You couldn’t wait to print out the last picture of the two of you and frame it. You thanked the witch profusely.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, detka. I only wanted to provide you with a memorable experience.” Wanda smiled at you fondly.

“It certainly was that! I don’t think anything could ever top today!”

The witch grinned. “The day isn’t over just yet, dorogaya, we still have a little bit more.”

Your eyes widened. “More? What more could there possibly be?”

“Not much, but it is time for dinner, and why go elsewhere when the aquarium has it’s own restaurant?”

You weren’t going to lie, you had expected the restaurant to be cafeteria style, but you weren't disappointed by the idea. So, when you and Wanda walked in and saw the cozy, dimly lit restaurant, you were pleasantly surprised. In the center, there was a tube-shaped tank stretching from the floor to the ceiling, filled with some of the most vibrantly colored fish you had ever seen. The restaurant itself seemed to curve around this centerpiece as if it was made to showcase the tank. It probably had been.

There was limited seating available, with only one table already set up to host, situated right next to the tank. The table was adorned with a crisp navy linen tablecloth, plush chairs, and a small candle, creating an atmosphere of intimate seclusion. As the maître d’ guided both of you to the seating area, you couldn't help but marvel at the beautiful setting. Despite being a local attraction, this restaurant exuded a sense of luxury. Before the host could pull out your chair for you, Wanda intervened, gesturing for you to sit. Blushing, you followed her instructions, feeling pleasantly taken care of, as she carefully pushed your chair closer to the table and then took a seat herself.

The maître d’ introduced themselves and informed you that your waiter would be with you both shortly. Taking the time to get situated, Wanda asked you how you were enjoying your day so far. Naturally you launched into excited chatter about how wonderful it was, how happy you were to be here, and how thankful you were that Wanda had arranged this for you. You were practically gushing in your gratitude.

“Speaking of, witchy, how did you manage to pull this off anyway? Just out of curiosity. It can’t have been easy to get this done in such a short time frame.”

A wry grin spread across Wanda's face. "You'd be surprised what a little bit of magic and a black card can achieve." She winked, causing your stomach to flutter, and you gulped.

“Well consider me impressed. I think if I were to ever try the same thing, there would probably have a waitlist for a couple years.” You chuckled.

The pair of you settled into easy conversation, covering yours and Wanda’s favorite sights that day.

Of course, your favorite part was the penguins. How could it not be? Not only did you get to see them up close and personal, but you were also able to feed and pet them. You couldn't contain your excitement about printing out the picture, though intentionally not asking to see it on her phone because you didn't want to know what date would show, or if Wanda would even allow you to look. You didn't want to risk spoiling a perfectly good day by asking too many questions and potentially putting the witch in a bad mood.

Wanda's favorite was also the penguins, mainly because she found you incredibly adorable when you interacted with them. Witnessing your happiness, carefree nature and knowing that she had played a part in bringing that joy to you, made her immensely happy.

"I'm glad you're having a good time, detka. You know I would do anything for you," she said, her tone soft and inviting, as she took your hand in hers. Hearing the sincerity in her words, once again you felt upset with yourself for ever doubting her intentions. How could you even think she would betray you in any way? The touch of her hand on yours brought you back to the present moment, and a comforting feeling of warmth spread within you.

Just then, the waiter approached and introduced themselves, asking if you needed a moment or if you were ready to order. Anxiety immediately clouded your mind as you realized you hadn't even opened the menu yet. Before your panic could set in though, Wanda spoke up and ordered for both of you. It was interesting to you, because in past experiences you aggressively disliked when someone ordered for you without consulting you first. This time however you felt surprisingly comforted by it.

Perhaps it was because Wanda was a mind reader, or maybe she just knew you well enough to choose the perfect meal for you. Either way, you were more than content with the meal she had picked. Not to mention the warm feeling blooming in your chest at Wanda, having no doubt noticed your anxiety, had simply taken charge of the moment, so you didn't even have to think.

Once the food arrived, you realized that you were in fact ravenous. The embarrassingly loud growl from your stomach served as a reminder that neither you nor Wanda had eaten anything since breakfast. Sharing a knowing glance, you both burst into giggles. The food turned out to be even more delicious than anything you had ever expected, and you attributed it all to the witch standing before you. An immense sense of gratitude towards Wanda washed over you and you weren't sure if you could ever properly express it.

You glanced at the witch after taking your first bite and were surprised to see her thin hazel irises almost entirely eclipsed by blown pupils. Blinking, you replayed the last thirty seconds in your head to understand what had happened and realized that you might have accidentally moaned at the taste of the incredible food. Oops.

Meanwhile, Wanda's food remained on her fork, halfway to her mouth. The intensity of her gaze made you squirm, feeling as if she would prefer to devour you instead of the food currently on her fork. Your cheeks turned pink, and you coughed, feeling embarrassed.

You mumbled quietly, "The food is amazing."

Voice husky, thick with an emotion you weren’t sure you were ready to name, Wanda replied, “I’m glad you are enjoying it, lyubov moya. Eat as much as you want, if you want more, we can always order extra.” She finally took the bite which had been suspended, all the while never breaking eye contact with you. You subtly rubbed your thighs together to alleviate some of the pressure caused by the increased blood flow to your core.

You quickly redirected your attention to your dinner, trying not to wolf it down in an attempt to distract yourself from the tension. Although you weren't completely certain about the situation, it seemed a possibility that the witch was flirting with you. The atmosphere had suddenly become so tense, and you struggled to understand it. Lack of experience with romantic partners, coupled with your tendency to feel awkward when someone you liked showed even the slightest interest, made it difficult for you. It's no surprise that your social ineptitude often prevented many romantic connections from flourishing in the first place.

Sensing your unease, Wanda swiftly breezed onto another topic. There would be an opportunity to press later on, but it was important to find the right balance between pursuing you and scaring you off. Luckily, she had plenty of time to make it work. And being able to read minds certainly helped.

Grateful for the reprieve, you effortlessly transitioned to the new topic, and suddenly everything felt right again. The rest of dinner went by without any further incidents, and you could honestly say that this day was possibly the best moment of your life.

Wanda appeared to understand your desires, needs, and worries with practiced ease. You had very few friends before meeting her, but after today, you would consider her to be your favorite person. Sure, there had been a few hiccups along the way, and perhaps some concerning signs that you should probably investigate further, but overall, Wanda made you feel secure and content. That was more than enough for you to view things through some rose-tinted glasses as you found yourself yearning for more of her time and attention.

All good things must come to an end, and eventually, the waiter arrived with the check. True to her word, Wanda discreetly presented her black card for payment, aiming to do so in a subtle manner that was not ostentatious. As you both stood to leave, you subtly glanced at the bill, eyes widening at the price as well as the generous tip she left. She had not been kidding about her funds, and briefly, you wondered where the money came from. You hadn't known Wanda to have a job the entire time you had known her. Then again, perhaps the superhero gigs had paid well? You had half a mind to ask her about it later, but knowing you, it would probably be forgotten.

Once out of sight of the aquarium staff, the witch opened a portal back to your cottage. With her arm still around you, you both headed home.

Taglist: @dorabledewdroop

[steppin-on-the-last-train]

cowboy like me

Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Summary: As a part-time criminal and a full-time escape artist your first priority was always to keep people at arm's length. When you meet someone who also knows what it's like to live from day to day, you're not so sure you want to let her slip away.

Foreword: Title taken from the Taylor Swift song cause it’s evermore season y’all

The first time you met the Black Widow was aboard a train heading south toward London. 

You sat, facing the window and watching the people mill about the terminal outside. Your cheeks were still red and wind bitten from your commute to the station. The car was almost full now, most everyone dressed in Manchester United jerseys and hats and the like. You blended in just fine among them. Another fan headed home after the match with a scarf and an old pair of trainers. 

You rehashed the details of your current mark in your head like a mantra. Jameson Harris. 42 Malcolm Rd. Wife was Anna Harris. Two children, Marcus and Emily. 

“All aboard. The 5:00 train from Manchester to London is off in three minutes,” the conductor announced from a speaker overhead. You could barely hear it over the excitement of the crowd. A little boy ran screaming down the aisle, his mother giving a futile chase. 

In the set of seats facing you two men about your age sat down. They were clearly drunk, laughing like hyenas and shoving each other in a manner that bordered on real anger. At least one of them smelled like heavy smoke.

“Hey, mate,” the tall, lanky one with a bad neck tattoo waved at you. “How about that game, eh?” 

You grinned widely as if you had one too many drinks coursing through your veins. “Fucking wild.” You stumbled over the words as if your tongue didn’t sit correctly in your mouth. “Best match of the season, if you ask me.” 

The other guy, fitter and dark-haired took out a lighter and a cigarette. He lit it and pulled a huge drag. The exhaled smoke blew right into the face of a passing attendant. 

She coughed stiffly into her hand. “Sir, there is no smoking allowed onboard. I am going to have to ask you to step out or please put it out.”

“Are you talking to me, sweetheart?” You averted your gaze, scrolling mindlessly through the contacts in your phone. If the woman was looking for a hero, you were a false beacon of hope. 

“Yes. Now, please. There is truly no smoking allowed in the car.” The acrid stench of nicotine once more assaulted everyone misfortunate enough to be in the general vicinity.

The man took a deep breath and stood. Elaborately he stubbed the cigarette out on the back of his seat, little bits of ash flaking into the air. The attendant moved on and he dropped back into the chair. “Fucking cunt,” he swore loud enough to cut through the din. 

You closed your eyes to shut out the cloudy winter light intent on piercing your retinas and the jerky movements of the other passengers, high off the energy from the match. You swore you would take a break after this job. You had made that exact same promise to yourself last week in Bogota, and the time before in Cairo. No, you wouldn’t stop. Just as relentless as the blood rushing through your veins, stopping would be tantamount to death.

“Excuse me.” A voice caused your train of thought to come to a screeching halt. Innocence dripped from the words like honey, and you could tell the woman’s voice was pitched up from her normal tone. “Is anyone sitting here?” A slender hand gestured at the seat next to yours. 

You pushed yourself up from the slouch you had been lounging in, feeling self-conscious. “No. Go right ahead,” you answered, cockney accent shining right through. She was pretty, you noted; about your age as well. A hitch tugged at the back of your brain. An evolutionary alarm from living your entire life on the move. This woman was not to be trusted. Underneath the wide eyes and the girlish smile was a viper coiled to strike. 

“Thank you,” she said, looking quite small against the backdrop of the raucous train car.

A wolf whistle pierced the air, looking for trouble. The bloke who had been smoking flashed a predator’s grin at the blonde beside you. “Where are you traveling to all alone now, girlie?” 

You watched the exchange from the corner of your eye. Why did conflict seem to follow wherever you stepped foot? The woman merely glanced up from her book, unwilling to feed the fire. 

“Oi. Why don’t you go ahead and look at me when I’m talking to you? I know you can hear me.” The train had begun to depart, ushering in a wave of quiet to the car as passengers settled down. The demand was impossible to ignore. Even as parents hushed children and drunkards passed out in increasing numbers, his voice only gained intensity. 

“This train is headed for London, is it not?” She asked, face as innocent as a blank sheet of paper. 

“Hey Jack. She’s a witty one,” he said, slapping his friend on the chest. The woman flicked her gaze at you. Your attention wandered to her like a moth to a flame. You stomped down on any inclination to help her. You weren’t going to lose this game of chicken.

“Sweetheart.” The man so called Jack joined in the instigating. “How about you come home with us, eh? I’ve got a real nice flat. I bet you’d like the bedroom.”

“No, I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t you come with me to the bathroom right now?” The dark-haired one surged forward, grimy hand outstretched toward the woman. Caution gone with the wind, your arm darted out on its own accord. You intercepted his wrist, tugging harshly enough for him to stumble closer to you. 

The blonde’s eyes widened and she shrank in on herself in her seat. You saw right through the act. An elderly man with a newsboy cap across the aisle watched the altercation like a deer caught in headlights. You prayed he wouldn’t call for help.

The entire damn point was to not draw attention to yourself. Today though, electricity charged the air with biting energy. The presence of the mystery-shrouded person beside you drove you past the gates of reason. 

You squeezed the man’s pinky until you heard the crunch of bone pushed too far. He screeched like a cat. “Go and find yourself another seat. I don’t care if the car is full. You’ll throw yourself out the rear if you have to. Don’t let me see your fucking face again,” you whispered in his ear. The words leapt flaming from your tongue.

Eyes wild with adrenaline and the courage of alcohol, he swung at you with his free fist. You caught the clumsy punch, seized the man by the wrist, and snapped it clean. He screamed, turning the heads of the other passengers. Your gaze swept like a searchlight through the crowd, promising more hurt to anyone who might even think about interfering. 

He crashed back into his friend’s lap before staggering to his feet. His sniffles and shuffling footsteps echoed through the silent traincar. “Go on,” you directed his buddy, who wasted no time before similarly scrambling from his seat. A final burst of dauntlessness flared up your throat. “What the fuck are you all staring at me for?” You broadcasted to the intrigued onlookers.

Half of these people weren’t sober enough to remember this in the morning. For those who did, you would be a completely different person the second you stepped foot off this godforsaken vehicle. 

“Thank you,” the woman said, sickly sweet.

“Don’t mention it.” You admitted beating up assholes wasn’t an entirely cumbersome task.

“I feel obliged now to ask what your name is,” she continued.

You raised your eyebrows, turning in her direction. “What about stranger danger? How do you know I didn’t just stop them so I could be alone with you?”

“How do you know I needed your help?” She batted the question back at you.

“Touche.” You knew she didn’t. But she had indeed wanted to keep her cards close to her chest at the expense of you revealing yours. You offered a hand. “I’m Sam.”

“Nadia,” she replied, conceding the handshake. Her palms and fingers were lined with ridges of calluses. 

“That’s a pretty name.” But not one that belonged to her, you thought.

She was so close now. The setting sunlight streamed through the window and coaxed the vibrance from the green of her irises. You stopped yourself from lingering there too long. You imagined all the people who had lost to her siren’s call before.

You cleared your throat and broke off the staring match. “Can I ask what you’re doing in England? Excuse me assuming that you’re not from around here.” If she wanted to play this game, you didn’t see the harm in joining in. 

“I’m visiting a friend.” Her American accent drew attention. Odd for a thief or a spy or whoever she was to forgo language assimilation. “What about you, Sam? Did you grow up here?” 

“I did. Never been out of the country meself.” Lies to you, but truths for Sam the football fan.

“Got anyone special at home?” She smirked, looking up at you from a downturned face.

You scoffed. She was messing with you. “No. Not for me. I like to keep available. You never know when an opportunity might come around. I’m not usually one to let a good thing pass me by.”

“And what makes a special opportunity? How do you know one when you see it?” How fitting that smoke still lingered in the air. 

“I guess,” you started slowly. “Some people just have this spark about them.” 

She wet her lips. “Do you think I have it?” If some people sparked with electricity, she certainly blazed with the sun’s heat. 

The corner of your mouth lifted in a smile. You rolled your eyes with playful mirth. That was all the answer she needed.

Good thing as soon as the train pulled into the station in London you would get your ass as far away from her as possible. And with any luck, as the moon eclipses the sun your paths would cease to cross for a very long time.

—

Prime Minister Jameson Harris had an expensive taste in liquor. You were alone in his house, save for a half dozen security agents scattered about various entryways. Tonight you doubled as the man himself while he and his family had been whisked away to another secure location. You owed a friend in MI6 a favor, so you played the sitting duck amidst rumors of an assassination plot. Just another average night.

You snagged a crystal bottle of mystery alcohol from the shelf. Twisting the cork off with a pop you smelled it experimentally before taking a swig straight from the jug. Mister Harris had a fine taste in whiskey indeed. You rounded a giant mahogany table and sat, polished leather squeaking in protest. 

The study lights weren’t overwhelming thanks to the dimmers you had spent way too long fiddling with. In addition you had lit a couple of candles. The room had smelled too much like mothballs and stale paper for your taste.

You raised the whiskey bottle in a toast to an imaginary gathering. “Long live the United Kingdom. To the prosperity of humankind. May all mutant scum drop dead,” you pronounced with the fanfare of a juvenile king. No one had stuck around to tell you your birthday, but you still had a good year or two before you were of drinking age. That much at least, you knew.

You didn’t follow politics, not keen on allying yourself with a particular nation, but the anti-mutant sentiment reached you anyhow. Hate and fear for you and your kind served as a rallying point for human leaders. They ceased pointing their guns at each other and instead set their targets on you. 

Bottle in hand, you stood abruptly and turned toward the giant bookshelf behind you. Classic novels, history collections, and political theory publications lined the entire wall. You traced your fingers down their spines. You had to stay the night here, but thought it may be wiser to resist the call of sleep lest you don’t wake in the morning. 

You pulled a relatively thin volume down. Between the stealing and fleeing and occasional strong-arming you didn’t have a lot of time to read. Tonight, you could start playing catch up with The Scarlet Letter. 

You meandered back toward the desk. Glancing up, a cool breeze rushed at you from an open window. Your stomach dropped, heavy with an iron pit. The curtains flapped in the wind, taunting you for letting your guard down.

You set the whiskey and the book down on the desk and instead wrapped your hand around the slick steel of a pistol hidden beneath. “Show yourself,” you called in the voice of Jameson Harris. “Don’t think I won’t shoot you for breaking and entering.” 

The study was by no means cramped for room, but even still there were few places to hide. You cleared the room in less than a second before realizing the door was ajar too. 

You stalked out into the hall, only to find a guard passed out on the floor. You dug your fingers into your temple. Someone was clearly amusing themselves with the game they were playing. Even so, a chill ran down your spine. You weren’t used to being the rat in the maze in these situations. 

Outside the study, the rest of the house was blanketed in darkness. For you, the absence of light made no difference. You could see just fine with the barest hint of sunshine. From above the bannister, you peered down the sight of the gun at the foyer. The ground floor lay still, as if holding its breath. The security guard posted at the front door sat slumped against the wall. You couldn’t tell if the dark spot pooling beneath his body was born of shadow or something much more sinister. 

A cold hand on your shoulder jolted you from your search. Before you could turn around, meticulously sharpened steel carved a grinning line across your throat. You clamped a hand around the wound, panic fluttering in your chest like a trapped canary. From the corner of your warping vision you saw a figure, wrapped in a shawl of shadows. The light from their eyes waited eagerly for the one in yours to wink out.

You stumbled, choking on your own blood. Pink froth bubbled from your mouth, burning with the chase of death. Your attention slipped and you shifted from the body of Jameson Harris and back into yourself. Well, almost. What you imagined you might look like without the lizard eyes and cobalt blue skin of a freak. 

Beneath your palm your skin grew unnaturally warm. The waterfall of blood ceased its torrential flow. Slowly your skin sewed itself back together. You sighed in relief. You knew you could heal, but had never tested your powers to this extreme.

Behind you a voice muttered in Russian, “What the fuck?” 

You stood straight up, flicking blood absentmindedly from your hand. Surprise gripped your heart. Standing in the corner, as still as a statue was the girl from the train that had brought you here. Nadia no longer looked the picturesque part of a wonderstruck American teenager visiting London. Blonde hair, that you now decided had definitely been dyed, lay neatly down her back in an intricate braid. She wore a black form-fitting tactical suit. Not military issued, you thought. 

You blinked and found yourself staring down the muzzle of a pistol. You raised your hands in surrender, assuming the form you had been posing as on the train. A familiar rush raced from the top of your head to the ends of your limbs as your skin reformed itself. “Remember me?” You asked, spitting out a glob of blood and exposing red-stained teeth.

She cocked her head ever so slightly and just a moment of opportunity presented itself. You lunged for the gun while she grappled with the fact you’d been three completely different people in less than a minute. You let yourself shift back to your common appearance and vaulted across the floor. Muscles wound tight, you straightened your torso and kicked at the weapon.

Snapping back to reality she snatched the gun away just in time. You stood before she could re-aim and cut at her wrist. The gun clattered to the floor and you kicked it further down the hall. 

You craned your head to avoid a viscous elbow to the nose. Sweat began to build along your hairline and drip down the back of your neck. You didn’t fight often, preferring to run into the foliage rather than confront the enemy and run the risk of being caught. You missed the rush.

She fought like a dancer. Momentum built from a lunge forward charged a stinging jab at your ribs. You pushed her two steps back and she went for a low sweep at your legs. You moved so fast you could hear the rush of cloth through the air, the sound of a fist soaring at your gut. A knife appeared in her hand, opening a surgical gash along the length of your tricep. 

Hot blood ran down your arm. You weren’t sure what the limit of your healing factor was, but as the cut refused to close, you realized you might have spent it for tonight. 

Your heart thundered in your chest. You couldn’t lose, no doubt that if she caught you she wouldn’t hesitate to snap your neck and unload an entire round into your head, just in case. But you had to think five steps ahead even as a boot came flying hairwidths from your face and lightning fast slashes struck at any spot you left unprotected. 

She flipped herself and suddenly you were flat on your back, staring up at the ceiling. You pulled air back into your spent lungs, gasping as your fingers dug into the floorboards. From the corner of your vision you saw her bolt for the discarded gun. Panic flared through you and you sprung yourself up, tackling her off course.

The both of you crashed through the bannister and went soaring onto the ground floor. She managed to maneuver herself midair so that she would land on top of you. The impact shot up the knobs of your spine, your head whipping painfully against the cool floor. Her shoulder dug into your collarbone, breaths coming in steady little exhales. You lost your focus for a split second, the pain radiating from the back of your skull overwhelming everything else. 

Involuntarily you transformed into your natural appearance, attention split in so many ways you couldn’t hold onto maintaining your looks. You grit your teeth and shoved the woman off of you with all the strength you could muster, which admittedly beat the strongest of humans even on your worst days. She flew back and smashed into a side table, residing lamp tumbling down and shattering on the floor. 

You hurdled over the staircase railing at the halfway point and cleared the rest of the steps in one bound. You normalized your complexion, hoping the dark had shielded you from her seeing the momentary exposure. 

You scooped a gun up from the ground and whipped around, catching her at the top of the staircase. Strangling the grip, you tensed the muscles in your forearms and leveled it at her chest.

“Where’s Harris?” She asked, voice as harsh as the blade caught in her fist, still drip, drip, dripping with your blood. 

“A safe place. Somewhere far away from pretty women with sharp objects.” Your pointer finger ghosted over the trigger. A voice in the back of your mind urged you to pull it. Return the favor.

She arched one eyebrow. “You think I’m pretty?”

“I think you’re good.” You’d never tell her, but even with your enhanced strength and agility she’d had you on the ropes the entire fight. If you had so much as breathed differently you were sure the roles would be reversed right now. 

“But not good enough for you,” she finished. Even as she bowed completely at your mercy her expression gave nothing away. A long time ago, you thought, she sculpted her face from marble, and the mask had been cemented in place since.

You lowered the gun. You weren’t a killer anyhow.

Blood crusted under your fingernails and in the lines of your palms, your shirt was starting to stick to your skin. You slid it over your head and tossed it on the floor, well aware of the woman’s lingering gaze. 

You turned your back on her and strode into the bedroom, stealing a new shirt before locking yourself in the bathroom.

With a sigh you stopped holding a normal appearance and shifted back into your innate form. Staying in shape had become easier as you’d grown and fully navigated your powers but the process still ate up much of your concentration. Exhaustion slogged endlessly at your mind. 

You eyed your arm which had thankfully stopped actively bleeding, but the flesh still gaped open in a deep red valley. You pulled all the cabinets open, coming up with a roll of gauze and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Catching your lip between your teeth you washed the stinging wound, a hiss escaping as you flushed it out. You wrapped the bandage tight around your arm, ripping the extra with your teeth.

Methodically you cleaned yourself up. Filling your mouth with cold water from the tap, the sour coppery taste flushed away from your tongue. Then you scrubbed at your face, neck, and chest, trying hard to ignore the blue ridged flesh of an aberration. As the adrenaline started to drain from your system, the realization that death had been seconds away from stealing your life weighed on your mind like a wet blanket. 

You scrubbed harshly at your hands until the water ran clear and then some. Staring at your reflection you slowly recomposed yourself. Freakishly red hair gave way to a more muted color, the yellow in your eyes faded to white, and bit by bit, the blue scales that cursed you with this power overturned into ordinary skin.

You curled your lips into a careless grin lined with a protective amount of cockiness. The great Mystique smiled back at you.

There you are, you thought.

The first time you had ever lied you were small and alone and desperately hungry for food. You had stolen a loaf of bread from a baker’s cart and bolted around a corner before shifting into someone else. When the seller asked you if you had seen a child run off, you looked him in the eye and told him no. 

You weren’t sure how that one little lie had consumed you until there was no you left. Every morning you woke up and put on a charming show at the cost of further warping the person you ought to be. You’d die in your castle of lies, alone and bitter. 

You walked back out into the hall, finding your attacker right where you left her. She stared down at the pool of blood staining the wood floor as if maybe she had imagined the entire ordeal.

“Unfortunately for you, I am still here,” you said. Unease churned in your stomach. Perhaps she was simply lying in wait, like a predator crouching in the tall yellow grass. “Made quite the mess though, don’t you think? The Prime Minister might have to look at new flooring.” You cringed as you stepped over the dark, coppery smelling spot. The warm light from the study spilled out into the hall. You walked into it, boldly turning your back on the woman. “Come on. I know you have questions.”

You leaned against the desk, next to a little bobble head of a dog. She walked in a few moments later, looking infinitely more at ease than she had in the hall. The knife had disappeared from her grasp. You saw right through the veil, having constructed a similar one in the privacy of the bathroom. 

“So you’re not Jameson Harris, and you’re not Sam from London’s east end.” You shook your head, flicking at the toy. “Then who are you?” She stopped a respectable distance away, standing with her shoulders back and chin high.

You told her your name. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d done that truthfully. Yet this stranger managed to coax it out of you with one question. Faith was a funny thing. “And you?” You asked, tracing the curve of her jaw with your eyes.

“Romanova. Natalia.” She told you so almost robotically, as if the name was reserved for other people to use against her. As if she did not have the right to define herself.

“Nice to meet you, Natalia.” You took another sip of the whiskey before offering her the bottle. She eyed it suspiciously. “It’s not poisoned, I promise. It’ll get you damn drunk though.”

She took the bottle, fingers brushing yours momentarily. “I prefer vodka,” she said, drinking as if she’d been denied water for the past week. She passed it back, staring at you as if searching for something. “How?” She asked, your expression denying her any plausible answer.

“How what?” You asked, failing to suppress a growing smirk.

“The disguises.” The firm line of her lips told you she wasn’t entertained by your antics. “You’re wearing some kind of suit, are you not?” You could imagine the gears turning in her head, trying to explain the impossible.  

You slid yourself back until you sat fully on the desktop. “Nope. Fanciest piece of technology I own is a little flip phone,” you said, tracing the smooth lip of the desk with your fingertips. “And I don’t wear tacky suits.” 

“I’m offended,” she said lowly, not sounding the slightest bit bothered.

“Don’t be. The whole dark assassin thing suits you,” you said, waving your hand. “Not me though. I mean, could you imagine me in a skin tight suit?” 

“I wouldn’t sell yourself short. I think you could pull it off.” She raked her gaze over you and heat rose to your cheeks. 

You transformed into an exact copy of her, inspecting your hands in wonder as if she wasn’t standing an arm’s length away. “You’re right,” you said in her voice. “I do look good.” You threw a toothy grin her way before shifting back with a woosh. 

Realization dawned on her, green eyes brightening. “You’re one of them,” she said.

“Yep.” You swirled the alcohol around, watching how the light played off the bottle. “One of them.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just I’ve never—I’ve never met a mutant before.” She seemed awestruck at the revelation. You were so used to being met with fear and disgust. 

“I’m sure you have. Especially with all of the traveling you do,” you said. You remembered the window, still propped open from earlier. “Those of us that can try to blend in with everyone else. Take any street in a big city, for example. If you walked around for a little I guarantee you’d pass at least one of us.” You gazed up at the night sky, dotted with a billion brilliant stars. The estate sat well removed from the city and its hungry lights. “Most of us learned pretty quickly how to adapt, how to stay safe and hidden in the crowd,” you explained. 

“And those of you who can’t?” You looked over your shoulder at Natalia, so curious yet so far from innocent herself. 

“We go underground to survive. Or run the risk of being killed, or worse.” You’d heard the rumors. Missing mutants spawned stories. Stories of various governments and other organizations abducting your kind for experimentation. A shiver crawled down your spine.

“Sounds like a lonely way to live.”

You slammed the window shut with more force than necessary. “Takes one to know one.” You guessed people in her life were nothing more than fleeting moments either. “My turn,” you said. “What’s got you sneaking around in the middle of the night, attempting murder on the British prime minister?” 

“That’s none of your business,” she said as if speaking to a child. She took another long drink, fingers twitching at her side as a nervous tic. “What’s got you sitting in his house playing body double?” Her voice had taken on a defensive edge.

“A friend,” you replied smoothly. “And money, of course. Turns out protecting politicians pays almost as well as stealing from them.” 

“Well I’m not a sellout.”

You narrowed your gaze. “No, you just slit throats because you’re told to, then.” Natalia furrowed her brow. “Unless you’re telling me you got bored and picked up a new hobby.” She stayed quiet, your words seemingly falling on deaf ears. “What?” You asked. Her lips were slightly parted. She stalked closer, eyes flickering over your face. “Hey, hey,” you stuttered, tripping over your feet as you backpedaled. 

You huffed as you slammed into the wall. She reached out, so close now you could feel her breath on your face. You froze, heart thundering in your chest. She cupped your cheek tenderly, thumb brushing your flaming skin. 

“Your eye,” she whispered as if it were something holy. 

You blinked, taken aback. “What?”

“It’s yellow. They weren’t different colors before.”

You broke out of her hold, forcing yourself not to run to the mirror on the wall. The frame was a golden oval, hung in between a family portrait and a pair of framed university degrees. Sure enough your right eye had slipped back. You blinked and it fixed itself, but the damage was done. 

“I should go,” you muttered, staring at the floor and beelining for the door. Too much alcohol and too little sleep and this was what you wound up with. 

Natalia snagged your wrist and held you from taking off. You knew if you pulled away she’d let you go. You untensed the muscles in your back and let her spin you around. 

You tilted your head down and met her in a slow kiss. She had you hooked and you didn’t care. You couldn’t think straight, the taste of her lips clouded your head like a powerful drug. 

You threaded your fingers through her hair and undid her braid while her hand wandered down to your belt. You pulled back, breathless. “I’m not looking for nothing here,” you insisted, even if only to try to convince yourself.

“Me neither,” she agreed. “One night.” She kissed your neck and a low grunt wound its way up from the back of your throat. “You’ll never have to see me again.”

You didn’t know why a pang wracked your chest still her words. That was the plan, after all. You knew you weren’t cut out for more than tonight. And with the way Natalia dragged her nails down your back, you guessed she wasn’t either.

“Bedroom,” you demanded, stepping out of your pants that now lay pooled around your ankles. You stumbled down the hall, blinded by her body as she lost her suit, and deafened by the way she panted your name between desperate kisses.

God, you were screwed.

—

You didn’t sleep, knowing you’d lose grip on your appearance if you did, but with each passing minute you found it harder and harder to stay awake. Natalia lay pressed into your side, so close that you could feel her heartbeat in your ribcage. Her body radiated heat, not the kind that made your face flush with infatuation, but the kind that felt like finally finding shelter after an eternity in the freezing rain. Her breaths wound in and out as if she were sleeping, but you knew she couldn’t. No. Someone who led her life had to be hardwired to never let their guard down.

Finally, after catching yourself almost dozing off for the tenth time you peeled back the covers and forced yourself to leave the confines of the mattress that seemed intent on sucking you back down. Goosebumps immediately rose along your skin, but you didn’t dare to glance back at bed and the woman feigning slumber. You stood and stretched, working the stiff muscles in your back and shoulders. Don’t look back. You followed the trail of hastily removed clothing down the dark hall and back to the study, candles still alight. 

You buckled your jeans and grabbed your bag, lingering by the door. Don’t go back. Hastily you rummaged through the desk drawers, finding a pen and pad of paper. You scribbled down the address of a PO box that you checked quarterly along with a note that read, For another one night. 

A/N

If you didn't catch it, R is a shapeshifter like Mystique from the X-Men. I wrote this piece with the intent of having it serve as the first chapter in a longer story. I wasn't certain of the amount of interest in a series though... I fear Tumblr may be drying up some.

Let me know if you'd like to see more and I can post up the second chapter, otherwise I'll leave it be as a one-shot.

As always, thanks for reading and just a reminder, my requests are open.