#also shout out to her family for hearing ‘you need to go for their heads’ and questioning nothing and just being like ‘cool tnx 4 the info’

[hisbutler-problematic]

what i really love about black butler is they said what if there was one little boy and for some unknown reason absolutely unhinged occult stuff ALWAYS happened around him

they try to play it off by being like “oh he’s a phantomhive, they deal w all kinds of stuff” but then they make it very clear that this little boy is the only one who has to deal with shit like demons and shinigami and werewolves and zombies, etc

like no one is super surprised when he’s like “oh just another day dismantling the zombie factory” but there’s also a distinct “wtf do you mean zombie factory” air to it

queen: there’s witches and werewolves in germany that you have to deal with ciel: why the fuck do i have to go to germany (his only problem w that sentence)

and then the little boy has the audacity to be like “tbh don’t really believe this witch and werewolf thing :/“ to his DEMON butler

[heartpascal]

the crooked kind

▹ — joel miller x platonic!f!reader

▹ — summary: you were sarah’s best friend, and you reunite with joel years after outbreak day.

▹ — a/n: erm. i love him. again not my best writing but i love this concept sm. also yes now i know there is an audience for father figure joel u will be getting so much of him

▹ — warnings: reader had major family troubles, pre-outbreak & post-outbreak, father figure joel, reader is injured, stab wound, referenced raiders/hunters, bill being hostile as usual, frank being a sweetie

masterlist

∘₊✧───── ───── ───── ─────✧₊∘

25th September, 2003.

After a long shower at the Miller’s house, you got changed and went downstairs to face them, the same anxiety you always felt when this happened arose in your chest. They were in the kitchen waiting for you, matching frowns on both Sarah and her dad’s face. You smiled tightly at them, grabbing the box of food Sarah held out for you.

“Guys, it’s fine! I can’t stay here forever.” You told them lightly, trying to lift the heavy mood that always fell over the three of you when you had to go back to your own house.

“You could! Couldn’t she, dad?” Sarah asked, turning to her dad and knowing the answer before he even said it.

“‘Course you could, kid. You know you’re a part of the family.” Joel supplied, making it even harder to maintain the certain and confident front you always put on when it was time to leave.

You heard the tires of the truck pulling up outside their house, and the truck door slamming shut as Tommy stepped out, his frown matching Sarah and Joel’s, too. He grabbed the box of food from your hand and put it in the bag on your back, clapping a gentle hand on your shoulder and squeezing as you smiled at him.

“Time to go,” you said, and rolled your eyes with a watery smile as you looked at the sulking expression Sarah wore, “C’mon, Sar. I’ll see you at school tomorrow!”

Nobody responded to your words, and their silence clearly conveyed their thoughts, but what about tonight? You were all aware of how much your family disliked when you stayed at the Miller’s but sometimes, you’d rather face their anger when you returned than any extra time at your own house. Aside from the people who lived there, you also never knew if there would be any water, which is why you always took a shower before leaving the Miller’s. You’d likely be back by this time next week, but it never made leaving easier.

You had once tried to stay at your best friend’s for longer, going on a few weeks, but when you had returned to your house to grab some more clothes, your parents had kicked off. Shouting, screaming, throwing things, the likes. They had yelled in your face that they would call the police on Joel, say he had kidnapped you, was keeping you away from home.

The last thing you wanted was the man who was essentially your own dad going to jail because of you.

It’s better this way, you had decided, because there was no other way. You were lucky your parents let you out of the house at all at this point. Every time you took a bundle of clothes stuffed into the bottom of your school bag you were chancing your luck, but you just couldn’t help it. Staying at Sarah’s gave you the experience of a loving family that you so badly wanted. A warm house, cooked food, and working water didn’t hurt, either.

“Let’s go, kid.” Tommy said, giving you a tight lipped smile. He didn’t want you to go back, either, but neither Miller men were willing to let you walk there. Tommy took you home every time, all of you knowing that Joel was much more likely to snap if your parents showed their faces.

“See you guys later! Happy birthday for tomorrow, Joel!” You waved at Sarah and Joel as you headed out of the front door, throwing a wave behind you and hearing them call out their own goodbyes.

You and Tommy sat in silence for the first few minutes of the drive, before he glanced in your direction, saying, “Listen, if you need anything, give us a call. I’m gonna be out tomorrow but Joel will be about. But hey, you need a bit of extra muscle? I’ll be there.”

You smiled at him, thankful to have such a supportive family who had your back at every turn.

∘₊✧───── ───── ───── ─────✧₊∘

Joel sighed as he gripped the steering wheel in his hand, waiting for his brother to finish up the paperwork he had to sign. When Tommy finally approached the truck, Joel turned to him with a dark look, annoyance clear in the curve of his eyebrows.

“Listen, Joel, I’m sorry!” Tommy told him immediately, reluctantly pulling his seatbelt over his chest and holding his hands up as if he was surrendering. “That fucker said her name and I just snapped, man.”

Tommy must have seen the way Joel’s face dropped, because he felt anxiety warm up in his chest as Joel said your name, his expression telling them both that something was very wrong. He remembered the crease to Sarah’s eyebrows when he had finally gotten home, the way she’d told him that you hadn’t been in school, and she felt like something was off.

“She wasn’t at school today.” said Joel, his eyes almost unfocused as all the possibilities for the why flashed in his mind, he completely missed the way Tommy’s jaw set.

The sound of guns going off in the police station sent both of their heads whirling around in alarm, with Tommy reaching back for the box that was kept under the driver’s seat. “What the…” he mumbled, eyes flashing with the fire that had started across the road. It was when they started hearing the helicopters and dozens of military and coppers swarming the street that the two Miller’s realised something was very wrong. “Shit, Sarah!”

∘₊✧───── ───── ───── ─────✧₊∘

23rd May, 2013.

Your arm was throbbing with pain, and you were sure something was fractured at the least. Not to mention the warm red blood that was dripping down from your shoulder, basically the only thing providing you with any heat in the all-encompassing cold. Or maybe all the blood leaving you was what was making you feel so cold. You weren’t sure.

It was the first time in a while that you had left your QZ, and you were ambitious, aiming to travel all the way to the Boston QZ with as little trouble as you could manage. Of course, you hadn’t counted on the people, the raiders and hunters who tried to kill you to steal all the supplies you didn’t have. You were lucky to make it out alive, really. You hadn’t felt very lucky for a long time.

It had been at least thirteen hours since you were attacked, and you knew you wouldn’t make it much further. Already, you were feeling lightheaded, woozy, like the ground was reaching up for you, but you powered on, seeing the glint of a metal fence up ahead.

The wiring at the top told you that it was electric, which you wouldn’t have been worried about if the buzzing didn’t echo in your ears, meaning it actually had electricity.

You pushed lightly against where there was a gate, a keypad there to unlock it. These days, you wouldn’t be able to bet on it being a simple 1, 2, 3, 4. Clearly, this was somebody’s home, and they didn’t take lightly to intruders. Your head dropped against the metal, the metal warm from the sun, and you were glad that only the barbed wire at the top was electric.

Your luck clearly hadn't lasted very long, as you heard the sounds of two guns clicking, the safety turning off.

“Who are you?” A man’s gruff voice asked, and you moved your head from the fence to look at the man stood at the front, “What do you want?” His striking blue eyes tore through you, looking for any sign of a threat, but you didn’t pose much of one in your current state.

“Jesus, Bill, let the girl in, she’s gonna die out there!” A friendlier voice called out, approaching the two men already stood in front of you.

“Or, she could kill us in here.” Bill said, eyes not moving from where you stood, narrowing as you put your hands up in a motion of surrendering.

Your eyes fluttered for a second, and you nodded at the man, understanding of his caution. “I—I’m just looking to get to the QZ. Boston.” You spoke, voice dry and cracking, having only been used when you had yelled out at the people who had attacked you, and that was hours ago. You were dehydrated, tired, and hurt. “Could you point me in the direction?”

“She’s not gonna make it that far.” A woman, who you hadn't noticed approaching, said, eyebrows raised as she looked from the other newcomer to Bill. A part of you knew she was right, knew that you probably wouldn’t make it another fifty steps of the way, but god, you’d come this far, and you really didn’t want to die.

“Bill.” The man prompted, eyebrows raised as he gestured toward the gate. “Just let her in, you can always… shoot her if she tries anything.”

“And I will.” Bill threatened, glaring at you even as you nodded in agreement.

“I’m not infected,” You supplied, because it was the best you could do, “Got a nasty stab wound, little while ago.”

Bill grumbled, sending the man who was trying to help you back into the town for something, and he continued his annoyed mumbling even as he opened the gate, tapping in a code and holding his gun up to your head as you took a step forward. You stilled, eyes following him as he approached, gun still raised, and held a tester to your neck, only huffing as it flashed green.

“Come on in, honey.” The kind man said, approaching your side and helping you stumble your way into their safe haven. You swayed, even with his help, and he frowned at you.

“You sure about this, Bill?” asked the other man, who hadnt spoken before now. You hadn’t really taken much notice of him, too focused on the people speaking to you in hopes that the world might show you a bit of kindness.

“Joel?” You croaked out, eyes going wide and your legs becoming numb as you stared at the man in shock. The guns immediately rose back up to your face, and they glared at you suspiciously, with the man who had been helping you stepping aside with one look from Bill, even if it was with some reluctance. “Joel— It’s you, I can’t believe it’s really you.”

They all stared at you, none of them daring to speak for a few moments. The woman stared at Joel, trying to communicate with him through eye contact alone.

“She—she fixed it. Didn’t she?” You said numbly, feeling like you were going to pass out, but unable to take your eyes off of the cracked watch that sat on his wrist. Sarah had told you her plan for his birthday, even if you’d never gotten to see it in action, but it was broken again.

Recognition seemed to seep into Joel’s eyes, and his gun lowered slightly. He said your name like a question, like your face was an answer he couldn’t work out.

In a single moment, his gun was dropped to his side, and he surged forward, pulling you into his arms. You held onto him just as tightly, or as tightly as you could manage with your fucked up arm, and blinked away tears as you squeezed your hands together behind his back.

His hand held the back of your head, keeping you close to him as he let out a breath. “Fuck.” He said, the words watery with tears you were sure he refused to let out. “I was sure you were dead. The houses on your street were on fire, I—…” He trailed off, pulling away to hold your face in his rough hands.

You forgot all your pain for a moment, eyes full of tears from something else, something like relief, “I got away, my—my dad was arrested and my mom went to get him. When I got to yours, you were all gone.”

He swallowed guiltily, eyes looking over your grown face. You looked so different, so… you looked like an adult.

You looked around at the town, wondering which one belonged to the Miller’s, “Where— where’s Sarah?”

Joel flinched, hands squeezing your cheeks once more, before he shook his head, looking away before he pulled you back to him once again.

“Oh.” You gulped, swallowing down the grief you had already felt for the Miller’s that rose back up, trying to sweep you away.

“Can somebody explain what the fuck is going on?” The woman asked, the first of Joel’s group to speak up since your unexpected reunion. She looked between you and Joel and the two men, as if one of you could answer all of her questions.

You looked up at Joel, and he felt like he was going to be sick, the memories of you doing that before the world had gone to shit hitting him like a brick to the face. He remembered the way you would smile at him, a grin that matched Sarah’s, like the two of you were born as sisters, and not just chosen sisters.

“I…” You began, stepping out of Joel’s arms to face the group and explain, but that wave of nausea hit you, the adrenaline from finding Joel seeping from your body, leaving you feeling like you were about to step into death’s doorway. “Okay, um, let me—”

Joel stepped forward, and you fell into him, with him picking you up like he used to do with you and Sarah before. It hit him then, with how you were heavier, and how he hadn’t done this for anyone in years, but he still managed.

“I—I’ll explain, after.” He said, the words echoing in your ears as your eyes fluttered, the last of your long-winded fight or flight leaving you as you rested in your dad’s arms, feeling like perhaps you’d wake up in the bed beside Sarah’s, and everything that had happened in the past decade would have been nothing but a dream. “Frank?” He prompted, letting the man lead him to wherever he thought would be best suitable to patch you up.

That sickening feeling crept up on Joel again, the situation being horribly reminiscent of outbreak day, almost like your weight was Sarah’s own, and his shaking fingers being from fear and not shock. He hated it, that the feeling of regaining a daughter was so similar to the loss of his other.

He felt a hand on his shoulder as he followed Frank, and glanced to his side to see Tess, and allowed himself to feel the slightest comfort at the nod she gave him.

Your eyes blinked open, and you looked at him through bleary eyes, “I’ve missed you, dad.” You told him, not missing the heartache in his eyes as he looked at you, but he smiled. It was thin, watery, and barely there, but you saw it.

“Kid, you got no idea.” He sighed out, focusing on getting you fixed up before he could start crying.

[cordeliawhohung]

a dad!simon scenario that @ghostslillady planted in my head awhile back that i can't stop thinking about and figured i'd share with you guys <3

dad!simon gives you twin boys and they are an utter handful. from the very moment they're born, they're getting into trouble, but it's nothing simon can't handle. it's not uncommon to see him holding both boys at once, as they fit perfectly in his arms. and god, you almost give him another child the first time you see him do this. the way he does it so effortlessly, how he quietly mumbles his thoughts to them as he goes about his day, turns you on in a way you don't think you could ever admit to him.

dad!simon insists on putting the boys into football the moment they're old enough. at first you were worried about them getting hurt, as they're toddlers after all, but when you see them running around on the field, their cleats slightly too big and their shin guards slipping with every step, you can't help but coo about how adorable they are.

dad!simon, on the other hand, doesn't coo at them. he's shouting, cheering, clapping his hands every time one of them scores a goal. you're certain he intimidates the other parents, but no one dares to tell him to quiet it down. every time they win a game, simon lifts both boys onto his shoulders and parades them around the field until their stomachs hurt from giggling so hard. no matter if they win or lose, he always treats the whole family to dinner or lunch after the games, because hard work should always be rewarded <3

dad!simon is a smart man, but the new methods of doing simple elementary level math dumbfounds this man. "why do all those fancy steps?" he asks, eyebrows furrowed. "it's how the teacher showed us," one of them responds. "goddamn waste of paper, that way," he curses. you make sure to have a talk with him about how often he uses "foul language" around the boys. you're honestly surprised their first words weren't "fuck" or "shit."

dad!simon gets you pregnant again by the time the boys turn four, and honestly you were surprised it didn't happen sooner. this pregnancy is much easier to deal with as it's not twins, and the two of you are pleased to find out its a girl. when she's born, simon holds her like she's the most precious thing in the world, and your boys are just as gentle with her. taking turns holding her with your supervision, placing kisses on top of her head just like they saw their daddy do.

dad!simon and you go to every single one of her dance recitals the moment she's old enough to be enrolled. she stumbles across the stage with the grace of a newborn fawn, and yet simon and the boys are clapping and whistling the loudest out of anyone in the crowd. he buys her flowers, which the boys end up stealing in order to give to her themselves.

dad!simon gave your boys his height, and they make sure to bring it up at any possible opportunity. always putting things too high up on the shelves, or leaning their elbows on top of your head. they've also picked up on simon's dry humor, and dinner time conversation is usually filled with a myriad of terrible puns and anti-jokes that leaves you rubbing your face and groaning. it only gets worse when your daughter joins in.

dad!simon and you worry a little bit about your kids as they get old enough to date. especially your daughter, who's too kind and sweet for her own good. so when the two of you get called to the school one day because the boys got into a fist fight with some other kid, neither of you were exactly surprised. figuring they had been fighting over some girl, you were taken aback to hear that they threw punches because of something someone said about their sister. "he called her a cunt because she wouldn't go out with him!" one of them exclaims, causing the teacher to gasp at such a vile word. "no one calls our sister that and gets away with it," the other one finishes. that was all simon needed to hear in order to excuse their behavior. he buys them the new video game they've been begging you get them as a prize. "good behavior should be rewarded," he says to you with a slight smirk.

dad!simon doesn't tone down his affection when you're around the kids. of course he's not doing anything grossly inappropriate, but he doesn't hide the quick kisses he gives you, and he's always surprising you with hugs from behind while you're chatting with the kids or making dinner. always giving you gifts, to his beautiful wife who gave him such an amazing family. and this rubs off on your children. the boys always treat their partners with the utmost respect, and your daughter knows not to take any shit from anyone who would make her feel smaller for being a girl.

dad!simon and you watch as your children grow up into amazing people, taking the world head on by themselves. he forever thanks you for giving him everything he could have ever asked for, something he thought would be forever out of his reach. and there's something a little bittersweet about the fact that they're no longer living at home with you, having become full grown adults with their own lives to live, but the cycle begins all over again by the time your first grandchild is born <3

[charlessainzz]

(loved loved ‘jealous jealous boy’ btw💅🏼) so can I request another lando one shot but this time like dad!lando showing his baby around the paddock (like feat Uncle Carlos and Oscar and whoever else) maybe it’s too specific so you don’t have to do it but like I can see it so perfectly😩

Twin Oranges

thanks for the love and the request! I hope this is along the lines of what you were looking for.

Lando was a new husband. He was a new dad. He was also a new dad to twins! A boy and a girl, what a perfect pair. When you told him you were pregnant he almost fainted. But when you both found out it was with twins, he actually did faint. Now fast forward almost a year later, you felt comfortable bringing the babies to the paddock after weeks of Lando asking. You decided to bring them to Silverstone. Close to home, and full of family and friends. 

Walking in you felt all eyes on you. Each one of you; mom, dad, and babies decked head to toe in McLaren gear. Baby boy Oliver Norris held by his mom, and baby girl Noelle Norris held by her dad. As you walked by each garage, drivers, mechanics and all poked their heads out to catch a glimpse at the young family. You finally made it into the safety of the McLaren hospitality ready to get the weekend started when the marketing team encircled you and Lando. You both look at each other and groan. 

McLaren’s marketing team wanted to do a video of the drivers showing the new McLaren twins around the paddock. After hearing the case from a newly graduated PR intern, you caved. You hand Oliver to Oscar teaching him how to hold the baby right. Lando laughing as he can tell you are very stressed handing off your babies. He gives you a kiss, and the camera starts rolling. 

First stop, Red Bull. Lando had no worries bringing the twins to this team. Max and Checo were dads through and through. “Max, come meet my kids!” Lando shouts into the garage. Max jogs up to the twins and gives them both a pinch on the cheek. “Here hold Oliver, my arm is falling asleep”, Oscar complains. “Oi! If my wife heard you complaining about the babies, she’d revoke your uncles status.” Lando scolds. Oscar instantly turns beat red, retaking the baby from Max. Max frowns. “Mate, maybe you need a mini Verstappen. You’re a natural father!” exclaims Checo. “In due time.. In due time”, Max smiles. The orange team says their goodbyes and heads to their next stop on the tour. 

The team visited Mercedes, Aston Martin, Haas, almost all the teams. All while collecting baby sized merch. 

Final stop, Ferrari. Lando and Oscar showed the twins their greatest competition. Up came Charles and Carlos. “Look Oliver and Noelle, this is your uncle Carlos and Charles!” Lando says as he’s holding the babies’ hands to get them to wave. “Which one am I the Godfather of?” Carlos asks half jokingly. Lando rolls his eyes as he lets the Ferrari drivers hold the kids. Charles and Carlos begin arguing over who was going to be the better uncle when stewards announce it’s almost time for FP1. “How’s y/n holding up? I’m sure she isn’t loving being away from her babies”, inquires Charles as he gives back one of the twins. “Oh yeah, she almost raged on the team when they suggested a little paddock tour” explained Oscar. Lando swats him on the side of the head. “Of course she was nervous, she hasn’t left their side in almost a year!” Lando shouts. “Come on guys, say your goodbyes to your fun uncles”. 

You anxiously awaited the return of your babies. Eyes darting around watching as they went from garage to garage with their dad and Uncle Oscar. Hearing the oohs and awws as each driver attempted to make the twins laugh. After what felt like 17 hours, they arrived. Jumping out of your seat you run to grab them from your husband. “Lando give them to me”, you grunt attempting to juggle them both. He laughs at your strong mother instincts. 

“Y/n, relax I brought them back in one piece!” he says as he helps you situate both in your arms. Each baby leaning into you, seeking your warmth. 

“They also return with tons of merch!” exclaimed Oscar. He begins showing you the baby onsies from Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari. You eye them knowing Lando would never let Oliver or Noelle wear anything but McLaren. 

“Oooo is that a Leclerc onesie? Keep that one and toss the rest”, you state to Oscar. He laughs as he sees Lando make a sour face. 

“You always had a soft spot for him!” Lando shouts as you walk away into his driver’s room. “Chunk it Osc. Norris kids only wear papaya orange.”

[fillinforlater]

Eleven to One: Scandalous Shooting

Male Reader x Ahn Yujin

Length: 3140 words

Tags: quickie sex, semi-public sex, might get caught, sex toys, toy use in public, a tiny bit of feet kink/admiration, standing sex, from behind, hard sex, very wet, very close to squirting, very close to losing your career, megalomaniac!you

TW: semi-public sex, I guess lol

Inspiration: the GIF below. Pure sex.

Credt: @sooyadelicacies, my wonderful co-writer in this series. You can find more parts here!

(A/N: After almost three weeks, I'm finally back! Eleven to One is far from being over, view this as sort of an interlude with a big plot point and some nice, good fun with our hot af Ahn Yujin. Enjoy!)

“Excited for my new shoot? Yujin has sent a video.”

#

"Fuck you dumb bitch, suck it just like that." 

Your cock was currently slamming the throat of a gagging Kim Chaewon for what could be between one minute and one hour, anything in between really, but either way, her salvation has just arrived. You pull out of her huffing and puffing mouth and with no further thought wasted on the training session, you prepare to leave.

"What? Where are you going asshole?" Chaewon shouts, baffled, furious, most importantly baffled when you instantly have your hands around her neck and glare down at her, petite and small, kneeling on the floor, one could almost mistake her for a good girl. Chaewon is not yet there though.

"My desire and cock is needed elsewhere. You're not a priority, only a cheap convenience. Yujin is demanding my attention, rather, I demand her body right now." 

Chaewon's face further contorts to a scowl, as you expected. There is the spirit to fight, fight back, fight you, fight whoever opposes her. This spirit is slowly but surely bending to your will and the best part about it: Chaewon has no clue. 

"I'm better than she is..."

Left to right, you cross her messed up face with your cock and scoff at how pitifully desperate her expression is. A little fingering with Minju, a quick blowjob, a facefuck, and she is already demanding you to stay; over your beloved girlfriend, mind you.

"Don't kid yourself, Chaewon." You get your hand in her hair, comb it then mess it up again. "You are so far behind, it's not even funny to compare yourself to her. Like I said: not a priority.

"Minmin, I need you to tie her up. Chaewon's been bad again."

"Yes Daddy!" Minju says naked before you, she is always in the next room, ready to adhere to your commands with glee and joy, even as she puts ropes around her friends ankles and wrists.

"Oh and Minju,” you add, pants not yet around your waist. “How about you suck me off and I'll blast it all over Chaewon's face before I leave. If you are fast, I’ll allow you to lick it off of her too." 

Minju’s eyes brighten and she nods furiously. Soon she’ll nod on your cock.

#

It always fascinates you how easy it is to get into certain areas as long as you look determined and wear the appropriate attire. You dart into the building where Yujin currently still had her shooting for the 1000th magazine her stunning face will be featured on.

Is this an issue for you? No. Yujin is yours, ready to go the extra mile for you every single day. She accepts your craziest desires, the family of lustful friends around the two of you, hell, she risks her entire hard earned career and reputation for you. No reason to mistrust her or be envious because people get to see her face or shoulder or feet—

Okay, this is where you draw the line. Yujin just looks too good; her curvy, willing body on the drawer, hair done to tempting perfection, gaze full of sex and then she sticks her bare feet out. You have to stop it, though it's already on camera, they can’t have more of that.

Behind a group of staff members you come to a halt. Get on your toes and look over their heads to find Yujin, in talks with the director. You hear whispers about some reshoots, Yujin handles the small, direct criticisms like a professional. Of course your eyes also drop from her face to her hips, then even lower to her feet, which are currently hidden in two ugly slippers.

Blending in with the crowd, you make a mental note to speed up plans for your next merger, which is right around the corner, only some stupid, posh guys in suits hesitating, because they don’t want to lose face to Hyewon’s non-nonsense negotiation tactics. After this final chess move, there is no more sneaking around after that. It's a checkmate for any and every doubt. Nothing can stop your fantasies from coming true.

You wait for Yujin to notice you, but then grow impatient. Tapping on your pants pocket, you push a button and notice from a distance a twitch of pleasure on her face as she quickly scans the room to find you.

Perfect, she still has it on her. Whenever Yujin goes out, she has the option to take a small bullet vibrator from her purse and use it to relieve some stress or make a boring schedule more fun. The vibrator is connected with both your and her phone, so you can always test if she knows that you are nearby—and also have your way with her, of course.

Yujin’s libido is great enough for such a bold move and of course she has found you immediately, but instead of going straight towards you, she continues her duty. After all, the reshoots have to continue.

"This scene right here, on top of the drawer," the director says. Yujin gets into position, and thank God she kicks off the slippers.

You lick your lips a little before turning into a scowl. You push the button again, only this time on a higher setting. If you arrived, you were the top priority, not some wannabe director having his eyes look at the most sex-oozing woman to ever walk on this earth. Watching Yujin squirm, you decide to pull out your phone and make a call. The call.

"Hyewon, plans have changed. I want the merger motion to go forward right now. I'm done waiting." 

"Yes, Master!" 

You only had to wait as you watched Yujin continue to try and control herself under the power of the toy inside her. As the minutes and poses went on, it became harder for her to withstand the buzzing pleasure, though the constant background noise has everyone except you blissfully unaware of the vibrators presence. You have to admit, waiting is the thing you hate the most in this world, but with Yujin on the edge, in public, right before your eyes, it’s more than bearable.

"Miss Ahn, is everything okay?" the cameraman asks, worried and puzzled by Yujin's expressions and the increasing redness on her cheek.

"Hm? Oh yeah, I'm gu-ud. Should I try a different pose?"

"How about you put your legs up on it, like you did earlier?" the director suggests. 

When it comes to poses, magazine shoots, and being in front of the camera in general, Yujin is a goddess in every aspect. Cute, thrilling, hot, seductive, cool, she can do it all—and today she decided to give the people what they want.

This tease cannot go unpunished. You continue to let the vibrator do its thing on a low setting to not elicit any unwanted moans and just wet her crotch more and more. It might not be noticeable on the black dress, but she is about to soak it, let her juices run down her legs and pool at her marvelous feet. You are insatiable, not even stopping when she looks at you with begging puppy eyes—

Yujin is at your mercy; only you can get her out of this.

A message from Hyewon lights up your phone. It is done, Master. Well spoken, she must have really pushed those otherwise tenacious executives around hard to get it done this quickly. Smiling, you decide to make your presence known, startling the crew. 

"Mr. Director, you should be getting a phone call any moment now, I'm here to supervise the rest of this shoot. You're all doing wonderful, but I want to make sure Yujin's health is prioritized. Could we go for a lunch break now?"

"Sir, who are you—" The shrill ring of his phone interrupts the bewildered director, though his bewilderment only increases with every second the phone call continues. He hastily runs from set to set, gathering staff members, phone still pressed to his cheek.

"What have you done now?" Yujin snarls, her body not on the drawer anymore, unstable next to you. She grabs your suit, but elect to You ignore her and watch the staff flock out, the directors face full with sweat, an apologetic gesture towards you.

"So-sorry, Sir, we of course take the health of the idols very seriously. I didn't know you were managing her."

"It's alright," you say reassuringly, hand in a pocket, and in the thrill of the moment, you push the vibrator to the strongest setting. "Are you~ alright, Miss Ahn?"

Yujin cries out, her shriek startling the director. He tries to react quickly, but you put on your sternest, most serious face, really, the feat of a great actor, though that is par for the course in your business. 

"Lets not waste any time. Mr. Director .I'll need everybody off the set. I'd rather not have anyone see Miss Ahn like this. Thanks for your understanding."

"I-I, of course, I'll—"

The director throws his hands in the air. His face is pale, he is unsure where to run, left, right; he needs time to catch himself and find the exit as does everyone else. He closes the door with an apologetic bow and you can hear him shout in panic and frustration.

"How the hell did you do that?" Yujin mumbles, her hands on your side to keep herself upright. Look down to find her legs drenched in her own juices, the dress ruined, her hair in a wild mane.

You lick your lips. 

"Oh baby girl, you're mine now. I had Hyewon seal the deal. I bought your company, which means, personally and professionally, every part of you belongs to me."

Yujin's puppy eyes have never been bigger—except for maybe the time you first penetrated her tight pussy—though this time you find it hard to make out any clear thought she might have; is it pure bewilderment at the boldness and timing of your move? Is it anger because you purposefully got her into trouble, took things too far, just because you could? Or is it—

"Now what?" Yujin grits her teeth and looks to the wet floor. "This was too risky! Reporters will ask questions, some are going to spy on you, rumors will spread—they will find it out! You can't hide this forever."

You gently rake your hand through Yujin's raven hair and watch her toes tense up. Her entire body radiates tension, stress, like she can see everything crumble. The future looks bleak, nothing but darkness. The ‘young you’ can relate strongly, the bottom is usually dark—but as long as you fight, you'll reach the light. Even in the poorest of areas, someone is able to reach for the stars and create a better place for himself, his family.

A better place, even better than what you believed was already perfect.

"Trust me, Yujin," you coo to her and gently pull her hair back to look down at that concerned face of a beautiful goddess. "This is going to lead to moments greater than you could've ever dreamed of."

She looks at you with a swirl of conflicted emotions, but you don't let her dwell on it for too long as you move in to kiss her, prodding your tongue into her mouth too. You subtly position your left hand's fingers near her wet snatch.

"We don't have—"

"—a lot of time," the two of you whisper simultaneously. It's teamwork, alright, how she finishes your sentence with her needy voice, how you hike up her dress while she fiddles with your zipper, how you both find a bit of cover in the far corner of the room. If someone were to come in, you'd at least not be seen, but by the way Yujin squirms when you pull at the cord of the oval vibrator, her voice will make the situation blatantly obvious, even for a blind person.

"You need to stay quiet," you growl in Yujin's neck while you still try to get the plug out of her tight cunt. "This is some serious business, don't disappoint me. Do it like you did last year, on the red carpet.

"Why the fuck—"

The vibrator is still stuck inside her, the walls of Yujin's pussy clamp around it, not ready to let go of the pleasure the constant vibration brings. If it wasn't for your arm around her waist, Yujin would've dropped to the floor already. She is unable to resist it, it's deep inside her, it's snuck and comfortable. 

A conflict for you, for her: Can you really let her cum just like this again? It would not be the great, immediate release for your cock you were looking for, but the humiliation, Yujin's embarrassment would make you ascend to a new level of all-powerfulness. It's the same for her, just the other way around. It seems that she has made up her mind before you though:

"Daddy please, you-you need to leave… let me finish the shoot and—" 

But you keep kissing her neck. 

"Baby girl," you growl. "Either you cum on my cock after I pound your tight little pussy or I turn that toy in you on maximum for the rest of the day. You'll squirt like a fucking fountain, make a mess and then what? What will the headlines say then?" 

"Daddy, please! At home… I'll do whatever you want, just not here."

"You know it already don't you, baby girl? I'm your salvation—my cock is your salvation—with it inside your walls, it will keep your cum from spilling out and save you from becoming breaking news."

This much convincing, with Yujin convulsing, is really confusing, but in the end, she is unable to conceal her desire for you to plug her. Her neediness is an issue and your neediness is the solution.

There is no need or time for a blowjob, you are ready to enter right away, so you grab as much of the black dress as you can and pull it up. Yujin's help would be appreciated, but the horny thing can barely stand on her own, both her hands on your back to find security.

"You're the prettiest when you are this needy, baby girl," you tell her as her large, watery eyes are unable to look anywhere but you. A couple of tears spill over, then down her cheeks when she finally presses out the vibrator from her pussy. "Get your leg up here, on this couch." 

The angle is perfect, your throbbing cock aligned—you still need to dive in her delicious full lips with that strawberry flavor to deafen her moans. The dive was almost too late, the draw of her cunt is too strong for your manhood to resist, and of course you fill her fully.

"God, you're so tight, you're always tighter when you're so needy.” Your words come pouring out when you disconnect your lips from hers; it’s like disconnecting from the world and ascending to a place of unknown, unbound, unending power. “I get it now. These shoots, these long and stressful hours. You're so hard working baby girl, but now we can fuck anytime. Isn't that a good thing?" 

You thrust harshly and stroke Yujin’s pretty hair. Anytime, anywhere, it all doesn’t matter anymore. What it matters is you in her, above her, all over her. This is what your love is "Tell Daddy how it feels."

"Y-you're so greedy," Yujin huffs out, even after years of almost daily pussy pounding she is unable to control her breathing during sex. "Where, fuck, where will this end?"

"Answer my question, baby. And keep your moans down. I might make you cum, erupt like a pent up volcano. I can already feel the tsunami building up. Admit that you want me this greedy, because nothing can satisfy—"

"Fuck, okay, okay." Yujin grabs the sleeve of your suit with one hand and your nape with the other. "Daddy, own me. My entire life, my career, my social circle—take it." Her eyes are daggers, then a concoction of bliss, devotion and insurmountable expectations. "Take re-responsibility, and I'll be the best baby girl ever."

"You'll be that either way."

Slam her against one of these many thin, unstable decorative background walls, watch it sway dangerously backwards, but fuck her with the same recklessness as before. Yujin's teeth dig into her lower lip, her body losing all it's grip, except for the grip of her cunt, which you have fucked from every angle, sure, but standing has her the tightest. At least, you believe it right now—maybe it's the setting, the chance to get caught, the career ending thrill.

"I'm your good girl, good girl, Daddy, I—"

"Go on and cum. My cock will save you."

A fleeting moment, a moment of silence, no movement, as if time itself freezes. A moment where Yujin truly is powerless, where she can't just walk out and break up with you or throw everything away and live a different life. She is about to scream her orgasm out, and with her arms uselessly hanging on the sides of her convulsing, climaxing, prime body, nothing but you can stop her from getting caught.

And she submits herself to it, the scream never making it to anyone as you silence her with a strong palm on her luscious lips. Yujin shakes and shakes, only hints of juices making their way past your shaft, your base. She is plugged and both her legs and dress are saved—at least from being ruined entirely.

The orgasm continues in waves. Yujin's eyes water, her moans echo back, her knees melt like ice cream in the summer—she has to admit, she is waiting for your cream inside her, though it never comes.

"Good girl," you coo to her and start fixing her hair while still balls deep in her cunt. "I have some spare panties for you. Don't worry, I soaked them in some perfume, they won't smell anything. Remember, Daddy is right here. Just follow my lead."

"Y-yes." Out of breath is an understatement. You suffocated the poor girl to the point of exhaustion. Maybe that is the point, to make her look exhausted, weak, hell, she can barely walk. You support her, watch her put on the panties, swipe away some messed up makeup that would look too wild, too suspicious. 

"Hook your arm underneath mine," you tell her. "I'll tell them your ankle is hurt, that we'll go to a doctor, something like that."

"Daddy, why do you go through such lengths for, for this?"

You grin and look down at your girlfriend, mere moments before the photography director comes rushing back onto the set.

"Why are you so tight whenever we might get caught doing this?"

[buckysgrace]

Red Roses and Chocolate Kisses

It's wrong to date your student's parent. Right? Is it really?

In which Steve Harrington makes you question everything.

CW: Includes oral sex and unprotected sex!! Also, this is probably too long, I'm sorry. Dad!Steve Harrington x teacher!reader <3

Your class was usually loud, full of pattering feet and outrageous giggles from your tiny students. Today was twice as loud, your class refusing to do even the simplest tasks as the day loomed closer and closer to your class Valentine’s party.

“Now, boys and girls,” You spoke up over all the loud voices, desperately trying to get their attention back to you, “What do we tell all of the parents when they arrive?” You asked them as you adjusted your headband with springy hearts back over your head. You were sure by now your makeup was smeared and your hair frizzy and unruly from the long hours that had passed. 

Paisley’s hand was the first in the air, her expression full of excitement as she held it as high as it would go. You raised your eyebrow, surprised at her sudden outburst. She was new in your class, her family had only moved here within the past month. She was shy, still struggling to make friends with the other students in the class. Most of the time at recess she stood behind you, your little shadow as she tried to show you different tumbling tricks she could do. 

“Paisley?” You asked her then quickly shushed your two ornery boys so the whole class could hear her speak. She dropped her hand, her cheeks turned rosy as she leaned back in her chair and tugged a bashful smile to her lips. 

“We tell them thank you,” She said shyly, “My daddy’s coming.” She said a second later, giggling as the rest of the class began to shout out which parent would be joining them. You grinned, trying to calm them back down as the minutes to their parents' arrival grew closer.

“Okay, okay everyone stay in their seats,” You responded as you ushered them back into their assigned area, “Did everyone get their boxes out?” You asked as you walked around, noticing the vast array of different boxes that were on desks. You could usually tell which students did them on their own and which had their parents quickly throw something together. 

“Miss?” Paisley looked up at you with huge brown eyes and thick eyelashes, “My daddy is bringing mine.” She brought one of her tiny fingers against your pink skirt, tracing one of the red hearts. You’d met her mother, but this had been the first time you’d heard of her father. 

“That’s fine,” You reassured her as you rubbed the back of her shoulders, “Do you have your valentines cards and candy?” She nodded her head, “Good. We can wait for your daddy before we start.” You responded as she skipped back to her seat, a fresh pep in her step.

You greeted parents as they came, helping them unload the various snacks that they brought onto your large reading table. You could no longer hear your radio as parents joined their students, starting up a conversation as you tried to get everyone comfortable.

You were growing worried that Paisley’s father wasn’t going to show and wondered if you needed to sneak out to make a quick call to her mother. Then again, her mother struggled to sign Paisley’s papers and sounded anything but interested in the one meeting you’d had with her. 

“That’s him!” Paisley shouted, speaking louder than you’d ever heard her, “That’s my daddy!” She proclaimed loudly, almost sitting up in her chair as she pointed towards him. 

Your eyes widened as you quickly rushed over, holding your hands out for support as he shuffled into the classroom with his hands full. He had stacks and stacks of cookies, cupcakes and chocolate covered fruit. Around one of his wrists he had multiple plastic bags with bottles of sodas and juice. Under his other arm he had a pink box underneath.

“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” You looked at him surprised, trying to help him balance the treats in his arms before they went everywhere, “Mr. Harrington, this is a lot of sugar.” You ended up taking the box from him, fearing that he might end up crushing it. You didn’t like thinking about Paisley’s mortified face if that happened. 

“Steve, uh,” He paused as he handed you a package of cookies next, “My name is Steve. You can call me Steve.” He stammered out as you took the package from him. You froze for a moment, taking him in for the first time.

He was handsome. Really handsome. His skin was warm with moles decorating across his features. His lips were pretty pink, his teeth white and straight. He had a strong nose, dark eyebrows and dark hazel eyes. You stared at them for a moment, trying to decide if they were more brown or green. 

“Okay,” You drew out slowly as you tugged your lips into an amused grin, “Well, Steve, I think you’re about to give a bunch of first graders a sugar high.” You told him honestly as you began to wiggle things around on your table so he could fit his snacks on there. 

“They deserve it every once in a while,” He smiled as he looked at you, “Plus, my ex gets Paisley tonight. She can deal with it.” He had a tad bit of bitterness in his tone, but you ignored it. It wasn’t your place to pry. 

You looked at him again, his hair was slightly disheveled as he let out a loud groan as he freed his hands. He had a mark around his wrist from how heavy the soda bottles had been in the bag. You suddenly felt nervous under his gaze. 

“I see,” You said as you handed the decorated box back to him, “Well I think they’ll appreciate all of this.” You gestured towards him as an awkward laugh fell from your lips. You quickly shook your head, reminding yourself that he was your student's parent. 

“It’s kind of last minute,” He rambled for a moment, “I had her this week and she didn’t tell me there was a party until last night. I bought a little of everything, you know, what was left.” He breathed out as he took a step back, his eyes knitting together as he took in the vast amount of sweets that he’d brought in. 

“You’re fine,” You reassured him, sure that he had bought enough food to feed all of the first grade classrooms, “She’s been very excited.” You told him honestly, glad that she seemed to be coming out of her shell. His face lit up at your words. 

“Good,” He grinned as he balanced the box in his hands, “Is she adjusting okay?” He looked a little worried as he turned towards you once again, like he was expecting you to say otherwise. You’d briefly heard that Paisley hadn’t done well in her last school. She struggled to focus on her work at times, but you found that if you gave her plenty of breaks and avoided taking away recess time that she got her work done. 

“She’s timid,” You told him gently, “She’ll get adjusted soon enough though.” You told him honestly, sure that she would make friends soon enough. The other kids were willing, she just didn’t seem interested in any of them yet. 

“I hope so,” He paused as he glanced towards you, “She talks about you a lot. She says you’re her favorite teacher.” He pressed his fingers against the corners of the box, almost looking like he was hesitant to say that. You felt your body warm, grateful for the little compliments. It always made you feel like you were doing your job well. 

“Daddy,” Paisley appeared, all smiles as she tugged on his free hand, “Come on.” She whined as she dragged him towards her seat. Steve stumbled backwards, looking like he had more to say as he shot you an apologetic smile. You suddenly felt like giggling, like you were a highschooler again. 

You made your rounds through the classroom, taking turns speaking to parents and making sure that your students passed out an equal amount of valentines to their peers. You passed out your own valentines to each of them that contained their own special letter along with a sour sucker.

“Did you see my box?” Paisley asked you in excitement as you approached, smiling proudly as she gestured towards it. The base of it was pink, with silver Christmas bows on each corner of the box. You could tell where they’d taken a coloring book and printed out different animals, then colored those before gluing it onto the box. 

“It looks very nice,” You told her, smiling at the way she crawled over Steve’s lap, “I bet you worked so hard on it.” You told her honestly as you slipped your valentine into her box. She squealed, wearing a proud expression before she dug her face into Steve’s chest.

“She means thank you,” He told you softly, smiling as he rubbed a large hand along her back, “She really likes Lisa Frank at the moment.” He explained as he dipped her back down, earning a giggle from her before he began to pepper her face in kisses. You felt your heart flutter, sure that something in you had broken as you nodded your head in agreement and moved on.

You thought he looked a little silly sitting in your classroom, sticking out like a sore thumb. His legs were far too long for the tiny desk he was sitting at, his attitude too peppy for the other mother’s that were sitting in your class with their noses raised high. You didn’t miss how they kept looking at him. You were sure they’d be talking about him for the next few weeks. 

“What do you mean you don’t want it?” Steve teased Paisley, her giggles filling the room as you walked back over, “Celery is so good for you. It gives you hair on your chest, just like daddy.” He said dramatically, pulling at the top of his shirt just enough to show his dark hair on his chest. 

“Daddy no!” She giggled, her face flushed as she shook her head, “I don’t want that.” She shook her head quickly, her dark hair bouncing about as she wrinkled her nose up in disgust. You felt a smile pull onto your lips, noticing the frosting that remained at the corner of her lips. 

“You don’t?” He grinned as he kissed the side of her head, “Why not?” He noticed you then, grinning as he continued to rock her back and forth. You sent him a shy wave, hoping that he didn’t think you were odd. He was about the only person your age that was friendly enough to approach. 

“Teacher!” Paisley shouted to gain your attention, “Tell my daddy he’s silly.” She demanded, wrinkling her features up cutely as she balanced herself on Steve’s knee. He pulled her close again. 

“Hey, what’s your teacher's name?” He teased her as he tickled at her sides, “You remember.” He reminded her, giving her a slight nudge as she turned up to you shyly. She nodded her head, repeating your name before she buried her face in his chest again.

“She’s very sweet,” You told him honestly, smiling at how easily she fit herself into his arms, “Are you having fun?” You bent to her level, hoping to make her more comfortable. 

“Yeah,” She answered as she wiggled her face away from Steve’s chest, “I like sugar.” She said honestly, reaching for her plate again to pick up a cupcake, ignoring the celery stick that Steve was still trying to put in her hand. 

“Oh, I bet you do,” You grinned as you answered her, “Sugar is very yummy.” You nodded your head in agreement, meeting Steve’s eye as you slowly rose. You gulped, your throat feeling dry suddenly. You were sure, without a doubt, that he was the most handsome man you’d ever seen. 

You busied yourself at your desk after, fanning through the various cards and pieces of candy that you’d received as you tried to distract yourself from glancing over at Steve. You weren’t sure why he had such an effect on you, why you felt such a dire need to be noticed by him.

You were fairly sure that dating him would be against the rules and then reminded yourself that it didn’t matter. He didn’t seem interested in you anyways. There was nothing to worry about, but that didn’t stop your imagination from running. 

Steve was currently making the other kids giggle and clap, watching in amazement as he popped Hershey’s kisses into his mouth from high distances. You were distracted yourself, having a hard time tearing your gaze away from how charismatic he was. 

It took you a moment to collect yourself, to wipe the dreamy expression from your features and scold yourself for practically drooling over him. You didn’t need to add to any of the gossip that the other mother’s may come up with if they saw you.

The party slowly died down as the bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Many parents ushered their kids out right away, ignoring how you were clearly trying to offer them some of the leftover snacks. You did not want to take them home with you as you feared you may spend the rest of the night snacking on them on your own. 

“Do you need help?” 

“Oh,” You jolted in surprise, sure that everyone had left, “Where did Paisley go?” You asked Steve breathlessly, twisting slowly in the chair that you were standing on to pull free the pink streamers. You figured it was better to take it all down now, then to come back next week and do it before your students arrived. 

“Her mom met us at the front,” He smiled as he placed his hands in his pockets, “I feel bad for bringing all of this stuff and it didn’t get used.” He replied as he gestured towards some of the full trays of cookies and cupcakes that were left. You began to step down, your chair wobbling from your motions.

He reached out quickly, making you jolt as he took a hold of your free hand. His left palm reached for your waist, holding onto you gently as he lowered your feet to the floor. Your insides flushed, your legs trembling as you turned to look at him. From this proximity you could see the green in his eyes, the freckles along his nose. 

“I’m sure we can find something for it,” You reasoned softly, feeling shy at the feeling of his palm against your own, “I’m sure it won’t go to waste.” You told him quickly as you removed his hand, ignoring the sparks that traveled up your arm. 

You turned away, clenching your fingertips together as you desperately tried to rid of the way you could feel your heartbeat in the tips of your fingers. You shook your head, reminding yourself that you had just met this man. You walked to your board, beginning to remove the strings that were decorated there as well. 

“So,” He drew out slowly as he helped you remove the stringers from the top of the board, “What are you doing after this?” He asked you curiously, his features inquisitive as he held the decorations between his long fingers. You noted that his fingers still had remnants of bright markers and glitter glue stuck to his wrist from his decorating with Paisley. 

“I have grand plans.” You said teasingly, trying to hide your grin as you began to erase your board. Usually your students would fight over who got to do it, but they had forgotten with all of the festivities. 

“You do?” He looked towards you quickly, almost dropping the decorations that he had gathered. You fought to keep your laughter at bay, a little amused at how affected he seemed to be. 

“Oh yeah,” You nodded your head as you turned to look at him, “Me, my cat and a frozen pizza. All for myself.” You drew out playfully, finally letting your lips crack into a grin at the way his expression relaxed. He chuckled softly as he moved his hand to the back of his neck and began to gently press down on his messy hair. 

“Do you like Pappo’s?” He asked suddenly, furrowing his eyebrows together in a wince as he turned towards you. He quickly looked away, his brown eyes finding interest in the glitter on the floor like he was afraid of what you were going to say. 

“I’ve heard it’s good,” You told him as you placed the leftover cookies into a plastic bag, “But I’ve never had it before.” You admitted as you thought about the new pizza place that was in town. You had made a few plans with your friends, only for them to not work out in the end. 

“Do you want to try it?” He asked you as he rolled his tongue around inside of his mouth, “With me?” He asked again, looking like he was trying to be suave as he awkwardly rested his palm on your table. You trailed your eyes up the length of his arm, meeting his eyes as you wondered how he used to ask girls out. You had a feeling it wasn’t this way. 

“A date?” You spit out quickly, your eyes widening at your own words, “Like a friendly date?” You quickly corrected yourself, hoping you didn’t seem desperate. You held a paper heart up to your face, lightly fanning yourself as the warmth settled in. 

“Yeah,” He said quickly as he leaned his arm against one of your bookshelves, “Unless your cat will be waiting for you.” He teased softly, looking just as interested in what you had to do later. You felt a flutter in your heart, suddenly feeling like this dreaded holiday wasn’t that bad. 

“He probably will,” You giggled softly as you nodded your head, “Sure. Do you want to leave now or?” You asked him curiously. It was still fairly early in the afternoon, but you couldn’t be sure if it would happen if you ended up waiting. You’d rather go now, then wait by the phone and face rejection later. You were sure that he had plenty of other options waiting for him. 

“Now is good,” He told you quickly, “Do you need a ride?” He looked at you curiously, watching the way you replaced your decoration in a box and stood on your tippy toes to push it back onto the top shelf with the rest of your decorations. Steve moved next to you, placing his fingertips next to yours as he pushed the box back with ease. 

“I walked,” You told him honestly as you steadied yourself on your feet again, “I don’t live far.” You told him for some odd reason. You stared at him, feeling a warmth traveling between the two of you. You could feel something tugging you in his direction, something invisible binding the two of you. 

“Walked?” He looked at you in disbelief, “It’s freezing out.” He noted. You nodded your head, suddenly interested in the way his lips moved. You wondered how they were so pink, how they looked so smooth. You wondered if they tasted as sweet as they looked. 

“It was a little chilly,” You agreed as you twisted the lace along one of the paper hearts your students had gifted you, “But it gives me time to think.” You shrugged your shoulders as you looked back down at the ground, mentally punching yourself for being so easily affected by him. He was just being nice and he was off limits. 

“I figured it’d take someone with a big imagination to teach a bunch of wild kids.” He chuckled as he shrugged his own jacket on. You grabbed your coat, then slid on your hat and gloves. It was too cold to not bundle up. 

“They’re not always wild,” You said playfully, “But parties always seem to make them a little more hyper.” You told him seriously as you began to grab your gifts and some of the leftover snacks. You’d have a whole weekend to try and not eat them yourself. 

“I really wouldn’t make her more hyper for her mom to deal with,” He said suddenly as he helped you carry the leftover desserts outside, “I hope you know that.” He replied, looking like he was genuinely worried about what you thought. In all honesty, you’d heard moms say much worse about their husbands. It didn’t phase you one bit. 

“I figured,” You nodded your head in agreement, thinking that he was too kind to do something like that, “Do you get her every other week?” You asked him curiously, hoping he wouldn’t think you were prying. He took the desserts from your hands as he slid them into the trunk. You held onto your own gift bag, not wanting to risk losing the work from your students. 

“Yeah,” He nodded his head as he opened the door for you, “I’d like her more, but that’s the best agreement we could come to.” He explained briefly. You paused as he shut the door for you, then stayed silent until he reappeared into the driver’s seat. 

“I’m sorry.” You told him honestly, knowing that divorces could be hard. Very hard. 

“It sucks,” He agreed, “But things are better than what they used to be. Are you seeing anyone?” He asked as he started his car, giving it a minute to warm up before he took off. You rubbed your clothed palms together as you waited for the air to turn warm. 

“Not currently,” You replied as you played with the seatbelt over your waist, “I guess I’m still stuck on waiting for the right person.” You told him honestly, still wondering if you kept your nose buried deep into too many romance books. 

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” He replied, “Well, I hope not. I’m doing the same thing, I guess.” He mumbled for a moment. He glanced over his shoulder, making sure that no one was coming as he slowly reversed out of his parking spot. 

“It’s very romantic.” You grinned as you turned towards him, thinking that he looked more handsome with wind blown hair and a red nose. You were sure that this was inappropriate, that your coworkers would have a hay day if they ever caught wind of what you were doing. 

“It feels weird,” He admitted, “I’d been with my ex for the longest time, I’m not really sure if I know how to be with anyone else.”  He replied for a moment, looking like he had desperately needed to get that off of his chest. You nodded your head, feeling like you could understand in a similar way. You weren’t sure if you would ever have anyone. 

“I think you’ll learn to adjust to the change,” You told him softly, “But I don’t have much experience in that area.” You told him truthfully, feeling like all of your relationships had ended in broken hearts and tears. You couldn’t even remember the last time you’d had a romantic Valentine’s date. 

“Either do I,” He sighed as he pulled over, “I really hope you’re hungry after all of those sweets.” He grinned from ear to ear, his eyes tracing over your features as he gazed at your reaction. You felt a smile tugging onto your lips, swooning a little at the attention that he was giving you. 

“I think there’s always room for pizza,” You teased him, “Thank you.” You told him truthfully, feeling a little less lonely on this holiday as you slid out of the car.

Steve was a gentleman. He held doors open for you, pulled your seat out for you, constantly asked for your insight and just seemed genuinely glad to be near you. You thought that he must be a little lonely too as you were sure you couldn’t be that interesting. 

“What do you like?” He asked you as he glanced at the menu again. He held it a little too close to his face, squinting as he peered at the words. You slightly wondered if he needed glasses, or if it was just a habit he had fallen into. 

“Pepperoni is fine with me,” You answered, “Or just cheese. Whatever you feel like sharing.” You told him truthfully, fully planning on eating whatever he got. You could feel a twitch in your fingertips as the warm feeling continued to spread through your chest, down to your legs and to the tips of your toes. 

“Is Paisley your only child?” You continued to make small conversation with him once the food arrived. You had learned that he was funny, really funny. You liked how lighthearted he was, how he was slightly dorky but still had a certain charm to him. 

“Yeah,” Steve nodded his head, “I want more one day.” He added as he peeled a piece of pepperoni off of half of the pizza and popped it into his mouth. You watched as he poked his tongue out, then licked away the grease that had collected in the corner of his mouth. 

“Kids are fun,” You told him in agreement, “How many do you want?” You asked out of curiosity as you enjoyed the bubbles from your Coke. 

“Like six,” He grinned in amusement as he took in your surprised expression, “I’m an only child, I want something else for Paisley. I know how lonely it can get.” He explained with a shrug of his shoulders. You nodded your head in agreement, thinking that his reasoning was strong. 

He questioned you about your life, the questions small and vague but you were far more eager to tell him than you had been with your previous dates. He seemed to be actually interested, like he wanted more than just to bring you home to his bed. 

“What is it?” You asked as you reached for your purse, “We can split it.” You told him seriously as he looked over the bill. He shrugged his shoulders, looking like it was no big deal. 

“It’s fine,” He brushed you off, “I got it.” He told you truthfully as he began to scribble down his signature on the little receipt. 

“No really,” You said, feeling a little guilty. You didn’t know if this counted as bribery, “I don’t mind.” You responded quickly, feeling your heart hammering roughly at the way his eyes met yours. 

“We didn’t get you a Valentine’s card,” He said quickly, “This way it’s fair.” His grin was a little lopsided, a little dorky although his eyes seemed to be apologetic. 

“Dinner in exchange for a card?” You asked him, shaking your head at the goofy grin that formed on his lips, “Alright then.” You rested your chin on fingertips, feeling a little enamored by the way he moved. 

“Easy trade,” He insisted as he pulled free the cash, “I can give you a lift back home.” He offered you, raising an eyebrow as if you would protest. This place was definitely too far to walk back to your apartment. 

“I’d appreciate that,” You told him softly, “Are you sure I’m not keeping you from something?” You asked him seriously, hoping that you wouldn’t be bothering him. 

“No,” He said as he shook his head, “I really enjoyed this. It’s better than being home alone.” He told you, speaking what had been on your mind earlier. 

“I can agree with that,” You smiled, “Although my cat is probably wondering where I’m at right now.” You said with a soft laugh, hoping that your cat wouldn’t be too offended. 

“Do you want to come in?” You asked him, feeling your heart flutter, “Just for a drink?” You tried to brush it off as no big deal, although you really didn’t want to lose his company so soon. It was silly to become so attached to someone that you had only just met. 

“My throat is dry,” He grinned as he looked at you, “I’d love that.” He replied as he dragged himself out of the car. He walked quickly, almost slipping in the leftover slush from the previous snow just so he could open your door first. You grinned as he helped you out, then offered you his hand as you walked through the parking lot. 

“Um,” You stumbled a little bit as you led him up the stairs to your apartment, “I wanted the top floor. I liked the balcony, I like sitting out there in the early mornings.” You explained to him, although you hadn’t been able to do that recently. 

“Yeah?” He looked at you with interest, watching as you slid the key inside of the lock and turned it for him, “It’s not a bad place.” He told you quickly, interest flooding his features as he inspected your various pictures and paintings. 

“Tiny,” You responded as you glanced over your shoulder to peer at him, “But it’s fine for just me. It doesn’t make me feel as lonely.” You admitted, feeling a little less embarrassed to admit how lonely you could be since he’d spoken up about it. 

“How could you be lonely with this guy?” Steve grinned as he ran his hands through your cat's fur, “What’s his name?” He watched as your cat rubbed his face up against his palm, soaking in the cuddles from someone new. 

“Spooky,” You responded, watching in enjoyment, “He’s a big softie.” You told him honestly, knowing that Spooky enjoyed sleeping and eating more than anything else. 

You made a glass of hot chocolate for the both of you, which then turned into two as the conversation kept going. You didn’t want it to stop, didn’t want to pretend that you weren’t allowed to be with him. Even if it was wrong, you figured a few more minutes wouldn’t be that big of a deal. 

At some point you found yourself scooted closer to him, his arm resting across the back of your sofa as his fingertips brushed against your exposed shoulder. Your body nearly felt too hot, your heart beating too fast as his voice moved through your ears like the sweetest symphony. 

Your conversation had suddenly trailed off, drifting into silence as you both faced one another. You traced your eyes over his features again letting out a dreamy sigh at the sudden rush you felt, as if you were on a rollercoaster.

He moved closer, his nose pressing against yours as your lips parted in anticipation. His lips did the same before he closed them again, then tilted his head down further so you could smell the rich chocolate coming off of his tongue. 

You felt your eyes close as you clenched one fist together tightly, trying to wake yourself up as you felt his lips drag against yours in hesitance. You tilted your head up, repeating his motions as his large hand fell to the back of your neck.

Your heart was hammering wildly against your bones, creating a new rhythm inside of your body as Steve teasingly pressed his lips against yours again. It was soft, sweet. Just enough to wake you up from your dream. 

“Steve,” You gasped, your lips still lightly brushing against his own. His hot breath fanned your face, “We can’t do this.” You told him as you pressed your hands against his chest, admiring the way his heart was thumping against your palm.

“Why?” He asked hotly, his eyes warm and dark as he looked at you. He was still close, close enough that you could make out the slight green in his eyes.

“I’m Paisley’s teacher,” You reminded him, “This could put her in a bad spot.” You told him softly, knowing that a hookup with your student's parents was a very bad thing.

“Or a good one.” He chuckled softly, slowly rubbing his thumb against your neck. You felt your mind spinning, like you were falling into a haze as his lips grazed against the corner of your mouth. He kissed there slowly, then licked in a tantalizing manner.

“I don’t want this to be a one time thing.” You told him quickly as you placed your hand against his, grabbing it so you could grip yourself back into place. You wanted this, you wanted him. Desperately. 

“Who said that I did?” He chuckled as he rubbed his fingertips along the curve of your hips, “It’s just kissing.” He mumbled, nearly making you swoon from how raspy his voice was.

“I really want to,” You told him truthfully, hating that you had to reject him, “But I can’t. Not while she’s in my class.” You explained softly, feeling like you had no more air to breathe as he brought his hands against yours.

“I understand,” He replied, looking at you sincerely as he traced his thumb across the side of your hand, “I’m patient.” He grinned a second later before he settled back into his spot, going back to explaining what he thought about the TV show that was playing in the background. 

A few days passed since you’d last seen Steve, which to some part, you were grateful for. You needed the strict reminder that he was off limits. You’d known of coworkers who’d gotten involved with parents before, only for it to end in heartache.

You did your best not to remind yourself that most of those parents had been in relationships, meanwhile Steve was single. In all technicality, there was no actual rule about you dating him. You could, but you knew it would make things awkward.

You’d have to get around the issue with Paisley, as you were sure she would accidentally slip up and announce to the class that you were dating her daddy. You didn’t want that to spread around to the school, to the parents. It would look bad on your part, you were sure of it.

Your parent teacher conferences seemed to be longer than usual. Most parents weren’t concerned and you guessed that they seemed to feel that this was more of a waste of time than anything. Sometimes it was like pulling teeth to try to get through to some of the parents. 

Paisley’s appointment had been last and it took everything in you to keep from secretly wishing that Steve would show up. You figured it would be her mom again, which was fine. You shouldn’t be looking forward to seeing a parent. 

But Steve had shown. He was a few minutes late, all apologetic as Paisley wrapped herself tightly into his arms again. Your heart still fluttered in the same manner, your body warming as he smiled oh so sweetly at you. You wondered if he could still feel your lips against his. You couldn’t stop thinking about his lips. 

“What are you doing later?” He asked you curiously, once you had run through all of your main points about Paisley. He seemed to take her grades quite seriously, which you were happy with. He made you feel like you were doing something right. 

“You’re my last meeting for the day,” You admitted as you slid the papers away, “After that, I’m not sure.” You shrugged your shoulders, sure that it would have something to do with feeding Spooky. That would perhaps be the highlight of your night. 

“Come over.” He said finally, looking a little more confident than the last time you’d seen him. You raised your eyebrows in surprise, not expecting him to ask again. You thought about how badly you wanted to go, but you knew you weren’t supposed to. 

“Steve,” You sighed softly, “You know-,”

“It’s not a date,” He reassured you, “Just for dinner. And a movie. Paisley and I rented The Little Mermaid again. She loves it.” He replied as he gestured towards her. Paisley took interest, moving over so she could grip onto his knee and pull herself up onto his lap. 

“It’s my favorite!” She added gleefully, smiling as she balanced on her knees. He took a hold of her waist to lift her with ease, before he settled her better onto his lap. You watched, debating what was the right thing to do. 

“It would be wrong.” You said at last, wrinkling your face up as you clearly didn’t want to bring that answer down upon him. You really, really wanted to go with him. It was pathetic just how badly you wanted to.

“Think of it as a home visit,” Steve grinned as he watched her, “And I have a bunch of discounted candy that’s just going to end up rotting away if someone doesn’t eat it.” He pointed out, wiggling his eyebrows a bit to earn a laugh from you. You tilted your head, watching him in amusement. He bore the same grin, looking just as excited at the prospect. 

“I’ll eat it.” Paisley spoke up quickly as she snapped her head up towards her father. He looked down at her, his lips curling into a knowing grin. 

“You’ll get cavities,” He teased her as he moved her hair from her forehead and gave her a soft kiss, “What would the tooth fairy say about that?” He asked her playfully, giving her another kiss on the side of the head before he turned towards you again. You could feel your heart hammering as an invisible string seemed to yank you closer and closer to him. 

“I don’t know,” She giggled as she held onto him, “Please come.” She turned towards you next, shooting you the same large brown eyes that Steve held. You knew that if you were to say no that he would understand, that he wouldn’t pressure you into anything. 

“Okay,” You smiled, “But just for a little bit.” You told them in a playful manner, doing your best to sound stern as you playfully pointed at the two of them. 

Steve dropped you off at your apartment first, saying he had no issue with you checking up on Spooky before you went with them. Paisley was eager, almost pouty because she desperately wanted to see where you lived. 

“Roses?” You looked at him, one eyebrow raised in accusation as you walked into his house. It was fairly large and you could see why he’d get so lonely when Paisley was gone. Still, it looked like it was lived in. He had many pictures of her, of them and of people you assumed must be his friends.

He framed some of her artwork too, which you were sure she really enjoyed. His living room was slightly messy, filled with discarded toys and stray crayons. His pillows were a little frumpy, his blankets scattered about in such a manner that it made you wonder if he had napped on the couch beforehand. 

“They were on sale,” He grinned as he bit down on his bottom lip, “I couldn’t just let them go to waste.” He said simply as he pulled a rose free from the vase. He offered it to you, watching with interest as you pulled it up towards your nose and took a slow inhale. 

“They were too pretty,” Paisley added as she moved to grip your hand, “I’ll show you my room!” She told you in excitement, bouncing up and down as she waited for your energy to match her own. 

“Sure,” You smiled, letting her drag you up the stairs and down the hallway, “Oh my. I love it.”  You said dramatically as you peered at the room. She squealed, giving herself a little hug before she bounded inside.

You carefully twisted the rose in your fingers as you looked around at the many princess posters, along with the very pink sheets and mass amount of toys that were neatly stacked up in the corner of her room. Her bed was made nicely, but not neat enough to make you think that Steve had done it. 

“She really likes Disney princesses right now,” Steve explained, gaining your attention as you turned to see where he was leaning against the doorway, “I’m sure you’ve heard all about it.” He smiled in amusement, watching the way Paisley continued to run about. 

“Not princesses, no,” You told him softly, “But I do know that she likes ponies.” You teased her, noticing the various Barbie dolls that were surrounded by horses. She grinned from ear to ear, her face brightening as she looked back towards Steve as if to confirm that he had heard you.

“Lots of ponies,” He chuckled, his eyes sparkling as he watched his daughter pull her collection down, “I can order something for dinner, what sounds good?” He asked you, but you really didn’t mind what you had.

You turned towards Paisley, waiting for her response as she gave you a knowing look. She giggled as she bounced on her feet in excitement. 

“Pizza rolls, daddy!” She said at last, surprising the both of you. You didn’t mind pizza rolls at all, it had actually been some time before you had eaten any. That sounded good enough for you. 

“Pizza rolls?” He looked at her incredulously, “You don’t want like, an actual pizza?” He asked as he pushed the hair off of her forehead again. She leaned against his touch before she smiled up towards him. 

“No,” She said quickly, “I like those better.” She gave him an excited grin, giggling softly as she held onto the material of his pants. You felt your own eyes lingering against his hips as you took in how thick his thighs were. You quickly turned away. 

“What about spaghetti?” He asked instead, swaying her back and forth as he presented the option. You watched in humor, impressed at how well he always interacted with her.

“Hm,” She paused dramatically as she held her hands on her hips, mirroring how Steve was standing at the moment, “I think that’s good.”

“Alright,” He paused before he headed out of the door, “But you’re eating all of your broccoli this time.” He gave her a firm, but playful look. 

You played with Paisley for a while, enjoying the time with her although you wished you were speaking more to Steve. You reminded yourself that this is what you wanted. You wanted that distance. 

You were sure Steve was the definition of your perfect guy. On top of being funny and sweet, he really knew how to cook a mean meal. Even if it was something as simple as spaghetti and meatballs. 

“You’re messy,” He teased Paisley as he used a wet rag to wipe her face clean, “I think you need a bath when we get back.” He turned away from her, his lips pulled into a warm smile as he looked towards you.

It felt like the whole Earth had stopped, like time had slowed and it was just you and him. Your fingers felt like they were numb, petrified from the sudden jolt that erupted in your heart. It made your whole body shake, quiver as his eyes slowly drank in every tiny detail on your features. 

You could no longer hide the way you felt, the way he made your pulse quicken and your nerves spark with electricity. It traveled down your arms, down your legs and to your toes. You could feel it in your chest and clear up to your head.

Steve turned away first, his cheeks slightly flushed as he turned his attention back down to his plate. He listened to how Paisley rambled for a moment, his lips still twisted into a smile as you came to your own decision. 

After that, you couldn’t allow yourself to be distant from Steve. You spent the majority of your free time at his place, or he spent time at your place. Neither of you had made a move from the first night, but every second spent with him had you wondering when it would happen again. You were craving each little interaction, hoping that it may lead to something more. 

“I’ve honestly never understood these movies,” He told you one night as you were both snuggled up into the corner of the couch. Your feet were crossed and linked as you shared the footrest, “What are they doing again?” He asked, turning towards you curiously as he knitted his features up in an adorable way.

You’d rented The Ewok Adventure, already knowing that he had never seen it before. You’d watched it a few times, but mainly got it because of how excited he’d been when he had told you that his favorite Star Wars movie had been the one with the teddy bears.

“The Ewoks,” You paused as you pointed to the screen, “The teddy bears, they’re trying to help those kids find their parents.” You explained, gesturing towards the kids as they came on the screen again. Steve nodded his head, his lips parted in understanding before he knitted his eyebrows tightly together. 

“What happened to their parents?” He turned towards you again, his features still plastered into uncertainty. You watched the TV for another moment, deciding on the best way to explain it all over again. 

“Steve,” You turned towards him in amusement, “Did you watch the first part of the movie?” You teased him as you gently pressed your fingertips against his sides. He nudged you back, pushing your fingers away before you could fully tickle him. 

“Well, yes,” He said, looking a little flushed, “And no. I was a little distracted.” He admitted a second later, his gaze softening as he watched you softly. You could feel your heart fluttering deep inside of your chest as the butterflies inside of your stomach burst to life. 

“With?” You asked him softly, fluttering your eyelashes at the way he moved his large palm over your thigh. The sparks inside of your skin grew, spreading through your veins as desire pooled between your legs. He gently spread his fingers across your pants, rolling them softly against your inner thigh. You felt your breath hitch as your clit began to throb. 

“Just admiring how you’re pretty enough to be in a movie,” He told you, giving you a cheesy smile as you snorted, “What? It’s true.” He squeezed your flesh this time, almost making a soft moan leave your lips. 

“You’re very sweet.” You told him truthfully this time, wishing you had the courage to tell him just how handsome he was. You saw him everywhere. In your dreams, your fantasies. You even pictured him in the books you’d read. It was pathetic really. 

“When are you going to let me kiss you again?” He asked you suddenly, his voice soft and sultry as he continued to hold your gaze. You felt your heart stop for a moment before you remembered how to make it work again. 

“This is the first time you’ve asked.” You reminded him, suddenly aware of how close the two of you were. You fought the urge to squirm, to push his large hand further between your thighs. You wanted him to touch you there, to feel his fingers spreading your folds apart as his tongue lapped against your clit. 

“Are you going to reject me again?” He asked you playfully, his eyes sparkling with interest as they glanced down towards your lips. Your eyes moved in the same manner, staring at the way his lips curved and moved as he spoke. 

“There’s only a few weeks left of school,” You mused softly, “I suppose there’s not an issue if we keep this, you know, a secret for right now.” You shrugged your shoulders, hoping that you didn’t sound too desperate. You felt like you were being reeled in, that there was no real reason keeping the two of you apart. 

“Paisley does have a loud mouth.” Steve grinned, chuckling softly like he was thinking the situation over. You grinned, but felt like you needed to defend her. 

“Don’t be mean,” You giggled softly, “All kids her age are the same.” You told him truthfully, briefly thinking of the amount of tattle tale slips you’d had recently. 

Steve watched you for a moment, almost making you shy away with the intensity that he held. You gulped, turning your attention away for just a moment before you met his unreadable gaze. He was almost intense, far more than what you had been expecting. 

“I really want to kiss you.” Steve told you truthfully, his voice warm and thick like honey. You felt your heart begin to quicken at the thought. You wanted that. You wanted that very desperately. 

“I won’t stop you,” You breathed out softly, “I want to kiss you too.” You admitted, feeling like there was no longer a barrier between you two. You slinked yourself forward, moving slowly as he scooted himself a little closer. 

It was slow. Almost too slow. His nose brushed against yours, your mouth opening as you awaited for the feeling of your lips against his own. He parted his lips in the same manner, inhaling sharply before he gave you what you’d been waiting for. 

His lips were warm, smooth and sweet all at the same time as you pressed your lips desperately against his. He slid his large hand against your neck, holding you still as he dragged his lips against your own. His tongue prodded at your bottom lip, licking away the sugar from the ice cream that you had shared earlier. 

You gasped as you turned your body closer to him, sliding onto your knees as he raised in his seat as well. Your body felt like it was on fire, the flames spreading through the open mouth kisses that he dragged across your cheeks and chin.

You tilted your head, spreading your fingers through his hair as he began to pepper his lips against the crook of your neck. His kisses were soft and sensual, then deep and passionate as he dragged his tongue against your skin. 

His mouth brought moans from your lips, leaving your eyes tilted as he gripped your thighs and pulled you closer to him. You began to rut your hips against his thigh, gasping at how your clit jolted from the feeling of his rough jeans.

He brought his lips up to yours again, moving his mouth against yours harshly as you savored the sensation of your saliva mixing with his. He flicked his tongue against your bottom lip, spreading warmth down through your tummy as he dug his fingers into your flesh. 

“I want you,” He mumbled, his lips dragging against your own as he spoke, “I want you so badly.” He breathed out, his nose brushing against your skin as he peppered a kiss against the corners of your lips. 

“Then take me,” You whispered out as you took a hold of his hands. You moved them onto your hips, then began to drag them up the curve of your body. His eyes were dark, his mouth parted as he followed your motions. A surge of confidence filled your body as you placed his palms over your boobs, gasping at the way he began to squeeze them, “I want you too.”

His mouth fell onto yours again, fiery and passionate as he blindly worked on stripping you out of your clothes. You closed your eyes in bliss, licking at his bottom lip as he roughly tugged your shirt off of your shoulders. He moved to your bra next, reaching behind your back to snap it off.

He licked at the crook of your neck, his teeth lightly grazing your skin before he began to decorate your skin in love bites. You raised your hips as you held onto his shoulders, sighing as you raised your hips and he pulled your pants down the curve of your legs.

He pulled back for a moment, his eyes filled with the same fire you felt as he slowly curved his palms against your knees. He squeezed softly, keeping his eyes trailed onto your body as he slowly moved his fingers closer and closer to the band of your panties.

“You’re so beautiful,” He mumbled as he looked at you, causing your breath to hitch as he slowly fell to his knees in front of you. He linked his fingers through the band of your panties, tugging them down slowly as he drank in the image of you, “I’ve wanted this for so long.” 

You didn’t have time to answer, unable to fully comprehend the warm feelings that had filled your chest. His touch was so soft, so sensual. You’d never felt more desirable than you did right now. It made your heart throb, your body twitch in anticipation as he brought his lips against your inner thighs.

He kissed at your flesh slowly, dragging his tongue against every dip and curve as he made the slow trail towards your wet cunt. He gripped the back of your thighs as he pushed your feet up onto the cushions, spreading your legs wide as he inhaled your sweet scent. His lips curled into a soft smile, his eyes fluttering shut for just a moment before he pressed a gentle kiss against your clit. 

Your whole body lurched, dragging back against the couch as sharp sparks spread through your body. You gaped, parting your lips in awe as you glanced down to the sight between your legs. Steve’s eyes were blown wide, staring at you intensely as he flicked his tongue through your wet folds.

Fire. Everything felt like it was on fire. You were burning from outside in, his tongue flicking through each crevice as he lapped at your folds. Your thighs squirmed at the sensation, your body shaking as he purposely avoided brushing his tongue against your clit. 

Soft moans fell free from your lips as you brought your thumb to your mouth, biting down softly to keep the dirty words from pouring off of your tongue. Your cunt was aching, soaking in the pleasure of Steve’s mouth as you slowly began to rock your hips forward.

He gripped your hips, spreading your legs wider so he could get better access to your cunt. He groaned as he dragged his tongue through your fluttering hole, his strong nose brushing against your clit as he continued to devour the taste of you.

“Steve,” You whined, your fingers falling through his hair again as you gripped the back of his head. You tangled your hands through his thick locks, your hips jerking at the whine that left his lips. Vibrations traveled through your cunt as he continued to groan, sounding as if he was a starving man, “Oh my God.” You breathed out hoarsely, feeling as if you were praying to Steve instead. 

He drew his tongue back towards your folds in a tantalizing manner. He moved slowly, steady as he curled his tongue against your clit. You squirmed again, your nipples hard from the cool air as your body continued to burn hotter and hotter. You were red hot, close to melting as he began to flick his tongue rapidly against your neglected clit.

You cried out, clinging to his hair as he slowly increased the movements of his tongue. He moved more rapidly, more intensely as you almost felt the need to wiggle away from him. It felt good, too good as your breathing became more labored.

You could feel your stomach muscles clenching tightly, your toes curling as the pleasure raced up your spine. It tickled every nerve, every muscle as you felt yourself coming undone underneath him. His large hands squeezed at your thighs, holding them tightly as he kept your legs far apart. 

“Fuck!” You cried out, the profanities rolling off of your tongue before you could help yourself. He kept you still, squeezing his fingertips deep into your flesh as you rode out your orgasm. He licked away your slick just as eagerly, diving into you like he was having a fresh new taste, “Steve.” You whined again, feeling like you were unable to form full sentences from how blissful you felt at the moment. 

He groaned as he pressed his lips against your folds again, flicking his tongue through your crevices one last time as he licked the last of your sweetness away. He looked up at you after, eyes flooded with lust and lips coated in your cum as you suddenly felt more needy than ever before.

You wiggled from his grasp with haste, setting your own urgency as you quickly pressed your lips to his. You licked away the taste of yourself, your stomach twisting in pleasure at the way he moaned against your lips. 

You tugged his shirt over his head, pausing for just a second to admire his mole kissed skin. Your eyes drifted over his thick chest hair, watching as the trail went clear down to his jeans. You moved your hands over his shoulders, touching him gently to reassure yourself that he was real. 

You fell onto your back, giggling as you fell onto the cushions while he moved back onto the couch. He roughly tugged his own jeans and briefs down, barely leaving you a chance to admire him as he positioned himself between your knees.

You quickly sat up on your elbows, determined to get a good look at him as he began to drag his fingertips against your inner thighs. You felt slightly numb, hiding back a moan as you took in how long and thick his cock was. It was pretty too. He was slightly curved and his tip was fat and pink. You knew it wouldn’t leave your mind for the next few weeks. Months. Years. You were smitten by him entirely. 

“I wanted this for a long time,” You finally repeated back, almost shyly as he gave himself a slow jerk with his palm. You watched his features in interest, hoping he’d bear the same expression when he was inside of you, “Please, Steve.” You begged softly, knowing that it was far too late to turn around.

He pulled his lips into the softest grin as he leaned forward, his breath warm and heavy as he barely grazed your mouth. His eyes fluttered close, his features relaxed as he slid his fat tip inside of your wet pussy. You moaned, your mouth falling open wider as your lips dragged against his own. 

The stretch of him was a bit much at first, almost painful. He moved slowly, giving you time to adjust as if he already knew. You held onto his biceps, squeezing softly as he pushed deeper and deeper inside of you. You looked down, slightly in awe at the way your bodies met.

It took only a minute for the pain to erase and for the pleasure to take over. You gasped as your nails dug into his skin, silently begging for more of him as your cunt stretched around him perfectly. You had never felt so filled before, so satisfied. 

Your mind already felt blank, foggy with pleasure as Steve pressed his forehead down upon yours. He groaned in the same manner, making your insides twitch with want as his cool nose touched your cheek. 

He slowly pulled his hips backwards, dragging his slick cock through your fluttering walls before he slammed deep inside of you again. You cried out, feeling the walls with your sounds of pleasure as his breath fanned over your face.

He moved one of your hands from his bicep, gripping your fingers with his instead as he built up a steady rhythm. He brought his lips upon yours slowly, kissing you sensually as he used his other hand to grip your hip and guide you along the length of his long cock.

He rutted into you, rocking his hips as he filled and stretched you in ways you hadn’t been able to imagine. Your kiss became messy, your lips unable to keep up with his as he stole the air from your lungs. The fire only spread, burning from your body onto his as he silenced his own groans with your lips.

The sounds he made were enough to drive you crazy, regardless of how deep his cock was inside of you. He grunted, groaned, whined and whimpered as he pressed his cock in and out of you. You gaped, licking at the corner of his mouth as a bright light of pleasure hit you harshly.

“God!” You cried out, clenching your fingers against his tightly as the tip of his cock nudged against your bundle of nerves, “Oh fuck, right there. Right there, Stevie.” You begged him, pleaded with him as you turned your attention back towards him. 

His features were knitted tightly in pleasure, his pink lips parted in awe as he stared down at you. His expression was filled with lust, but also with something softer. Like he cared. You used your free hand to claw at his back, digging your fingertips into his sweaty skin as you urged him to continue moving in the same manner. 

You were desperate to feel more of him as you savored the way his cock moved inside of your pussy. You gaped at the feeling of his cock curving deep inside of you, pressing against your most desired spots as your slick leaked down between your thighs. The sound of his skin hitting yours rolled off the walls like a symphony. 

“Jesus,” He breathed out harshly, his voice raspy as he let out another guttural whine, “You feel good. Oh fuck.” He spit out just as roughly, his words just as rushed as what yours were. You could feel the connecting strings between the two of you as the waves grew deeper and deeper inside. 

Your body shook as his cock continued to hit against your bundle of nerves. The pleasure washed over you roughly, as the sounds of flesh meeting mixed with the melodies that left your lips. You felt your cunt clamp down around him, squeezing him tightly as you came undone once again.

You continued to shake, your body still twisting in pleasure as his movements became more rapid. He pushed into you harder, his groans becoming louder as you felt his cock throbbing inside of your sensitive walls. 

“Fuck, fuck,” He cursed again, his nose pressing against your cheek as he furrowed his eyebrows tightly, “Oh!” He grunted, mouth falling wide open as he pressed himself as close to you as he could go. You could feel his balls against your skin, warm and wet from the mixture of your arousal. 

You breathed out harshly, still squeezing at his fingers as you felt his cum sinking in against your walls. You took it gladly, savoring the feeling of him as he panted against the side of your face. You turned, looking up at him in bliss.

He was pretty, far too handsome than what he should be. You admired the curve in his face, the lines in his expression as he slowly relaxed against you. You watched the way his lips curved into a smile, how he let out a shaky chuckle before he turned to face you.

He brought his thumb against your cheek, brushing it softly as he looked at you in the same manner. There was something, something forming deep inside of your chest that you didn’t understand. Perhaps your situation wasn’t right, but you couldn’t see how being with someone who made you feel so good could be wrong.

“Can we do that again?” You blurted out, feeling a little silly over your first choice of words after the intense moment you’d just had. He chuckled, looking at you in amusement as his messy hair fell onto his forehead.

“I’d like that,” He mumbled as he dragged his lips against yours again, kissing you sweetly for what still felt like the first time, “How about a date first?” 

[gashinabts]

Me and My Husband | (m)

Word 4.k

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Genre: fluff, slight angst, smut

Warnings: smut, explicit sex

a/n: sorry I have been hiatus, I’ve been busy and I had writers block 😭hopefully I’ll write more fics

You don’t want to brag but you have the world’s greatest husband. Jungkook packs your lunch everyday, and makes cute shapes with the fruit. There’s even a little note, ‘ Have a good day at work, Baby! <3’. Smiling to yourself you place the note down, and eat your food with content.

Your new coworker, Mina, sits down next to you in the break room, sighing and drinks her energy drink. “ I swear men are the most lazy specimen,” she chugs the rest of her drink. “ I asked my husband to pick up the kids from school and he said he was too tired from work. I’m tired too but I still have responsibilities to do,” she groans. You don’t what to say, you just give her a meek smile and offer her a gimbap.

Mina takes a bite and hums in delight, “ How do you even have time to pack your lunch since you have morning shift. Did you make it at night?” She asked in curiosity.

“ My husband wakes up early and makes it for me. He also makes me breakfast too,” you shrug. Jungkook wakes up an hour earlier than you, first he kisses you and tells you have an hour left of sleep left. Then he works out sometimes lifting weights or running around the neighborhood. After that he packs your lunch and makes you breakfast.

Mina eyes widened in shock. “ Wait till you get over the honeymoon stage,” she laughs poking her elbow to your arm. “ How long have you been married? Six months?”

Shaking your head you laugh, while pulling your phone to show her your family picture. “ Almost nine years, we have two kids. My oldest six years old and my baby is three years old.”

Mina is even more shock, “ And that’s your husband. I don’t want to cross a line but he’s hot,” she points at your husband. Jungkook is wearing a black t-shirt and displaying his tattoos, and his jeans hug his thighs in the right places. “ He is hot and makes you breakfast and packs your lunch.” She groans, she is wondering what she has done in her past life to not have a perfect husband like yours.

You chuckle, “ Yeah, he’s the best.” Feeling gleeful that you have him in your life. You don’t want to go into details that he also cooks dinner and cleans the house while taking care of your kids because you were sure she would pass out.

…

You enter your house and see your husband making dinner with Soobin. Walking towards them, Soobin immediately senses you. Turning around shouting Mommy. “ How are my babies?” You kiss Soobin on the cheek and he makes grabby hands, and you carry him easily. Nuzzling into his chubby cheeks and peppering kisses and putting him back down so he can carry on to helping his dad.

Jungkook smiles and stops cooking, immediately giving you a welcome home kiss on the lips. His hands are on your hips, “ We are good, Hyrei is taking a nap. Soobin wanted to help me out and we are almost finish with dinner,” Jungkook kisses you more and you wrap your hands over his shoulder, basking in his attention.

It stops all too soon when Soobin tugs on Jungkooks shirt. “ Daddy, we need to finish.” He pouts and you laugh because he looks just like Jungkook when he gets upset.

“ Sorry, I was giving Mommy kisses because I miss her,” Jungkook explains to him and ruffles his hair. Jungkook pecks your lips one last time and playfully smacks your butt. “ Take a shower, dinner should be ready by then.”

Nodding you listen to his directions and head up to take a shower. Feeling refreshed out of the shower you walk to drawer picking your cutest lingerie set then wearing a baggy shirt and sweatpants over it. Hurriedly, you walk down stairs as you hear Soobin calling for you. Jungkook is setting the food on table and you are greeted with Hyeri on her high chair waiting patiently to be served. Hyeri doe eyes look at you and she immediately smiles and calls for you. You talk to her asking about her day and she lets out a few words still getting the grasp of speaking in full sentences. Soobin sits on your lap wanting your attention as well, and you ask about school. And he excitedly explains in detail about it. “ Thank you, baby,” you kiss Jungkook’s cheek when he serves your plate. There’s a lot of laughter at the table and you enjoy talking with your family.

After dinner you set the kids in the living room and put on cartoons for them so you can help Jungkook clean the kitchen while talking to him. “ How was work, love?” Jungkook ask as he cleans the dishes, while you are cleaning up the mess Hyeri made. He loves hearing you talk about work because you are passionate about it.

“ It was really good. One of my old patients who is about Soobin’s age come to visit me. He’s walking and running now. He gave me a hand written card. And told me I was his hero,” you smile. The faucet turns off and Jungkook turns around tells you to come over. “ Yes?”

Jungkook hands are on your cheek caressing it, “ You’re amazing, you know that?” You roll your eyes, flustered at his compliment. “ I’m serious Y/n. You’re kind, smart, and beautiful. And you saved so many children’s lives. I’m really grateful to have you as my wife.” You hide in his neck not wanting him to see your flushed cheeks. He chuckles at your actions because it is similar to Hyeri’s body language when calls her ‘pretty girl’.

“ Jungkook I—” you were going to tell him that appreciate him more but all you can hear was Soobin screaming in pain. Immediately, you both run to the living room and see Soobin crying holding up his finger. “ Soobin, what happened?” You asked but he keeps crying loudly. Skillfully you examine his finger and see no bleeding just a faint red mark. You see the toy car next to him and you assume what happened. Soobin calms down sniffling now, “ Did you pinch your finger with the car?” He nods at your question. Jungkook sighs in relief and wiping Soobin tears.

…

“ The babies are asleep,” you say as you enter the bedroom and Jungkook is on the bed waiting for you. You pull your shirt off and toss it on the floor along with your sweats and Jungkook smirks when he sees your lilac lingerie set. “ Do you like it?” You ask already knowing the answer and you sit on his lap.

“ Fuck yeah,” Jungkook looks at your tits and nuzzles into them. He get lost in them he loves the warmth and how it smells like honey and lavender. Your nails caress his hair and he groans immediately getting hard from the sight of you. “ So damn sexy,” his hands land on your hips massaging as he gets closer to your ass. Desperately wanting to be inside, Jungkook fingers trail to your front of your lace panties seeking your wetness. He is always desperate with you, it is not like you guys don’t have sex regularly. Just yesterday you guys fucked in the laundry room, he had to stuff your mouth panties so you wouldn’t wake up your kids from their nap.

Jungkook leaves open mouth kisses on the swell of your tits, sucking marks on them. You grind on Jungkook’s hand as he pushes your panties to the side and rubs your wetness. He focuses on your clit and you whimper. After a few more minutes of heavy petting you beg Jungkook insert his finger since he was teasing you so much. Jungkooks skillfully fingers and your trying your best to contain to your moans. “ Jungkook wait…” Jungkook stops and ask you what’s wrong. “ I want to ride you,” you whisper pushing more against the head board.

He pulls his shirt off and your hands touch his pecks and his abs. You notice that he has gained more muscle. “ Gonna ride me good, baby?” Jungkook ask.

“ Yeah, I want to make you come hard,” your hand pump his cock and you make marks on his neck. Wanting to show people that he is all yours. Jungkook stifles a groan tossing his back as you touch his sensitive tip. You give him one last kiss on the lips before turning around so your back is now facing him. His hands are drawn to your ass fondling them and you chuckle because he is both an ass and tits guy. Pushing your panties the side, Jungkook helps you by inserting his cock in and you guys both moan as you slide down hard. Not wanting to waste time you ride him like a pro never stopping for breaks.

Jungkook continuously curses as you squeeze him tight, his hands spreading your cheeks loving the way you cream on his cock. He slaps your ass and you clench harder in pleasure. “ Riding me so good, baby,” Jungkook slaps another time the rubbing it to soothe the pain. You whine wanting more but you had to keep quiet because you didn’t want to wake anyone up.

“ You feel so good. I can feel you so deep,” you whisper. Grinding now because your thighs are little sore. You one of his hands from your ass to your navel, “ Can you feel it? I love it when your so deep in me,” you tell him, softly moaning.

Once Jungkook heard those words something came over him, he loved hearing you dirty talk. But his hand feeling your soft stomach and the imprint of his cock is making him go crazy. His actions taking control of him he thrust upwards and holding your hips in place fucking you to oblivion. Your eyes roll back and you cry into your palms muffling your moans. Overwhelmed with pleasure you come hard on his cock. “ Come for me, daddy,” you let out breathlessly. “ Want your come in me.”

Jungkook moans your name, pumping a couple times before coming inside. He holds you tight against his chest, peppering a couple kisses on your nape. Both of you breathless not saying anything. He leaves more kisses on your back. “ Jungkook, I love you,” you say just above a whisper.

“ I love you too,” Jungkook softy whispers. He pulls out and switches your body so you’re now facing him.

“ No, like I really love you,” you tell truthfully. Jungkook looks at you with doe eyes and you gleam holding his cheeks, peppering kisses everywhere on his face. “ You are my favorite person in the whole world. And I appreciate everything you do for us,” you kiss his lips.

“ Thank you, Y/n. I appreciate you too,” Jungkook smiles. He kisses you back and his hands trail your back and unlatches your bra taking it off. “ Let me show you how much I appreciate you,” he gently pushes you back on the bed.

…

Jungkook groans as Soobin jumps on him waking him up, “ Mommy said to wake you up,” Soobin says playing with his father’s fluffy hair. Jungkook carries Soobin and enter the kitchen to see you cooking pancakes. Placing Soobin down he eats his pancakes and gives Hyeri the banana slices. “ Morning,” Jungkook kisses your lips and he tries to kiss you more but you push him off laughing. “ I’m don’t want to burn anymore pancakes,” you say.

You serve him his plate with extra bacon, “ These are yours. They are protein pancakes,” Jungkook hums happily eating his plate and you eat your own as you feed Hyeri more pancakes. “ Such a good girl. Eating all your food,” you coo at Hyeri. Jungkook admires the way you look with your hair in a bun and your wearing his big t-shirt.

Jungkook gulps before he says the next words, “ My mom says we should visit her soon,” he notices your hands halter and you turn to look at him. Jungkooks looks nervous because he knows how you feel about his mom. And there’s always an argument regarding about his mother.

“ Yeah she hasn’t seen Soobin and Hyeri in awhile we could drop them off,” you shrug and drink your orange juice. Soobin looks at you because his name is mentioned. Your hands brush his soft hair, “ Want to see grandma, lovebug?” Soobin smiles and excitedly says yes.

He wants you guys to have a good relationship. “ She wants to see us too. That’s including you Y/n,” Jungkook says.

“ Why would she want to see me? She hates me,” you turn your head around and crossing your arms. You don’t have the best relationship with her. You guys always end butting heads and she disapproves of you working and Jungkook being a stay home dad. It is not like you forced him to do that. It just conveniently worked out that way. Jungkook was more than happy enough to be a stay at home dad.

Actually you think she hated you the moment Jungkook introduced you to her. When you and Jungkook started dating in college, you would sometimes spend the night at his apartment. So when she did her occasional visits to give her son more banchan she found you and Jungkook naked in bed she was not mad at her son but at you because you corrupted him. Even though Jungkook had several past girlfriends before you.

“ She hates you?,” Soobin ask loudly in shock. You want to laugh because he’s nosy wanting to hear the drama but you’re too upset to laugh.

“ Y/n,” Jungkook gives you look because you weren’t careful with your words around Soobin. “ And Soobin since you are finished eating…” Jungkook takes Hyeri out of the high chair setting her down. “ Go play with your sister outside.”

You wait for them to leave so you can return to the conversation. “ Jungkook anyone can tell that she hates. She always berates me when I do anything.” You thought that things would be easier with her since you and Jungkook get married but it hasn’t.

“ My mom promised me that she wasn’t going to pick a fight with you. And I told her that if she did that I would call her out and leave right away,” Jungkook explains. You want to bang your head on the table because Jungkook is a little bit of a mama’s boy. That’s the only fault he has, that he always defends his mother like she is a saint. “ Please baby, for me” Jungkook begs you, pouting like Soobin.

“ Ugh, fine,” you get up putting your things in the sink not having the appetite. “ When are we going to see her?” You ask already dreading it.

Jungkook gets up hugging you from behind, trying to kiss your lips but you are stubborn continuing washing the dishes. He settles for your cheeks kissing them. “ Next weekend.” You mentally groan.

…

The day prior to visiting your in-laws you went to the butcher and asked for the best cut of beef and got a couple pounds of that. Along with expensive health vitamins because you know your father-in-law loves them. You still are dreading to go, Jungkook holds the groceries as you carry Hyerin and hold Soobin hand. The door immediately opens and your mother-in-law goes towards Jungkook hugging and kissing him. “ You look so thin! Are you not being fed?” And you want to roll your eyes because it sounds like a jab to you. She looks at you specifically.

Jungkook rubs your back in comfort. “ No…Mom I’ve been eating well, we all have,” Jungkook says.

She looks down and sees Soobin holding your hand and she picks him up. “ How’s my baby Soobin, I saw you last month but you gotten so big already,” She kisses him. Soobin explains to her that he has been eating a lot of rice and vegetables so that’s why he got so big.

Jungkook laughs and takes Soobin from her arms not wanting his mom’s back to hurt from carrying his weight. “ Look at Hyeri she’s gotten big too,” Jungkook points to Hyeri while she hides into your neck still shy.

“ Oh she is big and so pretty too like a flower! Come to grandma,” she immediately takes her from your arms. You follow inside the house and you hope it is not too long you guys have to stay here.

You play with your children outside as they chase the dog. Hyeri in your arms and your father-in-law talks about the crops with you. He says his growing tomatoes this season because he knows how much you and Soobin like tomatoes you smile thanking him. “ Y/n! I need your help bring Hyeri with you ! ” your mother-in-law calls from the inside the house. You look for Jungkook because you don’t trust yourself alone with her but he is preoccupied by fixing his Father’s garden tool.

“ Yes, mother, ” you ask while entering the kitchen.

“ Help me peel this,” she indicates to the vegetables on the counter.

You don’t mind helping but you don’t want Hyeri to be bored in the kitchen, “ Okay let me put Hyeri outside so she can play—”

“ No, she needs to learn how to prepare food for her husband,” she says sternly.

Your eye twitches because Hyeri is just a baby and she doesn’t need to worry about preparing food for her husband. You want to bite your tongue but you don’t, “ Okay let me bring Soobin, it’s not fair for Hyeri to just prepare food. He also needs to learn how prepare food for his husband or wife,” you say.

Her eyes widen, “ Y/n don’t you ever say stuff like that!” You don’t know which part got her mad. Soobin learning how to prepare food or that you don’t think heteronormative. She looks very angry and you don’t want to get into another fight.

“ Okay, fine. I’m sorry. We will help you cook.” You’ll apologize to Hyeri when she gets older, when she realizes why she could she never play with her brother at her grandma’s house. You help cook dinner and she tsk at you couple times when you don’t expertly cut vegetables like her. Hyeri looks at you cook and you give her piece of carrot to chew on.

Dinner is finally ready and you set the table, and your father-in-law takes a bite of the meat and exclaims. “ Y/n, this is really good ! You know how to pick out high quality,” he tells you. Soobin is on his lap and he feeds him as well. “ How’s work? I always brag to my friends that my daughter is the best pediatric surgeon,” he says.

You laugh, “ Works been really good. I recently did heart surgery on an five year old, it was successful.” You say happily.

Jungkook smiles rubbing your shoulder, “ That’s my girl.”

“ So when do you plan on quitting and staying at home with your children? Jungkook also went to university and got his degree. He should not have to let his degree go to waste,” your mother-in-law speaks condescending.

“ Mom we talked about this,” Jungkook says. “ Y/n and I agreed that she will work and I will take care of the kids. Plus I love spending all day with children. Once both of the kids enter primary school I’ll look into my career.”

“ What about Soobin and Hyeri they are going to be confused,” she explains more.

You are getting frustrated. “ Then I’ll explain to them that there’s nothing wrong about breaking gender norms,” you say.

“ I hope Hyeri isn’t going to be like you. You are headstrong—”

Jungkook interrupts, eyebrows furrowed, “ Mom—”

“ Well then fine. I’ll teach her to be the ‘ perfect woman’. She’ll serve her husband and make sure his food is ready at a certain time. Education? Why would she need it if shes just going to be cleaning and obeying her husbands order,” you say sarcastically state getting up from your seat and walking towards outside. You hear them call your name but you ignore them seeking silence. You watch the stars outside and sniffle a little. Not wanting to let your emotions come over you.

Jungkook looks at his mother in disappointment, “ Y/n is my everything and I don’t appreciate you talking to her like that. She’s works hard at everything she does and I look up to her. I hope Hyeri becomes just like her,” Jungkook says in a stern voice. He walks out to talk to you and notices your slumped shoulders.

“ Y/n,” Jungkook gently calls your name, his hands are carefully placed on your shoulder. “ I’m sorry. Let’s go home,” he says hugging you. You don’t know why he’s apologizing maybe because he put you in this situation in the first place. You bid your goodbyes bowing in apology for letting your anger get out of control. You and Jungkook don’t talk for the rest of the way home. You don’t feel like talking anyways, too exhausted mentally.

…

You feel someone gently rubbing your arm and you wake up. Jungkook gives you small smile, “ Good morning, love.” Rubbing your eyes you look at the alarm clock and see that it’s eleven o’clock. Your head is still pounding from the after effects of yesterday.

You try getting up quickly but Jungkook calms you down. “ Shit, I woke up late. I’m sorry you were supposed to rest on the weekends,” you groan. On the weekends you make breakfast giving Jungkook a break from cooking and getting the kids ready for the day.

“ Don’t apologize. You’re fine. Kids are already fed and playing outside.” Jungkook kisses your forehead. “ About yesterday…” he caresses your hair.

You close your eyes briefly before speaking, “ I’m sorry. I overreacted and I know you’re mom is old fashioned—”

“ No you didn’t overreact. You were standing up for yourself. Being old fashioned doesn’t give her any reason to be rude to you,” Jungkook speaks softly. “ And if any of our children become like you, I would be very happy because you are wonderful person.” You’re in shock because he usually makes excuses for his mom but not this time.

“ Thank you,” you say in a whisper. Leaning up you kiss him softly immediately feeling better. Pulling his arms, you grab him so he can lay with you on the bed. He chuckles when you scoot closer to him, your face in his neck nuzzling into him. “ And if anytime you want to go back to work just tell me. We can put the kids in day care or I can take a break…”

“ I love taking care of our children. I rather take care of them sending them to daycare. Plus, I get to make my lovely wife food,” Jungkook says trailing his fingertips on your back. “ I got it all under control and I think I’m the best house husband,” Jungkook cockily states.

Laughing you pull away staring at his face, he has a cute smirk on and you kiss it. “ And the hottest,” you add on.

“ Wow out of all the amazing qualities I have you only compliment me on my hotness,” Jungkook playfully speaks.

“ And you have the biggest cock,” you cough, “ I mean biggest heart.” His hands immediately pinched your butt and you yelp loudly then laughing.

His hands grab your ass squeezing them roughly, “ Just wait till the kids are asleep. Imma destroy that pretty mouth of yours,” Jungkook says lowly. In the mood you go to kiss him and Jungkook can immediately tell by the way your eyes darken. But he gets up immediately, “ Nope not right, I promised Soobin to play dragon versus knight.”

You get up stretching and looking outside from the window. The weather is nice and you want to play with them too, “I’ll join you guys,” you ask as you put on your shorts. Jungkook holds your hand as you guys walk out to the fresh air.

[totaly-obsessed]

can you write for Katie where her and reader have been dating for awhile and meeting eachothers parents and them getting on well :)

Meeting the Parents

Katie McCabe x reader request

-> Meeting your girlfriends parents goes better than you would have thought

-> @ anon I hope you like it! -> Another short one

➳ Masterlist

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

Anxiety wrecked through your body as you stood in front of Katie’s childhood home – Today was the day you would meet her parents. With ten siblings it's hard to get them alone, but tonight everything worked out. Your girlfriend of five months wanted to introduce you to her family gradually, and not throw you into cold water, meeting all of them at once.

“What are the chances that you’d let me not meet them, then tell them I died or something and we can run away together and—”

“Breathe, baby. Please!” The Irishwoman couldn’t help but laugh, finding your nervousness cute, but she obviously already knew her parents, and you didn’t. “They’re gonna love you, don’t even worry your pretty little head about it.”

Instead of knocking like you wanted to, your girlfriend just pushed the door open. “Mum! Dad! We’re here!” her loud voice drowned the soft background music out, as two figures made their way towards you from the kitchen.

“Oh it is so lovely to meet you – look how pretty Gary!” Katie’s mum immediately started to fuss about you, pulling you in a bone-crushing hug, before keeping you at arm's length, looking you up and down. “We need to get some meat onto ya!”

Wow. This was a lot.

But Katie couldn’t help but smile, watching her mum be so excited towards you and openly inviting you into her family home. Her dad gave her a firm pat on the back, obviously a lot calmer than her mum was – but he also pulled you in a quick hug, making you feel very welcome.

No ten minutes later after getting a tour of the entire home, the four of you were sat at the dining table – or rather Katie and Gary were sitting, while you insisted on helping Sharon carry the many side dishes and help cut the bread. It was delicious – a pasta mushroom ragout with incredible homemade bread, very hearty and filling.

Everything was going well and Katie admired the way you just fit in perfectly with both her parents. Sharon and you shared a passion for cooking and gardening while Gary admired your subtle and funny digs at his daughter.

“So what do you do for a living?” Gary had swatted at Katie to help her Mum clear the table, making you sit back down again, insisting that you had already helped enough and that your girlfriend was indeed able to do some work, even if she would try to convince you from other things.

“Oh, I’m a Bank Teller. I help our customers cash checks, withdraw money, move transactions to different accounts, create checking and savings accounts, and provide checks to customers – stuff like that.”

Both Gary and Sharon had wide eyes, that just screamed impressed – while Katie had that annoying, cocky smirk on her face as her hand rested on your thighs. “Told you she’s smarter than all of us!”

You could see where Katie had gotten her wit, humor, and compassion from. Her parents truly were incredible. Eleven children was no easy feat and all of them had grown to be lovely human beings. It made your eyes water a bit, hearing the parents brag about their youngest getting good grades and finding passion in drawing.

“Katie here was always a little special though.” You couldn’t help but laugh at your girlfriend’s wide eyes – she was fucked. The conversation had turned from her sibling's embarrassing stories to her own and she knew it. “We once went to church, and the priest raised his voice at the end of his sermon, to emphasize his point. And because Katie here, wasn’t allowed to shout in the house, she stood up on the pews and yelled at the top of her lungs ‘Inside voice only!’ – the whole church laughed!”

Gary could barely tell the story, or get through the impression of his daughter without nearly dying of laughter – and you joined him. Katie could only watch you, mesmerized that you fit in so well, that she didn’t even care that her parents were just completely embarrassing her with story after story until your belly hurt from laughing so much.

The way out took at least thirty minutes, someone always found something else to say. You were sure that you had hugged Sharon at least five times now. “Okay! We’ll be off now!”

Once again you hugged both of her parents, whispering a small ‘Thank you for having us’ in their ears while Katie watched. “Oh get some leftovers, would’ ya?” And with that you were gone again, leaving your girlfriend with her father by the door.

“Do you like her?”

“I think I like her more than you.”

Katie scoffed. She could definitely understand her father, and she was happy that the evening had gone over so well.

Meanwhile, Sharon and you were in the kitchen, making a huge box of leftovers to take home with you. “Thank you for loving my daughter. You were one of us from the moment you started taking care of her.”

“Thank you for giving birth to Katie – and for welcoming me!” Both of you laughed through the tears at your clumsy statement.

You left Katie with her parents, already getting in the car to give them a moment alone. The night was cold and Katie’s coat only did so much to keep you warm, but the box of food still emitted a warmth. Not only because it was still hot, but also because it felt like home.

“I’m gonna be honest my love. Watching you guys together made me glad because I know you have someone when your mum and I leave this earth.” Sharon still had tears in her eyes, and now Katie did too.

“Don’t say stuff like that Dad, make you look old!”

[strawberrysturniolo]

ok about goal hockey!chris

can we have a part 2 with reader actually fighting hart's girlfriend after she said something about chris at a party and reader wins please LMAO

goal part three // hockey!chris

summary: the reader finds herself in a fight as she defends her boyfriend, chris

It’s safe to say that Chris has had a great season. Whether or not he wants to go pro after college, scouts have been at almost every game with their eyes on him. He’s had meetings with some coaches, hoping they can convince him to leave his friends and family and go wherever he is wanted. 

I have done nothing but support any decision he plans on making. I know he could thrive in the NHL, and I also know that he would love it if he would let himself. But it’s understandable that he may not want to leave his family. He makes a point every day that he doesn’t want to leave me either. 

Tonight’s game is against Harvard. 

More importantly, against Hart. 

The last time we played Harvard, Chris fought Hart. Even though we won that game, Chris has made a point over and over again that he does not want to deal with Hart’s ‘pathetic comments and even more pathetic hockey skills.’

Chris usually goes MIA on game days, which I totally understand. He puts so much pressure on himself and prefers to take his time on his own and focus on his own routine before he takes the ice. However, it is tradition for us to see each other right before the game, but Chris prefers to not be distracted in the morning or throughout the day.

I threw on Chris’ alternate jersey to wear to the game, along with a pair of leggings and matching Nike dunks to tie everything together. When I made it to the rink, I hung out with my friends before heading to the outside of the locker room to wish my boyfriend good luck before his game. 

I hear the sound of men cheering and chanting, signaling their journey to the ice. 

I find my boyfriend towards the end of the crowd of guys, waving to him with a smile before he runs over to me in his skates. 

“Hi baby,” he smiles, scooping me up in all his padding. He’s double his own size with all of that on him. “Thank you for coming.”

“I’m at every game, Chris,” I remind him.

He shrugs after putting me back on the ground. “It still makes me happy knowing that you’re here with me.”

I place a soft kiss on his lips before pushing his hair out of his face. “You gonna give me a goal today?”

He nods confidently. “Of course.”

He peeks at his jersey on my body, smirking to himself before holding my cheeks and pressing a needy kiss to my lips. My lips part, granting him more access. His hands quickly find my waist, pulling me closer. My arms rest over his shoulders, my fingers twirling the curls at the base of his neck. 

I’m not sure how long we’ve been standing there making out, but it had to be too long. Chris’ coach’s voice rings in my ears.

“Sturniolo!” he calls, pulling Chris back. “Get on the ice!”

Chris presses a kiss to my cheek before walking away. “Doesn’t she look cute in my jersey, Coach?”

A grin grows on my face, especially when I see his coach smack the back of Chris’ head, scolding him. 

I find myself a seat in the stands next to my friends and some of the other girlfriends on the team. Once the game starts, we’re all cheering for our respective friends and boyfriends. 

Some time during the first period I hear a few girls with some snarky comments.

“Could they be any more obnoxious?” the laugh behind us. “I mean, they’re cheering for their boyfriend’s who are playing like shit. They’re too clueless about the game to not know when to shut your mouth.”

My eyebrows furrow at the sound of them. I’ve been to every game since Chris and I became friends. He’s taught me everything I need to know, and what does it matter when or how I cheer for him. I’m here to show my support, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.

When I watch Hart snipe a shot past our goalie, everything makes sense. 

I hear that same voice behind me shout, “Let’s go baby!” as she jumps up.

That bitch.

Chris skates in front of us as they set up another play, rolling his eyes at Hart’s girlfriend in the process. Chris’ team gets set up, trailing closely behind Harvard. In seconds, my boyfriend is speeding down the ice and firing a shot at Harvard’s goalie when he least expects it. I’m on my feet before the shot even goes in, but when it hits the back of the net, I’m shouting for Chris.

“Yeah, baby!” I cheer out. He grins at me as he holds his stick in the air, skating towards his teammates. 

“That was pure luck,” I hear from behind me. “If our defensemen had beat him there, there’s no way that shot would have gone in.”

This is the dumbest claim I’ve ever heard. ‘If our defensemen had beat him there…’

Yeah, and they didn’t, so my boyfriend scored. 

The same stupid comments continue to fly out of her clueless mouth as the game goes on. 

The score stayed at 1-1 for another period, until Matt scored a goal of his own. I jumped up in support of my boyfriend’s brother, but my excitement grows when an announcer says that Chris assisted that goal. 

“Yeah, Chris!”

Laughter comes from behind me. “This girl is too stupid! Her boyfriend didn’t even score that goal!”

I turn around slowly, an obvious look of annoyance on my face. “Maybe your brain is fogged from all that puff puffing you’re doing back here with your friends, but Chris assisted Matt’s shot. You say a lot about thinking I don’t know anything about hockey, but anyone with a brain would be able to figure out why I was cheering.”

My best friend pulls me back down before the situation grows into something more, possibly worse than it already is. “Just ignore her,” she says. 

That suggestion is only growing more difficult as she’s shit talking my own boyfriend while she sits only a few feet away. I’m starting to understand why Chris decided to fight Hart. I’m having a hard time holding myself back from his girlfriend. 

I sit on my hands and fold my lips into my mouth to keep myself from reacting in any way that could make me or Chris look bad. I have no idea if there are any scouts for him today, and I can’t risk throwing away an opportunity for him. 

“You okay?” Chris mouths from across the ice. I only nod in response.

The game ends with another win for us. 2-1. It was a close game, but we won, and that’s all that matters. I stand from my seat and clap for the team before heading out of the rink before Hart’s idiotic girlfriend can say anything else to get under my skin. 

I stand outside the locker room with the other girls as I always do, this time, with the Harvard girlfriends purposefully following us on our way. I stand silently, trying to ignore them as I wait for Chris to come out of the locker room, but Hart’s girlfriend’s whispers to her friends while her eyes are on me are getting harder to ignore. 

“Sophie, we all know that Hart kicked his ass once, and he is able to do it again.”

So her name’s Sophie.

Are they forgetting the fact that Chris won that fight?

“How cute is she, wearing her boyfriend’s jersey?” one of her other friend’s pitches in. “I think it’s got some of Sturniolo’s blood on it from that fight!”

“Are you guys done?” I ask, my tone snippy. “You shouldn’t even be down here. It’s for our students and our players. Shouldn’t you be comforting your boyfriend’s after that loss?” 

Sophie laughs at my comment. “I’m pretty sure this is for anyone. Maybe if you weren’t making out with your boyfriend any time you were down here, you’d see that fans of both teams have full access to this space.”

Before I have a chance to argue, she takes a step forward with venom in her tone. “Too busy occupying the slutty puck bunny role to notice anything else around you.” 

I don’t even have time to process my actions before I feel a sting in my hand. 

Oh my god.

“You bitch,” she says, holding her cheek. 

My friends surround me as I stand in shock. I just slapped Hart’s girlfriend.

That joke about Chris wanting me to fight his girlfriend just came true. Maybe this doesn’t count as a fight though. We can just label this as a little… scrap?

Nevermind. 

Now Sophie is kicking me everywhere and yanking on my hair.

“Hey, hey, hey!” I hear Chris’ voice as he runs over to the group of girls. 

“Ow!” I yell out, smacking my hand around with my eyes closed.

I’m pulled back by my shirt, opening my eyes to find Chris dragging me away. 

He pulls me into the locker room with his jaw clenched. It’s pretty sexy, honestly. 

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” he shouts. 

Okay… Maybe not sexy when he’s yelling at me. 

“What the fuck are you doing?!” he adds. 

“She was calling me names and-”

“No!” he interrupts me. “This is fucking ridiculous. I watched you slap her!”

“You fought Hart-”

“In a hockey game!”

“She called me a slutty puck bunny!”

“I don’t care! I was talking to the Bruins coach when you were fighting some girl over a stupid comment!”

Fuck.

“You were?” I ask, my voice softer as I’m filled with guilt. 

He tears off his jersey and his padding and throws it into his bag. “Yeah, I had to excuse myself and throw away that opportunity before he realized you were wearing my jersey.”

“I’m sorry, Chris,” I apologize sincerely. 

He ignores me as he finishes packing up. I sit silently on a bench and wait for him to finish. 

He sighs as he throws his bag over his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

I nod. Nothing really matters about my situation now that I know about Chris talking to the Bruins coach.

“I’m really sorry, Chris.”

“I know. I should have listened to what happened between you guys before I lashed out,” he confesses. “I’m gonna call the coach tomorrow and see if he wants to get lunch to hopefully make up for this.”

I frown. “I ruined this for you–”

“You didn’t,” he assures me. “It’s gonna be fine. I promise.”

I follow him as we walk out of the locker room and to my car. He turns around with a cheesy grin.

“That was a good slap. Rang through the hall,” he compliments me. 

I roll my eyes, shoving his shoulder. “Shut up.”

took a different approach to this request but i hope you still like it! tag list: @freshloveforthefit @lacysturniolo @mattitties @floofparker @javalakers @creamoncreamoncream2 @heebiejeebiezz @sturnswrites @runupthathillgirl @gdsvhtwa @666hellokitty420 @runupthathillgirl @oliviasturniolo21

[moonlightazriel]

The truth about you /// Azriel X F!Reader

Summary: Azriel knew everything about her and her family filled with criminals, or that's what he thought, what if the truth was different from what he have heard?

Warnings: Angst, fluff and a bit of smut.

Word Count: 2,9K

Notes: I think I'm slowly finding my way back into writing and it feels so good, this has been sitting on my drafts for a while but still needed to finish it, but here we are. I'm feeling better and thank you for all the patience and support.

Main Masterlist

“I have a mission for you.” These were the words that led him there, the task was simple, receive a package, and take back to the House of Wind. The problem? The package came in the form of a beautiful woman, with dark hair reaching her waistline, cunning brown eyes, and too much attitude.

She kept looking around Velaris all the way until he should fly her to the House, stating that she never saw such a beautiful place before, and would be a nice place to stay for a while. Azriel admired her figure as they walked, she was just a few inches shorter than him and her clothes were a bit too tight on her curvy body.

The stranger also smelled really nice as he pulled her closer, bringing her up and flying towards the balcony of the House of Wind, where Rhys was waiting for them. She clung to him but took the flying adrenaline incredibly well for someone wingless. He smirked at that, liking how she wasn’t afraid of falling to the city below.

Whowever, his hopes of even becoming her friend vanished as Rhysand opened his mouth, greeting her with a rather cheerful “Y/N Caidan, what a pleasure to meet you.” The only daughter of Eldar Caidan, a very wanted man on the Illyrian Steppes for numerous crimes. He felt disgusted, wanting to get as far as he could from her. That was the beginning of his torment.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

She moved her hips as she walked, knowing that this drove him mad and his eyes were glued to her back as they made their way to Rhysand’s office, she could hear the annoyed huffs he let out, so used to them in the two years they’d been working together. Azriel wasn’t easy to deal with, especially with the unpleasant side he reserved especially for her.

Three knocks and Rhys shouted that they could come in, dropping the papers containing sensitive information on the dark wooden desk, she sat, legs crossed as she stretched her back, feeling her sore muscles ache from all the effort.

“As you asked Rhys, everything about those secret Illyrian reunions.” He looked at her, his eyes stopping at the fading purple marks around her eyes, behind her Azriel stood, silent as the dead.

“You two are a great duo, despite everything, thank you. You two can go and rest.” She nodded, walking out of the office and heading to her house in the town, all she could think was about the warm bath that she would take later. 

“I don’t want to question your judgment, but why do you trust her, Rhys? Especially with this kind of mission.” He spoke, his throat dry as he barely used his voice in the week they’d been together on a mission.

“Because she’s good at what she does and she’s a good person.” Rhys spoke dryly, tired of this same conversation, this have been happening for the past two years without a break. Azriel had to stop the urge to roll his eyes at the answer.

“A good person that came from a family of criminals.” He knew he sounded like a whining kid but it wasn’t possible that he was the only one in his right mind that didn’t trust her, her family invaded Illyrian camps for years, murdering the females. Azriel had come to the camps a couple of times, blood everywhere, clothes sliced, and the smell of fear mixed with panic, and a scent so familiar the one lingering on her every damned time. If he closed his eyes, he could still see and smell the fresh blood. What made his blood run even colder was that they never left bodies behind, Mother knows what those monsters did with them.

“We cannot judge a child for the mistakes of their parents, can we?” It stung, cuz he knew that Rhysand was right, but he still couldn’t let his guard down around her, he knew that she was planning something, he just needed to figure it out.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

“How was the mission?” Morrigan asked, sipping on her glass of wine, while Y/N finished with the charcuterie board she was making for the two.

“Good, got everything that I needed, Azriel just made my life extremely difficult but I’m used to it by now.” She took a bite from a piece of cheese, took the board, and headed for the tiny balcony adorned with little lights and a great view of the Sidra, the soft summer breeze made her shiver a little but she sat down, with Mor following her closely.

“Maybe you should just tell him, I know he will understand.” She scoffed.

“Mor, are we talking about the same person? Azriel won’t understand, he won’t even listen to me. And I don’t want to share my story with him, if he doesn’t trust me, I don’t have any reasons to tell him. He can discover on his own if he wants to find the truth so bad.” Mor lifted her hands in surrender while Y/N took a long sip from her wine. “But at least I don’t mind looking at his pretty face.” Morrigan laughed. 

“Don’t even tell me, the Mother took her time making that one, and I don’t even like men.” The two laughed. 

“Morrigan, things got dirty and he headed to a lake to clean himself, I almost drowned in my drool as I watched the water run down those abs, he’s truly beautiful, such a shame he’s an asshole.” She gave Y/N a severe look.

“Even if I don’t agree, Azriel has been through a lot, he just doesn’t trust people easily, and with the outlaw fame your family has, he’s just waiting for the betrayal, once he sees that things aren’t always as they seem, you will see that he’s such a gentle and kind male, he has a good heart.” 

“I know Mor, it’s just…. I’m tired of being judged and treated like a monster, he treats me so badly, he always questions my abilities and makes me feel like I’m less worth it, that I’m inferior to everyone.” Mor placed a warm hand on her knee.

“I’ll have another talk with him, he can hate you all he wants, but he won’t treat you like this.” Y/N smiled at her,  feeling her heart warm at the thoughtful words of her best friend. 

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

“You hit like a girl.” Nesta teased and Y/N rolled her eyes, she aimed for Nesta’s right side, where she quickly went to defend but she turned the other way, hitting her left side, making the oldest Archeron gasp for air.

“Thanks!” She offered a hand to Nesta, which she gladly took, and the two headed to the water station on the other side of the ring, the sun was at its highest in the sky, making the temperature almost unbearable, only the girls were training today, so there was a lot of skin showing around that balcony.

She saw the shadows from the corner of her eyes before she saw the Shadowsinger, when she turned, he looked slightly paler, eyes wide and looking like he had seen a ghost, her skin felt uncomfortable under his gaze, still fixed on her, she quickly removed the tie from her hair, letting it fall behind her, hiding her exposed back as she darted out of the room. 

“Cassian’s looking for you.” He managed to say, her smell still fresh in the air, and the image of her exposed back still replaying in his mind, two big scars marking each side of her shoulder blades, in the same place Illyrian wings should be. He turned on his heels, ready to follow after her, but Nesta stopped him.

“Azriel, don’t.” She warned him, her fingertips were cold against his skin, and he knew that he should let that go, for now.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

The image of her scarred back didn’t leave his mind for days, and ever since he saw her, she’s been avoiding him, every time she sees him entering a room, her expression changes and she leaves immediately, this pissed him off a bit. But as much as he wanted to ask about it, he knew that he shouldn’t push her into answering, he would have to find it on his own.

Then, he was reminded why he didn’t trust her in the first place, as she poked her head outside Rhysand’s office, looking both sides and only stepping out when she was sure no one was around, a pile of papers clutched to her chest. A chill in his spine told him he needed to follow her and get to the bottom of his suspicions. 

It was nightfall when she emerged out of her room, her leathers and weapons in place, her hair in a bun, she moved quietly, and as she passed by him, he could see that she had the reports on the northern camp that was supposed to receive new females in a few days, the papers tucked on the bag strapped around her torso. His blood ran cold as he understood what was happening.

She would take the information to her family and they would execute the females, he knew he had to stop her, but would be better if he stopped all of them at once. So he quietly followed her, for days, only stopping in an inn, she had taken a room and he was currently drinking some wine and eating the food offered there, regaining the energy to do what he had to.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Y/N watched from the top of the stairs as her brother and cousin dragged the spymaster’s body with them, a lazy smirk on her lips as she thanked the innkeeper for helping her, a bag of gold coins dropped on the counter and she was on her way, to her family’s secret war camp. 

“I’ll take care of him now.” She said as they all reached Miramaris, her family war camp. Azriel was still asleep as the males placed him in the chair, chaining him so he wouldn’t try to escape before she could explain.

Y/n watched him throughout the night, not even once looking away from him, she ran a hand through his soft hair, sighing as she stretched her part of the bond until it hit the emptiness on the other side as it hadn’t snapped for him yet. She had known he was her mate for about two months now.

A late night travel to the library, where he was also reading, it only took one look in her direction, him scoffing and getting up to leave for the bond to snap, leaving her astonished and stuck in the same place for a couple of minutes, wondering what teh hell would she do.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

His head hurt and everything felt dizzy, he didn’t recognize the room he was in, but he could tell the walls were made of stone, people walked outside and he could hear the sound of metal against metal like someone was training. His hands were restrained by chains and the was a soft light on top of his head.

The steps grew closer to his cell, the heavy door swung open and three males walked in, and behind them Y/N was smiling, approaching him.

“See that you met my family, quite nice people, don’t you think?” He scoffed.

“If you think murdering people is a nice thing, then sure, amazing people.” His tone was laced with sarcasm. He eyed Eldar and the other males with pure hatred, fighting against the chains, he tried to call for Rhysand but his mind was still too foggy to reach so far.

“He still thinks that’s what we do?” The older male asked and smiled. “Rhys will be quite disappointed that you think he would let us walk freely if we were really murdering these females.”

“Dad, let me do the talking, I’m used to the pretty frown by now.” His heart fluttered as the word pretty left her lips. “Maybe bring some food, chicken with mashed potatoes is his favorite.” Again, his heart beat faster as she spoke, does she really pay attention to him like that? Eldar nodded, patting his daughter on the head, he could see the love in the gaze he directed to her, at least he loved his daughter, he wasn’t a complete monster.

“I don’t want anything from you.” He spat, and she walked closer, lowering her body until they were facing eye to eye.

“And here I was, ready to give the only thing you’ve been wanting from me ever since we met.” He cursed as his traitorous mind wandered to where his darkest thoughts hid in his mind, the images that would come late at night when he was alone, of her, splayed open to him, soaking cunt as he readied himself to take her how he wanted, the number of times he touched himself thinking about her, he didn’t trust her in the slightest, but that didn’t mean he didn’t find her attractive.

Truth be told, he still thought about her, and her body drove him mad, usually after training he would rush to his room to take a cold shower to stop his furious hormones from making him walk to her room and do all the dirty things he wanted to do to her. The fact that he was head over heels for her only angered him more.

“I grew up in a very traditional Illyrian family, but you see, my grandfather used to think that clipping wasn’t enough, removing a female’s wings was the way to go for him.” Her hands grabbed the hem of her shirt, lifting above her head, the laced black bra was hard not to look at, but his throat went dry as she turned her back to him, the scars were even uglier up close and he felt his heart clenched on his chest. “ My father only had enough courage to leave when he came home one day, he found my grandfather placing a new piece of decoration in the living room.” He knew what it was, but it didn’t hurt less as the words left her mouth. “My wings, so tiny, I was just a child. From that day, he swore no female would ever go through something like that again.” 

She turned to him again, shirt going back to place, as their eyes met, hers were filled with tears. 

“Do you wish to see our work?” He nodded and she motioned for him to follow but he shook his hands and she remembered about the chains. “Right, you’re cuffed. Would love to see you chained somewhere else but we don’t have time for that now.” The words sent a rush of blood straight to his cock.

He followed her, the mountain was warm, and as they walked around, he spotted hundreds of females, some training, some doing chores, but all of them were undeniably happy as they walked around with their wings held proudly behind them. 

“Welcome to Miramaris.” She gestured to the open space. “We raid the camps, and we forge the scene, they don’t bother looking for them anyway. Started with small cabins and barely any resources, but as Rhys’s father learned about this place, he helped us, he was a disgusting man but even he knew this was wrong, Rhys kept helping us after, and he invited me to work with him closely after I've been targeted by a rival camp, he saved my life, and he knows what we’re doing. We’re not the monsters here Az.”

He felt bad for all this time he judged her without even bothering to learn the truth about her. They were looking to an open field, some females were bathing in a lake that crossed the mountain. There were hundreds of them, even children were running around, this place was everything he dreamed for the camps to be. 

“I don’t even know how to apologize to you.” He said honestly.

“Help us save them, the females need me, they need us. You can come with me as my partner… “Nothing would’ve prepared him for the words that left her mouth next. “As my mate!”

“Your what?” He looked at her incredulously. 

“That night in the library? Where I found you in your cute pajamas?” The memory came back to him and he nodded. “ It was when it snapped for me, decided to tell you cuz you know the truth now and I would like to be told if it was the other way around.” He nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the information he received in a short amount of time. “You don’t have to say anything, but if you’re willing to give this a try, meet me tomorrow night right here, we have more females to save.” She said, turning her back to him and walking away.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

He saw her before she saw him, and as he watched her frame lean against the wall, dressed all in black and looking around expectantly, he felt, the bond making itself known for him, he could feel her on the other side, waiting for him with a warm heart filled with love, love for him.

“You came.” She smiled. Her eyes glowing with emotion as she felt a wave of feeling flooding her chest and as she reached for the other side of the bond, Azriel was there, waiting for her with open arms. 

“I would never let my mate go alone, never again.” He pulled her close, hand wrapped around her waist as he kissed her, her soft lips made him feel at home as she kissed him back. “Let’s go and rescue them.” He said, grabbing her in his arms, she let out an excited squeal as he leaped to the sky, taking her with him. 

[embrosegraves]

𝕃𝕒 𝔽𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕒 𝔸𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕠

(request) Fernando Alonso x Fem!Wife!Reader Family Picnic <3333

Warnings: I did have to consult Google Translate for some of the Spanish

2k words

It was a good day. The sun was out, the temperature wasn’t too hot and the breeze was nice and cool. It would’ve been a crime if you didn’t take advantage of the beautiful weather. 

You shook your husband beside you. He grumbled half awake, turned over and tried to go to sleep again. You rolled your eyes at him. No matter what Fernando said to the contrary, he was getting old and as much as he didn’t like it, it definitely showed. You knew there was only one other way to make sure that Fernando was awake and out of the bed. 

“If you don’t get up right this second, I’m not going to let you touch me until the next F1 season.” You grunted while using as much of your strength as you could to push him off the bed. He landed on the ground with a loud THUD. 

“Hijo de puta!” He exclaimed as he hit the floor. [Motherfucker!]

“Oye! Watch your mouth, your kids are in the next room!” If it wasn’t funny, you might’ve sounded more angry at his foul language. [Hey!] 

 “What did I do to deserve this?” Fernando peeked his head over the side of the bed, taking his sweet time getting up. 

“If you had listened the first time I told you to get up, we wouldn’t be having this discussion, would we?” You asked, getting out of the bed and walking towards the ensuite. “Now stop whining, I need to get the kids up and ready. I have plans for today.” 

“You’ve been spending too much time around my mother.” Fernando finally stood up, and went to grab a shirt from the closet. “You’re becoming just like her.” 

“Good!” You shouted through the closed bathroom door. “Ana is an amazing woman!” 

Fernando could only shake his head in amusement, as he made his way out of the bedroom and into the hallway leading him to his children’s rooms. He first went to the opposite end of the hallway, knowing it would be easier to wake up his oldest children first. He knocked on the furthest door and waited.

“Yeah?” Fernando could hear that his eldest daughter, Marcella, had only just woken up. 

“Mamá has plans for today. Get dressed to go outside por favor.” 

“Bueno! I’ll be out in a bit.” 

Satisfied that Marcella was now awake and getting dressed, Fernando made his way to the next room. Knocking on the door, he wasn’t expecting for it to open. But apparently his son had other ideas. 

“Sí Papá?” Fernando Jr was his father’s carbon copy. A fact that Fernando just loved mentioning whenever he could. So you could avoid the confusion when talking to them both, you had started calling your son Junior. 

Fernando smiled and ruffled his son’s hair. “Your Mamá has something planned, so get dressed to go out.” 

“Oye! I just brushed my hair!” 

“You sound like your mother.” Fernando said as he walked off and towards the last door. 

“Good! Mamá is amazing!” 

Chuckling, Fernando gently opened the door that led to the nursery. He flicked the light on and stood in the doorway, just watching his twins’ little chests rise and fall as they slept. He almost didn’t want to wake them at all, but he knew that they would have the best time with whatever it was you had planned. Walking quietly he moved further into the nursery. Softly caressing their faces, Fernando woke them up as gently as he could. 

“Hola Pequeños. Buenos Días.” He made sure to keep his voice quiet when he saw their eyes open. [Hey Little Ones. Good morning.]

“Hola Papá.” said his youngest daughter, Magdalena. Her little voice was still riddled with sleep. She was lethargic as she crawled into her father’s arms, wrapping her tiny ones around Fernando’s neck as he rubbed her back. 

“¿Dormiste bien, Princesa?” she nodded her little head, too tired to speak. [Did you sleep well, Princess?]

By now Magdalena’s twin, Pedro, had sat up and was rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists. He yawned and also made his way onto his father’s lap. 

“¿Dónde está Mamá?” he asked. [Where is Mummy?”

“¿Deberíamos ir a buscarla?” Fernando received two little nods so he wrapped an arm securely around each of the twins and slowly walked out of their room. [Should we go look for her?]

Fernando walked towards the kitchen where he could hear you making breakfast. He could see Marcella and Junior going to sit down at the kitchen island, talking to each other about what teams they thought were going to do well during the Formula 1 season. 

Once everyone was done with eating breakfast, Marcella and Junior grabbed Pedro and Magdalena from their high chairs and went to help them change into some appropriate clothes for the day. Nando started cleaning up the breakfast dishes while you had gotten started on making some sandwiches. 

“What’s on the agenda today, Mi Amor?” Fernando asked, placing the last clean dish on the drying rack. 

“I was checking the weather for today before you got out of bed, and I’ve decided that we’re going to have a family picnic.” You replied, packing the sandwiches into ziploc bags and setting them aside. “I was thinking, we go to your parent’s house and ask if they’d like to join us.” 

Fernando came up beside you and started to help prepare little snacks for your children. “You know if we go there and ask, my mother will insist we have it on their property?” 

“Oh you think this plan is spontaneous?” The look on your face almost made Fernando nervous.

“It’s not?” 

You laughed and bumped him with your hip. “Amor, Ana and I have been planning this outing for weeks. You and your father are the only ones who didn’t know. No doubt Ana has told José by now, just like I am telling you now.” 

Moving to the fridge to grab some fruit that needed to be cut, you kept talking to him about the plan you had concocted with Ana. 

“Your mother had called me the other week saying how she misses you because you’re always travelling with Formula One, so I told her you were home this weekend. We started planning pretty quickly after that. Originally the plan was for Lorena and her children to join us as well, but something came up so Lorena is out being a successful and wonderful mother. We were always going to go to your parents- wash and cut the strawberries please- because they have the most space for Junior and the twins to run around. 

“And of course, Marcella will want somewhere with shade and that big awning over the pool and garden is just perfect for her. And your mother pointed out that at some point the twins will get tired so going to your parents’ means that the twins can sleep in the guest room there so we don’t have to leave and go home early.”

“Women scare me sometimes.” Fernando handed you the strawberries and you put them into a tupperware container before putting them in the basket you had found to put all the food in. 

“Good. It’s a healthy fear to have.” You said before yelling out to the kids that it was time to go. 

Junior ran down the stairs holding Pedro while Marcella followed behind him with Magdalena at a much slower pace.

“Junior, don't run with your brother, you could drop him.” 

“Lo siento Mamá.” Junior said sheepishly. [Sorry Mum.]

You opened your mouth to speak again but before you could, your phone started ringing in your pocket. Pulling it out, you saw it was Ana calling you. With a smile on your face you quickly answered the call. 

“Hola Ana! … Claro si-” You had begun walking to your office while you spoke with your mother in law. Fernando grabbed Pedro from Junior and had started ushering the children out to the car. [Hello Ana! … Of course yes-]

Marcella had become a professional at getting the twins in the car when you weren’t around, and Fernando was forever confused at how she had managed to get them to listen. Fernando had even asked her one day how she managed it but all she did was give him a wink and continued to do her schoolwork. 

Just as Fernando closed Marcella’s car door, you walked out of the house, phone and picnic basket in hand. When you got closer to the car, Fernando grabbed the picnic basket and put it in the boot of the car. Walking back, he opened and closed the passenger door for you before getting into the driver’s seat. 

The drive to Fernando’s parents wasn’t an extremely long journey. The 30 minute drive was spent listening to your young children blabber on about the scenery or about the kids at school. 

The only one of your children who wasn’t talking often was Marcella. The 16-year-old was texting on her phone with a smile on her face. Fernando had looked in the rearview mirror at her. 

“Who are you texting Cariño?” 

Marcella’s smile dissipated. “No one.” 

“Are you sure? You were smiling pretty big.” 

“It was no one Papá.” 

“I just want-” You smacked Fernando’s shoulder. You had spoken about how to approach this kind of situation years ago, when you had been pregnant with Marcella. Fernando went to start complaining but you interrupted him. 

“No, you will stop talking. If Marcella is texting someone, it is not our business.” You turned as much as you could in your seat to look at your daughter. “However, I do have two questions about them. One, how old are they? And two, do they make you happy?” 

Your daughter smiled at you, “They’re only a month older than me and they make me very happy.” 

“Then that’s all I care about.” 

Eventually you arrived at your In-Law’s. Everyone got out of the car and your children ran to the front door where their grandparents were waiting with arms open, ready for hugs. 

You greeted your father-in-law with a hug and a kiss to both his cheeks. You laughed when he made a joke about putting Fernando to work, getting the things from the car. 

“Of course! He’s been annoying lately so he’s got to make up for it.” 

You gave José one more hug before greeting Ana and walking inside with her. You heard Jose say something to Fernando that made you giggle.

“You know, ‘Happy Wife, Happy Life’ isn’t just a saying, right?” 

By the time the men had made it to the backyard, you and Ana had laid out the big picnic blanket and started making the drinks for the adults to enjoy. Fernando would have one drink at the beginning before sticking to water for the remainder of the day as he would be driving home. Ana had taken the basket from Fernando and began to set out the food you had prepared. You had finished the drinks and handed them out, rolling your eyes when you heard Fernando talking to his father about what happened in the car earlier with Marcella. 

“Fernando, I swear if I hear you talking about this again, you’re sleeping on the couch.” 

“I just wanted to make sure she was being careful! That’s my little girl.” He said, thanking you for the drink before turning to his dad. “What would you have done, Papá?” 

“Don’t involve me. I had no issues with Lorena.” 

“Mi Amor, do you remember when we were teenagers and I spent two weeks living with you and your family?” 

“Of course I remember. Two of the best weeks of my life.” He smirked and wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you closer to him.

“Yeah well, I spent those two weeks not speaking to my father because he kept asking me about my ‘secret boyfriend’. He never stopped asking about you so I stopped talking to him for two weeks. And I’m stubborn so if my mamá hadn’t knocked some sense into him, I would have never spoken to him again. Do you really want that with Marcella?” 

Fernando looked a little heartbroken and ashamed of how he had treated the situation. He had known that something had happened between you and your father but he didn’t realise it was like that. 

“I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself if she stopped talking to me.” 

“So don’t push her. She will come to us when she’s ready.” You said, squeezing him in comfort. “Now let’s put this out of our minds and enjoy a picnic with our children. Vamos.”

This took me so long 😭😭😭 I wanted to make sure I was 100% happy with it

This definitely would've been so much bigger but I didn't want to make everyone wait even longer.

As always, likes, replies and reblogs are always appreciated <3

(also do you guys think it would be a good idea for me to set up a paypal or a kofi for my fics? I've been thinking about it a lot recently but idk)

[inkdrinkerworld]

high hopes

wc: 4.7k

cw: dealer!remus, high reader, rough family dynamic, impied parental abuse

“You never think of anyone but yourself!” are the words shouted at you as you walk out of the front door and you shudder. 

It’s been like this for months, your parents have been just taking hits at you when they can, roping your siblings into it too. 

You’re not entirely sure what you’ve done for them to suddenly look at you like this, but you don’t have much time to think about it. 

Your friends are outside waiting for you to join them so you slap a smile on and skip out your gate. 

“You look hot Bubbles,” one of them compliments,the use of your high school nickname making you smile, kissing her cheek as you get in the back. 

“So do all of you!” you compliment back, hoping your voice sounds cheerful. “Where are we hitting up tonight?” 

The call of alcohol and something to make you forget is too strong to resist. You need them. 

Your friends jump into the house party you’re all going to and when you pull up you smile. 

It’s a modest house, two stories from the looks of it, but it’s the group of people outside the door that really make you smile. 

You can’t remember the last time you’d gone to a house party where people actually smoked outside and not in the house. 

Also, the music was blaring and from the sounds of it, you’d be losing your voice tonight. 

“Okay, I’ll get the weed, Bubbles you’re with me.” Your friend, Marlene, links your arms and drags you towards the group of smokers. 

“Hello boys,” she calls, and they all look up. The first one to catch your eye is the beefy one with inky curls that sit messily on his head, he’s gorgeous. 

“This is James,” she points to the other boy beside him, the one with tattoos crawling up his exposed arms. 

He’s pretty too, but in a model way. He has strong cheekbones, lots of silver jewellery and hair that brushes his shoulders, “Pretty boy here is Sirius,” he only takes a drag of the cigarette between his fingers. 

“And this,” she says, pointing towards the last boy, “Is Moony, or Remus.” 

He’s by far, in your opinion, the most beautiful. He’s got sandy brown hair that flops over his eyes a little, and has scars running across his face, but the one that splits his upper lip catches your attention as it turns a silvery white under the starlight. 

“Boys, this is Y/N. But I call her Bubbles.” 

They all hum while you wave and James asks, “Bubbles like from the cartoon with the superhero girls?” 

Marlene nods with a wide smile, “She’s adorable and she’s always so happy and that’s our Y/n.”

Remus raises his eyebrows at the comment and you give him a soft smile. His eyes linger on yours rather than the soft smile, and there’s something there that he can tell is for the benefit of your friends. 

“We came to buy something,” you remind Marlene and she nods. 

“Yeah, I wanted a couple blunts for now and I’m placing an order for brownies.” she says to Remus who shakes his head. 

“No, I only have the stuff that made you grind your teeth last time.” 

You watch kind of silently as they go back and forth: Remus insists he’s not listening to Marlene gripe about her jaw or teeth for another week, and Marlene insists that Remus is being dramatic. 

Really though, you silently side with Remus because she had complained about lock jaw and sensitive teeth for a week the last time. 

“Pretty girl, help me out.” he says, lazily leaning against a post as he faces you. 

“Tell Marls that no one wants to hear about her lock jaw,” his honey eyes captivate you now that his full attention is on you. 

“Marls, you really shouldn’t ruin your teeth.” you say gently and she scoffs. 

“You’ll hook me up with your dentist again, Moony’s being frugal.” 

Sirius shakes his head and butts in before you have to. 

“Marls, come take a drag of mine.” she squeals and goes off with Sirius to a corner, James passes by when Lily arrives and that leaves you with Remus who’s still leaning on the post. 

“Do you really only have molly?” There’s a little hint of hopefulness in your voice and a lazy smile spreads on his lips. He pushes off his spot and jerks his head to his car. 

“I’ve only got molly where Marlene’s concerned. She’s been smoking too much recently,” you can attest to that fact. 

“Is that really so bad for you?” Though they seem like friends, you know Marlene well enough to know that sometimes, people were just people and you knew people enough that sometimes money was just money no matter who it came from or how they got it. 

“I kinda have’ta keep her ‘round, Sirius’ll have my head and the girl’s got a bright future.” you snort at Remus’ obvious sarcasm. The brightest thing about Marlene was her personality and while it had opened lots of doors, you don’t suppose it’ll open business doors- not any that Marls would take a liking to anyways. 

She’d always been much better suited for things that didn’t make her conform. 

“I’ve got brownies though, maybe like two more.” he opens his passenger door and brandishes a resealable shiny bag

Just seeing the bag conjures memories of your last high. The sun had been so warm after you’d eaten the gummy bears that your skin had peeled the next day after you had accidentally fallen asleep on the deck. 

“How much?” you ask, already envisioning the high you’re going to have. 

“Seventy,” he says and you nod, reaching into your purse and pulling out a hundred dollar bill. 

“I don’t have anything smaller, but you can keep the change.” you say and Remus shakes his head. 

There’s something about the way you look at Remus then at the bag that makes him set on not taking the hundred dollar. 

“I couldn’t,” he could, the extra thirty would probably get him the week’s worth of fruits if he spent it at Frank’s. It could probably get him that new keyboard too, or well, it could go towards it. 

“I insist, if they’re as good as Marlene claims they are, I’ll be buying in two days. Think of it as an advancement.” you say and Remus nods hesitantly. He barely withholds asking if you’re going to take the two tonight and why you would need to buy in two days specifically.

“Don’t eat both of them tonight, the high kicks in after twenty minutes.” he can’t stop himself s he notes the look in your eyes from earlier. 

‘Thanks Remmus,” he watches you go over to Marlene and just barely makes out the words, ‘cheeky bastard’ before Sirius whisks him away to the party.

When he spots you again you’re sitting on the sofa with the biggest bowl of cereal known to mankind and scrolling through your phone. 

He also notes that you’re alone and none of your friends are near you.

Sirius noticed and shook his head, slapping his hand down on his best friend’s shoulder. 

“You look like a creeper,” Sirius says lightly, leaning over Remus’ shoulder. Remus scoffs, watching milk dribble down your chin. 

“She’s high and Marls is pissed out her mind and her other friends aren’t even around.”  

Sirius looks around and the group you’d come with aren’t visible but he knows where Marlene is, he left her in one of the rooms to recover. 

“So you’re gonna stare off at her from afar and not just make friends?” Remus groans at how creepy Sirius makes him sound and pushes his friend off him. 

“She hardly knows me,” He argues but Sirius just laughs. 

“What does that have to do with anything? You’re not taking her back to your gaff.” 

Remus sighs, brushes his hands on his thighs and stands, intent on making his way over to you. 

“Pretty girl,” he greets you and you turn, eyes glassy and low as a smile spreads on your lips slowly. 

“Moony!” Remus feels his own lips quirk. Taking the seat, he observes you for a moment. Unsure what conclusion to draw and says,

“Where are your friends?” you look around at his question and shrug with a sigh. 

“Marlene slept with your black haired friend. The one with the grey eyes,” you slur over the words a little. Your tongue like wet sand under pressure. “My other friends are off doing whatever. S’fine really, I quite like being alone.”

Remus begs to differ. You shouldn’t be alone while high like this. 

“You’re not alone anymore though,” he says and you nod, cracking the joints in your fingers. 

“Nope, you’re here.” you don’t sound upset that he is and Remus takes that as a good sign. 

A silence covers the space but then your phone rings and you flinch at the sound. 

You fish it out your purse and sigh when you see whatever name on the screen. 

Remus watches as you answer, eyebrows bunching together when you seem to be cut off. He reckons if the music wasn’t so loud he’d hear raised voices on the other side of the phone. 

“I gotta go,” you say awkwardly to Remus as you hang up. “It was nice to meet you Remus.” 

You don’t sound nearly as happy or as carefree as you had when he’d first sat down and he’s not sure if it’s that fact or how sad you look now that has his standing too. 

“I can take you,” the words are out his mouth before he can stop them and if Sirius was closer Remus is certain his tattooed friend would laugh at how desperate he looks. 

“I couldn’t ask you to do that,” you say but Remus shakes his head. 

“You’re not asking, I offered and you’re stoned. There’s not a fat chance you’re driving anywhere, pretty girl.” 

You nibble on your lip, debating his argument and when you find no rebuttal you sigh. 

“Okay, but just,” you hesitate. “No comments about anything you see. Not to Marls or anyone.” 

It’s cryptic but Remus nods, “Let me just tell Sirius I’ll be back.” 

You nod and text your friends that Remus is dropping you home. 

Instantly Marlene responds with a series of random letters and an excited voice note saying that you should definitely exchange numbers with him. 

Your other friends don’t answer, but you say a quiet prayer that they’re safe.

The drive to your house is filled with your soft singing along to Remus’ radio and a plea for him to, “Please please stop at Dominoes.” 

He stops and you sponsor him a pizza and a lava cake before he arrives at your house. 

Remus doesn’t say anything but you can tell he’s staring at your house and you give him an embarrassed smile. 

“Yeah, it’s a bit much, but my parents worked hard and they wanted to reflect that I guess.” 

Remus detects a hint of distant disdain for what you have but he’s not entirely sure why. 

“Thanks for the ride Remus,” you give him a side hug and before he can thank you for the pizza, the front door is being opened and out comes your father. 

“You might wanna drive off,” you can feel the trepidation building in your gut when Remus doesn’t move to pull out of your driveway. “He’s gonna start yelling if you don’t.” 

You really want Remus gone before your dad escalates the situation. 

“I’m not leaving till you’re inside.” he says, and you want to smile but it comes out a bit tight and pinched. 

If Remus can feel the anxiety rolling off you he says nothing and you’re grateful but you really wish he would leave. 

There’s no telling how this night is going to end. 

“Get inside now,” your father bellows and you grimace. 

“Goodnight Remus,” you walk backwards toward your front door and say, “Come back in three days with more brownies, please. Thanks for tonight Remus.”

Remus nods and you finish your trek to your father who waits till Remus can’t see to grab your arm and all but drag you into the house. 

“You’re hurting me,” you whimper and your father’s grip only tightens. 

“Not as much as I could.”

The three days pass quickly, and you’re really grateful that you’ve got school work backlogged that keeps you in England while your family goes to Spain. 

You’re nose deep in your work, drawing designs and mapping the layout of different buildings when your phone rings. 

“Damnit,” you mutter, it’s almost like thinking of your family conjures them even miles and miles away. 

“Hey ma,” you’re ready for the conversation to go sour at any point. 

It does, you hear your dad in the back mutter about how you’re ‘the only one who doesn’t care about the family’ and his other verbal assaults and while your mum tries to temper his accusations you can’t help but feel your heart crack. 

“I’ll call you back mum, enjoy the rest of the vacation.” 

She tries, bless her heart, to keep you on the phone but she knows that the call that was supposed to be about her telling you of the jewellery she picked up for you isn’t for right now.

“I’ll talk to you tonight. I love you.” then she’s gone. 

Your tears don’t stop after you hang up, your chest feels heavy with the weight of your father’s words. 

You’re not really sure how long you’ve been reduced to tears but then you hear a car pull up and its horn. 

“Shit, fuck!” you mutter, pulling back the curtain and seeing Remus’ car. 

“Just my luck,” you say, putting on your glasses so it’s harder for him to tell you’ve been crying. 

Grabbing your purse you rush outside and give Remus a tight smile when he comes out of his car. 

“Pretty girl, this is an unusual outfit.” he’s only teasing. You’re in what you call ‘daytime pyjamas.’ They’re a light pink set with flowers on them and they stop at mid thigh. 

Remus has a hard time looking away from the dough of your thighs and though his hands are full, they’re itching to grip your exposed skin. 

“It’s an unusual day,” your voice is still thick with tears and Remus can tell. 

His mind drifts back to Marlene’s comment about you always being happy and takes a look at your eyes and finds them bloodshot. 

“Yeah? Maybe it can be made better,” you nod, hopeful that it can be. “There’s four in the bag.” 

It’s a shiny blue bag this time and when you take it from Remus, you can smell the weed. 

“Four? You’re spoiling me.” you say and Remus laughs. 

“Not technically, you’re still paying.” 

You wave your hand at him and he laughs some more. 

“How much do I owe?” 

“Seventy,” you shake your head. 

“Something about that doesn’t seem accurate, Remus.” 

Remus presses a hand to his chest, “It’s the truth. You let me keep thirty last time.” and you bought him dinner the other night.

You roll your eyes, “Then that means two are seventy, so I owe one ten.” 

You pull the bills from your wallet and hand it over to Remus who stares at you in shock. 

“Most people take the lower price and don’t say anything.” 

“I’m not most people,” you shrug and Remus is inclined to agree. 

Your phone rings again and you decline the call when you see ‘dad’ plastered on the screen. 

“You going to Marls’ house party tonight?” Remus asks while he has your attention. 

“And risk a verbal lashing if I stay home? No amount of backlogged research and case studies would ever get me out of it.” 

Remus likes when you smile like you do when you imagine Marlene upset with you. 

It’s a real one, not the one you’d been wearing the night of the other house party and then Remus feels insane for thinking he knows you well enough to tell your smiles apart. 

Your phone rings again and again you decline and then a text pops up that makes you grumble to yourself. 

“I guess I’ll see you there Remus,” you say, holding your bag to your chest. “The call of those case studies is too strong to resist today.” 

“Bye, pretty girl. Don’t eat more than one tonight.” 

You raise your hand to wave as you walk away when Remus sees finger shaped bruises along your arm.

“Pretty girl,” he starts and you freeze, dropping your arm with an arched eyebrow. “C’mere a second.” He really shouldn’t ask. He should leave it be, but then he thinks of how Sirius used to have the same bruises too. 

Remus hazards a glance at your face and when he detects anxiety and a little bit of fear, he knows he has to ask. 

“Who did that?” His voice is honeyed as he bridges the gap between you. You’re grateful he doesn’t reach for your arm, certain that it’d bring tears to your eyes. His mind instantly runs to how you’d told him to not say anything about what happened when he dropped you off and his chest aches for you a little. 

“I hit it,” the lie is off your lips easily and Remus clearly doesn’t believe you as he ducks his chin to meet your eyes. “Hard. On a wall.”

He shakes his head at your insistence, but tsks lightly. 

“You shouldn’t protect those people, pretty girl.”your eyes fill involuntarily and Remus worries that he’s overstepped as you shake your head. 

“You don’t know anything about me, I did hit it on the wall.” There’s a slight shrill to your voice and Remus wants to take back his words. “No one has hit me, thanks for the brownies Remus.” 

His name sounds like a curse as he watches you walk away, not leaving a moment for him to even apologise. 

“Nice going Lupin.” 

-

At Marlene’s house party, you hardly speak. You’d eaten an entire brownie before leaving your house, the high already making your fingertips tingle as you held onto your drink. 

You’d opted for something less dramatic than your outfit at the house party- choosing instead a yellow and pink milkmaid dress that was finally wearable as the winter chill came down to a breezy spring. You’d chosen a pair of Mary Janes to be a little safer, knowing there was no way you’d be sober enough for heels. 

“Sexy!” Marlene greets you and it brings a genuine smile to your face. 

“Right back at you Marls,” she’s in a pair of the smallest jeans shorts you’d ever seen but they make her legs look amazing. “You look smoking hot.”

She ushers you inside and that’s when you get the drink, cold and icy making your shoulders go lax. 

“Remus is gonna be late, the git.” Marlene complains as Sirius and James come in, and Sirius gasps. 

“I’m here, I’m company enough.” you shake your head at the teasing look Marlene gives him that makes him huff playfully. 

“Is Lily coming too?” You ask James who looks a little disheartened. 

“She might, got held up at work,” you make quiet conversation with everyone, but when Remus arrives you feel thin. 

Like he can see right through you as you laugh and joke with Frank, Mary and Marlene. 

Marlene reads your stare at Remus as a lack of a chapter in your life in the five days you’ve been apart. 

“What’s goin’ on there?” sh gestures vaguely between you two s Remus makes for the kitchen. 

“Nothing, we hardly know each other,” you try to stick with the truth. “I think he’s upset about something else.”

Thank God for Sirius who swipes her away and her impending twenty one questions are saved for another time.

Your high only peaks higher as the night wanes on and when you can hardly wiggle your fingers without giggling, Remus wants to slot himself beside you and make sure you don’t get influenced to go in the pool.

“We should’ve waited til the full moon,” he hears you say, close enough to make sure you’re alright, but far enough away that he’s uninvolved in the conversations. 

“Why?” Mary asks, Lily nodding along. You’re glad she had been able to make it, James had really seemed to miss her. 

“Dancing naked under the full moon in a new house is like a guaranteed way for divine protection.” it’s a load of bullshit, something funny you’d picked up from Practical Magic, but you always wondered if you could actually invoke some spirit by doing it. 

“We can still do that Bubbles,” Marlene says, then with as much precision as a drunk person could have she points to Remus. “We can dance under Moony.”

Everyone laughs but your eyes follow her finger and find Remus closer than you’d expected. 

“Would you let us?” you ask, wonder on your face as you stare at him. “I dunno how that’d even work, but I suppose if you’re willing,” you shrug at the end of the sentence, your brain running off trying to figure out how it would be possible realistically. 

Remus takes the opening in conversation as an indication to come closer and sits right beside you. Your thighs are pressed together and you’re sure Remus can smell your toffee and vanilla perfume. 

“I’m sorry about the earlier, pretty girl.” The guilt that he’d made you cry had been gnawing at him all day, sitting heavy on his chest as he tried to go on about his day. He knows he’s overstepped, but he really had been worried. Remus is worried even now. You’re still mumbling to yourself about how you wouldn’t actually be able to dance beneath him. 

“Pretty girl,” he taps your thigh gently, snapping your attention to him. 

“I’m mad at you,” your voice is feathery as you try to keep the words a secret. “You weren’t supposed to ask questions.”

Remus nods sagely, “I know. I’m sorry for making you cry.” he says and you turn to make sure none of your friends have heard him. He finds it odd- that you seem nervous about them finding out you’ve cried recently. 

“S’okay, you didn’t mean to.”

Silence fills the gaps in conversation, till Marlene is yelling for you by the pool again. 

“Come swim,” she calls and you smile. 

“I’ll get all wet, Marls.” 

Remus thinks the possibility that you ingest some of the pool water is pretty high too. 

“And? I’ve got pyjamas! The soft ones that you like.” 

You feel tears prick your eyes at that, but that’s why Marlene really is your best friend.

“Okay, but you have’ta catch me!” 

Toeing off your shoes quickly you run to the edge of the pool, and jump in and Remus is almost in behind you till you resurface.

“S’fucking cold Marls!” you shriek and she cackles.

You rough house for a bit then feeling your stomach churning.  

“Remus,” your teeth chatter over his name. “Help me out.” he’s quick on his feet, lifting you out of the water from under your arms and leading you to a bush in the corner. 

He doesn’t stare at the curve of your ass or how your dress clings to you like a second skin, but it’s tempting. 

Then you retch and all he can think about is pulling your hair back and rubbing your back. 

When you’re done, you sit on the ground shivering a little and wiping your mouth with the hem of your dress. 

“Think you’re all tapped out for tonight, pretty girl.” you nod, sighing and leaning into Remus. If he minds he doesn’t say. 

“Here,” he slips his sweater on you, revealing a plain white shirt underneath. His sweater is warm and green and it smells like what you expected Remus to smell like- weed and mint. 

“It’s gonna get all wet,” there’s a pout in your voice that Remus longs to coo at. He just shrugs. You slip the straps of your dress off under his sweater and pull your dress off down your thighs. If he had been tempted by them before, now he thinks he might die from how you look in his sweater that exposes almost the entirety of your legs. 

“Think we should get you a little drier and warm.” he says, helping you stand and leading you back inside Marlene’s house. 

His hand hovers over the small of your back as you wind up the stairs. You push open a few doors till you find the bathroom and Remus stands in the archway. 

“I’m gonna go look for something for you to wear after you shower,” the words are intimate for the relationship you and Remus have. “Do you want anything specific?”

Your eyes look glassy under the light as you stare up at Remus, “She has a pair of pants with little cherries on them and they’re super super fluffy.”

There’s adoration dripping in your voice and Remus wonders how much of both highs are still at play. 

“I’ll leave it on the bed for you,” Remus starts walking away, “You should probably get some sleep though, pretty girl.” 

You nod rapidly and then shut the door, turning on the water and while you wait for it to heat up you mumble to your reflection.

“Get it together, I can’t believe you were just sick in front of him.” You rub your face in the shoulder of his sweater and take a big inhale, breathing in all things Remus and then scowl at yourself. 

“Behave.” you even wag your finger like they do to poorly trained dogs. 

Remus is sitting against the bannister when you come out, steam licking at your heels. His eyes are hazier than before and you’re almost positive he had taken a short nap while waiting on you. He looks pretty though, ankles crossed in front of him and arms crossed over his chest. 

“Didn’t want you to be up here alone,” his voice is husky and you’re fully positive he’d been asleep. 

“You’re gonna make me feel spoiled.” you mumble the words and Remus stretches to standing. 

“What’s so wrong with that?”

He follows you to the bedroom door and then says, “Get some sleep, it’ll help with that headache you’re gonna get.”

As he moves to the stairs you suddenly don’t want him to go. “Wait,” you shuffle towards him, et footprints following you. 

“Your sweater,” the words come out awkwardly as Remus stares down at you. 

“Keep it, it’s still mostly dry and you can put it back on if you get cold.” 

There’s an unsaid, ‘or if you don’t want anyone to see the bruise.’

You nod, but Remus can see gears turning in your head. 

“Don’t laugh at my request.” you dig your toes into the hardwood. 

“I won’t,” Remus is worried you’re going to say something outlandish and hard to come by, but he also wants to know what you want- he wants to be the one to give it to you too. 

“Will you stay with me? Just till I fall asleep and then you can leave if you want.”

The words are rushed and your chin stays firmly tucked into your chest. Remus thinks you look like a little kid who’s nervous about performing for their school.

“Why would I lugh? ‘Course I can, pretty girl.” his knuckles reach to brush some hair off your cheek. “Jus’ let me tell Marls and get you some water and crisps.” 

“Thanks Remus,” you kiss his wrist and go to change. 

Remus swears if you had kept your lips near his wrist any longer you’d have felt his pulse stampeding. 

When he comes back to the guest room, you’re in his sweater just barely awake as you lay down. “Scoot down to the corner, pretty girl.” 

He sets the water on the nightstand and slides in beside you.

“Thanks for staying,” a yawn breaks apart your words and Remus waves you off. 

“It’s nothing, close your eyes.” you do, and your body turns into him, head laying on his arm. 

You’re gonna kill him. He knows it, he feels it in his bones. You’re going to be the death of him.

[imaginespazzi]

Part 1: Don't Be A Stranger

Masterlist - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

But if (my) world was ending, you'd come over right?

(In which UCLA anon's roman empire became this writer's roman empire and we've finally reached the beginning)

Pairing: Paige Bueckers X Azzi Fudd

Themes: Angst, Pining, Hurt/Comfort and a little bit of Fluff

Words: 8.4 K (other parts will be shorter....maybe)

TW: Swearing, Alcohol, Injuries, Alludes to Sexual Content

A/N: Hello my lovelies <3 Gonna keep this as short and sweet as possible but we've finally, finally gotten to the UCLA fic. A huge shout out to UCLA anon, because this is their master idea. Couple of things, I've never been to LA or UCLA and therefore some things are out of whack. The timeline is also a little out of whack but I swear I will try to keep it as consistent as possible. In the mean time, just ignore some of the inconsistencies pretty please. As always, feel free to let me know what's bad, what's good and what else you'd like to see. I hope y'all enjoy this first part and let's get another W today!

August 2021

where are you 

i literally have to be at the airport in an hour paige where are you 

dude 

are you on your way?

you better be driving and that’s why you’re not answering 

PAIGE

i’m sorry about last night i shouldn’t have said that 

but you said a lot of shit too so call it even?

this isn’t funny where are you?

i have to leave in 15 mins 

are you actually not coming?

wtf????

this is actually bullshit

get over yourself bueckers 

wow 

fuck you

just landed 

thought you might like to know 

sorry my plane didn’t crash i guess 

September 2021

dude enough okay 

can you just call me back??

i just wanna talk 

i know you're mad i get it but i miss you   

November 2021 

hi i’mma be in dc over christmas

nvm 

idk why i’m trying again  

maybe i should block you 

this is kinda pathetic of me what the fuck 

December 2021

i thought i saw you today but idk

couldn’t have been you cause if it was 

would you really not even say hi?

i’m done trying paige 

merry christmas i guess

March 2022 

i misz you 

lyke a wot

love uuuuu pppppp

even if ur a bwtich 

pkese pick up 

ignore that 

people drunk text exes apparently i drunk text you 

wait 

i don’t need to tell you that 

you already ignore it all anyways

 

August 2022 

i heard about the acl 

i’m sorry 

idk if it means anything, but if you wanna talk

nvm 

***

September 2022 

When the doorbell rings, on a quiet Thursday afternoon during a rare moment of alone time, Paige expects it to be a lot of people. One of her parents deciding that they actually weren’t going to leave her alone. Someone else in her family showing up out of the blue to provide comfort. Maybe one of her teammates popping up to keep her entertained. She even thinks it might be some random fan who got too invested and figured out the address for her air BnB. It’s the saddest testament to how broken they are, that the idea of it being Azzi Fudd standing outside her door, never once crosses her mind. But there she is, when Paige opens the door, dressed in ripped jean shorts and a light blue tank top, the girl that had been her best friend, and maybe a little bit more. 

Silence stretches between them as Azzi fidgets with her hands and Paige continues to stoically stare at her. It’s been almost a year since they’ve seen each other, even longer since they’d last shared a happy smile. And you’d have to go back to before she’d told her about her future plans, to find the last time Azzi had properly looked Paige in the eyes.  

“Hi,” Azzi says finally, mustering up a small smile. Paige doesn’t know if hearing that voice, soft and subdued but still so familiar, fixes a crack or breaks her heart even further. She wills herself to be polite in response, to match Azzi’s polite greeting with a greeting of her own. But there’s clear discord between her mouth and her head, because her words are harsh and hollowed. 

“What are you doing here?”

Azzi swallows, smile disappearing as she immediately digs her fingernails into her palms and Paige feels the guilt settle into her stomach. It’s like the night before all over again. If she closes her eyes, Paige can still hear her voice loudly echoing in Azzi’s childhood bedroom. She can hear the angry words that she’d hurled at her best friend, each one like a well-aimed arrow piercing the other’s girl's heart and tearing into Paige’s own soul. Some would call what she’d done self-preservation. She’d call it her biggest mistake. 

“I um-,” Azzi sucks in her bottom lip, “I was in the area and thought, maybe I’d check in.”

“How did you even know where I was?” Paige hates how cold and accusatory her voice sounds. It’s a version of herself she doesn’t quite know how to deal with, one that hasn’t ever appeared for anyone other than the girl in front of her, “I know I didn’t tell you.”

Any semblance of calm is gone from Azzi’s face, as she seems to realise that she’s not going to be getting any cordiality from her old friend. 

 “And we’re off to a great start,” she mutters under her breath before replying to Paige’s exact question, “no you didn’t. Your dad-”

“You talked to my dad?”

“Yeah. I mean you know Drew looks up to Jon and José so much and they still talk and stuff and he came over- Drew I mean- and then your dad was there and we just got to talking and you came up and yeah. He told me and well I live here, kinda, so I thought- well I thought maybe you’d like some company?”

As Azzi’s rambling explanation comes to an end, Paige doesn’t miss the tinge of hopefulness in her voice at the last bit. The younger girl shuffles her feet, as she stares at the blonde expectantly. 

“I don’t-” Paige struggles to draw in a breath as the voices in her head argue, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Her words are met with silence as Azzi stares at her blankly. 

“I- you,” she blinks rapidly, clearly at a loss for what to say at the blatant rejection, “I can’t come in?”

“It’s just- I’ve had a lot of people visit you know,” Paige bullshits, suddenly feeling very exhausted, “and my family were here a couple days and my friends are coming soon and-”

“And I’m neither of those things,” Azzi says, her tone low and breathy. 

“That’s not what-”

“It is,” Azzi closes her eyes for a brief second, when she opens them, the flash of hurt in them feels like a dagger through Paige’s chest, “it is like that and it is what you meant and it’s- it’s fine.”

“Az-” Paige chokes out, feeling her lungs collapse when the other girl moves to leave, “please,” and she’s not even sure she’s asking for, but it’s not this. It’s never been this.

Azzi stops and when she turns back around, there’s a determined look on her face.

“I just-” she rubs her face, composing herself before focusing her eyes on Paige, “you’re the strongest person I know. And you’re going to come back from this, better than ever. I know it. The whole world knows it. Because you’re Paige Bueckers. You’re something else.  You’re the hardest worker, you’re just- you’re the best.”

“You don’t-”

“Just- just let me finish okay and then, then I’ll go or whatever but Paige, you’re all of those things you know? Strong, brave, the best fucking player- but, it’s also okay if sometimes-, if sometimes you aren’t. It’s okay because this- this is hard, I know it is. So if sometimes you’re not strong or-, or brave- or not feeling like working hard- it’s okay. And if there are moments where you- where you want to give up, that’s okay too. It doesn’t make you- it doesn’t make you any less than what you are. It just makes you human, and it’s okay you know- to be human. It’s okay if- if you hurt and it’s okay if you’re not okay. It’s- it’s okay.”

The two girls stare at each other, eyes shining with tears, as Paige let’s Azzi’s words wash over her. She’s been told a lot of platitudes about her injury, from her coaches to her teammates to her family. And she knows she has plenty of people in her corner, who root for her and who genuinely do believe she’ll have the greatest comeback ever. But the motivational speeches get draining after a while and all she’s wanted to do for the last couple of weeks is wallow. Then she felt guilty about wallowing, that little voice in her head yelling at her to be productive and work on getting back to herself because that’s what everybody expected. Paige hadn’t even realised how badly she needed someone to give her permission to not be okay, not until the only person who’d ever known that part of her, had finally said the words she so desperately needed to hear.

The thing is, when she was younger, Paige used to keep everything bottled inside. She’d always been hyper aware of her privilege and her problems had always just seemed so insignificant in front of her parents’ or her friends. So she’d kept them to herself, trapping herself in a web of her own burdens that sometimes threatened to strangle her. And then she’d met a girl at a USA basketball camp when she was 15, a girl who had gently flicked her fingers and Paige’s walls had fallen like dominoes. She hadn’t even known she was drowning, until Azzi had shown up with a lifeboat.

“I just-,” Azzi breaks Paige out of her trance by breaking the eye contact between them, “I didn’t know if anybody had said that to you yet and I just- I wanted you to hear it.”

In the span of a minute, a thousand and one phrases take birth in Paige’s mind and then die on the tip of her tongue. She opens and closes her mouth, trying to express even one of the myriad of emotions that are swirling like a tornado in her brain. But nothing comes out except a litany of incomprehensible noises. And Azzi seems to find the wrong answer in the silence, giving the blonde a timid nod. 

“Take care of yourself P,” her voice catches on the familiar nickname, as she shoots Paige a sad smile, before beginning to walk away. When Azzi chose UCLA, she’d lit Paige's heart on fire. So, Paige had drowned their friendship. And while all this time Azzi has struggled to breathe, Paige has burned but god, is she so fucking tired of it. 

“Fuck, Azzi wait,” Paige curses, hobbling to catch up to the brunette, who stops with a sigh but doesn’t make a move to return. Stubborn as always, Paige thinks, continuing her way over. When she does catch up, she’s not fully sure what to say and so,  “I uh- I’m out of milk.”

Azzi raises her eyebrows in question, crossing her arms protectively around her chest. 

“I can’t drive,” Paige explains slowly, “or walk obviously.”

Realisation dawns on Azzi’s face, “you’re asking me to drive you to the grocery store?”

“I guess,” Paige shrugs, trying to be nonchalant. 

“Seems like the kind of favour someone asks of their family, or their friends,” Azzi emphasises bitterly, never one to let go of an opportunity for sarcasm. 

Paige flinches, “right, I kinda deserved that one.”

She gets a raised eyebrow in response that very much says “ya think?”

“I’m trying here,” she says quietly, and Azzi’s hard demeanour softens, “I’m raising a white flag Az, calling a truce or whatever but it kinda needs to go both ways.” 

“What do you think me coming here was supposed to be?” the younger girl says exasperatedly, but she’s smiling again. It’s the third one Paige has gotten out of her today, and finally, she smiles back. They look a little foolish, standing in the apartment hallway, cheshire-cat-grinning at each other like idiots, but it feels like something has clicked into place again.  

“I’ll go grab my wallet, you go heat up the car.”

“It’s like 110 degrees dude.”

“Bro shut up, you know what I mean,” Paige huffs and when it makes Azzi laugh, she feels like she’s floating. It’s not as if she hasn’t been happy in a year because won’t you look at that, her world did keep turning after that one decision. But this is different. She feels airy and light, like she could jump off a cliff and fly instead of fall. 

“Well hurry up, I have things to do outside of just being your chauffeur.”

“Poor passenger princess, how the roles have reversed,” Paige mocks and it earns her an ever so familiar fond eye roll and for the first time in a year, she feels free. 

***

When she gets downstairs, Azzi’s leaning against her car door, a pair of sunglasses shielding her eyes. The hot California sun shines brightly against her tan skin, and Paige’s heart stutters because fuck, Azzi is golden. She looks every bit reminiscent of the girl Paige still has memorised and yet, every bit the promise of a girl Paige wants to learn by heart. 

“Nice car,” Paige smirks, alerting the younger girl of her presence.  

“It does the job,” Azzi says, looking up with a smile of her own, opening the passenger door for Paige to get in, “not all of us are raking in NIL deals to get the big guns, but we make do.”

“Steph Curry brand ambassador say what now?” the blonde girl teases as she slides into the car. When she looks up, Azzi’s frozen in place, “what?”

“Nothing I just-” she’s wearing sunglasses, but Paige knows Azzi's trying to avert her gaze, “I’m kinda surprised you know that.”

It’s Paige’s turn to look away, their newfound comfort giving away to that old awkwardness, “I keep up with most basketball news.”

To Azzi’s credit she doesn’t push. Instead, she makes her way into the driver seat without another sound. She’s about to connect her phone to the aux but Paige beats her to it. 

“Hey,” Azzi squeals, making grabby hands, “my car, my rules, my music.”

“Nuh-uh injury privileges,” Paige gloats, sticking out her tongue. 

“That’s not a thing.”

“Is too.”

“Fine, we’ll listen to your crap music.”

“I resent that,” Paige retorts, as Drake blasts through the speakers. The sound of it makes Azzi groan, and she dramatically bangs her head against the steering wheel. Paige spends the rest of the car ride singing at the top of her lungs. Azzi spends the rest of the car ride alternating between shaking her head and joining in with the singing. It’s like they’re back in 2020 all over again, back before they found themselves in the whirlwind of life, back when they were just Paige and Azzi.

*** 

Their trip inside the grocery store takes less time than the ride to get there, even if Paige takes her time dilly-dallying in the dairy section, pretending she’s going to get anything other than just regular milk. She’s overly conscious of the fact that their time together might be coming to an end, that this time she might actually have to deal with saying goodbye. But she’s not ready to go back to missing Azzi just yet. 

“Maybe you can show me your dorm,” she says quietly, once they're both back in the car, playing with the hem of her shirt. Beside her, Azzi draws in a sharp intake of breath, clearly not having expected Paige to want that of all things. In all honesty, the idea of stepping into the world that had stolen Azzi from her is not all that appealing to Paige but she wants to hold onto this moment just a little bit longer. 

“You wanna see my dorm?” 

“A chance to see how the non-blue blood peasants live? I’d never pass it up.”

“Non blue blood,” Azzi scoffs, "Ever heard of John Wooden?”

“I was talking about women’s basketball but yeah I have heard of him. I won the award last year. Over you,” Paige smirks, wiggling her eyebrows. 

“Not everyone’s a phenom their freshman year,” Azzi retorts fondly, unable to mask the hint of pride in her voice. 

“Well we’ll see this year-” Paige stops herself, cold seeping into her lungs, as she remembers why she’s in the stupid state of California in the first place. The lighthearted mood in the car goes tumbling out the window as her words hang like a dagger in the air. 

“Paige,” Azzi whispers, trying to wrap that one syllable in comfort. She reaches out to touch the blonde’s shoulder but must think better of it because her hand hovers mid-air for a second, before she pulls it back. Paige is suddenly hyper aware of the fact they haven’t touched yet. It’s a reminder of the fact that whatever progress they’ve made today, there’s still so much they haven’t even begun to unpack. 

“It’s fine,” Paige’s voice is steely, “just drive.”

Azzi opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, before simply nodding and starting the ignition. She’s clearly holding back and Paige doesn’t know how to feel about it. There’s a part of her that wants Azzi to push her to talk like she would before, but there's another part of her that knows this new rope they’re trying to string between them is fragile. 

They ride in silence to Azzi’s apartment, both of them too caught up in their own thoughts to bother with music this time. As the UCLA campus nears, Paige can’t help but hate it just a little bit. She’s aware she’s being petty. Acting like Storrs, Connecticut is some hub of beauty is probably a stretch of the imagination for anyone but she’s determined to dislike this place out of principle.

“Hmm not too shabby but like where’s the fucking cows?” Paige jokes, as the car comes to a stop in front of Azzi’s apartment building. She steps out gingerly, pretending to inspect her surroundings, making tsk-tsk noises at the most random things. 

“I’ve seen your apartment Bueckers, don’t even try,” Azzi retorts. 

It shouldn’t surprise Paige to see one of Azzi’s teammates when they enter her living room. It’s just like UConn really in the sense that there’s always someone there when you walk in but something about seeing Charisma Osborne just chilling in Azzi’s space suddenly makes it more real that the younger girl is definitely a UCLA Bruin. 

“Oh,” Charisma gives Paige a once-over, clearly not having expected to see her, “hi Paige.”

Paige waves, shuffling her weight on her crutches, unsure what to say. It’s not like she doesn’t know Charisma, they’ve literally won a gold medal together for USA basketball. She’s even met the girl a couple of times after and she likes her, she does. But her bitter brain is focused on the fact that this is one of those girls who had gotten Azzi as their teammate, one of the girls who got to see Azzi everyday. All things Paige had not gotten. 

“You didn’t tell me you were bringing company Az,” Charisma says pointedly, looking at Azzi and Paige bristles at the use of the nickname. She’s being all sorts of ridiculous but at least she’s self-aware of it. 

“Last minute decisions,” Azzi replies airily. The two girls lock eyes and Paige can tell they’re having some sort of unspoken conversation and now the green-eyed envy monster is out in full force. 

“I insisted on seeing her dorm,” she says finally, breaking into whatever staring competition the two UCLA guards are having. 

“It’s not a problem,” Charisma reassures, standing up from her position on the couch, and coming over to give Paige a tentative hug, “I just didn’t know you were coming. But it’s good to see you, Paige.”

“Yeah,” Paige tries to muster up a proper smile as she leans in to return the hug but it comes out more like a grimace, “you too.”

“We’re gonna go chill in my room,” Azzi says, beckoning to one of the doors in the hallways and Paige obediently follows her, waving a half-hearted goodbye to Charisma. She’s secretly pleased to have Azzi back to herself. 

The room is nothing out of the ordinary except it has Azzi all over it. She’s in the pink comforter that is thrown haphazardly over a clearly not made bed. She’s in the unicorn plushies laid delicately over a dark blue couch. She’s in the little flower stickers that outline the mirror on the far side of the room. There’s a wall dedicated solely to pictures and fairy lights on one side and Paige is immediately drawn to it. A familiar ache reverberates in her chest as her eyes flicker over the pictures of Azzi’s family. She’s missed them. Then there’s the photographs of Azzi in her UCLA uniform, her teammates surrounding her and Paige has to resist the dangerous urge to rip those off the wall. Be happy for her happiness, the logical part of her brain yells, not seeming to realise she’d left any chance of that in the dirt a year ago. As she tears her eyes away from those offending pictures, they land instead on a whole other set of photographs and she feels her heart catch in her throat. 

It’s a set of three images of her and Azzi, taken at various moments. Paige brushes her thumb against the one of the two of them with their arms around each other at the Minnesota  state fair. Azzi’s beaming at the camera and Paige is beaming at Azzi. They look so young, so naive, so happy. 

“I’m on your wall,” Paige breathes out, turning to face her best friend, “Fuck, I’m on you wall.”

“Of course you are,” Azzi affirms, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world but she shuffles nervously, giving away the reality behind her stable demeanour. 

“I never answered your texts. I didn’t call you back,” Paige lists quietly as the first tear falls from her eyes; she’s been holding them back all day, “and I’m on your fucking wall.”

Azzi looks away, unsure how to deal with the fact that apparently they’re no longer tip-toeing around the past. She doesn’t know how to tell the blonde that there had never really been a second thought about whether or not those photos were going up on the wall.

“Doesn’t matter,” she shrugs finally, “you’re my best friend. You’re always gonna be my best friend. Ride or die right?”

“Ride or die,” Paige repeats in a whisper before she all but throws herself at Azzi, practically moulding herself into the younger girl’s body. Caught off guard, Azzi stiffens for a second, before relaxing into it. It’s late outside and the sun has set, but in this moment, the world shines the brightest it has in a year as two stubborn girls finally find their way home to each other. 

***

That night, Azzi asks her tentatively if she wants to stay over and of course Paige agrees. Lying awake next to a familiar stranger, she lets herself finally remember the day things had first started unravelling.

November 2020

“You’ll probably get one of the upstairs apartments, so we probably won’t actually be living together which is good because can you imagine if I had to see your goofy ass 24/7?” Paige puts a dramatic hand to her forehead, as she leads Azzi into her room.

She’s too caught up in her excitement having Azzi at UConn, and planning what’ll happen next year, to notice that the girl in question isn’t participating at all in her enthusiasm. Paige has been waiting for what feels like a year (in reality it’s only been a few months) to finally have her best friend come visit. The minute the car had pulled up, she’d taken it upon herself to start her sales pitch all over again, missing the sympathetic smiles she’d gotten from the rest of the Fudd family as she pulled Azzi away to show her the glories of the campus. 

“Did you see my assist to Christyn today?” Paige gloats, falling onto her bed with a smirk. 

“It was pretty great,” Azzi concedes. 

“It was fucking perfect thank you very much. I set her up perfectly, exactly how she likes it.”

“Right.”

“And then did you see how excited the team was for her? For everyone? Never gonna find a greater group of girls.”

“They seem wonderful P.”

Paige furrows her eyebrows as she catches Azzi still lingering by the door instead of joining her on the bed. The brunette fidgets with the sleeve of her sweater, chewing on her lips.

“Are you allergic to my bed?” Paige waits for some smartass response. When she doesn’t get one, she frowns, instincts going haywire, “Az, you good?”

“I- '' Azzi looks away, swallowing nervously, “I need to tell you something and I- I’m not sure how you’re gonna react.” 

“You get a boyfriend or a girlfriend or something in the last few months that I don’t know about?” She says it light-heartedly enough, but the thought of it sends a sharp sting through Paige’s heart. In hindsight, she thinks maybe she could have dealt with it having been that. 

“What? No. Just- just don’t- dont take it personally okay. Like you can be upset about it but- but don’t hold it against me yeah? My parents- they said- they said you’d get it. You’d be upset but you’d- you’d get it because you- you get me right?”

Paige’s chest hammers as she watches the younger girl draw in a deep breath, “you’re scaring the shit out of me right now.”

“I’mcommittingtoUCLA” Azzi says all in one breath, the words blending together. 

She’s sure she’s heard it wrong. There’s no way. After all this time, after all their conversations, all the pitches, how hard she had worked, there was no way this was going to be the end to all of Paige’s efforts. 

“What?” she whispers, crossing her fingers that she has in fact misheard. 

When Azzi averts her eyes, she knows she hasn’t, “I’m committing to UCLA.”

The first time Paige and Azzi met was somewhat awkward, what with Azzi’s shyness and Paige being slightly overeager to make a new friend. When they’d become bus buddies, they’d progressed to being casual acquaintances who could small talk and share smiles. And then the flight back to Minnesota happened and everything had changed. Every moment after was filled with conversation or laughs or a comfortable silence. Until this one, where the sudden silence between them foreshadows an ominous future.

“Say something,” Azzi says finally, her voice shaking. 

Paige stares at her for a second before, “you named your dog Stewie.”

“What?”

“You named your dog Stewie. After Breanna Stewart who played at UConn. It’s not-” Paige wracks her brain, hands flying animatedly “it’s not Meyers or something, after someone who played at fucking UCLA. You named your dog after a UConn great. How are you going to take him to UCLA with you?”

Azzi stares at her, clearly not having expected that level of questioning of all things. Who could blame her when Paige herself feels a little insane. 

“This is a joke right? You’re fucking with me? Ha ha ha very funny,” she claps deliriously,  “hilarious prank seriously, like hats off you’ve outdone yourself but enough okay? Say sike right fucking now.”

Azzi makes a strangled noise, “it’s not a joke Paige. That’s- that’s my decision.”

“Then change it,” Paige yells, catapulting off the bed.

“Paige-”

“Have you told UCLA yet?”

“I wanted to tell my family and you first.”

“Oh wow, how kind of you. How fucking generous of you to do that Azzi,” Paige bites back sarcastically and Azzi flinches. 

In a flash, Paige’s expression goes from angry to desperate, “you still have time to change your mind . Please just- just think about it again okay? You still have so much time and you know what, stay here for a couple more days. Spend time with the team, with the coaches, with me and you’ll see-. UCLA just sounds nice you know? California, the sun, I get it, of course it’s tempting. But just- just stay here okay? And you’ll see this is where you belong,” she leaves the, with me, unsaid. 

“Paige,” Azzi’s voice cracks. She takes a step toward her and then pauses. It’s the first time in a long time that Azzi’s hesitated when it comes to Paige. It won’t be the last. And when she looks at Paige through her long eyelashes, tears threatening to fall from her dark brown eyes, Paige knows she’s lost. 

“No,” she’s pacing now, chest heaving up and down in a combination of frustration, anger and misery, “this is not fucking happening. We’re not doing this. I made you a whole recruitment video. Did you watch it? Do you know how long it took me to make it? Has the last year been a fucking joke to you?”

“Of course not-”

“Don’t even. Because clearly- clearly it has. Must’ve been hilarious watching me beg and plead with you when you already fucking knew you were going to committ somewhere else.”

“That’s not fair,”  Azzi’s voice rises at the accusation, “I had no idea where I was going until a couple of weeks ago. You can’t seriously think that low of me.”

“Not fair? You know what’s not fair, Azzi? We’ve been talking about playing together, about finally being on the same team, the same fucking state, for years. What’s not fair is you throwing all of that away on a whim.”

“I’m not committing to UCLA on a whim. This is my whole future we’re talking about. You don’t even know how much thought I’ve put into it. And I’m choosing what’s best for me. You can’t hold that against me Paige. You can’t.”

They stand on opposite sides of the room, taking in harsh staggered breaths and glaring at each other. The tension in the room is electric as the string connecting them frays. Paige and Azzi bicker, they don’t argue. Or at least, that’s how it used to be. 

“Az?” their stare down is broken by a knock on the door as Katie Fudd lets herself in. Immediately, as she stares between her daughter and the girl who’d become just as important, Katie knows what has happened, “we’re going back to the air BnB, are you staying here?”

The answer should be obvious, like it used to be. Of course she would stay here. It was meant to be a no-brainer. But before Azzi can say that, Paige intervenes and the string snaps. 

“She’s going with you,” the blonde says firmly, before turning her back. She won’t let Azzi see the tears, she won’t. For her part, the brunette stares at Paige’s back silently for a couple of seconds, before a mask of determination slips on. 

“Fine. If that’s what you fucking want,” Azzi sneers before brushing past her mom, eager to get away and hide her own tears. 

When Paige turns back around, Katie is already looking at her. The older woman walks the length of the room and pulls the younger girl into a hug that she readily melts into. Paige sniffles as Azzi’s mom soothingly rubs her back. 

“We’re driving back tomorrow morning,” Katie whispers quietly into Paige’s hair, “I know you’re mad sweetheart but come say goodbye okay?”

And she does. She shows up with only half an hour or so remaining before Azzi leaves, but Paige shows up. They hug stiffly, exchanging maybe a sentence or two but in that moment it’s enough. They’ll call later when Azzi gets home and it’ll be awkward for a little bit but they’ll break through. They’ll figure out a way to go on without having to talk about the “big thing”. They’ll hold on as long as they can, until they can’t anymore. 

***

September 2022

After the night Paige stays over at Azzi’s apartment, they're attached at the hip for the next few weeks, just like old times. They’ve fallen into a routine of sorts. Azzi shows up without fail every day after practice to pick Paige up from her rehab, and then the rest of the younger girl’s time is Paige’s. The first time she’d seen the brunette leaning casually against her car, Paige had had to stop herself from jumping into her arms. She’d played it as nonchalant as possible, joking about Azzi being stalker, but inside, she could feel it again, the dangerously familiar tap of this is all I’ll ever need. 

On days Paige doesn’t have rehab, Azzi still shows up right on time on her doorstep with a board game or food or something.  It’s gotten to the point where every time the doorbell rings, Paige opens it expecting Azzi. The couple times it’s not, she tries and fails to hide the disappointment on her face. It earns her an eye roll from the delivery guy but it’s worth it for the laugh it elicits from Azzi when she tells her the story. They fall back together as if they’d never fallen apart. And what’s more terrifying than finding out that she’d never truly gotten over old Azzi, is realising how easy it would be to fall in love with new Azzi. 

When Caroline, Nika and Piath come to visit the weekend after, all three of them can immediately tell that something's changed. Their teammate seems lighter, as if she’s finally found a sense of calm. But their incessant prodding and raised eyebrows are only met with shrugs from a tight-lipped Paige. It isn’t until Azzi calls, and Nika snatches the phone out of Paige’s hands, gasping at the callerID, that they finally figure out why their point guard has a new kick in her step. 

“You should invite her out with us tonight,” Caroline is the first to speak, giving Paige an encouraging smile. 

“Carol,” Nika hisses, “we can’t just invite the enemy.”

“She’s not the enemy,” Paige defends immediately, “we don’t even have a rivalry with UCLA.”

Nika scoffs indignantly, “of course she is. She picked a different school over us. Over UConn! That’s weird. Who even does that?”

“Lots of people do,” Caroline, who occasionally texts Azzi (albeit she’s kept that somewhat of a secret), supplies helpfully, shrugging when the Croatian glares at her. 

Piath nudges Paige when she notices the other girl has gone quiet, “ignore Nika. She doesn’t mean it, you know that. If you wanna invite her, invite her.” 

And she does, she wants to so badly. It’s insane really because it hasn’t even been a full day since they’d last seen each other but Paige swears something inside her has been missing since. There’s something awfully terrifying about letting Azzi back into the UConn version of her world, the world that the younger girl had once rejected. Still, if they’re going to try this again, she supposes sooner or later, it’ll have to happen. 

“Put her on speaker,” Nika orders when Paige grabs her phone back from her. 

“Nika,” Caroline, younger only by age, warns, pulling the other girl away, “we’re supposed to be cheering her up, not making life harder.”

Azzi answers on the third ring, her voice teasing  “miss me already?”

Yes, Paige thinks, sometimes I think I miss you even when you’re right here next to me, sometimes I think I’ll miss you forever. But she doesn’t say any of that. 

“Not a chance,” she scoffs instead, “besides you called me first.”

“Butt dial.”

“Mmmhmm I’m sure.”

“Shut up,” Azzi laughs and Paige is glad her teammates aren’t here to see the goofy grin that appears on her face at the sound of it, “I just wanted to see if we were doing something tonight?”

“Yeah- umm- you remember I told you about the girls coming down this weekend. They- uh- they wanted to go out tonight and uh- you could come along?” 

There’s a pause on the other end and Paige knows Azzi’s going through the same thought process as her. 

“I don’t wanna intrude on your time with your team P-”

“You wouldn’t be intruding,” Paige cuts in immediately and although she figured her teammates were definitely eavesdropping, Nika cursing about her being “pussywhipped” followed by in-sync shushing from Piath and Caroline, gives them away. 

On the other end of the line, Azzi’s quiet again, “it’s okay P, you go have fun with your friends. We don’t have to spend every night together. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

What she doesn’t say is that maybe they need to learn how to live like that again, how to live apart again. Paige is almost done with the LA part of her rehab, something both of them are still in denial about. It’s only a matter of time before they return back to their two separate worlds and neither of them are sure they’ve managed to repair their friendship enough to not slip back into their foolishness again. 

“But I wanna see you tonight,” Paige whines, her tone teetering on the edge of sounding like a desperate girlfriend, “please.”

“Paige-”

“Pleaseeeeeee. I’m literally injured and begging Az, it’d be mean to say no.”

“What does your injury even have to do with any of this?” Azzi sighs exasperatedly, “but yeah okay fine calm down Bueckers. Send me an address, I’ll be there.”

“You don’t wanna come pregame here?” 

“Dude, let's not push it, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah okay see you,” Paige pauses, “hey Az?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m really happy you’re coming tonight.”

“I’m really happy you’re happy P.”

***

Azzi Fudd is a menace. See, people often get fooled by her soft-spoken nature and shy demeanour, but Paige has been around her long enough to know the truth. In the beginning it was the witty quips the younger girl always had ready whenever they were having some ridiculous argument. After that, it was the direct pranks that wreaked havoc on Paige’s life. But tonight, in Paige’s opinion, tonight is Azzi’s worst offence. She had to have done it on purpose, had to have known the sheer effect it would have on Paige to see her dressed like that. The red criss-cross tank top fits her like a mould and the way her ripped jeans shorts cling to her hips leaves little to the imagination. Her diamond belly button piercing shines against her skin, taunting Paige. She wants to touch, she wants to feel, she wants to do all the unspeakable things in her mind but she’s forced to just watch. 

What she hates most though, is that everybody else is watching too. Since Azzi’s walked into the club, Paige has had to fight the urge to strangle every stranger who had given her best friend an appraising once-over. Some of them let their eyes linger long enough to give her time to plot out the perfect murder strategy (it’s the only way she can stop herself from actually committing a crime tonight). And, as Azzi dances with Caroline, hips swaying to the beat and holding the other girl a little closely, Paige has the irrational urge to hit sweet, kind Caroline of all people. 

The thing is, Azzi’s been a little too attached to Caroline since she got here in Paige’s opinion. And she gets it. Piath, bless her soul, is trying but has always been a little awkward around new people. Nika is definitely not trying, loyally holding onto a grudge on behalf of Paige. Which leaves Caroline, who’s already familiar territory and the younger girl has grasped onto her like a lifeline. But enough is enough Paige decides, as she slips out of her seat with a determined look. Smoothly, she cuts right in between Caroline and Azzi.

“Nika’s a little wasted and I don’t want to deal with,” it’s a blatant lie but Paige knows appealing to Caroline’s more motherly instincts will get her what she wants. She gets a raised eyebrow in return, her teammate clearly catching her ruse because Nika looks visibly fine. But it works anyway and Paige gets Azzi to herself. She reaches for the other girl’s hand, twirling her just so she can hear that stupid silly laugh, and then pulling her back so she’s facing Paige. 

“You having fun?” 

“Always have fun with you P,” Azzi replies. She’s clearly tipsy but there’s no hint of insincerity in her voice. It makes Paige’s breath hitch. 

“Yeah?” she whispers, taking a step closer, “more than with Carol?”

Azzi giggles, “more than anyone.”

The song in the club changes and as the crowd adjusts to it, someone jostles Azzi and immediately Paige grabs at her hips to steady her. As she finds her balance, Azzi’s giggles subside, realising just how close she is to the blonde now. They’re stuck in slow motion as the world dances around them. The combination of adrenaline and alcohol pumping through her veins is what convinces Paige to test the limits. One hand still squeezing at Azzi’s bare waist, revelling in finally getting to touch, she brings up her thumb to trace around Azzi’s lips. The younger girl gulps, but when she doesn’t try to move away, confidence pulses through Paige. Her heart is beating frantically out of her chest, years and years of want and need that she’d shoved as far away as possible, desperately fighting to get to the surface. 

Pushing herself closer, so their chests are now pressed to each other and Azzi’s hands have no choice but to latch onto her biceps, Paige places a delicate, teasing kiss to the corner of Azzi’s lips. She wishes she could record the whine it elicits and listen to it on loop for hours. Smirking, she moves to place another one on the other side, this time pressing her lips a little harder, a little longer. Azzi’s eyes are closed shut, hands gripping onto Paige so tightly, she knows there’ll be a mark on her biceps tomorrow. She cups Azzi’s face with both hands now, her own eyes shutting involuntarily, as she finally, finally brushes their lips together. 

This time, the strangled noise that leaves Azzi’s throat, is one Paige wishes she could forget as the younger girl rips herself away from Paige, the force of it creating almost a foot of distance between them. It doesn’t take long for the familiar sting of rejection to make itself home in her heart. Azzi’s eyes are brimming with tears as she manically shakes her head. Without a word, she rushes through the crowd, making a beeline for the exit, leaving Paige confused and craving for another taste. 

***

It takes Paige a second to gather her thoughts before following the brunette. She ignores the confused glances from her teammates, making some bullshit excuse about fresh air as she fights her way outside. When she gets there, Azzi’s leaning against the wall, eyes closed as she takes in long deep breaths. 

“That’s not usually how girls react when I try to kiss them,” Paige says after a second, trying to make light of the situation, even if her heart is heavy with anxiety. 

It’s the wrong thing to say because Azzi scoffs, “you kiss a lot of girls don’t you.”

“Yeah and most of them kiss me back,” Paige bites back. 

She’s taken aback by the fire in the darker-skinned girl’s eyes as Azzi finally opens them, heaving herself off the wall. 

“I won’t be one of your groupies Paige. I won’t be one of your desperate one night stands. I won’t be just some other hookup. I won’t!”

Frankly she’s a little offended Azzi would even think that of her. She’s aware of her reputation. In fact she’d probably fed into it a little bit, exaggerating her escapades to Azzi on the phone her freshman year, when they had been on the verge of combusing and she’d been desperate to get a rise out of the younger girl. Last year though, last year was different. But Azzi doesn’t know that. 

“I don’t want you to be any of that,” she replies feebly. 

“Then what, do you want me to be?” Azzi’s voice rises with each syllable. 

Paige stutters, the words getting stuck in her throat. The truth is she wants Azzi to be everything. The truth is, Azzi already is everything. Except there’s too much between them and she just can’t say it. They stand in silence until Azzi finally breaks it.

“I think these last few weeks of summer might have been the best of my life,” she says miserably, “and that might be the worst thing ever you know? Because it’s not real. You’re gonna go back to your world and you’ll- you’ll stop replying to my texts and you’ll stop- you’ll stop calling me and I- I don’t know if I can do that again.”

“That’s an awful lot of assumptions you’re making about me,” Paige is on defensive mode now, feeling a fight brewing. 

“Because that’s what happened. Go back through your fucking phone Paige. Look at all the times I tried. And all the times you never did. You just- you cut me out Paige.”

“That’s not fair. You chose fucking UCLA. Over me.”

“No,” Azzi corrects immediately, anger seeping into her tone, “I chose UCLA over UConn. You made it about yourself.”

Paige swallows back a bitter response in favour of trying to prevent a full-fledged argument, “okay, okay let’s not- let’s not do this okay. It’ll be better this time- I- I won’t ignore your calls or texts or you okay? Just- can we just go back inside please?”

“That’s the thing,” Azzi’s anger is gone, replaced by a sad wistful smile, “I don’t know if I believe that you will,” a single tear rolls down her cheek, “I- I don’t fully trust you and you haven’t fully forgiven me. So where do we go from here?”

It’s a lie what they say about the truth setting you free, Paige thinks as Azzi’s words squeeze at her heart, because all it’s done is unleash shackles of despair that holds them both hostage. It had been easy the last couple of weeks, to pretend the last year had never happened. It had been easy for Paige to pretend that she was over what happened, to ignore the part of her brain that still felt so utterly betrayed. 

“Azzi, what are you saying? You don’t- you don’t wanna be friends?” Paige feels nauseous even saying it. 

“No I-” Azzi chews at her bottom lip, “I’m saying this- us- we’re too fragile to complicate even more. I barely- fuck- Paige, I barely survived losing my best friend. I don’t think I could survive losing something more.” 

The worst thing about it all, is that it makes sense. And really, Paige doesn’t know what she’d expected to happen if Azzi hadn’t pulled away when she did. They’d kiss, maybe give in and do more and then what? Shake hands and walk away? Or make false promises that would ultimately lead to resentment? No, Years and years of something deserved better than either of those masochistic endings. It makes sense, it does but it doesn’t mean Paige has to like it. 

In front of her, all the fight evaporates from Azzi’s body, as the younger girl leans back against the brick wall of the club, sliding down and pulling her knees to her chest. She looks every bit as miserable as Paige feels and all the blonde wants to do is wipe away the stress lines creasing against the younger girl’s beautiful phase. She moves to sit down next to her best friend, shuffling so their shoulders are pressed together and intertwines their fingers together. A sigh of relief escapes her when Azzi doesn’t immediately pull away. Instead, she squeezes their hands tighter, as if she’s scared that if she lets go, Paige will disappear. 

“You didn’t lose me you know,” Paige says softly after a second, nudging Azzi’s shoulder when the other girl lets out a noise of protest, “I know, I know it feels like you did. It felt like that to me too except- every time something good or bad happened to me, I heard your voice or- or maybe I just really wanted too. We got lost a little bit but I didn’t- I didn’t lose you and you didn’t lose me. There’s a difference. I don’t think we could ever lose each other like that. Not really.”

When Azzi turns to look at her, the golden glow of the street lights illuminate the emotions in her eyes. She gives Paige a soft smile, “well Bueckers, if basketball doesn’t work out, maybe you have a future in poetry.”

“I could do whatever I wanted,” except what I want to do the most. 

It doesn’t take long for the Uber Azzi’s already called to start pulling up and that familiar ache of longing creeps into Paige’s spine. She knows tonight isn’t their final goodbye; they still have a couple more days. But those days will be spent ignoring and pretending, unlike tonight and the firm grip they have on reality. They rise off of the cold pavement together, dusting themselves off. It takes a second of awkward glances before they’re surging into each other’s arms, squeezing each other so tightly that it’s hard to breathe. Paige wills herself not to cry, hiding her face in the crook of Azzi’s neck. 

“We’ll be okay,” she whispers, unsure if it’s more for her benefit or Azzi’s. 

The unwanted beep of a car is the only reason they reluctantly pull away, hurriedly wiping away unshed tears, they pretend the other can’t see. Azzi musters up a brave smile, before slowly moving away and it takes everything in Paige not to crumble and begs her to stay. Azzi’s halfway to the car when she turns back and it feels like Paige can breathe again. The brunette’s face is conflicted for a second before turning determined, as she starts walking back up. 

“Az-”

Paige’s confusion is stifled as Azzi fists her shirt, pulling her into a searing kiss. It’s desperate and needy and it’s only a few seconds before the dark-haired girl is pulling away again, but it sets Paige’s entire world off balance. 

“I just-” Azzi’s breathing is rapid and uneven, “I’ve wanted to do that since I was fifteen and- just- fuck- I just-,” she blinks up at Paige, “I hate- I hate leaving things unfinished and for fucks sake if you don’t call me back this time Bueckers- just- don’t be a stranger.”

Paige doesn’t get time to answer, she doesn’t think she could even if she did, because Azzi scurries away almost immediately. She stops when she gets to the car, turning back to give Paige one final look, a look that will haunt Paige forever, before getting into the backseat. As Paige watches the back of Azzi’s uber gets smaller and smaller, her tongue darts across her lips as she tries to memorise the faintest taste of Azzi’s strawberry-flavoured lipstick. And she knows, she’s so utterly and completely and terribly fucked.

[cambion-companion]

need me some protective dad aemond, if you please i just know he'd be soo good

Ok finally we have more Dad Aemond incoming!

Prepare thyself for wholesomeness. There will be multiple parts.

word count: 1900

Aemond x wife!reader | teenage daughter | younger son | scaring off suitors | Aegon helps for once

A brisk wind blew the hair from your face as you hurried up the stone steps of the Keep. You glanced over your shoulder at the young man still wailing, even as he departed from the main gate.

"I am going to kill them both." You seethed to yourself, the guards in front of the oaken doors quickly stepping to the side with low bows, eager to not get in the way of your building wrath.

As you strode down the marbled hallways, you could already hear the shouting.

You daughter, hands on her hips, was practically screaming at her father, her white hair in tangles falling about her slender shoulders. "I cannot believe you!! This is the fifth time! Mother!" She saw you enter the room, tearing her blazing lilac gaze away from Aemond to look tearfully at you. "Another of my suitors frightened near to death! At this rate I will die alone and unmarried!"

"Better that than chained to a man who will make your life miserable." Aemond intoned, Aegon nodded from where he was perched atop the table behind your little family.

"What has happened?" Your son, barely past his tenth birthday, entered the room after you, tugging on your skirts. "Has father scared off another of Shaera's suitors?"

"He almost killed him!" Your daughter pointed an accusing finger at Aemond's chest. "Uncle Aegon lured him into the dragon pit, and they threatened to set him aflame."

"Wicked!" Your son grinned with delight.

"Shut up Aerys." Shaera was crying in earnest now.

You walked to her, your arms open wide and she sunk gratefully into your embrace. You glared at the two Targaryen men over her shoulder as you hugged your distraught daughter. "There had better be a good explanation for this."

Aegon took a deep sip of wine as Aemond sighed heavily, wrapping an arm around Aerys' shoulders as the boy sidled next to his father. Aegon was the one to break the heavy silence. "We did not threaten to burn anyone alive, Shaera."

"There were words said that we overheard, that settled uneasily with both of us." Aemond agreed, nodding to his brother, his lilac eye flitting from the back of his daughter's silver head to your face. "We took the boy to the dragon pit and introduced him to Sunfyre and Dreamfyre, and told him what would happen should he make good on his words."

"I will not ask you to expound upon it here." You shook your head even as Aegon opened his mouth to explain, stroking Shaera's hair gently. "Shae." You took her face in your hands, wiping away the tears. "Go to your father and make peace."

You shot Aemond a meaningful look as your daughter turned toward him. His gaze softened as he watched her approach, even though her arms were folded tight across her chest. "I am sorry I yelled at you, Kepa."

Aemond reached out, prying her arms loose and holding both her hands in his own. Aegon watched with mild interest, still sipping on his wine. Aerys moved to you, reaching for your hand, watching as Aemond placed a kiss to Shaera's knuckles. "You are worthy of a man who will not shrink in fear at the sight of a dragon."

"Was he very frightened? He said you threatened to kill him."

"A lie."

"His trousers were also wet." Shae tried to suppress a giggle. Her eyes, exactly matching the color of her father's own eye, sparkled up at him.

Aemond nodded solemnly. "He soiled himself."

They chuckled together, Aerys beside you positively cackled, even Aegon gave an appreciative snort.

"You are the blood of the dragon." Aemond continued, his face serious once more. "Above all, you are my daughter and will receive only the best in all things, including those who are allowed to court you."

"Not one person has been good enough though." Shae said hopelessly.

"There will be someone who you fall in love with, daughter." You said, smiling and walking up to where she stood, placing a hand around her waist. "Do not be in such a rush to grow up." You placed a kiss on her temple, she did not pull away.

Aegon watched this exchange with a curiously sour expression on his face, seeming to take a sudden disliking to his drink. "A lovely sentiment for those who have a choice in their futures." His voice was flat as he got up from the table, striding to the door. "Let me know if you need further assistance with troublesome youths, brother." He spoke without turning back, exiting the room, leaving just the four of you there.

Aemond's eye lingered on where his brother had disappeared, a frown tugging his curved lips.

"Father, can we practice sword fighting now?" Aerys piped up, straining on his tip toes to get his dad's attention.

"Yes of course, my son." Aemond allowed Aerys to take his hand and enthusiastically pull him in the direction of the training yard.

"Tis time for you to clean up and get ready for your harp lessons." You squeezed Shae's shoulder, earning a watery smile from the girl. "Don't be disheartened, my jewel. I will talk to him tonight."

"Thank you, mom." She gave you a hug, smelling of lilac and candlewax, before departing for her rooms.

You straightened your skirts, running your hands along the green velvet fabric. It was the fifth time Aemond had sent one of Shaera's suitors scurrying from King's Landing, tail between their legs. You would have to speak to him in private later, but for now you decided to watch him train your young son. Aerys' favorite activity, and something Shae had also begun. At her insistence, Aemond had started showing her the basics of sword fighting. Something that made you proud yet simultaneously worried.

The dull thunk of wooden swords striking each other met your ears as you entered the grey courtyard. The sky above threatened rain, but no droplets fell as your husband and son practiced.

"Keep your feet shoulder-width apart." Aemond was instructing, glancing up to grace you with a smile as you leaned against the railing. "I've told you too many times, Aerys. Do not lean forward, keep your balance over your belly button."

"I'm trying." Aerys complained, sounding a bit too whiny for your taste.

"Don't whine." Both you and Aemond spoke at the same time, he gave you a roguish grin as you chuckled. Aerys sighed, thwacking his wooden sword against Aemond's in annoyance.

They trained for about half an hour, quite enough time for Aerys to pick up several more tips from his father on footwork and arm movements.

"You are a quick learner." Aemond tousled the boy's curly hair affectionately causing Aerys to wrinkle his nose, giggling as he tried to push his dad's hand off.

"Now, off to dragon riding training trēsy. I will join you before long." Aemond looked up at you again. "I have a feeling your mother wants to speak with me."

You smiled at Aerys as he waved cheerily to you, walking away with bouncing strides in the direction of the dragon pit where his small dragon, Parthnax, waited. Aemond climbed the stone steps to where you waited, removing his leather gloves and stroking a large hand along your arm before interlocking his fingers with your own. "Yes, my lady?" His mischievous smile grew a little as you pulled him to walk with you back into the Keep.

"What happened today with that young man?" You asked. "He seemed a fine match for Shaera."

Aemond sighed, choosing his words carefully as his thumb stroked your knuckle. "Aegon and I overheard him boasting to his young friends of his imminent marriage to our daughter, Y/N. With the vulgar words he used, the boy is lucky he isn't charcoal right now."

"What did he say?"

"I will not repeat it."

Your steps faltered, you glanced sidelong at Aemond's face, his jaw was set, and his eye was staring coldly ahead. It must have been something truly vile for him to be so upset. You squeezed his hand gently. "You did well, then. But for the sake of our daughter, I must ask you to be less condemning to those suitors who have not spoken ill of her."

"I am the image of lenience."

"Aemond. This is the fifth time you've chased a boy away from her after they've known each other barely a week."

He sighed softly, remaining silent as the two of you walked together through the torchlit hallways. As you rounded a corner, you saw Shaera standing in front of a young man with shoulder-length auburn hair, deep in conversation.

You felt Aemond stiffen beside you, his hand breaking away as it instinctively went to the pommel of his sword.

Shaera noticed the two of you, her face falling slightly as her lilac eyes flicked to her father. "Dad, mom..."

"Shae." You greeted, your brow furrowing. "Did your lessons run short? Who is this?"

"This is Oliver." The young man bowed low as you approached.

"An honor to meet you, I only just arrived at King's Landing and got myself quite turned around. Luckily Shaera rescued me, and we've been discussing the upcoming tourney that I will be jousting in."

You noticed the coat of arms adorning Oliver's breastplate, but it was Aemond who spoke up first. "Mormont, is it?"

"Yes, your highness." Oliver Mormont bowed again, lower this time. "Might I take the liberty of expressing what an honor it is to meet you, as well as your lady wife." His light brown eyes smiled at you before he turned his attention back to Aemond.

Shaera beamed at him.

Aemond noticed her obvious admiration, his smile a little forced as he nodded at Oliver. "It is always a pleasure to host our friends from the North."

"I've invited Oliver to dinner tonight!" Shae said brightly, not seeing how Aemond's eye narrowed slightly as he looked at her. No, her attention was only upon the handsome youth standing tall beside her.

"We would be glad for you to join us!" You spoke before Aemond could, locking your arm with your husband's. "Now, Shae, you have harp lessons to get to."

Shae's cheeks flushed as Oliver kissed the back of her hand, bowing in farewell. "Until tonight, my lady."

"Tonight then." She nodded, looking bereaved as she watched him leave.

You could have propped Aemond up against a wall he was so tense, you gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. Shae looked hesitantly from him to you before hurrying away toward her class.

"I am going to put bars on her door and window." Aemond muttered, watching her go.

"You will do no such thing, Aemond."

"Dinner?"

"Yes, tonight in fact. He seems like a nice young man from a good house as well."

"They all seem like 'nice young men' to begin with."

You turned to face your husband, cradling his angular jaw in your hands. "My dearest love. You are correct in wanting to shelter her from the many horrible men who infest this world." You leaned in, brushing your lips along his mouth, feeling his muscles slowly begin to relax against you. "However, she will have to experience life one way or another. All we can do is our best to guide her."

"I worry for her, Y/N." Aemond kissed you gently, pressing his forehead to yours.

"As do I. But we cannot keep her all to ourselves forever." You traced your fingers across his cheek, your breaths mingling. "She is the blood of the dragon, and we must allow her to spread her wings and fly."

[youunravelme]

to all the girls you've loved before part 1

author's note: hi! remember that time i wrote jack fics? well i'm branching out, so BUCKLE UP BABY. it should be said that this will be multiple parts, i don't know how many though so again, buckle up. also i'm pretending the trade never happened

pairing: single dad!mat barzal x reader

summary: being a nanny for rich people was probably the worst thing that ever happened to you, until you started working for mat.

warnings: children, rich people, mentions of absent parent

mat barzal. nearly everyone in new york was obsessed with him, you knew him by the awkward elevator interactions when you were leaving work and he was getting home.

you nannied for a family in his building, a mom named erin who was rarely home with two really sweet children, ages 2 and 4.

you didn't even know his name until a few weeks after he moved in when erin mentioned his name in passing conversation, saying something about an nhl player living across the hall.

"i think he's around your age," she said with a sly smirk. "and handsome too, introduced himself to the kids too. such a sweetheart."

"erin," you started. "you can't possibly know he's a sweetheart from one two second interaction."

she tsked and waved you off. "first impressions have a great impact."

you met him when you were getting off the elevator. he had a duffle bag slung over one shoulder and wore a suit, his hair was wet and strewn about in every direction. you were in a pair of sweats to combat the cold.

he mumbled a small hey and made a pathetic excuse for a smile as he waited for you to get off the elevator.

everything you knew about him, you gleaned involuntarily. he must suck at cooking given the amount of times the smoke detector would go off in his place, you could hear the beeping through the walls. and his lack of cooking skills took shape in the trash bags filled with take out boxes that he loudly dumped in the trash chute. you even knew he had a best friend named "tito" from the shouting that erupted every time said friend came over.

you thought nothing of him aside from the mild annoyance at his loud noises.

it wasn't until the fall came and the two year old turned three (and therefore went off to preschool) that things changed.

you'd just settled into your pajamas when erin called asking you to come over.

"is everything alright?" you asked.

"you remember mat?"

"hardly."

she laughed through the phone, though it sounded a little strained. "can you come over? he's found himself in a bit of a situation."

you paused. "what kind of situation?"

spoiler alert: it was an eight month old baby girl kind of situation.

mat was sitting on erin's couch while the baby, whose name was apparently ella, snoozed away in the pack and play when you walked in.

erin explained the situation as you took a seat. something about a fling he had that resulted in a pregnancy (obviously) and the mom decided parenting just wasn't for her so she dropped the baby off with mat and has blocked him on all forms of communication.

erin leant some things like a pack and play for ella to sleep in until he got a crib. but he didn't need that as much as he needed you.

a nanny.

"i know you already have a job, but i can pay well and pay you more for watching all three kids when you have them," mat begged. "i know i have late games so it would require late nights but you can sleep in the guest room if you'd like and i might be gone for a week at a time, but you can invite friends over to hang out and--"

you held up a hand. listening to the man beg and plead for your help was almost heartbreaking. "i'll do it."

he sat back. "what, really?"

you furrowed your brows. "is that a problem?"

mat shook his head. "no! sorry, i was just surprised you'd agree so quickly.

"well, it's not like it would interfere with my time with erin's girls. i could watch your baby during the day and take her to pick up the girls from school and keep ella until you get back."

he still looked unsure. "i work late nights sometimes, is that a problem?"

you thought about the fact your schedule has been empty for the past few months, that the only reason you leave your shitty apartment was because erin needed you to nanny. "i think i can manage."

he smiled for the first time that evening, looking almost near tears. "thank you thank you thank you," he said.

you nodded, a little overwhelmed by his sudden change in demeanor. "when do i start?"

day one

you hesitantly walked into mat's big ass apartment to the sound of a screaming baby.

it was six in the morning.

mat ran into the living room, hair askew, clothes wrinkled, but his baby was in a clean set of pajamas with tears running down her face.

"i don't know what's wrong," he said frantically. "she woke up and i changed her diaper but she's still crying."

you dropped your bag on the floor and made your way over to him, taking ella out of his arms and immediately bouncing her in your own. "she's probably hungry," you guessed.

"i tried that! i put the bottle in the microwave but when i gave it to her she started crying harder and--"

"wait," you stopped him. "you put the bottle in the microwave?" he nodded. "with the formula?" he nodded again. "mat, you can't do that. heat the water separately and then add the formula. and then test it on your wrist to make sure it's the right temperature." you walked into the kitchen and prepared the bottle the right way, showing mat how to do it as you went.

when all was said and done, you placed the new bottle in ella's mouth and watched as she took it without issue.

mat's shoulders sagged in relief. "you're a miracle worker."

you gave him a sheepish smile. "you can go get ready, mat. i've got her from here." he nodded and hurried towards what you assumed was his bedroom while you walked over to the couch to sit down.

ella was a cute baby, you'd give her that. no doubt taking after her father. she looked at you with wide eyes as she drank her bottle, her irises never left your face. it would've been unnerving if she had been an adult.

mat came out a little less frazzled ten minutes later. ella had finished her bottle at that point and the both of you were laid on the floor doing tummy time.

"what's that?" he pointed to the two of you once he stopped running his hands through his hair.

"what's what?"

"what's that you're doing?" he gestured again before placing his hands on his hips.

"tummy time," you smiled. "it helps build her neck muscles. also helps prevent flat spots on the back of her head."

you didn't like to judge people for their skin color, because it's racist, but you didn't think it was possible for mat to be paler until you spoke.

"she could get flat spots?"

you hung your head as ella babbled to herself.

it was going to be a long employment.

day ten

you'd finally gotten mat on a rhythm, he looked a little less scared with every day that you came over.

but today was different.

he was going on an eight day roadie which meant you would be watching her overnight several nights in a row (on top of erin's kids).

you'd done much harder jobs before, so you weren't nervous about the time you spent with ella, it was more so you feared all the confidence you built in the week or so you'd worked for mat would disappear when he came back and realized he had an eighteen year commitment waiting at home for him.

"you have my number, right?" he asked even though you got it the night you accepted the position.

"yes, mat," you said instead.

"and you'll text me if anything goes wrong?"

you nodded. you bounced ella on your hip and held her hand up. "bye dada," you said for her, smiling as she did.

mat's bags were stationed by the front door, but he made no move towards them. he stayed planted in front of you, but his hands fidgeted.

"can i--" he cleared his throat. "can i hold her?"

"of course!" you didn't hesitate to pass her off to mat, who handled her like precious cargo, but was still a little unsure about the entire situation.

once she was settled, he took his eyes off her to look at you. "you know where the guest room is, right?" you nodded. "right, just make yourself at home. i stocked the fridge, i have just about every streaming service, so you should be fine." he paused. "but if you aren't--"

"mat--"

"--you can just text me if you need anything, alright?" he turned his head to focus on ella who took her hands to slap to his cheeks. "and you be good, okay baby?" his voice pitched higher right before he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

you checked your watch to keep yourself from intruding on what felt like a special moment. "mat," you started. "you should get going before you're late."

he nodded and pressed one last kiss to the top of ella's head before passing her back to you. "i'll facetime you when i get to the hotel, okay? so i can tell her goodnight?"

you nodded and left out the part that she would probably be asleep because honestly, you weren't expecting him to remember.

"alright," he said, wiping his hands on his pants before making his way to the front door where his bags sat. "i'll see you in a week."

"bye bye dada," you said in a high squeaky voice, using ella's hand to wave just like before.

he smiled before walking out the door and locking it behind him.

day fourteen

it wasn't until halfway through mat's roadie that weariness settled in. you were constantly surrounded by children, which normally wouldn't be an issue, but between ella and erin's two kids, you were practically a full time single parent.

which sucked because it wasn't even like you got laid to even create this issue.

mat, though, true to his word, facetimed every night he possibly could. he smiled wide every time he saw ella's face and while she was confused at how your phone worked, ella smiled and laughed at the sound of her father's voice.

"what have you been up to?" he asked one evening. you were spoon feeding ella sweet potato puree for dinner while he was laying in bed in his hotel room.

"nothing really, we went to the park today, she was really happy to see a few dogs."

mat grumbled. "certainly didn't get that from me."

you couldn't help it, you smiled at his pout.

"is that--" he guffawed. "did i make you smile?"

you rolled your eyes. "i'm sure i've smiled at you before."

"you haven't!"

"and i don't blame you!" another voice piped in. "he's not funny."

when mat saw the look on your face, he sighed. "that's tito," he said like that explained everything.

"nice to meet you, tito!" you called.

"is that your nanny?" you heard him call. "can i say hi to ella?"

mat rolled his eyes but moved the camera to show you a good looking man lounging in the other bed. he was handsome in a way that mat wasn't. you couldn't really compare one to the other in the same way you couldn't compare an apple to quantum physics.

"ella can you say hi?" you asked in a small voice. ella spared a single glance to camera before screaming. you laughed before spoon feeding her more puree. "sorry," you started. "she does that sometimes."

tito looked terrified but covered it up quickly when mat cleared his throat. "she just screams randomly?"

you shrugged. "usually when she's excited or frustrated."

tito laid back in his bed and started scrolling on his phone. "babies, man."

mat came back into view. his head rested back on his pillow as he held the camera above his face. "are you both doing okay?"

you opened your mouth to reply but tito cut him off.

"you don't need to ask her that everyday!" he said.

you couldn't see what he did, but judging by the shaking of the camera and the cackle that escaped tito's lips, you'd give your left leg and say he flipped his best friend off.

you took your eyes off the camera to look at ella who was using her puree covered hands to rub at her eyes. you put your phone down and grabbed a napkin to immediately start wiping her face and hands.

"is everything okay?" mat asked. "did i lose you?"

"just had to put the phone down to clean her up. she's getting sleepy." you pulled ella out of her high chair, resolving to clean it up later, and picked your phone up.

mat's face lit back up when ella came into view. "hi baby girl," he smiled. "are you getting ready to go to bed?"

ella rested her head on your shoulder and yawned.

"well, i'll let you two go," mat sighed. "i love you, ella bean." he directed his gaze to you. "same time tomorrow?"

"i'll let you know if anything changes."

"night."

"night, mat."

he ended the call and left you to take ella to bed.

day twenty-seven

nearly a month into working for mat and everything was going great. ella had gotten used to you which meant she knew you would come back when you left the room. the first two weeks, she cried every time you left. and if you had to guess, it probably had something to do with how her mother treated her.

and mat, well, he was embracing the father role well enough for someone who thought he was an unattached bachelor not even a month ago.

as far as you go, you were still getting used to the workload of erin's kids and ella. and while you would never breathe a word of it to anyone, you preferred ella over erin's kids.

your roommate and your boyfriend took some time to adjust to your new hours, but your roommate was excited when you contributed more to groceries and apartment needs. as far as your boyfriend went, he was still getting used to the idea of you being gone all day and sometimes even weekends, but even he admitted ella was the cutest baby he'd ever seen.

you were plating yogurt and some smashed peaches for her morning snack while holding her on your hip when mat walked in the kitchen, hair wet from a shower.

"hey," he said. "how is she?"

at the sound of his voice, ella turned in your arms and made a grabby motion for him. "you tell me," you said, handing her off to him. almost immediately, ella rested her head in the crook of his neck and popped a thumb in her mouth.

a smile crossed his face at the way ella fit so perfectly into the lines of his body.

"you're good at this," you remarked.

he laughed. "i have no idea what i'm doing."

"does anyone?"

"you seem to have it figured out."

the laugh was out of your mouth before you could stop it. "well then, let me go audition for broadway. i'm a better actress than i thought."

neither of you said a word, but you continued to stare at each other until his phone dinged. mat shifted ella around until he could fish his phone out of his pocket. "oh it's my mom." he scrolled through the texts when a figurative lightbulb appeared over his head.

"what?" you asked.

"my family is coming into town to meet ella next week so that might affect the hours you have." a flash of panic must've been present on your face because he quickly spoke again. "but your pay will still be the same! i don't want you to worry about that at all. i might still need you throughout the week."

"okay!" you smiled before moving ella's morning snack to her high chair. mat peeled her off of him and placed her in the seat before taking the chair next to hers.

his phone dinged again.

"oh," he said.

"what is it?"

"my mom wants to meet you."

"oh."

[be-with-me-so-happily]

Finally Free

Summary: Harry is well aware that his shows are a place for people to be themselves, and he's often asked to help them "come out". But tonight he's helping someone special, to both him and YN, which for him makes it that much more amazing!

Warnings: Absolutely none, and please treat people with kindess

"Are you sure Daisy wants to do this? Here? Tonight?"

"That's what she said." YN shrugs. "You do it all the time for people… what are you worried about?"

Harry shrugs, looking over the homemade sign in his hands.

"Dunno. This one's just diff'rent." He states, turning his head to look at his love. "She's your sister, and your parents are about to hear her big news. It's 'lot of pressure!"

"Harry…" YN places her hand gently on his shoulder, rubbing her thumb along his collarbone, something they both know helps to calm his nerves. "She trusts you! That's why she asked to do it this way."

He nods in agreement. He and YN's sister Daisy became friends as soon as he started dating YN, despite being 5 years younger. He has known what Daisy identifies as for a while now, as she felt safe enough to tell the pair first. He's honored that she wants to include them, or at least him, in this important moment. Coming out to their parents is a big step. It's not as if they wouldn't be accepting, but it is still a huge moment and Harry just wants to make sure it goes right. That it's everything Daisy wants it to be.

"Alright." He states, letting out a large exhale in hopes to breathe out his own anxiety over the situation. "I won't let her down."

"I know you won't." YN replies, leaning up and placing a kiss on his cheek. "She knows you won't."

After raising the pink, purple, and blue flag for a fan in the audience, he turns to them once again to offer some encouragement.

"Go out and conquer and enjoy your bi life as hard as you possibly can! Make some noise for Alfie ev'rybody!"

The entire crowd cheers in celebration, which builds up the excitement, but also the nerves, for what he is about to do next.

"Now, I apologize. I know I said that was the last sign, but I do have one more person that has asked me to help them come out, and now is as good a time as any."

"Umm… can I have that, please?" He bends down at the very front of the walkway, reaching his hand out to the crew member he entrusted with this specific piece of bright paper.

He holds his other hand over his eyes, shielding them from the light with his microphone, and walks about until he reaches the very spot where he sees those familiar faces.

"There you are!" He exclaims, a wide grin on his face now, every ounce of anxiety melting away. He holds up the sign, checking that the big screen is capturing the bright colored letters, outline in glitter pen, and shows of the words that read 'HELP ME COME OUT HARRY'.

"This person is a close, personal friend of mine. We've known each other for a good while now, and she asked me to help her t'night. I feel very honored, thank you."

He notices YN wrap her arms around her sister, their parents on the other side of Daisy with seemingly no clue what is about to happen.

"Could I get some… hmm… upbeat sparkly music now?" He asks of the band, knowing his friend will appreciate making this moment just a bit more unique for her. Like he's been telling himself, he wants this to be everything that she wants it to be.

"Ooh, I like that." He approves, slightly swaying his hips from side to side. "Very good."

The crowd laughs, and claps. He assumes it's mostly for his antics, but hopes it raises the anticipation for YN's sister in a positive manner.

"Daisy!" He shouts, watching the other family members immediately shoot their gazes over to her. "We are doing this, are you ready?"

Daisy nods, quickly turning her head to her parents as she waits for Harry to make her declaration.

"Daisy, t'night, wants her wonderful family to know that she is… oh, wait, I need a flag!" He stops, not intending to stall, but finding relief in the comedy it has appeared to create. He places the sign down, and leans over the side, grabbing a rainbow flag being handed to him by a fan. "Thank you very much."

"Alright. Now we're both ready." He chuckles, sending a grin and wink to the girl as she waits. "Now once I raise this flag, Daisy, you are officially out. So, to Daisy's family, and to all the amazing people here in London t'night…"

Harry begins to jog around the stage, flowing to flag up and down, keeping it low and edging the moment for just a few seconds longer.

"Daisy is…" He raises the flag one more time, keeping it at his shoulder. "Coming out as…" He continues, lowering it down to his thigh.

He looks over to the band, signaling for the music to get bigger and louder. Harry suddenly shoots the flag up higher than his head, as far as his arm can reach upward.

"Gay!!"

The entire venue cheers. Fans, staff, and crew alike. But most importantly, as Harry runs to the place he can get the best view of his friend, he sees YN and her parents embracing Daisy in a big, tight, loving, and accepting hug.

Tears start to form in his eyes as he continues to wave the flag above his head.

"Daisy! You did it! You're officially out and I am so proud of you!" He shouts, hoping the shakiness in his voice didn't prevent the words to fully be heard and understood. "I hope I did this moment justice for you! Ev'rybody, give it up one more time for Alfie, and Daisy, and for anyone else who has been brave enough to share who they truly are with those they love. You are free!"

Harry focuses his gaze on YN, Daisy, and their family, watching all the love being shared between them.

"You are finally free!"

This blog is a safe space. I celebrate all of you who have been able to come out and share who you truly are with the world. I stand by with all of you whom have yet to do so, no matter the reason. I am proud of every single one of you! Happy Pride Month to all!

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