#am not at all creative enough to pull this off

[diapered-bun]

Rocking horses but make them dino themed! Baby needs to go ride their friendly trike(triceratops) to get their big feelings out. (Grinding against it in wet padding.)

[aleksatia]

You had an argument, and in the heat of the moment, you took on a secret mission—disappearing without a trace or warning for six days. He won’t let that slide, will he?

(⚠️ Warning: Slightly angsty and dramatic) 🔥 UPD: Guys, I hear you loud and clear about Xavier, and I'm already working on his full story. Let me know if you want more about the others (or any specific one).

🖐️💥😈 Sylus 

You don’t even make it home.

One second—you’re stepping toward your door. The next—you're grabbed.

A sharp yelp leaves your lips, but it’s already too late.

One hand clamps down on your shoulder, the other hooks around your legs, and suddenly—you're airborne.

"Cargo secured."

A second voice. Muffled. Hollow.

You twist wildly.

Two figures in black masks, sharp beaked visors, curved horns on their hoods.

Luke and Kieran.

You thrash. “Put me down—”

"No can do, Miss," Kieran hums, flipping you upside down just slightly.

"Our Boss gave very strict orders," Luke murmurs.

Your stomach sinks. The car door swings open—

And you’re shoved inside.

Kieran and Luke plop down beside you, silent as shadows.

Then—

Luke sighs. Long and exaggerated.

"Such a shame," he muses. "She was so pretty."

Kieran hums. "So full of life."

Your eyes narrow. “What.”

They tilt their heads in unison. Luke’s fingers drum against the seat.

"He was so worried."

Kieran exhales. "On the first day, he simply waited."

Luke nods. "Second day, he sent people out. Checked hospitals. Crime scenes."

Kieran’s head tilts. "By day three… well, we all knew something had to bleed."

Your stomach drops.

Luke stretches, relaxed. "Four syndicates fell in one night. Just in case one of them had you."

Kieran sighs. "On the fourth day, he realized that wasn’t enough."

Luke hums. "So he started getting creative."

Your breath hitches. "Creative?"

Kieran taps his chin. "That warehouse in N109 Zone? The one that burned to the ground?"

Luke leans closer. "Day five. Still no sign of you. He collapsed an entire district."

Kieran shrugs. "Nothing personal. Just a message."

Luke tilts his head. "And then day six came."

A beat of silence.

Kieran chuckles. "You know, Miss… If you hadn’t shown up today, N109 Zone would’ve been repainted in blood by sundown."

Luke sighs dreamily. "It still might be."

Your blood turns to ice.

And then—Luke’s head tilts toward you.

"Now…?"

Kieran completes it, a beat later.

"Now he has you."

The car slows. Your chest tightens. And then—you realize where you are.

N109 Zone. His estate.

The car door swings open—

And you’re hauled out like luggage.

"Handle with care," Luke hums.

“I am handling with care," Kieran murmurs.

They carry you inside. Set you down with eerie gentleness. Smooth out your jacket. Brush imaginary dust off your shoulders.

Then—they step back. Bow, deep and slow.

“Welcome home, Miss.”

And then—they’re gone.

You whirl after them. “HEY—”

A quiet sound.

Fabric rustling. A slow, deliberate exhale.

You freeze.

And then—you turn.

Sylus is standing across the room. Calm. Collected. Expression unreadable.

But his eyes. They burn.

You swallow.

“What the fuck was that?” you snap, motioning toward the door.

Silence.

He just… watches you.

Then—slowly, smoothly—

He shrugs off his jacket. Lets it fall onto the chair. His fingers move to his cuffs. Undoing them.

One. Then the other.

Rolling his sleeves up, inch by inch.

Your stomach twists.

“Sylus.”

He doesn’t answer. His hands move to his belt. He unbuckles it. Pulls it free.

And you—

You fucking run.

You BOLT.

Straight toward the door. It’s locked.

You curse.

Behind you—he clicks his tongue.

“Oh, Kitten,” he murmurs, voice low, almost amused.

You spin, darting behind the desk. He follows. Casually. Slowly.

“You disappear for six days,” he murmurs, voice smooth, mocking, deadly.

You sidestep. He matches you.

“You ignore my calls.”

You swerve left. He steps right.

“I tear this city apart looking for you.”

You dodge back. He adjusts effortlessly.

“And now,” he exhales, tilting his head, smirking lazily, “you’re running.”

You hurl a stapler at him. He catches it. Drops it. Sighs.

Then—his patience snaps.

A sharp pulse of red energy explodes outward. The desk flips. The chairs crash against the wall.

And suddenly—

You are out of places to run. Before you can move—

He has you.

A sharp yelp rips from your throat as he grabs you, spins, and drops into his chair—

Bringing you down over his lap.

Your breath catches. “Sylus—”

"Ah, ah, ah.”

His palm glides down your back. Teasing. Amused. Smug.

"You made a very poor choice, Kitten."

Your heart pounds. His fingers hook into your waistband. And in one sharp motion—

He pulls your pants down.

Your entire body jolts. “Wait—”

The first smack lands. Sharp. Stinging.

You jerk violently.

Then—the second.

Then—the third.

“Sylus—you absolute bastard!”

A low chuckle vibrates through his chest.

“Six days, Sweetie.”

Another smack.

“You think you get away with that?”

You snarl, thrashing. “You—I’ll kill you!”

"Oh?" His hand presses against your lower back, keeping you pinned.

Then—lower now, smooth as silk, dripping with mockery—

“You sure you can handle that right now?”

You growl.

And then—

You bite him. Hard. Right on the thigh.

His breath hitches. Then—a slow, dangerous laugh.

He grabs you. Turns you over, setting you between his legs, hands gripping your chin—forcing you to look at him.

And then—

You see it. The rage is gone.

And in its place—

Something raw. Something wrecked. Like he’s aged years in just six days.

His voice—when it comes—is low. Hoarse. Unsteady.

“…I thought Ever carved you up for spare parts.”

Your stomach drops.

"You really think," his fingers twitch against your skin, "I was just waiting?"

His eyes flick over your face, scanning, memorizing. And then—softer now, almost broken—

"If you hadn’t come back tomorrow, I would’ve wiped them off the face of the earth."

Your eyes sting. Your hands reach for him, trembling.

You slide forward, onto his lap.

His breath stutters.

And then—you kiss him. Hard. Desperate. Unyielding.

He shudders.

Then—his hands clench around your waist, crushing you to him. When he pulls back—forehead pressed against yours, breath uneven—

“…Next time you disappear,” he murmurs, lips brushing your cheek, voice shaking with something terrifyingly real, “I’m not looking for you.”

Your heart cracks. You shake your head. You cup his face. Hold him there.

“…You won’t have to.”

Silence.

Then—

His grip tightens. And just like that—

He is never letting you go again.

❄️🩸💔 Zayne

You already know where he is.

Zayne isn’t home. Of course, he isn’t.

So you do the only thing that makes sense—you head straight for Akso Hospital.

By the time you step through the pristine glass doors, you’re already talking.

“I know how this looks, but I can explain—”

And then—you see him.

Standing near the nurses’ station, uniform crisp, posture rigid, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat like he’s carved from ice.

For a second—just a second—his breath catches.

But then—

A switch flips. His entire presence shifts.

Cold. Professional. Untouchable.

His eyes meet yours. And he says nothing.

No relief. No anger. Nothing.

Just pure, hollow emptiness.

You swallow hard. Force yourself to continue.

“Zayne—”

“You need medical attention.”

His voice is calm. Impersonal. A doctor speaking to a patient. Not the man you know.

Your stomach twists.

He doesn’t ask where you’ve been. Doesn’t ask why you disappeared. Instead—he starts listing symptoms.

“You’re pale. Have you lost blood?”

You inhale sharply. “Zay—”

“Concussion?”

“No—”

“Fever? Infection?”

His eyes flick to your scraped knuckles, the dried blood on your sleeve.

And you realize—

He’s not angry. He’s protecting himself. He’s shutting down. Like he already convinced himself you weren’t coming back. Like he already mourned you.

And something inside you breaks.

Your legs wobble.

You sway—

And then—

You collapse.

The reaction is instantaneous.

A sharp inhale. A rush of movement. A sudden, firm grip catching you before you hit the ground.

Zayne’s arms lock around you. One around your back, one under your legs, holding you effortlessly. His breathing is uneven. His fingers tremble against your skin.

“Hey—!” His voice is no longer detached. It’s urgent. Terrified.

He tilts your face up, eyes scanning for injuries, pupils blown wide with panic.

"You—" His breath shudders. “Shit, you're—”

But you don’t answer. Because you keep your eyes closed. Because you know exactly what you’re doing.

And for a moment, it works. For a moment, he’s yours again. For a moment, his walls are completely, irreparably shattered.

Then—

His steps slow. His breathing evens.

And suddenly—

He stops. And you feel it. That one single, damning second of realization.

Your eyes are closed, but you can hear it. The sharp, cold click in his mind as he figures it out.

His arms loosen. Too loose. Too fast.

And suddenly—you're falling.

You gasp sharply, hands instinctively grabbing at him—

But he catches you at the last second, lowering you onto the cold, sterile floor of his office with just enough control to keep you from truly getting hurt.

But barely.

His jaw is tight. His nostrils flare. His hands press into his thighs like he’s physically holding himself back from losing control.

Then—flat, quiet, lethal—

“You lied.”

Your stomach drops. You open your mouth—and then you feel it.

A sharp, aching throb in your knee. It hits all at once—the pain, the exhaustion, the weight of everything that happened.

Your throat tightens.

And then—before you can stop it—

Tears prick at your eyes.

Your voice comes out small, weak, broken.

“Zayne… my leg hurts.”

Everything stops. The air in the room shifts.

And suddenly—

The rage is gone. His walls crumble.

His gaze snaps to your knee—swollen, bruised, torn fabric revealing skin already darkening with a deep, painful contusion.

And just like that—he’s on his knees. The doctor in him takes over.

His hands tremble as they press to your leg, fingertips ghosting over the bruised flesh like it physically pains him to touch.

He leans down. And presses a soft, lingering kiss to the bruised skin.

Your breath catches.

His forehead presses gently against your knee. And then—a whisper, barely audible, like he’s afraid of his own voice.

“…I lost you.”

Your heart cracks wide open.

He inhales sharply, his fingers tightening against your leg, like he’s still trying to convince himself you’re real.

You slide off the chair. Sink onto the cold, sterile floor. Your hands come up, cup his face.

His breath stutters.

You press your forehead to his.

Hot. Unwavering. Eternal.

“Only death could take me from you.”

His eyes squeeze shut. And when they open again—

There’s nothing left but raw, agonizing devotion.

Then—

His hands reach for you. And this time, he doesn’t let go.

🪑🍎🎖️ Caleb

The door clicks shut behind you.

Something feels wrong. The air is too still. Too perfectly controlled.

And then—you see it.

The chair.

Placed dead center in the room.

The apartment is spotless. Too spotless. Like someone scrubbed it raw, wiped away every trace of warmth, every sign of life.

Your stomach tightens. And then—a voice.

Cold. Measured. Absolute.

"Sit down."

You turn sharply—

And there he is.

Colonel Caleb. Not your Caleb.

Not the man who kisses your forehead every morning. Not the man who makes you breakfast even when he’s running on two hours of sleep.

No.

This is the soldier. The commander. The man who could level entire cities with a single order.

And you are his captive.

Your jaw tightens. “Caleb, what the hell—”

"Sit. Down."

Your spine stiffens. “No.”

A flick of his fingers. The chair scrapes forward, slamming into the back of your knees.

You stumble, cursing—

But before you can react—a force clamps around you. G-forces shift. Gravity bends. The chair drags you back to the center of the room.

Then—weight locks around your limbs. You can’t stand. Can’t move. Your pulse spikes.

His face is unreadable. His eyes—stormy, dark, endless.

Like he hasn’t slept in six days.

A tablet activates in his hand.

Several floating screens appear around you, flickering with surveillance footage.

And then—his interrogation begins.

His voice is calm. Clinical. Devoid of warmth.

"In the hours before your disappearance, this man entered your building. Do you know him?"

You blink. “What—?”

He gestures at the screen. A blurry security cam shot.

You squint. “That’s—a fucking courier.”

"Interesting."

A swipe of his fingers. Another screen appears.

"You placed an order at a bookstore six days ago. Three books were delivered. For what purpose?"

You stare. “...For reading?”

His brows twitch.

"Curious. You spoke to the courier for over five minutes. What was discussed?"

Your hands clench into fists. “How the hell would I know?”

A beat of silence.

Then—softer now, dangerous in its evenness—

"You really expect me to believe you don’t remember?"

Your blood boils. “Are you seriously doing this right now?”

He swipes again. More footage. More records. More evidence that means nothing.

And you snap.

"You are losing your fucking mind."

His jaw tightens.

And then—

The gravity releases.

You lurch forward, finally able to move—

But before you can get up—

he’s already there.

A single step. One hand gripping the back of your chair, tilting it back—

His face is inches from yours. His gaze burns.

"Are you fucking someone else?"

Your breath catches. Your pulse thunders in your ears.

And then—

You laugh.

Sharp. Bitter. Furious.

You gesture at yourself—the dirt, the bruises, the blood still crusted on your sleeve.

“Look at me, Caleb.”

He doesn’t move.

“Does this look like a woman having an affair?”

His fingers twitch against the chair. His voice drops to a whisper.

"I’m on the edge of it."

Your chest tightens.

“I don’t doubt that, you psychopath.” You shove against his arm, but he doesn’t budge. “Now let me up so I can strangle you.”

His fingers loosen.

And then—

"Six days."

Your breath hitches. His hand moves. Curls around your jaw, firm but careful.

"Six days. Eight thousand six hundred forty minutes."

His thumb brushes over your cheekbone.

"I couldn't breathe without pain."

Your throat tightens. Your rage collapses into something else entirely.

“Caleb—”

"I searched. I traced every lead. I turned this country inside out."

His voice wavers.

And then—softer, rawer, almost desperate—

"If you hadn’t come back, I would have burned everything to the ground."

Your chest aches.

“…I had a mission. It was classified.”

His jaw twitches.

"Then tell me—" His voice turns sharp, edged with something almost pleading. "Tell me you weren’t running."

You exhale shakily.

“You’re so obsessed with losing me, Caleb—maybe that’s why you always do.”

Silence.

Something in his face breaks. He straightens. Turns away.

Leaves.

The door slams.

And you collapse to your knees. Your hands come up—cover your face—

And finally, finally, the tears fall.

But then—

A soft creak. A shift in the air. Warmth.

Arms wrapping around you, pulling you into a crushing embrace.

You freeze.

His voice is hoarse, quiet, trembling with something raw.

"You’re the only one who can destroy me without lifting a hand."

Your breath shudders. His grip tightens.

"One word from you," he murmurs, "and I’m gone."

You shake your head.

“Caleb…”

His forehead presses against your shoulder.

"I tried. Every day. Every second. I tried not to hold on too tight." He exhales shakily. "But I can’t."

Your heart clenches.

“Caleb, I always come back.”

He flinches.

You pull back just enough to cup his face. His eyes are stormy, desperate, flickering with pain.

"You have to trust me."

His lips part, but no sound comes out.

Then—barely above a whisper—

"I can't lose you."

Your fingers tighten against his jaw.

"You won’t."

Silence.

Then—

He kisses you.

It’s not gentle. It’s desperate. Devouring. Starved.

His hands tangle in your hair, holding you to him like he’ll die if you pull away.

A single tear escapes down his cheek. And you catch it with your lips.

“…I’m sorry,” you whisper. “Caleb, I’m so sorry.”

His breath shudders. He shakes his head. 

“No.” His voice breaks. "You don’t apologize to me." 

Your brows furrow. “Caleb—” 

He swallows. 

"If you’re better off without me—" 

Your hand flies up, slaps over his mouth. He freezes. Tears well in your eyes. 

“Don’t. Say. That.” His chest rises sharply. You lean in, press your forehead to his. 

“…You are my universe,” you whisper. 

His hands shake against your back. 

“No matter what we do, no matter what happens—” You press your lips to his, slow, deep, endless. “I will always come back to you.” 

His breath shudders against your lips.

And then—his voice drops, quiet but unshakable. 

"You will never disappear on me again without warning. Not now. Not ever."

🗡✨🌥 Xavier 

The door clicks shut behind you.

You barely take a step inside before a voice cuts through the air—

Calm. Measured. Unshakable.

"Ah." A quiet exhale. "Look who finally remembered they have a home."

You freeze.

Xavier is already there.

Sitting in the living room, one leg crossed over the other, a book balanced in his hand—like your sudden reappearance was nothing more than an interesting plot twist.

He doesn’t look up immediately. He finishes the sentence he’s reading first.

Then—calmly, unhurriedly—he turns the page.

And finally—his gaze lifts to yours.

Cold. Slow. Too calculating.

"Six days."

Your stomach tightens. "Xav—"

"Mm. No." He holds up a single finger.

The room falls silent. And somehow, that’s worse.

You watch as he closes the book. Carefully. Precisely. Then—without breaking eye contact—he sets it aside.

And then—a small smile.

Soft. Almost friendly.

Which means you’re in deep, deep trouble.

"You look tired," he murmurs, tilting his head. "Traveling, were you?"

You exhale. "Xavier—"

"Oh, no. Let me guess." His fingers tap idly against the armrest. "You were simply busy."

A pause.

"Too busy, in fact, to answer a single message."

Your jaw tightens. "It wasn’t—"

"Ah," he interrupts softly, as if realizing something.

His eyes flick over your torn sleeve, the faint bruises on your arms. Then, slowly—he smiles.

"Or," he murmurs, "did you lose your phone again?"

Your stomach drops. Because he knows.

You inhale sharply. "Xav—"

He shakes his head.

"No, it’s alright. I understand." He leans forward slightly, resting his chin against his knuckles. "I’m sure you had an excellent reason."

A beat of silence. Then—mild amusement, carefully laced with steel:

"Would you like to tell me what it was?"

You hesitate.

Because you were on a mission. A classified one.

Because he wasn’t supposed to know. Because you work together.

And yet—he knew nothing.

You try anyway.

"I had a—"

"A mission?" His brow lifts, a polite flicker of curiosity. "Fascinating."

His tone is smooth, unbothered. And that—that is when you know how angry he really is.

He gestures vaguely toward the stacks of reports on the table.

"Tell me, darling, which mission was it?"

You swallow hard. "I can’t—"

"Mm. Right. Classified."

Another small nod. A slow, deliberate blink.

"As are all major operations within the Association."

His fingers drum lightly against the armrest.

"And yet, strangely—" He tilts his head. "Not a single record of your assignment exists."

You say nothing.

Xavier exhales through his nose—almost disappointed.

"And here I thought," he murmurs, "we were supposed to trust each other."

You flinch.

His gaze softens. Not with kindness. But with something far worse.

Pity.

"You must have had your reasons, of course," he muses.

A small sigh, like he’s humoring a child.

"I imagine you thought it was necessary. Sensible, even."

His fingers lace together.

"Just as I found it necessary to send out a search party on day three."

Your breath catches.

"You what?"

He hums.

"By day four, I expanded my resources. You'd be surprised how quickly information spreads when you know where to look."

Your hands clench.

"Xavier—"

"Day five, I began considering alternative outcomes. Some of them, admittedly, rather unpleasant."

A flicker of something colder in his expression.

"Ever been forced to sit in a room full of people trying to convince you that your partner is dead?"

Your stomach turns.

"Xavier, I wasn’t—"

He clicks his tongue.

"Day six, I received word that you had finally resurfaced."

He leans back. Folds his arms. And then—a soft chuckle, utterly humorless.

"Imagine my relief."

Silence.

You exhale sharply. "Xav, I—"

"Did you know," he interrupts, voice light, conversational, detached, "that people tend to avoid looking a grieving man in the eye?"

Your throat tightens.

"Not that I was grieving, of course." He taps a finger against his chin. "I don’t make a habit of mourning people until I see a body."

He tilts his head slightly, studying you.

"But I imagine it must have been quite the inconvenience, being dead for six days."

Your chest tightens.

"You think I wanted to—"

"Oh, I know," he murmurs. "You didn’t want to disappear."

His voice lowers.

"But you still did."

And for the first time—he is no longer smirking. His blue eyes bore into yours, steady, sharp.

"You made a decision that left me in the dark."

A long, slow breath.

"And I need to know," he says softly, "if you would do it again."

Silence.

You don’t have an answer. You don’t think there is one.

He exhales.

Finally, he leans back. Gazes at you for a moment longer.

Then, calmly—he stands. Smooth. Effortless. Precise. And then—he walks past you.

Your heart slams against your ribs.

"Xavier—"

He doesn’t stop. You push to your feet.

"Xavier, you’re coming back, right?"

Finally—he pauses. Turns his head, just slightly.

And then—

"Ask me again in six days."

The door closes behind him. And this time—you’re the one left behind.

🧜🏻‍♂️🧑🏻‍🎨🌊 Rafayel 

You are exhausted.

Every part of you aches. Your body demands sleep, warmth, peace.

Instead—

You come home to chaos.

Loud music. Laughter. The scent of wine, perfume, candle wax, and indulgence.

And then—the sight of him.

Rafayel.

Lounging near the pool, half-leaning against an ornate chair, a glass of red wine dangling lazily between his fingers.

His shirt is unbuttoned just enough to hint at toned muscle beneath, his sleeves rolled up, his perfectly tousled hair falling over his forehead in an effortlessly careless way.

And surrounding him—beautiful women.

Drinking, laughing, leaning toward him like he’s some fallen deity of temptation and excess.

Your stomach twists. A tight, burning rage coils in your chest.

And then—

He sees you. His eyes widen—just slightly. And then—a slow, almost lazy smirk.

"Ah." He lifts his glass dramatically, tone dripping with sarcasm. "Look who's finally returned!"

You tense.

He rises to his feet, arms spread as if welcoming royalty.

"My muse. My inspiration."

His voice carries over the music, over the murmurs of people starting to notice the tension.

"The very heart of my art!"

A sweeping gesture.

And then—

He motions toward the canvas-lined walls.

Your breath catches. Because they’re all of you. Dozens of paintings.

But—ruined.

Slashes through the canvas.

Paint smeared and splattered over your likeness like an artist in rage, in agony, in heartbreak.

The fury in you erupts. Your voice cuts through the music.

"What the actual fuck is this?!"

He gasps, mock scandalized.

"Oh, you don’t like them? What a tragedy!"

He downs the rest of his wine in one smooth gulp, tossing the glass aside with a careless flick of his wrist.

Then—he grins.

Crooked. Reckless. Infuriating.

"And here I was, drowning in sorrow, channeling my unbearable suffering into art."

A sigh.

"But alas." He shrugs dramatically. "Seems the muse herself has returned."

You march toward him. He tilts his head.

"Careful, cutie. You seem upset."

"You’re a fucking disaster."

He laughs.

"You’re six days late to that realization."

You grab his wrist, yanking him toward the exit.

“We’re talking. Now.”

His body moves, but his feet don’t follow. Instead—he pulls against your grip.

His smile widens.

"Oh?" His voice drips with amusement. "Dragging me away already? Jealous, cutie?"

Your jaw clenches.

"This is pathetic."

Another laugh, lighter this time.

"Ah, but it was all I had!" He places a hand over his heart. Theatrical. Overdramatic. Perfectly insufferable.

You snap.

And shove him into the pool.

He barely has time to react—water crashes around him, drenching his white shirt, dragging him under.

And for a brief, glorious second—silence.

Until—

His hand grabs your wrist. You yelp, but it’s too late.

He pulls you down with him.

Cold water engulfs you, shocking your senses.

When you resurface, gasping, furious, he’s already brushing his hair back, blinking at you through wet lashes.

And suddenly—

The playfulness is gone. The crowd has vanished. Thomas made sure of it.

And now—it’s just you and him.

And for the first time tonight—he’s quiet. His voice is lower, slower.

"You storm into my house. Onto my estate. Into my party. And then..."

He gestures lazily toward the water.

"You throw me in my own fucking pool?"

You pant, teeth gritted. “Your—house? Great! I’ll leave you in your fucking house—”

You turn to climb out—

And he grabs you again. A firm grip. Unshaking.

His eyes—darker now. Sharper. Focused.

"Make another move, cutie." His voice is dangerously low.

"And we’ll have problems."

You glare. "Let. Go."

He doesn’t. Instead—he pulls you closer.

“You’re not walking away from this.”

Your pulse spikes.

"Rafayel—"

"Do it," he whispers. "Say it to my face."

Your breath catches.

"You want to leave?" His hand slides to your waist, pulling you closer, forcing you to feel the heat radiating from his soaked body.

"Then say it."

Your hands shake. You flick water into his face, desperate to break the tension.

He doesn’t even blink. Instead—his eyes drop.

To your clothes.

Soaked. Clinging. Revealing everything.

His pupils darken. And then—his jaw tightens.

"You left me for six days," he murmurs.

Your breath stutters.

"I left for work, not you, you hysterical maniac."

He tilts his head.

"That’s the same thing. And your phone?"

"A Wanderer shattered it!"

He lets out a sharp, bitter laugh.

"Ah, yes. And I suppose you were also too busy fighting for your life to send me one. Single. Fucking. Message?"

You exhale sharply. "Raf, you’re insufferable. A party? Seriously?"

"How else am I supposed to handle soul-crushing heartbreak?"

His voice drops.

"Tell me, cutie." His fingers skim your waist, trailing fire in their wake. "How else was I supposed to drown my suffering?"

He leans in, breath hot against your lips.

And then—

He kisses you. Desperate. Possessive.

Your legs wrap around his waist, instinct taking over.

His grip tightens.

"You threw me in a pool," he whispers against your lips.

"You deserved it."

His fingers dig into your hips.

"You waltz in after six days and just—throw me?"

"Maybe I should throw you again."

He grins against your skin.

"I should make you pay for that."

"Raf—"

"Mm. Shh."

His hands travel lower, pressing you harder against him.

Your breathing turns shallow.

"Your paintings," you murmur.

"I’ll paint more."

"You hated me for six days."

"Endlessly." He kisses your throat, voice dropping further.

"You didn’t want to see me again?"

He grins against your collarbone.

"Try leaving me again, cutie."

His grip tightens, unshakable.

His breath is hot against your ear.

"And I promise—"

His hips press forward, slow and deliberate, sending a sharp jolt of heat through you.

"You won’t be able to walk for a week."

[cityselcouth]

runway

pairing: rafayel x reader

summary: when your top model meets with an accident that keeps him off his feet for a while, you have no choice but to take on the arrogant Qi Rafayel in his absence. dealing with a creative rut and a temperamental model who has endless amounts of audacity when you have fashion week to worry about is no easy task, and he certainly doesn't make it any better.....does he?

themes: strangers to lovers, co-workers to lovers, mild enemies/annoyances to lovers, celebrity! au, model! rafayel, fashion designer! mc, fluff, angst, slowburn, sexual tension, profanity, alcohol consumption, abadonment issues, petnames, lots of banter, explicit sexual content (fingering, nipple sucking, praise, cowgirl, protected sex), plot with porn, mc is a girlboss with a temper, rafayel is a brat and an asshole, they're both flawed and emotionally constipated lmao

word count: 35.7k

playlist: vogue by madonna, fashion killa by a$ap rocky, xs by rina sawayama, glamorous by fergie & ludacris, fashion! by lady gaga, disturbia by rihanna, louboutins by nesra, city of blinding lights by u2, empire state of mind (part ii) by alicia keys.

lyns notes: i rewatched 'the devil wears prada' (one of my fav movies fr) and this was born 🫡 I am a self proclaimed fashion girlie so this was a total blast to write and celebrity aus are my fav!! unfortunately I have not made it as an intern during fashion week yet, so please excuse the inevitable inaccuracies. model raf you will always be famous to me. enjoy <3

Your coffee was cold. 

Simone stared at you nervously, her years of working as your assistant telling her all she needed to know in that moment. She watched as your fingers drummed against the dark wood of your desk, picking up on all the signs of your distress. Your lips pulled into a grimace, the slight tick in your jaw, and how you looked at the cup of coffee before you. All your employees knew that you were strictly a hot coffee drinker. 

“How is he?”

She scrambled to answer. “Xavier is….recovering.”

You pinched the bridge of your nose, exhaling slowly. “Elaborate.”

“His leg is broken in two places. Some scratches, but thats the extent of his injuries. He was lucky.”

Your frustration with the situation at hand knew no bounds, and your mood soured even further with the new information. Clicking your tongue, you pressed your index finger and thumb against your temple, already feeling one of your headaches coming on. “Send a bouquet with a card to his hospital room.”

“Of course.” Simone pulled out her phone and began making the arrangements. “Anything else?”

“Coffee that isn’t frigid.” 

Nodding quickly, she walked over and plucked up the cup from your table, giving you a final nod and stepping out of your office. Out of the dozens of assistants you had had, Simone had turned out to be the most competent and tolerable of all, and unlike her predecessors, had withstood your sky-high expectations and sharp tongue.

One word people would use to describe you is difficult. Others included delightful descriptions such as ‘unreasonable’ and ‘overbearing’, or perhaps the synonyms so many journalists had used in their pieces about you, including but not limited to: uptight, stubborn and ill-tempered. It was to the point where you had to applaud them for their creativity and commitment to the bit, never failing to find a new word to describe you in a bad light, even if you were the fashion world's current darling. 

But this world you were so blessed to be a part of was cutthroat and unforgiving. Smiles and pretty manners would have never gotten you out of the tiny apartments you lived in after graduating from fashion school. Even sheer talent wasn’t enough, so you steeled yourself over those arduous years, using your ambition like the sharp tool it was to overcome the hurdles that had blocked your way to the top.

You had built your brand from the bottom up, and it had been worth it. Every tear, every candle you burned late at night, and every nick on your now-perfectly manicured fingers had gotten you to where you were. Some would say you had your success handed to you, but you knew better. You remembered all the times you nearly gave up, all the years you spent running around and interning for brands that treated you like trash. One couldn’t just forget their roots, even if everyone around them insisted on pretending they didn’t exist.

And so here you were, at twenty-seven years old: Y/n L/n, one of the youngest successful fashion designers in the world, and the founder and CEO of luxury fashion label, Lumiere. 

For a brand that was merely five years old, it had quickly turned into a status symbol. Owning a single piece of clothing from any one of Lumiere’s high-end collections set one apart instantly. Your designs were exquisite, and your ability to take any fabric and turn it into a work of art was truly extraordinary. Every collection you breathed life into stunned critics and fellow designers alike, cementing your position as one of the most respected creatives in the industry today. 

Respected or not, being a woman in power was a tough act to keep up. Sitting on the throne meant you had to rule with an iron fist. You weren’t allowed to slip up or make mistakes.

Especially not with Paris Fashion Week coming up. 

The spring and summer collections would be revealed to the world at the most important fashion week. Everything had been going smoothly under your careful watch. 

Until, of course, right now.

Yesterday, your top model met with an accident. Xavier Shen had been with you since the very start of Lumiere and was practically synonymous with its branding. Together, the two of you had taken the world's hottest runways by storm with his award-winning walk and your impeccable designs. In terms of real friendships, he might have been the only one you had.

And now, when you needed him, he was out of commission. There was no way he’d be walking for anyone any time soon.

Your black Louboutins pressed into the carpet beneath your feet as you fought off the wave of annoyance that cut through your concern for Xavier. It wasn’t really aimed at him, no, it was because you couldn’t have possibly predicted such a thing happening. 

Money– you had lots of it. More than you could count, and enough to never worry about making a dent in your bank balance ever again. What was most important to you now was control. 

Simone rushed back in, placing a steaming cup of coffee on your desk with a polite smile. “Anything else?”

Picking up the cup and taking a sip, you savoured the hot, bitter flavour that coated your taste buds. “A closer for the show would be nice. And someone to model the new line.”

Xavier had always been the one to fill in those shoes, sometimes quite literally. Now, you were left to figure out how to replace him temporarily while retaining the integrity of your brand. You couldn’t just take on anybody.

She didn’t flinch at your cold tone. “Sylus Qin?”

You shook your head, resting your elbows against the mahogany of your desk and cupping the mug of coffee, letting its warmth seep into your skin. “He’s walking for the Dior show, which is only an hour before ours. And he doesn’t particularly fit our image.” Sylus was, no doubt, an excellent model and a current favourite, but wasn’t what you wanted representing your brand. “And don’t even think of recommending Zayne Li. He’s been Miu Miu’s poster boy for the last year, and I have no intention of riding on their coattails.”

Simone began listing models, but none seemed fitting. Yes, this was a problem that you had to solve as quickly as possible, but you refused to settle for anything but the best. As she rattled off names, you turned your attention to the floor-to-ceiling window panes that adorned the back of your office, which revealed a stunning view of the city below. The sun was setting, spilling its orange-red rays all over the buildings and buzzing streets of New York. 

It didn’t matter how many times you had been met with this view, it would never grow tiresome. New York would forever be your second love after fashion. It was unforgiving as it was generous, a contradictory quality you liked to think you shared with it.

“What about Qi Rafayel?”

You turned back to her at the unfamiliar name, raising a singular eyebrow. “Who?”

“Rafayel,” she repeated his name, tapping the screen of her tablet and approaching you, holding it out for you to see. On it was the cover of the most recent Vogue issue, and on it was a man covered in colour, the white shirt he wore a victim of this photoshoot's concept. Hues of blue and fuchsia painted his cheekbones and neck, and his dark eyes seemed to stare right into your soul, his features somehow striking a balance between sharp and gentle all at once. 

“Tell me more.”

“He’s probably the most talked about in modelling right now. GQ named him Model of the Year.” She droned on about everything she knew, and you were once again reminded of her competency. “He’s under the Lemuria Modelling Agency and has achieved supermodel status with how sensational his walk is.” 

You hummed, intrigued now. “How come I’ve never heard of him?”

“From what I’ve heard, he’s very selective about who he walks for, which makes everyone want him even more, of course. Word is that he isn’t walking for any fashion week shows yet. He’s refused all offers.” 

Oh? Most models jumped at any chance they got to walk for fashion week. It was the pinnacle of the modelling world as much as it was for the fashion world, with every model competing for the coveted few spots on the runway. 

Leaning forward, you studied the magazine cover for a few more seconds. He did seem to give off the same regal air that Xavier did, at least from the shoot you were looking at, which meant it was at least worth considering taking him on. Potential was something you’d have to bet on.

“This might do,” you muttered, waving your hand in her direction. “Arrange a meeting with him and his manager and add it to my schedule.”

Rafayel adored a good party. 

Sprawled out on the length of his couch with one arm hanging off of it, he lifted his glass with a satisfied half-smile, cocking his head as he observed the chaos that unfolded around him. The mess currently being made would undoubtedly be a problem, but it was one that a future version of himself would have to deal with. Right now, he was content with being the facilitator. 

The bass reverberated through his body, the music so obnoxiously loud that it somehow managed to drown out the raucous laughter and chatter that travelled around the large room. He tipped back the glass, savouring the burn of the alcohol that kissed his throat so soothingly. It provided a pleasant buzz, one that he had been carefully maintaining all evening and the night so far. 

People were dancing on his coffee table. Corners of the large room were occupied by pairs that were a little too close, but the darkness provided them with privacy. Beautiful women sauntered around, a couple hovering around him like moths to a flame. One even sat on the velvet armrest of the couch, right behind where his head lay and reached out to touch his hair, which would have annoyed him if he wasn’t halfway to drunk already. The attention didn’t faze him in the slightest, he was used to being at the centre of it. 

He was the life of every party, the drug that kept it going, and everyone wanted a piece of that sweet high. His parties were all the rage, and anyone with so much as a speck of fame wanted to be in attendance at them, singers, actors and fellow models alike. 

Sighing blissfully, he downed the rest of his drink. The delightful thing about alcohol was that once you had had enough of it, you hardly noticed the taste. He looked up at the woman who so boldly played with his hair, watching how she batted her eyelashes and flashed a coy smile at him. A smirk teased at his lips as he entertained the idea of taking his fun a little further.

Nothing could possibly ruin such a perfect night.

“RAFAYEL!”

Oh dear. 

He didn’t have to look to know who had yelled his name. There was only one person in the world who could say his name with such astronomical levels of exasperation. His manager spotted him and stormed over, setting one foot furiously in front of the other until he was right beside the couch. Rafayel lazily opened an eye, peering up at the intruder.

“Lovely to see you, Thomas. Here to join in the fun?”

Thomas scowled. “I suggest throwing that expensive phone of yours out if it doesn’t work.”

“It works just fine.”

“Then why haven’t you bothered to answer any of my calls?”

The model sighed and sat up, giving the women at his side an apologetic look. “Excuse me, ladies,” he said, charm oozing out of every syllable that spilled from him. “I need to talk to my friend here, and I’ll be right back.” 

With practised grace, he got to his feet and beckoned for Thomas to follow him into the kitchen, which was miraculously deserted. Leaning against the marble counter, he picked up a bottle of gin and poured it into a clean glass before offering it to the frazzled man. When all he received in return was a glare, he shrugged and tipped it back. 

“I’ve been trying to get hold of you all day,” Thomas said through gritted teeth, tapping his foot against the floor and folding his arms over his chest. Rafayel barely flinched at his agitation, used to it by this point.

“I’ve been busy.”

His manager scoffed, throwing his hands up in the air. “Busy? You call this being busy?” He gestured to the doorway that led back to the party, making Rafayel wish he was still there, instead of here, facing the wrath of his uptight manager when he wasn’t as drunk as he wished he was for it. Rolling his eyes, he prepared to give his usual excuses and get it over with so that he could go back to his fun.

“Look–”

“No, you look,” Thomas took a step forward. “Your shoot for Vogue was three weeks ago. Since then, you’ve had numerous offers to walk in fashion week. More than any model I’ve previously managed.” The way he phrased it was incredulous, as if he couldn’t fathom how he had managed such a thing. “So I’m gonna need you to tell me why you’ve turned all of them down.”

Ugh. If Rafayel had been just a little faster, he could have been in his bedroom with that woman and avoided this interaction altogether. He placed the glass back down, running a finger along the rim of it as he hummed. 

“None of the brands spoke to me.”

Thomas looked like he was about to implode. He shut his eyes, letting out a long-suffering sigh. “You just have to walk. Pose a little. There's no speaking involved. You should know what your job entails by now.”

Rafayel placed a hand over his heart, feeling rather attacked at the moment. “Don’t patronise me.”

To that, he was met with a mirthless laugh. “Patronise you? You’re too smart for me to even try, and yet you still insist on acting like a child.” It was always entertaining when his manager lost his patience like this, and he always turned it into a game of sorts, testing to see just how far he could push back.

“You wound me, my friend.” 

“Your aunt expects you to walk for fashion week.” 

Of course, she did. Immediately, his easy-going persona vanished, and he clicked his tongue in an attempt to push down his irritation. “Talia wants me to do so much, doesn’t she?” 

He couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice, but it didn’t matter. His opinion rarely ever did when it was up against his aunts, but he supposed it was his fault. He was the one who had decided working under her would be a good idea, thinking that the familial connection would help further his career. It turned out, however, that while it had certainly given him a headstart, he had become her favourite project.

Back in her prime, Talia had been an extremely successful supermodel herself. After getting married, she didn’t return to the runway, but instead started her own modelling agency: Lemuria Modelling Agency. Since she knew the ins and outs of the business so intimately, she had experienced what felt like overnight success with it.

When Rafayel came along, it was as if she wanted to live vicariously through him, pushing him into shoots and brand deals for fashion houses that she had once worked for herself. It was only recently that he put his foot down and insisted on choosing his projects for himself, refusing to be a puppet for any longer. Surprisingly, she had agreed, and it had somehow worked out even better than before, with his career taking off like never before.

He had no intention of turning out to be another version of her, even if he had technically followed in her footsteps. He was well aware of his worth and he’d be damned if he allowed himself to settle for anything less than perfect.

“You have another offer for fashion week and a contract for a couple of months.” 

“I’m not interested.” His answer was immediate. He disliked speaking of work during his downtime, but since he had been ignoring all of his calls, he didn’t have the right to complain about that right now.

“You haven’t even heard who it's for yet.” Thomas groaned. “Lumiere is a highly respected brand. It’s short notice, but you’re lucky you’re being offered the position at all.”

“I don’t care how great they are,” he muttered dryly, reaching for the bottle once again. He despised being told what to do, regarding himself as a free spirit despite his perfectionist tendencies. 

For a moment, he thought he had won this argument, taking the other man's silence as acceptance. His presumptuous joy was short-lived.

“Get your head in the fucking game, Rafayel. This whole stuck-up artist thing you have going on might have worked out in your favour so far, but it won’t cut it in the long run.” Thomas snapped, sufficiently vexed. “You will take on Lumiere, and you will walk for them. I don’t care if I have to drag you to Paris kicking and screaming, you're coming.” 

Rafayel bit back his surprise at the outburst, feeling his pride take a hit at Thomas’s words. Stuck-up artist? If life had gone the way he had intended it to, then perhaps he would have been exactly that. Not that he was complaining about the life he had now, he enjoyed every second of it thoroughly, for he was nothing if not a patron of indulgence. Still, the accusation stung just a tad. 

He was caught so off-guard that he couldn’t respond with his normal unbothered quips. The man in front of him didn’t let up on his glare, but finally moved out of Rafayel’s personal space, clicking his tongue in triumph like a disappointed father would at his child. 

“We have a meeting scheduled with them for next week. Don’t be late. And for god’s sake, check your phone. I’ll send over the details.” 

With that final statement, Thomas walked out, as eager to leave the party as Rafayel had been to rejoin it just a few minutes ago. With nothing left to do but nurse his bruised ego, he poured himself another drink to keep him company while he sulked over how that conversation had gone so terribly.

You stepped out of the car, immediately holding a hand over your face at a distance that let you see what was in front of you while simultaneously shielding yourself from the onslaught of camera flashes and paparazzi yelling at you to spare them a glance. Forcing a neutral expression, you let your feet carry you to the entrance of the restaurant as quickly as possible, wanting nothing more than to escape the unwanted attention. 

Frankly, you should have been used to the paparazzi by now after having dealt with it for five years and counting, but there was something so jarring about having cameras shoved in your face or following you while you tried to go about your daily life. When you started out, all you had wanted to do was create your clothing, but fame had come along with your accomplishments, launching you into a spotlight that was meant for your designs. You had media training and publicists working to keep your image squeaky-clean.

The ambience on the inside provided you with respite from the press, and the tension in your shoulders instantly dissipated. Warm, dim lighting and the pleasant clinking of glasses and cutlery travelled all around you, combining with the smooth jazz that played, creating a melody of its own. This was one of your favourite places to dine, which was precisely why you had chosen it for today. 

Walking further into the restaurant, you spotted the person you were here to meet and made your way over. The woman sitting at the reserved table scanned the menu. 

“Gabriette,” You smiled pleasantly, making your presence known. She looked up at you, eyes lighting up.

“Y/n!”

Gabriette got to her feet and embraced you politely, giving you a customary kiss on each cheek in greeting. You returned the gesture before removing your coat, draping it on the empty seat across from hers and sitting down. 

“I hope I didn’t make you wait too long.” You picked up your menu as a server filled your glass with some water, flipping through the pages. 

“Not at all! I’m so glad we could make time to meet.” 

Gabriette Dubois was a celebrity fashion designer, much like yourself, whom you had met years ago while in Paris for your first ever fashion week. She was a little older than you but somehow managed to not look a day over twenty-five, petite in every sense of the word. Her own fashion house, Dubois Designs, was all the rage just as yours was. This meant that while you were friendly with her, she was less of a friend and more of an acquaintance.

Competitor would have been the right word. 

“How have you been?” She was in New York for a few weeks and insisted on having lunch with you. She was far from your favourite person, but you knew the importance of nurturing and maintaining connections. If not for that pesky reason, you would have cut all contact with her a long time ago. Your temper made it so that you lacked patience when it came to people like her, but thankfully, she lived in Paris, which meant you only had to bite your tongue and force a smile on occasion.

“I’ve been fantastic,” she beamed, her French accent curling the ends of her words. “I’ve been busy the whole time I have been in this city, but you know how it is. The busier you are, the better business is, yes?” The subtle brag was not lost on you.

You suspected she was the one who had called the press. They loved tailing you around anyway, but catching two high-profile fashion designers together? That was the same thing as finding gold to them.

“I know what you mean.” You ordered a glass of red wine after agreeing with her. She opted for some rosé. “Finding time to rest is rare.” 

“I bet you miss the days when Lumiere was still a small little thing,” she said with the same smile on her face, but you weren’t naive enough to miss the slight condescending lilt of her voice. While she treated you perfectly well, you knew that she didn’t quite see you as an equal, purposely choosing to turn a blind eye to your achievements. She thought of you as beneath her, even though your success outshone even hers at times. 

You didn’t need her approval. All this was a formality anyways. 

“Sometimes,” you admitted good-naturedly, choosing not to take the bait. The drinks arrived, and you took a nice, long sip of yours, reminding yourself of why you even agreed to meet her in the first place. “Sorry, I just remembered, I have something I’d like to ask you.”

Gabriette might have had a superiority complex, but this also meant she loved to shove all her accomplishments in other people's faces. Bragging was something she viewed as her birthright, and you had mastered the art of using it to your advantage. 

The server returned, and the two of you placed your orders before resuming conversation. “Ask away.”

“It’s about a model,” you started carefully. “My top model is out of commission right now, and I need a replacement for a little while.” 

She leaned back in her seat and sipped her rosé. “Oh yes, I heard about Xavier. Go on.”

No doubt she assumed you were about to ask her to help you find someone to take his place. You had no intention of doing such a thing since you were going to meet your potential temporary replacement in three days, thanks to Simone. What you wanted was a little information from someone who had directly had contact with him. 

“You’ve worked with Rafayel before, haven’t you?” 

You phrased it as if you didn’t know this already, when in reality, you had done your research. It wasn’t your job to do so– you could have easily gotten any of your employees to do it– but this was a big deal. You refused to have just anyone take Xavier’s place, even if it was only for a short while. Simone had already run a background check on him, and you had to admit that from all the surface-level knowledge that you had that he did fit with your brand's image quite well.

Gabriette peered at you from over her glass, raising an eyebrow as she nodded slowly. “Yeah, a couple of years ago. Why?”

“I hadn’t really heard of him until recently.” You placed your glass down, and at that moment, the server returned with your food. She didn’t bother to hide her scoff as she picked up her fork, digging into her salad immediately. 

“That’s on you. Rafayel has been around for a while.” She took a bite of lettuce and croutons, taking her time with the morsel before she pounced once more, taking a concealed jab at you. “But I guess it’s expected when you live under a rock. If you weren’t so caught up with insisting on only working with Xavier for even a minute, you would have seen him around.” 

You refused to let her get under your skin. So what if you were picky about who you took on? Consistency was something you valued, and you had your reasons, ones that you didn’t have to divulge to her and waste your breath. 

A tired exhale left your lips. “I’m thinking of taking him on.”

“Good luck with that.” 

Huh. You sat up straighter. “What do you mean?”

“Rafayel is a talented model, no one can say anything about that, but I doubt you’d be able to handle him.”

Handle him? Oddly enough, this statement of hers sounded less like a concealed insult and more genuine. Feigning indifference, you nibbled at your own food. “Why so?”

She laughed curtly, toying with her fork. “He’s a great way to make headlines, that's for sure. The world loves him right now, even with his scandalous behaviour, but when it comes down to it…” You made a mental note to look into what she meant by scandalous behaviour later when she trailed off, silently prompting her to continue. 

Gabriette pressed her lips together, a flash of irritation taking over her eyes for a brief moment, but it wasn’t aimed at you.

“He’s a total nightmare to work with.”

Rafayel waltzed into the meeting room ten minutes late, his head held up high like he owned the place. 

This did not amuse you, the actual owner.

A man who you could only assume was his manager entered behind him, looking so defeated that you almost felt sorry for him. Almost, because you had no sympathy for people who wasted your time like they had. Simone had gotten you a second cup of coffee to pass the time, and you had just about finished it, ignoring the last few dregs in the cup in favour of narrowing your eyes at the two men. 

“I’m so sorry about the delay,” he said quickly, taking a seat at the table after Rafeyel did. “There was– er– unavoidable traffic. I’m Thomas, Rafayel’s manager. Your assistant spoke with me last week.” The excuse was pathetic, and you didn’t miss the brief scathing look he sent the model when he stumbled over the words. The latter looked utterly unbothered, his elbow on the armrest of the chair, his chin resting on his palm. 

If you weren’t in such a terrible situation, you would have probably asked them to leave, but not only were you running on a tight schedule, but you were also fresh out of options. 

“Don’t worry about it. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” 

You looked at Rafayel to finally asses him in person, mild surprise running through you when you realised he was already staring right at you. Most people avoided eye contact with you because of how intense you could be, but he seemed to be having no such trouble; his eyes locked onto yours, a bored look lingering in them. 

Now that you were looking at him in person, you had to admit that he was quite breathtaking. You had watched a couple of his most famous runway moments, but the way he looked through a screen did not compare to the real thing. He was positively gorgeous, which wasn’t something you thought all that often, considering you were surrounded by beautiful people all the time. Rafayel, however, was in a league of his own, with soft, dark hair that fell over his forehead and into his mesmerising eyes. Smooth skin that surely had skincare companies begging him to be in their advertisements, lips that were the perfect pinkish hue, and elegant, high cheekbones; he was a work of art. 

A work of art whose impudence was currently pissing you off. 

“Rafayel,” You finally directly addressed him. “I take it that you’ve agreed to model for Lumiere for the next four months.” 

His lips twitched. “It seems that I have.”

“We’re thrilled to have you on board.”  You gestured to Simone. “My assistant here has drawn up the contract, which you can take to look over before signing it.” Dutifully, she placed a file before them, which he picked up, flipping through and scanning over the details and terms.

This is where the meeting would usually end. He’d smile, nod and leave, and you’d go back to your office and hopefully review some of the recent sketches you had done. They needed some reworking as soon as possible, especially if you wanted to stay on schedule. 

Except it didn’t. 

He tossed the contract back on the table. “Thats all well and good, but I have a condition of my own.”

His manager glanced at him apprehensively. Your look on your face must have betrayed how bewildered you felt, because the edge of his mouth quirked upwards in amusement ever so slightly at your reaction. 

“A….condition?” You echoed his words incredulously, fingers curling around the Montblanc pen you were just about to hand to him. His smile widened, and he nodded, leaning forward with his elbows resting on the edge of the table like he was about to divulge to you a secret you should have been dying to know.

“Whatever you make me wear, I have to approve of it. I have to like it, or I don’t wear it.”

You weren’t quite sure you had heard him right at first, blinking twice as you registered what he had just said. Honestly, even the idea was so ridiculous that you were sure you had misinterpreted, because this wasn’t a condition. It was a demand, one that he expected you to meet, as if it wasn’t completely audacious of him to do so. 

“I’m sorry?”

“You heard me. This is a dealbreaker.” 

Thomas looked so alarmed that it would have been funny in any other context. Clearly, he had no hand in this and was just as caught off guard as you were, but nowhere near as outraged. 

Simone realised the meeting was going awry, and swiftly swooped in, clearing her throat before you exploded right then and there in the conference room. She was surprised that the pen you were holding hadn't snapped in two yet with how tight your grip on it was. 

“I’m sure we can work something out,” she said smoothly, taking over for you as you glowered. “We’re delighted to have you working with us, Mr. Qi.”

No part of you was delighted. Sure, he ticked off all the boxes: attractive, seasoned and acclaimed, but there was something about how he carried himself that didn’t sit quite right with you. This had nothing to do with any of the scandals that he had found himself in, though you had looked into them to make sure it wouldn’t impact your brand. Dating scandals and rumours of him being a womaniser– stuff like that never held any weight for too long, especially not for a man. You didn’t care about his personal life, no, your annoyance stemmed from his haughty attitude. 

Rafayel grinned, not bothering to even look at her, winking at you instead for good measure. “Pleasure doing business with you.” 

The fucking audacity.

Once they had left, you stormed into your office, your stilettos carrying the heavy weight of the pure, unadulterated rage you felt at that instant. Simone followed, bracing herself for the inevitable downpour of your wrath and clutching her tablet in the hopes it would help her calm you down. Of course, she knew there was no shot in hell of that happening; when you were like this, it would take nothing short of a miracle to placate you. 

To say you were a proud person would be an understatement. There were not very many instances where you willingly let someone else have control in a situation, and you were well aware of what your work was worth. There was a reason you were at the top of the game. 

It made his condition all the more absurd.

“He has to approve of it?” You seethed, spinning around to glare at the only person around to take the brunt of your fury. “Who the hell does he think he is?” 

Simone winced, “It’s certainly….an odd request.”

“A request? A request would be if he asked us for tea, Simone. This is an insult.” He had to have known that, too, unless he was a total idiot. You were starting to believe that because models didn’t choose what they wore. The implication was that you didn’t know how to dress your models, as if all the skills you had honed were worth nothing. “Who the hell does he think he is?”

Despite having just met him, the smug look he had given you was already burned into your memory. You couldn’t remember the last time you had outright disliked someone this quickly.

“Rafayel is eccentric, yes,” Simone said tentatively. He had sounded so confident, like it was a given that you would agree. “But maybe he didn’t mean to offend you?”

“Xavier would never do this,” You groaned, mourning the absence of your darling top model. “Tell me, is there a chance we can get someone else on board instead?”

Unfortunately, you knew the answer without her giving it to you. Keeping your brand's image intact was of utmost importance to you, and you were nothing if not meticulous. Xavier’s sudden unavailability had thrown a real wrench in all your careful planning, and though it wasn’t his fault, it still left you extremely frustrated. Replacing him was nearly impossible, and you were lucky to have chanced upon Rafayel.

Undoubtedly, he would fit in with your curation seamlessly. He’d look fantastic modelling your clothing, and he’d be perfect for the PFW show. The hype that currently existed around him would also help tremendously. Your publicist was about to have an absolute field day with this collaboration. 

“He’s our only viable option at the moment. The chances of him disapproving of your clothes are slim to none, anyway.” Your assistant said comfortingly. “It’ll be fine.”

God, you hoped so.

QI RAFAYEL SIGNED WITH LUMIERE?

Word is that the most elusive model of the decade has put down roots with the hottest brand, and boy, does the partnership seem fitting! It’s a wonder, especially with Rafayel's sudden disappearance from the modelling scene right at the height of his career. Known for his fearlessness when it comes to experimental designs and his ability to embody any look, the model is truly at the top of his game, so it makes perfect sense for him to work with a brand that shares that very status.

We can’t wait to witness his comeback with Lumiere very soon!

The fitting room was in chaos when you arrived.

You grimaced at the disarray you were met with; stylists rushing around and shouting various instructions at each other. There were different types of fabric all around, clothing items you could recognise at a single glance, falling off their hangers and display mannequins. Amidst it all stood Rafayel, who looked utterly uninterested, his arms over his chest, wrinkling the deep purple Ralph Lauren shirt he was wearing. The colour suited him.

But why was he still in his personal clothes? In two hours, he was to be at a shoot for the brand's website and social media pages, but here he was, just standing around. At least his makeup was done, you supposed.

“Miss Y/n!” One of the stylists paused her movements and greeted you. “We are right on track!”

Were they? You glanced around at the confusion, stepping over the shoes that were right in front of the doorway and walked up closer to one of the mannequins. Wordlessly, you held your hand out, and immediately they all knew what to do, scrambling to hand you a pin. Placing it between your teeth, you folded over a part of the waist of the pants to readjust the pleating and secured it in place. 

“It doesn’t seem like it.” Your eyes sliced back to the model, who was now looking right at you. “He’s not ready.”

Typically, you would never visit a fitting like this, trusting your employees to get the job done. You were too busy to make the time to show up for things like these, simply giving the orders and checking in once the job was done. Even Xavier didn’t get any surprise pop-ins from you, and he was someone you actually cared for. 

But no part of you inherently trusted Rafayel to cooperate. The stylist who handed you the pin dropped her voice and signalled towards him. “He’s a little difficult.” 

Of course. 

Leaving the mannequin, you walked up to Rafayel and levelled him with a stare. “Would you care to enlighten me as to why you’re giving my stylists a hard time?”

He looked around and pointed to the clothing that another stylist held up with a helpless expression. It was a lovely white silk shirt with an asymmetrical cut, the buttons starting at the right shoulder and ending at the left side of the waist. This was paired with trousers to complete the look, but it wasn’t supposed to take away from the shirt, which was the main event. 

“I’m not wearing this.”

Irritation was a feeling you were well-versed in. The way it flared up inside of you so quickly when he spoke was still shocking. 

“And why not?” You briefly wondered why everyone around you seemed to take pleasure in wasting your time as of late. This was only one of the outfits he had to be photographed in, the others lined up neatly on a clothing rack. 

“It’s boring,” Rafayel said casually, as if he were remarking on the weather. “Where's the colour? The life? I look at it and feel nothing.” 

Oh, he felt nothing, did he? Briefly, you wondered if he’d feel the slap you were so tempted to give him. All he had done since stepping into your building was insult you and parade around like he was better than everyone, and you didn’t take either of those things lightly. “It’s the highest quality silk and stitching.” 

“Everything you’re having me wear is in black and white.”

“I’m so glad you can tell colour.” 

Your stylists flinched a little at your apathetic tone, despite being all too used to your snippy remarks. You were hard on everyone who worked for you, but that was only because you held your employees to the same high standards that you did yourself when it came to the work they were supposed to do. Their paychecks certainly made up for it, as did your generosity when it came to granting them leave. 

“Black and white is plain.” He sighed dramatically, like the lack of colour was personally offending him. “Chanel already has that rodeo down to the ‘t’. 

His audacity left you astounded once more, and you were even more pissed off when you unwittingly realised that he had a point. Still, even if Chanel did have a thing for black and white styling, you liked to think that you had put your unique spin on the clothes that distinguished them from competing brands. You didn’t just think it; you knew your designs were amazing. The man in front of you didn’t allow you to tell him this, since he had already started speaking again. 

“If I wanted to wear Chanel, I would have accepted their offer.”

“Why didn’t you?”

You knew damn well that it was a good thing he had agreed to work for you, but that didn’t mean he had to. Rafayel’s lips tipped upwards, as if your annoyance entertained him. “I already told you. I find black and white boring, and even though it’s all I see right now,” he gestured around the room and at the clothing rack, “I don’t think it’s all you’re capable of.”

Was that a compliment? If it was, he was shit at giving them out. Not that you were any better, but that hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things. It wasn’t your job to be nice, it was your job to make sure things got done the way you wanted them. 

So, against all your severely miffed instincts, you sucked in a deep breath to calm yourself down. “This collection is already public. We just need the pictures for social media.”

He looked disappointed. “Fine. I’ll make an exception just this once.”

How positively saintly of him. You wondered if he expected you to drop and kiss his feet for making such a compromise. 

Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t going to get any of that. You pressed your lips together, deciding you had wasted enough of your time already and that it was time to get back to those sketches of yours you had been putting off. Nodding curtly, you moved to leave, but he opened his mouth again.

“A word of advice?”

Well, wasn’t he chatty today? You sighed, pressing two fingers against your temple and rubbing in the hopes it would soothe you. “You’re going to give it to me even if I say no, aren’t you?”

He proved you right. “If your Paris Fashion Week collection is going to be as uninspired as this, then I suggest you start rethinking it.”

The stylist closest to the two of you gasped.

Uninspired? This was a collection you had revealed recently at a show a couple of weeks ago, and critics had been all over it, practically kissing your feet with the amount of praise they had dished out. Uninspired definitely wasn’t one of the words they had used to describe it.

You didn’t miss the smirk on his lips as he watched you react to his harsh words. He had gotten under your skin, and he knew it. It had been so long since someone had managed to do so that you forgot how it felt, and you despised the feeling. Your eyebrows raised in fury that was plain as day, leaning away from him like his presence stung just as much as his words did.

Rafayel didn’t want to admit it, but he was having way too much fun with this. The day he first showed up at the Lumiere building, he was pretty much dragged there against his will by Thomas. He had heard of it in passing and was expecting yet another high-fashion brand that had lost all its integrity in favour of stagnating and staying relevant through its namesake. When he had looked into its previous seasons, however, he began to begrudgingly appreciate the creativity of their clothing, as well as its authenticity.

Finding out that Lumiere was only five years old came as a surprise, as did the news of the meeting with the founder and head of the company herself. To say that was unconventional would be an understatement. Typically, these types of meetings consisted of him only meeting an assistant or two, but never the designers themselves. Sure, eventually he’d speak to them at a show or afterparty he was obligated to be at, but never had he met them upfront like this.

Moreover, he certainly hadn’t expected the designer to be a beautiful young woman. Rafayel had always had an eye for pretty things, so one look at you was enough for him to see that you were just that. Beautiful didn’t even cut it, actually, so much so that you could probably walk in your own fashion shows.

So you were pretty. Rafayel was aware enough of it, and although he tended to gravitate towards that, you weren’t exactly his type. He typically went for women who were generous with the smiles they gave him and found pleasure in his reputation, the type who giggled at everything he said and touched his arm to make sure their intentions were clear. As far as he was concerned, a type meant there was a pattern involved, and that would be the best way to describe the women he had gotten involved with in the past. 

You were too intense for his taste, with your calculating gaze and perfectly pinned-up hair without a single strand out of place. Breathtaking in the most intimidating way. He was all for dancing through life while having a good time and breaking a few rules if he had to. You, on the other hand, looked like you had written the rules and expected everyone else to abide by them.

It was probably a good thing that he didn’t want to get with someone who was technically his boss.

But you were oh-so easy to rile up. 

“Uninspired?” You hissed, and if looks could kill, the one you were giving him right now would have probably landed him six feet under. “Excuse me?”

Feisty. My, my, he was going to have a blast with this. Shrugging, he started unbuttoning the front of his shirt, and the stylists, who had been standing frozen while the two of you had a stare-off, jumped back into action. They seemed relieved that he was finally cooperating, one of them assisting him with his shirt and the other holding the one you designed open and ready to slip onto his body.

Your eyes dropped to his now exposed torso as the shirt was peeled off of him for just a second before you sliced them back up to his. That infuriating smirk remained on his face throughout. 

“Need some clarification?”

So this is what Gabriette meant when she said he was a nightmare to work with. 

“There is nothing uninspired about my clothing,” you snapped, unable to keep your temper from flaring up anymore. “From now on, keep any advice you have to yourself.”

Everything that had come out of his mouth so far had been unwanted, and you were starting to think he was doing it on purpose, especially with how he was watching your every reaction like a hawk. Refusing to dignify him with one, you turned and walked out of the room, emerging into the hallways of the Lumiere building. The familiarity of the decor and soothing warm lighting should have helped with your agitation, but nothing of the sort happened.

Now, you understood why Gabriette said all that stuff about not being able to handle him. 

Four months of this madness before everything would go back to normal. In comparison to other things you’ve dealt with in the past, this was trivial. You were a professional, considered a damn genius for your work and the sheer levels of success you were graced with at such a young age. There was nothing you couldn’t do, even if it was dealing with a self-important model that seemingly took pleasure in irking you.

In any case, you could refrain from pushing him out of a window. 

“Oh, these are great. I’m gonna have to hide them from Jeremiah.”

Xavier placed the box of chocolates you had gotten him on the coffee table in front of where he sat on the couch. You joined him there, eyes lingering on the cast on his leg that spanned from his ankle up to just below his knee. He caught you staring at it in contempt and grinned.

“Wanna sign it?”

You scoffed and leaned against the throw pillows. “You know I don’t.” 

Despite your hectic schedule, you had made sure to set aside some time to visit the injured man now that he had returned from the hospital. His roommate had let you in when you arrived, since Xavier was strictly instructed to stay off his feet as much as possible. The irony of that wasn’t lost to either of you. 

“Worth a shot.”

He was pretty much homebound and stuck in that cast for twelve weeks, and after that would have to go through physical therapy for a bit before he was back on his feet. It was certainly a blow to his career’s momentum, especially since it quite literally depended on his ability to walk. Eventually, he’d get back onto the runway, you knew, but you couldn’t help but feel bad. 

Considering all this, he seemed to be in a good mood, smiling gently at you. Xavier, unlike you, had endless amounts of patience and had a temperament that was as angelic as he looked. He was plenty successful, and Lumiere was by no means the only fashion house he modelled for, even if it was the one he worked with the most. He had seen the ambitious girl who powered through all the doubts thrown in her face when you had taken the leap and started your brand, and had stuck by you ever since. 

This was why he was your only true friend. He had seen something in you when you hadn’t quite figured yourself out just yet. For the past five years, he had stayed by your side without wavering even once, and as a result of this, he could read you like you were an open book. 

“You’re upset with me.” He noted. You sighed, shaking your head. 

“No, I’m upset with the circumstance.” You gestured towards his leg. “The timing is terrible.” 

Xavier quirked an eyebrow in amusement. “Apologies. The next time I plan on breaking my bones, I’ll let you know in advance.” 

“Please let there never be another time,” You let out a tired sigh. “Replacing you is a hassle. Get better. I need you back at work.”

“And here I thought you missed me for me.” He lightly teased.

“You know I do.” You looked at him meaningfully. “You know what I mean.” 

He did. You had never been the best at being vulnerable or expressing yourself, but he had long since learnt how to read between the lines. 

“I’ve heard that you managed to find someone to fill in.” He circled back to your point about replacing him and looked at you expectantly, waiting for you to fill him in on all the happenings he had missed. Things were progressing slower than you would have liked, but smoothly, nonetheless. 

Except for one little thing. One person, more accurately. 

If you were being honest, you didn’t particularly want to talk about the cause of all your recent headaches. Instead, you eyed his cast again, trying your best to keep the bitterness out of your voice. “Does it hurt?”

“It’s just a dull ache now,” he reached down and scratched over the plaster. “And it’s uncomfortable, but it doesn’t hurt.” Then, he gave you a pointed look. “Do you think I can’t tell when you’re changing the subject?”

Damn. You pulled your hair free from its tight ponytail, letting it cascade over your shoulders and letting your scalp breathe. It wasn’t often you let your guard down like this, but you knew you were safe with Xavier. You also knew that you needed to be as relaxed as possible if you were going to talk about your latest problem. 

“I did find someone to fill in.” Your lips twisted in displeasure. “But I’m counting down the days till you return.” 

“That bad?”

“Rafayel is impossible.” 

Xavier cocked his head to the side. “Thats new. You generally comment on someone's incompetence.”

“Oh, he’s plenty competent.” It was the truth. You almost wished he were terrible at his job, but that wasn’t the case. The pictures for your social media had turned out amazing, and you had spent quite a lot of time looking over them, trying to find a reason to be unsatisfied, but to no avail. 

A great model. An exasperating person. 

Over the past two weeks, you had seen too much of him. He was constantly complaining about something, showing up late, or making snide comments and going out of his way to make everyone’s jobs harder. You had heard of models that thought they were untouchable, but Rafayel was a whole other level, a bona-fide diva.

If you weren’t so desperate, you would have already fired him. Desperation was not a feeling you enjoyed, but you didn’t want to go through the hassle of having to select someone else to fill in the void Xavier had left in his absence. 

“So, what do you mean by impossible?” He propped an arm on the couch's backrest, rubbing the back of his neck. 

You indulged Xavier with the details, telling him all about Rafayel’s complaints about your clothing and all the ways he had managed to drive you up the wall. You were frustrated with his behaviour, but also with yourself for being so caught up about it when you had more important things to worry about. 

A charity gala you were supposed to attend next week. Prepping for Paris Fashion Week. 

“Oh, Y/n. He does sound like a handful.” Xavier muttered sympathetically after you had aired out all your grievances. His admission made you feel a lot better about the situation. 

“He’s more than a handful.”

“But I’ve never seen you back down from any challenge.” He remarked. “And thats basically what he’s doing. Challenging you.”

He was right, you weren’t someone who backed down easily. Your conversation drifted to other things: his time at the hospital, the terrible food they made him eat, and other such tragedies. You realised how much you truly missed having Xavier around, being able to talk to someone like this wasn’t something you were able to do often. 

You made a mental note to visit him as much as possible.

“It’s a challenge,” Xavier reminded before you left, popping one of the chocolates you had gotten him in his mouth as he gave you one last piece of advice about your Rafayel problem. “Don’t let him win.”

Behind a camera, Qi Rafayel was more than tolerable.

So much about the man pissed you off. From his slow manner of speaking that tested your patience, to the lazy half-grin he seemed to perpetually have plastered on his face, you could probably list out all the things about him you disliked. He made it so easy with his incessant attempts at driving you up the wall.

Still, it was evident that even with all his antics, he was a professional.

Now, he was in archival Lumiere, one of the collections from the start of your career. There were only a few pieces of the structured jacket he wore in circulation since they were handmade. In fact, he was wearing the very piece that had appeared on the runway all those years ago. It hung from his shoulders as he posed, staring into the camera as it shuttered. 

You had personally chosen this piece for this shoot, asking your stylists to work with it because you knew he wouldn’t be able to complain. It was a stunning jacket, and apparently, he agreed. 

Every few seconds, he’d change the pose, each more dramatic than the last. A hand raised in a flourish near his face, back facing the camera, with him looking back at it, legs spread with his arms behind his head as he stared straight ahead through a half-lidded gaze. Watching him go through the motions like it was second nature was mesmerising. 

You were starting to understand his appeal. There was a certain playfulness to his sensuality, and he knew exactly how to use it to his advantage. Something about him felt dangerous, unpredictable in an exciting way, and that quality of his was his greatest selling point. 

The makeup on him was bolder this time, accentuating his siren-esque features. His hair was artfully slicked back, different from his normal look and showing off his forehead. 

He was going to be on the cover of Elle, styled with Lumiere, of course. In this particular issue, they were going to include a one-on-one interview with you as well, which was why you were present at the shoot. After they were done with him, they’d be taking a couple of shots of you to include with your interview. 

And it seemed they had just wrapped up. 

The intense expression on his face immediately dropped, giving way to a relaxed one, his eyes travelling around the room until they met yours. The photographer thanked him for his time, but he was already moving towards you. As he approached, a staff member popped up at your side.

“Would you like some coffee, miss?” 

You turned to the woman who asked you the question. “Hot, without any sugar.”

She nodded and looked at Rafayel, who had stopped by your side. “And for you, sir?”

“Cold coffee. As much whipped cream and sugar as you can manage.” He dropped a wink in with his order for good measure, and the staff faltered ever so slightly, trying to hide how charmed she was as she left to get the drinks. Once she was gone, he looked at you, his perfect pink lips twitching. 

It was obvious that he wanted to say something, and it would no doubt be something that ticked you off. Still, you relented and finally asked.

“What is it?”

He studied you for a moment. “Nothing. It’s just so predictable that you take your coffee plain.”

You bristled. “There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“I never said there was,” He drawled, and then dropped the subject. “Seems like it's your turn to get behind the camera, Miss Designer. Ready?”

“It’s not my first time,” You said as the staff returned with your coffees. Grabbing yours, you took a slow sip and continued. “We had to model quite a bit in fashion school for various projects and assignments.”

It wasn’t as if you were claiming to be better than him, but you did have some experience. He hummed an idle tune, bringing the straw of his drink to his mouth and sipping it in delight.

You had to bite back a frown at the monstrosity he received, the swirls of whipped cream over milky coffee. There were even sprinkles on the damn thing. You understood his comment about your order being predictable because that being his somehow made a lot of sense. Globs of the whipped cream spilt over the side of the glass and slipped down its length, the entire thing was over the top and messy.

A lot like him, you supposed. 

“Want some?” He asked cheekily, tilting the glass in your direction. He knew you were going to refuse, but the way you scrunched your nose and did such a terrible job at hiding your aversion was too entertaining to pass up on. 

“I’m good.” 

“Suit yourself.” 

You shot Rafayel a displeased look, scanning him from top to bottom. The jacket you had so carefully handstitched was unbuttoned and open so that his abs could peak through in the pictures. You didn’t let your eyes linger there, snapping them back up to his. 

“Don’t stain the jacket.” You muttered sternly, adjusting the collar of your top and centring your jewellery with one hand, the other gripping the handle of your cup. He was holding his coffee too close to himself for your liking, especially with the way the top of the whipped cream was leaning to the side, as if it was about to tip over any second now. 

“Yes, we wouldn’t want that.”

The patronising lilt of his voice told you that he was trying to get a rise out of you, but you knew he liked the jacket. When he had been made to put it on, he had looked at it appreciatively and hadn’t complained even once, which felt like nothing short of a miracle. You purposely looked anywhere but him, instead opting to watch the photographer set up for your turn. 

But Rafayel wasn’t someone you could just ignore. His presence was magnetic and all-consuming, and even when he was silent, he was distracting. The effect he had was strange and inexplicable, cutting through your general dislike towards him. 

Thankfully, the photographer turned to you and nodded. “Whenever you’re ready, miss.”

Without sparing Rafayel another glance, you handed your coffee to the staff member closest to you and strutted over, taking your place behind the camera. You took a seat on the stool they had put out for you as a makeup artist came over to give you a touch-up and fix your hair. Focusing on the camera lens, you reminded yourself what you were here for in the first place. 

But when your traitorous gaze flickered back to Rafayel, he was already looking at you.

Pages filled with sketches lay strewn out over the desk of your home office, with you hunched over them in concentration. You ran your fingers through your hair and tugged at the ends, your other hand gripping your mechanical pencil.

You may have looked like the picture of productivity, but right now, you were feeling the complete opposite. It was nearly one in the morning, and you had skipped out on dinner in favour of trying to get the conceptual designs for the spring collection done. You had been procrastinating working on them for a while now, but with only three months left before the show, the pressure was starting to set in. You usually never left things to the last minute like this – last year you had the clothes ready by this time – but for reason reason, you were having trouble with it.

All you had added to the sketches were a couple of idle lines that changed absolutely nothing. The ideas were good, very reminiscent of the typical silhouettes you tended to go for, but it felt like something was missing. 

It felt uninspired.

Not that you’d ever admit that out loud. It was bad enough that you were struggling with what you were supposed to be a genius at, but to use the very words Rafayel did to explain your predicament? That was just humiliating. 

Groaning, you ran a hand over your face and leaned back in your chair, your back sore from the horrible posture you had been maintaining for the past two-ish hours. You were distracted, but you couldn’t figure out why, because the only sounds around were the ticking of your clock and the drumming of your foot against the floor.

Finally, you gave up, emerging from your office and into the living room of your penthouse. All the lights were off, but the large ceiling-to-floor windows you had lit up the place just enough, casting shadows around in the moonlight. You had bought the place when Lumiere had just taken off, and you had more money than you ever had in your life. As a result, you ended up with an apartment on the top floor that the elevator opened directly into, that only you had access to and too much space for your good. 

The muffled sounds of New York City in the distance kept you company as you padded to your kitchen. Your appetite was non-existent – a result of your hyper-focused state – but you knew you had to eat something. 

You had been feeling unsatisfied with your sketches for a while now, and Rafayel’s comments about ensuring nothing was uninspired had hit too close to home. The last thing you wanted to do was release something you were unhappy with or considered subpar. 

God knows you hated to admit that insolent man had a point, but he did.

And you had to figure out a way around it fast.

The thing you loved more about New York was how alive it felt.

You walked down the streets, sunglasses perched on your nose. It was a Saturday, and you had decided to take a day off for yourself in the hopes that the reset would grant you some motivation for the spring collection. 

So far, you had had no run-ins with the paparazzi. Maybe this was one of those days when they had decided to be more subtle with their approach to getting content, but whatever it was, you were grateful for the sense of privacy it gave you. Realistically, even if it wasn’t the paparazzi, you knew someone would get a picture of you walking in and out of stores and post it online. That was fine, simply part and parcel of the life you had made for yourself. 

You were enjoying the peace, the cacophony of the city melting into a song so uniquely New York. You were someone who knew how to enjoy your own company, but perhaps that stemmed from the fact that you had no one else to share it with. Sure, Xavier was there, but you knew the moment the two of you hung out for extensive periods anywhere but his or your place, or the Lumiere building itself, there would be dating rumours springing about everywhere. 

Neither of you had the time nor the energy to deal with that nonsense. At least like this, you had control of the narrative, and that peace you loved so much.

Ah, yes, peace. The very thing that shattered immediately as a man ran into you. 

Okay, so you hadn’t exactly been paying attention, lost in your thoughts as you walked, but words laced with annoyance immediately tumbled out of your mouth. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!”

“Jeez, lady, I’m sorry, okay– wait, Y/n?”

Oh no. You knew that voice. 

You peered up at the offender, taking in the butter yellow cap that sat over his smushed hair, long lashes framing those beguiling eyes that were currently wide in shock. His hands flew to your arms, gripping them as he steadied both of you at the same time. You had about two seconds to acknowledge the way he was up in your personal space, pushing your sunglasses up to see if you were seeing things correctly.

“Rafayel?”

He swore under his breath, releasing your forearms as he jerked away, glaring. “Could you not yell it out for the entire street to hear?”

Why the hell was he annoyed? He was the one who had walked into you. If anyone had the right to glare like that, it was you. You blinked up at him in exasperation, wondering for the umpteenth time where he got the gall.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” You bit sarcastically, “My bad for being the unsuspecting soul you run into. Next time, I hope it's a pole.” 

He cast you a droll look that you were sure was meant to last longer, but he seemed skittish today. This was the most casually dressed you had ever seen him, a simple sweatshirt over jeans and….were those sneakers? All you had seen him in up until this moment were shirts and clothing you designed. 

Then, without warning, he grabbed your hand and pulled you along with him.

Right into a dark, dingy alley.

“What the fuck?” You blurted, more puzzled than anything else, as you yanked your hand out of his touch, holding it close to your body. “Are you high? Why on earth have you–”

“Sorry,” he breathed, holding his palm out in a manner that told you he needed a second. Not that you cared in the slightest, narrowing your eyes at him and propping a hand on your hip. 

“You have two minutes to explain why you’ve dragged me with you here.” 

A vibrant blush spread across the apples of his cheeks and ears. Well, at least he had the decency to look embarrassed. He interlaced his fingers behind his neck and glanced up a the sky, before looking back at you. 

“I was trying to outrun the paps.”

“By running into me?”

“I didn’t plan that!” He snapped, and you had to admit that it was nice to see him be the irritated one for a change. His eyebrows knitted together, an indignant pout taking over his usual, nonchalant countenance. All things considered, it was kind of cute.

“I’m not hearing any explanations.” You reminded him impatiently, raising an eyebrow. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose for two whole seconds like he was contemplating whether you were worth explaining it to. You were tempted to tell him that his two minutes were swiftly passing by.

“I ran into an ex of mine.” He confessed finally. “Cassandra Corin. Cassie.”

The name was vaguely familiar– an actress, if you remembered correctly. Blonde, blue-eyed, gorgeous. You were sure you had seen some of her work in passing, and so you nodded, prompting him to continue. “I’ve heard of her.”

“Yeah. Well, we were together for like a month, but she’s a very, uh…..dramatic person, if you will. I happened to walk out of a store, and she was right outside with the press, who she had obviously called.” There wasn’t an ounce of fondness in his voice as he spoke about the woman.

“Did she plan for you to be there?” You asked, bewildered.

“I don’t think so, but she’s the type of celebrity that subscribes to the ‘all publicity is good publicity’ agenda. A pic of us together would certainly help with that.” He explained with a surprising amount of patience. “I’ve kind of been lying low as of late, so they’re hungrier than usual to get a couple of shots. I had to run out of there, and I don’t like running.” 

Ah, there it was. You should have known he couldn’t go more than five minutes without complaining. Still, you could sympathise with his predicament, having had your fair share of experiences with trying to avoid the paparazzi.

“Right,” you raised an eyebrow. “I still don’t get why you’ve forced me into hiding with you.”

Rafayel mirrored the unimpressed look you were currently giving him. “It would be ten times worse if they saw us together. I was trying to be inconspicuous and you–” He paused, gesturing towards you from top to bottom, “–look anything but.”

Glancing down at your outfit, you let out an offended sound. “Excuse me? I can be inconspicuous.”

You were a vision, dressed in what only someone with too much money would consider casual: a light pink Chanel cardigan over a t-shirt and Prada loafers on your feet. You carried a Hermes Mini Kelly bag on your arm, Miu Miu shades pushed up on your head like a headband as you stared at him, poorly hiding your displeasure. 

“No.” Rafayel had to fight back a smile, shaking his head. “You really can’t.”

It wasn’t a bad thing, per se. He knew a thing or two about having a commanding presence, having used his own to his advantage his entire life. Unfortunately, that meant that the two of you in one place at the same time was a recipe for disaster, especially when he was trying his damnedest to avoid it.

Your scowl deepened. “You’re insufferable, I hope you know that.” 

“I’ve been told it brings out my eyes.”

Unbelievable. His ego had to be sky-high, taller than the Empire State Building. Never before had you wanted to knock someone down a couple of pegs so badly. His tone was light and airy, as if he now found the ordeal funny, and while that infuriated you, there was something melodic about his voice that you couldn’t ignore. 

“You love wasting my time, don’t you?” You grumbled under your breath, wondering how on earth you managed to get yourself into such a position and, more importantly, why you were still in it. You could have easily walked out of this stupid alley already. His eyes sparkled, but before he could say anything aggravating, another sound cut through.

MROW!

You startled at the high-pitched yowl, dropping your gaze to find an orange cat sitting by your shoes. It looked fat and happy, like too many restaurants had taken pity on it and fed the little thing leftovers. Its black eyes stared up at you, as if waiting for you to give it something to eat as well, before letting out another pitiful meow.

And how did the man standing in front of you react to this?

Rafayel yelped.

Loudly. Embarrassingly, even. He practically jumped away from you and the cat, hands in front of him in a protective stance. You blinked rapidly, unsure of how to react to that.

“Are you…okay?”

“Do I look okay?” He hissed, the action seeming very catlike. “Where the hell did that thing come from?”

That thing? You looked down at the cat that had busied itself with rubbing against your ankles, weaving in between your legs before settling back down into a seated position. 

“Rafayel,” you did your best to keep your voice level, speaking slowly, as if you were talking to a skittish animal. “Are you afraid of cats?”

“Nonsense. Why would I be afraid of them?” He eyed the cat with such disdain that one would think it had personally murdered one of his family members, or something along those lines. Regardless of what he had said, he looked terrified, his body language stiff and unnatural. You had never seen him like this, so used to his cavalier attitude and manner of carrying himself. He sniffed, still maintaining a safe distance. “They’re vile creatures. I just don’t want them anywhere near me.” 

His mouth was twisted downward in horror, and his eyebrows were raised so high they looked like they disappeared underneath the cap he had on. It resulted in an expression so comical that you had to bite the inside of your cheek in a genuine attempt to keep a straight face, but failed miserably.

You burst into laughter.

It was so sudden that it stunned Rafayel, his lips parting in shock as the sound washed over him. It felt like someone had dumped cold water on him because your laughter was intoxicating, so much brighter than he had anticipated, not that he had. It made you look younger, so much more carefree than you did with the tight-lipped facade you typically donned. Your lips stretched upwards, the edges of your eyes crinkling as you giggled at his expense.

A rare crack in your carefully crafted exterior. Intrigued, the urge to know more about you rose out of nowhere, but he clamped it down immediately.

“You’re laughing at me.” He accused, trying to keep the indignation in his voice. 

“I’m sorry!” You managed in between puffs of laughter, and now he knew something had to be very wrong with him, because he nearly told you not to apologise for it. “It’s just–it’s so adorable!” You bent down and scooped up the cat into your arms, forgetting yourself for a moment as you watched the animal snuggle against you. “How can you be scared of this?”

He thought this was ridiculous. A woman like you, dressed head to toe in designer clothing, letting a stray cat all over her. It was completely unexpected and strangely alluring.

“Put that thing down.” He narrowed his eyes at the cat as you scratched under his chin. Just as quickly as it had slipped off, he could see you compose yourself once again. You straightened out your posture, your smile fading and turning less genuine and more polite, practised. He couldn’t help but immediately miss the unfiltered version of you he had just gotten the briefest of glimpses of. 

“It’s not a thing, Rafayel, it’s a cat.” You sounded amused. “Look at how harmless it is.”

You held out the cat, and he recoiled away from you, glaring at the feline. He took his cap off, shaking his head and huffing. “It’s a viscous beast. If it scratches or bites you, don’t expect me to help you.”

The quick reply he expected from your end never came, because when he met your gaze again, you were staring at him – at his head, specifically. For all he knew, you were taking note of how terrible he looked now that he had lost the cap. Those things always made his scalp sweat, but they were his best bet at hiding his face without coming off looking too suspicious. 

“Your hair is curly.”

Your cadence was back to being clipped, short, but there was something different there as well. Softer. 

“Wow. Ladies and gentlemen, we have with us the real-life Sherlock Holmes.” He snorted, running his fingers through his tangled locks, before offering up the explanation you were clearly expecting. “Stylists usually end up straightening it. Something about it fitting my image better.”

“I see.” You studied him for a moment longer before looking back down at the cat. You quite liked his natural hair, but then again, he could probably pull off a trash bag and somehow make it look stylish. Not that he’d ever agree to that, but the thought almost made you laugh again.

Speaking of trash bags, you looked distastefully at your surroundings. “Can we get out of here now? I’m sure the press would have moved on by now.” 

“Only if you lose the cat.”

You sat behind your desk, going over some paperwork. It was the less exciting part of your job, and you always ended up letting it pile up until you had an unreasonable amount to get through all at once. Most of your employees had gone home already, and you had sent Simone on her way as well. 

The bright light of your office made your eyes hurt after the long day you had had, and you pressed your palms against them, sighing deeply. 

“Wow. Do you just live here?”

The hell? You glanced up to see Rafayel standing by the door, leaning against the doorway with his arms folded, looking right at you. The sight of him made something in the pit of your stomach turn. 

Ever since the incident with the cat from a week ago, being around him no longer boiled your blood as much as it once did. He had been going out of his way to interact with you a lot more, and you hadn’t done anything to discourage it. Make no mistake, he still got on your nerves, but you tolerated him for some reason, even when he got too casual with you.

Perhaps you had been a little too lenient.

“What are you doing here?” You demanded, pushing the paperwork to the side and narrowing your eyes at him. He pushed off the wall and walked over to your desk, plopping down in the seat across from you without any invitation to do so. 

“I could ask you the same question. I had a meeting with Andrew about rehearsals for fashion week, but I left my jacket behind, so I came back for it. Your office is the only one with the light still on, and my curiosity won. Your turn to tell me why you’re still here since it's–” he glanced down at the Rolex on his wrist. “ –Nine p.m.”

You waved your hand over the papers in front of you. “Work.”

“But you’re the only one here. Do you do this often?” He frowned, and if you paid close attention, his voice had a note of disapproval. That made sense, he seemed like the type of person to abhor working even a second overtime. Unfortunately, you were well-versed in it.

“Most days, yes.” 

He blinked. “Okay, no. Get your things. We’re leaving.”

Definitely too lenient. “We are?”

“Yep, come on. You can do….whatever you’re doing now tomorrow.” He got to his feet and stared at you expectantly, evidently waiting for you to follow suit. “I don’t think you know what a break is, but you’re going to take one right now.”

Wow. Truly, the man had unprecedented levels of entitlement to try and boss you around when technically, you were his boss.  Scoffing under your breath, your defiant gaze met his stubborn one. 

“I’m busy.” 

“You’ll be just as busy tomorrow.” 

This was ridiculous. No one dared to speak to you so brazenly, and yet there he was, doing just that if there wouldn’t be a single consequence. What you should have done was tell him to piss off and leave you alone so you finish your work like you had set out to do.

So why on earth did you grab your coat and follow him out of your office instead?

“Is this another instance of you wasting my time, Rafayel?” You asked as you approached his car in the parking lot. You still weren’t sure what possessed you to actually follow him, but it was too late to back out of it now. A smirk teased his lips.

“Maybe.” His response resulted in you grumbling under your breath, and he laughed, fishing his keys out of his pocket and pressing a button to unlock his sleek, black Mercedes. He slid into the drivers seat and cocked his head in your direction. “Get in.”

God help you, because for some reason, you complied. “Are you going to tell me where you’re taking me?” You settled in the passenger seat, taking in the interior, because, of course, the seats were covered in bright red leather. It was as unashamedly flashy as he was in every sense of the word.

“It’s a surprise.” 

“I don’t like surprises.”

Rafayel started the car, smoothly pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road. With one hand on the gear stick and the other on the steering wheel, the scene of him driving was ridiculously attractive for something so normal. You told yourself it was just because he was a conventionally attractive person. “Of course, you don’t. Relax, Miss Designer, don’t you ever loosen up?” 

“Not if I can help it.”

“I figured. You look like the type to not know the meaning of fun” And clearly, he was a stranger to the concept of holding his tongue. One glance at the offended look on your face only made him want to tease you even more. Not too long ago, he was convinced the only expressions you were capable of were scowls and glares, but he had recently learned that you had an entire arsenal of them. Your nose would scrunch when you were disgusted, your lips would part when you were caught off guard, and if something happened to amuse you, you wouldn’t smile immediately. Instead, the smile would start in your eyes, and oftentimes stay there. 

It felt like he was slowly but surely unlocking new sides to you, and he wanted nothing more than to unravel all of them. Most of all, he wanted to figure out how to get that pretty laugh out of you once more. 

For no reason in particular. He was just a naturally curious person. 

“Look,” he reasoned with you. “You’re gonna have to trust me on this one, alright? It’s not far off and it's worth it.” 

“...Fine.” You finally relented, relaxing just a little as you leaned back in the passenger seat and busied yourself by looking out of the window as he drove. Minutes later, he pulled up by a modern-looking structure that consisted of only a ground floor. Once he parked, he cleared his throat.

“Ready?”

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to be ready for,” you said dryly, undoing your seatbelt and getting out of the car. He grinned like he had won the lottery. 

“That’s what makes it even better.” Faulty logic and all, he led you to the entrance of the building and opened the door, sauntering inside like he owned the place. You lingered outside, noting how all the lights were off, and it clearly looked like it was closed. 

You couldn’t not be suspicious. “Are we trespassing?” 

“Nah. Trespassing would mean we’re here without permission.” Rafayel gestured for you to follow him into the darkness, the moonlight filtering in through the door and letting you see just enough of him to not lose your bearings. He reached out and felt around the wall before humming triumphantly and flipping a switch. “There we go. Stop thinking so much and trust me, yeah?” 

Squinting to readjust your eyesight to the now-bright lighting, you were left even more dumbfounded than before. “We’re in an….art gallery?”

White walls with frames hanging on them surrounded you, each with little plaques under the art pieces with the artist's information. Some of the walls were constructed in the centre of the room for people to walk around as they inspected the art. There didn’t seem to be any sort of theme with the current display, from what you could tell. 

“Again, with those deduction skills,” he teased, and strangely enough, you didn’t want to slap him for it. “I’ll have you know that art can be very therapeutic. Great for taking a break from working”

It wasn’t every day you found yourself spontaneously being dragged to an art gallery, and having company was something even rarer. You had long since made peace with your lifestyle and its lonesome nature, but you were admittedly enjoying his presence, even if it was a little too chaotic for your liking. 

“I’m pretty sure thats to do with creating it.” You almost smiled when he glared at you for your rebuttal. Huffing, he turned and walked further into the gallery, leaving you with no choice but to follow along. You were well aware that you were encouraging his crazy behaviour, but it wasn’t like you could stop now. 

So you picked up your pace, pulling your coat around yourself tighter as you took in the different art pieces. Portraits, landscapes and some abstract pieces, the different art styles captivated you. You had always had an affinity for art, since fashion was so intrinsically intertwined with it. 

Lost in your thoughts, you almost walked right into his back. Fortunately, he turned around at the perfect moment and reached out, hand on your shoulder. The contact snapped you out of it, and you looked up at him only to find an apprehensive look in his eyes. That didn’t make much sense though, considering how cocky and self-assured he was. 

Raising your eyebrows in silent question, he sighed and moved out of your line of sight, revealing a wall.

Your eyes widened, all the air in your lungs leaving you at once.

The wall was covered in artwork of the sea. Every single piece was extremely detailed, some moody with their depictions of storms and deadly waves and others painting a picture of the sea at its calmest. 

It was stunning, and even that word felt like an understatement. It simply did not do what you were currently looking at justice. The artist had captured the terrifying beauty of the sea so perfectly that looking at it stirred something akin to inspiration inside of you.

To you, the seafom resembled lace. The wheels in your head began to turn as more comparisons burst forth – the sand could be chiffon, and the waves themselves draped like silk. It had been so long since you had felt creativity like this that all you could do was stare, letting your skills take over and work through all the ideas that rushed forth, feeling overwhelmed and delighted all at once.

A singular plaque on the wall sat low and hidden away, tucked under all the art. You crouched down slightly, eager to know the person who had inspired you once more.

Anonymous.

You blinked, rising to your full height as you looked back at the art, dazed. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

You spun around, unable to stop yourself from gaping at him. His stance was relaxed, hands in his pockets, and his eyes trained on the artwork. At first, you had thought you had misheard him, but the tone of his voice and the way he was looking at the paintings with what could only be described as pride told you otherwise.

“You made these?” 

Your disbelief was unmistakable, and it stung a little. He chuckled at the incredulity in your voice as you asked the question, nodding slowly.  “Surprised?”

“Very, yes.” You glanced between the art and him. “Why have you shown me this, Rafayel?”

“You don’t think very much of me,” It was a statement, rather than a question. He said it with a small simper, but it was unlike the one he usually wore. It was genuine, if not a little sad, no traces of that signature smirk of his as he met your eyes now. 

“You’ve never given me a reason to.” 

“Well, there you go. Here’s your reason.” His voice was oddly quiet. “To think of me better, that is.”

You truly didn’t know what to make of that. Only one question remained in your mind as you eyed the artist's plaque that held no information about the man beside you. “Why have you chosen to be anonymous? Your work is wonderful.”

Pride flickered to life in his eyes once more, like your compliment meant something. “Because this way, people will appreciate my art for what it is, without my affiliation. I’m not an idiot, Y/n, I know the entire world knows who I am. The moment they find out I’m the one who painted these, it won’t just be about the art anymore. It’ll be about me. Sure, it would get a lot more attention than it does here, sitting in the back of a barely known art gallery, but at least whatever attention it does get is real.”

Oh.

Rafayel was shallow, with a silver tongue he didn’t know how to control. He infuriated you to no end and thought much too highly of himself for his own good. He was vain, arrogant, and about a dozen other things that you thought of as faults. 

But he was so much more. As of late, you were beginning to see who he was past all of that. You saw the man who was irrationally afraid of cats and, for some reason, went out of his way to talk to you. You saw the artist behind the model, curls and all. The softer smiles and perceptiveness that you would have never attributed to him before. 

“I won’t say this often, so don’t get used to it.” You said slowly, glancing back at him. “But you were right, I did need a break. Thank you for this.”

He and you weren’t so different. Both of you were artists in your own right, seeking control over the art you created. The only difference was that he held that control by distancing himself from his work, whereas you were the very essence of yourself. Both of you had pride that clashed and egos that didn’t take kindly to bruising.

You no longer knew what to make of Qi Rafayel. That should have scared you. 

But when he flashed you a boyish grin at your admittance to him being right, you realised that it didn’t.

It was past ten when Rafayel dropped you back home.

You made a beeline for your home office, forgetting to take off your shoes in your frenzied state. Within minutes, you were hunched over new, fresh pieces of paper, your old sketches discarded in a trash can and forgotten about. Your pencil flew over the pages as you frantically began to draw out new designs, eager to capture the ideas that had been swirling around in your head the moment you saw those paintings. 

Inspiration was powerful, but fleeting. For the next two hours, you poured everything out onto those pages, and it felt like you were submerged underwater, unable to come up for air until you were finished. Your newest collection came to fruition that night, born from an unexpected muse. 

When you were done and the sound of waves in your mind receded, you were left with the sounds of the city and a sense of tired satisfaction. 

Jimmy Choo's were meant to be savoured. They were the type of shoes that people glided in, they made the simple act of walking an experience to remember. 

They were not meant for the furious strides of one very livid fashion designer.

“Andrew!” Your model's manager flinched at the sharpness in your voice as you addressed him. “Why on earth are they not walking yet?”

“There’s just been a small delay–”

“I am in no mood for excuses.” You snapped, sweeping your gaze over the lineup of models standing ready but doing absolutely nothing. “Honestly, I’m starting to think I’m surrounded by imbeciles. First, I find out that the hems of an entire rack of shirts have been messed up and have to spend my entire morning explaining how to fix that problem to people who apparently don’t know how to do their jobs. Then I come here to check on how rehearsal is going, only to see that it hasn’t even begun.” 

Andrew scrambled to appease you. “We’re starting right away!”

With that strangled declaration, he jumped into action, snapping his fingers in the direction of the models. “All of you! Behind the curtain, stat! In order, I want all of you walking out like you will for the show, understood? Chop Chop!”

Rafayel watched you from the end of the line, moving along with it until he was positioned correctly. This was the first rehearsal for the Paris Fashion Week show that was rapidly approaching, with only about two months left before the final day. Today, all that was taking place were run-throughs of the walks and setting the order of the models walking. His position was confirmed since the start, he would be the last one to walk, the much-anticipated closer of the show. 

He noticed your tense shoulders, the way your lips were pressed together in a thin, displeased line. The first model walked out, and you studied her like a hawk, no doubt mentally filing away all your criticisms. Imposing as ever, your bad mood was evident.

For some crazy reason, he wanted to help alleviate it. He had seen past this untouchable facade you put up and had peeked through the cracks in your walls a couple of times now, when your pink lips curled upward just slightly, and your eyes glimmered a little brighter than usual. When you were just yourself, instead of the persona you played to stay at the top. 

It seemed to him that you didn’t let anyone see that side of you. Instead, you did everything in your power to avoid letting it show.

What a lonely existence that must have been. 

He walked out onto the practice runway when it was his turn, one foot in front of the other as he glided smoothly, focusing on a spot on the wall directly in front of him. It was the same old routine he had practised and perfected for years now.

When he reached the end, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other before turning around. His view shifted to you, and he let it linger, savouring the way you stared at him. For a split second, he was sure your expression softened, but just as quickly, that softness vanished. He continued his walk until he disappeared behind the curtain once more.

Another run-through with Andrew yelling out the changes he wanted each model to make, and then they were all afforded a generous ten-minute break. Rafeyel did not know why he found himself gravitating towards where you stood. 

“Shouldn’t you be with the rest of the models?” You raised an eyebrow as he approached you, trying your best to sound as indifferent as possible. That wasn’t something you typically had trouble with, but now it felt a little harder to do when faced with the intensity of his attention. 

“When have I ever done anything I was supposed to?” 

You exhaled, shaking your head bemusedly. “Don’t sound so proud of it.”

“You look stressed.” Rafayel's voice was low and thoughtful, almost as if he actually cared. You snuffed out that thought. He had been on your mind a dangerous amount as of late, but there was a perfectly rational explanation for that: he had inspired you. 

“I’m always stressed. I’ve been on my feet all day.” You rubbed the spot between your eyebrows with your index and middle finger, smoothening out the frown that had formed. 

“Have you learnt nothing from being around me? What happened to taking breaks?” He groaned, but it was more theatrical than genuinely perturbed. “Or do you need me around to make sure you take them?”

Absolutely not. Having Rafayel around was proving to be detrimental to your sanity for reasons entirely different to those expected. You tilted your head towards the other models and waved your hand in their general direction. “What I need you to do is your job, not loiter around here.” 

 He laughed like you had told the world's funniest joke, pinning you in place with a knowing look. “Oh, just admit it already. I’m the most entertainment you’ve had in a while. You love being around me, even if you don’t want to admit it. 

You pursed your lips. “The jury’s still out on that one.”

“Is it, though?” His habit of incessantly questioning you was getting old, but that addictive drawl of his voice pulled you right back in. “You’re smiling.”

To your mild dismay, you realised he was right. Now that he pointed it out, you could feel how the apples of your cheeks were raised with the upward curve of the sides of your mouth. Scoffing, you tried your best to erase any evidence of the sort as you turned away, but to no avail. 

“Your break is over, you can stop pestering me now.” But your tone was lighter than it had been all day. He rolled his eyes good-naturedly and walked off, joining the group of models who were gearing up to practice their walks once more. As the distance between the two of you increased, you realised with a start that you unfortunately did quite like being around him. 

But there wasn’t a rule that said you had to admit to such a thing. Rafayel was like a breath of fresh air after almost drowning, or a lagoon in the middle of a desert. Unpredictable and against everything you knew to be true about life, and yet…

There was something undeniably charged between the two of you, from the way he sought you out and how you let him linger. Neither of you dared to acknowledge this, however, keeping your distance literally and figuratively. 

As he paraded down the runway once again with the elegance of a swan but the flamboyance of a peacock, you couldn’t help but wonder if it was that predictability and control you so desperately clung to that held you back. The second you let yourself go for just a little while, you found the inspiration you had been so desperately waiting for.

The past week had you being more productive than you had in months, your designs for fashion week already in production. With how everything was going, the collection for the runway would be ready by next week, which would finally put everything back on track. You had to constantly check in to ensure things were going exactly how you wanted them to, but for the first time in a long time, it felt like you could let go of your tight hold and just breathe.

And if a certain pretty boy was plaguing your thoughts, well, that was no one else's business. 

Maybe he was rubbing off on you.

“This way.” You turned the corner into yet another hallway, causing Rafayel to wonder just how big the Lumiere building was. You had summoned him there out of the blue, giving him no explanation as to why you wanted him there and only reminding him to be on time. The request was definitely unlike your usual self, more aligned with his impulsive nature, but he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

And so there he was, following you through the endless corridors. When he had asked why he was there, all he received was an uncharacteristically mischievous look in your eyes and nothing more. When he probed for answers, you only said one thing: “I thought you liked surprises.”

Never in a million years had he expected you, of all people, to throw his words back in his face. You had successfully piqued his curiosity, and he trailed behind you now, eager to see what you had in store.

Finally, you stopped in front of a door and brought out a pair of keys. “Currently, only select individuals have access to this room,” you informed him as you unlocked it, before pausing and looking at him. “You’ll be the first and only person who isn’t from Lumiere itself to witness what I’m about to show you. It goes without saying that it’s a secret for now.”

“I feel like the Sherlock joke has gone a little too far,” he muttered dryly. “You have a thing for suspense now.”

Your lips twitched, and you pushed the door open, letting him enter first. When he did, he froze in place, jaw falling open as he made sense of what he was looking at.

Mannequins filled the room, the same number as the number of models there were for the fashion week show. Each form had complete outfits on, and each one was exquisite in ways he couldn’t properly describe the way it deserved. Navy blue satin gowns with hand-stitched embroidery and ivory-coloured lace hems, intricate golden beading on cream corset tops, deep turquoise shirts made of the finest silk, and skirts that looked like waterfalls, layered with intent, short in the front and long in the back. Netted tops and coats with the most gorgeous pearl detailing he had ever seen, flowy chiffon shirts that were artfully tucked into white pants – every piece was thoughtfully designed and lovingly put together. 

Rafayel was rendered completely speechless. 

“Introducing Lumiere’s 20[XX]  Spring Collection.” You announced, stepping beside him and regarding your work with pride. Your hands were tucked behind your back, your stance bashful, but he could tell you were anything but. You knew what your work was worth, and you weren’t shy about it. 

He wasn’t the type of person who was used to having nothing to say – quite the opposite – but there he was, rooted to the spot in awe as you walked over to one of the mannequins and slightly adjusted the skirt on it. The simple action told him just how much each piece meant to you, how well you knew them. He intimately understood the familiarity an artist had with their work, but seeing that mirrored in you was something else entirely.

“Y/n,” he breathed out, “This is…”

“I’m hoping you’re going to say ‘impressive.’ It might be a little too late to walk for Chanel now.” There you were again, throwing his own words back in his face, and he couldn’t, for the life of him, figure out why he liked it so much. It was so completely unlike you. 

“It’s more than impressive, you’ve outdone yourself.” He said, finally managing to break out of the reverie he had found himself in. 

“Is that so?” You looked over your shoulder back at him, the slightest of smiles teasing your lips. “You haven’t even seen what you’re going to wear yet.” 

Without so much as another glance in his direction, you gracefully weaved through the mannequins to the back of the room. It was all he could do to follow along, doing his utmost best not to knock anything over as he gaped. As he passed each outfit up close, details he hadn't seen before revealed themselves, and he had to resist reaching out to touch.

And in the back, on the final mannequin, was the garment that took his breath away. 

A shirt made from blood red organza silk that had an iridescent quality to it, shifting colours when the light hit it from different angles. From red to blue to violet, Rafayel found himself entranced by its ever-changing nature, eyeing the pale blue pearl details on the collar with deep appreciation. It was completely sheer, with subtle winding patterns stitched into the delicate fabric that resembled coral. 

“I hand-stitched this one myself, and in three weeks, you’ll be the one wearing it to close my show.” You said softly, trailing your fingers over the sleeve with care. You toyed with the end of it, watching how his eyes went wide and lips parted in something close to reverence. 

“It’s phenomenal. All of it is.” He couldn’t tear his eyes away from it, taking a step closer to you and the mannequin. “It’s so different from anything I’ve seen, especially from you.”

“Yeah, well, I realised that I didn’t just want to put out a collection that meant nothing.” It was true, the very thing that had driven you as you had put the collection around you together. “Fashion is more than just clothing. It’s an art form. It’s supposed to evoke a feeling, to be able to tell a story and have its own identity.” 

The devotion you possessed towards your work was admirable, it was so plainly obvious that this was exactly what you were meant to do. Utterly enamoured, he spoke, “It’s gonna be one hell of a show.”

The sincerity in his voice caught you off guard. You had been around him long enough to know he wasn’t someone who took anything too seriously, but the earnest look he was giving you that he definitely took this – and by extension, you – very seriously. 

“Good, but I don’t want to just want to put on any show. I want it to be a performance.” You aimed to leave an impact, for people to leave the show and think about the experience for weeks, maybe even months, after. Rafayel realised that you were trusting him with enabling that by divulging your vision to him.

“Then it’s an honour to be one of your performers.”

That earned him a proper smile, not just the hint of one. It was small but mighty, starting in your eyes like your smiles always did, but this one was the rare type that reached your mouth and lit up your features. He found himself feeling winded for the second time in the past ten minutes, but this time it was because of you and not the clothing. At least he could explain the latter option.

“In that case, what do you think about a more permanent position at Lumiere?”

It wasn’t like this was the first time he had been offered this, but shock infiltrated his system anyway. “Like Xavier Shen?”

You nodded. “Like Xavier. A brand ambassador.” Waving a hand around, you continued, “You fit with Lumiere’s image and the vision I have for my brand, so I believe you won’t disappoint. I don’t say that lightly, or to every model. Of course, I’m not forcing anything on you, and you can take your time to think about it.” 

Such plainly stated praise from the impossible-to-please Y/n L/n was practically unheard of, but there you were, staring at him with finality in your eyes. Arms folded over your chest, hair pinned up in that perfect bun as always and stiletto-clad feet, you were the same as always and yet he couldn’t seem to perceive you as he had in the past. 

Thomas would be overjoyed at him finally taking something seriously. His aunt would certainly approve of the collaboration, and he’d be walking for a fashion house he actually cared about. It seemed perfect.

“I don’t need time.” Rafayel looked at the shirt that he would soon be wearing. “You’ve got yourself a new brand ambassador.”

The airhostess led you to your seat in first class, dragging your carry-on suitcase behind her. Once your bag was in the overhead cabin and you were settled in your seat, she returned a couple of minutes later with the drinks menu and a cart, patiently waiting for your order. You leaned back in the plush seat and scanned over the available options. 

“A glass of Dom Pérignon, please.”

God knows, you’d need the drink. Alcohol now acquired, you took a leisurely sip and tried your best to relax, but that was easier said than done. Boarding was still going on, and in about half an hour, you’d be airborne. The thought caused your stomach to churn. 

To say you weren’t a fan of flying would be an understatement. Sure, you had to do it a lot for work and should’ve probably been used to it by now, but that wasn’t the case at all. Oftentimes, you found yourself clutching at the armrests for dear life during take-off, which, in your opinion, was the worst bit, and remained on edge throughout the flight. Even the comfort of first class didn’t help very much. 

When you landed in Paris, there would be exactly ten days before the start of Fashion Week. You would be at your busiest since NYFW, and the added stress of anticipating that only added to your jittery state. Sighing deeply, you closed your eyes for a moment to ground yourself, index and middle finger rubbing against your temple. 

“Well, hello there, neighbour. Fancy seeing you here.”

Your eyes flew open, settling on the culprit of the voice. 

Rafayel stood in the booth right next to yours, looking the opposite of how you felt, completely at ease in this setting. 

“Why are you here?”

He raised an eyebrow. “The same as you, I presume, to get to Paris. Did you expect me to take a boat or something?” And then, as if he owned the place (which was his usual way of carrying himself), he rested his arms over the walls of your small enclosure, chin propped in his palm. “I guess Thomas booked the same flight as yours.”

“It certainly seems that way. Are you going to bother me the entire flight?” You felt mildly embarrassed at how you had blurted out the question so disgracefully. 

“As much as I possibly can, yes.” He beamed like he had delivered the best news of your life. “Isn't it lucky our seats are so close?”

“Such a blessing,” You deadpanned, needing another drink despite your current one not being anywhere close to finished. The rest of the first class was completely empty, which meant you were stuck with his relentless pestering, whether you liked it or not, confined to the same space as him for the next seven and a half hours. 

Brilliant. 

Rafayel snorted. “I’m going to pretend that you meant that.” The airhostess appeared once again with her cart, and he opted for whiskey, neat and on the rocks. Once he had obtained his drink, he turned to you and held his glass out. “Cheers.” 

You were too busy giving him an unimpressed look to remember your flying anxiety, until one of the airhostesses stepped into the first class section and announced that the takeoff would be soon. Immediately, you put your drink in its holder and frantically gripped the armrest as she went through the motions of the safety debrief. Rafayel sat down in his own seat, but looked over at you in amusement. 

“You seriously pay attention to these things?”

“What does it look like?”

“I mean, haven’t you been on enough flights to know the basics by now?” He fastened his seatbelt as the safety instructions were done, and the lights dimmed, the plane getting ready for take-off. 

“It doesn’t hurt to be reminded.” You muttered under your breath, but the cadence of your voice had taken a shaky turn, which was a far cry from its usual firm, clipped nature. Rafayel shot you an inquisitive look before noticing the death grip you had on the armrest and the tense set of your shoulders. 

Whatever teasing comment that lay on the tip of his tongue dissolved as he dropped his voice. “Hey. Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine.”

“That was the most unconvincing ‘I’m fine’ I’ve ever heard.” He tilted his head and studied you for a moment. “You’re pale.” 

The plane began to pick up speed, causing you to dig your manicured nails into the leather of the armrest and stare straight ahead at the blank screen in front of you. Usually, you always started a movie by now to distract yourself from your fear, but this time, you had paid so much attention to Rafayel that you had forgotten your routine when it came to flying.

But your silence told Rafayel everything he needed to know. “Hey. Look at me.”

“Rafayel, I am in no mood for your–”

“Tell me about the Spring Collection.”

You whipped your head to him, considerably confused by the sudden change of topic. “What? Why? You’ve seen the entire thing upfront.”

He sighed theatrically and gave you a pointed look. “Just do it, will you?”

This bizarre man. You didn’t think you’d ever be able to understand how his brain worked. Still, if there was one thing you allowed yourself to brag about, it was your work. Crossing your legs, you tried your best to relax in your seat. 

“It’s inspired by the sea, which actually, you have yourself to thank for,” you said, getting straight to the point without beating around the bush. 

Rafayel’s lips parted. “I do?” 

“Your art.” You clarified, giving him a meaningful look. “It really struck a chord in me. One look at it and I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the collection, which was surprising considering I had been going through a bit of a creative rut.” You recalled how your creativity had come rushing back to you all at once, the moment you set your eyes on his paintings. 

He told himself he’d dissect the warm feeling in his gut later, a smug look taking over his features. “I am nothing if not inspiring.”

You scoffed under your breath, shaking your head in disbelief at his conceitedness and wondering why-oh-why you found it somewhat endearing now. “Don’t let it get to your head.”

“Too late.” A slow, languid smirk stretched out on his lips as he took a sip of his whiskey, the amber liquid swirling around in his glass. Your eyes betrayed you, dropping to his mouth and watching as his tongue darted out to lick his lips. “I’m gonna brag about this forever. Where is the show going to be held?”

“In a cathedral.” You averted your gaze, feeling heat creep up your neck and onto the apples of your cheeks. Clearing your throat, you sipped your champagne in an attempt to soothe your ruffled feathers, hoping it would cool you down and keep your face from flushing. 

What the fuck was wrong with you? 

“A cathedral, huh? You’re really going all out.” He rubbed his chin in thought. “It’s gonna have a very operatic feel to it.” 

“That’s exactly what I’m going for,” you admitted, pleasantly surprised that he had grasped exactly what you wanted to put across without you going in depth at all. It was as if he had reached into your mind and taken the words out of your mouth. Even Xavier wasn’t this perceptive.

Now, why on earth were you comparing him to Xavier? This was madness. Something was obviously very wrong with you since your train of thought had never been this outlandish before. You couldn’t make sense of it at all, simply because you had never been subjected to feeling this way before. Why was there a fluttery sensation in the pits of your stomach? What was this warmth that seemed to simmer underneath the expanse of your skin every time he looked at you? 

Oh my god. Were you flustered by Qi Rafayel?

As that absolutely insane possibility made itself known, the lights in the cabin flickered back on, pulling you out of your thoughts and back to reality. Rafayel was already watching you, amused, taking another leisurely sip of his drink and blissfully unaware of your inner turmoil. Blinking rapidly, you realised that you were already airborne and had made it through take-off without a hitch.

And that was when it hit you: all this talk about the collection and the show had been for your benefit. The model had been distracting you on purpose, somehow picking up on your fear. His presence, one that you had previously considered as bothersome, had been the very thing to calm you down. 

You didn’t know what to say. 

“Now then,” he picked up the bowlful of salted nuts one of the airhostesses had gotten upon his request, eyes twinkling as he popped a handful into his mouth. “Tell me more.”

Day one of Paris Fashion Week was a whirlwind.

You had been invited to watch two shows that day, the first of which was a Marc Jacobs runway show. The second show was for Dubois Designs, after which Gabriette had made sure to personally meet you and insist that you attend the afterparty as well. The new addition to your schedule gave you less than an hour to get ready for the aforementioned party, since right before it, you had a talk and presentation with Anna Wintour. 

Between the glitz and glamour and one too many coffees, it was only the first day, and you had been thrust right back into the chaos you so loved and thrived in. 

Dubois Designs was huge in Paris, being the home city of the brand and the founder. Even with your conditional friendship with Gabriette, you could admit that her show had been incredible. The exaggerated silhouettes had been eye-catching, and the craftsmanship was truly remarkable. 

You descended the stairs and found yourself in a large, crowded basement. The party itself was in full swing, moody red lighting bathing the entire room while simultaneously keeping it dark. It fit the edgier aesthetic that Dubois Designs tended to lean towards, despite being a luxury fashion house. A DJ was tucked into a corner, mixing the electronic music as the backdrop for people to drink and dance to their heart's content. 

Familiar faces stopped and greeted you as you made your way to the bar, knowing you’d definitely need a drink to enjoy all this. The darkness made it a little harder to recognise people, but most of them were well-known faces in the industry, from models to actors and even some well-known influencers. Having to be social at almost midnight was not something you particularly enjoyed, but it was the start of fashion week, and your adrenaline was at an all-time high, making all of this much more tolerable than usual. 

Getting yourself a gin and tonic, you began consuming it at a pace that would ensure you had a pleasant buzz in about twenty minutes. The energy around you was palpable, the ebb and flow of it was surprisingly infectious, forcing you to subconsciously loosen up. 

“Y/n! You made it!”

The French accent gave her away before she even stepped into your line of sight. Gabriette appeared seemingly out of nowhere, throwing her arms around you and giving you air kisses on both cheeks. You returned the gesture, tentatively returning her hug before pulling away.

“Of course I did. How could I ever refuse a personal invite from you?” You smiled the commercial smile you practised for events such as these. “After a show like that, I knew the afterparty would be just as spectacular.”

It was obvious that she was still riding off the high that the success of her show had brought, but you couldn’t blame her. She laughed, the sound a tad bit too shrill, “You are too kind. I have people to meet, but please, enjoy yourself.”

And with another exaggerated air kiss, she left you to your own devices, continuing on her mission of making rounds through the party. Events like these always tended to be impersonal, interactions were short and fleeting, and the more connections you managed to make in one night, the better. The industry was filled with young people looking to connect, and this was the best way to do so.

You finished your drink while chatting with the creative director of Louis Vuitton, who expressed their excitement for your upcoming show. As you engaged in conversation, you observed the scenes going on all around you, a sense of wistfulness taking over you. There was a point in your life when you thought you’d never belong in this world, back then when it felt too out of reach for a young aspirant such as yourself. 

As your eyes swept across the room, they snagged on a familiar pair staring right back at you. 

Rafayel cocked his head to the side when he caught your eye, immediately excusing himself from the conversation he had been having and making his way over. Unsure of what compelled you to do the same, you slipped through the crowd until you met him halfway.

“I did not think you would be here,” you admitted once within earshot. You hadn’t seen him for the past two days, with him being busy with photoshoots and other such events, his manager had added to his itinerary at the last minute (to his dismay). 

Now that he was before you, his gaze dropped, slowly dragging over your figure from bottom to top like he was committing it to memory. The act sent inexplicable shivers up your spine, and you gripped your glass to show yourself from physically reacting, but that was harder said than done. 

He wore a dark red shirt that had shimmery lilies embroidered across it, mostly unbuttoned to expose the smooth skin of his chest and torso. With his hair slightly dishevelled in a way that made him seem effortlessly attractive and the dark lighting casting sharp shadows over his face that brought out the intensity in his typically soft visage, he was truly something to behold. 

Devilishly handsome, temptation incarnate.

“Gabriette invited me.” He waved his hand dismissively as he explained, like he didn’t really care. “Something about nurturing goodwill.”

“She’s all about that, isn’t she?” You muttered dryly. The loud music almost made your quip inaudible, but he caught on anyway, delighted at the hint of the sassy nature you possessed under all that seriousness. 

“I didn’t think this was your scene.” 

You wore a blue drop waist Lumiere mini dress and Isabel Marant fringe boots on your feet. Signature Vivienne Westwood earrings dangled from your ears, glinting through your styled hair whenever the light caught them. The entire outfit was in stark contrast to what he was used to seeing you in, devoid of any formality and primness. 

“It’s not, but you know.” A playful smirk adorned your lips as you swayed to the music, looking so much more relaxed than normal.  “Goodwill and all.”

God, he could get addicted to that. “Shame, you secretly being a party girl would have made you even more interesting.”

“Am I not interesting enough for you?” Your voice teetered on the edge of mockery with the question, shifting your weight from one foot to the other and staring up at him defiantly. 

“Trust me, Y/n, you have no idea just how interesting I think you are.” He said smoothly, plucking your drink out of your hand and placing it off to the side, but before you could reprimand him for doing so, his hand cupped your elbow gently and pulled you along with him. 

“Dance with me.”

It wasn’t a request, but rather a statement he was annoyingly sure you would comply with. You supposed you didn’t have much of a say in the matter with how he was basically dragging you with him, but it had been a while since you found yourself able to be properly irritated with him. 

Even in the dim lighting, you were acutely aware of how people watched the two of you, eyes following your every movement, but you knew who they were actually looking at. You might have been Y/n L/n, the fashion industry's darling, but he was Qi Rafayel. You didn’t live under a rock; you knew of his reputation as the life of the party, but now you could see that play out in real time. A party wasn’t a good one without him. In all honesty, that was probably the reason Gabriette invited him in the first place.

Rafayel was made for the spotlight. Wickedly charming with levels of confidence that some would spend their entire life chasing, he basked in the attention being thrown his way like it was a form of currency. Perhaps it was, in a sense, what they exchanged to be able to admire such an alluring soul in his element.

The entire room watched him, but Rafayel? His eyes were locked on you. 

You felt your mouth go dry, and a hammering began within the confines of your ribcage, slow at first but building up to a crescendo. His hands slipped from your elbows down to your waist, holding you gingerly. Everyone begged for even a speck of his attention, but all of his was on you, and the effect was downright dizzying. 

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” 

How proper of you. Mirth danced about in his expression as he pulled you just a tad closer, knowing fully well he was pushing your limits. “Aren’t you going to pay the compliment back?”

“You’re a world-famous model, Rafayel. I harshly think you need me telling you how good you look.” You looked over his shoulder, unable to hold any eye contact with him. 

“No,” he mused, dipping his head until his mouth was just by your ear. “But you could tell me how hot I am.” 

Every syllable dripped with that delicious, insufferable cockiness you desperately wished you still loathed. You could feel the warmth of his breath tickle the skin of your neck, and you turned your head until you were face to face with each other, so painfully close it felt illegal. 

One thing was becoming quickly apparent to you, and that was that whatever you felt towards Rafayel wasn’t the plain old, run-of-the-mill attraction. That was just one aspect of it, especially in this moment, running through the charged air between the two of you like an electric current. The tension was almost tangible, like a live wire you were tempted to wrap your fingers around and tug.

But there was so much more. His willingness to share his art with you, even though he kept it a secret from the rest of the world. Distracting you on the plane. Challenging you to be better, even when you hated how he went about it. You, turning him into your muse, letting him inspire both you and your work. 

You had disliked him because he was out of your realm of control. He wasn’t someone you could put a leash on and expect to follow every order; no, he did things his way and forced you to see the good in it. Now, however, you realised that you didn’t want to try and control him. You liked the unpredictability.

“I’d never do that.” You whispered, hating how breathless you must have sounded. Still, you made no effort to reclaim your personal space, addicted to the close proximity from the second you had been exposed to it. You finally understood why everyone wanted this. Wanted him. 

A knowing smile stretched across his face, and in spite of your best efforts, you found yourself utterly enraptured by it. 

“Oh, I know.”

Rafayel was tipsy, just about aware of the bass-boosted music, with a lazy smile on his face as he ordered two drinks at the bar. You were somewhere out there waiting for him to return with them, no doubt ready with a scathing remark about how long he was taking. 

He didn’t know what he was doing. He couldn’t recall the last time he felt so bewitched by someone, solely because he never let anyone get close enough. Keeping people at arm's length was something he was well-versed in, but for some reason, he had only pulled you closer.  His attempts at breaking down your walls had resulted in him letting you through his.

You, and your scrutinising gaze and sharp tongue. Beautiful. Unforgiving. 

“Mr. Qi?”

He turned to the source of the voice, finding a man standing there with a determined look on his face. Rafayel raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”

“Lovely to make your acquaintance, sir, I’m Gabriette Dubois’ assistant.” He adjusted his glasses and continued. “Miss Dubois is overjoyed that you made it, and she would be here herself if something hadn’t come up. She wanted me to pass on a message.”

The drinks arrived. Rafayel tugged them closer to where he leaned against the bar, nodding. “Go on.”

“Miss Dubois is interested in working with you once again.” The assistant held out a business card, evidently not picking up on the man's surprise. As far as he remembered, the collaboration between Dubois Designs and him had been a couple of years ago and a roaring success, but there had never been any talk of extending it. He had expected that, since he had been his usual difficult self, Gabriette hadn’t appreciated it very much. Moreover, this was before he had catapulted into being considered one of the world's hottest models, so she had had no reason to keep him on for any longer.

“I see.”

“She awaits good news from your end. Take the time to think about it.” 

And with that, the man left Rafayel alone once more. He toyed with the business card for a couple of moments before slipping it into his pocket. Then, he picked up the drinks and made his way back to you.

“How many times have you been to Paris?”

You stitched your eyebrows together in thought. “Four times, maybe?”

Rafayel looked scandalised, eyes widening and mouth falling open like you had personally offended him. “And this is your first time exploring?”

“I come here very briefly and only for work, Rafayel,” You spooned a heap of thick cream into your hot chocolate. “I should be working right now, but someone insisted I accompany him to the middle of nowhere.”

“I insisted you take a break, since you clearly don’t know how to take one yourself.” 

That much was true. After a gruelling rehearsal (one that ended in you talking sternly to your employees about not ensuring the practice runway was to scale), he had caught up to you and demanded you drop everything and follow him. Maybe all the stress had been getting to you because you let him convince you, but not without complaint. You made your annoyance with the situation quite obvious, even if it wasn’t genuine at all. 

He had suggested taking a walk, which is what this insane outing had started as, but when you admitted to never having actually explored the city, he acted like you had personally offended him. He decided to take matters into his own hands, which was how you ended up in a small boulangerie that was hidden away in one of the Parisian streets. 

The hot chocolate was rich, and the croissant you had ordered was perfectly buttery and flaky. By no means did the bakery look like a place a celebrity would frequent, with its old-timey decor and peeling paint job, but it had a certain charm to it, run by a lovely old lady who immediately began fussing over Rafayel the moment the two of you arrived. Later, he told you that it was a secret gem and one of his favourite places to frequent whenever he was in Paris. 

It turned out that was quite often, so much so that he even had an apartment here. He absolutely loved the city of love, which was why he was so flabbergasted at you not knowing much about it despite having been there several times. 

“Fashion week is a very important time for me. I can rest after it's over.” 

“Workaholic.” He jibed at you, stealing a piece of your croissant. “I’m going to take you around.”

You tried to protest, “That’s unnecessary-”

“Trust me, it’s necessary. Besides, I already asked Thomas to bring my car.”

“Your car?” 

He gave you a too-innocent smile. “Did I not mention I have a car here? Don’t worry, it's very nice. A convertible, too.”

“You’re ridiculous.” You looked off to the side to conceal the grin that was threatening to break out on your face. There were about a million other things you could think of that you should have been doing, and yet here you were, going along with his shenanigans.

Once you were done eating and emerged from the bakery, his sports car was indeed waiting out for both of you with the roof pulled back. He ushered you into the passenger seat, going so far as to open the door for you before taking his place behind the steering wheel and pulling out of park. 

Rafayel had no destination in mind, simply wanting to spend more time with you and keep you away from your precious work. Due to the late hour, they were mostly empty, which made the drive pleasantly smooth. He switched the radio on, the latest and greatest pop music filling the comfortable silence that had settled between the two of you. 

The lamps cast a dim yellow light over the Parisian streets, and you took it all in, watching intently from the car as they passed you by. By no means was this the greatest tour in the world – far from it. He didn’t tell you what you were looking at, too busy humming along to a Taylor Swift song, but it stirred up a feeling deep within you that you couldn’t quite put your finger on. 

The sounds of late-night Paris mixed with his voice, turning into a melody you would have never thought was worth listening to before. It wrapped around your senses, and little by little, you let yourself go. Your posture relaxed, your jaw softened from its perpetually clenched state, and you let out a breath you didn’t even know you had been holding in. 

And for the first time in a long time, you realised that the loneliness you were so used to carrying around was nowhere to be found. 

The only other person who managed to lessen the sense of isolation you harboured was Xavier, and even he couldn’t do it all the time, and yet, the headstrong man driving you around had somehow managed to break down all your walls and let you out of the prison you had built for yourself. While others expected you to break from the pressure that came with your position, he made sure you didn’t, even when you refused his help. 

You sat forward in your seat, shutting your eyes as the cool night air blew against your face. Perhaps it defeated the point of the ride if you weren’t looking around anymore, but you couldn’t help it. It had been so long since you had been able to completely let go around someone else that you wanted to savour every second of the moment. 

Rafayel glanced over and found it almost impossible to look away from you. Eyes fluttering open with shadows cast from your eyelashes and dancing on your face. Wind in your hair, hair that was finally let out of its perfect updo and allowed to freely fall over your shoulders. The way your head was tilted up just slightly as you stared at the starless sky, focused on the crescent moon overhead. 

God, you were a painting he could never do justice to, but desperately wished he was able to. 

Forcing himself to look away, he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and focused his attention back on the roads he cruised down. “I should take you back to your hotel." 

“Yeah,” you mumbled, leaning back against the seat. “I have a lot to do tomorrow.” 

“When do you not?”

“Just drive!” You forced exasperation into your voice as you put in the address of the hotel into his GPS. This moment was one you never wanted to end, but your feet were firmly rooted in reality even when your head was in the clouds. You clamped down on that wish and settled back in the seat, watching the streets pass you by. 

But it festered anyway, latching onto you like wishes so great tended to. You had everything you could have ever wanted: money, fame, and you had achieved all your dreams, but now here you were, with a new dream blooming from the remnants of old ones, a dream you never thought would see the light of day. 

If not for him, would you have let another trip to Paris pass you by with your head stuck in your schedule until it was time to board that flight back to New York? The notion of that had made him go out of his way to remedy it, even when you put up a fuss and tried to talk him out of it. 

Unfortunately for you, you were rather easy to convince when it came to him.

When he pulled up to the hotel, he ignored all your protests and accompanied you to your room door. With every step you took towards the elevator, you did your utmost to keep a safe distance between your body and his, reminding yourself that this wasn’t something you could get used to. You hated the giddy feeling in your chest and the way it seemed to consume you when he was around. The back of his hand brushed against yours as you stood side by side, and even though the contact was minuscule, you could feel it everywhere. 

The doors of the elevator opened, and you walked out with purpose, desperate to put as much space as you could between the two of you. He sauntered behind you, hands casually shoved in his pockets, completely and blissfully unaware of the storm waging in your head. You stopped outside your room and turned to face him. 

“Don’t expect me to invite you in.” You warned, crossing your arms over your chest as you regarded him warily, expecting him to push back once more. “You’ve already taken enough of my time today.”

Your tone was reprimanding, but he could tell it was all just for show. There was a glint in your eyes that told him you more than enjoyed yourself today, even if you’d never admit it. He knew you well enough by now to know that you said one thing but meant something else entirely, and that solidified you as one, if not the most confusing person he had ever met. 

And yet there he was, trying to decode you. “I wouldn’t dare ask for even a second more.”

Taking a step forward, he looked down at the floor for a second before lifting his gaze back to your face, staring at you intently. The silence stretched on for a beat too long, and in that fleeting moment, those mesmerising amethyst eyes of his dropped down to your lips. Briefly, he wondered what it would be like if he just leaned forward and–

He would have dismissed that deranged thought entirely if he hadn’t caught your breath hitching. “Actually, I might need a couple.” 

Rafayel’s eyes flickered back to yours, realising you hadn’t moved away. You swallowed, too proud to be the one who looked away first, and instantly, you knew what this was: weeks of flirtation disguised as tolerance and arguments coming to a head. A silent question hung in the little space between him and you, weighted and with far too many strings attached for you to even consider. He was waiting for permission, you realised, or any sort of answer.

It was a bad, terrible, no good idea. A desire that was nothing more than a moment of weakness, one you would surely regret somewhere down the line. 

But around him, succumbing to moments of weakness was so easy.

“Then you better make it worth it.”

His hands found your waist, tugging you closer and pressing his lips to yours without another word. He stole your breath with his, leaving you to gasp against his mouth as it moved against yours oh-so gently, like you were made of glass he refused to let shatter. You could taste the subtle sweetness the hot chocolate had left, and smell the scent of his expensive cologne, struggling to process all of it as he kissed you. 

And fuck, how he kissed you. The world around you went silent as Rafayel’s lips fit perfectly against yours, like two pieces of a puzzle finally coming together. They were soft and a little chapped from the night air, but intoxicating nonetheless.

When the two of you broke apart, he made no motion to move, keeping his hands on your hips. Your eyes fluttered open, your noses brushing against each other, and the warmth of his breath fanning over your lips. You hadn’t quite returned to reality just yet, still existing in the few seconds prior. 

Rafayel let go after a minute or so and took a step away from you. You could see it now – the way he looked at you like you were the sun and moon and stars, a type of fondness you were wholly unused to. It had been there for the past couple of weeks, but you had mistaken it for mirth. 

“Times up,” he muttered with an impossibly soft smile adorning his face, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Goodnight, Y/n.”

You watched him walk away from you, down the hallway and back to the elevator. As the doors shut, he gave you a cheeky little wave, causing you to stand there flabbergasted and more confused than you had ever been in your life before. You lifted your fingers to your lips that tingled from the ghost of his kiss.

You’d be lying if you said you didn’t like it. 

You quickly became addicted to the drug that was Rafayel.

Secret touches. Lingering glances. It had been two days since he first kissed you, and you had made no efforts to get him to stop. In between interviews and rehearsals, he somehow managed to grab hold of you and steal you away from the world, even if it was just for a couple of minutes.

His apartment in Paris was on the fourth floor, in a building with older elevators. You walked out of it and to the numbered apartment that he told you was his, knocking and waiting for him to answer. He had texted you just after you finished filming a video with Vogue, insisting that you absolutely had to come over as soon as possible. 

When he opened the door, looking completely at ease, you suspected your mild concern had been for no reason. 

“There you are,” he hummed, holding a glass of wine precariously in between his fingers, sloshing it around before taking a sip. “I was wondering when you’d show up. Come inside.” 

You stepped over the threshold and into his apartment, following him to his living room. For someone as over-the-top as himself, it was quite the quaint place, with wooden furniture and the original paint job still intact. If you asked him about it, you figured he’d just say something pretentious about preserving the Parisian integrity of the apartment. 

Pulling off your gloves, you tossed them on his coffee table and shrugged off your coat. He leaned against the island that separated the kitchen from his living room, watching your every move like it was a dance sequence he was trying to memorise. Once you were done, you turned to face him with an expectant look.

“From the urgency of your messages, I assumed there was an emergency.”

He smiled coyly, pressing the edge of his glass to his lips. “Is wanting to see you not emergency enough?”

You wanted to scream, to push him out of a window and kiss him senseless at the same damn time. That conflict inside of you bubbled over, leaving a confused bout of need in its wake because no one had ever driven you this crazy before. Narrowing your eyes at him, you walked over until you were standing right in front of him. 

“You know very well that I’m busy.”

“And yet, here you are.” He reached out to you, taking your hand in his and pulling you closer. His hair fell into his eyes, the deep purple ends of it kissing the high of his cheekbones like wisteria hanging down from tree branches. Unable to resist, you cupped his face, brushing your thumb over the mole on his cheek with tenderness that surprised even yourself. 

“I think you’re distracting me on purpose.”

“There she is,’ he murmured fondly, turning his face into your palm and pressing his lips against it in a soft kiss. “The queen of cynicism.”

He gripped your wrist and slowly began peppering kisses from the centre of your palm down to your wrist, his eyes sweeping to yours. Something about the action felt strikingly intimate, sparking a fire inside of you that you hadn’t known could ever exist. Your fingers curled around the back of his neck, drawing him into you for once and meeting his lips with your own. 

You were hooked. Every brush of his mouth against yours was electrifying, precise and addictive in ways that left you wanting more every time. Wine entirely forgotten, his hands lifted to your face and held it, turning you around and pressing you against the edge of the island as he took the lead. 

When Rafayel kissed you again, you blossomed under his touch like a flower exposed to the sun for the first time in days. His fingers entangled in your hair and cradled the back of your head delicately, his nails scratching against your scalp and sending delighted shivers down your spine. He tilted your head back so that you could meet him better, the nature of the kiss dissolving into something much more intense as his tongue swiped over your lower lip, eliciting a soft sound from the back of your throat. 

“Jesus,” he mumbled against you, pained and breathless, pulling away for a singular moment that somehow felt too long despite probably being not more than a second. When he leaned back in, his lips found the side of your mouth, trailing down to your jaw and finding the spot below your ear that made you sigh and tip your head back. He made good use of the access you had so willingly given him, leisurely leaving hot open open-mouthed kisses over the expanse of your neck, knowing exactly what to do to have you fall apart while simultaneously doing barely anything at all. 

Your hands gripped the collar of his shirt at first, then slid down the silky fabric until they met the cool metal of his belt buckle. Emboldened by the situation, you hooked your fingers in his belt loops and tugged him even closer, until his hips were flush against yours. Your eagerness induced a dry chuckle from him, soft and barely there, puffs of his breath tickling against your pulse point. His thigh slotted between your legs before he paused, letting the gravity of what was happening hit either one of you.

It never did.

“Don’t you dare stop.” You almost snapped, but it lacked that authority your voice usually possessed when delegating tasks at work, instead laced with avid desperation for something only he could give you – a thrill only he could provide. Your permission was all he required, gripping your hips and lifting you onto the kitchen island and stepping in between your legs.

“So bossy,” you could feel him grinning against your neck. “You can’t resist ordering people around, can you?”

Before you could even think about refuting, his mouth was back on yours with a renewed sense of want, demanding and dizzying all at once. The beginnings of a retort died on your tongue when his meets yours and his hands slip under the hem of your skirt, sliding up your thighs maddeningly slow. All you could do was whine impatiently, leaning into him and giving in to that magnetic pull of his. He lifted his head, peering down at you with darkened eyes, so close that you could still taste him. 

“Tell me what you want,” he asked, squeezing your thighs in a manner that told you knew knew exactly what you wanted. “You can do that for me, can’t you?”

You glared, though it was weak. “Don’t play dumb.” 

“Fine. When was the last time someone made you come, Y/n?”

You exhaled sharply at his question, one he phrased so innocently, although it was nothing of the sort. “Rafayel.”

“I thought you liked it when people were straightforward with you.” He smirked down at you, running his thumb over your lower lip and applying a little pressure, enough to have your mouth part. His other hand slipped further up your inner thigh, fingers languidly tracing the edge of your panties. He could feel you stiffen, anticipation running rampant through your veins as a wave of arousal crashed over you, rendering you pliant and wanting. 

Dipping his head to your ear, he whispered, “You’re always so wound up, baby. Let me help you relax.”

With that, the spark he had lit inside of you roared to life, the flames burning your blood, making you feel hot all over your body. You were wet, embarrassingly so, soaked through your underwear as a haze of lust enveloped your mind. His knuckles brushed against your clothed core, and the minimal contact made you whimper needily, flattening your palms against the flat of his chest. 

“Please, Rafayel.” Never, in a million years, did he ever think he’d have you begging for anything, but there you were, with your legs spread. “Touch me.”

Rafayel didn’t think he’d ever been this turned on in his life.

Manoeuvring your panties to the side, his fingers dipped in between your folds, a hungry gleam blazing to life in his eyes as he watched you jerk into his touch, drinking in the way your cheeks flushed and eyebrows furrowed. Your slick coated his fingers, and he groaned, the sound low and deep as he brought them up to your clit and circled it, tantalisingly slow. 

“You’re so wet for me.” Shame filtered through you at his words, but it came secondary to the want that coursed through you. It wasn’t like you could deny the claim anyway; you could feel it firsthand. “Gonna make you feel so good.”

“You better,” you breathed out, clutching at the ends of his shirt in a futile attempt to keep your sanity somewhat intact, but he was doing an excellent job of chipping away at it, with how expertly he rubbed your clit, increasing the pressure of the circles he rubbed against the bundle of nerves. 

“Oh, I will.” He flashed you a cocky grin, hooking his finger in the center of your panties and tugging them down your legs. “Don’t you worry your pretty head about it.”

His other hand travelled underneath your top and pushed the material up your body, and you raised your arms, helping him pull it off and leaving you in a simple black bra. Still, he looked at you like you had a matching lingerie set on, humming in appreciation as he pulled your panties down your legs. They caught against one of your heels, which fell to his floor with a soft thud, but neither of you cared enough to even comprehend that. Immediately, he was back on you, middle finger pressing against your entrance as he nipped at your throat, soothing the sting his teeth left behind with licks of his tongue and wet kisses. 

Finally, finally, he pushed one lithe finger into you and provided you with some relief, revelling in the moan you gasped out. His lips made their way down your neck and to your collarbone, kissing the swell of your breasts unhurriedly, as if he had all the time in the world to do with you as he pleased. He set a lazy pace with his finger, introducing a second one to your cunt with ease on account of how wet you were, gushing all over his hand. 

Impatient, you reached behind and unhooked your bra, letting it fall off your shoulders and took in the appreciative look on his face when you tossed it to the side. 

“Fuck,” he looked like you had positively wrecked, like you were a witch that had put him under a spell. “You’re killing me here.” 

Rafayel attacked your chest again, this time with a little less precision. His pretty pink lips dragged across your breasts, tongue flicking out and swirling around one of your your pebbled nipples, taking it into his mouth and sucking. You arched into him with a whimper, your hands finding purchase in his soft hair, holding his head close to your body. His fingers moved in and out of your cunt fast, the palm of his hand rutting against your clit rhythmically, having your toes curl out of pleasure. 

“Raf- oh, fuck.” 

He looked up at you through his eyelashes, biting down on your nipple just hard enough for sparks of pain to shoot through you, mingling with the pleasure until you were left with a heady mix of both swirling inside you. You cried out, your hips bucking up against his fingers on their own accord. 

For someone usually so well put together, it was hypnotic to watch you fall apart for him – and because of him. His mouth slipped from your nipple for a moment in favour of staring at you in wonder. “God, you’re so…”

You never found out what he meant to say, eyes rolling to the back of your head when his fingers curled inside of you, the tips of them stroking against the spot that made it hard for you to hold back your moans and whimpers. The sounds tumbled out of you like a waterfall, combined with the wet ones from your pussy, and filled the silence of his apartment, spurring him on even further as he fingered you so diligently. He went right back to lapping at your breast, his free hand kneading your other one, rolling that nipple under his thumb and pinching it. 

“Oh my god,” you whined as you helplessly ground against his palm, the heel of it digging into your clit and applying delicious pressure on it that had you losing your damn mind. You could tell you were close from the coiling sensation in your gut, and from the way your legs were trembling, he had picked up on it as well. 

“That’s it,” he cooed. “Come for me.”

Seconds later, your orgasm hit you hard, a choked moan of his name leaving you as you clung onto him, overwhelmed at how good it felt. He held you against him, his ministrations never letting up for even a moment as he helped you ride out your high to the fullest. Once he was satisfied, he pulled his fingers away, staring at the mess you left on them in awe. 

And then he looked at you, and he realised that the mess of you was far prettier. Lips swollen and kiss-bitten, hair all messed up just like how he’d imagined far too many times for him to willingly admit to, and eyes blown wide with desire. The sight of you like this – so perfectly wrecked – almost made him moan aloud, but he stopped himself by kissing you once more, messily now, all teeth and tongue and heat.

“Y/n,” Rafayel rasped out your name against your lips, “Fuck, I need you.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him closer until you were flush against his chest, locking your legs around his hips. “Then take me.”

Bossy as ever, it only made him want you more. Gripping the underside of your thighs, he picked you up and carried you to his bedroom, lips locked with yours. He didn’t know how he made it to his room, but once there, he set you on the mattress and climbed over you, taking a moment to admire you in all your glory. 

He was a total goner. 

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” you huffed in between kisses, tugging impatiently at his collar and fumbling with his buttons. Rafayel laughed, finding your indignation so fucking adorable that he almost forgot what the two of you were doing, so consumed with the fact that he had you like this. When you managed to undo most of his buttons, he leaned back and pulled the shirt off, discarding it to some corner of the room and unzipped his pants. 

His cock sprung to life as he kicked off his pants, and you were awestruck at the sight of him. The tempting lines of his abs you had forced yourself to look away from several times, now on display for only your eyes, and the flushed tip of his hard cock claiming all your attention because not only was it pretty, it was big. You bit your lower lip in anticipation, propping yourself up on your elbows to get a better look. 

“Like what you see?” He drawled out the question with a lazy grin as he slipped on a condom, his smugness riling you up even more. Licking your lips, you pushed him away until he landed on his backside, expression morphing into one of confusion.

Aha, so it was possible to wipe that look off his face after all. 

“Sit up against the headboard,” you instructed, getting to your knees and slipping the skirt that you still had on off your body, both of you completely naked now. 

Although surprised, he complied fairly quickly, the smirk returning with full force. “Yes, ma’am.” 

To Rafayel, this made sense. You always had to have a modicum of control over any situation, and this was how you established that here. You threw a leg over him, straddling his lap. His breath hitched when his cock came into contact with your bare cunt, unable to hold back a groan when you began to grind. The sound fired off every synapse in your brain, your body working on its own as you rolled your hips harder against him. 

“God, fuck,” his honeyed voice was strained with the effort it took to not just hold you still and fuck up into you.  “I’m going to lose my mind if I’m not inside you soon, pretty girl.” 

The nickname did something to you, going straight to your head like a strong shot of tequila. You lifted your hips, reaching between your bodies and aligning his cock with your entrance, wetness coating the tip. Circling your hips, you savoured the way he sucked in a breath between his teeth. 

But you were a woman who had virtually no patience. Teasing him, while fun, only succeeded in making you more desperate than you already were. 

So you steadied yourself by placing your hands on his shoulders, slowly sinking onto his length. You hissed in pleasure at the burn of the stretch, nails sinking into the skin of his shoulders and most definitely leaving marks. The near drunken sound that left him when you took all of him was the most gratifying one you had ever heard. He gripped your hips, tipping his head back against the headboard and breathing heavily. 

“You– fuck– you feel so perfect,” Rafayel stuttered in wonder, but you were still adjusting to his size to comprehend the praise properly. He was buried to the hilt, and you felt delirious, clawing at him as you tried and failed to keep yourself together. You needed him so bad it scared you, somehow growing even wetter with him inside of you because of how fucking good it felt.

Lifting your hips once again, you came down on him, mouth falling open at how he filled you up so easily. He groaned, dropping his head to the crook of your neck and ravishing it once more, both of you far too gone to even think about the consequences of leaving marks. 

“Raf,” you whined, rocking your hips into him as you chased your high, in turn pulling his along. “Shit, it feels so good.”

“I know, cutie, I know,” His mouth was on your nipple again, wrapping his lips around it and sucking harshly, sending shocks of pleasure right down to your core. Instinctively, you clenched around him, and his grip on you tightened imperceptibly, a silent warning. Naturally, as you did with most things, you took it as a challenge, this time clenching on purpose.

“You little-” In retaliation, his thumb found your engorged clit and flicked it, causing you to screw your eyes shut and squeal with the extra stimulation.

“I can’t– god, it's too much,” you whimpered, feeling that familiar tug in your core build rapidly. Still sensitive from your first climax, it was no wonder that you were close already. Wanting to come again, you bounced faster, earning you a pleased groan from him. 

“You’re incredible,” he crooned against your skin, hands running up your sides reverently as he stared at you through a half-lidded gaze. The sight of you on top of him, bare, looking so gorgeous, was enough to have him come undone, and he wanted it imprinted in his brain forever. He wanted to paint you like this, to turn you into art for his eyes alone.

You came hard, crying out his name in between the many of sounds that fell from your lips in ecstasy, gasps and moans alike. All you could think of was Rafayel, Rafayel, Rafayel as your high crashed over you like a wave crashing onto the shore. 

Immediately, he took over, flipping your positions so that you were pressed into the mattress, his hips snapping to yours with a renewed sense of urgency. You mewled at the instant overstimulation, pawing at his torso in a weak attempt to get him to slow down, knowing damn well you didn’t want him to. He grabbed at your wrists and pinned them above your head, thrilled at the gasp-moan it elicited.

“You sound so fucking pretty,” Rafayel mumbled, sheathing himself inside of you with one final thrust, unravelling with a low moan. The two of you stayed like that for a couple of seconds, still connected, recovering from your mutual high. 

Carefully, he pulled out, discarding the used condom and climbing right back into bed with you. His arms wrapped around your body, gathering you against his chest with all the tenderness in the world, limbs so entwined with yours that you didn’t know where you started and he ended anymore. 

“Hey.”

You glanced up, finding him staring down at you with a soft, satiated smile, tracing soothing circles on your back. Like this, Rafayel was at his most irresistible to you, with his hair all mussed because of you, cheeks flushed, and every ounce of his attention on you. Try as you did, you couldn’t fight hints of your own smile from showing, so you nuzzled into his neck to hide your face. “Hi.”

“There isn’t a single reason for you to be shy,” he whispered playfully, propping his fingers under your chin and lifting your head so you were looking at him once more. “That was– you were amazing.” 

“I don’t get shy.” Nonetheless, your cheeks flushed at his praise. 

He chuckled quietly. “Of course you don’t.” And he kissed you again, like all the times he had just done so weren’t and would never be enough for him. Cupping your jaw sweetly, it was the most innocent press of his lips to yours, not needing any more from you. You certainly didn’t.

“Rafayel?” You breathed his name, pulling back and looking into those captivated eyes, hues of dark fuchsia and sapphire twinkling back at you. Entranced, you realised that your heart was no longer yours to control, free from the clutches of your mind, belonging to the man who held you.  It was terrifying and freeing all at once, falling without knowing when and if you’d land at all.

“Hmm?”

“I think you might be my favourite muse.”

The words were honest, tinged with a vulnerability that hit home for Rafayel. He knew you didn’t open up like this to anyone, but you were staring at him now with that same look you gave him after asking him to stay on at Lumiere as a brand ambassador. Something in the confines of his ribs constricted as he brushed your hair out of your face.

“What an honour that is.”

It was early morning when Rafayel padded to his living room. The sun hadn’t risen yet. You were still in his bed, curled up under the sheets, looking so peaceful amidst your slumber. When he slipped away, he made sure not to disturb you.

For as long as he remembered, he had thrived on attention. It was something he had been handed even before his breakout into the mainstream as a top model. People constantly told him how he was meant for the limelight, standing proud at the centre of attention.

He settled on his couch, elbows on his knees and palms pressed into his eyes as he tried to think. His mind was racing, running at a mile a minute, and he was struggling to catch up. 

You said he was your muse. 

He had been a muse his entire life. For his aunt, for other designers and brands, he was used to it. The prospect of being a muse had never scared him before, but now he was yours, and he wasn’t sure how to navigate that role anymore. You, who said his art had inspired you to create your clothing, clothing he would soon wear and show off to the world. It should have thrilled him because he rarely resonated with a brand like he did yours, and even less with people. 

Up until you, of course. You were a force of nature, obstinate and stubborn and spectacular too, like a storm that crashed into his town and swept him away. He meant it when he said it was an honour to be your muse. 

But he knew that after a while, people got bored of their muses. Periodically, they moved on and found a new one to devote all their time and effort to. He was used to being wanted, and he often used that to his advantage, but being the one who wanted your attention was not a role he knew how to fill. The script had been flipped on him, and he felt like an actor with zero experience, wading in waters that were much too deep for him.

Walking away had always been easy. He wasn’t the type to be tied down to anything, all about living in the moment and having a good time. Now, he found himself wanting to stay, and that endlessly frightened him. What happened when he finished serving his purpose as your muse and you pushed him to the side? 

He didn’t want to stick around and find out. He couldn’t bear to.

A business card lay on his coffee table. Lifting his head from his hands, he reached out and picked it up, turning the thin cardboard over in his fingers and reading the number on the back. The Dubois Designs logo glared up at him, as if taunting him with what would come to pass if he went through with this.

He picked up his phone. 

You didn’t see Rafayel after that. 

There were many things you could attribute this to. Your swamped schedule, the dinners, afterparties, showcases and fittings that you’d never hear the end of, his own endeavours – it made sense. 

What didn’t make sense was the radio silence. He had gotten very comfortable with messaging you, even though you never entertained his overzealous texting style and only graced him with the driest of responses. Now, your phone was filled with communication from everyone except the man you were admittedly waiting to hear from. 

Nothing. 

Smack dab in the middle of one of the busiest weeks of your year, you didn’t have the time to dwell on it. The Lumiere show drew closer, and you were heavily involved in every aspect of the preparations to make sure everything was exactly how you wanted it to be. 

You called him once, but he hadn’t picked up. It made you frown, but it wasn’t like you had the right to his time. Hadn’t you told him how precious yours was time and time again? Satisfied with that reasoning, you continued, pushing all thoughts of the charming man away for as long as you could. 

“He isn’t here.” 

The observation slipped out of you flatly, a little too loud and emphatic even for your own ears. It was the night before the show, and the final rehearsal was underway, held right in the cathedral that would serve as the set. Typically, these run-throughs were held a couple of hours before the actual show, but that would have disturbed the normal proceedings of the church, and you had no intentions of undermining the sanctity of it. 

You turned to your assistant and models' manager. “Where is Rafayel?”

Simone jumped in quickly, knowing well how you hated being left hanging. “Andrew didn’t see him come in, and I contacted Thomas, but he hasn’t been able to get hold of him either.” 

“What on earth…?” You muttered mostly to yourself as something in the pit of your stomach twisted, tight and unpleasant. His absence lately stung, but up until this moment, you had graciously let it go, figuring that there was a reason for it. Now, however, it was impossible to let it slide because he wasn’t just ignoring you, he was skipping out on rehearsal, and that was a professional commitment. 

“I heard he was difficult to work with,” Andrew commented, rubbing his chin. “But I didn’t think he’d be irresponsible.”

You wouldn’t stand for it. Nodding stiffly, you spoke. “I’m leaving the rest of the rehearsal in both of your hands. I have something to check on.” 

Neither of them questioned you, absorbing your instructions and carrying them out efficiently. You grabbed your coat and left the cathedral, your shoes clicking against the cobbled footpaths as you hailed a cab. Your best bet on where he was would be his apartment, and that was exactly where you’d go to get your answers. 

When you reached, the scene you were met with wasn’t what you expected at all. The door to his apartment swung wide open, loud music reaching your ears from where you stood as the elevator doors opened. Swallowing down your bafflement, you slowly approached the entrance, an uncomfortable feeling settling in the middle of your chest the closer you got. 

Once you were inside, it only got worse. The music made it hard for you to think, your eyes sweeping across the room and taking in the sight: people laughing, mingling and dancing, some of them you even recognised. 

And in the eye of the storm was Rafayel, lounging about at the centre of the chaos around him. 

What the fuck?

He looked so at ease, lounging on his couch with his head tipped back on the back of it, eyes closed like he was unaware of what was going on. His serene expression only stirred up your frustration, and it mixed with your confusion and the crumbs of dread that swirled around your gut. Brushing aside your discomfort, you stormed over, knocking your leg into his to alert him of your presence. 

Rafayel’s eyes fluttered open, dazed and unfocused. At the sight of you, something flickered in them, but it disappeared just as quickly. “Y/n,” he slurred your name, barely audible over the volume of the music. “What are you doing here?”

God, he was drunk. Clenching your jaw at that fact, you narrowed your eyes and set him with a glare, taking in his inebriated state.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” 

Déjà vu was what Rafayel felt at that moment, but instead of it being Thomas coming to scold him, it was you who stood before him, looking so furious and beautiful at the same time. There was nothing gentle about the way you phrased the question, your tone harsh and accusatory, like you had already decided he was in the wrong without giving him the chance to explain. 

Clever woman. 

He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to pull his scattered thoughts together through the haze of his tipsiness. His lack of answer seemed to piss you off even more, and while that might have once amused him, all it did now was make his heart sink. Grabbing his wrist, you pulled him through his apartment and back out into the hallway, not caring if you were making a scene or about who was staring. 

“I’m going to ask this once, and only once. What the hell is all this?” You let go of his wrist, spinning on your heel to face him once it was just the two of you. The music was softer out here, making the clipped tone of your voice all the more apparent. 

“It’s a party, sweetheart. I’m sure you know what that is.”

“Don’t call me that,” you snapped, furious at how cavalier he was being. It felt like you were back at the beginning, when you first met him, with his audacity and you struggling to keep your temper in check, except so much worse. Now, you were personally involved with him, which caused all of your emotions to lash out all at once. “Don’t you know what day it is?”

“You’re asking such odd questions, but if you must know, it's Thursday.” He looked completely uninterested in the conversation you were trying so hard to have. You grit your teeth, taking a step forward. 

“First, you ignore me,” you seethed, your perfect facade crumbling bit by bit in his presence. “Then you don’t show up for the show rehearsal, that is going on right now, mind you, and throw a party instead? What the fuck is wrong with you?” Your disbelief was palpable, and it grew exponentially when he scoffed, like your questioning right then was a major inconvenience.

“Oh, please, you and I both know I’ll be fantastic on the runway whether I’m at the rehearsal or not.” He leaned against the wall to hide how unsteady he felt on his feet right then, the paradox almost making him laugh. Almost. 

“Thats not the point!” You took a step toward him. “You know it's not.”

“Isn’t it?” 

You exhaled shakily. “No. It’s about–” Us, but was there an ‘us’ for you to even refer to? From the way he was looking at you right now, so cold and aloof, you doubted it. “You’ve been avoiding me.” You let the statement hang between him and you, not bother to tack on the question that sat on the tip of your tongue, letting the rhetorical nature of it take over and do the work for you. 

Rafayel was aware of how it looked because he was the one who had made it so. He had kissed you, held you, slept with you and then disappeared. He hated the look on your face right now, the way you were staring at him so pleadingly, waiting for him to explain why, too proud to outright ask for it. He averted his gaze, staring at his shoes. 

“Are you really that surprised?” 

Something in you cracked wide open. “What?”

“Come on, Y/n, you’re smart. I’m sure you’re aware of my reputation.” He knew he was being an asshole, but what was one of instance of that to him? That was what the world perceived him as anyway– a playboy with a penchant for partying and a pretty face – so why not live up to it? If it were going to protect him from getting hurt, then by all means, it would be worth it. 

With how your face swiftly collapsed at his insinuation, it certainly didn’t feel worth it. He wanted to take it back immediately, to take you by the shoulders and tell you the truth and hold you like he had just days ago. 

He couldn’t. Everything about wanting you terrified him because of the intensity of that desire. He had never felt like this before, and the thought of you someday not wanting him back was unbearable. He knew how he was: selfish, self-serving to a fault, difficult and exhausting at times, so very skilled at pushing people away. Eventually, you’d get tired of him and leave.

The idea of you walking away scared him so much that he opted to run away first to save himself from that pain.

“Did–Did everything that happened between us mean nothing to you?” You despised the way you stuttered, the stilted rhythm of your speech that betrayed the emotion behind it, because it made you feel weak. Out of control.

Perhaps if he were a better man, a stronger one, he’d tell you the truth. He’d tell you that it had meant the most to him, and how nothing had ever mattered as much as you did. 

But he wasn’t.

“Was it supposed to?”

You couldn’t conceal the sharp gasp that left you at his cruel words, staggering away from him like you had been shot. The man in front of you was one you didn’t recognise, a mere phantom of the one you thought you knew. He had Rafayel’s eyes and hair and stature, but it wasn’t the same Rafayel that had torn through your walls and coaxed the real you out into the light, the part of you that you kept hidden away from the rest of the world. Instead, it was a man who held those secrets and threw them back in your face like they had meant nothing.

You had let your guard down and let him in, forgetting how easy that made it for you to get hurt. Those walls that once towered so high around had come crashing down, and you didn’t know how to rebuild. Hot tears burned your eyes, heartbreak mingling in with your rage toward him, but you refused to cry. You wouldn’t give him any more of yourself than you already had.

All you had left was your dignity, and you’d be damned if you let that go. 

He was right; he had a reputation for a reason, and you should never have expected anything more. You pulled yourself together, momentarily wondering how you ever let yourself be so stupid.

“You will walk in the show tomorrow.” You forced yourself to sound steady, fingers curled into fists at how enraged you felt. “And then you will never walk for Lumiere again. Do you understand?”

The cold fury in your cadence wasn’t lost on him, and neither was the way you were shutting him out and shutting down. You had gotten used to expressing yourself freely when around him, and even now, it was like all your feelings were plastered across your face for him to see. It was awful to watch you blink away your tears so rapidly, knowing that they were because of him, how your lips twisted downward at the sorrow you felt but refused to give in to.

Rafayel hated that he was the one who had caused you this pain, but he couldn’t backtrack now. He had come this far, he might as well finish the job. Maybe it would be easier if you hated him.

“That won’t be a problem. I’ll be signed with Dubois Designs.” 

You felt the betrayal before you processed it.

It started as a dull ache in the centre of your chest, gradually worsening until it felt like someone was standing on top of it, making it hard for you to breathe. When it– what he had done– finally hit you, you could no longer think straight, unstable on your feet despite being the sober one. You had spent your entire life keeping your cards close to your chest, only for the one person you had let peek at them to burn the whole deck. 

There was a lump in your throat and a knife in your back.

When you spoke again, your voice was dangerously quiet. “After tomorrow, I never want to see you again.” 

With your head held high and heart sinking low, you turned on your heel and left, stepping into the old elevator without sparing him another glance. Part of you wanted nothing more than you shake him and make him feel the way you did right then, but that would require casting your pride aside, and frankly, you didn’t have it in you. You wouldn’t let him take that away from you. 

Rafayel watched you leave, frozen in place. The irony wasn’t lost on him; he had run away from the future possibility of you walking away from him, only to have you do exactly that right now. The party continued in the background, but all he could think of were the tears in your eyes and how fucking hurt you looked because of what he had just done to you. To himself. 

You emerged back into the Parisian streets, the cold air nipping at the exposed skin of your neck. Pulling your coat tighter around yourself, you looked up at the sky and then at your surroundings, those tears you had so valiantly fought against finally trickling down your face.

The city of love had never looked so dull. 

The models were lined up and in place. Every seat was filled, celebrities and critics alike taking the front row. Photographers had their equipment in place, ready to capture the results of your hard work. You stood backstage, and despite having done this so many times, you felt a little nervous. 

Everyone looked fabulous in your clothing, the stylists carefully draping them in the delicate fabrics and complicated pieces. Both the women and men models had little Swarovski crystals embedded in their hair that would shimmer when the light hit them, with the women’s hair being done in beach waves. Last-minute touch-ups to the makeup, some models having to be quite literally stitched into their outfits– it was that unique brand of madness that only existed behind the veiled curtains of a fashion show. 

This was it. The end of a season for Lumiere. Months of fretting over details and extensive planning, hours upon hours of work and stress and obstacles would culminate in the twelve minutes that your models took the stage for. 

“On in ten,” Simone announced, taking her spot beside you. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” you mumbled, both your hands over your stomach in an attempt to calm its churning. The lights came on all of a sudden, signalling that the show was about to begin. The music began playing, and the first model rolled her shoulders, straightened her posture, and lifted her head just slightly, a look of concentration dawning on her face.

And down the runway she went.

She glided down the runway with grace, and a hush fell over the audience at the magnificent sight, fabrics shimmering as the dramatic lighting hit them. Once she reached the end, she twirled gracefully and turned to return as the next model emerged into the spotlight. They passed each other on their respective paths, hums of appreciation arising from the onlookers. Haunting organ music accompanied the models as they walked one by one, dramatic and exquisite. 

Operatic.

It was funny how only one person had ever been able to capture the essence of what you had envisioned so perfectly and put it into words. It was fitting, you supposed, the muse would understand what he inspired. He now stood at the back of the line, waiting his turn to take the runway and blow everyone away with the final piece of the collection. 

Rafayel’s eyes met yours across the backstage area one final time, so brief that you would have missed it if you weren’t already looking at him. For his look, you had instructed the stylists to leave his hair in its natural curly state, and with the crystals in it, he truly looked like a character from a fairytale. When you looked at him now, though, his beauty wasn’t what you were transfixed on.

It was the look in his eyes. Forlorn, longing and….defeated? The combination resulted in something inexplicable, but it chipped away at a suspicion you had been harbouring ever since the night before, one that you had buried deep to save yourself from the pain that would come with trying to understand it. For how well he could read you, it seemed that you could do the same for him, and now, that split second of eye contact told you everything you needed to know.

Everything that had happened between the two of you had meant something to him, and for some reason, he lied to you and said it didn’t. 

You didn’t want to know why.

Rafayel stepped out and onto the runway, his expression morphing into one you had seen in magazines and on your website. The dark red organza silk of his shirt shimmered in the light like light upon ocean waves, hints of blue and purple making a show as he walked. Captivating as ever, he brought your clothing to life with every step he took. 

The perfect closer for a sensational show.

When it was time for you to walk out, you plastered on a smile and waved, placing one foot in front of the other like your life depended on it. Cameras flashed, and thunderous applause was heard throughout the cathedral, especially when you took your place in the middle of your models as they lined up for a final bow. You joined then, a weight rolling off your shoulders as the show came to a spectacular close, undoubtedly a resounding success. 

You had done it. This show was unlike any other you had put on, and no doubt everyone would be talking about it. You had stepped out of your comfort zone when it came to designing and achieved your goal of putting on a spectacle that made the audience feel.

So why did you feel so hollow?

After surviving a swarm of paparazzi shouting questions at you, desperate for even a sliver of your attention and a glance at their lenses and shaking the hands of impressed critics, you found yourself at the Lumiere afterparty. People you called loosely called friends for appearances' sake, celebrities, influencers, and fellow designers were all in attendance, showering you in congratulations and complimenting your work. They said the show would go down in fashion history as iconic and asked how you managed to do it once again. You smiled and drank and tried your best to bask in your well-deserved glory at a party you didn’t want to be at, in a city that was tainted.

And at this party, Qi Rafayel was nowhere to be found.

New York was as unforgiving as ever.

Your life resumed its regular course when you returned; fittings, photoshoots, interviews, and so much paperwork. You threw yourself into your work, filling every spare moment of your day with something to do, fix, or delegate, an arguably pathetic attempt at keeping yourself from thinking of him. 

The cacophony of the city accompanied your every solitary step, and you took comfort in it. The incessant honking while stuck in traffic and the chatter of pedestrians filled your senses, whether you were sitting in the back of a cab or running errands. It served as background music to your loneliness, and while you might have once been satisfied with it, you found it hard to go back to that blissfully ignorant state. 

Because now you had a taste of what it felt like to not be quite so lonely. Rafayel had waltzed into your life like the tempest of allure and insolence he was and drenched your world in colour. He had taken you out of your box and painted you a new perspective, one you had so foolishly assumed he’d view by your side.

Early mornings and late nights – your days began to blur together until you weren’t sure when they started and ended. Your voice lacked the bite it usually had when reprimanding your employees for any stupid mistakes. If your coffee was cold, you drank it anyway, perplexing Simone. You walked through the hallways of the Lumeire building during those long work days and returned to your penthouse in the dead of night, moving under the heavy silence that completely claimed the large space. 

You loathed him for making the life you had so carefully built for yourself feel so miserable. More than anything, you hated how you wished he were still in it. 

Rafayel threw a party.

He didn’t even want to be there anymore. Everything about it felt wrong. His drink wasn’t strong enough, the music was too loud, and there were too many fucking people around. He didn’t even like any of them; it was the usual crowd that showed up whenever he hosted one of these things, and while he could usually get along with them, right now all their presence did was remind him that the one person he truly wanted beside him wanted nothing to do with him. 

A pitiful try at filling a void he had created himself. He didn’t want anything to do with himself either. 

God, he missed you. He missed that rare smile you seldom let show, the ridiculous updo you always had your hair done in, and the passion in your eyes when you spoke about your work. He missed your voice, your crimson painted lips and scrutinising glare that made everyone it was directed at shrink. The way you’d scowl when he teased you, and the softness with which you told him he was your favourite muse.

As he glanced at the doorway of his apartment, he almost willed you to walk through it like you had in Paris, on that fateful night when he ruined everything. He imagined you appearing there, huffing in displeasure at the pandemonium of this stupid party and wanting to see him. Idiotically, he braced himself for exactly that, waiting and watching like it was something that would actually happen. 

But he knew it wouldn’t. Instead of waiting around for it to happen, he realised that for the first time in his life, he’d have to work for what he wanted. 

He would have to go to you. 

Walking into the Lumiere building after two months away was a strange experience. 

It seemed like nothing had changed, not that he expected it to. He had almost become an ambassador for the brand, and now there he was, walking down its hallways as nothing more than an exiled stranger. 

His feet carried him to your office, knowing that was where you’d be, always holed up in there with a thousand things to get done. Passing the conference room where he first met you four months ago, he wondered how things had gotten to this point. Back then, he had been reluctant to get involved with Lumiere. 

Funny. 

When he reached your office, you seemed to be in conversation with someone. One glance at the silvery blond hair on the man, and he recognised him as Xavier Shen, the model he had replaced. Now, the man seemed perfectly healthy, standing on his feet as the two of you conversed. The sight reminded Rafayel that he truly might not be needed by you anymore, in every sense of the word. 

Still, he steeled himself and pushed the glass door open, not bothering to knock. He never did in the past, so why start now?

“Huh. You really do live here.” 

Both Xavier and you turned to him, and the first thing he noticed was how tired you looked. Your shoulders looked like the weight of the world rested upon them, slumped just a little bit, and prominent dark circles under your eyes. It seemed he was right in assuming you were running yourself ragged; he knew your habits well enough. Still, even with all that, to him, you looked positively radiant. 

At the sight of him standing there with his hands in his pockets, your heart stuttered before it twisted in pain. He was the same as ever, his presence commanding the entirety of your office like no one else but you could, still a sight for sore eyes. That ever-present playful tone to his voice, however, was weaker than you remembered, just barely hiding the thick layer of vulnerability just below the surface.

“I thought I said I never wanted to see you again.” 

 Xavier glanced between you and Rafayel before clearing his throat. “I’m gonna take my leave. See you tomorrow.” He gave you a sharp nod and slipped out. Rafayel barely comprehended the other man leaving, so focused on being in the same room as you again. 

“I know.” Those words were fresh in his mind even after all these weeks, eating away at him. They were the reason it took him so long to come here, so afraid you’d turn him away the second he showed his face, but he knew he’d regret it for the rest of his life if he didn’t try. “I know, I just…” He trailed off, not quite sure what to say now that he was face to face with you. 

“What do you want, Rafayel?” You took a seat behind your desk and defensively folded your arms over your chest, keeping your guard up. “To waste more of my time? To remind me how little I meant to you? Take your pick, and do it quickly because I don’t have all day.” 

He looked pained. “I want to talk. Please.”

A bitter laugh escaped you. “And why should I listen to anything you have to say?”

“You shouldn’t,” he admitted, walking to your desk. “But I’m asking you to, anyway.”

You scoffed, shaking your head in disbelief as you looked off to the side. He somehow had the gall to walk into your building and ask to talk to you when he had no right to do so. It was just so like him, selfish with total disregard for your feelings, and as much as you wanted to tell him to get out, a small, hopeless part of you wanted to hear what he had to say. 

You supposed that was what you got for falling for someone like him. “Fine. Talk.”

Relief flooded his system. He sat down on one of the cushioned chairs in front of your desk and tried to gather his thoughts. There was so much he wanted to say, but he hadn’t the faintest idea of where to start. “I’m sorry.”

That had seemed like a pretty good place to begin, but with the way your eyes narrowed, he wondered if he had already made a mistake. Lord knows it wouldn’t be his first or last one. “That could have been an email.”

“Would you have read it?”

You clenched your jaw at his rash question, opting to stay silent. Rafayel wanted to slap himself, knowing he was being an asshole even now, the one time he was actively trying to avoid doing so. He didn’t deserve even a second of your time; he should have walked out of your life and stayed away to avoid causing you any more pain.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and forged on. “I fucked up, I know that. I’ve never– I lied and said that none of it mattered, but– fuck, this is coming out all wrong.” He rubbed a hand over his face, frustrated at his inability to say what he wanted in a manner that made even a sliver of sense. “I was scared.” 

All that self-assuredness you were so used to was nowhere to be seen now as he stumbled over his words. It was jarring to see Rafayel admit to being scared when you had only ever associated him with unshakable confidence. 

“Scared of what? Me?”  

There was something fractured in the way you asked that, fragile even. He immediately refuted the claim, feeling awful that you would even consider it a possibility. “No, god no, not you. Never you.” His eyes snapped to yours, full of earnestness that made you instantly believe him. “You called me your muse.” 

You let out a slow breath. “I remember.” 

Rafayel gripped the armrests on either side of him, looking off to the side, his throat bobbing with uncertainty as he contemplated whether this was a good idea anymore. “But muses are temporary. They can’t inspire forever, and god knows I’m not someone who thinks about forever.” A huff of forced laughter. “But with you, I did. I wanted to be the one that inspired you forever and that scared the shit out of me.”

Here they were, answers to questions you had been too proud to ask. He ran his fingers through his straightened hair, pushing it back and out of his face. Regardless of how restless he felt, he continued, knowing that the truth was the least of what you deserved. “For the first, fuck, maybe the only time in my life, I wanted to stay. I was so afraid that you’d wake up one day and realise I’m not worth being your muse and you’d walk away. Pick someone else.” 

“Do you really think so little of me?” You asked quietly, unable to look anywhere but him. 

“I didn’t know what to think,” He said honestly. “I’ve never cared so much, and the thought of you leaving because you didn’t find me inspiring enough for your creations–” He cut himself off and dropped his head, as if suddenly realising how fucking awful his assumption sounded out loud. “I thought the only way to avoid that would be to leave first, and I know that that makes no sense, but I….I’m so sorry.”

You had been called a lot of things in your life: difficult, stubborn, unreasonable, and yet somehow, this stung the worst. He had made the decision for you, leaving you to deal with the repercussions of an outcome you didn’t have a hand in choosing. 

“You thought I saw you as a means to an end.” Your voice was devoid of emotion, hollow, anguished eyes never once finding his. “When I only ever thought of you as a beginning.”

For something that was a concept, it was funny how his regret manifested itself as a physical ache, ripping through his chest and causing his throat to close up on itself. Your words cut through him, reminding him of how he was the one to rush to an end that you hadn’t even considered. 

Maybe this wasn’t salvageable. Maybe all he was destined for was to live with the knowledge that he had finally loved someone other than himself, and ruined it. 

“I know what it feels like to be loved.” It took everything in him to keep looking at you when it seemed like you couldn’t bear to even glance at him. His tongue felt like it was made of lead, heavy and uncooperative as he tried to say what he had known for so long. “Adoration, infatuation, whatever. I know when someone is in love with me, but I’ve never felt the same way. I don’t know how to, but I think whatever I feel for you has to be pretty damn close, and–” 

“Don’t you dare.”

“–I’m in love with you, Y/n.”

A shattered breath left you, your composure faltering completely at the confession. Nothing about this was fair. Your heart was bruised and battered, but it fluttered to life completely against your will when he said it, and you detested it. You wanted to hate him so badly, even when it was so clear that you loved him. Why else would all this hurt so bad? 

They said pride came before fall, but in your case, you fell first, and now it was your pride that stopped you from letting him back in. You knew he didn’t deserve a shred of forgiveness, and you also knew that if you looked at him right now, you’d let go of the anger you were so desperately holding onto. It was the only thing keeping you from being totally vulnerable, so you kept your gaze on your mahogany desk, trying your hardest to stay strong.

“I think you should leave.”

Quiet enough to conceal how choked up you truly felt, you knew you didn’t mean it. You needed the time and space to think about everything that had happened. You couldn’t just forgive him even if you wanted to, so skilled at holding a grudge as you were, the bitter realisation that you were perhaps as scared as he was right then making itself known. 

Rafayel had never been good at doing what he was told, but there was no place for his sense of entitlement here. He had done enough damage, and if you wanted him to leave, then that was exactly what he’d do. Getting to his feet, he stared at you one last time, waiting, wishing and hoping you’d look up.

But you didn’t.

So he left your office, complying with your wishes without argument. It should have pleased you, considering how you hated rebuttals when it came to people following your orders. 

But as you watched him walk through those doors, you had never wanted someone to defy you more than in that moment.

When a storm comes to an end, it does so in parts.

First, the wind stops howling. As it does, the heavy showers relent and turn back into the light drizzle it started as, gentle and harmless. The darkened clouds clear up, giving way to clear blue skies and the warm, golden rays of the sun. 

Resentment worked differently when it came to someone you loved. It turned out that both those feelings– resentment and love– could exist simultaneously, even when it seemed nearly impossible, but when the latter was real, it made it exhausting to hold on to all that anger. Love itself was confusing, contradictory, and so difficult to navigate, especially when it was good.

And when had anything good been easy?

The art gallery was pretty much empty, seeing that it was almost eight p.m., which was when it closed. You swept through the different hallways, procrastinating, approaching the showcase you were truly there for. 

And why the hell were you there?

Because, despite everything, Rafayel was still everything you wanted, and you were so tired of pretending he wasn’t. You had spent night after night going over everything that had happened over the past six months and trying to convince yourself of the opposite, but when it came down to it, one thing was abundantly clear: he made you happy like no one else could. He could accomplish the opposite as well, but one extreme would not exist if the other didn’t. 

He was flawed, but so were you. Your pride made it impossible for you to see that at first, making you punish yourself and stay miserable, even though the one thing you wanted was within reach. You turned it away, thinking that refusal would help you forget him and the way he made you feel, but it didn’t. Maybe it didn’t make any sense, but maybe it wasn’t supposed to. You had spent so much of your life making sure everything went exactly how you wanted, caging yourself within your own expectations. 

Stepping into the back, you were in front of the very wall he had shown you all those months ago when he had dragged you out of your office. Even when you weren’t sure of him, he was the only person in your life who had ever forced you to live. 

Your breath hitched.

The paintings had been rearranged with a new one in the centre. The colours stood out against the others, this one bathed in warm oranges and yellows, a faceless woman leaning out of the roof of a car with the wind in her hair. There was something distinctively wistful about it, like she was being viewed from the lens of another. 

It was you.

You took a hesitant step forward, instinctively looking at the artist plaque despite knowing that it would read ‘anonymous’. Not that it mattered, of course, because you knew exactly who had made it. 

“Y/n?”

You turned, and there Rafayel was. It had been a while since you had seen him, and during that time, he had stayed out of the limelight completely—no articles in tabloids, no rumours, nothing. Your pulse picked up at the sight of him, and you felt like a child being caught doing something they weren’t supposed to. 

“What are you doing here?” The ridiculous question left you before you could stop it. His lips twitched slightly, a hint of amusement bleeding into those all-consuming eyes. 

“Forgot already? I’m a little insulted.” He spoke gently, cocking his head towards his artwork. He studied you for a moment. “Why are you here?”

When it came to him, you always found yourself wanting to do opposite things at the same time. You wanted to run away, but more than anything, you wanted to run right back into his arms. If that made you an idiot, well, wasn’t everyone allowed to be one every once in a while?

“I don’t know.”

A soft smile, so much like the one he gave you that night when he first kissed you. “No, you do. You of all people don’t do things without a reason.”

There he went again, reading you like a book without your permission. You looked back at the painting of you, skillfully evading his question with one of your own. “When did you make that?”

“Recently.” Hesitantly, he made his way to your side, like he wasn’t sure if he had a spot there anymore, but in typical Rafayel fashion, he took it anyway. “I’ve had time on my hands.”

“How?”

“I haven’t been modelling that much lately. Thomas is just about fed up with me.” His attempt at levity wasn’t lost on you. You were quite aware of his absence from the spotlight as of late, but something nagged at the back of your mind, telling you that you had a piece of the puzzle missing. 

Then it hit you as your eyes swept to him, once again succumbing to the gravitational pull he possessed. “But what about Dubois Designs?"

He slipped his hands into his pockets, not meeting your eyes. “They sent over a contract.” He admitted, clearing his throat. “But I may have thrown it out.”

“Why?” It felt like all you were doing was asking questions you already knew the answers to. Rafayel clicked his tongue in a mixture of mild annoyance and something else, something you couldn’t quite pinpoint, giving you a knowing look.

“You know why.”

Fuck. Both of you, stubborn, impossibly prideful people, holding each other back because of each other. It was almost laughable. Swallowing thickly, you shifted closer to him, your gaze darting back to his depiction of you. “It’s a beautiful painting.”

“Yeah, well, you can thank my muse for that.”

You were breathless. “I’m your muse?” Another question lay under this one: Do you still love me?

“If that’s okay with you,” His eyes never strayed from you, watching you like you were the very essence of the sun itself, or the most perfect pearl in the ocean. “I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t want to be. I may have given it a bad rep.”

You bit the inside of your cheek, facing him properly now that you had finally worked up the nerve. “You’ve made me a fool, Qi Rafayel.” 

Fondness sweeter than the ripest of peaches spread over his face. “No one could ever make you a fool, Y/n. Especially not me.” He took a tentative step forward into your personal space, and you never wanted him to leave again. “So I’ll ask you again, why are you here?” 

There were a few things in this shallow, pretentious world you were certain of. Your faith in your abilities as a designer was the first, knowing that no matter what, your skills and talent would always speak for themselves more than your words ever could. The second was your preference for coffee that was piping hot, without sugar, so that the bitterness would shock your system into functioning. 

And the third, in a sick, unfortunately fortunate twist of fate, was Qi Rafayel, the model who had traipsed into your life without so much as a warning and had turned it upside down. 

“Because you’re still my muse.” You whispered. “And as it so happens, I love you too.”

When your lips met, you knew right then and there that you’d never let him go again. Your palm cupped his face as you pulled him closer, reaquainting yourself with the feel of him against you, how the two of you fit together so perfectly as if you were made for each other. One of his hands slipped around your waist, the other coming to rest over your own over his face, keeping it trapped there as he leaned into your touch, whispering I love you’s back. 

“I’m going to fuck up,” Rafayel mumbled against your mouth, resting his forehead against yours like he couldn’t bear to be any further from you. “I’m going to piss you off and I’m never going to be easy.”

You squeezed his forearm. “I know. Those are your most endearing qualities.”

“Will you love me even then?” He held you close, but you could feel the slight tremble in his touch. You saw him for what he was under all that indifference and chutzpah: a man who desperately loved you through his fear. Lucky for him, you were a woman who loved him through his mistakes and all the madness he brought into your life. 

“Rafayel.” With a tender whisper of his name, you pressed your lips to his reassuringly. “I love you because of it.”

Love was messy and imperfect, but so were the two of you. Neither he nor you were easy people, but when had you ever taken the easy way out of something? You wouldn’t mind never getting out of this, content to stay with him for as long as he’d have you.  The colours rushed back into your life, starting with the pinks and blues of his eyes as they crinkled with a smile. He’d break every one of your rules with a smile, and you’d let him.

“God, you’re going to regret that.”

But he was laughing, and so were you, giddy with the thought of a future with him. The sound of his laughter was so enchanting that you wanted to memorise it, and perhaps now you could, with him by your side for what you hoped would be a beginning without an end. 

You were wholly and irrevocably in love with Qi Rafayel, infuriating quirks and all. Everyone in the industry that the two of you ruled might have thought of him as a total nightmare. 

But to you? To you, Rafayel was a dream.

fin.

[iydiamartinx]

BRIEF ENCOUNTERS

Dick Grayson x Reader x Jason Todd

divider by: @cafekitsune & @thecutestgrotto word count: 1.3k synopsis: Gotham’s three hottest celebrities are thrown into a charity photoshoot they didn’t ask for, in nothing but their underwear—and it turns out the camera isn’t the only thing ready to snap. a/n: I had so much fun writing this, I might make a Bruce version. warnings: the boys being too hot to handle.

Gotham’s latest charity campaign was ridiculous. You weren’t sure what was worse: the bright lights heating your skin, the silk robe barely clinging to your body, or the fact that they were here.

Jason Todd and Dick Grayson.

Tied for Gotham’s hottest male celebrity, as if the universe hadn’t already cursed you enough. And you? Crowned Gotham’s hottest woman in People’s Choice. You should’ve felt flattered.

Instead, you were sandwiched into a publicity stunt from hell.

“Who even votes for these things?” you muttered, arms crossed tightly over your chest as you stared at the photoshoot set—minimalist bed, white sheets, a soft faux sunrise glow cast by a massive lighting rig.

Jason leaned against a metal rack, arms folded, a towel slung low on his hips like this was just another Tuesday. “Gotham’s elite, the bored, the horny. Take your pick.”

“And here I thought we were being celebrated for our philanthropic work,” Dick chimed in smoothly as he walked past, already shirtless and smug, adjusting the waistband of his black boxer briefs with all the subtlety of a peacock in mating season. “But no, please. Tell us again how this is beneath you.”

You narrowed your eyes. “It is beneath me. I’m the CEO of my own company. I’ve lectured at Oxford. I don’t pose in my underwear for strangers with cameras.”

“Yet here you are,” Jason said, flashing a grin as he pulled off his towel, revealing briefs identical to Dick’s—only in red. “Guess we all make sacrifices.”

Your eyes narrowed, though truth be told, you were trying real hard not to let your gaze wander. To either of them. They had the bodies of Greek gods, and the worst part? They knew it. Worse still? You knew it too.

And they knew that you knew.

Jason caught the flick of your gaze and raised a brow. “See something you like?”

You scoffed. “Just calculating how many spray tans died to make that happen.”

“Natural glow, sweetheart.”

“Artificial charm,” you shot back, You turned your back to them, jaw set. Professionalism. Focus. Indifference. All things you were pretending to have.

Except when Dick adjusted his waistband again and Jason’s arm flexed just a little too deliberately—you nearly bit your tongue off trying not to react.

“I give it ten minutes before someone threatens violence,” Dick added, smirking between the two of you.

“Too late,” you muttered, striding toward the set. “I’ve been threatening violence since I saw your names on the call sheet.”

As you walked toward the set, you dropped your robe with a practiced sort of defiance. Your black lingerie was sleek, minimal, and handpicked by someone who clearly wanted Gotham to combust. Both men went quiet. You smirked. 

“What? Cat got your—oh wait, no. Just your remaining brain cells.”

Jason let out a low whistle, his gaze raking over you with absolutely no shame. “Your stylist really went for the full femme fatale fantasy, huh?”

“Better than the himbo-off you two have going on.”

Dick made a soft choking sound. “Himbo—? Excuse me. I am a sophisticated, multi-faceted man.”

“Who poses in tight briefs for the Children of Gotham Foundation calendar,” you shot back. “Truly noble work.”

He grinned—shameless, unbothered—but you didn’t miss it. The way his gaze flicked lower, lingered, then snapped back up like he hadn’t just imagined something entirely uncharitable. He was only slightly subtler than Jason, and that was saying something.

The photographer, some buzzed-out creative from Metropolis with too much enthusiasm and not enough fear, clapped his hands. “Alright, lovers—get cozy! I want tension, heat, passion! Make the people wonder what happens when the lights go off.”

“Oh, they’ll wonder,” Jason murmured. “They’ll also wonder how I survived being kicked in the ribs.”

Rolling your eyes, you settled into the bed—Jason on your right, Dick on your left, both shirtless, smug, and entirely too close. The mattress dipped beneath your weight. The bed was warm, the lights were blinding, and the proximity was maddening.

“Closer,” the photographer insisted.

Jason leaned in until his lips brushed the shell of your ear. “Try not to melt.”

“Try not to pass out from your own cologne,” you whispered back, ignoring the slight hitch in your breath.

“Touch each other more,” the photographer urged. “Intimate, not stiff.”

“Stiff’s the wrong word,” Jason murmured under his breath.

You elbowed him sharply. “Try finishing that sentence and see what happens.”

“Don’t tempt me,” he muttered, but his hand slid behind your back, fingertips brushing skin like it was nothing.

Dick leaned in closer, lazy arm draping behind your shoulders. He smelled like clean skin and expensive cologne, and his voice was far too close when he said, “Is it bad I’m actually enjoying this?”

You turned your head slightly, just enough to meet his gaze. “If your hand moves even an inch lower, I’m breaking your wrist.”

“Duly noted,” he murmured, and you noticed he didn’t move. 

Jason, meanwhile, had his other hand settled lazily against your thigh. “Tell me again how you hate being around us. You’re practically glowing.”

“It’s the highlighter,” you said sweetly. “Not your proximity.”

Click. Flash. Shutter.

The photographer cheered. “Perfect. Let’s try the lap shot next. Y/N on Jason’s lap, Dick behind her.”

You blinked. “This is starting to feel suspiciously like a setup.”

Jason patted his thigh. “Come on, princess. I don’t bite. Unless that’s what you’re into.”

You shot him a flat look but climbed into place with a huff, settling across his lap. His hands found your hips instantly—confident, steady, like he’d done it a hundred times—and you hated how solid it felt. How easy. How natural.

You refused to acknowledge the goosebumps rising on your skin.

Dick moved in behind you, positioning himself with an infuriating kind of ease. His breath brushed your neck, and you felt it all the way down your spine.

“You smell good,” he said quietly, right by your ear.

“Get closer and I’ll change that.” You threaten.

Another shutter flash.

Jason’s voice was low by your ear. “You know, for someone who claims to hate us, you’re sitting awfully pretty between our legs.”

You turned your head just enough to smile at the camera. “Just fantasizing about strangling you with this overpriced bra.”

Dick chuckled softly behind you. “Careful. That’s starting to sound like flirting.”

“It’s not,” you lied—too quickly, too easily.

But the shoot kept going.

The poses got bolder—more contact, more heat, more places to put your hands where they shouldn’t feel that good. Jason’s palm resting just under your ribs. Dick’s fingers lightly grazing your collarbone. Their bodies bracketed against yours like they belonged there.

The lines between staged and real blurred with every click of the shutter. Flash after flash. Touch after touch. And somewhere in the middle of it all, it stopped feeling like acting.

When the final shot was taken and the camera was lowered, you stood too fast—heart hammering, skin flushed, throat dry.

You cleared it. “We done here?”

The photographer, looking a little dazed himself, gave a nod.

You didn’t wait. You turned to go, grabbing your robe—only to feel fingers close gently around your wrist. It wasn’t tight but just enough to stop you in your tracks.

Jason.

You glanced back, expression guarded. “What?”

“You going to admit it?”

Your brow arched. “Admit what?”

“That you didn’t hate all of that.”

You hesitated. Just a beat. Then your gaze flicked to Dick—still shirtless, arms folded, looking entirely too pleased with himself. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.

You turned back to Jason, let your lips curl slowly into a smirk. “No,” you said. “But I’m looking forward to the rematch next year.”

You slipped out of his hold and walked off, robe slung over one shoulder, leaving them in your wake.

Neither of them moved for a long moment.

Jason finally exhaled. “She’s going to be the death of us.”

Dick grinned, eyes still on the spot where you’d been. “What a way to go. At least we’ll die hot.”

[lonerslug]

Can you make a fic about sevika coming home from a long day just to find her girlfriend(or wife) cosplaying as her😭 I feel like it could be really silly! (fluff btw)

Sevika was dead on her feet.

The kind of day that started with Silco shouting and ended with some idiot trying to run a shipment on the wrong side of the bridge. She smelled like smoke, metal, and trouble. Her shoulders ached. Her prosthetic was still humming a little from being overused, some punk had tested his luck and she’d “accidentally” punched through a wall to shut him up.

She just wanted a drink. A shower. Maybe to curl up with you in bed and forget the world for a few hours.

Instead, when she walked through the front door of your shared apartment, she found you standing in the hallway… dressed exactly like her.

Her coat. Her black pants. A gray tank top that showed off your arm — which had a comically bad cardboard version of her metal one strapped on. A fake cigar tucked behind your ear. Hair slicked back. Brow furrowed.

You even had a fake scar drawn across your cheek with eyeliner.

You leaned on the doorway with one arm, trying to look tough. “The hell are you lookin’ at?” you growled in your best Sevika voice, gravelly and wayy too dramatic.

She froze in the doorway, eyes wide.

You bit your lip, trying not to laugh as Sevika blinked a few times, then slowly dragged her eyes over your whole outfit.

“…What the fuck,” she muttered.

“I run Zaun now,” you said, puffing your chest out. “Sit down, princess. You look like you’ve had a rough day.”

Sevika dropped her bag on the floor and stared. Then snorted. Then laughed. Full-body, belly deep, laugh-until-she-was-leaning-on-the-wall kind of laugh.

“You’re insane,” she said through a grin.

You crossed your arms, keeping up the act. “Call me boss, baby.”

She walked over, towering in front of you now, arms crossed with a smirk. “Oh, is that how it is? You wanna wear my clothes, huh?”

“I am you. Scary. Powerful. Hot as hell.” You winked at her. “Just… softer around the edges.”

She gave your fake metal arm a poke. “Is this… tape and cardboard?”

“It’s called creativity,” you said proudly.

She leaned in, close enough for her nose to brush yours. “You forgot the part where I come home and throw my girl over my shoulder.”

“Oh?” You tilted your head. “That in the official Sevika guidebook?”

“Page one.”

And before you could react, she scooped you up into her arms, fake armor and all, and carried you into the living room while you shrieked-laughed the whole way.

“Careful, boss!” you gasped, clinging to her. “You’ll wrinkle your coat!”

She dropped onto the couch with you in her lap, burying her face into your neck with a groan. “God, I missed you,” she mumbled.

Your arms wrapped around her neck. “Even when I’m being a dumbass?”

“Especially then.” She kissed your cheek, then the corner of your mouth. “Best part of my day.”

You nuzzled in, cozy and warm in her lap, the fake scar smudging against her real one. She rested a hand on your thigh, finally relaxing.

“…So how convincing was I?” you whispered.

She pulled back just enough to raise an eyebrow. “Honestly? I’d still fuck you dressed like me.”

You gasped. “Sevika!”

“I’m just saying,” she said, grinning. “Hot and hilarious. Dangerous combo.”

[pixiefelixie]

-‘๑’- spiraling

fem!reader x han jisung, college au | fluff!!, mutual pining, partying, sungie is a hot loser, alcohol consumption, suggestive scenes, brief makeout, neck kisses, ~3k

in which han jisung can freestyle under pressure but can’t string a single sentence together when it comes to confessing his feelings.

based off of this request! i loved this idea and it is safe to conclude that jisung is the epitome of a loser trapped in a hot body. finally finished this and was so excited to post it!

jisung has written entire verses in under twenty minutes. has freestyled with such creativity in the middle of the quad that chan has urgently pulled out his phone to record it. he’s rapped so fast before lectures while hyunjin threw up gun fingers and jeongin screamed like they weren’t already one warning away from getting kicked out of the classroom.

but today?

today, he has been struggling to say one sentence for over two hours.

“okay,” he says, pacing. “okay, okay, what if i go—no, that’s stupid. wait—”

jisung has soaked through the white blouse he wore for that 9am pitch. like, fully. he’s pacing a rut into his bedroom carpet, walking so fast back and forth it’s like he’s trying to generate enough friction to spontaneously combust and avoid his problems entirely.

felix, meanwhile, is lying on jisung’s bed like a cat with nowhere to be, scrolling lazily through something on his phone.

“you’re gonna burn a hole in the floor,” felix says, not looking up. “or your brain. whichever gives out first.”

jisung whirls around, eyes wild. “i can’t do it, felix. i can’t.”

felix raises an eyebrow. “han jisung.”

“what?”

“jisung.”

“i heard you.”

“sit down.”

jisung groans and flops onto the floor. 

felix sighs and tosses his phone to the side. “she likes you.”

“no she doesn’t.”

“yes, she does.”

“no, she doesn’t. she laughs at me.”

“she giggles. it’s different”

jisung props himself up on his elbows, glaring. “you’re reading into it.”

“i see the way she looks at you, dude.” felix says, sitting up. “like she’s watching a…a movie and you’re her favorite scene.”

jisung snorts. “yeah, a comedy.”

“no, like—she looks at you the way minho hyung looks at pudding. like she’s about to risk it all.”

jisung flops back down, arm over his face. “doesn’t matter. i’m too—me.”

felix stares. “you’re literally hot.”

jisung lifts his arm off his face just enough to peek.

“you’re hot. get it through your sweaty little head.”

“that sounds so fake.”

“no, what’s fake is you thinking you’re not attractive when girls gawk at you. you’re attractive and the fact that you don’t know it makes you more attractive”

jisung makes a sound halfway between a sigh and a whine. “i hate this.”

felix grins. “no you don’t. you're just terrfied that y/n might actually like you back.”

jisung peeks out again, this time with the wide-eyed panic of a baby deer. “…what if i ask her and she says no?”

felix raises an eyebrow. “what if you don’t and she starts thinking you’re not interested?”

that shuts him up.

felix hops off the bed, grabs his can off the desk, and downs the last of his pre gaming beer like it’s water. “you’ve got twenty minutes before we leave. shower, deodorant, new shirt.”

“wait, are we—am i actually gonna say it tonight?”

felix yanks out a black button-down from jisung’s closet and tosses it to him. “you’re gonna look her in the eyes and say: ‘hey, i think you’re the coolest person i’ve ever met, but i’m a little bitch about it.’”

jisung groans, fingers tugging on his tie to loosen it. “felix.”

“just tell her you like her and kiss her. that’s it.”

“not hard? you try doing it.”

felix shoots him a look. “i would, if i wasn’t babysitting a grown boy melting down over a girl who already likes him.”

jisung grumbles something unintelligible as he yanks the tie off with a frustrated sigh.

“i just—i don’t know how she does it,” jisung says while adjusting the collar. “she’s just…so natural at everything.”

behind him, felix is pouring a little vodka into two mismatched little cups. he doesn’t even glance up as he says, “then that’s what you need to be. chill. effortless.”

jisung snorts, rolling his eyes as he fidgets with the buttons on his shirt. “yeah, like it’s easy.”

felix walks over and hands him the cup. jisung eyes the drink, then gives felix a flat look. after a beat, he exhales through his nose, rolls his eyes, and knocks the vodka back in one go. he makes a small face but doesn’t comment.

felix grins, tossing him a lazy salute with his cup. jisung sets the cup down with a soft clatter. 

“if i do anything too bold tonight, i’m blaming you.”

the bass is low and heavy, rattling the walls of hyunjin’s basement. you’re leaning against the old pool table, one hand wrapped around a half-finished drink, the other gesturing vaguely as you talk to your friend.

“do you think he’s actually gonna show?” you ask, trying not to sound too hopeful. you fail.

your friend gives you a look. “he will.”

you sigh, sipping whatever's in your cup. it’s starting to taste like juice, which means you’re definitely tipsy. everything’s a little warm around the edges.

your phone’s in your back pocket, and you’ve checked it three times in the past ten minutes like it's gonna magically light up with his name. it hasn’t.

you glance at the door again. still no jisung.

your friend raises an eyebrow at you, clearly catching the way your eyes keep drifting. you pretend to focus on your cup like it holds answers.

“i’m not texting him,” you say.

your friend doesn’t even respond. you last exactly twenty seconds.

then you’re turning slightly, as you unlock your phone. the screen’s bright, and jisung’s contact is already near the top.

then you type:

you coming? :)

you hit send, and slam your phone screen-down on the table.

your friend side-eyes you. “not gonna text him, huh?”

“shut up.”

meanwhile, on the other side of the hyunjin’s house, jisung’s standing near the speakers, bass thudding so loud it’s basically a second heartbeat. his eyes are across the room. on you.

“you’ve been watching her for like five minutes.”

jisung exhales, nervous energy curling in his gut. “i’m just—figuring it out. timing. y’know.”

“she’s waiting for you to walk over.”

“shut up,” jisung hisses, but he’s smiling now, a little sheepish. his cheeks are warm, and not just from the drink. he shifts from one foot to the other.

and then—buzz.

he checks his phone. one notification.

from you.

he opens it and nearly chokes on air. “she texted me,” he blurts.

“yes,” felix says slowly, “so now you go over there.”

“i—yeah. yeah, okay. i will.” jisung knocks back the rest of his drink. “i’m going.”

he shoves his phone back in his pocket, heart doing that annoying fluttery thing it does every time you’re even mentioned. the vodka's not doing much for his coordination, but it’s giving him just enough nerve to start walking.

felix claps him on the shoulder. “go get her.”

jisung doesn't respond. he’s already moving.

you see him before he expects you to and the moment your eyes meet, jisung smiles.

not his usual frantic, overstimulated grin. this one’s softer. smaller. quick. and then, like he didn’t mean to let it slip, he ducks his head down, running a hand across his neck as he starts walking toward you.

your heart does a little stupid flip.

“he’s here,” you murmur, mostly to yourself.

your friend raises her brows. “i’ll see you later.”

you smile before you can stop yourself—an easy, instinctive kind of smile that crinkles at the corners and warms your face from the inside out.

jisung looks up just in time to catch it, and for a second, he forgets how to walk. his feet still move, somehow, but he’s not totally sure he’s controlling them anymore. “y/n.”

you push off the edge of the pool table and step toward him.

“hi, hannie,” you murmur while closing the distance between you two.

he blinks like he wasn’t expecting you to see him so fast, and you’re already stepping forward, arms looping around his waist in a hug that feels too natural. he lets out this tiny, stupid noise in response—half-laugh, half-sigh—and you feel him relax, just slightly, arms still around you.

“you look so nice tonight,” he says. “not that you don’t always look nice. you do. i just mean tonight you look... extra. extra-nice. not like extra extra. just—” he cuts himself off to take a deep breath.

“jisung,” you say, trying not to laugh.

he groans, pressing his forehead lightly against your shoulder like he’s trying to physically hide from his own mouth. “why do i talk?”

you giggle, arms still around him. “i like when you talk.”

“even when it’s a full word salad?”

“especially then.”

he lifts his head, eyes a little glassy, cheeks pink. he’s definitely drunk. that loose, slow-blinking kind of drunk that makes him just bold enough to stay.

“i’m serious, though,” he says, a little steadier this time. “you look really pretty.”

you glance down for a second, suddenly very interested in the floor. his words sink in slower than usual—like they need to be translated through the warmth crawling up your neck first. 

“you don’t look so bad yourself,” you say, voice low, a little teasing. “i like you in black.”

his lips twitch, and he glances down at himself like he forgot what he was wearing. “yeah?”

“mhm,” you pull away gently from the hug, but your fingers are ghosting along the sleeve of his shirt. “looks good on you.”

his smile comes back, wide and boyish and completely unfiltered. “i’ll wear black every day for the rest of my life.”

you laugh, half-buried in your drink, and jisung watches like he’s never seen anything more important. like the party behind him doesn’t exist. like the only music playing is whatever your laugh sounds like inside his head.

“you’re ridiculous,” you say, still smiling.

“you’re perfect,” he blurts, too fast.

you freeze.

he realizes what he just said, panic flashing behind his eyes. “no pressure at all, like obviously you’re human, you’ve got flaws or whatever, like maybe you bite your straws or something—wait do you do that? that’d actually be kinda cute.”

you smile, shaking your head slowly, your cheeks warm with something gentler than tipsy heat. “you’re such a loser.”

“shut up,” he whines immediately, tipping his head back. 

you laugh again, softer this time. “you don’t need to be so nervous all the time.”

he looks down at you. “i’m not nervous.”

you raise an eyebrow.

“i’m—okay, i was nervous,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck, “like, very, very nervous. but i’m not anymore. i’m just…”

there’s a pause. then—suddenly, like something in him just clicks—he exhales hard and leans in a little, eyes darting to the floor for a second before he finds the courage to meet yours again.

“do you even understand how long it took me to talk to you?” he says, voice a little shaky but rising with momentum. “i’ve been at this party longer than you think. like, i got here and saw you and panicked.”

you blink.

he nods, almost laughing now. “ask felix. i’ve been running recon missions all night trying to figure out when to approach. i went to the bathroom just to psych myself up.”

you’re giggling before he even finishes the sentence, and he’s grinning now, fully leaning into the embarrassment like it’s somehow worth it just to make you laugh like that.

your chest warms, the way it always does when he’s honest like this. “you were scared to talk to me?”

he nods, eyes flicking to yours like he’s bracing for impact. “yeah. which is so dumb. because now that i’m here, i don’t even remember what i was scared of.”

you look at him for a second, really look, and your voice comes out quieter. “you know i was waiting for you, right?”

his eyes widen slightly.

“i kept checking the door. thought maybe you weren’t coming.”

he exhales something shaky, overwhelmed but trying not to show it. “so i was over there being dramatic. meanwhile, you were standing here thinking nice things about me.”

“i usually am,” you say simply, like it’s a fact. because it is.

jisung stares at you for a beat, like his brain is buffering, then shakes his head in disbelief. “i’m really calling myself out tonight, huh?”

you tilt your head, smiling. “you kind of are.”

he laughs, nervous but real, his hand coming up to scratch behind his ear. “yeah, well. might as well go all in at this point.”

you watch him quietly, as he takes a breath. a deep one. 

and when he looks at you again, “i like you,” he says, all in one breath. then again, slower. “i really, really like you.”

your breath catches.

he keeps going, words tumbling out before he can stop them. “like, so much it makes me kind of insane. like, i replay our conversations after they happen. i see you across the room and i forget what i was doing. like my whole brain just reroutes to you.”

you bite your lip to keep from laughing, but because it’s so him. nervous. rambling. stupidly beautiful under the soft, colored lights of hyunjin’s basement, every line of his face sincere.

jisung laughs, but it’s nervous—barely held together. “and you…” he exhales hard, running a hand through his hair again. “you’re always making it seem like it’s okay that i’m all over the place. like i talk too much and say dumb things—like now—and you just…”

his voice drops.

“you just smile at me. like i’m not a disaster.”

you’re already stepping closer before he’s even done talking, heart thudding.

“jisung,” you say gently. “you’re not a disaster.”

he lets out a small breath, like he doesn’t totally believe you yet.

“you’re funny and thoughtful and so, so good to the people you love. you’re smart. you care so much, and you try harder than anyone i’ve ever met, even when you think no one notices.” you continue, fingers brushing his wrist.

he looks at you, finally. 

“and i like that you talk a lot,” you continue. “even when you spiral and say five things at once. especially then, honestly.”

he blinks, surprised.

“it’s kind of hot,” you add casually, like it’s no big deal. “how fast your brain moves. i mean, you literally rap for a living. makes sense your mouth can’t keep up sometimes.”

his ears turn pink instantly.

“oh my god,” he mutters, covering his face with both hands.

you laugh, nudging him gently. “i’m serious. all the weird, nervous, overthinking parts of you. because they’re just you. and i might seem composed most of the time,” you say, voice softer now, more tentative, “but truthfully, i’m not.”

that gets his attention. his fingers part just enough for one eye to peek through.

you shrug, cheeks heating. “i just… i’ve gotten really good at pretending i’ve got it together.”

jisung stares, stunned into silence, like he can’t believe you’re saying all this. like every part of him is rewiring in real time.

you reach out, fingers curling into the hem of his shirt, tugging gently. “even tonight, i almost didn’t text you.”

his breath catches.

“i sat there with the message typed out. had second thoughts about it. i thought maybe you didn’t want to hear from me, or maybe i’d come on too strong.”

“you’re joking,” he says, blinking hard. “you’re actually joking.”

“i’m not,” you say, laughing, tugging again at his shirt like it’ll ground you. “i was spiraling.”

your face is close to his now—too close, and not nearly close enough. you can feel the warmth radiating off his skin, the barely-there brush of his breath against your lips. his eyes flicker between your mouth and your eyes like he’s still trying to decide if this is really happening.

“you have no idea,” you whisper, “how much i’ve wanted this,”

and then he leans in and kisses you.

slow, sure, his lips parting yours like a question he already knows the answer to.

you kiss him back instantly, instinctively, your hand curling tighter in his shirt. it starts gentle—like you’re both still trying to wrap your heads around the fact that this is real—but it builds fast. 

you melt into him, arms sliding up around his neck, hands finding the soft strands of hair at the back of his head. he groans, just barely, when you pull him closer.

his hands move to your waist, thumbs brushing beneath the hem of your shirt, fingertips warm against your skin. he kisses like he’s trying to make up for all the time he spent holding back.

you grin, and he laughs before tugging you forward again.

his back hits the edge of the pool table with a soft thud, and you go with him, hands still tangled in his hair. around you, the party hums on—bass heavy, people shouting over it, everyone too drunk or distracted to notice the two of you. your bodies are angled close, flush. his hands slipping up your back, your hips pressed between his legs.

then his mouth dips lower.

he kisses your jaw, then just below it—his lips brushing the curve of your neck. you giggle, surprised by the way it tickles and burns all at once.

“jisung—”

“shhh,” he murmurs, and then he’s kissing up your throat again, back to your lips, like he needs to reclaim them.

and you let him. you always will.

“bro.”

jisung doesn’t look up from where he’s sitting cross-legged on his bedroom floor, staring down at his phone like it’s personally wronged him. 

felix flops onto the bed with a dramatic sigh, limbs everywhere. “you’ve been rewriting the same text for ten minutes. you’re literally dating her. you don’t need to be this stressed.”

“that’s the problem,” jisung mutters. “we’re dating. there are stakes now.”

felix blinks. “for three months. you sleep at her place like twice a week. what are you even texting her about?”

jisung squints at his phone. “i wanted to say ‘i miss you,’ but then i was like, is that too clingy? so i tried ‘thinking about you,’ but that sounds vaguely ominous. then i changed it to a meme, but the meme was from 2020 and it made me sound like chan hyung.”

felix groans, grabbing a pillow and chucking it in jisung’s direction. “just send—”

ding-dong.

they both freeze.

jisung scrambles to his feet and nearly trips over his phone cord. “that’s her.” he’s already halfway down the hall, socks skidding on the floor.

he flings open the front door, chest heaving slightly like he just finished a sprint—and there you are, hoodie on, hair windblown, grinning like you couldn’t wait another second to see him.

he doesn’t hesitate. he just pulls you in.

you laugh, arms wrapping around his waist easily, comfortably, like you’ve done it a thousand times by now.

“i missed you,” jisung squeals into your hair, with no problem saying it out loud.

felix sighs, muttering something that sounds suspiciously like loser as he disappears back into the room.

[cadelinhadaromanoff]

𝙽𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚆𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜

Summary: After a messy divorce, Scarlett Johansson moves to a quiet house in the woods with her young son. Her plans for peace are quickly derailed by nosy cattle, a sarcastic neighbor, and a series of chaotic (and hilarious) encounters. But somewhere between wild animals and electric fences, a strange and unexpected connection begins to grow.

Paring: Scarlett Johansson x Reader

Word count: 6907

Warnings: Divorce, Dead Rat, Ox doing gardening, Scarlett being a diva

Author's notes: First of all, I want to apologize for the pause in Keep Telling Yourself That. I’m still stuck in a creative block and honestly have no idea how to move the story forward besides the lack of time as well 🤡. And I am going to reply all your asks very soon thanks for all the love you guys are giving me <3

In the meantime, I brought this as a little apology… and because I laughed way too much while writing it. I really hope it makes you laugh (or at least smile) as much as it did for me. Fair warning: this will very likely NOT get a part two.

゛ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𓂃𓈒𓏸 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ᥫ᭡ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ༝ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ˚₊

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 🪻 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 🐄 ‎ ₊

　　 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ˚　　 ૮₍ ˶´ᵔ ᵕ ᵔᵕ˶ ₎ა ‎ ₊ㅤ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⁺

　　 　˳ 　 　⸝⸝⸝♡　　⁺　　˚₊

After her divorce, Scarlett had sworn off everything that even vaguely resembled Los Angeles — the cameras, the parties, the constant need to smile like she wasn’t slowly being eaten alive. She didn’t want another staged interview where she had to laugh about her “exciting new chapter.” She didn’t want to wear makeup. She didn’t want to talk about her ex. She didn’t even want to talk about her career.

She just wanted to breathe.

So she bought a house in the woods. A real one. Not a rustic fantasy designed by architects for a Vanity Fair photoshoot. No. This one had creaky wooden floors, a fireplace that hadn’t worked in decades, and ivy claiming every inch of the southern wall. The place smelled of damp soil and something older. It wasn’t glamorous. But it was quiet. And it was hers.

She started waking up before the sun. Drinking coffee in a heavy mug she found in the attic. Planting things with her bare hands — mostly wrong, she suspected. She didn’t care. The garden grew unevenly, wildly, like it was celebrating her freedom with her.

She wore the same boots every day. Cut her own hair in the mirror with sewing scissors. Answered texts only when she felt like it, which was almost never. If the world wanted her, it could wait.

So when she heard a car pull up behind her one morning — the crunch of tires on gravel just loud enough to cut through the buzz of insects and the rustle of her gloves in the soil — she didn’t look up right away. She assumed it was the delivery guy who always left her packages too far from the porch.

And then she heard a voice.

A compliment.

Low, casual. Like you belonged there. Like you knew her.

She rose to her feet, brushing dirt from her hands, not even turning around before replying with just enough bite in her voice to make her point.

“Look, I moved here for a reason. If you’re a fan or—God forbid—a paparazzo, I will not hesitate to call the sheriff. Or worse, I’ll give you my ex-husband’s number and let him deal with you.”

She turned.

And that’s when she saw you.

Not with a phone. Not holding a camera. Just standing there like someone who lived here. One brow slightly raised. Your arms crossed as if you couldn’t believe her ego had actually reached these trees.

You rolled your eyes — an honest-to-God, theatrical roll — and let out a dry little scoff.

“I was just trying to be nice,” you muttered. “Wanted to let you know the neighbor’s Nelore cattle broke through the fence and they’re, uh… currently trampling your lavender.”

Scarlett blinked.

You looked her up and down once. Not in admiration. In amusement. Like she was the absurd one here.

“They’re territorial. Real beasts. Ready to kill something if they’re feeling moody.” You paused, pointing lazily over your shoulder. “Might wanna call the neighbor before you end up on the evening news.”

And then you were gone. Just like that. Hopping into your car with a half-laugh still lingering in the air, dust rising behind your tires, and Scarlett left staring at her lavender patch being annihilated by two very large, very aggressive cows.

She didn’t know whether to scream… or laugh.

Scarlett stared at the lavender — or what remained of it — in a daze. Two massive Nelore bulls stood in the middle of her flower bed like smug, horned villains straight out of a Western. One of them mooed at her. Mooed. Loud and long, like it knew she had once been the highest-paid actress in the world and still didn’t care.

She took three steps back, whipped out her phone with dirt-stained fingers, and hit the number she swore she’d never use unless it was a literal emergency: Mr. Alfredo, the elusive 84-year-old neighbor who owned the “ranch” next door. Ranch was generous. It was mostly fence posts and chaos.

The phone rang five times.

He picked up with a grunt.

“Your cows,” Scarlett said, voice shrill, “are ATTACKING my lavender! I’m not kidding, Mr. Alfredo, they are OUTSIDE. They are HERE. On my land. Breathing on my tomatoes.”

“Which cows?” he asked, bored.

“The murdery ones!” she shrieked. “The big horned ones that look like they’re planning a coup!”

He sighed. “Ah. Joaquim and Dandara. They get emotional sometimes.”

“EMOTIONAL?” She looked over just in time to see Dandara trying to sit in her antique wheelbarrow. The wheel snapped clean off. “One of them just crushed my cradle!”

“What cradle?”

“My decorative cradle! It’s vintage!”

Silence. Then a slow chuckle.

“I’ll be there in twenty. Don’t provoke them. Joaquim hates sarcasm.”

Scarlett hung up mid-sentence, clutching her phone like it could save her.

But now… she had another problem.

You.

She hadn’t asked your name. Or where you lived. All she knew was your smug little half-smile, your warning about beasts ready to kill something, and the deeply annoying fact that you were right. She scanned the treeline, practically vibrating with the need to track you down and… thank you? Apologize? Shove a cow at you?

She stormed up her driveway, determined. The only other house down the road was a charming A-frame with a mailbox that read “Lancaster.” Cute. She marched toward it with all the ferocity of a woman who once did her own stunts.

Except—she stopped halfway there, realizing she was still in her gardening overalls, one strap falling off, gloves tucked into her waistband, her boots caked in mud, and was that cow poop on her sleeve?!

She gasped.

“No. No no no—this is not how I meet people!”

She turned back, tripped over a root, caught herself, then turned back again.

“Whatever. I’ve been in worse premieres.”

By the time she reached your porch, she’d rehearsed five different ways to sound breezy and casual. All of them failed immediately when she knocked and shouted:

“HELLO?! You were right the demon cows are emotionally unstable and possibly psychic, and I’m pretty sure they’ve cursed me and my garden!”

No answer.

“Hello? Neighbor?! I—ugh.”

She peeked in through the side window and caught a glimpse of something pink. A cat bed. Of course. You were probably the type who rescued kittens and gave them vintage names like Myrtle or Captain Whiskers. She sighed and sat down on your porch, cross-legged, utterly defeated, smelling vaguely of manure and heartbreak.

Behind her, in the distance, Joaquim mooed again.

Scarlett flinched and groaned.

“God, just take the house. You win.”

Scarlett was about to give up entirely — possibly even accept her fate as a disgraced lavender farmer with cow trauma — when she heard the creak of a screen door behind her.

She turned, hopeful, brushing her hair from her face with the back of her wrist like she was in a movie and not… visibly smeared with cow shit and shame.

You stepped outside, squinting at her from the porch like she’d just stepped out of a swamp. You were holding a half-eaten piece of toast and wore pajama pants with tiny stars on them like this was all very routine.

You looked her up and down once — slowly — then raised your brows and said:

“I don’t give stale bread to rude blonde women covered in cow crap.”

Scarlett blinked.

You took another bite of toast.

“Just a personal rule. It’s on a sign somewhere. I think it’s the Fourth Commandment.”

Before she could form a reply — or a comeback, which was hard with her dignity leaking from her pores — your cat slinked past your legs and trotted straight toward Scarlett like she’d been summoned by chaos itself.

A pale, elegant thing with a dramatically poofy tail and a little jingle on her collar.

Scarlett gasped. “Oh my God—hi, sweetheart,” she said instinctively, reaching out.

The cat immediately rubbed against her shin, purring so loudly it was almost suspicious.

You squinted again and took another bite of toast, chewing slowly.

“Petunia, get away from her. She’s probably contagious with, like, spoiled caviar parasites or a yacht flu.”

Scarlett straightened. “Excuse me?!”

“She might’ve touched a champagne flute before washing her hands. I can’t risk it. I just got you dewormed.”

Scarlett opened her mouth to respond — something dramatic, maybe noble — but paused.

“Wait. Petunia?”

You raised a brow. “Yeah?”

“I knew it.”

You blinked. “Knew what?”

“That your cat would have a vintage floral name. You look like the kind of person who would name a cat after a Victorian ghost.”

You stared at her for a second. Then grinned.

Scarlett hated that it was kind of cute.

Still, she huffed. “Well. I didn’t come here for carbs, or to be insulted. I came here to say thank you. Sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“I might have… misjudged you earlier.”

“You think?”

“You were smug.”

“I was right.”

She pursed her lips.

You shrugged and stepped off the porch, scooping Petunia into your arms before she could fully imprint on Scarlett’s aura. “She’s already got asthma. I don’t need her developing diva lung.”

Scarlett muttered something about diva strength and crossed her arms — which only made the strap on her overalls fall again. Petunia pawed toward her longingly from your arms like she was being torn from a one-woman cult.

You turned halfway back to the door, then paused. “You want coffee?”

Scarlett stared.

You smirked. “Don’t worry. It’s not stale bread. And I can brew it without emotionally scarring anyone.”

She hesitated for one full second.

Then followed you inside like it was a perfectly normal morning and not the weirdest, most chaotic thing that had happened to her since the 2017 Oscars.

Scarlett stepped inside, and immediately it felt like she’d walked into a page torn out of one of those “Live Simply” lifestyle magazines — except yours didn’t feel curated or performative. It felt… real. Warm wood floors, pale curtains catching the breeze, soft cushions in earthy tones, and dried flowers hanging like delicate whispers from old hooks. Everything smelled faintly of cinnamon, books, and something that might’ve been lavender tea.

She blinked, caught off guard by the softness of it all. By the lack of chaos.

The only sound was the low rumble of the kettle heating on the stove and the little clink of mugs being set on the counter — and, well… the soul-piercing stare of a cat.

On the couch, stretched like an offended loaf of pumpernickel, was a small black feline with a short, crooked tail that twitched just once as their glowing yellow eyes locked onto her with a disgusted intensity that felt… biblical.

Scarlett stilled.

The cat didn’t blink.

Its entire vibe screamed: You don’t belong here, peasant.

“Oh my God,” Scarlett whispered. “Is he judging me?”

You turned from the counter without missing a beat. “Yeah. That’s Captain Scratches. And yes, that’s the correct reaction to someone who threatens Petunia with rich girl germs.”

Scarlett’s jaw dropped.

You slid a mug toward her — clean, ceramic, with tiny little blueberries painted near the rim. The steam rising from it smelled like the beginning of a forgiveness arc.

“Fresh coffee,” you said. “No cow spit. No passive aggression. You’re welcome.”

Scarlett took it slowly, half expecting another insult to be hiding at the bottom. But it was warm. Comforting. Possibly the best-smelling thing she’d encountered since she moved into her disaster of a fixer-upper.

She took a careful sip, then glanced back at the couch.

Captain Scratches hadn’t moved. Still loafed. Still judging.

“He… kind of looks like a very angry loaf of bread.”

“That’s because he is an angry loaf of bread. He was born cranky and partially tail-less. The vet said he’s fine physically, just spite-based.”

Scarlett gave a soft, involuntary laugh — the kind that slipped out before she could control it.

“I mean… respect,” she muttered. “He gets it.”

You leaned against the counter, eyes glinting with amusement. “And you? You still feel personally victimized by the cows?”

She groaned. “I was not emotionally prepared for a livestock ambush.”

“They broke your cradle.”

“You don’t have to keep bringing that up.”

You sipped your own coffee, smiling into the mug. “You sat on my porch like a haunted Victorian governess and yelled about cow curses.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched.

Captain Scratches let out a long, slow sigh, as if offended by the flirtatious undertones.

Scarlett raised her mug in the cat’s direction. “To your judgment, Captain. May it be as eternal as your disapproval.”

He blinked once.

She looked back at you. “He likes me now. That was a blessing.”

You laughed softly. “If you survive the next 24 hours without Petunia bringing you a dead beetle offering, I’ll believe it.”

Scarlett took another sip of coffee, slowly settling into the strange warmth of it all — the soft morning light, your unapologetically sarcastic presence, the two weird cats, the mug in her hand.

She hadn’t expected any of this. But maybe that was the point?

The coffee between you and Scarlett was warm and surprisingly soothing, like a gentle exhale after the chaos of the Nelore invasion. Your kitchen smelled faintly of fresh herbs and old wood, the sunlight filtering through linen curtains casting soft, golden pools on the floor.

You leaned against the counter, sipping from your mug while she cradled hers with both hands, occasionally glancing around the room — curious but hesitant, as if trying to decide whether she was still dreaming or actually here.

Between sips, you offered her practical advice about the fence, your voice low and casual but unmistakably firm.

“Honestly? That fence? It’s a joke. You’ll want to reinforce it, or those Nelore beasts will show up at your window with a cow’s head pressed right against the glass. Imagine your kids waking up to that nightmare.”

Scarlett chuckled, a little breathless, almost like she appreciated the vivid image.

“You’re not kidding. That would definitely ruin my ‘quiet retreat in the woods’ vibe.”

You shrugged, smirking.

“Mr. Alfredo’s got a good heart, but the man’s lucky if he remembers his own birthday. If you rely on him for fence repairs or anything more complicated, you’re on your own. Best bet is to call a contractor yourself, fix it right, and then just send Alfredo the bill.”

She raised an eyebrow at you.

“Send him the bill?”

“Absolutely. He sold you the house, he won’t mind — or he’ll mind a little, but it’s his mess to clean up.”

Scarlett smiled, the kind of smile that was both amused and grateful, the kind that told you she was beginning to appreciate this strange, sarcastic neighbor with a penchant for feline judgment.

The conversation drifted then — a little less formal, a little more easy. You swapped stories about the occasional wildlife visitors, the quirks of living out here, and the mysterious charm of rural life that city folk could never understand.

She admitted she missed the city sometimes — the energy — but this? the anonymity this was something else. A chance to start over without an audience, without expectations.

You joked that she might want to invest in a scarecrow shaped like a Terminator to keep the cows in line.

She laughed, nearly spilling her coffee, and told you she’d consider it.

Eventually, she stood, smoothing down her overalls and gathering her things.

“Thanks for the coffee… and the advice. I’ll probably need more of both.”

You nodded, already imagining the next time you’d cross paths.

Scarlett stepped back outside, the cool air brushing against her cheeks like a soft reminder that this place — wild, unpredictable, messy — was hers now. She looked down at her hands, still a little stained with soil, and then toward the patch of lavender struggling to survive. The memory of your sarcastic warning about the cows’ murderous tendencies made her smirk despite herself.

As she walked back toward her house, a sudden rustling in the bushes made her freeze. Her heart jumped—not out of fear, but because she was beginning to expect the unexpected here.

The afternoon morning came slowly, wrapped in the kind of pale, golden light that makes everything feel softer than it is. Dew still clung to the grass, and the fields smelled of earth and promise. Somewhere, a rooster cried far too confidently for someone who hadn’t seen the city in years. The kettle began to hiss inside just as she stepped out onto the porch with bare feet and sleepy eyes.

The world was quiet again—but not the kind of quiet that made her wary. The kind that felt like a pause, like something was holding its breath.

But it was just you, casually leaning against your car, arms crossed, watching her with that same half-amused, half-exasperated look.

“Missed me?” you teased.

Scarlett rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was just making sure my garden didn’t get totally destroyed.”

“Well, I am telling you’ve got a few days before the next attack,” you warned, pointing toward a sagging section of her fence. “If you don’t fix that, your kids might wake up to a cow’s face pressed against their bedroom window.”

She crossed her arms. “Maybe they need to toughen up.”

You laughed, the sound warm and easy. “Or maybe you do.”

The air between you felt lighter than before, more charged too—as if the shared battle against rampaging cattle had broken some invisible ice.

“Seriously though, do it. Don't wait for the men to do something” you said, stepping closer, “I’m serious about the fence. And Mr. Alfredo? Good man, but if you want that fixed right, you’ll have to call someone yourself. Then send him the bill. Trust me.”

Scarlett sighed, nodding. “Sounds like I’m going to need a lot of help.”

You shrugged. “That’s what neighbors are for.”

For a moment, you both stood there, the sun dipping lower, casting long shadows across the gravel road between your houses. Then Scarlett tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Think you can help me find someone who knows how to fix a fence?”

You smirked. “I know a guy. And he owes me a favor.”

Her smile softened. “Good. Because I’m not going to let any more cows invade my garden.”

You laughed. “Deal. But only if you promise not to sit on my porch yelling about cow curses again.”

She grinned. “No promises.” Scarlett did get the guy’s number, but instead of calling, she stubbornly decided to ignore your advice and wait for Mr. Alfredo to show up…

A few days passed. The lavender began to show signs of recovery — stubborn little green shoots curling back toward the sun — and the house started to feel less like an escape and more like something she could actually belong to. Scarlett kept busy. Fixing up the porch. Reorganizing the kitchen cabinets. Pretending she wasn’t glancing toward your house more than she should.

She didn’t run into you again — not at the mailbox, not in the woods, not even at the quiet gravel road that connected your two lives. She told herself that was fine. Good, even. You were just a neighbor. Helpful. Direct. Infuriatingly funny. It wasn’t like she was waiting or anything.

Still, on the third morning of silence, she stood barefoot in her kitchen, pouring coffee into a chipped blue mug, and muttered to herself, “I should’ve at least asked her name.”

As if on cue, there was a sudden, sharp thud from the back of the house — followed by a muffled, very unholy moo.

Scarlett froze. “No.”

Another thud. Louder. Closer.

“No no no—”

She sprinted to the window and yanked open the curtain. And there, with the exact dramatic flair of a horror movie monster, stood Joaquim. Again. His massive head just inches from the glass, eyes blank, chewing something she prayed wasn’t her oregano.

He stared at her like he’d returned to finish what he started.

She cursed under her breath, scrambled for her phone, and punched in the only number she knew would answer in under five rings.

You.

“Hello?” Your voice, casual. Calm. Possibly still in bed.

“There’s a cow at my window.”

A pause. “Again?”

“I think it’s the same one. I think it’s holding a grudge.”

You snorted. “Did you fix the fence?”

“I— I meant to!”

“Well, he meant to eat your entire herb garden, so.”

Scarlett growled softly. “Do you have a broom? Or a taser? Or a very firm voice?”

“I’ll be there in five.”

True to your word, you arrived in five minutes — hair pulled back, boots half-laced, holding a metal rake like you were preparing for war.

Scarlett met you at the back gate, pointing dramatically at the oversized menace.

“There. That’s him. Joaquim. The lavender-crusher.”

You sighed deeply and marched past her like this was all painfully routine. With a few loud claps and a stern voice (and one incredibly creative insult involving beef jerky), you got him to move. Slowly. Disrespectfully. But move, he did.

Scarlett stood there, stunned.

You turned to her. “You really didn’t fix the fence?”

“I was busy.”

“Doing what? Staring at tomatoes?”

She hesitated. “…Yes.”

You shook your head with a laugh and gestured toward her toolshed. “We’ll patch it. Temporarily. Just enough so he doesn’t come knocking like some weird ex-boyfriend.”

She followed you toward the shed, her coffee still in hand, trying not to smile too much.

“I didn’t catch your name last time,” she said quietly.

You glanced over your shoulder. “Y/n.”

Scarlett repeated it under her breath. “Y/n.” Then smirked. “Well, Y/n… Now I owe you coffee.”

You looked at her with a glint in your eye. “Make it strong. I don’t rescue women from cows for free.”

And that’s when Scarlett knew this wouldn’t be the last time she called you.

Scarlett didn’t know what she expected when you said “patch the fence”, but it definitely wasn’t this.

You stood at the edge of her property, sleeves rolled up, a coil of electric wire over one shoulder, work gloves on, and a multitool strapped to your belt like some kind of intimidating rural superhero. Scarlett trailed behind you in boots she wasn’t sure were waterproof and a denim jacket that did nothing to hide the fact that she was already regretting every decision she had ever made regarding livestock management.

You dropped the coil next to a splintered post and turned to her, serious as death.

“Alright. We’re going electric.”

Scarlett blinked. “Like… electrocute the cows?”

You gave her a look. “No. Just a little buzz. A warning zap. Enough to say, ‘Hey buddy, this is not your salad bar.’”

She stared at the wire like it might leap up and bite her.

“I’m not sure I love the idea of weaponizing the perimeter…”

“You know what I don’t love? Looking out my window and seeing the reincarnation of Mufasa standing in your herb patch.”

Scarlett huffed. “He’s not that big.”

“He’s an emotional terrorist in a fur coat,” you shot back, already threading the wire through the insulators. “Trust me, your kids will thank you.”

She sighed, folding her arms. “My kids are three and eight. I don’t think they’ll thank me when they get their first life-altering trauma from your fancy cow taser.”

You snorted. “Then don’t let them lick the fence.”

Scarlett blinked. “Who does that?!”

You pointed at her with a gloved hand. “Children. Children do that. They see a fence and think it’s a snack or a challenge. Tell them it’s cursed or full of ghosts or something.”

She groaned. “You’re a menace.”

You grinned, completely unbothered. “I’m a practical woman. Now hold this.”

She took the spool of wire reluctantly, standing awkwardly while you moved with practiced ease, hammering in a new post, securing the lines, and connecting the charger to a very ominous-looking battery pack.

Scarlett flinched every time something clicked or sparked.

“You know, when I moved here,” she muttered, “I imagined growing tomatoes. Maybe reading a book under a tree. Not surviving The Revenant starring cow-shaped trauma.”

You stood up, brushing off your hands. “Well, surprise. You’ve officially joined the war against large ungulates.”

Scarlett looked at the now-zinging fence, wires humming softly with warning.

“And it won’t, like… fry me, right?”

You smirked. “Not unless you decide to throw yourself against it while holding a toaster.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Y/n.”

You raised both hands. “It’s safe. I promise. You could touch it and you’d just get a little jolt.”

“I’m not going to touch it.”

“Then you’re good!”

She eyed the wire suspiciously.

You stepped back to admire your work. The line was straight, tight, and honestly kind of beautiful in its own grim rural way.

“There,” you said with satisfaction. “No more bovine break-ins. Your lavender’s safe. Your cradle can rest in peace.”

Scarlett chuckled despite herself.

Then you turned to her, brushing dirt off your palms. “Now. If anything breaks? Don’t call Mr. Alfredo. Call me. I can actually read instructions.”

She smiled, one brow arched. “And what do I owe you for today’s electrified masterpiece?”

You thought for a second. “Coffee. Strong. And a muffin. Something cinnamon. No raisins. I don’t trust people who like raisins.”

Scarlett gave a slow, dramatic nod. “You drive a hard bargain.”

“I work with livestock and rich people. I’ve built up resistance.”

Scarlett watched you brush the last bit of dirt from your hands, that quiet satisfaction in your posture like someone who actually enjoyed knowing how things worked. You were still smirking, clearly proud of your electrified, cow-repelling masterpiece.

And she didn’t know what came over her — maybe the lingering hum of adrenaline, maybe the weird comfort she felt whenever you were near — but the words slipped out before she had time to second-guess them.

“You want to come inside? I owe you that coffee now.”

You blinked, surprised. Just for a moment.

Then you nodded, casual as ever. “Only if your house is cow-free.”

“I checked all the closets this morning.”

You followed her up the porch steps, your boots leaving little trails of dry earth on her welcome mat. Inside, the house was warm and a little chaotic — half-unpacked boxes in the hallway, a mismatched pair of rainboots by the door, a folded quilt thrown over the back of the couch like someone had fallen asleep under it not too long ago.

The air smelled faintly of apple-scented cleaner and fresh laundry. Real. Lived in.

You were mid-step into the living room when a blur of motion came hurtling around the corner on socked feet.

A tiny, pajama-clad missile with a head full of messy curls and wide eyes. Scarlett barely had time to call out before her son skidded to a stop in front of you.

He stared.

You stared back.

He blinked slowly — a little suspicious, very curious.

You crouched a bit, dropping into that instinctive, soft body language reserved for tiny humans and cats named Petunia.

“Hey there,” you said gently. “You must be the tomato-guardian.”

He didn’t answer.

Just reached up and handed you… a half-eaten cracker he had clearly been working on for a while.

Scarlett, mortified, opened her mouth to intervene — but you just took it like it was gold, like it was a sacred ritual.

“Wow,” you said seriously. “This is for me?”

He nodded solemnly.

You nodded back. “Big honor. Thank you, Sir Crumbs-a-Lot.”

He gave a tiny, toothy grin. Then ran off again with a shriek, disappearing behind the couch like a gremlin.

Scarlett blinked. “Okay… so I guess you’re part of the family now.”

You straightened with a grin, holding up the cracker like it was your official badge.

“Do I get a sippy cup and voting privileges, or…?”

She laughed, a warm, breathy sound that surprised even her. “If you can get him to eat a full meal and not just string cheese and olives, I’ll consider you for co-parenting.”

You followed her into the kitchen, the tension from earlier bleeding into something softer. She busied herself at the coffee machine while you leaned against the doorway, watching her with a subtle kind of curiosity.

Scarlett kept her back to you for a moment longer than necessary, suddenly aware of the way she’d hastily tucked her hair into a loose clip, of the smudge of soil still near her elbow. She didn’t usually feel self-conscious in her own kitchen, and certainly not around neighbors with sarcasm in their pockets and electric wires coiled under their arms.

“You like it black?” she asked over her shoulder.

You lifted an eyebrow. “You calling me predictable?”

“I’m calling you practical,” she replied, turning around with two mismatched mugs in hand — one with a faded Broadway logo, the other with a cracked handle and a drawing of a goat that said I kid you not.

You took the goat mug with a smirk, inspecting it like fine china. “A woman of culture.”

“I try.”

You sipped, humming a little in approval. She leaned against the counter across from you, folding her arms as if settling into a new rhythm she hadn’t quite expected.

“Thanks for helping with the fence,” she said, her tone suddenly a little quieter. “I know I joked, but… really. That thing’s been keeping me up.”

You shrugged. “Yeah, well, you’re not the first newcomer who underestimates how territorial Nelore bulls are. Or how annoying Alfredo can be when you ask for help twice in one week.”

Scarlett chuckled, a warm line forming at the corner of her eyes. “He did promise to fix the gutters last Thursday. I haven’t heard from him since.”

“Classic.” You sipped again. “Next time, hire your own guy. Just send Alfredo the invoice and a plate of cookies. He’ll feel guilty enough to mow your lawn for a month.”

She was still smiling when her son reappeared in the doorway, one small hand rubbing sleep from his eye, the other clutching a plastic truck missing its wheels.

He made a beeline for you again, this time less shy, his tiny legs clambering awkwardly onto the bench beside you like he’d claimed his spot.

Scarlett blinked, startled. “Wow. He doesn’t usually…”

You waved her off, setting your mug down. “He’s a good judge of character. Clearly.”

The little boy shoved the broken truck toward you as if demanding repairs. Without missing a beat, you flipped it upside down, inspecting it like a pro.

“Well,” you muttered seriously. “This is a disaster. I’ll have to bring the full toolbox next time.”

Scarlett watched as her son stared at you like you were magic. Something in her chest tightened — not in a heavy way, not grief, not longing. Just… surprise. A softness she hadn’t felt in a while.

He didn’t do that with strangers.

He barely did that with her sister.

“I think he likes you,” she said, reaching for her coffee again.

You looked at the boy, who was now leaning against your arm and chewing on a string from his sleeve, utterly content.

“Yeah,” you said quietly. “I think I like him too.”

There was a pause. One of those rare, dense silences that didn’t feel awkward or empty — just full. Charged.

And then you ruined it, bless you.

“Maybe he just wants the rest of my cracker.”

Scarlett snorted, covering her mouth. “You’re not that charming.”

You raised your mug. “Give it time.”

The house felt a little quieter after you left.

Scarlett cleaned up the coffee mugs slowly, pretending she wasn’t still hearing your laugh in the kitchen tiles or the way her son had curled so naturally against your side, like it wasn’t a brand-new connection, like you’d always been part of the furniture.

She didn’t like that — how easy it had been. Or rather, she did like it. And that was the problem.

The next morning, she was pouring cereal into a bowl when she heard the unmistakable thunk-thunk of hammering just past the tomato bed. At first, she thought it was Alfredo finally returning from the dead to do the gutters, but when she stepped onto the porch, squinting into the sunlight, she saw… someone else entirely.

A man. Toolbelt. Setting wooden posts in a neat, curved line that followed the slope of her property.

She blinked.

He waved.

“Morning! I’m here to build the fence. Materials are in the truck.”

Scarlett raised a hand awkwardly. “Wait—what fence?”

The man pulled out his phone and double-checked a note. “Says here it’s already paid. Custom design, cedar wood, no exposed electric, kid-safe, cow-proof.” He grinned. “Pretty fancy. You’ve got good taste.”

Scarlett stared at him. Then at the posts. Then at the neat little bundle of invoices tied to the clipboard hanging on his belt.

There wasn’t a note. No smug message. Not even a doodle of a cow getting zapped.

Just… a fence.

By the time he’d finished outlining the first third of it, she realized it wasn’t just functional — it was beautiful. Curved just right to frame her garden. Sturdy, but soft in its lines. The electric wires you’d put in were subtly re-routed, now hidden inside carved channels. Still there. Still effective. But nowhere near the eyesore she’d feared.

She stood at the edge of her porch in loose flannel and leggings, barefoot, arms crossed and jaw tight in disbelief.

And then she heard it.

A snort.

From behind the oak tree near the edge of your property.

She turned her head sharply — and there you were. Hoodie on. Coffee in hand. Looking way too smug for someone who clearly hadn’t brushed their hair yet.

“Did you—”

You took a slow sip. “It’s not dangerously electric anymore. You can let the kid chase butterflies without risk of trauma.”

She opened her mouth. Closed it.

“You could’ve at least asked.”

“I did. Yesterday. You said thanks for helping with the fence.”

“That’s not permission to—”

“Eh,” you shrugged, already walking back toward your porch. “Charge Alfredo.”

“Wait—was this a guilt gift for insulting me in front of my child?”

You called out over your shoulder, without turning around:

“Nope. That was a gift for him. This is just me being neighborly.”

And you disappeared behind your door.

Scarlett blinked. Again.

She looked at the fence.

Then the sky.

Then back at your house, where she could still see your cat — Petunia — sprawled across the porch railing, giving her a look of absolute feline judgment.

She muttered under her breath, “This town is going to ruin me.”

It had been three days since the Fence Episode. Three days of quiet, of trying not to glance out the window every time your truck rolled down the gravel path. Three days of wondering if she should say thank you again. Or drop off cookies. Or file a restraining order for unsolicited carpentry and light flirtation.

Scarlett was mid-way through watering the potted lavender on her porch when she heard the distinct sound of something being dropped. Something wet.

Something that had a thud.

She froze. Slowly turned her head.

There, right at the top of the porch steps, stood your cat. Capitán. That small, black, rectangular loaf of disdain. His twisted tail flicked once, a lazy punctuation to the act of horror he had just committed.

At his feet lay a rat.

Not a little country field mouse. No, no. This thing was massive. A rodent built like it had been lifting grain sacks in a barn for twenty years. Dead as sin. Belly-up. One leg twitching from whatever feline justice had been served.

Scarlett dropped the watering can.

Capitán blinked slowly, then sat, tail curling around his feet. He didn’t meow. He didn’t need to. The message was clear:

“I see you. I respect you. Here is the corpse of your enemy.”

Scarlett stepped back.

“Oh my god.”

She looked around frantically, half-hoping you were watching so she could scream at you, or possibly sob. But your porch was empty, your windows dark. Petunia was sunbathing somewhere, presumably too elegant to hunt.

“Is this because I insulted your grooming routine?” she hissed at the cat, who continued to stare like a tiny, judgmental gargoyle.

She considered just going inside and pretending it wasn’t there. Let the wind take it. Let time erase the trauma.

But then her son toddled to the screen door behind her, curious. “Mama?”

Panic. Immediate.

“No! No no no—back inside, buddy. That’s not—there’s nothing fun out here!”

She slammed the door shut, turned back to Capitán, and pointed a trembling finger. “You. You stay right there.”

He yawned.

Two minutes later, she walked a few meters down the gravel path armed with an old dustpan, Scarlett marched down your path like a woman on the edge.

She didn’t knock. She didn’t ring.

She yelled from your front yard.

“HEY. YOUR CAT IS A SERIAL KILLER.”

You opened the door slowly, still chewing a bite of toast. “Capitán?”

“HE BROUGHT ME A RAT. A DENSE ONE.”

You stepped onto the porch, peering past her. “Oh. Huh. That’s generous of him. He doesn’t usually like blondes.”

Scarlett stared at you, disheveled, holding a plastic Target bag that now contained a double-bagged rodent corpse and what was left of her faith in the countryside.

You sipped your coffee, eyes twinkling. “That’s actually a good sign.”

“HE’S TWISTED.”

“He’s family.”

Scarlett shook the bag lightly. “What do I do with this?”

You gestured calmly. “Tie it. Hang it from your porch like a warning to other rats.”

She blinked. “I hate you.”

You smiled. “You’re welcome.”

She spent the rest of the afternoon scrubbing her porch with vinegar and soap, cursing both the cat and your unnerving ability to stay completely unbothered by woodland murder. The lavender was spared, but her dignity wasn’t. Her son, however, had pointed at the dead rat with the wide-eyed wonder of someone discovering The Lion King in real life.

“Scawy!” Cosmo had whispered, crouching dramatically like he was about to narrate the Circle of Life.

“Exactly,” Scarlett muttered under her breath, scrubbing so hard her shoulder ached.

It had been a long time since she’d done this kind of work — hands raw, knees dusty, back bent and sore in ways no personal trainer could’ve prepared her for. She wiped sweat off her brow with the inside of her wrist, only to realize she’d smeared soap and rat-related trauma across her temple.

“Ugh. Why is it sticky?” she groaned.

Cosmo, perched on the step above her, was still staring at the scene of the crime with a kind of reverent silence.

“He died-ed?”

“Yes, baby. He died-ed.” She gave one last furious scrub to the floorboard, then tossed the sponge into a bucket with a dramatic splash. “And he probably had a name, because that cat doesn’t kill strangers. He kills friends.”

Cosmo blinked slowly. “Cap’tan make him sleep?”

Scarlett paused. “…Sure. Let’s go with that.”

He looked pensive, chubby hand pressed to his mouth like he was in mourning.

Scarlett sighed, standing with a groan and stretching her back. “Listen, kiddo. If Capitán brings you a rat, it’s not a snack. It’s a threat.”

Cosmo nodded solemnly.

“And if you ever pick one up—”

“I eat it?”

“No! No, no—God, absolutely not.”

Cosmo blinked up at her, unbothered, a little smudge of dirt under one eye and curls damp with summer sweat. “But Cap’tan eated it.”

Scarlett held his squishy little cheeks in her hands and looked him dead in the eye. “That’s because Capitán is a sociopath, honey.”

Cosmo giggled, mostly because she made a face when she said it, not because he knew what it meant. Then, with all the grace of a drunk duckling, he leaned into her neck and yawned. “You sme’ like pickles,” he whispered sleepily.

She let out a laugh, weary and warm, and scooped him up again, stepping back into the house with him wrapped around her like a sloth. His tiny fingers clung to her tank top as his breathing slowed against her shoulder.

The house smelled like soap and lemon oil and the faint, fading stench of rat crime. She dropped the towel by the door, walked barefoot across the floor she hadn’t quite finished cleaning, and gently laid him on the couch. Capitán was still curled there, glaring like a Victorian ghost. Scarlett narrowed her eyes.

“We’re not speaking.”

The cat blinked. Slowly. Unapologetically.

She sighed and slumped into the armchair opposite them, letting the quiet settle for the first time all day. Her eyes drifted to the porch through the open window. Your yard was just visible through the trees, the faint shimmer of your electric wire catching the afternoon sun.

She had laughed when you explained it earlier — that dry, sarcastic smile of yours wrapped around a warning not to traumatize her children with barbed voltage. The way you just… existed out here. Like it was easy. Like animals and chaos and strange cats were just part of the rhythm. And that damn joke about not giving dry bread to rude blonde women — she should’ve been insulted.

She wasn’t.

She couldn’t even deny it — there was something about you. The way you spoke like everything had a punchline. The way you rolled your eyes like her fame meant nothing out here, like you weren’t afraid to call her ridiculous when she was being dramatic (which, fine — maybe, maybe she’d overreacted about the cow invasion). It was oddly grounding. Infuriatingly so.

“Ugh,” she muttered aloud, rubbing her temple. “Why do I like you?”

Cosmo, now barely awake, lifted one finger in the air. “She funny,” he whispered again, as if it solved everything.

Scarlett looked over at him, startled.

She smiled despite herself and leaned her head back against the chair.

“Yeah,” she murmured, watching the light move across the ceiling. “She kinda is.”

And just like that, the silence folded in around them again — warm, strange, a little dangerous. The kind of quiet where something new could start.

[yuujispinkhair]

I WANNA BE YOUR ENDGAME – Chapter 14

🏒❤️ A Hockey Romance feat. modern!Sukuna

Pairing: HockeyPlayer!Sukuna x Reader (female) Genre: College AU, Hockey AU, fluff + smut Playlist: I wanna be your Endgame Word Count: 4.5k Warnings: 18+, smut, cigarettes, alcohol, some rough locker room sex in this chapter ;), Kuna makes Reader squirt. Fuckbuddies to lovers. Reader is a creative writing student. Sukuna is an ice hockey player + history student. This story will have approximately 16 chapters. Minors don't interact. Header by me. Divider @/benkeibear

MASTERLIST

You have been dating Sukuna for two months, and it shows in the clothes you have bought lately. Warm sweaters and thermo leggings, anything to keep you warm in the chilly hockey arena, where you seem to spend more and more time.

You're not just here for Sukuna's games. More often than not, you are also sitting in the stands after your classes, reading the books your literature professor assigned while stealing far too many glances at your man, who is practicing with his teammates, looking too sexy to keep your eyes off him for more than a few minutes at a time.

It was Sukuna who asked you to come to his hockey training more often. Or he didn't outright ask, but told you how much he likes it when you watch him during practice. He whispered it in your ear when he was on top of you in all his naked tattooed glory, pressing you down with his heavy body, spoiling you with strokes so deep and good that you thought you would lose your mind, and of course, it lead to you promising him that you would drop by more often to keep him company during hockey practice.

So basically, you are here because Sukuna and you are equally obsessed with each other. And that thought alone is enough to make you grin from ear to ear.

You are currently sitting on the stands on a Tuesday afternoon, huddled in Sukuna's warm Tigers hoodie and your new fleece leggings, telling yourself you are working on your assignment, but truth be told, you are too busy watching your boyfriend skate across the ice, looking like a full course meal in his black compression shirt.

And Sukuna keeps looking at you, too, grinning that boyish grin and winking at you, not giving a fuck about who can see him flirting with his girl.

He even skates over to you occasionally, putting his gloved hand against the plexiglass and banging on it to capture your attention (as if he didn't already have it),

"Hey, princess! Come here for a sec! I need my lucky charm real quick!"

He smirks at you and jerks his tattooed chin towards a gate a few meters away. You roll your eyes playfully but get up and walk toward Sukuna while teasing him,

"Aww, does the big bad guy have withdrawal symptoms?"

And Sukuna just grins even broader at you, raising an eyebrow,

"Maybe I need a kiss or two. Isn't that part of your job description as my personal lucky charm? I am adding it to the rules right now if it isn't included already."

He looks so charming standing there with that playful grin and the twinkle in his maroon eyes, and you laugh delightedly, opening the gate so you can deliver the motivational kisses Sukuna asked for.

Sukuna leans down to capture your lips with his, giving you a playful, slow kiss. The sexy combination of his cold lips and warm tongue makes your head spin, and you eagerly lick into his mouth before he pulls away again a few seconds later and winks at you.

"Yeah, I am already feeling more energetic. Thank you, princess."

He ruffles your hair, waiting for your squeal of complaint before he laughs and turns around, skating back to his teammates to continue his training while you smooth down your hair and lick your lips, still tasting Sukuna on your tongue.

But even though his girl is here and Sukuna steals all those little moments with you, his coach never complains too much. Because he knows what you know, too: Sukuna isn't slacking. He takes his training seriously.

It's one of the things you love about him. His dedication, his ambition. Sukuna always gives his all. He always wants to be the best. And yet, as important as hockey is to him, he made room for you in his life. He wants you here, wants you in the stands when he has practice, wants you close to him, even if it just means some shared grins across the rink or some stolen kisses in between training sessions.

It's just as Sukuna said to you the night he confessed his feelings to you. He loves to combine his two favorite things in the world: You and hockey.

"Ew, get your dirty sports things off my pretty couch!"

Nobara stands in your shared living area, arms crossed in front of her chest, glaring indignantly at Sukuna, who just dropped by after hockey training and put his sports bag on the couch.

You snicker softly, about to make a joking reply, but your boyfriend is faster. Sukuna laughs and flashes Nobara a big rude grin, almost as if he is enjoying this. Which he probably really is, when you think about it. His eyes glitter with dark enjoyment.

"Chill, Ginger. Your couch should be honored that it gets to touch my bag. Also, you can go through my stuff, you won't find anything dirty. I take very good care of what is mine."

Sukuna's gaze strays to you at those last few words, and he winks at you, making you chuckle. You hold Sukuna's gaze, smiling broadly at him, watching his rude grin soften to a smile. Nobara sighs dramatically, marches over to the couch, and lifts Sukuna's bag with an exaggeratedly disgusted expression on her face before she dumps it on the floor in front of Sukuna's feet,

"Take that thing away! And, God, would the two of you stop it with the eye-fucking!? It's disgusting!"

Which only makes Sukuna's lips lift in a devilish, lopsided grin as he keeps looking at you,

"You heard her, princess. She doesn't like us eye-fucking. Let's go into your room and fuck for real."

Both you and Nobara squeal loudly at his words. Nobara makes a gagging noise, hurrying to the door,

"I am leaving! And if I find your filthy used condom in the bathroom again, I will burn down the hockey arena!"

"Okay, if you don't want it in the bathroom, I'll make sure to put it in the trash can in your room then. Didn't know you are such a fangirl, geez!"

You smack Sukuna's shoulder playfully, and Nobara screams as she bangs the door shut behind her. You laugh, rolling your eyes at Sukuna,

"Maybe you should be a bit nicer to her, Kuna."

"Oh, I fear I can't do that. It's part of my charm. And you're the only one who gets to see my nice side anyway."

And then his lips silence any further complaints, kissing you deep and with all those sexy tongue flicks that make you melt against his tall body, and a few minutes later, you sigh contently as Sukuna's weight settles on top of you on your bed, your hands automatically slipping under his hoodie, caressing his buff muscles, your head tilting back to let Sukuna trail kisses over your neck.

The little dispute with Nobara is forgotten for the next two hours that you spend with Sukuna in your room, making out and fucking, and cuddling afterward. But then he grumbles something about being hungry, and you smile and press a kiss to his neck, murmuring,

"Then go look what we have in the fridge."

Sukuna turns his head to cup your cheek with his hand, pulling you into a sloppy kiss before he gets up from your bed, only putting on his boxer briefs before he goes to the kitchen to raid your and Nobara's fridge.

You smile to yourself, sitting up on the bed as you put on some clothes, too. You are just in the middle of putting on your t-shirt when you hear Sukuna's loud laugh, and he calls out to you,

"Princess! Come here, quick! You won't believe this!"

You raise an eyebrow curiously, hurrying to the kitchen and asking what happened. Then, stop in your tracks when you see Sukuna standing in front of the open fridge, holding up two milk cartons. One of them has a pink sticky note taped to it that says in Nobara's handwriting: For ugly hockey players. Enjoy your milk, Kirby.

For a moment, you blink at the milk carton, and then you burst out laughing while your boyfriend opens it to take a big gulp straight out of the carton.

Nobara returns home a few hours later when Sukuna has already left. You are in the kitchen doing the dishes, and before Nobara can disappear to her room, you quickly call out,

"Hey, why did you put milk for Sukuna in the fridge?"

Nobara makes a huffing sound and turns around to look at you, but one corner of her glossy lips lifts in a half-grin,

"Ah, so he found it."

"Of course, he found it. You know he always takes something from our fridge. But I thought you can't stand him?"

Nobara shrugs, averting her gaze to inspect her long nails,

"He's annoying as fuck. But you like him. So I thought I'd get some milk for your boy."

"Oh... that's really nice, actually. Thank you."

Nobara shrugs again, but you can see the proud glint in her eyes as she flips her hair back.

"Yeah, I am the nicest person ever, of course."

Acting all tough and unimpressed, but after a moment, she sighs and walks over to you and puts an arm around your shoulder, holding you loosely while she adds,

"You're my friend. And you have always been supportive of Maki and me. Now, I am supportive of you and your curse boy, no matter how annoying he is. And at least, when he has his own milk carton now, I can rest assured that his slimy lips don't touch my precious milk!"

Another Saturday, another afternoon in the hockey arena.

The thing about being Sukuna's girlfriend is that you get quite used to seeing your boyfriend winning. Most of the Tigers' games end in a victory, with the whole arena cheering for their star player and Sukuna grinning that big, proud grin.

But tonight is not one of those nights. It doesn't look good for the Tigers.

You can see the fury in Sukuna's eyes with each minute that passes. He gives his all, throws himself brutally into his opponents, fights his ass off to get the puck, doesn't even let himself get stopped by getting slammed into the boards countless times. But still, it's not enough.

The Tigers lose.

You can see the anger sizzling through Sukuna's veins when he leaves the ice. His tattooed jaw is clenched, his posture tense, and the fiery glint in his eyes is downright dangerous. You hope he won't run into any rival player and get provoked because you know it will get him into all kinds of trouble.

Your steps are faster than usual as you make your way toward the locker room, trying to be there for Sukuna before he gets himself into a fistfight, which he will surely regret tomorrow because it will get him suspended from the next game.

When you reach the door of the locker room, the majority of the players already march out. They all look clearly upset, with slumped shoulders and sour expressions on their faces, and you have a feeling they all got changed as fast as possible to get away from a very pissed-off Sukuna.

You catch the door before it can fall shut and tentatively look inside. Yuuji is the first one you see, and he nods at you in greeting, but his face lacks the usual enthusiasm. Even the sunshine boy isn't able to muster up a smile today. You nod back at him, a question in your eyes, and Yuuji jerks his chin toward the other Tigers still in the room,

"Yo, hurry up, guys! Let's grab some drinks to forget about this shitshow!"

Yuuji pulls his hoodie over his head and then ushers his teammates out of the locker room, making sure his brother can have his alone time with you.

You step to the side and wait until the rest of the players have left and then bite your lip, step into the changing room, and let the heavy door fall shut behind you. The typical post-hockey game smell fills your nostrils, a mix of sweat, shower gel, and lingering adrenaline.

Your gaze finds Sukuna. He is still sitting on the bench, his armor off, shirtless, only in his boxer briefs, his abs and chest firm and dripping with sweat. His large hands grip the bench tightly, a furious glint in his eyes as his gaze catches you in the doorway.

It's clear to see that the King is pissed off.

Every fiber of his body screams anger at you, and it makes your breath catch in your throat, and something deep inside you throb excitedly. Because you know what a loss leads to. You know that Sukuna needs you extra badly tonight. You know that he will fuck you hard today, take you mercilessly, fuck all his frustration into you.

And it's exactly what you are here for. To offer your comfort in every way your man needs. And the thing is, you will enjoy every second of it.

"Baby, are you okay?"

You say it in a husky tone, eyes meeting Sukuna's burning-hot gaze across the locker room. Sukuna sends you a sneer, brushing his sweaty pink hair out of his eyes as he looks at you with an intensity that makes you wet instantly.

"I fucking hate this game."

You chuckle softly,

"You played so well. It's not your fault at all."

Sukuna huffs, laughing an unhumorous laugh.

"The whole team fucked up, including me."

You shake your head as you make your way over to your boyfriend. Sukuna never takes his eyes off as you walk towards him while already taking off your sweater and letting it drop carelessly to the floor of the changing room, followed by your leggings, only leaving you in the red lacey bra and panties set you wore specifically for this game.

You thought you would wear it for a victory fuck, but it's also going to serve its purpose for a make-things-okay-again-after-a-loss-fuck.

You can see the rage in Sukuna's tense posture. His broad, naked chest is sweaty, heaving heavily. The veins on his buff, tattooed arms stand out. All his muscles are taut, his jaw clenched. But at the same time, there's a feral hunger in his eyes as he lets his gaze travel slowly over your figure.

The moment you stop in front of him, Sukuna grabs you immediately and pulls you onto his lap. You straddle his thick, tattooed thighs and press yourself against Sukuna's strong, sweaty body, humping against the huge, hot bulge in his boxer briefs.

You know exactly what Sukuna needs tonight.

You lean forward, pressing your tits against Sukuna's chest as you capture his lips in a sweet kiss, even more tender than usual, more loving, despite how pissed off your boyfriend looks right now. It means you only will treat him even more lovingly. Be his sweet girl who comforts him and who he can fuck his angry cock deep into and find sweet relief by taking it all out on your tight wet pussy.

Sukuna rewards you instantly with a low, needy growl, and his large hands tighten roughly around your waist as he pushes his tongue between your lips. There is nothing gentle about the way he kisses you. It's rough and savage, almost brutal. He's fucking your mouth with his tongue, deep and savagely, making a needy mewl fall from your lips as you wrap your arms around Sukuna's thick neck.

You kiss him back eagerly, with tender licks and soft moans, keeping it sweet despite his rough attitude. Your lips trail from Sukuna's lips over his angular jaw to his neck. Kissing and licking before you gently nibble his earlobe and whisper in his ear,

"I'm here for you, baby. Do whatever you want with me. Take it all out on me. Fuck it all into me, Kuna."

Sukuna answers you with a low growl, and his large calloused hands grab your ass and squeeze it hard as he pushes you down on his lap, grinding his hard bulge against you, hot and heavy rubbing against your swollen wet clit, making you soak your panties and his boxers with your sweet arousal.

You moan softly, letting yourself sink heavily onto Sukuna's lap, meeting his movements. Grinding against his hard cock, massaging it with your clothed pussy, feeling him growing even harder against you. You watch Sukuna closely, basking in the way he lets his head fall back against the locker and moan loudly.

His gaze meets yours, and it makes a needy moan fall from your lips, too. Both of you wear the same horny and passionate expression, both knowing exactly what will happen.

You rub yourself slowly against Sukuna, spoiling his cock some more, watching as Sukuna lets you see all the passion on his tattooed face, mouth hanging open, low moans and harsh breaths falling from his lips as he watches you with that feral glint in his maroon eyes.

Sukuna's gaze never leaves yours as he slips the straps of your bra down and then yanks the whole thing down, making your tits spill out of the lacey red cups. The next second, his lips close around one nipple, sucking roughly on it, tongue lapping hungrily at it, making you twitch in his lap and letting out a shaky moan. Sukuna's teeth close around your tit, biting gently, leaving his teeth marks on you, making you gasp his name and tug on his pink hair even as you arch your back against him.

A low growl falls from Sukuna's lips. His tongue is still lapping teasingly at your erect nipple as his fiery gaze burns into yours. His voice is a low, velvety drawl,

"I'm gonna fuck you so hard. Gonna wreck you, princess."

Sukuna's maroon eyes look almost black from how dilated his pupils are, and you bite your lip before caressing his hair and whispering to him,

"Do it, baby. Fuck me as hard as you need. I can take it."

Sukuna lets out a breathless low groan which makes your pussy clench around nothing. One of his hands leaves your ass to grab your chin and caress your jaw firmly, his eyes dark and full of a mix of love and rage and so much passion and need, a lopsided smirk lifting one corner of his lips,

"Be careful what you wish for, sweetheart."

But you just let his thumb slip between your lips and suck it into your warm, wet mouth, looking deeply into Sukuna's eyes as you suckle devotedly on his finger showing him how serious you are about this. How much you are willing to give yourself fully to him and let him do anything he wants with you. Anything he needs tonight.

And Sukuna wouldn't be Sukuna if he didn't take you up on that offer. He smirks at you with a devilish glint in his eyes, and then Sukuna grabs you tightly and gets up with you in his arms, lifting you up as if you weigh nothing, holding you securely in his strong arms.

He slams you against his locker, making you gasp breathlessly as your back hits the cold surface while the rest of your body is covered with Sukuna's buff and overly hot body.

Sukuna's lips claim yours in a hot kiss, tongue so deep in your throat that it sends the craziest butterflies flying in your stomach.

He pushes down his boxer briefs impatiently, freeing his hard cock. It's pulsing with need, the tip swollen with an angry dark pink color, drooling pre-cum all over himself.

He doesn't bother taking off your panties but just yanks them to the side, letting his hot cockhead caress your throbbing clit sending shivers down your spine for a few seconds before Sukuna pulls back.

And then he claims you fully without any prior warning.

You gasp loudly, digging your nails into Sukuna's muscular back, feeling so full when Sukuna's hard cock rams into you deeply, claiming his girl with a hard brutal thrust.

Pleasure explodes behind your closed eyelids, making you feel dizzy from the assault of hard, unrelenting pleasure. You instantly wrap your legs tightly around Sukuna's hips, stuttering his name breathlessly as he fucks you hard and rough against his locker.

Sukuna's skin is hot and sweaty against you, his muscles taut, his low groans in your ear so fucking sexy and feral. He is so loud tonight. Growling and moaning loudly in your ear. Unrestrained, sexy noises full of lust and need and anger while Sukuna snaps his hips furiously against you.

It's a hard fuck. Primal. Like a big predator driven out of his mind by the need to mount his mate. Hard, angry thrusts. So deep and rough that you know you will feel him for days.

But you would lie if you said this isn't exactly what you want. You love to feel Sukuna like this. Love to let him use you like this. Love to feel his fat angry cock push into you and hear Sukuna's desperate, feral grunts. You love knowing that you are the only one who can comfort Sukuna after a loss. By letting him fuck you like this, rough and needy, against his locker, finding relief in your tight wet cunt.

You urge him on with breathless moans whispered in his ear and your legs wrapping tightly around his taut ass and fingernails digging into his buff muscles, needy just like him, clinging to him, your wet pussy clenching around him greedily.

Sukuna's mouth captures yours in another savage kiss, and you moan into it, licking against his tongue tenderly, eyes closed while you cling to him and take his thick angry cock all too happily.

The two of you are in a frenzy. Nothing but the two of you exists. Only Sukuna and you. Only his lips on yours and his cock deep inside you. You doubt the two of you would be able to stop even if someone walked in on you right now.

Sukuna's lips wander to your neck, kissing, sucking, his teeth grazing over your sensitive skin before he bites you lightly. His low voice is husky, filled with a sexy mix of arousal and anger when he grounds out,

"I. Fucking. Hate. Losing."

Every word gets accentuated by a rough thrust directly onto your sweet spot.

You mewl loudly, legs shaking as you feel tears stream down your cheeks from how good it feels to get fucked like this, Sukuna's name falling from your lips like a prayer.

Your fingers dig into Sukuna's broad back, your voice hoarse when you moan in his ear, urging him on,

"Yes! Fuck me, baby! Fuck it all into me. Take it all out on me, Kuna!"

He fucks the first orgasm out of you right then and there. It crashes over you unexpectedly, hot and wild, making you squeal his name as your pussy clenches wildly around Sukuna's cock, your legs shaking as you cum hard on his fat cock.

Sukuna groans, but he isn't finished with you. He slams you even harder against the locker with deep, brutal thrusts that make you squeal and sob, already feeling another orgasm building deep inside you.

It feels like it's too much. Like you will melt away if Sukuna keeps going and makes you cum one more time like this. But it feels so damn good, and you sob loudly, clinging desperately to Sukuna, your legs wrapped tightly around his muscular ass, your nails leaving scratches on his back.

Sukuna's voice is so sexy, low, husky, and laced with those feral grunts and deep moans, giving in to his most primal urges as he ruts into you,

"Don't hold back! Give me another! Fucking squirt on my cock!"

His hand forces itself between your bodies, thick calloused thumb rubbing furiously at your stiff clit, so fast and intense that you cry out, feeling your body lose control, panicking for a second, but Sukuna groans in your ear,

"Yeah, just like that, make a big fucking mess all over me!"

It's not a suggestion but a command, and it drives you insane, that natural dominance, that sexy control Sukuna emits. You clench around Sukuna's cock again, eyes closed, mouth opening in a wild cry as you feel yourself tumble over the edge again, his nasty words making you lose all control.

The waves of your orgasm crash over you unrelentingly, so hard it makes you see black for a moment as you scream and your pussy spasms around Sukuna's huge cock, milking him wildly as your juices spray out of you uncontrollably, squirting all over his cock and his heavy balls, wet, hot and messy, just like he told you to.

Sukuna growls but doesn't stop drilling his cock into you, fucking you roughly, smacking your pussy with his taut heavy balls anytime he pushes into you. Fucking you through your orgasm, with the nastiest wet sounds, as he fucks your creamy wetness back into you, while grunting loudly in your ear, low sexy noises, harsh breaths, as Sukuna chases his own orgasm now.

Sukuna cums with an unrestrained loud groan. His hips stutter against yours, and he presses you against the locker, ramming his twitching cock impossibly deep into you for his orgasm. His strong body is so close to you, hot and sweaty and brimming with passion.

You mewl his name, not able to stop yourself from clenching around him as he shoots his hot ropes of cum deep into you. Sukuna is so sexy like this when he loses control and lets himself get overtaken by his most primal needs. Loud groans fall from his lips, his whole muscular body is taut, his heart racing wildly against your breasts as he empties his balls and all his anger into you.

Gradually, Sukuna's loud groans turn into low sighs and labored breathing. He pulls away only enough so he can grab your chin with one of his large hands and tilt your head back, making you look up into his maroon eyes, which are heavy-lidded with lust and satisfaction.

The eye contact is so intense, so intimate with the way Sukuna's cock is still buried to the hilt inside you after he came in you, his hot seed deep inside you, your wetness clinging to his cock, your bodies touching everywhere, your breaths mingling, both of you still high from your orgasms.

Sukuna flashes you one of his lazy, sexy smirks,

"You're such a fucking good girl for me."

His lips claim yours in another rough kiss that makes you moan softly.

Sukuna kisses you deep and hard, his cock still buried balls deep in you, while Sukuna is still rocking against you slowly, still fucking you with his spent cock, overstimulating himself because he can't pull out yet, needing you too much. It makes you whine into the kiss and caress the taut muscles on Sukuna's broad back and buck your hips against him getting every last drop of his seed, every last caress his half-hard cock can give you.

The kiss becomes slower, lazier, sloppy, and, oh, so tender. And Sukuna's cock finally slips out of you, half-hard, gradually softening now, resting heavy and hot against your skin, slick from his cum and your juices, pulsing hotly against you, and you moan his name, just when Sukuna murmurs, "I love you." against your kiss-swollen lips.

You smile softly at Sukuna, cupping his tattooed cheek and caressing it gently.

"I love you, too, baby. Are you feeling better now?"

Sukuna laughs softly and carefully lowers you back down until your feet touch the ground. His muscular arms stay wrapped around you, though, not letting you go away just yet. A playful grin lifts his lips.

"Yeah, you always know what I need, princess. Thank you. But I promise that next time, we'll have a victory fuck again. I am not going to fucking lose twice in a row!"

You laugh, patting Sukuna's cheek playfully, and shake your head theatrically,

"Of course you won't, baby."

AAAHHH angry Kuna does something to me 😵😵

I am so glad I finally managed to post this new chapter! I hope that some of you are still interested in this story and that you enjoyed the update! Thank you so much to everyone who left encouraging messages in the last few weeks! I am kissing youuuu 😘💗

Comments and reblogs would be very sweet.

[snowfall-jess]

Whether it be an angst fic or real life, I do genuinely suffer with feeling undesirable/the second option so here is my comfort character saying otherwise. Incredibly self indulgent, but I hope you enjoy <3

Like usual, not at all beta read lmao. I should get a beta reader…

Kinda Sylus POV??? Idk, I started writing and this happened.

Implied non!mc x sylus btw aaaa

Word count: 957

꩜ ���.°. 𖦹.°.‧ ꩜‧.°.𖦹 .°.‧꩜ ‧.°. 𖦹.°.‧ ꩜‧.°.𖦹 .°.‧꩜ ‧.°. 𖦹.°.‧ ꩜‧.

Soft!Sylus comforting you when you feel undesirable.

It was subtle, it always was when it came to you. Sylus knew your body language - it came with time and experience. At the beginning, he struggled to read your cues. As you two spent more time together, it became easier. Easy enough to the point it was as if he could read your face and body language perfectly and plan at least three steps ahead.

But today felt different.

You were softer than usual. Granted, at times you would be soft and it would be due to you yearning for a gentle moment or simply just waking up in a daze. However, your hold on Sylus when you woke up lingered in a way that he hadn't felt before.

With a raised brow, Sylus pulled you closer. His arms wrapped around your waist and face buried into your neck as a low groan left his lips. Even dazed from sleep he knew something was wrong.

“What is on your mind, kitten?” He murmured, pressing gentle kisses to your neck as his thumb rubbed gentle circles on your hips.

He heard your hesitation, the way your body tense up at his gentle inquiry. He didn't like pushing for answers with you. He preferred when you told him candidly what you needed from him. But he also knew that sometimes you needed time to process before speaking, and so, he waited for a response from you.

“Kitten?” He asked, shifting to pin you under him after your prolonged silence. As he wrapped his arms around you and linked his fingers together above your head, his weight settled on your body.

He wasn't going to let you get away with no answers. And he knew that with your silence, there was a storm brewing. With a soft sigh, he gently tapped your forehead.

“What's on your mind, sweeite?” He asked again, his brow raising. His voice was still gentle, but with a little pointed edge to his tone.

“... Why did you choose me, Sy?” You asked, voice soft and trembling, as if you were on the edge of tears. “I'm not… I'm not anything special. Or powerful. Or…” You trailed off, voice breaking and tears filling your eyes.

“I'm not… I dont…” You whimpered, soft sniffles filling the air as Sylus immediately jumped to gently brush away your tears.

“Oh, kitten,” Sylus’ voice cooed. “Kitten, sweetie, my dove, you're everything to me.” He said, his voice soft and full of adoration and love as he peppered your face with gentle kisses.

“Dearest, I chose you because you're you.” He said, his lips pressing against the crown of your head. He knew his answer wasn't entirely satisfactory when he saw that adorable pout on your lips and the glint of disbelief in your eyes.

With a chuckle, he nuzzled his nose against yours. A warm smile on his lips as his larger hands gently caressed your body that was trapped under his.

“I love you,” He breathlessly said, his red eyes sparkling with a warmth solely reserved for you. His silver hair tussled by sleep as he breathed in your scent. “I love you, sweetie.” He repated.

“Love doesn't always need a reason to exist.” Sylus chuckled, his nose gently trailing down along your neck. He sighed, a smile curling on his lips as you tilted your head in a wordless action of trust.

“Sometimes, love just catches people by surprise.” He said, pressing a kiss to your pulse. “I love you for your smile,” he chuckled, pressing a quick peck to your lips that left you whining and him with a grin.

“I love you for your creative wit and cheeky attitude." He continued, pressing another kiss to your forehead. “Your lovely voice,” he chuckled, shifting down to kiss your throat.

“Your hands that hold me like I am something precious.” He whispered, taking one of your hands to press a kiss to your palm. His red eyes on yours the entire time as his ruby eyes shined. “And so much more.” He breathlessly said.

“Everyday, I find a new reason to love you,” Sylus whispered, his hand moving to caress your cheek. “Each night in the N109 Zone, I know how lucky I am to have you in my arms.” He couldn't help but feel his heart warm as he watched you.

“I may not have a great or spectacular reason to love you, my dove,” Sylus softly chuckled. “But you should know that I adore you. There is no love purer than mine.” He said, leaning in with his thumb gently pressing on your bottom lip.

“And every single day, every moment you are with me. I crave you, want you, and desire you by my side.” He whispered, his eyes half lidded and flickering to your lips. “As my equal, as my partner. As someone I want to spend the rest of my life with.” He said, moving closer and closer, his voice trailing off as his lips brushed against yours.

“And I know, for as long as my heart beats, that I will only want you.” He quietly said against your lips before capturing yours in a deep yet slow kiss. Sylus kept the pace slow, yet his passion for you was easily felt with the way he moved.

His hands gripped you, gentle yet reminding you of his presence. Of the way that he chose you, desired you, and wanted you by his side more than anything. Even as he pulled away, he lingered. Not moving far as he smiled and looked into your eyes.

“Now,” He softly said, kissing the tip of your nose with a soft chuckle. His smile turning back into his playful and signature smirk.

“Shall we start the day?”

[em1989ts]

𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞

robert "bob" reynolds x reader

word count: 1.3k - masterlist

summary: when bob comes to your door late at night, you find a way to comfort him and let him know he's appreciated

contents: artist! reader, fluff, cuddling, bob's depression

author's note: a fic about someone other than five hargreeves? from me? shocking!! but i am so in love with bob rn i've seen thunderbolts twice in theatres already and i cannot get enough of him - not proofread! pleaseeee send bob requests in my inbox 🙃

Late nights were always the best in the new Avengers tower. 

The hallways were incredibly quiet, with everyone residing in their own personal spaces until morning when the team would return to their mission planning and let their snarky comments loose on each other. 

It had been a long time since you lived in New York City. After spending years on the run, then flying around the globe completing missions for Valentina, you were glad to finally have a stable home again. 

Your room was dim, lit solely by a few candles on your nightstand as you lay against your headboard, with your sketchbook and pencil unmoving in your hands as you were undecided on what to draw, yet you held the urge to create. You often did at this hour, when all else is silent, your mind tends to get creative. 

As you tapped the end of your pencil against your page, brainstorming while staring at the bright nighttime lights of Manhattan through your large window, you heard noises that didn’t match up to the taps of your eraser. 

When you paused, holding still to listen, you heard the sound of footsteps, pacing back and forth outside your door. Setting your pencil between the pages of your sketchbook, you gently laid it on the bed next to you as you quietly climbed off the mattress. 

As you peeked slightly under the door, you could see the footsteps. The owner of the socked feet was ambiguous, but you had a strong feeling you knew who it was. 

You tip-toed over and gently opened the door, watching the culprit freeze in his place. 

Bob stood there, with a look of surprise on his face. His dark blue eyes wide as his brown hair framed his face. He hadn’t expected you to be up at this hour, let alone catch him standing outside your door. 

He was wearing a black crewneck and plaid sweatpants, the same outfit you’d seen him in for the last three days. His face was flush and his brain was still thoughtless as he stared into your soul. 

“Hi Bob,” you calmly greeted, noticing his tense shoulders, “You okay?” 

“Yeah- yeah I’m fine, just um-” his body regained motion as he fidgeted with his fingers, the sleeves of his crew neck pulled over the palms of his hands, “I uh - didn’t expect you to be up this late.” 

“I’m always up this late,” you smiled at him, “Come in, come in.” 

You motioned for him to come inside as you returned to your spot on top of your comforter, picking up your sketchbook, your pencil moving with a mind of its own. 

He shyly walked in, shutting the door behind him. He had never been in your bedroom before, and he couldn’t help but take a moment to observe it. It was like a museum of your entire personality in one room, with evidence of your many hobbies and interests- books, movies, cds, art supplies - covering every inch of your living space. 

Looking up for your initial sketch, you watched as he slowly moved his gaze across your room, tugging his sleeves and absentmindedly smilingly. 

Since you’ve met him, you’ve wanted to connect more with Bob. The two of you had become friends now that you’ve been living together for a little while, but he was still a little shy around you. 

“So what’s up, Bob?” you asked, returning your attention to your drawing, “Couldn’t sleep?” 

He kept looking around as he answered, “I did for a little bit, but I uh- had a nightmare and just, you know.” 

You all had nightmares. Every few nights you heard at least one of your teammates screaming through the walls of the tower. Bob’s nightmares were rather frequent, unfortunately. 

He sat down on the edge of your bed, rubbing his socks along your carpeted floors, creating a static charge, as he stared down at his hands. 

“Same thing?” you asked. He nodded. 

Ever since the day the void took over New York, he had felt so guilty, so sorry for everything he had caused. It haunted his dreams as he closed his eyes, willingly entrapping himself in darkness. Trapping himself with the void. 

The team was always there to reassure him that they were there for him, and that he wasn’t alone. But sometimes he felt they were only saying that so he wouldn’t destroy the world with his new god-like powers. Not that he wanted to, he just wanted to help people, and maybe help himself along the way, but it would take a lot of patience and practice before he was ready for missions. 

On one of your first nights in the tower, you had been walking by his room on your way to the kitchen for a midnight snack when you’d heard him, frantically gasping and trying to catch his breath. That was the night you’d reassured him that he could always come to you to talk about whatever he needed. That offer stuck as the two of you talked more and more, and he slowly grew more comfortable with you. 

“It’s just,” he paused, not knowing how to start, “I just think I’m more trouble than I’m worth.” 

You looked up, about to protest before he continued. 

“I stay around the tower, barely leaving my room, barely contributing anything while your guys go save lives and fight bad guys and whatever else Avengers do.” 

“That’s not true, Bob,” you disagreed, “You might not think we notice, but we really appreciate everything you do. I don’t think any of us know how to wash a dish without chucking it at someone,” you laughed slightly, lightening the mood. 

“And we don’t just keep you around because we think you’ll be good enough for the team one day,” you explained, “You mean a lot to us.” 

His dark blue eyes shone with a ray of golden as he looked over at you, emotion behind his eyes as your words hit his heart, “Really?” 

“Of course,” you smiled, adding a few finishing touches in your sketchbook  before setting your pencil down on your nightstand. You sat up next to Bob, his shoulder brushing yours, as you handed him your sketchbook to show him the page you’d been working on ever since he’d stepped foot through your door. 

The sketch of him exhibiting a shy smile in such perfect detail made him tear up a bit. He couldn’t believe someone could pay such close attention to him, take such great care in the accuracy of his image, and picture him in such delight. 

He bashfully chuckled as he admired the sketch before turning back to you, “You’re really talented, this looks great,” he complimented. 

“Maybe it’s you that looks great,” you quipped in return, causing his face to flush as he looked back at the drawing. 

A yawn escaped your lips as you looked out the window once more, seeing the dark night sky becoming an increasingly lighter blue. 

“It’s probably time to sleep,” you said, moving under your comforter as you extended an invitation, “You’re welcome to stay if you want.”   

He smiled, closing your sketchbook and placing it on your night stand, making sure to blow out your candles before climbing in next to you. 

He hadn’t felt too tired since waking up from his nightmare, but curling up next to you, feeling your arms wrap around his back as you drifted off to sleep in his arms, allowed him to feel just at peace enough where he could close his eyes, and feel safe in the darkness that surrounded him.

~~~

thank you for reading!

[my-castles-crumbling]

fire - Jegulus Microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - word count: 1367 (whoops)

There were few things Regulus Black valued more than sleep. Perhaps reading. Or music. Or a nice dark roast coffee. But either way, sleep was of the utmost importance. He was even more prickly than normal without at least eight hours of it, and miserable as well, so he always prioritized getting his rest.

Which is why he was ready to kill everyone in his path when the fire alarm was pulled at 2:47 am on a Tuesday night in his university dorm, and he was forced to evacuate into the parking lot.

Not only was the whole thing infuriating, but to make matters worse, it was also freezing outside. The September air was chilling him to his bones, and he could feel his body screaming for shut-eye. It was his definition of hell.

As he stood shivering, a tall, dark-haired, tan-skinned, hazel-eyed boy walked up to him and offered him his coat with the most obnoxiously beautiful grin he’d ever seen.

Too cold to play stupid games, he just hissed, “Fuck off,” and turned away.

As soon as they were all allowed back inside, Regulus curled under his blanket and fell asleep, keen to put the whole miserable experience behind him.

-

No such luck.

It took one week before the alarm went off again. This time at 1:19am on a Thursday, he found himself trudging down the stairs and into the cold, cursing himself for once again being too sleepy to remember a coat.

So furious that he was about to scream, he didn’t see the same boy walk up to him right away, until he felt a tap on his shoulder. 

“I brought you an extra,” the boy grinned, making Regulus’s frozen knees melt as he offered him the jacket.

“Do you make a habit of giving your clothing to strangers?” he bit out, giving in and grabbing the offending garment, immediately throwing it over his shoulders. He figured if he was going to be harassed, he might as well be warm while it happened.

“Only the pretty ones,” the boy said with a wink, walking off and leaving Regulus both pissed off and flustered.

-

The third time happened only three days after the second, and Regulus bit back a scream when the alarm roused him from his slumber. At this point, it felt like a pattern, and he was at least smart enough to grab the oversized, frayed, horrifyingly maroon, disgustingly warm jacket he’d thrown over his desk chair three days ago.

He was only outside for a few minutes before the boy walked up to him again, looking completely comfortable in the frigid night.

“So, do I get to know your name?” he asked, sending Regulus the same stunning smile.

Frowning, at both his current whereabouts and the way his stomach flip-flopped, Regulus scoffed. “I don’t know yours.”

“James,” he answered easily, kicking at a random rock on the pavement. “Now, I’ve given you two things. It makes sense that you should give me one, yeah? Only fair.” And he batted his long eyelashes, making Regulus nearly choke on his spit.

He pretended to ponder for a moment, getting ahold of himself, before rolling his eyes. “No,” he said shortly. And he walked off.

-

“What about your major, then?”

Ten days. It took ten days before the alarm was pulled again, and the school had started sending out cryptic notices threatening consequences for the party responsible. But still, Regulus was here, in the parking lot in the middle of the night, sending a death glare at James.

“Why does it matter?” he asked with a huff.

“Because people tend to care about their majors,” the taller boy shrugged. “And I want to know what you care about. Mine’s education, by the way.”

Education. It fit, strangely. James’s sunshiny disposition warmed the surrounding air even during the cold night, and his smile seemed like the type of thing that would put kids at-ease.

Regulus sighed, giving in. “English. With a minor in creative writing,” he mumbled, looking down.

“Hmm. That suits you,” James replied vaguely, smiling. What the hell was that supposed to mean? “And your name?”

He thought about it for a moment, but at this point, it almost felt like he would be giving in to some sort of weird, unspoken battle if he shared his name. And he had to admit, talking with James passed the time during these stupid evacuations. “No,” he answered, sending the boy a smirk, heart skipping a beat at his own nerve, and turning to find someone else to speak with.

-

It became a game. Every time the alarm was pulled, James found him. He asked him questions, and Regulus answered every one, shocked at the way James listened. It was actually nice to talk to someone who seemed genuinely interested. He hadn’t made a lot of friends on campus, yet, and James felt…safe. But every time James asked his name, he refused, grinning as much as James did, before sauntering away.

-

One cold night in November, though, he couldn’t sleep. Stress about classes had his mind going wild, and anxious energy flooded his body. So, he decided to take a walk through the dorm, to clear his head. He drifted through the floors and halls, no destination in mind, when he happened across one of the more-quiet areas of the building. This area happened to have a fire alarm in a dark corner of the hall, almost hidden in shadows. It was as he turned a corner to this spot that Regulus saw a hooded figure slowly approach the alarm, arm outstretched, intentions clear. 

Eyes wide, Regulus watched as the figure pulled the latch and began to run, turning and smacking right into Regulus.

“Ouch!” He cried out, nearly falling over.

“Fuck!” The person yelled, losing their balance as well.

And then the hood fell. And Regulus would have recognized those hazel eyes and that beautiful hair anywhere.

“James!?!”

The other boy looked terrified, mouth open, his body frozen in place. He uttered a few syllables as if he was trying to form words, but no sound came out. Scoffing, Regulus grabbed his hand and led him down some nearby stairs and out the emergency exit, alarm still blaring overhead.

When they got into the quiet, freezing air, he turned to the taller boy. “It was you?” he hissed, resisting the urge to slap him across the shoulder. The amount of sleep he’d lost in the past two months was abhorrent. “Why?”

James grimaced. “Well…the first two times, it wasn’t! But, y’know, the first time you didn’t have a coat…”

“I remember,” Regulus frowned, rolling his eyes.

“Yeah. And…I couldn’t stop thinking about you. So the second time, I just…grabbed my old one. And when you took it and you looked so…” James gestured to Regulus, eyes wide, cheeks pink. Regulus blinked, trying to understand. Was James saying he looked good in his jacket? “…I couldn’t stop thinking about you, so I just…”

Regulus gaped. “You’ve been pulling the fire alarm to see me?”

“It was only supposed to be a one-time thing! Just to get your name!” James defended himself, looking almost scared. “I didn’t know how to find you, and I just….you have to understand, you’re fucking stunning, you know?”

Blushing furiously, Regulus sputtered, “That’s…well, that’s not…”

“But then you wouldn’t tell me your name! So I had to keep pulling it, you know?” James explained, a desperate look on his face. Like it obviously made sense why he’d been breaking the law for two months. “...Just until I found out.”

He blinked several times before biting his lip. Nobody had ever gone to such lengths to get to know him before. It was stupid, and risky, and idiotic, and so damn romantic.

“My name is Regulus,” he sighed, wondering if he’d regret this. “I live in room 743. And if you ever pull that damn alarm again, and wake me up, I will never speak to you again. Understood?”

James grinned sheepishly. “Yeah. Your name is as beautiful as you are, by the way.”

Regulus could only sigh. What had he gotten himself into?

I also posted this here if you want to go give it some love!

[tarotbyjam24]

Pick a pile:What do they find sexy about you ? 18+ mdni

Pick a piles \masterlist

Likes , reblogs and feedbacks are very much appreciated 💗

Disclaimer: this is general reading . It may or may not resonate . If reading doesn't resonate let it fly and choose another pile or simply there were no messages for you through this reading 😊 Take the reading lightly as nothing's set in stone until you believe so 🕊️

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Pile एक

read by @winisayswhat 🫶🏻

Dayum gworl , you're so self aware lmaaooooo, it's giving IAM SEXY AND I KNOW IT SONG VIBE , This is the pile that host a private victorias secret ramp walk for themselves every night loll! You might wear some really sexy lingerie , decked uo with greatttt hair ! I see lots of libido from both the sides , you like being worshipped damn , you might wear some really good perfume . Your future spouse just wants to merge his body with yours cause you look so damn alluring , you are giving 'Queen of heaven " vibes , the might go gaga over your melons and cherries , they will suck them like a ripe fruit , it'll be like a baby sucking desperately in their mums buds ! You are the prize gosh you're SO SEXY ! Some bondage or blindfold might be involved , you guyssss loveeeeeee foreplay ! Your spouse will never get enough of you, you somehow always manage to make their buddy erect , also omg your man will grunt and moan alot as you do the deed , they'll grip your dips tightly while leaving love bites and marks all over you, you'll whimper under their touch ! I see you having many orgasms , and the look you have while having orgasms turns on your man for a second round ! Your man will know how to do foreplay and turn you on, the type of man who'll worship the ground you walk on ! There might also be oral sex involved , your man might also be mighty bulky with beard , and you're a damsel in distress with a small frame compared to them ! Some kind of kink there ahhahaah!

Pile दो

read by @winisayswhat 🫶🏻

I'm seeing a DEEP attraction between you and your future spouse. They're like sooo drawn to your SPONTANEOUS nature, your ability to light up the room with your presence and aura. Your warmth and energy are like a MAGNET, pulling them in and making them feel alive.You might be a virgin or atleats less experienced than them ! It's giving *i am gonna be your first and last one *They loveeee your personality, they look at you like a baby with sparkly personality that's got them hooked. They're als attracted to your INTELLIGENCE, your creativity, and your passions. They admire your strength, your resilience, and your leadership qualities. You're a TRUE BOSS, and they can't get enough of that.And let's talk about the chemistry between you two. It's like the universe itself is conspiring to bring you together. They feel a deep sense of trululu lmao and destiny when they're with you, like they've finally found their missing piece.Theyre gonna to be the one to initiate the deed , the type of guy who might like the thrill of teasing a girl who isn't often teased , you might get shy or freeze when they initiate proximity, they might like the view from behind 😉, when you bend or are doing house chores . If you're a working woman, you being focused and ignorant will piss them off! They'll do anything and everything to gain your attention. You might have a greatttttttt cleavage and lips, your eyes maybe very doe types , like an invitation for your spouse to *ahem ahem *. They love it when you're unaware about how hot you look ! It's like you're not being braggy about it . They'll like to hold and grab your waist time to time , in bed they live when you ride them, they're gonna be so intense ,gosh don't get me started , you get them possessed during the deed , your body and eyes make them go gaga , they love it when they make you loose control . The way your lips part , the shivers during orgasm , your eyebrows cocked, eyes half closed rolling back wanting to stop yet asking for more ! Gosh it's like badboy x innocent girl trope !

Pile तीन

Pile 3 : they find your silhouette sexy . They like your named body specially in the night light or like fairy lights . They find it sexy when you do some chores or work in body hugging tight dresses or suits . They may also find your love handles sexy like their hands will perfectly fit on your love handles. They find your open hairs sexy . They may also find you sexy when you act like hard to catch bird or when you get mad at them they gonna find it sexy . They gonna find it sexy when your cum flows out or just when your salivas mix with eachothers . They ofcourse gonna find sexual connection find you super attractive . They may also find it sexy when you let the intimacy build between eachother . They may also find sext when you let them dominate probably they have capricorn placements. Also this connection isn't just physical sexual intimacy it's far more stronger than that a soul level deep connection guided by divine.

Pile चार

Pile 4 : I feel they find your curves sexy like the way you sit on couch the pillow position that makes you comfortable in while sitting. They may like to notice small details about you . They over all find your physical beauty sexy your hairs , your lips and lipstick on it , your eyes , your eyelashes. They're so in love with your beauty . They also find your dressing sense sexy . Like how your body fits perfect in the dresses you wear and how they make your curves highlight. They find your introvertness sexy . They find it sexy when you speak less and act like a old monk . They find it sexy when you act like old soul. You could be probably a old school typa lover or they could be like that too . They find it sexy when you give them advices on their important matters . They like to add your 2 cents too . They may also find it sexy when you're all covered up in those furry hooded dresses or like bear dresses thingy . They also find your dense nature sexy . They may also find it sexy when you get cold like it's their chance to make love or just cuddle with you .

I hope you liked the reading . Thank you so much for letting me read for you . Wishing you best ahead . 🎀Bless you and have a nice day🌸🐰

Loads of love , jam🩷

Exchanges : open , collabs for paps : open

[iitslera]

lights, camera... censored. ✶ LN4

english isn’t my first language, Lando x Photographer!Reader, nsfw : minors do not interact !!, dom!Lando, Praise Kink

                                 ──  ✦ ��──

Working with McLaren was never part of the plan. But a personal offer from their creative team for a special portrait campaign raw, stripped-down, human landed you in the center of Formula 1, camera in hand, nerves in your throat.

Your job was simple: capture the drivers outside the suits, without helmets or egos. Just skin, expression, honesty.

That’s when you met him.

Lando Norris.

No shirt. Still damp from the shower. Sitting on a stool. Looking right into your lens.

"Are you gonna shoot or just stare all day?" he asked, voice low, eyes full of mischief.

You didn’t respond.

You just clicked the shutter. Once. Twice. Three times.

"You know," he added, shifting forward slightly, "I’m no photographer, but it seems like you’re getting... distracted."

You swallowed. 

He noticed. And he smiled.

Not the PR smile. Not the fan smile. The other one. The one that felt like a secret. Like an invitation.

"Look to the side," you murmured, steadying the lens again.

"Like this?" He tilted his head just enough to show his jawline.

"Pull the shirt up a little," you added, too fast.

He obeyed slowly. The fabric lifted to reveal a toned stomach, glistening with water that hadn’t dried yet. Drops slid down toward the waistband of his pants.

Click.

Click.

Click.

"You’re blushing," he said, smirking. "Cute."

"I’m working," you replied, pretending your hands weren’t shaking.

"And I’m cooperating,” he said, hopping off the stool and walking right toward you. “But if you want, we can switch roles.”

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

He stepped closer, way too close, bracing one hand on the wall beside your face.

"One more shot," he said. "Then it’s your turn to pose for me."

Your breath hitched.

"Are you flirting with me?"

"And if I am?" His voice dropped, mouth just a few inches from yours. "You gonna run and hide behind your little lens? Or are you gonna put it down... and see what else I can do with my hands?"

Your camera was the only thing between you. Lando reached up, gently lowering it, and placed it on the desk behind you.

"You’ve been undressing me with your eyes since Tuesday," he murmured. "Don’t make me ask you to touch me, too."

Your body was already burning.

 "One more photo," you whispered.

 "Before I kiss you? Or after?"

The kiss wasn’t soft. It was urgent. Unapologetic. His hand gripped your waist as the other threaded into your hair, lips crashing against yours like he was done pretending.

Your back met the wall. Your body arched. Your breath disappeared into his mouth. Fingers curled into his shirt as he pulled you closer, so close you felt the heat from his skin and the tension in his muscles. His shirt came off with a single tug, flung somewhere you’d forget to care about.

His lips trailed down your neck. "You’re shaking," he said against your skin.

"I’m trying to breathe."

He laughed darkly. "Don’t. Moan for me instead." He kissed you again, slow and deep, before lifting you effortlessly onto the desk. Your skirt slid up as his hands traveled along your thighs.

"Do you really think I’m gonna behave after the way you’ve been looking at me all week?" he asked, fingers teasing the hem of your underwear.

"I didn’t misbehave."

"No," he said, biting your lip. "But you’re about to beg me to."

His mouth met your body like he’d been waiting for it forever.

He kissed along your inner thighs, soft and unhurried, until you were trembling. Then his tongue found you warm, slow, sure and you couldn’t hold back the sound that left you.

Your head dropped back. Fingers tangled in his curls. Legs tightening around him. He grinned against your skin. "So wet for me already," he murmured, voice hoarse. "You’ve been needing this, huh?"

"Lando—" you gasped.

"Yeah, say my name again. I wanna hear how it sounds when you come undone." His mouth worked magic tongue moving in circles, lips closing around your clit just right. Then his fingers joined in. One. Then two. Stretching you slowly, deeply, until your hips bucked toward him and you cried out.

He didn’t stop. He didn’t rush. He devoured you.

And when the orgasm hit, it was like fire. You shattered on his tongue, back arching, thighs shaking. He held you through it, licking you softly, kissing your thighs like you were the only thing that existed.

"You taste even better than I imagined," he whispered, wiping his mouth with his thumb.

You pulled him up by the shoulders and kissed him hard, tasting yourself on his lips. Your hand reached for his belt. He hissed softly when your fingers brushed him.

"Are you sure?" he asked, forehead to yours.

"I want you, Lando," you said. "Since the moment I took that first damn picture." He grinned.

"Good. ‘Cause I’m not planning to stop." He pressed you back gently on the table, aligning his hips with yours. When he pushed in slow, deep, deliberate you felt everything. He groaned softly against your ear.

"Fuck... you feel so good." Your legs wrapped around his waist. Your hands clutched his back. Every thrust was calculated, like everything else he did on track. Steady. Focused. Devastating.

"You’re perfect for me," he whispered, nipping at your collarbone. "So tight. So fucking warm. You were made for this."

The rhythm built his body rocking into yours, his name falling from your lips again and again as pressure bloomed between your hips.

"I wanna hear you say it," he growled, breath shaky. "Say you’re mine."

"I’m yours," you moaned. "All yours."

That broke him.

His movements grew rougher, needier, one hand on your thigh as he drove into you, the other tangled in your hair. You were already coming again, body clenching around him, your vision white-hot as he grunted your name and came deep inside you.

Both of you froze. Breathing. Shaking. Wrapped around each other like you’d never let go.

After a few quiet minutes, he kissed your forehead.

"You okay?" You nodded with a tired smile.

"Better than I expected to be when I walked into this studio." He laughed, low and sweet.

"Definitely more than just a photoshoot." You looked at him still shirtless, skin flushed, chest rising.

"And this… what does this mean?"

Lando ran his fingers down your spine, grounding you. "It means you’re gonna be taking a lot more photos of me," he whispered, kissing your jaw. "And that I’m done pretending you’re just the girl behind the lens."

[novascharms]

CHICKEN SHOP DATE — DREW STARKEY AU

You’re the host of a hit YouTube series you started on a whim at twenty, fresh off a degree in Fashion Communication. Most days are a blur of chicken shop dates, writing sessions, creative pitches, and slipping into very pretty dresses to report live from red carpets and high-profile events. That’s where you meet Drew Starkey. Strikingly handsome. Dangerously charming. Especially in a suit. After a few unexpected run-ins on the red carpet, your interviews start going viral. The internet can’t get enough of the chemistry, and soon, all anyone wants is one thing: for Drew Starkey to be your next Chicken Shop Date.

masterlist  w.c - idk man a.n - so, am i a bitch for not posting for what? five months and leaving teach me unfinished? yeah probably buttt life's been busy idk what to say im just a girl. ANYWAYS. been watching too much chicken shop dates so obviously this is inspired by Amelia Dimoldenberg's chicken shop date web series on Youtube. (shes a queen i live for her) and btw this is a mini series like six parts MAX.

ONE

GQ Men of the Year – Red Carpet

There’s something about red carpets that makes people forget how to stand. They either fidget too much or freeze entirely. You’ve seen grown men with IMDB pages longer than your grocery list spiral because you asked them about socks.

But tonight, you feel good.

The JPG dress hugs your frame like it was tailored in a past life. Red beads and soft mesh, all attitude and elegance, and you’re wearing it like armor dipped in perfume. The heels are somewhat manageable, your liner hasn’t smudged, and you’ve hit that sweet spot between professional and on a roll. The lights are bright, the people are buzzing, and you’re halfway through your cue cards when it happens.

It’s subtle at first. Like the air itself rearranges. A quiet shift that you don’t even register until your skin prickles and the energy around you starts to pull inward.

Your brain kicks into gear, running through the semi-intensive research you did on every major name set to appear tonight.

Drew Starkey. Thirty-one. Southern kid who made it in Hollywood. Starring in five films slated for 2026, all directed by the best in the business. He's at the peak of his career. And now he’s here. In front of you. Taller than you expected. Sharper in real life. Completely, devastatingly gorgeous.

Red carpets are always chaotic. Photographers yelling for attention, lenses clicking like firecrackers. Publicists pacing, phones to their ears. Assistants crouched at the edge of the frame, smoothing creases, fixing collars. It’s loud and fast and nothing about it feels natural. But Drew? He moves through the chaos with quiet confidence, Prada suit sharp, grin easy. There’s a slight glint in his eyes, like he knows how he looks but isn’t obnoxious about it. He walks like he’s never rushed a day in his life. And the second he steps into your light, he looks at you like you could split him an ocean or move mountains.

“Hello,” you call out, keeping your tone light.

“Hey,” he replies. His voice is easy, slow. “Stand on the cross?”

You nod. “Right there is perfect, thank you so much.” You take him in, head to toe, and offer a sly smile. “You look great. Is it a Prada suit?”

“It is a Prada suit,” His fingers trace the edge of the fabric almost absentmindedly.“They were kind enough to loan it to me.”

“Dangerous,” you hum. “You better not drink too much tonight. Too much fun causes accidents.”

He chuckles, eyes still on you. “I’m pretty set on keeping the arm and leg it’d cost me, so don’t worry.”

You laugh softly. “Good. I’d hate to see you sold off for a dry cleaning bill.”

That gets a real smile. One of those ones that sticks for a second too long. The camera guy behind you shifts his stance, sensing something electric.

You tilt the mic toward him, steadying your hand though your pulse has picked up ever so slightly. "Alright," you say, glancing up at him with a flicker of amusement, "if you could choose your Man of the Year, who would it be?"

Drew shifts his weight, hands sliding into the pockets of his tailored Prada trousers as he gives a low chuckle. His mouth curves slowly, like he already knows you’ll like the answer.

"I’m gonna have to go very basic, stereotypical answer here and say my dad."

You raise your brows, already smiling as the crowd behind you shifts, the sound of heels clicking and camera shutters ticking filling the edges of your awareness. "Dad takes it?" you tease, tilting your head just a little.

His grin deepens. "Dad takes it."

You watch the way his mouth moves around the words. There’s something charming in how confidently he says it; like he’s proud of that answer, not just using it to be cute. His eyes are locked on yours, expression so open you feel it in the pit of your stomach.

"That’s sweet," you say, letting the smile linger. "I hope he knows you feel that way."

"Oh, he’s definitely watching."

"Right now?"

He leans in a fraction, and it’s so slight that it’s almost imperceptible, but you feel it anyway. Like the gravity of him pulls at you. “Oh yeah. For sure.”

You look at the lens and wave, small and composed, the edge of your wrist grazing the mic you’re holding. “Hi Drew’s dad.”

There’s a laugh somewhere off camera, probably Yves, but it fades when Drew leans into frame beside you, closer than before. His shoulder brushes yours, the scent of something earthy and expensive trailing with him. His voice is low, playful.

“Sup, Dad?”

You glance back at him. He doesn’t move. Neither do you.

There’s a beat where everything stalls. The rustle of fabric, the shouts from photographers, the constant shuffle of people, even the sounds from your own crew. Gone. Like the carpet fell silent just for the two of you.

You blink, unsure if it’s nerves or something else, but when your eyes open again, he’s still watching you. Not with the polite detachment of a celebrity doing press, not even with the amused affection he showed a second ago.

He’s really looking at you.

Like he’s memorizing. Reading. Curious. Like you’re not supposed to be real and yet here you are, standing right in front of him, mouth slightly parted, eyes wide with that telltale glint of awareness. You suddenly feel your breath catch, just slightly. Not enough for anyone else to notice. But you notice. You feel it in your chest. You’re hyperaware of the way your hand is curled around the mic, the way your left knee shifts under the pressure of your own balance, the tiny tug of your dress.

“Are you going to the after?” you ask, voice light but curious.

Drew’s head tilts slightly as he looks at you. There’s a delay, like he’s considering more than just the party. “I might,” he says. “Not sure. Are you?”

You sigh, not performative, not for the cameras, just a little tired. The kind of tired that comes from heels worn too long and adrenaline that’s starting to crash. “I’m honestly kinda beat. These shoes are killing me.”

He follows your eyes as they flick down to your feet. His gaze stays there for a beat longer than necessary. Then slowly, almost deliberately, it drifts upward. Over your legs, the curve of your hips, the line of your dress. When his eyes reach yours again, they’re a little darker.

“Shame,” he says. His voice is warm now, honey-slow and shameless. “Cause they make your legs look great.”

You let out a breathy gasp, the kind that turns into a laugh before it’s even finished. Your hand flies to your chest in mock offense. “Drew,” you say, trying to sound scandalized but utterly failing. “I’m appalled by your straightforwardness.”

He lifts his shoulders in a slow shrug, the corner of his mouth curled in that lazy grin that’s undoubtedly already launched ten thousand GIFs. “I may or may not be a little tipsy already.”

A boom mic dips into your peripheral vision and you instinctively shift closer to him, the tiniest step in your heels, just enough to read as a whisper between two people who don’t want the rest of the world to hear.

You glance behind the camera where your handler is motioning with subtle urgency. A quick circle of his hand. Ten seconds.

You nod at her, then glance back at him. “That explains the charm,” you tease. “It’s spiked.”

His smile deepens, slower now. “Just this once.”

You flash him a parting smile, softer than the ones you’ve given tonight. Real. “Please have so much fun tonight. Maybe I’ll see you in there.”

His mouth curves again, crooked and contemplative. “Maybe you will.”

But he doesn’t move.

He stays there, not saying anything, just looking at you. His gaze drifts once more, slow and hungry and reverent, like he’s trying to memorize the moment, or you, or maybe both. The way your dress clings in the light. The way your mouth twitches like you’re trying not to smile again. The way your fingers fidget with the edge of your mic, like touching something keeps you grounded.

Your heart ticks a little faster.

Someone calls his name from behind the camera, but he doesn’t respond right away. Eventually, he gives a small nod to no one in particular, then steps back.

You take a breath as he turns, the warmth of him still lingering in the air where he stood.

Your next guest is already stepping into frame. You smile, professional and poised, asking the first question on autopilot. But your hand grazes the curve of your dress again, like you’re smoothing away the imprint he left.

And a small, ridiculous part of you? It’s tucked somewhere in the inside pocket of his Prada jacket, waiting to be pulled out when he’s alone again.

masterlist - next  a.n - m gonna fix the links next week i think, i already spent too much time writing this and not studying :)

[m4tthewmurd0ck]

SQUEAKY CLEAN

── AKA. . .

the first time you put bucky’s metal arm in the dishwasher | just pure fluff with mentions of angst from the past.

── Bucky Barnes x Fem!Avenger!Reader

(obviously this is an au and i’ve taken creative liberties in bringing back some characters that have passed away because in this story no they didn’t!!!! i’ve loved and been in the mcu fandom since the first iron man so when you see things have been changed, that’s just me taking creative liberties for the sake of my story. as far as powers go, i don’t get into using them but reader can travel the multiverse, and has telekinesis)

thank you @pellucid-constellations for getting me out of my bucky writing slump, without even meaning to! i am but a kathie stan account atp. now brb gonna go re read for the love of the game again 🙂‍↔️

Bucky Barnes wasn’t sure of many things in life. But one thing he is 100% certain of, is that he is completely in love with you.

Even in the beginning, you were a calming presence in his life. He’d known you since you helped Steve track him down in Romania.

Now here you were all these years later, and most days he still couldn’t believe that not only were you in love with him as he was in love with you, but he was lucky enough to call you his wife.

On tough days where you weren’t also working, you often cooked so that he came home to his favorite home cooked meal, you’d make sure he took a long shower to relieve the tension in his muscles, and you even encouraged him to remove his metal arm when he was at home.

The last part occurred after he confessed that yes, he obviously loved being able to have both hands working. But there was a small sense of relief when he was able to be without his metal arm, even if only for short periods of time.

And that’s what you were dealing with right now. Bucky was gone for the day to go meet Sam and Joaquin for what Sam declared would be the best guys day any of them ever had. You were surprised when Bucky said he was going to go without the arm, since they were only going to be eating, watching the best trash tv (again, Sam’s words), and hanging out just the 3 of them.

When he told them, Joaquin immediately offered to pick him up on his way to Sam’s.

That was how you knew he fully trusted the 2 men. Around new people, or anyone he wasn’t too sure of, he always wore the metal arm, saying it was just incase.

Upon closer inspection, you noticed the arm was starting to get a little dirty. Shuri had done an amazing job, and the vibranium prevented itself from retaining any scratches. But there were tiny spots of dry old blood and other stains that didn’t come off no matter how hard you scrubbed, and you worried how Bucky would react when he noticed one day.

You set the arm down on the kitchen counter and sat down as you tried to work out what to do. After thinking for a few minutes, you pulled out your phone, sending a text.

Less than 5 minutes later you were on a Zoom call with the 2 people you thought would best be able to help you.

“I’m telling you, it’ll be fine! I know my technology, and some soap and hot water could probably do it good. It’s made to withstand water whether or not it’s being worn.”

“What she said. Plus if it something goes wrong, just come over and Stark Enterprises will be happy to help. I won’t even charge you.”

Shuri rolled her eyes as Tony spoke, and you couldn’t help but laugh.

As the 2 went back and forth arguing about who’d be able to repair the arm the best, should the dishwasher idea go wrong, you quietly leave the Zoom call, promptly receiving 2 messages.

Figuring fuck it, only one way to find out if this’ll work, you pick up the metal arm and head over to the dishwasher.

After spending too long deciding what cycle to run it on, you opt for the shortest one, pop a dishwasher pod in, and hope for the best.

Realizing Bucky will probably be home soon, you decide to kill time tidying up the apartment. He forgot his phone at home, but Joaquin text you saying that your boyfriend mentioned that he missed you multiple times.

You’re well aware that you could wave your hands around and have your apartment basically tidy itself. On your last girls night, Wanda had shown you how to do just that. But something about moving around the different rooms and cleaning / organizing, it calmed you. So you often chose to just do it manually.

When the door to your and Bucky’s apartment opens, you smile as you realize you were right.

“Doll, I’m home.” You look up to see him toss his keys onto the little table by the door.

He does a double take as he walks by the kitchen counter, noticing the giant piece of metal that’s missing.

“Where… where’s my arm?”

Right after he asks, the dishwasher does the little series of beeps that lets you know it’s finished. You grab Bucky’s hand as you tell him to come with you to the kitchen.

“Wanna take a guess where your arm is?”

Bucky raises his eyebrows as he takes a quick glance around the kitchen. “Under the sink?”

When you realize he thinks you hid it for him to find, you can’t help but laugh. “It’s not hide and seek for your arm baby. Although I’ll keep that in mind for the future. But anyway, you know how your arms really good at not retaining scratches or dents from bullets or knives or whatever people try to kill you with?”

“…yeah.” You can practically see the gears turning in Bucky’s head as he tries to figure out where this conversation is headed.

“But you also know better than anyone that it’s not the easiest thing to clean, right?”

“I— yeah…”

“Well I made a call. Actually I guess technically I got on a call with two people, because I had an idea but wanted to make sure it would work and wouldn’t damage the vibranium.”

“Sweetheart… what did you do?”

“Ta-daaaaa!” You open the dishwasher and slide the bottom rack out.

When Bucky sees his metal arm on the rack, he bursts out laughing. He bends down to look at it, then pulls out his phone to get a picture before he takes it out.

Piggy backing off of his idea, you make him bend down next to the dishwasher, and he makes a face as he looks at the arm, pretending to be grumpy. After you take the photo, he carefully removes the arm and places it on the counter so he can inspect it up close.

It’s then that you’re thankful the dishwasher had a drying feature or you’re sure things would’ve ended bad.

You’re also pleased to see that your idea worked. The arm has a little bit of its shine back like when he was first gifted it. Gone are any traces of blood and whatever else wouldn’t come off when you scrubbed by hand.

When his arm is back on, he approaches you and pulls you close, and you sigh with content at the feeling of being in his embrace again.

“Thank you,” Bucky smiles and places a hand on either side of your face, pulling you in for a kiss.

“All I did was put it in the dishwasher and push a button, but I’m happy to help.”

“No,” Bucky shakes his head. He’s turned serious now, but there’s a hint of a smile on his face, and you know he’s happy. “I don’t mean just for that. When I first got that other arm from hydra, if you’d have told me there was gonna come a day where I’d be able to joke about it and be comfortable enough to take it off in front of people, not that I laughed back then but I would’ve laughed in your face.”

“Buck…” tears filled your eyes as you thought of Bucky as a scared man just forced into captivity. When a tear finally falls, he immediately wipes it away.

“If you’d have told me that eventually I’d meet the love of my life, and that she takes care of me, helps me see that I’m just as much of a man without the arm, I’d have said you were crazy. You know we got a little sentimental over at Sam’s, well he and Joaquin did a little more than me because I don’t get drunk, but we got to talking about safe or happy places. Sam and Joaquin agreed that their happy place was in the sky, when they’re able to fly freely in their suits and there’s no trouble or anything to worry about.”

You smiled as you picture them answering. Sam talked about flying like it was the coolest thing in the world, and you had no doubt that was true.

“I told them my happy place wasn’t actually a place. It’s you. Without a doubt, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. And if I could only pick one reason to be grateful for…” he holds up his left hand and wiggles the metal fingers, “it’d be because it allows me to hold you like this.” He pulls you close once again, and for a moment there’s just a comfortable silence as you enjoy being in each others embrace.

“Well now I’m really glad I decided to put your arm in the dishwasher,” you laugh as a happy tear manages to escape.

“Me too doll, me too.”

bonus ~

[illbegottenfaith]

you must have just read it in my eyes (a Be More inspired fic)

Over the years, Theo realises just how much you mean to him, bit by bit (theo nott x reader)

a/n - my first Valentine's Day fic yay!!!! I have more planned (hopefullyy I'll get them all out? we'll see lol) hehe enjoy :))

tropes/warnings - literally no warnings lmao, one tiny suggestive line, fluff

word count - 1.9k

taglist - @hzdhrtss @justaproudperson @ebriton @thaliashifts

The first time Theo thinks you must be something more, it catches him completely off guard.

It’s on a cool September evening, just as dusk is settling on the horizon. He's at Hogsmeade, walking back to Hogwarts with his friends scattered along the path, laughing and tripping over themselves. A cold gust of wind runs through them while he adjusts his gloves (Merlin knows the cold is ruthless on his joints) when this girl, one he’s said perhaps a grand total of two words to, turns and tugs at the sleeve of his coat.

He’s too stunned to resist. For the first, but definitely not the last, time, he lets you drag him around as you wish.

You were always around—a presence that never demanded attention but was impossible to ignore. You had mutual friends, exchanged the occasional dry remark, but never anything beyond that.

But that changed on this brisk autumn evening. Without looking back, you reached behind and wordlessly pulled Theo along so he wouldn’t lag behind, all while your conversation with Ivy continued unbroken and unfettered.

It was such a small thing. Thoughtless, instinctive. You hadn’t even glanced at him.

But Theo had looked at you, and for some reason, he couldn’t look away.

After that, you became more than just a vaguely familiar face in Theo’s life. Bit by bit, you began to take shape in his mind as he learnt more about you. You had a younger sister. You didn’t care for wet weather. You twisted your ankles on an alarmingly regular basis. Like him, you took Arithmancy, but, unlike him, you actually enjoyed it. It was an ordinary evening in the common room when you set a cup of tea down in front of him, unannounced, unacknowledged. As aggressively nonchalant as he tried to appear, you couldn’t help but notice him pulling out his hair for the better part of the last hour over whatever assignment he was working on.

Theo looked up from his Arithmancy quiz, gaze flicking from the cup to your face. But you were too busy looking at his parchment, brow furrowed as you silently mouthed the words along while reading them.

After a few seconds of silence, you extended an arm, tapping on one of the questions.

“Not quite right.”

Theo reread the question and, sure enough, he was a little off. By the time he looked up again to thank you, you were already settling into the chair across from him, casually stirring your own drink. He watched you curiously.

“Like telling people they’re wrong, do you?”

“When it’s you? Sure.”

He didn’t react to it immediately. If anything, he was amazed at how your voice could soften the blow of the snidest of remarks. Instead, he studied you, cool and unreadable as ever.

You sighed, adjusting your position as you poured your attention back into your crossword. “You’re staring,” you noted, not looking up, when he showed no signs of looking away any time soon.

“Am I?” His voice was even, measured. He took a slow sip, testing the tea. The smirk slid right off of his face. Two sugars, no milk. It was perfect.

He could have asked how you knew. Could have pointed out that he’d never mentioned it, that you must have noticed all on your own. But he didn’t.

Because he had been watching you, too.

Theo had heard it all before. A name spoken in a certain tone. A pause just long enough to say what they wouldn’t dare to outright. A muttered, “once a Nott, always a Nott,” just loud enough to reach his ears.

There was nothing new in the way they spoke about him—nothing particularly creative, nothing worth the effort of a response. He had learned long ago that silence was the easiest way to make those kinf of people uncomfortable.

But before he could decide whether this was another moment best left ignored, your voice cut through the conversation.

“And yet,” you said, tone light, almost unnervingly idle, “you've spent the better part of the evening trying to impress him. Almost like you care what a Nott thinks of you.”

The silence that followed was immediate, the shift in the air unmistakable. The words were clean. Precise. Lethal in a way that left no room for retaliation.

Someone shuffled their feet. Another cleared their throat awkwardly. Theo didn’t turn, didn’t look at you, but he could feel the weight of the moment settle between them, thick and suffocating. He could see the scathing look of derision he knew he'd find in your eyes, the one you saved for people like them.

You didn’t linger - you never saw the need to stretch out a moment that had already served its purpose. You had already moved on, making some offhand remark to a friend as if the exchange hadn’t quieted the common room.

Theo exhaled through his nose, amusement curling at the edges of his otherwise impassive expression. Merlin knows he didn't know how to put it into words. But for some reason, he didn't have to. Not when it came to you.

Later, when you were walking back to the common room, he let his knuckles brush yours as you turned the corner.

You didn’t acknowledge it. You didn’t have to.

Theo was not a sentimental man. But when he looked at you, he found himself memorizing things he had no business noticing. The way you tilted your head when you were listening. The ink smudges beneath your fingernails. The way you had mastered the art of dozing at breakfast when you thought no one was paying attention to you.

He found himself slowing down just to see you huff and drag him along more often. Only now, he had figured out the next best thing to do was to then immediately pick up the pace and lengthen his stride, all while you hurled breathless obscenities at him as you struggled to keep up, still attached to his sleeve.

Little things, small enough to be forgettable. But never to him.

Perhaps that was why, on this particular evening, he found himself more attuned to the details than ever - the rustle of your coat as you walked beside him, the fleeting half-smile that played at your lips as you took in the sights around you.

The sky had deepened into a cool, wintery dusk, the last traces of daylight sinking beneath the horizon. The air smelt crisply of pine. Hogsmeade, bathed in the golden glow of streetlamps and shop windows, buzzed with its usual evening crowd. Students loitered outside Honeydukes and couples drifted toward Madam Puddifoot’s. There was a honeyed air of anticipation, something quiet yet tangible, threaded through the brisk February breeze.

You and Theo had spent the afternoon in their usual way—wandering from shop to shop, falling into conversation that meandered just as aimlessly. You had tugged on his sleeve, as always, urging him along when he lingered too long in the bookshop or took his time finishing his butterbeer. He had walked a little too fast, just to hear you sigh in amused exasperation before catching up.

As you made your way back to the castle, Theo lagging abysmally behind, you turned. But this time, something was different. Looking at Theo, hair mussed by the wind, eyes glittering as they caught the light of the dim, flickering street lamps, you were struck by the sudden realisation that not once had Theo tried to stop you. In between the teasing and heartrending cups of tea, something had shifted without either of you knowing.

It was a subtle change. Almost unnoticeable.

You hesitated before reaching for his sleeve.

Just for a moment. Just long enough for him to catch the flicker of uncertainty before you masked it.

Theo felt the difference immediately. You had always done this absentmindedly, effortlessly. But now - now there was a pause. A consideration.

The cobblestone streets stretched ahead, illuminated by warm pools of lantern light. He glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, at the soft wool of your scarf tucked high against your jaw, at the way your breath curled in the cold air. You weren't looking at him, but he could see the faintest crease in your brow, like you had noticed the change, too.

He didn’t say anything.

But for the first time, when you tugged on his sleeve, he resisted—just for a second. Just enough to let you notice.

You glanced up to meet his gaze and you looked like you wanted to berate him for making you feel things he had no right to make you feel.

You didn’t pull away.

The restaurant is warm, its golden light spilling onto the pavement through fogged-up windows. Inside, glasses clink softly, laughter hums beneath the gentle murmur of conversation, and candlelight flickers against polished wood. It’s a quiet sort of place, intimate without being stifling, refined yet comfortably worn.

Theo lingers outside.

His hands are tucked into the pockets of his coat, shoulders squared against the chilly evening air, but he doesn’t make a move to step inside. Not yet. Instead, he watches.

Through the window, he finds you easily. You’re seated by the far wall, absentmindedly running your finger along the rim of your glass. The candle at your table casts a soft glow across your features, and you look—content. Not impatient, not waiting. Just at ease in your own company.

It doesn’t surprise him. It never has. You were always like that, more than happy in your own company. It’s something he's admired from the start. It's something he loves now.

And still, even with that quiet self-assurance, as though you cannot help yourself, you glance toward the door, briefly. You look for him.

Theo exhales, a slow, measured thing, before finally pushing the door open.

The shift is immediate. The warmth of the restaurant wraps around him, the scent of spiced wine and something faintly floral hanging in the air. His footsteps are steady as he makes his way to you, and as though you've felt his presence, there’s already a knowing smile playing at your lips as he reaches the table.

“You’re late,” you murmur, smiling despite yourself.

Theo slides into his seat, his gaze never leaving yours. “I can't help it. It's cold out.”

You huff a small laugh, picking up your glass. He watches as you take a slow sip of your drink, utterly at ease beneath the weight of his attention.

“I can think of a few ways to keep you warm,” you remark idly as you set your glass down.

The corner of his mouth quirks up. “Oh?”

There’s a glint in your eyes, but you don’t elaborate, only tilting your head in that absent way he’s long since memorised. It’s teasing, but it’s also something else - something unspoken, something that lingers between you, quiet and unassuming.

His fingers brush against the inside of his coat pocket. The small box is still there, tucked away safely. The weight of it is steady, familiar.

There it lingers at his lips, unbidden and unsaid.

Darling, please. Let it be more.