#and THEN you do the final step of actually doing the repair and closing

[solarmorrigan]

For the angst prompt thing: Steddie and "Don't fucking touch me."

Hello! Thank you very much for sending a prompt, I'm sorry it took me so long to post, but I do think this one is my favorite out of all the fills I've done for this prompt list <3

[No warnings; Unnamed Freak (who apparently got a name in the most recent novel, but I didn't know that at the time) is named Oliver]

Angsty-ish Prompt List

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“I’m gonna step outside for a minute,” Steve leans in to murmur in Eddie’s ear, even though the music isn’t that loud.

“Yeah, sounds good.” Eddie nods, and only just keeps himself from turning to catch Steve’s mouth in a kiss when he feels the brush of his lips against his ear; it’s not his fault he’s developed some kind of Pavlovian association between having Steve’s mouth anywhere near his skin and receiving kisses – but they do have company.

Said company is just Gareth, Jeff, and Oliver, but still. Eddie has some decorum.

Steve stands from the couch and the arm he’d had slung around Eddie’s shoulders slides away slowly, his hand brushing warm and heavy over the back of Eddie’s neck, thumb stroking once, familiarly, along the side of his throat before disappearing entirely as Steve moves towards the front door. He doesn’t do so great with groups of people in small spaces anymore; the noise gets to him, and the heat generated by so many bodies in close proximity tends to give him a headache, so he takes breaks now and then, just to give his brain a few minutes to unbend.

The door swings open on silent hinges (Steve had attacked it with a can of WD-40 and a look of determination earlier today, insisting he couldn’t stand the squeaking anymore; he’s always doing things like that around the house – little repairs, organizing, picking things up, even though Eddie insists he doesn’t have to. He says he wants to, the endearing little weirdo) and Steve steps out into the cool evening, leaving Eddie and the boys behind in the warm light of the trailer’s main room.

“So,” Jeff says, looking up from his spot on the floor and gesturing vaguely at Eddie with his beer can, “how’s that going for you guys?”

Eddie blinks at him. “How’s what going?”

“The whole thing between you two,” Jeff clarifies, and Eddie raises a skeptical brow at him.

“You wanna talk about me and Steve having sex?” Eddie asks.

Jeff’s nose scrunches in distaste. “What? No.”

“Not ever,” Gareth jumps in.

“I mean…” Oliver says with a shrug, flinching when Gareth pelts him with a balled-up napkin.

“No,” Gareth reiterates.

“I refuse to apologize for simple curiosity,” Oliver sniffs, and Eddie, seated next to him on the couch, gives him a shove.

He’s glad his friends are accepting – supportive, even (he’d like to say he wouldn’t hang out with them if they weren’t, but let’s be real: nerds could be hard to come by in their neck of the woods, and as long as they were the quiet type of homophobic, Eddie would probably still play D&D with them. But he’s glad they’re not), but he does have some boundaries.

Like, one or two, maybe.

“I just meant the whole… dating thing,” Jeff says, taking a sip from his beer. “Because I’ll be honest, I really didn’t see it at first, but it actually seems to be working out.”

“Dating?” Eddie parrots blankly.

“Yeah. You guys are in, like, some kind of never-ending honeymoon phase or some shit,” Gareth says. “Hasn’t it been over two months?”

“Uhhh, no, I think you gentlemen are confused,” Eddie drawls. “Steve and I are not dating.”

This declaration is met with a moment of silence.

“Seriously?” Oliver finally says.

“Yep,” Eddie replies easily. “No relationship shit here. Strictly a friends-with-benefits-type deal.”

“Seriously,” Olver says again, flatly this time.

“Yes, Oliver, seriously,” Eddie huffs, reaching over to give him another shove, only to have his hand pushed away.

“Eddie, he was practically sitting in your lap just now,” Jeff says. “You two are all over each other.”

“Constantly,” Gareth adds.

Eddie shrugs. “It’s not like this is a big couch; we gotta squish. Anyway, Steve’s just a touchy kind of guy.”

“He doesn’t sit like that with any of us,” Gareth points out.

“Yeah, well, you guys aren’t the ones receiving benefits,” Eddie says. “You want him to sit on your lap? You could ask.”

Gareth lets his head hang back with a noise of frustration. “That’s not the point, and you know it.”

“Don’t you two go on dates?” Jeff asks. “I’ve seen you at the movies. You talk about going out to eat, doing other shit…”

“Yeah, see, that’s the friends part of friends with benefits,” Eddie snarks. “Friends hang out sometimes, I’ve been told. We are all, in fact, hanging out right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m dating any of you.”

“You don’t see the way he looks at you?” Oliver asks, and Eddie can’t help but scoff.

He appreciates the fact that Oliver is passionate about pretty much anything he does, but it also means he’s given to romanticizing. He doesn’t usually manage to drag Jeff or Gareth in with him, though.

“Pretty sure he looks at me like a friend, because that’s what we are.” Eddie rolls his eyes before offering a smarmy little grin. “I mean, I’m sure he looks at me as an exceptionally attractive friend, but that’s it.”

“Genuinely can’t tell if you’re fucking with us, man,” Jeff says, rolling his eyes.

“Genuinely, I am not,” Eddie promises, taking the last viable swallow from his beer before getting up and heading for the kitchen, wiggling his empty can at the others with a raised eyebrow in question. Gareth raises his own near-empty can with a shrug and Eddie nods. “Look,” he says as he ducks towards the fridge, “Steve isn’t the kinda guy you have a relationship with, anyway, you know?”

Eddie doesn’t mean this in a negative way, just as a matter of fact. Steve just doesn’t seem to be a relationship kind of guy. Nancy had been something of an outlier, in how long she and Steve had lasted, and it had become clear after the dust from the Upside Down had settled that he really doesn’t have any interest in pursuing her further. Just the other day, he’d mentioned to Eddie how difficult relationships can be, and about how glad he is they have their thing together instead.

“Being with you is just… easy,” Steve had said; he hadn’t been looking at Eddie at the time, his face instead pillowed on Eddie’s chest, hair sticking to his naked skin where the sweat was still cooling from their last round, but Eddie could see the edge of a smile on his lips.

And Eddie doesn’t have much experience with relationships himself, but he knows that being friends with Steve is easy and that the sex feels equally easy and that the way he’d agreed with Steve and carded his fingers through his hair had sent Steve right to sleep with that same smile still in place.

Easy.

Now, Eddie shoves his head into the fridge and reaches for the beers that have somehow gotten pushed to the back. “It’s nothing major, okay?” he calls back towards the living room.

“Eddie…” Gareth calls back, an edge to his voice.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m on it.” Eddie waves vaguely, making sure to grab a second beer. “Anyway, Steve’s a good friend, and he’s really hot, and we’re just having fun.”

The bang of the front door against the frame startles Eddie so badly he nearly smacks his head on the underside of the freezer as he stands, a beer clutched in each hand like he might be able to use them as projectiles.

There is no threat, though – just Steve, who had apparently failed to catch the screen door before it had shut too quickly behind him. He doesn’t seem to have noticed; he’s just standing there, staring at Eddie, color rising high in his cheeks, eyes wide and shocked, like he’s just been slapped.

Concern wells up from Eddie’s gut, and he opens to his mouth to ask what’s wrong when Steve finally speaks.

“Yeah,” he croaks, “I’m not having fun.”

Eddie’s brows furrow in confusion, the beginnings of cold dread trickling into his veins well ahead of any conscious thought.

“I think I– I think I should go,” Steve says.

He grabs his keys from the side table by the door, where they’ve lived next to Eddie’s and Wayne’s for the last few months whenever he’s been at the house, and then he’s gone again, the screen door banging shut once more behind him.

And Eddie has no idea what just happened, but he knows it wasn’t good. He drops the beers on the counter and bolts out the door after Steve.

Steve is nearly to his car by the time Eddie scrambles down the front steps, and he’s paying absolutely no attention when Eddie calls after him.

“Steve,” Eddie tries again, stumbling to a stop right behind him as he jams his keys into the driver’s side lock. “Steve, for fuck’s sake, what–” he reaches out, wrapping one hand around Steve’s bicep, and Steve jerks out of his grip.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” Steve snaps.

Eddie pulls his hand back, but doesn’t step away, entirely baffled by the sudden turn the evening has taken. “What the hell happened back there?”

Steve goes still, grip going lax on his keys. “I heard what you said, Eddie.”

“About – about what? Are you mad I was talking to them about us sleeping together? Because, Steve, they already knew,” Eddie insists, a little incredulous. “You said you were fine with them knowing! You were practically feeling me up in front of them!”

“I don’t give a shit if they know we’re having sex!” Steve hisses, finally whirling around to look at Eddie. “I meant the rest. About how I’m not the kind of guy you have a relationship with.”

Eddie’s stomach sinks. He hadn’t realized that was such a sensitive subject. “I – shit, I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings, I just didn’t think you wanted–”

“About how we’re just having fun,” Steve cuts in, and if he’d sounded raw before, his voice is practically ground down to nothing now.

That brings Eddie up short. “…aren’t we?” he asks after a moment.

Steve says nothing.

“I mean, shit, Steve, it’s not like we’re in a relationship,” Eddie says, offering a little laugh, because even Steve would have to admit that the idea is a little silly.

Except.

Except Steve just glances away, staring at the ground beside Eddie’s feet, and – oh, shit.

“Oh, shit.”

Steve is still unnervingly silent, one arm curled around his middle while the other hand comes up to pinch briefly at the bridge of his nose. He still won’t look at Eddie.

“You… you thought we were,” Eddie says dumbly, and Steve shrugs.

“Can you blame me? We spend all our time together, Eddie. I’m here more than I’m at my own house, I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve slept in my own bed in the last month. We go out and do things together, I try to keep things nice around the house because I want Wayne to like me, we have, like, a lot of sex, and– we… I mean, we kiss and touch and just – do shit like that even when it doesn’t lead anywhere.” Steve shrugs helplessly, finally looking up. “I mean, Christ, Eddie, what did you think we were doing?”

“I thought we were friends!” Eddie insists. Steve throws him an incredulous look and Eddie amends, “With benefits!”

“Right.” Steve’s expression flattens back out, going cold and hard and unlike anything Eddie’s become used to from him. “Because I’m not the kind of guy you’d want to have a relationship with.”

“I said that because I thought you didn’t want to be in a relationship!” Eddie snaps. “It’s not like you stay with anyone for very long, so I just assumed you didn’t want to be with anyone.”

Some of the ice retreats from Steve’s face, leaving a watering kind of hurt in its stead. “Do you listen to me at all when I talk?”

“What? Of course I do!” Eddie might have gotten turned around in certain respects, but he will not have his merits as a friend called into question; of course he listens to Steve.

“Are you sure? Because I talk about you an awful lot. I talk about doing things with you, about doing things in the future with you,” Steve says pointedly, “about how I want to stay with you.”

And Eddie had wanted Steve to stay with him, too. He’s just been thinking – well, he’d thought it was because they get along so well, that Steve had wanted to stick around. That it had only made sense.

“We never talked about… being anything else,” Eddie says, the protest a little weak even to his own ears. “I’m pretty sure I’d remember that.”

Steve pulls a sharp breath in, pinching at the bridge of his nose again; he leaves his hand there this time, eyes scrunched shut. “Just a few days ago, I told you how much I liked being with you. How good and how easy it felt compared to anyone else I’ve ever been with,” he says, barely more than a rough whisper. “And you said…”

I like being with you, too.

Eddie had said that.

He’d meant that he likes being around Steve, likes being his friend, definitely likes having sex with him, but he’d said it while combing his fingers through Steve’s hair, while cuddled up with him in bed, and – okay, yes, he can see the mixed signals there. He can see where Steve might have gotten the idea that they didn’t have an arrangement, that they were just together.

“I– I didn’t mean–”

“Obviously,” Steve snaps, dropping his hand from his face and turning back towards his car.

Eddie tsks, frustrated, and reaches out to grab Steve’s wrist – not pulling, just trying to keep his attention.

“Don’t,” Steve warns him, pulling back from his grasp for a second time.

“I didn’t mean to lead you on,” Eddie tries desperately. “I really… I really didn’t.”

“Yeah. I can see that. But Eddie…” Steve is quiet for a moment, posture so tense and still that Eddie suspects he’s not even breathing. “I’m probably the best-qualified asshole around to tell you that you really have to fucking think about how what you’re doing affects the people around you.”

Somehow, that stings more than any screamed insult Steve could have thrown at him.

“Steve…”

“I’ll come get my shit out of your place tomorrow,” Steve says, low and sharp, before getting into his car and slamming the door behind him.

After that, Eddie has no choice but to step back or get run over, and he watches until Steve’s taillights are no longer visible.

He can hear the hissing of some whispered conversation just beyond the door as he trudges back up the front steps, but his friends fall conspicuously quiet the moment he steps inside.

“…hey,” Gareth finally ventures after several seconds of awkward, sticky silence.

“Hey,” Eddie says flatly.

“Do you… want us to stay?” Jeff asks.

Slowly, Eddie shakes his head. “I think I should… I need to– think about shit.”

The boys all nod, throwing him variously sympathetic glances and clapping him on the shoulder on their way out. Oliver pauses, as if he’s going to say something, but Gareth gives him a shove and gets him out the door before he has the chance. Probably for the best.

Eddie feels numb as he trudges back towards his room, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.

He flops down on his bed, face landing in a pillow that smells entirely too much like Steve’s shampoo. Probably because it’s on the side of the bed that Steve always takes. Next to the nightstand with the small stack of sports magazines that definitely aren’t Eddie’s. And the spare pair of glasses that also isn’t Eddie’s.

With a low tug in his gut, Eddie realizes how much of Steve’s stuff has crept into his room, into the trailer, into his life – how much Steve has become a part of his life, how much of Eddie’s day has been built around him, how much he’s come to lean on his presence, has come to want him there.

And Steve is going to take it all back sometime soon. Take all of his things away before he removes himself from Eddie’s life, too, because Eddie hadn’t been thinking and he hadn’t been careful and he hadn’t realized–

Eddie’s pretty sure he just broke up with Steve.

He’s also pretty sure he hadn’t wanted to.

His main consolation, as he curls up on his side, nose still buried in Steve’s pillow, is that as soon as Robin hears what happened (and she will hear, he has no doubt), she’ll probably come murder him.

At least he won’t have to wallow for long.

Part 2

[03jyh23]

— shooting stars!  || park seonghwa

loosely inspired by the drama shitting stars!

Most people aren’t interested in the truth. They just casually gossip to entertain themselves. No one takes responsibility for the caused pain.

idol!seonghwa x prmanager!reader

genre: angst, fluff, smut

trigger warnings: vanilla sex, honestly there's not much just kissing, touching, and... lovemaking. really soft smut. it's embarrassing, jealousy, argument, emotional distress, career-related stress, and difficult decisions

words: 8.2 k

reminder: what you're about to read is purely fiction, so let's keep it separate from reality.

!minors do not interact!

— hi there! this is my longest story so far! i've been working on it like crazy for the past few days and here we finally are. so the smut... it's not really a smut but still? i tried oh god, i feel so embarrassed but yeah i just decided to go for it. it's again requested work but i actually changed some of it to fit into my idea... anyway thank you so much for requesting!

love, monika. ♡

if you enjoyed this post, i'd be so grateful for a little love – a like or comment would truly make my day!

The office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, felt stiflingly hot, despite having already downed three cups of iced coffee. With the air conditioning out of order and repairs not scheduled until two days later, you found yourself drowning in a sea of work. Who would have imagined that working at a medium-sized entertainment agency would entail such an overwhelming workload? You should have felt grateful for landing this job, considering the effort you had put into securing it, but at times, it felt overwhelmingly demanding. Being the head of the PR department at KQ Entertainment was certainly something to boast about, especially after ATEEZ's success. You joined the company a few years back when you were the sole member of the PR team. If you claimed you believed in the company's success from the beginning, you'd be lying. When you first entered, fear outweighed optimism regarding the future. Indeed, it was no small feat for eight teenage boys to shoulder the weight of an entire company, but ATEEZ rose to the challenge with unwavering determination and passion. Now, with two active bands under KQ's wings, you find yourself constantly occupied.  

Managing the members of ATEEZ was undoubtedly a challenging task, and surprisingly, it wasn't due to any misbehavior on their part. Despite their young age and the temptations that come with fame, the ATEEZ members remained remarkably grounded and focused on their careers. You truly admired that. But when a band from such a small company starts gaining momentum, rumors are bound to circulate. Your main priority was to prevent those rumors from leaking. Which wasn't easy, as people can be cruel when they're envious. But still, to this day ATEEZ has not been involved in any major scandals, which made you proud.  

In a small company like KQ, everybody knows each other. Initially, stepping into that environment, you couldn't help but feel a bit nervous around the members of ATEEZ. Their presence seemed to exude a magnetic energy that was both captivating and intimidating. As you interacted with them more and more, you realized that their aura was indeed something special. Each member brought their own unique charm and personality to the table. You and the members of ATEEZ grew slightly closer than others, due to your similar ages, but it was Seonghwa who stood out to you the most. His effortless humor, kindness, and genuine care for others made him a favorite. Right from the start, you felt drawn to him. However, you maintained a professional demeanor, knowing all too well the potential consequences of getting too close, especially considering his status as an idol. But at some point, company dinners and parties became regular occasions, where you celebrated each of ATEEZ’s success together. And as the alcohol in your system increased, your professionalism decreased. Your bond with Seonghwa deepened, you found yourself drawn to him more than ever before. Whether it was sharing drinks, engaging in playful games, or simply relishing heartfelt conversations over company dinner, you cherished every moment spent in his company. With each passing interaction, your admiration for him grew, and before you knew it, you were falling head over heels for him. Despite the looming fear of crossing a line you couldn't return from; you couldn't resist him. What started as a professional relationship evolved into something much deeper and more profound. The shy touches and lingering glances exchanged between you spoke volumes, conveying emotions that words alone couldn't express. In the midst of loud music and bustling crowds, you found yourselves leaning closer to each other, seeking solace in the warmth of each other's presence. His hand naturally gravitated to your waist whenever you stood side by side, a silent yet undeniable declaration of the connection you shared. 

The day had been long and exhausting, and you were just about ready to call it quits when the sudden intrusion of your boss jolted you from your thoughts. Startled, you looked up to see him standing in the doorway, a look of excitement and urgency written across his face. 

"Y/N! Have you heard?" he exclaimed; his voice filled with anticipation. You blinked in surprise, your exhaustion momentarily forgotten as you leaned forward in your chair.  

"Heard what?" you asked, curiosity piqued. Your boss couldn't contain his grin as he delivered the news.  

"ATEEZ just sold out an entire US Tour!" The words hung in the air, sinking in slowly as you processed their significance. And then, without warning, a surge of elation washed over you, and before you knew it, you were on your feet, a joyful scream escaping your lips. 

"What?" you exclaimed, unable to contain your excitement. Without a second thought, you rushed forward, enveloping your boss in a tight hug, overcome with happiness at the incredible news. It was a moment of pure exhilaration, a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in ATEEZ's journey. The exhaustion of the day melted away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. The excitement in your boss's voice was contagious as he patted your back, a wide grin spreading across his face.  

"We are celebrating tonight!" he declared with enthusiasm, his words echoing through the office. A surge of anticipation raced through you at the prospect of celebrating ATEEZ's incredible achievement.  

"Absolutely!" you replied eagerly, already picturing the party ahead. With a playful wink, your boss continued,  

"So go back to your place, doll up, and I'll see you here at 7 sharp!" You nodded enthusiastically, a smile stretching from ear to ear.  

"You got it!" You exclaimed, already mentally planning your outfit for the evening. As you made your way out of the office, the excitement of the impending celebration filled you with renewed energy. With a spring in your step and a heart full of anticipation, you packed up your belongings and bid farewell to the office for the day. The thought of celebrating ATEEZ's success and the prospect of finally seeing Seonghwa filled you with an infectious excitement that bubbled within you. As you made your way through the bustling streets, the anticipation only grew stronger. The familiar sights and sounds of the city seemed to fade into the background, overshadowed by the promise of the evening ahead. Tonight was a night for celebration, a chance to toast to ATEEZ's success and revel in the joy of being surrounded by friends and colleagues. But above all else, it was a night to be reunited with Seonghwa, and you couldn't wait to see where the evening would take you. With a smile on your face and excitement in your heart, you pushed open the door to your apartment.  

After a quick shower to freshen up and wash away the cares of the day, you set about styling your hair and applying my makeup with meticulous care. With the luxury of extra time on your hands, you paid attention to every detail to ensure that you looked and felt your best for the evening ahead. After finishing your make-up, you reached out for your phone resting on the nightstand, your heart skipping a beat as you saw Seonghwa's name flashing on the screen. A surge of excitement coursed through you as you answered the call, eager to hear his voice after what felt like an eternity apart. 

"Hello?" You said, your voice tinged with anticipation as you brought the phone to your ear, butterflies dancing in your stomach. 

"Hey, it's me," Seonghwa's voice came through the line, warm and familiar, sending a rush of warmth through you. A smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you replied,  

"Hi, Seonghwa. I was just thinking about you." There was a pause on the other end of the line, followed by a soft chuckle.  

"Funny, I was just thinking about you too," he said, his voice filled with warmth and affection. "I will see you tonight, right?"  

"Absolutely, I wouldn't miss it for anything," you replied without hesitation, "We definitely need to celebrate!" 

"Honestly, the only thing that matters is that I will finally see you," Seonghwa's voice came through the phone, filled with warmth and affection. A smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you replied,  

"Same here, Seonghwa. I've missed you." And as you exchanged a few more words of affection and excitement, you couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to be reunited once more. With a renewed sense of anticipation and joy, you ended the call, a sense of warmth and happiness lingering in your heart. Tonight was going to be a night to remember, and you couldn't wait to see Seonghwa's smiling face once more. 

Choosing the perfect outfit for the evening was challenging. On one hand, you wanted to look your best – to make a memorable impression on Seonghwa after being apart for so long due to his overseas schedule. But on the other hand, you didn't want to appear overdressed or out of place at the party. After rummaging through your wardrobe for what felt like an eternity, you finally settled on something. Opting for a timeless and sophisticated look, you selected a classic black shirt for the evening's celebration. Deciding to add a touch of allure to the ensemble, you opted to leave the top few buttons of the shirt undone, revealing a hint of skin. It was a small gesture, but it added just the right amount of intrigue to the outfit. Paired with a simple black skirt that hit just in the middle of your tights, the combination was effortlessly sexy. The monochromatic palette created a sleek and cohesive look that was eye-catching. With a few carefully chosen accessories – a delicate, gold necklace, a pair of understated earrings, and a sleek clutch – you completed the outfit. As you admired your reflection in the mirror, a sense of excitement washed over you. Tonight was going to be a night to remember. 

You entered the company building, the air was filled with electric energy, a tangible sense of excitement pulsating through the air. Everywhere you looked, you could see signs of preparation – colorful balloons swaying gently in the breeze, banners hanging from the walls, and a festive atmosphere that filled the space with warmth and joy. A smile spread across your lips as you took in the sight before you, feeling a surge of excitement building within you. It was clear that everyone had gone to great lengths to ensure that tonight's celebration would be a night to remember, a fitting tribute to ATEEZ's incredible achievement. With each step you took, the anticipation continued to build, fueled by the excitement of finally being reunited with Seonghwa and the rest of the ATEEZ members. After exchanging greetings with everyone and soaking in the festive atmosphere, you found yourself nestled in a cozy corner of the room, a drink in hand. As you scanned the bustling room, your heart skipped a beat with each familiar face that passed by, hoping to catch sight of Seonghwa among the crowd, but he was nowhere to be found.  

"Y/N!" As you heard your name called from across the room, you turned your head in the direction of the sound. Through the sea of people, you spotted a familiar face. 

"San!" You greeted him enthusiastically as he approached, a genuine smile spreading across your face at the sight of him. San was always such a warm and friendly presence, and you were genuinely glad that he had come over to you. "Congratulations!" you exclaimed as San pulled you in a warm hug. With a smile, you pulled back from the hug, meeting his gaze with genuine happiness in your eyes. "I'm so happy for you, San," you said sincerely, knowing that his success was well-deserved.  

"It's truly incredible," San replied, a smile tugging at his lips as he raised his glass to clink it against yours. The sound of glass meeting glass echoed through the room, a toast to success. "It's moments like these that make all the hard work worth it," San said, you nodded with agreement. "Here's to many more successes and celebrations to come." with a smile, you took another sip of your drink, savoring the moment and feeling grateful for the opportunity to share it with a friend like San. 

''Y/N! You look amazing!' You didn't notice when Hongjoong approached you, 

"Thank you!" You replied, feeling a rush of warmth at his words. Before you could react, Hongjoong took your hand and spun you around gently, causing laughter to bubble up from within you. His eyes scanned you appreciatively, and you felt a blush rise to your cheeks under his gaze. It was a simple gesture, but it filled you with a sense of happiness.  

"Am I interrupting something?" As the question hung in the air, you turned your gaze away from Hongjoong and met Seonghwa's eyes, feeling a rush of emotions wash over you. His presence seemed to fill the room, drawing you in with an intensity that was both exhilarating and unnerving. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as you locked eyes, a silent exchange passing between you both. In that moment, it felt as though the rest of the world faded away, leaving only the two of you standing there, caught in a moment. 

"No, not at all," you replied, as you tore your gaze away from Seonghwa's, turning back to face San and Hongjoong. "We were just catching up." your mind remained fixed on Seonghwa, unable to shake the feeling of his presence lingering in the air.  

"I was just telling her how amazing she looks tonight," As Hongjoong's words filled the air, a warm smile spread across your face at his kind gesture. It was a small reassurance amid the tension that lingered between Seonghwa and you, 

"Thank you, Hongjoong," you replied with genuine gratitude, meeting his gaze briefly before turning back to face Seonghwa once more. His eyes bore into yours, and you couldn't help but wonder what thoughts lay behind Seonghwa's gaze. 

''We will leave you two alone and say hi to the rest of the team.'' San spoke, as he took Hongjoong by his arm, and pulled him behind. 

"Of course," you replied, nodding in understanding as San and Hongjoong made their way towards the rest of the team. They disappeared into the crowd, leaving you alone. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the silence between you filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension. 

“I don’t like the way they look at you” Seonghwa's words hung in the air, breaking the silence with a weight that you couldn't ignore. His voice was soft, tinged with a hint of concern that sent a shiver down your spine. You couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and curiosity at his sudden confession.  

"What do you mean?" you asked. There was a depth to his words that hinted at something more, and you found yourself holding your breath, waiting for him to elaborate. Seonghwa sighed, his expression troubled as he struggled to find the right words.  

"I mean... I just don't like the way they look at you," he confessed, his voice strained with emotion. His admission caught you off guard, and you were at a loss for how to respond. "It drives me crazy." As he downed his drink in one swift motion, you could see the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.  

"Seonghwa, are you... jealous?" you asked tentatively, your heart pounding in your chest. His eyes widened at your question, and for a moment, he was speechless. 

"Jealous?" Seonghwa repeated, seemingly taken aback by your question. He looked at you, his eyes searching yours as if he was trying to find the answer himself. After a moment of silence, he let out a soft chuckle, his gaze dropping to his hands. "Maybe I am," he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. The intensity of his confession made your heart flutter, and a blush crept up your cheeks. You watched as he ran a hand through his hair, a sign of his nervousness that you had come to recognize. 

"I just... I care about you, you know?" He looked up at you, his eyes filled with an emotion that you hadn't seen before. It was a look of protectiveness, of possessiveness, but also of vulnerability. And in that moment, you realized that perhaps Seonghwa's feelings ran deeper than you had initially thought. Your moment was abruptly interrupted by someone calling his name from across the room. Your heart sank slightly, realizing that you wouldn't have the opportunity to delve deeper into the conversation. Seonghwa glanced at you apologetically, his expression filled with regret. 

"I'll be right back," he promised, his voice tinged with disappointment. You nodded in understanding, offering him a reassuring smile despite the lingering questions in your mind.  

"Take your time," you replied, watching as he made his way through the crowd, his figure disappearing into the throng of people. Left alone with your thoughts, you couldn't help but wonder about the true meaning behind Seonghwa's words. His confession had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within you, and you longed for the chance to delve deeper into it. But for now, all you could do was wait, hoping for the opportunity to continue your conversation when the time was right.  

As the night wore on, you found yourself swept up in a whirlwind of conversations and celebrations, the opportunity to continue the conversation with Seonghwa slipping further and further away with each passing moment. Seonghwa seemed to be caught up in the festivities as well, pulled in different directions by the demands of the evening. Despite your best efforts to find a moment alone with him, the bustling atmosphere of the party made it difficult to carve out the time for a private conversation. Seonghwa was constantly surrounded by friends and colleagues, and you found yourself pulled in different directions as well, engaging in lively discussions and catching up with the rest of the team.  

The atmosphere in the company was quiet, with only the faint echoes of the recent party lingering in the air. As the party slowly wound down and the last of the guests trickled out of the door, you found yourself alone in the room, left to clean up the aftermath. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached, and you turned to find Seonghwa lingering in the doorway.  

"Can I help you clean up?" he asked, his voice gentle and earnest. You nodded, appreciating his offer of help and the chance to speak with him once again. 

"Of course, thank you, Seonghwa." You replied, welcoming his company. Together, you started to pick up the scattered cups and plates, the silence between you comfortable yet filled with anticipation. Seonghwa worked diligently, making quick work of the mess. You watched him out of the corner of your eye, admiring his focus. When he finished, he looked up and met your gaze, a small smile playing on his lips. 

"It's much easier with two people," he commented, breaking the silence. You agreed and thanked him again for his help. The room was now clean, but neither of you made a move to leave. Seonghwa finally broke the silence.  

"About what I said earlier," he began, hesitating slightly. You nodded, indicating that you were listening. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before he continued. "I meant what I said. I care about you... more than I probably should." His words echoed in the empty room; the atmosphere suddenly heavy. You looked at him, surprised by his confession but also relieved. His feelings mirrored your own, and you found yourself smiling at him. 

"I care about you too, Seonghwa," you replied, his face lit up at your words, and for the first time that evening, you felt a sense of peace wash over you. 

"Can I kiss you?" His words sent a thrill of anticipation coursing through you, and without hesitation, you reached out to gently cup his face in your hands. 

"Yes," you whispered, Seonghwa’s eyes twinkled with happiness at your answer. You could feel your heart pound against your chest in anticipation. Seonghwa’s touch was gentle yet commanding as he pulled you closer by your waist, drawing you into his embrace with a magnetic force that was impossible to resist. As his touch sent shivers cascading down your spine, your body reacted instinctively, responding to the electrifying sensation with an intensity that took your breath away. Every nerve seemed to ignite with a fiery spark as his fingertips grazed your skin, leaving a trail of tingling sensation. Seonghwa's lips were warm and soft against yours, each gentle brush sending sparks of electricity dancing across your skin. The moment his lips met yours, everything around melted away. All you could feel was him; his lips on yours, his heartbeat echoing your own. The kiss was soft, tender, filled with all the emotions that had been building up between you. With each press of Seonghwa’s lips against yours, you felt yourself melting into his touch, losing yourself in the intoxicating sensation of his embrace. Your heart pounded furiously in your chest, a steady rhythm echoing the urgency of the desire that coursed through you. With each caress, your senses were heightened, attuned to every nuance of his touch. It was as if a spark had been ignited within you, setting your entire being ablaze with a fierce longing that threatened to consume you whole.  

"Seonghwa, we shouldn't," you whispered breathlessly against his lips as you pulled away, a pang of hesitation gnawing at your heart.  

"Why not?" He murmured, his breath hitching as he stared at you with a look of surprise and confusion. His words resonated within you, forcing you to confront the fear that had been lingering at the back of your mind. You swallowed hard, your mind wrestling with the feelings that had been building up inside you. 

"You're an idol, Seonghwa, and I... I work for your PR team," you started, your voice barely a whisper. You watched as the confusion in his eyes shifted to understanding, his grip on your waist loosening slightly. "The rules... the... the consequences," you stuttered, your heart pounding as you tried to put your fears into words. "We could get caught... I could lose my job... and it could ruin your career." For a moment, Seonghwa was silent, absorbing your words. You could see the struggle in his eyes, the battle between his feelings and the harsh reality of the world you both lived in. But then, he pulled you closer, his eyes never leaving yours. 

"I understand," he said softly, his voice barely audible over the pounding in your chest. "But I can't help how I feel about you. We'll figure this out... together." You tried to say something, to voice the concerns still swirling in your mind, but Seonghwa shook his head and placed a finger on your lips.  

"Shhh... I've waited too long for this," he murmured, and before you could respond, he leaned in once again, capturing your lips in a passionate kiss that left no room for argument. His touch was electrifying, his lips hungry and insistent against yours, and you found yourself returning his fervor with equal intensity. There was no gentleness, no tender caresses. Instead, your kiss was raw and unbridled, fueled by a primal hunger that threatened to consume you both. With each brush of your lips, the barriers that had once held you back crumbled, giving way to an overwhelming surge of desire. In the heat of the moment, there was no room for hesitation or doubt. All that mattered was the fiery connection that blazed between you, igniting a flame that burned brighter with each passing second. And as you lost yourselves in the intoxicating rush of passion, you knew that there was no turning back. As the world around you melted away, you found the courage to voice the words that had been on the tip of your tongue.  

"Let's go to my place," you breathed out, your heart pounding in your chest as you waited for his response. Seonghwa looked at you, a slight surprise in his eyes. Then a slow smile spread across his face, transforming his features into a look of pure happiness.  

"I'd love to," he replied, his voice husky. You reached out, gently grasping Seonghwa's wrist and pulling him to follow you. His eyes widened slightly in surprise, but there was a glimmer of excitement mirrored in their depths. With a sense of urgency, you swiftly took your purse. Every movement was propelled by a heady mix of anticipation and desire, your heart pounding in rhythm with the rapid pace of your thoughts. As you made your way to the back door, Seonghwa paused for a moment, reaching for his jacket, glasses, and a mask before stepping outside. You were struck by his thoughtfulness and attention to detail. In that simple gesture, you saw a glimpse of the considerate and caring person he was beneath the surface. With a soft smile, you followed, grabbing your own jacket and slipping on a mask before joining Seonghwa outside. The cool night air greeted you as you stepped onto the pavement, wrapping you in its embrace. Feeling the warmth of Seonghwa's hand intertwining with yours sent a jolt of electricity. With your fingers intertwined, you set off together, following the familiar way that would lead you to your apartment. You couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude as you made your way through the quiet streets, it was a relief to know that your apartment was only a short distance away from the company. 

As soon as the door to your apartment closed behind you, Seonghwa pulled you hard into his chest, your bodies pressing on each other. His kisses became more urgent, his grip on you tighter as if he was afraid you would disappear. His lips found yours in a passionate kiss that left you breathless, his taste intoxicating, leaving you wanting more. In this moment, there was no room for remorse or second thoughts, only the overpowering need for each other. You were lost in him, in the overwhelming sensation of his touch, his taste, his scent. As the intensity of your shared passion escalated, Seonghwa moved to unbutton your shirt, his fingers trembling slightly with anticipation. 

"Wait," you murmured, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. His eyes were dark and filled with desire, but he stopped at your words, his hands coming to rest on your waist as he waited for you to continue. "I... I just want to make sure we're both on the same page," you said softly, voice trembling slightly with the weight of the moment. "I care about you, Seonghwa, more than I can put into words. But I want it to mean something, for both of us." As you spoke, you searched his expression for any sign of hesitation or doubt, but all you found was a profound sense of understanding and respect. In that moment, you were sure that Seonghwa shared your desire for something deeper, something more meaningful than just physical intimacy. His lips curved into a tender smile, and he reached up to gently cup your cheek in his hand.  

"I understand," he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity. "I want this to mean something too, Y/N. More than anything. I’m not leaving you." With those words, the last of your doubts melted away, leaving only a sense of trust and connection between you. His touch, careful and loving, trailed down your body, taking the time to appreciate every inch of you. Seonghwa’s fingers traced over your skin, leaving a trail of warmth and desire in their wake. He took his time, his hands exploring you as if he was memorizing every curve, every line of your body. Your hands found their way to his hair, tugging gently at the soft strands. He let out a soft groan, his hot breath fanning against your skin, sending shivers down your spine. His lips found yours again, stealing your breath away with the intensity of the kiss. His hands moved to the buttons of your shirt, unbuttoning it and tossing it aside. His gaze was full of admiration and desire as he looked at you, his eyes taking in your form.  

"You're beautiful, Y/N," he murmured against your lips, his voice low and filled with emotion. You blushed, a smile spreading across your lips at his words. Seonghwa leaned in, pressing kisses along your neck, collarbones, down to your chest. His hands finally moved to unclasp your bra, letting it fall to the floor. His touch was electrifying, each kiss sending waves of pleasure through your body. Seonghwa was patient, taking his time to make you feel loved, and cherished. He moved lower, his lips trailing down your stomach, making you gasp with anticipation. You arched into his touch, your fingers tangling in his hair, guiding him closer to where you needed him. "So impatient," Seonghwa commented as he moved back up, capturing your lips in a heated kiss. You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him closer. Craving the feel of his skin against yours, your hands moved to his shirt, unbuttoning it and pushing it off his shoulders. You took a moment to admire him, your gaze trailing over his muscular chest, and the defined abs. Seonghwa was beautiful, every inch of him perfect. You reached out, your fingers tracing over his skin, feeling the warmth radiating from him. Seonghwa’s hands roamed your body, the touch igniting a fire within you. He moved lower once again, his lips trailing down your stomach, making you gasp with anticipation. His hands moved to your skirt, unzipping it and sliding it down your legs. Seonghwa’s lips found the skin on your thighs, his hands gently creasing them, each touch sending waves of desire coursing through you. His lips moved up your tight, his lips finding all your sensitive spots, making you arch your back and gasp out his name. You felt his breath dangerously close to your panties, which by now were soaked completely with your arousal.  

"Seonghwa," you moaned, your voice thick with longing as you arched your back, surrendering to the intoxicating sensations that washed over you. "Not here," you murmured, your voice trembling as looked down on him with a mixture of desire and urgency. "Bedroom... Let's go to the bedroom." Seonghwa, with a deep and magnetic gaze that held you captive, guided you gently towards the bedroom. He led you to the edge of the bed, his hands never leaving your body. Carefully, with an affectionate touch, he laid you down on the soft sheets. Seonghwa's gaze was intense but tender, as if he was committing every detail of you to memory. The look in his eyes held a fervor that was both thrilling and comforting. The last piece of your clothing was slowly discarded, your lace panties landing softly on the floor. His hands, now free to explore, traced a path of heat down your bare body, each touch igniting a spark of anticipation. He kissed you deeply, a promise of more to come, before his eyes met yours once more. Seonghwa's gaze was full of adoration and hunger, a testament to the intimate connection that was about to deepen. Slowly, Seonghwa began to undress himself, his movements unhurried and deliberate. As the last piece of his clothing dropped to the floor, he positioned himself atop you, his bare skin against yours sending tremors of desire coursing through your veins. His eyes continued to hold your gaze, their depths reflecting the shared anticipation of the intimate moment that was about to unfold. 

"Is this alright?" Seonghwa whispered against your lips. 

"Yes," you murmured, your voice barely more than a whisper, "Yes, Seonghwa... I'm yours." Your affirmation seemed to ignite something within him. A slow, intoxicating smile spread across his face, his dark eyes twinkling with a mixture of love, desire, and a hint of possessiveness that sent shivers down your spine. His gaze never wavered from yours, maintaining eye contact as he leaned down, his lips meeting yours in a searing, passionate kiss. One of his hands, tender and firm, cradled your face, his thumb gently brushing against your cheeks. With the other one he steadied himself between your legs, and you finally felt him entering you slowly and gently, his movements measured and full of care. The feeling was intoxicating, overwhelming in its intensity but filled with a tenderness that only Seonghwa could provide. As Seonghwa moved, you felt a surge of pleasure that left you gasping, your fingers trailing over his back, your nails gently digging into his skin. His name fell from your lips in a breathless whisper, the syllables intertwining with the soft moans and gasps that filled the room. Each thrust heightened the pleasure, building up tension that had you moaning his name louder. He responded to your every sound, his movements shifting and adapting to your responses. It was as if he was attuned to every part of you, each touch designed to elicit the maximum pleasure. 

"Seonghwa," you moaned, as he continued to move, his rhythm steady and deliberate. He looked down at you, his gaze filled with love and desire, his expression mirroring the pleasure coursing through you. "I’m close" you whimpered as the pleasure started to overwhelm you. 

"I know, baby," he responded, his voice low and soothing. His eyes never left yours, holding your gaze as the room around you both seemed to fade. Each of his movements were measured, calculated to draw the maximum response from you. He knew exactly what you needed, when you needed it, and he wasn't afraid to take his time in delivering it. Seonghwa was completely in tune with your body, knowing just how to touch you, how to move, to bring you to the edge. A gasp escaped your lips as his rhythm increased, the intensity building as he moved. His name was a whispered prayer on your lips, the only word you could manage as you clung to him. The world around you narrowed to the feeling of him, the sight of him, the sound of him, the scent of him. 

"Let go baby," he murmured against your ear, his voice a soothing balm, grounding you in the moment. With a few more deep movements, he guided you both to the peak of your shared pleasure. The feeling was indescribable, a release of tension that left you both panting and gasping for breath. And through it all, Seonghwa was there with you, his gaze never leaving yours, his love and desire for you clear in his eyes. As the waves of pleasure subsided, Seonghwa collapsed beside you, pulling you into his arms. He held you close, his heart beating in time with yours as you both lay there in silence, the echoes of your shared climax still reverberating through your bodies. Seonghwa’s fingers traced idle patterns on your skin, a soothing gesture that eased the lingering tremors racking your body. His lips pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead, the tenderness of the gesture making your heart flutter. 

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. His concern was palpable, his eyes searching yours for any sign of discomfort. You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips.  

"More than okay," you assured him, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from his sweaty forehead. His answering smile was warm and genuine, a sight that never failed to make your heart skip a beat. 

"Good," he murmured, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck. His breathing slowly became more regular, his body relaxing as he basked in the afterglow. You laid there, tangled in each other's arms, your heartbeats syncing in the quiet. There was no need for words now, the silence between you was comfortable and familiar. As you drifted off to sleep, his arms tightened around you.  

You were suddenly awakened by the sound of Seonghwa's voice, harsh and irritated, a stark contrast to the gentle tone you had grown accustomed to. His distressed voice pierced the calm tranquility of the early morning as he was on the phone, pacing around the room with furrowed brows, clearly in frustration. As you sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you noticed your phone blinking on the bedside table. Forty-three missed calls. A wave of chilly dread filled you as you unlocked your phone to see the flood of messages and notifications. The first one you clicked on made your heart drop. Pictures of you and Seonghwa, walking to your apartment, your hands intertwined, were plastered all over various media outlets. The headlines screamed about Seonghwa's secret relationship, a shocking revelation that seemed to have hit the fandom like a lightning bolt. The comments section was a whirlpool of emotions - shock, betrayal, and surprisingly, support. As you scrolled through the articles, you could barely register the words. This was your worst nightmare coming to life, the very reason you hesitated to start a relationship with Seonghwa in the first place. Seonghwa finished his call and turned to you, his face unnaturally pale.  

"It's all over the news," he said, his voice barely a whisper. The room felt suffocating as a heavy silence descended upon it, both of you too stunned to utter a word. The reality of the situation was sinking in, unfolding a terrifying scenario that you both had dreaded. Your mind was racing, scrambling to make sense of the situation. All your worst fears were coming to life - the fear of getting caught, of losing your job, and of potentially damaging Seonghwa's career. This was the adverse consequence of your secret relationship, the one you had feared and tried to prevent from the very beginning. Yet, amidst the turmoil, you couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Your anger flared as you dialed your boss's number, your hands shaking as you held the phone to your ear. He picked up on the second ring, his voice tense, 

"You need to do your job and stop this information from spreading," he demanded, his tone cold and unyielding. You felt your heart clench at his words, a bitter laugh escaping your lips as you fired back,  

"How am I supposed to do that when I'm the one involved?" The line crackled with tension as you braced yourself for your boss's response, knowing that your conversation was about to take a heated turn. 

"You're involved!?" His voice was sharp, laced with disbelief and a hint of anger. "How could you let this happen, Y/N? Do you have any idea what kind of mess you've gotten yourself into?" His words hit you like a slap in the face, and you felt a surge of anger rising within you.  

"I didn't 'let' anything happen," you shot back, your own voice rising with frustration. "This isn't something I planned or wanted. And as for the mess, believe me, I'm well aware of it." There was a tense pause on the other end of the line, the silence filled with unspoken accusations and bitter recriminations. You could practically feel your boss's disappointment radiating through the phone, a heavy weight pressing down on you with each passing second. 

"We need to contain this," he said finally, his tone clipped and businesslike. "Handle the damage control on our end, write a press release. Stay out of the public eye, keep your head down, and for god's sake, don't make things worse." You clenched your jaw, struggling to keep your emotions in check as you listened to his instructions.  

"And what about Seonghwa?" you demanded, unable to suppress the edge of desperation in your voice. There was another pause, longer this time, as your boss considered his response.  

"Seonghwa knew what he was getting into when he chose this life," he said finally, his voice oddly cold and unsympathetic. "He's a public figure, and he needs to accept the consequences of his actions. Just like you do." The words hung between you, a bitter reminder of the harsh reality you were both facing. As you hung up the phone, a sense of resignation settled over you, knowing that no matter how much you wanted to protect Seonghwa, there were forces at play far beyond your control. Seonghwa, who had been a silent witness to your conversation, finally broke his silence. His sobs filled the room, each one stabbing you like a knife to the heart. You turned to him, your eyes filled with regret and sorrow.  

"I was supposed to be the one protecting you," you said, your voice choked with tears. You could see the pain in his eyes, reflecting your own as you confessed, "This was a mistake. I'm going to get fired, Seonghwa. There's no future for us." His face crumpled at your words, a look of utter devastation replacing his earlier confusion. 

"No, Y/N, please..." he pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion. "I can't lose you." he retorted, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and despair. His words hit you like a punch to the gut. As the silence settled in the room, you felt a lump forming in your throat. The harsh reality of the situation was too overwhelming to comprehend. The words that had been exchanged between you two still echoed in your ears, haunting you. The room, once filled with love and warmth, now felt cold and distant. The air was heavy with unspoken words and suppressed emotions. Seonghwa, his eyes red and swollen from crying, looked at you. His usual cheerful demeanor was now replaced with a look of sadness and despair. He seemed like a completely different person. Seeing him like this broke your heart even more, the reality of the situation dawning on you. 

"I... I need some time," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He got up from the bed, picked up his clothes from the floor and walked towards the bathroom, leaving you alone with your thoughts. You sat there, numb and silent, as you processed everything that had happened. You felt a sense of guilt wash over you, realizing that your actions had led to this mess. Picking up your phone, you answered the incoming call from one of the reporters.  

"This is a delicate matter, and we are currently fact-checking all the information," you replied, maintaining a professional tone. "We will be releasing an official press statement soon regarding the matter. Thank you for your understanding." 

For the next several minutes, you found yourself answering a seemingly endless stream of phone calls, bombarded with the same questions over and over again. "Who is this girl?" "Is it really Seonghwa?" "Is it official?" With each call, your heart ached a little more, the reality of the situation sinking in. You were the reason behind this mess, and with each question, the weight of your actions became increasingly clear. Seonghwa finally emerged from the bathroom, he was fully dressed, his hair neatly combed back, and his face, although still showing signs of distress, was more composed. He settled down next to you, the distance between you heavy with unspoken tension. You could feel his gaze burning into you, his eyes searching for answers in the depths of your own. But as he heard you denying what happened during countless phone calls, a flicker of hurt flashed across his features, overshadowing the mask of composure he had worn moments before. 

"Y/N," he began, his voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and disappointment. "Why are you doing this? We can't keep pretending like nothing happened." His words cut through the silence like a knife, leaving you speechless in their wake. You could feel the weight of his gaze bearing down on you, demanding honesty in the face of your denial. But as you met his eyes, you saw the pain reflected in their depths, and a pang of guilt surged through you. You had hurt him deeply with your words, and now, as you continued to deny the truth, you were only adding to his anguish. Tears welled up in your eyes, blurring your vision as you turned away, unable to meet Seonghwa’s gaze any longer. In that moment, you felt more alone than ever, trapped in a web of lies and deceit from which there seemed to be no escape.  

Once the calls ended, with a heavy heart, you began to draft a press release denying the rumors. As you typed, your mind raced with thoughts of how to properly word your denial, how to ensure that it would put an end to the rampant speculation. Seonghwa, who had been observing silently, finally spoke up, his tone filled with discontent. "Why are you denying it?" he asked, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and frustration. 

"Seonghwa, we have to," you tried explaining,  

"No, we don't," he retorted, his voice steady and determined. "We don't have to lie. We don't have to hide." 

"Seonghwa, we can't just admit to this. The backlash... it could ruin your career," you argued, your voice tinged with desperation. 

"And what? We lie? We hide?" Seonghwa countered, his voice filled with frustration.  

"We need to think about the consequences. The fans, the company... it's not just us we have to consider." you countered, trying to maintain your composure. 

"I don't care about that," he said, his voice softening. "I care about you. I care about us. I don't want to lie about that." 

"But this isn't just about us. There are other people involved. Our actions have consequences." you responded, your voice breaking slightly. 

"I know that" he said, his tone resolute. "But isn't our relationship worth fighting for?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. As the weight of your situation bore down, you felt the sting of desperation clawing at your heart, driving you to speak words you knew would hurt Seonghwa deeply. 

"What relationship are you even talking about, Seonghwa? We hadn't even had a 'what-are-we' talk, and everything is ruined," you spat out, your voice laced with bitterness and regret. "We kissed less than 24 hours ago, and now we're all over the news." The words spilled out of you like poison, each one laced with the bitter taste of reality. You could see the pain flicker across Seonghwa's face, his eyes clouding with hurt and confusion. But you couldn't stop yourself, couldn't hold back the flood of emotions threatening to consume you. "We need to protect you," you continued, your voice trembling with emotion. "There's no 'us' in this, Seonghwa. It's just you, and your career, and the future you've worked so hard for. I won't let you throw it all away for me." Tears welled up in your eyes, blurring your vision as you turned away, unable to bear the weight of Seonghwa's gaze any longer. In that moment, you knew that you had hurt him deeply, but you couldn't bring yourself to regret those words. For better or worse, they were the truth, the raw, unfiltered truth that lay at the heart of your impossible situation. 

"You don't get to decide that" Seonghwa replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil beneath his calm exterior. "You don't get to decide what I throw away or keep. It's my life, my career, my future. And you... you're a part of that, whether you like it or not." His words hung heavy in the air, an undeniable truth that weighed down on your heart. "We're in this together, and I'm not letting you walk away just because you're scared. So, let's face this together. Let's fight for 'us', for our future. Because, in my eyes, there's no 'me' without 'us'." You stared at him, your heart pounding. His words echoed in your mind, raw and powerful. The intensity in his gaze was almost too much to bear. Could you really fight for this? For him? Suddenly, the weight of your decision seemed more significant, more daunting. 

"I... I don't know, Seonghwa," you stuttered, your voice barely a whisper. "I don't know if I can do this. If I can put you at risk like that." 

But Seonghwa just shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "That's not for you to decide," he countered gently. "I'm ready to face whatever comes our way. And I want you by my side. So, will you fight with me?" 

[shadowshrike]

Interfering with Halsin's Portal

It's pretty well known that there are a few situations you can get in where Halsin is well and truly angry rather than disappointed or worried, but I don't think a lot of folks know one of those situations is if you mess with his portal to the Shadowfell. It's a heartwrenching bit of acting. It's also fundamental to the plot of my in-progress fic Girdled Roots, so I figured I might share it with the other Halsin-lovers out there who have never seen it.

EDIT: Please be aware this is datamined dialog and may not be visible in game. It appears to be intended to trigger if the player attempts to enter the portal, which I don't believe is possible in the final game, or at least I couldn't find a way in the most recent version. Sharing this is simply to enjoy the incredible acting and get some plot bunnies moving, not to make any commentary about the game's canon.

Halsin's Initial Reaction

Halsin: No! Stop! Halsin: It's gone... that was our one chance. You've doomed this place to darkness! Halsin: I warned you - told you this was my burden to carry. Why didn't you listen?

The pure rage and despair is visceral. Prior to this, Halsin mentions this portal has been a century in the making, but he's so calm and measured (even upon success) that it is easy to dismiss just how much agony has plagued him as he hoped to make things right. This chance is everything to him. It has guided his every action for a century. It is a hundred years of work, prayer, and guilt to rectify the horrific fate of both land and people that came to nothing because a stranger he trusted refused to listen to him.

The portal breaking is the only time we hear Halsin speak the truth of its importance to him without a hint of emotional regulation. He is wild with pain. This man who is always thoughtful and slow to anger in the face of horror with the wisdom of age and suffering to guide him has become too overwhelmed to show any kindness.

Player response

The player is given several different ways to respond, and Halsin's reaction varies a surprising amount depending on how understandable their reason is. In most cases, he states that he needs to be alone afterward.

Option 1: I'm sorry - I acted on instinct. Halsin: Words won't repair what's been done to this land. Nothing will... I need to be alone.

You can hear the ache in Halsin's voice, but he's somewhat understanding of this response. He projects more sadness than unchecked rage. The player has admitted to making a mistake, and Halsin isn't the type of person who hold onto vengeance when an apology has been made, but he's not naive or people-pleasing enough to say "it's okay" or offer comfort either. The safest thing for everyone is for him to step away to grieve when there is nothing more to be done.

Option 2: I did all the work here - I couldn't just let you take the glory. Halsin: Glory?! There's no glory here. Now there's nothing here - only shadows and the total absence of hope. Halsin:  There is nothing more to be said... I need to be alone.

Pure fury radiates from Halsin's response if the player focuses on the idea of being some grand hero rather than actually caring for the outcome. What the player did was an unforgiveable act, dooming everything that Halsin holds dear, and you have the audacity to complain about not getting glory from it. Again, he steps away, but this feels more like he's doing it because he believes you're worthless to reason with rather than because he needs a moment.

Option 3: I saved your grove - I figured it'd be best if I handled this as well. Halsin: We were this close to healing these lands. Now your arrogance has torn open the wounds once more. Halsin:  There is nothing more to be said... I need to be alone.

Halsin is still frustrated with this response and unmistakably angry, but it's significantly toned down from the idea of wanting to go through the portal for glory. More like he thinks you're a self-important idiot than a truly terrible person.

Specialized player responses

There are also three special responses you can give if you have a particular class or diety.

Druid: I thought my powers were equal to yours. Halsin: It wasn't just power this needed - it was wisdom, understanding. I suffered along with this place for years trying to understand the curse... and it seems I will continue to do so. Halsin:  There is nothing more to be said... I need to be alone.

Interestingly, he responds much more intensely to a druid than some of the other player choices. It might be in part because he feels like a druid should know better. He lectures the player like an Archdruid would initiates in his Grove, alternating between angry and explanatory, trying to get the player to understand why they were wrong and the sheer magnitude of their error. He ultimately ends in a much more resigned place here rather than personally resentful. Like a father-figure being forced through further life trials because of a child's foolish indiscretion. Frustrating, but inevitable.

Selunite: I trusted in Selûne to guide me through the shadows. Halsin: My friend - I wish you had trusted in me.

This is probably Halsin's most simple response with the least vitriol. He fully understands this answer, even if he's disappointed by it. The fact he calls the player 'friend' suggests a certain tired acceptance of this being a natural behavior for a Selunite trying to do good. We don't see this calm in other responses where Halsin was surprised by the player's choice.

Sharran: The Shadowfell is no place for non-believers - I couldn't allow you to soil it. Halsin: I should never have trusted an ally of the Dark Lady.

If you've ever taken Halsin along with Shadowheart in Act 2, then you know he is absolutely scathing toward her and her faith. He likely isn't as angry if a Sharran breaks the portal because it is utterly predictable. It merely confirms a truth he already knew and talked himself out of. That Sharrans cannot be fully trusted in matters of their goddess, even if one was good enough to rescue his people from the goblins.

[plantsjustwannahavefun]

I used to think that the reason I wasn't satisfied with Izzy's death was because I was too attached to his perspective as a character and couldn't focus on the big picture of the season and the main Gentlebeard relationship enough. I mean, I was still convinced that his death and the way it was carried out was a shit writing decision, but everyone else outside the Izzy Canyon circles seemed fine with it, so I was starting to think that maybe they were right.

So I looked back on the rest of the season and rewatched the finale... And realised something that I'd been trying to ignore because it was too painful to admit. A huge part of why Izzy's death hit so hard (in a bad way, not that delicious masochistic pain of having a beloved character die a good, narratively satisfying death) was because throughout this season he was the only character who actually had a satisfying arc and development. Practically no one else did. I didn't actually care for Gentlebeard this season, not the way I cared in S1. From episode 1 to 8 and a half, Izzy's arc was crafted with more care, kindness, subtlety and narrative weight than the main Gentlebeard arc which, in comparison, felt like a string of choppy beads badly tied together in an approximate shape of an arc, but collapsed as soon as you looked at it too closely.

Yes, we all know this season suffered for being 2 episodes too short, but I don't think that's all there is to it. This is starting to feel like GoT season 8 all over again. Would it have been better if it wasn't so rushed? Maybe. Or maybe it would have been even worse because this season just didn't seem to know what to do with itself or the characters. The themes and symbolism are all over the place and completely inconsistent. Ed and Stede's characters are practically back at the same place they left in S1. All they did was bounce off the walls back and forth with no real growth. As soon as they took a step towards fixing their relationship or growing as people, they either tool three steps back or it just got dropped. Stede letting fame get to his head? Interesting and realistic development. And how was it resolved? It wasn't. Stede and Ed being whim prone? I'm glad they brought it up. And then they just fell for another whim and it was presented as a satisfying ending.

Ed went from the Kraken, to taking the first steps towards being Ed, then suddenly all the way to being Ed by way of a Night of Magical Healing Sex that he he didn't actually want to happen because he wasn't ready. And then all of a sudden he pivoted to abandoning Stede and piracy and becoming a fisherman... for 5 min. And then back to Blackbeard again because two fishermen were mean to him for 5 minutes. And then abandoning it again to open an inn. How was any of this even remotely coherent or satisfying? They didn't even have a single conversation about any of it. Ed had more proper closure and communication with Izzy during his dying scene than with Stede and the rest of the crew put together. Izzy's arc got sacrificed to do the heavy lifting for Ed's arc and became nothing more than a shortcut to speed run his character growth. Except it didn't even lead anywhere. "Ed, they're your family, they love you" no they don't, he didn't even have a single positive conversation with any of them except Fang. Of course this could have been the point, and Ed could have seen Izzy's death, his own discovery of found family and his dying words as a pretext to repair his relationship with the crew. But he just left them and stayed with Stede instead.

Sure, you could say this was only the second act of the story, and S3 will resolve everything. But the second act is still meant to move the story and the characters forward in some way. Yes, of course if we get S3, I imagine Stede and Ed's life as innkeepers won't exactly be idyllic. But the problem is that the conflicts they'd have will only be a rehash and repeat of the same conflicts they've already have, or were supposed to have, this season. Multiple times, even. We already know that Ed is simply unable to live with himself no matter what life he chooses. The title of S1 was literally "wherever you go, there you are". We already know Stede's love isn't enough to fix him. We already know their goals in life are completely opposite. Maybe they could have shown Stede realising, after his humiliating in S7, that piracy wasn't all it was cracked up to be or he isn't suited for it, and that's why he chose to leave it behind and open an inn, but that's not the explanation we were given. It was just another whim. They literally didn't learn anything this season. They had two baby conversations in E4 and E5 and didn't take anything from it, just kept doing the complete opposite of anything. "We're both prone to whims, let's take things slow" became "let's take things extremely fast by moving in together permanently and becoming entrepreneurs". They never talked about the actual, deepseated, longstanding trauma issues they needed to resolve before they could even begin to have a proper relationship. They literally got a heavy-handed glimpse in what their life would become if they just stuck together without addressing their own personal issues, and chose to do that very thing. It that's what S3 is going to address, then why were Anne and Mary part of this season instead of the next one?

I remember everyone saying they wanted Ed and Stede to reunite as quickly as possible in S2, and I get why. They have great chemistry together. The season is about them. But for it to work, spending more time apart is exactly what they needed. They needed to learn how to live with themselves and others, first. Romantic love alone can't fix you as a person. You have to fix yourself first. Community can help (as with Izzy's case), but you still have to put in the work. In retrospect, I'm glad that Izzy didn't get a love interest this season - because he wasn't ready yet, and had to learn how to have normal relationships and friendships with other people before attempting an intimate romantic relationship, lest he ended up falling head first unit another toxic mutually dependent relationship. That's what Stede and Ed should have tried too. Instead the show just ended up using Izzy's death as a quick surgical fix, robbing Ed of his agency and having to do the hard work repairing himself and his relationships with other people. There's a sad irony in getting exactly one character's arc just this, and then using it as a sacrificial lamb to patch over the main character's arc.

[void-wolfie]

Seventy-Two

summary: a little arguing and some bad memories push you into a panic attack, good thing Tara's there to help you through it.

pairing: Tara Carpenter x gn!Reader

words: 1.3k

tw: some angst, some fluff... mentions of abuse, (very brief) mentions of drugs/alcohol, descriptions of panic/anxiety attacks

a/n: apparently I'm back on my angst train lol. I'm not a professional so apologies if this isn't completely accurate. Briefly based this on my own experiences and some light research.

*if anything here may be a trigger for you, please don't read

You set your motorcycle helmet in your locker, grabbing out the few textbooks you'd need for the day and slamming the locker door shut.

"Where've you been?"

You jumped a little, not having expected the shorter girl to be on the other side of the locker door.

"Hi, Tara. Good morning to you too. Oh, I'm fine thanks for asking," You snarked, disregarding the girl and heading towards your first class.

She sighed, you two played this little game too often. Out in public, it was sideways glances and off-the-cuff remarks. She only ever got to see the real you when you were alone.

Right now, there were eyes everywhere; students and teachers alike all crowding the halls, trying to get to classes. She wouldn't get anything out of you here.

She grabbed you by the arm and yanked you into an empty classroom, making sure to shut the door behind you.

"Anyone ever tell you, you're tenacious." You smirked, looking around the empty classroom in boredom. Turning back around, you noticed the less-than-enthused look on her face.

"Anyone ever tell you, you're annoying."

"Actually you, every time we talk,"

You didn't take the jab to heart; she was just worried and stressed.

"Where've you been?" she asked again, her calm demeanor slipping away.

"Awe, do you actually care for me, princess?"

She huffed, rubbing her eyes with her fingers, something she often did when annoyed. Her patience was running thin, and classes hadn't even started yet.

"I've been trying to text you. Wes told me your dad had to bail you out for drug charges, then you go M.I.A. for two weeks and come back looking like you had the shit beat out of you."

"Yeah, well what else did Wes tell ya?"

You didn't exactly like Wes. He wasn't terrible but his nose was always stuck in someone else's business, which irritated the living hell out of you.

That, plus the fact you couldn't help but be jealous over their relationship. You know you shouldn't be, after all, they're just friends. But nothing ticked you off quite like Wes following Tara around like a lost puppy dog for everyone to see, while your relationship with the girl only existed behind closed doors.

"He told me your dad looked mad, like seriously pissed off." She took a few steps closer, getting into your personal space, not that you minded. You flinched slightly as her hands cupped your face, her thumb lightly tracing your black eye. "Did he do this to you, your dad?"

Despite the voice in your head screaming to finally admit it, to tell the whole world about the shit he puts you through, you just couldn't do it. You shook your head no, quickly wiping at the tears that threatened to fall.

You pulled yourself away from her, stepping further into the classroom to try and get some space.

"Then who did?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Have you looked in a mirror, you look like shit. Of course, it matters."

"Just leave it alone, Tara."

She wouldn't understand, you barely even did yourself. You just couldn't turn him in.

The man may be an abusive asshole and borderline alcoholic, but he's still your dad. For every terrible memory, there was a good one.

Sure, he'd beaten you to a pulp, hit you countless times before, and who even knows how much therapy you'd need one day. But he'd also bought you your first motorcycle, taught you how to do oil changes and engine repairs, he helped you prepare for softball tournaments and school projects.

It was all just so conflicting.

"y/n?"

You were so lost in your thoughts you barely noticed the tightness in your chest or the way your fingernails dug into the skin of your palms, almost drawing blood. You were lost in your memories trying to figure out where it all went wrong.

You were completely overwhelmed. Your entire world was crumbling down around you. It felt like you were drowning with no end in sight.

You yanked your backpack off, then your jacket, gripping the desk in front of you as you tried to figure out how to breathe again.

"y/n?"

She'd never seen you like this before. You were always so strong, so guarded. And yet here you were, looking the most vulnerable she'd ever seen you.

"I- I can’t-" you stumbled over your words, not sure how to form anything coherent with the dizziness in your head and tightness in your chest.

You sat down on the floor, leaning your back against the teacher’s desk as the world spun in front of you.

Tara recognized that look, she'd seen it in Sam countless times before. You were having a panic attack.

"Shit."

She dropped her bag, getting down on the ground next to you, careful not to crowd you in case it only made it worse.

"Hey, you’re good at math, right?"

You looked at her a bit puzzled but nodded nonetheless. What the fuck does math have to do with anything right now?

"Ok, what's six plus four?"

"T-Ten." You wheezed out an answer, still focusing on trying to get your breathing under control.

"Good, now what's nine times three?"

She could tell you were still overwhelmed, not really focused on her at the moment. Your eyes seemed dazed as they darted around the room.

"Hey," She grabbed your hand gently, interlacing your fingers, "focus on me, ok?"

That seemed to work, grabbing your attention, "What's nine times three?"

"...Twenty-seven,"

She was doing her best to stay calm, even if the sight of you hurting was killing her inside. But she'd done this before, she knew what she was doing... well, mostly.

The research she'd done over the years rang out in her head. Stay calm, get them to slow their breathing. Make your own breathing relaxed, keep it slow and even-paced, and theirs will follow suit... Get them to focus on something else for the time being... If things get worse, call for help...

"Good, and what about seven times eight?"

"...Fifty-six,"

"Five times eleven?"

"Fifty-five,"

Now she had your attention. You didn't notice but your breathing had started slowing down and your fists weren't clenched as tight. You were starting to relax a bit.

"Ok, what about forty-five divided by three?"

"Fifteen."

"And sixty divided by five?"

"Twelve,"

"Good," you were finally calm again, mostly anyways, "want me to keep going?"

You were exhausted, you felt a little better, not great, but better. Your head didn't feel like it was going to explode anymore, and your heart wasn't beating out of your chest.

You shook your head no, not wanting to do any more math. You patted the spot next to you, which Tara happily filled, glad to see you weren't hyperventilating anymore.

You closed your eyes and rested your head on her shoulder.

"So, am I officially smarter than a fifth grader?"

She rolled her eyes, not that you could see that, too busy cuddling into her side, "not a chance,"

"Your just jealous I'm better at my times tables than you are,"

She didn't have to look down at you to know you were smirking. But she did anyway, finding it adorable with the way your eyes were still closed and you were leaning into her.

It was almost comical, she thought, looking down at you. The big scary drug dealer with a fuck-around-and-find-out attitude and a deadly glare cuddling into the popular girl who has the personality (and height) of a teddy bear. If anyone else at school saw this, they probably would've thought they were hallucinating.

She scoffed, "that's so not true."

"What's nine times eight?"

There was a moment of silence, in which you couldn't help but smile a little brighter.

"I hate you."

"Seventy-two."

[peachesandcreames]

Just Hold Me (Steve Rogers X Y/N Comfort Fic)

A/N: I've had the worst migraine for 2 days and this is a product of that. Pure fluff and comfort, some angst. A little bit of smut because this is Steve Rogers that were talking about. I didn't know quite how to end it but I hope that you enjoy it!! Likes, hearts, comments and reblogs are definitely appreciated!! No trigger warnings that I can think of. Happy reading! 📚

The bell above your door chimed, letting you know that your last customer had left for the evening. You followed them to the door and wished them a good night as you flipped the open sign to closed and locked the door behind them. You leaned against the door and let your head rest for a few seconds. Your feet are killing you, you can't wait to go home and take your shoes and bra off. You can feel the migraine that has been building for the last few days getting worse.

You wearily open your eyes and dim the lights hoping that will help with the pounding in your head. You haven't been sleeping well since Steve left a few weeks ago on what was supposed to be a simple recon mission: get the info and get out. It doesn't help that it's been radio silence since he left. You sigh as you begin putting the chairs and stools on the tables and counter tops so that you can sweep and mop and finally go home to your empty apartment. You put away the cleaning supplies and grab your jacket and purse, making your way towards the dimly lit parking lot.

You silently curse yourself for parking so far away but it made sense at the time. You've been skipping the gym a lot lately so you thought you'd get your steps in by parking as far away as humanly possible. You make sure you have your phone open and ready in case you have to call for help. With pepper spray and keys in hand you walk as quickly as you can with your head on a swivel, scanning the nearly empty parking lot for any threat. You do a quick scan of the backseat, making sure that it's empty as you climb in and lock the doors behind you.

You let out a sigh as you check your phone in case Steve was able to get a message out to you but his last message was roughly two weeks ago. A single tear escapes and you brush it away. Driving towards home and the streets are quiet and empty so you make good time. You drag your tired and aching body through the doors to the building and give a warm greeting to the night security guard who lets you know that the elevator is closed for repairs. Just when you think that this day couldn't get any worse, you smile faintly "thank you for letting me know, have a good night James."

"You too, Y/N." You wave goodbye and start the long and arduous walk up three flights of stairs. The thought of a hot bubble bath with a chilled glass of stawberry moscato, garnished with an actual strawberry sounds like heaven and it drives you quickly up the three flights and you let yourself into your apartment. You shrug out of your jacket and hang it on the hook beside your door. You dropped your keys in the dish on the table in your hallway, you slipped out of your black no slip sneakers and groaned a sigh of relief.

Too preoccupied with the thought of a hot bath you didn't notice that your mail was stacked neatly next to the key dish. You stood there rubbing your stiff neck when you felt two big and strong hands grip your waist and pull you back into a hard body. You let out a stunned, quiet gasp as he spun you around in his hands. You gasped as you found yourself looking into Steve's baby blue eyes. "There's my best girl. I missed you so much."

You're overcome with emotions and you feel your throat tightening up with unshed tears. Words wouldn't even begin to cover how much you missed him and how relieved you are that he's standing in front of you and he looks like he got through the mission relatively unscathed. You throw your arms around his neck and you stand on your tippie toes and pepper kisses all over his handsome face. "Whoa, hey. Y/N, I'm ok. I'm here. I'm sorry I couldn't keep in touch with you but I'm here now, ok?"

You find yourself nodding through your tears as you hang onto Steve as if you're afraid of letting him go. He rubs your back with his big, warm hand and you feel yourself starting to relax for the first time in weeks. Steve holds you until your breathing evens out and he kisses your forehead. He thumbs away your tears and gently kisses your lips. You lean into the kiss and grasp his big shoulders.

"I missed you so much." You murmur against Steve's soft lips. You deepen the kiss pulling Steve flush against your body. Your fingers grasp the hair at the nape of his neck. You bite his lower lip causing Steve to moan into your parted lips.

"Stop, stop, stop. Baby girl, we have to stop." You were practically panting as Steve gently gripped your shoulders. You pouted up at him and he smiled down at you. "I'm going to run you a bubble bath, okay? Why don't you get out of your work clothes, I left you a fluffy robe on the bed."

You hoped that Steve could see how much you loved him. "I'm pretty sure that makes you the best boyfriend in all of New York City." You started down the hall towards your bedroom and Steve slapped you on the ass as you passed him. His large hand stinging your skin. You let out a startled gasp and whipped around. You glared at him accusingly and he just smiled at you and winked as he shrugged his big shoulders sheepishly.

You resumed your walk towards your bedroom, stripping on the way. You reached down to pull your skintight black t shirt over your head. Jeans came next as you pulled them down your long legs. You were leaving a trail of clothing but you were just too tired to care. You reached behind you to unhook your bra but before you could you felt Steve come up behind you and you could feel his warm minty breath on your neck causing you to gasp. "Let me, pretty girl."

His big fingers struggled to grasp the little hooks but he finally got it and you leaned against him and groaned in relief as he slid the bra straps down your arms. He trailed his fingers up your sternum and his callused palms gently began massaging your full, heavy breasts. "Feels so good, Steve." You quietly murmured as you arched into him. Pushing your breasts into his hands and your ass into his crotch, causing him to groan into your ear. "Fuck, sweetheart."

That caused you to smile, "language, Captain." He pinched your nipples. "Brat. Go get in your bath and I'll be right there." You turned to face him and gave him a salute. "Aye aye, Captain." You turned on your heel and made sure to put an extra sway of your hips in for his benefit.

You opened the bathroom door and a gust of steam came rolling out. You slipped out of your panties and slid into the hot water. You groaned in relief, you could smell lavender and citrus from the bubbles and the candles Steve had lit everywhere. You could feel the tension leaving your body as you sensed Steve looming over you. You looked up at him and smiled, holding out your hand.

He gently took your hand and kissed your soapy knuckles. You watched as Steve pulled his grey tshirt over his head and tossed it into the hamper. His toed his boots off and he kicked them to the side as you watched him as he took his jeans off and black boxers off and you scooted forward, making room so that Steve could slip in behind you. You let out a groan as you felt yourself relax against him. He's here, he's safe and he's with you.

Steve began by lathering up his hands with your lilac body wash and began rubbing your shoulders. He began working the knots out and you felt yourself melting against him. You felt your eyes begin to droop shut as you felt the warm sudsy water cascade over your hair and shoulders. You felt Steve shift behind you to grab your shampoo and you heard the click as he popped it open and poured some into his hands and started massaging your scalp. Your migraine began to dissipate and it brought tears of relief to your eyes.

He rinsed your hair clean and you reached forward to pull the plug and the water began to slowly drain. You scootched forward so that Steve could step out of the tub and wrap a fluffy towel around his sculpted waist. You looked at him admirable and said wistfully, "that really is America's Ass." He looked over hid shoulder at you and shook his head.

"That's where you're wrong, Doll. My ass belongs to you and only you." Steve leaned over and gently grasped your chin and pulled you in for a quick kiss. It was over before it began and you whined at the loss of contact. "Stay here, I'm going to get your towel out of the dryer."

You nodded as you looked up at him. "I love you Steve." That stopped him in his tracks. You two have been together for a year and a half and it just felt like time. He turned back towards you and he smiled and said "I love you, too. I always have and I always will."

He came back with your favorite towel, warm and toasty from the dryer. You held out your hand to him and he gently grasped your fingers as you stood up he slipped the towel around your shoulders and he picked you up bridal style and carried you into your bedroom. He sat you down on the edge of your bed and you noticed that he turned your sheets down and had the lights on dim with a few candles lit sporadically around. It felt so calm and peaceful, just what you needed after a long day. Steve had changed into a pair of red flannel sweat pants and a black t shirt.

He walked over to you, it looked like he had a pair of black sweats and a grey t shirt with your favorite fluffy socks in his hands. Steve dropped to his knees in front of you and picked up your right foot and set it on his thick thigh. He squirted some lotion into his hands and began rubbing your aching feet. It was instantaneous relief as he switched to your other foot. He slid on your socks and he helped you stand up as the towel fell from your shoulders and to the floor.

You grasped his shoulder as you lifted one foot and then the other as Steve helped you into your pajama pants. His warm lips grazed your belly button and it brought butterflies to your stomach and a gasp escaped your lips. He kissed his way up to your lips and you felt yourself becoming aroused. He kissed you gently and turned you around, you couldn't feel him behind you and the anticipation was killing you. You felt his warmth return as he sprayed your damp hair with some spray and he gently began working the tangles out of your hair.

It felt amazing and your head lolled to the back as Steve finished brushing your hair he put it in a loose braid and he kissed your shoulder and you arched your back into his groin and you felt his cock jump against your ass causing you both to groan at the same time. He pulled away from you and you mourned the loss of contact. He rubbed some lotion into your shoulders and he helped you slide into one of his old t shirts. It was worn and thin but it was your favorite. It smelled like Steve. You turned around and slide your hands up to his shoulders and he grasped your hips and began walking you slowly backwards to your bed.

You felt the back of your knees hit your mattress and you collapsed with a giggle. "Someone's loopy," Steve chuckled at you as he held the covers up for you to slip under. You slid under the cool sheets as you watched Steve blow out the candles and walk back towards you. He made sure that your apartment was secure for the night and he partially shut your bedroom door and crawled in next to you. You felt the mattress dip as Steve settled in next to you.

You draped yourself over Steve and he held you in his arms. You could hear his heart beating through his Tshirt and you murmured "this is the best sound." You felt yourself drifting off as Steve kissed the top of your head and began gently stroking your back, the warmth of his hand seeping through your (his) shirt. You let out a deep sigh and Steve felt your breathing even out and before you could drift off you looked up at your beautiful boyfriend and thanked him for turning your day around and making it infinitely better. "You don't have to thank me, sweetheart. I love you always and forever and you deserve it."

You put your head back on his chest and snuggled into his side. His warmth began seeping into you and you both began drifting off together. Falling asleep in your boyfriends arms after the longest day of your life was the best way to end your day. As you fell asleep you felt like the luckiest girl in all of New York City.

~fin~

[ghostofskywalker]

Bacta, Burns, and Bedside Manner

Kix/Fem!Reader

Fictober Day 7 of 31

Words: 1,656

Summary: Kix has a lot of talents, but his brothers wouldn't usually cite bedside manner as one of them. That is, until you showed up in the medbay with injuries that needed to be looked at.

Clone Troopers Masterlist

“Kriff!” you swore loudly and unapologetically as the wire you were working on sparked, startling you and burning two of your fingertips. You were currently wedged in the engine of a gunship, attempting to repair the combustion, but so far all you were doing was causing yourself more pain. There was already a nasty looking scratch on your arm from where you had accidentally caught it on a jagged edge, and your head was throbbing from where you had hit it against the top of the space you were occupying. To say the least, you were not having a good day.

“Are you alright in there?” a trooper’s voice sounded from outside the gunship.

“Yeah!” you called before pulling your body out from the engine and looking at who had stepped into your workshop (Fives). “Just crossed my wires and caught a little spark, that’s all.”

The “little spark” in question actually hurt a lot more than you were letting on, as red-hot pain seized through your fingertips and made you feel like you were holding a hot pan, but he didn’t need to know that.

But even though you were attempting to keep your injuries to yourself, Fives still wasn’t convinced. He just stared at the scrape on your arm (that had started to bleed more profusely at this point) for a few moments before looking up to meet your gaze. “Are you sure? You’re bleeding there.”

“That’s fine, I’ll just throw a patch over it.”

Fives raised his eyebrows. “I don’t think that’s something a single bacta patch can fix,” he said. “Let me take you to the medbay.”

You were all set to say no, that you knew basic first aid and could handle everything yourself, but the pain in your fingertips was only continuing to increase, and you had to fight to keep the tears from welling in your eyes. So instead, you just nodded and stepped forward, allowing Fives to usher you out of your workshop.

When you finally stepped through the doors of the medbay, the brightness and bustle of the room immediately made your head throb even more. You just closed your eyes and stood there with Fives, trying to ignore the pain on your arm, in your fingertips, and on your head. “What’s happened here?” you heard a medic ask.

You opened your eyes to see Kix looking at you with a concerned expression, but you couldn’t find the words to speak just yet. Thankfully, Fives was there to answer his brother’s question. “I walked in to hear her swear and she said that a few crossed wires sparked. That’s not even counting the bleeding scrape on her arm, which she said she would just throw a patch on and be done with.”

After Fives spoke, Kix turned to you. “Is that all true?”

You nodded. “And my head,” you managed to croak out. Kix just nodded and motioned for you to follow him to one of the beds, quietly telling Fives that he could get back to whatever he was doing.

“Alright,” he said once you had sat down on the bed. “Tell me everything that’s wrong.”

You took a deep breath before responding. “The wires burned my fingertips and I hit my head on the gunship before. Oh, and there’s the scrape on my arm, but you can see that pretty clearly.”

“How long ago was the burn sustained?” He asked, and the look on your face told him all he needed to know. He stepped away, returning a few moments with a wet cloth. “Which hand was it?”

You help up the thumb and pointer finger on your dominant hand, and he wrapped the cloth around them, the relief instant as the cool material made contact with your burning skin. “We’ll keep this on for at least a half hour. If it gets too warm, I’ll give you a fresh one.”

You just nodded in response, still overcome by the feeling of the pain finally abated. After that, he cleaned up your scratch and wrapped it in gauze. The feelings of his fingertips gently holding your arm made you feel like you were burning up for a slightly different reason. There was always something about the 501st’s head medic that intrigued you, and you would be lying if you said that you didn’t think he was attractive. All the clones were nice looking in their own ways, but Kix had something special about him.

“You said something about your head too,” he murmured as he secured the gauze on your arm.

“I hit it against the top of the gunship by accident,” you responded.

You pointed out the area to him and he carefully checked you over. “I don’t think you have a concussion, but I’m going to get you some ice for where it hurts,” he said. “Then you can lie down for a little while, okay?”

“No, I thought-”

But the look on his face had you trailing off before you had finished your sentence. “You’re not going anywhere,” he said. “Especially not with those burns on your fingers.”

“But-”

“No buts, you need to rest in order to heal properly, and it won’t do you any good to go back to work before you feel better,” he said gently.

You didn’t want to be a burden to him for longer than you had to be, but you did understand where he was coming from. “Alright,” you said. “I suppose I can stay around a little longer.”

After Kix got you a fresh compress for your burns and an ice pack for your head, you ended up falling asleep, hoping that when you woke up you wouldn’t be in pain anymore.

***

When you opened your eyes, you could hear voices, but the curtain around your bed obscured whoever it was from your view.

“How is she?” That sounded like Fives.

“Asleep now, but she’ll be fine,” Kix responded.

Another voice joined the conversation, and you guessed that it was Echo. “That’s good. Rex said that she should stay here as long as necessary and not to worry about the ship she was fixing, it’s not a big deal.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t scare her off,” yet another voice said, this one sounding like Jesse.

“What do you mean?” Kix asked. You couldn’t see his face, but you could guess that he looked a little bit offended.

You had to hold in a little giggle at Jesse’s words, because you knew what he meant. Bedside manner was not one of Kix’s strengths as a medic. He could patch up any blaster wound in seconds, knew exactly what to look for when there was the possibility of a concussion, and could usually tell just by looking at someone whether or not they had fractured or broken a rib, but he wasn’t exactly all sunshine and smiles while doing so. Especially when it came to his batch mates or fellow troopers of the 501st. The better Kix knew someone, the ruder he was when patching them up, especially if they had sustained the injury doing something dumb. You had escorted a few troopers to the medbay yourself (one time after a game of hide and seek got out of hand), and watched as Kix teased his brothers while he helped them with their injuries.

But he was never like that with you. The harshest he had been was when you tried to get up and go back to work, and you wondered why that was as Fives responded to Kix’s earlier question.

“Come on Kix,” he said. “We get injuries and you call us di’kuts all the time, but suddenly now your bedside manner gets a makeover?”

“It’s because he likes her,” Jesse cut in. Well, that certainly piqued your interest.

“Jesse!”

“What? It’s true, isn’t it?”

But before Kix could confirm or deny the accusations, you sneezed (at the worst kriffing time for it). Conversation stopped and the curtain was pulled away, revealing Kix, Fives, Echo, and Jesse, all staring at you. Jesse seemed to realize the situation first, wishing Kix good luck and bolting out of the medbay, and Fives and Echo were not far behind him.

Kix looked like he wanted to chase after his brothers and strange them as he turned to you. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” you responded, not sure where to go from here. Do you apologize that you overheard? Do you ask him if what Jesse said was true?

But Kix spoke again before you could say anything else. “Listen, I’m sorry about them,” he said.

“It’s okay,” you said. “I know what brothers are like, I’m sorry for eavesdropping.”

A silence fell over the two of you, but eventually Kix spoke again. “I just wish they hadn’t been so obvious about it, I was going to get there eventually.”

“What?” Yeah, that definitely wasn’t your finest choice of words.

“Jesse was right, I do like you,” Kix said. “And I was going to ask you out to dinner the next time we were on Coruscant, but I suppose the tooka is out of the bag now.”

“And is that offer of dinner on Coruscant still on the table?” you asked tentatively. You really hoped that he said yes, because if this was really happening, you didn’t want to go back the way it was.

Kix smiled. “Maybe. Why, do you want to take it?”

“Maybe.”

The two of you shared a quiet laugh as Kix took your hand, leaning down to place a soft kiss on your cheek. “Yeah, it’s still on the table.”

But before he could pull away, you took advantage of a fleeting moment of bravery and sat up, placing a kiss of your own on his lips. “Good,” you said as you broke apart, love struck looks on both your faces. “Because I’d really like to take you up on the offer.”  

- the end - 

i no longer have a taglist! if you're interested in being notified when i post, you can follow my library blog @ghostofskywalker-library and turn on notifications!

[blankwashed]

shattered.

tw: (one swear word)

you didn't believe it to be true. it wasn't possible. the both of you had two children together, megumi and tsumiki. they were both bright students, always polite and wonderful children. never you had thought that their father would hide such truths from you.

toji fushiguro, the man you had given everything to. your body, your time and your heart. he became the center of your universe and yet...he chose to betray you. the pain in your gut made you want to throw up.

maybe it wasn't who you thought it was?

maybe it was his sister?

the sound of the door opening shut brought you back to where you were standing. toji, exuding his usual confidence walked in. his eyes met yours, biting his lower lip, confusion was plastered on his face.

"what happened, doll?" he asked.

you didn't respond immediately, you couldn't. you were afraid to spew out allegations that might not be true. your mind was tangled in a web of uncertainty and betrayal. instead all you did was to grab the phone and showed him the messages, all from a single person, a person who he named as "❤️".

his eyes bulged, his jaw tightened and the gears in his brain were processing the situation. "it's not what it looks like doll," he began, but as his words flew out of his mouth, you could feel that he wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.

"then what is it, toji?" you demanded, your voice breaking. "tell me what it is, because from what i've read, it looks like you've lied to me. cheated on me, all this fucking time..." you said as you scrolled through his messages with her.

his silence was deafening. the anger and betrayal simmered inside you, boiling over the words you had never imagine saying. "how could you do this to us?! to me?! the children we have! after all we've been through, have you ever thought, just one second that you'd be throwing all of this away?!"

toji took a step closer to you, pushing a stray hair back behind your ear, "doll..".

"don't doll me. don't come any closer. i don't even know who you are anymore."

"please, just let me explain." he pleaded. "it was a one time thing, i don't know why she kept texting me. and trust me doll, i was thinking about you the entire time. i just had to get it out my system.."

shaking your head, with ugly horrendous tears running down your cheeks, "i trusted you, toji. i gave you a chance, a chance to prove to me that you're different. and you threw it all away for what?! just one night with someone else?!"

he looked down, unable to meet your gaze, and the sight broke something inside you. this was the man you had thought you'd spend your life with, drinking tea at the porch when both of your kids would be working. laughing with each other while staring at the sky.

"i never meant to hurt you doll, i told you, its just a one time thing. satoru. satoru was the one who talked me into it!" he tried to defend himself once more and even trying to push the blame onto his co-worker.

"actually," you started "if you'd truly love me, you'd tell your useless friend to bug off. now, you hurt me more than i ever thought was possible."

the silence stretched between you, a hole dug too deep to be repaired. you wiped at your eyes, trying to compose yourself, but the pain was too raw like a knife cutting through your heart.

"i think you should leave," you finally said, your voice trembling. "let me think over what should be done now, where the kids should stay."

as the door closed behind him, another flow of tears came down your cheek. you sank to the floor, your body wracked with grief.

hours passed, you were still sprawled on the floor, lips chapped, stomach empty and heart shattered.

finding his jacket draped over the back of a chair, you went against your mind, clinging on to the fabric. memories came flooding back to you - nights where you spend wrapped in his arms, the cute little smooches you'd give his scar and promises of forever. all of that now thrown in the trash.

why? the question screamed in your mind. were you not enough? were you getting ugly? after giving him 2 kids, were you considered ugly?

you fell on your bed, the sanctuary for both of you where many memories were made. many firsts but now it all look like lasts to you. curling into a ball, clutching his jacket as if it were a soft toy, you wished it could somehow bring the old him back.

sleep took over your body after you were out of tears. the betrayal cut deeper with each passing minute, a wound that seemed impossible to heal

weeks later, you've found yourself healing. from the help of trust worthy friends, lots of binge-eating of ice cream and time for your hobbies. you were beginning to find a sense of peace, a fragile hope that perhaps one day, you'd be whole again.

megumi and tsumiki were still staying with you as you couldn't be so heartless to let them live with their father. after what he'd done to you, he looked as if he was the largest criminal wanted on earth to you.

"it's okay mama, you have us. we would never look for another mama," tsumiki said, while having her breakfast cereal.

a tear dropped from your eye. innocence. oh how you wished toji were as innocent as the both of your children.

suddenly, the doorbell rang, pulling you away from your thoughts. slowly, you made your way to the door, the weight of your heart on your shoulders. when you opened it, toji stood there, looking more broken than you'd ever seen him.

"please," he said through the grills of your door. "can we talk? just you and me."

you swallowed hard, the sight of both your children and their dirtbag dad. "i don't know if i can do this," you whispered, your voice trembling.

a hand came through the grill of the door, wiping your tears away. "i understand but i need you to know that i love you. i always have, and i always will.."

the words hung in the air, a bittersweet reminder of what he used to always remind you. you took a deep breath, the ache in your chest nearly unbearable. "i loved you too, toji. but after what you've done..not anymore."

he cupped your face gently with his hand, and for a moment, you allowed yourself to remember the warmth of his touch, the safety of his embrace. the cloud 9 that you always are on whenever he's with you. but then you stepped back, the distance between the both of you a reminder to yourself to treat yourself with more dignity.

"goodbye toji," you said softly. "i'll tell the kids you said hi and......take care of yourself. and her." you said as you closed the door on him.

you could only imagine what was happening behind the door. was he sobbing? was he feeling guilt? was he happy that he can finally leave you? your broken heart was heavy, mind too full of negative thoughts at that moment.

all, when the door closed.

[thalialunacy]

[for the @calaisreno May Promptcation. two fills in one day wooooo that's how much i hate my job lolol]

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) 24: imperfect

The silence that greets John as he walks up the seventeen steps, bags of groceries in hand, is perfectly ominous. He's only been gone two hours, for God's sake.

… but he's kidding himself if he thinks Rosie & Sherlock can't do a significant amount of damage in twenty minutes, let alone two hours.

He resigns himself to a huge repair bill and/or an angry Mrs Hudson, and opens the door.

Sherlock is stood in front of the sitting room table, holding a squirmy Rosie. 'Hello, John.'

'Hi Daddyyyyy.'

John raises an eyebrow. 'She's very excited about something.'

Sherlock clears his throat and looks down momentarily. 'Yes. Well. We may have had an exciting…incident.'

John sets the bags down on the kitchen table then walks back to face them. He runs his eyes over his daughter, but doesn't see any obvious damage. 'Any blood?' 

'Absolutely not,' Sherlock says immediately.

'On either of you?' John amends.

Sherlock shifts Rosie in his arms. 'Not important.'

'Alright, I'll bite. What is important, then?'

'Well, first we need to apologise, because we may have--'

'Broke bowl,' Rosie interrupts him firmly.

John shakes his head. 'We break bowls all the time, I don't--'

Sherlock moves aside, and John sees what's on the sitting room desk behind him.

'Oh,' he says shortly, his heart plummeting somewhere into his belly. On the table sits a sad pile of ceramic shards where once a handmade bowl had stood.

His eyes start to sting. John has very little left of his mum, and she'd been especially proud of that bowl. He can feel his heart rate increase as anger begins singing through him.

'I'm so sorry, John.' Sherlock's voice is low, and John's gaze snaps to him. His cool eyes are muddled with worry, and that's enough to jolt John into action.

'Need a minute, thanks,' he says, enunciating clearly, and Sherlock doesn't hesitate to nod, then reaches for a toy with which to distract Rosie.

John closes his eyes and doesn't count to ten; instead he forces air into his lungs, pictures his baby girl, and begins to count her toes and fingers. This he does, over and over and over again, until he can breathe, until he feels the anger slip and slide on its way, transforming into resignation and maybe even a glimmer of acceptance.

It is what it is.

He opens his eyes and breathes out. His body feels loose, almost depleted, but the red haze is gone. 'What happened?' he asks, throat a bit rough, as he approaches the table. Part of the bowl is actually intact, though there are a few small cracks running along it like wrinkles.

'We were playing aeroplane,' Sherlock explains, 'and her feet made an unexpected landing, one could say.'

John's lips twitch. 'And you're all right? You didn't try to heroically save the shards and end up slicing your hand open?'

Sherlock's face-- John's not sure what to make of it, exactly, but he has the feeling that as soon as they've settled in for the night he's going to have the living daylights kissed out of him. He is very much on board.

'It's just a little cut,' Sherlock says. 'And I already have a plaster on it.' He shifts Rosie and holds up the wounded finger in evidence.

It's a Sesame Street plaster, and that for some reason breaks John. He feels laughter shake through his limbs. 'Oh, Christ,' he says, wiping his eyes and looking up at Sherlock. A final chuckle escapes him, then he nods. 'You know what we're going to do?'

'What are we going to do?'

'We're going to declare that what was once a bowl is now an ashtray. In its final form, like.'

Sherlock lets out a surprised huff of laughter. 'An ashtray, you say?'

Rosie is not to be left out. 'What's ash tray?'

John and Sherlock exchange a look, but Sherlock speaks first. 'Something that will sit on our shelf, right here--' He walks over to the bookshelf by the fireplace. '--right next to the one that we s--'

John clears his throat.

'--acquired from the Palace.'

Rosie perks up, no longer interested in the ashtrays one little bit. 'Palace?'

Sherlock realises he's landed into some Prince & Princess Time a split second too late to do anything about it. 'Yes, palace,' he ad libs. 'In the sky!'

Rosie's eyes go wide, and the corner of John's mouth turns up. 'Well done.' He walks over to where they're standing and kisses them both. 'I'm going to put away the groceries and see about tea, all right?'

Sherlock leans in and kisses him again before he can move away. 'Thank you,' he says quietly while shifting Rosie to his other side. 'I know that's difficult for you.'

John nods in acknowledgement, and picks up the newly-christened ashtray one more time. 'Looks a little… rough, but should work fine.'

'It has character,' Sherlock replies.

'Personality.'

'An origin story.'

'A palace!' Rosie interjects, throwing her hands up in the air.

John's grin matches Sherlock's smirk. 'Close enough.'

[ <3 ]

And we get a little further from perfection Each year on the road / I think that's called 'character'; I think that's Just the way it goes

[inspired by 'Imperfectly' by Ani Difranco, from the album Imperfectly, which I have been listening to obsessively bc of this, and it's been a marvellous, self-indulgent time.]

[mrsnegan]

Hi, are u still open for request? Cause I need season 11 Negan x reader story, well maybe some smut too 😬

[Hiii! I'm so, so sorry I haven't written sooner for your request. But here it is, set somewhere between season 10 and 11. I hope you like it.]

Summary: Negan helps out Y/N to get rid of an unwanted admirer. Surprisingly for both of them, things take an interesting turn.

Warnings: smut, dirty talk, unprotected sex

"Ugh, not him again", she whispered to herself while walking the streets of Alexandria. Most people were busy repairing all the recent damages, building new homes, so she figured she would find somewhere to help. But with Robert just a few feet away from her, she wanted to disappear somewhere. Robert was fairly new to the community, he joined Alexandria a few months ago. He seemed to be a nice guy, Y/N thought at first, though he had tried several times to hit on her unsuccessfully and seemed to not accept a simple no. She was frustrated to say the least. He hadn't harassed her in any other way, although he was persistent to ask her out and she wasn't in the mood to test his patience, so she avoided him as best as she could.

But now her luck seemed to thin out. With no other option nearby, she made quick steps towards the little shack where all the tools were stored. Just as she closed the door behind her, Y/N registered she wasn't alone.

"Well, well, hello Y/N."

Negan's deep voice shook her to the core, she wasn't expecting him to be in here.

"Hi", she stammered, half-whispering.

"Are you hiding or something?" Negan asked amused.

"Matter-of-factly I am. Now could you please lower your voice?", she whispered back.

Negan smiled at her, carefully putting down the hammer onto the shelf next to him. With his arms crossed in front of his body, he looked at her.

"So, whom are we hiding from?" he whispered back.

Even if Negan wasn't a favorite among the Alexandrian people, she kind of liked him. He was hard-working and despite his past, he was friendly towards her, so she figured she could tell him. "Robert, the new one. He asked me out a couple of times, I'm not interested and he knows. Though he always keeps on pressuring me into spending time with him. I just don't want to see him", Y/N explained in a low voice, leaning against the work bench behind her, a few steps opposite from Negan.

His face turned serious for a brief second, then they could hear footsteps in front of the shack, coming nearer. With no windows - luckily or not - Negan took a look through one of the gaps between the wooden boards of the shack.

"It's him, isn't it? Fuck, he saw me", Y/N breathed.

Negan nodded, but smiled at her. "I have a plan. Do you trust me?"

Y/N just stared at him, calcuating her response. When she nodded curtly, Negan shamelessly began to moan in front of her - with that damn grin of his reaching from ear to ear. He wasn't even blinking when he upped his game with some dirty talk. "Baby, you feel so good around my dick."

He motioned for her with his fingers to take part in their little play pretend to make it more believable. Y/N gulped visibly, embarrassed to moan in front of Negan. That plan of his was insane.

"Don't go all shy on me now, Y/N, you weren't when you sucked my dick like a damn pro."

The footsteps seemed to have stopped a few feet away, at least none of them could hear them anymore.

She looked at him with big eyes, mouth agape. The balls he had to just do that with no shame made her body tingle. Just for one moment she imagined what it would feel to actually have him buried deep inside of her. This thought alone made her press her thighs together.

"I want to hear you", he added as another invitation for her to join the game, voice raspy.

"Negan", she finally breathed, testing the feel of his name on her tongue. She liked it - a lot. With hot cheeks she moaned lighty, followed by a richer one, her eyes drifting to the floor.

"That's it, show me how fucking good I make you feel. I don't care who hears us, let them all know you are mine."

Negan didn't sound so far away anymore and as his boots came into her view, she knew why.

Her eyes darted upwards, lips parted. She could smell him at this distance, a mix of hard work and his own unique scent.

She moaned again, this time because her body betrayed her, his presence too intoxicating to not indulge.

His gaze was fixed on her lips and as they continued their little play, the air between them shifted.

His knuckles lightly grazed her cheek before he looked from her lips up to her eyes, silently asking for permission.

There wasn't any second thought for Y/N, she nodded instantly and was greeted by his lips crashing onto hers. His body drove her farther into the work bench, his hands grasping her face to deepen the kiss.

Her hands clawed at his blue shirt while his kisses made her go insane with lust.

Without wasting anymore time, Negan's hands undid the button and fly of her jeans, hastily pulling it down together with her underwear. Y/N let out a shriek when he grasped her hips with both hands and positioned her on the bench. He then opened his own trousers to pull out his solid length.

"Haven't done this in a while, excuse the lack of foreplay, but I can't fucking wait to feel you", he explained while he traced his length through her folds.

"Damn baby, you're so wet for me. Did my dirty talk turn you on?"

"What do you think?" she quipped back, as impatient as Negan.

"That mouth on you." Negan laughed while he slowly sank into her.

Hungry kisses drowned their shared moaning at the feel of each other. Y/N hadn't done this lately either, she felt like being pulled up to heaven by the feel of his dick inside of her.

"Fuuuck me, you do feel so good around me", he complimented her while he moved in and out of her at a moderate pace.

"Is he still out there?" Y/N tried to make out the footsteps they heard before but the only thing she could hear was Negan's heavy breathing against her neck.

"The fuck do you care?" Negan hissed, not silencing the moans spilling out of his mouth. "They could all watch, we would give them a show they would never forget."

His boldness made her laugh nervously which bled into a rich moan with the first deeper thrust he delivered.

"Shit, Negan", she moaned in earnest now, clawing at his back while his thrusts got harder.

"There she fucking is", he exclaimed with a shit-eating grin. "That's how you should sound while being fucked."

One of his hands went into her hair at the nape of her neck while the finger of his other hand dug into her hip, so he could drive himself over and over again into her.

Forehead pressed against forehead, they groaned with every forceful push and pull. The work bench squeaked with their movements, everyone walking by would definitely know about what happened inside.

"Negan, I'm close..."

"Don't worry baby, I got ya", he moaned while he let go of her hip to draw tight circles on her clit.

The added pressure together with the insanely fucking he gifted her with drove her into unknown heights. She nearly screamed his name as she came, brain foggy with pleasure.

"Goddammit, Y/N", Negan groaned out loud before he pulled out and spilled onto her thighs.

They both tried to catch their breaths and laughed heartily at what they had just done.

Negan whiped her clean with a spare shirt he kept in his backpack near the door.

"Thank you", Y/N smiled at him.

"You're very welcome, baby. Here, let me help you down."

"I never want to come down from this high", she laughed, pulling her underwear up again, then her jeans.

"Well, then let me cook for you, make up for the lack of conversation and foreplay we had."

With an amused shake of her head she watched him also getting dressed again. "You can cook?"

"Of fucking course I can cook. I make a hell of a good pasta sauce. When we're not as short of supplies as we are now, I will make the most delicious dinner for you."

Y/N went on her tiptoes to kiss Negan. "Helping me out, making me come and also cooking for me? Who would've thought you're this talented?"

"Don't you ever underestimate me, baby. It's true what they say out there, I'm not a good man. But I'm very good with my hands."

With a hearty laugh, Y/N took Negan's hands into hers, inspecting them intently.

"I do believe you, I like your hands. And I would love for you to cook for me."

"Can't fucking wait." Negan kissed her knuckles, shouldered his backpack and, with a wink, went outside first.

His signature grin was plastered all over his face and he hoped he would see Robert just to rub the truth right into his face. And the faces of everyone else in Alexandria that despised him.

---

Taglist: @iluvneganandjamie @murphslass @negans-attagirl @you-a-southpaw-doll

[courtingchaos]

At the End of the World

Kas!Eddie Munson x Fem Reader

A/N: Don’t read too much into this. It struck me late and fast and now we’re here.

Warnings: Blood drinking

18+ NSFW No Minors

Another late night closing with just you and two other employees and all of Hawkins at the doorstep to Melvalds. The deeper fissures in the town still sat open but the government had shown up with all sorts of machines and now things could be delivered again and here you were, at work. At the end of the world.

Your keys jingle against the door and you wave off your coworkers who walk down the sidewalk ahead of you. The lock sticks sometimes and you’re left to struggle until you can yank your key ring free. A curse and a kick at the stack of cardboard you need to toss, you shove your hand into your purse to make sure you didn’t forget your wallet again. The main street stays lit by giant floodlights, the distant sound of road work and construction coming in with the late evening breeze. It’s cold now when the sun sets, October turning the weather and the leaves all the same like the earth hadn’t been split open just 5 months ago. You catch a whiff of a bonfire sprinkled on the back of the wind and for a moment you can pretend that everything is okay, that it’s all normal again.

10 pm and it’s later than anything in town stays open, Melvalds and the grocery store being the exception nowadays. Food and pharmacy to keep everyone afloat and stationary, locked in place by faceless government officials who tell you it’s for your own safety. For everyone’s safety.

You shake your head to clear it though, unwilling to linger on your pessimism any longer tonight. A long day full of half smiles and constant running back and forth to pull apart another pallet of Things Everyone Needs. Your room at your parents house, the one you’d moved back into after everything went to shit, calls to you from the cracked sidewalk and you hustle faster to toss your garbage and get to your car. The water mains have finally been repaired so you know you can actually look forward to a consistent hot shower tonight, can practically feel the beating of the water against your back.

You beeline for the alleyway so you can toss the empty cardboard, no thought given to a darkened path. Hawkins had been under curfew since the feds rolled in and with main street lit up you hadn’t worried about taking out the trash on your own in a while. You have to set the box down to to flip open the lid and that’s when you hear it. A muffled breathing from behind dumpster number two, something wet and ragged, something that makes you still completely. It’s human that’s for sure, heavy and big by the sound of it and you start yelling at yourself silently, cursing your placidity.

You take a single step back when you see a head rock into view near the wheels of the other dumpster. Too dark to make out anything yet, just a mass of hair that hasn’t seen a brush in too long. A rasp of a breath in and weakly, “D-do you work here?”

Frozen in place with your body poised to run, but that voice holds no malice. They stutter on their deep breaths, breaths that sound pained. “Y-yeah.” You don’t relax but you aren’t set to sprint anymore. “Are you okay?”

Neither of you move closer but the figure pulls themselves into view more, a frankly too thin hand wraps around the corner of the dumpster to pull themselves forward and you finally can make out a face covered in grime. Eyes shine in the light that bleeds into the alleyway and he, you can finally tell, looks close to tears. Face pulled into a grimace when he scoots out to sit on questionable concrete.

“I just…I need help.” His other arm hugs his middle where his shirt is torn and your mind goes fast, trying to remember the first aid you’d learned in Girl Scouts a thousand years ago.

“Are you hurt? I can go get someone.” You glance over your shoulder knowing there’s at least a cop or an agent doing rounds at this time. “There’s a patrol-“

That’s your mistake, you’ll own it, turning around for too long. For trusting a stuttering mess. You turn back to face him and are stunned at how quickly he’s standing in front of you, those bright wet eyes boring holes into your head. You’d thought it was the shadows maybe but they really are black, from corner to corner, deep abyss that tracks your jump backwards.

You hadn’t heard him stand or shift or breathe and he’s so god damn close.

“I don’t need a patrol.” His voice sounds like white noise. A tuning to your hearing that makes your ears flex backwards at the sudden foreign noise. You swear you can feel it vibrating against your eardrums and coiling deep inside, words made corporeal to slither into your skull. There’s two voices bouncing between you, a double speak that seems to run cold around your neck. “I just need one of you.”

You couldn’t move if you wanted to. It isn’t fear holding your feet to the stained ground but an invisible grip, ironclad and cold, just like his words. You can move your eyes though and you rake over his appearance and try to keep it in your memory.

Long hair, dark eyes, no shoes, ratty jeans, torn raglan with a devil-

“Eddie?” Barely breathed out, silently uttered. He was dead. Well, at least presumed. You’d seen the flyers his uncle had put up and you’d seen how the town had treated them; crude drawings and torn off of the bulletin boards. “Eddie Munson?” You ask again to the pale face in front of you. Four years of high school seated next to him in drivers ed and home ec and art class. Not friends but acquaintances. You know that face. Even when it splits into a formidable grin you can see the ghost of his warm smile under cracked lips.

“Sort of.” His hands come up slowly to hold your neck, thumbs resting under your chin to tilt your head back. “It’s complicated.”

You expect his hands to tighten around your neck but they remain gentle in their movement, too cold against your skin. Unnaturally cold under your jaw where he starts to turn your head to the side.

“I thought I smelled something familiar around here.” His breath moves over your neck like the cold autumn breeze, carrying the promise of dead things at its end. Your heart beats tirelessly against your ribs and you still can’t move except for when he manipulates you around, his head dipping into the crook of your neck.

Fear should be at the forefront of your mind. You should be screaming and shaking, yelling for the police you know are just outside of the mouth of alley. You should be fighting back at him, fist wailing into his chest to push him back so you can fly out of his grip. However there’s a creeping calm of sorts that weaves through your thoughts. It feels fuzzy almost against your brain and you don’t even flinch when his dry tongue scratches over your skin.

“I do need help.” He keeps a hand pressed to your neck while the other pulls at your work polo, baring your flesh to his mouth. “Thank you.”

You can hear him in that moment, Eddie, not whatever this thing is that’s sinking its teeth into you. It hurts only for a moment, like a prick of a needle, and you can feel your mind going blank. Thoughts slip quick like water over rocks and you catch yourself on his shoulder to stay standing. That invisible force that bound you to the spot has faded as soon he begins to suck and again you should be running but you cling. There’s a peacefulness that comes with absence of thought and worry, enough so that you barely notice him drinking your blood. You barely notice the gore in his hair or the deep scars along his cheek. Your hearing begins to fade to only the single sound of his lips attached to you.

A fade to black for all your senses.

And then you feel it. Black tendrils that sneak into your awareness. They swirl and thrash in their form, long fingers of doom that grow around you. It’s a rushing feeling like a thousand wings brushing by you, pushing air across your face and ruffling your hair.

“Do you hear it?” Eddie whispers against your ear, lips warm and tongue wet where it drags along your lobe. “Monsters in the sky, right under us.” You’ve been lowered at some point, his back resting against the dumpster and you clung to the front of him. “So many they’d blot out the sun.” His hands still hold you but they’re warm now too against your cooling skin. “They’re looking for me.” A drop of something on your nose, something thick that drips onto his filthy shirt. “For us.”

Everything is muffled except for his clear voice. Those black tendrils move steadily along your awareness still, vines creeping in to drag you under into oblivion. Your throat sticks when you swallow and you try to form words before you pass out or die. Eddie’s head tilts in close to your mouth and you can smell the dirt and viscera on him.

“Something’s…around…”

“What is it?” He makes a show of looking around the shadows of the alleyway before letting his eyes drop to your barely open ones. The deep black is gone, replaced again by the familiar brown you know.

“Not here.” You need him to understand. The fingers crawl into your vision now, the few specks of light left that you can see, great red eyes in the middle distance of your mind. “Inside.” A weak motion to your head and you see it dawn on his face.

“You can see him too?” He asks you but doesn’t wait for a response before he digs his teeth into his own wrist. Blood rushes from the corners of his mouth and he shoves the mangled skin at you, your wince doing nothing to get it away from you. He cradles your head now, knees drawn up to help hold you while he feeds you something of himself. The blood pushes past your slack lips, bitter tannin where you expected salt and copper. No fight left in you while the wind rushes in your ears and the dark fist closes over your minds eye.

“I need help.” He intones again when you latch on to his wrist finally. “Will you help me?” No double speak this time, no white noise to warp your thoughts. Eddie asks you for help while you lay in a cold alley on cold concrete and drink from his self inflicted wound. You’ve never been friends, just acquaintances, but the blood is heavy on your tongue. He holds you close and keeps you both hidden in the dark. He sees the same monstrous form you do and there’s fear in those brown eyes, still shining, still wet with tears.

Your senses stop whining like a flicked switch, your hands coming up to grasp more fully at his offered arm. You nod and keep drinking and there’s that smile again, the real one, the warm one. “Thank you.”

It’s silent now except for the sounds of your eating and the rush of leathery wings beating underneath your feet.

[earthtoharlow]

Don’t Like The Lights

Sequel to Flashing Lights series, must read Flashing Lights first to understand

Series Masterlist

2. Pulling Me Back

Every time I try to leave something keeps pulling me back, telling me I need you in my life.

Maryse sat in her car parked outside Jack’s house, her fingers nervously tapping against the steering wheel. She glanced up at the front door, her heart pounding. It had been days since they ran into each other at the studio, and now she was finally mustering up the courage to ring the doorbell.

Taking a deep breath, Maryse got out of her car and walked to the front door. She reached out and pressed the button, the sound echoing through the quiet neighborhood. As she waited, her mind raced with thoughts of what awaited her on the other side of the door. Would they be able to pick up where they left off? Or had too much time passed for them to salvage what they once had?

Before she could dwell on it further, the door swung open, and there Jack stood, a mixture of surprise and joy flickering across his face. “Hey,” he said, his voice warm and inviting. “I didn’t expect to see you here so early.”

Maryse smiled nervously as her cheeks warmed. “Hey,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah, uh…I couldn’t wait,” she admitted, “I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about us, about everything.”

Jack’s expression softened as he nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. “Me too.” He admitted, stepping aside to let her in. As she crossed the threshold, he closed the door behind her.

As she followed behind Jack she couldn’t help but look around his new place. She also couldn’t help but notice the minimal decor adorning the walls. It struck her that there were no personal touches, no signs of another person. She wondered if it meant he was still single.

They both sat on the couch, Maryse shifted uncomfortably, stealing glances at Jack, who seemed equally uneasy.

“Look I’m…

“Jack…”

They couldn’t help but both laugh at the silliness of speaking at the same time, the moment breaking the tension that filled the room.

“Sorry, you go first,” Jack said, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“No, you,” Maryse insisted, her eyes searching for a sign of what he was thinking.

Jack takes a deep breath, his eyes locked on Maryse as he begins “I need you to know that I didn’t cheat on you. My ex… she kissed me. I swear, I was pushing her away when you walked in. I know it probably looked bad, but I would never do that to you.” He pauses, his expression pleading for her to believe him.

Maryse listened to Jack ramble about that night. She knew the whole story, Urban had called her the following morning after the night out at the club explaining everything to her. Deep down she knew that Jack would never do that to her and even though she missed him dearly during those lonely nights, she knew that the time apart had been necessary for her growth and self-discovery.

“I’ve been beating myself up over it ever since. I know I should have handled it better, but I froze. I froze because all I could think about was you, and how much I didn’t want to hurt you.”

Maryse reaches out and places a hand on his arm, a gentle gesture to comfort him. “I know, it’s okay. I believe you.” She says softly, her eyes meeting his. “I know you would never intentionally hurt me.”

“A little birdy actually filled me in on what happened months ago,” she begins, her voice steady but filled with vulnerability. “I guess I was just too scared to reach out again because everything seemed so broken, beyond repair.”

“Urban?” Jack asks, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Maryse nods, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Yeah, Urban,” she confirms, her gaze meeting his. “He told me what happened that night, and I realized that I didn’t even give you a chance to explain yourself…”

She pauses before taking a deep breath, her heart pounding nervously. “Now it’s my turn to apologize,” she says softly, her voice filled with sincerity. “I’m sorry for making it seem like I didn’t see a future with you, because the truth is, I do. I think I always did. And I’m sorry it took me so long to reach out. I needed time to process everything and figure out what I really wanted.” Maryse watched as Jack’s eyes softened, a flicker of emotion passing across his face.

“I know I messed up.” continues, her voice trembling slightly. “But I love you and I know, for the rest of my life, I won’t stop loving you, ever, because you were meant to be with me. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”

A wide grin spreads across Jack’s face when he heard Maryse say she loved him, his eyes shining with joy and excitement. Without hesitation, he pulls her into him, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. With a gentle yet urgent tone, he whispers, “What did you just say?”

“Huh?”

“Tell me you love me.”

Maryse’s heart swells with love as she looks into his eyes, seeing the depth of emotion reflected back at her. “I love you,” she says softly, her voice filled with tenderness.

Jack smile widens at her words, and he leans in closer, his lips hovering just inches from hers. “Say it again,” he murmurs, his breath warm against her skin.

“I love you,” Maryse tells him with even more conviction than before.

Without another moment’s hesitation, Jack closes the distance between them, capturing her lips in a kiss. They poured all of their love and affection into the embrace.

As they finally pulled away, he looked into her eyes with an expression of pure adoration. “I love you more.” he whispers, his voice husky with emotion.

Tears of happiness prick at her eyes as she gazes back at him, overwhelmed by the depth of their connection. “Not possible.” Maryse replies, her voice trembling with emotion.

They sat in silence tangled in each other's arms and for the first time in months, they felt relaxed and happy. Maryse felt a sense of gratitude for the journey that had brought her to this moment. She was ready to embrace the future and spend the rest of her life with Jack.

“I have something else to tell you,” Maryse begins, her voice filled with nervousness.

Jack looks at her, curiosity evident in his eyes. “What is it?” he asks, leaning in closer to her.

“I broke my lease,” she confesses, her words hanging in the air between them.

Jack’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and he leans back slightly, processing her revelation. “You broke your lease?” he repeats, in disbelief.

Maryse takes a deep breath, gathering her courage as she continues. “I was wondering… if the offer to move in with you is still available?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, there’s silence between them as they both process her question. Then, Jack's face breaks into a wide grin, his eyes shining with joy.

“Of course it’s still available,” he says, his voice filled with excitement.

With a mischievous grin, Jack scoops Maryse up effortlessly, lifting her over his shoulder as she squeals with laughter. “Hey, what are you doing?” she protests playfully, her laughter bubbling over.

“We have a lot of making up to do, and we need to celebrate!” he replies with a wink, his tone playful.

Maryse giggles, feeling a rush of excitement coursing through her veins. “And where exactly are you taking me?” she teases, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“To our soon-to-be shared bedroom,” he declares with a grin, his steps purposeful as he carries her through the house

She laughs, the sound echoing through the air as they make their way down the hallway.

***

AN: PARADE INSIDE MY CITY YEAAAAH shorter chapter but our bbs are happy and back together 🙂‍↕️ thank you for all the love on the last chapter and this series as a whole I appreciate it so much 🫶

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[astrokatsuki]

SUMMARY You wanted to test out a book you got from a garage sale. Just so you can get your money’s worth. When something goes wrong you start to think the book was useful after all.

WARNING Toji, smut, like two spanks, blowjobs (receiving), gets a lil rough, not proofread

WORD FROM ARTIST This is my first time writing smut ya’ll…. 2.5K

HIGHWAY TO HELL

Why are you the dumbest person alive? If you’re even still alive, that is.

You used to believe you were actually pretty smart. You did well with A’s and B’s in high school and you got even better grades in college. But now, you’re not so sure you’re as smart as you thought.

You know you shouldn’t have picked up that dark magic book. Especially from that sketchy garage sale, you overheard coworkers at your server job talking about it. The pages were worn, dirty, and stained. Plus the cover barely held on, some duct tape being used as a half assed repair. You’ve watched more than enough horror movies to know doing something this stupid never ends well.

Surprisingly, you would be one of those people too if it wasn’t for your curiosity. Curiosity killed the cat, but you prayed that the same outcome wouldn’t happen to you. When you finally stepped through the door of your cute, one bedroom apartment, you recklessly flung off your shoes not caring where they landed and carried the thick book back to your room.

You just wanted to try it, see if it worked at least once. You doubt it would anyway.

Making it to your room, you decide against sitting in your bed and instead opt for sitting on your baby pink rug. The last thing you want to do is bring that dark energy to your bed.

You shouldn’t even bring it to your room but here you are.

Your bedroom is filled to the brim with different shades of pink and a collection of stuffed animals that happen to multiply every time you go shopping. Books lay hazardously in the furthest corner of your cozy room, your gaming setup’s lights turned on and have been for a while, brightening the area and making the room even better.

You stick out like a sore thumb in this room. Your closet consists mostly of baggier clothes, but you have a hefty amount of clothes for when you want to show off a little. One of these outfits you could’ve worn if you decided to go out tonight.

This dark magic book also sticks out like a sore thumb. But, you proceed anyway.

After spending about 10 minutes give or take, just skimming the pages, you stumble across one that seemed the most harmless.

Contacting a demon.

This was the most tame one in this book, which was unnerving and almost made you rethink your choice. You paid money for this though and the owner of the garage sale made it clear that you couldn’t return anything.

Hoping that creating an atmosphere would increase the chances of the ritual working, you turn off the lights and light some candles.

Fortunately, the ritual only has three steps.

The first two were pretty easy and straightforward. Grab some sticks and put them in a circle and Take some DNA and place it in the middle of your stick circle.

After reading the first step, you swung your feet over the side of your bed duvet, shuffled into your slippers, and picked some perfect sticks from the front of your apartment complex.

The last step in order to complete the ritual, is to close your eyes and say a chant.

Seems easy enough.

The chant doesn’t seem to be in English but you closed your eyes and tried your best not to completely butcher the chant.

After a generous amount of time you begin to feel silly and almost embarrassed.

‘Of course this wouldn't work’

With a sigh and slumped shoulder you open your eyes just to roll them at yourself. After having your vision clear from having your eyes shut so long, they focus on a large figure, with an amused look on his wide grin.

On the desk sits two of the candles you once lit. They’ve both been blown out.

The figure moves closer as your mouth opens to let out an ear-piercing scream. A large hand lazily covers your mouth to muffle your voice.

It’s so close. So close you can finally see some of its details. It looks like a guy. A gorgeous one.

But it can't be.

Your heart is racing and you’re scared shitless, but you think that money wasn’t completely wasted after all. The ritual worked.

“You fucked up the ritual you tried to do.

The guy's voice sends a chill straight down your spine and to your core. It’s deep and slightly raspy.

This man can’t be real, not when he looks that good anyway.

His dark hair covers his forehead and the tips of his eyes, and a scar runs down his lip.

Fuck.

He stares blankly at you before remembering you can’t respond. His rough hand was still covering your mouth. Not that he asked a question for you to answer anyway.

He slowly removes his hot palm from your mouth, seeing if you would scream again.

Oddly you don't.

“Huh?” Is all you can manage to say.

He grins wider at your dumbfounded state, “You said the chant wrong, I mean. There’s so many spells in that stupid book. A lot of spells are similar.”

“So instead of contacting a demon I actually summoned one?”

He adjusts his position on the floor into a more comfortable one. You would’ve never thought demons could get uncomfortable.

“Smart boy.”

Your dick twitches at the praise, even if you didn’t feel like a smart boy. You instantly feel shame. This is a demon, this is wrong.

Seemingly restless, the man stands up inspecting your room. He annoys you in the process.

“So how do I send you back-“ You look up at him for his name.

“Toji.” He offers, not paying you any mind.

“Right Toji.” The name feels good leaving your lips. You move to your bed from your old place on the floor. You need to get comfortable, this seems like It’ll take a while.

“Well that’s the thing.” He stares you down, as if you’re supposed to know what thing he’s talking about. There’s a lot of things wrong with this right now.

“What thing?” You stare at him dumbly. You don’t have time for this.

You didn’t say that when you were summoning the damn man.

Toji walks away from his place by your floor books and instead decides to sit next to you on the bed.

He glances at you blinking. Leaning down to pick up the magic book that was previously discarded on the floor, hands it to you.

“Read the first page.” He knows something you don’t. You really should’ve been more thorough before deciding to do something like this on a random Saturday.

Warning! In order to make an entity leave you must give them something*.*

You read aloud.

You look up at him to find him already staring at you.

Not responding right away his warm, big hand travels to the side of your face. He leans closer. So close your noses are almost touching.

He’s so beautiful.

His 6’2, 250lbs frame covers yours as his eyes lower to your lips. You can’t figure out the exact scent that reaches your nose when you’re this close to him, but his musk makes him that much more enticing.

“I want that something to be you, sweet thing.”

He sees the hesitation on your face. He can also see the desire.

The hand that isn’t on your face travels to palm your clothed dick.

“But you’re-” You begin to stammer.

“A demon?” He finishes, not seeming bothered by your tone. He couldn’t blame you for being wary. But he would show your cute self a good time.

“That’s what makes it fun.”

This is so wrong. But you can’t help the way your skin heats up under his touch. You can feel yourself getting harder the closer he gets.

His slightly chapped lips capture yours in a hungry kiss. The kiss is filthy, the tension fills the room like a fish tank and you can practically see the desire oozing out of his body.

You can no longer tell which tongue is yours and which one is his because both of them are overlapping. His hands trail lower, cupping underneath your jean-clad thighs and picking you up from the edge of the bed.

Toji’s lips eventually leave yours. A dissatisfied whine escapes your plush lips as your dazed gaze focuses on his.

“Patience baby.” He warns.

He unbuttons your jeans and slides them down your thighs slowly, almost as if he’s trying to tease himself. He then moves you closer to your headboard. Even though he warned you, he’s also affected by your lips not connecting with his.

You tug on his black compression shirt, trying to pull it off him. It hugs his body deliciously, you can’t even imagine what it would look like off of him.

“I wan’ it off” You tug again.

He pulls away from you quickly, and takes his compression shirt and sweats off in record time.

You reconnect your lips.

He takes your bunched up shirt off of you, throwing it behind him, your nipples hardens due to the cold air filling up your room.

The sight of you sprawled out all pretty for him is a sight for sore eyes. Like an angel.

An angel for his demon.

He captures a hard nipple in his mouth sucking on the perked flesh while tweaking the other nipple.

You mewl, writhing in his grasp. Without removing his lips from your nipples, he slides your pink boxers down your thighs. You dick twitches again from the brush of his arms across your thighs.

“Such a pretty hole, for a pretty boy,” He groans as he lowers himself past your leaking cock so that he's face level with your pulsing rim.

“Thank you.” You mumble.

“So polite.” He seems to be talking to himself almost. He stares at your cute little hole getting close but never touching.

Growing shy, you begin to close your legs. But before you can fully close them a slap on your thigh causes you to yelp.

“Keep them open. I want to see you” He glares, finally touching you. He reaches his hand back up to your dick, Toji rubs your slit up and down collecting your pearly pre.

“M’ sorry.” you twitch.

“I know you didn't mean to be bad, sweetheart. Just keep them spread for me.”

He knows exactly where to touch to get you pent up. He slowly inserts two slicked fingers and curls them to hit exactly where you need them.

You moan out making eye contact with him from your place on your back. He stares back up at you with dark eyes. While maintaining eye contact his tougue glides against you puckered hole, licking softly.

You grip his hair causing him to moan out with an eye roll. He moves his tongue around your rim trying to get all the juices you leak. His tongue pushes deeper into your hole, while his fingers are still pistoning in and out of you.

You can feel your release building up. You try to warn him, but the pleasure is taking your breath.

“gonna’ cum!” You manage between moans.

“Give it t’me.” The vibrations of his words are the push you needed to tip you over the edge. With the loudest moan yet, your back arches trying to move away from him. He grips your thighs holding you in place making your dick twitch for the third time, your cum erupting straight up and falling onto your soft stomach.

He keeps swirling his tongue to make you ride your high out before his face comes up to face yours. He takes his fingers out of your hole and holds them up to your face.

“Suck.”

Without any words, you stare up at him and suck your release off of his fingers making his dick twitch at the sight.

You're such a cute thing, so pliant.

Pulling his fingers out, he handles you like a doll flipping you over without any effort. You automatically arch, wiggling your ass as an invitation.

He swats it smirking at the sight.

You whine, looking back to watch him pull his boxers down. He's so– big. He’s about 9 inches with a vein running down to his base. His tan, mushroom tip leaks white pearls that drip onto the already messy sheets.

He rubs his tip along your sensitive hole making you quiver. He slowly pushes in, forcing your arch deeper.

He gives you little time to adjust before plowing into your tight rim.

Plap, plap, plap.

The sound of your ass hitting his pelvis as you attempt to bury your moans into the stuffed bear you got at the fair.

He notices your actions and wraps both his hands around your throat, using that as leverage.

“You’re big!” You slur your words, your eyes rolling to the back of your head for what seems like the hundredth time.

“Yeah? Tell me where you feel me?“ Toji takes one hand off your neck to fist your swollen cock.

You slowly move one hand down your waist to push on your stomach, where you feel his tip reaching.

“M’ Right here!” The pressure of his pounding mixed with your hand makes it almost too much to handle, but it's too good to stop.

Pounding sloppily into your fluttering hole, Toji jerks your cock even faster. He can tell you’re about to cum again.

“Slow down!” Your voice grows higher in pitch as you try to push on his abdomen. He catches your hands and holds them behind your back, making his thrusts harder as punishment.

“You can take it.” He grunts.

You rim winks around him once again. You’ve lost track of how many times you’ve both come. He’s so mean the way he bullies his cock into you.

He is insatiable.

Your eyes can’t help but roll back as he hunches over you. His mean grin comes into view as you look over your shoulder.

You splutter, “So’ good Toji!”

“Mhm?”

Without another word you cum again, your unfocused eyes black out for a second at the intensity of your orgasm.

Toji follows soon after with an airy whine. You’re boneless as you fall out of your arch and flat onto the bed. Fatigue hits you as your eyes begin to close.

Toji slowly pulls out careful not to stimulate you even more. The last thing you remember before sleep hit you is a wet cloth cleaning your sweaty body off.

The next morning you wake up to a sore body and a page of the spell book flipped open.

How to summon Toji– the incubus demon.

[sleepynxri]

“In hindsight, I should have looked at the instructions"

A/N: THE DEMO IS FINALLY OUT OMG!! Congrats to the devs and the whole team for releasing the demo!! I love it so much to the point I think I'm the first one to make an x reader of it lol. But I chose my favorite (for now)Vince!! And a certain person might like it as much as I do hehe. I might not get his full personality right since it is still the demo and the characters might change their personalities depending the route you pick on the official release, but do enjoy everyone! And requests will be open until further notice. And of course spoilers for the demo!!

P. S. The reader is demisexual! If you don't know what it is it means a person who feels sexually attracted to someone after creating a close bond with them! It made sense to me since in the demo the mc was a bit rude and judgemental in their thoughts regarding their interactions with the different love interests. But hey! If you don't like it then just ignore this part! Enjoy it however you like hatchlings!

Pairing: Vince Matador x gn! reader

Warnings: curses, no use of Y/N only You/I

What did I get myself into?

A sigh of exhaustion released itself from your mouth as you headed out from the diner where you now currently work at.

Who knew that you had to use the first few weeks of your summer in an unknown town after your car suddenly broke down in the middle of nowhere?

Fuck Fate and itself.

You started on walking around the streets of the said town, it was interesting to say the least. Almost everyone in this vicinity at least knew each other if they were a neighbour or a regular. You felt out of place whenever someone pointed out or asked if you were new around.

The only thing that wavered your mind was the interaction inside Cup o Jo Mama. The new part-time job you’ll be doing until you’re able to pay for both the hostel you were staying in and the repairs of your broken down car. (Srsly how did I should have checked it out before going on a long ass fucking road trip??)

Chris was quite a timid character to have as a co-worker, but I am quite the observing person to see how he changes personalities so directly. It concerns me sometimes but it wasn't my business to get into anyone’s personal lives.

And that Wyatt fellow…. Can’t say that the headlines were wrong about his looks. He was attractive, but his personality is that of a stereotypical rich people lifestyle. It's best to not not meddle myself into his work and business, if he was staying in Brine Bay in the meantime.

Placing your headphones over your ears, you started to tune out the noises, you needed some alone time after all the shit that just happened. Familiarising your steps to avoid on getting lost - (Fuck you btw Dante) again.

Clicking your tongue slightly in annoyance after remembering a certain front desk employee who didn't tell you the actual direction towards the diner you were supposed to go in.

Without you knowing, a familiar sheriff and an unknown male suddenly were seen in the corner of your eyes. Jean looked optimistic as ever, but to your surprise- he was with someone else who looked like the opposite of him.

Why not see what they’re up to?

So… . The guy’s name is Vince. Jean momentarily left you both together to help with the white haired males socialising skills. You didn't mind, but you did feel guilty for forcing him to be with you. So you thanked him for staying with you.

You didn't expect the male to give you a half- smile. It almost caught you off guard. It was so pretty…

You shook your thoughts away and gave your own warm smile. Vince was a nice fellow, since he didn't know what to show you, you suggested that he showed the areas where he likes to stay at. You bonded with him with his different favorite places in Brine Bay. You were touched on how he could trust you to these places. You knew it held something for him to show you these areas.

Then you met Kevin….

You almost laughed loudly after hearing the nickname Vince gave him.

A fucking highlighter? You didn't think the male held so much humor. (Or your humor is just broken)

Kevin was a nice fellow. A bit flirty (then again who isn't? Almost everyone - not Dante- has started flirting with you before you could even muster a response to any of their introductions) but a passionate theatre kid.

‘pre’?? Is that a word or a different language? You’ll probably ask the next time you interact with him.

After saying goodbye to the green haired male. You and Vince were left alone together again. You pointed out how it was getting late so you and him started your way back to your hostel.

“Are you enjoying yourself? “ You paused after hearing Vince’s words. You… didn't expect someone would ask this question towards you. I mean it is technically your first day here after all.

You can feel the stare of Vince from the corner of your face as you racked up an answer for him.

“I… . Can't say much. My car broke down, Jean found me, he drove me here, I met a lot of people, found a part time job… . It's overwhelming to say the least” a flash of worry crossed the eyes of Vince as he tried to find the right words to reply.

But you beat him to it.

" But… I am enjoying it. I never expected to have an adventure while on summer break. It's new…. But not unwelcoming" a chuckle escaped your lips as you watched the sky growing darker.

“That's… . Good to hear” Vince relaxed his shoulders with another pretty smile he has. Your heart flutters after seeing it again. This was the second time you’ve seen it but you already knew you’ll always remember that smile he has.

Exchanging numbers with him was… eventful. It was cute to see him flustered while nervously asking if you wanted his contact number (who wouldn't accept his advances?)

You knew you had to take your chances and placed “Vimpire" as the contact name for Vince. (He’ll probably be disappointed but who’s to say he’ll just chuckle after you have him a silly nickname)

You told him your farewells and headed back to your temporary room. Doing your nightly routine and wearing your night wear.

You decided to call someone before heading off to sleep. The first person that popped up from the idea was Vince.

“Ah.. who is it?"

“You forgot about me already?" You teased slightly with a small chuckle as you looked outside the windows while watching the luminescent sky radiating from them.

“It's you… . I-i didn't expect that you would be calling me already” you wanted to tease him more but you asked him first if he arrived home already. He was still walking from home and you both decided to stay in the call for a while.

“Can I ask… why the sudden call? “

Fuck it.

" Is it bad that I wanted to hear your voice before I head to sleep? “

A pause could be heard from the other line. You grew worried when the call suddenly hung up and you panicked. You tried texting him but he suddenly beat you to it with a call.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I panicked!" A rush of apologies came after you answered the call. It was a relief to hear that you weren't stepping over boundaries and you asked him if everything was alright.

He reassured you, telling you that he just took time to process on what you said before. You couldn't see it but he was smiling on the other side of the phone (if Jean saw this he would be supportive yet teasing the poor boy).

“Hey uhm… if you have time after your shift ends… I could show you more around town? “

You were shocked again after hearing his words. This is the second time you got shocked by this man alone. You wonder what he got plans for you next.

" I would like that” you smiled warmly from the invitation. As you both continued chatting until you both shared your farewells.

You yawned and stretched your body and headed off to sleep.

You hope you can see Vince’s smiling face again.

Threads of You: Beyond the Bay

Lavendeer Studio Discord Server

Disclaimer: I am not part of the Lavendeer Studio team, I'm just placing the links here to whoever wants to play the game or wants to join the server for more updates and upcoming events!!

[bellaxgiornata]

Falling For the Devil [Part thirty-eight: "The Black Suit"]

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader

Summary: You finish up work at The Bulletin late, but Matt still asks you to come over while he's out as Daredevil and wait for him to return home.

Or

You forgot the red suit was being repaired, and that black suit really does something to you–which has Matt very much intrigued.

[Series of one-shots about Reader meeting, falling for, and dating Matt Murdock.]

Warnings: 18+ for this series; contains humor, fluff, romance, angst, smut (like...a lot of it later in the series), language, some violence

Word Count: 5.4k

a/n: Another smupdate--this time featuring Reader very much appreciating the black suit. Because why the hell would there not be black suit Matt smut in FFTD? This is offically the halfway point (so far) of all the installments currently published on AO3! You can find the entire list of installments for this series on tumblr here. And if you're enjoying the series, let me know!

Staring at the laptop screen before you, the article you were working on for The Bulletin was finally written. You'd been working on it for the past couple of hours since you'd been at Matt’s and had been working on finishing editing it now. Though you'd been constantly distracted by how weird it felt being at Matt's by yourself tonight.

He had given you a key to his place not too long ago, wanting you to start making yourself feel comfortable and at home here so you could hopefully transition to living here with him in the spring when your lease was up. And honestly, you appreciated the fact that he wasn't rushing you with this and instead letting you both take some time to adjust before jumping into it. You'd be lying if you said you hadn't been already overthinking absolutely everything you possibly could about being in the same space with him all the time–hell, you'd be disposing all of your used period products at his place then. And if you got sick he'd hear and smell you throwing up in the bathroom. You cringed at the thought. Shaking your head, you tried to focus back on editing the article and not letting your mind spiral on everything Matt would inevitably become aware of with you living with him. 

Though that weird feeling of being here alone still sat with you. You'd gotten off work late at The Bulletin and Matt had told you he was already going out to do his Daredevil thing but he'd wanted you to come over anyway. To be here when he came home. Tonight was the first time you’d actually needed to use the key, letting yourself in while he was already out. 

You sighed, running a hand through your hair. Maybe you just needed a break. The article was ahead of deadline anyway. You could just relax and watch something on your laptop until Matt came back. You'd thankfully convinced him the other night not to buy a television just for you, since he would never watch it and you already had one. You'd insisted you would just watch shows on your laptop when you were here. 

Saving your progress on your article, and triple checking that it was saved, you exited out of the program. You were about to open Netflix on your laptop, but the door to Matt's roof access opened with a loud creak and you jumped on the couch, throwing a hand over your startled heart. 

"Sorry," Matt's deep voice apologized quickly. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"I just wasn't expecting–" you said, closing your laptop and turning towards him on the landing. Your breath caught in your throat, your sentence briefly hanging in the air. He wasn't dressed as Daredevil–you'd forgotten how he was still getting the suit fixed from when he'd had the helmet smashed in the other night–he was dressed in the all black suit you had personally never seen on him. Swallowing hard, your heart still racing as he began descending the steps, you finished your sentence with a breathy, "You."

His masked head tilted curiously to the side as he made his way down the stairs. "Didn't scare you that bad, did I? Your heart is still racing," he pointed out.

"I–uh, no," you said nervously, your eyes instantly dropping from his mouth to the perfectly defined abdominal muscles the black fabric was somehow making look even more defined with the way it clung to him like a second skin. "I just–just uh, forgot that you–you weren't wearing the other suit tonight," you stammered as he reached the bottom of the steps, feeling your cheeks heat up as your eyes dropped to how thick his thighs looked in those tight, dark pants. 

He paused a few feet from the bottom of the stairs, his attention fixed on you sitting on the couch. His figure looked intimidating, dangerous, and incredibly muscular in the black suit as he towered above you across the room. Your bottom lip slipped between your teeth as your gaze continued to linger on his body, actively roving every inch of him so intensely you were sure he had to be able to feel it. You forced yourself to try and calm your breathing and your heart as you did, both beginning to get wildly out of your control. For some reason you desperately had the urge to tear that black shirt off of him with your nails and bite every bit of flesh you could get your teeth on.

Which certainly was not like you.

"You know," he said slowly, drawing you back to the present and causing your attention to focus on his lips beneath the mask as he spoke, "before I came in here you were pretty calm. Tired, even. And now I come back," he continued, his masked gaze gradually surveying you from top to bottom, the gesture raising goosebumps along your arms, "and your heart is beating pretty fast. Your breathing has significantly picked up." 

His mouth curled into a smirk under the mask and your thighs pressed together on the couch at the sight, fighting the urge to squirm under his covered gaze. You watched his tongue very slowly appear between those plump lips, his smirk growing even more when it had disappeared back into his mouth. Embarrassment mixed with your increasing arousal. He knew. He fucking knew how your body was reacting to him right now and he was enjoying it.

"You like this, don't you?" he mused, a gloved hand gesturing to his suit. 

Your mouth opened and closed a few times, heat burning your cheeks. How the hell was a handful of clothing items doing this to you? Working you up into a frenzy? 

He took a few step towards you and your heart stuttered in your chest, thighs clenching tighter. He hadn't done a damn thing and already you felt yourself getting wet at just the sight of him.

"Answer me, sweetheart," he demanded–the Devil’s voice, not Matt’s, you noted.

"Yes," you breathed out. 

He chuckled lightly, shaking his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. You internally mourned the obstruction of half of his torso, but the position allowed for a better view of his thick arms. Desperately you wanted those arms pinning you down to the bed. Or a wall. Fuck, anywhere really.

"Why?" he asked curiously. 

"I don't know," you whispered back.

He took another step towards you, the smirk still on his mouth beneath the black fabric. "Lie," he called out, tone teasing. 

Licking your lips nervously, your hips shifted on the couch. Your cunt was aching and desperate for attention right now. He was toying with you on purpose, you knew that.

“I’ve–I’ve never seen you in the black suit,” you finally admitted shyly. “I’ve only seen pictures of it. On the news. Before I–I knew you.”

He took another step closer to the couch in those black boots. You could feel your own pulse hammering in your throat at the almost predatory way he was slowly stalking towards you in that goddamn black suit.

“And you liked what you saw, hmm?” he asked, voice low.

“The uh, grainy photos certainly didn’t quite do you justice,” you muttered breathily, eyes glancing back down at his abs again.

Another step closer, the smirk still lingering along that perfect mouth of his. “I haven’t even touched you, sweetheart, and you’re positively wet already. You like this that much?” he questioned. 

Hands fisting the material of the sweatpants you’d changed into after arriving at his apartment, you nodded slowly. “Yes,” you answered.

A pleased hum rumbled in his throat as he took another step closer, now standing almost beside the coffee table in front of you. “You want me to fuck you in this?” he asked next.

Something like a hot spark shot through your entire body, raising the hairs along your arms. You definitely, definitely wanted him to. But would he?

“Yes,” you whispered instantly.

The smirk on his mouth changed, shifting into something sinful and devilish at your response. He uncrossed his arms, waving you over with a gloved hand. “Come here,” he urged.

Nervously you rose from the couch, knees shaking slightly as you carefully approached him. You came to a stop right in front of him, bare feet just in front of his booted ones. One of those gloved hands came out, gently landing on your hip. Your skin felt like it was on fire underneath the layers of fabric between the skin of your hip and his hand.

“Before I fuck you,” he began, pausing to enjoy the way you swallowed hard at his words, “I’ll let you take a moment to appreciate the outfit. Since I can tell just how much you like it."

“What?” you asked, eyes narrowing.

His hand moved fast, darting out to grab your wrist before placing your palm on his chest. You could feel the solid muscle just beneath the thin, smooth fabric of his black shirt. Gradually he dragged your hand down the front of him, his hand still encircling your wrist. You could feel every dip and crevice between each individual muscle along his torso until he stopped your hand just above the belt looped through his dark pants.

“Go on,” he urged, smirk returning to his mouth as he released your wrist. “Touch me. I know you want to.”

He stood there before you, head tilted to the side as he studied you beneath the mask. His arms returned to his sides as your hand still rested low on his abdomen, just above his belt. Your breath was coming in even faster now, almost shaky with each inhale and exhale. 

Hesitantly, your fingers glided back up over his abs, appreciating the firmness beneath them. Your left hand carefully came up to rest just over the firm right pectoral muscle of his chest. Risking a glance up, you could hear the sharp exhalations coming from Matt. The smirk was gone though, replaced with something almost feral and wild as he held himself back from you. Hands shaking, both of them gradually made their way up towards his broad shoulders. 

Every part of his body felt so unbelievably solid and powerful. Not that you didn't already know how tone he was underneath everything he wore, but all that muscle wrapped in that clinging, black fabric, which had frightened and threatened countless dangerous criminals, as he just stood here before you motionless and willing was fucking exhilarating. 

Your hands slid up his warm neck, cradling his face in between your palms before roughly pulling his mouth towards yours. He kissed you back with a level of restraint that you certainly couldn't miss with the noises building in his throat and the tension growing in his body. When you broke away from his mouth, you heard the grunt of protest from him, but he remained still and patient as your hands slid over him while you moved around behind him.

You hadn't even seen the back of him yet, and your eyes adoringly raked over every inch of his muscled back visible along the expansive plane of his body. Immediately your focus dropped down–those grainy photos didn't remotely do his ass justice in these pants. Gradually your hands made their way down his back, a few of his muscles jerking under your touch as they went. 

Your hands paused at the top of the waistband of his pants. Your eyes were still very much focused on his ass that you knew was so round and firm and perfect beneath that fabric. Matt's head shifted over his right shoulder looking back at you with a grin.

"Go on, I know you want to," he teased.

Both hands quickly dropped down, landing on his ass over the dark pants. For a brief moment you paused, appreciating the fact that you were grabbing The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen's ass over those same dark pants that Katy had zoomed in on in the old photos of Daredevil's early days so many times before. Biting your tongue, you decided to take a risk and do something you'd imagined a few times too many before you'd even met Matt and had learned who the man in black really was. Your right hand released its hold, drawing back just a bit before you swung it forward, landing a solid but fairly gentle smack on his ass. Matt startled slightly for a moment before he glanced back over his shoulder, emitting what sounded like a playful growl.

"You enjoying yourself back there?" he asked, tone amused.

You couldn't fight the little grin on your mouth. You were, in fact, very much enjoying yourself.

"Quite possibly," you teased back.

A chuckle rumbled in his throat. "You need more time back there or can I move this forward, sweetheart?" he asked.

Your pulse quickened again at the thought of fucking him in the black suit. You hadn't even fucked him in the Daredevil suit before, though you'd certainly imagined it. And definitely would be imagining it more after tonight…

"And what do you have in mind?" you questioned him curiously.

He spun towards you the moment you'd asked your question. You trembled a little at the masked face that somehow was still hungrily staring back at you behind the black fabric. Without responding, he lunged at you, taking you by surprise before his mouth was on yours. His gloved hands grabbed you hard by the hips as he tugged you into his body so tight you could feel his own arousal pressing into you. He was kissing you feverishly in a flurry of tongue and teeth, his mouth only riling you up further. 

You were moaning back into his mouth, far past your usual level of arousal with Matt because of the damn suit as your fingers dug into his back, when you felt his hands moving down your body. Swiftly he grabbed you just under your ass and pulled you up onto himself. Releasing his mouth, you gasped out in surprise as your arms quickly wrapped around his firm shoulders to steady yourself. He was nipping at your neck as he began carrying you, and as you felt more wet heat dampening your underwear, you expected him to bring you to the bedroom.

Instead you realized he was carrying you to his kitchen. Your brows furrowed in confusion, enjoying the amazing feel of his mouth on your neck but wondering if he'd somehow gotten himself turned around. Until he very intentionally plopped you onto the kitchen counter before him, his two thick arms boxing your hips in from where they were positioned on either side of the counter. He leaned forward, lowering himself so his masked face was level with yours, mere inches from you. Your hips squirmed needily along the counter. He was toying with you again, you could feel it.

"I take it you've thought about fucking me long before you knew who I was," he murmured, the sound of the Devil’s voice sending a shudder down your spine. 

"Mhmm," you hummed back.

You were dying for him to touch you already. 

His jaw clenched tight at your admission, his head rolling back a bit as if that alone had turned him on. And then he was focusing back on you again, that dark smirk on his mouth–exactly where your gaze was currently focused.

"Naughty girl, thinking about fucking the Devil," he ground out. 

He was going to kill you with anticipation. 

" Matt ," you whined. 

"Hey," he countered, that sly smirk still on his mouth, "you had your fun, sweetheart. Enjoying the suit. Now I'd like to take a minute to appreciate the fact that you wanted me , like this, long before you knew me." One of his gloved hands appeared between your legs, his fingers gently resting on your clothed cunt. "You ever get off to me before?" he questioned curiously. 

"What?" you asked, eyes widening.

"You know what I mean, sweetheart," he murmured back, his fingers adding a bit of pressure along your sweatpants. "Answer the question."

You whimpered in response to the light touch over where you desperately needed him. Fuck you needed more than that. 

 "Yes," you answered softly.

There was a pleased hum that vibrated in his throat. "And what did you think about?" he pushed.

Immediately your cheeks flamed at the question. That seemed quite personal. 

"Matt, what're you–"

"Did you think about the man in the mask saving you in an alley?" he mused. "And then you'd thank him by letting him have you against a brick wall?" His fingers very slowly rubbed against you and a moan slipped out of you. "Or did you think about me climbing into your window late at night? Fucking you so hard into your mattress?"

"I–" you began, feeling shy as he waited for a response. But his fingers were rubbing harder over your sweatpants and you hoped an answer would get you more. "I thought about you breaking into my apartment," you breathed out. "Running into you when I–I came home from work." He made a noise in response like he wanted you to continue. Your heart sped up at what you were about to admit. "And you'd…eat me out on the kitchen table before fucking me over it."

"Oh sweetheart," he nearly purred, his fingers stopping and causing you to whine in protest. "I can most certainly taste that beautiful pussy, but I’m going to fuck you on our kitchen counter until you're a mess." He removed his hands from you, pulling the gloves off and throwing them aside. 

You most certainly hadn’t missed the way he’d said ‘our,’ but you were currently more interested in the fact that his hands were tugging at your underwear and sweatpants, yanking them roughly down your legs at the same time. Your own hands grabbed the hem of your shirt and pulled it up quickly over your head before you began unclasping your bra. 

The moment you saw his hands about to slide the mask off his face, you blurted, “Leave it on.”

His hands paused at the edge of the fabric, a slight huff of amusement falling from him. “If you insist,” he replied, voice deep as his hands came to rest on your bare thighs. 

“Are you done teasing me now, baby?” you whispered, staring at the black material obscuring half his face.

His lips curled upward at the corner, that almost feral expression returning. One of his fingers dove straight into your cunt and you sharply gasped in surprise before the noise broke on a sound of pleasure. 

“So impatient for me,” he mused, his finger pumping into you.

“Baby, please,” you breathily begged.

“You like calling the Devil that?” he asked, slowly dropping down between your legs. 

You eyed him below you with an unwavering gaze of your own, his mouth just hovering before your cunt. His warm breath was brushing over your skin, the sensation mingled with his finger still thrusting into you deliciously pleasant.

“I think you like it when I call you that,” you shot back.

Taken aback, his finger actually stopped its motion inside of you. Slowly, his masked face shifted up towards yours, gazing back up at you between your thighs. He was genuinely smiling up at you.

“You're damn right, I do," he agreed, tone gravelly. "And for being so open with me tonight, sweetie, I’m going to give you exactly what you want."

He didn’t even give you a chance to respond before his mouth was on you, a second finger slipping inside of you. Your head fell back over your shoulders, both of your hands sliding back a bit behind you on the counter as his tongue wholeheartedly lapped at your clit. After the building anticipation, your body had been yearning for attention. But despite how amazing it felt, you forced your head back up, your eyes landing on the sight before you.

The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen was between your thighs as you sat on the kitchen counter, black mask covering half his face as he practically devoured you, two thick fingers thrusting into you with a vigorous pace. His grunting and the occasional sound as he sucked your clit mixed with the wet sounds of his fingers pumping into your very wet cunt in the kitchen. One of your hands darted out, gripping the material of the back of his mask between your fingers. A deep noise rumbled up out of him and vibrated along your clit. The sensation had your legs shaking. 

“Shit, Matty,” you whimpered, grip tightening on the mask.

With a loud grunt, his fingers slid out of you. A moment later his hands were throwing your legs over his shoulders before he roughly yanked you further towards him. You fell back onto your elbows watching as his left hand came up to rest on your stomach as his fingers took over working your clit. His mouth lowered, his tongue mercilessly fucking into you over and over. 

"Fuck," you whimpered, eyes focused on him between your thighs.

Your vision felt like it was blurring, your breath coming in sharp pants as Matt's tongue continued to drive you wild. But as your body shook along the counter, growing closer to your climax, you wanted more of him. You wanted him to fuck you, wanted to feel him inside of you.

You wanted him to let the Devil loose on you.

"Matty, I need you," you begged. 

His mouth came off of you immediately at your words, though he slipped two fingers back inside of you. You watched him lick his lips as if he was savoring the taste of you on them. The sight had you fighting your eyes from rolling back.

“How does it feel, sweetheart,” he purred, pausing as he turned and placed a sharp bite to your inner thigh that had you hissing out, “to be the only one who’s had the Devil?”

Surprise briefly washed over you as his fingers kept their pace, his tongue soothing where he had just bitten. "I–I am?" you asked, legs still trembling. 

He grinned at you, his head nodding briefly. "Yes, sweetheart. So how does it feel to finally have me?"

“So good, baby,” you breathed out, gasping when he bit down on your thigh again. "But I–I want all of you."

His lip curled back as he released your thigh from his teeth and slid his fingers from your cunt. Carefully he lowered your legs from his shoulders, rising to his feet as his hands helped you further back onto the counter. You whined in frustration at the loss of him inside of you, Matt only chuckling in return. And then he raised the two fingers he'd had inside of you to his mouth and obscenely licked your arousal from them. Your eyes were glued to the view before you, cunt clenching around nothing as you watched. There was no denying that the black suit did something to you.

When he lowered his hand, both of them landed on his belt buckle. Casually he undid it, the clinking sound of the metal exceptionally loud in his otherwise silent apartment. You swallowed hard, goosebumps raising along your naked skin as you watched him unzip his pants next.

“So when you imagined me fucking you,” he said, breaking the silence, “was I gentle?”

Your focus was on his cock as he slowly slipped his pants and boxers just partway down his legs. He really was going to fuck you in the entire outfit.

“No,” you whispered.

“And do you want me to be?” he asked next.

Your gaze shifted, making its way up to where you imagined his own eyes were behind the mask. Most likely they were focused somewhere along your chest listening for the truth to your words. 

“No,” you answered.

Hands landing roughly down on your thighs, he shoved them apart before he pulled you forward to the edge of the counter towards him again. A faint noise of surprise left you before his mouth was on yours, kissing you fiercely. You could taste yourself on him as his tongue eagerly fought its way into your mouth. Your legs wrapped around his hips and bare ass as your hands landed on his back, fingers digging into the solid muscle under that thin shirt. A moment later you felt his cock at your slickened entrance, and then he was sliding all the way in without pause for the first time. 

Your mouth broke away from his as a strangled moan flew out of it, your forehead falling forward against his chest. Before he could even ask, you muttered, “Keep going.”

Obliging, Matt didn’t give you a moment to adjust to him as he always had before. Instead he began thrusting into you over and over, his hips rapidly picking up their pace. Your nails dug into him next, clawing at his back through the black shirt as you held on to him. There would be nothing slow and gentle about the way he fucked you this time.

The sounds of his grunts with each pump of his hips fell right into your ears. You shifted your face so you could look up at him, but all you could see beneath the mask were his lips pulled back over his gritted teeth. Your own hips did their best to meet his at the awkward angle, but his were almost vicious in their motions, slamming himself into you over and over. That warm wash of your climax was gradually building to a peak again, easily brought on by the visual of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen actually fucking you and not just a fantasy you’d had in the past.

“You’re enjoying this,” he ground out as his pace picked up. “I can tell. You’re already so close.”

You nodded against his chest, whimpering out an affirmative noise that wasn’t quite a word. His hands slid a bit further back along your thighs, coming to grip your ass. He tugged you in even closer towards him as his hips abruptly sped up, Matt practically assaulting you with his cock. You cried out in a satisfied surprise, burying your face into his shoulder. The sound of skin on skin echoed through the apartment as that mouthwatering familiar sting hit you each time he bottomed out with his thrusts. 

His cock like this felt so good that you’d suddenly readjusted just a fraction along his broad shoulder and bit down on the firm muscle below you to keep from filling his apartment with your screams. A deep, rumbling growl fell out of Matt in response to your teeth. That sound drew your peak nearer, so you released him, shifting your mouth a fraction, and bit down again. The noise that came out of him next–a beautiful deep, low groan that he'd never made before–threw you right over and you felt your body beginning to tremble against Matt’s.

“Yes,” he breathed out, encouraging you in that dark voice of the Devil as he continued to grunt roughly with each sharp thrust of his hips. “That’s it, sweetheart.”

Nails digging into his lower back, your teeth still clamped on his shoulder, you reached your orgasm. Your eyes snapped shut as a shuddering moan drew itself out of you, your legs tightening around Matt. That pleasant wash of pleasure raced throughout your body as you came, still clinging to Matt as he continued to fuck you. 

It was a few moments before your mind felt like it came back to you, Matt keeping his pace. You released his shoulder from your teeth, raising your head to look up at Matt. His lips were pulled back in something like a ferocious snarl as he focused on you. 

“You close, baby?” you asked.

“Yes,” he grunted out, pace unwavering.  

You lowered your mouth, focusing on lapping at the skin of his neck and reveling in the feel of the satisfied vibration coming from under your tongue along his throat. Curious, you gently bit down on his pulse point–the sensitive place on his throat that you knew always drew interesting reactions. Matt's hips suddenly jerked sharply into you in response as you did. Your mouth curled into a smile against his skin, tongue darting out to lick the spot you’d bit.

“Fuck, sweetheart,” he groaned. 

You bit him again, a little harder, in the same spot. A string of curses flew out of his mouth as his hips began to stutter. He was right there, you could feel him teetering on the edge. Releasing his skin from your mouth, you maneuvered yourself beside his ear, so close your lips brushed his skin when you spoke.

"You feel so good," you whispered into his ear. "You make me feel so good, Matthew."

Matt actually growled in response, goosebumps raising along your arms at the sound. 

“Cum for me, Devil,” you ordered firmly.

“Shit,” he breathed out, voice strained.

His hips spasmed against yours a few moments later and then you felt him cumming inside of you, a growling moan tearing out of him as he did. You returned to his neck, sucking that particularly sensitive spot into your mouth as you helped to carry him through his release. He grunted roughly as his hips gave a few more thrusts before they stopped. 

You placed a kiss to his neck before you sat upright. Matt was breathing heavily, head bowed forward towards you and shoulders heaving. Carefully you raised your hands up, slipping the mask up and off of his face. His eyes were half-lidded, quickly searching for you with the mask off. A sheen of sweat glistened along his forehead, his dark hair mussed from the mask.

You cupped his cheek with a hand, drawing his face towards yours. "Hey," you said quietly with a smile. "There you are, Matty."

He grinned a drowsy, blissed out smile back at you, his eyes landing on your left cheekbone. "Hey, sweetheart." 

He exhaled a sharp breath before he pulled his cock out of you, settling you more fully back onto the counter. That's when you really noticed how sore your cunt was–you'd definitely be feeling this tomorrow. 

"I can't believe all this time you had a thing for the man in the mask," Matt teased, breath still coming in short.

You blushed, running a hand across your forehead. "I can't believe I just fucked the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen," you responded, eyes briefly darting around you. " In a kitchen."

Matt barked out a laugh as he adjusted himself, pulling his dark pants and boxers back up but not zipping himself into the pants. "If I had known what this did to you, I'd have pulled it out sooner," he teased. "Maybe I'll have to get it out again."

Your heart sped up excitedly at the prospect of fucking him in the black suit again. Matt's gaze fell along your chest, a cheeky grin sliding on his face. He'd definitely caught that increase in your heart. 

"I don't think my legs are going to hold me at this point," you said, sliding off the counter.

Matt's hands instinctively darted out to your hips, carefully steadying you when your feet hit the floor. Once you'd regained your balance, you felt more heat creeping up your neck, awkwardness washing over you. 

"What's wrong?" he asked, head tilting to the side.

"Nothing," you said, shaking your head and laughing a little nervously. "Just uh, just awkward being the only one completely naked here."

Matt smiled before he bent down and grabbed your clothes from where they’d been tossed onto the floor. He handed them back to you and you muttered a quiet 'thanks' in response.

"You can always stay naked,” he suggested slyly. “And I'll join you in the bedroom just as naked after we get cleaned up.”

Biting your lip, you glanced back at the counter. It was definitely damp. “I should probably scrub your counter after that,” you said.

“Our counter,” Matt corrected firmly. Another cheeky grin slipped onto his face as he grabbed your hand. “And I can take care of it tomorrow morning. I won’t be eating on it anymore tonight.” 

He sent you a suggestive wink and you couldn’t fight the giggle that rose up out of you. Your clothes balled in one hand, you followed Matt out of the kitchen and towards the bathroom, your eyes scanning over the back of him in the black suit. You weren’t sure if and when you’d see him in it again and you wanted to commit the real thing to memory over those grainy, blurry photos.

[my-head-is-an-animal]

The Climb

Summary: You're a scientist, an engineer to be exact. Called to a meeting you had no real right to be at, Optimus Prime takes an exclusive interest in you, but you can't help but ask yourself at every turn, Why?

Rating: 18+ 🌹🩸🍆

Story Masterlist

Chapter 14

‘Optimus, I cannot recommend this.’ Ratchet shook his head. ‘You have not even repaired your own injuries and we have no idea what this will do to an organic.’

     ‘I am willing to take the risk.’ Optimus sat back defiantly.

     ‘Woah, hold on.’ Lennox caught their attention. ‘What are you talking about? What is Spark-sharing?’

     Ratchet and Optimus looked to each other. Ratchet folded his arms, unhappy with the situation.

     ‘I would give up a piece of my Spark to allow her to live.’ Optimus said to Lennox.

     ‘Wait, you could save her?’

     ‘Yes.’

     ‘We don’t know.’ Ratchet interrupted. ‘Major Lennox, this procedure is dangerous for healthy Autobots, but to transfer into a human… we have no idea if it will work or if Optimus would survive. We could lose both of them.’

     Lennox nodded, looking up at the Autobot leader. He had a look of realisation in his eye. ‘How does it work?’

     ‘A small piece of my Spark would be removed,’ Optimus explained. ‘And placed inside Jane’s body.’

     ‘It could destroy her.’ Ratchet again cut in.

     ‘If the piece is small enough and started with their machines, it will adapt and learn how to help her.’ Optimus growled. Ratchet seemed to still for a moment.

     ‘Wait, could that work?’ Ironhide stepped forward, realising that Ratchet’s arguments may have been flawed.

     Ratchet thought for a moment, before sighing, deflated.

     ‘The theory is solid.’ He admitted. ‘Once the Spark is removed, it would die, but it could be restarted again with a small amount of charge. Your machines are calibrated to the exact requirements of a human heart, it would be enough to revive the Spark and teach it to only give what is needed. But this is still dangerous, Optimus.’

     ‘I have already said, I am willing to take the risk.’

     Everyone turned to Ratchet, it technically wasn’t his choice, but he was the only one who could pull it off.

     He sighed once again. ‘Fine.’

     Ironhide immediately transformed and Lennox, along with the doctors, loaded up Jane’s body carefully. Ratchet helped Optimus to his feet, and they made their way back to the nearest base. Time wouldn’t be on their side, the longer she was gone, the less likely she was to come back.

     Ratchet did what he could to prepare Optimus for the procedure, opening his chest and getting the doctors to measure out the size of Jane’s chest cavity. The piece taken from Optimus would be tiny and he worried that it would be far too small to actually help her.

     They made it to the base and the operating room had already been prepared by the medical staff there. Jane was being loaded inside and Optimus was being brought close to her.

     ‘I will need help restraining you.’ Ratchet said, preparing his own equipment. ‘This will not be pleasant.’

     Ironhide, Hound, Drift and Bumblebee all held their leader down as Ratchet brought out his tools to cut away the piece of Spark needed for Jane.

     Optimus did his best, but he had never felt agony like this before. His friends held his strong body as best they could, he almost broke free, but some of the remaining Autobots jumped on to help keep him as still as possible. Death would have been kinder but at no point did he regret his actions, if it saved Jane then it would be worth it. But his whole body felt like it was melting and burning, like a hole was being slowly created inside him.

     Ratchet finally managed to pull put the tiniest piece of his Spark, he couldn’t believe such a tiny thing had caused him so much agony.

     Optimus turned his head to see Ratchet reaching inside the operating room, handing the Spark to the doctors who had already removed Jane’s own organic heart. If this didn’t work, she truly would be gone.

     It was too much for him to think about, Optimus leaned back and allowed his body to rest, he needed to repair, and he hoped that when his eyes opened, Jane would be with him.

---

Lennox had never heard anything like it, Optimus Prime screaming for his life. It almost made him want to step forward to stop the procedure, tell them that Jane wouldn’t want this if it caused him such pain. But it wasn’t his choice.

     Ratchet had guided the medical staff through what would normally happen when transferring the Spark to another Autobot, they were able to figure out how to place it inside Jane and encourage it to join with her organic form.

     In truth, Lennox didn’t believe anyone had any idea of what the consequences of this decision would be. He didn’t even know how confident Ratchet was that this would work, but if there was a chance that Harding could survive, it was worth taking.

     The doctors did what they could and restarted the Spark with the defibrillator, calibrated specifically to the exact charge needed to sustain human life. He wasn’t sure what else could be done.

     Finally, the procedure was over. Optimus was resting and repairing, and Jane was being monitored heavily by almost every doctor on base. Everything was telling them that her body was functioning, blood was pumping, she was breathing again, but there was no heartbeat as such. Rather there was a small, soft pulsing that came from the Spark itself.

     Ratchet was happy enough that it worked, but Jane had yet to wake up. After two days, her condition hadn’t changed.

     ‘Her mission was successful.’ Colonel Morshower said over the video feed. ‘The alien ship is gone, and we’ve been informed it is leaving our solar system.’

     ‘Yes, sir.’ Lennox nodded, still slightly distracted.

     ‘Something you wanna say, son?’

     Lennox gave a brief smile. ‘Not really, sir.’ He admitted, making the Colonel chuckle. ‘What happens if Smith finds out about the Spark-sharing?’

     ‘I don’t think that’s a question of if, but when.’ Morshower leaned forward. ‘The argument will be that the Autobots have shared their technology. Now I know that these were exceptional circumstances, but that is how it will be viewed. You need to be prepared for that, so does Harding and Optimus.’

     Lennox nodded in understanding.

    ‘While I have no idea what will actually happen when Smith finds out, I’m sure you can make an educated guess.’ Morshower warned, much more seriously. ‘I’ll admit, part of me hopes Harding doesn’t wake up. If she does, nothing will be easy.’

     ‘Yes, sir.’ Lennox agreed and finished giving his report on everything that happened.

     In the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but remember the way Optimus had looked at Harding when her body was given over to the doctors. He cared for her a lot. Maybe too much.

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