#and of course now I got the french opening stuck in my head

[keykidpilipili]

Blaine light corruption arc this, emblem heartless lore retcon that, what truly would surprise me is to see humanoid nobodies outside the org and their impact on keyblade society.

You definitely saw your keyblade guardian get done by a heartless but they came back wrong the next month. You grieved them, you learnt to wield their keyblade over your own and now they're back.

Also hilarious scenario of murdering sby in a heartless ambush for power only for them to come back as a nobody possibly stronger.

[sinning-23]

Piercings Pt.2 (Sanji x Reader)

First of all… THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE LOVE N SUPPORT ON THE LAST ONE! Nice to know we all love some Sanji lol.

Also if you want a pinch of context I suggest reading Pt.1 UHHHHH but if not enjoy this lol smut is one of my fs or things to write so uhhhh yeah! I hope I did good lol!

⚠️!THIS IS AN 18+ FIC MINORS BE TF GONE!⚠️

❗️Warnings❗️: Sanji being smug, choking, biting, cunnilingus, unprotected, p in v, fingering, multiple orgasms, overstim, sanji speakin that french

Pt. 1 here

Enjoy!

After the kitchen fiasco, you opted to keep yourself out of there until further notice. The wall ended up being scorched as well as some of the utensils he used. All the windows needed to be opened to clear the smoke out and it didn't help that the smell of charred food lingered for a while.

It has been about 4 days since then and every day you can't seem to keep your hands off each other. He's got his hands on your hips, claiming he just needed to get by with a quiet, "Pardon me, dove." His lips always dangerously close to your ear.

You were no better though, also claiming that you'd dropped something and needed to use his thighs for support when getting up, looking up at him under pretty lashes. This tension was that of a frozen lake, one misstep and you'd fall into him, hoping he embraces you like that of icy water.

Speaking of which, the burn you endured ended up being minor and the cold water did most of the trick. He insisted on bandaging you still. Just an excuse to touch you more.

Touch.

All you two ever did now was touch

And tease, and poke, and prod, in hopes of the other finally cracking and putting all that tension to good use. When you had docked at a smaller island in hopes of finding a marketplace (you did) Sanji didn't even ask if you'd join him.

He just took your hand in his, because it wasn't even a question at this point. You're with him unless you stated you wanted otherwise.

Walking past the vendors, his hand stays at your hip, more possessive than anything. You poin tout something you like? It's yours. See something you want to try? It's yours.

These days you're growing more and more concerned for his wallet. Anytime you'd try to decline he's simple shake his head, draw your hand to his lips, and kiss your knuckles.

"Anything for you, chérie"

The crew could sense this.....energy loomin' over the two of you but of course nothing was really said...that is until Nami nudged her head in the direction of Sanji when you two happened to be on the main deck this afternoon. You quirk a brow as she leans in to try and keep the gossip between the two of you.

"What really happened for the kitchen to catch fire? I mean?" She questions with a smirk, making you laugh, nervousness laced in the tone.

When you two first told the story, Sanji said he had distracted himself and took too long preparing other parts of the mean and he lost track of what he was doing and how long.

You, on the other hand, said that you accidentally bumped the stoved handles making the flames higher, and maybe a towel or something caught fire.

It was all bullshit.

When Sanji had taken it upon himself to plant kisses down your neck, he left something quite noticeable that wasn't there before. It was all bullshit and everyone knew it. You distracted him, and he just couldn't help himself.

"I-I told you what happened Nami. It doesn't matter anyway! The kitchen is back to normal thankfully." You sigh, trying to figure out what exactly you came out here to do?

Oh, that's right.

Find some way to get your hands on Sanji.

"If you say so, but,” Nami shrugs, pausing when she see's Sanji follow to the back of the ship, his eyes focused on you, pupils blown wide. He falters but only for a moment, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. Then he leaves, your breath stuck in your throat.

"I think someone's waiting for you to follow them so..." Nami observes, palm coming to hold your shoulder.

"Don't set anything else on fire." She teases, seeing you full on sprint to where he was.

You look around, the hall empty. He just went this way didn't he-

You're snatched up, mouth covered in the quiet of the hallway, a hand firm on your hip. Before you can even process your attacker, a set of lips is hungry against your own, a hand at your throat. You can hardly breathe from the shock, both teeth and tongues against one another as you embrace.

Sanji’s got you close against him, his back against the wall with your chest to his, one leg keeping your thighs apart as you lean into him. He still has one hand around your throat, squeezing just enough to make you whine, wanting more pressure.

The height difference makes you lean upward, itching to have all of him. Despite the hall being quiet, your little secluded corner is awfully loud with the sounds of your labored breaths combined.

"Sanji...Sanji wait-" You speak between kisses, his hands under your shirt now, immediately massaging the area over and around your back dermals.

"Ne parle plus, je veux juste te goûter. "

That shut you up, quick, the sound of his mother tongue slipping past his lips when he can't seem to keep his hands from wandering.

"What if we get caught." You gasp, feeling him bite down particularly rough on your collarbone.

"Y/n, know that right now, I don't particularly give a fuck. I need you." He huffs, still tasting every in inch of exposed skin he could find.

His lips are soft, brushing over your neck with a smirk. He knows the mess he left over your skin, bark bruises, and indents of where his teeth had been adorning it.

"They know the whole kitchen thing was bs." He chuckles darkly, his next sentence sinking straight to your cunt.

"I'm sure they're well aware of who you belong to now. I made your neck even more of a work of art honey."

You're practically soaking through your panties now, and are in dire need of friction. In an attempt to secretly get off, you grid down against his thigh...

But hes quck to notice.

"Oh, that's why you’re worried. Let's go." He exhales with a smirk, pulling you to his room and swiftly closing the door behind him.

It's not messy by any means, the bed is made neatly with a pack of cigarettes on the nightstand. You would’ve loved to look around more but Sanji is back on you and there was no way in hell you’d complain about that. He’s quick but calculated, sliding his hands under your shirt before pulling it off completely.

There's no time to be flustered, you'd both wanted this for quite some time now and you could both keep up with one another. Your skin prickles with he sudden chill of being topless, your nipples hardening slightly. It's just enough for him to see what else you were hiding.

Beneath your bra, were of course your nipples, but there they were, pierced, the bars through them being decorated with jade at each end. His breath hitches and god had he gotten impossibly harder at the sight. You're sitting on the edge of the bed now, Sanji kneeling before you with pupils blown wide.

All the permissions needed was the slight smirk on your lips and your back arching as if to invite him to touch and taste as much as he pleased. Without hesitation, he's got one in his mouth, tongue swirling around your already sensitive bud. The other he squeezes, thumb brushing over the area.

You can't help but sigh in pleasure, tangling your fingers in his hair while he makes it his mission to kiss all of your torso, noting the matching belly button ring. How did he not see this before? Well, most of your shirts were loose anyway. God he loved how adorned your body was with jewelry, like you were some kind of treasure just for him.

He can tell you're growing impatient with the way you push your hips forward, most likely trying to the feeling to relieve a little pressure with the way your pants pressed against you there.

"Let me taste you, please."He aks, breathless, lips still somewhat swollen from kissing prior.

You nod unable to speak with how damn pretty he looked. On his knees, eyes glossy and lustful, asking for permission to eat you out?! How could you say no? You lift your hips, sliding the jeans down just enough for him to pull the rest down.

You were right, your panties were damn near soaked, your arousal wetting the front. Sanji only moans at this, knowing it's all his doing. The feeling of him pressing kisses to your clothed clit makes you shiver, and he doesn't stop, tongue wetting the area as if to tease.

"Please Sanji, I need-" You pause for a moment, a bit embarrassed to ask for this. He only chuckles and runs his finger up your still-clothed folds, then massages the plush of your thighs.

"What do you need honey, tell me and I promise you I'll make it happen." Hes eager, kissing, sucking and biting at your inner thigh now, the feeling making you dizzy with desire.

"I need your mouth on me...please." You whine, trying to close your legs to relieve some of the pressure but he only spreads them apart again, strong hands keeping you there with a dangerous look in his eye.

"You'll take what I give you. Now be a big girl, ask for it, and stop chasing it, sweetheart." He thinks to himself "My mouth is on you. See?" He demonstrates, kissing your thighs again, one had on your hip, massaging circles there while the other tossed your leg over his shoulder, the action only spreading you wider.

Little shit. He knew exactly that you meant.

"No, you know what I mean. Please. Eat me, Sanji." You plead, feeling him smirk against your front.

He's got your panties off in no time. Almost immediately latching to you as he slurps you up, tossing your other leg over his shoulder now too. Your thighs act as a pair of headphones essentially, your fingers tugging at the blonde locks as he moans in response.

You can feel it now, your orgasm coming faster than you thought with how well he was eating you up. Like a starved man and his first meal in ages. He lapped at your juices, taking a chance at sliding not one, but two fingers into you.

"F-uck!" you stutter, feeling him curl upwards, still sucking at your clit.

He knows you're close, but he doesn't care, keeping that same pace to work this out of you. You can feel that damned piercing, rolling slowwwwly around your clip. Another cues slips past your lips. "Ohh, such a dirty mouth honey? Are you gonna cum for me? Can't even control yourself." He teases, watching you grip the bedsheets as your stomach muscles clench.

There it is.

Somehow his lips are back on yours, swallowing up the moans from your orgasm as his fingers slow in pace, trying to get you to come down from that high. Multitasking came easy to him, so for him to keep fucking you, now 3 fingers in while also using his free hand to push his own pants down was no hard feat.

How many times did he practice that??? Your hands are gripping his shoulders, nails digging into him in surprise when you feel the tip slide against your slick folds.

For a moment your eyes meet and damn do you have a chance to really, really look at him.

His face is dusted pink, eyes bright red. His eyes are glossy, pupils wide, lips shiny and slightly parted as he tries to catch his breath. He's no different than you now, admiring how you look, how you breathe, the way you cling to him like he'd vanish somehow.

It's intoxicating.

Your lips meet, softer this time, your heart beating like crazy with your stomach twisting in delight, full of butterflies. You're soft, and so is he, so much more gentle now in realization of what's about to occur. This means more to you now. It’s not a one time thing. You have no time to overthink because his voice, husky and passionate.

"Are you okay with this? Do I have permission?"He asks, pitch almost a bit higher, likes he’s holding back a whine.

Such a gentleman through it all. It makes your heart swell. You nod, whispering out an awestruck 'yes' before connecting your lips again. And the stretch when he slides in makes you both shiver, his hips stuttering into a pace, both his groans and your heavy breaths filling the space.

Impulsively wrapping your legs around his waist makes him thrust deeper. The feeling makes you arch, a louder moan slipping past your lips and it makes him chuckle a bit before succumbing to his own pleasure with a moan.

"Tu te sens si bien ma chérie" He whispers, your foreheads pressed together more intimately.

"Fuck, you fill me up so well." You whimper, slightly tugging the hair at the nape of his neck.

The action makes him moan back, teeth gritted as he thrust into you faster, his free hand coming to circle your clit. It's almost too much, another orgasm close behind. You'd never felt so full, his dick hitting parts of you that didn't know about. Perfect, like he was meant for your cunt. Your walls flutter around him and his thrusts begin to get sloppy.

"Oh gods, y/n I can't. Please let me fill you up chérie. Please-" He's pussy drunk, but you can say the same about yourself when he keeps hitting that spot. You're both bound to burst.

"Cum for me Sanji, please baby I need you to." You purr, bitting his shoulder, kissing the area to soothe it.

He's got his face in the crook of your neck now, a strangled moan leaving his lips as his thrusts slow. He doesn't stop though, still trying to work one last orgasm out of you and succeeds.

Your body is already spent from when he ate you out but this, definitely put you over. You cling to him, labored breaths all you can hear. He doesn't leave your cunt yet, trying to stabilize first.

"If you were worried about getting caught, I think we were loud enough for the crew to hear so." He chuckles, still fatigued. You shake your head with a smile pressing kisses to his face.

He takes his time pulling out, cum spilling out of you when he does. Your ears don’t miss the slight choked back moan when he does. It's quiet but it's comfortable. He leaves for a moment, bring a towel back to clean you up with. There are plenty of kisses here and there, most likely a pre-apology for marking you up even more then before.

He works quickly, dressing you in one of his shirts, which proves to be too big on you but neither of you care, his heart fluttering at the sight of you in it.

....

"So, nipple piercings and a belly ring, huh sweetheart?"

Tag List:

@minishimi @legalize-arson @vespidphoenix @kira-scarllet @princess-eddie @hobiesrockstargf @peachyminx @thefandomqueen2882 @kira-scarllet @coconut-jam-and @muppet-wannabe @karmazwrld @

[strniohoeee]

Paramour

Pairing: Chris Sturniolo X Female Reader

Synopsis: Y/N is stuck in the middle of who really has her heart….she knows she’s hurting Chris and herself. And Chris knows this too, but why can’t she stop?🫂

Warnings⚠️: There’s smut in this! My bestie @slumpedvioooo came up with this idea, and I just ate it up; so I had to do it! This is part one of a three part series. I hope you enjoy it because I loved it 🤞🏽

Song for the imagine: #icanteven- The Neighborhood, French Montana

⚠️This is an 18+ story, so minors do not interact, or do??⚠️

Paramour

Noun

A lover, especially the illicit partner of a married person.

This was wrong on so many levels. I was hurting myself, but I was especially hurting Chris. I know he knew how I felt, and I knew it bothered him deep down, but he would never admit it.

When I was laying in his bed my legs wrapped around his torso and my hands in his hair those thoughts vanished. This is where I wanted to be, and I hated myself for it. But at the same time it felt so right….

Currently I was laying in my boyfriend's bed watching a movie with him as I ran my fingers through his hair. Occasionally talking with him as the movie played.

“Do you have any plans tomorrow night?” He asked me

“No I don’t think so” I said looking down at him

“I want to take you on a date” he said smiling at me

“Aww I’d love that” I said smiling at him

“I’m thinking a candle lit dinner, then we take a walk on the beach and then yeah” he said getting shy

“That sounds perfect” I told him

“I’m glad” he said

I went to respond, but my phone started ringing making us both jump at the loud ringtone. I looked down at the contact and immediately got nervous. Why was he calling me when he knew I was with my boyfriend. I grabbed my phone and picked up

“Hello” I said more in a question tone

“Hey Y/N” I heard him say

“What’s up? Are you okay?” I asked him

“Yeah I’m okay, I just miss you” he told me

“Oh…umm that’s nice” I said really hoping he’d change the topic

“Come over?” He asked

“Oh I’m not sure I’m busy right now” I said back

“Pleaseeee” he said on the other line

“Umm alright give me 40 minutes” I told him

We hung up, and I looked down to see him already looking up at me

“Everything okay?” He asked me his blue eyes piercing into mine

“Yeah, my friend just wants me to help her set up for her sisters birthday” I told him lying straight through my teeth

“Oh so then go” he said smiling at me

“But we’re hanging out together” I said

“It’s fine! I’ll see you tomorrow anyways. Go have fun” he said sitting up

“Are you sure?” I asked him

“I’m positive baby” he said leaning in and giving me a kiss

I got up and put my shoes on and grabbed my purse and keys. I looked over at him giving him a kiss. His eyes were saddened by me leaving. I had a feeling he knew what was going on deep down, but didn’t want to believe it. His eyes always told the truth, but I couldn’t bare to look at him this way, so I turned and left

I got in my car and drove to his house, it was about a 30 minute drive. It went by quickly because I was thinking in my head the whole time. Should I be doing this? I mean I’ve been doing this for a while, but should I stop it? This was wrong. I was hurting all three of us, and I knew Chris knew this. I have to stop this, but I couldn’t

I parked my car, and went up to the door ringing the bell, and waited for the door to open. Once it opened and I saw him my throat ran dry….

“You can’t call me when I’m with my man” I said to him as he let me walk in

“Hello to you too” he said shutting the door and locking it

“Sorry” I said shaking my head

“I didn’t know you were with him” he responded pulling me in for a hug

“Chris I’m with him like every other day” I said pulling away

“Sorry baby, it just slipped my mind I supposed” he said with a smug expression

“Of course it did” I said rolling my eyes and walking up the stairs

“I missed your attitude” he said smacking my ass

“Chris enough” I said smacking his hands away

“Wait mama? You didn’t miss me?” He said pouting

“Of course I did” I said turning around and giving him a sly smile

Chris pulled me in by my shirt and crashed his lips into mine. I let my arms wrap around his neck as I melted into his touch. His lips….I could never forget how perfectly they molded to mine. I could stay like this forever

Our kiss began to get deeper, our teeth clashing together as our tongues fought for dominance. It was such a needy sloppy kiss, but I missed him and this felt like heaven.

Chris pulled away and licked his lips looking at me with hooded eyes.

“You’re so gorgeous” he said

“Shut up” I said avoiding eye contact

“You’re my pretty baby” he said rubbing his thumb over my cheek

That phrase sent me back….it was something he used to say all the time, and it made my heart heavy…always calling me his pretty baby…

About 3 years ago Chris and I were messing around for about a year. We weren’t dating but I suppose we were friends with benefits. It was good while it lasted, but when it ended it broke my heart.

Flashback

“Chris if you don’t want to be with me officially that’s fine, but please just let me know” I pleaded to Chris

“It’s not that I don’t want to be with you it’s just…..I don’t know” he said looking down

“Don’t know about what?” I asked him

“I just….im scared” he said

“Scared of what Chris?” I asked him looking down at him

“I’m just scared of commitment I guess” he said

“Oh?” I said

“It’s not you I promise, it’s not you it’s me” he said looking at me

“That’s fine, I guess….I guess I’m gonna head out” I said to him

“You don’t have to go” he said

“No it’s fine Chris don’t worry” I said backing up

That day hurt me the most, breaking things off with Chris really set me back. His fear of commitment and my want for him really made us clash.

Once I got in my relationship with Dominic, Chris started to act weird. He wasn’t happy for us, but he wasn’t an asshole to us. That hurt me because that was supposed to be Chris and I, and it wasn’t.

About a year ago is when Chris started having me come over to “hangout”. Those hangouts became cuddles, and then those cuddles became forehead kisses, and then it became kisses, and then that turned into making out, and then that turned into touches and those touches turned into me laying on his bed as he whispered sweet nothings into my ear as he thrusted into me.

At first I felt disgusted and hurt, but I found myself going back to his house. Hoping it would turn into more, and that made me hate myself more. No matter how much I loved Dominic, my heart was with Chris.

I couldn’t hurt Dominic, but also Chris didn’t actually want a relationship and that hurt me more. I used Chris for his body when he offered it, and then went home to sleep next to Dom…..this was such a burden. I couldn’t leave him for Chris, but what I was doing was horrible. However I couldn’t stop because Chris had a hold on me.

Flashback Over

“You haven’t called me that in ages” I said pulling away from Chris as he moved his lips to my neck

“I figured I’d bring it back” he said leaving sloppy kisses along my neck

“Why now?” I said shutting my eyes at the feeling

“Why not?” He said pulling back to look at me

“I don’t know” I said looking away

“Afraid your boyfriend is going to find out?” He said smugly

“Don’t be a dick” I said rolling my eyes at him

“Never baby” he said winking at me

“Let’s go to your room” I said

“Don’t have to ask me twice” he said

We walked down to his room, and when I stepped in my stomach fluttered with butterflies. This was so fucking wrong, but to know the events that would happen next sent me spiraling. In the moments of Chris worshiping my body, kissing every ounce of skin and taking his time with me, any thought of Dominic fled my mind. I wanted Chris as mine….forever

Like I said I love Dominic, but I think it was more of a friendship type of love. I think I fell in love with his actions, and not him as a person. The long walks, the dates, the cute messages, the flowers, the cards, the candies. I mean all of it. I fell in love with the way he acted and not him.

At first I hadn’t realized this, but as time went on and I prayed everyday that Chris would beg me to be his I realized something was wrong.

Not to mention Dominic and I weren’t compatible in bed. He didn’t know my body the way Chris did, and no matter how many times I tried to explain to Dominic what I liked he just didn’t get it; because he wasn’t Chris.

What was really fucked up was that the more I had sex with Chris the easier I found it to go back to Dominic. Chris made me so happy, and Dominic was there to fill the void of not having Chris in my everyday life. Dominic was simply…..my friend.

“I’ve missed this so much” Chris said coming up behind me and hugging me

“Chris I saw you like two weeks ago” I said laughing

“No…that’s not what I meant” he said spinning me around to look at him

“Well then what do you mean?” I asked him genuinely confused

“I mean-“ before he could finish his sentence my phone started to ring….Dominic was calling me

“Hi baby” he said once I pick up

“Hi” I said looking at Chris

“Did you make it there safe?” He asked me

“I did, sorry I was just about to text you” I said

“Oh okay! We’ll have fun” he responded

“Thank you I will, and Courtney said hi” I just blurted out

“Oh tell her I said hi back” he said laughing

“I will, bye baby” I said

And with that we hung up

“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” I said to Chris

“Uh nothing, I’m Courtney now?” He asked laughing

“Sorry I don’t know what came over me” I said shaking my head

“It’s fine” he said pulling me in and connecting our lips

I melted into his touch once again, all my thoughts leaving my brain. This is where I wanted to be always

Chris back tracked us to his bed, and pulled away. He removed his shirt and I removed mine. Connecting our lips again and letting myself fall back onto his bed as he landed on me.

“I can’t get over how badly I missed you” he said in between kisses

“I missed you too Chris” I said moving my head back

Chris smiled before kissing down my neck and to the skin of my breasts that spilled out of my bra. He lifted me up and took my bra off

Kissing from the valley of my breasts to my left breast and then to my right one. He slid his tongue over my left nipple, and looked up at me causing me to bite my bottom lip and let out a whimper.

He then did the same to my right breast as his hands ran up my torso. Goosebumps following every inch of his fingers.

Chris began to kiss down my stomach causing me to squirm, and he stopped at my jeans. Unbuttoning them and slowly sliding them down

“Chris please” I whispered out

“I know baby, I know” he said pulling my jeans off and tossing them behind his head

He began to kiss down my legs and to my thighs whispering against my skin. He slid his pointer and ring finger against my cloth pussy

“Chris” I moaned out and licked my dry lips

He hooked his fingers in my underwear and slid them down. Spreading my legs wider and kissing my inner thighs.

He leaned down towards my pussy and spat causing my toes to curl and my hips to come off the bed.

Chris attached his mouth to my clit swirling his tongue around before sucking on the sensitive bud.

“Oh my god” I moaned out gripping onto his hair

His tongue moving in every direction against my clit causing me to close my thighs around his head. Lapping at me like a starved man

“I need more” I panted out

Chris pulled away, his mouth covered in my arousal. He looked so hot like this I swear I could cum from the sight of it.

He slid off the bed to remove his pants and underwear. His dick springing free and my knees going weak. He came back over and lined himself up with my entrance

Slowly sinking into me, both of us letting out a gasp at the feeling. No matter how many times we fucked this feeling sent me spiraling every time.

He leaned forward holding himself up by his forearms as he bottomed out. He grabbed my left thigh and helps me wrap my legs around his torso

He left his hand on my thigh as he began to thrust into me. My hands ran over his back as my nails gently glided against his skin.

“Fuck Chris just like that” I moaned out snaking my hand up to the back of his head as I pulled at his roots.

“You’re meant for me, you take me so well” he said moaning out as he kissed my temple. My stomach flirting at this intimate action.

Chris began to kiss my neck as he thrusted into me, my body falling deeper into the mattress as his name fell from my lips like a mantra. I never wanted this to end….he was my kryptonite

“Come on baby” Chris said as he pounded into me as I clenched around him

“Fuck baby I’m going to cum” I moaned out. The pet name slipping my lips went unnoticed by me, but not by Chris. His stomach coiled at this and his ears perked up. He loved it so much.

“I know mama” he croaked out into my ear

Chris’ hips snapped into me at a faster and deeper rate causing my breath to hitch in my throat. His hands running all over my legs and torso as his lips ghosted against my neck.

His hips relentlessly pounding into me as I cried out in ecstasy. I was so glad no one was home because this was the loudest I’ve ever been with him.

“Keep going…fuck just like that” I moaned out my legs wrapping around him tighter as I pulled him as close as humanly possible

“You’re driving me crazy” he said in a gruff tone as he used his left hand to push some hair out of my face.

Chris used his left thumb to run it over my cheek where the tears had now dried. Looking into my eyes as his mouth fell open and he pounded into me.

My thighs becoming shaky as my orgasm neared. My nails scratching as his back and his name falling constantly from my mouth in loud cries of pure joy.

In this moment it was just Chris and I, and I swore I was in pure ecstasy. All my thoughts were gone with the wind and I loved it.

Chris snaked his hand down in between us as he began to rub my clit, sending shockwaves throughout my body.

“Oh. My god oh my god” I moaned out my eyes shutting as my brows furrowed

“Look at me baby, look at me when you cum” he said in a whisper

I opened my eyes as he continued to thrust into me, he began to rub my clit faster

“I’m gonna cum” I yelled out clenching down on him

“Give it to me” he said biting his lip as his chest rose faster

These words alone sent me into orbit, I pulled Chris in closer as I clenched down on him. My thighs were shaking as my lower abdomen contracted. Cumming all over Chris’ dick as my breathing was shaky. Fuck and his name the only two things able to spill from my mouth in this moment.

Chris helped me ride out my high before I let my legs down and released him. He pulled out of me as he began to stroke his cock

“You’re so fucking beautiful, you do things to me I can’t even explain” he said in a low tone

He stroked harder before his own thighs began to shake, and his mouth fell open. He painted my lower stomach with his seed as he moaned out my name.

He allowed himself to calm down to control his breathing. He got up and brought a rag back to wipe me down before tossing it in his laundry basket.

We slid under his sheets and I faced him. Taking in his beauty. His freckles, his rosy cheeks, his plump lips. My finger traced his jawline as I looked at him

He looked back examining my face and brushing my hair away before opening his mouth to speak

“I meant it when I said you're gorgeous” he said in a whisper

“Thank you Chris” I said with a small smile

“My beautiful, beautiful Y/N” he said turning his head into my touch as he kissed my hand

It was in these moments that I saw a small glimpse of us being together. Of us being more than just fuck buddies. Chris has a nurturing soul, and I couldn’t understand why he didn’t want to share that with someone else. Unless he did, and that someone else just wasn’t me….

“We’re throwing a birthday party for Madi next week you should come” he said looking at me again

“Yeah I’d love to” I responded smiling at him

“And you can bring…what’s his face” he said chuckling

“Dominic” I said with a blunt expression

“Yeah him” he said rolling his eyes

“I’ll run it by him” I said laughing

Before we could speak my phone started to ring

“Speak of the devil” Chris said looking at my phone as I turned over

I picked it up on the third ring

“Hello?” I said

“Hi baby, why do you sound so out of breath?” He said laughing

“Oh uhhh I was running up Courtney’s stairs” I said laughing and looking at Chris with wide eyes

“She doesn’t have stairs” he said confused

“Ohh uhh the stairs outside her house we were taking trash out” I said lying straight out of my ass

“Ohhh uh well okay, I’m glad you had fun” he said

“Yup lots of fun” I said looking at Chris and he just smirked at me

“Alright baby I’m going to let you go, I’ll see you tomorrow” he said

“Okay love you” I said cringing to myself because I didn’t even mean it

We hung up and I let out a sigh

“Stressed?” Chris asked me

“You could say something like that” I said looking at him

“Come in closer talk to me about it, spend the night” he said

This was uncharted territory. Chris never asked me to spend the night, and I assumed it was only because his brothers weren’t home.

“Stay? With you?” I asked him

“No stay with the Holy Ghost, duhhh stay with me” he said laughing

“Okay….yeah I’ll stay” I said smiling at him

Chris shut the light off and pulled me in closer my back to him.

This was wrong, but it felt so right. To be able to lay in his arms as we fell asleep was something I’ve always wanted.

This made my heart warm, but what kept my mind racing was that this was a one time thing and only for tonight. Our next encounters would not be like this.

I’d be in my own bed the following morning alone and saddened that I could not keep the only man I’ve ever wanted to myself.

I was the paramour.

The End

Alright guys this is part 1, and I truly hope you enjoyed it. I genuinely loved writing this and it like had me giggling and kicking my feet, but also lowkey sad😭😭 I wonder what will happen in part 2 and 3??? Stay tuned for more LMFAOAOA! I love yall so much 🤭🖤🖤 also sorry it took so long to get done I got busy

-J💅🏽

@rac00ns-are-c00l4

[anotherkindofloveletters]

Everything Happens to Me

Everything Happens To Me

Charles Leclerc x Reader.

background: It was well known to everybody that Charlotte and Charles were maybe the most loved couple on the paddock, so when they broke up everyone started going crazy and wondering what will Charles do or date now, times where difficult, but little did Charles know that his life was about to be turn upside down by an Italian girl living in Monaco. (forbidden love)

I am not 100% happy with this, but I have a plot in my mind that I think might have potential, so I hope you like this one despite not being the absolute best. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Love you flowers.

tw: none in this particular one, maybe swearing, but I don’t think so. Some bad translated french maybe. not proof read, english is not my first language.

Dialogue in italics are in Italian.

Meeting each other.

Where y/n and Charles met each other for the first time stuck in a restaurant garden out in the cold.

Y/n has been living in Monaco for quite a while now and she actually enjoys it very much there, besides that everything is kinda expensive, but what she is making as an influencer gets her the money she needs to live there. One day she is having dinner at a restaurant to shoot some content for a brand “Sorry where may I find the bathroom?” “It’s in the garden outside.”.

It’s late November and it’s already pretty chilly in Monaco and it was almost closing time. She goes to the bathroom and has to wait for a small queue because the bathroom was gender neutral. Charles is at the same restaurant having dinner by himself after a long travel back to Monaco returning from a race, the times have been difficult to him, with Charlotte’s break up and a series of eventful races that made him hate his team more than ever. As soon as he finished his food he decides to freshen up in the bathroom as well ending up in the small queue that formed in the small outdoor garden. As y/n enters the loo Charles is waiting for his turn outside the door. Meanwhile the people who are working in the shop start to close up without checking if someone is in the garden or the bathroom. Y/n gets out and recognizes right away Charles smiling at him, but thinking it might not be the best occasion to talk to him as he of course needs the bathroom, so she washes her hands and head to the door leading to the restaurant “No way” she raises her eyebrows while trying to open the very locked door.

After trying for a few minutes Charles gets out of the bathroom and sees her struggling with the door “Besoin d'aide ?”Do you need help? he asks her “Oui, Ça ne s'ouvre pas, j'ai peur qu'ils nous aient enfermés.”Yes, it doesn’t open, I’m afraid they might have locked us inside says her with a strong Italian accent “Oh, you’reItalian?” asks him showing off his Italian skills to her while trying to open the entrance “Oh no, I think it might be closed ” he declares with a worried look on his face. She tries again and again, shivering because she has been staying in the cold for twenty minutes now “I’ll try to call the restaurant number, maybe someone will come for us” she says, he is starting to get cold to and decided to go sit on a little sofa. y/n calls them and luckily they answer right away “Merci, Il n'y a pas de problèmes”, thanks there is no problem she goes sit near Charles “Well, good news is they’re coming to save us, the bad one is that the only person that has got the keys lives one hour from here.” Charles breathes deeply incredulous about the situation “By the way, I’m Charles” says him smiling at her while she’s sitting on his side “I’m y/n, nice to meet you” she smiled at him. “it’s a weird way to meet someone, isn’t it?” he jokes around, she nods in agreement. “Even more if one of the two is a F1 driver” she jokes just to letting him know she know who he is. “It’s bloody cold out here” y/n is shivering and don’t really know how to feel a bit warmer “Too much and we still have to wait at least forty minutes” Charles says lowkey scooping a little closer to her, she notices that and does it as welltryin to relieve the uncomfortable feeling of the cold air on her sking. “How come do you live in Monaco?” he asks her trying to chat the wait away “Well, I have a degree in Journalism and I work here as an influencer.” she answers, they start talking about the city and the life there and eventually about their own lives. Charles starts telling her about the last races and all the drama following his breakup with Charlotte and y/n listen to him leaning with the head against the sofa trying to stay comfy, but at the same time feel a less cold. Y/n tells him a lot about her life to and how she had to leave everyone behind because following her dream at home is nearly impossible, she tells him how she loves Monaco even if she hasn’t many friends here and feels a bit lonely at times. It is obvious that there is some sort of chemestry between there, having lots of things in common and both of them being incredibly interested in one and another’s lives.

Eventually someone arrives and opens the door for them apologizing like hell and offering us a free dinner “Vous pouvez venir quand vous voulez pour votre dîner gratuit ! Désolé encore.”You two can come when you’d like for a free dinner, I am so sorry! They finally get out and stop in front of the door “Thanks for being such a good waiting companion” he smiles at her “Thank you and you can have the free dinner. Don’t worry.” she offers him handing him the coupon that they gave them “Why don’t we come together, at the end of the day it’s a dinner for two, unless you don’t have a jealous boyfriend you didn’t tell me about” he giggles looking at her in the eyes, she slightly blush at those words “No boyfriend, so that’s not a problem. But are you sure? You don’t have to if you don’t feel like it.” he nods smiling “That’s perfect then, this is my number calls me when you’re up to it.“ She says leaving him a small business card “I know it’s a bit formal, but it’s useful to be honest.”. They both laugh saying goodbye.

Charles immediately writes to her when she gets home, thing that she wasn’t expecting, and they keep talking everyday until they’re both free for that free dinner. After that dinner there were many others friendly meetings with an excuse or another “I should take you to this italian restaurant”, “I have to take you to oceanograph if you have never been to it” “there’s this nice exbition we shoul really go together” and things like that. At last Charles after a workout together at the gym where he devastated y/n with his f1 workout he asks “I was wondering if you’d like to go out sometimes” y/n giggles at those words not really getting it “Charles, did the workout hit too hard on you? We always hang out together when you’re at home.” He laughs nervously “I didn’t mean it that way. I meant it more like: Dans le sens où j'aimerais avoir un rendez-vous avec toi.” I would like to go on a date with you. y/n blushes at those words, was really a guy like Charles fucking Leclerc wanting to go on a date with her. “I would love that” she says almost quietly afraid to ruin it. “Okay, I plan it and you trust me.” those words scared y/n already “Mm.. J'ai peur, mais c'est bon.” I’m already scared but alright. Both feel so happy about the outcome of that conversation and go home with the biggest smiles on their faces.

chapter 2

[sequinsmile-x]

Cute headcanon to make you smile 😊

Aaron secretly learns one of the languages that Emily speaks without her knowing; using tutorials, duolingo etc. He’s not fluent and can’t really read or write it but he can understand and speak it quite well.

Emily only finds out when they learn she’s pregnant and he whispers to the baby in his new second language how much he loves them already

I LOVE THIS BESTIE

and of course, i got carried away, so this is now a one-shot in it's own right.

Consider this my apology for recent/upcoming angst!

-x-

Love Language

Aaron loves to learn new things about Emily and put that knowledge to use.

AKA - the one where Aaron (kind of) learns French.

Warnings: Pregnancy

Words: 2.4k

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

It’s something he learns about her a couple of months after they start dating. 

He was stuck at work, caught in a meeting by Strauss who insisted she needed him to go over the budget with her immediately. He’d been worried, mostly stressed about picking up Jack from school. Jessica was away and he had no other options. 

Then Emily walked into his office. Her smile soft and her touch somehow softer as she reached out for him, her fingers linking through his as she sat on the edge of his desk and asked him what was wrong, apparently having sensed his mood through his closed door and open blinds. Before he even had the chance to explain fully, she’s offering to pick up Jack. Her eyes sparkling with love for him and his son as she says it like it’s the obvious option. 

The thought of them in his apartment together, waiting for him to join them, makes him want to get home as quickly as he can. Love for his girlfriend, the woman who had been right in front of him the whole time, and his son driving him to get through his meeting as fast as possible. For once, he doesn’t let Strauss and her desire to go through everything line by line get to him. 

As he steps into his apartment he immediately feels relaxed, tension releasing from his shoulders as he hears Jack’s laugh followed by Emily’s. They are sitting on the couch together, Jack curled into Emily’s side as they both look at a book in her lap. He smiles as they both look up at him and he walks over. 

“Daddy’s home,” Jack says, leaning towards his father as he leans down to kiss his forehead, but making no move to pull himself any further away from Emily.

“Hi buddy,” he says, ruffling his son’s hair before he turns to Emily, leaning over the back of the couch to stamp his lips against hers, smiling into the kiss as she reaches up to cup his cheek, “Hi sweetheart.” 

“Hi,” she says, kissing him once more before he pulls away and steps around the couch to join them. He sits next to Emily and rests his arm around her shoulders, smiling as she sighs contentedly, happy to be between who she referred to as her Hotchner boys. He looks down at the book in Emily’s lap, a book he recognises as Jack’s Spanish homework guide, and he smiles, “Helping with homework?”

She smiles as she looks at him, “Well, I left all the boring stuff to you, but I thought this was something I could help with.

“Daddy, did you know that Emily can speak Spanish fluly?” 

Emily smiles and looks at Jack, cupping his chin as she plants a kiss on his cheek, “Fluently, sweet boy,” she says, correcting him gently, both adults smiling as he nods in response. 

“Fluently,” he repeats slowly and then he looks back at Aaron, “Did you know?”

Aaron smiles and nods, “Not only Spanish buddy,” he says squeezing Emily’s shoulder, “She speaks six languages.” 

“Six?” Jack asks, his mouth falling open as he looks at Emily, “Which one is your favourite?” 

She chuckles and shakes her head, “No one’s ever asked me that before, Jack,” she says as she smiles, “But I think French is my favourite.” 

Aaron looks at her curiously, keen to know this new thing about her, always wanting to learn about her, to fall in love with her in a new way, “Why is that your favourite?”

She smiles as she turns to look at him, “It was the first language I learnt that wasn’t English,” she says, looking back and forth between the two of them, “And there’s something about it I’ve always enjoyed. It’s a beautiful language.” 

He wonders if there is more to it, if there’s part of the story she doesn’t want to say in front of Jack, so he makes a note to ask her later, “Well, in that case, it suits you then.” 

She chokes on a laugh and shakes her head at him, “You’re silly,” she turns back to Jack, “Daddy is silly.” 

Jack giggles, always keen to join in on Emily’s attempts to wind up Aaron, and he smiles widely at Aaron, “Silly Daddy,” he says as he shifts out of Emily’s arms and stands up, “I need the bathroom.” 

Emily and Aaron both smile at the announcement from the young boy before he runs off. Once he’s out of view Aaron looks at his girlfriend and leans in to kiss her cheek, his lips catching the corner of her lips as she turns to look at him. 

“Thank you for looking after him,” he says, reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ear. 

She bites the inside of her cheek as she smiles at him, as if she is trying to contain it, “You don’t have to thank me, honey,” she says, leaning into his palm as he cups her cheek, “I love both of you.”

He stamps a kiss against her lips, smiling when she chases him. She curls one of her hands around the back of his neck and holds him in place. 

“We love you too,” he says, bumping his nose against her, “So, French?”

She nods, “Yeah, I had this au pair, I was about 3 when we started living there I think, and we were there for a few years,” she says, running her fingers through the hair on the back of his head, “Her name was Anaïs, she spoke to me in French and taught me,” she smiles fondly, “She always had to correct me when I called her Mom.”

He sighs sadly, at the way she looks almost embarrassed at the admittance and he wishes more than anything that he could protect her from everything she’d ever been through, that he could have a conversation with Elizabeth and tell her what he thought about her abilities as a parent.

He knows he can’t, that he can’t go back and change anything, or say what he wants to say to Elizabeth without breaking a promise he’d made to his girlfriend. so he does what he can do. He loves her now. In the way she’d always deserved but not always had. 

He kisses her, his hand on her cheek as he holds her in place, and he smiles as they separate, the sound of the toilet flushing signalling that their time alone was coming to an end. 

“How about I buy you dinner,” he says, “As a thank you for helping Jack with his homework.” 

She rolls her eyes lovingly but she nods, “I’d like that,” she smiles as she hears Jack running towards them, “What are the chances I’ll get to choose where we eat?” 

He kisses the tip of her nose, “Not good, sweetheart I’m afraid.” 

___

Two Years Later 

Emily groans as she presses her face into her pillow, the effort of keeping her eyes open almost too much for her. The moment they’d got into their hotel room she’d flopped down onto the bed, not caring that it was uncomfortable and lumpy in comparison to their own bed on the other side of the country. 

Aaron had told everyone to pack up for the evening, to head back to their rooms, under the guise that there was nothing they could do until the morning when the coroner had an update for them. The unsub wasn’t escalating, at least not yet, so they had some time at least to settle into their hotel for the night, ready to be up bright and early the next morning. Emily knew Aaron’s real reason for telling everyone to stop earlier than usual was because he knew she was exhausted and that he wanted to make sure she got the rest she needed. 

“I’m so fucking tired,” she grumbles, turning to snuggle into her husband's side as he sits next to her, frowning when he chuckles at her. She pulls back to look at him, her eyes narrowed, “Don’t laugh at me. This is your fault. Your kid is sucking the life out of me.” 

She was nine weeks pregnant. They’d been trying for a little while, just long enough that she was starting to get worried before one morning a test came back positive. Two pink lines staring up at her as she cried and yelled at Aaron to join her in the bathroom. Due to her age and her medical history, she’d had an early scan, the ultrasound picture they’d been given creased on the edges because of how often she’d taken it in and out of her purse to look at it. For now, the baby was a secret just between the two of them, something just for them before they had to share it with everyone else. 

Emily was so happy, overjoyed in a way she’d once thought she’d never get to experience, but she was exhausted. Pregnancy was kicking her ass, and she couldn’t wait until the second trimester when, both Aaron and her doctor, assured her she’d feel better. 

“Why don’t you nap, sweetheart?” He says, his lips against her forehead, “I have some paperwork to do anyway and when you wake up we can get room service.” 

She looks at the time on her watch, “Oh my god it’s only 6 pm,” she complains, pressing her face into his shoulder, “What is the baby doing to me?” 

He smiles and kisses her forehead, “Get some sleep, Em,” he says, kissing her again, “I’ll be right here.” 

She hums, already halfway asleep anyway, further lulled into it as he scratches her scalp, a gentle touch he’d learnt a long time ago that would make her relax entirely. She falls asleep, content and safe with the man she loves next to her.

When she wakes up, she isn’t sure how long she’s slept, aware it could have equally been 10 minutes or 10 hours by how she feels. Her body heavy and weighing her down to the mattress as she blearily opens her eyes. She feels Aaron’s hand on her still flat stomach, and she hears him whispering. She focuses on it, wants to hear what he’s saying to their child, and it takes a few seconds for her brain to catch up, for her to realise he’s not speaking in English.

“Je t'aime déjà tellement,” he says slowly, his prononciation clunky yet endearing, “Maman et moi sommes tellement excités de te rencontrer.”

“Are you speaking French to the baby?” She asks, even though she knows the answer, and she smiles as he freezes, his eyes wide as he looks up at her, his palm still on her belly.

“Sweetheart, I didn’t realise you were awake.” 

“When did you start to learn French?” She asks, tilting her head curiously at him and he sighs, pressing a kiss to her stomach before he shifts up the bed so he’s next to her, his arm automatically wrapping around her shoulders. 

“I started listening to some of those lessons online a few months ago,” he admits, clearing his throat as he avoids eye contact, “I wanted to surprise you.” 

“I’m definitely surprised,” she says, hooking her finger under his chin and making him look up at her, her smile soft as their eyes meet, “Why?” 

“You said it was your favourite,” he replies, shrugging slightly, “I knew you’d want the baby to speak it too, so I wanted to learn to be prepared for when we had one.” 

She smiles widely, pulling him in for a fierce kiss, her hands on each of his cheeks as she holds him in place. She feels like love could burst out of her, her chest so full of it that it almost hurt. As she pulls back she shakes her head at him. Sometimes it was still hard to believe that someone could love her this much. 

“I must have told you that years ago,” she says, trying to remember when she had mentioned it.

“Two years ago,” he confirms, tugging her closer so her legs are over his lap, “You told me about your au pair who taught you French.” 

She presses her lips together to try to stop her smile from getting any wider, her cheeks aching with it, “You remember that?” 

“I remember everything about you,” he says, and she chokes on a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob as she presses her forehead against his.

“Tu es l'homme le plus gentil que j'ai jamais rencontré.” 

He furrows his eyebrows, his smile painted with an edge of embarrassment, “I have no idea what you just said.” 

She laughs and kisses him softly, “I said you’re the sweetest man I’ve ever met,” she kisses him again, “I’m so lucky to be with you.” 

“I’m the lucky one,” he says, kissing her temple as she settles against his side, his hand on her stomach again as he rubs a circle on it, imagining what she’ll look like when she’s further along, their love for each other on display for everyone to see, “I had an idea for a name if the baby is a girl.”

She hums, yawning as she tilts her head to look up at him, “Yeah?” 

He nods, “I thought Anaïs would be nice.” 

She feels tears press at the back of her eyes as she shakes her head lovingly at him, blowing out a breath as she wipes tears from her cheeks when they immediately fall.

“Damn it, Aaron,” she says, “You’re going to have to stop being so sweet otherwise I’m going to cry this entire pregnancy,” she smiles at him as he wipes away another tear from her skin, his touch gentle and loving, “I love that idea,” she says, turning her head to kiss his hand, “There’s just one issue tough.” 

He frowns as he looks at her, concern etched across his face, “What?” 

“We really need to work on your pronunciation,” she says, her smile blooming across her face, “We can’t have you butchering our daughter’s name every time you say it.” 

-x-

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[oh-puffle-cakes19]

Peppermint Stars

23rd December - Fluff

Sarah Cameron x Reader

Summary - You and Sarah decide to bake just after cuddles and a movie is turned on.

Word count - 941

“Sarah, what are we doing?” You grin, “You will see,” she giggles, taking your hand to the sofa, “Pop your fine ass down,” winking as she leaves the room leaving you even more confused.

“I got snacks, movies and blankets!” Sarah comes back with all of the things into her arms, throwing them on the sofa.

“Aw, you shouldn’t have!” You embrace her for a warm hug, kissing her cheek, “You're the best girlfriend ever!”

“I know,” Sarah teases, flipping her hair back.

“I even got you peppermint stars, your favourite,” Sarah tosses you the bag as she settles down with the pillows and blanket, covering the both of you up.

“Thanks,” you grin, opening them up and taking one out, “Come here, I want to cuddle your beautiful ass,” you giggle, tugging her body over to you.

“Yes, Madame,” Sarah shuffles, engulfing you into her arms as she puts the Christmas movie on, “Look it’s your fave,”

“Alexa, can you turn the lights off pls,”

The lights go off and the tv shines playing the movie as Sarah and you watch, you both snack on your snacks.

“I didn’t know you were planning a movie date,” You whisper, nozzling your nose into her neck to smell her scent.

“Me neither, it was a last minute thing because I was going to do something different like a dinner but it was better this way!”

“Mm, it’s still amazing,” You gushed over the fact that Sarah had intentions of a cute date all along.

“Anything for you, you're my baby,” Sarah kisses you passionately, gently stroking your cheek as she slips her tongue into your mouth.

You snuggle into Sarah more as she brings the fluffy covers up to you two more.

“I know what we should do!” Sarah gasps, “What? We are already watching a movie,” You laugh, “What could I want?”

“Mm, Well,” Sarah smiles, going right into your face, “We could make some peppermint stars, just for you and me,” You grin at her words, “We could skip the movie?”

“I agree, I’m not bothered with the movie either,” Sarah takes your hand to the kitchen.

“Do you even know what you're doing?” You giggle, seeing her take out bowls, pots and other things.

“Nope but we can Google it,” Sarah takes out her phone.

“So we need flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, teaspoon of salt, unsalted butter, sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate chips and peppermint,” Sarah says slowly as she takes out the ingredients from the cupboards.

“This is going to go so well!” You smirk, “Yep, come get your hands dirty because we are making peppermint stars Bitch,” Sarah winks, washing her hands with you.

You sift the flour, while Sarah sift the coco and salt, “Sarah you're going to get it everywhere, go slowly!” You laugh, seeing her roughly shake it.

“No I’m.. not,” Sarah looks down on the floor, “Oops,”

“I’ll go get a wet cloth,” you smacked your head playfully teasing her.

“Now we need to beat the butter and sugar until smooth,” You beat the ingredients together into a separate bowl, Sarah comes up behind you to kiss you on the cheek.

“Can’t you see I’m busy?” You giggle, it tickles with Sarah’s lips all over your face, “There is always time for kisses,” she stuck her tongue out, “Especially mine,”

“Oh, but of course,” You have a semi bad French accent, you can never seem to get it as good as Sarah’s but you're improving, “Kiss for you, and kiss for you,” You turn around kissing each of her sweet cheeks.

Sarah looks at you flirty, fiddling with her necklace, “That was such a fine ass kiss, miss,” she winks, “Let me have a taste,” slipping her tongue into your mouth, tasting all of her sweet desires.

“Now we need to add the vanilla extract,” You moved away from Sarah to mix the ingredients together, giggling as she was clinging to you.

“Need it with me,” You grasp Sarah’s hands and put into the dough, smiling at her.

“Kinky!” She teases, digging her hands to need the batter into a more dough-like Consistency.

You half the dough, shaping it into each star with Sarah, making about 16-20. You pop the cookies on to a tray and into the oven at the right temperature.

“We did such a good job,” Sarah smirked, high five ring you giggling.

“Yes we did!” You kiss her lips passionately, soft and meaningful, curling your hand into the back of hair to feel her smooth silky blend of colours.

“Now we have to wait,” You sigh, being dramatic and holding onto Sarah for dear life.

“We could go cuddle, baby,” She presses her body against yours, feeling up your Hips cheekily.

“That’s a good idea,” You head towards the sofa, laying down on top of Sarah. She is stroking your head, giving you a forehead kiss and whispering sweet nothings into your ear seeing how tired you got from baking.

You eventually fell asleep on Sarah but she had to move you very carefully to get the cookies out of the oven.

Sarah comes back to you still fast asleep, she picks you up to take you to bed.

“Goodnight, baby,” Sarah whispers, “Love you so much,” you must have heard slightly because you stirred around and snuggled into Sarah more.

“Mm, night,” You mumble, giving a smile across your lips as you feel her kiss on your cheek, “Love you so much too,”

You feel her arms tighten around you, keeping you warm with her warmth.

Tomorrow you are definitely eating the peppermint stars with your lovely girlfriend Sarah!

[raidenbuddha]

James norrington x reader

sex with the commodore

It has been around two weeks after mine and Mr James norrington wedding, making me a Norrington! . The wedding ceremony was small with a blue theme to match my dress and his custom tailored commodore suit.

The guest list included some town folk as painters and caterers, his mother, and of course my best friends William and Elizabeth turner for I had been pirating with them for years now. Luckily but unsurprisingly my older brother Captain jack sparrow and my father Blackbeard walked me down the aisle, and after our vows jack left on his ship with the crew I’d known for so long because they were being chased by the French. “Goodbye love, and treat my sister well commodore, or else I will hunt you down like you've done me. This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow.”

and with that he swung off on a rope much like my father who after congratulating me and giving a “talk” to James, vanished into thin air.. it’s really his thing. Everything was going great but I felt some tension between us. Sexual tension.

After the commodore comes home-James you’re home! How was your day?” “Better now that I’ve Seen you Mrs y/n norrington. I’ll never get over that. How did I bag someone like you? and to think a pirate!” “The feeling is mutual james. I truly love you Mr commodore, and ‘to think you chased me as much as I chased you.

A high class man head over heels .” He chuckled and replied “Love you to y/n,” and engulfed me in a kiss. I decided to make my move later in the night and ask if he wanted tea and bread with butter with me. He obviously obliged my homemade bread. I had rum secretly and he noticed as when I set down my tea cup he inspected it.

“What is this dear?” “Nothing… fine. Well old habits die hard ok? He granted me a smile and said “that’s quite all right. I know just the feeling.” In the bed- “James honey?” “Yes y/n?” “I’ve been noticing some tension between us… I hope to fix it..” “ I know exactly what you’re talking about.” I suddenly blurted out “I’m a virgin!” James got extremely close to my ear, so close I could feel his breath which sent a tingle in my body and said “Looks like I get to be the first dear.. To make you mine and only mine.”

He got on top of me and cupped my cheek softly with his hand and looked seemed to look at me with lust in his eyes. As he engulfed us in a fiery passionate kiss I couldn’t help melted under his touch. “God y/n you taste like rum and flowers. What an odd yet compelling mix.”

James whispered. I placed my hands on the back of his neck just as he began to trail soft and wet kisses on my jaw all the way up to my ear. Then he made his way down to my neck and nibbled along it sucking and biting definition leaving hickeys. “Y/n, this needs to go..” he motioned to my night gown and as he tried to unbutton it he looked semi frustrated and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well I guess I have too do this now..”

“what is it James?” James rips off the gown and throws it across the room and he takes off his undershirt and bottoms. “That was hot.” I mutter. “Good.” I couldn’t help but blush as he said that with conviction. He was the perfect mix of sweet and rough in bed. THIRD POV- The commodore trailed wet kisses back down your neck and onto your collar bone leaving love bites when he suddenly takes your nipple into his mouth. “Ah” you moan. As he toyed with your sensitive buds whilst getting more moans out of you, you feel yourself growing wetter and wetter. Clenching your legs due to the pleasure James opens them and says “I love it when you moan for me and when you wet.”

He leans to your ear and says “so wet.”when he made his way back to your cunt and begun to lick it all around.

“Ahh. “ “hmm.” You moaned. “Mmm” he growled into your cunt. The vibrations only increased your pleasure which then increased more as he stuck a finger inside you. “James!” You gasp. “Do you like that y/n?” “Y-y-yes.” you reply. As he sticks another finger in he starts thrusting them and scissoring inside you while licking your clit.

You moaned as he played with your cunt as he licked and thrusted and talked dirty to you. That was when you started feeling something in your stomach. The feeling only grew and grew until you yelled… “J-JAMES!!” and clamped around his fingers and head with your legs. James pulled out his fingers while making eye contact and licked all your cum up.

“Taste like my wife. That’s enough prep.. are you ready?” “Y-yes James.” After you came down from your high, James put you into the missionary position and lifted your legs over his shoulders. He grabs your hands and intertwines them with his while whispering “I love you.” “I love you too ja..”

You were interrupted by the commodore suddenly penetrating you. Every inch hurt slightly but when he filled you all the way up with his length, you felt so good. “God you’re so tight y/n. Time to loosen you up a bit.” As he thrusted his cock inside and out of you slowly he began to grunt and dirty talk some more.

He was going slowly to try to limit your pain but then you spoke up in the midst of moans and grunts. “James … go faster.. make me yours.” “My pleasure dear.” He pulled out almost all the way and then… SLAMMED his cock inside you and went faster and faster. He flipped you over and propped up your ass and placed your head in the pillows. “Ahhh” he groaned. “I’m gonna finish y/n” “where do you want it.”

“Give it to me james.” As he hit your g-spot one last time you both yell, “JAMES!” “Y/N!!” You clamped around his cock and milked him for every last drop of cum. “That was great mr commodore.” “I could say the same. I love you y/n. Oh. And just a thought… we should try more things next time.” “Yes sir.” “Let’s go get cleaned up in the bath and get to bed y/n.”

You fell asleep In each others arms the last words leaving your mouth of the night being “I love you.”

[zaevauhm]

Barcelona 1/4

this was actually the first thing I ever wrote` + english is not my first language + mentions of anxiety + 2.4k word count

it’s the first part to a 4 chapter story

‘’Do we have everything?’’ Anxiously, you looked up at your friend Layla. ‘’Yes, let’s go, we will be late, babe.’’ She replied, looking back at you from your bed. You could tell she was really trying to get through to you by the way her big blue eyes were staring you down. The two of you were sat in your bedroom, busy packing two small bags.

You were in desperate need of any sort of escape, the stress about more than one thing was really getting to you by now. Uni, work, not to mention your terrible mental health that seemed to even escape the notice of your closest friends. You were an absolute pro at hiding how you were actually feeling; it was getting scary by now. You were always the person that others leaned on, that others came to for help and support. Always the giver, never the taker. Just the fact that you had friends to begin with, was enough for you. Grateful nature is how you justified your actions to yourself.

It was a no brainer that when your mother, who you rarely saw, called for you to visit her and some other family members during a business trip in Barcelona, you didn’t spend much time thinking about it. It meant a drive of approximately 12 hours, and a week of being away. Good timing, you figured.

You made a call to one of your closer friends, asking her to go with you. Of course, as expected, she was beyond excited. You packed for your little getaway in under a couple of hours, and were ready to leave during the early morning hours. The trip would give you two some much needed time together to catch up and you’d be able to do some much needed stress relief.

Liege, Luxembourg, Lyon, Montpellier…

You’d spend a lot of time behind the wheel naturally, as a 2nd year motorsport engineering student, but for some reason this drive was different. You didn't want to slow down, and didn’t necessarily want to arrive quickly either. Your first long stop to eat wasn’t until you arrived at the very south of the somewhat cold country of France. Carefully you parked at a big gas station, letting out a yawn and grabbing your phone from the console to check some notifications, right before your breath got stuck in your throat.

‘’Are you okay?’’ Layla asked you as she noticed you started to look pale in the face.

You opened your work group chat after hours, or better said probably days of leaving it muted. Your eyes immediately fell on the PDF document that was sent by your boss not long ago.

F1 Winter test in Barcelona 23-25 February, 2022. It is February 22nd today.

SHIT

‘’Uhm yes I’m fine, let’s go inside’’ you mumbled.

You ordered for both you and Layla. Somehow managing to speak a well-understandable French. The two of you ate, a pasta that felt like it was going to hurt your stomach later, but you two were never picky when it came to food, especially not during trips. Layla showing you the guy she was talking to this week, you laughed and finished up before you made your way down the stairs of the restaurant, walking back to the gas station.

Your car was filled up, your body stretched a little bit and your energy reloaded enough for the last push of the drive.

Before you got back into the car, you told Layla you’d go back inside the gas station to take an aspirin quickly. ‘’Just in case’’, you said.

Slightly worried, Layla nodded her head at you, while closing the passenger door of your car. She wasn’t stupid either. It was quite obvious something was going on in your head, even though you were laughing with her just a minute ago.

You left to the bathrooms that were located outside the building, opened WhatsApp again to be sure of what you just read. How could you be so stupid? You completely forgot about it. Was it a good or a bad thing, even?

It was only a while ago that you met the person who you’ve been trying to get out of your head ever since. You remember it so vividly, that one night.

You were sat inside of your car with your colleague and friend Alex. The drivers’ door open, looking down at your phone, waiting for the que that you two could go home. Meanwhile a lot of Marshalls were outside the gates of the Zandvoort circuit, waiting for everyone that was working on the track that day to exit safely.

Mechanics exited, team principals, trucks, engineers, marshalls, eventually drivers as well. A lot of men exiting would honk, wink, smile or try to get your attention in any other way. You remember how disgusting it made you feel. It was late, you were tired, most of the fans had already left. The cold Dutch air that kept flowing in your car was the only thing keeping you awake at that point. You saw fans screaming at Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly. Some of them stopped to take pictures with them, you could see just outside the gates. Good for them, you thought.

You honestly didn’t bat an eye, you were never the type to care for famous people, even if they were F1 drivers. Even if your life constantly revolved around racing and working on the tracks. You figured it's nothing more than a nice feature on your student curriculum. Was that really the reason you started working there, though?

Your thoughts were irrupted when Alex smirked and poked your arm with his elbow. ‘’What?’’ You replied dryly, without bothering to look up from your phone, looking at a story Lewis Hamilton had posted hours prior. You were a complete mess when it came to him, you’d never dare to go near him in fear of literally fainting. That’s how big of a crush you had on him, he was your only idol, the only person you were looking up to. It felt like something completely childish to you, and besides, this was real life. Not some fairy-tale where everything would somehow be possible. He was nothing but a far, far away dream.

’’I think someone fancies you’’, he chuckles.

You look up to Alex and notice him looking past you, to your left. You turn, only to directly meet the eyes of Lewis Hamilton. There he was, in the actual flesh. He drove past you, as anyone else, on his way to the exit. The only difference is that he stopped. For a few seconds you exchanged the most electrifying eye contact you’d ever had in your life. He smiled at you, obviously knowing what he was doing.

‘’Get out and talk to him, this is your chance!’’ Alex shouted. You felt like your stomach had just dropped out of your body. You were perplexed, you couldn’t even think straight. Your mind going blank, and the only thing you could do out of shame, is looking away, you couldn’t afford him to see you while you didn’t even know what kind of facial expression to make. From the side of your eye, you noticed his smile disappearing, waiting for a few more seconds before finally driving off, leaving you behind. You never saw him again.

Even though it was an excuse to get some fresh air and think about what you’re going to do in Barcelona, you got some aspirins from the gas station and a bottle of water. Popped two and swallowed them quickly. You figured that remembering that night would eventually give you a headache anyway. You couldn’t quite believe what happened, even though it might have seemed like nothing to anyone else. That was a one in a million, gazillion chance that he would have been able to talk to you. There was no one around, except your colleague.

No cameras, no interviewers, nothing. Before you go all emotional you stop yourself there and man up. You exited the building to walk back to the car, figuring that you would see what to do with the information of you two being in the same place during the same time again once you get there. Knowing your friend all too well, though, you knew that she was just the right person to tell this to. But how? You were honestly ashamed for not being the strong, confident person everyone thought you were when it came to guys, especially in the eyes of your friends.

You lower yourself into the big, black leather seats of your white Mercedes, wanting them to swallow you whole at this point. Layla obviously looked right through your facade. ‘’You know you can tell me anything, right?’’

‘’Yes, I know’’ you replied. ‘’It’s just stupid, you’ll probably think I’m an idiot for even thinking about this’’. You sighed.

‘’I can literally tell something is bothering you, do I need to beat someone up?’’

You couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. You loved your friends; they would go to the ends of the earth for you. Sometimes you wonder what you did to deserve them, being so introverted in contrast to them.

‘’I think I might be in love with someone who is going to be in Barcelona, just like us’’. You spilled.

Layla looked at you more shocked than you’ve ever seen her before. With wide eyes, she couldn’t help but yell. ‘’YOU?!’’

‘’You’re in WHAT? HOW? WHO? How the hell am I just hearing about this now, you little….’’

‘’Well, obviously, you know, not in actual love, just-’’

‘’Hold on now.’’ Layla stopped you. ‘’Start from the beginning. Details.’’

She had every right to react like that, you were probably the last person to let out these words. You never had many crushes, or even boyfriends, despite all of the attention. The last time you were happily dating someone or being intimate must have been years ago. You usually kept to yourself when it came to these things anyway, but there simply hasn’t been much to tell.

‘’It’s nothing, it’s not going anywhere, it’s impossible…’’ you started, tone directly much lower, stopping when you noticed the crack in your voice. You felt so small all of a sudden, trying to push yourself back more in the seats of your car, as if you could somehow hide. You really didn’t want to admit to these feelings, not even to yourself.

‘’Who is it?’’

‘’Lewis.’’

‘’Lewis Hamilton?’’ Layla replied, looking at you, furrowing her eyebrows.

‘’Yeah.’’ You dragged the word out, making it almost questionable, while looking down at your fingers that were resting on the bottom of your steering wheel.

‘’Why wouldn’t that work?’’ She surprised you. ‘’Have you seen yourself?’’  You knew she wasn’t lying to you, you were undeniably beautiful, if you had to believe others. Always being mistaken for some model or some instagram celebrity, especially at tracks. In all honesty, you could have easily passed for one, anyways. Your mental health and self-image would always be your biggest enemy, because even with the daily compliments you got, even from strangers, you would never see yourself like they do.

‘’Obvious reasons.’’

Everything spilled, you told her about your feelings, especially since Zandvoort last year. Layla was carefully listening to you. Nodding here and there, processing everything in her head. You could tell she was going to come up with some crazy solution that only she could think of, you truly loved her for this.

‘’But he noticed you in Zandvoort?’’

‘’Yeah, I guess. He saw me and stopped before I saw him’’.

‘’My god.’’

‘’Lay, what do you want me to do? DM him and say ‘’hey, I’m that blonde girl you’ve exchanged eye contact with somewhere a year ago, remember me?’’ It would sound ridiculous. He gets attention from girls on the daily, there is no way he would even remember me’’. You let out a deep sigh. ‘’But it’s just... I can’t shake him either.’’

‘’Look, it’s not going to be that hard. You’re going to that winter testing, and you’ll get to see him again. I’m sure of it.’’ Layla firmly spoke. ‘’We should go, I feel like we’ve been sitting here for hours, and you have someone to reunite you with,'' she says while squeezing your cheek softly with her fingers, earning a smile from you.

You noticed from that moment her whole focus shifted to you; she would be super selfless for the rest of the trip. You trusted her, and trusted that whatever was going to happen, it would somehow work out. All you really wanted was to get rid of the knot in your stomach, and the best person to help you achieve that goal was Layla. She is the type of person that doesn’t let anything she wanted slip away from her. A quality you appreciated more than ever before now.

It’s 8 PM, you’re still in the south of France, about 5 hours removed from Barcelona.

The rest of the drive was a complete blur, you were tired both mentally and physically, but the first sign that showed ‘’Barcelona’’ in big letters gave you a little bit of energy, as well as terrible nerves flushing through your body, keeping you awake.

You were happy to finally arrive to the hotel, calling a receptionist to send someone to take your bags, stepping out of the car in the middle of the somewhat warm night. You had missed this, the lit- up palm trees, the smell of the salty sea hitting you like you were tens of thousands of miles away from home.

‘’I’m so happy our hotel is right by the beach, bless the wallets of that family of yours’’ Layla joked at you laughing, as she also got out of the car to the sights of the Arts Hotel.

You giggled back at her. ‘’You’re welcome.’’ You didn’t come from a rich family, but certainly a wealthy one. Whatever you would have, you were more than happy to share with your friends. If you could take them with you, you would.

7 AM

Sunrays started to heat your face, as you turned around trying to desperately fall back into sleep. You felt fussy, drenched from the drive as nerves starting to hit you. You hated these types of mornings when the first thing you would feel was anxiety. Slowly moving your arm around to find your phone somewhere between the sheets, trying not to wake Layla. 7:01 AM. Already? Really? You thought. After closing the curtains when you got up to get some water, you slowly let yourself sink back into the big bed. Luckily, the next time you opened your eyes and check your phone 3 hours had passed, and you felt ready to actually start your day.

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter Eleven

“You never texted me that you got home safe” Marnie is saying to me as we pack up our charcoal and newsprint and start shuffling out of Ida’s classroom the following afternoon.

“Oh, that was because you were acting really weird and mad.”

“I’m on my period, you know how it is.”

“Yeah absolutely.” 

“You obviously got home okay though, I mean, you’re here.”

“I did.” Dean is packing his things away in the corner of my eye and I have to try very hard not to look at him, just like I’ve been trying all morning, albeit somewhat unsuccessfully because every time he shuffled his feet or sniffed I’d look up at him, and then somehow he’d know about it and stare right back at me over his easel. His chair makes a loud scraping sound against the floorboards as he drags it back over to the wall with all the others and we look at each other again.

“Did he walk you home?”

“Who?”

“Dean. Did he end up walking you home?”

“Oh, yeah he did.” We turn away from him and head out into the hallway and she starts looking at me with suspicion. 

“There’s something up with you today.”

“Is there?”

“Yeah you seem away with it.”

“I suppose that I’m tired.” Which isn’t a lie, considering I didn’t hit the bedsheets three last night and then lay awake with my eyes sprung wide open and fixed on the ceiling for at least two more hours after that. 

“Well, what did you think of that conversation last night? The one about which girl Dean would pick.”

“Oh, I thought it was pretty stupid.”

“Me too, I can’t believe Fiona asked that, like what the hell, so juvenile of her.”

“Mm.”

“She’s really like that sometimes, it can be embarrassing to be around her, she acts so young…” She pauses. “Bizarre that he picked you though, isn’t it?”

I shrug. “Well I guess he had to say something. I’d say he just picked me because it’s the least likely to actually happen. A low risk choice.”

“Right?” she agrees. “It’d be so weird.” She swings outside into the yard and holds the door open for me. It’s a cold day, but it’s sunny and bright and fresh. The air smells vaguely like cut grass and flowers. “So anyway, I’ve been thinking about your birthday. I’ve already set up an event page on Facebook, but I’m yet to confirm a venue.”

“Wait, we’re really doing that?” I had assumed that the party wasn’t happening anymore on account of her bad mood last night, but obviously I was mistaken. She’s so indecipherable, a true enigma of a woman.  

“Of course we are, and we’ve only got a week to organise it now, so make sure to add your housemate and her friends to the group.” 

“I’m meeting her now, actually, so I’ll mention it.”

“Oh, amazing.” We head up the street and reach a crossroads on the road where she stops to ask me which way I’m going. I tell her I’m getting the bus into O’Connell street and she nods and points the other way. “Well, this is me. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah for sure. And thank you for organising the whole birthday thing, it’s actually really nice of you to do it.”

“Don’t mention it.” She gives me a kiss on each cheek like a French girl and pushes me towards the bus stop with a dramatic flourish. “au revoir mon amour” She calls out to me, using the worst accent I’ve ever heard in my life. 

The lunchtime crowds are picking up in the city centre and getting from one end of O’Connell street to the other is like pushing through a rugby scrum. I nimbly side step a woman fighting with her pram as she spills off a bus, and then swerve around a catholic group holding a big obstructive banner that declares: Ireland needs Fatima and praying the rosary in a big circle. Then I almost get stuck with one of those pushy charity workers in yellow T-Shirts, but don’t and then feel supremely pleased with myself about it. I have the kind of face that salespeople just flock to, but not today. Today I navigate this city like a real native, moving, no, waltzing through every roadblock I encounter and then I come to the Spire, an enormous silver pin piercing the blue sky and Claire is right underneath it waiting for me. She grins when she sees me and gives me a quick wave. 

“I’m starving, are you?” She says as she rushes across the road towards me throws her arms around me in a hug. She smells like her signature Flowerbomb perfume, and it makes me feel some kind of erupting happiness. 

“Oh yeah, I am. Do you know where you’d like to go for lunch?”

Her eyes open wide and excited and she breathes, “Bewley’s.” 

I laugh and we start walking back towards Grafton Street. “Whatever you want, Claire, you can have.” Hanging out with her is worlds away from hanging out with my college friends, because I know that none of them would ever set foot in a place like Bewleys, the café that your grandmother visits when she takes a trip to Dublin for the day to have the famous sticky buns and a cup of white coffee. It’s got that old fashioned charm that is dying in this city and Claire just wants all of it, all the time. I love that about her, she doesn’t really care about seeming too cool for things, she just does what she wants.

I wait until we’re seated with our menus before I tell her about Marnie’s plan for my birthday. “So, my birthday…” I begin, and instantly she clasps her hands together and gasps excitedly. “Yes! I’m so excited. I want to book a restaurant that Jaz recommended. They do Asian street food. How does that sound?” She wiggles her eyebrows like she’s just revealed the most exotic idea on earth to me and I laugh. “I didn’t take you for a noodle kind of girl.”

“I checked the menu and they do katsu curry. I had that once before and I liked it. Honestly because it tastes like takeaway curry, so if I get chips instead of rice then basically it’s like a curry chip takeaway but in cooler surroundings.”

I pat her hand. “That sounds great Claire, and I appreciate that you’re doing this for me, considering how much you hate trying new foods.”

She breathes out and beams at me. “I do, I really hate new foods. Shane took me to one of those crazy burger places on Valentine’s day and they had one with actual peanut butter on it.” She sticks out her tongue in disgust. “Who would want that?”

“Dublin is having a gourmet burger moment.” I muse. “I wonder is that the same place that made Marnie and I stand outside in the rain for forty minutes to get a table.”

“Oh I bet it was, it was awful. I was so disappointed. Sometimes I really do think that everyone here is an awful snob, and the cost of them. Listen, we had two burgers, two portions of chips, Shane had a bottle of Moretti and I had lemonade. Guess how much.”

I shrug. “Probably north of forty quid.”

“Fifty two euro.” She pauses for dramatic effect, her eyes like saucers. “Turns out the sides were extra. And your one, the waitress, who was, by the way, rude, wanted a tip. I was shocked. I said, where are we? Have I been knocked out and woken up in the USA? Since when should I be leaving a tip?”

Our waiter arrives to take our order and I ask for the caesar salad and an americano all while grinning at Claire, amused by her outrage. It’s so easy sometimes to imagine her older than she is now, having similar kinds of conversations with ladies from her yoga classes, or with their prams by their sides, gossiping outrageously in whispers while they rock their infants to sleep. It’s funny, but when I think of Claire like this I’m never with her because I can’t picture myself being older. At least not in the same way that she can. I don’t know what I want, but she knows exactly. The kind of house, the number of kids, the dogs, the car, it’s all worked out already, and I find myself wishing I could switch brains with her for a day just to experience the tranquillity of it. How nice it must be to be able to imagine your own future and see something other than… well, nothing at all.

“Well .” I conclude. “Let’s hope that this street food place is more reasonable.”

“Oh, it is. I made sure to check the prices online first. So will I just book for both of us and Shane?”

“Yeah sure! But actually, about next weekend, I wanted to ask you something.”

She looks at me with interest. “Oh?”

“So Marnie wants to organise a party for me. I tried to talk her out of it already but she insisted. She’s booking out some venue next Saturday night and inviting a load of people from college and other friends to come. Will you and Shane come too? You can invite Jaz and Serena too, if you want. I think it might be fun.”

“Marnie’s doing this?”

“Yeah, I mean, I know you two don’t exactly get along and I know we’re already doing dinner on Sunday, but it’d mean a lot if you were there.”

“It just sounds expensive. Are you sure about it?”

“Well that’s the crazy thing, she’s insisting on paying for it too.”

“What?”

“I know.”

“That’s generous of her.” She says with some haughtiness and I laugh self consciously. “Well, yeah, I know it is. Honestly I think it’s a bit mad, but she really wants to do this. I think she wants an excuse for a party though, and my birthday just happens to be the next one coming up.”

“Well, fair enough. It’s her money.”

“So what do you think? Will you come?”

She sighs ruefully. “You know, I really wish we could but Shane and I already have plans.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah. It’s such a shame because I’d love to be there for you but it’s kind of something we can’t get out of.”

The waiter comes back with our lunch and I cradle my coffee to my chest trying to warm up my cold hands. “Is it a family thing?” 

“Nope.”

“Oh do you have a thing with Jaz and Serena?”

“Um… no.” She looks shifty. I watch her carefully as she starts picking at the crisps on her plate. What’s up with her? Her gaze is lowered and her lashes fanning over her cheeks so I can’t read the expression in her eyes. I try another question. “Okay, is it like, a concert or a play or something?”

“No, it isn’t.” She finally relents. “We’re actually meeting some friends.”

“What friends? You can just bring them to the party, the more the merrier honestly.” I pause. “Unless it’s Kelly. It’s not Kelly, is it?”

She smiles. “No, it’s not Kelly. As if I would hang out with her unless I was absolutely forced to.”

“Anybody else.” I state. “Anybody else I’d be totally fine with you bringing along. Even if you’re getting dinner or something first, you’re all welcome to come to the party afterwards, I really don’t mind.”

“Okay.” she says slowly, clearing her throat anxiously. “Except for that it’s Jude.”

Prev // Next

[ambrossart]

DWM Writing Update + Preview #2

I'm heading out of town for Columbus Day weekend.

I was hoping to have the next DWM fic done before I left (which is now going to be more like 7-8,000 words 😂), but I'm still editing the last few scenes, so I'll finish it when I get back on Tuesday.

While I'm away, here's another little preview!

--------------

Four blocks away, Scott Sloman was dressed in his Sunday best and restlessly pacing his basement, which was now pristine thanks to his diligent efforts the day before. 

On that morning, Scottie had woken up early, consumed a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, and French toast (all prepared by his lovely mother, of course; Mrs. Sloman was an excellent cook), pulled on his rubber gloves, went downstairs, and got to work. It took him hours, but it was worth it. Every crumb, every cobweb, every splatter, every stain had been expertly tracked down and eliminated with the toughest chemicals money could buy. Now every surface sparkled radiantly, and the air carried a whimsical, woodsy scent that transported you to the crisp forests of New England—not that Scottie had ever been to New England, but he imagined that’s what its forests smelled like. 

He grabbed the can of EVERGREEN Air Freshener and gave it a vigorous shake.

“Do not spray that again,” Jeff told him. “You’re gonna give us all cancer.” 

“I’ll stop spraying when you guys stop smelling.” 

He pressed down hard on the nozzle and sprayed a thick cloud of EVERGREEN mist into the air. It showered over the table like a light drizzle of rain, getting on everyone’s hair, everyone’s clothes, and speckling the open page of Eddie Munson’s notebook. 

Eddie, who had been tuning everyone out and listening to music on his Walkman, now looked up with bewildered annoyance. “Dude, come on…” He fanned the remaining mist away with his hand and immediately went back to his notes. 

Observing him, Grant said to Jeff, “Damn, Eddie’s really in the zone today.”

It wasn’t exactly unusual for him to be this withdrawn. Eddie Munson took his D&D very seriously—perhaps a bit too seriously, although no one would ever dare tell him that. Before every session, while everyone else joked around and snacked on donuts and muffins (also prepared by Mrs. Sloman), Eddie sat quietly in his chair, the same chair he occupied for every session, and gradually slipped further… and further away. The Walkman, a gift from his uncle for his fourteenth birthday, only accelerated his emotional departure.

But he would return eventually. He always did. 

“You think he’s anxious about her coming?” Grant asked.

Jeff frowned guiltily. “Probably.” 

Beside Grant, Gareth was sharpening his pencil with a small metal pocket sharpener. From the look on his face, you would have thought he was honing a warblade. 

“He’s preparing his mind for battle,” Gareth said, his blue eyes burning with a ferocious and frightening intensity. “The enemy draws near. She will soon be at our gates.” He withdrew his pencil and blew fiercely on the pointed tip. “We must be ready to meet her.”

Jeff and Grant rolled their eyes. It was way too early in the morning for this. 

“She’s not the enemy,” Jeff said.

“Well, you’re a traitor,” Gareth replied. “Yeah, Eddie told me you’re the one who invited her, you Judas.”

“What? Oh c’mon, man, don’t start that now.” 

“How’d she do it?” Gareth asked. “Did she blackmail you? Bribe you? I didn’t realize your loyalty could be so easily bought, Jeff.”

“Dude, what are you talking about?” 

Grant, ever the rational one, said, “Ignore him. Gareth’s just mad she beat him in the spelling bee last year.”

And that’s when Gareth fired back with unseemly anger: “She did not beat me in the spelling bee! That whole competition was rigged right from the start. Every round, she got the easiest words while I got stuck with all the hard ones. It was ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I’m telling you, the whole thing was a sham!”

Jeff and Grant exchanged an amused glance. “My mistake,” Grant said while Jeff snickered. “Clearly you’ve moved on from this.” 

Gareth waved him off. “Oh shut up, Grant. Look, this is about way more than a spelling bee, okay? That girl is a heartless, horrible devil-woman. I will not break bread with her. I will not fight alongside her on the battlefield. I won’t, I won’t, and neither will Eddie.” Gareth clapped Eddie on the shoulder and said, “Right, Eddie?”

The older boy flinched, looked up, and pulled the left speaker box away from his ear. “What?”

“We’re standing together, right? Against our common enemy?”

Eddie’s eyebrows knitted together. “I dunno what you’re talking about.” 

And now Scott Sloman had heard enough. “Are you guys even listening to me? Come on, this is a huge moment for us… for me, especially. I need you all to be on your best behavior today. No burping. No farting. Sit up straight and keep your elbows off the table, gentlemen. Today, we have a young lady gracing our party.” 

Gareth sneered. “She’s no lady. She’s a hellbeast.”  

Scottie slammed his fist on the table. “See, this is the kinda shit I’m talking about! You psychos are gonna scare her off before she even—” He saw that Eddie had already put his headphones back on, an act of subtle but profound defiance. Scottie’s jaw dropped. “Eddie… Eddie… Hey, Eddie, I’m talking here.” 

“Leave him alone,” Jeff said. “He’s getting into character.” 

Scottie scoffed at that. “Oh please… Eddie uses the same character for every campaign. If he doesn’t know his character by now, he never will.” 

He snatched the Walkman off the table and yanked it away, viciously ripping the headphone jack from the plug. 

Eddie’s head jerked up in startled surprise. “Dude, what the fuck—” 

“I’m doing this for your own good, Eddie. It’s about time you learn how to socialize with the fairer sex.”

Eddie glared at him, exasperated. “I know how to talk to girls.” 

“Really?” Scottie shot him a dubious look. “Okay, Eddie… how many words have you said to that cheerleader you think’s so cute?” 

“Zero,” Grant answered for him. “He’s said zero words to her.”  

Eddie just sighed miserably. “Can I have my Walkman back, please?”  

“No, Eddie, you can’t,” and Scottie set the cassette player on the shelf behind him. “See, this is exactly my point, you guys. We have a huge opportunity here. A girl is coming to play D&D with us. And not just any girl. One of the popular girls! Do you guys understand what this means? If we play our cards right, maybe she’ll start bringing her friends. Her popular friends. Her pretty friends.” 

“Is that what you think’s gonna happen?” Jeff asked. “You think a bunch of cheerleaders are gonna wanna play D&D with you?” 

Scottie shrugged and said in a waning voice, “Well, you never know…”  

Eddie put his head in his hands. “I knew this was gonna happen. I knew this was gonna happen. She’s not even here yet and she’s already ruining the game.” 

“Hey, where is she, anyway?” Grant said. “It’s already after ten. Are we sure she’s even gonna show?” 

“She probably won’t,” said Gareth. He leaned back in his chair, satisfied and smug. “Yeah, I bet she chickened out like the coward she is. Screw her, I say we start without her.”  

“We’re not starting without her,” Jeff said. “Look, she’ll be here, okay?”

“Spoken like a true traitor.” 

“Dude, stop calling me a—” 

Suddenly, the doorbell chimed. The sound echoed over their heads like a distant warhorn on a cold, fog-covered battlefield. Gareth reached for his newly sharpened pencil and held it like a knife. 

“She’s here.”

[charlescoded]

“is now a bad time to tell you i’m claustrophobic?” for my claustrophobic ass? 😂 any pairing you want (side eyeing charles/jason for example 👀)

!!! ellie my beloved!!!!! you tempted me to write jason, how can i ever resist that~? can't believe it got this long tho, it took me like 3 hours to write 😅

FORCED PROXIMITY PROMPTS ˗ˏˋ꒰ 🐚 ꒱ -- found here!

“Aha!” Charles quietly celebrates, barely able to slip through the closing doors of the elevator. The rickety old thing would take forever to return to the bottom floor if he'd missed it, so, like he's been a lot lately, he'd made a mad dash to the doors when he saw someone step inside.

He gives himself a moment to catch his breath, flushing slightly when he sees someone looking at him. "Désolé," Charles mutters, and behind the book the guy is holding, he can see his lips quirk up in amusement.

"You're fine." He dismisses, his French slightly accented. Charles briefly wonders if he's from up north.

The elevator creaks as it starts moving and Charles rests his back against the wall, turning his attention to his phone. He barely gets the time to reply to some messages congratulating him on his pole position before the elevator comes to a sudden halt.

Charles frowns when the doors remain closed.

"Are we stuck?" He asks, not really expecting an answer.

"...Might be, try some buttons?"

He moves to the panel and presses the open button. Then the button of the current floor. Then, when nothing seems to work, on the phone. A voice springs up, and to Charles relief, informs them that they're already working on the issue.

"Half an hour of waiting isn't too bad." He says once the call ends, turning back around.

The guy lets out a humourless laugh. "...Is now a bad time to tell you I’m claustrophobic?"

Charles finally looks more closely at the guy. Black hair with a white streak right at the front, sunglasses, a leather jacket, but... his skin looks unnaturally--almost sickly so--pale. Shit. That's not good.

"Uhm," He wrecks his brain trying to figure out what to do. "Distractions help, right?"

The guy smiles, uneven, and shrugs his shoulders. "I'll be fine." Charles isn't entirely sure if that's a lie or not, but he watches as he takes off his sunglasses first, and then his jacket. Charles would consider him quite handsome with his strong cheekbones and startling blue eyes if he didn't look so uncomfortable. Underneath his leather jacket, he's wearing a red sweater with a collared shirt, a stark contrast to the bad boy look he had earlier.

When he sits down, Charles joins him against the back wall. "What's your name?"

"Jason," The guy--Jason--looks at him, but Charles doesn't see any recognition. "Yours?"

"Charles," And to keep the conversation going: "What brings you to Monaco?"

Jason snorts. "What brings most people here? It's a beautiful city." For whatever reason, he sounds sardonic, like he's telling the truth, but there's something more to do it.

"Around this time of the year, most people come for the grand prix."

"To watch you race, yeah, I get that," Charles blinks in surprise. And here he thought Jason didn't know who he was. "Your face is plastered all over the city, it's kinda hard to miss." Jason adds when he sees Charles' questioning look.

"Oh, yes, of course, that makes sense." He rubs the back of his neck. "Do you watch, then?"

Jason shakes his head. "Haven't had the time in years. Alonso was still with Ferrari. I did get to see him take a podium in COTA, back then."

Charles grins at him. "Does that mean you're a Alonso fan, or a Ferrari fan?"

He rolls his eyes, but there's a small smile on his lips anyway. "It was both. Ferrari has always been the team to root for where I grew up," He explains, before switching to Italian, "Forza Ferrari, and all that."

"Your accent is really good," He replies, also in Italian.

"Thanks," Jason smiled a bit bemused. "How about my French accent?"

Charles opens his mouth to reply before shutting it again. What is that supposed to mean? "It is good, also..?"

Jason's eyes light up as he grins. "You thought I was French?"

He curses himself. "Your French is very good! How am I supposed to know?"

"I'm American," He says, in English this time. And when Charles' eyes widen in horror, Jason's grin widens further, delighted, teasing, "Oh that's cute, so you thought I was Italian after that."

Charles groans and rubs his hands over his red face. "I did not realise, okay? Your accent is very believable..."

At least, Charles thinks to himself rather sourly, at least the distraction is working.

"Pretty funny, though," He points out, and then laughs when Charles makes a face at him. "C'mon, it's not that bad. You could have--," The elevator jumps once, and Jason flinches harshly, grabbing hold of Charles' arm without warning.

Before Charles has the time to say anything, Jason lets go off him, the colour that had been returning to his face draining away again. "Sorry," He mumbles, voice slightly shaky.

"Hey, it's fine," He shifts closer until their shoulders are touching. "We're going to okay, you know this, right?"

Jason leans his head back against the wall. "Yeah, I know... Still don't like it, though. But," He clears his throat. "I'm glad I'm not alone."

Charles gives him a weak smile. "Will you be fine, once we're out?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll just need a moment. Drink something--Eat something too, that's even more important."

"Are you staying nearby?" He doesn't have anything food-related with him, but once the doors open, he can get something from his apartment if he needs to.

Jason nods slowly. "I'm staying in an apartment here, 8th floor. I'll grab a small snack and then cook a late dinner."

At the reminder that he hasn't eaten dinner either, Charles' stomach grumbles, and he lets out a soft groan of embarrassment. "Yeah, I should do that too."

The elevator creaks again, and this time, Charles offers his arm for Jason to grab hold off. The sound keeps going for a little bit, and then finally, finally, the elevator starts moving again.

"Oh thank fuck," Jason breathing out, and Charles lets out a startled laugh in response. The relief was palpable.

He gets up and offers his hand, which Jason takes, and he helps him up as well. Jason gives him a grateful smile in return.

When the doors open on their floor, Jason says something under his breath that sounds suspiciously similar to 'at least it's not as dramatic as bursting open a coffin' and they get out.

"Didn't take as long as they said," He comments, when he looks at the time on his phone.

"Thank the heavens for that." Jason grins at him, and he's still looking a bit pale, and now a bit tired as well, but it's better, much better than before. "Hey, how can I thank you?"

Charles blinks. "Thank me? I was just trying to help."

"How about I cook for both of us?" He offers.

"Oh, really, you don't have to do anything for me." Charles gives him a smile, not entirely sure why he'd want to.

Jason looks at him, his blue eyes scrutinising. "Well, I know that, but I'd really like to thank you for helping me, Charles, to show you my appreciation. That, and I'm a pretty good cook."

And oh. Is he flirting with Charles? He's not entirely sure, but he can't exactly say no to good food either.

"I'll be the judge of that," He says cheekily. "But fine, if you give me the time to go home and shower, I will come over after."

"Fine with me," Jason agrees easily. "I'm staying in 816, so I'll see you in a bit."

Charles smiles in return. "See you soon."

Huh. Maybe that rickety old elevator isn't so bad after all.

[goldammerchen]

@polpruweek day 3: 19th Century

CW: Violence and Strong language.

Feliks' Tea

(<1k words / AO3)

Back at home, in a place he doesn't own...

Feliks was about to take the first sip of his freshly brewed tea, when by someone knocking at the door with a heavy hand interrupted him. Even when he was willing to see who was at his door, he had a bad feeling about it. Going back home had its, inconveniences, but his heart called him back once again.

When he opened the door, the visitor immediately stuck one of his shoes in the door—as if Feliks hadn't smashed intruders feet in the past.

"You're back," Gilbert said the obvious, with an annoying smirk on his face. He was wearing a dark blue ceremonial dress uniform, with a red collar and details—when was the last time he saw Prussia not wearing a uniform?

Feliks frowned. "You found where I live now, like, not creepy at all."

"Aw, would you have preferred to see Ivan?"

That made Feliks curl his lip.

"Also, you chose my place. It was just a matter of time before I found you."

His blood boiled in his veins. "What do you want—? And why can't you wear something that isn't an uniform?"

Gilbert opened his mouth, then crocked smiled. Without answering, and sooner than the resident could react, the unwanted visit pushed the door and Feliks along with it.

"Hey!" Feliks managed to keep this balance, though not to push the trespasser away. He slammed his own door, making some wall ornaments fall. Craning his head back and scrunching his eyes, Feliks clenched both of his fists. For disgrace, he wasn't in a position where he could use violence first, so he needed to navigate whatever bullshit was Gilbert scheming.

Knowing Gilbert was no more than a ruffian, even if he pretended to be a military nobleman around his people, he likely was looking for a excuse to beat him.

"Oh, sorry, I thought you invited me inside." Gil cackled, walking all the way to the chair in front of Feliks' untouched cup of tea (now popular there, not just a drink of the nobles or considered just medicine). "Nice house: how much is the rent?"

Of course Gilbert had to brush into his face the fact that Feliks didn’t have any properties under his name now. He eventually lost or sold them all while constantly moving all around his own house and around Europe, when it was the best to leave for to a while.

"None of your business—Leave my herbata alone!" He smacked Gilbert's hand, after he extended his arms towards it. Feliks sharply pushed his chair back, and as sharply sat on it. "I don't want to play your games, just tell me what you want and go away."

Gilbert leaned in his elbows on the table, intertwining his fingers below his chin. "All I want it's catching up."

Bullshit. Feliks glared at Gilbert. "As I said before, none of your business."

"So you're not going to talk about Paris? I thought you loved that city even more than your shitty cities. Well, not yours anymore."

"That again? How inventive." Feliks did his best to keep his face straight, clenching his jaw, and resisting the urge to bare his teeth. He pushed towards himself his cup of tea by the plate, seeing the steam coming from the cup.

The intruder burrowed his eyebrows for a second—now Feliks tried not to smile. Not giving him what he wanted should hopefully work.

"Mmm, so I guess you simply got bored of choking on French dick." Gilbert shrugged, raising his brows.

Feliks flared his nostrils. He looked the down his tea again, grabbed the cup, and threw the liquid to Gilbert's face, aiming for the eyes—fuck trying to deal with this carefully. Gilbert right away started to scream in pain, covering his eyes with hands, soon falling from the chair backwards.

Meantime Gilbert was wriggling in pain on the floor, Feliks merely fidgeted with a spoon, thinking that the visit was worth saving him from burning his mouth (oh, he really could be absentminded at times). Once Gilbert got on his feet, with a hand still on his face, Feliks did the same, whistling while taking the back of the chair. Faster than Feliks could lift it, Gilbert pulled a gun from his coat, taking aim by looking through his fingers.

Oh no—

He fell towards the wall, unable to control his body. Feeling blood dripping from his face, the last thing he remembered ahead of losing his consciousness, was Gilbert saying in a slightly accented Polish:

"I missed you too."

[coping-via-clint-eastwood]

No Plot or Title Only Fluff - CSI character insert

(A/N:  For my friend @featheredhunter )

Warrick walked through the hallways of WLVU, having to get to one of the classes which was the scene of the crime.  He came across a room with its door open halfway.  He could feel the air conditioning flowing out to him, but it was too quiet and too dimly lit for there to be a class happening.  Curious, he decided to poke their heads in and take a peek.  There was a teacher inside, quietly marking homework at her desk.  She looked up when Warrick came in.  "Oh I'm sorry-" Warrick started, about to leave, but the teacher stood up and took a few steps towards him, trying to get a better look at him.

"Warrick?  Is that you?"

Warrick gasped silently when he recognised who it was.  "Ria."  They tentatively approached each other.  Then, Warrick took his camera off and they hugged.

"I haven't seen you since we went here," Ria smiled.

Warrick gave a snorting laugh.  "Always with the lame jokes," he smiled affectionately.

"And I never knew a mischievous guy like you would make it into forensics," Ria smiled back, lightly bumping a fist on his chest.  She had never doubted that he was smart enough though.

"Well, I guess you can say I've grown up now," he grinned.  "What about you, what do you teach?"

"Music!  I got the job I wanted!"  And that was said with a big toothy smile.

Warrick laughed in impressed surprise.  "Congratulations."  They hugged again for that.

Just then, a voice at the door chimed in, "Hiya Warrick."  They broke apart to see Grissom had stuck his head around the door.

"Oh, sorry Grissom!  I was catching up with an old friend.  Ria this is my boss Gil Grissom."

"Nice to meet you," she said, waving a hand.

"Pleasure."  Directing his eyes to Warrick, he spoke, "Well, the scene's yours.  I was just retracing the path of the victim, trying to get into his headspace; then I heard your voice coming from here."

Warrick smiled sheepishly.  Realising something, he looked at Ria.  "Since your class is here, did you...?" 

"Sorry Warrick."  She shook her head.

The crime had happened in the dead of night, and Warrick knew it was a weak pursuit, but, "Worth a try."  Then, "Hey about we go for a coffee when this case is over?"

"Yeah!  I'd love to!"  was the enthusiastic reply.

Warrick bumped his fist on her shoulder with a grin.  "I'll see you then."

"See ya!"  When Warrick was moving to join Gil, Ria waved and called out, "Bye mister Grissom!"

"So long," he smiled before he and his son walked in opposing directions of where they had come from.  Ria sat back down to her work with a smile, a fondness in her heart at having seen her old friend again.

After a week or so, the CSIs found enough evidence to apprehend the murderer.  The team wanted to go out for breakfast together, so Warrick asked them if Ria could join them and also asked her if she would like to come along instead, and both parties agreed.  During the course of the investigation, they had talked a bit here and there, so they were at least a little bit comfortable with each other, and most of the breakfast was spent telling one another in on information that they had told someone else.  Warrick and Ria could even fill in for each other whenever someone had forgotten something.  They continued to spend time together after that, and so Ria became not only Warrick's friend, but the team's friend.  Aside from Warrick, she found herself drawn to Nick for how alike they were, Catherine for her strength, and Grissom for how kind, gentle and fatherly he was.

Grissom and Ria loved to share their interest in novels and poetry in French and Spanish, both of which languages Ria was fluent in; Grissom's French was moderate but he had much to learn as to Spanish, and Ria delighted in teaching him.  Grissom taught her ASL in return.  Like he did with everyone younger than him who was close to him, Grissom 'adopted' Ria, and they became close friends and a good support system for each other, sharing their moments of triumph and grief.

One Saturday night, or very early Sunday morning, Ria decided to visit them at the lab since she would have no classes the following, or that, day. The CSIs were sitting in the break room, lightly discussing the case in relaxed conversation while some of them ate snacks, so after greeting each other Ria just sat quietly, happy to spend silent company with them. At one point, Grissom put forth a way they could go about tackling the case, but Nick and Greg suggested different perspectives. And Grissom actually commended them and encouraged them to go for it. It was Ria's first time watching them work, so she was surprised to say the least, but she kept quiet. It was only when she was alone in the room with Gil that they spoke. "Hi," Gil smiled at her.

"Hey." She was still distant, visibly enough for Gil to tell.

He looked at her carefully and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just...I've never seen someone like you. Someone who readily accepts alternatives or correction. I mean I knew you were the kind of person to but...to actually see it happen is, surprising...my own father would have snapped and told me to obey him just because he said so." She sighed at the last part.

Gil shook his head. "You all need better authority figures. During a case a few years ago, I, like you said, 'readily accepted correction', freely admitting I was wrong, and they were shocked."

"Well you are the better authority figure!" It was humourous, but true.

He smiled bashfully at that. Both his natural humility and low self-esteem (another problem they stood in solidarity against) always made him shy with compliments. "You really think so?"

"Yeah! I mean, look at you! Do you know how badly we wish we were your actual children?"

"Don't worry I already consider you lot that." Ria had to laugh at how he was completely serious. And then the fondness set in. She accompanied the shift supervisor to his office where he was going to do his thinking over the case, sitting silently again. She stayed until she was getting tired, then after hugging everyone, and a big hug from Gil, she went home to bed.

[meat-the-sullivans]

Candy just be sending Cade texts during school complaining how boring it is without him and keeping him up to date on annoying kids and teachers lmao

but also positive stuff, like immediately letting him know when she got a good grade in French or a teacher told her she did a good job

and obviously stuff like

"bully X was super rude to person Y so I shared some bonbons with them 🥰"

"also, kinda off-topic, but later that day they were send home due to stomach cramps and vomiting 🤔"

ooor

"someone's been stealing my food, and today I took some chocolate I made myself, but it disappeared from my bag 😩"

"either way, this one kid apparently shit his pants during an exam after lunch lol"

Cade rolls his eyes at his phone, sticking it back into his pocket. A certain headsick, cotton Candy girl had been texting him all afternoon while he was stuck at work with his brother.

He chuckled under his breath as he went back to skinning the deer head he was working on. Demetri poked his head in through the back, checking in on his younger brother.

“I’m pleasantly surprised to see your almost finished” the older man commented.

“I’m not incompetent, you know this.” Cade glared at his brother.

“It was a compliment, but if you’re going to be hostile about it-“

“What do you want Sully, or did you come back here just to shadow me?”

Sully lets out a sigh.

“I was going to tell you perhaps I was too harsh the other day. You’ve shown initiative and have taken this first week of suspension quite well. All things considering.”

“But I had to go and run my mouth, got it. So what, now I have to work here when I’m back at school too?”

Demitri slowly pulls the clever out of his hand and places it flat on the metal table. Forcing the youngest boys attention to be solely on him.

“You done?”

Cade just nods, letting out a huff.

“A friend of mine brought it to my attention, that perhaps it would be beneficial for you to socialise more with other children your age. I didn’t have many friends when I was your age either, and it’s not fair of me to keep you locked up in here all day. You’re free to go.”

Cade fidgeted with his hands, missing the weight of the heavy knife in his palm.

“What’s the catch?”

“You help on the weekends, so I can spend more time with your niece. She’s acting up in school as well and refusing to speak English. Dipper requires more attention.”

“What is with these Americans, now it’s wrong to not want to speak this stupid language? Dipper didn’t do shit.”

“I’m not saying I agree with them, but we have to follow the rules if we want to stay here Cade, you know this. Stop being facetious, you’re plenty old enough to understand how these things work. You remember what father taught you?”

“Of course I do, he only beat it into me everyday.” Cade hissed, “fine. Can I go?”

Sully looked toward the doorway to dismiss the younger boy.

“Tell miss Walker I said hello.”

Cade paused in the doorway, not bothering to look back at his brother.

“How did you-“

“Your ears flush pink when you’re thinking about her- you’re not as immune to human emotions as you think…”

Cade grumbled under his breath, shoving the door open with force and ripping off his apron, throwing it down on the counter. Few people got under his nerves as consistently as his brother and came out of the interaction unscathed.

Cade decided it was best to lay low for a while, and stay on Sully’s good side. But it didn’t mean he couldn’t have some fun. He pulled out his phone to text the one person who was worth anything in this town.

Candy:

Those idiots deserved it, nice work by the way. The test and those goons. Study session in the park tonight.

It wasn’t phrased as a question and he hoped Candy would understand that. He wanted to see her tonight, but he knew much studying wouldn’t be done. Cade needed to decompress, his annoyance was on high and she’s the only thing that made a lick of sense to this boy.

[dontatmethanks]

Hear me out, I totally picture that in the modern world Hange would be a little monster(Lady Gaga fan) and they would sing and dance to Lady Gaga songs in the middle of the night and grumpy neighbor Levi would report them to the landlord at least biweekly.

I wanted to write something for this because it was too good 😭 thank you anon and enjoy 💜

—

Noisy

He heard the music as soon as he stepped out of the shower, hair dripping onto his neck and shoulders while the steam cleared around him. It wasn’t wall vibrating or window shattering, but still a nuisance. It was late, he was exhausted from his earlier shift at the firehouse and he wasn’t looking forward to being disturbed from his sleep.

Hastily, he dried himself off and securely wrapped a towel around his waist, then hurried out of the bathroom and into his bedroom to search for a change of clothes.

His stupid neighbor wasn’t going to get away with it this time.

“ I asked my girlfriend if she'd seen you 'round before- oh yeah!

She mumbled something while we got down on the floor, baby

We might've fucked, not really sure, don’t quite recall- oh yeah!”

Scratch that about them not not being too loud, because now he had the misfortune of knowing what they were singing along to. Yes, it was loud enough that he could make out their voice aside from the music and his window wasn’t even open.

A flash of moment caught his eye, drawing his gaze over to said window. Unfortunately for him, his window had a direct view into the neighbor’s. Normally he’d keep his blinds drawn to avoid peeping, but in his haste earlier, it had slipped his mind to do so. His neighbor on the other hand, never bothered to do so, and to add insult to injury, their window was wide open.

Levi’s eyes narrowed, and he tossed the shirt in his hand onto his bed as he crossed the room to pry open his window and stick his head out.

“Oi!”

“ That boy is a monster!” The brunette belted over his shout, and to his horror spun out in front of their window.

In nothing but their underwear.

He jerked his head back inside and ran a hand down his reddening face.

What were they thinking prancing around half naked in front of an open window? Anyone could see, just why did it have to be him? It was fine, he just had to tell them to turn the music down then he could cover his window up.

“I wanna just dance, but he took me home instead

Uh-oh, there was a monster in my bed-“

The raven stuck his head back out and pressed his hand over his eyes before trying again.

“Turn that shit down!”

“-We french kissed on a subway train

He tore my clothes right off,”

Of course it was drowned out once again, only causing his annoyance to spike. With a low growl, he ripped his hand away to glare daggers at his neighbor who was now doing a shimmy and waving their hips around. The heat on his face rose a degree and trickled down his neck and chest. He hated the way his mouth went dry at the sight. He meant to turn away but he couldn’t bring himself to peel his eyes from their bronze skin and black sports bra.

“He ate my heart, heat ate my he-AHH!”

Finally, they had caught sight of Levi watching them with a squinted glare through the window during mid spin. Their face flashed so red he thought it might pop, then they dropped down onto the floor and out of his view before crawling over to shut the music off.

“Heyyyy, Levi.” They greeted him, poking their head up and over the window frame.

“…Good evening, Hange.”

Chuckling awkwardly, the brunette pushed themselves up and leaned out of the window a bit.

“Did you need something?“

The audacity.

Levi’s scowl deepened.

“For you to turn that shit down and go the fuck to sleep at a reasonable hour like the rest of humanity.” He replied flatly.

“Are you worried about my sleep schedule?” Their eyes widened dramatically as they placed a hand over their chest. “That’s very sweet of you Mr. Fireman.”

He groaned, then made a move to turn away from the window but Hange stopped him.

“Wait, wait!”

“It’s almost midnight, four-eyes, quit screeching.” He scolded, facing his neighbor once more. “And for fuck sake, we’re in the middle of November, put something on.”

“Well aren’t you a hypocrite,” They snickered and jerked their chin at his bare torso, eyeing it up shamelessly. “Or are firemen immune to colds?”

“Is everything that comes out of your mouth pure nonsense?” Levi scoffed.

Hange didn’t miss the way that the flush on his face deepened under their prying eyes. Their lips curled up into a mischievous smile.

“Say, Levi, does my bare skin make you nervous?” They cooed, voice dipping into a low husk that sparked something involuntary within him.

A sharp bout of laughter spilled from their lips when he recoiled and jerked back into his room. He slammed his window shut and by then they were doubled over and wheezing out of their window.

“Sweet dreams!”

He was still very red in the face as he drew the blinds and dressed himself. Hange pulled themself together and wiped their teary eyes before shutting their window as well. After getting dressed, they flashed a fond glance over at his window before pulling their blinds together.

—

The next morning, a noise complaint was slipped under their door, signed by the landlord himself.

“Motherfucker!-“ They shrieked, “That short-ass fucking garden gnome!”

Levi grinned from where he sat by his window sipping a fresh cup of tea.

-End-

[stilemawillow]

MTIJ | Ch.27 Not to Depress, But Listen Here

|mtij masterlist|

pairing: levi ackerman x reader

word count: 12.1k

summary: a girl with a variety of hidden complexes has to live with a french asshole for nine months. easy? on the surface. problematic? definitely. romantic? not too much, or at least they’d make it a point to say so everytime when asked. the end? please, their dynamic isn’t as simple as that.

Work, work, work.

Work, work, work.

Work, work, work.

Work, work, work.

Work, work, work.

It sounded like dripping water, except it was the sound my brain cells made as they died one by one ever so slowly the more I had to deal with Melinda’s bullshit. Melinda Carter, a brief overview would be – my superior and monitor at work and the biggest walking headache I’d encountered in my life. A longer physical overview would be – long blonde hair with dark roots, bright red lipstick that reminded of Hitch, harpy-like acrylic nails, wide hips swaying with each step she took in the clothes that were not dress-code appropriate, forty years of age, heavy cougar energy accompanied constantly by a sweet condescending “darling” concluding each sentence she spoke and, of course, a second-hand Gucci bag with what most people would call a rat in it.

Here was a comparison that would make you understand a bit better my disposition – I felt, undeserved as it was, I hated her an iota more than Hitch. You feel me yet? Either way. The point here wasn’t to focus on the bad, but to give a better grasp of how the good in between was greatly enunciated and appreciated against the background of it. The good in this case came in even intervals – those, in the practical sense, would be called breaks, and they broke the constant chant the scene opened with. Breaks were leisure, away from Melinda Carter, most often spent tucked against the back of the supermarket. This one did not come with as much relaxation as I’d expected.

“Annie, for the last time, I don’t want to third-wheel on your date with Erwin tomorrow,” I grumbled into the speaker as Adam handed me my coffee with a smirk, a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth. It was a bad habit – with that I meant both my growing friendship with him and the way he thought nicotine-stuffed tobacco would rid him of his stress.

“We can always make it a double date,” he supplied ever so kindly after inhaling from the aforementioned nicotine source. I stuck my tongue out at him with a half-hearted glare and took a sip from my coffee, patiently listening to my best friend complain over the phone about how she had important things to share with me and Saturday was obviously one of the very few days I had no work on.

“(Y/N), I sincerely hope you realise that ever since you got this job two weeks ago, I’ve seen you only once. That says a lot considering the usual schedule we’ve maintained for the past fifteen years. This won’t be third-wheeling. It’s my chance to see you – and your chance to ask Hanji more about Petra since she’ll be coming along,” the blonde argued wisely – the only voice of reason I seemed to have both in and out of my head. A snort left my nose as Adam pushed my shoulder jokingly and almost made me choke on my coffee. I glared at him and pushed back, making him laugh.

“First, I’m sorry our schedule got ruined because I want to see you too, Ann. Second, I told you the Petra thing doesn’t matter anymore. If Mr I’ve-Got-A-Stick-Up-My-Ass doesn’t want to share, Hanji won’t either. Plus, I haven’t talked to him normally once in the past two weeks and now you expect me to interrogate his friend about his past? Say yes after letting it sit for a bit,” I warned with a knowing look, realising Annie truly was the only voice of reason I had and she would actually ponder it. Levi and Petra were taboo right now, moreover when mentioned in the same sentence, and I didn’t want to go back on my promise of keeping my pride safe after my last argument with Levi. Buckling in front of Hanji under the impression it would finally clear my conscience and mind of all doubts was plain stupid and rather humiliating, if I were to admit so myself.

“I won’t say yes because you won’t be interrogating her. We won’t ask anything at all if that’s what you want. But at least come and try to help me. I still feel uneasy around Erwin’s friends and Hanji’s the one who spends the most time teasing us about our… thing. If you learn anything about Ackerman it’ll be just a bonus.” I could almost feel the pouty face she was making on the other end of the line. Annie had a tendency to pout – much like me – when things didn’t go her way. I could bet she was doing it now, so I only took another sip of coffee before speaking.

“Fine, I’ll come and help you survive in the hard conditions,” I groaned in defeat, making the blonde snort like she’d been expecting this breaking point of mine. Of course, she had. Like I expected hers whenever I asked something of her. It was just the way things between best friends went – a bit of push and pull, but, in the end, a happy ending. Adam smirked at me and I pushed at his shoulder when he was exhaling, making the smoke slipping past his curled lips dance in the air when he chuckled. I’d sincerely hoped for him to choke and entertain me further but this much would do for now.

“Finally. Thank you,” the blonde mused tiredly, making me huff as I threw the raven next to me a warning look. At the thought of going out tomorrow, my heart sank a bit. Levi would, as per usual these past few days, not care one bit about that – I’d go in and out of the house and he’d ignore me, forcing my mind deeper into a state of repressed spite and despair.

“No problem, girl friend. I’ll see you tomorrow, so text me the details,” I sang before hanging up and putting the phone in the pocket of my uniform. It was the plainest thing I’d ever worn, but it wasn’t orange, which was a good start. “No double date,” I blurted out the moment Adam’s twinkling blue hues told me he’d open his mouth and ask what time he should pick me up. Rejected, he pouted and used what I’d learned was supposedly his best method with the girls – namely, the puppy dog eyes.

“Why not?” He whined innocently, big blue eyes attempting to pierce my steel resolve. Then he lifted the cigarette to his mouth for another drag and I rolled my eyes at the bad boy attitude he displayed. He came to work dressed in leather jackets and combat boots, knowing the evenings when we got off would be chillier than the relatively cool mornings. He smoked and used that fuckboy sup nod only to get laughed at by my unaffected highness. His charms were yet to impress me but his loyalty and persistence were truly astounding. And without Levi’s definite presence in the picture, I’d let myself realise that.

“Because you don’t know anybody there and I haven’t agreed to a date with you,” I explained, making him pout as he stepped on the smouldering butt of the cigarette after dropping it to the ground with a smirk. I had to admit he was charming but in that delinquent manner I wasn’t exactly used to. Eren had always been good to a fault – good grades, good manners, good thoughts. He was smiles and cuddles, big hands, forehead kisses, pillow fights, video game competitions turned to nap dates and purposely sloppy hot-chocolate kisses that left behind a sweet moustache.

“Yet.” The blue eyes shone brightly, confidently, and I snorted in spite of the way I liked it when they did that. Adam Rivers was crooked smirks and bad sex jokes, tickle fights when I was in a bad mood, constant nudges and distractions, strong cologne sticking to my clothes, cigarette smoke being purposefully blown into my face to pester me and an excessive amount of French kisses if given the change – or so I guessed. For me, he was the stranger tides I wasn’t accustomed to.

“Whatever floats your boat, Rivers.” I took another sip from my coffee when my headache waltzed onto the scene, greeting us with its sickeningly sweet voice.

“Adam, Raven!” Another thing about Melinda Carter that further helped create a character profile – her preferences showed in the way she addressed people. First names for whoever she was fond of and surnames for little pests like me. “Break ends in a minute, go back inside!” And there she was, turning the corner so she could look at us while scolding us. Her lips were stretched in a smile as she stared at Adam and I quickly drowned the rest of my coffee before she could “confiscate” it. She really loved doing that to every drink Adam bought me during breaks and no, I wasn’t being conceited because she never took and threw the drink away when I’d been the one to buy it. Her childish jealousy, however, was the least of my problems.

“Coming, Miss Carter.” Adam winked at me before pushing himself off the wall and heading in the direction of our superior. I scowled at her next words as she put a manicured hand on his shoulder in passing. I was honestly surprised she could reach it since she was shorter than me and the most I could do was slap him straight in the nose if I reached up really hard.

“Just Melinda’s fine, darling,” she cooed lovingly and, much like I’d caught up with Natalie’s man-eater tendencies after leading two short conversations with her, here I managed to catch the cougar vibes Melinda’s smile towards Adam oozed on my very first day on the job. The next two I’d spent confirming it. And now, before I could continue briefly cussing at her internally, her radar came to life and her brown hues bore into mine. “Raven, are you coming, darling?” The darling she attached to sentences aimed at me always had a slimy quality to it.

“Yes, Miss Carter.” I pushed myself off the wall as well and renewed my mental cussing session once we’d all entered the building. Adam and I had three more hours till the end of our shift and I scowled at the shelves I had to stack with packs of chips and chocolate under the sharp gaze of Melinda Carter. It was a wonder why she was yet to get fired when she only looked at me work when she was supposed to occupy a position of physical labour as well. Last week, however, Adam had let me in on the secret of her success, which was getting into our boss’s tight pants and visiting weekly. Climbing the social ladder wasn’t limited to just one way, after all. I’d almost puked at the mental image and Adam had gotten a good laugh from the green tint of my face.

Work, work, work.

Work, work, work.

Work, work, work.

Work, work, work.

Work, work, work.

The next three hours were a ruthless purge of my brain cells because of every comment the blonde superior behind me made during the working process. I turned around once with the intention to sass her harder than I sassed myself in the mirror when I saw her filing her nails and humming a very off-tune version of an old Britney Spears song. Maybe Toxic. Either way, her humming had made the tone unrecognisable. And the minute she opened her mouth to announce the end of our shifts, I ran for the changing rooms as fast as I did back in the day when Hitch was “it” during a game of tag.

I walked out of the supermarket and Melinda stayed behind to commit to her weekly deal with our boss – outside, I saw Adam waiting for me. He was checking the time on his phone when I asked what he was still doing here, to which he replied he was going to walk me home. I reluctantly let him, mostly because I was in the mood for company. The journey to my house was spent in shoulder pushing and lots of dirty jokes while asshole-me endeavoured to compare Adam to Levi and Eren inside my head, giving me the intense urge to hit myself across the face. And once we were standing before the Raven household’s doorstep, the blue-eyed male smirked crookedly.

“So, I guess this is goodbye,” he said shortly, but didn’t move at all. My brows furrowed in mild confusion and I didn’t know what was going through his head but then he stepped closer to me and his lips parted. “Can I kiss you?” My mouth almost gaped at the question when his hand softly touched mine. I was set on saying “no” but a whole other sentence went out instead.

“I think it’s a bit early for that,” I reasoned, making him chuckle before his lips pouted in the slightest. I would’ve been lying if I said he didn’t look cute like that. The blue of his hues shone at me sadly and I didn’t have the heart to yank my hand from his loose hold. His fingers made me feel a bit better – not safe, but better in a way.

“So you don’t want to,” he concluded softly, making my brows furrow as I glared at him half-heartedly. I felt my fingers relax in his grasp when his face leaned closer to mine curiously. I didn’t shy away at the proximity but the crease on my forehead didn’t fade either. It was rather vexing that I couldn’t get Levi out of my head right now, along with the words (“That’s not the wisest choice, princess. Kissing him when I’m still here, I mean.”) he could potentially say in a world neither of us had their brain-to-mouth filter. Still, why should his stupid face disrupt private moments such as this when he wasn’t even present? It was annoying.

“You’re putting words in my mouth,” I argued with a scowl, getting the honour to listen to the ring of Adam’s amused chuckle a second later. His eyes glistened a bit brighter and he was smiling. I found myself liking the sound of his chuckle in this setting. I hadn’t heard Eren laugh in months and Levi rarely did as much as snort in amusement. Adam’s chuckle was a blessing.

“You’re cute when you get annoyed, you know that?” His fingers gave mine a light squeeze. I saw his face inching towards mine but it wasn’t out of curiosity this time. I took a small breath and braced myself. I had the right to kiss boys if I wanted to. I was single and I didn’t have to be faithful to anybody – (Levi’s face surfaced once more) anybody at all. Adam was kind and funny and he’d been flirting with me for the past few weeks with respectable endurance – so this could be a reward for his patience. His grip on my hand was gentle and I could smell his cologne, and his lips were about to touch mine when the front door opened. Too taken aback by the action, I stood frozen when I should’ve jumped back and put some distance between us. The only thing Adam did was open his eyes and stand straight, any hints of embarrassment on his face adroitly hid from all people present. I looked at the door only to be met with the horrific sight of the grey hues I’d been thinking about.

My throat went dry and my windpipe was tied in a knot, eyebrows drawn together in an indecisive scowl while a feeling of panic closely mirroring fear nestled deep into my chest. An excuse, an excuse, an excuse, quick, I had to think of an excuse. Levi’s jaw was tense and his eyes were glaring but he looked perfectly normal otherwise, which (was oddly unpleasant) wasn’t disappointing in the least. Adam coughed into his fist after letting go of my hand and met my gaze with a small reassuring smile. There was unease clinging to the corner. Yes, before you got to know him better, Levi was quite intimidating.

“I’ll be going. See you on Monday,” he said before turning around and making his way down the street. I soon lost sight of his lean figure round the corner. My mind was full of panic and excuses but none of them were exiting my mouth. Levi moved before I could say anything – it was then I saw the tight gloved hold he had on a pair of trash bags. He didn’t look at me in passing, but he left the door open so I could get inside. So I did, taking off my shoes and skipping into the kitchen to make myself a peppermint tea in hopes it would help with my anxiety. In my mechanical performance, I made an Earl Grey for Levi. I could bribe him into keeping quiet in front of my parents with it. Or maybe I could use it to apologise. My hand froze as it stirred a spoonful of honey into his tea and my eyes narrowed.

Why would I apologise? Because I found somebody I considered a potential boyfriend? A snorted spitefully when asshole-me answered: No, dumbass, because Levi saw you almost kissing Adam when he was the one kissing you some weeks ago and you feel guilty about it. I grumbled under my breath and before I could settle on a reason, the raven had closed the door behind himself and was currently in the process of removing his gloves. His nose scrunched up as he stuffed them into a drawer under the sink and I held back a huff – such a clean-freak. He took a seat next to me at the counter and I put the steaming cup of black tea in front of him. His fingers cautiously wrapped around it and he relished the aroma prior to taking a small sip.

“I see you finally moved on from Jaeger.” Was the first thing he said as I sat by him, blowing on my tea in order not to burn my tongue. The fingers on my left hand – previously tapping along the marble counter – halted and I stared at the stream coming off my beverage in hopes it would respond in my stead. A small “not exactly” floated about in my head, but my vocal cords dared not let it out. Having moved on would be incorrect and admitting it would leave my pride with a dint in it.

“Only technically,” I returned slowly, aware of the fact the intern traced every movement I made in wait for my insecurities to slip past the collected mask. I thought I had begun to move on from Eren because he hadn’t occupied my thoughts as incessantly around my birthday, but then Levi reverted to his ignorant ways and left me spiralling, rethinking the improvement I might or might have not made during our little vacation. Two weeks later, I didn’t know what to think anymore. I wouldn’t like confessing I felt too proud to fix my relationship with the ebony-haired intern because we hadn’t had a proper conversation in so long I couldn’t remember the last time he’d said more than five words to me in a row.

“I think you and whatever-his-name-is looked pretty comfortable.” And here, of course, came the sentence containing more than five words. His nonchalant behaviour made me wary of everything I said and did, to the point I wasn’t even angry that he’d pretended not to remember Adam’s name after I’d happened to mention it a few times last week. All my coherent thoughts included Levi’s opinion on the almost-kiss, so, as the genius I was, I rushed into explaining the situation and how I had absolutely nothing to do with the supposedly romantic atmosphere that had lingered in front of the house.

“We didn’t look comfortable because we were just saying goodbye and he decided to lean in and I went along with it,” I blabbered in a steady voice as the raven next to me snorted mockingly, drinking from his black tea without looking at me. I noticed the flex of his jaw when he gulped and the mild fidgeting of his fingers but pinned it to whatever topic was occupying his thoughts – most likely Petra because he acted similarly when she came up and he tried to repress things – before brushing it off altogether.

“There’s no need to give me excuses, princess. Kissing is normal when you like somebody.” He sounded bored but his eyes kept flickering in my direction as though seeking something – a particular little thing he wished to see. The first time he’d called me “princess” in the past three weeks and it had to be during this conversation – I wanted to use the marble beneath my cup to face-palm when I felt my own jaw clenching in mild annoyance. No, scratch that – mild anger sounded a lot better and more appropriate.

“So then we must really love each other, huh?” I returned with mocking spite, eyes meeting his only to observe how he refrained from spitting out a rude retort. His lips were pursed in obstination, as if to say that he wouldn’t humour this stupid comeback of mine, but I wasn’t exactly eager to hear his reply anyway. This was a mean joke but I could see it made both of us uncomfortable. We’d been acting almost like a couple before this whole Petra ordeal, safe for the kissing and… well, maybe we’d actually been acting exactly like a fucking couple and I saw a big problem in that.

“Very funny,” he droned flatly, sarcasm dripping from his lips as I licked my own before taking a sip from my tea and crossing my legs. Levi’s fingers were still fidgety but he seemed a tad bit calmer. “I told you it was duty.” The cold statement made my face pale in dread and spite all at once. Yes. He’d said that when I’d asked the truth of him. He wasn’t lying. He said he’d never lied to me – but that meant he hadn’t lied when he claimed he cared and yet he could’ve used several other methods to calm me down. So which was it? Duty or care? Both? Neither?

“It was duty, but you could’ve refused the last time,” I returned with a scowl, fingers wrapping around my cup as our eyes locked. Some months back, I would’ve considered his glare intimidating, but now I was just used to his limited supply of ways of expression. His thin eyebrow twitched in annoyance but he had no way of pretending my argument wasn’t truthful. Duty wasn’t strong enough to cover the benevolent fee of favours.

“You asked for it,” he countered coldly, eyes digging holes into my skull as my teeth gritted so hard I thought I might crack a few. I knew we’d come onto this kind of territory – the one I could only strive to avoid because I could under no circumstances explain to myself, much less him. I couldn’t side with my own actions – the only measly excuse I dared conjure up for myself was that my hormones had never been under my control around him and that was normal for a teenager coming face to face with an attractive individual, right? Supposedly. This natural attraction, however, I decided not to include in my defence. 

“I gave you a choice and I don’t remember requesting a beaten-up from an MMA fighter makeover.” My voice was harsh and my glare was condescending as I shrugged my leather jacket off, letting the faded barely-there imprints of his teeth show in the light. The bruises had gone away relatively quickly – but these would stay for a few more days. Astounding how long they persisted. Levi’s eyes reluctantly traced the diminutive marks as I stared at him pointedly.

“Princess, you’ve been a real pain in the ass lately,” he grumbled tiredly but his hues were yet to leave the tiny red crescents on my shoulders – they kept prodding at my skin as I snorted spitefully and took a big gulp from my tea. It didn’t help me calm down and it certainly didn’t help the tension disperse. Actually, if it weren’t for this stupid tea, we wouldn’t be leading this conversation right now – all it had filled me with was unrefined discomfort and strident inward fits of anger.

“Stealing the words from my mouth as per usual, asshole.” I glared at him and my lips pursed to the point they turned into a straight line. My mind was going into overdrive because I was trying really hard to keep my mushy thoughts all to myself. No, I didn’t miss him and I didn’t miss his voice or his mockery or the way in which his gaze would sometimes dip lower than my eyes. I stared at his lips and the word “no” repeated in my mind as he eyed my shoulders thoughtfully. The most I could say was that he didn’t look displeased with his work.

“You’re looking at me like that,” he stated after a few silent seconds – my focus left the lower half of his face to meet his eyes. I licked my lips in nervousness, suddenly feeling very vulnerable, very bare and very impulsive. I wasn’t over Eren. I didn’t want to use him to achieve it. He had Petra. I had Adam. It seemed fair. It seemed fair but (kissing anybody else felt nearly impossible) it wasn’t. My head was full of popcorn. So much fucking popcorn it was ridiculous I could picture nothing else at all. Popcorn had never been bad. But each had their own bowl so why would I ask him to make a new batch for us to share? Fucking ridiculous.

“Like what?” I inquired cockily, making the most of my acting skills in this discouraging situation. As pissed off as I should’ve been (just a little bit, just a brush, just a taste) I felt deprived of the raven’s attention, thus desperately craving some sort of compromise. But a compromise would be like an overdose – which sounded good. Embarrassing in terms of future and consequences but good nonetheless. Popcorn sounded too good right now, even if he’d be giving it to me reluctantly. And I wouldn’t ask for it – so he would let his robotic duty decide for him.

“Like you want me to kiss you.” His brow twitched in something I recognised as annoyance. I gulped, struggling to keep my hands on the counter at this point of things. Every fibre of my being was screaming at me to lean over and punch his mouth with my own – and while that wasn’t a romantic way of expression, it described perfectly how I felt and how that would translate into actions. “You have whatever-his-name-is, remember?” The raven propped his elbows on the counter, eyes not leaving mine. The blue specks were smirking at me in the stead of his mouth.

“You’re reading into my expression way too much, asshole.” I reclined in my chair with a careless shrug. This wasn’t the time for (popcorn, for fuck’s sake, I want popcorn) my hormones to take over. The further apart our mouths were, the better. I had no idea what had possessed me but I doubted I’d enjoy the aftermath of acting like a reckless fucking idiot. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair – I could cope with doing it to my own. I wanted to see if I’d nailed the amount of honey I put in his tea – I could cope with making one for myself and checking. Simple as that. My hormones could back down freely now – or so I liked to think.

“Does that mean you don’t want me to kiss you?” He tilted his head curiously, leaning a bit closer as I bit back a sigh. A giant sign in neon purple shone inside my head, reading in capital letters a definitive “NO”. I uncrossed my legs and decided to participate in this little game of his – who’d get tired of playing seductive first. Surely him, since he was the one who was less likely to be actually considering kissing the person who annoyed them oh, so much on the daily.

“Does that mean you will if I say no?” My voice went from being calm to being smooth and sweet like honey, and my expression was the equivalent of mocking innocence. I didn’t know what he’d say but I knew he’d back off any second now. He wasn’t all too hard to predict when it came to practical matters. Losing would be practical right now – logical, too. And he was Mr Logic, after all. However, if somebody had warned me of what would happen, I would’ve laughed in their face and dismissed it as a lie.

“I’m tired of talking.” His growl was followed by the screech of his chair. His hands were on both sides of my face and I had no time to take a breath when his lips crashed against mine – soft and tea-flavoured as per usual. I sighed into the kiss as my body raised from its seat and my fingers clawed at his back for support. Then I was pinned against the counter and Levi’s tongue was doing wonders to my forgetful mind. I gripped the back of his shirt in my fists and pulled him closer, biting into his lip hard enough for it to hurt a bit. He, on the contrary, was rubbing circles over the leftover bite marks on my shoulders with his thumbs, as though to preserve them. I groaned when his hips pressed against mine and my nails were scratching at his undercut. I was struggling to breathe, but he acted like he had all the time in the world.

“I’m so mad at you right now,” I huffed amid sloppy kisses as we pressed our bodies so close there was no space for air between them. He was warm and his lips were soft, and the way in which he huffed when I tugged on his hair drove me crazy.

“I can feel it,” he returned flatly, casually reminding me of the aggression with which I’d reciprocated. I could’ve glared but this felt like I’d been in the middle of a heavy withdrawal and I’d finally gotten a taste of my addiction. My reserve had long run out and my manners had joined. Levi was leaving pecks all over my face, partly mocking my eagerness to respond to his earlier kiss. I couldn’t care less – my cheeks were red and every spot his lips touched was warm and tingly. Except I wanted that sensation on my mouth, not my forehead right now. So I cupped his face and pulled him down, making him hum against my lips as my body curved into his in want. His fingers were on my waist, gripping and creasing my shirt, and keeping me painfully close.

“You’re acting like an asshole,” I muttered weakly after his mouth had left mine and then I could sense him biting back a chuckle when his lips brushed against mine, once, twice, three, then four times. I was getting dizzy and my heart was beating out of my ribcage. I needed to remind myself this was just physical attraction, just hormones – and I was too proud to showcase them often but that didn’t mean I’d renounced their existence altogether, which meant I was naturally inclined to respond to each and every kiss he was willing to initiate.

“I know,” he breathed before I tugged him down again, fingers burying in his locks in a desperate attempt to keep him close. I was, quite literally, euphoric. Finally, something that made me feel better and safe. I sighed as his lips kept brushing against mine gently, just barely, in such a frustrating manner my hands twitched in his hair. I wanted a longer kiss, I wanted him to bite me, suck on my neck, fucking prevent me from wearing a top with cleavage for the rest of my life if he so wished. This was completely and utterly intoxicating and I could feel it implacably shake my resolve to stray from such heat-of-the-moment impulses come to life. The fact he’d been the one to initiate it was astounding. And that thought made me hum against his mouth when I felt his fingers tighten their grip on my waist possessively.

Then, there were footsteps on the second floor. My blood froze and Levi stilled against me.

“(Y/N), are you home?” I heard my mother’s voice, closely followed by the closing of the bedroom door upstairs. I pushed at Levi’s shoulders and hastened to put my jacket on. I was red and struggling to catch my breath as the raven sat back in his chair, putting a hand to his mouth and gripping his cup of tea with the other. I grabbed my own and hastily fixed my hair as my feet rushed towards the staircase.

“Yes, mom,” I replied in a squeak, rushing past her in the direction of my room. “I just made myself tea. I’ll be going out with Annie tomorrow. Good night.” I slammed the door behind my back before she could respond. I sincerely hoped she hadn’t seen my face glowed as bright as a red traffic light in the middle of the night. I leaned against the door and my feet slid across the parquet floor until I was sitting on it, slumped limply with wide eyes and a conviction that my heartbeat was loud enough for all occupants of the house to detect.

A few seconds passed like that before I went to my bed in a haze, leaving my cup on my nightstand, kneeling on the floor, grabbing my pillow and burrowing my hot face in it. Then, well, then you could guess what happened. Or maybe not. I myself was not quite aware the high-pitched ecstatic scream had left the restriction of my mind and slipped past my lips until complete silence reigned once more. I didn’t know what made me so ecstatic – I only knew it felt good to let it out and relish it for a bit.

A bit was all I allowed myself, since my thoughts for the next fifteen hours were occupied only with circumstances and consequences. Annie cocked a thin blonde brow at me the next day, but I didn’t notice it, too indulged in my inner monologue on the topic of Levi and Petra. There was something fishy going on there. If they loved each other as much as Hanji made it appear, why had he kissed me? Was it possible he was trying to distract himself, too? That he still thought me a replacement and all that duty talk was bullshit?

The inquiries seemed to affect my otherwise good mood, but I’d known from the start I was fucked up emotionally and any Levi interjection would make things even worse. All in all, I was aware of what I was getting myself into. It would come to bite me in the ass, of course. Despite that awareness, my rational side had been told by selfish little me to fuck off for some time and let me enjoy my youth. I was smiling and humming to myself, not to mention being selfish for wishing to keep being that way at the price of not acting like my usual self. Annie seemed to notice that, despite her own relatively good mood which should’ve made her a bit less observant.

“You’re literally glowing. Something good happen?” She checked our surroundings and asked that only after making sure Erwin and Hanji were still busy in the store behind us. I shrugged but hid the lingering presence of yesterday’s ecstasy while saying “not much”. My arms were draped over both sides of the bench my friend and I occupied when she raised an eyebrow at me and the smallest of creases settled in the middle of her pale forehead. “That translates as a shit ton when it comes out of your mouth.” It certainly seemed to as of recent. “So?” She prompted, curious and suspicious at the same time.

“Adam walked me home and wanted to kiss me yesterday, but Levi ruined the moment and we had our first conversation in a while,” I explained casually, feeling a disturbing itch under the ring on my left hand. Annie was positive this wasn’t all that had happened and as to not keep her waiting, I resumed without her encouragement. “We started bickering as per usual and then… he kissed me.” I glanced down and the smile was tugging on the corners of my mouth. Annie gaped at me in shock. The realisation that yes, Levi had kissed me, yes, he’d made the first move and yes, I hadn’t done as much as ask for it, stirred something inside my chest in a weird way. Not to mention the fact he’d gone back to normal – three raps at my door to wake me in the morning, a coffee waiting for me on the counter and a flat comment that put my groggy mental abilities to the test.

“Excuse me?” My best friend was looking at me like I’d told her about an alien invasion – crop circles in my backyard, not having enough time to cut off the transmission by wrapping my head in foil wrap and all that jazz – not a kiss between me and my father’s intern. And in spite of that, I couldn’t bite back the wondrous smile anymore – because the “princess” he’d dropped during breakfast consisting of pancakes he’d gotten up extra early to make made me somewhat happier than the kiss itself.

“Yeah. My mom almost caught us and this morning we were back to normal. I can’t believe it.” I met Annie’s processing gaze and played with my fingers with a small hopeful gleam in my eye. I was like a five-year-old having met the Tooth Fairy in a dream. I didn’t want this fragile fantasy ruined for me.

“So he suddenly went back to joking and calling you ‘princess’ just because you kissed?” Annie’s slow inquiry made me believe the careful enunciation of each word was due to the fact she was not yet used to pronouncing everything in that exact order. I was on my way to answer positively when a voice called from over my right shoulder.

“Who kissed who?” Hanji piped from next to us, having exited the store unnoticed with Erwin trailing behind her. The tips of my ears flushed in embarrassment and I saw Annie’s colour drain from her face.

“Nobody kissed nobody,” I said with a steady voice, finding the idea of telling Levi’s friend about our kiss entirely unfathomable at the moment. Things between us were complicated, to put it mildly, and some exchange of saliva surely wouldn’t make that change. We weren’t exactly prone to sitting down and discussing matters calmly and straightforwardly. And I was quite sure we were both inept at being in tune with our feelings – even less willing to admit them if god graced us with the miracle of figuring out what was going on. Moreover, we looked light years away from thinking about becoming anything, which Hanji might hastily conclude in her shock. We weren’t compatible enough to be anything.

“I could swear you were talking about that,” she hummed thoughtfully, making my shoulders tense while Annie sighed. “Anyways, I’m so glad you’re with us today, (Y/N). We can use this time to get to know each other.” Hanji sat next to me when Erwin’s phone rang. Fearful of it being Levi, I observed my former teacher over my shoulder and my best friend, unfazed as could be, asked the brunette a question.

“Can you tell us embarrassing stories about shorty?” Her request made my lips purse as Hanji’s brown eyes gleamed while she clasped her hands together in evident glee. I was forced to turn around and ignore Annie’s knowing look – she thought she was doing me a favour. Well, if blackmail material was all this would be, I would sit through it. But if any mention of last time’s despondency showed in Hanji, I’d interject and change the topic instead of her. I wanted to know about that, yes. Just not from her.

“Oh, I have a ton of those! Okay, so one time during high school, you know I’m one year his senior, so I only heard the story from Farlan and Petra, but shorty was studying for some big exams and pulled four all-nighters, then overslept on the day of the exam. Petra told me he’d shown up thirty minutes late, still in his pyjamas, completely barefoot and almost taking the door off its hinges. They let him take it and he nailed it, sure, but we made fun of him for months and the high school hobbyist newspaper had a picture of him in it. I have it framed at home and Farlan brought him a pair of slippers because poor Levi cut his foot while running across town.” Hanji was chuckling in remembrance, Annie was biting back a snicker and I only huffed when Erwin cut in with a remark.

“Hanji, you know it’s not nice to embarrass Levi behind his back like this,” he reminded wisely from behind the bench, big hand over his phone’s speaker as the brunette pouted childishly.

“Come on, Erwin, don’t be a drag now, they’re friends.” She gestured in our direction while defending and we only exchanged a look of mutual complacency, knowing we’d officially won ourselves the “friend” pass. “Anyways,” Hanji hunched over like she was relating to us top-secret government secrets and we humoured the secretive behaviour by leaning forward and listening to her excited whispers, “this other time we got together during summer and I was buying the alcohol. Not discussing the process since that one’s blurry, but we ended up going to bed at sunrise. Levi had lost a bet earlier that day so he was wearing high heels the whole time and Petra had to hold him up whenever we walked. And when we woke up in the afternoon---“

“I should be going.” Erwin put a hand on the brunette’s shoulder, cutting the story short. All three of us looked up at the blond teacher and the reprimand shining in his blue eyes. “Hanji, you got what you needed from the store, so you can go home, too. (Y/N), Annie, I believe you can find your own way home?” The questioning rise of his thick brows stirred something within me – the old fighting spirit I’d forgotten during the past few months.

“We’re not five,” I sassed confidently while getting up from the bench and meeting the blond’s stern gaze. He seemed to notice what was about to go down – yet another quarrel, a classic that would obviously not cease, unlike the end of our career as high school students. To my biggest disappointment, the nostalgic tinge of the behaviour brought back memories of Eren. I pushed them down.

“You’re yet to become twenty-five either, Miss Raven,” the male reasoned calmly, with the authority of my teacher, which he no longer was. I realised it was one of the few things I missed about high school besides getting to see my friends on the daily. And so the old mental scoreboard was dusted off and rose from the ashes, waiting for an update.

“Thank you for the reminder, Mr Smith. Your mother often tell you that when you were our age?” I put my hands to my hips as the blond’s lips pursed in slight defeat at the comeback. His brown-haired friend put a hand to her mouth to muffle her laughter and my best friend only shook her head at the antics she was so used to. My victory was irrefutable and gratifying as I imagined the changing numbers on the scoreboard.

Mr. No-PDA-In-School-Miss-Raven: 389 My Highness: 340 Out Of A Total: 729

“Anyways.” Annie dispersed the defeat perched along her unofficial boyfriend’s shoulders by getting up and rounding it to get to him. Hanji and I, detecting the intentions of the action, exchanged looks of mutual “that’s some good romance shit” whilst acknowledging how much it had taken for our friends to get here. “I’m glad we spent some time together,” she muttered when he grasped her hand, making me squeal with delight internally. Oh, only if I had a snack to enjoy during the sweet display.

“And I’m sorry my job has to lessen it,” he added with disappointment while she gave him the smallest of smiles and stared into his eyes in that way we often see in movies. Thinking of it, there had been a time (not too far back) when I’d looked at Eren like that, too. Every second of each day, for months and years on end. The sight was nostalgic but not upsetting. Something in the middle – bittersweet in a good way, closer to familiar than to unpleasantly foreign. It was strange how the most insignificant of happy memories could make my eyes narrow sadly with their lost triviality.

“There’s always a next time,” Annie reassured wisely before the blond leaned down to plant a soft kiss to her forehead. She reddened a bit and seemed to be glowing, too, when she walked back to me and I stared at her with a wolfish grin. She was experiencing her first romance properly. The pining period was done – now she could relish in the joy I’d experienced for years and taken for granted. Just having somebody peck your forehead was a blessing when it came from the right person. Judging by their dynamic, he was the right person for her.

“You’re adorable,” I teased with a nudge to her shoulder before she straight-up punctured my ribcage with her elbow. I had time to groan prior to Hanji getting up and bidding us an enthusiastic goodbye with one of the biggest and most genuine grins I’d ever seen. We waved, but I was the only one smiling. Then Annie and I were heading to where I’d parked the Audi when she decided to return to the point we’d left behind.

“So, kiss?” I snorted at the inquiry and decided to disregard the fact I knew exactly what she meant for the sake of seeing her annoyed expression.

“No thank you, Ann. You’re not Levi.” I pouted weakly, making her elbow me again. I doubted my body would be able to take more of her violent behaviour, but it had held out for over a decade so far, so I hoped it would keep going for another one at least. Maybe, instead of wearing out, each harsh act would strengthen its immunity.

“Hilarious. I was talking about his sudden change of heart.” Annie rolled her eyes and I shrugged, unlocking the Audi. My best friend got in the front seat and I started the engine before resuming our conversation with a clueless hum. It felt good to have retrieved control of my facial muscles, otherwise I would’ve spent our discussion grinning like the love-sick high school girl I was far from becoming.

“And I was on my way of telling you I have no idea what triggered it. It’s not like the kiss acts as a switch that tells us how to act towards each… other…” I trailed off and the trail of words ended there while my eyes observed the front blankly like I’d been hit by the biggest epiphany of my life. My friend rolled her eyes and shook her head, an obtrusive feeling of annoyance overwhelming her mind at my dumbassery.

“Don’t you dare even think that it does,” she threatened, pinching the bridge of her nose as I slowly came to realise it did – because each kiss flipped the switch from cold to normal and I didn’t know what to do with that ridiculous piece of information.

“But it does,” I argued in flat wonder, driving down the main street and heading towards Annie’s home. The blonde looked tired of both me and life at that moment. Maybe a little more of me since this was the first time she’d had to deal with so much ever since William – but even then it hadn’t been like this. My relationship with Eren had never included the awkward “what are we feeling?” emotional crap because we’d been kids who’d thrown headfirst into something that had turned out manageable, but now that he was (over four thousand miles away – yes, I spent three hours calculating the distance) in Germany, there was no way for me or Annie to escape from these prosaic problems of mine if I wanted to move on. Still, she set out to argue I couldn’t possibly be serious, to which I only snorted. It had a warped logic of its own and I’d listen to it even if that meant my friend’s opinion on the topic of my intelligence would take a sudden leap off a very high imaginary cliff. “It makes sense, though. That means the next time we kiss, he’ll go back to being cold to me and---“

“(Y/N), kissing Ackerman doesn’t work as a switch for his behaviour,” Annie cut off curtly, making my mouth clamp shut in silent protest as I glared at the road ahead. We stopped at a red light and Annie’s glare was on my right temple, attempting to burn the words into my brain. “Say it.” Came the stern command.

“Kissing Levi doesn’t work as a switch for his behaviour,” I muttered weakly, making the blonde snort in satisfaction. My hesitation on the matter wasn’t so much a result of me being naïve but rather a result of me being very desperate to finally receive a plausible explanation regarding his emotions. Anything that made even the slightest bit of sense would work. “It adds up, though,” I whined helplessly while stepping on the accelerator once the traffic light turned green. Annie scowled and rolled her eyes, not daring to push my shoulder because I was driving. One of the perks of it, if I could say so myself.

“It’s just a coincidence,” she grumbled with a glare, tired of my dumbassery and how much I let it affect my words and actions. Truthfully, I wished I could be that dumb. I knew Levi was no lamp and there was no switch – like nothing was ever simply black or white. There were at least fifty thousand shades of grey before that, which, by the way, was nowhere near being properly portrayed in that borderline pornographic movie a year or two back in time.

“Then if I kiss him today and he goes back to being cold it’ll be another coincidence?” I challenged doubtfully, pursing my lips in defiance while Annie snorted in exasperation and crossed her arms. Her voice was gruff when she spat he wouldn’t turn cold, making me hum mockingly as I parked in front of her apartment complex. I didn’t believe it either but, of course, I needed some kind of proof and I was torn on the matter of obtaining it – kiss Levi and risk another Cold War or let myself be dumb and naïve, unlike what my parents had raised me to be. “And if he does?” I asked stubbornly, making Annie groan in utter defeat while getting out of the car and, holding a hand to the hood, leaned down with one last loving sentence.

“You’re really making me want to kill myself right now, (Y/N).” Her gaze met mine and I grinned, sensing somewhere behind the cold tone my dear Annie’s caring voice. She was worried – the sentence told me, and the voice she used agreed. Things were complicated enough as it was and she probably wished for me to keep out of any trouble that might ensue just when everything had begun gradually fading into that shade of “fine” she’d reassured me would at one point come back. But, then again, I was sure I could handle this one.

“I love you, too, Ann.” I chuckled as the blonde closed the car door with an abrupt click – another proof she wasn’t mad, just concerned and overreacting a bit. We both were. I watched her get into the building before driving off and spending the five-minute ride home in profound thoughts regarding our conversation. I’d mechanically got through the process of parking the Audi in the garage and entering the house through the kitchen door with a loud declaration of my presence: “I’m home!”

“Stop screaming,” Levi grumbled from the couch in the living room as my brows raised in slight wonder and I went to leave my shoes by the door. I stayed silent, to which the intern decided to give me a report of my parents’ locations. “Your father’s at the office and your mother’s out with friends.” Predictable enough. And he was here, dealing with papers at the coffee table. For a second, I pitied him – burdened with work my father was supposed to be handling – but knowing it was the one thing he hated most, I purposefully distanced myself from the emotion.

“And you?” I piped, bare feet padding over the parquet floor before smoothly sliding over the kitchen tiles. I opened the fridge with disinterest, feeling, strange as it might sound, more and more at home with the passing of each second. My mother and father absent on a weekend, leaving me all alone to deal with the house and whatever else I might think of. A silent living room, a quiet office, a dark art room and a bunch of dust waiting to be wiped – everything was so normal I didn’t even consider Levi’s presence a discrepancy. Not at all. It added a sense of company I’d come to enjoy to the space.

“Doing paperwork,” he answered shortly as I closed the fridge and leaned my back against its door. I’d done a considerable amount of thinking in the car on my way here and concluded a small experiment wouldn’t hurt – or, at least, not me. Seeing as Levi was currently benign and calm, I could test that and see if he’d go back to being cold without the help of a kiss. It was a risk because he could do just that, which would once and for all prove he was a human being I had no right to toy with. Still, everything in the name of science. Or, in this case, in the name of trying to unravel the intricate ball of string my father’s intern’s character was.

“I’m giving you a deal,” I began confidently, making him glance at me from his place on the couch as I rummaged in the cupboards for a cup and the black tea he liked. And while my hands busied with preparing his drink, my mouth explained the deal I had in mind with as much nonchalance as I could muster. “I’ll make you tea and – promise not to react drastically – you’ll tell me about Petra.” Having my back turned to him at that moment helped both of us in its own way – I didn’t get to see the kind of expression he wore and he didn’t get to see the hesitant furrow of my brows.

“I thought we agreed---“

“No, asshole,” I cut off with a pointed look, slamming closed the cupboard where the honey was, “we just argued a lot and didn’t talk for a long while afterwards. I can count the times we’ve agreed on something on my left hand – and this wasn’t one of them.” My tone had grown a bit colder but Levi couldn’t argue because I was right – there had been no agreement because agreement required discussion and discussion required calm statements supported by legitimate arguments. None of those had taken place. The raven’s defeated sigh was the only thing I needed to hear to understand his benevolent mood was yet to be shaken.

“On one condition – don’t say I didn’t warn you wouldn’t like it.” A minute-long pause had preceded the statement. Just in time for his tea to be done. I put a hand to my heart to reassure Levi I took full responsibility – in a joking manner nonetheless – for what I was about to hear and how it would affect me.

“Promise. My fault if I get scarred for life.” A small smirk pulled at the corner of my lips as I fixed his tea according to his taste and waited for it to cool down a bit before sauntering towards the coffee table with the steaming beverage in hand. I pushed aside the stacks of papers sitting on the glass surface and took their place, he took the cup from my hold and wrapped his fingers around it with a sigh while I made myself comfortable in my spot, knees bumping into his during the process. Neither seemed to react but I did sense the way in which he stood a tad bit straighter afterwards. And when my expectant gaze dug into his eyes, he sighed once more.

“Petra Ral was the prettiest girl I’d seen in my life. She was kind and her smile shone. She was my girlfriend for three years and my fiancé for one.” The three flat sentences he started with sounded almost painful to pronounce. His brows were furrowed and his lips were pursed, grey eyes pinned to the steam coming off his cup. I, on the other hand, found myself in a deep state of shock.

None of this makes sense, asshole-me protested heatedly inside my head, why did he kiss you if he’s engaged? Why did he kiss you at all if it was like that from the start? I had to pretend it didn’t affect me, but it did. Was this infidelity? Had both of us been unfaithful to our respective significant others? There was a woman out there whose man I’d kissed – that was the furthest thing from fine this whole situation could’ve provided me with, for fuck’s sake. 

“You’re getting married?” I sounded like a toy running out of batteries and my throat felt like it was stuffed to the brim with sandpaper. My eyes were wide and my jaw was slack but something was gripping my heart. It hurt a bit. The raven inhaled deeply, gaze not daring to leave the safe haven of the beverage in his cup for fear he might see something he wouldn’t like. Or so I thought – because he surely wouldn’t want to face the girl he’d been kissing behind his fiancé’s back. I hadn’t thought Levi a cheater – ever – and something, in spite of the connected dots here, still prevented me from thinking it.

“Was,” he underlined with a heavy voice. He almost sounded guilty. My brows furrowed in confusion and I watched him take a sip from the tea I’d made before starting to – astoundingly enough – babble. I hadn’t heard him babble before. Not once. “She wanted a spring wedding. She said the cake would be giant despite the fact we wouldn’t have many guests. We had decided on a humble ceremony, mostly because neither had the expenses for a grand one. My mother wanted a grand one. We had no time to clear the details but I know she would’ve wanted a chocolate cake.” The sentence came to an abrupt end as his grey hues stared at the rim of his cup blankly. It was that lost look again – appearing for the first time in what felt like ages. I felt the temperature drop and my chest hurt for some reason.

“What happened? You obviously love each other. I mean, planning a wedding and all. Did you---“

“I didn’t do anything to make her stop loving me,” his brief glare cut off my bewildered interrogation, “but we aren’t getting married because of me. Because I was a fucking idiot and I didn’t---“ He cut himself off and I saw him choke on (guilt, pain, panic, regret) something as the words died at the back of his throat. He took a second to swallow it before continuing in a much calmer but shaky manner. He didn’t look at me once even when his hand reached to leave the tea on the table next to me. “I didn’t fucking think about it. I didn’t know. Things like that don’t happen every day,” he defended weakly, as though talking to himself, answering questions of his own – and it made my face contort in immense puzzlement.

“I don’t get it,” I said weakly, hands clutching the edge of the table in helplessness. I couldn’t understand this if he didn’t explain it to me and every sentence out of his mouth was a set of new questions pushing at the back of my throat. Levi got a hand through his hair with a sigh and I noticed the spiteful clench of his jaw. He was forming the proper sentence or so I thought – then he blurted out the small piece of information that made everything fall into place in less than a second.

“When you met shitty-glasses and she mentioned Petra, she did it in the past tense for a reason.” It was then he met my eyes for the first time since the beginning of this conversation – except I wasn’t looking at him. I was looking past him, at all the mistakes I’d made, everything I’d said, and reflecting on how it had affected him every single fucking time. “Petra’s dead, princess. She’s been dead for nine months now.” The final statement was a sledgehammer digging a nail deeper when the plank had already cracked under the pressure. Now it split in two and I split with it.

Maybe I’d hoped for him to say something else. Say I hadn’t been bringing up his dead fiancé and talking about her without the respect she deserved, say I hadn’t screamed at him for protecting his privacy, say I hadn’t treated her death as an article in a newspaper, say I hadn’t reprimanded him for holding onto somebody dear to him he’d lost, say I hadn’t kissed him without his consent without caring at all what he felt, say I hadn’t urged him to have sex with me when, in fact, he was still in love with a person whose death he was learning to cope with. He didn’t say it. Any of it. Because I’d done all those stuff and I was a selfish person who held no regard for what others felt even when I treasured them. Two words – that much was enough to make me the villain.

“Oh, fuck, I’m so sorry.” My brows furrowed and my voice was pleading, begging him to forgive me. Forgive me for all the misplaced prejudice and all the disrespect, forgive me for being a spoiled child who cared not for his emotions, forgive me for taking advantage of his kindness to this extent, forgive me for being terrible and selfish, and the slightest bit of jealous. Hate me, curse me, slap me, ignore me – just please forgive me. Forgive me for being me, please.

“Save it,” he cut off with a nonchalant whisk of his hand. “I knew you’d react like this.” I couldn’t look at him – it would hurt to look at him. I was brought to my knees, eyes brimming with regret. Fearful of touching him, my hand gripped the edge of the couch instead. My fingers racked through my hair in exasperation. I was frustrated with myself – angry with myself, entirely livid. I needed him to make us even – using anything at all – and the fact he treated this with such triviality made my throat constrict.

“No, you don’t get it, I had no idea and… and I was acting like a complete bitch, oh God, and all the shit I did… I’m so sorry. I---“ Pauses and pathetic half-assed whimpering – such a decadence. I was a pitiful sight and the ring on my finger was the most disgusting thing I’d laid my eyes on. Hastily tearing it from my sweaty finger, I put it on the ground and my forehead hit the couch’s cushions. Incoherent regretful muttering was all that left my lips, constantly, incessantly, ruthlessly.

“Calm down,” the raven advised softly and I felt his warm palm rest on top of my head gently, like I would break if he made one wrong move. The incoherent chanting ceased and he snorted as I repetitively bit on my bottom lip for fear it might tremble. His fingers gingerly urged me to face him. When I did, I felt like I would cry. I couldn’t breathe. “I shouldn’t have told you,” he reproached himself boredly, grey hues locked with my (e/c) gaze. The crease between my brows was deep and I shook my head, opening my mouth to protest.

“I can’t believe I’ve said and done so much stuff when you’re still…”

Still in love with every bit of her.

“Not in love with her, no,” he finished for me softly, reading my thoughts to the point it made my gaze avert. His head shook in defiance and I uncertainly stared up at him like a loyal dog attempting to understand its owner’s foreign language. “Just with the memory, I guess. Everything is fine. And it’s getting better, as shitty-glasses told you,” he finished thoughtfully, a small spark going off in his hues. Unfortunately, I was too distraught to pay attention to its candid brightness – or to the warmth of his palm, cupping the side of my face. Then the switch played its part – I grabbed his wrist and tried to distance myself from his touch.

“I’m sorry, you shouldn’t be---“

“Shouldn’t be what?” He grabbed my shoulders and cut me off coldly, eyes prodding at my resolve. I was frantic and hasty, maybe unreasonable and incoherent – the only missing thing were the tears. Agitation, frustration and dejection stood perched on my shoulders – I didn’t want to burden him with any more worries than he already had. The oblivious way in which he questioned me just aided in fueling my self-deprecation, but it didn’t take away from my menacing haste.

“Comforting me, kissing me, hugging me – anything at all, duty or not. Shit, this makes me feel terrible.” I tried to push his hands away once more but his fingers held my shoulders tightly, not inclined to buckle. I couldn’t think properly. I was sure in a world where I wasn’t raised by Rolland Raven, I would’ve cried like a newborn out of humiliation. I was too proud to do that now – too proud to burden Levi with it yet again and too proud to be vulnerable right now. But I was terrible, too. I was terrible again when I told myself I never wanted to be.

“I’m not comforting you, princess.” His slow pointed argument made me gulp as I gnawed on the inside of my cheek in hesitation. It presupposed he was comforting himself using me – that much would’ve been fine if it hadn’t been a lie. This was that duty coming in again – to reassure me when I was unstable. “So…” He trailed off expectantly, slowly letting go of my shoulders and opening his arms instead. I watched his eyes for a moment, thinking at least the blue specks wouldn’t lie to me – the guilt was great but even greater was the instinct to accept the embrace with an apology muttered into his chest. I’d been terrible to him all this time. “Stop apologising,” he reproached flatly, soothingly running his fingers through my hair.

“You were right,” I chuckled weakly, clutching the back of his shirt, “I don’t like this. It makes me really selfish,” I concluded gravely, biting back yet another “sorry” as he hummed and attempted to calm my erratic emotions. I could smell his lavender shampoo and his cologne and, for some reason, rain. Like the day on which we’d met.

“Look up,” he instructed lowly, fingers gently prying my visage away from his calming scent and positioning it so I could meet his gaze. Another wave of guilt hit me before he spoke. “Not your fault, whatever you’re thinking about. Everything’s fine. Just don’t let Hanji know I told you,” he warned half-heartedly, making my lips purse as a small snort escaped my nose.

“You won’t get angry at me now then?” I inquired hopefully, though, as a punishment, I inwardly wished to receive a very curt denial. I wanted him to do something to fight fire with fire – not be this kind and dutiful after everything I’d done. My thoughts drifted away as I watched his pale countenance and the odd conclusion they drew (a wedding) was that he could’ve been married by now. Or maybe not now. Maybe next spring. Maybe next spring he would’ve worn a nicer ring and it would’ve meant something. Next spring, somebody could’ve made him happy.

“No,” he denied flatly, making my shoulders slouch in something I could call neither relief nor disappointment. A bit of both maybe. But my mind was lost. A wedding – the imaginary ride continued as I pondered my next move – and Petra would’ve been dressed in a beautiful white dress (the prettiest girl he’d ever seen) and he would’ve been in an ironed tuxedo, standing at a church altar and watching her walk down the aisle. Watching her and seeing nothing else, and the blue specks would’ve glimmered brightly – no lost looks whatsoever. Levi would’ve been dashing, maybe smiling. A happy, smiling Levi. Would he have smiled at his wedding? Surely. Surely he would’ve hidden it as well. A happy, smiling, married Levi.

“Even if...” Air ended then. The rest of this I shouldn’t speak. Because the notion of kissing hurt and this wasn’t about the switch – it hadn’t been about the switch, it had been about his emotions and I’d gotten an estimated account of those, so I needn’t fuck this up. Another mistake was forbidden, so my mouth clamped shut before the end of the sentence arrived. And still, almost like he’d read my thoughts, his fingers twitched over my cheek. And when I didn’t finish, he didn’t urge me to. I thought he wouldn’t figure it out – that we’d draw this topic to a close. But he wasn’t letting go and I wasn’t standing up.

“Yes, I won’t get angry at you even if.” And just like that, he knew what the end of my inquiry would’ve been like. The gentle nimbleness with which he held my neck craned up so I could face him properly made my lips purse. And then he was leaning in. His locks tickled my forehead and my temples and his mouth rested on mine – barely any pressure, like I would break otherwise. I defended I wasn’t a porcelain doll on the inside, but hadn’t the heart to protest aloud. It was a soft kiss and despite his composure, I could feel both of us couldn’t quite stop our hands from trembling in the slightest.

After we parted, I could feel his nose brush against mine. I buried my face in his chest in shame and went on to apologise for the entirety of a whole minute afterwards. Levi huffed in amusement, lips resting against my scalp when I heard a weak muffled chuckle escape them. It took me five minutes to let go of him and when I did, I felt his fingers seize my wrist. I watched him lean down and take my ring from the floor, then he slipped it back on my finger with an expression I couldn’t read at all. Not lost, that I knew for sure. I spent the rest of the afternoon leaning against his side, helping him with paperwork. Neither uttered a word but I could tell what we were thinking. Everything was fine. Yes, but the version in my head had a small “not” before the end.

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